Gu Wangyan [Complete] - 25

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Chapter Twenty-Three: Mei Xiaolian Resolves to Resign, Zhong Yuanwai Uninterested, Meets His Nephew and Aunt, Speaking Recklessly.

Volume Twenty-Three : The Dull Old Man says: Mei Sheng, who passed the imperial examination, was a man of deep affection and integrity, without any moral failings. Moreover, having studied all this time, how could he honor himself without achieving the highest rank? His refusal to serve as an official, however, is precisely where his broad knowledge and superiority lie. Zhong Sheng and Mei Sheng exchanged poems and enjoyed the scenery, merely passing the time. Otherwise, if these two were serious characters in the book, the ending would be too desolate, inevitably leading to the criticism of a spent force. The description of appreciating the plum blossoms by the river serves to introduce Xi You, leading to Xi You's desire to understand the whole story of Madam Xi, and the removal of Chong Haogu and Yang Weiying. Zhong Sheng leaves the capital and meets Rong Gong in Zhangjiawan; Xi You enters the capital and meets Rong Gong in Linqing Prefecture. These events subtly correspond. Xi You's encounter with Rong Gong on the road provides the basis for Rong Gong to purchase a house and live in seclusion in Tushan. Zhong Quan's wickedness should not have led to his son, Xiao Gouzi, repenting. However, Zhong Jun's wickedness was self-inflicted, and he has already reaped what he sowed. Xiao Gouzi's repentance is due to the virtuous legacy of Zhong Yue. Compare him to the ancients: Xu Shanxin was a loyal minister of the Sui Dynasty, Xu Jingzong a traitor of the Tang Dynasty, and Xu Yuanfu a loyal and righteous man of the Tang Dynasty—the loyalty and treachery of these three dynasties were vastly different. Isn't Xiao Gouzi's current situation similar? The narrative of Yi Ren and Niu Zhi's family affairs concludes their adultery case, gradually leading to the removal of other characters. The section on Guan Jue, Yan Liang, and Fu Hou not only serves to awaken those accustomed to the fickle nature of the world but also reveals the vicissitudes of life and the cunning of the petty, showing that one cannot judge a book by its cover. The author leaves no detail overlooked, no character omitted. While the death of Li Zei may not fully atone for his crimes, it still brings some satisfaction to the reader. The description of Hongguang, Ma Shiying, and Ruan Dacheng echoes the first chapter's statement to the Prince of Yan: "Heaven has already given birth to a sage, and the divine regalia has found its rightful place." Looking at their actions, they can be seen as those who drove out the people for the Qing Dynasty—Li Zicheng, Zhang Xianzhong, and Luo Rucai; and those who drove out the Ming Dynasty for the Qing Dynasty—Hongguang, Ma Shiying, and Ruan Dacheng. Zhong Sheng firmly declined Ma Shiying's summons and advised Jia Wenwu to refuse the position, demonstrating not only his insight but also the fact that the world had changed beyond recognition. Chapter Twenty-Three: Mei Xiaolian Resolves to Resign, Zhong Yuanwai Uninterested in Meeting His Nephew ( Appendix: Two Wealthy Men Who Exchange Oxen for Retribution) A Life of Licentiousness: Hongguang, a Mediocre Ruler, Loses Half the Imperial Empire. It is said that in the autumn of the Renwu year of the Chongzhen reign, Mei Sheng received his provincial recommendation, and Zhong Sheng, along with Huan E, Jia Wenwu, and Tong Ziyue, publicly congratulated him. Zhong Sheng, being an old friend and close relative, privately congratulated him after his official business was finished. Over drinks, Zhong Sheng said, "My brother has passed the imperial examination with flying colors, and I am overjoyed. But there is a slight unease amidst this joy." Mei Sheng asked, "Could it be that I have offended you, elder brother, after my good fortune?" Zhong Sheng replied, "Not at all. From childhood to adulthood, we have met several times a month without fail. Our bond is as strong as that of blood relatives. Later, I was preoccupied with my humble reputation and spent several years in the capital. Even in my dreams, I never ceased to think of you, and I know you share my sentiment. After being released and returning home, I was able to spend time with you again, which finally satisfied my humble heart. Now that you have passed the imperial examination with flying colors, and next year you will be successful in the spring examinations, enjoying the flowers in the imperial gardens and serving as an official in the capital. I don't know how many years it will be before we meet again. As the ancients said, ' Each meeting makes us grow old, how long can we remain brothers? ' Moreover, neither of us has many brothers, so my heart cannot help but feel a pang of longing." He finished speaking with a sorrowful expression. Mei Sheng laughed loudly, "Brother, do you think I'll still go north next year?" Zhong Sheng replied, "Now that you've passed the imperial examination, you'll definitely be going to the imperial academy next year. How could you not go?" Mei Sheng said, "Even this year's examination was a waste of my time. We studied together in our youth, and I've seen all the other students have already passed the examinations. Only I, still holding a scholar's robe, still cling to my past and refuse to go. When I entered the examination hall, I had already made up my mind, and I even offered wine and fruit to him to see him off. If I were lucky, I would say goodbye to him forever. Even if I failed, I would still say goodbye to him forever. Now, I'm fortunate to have passed the examination, which is enough to settle the debt of my studies. What more could I want in terms of fame and fortune? Brother, look at the current situation, is it still possible to seek an official position? The country is already like a pile of eggs. If I were to enter officialdom, I would just be conforming to the world, holding a position without doing anything. I don't have the thousand layers of armor to serve the country. In terms of gains and losses, you are the one who has already made this mistake. If you were to actually listen to my advice, I fear the great edifice would collapse." This cannot be supported by a single tree. The other day, a friend of mine came from the capital, bringing with him a proclamation of rebellion. I cannot recall the entire text, but I copied it down. It contained several lines: "The ruler is not entirely incompetent, but he is isolated and often blinded by powerful figures; his ministers are all self-serving, forming cliques and rarely showing true loyalty. They even bribe officials. The court's power and influence grow daily, with benefits flowing into the hands of the wealthy and powerful. The common people's wealth is exhausted, while dukes and marquises feast. The rich and powerful rely on him as their confidants, while eunuchs are treated like chaff, and even dogs and pigs are used as their eyes and ears. Prisons are overflowing, and scholars..." "There is no heart to repay kindness; taxes are heavy, and the people are filled with resentment at being wiped out. These words succinctly address the ills of the time, and should not be dismissed because of who they are. My brother, look at the land today; it is probably not the same as the world of tomorrow. What is the point of serving as an official? From now on, I will wander with you through the mountains and rivers, living as carefree recluses. Although we cannot emulate the lofty ideals of Tang Liuru and Zhu Zhishan, we will at least avoid vulgarity and escape the filth of the world. We will not concern ourselves with worldly affairs and will simply live out the rest of our lives." Zhong Sheng was overjoyed. From then on, the two of them indeed met every three days and went on outings every ten days. In the city, they visited Yecheng, Zhongshan, Shizishan, Qingliang Temple, Heilongtan, Taoye Ferry, Shijiadun, Qinhuai River, Jiming Temple, Chaotian Palace, Zizhulin, Hujuguan, Tieta Temple, and Xiaotaoyuan. Outside the city, they visited Niushou, Zutang Temple, Xianhuayan, Tianlong Temple, Yuhuatai, Changqianli, Banshanyuan, Linggu Temple, Qixia Ridge, Mumoting, and Zijin Mountain. They visited every famous historical site, lingering there all day, leaving inscriptions on everything, too numerous to record. When they grew tired of their travels, either Zhong would visit Mei's house, or Mei would visit Zhong's. They would simply enjoy a simple meal of soup, vegetables, and wine, composing poems, playing chess, and discussing swordsmanship—a unique and refined pleasure, not to be shared with ordinary people. They also frequently associated with Huan'e, Jia Wenwu, and Tong Zida. Meetings with them were far from the refined and tranquil atmosphere of this group. It was nothing more than gluttonous drinking, drumming to urge the flowers to bloom, and playing drinking games. Or perhaps it would be a theatrical performance, acrobatics, and clattering—just a lively spectacle. "The old man said: 'The lamb and fine wine of Grand Commandant Dang are also a pleasure in life.'" Zhong and Mei couldn't stand the frequent performances, but since they were close relatives, they couldn't refuse, so they had to go along with it. One day, Mei came to Zhong's house, and the two went to the study to drink together. As rain began to fall, Zhong Sheng said, "This is what they mean by 'a rainy day keeps guests.'" Mei Sheng laughed and said, "But I'm afraid the weather might keep the guests , but not the people." Zhong Sheng also laughed and said, "These two common sayings have a wonderful way of being read. It goes: 'A rainy day keeps guests, but the weather keeps the guests, but not the people. ' Isn't that novel?" The two clapped their hands and laughed heartily. Zhong Sheng said, "Since you're here today, let's sit side by side and chat all night." Mei Sheng said, "That's wonderful." They washed their cups, poured more wine, and enjoyed the rain. Zhong Sheng said, "Why don't we each compose a poem on the theme of 'Drinking Together by the Rainy Window'? It doesn't have to be five or seven characters. The one who finishes first will be penalized with a large cup. What do you think, brother?" Mei Sheng said, "Since you're so happy, I dare not refuse and follow in your footsteps." Zhong Sheng took the poetry scroll, handed it to Mei Sheng, and picked out four rhymes from the "Zhai Chai Huai Xie" rhyme scheme, saying, "Use these four rhymes. There's no need to be particular about the order. Everyone can use them as they please." Then they shared pen and ink. Zhong Sheng thought for a moment, then wrote his poem in one go. When he looked at Mei Sheng's, Mei Sheng had also finished. They consulted each other, and Zhong Sheng first looked at Mei Sheng's work, a five-character regulated verse: A gentle breeze comes from the north window, fine rain falls on the secluded study. Only close friends are present, no vulgar companions among the drinkers. A bold recitation adds to the unrestrained spirit, gazing at the sword strengthens the heroic heart. The heart seeks the noble scholar, for the frivolous and the superficial are not to be associated with. Zhong Sheng looked at it and said, "With such a gem before me, I feel ashamed. I'll drink a cup as punishment. I won't look at my clumsy work." Mei Sheng said, "I was merely offering a humble suggestion, but you, brother, fear I'll appear foolish, hence your reluctance to offer your guidance." Zhong Sheng handed it to Mei Sheng, who read: Leisurely leaning against the clouds, facing old friends, what can I ask for, but they are separated by the ends of the earth? The falling fine rain inspires poetry, the flying petals strengthen the wine's embrace. Speaking of swordsmanship, soaring high above the universe, discussing poetry, intimately connected in the small study. Singing loudly, drinking freely, burning silver candles, laughing at kings and nobles, not to be associated with. Mei Sheng said, "Seeing your excellent work, brother, I truly feel ashamed of my own." They exchanged compliments and drank again. Zhong Sheng said, "Today, brother, let's have a day of fun. I just thought of twelve characters, representing the essentials of life. Brother, we'll each choose six characters, and compose a short poem for each. The first to finish will receive a small cup, and the second will be penalized with a large cup. What do you say?" Mei Sheng said, "How can I possibly compete with you, brother? If so, I'll get completely drunk. Let's both use small cups, but let's decide the merit of the reward or penalty." Zhong Sheng said, "As you wish." He then wrote down the twelve characters: noble, wealthy, longevity, clothing, food, extravagance, stinginess, wine, joy, anger, happiness, and sorrow, rolled them into balls, and placed them on the table. Mei Sheng chose six characters: noble, wealthy, food, stinginess, sorrow, and happiness—those six were undoubtedly Zhong Sheng's. Zhong Sheng picked up his brush, brushed the paper, and wrote the character for longevity, saying:

A lifetime is but a fleeting dream, days and months fly by like an arrow. How long can one remain healthy in old age? Two fools roam about, causing chaos. How painful, how painful, what use is a hundred years? The right tune, "Like a Dream,"

is inscribed by Mei Sheng with the character "贵" (gui,

meaning noble/noble): "Officials, generals, ministers, kings, their power and prestige are unparalleled in the world. But once the dream ends, the golden seal and purple ribbon vanish into nothingness." The right tune, "Pounding Silk,"

is inscribed by both men. Zhong Sheng, moved by the poem, picked up his brush and wrote it in one stroke. He said, "Please enlighten me." Mei Sheng, still pondering, saw that he had finished and laughed, "Brother, I'll drink a cup as punishment." He took the brush and saw it was a tune, "Washing Stream Silk," with the character "衣" (yi, meaning clothing). "

Silk and light fur, perfectly tailored, cool in summer and warm in winter, a blessing he deserves.

Exposed elbows, ragged clothes, the ancients experienced this, no need to grieve, all preordained by fate."

Mei Sheng said, "Let me offer you a cup, brother. Wait until I finish before accepting my punishment." Zhong Sheng drank the wine, and Mei Sheng picked up a brush and wrote something, handing it to Zhong Sheng, saying, "My poem is a tune called 'Remembering the Prince,' with the character 'wealth' on it." Zhong Sheng read it and said: "

Piling up gold and jade takes hard work, fine wine and lamb are enjoyed day and night. Embroidered couches and silk curtains are presented with beauties, who are all overbearing. But time waits for no one.

" Zhong Sheng said, "Brother's work is truly excellent, surpassing even the best. I admire you, I admire you." Mei Sheng laughed and said, "You flatter me, you flatter me." He shouted, "Pour the punishment wine!" A servant poured it and brought it to him. Mei Sheng took the wine, thought for a moment, and drank it all in one gulp. He put down the cup, picked up the brush, and finished writing in a moment. Zhong Sheng also quickly finished writing. First, let's look at Mei Sheng's, a tune called "Bodhisattva's Charm" with the character "food." "

Before the food, cups and plates are arranged, roasted lamb and turtle are laid out in a splendid feast. Five tripods are used to entertain guests, and the dishes are all delicacies. Indulging in the feast, it is truly delightful." A rat's belly is easily filled, and even pickled vegetables can satisfy a man.

Mei Sheng looked at Zhong Sheng's poem, which was inscribed with the word "extravagance": "

Spending money like dirt, displaying arrogance; fine horses adorned in silver. Handsome servants and wealthy slaves attending to him, beautiful women lined up in rows. Clothes in brocade, food fragrant, lying on a luxurious bed. A hundred years, thirty thousand years, all vanish in an instant."

Mei Sheng, in the tune "Su Zhong Qing," said, "Brother, you've described these extravagant people with such coldness. I was moved by this and composed a tune, 'Chou Nu Er Ling,' finished in one stroke." Zhong Sheng said, "I accept the punishment. After I finish, let's drink together." He then inscribed a tune, "Bu Suan Zi," on the word "stinginess." The two looked at it separately. Mei Sheng's poem read: "

A lifetime of greed and meanness, yet food and clothing are hard to come by. Accumulating wealth and holding onto it, all day long, only worry remains. Let laughter and scolding accuse him of being greedy and shameless. Once he rests, he's wasted his life as a beast of burden."

Looking at Zhong Sheng's poem on wine, he said: "

A drunken stupor dispels a thousand sorrows; nothing is better than wine." Even if it's a matter of utmost importance, let's not get drunk and stop; there's no need to be bound by trivialities. Let's call it a fishing hook for poetry, and also a broom to dispel sorrow. If I don't drink

, others will laugh at my foolishness; do you know the joy it brings? Mei Sheng said, "Brother's work far surpasses mine; I truly humbly admit defeat. Brother's quick wit is no less than mine. Having such brilliant ideas, I refuse to hastily put pen to paper." They poured two cups and drank together. Each lost in thought, Mei Sheng said, "I can only come up with two topics each; let's drink together after we finish." Zhong Sheng said, "Brother's words are excellent." Mei Sheng's topic was on the word "sorrow," which read: "

The bitter rain falls heavily, the traveler has no money. His purse is empty of gold, he suffers poverty; his clothes are tattered. He eats only nine meals a day for three weeks; how can he bear to face those who come before him? In the broken house and dilapidated dwelling, wind and snow, he lies alone with a flickering lamp." He then played

a tune from "Qing Ping Yue" with the word "joy," titled "Qin Lou Yue," which read: "

Make good friends, discuss literature, drink wine, and compose a thousand poems." A thousand poems, spring breezes and autumn moons, seeking flowers and willows. Green mountains and flowing water greet the window, fishermen carry wine to till the southern fields. Tilling the southern fields, singing a song, harmonizing with the woodcutter's voice.

Then see Zhong Sheng's tune "Good Things Are Near," inscribed with the character for "happiness," saying: "

The old man in the hall is like a spring daylily, still healthy at a hundred years old. In this peaceful time, he is overjoyed to have his loved ones. His wife and children are virtuous and filial, and his children and grandchildren are all good. He only wishes to play in colorful clothes, why should he envy wealth and honor?"

See his tune "Visiting the Golden Gate," with the character for "anger," saying: "

Human feelings are thin, those who curry favor with the powerful are met with evil. They act arbitrarily, turning the world upside down, and the kind are insulted. The treacherous and cruel are those who mislead the country, and the shrewish women and powerful slaves are like sharp blades. His hair stands on end, his teeth are clenched, and his eyes are like burning torches."

The two read it once and praised each other. They talked and laughed for a while, and drank several cups. Before they knew it, the third watch had passed, and they were both a little tipsy, so they lay down together.

The next day, Mei Sheng left. Before long, it was New Year's Eve again. After New Year's Day, on the fourth day of the new year, Zhong Sheng invited Mei Sheng to drink spring wine together. Zhong Sheng said, "It is customary to invite each other during the New Year. If we indulge in feasting all day long, we will inevitably be laughed at by the plum blossoms. I have long admired the magnificent plum blossoms of Jiangnan, but because I have no companion, I have not been able to visit. I wonder if you would be so happy to do so? Let's live a quiet life together and temporarily escape the hell of wine and meat. What do you think?" Mei Sheng said, "Excellent, excellent. I was born and raised here, and now I am forty years old. I have heard of the magnificent plum blossoms of Jiangnan for a long time. I have wanted to visit every year, but I have not had the opportunity. If you are so interested, I will accompany you. There is another thing. We don't have to be so insistent on going to see the plum blossoms of Jiangnan. There are places to visit anywhere. We can stay for a day or two and simply return after the Lantern Festival. Then we will feel more at peace." Zhong Sheng was overjoyed.

The two of them rode in two small sedan chairs, accompanied by three or four servants, who carried their luggage and food boxes. Leaving Yifeng Gate, I arrived at Tianfei Palace, where I enshrined the statue of the imperial concubine in the main hall. The concubine's surname was Lin, and she was the supreme deity of the four seas, worshipped by all the coastal counties for her extraordinary divine power, hence the great respect she commanded. In the main hall, I saw the four jade incense sticks brought by the eunuch Zheng He during his voyages to the Western Ocean during the Yongle reign, and also the natural jade chime behind the hall, which dried in sunny weather and dripped water in cloudy weather. This was brought back by Zheng He after the Prince of Yan usurped the throne, ostensibly to search for the imperial seal, but in reality to find the Jianwen Emperor. Zheng He searched in vain and brought it back incidentally. Next, I went to Jinghai Temple and asked the abbot if he wanted to see the painting of the water and land scenes. The faces were truly lifelike, the expressions vivid, the details as fine as a hair; I couldn't even tell who the artist was. "This painting depicts the Ten Kings of Hell, but one was stolen, leaving only nine scrolls. Popular belief holds that it's a Western import, brought by Zheng He. But Westerners don't believe in ghosts and gods, so how could such a thing exist? It's just nonsense." They then went to the San Suo An (Three Nights' Shore) behind the temple for a drink. This is where Han Qiwang (King of Qi) besieged Jin Wuzhu for three nights. A treacherous man named Wang Zhi taught him to dig a small river and escape in a small boat, hence the name. The two discussed the rise and fall of dynasties for a while, and seeing that it was getting dark, they stayed at the temple.

The next morning, after breakfast, they asked for some money for incense and gave it to the monks. They got up and arrived at Hongji Temple around noon, choosing a monk's room to stay in. The next day, they went to explore. The plum trees were hundreds of years old, their origin unknown. The larger ones were several arm spans in circumference, the smaller ones two or three arm spans in circumference. Some stood tall and alone, some drooped like canopies. Some leaned, some lay on their sides. Some clustered in groups of three or five, while one or two stood alone a little further apart. The flowers were in full bloom, hundreds of jade trees in sight, their fragrance carried for miles, attracting throngs of visitors.

The two of them chose a clump of four or five trees, spread out a mat, and drank. The fragrance was rich and intoxicating, refreshing their lungs and invigorating their spirits; their joy was indescribable. They saw other visitors, some arriving by sedan chair, some by boat, and some on foot. All carried boxes of spring food, and some carried "leaving spring delicacies." "Many idle men in Jiangnan enjoy wandering but lack funds. They buy some accompaniments to wine, wrap them in dried lotus leaves, store the wine in a wine bottle, and carry them with them. When they arrive to admire the flowers, they drink and then leave the leftovers behind, hence the beautiful name 'leaving spring delicacies.'" There were refined and common people, men and women. But how could poor women afford to come? They were all daughters of wealthy families. Fearing the mixing of men and women, he chose a spot under several plum trees, where he took off his embroidered skirts, tied them together, and used them as curtains to drink wine and admire the flowers. Others brought prostitutes, and still others brought singers. The sounds of string and wind instruments filled the air, creating a lively atmosphere amidst the tranquility—truly a most delightful and pleasing scene. Zhong Sheng said, "For thirty years I've heard of the beauty of the plum blossoms along the river; if not for today's visit, I would have missed them." The two enjoyed the scenery for several days, then visited Yanzi Rock, admired the river view, and were now descending the mountain.

Upon arriving at the Guandi Temple, they saw a crowd gathered. Zhong Sheng and Mei Sheng approached to take a look. Two beggars were kneeling on the ground, one without a nose, the other blind, both with ulcers on their legs. "I once met two beggars whispering in a bridge in Jiangnan. One was calculating his bad luck, how his ulcers had miraculously healed as the year drew to a close. I realized then that ulcers were a beggar's capital." A man, dressed quite neatly, with the air of a merchant, continued to kick and beat the beggar. He cursed, "You heartless wretch! You've done such a heinous thing! I told you you'd been hiding for a long time, but you've finally met me today. You've done this despicable thing, and now you've come to this! This is retribution! Just return my family to me and that's it!" He continued to beat the beggar as he spoke. The beggar only cried out, saying nothing. The man said, "You wretch, if you won't talk when I ask, do you think I'll just let it go? I'll take you to the yamen, grab you, and see if you'll talk then!" The beggar, getting impatient, said, "I made a mistake—no, I ate dog shit, I sold my wife because of Yang Weiying, I ate sheep shit. You can beat me to death now, it won't do any good. I sold your sister to another place." The man asked, "Who did you sell her to?" The beggar said, "She was sold to the family of Governor Rong of Jiangxi." The man said, "I don't believe you. How could you have sold her to him?" The beggar said, "There was a matchmaker. Can you lie about that?" The man angrily hit him twice more and said, "I won't tell you. I'll file a complaint and let the officials handle it. I'll grab you, you wretch, and chase after the matchmaker. There will be a real clue. I'll find the local headman and hand over both of you to him. Then I'll go and file a complaint." He turned and left.

Zhong Sheng, hearing the conversation had a reason, told his servant to catch up with the man and invite him to speak. As the man was walking, he heard a voice behind him calling, "Sir, stop! My master wants to speak with you." Hearing this, the man quickly turned around and said, "Which master is it? What do you want me to say?" The servant pointed to Zhong Sheng and said, "My master's surname is Zhong, and he is an official in the Ministry of Justice." The man lived in the same city, so how could he not know this? He quickly walked back a few steps and stood before Zhong Sheng. Zhong Sheng cupped his hands in greeting, but the man dared not return the greeting, only bowing and saying, "I dare not. May I ask what you wish to do, sir?" Zhong Sheng asked, "What is your surname, brother?" The man replied, "My humble surname is Xi, and my given name is You." Zhong Sheng asked, "Who was the man you just hit? What is his surname?" Xi You said, "That blind man is called Chong Haogu. My sister unfortunately married this lowly servant, who has a lifelong obsession with buttocks and has squandered all our family's wealth." Later, he became involved with a rabbit named Yang Weiying. He was penniless, and while his servant was away on business, he brazenly sold his younger sister. That beggar with ulcers and a noseless body was his beloved Yang Weiying. When his servant returned home and heard this, he wanted to report him. Somehow, he sold their dilapidated house, and the two of them fled together, hiding for over ten years. They don't know when they were struck by divine retribution, ending up like this. Today, his servant came to visit Jiang Mei and happened to encounter these two servants. Although they are blind, he still vaguely recognizes their voices and movements. Their current predicament is a direct retribution. However, he doesn't know his sister's whereabouts, so he wants to report her to the authorities to find out her whereabouts so he can go and see her, fulfilling his brotherly love.” “Is there such a good brother in the world? I can't believe it. You are truly Xi Youyi. Do you not feel ashamed seeing those who treat their sisters like strangers?”
Hearing this, Zhong Sheng finally understood why Xi Shi had come to Rong Gong's house. He stepped forward and took his hand, laughing, "Brother, don't worry. I know the whole story of my sister's whereabouts. I've met her twice. Let me give you the good news. There's no need to argue with that lowly servant or disturb the authorities." Xi You exclaimed in surprise, "Sir, how did you know my sister's whereabouts?" Zhong Sheng said, "This is a long story, and this is not the place to talk about it. Brother, come with me to my humble abode, and I will tell you in detail." Xi You, Zhong Sheng, and Mei Sheng walked to Hongji Temple.

Zhong Sheng said to Mei Sheng, "This matter has been a mystery to me for years, but after hearing Brother Xi's explanation, I finally understand." Mei Sheng said, "I've never heard you mention this before." Zhong Sheng said, "I haven't even told my wife." As they spoke, they arrived at their abode.

They went in hand in hand and were offered seats. Xi You said, "How dare I sit?" Zhong Sheng insisted, pulling him to sit, saying, "Brother, you are now the brother of a lady." Xi You laughed, "Sir, that's quite a strange thing to say. How could my sister have such good fortune?" Zhong Sheng smiled and said, "Do you suspect I'm lying? When I was a scholar, I had a literary contest at Brother Mei's house. On my way back, I was caught in the rain. It was getting late, so I had to take shelter under a shed in a garden." He then recounted how Xi You had been pulled from the water and how he had saved her, and how he had sent him clothes and travel expenses the next day. Later, he said that if I returned home in August, your sister would have someone to rely on. Then, I was fortunate enough to pass the imperial examination and was busy, so I didn't go to see her. He also recounted how I met her in Zhangjiawan after leaving the capital, how they treated me, and how I received their warm hospitality. Is the wife of the Vice Minister still a fake? Fortunately, I met her today. If I had gone to the authorities and found out the truth, and then sent a letter to Rong Gong saying that she was a married woman, wouldn't your sister, a lady, have lost face? Besides, your nephews have also had several children. Upon hearing this, Xi You was overjoyed and immediately knelt to thank Zhong Sheng, saying, "You are truly a great benefactor. If it weren't for your rescue, my sister wouldn't be in this situation." Zhong Sheng quickly helped him up, and they chatted for a while longer. Xi You took his leave, his face beaming with happiness. Zhong Sheng saw him off, when two young monks ran up and said, "Just now, two beggars jumped into the river for some unknown reason. They disappeared without a trace. Several fishing boats tried to rescue them, but there was no sign of them." Zhong Sheng said to Xi You, "That should be enough to vent my sister's anger." Xi You then departed.

The next day, Zhong Sheng and Mei Sheng sat down in a pavilion atop Yanziji Mountain, overlooking the great river. They saw a group of young men practicing archery, gambling on the riverbank. One of them was an expert archer, hitting the bullseye every time, and everyone present was amazed. Suddenly, a boatman came along and watched, sighing, "It is indeed excellent, but alas, it does not fully display its spirit." The young man, annoyed, took up his bow and stepped forward, saying, "Please try it." The boatman ordered ten poles to be erected a hundred paces away, drew his bow, and shouted, "I hit the mark at a certain point!" Not a single arrow missed. The young men were greatly astonished and invited him to sit down. They then took wine cups and drank alone. Zhong Sheng, seeing him from afar, recognized him as an extraordinary person and invited him to go up the mountain to drink with them, asking for his name. He laughed loudly, "I am merely a boatman; what name do I have?" He drank several cups heartily. Seeing Zhong Sheng's servant carrying a pen and inkstone, he stood up, took the pen, dipped it in thick black ink, and wrote boldly on the wall: "

I cry out to Heaven, I clutch my chest, alas, my achievements are now but a futile effort.

I swallow my sobs, weeping my heartbroken tears, only to find my temples gray with age."

The second poem:

"A single leaf floats on the Yangtze River for ten thousand miles, filling my heart with half a sky of sorrow.

My foolish heart longs for the Yellow River's waters, flowing northwest against the Kunlun Mountains."

Thirdly:

He lamented having nowhere to rest, only fit to drift east and west in a lonely boat.

How strange that the trees on the riverbank, so heartbreaking

, cry like cuckoos every spring evening. Having finished writing, he threw down his brush and flew away, ignoring all calls. Reaching the riverbank, he jumped into a small boat and set adrift in the middle of the stream, disappearing without a trace. The two scholars were astonished, though they knew him to be a recluse, they regretted not knowing his name. Zhong Sheng and Mei Sheng traveled for another two or three days, then returned, their enjoyment exhausted. Not following the old route, they entered Guanyin Gate and saw the former site of Chen Miaochang's Nunnery. Entering the inner city through Shence Gate, they visited Guning Nunnery and Zizhu Forest, spending two or three days there. Both places were inhabited by true monks practicing asceticism; not a single drunken, meat-eating monk was present, making them exceptionally elegant. This perfectly matched two lines from an ancient poem: "

A winding path leads to a secluded spot, where the Zen room is surrounded by flowers and trees. "

The two scholars also composed two lines: "

Passing by the bamboo grove, I met a monk and chatted, stealing half a day of leisure from this fleeting life." "I recall a funny anecdote. An old man and his monk friend had arranged to visit a temple on a certain day. Upon arrival, the old man recited these two lines. The abbot laughed and said, 'While the old gentleman has had half a day of leisure, this old monk has been busy for three days.'"

The two parted ways on their journey home. It was snowing heavily, and Zhong Sheng, in his sedan chair, admired the swirling snowflakes. Not far from home, he saw a group of people gathered in the street, wondering why. Looking closer, he realized they were neighbors from both sides of the street. He quickly called out to stop the sedan chair. The neighbors, initially unprepared for his arrival, rushed forward to apologize, saying, "We didn't know you were coming, sir. We failed to give you any notice. Please forgive us. Sir, with such heavy snow, you could have simply passed by in your sedan chair." Zhong Sheng replied, "What are you saying, gentlemen? We are all good neighbors; this is unacceptable. 'True gentlemen put frivolous young men to shame.' Gentlemen, what business do you have here in this heavy snow?" "Among them was a man surnamed Jin, named Jin Dexing, who was Zhong Sheng's neighbor. 'Do you remember this man?' He stepped forward and replied, 'A beggar came from who knows where and froze to death here. It's a local matter, so we're here to see what's going on.' Zhong Sheng hurriedly asked, 'Is he really dead?' The others said, 'We just touched his chest, and it was still a little warm. But who dares to take responsibility and carry him home to save him? We can only watch him die and then report it to the authorities.' Upon hearing this, Zhong Sheng's face changed drastically. He said, 'How can this be? Saving a life is a great act of merit. Moreover, everyone has a sense of compassion. How can anyone stand by and watch someone die?' He then instructed his family members, '..." "You and the sedan chair bearers, quickly carry this man back." The servant boy stepped forward and looked at him, saying, "He's beyond saving. Why bother carrying a dead man home and causing trouble?" Zhong Sheng shouted, "Nonsense! Even if he died in my house, all of you neighbors are witnesses. Do you think I'm afraid of people saying I'm after his money? Even if he's dead, I'll bury him in the same coffin; that's a small act of kindness." The crowd said, "Sir, this is a very good thing." The neighbors were eager to get rid of him and said to the sedan chair bearers, "You carry the sedan chair, and we'll help take this man home." The crowd carried the beggar boy to Zhong Sheng's house.

Zhong Sheng didn't ride in the sedan chair anymore and walked with the crowd through the snow to his house. They carried him to a small room and placed him on a bed. The crowd said goodbye and left. Zhong Sheng's family brushed the snow off him, asked for a bedding set to be brought for him to sleep on, and gave him some ginger soup. He slept for a long time and gradually woke up. Zhong Sheng was overjoyed and quickly ordered some hot wine to be brought, which he drank two cups of. He also cooked some thin porridge, which he ate half a bowl of. Zhong Sheng instructed his family to look after him, and then returned to his room to rest. Seeing the

beggar, Zhong Sheng felt as if he were his own flesh and blood, and couldn't help but worry about him, unable to sleep. "But I fear even my closest relatives might not be like this these days." At the crack of dawn, he ordered someone to cook porridge for him, and personally got up to check on him. Seeing that he was moving a little, he ordered his family to bring two cotton-padded coats and a pair of cotton-padded trousers for him to wear, and then told him to lie down again.

After two or three days of this care, the beggar had recovered. He hadn't been sick at all, but had been freezing and starving. With these few days of plenty of food and warm clothes, and a large fire burning in the room, the room was warm and cozy, and he naturally recovered. That day, Zhong Sheng came to see him. He hurriedly climbed off the bed, knelt down and kowtowed, saying, "I was already dead, but I was saved by your divine grace, sir. I could not repay your kindness even with my life." Zhong Sheng helped him up and asked, "What is your surname? Where are you from? Why have you come to this state?" The man cried as he was asked, "My surname is Zhong, and I am from this capital. I was originally from a good family, and my ancestors were all scholars and gentlemen. Because I was lazy and greedy for gambling and food since childhood, I have ended up in this position. It is my own fault, and I have no one to blame but myself." When Zhong Sheng heard that he shared the same surname and felt that he resembled his elder brother from that day, he was touched and hurriedly asked, "Do you have parents? Where are they now?" Hearing this question, he cried even harder and could not answer. Zhong Sheng said, "Why didn't you tell me?" He then replied, "If you ask me about this, sir, I deserve to die even more, so I dared not answer." Zhong Sheng said, "Just tell me." He said, "My father originally lived here, but later moved to Qingjiangpu to open a shop. Because of a murder, he sold the house to save his life. I was a good-for-nothing; I gambled away my father's few taels of silver and dared not return home. So I went to work for a fourth-rank official surnamed Gu in Fengdu County, Sichuan, and followed him. These years, Fourth-Rank Official Gu has died; 'the former fourth-rank officials of Fengdu County, how could they not die?' I came out empty-handed. I traveled thousands of miles to get here, wanting to go to Qingjiangpu, but I dared not see my father. I tried to find my uncle here, but I couldn't find him. The years were filled with famine and drought; I ran out of money, and even sold my clothes to eat. Later, I had no choice but to beg for food. But I couldn't even afford food, so I ended up in this desolate place." "My stomach was empty, and I caught a cold from the heavy snow the other day. If it weren't for your divine mercy, sir, I would be fed to the pigs and dogs by now."

Zhong Sheng, seeing that what he said sounded similar to what Sister-in-law Xiang Nian had said, quickly asked him, "What's your uncle's name? What does he do?" He said, "My uncle is only three or four years older than me. When I left him, he was only ten or so, and I was only seven or eight. Now he's right in front of me, but I don't recognize him, and I don't know what he does, so I can't find him. I often hear my parents say that he studies at the government office outside the city. His name is Zhong Qing." Upon hearing this, Zhong Sheng knew that he was Xiao Gouzi, but he didn't recognize him. He asked again, "What's your father's name? What's your mother's surname?" He said, "My father's name is Zhong Quan, my mother's surname is E, and my name is Xiao Gouzi." Zhong Sheng stepped forward and hugged him tightly, crying, "My nephew, I am your uncle Zhong Qing." The little dog looked at him. "Looked at him, wonderful. It's like meeting in a dream." He knelt down again, kowtowed several times, and burst into tears.

Zhong Sheng pulled him inside, pointed to Qian Gui, and said to him, "This is your aunt." He kowtowed as well. Then he pointed to Dai Mu and said, "This is your little aunt." He was about to kowtow again, but Zhong Sheng stopped him and said, "Bow." He bowed. Then he called Zhong Wen and Zhong Wu to pay their respects to their brother. Then he asked him to sit down and asked, "Do you know how your parents are doing now?" He cried again and said, "Your unworthy nephew has been away for more than ten years and has no news of my parents." Zhong Sheng also shed tears and told him about what he had seen when he went to the capital for the imperial examination, that E Shi had married into the He family, and that his father had died and he could not afford land for a water burial. Upon hearing this, the little dog stood up and banged his head against the wall with all his might, his face covered in blood, and fell to the ground.

Zhong Sheng was startled and quickly embraced him, crying, "Nephew, wake up!" He called several times, but only heard a sound in his throat; he remained silent. Zhong Sheng asked for hot water, and Qian Gui hurriedly handed it to him. He pried open Qian Gui's teeth and forced him to drink several mouthfuls. With a sound in his throat, he spat out two mouthfuls of blood and cried out, "Nephew, it's too late to die now. Uncle, why save me if you won't kill me?" Zhong Sheng cried, "That was because you were ignorant in your youth. Even if you die now, you can't save your father. If you can repent and reform, your father can rest in peace." After comforting him for a while, he wiped away the blood, bandaged his head, and helped him up. The uncle and nephew were so grief-stricken that they didn't even eat dinner.

The next day, after a night's rest, he was told to bathe. Zhong Sheng took out his own new clothes and told him to change completely. That day, Mei Sheng came and, hearing of their reunion, invited Huan E, Jia Wenwu, and Tong Zida to come and offer their congratulations. Zhong Sheng, leading his dog, went to express his gratitude, offering wine and making merry for several days.

Zhong Sheng kept a close eye on his nephew, observing whether he might change his ways. He noticed that the nephew often mentioned his parents and secretly wept. Zhong Sheng felt deeply saddened, knowing that his nephew showed remorse, and was secretly pleased. He secretly instructed Zhong Yong to lure the nephew outside to play, but the nephew always refused. After several attempts, the nephew angrily said, "I am a man who deserves to die, yet Uncle still treats me like a human being. If I continue to be so disobedient, not only will Uncle kill me, but my father's spirit will naturally kill me as well. If you try to lure me like this again, I will tell Uncle what will happen to you." Zhong Yong rebuked Zhong Sheng, who was both saddened and pleased. He was pleased that his nephew had changed his ways and could continue his brother's lineage. He was saddened that although his nephew had changed, his brother was gone, his sister-in-law had remarried, and the family would never be reunited.

A few days later, Zhong Sheng gave him a name, Zhong Zixin, with the courtesy name Youxin. Two months later, Zhong Sheng asked a matchmaker to find him a wife. When he found out, he said to Zhong Sheng, "I have been adopted and cared for by you, Uncle, and will never marry again." Zhong Sheng asked, "Why is that?" He started to cry again, saying, "My father died of anger because of me, and my mother was left destitute after my death, which is why she remarried. If I had grown up, my father might not have died. Even if he had died, I could have supported him, and my mother might not have remarried. Thinking of this, I wish I could cut my own heart out. I deserve to die now, how could I possibly hope to marry and have children?" He wept uncontrollably as he spoke. Zhong Sheng shed a few tears and said seriously, "What you say is true, but your father is dead and cannot be brought back to life. Do you know the saying that of the three unfilial acts, the greatest is to have no descendants? If you don't marry, won't you be cutting off your father's lineage? This is sacrificing the greater for the lesser." He cried again, "Uncle's teachings, how dare I disobey? But although my father cannot be brought back to life, my mother is now with another family, and I don't know what her situation is. How can I bear to be happy here?" Zhong Sheng sighed a few times and said, "Alright, alright, what do you think?" He said, "I want to go and pay my respects to my father and see how my mother is doing. We'll discuss it again when I return." Zhong Sheng said, "That's a very good thing. I'll grant your wish." He then took out twenty taels of silver and handed it to him, saying, "Take this for your travel expenses." He said, "Where would I need this? Four or five taels of silver would be enough." Zhong Sheng was also testing him to see if he would spend the silver. Seeing that he said it was too much, he couldn't take it back. Then he said, "Your mother married into a very poor family. What you don't need, give to your mother." Seeing his uncle's concern, Zhong Zixin accepted it.

The next day, before dawn, he came to say goodbye to his uncle and aunt. Zhong Sheng urged him to return early, and he left. More than twenty days later, Zhong Sheng said to Qian Gui in his room, "It's only a five or six-day journey from here to Qingjiangpu; a round trip would take about half a month. He's been gone for a long time now and hasn't returned. I wonder why?"

A few days later, Zhong Zixin came in with a happy face and bowed to his uncle and aunt. Zhong Sheng asked, "I was just thinking of you here, and you've returned. How is your mother?" Zhong Zixin replied, "My mother and I have returned." Zhong Sheng asked in surprise, "She was at someone else's house; how could she have come with you?" He said, "I went there and found my mother. Her stepfather has been dead for two or three months, and she is all alone and helpless. I paid my respects to my father, and I had extra money for my journey. I also made some clothes for my mother, which is why we were delayed. I hired a small Yangzhou boat to exchange some Manjianghong wine at Yizhen Sluice Gate, and then came with my mother. We are now moored at Shicheng Bridge outside the Hanxi Gate." Zhong Sheng said, "Since you've come, why didn't you come home with him?" He said, "My mother said he had been married before, and she didn't know if my uncle would allow him to come back, so she dared not come with me." Zhong Sheng said, "What are you saying? Your mother had no choice back then. Now that she's here, how could she not come?" He then ordered his family to hire sedan chair bearers to carry her, and went with his nephew to fetch her. He instructed them to prepare wine and food.

Before long, Madam E arrived. Zhong Sheng, along with Qian Gui, Dai Mu, and their two sons, greeted them in the hall. Madam E wept briefly before exchanging greetings. When everyone saw Madam E, her temples were gray; she was already an old woman. They reminisced about the past few years, then a welcoming feast was prepared, and they drank merrily. Zhong Sheng had prepared a three-room detached courtyard, originally a small hall, which he had partitioned off to house his mother and sons. He also gave Madam E a maidservant and assigned two servants to take turns serving her tea and meals. "Madam E, how fortunate you are to have such a blessing! Remembering the past, how ashamed you must be!"

Mei Sheng, knowing of his sister-in-law and niece's reunion, informed Huan, Jia, and Tong. Madam Li, Madam Hou, Madam Tie, and Madam Fu all came to offer their congratulations. Qian Gui left food and wine, and Zhong Sheng had Zhong Zixin come in to thank his four in-laws. Li asked E, "Is your son married yet?" Qian Gui replied, "He doesn't have a bride's family yet; we're having a matchmaker find one for him." Fu said, "I saw a family with a beautiful daughter, virtuous and gentle, with a clean appearance. I'll go and meet her." Qian Gui said, "That's wonderful, but I wonder whose family she is?" Fu said, "It's Bao Xinzhi, a servant of mine. Isn't he now the Vice Prefect of the Northern Arrest Bureau? His wife invited me, and I have one of his aunts accompanying me. That's the one I'm talking about. His older brother is a scholar." Qian Gui quickly poured a cup of wine for Fu, bowed, and said with a smile, "I'm counting on your help." Fu returned the bow and said with a smile, "I don't know if it will work out yet, but I've already drunk the matchmaker's wine." Qian Gui said, "If you, my dear in-law, speak to her, there's no way it won't work out." As evening fell, they dispersed. Qian Gui told Zhong Sheng, who was delighted to hear this.

The next day, he personally went to ask Jia Wenwu for help, and Jia Wenwu agreed. The couple discussed it for a while and then invited Hanxiang, Hanxiang's sister-in-law, to come and discuss it in person. They then sent someone to invite the two wives of the Bao family for a chat. When they arrived and drank, Fu brought up the marriage proposal, and Hanxiang readily agreed. Zhengu said, "I'll go back and discuss it with my husband." She took her leave that evening.

The next afternoon, Hanxiang sent a maid to say, "The marriage has been agreed to. Please have someone from Master Zhong's household go to the second wife's house to ask for it." Jia Wenwu sent someone to inform Zhong Sheng, who knew that Wu He and Bao Xinzhi were old friends, so he invited Wu He to come and ask him to make the request. Bao Xinzhi agreed, and Zhong Sheng chose a date for the betrothal ceremony and then a lucky time to marry her. She was indeed a fine wife. She had been raised by Zhengu since childhood, was well-educated, courteous, and very virtuous and filial.

The E family was overjoyed to have such a good daughter-in-law, and they doted on him like a mother-in-law. "This is a misconception. How many daughters-in-law in the world truly love their mothers-in-law?" Even Qian Gui and Dai Mu were exceptionally kind to him. The family was harmonious. Zhong Sheng respected the E family, treating them with the respect due to an elder sister-in-law, and did not treat them with indifference because they had been married before. He loved Zhong Zixin's wife like his own daughter-in-law, and Qian Gui was also very close to the E family. Zhong Zixin was not only filial to his mother, but he also respected his uncle and aunt as if they were his own parents, and loved his two brothers immensely. Truly, a prodigal son's return is priceless.

Seeing his nephew's maturity, Zhong Sheng was delighted and entrusted him with all the household chores. He spent his free time reading or composing poetry, and when happy, he would invite Mei Sheng to enjoy the scenery, paying no attention to worldly affairs. Zhong Zixin did not disappoint his uncle, managing the household affairs meticulously and in an orderly manner.

One day, Zhong Sheng was at home chatting with his nephew when a man surnamed Xi came to see him. Zhong Sheng recognized him as Xi You and invited him in. Upon reaching the hall, Xi You bowed in thanks, and Zhong Sheng hurriedly returned the bow. Xi You said, "How dare you be so humble, sir?" and insisted that Zhong Sheng rise. Zhong Sheng resolutely refused. Only then did they both rise, bow, and sit down. Xi You said, "I was fortunate to meet you, sir, and I should have come to express my gratitude the next day, but I fear you had not yet returned home. I had some important matters to attend to and had been in Hangzhou for quite some time. I arrived at your residence last night and came today to pay my respects." Zhong Sheng said, "How could I dare trouble you? We are already acquaintances, and your form of address is too humble." Xi You took out a gift list from his sleeve and handed it to him, saying, "These are just small gifts, please accept them as a token of my respect to you, sir." Zhong Sheng took it and saw that it contained a variety of high-quality foods:

Jinhua ham, Shaoxing bamboo shoots, pine-red pickled sparrow, perch, Jiangyin pickled shad, roasted anchovies, Quzhou oranges, Huzhou wine-marinated bayberries, Taizhou Tianmo bamboo shoots, and honey-soaked carved dates. "Tianmo Ridge, meaning extremely high, is not Tianmu Mountain. There is a large temple on the ridge, with over a hundred households on either side. There is no land to cultivate, so the locals all gather and sell bamboo shoots, the same thin green bamboo shoots sold in the market, hence the name. The ridge produces extremely large dates, all pitted, carved with figures and flowers, and soaked in honey; they sell for two cents each locally. Travelers buy them as local gifts; if you eat them, they are only sweet, without any date flavor. There are also many Bauhinia trees on the ridge; the two of them dug up their roots and made incense, brush holders, spoons, chopsticks, bottles, and the like, which were quite exquisite." They also sold Huiquan wine and the like.

Zhong Sheng said, "How could I dare accept such kindness? I absolutely dare not accept it." Xi You said, "My sister has received a second life from you, sir, and I cannot repay even a fraction of your kindness; this is merely a small token of my gratitude. If you do not accept it, I will be ashamed to death." Zhong Sheng declined but could not refuse, then thanked him and accepted it, carrying it inside. He asked, "Brother, what have you been doing these past few years?" Xi You replied, "I used to do some business outside, but in recent years, due to the rampant bandits along the Yangtze River in Huguang, I dare not travel far. I've just stayed at home, only occasionally going to Suzhou and Hangzhou." Zhong Sheng said, "If you have nothing to do, why don't you come to the capital to see your sister?" Xi You said, "I've been thinking of that too." Zhong Sheng said, "Why do you still address me like that? We should just call each other friends." Xi You said, "I'm honored by your kindness, sir, and I've dared to ask. I would like to go see her later, but I'm afraid that since you hold such a high position, it would be difficult to meet you. If you don't recognize me, it would be a waste of travel expenses. I'm sorry for the trouble." "It's a trivial matter. If I were to visit a wealthy and powerful relative and return empty-handed, how could I face my friends and family? That's why I hesitated to go." Zhong Sheng laughed, "Brother's concerns are common among those who are opportunistic, but Rong Gong's sister is definitely not that kind of person. My feelings are but a small token, yet your sister and wife still remember it fondly, and Rong Gong loves her so much. How much more so would you, your own flesh and blood? Besides, your nephew is already over ten years old; how could he not recognize him? If you truly wish to go, I will send a message to Rong Gong, and also a letter to your sister and wife, explaining that you are going to visit relatives. When you arrive, please have someone deliver it to her. If your sister sees it, she will naturally greet you." Xi You was overjoyed and thanked him profusely.

Zhong Sheng then led him to the study and sat down. He wrote a letter to Rong Gong (the Duke of Rong) and a separate letter to Madam Xi, which were sealed together. He used the money as collateral for the books and gave it to Xi You, saying, "There are often bandits in the Shandong area, making travel very difficult. Brother, why don't you take a boat along the Grand Canal? You'll be safe then." Xi You replied, "I am honored by your kindness, sir, and dare not disobey." He then took his leave and returned home. A few days later, after everything was prepared, they boarded a longboat, a passenger or cargo ship, to go to the capital. After

nearly a month, they arrived at the Linqing Lock. With nothing to do on the boat, they went ashore for a walk, about two arrows' lengths away. Passing the lock, they saw several large ships also moored there, each bearing a large plaque with the golden characters "Returning in Triumph by Imperial Decree," accompanied by music and fanfare, creating a lively scene. Xi Youzheng stopped to look and heard someone beside him say, "I wonder which high-ranking official is returning home in such a grand manner." Another person said, "I just heard the gatekeepers gathering people to serve him at the lock. It was the Vice Minister of Rites, Lord Rong, from Huguang. His boat was returning home on sick leave and was about to pass through the lock." Upon hearing this, Xi Youzheng was startled and said, "Could this man be my sister's husband?"

Just as he was hesitating, he saw a respectable-looking steward swaying off the boat. "It is often the servants of the powerful who are favored, and the poor who have suddenly become rich, who are prone to swaying and swaggering, while upright people never behave this way." Xi You stepped forward and asked cautiously, "May I ask, sir, is this gentleman, who has returned in glory, the former governor of Jiangxi?" The man replied, "Indeed. What do you want to know about him?" Xi You was overjoyed and answered, "The former Minister of Justice, Lord Zhong, who lives in Nanjing, has sent a letter to inquire after you. I was on my way to the capital when I unexpectedly encountered him here." The man said, "Since you have Lord Zhong's letter, bring it here, and I will deliver it for you." Xi You said, "The letter is still on the boat. Please wait a moment, sir, and I will go and fetch it." He hurriedly returned to the boat, changed into new clothes, took out the letter, and handed it to the man at the side of the boat. The man said, "This is the lady's boat. You should stand far away and not come near. Wait for a reply." Xi You then stepped back and stood still.

The man took the letter onto the boat, reported it at the cabin door, and the maidservant received it and presented it to Rong Gong. Rong Gong opened the envelope and found a letter inquiring about his health and thanking the Xiang family for their generosity. Another small envelope, addressed to his wife, followed. Rong Gong also opened it. It began with greetings and expressions of gratitude from Qian and Dai. It then stated that he had met his wife's brother, Xi You, by chance, and that he had long cherished the bond between them, but dared not easily visit the Tan residence to acknowledge him. He urged Xi You to come to the capital, and thus sent this letter to him, requesting that Xi You personally deliver it. Upon seeing this, Rong Gong quickly ordered a maid to fetch his wife from the inner cabin and read the letter to him. So she asked, "Is this your brother who treated you so harshly?" Hearing the name Xi You, Lady Xi replied, "No. That one is my uncle, this is my own brother. When I came here that year, he was away doing business." She then asked the family member, "Where is the person who delivered the letter?" The family member replied, "He's standing on the shore now." Lady Xi hurried to the window and looked out. Sure enough, it was her brother. She quickly called out, "Quickly, please invite your uncle aboard to meet us!" The family member, realizing it was his wife's brother, rushed ashore and bowed deeply to Xi You, saying, "I didn't recognize you at first, madam. Please forgive my rudeness, madam." Xi You then boarded the boat, and the family member quickly helped him. "Truly, from arrogance to obsequiousness," Rong Gong said, leading him out of the cabin and into the cabin.

Xi You first bowed to Rong Gong, and then the brother and sister wept bitterly. After exchanging greetings and sitting down, Lady Xi invited her five nephews and two nieces to meet her maternal uncle. The eldest son was fifteen years old, had already married his nephew's wife, and had also become a maternal uncle. Rong Gong said to Xi You, "I was fifty years old and still had no sons, thinking there was no hope for an heir. Since marrying your sister, in sixteen years we have had five sons and two daughters, which is truly beyond my expectations." He then pointed to his eldest son and said, "His name is Rongxi, the second is Rongzhang, the third is Ronghao, the fourth is Rongyao, and the fifth is Rongtai." Xi You said, "This is all due to your father-in-law's loyalty to the emperor and love for the people; my sister has also benefited from this blessing." Xi's wife and siblings then reminisced about their longing for each other over the past decade.

Rong Gong inquired about Zhong Sheng's recent situation. Xi You and Zhong Sheng were not close friends, so he didn't know the details and only gave a brief answer. Rong Gong then asked Xi You if he had any other business in the capital. Xi You replied, "I've been separated from my sister for a long time and wish to visit her. I have no other business." Rong Gong said, "In that case, let's go back together." He instructed his family to help his uncle move his luggage, and they settled on the first passenger ship. Xi You also brought many Nanjing foods as gifts, which were all brought and presented. Lady Xi was truly delighted to see her brother arrive in such a distinguished manner.

Rong Gong hosted a welcoming banquet, and they all joined in the drinking. Xi You and Rong Gong sat opposite each other, while Lady Xi sat sideways. After several rounds of drinks, Lady Xi asked if he had remarried, married a sister-in-law, and had any nephews. Xi You said, "That year, I returned home in August, and in the following winter, I married the daughter of the Shao family as my second wife. We now have two daughters, one fourteen and the other eleven, and a son who is five years old." "This question is essential. Firstly, it allows the siblings to catch up, and secondly, it's for my future marriage to his daughter. If it's not mentioned here, the later events will seem sudden." Madam Xi asked, "Is that wicked Hao Gu still alive?" Xi You understood and replied, "Since he heard I was returning home that year, he fled and disappeared. This spring, I ran into him by chance, and I wanted to take him to the authorities. In his haste, he and Yang Weiying both drowned themselves in the river." Madam Xi sighed. She chuckled twice, then laughed heartily, "Heaven has eyes, Heaven has eyes!" "From a sentimental standpoint, he is indeed hateful, but from a practical standpoint, he deserves our deepest sympathy. If it weren't for his betrayal, how could we be in this situation today?" Rong Gong asked, "Who are you talking about?" Madam Xi replied, "My wicked brother." Rong Gong nodded and sighed twice, saying, "Those who are heartless towards their own flesh and blood, how can they not be punished? It's only a matter of time." He then said to Xi You, "My hometown in Huguang has been repeatedly ravaged by bandits, and it seems impossible to return. I humbly suggest finding a place near Nanjing, a village nestled by mountains and water, where I can find solace and temporarily reside. Is there such a place?" Xi You, upon hearing this, was overjoyed. If they settled in Nanjing, the siblings could meet often, which greatly encouraged him, saying, "Only twenty li from the city is Dongshan, where Xie An once lived, now called Tushan. That place has truly beautiful scenery; if you want to settle down, that's the best place." Rong Gong said, "Since there is such a wonderful place, brother-in-law, please rest for a few days and take some money to find a place to live, and prepare all the necessary utensils and tools."

A few days later, he asked Xi You and his family to take some money and hire a fast boat to go there first. He also replied to Zhong Sheng's letter, thanking him for sending Xi You to meet him.

Xi You arrived in Nanjing and met Zhong Sheng. He presented Rong Gong's letter and thanked Zhong Sheng for introducing him. Then he said that Rong Gong wanted to settle in Nanjing, which Zhong Sheng was very pleased with, so he sent someone to inquire when Rong Gong would arrive. After some days, Rong Gong arrived, and Zhong Sheng took him to the boat. He and his wife saw him off for the rest of the journey, and repeatedly thanked him for his past kindness. The next day, Qian Gui and Dai Shi, along with their two sons, also came to the boat to thank Madam Xi. Zhong Sheng then invited Rong Gong and Madam Xi to a welcome feast, but Rong Gong declined, refusing to enter the city. Zhong Sheng and his wife then sent a banquet, for which Rong Gong was extremely grateful. Madam Xi also sent many gifts from the capital.

Previously, Xi You had come to Tushan to inquire about buying land and houses. Yu Yiren, hearing that it was the Vice Minister who wanted to buy land and houses, offered to give away a large house and hundreds of acres of fertile land next door. Xi You refused, but Yu Yiren sold it at a low price, hoping to benefit from the situation. This is the common behavior of petty people since the beginning of humankind, and is not something to laugh at. Xi You then reported to Rong Gong that the house had been purchased, fully furnished, and Rong Gong and his family had moved to Tushan.

Because Yu Yiren had offered a lower price and they were neighbors, he often invited Rong Gong to visit. Zhong Sheng often visited Rong Gong, and occasionally met with Yi Yuren. They mentioned that Niu Zhi was his in-law. Niu Zhi's niece was Bao Fuzhi's wife, and Bao Fuzhi's sister was Zhong Sheng's niece-in-law. Such a complex relationship, he said to people, "Minister Zhong of the Ministry of Justice is also my fourth in-law—not just fourth, but eighth! Rather than acknowledging this connection, I'd rather say, 'Minister Zhong was originally the son-in-law I wanted.' And Minister Rong is a good friend of my in-laws." In this world of snobbery, many people cling to others for personal gain, but only those with discerning eyes find it shameful and laughable. Later, Rong Gong persuaded Xi You to move to Tushan to live with him. Madam Xi, seeing that her eldest niece was well-behaved, married her to her second son, further strengthening their bond and making them even closer. But that's another story.

One day, Zhong Sheng made a special trip to Tushan to visit Rong Gong. Rong Gong was delighted and said, "I live in a remote corner of the countryside, and there is hardly anyone here to talk to. My brother-in-law is someone I can at least talk to, but he has gone to Zhejiang. I am honored that you have come all this way, sir. I wish to offer you my humble abode for a few nights. The ancients had ten days of drinking in the plains. Although we are not drinkers, I would like to offer you ten nights of quiet conversation. I wonder what you think?" Zhong Sheng smiled and said, "I am also a man who has never experienced worldly affairs. Since you have shown me such kindness, how could I not comply? But I fear that I may be disturbing your kitchen and wasting your resources. I would feel uneasy about that." Rong Gong smiled and said, "Although you have visited several times before, I have been too busy to have a proper chat with you. I feel very apologetic. I offer you my humble abode today because I wish to talk about my long-standing feelings. But I fear that there are no fine dishes in the countryside to entertain you. How could I dare to say that I am disturbing you?" The two sat knee to knee in the study and talked about classics and history, poetry and prose, and the rise and fall of dynasties throughout history. They played several rounds of chess or sipped tea, and in the afternoon a lavish feast was prepared to entertain them. Zhong Sheng said uneasily, "I am deeply grateful for your kindness, sir. I should treat you as a close relative. Such a grand feast makes me feel uneasy." Rong Gong laughed, "It's just a meal; there's no need for such modesty." Zhong Sheng said, "Since you've gone to such trouble, and I'm the only one here, why not invite Yi Ren to join us? Would that be acceptable, sir?" Rong Gong said, "This old man is very worldly-wise. He doesn't care at all. People only worry about lacking power and influence. If you have those two words, even a fart will be praised as fragrant." Zhong Sheng laughed, "Inviting him to discuss literature might be too much for him. But inviting him for wine is probably fine." Rong Gong laughed heartily and instructed his servant to invite him.

When Yi Ren heard that Rong Gong had invited him to accompany Zhong Sheng, how could he refuse? He arrived in a moment. After exchanging greetings, Rong Gong said, "We are all close friends, please sit down." They politely declined each other's presence, with Zhong Sheng acknowledging Yi Ren's seniority, while Yi Ren insisted that Zhong Sheng, as a guest, should not presume to be so. After some time, Rong Gong said to Zhong Sheng, "Sir, there's no need for such modesty, please sit down. My esteemed friend Yi Ren is my neighbor, and we are practically neighbors. You have come from afar as a guest, which is a good thing. Besides, this is not a grand feast, why be so humble?" Yi Ren replied, "Your Excellency Rong is absolutely right

, I would never presume to be so humble as to ... Then they brought out fruit platters, all exquisite accompaniments to the wine.

Rong Gong said, “We have no guests; it’s best to be informal when friends meet. My student’s alcohol tolerance is too low, and I’m not suited for drinking, so I cannot keep you company. Mr. Zhong and Mr. Yi, please drink to your heart’s content.” Zhong Sheng replied, “I am grateful for your kindness, sir, but my capacity is meager. After a few cups, that will be enough. Mr. Yi, you have a very generous capacity; please drink a few more cups to satisfy your refined taste.” Although Yi Ren was a wealthy landowner, he always considered chicken, fish, goose, and occasionally a few pieces of sea cucumber and shark fin at a chef’s banquet to be the finest. He had never seen such delicacies before. There’s a saying: “It takes three generations of officials to know how to dress and eat.” Although he was only involved with livestock, the cooking was unusual, and he had no idea how it was prepared. Although he had just eaten those delicacies, there were still a few dishes he didn’t recognize. Seeing others eat, he ate too, only appreciating the taste. Now, with these rare fruits and exotic delicacies laid out before him, and the wine so fragrant it was almost intoxicating, he was tempted to indulge, but feared being laughed at for his rustic ways. Seeing Zhong Sheng offer him food, he thought, "Why don't I eat?" and began to devour it with gusto. Rong Gong, a high-ranking official, often entertained guests with great pomp and circumstance, but seeing Yi Yuren eating so heartily, he didn't recognize his rustic nature or the manners of a high-ranking official, and instead found him honest and endearing. He ordered a servant to bring a jade cup and repeatedly offered him wine, which Yi Yuren accepted without hesitation. By the time the lamps were lit, although not completely drunk, he was pleasantly tipsy. Zhong Sheng, having had his fill, said, "I've had enough; it's late, I must stop." Rong Gong insisted he stay, but Zhong Sheng earnestly declined. Yi Yuren also took his leave and went home. Rong Gong wanted to share a bed with Zhong Sheng, but Zhong Sheng repeatedly refused. After making his arrangements, he returned to his room. The events of the previous night are not described here.

Zhong Sheng awoke around dawn, faintly hearing weeping, which aroused his suspicion. At daybreak, he heard voices outside the window again. Though their voices were soft, there was a sighing lament within them, which seemed strange. He called his family to get up and ask, and Rong Gong's steward came in and said, "Master Yi went home last night and died suddenly at dawn. Just now, his son came to the door to kowtow and announce his death." Zhong Sheng was startled and quickly dressed. A short while later, Rong Gong came out, equally astonished.

After breakfast, Rong Gong and Zhong Sheng went to his house to offer their condolences. When asked about the cause of death, his two sons, showing no grief whatsoever, replied, "We don't know what illness it was. Mother said she was sleeping soundly, and in the middle of the night she cried out in pain—'but it wasn't heart pain, maybe it was ear pain.' She died at dawn." Zhong Sheng heard many women wailing inside. Listening closely, he nodded and sighed repeatedly. The two returned and sat down in the study. Rong Gong said, "Just now, you heard the wailing at his house and seemed quite suspicious. What was the reason?" "Zhong Sheng has a good ear, and Rong Gong has a good eye," Rong Gong replied. Zhong Sheng said, "There must be something unclear about this man's death. Although I cannot discern the meaning from the sounds, I can still get a general idea. Those women are nothing more than his wives, concubines, and maids. Those who are wailing but not truly distressed are simply crying because everyone has to, and they are merely empty sobs, not truly concerned. Several of them are wailing without sorrow, and their cries seem fearful. I don't know why. Only one is wailing with extreme grief and urgency. If there is something wrong, it will surely be revealed in this person someday. This is my humble opinion; perhaps it will be proven true someday." Rong Gong nodded and sighed several times. Zhong Sheng stayed for several days, then took his leave and went home.

Now, how did Yi Ren die? Ma Zao'er and Shui Liang'er were first paired with Miao Xiu and Gu Shi, thus obtaining a seed. How could these two maids not covet the status of their master's concubines, and willingly accept the lowly status of a servant's wife? They had originally been sent down to borrow a seed, and now that they had, they naturally had to report back to their master. Moreover, if they bore children, they hoped to become secondary wives in the future, so they told Yi Yuren. Two more women were summoned, but Yi Yuren had many concubines and maids. Although he was lustful, how could one person satisfy the pleasures of so many? These women, born in the countryside, and encountering such a lustful princess, did they know any shame? Yi Yuren did this day and night, in the courtyard and rooms, whenever he felt like it.

Although no male servants were allowed to come up, he was merely a wealthy landowner, not a family of officials or musicians; he didn't know what the proper decorum of a woman's household was. These women, deceiving him, frequently went out and each had a lover. The former husbands of Shui Liang'er and Ma Zao'er, Miao Xiu and Gu Shi, though two poor men, were both physically strong and powerful. They often went out to reminisce with them, and after several encounters, they abandoned their old husbands for new ones. The two women secretly discussed exchanging husbands. Why wouldn't the two men agree? If it were their own wives, they feared it would damage their reputation, or they might be stingy. This woman belonged to the master; why not use her publicly? So they exchanged husbands.

Since then, Shui Liang'er and Ma Zao'er could choose between new and old husbands as they pleased. Sometimes, if one of them had a spare moment and met Miao Xiu and Gu Shi, they would get together. Their genitals became like farmland, which Miao Xiu and Gu Shi planted together, and the four of them lived quite harmoniously. There was no competition between them, and this had been going on for more than a year.

Because all the women had their own secrets and kept them hidden from each other, none were willing to reveal anyone else's secrets. Only Zou, after her encounter with the fox spirit and her experience of such intercourse, realized that no man in the world could surpass her, and her lustful desires subsided. Later, she gave birth to Qi Jie, who grew up and married. Yu Yiren also began to treat her differently. Yuan, on the other hand, devoted herself solely to lust, "This is quite a thing, a strange tale." She neglected all household affairs. Zou, being second in rank, inevitably became the head of the household, and her position grew increasingly dignified and weighty. She no longer dared to engage in lewd acts. She knew that Yi Qin and Yi Shou were not her husband's children, and that her daughters would inherit most of the family property. Unexpectedly, her daughters died, and she took charge of the household affairs, always being lenient, which earned her the gratitude of the servants.

Since Yu Yiren took in the scorched-face ghost woman, although he liked her lustful nature, her face was already repulsive, and she was thin and bony, offering no redeeming qualities. At first, he would occasionally indulge in his whims, but later he never bothered to inquire about it again. This Jiao was an incomparably flirtatious person. In those days, she was called a widow, but because no one favored her, she was truly suffering. Later, she met Bu Tong, and after several years of tormenting him, her flirtatious nature was finally somewhat satisfied. Now, seeing her constantly enjoying herself with others in Yi Ren's household, I can never share in her joy and happiness. I feel satiated, but how can I bear it? Although I have been assigned a horn-wielding gentleman and a few monkeys in the backyard, "horn-wielding gentleman and monkeys, that's quite a good match." How can that satisfy my craving? It's like trying to put out a fire with a cup of water—how can that be enough? Later, I learned that she had a lover behind her back. Not only was she a newcomer and didn't know who her friends were or where to find them, but she was also not good-looking. When she tried to seduce people with her flattering manner, she not only failed to win their affections but also received more laughter than praise. Knowing that such a good thing wouldn't be his turn, his initial excitement turned into anger, which in turn fueled his jealousy. He frequently went out to inquire about other people's mistakes, hoping to vent his pent-up resentment.

That day, he had no heart to go down and see his son, searching everywhere but finding no trace of him. He found Miao Xiu under the window and heard strange noises coming from inside. Peeking through the crack, he saw Miao Xiu and Ma Zhao'er making love on a stool on the floor, while Gu Shi and Shui Liang'er were making love on the bed, the sounds audible outside the window. Seeing such a delightful sight, how could he leave? He stood there watching for a long time. The four of them then took turns. When Shui Liang'er and Ma Zhao'er reached their climax, their laughter and moans, though not daring to shout loudly, couldn't help but escape their lips. Jiao Shi looked at one and then the other, watching them go in and out, unable to blink, her eyes blurred, and she didn't even notice the water running down her legs and soaking her trousers and clothes. Seeing that they were finished and about to leave, Miao and Gu Shi withdrew their penises, which were quite impressive, and she couldn't help but shudder, her whole body going numb. If he looked any longer, he feared they would come out and see him, and not only would he not be able to share in the spoils, but he might also be subjected to their indecent behavior. He could only grit his teeth, pat his chest, and think, "Patting my chest, wonderful! I can't look, but I don't want to leave; it's truly difficult to describe." His legs felt paralyzed, weak and unable to move. He could only slowly walk step by step, struggling to reach the top, collapsing onto the bed, and fuming for half a day.

One day, seeing that no one was around Yuan, he secretly told her how thick and large their penises were, comparing them with his hands to show Yuan, describing the act with great relish. When Madam Yuan heard about their adultery, she was unconcerned. However, when she learned that the two men possessed such "goods," she became furious, thinking to herself, "He's already fifty, and his energy is far greater than before. I have to guard this 'Mr. Right' day and night, and to taste good meat is harder than rare treasures. They have such fine things, yet they don't send them to me as a token of their respect, but instead keep them to themselves. How despicable!" She then said to Madam Jiao, "Keep an eye on things. If they try to do it again, tell me, and I'll catch them. You'll be rewarded." Madam Jiao, understanding her intentions, kept a close watch on the situation.

One day, Yu Ren went to town to see his son-in-law, Niu Geng. Taking advantage of this free time, the concubines and maids all went to find their own partners. Madam Jiao, being observant, saw Shui Liang'er and Ma Zao'er sneak off in a flash. She followed them and, peering through the window, saw the four of them making their move. He rushed up, panting and grinning, and gestured to Madam Yuan, saying, "The four of them are dressed again, like this and that, Madam, hurry and see." Madam Yuan followed him down to Miao Xiu's door, pushed it open (but it wasn't properly latched), and saw the four of them.

Upon seeing their mistress, they were terrified, kneeling naked and kowtowing. Madam Yuan remained silent, first glancing at their waists, and indeed saw two fine things: a wet, bald head and a straight, black beard, quite arousing. Sitting on the bed, she feigned anger, saying, "You did this behind my back, what crime should you be punished for?" The four dared not utter a sound, only kowtowing. Upon seeing the beautiful objects, Madam Yuan was both unable to resist and afraid of wasting time. She laughed and scolded, "You two servants, you have such good things, but instead of offering them to me, you offer them to the maids." She then said to Shui and Ma, "You two harlots, you have such fine things, but you don't even offer them to me. Are you allowed to keep them for yourselves?" The four of them were relieved upon hearing this.

Ma Zao'er laughed and said, "We have long wanted to offer them to you, Madam, but since we haven't seen anything special, we were afraid you wouldn't like them, so we dared not. If you don't mind, Madam, please have him serve you well." The two of them stood up, and Shui Liang'er helped him undress. Madam Yuan said, "Why take off your clothes in broad daylight?" Ma Zao'er went to pull down his trousers, and he used that as an excuse to fall onto the bed. As soon as Ma Zao'er had undressed him, Shui Liang'er quickly took a quilt, folded it, and placed it under his buttocks, saying to Miao Xiu, "You serve Madam well." Miao Xiu still thought it was a dream, and with a smile, she hurriedly went to do it. Seeing that Gu Shi was still kneeling, Madam Yuan said, "Those two have had their fill, you and Jiao Shi go have your turn." Although Gu Shi didn't love him, he dared not disobey his mistress's order, so he jumped up. Jiao Shi hurriedly pulled down her trousers, "Slow down, it'll be a pity if you tear them." Gu Shi pressed him down on a broken chair, Jiao Shi's legs were wide open, and Gu Shi clamped his legs under his ribs, making a scene like the story of the lazy man pushing a cart. "I recall a funny story. A thief entered a house, just as the couple was having sex. He heard the wife ask, 'What's this called?' The husband replied, 'It's called the lazy man pushing a cart.' A little while later, the wife made lewd noises and laughed. The thief couldn't bear it and started running around frantically. The husband heard it and was horrified, saying, 'That's footsteps.' The thief said, 'It's walking.' The husband asked in surprise, 'How can you walk around in someone's house?' The thief said, 'You can push a cart on the bed, can't you walk around in the house?'" "Ma Zao'er, wanting to flatter his mistress, climbed onto the bed and, from behind, grabbed Miao Xiu's buttocks with both hands and pushed him hard. Shui Liang'er, also getting into the mood, smiled at Gu Shi and said, "I'll help you too," and started pushing from behind. It took quite a while before they dispersed. Now

, let's talk about Zou Shi. That day, she was sitting inside the window. When Yuan Shi went downstairs, she didn't see her, but she glimpsed Yuan Shi taking Jiao Shi out, and they didn't return for a long time, but she didn't think much of it. Later, however, when Yi Yuren wasn't home, Yuan Shi and Jiao Shi went out and didn't return for half a day. She didn't know why. This happened several times, and she wondered, "She never goes downstairs often, but these days she keeps going there. This is a bit strange." That day, Yi Yuren had to go out again, and she saw Yuan Shi and Jiao Shi hurriedly leaving. Zou Shi went out to look for them herself. When she got to the courtyard gate, she looked around, but she couldn't find the houses anywhere. Thinking, "Why bother with his business?" Just as she was about to turn back, a little girl of about ten years old came by. Zou asked, "Have you seen Grandma?" The girl replied, "I saw Grandma and Aunt Jiao go to Uncle Miao's house first, but I haven't seen her since." Where is Miao Xiu's house? It's at the end of a corner, a place where no one goes. "This sentence is well-chosen; otherwise, no one would see or hear what they're doing." Zou quietly went to the front of the house and saw that the door was closed. She listened through the door and window and heard strange noises. She looked out the window and saw Gu Shi and Yuan Shi on the bed, their legs dangling, like he was pulling a bellows, making Yuan Shi moan and groan. Ma Zao'er was pushing them from behind. Miao Xiu and Jiao Shi were doing it on a bench, while Shui Liang'er watched with a smile. Although Jiao Shi didn't dare to shout, she called out to her ancestors, brothers, father, and husband without restraint. Upon seeing this, Madam Zou quickly withdrew and returned to her room. Sitting down, she thought, "It's not right for the maid to be shameless, but how could a mistress like myself do such a despicable thing? To be so lewd with two servants like the maid and the wife in broad daylight—it's utterly shameless. It's bad to tell Father about this, but it's also bad to keep quiet. If it comes to light, the innocent and the guilty will be implicated, and that's a minor matter. What if something unexpected happens? They've reached such a lowly position; their hearts are completely broken. What affection between husband and wife, mistress and servant, is left? It's best to tell Father so he can be more vigilant."

Several days later, Yi Yuren came to Madam Zou's room. Madam Zou seemed hesitant and reluctant to speak, her words tumbling out in a halting manner. Yi Yuren became very suspicious and questioned her repeatedly. Left with no other choice, Zou told him what she had seen, repeatedly instructing him, "You must not make a fuss about it. Just keep it to yourself. If you see it with your own eyes another day, drive those two servants away. That way, you won't be disgraced or suffer any harm, and the matter will be settled in a day. If you make a scene now, without any evidence, how can anyone believe you? If you say I told you, wouldn't that create an enmity between you and your grandmother? Even if your grandmother's family and his relatives find out, without any evidence, they will not only accuse you of framing him but also blame you for listening to your concubine. If we wrongly accuse the wife and it goes to court, we will both be guilty." Although Yu Yiren was completely ignorant, he understood human nature. He deeply agreed with Zou's words and kept his anger to himself. As the saying goes, "You can't put butter in a dog's belly." Although he held back his anger, when he saw Yuan, Jiao, Ma Zao'er, and Shui Liang'er, he was no longer the same person he had been before, his face filled with rage.

Two or three days later, Rong invited him to accompany Zhong Sheng. That day, he had an extra cup of wine. When he got home, he sat on a chair in the main room. The wine welled up, and he wanted tea. Jiao, oblivious to his mood and eager for his favor, hurriedly poured a cup of tea and awkwardly brought it to him. He was instantly angered, his anger rising. He couldn't bear it any longer, and without taking the tea, he slapped her across the face, causing her to stumble. The teacup fell to the ground and shattered. He cursed, "You harlot! You killed a perfectly healthy man! Then you had an affair with Mr. Bu. After he died, no one loved you, and you cried and wailed every day. I was kind enough to take you in, providing you with food and clothing. I even had some affection for you, but you became so greedy and greedy, and then you started leading those shameless harlots to keep lovers!" Enraged, he stood up and punched and kicked her several more times, until Jiao was crouching on the ground crying for help. Yi Ren's anger flared even more. He pushed her down, ripped off her pants, revealing her slick and glistening vulva. He took off his shoes and used the soles to slap her bare buttocks and genitals. "Slapping the genitals is extremely fun. But this is not a place for being teased," the old man said. "This is a place for pounding with a red stick, not for slapping the mouth with shoe soles." Jiao screamed like a pig being slaughtered.

Hearing this, the concubines and maids all rushed into the main hall, each harboring their own secret thoughts. Madam Zou secretly groaned in despair, fearing he would reveal her identity. Seeing him drunk, she dared not try to dissuade him. Ma Zao'er and Shui Liang'er, only interested in lust, were two fools who ignored their master's words. Relying on his status as a concubine with a son, they stepped forward to pull him away, saying, "Where did you get such baseless accusations? We're together all day long, how could such a cheap man be allowed to keep us? Do you think men and women's organs are all on their foreheads? Did you just bump into them?" Yi Yuren's anger flared even more. He threw down his shoe, grabbed Ma Zao'er, and punched her in the face, sending her stumbling several times. She didn't fall, blood gushing from her mouth and nose, clutching her face as she ran away. Yi Yuren grabbed Shui Liang'er's hair, threw her to the ground, and began punching and kicking her repeatedly in the back and groin, cursing, "You all cheated together, committed adultery, and you dare to defend him!" Yuan Shi, having initially seen the reason behind Yi Yuren's curses and the cowardly men's lack of courage, dared not come out to protect them. Now, seeing them so badly beaten, she felt sorry for the three men and came out of the room, sitting down in a chair, saying, "Oh dear, 'Oh dear' is so useful, this 'Oh dear' sounds like the arguing of a harlot." "Why don't you say it yourself, 'Oh dear, I've lived to be over fifty, and I've started keeping a lover again.' Keeping a lover is something you can't do without, did you see it with your own eyes? Meat boiled in yellow wine, such a thieving sight, beating several people like this for no reason." Yi Yuren jumped up and cursed, "Shameless harlot, what are you trying to protect them for?" "How dare you even speak like that! You complain about the fishy smell, and you keep a lover while abandoning your wife. It's you! Didn't you sleep with Miao Xiu and Gu Shi? You even slept with that harlot Jiao Shi, and those two harlots, Ma Zao'er and Shui Liang'er, pushed each other along. Do you think I don't know?" Yuan Shi saw that he had hit the nail on the head and had no reply. She felt ashamed again and could only cry and curse loudly: "You heartless bastard! I've been your wife for over thirty years, and you listened to that harlot's instigation, accusing me of keeping a lover?" Yu Yiren cursed: "You filthy harlot, you've been with your servants for so long, and now you accuse me of blaming you!" He was about to pounce on him. Zou Shi saw that things weren't going well and held him back tightly. At this point, the alcohol in his body was flowing even more, and he couldn't hold on any longer. Zou Shi helped him to Yuan Shi's bed in the room to sleep. He gritted his teeth and cursed: "It's late today, I won't talk to you. Tomorrow I'll twist the legs of those two servants, Miao Xiu and Gu Shi, and interrogate them to see if they'll confess?" "Once I find out the truth, I'll chop you harlots into a million pieces, that's no small feat!" Zou helped him take off his shirt and comforted him to sleep. He roared angrily for a while before falling asleep. It was
almost the third watch, and everyone was resting. Yuan, along with Jiao, Mazao'er, and Shuiliang'er, whispered in the west room, "How did he know such details about this? If we interrogate them tomorrow, and they confess, all six of us will be in danger. He's a vicious man who does what he says. The ancients said, 'He who strikes first wins.' Let's sacrifice one of them to save the rest of us." Mazao'er said, "We dare not make the decision. We'll leave it to you, Madam." Yuan thought for a while, realizing that they might not necessarily die, and that this path was now closed, leaving no other option, she said fiercely, "Fine, it's either him or me. But we can't make the move. You two quietly open the door and call Miaoxiu and Gushi." "They arrived shortly afterward. Yuan told him what Yi Ren had said, saying, 'This is bad now. We can only survive if we harm him. What do you two say?' Miao Xiu and Gu Shi were poor men from the countryside, completely ignorant of worldly affairs. 'But they know how to get things done.' They knew what profit and loss meant?" Hearing that he would be punished the next day, and wondering what kind of punishment it would be, she said, "We'll do whatever Grandma instructs." Madam Yuan said, "I was thinking of strangling or pounding him to death, but I'm afraid people will notice. When I was a daughter at home, I heard an old saying about a daughter who murdered her husband by driving a nail into his ear, so it was impossible to tell. Only that method would be effective." "Unexpectedly, Madam Yuan is so good at learning from the ancients. She probably hears many ancient sayings, not all about murdering husbands, but this one. It's not surprising, though. The Bible and the biographies of virtuous men speak of loyalty, filial piety, and righteousness, yet people don't learn them. But the deeds of treacherous ministers, rebellious sons, and wicked children are often imitated. Treacherousness is like Madam Yuan's listening to the ancients." "But we can't bring ourselves to do it. We're afraid he'll jump up and we won't be able to catch him, which would be even worse. That's why I called you two here." The two men said, "What's the big deal? Even a big, stupid water buffalo is easy to kill, let alone a drunkard." "Comparing our lord to a water buffalo is a brilliant analogy. However, even Yi Ren is only comparable to a water buffalo." "Do you have any nails to find?" Madam Yuan said, "I don't have any nails, but I had a broken piece of firewood in my basket the other day; that should be useful." She found it and handed it to Miao Xiu. Miao Xiu looked at it and said, "Excellent, even better than nails! But what if he screams and people hear?" She said to Gu Shi, "You cover his mouth first, so I can nail it in. Grandma and the others hold him down; don't let him move." Miao Xiu took a club and they all went to the east room.

Yuan Shi and the three women held him down, while Gu Shi quickly covered his mouth. Yi Yuren was fast asleep, completely unaware. Miao Xiu put a fire poker in his ear and hammered it in. Yi Yuren didn't even struggle before he was dead. "A life of meanness, struggling to earn money, what has he earned in his dying moments?" Yuan Shi, fearing blood from his ear, stuffed it tightly with cotton, leaving no trace, and quietly sent the two away. It was already past dawn when they pretended to be panicked and cried out, "Oh no! Master said he was in pain, and now he's dead in his sleep!" "Sleep well, everyone who loves to sleep should sleep like this." When everyone got up to check, he was already cold and stiff. They quickly dressed him, put a door panel on him, and covered his face. Those beastly people, Yi Qin and Yi Shou, "what are they but beasts?" didn't even cry. "There are many such filial sons, and not just this diligent one." He was told to announce the death, and he did. He was told to stand guard before the body, and he did. "To obey one's mother's command after one's father's death is truly filial piety." When Rong Gong and Zhong Sheng arrived, Zhong Sheng heard the cries, among which the four women, Yuan Shi and her companions, were crying with fear. They had murdered their husband, though no one knew, they were still afraid, hence their trembling cries. The other concubines and maids treated their masters like servants, indifferent to their fate, and merely wailed. Only Zou Shi, seeing that her husband's death was indeed caused by her words, and that his death was highly suspicious, wanted to confront him, but had no one else to help. She also feared that he had indeed died suddenly from an illness, which would incur Yuan Shi's wrath. Her mind was filled with a thousand thoughts, so she cried very bitterly.

The next day, during the encoffining, monks and Taoists were invited to chant several scriptures. On the seventh day after death, he was buried beside Yi Lao'er. Yuan Shi initially feigned crying several times, but after the coffin was removed, only laughter could be heard; there was no sign of grief. Only Zou was left, and she often wept. Yuan, finding the many servants an eyesore, had either married off or sold off her concubines and maids. Although she found them an eyesore, she had accumulated much good karma, keeping only Jiao, Ma Zao'er, Shui Liang'er, and a few trusted maids, intending for Zou to remarry. Zou said, "Although I have never given birth to a son, I have raised daughters who have married. I am over forty years old; I am a member of the Yi family in life and in death. Where can I go? Even if my whole family is gone, I still won't be able to go anywhere." (A subtle reference to Yuan's husbands, brilliant.) She went to Yu Ren's spirit and wept bitterly for half a day. Yuan dared not force her. After some time, Yuan, having been alone for a long time, could no longer bear it. That evening, she secretly called Miao Xiu and Gu Shi in, and she slept with several women in one bed.

One night, in the stillness of the night, Zou woke up to the faint sound of laughter coming from the main room. He got up and looked out the window, seeing the light shining brightly. He quietly opened the door, tiptoed to the window, and peered out. He saw six men and women, all completely naked. Jiao was on top of the bed, his buttocks raised high, Yuan lying on his back, Ma Zao'er and Shui Liang'er each holding one of his legs, wide open. Miao Xiu and Yuan were making love, while Gu Shi pushed hard from behind. They laughed as they did so, the noise reaching the lower room. Zou was furious but dared not utter a sound, quickly returning to his room. Their lewd acts were numerous and unspeakable. Yuan provided the two with money, fine clothes, and delicious food, far surpassing their former lives, and they lived happily for eight or nine months. "Nine is an odd number; it's their turn to be unlucky and enter officialdom." Meanwhile

, one of Rong Gong's students, surnamed Zhi, was from Shanxi and a descendant of Zhi Bo of Jin. His given name was Gong, and he was newly appointed as the acting inspector of Nanjing. He was an upright and incorruptible official, truly stern and impartial; people called him the reincarnation of Bao Zheng, the legendary judge. Knowing that Rong Gong was residing in Tushan and had some free time from official duties, he reduced his entourage, traveling only in a sedan chair with a dozen or so men, to visit his teacher in the countryside. The villagers did not know he was the magistrate. Just as they arrived outside the village, a whirlwind, carrying sand, suddenly swirled in front of the sedan chair. Magistrate Zhi's heart skipped a beat, and he shouted, "If the wronged soul has a spirit, lead my yamen runners with you!" As soon as he finished speaking, the whirlwind moved on. Magistrate Zhi instructed two yamen runners, "You two, quickly follow this wind and see where it stops. Report back when you find out the truth." The two yamen runners like lightning, following the whirlwind.
Guan Jue, upon hearing this, noticed that Yan Liang hadn't visited for several years and his sudden arrival today made him somewhat suspicious. Seeing An Jun come to pay his respects might have stirred their opportunistic thoughts, so he had no choice but to go out and greet him. Upon entering the hall, he let Fu Jie in. Yan Liang and Fu Hou feigned smiles, bowed deeply, and knelt down. Guan Jue hurriedly returned the courtesy, saying, "My two in-laws, why is this?" The two replied, "We have something to ask of you, in-laws; how could we not kneel and beg?" Guan Jue said, "How dare you! We are family; why such formalities? Please sit down and speak with us. I will do everything within my power to help." After repeated requests, they finally rose and sat down. The two men said in unison, "Since our in-laws returned home, my brother has been so busy with work that he hasn't been able to do anything to help us. I'm truly ashamed." Guan Jue said, "We are close relatives, why make such formalities?" Yan Liang continued, "Regarding the murder case, the prefectural magistrate heard some lies and said that our in-laws are very wealthy and demand 10,000 taels of silver to settle the matter. We've already offered 6,000 taels, but he still won't agree. As you know, our in-laws' household items, 'if they are from the same village and are close neighbors,' don't even amount to 10,000 taels. Now, including the miscellaneous expenses for the funeral, we've already spent over 7,000 taels. All that's left is some land and property. Shouldn't we keep some for living expenses? Even if we give him some now, it won't be enough. Because our in-laws have a good relationship with the prefect, we've come to ask for your help. If the matter is settled, the 6,000 taels can be given to the prefect or kept by your in-laws, as long as the matter is resolved. Our in-laws can handle the funeral arrangements themselves." Pointing to the jar, he said, "This is silver; send it to your residence first." Guan Jue replied, "The magistrate has come from afar this morning to visit me; I am already grateful for his kindness, which is excessive. I am but a dismissed and impoverished official; how can I possibly have such a privilege?" (His words subtly implied a threat, quite cleverly.) "Besides, we have only just met; how can I plead for him? If we cannot reach an agreement, it will jeopardize the marriage between the two in-laws. It would be better to find another suitable way." Seeing his refusal, Yan Liang and Fu Hou quickly knelt down and said, "If what you say is appropriate, there is no better way than for our in-laws. If you are concerned about the past, then this matter will not end well." Fu Hou wept and said, "If my son does not survive, I have no other son, and I cannot live either." Guan Jue knelt down and helped him up, saying, "Let's discuss it further."

Just then, a maidservant came from inside and said, "Madam is requesting the master's presence." Guan Jue bid farewell to the two maidservants and came in. Madam Guan said, "Miss Fu has repeatedly begged me to speak to you on behalf of her son-in-law. What is your idea?" Guan Jue said, "My two in-laws have been talking for a while now, so I can't speak to them directly." Fu Jie knelt down and cried, "Father-in-law, if you don't save your son-in-law, can you bear to watch him die?" Guan Jue told his wife to pull her up, saying, "Miss, please get up and we can discuss this." Fu Jie said, "There's nothing to discuss. If my father-in-law doesn't agree, I dare not get up." Grandma Guan said, "Alright, look how anxious they are. You speak to them for them and see if the madam agrees, then we'll decide what to do next." Guan Jue hesitated for a moment, then said, "Alright, I'll go and talk to them tomorrow. Please get up." Fu Jie kowtowed and then got up.

Guan Jue went out, and Fu Jie followed him out, saying to Yan Liang and Fu Hou, "Fathers, Father-in-law Guan has agreed and will speak to them for us tomorrow." The two men smiled and hurriedly bowed to express their gratitude before taking their leave. Guan Jue said, "My dear in-laws, please take this silver back with you. We don't know how things will turn out yet, so we'll come back for it once everything is settled." Fu Hou said, "My dear in-laws, you've already said that there's no end to the trouble, so why bother taking it back? Please accept it." The two went out, and Sister Fu went with them. Guan Jue saw them to the door and returned, then told his servants to carry the jar to the main room and place it there.

The next day, he went into the city to visit the governor, who invited him to stay for a meal. During their conversation, Guan Jue, seeing that there were no other people around, mentioned that Fu Hou was his relative by marriage. His son had accidentally injured someone, and the deceased's family had explained the situation and agreed to a settlement. The governor, however, had misheard rumors that his relative was a wealthy man and was determined to bring his son to justice. Yesterday, he was honored by the presence of his elder brother, who visited his humble abode, and his relative had asked him to intercede. He dared not lie to his elder brother, who promised him a generous reward, hoping that the governor would not pursue the matter further. Not only were his relative and son grateful, but he himself had also received much in return. The governor said, "These are minor matters; I will report back tomorrow." Guan Jue took out a note from his sleeve and handed it to the governor. The governor took it and read the words "My relative Fu Jin requests your favor," and then handed it to his servant. After finishing his meal, Guan Jue took his leave and went home. Fu Hou and Yan Liang came to ask for a letter, and Guan Jue told them what the governor had said. Overjoyed, the two bowed repeatedly, expressing their gratitude before departing. Guan Jue, seeing the matter settled, took out the silver. He had never seen so much in his life and was delighted, putting it away in his box.

The next day, the provincial governor summoned the magistrate, who said, "In the case of Fu Jin's manslaughter, the deceased's relatives have no objection. Prefect Xi's unwarranted obstruction is suspicious. Instruct him to close this case quickly." The magistrate came out and spoke to the prefect. For Prefect Xi,

losing a large sum of money was a minor matter; hearing that the governor knew about the bribery, he was terrified. He immediately sent messengers to inform the previous official, dismissing Fu Jin. He also sent messengers to the deceased's relatives, urging them to quickly collect the body for burial. "Several messengers in succession, depicting the prefect's terrified state." He then ordered Fu Hou to provide burial money for the deceased's relatives and immediately cancel the case file. The governor reported this to the provincial governor, who then sent messengers to report back to Guan Jue. Guan Jue sent him a small gift of wine and food, and then personally went to the city's censorate to express his gratitude. Fu Hou and his son, along with Yan Liang, came to the Guan family to thank them, and Fu Jie also came to express her gratitude to Guan Jue, his wife, brother-in-law, and sister. Fu Hou also paid off the money for the deceased relative, and the Wu family carried the body back. The day's important matters were settled, and the people were endlessly grateful to

their in-laws, Guan. The prefect inquired how the provincial governor knew about this matter and learned that Fu Hou was related to Guan Hanlin by marriage, and Guan Hanlin was the governor's younger brother. Fearing that Guan Jue might hold a grudge, he hurriedly went to the village to pay his respects, apologized profusely, and presented a generous gift, hoping to have a moment of silence before the governor.

Seeing the prefect's obsequious apology, Yan Liang and Fu Hou respected their relative even more, as if he were a god. Yan Liang prepared a feast and wine as a welcome party. "Huan Shi has been home for several years, and it's only now that Tong has grown up that he's being welcomed—that's stingy. Guan Jue has been home for several years, and it's only now that Yan Liang is welcoming him—that's opportunistic. They're consistent in their actions, yet each has their own true intentions. How ingenious! The old man said: 'As the saying goes, if you're sincere about paying New Year's visits, Qingming Festival isn't too late.'" The two thanked him and personally invited Guan Jue and his wife, along with their daughter and son-in-law. Guan Jue said, "We're close relatives, why be so formal? I wouldn't dare to trouble you." Yan Liang said, "This cup of wine isn't really for you, my dear in-laws, but merely to express my humble sentiments. I've already invited a play; if you, my dear in-laws, refuse to come, am I supposed to eat at home? If my relatives and friends in the village see that I can't even invite my in-laws, I'll be ashamed to death. How can I even leave my house then?" Seeing his reaction, Guan Jue said, "Since you've gone to such trouble, I'll accept it." Only then did he smile.

Seeing Guan Bixian standing nearby, he said, "Son-in-law, please come and sit at my house." Guan Bixian replied, "My father can go and fetch you. Who am I to bother my father-in-law? Aren't you afraid my mother-in-law will be offended?" Yan Liang blushed and smiled apologetically, "Do you still remember your mother-in-law's nasty words? That's a scoundrel. Don't take him seriously. If you're angry with him, my father-in-law will apologize on his behalf." Guan Jue said to his son, "When elders give orders, juniors dare not refuse. If your father-in-law calls you, just go. What's the point of saying more?" He then said to Yan Liang, "I'll bring my son to your residence shortly." Yan Liang said to Guan Bixian, "There are no guests today. I've specially invited my in-laws, including my wife, son-in-law, and aunt. I've also invited the Fu family, your aunt and uncle, and your wife and uncle to accompany you. Please go in and invite my wife and aunt." Guan Bixian went in and came out after a while, saying: “My mother will go. My daughter is ill and cannot go.” Yan Liang laughed and said, “I know, I know. Since that’s the case, I’ll have your mother-in-law come and invite you herself.” He took his leave and went back to Chuang’s house, saying, “Your parents and son-in-law have all come, but my daughter-in-law refuses, saying she’s ill. She probably still remembers what you said that day. I told her to go and invite her.” Chuang’s house said, “You’re not good enough. I’ll go. What’s the point of talking about mother and daughter these days? If she holds a grudge and doesn’t come, I’ll kneel down and apologize. Do you think she won’t come?” Yan Liang laughed and said, “I thought I was quite cold-hearted, but you’re even more ruthless than me. With such a sharp tongue, you deserve this old, wrinkled face.” Fu’s house said, “I’ll go with my mother to invite her.”

When Chuang’s house and Fu’s house arrived at the Guan’s house, Lu’s house invited them to sit down. Chuang said to Guijie, "Your in-laws are willing to go, but you, their own daughter, are acting like a guest and declining." Guijie replied, "Why should I decline my own parents? Firstly, I'm not feeling well, and secondly, I'm afraid of disgracing them, so I dare not go." Chuang chuckled and said, "Alright, my dear aunt, do you still remember my rude words? I'm a dying man, why are you arguing with me? If you're angry with me, it's like being angry with a dog. I'm here to take advantage of your family's reputation, how could I say anything disgracing? If you don't go, I'll kneel down and see if you're happy then?" Fujie laughed and said, "Sister, if Mother says so, it would be embarrassing if you didn't go. I'll kneel down." Just as she was about to kneel, Guijie quickly pulled her up. Grandma Guan said, "Since your mother-in-law and daughter-in-law have said so, why are you still refusing? Come with me." Seeing that her mother-in-law had agreed, and seeing her mother and sister looking both funny and pitiful, Guijie replied, "Grandma, how dare I not go?" Chuangshi said, "The feast is all prepared. Please come with us, madam." Grandma Guan saw that Guijie was wearing ordinary old cloth clothes and said, "I am an older woman, but you are a young woman. You should change your clothes." Guijie said, "It's fine as it is. I won't change." [The old man said: "I won't change your clothes. Good."] Grandma Guan did not insist on her.

The two families lived just a wall apart; the gate of the Guan family's house led directly to the gate of the Yan family's house. They didn't need sedan chairs and simply walked there together. Yan Liang then personally invited them, and Guan Jue and his son went with him to his home. Fu Hou and his son greeted them at the gate with deep respect and led them to the hall.

Guan Jue noticed that a curtain separated the hall to the west. Regular guests sat outside, while official guests were served in two separate rooms. A table was placed in the center for Guan Jue to sit at, with Fu Hou and Yan Liang accompanying him. Guan Jue said, "Where is this seating arrangement? My in-law, Fu, is older." Fu Hou replied, "How dare I? This is a special occasion for you, my in-law. I am merely accompanying you, so naturally you should sit here." He insisted repeatedly, but Guan Jue refused, wanting Fu Hou to sit with him. Yan Liang said, "Today I have specially invited you, my in-law, and you would never presume to do so. Please, my in-law, be accommodating." Guan Jue had no choice but to sit. Guan Bixian and Fu Jinheng then took their seats. The singing and drinking went without further ado.

The women sat inside, and Chuangshi was incredibly obsequious, offering this and that. One moment she said, "My dear in-law, please have some of this humble food." The next she said, "Auntie, you must be hungry; please eat some, it's just to show our poor hearts." She added, "My eldest aunt is quite good now, and later she had a great fortune. Even at such a young age, she was so mature, unlike others who are frivolous. Look how honestly she dresses." Guijie said, "My family is poor, we don't have nice clothes. Our simple clothes and hairpins are what poor people wear." Chuangshi laughed and said repeatedly, "Oh, eldest auntie, are you disrespecting me? I'm just telling the truth. Do you think I'm mocking you? If I had that intention, I'd be gossiping myself to death. I'm speaking from the heart." Her flattery of the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law was truly indescribable.

Meanwhile, Granny Fu and Sister Fu, having nothing to say, forced smiles and feigned intimacy to fawn over her. Those maids who had demoted Sister Gui that day—one brought over the wine pot, saying, "My lady's wine is probably cold; let me change it." Another brought over a cup of tea, saying, "My lady, please have a cup of tea." Their words trembled Sister Gui's heart. After the banquet, when she went inside to change, everyone fawned over her. If she wanted her face smoothed, one would rush to fetch a mirror, another to get her powder box. If she wanted to wash her hands, one would hurriedly fetch water, another to get a towel—all were extremely attentive and considerate, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Even the dogs that had barked at her that day, now, seeing people flattering her, wagged their tails and jumped around, seemingly trying to curry favor. "The constant mention of dogs is simply to show that in this cold and fickle world, everyone is nothing more than a dog." Outside, music played for the main banquet, and all the guests came out to take their seats. Outside, it was all about flattery; inside, it was all about sycophancy. "Some readers say the author overemphasizes the shamelessness of Yan Liang and Chuang Shi in this passage, suggesting that people's shamelessness might not reach such levels. I have an acquaintance surnamed Bai whose nephews are all wealthy officials, whom he calls 'Great-Grand-Aunt.' I also have a close relative, whose surname I don't need to mention, whose two daughters' wives are his cousins, whom he calls 'Great-Grand-Aunt,' and whose sons-in-law's brothers are also called 'Great-Grand-Aunt,' and whose sons-in-law's nephews are called 'Lord.' His brother's family is poor, so he calls them 'Son-in-law and Daughter,' and whose sons-in-law's brothers are all called 'Lord.' How are these petty people any different from Yan Liang and Chuang Shi?" Fu Hou and his wife also joined in the flattery, playing the drum and clapping. When the banquet ended at the third watch, Fu Hou and his wife personally invited Guan Jue and his wife. Guan Jue repeatedly declined, but Fu Hou insisted, and Guan Jue finally agreed.

The next day, they again invited the Fu family for a day of entertainment and drinking. Afterwards, Yan Liang and Fu Hou became extremely close to the Guan family, inviting their daughter and son-in-law every three days and their in-laws every ten days. Seeing the world was in turmoil, Guan Jue did not encourage his son to seek fame. Instead, he acquired fertile land and property, living a comfortable life until his death—this was his wise end.

Before departing, the provincial governor came to bid farewell to Guan Jue. Guan Jue, having been entrusted by the prefect, said to him, "Although the prefect takes some money in the local area, it is all within his duty. He never cruelly oppresses the people. I beg you, sir, to show him some favor." The governor agreed. The next morning, Guan Jue went into the city again to see him off. On the day the governor departed, the prefect saw him off at the border. The governor said, "The other day, Brother Guan strongly recommended that the prefect be well-liked by the people. Since then, he has become even more honest, prudent, and diligent. I will certainly act justly. There is no need for a long farewell; go back." The prefect was overjoyed, took his leave, returned to his office, and then went to his hometown to thank Guan Jue for his praise. On special occasions and holidays, generous gifts were given as part of the farewell ceremony—no need to elaborate further.

Time flew by, and it was the new year of the seventeenth year of the Chongzhen reign. In the year Jia Shen, Zhong Sheng heard that the rebels were gradually approaching the capital. He was constantly frowning and lost his appetite. Whenever he talked about this, he would sigh and weep. Qian Gui, seeing him like this, advised him, "The ancients said, 'If you are not in a position, do not concern yourself with its affairs.' These high-ranking officials nowadays receive great favors from the court, yet they completely ignore national affairs. What good is it for a lowly official like yourself to worry about such things?" Zhong Sheng said solemnly, "What are you saying, my dear wife? Although I have been granted a pardon by the Emperor, I once enjoyed a salary for many years. One who eats the food of others should worry about their worries. How can I be indifferent to the affairs of the court just because I am no longer an official?" "A gentleman calls it loyalty, but a petty person will laugh at his foolishness." Qian Gui, seeing his righteous indignation, could not help but sigh.

Some time later, he heard that Li Zicheng had captured the capital on March 19th, and that Emperor Chongzhen had hanged himself on Coal Hill, sacrificing himself for the country. He learned that this was true, and the man in white robes bowed to the north, wept bitterly, and attempted suicide. When he was discovered, his entire family wept and tried to stop him. He only wept, stubbornly refusing to listen. Zhong Zixin, along with Zhong Wen and Zhong Wu, stayed by his side day and night, never leaving his side. Qian Gui secretly sent someone to tell Mei Sheng, asking him to come and persuade him. Mei Sheng arrived and advised, "Of all the officials in this city, none have died for their country. Why must you do this, brother?" Zhong Sheng replied, "Every scholar has his own ambition. An ancient saying goes, 'A subject dies when his lord is humiliated.' Moreover, my lord is dead. As a subject, I swear I will not live with the rebels. I regret that I, a scholar, am too weak to kill the rebels, so I wish to die to repay my lord's kindness. How can I bear to be a subject of a traitor?" Mei Sheng said, "Although my lord has passed away, a successor will ascend the throne. We still look forward to annihilating the rebels and avenging our grievances. What good is dying today? Besides, this Nanjing is still Ming territory, never belonging to the rebels. How can we be subjects of the rebels? Why must we die beforehand?" "If this place truly belongs to the bandits, even though I haven't held office, I still deserve a degree and should die by drowning in the East Sea. How could I possibly submit to the bandits? It's still early today; it's not the right time to die. There's no need to rush." Zhong Sheng thought about it and realized it made sense. He replied, "Brother, you are right. I'll wait and see." "The reason Zhong Sheng didn't die wasn't because he suddenly changed his allegiance. His desire to die now is simply because he refuses to submit to the bandits. After the King of Li Zicheng dies, why must he die? It's a matter of choosing between death and non-death."

The next day, Huan E, Jia Wenwu, Tong Zida, Wu He, Bao Xin, and Bao Fuzhi heard about this and all came to persuade him. From then on, Zhong Sheng never set foot outside his house, only sitting in his small study, writing in the air all day long. Even in front of his wives and concubines, he was never seen to show a hint of joy or laughter. This continued for almost a year.

One day, Huan E came to Zhong Sheng's house, sat down, and said, "Father heard that since learning of the late Emperor's passing, my elder brother has sworn to never live with the rebels, and has been praising him day and night. Just now, I received a court report that Li Zicheng has been punished by Heaven, and he specially ordered me to bring it to my elder brother so that he can see it and feel a little better." Zhong Sheng took it and read it, then put his hand to his forehead and said, "The late Emperor's spirit is there, the late Emperor's spirit is there." He then said with resentment, "I regret that I cannot cut out the heart and blood of this

rebel and display it in the marketplace and court to appease the spirit of the late Emperor in Heaven." Do you know how this blind rebel died? After he captured Beijing, he personally led his troops to attack Shanhaiguan. When he reached Shihe, he was utterly defeated by the Qing army, and, terrified, fled back to Beijing. He no longer wanted to be emperor, so he gathered some women, children, and valuables, and led his rebel army straight to Xiangyang under the cover of night. At this time, he still had tens of thousands of rebel troops, divided into forty-eight divisions, and stayed in Wuchang for fifty days. He renamed Jiangxia County to Ruifu County, established puppet officials, collected copper and charcoal from various places, and conscripted artisans to mint Yongchang coins. One day, Li Zicheng gathered his generals and said, "Huguang is a land of constant warfare; we cannot stay there for long. We must first seize Nanjing as our base. What do you all think?" After a discussion, everyone agreed. They then plotted to seize ships and take Xuan and She counties first. He added, "Since the northwest cannot be pacified, how can the southeast be lost again? We must go immediately." On the day he was to depart, the sky was overcast, a violent storm raged, and all flags and spears were broken. On April 22nd, he changed his route, passing through Jinniu and Bao'an, then Yanning and Puqi, wantonly killing and looting along the way. Upon reaching Tongcheng, he ordered forty-eight units to advance first.

There was a mountain called Jiuguan Mountain, also known as Luogong Mountain, on which was a temple to the Northern Heavenly Emperor. That day, the people near the foot of the mountain heard of the arrival of the bandits and gathered for a festival, swearing an oath to protect their village. Li Zicheng took twenty cavalrymen; he wanted to go down the mountain to see what was happening. Upon reaching the foot of the mountain, he ordered the crowd not to follow. He rode alone up the mountain to the temple, where he saw the imperial statue and paid homage. It seemed as if struck by a god, for he was unable to rise. The villagers, suspecting him of robbery, grabbed shovels, hoes, and clubs and attacked him, smashing his head to pieces and turning his flesh to mud. Seeing a golden seal at his waist containing unusual clothing, they were terrified and fled from behind the mountain. The twenty riders, seeing he hadn't descended for a long time, went to investigate and found only a pile of white bones. Seeing it was another empty temple, they were alarmed, suspecting he had been killed by a god, and scattered. This was the end for the blind thief, a vicious man throughout his life. A folk rhyme goes: "

A hundred years of life, like frost on grass, He foolishly aspired to be king.

Though the dragon robe was temporarily prestigious, His death in the mountain temple was tragic.

The four rivers flowed backward, the river swelled, His soul grieved, the sun lost its light.

Had he known the imperial palace was not a secure place, Why not enjoy the long-lasting pleasures of the forests and springs?"

Before he finished speaking, another minister from the left rank, dressed in a red robe and jade belt, with ivory tablets and black gauze, stepped forward and knelt, saying, "During the reign of the late Emperor, I was framed by the treacherous ministers of the Donglin Party and abandoned for more than ten years. Now, I am fortunate to have received Your Majesty's favor and be given command of the army. I rise early and retire late, yet I have no way to repay even a fraction of Your Majesty's grace. Moreover, now that I have encountered a ruler like Yao and Shun, how could I not emulate Gaozu, Kui, and Ji in assisting him? I will now assist the ministers in selecting a beautiful woman skilled in music to present to Your Majesty, to express my loyalty to Your Majesty." Emperor Hongguang was greatly pleased and said, "I have long known that you are talented in both literature and martial arts, and your lyrics are unparalleled among the Yuan dynasty. If you can wholeheartedly find a beautiful woman for me, I will share wealth and honor with you." When the ministers looked, they saw that it was Ruan Dacheng, and they all secretly smiled.

Then, two officials from the ranks came forward and knelt down. One was Ma Shiying's cousin, named Feng Yin, who was currently the Vice Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate. One was Mao Yujian, the brother-in-law of Ruan Dacheng, who was currently the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Works. Feng Yin reported, "Although the Grand Secretary and Minister Ruan both possess the loyalty and devotion of noble ministers, it may be difficult to find a suitable person for the New Year. How can we please Your Majesty? My family has a daughter who, while not claiming to be exceptionally beautiful or talented, is still pleasing to the eye, but I dare not present her to Your Majesty." Hongguang was overjoyed and said, "I am delighted by your kind intention. Why would I dare not accept it?" Feng Yin said, "I beg Your Majesty to pardon my death sentence before I dare to present this report." Hongguang said, "You are so loyal to me that you should be pardoned for generations. What crime have you committed? Just present your report." Feng Yin said, "As the ancients said, 'When the ruler is distressed, the minister is disgraced.' I see Your Majesty's displeasure and have no choice but to do this. My wife, Xie, whose nickname is Yuhua, is quite skilled in acting. Although not exceptionally beautiful, she is still pleasing to the eye. I wish to present her to Your Majesty, but I do not know if Your Majesty will accept her." Hongguang smiled broadly. Hongguang said, “You love me so much that you are willing to offer your wife to me. I will not only not treat Lady Xie lightly, but I will also not repay you poorly. If it is as I wish, I will bestow upon her the title of Imperial Concubine, and you will not have to worry about not being rich and noble.” Feng Yin replied, “Such Your Majesty’s grace is truly a great blessing for my wife and me.” Hongguang then asked Mao Yujian, “What brilliant idea do you have?” Mao Yujian bowed and said, “Since you, Feng, can offer your wife, why should I not offer my daughter? I have a daughter, sixteen years old, who is quite intelligent. Although she cannot sing or dance, I beg Your Majesty to keep her in the palace so that she can learn slowly and perhaps be used for the Emperor’s music.” Hongguang laughed and said, “That is even better. You love me so much that I will not hesitate to bestow upon you a fiefdom. It would be best if you two could be sent to the palace tonight.” The two thanked the Emperor and left. Among these civil and military officials, some shameless ones deeply regretted that they had no beautiful wives or daughters to offer. A few with a little backbone secretly laughed and sighed. They wore their hats and left, the court adjourned and the proceedings ended. The next morning, New Year's Day, someone inscribed a couplet outside the Meridian Gate: "

The 'lucky man' is still drunk and unaware, relying entirely on his horsemanship to fabricate stories.

The triumphant songs of the shogunate have ceased, only Ruan Zhong's songs remain.

" The "lucky man" refers to Hongguang, the heir apparent of the Prince of Fu who ascended the throne. "Still drunk and unaware" means he is like a drunkard, foolish and ignorant, relying entirely on Ma Shiying's fabrications to fool the people. "The triumphant songs of the shogunate have ceased" refers to Ruan Dacheng, the Minister of Defense for the Yangtze River defense, who, despite the loss of several northwestern provinces, still reports victories daily, deceiving the people of Nanjing. "Only Ruan Zhong's songs remain"—Ruan, meaning moon lute, alludes to Ruan Dacheng's surname. It implies there were no triumphant songs, only Ruan's songs

. One day, Wen Shixing bought a book of erotic pictures, placed it in his sleeve, and intended to give it to Wen Shi for appreciation and study. Not wanting to be disappointed, and unable to find it, yet too afraid to ask anyone, he assumed he had simply lost it somewhere and let it go. Unexpectedly, it fell under the threshold of the main room and was found by his daughter. He opened the scrolls and saw that they depicted men and women in various positions. He quickly put them in his sleeve, went to his bed, lowered the curtains, and began to examine each scroll closely. Although he was very aroused by the sight of men's penises inserted into women's vaginas, he didn't know why. He was too embarrassed to ask anyone. That night, he tried inserting a finger into her vagina to test it, but found only pain, not pleasure. This woman, who always adored Yao Tao, saw her nearly beaten to death by her mother that day. She secretly went to check on her and asked privately, "Why did Grandma beat you like this?" Yao Tao, wanting to seduce her, quietly replied, "Grandma was ill the other day, and Master and I secretly made love a few times. I don't know which slutty woman told him, but that's why she beat me like this today. Beating my body is bad enough, but she almost beat my lower body to a pulp." The woman asked, "Why did she beat your lower body so badly?" Yao Tao replied, "Grandma said Master used this on me..." That's why she beat him so badly. It's strange, but you can't blame Grandma; women treat a man's thing like their life, how could they bear to give it away? The woman was about to ask about the wonders of it all, so she used this opportunity to ask with a smile, "What good thing is it that you're making it sound so good?" Yao Tao said, "Girl, you'll know once you've married and experienced it. Once you get used to it, your whole body feels relaxed, and the pleasure in your heart is indescribable." The woman asked, "Does it hurt?" Yao Tao said, "It hurts a little the first time, but next time..." "It's alright. If you don't believe me, try picking at it with one finger first. It'll hurt a little the first time, but bear with it; it'll be fine the second time. Once you're used to it, use two fingers, then three. Just use more saliva to lubricate it; it'll be fine. Once you've dug it open, I'll find you something nice to enjoy." The woman, seeing this, pulled out an erotic book from her sleeve and showed it to him, saying, "Is this what men look like?" Yao Tao looked at it and said, "It's drawn perfectly. Where did you get it?" The woman said, "I got it from the other day..." "I picked it up under the threshold. I wonder who dropped it?" Yao Tao said, "I can guess. But when Master went out, Madam called Wen Shixing up. The two of them did it behind closed doors. It must have fallen from there." The woman said, "No wonder I said that when Master wasn't home, Wen Shixing came in and closed the door. I thought they were talking about something important. Turns out they were doing this with my madam." Yao Tao said, "When I get better, I'll get you something nice to try. It'll definitely be wonderful." The woman was overjoyed. She kept it a secret from her mother and had her maid bring Yao Tao soup every day. Sure enough, at night, she moistened her index finger and, enduring the pain, dug into her vulva. For three or four nights in a row, there was still room for three fingers inside. Although she didn't experience great pleasure, she felt a certain enjoyment. She originally had ten sharp, tender fingers, but because her nails hurt from digging in them, she cut them all off. No one knew why. She only hoped that Yao Tao would get better so she could find something to give her.
More than half a month later, Yao Tao got up. He found a broken umbrella handle made of purple bamboo, and with great effort carved a section of bamboo root about four inches long. He then shaped the end of the root into the shape of a glans, smoothed it with a tile, and made it resemble a phallus. He went to the girl's room, thanked her for looking after him, and, seeing no one around, presented the object. The girl, upon seeing it, was overjoyed, smiling as she accepted it, and asked him how to use it. Yao Tao whispered the secret in his ear, telling him to lie on his back, spread his legs wide, use plenty of saliva, and constantly pull and stretch, and he would find pleasure. This girl was extremely clever and naturally understood. She used it as instructed at night, and it was indeed wonderful. Every night, he transformed her tender and small vulva into a loose and large hole.

In the seventeenth year of Chongzhen's reign, Mao Yujian, seeing the enemy's dire situation, sent his family back south in the first month of the lunar calendar. He remained alone in the capital. On the day the rebels breached the city, he surrendered along with the others. Zhou Zhong's petition to the emperor included his and Xiang Shuixin's names. Li Zicheng was defeated by the Qing army and fled, and Zhou Zhong also escaped back to Nanjing. Ruan Dacheng reported to Hongguang that he had not forgotten his former master and had risked his life to escape. Hongguang was overjoyed and granted him his current position. Seeking to secure his wealth and power, he presented his daughter to the emperor.

When Hongguang first had sex with this woman, he assumed she was a virgin and felt some affection for her. He first entered her gently. This woman had been using a bamboo penis for two years. "Ruan Bao'er's rat penis and this woman's bamboo penis are both different, truly like sisters." Her vagina had been wide open for a long time, and now, suddenly, with Hongguang's large member entering, she felt it was even more wonderful than the bamboo penis, and she was completely unprepared. Seeing that she showed no signs of pain, Hongguang assumed she was a voluptuous woman who could rival the Xie family. His interest was aroused, and he used his strength to penetrate her completely. This woman's vulva was merely wide, not very deep, and her body was small and delicate. Hongguang's member was utterly useless; countless young men and beautiful women had died from it, let alone this timid woman who had never experienced the pleasures of the world. He struck her once, and she could not bear it. She cried out "Aiya!" and tried to dodge, but it was too late. His rapid-fire thrusts struck her again, the second blow piercing her heart, killing her instantly.

Although the woman's death was caused by Yaotao, it was truly retribution for Mao Yujian's offering of his daughter for personal gain and for Wen's lustful jealousy. Hongguang, seeing her dead, deeply regretted his rashness. The next day, he issued an edict ordering her to be buried with the rites due to a concubine. He also ordered Mao Yujian to be promoted to Minister of Rites and Feng Yin to be promoted to Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, to take up their posts immediately. On the day of their appointment, both arrived at their posts.

At that time, there was already a Left Censor-in-Chief of Rites, so there was a saying: "Two Censors-in-Chief in the Censorate, two Ministers in the Ministry of Rites," which became a laughing stock in the capital. The actions of rulers and ministers in this degenerate age have reached such a point that nothing is more laughable than this. Mao Yujian was heartbroken to learn that his daughter had been murdered. He was still happy to receive a promotion. The commotion was, of course, quite a spectacle.

One day, while he was sitting idly at home, a servant came in to report that the grandmother of Master Liu from the capital had arrived. Mao Yujian and Madam Wen hurriedly went to greet her. They saw Grandma Liu with a three-year-old son and an old servant following behind. She was disheveled, her clothes tattered, and she looked utterly wretched. Upon seeing the couple, Grandma Liu wept bitterly and invited them to sit in the main room.

Do you think this Granny Liu is? She's Liu Mao's second wife. Liu Mao's first wife had passed away, and this was his second wife whom he married in Beijing. Her surname was Niu, and she was only twenty-six or twenty-seven years old. Liu Mao had served in office for several years, inspecting the salt administration once and collecting taxes twice, amassing a fortune of tens of thousands. When the rebel Li Zicheng was in chaos, Emperor Chongzhen borrowed money from officials. Knowing Liu Mao's wealth, he lent him ten thousand, but Liu Mao only offered one thousand. Chongzhen refused, so Liu Mao offered three thousand, pleading that his household finances were exhausted. After the rebels captured the city, when comparing the silver of the officials, Liu Mao was among them. He offered one hundred thousand with several copper clamps, but the rebels still weren't satisfied. The rebels knew that Liu Mao had supported the abolition of the post stations years before, and they hated him to the core, determined to kill him. They looted his household finances and gave his wife a minor bandit leader position.

At that time, Li Zicheng originally wanted to kill Mao Yujian, but because Liu Mao had surrendered and urged him to ascend the throne, he was extremely obsequious. To win people's hearts, Li Zicheng had no choice but to tolerate him. After the bandits left, Mao Yujian learned that his cousin was dead and his cousin's wife had been married to one of them. He didn't have time to inquire further and fled back alone. Seeing them return, he was both saddened and overjoyed, and sat down to ask what had happened since they left. Niu Shi wept and said, "After your cousin was crushed to death by the bandits, his body was nowhere to be found. Our furniture was confiscated, and our family scattered. I was assigned to a bandit's household with this child. The bandit tried to kill the child several times, but I desperately protected him. Fortunately, the bandit loved me and listened to my advice, thus preserving your brother's heir. Later, the bandits were defeated and fled under cover of night, allowing my child and me to stay. After the bandits retreated, this old servant came looking for us. Luckily, the bandit's household still had some silver, which allowed us to escape back together. Now, with my husband dead and my family ruined, I, a widow and orphan, rely entirely on my uncle and aunt for care." Mao Yujian instructed his servants to prepare three rooms next to the main hall for Niu Shi and her child to live in. A feast was prepared to welcome them, clothes were made, and bedding was sewn—the details of which need not be elaborated upon.

A few days later, Niu Shi, well-fed and warmly clothed, had completely shed the weariness of the previous day. Her face was fair and delicate, her figure alluring, her feet small and pointed, and she spoke with a sweet, soft Beijing accent—she was incredibly charming, a hundred times more beautiful than Wen Shi. Mao Yujian then conceived a thieving idea, thinking, "My brother and I have been with countless women in the past, let alone my cousin-in-law, who has already been with a thief. Why shouldn't I have a turn?" So he went to her room every day to bask in her warmth, making light of things and flirting. Niu Shi, having been married to a thief, was no longer particularly chaste. Moreover, being young, she was at a time when things were neither here nor there, and since she was dependent on him, she wanted to have intimate contact with him to ensure a lasting relationship. However, knowing that Wen Shi was jealous, she was still undecided and undecided.

One day, Mao Yujian asked with a smile, "Sister-in-law, you married a bandit the other day. Does that kind of person still know any tenderness or affection?" Niu blushed and smiled sheepishly, "It was out of necessity. What affection could there be?" Mao Yujian said, "That bandit got off easy, enjoying a beauty like you. I don't even have his good fortune." Niu glanced at him sideways, then smiled, her beauty captivating. Mao Yujian was instantly smitten. He didn't care whether she agreed or not, and stepped forward to embrace her, kissing her on the lips. "No wonder you're the Minister of Rites. Only a minister like you can assist such an emperor," Niu thought. She didn't speak, only smiled and turned away. Mao Yujian carried her to the bed and started pulling down her pants. Niu said, "Let go quickly. I know how formidable my aunt is. I'm afraid he'll find out this isn't child's play. Don't cause trouble." Mao Yujian laughed, "Don't worry, I'm not afraid of him anymore." The two of them pulled down their pants and began to make love.

How did Mao Yujian become so bold all of a sudden? There was a reason for this. When Wen returned from the capital, although her parents had passed away, her elder brother and sister-in-law, upon hearing of their sister's arrival in Wucheng, sent a servant named Wen Shichong to inquire after her. This Wen Shichong was Wen Shixing's younger brother, exceptionally handsome, resembling a beautiful woman. Upon seeing him, Wen's heart fluttered. Mao Yujian was still in the capital at the time, and Wen forced herself upon him to have an affair. Who knew that this charming young man possessed an enormous penis? Wen loved both his appearance and his physique, and refused to let him return. She wrote a letter and sent it to her brother and sister-in-law, asking them to keep Wen Shichong. She cleaned and decorated a side room next to the bedroom, lavishly arranging the bed, curtains, tables, and chairs. She even made a secret entrance behind the bed in the bedroom, creating a private room for her to have her way with Shichong and Shixing. Later, when Mao Yujian came to the house, he assumed that Wen had prepared it as a resting place and dared not go to the inner room often.

One day, after returning from court, Mao Yujian went to the main hall. Yao Tao happened to be there. Seeing no one around, she kept pointing towards the room, which Mao Yujian didn't understand. Meanwhile, Wen Shi and her two brothers were enjoying themselves in a secret chamber. Hearing Mao Yujian's return, they hurriedly made their move, forcing Wen Shi to come out. Mao Yujian saw that his hair was disheveled and his face was flushed, and he became very suspicious. Remembering that Yao Tao's pointing must have a reason, he went to the secret chamber and saw Wen Shixing and Wen Shichong standing against the wall, their faces ashen. Mao Yujian chuckled coldly and left. "What a big belly," Wen Shi, though lewd and fierce, was now ashamed. Mao Yujian ignored him afterward, and he dared not utter another word. These past few days, Wen Shi had been observing Mao Yujian frequently in Niu Shi's room. He kept a watchful eye and constantly had his maids eavesdrop. This day, hearing that he and the two brothers had made love in the room, Wen Shi was secretly delighted and hurried over. He didn't close the door, but went straight to the bedside. Only then did the two women see him, and Niu Shi closed her eyes tightly in shame. Wen Shi smiled at Mao Yujian and said, "From now on, you can't control me, and I won't interfere in your affairs. Let's just get along." Then she turned and went back.

Niu Shi asked Mao Yujian why Wen Shi had said that, and Mao Yujian told him about Wen Shi's affair. Only then did Niu Shi feel relieved. Mao Yujian simply didn't go up, but called Yao Tao over, and the three of them rolled around in bed together. Wen Shi also openly called her two brothers up, and the three of them also shared a bed. How are these two, who have separated their families, any different from beasts? Just look at such a ruler; if he were a minister, how could he not ruin the world? And what about that virtuous prime minister, Ma Shiying, who only used people according to his whims and sold official positions? His ugly reputation is widespread.

Zhong Sheng, at home, upon hearing these words and actions, would often sigh deeply, lamenting, "The affairs of the world are doomed." Ma Shiying, wielding absolute power, introduced a system of bribery: the clerks of the Wuying Hall received 900 taels of silver, those of the Wenhua Hall 1,500 taels, the Grand Secretariat 2,000 taels, those awaiting imperial orders 3,000 taels, those selected for the imperial examinations 1,000 taels, those with the title of Prefectural Governor 1,000 taels, and the officials in charge of official duties received countless amounts. A contemporary saying went: "

Clerks are everywhere, governors-general roam the streets.

Clerks are like sheep, officials are as cheap as dogs.

A thousand years of corruption has been built, a single selected scholar has brought honor.

All the money in Jiangnan has been swept away, filling Ma's mouth.

" Ma Shiying had also heard of this. Firstly, he saw how disgraceful his actions were and wanted to cover them up. Secondly, he wanted to employ a few people to win popular support. Knowing that Zhong Sheng was under forty, a good official, and had a good reputation, he wanted to appoint him as a Hanlin Academy scholar to enhance his prestige. Zhong Sheng was a man of integrity and high principles. He refused to curry favor with anyone, and he would never accept an appointment unless the situation was favorable. He feigned illness and earnestly declined. He sighed several times, reciting two lines from Chen Xiyi: "

The imperial edict, though issued from the highest heavens, should not be carried by the phoenix.

My ambition has been held back by the white clouds."

Later generations, seeing Zhong Sheng's refusal to serve, wondered what the ministers who helped him seize power were thinking. A poem says: "

In prosperous times, the emperor is wise and the ministers virtuous, and joyous events abound. Grandfathers and grandfathers are all bestowed titles, and wives and children enjoy imperial favor. Alas, once chaos descends, few are loyal and many are treacherous, betraying their ruler for personal gain, turning against their masters and wielding weapons. Throughout history, have there been few wicked and wicked people?" One day, Jia Wenwu came to see Zhong Sheng

and said, "Grand Marshal Ruan is an old friend of my late father, Xiang Baoxian. Back in the time of Emperor Xizong, I was also helped by him. Now he wants to appoint me as the military commander of Fengyang under his command. I see you are refusing the position and the title, so you must have something to do. I am hesitant and have come to ask for your advice." Zhong Sheng said, "Since you have asked, and we have been close friends for many years, how could I not speak frankly and sincerely? Look at the current situation, is it still a world apart? Even if you are in the officialdom, you should take a step forward. When you are trying to avoid it, how can you jump into the fire pit? You should not accept the dignified position bestowed by the late emperor, so why should you accept the military commander position for the private interests of the military commander? This is my humble opinion. You may have other ideas, and I dare not advise you." Jia Wenwu said, "I am grateful for your awakening from my ignorance." He then gave up his ambition for officialdom.

You say Ruan Dacheng was a remnant of Wei Jing's faction who escaped capture, but now he's suddenly become Grand Marshal. Let's see what he does for the court, and what his fate will be. To know the whole story, read on. (

End of Volume Twenty-Three of "Guanwangyan")

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