Riyi Garden

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

In Anyang County, Zhangde Prefecture, Henan Province, there lived a scholar named Liu Yu. His wife, Yuan, was born on the Lantern Festival and named Yuan Niang. The couple were inseparable, their household boasted numerous servants and herds of cattle and sheep, their wealth overflowing.
Behind them was a garden, a sight to behold, named Riyi Garden. It was filled with all sorts of flowers, but let's not go into detail about those. Their peonies, in particular, were unlike any other, being a superior variety unique to Henan.
When late spring arrived and the peonies bloomed, he invited relatives, friends, and neighbors to admire them, compose poems, and write essays, thoroughly enjoying themselves.
In early March, the peonies were even more abundant than in previous years. Liu Yu and Yuan Niang first held a celebration, marveling at their lushness and the vibrant blooms, their pots swirling and dancing, as if overjoyed.
Liu Yu said, "Could it be the Flower Goddess?"
Upon hearing this, Yuan Niang poured wine as a libation and bowed, saying, "The Flower Goddess is divine; let it bloom again in autumn."
Liu Yu laughed, "How can a flower bloom twice a year?"
Yuan Niang said, "Haven't you heard that Empress Wu used three days of spring? That was also autumn, when all flowers bloom, and the peony blooms first, hence she was named the King of Flowers. Isn't that blooming twice a year?" Liu Yu said, "She was Empress Wu, hence her power."
Yuan Niang said, "Perhaps sincerity is what matters. My thought is sincere; if it works, who knows?"
The flower trembled a few times, and Yuan Niang said, "Look, isn't the Flower Goddess divine? There's no wind, yet it sways like this." Liu
Yu, seeing this, was startled and quickly offered wine in prayer.
Summer had passed, and autumn had arrived. The air was filled with the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms, and the eastern fence was adorned with colorful flowers.
Although autumn's beauty couldn't match the profusion of spring flowers, it was no less stunning.
The couple strode past the Peony Terrace. Liu Yu said, "Autumn has arrived; the peonies are no longer blooming."
Yuan Niang replied, "That's just a joke; such a thing doesn't exist."
They glanced closer and exclaimed in surprise, "How strange! Are we seeing things? Why are the flowers smiling?"
Yuan Niang said, "Could it be that we're both seeing things?"
They called for some maids to come and see. Several maids came and exclaimed in surprise, "Indeed, the flowers are about to bloom!"
Overjoyed, Liu Yu and his wife bowed down, saying, "Flower Goddess, you are so divine and faithful; we, Liu Yu and his wife, are truly fortunate."
They instructed the maids to light incense and candles, prepare wine and fruit, and offer prayers. Then they said, "My friends and relatives who admired the flowers in spring promised me that if the flowers bloom in autumn, they will host a feast." "When the flowers are in full bloom, I will send out invitations to invite them to come and see."
Now, in Zhenping County, Nanyang Prefecture, Henan Province, there lived a wealthy scholar named Jiang Qing, twenty-five years old. He was returning from visiting relatives in the provincial capital when he passed through Anyang County. Hearing that the peonies were in full bloom, he was overjoyed. Such a rare sight—how could he not see it?
He boarded a sedan chair, followed by several servants, and they jostled and pushed their way through the crowds. Arriving at the Liu Family Garden, he disembarked and squeezed inside.
Jiang Qing was utterly captivated by the peonies. Looking around, he spotted his former enemy.
He stared intently at Yuan Niang, finding her increasingly enchanting—truly, beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
Yuan Niang was upstairs, chatting and laughing with her female companions, displaying a refined elegance, unaware of being spied upon.
Jiang Qing, however, couldn't bear the sight and simply stood there. His servants said, "Sir, let's go back to our lodgings. These flowers are nothing special."
Jiang Qing replied, "I'm here watching over the flowers."
His servants, puzzled, said, "The sedan chair bearers are hungry and need to go back for a meal."
Helpless, Jiang Qing had no choice but to leave the garden and call out to his trusted servant, Sancai, "You must carefully inquire here about the garden owner's name, age, and wife's name. Also, tell me the name of the woman in the white gauze upstairs just now; don't forget it." Sancai
replied, "Understood."
Jiang Qing got into his sedan chair and left. Sancai
asked the neighbors, then the next neighbor, repeating the same questions. He reported back to his master, "The garden owner's name is Liu Yu, twenty-two years old, a scholar from the county school. The woman in the white gauze jacket is his wife. Her surname is Yuan; her father and brothers are all scholars. Her childhood name was Yuan Niang, and her family is extremely wealthy. They are a kind and hospitable family."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Qing said, "How depressing!" Sancai said, "Your family is overflowing with wealth; perhaps you lack such beautiful flowers, which is why you are so depressed?"
Jiang Qing said, “You vulgar man, I love Yuan Niang, she is truly like a flower that understands words. I have no way to deal with her, so I am frustrated.” San
Cai said, “When you were at home, everything went smoothly. Why do you have no plans for this?”
Jiang Qing said, “Planning for a woman is different from other matters. For example, if the husband is vulgar, poor, old, frugal, or ugly, as long as he has one of these qualities, you can make your move. Now, looking at the garden full of beautiful flowers, I know he is not vulgar; looking at the vast wealth, I know he is not poor; looking at the twenty-two-year-old, I know he is not old; looking at the virtuous and hospitable, I know he is not frugal; looking at the young scholar, I know he is not ugly. Having no way to deal with her, I am naturally frustrated.”
San Cai said, “My lord, I have a plan.”
Jiang Qing said, “If you have a plan, you will be richly rewarded if it succeeds.”
San Cai said, “My lord, I dare not ask for a reward if it succeeds, and I cannot blame you if it fails. My lord is going home now, which is half a month’s journey from here.” "Besides, it's our own boat, and we've packed our luggage perfectly. There are over twenty of us, young and old, following us. We'll just snatch Yuan Niang and run away like the wind. Unless someone with superhuman eyesight can see us, we'll be gone. What do you think, sir?"
Jiang Qing said, "This plan works. But it might be difficult to get in right away."
San Cai said, "No problem. We can use flower viewing as an excuse. As dusk falls, we can hide behind the artificial hill. Even ghosts and gods won't see us."
Jiang Bei said, "We don't need spears or knives."
San Cai said, "We can use them all. One knife or axe per person is enough. We don't even need to put on makeup. There's just one thing that's difficult."
Jiang Qing asked, "What is it?" San Cai said, "In the dead of night, we'll need some torches. If it's pitch black, Yuan Niang might escape and end up with an old woman, which would be a real disappointment."
Jiang Qing said, "That's not difficult either." One person, one torch, concealed in their sleeve, along with kindling, ready to be lit at the appointed time. Even so, one must not act rashly. Tonight, you may go and test the waters, figuring out where to hide, where to enter, and where to exit, becoming familiar with the routes. What if you are captured?
Sancai said, “It’s impossible to say. I’ll eat the black rice and protect the lord. I’ll go, I’ll go.” Jiang
Qing rewarded him with three qian of silver to buy wine. He promised a reward for his writing later.
Sancai took the silver and, with a few companions, went to a tavern. They drank until they were drunk, and upon returning home, told the owner that he was going to Liu Guo.
Along the way, he heard people say that the peonies at the Liu family's garden were exceptionally beautiful, and that weeds growing in front of the garden were better left unseen.
Sancai, hearing these words, thought they were true and reasonable. Before he knew it, they had arrived at the gate. He squeezed through the garden gate and went behind the peonies. He
saw that the garden was very spacious, and looking up at the artificial hill, he saw that the caves within were perfect for hiding, and very intricate.
Looking further into the garden, he saw that there was a door to an inner room that was not closed. He pushed his hand inside, but saw no one.
It turned out that the men and women of the Liu family were all in the garden, watching people come and go. Since the front gate was already bolted, none of them were in the inner rooms.
Seeing no one, Sancai looked upstairs again, thinking, "There's no one up there either." He
quietly climbed the stairs, knowing it was the master bedroom. Looking out the window, he could hear the bustling sounds of people in the garden.
He went to the bed and saw a pair of large, soft-soled red slippers beside the pillow, only three inches long. He then slipped them into his sleeve, went downstairs, and retraced his steps.
He heard someone say, "These flowers, though beautiful, will all wither by tomorrow."
Sancai thought, "This matter will be resolved tomorrow night."
Returning to his master, Jiang Qing recounted the events, and was overjoyed: "If things succeed, you'll be credited first. But there's one problem: what if such a beautiful woman has large feet? That would spoil Jiang Qing's fun."
San Cai asked, "Sir, what if she has small feet?"
Jiang Qing replied, "If she does indeed have small feet, I'll reward you with one hundred taels of silver."
San Cai said, "Only fifty taels? Bring them here quickly."
Jiang Qing said, "You saw them first."
San Cai said, "Sir, if you want to see them, it's cash on delivery."
Jiang Qing said, "Fool! Do you intend to cut off her feet?"
San Cai reached into his sleeve and placed the rusty shoes before his master.
Upon seeing them, Jiang Qing took them in his hands, flattened the shoes, and exclaimed, "Wonderful, wonderful! Worth a thousand taels of silver!"
San Cai said, "Fifty taels isn't enough?"
Jiang Qing said, "I'll reward you handsomely."
He held them in his hands like precious pearls, never letting them go.
Sancai said, "Everyone, go to bed early tonight. We need to get to work tomorrow. If we stay any longer, the flowers will have withered, the garden gates will be closed, and we won't be able to get in even in our dreams."
Jiang Qing instructed everyone to give each other five coins of silver to buy wine and drink. He told them that if they worked together tomorrow and succeeded, they would be richly rewarded.
Everyone happily agreed and went to drink.
Jiang Qing drank alone, pouring himself a cup and putting it in his shoe. He drank and looked at the cup, then drank again until it was empty. He put the cup beside his pillow and went to sleep.
The next morning, he got up first and helped everyone pack their luggage and disembark. They all went aboard the ship, and the lodgings were returned to the owner. Sancai went to buy torches and prepare the equipment. After everyone cooked and ate their fill, they all followed Sancai, leaving only a young servant to attend to the master.
Once they arrived, Sancai led everyone into the artificial grotto and settled them in. He then looked back at the gate from the previous day for a while. As evening approached, the visitors dispersed, the flowers withered, and relatives and friends no longer came to enjoy the night. Therefore, Liu Yu instructed his servant to close the garden gate, ate his supper, and went upstairs to sleep.
The men in each household, having worked diligently all night, also went to sleep separately.
Yuanniang, however, was still waiting for tea, where a woman was seen preparing it.
After observing this, Sancai opened the garden gate wide, lit two torches, and said, "Xu doesn't need to say anything. Sancai will lead the way, I'll hold the torches, and I'll bring up the rear." Having
decided on the plan, he quietly entered the gate, shouted, and grabbed Yuanniang, carrying her away.
Liu Yu heard the shout and rushed downstairs. Everyone in the household came, but for some reason, despite the many shouts, they were all gone.
He frantically searched for Yuanniang, but she was nowhere to be found. He only saw the woman who had prepared the tea lying on the ground.
Liu Yu hurriedly asked, and she said, "Many people took knives and axes and carried the Empress away."
Liu Yu was shocked and turned ashen-faced. She said to the crowd, "Everyone, split up
and chase after them." They all rushed to the back.
The group of people were gone as fast as they could,
and they couldn't catch up. Meanwhile, San Cai carried Yuan Niang. Just then, the city gate was still open. Yuan Niang kept crying for help, but the family members had all hidden weapons. When people on the road asked what had happened, she replied that she was a woman who had escaped, and the people on the road didn't care anymore.
Once they got off the boat, they immediately rowed three oars. The boat flew away.
San Cai put Yuan Niang down, and Jiang Qing stepped forward and saw that it was indeed Yuan Niang. He bowed deeply and said, "Don't misunderstand."
Yuan Niang saw that it was a young man wearing a headscarf and said, "Who are you? Why did you take me here? What do you want to say?"
Jiang Qing said, "Please sit on the platform, Your Highness, and allow me to explain."
As he spoke, he hurriedly pulled up a chair and placed it on the platform. Yuan Niang refused to sit down.
Jiang said, "I am Jiang Qing, from Zhenping County, Nanyang Prefecture. Yesterday, while admiring the flowers, I caught a glimpse of Your Highness's beauty and couldn't sleep all night. When I finally fell asleep, I dreamt that a divine being instructed me, saying that you and Yuan have a long-standing relationship, and it must be done this way for it to come to fruition. When the time comes, you should properly send her back so that you and your wife can be reunited. Therefore, I dared to approach Your Highness, but it was truly a divine message in my dream. I hope Your Highness will
grant my wish." Yuan Niang said, "Dreaming is absurd. How can a scholar do such a robbery? Properly send me back, and I will give you gold and silk. If you don't comply, I will haunt this river and not forgive you."
Jiang Qing said, "I already have millions of gold and silk, so that's nothing to me. But for someone as beautiful as Your Highness, such a thing is rare. I will return home to house Your Highness in a thousand-gold house and worship you like Guanyin. I hope Your Highness will deign to accept this."
After saying this, he took out a box of food and a pot of Sanbai wine.
Yuan Niang burst into tears and refused to sit down. With no woman to persuade him, he contemplated drowning himself, but being heavily pregnant and fearing the extinction of the Liu family line, he remained delirious, only weeping bitterly. Jiang Qing, unable to rise, asked, "How far have we traveled?"
He replied, "Over sixty li."
"In that case, you should all go to sleep. The boatmen will take turns." Everyone agreed and went to sleep, leaving only the two of them on the boat.
Yuan Niang wept incessantly, and Jiang Qing pulled her to sit and drink. Seeing there was another cabin at the back, Yuan Niang ran inside and closed the cabin door.
Jiang Qing laughed, "There are four cabin doors, all of which can be opened, what's the use of closing them?"
He then took a lamp, the wine jug, kicked open the door, and placed it on the table.
He also took the box and arranged it before going to invite Yuan Niang. He saw Yuan sitting on the bed, weeping bitterly. Jiang Qing said, "Your Majesty, things have come to this. If you want to send me home, it's too late tonight. By the time I get home, even the most beautiful flower will have lost its luster, and the finest jade will have become flawed." " It would be better to follow the words of the gods and end this predestined relationship. Then it will be perfect, and I will send you back home. You and your husband can then reunite. This is the best
course of action." Yuan Niang said, "Don't you have a wife at home? If someone else were to kill and abduct her to end your predestined relationship, how would you feel?"
Jiang Qing said, "To tell you the truth, Your Highness, my late wife passed away three years ago. Because I am not beautiful, I have not yet remarried. Now that I have Your Highness, it is like obtaining a precious jewel. I will enjoy a hundred years of bliss with you."
Yuan Niang said, "You just promised to send me back, so why do you say a hundred years?"
Jiang Qing said, "If you are so kind as to grant my request, I will do as you wish."
He quickly poured a large silver cup of wine and offered it to Yuan Niang.
Yuan Niang ignored it, so Jiang Qing continued, "Your Highness, you are both frightened and hungry. Besides, wine can dispel your sorrow. Since ancient times, offering wine to others has never been malicious. Drink this cup, and even if you starve to death here, no one at home will know." He then took the wine
and knelt down on both knees. Seeing him like this, Yuan Niang was both annoyed and pitying, saying, "Put it on the edge of the bed." Jiang Qing put it down. He went to get a piece of roasted meat, held it in his hand, and waited for Yuan Niang to eat.
Yuan Niang didn't move, so Jiang Qing said, "If Your Highness doesn't eat, I'll kneel again."
He then knelt down again. Yuan Niang took the wine cup and breathed on it.
Jiang Qing brought her the roasted meat, and Yuan Niang, indeed hungry, took a piece and ate it.
Jiang Qing said, "Please finish it.
Only then will I get up." Yuan Niang had no choice but to finish it.
Jiang Qing got up and poured another cup, but Yuan Niang said, "I can't eat anymore. You can't do this."
She then looked at her pillow and saw a pair of women's shoes.
Yuan Niang said, "You said you have no wife at home, where did this come from?"
Jiang Qing said, "I do have a wife at home, what use are these shoes? Last night, a deity gave me these in a dream, saying: 'If he doesn't believe you, you can give him these shoes as proof, and he will naturally agree to your marriage.'" "Take it up to the lamp and examine it."
Yuan Niang took it up to the lamp and looked at it; indeed, it was the same. She thought
to herself, "Where couldn't I have found it last night? How could such a strange thing happen?" She was beginning to believe it.
Jiang Qing asked, "How do you feel now?"
Yuan Niang said, "Since it's a past life connection, it's hard to let go. I'm two months pregnant, and while I was at home, I kept this from my husband. I'll give birth to you after I give birth."
Jiang Qing said, "Even if we don't do it, sleeping with me is fine."
Yuan Niang didn't speak, but Jiang Qing kept urging her to drink, so Yuan Niang had no choice but to sit down. She drank another cup of wine.
Firstly, she was hungry, and secondly, the alcohol was strong, so she suddenly felt dizzy and couldn't sit up. She quickly went to the bedside, changed her shoes, and lay down fully clothed.
Jiang Qing saw that she was dizzy and knew why. He poured himself some wine, drank a few cups, and thought, "I'm so glad I believed my own lie."
He felt very happy and his drinking mood was rising. He went to the bedside and heard Yuan Niang's breathing. Seeing that she was sleeping towards the inside of the bed, he pushed her, but she didn't move. He then picked up her upper clothes and went to untie her skirt.
He put his hands on her waist, pulled it down, revealing her bright red trousers, and he was truly aroused.
As before, he revealed her two snow-white legs, and his excitement surged.
He placed her skirt and trousers in the incense burner, removed his towel and clothes, lowered the bed curtains, and climbed onto Yuan Niang. He spread her legs with both hands and inserted his hard penis into her soft passage, and they began to make love.
Yuan Niang was initially fast asleep, but the flow of her vaginal fluids woke her up. She sighed, because her lower body was itchy, and she didn't bother with any pretense.
Jiang Qing was overjoyed and simply took off Yuan Niang's clothes, leaving her completely naked. Yuan Niang said, "Turn off the lamp."
Jiang Qing said, "Wait." He placed Yuan Niang's legs on his shoulders, truly flattering her. He
whispered in her ear, "Was it good?"
Yuan Niang nodded, and Jiang Qing stuck out his tongue, which Yuan Niang took into her mouth. The two of them made love intensely for a while, and soon the passion subsided.
Jiang Qing took boiling water from the tea stove, poured it into a basin, and washed his hands. Yuan Niang put on her robe, got out of bed, and washed and shaved.
Jiang Qing then tried to persuade her to drink.
Yuan Niang said, "I can't drink anymore." Jiang Qing
laughed and said, "Wife, let me touch your little feet?"
Yuan Niang said, "They're for walking on the ground, what's there to touch?"
Jiang Qing said, "Wife's feet are so lovely, I feel itchy if I don't touch them!"
Yuan Niang said, "Since you've already defiled them, what is there to say!"
Jiang Qing held Yuan Niang's feet in his arms, took off her slippers, and examined them carefully!
Yuan Niang asked, "How old are you? Who else is in your family? Why are you so wealthy? What brings you to Anyang County?"
Jiang Qing replied, "I am twenty-five years old. My family consists of over fifty servants and women. My ancestors bought more than ten bronze incense burners from a local official's family, but they turned out to be made of gold. They sold them for several thousand taels of silver, which were passed down through generations and gradually accumulated. By the time my father had his, he had amassed a fortune of a million. I went to the provincial capital to find a suitable wife, but found none, so I returned here. I happened to see your beauty while looking at flowers, and I was also blessed in a dream, which led to our marriage. I hope our love will last forever."
Yuan Niang said, "Now you want me to go back? " "Go away, what do you think of me?"
Jiang Qing said, "You are my second wife. Do you think I would treat you as a concubine?"
Yuan Niang said, "I have no veil, no clothes, no hairpins, how can I go to your house?"
Jiang Qing said, "Your wife has more than twenty chests of clothes and ornaments. You can use them as you please. When we get home, I will take a few clothes and dress you properly, then we will be home."
Yuan Niang wanted to go to bed because she was not wearing any lower clothes, but Jiang Qing forced her to drink a cup of wine and then ate all the food on his plate. After they went to bed, Jiang Qing touched her small feet, and Yuan Niang was aroused. The two of them resumed their lovemaking and made love until they fell asleep late at night.
Meanwhile, Liu Yu was at home and had people call for her all night. The next morning, he wrote dozens of notices and posted them everywhere. He searched for several days but there was no trace of her.
Relatives and friends came to visit, some to drink and relieve his boredom, and some to come empty-handed to comfort him. But let's not go into that.
Meanwhile, Jiang Qing's boat had reached the shore. He bid farewell to Yuan Niang and went home first.
Upon seeing them, the man and woman exclaimed, "The bride has arrived! Quickly prepare a feast!"
They sent people to invite relatives and neighbors, and the bride went upstairs to retrieve her jewelry. A servant carried it, and they boarded a sedan chair with four sedan chairs to the boat.
Jiang Qing disembarked and gave the jewelry to Yuan Niang to wear. Soon, she was dressed and ready, boarded the sedan chair, and led to the hall.
The two prayed together to the God of Harmony, and the men and women of the household came to kowtow, all addressing her as "Great Goddess."
Yuan Niang went upstairs to her room and saw that it was indeed tidy, with twenty-four leather trunks neatly arranged on both sides, and four maids in the room.
San Cai's wife was named Wen Huan, and she was originally from Beijing. San Cai was originally a bandit on the northern roads. Later, he came to Beijing and saw that Wen Huan was beautiful, with small feet, which he found charming. He tricked her into going to his lodging on the road. Later, when the matter was discovered and the authorities came to arrest him, he learned of the plot and fled with Wen Huan.
They reached Zhenping County, where they heard that Jiang Qing was a wealthy man, and the couple relied on him.
Jiang Qing's ex-wife greatly admired Wen Huan, finding him both refined and cheerful, hence the name Wen Huan. She treated Yuan Niang like her former mistress, thus serving her alone in her room. Yuan Niang, seeing his careful and attentive treatment, also liked him.
Time flies, and before they knew it, the year was over, and spring had returned. His garden was also filled with blooming flowers, including peonies in late spring. Seeing his beloved, he couldn't help but shed tears. It was early summer again, but then she felt pain in her abdomen. Jiang Qing instructed that a midwife be summoned quickly, and she arrived shortly after. Just as the melon ripened, she gave birth to a son, handsome and refined, resembling his mother. Yuan Niang was secretly delighted.
Three days later, at the full moon, Jiang Qing considered him his own son. Relatives and friends came to give and receive gifts, and there was no need to elaborate on the occasion.
However, because Yuan Niang was still recovering from childbirth, Jiang Qing felt extremely lonely and often strolled around the back garden. Wen Huan took a cup of tea and brought it to the study in the garden, placing it on the table. She
called out, "My lord, the tea is here." She then left. Jiang Qing, seeing it was Wen Huan, called out, "Come back, I need to ask you something."
Wen Huan went to the study. Jiang Qing sat down to drink the tea and asked, "Has your husband returned yet?"
Wen Huan replied, "My lord sent him to the manor to buy some odds and ends. He only went yesterday, and it will take him five or six days to return. How can he come back quickly?"
Jiang Qing said, "Your mistress is unwell. I feel lonely. Can you cheer me up?"
Wen Huan blushed and turned to leave. Jiang Qing grabbed her, embraced her, and kissed her.
Wen Huan lowered her head and refused, but Jiang Qing exclaimed, "My dear, I've always wanted to be like this with you. Since we're all alone today, we can't refuse."
Wen Huan said, "I'm afraid someone might come and see, which would be inconvenient. I'll wait for you in the room tonight."
Jiang Qing laughed and said, "Alright, but now do you want me to touch your little feet?"
Wen Huan glanced at him sideways and said, "Hurry! Don't let anyone see!"
Jiang Qing held Wen Huan in his arms, not touching her feet, but instead touching her breasts, making Wen Huan giggle and say, "You're teasing me like this, I'm all wet down there, I need to change my pants. Let me go now, tonight you can do whatever you want with me!"
Jiang Qing released her and said, "Don't forget."
Wen Huan left with a grin.
That evening, Jiang Qing said to Yuan Niang, "A friend invited me tonight for a night performance. I'm afraid I won't be able to go back. I just wanted to let you know." Yuan Niang said, "Please go ahead." Jiang
Qing pretended to change into new clothes, feigning a drunken demeanor, and quietly went downstairs to the door of the third room. Seeing a light on inside, he pushed the door open, but it was locked. He flicked his finger, and Wen Huan, hearing him, gently opened it.
Jiang Qing entered the room and found it small but clean and charming.
Wen Huan locked the door, took a lamp, and went into the second room. He saw a bed and canopy, no less luxurious than his own private chamber.
Jiang Qing was overjoyed, removed his new clothes and headscarf. He saw Wen Huan had laid out several boxes of fine goods and was holding a pot of floral wine, which he poured into a golden cup, inviting Jiang Qing to drink.
Jiang Qing said, "I can't believe you got this pair of golden cups." Wen Huan replied, "I have a pair too."
Jiang Qing said, "How many pairs do you have? Why didn't you come to me then?"
Wen Huan then recounted the whole story of San Cai's theft. Jiang Qing said, "No wonder you were so bold when you robbed Yuan Niang."
The two sat down together. Jiang Qing held Wen Huan in his arms as they ate.
Wen Huan said, "Wait a little longer and then go inside. I'm afraid the Empress will come looking for us."
Jiang Qing then recounted the previous events, and Wen Huan laughed, "No wonder you came out wearing new clothes." Seeing Wen
Huan laughing and joking, Jiang Qing became aroused and carried her to the bed. He saw that her skirt was half-undone, her embroidered shoes loose. Her eyes were hazy, but her slender hands held tightly to her, her waist swaying and her movements fluid and intimate.
Jiang Qing was overjoyed and stripped Wen Huan completely naked. The woman's desire was intense, her spring passion burning. He personally guided her into the mortar, her beautiful face lost in the moment, letting her fall like fragrant petals. Her frail body could not resist, and he began to manipulate her.
Wen Huan, being a northerner, was very skilled in amorous movements, and as soon as they began, she uttered many beautiful words.
After a while, they stopped, and Wen Huan went to fetch water, washed herself, and tidied the table. Dongxi, along with Jiang Qing, undressed and slept together.
Touching her fleshy feet and caressing her soft breasts, they inevitably began to flirt.
From then on, Jiang Qing often made excuses to send Sancai away, and so on.
Wen Huan found Sancai vulgar and disliked him, so the two became very close.
Time flew by, and the little boy Liu Yu grew to six years old. Yuan Niang, at her suggestion, named him Jiang Ben Liu.
One day, Jiang Qing was away, and a fortune teller named Li Xing, who was used to telling fortunes for wealthy families in various prefectures of Henan, was there. Yuan Niang, who had heard this and said, "Sir, calculate Ben Liu's birth chart."
Li Xing said, "This birth chart indicates that he will leave his ancestors while still in his mother's womb. Later, he will enjoy blessings, and his wealth and honor will be beyond description."
He then told Jiang Qing's birth chart. Li Xing said, "This is a noble birth chart, also indicating wealth and honor, but one thing is certain: few children and a short lifespan."
Yuan Niang read out Liu Yu's birth chart, and Li Xing said, "This noble birth chart seems to have been calculated somewhere. Let me think." Yuan
Niang said, "In that case, you should first calculate the woman
's birth chart." She gave her birth time and date. Li Xing calculated for a moment, then slapped his hand on the table and said, "Yes, yes, these two birth charts were calculated at Master Liu's residence in Anyang County. This woman's fate is destined for ten years of bad luck. She will die. If she doesn't die, she will surely perish. Fortunately, he is kind-hearted and spared her life. Why did you have your fortune told at his residence?"
Yuan Niang asked, "When did you have your fortune told at his house?"
Li Xing said, "I had my fortune told again this February. The man's fate is also bad. He is going through a period of bad luck. Two years ago, he married a woman surnamed Zhu, who also has a bad fate. As soon as she entered the house, she beat a maid to death, and her father demanded that she pay with her life and took the case to the authorities." The official, knowing he was a wealthy man, only took two thousand taels of silver from him before stopping. The total cost was three thousand taels. Not long after, a fire broke out in his house, burning it to the ground. All the valuables inside were looted by a hundred men. "How tragic!"
Yuan Niang said, "It's all so bitter." She began to cry. Li Xing said, "It's alright."
Yuan Niang, with tears still streaming down her face, asked, "What good has it done?" Li Xing said, "He quickly sold off all his mountain property, rebuilt the house, and re-furnished it. Unexpectedly, a year later, his 'eight-fold misfortune' was remarkably accurate; another fire struck, this time destroying everything. Even his family and children had nowhere to eat and all scattered."
Yuan Niang cried again. Li Xing said, "It's alright."
Yuan Niang stopped crying and asked, "What good has it done?" Li Xing said, "Nothing good. I only said this because I saw you crying."
Yuan Niang asked, "Where will you find shelter now?"
Li Xing replied, "This February, I had my fortune told at the home of some Yuan family. They said it was for his father-in-law's family."
Yuan Niang asked, "Will this person's life be better later?" Li Xing said, "His fate should be better now. It's just that his second wife's fate is bad, causing him to suffer like this. And there's another woman whose fate is currently afflicted by the 'Mourning Gate' and 'Extinction of Fortune,' so she's probably going to die. After she dies, Mr. Liu will be back to his former rich self."
Yuan Niang asked, "When will you be going again, sir?" Li Xing replied, "In the second half of the year."
Yuan Niang said, "I would like to trouble you to send him a letter. If you agree, I will give you five taels of silver."
Upon hearing "five taels," Li Xing said, "I'll go right away, I'll go right away."
Yuan Niang asked Wen Huan to fetch paper and pen, and wrote: "My wife suffered a poisonous attack and cannot fly away. Alas. What cannot be said is that our son is six years old. You are now facing many hardships."
Just as she was writing, the messenger returned. Yuan Niang folded the paper, went into the inner room, and added, "This letter cannot express everything. You can ask Li Xing where the letter was sent. Come quickly, if you have something to say, hurry. Sent by Yuan Shi." She
then hastily sealed it, took five taels of silver, and told Wen Huan to secretly take it out and send it to him, not to forget.
Wen Huan kept quiet, not letting Jiang Qing know, and gave it to Li Xing, saying, "Keep it from your master, you must go quickly."
Li Xing hurriedly left and headed towards Anyang.
In less than a day, he arrived in the county. He went straight to Yuan's house and met Liu Yu, saying, "A relative of yours in Zhenping County, I had my fortune told at his house, and he specially asked me to send you a letter."
Liu Yu was bewildered. When he opened it, he saw Yuan Niang's handwriting and burst into tears, saying, "Master, what family does he live in in Zhenping County?"
Li Xing said, "The richest man in the county. He lives in Jiang Village in Sandu. His master, Jiang Qing, is a student of the Imperial Academy."
Liu Yu thought, "He was robbed by bandits and sold to his family."
He then asked, "How was the person who sent the book dressed?" The
teacher replied, "She spoke from behind a screen, so we didn't see her. Her voice sounded like the local dialect of your county. She sent this especially because she gave me five taels of silver."
Liu Yu thought, "She has five taels of silver to send the book; she must be quite well. I should pretend I don't have the travel expenses to go and see her."
Li Xing said, "Farewell."
Liu Yu said, "Because my late wife is gone, there's no one to serve me tea."
Upon hearing that she was gone, Li Xing said, "Alright, alright. That woman's fate was something I could never speak of in front of you. She was cursed with eight misfortunes. Good riddance, good riddance, your destiny has arrived."
Liu Yu said, "I have no idea about destiny."
Li Xing said, "The magistrate of Zhenping has a relative who is worth a million. If you are willing to go, you will definitely have a small fortune."
Liu Yu said, "But I have no travel expenses. My wife's father's family is in trouble because of my late wife's passing, and I dare not ask again. What should I do?"
Li Xing said, "No problem, no problem. Your relative gave me five taels of silver, which I haven't touched. I'll take two taels and lend them to you. If I come back in the second half of the year, you can return them."
He quickly took out two taels from his sleeve, which were exactly two taels, clearly weighed, and handed them to Liu Yu. Liu Yu thanked him profusely.
Li Xing left. Liu Yu recounted the events to his parents-in-law, and the Yuan couple said, "It's all right. Fortunately, the girl is still alive. My dear son-in-law, go and inquire carefully, and inform your wife thoroughly.
Don't let her be moved by what she sees; she mustn't act rashly." The Yuan family took a bed, five taels of silver, a small urinal, and a sachet from their daughter's childhood, and gave them to Liu Yu. They parted immediately and continued their journey. It took more than a day.
They arrived at Jiang Village late at night. They found an inn to stay at. The next morning, after washing and dressing, they went to the inn and were directed to the Jiang family's gate.
Liu Yu instructed a servant to take the sachet, saying, "Just go in. If anyone asks you, say that Master Yuan from Anyang County has come to visit Lady Yuan. Never say that I am Liu."
The servant replied, "These instructions are unnecessary."
He went straight inside.
It so happened that Jiang Qing had gone to the countryside that day and was not home. Therefore, no one was home to answer the call. The servant went to the back of the hall and happened to see a beautiful woman. He bowed and said, "Please tell him that it is Lord Yuan of Anyang who has come to visit Lady Yuan."
Wen Huan knew the reason and hurriedly called upstairs, "Your Highness, please come down quickly."
Lady Yuan heard this and went downstairs. She saw the servant calling out "Dear Mother." Lady Yuan saw him and burst into tears.
"My lord has come to visit his dear mother." The servant showed Lady Yuan a sachet, and Lady Yuan said, "Please come in."
Wen Huan hurriedly went out to the front hall and beckoned Liu Yu to enter.
Wen Huan said, "Please come to my side, sir."
Lady Yuan came out to greet him, and when they saw each other from afar, they both choked with sobs. After exchanging greetings, the two wept together. The maids all said they were brother and sister, but only Wen Huan knew they were husband and wife. Because Yuan Niang treated Wen Huan like a younger sister, Wen Huan was extremely grateful. Yuan Niang also knew about Jiang Qing stealing from him, but she wasn't jealous. Therefore, she didn't tell Jiang Qing about the letter incident. This was a story of two good people coming together.
Yuan Niang stopped crying and invited Liu Yu upstairs to sit. She explained everything, saying, "I was planning to die young, but I have a child, your flesh and blood, and I fear your lineage will end. He's six years old now."
Liu Yu asked, "Where is he now?" Yuan Niang replied, "In the study."
Liu Yu asked, "What's his name?"
Yuan Niang said, "I chose his name, Jiang Ben Liu."
Just then, Wen Huan carried him upstairs, saying, "Uncle is here."
Ben Liu bowed to Liu Yu. Liu Wu saw that he was handsome and was delighted.
Yuan Niang invited her husband to sit down and whispered in his ear, "Tomorrow I will give you some gold and silver. Take it to the innkeeper and hide it. We'll gradually transport several thousand taels, hire boats, secretly arrange a date, and take the child to escape back to our hometown. Don't tell anyone."
Liu Yu was delighted and said, "Only with a virtuous wife like this can I truly see my true heart."
The two drank wine, and Wen Huan accepted it, sending the maid downstairs to sleep. The wet nurse led the young official to bed. Yuan Niang locked the door, went to get the chain, opened a gold and silver box, and said, "While Jiang Qing is away, when things are over, I'll take it all away on a good day."
She bound bundles of gold and silver until midnight, totaling several thousand taels, countless pearls, jade, and gold. Once everything was ready, both were exhausted. The couple lay down in bed, and Liu Yu took Yuan Niang's arm and then asked for lovemaking.
Yuan Niang helped Yu Lang undress, then removed her lower garment, lay down on the edge of the bed, and let him do as he pleased.
Yuan Niang said, "Yu Lang, I have already lost my virginity to another man, will you not despise me?"
Liu Yu said, "My wife's deep affection and loyalty make her even more lovable!"
Yuan Niang said, "But now that I have given birth to a child, things must be much easier."
Liu Yu said, "My wife, did you often complain of pain before? Now you can come and go as you please!"
The two made love and went to sleep together.
The next day, they got up early to prepare, and then left. The servant also carried several hundred coins with him. They made several trips a day, and the innkeeper had no idea.
In less than three days, the supplies were all delivered.
Liu Yu said to Yuan Niang, "The goods have all been transported. I think people who lack foresight will inevitably face immediate troubles. You said we should escape together, but I think the boat is heavy and slow. If we are caught up by others, our lives will be in danger, and even the child will not survive. If I and the servant go back first, we can use the silver to build a house, furnish it, and make everything ready. Then I will come to see you. It's much more convenient to leave empty-handed. There's only one thing: I'm afraid that if I take out the gold and silver, it will be gone. How will you save it?"
Yuan Niang said, "There is gold and silver in this hidden room. But it's nailed in and inconvenient to take it out. The silver has been used only here and has not been touched since." Intracystic. If you want it, just take it.
Liu Yu said: "What do you think of what I just said?" "
Yuan Niang said: "What you said is a perfect plan, but I don't know when you will come? "
Liu Yu said: "It will only be next year at most.
Yuan Niang said with tears: "My days are like years." Don't forget. "
Liu Yu said: "It's not too late, let's just go." "
Yuan Niang said: "Let's have a drink and see our husband off.
Yuan Niang went to get another pair of gold bracelets and two pairs of gold hairpins and said, "Please send your love to your father and mother." Brother and sister-in-law should not be too serious or too light. "
After eating and drinking, I said goodbye to Yuan Niang and shed tears twice.
The envoy took the furnishings and sent the whole family out.
Liu Yu went to the store, gave the rent, and found a boat to go back. Fortunately, the journey was safe.
When he returned to Yuan's house, he said what he had said before, gave Yuan's family twenty taels of silver, and then went to buy wood and renovate a new house.
It is money that can communicate with the gods. With silver, one becomes so rich again.
The redemption of all the land and property was a given.
Now, let's talk about Jiang Qing. He deliberately sent Sancai out so he could have some fun with Wenhuan.
One day, while he and Wenhuan were asleep, before dawn, they became excited again.
Unexpectedly, Sancai took a night boat home, entered through the city gate, and arrived at his house. He knocked on the gate, then went down the corridor to his room. He pushed the door open, and it swung open.
Sancai wondered, "Why is the door here?"
He heard a noise from inside. He quietly went to the bedside and listened. He heard Wenhuan say
, "Is this good?" "Yes," she replied
, her lewd moans filling the room. Enraged, Sancai took a sharp knife from his boot, grabbed a handful of Jiang Qing's hair, and slashed his head.
His throat was severed, and he fell to the side. He looked for Wenhuan, but she was nowhere to be seen. He thought, "He must have escaped."
He quickly bolted the door, lit a lamp, and shone it brightly inside and out, but there was no sign of her.
He hurriedly looked outside, but the gatekeeper said he hadn't seen anyone come out. He went further back and saw that the inner doors were open. He asked the maid,
"Have you seen my wife?"
The maid replied, "No."
He searched further inside, until he reached the master's inner chamber. Seeing the door closed, he feared disturbing his master and thought, "
Oh no! Since ancient times, adultery has been caught in the act. If the adulterous woman escapes, killing this man will surely cost me my life." He went into the room and asked, "Who is the adulterer?"
He shone a lamp and cried out, "Oh no! It's not so bad if it's someone else, but to kill the master without permission will mean certain death. What should I do?"
He thought, "I must gather the gold and silver and leave as soon as possible."
He opened the chest, took out the gold and silver, and was about to leave when the corpse grabbed him, causing him to stumble and fall, covered in blood.
His neighbor, still asleep in bed, heard the thud and thought there was a thief, so he cried out twice.
Sancai heard this and panicked.
Covered in blood as he left, in his desperation, he said, "I've killed so many people in the past, I deserve to die this time."
He grabbed a sharp knife, slit his throat, and collapsed to the ground.
The servants all heard a strange noise and rushed into the room, only to find two corpses lying on the floor.
They immediately shouted to the inner room. Yuan Niang, hearing the commotion, asked, "Why are you making such a fuss?"
It turned out that Wen Huan, seeing San Cai commit the murder, had hurriedly gotten out of bed, torn off his clothes, and rushed to the inner room, knocking on the door to tell Yuan Niang that he had committed the crime. Seeing that
things had come to this, Yuan Niang told Wen Huan to lock the door, get dressed, and stay upstairs.
Hearing the commotion below, she opened the door and heard the servants reporting, "Your Majesty, something terrible has happened! The master has been killed in San Cai's room, and San Cai has also been killed on the floor."
Yuan Niang exclaimed in shock, "Wen Huan, your master has been killed in your room! Come with me quickly!"
Yuan Niang and Wen Huan rushed outside, saw the corpses, and locked the door.
Wen Huan leaned against San Cai's corpse and began to weep. The crowd said, "We don't know why they were both killed here."
Yuan Niang saw a large bundle on the ground; it was quite heavy. She had someone place it on the table, untied it, and said, "Yes, yes, it's true! Gold and silver were stolen from my room. I was afraid of the master's wrath, so I didn't dare say anything, but the master found out. San Cai stole it. This morning the master came over, and while San Cai was away and Wen Huan was asleep, he came to get a lamp and found the stolen goods. Thinking the murderer had returned by chance..." When the matter was exposed, the head of the household was killed. Just as he was about to pack up the bundle of items to leave, fearing capture, he committed suicide in a moment of panic.
Everyone looked and said, "What you said is absolutely true, Madam. It really was suicide."
Yuan Niang said, "Wen Huan's crime is unforgivable. Didn't you steal this gold and silver and give it to him? He must be investigated by the authorities."
The crowd said, "Please forgive her, Madam. Her husband is dead, she's an orphan, and she'd be perfect to keep you company."
Having said this, they all knelt down. Yuan Niang, intending to feign innocence, said repeatedly, "If it weren't for the sake of everyone, I would never forgive you." She
immediately instructed everyone to check the chests and boxes; five in total, they were taken inside. "
He ordered someone to watch over the corpse, then hurried inside, instructing the steward to obtain a fine coffin, a five-tael coffin, and to prepare all the funeral arrangements. The body was then placed in the coffin and buried outside the city.
The master's body was washed clean, sewn up, and placed in the coffin. It was then carried to the main hall, where scriptures were recited and rituals performed. The obituary stated that Jiang Ben Liu had become a filial son.
All the relatives came to pay their respects.
After the forty-nine days, the coffin was removed. Yuan Niang bestowed favors upon all men and women, both inside and outside the household, rewarding them with gold and silver on holidays and festivals. Everyone was grateful to her.
Wen Huan even moved into Yuan Niang's room, clearing a space in the area where the deceased had died.
As the hundred-day mourning period passed and the New Year approached, they were thinking about this when Liu Yu arrived.
Upon hearing of Jiang Qing's death, Liu Yu first ordered offerings for the funeral before entering the hall to pay his respects.
Ben Liu returned the greetings and went inside to see Yuan Niang. The couple were both saddened and joyful.
Yuan Niang asked, 'My lord, how have you been since we parted?'"
Liu Yu recounted the restoration of his household in detail, and Yuan Niang happily said, "All the wealth here, worth millions, is mine now. We can't go back yet. We'll wait until our child grows up and marries him. Then we can return home together." Liu
Yu said, "My wise wife is right. I think Heaven has eyes; Jiang Qing's intention to separate us is surely divine retribution."
Yuan Niang said, "San Cai's suicide was also divine retribution."
Liu Yu didn't understand why, so Yuan Niang explained her life as a thief and how she was later kidnapped. Liu Yu said, "Heaven has eyes." Wen
Huan then prepared wine and brought it upstairs. Yuan Niang said, "This woman is San Cai's wife; she is refined and cultured. You can take her as your second wife."
Wen Huan, hearing this, shyly covered her face and went downstairs.
Liu Yu said, "No."
Yuan Niang said, "If that's the case, then only you and I will have a day to return home. Otherwise, who will manage the household affairs if I leave?"
Only then did Liu Yu nod.
That evening, Yuan Niang pushed Liu Yu into Wen Huan's bedroom and closed the door for them. Wen Huan knew Liu Yu was hesitant, so he personally helped her undress and offered himself to her.
Wen Huan was the type to moan as soon as they made love, and after a few thrusts, he was already moaning.
Yuan Niang pushed the door open and cursed, "You damned Wen Huan, I gave in to you, and you dare to make such a fuss, wanting to take your husband back!"
Wen Huan hugged Liu Yu's waist and said, "Auntie! You can kill me now, but I won't let you go!"
Yuan Niang said, "You shameless hussy!"
Wen Huan said, "Auntie! I'm enjoying it so much down there, I don't care about the top!"
Yuan Niang said, "You vixen, I'm not arguing with you anymore!"
After saying that, Yuan Niang turned to leave, but Wen Huan, who was actually aware of the situation and had deliberately created the atmosphere, saw that Yuan Niang was about to leave. He quickly pushed Yu Lang aside, chased after her naked, undressed Yuan Niang, stripped her naked, and pushed her into Yu Lang's arms.
At this moment, Liu Yu was surrounded by women, sometimes teasing Yuan Niang, sometimes pleasuring Wen Huan. What he had lost in the past few years had now been more than doubled.
From then on, Liu Yu never returned home. Everyone in the family knew that Liu Yu was the husband, but because of Yuan Niang's favor, no one dared to say anything.
At the age of sixteen, Liu Ben passed the provincial examination. The following spring, he passed again and married the daughter of Minister Wang from the local area. He resumed his original surname and was named Liu Ben. Liu Yu and his wife, along with Liu Ben and his wife, went to their home to visit relatives and friends.
Liu Ben and his wife returned to Jiang Village and treated Wen Huan as his own mother. Later, when they went to the capital, both mothers received honors and titles.
Later, Liu Ben sold his house and land to a wealthy family, gave his belongings to his wife's family, and took all his gold, jewels, and valuables to his parents. He then took his wife and stepmother, bid farewell to his parents-in-law, and returned to his hometown to serve his parents in their old age.
Yuan Niang laughed, "How strange! The moon blooming is one wonder, captivating women is another, retrieving the shoe in a dream is a third, Jiang Qing's reward is a fourth, San Cai's suicide is a fifth, and receiving a large sum of money is a sixth."
Liu Yu laughed, "Clearly, Chen Ping devised six ingenious schemes."
The couple laughed heartily. Indeed: Good and evil will ultimately be rewarded; it's only a matter of sooner or later.
- End –

URL 1:https://www.sexlove5.com/htmlBlog/190175.html

URL 2:/Blog.aspx?id=190175&aspx=1

Last access time:

Previous Page : The Legend of the Condor Heroes: The Story of Huang Rong

Next Page : Naruto: Shikamaru Nara 9