A Newly Compiled Complete History of Peach Blossoms

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The newly compiled "The Romantic History of Peach Blossoms," Volume One,
Chapter One: @Li Huizhi Views Flowers and Sends a Poem @Jin Tao'er is Most Sentimental
@@The poem reads: @@Peach blossoms bloom in profusion beside the pavilion, red rain and budding petals reflected on the green moss; @@They perfectly depict the scene of spring in March, oh, who has plucked a branch?
@@It also says: @@In March, peach blossoms are in full bloom, silently smiling and playing with the spring breeze; @@Just now, a visitor returned, the flowing water and fallen flowers were all in vain.
@@It is said that during the Tang Dynasty, there was a man named Kang Jian, courtesy name Yongtai, who lived outside the city gate of Suzhou. He was naturally quiet, but because of the bustling city, he moved to a secluded place, built one or two thatched cottages, and set up a large garden on the left, with exotic flowers and rare herbs, and naturally, beautiful birds. However, he planted more than three hundred peach trees, which was quite a sight. In the second or third month of spring, the flowers bloomed in profusion, like brocade and magnolias, most beautiful of all. For more than ten years since Kang Jian moved here, he only cared about the branches, leaves, flowers and plants, and had no other desires. His family's wealth and status were only average. He had no male heirs, only one daughter named Jin Tao'er.
Why was she named Jin Tao'er? When Kang Jian first moved there, he passed by Pangtang Mountain and saw a golden peach tree, its golden light dazzling, its fragrance and beauty exquisite, like a jade tree or a celestial flower.
Kang Jian admired it for a while, then broke off a branch. You might say that the moment Kang Jian broke off the branch, the leaves fell and the flowers withered, turning it into a dead tree. Kang Jian was very unhappy to see this, but the branch he had broken off remained unchanged.
However, this golden peach tree had been on Pangtang Mountain for hundreds of years, accumulating essence over time, becoming a sacred plant. It was destined that it would be born today and meet Kang Jian, who loved peaches, who broke off a branch. All its essence was concentrated in that one branch, so the rest of the tree instantly became dead. Kang Jian held the branch in his hands like a priceless treasure, and when he returned home, the leaves and flowers were as before. Kang Jian sensed something unusual and devoted himself to planting and nurturing the peach tree. His daughter was born, and he named her Jin Tao'er.
Jin Tao'er was exceptionally beautiful, and by the age of thirteen, she could compose poems and lyrics. Her intelligence was unparalleled, and her fame spread throughout Suzhou. Kang Jian longed to marry his beloved daughter to a renowned scholar, thus fulfilling his wish to marry her to her. Therefore, he built an octagonal pavilion in the peach orchard, where his daughter would often play. The pavilion, with its winding railings and exquisite details, was very beautiful. Every spring when the peach blossoms were in bloom, Kang Jian would often invite famous poets and scholars to drink and make merry there.
@@At that time, there were several talented men in the city of Suchuan, some who wrote poems and others who composed fu (a type of classical Chinese prose). Among them was a young talent named Li Huizhi, who was only fifteen years old. He had eyebrows like green mountains, eyes like autumn waters, red lips and white teeth. Pan An could not rival his looks, and no one in the Song Dynasty could compare to his beauty. Moreover, he was exceptionally intelligent and learned. While composing a poem there, he suddenly thought of the talented Jin Tao, and his mind was filled with longing for her. So he took up his pen and composed a four-line quatrain.
@@The poem reads: @@At the Peach Blossom Pavilion, where the wine is served, only the fairy Jin Tao is there; @@If one were to pluck a branch of tender red blossoms,
it would be like a piece of amber from Liao and a poria cocos. @@Kang Jian collected all the poems and lyrics he wrote at the pavilion. He showed them to Jin Tao back in his courtyard. Jin Tao noticed that the other poems and lyrics were unrefined and instead praised the beauty of peach blossoms. But when she saw Li Huizhi's four-line quatrain, she knew that he had written it intentionally. Jin Tao'er recited this poem silently every day, only then realizing that she could never meet this person. She often strolled idly by the pavilion, leaning against the railing to admire the flowers, and intentionally wandered here. As she approached the pavilion, she heard faint whispers from among the peach blossoms, so she stopped and listened intently. What were these two little beasts doing in the peach garden? Who were they?
@@ It turned out they were a pair of bitter gourds, now locked in a bitter struggle. One was called Iron-Butt Jiang Gouben; the other was called Little Daredevil Song Shangmen, who spent his days idly wandering outside, crying and drinking with the dissolute young master.
@@ One day, the two little beasts idly strolled into the peach garden to admire the flowers. After a while, Song Shangmen suddenly felt a stomachache and needed to relieve himself. Jiang Gouben said, "There's no one in the garden, so what's wrong with staying here?" Song Shangmen then took off his pants, revealing his tender, white buttocks. Jiang Gouben was delighted to see this and said with a grin, "People say there's water in your buttocks, is that really true? I'll have to try it out today." Song Shangmen laughed and said, "It's not water, it's oil." Jiang Gouben said, "Where does the oil in your buttocks come from?" Song Shangmen said, "Since you eat this kind of food, you don't even know there's oil in your buttocks? I remember when I was fourteen or fifteen, my blood and qi were not yet settled, and my blood circulated freely. When my anus opened, the blood flowed downwards, which is why it was so smooth. Look at the buttocks of those seventy or eighty-year-olds, all wrinkled and dead skin. Why is that? It's because there's no oil in their anus." As they talked, both of them seemed to be getting a little greasy. Jiang Gouben said, "How about I taste your oil?" Song Shangmen said, "I won't tell you how I'll taste it, but how about you let me taste your flute?"
@@Jiang Gouben saw Song Shangmen's plump penis, immediately wiped his anus dry, and then cupped the penis in both hands, savoring it with his large mouth. After a while, Song Shangmen farted, and Jiang Gouben spat it out, saying, "I'm playing the flute in front, you mustn't be beating the drum behind." Song Shangmen said, "One flute plays, a mighty army marches forth." Jiang Gouben spat it out, saying, "Two buttocks, a hermaphrodite."
They argued for a while, then resumed their savoring. Song Shangmen asked, "What kind of rhythm is your savoring?" Jiang Gouben spat it out, saying, "Though there's no music, there's still a discordant sound." The two laughed for a while, then resumed their savoring.
@@When he was truly savoring it, he felt the penis throb in his mouth, like hot oil flowing from a sausage, filling his mouth. Jiang Gouben didn't spit out a single drop, as if eating honey, wiping his mouth clean. Jiang Gouben, his lustful desire waning, said, "My penis has been waiting for a long time; you'd better repay me with your asshole." Song Shangmen, his passion waning, was somewhat unwilling to comply. Jiang Gouben, burning with lust, pulled Song Shangmen down onto his back, lifted his tender, white legs, and began to make love to him, mouth to mouth. Jin Tao'er, who had been listening from the pavilion for a while, assumed it was a man and a woman having sex, not realizing it was two little beasts playing music. She listened intently, her senses surging, her body aching and her bones numb. She leaned against the pavilion railing, her breasts twitching. Seeing that someone had discovered their act, Song Shangmen hurriedly pulled up his pants and, without a second thought, fled. Jiang Gouben turned around and saw that no one was around and the embers of the fire had not yet been extinguished. He wanted to use the water to cross the river, but he was afraid that he could not do so immediately. While he was hesitating, he suddenly heard someone shout outside the door, saying, "I see you, you little beast, causing trouble here."
@@Who was shouting? To be continued in the next chapter.
Chapter Two @Young Master Bai Plays the Flute @Jiang Gouben Enjoys the Sheng
@@It is said that Jiang Gouben was about to seduce Jin Tao'er by the pavilion when he suddenly heard someone shout outside the garden. Who do you think was the person shouting outside the garden? It turned out to be Young Master Bai from across the street. He was in his early twenties, quite handsome, and very wealthy. He had a wife, a concubine, and several maids. He was not interested in women and was only interested in male lovers. One day, he looked for the two of them but did not see them. Suddenly, he heard someone say, "The two of them are playing in the peach garden across the street." Young Master Bai hurried over and found Jiang Gouben standing by the pavilion. He then called out to him. When Jiang Gouben saw Young Master Bai calling him, he excused himself, and Jin Tao'er immediately withdrew as well. Young Master Bai pulled Jiang Gouben to sit down in the study in the front hall of his house, and then asked, "I haven't seen you these past few days, and you were actually harassing Kang Jian's daughter in the peach garden across the street. I'll tell him tomorrow, and you'll be sent to the authorities to be flogged and put in cangue."
Needless to say, Jiang Gouben was young and was easily frightened by Young Master Bai's words.
The timid Jiang Gouben said, "Why do you say such harsh words, Young Master Bai?" It turned out that Young Master Bai had long taken a liking to Jiang Gouben, but since he couldn't get what he wanted, he used these harsh words to frighten him. Although Jiang Gouben had no idea what to do, he ultimately refused. Young Master Bai then poured a pot of hot wine, and the two drank facing each other. As the wine flowed freely, Young Master Bai asked, "You came to this garden alone, or are you accompanied by someone?" Jiang Gouben replied, "I originally came with Minister Song." Young Master Bai asked, "Where is Minister Song?" Jiang Gouben, already quite drunk, recalled their time playing the flute and couldn't help but tell Young Master Bai everything.
Upon hearing this, Young Master Bai felt an overwhelming surge of desire, embraced Jiang Gouben's neck, and kissed him. Jiang Gouben reluctantly complied, and the two kissed and rubbed against each other. Jiang Gouben, fearing being seen, resisted. Young Master Bai didn't press the matter, and the two continued drinking. Jiang Gouben drank several more cups and soon became completely drunk, leaning back in his chair and falling asleep.
Seeing that he was drunk, Young Master Bai said, "Such a fine product tonight, I must enjoy it." He then closed the door, pulled down his trousers, revealing his tender, smooth buttocks. Young Master Bai lifted his legs, aimed his penis at his anus, added some semen, and began to masturbate. Jiang Gou, who had just woken from his drunken stupor, half-heartedly resisted and let him do as he pleased. Little did he know that Young Master Bai was at home, and it was already past midnight, yet he had not eaten. His wife, Liu, was getting impatient, so she hurried to the front hall to check. She saw the bedroom door tightly closed, the light still on, and soft moaning sounds coming from inside, like lewd desire.
Liu peeked through the window and saw her husband embracing a young child, masturbating. She dared not call out, but stood outside the window watching. Jiang Gouben said, "Take it out, and I'll let you enjoy the flute." Young Master Bai said, "Let me enjoy it first." Young Master Bai then took Jiang Gouben's penis, wrapped his tongue around the glans, and made moaning sounds that could be heard outside the window. Jiang Gouben said, "My anus is itchy, lick it for me." Young Master Bai then spat out the penis, stuck his tongue into the anus, and sucked it in as if eating honey and drinking oil. Just then, the light suddenly went out. Young Master Bai went to the back house to fetch firewood and water. When he got up and opened the door, he saw his wife, Liu, and was overwhelmed with shame, speechless. He then asked, "When did you arrive?" Liu replied, "I came after hearing you play the flute." Upon hearing
the words "play the flute," Bai Gongzi knew his affair had been exposed. He blurted out, "Sister, I was momentarily confused today and cannot see you. Please dispose of me as you see fit!" Liu, a young woman, had been somewhat pleased since coming to the window to watch the performance. Seeing her husband's response, she blurted out, "Tell that boy you were playing with to come out and let me lick him." Just as she finished speaking, Jiang Gouben, who had overheard her from inside, rushed out, still drunk, and said to Liu, "Since I have lost my virtue before your husband, if you, sister-in-law, would be so kind as to grant me your favor, I will obey without question." Bai Gongzi, standing nearby, could not answer and waited for Liu's instructions.
Liu's heart was already stirred, and it was late, so she said, "You two, come with me to the inner quarters to talk." Bai Gongzi dared not disobey, and Jiang Gouben willingly accompanied him. Liu was in front, followed by the other two. Young Master Bai understood their intentions. When they reached the entrance to the inner quarters, the lamps were still lit. Young Master Bai whispered to Jiang Gouben, "We must do this and that to clear our shame and cover our tracks." Jiang Gouben replied, "Of course, of course."
It turned out that Liu had two maids in her room, one named Chunmei and the other Qiuyue, both only fifteen or sixteen years old. Both had been defiled by Young Master Bai. Qiuyue was already asleep, leaving only Chunmei waiting. As Liu entered the room first, followed by Jiang Gouben, Young Master Bai pulled Chunmei out. Chunmei asked, "Who was that person just now?" Young Master Bai said, "Don't ask him yet. Let's listen to what he has to say outside." Seeing that the two had deliberately kept their distance, Liu hugged Jiang Gouben and said, "My little darling, have a taste of your mother!" She had barely uttered these words when she suddenly remembered Qiuyue sleeping there and deliberately called out to Chunmei. Although she refused, Qiu Yue had already woken up. Seeing no one respond, Liu assumed Qiu Yue was fast asleep and told Jiang Gouben to take off his clothes. The two of them, naked on the bed, began to make love. However, Qiu Yue, also naked, came over and, seeing it wasn't Bai Gongzi, was startled. But Jiang Gouben had already seen them, so he slipped off the bed, embraced her, and pushed her back onto the bed. His erect penis, like a steel spear, had already targeted Qiu Yue's small slit. Liu then stood up and embraced Jiang Gouben from behind, mimicking his actions. At this moment, Qiu Yue was both surprised and suspicious, yet dared not refuse. The three of them were together, their passion intense, truly:
"Ahead lies the wealth and honor of passing the imperial examinations; behind lies the beautiful marriage of a bride.
" To know the truth, please read the next chapter.
@@@@@@ (End of Volume One of the Newly Compiled "The Amorous History of Peach Blossoms")
Volume Two,
Chapter Three of the Newly Compiled "The Amorous History of Peach Blossoms": @Peeping at the Moon Through the Gauze Window in a Dream @ devising a clever plan to pick flowers while drunk
@@It is said that Young Master Bai was playing with Chunmei outside the window when he heard Qiuyue get up. The three of them were playing together, so he pushed Chunmei to the window. The two of them looked inside and saw Liu embracing Jiang Gouben, and Jiang Gouben embracing Qiuyue.
@@This Young Master Bai, who had previously been a fiend, was now also a master of seclusion. Young Master Bai said, "Why don't we go in and compose a couplet with the three of them?" The two of them then went into the room. Liu and Jiang Gouben didn't care at all, but Qiuyue was quite surprised. Seeing the two of them come in, without saying a word, he pulled up a chair for Qiuyue. She already knew that Young Master Bai had done it. You said that Liu said to Jiang Gouben, "Master Jiang, would you like to play the xiao for me?" Jiang Gouben laughed and said, "I'd like to play, but do you have a xiao?" Liu laughed and said, "How about playing the sheng for me?" Upon hearing the words "play the sheng," Jiang Gouben immediately got up, spread Liu's legs apart, and raised her vulva high. Jiang Gouben stuck his tongue in, making Liu extremely itchy and numb, screaming and moaning. Bai Gongzi abandoned Chunmei and came closer. He was fiddling with Jiang Gouben from behind and groping his muscles from the front. The three of them were fighting together, almost becoming one family. Chunmei and Qiuyue were so itchy and uncomfortable that they started slapping each other on the side. Hearing this, there is a four-line quatrain by an old Buddhist Zen master as evidence:
@@Not a xiao, not a sheng, Yin and Yang are in chaos, neither clear nor turbid; @@The old monk will live another ten years, then the child will show off his skill.
@@The four lines of laughter have been told. Jiang Gouben held Liu's vulva, like a lamb suckling, when suddenly Liu's veins surged, gushing forth and spraying blood all over the little silver doll, Jiang Gouben, without him even realizing it. Jiang Gouben looked as if he had been pulled from the womb. Two maids beside him laughed, "Congratulations, Uncle! Your first child is a boy! Quickly, fetch some water to wash him." Jiang Gouben, his mouth full of vomit, mistook it for soda water, kicking and thrashing about. Only then did he stop, and immediately fetched water, giving himself a thorough bath. They all gradually felt drowsy. Liu and her husband slept together, while the three of them slept together. Before long, the night was almost over, and dawn was breaking. They were all exhausted, and even though the sun was high in the sky, they couldn't wake up.
@@At that time, Bai Gongzi's concubine, Madam Hu, got up early in the morning and waited for a long time, but no maid opened the door. She looked in through the window and saw that he and his wife were fast asleep. On the other side of the bed, three naked people were lying side by side. Madam Hu was startled and immediately returned to her own room, thinking: "They must have had some fun last night, that's why they are so tired. I'll ask them what happened when they get up." After a while, Jiang Gouben woke up and opened his eyes. The sunlight filled the window. The four of them were still dreaming, except for the two maids who were naked. One was lying on her back, and the other was lying on her back with her whole body exposed. Their hairless slits were lovely, and the naked buttocks of the two maids made Jiang Gouben's lust burn. So he gently aimed his penis at the slit and began to masturbate. He pulled it out a few times and then pushed it back in with a thud. This made them both laugh. Chunmei said, "Let's get back to work quickly!" Qiuyue said, "With Uncle in charge, it's alright if we wait a little longer." After a while, they started playing again. But Hu was getting impatient and came out to look out the window. She saw a young boy riding a two-headed horse, boarding two boats, one on the left and one on the right, like the King of Wu picking lotus flowers, all in the midst of a lively scene.
@@ But then Bai Gongzi woke up and saw someone watching him from outside the window; seeing Jiang Gouben's lewd behavior, he shouted fiercely. Hu heard this and immediately retreated. Jiang Gouben had no choice but to get up, and Liu woke up from her dream. Young Master Bai said, "Sister, get up quickly! What happened last night has been seen by Xiao Hu. What kind of behavior is this?" Madam Liu said, "How did you know, sir?" Young Master Bai said, "He was looking out the window just now, but I called out to him and he ran away." Madam Liu said, "It doesn't matter. Just do this and that..." Young Master Bai lowered his head and remained silent.
@@Jiang, now flushed with desire, put on his clothes and called out, "Chunmei and Qiuyue, go to Madam Hu's room first. Tell me how you seduce him. Come back and tell me." The two maids followed the plan and went to Madam Hu's room. They knelt down and said, "Please, Second Madam, have mercy." Madam Hu replied, "Did your First Madam already have mercy last night?" The two maids said, "Our uncle didn't know about our affair. This morning, Second Madam saw it. If she tells First Madam, we'll both die right now." Madam Hu asked, "Who is that person?" Chunmei said, "His surname is Jiang. He's Qiuyue's cousin. He's known Qiuyue for a long time. Yesterday, while visiting the peach blossom garden, they met. For a moment, they didn't know..." Shameful, she fell in love with his youthful good looks and promised him a date for their union. That night, after midnight, I spoke the truth from the bottom of my heart, begging Second Mistress to forgive my youthful ignorance and momentary lapse. Hu asked, "Has this man left yet?" Chunmei said, "He is hiding in the servant's quarters." Hu said, "Tell him to come out, and I won't tell your First Mistress." Chunmei said, "What if the First Mistress sees him?" Hu said, "If she sees him, you will die!" Qiuyue cried, "He is my cousin. If he hides in Second Mistress's room, even if she sees him, just say that my cousin came to see me, and it will be fine." Hu was pleaded with by the two for a long time and could not refuse, so she reluctantly agreed.
@@Chunmei immediately went to the servant to call Jiang Gouben. Jiang Gouben had been waiting at the servant's place. Seeing Chunmei arrive, he knew the deed was done, so he went with Chunmei to Hu's room and knelt down to thank her for her forgiveness. But just as Jiang Gouben knelt, Liu stepped in and out of the doorway, saying, "I saw someone enter your room, but who was it?" Jiang Gouben was already crawling under the bed. Hu hurriedly replied, "It was Chunmei and Qiuyue, no one else." Liu knew this but didn't ask any more questions. She sat down by the door and told Chunmei to cook.
@@Just then, someone came to invite them, but Young Master Bai had gone out. Liu then asked Qiuyue to fetch a pot of liquor, and the two of them drank it immediately. Before long, Hu felt dizzy and said, "My sister has a low tolerance for alcohol and is already drunk. I can't keep you company. I'll just lie here for a bit!" Liu said, "You just go to sleep. I'll close the door for you." Liu closed the door and pretended to leave. Hu was very drunk and lay on the bed, unable to get up. Jiang Gouben crawled up from under the bed, climbed on top of Hu, pulled down her pants, and began to grope her. He also kissed Hu, and Hu dared not cry out, letting him do as he pleased. Liu, along with Chunmei and Qiuyue, entered together. Hu opened her eyes and was terrified, her face turning ashen, and she dared not utter a sound.
@@To know the details, please read the next chapter.
Chapter Four @The Virtuous Woman Loses Money and Righteousness @The Merchant Loses His Moral Character and Destroys Morals
@@The poem says: @@Everyone loves beauty, but Heaven cannot be deceived; @@There will be retribution, and it will not be far off.
Hu was terrified and filled with shame. Liu stepped forward and said, "Everyone is prone to lust, but I'll say it first: there were people in your room; you said they were two maids. Although I saw them today, I won't blame you." After saying this, she withdrew. Hu, panting for a while, said, "Just now, those three came in and saw me, and then where did they go?" Jiang Gouben said, "Second sister-in-law, don't worry, this matter can't be hidden. You saw it like this, and that's why." Hearing this, Hu was finally relieved and jokingly said, "You're the one who first insults me with propriety and music, so why shouldn't I be the one who comes later with propriety and music?" Then, in her drunken state, she let Jiang Gouben thrust into her. After hundreds of thrusts, Hu's vaginal fluids flowed freely, and her vaginal fluids gushed out. She cried out, "Master Jiang, my dear, you're killing me!" Jiang Gouben said, "I killed three people in that room last night, and today there are four." The two continued thrusting for a while before finally ejaculating. Jiang Gouben then got up, and they dressed together. Hu Shi remained asleep alone. Jiang Gouben strolled out, and that's another story
. The gossip at the Liu family's house was also set aside. The flowers were divided, each taking a branch.
Now, let's talk about that young master Bai, who was particularly fond of currying favor with the powerful and influential, whether they were merchants or officials in retirement. He and his brother were extremely familiar with each other. There happened to be a wealthy merchant who had heard of a peach orchard, which was exceptionally beautiful. It was springtime, and the flowers were in full bloom. One morning, he got up specifically to admire the flowers. Upon entering the orchard, he saw a young, beautiful woman alone in the pavilion, admiring the flowers. The merchant was immediately struck by her jade-like skin, graceful figure, and unparalleled beauty; he was speechless and glanced at her. Unexpectedly, Jin Tao'er immediately left, leaving only a merchant and two servants strolling around the garden. Their eyes were fixed on the blooming peach blossoms, their minds on the beautiful woman. They stared at her for a long time, then suddenly remembered a gentleman named Bai across the street. Why not invite him over to inquire? They quickly returned to their shop and sent someone to invite Mr. Bai for a chat.
But Mr. Bai was a cunning and opportunistic man. Upon hearing the merchant's invitation, he immediately forgot about Jiang Gouben's visit to Madam Hu's room and followed the man to the shop. When the merchant saw Mr. Bai, he was even more polite than before, with a different kind of smile. It was truly a case of mutual affection, as the old man with the beard wrote in verse: "
Our past friendship was indeed affectionate, but now, with this affection, even more affection has grown; With affection, we drink wine of affection, lest affection eventually turn to nothingness."
The merchant, having invited Young Master Bai to his shop, immediately had his men bring out delicacies and fine wine, personally serving him. Young Master Bai, feeling uneasy at such hospitality, asked, "Sir, I am deeply honored by your kindness today. May I ask what skills you possess that I may offer in the future? If you ever need my assistance, I will gladly serve you." Seeing Young Master Bai's demeanor, the merchant replied, "Nothing else, I simply invited you here for a chat." Young Master Bai said, "I am still quite young, what insight could I possibly have?" The merchant said, "I have heard that you have a peach orchard across the street, with over three hundred peach trees, a truly beautiful sight. Is that true?" Young Master Bai, being a clever man, immediately understood the implication upon hearing the words "peach orchard," and replied, "The Kang family's peach orchard is a renowned sight in Suzhou, and the golden peach tree is especially famous. If you would like to admire it, sir, I would gladly accompany you. My house is right across the street; we can have a leisurely chat."
The merchant, hearing what Young Master Bai said, thought to himself that Young Master Bai must have fallen for him. He then said, "To tell you the truth, this morning while playing in the garden, I saw a very lovely woman, and thus invited Brother Bai to come and hear her good news." Young Master Bai, seeing that it was about Jin Tao'er, replied, "I often see this woman, but I doubt she is necessarily destined for marriage. However, her father, Kang Jian, is upright and honest, and I heard he wants to marry his daughter to a talented man to fulfill his wish. Gold and silver are unlikely to sway this old man." The merchant said, "If money can't sway him, has it swayed others?" Hearing this, Young Master Bai, wanting both money and flattery, was truly
filled with anger and malice.
@@Young Master Bai then agreed, saying, "If you wish to marry Chang'e from the moon, sir, you only need to do this and that. Please allow me a few days, and I will take charge." Hearing the words "take charge," and knowing that Young Master Bai was a wealthy man, the merchant immediately exchanged one thousand taels of silver and gave it to him, saying, "After the matter is completed, there will be another thousand as a reward." Young Master Bai then had someone take the silver, bid farewell to the merchant, and went home.
@@How to proceed? Let's find out in the next chapter.
@@@@ (End of Volume Two of the Newly Compiled *Peach Blossom Romance*)
Newly Compiled *Peach Blossom Romance*, Volume Three,
Chapter Five: @Lustful Woman Leads to Murder @Money-Loving Man Harms a Good Man
@@It is said that Young Master Bai arrived home, received the silver, and then sat down. Madam Liu stepped forward and asked, "Sir, you haven't had breakfast yet, where have you been?" Young Master Bai said, "A wealthy merchant invited me, and I have already eaten. But I don't know what happened to Xiao Hu at home, Madam." Madam Liu told him everything. Although Bai Gongzi knew the matter was settled, he still felt sullen. So he got up and went to the front door, idly looking across the street. Suddenly, he saw Jiang Gouben and Song Shangmen coming together, and thought, "He seems quite depressed these days. Why not keep them here to pass the time? We can do 'that' tomorrow." So he invited them to the front hall. Once inside, Bai Gongzi cupped Song Shangmen's face and kissed him, and Song Shangmen reciprocated. It turned out that Jiang Gouben had told him everything that happened that night before he arrived. Today, they were going to have a "bed-sharing party." Jiang Gouben said, "Brother, his asshole is also offering itself up today.
Quickly, get some wine! Let the three of us drink to our hearts' content, and then we can play around." Bai Gongzi immediately ordered someone to bring several jugs of hot wine, and the three of them played drinking games, toasted each other, and did everything they could, drinking until the dead of night.
@@The Liu family already knew they were drinking in the front. Hearing there were three people, they dared not come out. After waiting for a while and seeing no one come in, they said, "Chunmei, call your uncle to come and sleep. If you want to eat, come to the back." Upon hearing this, Chunmei immediately went to the front hall and called out. Jiang Gouben heard this and came out to chase after Chunmei. Song Shangmen was watching over Bai Gongzi's quail, and the two of them followed. Bai Gongzi said, "Go home!" Song Shangmen said, "I want to play the sheng today too."
After saying this, he ran to the back. Bai Gongzi was already quite drunk and didn't stop him much. He then extinguished the lights in the front hall, closed the door, and took Song Shangmen to the back of the house.
Upon arriving at the inner courtyard and entering the room, they saw Jiang Gouben sitting in the middle, with Liu Shi on the left and Hu Shi on the right, the three of them sitting cross-legged, arms entwined. The two drunkenly muttered, "Another sheng player will be here soon." Unexpectedly, Young Master Bai, arm in arm with Song Shangmen, had already arrived. Seeing Jiang Gouben's arms around his two wives, he treated them with utter humiliation, as if they were prostitutes. Seeing this, Young Master Bai's lust vanished, his conscience pricked, and he secretly cried out to himself, "Bai Shouyi! You are from a respectable family, not concerned with food or clothing. Why, because of your fondness for men, have your entire family defiled by this little bitter gourd? Although you may enjoy a moment of pleasure, you have already ruined my family's reputation." Thinking this, he first scolded himself, then thought, "This lewd and wicked boy, why not borrow his gold bracelet and make a perfect solution?" These were all thoughts in Young Master Bai's mind, his righteous indignation burning within him, yet he did not reveal them. After much indulgence, she stepped forward and said, "Master Jiang, if I let you play with both of them for one night, let's see what you're capable of!" Jiang Gouben said, "Don't even mention one night, even three nights, I doubt you'd dare do anything to me!" Hearing this, Young Master Bai became even angrier and immediately replied, "Little Jiang! Let me give you some tonight, how about we go to the front hall for a drink?" Jiang Gouben said, "Master Bai, don't be so accommodating!" Seeing that his two old women didn't say anything, Young Master Bai turned around and led Song Shangmen to the front hall, where they lit candles. Young Master Bai took a few jugs of liquor, and Jiang Gouben, seeing that Young Master Bai had left, assumed that he and Song Shangmen would settle things in the front hall, and thus, he felt free to indulge in wanton debauchery in Liu's room.
Now, let's talk about how Young Master Bai and Master Song were drinking together. Master Song accompanied Young Master Bai to the back courtyard, hoping to have some fun with Jiang Gouben. However, seeing Young Master Bai's unruly behavior, he went with him to the front hall instead. But Young Master Bai only drank, neither joking nor speaking. Master Song asked, "Brother, you seem unhappy today. Did you come here because of me?" Young Master Bai replied, "You don't understand. This Jiang brat, in his drunken state, has been so lewd in my house. Even I, Brother Song, am ashamed." Master Song said, "Truly despicable!" Young Master Bai said, "Brother Song..." "I'll make a long-term deal with you. Tonight I'll give you one hundred taels of silver. From now on, you can come and go as you please at my house, just like Jiang the boy. You only need to do this and that." Hearing that he was being offered one hundred taels of silver, and having often visited his house for pleasure, Song Shangmen mustered his courage and said, "Brother, since you're going to kill a little beast today, I can't bear to see him die!" Hearing this, Bai Gongzi cupped Song Shangmen's mouth and said, "Young brother, since you're so generous, I'll get the silver for you right away. Just lure him out like this, and we'll deal with things at the garden across the street." Song Shangmen agreed. Bai Gongzi then took one hundred taels of silver and handed it to Song Shangmen, saying, "Go quickly and lure him out. If he comes out, I'll go with you."
Seeing the silver, Song Shangmen was tempted. He turned and said, "Brother, don't worry! If he doesn't come, just let me go." Having said that, he stepped into the back courtyard and pushed open the door. After their lovemaking had ended, Jiang Gouben said, "What were you doing, joking around?" Song Shangmen called out, "Brother Jiang, come quick! I have some good news to tell you." Jiang Gouben came out the door, and Song Shangmen grabbed him, saying, "Quick! Quick! Come with me, Jin Tao'er is waiting across the street." Jiang Gouben said, "Nonsense! It's past midnight, Jin Tao'er certainly isn't here. What trap could she possibly be trying to trick me with?" Song Shangmen said, "Brother, you don't know this, but when I came out with Brother Bai earlier, I..." The two stood at the gate and saw a man kissing Jin Tao'er on the pavilion. Brother Bai called out, and the man jumped over the wall. Brother Bai rushed into the garden and grabbed Jin Tao'er. Jin Tao'er didn't dare to cry out. At that time, Brother Bai's penis was not erect. I tried to get it up for a while, but Brother Bai's penis was still not erect. So he specially sent me to call you. Are you going or not?" Jiang Gouben, hearing this clever talk, was like a fly drawn to a foul odor, and met Young Master Bai right in the head. Young Master Bai said, "Brother Jiang is here! Hurry! Hurry! If you are a step too slow, you won't be able to see Jin Tao'er."
The three of them went out of the gate and quietly made their way to the peach garden. What will happen next? Let's find out in the next chapter.
Chapter Six @Li Huizhi Embraces Virtue to Attract Jade @The Crab Fairy Repays a Peach
@@The three entered the Peach Garden. However, when Young Master Bai took the silver, he secretly concealed a short knife in his sleeve. Jiang Gouben said, "Look, there's no one in the pavilion. Why did you two lure me here?" Young Master Bai replied, "We might be hiding near the pavilion." When the three went up to the pavilion, Young Master Bai grabbed Jiang Gouben's head and kissed him. Jiang Gouben thought it was just a game, but Young Master Bai, with his right hand holding the head, raised the short knife to the neck with his left. With one stroke, a bloody figure appeared. The Peach Blossom Pavilion was truly horrifying! Having reached this point in the story, one cannot help but sigh with admiration. A poem testifies to this:
@@Yesterday, in the room, he came with a sheng (a type of reed pipe), and blood has already slain the little beast; @@Tonight, we will attend the Golden Peach Banquet, where the bright red peach blossoms are in disarray.
@@Young Master Bai killed Jiang Gouben with a single blow, then threw Song Shangmen aside and was about to attack. Song came to the door and said, "My dear Master Bai, you only care about killing me. Who will help you with the lawsuit later?" Upon hearing the mention of a lawsuit, Master Bai immediately released him, saying, "Get up. It's late and quiet now. No one in the pavilion knows. I've already given you one hundred taels of silver. Tomorrow morning, tell your father: 'Kang Jian invited us to drink in the Peach Blossom Garden day and night. Around midnight, when we were half-drunk, Kang Jian came over and tried to rape Brother Jiang. Brother Jiang said, "Master Kang is drunk, let's go!" But Kang Jian wouldn't let go and insisted on pulling down his pants. Brother Jiang resolutely refused. Unexpectedly, Kang Jian, feeling ashamed and enraged, fearing exposure and the shame of the next day, took out a knife and stabbed Brother Jiang. Seeing the situation was bad, I ran away.'" "If I had waited any longer, I would have been killed by him too. Such a serious matter of life and death, if I hadn't spoken up soon, we would have been implicated if he found out later." "Tell your father what you've said, and he will naturally report it. Neither of us will be involved. After this is over, I will give you fifty taels of silver as a token of my gratitude.
You may still visit my house daily, but only you will know; you must not tell anyone else." Upon hearing Bai Gongzi's words, having already received one hundred taels of silver, and with the fifty taels as a token of gratitude, plus the promise of daily pleasure with Bai Gongzi's wives and concubines, Song Shangmen was overjoyed and readily agreed, saying, "Go home and sleep quickly. I will rush home and tell my father to inform the Jiang family. We will come to see him tomorrow morning." Having said this, Bai Gongzi threw the knife at Lianyou and returned home. Song Shangmen then went home to tell his father that he would report the crime the next day, leading to Kang Jian's death sentence—but that will be discussed later.
@@Furthermore, the peach blossom garden was in full bloom in March. Kang Jian originally didn't prohibit people from admiring the flowers, but ever since Li Huizhi and his guests had drunk wine and composed poems in the garden the day before, leaving behind a seven-character quatrain, Jin Tao'er had often been spying on them from the garden. One day, Li Huizhi came to the garden and saw Jin Tao'er there. Since no one else was in the garden, he stepped forward and said, "Yesterday, I casually composed a poem, which I find quite laughable." Jin Tao'er then turned around and said, "Who are you to speak to me like this?" Li Huizhi replied, "My name is Li Huizhi, courtesy name Biao Huating. I am currently in Hongmen, and my ancestral home is in Suzhou. I am sixteen years old." As he said this, Kang Jian stepped into the garden, and Jin Tao'er, upon seeing him, hid away. Kang Jian refused to invite that Mr. Li, and instead followed Jin Tao'er to his home, saying, "The peach blossoms in the garden are currently in full bloom. After everyone has come to admire the flowers, you are not allowed to wander around the garden anymore." Jin Tao'er, hearing her father's words, felt deeply ashamed and quietly stayed in her secluded chamber, refusing to come out to see the flowers again.
Li Huizhi, seeing Kang Jian go in with his daughter without saying a word, felt quite embarrassed. Returning home, he pondered deeply, restless and uneasy. Finally, he sat in his study, pen in hand, and composed a poem on the spot as evidence:
Yesterday, I drank wine at the Peach Blossom Pavilion; these days, the peach blossoms are gradually falling. I love most a branch, fragrant and tender, its scent lingering in the study.
Li Huizhi sat in his study all night, unable to sleep. The next day, someone invited him to stroll in the Peach Blossom Garden, but Li Huizhi declined. After staying for a while, feeling extremely depressed, he went out for a walk to clear his mind. He wandered aimlessly and ended up in the Peach Blossom Garden again. Looking up, he saw the flowers in full bloom, and several colorful pavilions and ornate buildings with painted beams and balustrades, dazzling in their splendor. Li Huizhi thought, "Last night the peach blossoms were already fading, and these pavilions were nowhere to be seen. Could I be dreaming of being here?" Just as he hesitated, a fragrant breeze wafted towards him, and Chang'e, the moon goddess, emerged from the garden. With a rosy face and a slender waist, she smiled and said, "Master Li, please come to my humble abode for a while, have a cup of tea, and then you can admire the peach blossoms." Upon hearing this, Li Huizhi was both surprised and... Delighted, Li Huizhi followed the woman inside. Upon entering the garden, he found it was not the same as yesterday. On either side stood octagonal pavilions, adorned with countless exotic flowers and fruits. In the center was a large pond where fish swam in the spring water. Behind it stood a three-room mansion, exquisitely decorated. Two maids stood on the platform, and one of them approached and escorted the woman into the room. Li Huizhi followed. Inside the jade chamber, he saw lingzhi mushrooms, melons, cinnabar books, and jade scrolls—the room was filled with nothing but celestial delicacies. The woman then invited Li Huizhi to sit down and had a maid serve tea. After the tea, a feast of celestial delicacies was laid out, including pine resin, cinnamon, dried unicorn, and deer pearls. The woman accepted the celestial wine and personally poured it for him. Li Huizhi politely declined for a while, but could only accept the gesture. He wanted to reciprocate but dared not speak. To find out what happened next, please read the next chapter.
@@@@ (End of Volume Three of the Newly Compiled "Peach Blossom Romance")
Chapter Seven of Volume Four of the Newly Compiled "Peach Blossom Romance"
@Talking about the Killing Star and Gradually Understanding Fate @Being Ignorant and Unable to Understand the Injustice
@@It is said that Li Huizhi declined for a while, and could only accept the kindness without daring to reciprocate. When he tasted the fairy's wine, which was far more delicious than that of mortals, it was truly:
@@Lanling wine, fragrant as tulips, served in a jade cup, its amber light shining.
@@The two drank a few cups together, and Li Huizhi asked: "Today, I am deeply grateful for your kindness, madam. How can I repay your kindness?" The fairy replied: "I had a predestined relationship with you in a previous life, so please do not be so modest."
Li Huizhi asked: "If we had a predestined relationship in a previous life, why did you...?" The fairy said: "My lord, you do not know, but I am not of ordinary nature. I was born on Pangtang Mountain. Once upon a time, a man was eating a peach and had not finished it. He threw half of the peach into a latrine. A kind man named Li saw this and said: "Though it's rotten on top, why throw half a peach into the dung? It's such a waste of the bounty of nature!" So the benevolent Li took it out of the dung, washed it clean with water, and threw it on Crab Mountain. Over the years, rain and wind mingled with its essence, and it lived a life of abundance, enduring over eight hundred years of wind, rain, and the sun and moon. One day, it met Old Man Kang of the village, and it was time for the birth of a fairy maiden. He broke off a branch of the peach, and the fairy maiden's spirit returned to the flower and came to Su Chuan. Old Man Kang cherished it and planted it in his garden, watering and nurturing it daily, until it grew into a weak branch. Yesterday, the master was admiring the flowers in the garden and mentioned the peach's name to the fairy maiden. The fairy maiden suddenly remembered that her benefactor's surname was Li, and today she wanted to repay him, finally feeling at peace. The two talked more and more deeply, and as night fell, two maids brought over silver candles and said, "It is time for the flowers to sleep. Let this fairy servant sleep with my benefactor Li tonight!" The two maids led the way, and the two followed to a bedroom with orchid-scented decorations. It was truly a fairy bed with phoenix and unicorn quilts, and all sorts of divine beast quilts, rarely seen in the mortal world.
The two entered the room, and the maids left. The two undressed and made love, which goes without saying. After their lovemaking was over, the fairy called for Li to get up. Li said, "It is already midnight, what should I do?" The fairy said, "My lord, you do not know, tonight a malevolent star is approaching the garden. Let us go out and see clearly, and do not panic." Upon hearing this, Li Huizhi got up quickly, dressed, and went with the fairy to the octagonal pavilion. The fairy said, "The malevolent star is here. This is not an auspicious place. We should avoid it quickly." As soon as the two reached the pavilion, they saw three people running in from outside the garden and indeed climbing into the pavilion.
One man, wielding a short knife, stabbed the other man in the neck, killing him instantly. He then went to kill the other man, who pleaded for a long time before finally releasing him. The two men discussed the matter in the pavilion for the entire night before leaving.
"My lord," the man said, "you said there were two people in the garden who witnessed his murder. Does Young Master Bai have no eyes?" Little did he know that the immortals' realm was an illusion, so even if they stood opposite each other, they would not see each other. Therefore, the pavilions, terraces, ponds, mountains, and trees were all barriers created by the immortals. Seeing that the two had gone far away, Li Huizhi asked the fairy, "The murderer just now, did he look like Young Master Bai?" The fairy replied, "Don't worry about him." Li Huizhi said, "What a pity! This injustice will surely be transferred to Kang Jian's side tomorrow." The fairy said, "My lord, you don't know, that old man Kang is under the influence of Tai Sui this year, facing three years of great calamity. Once the calamity is over, his luck will turn around, and someone will naturally come to his rescue. If you had spoken up for him then, Kang Jian would have been released from prison and would surely have died this year. Old man Kang is also a benefactor of this fairy servant, and this fairy servant should have rescued him, but..." "He has been made this way, and we cannot go against Heaven's will. I will repay him in the future." Li Huizhi sighed for a long time. The fairy took a red jade hairpin from her temple and handed it to Li Huizhi, saying, "Husband, it is almost dawn. You may go home now. If you wish to come back, please be sure to carry this jade hairpin with you. You may come and go as you please." Li Huizhi wanted to stay, but seeing the fairy holding the jade hairpin and insisting on seeing him off, he replied, "Today, I am deeply grateful for the fairy's kindness. I will rely on your protection for the rest of my life." He took the jade hairpin, bowed deeply in thanks, and left. The fairy saw him off to the outside of the garden before returning. But let's leave that aside for now.
@@Now, Song Shangmen, having received the silver, ran to his own door, frantically banging on the gate, saying, "It's over! It's over! I was almost killed!" His father, Song Zongzhou, asked, "You've been out causing trouble every day, never home, never doing anything good. Naturally, you've gotten yourself into trouble. This is to be expected." Song Shangmen said, "Father, you don't know. Last night, Brother Jiang and I were strolling around when we met that scoundrel Kang Jian. He invited us to drink in his peach garden. We thought it was a kind gesture, but as the night deepened, he developed evil intentions. He went up to Brother Jiang, hugged him, and laughed, saying, 'You must do this and that.' Brother Jiang refused. You see, that old man Kang Jian, seeing that he repeatedly refused, feared that his actions would be exposed tomorrow and he would be unable to face anyone. So, in a fit of rage, he took out a knife and stabbed Brother Jiang in the neck. When I saw how vicious he was, I ran here at the cost of my life. If I had been even a moment later, he would have killed me too." "Such a wicked person commits murder; if we don't report it now, we'll surely face repercussions later." Upon hearing this, Song Zongzhou was greatly alarmed and said, "Quickly tell the Jiang family about this, and we'll go and report it together tomorrow morning." In the blink of an eye, they arrived at the Jiang family, met Jiang Gouben's father, and told him everything. By then, it was already broad daylight.
The two first went to the garden, and sure enough, there was Jiang Gouben's corpse on the pavilion. They immediately started cursing, and the neighbors began to gossip. The two of them went into Suzhou city, wrote a complaint at the yamen gate, and took a taxi to report it. The magistrate immediately had someone serve them, and they rode in a sedan chair out of the city to Peach Blossom Garden. The local constable and Kang Jian knelt to receive them, but that's another story
. The report should be concise. He then ordered an autopsy, retrieved the murder weapon from the edge of the woods, instructed Jiang Zongzhou to take the body and bury it, and personally instructed that no unauthorized people should be allowed to enter Peach Blossom Garden in the future to prevent any abuses. Kang Jian was then escorted into the city and taken to the yamen.
@@To know how Kang Jian's case went, please read the next chapter.
Chapter Eight @Kang Jian's Trial Leads to a Confession @The Clever Matchmaker's Scheme to Trap Him
@@It is said that Kang Jian, along with the Jiang and Song families, were brought to the yamen. The magistrate immediately interrogated Song's father and the reasons for Kang Jian's murder. They pressed him on this point. Kang Jian had countless grievances, but to whom could he tell? The magistrate devised a scheme, but it could not change Song Zongzhou's confession. Therefore, he had Kang Jian tortured. At first, Kang Jian refused to confess, but as the torture became too severe and unbearable, he thought to himself, "Countless heroes and outstanding men throughout history have died unjustly. Today, I, Kang Jian, suffer this great injustice; it is my destiny from a previous life." He then said, "Sir, please release me; I will confess everything." The magistrate then ordered the two officers to immediately release the instruments of torture. Kang Jian confessed to everything, and the confession was completed. After verifying the confession, the master ordered Jiang and Song to return and imprison Kang Jian, but that's another story.
Now, let's talk about Kang Jian's wife. Seeing that she had been wrongly accused of murder, she took her husband into the city and, disregarding her own safety, went to plead her case. Some neighbors tried to comfort her, saying, "Aunt Kang, don't cry. Since Master Jiang didn't kill you, the officials will have many ways to judge. What do you think of the trial?" They persuaded Kang Jian's wife to go home, and the mother and daughter just wept. Later that evening, they heard that her husband had confessed to murder. To prevent the mother and daughter from crying uncontrollably, they wanted to appeal for justice. It was getting late, and after some persuasion from the neighbors, they dispersed.
The mother and daughter, dazed from crying, slumped outside the door.
The Crab Fairy, accompanied by two maids, approached the mother and son. The maids helped them into the room, where candles were lit. Madam Kang, seeing the young and beautiful Crab Fairy and the two maids attending to her, felt a special respect for her and asked, "Whose daughter are you?
Why have you come to my humble abode tonight?" Jin Tao'er replied, "This is my neighbor, how could you not see her?" Madam Kang said, "Everyone in the neighborhood knows her, how could I not recognize this young lady?" The fairy replied, "You don't know, Jin Tao'er and I often meet. Today, I've come specifically to help you with the murder in your family, to share your burdens and resolve your difficulties. There's no need to worry too much." Upon hearing this, Madam Kang knelt down and said, "This young lady has indeed saved my husband; my husband and I will never forget her kindness." The fairy said, "Rise and let me explain, then you need not worry." With that, they went into the room and sat down.
The fairy said, "Mother Kang, you will understand after I finish speaking." Madam Kang said, "I am willing to follow your instructions." The fairy said, "I am a fairy from Crab Pond Mountain. Your husband is kind enough to transplant me to the peach orchard, where I often meet with your daughter, Jin Tao'er. That is how we met and got to know each other. As for your husband's injustice, it is not your Kang family's business. It is just a temporary misfortune. The truth will come out in time. Within three to five days, someone will come to arrange Jin Tao'er's marriage. Mother Kang, you should agree without hesitation. If you hesitate, your husband's life will be in danger." Madam Kang said, "What do you mean?" The fairy said, "You don't know, but the person who comes to arrange the marriage is a lucky star. If you agree to the marriage, your husband will be saved; if you don't agree, your husband will inevitably be in danger. Jin Tao'er's marriage is a match made in a previous life." Madam Kang hesitated. After the fairy finished speaking, she took her leave. In an instant, he vanished without a trace, leaving only the mother and daughter, as if waking from a dream, unsure of the outcome of the case or the truth of the matter. It wasn't a dream, nor a ghostly encounter, so the mother and daughter made wild guesses, but dared not seek justice, and hesitated for two or three days. But let's leave
that aside for now. @@ Now, let's talk about Bai Shouyi across the street. Since killing Jiang Gouben, his wives and concubines were unaware. When they later learned of the matter, Bai Shouyi pretended ignorance, staying home for days without daring to leave. The merchant, hearing about the murder at the Kang family's peach orchard, thought, "Yesterday, I asked Bai Shouyi across the street about something." He immediately sent someone to invite Bai Shouyi. Bai Shouyi understood the purpose of the invitation and immediately came to see the merchant. The two men immediately went to a secluded room. The merchant said, "You handled the case involving Kang Jian yesterday, didn't you?" Young Master Bai replied, "Sir, there's no need to ask. The only thing I need here is to get Jin Tao'er." The merchant understood and didn't press further. They chatted for a while longer before Young Master Bai took his leave.
Back home, Young Master Bai summoned a familiar woman named Hua Po and told her, "A merchant is taking a concubine. He has a daughter named Jin Tao'er from across the street, Kang Jian. Yesterday, due to a murder case, someone falsely offered to sell Jin Tao'er for money to bribe officials and redeem himself from the crime. Go to his house, but never mention the word 'buying and selling.' Just say, 'A wealthy merchant wants to take a wife. If he agrees, the amount of money isn't important, and he can even get rid of the murder case.' After the deed is done, you'll receive fifty taels of silver as a reward. Keep this in mind and report back after you've done it.'" Hua Po, upon hearing this, was overjoyed. He readily agreed and went to Kang Jian's house across the street.
When he arrived, he saw the mother and daughter crying facing each other. The old woman stepped forward and comforted them. Then, she used sweet words to talk about resolving the lawsuit, adding extra details to the words that Young Master Bai had entrusted to her, making it sound as if Kang Jian's life was in the hands of that merchant. After listening for a while, Madam Kang suddenly remembered the fairy's words and thought to herself, "Last night the fairy said that a lucky star would come to propose marriage in the next few days, and that I should just agree to it, and my husband would be rescued in the future. She didn't care about my daughter's feelings at all. If I don't believe the fairy's words, how come someone has come to propose marriage in these few days? If I must believe her, what if things change in the future? How will I face my husband after I die!" After hesitating for a while, she replied, "Come again tomorrow. My daughter's marriage is not something that can be decided in a few words." The old woman replied, "What Madam Kang said makes sense. I will come again tomorrow to pay my respects. Such a good opportunity cannot be missed. If I hesitate for a month or two, and that merchant marries someone else's daughter, it will be harder than climbing to heaven to ask him to rescue Master Kang's case." With that, she bowed and left.
Madam Kang was filled with worry and her mind was filled with wild thoughts when a fairy maiden entered the room with two other maids. Madam Kang quickly offered her a seat and said, "Just now, someone came to propose marriage. I promised him we would decide tomorrow. I wonder if I should agree?" The fairy maiden said, "Just agree. Don't doubt it. This merchant is your family's lucky star."
What happened next? To find out, please read the next chapter.
@@@@ (End of Volume Four of the Newly Compiled "Peach Blossom Romance")
Chapter Nine of Volume Five of the Newly Compiled "Peach Blossom Romance" @The Fairy Matches a Perfect
Couple @Kang Jian's Lucky Star Shines
@@The fairy said, "That merchant is your family's lucky star. When the matchmaker comes again tomorrow, just say that if he can save my husband, I will give him my daughter. I don't want a penny, not a single piece of silk or silver. First, we need to resolve my husband's lawsuit properly so that our family can be reunited. Then he can choose a day to marry me. There's no need to say anything else." Madam Kang heard this and remembered everything. The fairy then took her leave.
@@Jin Tao'er listened for a long time but dared not say anything. As soon as the fairy left, Jin Tao'er secretly said to her mother, "Although I often see her, I don't know what kind of fairy she is. I'll follow her and see where she goes." Madam Kang nodded.
Jin Tao'er followed the fairy maiden gently. When they reached the garden, they saw a small, ornate gate. She followed her through the gate and saw strange rocks and blue flowers, with a refreshing fragrance wafting from them. They entered a three-room mansion. The fairy maiden turned to greet them and said, "Miss Kang, please come and sit in my humble abode." Jin Tao'er, seeing that she had seen her and that she had met him before, slowly walked away. Upon entering the room, she suddenly saw a young scholar reading. Jin Tao'er intended to turn away, but the fairy said, "Miss Kang, please sit down. There's no need to be so vulgar as to avoid him because of the difference between men and women." Jin Tao'er had no choice but to sit down. The fairy then said, "You are a young girl, how could you know the evils of the world? Because of your beauty, you fell in love with a man. That merchant was immediately captivated and arranged for Young Master Bai to arrange the marriage, but unexpectedly, he committed this murder. Although today's marriage is supposed to be arranged for that merchant, it's merely borrowing his lucky star to save your father's life. Once your father's life is saved, that lucky star will naturally disappear. His fate has run its course; his heart was impure, and his wealth was destined to be lost. Young lady, you are of marriageable age. Yesterday, you sent a poem in the peach blossom garden..." The second time we met in the garden, it was this person. You and I are destined to be together in our past lives, and after our union, this person will achieve great success in the provincial examinations, be blessed with official rank, and bring prosperity to your Kang family.
What I'm about to say will determine your entire life; you must not tell your mother.” Unexpectedly, as soon as the fairy finished speaking, Madam Kang, who was following behind, dared not enter abruptly, but listened from the doorway. When the fairy finished speaking, Madam Kang hurriedly entered. The fairy offered her a seat, saying, “Madam, please forgive my lack of hospitality.” Madam Kang said, “Fairy, what are you saying? I heard everything you just said. Today, we will follow your instructions, and my husband and I will never forget your great kindness.” Having said this, she bowed deeply. She called over Jin Tao'er and thanked the fairy, instructing the three of them to marry there. Madam Kang then took her leave.
She was only pleased with the fairy's kindness, forgetting the illusion of the mortal realm. "Gentlemen," the fairy said, "you said that Jin Tao'er came along, though it was her own idea. Her mother came along because she was worried, since it was this fairy who brought her things.
" After Madam Kang left, she invited Master Li to meet her. Li Huizhi bowed deeply, and Jin Tao'er reluctantly returned the bow. Li Huizhi said, "Today, thanks to the fairy's blessing and Madam Kang's kindness, I am truly blessed. I hope you will accept me." Jin Tao'er, feeling shy, did not reply. The fairy said, "Please sit down. Now that the marriage is arranged, you will be husband and wife. Miss Jin, there's no need to be so shy. Bring some wine, let's drink a cup together."
Two maids poured the fairy wine, and the fairy persuaded Master Li to keep her company. After several rounds of drinks, the fairy said, "It's getting late. You should go back and choose an auspicious day to meet again." Jin Tao'er thanked her and went home.
After seeing her mother, she explained the situation to her, and the mother and daughter were very pleased. As for Li Huizhi and the fairy maiden playing in the room, we will leave that aside for now.
The matchmaker arrived at the Kang family the next morning to pay her respects and ask, "Grandma Kang, have you made up your mind?" Madam Kang replied, "I've already decided. I don't want a penny from that man, nor do I want his silks or jewelry. I only want him to save my husband. Once the case is settled, I'll allow him to choose a date for the wedding." Upon hearing this, the matchmaker was overjoyed, as if she had found a silver spoon in her mouth. She exclaimed, "Don't worry, Grandma! If our master can't finish the case, I'll pay with my life! A gentleman's word is his bond. Congratulations, Grandma!" After exchanging congratulations, the matchmaker immediately took her leave and went to Young Master Bai's house. Upon seeing him, she said, "The matter is settled." Young Master Bai asked, "How so?" The matchmaker replied, "First, you need two hundred taels of silver, but not to be paid openly, lest we be ridiculed. Then, you must help Kang Jian's corrupt official, only then will you agree." Young Master Bai said, "Two hundred taels of silver is fine, but helping Kang Jian's corrupt official is a concern. I'll tell the merchant, and you can wait for my message in a few days."
After saying this, Young Master Bai immediately returned to the merchant and recounted the matchmaker's words.
The merchant said, "No problem. Currently, my cousin is in charge of criminal cases at the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's Office. I'll write a letter to him instructing him to ensure Kang Jian's case is handled with ease. After sending the letter, wait a few days, and if the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's rejection document arrives, then we can discuss the marriage and betrothal." Young Master Bai found this suggestion very reasonable. The two men sat facing each other, drinking wine. They then took up pen and inkstone, wrote a letter, and sent it directly to the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's Office.
The merchant said, "I've been busy these past few days. A foreign ship is setting sail, and I need two men to look after it. Two men recommended yesterday were unsuitable, so I urgently need help. Once the ship departs, everything will be fine." Upon hearing about the need for men, Young Master Bai said, "We have two suitable men now. Why not send them?" The merchant asked, "Which two men?" Young Master Bai said, "The ones who plotted against Mr. Jiang and his son yesterday. We used them to go on the foreign ship. They're on a mission, and they'll be out there for three or five years. Once their family's legal troubles are over, even if they return, nothing will happen to them."
To be continued in the next chapter.
Chapter Ten: The Merchant's Ship Loss; Kang Jian Revisits the Peach Garden.
After Young Master Bai finished speaking, the merchant said, "Since the Song father and son are suitable, why not call them here?" Young Master Bai immediately sent for the Song father and son and told them about the matter. Both men were willing to go. In the old man's mind, this meant he wanted money; in the young man's mind, it meant he was involved in a murder case. So the father and son readily agreed, immediately agreeing to the price and promising to depart the next day. But let's leave that aside. Meanwhile
, after finishing his business, Young Master Bai took his leave and went home. He instructed the matchmaker to relay the message to Madam Kang, so that good news would arrive soon. Sure enough, a few days later, a document from the Provincial Surveillance Commission arrived, investigating the veracity of Kang Jian's confession and ordering the immediate arrest of the accused for a personal interrogation and decision. This document reached the county, and the rumors spread like wildfire. In the cities and villages, people were saying: "Kang Jian's case has been overturned." Some said: "Heaven has eyes; that person wasn't killed by Kang Jian." Others said: "The magistrate has decided the case; it's just that the superiors want a favor." There were many conflicting opinions, and this news reached the Kang family. They knew it was the merchant's doing.
@@Now, the merchant, upon hearing of the arrival of the censor's refusal, was about to send Young Master Bai to propose marriage to the Kang family. However, fate is fickle. Suddenly, a man came from outside and said, "The foreign ship that set sail yesterday was in the middle of the river when a sudden gale arose, creating huge waves over ten feet high. The ship and all its crew were swallowed by the river, except for me, who escaped. I had to report the truth."
@@The merchant, upon hearing of the loss of the foreign ship, ate a great deal and then became depressed and ill, confined to bed. Young Master Bai, upon hearing this news, immediately came and asked, "Losing the foreign ship is also a sign of bad luck, sir. Fortunately, Mr. Song drowned, and the murder case in Taoyuan is now settled." Hearing this, the merchant was very unhappy and turned to lie down, refusing to listen. Seeing this, Young Master Bai left without saying goodbye. The marriage proposal to the Kang family was also put aside.
Now, the merchant, after falling ill, found his medicine ineffective, his appetite dwindling daily, and his life hanging by a thread. It was the day that Young Master Bai deserved to be brought to justice. Suddenly, the merchant remembered something and said, "My conduct throughout my life has not been dishonest. Because of a mistake made by Taoyuan, my ship was damaged. My life or death is a matter of fate, but Young Master Bai, for his greed, killed someone and should pay with his life. Even today, the Song father and son died on that ship, which is also due to divine intervention. The loss of both people and ship is clearly a chain of retribution. Yet today, instead of keeping my word, I have brought this to justice, and I will feel remorse afterward." Overwhelmed with resentment, he ordered someone to fetch a pen and inkstone, and immediately wrote a letter, instructing someone to deliver it to the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's Office. The book roughly states:
Regarding the Kang Jian case, the mastermind has yet to be apprehended. Recently, it was heard that across from the Kang family's Peach Garden lives a man named Bai Shouyi, who is the enemy of Jiang Jiakusheng. Should he be arrested and investigated? The distinction between right and wrong is clear, and the judge also finds this unsettling.
This letter was sent to the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner's office specifically for criminal charges, and the clerk reported back. The merchant said the letter had been delivered. Unexpectedly, upon hearing that the letter had been delivered, the merchant looked up, sighed, and then died. But let's leave that aside for now.
@@Then the criminal investigator, having read the letter and seen the details, immediately reported to the magistrate: "Yesterday, the investigation into Kang Jian's case was dismissed, but the murderer has not been identified. Since this concerns the examination process, tomorrow we will bring Kang Jian in and ask him for the names of his neighbors across the hall. We will have him arrested immediately.
We will observe his appearance and use severe torture to intimidate him; the murderer will then reveal himself!" Sure enough, the next morning in court, Kang Jian's case was brought in for questioning. All the guards and jailers brought Kang Jian to the court. No further questioning was conducted; only the names of his neighbors across the hall were written down, and he was immediately arrested. Those who were not worried, though panicked, did not change their expression. But when they saw Bai Shouyi's face—yellowish eyes, drowsy hands and feet, and incoherent speech—the magistrate, observing his demeanor, dismissed the others and had Bai Shouyi tortured and bound. Bai Shouyi, being young and a thief, couldn't withstand such severe torture. Unable to endure it any longer, he confessed to the murder, claiming it all against Kang Jian. He was immediately imprisoned and imprisoned until the autumn trial. Kang Jian's elbow shackles were then removed. The local constable was ordered to sign a document and leave for a business trip. A memorial was then submitted to the magistrate, urging him to be dismissed and stripped of his official seal. An old man with a beard wrote a poem to attest to this:
"The clear blue sky cannot be deceived, for even the most silent heart is known to Heaven; good and evil will ultimately be rewarded, it's just a matter of time.
" These four lines are common sayings. Meanwhile, Kang Jian, thanks to the magistrate's grace, apprehended the murderer and was released to return home. When Kang Jian emerged, some watched in disbelief, while others offered their congratulations. Upon arriving at the Peach Blossom Garden, Kang Jian glanced across the street and exclaimed, "Bai Shouyi, you dog and bitch! I have no grudge against you, nor any recent enmity. Why did you kill someone and pin the blame on me? Fortunately, Heaven has eyes; it seems the murderer must pay with his life!" The neighbors, seeing that Young Master Bai had been apprehended and Kang Jian had returned home, all rushed forward to inquire about the situation. Kang Jian explained to everyone and then entered the Peach Blossom Garden. Madam Kang had already come out to greet him. The couple's reunion felt like a dream. Some people followed him inside, and the whole family gathered together. With neighbors and old friends present, they were overjoyed. After much thought, Kang Jian suddenly burst into tears, and all his relatives and neighbors wept.
Kang Jian cried a few times, then suddenly opened his eyes and said, "Since I, Kang Jian, have been convicted of murder, how can I suddenly be home? Is it all a dream?" Madam Kang replied, "It's not a dream; you've truly returned home."
What happens next? Stay tuned for the next chapter.
@@@@ (End of Volume Five of the Newly Compiled "The Amorous History of Peach Blossoms")
Chapter Eleven of Volume Six of the Newly Compiled "The Amorous History of Peach Blossoms "
@Old Man Kang Asks Questions and Seeks Answers @Farewell at the Peach Pavilion on Crab Mountain
@@After the neighbors persuaded him for a while, Kang Jian finally stopped talking, and the crowd slowly dispersed. Kang Jian, seeing that Jin Tao'er didn't look like a girl, asked, "Is our daughter's marriage settled?" Madam Kang then recounted the whole story of how Li Huizhi met the Crab Fairy, how the two witnessed the murder at the pavilion that night, how the neighbor, Young Master Bai, arranged a marriage for the merchant, and how the fairy persuaded him to agree to the marriage to save his life. Later, the fairy acted as matchmaker, betrothing Jin Tao'er to Master Li. She told the whole story from beginning to end.
@@Just then, Li Huizhi entered the door, bowed deeply to Kang Jian, and immediately recognized him as his future son-in-law. He quickly offered him a seat. After they were seated, Madam Kang was about to prepare a meal when a maid came and said, "The fairy has sent me to invite Master Kang to have a drink."
Kang Jian was about to ask the fairy about her origins when Young Master Li arrived and recounted many stories about the yamen, so he put aside his question. When he heard that the fairy had come to invite him, he didn't press for details and, along with Li Huizhi and a maid, went to the garden. They saw a small, ornate gate leading to a three-room mansion, dazzling in its splendor. The fairy came out to greet them and led them inside, offering Kang Jian the seat of honor. Remembering his wife's words, Kang Jian stepped forward to thank the fairy. The fairy offered him wine and food to congratulate him, and Kang Jian thanked her again.
Kang Jian said, "I am deeply grateful for the fairy's divine protection, which has allowed me to live out my remaining years. Her kindness is immeasurable, and I have yet to repay even a fraction of it. How could I dare trouble you to prepare wine for me today?" The fairy replied, "It's just simple wine and food, nothing to boast about. Today, I've specially invited you to chat and celebrate because your jinx has receded." Kang Jian asked, "Fairy, when did you come to live here?" The fairy said, "Ever since that day when you visited Crab Mountain, and I was fortunate enough to have you take a branch home and plant it, I was originally that golden peach tree on Crab Mountain. In my past life, I was destined to be married to Master Li, so I came to Ju'en Park to be your perfect match. That day, when Young Master Bai conspired to murder someone, Master Li and I actually met, but..." Your jinx has manifested, so I dared not rescue you immediately. Later, Bai Shouyi arranged a marriage for the merchant, which was originally my suggestion to the old lady to agree to it in order to save your life. As for the father and son who conspired to murder you,
they have already died at sea. That foreign ship belonged to the merchant, and the Song family father and son were also hired by Bai Shouyi. The merchant initially made connections to arrange the marriage to save you. Later, after the foreign ship was lost, he fell seriously ill and changed his mind, saying, "Bai Shouyi committed adultery and murder, wrongly taking lives. He should pay with his life." So he wrote a letter and sent it to his superiors, and the yamen finally arrested Bai Shouyi. It is also because your jinx has receded, and it is time for you to return home. Miss Jin and Mr. Li have been married for over a year. The provincial examination of Dingmao is approaching. Tomorrow, we will hold a banquet at the Peach Pavilion, firstly to congratulate the benefactor, and secondly to send Mr. Li off to the examination. After the three examinations are over, good news will come, and we will celebrate then. "After hearing the fairy's words, Kang Jian finally understood the truth behind his injustice and thanked her profusely.
Although Kang Jian was delighted by her kindness, he still harbored some doubts. The fairy noticed his eyes darting around and his somewhat dazed expression. She said, 'My benefactor, I am a fairy who has attained enlightenment many years ago; I am not a demon. Please do not doubt me.' Kang Jian replied, 'What are you saying, fairy? I, Kang Jian, have been brought back to life, and I am grateful for your honesty and generosity. How could I possibly treat you as a demon?' The two talked and talked until late into the night before finally taking their leave. Nothing more was said that night.
The next day, Kang Jian prepared fine wine and delicacies, setting out at the Peach Pavilion for a feast. He invited the fairy to drink and also to send off his son-in-law, Li, in his examination. His entire family sat together in the Peach Pavilion, raising their cups in toast. Midway through the drinks, the fairy recited two lines of poetry." The poem reads:
"Today at the Peach Pavilion, we celebrate Yu's drunken revelry, when suddenly a gust of osmanthus wind blows.
" Li Huizhi, hearing the fairy recite these two lines, replied with two lines of poetry:
"If one succeeds in the imperial examinations, the golden peach trees by the pavilion will be
ablaze with color." After reciting their poems, the two raised their cups and drank heartily until their enjoyment was exhausted. To keep things concise, Li Huizhi later indeed passed the imperial examinations, ranking twenty-seventh among the successful candidates. That year, he had two more sons. But let's
leave that aside for now. Let's talk about Bai Shouyi, who was imprisoned and executed during the autumn trial. His two wicked wives then remarried. But that's another story.
The following year, Li Huizhi went to the capital for the imperial examinations. The fairy instructed him again: "When you go to the capital for the imperial examinations, if you pass, report to the emperor if you are granted an official position; if you lose, resign. There's no need to send anyone south to retrieve your family. Wait until you return from the capital before composing your poem."
What will happen next? To be continued...
Chapter Twelve @Seeing the Worldly Affairs, Resigning from Official Posts and Resigning from Salary @Hearing the Immortals
Discuss Enlightenment and Returning to the Mountains @@The story goes that Li Huizhi arrived at his home that day and met his elder brother and sister-in-law, saying, "I will be going to the capital for the imperial examination soon. My luggage and travel expenses are all prepared, so don't worry about it. Whether I pass or not, I will send you a reply first." The two brothers chatted for a while, only saying to be careful on the journey and not to worry about family matters while taking the examination in the capital. Li Huizhi bid farewell to his elder brother and went to his father-in-law's house to pack his luggage and set off. The weather was clear and the day was auspicious, so he had someone carry his luggage, and everyone saw him off.
@@Li Huizhi traveled day and night and arrived in the capital that day. He found an inn to stay in and waited for the day of the imperial examination. He took his writing materials and entered the examination hall. After the three rounds, he passed and ranked tenth in the imperial examination. That year, he waited for the palace examination but failed. He then waited for the selection of the scattered imperial examination candidates. All those who ranked tenth in the imperial examination were appointed as county magistrates. Those who ranked tenth in the imperial examinations were appointed as professors.
Li Huizhi, who ranked tenth, was handsome and vigorous. When the selection period arrived, Zhang Yaode, the Left Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, saw his upright character and youthful vigor and envied him. He wanted to keep him as the head of the county in the capital, but there were no vacancies available, so he wanted to send him to a county outside the capital, but he was reluctant. A few days later, he dismissed all the other Jinshi and Juren, but kept Li Huizhi in the capital for a trial period, to be filled when a vacancy arose.
Li Huizhi was naturally graceful, and having passed the examinations at a young age, he was overjoyed, and his beauty was even more striking. Therefore, when Minister Zhang saw him, he felt as if a gentle breeze had caressed his face, and he was filled with envy. Although he frequently met with Li Huizhi, it was inconvenient to keep him for food and drink, nor could he discuss other matters. After staying for several days, he devised a plan. He transferred the county magistrate of the capital to a prefecture outside the capital, and appointed Li Huizhi as a minor official. Even seasoned veterans in the capital were not up to the task; how could a young man receive such a desirable post on his first appointment? No matter how much money one spent or how many favors one sought, it was still impossible to obtain. Yet Li Huizhi received this post so easily on his first attempt. This shows that in the current political arena, there are many paths to officialdom, both high and low, and many who never find their opportunity. How many are fortunate enough to become eunuchs? After taking office, Li Huizhi frequently visited the Ministry of Personnel's office to pay his respects, and the Ministry of Personnel would often invite him to dinner. Before he knew it, more than three months had passed.
One day, the Ministry of Personnel, returning to his office from court, invited County Magistrate Li to drink alone. County Magistrate Li had not yet gone elsewhere to pay his respects and wanted to decline in person, but dared not speak out. So he reluctantly followed the Ministry of Personnel to the office. He entered the study six times, needing no servants to attend to him. He summoned two maids to offer him wine, one cup for each of them, and they ate and drank all day. By evening, he had gotten the minor county magistrate completely drunk. You see, that old beast Zhang, seeing that Magistrate Li was quite drunk, dismissed his maids and stepped forward to flirt with him, saying, "Magistrate Li, your talent surpasses all other magistrates, and your appearance is also above that of any magistrate. Therefore, I greatly admire you." Upon hearing this, Magistrate Li opened his drunken eyes and replied, "Sir, please don't flatter me. I am young and ignorant, and I will never forget your recommendation." Zhang, having devised another scheme, asked, "People say that beautiful people are prone to lust. I wonder if you, Magistrate Li, are also lustful?" Magistrate Li smiled and said, "Everyone loves beauty, but one cannot be promiscuous." Zhang, taking it as a casual remark, stepped forward again and flirted, saying, "Today I have fallen for your beauty, but I dare not act recklessly. I hope you will tolerate me." As he spoke, he embraced Magistrate Li and kissed him. Magistrate Li pushed him away, refusing to comply, and instead recounted Zhang's words, comparing the past to the present. Ignoring his drunken indiscretions, he ran and stumbled away without saying goodbye, heading back to his office.
The Minister of Personnel, seeing him leave in a drunken rage, feared his actions would be exposed and immediately devised a charge of corruption and malfeasance, submitting it to the Emperor to dismiss the Magistrate Li from his post. The next day, upon receiving the official document announcing his dismissal, the Minister knew it was the Ministry of Personnel's doing. He didn't argue, reflecting that officialdom involved flattery, lucrative rewards, and even the most despicable people would either fawn over him or flee to the underworld. He saw that the old ways were gone and decided it was better to return home, keeping his noble aspirations for the rest of his life.
Having discussed this, he packed his belongings, hired several carriages, and returned to Suzhou. Traveling day and night, he unknowingly journeyed for over a month before arriving home, where everyone greeted each other. He recounted in detail the whole story of Li Huizhi's journey to the capital, his success in the imperial examinations, his selection for office, his subsequent dismissal, and his removal from office, saying: "The court is full of corrupt officials and clerks, and there are no righteous men or good ministers. From now on, I will never go out to serve as an official again, but will stay at home and live out my life as a commoner." He did not repeat what he said.
Now, Li Huizhi had been at the family home for over two months, spending his days drinking and reciting poetry with Crab Fairy and Golden Peach, their affection as strong as a mountain. Suddenly one day, he noticed that Crab Fairy's temples were gray and her youthful face was no longer as radiant. Li Huizhi was astonished and asked, "Fairy, yesterday you were Chang'e in the moon, but today you suddenly look like an old woman. I don't understand!" The fairy replied, "My husband, you don't understand. Youth is fleeting, and flowers only bloom for a few days. Our marriage has reached its end, and I am also growing old. I wish to return to my mountain home and take my leave. If you ever meet Fairy again, go to Crab Mountain and see Golden Peach, it will be as if you were seeing me. There's no need for a farewell today. I'll go in and say goodbye to the Kang couple, and then I'll depart." As she spoke, the elderly couple and Golden Peach approached. They were all astonished by the fairy's appearance. When they asked for details... The fairy maiden recounted her story in detail, and the crowd lingered, tears streaming down their faces at her sight. The fairy maiden then said, "Look at this golden peach tree; its leaves have fallen and its blossoms are withered, it cannot linger here long." The family was talking in the peach orchard when suddenly a fire broke out in the fairy maiden's room. Everyone rushed to put out the fire, but when they arrived, there was no fire. They hurriedly returned to look for the fairy maiden, but she had already departed on a cloud. The golden peach tree was withered, and the house was gone. An old man with a beard wrote a poem to attest to this:
"Fame and fortune are like flowers before one's eyes, the rising sun quickly sets; it is lamentable that they are ignorant and do not understand, see the red flowers fall and the white petals fall.
" Another poem speaks of the fairy maiden's departure, never to be seen again:
"The fairy maiden was originally a golden peach fairy, cultivating for thousands of years; her kindness in returning favors was boundless, but now that she is gone, there is no return."
After the fairy maiden left, Li Huizhi felt as if he had lost a precious treasure, missing her day and night, even forgetting his own bed. He recalled the fairy maiden's parting words: "Life is fleeting, youth is short-lived, and flowers bloom for only a few days." Thinking it over, he exclaimed to himself, "Li Huizhi, you have experienced wealth and fame in this world. Since you have no desire for worldly success and cannot remain in this world forever, why not live in seclusion in the deep mountains, eating pine and cypress when hungry and drinking from clear springs when thirsty, carefree and without worry? Wouldn't that be wonderful?"
After staying for a few days, he discussed the matter of becoming a nun with Madam Jin, speaking with great refinement and relish. Although Jin Tao'er was a young woman, her natural temperament was not vulgar. Upon hearing this, she was willing to go to the deep mountains with him. Seeing that Madam Jin shared his aspirations and was determined to go, Li Huizhi chose an auspicious day, prepared wine and held a banquet at the Peach Pavilion, and specially invited his elder brother and sister-in-law to attend, so that everyone could sit together. After several rounds of drinks, Li Huizhi spoke up, saying, "Today's feast is not for any other reason than that I have twin sons, both raised by my father-in-law, Mr. Kang. Mr. Kang is now without an heir. If you wish to divide these two sons into the Kang and Li families, what do you think, brother and sister-in-law?" His brother and sister-in-law replied, "This is a very appropriate suggestion." Li Huizhi called his two sons to him. The elder was named Li Kangning, and the younger Kanglisi. Li Kangning was taken away by his brother and sister-in-law, while Kanglisi remained in the Kang family. The feast ended.
The next day, Li Huizhi was nowhere to be found. He and his wife left a note on the table, which simply stated their desire to renounce worldly life and enter the mountains to cultivate themselves. No one knows where they went or where they ended up.
Later, both sons became famous, and the Kang and Li families remained close relatives forever—truly a model of virtue.
Throughout, there is another poem in the style of "West River Moon":
@@Of all evils, lust is the worst; extreme lust leads to death. I urge you to truly reflect on this, and never be greedy for lust and lose your conscience. Keep your heart as cold as ice, and you will be like a celestial being descended from Penglai.
@@@@ (End of Volume Six of the newly compiled "Peach Blossom Romance")

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