The Ten Forbidden Books of the Ming and Qing Dynasties: Part 1 - A Whirlwind

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Table of Contents
Introduction
Chapter 1: White-browed Immortal Court Burns Snow, Drums Yellow Calf Guest's Horn Hangs Coral Whip Chapter
2: Gift of Gold and Silk, Righteous Release of Flying God, Construction of Stele Pavilion, Love Retains Hermit
Chapter 3: Accountant's Talent Loses His Position, Three Departments' Power and Fortune Punish Hundred Generations
Chapter 4: Knight-Errant Leaps Over Wall to Reward Great Virtue, Zen Customs and Driving Know the Long Journey
Chapter 5: Exposed-belly Guest's Fragrant Boudoir Foretells Dream, Feathered Person Inscribes Feelings on Pink Wall
Chapter 6: Guest in the West Enclosure Exchanges Ox for Horse, Dream in the North Window Causes Rain and Soaring Clouds
Chapter 7: Ten Poems Difficult to Respond to, Hesitant and Flustered, One Word Seen Again Reveals True or False
Chapter 8: Questioning Talented Scholar, Four Kinds of Begonia, Making a Great Alliance, Amber Double Rings
Chapter 9: Having Traveled Through Smoke and Waves, Returning to Hometown, Seeking Each Other, Voices and Feelings at the Ends of the Earth
Chapter Ten: A Divine Strategist's Visit to West Lake, Announcing the Return of the Wild Geese,
a Reunion of Families Chapter Eleven: The Stove's Evil Deception Gradually Leads to the Arrest of the Prisoner, the Magistrate Personally Sends the Phoenix Chapter Twelve
: Intercepting the Ferry, Winning Funds, Reaching the Other Shore, Dividing the Estate, Marrying a Wife, and Continuing the First Marriage Chapter Thirteen: Recommending an Old Friend
, Drafting a Memorial to Accept Funds, Presenting a Memorial to the Worthy, and Carving a Stone Inscription for Lasting Fame Chapter Fourteen
: A Double Marriage, Complete Friendship, Participating in the List of Successful
Canons to Thank the Emperor's Grace
Chapter Fifteen: Successful Horsemanship, Three-Foot Longevity, Offering a Wine Cup to Celebrate Eighty Years Chapter Sixteen: A Single Whip, Re-tied, High and Low Corners, Two Laurels　 Together Passing the Imperial Examinations
Synopsis
: Author: Fengjiang Banyunyou; Reader: Hefu Shansusheng; Proofreader: Li Zhongkai. The book has sixteen chapters and a Qing Dynasty edition exists. It is signed "Compiled by Fengjiang Banyunyou, Read by Hefu Shansusheng," but the author's real name and life story are unknown. The book describes the protagonist's self-initiated marriage to Jin Fengniang and his taking of the maid Xiajian as a concubine. He takes one character from each of their names to form the title "Yin Feng Xiao" (引凤箫). This book, written in the style of a romance novel, depicts the historical event of the Song Dynasty—Wang Anshi's Reforms—and expresses the author's political views, which is rare in novels.
Chapter One: The White-Eyebrowed Immortal's Court Burns Snow with the Drum; The Yellow Calf Guest's Horn Hangs with a Coral Whip .
The poem reads:
The green window is empty and desolate, the garden birds while away the long day.
The sword on the wall gleams coldly, who pities the thin ancient crane?
I remember those within this place, all once noble and virtuous.
Now, everything has changed, their faces forgotten.
They willingly adopt the form of beasts, for their hearts must be beasts first.
The talented scholar stirs up the declining waves, washing away the filth of heaven and earth.
Even a long sigh brings a smile, do not furrow your brows.
Return to wine with the remaining books, and sing of longevity.
Although the manuscript has been passed down, the unofficial history is not wrong.
Coral is not a jade box, but merely placed on the right side of the seat.
It is said that during the Xining era of the Song Dynasty, in Le'an County, Qingzhou Prefecture, Shandong, there lived a man named Bai Rang, styled Ji Guang. A fourteenth-generation descendant of Bai Letian of the Tang Dynasty, he was over fifty years old and held the official position of Censor, serving in the court. He lived on West Street in the county town. His wife, Lady Changsun, was the descendant of Wuji. They had only one son, named Yin, styled Yunji, and nicknamed Meixian. At the tender age of fifteen, he was handsome and charming, no less so than the Wang and Xie families, and his talent surpassed even Cao and Gan. However, he was naturally eccentric and indifferent to fame and fortune. In his leisure time, he would seek out flowers to compose poems and compose verses under the moon. He already had several poet friends. One was named Fang Kan, nicknamed Duanru, and the other was named Yuan Hong, nicknamed Jianlu. Both were a year or two older than Meixian and were also from Le'an County. I will not go into details. The two of them, with their youthful talent, felt particularly compatible.
One day, Meixian said to his wife, "Our family lives in the market town, and the noise and clamor are pressing in every day. The villa in Huangnibao in the south of the city is where Father rests. Since Mother is in charge of the household affairs, I wish to go to the villa to study, to use the wild scenery, the mountain light, the river breeze, and the villa moon to inspire my literary mind. Wouldn't that be wonderful?" His wife agreed. On the way, he ordered his maid, Wan'er, to pack his bags. After everything was ready, he went back to the house to bid farewell to his mother.
The lady said, "My child, when you go, focus on your studies and do not be idle. Take care of yourself in the heat and cold, and be frugal with your food and drink. I will have someone send you all your salary and expenses. If you stay there for a while, come home to say goodbye, so that I will not wait anxiously at the gate of the village." After giving these instructions, Mei Xian bowed again to accept the order, went out, and got into a carriage. The lady also sent four servants to escort her. Wan'er also drove a carriage behind, slowly making her way out of the city. It was early winter, and all that could be seen was:
the north wind whistling, withered elm leaves falling like yellow coins; the frontier grasses sparse, a single white hair drifting on the remnant of a brush; the wild geese flying in formation, their killing intent sweeping the sky, the mournful gaze of the monkeys; the mournful cries of the fat horses driving across the fields, the dust of the barbarians flying over the Jade Gate Pass; the mournful bugle calls, the frontier songs echoing with the clamor of drums and gongs, the flames seemingly intended to be a good match for the hunt; mouse-rats lurking in their tracks, hunting with only hawks and hounds, rabbits and foxes roaming the roads. It was truly a time when red leaves were first inscribed on the sun, and the green forests were already thin.
Mei Xian admired the scenery along the way, her face lighting up with delight. A servant behind her said, "Sir, the small grove ahead is the villa." Mei Xian looked up and indeed saw lush bamboo and trees. A stream reflected the surrounding mountains, and two bamboo gates stood half-open. A small, pure black dog barked and howled. An old servant, knowing his young master had arrived, came out with his mother to greet him, and then stopped the carriage and helped Mei Xian into the gate.
Mei Xian stepped down and entered. A small street was paved with cobblestones. On both sides were exquisitely crafted Taihu stones, seemingly naturally formed. In the middle was a small thatched cottage, with bright windows and clean tables. Beside it were two side rooms, with books on all four walls. In the courtyard was a large white stone, as clean as jade, large enough to seat several people. Beside it were four blue stone drum-shaped stools, carved with the image of cranes circling among clouds. The surrounding area was also carved with a linked design. When Bai Juyi was on his day off, he would invite friends to drink and sit on these stones. Whether it was the blossoming spring mornings or the moonlit Mid-Autumn Festival evenings, people would also express their feelings and sentiments on this stone, so a skilled craftsman carved three characters on it: "Ruyi Stone" (meaning "as you wish"). Behind the hall was a series of multi-story buildings, providing a place to climb and enjoy the view. Behind the buildings was a pond planted with hibiscus and hundreds of goldfish. At this time, although the hibiscus was in full bloom, the sunlight shone brightly, and the goldfish leaped and played, creating a dazzling spectacle. Other exotic flowers, rare herbs, and beautiful birds could not be described in detail.
Mei Xian enjoyed the sights and decided to choose two side rooms next to the hall where she would reside. Originally intended as a study, it remained closed due to Bai Gong's presence at court. She then stayed at the Caixia Tower. She also ordered Wan'er to renovate the three rooms downstairs into a study. After completing the arrangements, she sent her four servants back to inform her lady. She also instructed the old servant to keep the garden gate closed at all times, preventing any unauthorized people from disturbing the peace. In her spare time, she would tend to the flowers and trees and compose poems. Even those friends who knew that Mei Xian lived in an outer villa would come to visit him, especially Yuan Jianlu and Fang Duanru, who visited frequently. From then on, poets and writers flocked to the area, turning Huangnibao into a land of literature and art.
Now, let's talk about Bai Juyi, who was serving as an imperial censor. Emperor Shenzong had just appointed Wang Anshi as prime minister and wanted to implement new laws. All the officials flattered and fawned on him, but Bai Juyi alone submitted a memorial. The gist of his memorial was that the key to governing the country was to prioritize rites, music, punishments, and administration. However, the former kings had already clearly defined the territory, and future generations should follow the established path. Although the prime minister criticized the emperor and wanted to achieve the rule of Tang and Yu, Yao and Shun originally only practiced non-interference, so why carry out so many reforms and dazzle the world? After this memorial was submitted, Anshi wanted to demote him, but since the new laws and teachings could not openly criticize officials, he let it go.
Seeing that his memorial was not approved, Bai Juyi asked to retire due to old age. He was delighted that his retirement was granted, so he disguised himself and set off immediately. He arrived home in a few days. Upon learning of her father's return home from the villa, Meixian went back to inquire about his situation and asked why he had retired. Bai Gong explained in detail, then said, "In this world, do not aspire to high office. Even if you manage to obtain an official hat, you will find yourself in a precarious position. Why? Because those who crave favor and wealth will fawn and flatter, becoming his lackeys and henchmen. Though they may achieve temporary success, they will leave a lasting stain on their reputation. If they possess even a modicum of self-respect and a sense of shame, they will surely incur punishment, ranging from demotion to execution. Would not that be painful? As the sage said, 'When the Way prevails, one should appear; when the Way does not prevail, one should remain hidden.' How profound these words are!"
Meixian, upon hearing this, accepted the order and from then on, never again sought fame or fortune. Several days later, she bid farewell to Bai Gong and Lady Changsun, and returned to the countryside. It was the dead of winter, exceptionally cold. One day, in extreme cold, Meixian sat in her study and instructed Wan'er to light charcoal in the stove and warm pine wine in a green earthenware jar. As they drank, dark clouds gathered, light sleet drifted down, and soon six-petaled flowers flew, carpeting the surrounding countryside. Mei Xian, her spirits high with wine and her poetic inspiration ignited, readily took up her brush and composed a seven-character regulated verse.
The poem reads:
Dark clouds blanket the sky, six-petaled flowers adorn the spring of yesteryear.
Frost-covered blades shatter the Milky Way's waters, wind-blown dust grinds jade-like fragments.
Searching for plum blossoms on the river, a companion is hard to find; before the wine cup, who is there to share the melodious song?
I pity the green mountains aging overnight, yet laugh at the poverty of a thousand white-walled houses.
The merit of calming the Huai River is already achieved, and the new dragon rises in the middle of the night.
A poem on a donkey's back by a wild bridge becomes a painting; lamb wine in a golden tent touches the lips.
A closed door, a stiff sleep, a pure reputation far-reaching; a quick reading, a sincere heart.
Ten thousand willows hide golden threads; everywhere
, weeds lie on green grass. Seeing geese, one still thinks of the envoy holding the imperial staff; catching geese, one recalls the scribe.
The light on the orange tree is priceless; the coldness pressing on the spiritual platform is divine.
With meager talent, I dare to inscribe verses on the osmanthus tree; my empty purse cannot buy new branches.
Sending off the cold, I sing a song to celebrate a bountiful year; I intend to hold a sacrificial ceremony.
Having finished writing, he suddenly let out a long howl, and picked up his brush again to write something, when he heard a dog barking at the garden gate. He ordered Wan'er to open the gate and see. It was Fang Duanru and Yuan Jianlu, each riding a donkey, wearing felt hats and fox fur coats, slowly dismounting before the hall. Mei Xian greeted them with a smile, saying, "You two brothers look like Meng Haoran." Duanru said, "There are two Meng Haorans? That's strange." Jianlu said, "If they are the same Meng Haoran of the past, then there are three." They all laughed heartily. After exchanging greetings and taking their seats, Mei Xian said, "I just saw the Jade Dragon defeated, its scales flying everywhere. I was just about to offer a cup of wine to celebrate when you two brothers arrived. It's perfect to share this pleasure with you." Duan Ru replied, "I heard that Lord Zun had returned to his residence, but I haven't had the chance to see him yet. I also heard that you visited my home and came to my villa the other day. Therefore, Brother Yuan and I braved the snow to visit you and ease our longing."
Mei Xian ordered the seats to be moved to the hall and invited the two to sit down. A red stove was placed beside the table, and dishes and wine were laid out in abundance. Looking back at the courtyard, the snow was over a foot high. On the Ruyi Stone, the snow was also over a foot high, rising prominently like a jade mountain. Several plum trees were blooming all around, their high and proud colors vying for attention in the cold, their fragrance rich and delicate. The snow on the stone drum-shaped bases on both sides had frozen solid, dripping down like jade liquid, like icy tendrils. Mei Xian said, "Today's gathering cannot be truly unintentional without a grand celebration to express our deepest feelings." Wan'er then brought in candles and ordered a snow drum to be placed in the hall. Oil was poured into a wine cup, a wick was placed on top, and the oil was brought in through a side opening. The snow, illuminated by the firelight, became crystal clear. The two friends, seeing this, exclaimed in astonishment, "Bai Guang is truly extraordinary! Only now can we truly appreciate the snow!" The three of them played drinking games and drank heartily. When the torch in the snow drum was almost out, they were all quite drunk.
The next day, the three of them rode donkeys south of the fortress to see the plum blossoms. They saw a road covered in frozen snow, truly a vast expanse of jade. In the forest ahead, there were hundreds of plum trees, their fragrance filling the air, pure white against the snow. Deeper in the forest, there were several red plum trees, bright as the sunset. Suddenly, they saw an old man, wearing a black cloth hood, a crane-feather cloak, a deerskin belt tied with vines, and straw sandals. He rode a yellow-spotted calf, a coral whip hanging from its horns, whipping it around. Mei Xian, not knowing who he was, and fearing to wake him, turned their donkeys around and stood deep among the red plum blossoms. The two said, "Brother Bai's poetic talent is truly wonderful; we haven't had the chance to learn from you in a long time. Now, seeing this scene, why not compose a poem?"
Mei Xian asked for a topic. Duanru said, "Let's use 'red plum blossoms' as the topic." Mei Xian then asked for a rhyme. Jianlu pointed to the yellow calf and said, "Let's use 'ox' as the rhyme." Mei Xian then casually recited: "
A slender painting of green woods, a lone goose in sorrow, lingering sunset fragments fall from branches.
A shepherd boy, waking from a drowsy sleep, mistakes the plum grove for a place to graze his cattle.
" Hearing this, the two friends clapped and laughed loudly, "Brother Mei, you are truly a genius!" The old man, startled awake by the laughter, wiped his eyes, stretched, and sang: "
How vast and boundless is the universe, vicissitudes change as they may.
The Taoist awakens from a short dream, unaware of the passing years. "
After finishing his song, he said, "I was just about to sleep when someone burst into laughter, waking this old Taoist." Looking back, he saw three elegant and dashing men and asked, "Who was that who just now howled?"
Mei Xian dismounted and bowed, replying, "I was just speaking casually, and my two friends inadvertently burst into laughter, waking you, sir. Please forgive my anger." The old man said, "Since it was unintentional, I won't hold it against you. But I'd like to hear your poem." Mei Xian recited the poem aloud. Upon hearing it, the old man quickly dismounted and took Mei Xian's arm, saying, "Your poem is profound and insightful; you are a great talent for poetry. May I ask your hometown and name?" Mei Xian replied, "My name is Bai Yin, and my pen name is Mei Xian."
The old man then pointed to two men and asked for their surnames. Mei Xian said, "One is Yuan Hong, and my pen name is Jianlu; the other is Fang Kan, and my pen name is Duanru. We are both from this county." The old man said, "These two friends will be your trusted companions." Mei Xian then asked the old man his name. The old man said, "This old Taoist has no surname." The three laughed, "How can one have no surname?" The old man said, "I remember in the previous dynasty, I served as an official in the Imperial Censorate. During the Yongxi era of Emperor Taizong, a hermit named Chen from Xihua Mountain came to court and was granted a carriage and a palanquin, and was given the title of Master Xiyi. He was then released and allowed to return to the mountains. At that time, I resigned my post and followed Master Xiyi into the mountains to cultivate myself. However, I have a natural love for snow, and every time it snows, I must go out for a stroll. Master Xiyi then gave me a yellow calf as my mount. From then on, I did not pass on my name to the world, and was only known as the Yellow Calf Guest. Yesterday, because of the snow, I happened to go out for a stroll here and rested under the plum grove. I did not expect to meet the three of you. You are truly my friends from a past life."
Upon hearing this, the three of them all knelt down and said, "So you are the Immortal Master." " I have truly transgressed, and I beg the Immortal Master's forgiveness. But the Immortal Master surely knows the past and future; I humbly request some guidance to enlighten my ignorance."
The old man helped him up, saying, "I am not an immortal, what guidance can I offer? But meeting me is also a matter of fate. Since you are skilled in poetry, I will admonish you with words. The contemporary Su Shi of Meishan wrote: 'Riding a small boat, I ride with flying immortals to roam.' And Jia Langxian wrote: 'Birds roost on trees by the pond, a monk knocks on the moonlit gate.' As for 'Remembering the flute played on Phoenix Terrace, Yangzi shed tears on the monument of yesteryear'... These words, though poetic, are truly profound. You should admire them for life, and they will surely be proven true. I have a coral whip, which I will also give you; it will be useful in the future. Until we meet again, I must depart." Meixian bowed and accepted the coral whip.
The two friends were about to ask for more when they saw the old man sleeping on the back of an ox, which galloped away and gradually disappeared. The three were terrified and chased after him out of the plum grove, quickly returning home. The two friends went back to their respective homes. Mei Xian returned to her villa, where a servant from Bai Gong came to fetch her to celebrate the New Year. Mei Xian then returned with Wan'er.
What will become of them? We'll find out in the next chapter.
Chapter Two: Gifting Gold and Silk, Releasing the Flying God, Building a Stele Pavilion, and Loving the Recluse.
The poem reads:
Lotus leaves strung with green coins enrich the stream, Dense foliage presses against sorrow.
The seat to the left is always vacant for guests, The curtain is rolled up to view the mountains to the west.
The bamboo gate is deep, the sun slants low, The flower railing is far, the weary oriole sings.
White clouds outside the window leave behind a clear view, Don't waste ink on the flying brush.
Now, let's talk about Bai Mei Xian. Hearing Bai Gong's summons, she ordered Wan'er to drive the carriage and return home with her family. By the time they arrived, it was late December. Relatives and friends came in droves to offer New Year's greetings; they also had to return the gifts. Several busy days passed, and it was already New Year's Eve. The old peachwood charms were replaced, the village streets were swept clean, and on New Year's Day, wine was poured into cups, savory dishes were laid out, firecrackers filled the air, and drums and flutes shook the earth. Relatives and friends all came to offer their congratulations. On New Year's Day, women who went to offer incense and children who threw fruit, all dressed in their finest attire, came out to play.
The New Year had barely passed, and the Lantern Festival was already upon them. A giant Ao Mountain was erected in front of the county, surrounded by hundreds of glass lanterns and flower-and-bird lanterns. The east and west streets in front of the county were decorated with colorful banners and lanterns, and music was played. Seeing such a lively scene, Mei Xian informed Bai Gong, and her family also erected a small Ao Mountain. It was said:
"Ten thousand layers of fireworks in the Forbidden City, the Ao Mountain palace hidden in the clear sky.
The Jade Emperor sits regally on the crimson clouds, figures frolic in the land and sea.
Bright stars turn and the dragon returns, the five marquises' pavilions are intoxicated by the spring breeze.
Now, my white hair is three thousand feet long, I sadly face the few red lanterns in the cold."
(Right tune: "Partridge Sky")
At that time, Bai's family erected the Ao Mountain, making the west street even more lively. The hall was decorated with colorful banners and lanterns, shining like daylight. Mei Xian then held a banquet, inviting friends to drink and admire the lanterns, drinking and gambling, the drums and music filling the air. Who knew that this lantern festival would attract a group of great thieves to rob them? As the saying goes: "
When the Azure Dragon and White Tiger travel together, good or bad fortune is not guaranteed."
Now, let's talk about the notorious thief, Liu Chuang, a native of Changzhou County, Suzhou Prefecture. He was eight feet tall, with a broad waist, a black face, and a yellow beard. He possessed unparalleled strength and a unique skill: he could leap several feet high, riding the wind. Originally, he was a fisherman, making a living by fishing in the Xiaze Marsh. One day, after finishing his fishing, he moored his boat at the foot of Turtle Mountain and carried the fish to the village to sell. After half a day, he had only sold half of the fish. He carried the rest back to his boat, cooked them
, bought wine, and enjoyed the night. Halfway through his drink, he tapped the side of the boat and sang a folk song: "One layer has, (no) one layer has none, (ah) only eels, crucian carp, loach, and sturgeon, all looking shabby, (ah) I'll take them and eat them myself while singing this folk song."
Before the song had finished, the sound of waves crashing could be heard. Liu Zhao looked up and saw four or five fast boats with two oars, each with several men standing on its bow, rushing towards them. One of the boatmen said, "This old fisherman is still up at this hour, watching us. Don't let word get out; deal with him first."
With that, the boats closed in, and one man, wielding a sharp blade, leaped over the boat to grab Liu Zhao. Liu Zhao panicked, pushed aside the reed fence, and with all his might, leaped up to a lone ancient pine tree on the mountainside. Everyone who saw this looked at each other in disbelief. One of them said, "Since this man possesses such extraordinary skills, why not invite him to join our gang?" So they moored their boat and climbed the mountain. Looking up at the pine tree, which was several fathoms tall, they were filled with awe and admiration. They all knelt and bowed, saying, "We are blind and did not recognize this brave man. Please forgive us. We beg you to come down. We are willing to become your chief."
Liu Zhao, hearing this from the tree, thought to himself that fishing was hard work, and he might as well go with them and enjoy himself. Besides, in this situation, going down wouldn't harm him. So he jumped down and landed upright. The men bowed again and invited him to disembark. Liu Zhao went to the fishing boat, tidied it up, abandoned the empty boat, and joined the others. They exchanged names, and that night they anchored in a deep harbor. The next day, they slaughtered pigs and sheep, and worshipped Liu Zhao as their leader, calling him "Black Flying God." From then on, he became a notorious bandit, specializing in robbing officials and gentry in the county and city, and plundering them. At that time, they were on their way to Le'an County. It was the Lantern Festival, and the air was filled with music and lanterns. A group of thieves mingled among the lanterns. Reaching West Street, they saw the Bai family had erected a lantern tower, drumming and drinking. They had heard that Bai Gong had returned from the capital last winter and thought it a good business opportunity.
Mei Xian heard a commotion at the gate, and Bai Gong hurriedly called for his family. When they came out, they saw a dark-faced, bearded man wielding a sharp blade rushing into the hall. The family members sounded gongs and shouted, and neighbors, still awake from lantern viewing, came to their aid. Seeing so many people, the thieves scattered and fled. Only Liu Zhao, unable to get out of the back hall in time, ran to the courtyard and leaped to escape. But there were people on the roof; one of them flew up and swung clubs wildly, knocking Liu Zhao into the courtyard. Those in the courtyard saw him, pulling at their clothes and twisting their hair, shouting, "Bring one here!" They pushed and shoved, crowding into the hall.
Lord Bai sat down in the main hall and sternly asked, "You have committed robbery and plunder, an act against the natural order. Now that you have been caught, what is your justification?" Liu Zhao replied, "I am not a thief. I used to make a living by fishing in Taihu Lake. Because people saw that I had the skill of leaping, they forced me to join their gang. Robbery was not my intention. I beg you, sir, to spare my life and never take this evil path again." Lord Bai thought for a moment and said, "Since you are an innocent citizen forced into this situation, I will spare you for now. But you must not rejoin a gang of thieves. If you do not change your ways, you will be executed." He ordered ten taels of silver and two bolts of silk to be given to him. Liu Zhao bowed and kowtowed, saying, "If I am ever able to do anything for you, sir, I will repay you in any way I can." He wept and took the gold and silk with him as he left.
The next day, Bai Gong ordered a banquet to invite the neighbors to express his gratitude for their help. He said to Mei Xian, "Although I hold the official position of Censor, I resigned and returned home because my advice to the emperor was ignored. Thieves suspected me of embezzling, causing fear in my family and alarm among my neighbors, all of which is my fault. Since I have abandoned my post and should retire, it is not appropriate for me to live in the capital, a place of public scrutiny. Nor is it suitable for me to study in the outer villa, where all my meager possessions are located. It would be better for my family to move there, and for the neighbors to share the old house, to repay their kindness. What do you think?" Mei Xian replied, "As the saying goes, 'In times of chaos, one should live in the city; in times of famine, one should not live in the city.' My son lives in the outer villa, and I am worried about both places. Now that Father has this intention, you can explain it to the neighbors and then we can move."
Bai Gong then explained his intentions to the neighbors. He first ordered his family to move their belongings there one by one, and on an auspicious day, he, Mei Xian, Lady Changsun, and several maids boarded the carriage. Bai Gong then bid farewell to the neighbors and urged the carriage to leave the city.
Now, let's talk about the magistrate of Le'an County, named Bao Long, styled Lifeng, a native of Bianjing, who was a close friend of Bai Gong, born in the same year. One day, returning from a visit to Rong, he passed through West Street and saw a large group of people carrying incense, supporting the old and leading the young, all heading out of the city. Magistrate Bao asked his attendants, "Why are these people carrying incense and running around?" His attendants didn't know, so they stopped their sedan chair and summoned a local official to inquire. The official replied, "Our magistrate, Censor Bai,
is retiring to Huangni Fort today and has divided his house among his neighbors. Everyone is grateful for his kindness, so they are all escorting him with incense." Upon hearing this, Magistrate Bao dismissed the official and thought to himself, "Bai Gong is a long-time friend of mine. Today he's moving, and everyone is seeing him off. Since I'm here, why don't I also see him off?" He then ordered his sedan chair to be brought to Huangni Fort. However, as soon as Magistrate Bai arrived at his villa, his escorts arrived in droves. Magistrate Bai comforted them all, offered them food and drink, and then they dispersed. Suddenly, a street servant came to report, "Our magistrate has arrived." Upon hearing this, Magistrate Bai immediately came out to greet him.
Bao Gong alighted from his sedan chair and bowed respectfully all the way to the hall to exchange greetings. Bao Gong said, "I heard of your housewarming celebration, brother, and came to see you off." Bai Gong replied, "I have fled home; how can you say 'housewarming'? I did not expect your parents to grace us with their presence; it is an honor to have you here." After exchanging pleasantries, Wan'er served tea, and Bai Gong ordered a meal to be prepared. He and Bao Gong then strolled leisurely in the garden. Soon, the meal was ready, and Bai Gong invited Bao Gong to sit down. A table facing south was set up for guests; another table to the side of the hall was for the host. Bao Gong said, "Brother, we have been friends for a long time; why be so formal? Please join us so we can drink tea and reminisce." Bai Gong then ordered the tables to be moved to the camp, where guests and hosts sat separately. The accompanying yamen runners were entertained in the outer room.
During the banquet, Bao Gong said, “In this prosperous age, everyone is vying for high office. You, sir, are still young and capable. Why not go out and rectify the court and improve the people's affairs, so that your achievements will be renowned in this era and your virtue will extend to future generations? Instead, you willingly abandon yourself and neglect the responsibility of enlightening the people. Isn't that going too far?” Bai Gong replied, “No. People who desire wealth and fame only want to indulge their sensual desires. I am over fifty and have never been swayed by sensual pleasures. Therefore, I live in seclusion among the common people. If I can eat my fill and sing praises of the golden age of the sages, I will be content. As for the responsibility of enlightening the people, how dare I take it?”
Bao Gong nodded repeatedly and said, “Hearing your words, I feel as if I have just woken from a dream. Compared to you, I am as vast as the sky and the earth, even if I bow down for five bushels of millet and a crown! Please allow me to return to my post and petition my superiors to build a memorial pavilion for you on this official road, to show my respect for this recluse.” Bai Gong repeatedly declined. Bao Gong feigned agreement, thanked him, and departed.
Upon returning to the county, he immediately submitted a petition to the provincial governor's office. All officials, seeing the act of honoring a worthy man, approved its implementation. Bao Gong then ordered a pavilion to be built south of the villa, with a stone tablet erected in the center. Bao Gong personally inscribed the text:
"Alas, in this life, prosperity and decline, joy and sorrow, though seemingly different realms, are, from the perspective of the enlightened, mere dreams and illusions. To achieve one's ambition is not one's glory, nor is to lose it one's sorrow. For the superior man is not affected by success or failure; this is the nature of the virtuous. As for what one can achieve through human effort, even sages and worthies are subject to destiny. I cherish the memory of Bai Gong, a man of high insight and outstanding talent, with a resolute nature. He received early family education, diligently pursuing the virtues of his predecessors, cultivating virtue and talent, which manifested in his writings, all shining like pearls and jade. Even before he entered officialdom, those with discernment knew his potential, that he was fit to govern the nation. And when he entered the court..." He was outspoken and fearless, unafraid of criticism, though his official hat was cast aside, his fame spread far and wide. He upheld righteousness as his principle and sacrificed himself for the Way, speaking his mind freely and without reservation, his words unbiased and trustworthy. Alas, what the Book of Changes calls "perseverance," was mistaken by those who are jealous and envious, who nitpicked his flaws and nearly caused him great harm. Fortunately, the abundant blessings of the state allowed him to quickly return to his hometown. Here, in this tranquil place, one can swim and play, and as he nears his end, he will be forgotten. Now, I, having come to this land, am moved by his lifelong loyalty and integrity, and thus erect this stone inscription to commemorate his name.”
He also wrote the following inscription:
“Oh, illustrious Bai Gong, of upright character, would tear his hat if a single word was spoken in disagreement. Li Fei and Bao Long, I humbly serve as county magistrates. In the second month of spring, on an auspicious day, this stone inscription is erected and stored in the pavilion to commemorate his reclusive life.”
He also built a memorial archway south of the fort along the official road. The plaque above reads "Liuyin" (留隐). Beside it is written: "
Erected on the first day of the second month of the third year of Xining (1070), inscribed by my younger brother Bao Long." Construction was completed in a short time, and Bai Gong held a grand banquet to invite Bao Gong, expressing his gratitude repeatedly. Bao Gong enjoyed himself immensely, and all the craftsmen were rewarded. From then on, Huangnibao was renamed Liuyin Village (留隐村).
Meanwhile, Liu Zhao, the Black Flying God, after being given gold and silk by Bai Gong that night and released from hiding, repented of his past misdeeds and bought a fishing boat to fish in the Five Lakes. The bandits were scattered by the crowd, and fortunately, the city gates were left open on the night of the Lantern Festival, allowing them to escape one after another. A headcount revealed that only the Black Flying God was missing. Knowing he had been captured and fearing repercussions, he dared not linger and fled to Nanzhi. He learned that Jin, the magistrate of Wujiang County in Suzhou, had been summoned back to the capital as a high-ranking official, and that his journey by water would inevitably pass through Zhenjiang. He went to the riverbank first, seized several passenger boats, and lay in ambush at Caishiji.
Whether he succeeded in his robbery remains to be seen; let's find out in the next chapter.
Chapter Three: The Accountant's Talent Loses His Position; The Power of the Three Departments Leads to Execution of Hundreds of People .
The poem reads:
A curtain of rosy clouds warms the alchemical furnace; half an acre of flowers casts a long, green moss-covered shade.
Do not disturb the flowing shadows that weep in the village, lest you startle the tamed tiger lying in the forest, feeding it.
I dare say that those who cultivate the land live long lives; every day I return from the tavern, drunk.
Now, let's talk about the magistrate of Wujiang, named Jin Ge, styled Yongwu. He was from Xincheng County, Hangzhou Prefecture, and had passed the imperial examination during the Zhiping era. He was initially appointed as the county magistrate and took office in Wujiang. Upon his arrival, many meddlesome local gentry came to visit him, trying to gauge his intentions. Those who were greedy and unscrupulous would try to pull strings and collude for personal gain. However, Magistrate Jin was spotless, upright, and incorruptible, which displeased them. Another issue arose: although Wujiang County was small, it had many local officials, making the tax collection process particularly difficult. Why? Because many local officials owned most of the land. When the tax collection season approached, they would often present a card with their official name to beg for exemption from the tax. Furthermore, they would take money from other people's land, register it in their own names, and also claim exemption from the tax collection. Historically, if the magistrate didn't comply, it would lead to corruption; if he did, the tax collection would fall short.
Magistrate Jin, knowing this problem, established a law that only one household per map would be compared. If taxes are calculated in ten parts, large households with more land should pay 100 taels, but only 90 taels are paid, which is 9 parts; small households with less land should pay 10 taels, but only 9 taels are paid, which is 9 parts. The same applies to 1 tael or 2 taels. If a whole plot is short 9 parts, only the amount short by 9 parts and 1 li is fined 30. If a whole plot is short by 1 part, only the amount short by 1 part and 1 li is fined 30. Thus, some are fined 10 or 20 taels, others 1 or 2 qian. His method of paying silver is also ingenious. If a plot has ten plots, the county court will compare the first plot, allowing for the payment of silver for the second. The clerk will calculate the outstanding amount. If the second plot is compared, the third plot is allowed to pay silver, and the clerk will only calculate the amount for the third plot. This method continues for the fourth to tenth plots. Those who owe taxes will be left behind, and who wouldn't be happy to lose?
His method of comparison is also ingenious. Other officials compare in three, six, or nine parts. He compares daily, but only one plot per day. If we compare the first and second magistrates today, and the first magistrate only has a few maps, and can collect debts from a few debtors each day, the days are not busy, and people are watching. Even if they are officials from other places, it is not convenient to collect the debts by the deadline. Therefore, when other officials compare taxes and levies, if they cannot collect all the debts, they can only make up the numbers by arbitrarily adding previous ones. In just a few months, Lord
Jin collected all the taxes and levies and sent them to the prefecture. Therefore, the provincial governor examined him and placed him in the top rank, and he became the most capable county magistrate in Jiangnan. He returned to the capital to report to the emperor. At that time, Wang Anshi was looking for an accountant because there was no one in the Three Departments. So he did not wait for Lord Jin's term to end, but ordered him to return to the capital to serve as the director of the Three Departments' Regulations Office, and did not allow him to go home. He was required to come to the capital to take office immediately. Lord Jin had long heard of Wang Anshi's name. People at the time said, "If Anshi does not come out, what doubt is there for the common people? He must be a capable person." So he boarded a boat overnight and traveled at full speed.
When he arrived in Zhenjiang, he temporarily anchored at Caishiji because of unfavorable feng shui. The passenger boats swarmed to a stop, surrounding Jin Gong's flagship. However, the band of pirates, having learned of Jin Gong's arrival, sailed out at midnight, rowed out from behind the rocks, pulled up the anchor of the passenger boats, pushed them aside, and pulled Jin Gong's boat alongside. Hearing the sound of the anchor being pulled, the passengers opened their cabins and saw the band of pirates. Suspecting they had been robbed, they shouted, and everyone on the passenger boats jumped up, wielding oars and poles wildly, quickly knocking one pirate into the river. Seeing the situation was dire, the pirates seized the boat and fled. The passengers then used smaller boats and oars to pursue them, knocking the rower into the water. The pirates, terrified and helpless, surrendered. Jin Gong, upon learning of this, wrote a name card and sent it to the Zhenjiang Prefecture that very night. The prefect, questioning the pirates, found the situation unacceptable and had no choice but to confess. The prefect then had them all beheaded and their heads displayed publicly. It is known that Hei Fei Shen reformed his ways and was spared execution, as the saying goes:
"Contentment prevents disgrace, and knowing when to stop prevents danger."
Jin Gong crossed the river and set off for the capital.
Meanwhile, in the court, there was a great traitor named Lü Huiqing, a native of Putian, Fujian. He was utterly deceitful and greedy. His fawning was even more extreme than that of a mere strategist. Because Minister Dou had traveled to Bianjing in his youth and bribed Wang Anshi's family, his family introduced him to Anshi. Anshi, seeing his eloquence, appointed him as his secretary. Huiqing then befriended Anshi's son, Wang Pang. Wang Pang was ruthless, cunning, and unscrupulous, with a quick wit, and had not yet passed the imperial examination. Anshi greatly favored him and always followed his advice. Huiqing, knowing this, formed a close bond with him and urged Anshi to implement new laws. Therefore, these two should bear the majority of the blame for Anshi's misrule of the people.
At this time, the newly established Bureau of Regulations for the Three Departments was appointed by Anshi. Huiqing, knowing this, discussed with Wang Pang, saying, "This official position is crucial for implementing the new laws. It's not advisable to give it to an outsider." Wang Pang replied, "It's alright. Let me speak with my father, and we'll let you take the position." Huiqing said, "No. With the Jin army approaching, if I were appointed, they would surely resent my demotion. It would be better to appoint Han Jiang. He is respectful of the law and has me under my control; there will be no objection. Moreover, the Jin army will not blame either of us." Wang Pang said, "Brother, your insight is excellent. But with your great talent, you shouldn't be in charge of bookkeeping and finances. I will speak with my father and have you appointed as a close attendant." Huiqing quickly knelt down and said, "If I am so fortunate to receive such a small favor, I will be unable to repay your kindness."
The next day, he was indeed appointed as a lecturer in the Chongzheng Hall, which is now a Hanlin Academy lecturer. Han Jiang was also appointed as the Commissioner of the Three Departments, and Jin Ge was reassigned as the Vice Minister of Revenue, which is now the Ministry of Revenue. After assuming office, Huiqing praised Jinggong's virtues before Emperor Shenzong and advised him, "If Your Excellency wishes to win the hearts of the people, you must thoroughly reform the court's affairs, making shocking changes to demonstrate our abilities." Jinggong listened and subsequently established new laws:
the Equal Transportation Law; the Baojia System; regulations for farmland irrigation; the Labor Service Law; the Market Exchange Law; the appointment of various supervisors; the Horse Protection Law; the Hand-in-Hand Law; the Three-Tier System for Imperial College Students; the Garrison System; the Imperial Examination System; the Equal Taxation Law for Land Surveys; and the Green Sprouts Law. These were all new laws, which were discussed, approved, and promulgated.
One day, Lü Huiqing went to Jin Gong's residence to inquire about the merits and demerits of the new laws. Jin Gongzhi replied, “Leaving aside other matters, the Green Sprouts Act is particularly harmful. Why? Although the law lends money to the people with a 2% interest rate, to be paid together with the autumn and summer taxes, officials can easily embezzle funds during the lending process, and the law cannot prevent this. Moreover, once the money is in the hands of the people, even good citizens will squander it; and when it comes time to pay, even wealthy people will exceed the limit. In this way, corporal punishment will be enforced, and the people will have nowhere to turn, inevitably abandoning their homes and property, selling their wives and daughters to repay the government. Is this not even more harmful? And for future generations…” "It is not a good name for the emperor to compete with the common people for profit."
Upon hearing this, Huiqing said, "I know that if you were to become the Minister of the Three Departments, the Green Sprouts Law would be impossible to implement." Jin Gong said, "Both the Minister of the Three Departments and the Minister of Revenue are acceptable; I do not mind this official position." Lü Huiqing said, "It would be enough to preserve this new law; otherwise, I fear the leader will not be able to protect himself." After saying this, he turned and left, then went to Wang Anshi and said that Jin Gong had neglected his duties, harbored resentment, slandered the government, and defamed the emperor, which was extremely disrespectful. He requested that Jin Gong be executed. Jinggong said, "Although it is slander, if one is sentenced to death for mere words, I fear everyone will feel insecure." He did not listen to Huiqing's words.
At that time, officials of all ranks in the court, seeing the inconvenience of the new law, remonstrated and argued against it, and discussions arose. This stirred up a man who inherited the unparalleled learning of a hundred generations and was the hope of the people for a generation. He was truly
a man of extraordinary talent, a great man of martial prowess and literary skill.
That man's name was Cheng Hao, courtesy name Bochun, posthumously honored as Mr. Mingdao, a native of Henan, who was serving as a censor at court at the time. Having served in court for only a few days, seeing the new laws being implemented so readily, he felt a surge of righteous indignation and went to the Secretariat to see Anshi. Anshi had just left after arguing with those who wanted to offer advice, and the gentleman waited sternly. The gentleman calmly said, "The affairs of the world are not a matter for one family's private opinion; I hope you will treat me with composure." Anshi was deeply ashamed, knowing the gentleman would surely offer advice, and excused himself, saying the Emperor had summoned him for a meeting, before going to the inner palace.
The next morning, after court, Anshi returned home. The gentleman arrived at his house, and Anshi hurried to greet him. After the formalities were completed and they had just sat down, Wang Pang, disheveled and barefoot, rushed out from the back hall, holding a woman's hat, and shouted, "These people who are clamoring about the new laws are like mad dogs barking at the sun. We should only temporarily address Han Qi and Fu Bi; anyone who speaks again will face this!" Jinggong immediately rebuked him, saying, "Our honored guest is here, discussing important matters of the court. This child, ignorant and insolent, dares to be so presumptuous! He must leave immediately! Otherwise, he will be punished." Jinggong
, who respected scholars, bowed and thanked him, saying, "My son is impetuous and speaks rudely. I hope you will forgive him, sir." The gentleman said, "Even the old prime minister cannot govern one son well; how can he possibly govern the world? Moreover, those who advise on the new laws are all of one mind; there must be some who disagree. I beg you to reflect on your own words and not just listen to the howling of dogs." Jinggong said, "If there are indeed inconveniences, we can discuss it again. You are a virtuous man; you will surely not share the opinion of the crowd who want to disrupt the laws."
The gentleman then departed, and the promulgation of the new laws became even more urgent. When the gentleman saw that his remonstrances were ignored, he requested to resign. This was granted. However, those who offered remonstrances continued. Huiqing said to the three ministers, “If there is no killing, the people will not be afraid, and the new laws may not be implemented. We should first dismiss several high-ranking officials to demonstrate the prohibition. When the people have no one to rely on, the rumors will naturally subside.” Thus, the former prime minister Han Qi was dismissed and appointed as the Hebei Pacification
Commissioner. Other officials were either dismissed, demoted, or retired; more than one person was dismissed. Those dismissed included: Hanlin Academician Sima Guang, Co-Prime Minister Fu Bi, Prefect of Haozhou, Censor Li Chenghao, Director of the Imperial Academy Su Shi, Prefect of Hangzhou, Hongwen Academy Clerk Zhang Zai, Imperial Academy Supervisor Fan Chunren, Censor-in-Chief Lü Hui, Vice Chancellor Zhao Bian, Prefect of Kaifeng Han Wei, Drafting Official of the Regulations Department Su Zhe, and Vice Chancellor Feng Jing.
Those who were demoted or exiled included: Tang Jiong, who was appointed Prefect of Chaozhou; Yang Hui, the Vice Censor-in-Chief, who was appointed Prefect of Zhengzhou; Li Shizhong, the Military Commissioner of Qin and Feng, who was appointed Prefect of Shuzhou; Liu Zhi, the Supervising Censor, who was appointed Supervisor of the Salt Warehouse in Hengzhou; Zheng Xia, who was exiled to Yingzhou; and Wang Anguo, the Secretary of the Imperial Library.
Those who retired included Fan Zhen, a Hanlin Academician, and Ouyang Xiu, the Prefect of Caizhou.
At that time, almost all upright gentlemen were dismissed, demoted, or exiled, leaving the imperial court empty.
Those who were promoted included Chen Shengzhi as Chancellor, Deng Wan as Censor and Vice Minister of Agriculture, Lu Gongliang as Vice Chancellor, Li Ding as Acting Censor, Han Jiang as Chancellor, Xianyu Shen as Transport Commissioner of Lizhou, Wang Pang as Lecturer at Chongzheng Hall, and Lü Huiqing as Vice Chancellor.
All those appointed were Wang Anshi's supporters; the rest are not listed in detail. From then on, the new laws were rampant, and the people suffered greatly. Some still spoke of the inconveniences of the new laws before Emperor Shenzong. Emperor Shenzong asked Han Jiang and Lü Huiqing about it, and the two replied, "Your Majesty has worked tirelessly for years to achieve these excellent policies, which have benefited the entire nation. To listen to slanderers and want to abolish them is surely unreasonable!" They then circled before the Emperor. Thus, the new laws were implemented as before. People at the time called Han Jiang a Dharma-transmitting monk and Huiqing a Dharma-protecting benevolent deity. Huiqing then discussed with Wang Pang, saying, "We are not afraid of such banishment, but if the Emperor were to believe it, wouldn't all our previous efforts be wasted? When new policies are issued, who knows who will be the first to raise objections, causing a public outcry?"
Wang Pang then reviewed the old, dusty memorials and found the memorial from the censor Bai Rang of the second year of the Xining era. Huiqing said, "This old man was the first to raise objections, and now he lives peacefully in his hometown. If the ringleader is not punished, how can the successors be punished? No wonder rumors are rising." He then sent cavalry to Qingzhou, Shandong, to arrest Bai Rang.
What will become of Bai Rang? We will see in the next chapter.
Chapter Four: The Hero Climbs Over the Wall to Repay the Great Virtue, Chan Guan Knows the Long Road Ahead .
The poem reads:
Green peaks on the river face short songs, white gulls are more familiar than caged geese.
The clear light gradually increases with autumn, good lines are often found after drinking.
Only the cold crickets pity the rain-soaked chrysanthemums, and the late butterflies accompany the misty vines.
I long to find a secluded fishing boat, to lie beneath the bright moon and reeds, a green raincoat on my back.
Meanwhile, the imperial cavalry arrived to arrest Lord Bai. Reaching Qingzhou Prefecture, after the imperial decree was read, the prefect immediately issued a decree to Le'an County, ordering the magistrate to escort him. Lord Bao, upon reading the decree, turned ashen-faced and remained motionless for a long time. He simply entertained the imperial cavalry at his official residence, and without using a sedan chair, accompanied only by two yamen runners, he walked to Liuyin Village.
His family informed Lord Bai. Lord Bai hurriedly came out to greet him, only to see Lord Bao in a plain robe and sash, carrying a yellow imperial edict, entering in a state of panic. Upon reaching the hall, Bao Gong prostrated himself on the ground, saying, "Heaven has not protected us; this misfortune has befallen us. I, your guilty brother, have no power to help you, hence this humble apology."
Bai Gong hurriedly returned the greeting and helped him up, saying, "Father and father, if there is anything you cannot conceal, please speak frankly." Bao Gong swallowed his sobs, unable to speak. Bai Gong pressed him repeatedly before Bao Gong finally replied, "My elder brother has been in seclusion for a long time, but unexpectedly, the court listened to the words of treacherous officials, claiming that you are the ringleader of a gang and extremely disrespectful. Now they have sent cavalry to arrest you. What can we do? What can we do?"
Bai Gong also paled, forcing himself to say, "It has been said since ancient times, 'A son should die for filial piety, a subject should die for loyalty.' I have done nothing wrong; when we arrive in the capital, the truth will naturally prevail. Father and father, there is no need for you to be so distressed." Bao Gong said, "No. The current officials in the court..." "They have all been banished, and those who remain are all his cronies. If you, my elder brother, go to the capital, you will surely be under their control. It would be better to devise a long-term plan and flee in secret."
Bai Gong sighed and said, "Although my parents love me dearly and are speaking out of concern, I think that all under heaven belongs to the emperor. Where can I go? Moreover, when I first submitted my memorial, I was already facing this calamity. If I were to flee now, it would be a case of being strong in the beginning but weak in the end. The only way now is to go to the capital. If the Emperor is wise and knows that I am innocent, he may pardon me without question. Or perhaps Heaven will silently protect me and thwart the cronies' intentions, sparing me from death. My parents, please be careful what you say, for if outsiders find out, the disaster will befall you as well." He then ordered his family to prepare his luggage.
Mei Xian, knowing this, descended from the hall, embraced her father's shoulder, and wept, saying, "Father, you are old, please do not go. Let me go in your place to seek justice for you; there will be no great disaster." Bai Gong patted her back and said, "Although this is out of your filial piety, the court has already taken my place. Even if you go in my place, the treacherous officials will never give up. I am content to go there now. Although I have been severely punished, your life can still extend a thread of kinship. My son
, do not grieve." Seeing this, Bao Gong also shed tears. Bai Gong said, "I am now a wanted criminal; I cannot delay." He did not go in to bid farewell to his wife, fearing another tender moment, and instead took Bao Gong out. Mei Xian, weeping, followed behind, but Bai Gong stopped her, saying, "My son, do not go. If the imperial guards see this and it reaches the ears of the treacherous officials, they will become jealous." Mei Xian pretended to turn back, waiting until Bai Gong was far away before slowly following him. When the lady learned of this, she wept bitterly and fainted. Her maidservants revived her and tried their best to comfort her. The lady had no choice but to pack her bags, set aside plenty of travel expenses, and order her family to send them to him.
When Bai Gong arrived at the county seat, the entire town learned of his passing and all sighed with regret. Some said that Bai Gong was a good man, so why did he suffer such a terrible fate? Others said that with powerful officials in court, Bai Gong's departure would surely lead to his death. From then on, there were countless expressions of talk, curses, tears, weeping, and remorse. When Bai Gong's old neighbors learned of this, men, women, and children alike rushed to him, kneeling and pleading, "Sir, you are a very good man. How could you suffer such a misfortune? If we stand idly by and do nothing, we will have failed as human beings. Sir, please do not leave today. Let us all go to the capital and seek justice for you. If the emperor does not listen, we will all kill ourselves to take the blame for you." Bai Gong comforted them, saying, "I have done you no good before, why do you insist on keeping me here? I will go to the capital and settle the matter clearly. I will return soon and thank you all. Please go back today." Bao Gong explained the situation in detail, urging everyone to hurry up. Seeing the crowd's reaction, the cavalry commander feared a popular uprising and hurriedly urged Bai Gong to get into the prison cart. Bao Gong said to the cavalry commander, "If this happens, the people will be even more reluctant to let you go." He then gave the cavalry commander one hundred taels of silver and did not get into the prison cart. When Mei
Xian saw that Bai Gong was leaving, she collapsed to the ground in tears. The cavalry commander quickly urged her to get up. The crowd clung to the carriage, reluctant to part, and escorted him out of the city. Bai Gong repeatedly comforted them before they returned, but they were overcome with grief, and passersby couldn't help but weep. Bao Gong also saw them off out of the city, returning home weeping. Mei Xian was escorted directly across the county border. Bai Gong ordered his family to take the young master back. Mei Xian could only bow again before the carriage, weeping bitterly as he returned. As the saying goes: "
When disaster strikes, even fathers and sons do not trust each other."
Mei Xian and his family returned home, tears streaming down their faces. His wife then inquired about the reason for his departure and wept bitterly again. Bai Gong, thanks to Bao Gong's generous bribery of the cavalry commander, had not suffered much hardship on the journey and headed towards the capital.
Meanwhile, Liu Zhao, the Black Flying God, fished in the lake, barely making ends meet. He thought to himself, nearing fifty, still without a wife. Now, with the Green Sprouts Act in effect, the prefectures and counties had money to lend; he might as well borrow a few strings of cash to marry a wife. If they had a son, he could continue his business, and he could rely on him in his old age. So he borrowed ten strings of cash and married a middle-aged woman. Although the two fished frequently, with an extra person, they could barely make ends meet. Only a few days later, it was time to pay taxes. Liu Zhao calculated he owed twelve strings of cash, but he had none. The tax collectors were pressing him hard. Liu Zhao was at a loss, so he sold his wife, paying seven strings, still owing five. He then sold his fishing boat, getting only three strings, still short two. Liu Jian thought that without the boat, he would have no livelihood, and now, without a wife to tie him down, he would hide the three strings and flee to Bai Gong's place. He believed this chivalrous man would surely take him in. Having made his decision, he didn't bother paying the three strings and fled to Le'an County.
As he entered the city, he heard people talking in twos and threes about Bai Gong being arrested by imperial cavalry. Liu Zhao, filled with suspicion, went to the old house to look around. He saw that it was inhabited by several people again, which only fueled his doubts. He then feigned concern and asked one of the people, "Master Bai has gone. Did he and his family leave? Why are other people living in the house?" The man replied, "Two years ago, he was robbed, but his neighbors helped him. Therefore, he moved to Liuyin Village to live with the neighbors. Now he's going to the capital. His son and family are still at their home in Liuyin Village."
Liu Zhao, hearing this but not recognizing Liuyin Village, thought to himself, "I originally came to seek refuge with Master Bai. Now that he's gone, going to his home is useless. I'd better hurry to the capital tonight and inquire about Master Bai's whereabouts. If there's any way to help him, I can repay his kindness." So he left the city and headed towards the capital.
Unexpectedly, the Imperial Guard had received a bribe from Bao Gong and had already captured the prisoner, so they escorted Master Bai slowly away. Liu Zhao, anxious, hurried, and soon encountered him at the Imperial Residence. Liu Zhao recognized Bai Gong, but refused to acknowledge him, fearing the cavalry would suspect him and he would have difficulty making his move on the road. He secretly followed him to the capital. The cavalryman informed Lü Huiqing and Wang Pang. The two said, "We can imprison him in the Ministry of Justice prison and interrogate him personally tomorrow."
Liu Zhao, knowing Bai Gong was imprisoned, was overjoyed, saying, "Now is the place to repay my debt of gratitude!" He then stole a wood-chopping axe from the inn and hid it beside him. Late at night, he arrived at the prison gate. Seeing the prison walls were two or three zhang high, he leaped inside. Not knowing where Bai Gong was imprisoned, he crept in from outside the cell, eavesdropping. Reaching the last cell, he heard a man sigh, "I never thought I would die here today."
The moon was high in the sky when Liu Zhao peeked through a crack in the wall and saw that it was Bai Gong, who was unshackled and about to hang himself. Liu Zhao panicked, chopped open the prison door with his axe, and grabbed Bai Gong. Without asking what had happened, he carried Bai Gong to the wall, then leaped over it, saying to Bai Gong, "I am deeply grateful for your kindness, sir, and have come to report this today." Bai Gong then realized it was Liu Zhao. Liu Zhao then carried Bai Gong out of the capital and fled that very night. Bai Gong asked, "Now that you have rescued me, where should I go?" Liu Zhao replied, "If my fishing boat were still here, that would be perfect." Bai Gong asked, "Where did the fishing boat go?" Liu Zhao explained the whole story. Bai Gong said, "I had some travel expenses with me, and I still have several tens of taels of silver left. You can use that to buy a boat and escape."
Liu Zhao then bought a large boat and some fishing gear. Bai Gong, dressed as a fisherman, also went off to fish in the Five Lakes for his pleasure. This perfectly echoes Huang Du Ke's words: "Riding a small boat, I ride with immortals to roam the land."
Now, Wang Pang and Lü Huiqing ordered the cavalry to bring Bai Gong out for questioning the next day. The jailer unlocked the cell and found no one there. Panicked, the jailer reported to the cavalry. The cavalry went in and indeed found it empty, though the walls remained, only the prison gate was smashed. Everyone wondered, "Even if Bai Gong wanted to escape, he had no iron weapons with him. How could the prison gate have been smashed? Or perhaps an outsider broke in, but the walls are several feet high; how could they have gotten in?" The cavalry had no choice but to bring the jailer to question Wang Pang and Lü Huiqing.
The two, upon hearing this, also felt puzzled and flew into a rage, pointing at the jailer and saying, "You must have let him go!" Without asking any questions, they wanted to have him executed. The jailer repeatedly explained. So the cavalry was ordered to arrest Bai Gong. The officer said, "He has a son; we can arrest him to take the blame, and then we can apprehend the real culprit." The two men were overjoyed and immediately took their horses to arrest Mei Xian.
Upon arriving at Qingzhou Prefecture, they reported the reason for the escape. Just then, Yuan Jianlu and Fang Duanru, who had just finished their county examinations in Qingzhou Prefecture, were waiting for the case to be solved before returning home. Upon hearing this news, they rushed back overnight and went straight to the Bai family to tell Mei Xian that Bai Gong was missing in prison and had come to arrest him; he should quickly leave.
Mei Xian was overjoyed upon hearing this and said to his two friends, "My father is missing; there must be a reason. But I have an elderly mother at home; how can I escape?" The two friends said, "If the officers come to arrest him, will they also refuse because of their elderly mother? Besides, we two are here; we are like brothers. Can't we handle this matter?"
Mei Xian then went inside to inform his wife. The lady said, "Since that's the case, hurry up! Any further delay might bring disaster." Mei Xian then took extra travel money, and also took the coral whip given to him by the immortal master. He bid farewell to the lady, then went out to bid farewell to his two friends, and chose a fine horse to ride. Before leaving, he instructed his two friends, "My old mother is entrusted to you two brothers; I hope you will keep her in mind." The two friends said, "No need for further instructions." They hurriedly urged Mei Xian to leave. The two friends returned home.
The cavalryman arrived at Le'an County and saw that Magistrate Bao had resigned his post and gone into seclusion, leaving no county magistrate. He went directly to Liuyin Village. Reaching the south of the fort, he saw the stele pavilion and archway. The cavalryman said, "So Magistrate Bao is one of his cronies, a wanted criminal. He even performed this grand ceremony for him, and now, fearing disaster, he has abandoned his post and fled." He then destroyed all the stele pavilions and archways.
Arriving at the Bai family's house, he entered the main hall, but seeing no one, he went into the back hall and saw the lady sitting there. The lady scolded him, "Who are you people, barging into the inner chambers?" She called for servants to arrest the thieves. The officer stood firm and replied, "We are here by the court to arrest the young master." The lady said, "It has been said since ancient times that 'criminals should not be punished with their families.' Since the master has been arrested, and the young master is innocent, what's the point of arresting him?" The officer said, "The master was imprisoned, but escaped during the night. Therefore, the court sent us to arrest the young master." The lady said, "The young master, worried about his master going to the capital, also went to the capital. And now you come to my house to arrest him!"
Hearing this, the officer was at a loss. He wanted to search inside, but seeing the lady's imposing presence, he dared not enter. Seeing the situation, the lady said, "If you are not at ease, you may come inside and look." The officer went in and searched everywhere, but indeed found nothing. He had no choice but to go to the capital empty-handed to report the two traitors and tell them about the toppling of the memorial tablet.
Seeing that Bai Gong and his son were nowhere to be found, the two men gave up, only issuing a nationwide warrant for their arrest. They also wanted to punish Bao Gong, but seeing that he had abandoned his post and disappeared, they let the matter drop.
Now, Mei Xian left home and traveled several miles. She pondered, "Now that I've fled home, the world is vast; where will I go?" She then remembered, "When my immortal master gave me the coral whip, he said it would be useful someday. Now that I'm fleeing, I'm fortunate to have it with me. I can use this whip to urge my horse on, letting it go wherever it wants." Sure enough, when she whipped it, the horse moved like the wind. Mei Xian, on horseback, felt drowsy and confused, thinking about her missing father and the fact that her wife was left unattended at home. After much deliberation, seeing that evening was approaching, Mei Xian decided to stay at an inn.
The next day, she continued her journey. Before long, she arrived at a place where she could see a small city in the distance. The main road was bustling with carriages and horses, and merchants thronged the area, quite different from the places she had passed through before. Mei Xian kept walking, gazing at the city, while her horse turned its back on the city walls and headed off along a side road. Mei Xian tried to turn the horse around, but it neighed incessantly, so she had no choice but to let it go. Seeing the sun setting in the west and no inn ahead, she began to panic. After a moment, the horse suddenly stopped.
Mei Xian looked up and saw a secluded gate in the woods. She dismounted and approached. Above the gate was a plaque with the three characters "Mu Yun Nunnery." Beside the nunnery was a pond, the moon shining brightly overhead. Several ancient trees stood beside the pond, where crows were roosting and cawing incessantly. Finding no place to stay, Mei Xian knocked on the door. A moment later, two small doors opened, revealing an old monk. Mei Xian
exclaimed, "'Birds roost in the trees by the pond, a monk knocks on the moonlit gate,' I never imagined these two lines would resonate here!" The old monk, seeing the profound meaning in her words, quickly bowed and welcomed her in. Mei Xian then led her horse into the nunnery with the old monk. The old monk inquired about her reason for seeking lodging.
What Mei Xian said next remains to be seen; we will find out in the next chapter.
Chapter Five: A Guest with a Bare Belly, A Dream in the Boudoir, A Woman's Inscription on the Pink Wall:
The poem reads: "
The banana shadows on the stone platform are quiet and tinkling, I happened to visit the eastern fence to talk of drunkenness and awakening."
The old vines clinging to the goosegrass can be used as a walking stick, while the thorns of the hibiscus gradually form a screen. The flowers ,
white after the frost, are mostly white, and the poor poet's eyes are all the brighter.
Where is the best sound of autumn today? The pounding of the pestle and the mortar under the moon.
Meanwhile, the White-Browed Immortal tied his horse inside the gate, and together with the old monk, went straight into the abbot's quarters, exchanged greetings, and sat down. The old monk asked, "May I ask your esteemed name, and where you are from?" Mei Xian replied, "My name is Bai Yin, and my pen name is Mei Xian. I am from Le'an County, Qingzhou." The old monk asked, "Why are you seeking lodging so late?" Mei Xian replied, "My father was once an imperial censor. He was arrested by the court for remonstrating against the implementation of the new laws. I don't know why he disappeared from prison, and now they've come to arrest me. I had no choice but to flee, but I don't know the way, so I let my horse go wherever it wanted. That's why I came to this temple, and it's already late. I wish to borrow your bed for the night." He then asked, "May I ask your Dharma name, how many years you have been a monk, and how many disciples you have?" The old monk replied, "My name is Kongru, and I am fifty-two years old. I had two young disciples before, one of whom left the monastic life, and the other died young. Now I have taken in another disciple, named Liaoyuan, who is almost twenty years old and has not yet shaved his head. We are just the two of us, master and disciple." He then ordered a Taoist priest, "Call the young master to come and see me." He also ordered the Taoist priest, "Bring the horse in and let it rest in the corridor."
After a short while, Liaoyuan came in to see him. Mei Xian looked at Liao Yuan, who appeared to be around twenty years old and quite handsome, but his eyes held a murderous glint, making him seem unlike a righteous person. After exchanging a few pleasantries, Kong Ru ordered him to go to the kitchen and instruct the Taoist priest to prepare the evening meal. He then asked Mei Xian, "When you entered, why did you recite the lines 'Birds roost on trees by the pond, a monk knocks on the moonlit gate'? And why did you say 'Unexpectedly, these two lines have come true here'? What was the meaning of this?" Mei Xian replied, "Years ago, I went with a friend to see plum blossoms because I was enjoying the snow. Unexpectedly, we met an old man riding an ox in the plum grove. He called himself Huang Du Ke, and said he had come from Chen Bo to cultivate in the mountains. I immediately asked for his guidance. He said I was not an immortal and could not give me any guidance, but only told me a few lines of poetry and gave me this coral whip, saying it would be useful in the future. Unexpectedly, as I rode my horse to the upper temple, the two lines of poetry suddenly came to mind, and they have already come true here, so I didn't realize I was saying them."
Kong Ru nodded and said, "In that case, the old man must..." "Is this a fairy? But where do you intend to go now, sir?" Mei Xian said, "I don't know the way and have no destination in mind. I don't even know where this place is." Kong Ru said, "This is Xincheng County, Hangzhou. My little nunnery is only a few miles from here." Mei Xian said, "I thought Hangzhou was a prosperous place. Indeed, what I've seen along the way is different from other places." Kong Ru said, "Since you have no destination in mind and are at a loss, my little nunnery is quite secluded, and there are empty rooms here. Why don't you stay here for now?" Mei Xian said, "If I could receive such consideration from you, Master, I would be overjoyed. But how can I repay such a great kindness?"
After dinner, Kong Ru ordered the Taoist priest to feed the horses with hay and then selected a clean empty room at the back of the palace as a separate room for Mei Xian. Mei Xian then settled down there.
The next morning, after breakfast, Kongru instructed Liaoyuan to accompany Meixian on a leisurely stroll. As they walked out of the hall, they saw the horse lying across the ground under the eaves, its hooves tucked in. Meixian approached and saw it was already dead. Meixian exclaimed in surprise, "I've relied on this horse all the way; its sudden death today is truly pitiful."
Kongru and Liaoyuan sighed deeply and ordered the Taoist priest to bury the horse in the open space in the back garden. Seeing the horse was dead, and realizing the immortal's words had come true, Meixian decided to stay. She took out twenty taels of silver and offered it to the old monk. The old monk firmly refused. Meixian said, "This is but a small token of my respect; it's hardly a courtesy. If you don't accept it, Master, I won't be able to stay here." Kongru had no choice but to accept it, and from then on, he treated Meixian with even greater respect.
One day, Meixian chatted with Liaoyuan and asked him where his secular home was. Liaoyuan said, “My father is from Yingtian Prefecture. He makes a living by weaving and has only one son, me. An old monk foretold that I would suffer a water-related calamity and that if I were sent to become a monk, I could avoid this misfortune. My father heard this, and at that time, Master Kongru was a monk at Chengfa Temple. My father then made me become his disciple. Originally, I was supposed to return to secular life when I grew up. Two years ago, I came to Muyun Nunnery with my master. At that time, the nunnery was without a master, so we stayed here. That’s why I haven’t been ordained yet.” Meixian said, “So that’s the reason.” The two then discussed some literary matters and poems. Liaoyuan said, “I understand the meaning of poetry quite well, but I’m not very proficient. I haven’t yet asked you to teach me your excellent work. Today I have some free time, and it’s such a clear autumn day. I can compose a poem for you to teach me.” At this point, Meixian’s poetic inspiration was ignited. Liaoyuan ground the ink, and Meixian then composed “Ten Poems on Autumn Light.”
The first one:
The autumn light is good this year, the autumn light reaches the short fence.
I move my seat to the South Mountain, and we drink wine and sing.
The hibiscus flourishes and withers, the yellow flowers proudly bloom on the slender branches.
Smoke from the grass is scattered and disordered, crickets chirp late.
Second:
The autumn light is good this year, autumn light reaches the small courtyard.
Orange trees piled on the stone platform, dew falls on the green paulownia leaves by the well.
Phoenix tails sprout new sheaths, rooster combs accompany old forms.
Crabapple blossoms are slightly drunk from the rain, idly beside Xue Meng awakening.
Third:
The autumn light is good this year, autumn light reaches the distant mountains.
Geese fly past, their shadows thin, leaves fall, and the stream murmurs.
Persimmons provide fodder for monkeys' cries, maple leaves accompany cranes' leisure.
I intend to take advantage of the osmanthus-viewing mood, and try to climb it.
Fourth:
The autumn light is good this year, autumn light reaches the small pond.
Lotus leaves wither, their plumpness shed, hibiscus
ages, yet dew still nourishes. Fragrant water chestnuts are obtained, joyful faces
await the perch. Rippling water and leaning stones, water lilies and smartweed evoke longing.
Fifth:
The autumn light is good this year, autumn light reaches the bamboo grove.
Few butterflies dream on the screen, flies busy chasing the round fan.
The quilt feels cold, the moonlight is cool and shimmering.
Don't complain about the neighbor's flute's mournful sound; the sound of the anvil's mallet is even more resounding.
Sixth:
The autumn light is good this year, autumn light arrives at my small study.
Cornelian cherries are being harvested, sunflowers and broad beans are being happily picked.
Wild grasses cover the empty stones, fragrant oranges fall all over the steps.
The yellow rain falls on the locust trees, often making my straw sandals muddy.
Seventh:
The autumn light is good this year, autumn light arrives at my guest home.
The grass is withered, making it difficult to feed the horses; the water is dry
, hindering the fish from reading. The eggplants sway sadly in the wind, the bamboo baskets are beautiful,
and homesickness lingers. I must not enter the city of sorrow, and I must stop my carriage in the land of wine.
Eighth:
The autumn light is good this year, autumn light arrives at my small garden.
Fragrant piles of plump jujubes, worries about sweeping away the many daylilies planted.
Green melons ripen by the fence, red leaves turn
in the woods. Crickets chirp urgently in the bean blossom rain, ants cross the crumbling walls.
Ninth:
The autumn light is good this year, autumn light arrives at the fields.
Yellow chickens peck at millet, smoke rises from the white houses at dawn.
The village drum sounds with the croaking of frogs, fireflies flicker in the fields.
The bitterness of brewing is praised, yet the bountiful year is celebrated.
The tenth poem:
A year's autumn light is beautiful, autumn light reaches the Buddhist temple.
Yellow tangerines present dewy fruit, palm leaves interpret the pine breeze.
Secluded bamboo echoes with the clear chime, cool cicadas pass by the evening bell.
Frosty reeds are broken, fit to be used as a ferry crossing the river.
After reciting, Liaoyuan exclaimed in great admiration, "Sir, such talent is rarely seen in the world, truly unparalleled." Meixian modestly declined, then asked who was the most famous poet in Hangzhou. Liao Yuan said, “There is a Wei Xiang Gong, whose given name is Wu Hao Fei Xia. He is a young hero who loves making friends, but his poetic talent is not as good as Bai Xiang Gong’s. There is only one talented woman, the daughter of Jin Shi Lang from this county, named Feng Niang, who is seventeen years old. When she was young, she was given a name by the Xuan Di of this temple, so every year on the third day of the third lunar month, the birthday of Xuan Di, she comes to offer incense. There is also a maid, whose name I do not know, who is also beautiful and can compose poems with her young lady. She is considered a talented woman in Hangzhou.” Mei Xian nodded in admiration. Now,
let’s talk about Jin Feng Niang, who is the eldest daughter of Jin Yong Wu, who was later settled in Jianzhou after serving as the Vice Minister of Revenue. Madam Hu cherished Feng Niang like a precious gem. Madam Hu was literate and taught Feng Niang herself. Feng Niang was born intelligent and could compose poems at the age of ten. She grew up to be a woman of unparalleled beauty. Madam Hu also gave birth to a son, nicknamed He Lang, who was six years old at the time. The maidservant, named Xia Xiao, was a year older than Feng Niang. She was also quick-witted in poetry and possessed a captivating charm. She and Feng Niang were like sisters. Feng Niang, however, was secluded and chaste, always informing Madam Hu of her every move.
One day, Xia Xiao said to Feng Niang, "Miss, the lotus flowers in the pond in the back garden are in full bloom. Shall we go for a stroll?" Feng Niang informed Madam Hu, and then went to the garden with Xia Xiao. Xia Xiao, holding a silk fan, arrived at the pond. Feng Niang said to Xia Xiao, "Look at the lotus flowers in the pond, two kinds, red and white. The red ones are as rosy as the sunset, and the white ones are as white as snow." She also saw several pairs of mandarin ducks sleeping with their necks intertwined on the rocks in the pond. Xia Xiao said, "Miss, look at the mandarin ducks in pairs, just like you and me: we sit together, we stand side by side." Feng Niang said, "Foolish girl, you only say the mandarin ducks with their necks intertwined resemble us, but you don't know there are different kinds among them."
It was early May, not very hot, but still slightly warm. After admiring the scenery for a while, Fengniang sat down on a Taihu rock deep in the shade of the banana trees. She said to Xiaxiao, "I'm a little thirsty. Give me your fan and go get me a pot of tea." Xiaxiao left. Feeling drowsy on the rock, Fengniang yawned. She saw an old man enter through the garden gate, riding a yellow calf. Behind him followed a handsome young man, holding a coral whip. As he drew closer, she noticed the young man had two white eyebrows. The old man said, "Miss, the day after tomorrow, the vine clinging to the tall tree will be this man." Turning to the young man, he said, "You may give this whip to Miss." The young man approached and handed the whip to the young lady. Fengniang awoke with a start; it was all a dream. Fengniang said, "I was just talking to Xiaxiao, how could I have fallen asleep? And how do I remember the old man's words?"
Just as she was pondering this, Xiaxiao brought tea and asked, "Miss, what did you say?" Fengniang told him about her dream. Xiaxiao said, "A match made in heaven, it will surely come true." Fengniang drank the tea, then played around for a while longer before returning home. Xia Xiao recounted his previous dream to Madam Hu. Madam Hu was also astonished. Feng Niang was beautiful and talented, virtuous, and approaching marriageable age; why had no one proposed marriage? It was because people were short-sighted. They saw that Jin Gong had offended the court and was banished, and that the Jin family's wealth was meager; therefore, despite Feng Niang's beauty and talent, no one sought her hand in marriage. It was fate that she was destined to marry Bai Sheng.
Meanwhile, Mei Xian, in the Mu Yun Nunnery, spent her days composing poems. More than a month passed, and it was early winter. One day, Liao Yuan came in and chatted with Mei Xian, asking, "Sir, you must have another masterpiece in the next couple of days?" Mei Xian replied, "Yesterday, because of the beginning of winter, I casually composed a five-character ancient poem." Liao Yuan asked to see it. Since she hadn't copied it out, Mei Xian presented the manuscript. Liaoyuan saw the words "Shanbian Collection" written on the cover of the poetry collection and asked, "Why is the poetry collection named this?" Meixian pointed to the coral whip hidden in the brocade pouch by the bedside and said, "This was a gift from the Immortal Master, and I dare not forget it, hence the name of the collection." She added that she had relied on the power of this whip along the way. Liaoyuan nodded and said, "So that's the reason." He then opened the poetry collection and saw that there were many poems and essays, which he could not read all of. He only read the "Five-Character Ancient Style Poem for Early Winter": "
The biting north wind blows, the cold air penetrates the window."
The maple leaves have faded, leaving the forest empty; the yellow chrysanthemums stand in their withered bloom.
The morning air grows thinner, and I gradually find myself drawn to the warmth of the hearth.
I take some white wine from the trough, and even the yellow pickled vegetables are palatable.
I sit to welcome guests, leaving only a few cups for the left.
In this drunken land, the world is vast; I forget myself and others
with disdain. I dance with my sword,
my brows furrowed, and my worries are banished. I lift my beard and let out a roar, my spirit soaring.
I recite the poem of the first month, alone and weeping.
Do you not see the hardworking farmers, their hands and feet all lame?
They hastily pay their taxes, not a single grain left behind.
They pound chaff and bran at night, their tattered robes worn and tattered.
They return home trembling, hoe in hand, the door open, the reed curtains
drawn. They still rejoice, the wheat on the ridges swaying gracefully.
The gardens and kitchens are desolate, the narrow paths rugged and uneven.
Hungry sparrows snatch the leftovers from the sacrifices, and crows caw at the city walls.
Such are the mediocre people of this world, their wickedness and cunning unfathomable.
My way is to give birth to the first yang; only when the reed ash stirs will it be properly settled.
After reading it, Liaoyuan said, "Such a wonderful poem! It would be a waste not to write it down and paste it here." So he went to get a piece of plain paper and asked Meixian to write it down. Meixian refused repeatedly. He reluctantly wrote it down. Liaoyuan treasured it like a precious jewel and pasted it on the white wall of the guest hall.
One day, a young poet-knight from the city came to the temple with some friends to relax. Kongru welcomed him and sat him down in the guest hall. After tea was served, the young man saw the poem on the wall, stood up and looked at it again and again, and asked Kongru, "Was this poem written by a guest?" Kongru said, "It was written by a guest." The young man asked again, "Is he here now?" Kongru said, "He just went out for a stroll."
The young man did not go back and just kept looking at the poem on the wall. Suddenly, Meixian appeared gracefully. Kongru said, "Master Bai has arrived." The young man saw the name Bai Meixian written on the back of the poem, and when he heard Kongru say it was Meixian, he knew it was Meixian. He hurriedly bowed to Meixian, and Meixian hurriedly returned the bow.
The identity of the young man remains unknown; let us find out in the next chapter.
Chapter Six: A Guest in the West Wing Exchanges a Cow for a Horse; A Dream by the North Window Causes Rain and Clouds to Rise .
The poem reads:
The forest pavilion's breeze, fragrant with wine, easily sobers me; Long days spent idly leaning against the screen.
The pond's water, green against the window, The mountains send forth their misty light, blue into my seat.
Beautiful birds sing in spring's verdant roost; The students receive their lessons, listening to the simple scriptures.
Indulging in poetry, he utters astonishing lines; His recitation, if not, would turn his temples white with stars.
Now, let us speak of the White-Eyebrowed Immortal entering the door; The young man hurriedly bows, and the White-Eyebrowed Immortal returns the bow repeatedly. The young man spoke, "I have just come across your magnificent writing and am filled with admiration. It is truly something I have never seen in Hangzhou, a rare find indeed." Mei Xian replied, "I am undeserving of such praise. May I ask your honorable name and title, sir? I have yet to meet you, and I am filled with great respect." The young man said, "My name is Wei Yu, and my courtesy name is Fei Xia. I am from this county. I studied in my youth, but due to the early death of my father, I abandoned my studies and now spend my days and nights with two or three friends, indulging in poetry and wine." Mei Xian then greeted his friends, exchanging names. Fei Xia then asked Mei Xian, "Why are you staying here?"
Mei Xian then recounted in detail how Bai Gong was persecuted, how he escaped, and how his horse died, leaving him to stay at his humble abode. Fei Xia said, "It is inconvenient for you to leave, brother. Why don't you come to my humble abode for a while? I can then enjoy your company day and night." Mei Xian declined and then explained in detail the meaning behind the poem and prophecy given to him by the immortal master, which had been fulfilled at this hermitage. Fei Xia nodded in admiration and dared not insist. He then explored Mei Xian's room thoroughly. Before parting, he said to Meixian, "I will visit you again another day, but I must take my leave today." They then parted.
Meixian spent the rest of winter in the nunnery, and before he knew it, mid-spring had arrived. One day, Meixian strolled out of the nunnery and saw the willows by the pond, their green leaves brushing against the heads of passersby, and the peach blossoms by the corner of the wall, their vibrant colors evoking thoughts of home. Before he finished reciting these words, he suddenly heard two or three people laughing and talking. The first was Wei Feixia, and he didn't recognize the other two. Meixian welcomed them into his room, exchanged greetings, and sat down. Meixian asked Feixia, "What are your honorable names and titles?" Feixia replied, "One is named He Eryan, styled Shengzhi; the other is named Shen Fei, styled Yunpeng. We are both renowned poets in this county. The other day, because I mentioned Brother Bai to us, we came to pay our respects. We also hoped to establish a close friendship, so we didn't even bother with visiting cards." The three exchanged pleasantries. Fei Xia said, "Brother Mei, I have something to tell you. These days, West Lake is bustling with courtesans and singers, and I've bought a small boat. I wish to invite you to go and enjoy it for a few days before returning. Therefore, I've come to inform you and request that you depart immediately." Mei Xian said, "I've long heard of the beauty of West Lake and wished to visit. Now that I'm here to accompany you, I dare not disturb you." Fei Xia said, "Since we've agreed, there's no need to be so formal." He then urged Mei Xian to go with him. Mei Xian saw Kong Ru and Liao Yuan off, locked their lodgings, and went out with the three of them to visit West Lake.
It was late February, and in just a few days, it was already the third day of the third month, the birthday of the Xuan Emperor. Jin Fengniang informed Madam Hu, who ordered an old servant to prepare incense, candles, money, and horses. She and Xia Xiao carried a warm sedan chair, and the old servant followed. Before long, they arrived at Muyun Nunnery.
The nunnery used to be the Jin family's ancestral temple, but now, because Lord Jin has been demoted and has little money, it feels quiet and deserted, with few men and women burning incense. Fengniang and Xiaxiao went into the nunnery to burn incense and pray. After they finished, Kongru came to inquire. Fengniang wandered around and went into the guest hall. She saw the poem on the pink wall, examined it carefully, and exclaimed in admiration. When she read further, she saw the words "White-browed Immortal Herb, a guest of Qidong." Fengniang was startled and said to Xiaxiao, "I once dreamed of a white-browed boy, and now he is called White-browed Immortal. It's quite strange." She then studied the poem carefully. Just then,
a Taoist priest served tea and snacks. Xiaxiao asked, "Who wrote the poem on the wall?" The Taoist priest replied, "It was written by a gentleman named Bai. His friend took him to visit West Lake. His room is in the side room of the back hall." Xiaxiao didn't ask any more questions and said to Fengniang, "How about I go see his room with you, Miss?" The two went to the room together and found the door locked. A paper window peeked through the door. Xia Xiao tore a hole in the paper and peered inside. The walls were lined with books, the tables and chairs were spotless, and a brocade pouch hung above the bed, concealing a whip with half a coral handle protruding. Pointing to Feng Niang, she said, "Miss, isn't this the coral whip you mentioned?" Feng Niang looked and indeed it was exactly as she had seen in her dream; both were astonished. After playing around for a while, they boarded the sedan chair, the old servant following behind.
After paying her respects to the Madam, Fengniang returned to her room and discussed with Xiaxiao, "This man is the most likely match for us, but it's not good to tell Mother. Besides, how could he possibly know our feelings? You always had clever plans; what are your ideas now?" Xiaxiao thought for a moment and said, "Helang is seven years old now. The other day, Madam said she wanted to hire a tutor. Miss, you can write down the poem you wrote and show it to Madam. Don't say it was written by Bai Sheng; just say it was written by someone named Qiu Jinse who lives at Muyun Nunnery, thus subtly including Bai Sheng's name. If we hire him, we can further examine his character and conduct. Marriage is a lifelong commitment; how can we so easily throw away our lives based on a single dream?"
Fengniang listened, went to see the Madam, and presented the poem she had written down. The lady praised the poem highly, saying, "This poem is exceptionally elegant and ancient. Who wrote it?" Fengniang replied, "It was written by a guest at the Muyun Hermitage, named Qiu, whose pen name is Jinse. I saw it inscribed on the wall yesterday while offering incense, and I copied it down to present to you, Mother."
The lady thought for a moment and said, "I think Helang is now seven years old and we should hire a tutor. Since he is a guest, his lodgings will be generous, and he has such talent. Why not hire him as a tutor? What do you think?" Fengniang said, "Mother's opinion is very wise. But it has been three months now, so we should hurry up with the appointment." The lady then ordered a date to be chosen. Fengniang looked at the calendar and said, "The eighth day is an auspicious day according to the Yellow Path. Let's choose the eighth day." The lady wrote the appointment letter on it and also put three taels of silver and two bundles of colored silk into a box as a betrothal gift. She also wrote on the letter that sixteen taels of silver would be given annually as a token of respect. She then ordered an old servant to take the box to the betrothal ceremony.
The old servant arrived at the nunnery and found it deserted. He called out, "Is Master Qiu here?" But Mei Xian had not yet returned that day; Kong Ru had gone to the countryside to chant scriptures, and the Taoist priest had gone with him. Only Liao Yuan remained at the nunnery. Bored and alone, he pondered, "Why hasn't my father taken me back?" He also thought of returning to secular life. Suddenly seized by a sudden impulse, he put on the old headscarf Mei Xian had left behind the other day and looked in the mirror, thinking, "If I were to return to secular life, I would surely look handsome with this headscarf." He tilted his head, making a fool of himself, when suddenly he heard someone calling him. He forgot the headscarf on his head and rushed out.
The old servant saw him dressed in silk robes, wearing a headscarf, and with a handsome face. Recognizing him as Qiu Sheng, he whispered, "Master Qiu, the Jin family has sent betrothal gifts here. Please come and stay at our nunnery."
Upon hearing this, Liaoyuan realized that he was wearing a turban and couldn't explain himself immediately, so he could only vaguely reply, "Which Jin family are you from?" The old servant replied, "The Jin family of the city's Vice Minister." Liaoyuan knew that he was from Fengniang's family, so he asked the old servant to sit in the guest hall and took the box inside himself. He pondered, "There's no one with the surname Qiu in the nunnery, so why is he calling me Master Qiu?" Then he thought, "It must be Master Bai. But the young lady changed her surname and invited him to teach, there must be a reason. Luckily, no one is home, and I happen to be wearing a headscarf, so it wouldn't hurt to assume the surname Qiu. Besides, the betrothal letter states sixteen taels of gold per year, which will be useful for holiday gifts. And since the teaching position is on the eighth, I can go there myself on that day."
Having finished his calculations, he took out the box, made a small envelope, wrote "Two Stars for the Offering of Gold" on it, and carried the box out, saying to the old servant, "No one in the nunnery will mistreat you, please give my regards to the lady. You don't need to come again on the eighth. I'm staying here as a guest, so if I'm inconvenient, I'll come myself. The small envelope in the box is a small token of my appreciation for a cup of tea." The old servant, seeing the money, happily thanked him and left.
Liao Yuan hid the colorful silk, changed the betrothal gift, and forged a family letter. Having finished his calculations, he had no choice but to remove the headscarf and put on a monk's hat. That night, Kongru didn't return until late into the night. Liaoyuan showed Kongru the fake letter and said, "I've sent three taels of silver for travel expenses. My father has died, and I need to go back to handle the funeral arrangements."
Kongru saw the letter and the silver, believed it to be true, and shed tears. Liaoyuan also feigned grief and said, "My cousin came today and wants me to go with him today. But since my master isn't here, I told him to go back first."
The next day, he bid farewell to Kongru and prepared to leave. Kongru said, "You must take your luggage." Liaoyuan said, "I'll come after the funeral; I don't need to take any luggage." Little did he know that the colorful silk was already hidden beside him. Kongru took it as a sign of sincerity and felt reluctant to part with him, shedding tears as he saw him off. Liaoyuan
hurriedly left and secretly entered the city, staying at an inn. He used the betrothal money to buy a headscarf, clothes, shoes, and socks, and also had the colorful silk made into a new dress. On the eighth day, after having breakfast at the inn, he dressed neatly and swaggered to the Jin family's house. An old servant had already seen him and went in to announce his arrival. The lady said, "Truly a faithful man, indeed he came of his own accord." She then ordered her maid, Hongying, to help Helang out to pay his respects to the teacher. The lady greeted him first, then instructed Helang to pay his respects. Qiusheng stood by and returned the greeting. The lady said, "My son is ignorant; I hope you, sir, will diligently instruct him. I will be eternally grateful." Qiusheng bowed his head in humility. The lady then went inside. A study room was set up in the south wing, and a bedroom in the north wing. After entering the study room, Qiusheng named Helang "Gong" and wrote it on a calligraphy scroll.
That evening, after school, Fengniang saw the name on the calligraphy scroll and couldn't help but laugh out loud, "Why did this boy choose such an obscure character?" Xiaxiao said, "Poets have always been eccentric; this is another example of his eccentricity." The two laughed and said nothing more.
Meanwhile, Meixian didn't return until late March, learning that Liaoyuan had gone to mourn his father and was now lonely and isolated. Who knew that Liaoyuan had gone undercover as a tutor? Liaoyuan even took the surname Qiu and spent his days instructing Jin Gong in the study room. He only thought of the young lady and Xia Xiao, but, "The gates of a noble house are as deep as the sea; outsiders are not allowed to knock." Qiu Sheng could only dream of it.
Who knew that a maidservant by the lady's side, named Hong Ying, was eighteen or nineteen years old, voluptuous and beautiful, with a strong interest in romance. However, no men visited her in the household, so her desires could not be fulfilled. When she was tutoring, she brought gold and silver to pay respects to the teacher, and seeing that Qiu Sheng was young and handsome, she wanted to have an affair with him. One day, the old servant went out, and no one brought lunch, so the lady ordered him to bring it. Hongying arranged the meal on the bedroom table, went into the room, and said to Qiusheng, "Sir, please go and invite me for lunch." Qiusheng asked with a smile, "What is your name, sister? You never come out before. I am truly fortunate to have you here today."
Hongying, being clever by nature, noticed the oddity in his words and covered her mouth with a smile, saying, "My name is Hongying. My old servant is out today, so I brought lunch. Sir, what do you want?" Qiusheng said, "Why not change the character 'Ying' to 'Niang' (娘, meaning mother)?"
Hongying frowned slightly and led Jin Gong inside. Qiusheng went to the room to eat, thinking, "Sister, you seem to be intentionally trying to seduce me. If you come out again, you will definitely try to seduce me." Hongying, having forgotten to bring tea, brought it into the room. Qiusheng quickly stood up and greeted her with a smile, "Sister Hong, why are you bringing tea again? I can't even eat." Hongying also smiled and replied, "I know you can't eat, so I brought tea."
Qiusheng then stepped forward and embraced her, saying, "My dear sister." He carried her to the bed and made advances. Hongying smiled but remained silent, letting him do as he pleased. Qiusheng hurriedly removed his undergarments, revealing her delicate body, her snow-white vulva exposed, her pubic area flushed, and her vulva gushing with desire. Hongying, filled with passion, uttered sweet voices, while Qiusheng, intoxicated, thrust with vigor. Hongying said, "Spare me, we'll meet again when you're ready." Qiusheng had no choice but to let her go. Hongying clung to Qiusheng's neck, unwilling to let go, and they kissed. Both were stunned and numb. Fearing that the amniotic fluid would come out, Qiusheng quickly gathered up the utensils and left, then turned back to smile at Qiusheng. Just then, the amniotic fluid also came out, and the two parted ways. From then on, Qiusheng thought of Hongying day and night. Hongying, too, though her old servant was at home, would rush to bring tea and meals to the inn, and would often secretly meet with Qiusheng.
One day, the jasmine in the courtyard was in full bloom. Hongying came out to pick flowers, not yet having washed or combed her hair, her hair disheveled, making her even more charming. Seeing this, Qiu Sheng hurried to the courtyard, hooked his arm around Hong Ying's neck, and asked, "Why isn't Sister Xia Xiao coming out again, Miss?" Hong Ying replied, "She's with you upstairs every day, reciting poems and composing verses. How can she come out?" Qiu Sheng said, "I've long admired these two. If you can't have them, Sister Xia, do you have any plans to get me?" Hong Ying spat and said, "You're just like the saying goes: 'Having gotten what you want, you're still greedy and shameless.'" Qiu Sheng said
, "I was wrong. Sister, you haven't had your fill yet, how can you have such foolish thoughts?" Hong Ying picked a few jasmine flowers and gave them to him to wear. Before going inside, she said to Qiu Sheng, "I wasn't being sarcastic just now. If I could get his accomplice, I'd like to enjoy myself for a long time. If Sister Xia has any ideas, I'll come and tell you. Whether it works or not depends on your skills." Qiu Sheng laughed and said, "Sister Hong already knows my skills. Just don't beg for mercy anymore." Hong Ying slapped him and went inside laughing. After Hongying uttered these words, Qiusheng longed to reminisce with Xiaxiao every day.
Whether he succeeded or not remains to be seen; let's find out in the next chapter.
Chapter Seven: Ten Poems Unfulfilled, Chen Jiji's Words Reveal the Truth
The poem reads: "
My name is renowned throughout the land for many years, but our first meeting in Jingzhou was without discussion.
Half my life has been spent in my hometown, my literary talent rivals that of the Hanlin Academy.
No guests invite me to drink under the bright moon, I often recite poems to the white clouds.
My study is just above Hengxi, I plan to visit it on a sunny spring day.
" Meanwhile, Fengniang and Xiaxiao spent their days composing poems and joking around. One day, Xiaxiao said to Fengniang, "Master Bai has been here for over a month, yet we haven't heard from him. Could you find out his true character and learning?" Fengniang asked, "How?" Xiaxiao replied, "Give me a white paper fan, saying it's a gift for a guest, and have Hongying take it and write on it. I'll secretly follow him then and see how he treats Hongying." Fengniang agreed and called Hongying to give him the fan, explaining her intentions. Hongying left happily. Xiaxiao followed behind, keeping her distance.
Hongying entered the hall, where Qiusheng greeted her with a warm smile and whispered a few questions. Hongying responded, but her words were muffled and barely audible. Hongying handed him a fan, and they exchanged a few whispered words, their eyes meeting with a look of longing. Qiusheng ground ink, pondered for a while, then dipped his brush, lifted the fan, and, with a smile, gazed at Hongying, about to write. Hongying smiled back. After another moment, he picked up the brush and wrote a few words, then stopped, staring at Hongying with a secret smile. He finished writing, wanting to quickly give it to Hongying, but hesitated. Hongying took the fan, clutching it tightly before handing it to him. Hongying held the fan, about to leave but then stopped. The two looked at each other and smiled. Hongying turned back to look at Qiusheng, who watched her go. The two still seemed to linger. Xiaxiao, watching secretly, was puzzled. Seeing Hongying about to leave, she had no choice but to return upstairs and tell Fengniang what she had seen. Both were filled with suspicion. After another pause, Hongying came upstairs with a fan and handed it to Fengniang. Fengniang opened it and read:
"Suddenly, the snow falls heavily, dyeing the green deep; orchid buds sprout, lamenting the foot of the steps.
Heaven and earth reflect the golden autumn light; mountains and waters gleam with the morning jade radiance.
The frozen brush has only dipped half a dot of black ink; let the incense burner pour a ladle of yellow wine.
The plum branches are covered in white, drawing away the cold blossoms to offer their pure white adornment.
" Fengniang said, "So it's a snow poem. The meaning is quite clear, and the calligraphy is also pleasing, but why write a snow poem in midsummer? And why no signature or title? You must have had another purpose, and have forgotten everything." Xiaxiao said, "Sister Hongying's beauty is like snow; Qiu Xianggong wrote this poem for you." Hongying blushed upon hearing this and left. The two became even more suspicious.
Now, let's talk about Qiu Sheng and Hong Ying, who had been indulging in illicit affairs for a long time. How could they not reveal their shameful behavior upon seeing each other? It was because Jin Gong was nearby, and they feared he would notice. Therefore, the two could only gaze at each other with longing and reluctance. The poem on the fan was a gift from a friend when Qiu Sheng was at the nunnery. He remembered it, so regardless of the occasion, he wrote it on the fan as a way of getting by. As for the calligraphy, since ancient times, "an official doesn't mind ugly handwriting," he relied even more on this and wrote it anyway. Therefore, Feng Niang had not yet seen through his deception.
At that time, the lotus flowers in the pond were in full bloom, and Xia Xiao went to see them with Feng Niang. Xia Xiao said, "Miss, you had a dream here last year. Now that person is here, only the marriage is not yet arranged. Why don't you compose a poem on the spot and have Bai Sheng compose a rhyme? Then you will know his true talent and learning." So they took out pen, ink, and paper, and the two sat on the Taihu rock. Feng Niang picked up the pen and thus composed "Ten Poems on the Lotus Pavilion."
The first one:
The sun ripples with red clouds, pressing down on white gulls, casually mentioning the lingering love of Lian Zhou.
The fragrance awakens the dream of the two mandarin ducks, the song of water chestnuts is sung far away.
Second:
I intend to pour a bucket of water into the pond, as white clouds busily stir half a sail in the wind.
Behold the vast lotus boats carrying guests, a few of them borrowing a small hut in the human world.
Third:
Beneath the secluded bamboo grove, a guest plays the zither, the strings resonating with the sound of lotus leaves rustling in the breeze. Who will lean on the twelve railings with me? 　　The croaking of
frogs in the lotus pond accompanies my clear murmur.
Fourth: A path winds along a secluded pine tree 　　, where a sudden wren's cry reveals the passing of time. The lotus shadows dance gracefully, a perfect spot to peck for reward under the elm shade. 　　Fifth: 　　I tailor swallows to make lotus leaves, gathering water chestnuts and plump 　　mandarin fish. A fishing song with a net, a flute with an oar, the needle of the Canglang River shines on the old thatched gate. 　　Sixth: 　　The cicadas awaken the lotus-gathering boats, a beautiful scene of green mountains and autumn waters. 　　I recall the beautiful face of Xi Shi in the palace, only her cloud-like hair remains in the small pavilion. 　　Seventh: 　　A dragonfish, nurtured to molt, is about to emerge, the wind rustling the reeds and the rising thunder. 　　The stone platform is slippery after the rain, its scales emerging as moss grows tall. 　　Eighth: 　　The lonely locust tree shade covers the bamboo bed, a curtain of butterfly wings stirs the yellow sunflowers. A 　　round fan cools the sleeves as the poem is composed, a monochrome face reflects the old makeup. 　　Ninth 　　: The lotus dew is cold, 　　dripping onto the withered raincoat, sitting and fishing, how can it compare to learning to cage geese? I remember cooking celery and drinking under the moonlight, the purple flute playing a tune on the side of the boat. 　　Tenth: 　　The red dress is removed, the twin flowers are fragrant, the mandarin ducks' wings are beautiful. 　　The cicadas' song startles the paulownia leaves several times, geese fly around the lotus pavilion in the cool. 　　Xia Xiao said, "Miss, you have such great talent, composing ten poems in an instant. I wonder if Bai Sheng can imitate you?" She then copied them down, went to her room, and ordered Hong Ying to take them to Qiu Sheng for a rhyme scheme. 　　Hong Ying came to the hall and said to Qiu Sheng, "The first topic has been given!" Qiu Sheng asked in surprise, and Hong Ying took out the ten poems and explained the meaning of the rhyme scheme. Qiu Sheng listened, his eyes wide open, speechless for a long time, and said, "Good sister, please give me a favor, just say that I have been homesick and depressed for the past two days, and have no mood. Leave these, let me slowly compose a rhyme." Hong Ying then conveyed this meaning to the young lady. Xia Xiao said, "I've heard that Bai Sheng's poetry is exceptionally talented. Why are you making excuses today?" Feng Niang replied, "It's not that I'm not in the mood; let's see how he responds." 　　Qiu Sheng carefully examined the ten poems, but didn't quite understand them. He felt lost and increasingly depressed. Several days passed, and he couldn't come up with a single response. He thought, "I might as well say I'm not good at rhyming and just write a hasty one to get by." So he wrote a quatrain, revising it again and again. Just as he finished revising it, Hong Ying came to ask for the poem. Qiu Sheng said, "Go and say that I'm not good at rhyming and am not in the mood, so my response might not be good. Therefore, I wrote another one for you. Come to my room in a little while, and I'll thank you profusely." Hong Ying spat for a while, then presented the poem to her mistress and recounted what had happened. The two of them couldn't help but laugh. Upon reading it, they noticed another poem in the original: " 　　Leaves small as coins fill the green pond, blossoms bloom in colors as vibrant as paint. 　　Two mandarin ducks bathe east and west, the male proudly seeking the female." 　　After reading it, the two of them laughed uncontrollably. Xia Xiao said, "This isn't much of a poem; it's completely different from the one on the wall. Could it be that they couldn't match the rhyme, hence the poor quality?" Feng Niang said, "No. It must have been written by someone else, who then forged it and wrote it on the wall." She added, "How come the one on the fan from the other day looked fine? Ah, I suppose someone corrected it before writing it on the wall and the fan. Today, since they couldn't get someone to correct it, its true nature has been revealed." 　　After saying this, she looked at the poem again, finding it increasingly amusing. Seeing that the last two lines subtly implied a desire for a matching poem, Feng Niang became displeased and said to Xia Xiao, "He doesn't even feel ashamed for not matching the poem; instead, he harbors lewd thoughts. We specially invited him here, but we'll dismiss him after a few days if he's not good enough. Let him stay for now." Hong Ying then told Qiu Sheng about this conversation. Qiu Sheng, upon hearing this, also felt uneasy and abandoned any thoughts of seducing Xia Xiao. He only spent his free time secretly meeting with Hong Ying to while away the days. 　　Meanwhile, Mei Xian, residing in his hermitage, was constantly approached by people requesting him to compose birthday poems, memorial essays, and write fan-shaped invitations. The gifts he received, beyond his own expenses, left him penniless. Thus, after more than a year, his respect for him only grew stronger. It was the Mid-Autumn Festival, and Mei Xian invited Wei Feixia, He Shengzhi, Shen Yunpeng, and others to admire the moon. They set up a table in the courtyard and began drinking and playing cards. As they drank and became quite tipsy, Feixia said, "Brother Mei, I have already taught you all your poems and lyrics, but I have never heard of your ancient works. Now, facing this bright moon, how can we commemorate our wonderful enjoyment without composing a preface?" Mei Xian was overjoyed and immediately took up his brush and inkstone and composed "Preface to Enjoying the Moon on the Mid-Autumn Festival" at the table. The preface reads: " 　　Observe the order of heaven and earth; the fiery season has just passed, and we are now in the season of new clothes. It is the golden autumn, with its gentle breezes and jade dews, a time of abundant sunshine and clear skies. If we wish to enjoy the night, how can we not open this window and see the dappled shadows of bamboo and the shimmering fireflies? And what of the two or three leaves of the paulownia tree scattered beside the well?" They used the teapot to clean the teacup and the sparrow's tongue teapot, and prepared the magpie's tail teapot and the silk strings. Unbeknownst to them, the jade rabbit had been wandering among the mossy leaves in the quiet courtyard for quite some time. Gradually, it walked into the east side of the painted railing and suddenly climbed onto the table. It went to the side of the inkstone and saw their friend Mao Ying. They couldn't help but weep, saying: "You too are a humble man in coarse clothes, why are you surrounded by these bamboo grove scholars? Are you a fish that swallows ink? This place cannot be lingered in for long." So it withdrew and slept on its desk. I brought a lamp to light it, but it was already gone. Only the dew-drenched osmanthus and a few remaining stars flickered in the Milky Way. It must have ridden a raft straight to the moon, asked Chang'e to retrieve this cunning rabbit, and prevent the world from discussing the waxing and waning of the moon. 　　The Immortal Eyebrows quickly composed a preface. The three friends clapped their hands in amazement. They washed their cups and drank more until dawn broke before dispersing. From then on, the Immortal Eyebrows' name became increasingly famous, and visitors came one after another. Mei Xian pondered one day, "I arrived here at this time last year, and it has been almost a week now. I wonder where my father is, missing in prison. My mother is at home, entrusted to two friends, but I don't know if she is safe. I stayed here because of your words, but when will I be able to leave? I want to go back, but I dare not." Overwhelmed with sorrow, he went to the guest hall and wrote the poem "Xi Jiang Yue" that he had composed that night on the wall: " 　　The paulownia leaves startle the toad's shadow, the reeds sadly lament the wind's might. The carefree seagulls linger, the mountain colors and lake light are enchanting. The wild geese cry with affection, the bell tolls to awaken someone from a dream. Magpies light the candles and circle the silk curtains, the quilt and pillows are half-open. 　　" After writing, he was about to sign his name when he thought, "I wrote 'staying here' before, but now I don't know when I'll return, so what's the point of staying here?" So he simply wrote "Mei Xian Bai" as the title. From then on, Wei Feixia, He Sheng, and others in the hermitage invited him to see the maple leaves and appreciate the snow scenery, and before he knew it, another year had passed. 　　Qiu Sheng stayed at the Jin family's house until the end of the year, then left the tutoring service but didn't return home. After the New Year and the Lantern Festival, he resumed his tutoring duties. Several days passed, and it was now the third day of the third lunar month. Feng Niang and Xia Xiao, again with their old servant following the sedan chair, went to Muyun Nunnery. After offering incense, Feng Niang, remembering Bai Sheng's laughable lotus poem, went to the guest hall to look at the old poem on the wall. Pointing to Xia Xiao, she said, "This poem is excellent." There were several more lines 　　on the wall; approaching, she saw it was a poem titled "Xi Jiang Yue," followed by the inscription "Mei Xian Bai." Feng Niang exclaimed in surprise, "Bai Sheng is in my house, yet he hasn't been here. Why did he inscribe this poem on the wall? This is suspicious." Xia Xiao said, "Let's go to the front room to see." The two followed, and saw the door to the room open, with a young man sitting in the middle, writing on a fan. Feng Niang stood at a distance and saw that the young man's face was the same as in her dream; the brocade pouch hanging by the bed contained a coral whip. The two were greatly alarmed, and fearing the boy might notice, they quickly came out. Fengniang said, "Since the coral whip is here, it must be Zhen Baisheng without a doubt. But who is the tutor in my household?"

The two were still wondering when the Taoist priest brought lunch to Mei Xian. Xia Xiao asked, "Who is this lunch for?" The priest replied, "For Master Bai." Xia Xiao then feigned ignorance and asked again, "Last year, there was a young guest staying at your nunnery. Has he gone now?"
The priest thought for a moment and said, "No." He thought again and said, "Ah, this is my master's disciple, named Liao Yuan. He never shaved his head and went home in the middle of March last year. He hasn't come back this year. Today, my master went out, and there's no one at the nunnery. Miss, you've been very slow."
Xia Xiao understood the reason and said to the priest, "You may go now. We should also go back." She then called for an old servant to prepare a sedan chair, and she and Feng Niang went back together.
It is unknown how the two will deal with Qiu Sheng upon their return after learning this news. To be continued in the next chapter.
Chapter Eight: Interrogating Hong Cai, Four Kinds of Begonia, and the Great Alliance of Amber Double Rings.
The poem reads:
Last night, the frost wind entered my blackened robe, I bitterly recited poems, longing for the hero of Duling.
In the river city, the trees shed their leaves, the monkeys' cries are sharp, in the marshland, the moon shines high in the sky.
Yan Qiu, confident in his indolence, is lazy in all matters; who pities his weary heart for poetry and wine?
Pine blossoms fall in disarray over the eastern city, as we listen together to the zither's melody echoing from the deep marshes. Meanwhile,
Feng Niang went to the Muyun Nunnery to offer incense and found Bai Sheng at her lodging, realizing that the tutor in her house was an imposter. Upon returning, she discussed with Xia Xiao, saying, "The young man in the nunnery looks exactly like the one I saw in my dream, and with the coral whip hanging by his bedside, he must be the real Bai Sheng without a doubt. But the one tutoring in my house, according to the Taoist, must be someone I've been defiled by, though it's not easy to say it outright. What should we do to get rid of him?" Xia Xiao said, "When I delivered the fan, I saw him and Hong Ying; they must be in love. We can write a letter saying that he holds a position as a teacher, so why does he harbor lustful thoughts? Although Hong Ying is a maid, it's inappropriate for her to tease him. I'm afraid it would be disrespectful for the lady to find out, so it's better to make an excuse to leave. This is the perfect solution. The tutor has already been remarried; we can go back quickly and not stay here." Feng Niang agreed. After writing it, she ordered Hong Ying to deliver it.
Hongying, unaware of the reason, happily left and handed the item to Qiusheng. Qiusheng, upon seeing it, was at a loss. Hongying asked him why, and Qiusheng explained. Both secretly lamented their predicament. Qiusheng said, "Sister Hong, please go inside; I have my reasons." Hongying replied to Fengniang. Qiusheng, in the inn, thought to himself, "With Miss's current state, her marriage is likely doomed. I may leave, but I can't bear to part with Hongying." He pondered for a long time but had no good plan, so he said to the old servant, "I haven't been home for a long time; I'll be leaving tomorrow. Please inform Madam for me first."
The old servant went inside and informed Madam. Madam ordered wine to be prepared in the inn and instructed Jin Gong to accompany her. Qiusheng said, "Please inform your mother for me; I may not return immediately after I go back. You may seek another match!" He then instructed the old servant to invite Madam out to bid her farewell. Madam Hu came out of the hall. Qiusheng bowed deeply, expressing his sincere gratitude. Madam originally presented a gift, but also instructed Jin Gong to bid farewell to the gentleman. Hongying secretly wept behind Madam. Upon seeing Hongying, Qiusheng, mindful of the others' presence, could only leave in tears. Realizing it was inappropriate to return to the nunnery for fear of revealing his true identity, he had no choice but to return home and set off for Yingtian. As the saying goes:
He came with high hopes, but returned disappointed.
Qiusheng ate and drank as he traveled, sleeping at night and traveling by day, and after several days arrived in Zhenjiang, where he disembarked on a riverboat. However, upon reaching the river, a sudden black wind arose, tilting the boat to one side. Those on board hurriedly grabbed the awning. Qiusheng, sitting beside the boat, had already fallen sideways into the river. The wind was high and the current swift; no one could rescue him, and he was swallowed by river fish. The old monk's words about drowning had indeed come true. If he had become a monk, this calamity might have been avoided. Later, his father's family fortune declined, and he no longer came to the nunnery to persuade him to return to secular life. And so, their story ends here.
Now, after seeing Qiu Sheng leave, Madam Hu said to Feng Niang, "When the teacher left, he said he might not come back, and we must find another tutor. I think a child cannot be without a teacher for a day. What should we do now?" Feng Niang said, "Brother Qianhe is still young and has only just begun his studies. Now that he will be writing, we need a learned person. But our family's resources are meager, who would be willing to come? Besides, we are all women, how would we know about the outside world? Tomorrow is Mother's birthday, and we need to invite Master Muyun'an to chant scriptures. Kongru is an honest and shrewd man. Ask him, and he will surely have a learned person who doesn't care about the fee." Madam Hu then ordered an old servant to invite him. The
next day, the Taoist priest came first to set up the Buddha statue, and Kongru also invited a monk to come along. After the chanting, they ate a small meal, and then began chanting scriptures and repenting in all directions. Madam Hu came out to worship the Buddha, and Kongru greeted her and thanked him, then ordered Jin Gong to come out to worship the Buddha. Kongru asked, "Young master, have you not yet studied?" The lady replied, "Last year we hired a tutor, but he left the day before yesterday. We need to hire one now, but he's not very learned." Kongru said, "There's a learned gentleman named Bai in my nunnery. Even Wei Feixia from this county has come to consult him. His father was once an imperial censor, and his family has lived in Qingzhou for generations. He's been staying at my nunnery for two years now, and his accent is exactly like that of someone from Hangzhou. He once told me that he was looking for a tutor. Your family would be perfect."
The lady nodded and went inside, telling Fengniang the whole story. Fengniang said, "If he associates with Wei Feixia, it must be for a reason. Mother, you can go out and ask him for the truth, and then ask Kongru to arrange the marriage." The lady came out and said to Kongru, "If the person you just mentioned is indeed willing to teach, then please ask you to arrange the marriage. But my family is poor and my salary is meager, I'm afraid he won't agree." Kongru said, "As for the cost of the teaching position, I won't say anything more." The lady was overjoyed, and went inside to seal a betrothal gift. After Kongru finished reciting his sutras, she secretly took the gift and instructed him to reply.
The next morning, Kongru came and thanked her repeatedly. The lady asked about the teaching position. Kongru said, "He agreed immediately. Master Bai has already chosen the day after tomorrow to come to the teaching position. Madam, please prepare the teaching room here, and send someone to fetch the books and luggage the day after tomorrow, and then he will come to teach." He then left.
On that day, the lady ordered an old servant to invite Meixian. Meixian actually came walking with Kongru. The lady first greeted Mei Xian, then instructed Jin Gong to pay respects to the master, and then left Kong Ru to eat vegetarian food before departing.
Mei Xian entered the academy and asked what name her former master had chosen. Jin Gong then showed Mei Xian some old calligraphy. Upon seeing the character "Gong" (mercury), Mei Xian couldn't help but laugh, saying, "Although the name is chosen based on the surname, why choose this character? Change 'Gong' to 'Sheng' (sound)." Feng Niang, knowing this, was overjoyed and said, "Indeed, Bai Sheng is different; even in choosing a name, he has so much meaning." Mei Xian arranged the antiques she had brought neatly, and the bedroom remained in the north wing. She also hung the coral whip at the head of the bed, settling in comfortably.
Meanwhile, Wei Feixia came to the nunnery to visit Mei Xian, learning that she was a student at the Jin family, and thus came to visit her. From then on, He Shengzhi, Shen Yunpeng, and others also came to visit. Many others also came seeking Mei Xian to write on fans and compose essays. Since the Jin family's Yongwu Gong was demoted, their gates were deserted and no one ever visited. When they invited the immortal Mei Xian to be their tutor, scholars and literati flocked to the door, bringing life back to the once quiet and deserted place.
Fengniang said to Xiaxiao, "The other day, when Master Bai was here, no one from outside came to visit him. Now that Master Bai is here, my humble abode has become exceptionally radiant." Xiaxiao replied, "Master Bai is currently only making a living as a tutor, yet his humble dwelling has already gained luster; if he were to become a prince one day, I, Xiaxiao, would also share in his glory." Fengniang smiled and said, "Foolish girl, why do you speak such wild words?" Xiaxiao said, "I am not speaking wildly, but speaking the truth. Just look at his name change, and you can see his talent. Moreover, he is handsome in his youth, and the dream is auspicious. Would you like to follow him the next day?" Fengniang said, "Just taking a name is not enough to show his great talent." Xiaxiao said, "Today, you can give him a poem topic and ask him to compose one. If he is truly exceptionally talented, although we cannot resort to trickery or trespassing, we should also not make grand promises. Our future depends on this. This is not wild talk, but the truth."
Fengniang listened and thought this made sense, and decided to take a poem topic. It was mid-April, and the crabapple blossoms in the courtyard were in full bloom. So, four types of crabapple were chosen as themes, each with its own rhyme scheme:
Weeping crabapple (rhyme with "wind"), Malus spectabilis (rhyme with "fairy"), Chaenomeles speciosa (rhyme with "plum"), and Begonia spp. (rhyme with "dream
"). Fengniang took a piece of plain paper, wrote the four poem titles in neat regular script, and said to Xiaxiao, "Who will deliver this?" Xiaxiao replied, "Miss will be serving you the day after tomorrow, so I'll deliver it myself." He then took it and left. Fengniang secretly smiled.
Xiaxiao came out of the hall and didn't see Meixian in the pavilion; instead, she was strolling and reciting poetry in the courtyard. Xiaxiao had no choice but to approach her, feeling embarrassed. Meixian, seeing this, hurriedly tried to avoid her. Xiaxiao said, "Miss has just found a poem topic and would like to ask you, sir, to compose one." Meixian bowed and accepted the poem topic, saying, "Sister, please go inside for a moment, and I'll come back to collect it when I'm done." Xiaxiao then left and waited behind a screen.
Mei Xian entered the pavilion, unfolded the scroll, and saw four poems on crabapple blossoms, each with a specific rhyme scheme. She muttered to herself, "What a difficult problem, and such a challenging rhyme scheme! I've heard that Feng Niang's poetry is exceptionally talented; I mustn't embarrass myself today." She then ground ink, dipped her brush, and began to compose poems according to the prompts. In no time, she finished all four poems, reviewed them again, folded them neatly, and left the pavilion. Xia Xiao, seeing this, also came to receive the poems. Mei Xian said, "These vulgar lines are unbearable to read. I hope you can boast about them to the young lady." The two smiled at each other. Xia Xiao, overjoyed, took the poems and hurried inside to give them to Feng Niang. Feng Niang unfolded the scroll and read:
The first poem (rhyming with "垂丝风"): "
The budding violet cannot withstand the wind, its former beauty faded, only its red remains.
The dancing beauty's resentment lingers, the lingering butterflies briefly communicate.
" The second poem (rhyming with "西府仙"): "
The fragrant herbs are all celestial, planted with spiritual roots from a foreign land.
Adorned with countless colors of the fading sunset, spring ripples on the branches, allowing orioles to migrate."
The third poem (rhyming with "plum blossom"):
It deceives peaches and plums, its integrity surpasses plum blossoms, its stem firmly planted, its dream unfulfilled.
Each time it receives sunlight, its heart grows ever redder, amidst the incense burner, brocade piles high.
The fourth poem (rhyming with "crabapple dream"):
Its ball-like shape pitifully accompanies the vines, its smiles before the steps, drunk and awake.
Scattered dew, cold and delicate, it is powerless, while yellow chrysanthemums welcome passing admirers.
After reading it, Fengniang said, "This poem was composed in an instant, elegant and fresh, with profound meaning, truly unlike anything I have ever seen." The two praised it highly.
Who knew that after composing her own poem, Meixian pondered, "In the nunnery, Liaoyuan once said that Fengniang was both beautiful and talented. Today, with this poem, her talent is undeniable. If the maidservant is so beautiful, one can imagine her beauty. But how can I possibly meet her? Even a illicit affair is undesirable. If we were to be betrothed, then we could uphold the proper order, explain the greater good to our parents, and tie the knot. I would be content. But how could I possibly have such a blessing?" Thus, she longed for him day and night, becoming listless and ill, unable to teach him. Jin Sheng then refused to enter the study.
The lady ordered an old servant to fetch a doctor. Feng Niang, knowing Mei Xian was ill, said to Xia Jian, "Bai Sheng is ill for some unknown reason, and medicine is not curing him. He is alone in a guesthouse; what if he dies?" Xia Jian said, "Let me go and inquire about the cause of his illness so that he can take medicine." Feng Niang then took some jujube and apricot cake and gave it to Xia Jian to inquire.
Xia Jian went to the bedroom of the study and saw Bai Sheng leaning against the table, looking at the coral whip by the bedside, nodding in imitation. Xia Jian then entered the room and asked, "What esteemed illness does Master Bai have? Miss sent me to inquire after him." He then placed the jujube and apricot cake on the table.
Mei Xian quickly stood up and bowed, saying, "What virtue or ability do I possess to deserve such favor from Miss?" Xia Jian then inquired about the cause of his illness. Mei Xian told him the whole story. Xia Xiao said, "If the matter of the alliance is on my side, please don't worry, sir." Then she went to tell Feng Niang, "My sir's illness is due to you, Miss. He also said that he does not wish for any illicit relations, and that as long as you promise him your life, his illness will be cured."
Feng Niang pondered without saying a word. Xia Xiao said, “It’s not a secret rendezvous, what harm is there in a vow? Besides, Master Bai is living in seclusion to avoid trouble. If he were to recover and return home, it would be difficult to find such a handsome and talented man. It would be better to send him a vow as a token, and his illness would surely be cured. As for the marriage, we can wait until Master returns and tell Madam his intentions. Madam knows that the dream foretells a good marriage, and she will surely agree without a doubt. Once Madam agrees, Master will have no other objections. Then we can be bound together, and our family will be happy forever. If I could benefit from this, I would be overjoyed. Wouldn’t that be the most fair and righteous decision?” Feng Niang said, “If a virtuous young lady were to secretly make a marriage vow, and outsiders knew, I fear she would be condemned.” Xia Xiao said, “How can a dream foretell a secret vow? Besides, it’s just the two of us working together; who would know? It’s not an affair, so who would condemn us?”
Reminded by these words, Feng Niang took out an amber ring she wore and tied it with a jade pendant. She took a piece of plain paper and wrote the vow:
“Bright and virtuous lady, Feng and Xiao, two virtuous ladies.”
The white-browed youth, with auspicious dreams, first instructed.
Amber rings, a vow scroll.
Forever bound by silken threads, bathed in sunlight like a candle.
May any who betray this oath be punished by gods and demons.
Having finished, he sealed it with the rings and gave it to Xia Xiao before departing. Mei Xian, having been half-cured since Xia Xiao inquired about her illness and promised the oath, was in her room reciting poetry to express her feelings. Seeing Xia Ce arrive, she stood up and bowed, saying, "Is what I said true?" Xia Xiao replied, "Miss, seeing your husband's illness, you are restless. I understood your wishes, and thus, without shame, I have brought you this vow scroll and tokens of our bond."

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