Gu Wangyan [Complete] - 26 Chapters

Chapter Twenty-Four: The Prodigal Son Turns Back; Zhong Lisheng's Dragon-like Appearance Appears Vanishes;

The Traitorous General Plots to Harm the Brave General; Zhong Lisheng's Divine Courage Saves the Immortal Fox

. This Grand Marshal Ruan, whose given name was Da Cheng and courtesy name was Yuan Hai, was originally Wei Zhongxian's most trusted and cunning henchman, responsible for the murder of the Donglin officials. The list of generals presented to Wei Zhongxian, and the executions of those named, were all his ideas. He dedicated his life to hating upright people, yet he managed to escape capture and hide for many years. He and Ma Shiying had always been close, sharing the same vices. Therefore, as soon as Ma Shiying entered the cabinet, he recommended Ruan, who was knowledgeable in military affairs, and appointed him as the Minister of War for River Defense. Grand Secretary Gao Hongtu requested a meeting of the Nine Ministers, but Ma Shiying said, "If a meeting is held, Ruan Dacheng will definitely not be used, especially since Wei Zhongxian is far superior to the rebel Li Zicheng." Censor Luo Wanxiang submitted a memorial stating, "Ruan Dacheng knows nothing about military affairs; I fear he is a cunning strategist, a hidden mastermind." Ma Shiying defied the majority opinion and specially recommended him. Emperor Hongguang, heeding only Ma Shiying's words, approved his appointment. Ruan Dacheng, having retired for over a decade, now held a prominent position and became even more vicious and despicable. Truly, "

Once power is in his hands, he issues orders."

He accepted no bribes, committed no evil, and was utterly shameless—but these were minor offenses. Even more hateful were his outrageous acts. On a chosen day in Nanjing to commemorate the late Emperor Liezong, at dawn, all the officials, dressed in mourning clothes, gathered, except for Ruan Dacheng. The officials waited in line until after the mealtime, when he finally arrived in a yellow-canopied carriage, accompanied by gongs and fanfare.

When everyone looked, he was wearing a bright red round-necked inner garment and a white robe over it. Entering the room, he shouted, "The late Emperor! Because you didn't kill all the Donglin rebels, this is the state of affairs today. I will kill them all to avenge the late Emperor! Xu Qian and the others have all fled north!" Ma Shiying hurriedly rushed over, covering his mouth with his hand, saying, "Xu Jiuyi is currently residing in Suzhou. There are still many Donglin members. Sir, please don't do this." Seeing the two of them like this, some were indignant, some secretly laughed, but dared not utter a word. Isn't that hateful? When

he arrived in Jiangbei, Mu Yi, Lin Zhong, Shang Zhi, Guo Shou, Bao Xin, and the other captains and lieutenants all had to come to present their resumes and pay their respects. Seeing that no gifts were presented, he was greatly annoyed. Only after reporting three or four times was he allowed to enter. After the hearing, his face was full of anger. He said, "I have long known that you all falsely reported your military achievements. Not a single bandit came here that day. Minister Shi was deceived and misled by you. You have enjoyed deceiving the emperor and the court for your titles and rewards for the past few years. Once I have investigated and confirmed the facts, I will impeach and punish all of you who have falsely claimed merits and titles. Now go back to your posts and we will decide on your next move." Although everyone was full of resentment, they dared not speak.

They gathered together and discussed, saying, "We originally acted out of self-preservation and righteousness, without expecting any reward or promotion. Unexpectedly, we were favored by the two gentlemen, Shi and Le, who promoted us to this position. We were also favored by the late Emperor. We are but commoners, and although we have rendered a small service by killing the enemy, we are still receiving the salaries of second-rank officials. We were willing to die for our country and fulfill our loyalty. Now we see that this scoundrel Ruan is after our money. Our loyalty is as clear as day; we have taken nothing from us except our salaries. Even if we had money, we would not give it to this greedy man. If we ignore this..." He will surely be harmed in time. If we kill him now with righteous indignation, it will be as easy as catching a rotten rat. At the highest level, it will rid the court of a scourge, and at the lowest level, it will vent the grievances of the Donglin gentlemen. Those who understand our intentions will say that we are driven by loyalty and righteousness. But if others know, they will say that we have betrayed the court. Wouldn't that be a waste of all our lifelong loyalty and courage? At this moment, why should we cling to this minor reputation? But we have received a great favor from Lord Shi. Today, we will write a petition and send it to the Yangzhou military governor's office, and at the same time, we will submit a written statement of illness to resign from this official position. What can he do to us?" After the discussion was settled

, Bao said, "Since you all share the same mind, why should I cling to this minor reputation? Now that Lord Le is in charge of the Ministry of Personnel, I will also resign." So they all submitted statements of illness. At this time, various government offices were looking for reasons to dismiss officials, so that they could sell their vacancies for money. They were afraid that people would harbor resentment if they dismissed someone unjustly. When they saw people resigning, they were overjoyed. How could they refuse? So they all approved. They all surrendered and returned home. A four-line ditty describes Ruan Dacheng's wickedness: "

The loyal and virtuous are all gone from the north, fleeing south to their homeland.

Now, the court drives out brave warriors, their wickedness and greed surpassing even jackals.

" At first, Lord Yue refused Bao Xin's resignation, but seeing that all the military officers had resigned, he saw no use keeping a civil post for him and thus granted it. When Shi Gong saw their reports, he exclaimed in shock, "What a pity to lose this safeguard along the river!" He sent someone to inquire whether the Ministry of War approved it or not, and the report came back that they had all been allowed to resign. Shi Gong sighed deeply, wanting to submit a memorial to retain them, but it was too late. He sent officials to summon them to the front lines, but Shang Zhi, being astute, feigned illness. Only Mu Yi and Lin Zhong joined his staff. About half of the thousand or so went, while the other half preferred to retire. Guo Shouxian also intended to be transferred, but he and Shang Zhi were closest, and he repeatedly persuaded him to stay. When Shi Gong saw everyone arrive, he was overjoyed and treated them all with great respect, appointing them to important positions. Later, when Yangzhou fell, Shi Gong committed suicide, and Mu Yi and Lin Zhong also took their own lives. Lady Guo was fighting in the streets when she saw her husband die. Being a woman, she feared he would die on the road and his body would be exposed. She quickly retrieved his body and took it back to their residence, then set it on fire. The couple's loyalty and bravery were truly heroic, as the saying goes: "

Righteous and valiant, they both perished; their names will be fragrant

for a thousand years." The other officers were either dead or gone. But that's another story.

Now, Ruan Dacheng was plotting against them when he saw them cleverly resign, and he was secretly pleased. He had these twenty-odd vacancies and was planning to sell them for a good price. He secretly instructed a trusted clerk named Huang Jinju to solicit customers. Unexpectedly, when these local militiamen saw their commander resign, they gathered together and said, "We don't receive rations from the imperial court; each of us has been working for the court, which is a righteous act. Now that all the commanders have resigned without cause, why should we let others take charge? This task cannot be accomplished. Even if the bandits come again, let them kill us. Let's all disperse. Only our armor and weapons, which were originally given to us by the government, will be returned to the Ministry of War's office along the river. Everyone can go back to making a living." They agreed, and within a day or two, the news spread throughout the three counties. The three thousand men gathered, and when they arrived at the government office, they shouted, "We are originally commoners, but we worked together to protect you because we were afraid of the bandits. Now that peace has been restored, we are willing to return to farming and return the armor and weapons we received to you, sir." They then piled up in front of the government office and dispersed in a panic.

The central officer hurriedly reported this inside, and Ruan Dacheng, upon learning of it, was both ashamed and angry. He was furious that his newly arrived troops had already scattered the militia, leaving the riverbank defenses unsecured. He was also ashamed that these positions had brought in a good sum of money. Now that they were scattered, there were no soldiers to manage, so what was the point of having these officials? It would be a complete waste of their wealth. He wanted to kill a few to vent his anger, but feared that too many people would cause trouble, so he had to give up. He was anxious, however, and would sell any available position as long as there was money, regardless of whether it involved prostitutes, actors, or soldiers. Once the money arrived, he would fill the vacancy and send the candidates to Ma Shiying for testing. Ma Shiying, because of their long-standing friendship and Ma Shiying's recommendation, couldn't easily disobey him and always yielded. Later, he even gave important military positions to blind men, lame men, handcuffed men, and old men in their seventies and eighties. When the candidates were sent for testing, Ma Shiying felt utterly inadequate and feared gossip, so he sent back a brief document saying, "From now on, when sending candidates for testing, your department should select those who are at least somewhat human-looking, so as not to cause public criticism." Still fearing they might try to cause trouble, he issued a large notice stating: "

Anyone coming for testing in military positions who is weak, sick, disabled, or otherwise inhuman will be dismissed and severely punished without leniency."

Those who had bought their positions, seeing this notice, fearing they would waste money and be punished, refused to buy, thus stopping him. He, upon seeing these words, was utterly shameless. But Ma Shiying had no choice but to reluctantly select those who were neither lame nor blind. Truly, among all the ministers of fallen states throughout history, none were as ugly or laughable as him.

Ruan Dacheng committed countless atrocities outside, while his wife indulged in endless pleasures at home. Years ago, Ruan Dacheng sent Pang Zhouli to the capital to investigate the rebellion. On his return journey, Pang Zhouli encountered Madam Ma, who informed Ruan Dacheng upon arriving home. Later, someone relayed this to Madam Mao, who was eager to inquire about Gou Xiong. Because Ruan Dacheng was at home, she dared not send Pang Zhouli to ask. One day, Ruan Dacheng went to Zutang Temple. Fearing that there would be too many people in the main house to overhear, Madam Mao went to Jiaojiao's room.

Madam Mao had kept this room clean and tidy, complete with bed curtains, and often sat there idly. That day, after sitting down, she asked a maid to summon Pang Zhouli. She asked him, "The other day I heard someone say that you told your master you saw Madam Ma on the road, is that true?" Pang Zhouli replied, "I really did see her, and we even talked for half a day." Madam Mao said, "She fled with Gou Xiong. Since you saw her, did you see Gou Xiong?" Pang Zhouli recounted in detail how Gou Xiong had been killed and how Madam Ma had become a prostitute.

When Mao heard that Gou Xiong was dead, her heart sank for a moment, and she couldn't help but shed tears. Fearing that Pang Zhouli and the maids would see, she quickly turned her face away to wipe them. She only sighed a few times and said, "That harlot is still alive, but it's a pity that Gou Xiong is dead."

Pang Zhouli was handsome from a young age and was a homosexual to Ruan Dacheng. He was cunning and shrewd, possessing a cleverness that kept Ruan Dacheng completely in control, hence Ruan Dacheng's high regard for him. As he grew older, Ruan Dacheng made him his head steward. He had heard from Madam Ma that Mao and Gou Xiong were having an affair, and he harbored his own hopes. It wasn't that he loved his mistress's beauty, but rather her wealth. He believed that if he succeeded, he would be richly rewarded. Moreover, he knew his master's penis wasn't very large, and the small sum of money he carried could be used to bribe Gou Xiong. He thought that by gaining the mistress's favor, Gou Xiong would surely become his ideal man. Although he thought this way, he had no plan to advance his career. Today, Mao happened to summon him for questioning, presenting him with this opportunity. Seeing Mao's sorrowful and grief-stricken expression upon hearing of Gou Xiong's death, he knew that she wasn't truly saddened by Gou Xiong's violent death, but rather by his illegitimate possession.

Improvising and fabricating a story, he concocted a tale to coax Madam Mao. He said, "Aunt Ma Liu cried and complained to me, saying that you, Madam, have wronged her and have many things for me to tell Master. I am so grateful to you, Madam, how dare I tell Master?" Madam Mao said, "That harlot Gou Xiong has run away. She brought this upon herself. Why is she complaining about me? And what are you telling Master to say?" Pang Zhouli said, "Only Madam can hear these words. With you two sisters here, how dare I say them?" Madam Mao then told the maids to leave and wait for her to call them back. The two maids left, and Madam Mao said, "Speak." Pang Zhouli said, "Madam, please don't blame me, that's why I dare to speak." Madam Mao said, "You're talking about that adulterous woman from the Ma family, how can I blame you?" Pang Zhouli said, "Aunt Ma said that she was perfectly fine at home that day, but one day she wanted to speak to you, Madam. She went to Jiaojiao's room, and you were doing something with Gou Xiong when she caught you. You and Gou Xiong were kneeling on the ground naked, begging her not to tell Master. She was afraid he would talk nonsense later, so she begged him to let her have some fun with Gou Xiong before she felt at ease. Seeing how careful you were, she softened and became intimate with Gou Xiong. Later, fearing that Master would find out, she had no choice but to run away with him. Isn't it Madam who harmed him? Tell me to report this to Master in detail. Madam, please think about it, is this something you can say?" Madam Mao's face and neck turned red, and she lowered her head and remained silent. Pang Zhouli said, "Grandma, please rest assured, I will keep this to myself and never tell anyone. Even if Master finds out, no matter how he interrogates me, will I not protect you? I will never say a word." He then added, "That heartless man, Gou Xiong, deserves to be torn to pieces, even if he's not killed by the bandits. He doesn't even consider that we, as servants, have received such heavenly favor from our mistress, who has bestowed upon us her precious body. We would die for her. How can you bear to abandon us like this? If I were receiving such kindness from you, Grandma, I would still hold a knife to my throat and not leave."

Mao thought for a while and saw that Pang Zhouli was no less than Gou Xiong, and was also young and much better looking. Moreover, his tone had a hint of deceit. If she didn't give him a sweet treat, it might spread to Ruan Dacheng, which would be no small matter. Since Gou Xiong left, both of them had been living like widows, and for a long time, the strange thing below their navels had been itching and irritating, and they could no longer bear it. "This reminds me of a poem, 'Hanging Branch,' which I'm writing to Mao: 'This pesky wretch keeps biting, not a flea, but it itches on cloudy days and dries out on sunny days. Find a good thing the size of a club, and pound it a thousand times.' Then she said, 'I made a mistake back then, a mistake, and I fear I'll make the same mistake again today.' I lost my virginity to this servant, who knew he would be so heartless. You spoke well just now, but men's hearts are fickle, how can they be so sure?' Hearing that Mao's tone was somewhat submissive, Pang Zhouli quickly knelt down and said, 'If I am so kind and generous to you, madam, and dare to be the slightest bit unfaithful, may I be struck by lightning, or have ten thousand cuts by a strongman, worse than Gou Xiong's death.' Mao smiled and said, 'Your heart must be in agreement with your words.' Seeing that she was clearly agreeing, Pang Zhouli kowtowed and said, 'Madam will know my heart in the future.'" He stood up, then carried Mao to the couch and laid her down, lifting her clothes and taking off her trousers. Mao said, "I'll do as you say, but you should be gentle with me." Pang Zhouli, seeing how cheesy he was being, couldn't help but chuckle to himself, and quickly undressed himself as well. Mao stole a glance at his penis, finding it slightly inferior to Gou Xiong's, and felt a secret delight. Pang Zhouli propped up her buttocks, raised his penis, and thrust it straight into her pubic area, using brute force, like pounding a mortar, for the length of two meals, without daring to stop. Mao felt that his penis was hard and more vigorous than Gou Xiong's, and was very happy, having already ejaculated several times. She said, "You should rest now, lest the maids become suspicious from waiting too long. Another day when Master goes out, I'll come here to call someone to summon you." Pang Zhouli said, "Madam, please wait a little longer, I'll be there soon." "Saying this, he thrust into her over a hundred times, until Mao's face turned red, her mouth agape, and her moans were deafening, before he finally ejaculated. Mao embraced him, put her tongue into his mouth, and smacked it once. Pang Zhouli put on his clothes and went out happily. Mao was still leaning on the chair, catching her breath for a while, before putting on her trousers and slowly walking back to the main room, secretly delighted. From then on, whenever Ruan Dacheng went out, the two of them would make love in Jiaojiao's room.

One day, the two of them were in bed, Pang Zhouli hugged Mao, kissed her, and smacked his lips, then smacked his breasts, saying, 'I don't know what good deeds I did in my past life to be so blessed to be so favored by you, Grandma.' Mao feigned coquettishness, nestled in his arms, and said, 'I'm getting old, I'm afraid you'll find me old. If you're always this good, I won't forget you.' Pang Zhouli hurriedly said, 'How dare I find Grandma old? I deserve to die a thousand deaths.'" "Grandma's treasure is even more tender than a young boy's. I've seen other women's like this, but none are as good as this. Grandma Mao is a noblewoman, truly different from others." Mao laughed, "Is it good to have a lot of hair on it? You're just saying that, daring to say it's more interesting." Pang Zhouli said, "How dare I lie? Grandma, think about it, what does a man look like if he's forty or fifty and has no beard?" "Flattery." Saying this, she leaned down, sucked on the flower's heart, and smacked it for a while. She then praised the hair, then bent down and vigorously played with it for a long time before stopping. She often did this whenever she had free time. Now that Ruan Dacheng often goes to Jiangbei, Mao and Pang Zhouli can do as they please, going three days without stopping. Pang Zhouli also received many gifts from Mao, all of which were just leftovers from Ruan Dacheng's stingy advances. Let's put Mao's matter aside for now.

Furthermore, Ruan Dacheng's ugliness cannot be fully described; let me cite a few examples to illustrate the rest. He accepted a bribe of three thousand taels of gold from Tiehua, and was overjoyed. He was specially appointed Commander of the Changhe Guard, openly a third-rank military official. This was bad enough, but even Yingyang, a man who was both a playboy and a philanderer, was only released as a commander of the Gui'an County Garrison in Huzhou Prefecture, Zhejiang. Isn't that laughable?

Why do you think he did this? Ruan Dacheng was obsessed with writing lyrics. When Wei Zhongxian was at the height of his power, he would either come south to investigate cases of harm done to him, or, when he had nothing to do, spend his days drinking and laughing with his patrons at Zutang Temple and Chengjian Hall, and his nights composing plays. He wrote several plays. At that time, Yingyang was under his tutelage. He and his wife were both excellent singers, and his wife, Yin, was charming and attractive. Ruan Dacheng, besides being arrogant, loved all three vices: wine, women, and money, and he had a close relationship with Yin. However, later, Yingyang returned home, and he often missed her. Several years later, Yingyang, missing his daughter, came to Nanjing to visit her. By this time, Wei Dang had already been defeated. Ruan Dacheng was hiding at home, his house deserted. Ying Yang, remembering how Ruan had entrusted the Iron Academy to avenge Nie Bianbao years ago, couldn't forget him and personally went to his house to express his gratitude, also sending some gifts from Suzhou. Ruan Dacheng, seeing that Ying Yang hadn't forgotten their past and had even added fuel to the fire, was quite grateful. Recently, Ying Yang heard that Ruan Dacheng had suddenly become the Minister of War, a high-ranking official, and wanted to take advantage of him. He prepared a gift of one hundred taels of silver, and Yin Shi also secretly sent some private gifts to Ruan Dacheng. When Ying Yang

arrived in Nanjing to pay his respects, Ruan Dacheng was very happy. However, he still felt that the money he was owed was insufficient, and he couldn't accept giving away any of his own money. He was reluctant to give too much, but he couldn't accept too little, and he had no way to repay the favor. Just then, a vacancy opened up, so he released Ruan Dacheng to repay the kindness of the couple. Ying Yang's purpose in coming was merely to obtain two hundred taels of silver, but he never dreamed he would receive an official position. He openly donned a high hat and wide belt. Having spent a long time in the theater, he was more adept at manners than others. He met his daughter and son-in-law, and then saw his nephew, now a teenager, quite handsome, which pleased him greatly. Although he had seen him before, Wu Jizu was still young then, and he assumed he was his daughter's biological son, unaware that he was adopted. Now, seeing his daughter and son-in-law's improved circumstances—they had bought a house and had family to rely on—and his nephew's grown age, he wanted to take them with him to his new post. Wu He was currently managing affairs for Huan E; he was well-off and attached to his homeland. Ying Yang, reluctant to leave her husband and son, also refused to go. Unable to force him, Ying Yang returned to Kunshan. His parents-in-law had long since passed away; he only had Lady Yin in a four-carriage carriage with a yellow canopy. This kind couple had gone to take up their official posts. Most of the people employed by Ruan Dacheng were like this. This shows his loyalty to his master and his recommendation of virtuous men to serve the country. Isn't that a remarkable story?

After Yingyang and his wife took office, they were chatting casually one day. Yingyang sighed, “My family has been in theatrical for generations. In my youth, I suffered so much humiliation and lowliness. Today, I have achieved some small success, which is nothing but the grace of Heaven and the gods. We have nothing to repay them with, so we can only be good people and have a little kindness to repay even a fraction of Heaven’s kindness. I wonder what it means to be a good person. I have never been to school. ‘That’s not true. I have seen many educated people who are unwilling to be good people.’ They do not understand these principles. When I hear people speak well, they immediately say that lust is the worst of all evils. Moreover, we have learned too much about lust. From now on, the first thing we must do is to completely eliminate lustful thoughts. Secondly, now that I am in charge, I must treat the people under my jurisdiction with genuine kindness. Do you think we come from such a background? Prostitutes, actors, and servants. Even a decent man can stand taller than us. Who does not know our origins? We must not forget our roots.” "Yin Shi's lustful desires have been quite mild over the years, and she has a kind heart. Hearing these words, she thought they made a lot of sense and praised them highly. From then on, Ying Yang treated people with humility and was very kind to his subordinates. All the guards under his command were grateful to him, and he gained a good reputation.

The couple were both over fifty years old, and Ying Yang often sighed, 'My family has only had one son for generations, but now it has come to an end with me.' Yin Shi said, 'I am infertile. If you take a concubine, perhaps you can have children, who knows?' Ying Yang laughed and said, 'Although I have a government official hat, it's just like on the stage. One should know one's place. We enjoy the honor of being appointed by the court today, which is already excessive. If we want to take a concubine and have children, it's just wishful thinking and will bring bad luck. I have a joke to tell you:

Once upon a time, a woman married a husband but could not conceive. A female relative chatted with her and asked, 'Grandma, are you and your husband not married? Why can't you have children?' The woman replied, 'Not really.'" The woman said, "If not, then why don't you have children?" He replied, "I don't even understand this. If you say I don't have children, I had several when I was a daughter at home. But since I married into this family, I haven't had a single one.

If you say you don't have children, then how did you give birth to Jiaojiao? Although she is a Jin family child, she still has my essence. Even in your heart, you might not be able to tell which one's bones she is. If you say you have children, you've conceived thousands of times in these twenty years, and I've lost countless lives, but there's still no sign of a child. It's clear that it's your fate to die. Since your fate is like this, even if you find a child, you might not be able to conceive. I was young and strong, but you still couldn't conceive. Now that I'm old and useless, why waste other people's daughters' time?" Madam Yin laughed for a while and said, "Things aren't said that way. This is called trying your luck. There must be something that can give birth to you. Go and try, and maybe you'll give birth to a son. Who knows?" "I can't have children now, so even if you bang your head against the wall, it won't help." Yingyang said, "If you're thinking about men giving birth, hoping to have a son by chance, women can't have children by fifty, let alone men? It's even less likely. I advise you not to daydream." The couple chatted and laughed for a while, which was quite amusing. Indeed, what they said wouldn't apply to others. The couple laughed heartily for a while.

Next to his yamen was a scholar named Chen Jichang. His wife, Dong, was extremely jealous and wicked. They had a maid named Hailiu. "She was said to be pregnant with many children." She wasn't a beautiful maid, but she had black hair, a white face, and a body that was neither too thick nor too thin, and she was still human-shaped, not at all like a demon. Dong suspected her husband of having an affair with this maid and often beat and scolded her. The scholar Chen was extremely honest and followed the rules. Even though the maid was waiting in front of him, he didn't dare to look at her for long. Seeing this, Dongshi became suspicious. When the maidservant approached, she accused him of being a lecherous man, trying to curry favor with his master. After she retreated, she accused him of deliberately acting coy to seduce his master, and beat her daily. The marks on her face from pinching and the bloodstains on her body overlapped, old and new, impossible to erase.

Chen Jichang felt deeply guilty and wanted to intervene, but feared it would only fuel his suspicions. He wasn't trying to save the maidservant's life, but rather sending her to her death. He and his wife got along well with Yingyang and his wife, and were quite close to them. The backyard was separated by only a wall, with a side door connecting them. Chen Jichang told Yingyang about this, asking Yinshi to intercede with him, get rid of him, and save his life, considering it a great act of good karma. Yingyang had also mentioned this to Yinshi. Yinshi had recently been thinking of finding a concubine for her husband, and seeing that the maidservant seemed alright, she thought of her, but didn't say anything.

One day, she heard Dongshi next door beating the maidservant, beating her over a hundred times. The girl screamed like a pig being slaughtered, still refusing to stop, cursing incessantly, but it was impossible to understand her. Madam Yin, accompanied by a maid, opened the back door and went over. Madam Dong stopped when she saw her. Madam Yin smiled and said, "Grandma, why are you angry here again?" Madam Dong offered her a seat, her face pale with anger, and said tremblingly, "Grandma, how could anyone be so audacious? In broad daylight, this slut and that shameless thief were caught by me! How can I not be angry? I will definitely beat this slut to death!"

Reader, do you think this is true? It turns out that Madam Dong had drunk several cups that morning, and in a fit of jealousy, she used the girl to sober up, giving her a sound beating. Feeling dizzy from the alcohol, she went to bed. The girl, unable to bear it any longer, took advantage of the opportunity to go to the back kitchen to commit suicide. Fortunately, Chen Jichang went and saw her, repeatedly telling her not to take her own life. He said, "I've already begged Grandma Ying next door to save you; please bear with it for now." Hearing there was a chance to live, the girl naturally couldn't bear to die. Chen Jichang, fearing Dongshi would wake up, hurriedly went out. Just then, Dongshi woke up and saw her husband rushing out from behind, becoming very suspicious. She quickly went to the back and saw the girl still wiping away tears. Upon seeing her, she flew into a rage, accusing the two of having an affair and saying she must have complained to the master about his cruelty, and insisted on beating her to death.

Madam Yin, unsure of the truth, advised, "Grandma, it's better to release than kill. Why so easily end a human life? Why not sell it and release it? Wouldn't that be cleaner? And you'd be doing a good deed, wouldn't you?" Dong replied, "Grandma, how could I not listen to your advice? Besides, my heart is softer than a Bodhisattva's. I can tolerate everything else, but this one thing, I can't let go of. Where would anyone buy it right now? If I were to keep it, I wouldn't have the energy to guard against it. It truly can't be kept for even a moment." Madam Yin laughed, "My previous maidservant married a man, and lately she's been without a..." "I was just about to buy someone, so why don't you sell her to me, Madam? It's not good to haggle over the price. How much silver did you pay for her? I'll give her to you for the original price. Would you agree, Madam?" Dongshi said, "This adulterous woman was originally bought for twelve taels of silver. Since you want her, Madam, I'll give her a limited amount. But there's one thing: she's the head of a group of male prostitutes. I'm afraid she'll end up with seven or eight men with your master, Ying. Don't complain. Madam, even though I'm being so careful, they're still trying to pull some tricks." Yinshi said, "I'll naturally take care of her." She then told a servant to go back and fetch twelve taels of silver, which she handed to Dongshi. Dongshi also found the original document and gave it to her, saying, "This is Hailiu's document; please accept it, Madam." Yinshi accepted the document, then took her leave and took the girl back. She told Yingyang what had happened and laughed for a while.

A few days later, the girl was freed from the beatings, and Yinshi treated her very well, giving her good food and drink. The marks on her face and body gradually faded. Seeing that he was better, Madam Yin had him take a bath, changed him into new clothes, and called him to her side. She then told him that she wanted to become her husband's concubine. The girl, having escaped hell and ascended to heaven, was already endlessly grateful. Suddenly, she heard that she wanted to become his concubine. Although she was a servant, a girl of seventeen or eighteen, how could she not want to see a man's member? Because of her mistress's formidable nature and her master's fear, she had no time to entertain such thoughts. Now that such a wonderful thing was about to happen, her joy was indescribable. Instantly, her face beamed with smiles, and she knelt down and kowtowed countless times.

Madam Yin told him to get up, and invited Yingyang to her side, saying with a smile, "You were so kind as to send me to rescue this girl. She's recovered today, so you've saved her life. It wouldn't be too much for her to become your concubine to repay your kindness. You should spend the night with her tonight." She then whispered in his ear, "Judging from Granny Chen's words, this girl may not be a virgin anymore. As long as she's capable of raising a child, it doesn't matter if she's defiled." Yingyang tried to feign reluctance, but inwardly he was so happy he could only smile, unable to utter a word. Madam Yin then ordered a servant to bring fruit and wine, and the couple sat together, with the girl sitting beside them. "Reading this, I suddenly recalled a strange incident. There was an acquaintance named Fu, over forty years old and childless, whose wife arranged for him to take a concubine. On the day the concubine entered the house, the three of them sat down for a meal together. That evening, his wife personally escorted the two men into the bridal chamber. The next morning, when everyone was up, his wife had hanged herself. Wasn't this woman's heart extremely strange, utterly incomprehensible? If one were to ask why she didn't marry him, and since she did, why did she hang herself? It's truly laughable." Ying Yang carefully examined the girl. Although she was younger than Yin Shi, she was not as beautiful as Yin Shi. But young girls between fifteen and twenty-five or twenty-six years old, over ten years, anyone who resembled a human being would surely have some charm. Today, Yin Shi was old, and looking at her, she actually had a certain cuteness about her, making him laugh with satisfaction.

That evening, Madam Yin told the two of them to sleep in the west room. Ying Yang, emboldened by the wine, stripped naked himself and began undressing the maid. He had always dared not refuse when his wicked mistress beat him with a wooden stick. Moreover, now that his benevolent master was about to use his penis to whip her, a painful experience, how could he pretend? He undressed her with great ease. Ying Yang touched her body; it was still smooth and silky. He touched that exquisite spot, but unlike a virgin, she was too open to feign shyness, clenching her legs and covering herself with her hands. Ying Yang, driven mad with desire, straightened her up, straddled her, and, assuming she was a seasoned woman, thrust wildly into her crotch. He reached the entrance, and with a slight effort, inserted the head. The maid was initially hesitant, but seeing the itchy, tingling sensation on the outside, she assumed the inside was the same. But once inside, things were completely different. Ying Yang's penis became erect again, causing the maid to shrink back in pain, repeatedly groaning and crying out. Seeing that she was indeed a virgin, Ying Yang was even more delighted and tender. He whispered in her ear with a smile, "I thought you were a virgin, but who knew you were still a girl. Since that's the case, why does your mistress only beat you? And the other day, she told my mistress that you were having an affair with Master Chen?" The girl, also suspicious of her master and unable to defend herself, had tried to kill herself that day, but her husband saw her and persuaded her to stop. She recounted the story in detail, tears streaming down her face, "I only said that my mistress saved me, so I wouldn't be beaten every day. I was already lucky. I never imagined this day would come!" Ying Yang was very affectionate and gently performed the act once. After finishing, he wiped her face with his handkerchief and looked at it. There were scarlet spots. He hadn't seen this when he married Yin Shi. Now, at fifty years old, experiencing the taste of virginity for the first time, do you think he was happy or not? He was so happy that he hugged her tightly, kissed her several times, and they fell asleep in each other's arms. They did it again in the middle of the night. The girl, seeing that it wasn't as painful as before, gladly accepted it. Ying Yang displayed his spear skills and they fought for a while before stopping when he was satisfied. The next morning, he told Madam Yin that he was actually a woman, recounting the whole story in detail.

Madam Yin found it quite amusing. Generally, if a person has a good thought, Heaven will not let them down. Yingyang and Madam Yin each held onto a bit of goodwill, abstaining from lust and doing good deeds, surely their lineage would not be cut off. Who knew that Yingyang and this girl would have two nights of passion, resulting in a pregnancy, a truly unexpected joy. At the time of delivery, she broke the family tradition of having only one son, giving birth to twins—two sons! The couple were overjoyed, their smiles never ceasing. At this time, he was, after all, a local official, and congratulatory guests filled their door. Hiring a wet nurse and holding a banquet were, needless to say, a great deal. After the baby's one-month celebration, she was given a haircut, and everyone in the household called her "concubine."

When Madam Dong learned of this, she was furious, blaming Madam Yin for making the girl her husband's concubine, for doing such a heartbreaking and shameful thing, and immediately severed ties with Madam Yin. Such a jealous woman, so envious of another's family, is truly laughable. Later, Ying Yang's two sons grew up, one named Ying Shaozhi and the other Ying Xuzhi. They stopped learning opera, abandoned the ancestral bowl, and devoted themselves to education.

Ying Yang served as an official for two years. One day, he said to Yin Shi, "One should not be insatiable. The ancients said it well: '

Knowing contentment brings knowing shame, knowing when to stop prevents danger.'

And there are two even better sayings: '

Without officialdom, one is pure; with sons

, one is content.' I was fortunate to become an official, truly beyond my expectations. Where else could I possibly seek promotion? Besides, I have sons and descendants. We are both approaching sixty; if we still don't want to retire, we are insatiable. I will now resign and return home." Yin Shi truly supported him, and Ying Yang retired and returned to his hometown. It was a triumphant return for him, and his home was naturally even more lively than before. Jin Kuang and Min Shi became even closer. Later, his two sons grew up, married, and had children. The family was happy, and he and his wife lived to a ripe old age. This shows that those who wholeheartedly pursue goodness will surely be blessed by Heaven. What kind of people are Ying Yang and Yin Shi? They never forgot the kindness shown to them by Min Shi. Although their act of accusing Nie Bianbao was their own revenge, it saved Min Shi and allowed her to marry into the gold mine, which can be considered repaying kindness with kindness. Now, while in office, they have shown further goodwill and have two more sons. It is clear that good intentions bring good rewards. If Ying Yang is like this, how much more so those who are superior to him, yet fail to reflect on their own actions? They bring trouble upon themselves; how regrettable! Enough said.

Now, let's talk about Zhu Sikuan. Since meeting Huo Shi, a beautiful woman, who was young and beautiful, beautiful yet alluring, with a small and tight vulva, and a vulva that was easily released, she was worlds apart from Hao Shi. Moreover, their love was deep and intense, thick and strong. They were truly mortal enemies, their souls seemingly dead within him. Over the years, although they had met more than ten times, it was always in trepidation, done secretly. Not only was Huo Shi unable to fully realize her desires, but Zhu Sikuan was also far from happy. Later, Qiao'er grew up, and Huo Shi, having no other means of support, wanted to keep her as a servant, thus delaying her from marrying into old age. Although she wanted to share her wealth with her, her untouched vulva could not withstand such an abnormal and cruel practice. Helpless, she had no choice but to marry her off. It was not like marrying a maid; it was as if she had lost her husband, as if her heart had been torn apart, and she wept for many days.

Since losing their matchmaker, the two had not met for several years. Huo Shi wanted to find another maid, but they were all foolish. "As the old saying goes: 'Ride a fine horse and employ a foolish servant.' It is clear that servants are better when they are foolish." They were not worth talking to. If the secret were not kept and word got out, all hope would be lost, and she could only wait for the right time. But their longing for each other was as high as the mountains and as vast as the sea. Huo Shi, having lost both her devoted maid and her beloved dog that satisfied her cravings, was filled with sorrow, each day feeling like a year.

Zhu Sikuan, though over fifty, was still vigorous and looked like he was in his forties, thanks to his virility and lack of experience in his youth. Hao Shi, on the other hand, was an old woman over sixty, her youthful days marked by lust; her hair was white and disheveled, her appearance frail. Moreover, her once abundant vulva, once swelled by Zhu Sikuan's caresses, had sagged into a deep pit, now merely wrinkled skin. She was only there for company, not for pleasure. Therefore, Zhu Sikuan constantly thought of Huo Shi, as if she were right before his eyes when he closed them. Unable to meet her, he tried to devise a way to lure Tie Hua away so he could be with Huo Shi more often, but for years he had found no good solution. I recently heard that Ruan Dacheng is selling official positions. His uncle Huang's grandson, Huang Jinju, is now a clerk in Ruan's office, helping him with connections. Because he desires wealth, he no longer desires officialdom. I can use the promise of official rank to perhaps sway him.
Today is the Dragon Boat Festival, and he has no heart for games. He sincerely thinks: I'll go to Old Tie's house. On this important day, he must be home. Not only can I talk to him, but I can also give him a good thrashing. He put on a horsehair hat, a new linen robe, wide-brimmed bleached socks, light yellow straw sandals, and carried a Qingyang fan with a fan pendant. He went straight to Tie's house. There was no one at the door. It turned out that the dragon boat races on the Qinhuai River were very popular that year, and Tie Hua had been invited to go on a boat trip. Seeing their master happy, the family went off to enjoy themselves.

Zhu Sikuan went to the hall, but there was no one there either. Seeing the study's courtyard gate ajar, he pushed it open and entered. Stepping into the study, he immediately saw the five-hundred-year-old tale of love and intrigue. He saw Huo Shi leaning against a table, her hand supporting her chin, biting her little fingernail. "She's a living portrait of a beauty." Before her lay a book, *Ruyi Jun*, and he looked at the illustrations. Seeing Xue Ao and Cao Cao's genitals, with their worm-like tendons and rabbit heads, stirred his heart. He thought of Zhu Sikuan, whose advances had ignited a burning passion within him. Just as he was about to lose control, he heard footsteps. Looking up, he saw his beloved, and overjoyed yet sorrowful, two tears streamed down his face.

Why was Huo Shi here? Knowing that Tie Hua wasn't home that day, he drank several cups of realgar wine. His mind was preoccupied with matters, and he had no way to pass the time. Thinking that it was a festival and no one would come, he went to the study to relieve his boredom. He happened to see a book on the shelf, picked it up, and opened it. It was all about this kind of romantic affair. "These are the books on the iron shelf, otherwise what else would they be?" She was engrossed in reading when she saw Zhu Sikuan. Longing for him for so long, tears welled up in her eyes. Afraid the maid would see, she quickly turned away to wipe them. "Mao shed tears first, for she grieved for the death of Gou Xiong. Huo sheds tears now, for she sees Sikuan alive. Though their hearts are different, they are indeed bound by longing." Zhu Sikuan stepped forward and bowed, saying, "I came to see Master Tie, unaware that you were here, madam. I apologize for any offense." He then stood outside the window. Huo deliberately asked the maid, "Who is this?" The maid replied, "It is Master Zhu." Huo said, "So he is your master's good friend. He is indeed a good friend of madam's. On this festive day, quickly brew a pot of good tea." "In this hot weather, cool tea is just right. Brewing fresh tea will take quite a while; this is the urgent plan of a lewd woman." The maid agreed and went to do so.

Seeing that he had dismissed the maid, Zhu Sikuan hurriedly bolted the courtyard gate and ran over to embrace her. Before they could speak, he kissed her, carried her to the cool bed, and was about to pull down her trousers when Huo Shi said, "Oh no! What if we get too excited and the maid brings tea? Go and close the side gate." Zhu Sikuan, while untying his belt, ran to close the gate. When he returned, Huo Shi was already naked and lying on the bed. Zhu Sikuan quickly took off his clothes, climbed on top of her, and began thrusting inside her. "Both of them were eagerly anticipating the moment, enjoying each other's company in broad daylight." Huo Shi had been reading a book earlier, and there was already a lot of moisture... Emerging, it was incredibly smooth. Both were in their haste, forgetting to fully penetrate. Zhu Sikuan suddenly thrust in, penetrating more than an inch deeper than usual. Huo cried out, her stomach throbbing with pain, tears streaming down her face. She rubbed her stomach, saying, "Ouch, you've broken my intestines!" It was amusing. A few words were uttered about the two: "

Years apart, a fleeting reunion, recalling the past pleasures, it's hard to find a moment of peace. How can there be time for gentle competition? A hasty and hurried confrontation, though the flower's heart is open, half-penetration is still bearable. But the jade stem is fully inserted, how can the belly bear it? Only because of long thirst, love in the heart, several tender intestines are damaged."

Zhu Sikuan saw a crepe handkerchief beside him, quickly grabbed it and wrapped it around his arm. Afraid of wasting time, he dared not pause, forcefully pulling and tugging. Both had been longing for each other for so long, and soon they both ejaculated, quickly getting up and dressing.

Zhu Sikuan, having not seen her beautiful face for so long, carefully examined her. Although over thirty, she retained her former charm:

her jet-black hair was tied high in a bun, "one." Her sideburns were brushed smooth and fluffy, "two." Her hair was styled in a Suzhou-style updo, "three." Adorned with two gold hairpins, "four." She wore a fragrant jasmine flower, "five." Her face was fair, "six." Her lips were red, "seven." Her eyebrows were curved, "eight." Her nose was straight, "nine." Her eyes were bright and watery, "ten." Her teeth were neatly aligned, "eleven." She wore a gold clove pendant, "twelve." She wore a golden linen shirt over her clothes, "thirteen." Underneath, she wore a peach-colored gauze shirt, "fourteen." Below, she wore a jade-colored open-toed gauze skirt, "fifteen." Her bright red gauze trousers were clearly visible. "Sixteen." Her small, curved feet, "seventeen." Her delicate, pointed hands. "Eighteen." Truly adorable. "The previous description of Zhu Sikuan's attire was only six words, but this description of Huo Shi is eighteen words—a phrase not found in any other book."

Zhu Sikuan usually met under the lamplight, but now, in broad daylight, he could see her exceptionally clearly, his love overflowing. He embraced her and kissed her several times, then held her in his arms, each pouring out their longing. Zhu Sikuan explained in detail the plans he had recently devised. Huo Shi simply smiled with delight, nodding repeatedly like a stubborn stone listening to a monk's teachings. Zhu Sikuan added, "The outside instigation is mine, the inside instigation is yours." Huo Shi, seeing it as beneficial to her, naturally accepted his advice humbly.

Lost in their conversation, they forgot the maid had brought tea. A knock at the corner door startled them. Huo said, "The maid has brought tea. What are we doing here with the door bolted shut? What's going on?" Zhu Sikuan said, "It's alright, I'll go back now. Go open the door and just say I've been gone for a while." Huo was still a little reluctant to leave, but Zhu Sikuan said, "If this plan succeeds, we'll meet again someday, it's not something to worry about now." He hurriedly opened the door and left. Huo locked the courtyard gate and put the book back on the shelf. "Careful." She took the damp handkerchief, which was no longer dry, and stuffed it into her belt for later use. She went to the back to open the door and said, "Master Zhu left early, and I was afraid of running into outsiders, so I bolted both the front and back doors. Come back with me." "Such empty words, only good for fooling the maid. Did the outsiders come through the back door?"

Once in the room, the desire he had accumulated over the years was suddenly satisfied after this wild session. Although he couldn't fully release it, he felt much more relaxed. Feeling refreshed, he went to bed and slept.

Several days passed, and Huo Shi, seeing no progress on Zhu Sikuan's words, feared her plan was failing and grew anxious. Just then, Tie Hua entered and sat down. Tie Hua, who had always been afraid of her and avoided her, would sometimes come in for a night once or twice a month, but Huo Shi always forbade him to touch her, leaving him helpless. However, since Huo Shi's affair with Zhu Sikuan, her conscience had been bothering her, and she felt guilty. But how could a woman be allowed to have sex with outsiders while being forbidden to have sex with her own husband? Later, she became more lenient with Tie Hua.

Seeing that Huo Shi would scold and beat him without speaking, she assumed that Huo Shi was growing older and becoming more sensible and virtuous, and gradually began to treat him with tenderness and affection. Even when she wanted to have some fun, Huo Shi didn't refuse. Tiehua noticed that Zhu Sikuan's vulva was unusually large, but he didn't suspect anything else. He simply said that Zhu Sikuan had gained weight, so his vagina had widened accordingly. "What a strange idea, so interesting!" He even complained that his own penis was too small. He never imagined that Zhu Sikuan had made it like this. Huo Shi, seeing that he often wanted to play with it, let him play with it. She didn't feel itchy or numb, it was like there was something there but not there, she only felt her belly bumping against her belly, and after a while, she would stop. This Huo Shi was like: "

Having seen the ocean, other waters are nothing; having seen the clouds of Wushan, other clouds are nothing."

For several years, the couple slept together more than ten nights a month, and the five-seventh month was the beginning of their relationship. That day, Tiehua came to the room and said, "I have something to discuss with you. I'm going on a long journey. Do you think it's feasible?" Huo asked, "What is it?" Tiehua said, "These days, Lord Ruan of the Ministry of War is selling official positions at very low prices. Old Zhu advised me to take advantage of this to seek fame and fortune. His cousin, surnamed Huang, is the grandson of his maternal uncle and is currently Lord Ruan's clerk, recruiting officials outside. With such a good opportunity, do you think we should do it?" Huo knew that Zhu Sikuan's plan had worked, and she was overjoyed. She smiled and said, "This is a wonderful thing. Why not do it? How can you be so attached to the love between husband and wife that you don't even seek fame and fortune? If you're going, you should go as soon as possible." "Why not go now?" Tiehua thought, seeing that he spoke so eloquently, that he was eager to become Huo's wife. Little did he know that he was abandoning Xiao Tie for Da Zhu. Tie Hua said, "Old Zhu also said that things shouldn't be delayed, and we should leave sooner or later." Huo Shi said, "With such a large household like yours, if you go, I can only take care of things inside. Who will take care of things outside?" Tie Hua said, "If I get a good reputation, I'll send Old Zhu back and ask him to take care of things." Huo Shi was overjoyed to hear this and couldn't help but smile, but she put on a stern face and said, "What kind of person is Old Zhu? Is he willing to take care of things for you? If you're going to ask him to take care of things, it would be best if he stayed at home. This is the first important thing." Everyone has a family, and I'm afraid he might not be willing to come. Tie Hua said, "Old Zhu is honest and capable, a good friend to whom you can entrust your wife and children. This is probably what a good friend is like nowadays." I've discussed it with him and agreed to cover his family's expenses for a year. Even if he can't stay at my house all year, he can still come and go to take care of things." Huo Shi said, "Once you've finished your business there, you should send him back as soon as possible." Tie Hua said, "Of course, you don't need to tell me." "Huo said, 'Now you just need to quickly take care of things outside; I'll handle things inside for you.' Tiehua was extremely grateful to see her suddenly become so virtuous. Little did he know that Huo was eager to send him away at this moment so she could seek a better life elsewhere.

Huo hurriedly instructed the maids and servants to pack his clothes and luggage, and also summoned seven or eight strong servants from the household, giving each of them ten taels of silver to prepare his travel gear so he could leave with his master. Tiehua wanted to leave two to guard the house, but Huo said, 'Now that you're going out to seek an official position, you should maintain a certain appearance. Two old men at home are enough; what's the point of having more people?' 'Too many people are an eyesore; I have no choice but to send them all away.' Seeing her kindness, Tiehua couldn't refuse, so he also went to make the preparations. Everything was settled, and they chose a day to depart.

The night before, he had to have a farewell banquet with Huo, and she gave him many instructions on how to guard the house. Huo had no other instructions, except that since there was no one else at home, it was important for Zhu Sikuan to return quickly." The next morning they parted. Although Huo Shi and he were not deeply in love, they had been husband and wife for many years. While she was happy for his departure, she felt a pang of sadness, as if it were a final farewell. Seeing him off in the hall, she saw Zhu Sikuan and couldn't help but shed tears. "Seeing Tie Hua leave, her heart was filled with sorrow; seeing Zhu Sikuan, she shed tears. The depiction of the adulterous woman is so vivid and nuanced, it's as if one can see the adulterous woman's heart." Seeing her like this, Tie Hua assumed she was reluctant to part with him and felt deeply saddened. He offered a few words of comfort and hardened his heart before leaving. "Like a blind eel dreaming."

Huo Shi, seeing him leave, felt that things were almost perfect and eagerly awaited Zhu Sikuan's return to complete their union. A month passed, but he didn't come. Every day she consulted oracles, asking when the traveler would return. The women in the household, seeing that their mistress had only been gone a few days and the mistress was longing for his return, secretly found it amusing. Little did they know that she was asking about her beloved, and Huo Shi replied with eight lines: "

The ends of the earth may be reached, but longing for you is endless."

Atop the tower, I stand alone, reminiscing of a broken dream; beneath the flowers, I ask, who knows the sorrow of parting?

The deep-seated mountains and clouds are truly hateful; the wind and rain have only fueled my tragic

fate. A few lines of tales, like fish and geese, foretell the coming of time; I toss away my coins, lamenting my delayed return.

One day, Tong Zida happened to pass by his door and thought, "My brother-in-law has been gone for over a month. I wonder if he has sent any news. Why don't I go in and see him?" So he went in. The old servant at the gate hurried inside to inform him that Huo Shi invited him to the main room. He greeted him with a smile, offered him a seat, and asked about his family. Huo Shi hurriedly ordered wine to be brought to serve him, but Tong Zida said, "No need, I have to go back." Huo Shi earnestly insisted that he stay, and seeing his sincere concern, Tong Zida had no choice but

to sit down. In a short while, a table of exquisite fruits and dishes was laid out. Huo Shi poured a cup of wine and offered it to Tong Zida, who quickly accepted and drank it. Then they toasted each other and each drank several cups. Huo Shi had long heard Tie Hua say that Tong's brother-in-law was skilled in sexual intercourse and that Cui Ming'er had been killed by him. Huo Shi had long wanted to learn from him. Now, she was eager to ignite her passion. Now that she had seen him, she focused her attention on him. Huo Shi had no capacity for alcohol and kept urging him to drink. Tong Zida was known for his high alcohol tolerance and enjoyed a good drink. He readily accepted the offer of wine, drinking cup after cup. As dusk approached, he became completely drunk and fell asleep on the table. He had the maids carry him to his bed, and he rewarded each of the four maids with several cups of wine, all of whom also became drunk. He then set up a bed in the west room for himself.

Soon, the maids were all fast asleep, so he went to the east room. He got into bed, gently undressed Tong Zida, and then undressed himself as well, covering himself with the quilt and lying down together. He reached out and touched Tong Zida's penis; though not as large as Zhu Sikuan's, it was much stronger than Tiehua's. Lust arose instantly, and he could no longer sleep soundly. Not wanting to wake him, and thankfully, the summer night was short, Tong Zida didn't wake until nearly dawn. He saw a naked woman lying beside him, touching his penis. Confused, he forgot it was his brother-in-law's house and assumed it was his own home where he slept with his concubine. "This is to clear my name of my arrogance." Taking advantage of his drunken state, he became aroused and took advantage of her. Huo Shi was extremely happy, feeling several times more relaxed than before, and incredibly wanton. Her whole body trembled, like a dancing pear blossom, her limbs moving uncontrollably. Tong Zida felt that none of his concubines possessed such skill, and he asked in confusion, "Which one are you?" Huo Shi didn't answer directly, only giggling. Before long, as dawn broke, Tong Zida looked closely and realized it was his own sister-in-law. He quickly pulled away, saying, "What do you mean?" He hurriedly dressed and went home. Huo Shi, seeing his behavior, felt somewhat embarrassed, but having tasted this delight, she was extremely pleased. "This section vividly portrays the licentiousness of the Huo family, concluding with their deaths. The second section, depicting Tong Zida's life as a simpleton, also serves as a conclusion."

Meanwhile, at home, Zhong Sheng was visited by Mei Sheng, who said, "I was in Daqiao Market just now when I saw a large crowd, saying they were spies who had killed bandits. Two bandit leaders and a dozen or so followers—I wonder how they were captured?" Just then, Huan E also came to visit, and they learned the details.

You ask where these spies came from? How were they captured? They were twin brothers, their father's surname was Ai, their given name Jin, and their wife's surname was Neng. They had no children and lived in Mulongting, Jiangning County. They ran a small inn at the edge of town, providing lodging for travelers. Mulongting was the ancestral home and birthplace of Qin Hui, whose tomb still stands there. More than half the villagers in the village, surnamed Qin, did not recognize Qin Hui as a bandit, and no one ever paid respects at his grave. The grave gradually collapsed, leaving only a small mound. Ai Jin's house was right in front of his grave. When Ai Jin was born, his parents dreamt that Qin Hui was reincarnated, hence his nickname, Hui'er (meaning "Hui'er"). When he grew up, his parents had passed away. He buried them next to Qin Hui's grave, very close. He noticed that Qin Hui's grave resembled his own ancestral grave, with soil added year after year, turning a desolate mound into a high, overgrown one.

He offered sacrifices on every festival, drawing laughter and astonishment from onlookers. The couple had been greedy their whole lives, willing to risk their lives for money. "How could they be so greedy for money today?" they lamented. They were also incredibly stingy, cherishing even a single coin from others. Once, a customer who had stayed overnight at his shop would pay his share the next morning. Ai Jin would count the money and hide a coin or two, claiming a shortfall. The customer would count it again and find it was indeed short, then claim he had miscounted and would add the difference. He had no reason to doubt that a shopkeeper, a respectable person, would be stingy with even a coin or two. Little did anyone know that he was called "Old Face Makes a Fortune," and the money simply slipped into his pocket. He was always looking for ways to take advantage of others, the kind of person who, as the saying goes, would even try to scoop up a manure bucket with a sieve

if it passed by. One day, a torrential downpour was approaching in the afternoon. He thought that with such a heavy rain, no one would come, and he was about to close his shop when two men riding two fat donkeys came flying in, rushing straight into his shop. He quickly let them in, and after greeting them, he went to help them with their luggage, finding it quite heavy. After taking them to the guest room, he closed the door and went inside, hurriedly telling his wife to cook and prepare the vegetables. Suddenly, he heard the guests calling from outside, and he quickly went out. The guests said, "We were in a hurry and unexpectedly encountered such a heavy rain; we are soaked to the bone, even our blankets are soaked, and we feel a bit chilly. Please bring two jugs of good wine, warmed up." Ai Jin listened to them and glanced at the two beds, noticing that his bedding and clothes were open and drying. On a bed lay a bundle, each containing about three or four hundred taels of silver. A burning desire stirred within him.

He came in to heat the wine, and there was Nengshi tending a fire. The firewood, soaked by the rain, smoldered and went out repeatedly, the flames making his eyes water. He slammed down the fire tube, saying, "This wretched man! I've run this shop all these years, and I haven't seen any money accumulated. He's suffering like this, barely clinging to life. When will he finally be able to heat the wine? The fire won't even burn properly!" Aijin put the pot in the pan and picked up the fire tube to blow on the flames. As he tended the fire, he was lost in thought, nodding and calculating. Nengshi asked, "What are you thinking about?" Aijin replied, "I just saw these two customers have eight or nine hundred taels of silver. I'm wondering when we'll finally get rich with this shop? If we could acquire this, our lives wouldn't have been in vain. That's why I'm so lost in thought." Nengshi, even more greedy and ruthless, was even more greedy. He thought for a moment and said, "I have an idea that could get you, but I'm afraid you won't agree." Ai Jin laughed and said, "You mean you want to sacrifice yourself for his money? He gets to enjoy himself for five coins a night, what kind of rare beauty do you think he'd give you that much money? If you run into two ruthless men, you won't get the money, and you'll even get your skin ruined." Neng Shi laughed and spat, saying, "I'm speaking seriously, and you're just spouting nonsense." Ai Jin laughed and said, "What idea do you have?" Neng Shi said, "It's been said since ancient times: 'For money, one must kill.' If you're willing to kill him, you can get his money." Ai Jin said, "People say women are short-sighted, and they're right. Think about it, he's two, and I'm one. If you can't get the money..." "If things go wrong, when we get to the authorities, we'll be short-handed. Even if we plot to kill him, where will we put him? If the neighbors find out, it's no laughing matter. Besides, there are two big donkeys, and we'll have nowhere to put them." Neng said, "You're a grown man, but you have no sense at all. With this heavy rain today, when those two came in, I bet they didn't see anyone on the street. If you're capable of killing him, I can put two more, let alone two, in the big indigo pond in my backyard. Bury them deep, and nobody will know. Slaughter the two donkeys and pickle them. Donkeys aren't like pigs; they don't bray when they're killed. Pickling them into donkey jerky will keep us eating for a long time." "Really capable." I'm just afraid you can't handle two by yourself, that's the real deal." As they were talking, the wine was warmed up, and two small dishes were brought out. The guest tasted

them and said, "How can you open such a small shop at such a major intersection and sell such cheap wine? I really can't eat it. Bring me something better." "Aijin said, 'No wine in our town is as good as any of the others. If there were good wine, wouldn't we bring it to you gentlemen?' The guest said, 'Since there's no good wine, take your yellow wine back and buy some good spirits. Buy a few more pounds so we can drink it.' Aijin had no choice but to go inside, looking for an umbrella and a bottle, muttering, 'It's raining, so we can make do with what we have. And now you want me to go get spirits. The muddy roads are slippery.' Nengshi was overjoyed and said, 'This is a blessing from heaven; it's our turn to get rich.' Aijin asked, 'How so?' Nengshi said, 'Grandma Mi's house at the east end is making spirits today. She invited me to try it today, but I didn't go because of the rain. When you get there, don't tell her the guest wants some. 'You're so thoughtful.' Just say I'm sick and need some dry-pressed wine to make medicinal wine. I'd rather pay a few more dollars per pound than have it diluted with water. That dry wine is sweet and refreshing.'" "If it flares up suddenly, it's like a minor death. If we're lucky, and the two of them get drunk, it'll be easy to make our move. Isn't this a godsend?" Ai Jin, hearing his wife's brilliant plan, went off happily, ignoring the muddy ground, and flew back. He carried the bottle to the guest room, saying, "This is five catties of good wine, gentlemen, please try it." The two men tasted it and said, "Good wine. You should leave the bottle here and drink it cold. If it's hot, it'll sting your nose and make you choke. This bland wine is hard to drink. Bring the food and dishes, and we'll eat it with the wine first." Ai Jin came in to get the food and saw Neng Shi sharpening a short knife that Ai Jin used for self-defense. "Remember this knife," Ai Jin said with a smile. "The ancients' words are not entirely wrong. They say: '

The mouth of a green bamboo snake, the stinger of a wasp's tail.

Both are somewhat dangerous, but the most poisonous is a woman's heart. '"

"Are you in such a hurry? Hurry up and prepare the dishes; they want food and wine." Nengshi then prepared plates of nothing more than fried chicken, stir-fried chives, dried shrimp, and a mixture of wood ear mushrooms and tofu skin. He arranged them on the table.

These two guests were quite heavy drinkers, and it seemed their time was coming to an end; each of them could drink a full cup, and they had only drunk about eight-tenths of the wine, already quite tipsy. Aijin, who was serving nearby, heard someone call from inside, "Come and get the dishes." Aijin hurried out to fetch them and brought them to the two guests. He smiled and said, "This morning, I bought some live crucian carp and made two bowls of hangover soup for you two gentlemen." The two guests were thirsty from the wine, and after taking a sip, they found it both sour and fresh, and exclaimed, "Good stuff!" "They were a little hungry, so they ate the fish and soup together. This was Neng's clever plan; it probably wouldn't get them drunk. Seeing that they had drunk cold wine, she made these two bowls of hot soup, ostensibly to sober them up, but actually to make them drink more. The cold, dry liquor in their stomachs was immediately activated by the hot soup.

Before long, one of them was leaning back in his chair, fast asleep, while the other was slumped over the table, fast asleep. Ai Jin hurriedly went in, took out a doll made of sleeping potion and a picture of Wu Song, and clapped his hands with a grin at Neng, saying, 'They're drunk, they're drunk.'" "Neng was overjoyed and quickly handed him the knife. They went out together, the door bolted very securely.

Entering the room, Neng first pointed to the neck of the man sleeping on his back, making a chicken-killing gesture, signaling him to do it. Aijin, greedy and audacious, disregarded all moral principles. 'As the saying goes, lust is as bold as the heavens. This man's greed is as bold as the heavens. It shows that once a person's evil intentions arise, they cannot be controlled.' He walked up, mustered his courage, aimed at the throat, and pulled with all his might. The man fell to the ground with a thud. The other man, who had been lying down, woke up with a start, looked up, and cried out in pain. Aijin, in a panic, struck him hard on the head and head, also falling to the ground, kicking his legs before dying. 'Remember how these two died, and compare it to how Aijin died. This passage, though describing Aijin and Neng's intentions, is also a warning to those who dream of death: first, be careful; second, do not indulge in excessive drinking. Be cautious.' The couple, seeing that the bill was over, carried the body to the back garden and threw it into the indigo pond." They didn't care about the mud and water anymore, and hurriedly covered it up. Then they carried their luggage inside, laid the two bundles on the bed, each containing eight pairs, sixteen bundles in total, eight hundred taels, plus several dozen taels of loose change, which they arranged on the bed. They were overjoyed, their faces beaming with smiles, and quickly packed everything into a bamboo box. They then rushed to the guest room, washed away the bloodstains, and cleaned it thoroughly. The couple didn't sleep all night, butchering and pickling the two donkeys. Truly, when people are in high spirits, they don't feel tired at all.

The couple discussed it for a while, and after several days, they closed the shop, renovated it, and opened a general store. The surrounding villages knew that his goods were more expensive than in the city, but because they saved themselves the forty or fifty miles of travel, they all bought from his store. He was lucky this time, and he really made a fortune. He also bought several dozen acres of fertile land and hired people to cultivate it. The villagers all suspected he was digging for treasure, little did they know he had performed this virtuous deed and made a fortune.

Some time later, Nengshi became pregnant. The couple were overjoyed, saying, "We haven't been able to conceive for over ten years, but now we've done such a good deed, not only have we become rich, but we've also conceived! Truly, a hundred blessings have come together!" When her due date arrived, she gave birth to twin sons. Nengshi, at forty years old, was having her first child, and it was extremely difficult; she fainted several times. Although the sons were born, the debt to her son's married wife, Nengshi, had already been settled. Aijin, though grieving for his deceased wife, was overjoyed to have sons. At this time, he was considered a small wealthy man in the village, pawning two wet nurses to work as wet nurses, while his husband worked the land for him. On the night Nengshi died, his father's second wife also went into labor. His father dreamt that Nengshi had been reincarnated, saying, "My son has been reincarnated; he will marry into the Ai family in the future, so that the debt from before can be settled." His father awoke, not understanding the meaning, but secretly marveling at the dream. A short while later, his wife indeed gave birth to a daughter. The next day, Ai Jin went to his father-in-law's house to report the death. His father-in-law then realized that the dream was not an illusion, and named

his youngest daughter "Zailaijie" (meaning "Reborn Sister"). Time flies like an arrow, and the days pass like a shuttle. There's a long story to tell, and a short one to tell. Ai Jin's eldest son was named Ai Bao, and his second son was named Ai Fu. They were born on the same day, month, and year as Zailaijie, but at slightly different times, and both reached the age of ten. Ai Jin saw that Zailaijie's expression and behavior were exactly like that of Neng Shi (his deceased wife), and he had often heard his father-in-law say that she was the reincarnation of his deceased wife. So he told his father-in-law that he wanted him to remarry. His father-in-law was a poor farmer, but seeing that his son-in-law was now a wealthy man, and considering that his daughter had said she would marry into the Ai family when she was reincarnated, he didn't care that Ai Jin was over forty years older and readily agreed. When Ai Jin turned sixteen, he married her. At this time, Ai Jin was over fifty.

Now, Ai Bao and Ai Fu were fine when they were young, but when they were twelve or thirteen, they became like two stupid oxen. If Ai Jin ordered them around, they would glare and say, "We don't know." If he yelled at them harder, they would mutter and curse. Ai Jin, spoiling them, would pretend not to hear. This happened repeatedly, and they became increasingly unruly. If Ai Jin threatened to hit them, they would run away and hide in a neighbor's empty garden. Afraid they had gone far away, Ai Jin would search everywhere and finally find them. On holidays, when he asked them to pay respects at their mother's grave, they would say, "We don't know what a mother is, we've never seen one. You go to the grave, we won't go." If Ai Jin insisted, they would run away and disappear, only returning in the evening. Later, they became not only lazy and idle, but also addicted to drinking, gambling, and violence.

The two brothers, however, were quite amicable, except towards their father, whom they considered their sworn enemy. They would often mutter behind his back, "What kind of father-son relationship do we have? I'll kill you one day!" Ai Jin clearly heard this, but since he couldn't intervene and was reluctant to send him to the authorities, he couldn't help but feel a growing fear of the two brothers. When the brothers saw their father marry his stepmother, they thought to themselves: "This old man is a sinner, marrying such a young vixen at such an advanced age. She was born on the same day, month, and year as us, a perfect match. Now that we're in the same family, how can we let this opportunity pass us by?" The two brothers discussed, "As the saying goes, Chang'e in the moon loves young men. My aunt married this old man, and everyone's furious. Let's work together to seduce him, regardless of whether he's a aunt or a stepmother. If you get him, don't favor me, and if I get him, I won't favor you either. We'll all benefit."

When Ai Jin saw that his two sons were seventeen or eighteen years old and had grown into two burly men, he often boasted to others, "I've done good deeds all my life, and this is the result of my good karma—two fine sons." Outsiders, knowing his wicked ways, only secretly laughed. Only this second sister had taken a liking to these two virtuous young men. He often thought to himself, "I'm so young and beautiful; I should be a good match for these two brothers. Why did my parents marry me off to this old brother-in-law? Now I have no choice. Although I can't openly marry my two nephews, who can stop me from secretly marrying them? The song of the nun going down the mountain goes: 'If the man has a heart, and the woman has a heart, what does it matter if the mountains are high and the waters are deep?' Besides, we live together, and there's no one else in our way." Since they both had their own desires, their words and glances revealed many alluring qualities.

One day, Ai Jin went to town to buy goods. Ai Bao said to his brother, "I think Auntie seems to like us a little lately. Today, while the old man isn't home, I'll go and force my way in. If I succeed, you can take over." Ai Fu happily agreed. Ai Bao strode into his aunt's room. Beside Ai Jin's bedside was a short knife used for protection. "This is the same knife I used before. I'll use it again here; it's time to reveal it." He walked over, pulled it out, and with a vicious slash, slammed it on the table. He then embraced his aunt, kissed her, and reached for her trousers. His sister laughed, "You short-lived devil, that's all you wanted! So clumsy, you scared me half to death!" Seeing no resistance, Ai Bao carried her to the bed, removed her lower garments, and began to have sex with her. Although his sister had been married for many days, Ai Jin was old and weak, unlike the young and vigorous Ai Bao. Now, experiencing this pleasure, she was overjoyed and made many wanton gestures. Ai Bao, also experiencing this for the first time, quickly ejaculated. Ai Fu, watching from outside, saw his brother finish and rushed in, taking over immediately. His sister, still not satisfied, also accepted, and they finished. From then on, whenever his father went out, the two brothers would come to have fun with Sister Zailai. Sister Zailai, having two strong men to satisfy her lust, looked down on Ai Jin as if he were a superfluous burden.

One day, Ai Jin went out, and the two brothers came to have their way with Sister Zailai. They were going at it, one on top of the other, without stopping. Just as they were getting into it, Ai Jin suddenly burst in. Upon seeing him, he was stunned. He was so angry that his mouth gaped open, unable to speak. His eyes widened, glaring fiercely. Sister Zailai panicked and quickly pulled out the knife from under her pillow, handing it to Ai Fu, saying, "What are you waiting for?" Ai Fu took the knife and jumped off the bed. Seeing the knife, Ai Jin became even more immobile. Just as he was about to shout, Ai Fu raised his hand and slashed at his face, knocking him to the ground. "This is the knife that killed the guest before." Ai Fu discarded the knife and hurriedly put on his clothes. Ai Bao, seeing his father still kicking on the ground, picked up the knife and slit his throat, his head almost severed. "Aijin made this knife only once, but his virtuous son used it three times." The three men quickly dressed, and his brother went to the market to buy a thin-skinned coffin, placed his father's body inside, and put it in the main room. They washed the bloodstains clean, and then went to announce the death. They did not chant any scriptures or hold a funeral; they simply laid the body out in the back garden for seven days.

Sister Lai was in love with the two brothers and refused to remarry, insisting on remaining chaste. "Those who claim to remain chaste can never truly remain so. Throughout history, many have spoken of loyalty and filial piety, but how many have truly lived up to them?" Her parents couldn't force her, so who would interfere in their family affairs? Besides, outsiders saw him not only as her stepmother's son but also as her aunt's nephew; how could they suspect him of any bestial incest? The two brothers acted like Sister Lai's wife and concubine, sharing a bed at night, deeply in love. Within two or three years, they gambled away all their possessions, even losing their house, which they sold. The three of them built a small house in the backyard and lived there.

One night, Sister Lai dreamt that Ai Jin, covered in blood, approached her and said, "You two servants killed me; consider it an eye for an eye. We were husband and wife for two lifetimes; what hatred could I possibly have for you? You instigated him to kill me; how can I forgive you?" With that, she slapped him. Sister Lai awoke with a start; it was just a dream. Deeply worried, she dared not tell her two brothers. Some time later, she suddenly became pregnant. Her brothers, anxious and fearing someone would find out, went to the city to buy abortion medicine. On the way, they encountered a doctor ringing a bell and asked if he had any. The doctor said yes, so they bought some and gave it to her. The baby immediately began to hurt terribly, but she couldn't give birth and cried out incessantly. Her brothers panicked. Ai Bao held her tightly, while Ai Fu covered her mouth with one hand and rubbed her with the other. After about two hours, the baby was finally expelled, and her sister fainted from the hemorrhage. "Good medicine. This woman died in childbirth twice in her past lives; the retribution for her wickedness is clear. Her clever revenge is perfectly executed."

They were now penniless and had no money for a coffin. The old couple had also died, and her brother was a very poor man. Ai Bao consulted him, but he ignored him. The two had no choice but to dig a pit in the backyard to bury them. After digging more than three feet deep, they suddenly found two skeletons. They said sadly, "We don't know whose corpses these are, but they are yours. Don't touch them." They then buried the body of their daughter, along with the baby, with the two skeletons. "Years ago, Neng said, 'If there are two more, put them down too.' Unexpectedly, the couple were reborn here as well. There are four in total, fulfilling the omens."

The two had no regrets and discussed, "We have nothing to wear or eat now, and we can't stand still. We often hear people say that bandits are really happy, robbing gold, silk, and women everywhere, enjoying endless pleasures. Let's sell this garden for a few taels of silver to use as travel expenses and go join them. Wouldn't that be a happy life in the second half of our lives?" The two decided on this and sold the garden to the landlord. The landlord refused, saying that his father's coffin was inside. The two men carried Ai Jin's coffin to a patch of ground next to Qin Hui's grave and placed it there. "In his past life, he loved the Jin Dynasty; in this life, he loves gold and silver. His greedy and wicked bones should be buried together." They considered this an auspicious burial site. He sold the garden for a few taels of silver, stuffed it into his pocket for travel expenses, and joined the bandits.

Ai Jin's thin coffin, exposed to wind and sun, eventually rotted away, its bones scattered in all directions—needless to say. It was better than those two guests, who were buried in a pit to avoid exposure. Ai Jin and his wife wanted to be wealthy and enjoy life. Ai Jin ended up like this; although she wasn't punished by law, this was enough retribution. That Neng woman was even more pitiful and laughable; she devised a wicked scheme to become a wealthy woman, only to die tragically after a year of happiness. Man proposes, God disposes—truly! Ai Bao and Ai Fu were clearly the reincarnations of those two guests seeking revenge. In her previous life, Sister Lai instigated Ai Jin to kill two guests; in this life, she instigated her two sons to kill Ai Jin. She not only repaid the debt of lust from her sons with her own body but also suffered a difficult childbirth. According to her dream, this son is also Ai Jin coming to claim her life. Retribution is clear and precise. How can the spirits in the unseen realm let their guard down? People only know how to act recklessly and do not consider the consequences. It is truly as the *Treatise on Response and Retribution* says: "Like rotten meat to relieve hunger or poison to quench thirst, though temporarily satisfying, death will surely follow." How can one not fear this? Although Ai Bao and Ai Fu are reborn to seek revenge, in this life, they have committed patricide; how can they escape divine retribution? If they do not die here, they will surely die there; they will inevitably suffer a silent retribution.

The two fled to Shaanxi and joined Li Zicheng. The rebel leader was delighted to see that the two had traveled thousands of miles to join him, and that they were both young and strong. He kept them under his command as two minor leaders. Later, he sent some bandits to raid and plunder everywhere, often succeeding and gradually gaining merit. When Beijing was captured, each of them was given a fake general's decree. The blind bandit was defeated by the Qing army and fled to Huguang. He then wanted to attack Nanjing. Since his brother was from Nanjing, and he heard that Ma Shiying and Ruan Dacheng were selling official positions, he sent each of them with five or seven trusted bandits, carrying 20,000 taels of silver and gold and jewels, to Ruan Dacheng to buy two military positions in the capital. He also gave them dozens of fake decrees to recruit heroes to act as their inside agents. The two were overjoyed. Li Zicheng also promised them that they would be ennobled as marquises upon his success, and the two were grateful and would do their lives to repay him.

After arriving in Jiangbei, they found Huang Shuban and asked him to give Ruan Dacheng 5,000 taels of gold and many jewels, requesting to be appointed as military officers in the Beijing garrison. Ruan Dacheng was delighted and released the two as two guerrilla officers in the Beijing garrison, sending them to Ma Shiying for testing. Ai Bao and Ai Fu also presented Ma Shiying with a generous gift. Seeing that the two were both tall and imposing, and possessed such a large sum, Ma Shiying naturally agreed to appoint them to official positions.

The two were overjoyed, wearing gold belts and adorned with their new appointments, and surrounded by soldiers armed with swords. They then presented Ma Shiying with the gold and jewels they had brought, becoming his protégés. Ma Shiying was even more pleased and treated them very well, frequently providing them with food and drink, and they enjoyed a lively time for several months. However, their good fortune was about to end and disaster was about to strike.

One day, Lord Le returned from court. At the gate of his private residence, a man knelt before his sedan chair, saying, "I have confidential military intelligence to report." Lord Le ordered him brought in and asked him what it was about. He said, “My name is Meng De, and I am from Henan. Years ago, I fled south to escape the chaos. I was fortunate enough to be saved by Lord Tong and his entourage, and the following year I was able to return to my hometown. I came back again to find my relatives. On my way back, I unexpectedly encountered bandits who killed my entire family. I was then taken in by this Ai Bao and made to work for him. I tried to escape many times, but the bandits' camp stretched for hundreds of miles, and I could not escape. The other day, Li Zicheng was defeated at Shanhaiguan and has now gone to Huguang. Knowing that Lord Ruan is selling official positions, he sent his two brothers to buy two military posts in the Beijing garrison and to recruit people.” "He went to Huguang to gather troops to attack Nanjing, so he could act as an inside agent. I was originally a good citizen, how could I be a thief? When you were the Prefect, I was fortunate enough to receive your favor, so I came to your door to confess." Lord Le exclaimed in surprise, "Although this is your good intention, there is no evidence." Meng De said, "The two of them are now carrying many documents from Li Zicheng to recruit people. Once you find them, that will be evidence." Lord Le said, "If that is indeed the case, your merit is not small." He hurriedly sent someone to invite the Duke of Wei, who was in charge of the Imperial Guards at the time. He also sent someone to invite the Chief Censor, the Ministers of War and Justice, and the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Before long, they all arrived. Lord Le called Meng De over and told him what had happened again. The officials discussed it for a while, and the Duke of Wei sent someone to summon the Ai brothers. He also ordered the Embroidered Uniform Guard to secretly lead people to his residence, arrest all his followers, and take all his belongings.

Shortly after, Ai Fu and Ai Bao arrived and were summoned to serve. Soon after, the officers of the Embroidered Uniform Guard retrieved the belongings and bags of the others, and Lord Le ordered a thorough search. In a leather box, dozens of forged documents belonging to the Deputy Commander-in-Chief You Shou were found. Lord Wei ordered the Ai brothers and their men arrested and had Meng De recount the events. Seeing the prisoners and the forged documents before them, the two brothers had no way to deny their crimes and confessed everything. Lord

Le and the other officials went to court to meet the emperor and reported the events in detail. Ai Bao and Ai Fu were to be executed by slow slicing, and their accomplices were to be beheaded and their heads displayed in the marketplace. Hongguang approved the report and ordered them immediately taken to Daqiao for execution. Lord Le further reported that Ruan Dacheng, as a court official, had accepted bribes from the rebels to be appointed to a military post in the capital garrison. If it weren't for Meng De's intervention, which led to this trouble, how could the people of the capital and beyond bear to speak out? He requested that Ruan Dacheng be immediately dismissed and punished. Even if the cabinet ministers are the pillars of the court, failing to detect spies and colluding with the rebels, they cannot escape blame.

Ruan Dacheng and Ma Shiying are both confidants of Hongguang, and they are incredibly grateful to him for presenting beautiful women, male prostitutes, and aphrodisiacs. How could they speak ill of him? They argued, "Mr. Ma only saw that Ruan Dacheng sent him for testing, and he approved the appointment because he thought he was of good character. What's wrong with that? Even Ruan Dacheng didn't know he was part of the rebel gang. If he had known, would he have promoted him? As for the bribery, that was just a word from Meng De, how can it be taken as fact? It's easy to ruin a minister like that." Lord Le repeatedly advised, but Hongguang stubbornly refused to listen. Lord Le then recommended Meng De for his merit in reporting the rebels and said he should be richly rewarded. Hongguang was secretly annoyed that he had spoken ill of Ruan Dacheng. He said, "Meng De has been a rebel for a long time. Although he has reported the rebels, he should be exempted from punishment for confessing. Why should he be rewarded?" Lord Le had no choice but to leave with the other officials.

Seeing that the court couldn't distinguish between merit and demerit, what kind of law was this? Overwhelmed with anger, he vomited blood twice and fell ill from then on. Of the more than ten thousand taels of gold still in the two traitors' bags, he rewarded Mengde with five hundred taels. The remainder was sent to the Ministry of Revenue to be used for military pay. Mengde, having nowhere else to go, willingly became a long-term servant in Lord Le's household, and Lord Le treated him very well. Later, when Lord Le died and returned to his hometown, Mengde escorted him home before returning to Henan himself—this is what happened afterward.

Huan'e and Meisheng were at Zhongsheng's house discussing the killing of spies. Huan'e said, "Just now, a relative of mine in the Ministry of Justice mentioned this matter." He then recounted in detail how Mengde had betrayed the spies, how Legong had captured the thieves, and how Ma Shiying and Ruan Dacheng had accepted bribes to sell official positions to the thieves, and how Hongguang had stubbornly refused to listen. Zhongsheng could only sigh several times and said nothing more.

Now, after testing Tong Zida, Huoshi thought to herself, "I never expected such a strange person to exist in this world. If he were willing to befriend me, why would I need Lao Zhu?" "Having this thought shows that Huoshi is entirely lustful and devoid of any affection. Such is the promiscuity of a woman." Judging from her appearance the other day, she would definitely not come again. I can only wait for Lao Zhu to come home and become a long-term customer. Once his lustful desires are aroused, how can he be controlled? Day and night, I look forward to Zhu Sikuan's return so we can have a great battle in the embroidered quilt. But he never comes. A few more days passed, and it was early autumn. I was feeling listless. He went upstairs and leaned against the railing, gazing intently, his eyes practically straining to see through the smoke. Seeing the vermilion couch still there, but the once beautiful dog now just a skeleton, a pang of sorrow gripped his heart. He composed a four-and-a-half-line poem, "Splitting the Jade," and sang softly: "

Taking advantage of this autumn light, I lean against the south tower. I remember when the wild geese flew away, and the swallows flew in, they met on the road, and they talked of spring and autumn. The wild geese urged the swallows, telling them to part ways quickly, not to waste time. But they said they had broken their promise. Now, look, the swallows have flown away, and the wild geese have returned faithfully. My darling, do you remember Confucius's words? A large cart without a linchpin, a small cart without a linchpin, how can they move? You, my untrustworthy darling, are worse than a bird. With tears welling in my eyes, I wept in my boudoir, my golden lotus feet bursting open." She sighed, "Oh dear, I regret misjudging you back then. My darling, I was just waking from a drunken stupor, like a bucket falling into someone else's well." As she finished

singing, tears streamed down her cheeks, her heart burning like oil. Suddenly, the old man at the door came in and said, "Master Zhu has returned with a letter." Hearing this, Huo Shi was overjoyed, her spirits immediately lifted. She hurried downstairs to her room and said, "Quickly, invite him in." A moment later, the old man and Zhu Sikuan entered the main room. Huo Shi came out, Zhu Sikuan bowed, and Huo Shi returned the bow. After being seated, Zhu Sikuan said, “Congratulations, sister, Master has taken up his post. Since arriving there, he presented gifts, and Master Ruan was overjoyed, appointing him as the commander of the Changhe Guard. I also went to his post with him. There are no civil officials there; Master governs the army on horseback and the people on foot. The region is also prosperous, truly awe-inspiring. I stayed for a few days, but Master, fearing that Madam would be anxious, sent me back, hence the delay.” Because Tiehua had become an official, she spoke a few words about the current affairs, saying: “

Right and wrong are reversed, like muddy lakes; how can these people abuse their official careers?

Only money can serve them; the commander no longer cares about wisdom or folly.”

Madam Huo summoned all the men and women in the household and instructed them, "Your master has received his official appointment and gone to take up his post. Master Zhu is staying at home to look after things. He is resting in his study, so please serve him carefully. If Master Zhu arrives, please come upstairs to speak. Since the master is not home, there is nothing for me to do here. The servants do not need to come up; if anything happens, I will call you. The maids should close the main gate and side gate of the main hall early before nightfall." Everyone agreed. They thought that their mistress was so virtuous and capable, so who would dare disobey? Little did they know it was all a trick. Zhu Sikuan got up to leave, saying, "I'm just going home to visit today; I'll come again tomorrow." Madam Huo did not try to keep him and had the old man go with him. The

next day, Madam Huo ordered a jar of fine wine to be brought in and personally prepared a sumptuous feast. In the afternoon, Zhu Sikuan arrived. The old servant came up to tell him that Madam Huo had instructed the kitchen to prepare a meal for him and had the maids close the back gate of the main hall early in the morning. A new set of bedding was placed on the bed—a tiger-skin rug and a tiger-patterned mat—truly a

new arrangement of quilts and pillows to welcome back her old lover.

In the evening, she freshened up, changed into new clothes, and thoroughly washed her vulva with fragrant soap. At dusk, Huo Shi ordered her maids to light two all-night candles, set out dishes, and warm wine. She instructed the maids, "Your mistress entrusted Master Zhu to look after the house. We are the hosts, he is the guest; how can we not treat him well? Invite him to sit down. You are all here to serve him; do not shirk your duties." She sent two maids ahead to invite him, not through the main hall, but through the side gate. The maids returned shortly with Zhu Sikuan, and they were seated opposite each other.

Zhu Sikuan found him even more handsome and charming, his fragrance intoxicating, and he became increasingly infatuated. Huo Shi, too, had been separated from him for over two months and had never been to this room before; she also wanted to try out the new home with her old flame. With the maidservants nearby, she could only feign seriousness as she drank, speaking in a seemingly respectable manner while her eyes darted towards him, a slight smile playing on her lips. Zhu Sikuan was also anxious, wishing he could embrace him. His brow furrowed, and an idea came to him. "Sikuan, this plan was used by Huo Shi before in front of Tong Zida," he said, giving Huo Shi a wink. "It's kind of these ladies to be working at this time; I'll offer each of them a bowl." He then asked for a rice bowl, one for each of them. None of the maidservants had such a generous spirit; they all declined. Huo Shi said, "You ungrateful wretches! Master Zhu is giving you a treat; dare you refuse?" The maidservants had no choice but to hold their noses and each drink a bowl. Zhu Sikuan said, "I'll offer you two bowls." Seeing that Zhu Sikuan was being accommodating and the mistress was pressuring them, the maidservants had no choice but to eat, and thus drank another bowl. Only one of them fared slightly better; the other three ran to the west room, vomiting up their dinner and wine from their mouths and noses, covering the floor with vomit, and fell asleep immediately. This one, clutching the wine pot, swayed precariously, unable to stand. Zhu Sikuan said, "Put the pot down, I'll eat myself, you rest." The maidservant readily agreed, placing the pot on the table, running over, and lying down to sleep.

Huo Shi quickly closed the door. It was still warm in early autumn, and the two, completely naked, embraced and drank several cups, one after another. Huo Shi sucked on his penis a few times, noticing its erection, and quickly used a handkerchief to restrain it. Huo Shi then mounted him, thrusting into him from the opposite direction, drinking and moving simultaneously. After playing for a while, their drunkenness subsided, but their lust intensified, and they went to bed together. That night, one on top, the other on bottom, the two made love all night long. In over ten years of friendship, this was the first time they had truly enjoyed themselves. As dawn approached, Zhu Sikuan dressed and went out. Huo Shi, having slept, finally got out of bed. When she went to check on the maids in the west room, they were all still asleep. She called out to them, but they were all still groggy and disoriented. She packed up her things. Every three or four days, she would invite Zhu Sikuan over, and the maids would get thoroughly drunk each time.

Meanwhile, the servants in her household, whose husbands had all gone with their masters, and whose mistresses didn't summon them, had nothing to do each day. They would gather in groups of three or four, idly gossiping. One day, three women gathered together, chatting about everyday matters. It was the same woman who had seen Zhu Sikuan's genitals that day, and the two who had been talking with Huo Shi in the west room. As the three were talking, one said, "We men are leaving, who knows when we'll be back? We're unlikely to get a chastity arch. Master Zhu is in our house now. That treasure you saw of his back then, it's a strange thing. Why don't you try it and see what it's like?" Another said, "I dare not mess with that thing. It broke its intestines, and there's nowhere to find a cobbler to mend it. You said you could endure four ounces of liquor, why don't you drink four ounces and be the first to try it? If it doesn't matter, we can all go and have a taste." The third person urged, "If you're really that happy, I'll go get some liquor to cheer you up." This woman, who loved liquor, became even more enthusiastic after drinking. She said, "I've never heard of a ghost dying from being fucked by the King of Hell. If you really bring some liquor, I'll drink until I'm half-drunk and then go try it out." The woman indeed took out several dozen coins, went to the gate, and asked the old gatekeeper to bring several jin of liquor. He took the wine into the house, tore off two small dishes of vegetables, and the three of them chatted and laughed as they drank together. He told the woman, "Drink a couple more cups, it'll make you braver." The woman didn't refuse. When it was time to light the lamps, the wine was finished, and he said, "Let's go together. If we stay any longer, he might fall asleep." They were all a little tipsy, so they went to the study. Seeing that the courtyard gate was closed, they knocked lightly a few times.

Zhu Sikuan was just getting ready for bed when he heard a knock at the door. Not knowing why, he went to open it. He saw three women who rushed in. Once inside, Zhu Sikuan followed them in and said, "What brings you three sisters-in-law here at this hour?" One of them, who was about to lead the way, grinned at him. Another said, "Don't you recognize me, Master Zhu?" Zhu Sikuan replied, "Although I'm often here, I recognize your faces, but I don't know your names." The woman laughed, "Her husband is named Gao Xing, Master Zhu knows him. One year, I was emptying the chamber pot at the outhouse when I saw Master Zhu urinating there. I saw your unusual object and casually mentioned it to him. Now that Brother Gao Xing has passed away, he saw Master Zhu here alone and was willing to keep him company. He couldn't say it himself, so he asked the two of us to act as matchmakers." Zhu Sikuan was pleased that they were so eager to help. However, since all three had come, he couldn't bring himself to choose just one or two. He feared that if things escalated, she would come and bother him every night, disrupting Huo's affairs. He also worried that a maid might come to invite her, and word would leak out. Feigning seriousness, he said, "How can this be? Your master entrusted me to watch the house. If I do this, and people find out, what face will I have?" The woman, initially delighted, was scorned and turned to anger. She became impatient and said, "I came to keep you company out of kindness, and you treat me like this. Did I really ask for your writing? You're afraid of losing face? Tomorrow I'll give you a real lesson. When no one's around, I'll scratch your face. I'll shout that you harassed me. When my master and I, the men, return, we'll talk to you and see if you'll still have any face left!"

Zhu Sikuan thought to himself, what does this woman know about shame? If she really did it, what would become of her? He wanted to go home to avoid her, but firstly, he couldn't bear to leave Huo, and secondly, he had been entrusted by Tiehua. If he suddenly went back, what excuse would he have? A thought flashed through his mind: "If I keep him in check, I'll teach him a lesson he won't forget." Once one of them has suffered a loss, the other two will naturally dare not bother him again. He then smiled and said, "I was defending you, why are you angry? I am extremely grateful for your kindness. Since this woman saw my things, I was afraid you would suffer, so I pretended to say those things to you. It was all out of good intentions." The woman said, "I don't believe it's that serious. Your grandmother is just one cunt, do you think it's made up of two or three?" "What a strange idea." Zhu Sikuan said, "Let me show you first. Don't complain if you suffer." He then pulled down his pants, took out his penis, and said, "Take a look, whether you can do it or not is up to you." When the woman saw his penis was hard as a rock, like a large, ripe lotus root, her eyes blazed with fire. She didn't care about life or death and said, "I'm not afraid, I'm not afraid. I'm not afraid even if it gets bigger."

At this point, he couldn't bear it any longer, so he took off his pants, lay down on the drunkard's chair, put his legs on the two chair pivots, and opened his vulva wide. Zhu Sikuan, now fully undressed, was determined to give her a good thrashing. Without uttering a sound, he aimed at the entrance and thrust in with all his might, managing to get halfway in. The woman cried out, "Oh dear, I'm going to die!" Zhu Sikuan pushed in two more times, and the woman cried out, "Master Zhu, spare my life!" Zhu Sikuan ignored her and thrust in twice more forcefully, getting in more than halfway. The woman's voice became hoarse, her body trembling violently, screaming "Ouch, ouch!"

The two other women watched, their hair standing on end, and they too began to tremble. Zhu Sikuan said, "You said you weren't afraid, just bear with it for a while." He pulled out completely and thrust in again. The woman cried out again, trembling, "Oh no, oh no, I'm going to die! My lower abdomen is going to burst!" Zhu Sikuan knew she had tasted the heat and suddenly pulled out. The woman cried out again, "That's enough!" She groaned and moaned. When the two women saw him, his face was pale and his lips were blue, and he trembled uncontrollably, saying, "Oh no, oh no, my thing is split in two!" They looked at his vulva and indeed, it was split open, forming a large hole with his anus.

Zhu Sikuan grabbed the two women with both hands and said, "He's no good, you two try." The two women covered their crotches with their hands, their legs tightly clamped together, and said, "Master Zhu, Ancestor Zhu, we dare not offend you, save your food." Zhu Sikuan laughed and let go. The two women helped the women up, but his back was bent and he couldn't straighten up. After resting for a while, without putting on trousers, the two women supported him. He rubbed his lower abdomen with one hand, limping and constantly groaning. The woman slept for half a month before getting up, her back still bent and aching. She wondered if her vulva had healed properly. The three women never thought of her again.

But enough of this story; time flies, and winter arrived early again. One day, the weather was bitterly cold, and snow fell heavily all day. That evening, Huo invited Zhu Sikuan to sit by the fire and enjoy the snow. She got all the maids drunk, and they all hid under the covers. It was so cold; who would want to come over? Huo and Zhu Sikuan drank for a while, both becoming tipsy. Huo said, "The bed is cold; let's sleep in the fire pit." She got up, spread out the bedding, and put down the pillows. She moved the table over to the fire pit, and also brought over the brazier to warm the wine. The two took off their shirts and trousers; Huo wore a red silk jacket. Zhu Sikuan wore only a blue silk waistcoat, covered his lower body with the quilt, and sat to drink.

Huo said, "I'll give you a drinking game. If you win, you climb on top of me and slap me fifty times, and I'll drink a big cup. If I win, I'll slap you fifty times, and you'll drink a big cup. Is that alright?" Zhu Sikuan laughed, "That's a bit difficult for me. Fine, I'll do it your way." The two played rock-paper-scissors. Huo won first, and Zhu Sikuan lay down. Huo climbed on top of him. Zhu Sikuan pounded on his buttocks with both hands and sat down hard fifty times. Zhu Sikuan drank a big cup. They played again, and this time Zhu Sikuan won. Huo lay on his back, and Zhu Sikuan climbed on top of him. Huo grabbed his buttocks with both hands and pounded on them hard fifty times. "Huo is on top, so Zhu Sikuan uses a pounding motion. Zhu Sikuan is on top, so Huo uses a shovel. This depicts the lewd image of the two. The book begins with Yu Fu and Chang playing a guessing game, and the book is almost finished. It concludes with Zhu Sikuan and Huo playing a guessing game, echoing the beginning." Huo drank a large cup and went up and down several times, causing Zhu Sikuan to ejaculate. Huo was in high spirits and rubbed him vigorously until he became hard again. Zhu Sikuan ejaculated three times, but this time he couldn't get hard again.

That day, Zhu Mei bought some sausages and brought them home. He was touched and suddenly realized something, so he applied it to other situations. He asked Zhu Mei to buy a cow intestine and five catties of beef. In the room, he chopped the beef, took a piece of offal about a foot long, stuffed it with the meat, making it about the size of a bowl, and tied it with thread. He weighed it a few times and said, "It seems too thick to use now. It will be suitable after it dries." He hung it under the eaves of the back of the house where there was no sunlight. When Zhu Mei and his wife saw this, they wondered why he was ignoring the fragrant pig intestines and instead consuming this cow intestine. They chuckled to themselves, thinking they would try some once it was dry.

Every day, Hao's wife eagerly awaited the intestine, begging him to dry it quickly. After ten days, the intestine gradually shrank, becoming about the size of a bell mouth and a foot long, slightly larger than Zhu Sikuan's. Hao's wife happily said, "Although it's larger than his, I think it'll still be enough. If I push it too hard, it'll be too hard and too small." So she took it down, and that night, in bed, she stripped naked, lay on her back with her legs wide up, and tried to push the intestine into her vagina. But how could it go in? Her vulva was only two pieces of wide skin left; the intestine, thick and dry, was hard and stiff. Even with the skin inside, it was impossible to insert. She used a lot of saliva, but still couldn't get it in. She broke out in a sweat, desperately trying to come up with a brilliant idea. He got out of bed, scooped some hot water into a foot basin, soaked the intestines, squatted in the basin, opened his vulva wide, and also soaked it thoroughly. Then he inserted the intestines, about half of them going in. He sat down and pushed them all the way in. He was overjoyed, quickly wiped the water off his buttocks, held the intestines between his legs, and went back to bed. He kept pulling in and out with his hand, thoroughly enjoying himself, feeling even better than Zhu Sikuan.

Because Zhu Sikuan had aged, although his intestines were still large, they were not as vigorous and hard as in his prime, and his appearance was far inferior to what it used to be. The meat inside this cow intestine was dried, and after being scalded by the hot water, it gradually swelled up, becoming even thicker and longer than Zhu Sikuan's, so Hao felt it was more beautiful. Moreover, after being separated for more than two months, tasting something new and delicious again made her feel even more pleasure. She kept pounding for a while, and while she felt very happy inside, she was old and her strength was limited, and she felt very sore. At this moment, he felt refreshed all over and thought, "I'll take a nap, rest up, and do it again when I wake up." Fearing that it would fall out while he was asleep, he pushed his intestines back in, sending them all into his vagina, and then closed his legs tightly and fell asleep.

Feeling completely refreshed and having exerted himself, he slept soundly until dawn. He felt something in his abdomen, attacking his heart with a sharp pain. Startled awake, he hurriedly tried to feel for the intestines, but they were nowhere to be found. He reached his fingers into his vagina, feeling them but unable to grasp them. In his anxiety, he felt the upward attack, his abdomen bloating. He had completely inserted them before falling asleep, and as he drifted off, the upward movement of the air had pulled the intestines back in. He first soaked them in hot water, then in his vaginal fluids; the dried intestines became moist and swollen again. Although his vagina was open, could it withstand such a massive object, as thick as a rice bowl and over a foot long? Now he was also anxious, so he got up and squatted on the toilet, trying to get them out. He sat for a long time, but the intestines remained bloated in his abdomen; how could they come out? He gradually felt the bloating become unbearable; the obstruction below prevented the flow of air, causing it to attack upwards. Her face burned like fire, and her eyes blazed with fury. Desperate and disregarding shame, she called for Cai Xiang and told him to find a way to remove it.

Hao lay on her back on the bed, her hands gripping her legs, her vulva wide open like a bell's mouth. Cai Xiang probed with his fingers, able to feel it, but couldn't find a way to get it out. He went to Zhu Mei and said, "The other day, we thought the intestines Mom had given us were for her to eat, that she always eats them at home, but we never expected her to actually eat them. How can we digest them?" Who knew she used them as a substitute for diapers? Now they're stuck inside, causing her heart pain. We can't get them out, we can't get them out. What should we do?" Zhu Mei exclaimed, "There's no way!" After thinking for a moment, she said, "Try using pliers to clamp it inside; maybe you can get it out." He hurriedly found some pliers and handed them to Cai Xiang. He came in and told Hao Shi what was wrong. Hao Shi was also anxious and couldn't think of a solution, so she had to ask him to use the pliers. They were inserted, but the intestines were large and slippery, and the pliers couldn't hold them. They gripped the flesh here and there, causing Hao Shi to scream in pain. She said, "This method is not good. Think of another way." Cai Xiang took out the pliers, thought for a while, and said, "The last time I had a miscarriage, the baby wouldn't come out, and Grandma Yang reached in and took it out. I'll do the same." Hao Shi felt very distressed at this moment and said, "That's it. Please save my life quickly." Qiu Xiang took a bowl of oil, moistened her hands, and reached into the vagina. The intestines were slippery, and the oil made them even slipperier. She couldn't find them, and the more she squeezed, the more it went up, until it reached her chest. Hao Shi was old and weak. Her complexion changed, she gasped for breath, and her limbs went limp. Seeing the situation was bad, Cai Xiang quickly withdrew her hand and called Zhu Mei in. When she came in, her breath was already faint. Not long after, she passed away. "Didn't you want to have fun, but it came to this?" The two of them cried a few times and quickly dressed her and laid her down. Zhu Mei ran to the Zhong family to report.

Qian Gui, upon hearing this, came in person and wept bitterly. When asked what illness it was, Cai Xiang explained the strange way she had died. Qian Gui, hearing of her death, felt ashamed and watched her being prepared for burial before returning home. He and Zhong Sheng also came to offer a sacrifice. After the funeral and burial, Hao died a martyr's death, his bones buried with Zhu Sikuan. No further details. Hao had lived a life of debauchery, and this was how he died in his old age. Though he brought this upon himself, it was also retribution for his lust.
Zhu Mei saw Hao off and checked his purse, finding that his savings of two thousand taels of silver were still intact. Overjoyed, he discussed the matter with Cai Xiang all night. The next day, he took three hundred taels and went to Jiangbei to find Huang Jinju, intending to seek a small future. The clerk, Huang, said, "Your uncle and aunt have not even been dead for a hundred days, why are you already thinking of doing this?" Zhu Mei replied, "I'm taking advantage of the fact that Master Ruan is selling official positions now, so I have this connection. If I wait until my mourning period is over, or if I change offices, or if my cousin is no longer here, there will be no hope. If I find an official position now, my parents' spirits will naturally be happy and will not blame me." Seeing his words, the clerk, Huang, smiled and put away the silver. He then begged Ruan Dacheng for favor, saying that Zhu Mei was his cousin and asking for a future through bribery. Although Ruan Dacheng was reluctant to let people become officials for nothing, he had earned a lot of money through Zhu Mei's connections, and later important matters would still require his help. He had no choice but to suppress his heartache, falsely claim military merit, and release Zhu Mei as a centurion of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Zhu Mei received his appointment and went home, openly assuming his post. He wore a gauze hat and jade belt, and a bright red crepe gauze round collar. Everyone knew he was the son of the Hao family and a "rabbit" (a derogatory term for a woman of humble origins), and they composed a four-line rhyme to tease him: "

Now the rabbit is so proud, only because his crotch is fragrant.

His adoptive father is a gambling addict, his mother and wife are both prostitutes.

" Zhu Mei heard this, but he was not ashamed at all, and everywhere he went he acted like a master. Everyone who saw he still had some money flattered this "master." With the affairs of the state in such a state, how many discerning people were laughed at, and how many righteous men were saddened. But let's pause for the digression.

Now, let's talk about Zhong Sheng, who heard at his house that Yue Gong had impeached Ruan Dacheng, but Hongguang refused to listen. The old man, angered, vomited blood several times. He had toiled day and night for the country, eating little and burdened with work, until he fell ill and died. Zhong Sheng, refusing Ma Shiying's invitation, stayed indoors and dared not go to pay his respects. On the way, he set up a memorial tablet and wept bitterly to express his gratitude to his teacher. Huan E, along with Jia Wenwu and Tong Zida, personally went to his residence to pay their respects. Le Gong was penniless, without any official purse. The three of them jointly presented a small gift of 1,000 taels of silver for his relocation back to his hometown. Bao Xin wept bitterly before the coffin and personally officiated at the funeral. He also sent 120

taels of silver as a token of gratitude for Le Gong's kindness. On the day of his departure, Tong Zida personally saw him off at Pukou, giving his wife and son 3,000 taels of silver for their household expenses, as a way of repaying the kindness of not heeding Liu Hong's slander and protecting them.

Zhong Sheng remained at home, depressed all day, gazing at the moon and wind, only sighing deeply. Qian Gui and Dai Mu tried their best to comfort him, but he only opened his eyes and remained silent. Rumors have it that Xu Dingguo, the garrison commander of Suizhou, murdered Gao Jie, the Earl of Xingping, and has fled north. Minister Shi is in Yangzhou, facing a dire situation.

Now, who is Xu Dingguo? How did he murder Gao Jie? He was from Taikang and was a valiant general. When he first defended Henan, bandits suddenly attacked, raining arrows upon the city. Dingguo stood on the watchtower, wildly swinging his sword left and right, severing each arrow in two, the arrows reaching his height. As the bandits' fire slowed, he laughed and said to the bandit general, "Are you tired? Since you can't shoot, quickly go and fetch a plank for everyone to block my arrows." The bandit general, knowing him to be a master archer, indeed ordered his soldiers to bring planks. The general hid behind the planks, watching how he would shoot. Dingguo fired several arrows with iron-tipped arrows, pinning the general to the plank, and the bandits scattered in terror.

He often gathered with others for drinks, and they would say, "We've heard of your divine archery skills, and we've already witnessed them. But you are incredibly brave; we wish to see your skill." He would respond, and suddenly leap up, grabbing the eaves with both hands, his whole body suspended in mid-air, traversing almost the entire length of the eaves without changing color. At this time, he was over seventy years old, having been pardoned and released from prison as a general, and was stationed in Suizhou. He ruined his family to support scholars, yet he felt his merits were too great to be rewarded with a high rank. He often belittled Gao Jie, a surrendered bandit, for being granted the title of Earl. Every time he submitted a memorial, he denounced Gao Jie as a bandit. Gao Jie later learned of this and harbored deep hatred, often saying, "If I see him, I will surely kill him with my own hands." At this time, Minister Shi wanted to recover the Central Plains and personally supervised the army, treating Gao Jie generously and appointing him to lead his troops as the vanguard. When Gao Jie arrived in Suizhou, Dingguo greeted him dozens of miles away, kneeling before his horse to receive him. Seeing this, Gao Jie dismounted, coldly smiled, and helped him up, saying, "You are a general, why do you perform this ceremony?" Once inside the camp, he sat down and asked, "Don't you know I intend to kill you? Why didn't you flee and dare to come before me?" Xu Dingguo kowtowed and said, "Dingguo knows you are often angry, but I don't know what crime I have committed." Gao Jie said, "You have repeatedly submitted memorials calling me a thief, isn't that a crime?" Dingguo said, "That's why Dingguo refused to hide and came to see you. Dingguo is illiterate, and all memorials are written by a scribe. Dingguo is completely illiterate and doesn't understand the meaning of the memorials. To kill Dingguo for this would be a great injustice." Gao Jie asked, "Where is your scribe?" Dingguo said, "He knew he was guilty, and upon hearing of your arrival, he fled, his whereabouts unknown. Dingguo didn't flee precisely to explain this matter to you, it wasn't Dingguo's intention." Gao Jie, a rough and straightforward man, felt pity for him seeing his cautious submission. He believed his words to be true.

Dingguo had a commander of a thousand men who, knowing Dingguo intended to harm Gao Jie, submitted a petition accusing Dingguo of plotting against him. Gao Jie, wanting to treat Dingguo with sincerity, had the commander flogged sixty times and sent to Dingguo to be executed. He then slaughtered an animal with Dingguo and swore brotherhood. Dingguo presented Gao Jie with a beautiful woman, but Gao Jie refused, saying, "This is unnecessary for the army. You can keep her until I return victorious, to entertain my old age." Gao Jie's camp was twenty li from the city. He gave Dingguo a royal flag, instructing him to hang it on the city wall with the order: "My soldiers are not allowed to enter the city without orders; those who disobey will be executed." Dingguo invited Gao Jie into the city for a banquet, but Gao Jie only brought three hundred elite soldiers. Upon arriving at Dingguo's residence, Dingguo hosted a banquet with lanterns, music, and wine. He ordered Gao Jie's brothers to accompany the generals and personal guards in a separate area, while women and guests sat among them. When the wine was flowing freely, Dingguo's brother began to act strangely. One of Gao Jie's generals, sensing something amiss, rose and went to the banquet, whispering in Gao Jie's ear, "At today's banquet, his brothers seem very ambitious; I fear they may be plotting something. We must be wary." Gao Jie pushed him away, saying, "Go ahead. How dare they harbor such thoughts? Just drink heartily." Seeing his commander's words, the general paid no further attention.

They drank for a long time, until the third watch of the night, when all three hundred men were drunk and went to rest elsewhere. Only a few children attended to Gao Jie before his bed. As the night was drawing to a close, he suddenly heard a series of loud clattering sounds from the roof tiles. Startled, Gao Jie went outside to see what was happening and saw dozens of strong men scaling the walls and leaping into the house. Gao Jie frantically searched for his iron rod, but it had already been stolen. He then seized a spear and fought fiercely for a long time. At this point, even more men entered, and Gao Jie, attacked from both sides and without support, was captured. All three hundred of his valiant men who had come with him were killed. Xu Dingguo sat down facing south and said, "I have suffered enough humiliation at your hands for the past three days. What are you going to do now?" Gao Jie laughed loudly and shouted, "I was tricked by a mere scoundrel; what do I have to fear in death?" He continued to curse. Dingguo then had him killed. "Although Gao Jie is dead, he was still a straightforward man, only lacking in rudeness. As for Xu Dingguo, he is disloyal and unjust, a treacherous and deceitful villain; truly, as the saying goes, 'To be old and not die is to be a thief.'" Knowing that his main force was commanded by Madam Xing, who was well-known for his wisdom and courage, and fearing his revenge, she took her relatives and family and fled north overnight. Upon hearing this, the entire city of Suizhou fled.

One of Gao Jie's brave men, who had been hiding under the bed, managed to escape the city and report the details to Madam Xing. He then led his troops to the city at breakneck speed, only to find it deserted. Madam Xing was furious and, in retaliation, massacred all the inhabitants within two hundred li of Suizhou. When Minister Shi arrived in Xuzhou, he initially refused to believe the report. Upon hearing that it was indeed true, he wept bitterly, saying, "The Central Plains are beyond saving." He turned his troops back to Yangzhou, but seeing that the situation was hopeless, he realized he could not hold out. Zhong Sheng then received a messenger report from along the riverbank that Zuo Liangyu had learned the Crown Prince of Chongzhen had escaped from the sea, but Ma Shiying refused to acknowledge him. He falsely accused Wang Zhiming of being an imposter and had him tortured outside the Meridian Gate. Although everyone knew it was true, they wept in secret, none daring to utter a word in his defense, fearing to offend Ma Shiying. Someone inscribed a poem on the palace wall, one couplet of which read: "

Fusu, the prince from the sea, was not truly dead; his illness in prison is no longer a cause for suspicion."

The entire city erupted in uproar. Ma Shiying, also fearing public wrath, temporarily imprisoned him. Zuo Liangyu was furious, believing Ma Shiying had harmed the late emperor's crown prince and sought to eliminate the evil ministers around the emperor. He led a large army from Huguang, their momentum overwhelming. Shiying dispatched all his troops along the river, including Huang Degong, Liu Zeqing, and Liu Liangzuo, to the upper reaches to meet them. Some advised him, "The Qing army is advancing south with great force. If we withdraw all our troops to block the upstream, how will we defend the riverbanks? Besides, Zuo Liangyu is not betraying the court; he merely wants to rescue the Crown Prince." Ma Shiying angrily replied, "I would rather be killed by the Qing than by Zuo Liangyu." How could anyone dissuade him? So they transferred all the troops away. One day, someone wrote a couplet in his hall: "The

rebel has no way out, a lone horseman roams the world.

The mastermind has ears, […]"

Zhong Sheng, upon hearing this, knew the situation was hopeless and was filled with unease. Upon hearing of the deeds of Xu Yishi, the Bearded Woodcutter, and the Monk Erxue, he sighed, “The Bearded Woodcutter, though lacking any personal honor, still possessed the loyalty of Lu Zhonglian and the unwavering resolve to defy the Qin dynasty. Xu Yishi, though lacking official rank and emolument, still died when his country fell; how much more so should I, who have enjoyed a salary for years? I have always hated the corrupt officials near me. They are well-versed in poetry and literature, speaking of loyalty and filial piety in ordinary times, yet in times of trouble, they only seek wealth and power. I grit my teeth in anger. Now, unable to die, I betray my original aspirations, and I am deeply ashamed before Xu Yishi and the Bearded Woodcutter. If I do not follow the example of Erxue, still clinging to my wife, children, and home, seeking only joy, I will not only be a sinner against morality, but how will I face the spirits of the late emperor in heaven and my ancestors in the underworld? There are many deep mountains and valleys in Zhejiang; why not retreat alone and become a recluse, thus finding some peace of mind?” He then made up his mind to go.

Now, let us tell you the story of Xu Yishi, the Bearded Woodcutter, and the Monk Erxue. Let me explain in detail. Xu Yishi, whose given name was Ruyu, was from Changzhou County, Wu Commandery. He was exceptionally intelligent from a young age. At six, he read the *Analects*, reaching the section on "attacking heresies." He asked his teacher, "What are heresies?" The teacher replied, "They are not the way of the sages; they are the teachings of Yang Zhu and Mozi." He then asked, "Which is more like this place today?" The teacher said, "Buddhism and Taoism." He said, "Are these the people who harm the world today?" From then on, he stopped worshipping Buddha. When someone asked him why, he said, "Buddha is heresy; why should I worship him?" Later, while reading *Mencius*, he came to the section on "Those who can refute Yang Zhu and Mozi are disciples of the sages." He then resolutely took it upon himself to uphold the Way and deeply abhorred the monks and Taoist priests. He said, "If I were to govern in the future, I would surely eliminate them all to purify my Way." At that time, there was a monk named Zongheng, who was on good terms with Xu Yishi's father and brothers. He once visited their home, and Xu Yishi always changed color upon seeing him. Zongheng asked in surprise, "This humble monk has no enmity with you, sir, why are you glaring at me like that?" He replied, "You sages and worthies have abandoned morality and willingly embraced heresy, thus disrupting our Confucian tradition. How can you say there is no enmity?" He was only seven years old at the time. Zongheng smiled and left, not returning to his home for a long time.

His father and elder brother happened to meet him and inquired about the reason. Zongheng smiled and said, "Your family has a sage; we heretics should abandon ourselves." He then recounted his words, which greatly surprised those who heard them. At thirteen, he entered the academy, the youngest among the students, yet he possessed a mature demeanor. His dozens of classmates respected him greatly. At twenty, he received a supplementary imperial examination, and his reputation soared even higher. He always sought the essence of what he read, avoiding empty talk. He once said to someone, "Scholars should study the ancients, exploring the essence of the sages' minds. They must also put it into practice to restore their innate nature; otherwise, it is of no use." After his parents died, he mourned for six years without ceasing his weeping, nor did he ever enter his bedroom, his longing growing ever stronger with each passing day. Upon hearing of Emperor Chongzhen's death, Chongyu immediately wrote the four characters "Emperor Chongzhen" on his inner garment and mourning clothes, wailing and vowing to die. His family tried to persuade him, saying, "You are but a scholar, not bound by official duty. You can choose to die or not. To die is to jeopardize courage, something even sages would not advocate." Chongyu glared and rebuked them, "You are the one who brings peace to the world and gives life to your subjects. Your subjects are the parents of the world. How can a son live on when his parents have been killed by bandits? Yi and Qi starved to death on Shouyang Mountain. How could an official with a salary and grain be allowed to do so? I merely wish to uphold my integrity and demonstrate righteousness to the world. Besides, I am already receiving a stipend; one who eats the food of others should die for them. My mind is made up; do not trouble yourself further." He seized an opportunity to throw himself into the Changjiang River. His family rushed to his rescue, but he refused to eat for eight days and died.

The bearded woodcutter's register is lost, and his name is unknown. Because of his beautiful beard, skill in woodcutting, and advanced age, everyone called him the Bearded Woodcutter. He was over eight feet tall and possessed great strength. He would carry three hundred catties of firewood to the market, but only charge the price of one hundred catties. People were puzzled and asked him why. He replied, "Everyone can only carry one hundred catties; my ability to carry three hundred catties is due to Heaven. How dare I claim Heaven's credit for my own strength? To claim it from Heaven is inauspicious, and to benefit oneself is evil; both are vices. If one cannot practice virtue in this world, how can one tread evil?" People laughed, thinking him eccentric. Every morning, he would carry firewood to the market, buy wine with it, drink heartily, and sing as he returned home, doing this every day. In the afternoon, he would gather firewood in the Dongting Mountains, only venturing into places rarely visited by people. People were again puzzled and asked him why. He said, "I am strong enough to gather firewood from afar. Those who are weaker should let me gather it closer to home." In early summer, the people in the mountains heard that the rebel Li Zicheng had captured the capital, Emperor Chongzhen had died for the country, and the rebels had changed the era name to Yongchang. Upon hearing this, the bearded woodcutter beat his chest and wailed, saying, "I knew the emperor's surname was Zhu, why has it suddenly changed to Li?" After a long silence, he said, "How can a traitor be my emperor?" He then wept bitterly for three days before throwing himself into Zhenze Lake and dying.

The second monk, named Xingzhi, belonged to the Lin clan. His ancestors were from Putian, Fujian, but his first ancestor moved to Ruian, Zhejiang. The monk was naturally filial. He studied at the academy in his early twenties, passed the provincial examination in the year of Yimao during the Wanli era, and became a Jinshi in the year of Wuchen during the Chongzhen era, the same year as Zhong Sheng. He initially served as the magistrate of Puqi in Huguang. In the years of Gengwu and Guiyou, he was assigned to the Chu examinations and was praised for his talent. After three years, his reputation for virtuous conduct reached the emperor, and he was promoted to compiler in the Hanlin Academy. In court, he was closest to gentlemen such as Huang Dao, Zhou Ni, and Yuan Lu. Not long after, he was specially transferred to lecture at the Eastern Palace. At that time, the affairs of the country were deteriorating daily, and channels of communication were blocked. Therefore, he presented his lectures on the I Ching, subtly offering criticism and advice. He offended the authorities and was demoted three ranks for other reasons, which aroused public indignation. Huang Jing, the head of the academy, and Li Rixuan, the prime minister, both submitted memorials requesting his reinstatement. He was then promoted to lecturer at the Imperial Lectures and concurrently served as the recorder of the emperor's daily life, and soon after, he was transferred to the position of Junior Chamberlain. He diligently studied the classics day and night, hoping to win the emperor's favor and restore order from chaos. However, the mandate of heaven had changed, the rebel Li Zicheng invaded the capital, the country was destroyed, and the emperor died. He could only look up to the sky and cry out, beating his heart and weeping blood. The rebel Li Zicheng forced him to submit, subjecting him to torture until he was almost killed, but he refused to yield to the rebels. Later, he escaped and returned south, where he worked with Shi Kefa to plan national affairs. At that time, Ma Shiying was in power and knew of his talent. He summoned him several times, but they often disagreed. Erxue knew that defeat was inevitable and worried day and night. Shi Kefa recommended him for a position in the Ministry of Rites, but Erxue knew he could not tolerate it, so he claimed to be ill and firmly declined to return home. Not long after, he was summoned by the cabinet again. Erxue knew that the matter was hopeless, so he went to Elder Lü Feng and became a monk.

Upon hearing of the deeds of the three men, Zhong Sheng thought: "Although I cannot emulate the righteous man Xu and the bearded woodcutter, why not follow the example of the two Xues and flee to Zen? Whether as a Confucian or a Taoist, I will hide my tracks and go far away." Having made up his mind, he quickly made a bamboo hat, cloth cloak, hemp shoes, and silk sash, a complete Taoist outfit. After making the arrangements, he said to his wives, concubines, and nephews, "Judging from the current situation, we cannot stay in the capital. I will go and find a place to hide, and then I will come back to fetch you all." Qian Gui asked, "Where exactly will you find a place? When will you return?" Zhong Sheng replied, "I will search as I go, but I cannot find a place, nor can I set a date for my return. You should just stay at home and live a good life. As soon as I find a place to go, I will return." He then said to Zhong Zixin, "I see that you are mature in all things, so I don't need to tell you anything." At this time, his eldest son, Zhong Wen, was sixteen years old, and his second son, Zhong Wu, was fourteen years old. He said to the two of them, "When I was your age, I had long since lost my parents. You two should listen to your mother's teachings and your elder brother's instructions, strive for progress, and not bring shame to the family." Everyone saw that although he said he was going home, he was saying that he would never return. They cried and pleaded with him to stay, but he would not listen. He kept it a secret from all his relatives and friends, took only a young boy with him, changed into a simple cloth dress, and had the boy carry a bundle. He quietly walked out of Tongji Gate, and none of his family members were allowed to see him off. He arrived outside the city, hired two mules, and trudged away. Huan Jiatong and the others, having received the news, all came to inquire. They sent men to search everywhere, but found no trace. "Here, Huan Jiatong is taken away; from here, we'll go."

Meanwhile, Zhong Sheng and his servant rode their donkeys to Danyang, then took a boat directly to Tiger Hill. They stayed at an inn, and he said to the young boy, "I went out the other day in a hurry and forgot my travel expenses. You can go back and get them; I'll stay here and wait for you." The boy believed him and took the boat. Upon arriving home and seeing his mistress, he told her what had happened. Qian Gui, suspicious, said, "He took travel expenses; why is he saying this?" He called Zhong Yong, gave him silver, and together with the boy, they rushed to Tiger Hill that very night. Zhong Sheng was nowhere to be found. When they asked the innkeeper, he said, "He only stayed one night; the next day, he disappeared." Zhong Yong searched everywhere for several days without success and had no choice but to return home to report the news.

Upon hearing this, the whole family was bewildered, unsure whether he was alive or dead, and wept bitterly several times. Zhong Zixin wanted to go find his uncle, but Qian Gui refused, saying, "Your uncle has already peacefully departed and is certainly not near the mortal world. There are many deep mountains and remote valleys along the Zhejiang route; how do you know where to look? Besides, your brother is still young, and there is no one to take care of the household affairs; how can you go?" Seeing that his words made sense, he had no choice but to stay at home. However, he often

thought of his uncle's kindness and would weep. Qian Gui, Dai Mu, and his two sons shed countless tears. More than ten years later, a neighbor of the Zhong family named Jin Dexing (whose name Zhong had known since he saved Xiaogouzi, but who thought he had simply made up a name to help Xiaogouzi find his parents) went to Taizhou Prefecture in Zhejiang to visit relatives. Admiring the beauty of Yandang Mountain, he went there to sightsee. He happened to see a thatched hut under an old monk's cliff and went in to rest. Seeing a Taoist priest sitting alone inside, the priest rose to offer him a seat upon his arrival, but remained silent. Jin Dexing found the priest's face strangely familiar and stared at him intently for a while. Suddenly, he remembered and exclaimed, "This man looks just like Master Zhong! He's been away for over ten years; it turns out he's become a monk here!" Still fearing it might not be him, he continued to scrutinize him closely. The priest said, "Why are you staring at me so intently, sir?" Jin Dexing found the voice even more familiar and couldn't help but ask, "Are you Master Zhong?" The priest smiled and said, "If you are Master Zhong, how did you end up here?" Jin Dexing said, "Although Master Zhong has been away from home for over ten years, I'm his neighbor, and we know each other very well. Your face is very similar, only a bit more youthful." The priest smiled but didn't answer. Jin Dexing gazed at him for a long time, the more he looked, the more certain it seemed. Thinking to himself, "His appearance is slightly different, but his voice is unmistakable; it must be him." He stood up and said, "This old man has lived next door to you, sir, for many years and we see each other often. How could I not recognize you? Why would you hide it from me?" Seeing that he had recognized him, Zhong Sheng also stood up and smiled, "Neighbor, you have a good eye. I am Zhong Lisheng." He pulled him by the hand and invited him to sit down. Jin Dexing said, "Since you left, sir, your wife and husband have missed you dearly. Doesn't sir also miss his hometown?" Zhong Sheng laughed, "I have abandoned my home and become a hermit. What is there to miss?" Jin Dexing asked, "Where have you lived all these years, sir? Why are you here alone?" Knowing that he was a virtuous and honest man, Zhong Sheng told him in detail about the places he had visited over the years. As dusk approached, Zhong Sheng said, "The sun is setting behind the mountains. Please return to your residence, sir. This place is not suitable for you to stay overnight. Please come again tomorrow." Jin Dexing then took his leave and returned to his residence. The next morning after breakfast, he returned to the nunnery, only to find a thatched hut, completely empty, devoid of any other possessions. This perfectly matched the two lines of an ancient poem: "

Searched for by the world again, moving home only leads to a deeper seclusion."

Jin Dexing sighed for a while and searched the vicinity for two more days, but found no trace. He knew he had fled far away again. Later, upon returning to Nanjing, he told the Zhong family the details of the letter. Qian Gui and his family wept several times. Zhong Wen and Zhong Wu, both now married, insisted on searching for their father, and Zhong Zixin also wanted to find his uncle. Qian Gui initially refused, saying, "Even if you go, you certainly won't find him. And even if you are lucky enough to find him, he certainly won't come back. Are your father and uncle willing to be like Feng's wife?" Seeing that Qian Gui wouldn't allow it, the three brothers wept day and night. Qian Gui called them to his side and said, "How could I not wish you to go and see him? But I fear it would be a wasted journey, and you would not be able to meet him, your return trip in vain." He then began to weep, saying, "Your writing is divine. The reason I don't let them go is because I know Zhong Sheng well. But how can I not remember the love between husband and wife? How can I not weep? The scene is so vivid. Since you miss him so much, how can I bear to stop your filial piety? Zhong Wu, stay at home. You two brothers go together. If you find him, or if you don't, come back early. Don't leave your mother and me at home waiting anxiously." Zhong Wu said, "We are both the remains of our parents. My elder brother is a nephew, yet he goes. Am I not a son? I must go." "Zhong Yong also cried and insisted on going with them to find their master, and Qian Gui had no choice but to agree.

They packed a bag, took some travel money, and set off overnight. They arrived at Yandang and searched for over half a month without any success. They inquired with nearby residents, but none knew anything. Fearing their mother would anxiously wait at home, the three returned weeping. Upon arriving home, they told the whole story, and the entire family of E'shi, Qian Gui, and Dai Mu wept several times.

Now, you ask, why did Jin Dexing meet Zhong Sheng and end up there? After he coaxed that little boy back home at the Tiger Hill inn, he changed into Taoist robes and sailed to Chongming the next day. The place was remote and in the coastal region, where he stayed for over a month. He then visited Jiangyin, admiring the scenery of the Chengjiang River. Finding Baishi Mountain west of the city quiet and habitable, he called himself the Woodcutter of Baishi Mountain, returned to his scholar's robes, and taught disciples to support himself. The Qing army marched south..." Following this, Yangzhou fell, and Minister Shi committed suicide. Upon hearing this news, Hongguang, without consulting his ministers, led a dozen eunuchs, a dozen concubines, and over thirty horsemen, fleeing towards Caishi in the middle of the night. They were captured by our troops several dozen miles away. The next morning, the palace gates were wide open, and palace maids and eunuchs scattered in panic. When the officials entered the court, they learned that the Emperor had already fled. It was truly a case of:

"Even in the highest palace, there are those who flee; how can there be no officials who flee within the court?"

Everyone scattered in disarray. Previously, Han Zan, Zhou Yangzi, and Li Guofu had been in charge of the Yongwei Battalion, training the imperial guards and serving the country diligently. Ma Shiying impeached Hongguang, sending him to Zhejiang to mine. He seized the battalion seal and renamed his simple-minded son Ma Tai as Ma Xi, appointing him to oversee the battalion. This simpleton held military power, a move that drew ridicule and scorn from all. Ma Shiying had made a special trip to Guizhou before the new year... The prefecture dispatched several hundred Miao soldiers to the capital to serve as imperial guards. He then led his wife, Lady Jian, disguised as the Empress Dowager, and fled with their family to Zhejiang. The people of Zhejiang climbed the city walls, hurling insults and refusing to let them in, forcing them to flee to Fujian. Due to their heavy wealth, they could not travel quickly. Although they could not carry the large silver ingots worth five hundred taels each, they still had hundreds of thousands of loose coins, allowing them to travel only a few miles a day. After crossing the Xianxia Ridge, they encountered Zheng Zhilong, who was rampant in Fujian. Upon hearing the news, Zheng Zhilong dispatched troops to intercept them en route. Ma Shiying and his wife, along with the foolish Ma Tai and his fake grandson Ma Jialu, all died by sword. His daughter-in-law, Xianggu, and his concubines were all robbed by the soldiers and their whereabouts remain unknown. All their life's wealth was seized by the bandits. The Grand Marshal Ruan, being even more shrewd, immediately... He prostrated himself at the camp gate and surrendered. The officers in the camp had long heard of his plays such as "The Swallow's Letter," "The Double Golden List," "The Lion's Deception," and "The Spring Lantern Riddle," and asked if he could compose his own music. He readily rose, grabbed a clapper, and sang to entertain the wine drinkers—his shamelessness was astounding. He was even more cunning, wanting to straddle two sides and become a meritorious official of two dynasties. On one hand, he submitted to our dynasty, and on the other hand, he secretly sent someone to communicate with Emperor Longwu. Later, the army pursued Emperor Longwu, capturing him in Ganzhou. A secret document containing Ruan Dacheng's writings was found in his document box, and soldiers were dispatched to arrest him. Ruan Dacheng was drinking and trying to drown his sorrows at the Flower-Offering Rock in the center when he heard this news. He threw himself down, his head shattered, his flesh and bones turned to mud. Ruan Dacheng had previously killed Lei Yanzuo in prison due to a personal grudge. That morning, he suddenly saw Yanzuo striking his head with an axe. Dacheng bowed and said, "Lord Jie, spare me!" "Jie Gong was the courtesy name of Yan Zuo. He went out for a leisurely stroll because of a heart palpitation, and on that day, he indeed died from brain damage. I left him a few lines of poetry, which read: '

Heaven above is the witness, and earth below is the observer.

The law of the king continues in the open, and ghosts and gods follow in the dark.

Those who commit evil will eventually meet with misfortune, and those who rely on power will eventually lose power.

This is a warning to people to be vigilant in their lives. It is lamentable, frightening, and terrifying.'"

After the deaths of Ruan Zui and Ruan You, he had no other children. At this time, Lady Mao was already over sixty and had no intention of establishing an heir. She amassed a fortune and indulged in pleasure with Pang Zhouli day and night. Seeing their mistress's behavior, the other concubines all followed Lady Ma's example, each sending a strong servant and fleeing, their whereabouts unknown. Later, due to gossip within the Ruan clan, Lady Mao had no choice but to adopt a son. When Ruan Dacheng was alive, Lady Mao's pleasures with Pang Zhouli were merely petty theft. But after Ruan Dacheng's death, having no one to fear, she openly and brazenly summoned Pang Zhouli to her chambers day and night, treating him like a husband and wife. The older she got, the more licentious she became, not content with nighttime pleasures, she also demanded more during the day. Although Pang Zhouli was a strong young man, he hadn't noticed the occasional indulgences. Now, having to entertain them day and night, how could he possibly have the strength? He also feared displeasing his mistress. He had three family members who were allies: one named Sheng Gou, another named Si Fu ("I have met these two before"), and the third named Yang Zhuang ("this is a new acquaintance"). They all knew he was the mistress's favorite and often asked him to introduce them. Pang Zhouli, firstly, did not want to fail the people's trust, and secondly, he was really struggling to keep up, so he wanted to recommend a worthy replacement.

One night, while he was having sex with Mao, he took advantage of Mao's pleasure and said, "I have something to say, please don't be offended, madam, that's why I dare to speak." Mao hugged him, kissed him, and said, "You naughty servant, our relationship is like that of husband and wife, what can't you say? How could I bear to blame you?" "In a book, there are many adulterous women, but are there any as ugly as Mao? I regret that Ruan Dacheng did not know." Pang Zhouli laughed as he spoke, "I am grateful for madam's kindness, I could never repay it even if I were to die. But I feel that my strength is not as good as it used to be, and I am afraid that I will not be able to serve madam as I wish. I want to recommend two or three people to join me." "It means to serve you. I wonder if Grandma would be so kind as to ask?" Upon hearing this, Madam Mao was overjoyed and pretended to say, "I think your abilities are quite good, and besides, we are so close, how could I ask someone else to come? Tell me who you would recommend?" "Your words are a clever way of saying no, wonderful." Pang Zhouli said, "This is something I cannot repay, it comes from my filial piety. A good and righteous servant can only be found in a family as loyal as Ruan Dacheng." As the saying goes, many ships do not hinder the harbor. Not to mention that I would recommend someone to serve you, even if you were to ask someone to serve you right now, would I dare to say a word? I would recommend three people from my own household, namely Sheng Gou, Si Fu, and Yang Zhuang. They are young and strong, and can take on this task. "This means that Madam Mao loved Pang Zhouli more than Gou Xiong, and took him as her lover because of his strong virility. A closer look reveals the truth, and it's quite interesting." "I see that all three of them are strong, especially their lower bodies. Only one is stronger than mine, but Gou's is even half an inch stronger than Gou Xiong's back then. To be honest, Madam, we all compared them when we were hammering nails into the shaft." This made Madam Mao very happy. She hugged him and kissed him repeatedly, laughing and saying, "My body is already yours. How could I possibly object to what you say? You truly accept advice readily." "Just call them over." Pang Zhouli said, "Madam, we are extremely grateful for your kindness. Who should we call to serve us, Madam?" Madam Mao said, "Oh dear, since you recommended them, you should call them all at once. If you order them, they'll say I'm biased, and that you treat them differently." Pang Zhouli said, "Grandma, you are so kind. Since you say so, I will come with them tomorrow night." When Madam Mao heard that the three of them were strong and vigorous, and that Sheng Gouyang was even stronger than Gou Xiong, she was filled with rage and wished she could be there right now to taste them. She couldn't wait until tomorrow night and hurriedly said, "Now that the master has passed away, all the concubines have gone, and the adopted young master is away and not coming up. These few maids are all my confidantes, and you have all been with them. What am I afraid of? I am the head of the family. Who can control me? Come after breakfast tomorrow." Pang Zhouli agreed. He spoke to the three men, who were overjoyed and immediately began to serve their mistress with renewed vigor.

Madam Mao hurriedly urged them to eat, then sat on a rosewood eight-step bed, leaning against the pillows as she waited. Pang Zhouli and the three men went into the room together. The three men knelt and kowtowed, then stood up and grinned at Madam Mao. Madam Mao smiled slightly in return. That day, all three men had been with Madam Mao, and their pleasure was greatly satisfied; their bodies were limp and weak. Afterwards, they took turns serving her, or all four of them came at once, and this continued for several years. Madam Mao was nearing seventy, but her lust remained undiminished. However, she gradually became withered, emaciated, her white hair disheveled, and her body wrinkled like chicken skin. Her vulva became increasingly shriveled and unsightly, her genitals... Mao 's hair was longer and thicker than before, neither yellow nor white, and quite unsightly. The four men, greedy for their mistress's favor, had no choice but to exert themselves to please her.

One day, Mao fell ill, her appetite decreased, and she was on the verge of death, yet she still required the four men to attack her day and night. That day, in broad daylight, the four men were taking turns to have their way with Mao. After several rounds, she groaned twice, her limbs went limp on the bed, and her eyes closed tightly. When Pang Zhouli hurriedly touched her mouth and nose, he found only a faint breath of cold air; it was over. "How can Mao's lewdness be cured? Zhu Sikuan had to play tricks, scalding her to death with medicine, which would be satisfying. A book that concludes with Mao's lewd deeds vividly depicts her extreme depravity, surpassing even others." The four men panicked, quickly dressed, and got out of bed. They secretly opened her chests and cabinets, each taking a thousand taels of her accumulated official wealth, and fled together.

The maids came and, seeing that Madam Mao was dead, hurriedly informed her adopted son. When pressed about the cause of Madam Mao's death, the maids could not hide the truth and had to confess everything. The adopted son immediately went to look for the four men, but they had vanished. He wanted to report them to the authorities, but fearing that their confession would spread their shame, he had no choice but to give up. The funeral was held, and Madam Mao was buried with Ruan Dacheng. Ruan Dacheng, who had committed countless evil deeds, ended up with such a fate for his family. An old saying goes: "The wicked in this world will bring retribution upon their children and grandchildren, and upon themselves." Look at the families of Ruan Dacheng and Ma Shiying; their treachery and misleading of the country have led to their deaths and the extinction of their lineage, making them a laughingstock for all time. Is this not true?

Meanwhile, Pang Zhouli and his three companions, having stolen a large sum of money, fled to Jiangxi. Relying on their remaining wealth, they spent their days gambling and whoring. Within a few months, they were penniless. They joined the gang of notorious bandits empty-handed, were later captured by government troops, and all were executed in the marketplace—a fitting punishment for their wickedness. "The four of them committed adultery with their mistress, a crime deserving of dismemberment. Because Mao was not their mistress, their punishment was reduced by one degree. The retributions in this book are all differentiated by severity."

Furthermore, after Hongguang fled, the civil and military officials, seeing that he, an emperor, had abandoned the empire like worn-out shoes, wondered what their official hats were worth. Each, surrounded by beautiful wives, women, silver, and gold, scattered in a panic, not a single one dying for their principles. Only a beggar, unable to contain his anger, inscribed twenty-eight large characters on the screen wall of the Confucian temple and threw himself into the pond to die. The inscription read: "

For three hundred years, the court has nurtured scholars; how come all the civil and military officials have fled?

Loyal and virtuous remain in humble fields, while beggars are ashamed to even live.

" Upon hearing this, Zhong Sheng, clutching his chest, sighed, "The court provides high ranks and generous salaries to support these people, yet in times of trouble, they are not even as good as a beggar, abandoning their lives in such a way." He often wept. The inhabitants of Baishi Mountain were originally illiterate, all engaged in farming and woodcutting. After Zhong Sheng lived there for several years, he taught his children to be well-educated and capable of writing. Later, those who became scholars surpassed his peers. Zhong Sheng did not like socializing, but he was on good terms with the Laughing Monk of Dongshan, and they were inseparable. This Laughing Monk was of unknown origin, and his speech sounded like that of Chu. He suddenly appeared at Piaozigang and took refuge in a dilapidated temple. He ate straw sandals for food and never begged for a single coin. If someone offered him food, he would laugh and refuse. When he went to the market to sell sandals, he would not change his price. He never spoke to people easily, and he would always laugh when he saw someone. If someone asked him why, he would laugh loudly. He often walked alone in the valleys and would clap his hands and laugh loudly. Sometimes he would stand alone by the pond, always laughing at his reflection. In his spare time from tying sandals, he would sometimes laugh loudly looking up at the sky, or laugh heartily leaning against the wind. Sometimes he would stand alone in the empty courtyard, sometimes laughing silently, or smiling gently. Sometimes he would suddenly burst into laughter, and he never stopped laughing, so the men, women, and children of the village all called him the Laughing Monk.

Whenever he entered the market, the children there would clap and laugh, surrounding him and shouting, "The Laughing Monk is here!" The monk also enjoyed laughing with the children, and they would laugh together endlessly. He often sat with Zhong Sheng in an empty mountain, whispering to each other all day. After they finished speaking, they would look at each other and laugh loudly before dispersing. The monk

had a close friend called the Crying Taoist, whose origins were unknown. He came to Jiangyin out of nowhere, built a thatched hut, and lived alone. He wore a bamboo hat and hemp shoes in both winter and summer when he went to the market to beg for food. When someone gave him food, he would face north and bow twice to offer sacrifices, and with each sacrifice, he would weep, and his weeping would be mournful. When people asked him why, he would weep without answering. If they pressed him for an explanation, he would burst into loud sobs. At first, people were all puzzled, but later they all recognized his sincerity. Whenever he entered the market, people would say, "The Crying Taoist is here!" They would vie to give him food, and with each meal, he would offer sacrifices, and with each sacrifice, he would weep. After weeping, he would recite the *Huang Ting Jing* in gratitude.

One day, the Laughing Monk invited Zhong Sheng to visit him. Upon arriving at his hut, they found the Taoist priest performing a mournful ritual in the courtyard, his cries extremely sorrowful. Zhong Sheng and the monk were deeply moved and also wept. The two stood outside the door, waiting for him to finish. After a long while, the priest's weeping intensified, his cries growing ever more heart-wrenching. Zhong Sheng and the monk covered their faces and wept bitterly. "The Laughing Monk has finished weeping," the priest said. At dusk, the priest stopped weeping, and the two knocked on the door, wiping their tears as they entered. The priest immediately offered tea, and they shared the offerings. The monk recounted how, upon hearing the priest's weeping, they too had been overcome with grief, unwittingly touching the priest's heart, causing him to wail and cry out to heaven, his grief earth-shattering. Zhong Sheng and the monk also shed tears, and they remained together until dawn. Thus, the three became close friends. The priest was prone to weeping; he would often weep amidst wind and rain over flowers, under the bright moonlight circling trees, or amidst distant clouds and snow-covered mountains, finding sorrow in every scene. His heart-wrenching lament moved all who heard it, yet no one knew the reason for it. A year later, the Taoist priest bid farewell to Zhong Sheng, weeping bitterly as they journeyed towards Zhongnan Mountain. The following year, the Laughing Monk also departed. Zhong Sheng tried to persuade him to stay, but he shook hands, laughed heartily, and left, disappearing without a trace.

Seeing the two gone, Zhong Sheng felt he had no companions and wished to travel with them, but his mind was still undecided. Unexpectedly, many people from the city came looking for Zhong Sheng, and fearing his whereabouts would be revealed, he too vanished.

How did the people of the city know? There was a reason. At that time, in Jiangyin, there lived a monk named Gao Tou Tuo, whose given name was Jian An, though his secular surname was unknown. He was naturally upright and honest, orphaned at a young age, and extremely filial to his mother. He was over eight feet tall and strong enough to lift a tripod. Each meal consisted of a peck of millet, ten catties of meat, and a bushel of wine. His family was poor, but he worked hard to support them, wearing a straw belt around his waist and enduring hunger to feed his mother. He loved learning, farming by day and studying by night, often staying up until dawn. He was thirty years old and skilled in calligraphy, able to write thousands of words in a single stroke. He became a student of the county's Imperial Academy and consistently ranked first in examinations. The other students in the village all ate well and studied under him, and he finally had enough to eat. After his stepmother's death, he became a monk and lived in seclusion in Yangwudun, south of the city. He studied the philosophy of mind and acquired some knowledge. However, he lacked the airs of a monastic, and was elegant and unrestrained. He often wore straw sandals and a straw hat, walking alone in the mountains. He would talk to woodcutters and shepherds about the rise and fall of dynasties, but the woodcutters and shepherds didn't understand and wanted to leave. Gao would then grab their sleeves and insist on finishing his explanation before letting go. "Does Gao not know that he should not talk to those who are not worthy of his attention? Some might say that those in high society are not worth talking to, and it is better to talk to these people."

Initially, the southern part of the county was high and inaccessible to lakes and streams, so farmers relied on mountain streams for floodwaters to ensure a good harvest. If it rained for ten days without a continuous flow of water, the seedlings would rot. If it didn't rain for ten days, the soil would dry and crack, and the seedlings would wither. In times of scarcity and scarcity of abundance, poverty prevailed, and people lived in poverty, surviving on coarse clothing and simple food. Gao, deeply compassionate, donated funds and hired workers to dig ditches, dredge streams and canals, and build sluice gates. In times of drought, water was stored in various channels; in times of flood, water was channeled into the river. Thus, several miles of barren land became fertile ground. He often said to people, "A great man cannot serve in the imperial court and build an immortal legacy for the nation. If he resides in a village, he should establish benefits for its future generations." He added, "These words can only be spoken to the rich; the poor find them difficult to understand." He further stated that if one were to induce ignorant men and women to perform acts of charity such as fasting, chanting scriptures, building temples, and casting statues, it would not only violate Confucian teachings but also offend the Buddha. "Recently, when monks saw these words, they not only called them anti-religious but also considered them degenerate." This would greatly betray the purpose for which Heaven and Earth gave us life. "Therefore, although he received the mantle of Linji, he never sat and preached, nor did he use a leaflet to solicit donations.

One year, a famine struck. The wealthy families in the village were frequently robbed. One night, Gao stood alone on a main road, waiting for the bandits to come. He stopped them and said, 'I am the monk Jian'an. Do you all know me? You are merely being forced by hunger and cold to save yourselves. You are what is meant by "the great man of the night." Your childlike hearts have not been extinguished. How can you remain deluded for so long? I have some money to give you. Take it and go back to make a living. Do not do such a despicable thing, disgracing your ancestors and bringing shame to your descendants.' The bandits all dropped their staffs and bowed, saying, 'We are willing to follow your teachings.' Gao took out a piece of silver from his sleeve and gave it to them. 'It is thanks to Zhu Ti's help that I was able to give this. Without this, even if Gao had said a thousand words, it would have been in vain.' After this, all the bandits became law-abiding citizens.

At that time, Jiangyi was burdened with heavy taxes and affairs. It had always been the case that the two halls (of the emperor's residence) could only enter and leave when the bell of Guangfu Temple rang." The magistrate was in charge of morning affairs and hearings, and would leave the court as soon as the morning bell rang. He would also be busy collecting taxes at midday, only retiring when the evening bell fell silent. Otherwise, much of the work would fall into disarray. One day, the temple bell suddenly failed to ring for several days, which puzzled the magistrate. He summoned the bell-ringing monk for questioning, and the monk replied, "Last night, a demon has been entrenched in the bell tower. Every time I climb the tower, it throws stones like rain, preventing me from ascending. This is why I missed my watch; it is truly not my fault." The magistrate angrily retorted, "You have been drinking heavily and are drunk. How can you excuse this with a demon?" He had the monk flogged and sent him away. That night, the bell still did not ring. The next morning, the magistrate summoned the monk again for questioning. The monk tearfully recounted the demon's actions, making the magistrate even angrier. He declared that if the bell did not ring that night, the magistrate would be executed. "What a muddle-headed magistrate! The previous flogging was somewhat acceptable; some might have thought it was a mistake due to excessive drinking. This is because he clearly knew it was a demon, but dared not do anything about it, and instead wanted to punish the monk. Such officials are fit to be bullied by foxes!" The monk, terrified, returned home and tearfully told the abbot. The abbot said, "I have heard that Master Jian'an is an enlightened being. You should go and seek him out quickly; perhaps he can eliminate this evil." The monk then went to inform him. Gao said, "A creature that can throw stones to repel people must be a fox. Foxes love chickens but are most afraid of wutong oil. You can roast a fat chicken in wutong oil and place it downstairs. The fox will come to eat it because of the aroma. Once it eats it, it will vomit violently. After vomiting, it will be exhausted and unable to move, so you can bind it. Wait until it begs for its life, then release it. Under no circumstances should you kill it, or the foxes will come to claim your life, and the disaster will be difficult to avert." The monk did as he was told and indeed captured a fox with black fur and nine tails. The fox, bound, angrily said, "I am a divine fox! Since I attained enlightenment, I have roamed freely throughout the north and south of the Yangtze River, and none have dared to cross me. I have even reached the cities of Jiang and Jing." "Among them, I fear only three. Who are you, daring to attack me?" The monks asked, "Who are these three?" The fox replied, "Shan, the scholar from Dongguo Village; Gao, the monk from Jian'an Temple in the south of the city; and Zhong, the official in charge of the Ministry of Justice from Baishi Mountain. Apart from these three, I can insult anyone else." "Not only will the students be ashamed to death upon hearing this, but even the magistrate will be ashamed to death upon hearing this." The monks said, "I am acting on the orders of the monk Gao. What will you do?" The fox said, "If that is so, I will flee far away, lest I be abandoned by a gentleman. I swear I will not harm you, and I will depart from here." The monks let him go and went to visit Scholar Shan. He was a white-haired old man, over seventy years old. They told him what the fox had said and questioned him about his life. The scholar said, "I have done nothing particularly good in my life, but I have taught for fifty years without ever slacking off for a single day. I have treated my students equally, rich or poor. I have never had any intention of deceiving anyone I interact with." At this time, the news spread like wildfire throughout the city.

Some scholars and literati, having long heard of Zhong Sheng's name, flocked to Baishi Mountain to visit him. They searched everywhere but found no one. Several honest and knowledgeable villagers suspected, "A gentleman came to our area a few years ago, never giving his name, calling himself the Woodcutter of Baishi Mountain. He must be the Zhong Sheng who is hiding his identity." So they went to his residence to inquire. Zhong Sheng asked why, and they told him what the old fox had said. Zhong Sheng asked, "May I ask why this Zhong Sheng came here? Where does he live now?" They replied, "Because we don't know, we came specifically to ask you, sir." Zhong Sheng laughed, "How would I, a mere teacher making a living, know?" Although they dispersed, they all suspected it was him, and not a day passed without someone coming to ask. Fearing that someone might recognize him, Zhong Sheng took his leave of his disciples and left.

Zhong Sheng said, "Yes, but how can I save the elder?" The old man said, "You have a round head and handsome eyes, a bright and spirited demeanor, and your hair is as long as your body, indicating a bold and courageous heart. I will hide myself in your hair. You only need to sit upright and straighten your hat. If the lightning strikes and misses, you will be gone forever. I will escape this calamity and live another five hundred years. I will perform many good deeds to atone for my past sins. Then you will have shown me great kindness, how could I forget to repay you even for a moment?" Zhong Sheng said, "I pity the elder's great achievement is about to fail. I am willing to lend a hand, how could I expect anything in return?" So he stayed at an inn. He then instructed the doors and windows to be sealed tightly, and as he had said, he let his hair down and lay it on the ground. The old man materialized into a form about an inch long, hiding at the base of his hair. Zhong Sheng burned incense and sat upright, waiting.

After a while, a sudden storm came, with thunder and lightning raging around the house, shaking the walls. Then a great thunderclap entered the room, flames surrounded him, and smoke filled his eyes. A moment later, the thunder ceased, but the door remained as before, the cracks unbroken. It was unclear how the thunder had entered or exited. Zhong Sheng, trimming the lamp, examined his hair and saw that most of it had been cut off. He assumed the old man was surely dead. He quickly removed his hat and called out, and the old man leaped out in response. He bowed again and thanked him, saying, "I am now free from worry. I have received such great kindness, and I am now repaying it in a small way." The old man then secretly taught Zhong Sheng the art of cultivating qi and blood, instructing him, "Practice this diligently. Though you may not ascend to immortality, you will be cured of illness and prolong your life. In time, you will become an earth immortal." He then wrote out the prescription and gave it to Zhong Sheng:

one liter of black beans (peeled), one ounce of Dryopteris crassirhizoma, one ounce of Glycyrrhiza uralensis, five mace of Poria cocos, five mace of Atractylodes lancea, and five mace of Amomum villosum.

Boil with five bowls of water over a low flame. When the water is gone, remove the herbs. Pound the beans into a paste, making small lumps the size of water chestnuts. Chew one lumps at a time and eat the leaves and stems freely.

Zhong Sheng expressed his deepest gratitude. The old man said, "I cannot repay even a fraction of your kindness. We will meet again sometime; please take good care of yourself." At dawn, the old man hurriedly packed and left. Zhong Sheng prepared the pills and arrived at Yandang.

You ask where Yandang is? From Taizhou Prefecture, on the road to Yongjia, after passing Yueqing County, Yandang is on the left side of the road. Dajing is Yueqing Garrison, 140 li from Tiantai County. Upon first arriving at Laoseng Rock, one enters the gateway to Yandang. It is five or six li from Dajing, several thousand feet high. With its crooked eyebrows and bare chest, it resembles an old monk. Sea air touches the mountain rocks, turning into white clouds at dawn. Some clouds stretch across the valley, appearing from afar like a seated monk. As one walks closer, the clouds thin. Reaching the foot of the rock, one sees a towering stone ear. One shoulder and one head, these are two peaks. From here, the forests are lush, the rocks are sheer, the paths are narrow and the ravines deep, gradually entering a more beautiful realm.

Reaching Shiliang Cave, the cave can accommodate a thousand people. A stone beam encircles the cave entrance, several tens of feet long. Ivy clings to the ground, resembling an old, bearded dragon drinking from a stream, poised to seize it – a truly wondrous sight. Looking back at the stone bridge over Tiantai Mountain, winding its way across the sky, a waterfall cascades down from its base. Visitors are awestruck, many unable to cross it. That bridge, high above the summit, is further enhanced by its waterfall. This one, perched precariously beneath the cliff, seems slightly less impressive.

About a hundred paces south of the cave, turn west and you'll find Xie Gong Inner Ridge. East of the ridge lies the eastern outer valley of Yandang. Beyond Xie Gong Ridge to the west, the mountains and rocks stand upright, revealing a completely different world. Below the ridge is a large ravine; crossing it over perilous rocks, the peaks resemble swords, spears, ornamental columns, and lingzhi mushrooms—a variety of fantastical and bizarre sights, too numerous to describe.

A stone path leads out from beneath the peaks; after walking about a mile, you'll reach an ancient temple. Its name, Lingfeng (Spirit Peak), is truly fitting. Beside the temple is Lingfeng Ravine; beyond the ravine stretches a vast expanse of blue sky, wide at the bottom and sharp at the top, clear and verdant. A sudden glance out is like seeing distant mountains in the middle of a vast wilderness. Enter the temple and compose a poem. Slowly exiting the old path, rest at the foot of Lingsun Peak, thinking that the wonders of the mountains and waters have reached their climax.

Five miles west of Lingfeng is a temple called Jingming Hermitage, quite remarkable, inhabited by an old monk. The hermitage is in the valley; after crossing several deep ravines, you finally reach its gate. There was a vast, flat area of a hundred acres, with rows of fruit trees. Behind it stood a pavilion facing a stone wall, like a hundred-foot wall. Below the wall, flowers and bamboo were planted, their branches and leaves vibrant and beautiful, as if in springtime. Before the steps were a medicine stove and a tea mortar, and on the shelves were the calligraphy of many famous people, all inscribed with poems about the mountains of Ouyue, each scroll exquisitely crafted. Sitting in the small room, examining these works for a long time, one felt a sense of transcendence.

The monk Xu spoke of the beauty of Lingyan, and Zhong Sheng asked, "How does it compare to Lingfeng?" The monk smiled and said, "Beyond that." Zhong Sheng, full of enthusiasm, bid farewell to the monk and left. Zhong Sheng thought to himself: The old man once said that Yandang was truly superior to Tiantai. Before I had been to Yandang, I could not judge its merits. Compared to Lingyan, I sighed that the old man's words were indeed true. There was a temple at Lingyan, long abandoned. Yet the surrounding peaks were increasingly exposed and beautiful, proving that the wonders of nature could not be created by axe and chisel. A little embellishment would only obscure its true beauty. The temple's foundation rested on the Stone Screen Peak, which soared into the sky. To the left is a peak called Zhanqi (展旗), and to the right is a peak called Tianzhu (天柱), both as high as Shiping (石屏). Behind Tianzhu is Yunu Peak (玉女峰), and between the two peaks are two smaller peaks, which the locals call Monk Worshipping Stones (僧拜石), quite aptly named.

Zhong Sheng sat on the base of a ruined temple pillar and recounted the peaks. He then walked a thousand steps up a small ridge behind Shiping to Longbi Cave (龙鼻洞), from which the Longbi Water (龙鼻水) emerged. The cave revealed an even narrower stone ridge, and its danger was twice that of Lingfeng Peak (灵峰). Duxiu (独秀) and Zhuobi (卓笔) peaks were below. The beauty of the cave ended at Lingfeng Peak, the beauty of the peaks ended at Lingyan (灵岩), and the beauty of the waterfalls ended at Dalongqiu (大龙湯).

From Dajing, he traveled more than forty li and arrived at Ma'anling (马鞍岭) at dusk. He slowly walked to the top of the ridge and looked at the Guanyin Peaks. After crossing the ridge, he intended to stay overnight at Luohan Temple (罗汉寺). About six or seven li before reaching the temple, he met a monk and asked for directions. The monk pointed to the valley side of the road: "Enter from here, and you will reach the Great Dragon Pool. You can go there tomorrow." Zhong Sheng thought that to reach the Dragon Pool tomorrow, he would have to travel more than ten li back from the temple, a very arduous journey. So he entered the valley and followed the stream. The sound of the water was murmuring, and in the distance, he could see a peak rising up, its craggy tip visible—this was the Scissors Peak. He walked south for another li or so, and then the path ended. Looking up, he saw a rocky cliff thousands of feet high. Below was a deep valley, filled with large, jagged rocks. The water of the Dragon Pool cascaded straight down from the top of the cliff, scattering in the air like rain, splashing against the stalactites and stalagmites with a clattering sound. It was early winter, a long drought, and at first, the water flow was quite gentle. After a while, it suddenly surged, flowing horizontally and cascading down like a bursting river. Could it be that the mountain spirits knew this? The wind whistled, blowing rain across the next pool, all the way to the foot of the cliff. Looking down, he saw that the cliff edge protruded dozens of feet upwards, causing the water to flow straight down like a bottle. Before I could even settle down, my hair and beard were already soaked. I burst into laughter, but the sound of the water drowned out my words. The valley was full of sweet flag, which looked especially fresh and lovely in the water. But now, only ruins remain of the former Anrui Deer Temple. Previously, there was also a Dragon Pool Waterfall below Zhuobi Peak in Lingyan, only about three hundred feet long, hence the difference in size. Sitting on the Dragon Pool, I didn't realize it was getting late. About a mile from the Dragon Pool, there was a very sharp ridge in the valley, which was the mountain behind the temple. Passing this, one could directly reach the monks' kitchen without leaving the valley. With the day ending and the road long, I mustered my remaining courage and climbed higher. At first, I didn't know how sharp the ridge was, but looking down from the back, it was as if sheer, with a wisp of smoke rising from the temple's walls. Behind the temple, the trees were a hundred feet tall, all leaning against the walls. There was a faint path leading down, but it was obscured by pine needles. I could see the monks descending as if on flat ground, and my courage grew slightly. Yet every step he took was fraught with trepidation, as if walking on thin ice. Clinging to vines and creepers, he descended unharmed.

Zhong Sheng sighed, “In this world, things often go wrong because of lack of restraint, and succeed because of excessive fear. Thus, a horse will run wild on a smooth road, and a boat will capsize when the sail is full of anger; there is no need to fear. The world is full of perilous peaks; if one always walks like this mountain, one will be safe from falling.” The temple was surrounded by high mountains on all sides. Sitting at night, looking northeast, only the handle of the Big Dipper could be seen. He asked the monks where Yandang was, but they did not know. They only said that legend had it that there was a large lake at the summit of Lingyan, where geese often roosted when crossing the South China Sea, hence the name Yandang. The water flowing out of the valley became the Great Dragon Pool, which was now inaccessible.

The next day, he set out, breaking through the rocks to find bamboo, the frosty leaves rustling underfoot. About two li later, he reached Nengren Temple, which had long been abandoned. There was a large cauldron, holding four hundred bushels, placed among the brambles; it was an artifact from the Song Dynasty. Further west was Danfang Ridge, extremely high and steep. After descending forty-nine bends, the mountain range begins to open up, revealing the Greater and Lesser Furong Mountains. East of Lingyan lies the East Valley of Yandang, and west of Lingyan the West Valley. From Nengren to Danfang is the western outer valley.

Zhong Sheng enjoyed the scenery for several days, initially intending to stay deep in the mountains, but fearing a shortage of food, he built a thatched hut in a secluded spot near the old monk's cave to recuperate. He practiced the exercises taught by the old man and made considerable progress. Occasionally, when food was scarce, he would chew pills and eat herbs, fruits, and leaves, finding no bitterness. After living there for two or three years, he thought no one would recognize him and that he could stay there long-term. Unexpectedly, Jin Dexing recognized him. Fearing his return the next day, he disappeared that night. From then on, his whereabouts remained unknown; he was truly a hero, appearing only briefly before vanishing without a trace. But such a virtuous gentleman, though I dare not follow the novelist's cliché of him becoming an immortal, will likely live a long and healthy life, becoming a recluse.

Furthermore, Zhong Sheng's two sons are both grown and capable of continuing the family's scholarly tradition. The eldest son, Zhong Wen, married Mei Sheng's daughter, and the second son, Zhong Wu, married Huan E's daughter, their descendants flourishing. Zhong Zixin also had three sons and was over seventy years old at this time. Those who knew the stories of Zhong Sheng, Huan E, Jia Wenwu, and Tong Zida, who were contemporaries of Dao Ting, found them consistent with Dao Ting's earlier words, and thus believed that Dao Ting's words about the ancient City God Temple were not false. Later, E's wife also lived past seventy, and Qian Gui and Dai Mu both enjoyed long lives, seeing their great-grandchildren four generations before passing away.

I knew this matter was indeed true, so I wrote this volume to entertain readers. However, few believe it, and many disagree, so I have no choice but to speak of it. I have eight more lines, which are hardly a poem, and I call them "Random Thoughts." However, these lines continue after this collection of random thoughts, to prove the meaning of the word "random":

To tell you gentlemen, do you know me? My heart is only with Heaven.

Awake, I see the world's sorrows are heavy; drunk, I find much meaning in my newly composed works.

When the mood strikes, I discuss Liu Zi's theories; when I'm bored, I sing a bold and unrestrained song.

Let others judge my random thoughts; I'll just enjoy my own peace and tranquility.

End of Volume Twenty-Four of Random Thoughts.

"The End"

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Gu Wangyan [Complete] - 26 Chapters

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