Gu Wangyan [Complete] - 18

In the sixteenth volume of *Gu Wang Yan*, Dun

Weng says:
The section about Zhong Sheng and Qian Gui's dream of the Ancient City God, though about Qian Gui gaining sight, actually points to the title of the first chapter.

It describes Zhong Sheng helping Qian Gui along in his dream, guiding him through a side gate, making him kneel and prostrate, and pulling him on his knees to the eaves. At first glance, it seems like casual conversation, but upon closer inspection, every sentence is about walking with the blind wife; such meticulousness is truly unparalleled.

It also describes Zhong Sheng's encounter with Lady E, not only befriending Zhong Quan but also laying the groundwork for their future reunion with their son.

Zhong Sheng's official practice dictates that anyone who has served in the civil service and handled criminal matters should have a copy written down. Placing it by one's side and studying it carefully will bring immeasurable blessings to those who commit crimes. He himself also received immeasurable blessings. Writing about Zhong Sheng's merits as an official was merely praising his character and talent. But when it came to his memorial requesting the dismissal of the eunuch supervisor, I couldn't help but close the book and sigh, "Are there no loyal and righteous people in the world? It's just that everyone has been too lenient." Before Zhong Sheng submitted his memorial, not a single word was spoken. After he submitted it, he incurred the emperor's wrath, and more than twenty ministers pleaded for his pardon, and many of his fellow officials shared the blame. Guan Jue also submitted a memorial to strongly defend him, and the Grand Secretaries and others also intervened. Guan Jue alone sang, and others echoed him. The Prince Jia of Qi and Zhou Bo of Han are examples of this

throughout history. It's just a pity there wasn't someone like him who stepped forward first. Although there's nothing to recount about Grand Secretary Cheng's official career, his integrity and uprightness in office are unparalleled in the world. I know this very well, hence I'm presenting it here. He can serve as a model for officials for all generations.

Although this account of his official career details his beginning and end, it is truly about Zhong Sheng, not this arduous struggle. The Huan family father and son were eternally grateful and rewarded him with a large sum of money. Later, Zhong Sheng returned home penniless, wondering how he could maintain his integrity and where he could live. Furthermore, the story of the Huan family also includes the noble character of Liu Taichu, as well as Mei Sheng, Hao Shi, and Zhu Sikuan, ensuring the story isn't forgotten. Even Mei Lang is only briefly mentioned. I wonder how the author's mind could be so meticulous. People like Yan Liang, Chuang Shi, and Fu Hou are everywhere, yet they are described in detail for the amusement of discerning readers. This is not only a critique of such people but also a compassionate attempt to redeem the decadent.

The description of Zhong Sheng meeting his grandmother and parents not only provides him with a host, but also shows that the author doesn't leave out anyone unimportant in his book, especially those related to Dai Qian. His encounter with Xi Shi through this connection is another example of a remarkable woman, surpassing even the most virtuous men. Moreover, later, Rong Gong, living in exile in Tushan, wrote the story of Yi Ren, which serves as a foundation for the story.

The Zhong brothers, fighting amongst themselves, are a common occurrence within families worldwide. As for the county magistrate and the court official, driven by greed and spouting platitudes, they are not necessarily all like that. Listen to the magistrate advising his brothers, and the court official reprimanding the Du family—how generous they speak, truly like fathers!

Tong Zida's extravagant hospitality, though showing he's not the stingy person he once was, uses this to bring together five young couples, forging a close-knit group. Some

say that Qian Gui, blind for many years, regains his sight in a dream, which seems absurd. I say, "No, this book is entirely fictional, emphasizing the karmic retribution of good and evil, intended to warn the world." Qian Gui's blindness wouldn't be depicted this way, nor would the retribution be so blatant, and it wouldn't be unusual. For example, Pei Du's transplanted imperial beard, Ding Wei's exchanged ghost eyes, and the scholar with three ears—all appear in serious books; are they all absurd? Moreover, those who regain their sight after being blind are frequently recorded in various books.

Chapter Sixteen: Zhong Lisheng Retires and Returns to the Ancient City God's Dream .

Appendix: The Dai Family Father and Daughter Unexpectedly Meet Again; The Zhong Brothers Have Intentions to Harm Him

. It is said that Zhong Lisheng was studying at home when time flew by, and suddenly winter arrived. One day, he and his wife sat around the stove, admiring the auspicious snow, drinking fine wine, and chatting. Qian Gui said to Zhong Sheng, "My family lived next to the ancient City God Temple. After we made our vows, I made a promise to bless you with success in the autumn imperial examinations and to help you get married soon. If my wish came true, I would personally go to the temple to express my gratitude. Now that my wish has been fulfilled, I wish to go with you to repay the debt on New Year's Day next year. What do you say?" Zhong Sheng replied, "The City God is Ji Xin, a general of the Han Dynasty. He died in a fire while deceiving the Chu state on behalf of Emperor Gaozu of Han. He became a god for his loyalty and righteousness, and was later enfeoffed as a king. His temple was built here, and he is extremely efficacious. Since you have made this wish, you should repay it. Prepare incense and offerings on the appointed day, and I will go with you."

In the blink of an eye, the old year ended and spring returned, and it was the first day of the new year. Zhong Sheng and Qian Gui prepared pigs, sheep, wine, fruit, incense, flowers, paper money, and candles, and went to the ancient City God Temple at dawn to fulfill their vow. When they arrived at the temple, they burned paper money, lit incense and candles, and knelt on the ground, praying silently for a while. After expressing their gratitude, they distributed the offerings and then returned home.

The couple set out wine and drank together to celebrate the New Year, chatting and laughing joyfully. As night fell and they slept, they suddenly saw a golden-armored deity who said, "The King has ascended the throne and summons you two." Zhong Sheng and Qian Gui, hearing this, were unaware of the deity's origin and hurriedly rose, asking, "May I ask, Your Excellency, where is the King now?" The deity said, "Just follow me." Zhong Sheng had no choice but to help Qian Gui along. After walking several hundred paces, they saw a royal residence, with golden-lined vermilion doors, green-tiled roofs, flying eaves, high gates, and large halberds, surrounded by armored soldiers. The deity said, "You stay here and wait for my report." A moment later, the deity appeared and said, "The King commands you to enter." Zhong Sheng, supporting Tie Gui, and helping Qian Gui, entered through a side gate. Reaching the foot of the steps, they saw a king sitting on the throne, surrounded by hundreds of officials, exuding solemnity and dignity. They hurriedly knelt down and called Qian Gui to kneel and prostrate themselves as well. [Summon Qian Gui to kneel. Three.] The king said, "Bring him up." The crowd called out, and Zhong Sheng pulled Qian Gui [pulling Qian Gui, four.], crawling on his knees to the eaves. The king said, "This morning you and your wife fulfilled your vows. Seeing your sincerity, my god has accepted your offerings." The couple, upon hearing this, realized it was the ancient City God and hurriedly bowed, saying, "We, your wife, are blessed by Your Majesty's grace, and our humble wishes have been fulfilled. We only regret that we have no way to repay Your Majesty's kindness." The king said, "Although your marriage is a predestined relationship in this life, it is due to past lives. Do you remember?" Zhong Sheng said, "I am a foolish man from this lower realm, and I am ignorant of past lives. I beg Your Majesty to instruct me." The king said, "This is a matter of divination; we will discuss it again when the time comes in the future." To clarify things, I will now only reveal the past of the two of you. In your previous life, you, Qian Gui, were surnamed Bai. You were quite handsome, but you loved the rich and despised the poor. You were in love with someone surnamed Huang in your previous life, who was wealthy. You wished to marry Bai, and Bai was willing. However, because his parents found you exceptionally ugly, they refused. Therefore, you two died apart, longing for each other. Because Bai loved money, I, the god, commanded her to be born into the Qian family. [Are all daughters of the Qian family in the world those who loved money in their previous lives?] Because they could not distinguish between good and bad, I punished them by making them blind and forced them into prostitution. [Such people should be punished in this way.] [Your infatuation in your past life was merely foolishness, without any wrongdoing. Pitying your unjust death, I made you initially a poor scholar. However, upon further investigation, I discovered your virtuous deeds, and you were later granted a high rank in the imperial examinations. You and Qian Gui were initially lovers, but later became husband and wife, thus settling the debt of longing from your past life. Your infatuation was originally limited to a single examination, but because of your passionate nature, you remained true to your initial vows, humble and modest, magnanimous, unmoved by beauty, and upright in your conduct. Therefore, I, the God, bestow upon you future blessings, and you may even attain official rank. [Focus here.] But your good intentions must remain unchanged. That Qian Gui, because of your unwavering fidelity and lack of jealousy...] "Even a respectable family is hard to find. Besides, I bestow upon you two sons, to be with your beloved until old age. But later, you will have a noblewoman, and I will bestow upon you your eyes again." He then ordered his attendants, "Return his eyes to him." A yellow-turbaned strongman, holding two bright, night-shining pearls, approached Qian Gui, threw them at his face, and reported, "They've been returned to him." Qian Gui felt a chill in his eyes, penetrating to his very core. He opened his eyes and saw everything clearly. He and his wife were overjoyed and kowtowed repeatedly. The king then said, "Go." The two of them got up and hurriedly left. [He regained his sight and no longer needed support. Not a single detail was wrong.] Suddenly, the rooster crowed. Zhong Sheng stretched and dozed off, recalling his previous dream vividly. Just then, Qian Gui also awoke, suddenly seeing the dying lamp about to go out. Overjoyed, he called out to Zhong Sheng, "My eyes are clear again!" Zhong Sheng quickly got up and saw her delicate, beautiful eyes, and was overjoyed. He then recounted his dream, and Qian Gui exclaimed in astonishment, "My dream and yours are exactly the same!" He then realized that their love for each other from their first meeting was a predestined fate. He said, "The divine power is truly awe-inspiring; we should kowtow in gratitude." They rose, washed, burned incense, and kowtowed to the divine grace. Qian Gui and Zhong Sheng had shared more than half a year of affection, and today he was finally able to see his beloved's face, overjoyed.

One was an old acquaintance, and today he was finally able to see his beloved's beautiful face. The other, after half a year of affection, was finally able to see his beautiful wife's eyes. The voice was identical to his, only the eyes were different. The scene before him was all new, and his heart overflowed with joy. The couple felt deeply grateful for the City God's new grace, and their love from their past life was even stronger.

The couple, realizing their marriage was predestined from a past life, grew even more loving. Zhong Sheng, seeing the divine message promising him future blessings, became even more kind-hearted, doing good deeds to repay the divine favor. Before he knew it, the Lantern Festival had passed. He packed his belongings and travel expenses, choosing the twenty-second day of the first lunar month to travel to the capital for the imperial examinations. When relatives and friends learned of this, they all declined the gifts offered to see him off, while invitations to farewell banquets poured in. [Zhong Sheng had only been retired for a few years, unlike Ding Gong who returned home after his death. Today, all those who came to see him off declined; where will they be to welcome him back then? Such is the nature of snobbery throughout history.] Zhong Sheng was too busy to refuse, only accepting those who insisted on staying. The day before, his wives and concubines prepared wine for a farewell banquet at home. That evening, in bed, another banquet was held—a testament to their heartfelt sentiments, which need not be elaborated upon. The next day, he set off. Although many came to see him off, Zhong Sheng declined them all, except for Mei Sheng, who accompanied him to the riverbank before they parted ways. Zhong Sheng crossed the river to Pukou, hired a sedan chair for himself, and two servants rode mules, traveling a long distance towards the capital.

One day, around noon, they arrived at Qingjiangpu. Suddenly, a strong wind arose. The whip-wielder said, "Sir, the wind is too strong today; we might not be able to cross the river. Why don't you stay here? There are no inns along the riverbank ahead." Zhong Sheng agreed and chose a clean inn to stay in. After sitting in his room for a while, seeing that it was still early, he strolled around the street outside the inn. He observed the bustling crowds and, as he watched, suddenly saw a woman in tattered clothes washing many clothes in the river and carrying them ashore. Zhong Sheng recognized her, but couldn't quite place her. When his brother Zhong Quan left him, he was already eleven years old. Although ten years had passed, he still vaguely remembered him. Suddenly, he thought of someone and said, "This person looks like my sister-in-law, E. How did she end up here?" He only suspected that the appearance was similar, but dared not ask. He saw the man talking to a woman at the door of his house, speaking with a Nanjing accent. He became even more suspicious and carefully watched him walk into a dilapidated thatched house. Zhong Sheng entered the shop and asked the shopkeeper, "What is the surname of the family next door? I just heard that woman speaking, and it sounded like someone from Nanjing." The shopkeeper said, "This woman is from Nanjing. Her ex-husband's surname is Zhong, and he is the owner of this shop. Last year, his family sold the shop to me because of an official matter." Zhong Sheng asked, "Do you know what the man surnamed Zhong is called, and what the woman's surname is?" The shopkeeper said, "I heard people say that the woman's surname is E. The name on her ex-husband's house sale document is a character with the heart radical and half of the character 'Jun' on it. I asked around, and it's pronounced 'Quan,' but it's also pronounced 'Jun.' I really don't know what her name is." Upon hearing this, Zhong Sheng knew it was undoubtedly his brother and sister-in-law, and hurriedly asked, "Where did this man surnamed Zhong go now?" The shopkeeper replied, "He left because of official business that year and died not long after. This woman was all alone, without any relatives, with little to eat or wear, and married He Shangren next door. They only lived together for a little over a year." Zhong Sheng then asked, "Do you know what official business this man surnamed Zhong was involved in, what illness he died of, where his son went, and who this woman is now married to?" The shopkeeper said, "It's a long story. Please sit down, sir, and I'll tell you slowly." He told the waiter to bring a chair, and Zhong Sheng sat down.

He said, "When this man surnamed Zhong first opened his shop, it was alright. This place is now a major wharf, with many people coming and going, so it prospered for a while. But later on, this bastard became incredibly stingy, calculating every penny from his customers, so fewer people came to his shop to rest. One day, an old man who did odd jobs stayed in the shop overnight. The next morning, when he opened the accounts, he found a penny short. He refused to pay, but the old man had no money on him. He offered to sell something on the street to return the money, but the old man refused. The old man was foul-mouthed and muttered a few curses, when the man slapped him across the face. Being an old man with an empty stomach in the early morning, the slap knocked him unconscious. He fell and hit a rock, fracturing his skull, and died instantly. He lived here for seven or eight years, and while he was allowed to take advantage of people, he never gave a single penny away." The neighbors all hated his meanness, and when the case came to court, they testified against him. The officials were also annoyed by his stinginess over a single penny and insisted on compensation. In desperation, he had no choice but to sell the house to me. After bribing officials, the money was far from enough, and he emptied the house of all his possessions. Only then, after being found guilty of accidental death, was he ordered to provide funeral expenses for the deceased's family. The case was closed. [He was a eunuch, castrated.] He rented two rooms and soon died of illness. We don't know about his son, only that the woman's husband died, and she had no one to rely on, so she married into the He family. Her husband was a gatekeeper at Tianfei Gate, and his family was very poor. The woman made a living by washing clothes for others. This prisoner surnamed Zhong, who was mean-spirited his whole life, has ended up like this; it's karma." Upon hearing this, Zhong Sheng couldn't help but shed tears. The shopkeeper asked in surprise, "Is this man related to you, sir?" Zhong Sheng, with tears in his eyes, replied, "This is my late elder brother. When I was young, I only knew he left our hometown; I didn't know he moved here." Hearing that this was his brother, the shopkeeper felt ashamed and quickly apologized, saying, "I didn't know he was your brother, sir. I have offended you greatly. Please forgive me, sir." Zhong Sheng said, "Shopkeeper, it doesn't matter if you didn't know. My sister-in-law is married, but I need to inquire where my late brother's remains are, and about my nephew's..." "Where is he? I would be grateful if you could accompany me, sir." The shopkeeper said, "I would be honored to accompany you." He quickly jumped out of the counter and went with Zhong Sheng to the He family's house next door. He called out outside the door, "Sister-in-law He, your relative, Master Zhong, has come to speak with you."

The woman, surnamed E, was washing clothes in the room. Hearing this, she quickly opened the door, recognized the shopkeeper, and asked, "What does the master want?" The shopkeeper pointed to Zhong Sheng and said, "This is Master Zhong, who has come to the capital for the imperial examination. He has something to ask you." The woman invited them into the room, and Zhong Sheng went in with the shopkeeper. Zhong Sheng bowed to the woman, who quickly tugged at her tattered sleeves, returned the bow, and said, "You are too kind, sir. What do you need me to say?" Zhong Sheng saw that there was only a broken plank bed in the room with a straw mat on it. There wasn't even a stool to sit on, so they had to stand to talk.

You see, Zhong Sheng was only an eleven-year-old child when he left the woman, yet he still recognized her. As for Ms. E, she was already in her twenties then, yet she didn't recognize him now. Why was that? Ms. E was already an adult then, and although ten years had passed, she had only aged somewhat, her appearance remained largely unchanged, hence she could still vaguely recognize him. Zhong Sheng was just a child then, but now he was a grown man, his appearance had changed, and he was now a person of high status. Ms. E could never have imagined he would be in this situation. Although she heard his surname was Zhong, and there seemed to be some resemblance, she felt ashamed of her own appearance [this is heartbreaking]. She dared not mistake him for someone else. [She wept aloud for poverty.] Zhong Sheng, with tears streaming down his face, asked, "Sister-in-law, don't you recognize me? I am Zhong Qing." Madam E looked him over carefully, then stood up and said, "So it really is Second Uncle. Your brother abandoned you all those years ago." Zhong Sheng stopped her, saying, "There's no need to talk about the past. The shopkeeper just told me about my brother; I know everything. I only came to ask where my brother's remains are buried, and where my nephew, Xiao Gouzi, went." Madam E said, "That scoundrel Xiao Gouzi was a good-for-nothing from a young age, a gambler who stole everything in the house. Your brother tried to beat him up many times, but he couldn't. Later, he grew up even worse. Your brother ruined the family and abandoned the house because of his official business. After the business was over, he still had twenty or thirty taels of silver left. He wanted to start a small business to make a living, but that scoundrel, desperate for money, stole it all at night and disappeared. Your brother was heartbroken, fell ill, and had no money for medicine. He died after a few days of suffering." There wasn't even a coffin. Each shop in the neighborhood burned one. They couldn't afford land for burial, so they cremated the body and left it by the river for a water burial. I was destitute, with little to eat and wear, and rented a room, but had no money to pay. I waited for half a year, but finally, out of desperation, I married into the He family. I haven't heard from Xiaogouzi since; I heard he's become a servant to an official passing through the area.” She cried again, “You see how poor I am…” "Second Uncle, you are now a noble person. People say you should look after the Buddha even if you don't care

about the monk. Please look after your deceased brother, even if you don't care about me. Take care of me, consider it an act of good karma. I will chant Buddhist prayers for you." Zhong Sheng didn't agree. With tears in his eyes, he said goodbye to the shopkeeper and returned to the shop. He quickly took some silver and asked the shopkeeper to buy some offerings, such as incense, candles, paper money, and silver ingots. He also asked the shopkeeper to prepare an offering table. In the evening, he arranged everything on the riverbank, performed the ritual to summon the soul, and burned incense. He cried bitterly, so much so that even the shopkeeper shed a few tears. He went forward to support him and advised, "Your brother is dead and cannot be brought back to life. You have had a long and arduous journey. Take care of yourself." After repeated persuasion, Zhong Sheng finally offered wine and returned to the shop. He asked the offerings to be collected, gave some to the shopkeeper, gave some to Madam E, and distributed the rest to his family and mule drivers. Zhong Sheng didn't eat dinner and grieved all night.

The next morning, he took four taels of silver and asked the innkeeper to deliver it to Mrs. E. Mrs. E came over in person, expressing her deepest gratitude, and left crying with snot and tears streaming down her face. Zhong Sheng thanked the innkeeper, crossed the river, and stayed overnight at Wangjiaying. The next morning, he boarded a sedan chair, and his family members each rode mules, heading straight north.

Upon arriving in the capital, he found lodging, took the imperial examination, and passed with flying colors, becoming a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examination). His tutor, named Le Shan, was from Shunde Prefecture in Beizhili (present-day Hebei Province). He was currently the Vice Minister of Rites. Seeing that Zhong Sheng was mature beyond his years, he took a great liking to him. On the day of the palace examination, Zhong Sheng ranked second in the second class and was selected as a probationary official. Later, he was selected for a government post, served as an observer in the Ministry of Justice, and was promoted to Assistant Director of the Zhejiang Department. After Zhong Sheng took office, he sent someone to bring his family to the capital, which need not be described in detail.

Zhong Sheng, while serving in the yamen, was solely focused on saving lives and eliminating corruption. He thoroughly cleaned up all the old malpractices within his department, meticulously investigating every official matter to prevent injustice. He refused any bribes and always acted in the best interests of the people. He carefully reviewed all the old cases involving the most seriously imprisoned prisoners in the department, and any cases with even the slightest doubt were brought for retrial, resulting in many exonerations. He personally brought the cases before the court to address them. The courtier asked, "These were all cases reviewed before you took office. What does this have to do with you?" Zhong Sheng replied, "If an official is not in the yamen and not in that position, he would not dare to interfere in its affairs. Now that he is awaiting punishment, I only regret that your position is too lowly to review all the cases in the fourteen departments, so that there are no wronged people in prison, and to repay even a fraction of the Emperor's great grace. If I know this and remain silent, wouldn't I be ashamed before the yamen's authority?" The courtier then tactfully said, "What you say is true. If you insist on correcting this, why not consider your colleagues?" "Is it the right place?" Zhong Sheng said, "Liu Chengyi Zhongjun Liu Jing told Emperor Chengzu, 'A subject dares not refuse to yield what should be yielded, and dares not yield what should not be yielded.' If this is true even between a ruler and his subject, how much more so between colleagues? If my colleagues are truly as wise as gods in judging cases, the officials and judges are too busy to do anything else. How dare I say more? If I know there is an injustice, I dare not consider the feelings of my colleagues, conform to the world, and let the innocent die." The court could not persuade him otherwise and had to comply with him. Occasionally, when the court made a slight error in its judgment, he would repeatedly argue his point, refusing to flatter or harm others.

One day, the court official angrily said, "What do you, a young newcomer, know? Do you think I am inferior?" Zhong Sheng replied, "Although I am young and incompetent, I have been unjustly promoted to this position by the Emperor's grace. If you, knowing this, blindly follow Your Excellency, you are betraying the Emperor's grace and deceiving Your Excellency. Moreover, what I hold is simply my unwillingness to see people wronged, not my own selfishness. Your Excellency, please investigate carefully. If you are found to have shown favoritism, impeach and punish me. I will accept the punishment without hesitation. As Fan Chunren once said to Sima Guang, 'When you are prime minister, you do not allow others to speak ill of you.' If you say that I think Your Excellency is inferior, how dare I? Even the Emperor is cautious and fears that there may be a mistake. My insistence is precisely because I respect Your Excellency." The court official said, "Young people should not be bound by their own opinions. They should cherish their achievements and reputation." “Zhong Sheng said, ‘I lost my parents at a young age and have experienced all kinds of hardship. I have long been content with a simple life. Although I have been fortunate enough to obtain this official position, I dare not take a single penny beyond my salary. My poverty remains the same as when I was a poor scholar. This position is of no consequence to me. I care not about fame, fortune, or honor. I will only devote myself to the court. As for life, death, fortune, and misfortune, I leave it to Heaven.’ The courtier said, ‘Your Excellency is always so stubborn, not afraid of making mistakes.’ Zhong Sheng said, ‘If you are not fully aware of the matter, how dare you speak so recklessly? If there are indeed cases of innocent people being wrongly admitted or guilty people being wrongly admitted, the court has its laws. I will accept the punishment without hesitation.’ The courtier wanted to find fault with him, but after careful examination, he found everything to be true and was convinced of his faults. He had no choice but to agree.”

The Zhejiang Provincial Judicial Commissioner was the head of the fourteen judicial commissions. He was responsible for interrogating all cases from other commissions. Initially, the court officials were somewhat annoyed with him, having entrusted him with several difficult cases. However, he could immediately uncover wrongdoing, redress the injustice, suppress the powerful, eliminate the wicked, and commend the virtuous. Even seasoned officials couldn't match his experience. Seeing this, the court officials genuinely respected and admired him, and later treated him with respect when he spoke in court. Some of his colleagues, knowing they couldn't hide their private affairs from him, repeatedly pleaded with him. Seeing that the matters weren't serious, he reluctantly complied, perhaps out of politeness. Some even tried to offer him favors, but he refused them all. Therefore, while his colleagues envied and resented him, they also respected and feared him. He often told the four prison officials: "Of all the evils in the world, none surpasses that of prison guards." Therefore, placing him at the bottom, among prostitutes, actors, and servants, was a profound statement from the ancients. These people only care about filling their own pockets, disregarding the lives of prisoners. When they encounter poor criminals and cannot satisfy their desires, they resort to all sorts of cruelty. This department must constantly monitor and strictly prohibit such behavior, and must not allow them to sleep with their prey and run rampant. If this department has heard of any such cases, I fear this department will not be able to shirk its responsibility. In the past, when Yu Gong was in charge of prisons, he greatly promoted the use of the "Four Horses Gate" (a system of bribery and extortion), and evil deeds were rampant everywhere. This department has also sent people to investigate, and if the prisoners still do not repent, this department will certainly bring the matter to court for further investigation. However, I fear that you gentlemen may also be at fault for your negligence, so please do not blame me for not speaking out earlier. He often addressed the guards, saying, “Although I am not the chief jailer, as I am in the Ministry of Justice, I have jurisdiction over matters within the prison. I am well aware of your illegal activities, your abuse of prisoners, and your extortion. However, you have broken the laws of the court; execution and exile are justified, but you have not been charged with shortchanging me. The additional shackles are what you deserve. If you were to add another layer of torture to extort money, would there be such a provision in the Ming Dynasty law? Past actions will not be investigated, but you must correct your ways. If you continue your evil ways, and I find out, do not risk your lives. I always keep my word, so be careful.” Knowing he was not afraid even in court, the guards were also afraid of him. He became much more restrained, and every month when he summoned the chief jailer, he would earnestly instruct the guards to treat the prisoners kindly. This was not only his duty as chief jailer, but also a way to secretly accumulate good karma. His colleagues were moved by his actions and kept him in the good graces of the prison. When the prisoners heard of this, not one of them failed to be grateful to him.

He meticulously observed the clerks and runners in his office soliciting bribes outside. If it was a small, harmless sum, he would be lenient and not expose them; but if it involved something more serious, he would first reprimand them, then severely punish them, and all strictly adhered to his laws. He also strictly forbade his family members from demanding anything from those in charge. Anyone who committed a crime secretly prayed that they would be fortunate enough to be assigned to his office. Later, when prisoners were tried by him, they were all sincerely convinced of their innocence, and none claimed innocence. He refused to use the torture rack again, saying to his colleagues, "Though people are rich or poor, noble or lowly, they are all born of their parents, of flesh and blood. With these three things placed on their heads, what can't they accomplish? Yet, many are wrongly accused. As for treason, rebellion, and notorious bandits who stubbornly refuse to confess, and for whom there is clear evidence, then this method is unavoidable. But for lesser crimes, we can carefully investigate; why resort to such cruel torture? Besides, we are unfortunate enough to be judges; if we act arbitrarily, causing prisoners to suffer such torment..." False accusations and misrepresentations can lead to ruin and even death, the consequences of which are no small matter. Not only is compassion lost, but much good karma is also damaged. I have recently observed that those in charge of punishment treat the torture device as a joke, regardless of the severity of the offense, using it as a show of force, considering it less severe than a cane. Do they possess any humanity? I have read in the *Treatise on Response and Retribution* that the Tang Dynasty scholar Lou Gong, a man of great virtue and prudence, still committed a grave error, resulting in a reduced fortune and shortened lifespan. How much more so should we, then, carefully consider this? Everyone knows… His pedantry was such that [Zhong Sheng speaking of heavenly principles to everyone was like Mencius explaining the Way of the King to the officials of Qi and Liang; how could anyone not call it pedantic?] He also took Lü Shujian's essay "Admonition Against Punishments," added his own ideas, carefully made additions and subtractions to those relevant to current affairs, and hand-copied it, posting it in the official hall to advise his colleagues: "

The desire to use punishments is like fire, like a surging wave; it must be stopped quickly. Always keep this in mind, and you will have the learning and cultivation to subdue it. Don't you see that I am noble and people are lowly?" Knowing this to be virtuous and that to be resented, one is a vessel of sages and worthies, not merely a model for officials. May those in office heed this warning, and may bystanders also take heed. Do not consider harsh words and reprimands as the ultimate teaching, nor consider flattery and insults as literary works; then the world and people's hearts will be blessed.

Five things not to do
: Do not beat the old, do not beat the young, do not beat the sick, do not beat someone who has already beaten you, do not beat someone who is destitute. [Hunger and cold are a matter of life and death; if beaten, there will be no money to care for them, and they will surely die.]

Five things not to do lightly:
Do not lightly beat members of the imperial family, do not lightly beat officials, do not lightly beat students, and do not lightly beat superiors. Do not lightly beat police officers, do not lightly beat women. [For fear of injustice, women may be ashamed and prone to suicide.] Do not beat someone

immediately when they are in a hurry, [for it will hasten their death.] Do not beat someone when they are angry, do not beat someone when they are drunk, do not beat someone who has been traveling a long distance, [for they cannot rest and the daily journey is arduous and may be fatal.] Do not beat someone who is running and panting, [for their blood vessels are surging and their heart is being attacked, they will surely die.] Be slow to strike when I am angry, [for in the heat of anger, what is there to fear? Never strike!] When angry, one should reprimand others. The book says: "If you understand their situation, show compassion and do not rejoice. Rejoicing is unacceptable, let alone anger." [If I am drunk, delay the beating; if I am ill, delay the beating, [illness often leads to anger.] If I see something untrue, delay the beating, [mistakes are difficult to correct later.] If I cannot punish, delay the beating. [When faced with difficult situations or unusual people, a moment of impulsiveness may lead to an inappropriate punishment. Immediately imposing punishment will make things difficult to resolve later and will be a waste of time.] Do not beat again after being tortured; do not beat again after being pinched, [severe punishment is difficult to endure.] Blood vessels bursting, coupled with further torture, how could one not die? Moreover, the cangue is not among the five punishments; commoners subjected to this will ultimately become disabled, unable to earn a living. This must be considered. Even when interrogating robbers, the cangue forces them to confess, which is unsettling. Only by employing various methods, conducting separate and careful interrogations, can one obtain the truth from the confession, thus bringing peace of mind. Such cruel torture must never be used. [Do not beat them again after removing the cangue. [The inability to bend and stretch, the difficulty in healing sores, can be fatal. If the guilt warrants punishment, it is better to punish them when the cangue is removed.] Show compassion and do not beat them . In the sweltering heat of winter, pity should not be shown; on auspicious days, pity should not be shown; now, in times of sorrow, pity should not be shown. [Unfortunately, if there is already sorrow in the family, such as loss or fire, and further punishment is imposed, few would not be tempted to commit suicide.] Three things should be done: Elders should be beaten, but those who cause trouble for the younger generation should not be beaten. [This is of great importance to ethics and social order.] Commoners should be beaten, but those who cause trouble for the government should not be beaten. Those engaged in labor or business should be beaten, but those who repair private offices or purchase personal items should not be beaten. [This not only condones wrongdoing but also greatly damages one's reputation.] Three things to be forbidden: beating .

Severe beatings are forbidden. [Even if there are many light beatings, they will not cause death. Moreover, seeing that I have been reprimanded many times, my anger will subside. If there are severe beatings, even a few will be seen, but the person will be seriously injured.] Never beating is forbidden. [When bailiffs fail to extort bribes, they are often severely beaten on the back of the legs, causing some to die from broken tendons. Or, if the beating is in one spot, it will fester and be difficult to treat, thus leading to death.] Non-torture beatings are forbidden. [Among punishments, there are only two: whipping and caning. Beating the mouth with the sole of a leather boot—what kind of punishment is this? Have you not heard the saying, "The face is not the place to receive punishment"? In ancient times, caning was the lightest form of punishment because it was used on the back, and there was a fear that the shock would affect the heart and cause death, so it was abolished. Now, all punishments involve whipping the back with a flowery handle; isn't that even more severe than caning? Is it because the court is afraid of causing death and wants to lighten the punishments? But the officials of the court are especially cruel, causing death—how can they bear it?]

When Zhong Sheng examines a case, regardless of its size, he always thinks carefully before proceeding. After carefully inquiring about the matter, he would either punish the offender with beatings, cangues, or release them, without further delay. He said, "I am poor and needy. Each day I linger wastes another day's expenses. I am reluctant to release minor offenders from the granary or prison, fearing harm from the guards. I only order them to confess and await further instructions. For serious offenders, if they do not confess, I will consider their circumstances and accept their true guilt." He would often speak kindly and gently, saying, "Does this official necessarily intend to put you to death? But you have committed such a crime yourself. How dare I disregard the laws of the court to pardon you? If you do not confess truthfully, you will still not escape punishment afterward. Why suffer further hardship?" Therefore, all the guilty confessed. Even after they confessed, he would carefully investigate and, if there was any chance of survival, he would gently persuade them to leave. If all else failed, he would then write down his confession with a heavy heart. [Does such an official truly exist in the world? I have heard of his words, but I have never seen such a person.] He not only refrained from arbitrarily using torture in his investigations, but he also never spoke harshly or cursed anyone. He often told his colleagues, "He broke the law, but the court has its own laws. There's no crime of cursing in the law. Everyone has parents; to speak ill of someone's parents is the vice of petty people in the marketplace. We are officials, how can we act like that?" However, the prisoners he interrogated all spoke highly of him after they came out, saying, "Even in death, we are grateful for your kindness." Therefore, people separated his surname and gave him a nickname, calling him Zhong Zhongjin behind his back, implying that his character and talent were more precious than gold. Leaving that aside for now,

let's talk about Huan Shi, who had previously become Wei Zhongxian's adopted son. He was only relying on Wei Zhongxian for his official position and fearing a fall from grace. He couldn't seek fortune, only hoping to avoid disaster; he was merely a servile villain, unlike those like Cui Chengxiu, Ruan Dacheng, and Tian Ergeng, who aided and abetted evil. Relying on their powerless fathers, they harmed others for their own benefit, committing all sorts of evil deeds. Later, after Wei Zhongxian's downfall, an imperial edict ordered many officials to deliberate on his crimes. The

deliberations were finalized and a report was submitted. It stated: "Your humble servants, including the Crown Prince's tutor, the Minister of the Imperial Secretariat, and officials such as Su Maoxiang, submitted this report. In accordance with the imperial decree, the wicked Wei Zhongxian conspired with the rebellious woman, Madam Ke, to force Consort Yu to her death, strip Consort Cheng of her title, murder officials, steal treasures, harbor treacherous intentions, and plot rebellion. It was decided that Wei Zhongxian and Madam Ke, according to the law for treason, should both be executed by slow slicing. Cui Chengxiu, along with the Five Tigers Li Kuilong, and the Five Fiends Tian Ergeng, should be executed according to the law for colluding with close officials. Wei Zhongxian's sons and nephews Wei Liangqing, Wei Liangdong, and Wei Pengyi, as well as Madam Ke's son Hou Xingguo, should all be executed without delay. His adopted son, Fu Yingxing, and others should be strangled. His retainers, including Yang Wenchang, should be exiled to the malarial areas."

The imperial decree granted permission, and all the hundreds of henchmen who aided and abetted him were arrested and brought to justice. Huan Shi was terrified, but thankfully, he had never aided anyone in wrongdoing, and being a seasoned official and a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), he had many colleagues and contemporaries in court. Although none dared to protect him, they still held some sway over him, and thus no one impeached him, allowing him to escape the net. Even so, he lived in constant fear, contemplating resignation for fear of being plotted against. Despite his high rank and position in court, he was still feared, and even with such calculations, he felt like he was on pins and needles, never at ease. Emperor Chongzhen, furious at the treacherous eunuch's framing of the Donglin faction, which nearly jeopardized the dynasty, relentlessly searched for his associates. One bold minister, also a follower of the treacherous eunuch but not yet guilty, thought, "Rather than standing idly by to protect him, I might as well risk my life to submit a memorial; perhaps I'll be spared by chance." He actually submitted a memorial. The memorial contained the following lines:

"With Wei Zhongxian in power, everyone is in danger. Even Your Majesty, when you were a prince and a junior member of the court, still petitioned to honor the loyal and virtuous, and to build shrines to commemorate

their deeds, to avoid slander. How much more so should lowly officials in the outer court, facing life and death, rely on him to escape disaster? We humbly beg Your Majesty's grace to pardon their past transgressions and to punish their new efforts; this would be a great blessing for all." Upon reading this memorial, Chongzhen pondered it and found it indeed true. He then issued an edict: "

The traitorous eunuch has been severely punished. His relatives and associates, as well as those who have already sided with the traitor, shall be punished according to the three-tiered system of punishment for those who sided with the traitor Zhu Ci, as in the Tang Dynasty. Those who have not yet been discovered shall not be implicated."

Only after the traitorous case was closed did the eunuch feel relieved. More than a year later, he retired and returned home. Upon arriving home, the wealthy man, having retired in glory, was showered with flattery. His house was bustling with activity; even distant relatives, some with no connection to the family, came to pay their respects and bring gifts. Only his brother-in-law, Liu Taichu, was absent, and neither was his sister. Huan Shi sent messengers to invite him several times, but he remained silent, replying with only four large characters: "No time for thanks." Later, Huan Shi personally visited his sister and brother-in-law to formally invite them, but they still refused to come. They also vehemently declined all gifts. Huan Shi had no choice but to comply. He

noticed that his son, separated for several years, was vastly different from before, having become a good person. His daughter-in-law had also become more virtuous and understanding. His beloved daughter-in-law had given birth to a grandson, though born out of wedlock. The elderly man was overjoyed to have a grandson, especially after escaping such a great calamity. His happiness was immense. Si Fu followed Huan Shi to the capital and became the head housekeeper. Now in her fifties, she had grown increasingly plump and fair-skinned, looking no more than forty.

One day, Hou Shi and Jiao Hua went to Madam Ai's room. Huan E was taking a nap when he came in and plopped down on the edge of the bed. He woke Huan E, laughing, "You heartless wretch! I'm still your old teacher, and now you think I'm too old and ignore me? Since you came home, you haven't even said a kind word to me. How come I brought you here from childhood?" Huan E quickly sat up, hugged and kissed him, saying, "How could I forget you? These days have been so busy, and I haven't had a moment's rest. Not a single day has I not thought of you." He pulled him onto the bed, lowered the curtains, and since it was broad daylight and he couldn't undress properly, he pulled down his trousers. Seeing that his vulva was even more plump and lovely than before, he began to stroke him:

Si Fu, like parched land receiving rain, Huan E, meeting an old friend in bed.
Huan E enjoyed a blissful moment, and Si Fu once again experienced the great thunderbolt.

Si Fu felt Huan E... His abilities far surpassed those of his younger days, and his joy was boundless. Huan'e, seeing that even at fifty, he still

possessed a refined and elegant air, often adorned him with gifts, needless to say. His entire family was filled with joy and merriment, but as the old saying goes, excessive joy leads to sorrow. Why was this? Back when Huan Shi was in court, there was an imperial censor named Chen Zhong, a native of Shandong, who had impeached Huan Shi in a memorial. The memorial stated: "

I, Chen Zhong, the imperial censor of Henan Province, respectfully submit this memorial, but when I was summoned to the capital, I was unable to properly express my sincere loyalty and earnest pleas for Your Majesty's gracious investigation and dismissal to uphold the order of the court. The Minister of Works is said to be the mouthpiece of the court; without a reputation for loyalty and integrity, how can one assist Your Majesty? Take, for example, Minister Huan Shi of the Ministry of Works. He is utterly shameless and disgraceful, displaying nothing but servility and obsequiousness." As for the Minister of Works, his official rank was no longer lowly; he was merely a lackey of others. Now over sixty, no longer young, he acted as someone's adopted son. He used the court's public funds for personal favors and treated court officials as slaves to powerful and treacherous officials. He treated the Emperor's favor as if they were strangers. He treated his adopted son as his own, showing him the respect due to a false father. He was eager to engage in anything that harmed others for his own benefit. He completely disregarded the principles of serving the Emperor and benefiting the people. He not only failed the court but also tarnished the very ranks of officials. He should be dismissed immediately and not allowed to remain in the court for even a moment.

At that time, Wei Jian was in power, and he was trying to win people's hearts. Could he tolerate impeaching his high-ranking son, especially since the memorial, though not explicitly named him, was entirely about him? How could he not be furious? He kept the matter hidden for a while, then, finding an excuse, sent Chen Zhong to the Zhenfu Division, flogged forty times (almost to death), dismissed from his post, and immediately banished from the capital. This was partly Wei Dang doing him a favor, and partly because Wei Dang had secretly implicated him in his memorial, thus venting Chen Zhong's anger. Although Huan Shi knew this, he wasn't an accomplice, but how could Chen Zhong not suspect that he and his son were involved? He often spoke of this with relatives and friends, his hatred seething. He had a son named Chen Jinxiao, and he often told his son these things. Chen Zhong later died of anger and resentment. Unexpectedly, Chen Jinxiao passed the imperial examination that year. Seeing that all of Wei's faction had been punished, except for Huan Shi, he submitted a memorial. In short:

Zhongxian's usurpation of power, though aided by the Five Tigers and Five Tigers, was ultimately due to the collusion of Huan Shi, the retired Minister of Works, who was his accomplice in this treacherous act. Those who aligned themselves with him were elevated to the heavens, while those who disagreed were plunged into the abyss. The bodies of the virtuous were shattered, and the bones of the gentry were stripped away. The court's rewards and punishments were used to satisfy his own likes and dislikes. All the money in the treasury was his own pocket. The Eastern Depot had its own servants; why did it need Huan Shi as its adopted son? Huan Shi had his own ancestors; why did he need Zhongxian as his adoptive father? Cui Chengxiu and ten others were executed because they were Zhongxian's adopted sons. Yang Wenchang and many others were exiled because they were Zhongxian's treacherous associates. Huan Shi was both a treacherous associate and an adopted son, and the adopted son was his confidant; one man, guilty of all crimes, why delay his death even a moment? Even more infuriating is that this court official, instead of serving the court, has become a traitor, aiding and abetting the rebels in their cruelty and causing trouble. My father was one of their victims. Moreover, all those who sided with the rebels have been convicted, yet the ringleader, a eunuch, lives a life of leisure in seclusion, his position preserved. Where is the law of the court? I beg for a severe punishment to appease the public anger, and so on.

Upon seeing this petition, Emperor Chongzhen was furious. He wrote: "

I have heard that established laws are the legacy of our ancestors, and decrees are the fundamental principles of the nation. None of you officials dare to transgress these decrees. You, a court official, have acted as a lackey of the rebels, betraying your integrity and disrupting the laws of the land. Where are the established laws of our ancestors? Where are the laws of the nation? I hereby order the Embroidered Uniform Guard to immediately arrest you and bring you to the capital, handing you over to the Ministry of Justice for a thorough interrogation. A severe sentence shall be handed over and a report submitted. This is my decree."

The Embroidered Uniform Guard received the imperial decree and immediately dispatched officers to the south under cover of night. It was truly a case of:

joy suddenly turning to sorrow, happiness followed by accumulated grief.
Worldly affairs are like a dream, human relationships like the moon in the clouds.

The eunuch was enjoying himself at home when he suddenly heard that Tiqi had come to arrest him, and saw the imperial decree's stern wording. It was like a thunderbolt from the blue, leaving him nearly dead with shock. He spent a great deal of money to send them away; though they weren't tortured, they were still put in shackles before he could leave. Knowing there was no way back, and not knowing what would become of his wife and children, he shed a few tears, and several of his servants followed him.

The entire eunuch household, men and women, young and old, carried the house up and wept, their grief more heart-wrenching than if someone had died. Huan E, who had originally intended to go to the capital with his father, was now in a state of panic and lost his composure. Upon receiving the letter, his uncle Liu Taichu and his wife rushed over. They comforted Madam Ai and said to Huan'e, "Your anxiety is useless. You must quickly discuss with others and travel to the capital tonight to find a way to save him." They gave him these repeated instructions before leaving. [Reading this, it's clear that Liu Taichu wasn't without affection, but he was unwilling to get involved in anything. Although he was overly aloof, are there still such people in the world today?] Huan'e, upon hearing his uncle's words, suddenly realized the situation. He pondered how to save his father, but didn't know who to approach. He wanted to invite people to discuss the matter, but didn't know who to ask. Just as he was getting anxious, Jia Wenwu, Tong Zida, and Wu He heard the letter and came to visit. [Reading this, it's clear that Jia, Tong, and Wu still retained some sense of righteousness. Why? Because these men were merely drinking buddies, not true friends. Seeing that the Huan family was in trouble, they still came to visit. In today's world, even blood relatives would avoid them.] When asked about the reason, Huan'e explained in detail and mentioned that he wanted to find a way. Wu He said, "I have thought of a way, but I don't know if it will work?" Huan'e hurriedly said, "Tell me about it. If it can save my father, I will thank you handsomely." Wu He said, "I am deeply grateful for your kindness over the years, sir. How can I accept a word of thanks? This is merely my humble opinion. I don't know if it will work. Two years ago, I heard from my friends who returned from the capital that there is a Master Zhong in our city who is an official in the Ministry of Justice. He is very upright and decisive. He is respected by his colleagues and even the court officials like him very much and listen to his advice. Later, when I asked his name, I found out that he is the husband of Qian Gui. I said that he is from the same hometown and is kind-hearted. I hope he can tell me a plan to save my father. I don't know if it will work?" [Meng Chang supported three thousand retainers, who were recruited by rooster crows and dog thieves.] The Huan family, though wealthy and influential, is not lacking in relatives and friends. Yet, the plan to save his father comes from a humble background. People only value fine clothes and status, while looking down on those they know in poverty. Huan E hesitated, saying, “The plan is good, but we offended him back then. [1.] Although we apologized and he said kind words, we never met him. [2.] Although we live in the same city, we have no connection whatsoever. [3.] It would be a miracle if he didn't hold a grudge; how could he possibly do this?” [Having these doubts, later, Zhong Sheng's efforts to save Huan Shi were beyond Huan E's wildest dreams, hence his deep gratitude and unwavering devotion.] Wu He said, "I believe he is a virtuous and gentlemanly man, and he will certainly not hold grudges. If you, sir, are still worried, I have a wonderful plan." Huan E asked, "What plan?" Wu He said, "Qian Gui's mother married Zhu Sikuan and still lives in the old house. Why not go find him, discuss it with him, promise him a generous reward, and invite him to go to the capital with you to tell his children about your relationship? It will be even more effective. What do you say, sir?" Huan E was overjoyed and said, "Since that's the case, you will come with me." Jia Wenwu and Tong Zida both said, "For your important matter, sir, we will go together." [This is what is meant by "blood is not as good as relatives, and relatives are not as good as friends."] So they went to his house together.

Zhu Sikuan received them and invited them to sit down. Huan E explained his purpose, and Hao Shi came out to meet him. Huan E then told him that he wanted him to go to the capital with her to find her son-in-law and daughter, and that her daughter should ask Zhong Sheng to help her, promising him a generous reward. Madam Hao said, "My son-in-law is now an official, and I've remarried. Even if my daughter agrees, he might object. I'm easily swayed, and that would ruin things for you, sir. I'm not fortunate enough to deserve your thanks." Huan'e, hearing this, was so anxious he kept stamping his legs, saying, "What should we do, Madam? [Huan'e is only calling you 'Madam' because he wants something.] If you can think of a way for me, I will definitely thank you handsomely." Madam Hao, tempted by his reward, thought for a while. Zhu Mei brought out tea, and Tong Zida, seeing it, asked in surprise. Zhu Sikuan then said he wanted him back as his son, and that he had already been betrothed. Tong Zida was overjoyed, remembering their past relationship. Having nothing else to give him, he pulled out a gold hairpin from his hair and gave it to him. Zhu Mei bowed in gratitude, two tears welling in her eyes. As everyone was drinking tea, Hao said, "There is someone here, but I wonder if he'd be willing to go?" Huan'e asked, "Who is it?" Hao replied, "There's a Master Mei. He and Master Zhong have been classmates since childhood, and they're very close. If he's willing to go, there's a good chance this matter will succeed." Huan'e asked where Master Mei lived. Zhu Sikuan knew the address and told him. Huan'e thanked the couple and the three of them went to Master Mei's house. Master Mei happened to be home. They sat down, and Huan'e told him what had happened, promising him a thousand taels of silver as a reward if the matter was resolved. Master Mei missed Master Zhong and wanted to meet him, so he could go with him without paying for his own travel. He also thought about the thousand taels of silver if the matter succeeded, and even if it failed, no one would be held responsible. Therefore, he readily agreed. Huan'e was overjoyed and agreed to leave the very next morning. He then returned home.

The next morning, he sent someone with fifty taels of silver to Master Mei for his travel expenses and to prepare for his journey to the capital. It's not good to carry too much silver. He only took three thousand taels, plus one thousand taels of gold, packed everything up, and gave thirty taels to Wu He, asking him to go to the capital with him to help him make connections. On the third day, they set off. Mei Sheng arrived early, and together with more than ten servants, they crossed the river, hired a porter, and hurried off through the night.

Furthermore, Huan Shi had received a strict imperial decree and dared not delay. Upon arriving in the capital, he immediately sent the document to the Ministry of Justice. This was also a matter of special order and dared not be delayed. Several officials were selected to jointly conduct the trial, and Zhong Sheng was among them. During the interrogation, Huan Shi thought to himself, "I have served as a high-ranking official for a time, and I am already old. Moreover, being under the protection of the treacherous eunuch is an undeniable fact. Since I have already committed the crime, how can I deny it? Rather than undergoing trial and punishment and still being unable to clear my name, I would rather confess truthfully and avoid suffering. Even if I die, at least I will have endured a few years." Having made up his mind, he confessed: "It is true that I served under the eunuch on those days. At that time, I was already a high-ranking official in the court. What more could I possibly want? I did not follow him for personal gain, but to avoid disaster. Your Honor, please investigate carefully. If I did indeed conspire with the eunuch in evil deeds, I would gladly be executed in the marketplace and court, even if it means dying ten thousand times over." The judge said: "Yesterday, Chen Jinxiao mentioned that his father, Chen Zhong, had impeached you. You were initially allowed to remain in office, but later you found a pretext to have him flogged and dismissed. Isn't this a case of you conspiring with the eunuch to exact revenge? This alone is enough to prove that you are an accomplice in evil, deserving of death. What else is there to say?" "Defend," Huan Shi said. "As a high-ranking official, how can I, a mere censor, have the face to defend myself against accusations from officials? I can only accept the court's gracious punishment. Later, I was allowed to remain in office because I thought the late emperor had shown leniency by pardoning me after years of service. Later, Chen Zhong was dismissed without my knowledge." The court official laughed and said, "You think you have no one to testify against you, so you dare to argue so forcefully. Although I did not kill Bo Ren, Bo Ren died because of me. That is your crime. What more can you say?" He then sentenced him to death by hanging, a punishment usually reserved for officials who had previously sided with the rebels. No one could object. Zhong Sheng rose and said, "Your Excellency's opinion is certainly correct, but the official dares not write it down." The official in the hall asked, "What do you have to say?" Zhong Sheng replied, "Huan Shi, a high-ranking official of the court, has submitted to the loyal and virtuous, kneeling before the traitorous eunuch. What is the loss of his life? If he had been punished along with the other three in the case when the traitorous eunuch's downfall, what would have been the point? Now, several years have passed, and there has been a clear decree that no one would be implicated in future cases. Moreover, many of those who submitted to the traitorous eunuch have escaped punishment. If Huan Shi is severely punished now..." Everyone is in danger; if this door to information is opened, there will be no peace of mind in the future. Please, Your Honor, make a judgment.” One of the right-hand officials said with a stern expression, “Your Excellency, considering the local ties of Huan Shi, are you perhaps protecting him?” Zhong Sheng replied, “When Huan Shi was an official, I was still a poor scholar. Although we lived in the same city, we never had any contact. Later, I was fortunate enough to pass the imperial examination, but I still never met Huan Shi. What you are fighting for is upholding the law for the sake of the court; how could you possibly care about Huan Shi?” The head official asked, “What do you mean by upholding the law?” Zhong Sheng replied, “As Your Majesty says…” "The imperial edict, once issued, is like a ribbon. Having already received the decree, how can we allow the court's

message to be distorted because of a mere eunuch? How can we maintain the trust of the people in the future?" It turned out that the Minister of Justice and the eunuch were from the same family. Although he wished to help him, he was unwilling to sacrifice himself to save the man. Hearing Zhong Sheng's words, he nodded repeatedly, saying, "What you say makes sense, but I fear it cannot avert the Emperor's wrath." Zhong Sheng said, "Your Excellency, please consider this. In my humble opinion, while the eunuch may have acted servilely under the patronage of the rebellious eunuch, to say that he aided him in wrongdoing..." "That's not necessarily true. When the traitorous eunuchs first fell from power, hundreds of his accomplices were all convicted. If Huan Shi were truly a member of the traitorous clique, wouldn't he have had enemies who rose up against him, even to this day? To sentence Chen Zhong to death based on unsubstantiated charges would be excessive. Furthermore, the traitorous eunuch dismissed Censor Chen without any concrete evidence against Huan Shi. Even if he wanted to punish Huan Shi, he should only be dismissed according to the third-degree connection to the traitorous clique. To impose a death sentence on someone based on mere fabrication is something the officials dare not do." The court hesitated, then ordered Huan Shi imprisoned and the matter to be discussed again the next day. Everyone then dispersed and went home. Once in prison, Huan Shi realized that the court was about to sentence him to death by hanging, and he knew that arguing would be futile. His soul had already flown away, nowhere to be found. Suddenly, he saw a clerk in his twenties enter the courtroom, repeatedly defending him. He was deeply grateful. Later, he learned that the clerk was from his hometown. He thought to himself, "I know all my fellow Nanjing natives who are officials in the capital. Why have I overlooked this person? [This shows Zhong Sheng's high moral character; he refused to become a censor himself.] I wonder what his name is?" He hesitated. Although the clerk was guilty, he was a high-ranking official. The jailer would inevitably come to see him. When they sat down to talk, he asked him and learned that his name was Zhong Qing, and he was currently a wealthy man. After the jailer left, he secretly thought about how to find a way to ask him for help again. Having nowhere to turn, he was bowing his head and closing his eyes in bewilderment when he suddenly heard a servant enter and say, "Master has arrived." He quickly opened his eyes and looked up to see Huan E. He was both surprised and delighted. He was surprised that Huan E had come, unaware of the trouble at home, but delighted that Huan E's presence provided a way to contact Zhong Sheng. He quickly stood up and asked, "What brings you here?" Huan E saw that his father had endured hardship and suffering, and was now terrified and haggard. He knelt down and wept bitterly. Huan Shi also shed a few tears, told him to sit down, and asked why he had come. Huan E approached and whispered, "After Father got up, he wanted to come with me, but I thought it was pointless. We tried to discuss at home how to seek help, but the officials said it was not appropriate to speak out. Then Uncle Liu also came and suggested we look for a way." He then recounted in detail his discussions with the others about seeking help from Master Zhong. I just arrived today. I wanted to stay at my brother-in-law's house, but it might be inconvenient. I found a place to stay, settled my luggage, and told him the amount I brought. Now I've come to ask Father's opinion so I can trouble Meisheng to go and speak to the Zhong family. Huan Shi was overjoyed upon hearing this and told him about what happened during the trial that day: "The court has sentenced him to hanging, but Master Zhong is adamant about not signing. I was just wondering who could plead with him. You've come at the perfect time. Don't delay. Please trouble Meisheng tonight, as the verdict may be decided tomorrow." Huan E was also very happy to hear this and immediately returned to his lodgings, asking Meisheng to go quickly and promising Zhong a thousand taels of silver.

When Meisheng heard Huan E say what Zhong had said, he was secretly delighted. This was a stroke of luck, requiring little effort. This was Zhong's effort to save him, unlike me having to beg him outright. Once this matter was settled, the thousand taels of silver would be his for the taking. Mei hurriedly sought out Zhong Sheng's private residence to pay his respects. Zhong Sheng had just left the yamen when he heard that Mei Sheng had come from afar. He was overjoyed and rushed to welcome him in, leading him to the study. They exchanged pleasantries and talked about how they had missed each other for so long. Zhong Sheng said, "Brother, why are you so happy to have come all this way?" Mei asked to avoid the crowd and said, "I have longed to see you for a long time, but my family is poor and I could not come from afar." He then told him that he had invited Huan E to come with him and asked him to find a way to save his father. He also said that Huan E had just seen his father in prison and said that he was deeply grateful for his father's help and begged him to continue to help him. He was willing to repay the debt with a thousand taels of gold. Zhong Sheng laughed and said, "Why won't you help me, old friend? When I was a poor scholar, I refused to compromise my principles. Now, I'm fortunate enough to be a court official. How could I accept bribes or money offered in private? If Lord Huan's crime warrants death, even a million coins wouldn't save him; if it doesn't warrant death, I shouldn't accept a single coin. Brother, go and tell him. I appreciate his kindness, but if I weren't an official, I couldn't guarantee his father's life. If you're in the government, he'll have no chance of dying." Mei Sheng, seeing his resolute words and the apparent success of the plan, was secretly pleased and took his leave. Zhong Sheng asked him to stay at his lodging, but Mei Sheng said, "Go and tell him about your kindness, so that he and his son can be at ease. Besides, I haven't been able to return yet and will be staying for a while." Zhong Sheng had no choice but to let him go. Back at his lodging, he naturally added some more conversation, praising Mei Sheng's sincere advice and recounting Zhong Sheng's reply. Huan E quickly informed his father, and the father and son were secretly delighted.

The next day, the court again discussed Huan Shi's crime. Zhong Sheng insisted on the previous decision. The courtier said, "What if the Emperor's wrath is unpredictable?" Zhong Sheng resolutely replied, "If we offend the Emperor, Your Excellency should have one official bear the blame, so as not to implicate others." The courtier repeatedly said, "What a brave man! What a brave man! I did not expect a young man like you to have such courage. I am not as brave as you. In that case, please prepare a petition so that I can use it as evidence to report to the Emperor." This was the courtier's intention: firstly, to save Huan Shi, and secondly, to avoid implicating himself if he angered the Emperor, thus making him the scapegoat. [This courtier was petty in heart, but he was willing to consider the age difference, making him a gentleman among petty men.] Zhong Sheng gladly prepared a petition and presented it, saying:

Although Huan Shi was a follower of a traitorous eunuch, there was no evidence of murder and harm, and the matter occurred before the amnesty. If he were to be severely punished, it would contradict the clear decree of not implicating others, and so on.

The emperor then submitted a memorial regarding his topic. Emperor Chongzhen found the memorial reasonable, lacking concrete evidence, and indeed concerning matters arising after the amnesty. He ordered the relevant department to deliberate and submit a report. After further discussion, it was decided that the minister, as a high-ranking official, had relied on powerful eunuchs. His own official title was revoked, his grandfather's posthumous honors were revoked, his son's privileges were stripped, and his posthumous honors were reinstated. The emperor then approved the decision. Huan Shi was brought out from prison, and the imperial edict was announced, releasing him from his shackles. Huan E, along with Mei Sheng, Hou Jie, and Wu He, greeted him at the yamen. Everyone was overjoyed. Hou Jie wanted to take him to his home, but Huan Shi, with over twenty people in his party, declined, not wanting to disturb them, and went to their lodgings instead.

A terrible calamity had been averted thanks to Zhong Sheng's release, saving their lives and property. The father and son were deeply grateful. The next day, the father and son, along with Mei Sheng and another Mei Sheng, went to Zhong Sheng's private residence to express their gratitude. Wu He also accompanied them.

Zhong Sheng was at home and initially did not wish to meet him, but since Huan Shi was a senior elder and a fellow townsman, he could not refuse and had to come out to greet him, leading him to the hall. Huan Shi bowed and knelt down first, saying, "I thought I was doomed after offending the emperor, but unexpectedly, you, sir, have saved my life. My entire life is thanks to you, sir, and I have come to express my gratitude." Zhong Sheng hurriedly helped him up and knelt down, saying, "Please, sir, have some self-respect. I was only acting for the sake of the court, not to sweep away the clouds for justice. How dare I accept your humble thanks?" [To have such great kindness to others and yet not take credit is truly the mark of a gentleman. How can one compare to those who show arrogance at the slightest favor?] After they exchanged bows, Huan E also came over to express his gratitude, mentioning his past offenses and how he had been forgiven. Zhong Sheng returned the greeting, saying, "I have long been grateful for your generous gift, though I have not yet received it." [How did Huan E's relationship with Zhong Sheng compare to when he scolded the little beast at Qian Gui's house? I recall an acquaintance from years ago, Yang Aisheng, whose grand-nephew was only fifteen years old and studying at the Yang Ancestral Hall, which was also his family's ancestral temple. One day, I was traveling with several friends and stopped there for a rest. One of my frivolous friends, seeing that the boy was young and handsome, teased him. The boy said, "If you play with me, I'll tell my grandfather." Who would have thought that he would enter school that year, pass the provincial examination the following year, and then become a Jinshi (a successful candidate in the highest imperial examinations), entering the Hanlin Academy. Twenty months later, he returned to his hometown to worship his ancestors, now the venerable Master Yang. This made me think of the saying, "Of all things, only studying is noble," how true it is!] Wu He also came over to pay his respects and sat down. After tea, Huan Shi said, "We have no way to repay your life-saving grace. We offer this humble gift to express the heartfelt gratitude of my father and son. Your profound kindness can only be expressed by your descendants." He then had his servants bring over two large food boxes, and Huan E took out a gift card from his sleeve and handed it over. Zhong Sheng read it: "Respectfully presented: 800 dan of yellow rice and 2,000 dan of white rice." He smiled and said, "Why do you bestow this gift, sir?" Huan Shi replied, "This small token of respect is insufficient to repay even a fraction of your kindness. I hope you will accept it and consider future opportunities." Zhong Sheng said indignantly, "Sir, you are mistaken. I did my best to save you, acting in the best of my ability, without any selfish motives. If you repay me for this, it would be as if I were using public office for private gain. If outsiders find out, I would be offending the court and the people in court. I appreciate your kindness, but I insist on not accepting it."

Huan Shiji shed tears, saying, "I am old and gray, yet I have been granted the position of leader by you, sir. You wish to be a virtuous gentleman, while I am made an unworthy villain. How can I bear this?" Zhong Sheng, seeing his earnestness, could not refuse too much, and said, "Alright, sir, you are so kind. If I were to refuse again, I would offend you. Please take back the yellow item." He ordered two thousand taels of silver to be brought, and gave one thousand to Mei Sheng, saying, "I have long cherished your kindness, brother, but I have no way to express my gratitude. I offer this as a token of my respect and to express the elegance of our friendship from years past." [A thousand taels of silver is a great gift, especially since we have been close friends since childhood. It is a fitting gift.] Huan E said, "Brother Mei, after you return to your residence, I will reward you handsomely for your journey. Why should you trouble yourself, sir?" Zhong Sheng replied, "This is a gift from me to an old friend, not a reward." Mei Sheng deliberately declined, but Zhong Sheng said, "Brother and I are not related by blood, so there's no need for such formalities." He then gave Wu He a hundred taels of silver, saying, "This is a small gift for an old friend, enough for a meal." [Zhong Sheng knew him well, Mei Sheng had been close to him since childhood, Qian Gui entrusted his life to him upon their first meeting, and Wu He recognized him as a virtuous gentleman at first sight. These were only three people. Wu He recognized him, but Zhong Sheng did not, showing how difficult it is to know a person. Zhong Sheng merely looked down on him, hence the light gift, demonstrating that in this world, one should judge people not by their gender or social standing.] Wu He declined a few times, but then bowed and accepted the gift. He then gave three hundred taels of gold to Mei Sheng, saying, "When you get home, please give this to your mother-in-law as a token of gratitude for her not accepting the betrothal gifts that day." He then turned to Huan Shi and said, "I am deeply grateful for your gracious visit, sir. I would have liked to prepare a cup of Lu wine as a sign of respect another day, but I fear that you are concerned about the care you have given me and that your return is imminent. Therefore, I cannot keep you here. This six hundred taels of gold is for your son Qiao Zi's meal on his journey, and I offer it as a small token of my respect." Huan Shi felt bad that he did not accept a single coin and said, "Sir, I have obeyed your orders. I am truly ashamed to accept such a small gift." Zhong Sheng said, "No, I appreciate your kindness. This is my way of showing my respect to you, sir. Why should I be so modest? If you do not accept this, I will also decline the thousand taels of gold." Seeing that he was so insistent, Huan Shi knew that he could not force him. He got up to take his leave and thanked him repeatedly. Before leaving, Zhong Sheng said to Mei Sheng, "I should have kept you here for several months, but you are carrying such a large sum of money, it will be inconvenient for you to travel alone in the future. It would be better if you accompanied Mr. Huan back to his residence. But it would be difficult to part with an old friend who has come from afar." Mei Sheng, seeing that his reasoning was sound, took his leave and returned to his lodgings. Huan Shi, eager to return home, hired a sedan chair bearer that very night, and the next morning they all returned south together. Huan Shi, fearing his family would worry, first sent two servants home overnight to inform them. He himself rode in a large sedan chair, while everyone else rode mules, and the journey was uneventful.

After more than ten days, they arrived home. His family was overjoyed, and everyone, young and old, was grateful to Zhong Sheng. Huan E thanked Mei Sheng with a thousand taels of silver, Hao Shi with two hundred taels, and Wu He with one hundred taels. [The strategy of seeking Zhong Sheng originated from Wu He, so Huan E's thanks to Mei Sheng were substantial, while his thanks to Wu He were insignificant. He was overwhelmed with worry as a distinguished guest, yet he received only a meager reward for his efforts.] Mei Sheng suddenly received two thousand taels of gold, needless to say he was overjoyed, grateful, and deeply in love. Even Hao Shi received five hundred taels, and Wu He received two hundred taels; do you think they weren't grateful?

Zhong Sheng served as an official for two more years, and seeing the bandits running rampant and the court in decline, he lamented his fate, saying, "The affairs of the nation have come to this, and not a single person dares to speak out. It can be said that the spirit of the scholars has been swept away. I am but a poor scholar, enjoying a salary for several years. Now I risk this official post to speak out on the merits and demerits, to repay the Emperor's grace." He then sighed, "It is a pity that Master Yue has resigned due to illness. If he were still in court, he would be a trusted minister of the Emperor, and perhaps with some inclination to offer criticism, things wouldn't have come to this. If I don't speak out today, no one else will dare to." [These words would shame the ministers of that time.] One day, he met with the court official and said, "Eunuch Supervisor, the world has deteriorated to this state. You, sir, are a high-ranking official of the court. How can you bear to sit idly by and say nothing?" The official replied, "Of course I know, but this matter comes from His Majesty's heart, and I dare not offend the Emperor." Zhong Sheng retorted angrily, "If Your Majesty will not speak, then the officials should. I am but a lowly official, and my post is not a place for free speech. I know that speaking out will bring disaster, but I am paid by the Emperor and dare not hold a position without merit. Perhaps I can move the Emperor's heart with my death, and then I can rest in peace." The official sighed a few times and advised him, "Your loyalty is commendable, but all the princes, generals, ministers, and officials of the court are silent. Does this mean they all lack loyalty to the court? Do they all know that speaking out will not only be useless but also bring disaster?" All covered their mouths. A wise man knows when to yield and protects himself; this is something one must understand. [Those who hold positions without contributing anything invariably use this saying as a pretext.] Why then do you risk offending the ruler and inviting disaster? Sacrificing oneself for righteousness is indeed a good thing, but as the ancients said: "I would rather be a good minister than a loyal minister, for I fear sacrificing myself to offend the ruler." Zhong Sheng sighed, "He who eats the food of others should be loyal to them. You, sir, only know to be loyal to your duty, to repay the kindness of several years; this humble body has no time to cherish. Emperor Shizong once said of Mr. Hai Gangfeng: 'Ministers dare not speak, but lowly officials do.' This is what you are like today, sir. Otherwise, how could you be worse off today than before? Wouldn't you fear being laughed at by the sages of the past?" Those in the hall, seeing his resolute refusal to listen, secretly admired and felt ashamed. Zhong Sheng returned home and worked through the night to revise a memorial. The next day, he personally delivered it to the Office of Transmission , asking them to present it to

the emperor. The memorial, in essence, stated: "Emperor Taizu Gaozu, through countless battles, unified the four seas and established his dynasty. Since then, successive emperors have succeeded him, and nearly three hundred years have passed. The world is at peace, and all nations enjoy prosperity. Since the beginning of Your Majesty's reign, Your Majesty has diligently governed, first punishing treacherous officials, then eliminating those who colluded with you. The court and the people revere your divine might, and your subjects are protected by your holy grace. Since the third year of Chongzhen's reign, when Li Zicheng launched his rebellion in Shaanxi and Zhang Xianzhong fled to western Sichuan, to this day, millions of lives have been lost in the Sichuan and Hubei regions, and cities and towns thousands of miles away in Shanxi and Shaanxi have been reduced to ruins. The imperial court has become a desolate wasteland; the heartbreak and tragedy are beyond description. This is secondary; the rebels ravaged Fengyang, shocked the imperial tombs, slaughtered officials in various provinces, and even killed members of the imperial family. This is a time when your subjects weep with anguish and vow never to live with them." Why is it that Your Majesty repeatedly orders generals to lead troops, yet the rebels only grow stronger and cannot be quelled? It is all due to the in-laws supervising the army. These in-laws are arrogant and overbearing. They hinder even the most capable and courageous generals, and use those lacking talent and skill as shields. Everyone knows this harm, yet not a single person dares to speak out for Your Majesty. It is truly lamentable. Even more worrying is the fact that the chief ministers and high-ranking officials, the pillars of the court, are fully aware of this harm, yet they protect their positions and remain silent. This shows that these ministers are distancing themselves from Your Majesty. The Nine Ministers, being the eyes and ears of the court, use this as an excuse, saying, "Even the chief ministers do not speak out, how dare we?" This shows that these close advisors are distancing themselves from Your Majesty. The regional military commanders, governors, and generals, all high-ranking officials of the court, all said, "If we win, the credit goes to the eunuchs supervising the army; if we lose, the blame falls on the generals who led the suppression of the bandits." They all stood by, hesitant and fearful, allowing the bandits to grow stronger and the uprising to intensify. Even though it was clear they were eunuchs supervising the army, they remained silent, saying, "Even the most important officials of the court are eunuchs; how dare we, mere eunuchs outside the capital, speak out?" This shows how these high-ranking officials were dissent against Your Majesty. As for the military officers and civil officials guarding the cities, those who were loyal and righteous perished with the city when the bandits arrived. Those without shame surrendered to the bandits. They too were aware of the harm caused by the eunuchs, yet they all unanimously said, "We are but lowly officials; even if we wanted to speak out, we could not reach the Emperor's ears." This shows how all the officials of the empire were dissent against Your Majesty. This is still considered to be ministers of different surnames. The princes, dukes, and generals, of the same lineage, descendants of the imperial family, were noble relatives and high-ranking officials. He has not uttered another word; this shows his estrangement from Your Majesty. Today, Your Majesty is isolated and disheartened. At this critical juncture, the only way is to urgently recall the inner court officials and appoint commanders, so that the rebels may be quelled and victory achieved one day. If Your Majesty does not act decisively, the future of the realm will be unimaginable. This humble subject cannot bear to stand idly by while the blind and mad are left to speak out, risking death, and eagerly awaits your command.

When Emperor Chongzhen saw this memorial, he was furious and issued an imperial edict:

"What kind of lowly official is Zhong Qing, daring to overstep his bounds and speak recklessly, obstructing the grand plan? He should be severely punished, but considering his ignorance,

he is hereby handed over to the Garrison Command for a thorough beating and then exiled to the border garrison. This is my decree." Upon receiving this edict, all the officials in the court knew the harm caused by eunuchs, but out of respect for the Emperor's will, they dared not offer their advice. Now, seeing Zhong Sheng's memorial, some of them were angered by him, while others, with a sense of loyalty and righteousness, pitied and respected his blatant and outspoken remonstrance. About twenty of them personally requested an audience with the Emperor, begging for leniency. His colleagues, including those in the Hanlin Academy, the Censorate, the two ministries, and other departments, were all stirred by his memorial, their loyalty and righteousness stirred, and they gathered outside the Meridian Gate, prostrating themselves, willing to take the blame for him. On this day, Emperor Chongzhen, upon arriving at Yingtai, saw the officials in such a state. Although his anger subsided somewhat, he still did not issue a decree of leniency. He said to the Grand Secretary Zhou Yanru, "This humble subject is ignorant. He said I shouldn't have appointed an inner court official to supervise the army, but today we lack a general like Yue Fei. If we had such a general, how could we possibly quell these vile bandits?" Zhou Yanru replied, "When a minister is loyal to the country, history often praises him excessively. Yue Fei is also an example of later praise. If Zhong Qing were to be flogged and die today, future generations would say it was a pity to kill such a loyal minister. If we followed his advice, how could we possibly quell the bandits? That's the gist of it." [A good satirical remonstrance, a rescue without a rescue.] Emperor Chongzhen was startled and asked, "If what you say is true, what should be done with Zhongqing?" Zhou Yanru replied, "The Emperor's grace comes from His Majesty's decision; how dare I presume to speak?" Chongzhen then addressed the assembled officials, "You officials, what should be the decision?" The officials kowtowed and said, "Zhongqing is newly appointed and ignorant, unaware of taboos. [The words are sarcastic.] To force him to retire is to demonstrate Your Majesty's boundless benevolence. We are all deeply grateful for Your Majesty's boundless grace." Only then did Chongzhen agree. He issued an edict, released the bonds, and the Emperor's anger subsided slightly. Suddenly, the Imperial Academy presented a document. Chongzhen unfolded it and read: "I, Guan

Jue, a compiler of the Hanlin Academy, am filled with trepidation and fear, and I risk my life to submit this memorial. I have heard the ancients say, 'Wood becomes straight when it follows a rope, and a ruler becomes wise when he heeds advice.' It is also said, 'When the ruler is wise, the ministers are upright.' Today, in the Imperial Academy, not only do the civil and military officials know this is wrong, but even the ignorant men and women under Lü and Yan know it is wrong. Yet, not a single person dares to speak out for Your Majesty. I am deeply saddened by this." But I regret that I am of low rank, my position not open to dissent, and though I possess a loyal and patriotic heart, I cannot reach the emperor. Now, Zhong Qing, an official in the Ministry of Justice, dares to speak frankly and directly, truly a phoenix's cry to the court. All the court officials believed that His Majesty would surely accept his words and reward him handsomely, but unexpectedly, he has offended Heaven, been flogged and exiled. Zhong is a weak scholar; the flogging will surely kill him. Your Majesty is like the legendary emperors Tang and Yu; how can you kill a loyal and outspoken advisor? What kind of ruler will future generations regard Your Majesty as? I humbly beg for Your Majesty's grace to pardon his crime and reward his merit, to set an example of loyalty and righteousness for all the court officials. If Your Majesty insists on Zhong Qing's death, I am willing to die with him, to follow in the footsteps of Long Feng and Bi Gan, and to travel with them in the underworld—that would be a great honor. I am foolish and ignorant, yet I risk my life to petition the emperor, all out of love for Your Majesty. Even the iron halberd cannot deter me; I await your command with utmost urgency.

Emperor Chongzhen was furious. He said, "Does Guan Jue consider me a tyrant like King Zhou or King Jie? Hand him over to the Embroidered Uniform Guard and have him beaten well. Ask him who ordered him to do it and give a clear answer." The ministers then said, "Since Your Majesty has forgiven my affections, Guan Jue should also be pardoned by Heaven's grace." Chongzhen looked up and said, "He compares me to King Zhou and King Jie. His descendants have insulted their grandparents and parents. According to the law, he deserves to die. Can he still be forgiven?" The ministers said, "How dare he? Guan Jue only asked Your Majesty to be a ruler like Yao and Shun, not to do the things of Kings Jie and King Zhou. How dare he compare Your Majesty to Kings Jie and King Zhou?" Before the emperor's anger had subsided, Grand Secretary Cheng Guoxiang removed his hat and kowtowed, saying, "This old minister is past his prime. I have received Your Majesty's grace but have been of no use to the court. I am willing to accept the imperial edict to redeem Guan Jue's crime." Seeing the ministers' earnest pleas for mercy and the old Grand Secretary's repeated kowtows, Chongzhen had no choice but to say, "Sir, remove your hat. I am one of your ministers, so I will forgive him for now. Guan Jue shall be dismissed from his post and sent back to his hometown to serve as a commoner." "The officials, seeing that he had been spared, were already extremely fortunate. They dared not petition for his reinstatement, and all withdrew after expressing their gratitude.

Why then did Grand Secretary Cheng go to such lengths to save Guan Jue? Firstly, it was out of his unwavering loyalty; secondly, he had some personal connection with Guan Jue. Grand Secretary Cheng had been fatherless since childhood, and his family was extremely poor. His ancestral home was in Nanjing, and he was a commoner from Shangyuan County. When he was a teenager, he made hairpins from ox horns and bones to sell and support his mother. His family lived in two small, cramped rooms on the back street of Wuxue in Lufei Lane. Every morning, he would carry a load to the top of the inner bridge to grind hairpins for sale, working hard day and night just to make ends meet. One day, the magistrate of Shangyuan County passed by on the bridge. Grand Secretary Cheng, head bowed, was grinding hairpins and did not stand up. The magistrate saw him and angrily said, 'A young man so audacious, disrespecting his superiors! He shall be given five strokes of the cane in the street!'" "【It was this magistrate's provocation that provoked Grand Secretary Cheng, much like Han Xin's encounter with the two young men of Huaiyin.】 He became angry and said, "Being an official is only for scholars; am I not fit to study and become an official?" He then smashed his carrying pole and tools to pieces, returned home, and cried to his mother, wanting to go to school. His mother said, "It's excellent that you have the ambition to improve yourself. My family works hard spinning and weaving, which may provide firewood and rice, but we have no way to pay for your tuition." After thinking for a moment, she said, "That won't do. I will endure hunger and save a few coins each day for your tuition, so that you can pursue your studies." 【What a virtuous mother! Without her, how could such a son have been born?】 The next day, he went to a school to enroll in a class. The teacher was Guan Jue's father, an elderly, learned, and virtuous scholar. Many students recognized him and said to the teacher, "Is he the young Cheng who often grinds bones and sells hairpins on the top of the inner bridge? What is he studying here for?" "When Mr. Guan saw that he was only fifteen or sixteen years old when he began his studies, he asked him why. The boy tearfully recounted his impoverished family background, his punishment for not being a proper servant, and his determination to study diligently. Mr. Guan was overjoyed and said, 'As the old saying goes, "Where there's a will, there's a way." There are also two more lines that express this well: "The rich

produce starving children, while the poor produce high officials.

" Since you have such determination, who knows if you won't become a high-ranking official in the future?' So he gave him the school name Guoxiang. He added, 'Since your family is poor, I only hope you are willing to study. I don't care about your tuition fees.'" "He was deeply grateful to his teacher and indeed studied diligently day and night, without fail, through heat and cold. Within a few years, he had become a man of great learning. Heaven rewards the diligent, and he later passed the imperial examinations one after another, eventually rising to the rank of Minister. However, he remained an incorruptible official throughout his life. While the ancients possessed a zither and a crane, he owned neither a single string nor a feather. His household affairs were beyond the means of a poor scholar. He repeatedly wished to repay his teacher's kindness, but could not bear the thought. Now, seeing that Guan Jue was his nephew, they often talked together. Since both his teacher and elder brother had passed away, only..." He was there, and loved him like a close nephew. Now, for the sake of the court and for the sake of his family, he had incurred the emperor's wrath. Wouldn't he do everything in his power to save him?

After leaving the court, he went to Guan Jue's private residence and said, "I know that my virtuous nephew is upright and honest, and that his official salary is probably tight, just like mine. The current situation is getting worse and worse. My advice has not been heeded. I cannot assist the emperor in governing, and I am merely a servant in the imperial secretariat. I have no face to stay any longer. I will resign and return with my virtuous nephew." "The next day, he submitted a memorial requesting retirement, but Emperor Chongzhen refused. He submitted the memorial seven times before finally being granted permission.

He packed his belongings; his family was small, as were Guan Jue's. He hired two civilian boats, taking one himself and the other with Guan Jue, and returned south together. Guan Jue's ancestors had some land in Xiaoyi Township, Hezhou. His father later moved to the township in Hezhou. He and Grand Secretary Cheng went to Nanjing, and then he resigned and returned home. When

Grand Secretary Cheng arrived in his hometown, he didn't even have a house. Although his family was small, how could they possibly live in the two small rooms they had built back then? His nephews, nieces, and relatives pooled their money to buy a house across from the jewelry store next to the martial arts school west of the bridge in Shangyuan County, and sent it to him to live. He wore autumn and winter clothes..." He wore a purplish-red cotton robe, a single layer for spring and summer, still befitting a poor scholar. He didn't make friends, except for an old classmate named Bai Xiusheng. Because he was an old man, people called him Bai Xiu. They often invited him to their homes for chats. The two of them would sit in a small room in the southwest corner of the main hall, buying four ounces of liquor for three coins and drinking together. In the evenings, without oil for lamps, the lamps were so dark they couldn't see the cups were full. A piece of charcoal the size of a finger was placed in the cup; when the charcoal floated to the top, the cup was full. Occasionally, a few steamed buns would be brought out for him, the white mold on them about an inch long, the smell unbearable. Bai Xiu couldn't swallow them, but he himself ate them with great relish. Bai Xiu often boasted to others about... It's a joke, but as for fish and meat, such things are rarely seen, even once a month. It's a pity that such an upright official had no descendants. Throughout history, Deng Bodao had no sons, and Kou Laigong was childless; the ways of Heaven are unpredictable, a lament echoed throughout the ages. Furthermore, nowadays, a county magistrate or prefect returns home with thousands upon thousands of taels of silver, fine wine and lamb, winter furs and summer clothes, beautiful wives and concubines, and servants at his beck and call. How much more so for someone who rises to the position of Grand Secretary! Such an upright official is truly a blessing for the nation, a once-in-a-millennium occurrence. [Our dynasty also had a Governor-General of Liangjiang, Yu Qingduan, whose courtesy name was Chenglong.] Mr. Xiang Riguan's naming is entirely accurate, yet some ignorant fools laugh at him, saying he's a true fool, having achieved such a high position, yet... Not knowing how to enjoy happiness is truly despicable; to be lowly and yet slander one's superiors is utterly shameful.

Now, let's talk about Guan Jue. His wife was surnamed Dai, and his son was named Guan Bixian. When he was a scholar, his western neighbor was a family named Yan Liang, styled Huanwen, whose wife was surnamed Chuang. Their ancestors were originally foreigners, and they had two daughters, the elder named Guijie and the younger named Fujie. The couple were sycophants, behaving in all sorts of disgraceful ways; their behavior was truly unbearable. They had a few thousand taels of silver to live on. Their western neighbor was another family named Fu Hou, whose son was named Fu Jin, a wealthy landowner with several thousand taels of silver. Fu Hou had taken in a student of the Imperial Academy, making him the most powerful gentry in the village. He was incredibly arrogant, acting as if there was no place for him in the world.

Although Guan Jue was a scholar, his family was poor. Whenever Yan Liang and Fu Hou happened to meet him on the road, they wouldn't even exchange a word. It was as if they were afraid of being tainted by his poverty, and they would bow and avoid him from a distance. That year, Guan Jue and Zhong Sheng returned home after passing the imperial examination together. The prefect himself came to present them with a plaque, and the gentry and officials of the city flocked to his door to congratulate him. Guan Jue had no choice but to prepare a feast to entertain them. He couldn't bring himself to come alone, but since Yan Liang was his neighbor, he invited him to join the guests. Yan Liang was an old man from the village who had never met such distinguished guests before. Today, thanks to Guan Jue's influence, he was able to bow and sit at the same table with these well-dressed people. He felt much lighter, as if millions of lice were crawling all over his body, making him feel itchy all over, and he was very happy.

Overjoyed, he presented a generous gift of money and offered wine in celebration. This stirred a desire in Guan Jue to curry favor with him, so he asked Fu Hou to intercede with the Guan family, offering to marry his daughter to Guan Jue. He even sent the birth dates of both of Guan Jue's daughters, allowing Guan Jue to choose one. Fu Hou told Guan Jue this, and Guan Jue said, "I appreciate his kindness in proposing marriage. His eldest daughter is the same age as my son, so naturally the older one will be chosen. There's no reason to choose. Although I've been fortunate enough to pass the imperial examination, I'm still a poor scholar and cannot afford to be so arrogant." Fu Hou replied to him, but seeing that Guan Jue was willing but only mentioned his poverty, he asked Fu Hou to speak again. "I don't want a single thing, I don't care what you say, it's up to your family." Seeing that his son was grown up, Guan Jue was eager to find him a wife to complete this important matter. When the Yan family came knocking, he couldn't refuse, especially since his grandmother had seen his daughter. While the eldest daughter wasn't as beautiful as her younger sister, she was dignified and sturdy. So, she added some jewelry and clothing from the house to make do with the betrothal gifts. Guan Jue also asked Fu Hou to tell him that he would only go to the capital for the imperial examinations if his children's affairs were settled within the year. Yan Liang, however, was not one to disobey orders; he was at Guan Jue's disposal. The Guan family chose a date to welcome the bride into the family, and Yan Liang also gave over a hundred taels of gold as compensation, along with a maid. The following year, before Guan Jue departed, he held a farewell banquet and gave him twenty taels of silver for travel expenses. Guan Jue was deeply grateful for his hospitality. After arriving in the capital, Guan Jue and Zhong Sheng both passed the imperial examinations and were selected as probationary officials. Later, Zhong Sheng was released from his post, and Guan Jue was promoted to editor. He sent his family to move in, and the house was bustling with activity. Not only people from the countryside, but also relatives and friends from the city flocked to his door to curry favor with him.

With this in-law, Yan Liang felt as if the Hanlin Academy was his own. He was both happy and restless, and before he knew it, he had grown much older. He spoke louder, walked with a protruding belly, and his back was more upright. He wouldn't speak to anyone without mentioning his relative, Lord Guan. Chuang Shi flattered his mother and daughter, addressing them as "in-law, madam, aunt" at every turn, forcing smiles and laughter. The couple wished they could live with their mother, son-in-law, and daughter on their shoulders. Because Yan Liang had become related to him through marriage with a Hanlin scholar, Fu Hou wanted to extend the favor by asking his daughter, Fu Jie, to marry his son, Fu Jin. Yan Liang and his wife, seeing that he was a wealthy scholar, naturally agreed. The two families were thus betrothed, making Fu Hou and the Guan family four in-laws. They also came to join in the celebration, bringing gifts and travel expenses. On the day of Guan's grandmother's departure, Yan Liang sent a large amount of noodles and food, along with forty taels of silver for travel expenses, showing the utmost kinship. Guan's mother was deeply grateful.

Guan Jue had served as a minor official in the Hanlin Academy for several years, but now, stripped of his official rank and reduced to commoner status, he returned home still impoverished. Not a single one of the relatives and friends who had come to fawn over him remained. [No wonder, how could he possibly receive even half a person's attention?] Even the old man Yan only exchanged a bow, not even offering a cup of tea. When Guijie went to visit her parents, after several years of separation, they hadn't exchanged a single warm word, nor even offered her a meal. Yanliang, however, felt uneasy and said to Chuangshi, "The Guan family is back. We should either prepare a feast to entertain them or offer a simple send-off ceremony to cover our tracks. Otherwise, we'll feel too cold-hearted and embarrassed. Even a little soil can appease future generations; we shouldn't go too far." Chuangshi retorted, "Bah! I ask you, how much embarrassment do you have? Back then, we wasted so much money on them, thinking we'd benefit from their in-law relationship. We even gave them our daughter for nothing. In these past few years, we haven't seen a single penny from them." "Well, now that this foul-mouthed fellow has returned, why bother with him? [How ironic, even the cold-hearted still have a shred of humanity, unlike the heartless and ruthless Chuangshi.] If you want to invite or send gifts, go ahead and use the money. I have none. I'll send the paper money to the God of Poverty and send him away. I'm afraid he won't go far. You still want to recruit him? You think you've picked up some ill-gotten gains?" Yan Liangsu was usually somewhat afraid of his wife and dared not disobey. After that, the two in-laws rarely visited each other, remaining indifferent. The couple was even more ridiculous. Back then, they called Guan Bixian "son-in-law," but now they called him "son-in-law." They called Guijie not only not "auntie," but if things were good, they would call her "elder sister," otherwise they would call her "elder sister." When they called Fu Jinfu, they still called her "son-in-law" and "auntie." Fujie had already married into the Fu family. Seeing that her sister's family was poor, she was afraid they would borrow things from her, so she didn't even say much when they met. Fu Hou and his son were even more unbearable. If they happened to meet, they would bow and then part ways. Seeing their state, Guan Jue could only chuckle inwardly and put the matter aside for the time being.

Meanwhile, Zhong Sheng, released from his post outside the Meridian Gate that day, showed no sign of anger. Upon arriving at his lodgings, he packed his things and went home that very night. Some admired his heroic nature and wanted to escort him home, but fearing the court's spies, they dared not approach him. Zhong Sheng, having served as an official, had no personal wealth, only the empty sleeves of his official robes, and lived a solitary and desolate life with his wife, concubines, and son. At this time, Qian Guisheng had a four-year-old son, and Dai Mu had a son who was over two weeks old. They hired a carriage and went to Zhangjiawan. First, they sent their servant Zhong Yong to find an inn to rest and hire a boat. When Zhong Yong arrived, he saw a huge signboard that read: "

Dai Family Old Shop, Serving Officials of All Provinces and Provinces in Nanjing, Large and Small Boats, No Disturbance for Customers."

He went inside to inquire about boats to Nanjing. A shopkeeper in his forties asked, "Which gentleman is going to Nanjing?" Zhong Yong replied, "It is Master Zhong of the Ministry of Justice. He is originally from Nanjing and is now going home." He then asked, "Where are some good shops here? My wife and I can stay for a couple of days while we wait to hire a boat." The shopkeeper asked, "Is this gentleman known as Zhong Chongjin?" Zhong Yong replied, "Indeed." The shopkeeper said, "Master Zhong is from our hometown and is a well-known good official. Why bother with inns? Those inns are crowded and it's not cheap for families to stay. My house is quite spacious; you can clear out a few rooms for them to stay. In a couple of days, I will look for a boat that is cheap and available for hire." Zhong Yong thanked him repeatedly and hurried back the way he came to greet Zhong Sheng. Zhong Sheng was very pleased and went to his house. The main room had just been cleared out for his wife to go in, while the shopkeeper and his uncle, who was over seventy years old, sat with Zhong Sheng in the living room. Zhong Sheng deeply thanked the old man for his hospitality, but the old man said, "Sir, your esteemed name has been widely known over the years. I have long heard of it. It is an honor to have you grace my humble abode with your presence today, especially since we are from the same hometown. It is only right to receive you with courtesy." Zhong Sheng asked, "How many years have you been here, sir?" The old man replied, "I have been here for a long time, but my nephew has only been here for a few years." Just then, as they were chatting, they suddenly heard several women crying loudly inside. Zhong Sheng was startled and was about to call someone to inquire when a maidservant came out and said, "The mistress requests that you accompany this Master Dai and Uncle Dai inside." Zhong Sheng was surprised and suspicious, but quickly went inside with the old man and his nephew.

Do you know why? When Qian Gui and the clerk got off the carriage, an old woman and her daughter-in-law came out to greet them and led them to the main room. They addressed Qian Gui as "Grandma" and the clerk as "Second Madam," and they began to talk. The clerk noticed that the two women looked very much like his grandmother and mother, and thought to himself, "They were in Nanjing. How did they get here? Perhaps it's because they look alike." The two women kept looking at him, and hearing that they both spoke with a Nanjing accent, they couldn't help but ask the middle-aged woman, "What is your surname?" The woman replied, "My humble surname is Dai." The man was startled and said, "Also surnamed Dai." He then asked, "Grandma, what is your surname?" She replied, "My humble surname is Na." The man quickly pointed to the old woman and said, "Is this old lady's surname Miao?" The old woman was surprised and said, "Second Grandma, how did you know my surname is Miao?" The man quickly stood up, stepped forward, and took both of their hands, saying, "Is there a man named Dai Qian from your family?" The old woman said, "He is my son." The man hugged the old woman tightly, knelt down, and cried loudly, "Grandma, don't you recognize me? I am the granddaughter you sold to the Tie family." Hearing this, the old woman quickly looked at him again and cried out, "My dear son, I've missed you so much! Meeting you here today, is this not a dream?" "Then she pulled him up and hugged him, weeping bitterly. Na Shi also pulled him, crying out 'My child! My flesh!' Qian Gui hurriedly called a maid to invite Zhong Sheng, his uncle, and his father in to meet them. They wept for a while, their emotions a mixture of sorrow and joy. His uncle and his two brothers came to see them. Na Shi then took him to see his aunt and grandmother, Xiao Shi. Xiao Shi was ill and could not come out. Then everyone sat down, and Dai Qian asked him, 'Several years ago I went to the Tie family to redeem you, and they said you had been given to the Tong family. But when I went to the Tong family to ask, they said you had been married off to another place. How did you end up with Master Zhong?'" "The clerk couldn't give a detailed account of Qian Gui's background, but said that the Tie family's daughter treated me very well and instructed her family to marry me off to a good family. That family was wicked; they kept it from the mistress and sold me back to the grandmother. Thanks to the grandmother's kindness, she treated me like her own daughter. Later, I was married off and put to work with the master. The family then thanked Zhong Sheng and Qian Gui profusely. A young woman from Qingjiang described her family's current situation, saying: '

My beloved child has gone to be my servant. I came to the capital to live, separated for more than ten years, and I am overjoyed to be reunited today. Thank Heaven, a smile frequently appeared on my face.'"

Qian Gui then had the steward bring his newborn son to show everyone. The child was truly handsome, with delicate features, white teeth, and red lips—a beautiful little boy. They were overjoyed to see such a fine and well-behaved nephew and busied themselves preparing a feast to welcome him. The next day, another banquet was held to celebrate the occasion, with lavish hospitality every day. They even made clothes and shoes for the two children. Zhong Sheng felt indebted to the lavish hospitality and asked the steward to hire a boat to leave. The family refused, insisting on staying longer. Seeing their earnestness, and also because the steward had been separated from his grandparents for over ten years before finally reuniting, Zhong Sheng reluctantly agreed.

One day, having nothing to do, he strolled along the riverbank, watching the passing boats. He saw several large, brightly painted boats moored on the riverbank, with music playing and bustling about. Zhong Sheng stood there for a long time, when he saw a steward wearing a straw hat and a blue silk robe alight from one of the boats. The man asked Zhong Sheng's family, "What is this gentleman's surname and rank?" The family member replied, "His surname is Zhong, and he is an official in the Ministry of Justice." The man then asked, "Where is your esteemed residence, sir?" Zhong Sheng, hearing this, replied, "I am from Nanjing. Why do you ask me?" The man quickly smiled obsequiously, stood with his hands at his sides, and said, "Just now, my wife saw him from inside the window and summoned him to inquire." Zhong Sheng asked, "Who is your master? What is his surname? Where is he from? Why does my wife ask me?" The man replied, "My master's surname is Rong. He is from Huguang. He was formerly the Governor of Jiangxi and is now the Vice Minister of Rites. My wife is from Nanjing and was sent to inquire. I wonder why?" Zhong Sheng did not ask any further questions. The man boarded the boat, and Zhong Sheng was filled with doubt. He said, "His wife is from Nanjing. Could it be that she is a relative's daughter who married into Huguang? But I was poor when I was young and do not know any relatives. How does he know me?" He could not guess.

Just as he was about to turn around, the steward came running over and said, "The master is waiting on the boat. Please come aboard, sir." Seeing that he was now a senior official, Zhong Sheng felt it inappropriate to meet him in his undergarments. He told his servant to fetch his formal attire. There stood Vice Minister Rong on the bow of the boat, who said, "There's no need to be so formal on the journey. Please come aboard." Seeing him waiting there, Master Zhong hurriedly went up to the gangplank. Minister Rong greeted him with a beaming smile, saying, "I have long admired you." Zhong Sheng quickly bowed deeply, saying, "I dare not presume, for I have never had the honor of meeting you. Why do you show such favor, sir?" Minister Rong smiled and said, "Although I have never met you, I know someone who received great kindness from you in Nanjing." Zhong Sheng replied, "Back then, I was just a poor scholar at home, barely able to support myself. How could I have received such kindness?" Minister Rong said, "Please come into the cabin, sir, and you will know in a moment." They were led into the cabin, and after exchanging pleasantries, they sat down. Minister Rong asked some questions in Nanjing dialect and inquired why he was there. Zhong Sheng explained in detail how his memorial had offended the Emperor, and how he had been spared from returning home thanks to the intervention of the officials. Minister Rong was truly impressed.

Just then, a maid lifted the inner cabin curtain and said, "Madam is coming out." Zhong Sheng, unable to avoid her, bowed and stood still. He saw that the lady appeared to be about thirty years old, adorned with jewels. Dressed in silk robes, surrounded by maids and servants, Zhong Sheng lowered his head, not daring to look up. Two maids laid out a red felt mat, and a servant said, "Madam thanks Master Zhong." The lady stood on the mat, bowed twice, and then knelt down. Startled, Zhong Sheng quickly knelt down, saying, "This junior does not know the reason. I fear Madam has mistaken me for someone else. How could I trouble you? Please, Madam, have some self-respect." After bowing, the lady invited Zhong Sheng to rise and sit in the guest seat. The lady and Rong Gong sat side-by-side in the main seat. Suddenly, the lady spoke, "My benefactor, do you remember the woman you rescued from the pond after the heavy rain in July? That was me. I have been deeply grateful ever since. I never expected to meet you here." Only then did Zhong Sheng realize it was the Xi Shi he had taught years ago.

You might wonder how this Xi Shi, a woman who was practically destitute, had reached such a position. As the saying goes, "You can't judge a book by its cover." Moreover, the food and clothing of women are even more uncertain. Her husband, Chong Haogu, brought a young man home, intending to exchange his genitals for his buttocks. Unexpectedly, this was Yang Weiying, a close friend of You Xialiu. Chong Haogu had seen him by chance at a friend's house and was extremely fond of him, but he had no money. Yang Weiying would never give up his buttocks for free. In desperation, he secretly conspired with him to exchange his wife's genitals for his buttocks, a mutually agreeable deal. This cunning fellow was extremely shrewd; he first wanted to see what the woman looked like before agreeing. Chong Haogu brought him home, and upon seeing Xi Shi, he found her indeed beautiful and was very willing. Chong Haogu thought that men taking concubines was a joyous thing, and he was now assuming that Xi Shi would be happy to take a concubine for his wife, allowing him to experience something new. Unexpectedly, Xi Shi not only refused but also launched into a tirade, a truly scathing attack. He left disappointed, his hatred like an irreconcilable rage. He went outside to discuss with Yang Weiying, who had pre-arranged to use his position. He sold Xi Shi for money and they would live as a couple.

Yang Weiying was initially close to You Xialiu, but after You Xialiu married a wealthy man, he spent his days cooking and cleaning at home, his tongue aching from licking tea, and had no time for him anymore. Later, he heard that the young master Huan loved him, and he thought he had gained the favor of a nobleman. Relying on his wealth, he imagined a life of plenty. He was overjoyed, but Bu Shi's scolding made Huan E, a simple-minded young master, lose his joy and forget about him. Although he worked outside, accompanying Zhang one day and Li the next, finding odd jobs, he could only make ends meet; he couldn't afford much money. Today, seeing Chong Haogu, he agreed to have a tryst with him first, promising to repay him after selling his wife. What kind of worthless ass was he? His latrine had probably been used countless times; what right did he have to maintain his status? So he readily agreed. That evening, finding no place for their bridal chamber, Chong Haogu pawned a cloth shirt, bought half a pound of beef, and they drank two jugs of liquor. In their drunken revelry, they went to a dilapidated temple and consummated their union on the incense table. Yang Weiying, fearing her own latrine was too loose to resist, and worried about losing this wealthy patron, deliberately acted in a hundred seductive manners, completely captivating Chong Haogu, who deeply regretted not meeting her sooner.

The next day, he went to the matchmaker's house, saying he had a widowed sister who refused to marry and now wanted to marry him. He offered to give her two-tenths of her silver as a reward, or she could work as a concubine or maid, whether in the capital or elsewhere, as long as it was a quick arrangement. He then told the matchmaker that the meeting had to be done secretly, lest the woman find out and threaten suicide. Even if the affair succeeded, he would have to coax her into going, and once they arrived, he wouldn't be afraid of her jumping off. Is there any conscience left in this world for matchmakers? They only care about the money they receive, not the lives of the women.

At that time, a governor named Rong, who was passing through on his way to take up his post, wanted to take several beautiful concubines because he had no children. He wanted the women of Nanjing to be charming and asked the matchmaker to find them, regardless of whether they were daughters or widows, as long as they were beautiful. The matchmaker, having heard about this from Chong Haogu, went with him. Chong Haogu, keeping a distance, pointed out the door to her. The matchmaker pretended to go in to ask for tea and saw that this woman, surnamed Xi, was indeed beautiful, but unfortunately, her life of poverty had ruined her. If she had some nice clothes, she could be considered a stunning beauty. Having replied to Governor Rong, he sent his family to secretly come and inspect the house. The poor family's door led directly to the bedroom, and upon arrival, he was immediately captivated. He told the owner, agreeing on a price of 240 taels of silver. The high-ranking official, hearing of his handsome appearance, spared no expense, readily paying the silver and sending him away.

He had Hao Gu write the necessary paperwork, received the silver, and settled the matter with the matchmaker. He hired a sedan chair and went with the matchmaker to the house, asking him to wait outside. Once inside, the matchmaker followed him at a distance until he was taken to Governor Rong's boat, where everything was explained. He then went home with the sedan chair. This was the second day after he drowned. Early the next morning, he saw Zhong Sheng return home, and soon after, Zhong Sheng, covered in mud and water, came again with silver and clothes, already deeply grateful. Moreover, Zhong Sheng was so considerate, worried he might be hungry and might not have money to exchange, leaving him 100 coins to buy snacks. Even his closest relatives had not shown such love and thoughtfulness; he was immensely grateful and wished to repay this kindness with his own life. Seeing his stern refusal, she felt even more grateful to him, and bought him some snacks. She washed and dried her muddy, wet clothes in the pond, and was just thinking about who she could ask to exchange the money when she suddenly saw Chong Haogu leading a sedan chair. He said, "Your brother is back. I just went to his house to see him. He said he was too busy to come see you, so he asked me to bring a sedan chair to take you back for a visit." Xi Shi was filled with resentment and had no one to confide in. Hearing that her brother had returned and come to take her back, she thought, "Who would refuse?" She didn't suspect that her husband had sold her. Seeing that her cloth shirt was dry, she put it on and got into the sedan chair. The sedan chair bearers carried her all the way to the Hanxi Gate.

He felt the sedan chair didn't resemble the usual route to his brother's house. He asked the sedan chair bearers, but they all said the same thing and wouldn't give any further details, simply carrying him along. Before long, they arrived at the boat dock near the Right City Bridge. The matchmaker caught up with him, called him out of the sedan chair, and whispered to him that his brother had sold him to Governor Rong as a concubine. The woman, surnamed Xi, was terrified and burst into tears, saying, "What are you saying? My brother isn't home, and I have a husband. How could he sell me?" The matchmaker told her his name and appearance, and Xi said, "This is my husband, not my brother." The matchmaker said, "Since your husband has so heartlessly sold you, what are you still attached to him for? With a husband like that, when will you ever have a chance to get ahead?" "Your beauty and youth are wasted. Now, Master Rong wants to be your concubine, hoping to have children. If you are lucky enough to give birth to a son or daughter, you will enjoy life to the fullest. Besides, your husband has sold you, so there's no going back. When he sold you, he said you were his widowed sister. If Master Rong asks you, you must answer the same way. If you say you are his wife, a living wife, even if you have children, you will have no face or honor." Xi Shi, caught in this situation, had no choice. Her resentment towards her husband was so deep that she no longer shed tears. She went aboard the boat with the matchmaker. Upon entering the cabin, she met Governor Rong and his wife. Governor Rong was delighted to see her and instructed the housekeeper to take her to bathe. She changed into embroidered silk clothes, combed her hair, and adorned herself with many pearls and jade.

Lady Xi, in her early twenties, had never experienced such comfort. Suddenly receiving this, she was not only no longer resentful, but overjoyed. That night, Governor Rong slept with her. The embroidered curtains hung high, the brocade quilts were layered, and sleeping on them was incredibly comfortable—a world of difference compared to a simple bed with a straw mat. She ate delicacies every day, and could not possibly eat them all. Even the three taels of silver that Zhong Sheng had given her were nowhere to be found. Governor Rong, seeing her beauty, gentleness, and kindness, realized that although he had sought out three or four other women, none could compare to her; she enjoyed his exclusive favor. Besides his wife, she was second only to him. She often thought of Zhong Sheng and felt deeply grateful. She resented her husband's heartlessness, how cruel her lifelong spouse could be, and even more so, she remembered Zhong Sheng, a complete stranger who had not been lustful. His kindness was boundless, and she felt even more deeply grateful. She went to his post in Jiangxi, and the following year gave birth to a son. Governor Rong, despite his advanced age and high official rank, had only recently acquired this precious child, who was more valuable than a pearl. He loved his son and extended his affection to his mother, initially calling her "Auntie," but now addressing her as "Grandma." Two years later, the First Madam passed away. After the anniversary, how could such a large household manage without a wife to manage the concubines? Governor Rong not only doted on her, but also, as the saying goes, "a mother's status rises with her son's," he honored her with a formal title, officially making her a Third-Rank Lady. She often thought, "If it weren't for Minister Zhong saving me, I don't know where I'd be now. How could I have achieved what I have today? He's truly my second parent; how can I ever repay his kindness?"

One day, during a casual conversation with her husband, she recounted old family matters. It's hard to call him her husband, but she can only say how heartless her brother was, starving her every day and never interfering in her affairs. In her extreme misery, she tried to drown herself, but a scholar named Zhong saved her and gave her money and clothes. Little did she know that on that very day, her brother sold her to this place, and she would never be able to repay his kindness. Rong Gong, a high-ranking official, praised Zhong Sheng for his good deeds and, being the benefactor of his new wife, felt compelled to repay his kindness to please his wife. Later,

he was promoted to Vice Minister and passed through Nanjing. The city's officials paid him a visit and invited him to banquets, creating a noisy and bustling atmosphere. Vice Minister Rong was completely oblivious to this. Although Lady Xi kept him in her heart, she didn't know where he was or what his name was. In such a large city as the capital, there were countless people with the surname Zhong; how could she possibly find him? She had no choice but to let it go, but the thought lingered in her mind. That day, after the boat docked, he was sitting in the cabin when, through the gauze window, he saw a man on the shore with the air of an official, standing there idly gazing around. He looked exactly like Zhong Sheng. He had thought of him day and night, and had truly loved him in the past; his appearance was unforgettable. Seven or eight years had passed, and he had only grown a slight beard, but he recognized him clearly. He told Vice Minister Rong, who sent someone to inquire, and indeed it was him. Only then did he learn that he had become an official, so he invited him aboard to express his gratitude. Lady Xi said, "It was on the day my benefactor gave me clothes and travel expenses that I married into the Rong family. I still keep the three taels of silver my benefactor gave me; seeing it reminds me of his kindness." She then had her wet nurse bring her two sons and one daughter to Zhong Sheng to see, saying, "If my benefactor hadn't saved my life in the pond, how could I have these three children?" [The story of Empress Liu of the Tang Dynasty, who disowned her father and refused to acknowledge him, is a reference to the lowly Liu family and feared that Liu's low social status would bring shame upon her.] Now, Lady Xi, disregarding her humble and impoverished past, is deeply grateful to Zhong Sheng and Bu Wang; she is truly a woman of great courage. Her magnanimity surpasses that of Empress Liu by a thousandfold. Zhong Sheng observed that one child was about five years old, another about three, and the daughter just over a year old. All were well-dressed and graceful, their appearances auspicious. He wondered how a married woman could marry into this family. He dared to ask her this, but replied, "It's nothing, nothing to mention. How could I dare address you as 'Madam'?" Lady Xi then asked, "Now that you've become an official, why are you here?" The Vice Minister Rong then explained that he had offended someone in a previous memorial and was now returning to Nanjing with his family. Lady Xi said, "Since your wife is here, I must invite her over." Just then, a messenger came in, announcing that a feast had been prepared.

Rong Gong invited Zhong Sheng to sit on the passenger boat for a meal and conversation. When asked when he would be leaving, Zhong Sheng replied, "I had planned to hire a boat, but I'll be leaving in two or three days." He then mentioned that his concubine, separated from his parents for many years, was not interested in meeting them today and wanted to stay a few more days, adding, "Therefore, I haven't been able to hire a boat yet." Rong Gong said, "Sir, there's no need to hire a boat. This boat belongs to an official of the governor's office. After my student goes to the capital, I'll give him several tens of taels of silver for travel expenses and have him take his family to your place. Besides, it's on his way back." Zhong Sheng was delighted and said, "How could I trouble you, sir? I will naturally repay you for the travel expenses." Rong Gong laughed, "This is a great matter, requiring your generosity." After a while, the meal ended, and Zhong Sheng thanked the officials, rose, went inside to thank his wife, and then returned.

Qian Gui asked him how they knew each other, but Zhong Sheng couldn't reveal that he already had a husband. [A truly virtuous and discreet gentleman. Even between husband and wife, he wouldn't reveal this.] He only mentioned that she was a poor woman who had saved him from drowning and had given him clothes and silver, saying, "I never imagined I'd become a lady today." Everyone sighed for a while, then said, "This silver is from the thirty-odd taels of silver you gave me." He also told them that he would be sent back by boat, and that Lady Xi would invite him to meet her on the boat the next day, which made him very happy. Everyone said that he was grateful and forgiving, and that he deserved to be a lady.

The next morning, as expected, two maids were sent to invite him. Since he had heard that Rong Gong had a concubine and asked the clerk to come along, he agreed. Zhong Sheng prepared a letter and went to pay his respects sincerely, thanking him for the banquet the day before and asking him to stay for tea. A short while later, Rong Gong returned the visit, and Zhong Sheng hurriedly welcomed him in, saying, "You have troubled me, sir." After chatting for a while, he returned to the boat.

Around noon, another maid was sent to invite him. Qian Gui and the clerk hired a sedan chair and rode with his two sons, each given a golden unicorn pendant to hang around their necks, which was a gift from the officials in Jiangxi to his sons. Before leaving, he sent many gifts from Jiangxi, including hemp cloth, summer cloth, and porcelain. Two days later, Rong Gong was going to the capital and invited Zhong Sheng to his boat. He said, "The boatman and I have already given them gifts, sir. Please just sit down and don't bother anymore." Zhong Sheng hurriedly apologized and thanked him. Then, a servant brought out ten envelopes containing five hundred taels of silver in eight denominations. Rong Gong said, "This is a travel gift from my wife for your journey." Zhong Sheng was about to refuse, but Rong Gong had already sent it to his residence. He added, "The wine, rice, dried vegetables, and fruits that I had left on the boat the other day are all left here. They are more than enough for your expenses for the journey." [This book vividly portrays the mannerisms and actions of each character. The way Rong Gong acts is particularly remarkable because it depicts the affairs of Madam Rong, and the actions of the Eighth Master are something no one else could do.] He instructed his servant to check and give the money to Master Zhong's steward. Zhong Sheng thanked him repeatedly and asked Zhong Yong to check it. Zhong Sheng then asked to thank Madam Xi, who again invited him to the meeting, offering words of advice for his well-being. Zhong Sheng thanked her again and returned. Qian Gui, acting as the clerk, came to the boat to see Madam Xi off, and Madam Xi gave them both some gifts as a farewell gesture.

The next morning, Rong Gong got up, and Zhong Sheng accompanied him for several miles. Rong Gong declined, but Zhong Sheng had no choice but to obey. He then bowed before Madam Xi's sedan chair, and Madam Xi, inside the chair, shed tears. [Truly, she was moved to tears of gratitude.] She gave him a few more words of advice, then returned to the bow of the boat to kowtow and inquire about the departure date. Two days later, they were loaded onto the boat. The Dai family tried their best to keep him, but to no avail. They held a farewell banquet, offering plenty of food and a hundred taels of silver for travel expenses. Zhong Sheng refused to accept them, but Dai gave them to his daughter as a gift for his two nephews. Zhong Sheng had no choice but to accept their gratitude and chose a day to depart. The clerk's grandmother, uncles, parents, aunts, uncles, and two brothers all came aboard to see him off, weeping bitterly before returning home. With gongs and drums beating, they set sail back to their hometown.

They arrived in Dongchang in a few days. Gan Yi, a fellow townsman and now the Prefectural Magistrate of Dongchang, came to greet them, offering a generous gift. Gan Yi declined, but Gan Yi insisted, accepting the gift. The next day, Gan Yi and his wife were invited to the banquet. Seeing Gan Yi's warm hospitality, Zhong Sheng went to the banquet, accompanied by Zhen Shi. Outside, Gan Sheng was served by a secretary and a wealthy guest from Shanxi. Zhong Sheng inquired about their names. They all sat down to drink. After the banquet, Gan Sheng pointed at the Shanxi guest and comically recounted their conversation at the Li family's inn, causing everyone to burst into laughter.

Why is Hua Ji here? Datong Prefecture in Shanxi was ravaged by the rebel Li Zicheng. Li Zhifu was old and dead, and all of Li Tai's descendants had vanished. Hua Ji had barely escaped with his life and was wandering aimlessly until he reached Dongchang. One day, Gan Sheng was out when Hua Ji saw him by the roadside. He recognized him as his former teacher and asked who he was. The name was the same, so he went to pay his respects. He explained that his home was destroyed and he had nowhere to go, so he had come to seek refuge. Gan Sheng, remembering how well he had been treated in the past, allowed him to stay.

The Zhong couple returned to their boat at dusk and set off again the next day.

Now, dear reader, you see, even among relatives and friends, when they see someone wealthy and powerful, even if they fawn over them, the person may not be satisfied. Why is that? Because so many people fawn over them that they feel it's all the same. These people who are good at flattery know perfectly well that when the time comes, their bodies move involuntarily, and they unknowingly bury their shameless heads in someone's crotch, licking their ass. There is another type who speaks politely behind people's backs, truly unparalleled heroes who never flatter. But when they see a wealthy man or a powerful official, they shrink back like a thief caught in the act, their tongues sticking out longer than others to lick the crotch. [There are many such people.] When they encounter a poor person, not only strangers but even their closest relatives will not utter a kind word. If there is any trouble in their family, they will not only turn a blind eye but also hide in a den of thieves, impossible to hook out. [And many more.] Zhong Sheng had no connection with that Xi woman; it was merely the roadside stranger's cold indifference and kindness that saved his life, gave him silver, clothes, and money, and acted with integrity. He never expected her to repay him today, and this generous reward is not excessive. However, one thing is certain: the ancients said, "I see no bad person in the world." Should I then say, "There is no good person in the world"? In this vast world, are there no good people? Those who bestow kindness upon others often repay it with enmity, like wolves in sheep's clothing; five or six out of ten such people are disheartened and unwilling to be good. Like Lady Xi, who received kindness from Zhong Sheng and never forgot it, such people are rare even among men. In short, many respectable men are not as good as a woman confined to her chambers. [The main point of this book is simply to say that heartless men are not as good as righteous women; this is a provocative statement.] No further explanation is needed.

Now, after Huan Shi returned home, he often mentioned Zhong Sheng with deep gratitude. However, when he, his wife, father, son, and grandson were enjoying themselves together, he would sigh, "It is Zhong Sheng's kindness that has ensured the safety of my family." He always wanted to repay his deepest gratitude but had no opportunity. Now, suddenly hearing that he had been dismissed from his post as military supervisor and had returned home, he both respected Zhong Sheng's character and felt deeply grateful for his kindness. He then heard from Mei Sheng that he had previously lived in his uncle's house, but his uncle had died, and the house had been destroyed by his two sons. Knowing that Zhong Sheng was about to return, he bought him a large house, some land and tenancy properties, and all the household utensils and furnishings, all worth about ten thousand taels of gold. Truly,

in this world, only kindness and resentment are unforgettable and deeply etched in the bones.

Huan Shi sent someone to inquire when his ship would arrive, but let's leave that aside

for now. Now, let's talk about how Zhong Qu, who had earned such a good fortune, was ruined by his son. It turned out that after forcing Gan Sheng to break off the engagement, Zhong Qu was not only despised by his relatives and friends. Unexpectedly, Gan Sheng passed the imperial examinations again, and Zhong Qu was filled with regret and resentment. His daughter married Lao Zheng, making him a relative of the Censor, which at least offered some solace. However, Wei Dang's affair was exposed, implicating the rebels, and his in-laws were executed. His beloved daughter and son-in-law were exiled to Shaanxi. Relatives and friends all laughed and cursed him, and he became so angry that he developed bloating. Less than half a year after Zhong Sheng went to the capital for the imperial examinations, he died.

His two sons, the elder named Zhong Wuren, married a woman surnamed Ji, who was Ji Deqing's sister. Ji Deqing, though a scholar, was like Bu Tong and Yougun Gong, a head constable who monopolized the yamen, instigating disputes and creating trouble to profit from them. The younger son, Zhong Wuyi, married a woman surnamed Du. His elder brother was a martial arts student, known in Nanjing as "the 'stilted ghost'." [There's an old joke from Jiangnan: Two scholars, one scholar and one martial arts student, were walking together when a countryman carrying a load bumped into them. One angrily said, "You dog bone, why did you bump into me?" The other cursed, "You bastard!" The countryman quickly put down his load and apologized, "I didn't know you were two gentlemen, scholar and martial arts, I deserve to die for my mistake." The two were delighted, "How did you know we were gentlemen?" The countryman replied, "This dog bone is the scholar, and that bastard is the martial arts student."] Both were Zhong's elder brothers. After Zhong died, they divided the family property, each receiving five thousand taels of gold, including real estate and miscellaneous items. Zhong Wuren moved into Zhong Qu's residence, dividing the half that Zhong Sheng had occupied with Zhong Wuyi. The brothers each established their own households, constantly vying for dominance. One dressed well, the other ate well; one invited relatives, the other feasted; one celebrated New Year's Eve every day, the other Lantern Festival every night. These two households didn't seem to live a frugal life, but rather competed in wealth like Shi Chong and Wang Kai. After a while, suspicion arose between them. Zhong Wuren thought to himself, "My brother is our parents' youngest son. As the saying goes, all parents love their youngest child; no parent doesn't favor their youngest. He must have been given extra money when he was alive, otherwise why would he be so extravagant?" Zhong Wuyi also suspected, "My brother is the eldest son. He must have received more from our parents when I was young, otherwise why would he spend so lavishly?" People only see the faults of others, but not their own. Their actions were originally identical, but with suspicion arising, they began to spy on each other, finding fault with everything. They also couldn't stand the two women in the house. One woman schemed before her husband, the other before the man, each trying to sow discord and sway the husband's heart. The brothers of these two women, shameless and unscrupulous, instigated their brothers-in-law to file a lawsuit. Driven by greed and perhaps with some surplus, they were further encouraged by sycophantic relatives who disregarded human life and death, siding with them and driving the brothers to fight amongst themselves. Zhong Wuyi submitted a petition to the county court, claiming that his elder brother, relying on his seniority, had unfairly divided the family property and received a larger share, pleading for a lenient judgment. The witnesses were the very relatives who had instigated the conflict. Fearing the county court's disapproval, he bought a large carp, stuffed it with 240 taels of gold, and had it delivered to the county magistrate.

The magistrate's name was Zang Jizhong. [How many magistrates in the world are not implicated in serious corruption? As the proverb says: Every household sells sour wine, but I am the expert.] He was from Shandong, and claimed to be a descendant of Zang Wenzhong and Zang Wuzhong, hence his name. Seeing that this was a wealthy commoner suing over family property, he saw it as an opportunity he couldn't have found even with a lamp lit, especially since he had received a heavy bribe. He immediately issued an arrest warrant for Zhong Wuren. Zhong Wuren, upon hearing this, panicked and hurriedly bought a large winter melon, stuffed it with four hundred taels of gold, and bribed the official in charge to secretly deliver it. He also submitted a supplementary petition, claiming that his brother was the parents' beloved youngest son, who had received a large share, and pleaded for leniency to have the property returned. He then asked his brother-in-law to gather about ten scholars who frequently visited the yamen to act as witnesses. The magistrate approved.

The next morning, he brought Zhong Wuren to court for questioning. He first briefly questioned the witnesses from both families, and inevitably, everyone sided with their respective brothers. Then he called his relatives forward to question them. The relatives said, "When the family property was divided, although there were other people present, the property and land were divided equally. It was the brothers' own choice at the time. As for the private matters involved, only they themselves know; how could we outsiders know?" The magistrate nodded and first called Zhong Wuyi forward. His testimony largely matched the petition. The magistrate then summoned Zhong Wuren to inquire, and Zhong Wuren recounted the entire story in detail. The magistrate's face darkened with anger. He slammed his hand on the gavel twice, pointed at Zhong Wuyi, and angrily cursed, "You wretched servant, you're a stubborn and unruly commoner! It's an old saying that the eldest brother is like a father, and there can be injustices. You should have asked your relatives and friends to discuss it, not so easily resort to litigation. Haven't you heard of the ancients sharing pears and dates? Besides, your relatives and friends all shared them equally, showing no favoritism. How dare you falsely accuse your elder brother? Your crime should be classified as false accusation. For an ordinary person, the punishment is increased by one degree. I'll give you a few slaps as a warning for your lack of brotherly respect, and then I'll determine the charge of false accusation." He drew four slips of paper and threw them down, saying, "I should have severely punished you, you wretched servant, but this magistrate will consider it a lighter punishment." Zhong Wuyi, who had initially thought he had given the fish, was now in a favorable position. He was quite uneasy, seeing that the man spoke entirely for his brother, he wondered, "Has he forgotten what's inside my fish?" After listening to him curse for a while, he suddenly threw down the warrant and was about to be beaten. The constables rushed forward and dragged him down. He panicked and cried out, "Your Honor, have mercy on me, for I am but a fool!" The magistrate, hearing him use the word "foolish," ordered the constables to stop. The constables released him, and the magistrate chuckled, "You say he is a fool." He then pointed at Zhong Wuren and said to him, "He's still a big idiot." He then said, "Seeing your foolishness, I'll remember to beat you. I'll send you to the jail for a few days to teach you a lesson." With a shout, he took him away, expelling Zhong Wuren and the others from the jail.

When Zhong Wuyi arrived at the jail, the guards, knowing he had money, one for evil and one for good, used their power to intimidate him. Zhong Wuyi had never seen such a good place before, and he was terrified. After much effort, he asked the man who had delivered the fish to inquire about the magistrate's reason. He then learned that his brother had given him a large melon worth four hundred taels of gold, and realized that Magistrate Zang's earlier comment about him being a fool had some truth to it. He then asked his family to take out two hundred and sixty taels to make up the original five hundred taels, and took it to the magistrate, along with his men, to arrest Zhong Wuren.

Zhong Wuren, seeing his brother released, thought the God of Money had intervened and was overjoyed. He held a banquet at home, feasting and drinking with the witnesses, when unexpectedly, he was arrested again. He was questioned privately, but the original clerk didn't know the reason. He was brought to the court and knelt on the steps. The magistrate said, "Your brother has repeatedly complained that you are deceitful. If you were truly fair and loving, why would you act this way? You must be a slave, abusing your power and treating your brother cruelly. Have you heard of Deng Bo abandoning his son to save his nephew, all for the sake of his brother? Xu Wu risked his own reputation to make his brother famous, all for the sake of his brother? You treat your brothers without affection; you are nothing but a beast. Now, only he is imprisoned; he will naturally be resentful. You should sit with him and cleanse your beastly heart." Without further ado, he was taken away.

Zhong Wuren inquired and learned that his brother had given five hundred taels, and he had added three hundred. Zhong Wuyi, knowing this, also added, making it a thousand taels each. The magistrate was quite satisfied. [There was a prefect in Shanhaiguan who, during his tenure, was known as Prefect Liu. Those who came to court in his office would exhaust their family fortunes. This magistrate, however, was content with only two thousand taels of silver. Compared to Prefect Liu, he was extremely honest; how could he be considered to have committed serious corruption?] He ordered that all the relatives and witnesses named in the previous petition be summoned. The next day, he brought the two brothers to court and gently advised them, "In this world, besides parents, nothing is more important than brothers. How can it be good if brothers kill each other? The ancients said: 'Brothers are hard to find, land is easy to obtain.'" He continued, "Money is like dirt, but righteousness is worth a thousand pieces of gold. I remember a poem that goes, let me recite it for you two: '

Those of the same blood and branches each flourish; don't let small things hurt your feelings.
Every meeting brings us older; how long can we be brothers?'

And a few more lines are well said: '

Brothers living together are peaceful; don't let trivial matters cause disputes.'" "
Your children are brothers now, so let your descendants learn from this example.

Remember, the county magistrate imprisoned you for a few days only to make you repent. [It probably won't come to that; perhaps it's still for my elder brother.] I am your magistrate, how could I not love you? I advise your brother to make amends." He then scolded the witnesses from both families, saying, "How could their own brothers do this? It's all because of you shameless lackeys, who are greedy and forget righteousness, instigating brothers to fight each other. They should be severely punished, but I'll forgive them out of ignorance." Among the witnesses were several scholars. Magistrate Zang said, "Since you are in the academy, you should have some sense of shame. How can you follow these lowly lackeys? If this happens again, I will certainly report it to the education commissioner. You are all scholars; you can use the words of filial piety and brotherly love from the books to persuade their brothers." He then said to his relatives, "Since you are close relatives, take their brothers and help them reconcile." "【What a fine official! If it weren't for that two thousand taels of stolen money, he would surely have passed the exam. However, this speech alone is worth two thousand taels.】 He gave the order and left. Seeing the official's words, what could the two men say? They returned in silence, not only regretting their innocence in filing the complaint, but also deeply resenting each other for using money to frame them. From then on, they were like enemies. Each thought to themselves, "We originally intended to use a few pieces of our family's property to pay for this, but instead of getting a penny, we lost over a thousand taels. How can we possibly vent this anger?" One day, Zhong

Wuren, accompanied by two servants, went to a friend's house to plot a lawsuit against his brother at another government office. They were determined not only to exhaust their savings but also to vent their anger. Reaching the Confucian Temple, they spotted his brother with a young boy, standing by the water. It turned out that Zhong Wuyi had also gone to a relative's house to discuss suing his brother. He had stayed for half a day, drinking and becoming somewhat drunk, before leaving to go home. Reaching this spot, he was standing by the water, lost in thought. Suddenly seeing his brother approaching, he turned away. It was already dusk, and Zhong Wuren, seeing no one around, suddenly felt a surge of malice. He quietly approached his brother from behind and shoved him forcefully. [“I have no one left to rely on; what can I do?”] Zhong Wuyi, caught off guard by his brother's actions and disoriented by alcohol, somersaulted into the water. The boy tried to run away, but Zhong Wuren shouted… Tao Wo, a family member, rushed forward and grabbed the boy. The boy tried to scream, but Tao Wo gripped his throat, leaving him half-dead, and threw him into the water as well. Zhong Wuyi, already dazed and confused in the water, suddenly surfaced. Zhong Wuren quickly picked up a broken brick, aimed it at his forehead, and with a great effort, sank back down. After watching for a while, seeing no movement, he didn't go looking for his friends and happily went home.

The two family members each gave him ten taels of silver and told him to keep it a secret. Then they told Ji Shi that the couple were overjoyed and drank to celebrate, saying, "Don't say there aren't such people in the world. Gao Yan of Northern Qi killed his brother, which was even worse than this." They felt they had vented their anger. That evening, when her husband didn't return home, Du Shi sent someone with a lantern to a relative's house to fetch him, saying he had been gone for a long time. She sent people everywhere to search for him but couldn't find him, and she was truly suspicious. It was already night, so she had to rest. The next

morning, she sent people to search again. Hearing rumors that two corpses had surfaced in the Pan Pond, the family rushed to investigate and found one was their master and the other their son. Dragging the bodies ashore, they discovered the master's head was shattered, and the son's throat was bruised. They immediately reported this to Madam Du. Madam Du arrived in a sedan chair, wept bitterly, and ordered her family to report to the county magistrate.

The magistrate dispatched four officials with a coroner to examine the body and fill out a report. The magistrate knew it was murder, but didn't know the killer. He simply filed a case, ordering the deceased's relatives to bury the bodies, pending further investigation after the killer's capture. Madam Du had no choice but to have her husband placed in a coffin and carried back home, while her son and family members were also placed in coffins and buried outside the city. Madam Du suspected her husband's elder brother had murdered him, but without confirmation, she dared not accuse him. She could only invite monks and Taoist priests to chant scriptures and perform rituals to pray for the deceased's soul and oversee the burial.

Reader, you have heard that there are elder brothers in the world... To kill one's own brother and escape punishment is truly outrageous. What is there to fear from ghosts and gods? He will eventually face retribution. The day Zhong Wuren murdered Zhong Wuyi at the Panchi, two servants were with him: one named Gong Ji, a trusted confidant of Zhong Wuren; the other named Tao Wo, the one who strangled the boy. Tao Wo was known for his extreme cruelty, and seeing his master harm his brother, he was far from satisfied despite receiving ten taels of silver. Because he held leverage over his master, he gradually became more arrogant. Zhong Wuren tolerated this for half a year, until things cooled down.

One day, on Ji's birthday, Zhong Wuren sent Tao Wo to buy vegetables to entertain his brother-in-law. When all the relatives arrived, Tao Wo returned drunk at dusk, by which time everyone had left. Zhong Wuren cursed, "You audacious servant! I was waiting to buy things for your grandmother's birthday, why are you only coming back now?" Tao Wo glared at him and said, "Audacious? Only murderers are audacious!" Seeing that he was confiding his troubles, Zhong Wuren remained silent. He turned and muttered, "A wife's birthday is such a big deal, treating your brother like a chicken? Don't make me say it." [These are words of reason, but shouldn't come from the mouth of a wicked servant.] Hearing this, Zhong Wuren couldn't contain himself and rushed forward to slap him. He shouted, "What have I done to deserve this? I don't think I killed anyone. I'm not afraid of you. Go ahead and take me to the yamen if you dare!" "He was flailing his arms and legs, causing a ruckus. Zhong Wuren couldn't stand it and ordered his family to seize him and give him a good beating. He held a grudge and went next door to tell the whole story.

Du Shi kept him there and asked someone to invite his brother to discuss the matter. Fearing that Magistrate Zang was a corrupt official, they dared not file a complaint with him. If they went to the yamen to file a complaint, they were afraid that they would be treated the same as the county magistrate. Moreover, since they lived in the same city, they were afraid that their elder brother would do something first. So they decided to file a complaint with the Circuit Intendant. The Circuit Intendant of the capital was equivalent to the Provincial Surveillance Commissioner. At this time, the Circuit Intendant's office was located in Zhenjiang Prefecture. Du Shi took Tao Wo and her brother to Zhenjiang Prefecture. When Zhong Wuren first saw Tao Wo leave, he thought he had run away. Later, he learned that he had gone to file a complaint with his sister-in-law. He panicked and asked Gong Ji to follow him at night to inquire. The next day, he returned and said, "The Circuit Intendant has approved the case and sent it to the Criminal Court for trial by Lord Xun." "

This official in Zhenjiang Prefecture, whose family has produced generations of scholars and officials, is truly a distinguished family. [Very respectable.] His name is Xun Si, and he is a student of Ruan Dacheng. [He stumbled upon this sentence, feeling utterly humiliated.] Zhong Wuren hurriedly sought a way to plead with Ruan Dacheng, demanding five thousand taels of gold. After much persuasion, he scraped together three thousand taels, including his house and cash. Ruan Dacheng, upon learning that his family was nearly destitute, finally agreed. He wrote a sincere letter and sent his trusted servant, Pang Zhouli, across the river overnight to deliver it, saying that Zhong Wuren was his close relative and begging for leniency. When

Xun Si received the letter, he was secretly anxious, saying, 'I originally wanted to keep this petition for myself, but my teacher, with his superior talent, got it first.' Helpless, he had no choice but to obey the order. After much planning, he suddenly realized, and exclaimed with delight, 'If this isn't enough, then there's another way!' Wasn't the Du family a piece of fat meat? So he set his sights on them."

A day later, the bailiffs brought Zhong Wuren and Gong Ji's family to the court. Zhong Wuren also submitted a petition to plead his case. When it came time for the trial, they first sent Du Shi up to question him, and then they sent the family member who had spoken out to interrogate him. Tao Wo then recounted how he pushed him into the water, how he broke his head with a brick, how he had him grab the boy, strangle him to death, and throw him into the water as well. The judge smiled slightly and summoned Zhong Wuren for questioning. Zhong Wuren said, "Your Honor, although I sued my brother for the family property before, he sued me first. I only sued him because I was angry. However, the magistrate advised me and instructed our relatives and friends to reconcile. There is a case in Jiangning County that can be investigated. What grudge did I have against my brother that led to this murder? This wicked servant is a drunkard who does all sorts of evil. I have punished him, as everyone knows. He then instigated my sister-in-law, who is an ignorant woman and listened to his words, leading to this lawsuit. If I had done something wrong that he could easily deceive, how could I dare to punish him? I beg Your Honor to investigate carefully." The judge nodded repeatedly and said, "You are righteous and eloquent, and you speak very well." He then summoned Gong Ji for questioning, but Gong Ji vehemently denied the matter. The judge then summoned Tao Wo for questioning, but Tao Wo maintained his previous statement and admitted that the murder was true. The judge slammed his fist on the table in fury, saying, “Since it’s true that your master plotted to murder your brothers, why didn’t you confess the next day? You waited until half a year later, only speaking out because of punishment. Your master is right; he really did commit this crime. He has a guilty conscience and would never dare to beat you again. You, you servant, wanted to frame your master for a momentary lapse in judgment. Your heart is too wicked. Even if what you say is true, when your master plotted to murder your brothers, you were an accomplice in murdering the young master, and you deserve to be beheaded as a co-leader. You strangled that boy and threw him into the water, which is intentional killing, and you also deserve to be beheaded. Today, you falsely accused your master out of revenge, and you are implicated, which also deserves to be beheaded. [You seem very familiar with the laws of the court, but I wonder if you remember what the crime of perverting the law and embezzling is.] You alone have received three beheadings; you deserve to die.” He ordered him to be bound and given twenty strokes of the rod. When questioned again, he gave the same answer. The judge was furious and added thirty strokes to his punishment before sending him to prison.

Then he summoned Du and berated her, saying, "As the saying goes, 'A virtuous wife in the home prevents a man from suffering misfortune.' When your husband was alive, he accused your brother; it must have been you, this unvirtuous woman, who instigated the conflict. Today, you listened to the one-sided story of this wicked servant and mistakenly accused your uncle. You deserve severe punishment, and the matchmaker should be sent to guard you until this court investigates the truth. Seeing you acting so alluringly in my courtroom, how can I be sure you don't have a lover and conspired to murder your husband? [A light punishment of one stroke] Because of your long-standing grudge against your uncle, you hired this wicked servant to frame him, hoping to escape punishment. Once this court investigates, your crime will be far from light." He summoned the matchmaker and ordered her to be taken into custody. He also ordered Zhong Wuren to seek bail outside and await further judgment.

Zhong Wuren came out, thinking that Tao Wo was determined to punish her, but feared that Du might accuse him in another court later. By piecing together the remaining possessions of her family, she raised over a hundred taels of silver. She bribed a jailer to have Tao Wo killed, reporting that he had fallen ill after being tortured, and that he had died by suicide at the jail. Upon the report being filed, the jailer, aware of the deception, knew there was a loophole. He was eager to take advantage of the Du family, and fearing trouble in the future, he was happy for Tao Wo's death, as there was no way to verify the story. Seeing the report, he ordered the body to be dragged out and filed.

Du, working at the matchmaker's house, was worried because of the bad news from the authorities. The next day, she heard that Tao Wo was dead. With no way to verify the story, she was terrified. She called her brother to discuss the matter. They didn't care about winning the case; their only concern was their own safety. They gathered two thousand taels of silver from their savings and sent it to the private jailer. The next day, the matter was brought up, and it was said, "You wrongly accused your uncle of a capital crime, and should have been punished accordingly. However, considering you are a woman, ignorant, and were instigated by a wicked servant, who is now dead, we will spare you from punishment. [Du should say: Thank you for your kindness.] We will release you after this court has reviewed your case." They also asked for bail and submitted a document, albeit with a corner obscured. The document stated: "

The investigation revealed all falsehoods. Du was misled by the servant's words. Considering you are a woman, you are spared punishment and fined. The crime should have been the servant, who died of illness in prison and has already suffered divine retribution. The rest should be released."

How many officials are willing to carefully investigate the people's plight? The circuit intendant saw the document from the court and approved it. The court summoned everyone and released them in court. Afterwards, everyone hired boats to return home.

Zhong Wuren, worried about home, was anxious because the Ruan family had come to urge him to move out of the house. He hired a small Manjianghong boat to hurry home. That day, the wind was calm and the waves were still on the river. When his boat reached the middle of the river, a sudden whirlwind capsized it, and the murderer fell into the water. Other boats rushed to his rescue, but only managed to save two boatmen. Zhong Wuren and Gong Ji likely perished in the open sea. He had murdered his brother; Zhong Wuyi at least received a body, and even the young man received a coffin and burial. But the master and servant were buried in the bellies of fish and turtles. [He was buried at sea.] The saying "harming others harms oneself" is indeed true. Because of the fratricide of Zhong Wuren and his brothers, it is indeed true. There is a tune, "Zhu Yunfei," lamenting the fratricide of the world: "Brothers are of natural kinship

, of the same blood and lineage. Nobility and lowliness are determined by Heaven; why should we discuss wealth and poverty? Power and reason arise within families, even more so than in other people. When brothers fight each other, blood and tears flow like a torrent; how many brothers in the world truly live in harmony?"

Du returned home with a thousand taels of silver in her possession. She had no children and married young. The Ji family fortune was completely wiped out, leaving them with nothing. After staying at his brother's house for a few days, he had no choice but to leave by boat with his zither and pipa. It's laughable that Zhong Qu's hard-earned wealth of ten thousand taels of silver was so easily squandered by these two virtuous men. Not only did he lose his life, but his family line was also cut off. The ancients said: "A generous share of wealth brings blessings to one's children and grandchildren." How could this deceive us? [These despicable words are utterly repulsive and utterly disgusting.] Although this was the fault of the Zhong brothers' dispute, it was truly Zhong Qu's own greed and disdain for the poor, his selfishness and desire to harm others for personal gain. The ancients said: "The consequences will befall one's children and grandchildren in the long run, and one's own life in the short run." This is absolutely true. If you don't believe it, just look at this incident; doesn't it send chills down your spine? Because of this incident of the two brothers plotting against each other, a few lines of doggerel lament the state of the world and serve as a warning to such people. Don't ignore this well-known saying:

Why have people lost their conscience? They only see gold and not people.
Poisonous schemes often arise from the struggle for wealth, and treacherous plots exploit opportunities to disrupt families. Don't be surprised if
these people have hearts as sharp as serpents; their nature is inherently thorny. Do
n't think there's no retribution in the underworld; driving away danger brings peace.

Enough of this preamble. Now, let's talk about Huan Shi's family inquiring about Master Zhong's boat arriving at the Shicheng Bridge outside the Hanxi Gate. He and his son came out to meet them. Master Zhong hurriedly welcomed them into the cabin, and they bowed and sat down, saying, "Sir, you are an elder of advanced age; how can I accept such kindness? Your esteemed presence has troubled me greatly, and I feel uneasy about it." Huan Shi told them of his and his father's constant gratitude, and how they had arranged for his property and land, awaiting his return. He added, "My father and I have come especially to welcome you to your new residence." Although Zhong Sheng was deeply grateful, he still wanted to decline. Mei Sheng and Wu He had previously met him at Xiaguan, and were now traveling together by boat. Seeing his repeated refusals, Mei Sheng advised, "Old Master Huan's kindness is so profound; if you refuse again, you'll seem too stubborn." Zhong Sheng had nowhere else to go, and seeing Huan's genuine affection, he deeply thanked him. Zhong Sheng gave the boatman ten taels of silver and set off with his family in sedan chairs.

Upon arriving at his new residence, he found it spacious and luxurious, with everything he needed. Huan Shi had also prepared entertainment and wine, both to welcome him and to provide a warm welcome. Zhong Sheng was deeply grateful, and they later became close friends. As soon as Zhong Sheng arrived home, Jia Wenwu and Tong Zida came to visit. The welcoming feast lasted for many days. Hao, the mother of Qian Gui; Hou, the wife of Huan E; Li, the wife of Mei Sheng; and Ying, the wife of Wu He, all came to visit Qian Gui and offered him a feast. The ladies-in-waiting also enjoyed several days of banquets.

After some time, Zhong Sheng, having some leisure time, sent someone to Hezhou to inquire and learned that Guan Jue had returned home. The two were from the same hometown and had served as probationary officials, sharing similar ideals and interests, and were very close. Although they later went to different offices, they often met. Now, seeing that Zhong Sheng's dismissal was due to his efforts to save him, and knowing his poverty, Zhong Sheng took out one hundred taels of silver from the gifts given to him by Rong Gong and his wife, [this is mentioned because it shows that Zhong Sheng had no other savings besides this], hired a small boat, and personally went to Xiaoyi Township in Hezhou to visit him. Guan Jue was delighted to see him come from afar and not forget their friendship. True to his humble family tradition, he prepared only chicken, millet, and village wine to entertain him. Zhong Sheng presented the gifts he had brought to Guan Jue, who initially refused to accept them. Zhong Sheng said, "I know of your integrity, brother. If these gifts were obtained through corruption, I would never have dared to implicate you. Since they were given to me by someone else, what harm is there in sharing them with you? In ancient times, even strangers would exchange gifts of silk, and there was no question of them refusing them. How much more so for two brothers of the same age? These are merely for your salary. Do you suspect me of being a worldly man, offering this as a token of gratitude?" Seeing his earnestness, Guan Jue had no choice but to thank him and accept the gifts. He stayed with Zhong Sheng for several days, but Zhong Sheng, having not been home long, took his leave and returned home.

Now, Tong Zida thought to himself, "Ever since I became sworn brothers with Huan E and Brother Jia, I've invited them to countless lavish banquets over the years. Although I've invited them a few times, [it's been quite a hassle. Inviting them a few times over several years is about once a year, far more than I've never hosted a banquet in my life.] it's always just simple meals, and I've never even gotten them drunk. There's never been a single time I've hosted a grand feast with plays. Although I've changed my ways, these past few years I've only been less stingy with money and haven't been extravagant, so my bad reputation remains. I see that even Master Zhong treats him with such respect, and Brother Huan has given him ten thousand taels of gold for nothing, so why not spend twenty or thirty taels to invite him as a friend? Besides, I've become sworn brothers with Brother Huan, and his father is my uncle. He's been living at my house for several years, and I haven't yet had a welcoming banquet for him. [Having lived here for several years and only now having a banquet is quite something.] Why not kill two birds with one stone?" [It's still a double-dealing scheme, and the bad reputation is hard to shake off.] He thought to himself, "Although this is my idea, I don't know if Grandma is willing to give it up. I must discuss it with her before proceeding." So he went to Tie Shi and conveyed his thoughts.

Tie Shi didn't flatter him with her usual rude manner. He was over thirty years old, spending his days drinking and eating meat, doing nothing but playing with a horn to amuse himself. He was truly a carefree and obese man. He was so fat that he was unrecognizable, and now he was even more obese that he could hardly move. The flesh on his cheeks sagged, and his neck was as thick as his chin. To turn his head, his whole body had to turn. His large breasts protruded high, and his buttocks were like giant drums. Although he didn't have a fierce air about him, he was inherently stingy, which he couldn't change. Because he was so fat, he couldn't have children, just like a hen that was too fat and had become bloated with oil and couldn't lay eggs. Over the years, unexpectedly, a seed was formed in the sunflower heart, and a daughter was born in the lotus petal. Although his mother was ugly, she gave birth to two beautiful, plump children, which Tie Shi raised herself. They were now five or six years old.

That day, he was reclining on a large cool bed, playing with his two children, when he heard this. He said, "You have a total of a hundred thousand in household goods, and you want to do such a grand thing? You can do it according to your means. I won't interfere in your affairs, as long as you don't skimp on my food and drink every day. Just don't deduct the money you spend on hiring people from my account, and if you lack my food, then it won't work." The boy said, "Don't worry, my household goods are enough for you to enjoy for several lifetimes." [This is hard to say. Can a millionaire really be guaranteed to live a long life? In the past, in Jiangnan, a millionaire had a million in household goods and still had more than enough. Later, when he was almost seventy, he gradually lost it all, leaving only a little over ten thousand. He would cry to everyone he met, "I'm going to starve to death. I only have a little over ten thousand taels of silver. How am I supposed to live?" At that time, I was still young and often laughed at him. Later, I realized that someone who was used to having a hundred thousand in household goods would naturally feel miserable when they only had a few hundred thousand. Perhaps they couldn't even bear to eat food and drink.] Then he happily left.

Upon arriving at Huan E's house, Huan E was chatting with Wu He and invited him to sit down. He explained his intention to invite Huan Shi to his home and asked to borrow some utensils and miscellaneous items from Huan Shi's family. Huan E agreed and went to the main room to speak to his father. Huan Shi said, "You young people should go for a visit; I'm old, so I'll decline." Huan E smiled and said, "I've known him for so many years, and he's never invited me once. He's always been frugal. He's never held a large banquet at home, and besides, he just said this is especially for my father and Brother Zhong. Why not go and bother him, and encourage him?" Huan Shi smiled and agreed.

Huan E came out to inform him, and he was overjoyed to see Huan Shi willing to go. He then asked Wu He to invite Zhong Sheng and Jia Wenwu. Wu He said, "Sir, for such an important occasion, you should use an invitation card to make it proper. Master Huan, Master Jia, and the others are practically family, but Master Zhong is a new guest; how can we just offer him an invitation?" Tong Zi said, "Do you think I'm stingy with a few invitation cards? To be honest, I've never hosted a large banquet before and don't know these customs. Besides, I have no one who can write them. I'd appreciate it if you could buy a few invitation cards for me and have someone write them. I'll repay your kindness another day." [Why not use the invitation cards we used when I first visited Huan E? Wouldn't that be easier?] Huan E said, "You don't need to." He called a servant and instructed, "Go and call the clerk here. Tell him to bring a few invitation cards and writing materials." Tong Zi was overjoyed and said, "That's convenient, even better! But it'll be troublesome for Brother Fei again." A short while later, he called over a clerk named Pei from his household. [Pei sounds similar to Pei, meaning "to compensate" or "to pay," implying that he not only compensated the clerk to write the cards but also compensated him with many invitation cards.] Huan E said to Tong Zida, "Who do you want to ask? How many invitations do you need to write? Tell them." Tong Zida replied, "No one else, just the old man, my two brothers, Master Zhong, and Brother Wu. Five invitations will be enough." Huan E said, "My father told me not to use them. Just write something else." Wu He also said, "It is my duty to serve you, how dare I accept invitations from you, sir." Tong Zida refused, saying, "I didn't know this etiquette before, but since it's the proper way, how can I not use it? I must write them." [This is called an unsolicited invitation, an invitation that doesn't cost money. As the proverb says: Burning a paper toilet earns favors.] Huan'e had no choice but to comply. He said to Secretary Pei, "I don't know how to write it. You're used to writing them, so please write it for me." Secretary Pei asked, "When is it?" He replied, "Tomorrow is too late, the day after tomorrow." Secretary Pei wrote it for him, and Huan'e said, "Since we've gone to all this trouble, why not add another table and invite Brother Mei as well? He's a good friend of Brother Zhong, and we're all acquainted. Is that alright?" He laughed and said, "That makes sense, that makes sense. You've thought of that, brother." After the invitations were written, Secretary Pei handed Huan'e two invitations to his nephew and younger brother, saying, "These are for my great-grandfather and great-grandfather." He handed the others to Wu He. Tong Zida said, "Brother Wu, you can keep your own invitations. [Excellent! I've never heard of someone sending out invitations themselves.] Please go and invite the others. They must come. You know my family doesn't have many people. I'll thank you another day." Wu He agreed, took the invitations, made the appointment, and then went home.

On that day, a fine troupe of actors and musicians were hired, along with cooks, tea servers, wine servers, and masseurs—everything was prepared. Huan E also sent over a dozen servants to help, and all the cups, chopsticks, blankets, and other necessities were provided by the Huan family. He also invited his brother-in-law, Tie Hua, to accompany him, and a separate banquet was prepared in the Huihui Inn. [Details.] At noon, the guests arrived one after another, with drums and music filling the air, and the sound of flutes and pipes deafening. The hall was adorned with lanterns and colorful decorations, and carpets covered the floor, all arranged neatly. They were seated at the head table, with Huan Shi in the center. Zhong Sheng declined the seat of honor on the east side, but Mei Sheng refused to yield and had to take it. Mei Sheng sat at the second seat on the west side, Huan E at the third, and Jia Wenwu at the fourth. Wu He sat at a slightly later seat, taking his place, while he and Tie Hua accompanied him below. The banquet was indeed sumptuous and exquisite, and the opera and music were very lively. Behind the screen door, a curtain was hung, and a private table was set up for Tie Shi to watch the play. [There were eight guests and hosts outside, and Tie Shi inside, making nine people including the women.] Kui Xin and Lian Ban, also dressed up, followed along shyly. Tie Shi had been married

into the Tong family for a long time and had become accustomed to eating anything, having long forgotten her family's traditions. That day, everyone appreciated his lavish hospitality and stayed until dawn. Tie Shi had been married into the Tong family for over ten years and had never seen such a lively scene or tasted such delicacies. She was delighted, while Tong Zida returned to his inner room. Tie said, "Everyone, you've chosen your guests, so I also want to host a feast." Tong Zi was eager to please her, so he said, "Grandma, you can invite whomever you want, will I object?" After discussing it with her, they figured there was no one else they could invite, so they invited only Lady Ai, Lady Hou, Consort Jiaohua, Lady Qian, Consort Dai, Lady Fu, Lady Li, Lady Ying, and his sister-in-law Huo. Since they couldn't invite everyone that day, he went out and finalized the arrangements for the actors, drummers, and cooks, as he still needed to invite guests the next day. He also told the Huan family to keep them around to help, and asked them to prepare food and drinks for everyone before he went to sleep for a while. When it was time for dinner, he got up and asked Tong Lu to invite Wu Helai, asking him to buy some invitation cards and write them, and then have the Huan family members go out and invite him to the feast the next day.

The next morning, Huo arrived, and after breakfast, Ying arrived first. [Even this seemingly insignificant place is described logically; Huo, being a close relative, should naturally arrive early. Ying, being the wife of Mie Pian, was invited by the Old Madam and should also arrive first—perfect.] After exchanging greetings and sitting down, Fu arrived shortly after. She was welcomed in; it turned out that Fu, having been abstinent for several years, had also fathered a son and a daughter. [She had suffered several miscarriages, claiming they were due to anger; this time, her abstinence was said to have deprived her of the shrewish mother-in-law.] They were brought along to play, and the wet nurse held them as they sat down. Then, music began playing outside. [First Huo, then Ying, then Fu arrived, but there was no mention of music playing; here it says music playing again, so it must have been played earlier—a clever way to save words.] It was said that Granny Zhong, Granny Mei, and Aunt Dai had arrived. The substitute's surname was Dai. People, seeing that she had a son, all called her Aunt Dai. When the substitute met Lady Tie, he wanted to perform a grand ceremony, but Lady Tie quickly stopped him, examined him closely, and recognized him as Xian Tao. She was overjoyed. [This shows that when Lady Tie sold him, although it was out of jealousy, it was also out of love. Otherwise, wouldn't she have been shy and yet happy to see him today?] She was exceptionally warm and invited him to sit down. Kui Xin and Lian Ban also greeted him warmly. A short while later, Madam Ai led Lady Hou and Jiao Hua into the sedan chair. All the women welcomed them inside. After exchanging greetings, Qian Gui thanked Madam Ai for her kindness and Lady Hou for the banquet at the previous wedding. [Details omitted] They sat down and chatted idly. Outside, music played, urging everyone to sit down. Madam Tie and Madam Huo led the guests to the main hall, where they found hibiscus-scented curtains, tortoiseshell curtains, and beaded veils. Golden cups were arranged on the mats, and the seating followed the previous arrangement for guests, with two additional tables set up nearby. A servant sat on a sunflower-shaped table, a delicate flower on a lotus-petal table, and two dove-shaped teacups accompanied a pair of lifelike bodhisattvas. Soon, the play was performed, wine was served, and dishes and soups were brought out one after another, the festivities continuing until late into the evening before the banquet ended. Then everyone went to the main room. Some of the guests changed clothes, some washed their hands, some applied face powder, and some applied lipstick—all the mistresses' duties. It was truly a scene of

dazzling mirrors and incessant clattering toilets.

Madam Tie took the servant's hand and quietly asked him how he had ended up at the Zhong family. The servant told her how Tong Zuobi and the matchmaker had sold him to the Qian family, leaving Madam Tie seething with resentment. At that time, everyone sat and talked, enjoying each other's company immensely. When Madam Huan saw Zhong Sheng's two sons, Jia Wenwu's son and daughter, and Tong Zida's son and daughter, as well as Mei Sheng's daughter, her own daughter, and Jiao Sheng's son and daughter, a total of ten children—five boys and five girls—she was overjoyed. Smiling, she said to the women, "Your husbands are all good friends. Why don't you arrange a marriage between them? It would make everyone feel even closer." The women replied, "Madam, your idea is excellent. We'll leave it to you." Madam Ai smiled and said, "I'll be the matchmaker and the arrangements are settled. You can go back and discuss it and see if it's feasible." Then she said to Qian and Li, "I've heard that your husbands have been close since childhood. Grandma Mei, how about marrying your daughter to Grandma Zhong's eldest son?" Li was grateful to Zhong Sheng for arranging her marriage to Mei Sheng years ago and was eager to give her daughter to him as a wife to repay that kindness. Feigning humility, she smiled and said, "Madam, your opinion is excellent, but my family is too poor to accept it." Madam Qian said, "My husband and your husband are bosom friends, why should we speak on your behalf? I'll do the talking, and it will be fine." Madam Ai added, "My family is deeply grateful for Master Zhong's kindness. Please marry my daughter to Madam Zhong's son." Madam Qian quickly said humbly, "I really can't accept that." Madam Ai said, "If you don't like my family, then so be it. Otherwise, I'm determined to arrange this marriage." Madam Qian pointed to the matchmaker and said, "This child is his, so I dare not accept it." Madam Ai said, "Wives have different ranks, but children have no distinction of status. I'm only repaying Master Zhong's kindness; I don't care about anything else." Seeing her kindness, Qian Gui quickly bowed in thanks. He also thanked Madam Hou and told the matchmaker to bow in thanks as well. The matchmaker and Jiao Hua also bowed to each other. Madam Ai continued, "Grandma Jia, how about your daughter marry my grandson, Grandma Tong's daughter marry your son, and my little granddaughter marry Grandma Tong's son? That would make five couples! Wouldn't that be wonderful? I won't force you. Go back and discuss it clearly, then we'll pay our respects and invite you to a banquet." Everyone laughed and said, "As the old lady says, no one will object. We'll come back to thank you after we've discussed it." Madam Ai smiled and said, "If it all works out, this old matchmaker will be attending the wedding banquet." Everyone laughed and said, "We'll definitely have to ask the old lady to thank us." Among them, only Madam Tie, upon hearing that Madam Ai was going to marry her little granddaughter to him, grinned widely, her fat face squishing into a single shape, her eyes barely closing to slits, overjoyed beyond belief. She quickly sent someone to tell Tong Zida. Tong Zida was overjoyed, [showing that the rich seek nobility just as the poor envy the rich]. He rushed in and thanked Madam Ai on her behalf, and also thanked Madam Hou. Madam Tie also bowed in gratitude. Amidst the lively atmosphere and laughter, the sound of music and drums urging everyone to take their seats was heard. They went out and sat down, and the gathering didn't disperse until the third watch of the night, when everyone bid farewell

and went home. The next day, Madam Ai told Huan Shi and her son about the proposed marriage. Huan Shi said, "My eldest granddaughter and the Zhong family are a good match, but my youngest granddaughter and the Tong family are not so compatible." Madam Ai said, "I'd like to consider it too, but who can say for sure?" [The wise opinion often comes from a woman.] It's fine if a granddaughter born to a maid marries the son of a millionaire. "Huan Gong nodded silently, and Huan E was also delighted. These ladies, upon arriving home, all told their husbands, and they were all happy and willing. They chose an auspicious day, and asked Wu He to act as matchmaker, and all the invitations were exchanged. On the same day, they visited each other's homes to express their gratitude, and afterwards, they invited each other to wine and opera performances. After the male guests, they invited the female guests. Only in the last two days did Tong Zida host the event. He and his wife were overjoyed, and this time it was even more lively than before. Only the fat Tie Shi suffered, sweating profusely every day. Everything else was fine, but her nipples and crotch were like two buckets of water had been poured out. As the saying goes, a happy occasion makes one feel refreshed, and she didn't feel tired at all. Her smile was so wide it was almost smaller than the sunflower's heart, and her smile was even wider than the lotus petals. She doted on her son and daughter in an indescribable way.

Meanwhile, Tong Zida thought, 'I have broken my vow.' [He didn't know when he had broken it that day, a humorous remark.]" "These men under my wing have been here for decades, and I've never invited them even once. I arranged the marriages of Brother Huan and Brother Jia, and yesterday they all came to congratulate me with generous gifts. Why don't we invite them too? It would be a matter of face for me, the landlord." He then went to discuss this with Madam Tie. Madam Tie had been enjoying herself immensely these days, watching plays and drinking, and with her two young wives urging her on, she readily agreed. She said, "Since you're inviting the men, I'll invite all the women of the men's wing." Tong Zida dared not refuse her and readily agreed. Sure enough, the next day he treated all the men to a day of plays and drinks. When it was time to leave, these long-time men, who had never been bothered even once before, were now deeply grateful for such a lavish feast. They bowed deeply and thanked him repeatedly before finally departing.

The following day, Madam Tie invited all the women of the men's wing, along with Madam Bao's wife, Hanxiang, for another day of lively celebration. Tong Zida said, "Let's just go all out and spend some money." "He invited all his relatives and friends, those he'd never even met before, and they spent the whole night drinking and feasting. He even invited Bao Xinzhi. Why did he know them and invite them? When Jia Wenwu invited them before, Bao Xinzhi and Hanxiang were at the banquet, both inside and outside the main hall. He only invited them because of Jia Wenwu's influence. He also invited the neighbors on both sides of the street, saying it was a celebratory feast for his son's engagement. Everyone knew that the couple was marrying into the same official family, so they all contributed by buying sheep and wine to offer their congratulations. Tie Shi was even happier and said to Tong Zida, 'Although I've been drinking and watching plays these past few days, I'm exhausted. You shouldn't have set up a separate table for me to reward myself.'" "【Even drinking and watching plays require payment, which is quite unusual.】Tong Zida naturally obeyed, leaving the actors to handle all the expenses. By noon, a cool bed was brought over, covered with thick mattresses, and several large pillows were placed for him to lean against. A table was set up for him to enjoy. Tong Zida sat beside him. 【He was behaving like a princess and her husband.】The commotion lasted all night. Not only his relatives and friends thought it was a strange event, but the neighbors all said, 'We've been neighbors with Baiwan for decades, and we've never seen his family have a banquet or play. Yet, they've been hosting banquets and plays one after another these past few days. It's truly unprecedented. He's really not as bad as he used to be. The news has spread everywhere as a strange story.' Tie Shi also specially set up two tables, inviting Qian Gui and Dai Mu to her home for a chat. She was very friendly with Dai Mu and even recognized her as a sister. Dai Mu didn't dare to accept the honor. Tie Shi said, 'Your son and my son are blood relatives, why are you being so modest?'" "【Although this is out of affection, it is also out of snobbery.】Although he called her 'sister' repeatedly, the clerk still called her 'grandmother.' Afterwards, the two families often visited each other.

After some time, Zhong Sheng slept for a short while one night, in a state between dreaming and not dreaming, he walked alone to the street and suddenly saw a grand mansion. It looked like the residence of a king, and he wondered in surprise, 'What is this place?' He saw many strangely shaped and ferocious-looking soldiers standing at the gate, all holding weapons, and dared not approach to ask. He was surprised and looked around, and suddenly saw Huan E, Jia Wenwu, and Tong Zida standing in the corner of the wall. Zhong Sheng stepped forward, raised his hand, and asked in surprise, 'Where is this? How come you are here, brothers?' The three of them said in unison, 'Just now, a divine general came with the king's decree, summoning us here. On the way, we asked him who the king was, and he said he was the ancient city god who led us here. He went into the mansion to inform the king, and even we do not know why we were summoned.'" Zhong Sheng was taken aback. The City God had summoned the three of them; how he would explain this would become clear later.

(End of Volume Sixteen)

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