The Golden Lotus, Volume 1

by Lanling Xiaoxiaosheng

  “He has no authority over me,” Li Ping’er said. “We have already come to an arrangement about the property and we have signed a document in the courts to say that our relationship is at an end. We women certainly have our first marriages arranged for us, but for the rest we can surely please ourselves. There is a proverb that says: Brothers and sisters-in-law have no right to interfere in each other’s affairs. My brother-in-law has not the slightest power to say a word in any matter that concerns myself alone. If I could not support myself, he would never raise a finger to help me. No, if that fellow dares to fart about, I shall tell him to die in his chair, and after that, he will not venture to die in his bed. Please don’t let him worry you, my lord. He can do me no harm. When will the apartment be finished?”

  “I have given orders for it to be painted and decorated before anything else. At the beginning of the fifth month it will certainly be ready.”

  “I will gladly wait till then, but you must do your best to hurry it on.” The maids brought wine, and they spent the night most pleasantly together. Thenceforth Ximen Qing went every few days to visit Li Ping’er.

  It was not long before Ximen Qing had finished some of the side rooms and the three-roomed apartment. Only the arbor still remained to be done. It was the Summer Day, the fifth day of the fifth month.

  Li Ping’er made preparations, and invited Ximen Qing to unfold the three-cornered dumplings, and also to talk over the arrangements for the wedding. She had decided to send for the monks to sing a dirge on the fifteenth day of the month, and then she proposed that Ximen should take her to his house.

  “Are you going to invite the Hua brothers to the ceremony?” Ximen Qing said.

  “I shall send each of them a card, and they may come or not as they please,” Li Ping’er said. So the matter was settled.

  On the fifteenth day of the fifth month, she asked twelve monks from the Temple of Eternal Felicity to sing a dirge at her house. The same day Ximen Qing took three qian of silver as a birthday present for Ying Bojue, and gave Daian five taels to spend in celebration of Li Ping’er’s coming out of mourning. Just before noon Ximen mounted his horse and went to Ying Bojue’s house. Ping’an and Shutong rode behind him. At Ying’s house the ten brothers were already gathered, with Ben the Fourth, the latest accession to the band. Bojue had engaged two young actors to play and sing and serve them with wine. When everybody was seated, Ximen Qing called the actors to him. One of them, Wu Yin’er’s brother, he knew already, but not the other, who knelt down and introduced himself as Zheng Feng, the brother of Zheng Aixiang.

  Ximen Qing, who was sitting in the place of honor, gave each of the boys two qian of silver. They drank till it grew dark, and Daian appeared to escort his master home. The boy went to Ximen Qing and whispered, “Mistress Hua hopes you will not stay very late.”

  Ximen Qing winked at him and made to leave the table. Bojue cried, “You thievish bone of a dog! Come here and tell me what it is all about, or I will pull your little ears till they are both on the same side of your head. How many birthdays a year do you think I have? The sun is still high in the heavens, and you come here with a horse. Who told you to come? The ladies of your family, or someone else we know? If you don’t tell me, I will never ask your father to find a wife for you, even if you live to be a hundred years old, you little bald-pated dog.”

  “Really,” said Daian, “nobody told me. I thought it was going to be a rough night and that it would be better for Father to go home early, so I brought the horse and came to wait for him.”

  Ying Bojue questioned the boy for a long time, but Daian did not tell him the true story.

  “So you won’t tell me?” Ying Bojue cried. “Well, tomorrow I shall hear all about it, and then I’ll settle with you, little oily mouth.”

  He gave Daian a cup of wine and half a dish of cakes, and told him to go away and eat them. Soon afterwards Ximen Qing came down to change his clothes. He called Daian to a quiet place.

  “Who has been at the Huas’ house today?” he asked.

  “Hua the Third has gone to the country, and Hua the Fourth has something the matter with his eyes. Only Hua the Elder and his wife were at the funeral banquet. Master Hua went away first, and, before his wife followed him, Mistress Hua took her into her room and gave her ten taels of silver and two dresses. She kowtowed to Mistress Hua.”

  “Didn’t she say anything?”

  “Not a word, except that, when Mistress Hua was married, she would come to pay her respects on the third day.”

  “Did she really say that?” Ximen cried.

  “I would not dare to lie to you,” Daian said.

  This was extremely satisfactory. Ximen asked if the service was over. “The tablet has been burned and the monks have gone,” said Daian. “Mistress Hua says she hopes you will go as soon as you possibly can.”

  “Very well,” said Ximen, “go and get the horse ready.”

  Daian was about to do so, when Ying Bojue, who had been listening in the passage, suddenly shouted and frightened him. “You thievish little dog bone,” he cried, “you wouldn’t tell me, but now I’ve heard everything. This is a nice little plot you and your father are hatching together.”

  “Don’t make so much noise, you funny dog,” Ximen Qing said.

  “Talk nicely to me and I won’t,” Bojue answered.

  They went back to the party, and Bojue told them all that had happened. Seizing Ximen Qing’s hands, he cried, “Do you really call yourself a man, Brother? You have something like this on hand, and not a word of it do you mention to any of us. Why, if Hua the Elder had tried to say anything, all you had to do was to tell us, and we would have gone and dealt with him. One word from him, and we would have raised a fine big bump on him. There would have been no difficulty in getting his assent. We had no idea that this marriage was decided. Tell us all about it, or what use is there in calling ourselves a brotherhood? If we can serve you in any way, we will gladly go through fire and water. That is how we feel about you. Yet you keep your secrets from us.”

  “If you won’t tell us,” Xie Xida said, “we will tell Guijie and Wu Yin’er tomorrow. Then there will be trouble.”

  “Give me a chance to tell you,” Ximen said, laughing. “The marriage has been definitely arranged.”

  “When is our new sister-in-law going to your house?” Xie Xida asked. “We must come and pay our respects, and you must engage four singing girls to serve us with wine. So we will celebrate your wedding.”

  “Of course,” said Ximen, “I shall do myself the honor of sending you invitations.”

  “Far better drink the wedding cup now,” Zhu Shinian said. Ying Bojue took the cup, Xie Xida the wine jar, Zhu Shinian held the dish, and the others knelt down. The two young actors also knelt and sang the thirteen melodies known as “Happy Is This Joyful Day.” Ximen Qing swallowed three or four cups one after the other.

  “If you invite us to take wine with you on the wedding day,” Zhu Shin-ian said, “you must have these two boys at the house.” Turning to the young actors, he said, “You must make a point of going that day.” Zheng Feng replied, “We will most certainly attend the banquet.”

  After a while the wine was finished, and they all sat down to dinner. By this time it was dark, and Ximen Qing would stay no longer. He seized the first opportunity, and got up. Ying Bojue would have stopped him, but Xie Xida said, “Let him go, Brother Ying. Don’t make him late when he has such important business to attend to. Our sister-in-law will be angry.” So Ximen managed to escape, and went to Lion Street.

  Li Ping’er had taken off her mourning clothes and changed into a dress of bright colors. The fire and lamps were burning brightly in the hall. She had prepared the finest of dishes and wine, and had set a single chair in the place of honor. She asked Ximen Qing to take it. One of the maids held the wine jar, and Li Ping’er poured out a cup of wine and kowtowed four times.

  “This day the tablet has been burned,” she said. “I am most gra
teful for the favor which will allow me to assist you at your dressing. The joys of marriage with you will be joys indeed.” She rose, and Ximen Qing rose in his turn to offer her a cup of wine. Then they both sat down.

  “Did Hua the Elder and his wife have anything to say?” Ximen said.

  “I took them to my room after the banquet,” said Li Ping’er, “and told them about our marriage. Hua said that, three days after it, he would tell his wife to come and see me. I gave them ten taels of silver and two dresses. They both seemed quite satisfied. In fact, they thanked me again and again.”

  “If they talk in that strain,” Ximen said, “I shall have no objection to their coming. We have nothing to be ashamed of. But if they begin to talk any nonsense, I will never forgive them.”

  “If they dare to make a sound, I will never forgive them either,” Li Ping’er said.

  Xiuchun poured the wine into inlaid silver cups and handed them to her mistress. They drank many cups together. Though love may diminish with age, wine improves more and more. It is a question of circumstances. Li Ping’er rejoiced because her wedding day was drawing hear, and was even more lively than usual.

  “You were drinking at Ying’s house,” she said, smiling, “when Daian went to ask you to come and see me. Do they know anything about this matter?”

  “Ying Bojue guessed,” Ximen Qing said. “He tried to get the boy to tell them, and they teased me for a long time. The Brothers insisted on congratulating me. They asked me to give a dinner party and send for singing girls. They tossed the wine down their throats, cup after cup. When I thought I had a chance, I tried to get away, but they held me back. I gave them pleasant words and unpleasant words, and at last they were compelled to let me go.”

  “They know a thing or two, all the same,” Li Ping’er said. “They let you come away.”

  Ximen Qing saw that she was burning with desire, and he was by no means cold himself. He could refrain no longer. They passed fragrant sweet-meats from one to the other, and pressed their cheeks together. Li Ping’er kissed him.

  “If you love me truly,” she said, “you will make me your wife soon. I feel like a prisoner here. Do not leave me here alone by day or night.” They turned again to the delights of love.

  CHAPTER 17

  The Amorous Doctor

  The twentieth day of the fifth month was Major Zhou’s birthday. Ximen Qing wrapped up five taels of silver and a pair of handkerchiefs, dressed himself in his best clothes, and, with four boys in waiting, set off to pay his respects, riding on a great white horse. Magistrate Xia, Captain Zhang, and other military gentlemen were there, and music and drama were performed for their entertainment. Daian took Ximen’s cloak and went home with the horse. In the afternoon he came back to escort his master home. On his way through West Street, he met old woman Feng and asked where she was going.

  “Silversmith Gu,” the old woman said, “has finished my lady’s headdress. He brought it today and she has sent me to ask your master to go and have a look at it. She wishes to have a talk with him.”

  “He is at a party at Major Zhou’s house,” the boy said, “and I am on my way to bring him back. Go home. I’ll tell him what you say as soon as I see him.”

  “Tell him that my lady is expecting him.”

  Daian went on to Major Zhou’s house. The gentlemen were still drinking together. He went to Ximen and said, “As I was bringing the horse for you, I met old woman Feng. She says the silversmith has finished Mistress Hua’s headdress, and that her lady would like you to go and see it.” This made Ximen anxious to get away, but Major Zhou urged him to stay and pressed him to drink another great cup of wine.

  “I am most grateful for all your kindness,” Ximen said, “but really I mustn’t drink so much. I have a number of things to attend to, and I’m sorry I can’t permit myself the pleasure I should wish.”

  He drank the wine, said farewell to Major Zhou, mounted his horse, and rode off to see Li Ping’er. She welcomed him, and Daian was told to take the horse away and come back the next morning. Li Ping’er bade her maid take the headdress from its box, and show it to Ximen Qing. It was indeed very bright and handsome. They put it away again. Then they arranged that the wedding gifts should be sent on the twenty-fourth day of that month, and the bride should leave for her new home on the fourth of the following month.

  Li Ping’er was now perfectly content. She brought wine and drank it with her lover in great delight. She told the maids to prepare the summer bed. The lovers took off their clothes and sat side by side within the silken net on coverlets of the rarest silk, perfumed with orchids and musk. They laughed and played together till the flush of desire mounted to their brows and the passion in their hearts made them tremble. Then they performed the mystery of clouds and rain, and did whatever the wine inspired. Ximen sat on the bed and made Li Ping’er place herself upon the cushions and play the flute for him.

  Not from bamboo or stone, not played on strings,

  This is the song of an instrument that lives,

  That makes the emerald tassels quiver.

  Who shall say whether the mode is Gong or Shang

  Or Jiao or Zheng?

  The red lips open wide; the slender fingers

  Play their part daintily.

  Deep in, deep out. Their hearts are wild with passion.

  There are no words to tell the ecstasy that thrills their souls.

  Ximen Qing was more than half drunk. “Did Hua Zixu enjoy himself with you like this?” he said.

  “His life was one long dream,” Li Ping’er said, “and he was still dreaming when he died. I had never any desire to act with him in this way. Day after day he went out and played the fool, and when he returned I would never allow him to come near me. In my father-in-law’s lifetime I never shared my husband’s room, and I cursed him till the dog’s blood went to his head. I was always telling my father-in-law about him and getting him into trouble. No, I should have died of shame if anything of this sort had passed between us. But who could satisfy the cravings of my heart as you do? You act upon me just like a drug. I can think of nothing else by day or night.”

  They played some time longer, and once again performed the mystery. Yingchun brought in a small square box with all sorts of dainties, and a small golden jar of precious wine. From early evening till the first night watch they drank and sported together. Then, suddenly, they heard a loud knocking at the gate, and sent old woman Feng to see who was there. It was Daian.

  “I told you to come for me tomorrow,” Ximen Qing said. “Why have you come back tonight?” He told the boy to come in.

  Daian, in a great flurry, ran first to the door of the room, but, when he found that his master and Li Ping’er were in bed, he did not venture to go in. Standing outside the lattice, he said, “Sister and Brother-in-law have just come home, and brought all their luggage with them. The Great Lady has sent me to ask you to come home at once.”

  Ximen wondered what could have brought them at this late hour, and decided to go home. He jumped out of bed, and Li Ping’er helped him to dress. She gave him a cup of hot wine. He mounted his horse, and rode away.

  In the hall the lamps and candles were lighted. His daughter Ximen Dajie and her husband were there with trunks, hangings, and furniture, all piled up. This alarmed him. He asked why they had come. His son-in-law, Chen Jingji, kowtowed and said, weeping, “A few days ago, the Censor brought an accusation against our kinsman, Marshal Yang, and his Majesty has given orders that he shall be put in the Southern Prison to await his trial. All his relatives and dependents have been put in the cangue, and banished. Yesterday Yang’s people brought word to my father, traveling day and night without resting. My father was much upset and bade my wife and myself bring these things here for you to keep, for the time being. He has gone to the Eastern Capital to try to find out from my aunt what has really happened. When the danger has passed, he will make you a handsome present, and he will remember your kindness so long as he lives.”<
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  “Did your father send me any letter?” Ximen asked.

  “Here it is,” Chen Jingji said. He took a letter from his sleeve and handed it to Ximen, who opened it.

  Your kinsman Chen Hong [he read] kowtows and offers this to the most worthy Ximen. The matter of which I have to speak is most urgent. Some time ago the border garrison sent word of a surprise attack, as a result of which the enemy have already invaded Xiongzhou. Wang, the Minister of War, did not send the necessary troops, and the military situation has become disastrous. In consequence of this our kinsman Yang has been accused by the Censor in the most direct terms. His Majesty is extremely angry and has ordered Yang’s arrest and his incarceration in the Southern Prison. He is to be tried by three justices. Orders have been given that all those under him and his relatives shall be banished to the frontier.

  When this news reached us, we were all much distressed, for we have no possibility of escape. I am sending my son and your honorable daughter, with their belongings, to stay with you for a while. I myself am just about to leave for the Eastern Capital, to visit my brother-in-law, Zhang Shilian, to see if I can hear any news. We hope to return when the matter has been settled.

  I shall be eternally grateful to you for your kindness. Even in your district there may be some little difficulty, so I am giving my son five hundred taels, which perhaps you will be good enough to expend on his account. I kowtow to express my gratitude, and so long as I have a tooth in my mouth I will remember your kindness.

  Under the lamp, in haste, and without a proper expression of my affection.

  Midsummer, the twentieth.

  Your most obsequious kinsman Hong.

  After reading this letter Ximen Qing was so perturbed that he did not know what to do with himself. He told Yueniang to give his daughter and her husband something to eat, and instructed the maids to make ready three rooms at one side of the hall for them to live in. The trunks and valuables were taken to Yueniang’s room. Chen Jingji handed the five hundred taels to his father-in-law. Then Ximen gave one of his servants five taels, and sent him posthaste to the Town Hall to make a copy of the Imperial Gazette from the Eastern Capital. This is what it said: