The Golden Lotus, Volume 1

by Lanling Xiaoxiaosheng

  “I must own to you,” Wu Dian’en said, “that, though my household manages to keep going, I have not a penny to spare. I shall have to give presents to my superiors in office and there must be a banquet. I shall need clothes and a horse. All this will cost seventy or eighty taels at least. I have made out a note, but without stating any definite amount. Do help me and I promise you shall be well repaid.”

  Ying Bojue looked at the note. “Brother Wu,” he said, “I can’t believe this is enough. You had better make it a hundred. I am sure that if I ask him, Master Ximen will not require interest from you, and you can pay him back in installments when you have taken up your duties. You will remember the proverb: Borrowed rice may be stored in the jar, but rice that has been begged will never find its way there.”

  Wu thanked his friend effusively and wrote a hundred taels upon the note of hand. They had tea and set off together to call upon Ximen Qing. Ping’an announced them, and as they went in they saw the tailors busy at their work. The Deputy Captain and his son-in-law were sitting under the eaves, watching a clerk writing visiting cards. The two visitors greeted them and then sat down to talk.

  “Brother,” Bojue said, “have you sent your papers to the office?”

  “Yes,” Ximen said, “I sent them to the courts this morning, and now I am arranging for Ben the Fourth to take my card to the Prefecture at Dongping Fu and the District office here.”

  A boy brought tea. Bojue did not at once mention the business about which he had come, but went to watch the tailors at work upon the girdles. Ximen Qing saw him taking them in his hands and said with great pride: “What do you think of my new girdles?”

  Bojue praised them: “Wherever did you get them, Brother? Each one seems to excel the other. Buckles as fine as these are not to be met with every day. And this rhinoceros horn; this button shaped like a stork’s head! Why, you might take your money in your hand all around the Eastern Capital, and never be able to find anything like it. This is not flattery. Princes and nobles in the Capital have their girdles of jade and gold, but you would never find them with one of rhinoceros horn so good as this. And not the land rhinoceros... this is the water kind, and ever so much more valuable. You know, the water rhinoceros they call Tong Tian. If you don’t believe me, give me a cup of water. I will put the horn into it and you will see that it divides the water into two parts. It is indeed a priceless treasure. How much did you pay for it, Brother?”

  Ximen Qing invited him to guess the price, but Bojue declared that such things had no definite price, and he could not possibly guess.

  “I will tell you,” Ximen Qing said. “It comes from the palace of the princely family Wang in the High Street. Yesterday someone heard that I was wanting a girdle and came to tell me about it. I sent Ben the Fourth, with seventy taels, to buy it, but they would not part with it for less than a hundred.”

  “Well,” Ying Bojue said, “it would be a very difficult matter to find another so fine and beautiful. You will certainly look very grand when you go out in it, and your colleagues at the courts will fall in love with it.” He went on in this strain for a long time and finally sat down.

  “Have you taken your papers?” Ximen Qing said to Wu. Ying Bojue answered for him. “It was precisely because Brother Wu wishes to do so that he asked me to come here and trouble you. How extraordinarily kind to him you have been! You sent him to the Eastern Capital, and, though his appointment was actually given him by the Imperial Tutor, it really comes to him from you. It was a real piece of good luck. Whether he belongs to the first grade or the ninth, he is none the less an officer of the Court now. He has just told me that he wants to go to his office to make the acquaintance of his colleagues, but it will cost a lot of money to offer them a banquet and he doesn’t know where to get it. One guest, Brother, does not inflict himself upon two hosts. For my sake, I want you to lend him a few taels so that he can enter upon his duties. Later, when he has taken up his appointment, there will be nothing too much for him to do for you. He has served your family long and well. Brother, you help many people in the Capital and elsewhere. If you will do nothing for him, it will be very awkward indeed for him.”

  He turned to Wu. “Brother Wu, bring out that charm of yours, and let his Lordship see it.”

  Wu Dian’en quickly drew out the paper and handed it to Ximen Qing. The sum of a hundred taels was mentioned, Ying Bojue’s name appeared as witness, and interest was promised at the rate of five percent each month. Ximen took a pen and crossed out the part about the interest. “Since Brother Ying is the witness,” he said, “I shall not ask you to do more than repay the hundred taels. I had thought you would need some money.” He put the document in his sleeve.

  As he was about to go to the inner court to get the money, there came an underling with a card from Magistrate Xia. He sent twelve soldiers to await Ximen’s orders. The clerk asked when Ximen Qing proposed to enter upon his duties and what titles he would use. All the officials of the district were anxious to come and to congratulate him, and bring their present. Ximen sent for the Master of the Yin Yang, asked him to find a suitable date, and it was arranged that upon the morning of the second day of the seventh month he should take possession of his office. Ximen sent a card in return to the magistrate, gave five qian of silver to the underling, and sent him back again.

  Chen Jingji brought a hundred taels and Ximen handed them to Wu Dian’en, saying: “Brother, take this and repay me.” Wu Dian’en took the money and kowtowed. “I will not detain you,” Ximen Qing said, “you have business of your own to attend to. But, Brother Ying, I have something to say to you.”

  Wu Dian’en went happily away with his money.

  Ben the Fourth, who had been to the office at Dongping Fu, now came back and Ximen invited him to take a meal with them. Besides Ying Bojue, Xu the Master of the Yin Yang was there. While they were eating, Uncle Wu came to congratulate Ximen Qing. Then the Master of the Yin Yang took his leave, and, shortly afterwards, Ying Bojue also went away. He went straight to see Wu Dian’en, who had ten taels of silver ready waiting for him. He held it out with both hands. “If it had not been for the clever way you spoke for me,” he said, “he might never have lent me this money.” Then he set about making his robes of ceremony and selected a day on which to assume office.

  Li, one of the magistrates of the district, now joined with his colleagues in sending a present of sheep, wine and other things to Ximen Qing. In addition, he sent with his card a youth about eighteen years of age. This was a native of Changshou in Xuzhou, and his name was Little Zhang Song. He had been one of the boys who waited upon the district officers. He was clear-skinned and good-looking. His face was white like powder, his teeth glistened, and his lips were red. He could read, write, and sing the songs of the south. He was wearing a gown of black silk with light shoes and white socks. Ximen Qing was very pleased to discover such an accomplished young man, and, sending a card of thanks to the magistrate, he at once took the boy into his service. He called him Shutong, and had new clothes, shoes, and a hat made for him. He decided that he would not have the young man to follow his horse like the other boys, but would use him rather as a secretary to take charge of his study, receive presents when they came, and take charge of the keys of the pavilions in the garden.

  Zhu Shinian also recommended a boy to him. This one was only fourteen years old. Ximen Qing called him Qitong and appointed him to carry his visiting card case, and parcels, and to follow behind the horse with Qintong.

  At last the day came when he was formally to take up his duties. A great banquet was given at the office and musicians were engaged from three of the bawdy houses. The party went on all day until sunset.

  After this, Ximen Qing rode out every day upon a big white horse. He wore a black ceremonial hat and a robe of office with long-maned lions embroidered in five colors upon it. A girdle, four fingers broad, encircled his waist, and his feet were shod in white-soled boots. An escort of soldiers accompanied him and a lar
ge black fan was borne behind him. Men went before him, shouting to clear the way; others followed close upon his horse’s heels. No less than ten were in attendance upon him. Up and down the streets he went.

  As soon as he had left the office he went to see the Captain of the garrison and the various official personages of Qinghe. Then it was the turn of his kinsmen, friends and neighbors. It was a glorious occasion. Meanwhile, presents and visiting cards came to his house in shoals.

  Now that he had definitely entered upon his duties, he went every day to the courts and took his seat in the great hall. There he examined official documents and attended to official business. The time passed very quickly.

  Li Ping’er was now able to get up. Many ladies, both relatives and friends of the household, came with presents to celebrate the completion of the baby’s first month of life. Li Guijie and Wu Yin’er, who had heard of Ximen’s good fortune, made ready presents and came in their sedan chairs to congratulate him. Ximen Qing had a splendid feast prepared in the front hall for the ladies. Chunmei, Yingchun, Yuxiao and Lanxiang, all dressed in their most beautiful attire, served wine to the guests.

  Every day as soon as Ximen Qing returned from the office, he took off his robes in the outer hall and Shutong took them, folded them, and put them away in the study. When he went to the inner court, he only kept on his hat. In the morning, he used to send a maid to the study to bring the clothes. A room at the side of the great hall had been specially arranged to serve him as a private room. There a bed, tables both large and small, chairs, screens, curtains, writing materials and books were set out, and, every night, Shutong slept at the foot of the bed. When Ximen slept in this room, he would send a maid in the morning to bring his clothes from the outer court. So, with all this sending backwards and forwards of clothes, Shutong, who was of very doubtful antecedents besides being taking in his ways and good looking, found plenty of opportunity to play tricks upon the maids from all the different rooms, and in particular, became a close friend of Yuxiao.

  One day when this young man had just got up and was dressing his hair with red ribbon before a mirror on the windowsill, Yuxiao opened the door and came in. She saw that he was dressing his hair. “Ah, you young rascal,” she said, “so you are still painting your eyebrows and your eyes. Father will be here as soon as he has finished breakfast.”

  Shutong paid no attention to her but went on dressing his hair. “Where are Father’s clothes?” she asked.

  “By the side of the bed,” the boy said.

  “No, this is not the suit he wants today. He told me to ask you for the robe of black silk with the gold and embroidery down the front.”

  “They are in the cupboard,” Shutong said, “I put them there only yesterday, and now he wants them again. Open the cupboard and get them yourself.”

  Yuxiao did not get the clothes. Instead she went over to the young man and watched him dressing his hair. “You funny thing,” she said jokingly, “you are like a woman, putting red ribbons in your hair and making quite a headdress.” She noticed that he was wearing a short coat of white material with two satchels for perfume, one of pink and one of green silk. “Give me the pink one,” she said.

  “You always want those things that people care most about,” Shutong said.

  “But you are a boy, and shouldn’t wear such things,” the maid said. “That pink one is much more suitable for me.”

  “That,” Shutong cried, “is only a bag. What would you think if it were a husband?”

  Yuxiao pinched him on the shoulder. “You young scamp,” she said, “do not try to palm off your picture of the god of the door as if it were a genuine work of art.” Without more ado, she broke the cord that held the two perfume bags and put them in her sleeve.

  “Really,” Shutong said, “your behavior is hardly becoming. You have broken my girdle.”

  Yuxiao slapped him playfully, but the young man was a little put out. “Sister,” he said, “please do not play with me. I must finish doing my hair.”

  “Tell me,” Yuxiao said, “have you heard where Father is going today?” “Yes,” the boy said, “he is going to say good-bye to Master Hua, the Deputy Assistant Magistrate for the district, for whom a farewell banquet is being given at Eunuch Xue’s house. I expect he will be fairly late coming back as he is also going to Uncle Ying’s to see about the payment for Master Qiao’s house across the way. I should not be surprised if he drank wine there too.”

  “Well,” Yuxiao said, “don’t you go out. I may come and have a talk with you.”

  Yuxiao took the clothes, and went to the inner court.

  Some time later Ximen Qing came. He told Shutong that he must not leave the house that day, and that he must write out twelve cards of invitation and put them in red envelopes. These invitations were all for gentlemen to come and celebrate Guan’ge’s first month of life. Before he went out, Ximen Qing told Laixing to make all the necessary purchases, to engage extra cooks and, indeed, to do everything that was necessary. Daian and two soldiers were ordered to take out the invitations, and to engage singers. Qintong was to serve the guests with wine. After giving all these orders, Ximen Qing mounted his horse and set out.

  Today was the ladies’ party. Yueniang and her companions received their guests in the arbor. Tea was served there. The banquet was laid in the great hall, where gorgeous screens were set out, and cushions embroidered with lotus flowers. The four maids who were trained in music were told to be in attendance.

  As soon as Ximen Qing returned in the afternoon, he had a box of wine and refreshments prepared, and asked Ying Bojue and Chen Jingji to go with him to Master Qiao’s house, where he was to take seven hundred taels.

  While the ladies were drinking, Yuxiao took a silver wine jar, a cup, and some pears, and went with them to the study. She expected to find Shutong. But when she opened the door, Shutong was not to be seen. She was afraid that someone might see her, so she quietly put down the things and slipped out again. Qintong, who was attending to the wine for the guests, saw her with his sharp eyes. He saw her go to the study and come back again. He thought that Shutong was there and ran to see him, but the young secretary, of course, was not there. Qintong spied a jar of warmed wine and some fruit at the foot of the bed. He hastily put the fruit into his sleeves, and, picking up the jar of wine, quietly made off with it to the Sixth Lady’s room. The nurse Ruyi’er and Xiuchun were looking after the baby. Qintong asked where Yingchun was.

  “She is serving wine in the hall,” Xiuchun said. “What do you want with her?”

  “I have something good here,” Qintong said. “I want her to keep it for me.”

  “What is it?” Xiuchun said, but the boy would not show her.

  At that moment, Yingchun came from the hall bringing a plate of hot goose and cakes made of rice flower and almonds for the nurse.

  “What are you doing here, you young rascal?” she said. ‘You ought to be attending to your duties in the hall.”

  Qintong brought the wine jar from under his clothes. “Sister,” he said, “please keep this for me.”

  “But this is the jar we use for heating wine in the hall,” Yingchun said. “Why did you bring it here?”

  “Sister,” the boy said, “Yuxiao took it to the study for Shutong. She stole it and some pears and took them to him, but, when there was nobody about, I slipped in and took it. I want you to keep it for me, and if anybody comes looking for it, let them go away without it. It was a real piece of good luck for me.” He showed the pears and oranges to Yingchun.

  “Well,” Yingchun said, “if anybody starts looking for this jar and there is trouble about it, it will be your lookout.”

  “I didn’t steal it,” Qintong said. “There’s no reason why I should be worried. Let those who did steal it be alarmed. I am out of it. It won’t be my legs that get the beating.” He went away in a most cheerful frame of mind. Yingchun put the wine jar on a table.

  In the evening when the guests had all gone, the silve
r was checked and one wine jar was missed. Yuxiao went to the study to look for it, but it was nowhere to be found. When she asked Shutong, he said he knew nothing about it and that he had not been there. Then the trouble began. Yuxiao accused Xiaoyu, and Xiaoyu cursed her. “You silly strumpet,” she cried, “I was making tea all the time. You were serving wine. If the jar is lost, what has it to do with me?” They looked everywhere, but still it could not be found.

  When Li Ping’er went to her room, Yingchun told her that Qintong had brought the jar there and asked her to keep it for him.

  “The young rascal!” Li Ping’er cried. “Whatever made him bring it here? There is a terrible fuss in the inner court about it. Yuxiao says it is Xiaoyu’s fault, and Xiaoyu says it is Yuxiao’s fault, and Yuxiao is taking all sorts of oaths and crying. You had better take it back at once or all the blame will be put on you.”

  While Yingchun was on her way to take the jar back to the inner court, Yuxiao and Xiaoyu had gone to see Yueniang, both talking away at one another as hard as they could.

  “What,” cried Yueniang, “are you still shouting? What were you doing to lose the jar?”

  “I was serving wine in the hall,” Yuxiao said, “and she was in charge of all the silver. Yet now the jar has been lost she says it is my fault.”