The Golden Lotus, Volume 1

by Lanling Xiaoxiaosheng

  “No,” Xiaoyu said, “Aunt wanted tea, and I went to the inner court to take her some. You had the wine jar when it was lost. Your brains must have gone the way your dinner goes.

  “There were no light-fingered people at today’s party,” Yueniang said. “Why should we lose a wine jar? We must wait till your master returns. When he hears what has been lost, certainly you will both get a beating.”

  In the middle of the squabble, Ximen Qing came in. He asked what the fuss was about, and Yueniang told him of the lost wine jar.

  “You should keep calm,” said Ximen. “What need is there for all this excitement?”

  Jinlian interrupted. “If one jar is lost every time we have a party,” she said, “you may be as rich as Wang the Millionaire, but you’ll find that the early promise you seem to expect is not fulfilled.”

  In this way Jinlian was trying to be unpleasant. Li Ping’er had just borne a child and the losing of a wine jar at this particular time was of ill omen. Ximen Qing understood quite well what she meant, but he said nothing. Then Yingchun came in with the jar, and Yuxiao recognized it at once. When Yueniang asked where it had come from, Yingchun told them that Qintong had brought it to her mistress’s room, but she did not know where he had found it. Yueniang asked where the boy was. Daian told her that it was his turn to go to the house in Lion Street, and he was there.

  Jinlian sneered, and Ximen Qing asked what she was sneering about. “Qintong,” she said, “is one of her household, so it is natural that he should take the jar to her room. It must be plain to you what the jar was doing there. If I were you, I should send a boy to fetch that young slave, and beat him till the truth about the matter comes to light. If we blame these two maids, we shall be missing the mark completely.”

  This made Ximen Qing extremely angry. He glared at Jinlian. “I suppose you think the Sixth Lady coveted this jar for herself. Well, here it is. Let that be the end of the business. What need is there for you to try to make trouble?”

  Jinlian flushed. “I didn’t mean anything,” she said. She went away in a very bad temper. When Chen Jingji came to discuss some business with Ximen Qing, she stood and talked bitterly with Meng Yulou.

  “They will come to a bad end,” she stormed. “The place is full of rogues and thieves. Why, she might have been going to die the other day. Now that she has this baby, she gives herself such airs one would think she had given birth to a prince. She looks like the goddess of Good Fortune whenever she meets us. She is too grand to condescend even to speak to us. And when she moves about, she opens her eyes as wide as two cunts and yells at everyone. We know she is rich. It seems to me she allows her boys and maids to carry on as they please, and if they rob all the rest of the household no one will hinder them.”

  Ximen Qing, who had finished talking to Jingji, went in the direction of the front court.

  “You had better go,” Yulou said. “He seems to be going to your room.”

  “Surely not,” Jinlian said. “He finds it much pleasanter where the baby is. It is so cheerless where there is no baby.”

  At that moment, Chunmei came. “I told you he was going to your room,” Yulou said, “and you wouldn’t believe me. Now here is Chunmei come to fetch you!”

  They called Chunmei and questioned her.

  “I have come to ask Yuxiao for a handkerchief,” she said.

  “Where is your master?” Yulou said.

  “He has gone to the Sixth Lady’s room.”

  When Jinlian heard this, she became furiously angry. “The rogue,” she cried. “May his legs be broken for a thousand years, and until the end of time he shall never cross my threshold again. May the rascal break the bones of his ankles.”

  “Why do you use these horrid words about him today?” Yulou said.

  “You don’t know that cheap bandit,” Jinlian cried. “His mind is like a rat’s belly, and his guts like a chicken’s, not more than three inches long. We are all his wives. Why should he save all his favor for a woman who brings forth a seed wrapped in a bladder? Why should he raise one so high and kick the others into the mud?”

  When Ximen Qing had gone to the front court, Eunuch Xue’s servant came with a jar of rice wine, a sheep, two rolls of silk, a dish of lucky noodles and a dish of peaches. These were gifts to congratulate Ximen on the birth of his son, and his new appointment. Ximen gave a considerable present to the servant and dismissed him. Then he went to the inner court. Guijie and Wu Yin’er were about to go home. He asked them to stay.

  “I have invited a number of gentlemen for the celebration,” he said, “and there will be several performers of different kinds. I should like you two to serve the wine.”

  “If you wish us to stay,” Guijie said, “I must arrange for someone to let my mother know so that she will not be anxious about us.” Then she dismissed the two chair men.

  The following day, the great hall was made ready for the feast. Silken screens were placed in position and embroidered cushions set around. Some time before, Ximen had made the acquaintance of Eunuch Liu, the controller of an Imperial brick manufactory. Both Liu and Xue had sent him presents, and Ximen, in return, had sent them cards of invitation. He had also asked Ying Bojue and Xie Xida to come and help him receive the guests. The two friends, dressed in suitable attire, came about dinnertime, and Ximen Qing asked them to sit down in the arbor and have tea.

  “Whom have you invited today?” Ying Bojue said.

  Ximen told them. “The two eunuchs Liu and Xue, Major Zhou, Jing Nanjiang, my colleagues, Magistrate Xia, Captain Zhang of the Militia and Captain Fan. My two brothers-in-law will be there too. Master Qiao has sent a man to say that he will not be able to come, so that, even including yourselves, there will be only a few guests.”

  The two Uncles Wu arrived. After greetings had been exchanged they all sat down. The servants set a table and served them with food.

  When they had finished, Bojue said: “Has your young son been out yet, now that he is a month old?”

  “Well,” Ximen said, “the ladies were all anxious to see him. My wife thought we ought not to take him out lest he should catch cold, but the nurse said she did not think it would do him any harm, so he was wrapped up in a blanket and taken to my wife’s room. This was just so that the day might be duly celebrated. He was taken back immediately.”

  “The other day,” Bojue said, “you were good enough to send us an invitation, and my wife would have liked very much to come, but, unfortunately, she had a return of her old illness and could not get up. She was very upset about it, and before the guests arrive I take this opportunity of apologizing on her behalf. Won’t you have your son brought here so that we may have a look at him?”

  Ximen Qing sent word to the inner court that the baby was to be brought, but very carefully lest he should be frightened. “His two uncles are here,” he said, “and also Brothers Ying and Xie, and they are anxious to see him.”

  Wu Yueniang bade the nurse Ruyi’er wrap the baby in a tiny shawl of fine red silk and take him to the corner door. There Daian received him and carried him to the arbor. They all looked at him. Guan’ge was dressed in a scarlet woolen vest. His skin was clear and his lips were red. He looked healthy. The guests paid him all sorts of compliments. The two Uncles Wu and Xie Xida each presented him with a stomach protector of figured satin with a small silver pendant attached. Ying Bojue had nothing better than a skein of five-colored threads and a few lucky coins. These things were all solemnly given to Daian for the child, and he was told to take Guan’ge back very carefully and be sure not to frighten him.

  “The child looks very dignified and upstanding,” said Ying Bojue. “He is obviously born to wear a hat of ceremony.”

  This pleased Ximen Qing immensely. He bowed in thanks to Ying Bojue.

  Then news was brought that the two eunuchs had arrived. Ximen hastily put on his robes and went to the second door to welcome them. They were waiting, each in a sedan chair carried by four men. They were wearing robes wit
h embroidered dragons, and were accompanied by a bodyguard with tasseled spears to clear the way. Ximen Qing asked them to go with him to the great hall. There he greeted them and offered tea. Then Major Zhou, Master Jing, Xia and the other military gentlemen arrived, all wearing their embroidered robes, with men attending them bearing staves and large fans, and runners shouting to clear the way. In a moment there was a crowd of attendants about the gate. Inside the courtyard there was a deafening sound of drums and instruments, and a never-ending succession of melodies and songs. Ximen Qing welcomed them in turn and introduced them to the two eunuchs Liu and Xue. At the upper end of the hall were twelve tables, and Ximen Qing, taking up a wine cup, prepared to put the guests in their proper places. The two eunuchs, Liu and Xue, repeatedly refused to take the places of honor. “Let others take them,” they said. Major Zhou insisted that they should do so. “Most Worshipful Sirs,” he said, “your age and dignity demand respect. As the proverb says: to be a Chamberlain at the Imperial Court for the space of three years confers more dignity than a barony. Obviously then, you must take the place of honor at once, and stand on ceremony no longer.”

  The two old gentlemen disputed for a long time over the first place. At last Xue said: “Brother Liu, since the other gentlemen will not take the upper seat, we must not be a nuisance to our host. Let us sit down.”

  They bowed politely to the guests. Liu took the left-hand place and Xue the right. Each placed a handkerchief on his knees and had a small boy to stand beside and fan him. When they had seated themselves, the others did so. Then the music blared in the courtyard, and food, exquisite and rare beyond description, was set before the guests. After the wine had gone around five times and three soup courses had been served, a troop of actors began their performance.

  After the comedies, the two young singers, Li Ming and Wu Hui, came forward, one with a dulcimer, the other with a lute. Major Zhou raised his hand. “Most Worshipful Sirs,” he said to the two eunuchs, “will you not tell these singers what songs they shall sing?”

  “But only,” Liu said, “when you have made your own choice.”

  “No,” Major Zhou said, “it is right and fitting that you should give your orders first. Pray do not stand on ceremony.”

  “Well,” Liu said, “I should like to hear ‘Life Is Like a Dream.’”

  Major Zhou demurred. “That is a song,” he said, “for those who have withdrawn from the world and are weary of its enjoyments. This is a happy occasion for our excellent host Ximen. We are celebrating the birth of his son, and I really don’t think it is suitable.”

  Liu tried again. “Can you sing,” he asked the boys, “‘Though He Is Not a Purple-girdled Minister of the First Eight Grades, He Governs the Young Ladies Who Wear Golden Pins in the Six Palaces’?”

  Major Zhou objected again. “That alludes to Chen Lin and the dressing box, and is not suitable for an occasion like this.”

  “Send the two singers to me,” Xue said, “and I will choose a song. Do you remember ‘The World Is Full of Merriment, Yet Separation Is the Bitterest of All Life’s Troubles’?”

  Xia burst out laughing. “Most Worshipful Sir,” he said, “that is worse still, for it speaks of separation.”

  “Well,” Xue said, “we officials of the court are so wrapped up in our duties towards his Majesty that perhaps we don’t know very much about songs and melodies. Let them sing what they like.”

  Xia, who was a magistrate and enjoyed such authority as a magistrate may claim, took advantage of his position and called for the thirty melodies. “Today,” he said, “we are celebrating Master Ximen’s appointment and at the same time the birth of his son. So let us have the song of the toy scepter.”

  “Why do you mention a ‘toy scepter’?” Eunuch Xue said.

  “Oh, Most Worshipful Sirs,” Major Zhou said. “today our host’s son is a month old. We have all been offering a little present in honor of the occasion.”

  “Is that so?” Xue said. “Brother Liu, we shall have to send a present tomorrow.”

  Ximen Qing thanked them. “This ignorant fellow has but a little dog. The occasion is not worthy of such honor, and I beg you not to trouble yourselves.”

  Daian was sent to the inner court to summon Wu Yin’er and Guijie to serve the wine. The two singing girls, as dainty as the flowers on the branches of a tree, kowtowed four times like a pair of candles. They took the wine jar and served wine to everyone and the two young musicians sang a new song. So delicate were their throats and so flexible, their voices echoed through the rafters.

  That night with dancing and singing they enjoyed themselves immensely, and drank until the first watch of the night. Then Eunuch Xue stood up. “You have been exceedingly kind,” he said, “and as this was a special occasion, we felt we ought to stay and enjoy ourselves, but now we must have outstayed our welcome and we will go.”

  “I have offered you the meanest of entertainments,” Ximen said, “but you have condescended to visit me and my poor house has been illumined by your presence. I beg you, stay a little longer that my happiness may be complete.” All the guests rose. “You have been extremely kind,” they said, “but we really can drink no more wine.” They bowed to Ximen Qing and thanked him. Ximen repeatedly urged them to stay, but in vain. So with his two brothers-in-law, he escorted them to the gate. The music rose to the skies, and outside the gateway on both sides, torches and lanterns blazed. The guests went away with men going before to guide them and men going behind to protect them. There was much shouting to clear the way.

  CHAPTER 32

  Li Guijie

  After drinking their fill, the principal guests had gone away. Ximen Qing, however, pressed the two Uncles Wu, Ying Bojue and Xie Xida to remain. He told the musicians to go for their refreshment, bidding them come again next day. “I am entertaining the gentlemen from the District offices,” he said, “and you must put on your best clothes. I will pay you for everything tomorrow.”

  The musicians answered: “Your servants will take the utmost care, and tomorrow we will dress ourselves in new clothes of the official type.” They had food and wine, then kowtowed and went away. Soon afterwards, Li Guijie and Wu Yin’er came in side by side. They smiled and said: “Father, it is late and our sedan chairs have come for us. We must go.”

  “My children,” Ying Bojue said, “your audacity surprises me. Here are two very worthy gentlemen, but instead of singing for them you just go off.”

  “Oh yes,” said Guijie, “you would talk like that. We haven’t been home for two days and mother will be wondering what has become of us.”

  “Why should she worry?” Bojue cried, “that yellow jade-colored old plum with a piece bitten out of her!”

  “That is enough!” Ximen said, “let them go. They have had to work very hard these last few days. Li Ming and Wu Hui shall sing for us.” He asked the two girls if they had had anything to eat. Guijie told him that Yueniang had given them refreshments. When they had kowtowed and were about to go away, Ximen Qing said: “I shall expect you the day after tomorrow. Bring another two girls with you. Han Jinchuan and Zheng Aixiang will do. I am inviting a few relatives and friends to dinner.”

  “You are lucky, you little strumpet,” cried Ying Bojue, “you get away and do well out of it.”

  “I wonder what it is that makes you so clever,” Guijie said. They laughed and went away.

  “Whom are you going to invite, Brother?” Bojue said to Ximen Qing.

  “Master Qiao, the two Uncles Wu, Brother Hua, Uncle Shen and the members of our brotherhood. We will spend the whole day enjoying ourselves.”

  “Though I realize that I am troubling you too greatly, “Bojue said, “I will come to assist you in receiving the guests.”

  Ximen Qing thanked him. Then Li Ming and Wu Hui came with their instruments and sang a few songs. Finally the men all went away.

  The day when Ximen Qing had invited the officers from the District offices, Eunuch Xue was one of the first to arrive. X
imen offered him tea in the arbor. The eunuch asked whether his colleague Liu had sent a present. Then he asked to see the child that he might give him his blessing. Ximen Qing modestly deprecated such an honor, but at last told Daian to go to the inner court for the baby. The nurse brought the child to the corner gate where Daian received him and brought him to them. Xue looked at Guan’ge and praised him. “A very fine child!” he said. He called for his attendants. Two servants, dressed in black, brought a square gilt box, and from it took two packets of gifts. There was a length of royal silk, a roll of watered red silk, and four silver gilt coins, each with one of the lucky characters upon it: Good Fortune, Long Life, Health, and Peace. There was a small Bo Lang drum, painted in gold and various colors, and a set of amulets. “I am only a poor eunuch,” he said, “and have nothing worth offering, but these trifles may serve to amuse your son.”

  Ximen Qing made a reverence to the eunuch and thanked him very heartily. When they had drunk tea, refreshments were served, but, before they had finished them, the expected guests were announced. Ximen Qing put straight his robes and went to the second door to welcome them. These were District Magistrate Li Datian, Assistant District Magistrate Qian Zheng, Chief Secretary Ren Tinggui, and Prison Governor Xia Tianji. They presented their cards and then went to the hall and greeted their host. Ximen asked Eunuch Xue to come and meet his guests, and the officers insisted that the old man should take the seat of honor. Among the guests was a graduate of the second degree named Shang.

  When they had all taken their proper places, tea was served. After a while the sound of drums and music was heard in the courtyard. The actors came to offer wine to the chief guest and showed him their repertory. Eunuch Xue looked at it and bade them sing the song of Han Xiangzi attaining immortality. They danced to accompany this song. The performance was excellent. The eunuch was pleased and told his servant to give the musicians two strings of money. The party was very successful and did not break up until late.

  Guijie went home. Now that Ximen Qing was an officer, she and her mother thought of a scheme for taking advantage of the situation. They bought four different kinds of presents and Guijie made a pair of shoes. The next day, she told her servant to put them in a box and, very early in the morning, got into a sedan chair and set off to ask Yueniang to accept her as a ward. She went in smiling, and kowtowed four times to Wu Yueniang, then to her and Ximen Qing together. Yueniang was greatly flattered.