The Golden Lotus, Volume 2

by Lanling Xiaoxiaosheng

  They compromised. Ximen Qing asked the young man to sit down. Wang the Third sat politely upon the edge of his chair. Tea was brought.

  “I am very anxious for your assistance,” Wang the Third said, taking a paper from his sleeve. He handed it to Ximen Qing and knelt down.

  Ximen pulled him up again. “Tell me what I can do for you,” he said.

  “I am utterly ashamed of myself,” Wang the Third said. “Only for the sake of my ancestors and their good fame do I venture to ask your forgiveness. Save me from the courts, and I will remember your kindness forever. I am afraid, afraid.”

  Ximen Qing unrolled the paper and looked at it. The five names were written on it.

  “What?” he said. “These rogues again? I have given them one beating today. Why have they come to you?”

  “They said that, when you had done with them, you ordered them to come for me. They are at my house now, roaring and shrieking insults. They demand money. There was nothing I could do but come and implore your help.” He brought out a list of presents and gave it to Ximen Qing.

  “Why do you offer me this?” Ximen said. “When I threw out those rogues, I had no idea they would come and make trouble with you.” He returned the list of presents to the young man. “Go home,” he said, “I will send and have the scoundrels arrested at once. I hope I may see you again soon.”

  “Since you have been so kind,” the young man said, “I will certainly come to offer my thanks.” He went out uttering innumerable protestations of gratitude.

  Ximen Qing went with him as far as the second door. “I will not go farther with you,” he said, “since I am not wearing my ceremonial dress.” Wang the Third put on his eyeshades and went away with a boy. Old woman Wen waited to see Ximen Qing. “Not a word to those fellows,” he said to her, “I am sending men to arrest them at once.” Old woman Wen rejoined Wang the Third.

  Ximen Qing sent four soldiers and a sergeant to the young man’s house. The rascals were drinking and making a terrible din. The soldiers went in and arrested them. So frightened were they when the chains were put on them that they became as pale as death.

  “Wang the Third has deceived us finely,” they said. “He got us to stay here and then played this trick upon us.”

  “No nonsense now!” said the soldiers, “you had better beg for mercy from his Lordship Ximen.”

  “You are right,” Little Zhang said.

  They came to Ximen’s house. The soldiers and Ping’an held out their hands for money, saying if they did not get it, they would not take them in. The men could not help themselves. Some took off their cloaks, others gave their pins, and, at last, word was taken to Ximen Qing. There was a long delay, then Ximen Qing came to the hall and they were taken in. They fell upon their knees.

  “Now, you rogues,” Ximen said, “I sent you about your business, and you went and pretended you had come from me, in an attempt to get money from these people. How much did you get? If you don’t tell me, it will mean the screws again.”

  At this, the soldiers got busy with the thumbscrews, new and strong ones. Little Zhang and his companions kowtowed and begged for mercy. “We didn’t get a penny,” they said. “It is true we told them the court had ordered us to go there, but they only gave us something to eat. We never asked for anything else.”

  “You had no business there at all,” Ximen Qing said. “You scoundrelly fellows are always leading honest young men astray. I loathe the very sight of you. If you do not confess, you shall be thrown into jail and, tomorrow, I will try you and have cangues put about your necks.”

  They all cried: “Heaven have mercy on us! Be merciful, and we will never go and cause them trouble again. Even if we don’t get the cangue, to have to go to jail at a cold season like this will certainly be the death of us.”

  “Once again I forgive you,” Ximen Qing said, “but you must repent and give up your evil ways. Henceforth, devote yourselves to steady honest work and don’t go leading young men into evil courses. If you come before me again, I will have you beaten to death.” He told the soldiers to kick them out. They ran for their lives. Ximen Qing went to the inner court.

  “Who was your young visitor?” Wu Yueniang asked him.

  “It was Wang the Third, the heir to General Wang. You remember the trouble there was sometime ago at Li Guijie’s house? It was the same young man. He has been keeping that little strumpet and giving her thirty taels a month. No wonder she has been behaving so strangely. She had this young fellow completely at her feet. I found out about it and sent to arrest the rogues and have them brought before me. I had them beaten. Then they went to the Wangs’ place and created a disturbance in the hope of getting money out of the young man. They told him I wanted him. He has never been before the court, and he was frightened and came with old woman Wen to ask me to help him. He brought fifty taels. I had the fellows re-arrested and put a stop to their games. They will make no more trouble. But what an unfortunate thing for that family to have such a bad young man. His grandfather was a man of great eminence, a general, in fact. This young man is at the military academy, but he never gives a thought to his career, neglects his flower-like young wife, and goes with these rascals to the bawdy house every night. All these bad habits before he is twenty.”

  “You seem to me like a young blackbird making disparaging remarks about a black pig,” Yueniang said. “You only see things from your own point of view. You fancy yourself an angel, but, to me, you and he appear to have drunk from the same well. Are you a better man than he is that you should find fault with his goings on?”

  Ximen Qing made no reply to this. Food was brought. Then Laian came and said Ying Bojue had come. “Take him to the study. I will be there in a few minutes,” Ximen said to the boy. Wang Jing opened the study and showed in Bojue. Sometime later, Ximen Qing joined him. The two men sat down to talk.

  “Why did you leave Brother Xie’s place so early the other day?” Bojue asked.

  “I have been very busy, and it is almost time for the inspection. I have sent people to the Capital to see what they can find out. You mustn’t compare me with yourself, you, who never have anything to do.”

  “Has there been anything of interest at the office lately?” Ying Bojue said.

  “There is always something,” Ximen Qing said.

  “I hear you had Little Zhang and some others arrested at Guijie’s place the other evening. Old Sun and Zhu escaped, but the others got a beating at the office. When they had left there, they went and made trouble at Wang’s place. Why wouldn’t you tell me?”

  “You dog!” Ximen said, “where did you hear all this? You have got hold of the wrong story, It was not my court, but Major Zhou’s.”

  “Nothing of the sort,” Bojue said, “Major Zhou had nothing to do with it.”

  “Perhaps somebody came from the Eastern Capital.”

  “Li Ming told me all about it this morning,” Bojue said. “He said his people were in a terrible state, and Guijie, who was almost frightened to death, is still in bed. They thought the runners had come from the Eastern Capital but, this morning, they found it was your office.”

  “I haven’t been to the office for several days,” Ximen Qing said. “I know nothing about it. As for Guijie, she swore an oath that she would never have anything more to do with Wang the Third. I don’t believe she is so frightened that she is still in bed.”

  Ying Bojue caught the flicker of a smile about Ximen’s lips. “Brother,” he said, “you almost took me in. Do tell me. How did old Sun and Zhu manage to escape? I can’t believe the runners are so careless when they arrest people. You had a finger in the pie somewhere. You evidently determined to punish the sheep so as to teach the young horses a lesson. I suppose you meant to frighten Guijie, and let her realize what a powerful man you are. You wouldn’t go so far as to arrest her—that would have been too hard, so you treat one set of people in one way and another set in another way. If old Sun and Zhu meet you, they wont know what to say for t
hemselves. It was a very clever move on your part, making a show of repairing the bridge in one place and secretly posting your soldiers in another. Without flattering you, Brother, I must say it was a very clever scheme. A brilliant man never gives himself away. If you had done this openly, there would be nothing very remarkable about it. How deep you are, and how you understand human nature!”

  Ximen Qing laughed softly. “There is nothing in that,” he said.

  “Surely someone gave you a hint?” Bojue said. “You would never have known so much about it otherwise. Why, neither ghosts nor gods could ever have found it out.”

  “You dog,” Ximen said, “if people don’t wish things of this sort to come out, they had better refrain from doing them.”

  “Aren’t you going to have Wang the Third before the court?”

  “Why should I?” Ximen said. “When the case was first brought to my notice, I crossed out the names of Wang the Third, Zhu, old Sun, Li Guijie and Qin Yuzhi. I only had those few scamps arrested.”

  “Why did they make trouble with Wang the Third?”

  “They hoped to get money out of him. But Wang the Third came to see me. He kowtowed and begged my pardon, so I had the rogues arrested once more and told them I would have cangues put about their necks. They begged for mercy and swore they would never go near him again. As for Wang the Third, he addressed me as ‘Uncle’ before he said a word. He brought me a present list representing about fifty taels, but I told him to take it away. He has promised to ask me to go to his place so that he may thank me.”

  Bojue was surprised. “Did he really and truly apologize to you?” he said.

  “Do you think I’m lying to you?” Ximen Qing said. He told Wang Jing to go and get Wang the Third’s card. Wang Jing came back with the card. Bojue examined it. “The young student, Wang Cai,” it said.

  “Really, it was a brilliant scheme,” he said.

  “If you see any of them,” Ximen Qing said, “don’t tell them I know all that is to be known.”

  “I understand,” Bojue said. “You don’t wish them to realize it was all your idea. Of course, I won’t say a word.”

  They had tea. Then Bojue said: “I must go. Old Sun and Zhu might come to see you. If they do, don’t tell them I have been here.”

  “I shall not see them, if they do come,” Ximen said. He sent a boy to tell the doorkeeper that, if the two men came, they were to be told he was not at home.

  After this, Ximen Qing did not go near Li Guijie. When he had a party at his house, he did not engage Li Ming. Relations between them were completely broken off.

  CHAPTER 70

  Ximen Qing Visits the Capital

  The Emperor said

  That he would choose strong men and scholars,

  That the wise should be as his arms and legs.

  Now the art of letters is purified,

  Rites and Music have regained their influence.

  Men of nobility go to the palace

  And the gate of guests is entered by men of worth.

  The royal bounty is bestowed upon the people

  Beyond all expectation.

  The benevolence of the Ruler is above all things.

  Ximen Qing had sent a man to Huaiqing to get news from Captain Lin. The captain gave him a copy of the Imperial Gazette and five qian of silver, and the man traveled back post-haste to Qinghe. Xia and Ximen Qing were waiting for him at the office. They opened the envelope. First they read the document that dealt with the inspection of the officials in their district. It related his Majesty’s approval of the project to investigate the conduct of the officers, and spoke of Xia and Ximen Qing in these terms:

  Xia Yanling, Captain and Magistrate in the Province of Shandong. An officer of excellent reputation and considerable experience. In a former appointment he kept his district in admirable order, and, in the position he now holds, has done even better. He deserves promotion as a thoroughly capable official and one worthy of high rank in the service.

  Ximen Qing, Vice Captain and Deputy Magistrate, is also an efficient officer. He is renowned for the subtlety of his judgments, and, being a wealthy man, he does not accept bribes. He is attentive to his duties and carries them out satisfactorily. He has never received a penny that is not justly his due. He maintains the dignity of the law and the people respect him. His promotion to the full rank of Captain is suggested, and he should be confirmed in his appointment as Magistrate.

  Ximen Qing was delighted with his promotion. But Magistrate Xia, when he learned that he had been appointed to the Imperial Escort, changed color and could not speak for several minutes.

  The other document was from the Office of Works. It related his Majesty’s satisfaction with the work that had been done in the transport of materials for the North Mount, ordered that half the taxes should be remitted in districts that had suffered from the work of transport, and that the dikes and weirs that had been destroyed should be replaced by officers of the Office of Works and the Provincial Authorities. Among the rewards granted in this document was a step in rank to Ximen Qing.

  When Xia and Ximen had finished reading it, they went home. That afternoon, Wang the Third sent old woman Wen and a boy to invite Ximen Qing to go and see him on the eleventh of the month. He wished, he said, to express his gratitude for the favor Ximen Qing had done him. Ximen accepted the invitation with considerable pleasure, thinking that, in good time, Wang the Third’s wife would fall into his hands.

  On the evening of the tenth, orders came from Headquarters in the Eastern Capital summoning all the military officers of the Province to the Capital. They were to arrive before the day of the Winter Festival, and to attend at Court to express their gratitude to the Emperor. The order declared that anyone who arrived late would be punished.

  The next day Ximen Qing went to discuss the matter with Magistrate Xia, then both men went home and set about the preparation of their luggage. They made ready presents and prepared to start in good time.

  Ximen Qing sent Daian for old woman Wen and asked her to tell Wang the Third that he would be unable to keep his engagement because he had to go to the Eastern Capital to see the Emperor. The old woman hurried to Wang the Third and told him. Wang the Third said he would renew his invitation when Ximen came back.

  Ximen Qing summoned Ben the Fourth and told him he was going to take him to the Eastern Capital. He gave him five taels of silver for household expenses. Daian and Wang Jing were also detailed to go, but Chunhong was left behind. Ximen asked Major Zhou for an escort of four horse soldiers. Sedan chairs and horses were made ready.

  Magistrate Xia took with him only Xia Shou, but, in all, there were more than twenty attendants.

  They started from Qinghe on the twelfth. It was winter and the days were short, but they traveled night and day. At Huaiqing they hoped to join Captain Lin, but he had started before them. They went on. When it was particularly cold, they stayed in their sedan chairs, but, on the warmer days, they rode on horseback.

  At last they reached the Eastern Capital and entered the city by the gate of Ten Thousand Blessings. Ximen Qing proposed to stay at a temple, but Xia insisted that they should go together to his kinsman, Secretary Cui. Ximen, who did not know Cui, sent his card before him. When they reached the house, the Secretary was at home. He came out to welcome them and led them to the hall. They exchanged greetings. Cui said how delighted he was to see Magistrate Xia; they sat down, and tea was brought.

  “May I know your honorable name?” Cui said, bowing to Ximen Qing.

  “My humble name is Siquan,” Ximen said. He asked Cui’s name.

  “I am a very insignificant fellow,” Cui said, “and I am living in retirement. My humble name is Shouyu, and I am also called Xunzhai. My kinsman, Xia, has often told me of your preeminent virtue. I trust your favor may always uphold and support him.”

  “He has taught me all I know,” Ximen Qing said. “Now that he has been promoted, I shall be dependent upon him in many ways. I owe him much.”


  “Why do you flatter me?” Xia said. “It would seem as though we were strangers.”

  “Siquan is right,” Cui said, “you are his senior in rank.”

  They laughed. Their luggage was carried into the house. It was growing late. Secretary Cui ordered a meal to be prepared for them and they spent the night in his house.

  The next morning they set off very early with their presents and visiting cards to the palace of the Imperial Tutor. His Eminence was still at the Court, but officers and people flocked like bees outside his palace. Xia and Ximen Qing had great difficulty in forcing their way through the crowd. They made a present to the gatekeeper, and their cards were taken in.

  Zhai came out to greet them and took them to his own house. Magistrate Xia saluted him and Ximen Qing greeted him. They sat down. Xia presented his list of gifts. He offered two rolls of golden satin, two rolls of figured satin to the Imperial Tutor and ten taels of silver to Zhai. Ximen Qing had brought a roll of scarlet silk with embroidered dragons, a roll of black silk, also embroidered, and two rolls of official silk for the Imperial Tutor. To Zhai he offered a roll of dark green velvet and thirty taels of silver.

  Zhai told the servants to take the presents for the Imperial Tutor to his palace, and to inscribe their names in the visitors’ book. He accepted the velvet that Ximen Qing had brought for him, but would not take the silver from either of them.

  “It would not be right,” he said. “If I took money from you, it would look as though we were not good friends.”

  He told a servant to prepare a meal for them. “Today,” he said, “his Majesty has set the finishing touch to the building he began at the behest of Heaven, and the title is being set up. His Eminence is presiding over the sacrifice. He will not be able to get away before the afternoon. When he comes back, he is going with Li Bangyan to a party at the palace of the Zhengs, who are connected with the Imperial Household. I doubt whether you will care to wait so long, and your other business may be delayed. Do not wait. When his Eminence is at liberty, I will speak to him for you. That will be just as good as if you saw him yourselves.”