The Golden Lotus, Volume 2

by Lanling Xiaoxiaosheng

  Ximen Qing went back, packed up a tael of silver and two handkerchiefs, and told Qintong to take them on horseback to the doctor’s house and bring back the medicine.

  Li Jiao’er, Meng Yulou and the other ladies were busy in Yueniang’s room, getting the fruit ready and cleaning the silver.

  “You didn’t want to come out to see the doctor,” Yulou said to Yueniang, “but, you see, he knew exactly what was wrong the moment he looked at you.”

  “I am not a good respectable wife,” Yueniang said, “and, if I am going to die, why don’t you let me die in peace? That woman said I was not her mother-in-law. The only difference between us, I suppose, is that I am eight months older than she is. If she hadn’t made sure of our husband, do you think she would have dared to shout and rave at me as she did? If you hadn’t taken her away, I should not have escaped in ten years. If I am to die, let me die. As the proverb says: when one cock dies, there is always another to take his place, and the new cock’s crowing is sweeter than the last. When I am dead and she has taken my place, all will be peace and quietness. When the turnips are pulled up, there will be more room in the field.”

  “Oh, Great Sister, you mustn’t talk like that,” Yulou said. “I will answer for her. I admit she often behaves badly, and she is always trying to score over people, but she isn’t so bad as she sounds. You mustn’t fall out with her completely.”

  “Isn’t she as clever as you are? I tell you she is cunning personified. If she were not, she wouldn’t always be sneaking up to listen to other people’s conversation. And why should she say such horrid things?”

  “Mother, you are the mistress here. You are the source from which we draw our water, and you must not be ungenerous. A gentleman can afford to be indulgent to ten commoner folk. If you raise your hand, she may pass, but if you are as obstinate as she is, she can never get by.”

  “No, our husband is behind her,” Yueniang said, “I, the first wife, must stand aside.”

  “That is not true,” Yulou persisted. “Now that you are not very well, he does not even venture to go near her.”

  “Why?” Yueniang said. “She talked about binding him with a pig’s-hair cord. He is a wild horse. When he loves a woman he must have her, and no power on earth can stop him. If we try to do anything about it, we are called whores for our pains.”

  “Mother,” Yulou said, “you have got this off your chest, and now the anger must be out of your system. I will go and fetch her. She shall kowtow and say she’s sorry. Aunt Wu is here, and I want you both to smile at each other in her presence. If you refuse to make up this quarrel, you will put our husband in a very awkward position. He won’t know what to do. When he wants to go to her, he will be afraid of your displeasure, and, if he doesn’t go, she won’t have anything to do with him. Here we are, all busy getting things ready for the party, and she is in her room, doing nothing. We can’t have her staying there any longer. Am I not right, Aunt Wu?”

  “Sister,” Aunt Wu said to Yueniang, “the Third Lady is right. It isn’t simply a misunderstanding between you two ladies. It puts your husband in a hole, and makes it very embarrassing for him whichever of you he goes to see.”

  Yueniang did not speak until Yulou was on the point of going for Pan Jinlian. Then she said: “Don’t go. It is of no consequence whether she comes or not.”

  “She will not dare refuse to come,” Yulou said. “If she does, I’ll drag her here with a pig’s-hair cord.”

  She went straight to Jinlian’s room. Jinlian had not dressed her hair. There was no powder on her face, and she was sitting on the bed, alone.

  “Fifth Sister,” Yulou said, “why are you making such a fool of yourself? Get your hair done. There is to be a party in the outer court, and we are all very busy, yet you stay here, nursing your temper, instead of coming to help us. I have spoken to the Great Lady, and now you must come with me and see her. Keep your temper and try to look pleasant. Don’t forget: Pleasant words and pretty phrases make the coldest day warm; but unkind hurtful words make it cold even in the sixth month. You have quarreled, but if you insist on being obstinate, where is it all going to end? People enjoy flattery, just as Buddha enjoys incense. Come and say you’re sorry, and let us have an end to the business. It will be very awkward for our husband if you don’t. He will not come to see you if he is afraid she will be angry.”

  “I can’t make any show against her,” Jinlian said. “She says she is the only duly married wife here. You and I are dewdrops. We are nobodies, not worthy to lick her boots.”

  “I told her she was killing several birds with one stone,” Yulou said. “His Lordship is my second husband, I admit, but it wasn’t I who made the advances. When we were married, I had a proper witness and a go-between. I did not come into the family by the back door. But don’t cut off one branch and damage the whole tree. The Great Lady is angry with you, but some of us are not. And don’t carry things to extremes. We have to keep our eyes open and see what we’re about. We must make sure of our ground. It was a mistake to quarrel before the nuns and Miss Yu. Each of us has his reputation to think about, as every tree has its own bark. The Great Lady is not very well, and, if you don’t go and see her, I can’t tell what the consequences may be. We have to be together, like the lips on one’s mouth. Dress your hair. We will go and see her.”

  Jinlian sat and thought for a long time. Then she swallowed her anger, went to her dressing table to brush her hair, and put on her net. She dressed and went to the upper room with Yulou. The Third Lady pulled aside the lattice.

  “I have brought her,” she said. “She did not dare refuse to come. Come, my child, and kowtow to your mother.” Then she said to Yueniang: “My daughter is young. She hardly knows the difference between right and wrong. Otherwise she would not have offended you. Won’t you forgive her this time? If she is ever rude to you again, you may punish her as much as you please. I will not raise a finger to stop you.”

  Jinlian kowtowed four times to Yueniang. Then she jumped up and slapped Yulou. “You little strumpet!” she cried, “do you think I would have you for a mother?”

  The ladies laughed. Even Yueniang could not help smiling.

  “You slave!” Yulou said, “your mistress gives you back her favor, then you jump up and beat your mother.”

  “It is splendid to see you sisters all merry together,” Aunt Wu said. “The Great Lady sometimes says more than she means, but you must make allowances for her, and give way a little. Then everything will be well. The proverb says: The peony is beautiful, but it must have leaves for its beauty to appear.”

  “If she had not said anything, I should not have quarreled with her,” Yueniang said.

  “Mother,” Jinlian said, “you are the Heaven and I the Earth. Forgive me. I am just a stupid creature.”

  Yulou patted her on the back. “Now you speak like my daughter. But we have no time to talk. We have been working a long time, and it is your turn to help us.”

  Jinlian climbed on to the bed beside Yulou and helped her to arrange the fruit in the boxes.

  When Qintong came back with the medicine, Ximen looked at the note that came with it, and told the boy to take it to Yueniang.

  “So there is some for you, too?” Yueniang said to Yulou.

  “Yes,” Yulou said, “I have my old trouble again, and I asked Father to get me some pills from Doctor Ren.

  “It is because you didn’t eat anything the other day,” Yueniang said. “You must have caught a chill.”

  Song was the first to arrive. Ximen Qing took him to the arbor, and they sat down.

  “Thank you for sending the tripod,” Song said, “I must pay you for it.”

  “How can I accept money for it?” Ximen said. “I was afraid you would refuse it, even as a gift.”

  “You are really too kind,” Song said. He bowed and thanked Ximen Qing.

  When they had had tea, they talked about the official affairs of the district and the condition of the people. Song asked abo
ut the local dignitaries. “Prefect Hu is very well liked,” Ximen Qing said, “and District Magistrate Li is most conscientious in his work. I have not had much to do with the others.”

  “You know Major Zhou,” Censor Song said. “What do you think of him?”

  “He is an experienced soldier,” Ximen Qing said, “but I should hardly say that he is so efficient as Jing of Jizhou. Jing passed the military examination when he was still quite young, and he is as capable as he is brave. Perhaps your Excellency will keep an eye on him.”

  “Are you speaking of Jing Zhong? Do you know him?”

  “He is a friend of mine,” Ximen said. “Yesterday he brought a card and asked me to speak to your Excellency on his behalf.”

  “I have heard that he is a good officer,” the Censor said. “Is there anyone else?”

  “There is my wife’s brother, Wu Kai. He is a Captain here and in charge of the alterations to the granary. He is due for promotion, and, if your Excellency helps him, I shall be involved in his honor.”

  “As he is your kinsman,” Song said, “I will not only recommend him for promotion, but see that he gets an appointment worth having.”

  Ximen Qing bowed and thanked him. He gave the Censor the two men’s records of service. Song handed them to one of his officers and said they were to be brought before him when he prepared his report. Ximen Qing quietly told a servant to give that officer three taels of silver.

  Then they heard music, and a servant came to tell them that the Provincial Officers had arrived. Ximen Qing went to receive them while Song went to the garden gate to look on. When the officers had exchanged greetings, they looked around the great hall. There was a large table in the middle magnificently set out, and a smaller table only a little less splendid. They were very pleased. They thanked Ximen Qing and said that they must send him more money.

  “We certainly have not sent him sufficient for all this,” Censor Song said, “but, for my sake, Siquan, do not ask them for any more.”

  “I should not dream of accepting any more,” Ximen Qing said.

  They sat down in places according to their rank and tea was brought. A man was sent to invite Governor Hou. After some delay the messenger came riding on horseback and told them that the Governor was on his way. The musicians played together and all the officers went out to the gate to wait for him. Censor Song stood alone at the second door.

  Cavalry with blue pennons trotted by. Then Governor Hou came wearing a scarlet robe with a peacock embroidered upon it, sable ear covers, and a girdle with a buckle of pure gold. He was in a sedan chair borne by four men. When he had got down from his carriage, the officers escorted him to the great hall. Censor Song was wearing a scarlet robe embroidered with gold clouds. The buckle on his girdle was of rhinoceros horn. Each invited the other to precede him, and at last they entered the hall together. When the two high officers had greeted one another, the others came to make their reverences. Ximen Qing was the last. The Governor remembered him from the day of the reception to Huang, and he told one of his officers to give Ximen a card, on which was written: “Your friend, Hou Meng.” Ximen took the card with both hands and gave it to a servant.

  They all took off their ceremonial robes, and the Governor sat down in the place of honor. The other officers ranged themselves on either hand. Censor Song took the place of the host. After tea had been served the musicians played and Song offered his guest wine, flowers and silk. He ordered food to be sent to the Governor’s office. Then the banquet was served. The dishes were all garnished with flowers.

  The dancers performed exceedingly well. Then the Haiyan actors came and kowtowed and presented their list. The Governor told them to play The Duke of Jin Returned the Girdle. The banquet proceeded. When two acts had been performed, Governor Hou ordered five taels of silver to be distributed among the cooks, waiters, musicians, and servants. Then he put on his ceremonial robes again and took leave of the company. All the officers went with him to the gate. When he had gone, Song and the rest thanked Ximen Qing again and went away.

  Ximen Qing returned to the great hall and dismissed the musicians. It was still early and he said: “Don’t take any of the things away.” He sent boys for Uncle Wu, Ying Bojue, Fu, Gan, Ben the Fourth, and his son-in-law, Chen Jingji. He told the actors to have something to eat, and bade them, when his guests arrived, play Han Xizai Entertained Scholar Tao by Night. Then he sent for Chunmei to decorate the hall, that he might enjoy the beauty of the flowers while he was drinking.

  The three clerks came first, then Scholar Wen, the two Wu brothers, and Ying Bojue made a reverence to Ximen and said: “I am sorry I was only able to offer your ladies such poor entertainment the other day. Thank you for the splendid presents you sent.”

  Ximen Qing laughed. “You dog!” he said. “What did you mean by peeping at my ladies through the window?”

  “You don’t believe that!” Bojue said. “I know who told you.” He pointed to Wang Jing. “It was that dog. You wait and, one of these days, I’ll bite you.”

  They sat down and had tea. Uncle Wu wished to go and see his sister in the inner court, and Ximen Qing took him there. On the way he told him what he had said to Censor Song. “His Excellency took your record of service,” he said, “and I gave three taels of silver to the officer in whose charge he left it. He has your papers and Jing’s. The Censor promised that there shall be something for you when he sends his report.”

  Uncle Wu was delighted. He bowed to Ximen and said: “This is very kind of you.”

  “I only had to say: ‘This is my wife’s brother,’ and he said at once: ‘Since he is a kinsman of yours, I must certainly do something for him.’”

  They came to the upper room, and Wu Yueniang made a reverence to her brother.

  “It is time you went home,” Uncle Wu said to his wife. “There is nobody to see after the house, and you have been here too long already.”

  “She won’t let me go away,” Aunt Wu said. “She says I must stay until the third.”

  “Then you must be sure to come home on the fourth,” Uncle Wu said.

  He went back to the outer court and drank with the others. The actors played and then performed as Ximen had told them. When the excitement of the play was at its height, Daian came in. “Qiao Tong has come from Master Qiao and would like to speak to you,” he said. Ximen Qing left his friends and went to see the boy.

  “My father says he did not give you the money yesterday,” Qiao Tong said, “so he has sent me with it now. There are thirty taels here and five more for the less important officers.”

  “I am going to see Prefect Hu about it tomorrow morning,” Ximen said. “I think he will do what we wish, and there will be no need to give any money to anyone else. Take these five taels back.” He told Daian to give food and wine to Qiao Tong.

  Two acts of the play had now been performed, and it was about the first night watch. The guests took their leave, and Ximen Qing ordered everything to be cleared away. Then he went to Yueniang. She was sitting with her sister-in-law, but Aunt Wu withdrew at once.

  “I have managed that business of your brother’s with Censor Song,” Ximen said to his wife. “His Excellency said that not only would he see that he got promotion, but that he would appoint him to some post worth having. So now he is sure of a military appointment. I have told your brother about it, and he is delighted.”

  “But he has no money,” Yueniang said. “Where is he going to find two or three hundred taels?”

  “There is no need for him to spend any money,” Ximen Qing said. “I told the Censor that he was your brother, and his Excellency promised me that he would attend to the matter himself.”

  “Do what you think best,” Yueniang said, “it is not my business.”

  “Yuxiao,” Ximen said, “get that medicine ready for your mother. I want to see her take it.”

  “Go away and don’t make a fuss,” Yueniang said, “I will take the medicine when I go to bed.”

  Ximen
Qing was on the point of going when Yueniang called him back.

  “Where are you going?” she said. “If you are going to her, you had better think twice about it. She has just apologized to me, and if you go to her, it will look as if you go to make things right with her.”

  “I am not going to her,” Ximen said.

  “Where are you going, then?” Yueniang said. “I don’t want you to go to that woman Ruyi’er either. Yesterday, in my sister-in-law’s presence, the Fifth Lady said some very horrid things to me. She said I allowed Ruyi’er to take liberties, to please you.”

  “Surely you don’t take seriously the things that little strumpet says?”

  “Do what I tell you,” Yueniang said. “I won’t have you going to the front court, and I don’t want you here. You must spend the night with Li Jiao’er. You may do what you like after that.” Ximen was obliged to go and sleep with Li Jiao’er.

  The next day was the eleventh of the twelfth month. Ximen Qing went early to the office and, with Captain He, busied himself with official papers. He was there all morning. When he came back, he got ready the presents, a pig, wine, and thirty taels of silver, and told Daian to take them to Hu, the Prefect of Dongpingfu. Hu accepted the presents and immediately sent the necessary papers.

  Meanwhile, Ximen Qing sent for Xu, the Master of the Yin Yang, and set out pigs, lamb, wine and fruits in the great hall, and burned paper offerings as a sacrifice. When the ceremony was over, Xu went away.

  The document that Daian brought back with him bore several seals. It referred to Qiao Hong as an officer in the District administration. Ximen told Daian to take two boxes of the food that had been offered at the sacrifice, to Qiao and to ask him to come and see the document. He also told a servant to take a box of food to Uncle Wu, Scholar Wen, Ying Bojue, Xie Xida, and the clerks. Then he sent invitation cards to Major Zhou, General Jing, Captain Zhang, Eunuchs Liu and Xue, Captain He and Captain Fan, Uncle Wu, Kinsman Qiao, and Wang the Third asking them to a celebration on the third of the month. He engaged musicians and four singers.