Yulou saw that Jinlian was growing purple with rage. “We are such firm friends, Sister,” she said, “that I always tell you anything I hear, but when I do tell you things, you must keep them to yourself and not get so excited.”
Jinlian did not take this advice. That night, when Ximen Qing came to her room, she told him the whole story. “Laizhao’s wife,” she said, “was screaming up and down the inner court that you had beaten her boy, and the first chance she got, you should pay for it.”
Ximen Qing did not forget this. The next day he would have sent away Laizhao and his wife and child, but, fortunately, Yueniang persuaded him not to do so. Still, he would not keep Laizhao in the house, and sent him to take charge of the house in Lion Street in place of Ping’an whom he brought back and put in charge of the gate. Yueniang realized what had happened and was very angry with Jinlian.
One day Ximen was sitting in the front hall, when Ping’an came in and said: “Major Zhou has sent a fortune-telling gentleman, called Wu the Immortal. He is waiting at the gate to see you.” Ximen gave orders that the man should be admitted, and, after looking at Major Zhou’s card, he bade the fortune-teller welcome. Wu the Immortal was wearing a black Daoist hat, a long cloak, and straw sandals. He was girt by a girdle of yellow silk with two tassels, and carried a tortoiseshell fan. He stalked in with a majestic air. He seemed at least forty years of age. His spirit was as proud as the moon, and he was as venerable in appearance as the tall pines that grow upon the summit of Mount Hua.
There are always four marks by which an Immortal may be distinguished. His body is like the pine tree; his voice like a bell. When he is seated, he is like a bow, and when he walks, like the wind.
When Ximen Qing saw Wu the Immortal about to come in, he hurried down the steps to greet him and took him into the hall. The Immortal saluted Ximen with a religious reverence, and sat down. Tea was brought at once and Ximen said: “May I ask your Immortality’s glorious and illustrious names? From what fairy country have you come, and how did you make the acquaintance of Major Zhou?”
The Immortal raised himself slightly. “I am called Wu,” he said, “and my personal name is Shih. My name in religion is Shou Zhen. I was born in Xian Yu of Zhejiang, but while I was still a boy I went with my Master to the temple of the Purple Void on the Tiantai mountain. Afterwards, I wandered as a cloud over the earth, and have come at last to seek the Sacred Principle upon Taishan. On my way, I happened to pass through your esteemed city, and General Zhou was good enough to allow me to examine the eyes of his ladies. Then he bade me come to you to tell your fortune.”
“Oh, Venerable Prince of the Immortals,” Ximen Qing said, “to which school of magic do you belong, and what system of physiognomies do you follow?”
“I have a slight acquaintance with thirteen schools,” the Immortal said, “and practice the method of Ma Yi. But I also understand the Liu Ren and the Magic Ke. I give my simples to cure people, but worldly wealth I never accept, knowing that I am upon this earth for but a short space.”
Ximen Qing felt considerably more respect for his visitor. “You must indeed be a true Immortal,” he said. He told his servants to prepare a table with monastic fare.
“But I have not yet performed my office,” the Immortal said. “How can I eat your food?”
“Master,” Ximen said, smiling, “you have come a long way, and I feel sure you have not yet breakfasted. There will be plenty of time afterwards for you to tell our fortunes.” He sat down himself and shared the monastic fare with the Immortal. Then the table was cleared, and he called for writing materials.
“Sir,” the Immortal said, “tell me first the eight words of moment in your honorable life, and I will relate the future for you.” Ximen Qing told him the Eight Characters, saying that his animal was the Tiger, his age twenty-nine, and the hour of his birth noon on the twenty-eighth day of the seventh month. The Immortal silently made some calculations upon his fingers and said: “Sir, your horoscope would appear to show the year as Wuyin, the month as Xinyu, the day as Renwu and the hour as Bingwu. Now the twenty-third day of the seventh month is the Day of White Dew. We must therefore reckon your fate as from the eighth month. Taking the months in order, Xinyu is the controlling month, so obviously Shangguan is the controlling factor in your life. As Zi Ping says: wealth increases and riches multiply. You will obtain an official position. Then your luck will change again. Your fate depends upon Shengong, so your fortune starts from the seventh year Xinyu. Then at seventeen, it moves towards Renxu, at twenty-seven to Guihai, at thirty-seven to Jiazi and at forty-seven to Yichou. Your horoscope, Sir, as I see it, indicates that you will fill a position of authority and that you will be prosperous. Your Eight Characters are certainly clear and unusual. But though this is so, you are adversely affected by the Earth Element in Wu, seeing that you were born between the seventh and the eighth months, a fact that gives you too great physical vigor. Fortunately the day of your birth was Renwu and the Water Element of Gui comes between Zi and Chou, thus producing an equilibrium between water and fire, and putting beyond doubt the fact that you will profit by your abilities. The hour was Bingwu, and this fits in very well with Xin, so you may look forward to a career of great dignity: you will prosper, be happy, and at peace all your life. Your fortune will increase; you will obtain promotion, and you are destined to leave behind you an honorable descendant. Throughout your life you will be honest and fair dealing; when once you have made up your mind you will not change it. In joy you will be as agreeable as the breeze in spring, and in anger as terrible as the sudden thunder and the fierce lightning. You will enjoy many women, great wealth, and not a few of the insignia of office, and when at last you leave this world there will be two sons to speed you on your way. This year, Ding and Ren come together, and the fire of Ding will be in the ascendant. This means the coming of officials and ghosts, and certainly indicates your elevation to the clouds, or, otherwise, that you will receive an appointment and come into great wealth. Your fortune is now moving towards Guihai, so that the Earth of Wu moistened by the Water of Gui, and from the intermingling of water and earth, one naturally anticipates growth. I see the star of the Red Phoenix, and this is undoubtedly a sign of the coming of a son. Then, too, the controller of your life appears on horseback going towards Shen, so before the seventh month is out, these things will certainly come to pass.”
“What about my life in the more distant future?” Ximen Qing said.
“Sir,” the Immortal said, “I trust you will forgive me, but I am sorry to say that your Eight Characters do not go well with so much Yin water, and, when you reach the high tide of your fortune in the year Jiazi, the water will wash out the Renwu day, and the inconstant stars will then affect you. Before you reach your thirty-sixth year, you will suffer from sores, hemorrhage and wasting sickness.”
“What then of the present?” Ximen said.
“This year you meet the five spirits of destruction. This means some slight trouble in your household. It will not be very serious, for the omens are favorable, and the trouble will pass away.”
“Is there any great calamity in my life?” Ximen asked.
“Days lengthen into months, and months into years,” the Immortal said, “it is hard indeed to prophesy.”
Ximen Qing was satisfied. “Master,” he said, “what do you read in my face?”
“Please turn your honorable countenance straight towards me,” the Immortal said. Ximen Qing moved his chair slightly, and the Immortal said:
“What is this outward seeming? Without the mind it would be nothing, for outward seeming springeth from the heart. Whither the heart goeth, the appearance goeth also. I perceive that your Lordship’s head is round, and your neck short. You are clearly a man favored by fortune. Your body is robust and your muscles strong, a sign that you are a man of heroic courage. Your brow is high and projecting, and all your life you will never lack raiment or wealth. Your chin is square and full, and in your old age you will fill an exa
lted office. Such are the good things I see. There are evil things also, but shall I venture to tell you these?”
“Pray tell me all, Immortal,” Ximen said.
The Immortal asked Ximen Qing to take a few steps, and continued: “Your walk is like the shaking of the willow. It is a sign that you should outlive a wife, and if you do not do so, you will certainly suffer hurt. I trust you have already done so.”
“I have,” Ximen said.
The Immortal asked to see his hand, and Ximen Qing held it out. “Perfect wisdom,” the Immortal said, “is always to be discerned by the skin and hair, and sorrow and happiness may be foretold by the hands and feet. Your hand is so fine and soft and firm, you are certainly destined by fortune for the enjoyment of wealth and happiness. Of your eyes, one is male and one female, a sign that you are wealthy and alert of mind. Each of your eyebrows has a fork, which shows that all through your life pleasure will mean much to you, but below them are three wrinkles, which mean that in middle age you will suffer a great loss. Your Jianmen is red; you will enjoy wealth and women all your life. Your brows are yellow, and in a few days you will receive an official appointment. There is red upon your Sanyang, and this very year a fine son will be born to you. One thing, which I hesitate to mention, is that your Leitang are thick and long, indicating a fondness for the flower maidens, but your nose, the star of wealth, would seem to promise a wealthy middle age. The Zhengjiang is hollowed, and from that we may foretell the fortunes and misfortunes of your next life.”
The Immortal was silent. Ximen Qing asked if he would tell the fortunes of his ladies, and sent a servant to summon Wu Yueniang. She came with Li Jiao’er, Meng Yulou, Pan Jinlian, Li Ping’er, and Sun Xue’e, and they stood behind a curtain to listen. When the Immortal saw Yueniang, he quickly saluted her. He would not sit down in her presence, but stood to tell her fortune.
“Lady,” he said, “your face is like the full moon, a sign that the household flourishes under your care. Your lips are like the red lotus, and so I know that you are prosperous and that you will have the dignity of motherhood. Your voice is sweet and fairy-like, and you will help your husband towards the attainment of happiness. Please show me your hands.” Yueniang drew her delicate fingers from her sleeves. “Your hands,” continued the Immortal, “are like dried ginger, a sign that you are well capable of controlling those under your charge. The hair upon your temples shines as does a mirror, which shows, according to the doctrine of Kun, that you are a very clever woman. These are the good points. There are others not so favorable, but these I hesitate to tell.” Ximen Qing urged him to continue. “In your Leitang there is a mole, and if you were not so frequently ill, you would most certainly destroy your husband. There are wrinkles beneath your eyes, which show that your six relatives are as ice and as ashes.”
She stands erect, beautiful to see
With footsteps slow and light, like a turtle coming from the water
When she walks, the dust is not stirred. Her words are measured.
The slender shoulders show that she must wed an honorable husband.
When Yueniang had withdrawn, Ximen Qing said: “There are still some ladies of lesser rank: will you see them?” Li Jiao’er came forward. The Immortal looked at her for a long time, and said: “This lady’s brows are very abrupt, and her nose is small. If she were not a concubine, she would certainly marry three husbands. She is plump and well favored, a sign that she will want for nothing. She enjoys comfort and is a peaceable person. Her shoulders are high and her voice is shrill, so, unless she is an orphan, she is a person of low degree. The bridge of her nose is rather low, and she will be poor, or die young.” He asked her to walk a few steps, and said:
The tapering brow, the sinuous back
Show that in youth she trod the path of wind and dust.
One of two things she must be, a girl from a house of evil fame
Or a woman who stands behind the screen.
Li Jiao’er went back to her place, and Yueniang said to Yulou: “Now it is your turn.”
“This lady,” the Immortal said, “has forehead, nose and chin all well proportioned. She will have no anxiety about material things. The six natural treasuries are full to overflowing and she will have fortune and honor in her old age. She will suffer little from sickness, for her mouth is favored by a bright and dazzling comet, and in truth her Niangong is smooth and beautiful. Kindly walk a step or two, Lady.”
Then he said:
Her mouth is like the character Si, her spirit pure and keen
Her gentleness and charm are like a pearl resting on a palm
Honor and dignity will be hers, wealth and prosperity.
She will outlive two husbands.
When Yulou had retired, Jinlian was asked to take her place, but she laughed and refused. Yueniang pressed her, and finally she went out. The Immortal raised his head and gazed at her for a long time. Then he said slowly: “This lady’s hair is thick and uncommonly heavy at the temples, and her glance is not direct. This is a sign of a very passionate nature. Her cheeks are full of charm, her eyebrows arched, and, even when she is standing still, her body quivers. The moles upon her face mean that she will be the end of her husbands, and her upper lip, which is short, indicates that her own life will not be long.”
Lightly and unrestrained she moves, craving the pleasures of love,
Her eyes, sparkling like fragments of lacquer, show that she is the cause of men’s undoing
Beneath the moon, before the stair, never can she be sated
But, though she lives in a great mansion, her heart is not at rest.
Ximen Qing called for Li Ping’er, and asked the Immortal to predict her future. “Your complexion,” the Immortal said, “is so sweet and fragrant that I know you for a maiden of high degree. Your bearing is modest, so that you may be told for a virtuous woman of high rank. Yet there is a sparkle in your eyes as though you had taken wine, and this suggests an engagement behind the mulberry tree. Your eyes are dark ringed, which shows that what happens to you each month gives trouble. Yet the sleeping silkworm is glossy and purple, and beyond a doubt you will bring forth a precious son. Your skin is white and your shoulders round, and your husband loves you dearly. You are often sick, for the roots are dark and deep, yet you constantly meet with omens of great joy, for the star of your fortune is bright and favorable. These are the points in your favor, but there are others not so favorable, and, Lady, you must be careful. The mountain root is black, and before your twenty-seventh year there are signs of tears, yet if you keep good counsel, you may survive the cock and dog years. Yet beware, beware!”
Her countenance is like the flowers and the moon, yet she must guard her plumage
Close to her lover till life is done, like the phoenix and his mate.
Trust in the wealth of the red doors
And do not mix with humbler birds.
Li Ping’er withdrew, and Yueniang told Xue’e to take her place. The Immortal looked at her and said: “This lady’s body is short and her voice shrill. Her brow is pointed and her nose small. Though she has come from the valley to the heights, her portion is of sneers and friendlessness. She manages her affairs well, and is not without guile, but she suffers from a fourfold “turn up,” and it may be that disaster shall overtake her. The fourfold “turn up” is lips curling yet without an edge, ears curling yet without a curve, eyes turned up yet without a sparkle, nose turned up yet crooked.”
Her body is like a bird’s, her waist like a wasp’s. She is not of high degree.
Her eyes are like flowing waters; she is not chaste.
She stands and leans upon the door
If she does not become a maidservant, worse things will befall her.
Xue’e withdrew, and Yueniang told Ximen’s daughter, Ximen Dajie, to come and let the Immortal see her.
“This lady’s nose is low and flat,” he said; “she will bring discredit upon her ancestors and ruin upon her household. Her voice is like a cracke
d gong, and all her family wealth will be dispersed. Her complexion is coarse; she will die young and in distress. She walks like the hopping of a sparrow, and though she lives in her own home, she is in need of food and clothing. Calamity will fall upon her before she is twenty-seven.”
Though she seems wise, she is not at peace with her husband
Only the food and clothes her parents give keep warmth in her
She is not handsome and honor will not visit her.
Even if violent death should be spared her, there are hard times in store.
Then Chunmei came to be examined. The Immortal opened his eyes wide as he looked at her. She was about eighteen years old, he saw. A silver hairnet was on her head, a white gown with a peach-colored skirt, and a fine blue silk wrap. She made a reverence to him when she came forward. The Immortal gazed at her for a long time. At last he said:
The Golden Lotus, Volume 1 Page 48