The Golden Lotus, Volume 1

by Lanling Xiaoxiaosheng

  It was about the time of the New Year Festival and all the officers were on holiday. For two days the public offices were closed. In the meantime somebody at the office told Miao Qing what had happened. Miao Qing was terrified. He locked up his room at the inn and hid himself in the house of a certain Yue the Third. This Yue the Third was a broker. He lived in Lion Street next door to Han Daoguo, and his wife was on very friendly terms with Wang Liu’er. She often visited Wang Liu’er, and Wang Liu’er, when she had nothing else to do, often visited her. They were on very close terms indeed.

  Yue saw that Miao Qing seemed exceedingly distressed and asked him what the trouble was. Miao Qing told him. “Don’t worry,” Yue said. “My neighbor Han’s wife is the mistress of Master Ximen, an officer of the court. Her husband is a servant of his, and both husband and wife are our very good friends. We agree with each other on all points. If I get you out of this trouble, how much are you prepared to offer? Tell me, and I will go and discuss the matter with him.”

  Miao Qing knelt down. “All I ask,” he said, “is to be saved from this trouble. I will most surely give you a great reward and I shall never dare to forget your kindness.”

  They wrote out a supplication, parceled up fifty taels of silver, put them with two dresses of embroidered satin, and Yue told his wife to take them to Wang Liu’er. Wang Liu’er was delighted. She took the clothes, the silver and the paper, and waited for Ximen Qing to come.

  For several days there was no sign of him but, on the evening of the seventeenth, Wang Liu’er saw Daian, with a wrapper, riding down the street. She went outside her door and called to him: “Where are you going?”

  “I have been a long way with my master,” the boy said. “We have just come back from Dongpingfu, where we took some presents.”

  “Has your father come back too?” Wang Liu’er asked.

  “Father and Ben the Fourth have come back already,” the boy said. Wang Liu’er took the boy into her house, told him all about the case and showed him the paper.

  “Aunt Han,” Daian said, “you may try to manage this affair, but you will not find it too easy. The two boatmen are already in prison and now this man is wanted. A few paltry taels are not enough for the servants. I want neither more nor less than twenty taels of silver, and then I will ask Father to come here and you can tell him all about it.”

  Wang Liu’er laughed. “You little oily mouth!” she said, “you may be hungry, but you must not be too greedy. If this case is settled, of course there will be something for you. Even if I get nothing myself, I will see that you get something.”

  “Aunt Han,” said Daian, “don’t misunderstand me. The proverb says: ‘Honorable men are never ashamed to speak plainly.’ The best thing we can do is to agree upon terms and then talk about the matter.”

  Wang Liu’er prepared some food and entertained Daian. “If I get a red face from drinking wine,” the boy said, “my master will scold me.”

  “Don’t trouble about that,” Wang Liu’er said. “Tell him you have been here.”

  The boy drank one cup of wine and went away. As he went, the woman said to him: “Tell your father I am expecting him.”

  Daian went home, handed in the wrapper and waited for Ximen Qing to have his sleep out. When Ximen came to the room in the wing, the boy went to him quietly and said: “On my way home, Aunt Han stopped me and told me to ask you to go to see her. She has a very important matter to speak to you about.”

  “What is it?” Ximen said. “I will go.”

  Then District Examiner Liu came to borrow some silver. Ximen gave it to him and he went away. Ximen, wearing his eyeshades and a small hat, mounted his horse and went with Daian and Qintong to see Wang Liu’er. He went into the parlor and sat down, and Wang Liu’er came and made reverence to him. It was Han Daoguo’s turn to sleep at the shop that night, so he did not return. Wang Liu’er had bought many things and had sent for old woman Feng to cook them. She hastened to bring tea for Ximen Qing. Ximen told Qintong to take his horse to the house opposite and to shut the gate.

  At first the woman said nothing about the case. “You must be tired after so many parties during these last few days,” she said. “I have heard about your young son’s betrothal and must congratulate you.”

  “It was my relative Wu who suggested the marriage,” Ximen said. “The Qiaos have only one daughter. It really is not the most suitable marriage, but I want to get the matter settled.”

  “It is not a bad marriage,” Wang Liu’er said, “but you have a high position and it will be awkward, perhaps, when you meet them.”

  “That was what I thought,” Ximen said.

  They talked for a while and Wang Liu’er said, “It is rather cold here. Won’t you come into the inner room?” They went into the inner room. There was a chair on either side and a brazier with burning coals. Hesitatingly, the woman showed him Miao Qing’s paper. “This man, Miao Qing, asked Mistress Yue to come and see me about it,” she said. “Miao Qing is staying with Yue. The two boatmen have accused him falsely. All he wants is to have his name kept out of this case. He sent me a little present and you must do something for him.”

  When he had read the paper, Ximen Qing said: “How much did he give you?” Wang Liu’er took the fifty taels from her box and showed them to him.

  “If the case is settled, he promised to give me two dresses,” she said. Ximen Qing looked at the silver and laughed. “Why did you accept so small a sum?” he said. “You don’t understand. This Miao Qing is the servant of Master Miao of Yangzhou. He and the two boatmen murdered their master and threw the body into the river. It is a case of murder and robbery. The corpse has not yet been found. The boy Antong was with them, and both the boy and the boatmen are anxious to get hold of Miao Qing. If he is arrested he will certainly get the punishment of the thousand slashes and the two boatmen will lose their heads. They say that Miao Qing has stuff worth two thousand taels. Why should he send you a paltry sum like this? Send it back to him at once.”

  Wang Liu’er went into the kitchen and told her maid to go for Mistress Yue. When Mistress Yue came, Wang Liu’er gave her the silver and told her what Ximen Qing had said. When the news was brought to Miao Qing, it was as though a pail of water had been poured over him from head to feet. He was absolutely terrified. He talked over the matter with Yue and said he would give up all he had if only he could save his life.

  “Since Master Ximen says this,” Yue said, “it is clear that a little more will be of no avail. It looks to me as though it will mean a thousand taels to the two officers, and another thousand taels for the underlings and the policemen.”

  “But I haven’t sold all my things,” Miao Qing said. “Where am I to find the ready money?” They told Mistress Yue to go back to Wang Liu’er and find out whether Ximen would accept the goods. “If so, Miao Qing will offer goods to the value of a thousand taels to him. If he will not have them, ask his Lordship to allow Miao Qing two or three days in which to sell them. Then he will go in person to his Lordship to offer the money.”

  Wang Liu’er took the list of the goods and showed it to Ximen. He looked at it. “In the circumstances,” he said, “I will let him have a few days. Then he must bring the money to me himself.”

  Mistress Yue went back and told Miao Qing what had happened. He was greatly relieved.

  Ximen Qing noticed that there was somebody in the next house, so he did not stay long. He drank a few cups of wine, then ordered his horse and went home.

  The next day the office closed early, and he did not mention the matter at all. Miao Qing desperately urged Yue to sell the stolen property for him, and, in three days, everything was disposed of for seventeen hundred taels. He gave Wang Liu’er another fifty taels and four dresses of the finest material. On the nineteenth he put a thousand taels into four wine jars, bought a pig and, when it was dark, carried them to Ximen Qing. All the servants knew about the matter, so he gave Daian, Ping’an, Shutong and Qintong ten taels of silver apiece. Da
ian went to Wang Liu’er and got another ten taels from her.

  Ximen Qing came out and sat under the awning. There was no light but the moon was just rising. The presents were brought to him and Miao Qing, dressed in black clothes, kowtowed. “I am so grateful for your generous kindness,” he said, “that though my body were beaten to pieces, I could never repay you.”

  “Your case has not yet been investigated,” Ximen said, “but the two boatmen still insist on the truth of what they have said. If you are arrested, you must inevitably be severely punished. But since you have come to me, I will see that your life is saved. You would not be satisfied if I did not take your present, but a half of it I must give to Magistrate Xia, my colleague. You must stay here no longer, but get away as quickly as you can. Where do you live at Yangzhou?”

  “I live within the city itself,” Miao Qing said. He kowtowed again. Ximen Qing called for some tea from the back court and Miao Qing drank it, standing beneath a pine tree. Then he kowtowed and prepared to take his leave. Ximen recalled him and said: “Have you attended to the officers of lower rank?” Miao Qing told him that he had. “Then you should go home at once,” Ximen said.

  Miao Qing gave fifty taels and the remainder of the silk to Yue and his wife. At the fifth night watch, they saddled a horse and he started for Yangzhou.

  The next day Ximen Qing and Magistrate Xia left their office together. They were riding side by side. When they came to the middle of the High Street, Magistrate Xia was about to say good-bye to Ximen, but Ximen raised his whip and said: “Will you be kind enough to come to my house for a moment?” Xia went with him. They went into the hall and exchanged the appropriate greetings. Then Xia was asked to go to the arbor, and there he took off his long cloak. The servants brought tea and Daian and Shutong prepared a table.

  “Really,” Xia said, “I should not put you to all this trouble.” Ximen Qing asked him not to say so. Two boys brought chicken, pigs’ trotters, goose, duck, fish and other dishes on a large square tray. They ate some and everything was cleared away. Then they drank wine with dessert and fruits, using small golden cups and silver trays. Ximen pressed his colleague to drink more and more, and, while they were drinking, began to talk about the matter of Miao Qing.

  “Yesterday,” he said, “the fellow got some scholars to come here, and sent presents. I dared not make any decision myself, so I have asked you to come and talk about it.” He showed Magistrate Xia the list of presents.

  “I leave the decision to you,” said Xia, when he had read the list.

  “Well,” Ximen said, “I suggest that, tomorrow, we send on those two robbers and leave Miao alone. We will ask someone to take Antong away. The matter can be settled when Master Miao’s body is found. The present, of course, is yours.”

  “Not at all,” Magistrate Xia said. “I agree with everything you say about the case, but why should you give me the present? You have done well. Certainly I shall not take it.” They disputed politely for a long time, and at last Ximen said: “Perhaps we might share it.” He put five hundred taels into a food box. Magistrate Xia stood up and made a reverence to him.

  “You are very kind,” he said, “and if I don’t accept, you will take it unkindly. Thank you very much.” He had some more wine and then went away.

  Ximen Qing told Daian to take the food box to Magistrate Xia’s as if he were taking wine. Xia himself came to receive it. He gave the boy a card in return and two taels of silver for himself. The four bearers each received four qian of silver. As the proverb says: Just as a pig’s head will be cooked when the fire is hot enough, so a case will be settled when money enough is forthcoming.

  So Ximen Qing and Xia arranged the matter. The next day they went to the office. The jailers, policemen, and attendants had all been bribed by Yue. In the hall of audience, the instruments of torture were all set out, and Chen and Weng, the two boatmen, were brought forward. When they were questioned, they still declared that they had murdered Master Miao at the instigation of Miao Qing. Ximen Qing professed to be very angry and ordered them to be beaten. “You two thieves have worked the river for years. You have pretended to carry travelers on your boat, but actually you have robbed and murdered. This boy says you killed Master Miao with a knife and threw his body into the water. You struck the boy himself with a stick. Here are the clothes of the boy’s master for witness. Why do you still accuse somebody else?”

  Then he called for Antong. “Who killed your master? Who pushed you into the water?”

  “About the third night watch I heard Miao Qing shout. My master came out of the cabin, then Chen killed him and threw his body into the water. Weng struck me with a stick and I was thrown in too. He did not kill me. I do not know where Miao Qing is now.”

  “It is clear from what the boy says,” Ximen Qing said, “that there is no way out for you.” He had fetters put upon their legs and each of them was given thirty blows with a club. Their bones were broken and they screamed like pigs being killed.

  The two robbers gave up half of the property they had stolen. They had already spent the rest. A document was written out to be sent with the men and the property to Dongpingfu. The magistrate at Dongpingfu, Hu Shiwen, was Ximen Qing’s friend. He accepted the document without question. He sentenced Chen the Third and Weng the Eighth as thieves and murderers to have their heads cut off. Antong was allowed to go. Afterwards, the boy went to the Eastern Capital. There he accused Miao Qing of his master’s murder, and of bribing the officers at Qinghe, and so escaping trial. A letter was written and joined to the lad’s accusation; he was given money for his journey and sent to the supreme court of Shandong. Thus, more trouble was brewed for Miao Qing, and Ximen Qing was given considerable cause for anxiety in consequence of his action in the matter.

  Evil and good meet with their due reward

  Good Fortune and ill luck walk side by side

  But he who never walks in the wrong path

  Need have no fear when comes the summons in the night.

  CHAPTER 48

  The Censor’s Accusation

  Antong took the documents and the letter and set off for Shandong. He found that the Imperial Censor on circuit was at Dongchangfu. This was Ceng Xiaoxu, the son of the Censor, Ceng Bu. He had just taken a high place in the examination for the third literary degree, and was a very prudent and just official.

  Antong thought that if he simply said he had come with a letter he would never be allowed to approach the Censor, and that it would be better for him to wait until the tablet was brought out. “Then,” he said to himself, “I will kneel down, bring out my papers; the Censor will see them and justice will be done.”

  The boy put the accusation into his breast and took his stand outside the court. After a long time he heard the sound of the castanets announcing the opening of the court. The great gate was opened, Censor Ceng came to the great hall of audience, and a tablet was brought out upon which was written: “The cases of all princely families, princes and nobles.” The second said: “The cases of civil and military officials,” and the third: “Marriages, lands, and common cases.” Then Antong followed the tablet and went in. He waited for all the cases to be decided, then knelt down in the hall before the dais. Attendants asked him what he wanted. He took the letter from his breast and held it up in both hands. The Censor said: “Bring me that letter.” Then an officer quickly took the letter and set it down upon the table. The Censor opened it and read it. It said:

  Huang Duan, your humble fellow student of the arts, living at the Capital, with all due respect.

  To the exalted Censor Ceng. Greetings to your excellency from your younger brother. It is almost a year since your brightness illuminated me. Good friends seldom meet, and a joyful reunion is quickly ended. But the love of my heart is always with you. Last autumn your precious communication reached me. I opened it and read it, and my spirit seemed to wander till I spoke with you face to face. Some time ago you went to the South to see your honorable parents. Then I was
told that you were on circuit in Shandong, and was pleased beyond all measure. I congratulate you upon your magnificent loyalty and filial piety. Uprightness as keen as the wind and the frost keeps your mind forever glorious. Your worthy ambition is known and recognized at Court. Now you are going around the provinces and it is possible for you to discover the misdeeds of officials and correct evil customs that have become established. Since I love you, I feel that I must remind you. You are a man of great capacity and at the prime of life. Our Emperor has the wisdom of a Sage, and your father enjoys splendid health. You have a magnificent opportunity to display your learning to advantage and to establish the supremacy of law. You will not permit dishonorable officials to corrupt the administration of justice. You will not allow cunning and evil men to play their scurvy tricks. At this time, there is in Dongping a certain Miao Qing who has escaped the justice of the law. So wrong has been done to Miao Tianxiu, his master. It is beyond my understanding, how in an age of such splendor, these discreditable things can happen. You will, I am sure, go to that place and make examination into the matter, and so the wrongdoing will be set right. I have directed Antong to bring his accusation to you and beg you to examine it. This the sixteenth day of the second month.

  When the Censor had finished reading the letter, he asked for the boy’s accusation. The attendants came down and said to Antong: “His Excellency asks if you have brought an accusation.” Antong took the paper from his breast and they handed it to the Censor.

  When he had read it through, Ceng took a brush and wrote upon it: “The officers at Dongpingfu will examine this case justly. They will search for the corpse and examine it, sending their report to me in detail with all the documents.” To the boy he said: “Go to Dongpingfu and wait there.”

  Antong kowtowed, then rose and went out by a side door. Censor Ceng put the papers together with his own notes into a folder, sealed it with his official seal, and gave it to one of his officers to take to Dongpingfu.