🧚 A Story of Old China, part 1 · page 2

To this Mr. Kao replied, “The lady, your sister, is in the inner court with her women, another day you may meet her.”53

Nien Chi urged Mr. Kao to introduce him that day, but the latter changed the subject of conversation, and then Nien Chi proposed that they should see who could take the most wine.54

Alas!55 Mr. Kao did not dream of his plan, and very soon was fast asleep; seeing this, Nien Chi went to the family court in the rear and seeing her with her women, he said:56

“Most beautiful of great sisters, I salute you.”57

Yü Yüch Ying immediately arose, and seeing the man who had troubled her so, there in her own court, she said:58

“Who are you, and how do you dare to come into this inner court?” and then turning to a servant, she said, “Call your master.”59

Nien Chi smiled and said, “Don’t be anxious, lady, your husband is my good brother by rite of blood.60 We have drank the wine and made the compact and that, you know, as he is older than I, gives me a right to meet you and call you ‘sister.’61 My great brother is now asleep.62 He is a poor, stupid man who cannot let wine alone.63 Now, most beautiful and virtuous of all women, leave him to his books and marry me.64 You shall have, by promise of my master, the great Yen Sung, the finest of the land, in robes of silk and satin, servants by tens, jewels fit for an empress, and a most royal home.”65

In great fear and rage the lady spurned him, and called to her women to bring her husband, asleep or awake.66

The loud voices had awakened him, and when the women met him, telling of the fright of their lady, he picked up a stick and, entering the court, demanded how he had dared enter there.67

Yü Yüch Ying said to him, “How did you dare enter friendship’s bonds with such as he?68 Take him from my court and presence at once.69 He is more hateful to me than a serpent.”70

Nien Chi saw his plan had failed and, with rage and vowing vengeance, he took his departure and once again sought his master.71

That night a slave in the home was bound and killed and taken in the early morning and placed against the gate of Mr. Kao’s house.72 Mr. Kao always went early to the “Hall of the Classics,” and that morning when he opened the gate the dead body fell into Kao’s court; Nien Chi and soldiers were waiting just around the corner for this moment, and immediately, before Mr. Kao had taken in the situation, they had seized him and thrown him into prison, on charge of killing one of the great Sung’s servants.73 He was tried and condemned to death.74

The beautiful Yü Yüch Ying saw through the plan and disposed of the place at once for a small sum of money and, taking one loyal, good serving-woman, she sought her father.75

Everything was done that could be done to save her husband; her father had lost much of his property and standing, and could help but little.76

It seemed as though nothing could be done to save him when, at the last moment, a “great day of forgiveness” was announced on the birth of an heir to the throne.77 This did not mean freedom, but instead of death came banishment for life to some other and distant province.78

The news was made known to the wife by a Mr. Wang, an old-time friend of the family, and he arranged with her a plan by which she might have a parting visit with her husband; this was to be in a cemetery just out of Peking and off a little from the great road over which his cart was to go.79 She had not been allowed to see him in prison, though she had used every means possible.80

When the day set to take him away came, she went with her woman to the place arranged, and then waited, with sad and heavy heart, for the cart which was to bring her husband for a short talk and then take him away from her forever.81 When Mr. Wang told Mr. Kao of the plan, he said, “She won’t come; a woman is like a garment that one can take off at pleasure and it is all the same to them.”82

Little he knew the true-hearted woman, or how she would prove her fidelity, that would hand her name down to all coming wives as the pattern of all that is most truly virtuous.83

When the cart reached the place, by the use of a little money Mr. Wang arranged with the carter and escort soldiers to allow Mr. Kao to get out of the cart and have this quiet last talk with his wife.84

Much to his surprise, Mr. Kao found his wife waiting for him.85 She came forward and, kneeling before him, she said, “We are about to separate, possibly forever; what commands have you for me?86 I will follow them to the letter.”87

“I have no commands,” replied her husband.88 “Our affairs have reached this state: we can do nothing and be nothing to each other.89 I am banished for life; you cannot go with me, and I cannot help you.90 There is no use in our talking.91 You will forget me.92 Our fate is unlucky, the gods and man are against us.”93

With tears streaming from her eyes, and her beautiful face full of trouble, she said, “Alas! alas!94 You do not believe in and trust me, that I will be true to you.95 What can I do to prove to you that I mean what I say?96 You say I am beautiful; the gods have made me so.97 Because I am so you think that fair promises of wealth and luxury will buy me.98 If I were homely no one would want me; see, this I do to show how true is my heart to you,” and before he saw what she was about she took some scissors from her sleeve and dug out one of her beautiful eyes, and then, raising her poor disfigured face to his, she said, as she tried to smile, “Do you believe me, is it not proof enough?99 Would anybody want me now?”100

Her husband was greatly moved and, as he tried to stop the flow of blood, said, “You are a daughter of the gods, the most true of all women.”101

They then talked over their sorrows, and she said, “If in a few months’ time the gods give us a son, what is your wish to name him?102 If a little daughter comes, name her also and your wishes.”103

“I have no wishes or commands, you are able to instruct and have wisdom for all.104 If the gods give us a son, call him Ting Lang.”105

The wife said, “Alas!106 I may not follow you into exile, I shall go to my old home, but if the child is a son, when he is old enough I shall send him to you.”107

Then she took from her sleeve a small mirror, a comb, and a handkerchief.108 These she divided into two parts, gave one part to her husband, and placed the other in her inner pocket.109

“When a boy finds you, producing these, you will know who he is, and wherever you are you must own him.”110