Hao Qiu Zhuan/en-wilkinson/Chapter 28

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Chapter 28: The Wedding and the Virtuous Compact

From: Hau Kiou Choaan, or The Pleasing History. Translated by James Wilkinson, edited by Thomas Percy (London, 1761)

Note: This text was digitized via OCR from the original 1761 print. Footnotes have been converted from the original endnote/footnote format to inline references.

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[Volume IV, Book IV, Chapters I-III]

CHAP. I.

Shuey-keu-ye when he came home, saw to his great satisfaction his daughter grown up to woman's estate, and highly improved in her beauty and accomplishments. He told her the troubles he had met with had not been able to render him unhappy, neither was he at all elevated by his promotion. "My greatest pleasure, said he, is to see you again, and to find you in health." He concluded with telling her, that at court he had met with a young gentleman, whom he had chosen for his son-in-law, one who was in every respect answerable to his utmost wishes. It struck the young lady that this might possibly be Tieh-chung-u; she therefore answered, "Sir, you are far advanced in years: it is a great while since the death of my mother: you have no child but me: it is therefore my duty to serve you as long as I live: and however undeserving I may be, I will never cease to attend you." The Mandarine her father smiled and said, "You must not persist in these resolutions, however commendable they may be. It would be very wrong to let slip the opportunity of being happily married upon any such considerations. If my adopted son-in-law were not a person of superior merit, I should hardly have made choice of him: nay if he had the least fault in the world, I should not have accepted him without having first consulted you. But he is a youth of fine understanding, and of spotless integrity: he is deficient in no one valuable accomplishment. I found him in all respects so unexceptionable, that I did not think it necessary to apply to you first for your consent." The young lady, who by this description was confirmed in her opinion, that it must be the son of the Mandarine Tieh-ying, made answer, that indeed nothing could be objected to such a person as he had described: "But who knows, added she, whether there may not be other objections to the marriage-contract? whether it may be lawful—?" These words made the Lord President recall to mind those of the young gentleman, insomuch that he could not help remarking their resemblance: he therefore said, "Do you know the person of whom I speak? it is the son of the Supreme Viceroy." "Sir, she replied, had it been any one else, I would never have consented: and as it is he, he never will agree to any such marriage." "Why not?" said her father. She answered, "Because it would be to break through all the regards due to that honourable engagement, and to violate its most solemn rites." Shuey-keu-ye was surprised at these words: "This youth, said he, is of no ill descent; but pure and untainted as yourself: Why then do you talk of any violation that would accrue to the rites of marriage?" With that Shuey-ping-sin related to him all that happened during his absence. "And now, added she, after all this, how can such an alliance take place without entailing everlasting shame and disgrace on us both?"

When he had heard this relation, her father was charmed with her delicacy and nice sense of honour: "If this be true, said he to himself, my daughter hath not her equal among women, any more than Tieh-chung-u is to be matched among men." "Daughter, said he aloud, I am glad to see you keep so closely to the paths of virtue: there is none but you fit to be paired with so good and virtuous a youth as I have chosen. Heaven seems to have created you both for each other: this marriage was ordained to take place between you. I have engaged to see it performed: you must not therefore think there is any thing wrong or unlawful in it."

These were the resolutions of the father of Shuey-ping-sin, whom we shall leave at present, to inquire after Kwo-khe-tzu, her unsuccessful admirer.

When Chun-kee returned as we have seen without success, nothing could equal that youth's disappointment: yet his friend exhorted him not to be cast down: "Your father, said he, hath petitioned the Emperor against Shuey-keu-ye, and against an officer espoused by him; who will both be sentenced to lose their heads." Kwo-khe-tzu listened to this account with pleasure, and they continued to indulge themselves in the hope of being revenged for the slight put upon them, when at length the news arrived that Shuey-keu-ye was recalled from exile, and promoted to a higher office; and all by the interposal of Tieh-chung-u; in return for which he had engaged to give him his daughter in marriage. The report so affected Kwo-khe-tzu, that he raved and stamped like a madman, and at last swooned away. By the assistance of the people, who came to his relief, he at length recovered, and retiring with Chun-kee, said, "How indefatigable have I been? what steps have I taken? what expence have I been at? and what perplexity have I suffered? and at length Tieh-chung-u without any pains at all hath carried off the prize. But, if I die for it, I will prevent the ceremony from being compleated. Come, said he to his friend, you must set your wits at work for me." "Alas! replied the other, when she was lone and friendless all our attempts proved ineffectual: her father is now advanced in dignity, and will quickly be at home; what likelyhood then is there now of success?" "Well, said the youth, I can now have no hopes of succeeding myself: I shall be sufficiently satisfied, if I can but prevent and disappoint the other." "We know very well, replied his friend, the nice and scrupulous temper of her father, and his advancement will render him still more jealous of the reputation of his family; let us apply to some of his acquaintance, and get them to inform him of the secret correspondence between Tieh-chung-u and his daughter: if he hears of this he will certainly break off the marriage. But if he should disregard it, we then will get your father to apply to the Ko-tau or Public Censor: whose complaint against him will cause the Emperor to take away his employment, and set aside their nuptials." Kwo-khe-tzu thought this a well-concerted scheme: and said, "To-morrow I will endeavour to make this matter as public as I can among all the Mandarines of the city." "By no means, said his friend, for the Che-foo and Che-hien know the whole truth of the affair, and can contradict such a report: besides they will now be disposed to solicit the favour of Shuey-keu-ye, who will be upon the spot. Let us rather defer it till there come two new magistrates, for the present will soon go to court to solicit farther preferment." "Well, said the other, but although two new Mandarines should arrive, they will inquire into the truth of such a report, and the people of their audience will be able to set them right." "If we consider every objection, and are discouraged by it, replied Chun-kee, we had better desist and give up the affair. However I now recollect a more effectual means than any we have thought of: when I was at court, I observed a very great intimacy between your father, and Tah-quay, the great Mandarine who was so disgraced by your adversary Tieh-chung-u. The wife of this nobleman was newly dead, and he was looking out for a young and handsome woman to succeed her. Dispatch a letter to your father, and desire him to recommend Shuey-ping-sin to him; for although Tieh-chung-u hath made proposals of marriage, it is not concluded. Thus your father will at once oblige his friend, by helping him to a young and handsome wife, and you will be revenged on your adversary; whose reputation will also suffer by the disappointment: at the same time the whole affair will be conducted without disturbance or danger." "There is one difficulty attends this method, said the youth: Tah-quay's confinement is not yet expired, and no body is allowed to converse with him openly: so that my father can only visit him in private, and therefore cannot assist him in his power." "This is very true, said Chun-kee, and will somewhat retard the attempt, but I have still another resource, which is not liable to the same objection. Your father hath also contracted a close intimacy with one of the great Eunuchs of the palace; one of whom the whole court stands in awe, as being about the Emperor's person, and having his ear. This gentleman, who is called Chou-thay-kien or the Eunuch of danger, hath a niece who is very ugly, and not yet married. Get your father to recommend Tieh-chung-u as a fit husband for her; he will not dare to reject the offers of so powerful a courtier as her uncle. Now when he is once married to the Eunuch's niece, undoubtedly so great a Mandarine as the Lord President of Arms, will never give him his only daughter for a second wife or concubine." Kwo-khe-tzu was so pleased with this advice, that he resolved to write to his father immediately: "But this affair, said he, is of too much moment to be intrusted to a common servant; shall I once more intreat you to embark in it?" His friend readily assented: and being furnished with money and other necessaries once more set out for the court.

While these plots were contriving, Tieh-chung-u lived retired in his country-house: where he pursued his studies with such application and success, that at the time of the examination of students, he was admitted to the degree of Kiu-jin, or Licentiate: this happened in autumn, when the examination is made through all the provinces. And soon after when the second examination was held at court he offered himself again, and appeared to such advantage that he was created Doctor of Law, and put foremost on the list. He was soon after made one of the first doctors of the empire, being chosen into the royal college or Han-lin, and appointed by the Emperor to be one of the tutors to his son. He had now attained his twenty-second year, and his father and mother only waited for Shuey-keu-ye's return to court, in order to compleat the marriage, which they resolved the nice scruples of their son should not set aside.

CHAP. II.

The year was now elapsed which Shuey-keu-ye had been allowed to spend in retirement: when the Emperor issued out an order for his return to court: upon the first notice of which the Mandarine Tieh-ying wrote a letter, to intreat him to bring the young lady along with him. Upon receipt of this, he told his daughter, that as she was now grown up to woman's estate, he intended she should accompany him to the court. Shuey-ping-sin testified her compliance: "To what purpose, said she, am I your daughter? I might as well not have been born to you, if I must remain always at a distance. It is very fitting I should attend you: but then I must humbly intreat one favour." He asked what it was. She replied, "If at court any offers should be made about the completion of the marriage with Tieh-chung-u, that you will be pleased not to consent to it." The old Mandarine smiled at her request, and assured her that he would do nothing that should be prejudicial either to her happiness or fame. He then asked her, to whom he should devolve the care of his house and effects. She proposed her uncle as the properest person to have direction without doors, but recommended him to leave the government within to the care of Shuey-yeong. He followed her advice, and having made suitable preparations departed for Pe-king, where in little more than a month he arrived.

As soon as he had performed his first duty in waiting on the Emperor, all the great officers came to visit him, and among the rest the Mandarine Tieh-ying: who afterwards sent his son to pay him the same compliment. Although the young Mandarine Tieh in his visiting billet which he had dispatched before him, called himself only cousin, and not son-in-law, as he should have done, Shuey-keu-ye attributed it to his modesty, and admitted his visit. The old gentleman was mightily pleased to see him become a great Mandarine, and grown a very personable man, which made him think him the more suitable match for his daughter, esteeming them both only born for each other. "Let this young and virtuous pair, said he to himself, object never so much to the marriage, we old folks will over-rule them, and make them happy in spite of themselves."

After some conversation Tieh-chung-u took his leave and retired. As soon as he was gone, the secretary belonging to Shuey-keu-ye's tribunal came in and said, "Sir, I have a relation, who is servant to the Mandarine Tah-quay; he hath been here to tell me that, as his master is confined, he could not visit your Lordship, neither could he send a billet of compliments in due form, but he notwithstanding presents his services and wishes of good health: he told me farther, that Tah-quay having lost his wife, is very desirous to marry again; and hearing that you have brought the young lady your daughter with you to court, he intends to get the Mandarine Kwo-sho-su to come in his behalf, and conclude a marriage-contract for her." "Well! said Shuey-keu-ye, and what answer did you make to Tah-quay's servant?" "I told him, said the other, that she had been long engaged to the Mandarine Tieh-chung-u. Upon which he inquired when the marriage was to be concluded; but I was not able to inform him. Of this our discourse, I thought it my duty to inform your Lordship." The Mandarine ordered him, if any one should hereafter question him on that subject, to tell them that the nuptials would be celebrated within the space of two days. "This Mandarine, said Shuey-keu-ye to himself, is a person of very ill character, his proposals are only meant to give us disturbance. But should he apply to the Emperor himself, there will be nothing to fear, as my daughter is already disposed of: however it is better to have the marriage completed to prevent the worst that may happen." He then went to his daughter's apartment, and told her she must not think it unreasonable, that he renewed the subject of her union with Tieh-chung-u, for that it was necessary it should take place immediately. Then he related to her all that his secretary had told him: "Now, said he, if we do not hasten the completion of your marriage, this Tah-quay may perhaps involve us in a great deal of trouble." It instantly occurred to the young lady, that Kwo-khe-tzu or his father were at the bottom of this business. She communicated her conjectures to her father. "And yet, added she, if Tah-quay should persist in giving us disturbance, upon proper application to his Majesty it may perhaps involve him in fresh disgrace, and be a means of renewing his former punishment." "The wisest course, said Shuey-keu-ye, is not to oppose an enemy, but to avoid him. If we conclude this marriage out of hand, his design will be defeated." — Before his daughter could reply, there came in a servant, to tell him that the Supreme Viceroy had sent his service, and begged he would favour him with his company at his house, for that he had urgent business to communicate to him. "This is a good opportunity, said Shuey-keu-ye; I had thoughts myself of going thither. I will therefore lay all ceremony aside. Let my horse be got ready." He accordingly went as fast as he could.

As soon as he alighted, the Mandarine Tieh-ying took him by the hand, and led him into the hall: "This morning, said he, as I was coming from court, I met the Eunuch Chou-thay-kien; who making me a very low bow, said, he begged a favour which he hoped I would not refuse him: that he had a niece whom he should be glad to have married to my son. I told him it could not be, for he was already engaged. He replied, 'What though he is engaged to Shuey-ping-sin, it signifies little, as the marriage is not yet completed.'" "These Eunuchs, added the Mandarine Tieh, are saucy impertinent rascals, and presume upon the great employments they fill: therefore to be plagued no more on this subject, I have sent to your Lordship that we may get the wedding concluded as soon as possible." "What, said Shuey-keu-ye, have you then met with this trouble? Such another application hath been this day made to myself." Upon which he related all that his secretary had told him. "Now, said he, this being the case, let us put an end to the affair. When the marriage ceremony is once over, even his Majesty's order will not be of force to set it aside. Nay let it be concluded this very day: and yet my daughter will hardly be prevailed with; she argues against breaking the laws of decency and custom." "My son, said the other, talks in the same strain." "After all, said Shuey-keu-ye, I believe they secretly love each other: we must not therefore regard their objections, but exert our paternal authority." "True, said the Mandarine Tieh; and yet if these impertinent applications had not been made to us, we might have indulged them with longer time: but as it is, there is not an hour to be lost: I believe they would hardly be brought to give up each other, and therefore will now comply with our desires." Here they parted.

The Mandarine Tieh-ying instantly sent for his son, and related to him all that happened both to the President of Arms and to himself. "Now, said he, this being the case, if you don't consent to marry the young lady, you will cause a great deal of trouble both to her and yourself; which there are no other means to prevent or avoid." "Sir, replied his son, whatever you command, it is my duty to obey you. I am only concerned at the hastiness of the proceedings. As to the Eunuch's application, it is certainly the contrivance of Kwo-sho-su: but what signifies his proposing his niece to me? he will but lose his labour." "Well, said his father, although you can so easily resist this attack yourself, you must give the young lady some assistance in her difficulty." "Sir, said the youth, be pleased then to acquaint the Mandarine her father to give it out that we are married. This will stop the mouths of these people, and rescue us from their impertinence: at the same time, we may within doors remain single till a more favourable juncture." The Mandarine Tieh approved very well of his son's discourse: and did not insist upon his further compliance. "Provided, said he, you can but satisfy the world that you are married, you may act in private as you please." Then he commissioned proper people to chuse out a fortunate day for the celebration of their nuptials.

CHAP. III.

Early on the morrow the Mandarine Shuey-keu-ye sent a letter to the Supreme Viceroy, which he opened, and read to the following effect. "After I had talked with your Lordship yesterday, I went home and proposed to my daughter the completion of the marriage; which she could by no means be brought to consent to: however, after a great many arguments, at length she yielded that it should be reported abroad she was married to your son; on condition that at home she should still continue in her present state. I have therefore sent to consult your Lordship, whether you think this will be sufficient."

The Mandarine Tieh-ying was highly pleased with the letter: but could not help thinking it very extraordinary that this young couple should both adopt the same opinions. "Certainly, said he, Heaven hath designed this pair for each other: there is a wonderful similitude in their fortunes, manners and sentiments." But yet, he added, "if they do not live under the same roof, it will soon be discovered that they are not married: I will therefore send my son to reside in the house of Shuey-keu-ye; and then whether they are married or not, their true situation will not be known abroad." He accordingly sent to ask the other's opinion concerning this proposal: who intirely approved of it. They soon after visited each other, and chusing a fortunate day celebrated the marriage; at which a great number of Mandarines assisted with the highest splendour and magnificence. Tieh-chung-u went in state to the house of the bride, accompanied by the Mandarines. When he arrived at the door, the Lord President came out in person to receive him: and after the usual ceremonies were over, there was a great entertainment prepared for the guests. The bridegroom however left them, and was led into the inner apartments.

As it was now evening, the rooms were lighted up with the greatest splendour: and as soon as he was come into the second hall, Shuey-ping-sin entered also, followed by a long train of female attendants. She received him with the same easy cheerfulness, as she would have received a friend: she betrayed no particular emotion or gesture, but accosted him with a decent and becoming freedom. "Sir, said she, I am ever sensible of the former benefits I received at your hands: and was my life to be laid down in your behalf, it would not discharge the debt I owe you. By my father's order I have the good fortune to meet with you here this day; which affords me an opportunity of returning you thanks for the services you have done me." Then making a deep courtesy she presented him with a seat. Tieh-chung-u seeing the graceful ease with which she accosted him, and the beauty of her person set off with the richness and exactness of her dress, thought her handsomer than she had even appeared to him at their first encounter: he was so ravished with the sight of her, that he thought she could be nothing less than an angel from heaven. When he had recovered his surprise, he replied, "Madam, the benefit I have received at your hands is so great that I want words to express it: A deep sense of it is however engraved in my heart, and is the subject of my daily thoughts and nightly dreams. By your father's permission, I have the good fortune to meet with you here this day, to pay you my acknowledgments." This said, he saluted her with great respect. Then a carpet was spread, and they both together performed the usual ceremony of bowing their heads down to the ground. After which retiring to two different tables they drank three cups of wine to each other.

Tieh-chung-u thus addressed the young lady, "Madam, I am so much obliged to you for all your favours, especially for the good instructions you gave me, that I shall ever retain them in my memory. It is owing to you that I am arrived to the great honours conferred upon me. If I had not had the happiness of meeting with you, I should very likely have been still a wanderer." "Your present advancement, said the young lady, was not owing to any thing I could say; which was but trifling. A mere child might by chance point out the way to those that had lost it. The source of your reputation was your redressing the injury of the young lady, who had been forced away; and your appearing in behalf of the General, Hu-hiau: these were actions so brave, that none beside yourself were equal to them. You also got my father restored to the Emperor's favour: a benefit that can be never repaid. How happy am I then, that I can now offer you my service! But, Sir, permit me to propose one word or two. When I invited you to my house in order to attend you in your illness, Heaven knows we were void of all bad intentions; but the malignity of the world led them to speak very ill of us abroad: and shall we now for the sake of a few days of mirth and pleasure, obscure the remaining part of our lives? In my opinion it would be much better to stay, and see this cloud pass over before we conclude the marriage farther. These are my sentiments, and I should be very glad if yours were the same." Tieh-chung-u hearing this, made her a very low bow, and told her, he highly approved of her opinion; which he had as much wished her to adopt, as a shower of rain is desired in a time of drought. "It is true, said he, the commands of our parents would be sufficient to warrant our completing the marriage: but as it would cause a deal of reflection, I am intirely of your opinion that it will be better to wait a little while longer." "Our parents' impatience, said the young lady, proceeds from the impertinence of Tah-quay and the Eunuch: but your regard for decency and good order merits my regard, and greatly heightens my opinion of you." "The people you mention, answered he, know nothing about us; and are unacquainted with our affairs: they are incited to trouble us by Kwo-sho-su; but when they see the step we have taken, their mouths will be stopped, and they can proceed no farther." "And yet, said Shuey-ping-sin, they may still shew their spite by raising ill and calumnious reports of us. Upon all these accounts it is best to forbear a while." "For my part, said Tieh-chung-u, when I came ill into your house, I thought none knew of it but four, namely, Heaven and Earth, you and myself." "Well, said she, if Heaven hath seen every thing, it will justify our innocence. Our parents' commands would justify our union in the eye of the world: but as there is this secret reason for our forbearance, we must only feign to be husband and wife: this may pass with the public, till the difficulty is removed that prevents us from being such in reality." The young Mandarine was charmed with her discretion, and said, "Your ingenious reasoning informs my mind, at the same time that it strengthens my resolutions in virtue."

Thus they held conversation on their present circumstances, and on the great regard that ought to be paid to honour and virtue: they also related the various passages that had happened, as well through the persecution of Kwo-khe-tzu, as through the plots of him and his father. They were very pleasant and cheerful: and having drunk just enough to put them in mind to have the tables removed, they rose up, and retired into two separate chambers. So that their marriage was no otherwise completed than as to the outward appearance, and belief of it.

What happened in consequence of these measures will be found in the following chapter.