Hao Qiu Zhuan/en/Chapter 8
Chapter 8: A Single Word Gives Offense: Departing Without Waiting for the Carriage
Modern English translation by Martin Woesler (2025)
A poem says:
Without root, without stem — who belongs to whom? All hinges on the chivalrous song, the gallant's pursuit. Skin-deep faults are what the common crowd perceives; To match liver and gall requires a worthy man.
Wind and rain's harsh cry makes the flower stop her ears; Smoke and cloud's long tongue sets the moon to knit her brows. If one insists on fitting a round peg to a square hole, Since time began, who ever kept in step with his age?
It was told how Magistrate Bao, after sending Shan You to spy and thus learning the truth of Tie Zhongyu and Miss Shui's conduct — that the one was a man of honor and the other a woman of chivalry — felt the deepest respect for both. From that day onward he spoke of them with praise wherever he went. Others who heard him might exclaim in admiration and let the matter rest. But when Shui Yun learned that the reports were true, he thought privately: "My urging my niece to marry Young Master Guo was never really for Guo's sake — it was only to get her out of the house so I could take possession of the family property. Now it seems the Guo match is utterly hopeless. But how fortunate that she and the Iron young gentleman have been in such close contact. They may claim to respect each other without the slightest impropriety, but I suspect that is only to avoid suspicion, and in their hearts they are secretly hoping for something more. If I were to offer my services as go-between and urge a match, she would surely be delighted. And if the match is made — the family property will be mine, will it not?"
Having settled his scheme, Shui Yun opened the side gate and went through to find Miss Bingxin. He said: "There is a common saying: 'A drum won't sound unless you strike it; a bell won't ring unless you hit it.' And another: 'Ten days blind, nine days the light returns on its own.' When you took in this Iron young gentleman to convalesce, not only outsiders but even I had my doubts. But now the truth has come out — you two are genuine gold that fears no fire. Propriety is propriety, feeling is feeling, without the slightest impropriety. Now that it has been investigated and confirmed, I can only express my admiration."
Miss Bingxin said: "For a man and woman to associate is, in principle, not proper at all. Only because the Iron young gentleman was harmed for having rescued me — and my conscience could not bear it — did circumstances leave no alternative. I dispensed with empty formality in order to address a real calamity. When the sage goes beyond the constant rules and exercises expedient judgment, this is precisely what is meant. Now that the young gentleman's health is happily restored, my conscience may be at ease. As for maintaining propriety and distinguishing it from feeling — that is nothing more than the ordinary standard of social intercourse, not some remarkable feat worthy of admiration."
Shui Yun said: "Do not take this matter lightly. How many men in history have been a Lu Nanzi or a Liu Xiahui? But let that pass. As your uncle, I have one matter I wish to discuss with you. It comes from the best of intentions — please do not be suspicious."
Miss Bingxin said: "In all matters there is reason and feeling. What can be done, one does; what cannot be done, one does not dare force. Since my uncle means well, why should I be suspicious? Pray tell me — what is this matter?"
Shui Yun said: "The old proverb puts it well: 'When a man is grown, he should marry; when a girl is of age, she must wed.' Though you are not yet very old, you must be counted as having reached the age of the hairpin. Were your father at home, he would make the arrangements himself. But he has had the misfortune to be banished to the frontier, and who knows when he will return. One cannot simply leave you in this state indefinitely. The previous match with Young Master Guo — because he pressed his suit so relentlessly, it was difficult to refuse outright, and so I advised you to marry him. Now, having witnessed your conduct — your clever mind, your courage and gallantry, your adherence to reason and propriety — I must acknowledge you as a truly virtuous and worthy young woman. Young Master Guo, for all his wealth and rank, is merely a silk-trousered wastrel — how could he possibly be your equal? Never mind Young Master Guo — search the entire realm, and you might easily find a young man with enough talent and learning to win first place in the examinations. But to find one with the heroic courage and the gallant breadth of spirit, and who is also young and brilliant, whose intelligence and way of thinking match yours as perfectly as needle and lodestone — I fear such a man could not be found in a lifetime. That is what I say. Yet how marvelous that Heaven never errs in creating men: where it produces a Meng Guang, it will surely produce a Liang Hong.[1] Since Heaven has produced a chivalrous young lady such as yourself, lo and behold, out of nowhere appears this Iron young gentleman — young, talented, handsome, heroic in courage, gallant in spirit. Was he not made by Heaven expressly as your match? You two, being in the midst of it all, think only of gratitude and honor, of blood and duty — naturally you will not speak of marriage. But I, as your uncle, observing from outside, see it clearly: gratitude and honor are the work of a moment; marriage is the work of a lifetime. How can you let such a chance slip through your fingers?"
Miss Bingxin said: "Heaven's intentions are the hardest thing to fathom — one must take the circumstances of one's life as they come. Heaven produced Confucius — not to be an emperor, but to be a teacher. Heaven produced the Lady Wang Zhaojun — not to be matched with the Emperor, but to be sent far away to wed the Chanyu of the Xiongnu. All this was determined by circumstance, not by the person's own will. The Iron young gentleman's character and talent are not in question. But our encounter lies within the realm of gratitude and mutual esteem — very far removed from the path of marriage."
Shui Yun said: "Gratitude and mutual esteem are precisely the grounds for marriage — how can they make it more remote?"
Miss Bingxin said: "The go-between conveys the proposal; the parents give their command — only then do a man and woman come together. That is the rite of marriage. Unfortunately, in the midst of adversity, we met hurriedly on the public stage of the magistrate's court. Then, by further misfortune, during his illness, I brought him to my house to convalesce. Gratitude exists between us, mutual esteem exists — but what is called 'a fair mate for the noble lord' should not come about in this manner."
Shui Yun said: "This is the same 'expedient' you spoke of before — 'When a sister-in-law is drowning, her brother-in-law stretches out his hand.'"
Miss Bingxin said: "The exercise of expedient judgment is only for the moment. No one, having rescued a drowning sister-in-law once, goes on rescuing her when she is no longer drowning. Moreover, while the expedient may be applied to all manner of things, marriage — as the foremost institution of human relations and public morals — demands a proper beginning and a proper end. There is absolutely no room for expedient measures."
Shui Yun said: "A proper ending goes without saying. But even the beginning — though your meeting arose from adversity, hurried and impromptu — the fact that between you there was not the slightest impropriety is known to all. That is not an improper beginning."
Miss Bingxin said: "That the beginning was free of impropriety is precisely because the ending will not be marriage. Only thus is the record clear from start to finish. Were the ending to be marriage after all, then who would believe the beginning was free of impropriety? This is the great pivotal question of a woman's lifelong honor and reputation. It is absolutely out of the question. I beg my uncle to understand."
Shui Yun, seeing that his niece would not listen, burst out in exasperation: "For a girl your age, you talk like a stuffy old pedant! I shall argue with you no longer. Let me go and discuss it with the Iron young gentleman instead. He is the man you respect — if he consents, you surely cannot refuse!" Having said this, he walked out to find Tie Zhongyu.
At that moment, Tie Zhongyu was resting quietly in the study. Xiao Dan relayed the message: "The Second Master Shui from next door wishes to see you, sir." Tie Zhongyu came out to receive him. After they had taken their seats as host and guest, Shui Yun opened with pleasantries: "I have been occupied these past days and have failed to pay my respects now that you are lodging here."
Tie Zhongyu said: "It is I who, having barely recovered, have committed the offense of not yet calling upon you."
Shui Yun said: "The reason I have come to see you, sir, is that I have a matter to discuss."
Tie Zhongyu said: "What matter might that be?"
Shui Yun said: "It is none other than the question of my niece's marriage."
Tie Zhongyu's face changed color the moment he heard the words "my niece's marriage." He said: "Sir, you forget yourself! As an outsider, I may be consulted on any matter — but how can the marriage of your niece be spoken of to me?"
Shui Yun said: "My niece's marriage would not normally be broached with you, sir. Only because the other day, when Young Master Guo seized my niece by force, it was you who rescued her — and thus the subject arises."
Tie Zhongyu said: "What I did the other day was an act of conscience upon seeing injustice — entirely without design. But today, sir, you raise the matter deliberately. That is quite another thing. Could it be that, because I happen to be lodging here, you suspect me of some base and improper intention, and seek to test me with this talk? I shall leave at once, and spare you the trouble of further instruction."
Shui Yun, seeing Tie Zhongyu's anger, tried to soothe him: "Please do not be vexed, sir. My intentions are entirely good. Pray sit a moment and hear me out — you will see the truth of it, and it will be to the benefit of both parties."
Tie Zhongyu said: "I have heard it said that a gentleman does not speak of what is contrary to propriety, nor listen to what is contrary to propriety. There is no need for you to say more, sir. Your intentions may be good, but my temperament, I fear, is very different from yours. What you consider good intentions may, to my ears, sound like ill intentions. It is best I leave — then, good or ill, I shall hear none of it." He rose to his feet and turned to the servant at the door: "Give my sincere thanks to the young lady. Tell her that I, Tie Zhongyu, shall treasure her kindness through all the ages. Now an offensive word has reached my ears, and I dare not take my leave in person." He called Xiao Dan, and without another word walked out the door.
Shui Yun rushed to stop him, but Tie Zhongyu was already far beyond the gate. Shui Yun was thoroughly discomfited. Not daring to go back and face Miss Bingxin, he muttered: "What a preposterous temper this young man has! He is hardly the sort of handsome son-in-law one would want." Still grumbling, he shuffled back to his own side. As the verse goes:
He thought that honeyed words would please a man — Who knew they would be turned to burning shame? Were it not for a heaven-sent thick skin, How could he bear so sharp a scraping-down?
Now Miss Bingxin, seeing her uncle go out to the hall to meet Tie Zhongyu, knew at once that the Iron young gentleman would not be detained. She did not attempt to stop him. But fearing he would leave with scant provisions, she took out ten taels of loose silver and packed some fruit and delicacies. She gave these to a servant called Shui Yong, bidding him wait secretly outside the gate to present them to Tie Zhongyu as traveling money — while she herself pretended to know and hear nothing. As the verse says:
The dull-witted act only after the fact; The truly perceptive are one step ahead. Wisdom is not diminished in a woman; Talent knows no distinction of age.
Now Tie Zhongyu, offended by Shui Yun's words, had walked out the door with Xiao Dan and gone straight to the Longevity Temple. He stood before the temple gate and sent Xiao Dan inside to retrieve his luggage. The monk Duxiu, hearing that Tie Zhongyu was outside, rushed out and bowed repeatedly, trying to invite him in for tea: "The other day I do not know what offense was committed, sir, that you suddenly left. The county magistrate said I had been remiss in my hospitality and gave me no end of trouble, and then ordered me to search for you everywhere. What fortune that you have come here now! If I let you go again, and the magistrate hears of it tomorrow, this monk's life will be forfeit."
Tie Zhongyu said: "I shall not bring up former matters — and you still dare mention them! Let me make this plain: I will absolutely not set foot inside this temple again. Tea I will absolutely not drink. The magistrate I will absolutely not see. Give me back my luggage at once — I intend to leave immediately."
Duxiu said: "The luggage has already been given to the young attendant. But if you mean to leave, sir, even at the cost of my life I dare not let you go. I beg you to wait just a moment."
Tie Zhongyu was furious: "You insolent monk! Do you mean to lure me in again and plot against me in broad daylight? Do not presume upon the magistrate's authority to do evil. Tomorrow I shall inform the Provincial Governor, and you will find your monkhood unsustainable!"
While they were arguing, two runners from the magistrate's office suddenly came hurrying up, requesting the Iron young gentleman to come to the county hall. Magistrate Bao, having reformed his ways, now knew Tie Zhongyu to be a man of honor and wished to befriend him. He had been sending men to the Shui household at all hours to keep track of his movements. When the runners saw Tie Zhongyu suddenly emerge, they raced back to inform the magistrate, who immediately dispatched them to invite him.
Tie Zhongyu laughed out loud at the summons: "I am not a citizen of your Licheng County, nor do I owe your county a single grain of tax. What does your magistrate want with me? Could it be that having failed to kill me the other day, he now invites me back to finish the job?" The runners had no answer to this, but would not let him leave. Tie Zhongyu was goaded to the point of violence when suddenly the crowd shouted: "The magistrate himself is coming!"
Magistrate Bao, surmising that the runners would fail to persuade Tie Zhongyu, had ridden out on horseback himself, bringing a second horse along. He galloped up, leaped from the saddle, and bowed deeply: "I, Bao Zi, a humble official covered in the dust of the world, was blind and witless. In a moment of folly I failed to recognize a man of virtue and brought great offense upon myself. Now at last I have come to my senses. You, sir, are a gentleman who would not deceive even the darkness of an empty room. I am filled with shame and regret, and so I have come in person to invite you to the county hall, to atone for my past wrongs and express my future esteem."
Tie Zhongyu, hearing the magistrate's forthright and vigorous speech — so different from his former equivocation — had a change of heart and returned the bow: "Some days ago I still intended to press my case against Your Honor. But I received the counsel of a certain person of discernment, who taught me the discipline of self-examination, and so I dared not return to trouble your court. I am astonished that Your Honor — a man of the world of power and profit — should suddenly speak in the voice of a true hero. Most extraordinary! Can it be some new stratagem to lure me in?"
The magistrate said: "Once is more than enough — how could it happen twice? Setting aside your generous pardon, sir — even Miss Shui's kind words of counsel I dare not forget."
Tie Zhongyu exclaimed in surprise: "How has Your Honor become so suddenly enlightened? Most remarkable! Most remarkable!"
The magistrate said: "Since you have pardoned me, I beg you to come to my office. There is one matter on which I wish to seek your counsel."
Tie Zhongyu, seeing that the magistrate's bearing and speech were utterly transformed from before, did not refuse. He mounted the second horse, and together they rode side by side toward the county hall.
Upon arriving, as soon as they were seated, Tie Zhongyu asked: "What does Your Honor wish to instruct me? Please speak at once — I must be on my way."
The magistrate said: "May I first ask why you are leaving so suddenly, and in such haste?"
Tie Zhongyu said: "I had originally intended to delay a day or two more, out of lingering attachment. But someone has just thrust offensive words upon my ears, as good as ordering my departure. And so I leave at once."
The magistrate said: "Who was this person? What were these words? Pray tell me."
Tie Zhongyu said: "The person was Miss Shui's uncle. The words concerned Miss Shui's marriage."
The magistrate said: "The man may be wrong, but his words were right. Why did you find them offensive?"
Tie Zhongyu said: "I shall not conceal the truth from Your Honor. My meeting with Miss Shui arose entirely without design. Yet once we had met, her valor and warmth, her cool discernment and ardent spirit — truly our souls reflected each other. I could not help being drawn to her, and to be parted would be to lose something irreplaceable. And so we set aside the usual reserve between man and woman and met as kindred spirits — which is the way of heroes through the ages, a thing that cannot be explained to worldly minds. Now suddenly to speak of marriage — what does that make of Miss Shui and me? Would it not be to regard us as people who spy through holes in the wall at each other? How could such words enter my ears? And so, before the speaker had even finished, I rose and left."
The magistrate said: "There are two ways of looking at a proposal of marriage, and you must not be rigid about it."
Tie Zhongyu said: "What two ways?"
The magistrate said: "If one regards the proposal as mockery — using the word 'marriage' to sneer at misconduct — then indeed it must not be done. But if one genuinely recognizes the rarity of a noble gentleman by the river's edge and the preciousness of a fair and virtuous lady, and wishes to celebrate the harmonious union extolled in the 'Guanju' ode — then what is wrong with that? Why flee from it as from an enemy? Indeed, the reason I myself invited you here today is that I know full well that gold and bribes cannot move a gentleman's heart, nor feasts and pleasures detain a hero. But since your conduct in the dark of night was beyond reproach — the great test of a man and woman's virtue — and since fate has brought you together in this extraordinary way — if I were to stand by and let such a perfect match slip away, what kind of parent-official would I be? This is a matter of the highest importance for my reputation and for public morals, and I dare not neglect it. As for repaying past debts of gratitude — that is a secondary consideration."
Tie Zhongyu laughed aloud: "If Your Honor puts it that way, then you are more in error than ever! You wish to burnish your reputation — but at the cost of placing me in an unrighteous position?"
The magistrate also laughed: "If you say this would place you in an unrighteous position, then the matter needs to be examined to the very end. If you fear being placed in an unrighteous position, then clearly you are a man who acts for righteousness. And if Miss Shui has from first to last refused Young Master Guo and preserved her honor, and has moreover shown to you a heart of fidelity through gratitude and selfless devotion — where is the unrighteousness in that?"
Tie Zhongyu said: "That is not what I mean. In all matters of marriage, it is the parents who decide — how can children determine this for themselves? Where are my parents at this moment? And where are Miss Shui's? To base a match merely on talent and beauty, to call a chance encounter a blessing, and to proclaim it a righteous union — such 'righteous unions' are fit only for a Young Master Guo, not for a man like me who lives within the moral order." He rose to take his leave.
The magistrate said: "Whether this is righteous or not cannot be determined at present. If it fails to come about, then it was not righteous; if it succeeds, then it was. Remember my words well, sir. In time, when events prove me right, you will know that my zeal for righteousness was genuine and not mere flattery. Since you are determined to go, I know I cannot force you to stay. I would offer you a parting cup, but I fear you may suspect a repetition of the past. I would present a small gift, but I fear you would reject it as an insult. And so I hesitate. Should heaven grant the occasion, I hope for one more meeting to complete what remains unsaid."
Tie Zhongyu said: "You have instructed me abundantly. Only these last two sentences truly speak to my heart. I am deeply grateful." He took his leave, and with Xiao Dan carrying his luggage, set out through the East Gate.
As the verse says:
His nature brooks no falsehood — who will compromise? His heart has its own balance — alone he comes and goes. How sad that the world cannot abide the straightforward path: Once more, unmerited disaster rises out of nothing.
Tie Zhongyu had left in such haste that he had not thought to check his funds. When Xiao Dan tried to hire a mount, he found himself at a loss. But then the Shui family servant, Shui Yong, appeared before him: "How is it that the Iron young gentleman is only now arriving? Our young lady sent me here to wait — I have been waiting half the day."
Tie Zhongyu said: "Why did the young lady send you to wait for me?"
Shui Yong said: "Our young lady, seeing the Second Master go out to meet you, sir, knew that his speech would be coarse, and that it would surely offend you, and that you would surely leave. She could not properly detain you, but she feared that in the rush there would be no time to prepare provisions. So she had me bring some traveling money and food, and wait here."
Tie Zhongyu was delighted: "Your young lady is not only admirable for her thoughtfulness — this unerring foresight, this meticulous care in all things — truly commands one's deepest respect."
Shui Yong said: "When I return, sir, is there any message you would like me to convey?"
Tie Zhongyu said: "Between myself and your young lady, strangers who met by chance — if I tried to speak of gratitude, the debt is too deep for words. If I tried to speak of feeling, there is no feeling to speak of. I can only ask you to pay my deepest respects to the young lady and say this: after Tie Zhongyu has gone, I only wish the young lady would think of me no more. That would be the greatest and most lasting kindness."
Shui Yong produced the ten taels of silver and the fruit and delicacies and handed them to Xiao Dan.
With money in hand, Tie Zhongyu had Xiao Dan hire a donkey, and they set off eastward toward Dongzhen. But having left late and having been delayed at the magistrate's office for half a day, they had covered barely thirty li when darkness fell. Dongzhen was still two or three li away, and the donkey driver absolutely refused to go on. Tie Zhongyu had no choice but to dismount and walk. They had covered scarcely another li when, just as they rounded a stand of trees, they came upon a young man with a bundle on his back, leading a young woman dressed in a blue cotton garment with a cloth wrapped around her head. The pair were hurrying along in great agitation. When they suddenly collided with Tie Zhongyu, they were terrified, and the man tried to flee into the trees.
Tie Zhongyu, seeing something suspicious, gave a great shout: "You there! Abducting another man's wife — where do you think you are going?"
The woman froze with fright and stood still, crying for mercy. The young man, in his panic, dropped the woman and the bundle and ran for his life. Tie Zhongyu caught up with him, seized him, and demanded: "Who are you? Tell me the truth and I shall let you go."
The young man, caught and terrified, fell to his knees and knocked his head on the ground: "Spare me, sir! I shall tell the truth. This woman is the concubine of Old Master Li at Dongzhen ahead — her name is Taozhi. She is unhappy that Old Master Li is old, and does not wish to stay with him. She asked me to take her away and hide her for a while."
Tie Zhongyu said: "So you are a kidnapper, then."
The young man said: "I am no kidnapper — I am Old Master Li's own grandson by his daughter."
Tie Zhongyu said: "What is your name?"
The young man said: "My name is Xuan Yin."
Tie Zhongyu asked again: "Is this the truth?"
Xuan Yin said: "Spare my life, sir — how would I dare lie?" Tie Zhongyu considered for a moment: "Since you have told the truth, I shall let you go." He released him, and Xuan Yin scrambled to his feet and ran off as if his life depended on it.
Tie Zhongyu turned back to the woman: "Are you the concubine of Old Master Li at Dongzhen?"
The woman said: "I am."
Tie Zhongyu asked: "Is your name Taozhi?"
The woman said: "It is."
Tie Zhongyu said: "Then you were abducted and led away. Do not be alarmed — I am going in the same direction. Let me escort you back."
The woman said: "If you take me back, they will assume I ran away of my own accord. How could I ever clear my name? If you have any use for me, sir, I would rather follow you."
Tie Zhongyu gave a slight laugh: "If you wish to follow, then come along for now — we shall decide what to do farther on." He told Xiao Dan to carry her bundle as well, and they set off together. The woman, having no alternative, followed along.
They had gone scarcely another li when a crowd of men came flying toward them from ahead. Reaching them and seeing the woman walking alongside a young man, they all shouted: "Quick! We have caught them!" The crowd surrounded the three of them and sent someone racing to inform Old Master Li.
Tie Zhongyu said: "There is no need for all this commotion. I encountered her on the road just now and was bringing her back."
The crowd shouted: "Who knows whether you are bringing her back or running off with her? We shall sort this out at the town!"
They had gone barely half a li more when another crowd arrived, bearing many blazing torches that lit up the road like day. This was Old Master Li himself, having heard the news and come running. Seeing Tie Zhongyu — handsome, young — and his concubine walking beside him, he trembled with rage from head to foot. Without asking a single question, he punched Tie Zhongyu square in the chest and began cursing: "Where did you come from, you brazen thief? How dare you kidnap my beloved concubine! I shall fight you to the death!"
Tie Zhongyu warded off the blow and said: "You are too hasty, old sir! Without asking right from wrong, you behave like this! Your concubine was abducted by someone else. I caught sight of them and brought her back for you. Instead of thanking me, you assault me?"
Old Master Li, beside himself with rage, shouted and stamped: "Who kidnapped her? Give me back the kidnapper! Where did you find her? Who saw it?"
He pointed at the woman: "Is that not my concubine?" He pointed at the bundle in Xiao Dan's hands: "Are those not my belongings? The person and the evidence are right here — you brazen thief, where will you run to now?"
Tie Zhongyu, seeing how agitated the old man was, could not help laughing: "Calm yourself. Your concubine is here — everything will be made clear."
The crowd said to Old Master Li: "At this hour, in the pitch dark, on the open road, nothing can be settled. Let us go back to the town, report to the Town Commander, and once the instruments of interrogation are applied, the truth will come out of its own accord."
Old Master Li had no choice but to agree.
They all pushed and pulled their way back to the town to see the Commander. This Commander was a petty constable, a minor clerk on assignment, only too glad to have a case. When he heard that someone had kidnapped Old Master Li's household member, and knowing that Li was the richest man in town, his avarice was stirred. He treated it as a great affair, donned his official cap and gown in full ceremony, had his soldiers line up, and took his seat on the bench.
The crowd surged to the front of the hall. Old Master Li knelt first and reported: "This old man is called Li Ziqu. My concubine, Taozhi, was suddenly carried off through an unlocked door. I sent men in every direction to pursue her, and fortunately she was caught." He pointed at Tie Zhongyu: "It was this unknown man who was leading her away. The person and the evidence are both here. I beg Your Honor to dispense justice."
The Commander ordered the kidnapper brought forward. The crowd pushed Tie Zhongyu to the front and told him to kneel.
Tie Zhongyu gave a cold smile: "He does not kneel to me, yet you would have me kneel to him?"
The Commander was furious but, seeing that Tie Zhongyu was a man of imposing bearing who did not look like a common person, he restrained himself and asked: "What manner of man are you, that you dare put on such airs?"
Tie Zhongyu said: "This is not the Board of Civil Appointments — why should I state my credentials? Do not blame me for my airs. You should rather blame yourself for your low station."
The Commander grew angrier still: "Even if you have some standing, you have committed the crime of abducting another man's household member. I doubt you can escape this time."
Tie Zhongyu said: "What makes you so sure I abducted this woman?"
The Commander said: "The Li household lost their concubine, and you were found walking with her. If you did not kidnap her, who did?"
Tie Zhongyu said: "Walking together makes me the kidnapper? By that reasoning, Liu Xiahui must have been the greatest kidnapper in all of history. A man who reasons as poorly as you — I wonder which fool appointed you Commander. How laughable!"
The Commander, stung by these words, grew more agitated: "You have a sharp tongue — clearly a professional kidnapper. You presume upon my low rank to behave so insolently. Tomorrow I shall have you sent up to the higher authorities — let us see if you dare be insolent there!"
Tie Zhongyu said: "The higher authorities — you mean the Emperor?"
The Commander said: "Emperor or not, you will find out when you get there." Then, turning to Old Master Li: "You, old fellow — at your age, taking a young woman as a concubine! Naturally trouble ensues."
He had the woman Taozhi brought before him. Though she was past thirty, she was the sort who painted and powdered. He asked: "Did you run away with someone, or were you carried off?"
Taozhi lowered her head and said nothing. The Commander said: "I shall not apply the instruments now. When you are sent up and the thumbscrews are applied, I trust you will talk!" He then instructed Old Master Li: "Take charge of all these people, keep them under watch, and tomorrow I shall issue the paperwork and personally escort them to the higher authorities. Your wrongs will be addressed."
Old Master Li could not refuse. He took Tie Zhongyu and the others to his house. Seeing that Tie Zhongyu had stood up to the Commander without flinching, he was uncertain of his origins and did not dare treat him roughly. He opened a good room and invited him to stay, and brought out wine and food for him to eat. He wanted to take his concubine Taozhi inside, but feared that without a witness there would be no proof of kidnapping. So he reluctantly sent her to the same room. And this arrangement was to prove:
Able to shatter white jade, yet losing one's footing with an axe; Having escaped beneath the wide sky, yet suspected of stealing a leather cap.
To learn what happened when they were brought before the higher authorities, read on in the following chapter.
TRANSLATOR'S NOTE:
[1] Meng Guang and Liang Hong: A famous couple from the Eastern Han dynasty, celebrated for their perfect marital harmony and mutual respect. Meng Guang was plain in appearance but an ideal wife.