Hao Qiu Zhuan/en/Chapter 18
Chapter 18: When Perfect Jade Is Verified, Propriety Finds Its Good Match at Last
Modern English translation by Martin Woesler (2025)
To the tune of "Remembering an Old Friend at Peach Blossom Spring":
Ministers of works and war throng the court — Not that they fail to cite the Odes and speak of rites. But if one truly seeks to honor the bonds and clarify the Way, In the end it must come from the Son of Heaven. One clear-eyed judgment from the sage ruler, and all slander ceases; Only then do we know that such fidelity exists. Speak not dismissively of popular romances and unofficial histories — They contain, in miniature, the very meaning of the Spring and Autumn Annals.
Now we tell that the five memorials — from Censor Tie and his son, from Minister Shui and his daughter, and from Academician Guo — were all submitted at once. The Emperor read them and, summoning the Grand Secretaries to his Audience Hall, asked: "All the reports are in. How should this matter be settled?"
The ministers replied: "From the five memorials, it appears that Guo Qizu's forced pursuit of Shui Bingxin, and the circumstances that led to Tie Zhongyu's convalescence, are substantiated beyond dispute. But the forced marriage did not succeed, and the attempted murder was not carried through — so some leniency may be shown. That Tie Zhongyu braved danger to rescue Shui Bingxin, taking the consequences upon himself, may be called chivalry. That Shui Bingxin, moved by gratitude, took Tie Zhongyu into her home to nurse him, braving suspicion without hesitation, may be called a righteous act. Yet since one was an unmarried man and the other an unmarried woman, sharing a roof at a time when fidelity and wantonness could not be told apart — if improper conduct occurred, then all the earlier chivalry and righteousness would count for nothing. But if, as the county magistrate reported, they truly did not transgress even in the darkest chamber, then this is an extraordinary achievement that shines through the ages — a glory to the moral order. We ministers, from our distant vantage, have no way to judge with certainty. The former investigation yielded these findings, and we see no basis for revision. But the present magistrate was appointed after the events and reported only hearsay, which may not satisfy all doubts. We humbly suggest that Your Majesty summon the former magistrate and have him testify to the original facts, so that praise and blame may be justly assigned."
The Emperor nodded: "Well said." He decreed: "The former magistrate of Licheng County shall present a complete account of the circumstances of Tie Zhongyu's convalescence, truthfully and without concealment or falsehood. By Imperial Decree."
The decree went out at once. Now the former magistrate, Bao Zi, had been promoted to Supervising Censor for Northern Zhili. When he received the order and learned the background, he was overjoyed and submitted a detailed memorial recounting every particular — as related in the preceding chapter.
When the Emperor had read Bao Zi's memorial, his dragon countenance beamed with pleasure. He said: "So Shui Bingxin outwitted Guo Qizu three times — what an extraordinary young woman! And Tie Zhongyu was able to resist temptation even in the darkest chamber — they are truly a match made in heaven!"
He was about to issue a commendation when the Chief Eunuch, suborned by Eunuch Qiu, interjected: "This is merely the word of a local official — it may not be entirely trustworthy. If one examines the memorials submitted by Tie Zhongyu and Shui Bingxin themselves, there are certain matters that arouse suspicion."
"What suspicion?"
"Tie Zhongyu's memorial states: 'Though the nuptial candles have burned twice, only the name was real; the union of the flesh has not yet been consummated.' Shui Bingxin's memorial states: 'Though the nuptial cup has been shared, our two hearts remain uneasy, and we dwell in separate chambers — to temper the gold and preserve the jade unblemished.' If their claims are to be believed, Shui Bingxin is still a virgin to this day. But such a thing seems scarcely credible. And if today's protestations are overstated, then the earlier testimonials cannot be fully trusted either. I humbly suggest that Your Majesty examine the matter more closely."
The Emperor said: "Very well. Summon Tie Zhongyu and Shui Bingxin, together with all the parties concerned. Tomorrow at the noon audience, they shall attend at the Audience Hall, and I shall question them in person."
The Chief Eunuch conveyed the order, and it passed through the Grand Secretariat to the outer court. No official dared disobey, and on the following day they assembled at the Audience Hall. As the verse has it:
The white sun shines its light upon the world; Floating clouds may briefly veil its face. Yet know that when the clouds have all dispersed, The blue sky is there, as clear as ever.
Before long, the Emperor took his seat in the Audience Hall. After the assembled officials had paid their respects, the Emperor first summoned Tie Zhongyu.
Tie Zhongyu advanced with a bow and prostrated himself. The Emperor, seeing a young man of fine and handsome appearance, was inwardly pleased. He asked: "Was it you who entered the Marquis of Daxia's pleasure hall and rescued Magistrate Han's wife and daughter?"
"It was, Your Majesty."
"And was it you who staked your life to guarantee General Hou Xiao?"
"It was, Your Majesty."
"If both of these were your doing, then your courage and discernment are truly commendable. But courage and discernment are merely the gifts of natural talent. What the county magistrate described — that you convalesced at Shui Bingxin's home, and that as an unmarried man and an unmarried woman you passed five nights without transgression — that would be an extraordinary act of moral heroism, unprecedented in the annals of history. Did this truly occur?"
"It truly did, Your Majesty. But it was no extraordinary act — it is simply what the proper conduct between man and woman requires."
"Granted it occurred. But your memorial says: 'Though the nuptial candles have burned twice, only the name was real; the union of the flesh has not yet been consummated.' Why is this?"
Tie Zhongyu replied: "Because your servant and Shui Bingxin are shadowed by the suspicion of the convalescence, in righteous principle we ought never to have married at all. It was only at our fathers' insistence that we reluctantly submitted — hence the two ceremonies. But if, upon the wedding night, we had consummated the union, then the suspicion of the convalescence could never be cleared for the rest of our lives. Therefore your servant and Shui Bingxin dwell to this day in separate chambers. This is not a bid for empty fame — it is our way of silencing the mouths of the world, and of awaiting Your Majesty's fresh mandate, so that the bonds of human morality may shine."
The Emperor listened with evident satisfaction: "By your account, Shui Bingxin is still a maiden."
He summoned Shui Bingxin.
She advanced with a bow and prostrated herself. The Emperor gazed upon her: slender as a drooping willow, with a face as delicate as a flower too slight for its stem — a woman of beguiling beauty. He asked: "You are Shui Bingxin?"
In a clear, ringing voice she answered: "Your Majesty's humble servant is indeed Shui Bingxin."
"According to the memorial of former Magistrate Bao Zi, you outwitted Guo Qizu three times, displaying intelligence beyond the common measure. Did this truly occur?"
Shui Bingxin replied: "Your servant is but a woman. How would I dare to toy with Guo Qizu? It was only because my father was serving his sentence on the frontier, and your servant, a lone and helpless girl, was besieged by Guo Qizu's overwhelming force and could not escape by other means — I borrowed what devices I could merely to save myself."
"If you knew how to save yourself, why did you not avoid the appearance of scandal, but instead took Tie Zhongyu into your home to nurse him?"
"To repay a man's kindness, the lesser scruple must give way."
The Emperor smiled: "In those days, when you were strangers on the road, you did not scruple over appearances. Now, having married by your father's command, you dwell in separate chambers — why is the scruple suddenly so great?"
"In those days, the suspicion was a suspicion of the moment. If any slander arose, the marriage itself would have cleared it. But the suspicion of today is a suspicion for life. If I do not preserve my person intact to prove myself, then today's husband is no different from yesterday's stranger — I might split open my heart and still not be believed, I might drain my blood and still fail to convince. Now that I am summoned before Your Majesty, what countenance could I show if I had nothing to prove?"
The Emperor was greatly pleased: "If your person is truly intact, then you and Tie Zhongyu surpass even Liang Hong and Meng Guang! I shall see that the truth is demonstrated."
He issued a decree: four eunuchs were to escort Shui Bingxin to the Empress's chambers. There, the Empress was to order experienced palace women to examine Shui Bingxin and verify whether she was indeed a virgin.
The four eunuchs led Shui Bingxin away to the inner palace. As the verse has it:
White jade, until it is opened, remains but a rough stone; Gold, until it is smelted, may still be mistaken for sand. Two ceremonies with nuptial candles, and now a third — Only then does her fair name ring through the ages.
The four eunuchs escorted Shui Bingxin into the inner palace to present herself before the Empress. Before long, two eunuchs returned in advance to report: "By Your Majesty's command, Her Majesty the Empress ordered experienced palace women to examine Shui Bingxin three times. All confirmed that she is indeed a virgin. Her Majesty is greatly pleased and has kept her for tea, sending us ahead to report."
The Emperor, hearing this, was filled with delight. He turned to the Grand Secretaries: "Tie Zhongyu and Shui Bingxin, having already received their parents' command and celebrated two wedding ceremonies, still refused to compromise their virtue, wishing to preserve their honor, to demonstrate the moral order, and to adorn the civilization of our age. Thus their earlier conduct during the convalescence — five nights without transgression — is now proven beyond doubt. They are a 'good match' of the most extraordinary kind. Had I not summoned them to question them personally, but instead listened to idle gossip, would I not have wronged such noble conduct?"
He then summoned Academician Guo Longdong and rebuked him: "You are a high minister. It was your duty to discipline your son, yet you permitted him to attempt three violent abductions. Had Shui Bingxin not been a woman of exceptional talent and resourcefulness, she would long since have been defiled. The lawless brutality is already unpardonable — yet your son then added slander and calumny, nearly staining a white jade disc with the filth of blue flies. Furthermore, you bribed a local magistrate — a grave breach of law and propriety."
The Academician, seeing the Emperor's anger, was thrown into panic. He prostrated himself, removed his cap, and stammered: "Your servant did not slander them. I truly did not know that Tie Zhongyu and Shui Bingxin possessed such virtue of integrity in the darkest chamber."
The Emperor then summoned Censor Wan E and rebuked him: "As a censor, your duty is to uncover hidden truths and bring them to light, to help Us recognize and reward virtue. Yet you listened to street gossip and used it to besmirch the heroic and the virtuous! Had I been misled, would it not have done grave harm to the moral order?"
Wan E, drenched in sweat, could only prostrate himself and knock his forehead upon the ground.
The Emperor then summoned Magistrate Wei Pei and commended him: "You, a newly appointed magistrate, held firm to the truth and did not flinch from powerful men. Every word you reported was accurate; every fact you presented was genuine — truly admirable."
He then ordered the Grand Secretaries to draft the imperial edict. They composed the following:
"It is Our observation that among the moral bonds, steadfastness is the highest virtue, and that steadfastness in the hour of crisis is the highest of all. Among the qualities of fidelity and honor, constancy is the rarest virtue, and that constancy is preserved in the midst of ambiguity is rarer still.
"Shui Bingxin, a lone young woman, was able to thrice repel a violent suitor without raising her voice or showing alarm — already no ordinary achievement. That she then rescued a stranger from mortal illness in order to repay a debt of gratitude, braving the shadow of scandal without hesitation — her discerning heart, her bold spirit, her penetrating judgment, her unwavering resolve: who could match them? And what places her beyond all comparison is this: though the zither and the bells had already sounded, though the bells and the drums had already played, she still maintained her adamantine chastity, still presented her purity to the spirits of heaven and earth — truly a woman who held herself to the standard of the sages.
"Tie Zhongyu rescued Magistrate Han's family from the tiger's den, and recognized General Hou Xiao's merit at the very foot of the scaffold — his chivalrous righteousness is clearly heaven-bestowed. As for the matter of Shui Bingxin: he rescued a stranger on the road with the devotion of the closest kinsman; sharing a roof with her, he observed the proprieties as scrupulously as if she were a revered guest. In their intimate proximity, their warmth never overstepped the bounds of friendship; in their direct encounter, their composure never verged upon disorder. He followed the heart's desire, and the moral order emerged of itself; he acted from his nature, and propriety was never violated. And even after the red cord of betrothal was tied, he would not make a hasty union — truly a gentleman who would not falter even in the unseen darkness.
"To pair such a gentleman as Tie Zhongyu with such a virtuous lady as Shui Bingxin — this may truly be called a chivalrous 'good match.' We are greatly pleased.
"Let Tie Zhongyu be promoted to the rank of Academician. Let Shui Bingxin receive the title of Lady. We bestow upon them one hundred taels of gold, one hundred bolts of ceremonial silk, ten sets of court robes for each, one official cap of black gauze, and one phoenix coronet. The imperial golden lotus lanterns, the court musicians, and the ceremonial pennants shall be detached from Our presence to escort them home, where they shall hold a third and final wedding ceremony — as a mark of the glory that the moral order bestows.
"Shui Juyi and Tie Ying have raised their children righteously and made a worthy match. Both are to be advanced one rank. Magistrate Wei Pei reported faithfully and without concealment, displaying the integrity of a man of iron backbone. Upon completion of his term, he is to be summoned to the capital for an important appointment. Former Magistrate Bao Zi's testimony was thorough and detailed, showing a long-standing eye for talent. We commend him.
"Academician Guo Longdong, who indulged his son and slandered the virtuous, deserves severe punishment. In consideration of his former services as Imperial Lecturer, he is to be demoted three ranks. Censor Wan E, whose impeachment was unfounded, is to forfeit half a year's salary. Guo Qizu, who committed three acts of violent abduction and employed treacherous poison — though the plots did not succeed, the intent was abominable — is to be sentenced to one hundred strokes of the heavy bamboo by the local magistrate, as a modest deterrent against such lawlessness.
"Alas! If virtue goes unrecognized, who will be moved to goodness? If wickedness goes unpunished, what purpose does the law serve? We shall not show partiality. Let all take heed! Specially decreed."
No sooner had the Grand Secretaries finished drafting the edict than Shui Bingxin emerged from the inner palace. The Empress had bestowed upon her numerous jewels, pearls, and precious ornaments, and the four eunuchs escorted her out to the Audience Hall to express her gratitude to the Emperor.
The Emperor, greatly pleased, said: "That an unmarried woman should preserve her virtue is not unheard of in history. But never has it been known that a gentleman and a virtuous lady, already drawn to one another in love and admiration, their betrothal sealed in silken bonds, should still refuse to consummate their union — all to guard against the remotest possibility of slander — with such purity, such crystalline resolve, as you have shown. Today, as you celebrate your third and final ceremony, the eyes of all the people are upon you. Truly you make the moral order shine. Go home, and may you strive ever more to embody the virtues of a wife, so that civilization may be glorified."
Tie Zhongyu and Shui Bingxin, together with all the assembled ministers, rendered thanks with a chorus of joyful voices that shook the rafters. By then, the imperial golden lotus candles had been carried out — pair after pair, blazing with glorious light. The court musicians had tuned their instruments — note after note, playing in stately, lingering harmonies. The ceremonial pennants and banners were arrayed in rank upon rank, brilliant with color. Tie Zhongyu and Shui Bingxin, surrounded by this splendid escort, returned home in supreme honor and glory.
As the verse has it:
A rare flower will not open until its time, nor yield its fragrance; A fine jade will not shine until it has been polished. Were it not for a piercing cold that cuts to the bone, How should the plum blossom fill the nose with its perfume?
When Tie Zhongyu and Shui Bingxin arrived home with their escort, they first paid reverence to heaven and earth, then set up an incense altar and gave thanks for the imperial grace, then bowed before their parents, and at last celebrated their third and final wedding ceremony. Because this ceremony was conducted by imperial decree, the entire city — officials and common folk alike — buzzed with the tale of the righteous husband and the chivalrous wife, and praise was on every tongue.
Only the Academician, demoted and humiliated, seeing his son flogged as well, was consumed by remorse and rage in equal measure. He traced the mischief to its instigator and inflicted the full measure of punishment upon Cheng Qi. Censor Wan E, with half his salary docked, was thoroughly mortified. Shui Yun, though he had escaped the net, was so frightened that he fell gravely ill. Reflecting on his brother's and his niece's magnanimity in not pressing charges, he repented and never again harbored a dishonest thought. Eunuch Qiu, seeing how the Emperor had disposed of the matter, likewise dared not entertain any further designs. As the verse has it:
The schemer schemes in vain; Where scheming runs deepest, misfortune runs deeper still. Why not turn one's heart to virtue, And earn the respect of men and the reverence of the gods?
Now that Tie Zhongyu and Shui Bingxin's hearts had been laid bare — as pure as jade, as clear as ice, without a shadow of reproach — they celebrated their wedding night with unalloyed joy. That evening, in the bridal chamber, a feast was spread and they drank together, each expressing their gratitude to the other: Tie Zhongyu thanking Bingxin for her steadfast self-preservation, which had silenced every slanderous tongue; Bingxin thanking Tie Zhongyu for his unwavering self-mastery from first to last, which had won the Emperor's own conviction.
When the cups were drained, the nuptial rite was at last consummated. The serving-maids ushered them into the bridal chamber, where the embroidered curtains glowed by candlelight, fragrant incense perfumed the silken hangings, the bridegroom gleamed like jade, and the bride bloomed like a flower. Together they savored the joys of conjugal harmony within the moral order — a union complete and perfect.
A later poet praised them thus:
Three ceremonies, three nuptial candles, before at last the homecoming — To set right the bonds of human life, its truth and its error. Through patient, steadfast faith, only self-trust sustained her; Behind the locked door of the heart, only truth was admitted.
Righteousness strong enough to thread the red cord of a splendid match; Propriety grand enough to ride the golden carriage to meet the bride. Speak not merely of a single age's order restored — A thousand years of moral glory shine resplendent.
After Tie Zhongyu and Shui Bingxin were united, beautiful and talented both, virtuous and chivalrous both, the elegant and refined pleasures of their life together were too numerous to recount, and too varied to set down here. They have been recorded in a second collection, and we shall not repeat them.
THE END