Hao Qiu Zhuan/en/Chapter 3
Chapter 3: Miss Shui's Bold Ruse: Transplanting the Flower
Modern English translation by Martin Woesler (2025)
A poem says:
All know that women are gentle, frail, and meek; But who perceives the brilliance that their minds may seek? A single word diverts disaster, light as air; One nimble turn deflects calamity with care. True cunning needs no bluster, needs no show; True wit lies all in timing and in guile below. Let scheming villains try their worst, compete to lead — When the moment comes, their tardy regrets are guaranteed.
Now then: Tie Zhongyu, obeying his father's instructions to avoid trouble, had set out on a journey of study. The open road stretched before him, and he knew not where to direct his steps. After some thought, he said to himself: "Shandong is a land of remarkable men and a province of propriety and righteousness, known for producing exceptional characters. I shall travel there — perhaps I may encounter something of note." His mind made up, he told Xiao Dan to hire a mule, and they set off directly for Shandong. As the saying goes:
To study, one must close the door; To seek the Way, no journey is too far. Survey the mighty mountains and great rivers, And the heart's horizon opens wide.
But let us set aside Tie Zhongyu's journey to Shandong for the moment.
In the prefecture of Jinan, in the county of Licheng in Shandong, there lived a retired official named Shui Juyi, whose courtesy name was Tiansheng. He had risen to the rank of Vice-Minister of War and had made himself a name by his bold and resolute temperament. Alas, he was approaching sixty, his wife had passed away, and he had no sons — only a single daughter named Bingxin. Her eyebrows were like willows in spring, her face like an autumn flower; she was so delicate and slender that she seemed scarcely strong enough to bear the weight of silk gauze. Yet when the moment called for action, she showed such talent and such courage that she could have put any man to shame. Shui Juyi treasured her like a jewel. While serving at court in the capital, he had treated Bingxin as though she were a son, entrusting her with the management of all household affairs. For this reason she had reached the age of seventeen without yet being married.
Unfortunately, Shui Juyi had a younger brother named Shui Yun, whose courtesy name was Jinzhi. Although he bore the name of a scholar, he was in truth completely illiterate. He relied entirely on his family's illustrious past to put on airs, spending his days in dishonest schemes to fill his belly. Fate, however, had cursed him with poverty: whatever he swindled soon slipped through his fingers, as though it had never existed. But he was blessed — if one could call it that — with three sons, all of whom had inherited their father's ambitions and were equally unable to read a single character. He also had a daughter, exceedingly coarse and plain, named Xianggu, who was the same age as Bingxin — only two months older. Seeing that his elder brother had no sons and possessed a handsome fortune, Shui Yun cast covetous eyes on it and longed to consume it. But as long as Miss Bingxin remained unmarried and kept a firm hand on everything, there was no way to get at it. He therefore set about, day after day, enlisting matchmakers and relatives to promote a marriage for Bingxin. Some praised the Zhang family's wealth; others extolled the Li family's high official rank; still others lauded the Wang family's young son for his youth, talent, and handsome looks. But Miss Bingxin had her own views firmly settled, and not a word of these idle proposals found the slightest purchase in her mind.
Shui Yun was at his wits' end when he learned that a certain Young Master Guo, son of a Grand Secretary Guo in the same county, was looking for a bride. He promptly sent someone to arrange matters, offering to marry off his niece Bingxin to the young man. Now, Young Master Guo was a young rake — a glutton starved for beauty, as it were. "I don't know what your niece looks like," he said. Shui Yun proceeded to lavish praise upon her, describing her beauty and her talents in glowing detail. Young Master Guo remained somewhat skeptical and would not commit himself. In his impatience, Shui Yun proposed a secret viewing. Although the Shui brothers had long since divided their household, the ancestral dwelling was a single compound split into two wings, and at the point where the upper-story galleries connected, there were still gaps through which one might peep. Shui Yun led Young Master Guo to a vantage point where he could steal a look. When Guo saw how exquisitely lovely and sharp-witted Miss Bingxin was, he became besotted, dreaming of her day and night, and was determined to make her his wife. Several times he sent matchmakers to press the suit, but Miss Bingxin refused to even acknowledge them. In desperation, Young Master Guo spent lavishly to enlist the prefect's support. At first, the prefect — knowing that Miss Bingxin was the daughter of a Vice-Minister of War — dared not act presumptuously. Though he could not very well refuse Young Master Guo to his face, he merely went through the motions of making the proposal twice; and when the young lady declined, he let the matter drop.
But then, some time later, word came that Vice-Minister Shui had inadvertently appointed a certain general named Hou Xiao, who had lost a battle through incompetence. The court was furious and stripped Shui Juyi of his office, banishing him to the frontier at once. At the same time, it was announced that Grand Secretary Guo had been promoted to the Grand Secretariat. Seeing Young Master Guo come once more to plead his case, the prefect promptly changed his tune and threw himself into the business in earnest. He summoned Shui Yun and gave him a lecture:
"In matters of marriage between men and women, the proper season should not be missed. When a gentleman finds a worthy match, one should not let it slip away. It is the normal rule that a daughter at home should obey her father. But when circumstances make that impossible, one must adapt. Your niece has reached marriageable age. She has lost her mother, she has no brothers to rely upon, and she lives alone in the women's quarters with only servants around her — a most unsuitable arrangement. If your elder brother were at home, one might wait for his decision. But now he has been banished to the distant frontier, and no one knows whether he is alive or dead. Is it not folly to cling stubbornly to convention and miss the opportunity? Your niece, a young lady in the inner chambers, can hardly be expected to speak for herself. You, as her own uncle, should you not think of your flesh and blood and take the matter in hand? Moreover, Grand Secretary Guo has just been promoted by imperial decree, and Young Master Guo himself possesses first-rate examination talents. He has pursued this match time and again — it is clearly an excellent alliance. You must not let a girl's momentary whims ruin a lifelong opportunity. I have summoned you here to urge you most earnestly. If you persist in obstinacy, you will not only lose this fine match but may find it brings ill fortune to your family."
This was music to Shui Yun's ears. He agreed wholeheartedly: "I have long been urging this upon her at home, but my niece has been spoiled by my brother and does as she pleases, with no regard for propriety. That is why she has flatly refused every suitor. Now that Your Honor has deigned to instruct me, even the most obtuse must wake up. When I return home, I shall convey your command to my niece. What she has clung to is the absence of her father's word. But Your Honor's word — is that not as good as her father's? There is no reason she should not comply." With that, he took his leave.
Back at home, he went straight to the adjoining wing to see Miss Bingxin and tried to intimidate her with bluster: "The other day the prefect came to propose this match with the Guo family. How earnestly I tried to persuade you — but you paid no attention at all. As the saying goes, 'A county magistrate can break a family.' If a mere magistrate can bring ruin when angered, how much more the prefect! Before, when he saw that your father was a Vice-Minister, he still showed some respect. But now that your father has offended the throne and been sent into exile, the prefect has changed his face entirely and let fly a great many harsh words. If you refuse him again, and he turns vicious — you, a lone young woman, and I, without any official rank — how could we withstand him? This match with the Guo family — his father has just been made Grand Secretary, the young man is talented and in his prime, sure to pass the examinations with flying colors — it is as fine a match as could be wished for. Unless you never intend to marry in this life, you would be a fool to let this one slip through your fingers. But if you wait another two or three years and still have to marry in the end, by then you may not be able to find a great official's family willing to have you. Think it over carefully."
Miss Bingxin replied: "It is not that your niece is obstinate. Marriage is a momentous affair and should be decided by one's father. Now that Father has been banished and Mother passed away long ago, whose authority am I to follow?"
Shui Yun said: "That is precisely what the prefect said. He said that when circumstances change, one must adapt. If your father is too far away for his word to reach you, then the prefect's word is as good as your father's. And if the prefect's word is lacking, your own uncle's word is as good as your father's. Why cling to just one?"
Miss Bingxin lowered her head and thought for a moment. Then she said: "The prefect, however exalted, is after all an outsider. But if my uncle can truly stand in for my father, then perhaps we may discuss the matter."
Shui Yun said: "Uncle, father — we are of the same blood. How could I not stand in for him?"
Miss Bingxin said: "Until now, I have held my father's word supreme. If my uncle may indeed serve as my father, then all decisions shall be his, and there will be no need to consult your niece any further."
Shui Yun was overjoyed: "At last you have come to your senses! If your uncle could not stand in for your father, why would I bother meddling in your affairs? My dear child, listen to me — this match with the Guo family is truly perfect in every way. Once you are married, you will see for yourself. If you and your husband get along, and his father is about to become Grand Secretary, you could ask him to submit a memorial and have your father recalled from exile."
"If it could work out that way, so much the better," said Miss Bingxin.
Shui Yun said: "Since you consent, the prefect is still waiting for my reply. You must write out a betrothal card with your own hand and give it to me, so they can be at ease."
Miss Bingxin said: "Writing it is no trouble, but Uncle, you will need to prepare a proper betrothal card — it would not be fitting for me, a young woman, to do that."
Shui Yun said: "Since you acknowledge me as your father, that is my responsibility — no one is asking you to prepare it. Just write out your Eight Characters for me."
Miss Bingxin at once took up brush and ink, wrote out eight characters [representing the year, month, day, and hour of birth] on red paper, and handed them to Shui Yun.
Shui Yun took the slip and went home in high spirits. He told his three sons: "The Guo match — today it is finally settled."
His eldest son said: "Just yesterday Sister was quibbling and refusing. Why did she suddenly agree today?"
Shui Yun said: "She was fixated on obeying her father's word. When I told her that her uncle was as good as her father, she finally accepted."
The eldest said: "She may have agreed in the heat of the moment, but I fear she'll think it over and change her mind."
Shui Yun said: "She won't change her mind — I even got her to write out the Eight Characters." He drew the slip from his sleeve and showed it to his three sons. They looked at it and clapped their hands in delight: "Good! Good! Now there is no going back!"
"That is all well and good," said Shui Yun, "but there is still one thing..."
"What is that?" asked the eldest.
"She said she acknowledges me as her father, so all the betrothal formalities — cards, gifts, and so on — should be handled by me. That would be best."
The eldest said: "You have to spend a little to gain a lot. If we don't manage these small things, how can we expect to get our hands on their wedding gifts and the family estate later on?"
"Easy enough to say," Shui Yun replied, "but where is the money to come from?"
"We'll have to find a way," said his son.
After much deliberation, father and sons pawned some clothing and ornaments for a few taels of silver. First they bought two feet of crimson satin, then had eight gold characters affixed to it — all very fine and precise — and fashioned it into a betrothal card. Shui Yun personally delivered it to the prefect, saying: "In obedience to Your Honor's instructions, I dare not refuse. Here is the betrothal card." The prefect examined it with pleasure and instructed that it be forwarded to the county magistrate, who should serve as matchmaker. The magistrate, knowing it was the prefect's order, dared not decline. He chose an auspicious day and, with drums and music, sent the card to the Guo residence. Young Master Guo received it as though it were a priceless treasure, accepted it with joy, and laid on a grand banquet to entertain the magistrate. Several days later, he assembled a magnificent array of betrothal gifts worth a thousand taels of gold, chose another auspicious day, and again engaged the magistrate as chief matchmaker to deliver them, with music and fanfare, to the Shui household.
The day before, Shui Yun had gone over to inform Miss Bingxin and told her to make preparations. Miss Bingxin said: "Since Father is away, our side of the house has been quiet and neglected for a long time. Since Uncle has assumed the role of father and issued the betrothal card on my behalf, the gifts should properly be received at Uncle's residence — that would be more fitting. Besides, it is all one ancestral dwelling: this side and that side are one and the same."
"Receiving the gifts at my place is fine," said Shui Yun, "but I'm afraid the reply card would still need your father's name."
Miss Bingxin said: "If we must use Father's name, then Uncle cannot truly serve as father after all. Besides, Father has been disgraced and exiled by the court — he is a criminal in the eyes of the law. Writing his name might be inauspicious and might offend the Guo family. Moreover, after the betrothal, there will be many exchanges of courtesies, all requiring Uncle to attend in person. It would be awkward to keep writing Father's name. Far better for Uncle to sign in his own name throughout — then no one will think twice."
"That makes sense too," said Shui Yun. He went off to buy several sets of embroidered reply cards and brought them back for Miss Bingxin to fill in. Miss Bingxin said: "I'll do the writing, but to outsiders, just say my brothers wrote them — I would be embarrassed otherwise."
"Of course," said Shui Yun.
Miss Bingxin wrote Shui Yun's name and added the phrase "on behalf of my youngest daughter, in acknowledgment of betrothal gifts," then read it aloud to Shui Yun. He listened, then said: "Why does it say 'youngest daughter'?"
Miss Bingxin replied: "Since you have assumed the role of father, why should it not say 'youngest daughter'?"
"Well, I suppose that's right," said Shui Yun. He took the cards home and said to his sons: "The reply cards bear my name and say 'on behalf of my youngest daughter, in acknowledgment of betrothal gifts.' Never mind the gifts being ours — even the claim to the family estate has now been established." Father and sons rejoiced in secret.
The next day, the Guo family's betrothal gifts arrived. Shui Yun and his sons, dressed up in their best caps and gowns as if they were men of rank, threw open the central gate to admit the gifts. The hall was festooned with colored bunting and spread with carpets; drums and music filled the air as the magistrate was received and entertained. It was a day of great bustle and excitement. Miss Bingxin took no part in any of it.
After the guests had departed, Shui Yun opened the connecting door and invited Miss Bingxin over to inspect the gifts. "These betrothal gifts and betrothal money," he asked, "to whom do they properly belong?"
Miss Bingxin replied: "Since Uncle has adopted me as his own daughter and gone to all this trouble and expense, the gifts and money naturally belong to Uncle. And not just these gifts — the entire family estate, since Father never had a brother, will eventually be Uncle's and my cousins' property. But with Father in distant exile, alive or dead we do not know, your niece can only safeguard it for the time being and would not presume to hand it over to anyone else."
Shui Yun clapped his hands in delight: "My dear niece, you are truly virtuous! How clearly you see things! How candidly you speak!" He called his three sons and his daughter over and had them check every item against the original list and take possession of all the gifts. As the verse says:
Clumsy schemes are born of greed; Men grow foolish when they covet. Boast all you like of the bait's perfection — The truth is simply that the fish is hungry.
A month or so passed. Young Master Guo had made all preparations and selected a supremely auspicious day. With pipes and drums, flutes and gongs, a hundred carriages came to fetch the bride in great splendor. Shui Yun was thrown into a panic. He rushed through the connecting door and urged Miss Bingxin to make ready at once.
Miss Bingxin feigned ignorance and answered languidly: "Make ready for what?"
Shui Yun, alarmed, said: "How can you ask such a thing? The Guo family has come for you today! The drums, the music, the bridal sedan — they are all at the gate! How can you not know? What do you mean, 'make ready for what'?"
Miss Bingxin said: "The Guo family has come for my elder cousin — what has that to do with me?"
Shui Yun grew more agitated: "The Guo family went to such lengths, engaging people to arrange it, specifically for you! How can you say they've come for your cousin? Do you think a fine face like your cousin's would induce Young Master Guo to spend a thousand in gold on betrothal gifts?"
Miss Bingxin said: "Father has been exiled to the frontier. All of his life's estate is in my hands. I have no intention of marrying. How can you say they've come for me?"
Shui Yun, beside himself, forced a smile: "From the way you talk, you are very clever indeed — only what you have done is exceedingly clumsy."
Miss Bingxin said: "Since I am not marrying, who can force me? What have I done that is clumsy?"
Shui Yun said: "Since you were not willing, you should never have written out the betrothal card for me. Now the card has been delivered to the Guo family, and I'm afraid the words 'I will not marry' won't carry much weight!"
Miss Bingxin said: "Uncle, stop dreaming! If I truly did not wish to marry, why would I have written a betrothal card for you?"
Shui Yun laughed again: "My dear niece, there is no use denying it! You may think that when I had the eight gold characters made, I threw away the one you wrote in your own hand and that you can now refuse to acknowledge it. But I am more careful than you suppose — I kept it safely as evidence. You could have mouths all over your body and still could not deny it!"
Miss Bingxin said: "If I wrote a betrothal card in my own hand and gave it to you, then I have no defense. But if I did not, then you cannot accuse me falsely either. Bring it out, and we shall examine it face to face."
"Fair enough," said Shui Yun. He hurried back, fetched the original card, and summoned his three sons to come and confront her. Holding the card out at arm's length, he said: "Is this not in your own hand? What more is there to say?"
Miss Bingxin said: "Let me first ask you, Uncle — do you know what month I was born in?"
Shui Yun said: "You were born on the fifteenth of the eighth month, at the hour of hai. On the night you were born, your father and I were drinking wine and admiring the moon together. I am your own uncle — how could I not know?"
Miss Bingxin said: "And may I ask — what month was Cousin Xianggu born in?"
"She was born on the sixth day of the sixth month, at the hour of wu."
"Have you ever examined the month recorded on the betrothal card?"
"The card has only eight characters — the month and day are not written out separately. How could I tell?"
"Can you read those eight characters yourself?"
"Well, I can't actually read them. But when I had the gold characters made, I had to weigh each one — so-and-so much for jia, so much for zi — and I remember: jiazi, xinwei, renwu, wuwu — eight characters, weighing in total one liang, three qian, and four fen."
Miss Bingxin said: "Those eight characters belong to my cousin's horoscope, not mine. What has it to do with me? Why all this commotion?"
Shui Yun said: "You wrote them yourself — how can you say they are hers?"
Miss Bingxin said: "There is no need to argue, Uncle. Just summon a fortune-teller and have him calculate whether these eight characters correspond to the fifteenth of the eighth month or the sixth of the sixth — and the truth will be plain."
Shui Yun stood in stunned silence for a long while, then said: "The truth will come out in the end. Never mind the Guo family, the prefect, and the magistrate all knowing that I was arranging this match for you — the entire county knows that Young Master Guo is marrying you. Even if you switched the horoscope, the chief matchmaker, the sponsor of the marriage, everyone speaks with one voice. How can you possibly wriggle free?"
Miss Bingxin said: "It is not I who needs to wriggle free. If the Guo family is marrying me, their gifts should have been sent to my side of the house. Yet they were sent to yours, and you accepted them. Your reply cards say 'on behalf of my youngest daughter' — not a single word mentions a niece. How can you say it was for me?"
Shui Yun said: "You had me call you 'my youngest daughter' because you wanted me to act as your father — we discussed it together."
Miss Bingxin said: "If Uncle had no daughter of his own, adopting a niece might be justifiable. But Uncle does have a daughter. Even if you adopted your niece, you would need to distinguish between 'my elder daughter' and 'my younger daughter.' How can you simply say 'my youngest daughter'? Take this argument before any court, and even if Uncle were the judge himself, it would not hold up."
Shui Yun, overwhelmed by this barrage of logic, beat his breast and stamped his feet and burst into loud weeping: "I am ruined! Ruined! You have destroyed me! This Young Master Guo is a vicious rascal, and his father is about to become Grand Secretary. He has spent a fortune on you. Today is the wedding day, and he has invited all his grand relatives to a feast at his home, with the bridal sedan and musicians waiting since dawn. If you refuse and there is no bride to give him, do you think he will let the matter rest? Your poor uncle — my life will be sacrificed because of you! Since you are the one ruining me, I can no longer care about family feeling. I shall go straight to the magistrate and the prefect, lay out the whole story, and make it clear that you deceived me, not that I deceived the Guo family. Let the officials decide! But when that moment comes, however eloquent you may be, you will have to appear in public and suffer the disgrace!" All the while he spoke, he wept.
Miss Bingxin said: "If Uncle goes to accuse me, I need only say that while Father was in exile, Uncle conspired to trick his orphaned niece into marriage in order to seize the family estate. I fear Uncle's crimes would be far greater."
Shui Yun, more desperate than ever, said: "It is not that I want to accuse you — but if I don't, how can I extricate myself?"
Miss Bingxin said: "If Uncle does not implicate me and simply wishes to get clear, that is quite easy."
Hearing the word "easy," Shui Yun stopped crying and said: "This mess — even an immortal could not untangle it. How can you say it is easy?"
Miss Bingxin said: "If Uncle will follow my plan, I guarantee that this great calamity will turn into great joy."
Shui Yun, noticing the peculiar turn in Miss Bingxin's words, pressed her urgently: "At this moment, death stares us in the face — how can we hope for great joy?"
Miss Bingxin said: "Consider — Cousin Xianggu is already seventeen. It is time for her to marry. Why not seize this opportunity and, in perfectly proper fashion, marry her off? One problem will be solved at a stroke, and there will be no need to go looking for trouble."
Shui Yun thought it over, then started with a mixture of alarm and delight: "That is indeed a stratagem! But your cousin and you are worlds apart in looks. Once she gets there and Young Master Guo sees her, he will certainly object."
Miss Bingxin said: "The betrothal card you sent plainly bears my cousin's horoscope. The betrothal gifts were plainly sent to Uncle's house. Uncle's reply card plainly says 'my youngest daughter.' And today they are plainly coming to fetch the bride from Uncle's house. It is entirely proper that the cousin should be the one married off. What objection could there be? Besides, Uncle now holds the dignity of a father-in-law. Even if there were earlier irregularities, they may all be smoothed over. Is this not a great calamity turned into great joy?"
Shui Yun, hearing this, could not help breaking into laughter: "My child! You are but a slip of a girl, yet what resources you carry in your breast! You tricked your poor uncle half to death, and now you have the ability to bring him back to life!"
Miss Bingxin said: "Your niece did not set out to deceive you, Uncle. It was only because you insisted on meddling that I had no choice but to protect myself."
Shui Yun said: "The only problem is that your cousin is a clumsy creature, quite unpolished, and has never been properly groomed. If she is to be married today at a moment's notice, you must come over and help dress her up."
Miss Bingxin was only too glad to see the matter settled. Taking just two maids with her, she crossed over and spent the afternoon combing Xianggu's hair, plucking her eyebrows, whitening her teeth, and penciling her brows. She decked her out with pearls and kingfisher ornaments until her head was resplendent, and clothed her in embroidered silks from head to toe. She also coached her: once in the bridal chamber, she must plead shyness and insist that all candles be extinguished before allowing the groom near. If wine cups were shared, the maids should contrive to get the groom thoroughly drunk. "And if the groom expresses any dissatisfaction with your looks," Bingxin added, "you must threaten to kill yourself — that will frighten him." Xianggu, though dull-witted, understood well enough when it touched her own interests, and took every instruction to heart.
Just as the dressing was completed, the three stars had risen in the evening sky. Young Master Guo arrived on horseback, surrounded by a crowd of servants, to conduct the bride in person. Shui Yun, having no other choice, helped his daughter into the sedan chair and watched as the party bore her away with music and fanfare. As the verse says:
The schemer may be cunning, true, But he is no match for a mind that's wise. The cuckoo thought she'd seized the nest — But the magpie had already switched the prize.
Young Master Guo was convinced that he had at last secured Miss Bingxin as his bride. Overjoyed, he received the sedan at his front gate. A bevy of maids helped the bride alight and led her into the main hall, her head still covered with the bridal veil. She moved with a willowy grace that seemed otherworldly, and every onlooker praised her beauty. After the ceremonial bows, the whole company swept into the bridal chamber, where the nuptial wine was set out for bride and groom to share.
Xianggu, remembering her cousin's instructions, removed the veil but then retreated into the bed curtains and absolutely refused to come out. Young Master Guo, thinking she was merely shy, did not press her too hard. He went out to the front hall to drink with his guests. Between his own elation and the toasts pressed upon him by his relatives, cup after cup, he drank himself into a stupor before at last returning to the bridal chamber. He peered in and could dimly see, in the faint candlelight, the new bride still sitting behind the bed curtains.
Emboldened by wine, Young Master Guo swayed over to the bed and whispered: "It is late — why have you not gone to sleep?" Xianggu, seeing him, quickly turned her face away and whispered to the maid to blow out the candles. The maid hesitated, glancing at Young Master Guo. He obligingly said: "Since the new bride wishes it, blow them out and leave us." The maids hastily extinguished the candles and dispersed. Young Master Guo reached out to touch the bride and found she had already undressed and slipped under the covers. Unable to restrain himself, he threw off his own clothes and crawled in beside her. Convinced that this was the dazzling beauty he had spied through the wall, he was beside himself with joy and lavished every endearment upon her. Xianggu, a young woman in the prime of life, was hardly proof against such attentions, and in an instant the bed-curtains swayed, the silken quilt heaved, and the marriage was consummated. As the verse says:
Behind the curtains, every cloud-and-rain is with a fair maid played; Beneath the quilt, each dragon's battle is with a good bride made. But when the morning light reveals the face at last, The closeness that seemed promised may already have passed.
Young Master Guo indulged himself freely and slept until the sun was three poles high the next morning before waking. He opened his eyes and examined the new bride — and saw a broad forehead, a square face, and a dull, heavy expression. This was not remotely the woman he had spied through the wall. He sat up in alarm, threw on his clothes, and demanded: "You are not Miss Shui! How did you come to take her place?"
Xianggu said: "Who says I am not Miss Shui? Look again more carefully!"
Young Master Guo looked again and shook his head vigorously: "No, no! I know what Miss Bingxin looks like — like a lotus rising from the water, like a willow veiled in mist. She is nothing like this! I have been swindled by that old dog Shui Jinzhi!"
Xianggu flared up: "You married me, and that makes me your equal wife! How dare you insult me by cursing my father to my face?"
Young Master Guo was more frantic than ever: "It's over! It's over! He led me to spy on his niece, Miss Bingxin. If you call him your father, you must be his own daughter!"
Xianggu also sat up and dressed herself, saying: "What a muddled person you are! Miss Bingxin is the daughter of my father's elder brother, the official. If you wanted to marry her, you should have made your suit on her side of the house. Why did you come to my father instead? Besides, the betrothal card my father sent bears my horoscope, and the reply card clearly says 'on behalf of my youngest daughter.' Can you not read? How can you say it was Miss Bingxin? The betrothal gifts were delivered to my family's house, the wedding party came to my family's house — how can you say it was not me? Today we were properly matched by a chief matchmaker and have become husband and wife. And now you speak of peeping through walls — such shameful, morals-destroying talk! How am I to live with you in the future, to manage your household and bear your children? On reflection, perhaps it would be better if I were dead!" She burst into wild weeping and, snatching up a handkerchief, made as if to hang herself.
Young Master Guo, already furious that the bride was not Miss Bingxin, was further alarmed when Xianggu threatened suicide.
And because of that alarm, the following came to pass:
First beguiled by the willow, now deceived by the flower.
To learn how matters were resolved, the reader must turn to the next chapter.