Hao Qiu Zhuan/en1761-en2026/Chapter 17
Chapter 17 — Translation Comparison: 1761 ↔ 2026
Other parallel views: 中文 ↔ Percy 1761 | 1761 ↔ 2026 | Modern EN only | Percy 1761 only | 中文 only
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Chapter 17: When Hidden Truths Are Revealed, True Chivalry Shines ForthFrom: 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. Some scan errors may remain -- compare with the modern translation and Chinese original to verify. [Volume IV, Book IV, Chapter VII] The Ab-bang being set at large by the invitation the Emperor sent him to the banquet, took the first opportunity to advise with his father, concerning his situation with Shuey-ping-sin. The Mandarine Tieh-ying said, "Notwithstanding you both continue in separate chambers, I am of opinion that your marriage is valid, and for life. But why don't you bring your wife home to your own house, that the world may be thoroughly satisfied of your nuptials, and thus all occasion of scandal removed on account of his niece. Go and consult with your bride what course to take in this critical juncture." He accordingly went to the young lady, and told her what his father had said. "My lord, said she with her accustomed discretion, I am your servant and handmaid; and will do whatever you shall prescribe to me, in order to put an end to these clamours. All this disturbance springs from the malice of Kwo-sho-su and his son. Let us then with the greatest expedition perform whatever ceremonies remain unobserved, and thereby convince the world that our marriage is duly celebrated according to law." When Tieh-chung-u found his lovely bride approved of his father's advice of bringing her home to his own house, it filled his heart with extreme satisfaction: "You, said he, are a lady that always lend an ear to reason. I will not fail to acquaint my father and mother of our intentions: nor will I on this occasion forget my friend Ha-biau. I will then apply to the Tribunal of Mathematics,[1] in order to chuse a good day for our nuptials, and will invite all the Mandarines to the marriage feast. The truth is we have not complied with the custom which requires us to present wine to each other."[2] Kwo-sho-su hearing that the young couple were preparing to celebrate their marriage afresh, was very much disturbed at it. He applied therefore to one of the Mandarines, whose business it is to accuse all that are guilty of enormities, and with many intreaties prevailed on him to accuse Tieh-chung-u and the young lady before the Emperor. The accusation was drawn up in the following terms.
The Mandarine Vang-yo having presented this paper, it was referred to the council named Ko-chung:[5] which consulted upon it, and made this report, "What affects the fame of a virgin ought to be very clear. Here is no testimony, only hearsay in the street; it ought diligently to be inquired what evidence there is to support this accusation." The Eunuch Chou was every day importunate with them to pursue the inquiry with more rigour. Nevertheless it was not till after a considerable time that the accusation was sent to the Tribunal of Rites, for their farther inquiry. The Eunuch Chou vexed at this delay, applied to the Grand Eunuch, who is President of all the Eunuchs of the palace:[6] and immediately a petition was issued out for the Emperor's own inspection: who upon perusal of it said, "As Tieh-chung-u is a young man, the pretence of his going to be cured and nursed in his illness in the house of a young woman, is not to be suspected." While the Tribunal of Rites was deliberating what answer to return to his Majesty, the news arrived to the Mandarine Tieh-ying, who greatly alarmed related to the young couple what he had heard. "The Mandarine Vang-yo, said he, out of enmity which he bears you, hath delivered in a petition against you to the Emperor; it behoves you therefore to consider well, what defence you are to make; and to draw up a petition in your own behalf." The young couple replied, "We have long been apprized that this would happen, and are accordingly prepared: let us see what answer his Majesty hath dispatched, and we shall draw up a suitable memorial." The Emperor referred the petition abovementioned to the Tribunal of Rites. That tribunal dispatched it away to the province for the Viceroy to make inquiry. The Minister Kwo-sho-su upon the first notice of this, immediately sent instructions to his son to gain the Che-hien of the city over to their interest; with a view he desired him to spare no expence, and furnished him with a letter written to that Magistrate with his own hand. Kwo-khe-tzu greatly delighted with the prospect that seemed to open before him, immediately got ready a hundred pieces of gold,[7] in order to accompany his father's letter to the Che-hien. The name of the Mandarine who at this juncture possessed that office was Wey-phey; being the same person whom Tieh-chung-u had formerly befriended in rescuing and restoring to him his mistress. This gentleman was but newly promoted to his office when Kwo-khe-tzu presented to him the hundred pieces of gold together with his father's letter. The other had no sooner perused it, than he was greatly surprized to find not only the mischief intended against his benefactor, but that he himself was desired to be instrumental in it. Nevertheless he concealed his sentiments with seeming approbation; "Very well, said he; I accept your present; when the order arrives, I will not neglect it." Kwo-khe-tzu was satisfied with this answer and withdrew. The Governour Wey-phey called together all the clerks belonging to the tribunal,[8] and ordered them to examine into the affair of Tieh-chung-u, and to inform him upon what pretence that youth was received into the house of Shuey-ping-sin. They all agreed that the young lady took him in, out of gratitude for having rescued her from Kwo-khe-tzu, who was carrying her off by force: and that this was notorious to all the world. The Mandarine Wey-phey inquired how far their behaviour together afterwards was decent and blameless. They replied, "We know not: but the Pao Che-hien your predecessor, having the same doubt of their virtue, employed a spy to pry into their conduct; who was accordingly concealed for some time[9] within the house: and this man gave such an account of their behaviour, that the Pao Che-hien conceived a great regard for the young stranger, and revered him as a saint." The governor Wey-phey ordered before him the spy abovementioned, as also the superior of the Pagoda, where Tieh-chung-u had lodged. He examined them both; and both agreed in establishing the purity of that gentleman's conduct. Highly satisfied and rejoiced with this result of his inquiries, Wey-phey only waited for the arrival of the dispatches from the Tribunal of Rites, and from the Viceroy, in order to make his report. After five days the dispatches arrived. He immediately returned back to the Viceroy a satisfactory answer. That Mandarine acknowledged the affair bore a very reputable aspect, and immediately transmitted the account to the court. The Tribunal of Rites expressed great satisfaction at the clear and unblemished conduct of Tieh-chung-u, whom they looked upon as a saint, and perceived the malice of Kwo-sho-su; nevertheless being obliged to observe all the due forms of law, they informed that Mandarine of the satisfactory account they had received of Tieh-chung-u's conduct, and invited him to come and peruse it himself. Kwo-sho-su was greatly inraged at the perusal, and threw out many reproaches on the governor Wey-phey, "He is but newly made a doctor, said he, and just come to his office, how can he know the truth of this affair? He is very hardy and rash to pretend to acquit this criminal upon such slight pretences: I cannot suffer this boldness to pass unnoticed." He therefore applied to the superior Mandarines to call Wey-phey to account for his presumption. With this view Yang-yo presented another petition to the Emperor: who accepted it, and gave orders for Wey-phey to be summoned to court, in order to justify his conduct. Wey-phey received this summons from the Viceroy: together with private notice to make the best preparations he could for his defence, for that he had powerful enemies to contend with. Wey-phey waited on the Viceroy to return him thanks for his advice, and withal assured him that he had nothing of which he could accuse himself, and therefore was under no apprehension of the event. Then taking with him the spy, who had been employed by his predecessor, as also the superior of the Bonzees,[10] together with the letter of Kwo-sho-su, and his present of the hundred pieces of gold, he set out for the court. As soon as he arrived there, he durst not presume to present himself before the Emperor, but went and demanded audience of the Hing-pu, or Tribunal of Crimes.[11] It was inquired of him at that tribunal; how it happened, that he who was but newly promoted to his office, could pretend to decide so positively upon the conduct of Tieh-chung-u, and the young lady? And whether he had not been bribed to acquit them? Wey-phey answered, "As I was promoted by his Majesty to the honourable Tribunal of Che-hien, it behoved me to examine clearly into all matters that came before it. It is true, my own personal knowledge of this affair cannot enable me to decide upon it: but I not only inquired of my clerks and officers all they knew about it themselves, but also what testimony they had to support their account: they referred me to a person, who was employed by the Pao Che-hien my predecessor expressly as a spy to observe the conduct of the young people, and from him I learnt a clear state of the case. Your Lordships have asked if I received no bribe from Tieh-chung-u. I have received nothing from that Mandarine. But from Kwo-sho-su I have received not only a letter written with his own hands, but also a hundred pieces of gold from those of his son. Here is the spy, who is witness to the truth of the account, and here is also the letter and the gold." The Mandarines at the sight of this, were astonished and confounded; and finding no cause to blame Wey-phey, dismissed him with orders to await the Emperor's farther pleasure, and to attend them again upon the first summons. Then Wey-phey performed the accustomed reverence, and withdrew. [Volume IV, Book IV, Chapter VIII] The Mandarines that composed the Tribunal of Crimes seeing there was no remedy, and that they could not favour the cause of Kwo-sho-su without danger to themselves, applied to the Tribunal of Rites to present a memorial to his Majesty, to acquaint him with what they had done. The Emperor perused it himself, and said, "This is a rare incident. If this report be true, we have in our realm a most excellent person." The Eunuch Chou, who stood in his Majesty's presence, said, "This report comes from a new governor, who could not know the affair of his own personal knowledge; if I might therefore presume so far, I would question the truth of this report: for if there was nothing wrong, why did not his father come to acquaint and consult your Majesty upon the case. The young people in the first place come together, and afterwards marry." The Emperor considered a little with himself, and then replied; "You are right. Order each of the parties concerned to draw up a petition for my perusal, I will afterwards examine into the affair myself." When this order came to the two young persons and their parents, they remained very joyful and well pleased: the Minister Kwo-sho-su was no less affected with concern and dread: he thought to have wrought the downfall of others, and saw the evil [ready to] fall upon himself. In the difficulty in which he found himself plunged, it occurred to him to represent in his petition the overtures of marriage that had been made by his son, and to assign reasons to favour his cause: he therefore gave in a petition to the following effect.
Tieh-chung-u on his side likewise instantly presented another petition to the Emperor in answer to it.
The young lady in like manner presented her petition to the Emperor.
The Mandarine Tieh-ying presented likewise his memorial to the Emperor.
The father of the young lady presented his memorial likewise.
End of Chapter 17 |
Chapter 17: When Hidden Truths Are Revealed, True Chivalry Shines ForthModern English translation by Martin Woesler (2025) A poem says: Beauty and ugliness have always been judged by the face; Who looks beyond the skin to the comeliness of the soul? The warmth and chill within — the body cannot probe; The sweet and sour within — the tongue cannot tell. One fancies it must be a daylong dream; One guesses it must be a tangled ball of doubt. Would that you, my lords, examine it with care — For gallantry within the moral order truly exists.
The Academician said: "Though he and Miss Shui are reportedly not sharing a bed, everyone knows they are married. Trying to force a different bride or groom upon either of them is clearly too difficult. Better to take the old story of the convalescence, dress it up as an illicit liaison, and bribe some forceful censor to impeach them both. Then we can have Eunuch Qiu arrange things on the inside, so that the memorial is approved and referred to the Ministry of Rites for investigation. Next I shall write to the new magistrate of Licheng County and have him produce a report, and with pressure from both sides, they will be too ashamed to hold on — the match will collapse." The eunuch said: "And once they are separated, I shall petition the Emperor again to wed my niece to him. He will have no excuse to refuse." The two finalized their plan and set about their secret work. As the verse has it: Why, one wonders, does jealousy drive men thus? It is simply that their hearts are rotten. They grind away at a good thing openly, And call their dark designs "remarkable." Now Tie Zhongyu, saved by the imperial summons to Commander Hou's banquet, returned home and told his father the whole story. Censor Tie said: "Since you and Miss Shui have sealed the bond, the formal tie is established. Even if you never share a room for the rest of your lives, you are man and wife — that cannot be undone. Why did you not bring her home to settle the matter? This unconsummated union only invites speculation. Had it not been for the lucky coincidence of the imperial summons, you would have had a bitter fight with the eunuch on your hands. Go at once and discuss it with your wife — the sooner she comes here, the sooner all prying eyes will be shut." Tie Zhongyu obeyed, went to the Shui residence, and relayed his father's words to Miss Bingxin. She said: "Do you think I am unaware? Having pledged myself to you, how could I begrudge sharing your pillow? But the convalescence left a shadow of ambiguity that has not yet been cleared. Now, riding the crest of your fame, you attract envy and slander from all sides; and living in the midst of so many covetous men, I face no end of attacks. If I were to give in to passion tonight, leaving no means to prove my innocence tomorrow, then there would never be a moment in our lives when innocence could be proved. Is that what wisdom counsels? The danger lies with no one but the Guo father and son. Now that they see our union accomplished, their jealousy and their urgency to slander will know no rest. If you wish to set your parents' hearts at ease, there is no objection to my coming to your house with the hundred carriages and holding a second ceremony. But as for sharing pillow and quilt — I beg you, sir, to grant me a little more time, so that the moral order may shine." Tie Zhongyu, delighted that she was willing to come, said: "My lady weighs feeling and reason and finds the perfect balance — how could I not obey?" He informed both fathers, and the Imperial Directorate of Astronomy was consulted for a supremely auspicious day. Once again, the full complement of officials and friends were invited, and a grand celebration was held. To the world it was a wedding; between themselves, the marriage remained unconsummated. As the verse has it: They say that when spring comes, No flower can keep from blooming. Who would have guessed that in the golden chamber, A peony branch was still kept closely guarded? When Academician Guo learned of this second ceremony, his anxiety only deepened. He distributed bribes, and from the ranks of his acquaintances bought one Censor Wan E, whom he persuaded to submit an impeachment. The willing censor duly drafted a memorial and presented it to the throne: "Your servant Wan E, Supervising Censor of the Shaanxi Circuit, memorializes regarding an ambiguous marriage that brings disgrace upon the moral order, humbly requesting an investigation to restore propriety and uphold public morals: "I observe that among the Five Human Relations, the bond of husband and wife comes first; and among the Three Thousand Rules of Ceremony, marriage is the weightiest. Therefore men and women may not hand objects directly to one another, and within the household the inner and outer quarters are strictly separated — such is the ordinance of the kings, such is the ancient rite. Even commoners and humble folk observe these rules. Never has there been a case in which a family of ministerial rank permitted an unmarried woman and an unmarried man to dwell together without a go-between, thereby corrupting the marriage at its very inception; nor one in which a court official and the son of a censor entered into a deliberate union tainted by a prior scandal, thereby corrupting the marriage at its end — as has occurred with Shui Juyi and his daughter, and Tie Ying and his son. Your servant's office is the avenue of remonstrance; whatever I see or hear, I am bound to report. "Some days ago, passing through a public thoroughfare, I chanced to see a bridal procession of a hundred carriages. A bridal procession is no unusual sight — but what was unusual was this: as the music played and the carriages passed, crowds of onlookers on every side pointed and laughed; and as the procession moved on, people lining the road sighed and shook their heads. Greatly astonished, I inquired whose wedding it was, and learned that it was Hanlin Tie Zhongyu marrying Miss Shui Bingxin, daughter of Minister Shui Juyi. Upon further inquiry into the cause of the laughter and the sighing, I learned that Tie Zhongyu had previously been nursed back to health at Miss Shui Bingxin's home, where the two had shared a single chamber as unmarried man and unmarried woman, with inevitable suspicion of impropriety. Now, with their parents' private connivance, the wedding was paraded through the streets, giving grave offense to the moral order. When I heard this, my alarm only grew, and I dared not keep silent. "Marriage is the foundation of all ceremony; when marriage goes wrong, all other rites are undermined. Officials serve as the model for the common people; when officials are disgraced, what standard remains for the populace? I humbly beseech Your Majesty: considering that marriage is the great hinge of public morals and the pillar of the human bonds, may it please Your Majesty to command the Ministry of Rites to send word to the relevant province and conduct an investigation into whether Tie Zhongyu and Shui Bingxin truly were nursed together under one roof, and whether improper conduct occurred. Let the findings be reported to the Ministry for action. If your servant's words prove warranted, I humbly request that the guilty be punished, the union annulled, and proper separation imposed — so that scandalous liaisons may be deterred and the moral order preserved, to the great benefit of the civilization enshrined in the 'Ospreys' ode. I submit this in earnest expectation of the imperial response." When Censor Wan's memorial reached the Grand Secretariat, the ministers deliberated: "Hearsay about what happens behind closed doors is no evidence; street gossip cannot serve as proof!" They were about to reject it outright, but Eunuch Qiu came repeatedly, insisting: "This is a matter of the greatest importance. How can it not be pursued?" The ministers had no choice but to mark it "Referred to the appropriate ministry." The eunuch, not satisfied, had the memorial sent directly before the Emperor. The Emperor read it and said: "How did Tie Zhongyu, a man, come to convalesce at the home of Shui Bingxin, a woman? There must be a reason." He wrote the imperial rescript: "The Ministry of Rites shall investigate and report." By the time the decree was issued, Tie Zhongyu and Bingxin's second ceremony had already taken place several days earlier. When the news broke, Censor Tie was alarmed. He hurried to the inner chambers to consult his son and daughter-in-law: "What grudge does this Wan E bear you, to submit such a memorial?" Tie Zhongyu said: "This is not Wan E's idea — it is the Academician Guo's. My wife and I predicted long ago that such a move was inevitable, and we have guarded ourselves accordingly. Now it has come to pass, exactly as we expected." "Since you have been impeached, you must submit a rebuttal." "A rebuttal will be necessary, but not yet. Let us wait for the provincial investigation to come back. If the findings make everything clear, no rebuttal is needed. If they do not, I shall address the specific points that remain unclear. What could I rebut at this point?" Censor Tie pondered: "That is a fair argument. But Wan E is my subordinate — how dare he impeach me? I cannot let this pass!" "Your Lordship need not be angry. Those who sow shall reap." The Censor, seeing his son so composed, let the matter rest for the time being. As the verse has it: In leisure, anticipate the crisis; When the crisis comes, meet it with composure. When slander arrives and the heart is clean, The face need not blush. Let us set aside Censor Tie and his family's deliberations, and speak of them no more. The Ministry of Rites, having received the order to investigate, dared not delay. They sent an official dispatch to the Shandong Provincial Governor, instructing him to conduct the inquiry. The Academician, fearing that the local officials might not cooperate, hastily wrote a letter to the new magistrate of Licheng County, enclosed a substantial bribe, and sent instructions to his son to arrange for the report to fabricate what had not happened and present it as established fact, without delay. Now who was this new magistrate? None other than Wei Pei — the very man whose wife and daughter Tie Zhongyu had rescued from the Marquis of Daxia's pleasure hall. After years of diligent study, Wei Pei had passed the metropolitan examinations in the same cohort as Tie Zhongyu, placing in the third class. When Magistrate Bao was promoted, Wei Pei was appointed to fill the vacancy in Licheng County. When he received Young Master Guo's hundred taels of gold and the Academician's personal letter, he opened the letter and read it. Seeing that it asked him to use his influence to ensure Tie Zhongyu's conviction in the convalescence affair, he was quietly stunned: "So this concerns my very benefactor! How shall I handle this?" After reflection he thought: "Here is my chance to repay a debt of gratitude — but I must not let Young Master Guo know, or he will take countermeasures." He kept the gifts and letter, and received Young Master Guo with warm hospitality. The young master, thinking his mission accomplished, departed in high spirits. Magistrate Wei then summoned his staff and questioned them in detail: "How did Hanlin Tie come to convalesce at Miss Shui's house?" He learned the whole story — how it was Young Master Guo's abduction and poisoning that had caused the crisis, and how Miss Shui, recognizing her debt of gratitude, had taken Tie Zhongyu in to nurse him. He then asked: "Miss Shui and the Hanlin are both young. During the convalescence, was there any hint of impropriety?" The clerks said: "What happens in a lady's private chambers — how would outsiders know? But the previous magistrate, Magistrate Bao, had precisely the same doubts, and sent his most trusted doorman, a man called Shan You, to spy on them in the dead of night. He discovered that Tie Zhongyu and Miss Shui were pure as ice and clean as jade, utterly blameless. That is why Magistrate Bao subsequently treated Master Tie with the reverence due a living saint." Magistrate Wei was delighted: "So Brother Tie is not only a man of surpassing chivalry, but one who would not transgress even in the darkest chamber! He is truly worthy of respect. Since the Ministry has ordered an investigation, if I cannot clear his name, I shall have failed a true friend." He secretly summoned the doorman Shan You and kept him close at hand. He also brought in the abbot of the Changchun Temple, the monk Duxiu, and questioned him about the poison. The monk testified: "It was not actually poison. Young Master Guo feared that real poison would leave evidence. He ordered me to use rhubarb and croton to purge Master Tie until he collapsed — that is the truth." Armed with these depositions, Magistrate Wei waited four or five days until the Governor's dispatch arrived with the official order to investigate. He then compiled a thorough and detailed report, sending it up through the proper channels. The Governor, seeing that it was an investigation ordered from the capital and not wishing to second-guess the findings, forwarded the report as received. When the Ministry of Rites reviewed the report, they found that the Licheng County magistrate had praised Tie Zhongyu as a paragon of virtue and Miss Shui as a model of unimpeachable chastity — and had laid all the blame on Young Master Guo. The Ministry, acting under the Academician's influence, had intended to use the report to condemn Tie Zhongyu. Finding instead a glowing vindication, they were at a loss, and secretly showed the report to the Academician. When the Academician read it, he was consumed with fury: "That wretched upstart Wei Pei! I sent him a personal letter and a handsome bribe, and he not only defends the enemy but pins all the blame on my son! Intolerable! He shall not escape my wrath!" He asked the Ministry to shelve the report temporarily, then went to Censor Wan and had him submit a second memorial, accusing Magistrate Wei of being a newly appointed official ignorant of past events who had accepted bribes and submitted a false report. The memorial requested that Wei Pei be arrested and that the investigation be conducted anew, under stricter supervision. With Eunuch Qiu pushing from the inside, the approval came within two days. When the order reached Shandong, the Governor summoned Magistrate Wei and scolded him: "You took this too seriously! Since the Academician wrote to you personally, even if you could not bring yourself to frame Hanlin Tie, you might at least have written a neutral report that spared both sides. Why did you have to single out Young Master Guo for blame? Now he has had you impeached, and there is nothing I can do to protect you." Magistrate Wei said: "I did not take sides, Your Excellency. Having received the Ministry's order to investigate, I questioned all the officials and servants of the county, and their testimony was unanimous and well-documented. I reported the facts as I found them — neither defending Hanlin Tie nor attacking Young Master Guo. The convalescence of Tie Zhongyu at Shui Bingxin's home was caused by Guo Qizu — and the full story, from beginning to end, could not be told without explaining his role. To conceal that would invite impeachment from some other quarter — and then what defense could I offer?" The Governor smiled: "Concealment might carry a risk, true, but at least one does not know when it might come. Telling the truth has already brought punishment upon your head." "If one is punished for telling the truth, the punishment is unjust and can be contested. If one conceals the truth and even escapes punishment, the guilt is real and can never be escaped. I would rather face the consequences now than store up disaster for the future." "You passed the jinshi examination with no small effort. There is no need to be so rigid. Why not draft a new report? I can try to make things right for you." "To twist the facts would be to deceive the public; to deceive the public is to deceive the sovereign. That I dare not do." "Since you are so determined, and there is an arrest warrant, I cannot send an escort for you. You must go to the capital at once to answer the charges." Magistrate Wei bowed: "Yes, sir." He surrendered his seal of office to the Governor. Then, quietly, he took with him the doorman Shan You and the monk Duxiu, together with the Academician's original letter and the gold, packed his things, and set out for the capital. As the verse has it: Neither adding nor subtracting, no embroidery on the cloth — From first to last, the facts were told as they were found. To appearances it was all done for a friend; In truth, it was simply a refusal to deceive the sovereign. When Magistrate Wei arrived in the capital, he went directly to the Ministry of Justice to await examination. Since the accused had arrived, the Ministry proceeded at once with the hearing. They asked: "The convalescence of Tie Zhongyu at Shui Bingxin's home occurred before your appointment. What evidence did you have for declaring them both 'pure as ice and clean as jade'? Did you perhaps accept a bribe?" Wei Pei said: "Although I was appointed after the events in question, a Ministry order to investigate is binding regardless. If the matter had been truly obscure and no one knew anything, I might plead ignorance without fault. But the moment I questioned the clerks, the testimony was unanimous — the affair is the talk of the county, celebrated as a tale of extraordinary virtue. Knowing this and pretending not to — what kind of 'knowing' county magistrate would I be? As for the charge of bribery: Academician Guo sent me one letter and Young Master Guo sent me one hundred taels of gold. I have concealed nothing — I present both before this court and request that they be forwarded to the Emperor." The Ministry of Justice, acting under the Academician's influence, had intended to punish Magistrate Wei. But his frank disclosure of both the letter and the bribe left them no room to maneuver. They said: "Since there are these complexities, you may withdraw and await the imperial decision." Wei Pei bowed and withdrew. As the verse has it: The man who loves to shame others Never considers his own shame. When at last the ugliness is brought to light, The shame belongs to him alone. Let us set aside Magistrate Wei's withdrawal. The Ministry of Justice, seeing the evidence plainly displayed, concluded that concealment was impossible. They joined with the Ministry of Rites to submit a combined report to the throne. The Emperor read it and said: "So there were these many complications behind Tie Zhongyu's convalescence at Shui Bingxin's home. Gratitude repaid with gratitude — one can hardly blame them." When he reached the passage about their not transgressing even in the darkest chamber, he said: "If this is true, he is another Gentleman of Lu — truly admirable!" But the Chief Eunuch, who had been suborned by Eunuch Qiu, interjected: "These are only the local magistrate's embellishments — they may not be entirely true. Moreover, if one looks closely at the memorials submitted by Tie Zhongyu and Shui Bingxin themselves, there are grounds for suspicion." "What grounds?" "Tie Zhongyu's memorial says: 'Though the nuptial candles have burned twice, only the name was real; the union of flesh has not yet been consummated.' And Shui Bingxin's says: 'Though we have exchanged the nuptial cup, our two hearts remain uneasy, and we dwell in separate chambers — that we may temper the gold and preserve the jade unblemished.' If their own claims are to be believed, then Shui Bingxin is still a virgin. But this seems unlikely. And if today's self-praise is overstated, then the earlier testimonials may also be unreliable. I humbly suggest Your Majesty investigate further." The Emperor said: "Very well. Summon Tie Zhongyu, Shui Bingxin, and all the parties concerned to the Audience Hall at tomorrow's noon session. I shall question them personally." The Chief Eunuch conveyed the order to the Grand Secretariat, who passed it to the outer court. No official dared disobey, and on the following day they all assembled at the Audience Hall. As the verse has it: The white sun shines its light upon the world; Floating clouds suddenly obscure it. Yet know that when the clouds have all dispersed, The blue sky will be there, as clear as ever. Now it came to pass that five memorials were simultaneously submitted: one from Censor Tie, one from Minister Shui, one from Tie Zhongyu, one from Shui Bingxin, and one from Academician Guo — each presenting their account of events. The Emperor read them all and then summoned the Grand Secretaries to his Audience Hall, asking: "All five reports are in. How should this matter be resolved?" The ministers replied: "From the five memorials, it appears that the forced marriage attempted by Guo Qizu, and the circumstances that led to Tie Zhongyu's convalescence, are substantiated and can no longer be denied. However, the attempted marriage did not succeed, and the attempted murder was not carried through — so some leniency may be appropriate. That Tie Zhongyu rushed to Miss Shui's rescue, braving danger and taking the consequences upon himself — that may be called chivalry. That Shui Bingxin, moved by gratitude, took Tie Zhongyu into her home to nurse him, braving suspicion without hesitation — that may be called righteous. But since one was an unmarried man and the other an unmarried woman, living together under one roof at a time when fidelity and wantonness could not be distinguished — if there was indeed impropriety, then all the earlier chivalry and righteousness would be washed away. Yet if the county magistrate's report is true, and the spy confirmed that they did not transgress even in the darkest chamber, then this is an achievement that shines through the ages — a glory to the moral order. We ministers, from a distance, cannot see clearly. That is why the earlier order sent for an investigation. The investigation returned these results, and we see no grounds for further action. But the present magistrate was appointed after the events; he reported only what he heard, not what he saw, and this may not be sufficient to satisfy the public. We humbly suggest that Your Majesty summon the former magistrate and have him testify under oath." The Emperor nodded approval and decreed: "The former Licheng County magistrate shall present a full account of Tie Zhongyu's convalescence to the throne. Any concealment or falsehood shall be punished. By Imperial Decree." The decree went out at once. Now the former magistrate, Bao Zi, had been promoted to Supervising Censor for Northern Zhili and was currently on circuit in Zhending Prefecture. When he received the order and learned that Tie Zhongyu and Shui Bingxin had married, and that Censor Wan's impeachment had prompted the imperial inquiry, he was overjoyed: "I always intended to bring about Hanlin Tie's marriage, but my new duties carried me east and west and I never kept my promise — it has weighed on my conscience. Now the Emperor himself commands me to testify — here is my chance to fulfil that old vow." He composed a detailed memorial: "Your servant Bao Zi, Supervising Censor for Zhili, respectfully memorializes in obedience to the imperial command: "I observe that no righteousness surpasses rescuing a life in peril; no chivalry surpasses fearlessness in the face of danger; no chastity surpasses integrity in the darkest chamber; and no virtue surpasses refusing to accept what is not offered through a proper go-between. "Your servant was appointed magistrate of Licheng County. Though unworthy, I made it my duty to attend to the moral order and to uphold the civilization of the imperial realm. "At that time, Academician Guo Longdong, acting through his son Guo Qizu, learned of the beauty of Shui Bingxin, daughter of the then Vice Minister Shui Juyi, and sought to make her his son's wife..." [He then recounted in vivid detail: how Miss Shui outwitted Young Master Guo three times — first by substituting her cousin's betrothal card, then by appearing at his door only to expose his fraud and depart, then by sending an empty sedan-chair full of stones when he tried to abduct her at the autumn sacrifice; how Guo made a fourth attempt using a forged notice and a mob, and how Tie Zhongyu rescued her at the county court; how Guo then poisoned Tie Zhongyu through the temple monk; how Miss Shui secretly brought Tie Zhongyu home and nursed him; and how Magistrate Bao, uncertain himself, sent his doorman Shan You to spy on them in the dead of night.] "...It was only then that your servant learned that Tie Zhongyu is a true gentleman and Shui Bingxin a true virtuous lady. Through a curtain they conversed, never in the absence of proper separation. At different tables they ate, yet without the stiffness that would destroy all feeling. Their discourse touched only upon moral principle and statecraft. In their manner they were warm but never crossed the line that friends observe; in their reasoning they were penetrating and illuminating, as befits master and disciple. Not half a word touched on private matters; not a single careless remark was uttered. They expressed gratitude to each other with joyful hearts; they spoke across the threshold of inner and outer quarters without a shade of shame. Truly these are exemplars of the moral order — of propriety first observed in separation, and then brought together in proper union. "Your servant, upon learning this, was filled with admiration, reflecting that a pair of white jade discs is not easily formed, and that a matched pair of luminous pearls is scarcely to be found. Since heaven had brought forth Tie Zhongyu, that righteous man, and had also brought forth Shui Bingxin, that chivalrous woman, could this have been without purpose? Considering the grand principles of justice, your servant concluded that without Tie Zhongyu, Shui Bingxin would have no husband; and without Shui Bingxin, Tie Zhongyu would have no wife. Your servant therefore took it upon himself to serve as go-between, and visited Tie Zhongyu to urge the match, declaring it would be a glory to the moral order. But Tie Zhongyu, upholding propriety in his own conduct and maintaining purity through his self-discipline, was angered by the suggestion, considering it an affront, and departed at once without waiting for his carriage. So unyielding was he — unblackened by ink, unground by the mill — a true man of heroic principle. "...I humbly submit this faithful account. In terms of righteousness, no righteousness surpasses this. In terms of chivalry, no chivalry surpasses this. In terms of chastity and virtue, no chastity and virtue surpass this. "I humbly beseech Your Majesty's discerning judgment: may it please Your Majesty to bestow special commendation, so that this age of sagely rule may be illumined by the glory of moral order and civilization. Your servant awaits the imperial decision with boundless gratitude." When Bao Zi's memorial reached the throne, the Emperor's face beamed with delight. But of the imperial judgment, we shall speak in the next chapter. If you wish to know how the Emperor decreed, you must read the following chapter. |