University of Virginia Library

CHAP. III.

AS soon as Tieh-chung-u had arrived
at the city of Tséé-nan, he

alighted at an inn, and leaving every
thing to the care of his servant, went
directly to the house of Shuey-keu-yé.
He found all quiet at the outward gate,
and not a person to be seen: he advanced
farther within the great gates,
where he found the same stillness. He
went up close to the inner gates[8]
and met with nothing remarkable, till
casting his eyes upon the wall he saw
the declaration fixed upon it; he went
up to it, and found it issued out by
the Grand Visitor. Supposing it was
his order to compel her to marry,
he was going to take it down to
produce it as a proof against him hereafter:
but when he read it he found
it to be quite otherwise, and that it
forbade any one to molest her. He was
at a loss to reconcile this to the account
given him by her servant on the road:
and considered whether the young lady
might not have brought over the Grand
Visitor to her party by valuable presents:
or whether her father might
not possibly be restored again to his
office: "But surely, said he, I should
have had news of that." He was
strongly inclined to advance further
within: but then he thought if he should
be observed using so great freedom,
it might cause reflections to be cast on
them both. "No, said he softly, as I
am no relation I cannot take that liberty."
He therefore concluded to go
back again, and pick up what information
he could at some of the tribunals.
Just as he was going out Shuey guwin
passed by: who was strangely surprized
to see him there, as he had before left
the place with so much haste and disgust;
whence he concluded that he was
returned again for no good purpose.
After saluting each other, Shuey-guwin
asked him how long he had been come;
and whether he had seen his niece. The
youth answered, "I am but just arrived:
but had I been here longer how
could I presume to see the young lady?"
"If you did not come with that
intention, said the other, what brought
you here?" He told him, that he had
heard at court that the Grand Visitor
had given out orders to oblige
his niece to conclude, within the space
of a month, the marriage, that was so
contrary to her inclinations. "This
proceeding, said he, in her father's absence,
and without his consent, I looked
upon as very extraordinary and therefore
come to inquire into it. I thought
myself obliged to do her what service
I could; and therefore disregarded the
length of the journey. When I came
hither, I found the declaration in her
favour. Satisfied with the sight of that,
and concluding the report at Pe-king to
be false, I am very well pleased, and
shall forthwith return to court."

Shuey-guwin smiled at what he heard.

"What, said he, could you come
away directly upon hearing the report,
and yet be so well satisfied with the
bare sight of the order, as to return
immediately? After such a signal kindness,
you must not leave us so soon:
you must stay a little and rest yourself,
while I go and acquaint my niece with
the great favour you have done her.
You have given yourself a great deal of
trouble, and would you return back
without taking any refreshment[9] ?"
"I came not here, said Tieh-chung-u,
with a view of making a merit of
it with any one, but out of a disinterested
regard to justice. It was merely
to gratify my natural temper. And
therefore I neither deserve thanks, nor
will receive them. Ching-leao! farewell!
farewell!" said he, and departed.
Shuey-guwin would have conversed with
him longer, but saw him vanish, as
it were, from his sight, without so
much as turning his head. As he
thought this as a great discourtesy and
affront, he resolved to be revenged the
first opportunity. With this view he
sent a servant after him to find out his
lodgings, and to pick up what intelligence
he could about him. Then he
went to his son-in-law, and informed
him of the adventure. Kwo-khé-tzu,
who was greatly surprized, stamped
and said, "This animal is come to
carry off my bride. We must find
some way to prevent it, either by lodging
an accusation against him, or by
putting some public affront upon him.
Suppose we present a petition to the
Grand Visitor about his coming in this
clandestine manner, and make him
ashamed by exposing him publicly.
I warrant he will not venture to shew
his face here any more." Shuey-guwin
shook his head, and said, "That will
never do. He is son of the Tu-chayuen,
or Superior of the Vice-roys, and
what can the Grand Visitor do to him
whose father is so much his superior[10] ?
Leave the affair to me: I have thought
of a way, by which we shall reach him,
without making any public disturbance,
and yet stop his mouth so that he shall
not dare to make the least complaint.
Tieh-chung-u is very bold of speech[11] :
and cares not what he says. I listened
to his reasons for coming; which he
pretended was purely for the sake of
justice: but that is only a blind to
conceal his designs on my niece. You
must therefore send a servant to his
lodgings, as from Shuey-ping-sin: he
must say that his mistress heard he was
at her house in the morning, but having
a great many visitors could not
then wait on him; she had therefore
sent to acquaint him that she must
needs speak with him, and that at ten
o'clock at night he must come to the
garden door. This message he will
think to be real, and will doubtless
comply with it. Now you must plant
some stout lusty fellows at the place
appointed; who when he comes are
to fall upon and beat him severely[12] .
How after this will he dare to
complain? Or what could he say for
himself should any one ask him what
he did there in the dark so late?"
Kwo-khé-tzu was delighted with this
project, and upon being asked whether
he thought it feasible, answered "Ay!
ay! extremely so! It cannot but succeed;
and will let him know that there
are people in the city of Tséé-nan who
know how to deal with him." They
resolved to put their design in execution,
which the arrival of Shuey-guwin's
servant, who had brought directions
where to find him, enabled
them to set about immediately.

On the other hand Tieh-chung-u, unable
to account for this unexpected
change in the Grand Visitor's conduct,
went to the Che-hien's to see if he could
gain any information there. That
magistrate was from home, so that
he went back again to his lodgings.
As he was going in, he heard one

behind him say, "Sir, I have waited
here a great while, having a message
to deliver to you." He turned his
head aside, and found he was addressed
by a youth of about fourteen
or fifteen years. He asked what
business he had with him? The boy
did not immediately answer, but looking
round him with great appearance
of circumspection, and seeing nobody
near, stepped up close to him, and told
him softly, that he was sent by Shuey-ping-sin.
"How, replied he! and Shuey-yeong
at home[13] ! What is it she can
have sent you to tell me?" The youth
answered that she would have sent Shuey-yeong,
if she could have trusted a secret
with him: but that she had nobody she
could depend on so entirely as himself.
"Well, said he, what is your business?"
The boy told him, that his
lady heard in the morning that he was
at her house, and would have come
out to him, but for fear of scandal, and
lest it should be known that there was
a secret correspondence between them:
but especially as he had given no notice
that he was there; all which prevented
her from inviting him to come in.
"But now, proceeded he, she hath
sent me privately to desire you will
let her see you, to thank you for the
trouble you have been at in coming so
long a journey." "Tieh-chung-u replied,
"Go home and tell your lady
that I came here to redress an injury,
out of a mere regard to justice, and
therefore she must not think herself
obliged to me. And as to seeing her,
she is a woman and I am a man; which
is not like a friendship between two
of the same sex, who may freely
communicate and converse together."
"True, replied the other, my mistress
knows that a man and woman[14] may
not converse together freely: therefore
sent me to invite you to come to
the garden door at ten o'clock at night,
where she hath a word or two to whisper
in your ear, which nobody will
know of. You must not refuse her,
and thereby disappoint the good inclination
she bears towards you." Tieh-
chung-u could contain himself no longer:
"You young villain, said he in a rage,
who taught you these words? But perhaps,
said he softly with great concern,
perhaps your mistress's troubles have
affected her understanding." Then
immediately after recollecting himself,
"These words, said he, could never come
from that young lady. There is some
contrivance or villainy in this message."
Upon which, seizing the boy and menacing
to beat him, "How dare you,
said he, come with these lies to impose
upon me? Your mistress and I are
the only two persons in the world,
who dare keep the path of strict honour
and virtue: and therefore I will
never believe there could come from
her expressions so wanton and unhandsome.
Nor yet could such a young
monkey, as you, say all this of yourself.
Tell me then the truth; and inform
me who sent you, and you will
obtain my pardon. Otherwise I will
carry you to the Che-hien's audience,
and have you there severely punished."
At this the boy was so frighted
that his soul had almost quitted
his body: at last however he resumed
courage, and persisted in it that
he had said nothing but truth. Which
so far provoked Tieh-chung-u that he
gave him two or three boxes on the
ear, bidding him instantly confess, or
he would beat him without mercy.
The boy's courage forsook him, and
he acknowledged the falshood, confessing
he was sent by Kwo-khé-tzu, whose
servant he was, and begging he would
pardon what he had done in obedience
to his master. Tieh-chung-u let him
go, and though he was vexed, could
not help laughing. "Go, said he,
and carry this message back to them
that employed you. Tell them that
I Tieh-chung-u am an upright and true
man; and that Shuey-ping-sin is a woman
without any dross or mixture,
free from any thing foul as the most
transparent stream: let them not then
presume to hope they can ever succeed
in their shallow plots." All this [and
more] he charged the boy to tell his
master and Shuey-guwin: after which
he dismissed him.

Kwo-khé-tzu was impatiently expecting

to hear the success of his message,
and had waited a good while, when at
length he saw his servant come with
a confused and sorrowful countenance.
He asked him what was the matter.
On which the boy related all that had
happened. Shuey-guwin, who was present,
supposed the boy had mistaken
his message. You were ordered, said
he, to pass for the servant of my niece.
Had you done so, he would not have
hurt you. The boy assured him he
had punctually obeyed his orders: but
that Tieh-chung-u was no ordinary person.
"Before I spoke, said he, the
quickness of his looks made me afraid,
and when I came to deliver my message,
he would not have patience to
hear me out, but beat me severely,
and would have killed me if I had not
confessed the truth. He asked me
who sent me to pass these lies and play
these tricks upon him? And how I durst
come and asperse such a lady as Shuey-ping-sin:
one so modest and discreet.
At parting he laughed and said, the
persons that employed you are villains:
but let them take care how they offer
to pull up the tyger's whiskers."

At this relation they both were silent
for some time. At length Shuey-guwin
said to his son-in-law, "You
must not be cast down, notwithstanding
all this. I will yet contrive a way
to be even with him." "Alas, replied
the other, he will be too cunning
and hard for you, do what you will.

There is no remedy." "Fear not,
he replied: I will find out a remedy,
that shall not fail.

What he intended, will be seen at
large in the next chapter.