University of Virginia Library

CHAP. VII.[65]

KWo-khé-tzu having thus married a
wife, who was his aversion, in all
respects the reverse of Shuey-ping-sin,
was greatly perplexed and disturbed in
his mind. "And yet, said he to himself,
although Ghiang-koo my bride is
very ugly, she hath a great deal of reason

for what she says: and if she should
do herself any violence, it will be attributed
to me." He therefore ordered
his servants to keep along with her, and
take care no harm happened to her
in his absence.

This done, he went to visit the Che-foo;
to whom with a heavy heart he related
the villainous trick Shuey-guwin had
played him; who after carrying him to
see his niece, and encouraging a marriage
contract between them, had put his ugly
daughter upon him in her stead: "I
have also been, said he, at vast expence
in this affair; yet that I regard not;
but to be thus out-witted and made a
a jest of, I cannot endure: I hope
therefore, he added, as you, Sir, are
acquainted with my father, for the

sake of his honour you will not suffer
me to be so scandalously imposed on."

"Certainly, replied that Mandarine,
Shuey-guwin hath done very ill in puting
this abuse upon you: but you yourself
have been also to blame; you
should have proceeded on greater certainty.
Why did not you send the
nuptial present to the house of the
young lady herself? When you received
the eight letters, why did not you cause
inquiry to be made whether they were
truly hers? The papers of invitation
were in the name of her uncle: yesterday
you went yourself to his house:
and you have accordingly brought
away his daughter: there is nothing
irregular in all this. Had you gone
to the house of Shuey-ping-sin, and thence

carried away the other, so flagrant an
imposition and fraud had been punishable.
But if you found yourself cheated
in your bride, why did not you
send her back the same night you were
married? then your charge would have
procured credit, and you might have
obtained redress: now it cannot be had in
the ordinary course of justice: we must
go more artfully to work. I will send
for Shuey-guwin and talk over the matter
with him calmly: perhaps by fair
and gentle means I may gradually
draw forth a discovery of the truth.
But with regard to his carrying you to
see his niece, that will not be proper to
be laid before the public; neither can
it give any advantage to your cause. Go
home then, make no more disturbance;
on the contrary seem contented and
happy: above all things carry it kindly
to your wife, lest you drive her to extremities,
that may occasion you infinite
trouble." Kwo-khé-tzu finding there
was no better course to be taken, thanked
him and promised to follow his
advice.

All this while Shuy-guwin was not
more happy: he had no sooner sent
away his daughter, but he began to
apprehend what might follow. He slept
not a wink all that night, but getting
up in the morning at break of day,
sent people to the house of the bridegroom
to listen if they could hear any
disturbance. Intelligence was brought
him that every thing was in profound
quiet. He revolved again and again
what could be the meaning of this

tranquility: he could not account to
himself for this passive conduct of Kwo-khé-tzu,
whose fiery temper he knew
very well, and whose resentment he
had so much right to expect. In the
midst of reflections of this kind he
received a message that the Che-foo
wanted to see him. Then his mind
misgave him, and he suspected every
thing was not right. With an aching
heart he waited on that magistrate:
who received him into the second
hall[66] , and after the customary salute
invited him to sit down. Then ordering
all the servants out of the room, he
very mildly opened the matter. "Kwo-khé-tzu,
said he, this morning presented
a petition to me, wherein he accuses
you of very criminal practices. You
know that even I interested myself to
bring on a marriage between him and
your niece: how then could you palm
your daughter upon him? You have
not only deceived that young nobleman,
but me also; and thereby shewn
me the greatest slight and disrespect
imaginable. Now justice demands that
this fraud should be punished with the
utmost rigour, and the youth himself
insists upon it: but having a respect
for your brother, who was a great
Mandarine, I was unwilling to proceed
to severities, 'till I had talked
over the matter with you in friendship.
Pray therefore let me know the whole
truth, otherwise I must shew you no
favour." Frighted at these words,
Shuey-guwin fell on his knees, "Sir,
said he, my life is in your hands: how
then can I dare to deceive you? Yesterday's
business hath ten thousand intricacies
in it: but it was not of my seeking:
it was a violence upon my inclinations;
and if you will pardon me, I
will let you know all that relates to it."
The Che-foo bade him rise and speak
without reserve. "Let me then inform
you Sir, said he, that my niece,
whose aversion to this marriage is not
unknown to yourself, is the spring and
mover of all this confusion.
Every step that has been taken
was the effect of her management:
for she hath a surprizing capacity.
Yesterday when the bridegroom came
for his wife, I went to my niece, expecting
she was ready to go with him: instead
of that she flew into a passion, and
refused to comply, insisting upon it
that it was no affair of hers; but suggested
to me for my own security,
to obtrude my daughter upon him in
her stead: which far from being the
result of my own choice or intentions,
was merely owing to that necessity
to which she had reduced me. This
considered therefore, and as it cannot
be recalled, let me intreat you to intercede
with Kwo-khé-tzu to forgive me."
"And is your niece indeed so ingenious,
said the Che-foo? truly I cannot
but admire[67] a lady of such uncommon
spirit and understanding. If it be so,
justice is disarmed: only I fear this
young gentleman will still nourish for
her a fruitless passion." "The disappointment,
said Shuey-guwin, may possibly
increase it: however as all is now
over, and as my niece is quiet and composed,
nor thinks any longer of a marriage
she hath got clear of so handsomely,
it will be best not to alarm her afresh,
but to let the affair sleep, at least for
the present. Yet if he will not be prevailed
on to forget her; let him wait
a little with patience: I hope yet for
an opportunity to obtain her for him."
The Mandarine, glad to hear him
speak thus, said, "If you can still effect
this marriage, you will entirely disarm
all resentment, and convince the world
you were no way blameable. But then if
this young lady hath so much wit, you
will not easily over-reach her." "Now
my daughter is married, and all is
quiet, he replied, my niece will be no
longer on her guard. If you will please
to send for the young gentleman, I will
talk over the matter here before you."

The Che-foo assented, and Kwo-khé-tzu
accordingly came. When they had
unravelled the whole affair, the youth
remained fully satisfied, and told him,
"If you will still endeavour to procure
me your beautiful niece, I shall entirely
forget the injury done me, nor shall
the less esteem and respect your daughter.
But what means can you think of
to effect your purpose?" "I am not
unprovided of these, said the other. Do
you go home, caress and make much of
your wife: touch not on the affair of Shuey-ping
sin, nor on any thing that hath past:
let no dissatisfaction appear in your
face, on the contrary seem contented and
happy: and on the third, the sixth, the
ninth or twelfth day, on any one of
these, when it is usual to entertain the

relations, the men in the outer apartments
and the women within, let my
niece be invited with the rest: you
must also intreat the presence of the
two Mandarines of the city. The eight
letters of Nean-kung you must get
changed to those of my niece, whom it
will be the principal part of your management
to induce to come by means
of your wife, and by all gentle and persuasive
methods. Every thing being
thus previously disposed, when she is
arrived at your house and got into the
hall, you must produce the eight letters,
and pronouncing them to be hers, tax
her with the former deceit she was
guilty of, and appeal to the magistrates
and company for the right you have
to do yourself justice. How after this
can she avoid marrying you?" Kwo-khé-tzu
was charmed with his plausible
contrivance, and pronounced it excellent.
The Che-foo himself thought it
well concerted, yet doubted of its success
from the proofs she had given of
her great penetration, apprehending she
would hardly be induced to come."
"Why not, said her uncle? my daughter
lives in great harmony with her
husband: all is quiet: what then should
alarm her?" Here they parted.

Shuey-guwin went home to his house,
and from thence to that of his niece.
He dropped not a syllable that could
give her suspicion: on the contrary he
complimented her on her great ingenuity,
in having extricated him so well

out of all his difficulties. She received
his applauses with a becoming
modesty. "I was this morning, said
he, very uneasy and fearful of mischief,
for which reason I sent spies to
listen if all was right; they brought
me back notice that every thing was
quiet: perhaps it is so, and he is not
disatisfied with my daughter." "I can
hardly be persuaded to believe that,
she replied; I am well assured he cannot
love her: you will yet perhaps hear
something about them." "That is by
no means likely now," said he as he
withdrew: who went home admiring
the shrewd and subtle spirit of his
niece, and fearing every thing from so
piercing a discernment.

On the other hand Kwo-khé-tzu was
so sanguine about the success of their
artifice, that he thought twelve days
as long as so many years: for in order
to remove suspicion, he had brought
himself to fix on the longest day.
Three days therefore before it came,
he sent five Tieh-tse or papers of invitation[68]
, one for the young lady, the rest

for her uncle and his three sons. Shuey-guwin
carried that for his niece to her
himself. "The day, said he, that I
followed your advice and sent away
my daughter, I was very apprehensive
of bad consequences. You encouraged
me and rather foretold a great deal of
joy. Your prediction is now verified,
and all is right between her and her
husband; otherwise he would hardly
have sent us these invitations: here is
one directed for yourself; which, as
there will be other female relations
there, it will be but right in you to
comply with." The young lady assented.
"If you intend to go then, said
her uncle, it is customary always to
send some present a day or two before."
She agreed it was proper. Upon which
he run and fetched the gilded paper
and paint for her to write the particulars
of the present[69] : in the mean
while she desired him to get it ready,
for as it was for a new relation, she
would have it conducted in the genteelest
manner. Shuey-guwin obeyed
her with great satisfaction, and went to
his son-in-law to tell him that his niece
would certainly come. "Prepare, said
he, the Nean-kung: she suspects nothing:
I told you this was the way to
catch her." Kwo-khé-tzu got ready
the piece of silk together with the proper
letters, and gave them to his wife
to fix them on.

Shuey-guwin had notwithstanding frequent
returns of doubt and distrust,
fearing that some whim would seize his
niece, and prevent her from going at
the time appointed. He went therefore
the day before, and advised Kwo-khé-tzu
to send two of his maids to know

if she wovld assuredly come. He approved
of his advice and sent the women
accordingly: who together with
enquiries after her health, said that her
company would give such pleasure to
their master and mistress, that they
could not be satisfied 'till they had
sent to know whether she would
certainly favour them with it. She
told them, if they had not paid her this
compliment she intended to go and wish
them joy. This she spoke with a very
pleasant countenance, ordering tea to be
brought, and appointing them to sit
down on one side of the room. While
the servants were gone for tea, she asked
them; "Hath your mistress been well
since she came home?" One of them
answered, "She hath been very well,
and passes her time with much satisfaction
in playing, telling stories, and
such diversions." "This morning,
said the other, my master brought her
a piece of red twan-ze or taffaty to fix
something of embroidery upon it."
"Flowers I suppose," said Shuey-ping-sin.
"They were neither flowers, nor
any thing in colours, she answered:
but something in gold." "Possibly
letters," said the young lady. "Yes,
she replied, they were letters." She
asked how many pieces there were:
and was answered about seven or eight.
Then having entertained and given
them presents, she dismissed them.
They returned home with answer that
the young lady would not fail to come.

"Twice, said Kwo-khé-tzu, have messages
been sent, they must go again tomorrow
which will finish the compliment.
Accordingly he gave them a golden
box curiously wrought, in which he
inclosed ten large pearls of the finest
water: and sent them away with proper
instructions. Shuey-guwin who was
present inquired the meaning of this.
"The eight letters, said he, have been
followed by no present, for which reason
I send these jewels." "You are
right, said the other; you have as good
a head as my niece: you know what belongs
to ceremonies[70] . When once

you are married what a sensible pair
will you two make?"

The maids carried the present in the
name of the bride, whose compliments
they presented with a great deal of ceremony,

intreating her ladyship to let
their mistress see her as soon as possible,
for that she had a thousand things to
talk over with her. "She likewise,
proceeded they, intreats your acceptance
of this box of pearls: which she
gave us to present to you privately as
a small acknowledgement for the trouble
your ladyship had at her wedding."

"These pearls, said Shuey-ping-sin
looking upon the box and its contents,
are exceedingly precious indeed:
if they are to be sold, my house is not
valuable enough to purchase them: if
they are a present, I dare not be bold
enough to accept them: therefore carry
them back again to your lady: I will
at least defer my acceptance of them

till I see her." The women express'd
an unwillingness to carry them back.
"Well, said she, on no other condition
will I go to your house." The maids
not being prepared for this accident,
with some difficulty took up the box
and carry'd it back with them.

By this time arrived Shuey-guwin,
who commanded her servants to get
ready the chair of state and the Whangsan
or umbrella. His niece hearing him
cried out, that so much ceremony and
trouble was needless. "Needless! replied
he; at the house of your cousin
yonder are assembled a great many
Mandarines and people of quality; and
every thing is disposed with the utmost
grandeur: and will not you make a

suitable preparation?" "My father, said
she, is in disgrace and banishment: how
will it appear for me to assume so much
pomp and state at a juncture like this?
It will not only expose me to the derision
of the world, but should the Emperor
hear of it, he will think that our
house contemns his authority. Pray
uncle don't give yourself so much trouble,
when I am able to give orders myself."
"Well then, said Shuey-guwin,
if I leave you to yourself; how will
you proceed?" "Yesterday, replied
she, came here four countrymen, that
brought corn with them; two of them
I ordered to stay: there is a little chair
in the house, which two men can
carry: they shall attend me with that."
"Should you come in that manner,
said her uncle, would you not be more
exposed to the laughter of mankind?
Would your relations and the other
visitants shew you any respect?" "Let
me be laught at or affronted, said she,
I go notwithstanding no otherwise than
I ought." When Shuey-guwin found her
so determined, he said, "Enough! it
shall be as you please. It is high time
for me to go: I hope we shall presently
see you there." He then took his three
sons with him and departed.

Kwo-khé-tzu, who waited for her arrival
with the utmost impatience, had
sent people to inform him of all her
motions: and when he heard that she
was preparing to come, was hardly able
to contain his joy. He then applied to

the Che-foo and Chi-hien to be witnesses
to the marriage: and having sent for
four counsellors[71] , he laid before them
the steps he had taken, both the box of
jewels which had been sent for a present,
and her writing of eight letters
which he had to produce. He then
ordered seven or eight lusty women
to be ready, who immediately when
she was set down were to prevent
her from getting away, as also from
flying into any outrage. He had likewise
prepared a chamber for her reception,
set off with the richest furniture of gold
and silver. Mid-day was now past, when
intelligence was brought him, that the
young lady was set out. He was presently
informed she was arrived half way.
Transported at the news he instantly
planted the music at the gates, ordering
them the moment she arrived to sound
aloud the marriage song[72] . So great was
his impatience, that the chair not instantly
appearing, he could not forbear going
out to look for it[73] . At a distance he
beheld it coming, attended by four welllooking
maids, and followed by seven
or eight servants. Ravished at the
sight, he stay'd in the street till they were
got pretty near: he then hasted in, and
told the company that his new bride
was just at the door. They all wished
him joy, except the two Mandarines
of the city, who said one to the other,
"This young person discovered at first
a great deal of sense: but there is a weakness
in women, which notwithstanding
their wit fails not to appear one time
or other; and in this inconstancy they
are inferior to men." "This is a poor
unfortunate girl, said the other; with all
her caution and foresight she at length
is fallen into the snare."

Scarce had he spoke, when Shuey-ping-sin
arrived at the gates; and the
four female attendants lifting up the

chair, she rose from her seat[74] in order to
go out. At the same instant the music
and trumpets began to sound. Struck
with the noise, and alarmed at the sight
of the eight women planted near the
door, she set herself down again in her
chair, and turn'd her face aside in great
displeasure, saying, "The noise of this
ugly music is enough to tear one's head
to pieces: it would kill me if I was to
go in!" Then immediately she gave a
signal to return, and her attendants
carried her out of sight in a moment:
they came the more slowly, in order to
make their retutn the speedier.