University of Virginia Library

CHAP. 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 for his desisting that should
favour his cause: he therefore gave in
his petition to the following effect.

"I your Majesty's vassal present
this petition concerning the affair
that hath so lately happened. The
truth is, I was at first disposed to
marry my son to the daughter of
Shuey-keu-yé, and for that reason
applied to her father in his behalf:
but afterwards hearing many things

prejudicial to the fame of the young
lady, I laid aside my intention.
How then could my son be supposed
likely to make an attempt
upon her by force[38] ? I submit this
to your Majesty's consideration."

Tieh-chung-u saw this petition of his
adversary, and instantly presented another
to the Emperor in answer to it.

"I Tieh-chung-u in obedience to your
Majesty's orders, make this my petition,
speaking truth without guile.
I did not presume to trouble your
Majesty before on this subject, as

the affair was trifling, and related
only to a private family. I was travelling
through the provinces, by
permission of my father, when lo!
in the city of Tséé-nan I was interrupted
by a great tumult and
disturbance in the streets: I inquired
the cause, and learnt that the
son of Kwo-sho-su was carrying away
the daughter of Shuey-keu-yé, in order
to marry her by force. Hearing
of this outrage, though I was then
but a stripling, I was filled with indignation,
and said, in marriage
the consent of both parties, and
other solemn rites are necessary.
The Che-hien yielding to my remonstrance,
caused the lady to be carried
back to her house. All this while
I had no personal knowledge of
the parties: nor had any other view
but to promote peace and concord.
The son of Kwo-sho-su finding
that I had hindered his unlawful
designs, entertained a violent hatred
against me. I was lodged in a Pagoda
or convent. He applied to the Bonzee
of the convent to give me poison.
It was accordingly administered
to me in my victuals. I was
seized with violent illness, and at
the point of death. Shuey-ping-sin
discovering that I was dangerously
ill upon her account, was greatly
concerned, and caused her people
to convey me to her house. I was
then too much disordered to know
any thing of the matter: but she
did it purely out of gratitude to
repay the services she fancied
I had done her. While I was in
her house I observed the strictest
modesty[39] , nor gave the least occasion
for scandal. With regard to
the marriage contracted with her
afterwards, I did it in obedience
to my father and mother; and this
was owing to my having been
surety[40] for the general Hû-hiau,
who by the victories he obtained,
brought the young lady's father out
of a long exile, which he had suffered
at the instigation of Kwo-sho-su.
The general observing that
I was young and unmarried, in order
to return the benefits I had
done him, became mediator and
bridesman in my behalf, and applied
to Shuey-keu-yé to give me his
daughter in marriage. All this they
concerted among themselves without
my knowledge. But notwithstanding
the marriage hath been twice
solemnized, it is not yet consummated:
so careful have we been
about our reputation and good fame.
We have even lived together under
the same roof with all the innocence
of infants. This I here set
forth in my petition conformably to
your Majesty's orders."

The young lady in like manner presented
her petition to the Emperor.

"I Shuey-ping-sin in conformity to
your Majesty's command, make
this true memorial. I was left an
orphan by the death of my mother,
and by my father's banishment: I
remained alone in my house, where
I lived in the greatest reserve and
retirement[41] . In this solitude how
could I make a marriage-contract?
All [the present disturbance] springs
from the Mandarine Kwo-sho-su.
His son, who is of the same city
with myself, held me in such
contempt, as to form designs
of marrying me by force: he got
me into his power by a counterfeit
order from your Majesty.

As he was carrying me away we
were met by Tieh-chung-u: who seeing
this outrage applied to the Che-hien
in my behalf. That Magistrate
ordered me to be carried back to my
house. Kwo-khé-tzu, inraged at his
disappointment, conceived violent hatred
against my deliverer, and sought
all means of revenge. The latter being
lodged in a Convent, the other
commanded the Bonzee to give him
poison; which brought him to the
point of death. Hearing of his danger,
I resolved to run the risk of
my reputation, rather than let my
benefactor perish. I ordered him
therefore to be conveyed to my
house, that I might superintend his
cure. I remained under the same roof
with him, with the greatest[42] purity
and modesty, without any bad thought.
He is no less innocent. Whatever
is represented as disorderly in our
marriage is false. It was undertaken
and conducted by my father. The
General Hû-hiau was bridesman or
mediator, and gave himself the trouble
of settling the contract. But
although we are married, we have
not yet cohabited. This being a
private concern between man and
wife, we thought it unnecessary to
trouble your Majesty about it. The
liberty I take now is in obedience
to your Majesty's command, to
whose wisdom I refer the justice
of my cause."

The Mandarine Tieh-ying presented
likewise a memorial to the Emperor.

"I the Tu-cha-yuen, or Superior of
the Viceroys, Tieh-ying by name, with
great respect and reverence present
this memorial to your Majesty. The
rites of marriage ought to be
observed by the father and mother
of each party. When a father wants
to marry his son, it behoves him
to seek out a woman of honour
and virtue. My son, who is created
one of the first doctors of the
empire, cannot but understand all
the ceremonies and customs: much
less could he dare to violate the laws.
We being your Majesty's vassals, and
advanced to the honourable charge

of Mandarines, could not presume
to take any steps that were not legal.
The young lady Shuey-ping-sin
hath too much virtue and good
sense to consent to any step injurious
to her reputation. Whatever
therefore is represented as disorderly
in their marriage, is contrary
to truth. But all these troubles
are brought upon me through the
hatred and envy of certain persons.
This memorial I make in obedience
to your Majesty, whose wisdom will
clearly discern the truth."

The father of the young lady presented
also his memorial to the Emperor.

"I the President of the Tribunal

of Arms, named Shuey-keu-yé, with
great reverence and respect present
this memorial to your Majesty.
In marriage, there ought to be the
intire consent of both parties, free
from all force and compulsion.
With respect to my daughter,
she would by no means be prevailed
on to marry Kwo-khé-tzu;
whose father being one of your Majesty's
great councellors, and having
charge of the whole empire, ought
to know all the laws and customs.
And yet hath he been guilty of the
greatest outrage, and still persists in
presenting memorials to your Majesty
full of lies and falsehood, defaming
the honour of ladies, principally
that of my daughter; who
hath already presented her memorial,
which I beg leave to refer to
your Majesty.

These five petitions or memorials were
presented to the Emperor. His Majesty
received them, and calling together all
the Mandarines of his council into his
palace, he required them to take the petitions,
and examine them carefully.
They obeyed his commands, and were
agreed as to the truth of the facts, viz.
That Kwo-khé-tzu had carried away the
lady by force: and that Tieh-chung-u
was in her house to be nursed in his
illness: but whether their behaviour
together afterwards was as pure and
unblemished as was represented, they
could not determine. To this end

it was necessary to inquire of the Man-darine,
who filled the post of Che-hien
when the affair happened. Immediately
an order was issued out
to cite that Mandarine before them:
who accordingly arrived. The Emperor
himself examined him. "You
that were then Che-hien of that district,
are you acquainted with the affair between
Tieh-chung-u and Shuey-ping-sin?
Take here these five memorials, consider
thoroughly on which side lies
the truth, and tell me truly as far as
you know; otherwise you shall be punished
in the same manner as the offenders
themselves." The Pao Che-hien
perused the papers, and assured
his Majesty that as far he had opportunity
of knowing, the defendants
had asserted nothing but the truth; that
indeed with regard to the regularity
of their marriage afterwards, he was not
able to pronounce about it, as it had
been altogether conducted at Pe-king.

The Eunuch Chou told the Emperor,
that with respect to every thing that
past before, it might possibly be true;
but after having been twice married,
it was not credible that they had observed
so strict a chastity, as they would
insinuate. The Emperor agreed that
his remark was just. Then he issued
out an order for all the Mandarines
of the court to meet together at the
palace the next morning; and for Tieh-chung-u
and the young lady to attend
them.