Jin Pin Mei (金瓶梅）Chapter 10

Chapter Ten ？：The Gallant Man Is Sent in Penal Exile on the Road to Mengzhou (孟州道); His Wives and Concubines Make Merry in the Hibiscus Pavilion (芙蓉亭)

To the tune of “Lyrics” (词曰):

In mid-autumn, on the fifteenth day of the eighth month,
a cool gust stirs ever so lightly;
this is the very season when hibiscus blooms.
What household’s sisters are these, contending in fresh adornment,
walking hand in hand through the garden grove?
They have snapped off flowering branches,
with a jeweled vase following behind.
When they come home, their pleasure in them depends entirely on wine.
Three cups deep in drunkenness, they break through sorrow’s walls;
yet when they wake, those grieving thoughts will likely come again.

Now then, Wu Song (武松), was seized by the local baojia men and taken to the county office to see the magistrate; we need not dwell on that. Let us instead speak of how Ximen Qing (西门庆) leapt down from the upper window, crept flat against the ground, and hid himself in another man’s courtyard. It turned out to be the house of Old Hu (胡老人), the physician. Presently one of the serving girls from that house, a great fat wench, came to the privy to wash her hands. Cocking that broad backside of hers, she suddenly caught sight of a man crouched beneath the courtyard wall. She could not even step forward properly before she cried out, “A thief! A thief!”

Old Hu (胡老人), in a fright, hurried in. One look, and he recognized Ximen Qing (西门庆). He said, “Great Sir, this is lucky indeed. Wu Song (武松), could not find you, and beat that other fellow to death instead. The local men have taken him to the county to face the authorities. Once he has gone there, it will surely be a capital charge. Great Sir, you may go home now. I dare say all will be well.”

Ximen Qing (西门庆) thanked Old Hu (胡老人) and, swaying as he went, returned home. He told Pan Jinlian (潘金莲) the whole story, point by point. The two of them clapped their hands and laughed with delight, thinking the trouble now removed. The woman told Ximen Qing (西门庆) to spend freely, high and low, and make certain Wu Song (武松) was finished off once for all, so that he should never be let out again. Ximen Qing (西门庆), on his side, at once sent his trusted servant Laiwang (来旺) with a gift for the magistrate: a set of gold-and-silver wine vessels and fifty taels of silver. He also distributed a great deal of money among the clerks and runners above and below, with one aim only: that Wu Song (武松) should not receive a light examination.

The magistrate took the bribe, and the next day he mounted the hall. The local officers brought in Wu Song (武松), along with the wine-shop keeper and the whole band of singers, all kneeling before the court. The county lord darkened his face and barked, “Wu Song (武松)! Yesterday you made a false accusation against an innocent man. I bore with you again and again. Why did you refuse to keep within the law, and now, on top of that, kill a man for nothing?”

Wu Song (武松) replied, “Your humble servant had a grudge against Ximen Qing (西门庆) and went looking for him to fight. By ill chance I ran into this man instead. He concealed Ximen Qing (西门庆) and would not tell me where he was. In a burst of rage I struck him and killed him by mistake. I only beg Your Honor to see justice done for me, seize Ximen Qing (西门庆), put him to death according to law, and avenge this wrong done my elder brother Wu Dalang (武大郎). As for the crime of mistakenly killing this man, I am willing to pay for it with my life.”

The magistrate said, “Nonsense from a rogue! Did you not know he was a yamen runner of this county? Since you beat him to death, there must be some other cause. Why drag Ximen Qing (西门庆) into it as well? If you are not beaten, how will you confess?” He shouted to the attendants to apply torture.

At once three or four yamen runners on either side dragged Wu Song (武松) to the ground and rained twenty blows on him like pelting drops. Beaten thus, Second Brother Wu (武二) cried out again and again that he had been wronged: “Your humble servant has also rendered service and spent strength on Your Honor’s behalf. Can Your Honor show no pity? Do not torment your humble servant with cruel punishment!”

When the magistrate heard this, he grew even more enraged. “You dog!” he said. “You killed a man with your own hands, and still you stand stubborn and refuse to admit it. Who is there to blame but you?” Then he shouted, “Twist him hard for me!”

So they again tightened the torture on Wu Song (武松), and after that struck him with fifty strokes of the rod. Then the magistrate ordered a heavy face-cangue brought, had it put on him, and committed him to prison. The rest of the people were lodged under guard in the gatehouse. Among the county subordinates there were two assistant officials who were on good terms with Wu Song (武二). Knowing him to be a man of fierce loyalty, they wished in their hearts to help him. Yet all of them had been bought over by Ximen Qing’s (西门庆) bribes; their mouths were sealed, and they could make no decision of their own.

Since Wu Song (武松) persisted only in crying injustice, the matter dragged on for several days. At last they had no choice but to take down a muddled confession. Then they summoned the clerks in charge, the coroner, and the neighboring witnesses, and went under escort to Lion Street to inspect the corpse of Li Waichuan (李外传), filling out the formal death report. It was written, in plain terms, that Wu Song (武松), while asking him why the money had been unfairly divided, flew into a drunken rage, and in the course of a fight struck him with fists and feet, so that he fell and died. On the left ribs, the face, the chest, and the groin there were bruises of greater and lesser degree, blue and red. The inspection being completed, they returned to the county office. One day later a written report was prepared and sent up to Dongping Prefecture (东平府), asking for approval and sentence.

Now the Prefect of Dongping (东平府) was named Chen Wenzhao (陈文昭), a native of Henan. He was a most upright and incorrupt official. As soon as the report reached him, he mounted the hall at once. As for the man himself:

He was upright all his life and wise in his disposition.
In youth he bent over books by the snow-lit desk;
when grown, he answered policy questions before the Golden Throne.
He always held loyal devotion and filial feeling in his heart,
and in government he ever showed kindness.
The households were well registered, the taxes and grain duly managed,
and the common people praised him through all the streets;
lawsuits dwindled, thieves and bandits ceased,
and old men sang his praises through the market lanes.
So it may rightly be said:
His name is written in the blue annals for a thousand years,
his fame resounds in the magistrate’s hall for all ages.
Worthy and upright, he is called a clear blue heaven,
straight and incorrupt, a true father and mother to the people.

When Prefect Chen Wenzhao (陈文昭) had taken his seat in the hall, he ordered all the accused to be brought forward. First he read the memorial sent up by Qinghe County (清河县), then he examined each deposition and draft finding. What, in fact, was written there? It said:

“To Dongping Prefecture (东平府), from Qinghe County (清河县), concerning a case of homicide: the accused Wu Song (武松), aged twenty-eight, a native of Yanggu County (阳谷县). Because of his bodily strength, he had been assigned in this county as a constable. Returning from official duty, he went to make offerings to his deceased elder brother and discovered that his sister-in-law, the Pan woman Pan Jinlian (潘金莲), had not kept the full mourning period and had presumed to remarry. On that day Wu Song (武松), while eavesdropping at the mouth of an alley, happened upon Li Waichuan (李外传) at Wang Luan’s (王鸾) winehouse on Lion Street (狮子街). Being drunk, he demanded repayment of a previous loan of three hundred cash, which Li Waichuan (李外传) refused to give; then, by further mischance, the two came to blows and fought one another, each refusing to yield, seizing, striking, and kicking, so that the injuries proved fatal and death followed on the spot. There are as witnesses the singing women Madam Niu (牛氏) and Madam Bao (包氏), and the accused was thereupon apprehended by the local baojia men. An investigating officer went to the place of the corpse, summoned the coroner and the village functionaries, made full examination, took depositions and sworn statements, drew the diagram, and forwarded the papers here; on review nothing differs. It is proposed that Wu Song (武松) be sentenced under the statute for death caused in fighting, regardless of whether by hands, by other objects, or over money, and be punished by strangulation. The tavern keeper Wang Luan (王鸾), together with Madam Niu (牛氏) and Madam Bao (包氏), have all clearly testified and are guiltless. The matter is therefore submitted for disposition. We respectfully request approval and enforcement.

“On the __ day of the eighth month, third year of Zhenghe (政和三年八月),
signed: Magistrate Li Datian (李达天), County Vice-Magistrate Le He’an (乐和安), Registrar Hua Helu (华荷禄), Chief Clerk Xia Gongji (夏恭基), and Office Clerk Qian Lao (钱劳).”

After the Prefect had read it once through, he had Wu Song (武松) brought before him and asked, “How was it that you killed this Li Waichuan (李外传)?”

Wu Song (武松) did nothing but knock his head upon the ground and cry, “Blue Heaven, my lord! At last I have come before the court and may see the light of day. Only let your humble servant speak. I dare to speak.”

The Prefect said, “Speak on, then.”

Thereupon Wu Song (武松) recounted in full how Ximen Qing (西门庆) had seduced and taken Pan Jinlian (潘金莲), how his brother Wu Dalang (武大郎) had caught them in adultery, how he had been kicked in the chest, and how afterward the county had refused to accept the complaint. He told the whole course of events from first to last, and said, “Your humble servant went to avenge his elder brother, and while seeking out Ximen Qing (西门庆) for a fight, struck this man to death by mistake. In truth, I bear a wrong and a grievance. But Ximen Qing (西门庆) has great money, and no one can move against him. My death would be no pity. Only my brother Wu Dalang (武大郎), beneath the earth, died with his wrong unredressed and his life cast away.”

The Prefect said, “You need say no more. I know the whole matter already.” Then he called for the office clerk Qian Lao (钱劳) and had him soundly beaten with twenty boards, saying, “That magistrate of yours has no business holding office. Why does he indulge his feelings and sell the law in this fashion?”

He then re-examined each person one by one, and with his own brush altered Wu Song’s (武松) recorded confession. Turning to the two assistant officials, he said, “This man sought vengeance for his brother, and in error killed Li Waichuan (李外传). He is a loyal and gallant fellow. This is not the same as the deliberate murder of an ordinary man.”

Thereupon he had the heavy cangue removed and replaced it with a lighter one for a lesser offense, and had him confined in prison. All the others were sent back to their home county to await further orders. At the same time he issued documents to Qinghe County (清河县), commanding that the wicked and violent Ximen Qing (西门庆) be brought in, together with the sister-in-law Pan Jinlian (潘金莲), Wang Po (王婆), the lad Yunge (郓哥), and the coroner He Jiu (何九), and that the whole matter be investigated publicly and to the bottom, for memorial to the Throne and final disposition. In the Dongping Prefecture (东平府) jail, everyone knew that Wu Song (武松) was a fine hero; for that reason the jailers and turnkey runners did not take a single coin from him, but instead gave him food and wine to eat.

Before long the news of this affair reached Qinghe County (清河县). Ximen Qing (西门庆), when he heard it, was all at sea and lost his composure. Chen Wenzhao (陈文昭) was an incorrupt official, and Ximen Qing (西门庆) dared not try to bribe him directly. He could only go and beg the trusted men in the household of his in-law, the Chen family, and at the same time send his servant Laiwang (来旺) by night post to the capital, Dongjing (东京), with a letter for Yang Tiduo (杨提督). Yang Tiduo (杨提督), in turn, appealed through the Grand Preceptor Cai Jing (蔡京). The Grand Preceptor, fearing that Magistrate Li Datian’s (李达天) reputation might be harmed, promptly dispatched a secret letter especially to Dongping Prefecture (东平府), ordering that Ximen Qing (西门庆) and Pan Jinlian (潘金莲) should not be summoned.

Now Chen Wenzhao (陈文昭) had formerly served as a judicial official in the Court of Judicial Review, and had afterward risen to be Prefect of Dongping (东平府). He was also a disciple of Grand Preceptor Cai Jing (蔡京); and since Yang Tiduo (杨提督) was likewise an official whose voice carried weight before the court, he felt obliged to satisfy all sides. Thus he spared Wu Song’s (武松) life, but sentenced him to forty blows across the back with the cudgel, and ordered that he be tattooed and sent in penal exile two thousand li away to military service. Besides, Wu Dalang (武大郎) was already dead, his body and injuries no longer extant; the matter was doubtful and uncertain, and so was not pursued. All the other persons implicated were released to return peaceably to their homes. After the report was submitted to the provincial authorities, and once the paperwork came back approved, the sentence was immediately carried out.

Chen Wenzhao (陈文昭) had Wu Song (武松) brought from the prison and, before the court, read aloud the imperial decree now formally descended from above. The heavy cangue was removed from him; but there was no escaping the forty blows across the back. Then a seven-and-a-half-catty iron collar-cangue was fastened on him, two rows of golden characters were tattooed upon his face, and he was assigned in exile to the prison city at Mengzhou (孟州). All the other cases having been disposed of, the Prefect had the official documents sealed on the spot and ordered two escort officers to take custody of Wu Song (武松) and deliver him to Mengzhou (孟州).

That same day Wu Song (武松), together with the two escorting officers, departed Dongping Prefecture (东平府) and came back to his home in the county. There he sold off most of his household things, gave the two officers travel expenses for the road, and entrusted Ying’er (迎儿) to the care of his left-hand neighbor Yao Erlang (姚二郎), saying, “If ever by imperial grace I am pardoned and released and return home, I shall repay this kindness heavily and never dare forget it.”

The neighbors of the street, and the better households thereabouts, seeing that Wu Song (武二) was a man of loyalty and that such misfortune had befallen him, all contributed money to help him. Some sent silver; some brought wine, food, rice, and cash. Wu Song (武松) then went to the quarters where he was lodged, asked the guards to bring out his baggage and bundle, and that very day left Qinghe County (清河县) and took the road, making his gradual way along the great highway toward Mengzhou (孟州). A poem bears witness:

The Prefect reviewed the case and held fast to highest justice;
Wu Song (武松), half dead, found once more a way through.
Today he goes in exile to the prison city;
sick grass, rank and trailing, meets the warmth of spring.

Here let Wu Song (武松), going into penal exile at Mengzhou (孟州), pass out of the tale for the moment.

And now let us speak of Ximen Qing (西门庆). When he heard that Wu Song (武松) was already on the road, it was as though a great stone dropped from his heart. His chest felt cleared, as if a lump had been dissolved, and he was very much at ease. Thereupon he gave orders at home to his servants Laiwang (来旺), Laibao (来保), and Laixing (来兴), that they should tidy and clean the Hibiscus Pavilion (芙蓉亭) in the rear garden, set up painted screens, hang rich embroidered curtains, and prepare a splendid banquet. He also summoned a troupe of musicians to pipe, pluck, sing, and dance. Then he invited First Lady Wu Yueniang (吴月娘), Second Li Jiao’er (李娇儿), Third Meng Yulou (孟玉楼), Fourth Sun Xue’e (孙雪娥), and Fifth Pan Jinlian (潘金莲), so that the whole household made merry over wine. The wives of the servants, together with maidservants and waiting girls, stood in attendance on both sides. And truly:

Incense burned in a precious tripod; flowers were set in golden vases.
Ancient curios from Xiangzhou lay in ordered display;
the curtains parted on bright pearls from Hepu.
In crystal dishes there were heaped red jujubes and cross pears;
in cups of green jade foamed nectar and liquid jade.
Dragon liver was cooked, phoenix breast was roasted—
indeed, each mouthful seemed worth ten thousand cash.
Black bear paws and purple camel hooves
came after the wine, and their fragrance filled the room.
Tea-cakes were ground fine, and in white jade bowls the white froth rose;
sweet liquor was poured, and from purple-gold ewers clear scent streamed out.
Only Mengchang Jun himself might rival such display;
in this one thing even Shi Chong’s wealth might be put to shame.

At that time Ximen Qing (西门庆) and Wu Yueniang (吴月娘) sat in the place of honor, while the others were ranged on either side. Cups were passed, goblets handled, flowers clustered and brocades piled. In the midst of the drinking, the page Daian (玳安) led in a young serving lad and a little girl whose hair had only just grown down to her brows, both bright and clever-looking, carrying two boxes. They said, “The Hua family next door has sent flowers for the ladies to wear.”

They came before Ximen Qing (西门庆), Wu Yueniang (吴月娘), and the rest, kowtowed, and stood aside, saying, “Our mistress has sent these boxes of cakes and flowers for Madam Ximen (西门大娘) to enjoy.”

When the boxes were opened, one held imperial-style gold cakes with pepper-salt filling, and the other newly plucked fresh jade-hairpin blossoms. Wu Yueniang (吴月娘) was full of pleasure and said, “Your mistress is too thoughtful again.” While she was having the dishes attended to, she ordered that the two children be given some cakes to eat. Then she gave the little girl a kerchief and the boy a hundred cash, saying, “Carry my thanks back to your mistress and tell her many thanks indeed.”

Then she asked the little girl, “What is your name?”
The girl answered, “My name is Xiuchun (绣春). The serving boy is Tianfu’er (天福儿).”

So they were dismissed. Wu Yueniang (吴月娘) then said to Ximen Qing (西门庆), “That wife of the Hua household, Hua Zixu’s wife Li Ping’er (李瓶儿), is really a good sort. She is always sending little things by her pages and maids. Yet I have never once sent a return present.”

Ximen Qing (西门庆) said, “Brother Hua Zixu (花子虚) married that wife not even two years ago. He himself says she has the finest disposition. Otherwise how could there be these two good young maids in her room?”

Wu Yueniang (吴月娘) said, “Before, when her old father-in-law died and was carried out for burial, I met her once on the hill. She is short and slight of build, with a round face and two fine curved brows, and very fair of skin; she has such a gentle, yielding nature. She is still young too—not above twenty-four or twenty-five.”

Ximen Qing (西门庆) said, “You do not know: she was once a concubine of Liang Zhongshu (梁中书) in Daming Prefecture (大名府), and later married into the Hua family. She brought a handsome portion of money with her.”

Wu Yueniang (吴月娘) said, “Since she has sent us boxes, we must not be lacking in courtesy. Tomorrow we should send some gifts back in return.”

Listen, reader, and know: the wife of Hua Zixu (花子虚), Hua Zixu’s wife Li Ping’er (李瓶儿), was by surname Li (李). Because she had been born on the fifteenth day of the first month, and because on that day someone had sent a pair of fish-shaped vases, she had been given in childhood the little name Pingjie (瓶姐). She had first served as a concubine to Liang Zhongshu (梁中书) of Daming Prefecture (大名府). Liang Zhongshu (梁中书) was the son-in-law of Grand Preceptor Cai Jing (蔡京) in the Eastern Capital, Dongjing (东京). His wife was violently jealous, and many serving girls and concubines were beaten to death by her and buried in the back garden. This Lady Li Ping’er (李瓶儿) lived only in the outer study and had a nursemaid to attend her.

It happened that on the Lantern Festival night, in the first month of the third year of Zhenghe (政和三年), while Liang Zhongshu (梁中书) and his wife were on the Cuiyun Tower (翠云楼), Li Kui (李逵) slaughtered the entire household, old and young. Liang Zhongshu (梁中书) and his wife escaped with their lives, each separately. This Lady Li Ping’er (李瓶儿), taking with her one hundred large Western pearls and a pair of dark-blue gems weighing two taels, fled with her nursemaid to Dongjing (东京) to seek kin.

At that time the eunuch Hua Taijian (花太监), having risen from the imperial guard to a command in Guangnan (广南), saw that his nephew Hua Zixu (花子虚) had no wife, and so had a go-between arrange the marriage, making her his proper wife. When Hua Taijian (花太监) went down to Guangnan (广南), he brought them there as well, and they lived there for more than half a year. Unhappily, Hua Taijian (花太监) fell ill and retired to his home. Since he was a man of Qinghe County (清河县), they dwelt there in the county. Now Hua Taijian (花太监) was dead, and rather more than a share of his money had ended up in Zixu’s (子虚) hands.

Every day Hua Zixu (花子虚) roamed about the pleasure quarters with his friends, and he and Ximen Qing (西门庆) had long since become sworn brothers. All day long he kept company with Ying Bojue (应伯爵), Xie Xida (谢希大), and a whole dozen more of that sort. Every month they gathered in one place, called in singers, and amused themselves amid flowers and brocades. And seeing that Hua Zixu (花子虚), being kin to a palace eunuch, had money in hand and scattered it freely, the whole crowd egged him on into the pleasure houses to hire courtesans, so that for three or five nights at a time he would not return home. Truly:

Spring on the purple roads is fair indeed;
in red towers the pipes and strings grow drunk.
How many days does a man have in life?
If he does not make merry, all is vain.

Let that matter pass for the present.

Now then, that same day Ximen Qing (西门庆), leading his wives and concubines, made merry with the whole household over wine in the Hibiscus Pavilion (芙蓉亭), and it was not until evening that the feast broke up. When he returned to Pan Jinlian’s (潘金莲) room, he was already half drunk. Riding the stir of wine, he wanted to sport in cloud and rain with the woman. She hurriedly burned incense, spread the bedding, and helped him undress and get into bed. But Ximen Qing (西门庆) did not at once lie with her. He knew well enough that the thing at which the woman excelled beyond all else was playing the flute. So, seated within the gauze curtains, he had her crawl on all fours at his side. With both hands lightly clasping her golden bracelets, she took that thing in hand and set it into her mouth, drawing it in and letting it forth. Ximen Qing (西门庆), lowering his head, watched the wonder of its going in and out, and as she sucked and mouthed it for a long while, his lust rose all the more. Then he called for Chunmei (春梅), Pang Chunmei (庞春梅), to come in with tea.

The woman, afraid the maid might see, hurriedly let down the bed-curtains. Ximen Qing (西门庆) said, “What is there to fear?” Then he began to speak of it: “In Brother Hua Zixu’s (花子虚) house next door there are two good maids. The one who brought flowers today was the younger girl. There is another too, about Chunmei’s (春梅) age, and Brother Hua Zixu (花子虚) has already had the use of her. I saw her mother standing at the door, and the girl followed her out. She is really a good-looking one. Who would have thought that this young Brother Hua Zixu (花子虚) already keeps his women so well employed in his room!”

When the woman heard this, she shot him a glance and said, “You queer bit of merchandise, I am too good to curse you. If in your heart you want to take that maid, then take her. Why go such a long way around, pointing at the mountain and talking of the mill, only to compare me with somebody else? I am not that kind of woman, and she is not my maid! Since that is how it is, tomorrow I shall go and sit awhile in the back rooms and give you an opening. Then you may call her into your room and take her at your ease.”

Ximen Qing (西门庆), hearing this, was delighted. “My darling, if you can be so understanding and accommodating, how can I help but love you?”

The two of them, speaking so well to one another and so fully in tune, felt all the more delight in one another, with love beyond measure. Slowly the flute-playing came to an end; only then did they embrace, head to head and thigh to thigh, and sleep together. Truly:

Of herself she knows the inward arts that welcome her lord;
with loving care she hastens to set the purple flute to song.
A lyric to the tune of “West River Moon” (西江月) bears witness:

Within the gauze curtains the orchid-musk drifts sweetly;
those lovely brows are used to blowing the flute.
Her snowy, shining jade body glows through the bed-hangings;
one cannot keep soul and spirit from flying apart.

Her jade-white wrists softly clasp the golden bracelets;
the two are drunk alike, besotted alike.
The young lord, stirred with passion, lets his woman know:
“Slowly now—suck a little longer.”

The next day, just as Pan Jinlian (潘金莲) had said, the woman went and sat in Meng Yulou’s (孟玉楼) room. Ximen Qing (西门庆) called Chunmei (春梅), Pang Chunmei (庞春梅), into his own room and took her. Truly:

Spring pricks the apricot and peach till red buds burst;
the wind teases the willow till its green waist sways.

From that time on Pan Jinlian (潘金莲) did all she could to raise Chunmei (春梅), Pang Chunmei (庞春梅), up. She no longer let her go to the stove or wipe the hearth, but kept her only in the room, spreading beds, folding quilts, carrying tea and water; and among clothes and ornaments she chose out the things she liked and gave them to her. She even had her feet bound, till they were very small. For Chunmei (春梅), Pang Chunmei (庞春梅), was not like Qiuju (秋菊). She was clever by nature, fond of playful impropriety, quick in reply, and had a fair measure of beauty. Ximen Qing (西门庆) doted on her greatly. Qiuju (秋菊), by contrast, was dull and muddled, with no understanding of how things should be; the woman, Pan Jinlian (潘金莲), was forever beating her. Truly:

In pond and by pool the sparrows chatter loud;
the tender bees and delicate butterflies are all worth pitying.
Though by rare favor they fly among the same birds,
noble and base, high and low, are never quite the same.