[Chapter Summary]
Liu Kuibi was annoyed by his failure in the archery competition. To placate Kuibi, his uncle, Master Gu made a marriage proposal to the Huangfu family. However, this proposal was rejected with the pretext of a prior engagement.
Kuibi was so outraged that he decided to plot a conspiracy to murder Huangfu Shaohua. If Shaohua was dead, he could replace Shaohua and marry Meng Lijun. Kuibi disguised his hatred with amicability and friendliness, and soon the two men became close friends. It never dawned on Shaohua that Kuibi was plotting against him. One day, they went boating together, and Kuibi tried to keep Shaohua in his backyard garden with intentions of killing Shaohua at night. They feasted and drank until news came that Kuibi’s maternal grandmother passed away, and he asked his servant Jiang Jinxi to set a fire to kill Shaohua.
Lady Liu Yanyu was left at home to manage the household. She dreamed of her birth mother who advised her to save Shaohua and marry him the night before. To her surprise, according to Jinxi, her half-brother Kuibi secretly invited Shaohua over and plotted to kill him. Therefore, Yanyu and Jinxi decided to save Shaohua together.
The poem goes:
His ridiculous marriage proposal finished in vain
The villain risked plotting to bring the innocent pain
But those blessed by the heaven would end up in auspiciousness
Eventually stepping on a smooth path after all arduousness
The story goes that Young Master Liu failed to obtain the court robe and returned to the mansion in a rage. After the eighth day of the month1, when he heard that the two families had already exchanged betrothal gifts, annoyance and resentment filled up his heart. On this day, Master Gu happened to come and visit. While waiting for Lady Liu, he pulled Young Master Liu aside and asked, “My dear nephew, what has been bothering you all day long? Your appearance is not unattractive, and you’re the heir of a marquis. Why worry that you cannot find a suitable spouse among the imperial relatives? Why adamantly treasure that Young Miss Meng? Now that your uncle is here today, hurry up and make a request, and I will matchmake you with a girl from another family.”
Hearing this the young master furrowed his brows tightly
And shyly repeated that he refused matchmaking:
“Even with the eloquence of Su Qin and Zhang Yi
Making a perfect match on your own is still of great difficulty”
Master Gu smiled faintly at these words:
“My dear nephew, no need to furrow your brows
You said that given my abilities
You are unlikely to request me for matchmaking
But I give my utmost and heartfelt concern to you, my closest relative
For you, I have thought of an elegant maiden
Who would have thought that this would not catch my dear nephew’s attention?
Then today—my visit to your home brings nothing but frustration”
Kuibi listened to these words with surprise and delight
He hastily bowed and the smile on his face grew
“My uncle, please, give me a clear reply
With which family can I make a marriage tie?
If that girl does have the beauty of Nan Wei or Xi Shi
Then, your foolish nephew will apologize in front of his parents”
Hearing this Master Gu laughed loudly
And Lady Liu eagerly urged Master Gu on:
“My brother—Quickly, please! What marriage were you talking about?
Do not leave your nephew confused
Having a daughter-in-law accomplished in both talent and beauty
Your sister can also enjoy her twilight years contently”
Master Gu laughed: “She is matchless
I am afraid—she surpasses Minister Meng’s daughter fairly
It is exactly Shaohua’s eldest sister
Only fifteen and at the age of blossoming
Besides being adept with both the pen and the sword
She has an incomparable appearance and is equally well-mannered
Throughout the Yunnan Prefecture who hasn’t heard of her excellency?
Truly she would be—a beautiful wife peerless in the world
If my matchmaking contributes to a happy couple
Why do you, my sister, have to be discontent?
Her father is now the commissioner-in-chief
Her family is noble and notable indeed
Obtaining the court robe as Shaohua did
He must feel apologetic about it
If now I propose to unite his sister and Kuibi
It is certain that I will succeed
If my dear nephew accepts this proposal willingly
I shall immediately go and make this proposal to the commissioner-in-chief
Who would refuse to have a future marquis for a son-in-law
There is no doubt that Tingshan will approve this proposal with a nod”
After hearing this, Madam Liu’s heart filled with delight
And Kuibi eagerly urged him to proceed right away
Master Gu said goodbye and left striding
Walking through the streets and alleys as if he were flying
In mere seconds, he arrived at the gate of Huangfu Jing’s office
And the message of his arrival traveled the hallway without delay
The story goes that as soon as Huangfu Jing received Master Gu’s request to see him, he invited Master Gu to the guest hall to be greeted. It was not until they had tea that Master Gu brought up the matter of the proposal.
Hearing this the commissioner-in-chief became filled with anxiety
As a troublesome matter was currently occurring:
“Though Young Master Liu is extraordinary
His father always behaves too arrogantly
Many of his godsons are relatives of the imperial family
And his obsequious followers all work within the bureaucracy
On his ten thousand2 of hectares of fertile lands old grains3 are piled
And thousands of spacious rooms4 are prepared to have a future mistress domiciled
Who can overlook his overbearing power and influence?
Truly he seems—to have surpassed Cao Man and Wang Mang’s ascendance
Being an inherently exceptional maiden
How can Zhanghua reveal her Eight Characters so carelessly?
Now that Master Gu has personally made a match
How can I respond to him appropriately?
How about saying that previously
I had intended to marry her to a talented townsman
Waiting for them to reach the age to complete this engagement
She thus remains unmarried presently
If he is mindful of this matter after hearing me
How can he forcefully haggle about it?
The commissioner-in-chief secretly made up his mind
And eagerly opened his mouth to share the whole story5
[1] The original text is chuba ri 初八日 [the eighth day of the month]. See the entry of traditional Chinese lunisolar calendars. [2] The original text is wan 萬 [ten thousand]. but here, “萬” does not literally mean ten thousand, but rather "many". This is a common way of expression in Chinese called xuzhi 虚指 [vague reference], usually using a number not to emphasize its actual value, but rather to express the meaning of "many/some/few". [3] The original text su 粟 here are used to generally refer to grains instead of millet, as millet is a typical type of grain. This is also a use of metonymy. [4] The original text qian 千 [a thousand], same as “萬” above, is a use of vague reference. Similarly, “千” also does not literally mean a thousand, but rather "many". [5] The original text genmiao 根苗 means the root 根 and shoot 苗 of a plant. Here the meaning of the word extends to” the root of a matter”, namely, the whole reason for Huangfu Jing to reject Master Gu’s proposal.
