[Chapter Summary]
The goddess in the dream gave Madam Yin a son and a daughter, named Huangfu Shaohua and Huangfu Changhua. To pacify the rebels, the Huangfus moved to Yunnan province. The Meng family was also in Yunnan, with one daughter and one son. The daughter Meng Lijun lived with her wet nurse’s daughter Su Yingxue.
There was also a General Maquis called Liu Jie who had two sons and two daughters. His younger son Liu Kuibi wanted to marry Meng Lijun and his uncle Master Gu was asked to be the matchmaker, while at the same time, Huangfu Shaohua also sent Master Qin as matchmaker to help him marry Meng Lijun. In this circumstance, Minister Meng suggested the two young men compete for shooting a robe within three arrows. On the day of competition, Su Yingxue peeked at them upstairs. Shaohua won the robe and Kuibi left in anger. To celebrate the prospective marriage, Minister Meng received the guests. After the feast, Shaohua returned home and Su Yingxue told Meng Lijun about the competition. That night, Su dreamed of a secret meeting with Huangfu Shaohua in their backyard garden.
The poem goes:
A pair of twinborn qilin and phoenix favored by fortune
A meritorious family is destined to prosper
With military as the warp and literature as the weft and the embodiment of loyalty and filial piety
Quiet and serene, they congratulated the coming of the empress
Ahem! Yin Liangzhen, hear ye: I am the Goddess of Fertility. I come under the Jade Emperor’s heavenly decree, delivering both the Eastern Dipper and the Jade Maiden to be your son and daughter. Take good care of them—for they shall ensure your wealth and rank for a lifetime.
Announcement served, the Goddess flashed
Revealing two figures suspended in the air
One—a suave gentleman adorned with emerald-sleeved garbs and a garland atop his head
The other—a gallant woman suited in embroidered armor and a golden helmet
They fell into the courtyard and landed into Lady Yin’s tight embrace
From behind, the Goddess of Fertility soothed the laboring mother
“Do not be afraid! Do not panic!
They are the Jade Maiden and Eastern Dipper
I sent them to your house to be your son and daughter
Thus you shall live a life rich in wealth and high in status”
Lady Yin awoke panic-stricken from the mysterious dream
Her clothes soaked with fragrant sweat and in her abdomen a sharp pain occurred
The story goes that Lady Yin woke up from a dream with a start, feeling unbearable pain in her abdomen. Seeing the Commissioner-in-chief intending to undress and retire, she hurriedly sat up and pleaded urgently, “Lord, please wait. I think I am about to give birth.”
Lady Yin explained what she had experienced to the Commissioner-in-chief
He was overjoyed and told her not to wait any longer
The Eastern Dipper and the Jade Maiden descended together
A pregnancy preordained to be a twin birth
He summoned maids and servants
To carefully attend to the Lady without delay
In the blink of an eye, the midwife was called
“Madam, you should eat ginseng[1] as soon as possible”
When Lady Yin was about to give birth in the room
Suddenly—an exotic fragrance abounded and wisps of smoke drifted about
The story goes that as soon as Lady Yin gave birth, an exotic fragrance filled the room. Servants both inside and outside of the room were bustling with loud noise which reached the halo of the beautiful moon. Huangfu Jing was pleasantly surprised and overjoyed. He rushed out of the courtyard in a hurry, only to find that:
How tall and clear was the pure blue sky!
With layers of colorful clouds reflecting bright light
Breezes of fragrant wind brought people delight
And the shadow of the osmanthus tree seemed mottled at night
A five-colored evening glow shrouded the bright moon
Dancing white wisps embraced the scattered stars
From afar, you could hear celestial melodies fill the air
Looking closer, you could see auspicious clouds rising from all over
Seeing this, the Commissioner-in-chief was delighted
The auspicious omens are not light in the moment
Not until the room was completely saturated with fragrance did she give birth
The children she bore were sure to be noble
Secretly thinking these thoughts, he began to feel happy
He tidied his clothes—facing towards the Heavens, he lit up candles to thank the gods
After four deep bows, he straightened his back
Only to hear laughter from the boudoir
The maids and midwife loudly proclaimed good news
That the lady gave birth to a daughter
Hearing the news, the master felt upset
He stood still in front of the gods and did not move
After a long sigh, he said, “I am so unfortunate
Today she just happened to bear a daughter”
Heart broken—mind sinking—
He saw the maid coming once more to report good news
[1] Ginseng is understood to be a great supplement in ancient China that can give people energy. Here the maid is trying to help Lady Yin prepare for the tedious process of giving birth.
Here is an error:
Provincial Administration Commissioner Qin—did not GOT up until bowing onto his hands for three times
should be “did not GET up”
Here is a mistake:
One—a suave gentleman adorned with emerald-sleeved garbs and a garland atop his head
The other—a gallant woman suited in embroidered armor and a golden helmet
一個是，金盔繡甲風流客。(男)
一個是，翠袖花冠美貌君。（女）
“emerald-sleeved garbs and a garland atop” is a description for the woman
” in embroidered armor and a golden helmet” is a description for the gentleman