“Oh, my daughter!”
“Among thousands of men in the world
Who can be as perfectly handsome as the son-in-law of the Meng family
If you will look for a husband later on
How can you find one as handsome as Song Yu and Pan An?
The young master Liu who came here today
Could also be counted as a romantic and outstanding young man
You said he was not the best
Secretly wishing—that Huangfu could win the competition
If your husband can have an appearance like young master Liu
It is already your great fortune
How can you be so stubborn
To be so nitpicking and say such foolish words?
Please give up those unreachable dreams, my daughter
What can you expect from—your lonely and helpless mother?”
After talking, Madam Su felt grieved in her heart
And two lines of tears trickled down her cheek
Seeing this, the fair lady lowered her head
She silently disagreed with her mother’s opinion:
“Mother knows nothing about my thoughts
And it would be useless for me to plan everything myself
Who would want to marry only a wealthy man?
Who would only deserve a vulgar guy?
Being whose concubine really matters
How can there be no good choices for my first marriage?
Our young miss is gentle and wise
Doesn’t she—need a person as company?
Revealing such a gentle disposition at home
How would she not be the same after she married?
If I become a concubine for them someday
I will be happy to make beds to serve
At that time, the couple enjoys their time at the banquet in the shadow of flowers
The fresh breeze accompanies the young man in a moon night
But my mother couldn’t think of this
She was just crying in front of the lamp, vainly”
The fair lady held secret concerns in her heart
Her two fair and thin eyebrows frowned
She already heard the bell tower ring twice
And went to bed at midnight
She moved the lamp to the table in front of her bed
And released the two hooks, drew the curtain, and entered the bed
Her mother instantly fell asleep before her
While the daughter tossed and turned in bed and remained awake
Though she didn’t tell her mother
She couldn’t stop thinking of the handsome young master:
“His charm and grace were so magnificent that exceeded all others
Today his perfect victory evoked people’s affection
With romantic and outstanding attitude, he was glittering in his golden armor
With eminent and graceful manners, he was sitting on the brocaded saddle
When first entering the garden, he frequently looked up
Could it be that he saw me leaning against the railing?
Though I am not exceedingly beautiful
My beauty is enough to be a concubine
Since we met across the tree shade
The beautiful young man may also have affection for me”
It was strange that she became so melancholic tonight
She wasn’t asleep though her bun and hairpins already fell
Yingxue was too sentimental to sleep
She turned over to reluctantly fix her hair
She finally fell asleep after midnight
Then, her fragrant soul slowly stepped into the garden [1]
With small steps, she accidentally came across the young master
Using a ten-word structure, let me express what she had encountered in her dream:
Su Yingxue—missing the talented young man—
Her fragrant soul entered the dream
Dragging her skirt—walking in small steps—
She slowly stopped and stood in the shade of flowers
Little dewdrops—slight wind—
A couple of immortal butterflies dwelled
Aromatic flowers—flossy willows—
Orioles sang in a thousand twists and turns
Without a sound—wandering alone—
She suddenly heard the sound of coughing
Boots sounding—pendant swinging—
She saw a young man
Phoenix cap tilted—golden armer loosened—
He was slightly drunk
Raising up sleeves—with a smile—
He softly called her name:
“During the day—looking up the tower—
I had seen your beautiful appearance
I had already known—you are not the young miss—
But her female companion in the boudoir
Now—feeling tipsy—
As if I’m at my home
Stopped by the garden—seems that you haven’t fallen asleep—
I particularly came to find you
So fortunate—coming across you—
We coincidentally meet in this flowery forest
Looking at your delicate clothes—pitying your longing—
All are such a piece of exquisite feelings
I truly know—Miss Meng—
She is generous and not jealous
When the time comes—she would allow me—
To have you two beautiful ladies in my company
Presently—no one is around—
There is quiet in the study
Making a wish—to hang around the fancy corridor—
And from now on, to always walk together”
The beautiful young man—holding her emerald sleeves—
Eagerly invited Yingxue
The beautiful fair lady—raising up her head to look—
It was indeed her soulmate
Hiding her powdery face—cheeks blushed—
She was surprisingly elated
Opening her vermillion lips—making a tender voice—
She spoke slowly and quietly:
“I appreciate you—pitying the lowly me—
Meeting me in this spring night
Su Yingxue—is usually a decent lady—
But now I dare to imitate the deeds of Wenjun
Since I received your kindness—have you made this promise—
We could not muddle along carelessly
Under the stars and the moon—calmly and unhurriedly—
We shall make an engagement for our lives”
Finishing their words—in front of the flowers—
They kneeled down together
“May the heavens—be the witness—
Of our solemn pledge of love tonight
In the future—we will together be a couple—
That never has any regret
If any of us betrays our original intention—has any other thoughts—
The heavens will punish us with death”
Upon praying—both of them kneeled down on the ground—
Making a vow together
Yingxue suddenly turned back and saw—leading by the lamps—
The Minister of War came forward
He ordered the servant boy—to come and ask—
Who were the people bowing to each other?
Knowing all the details—he was furious—
Scolding the woman in rage:
“You and your mother—in my house—
Received all kinds of mercy
But for what purpose—you secretly seduce my son-in-law—
And ruined the reputation of yourself as a young lady”
Meng the Minister of War—was furious inside—
He shouted out with a loud voice
Lady Su—startled and scared—
Turned around and hurried to leave
Not expected—beside the artificial hills—
She was tripped by the hem of her skirt
Waking up with a start—until now did she realize—
It was all a dream but not reality
Lady Su waked from her dream feeling lost in a daze
Her fragrant sweat slightly moistened her embroidered clothes
Her bright eyes slowly glanced outside the curtain
A single lamp was still burning, lingering and faintly aglow
She mused deeply and reflected on her absurd dream
Wondering if meeting her beloved beneath the flowers was truly just an illusion
Her beloved young man appeared before her, slightly intoxicated
Holding her hand intimately and their laughter mingled
Her promise to entrust her fate to him had been made
But the Minister of War appeared and made them separate
Oh heavens—please don’t let down the love that burned within her breast
So let her meet the celestial young man in her dream
She was clearly Lady Su at present
But she was like Du Liniang in those days
Because in her dream she had made a vow
She decided to remain faithful and never love others in this lifetime
Perhaps they were fated to marry
So she was brought to the dream to see her charming gentleman
“Tonight I myself swore first
My heart will always be with him and I will never forget
And should I forsake this oath for wealth or power
I will be punished to die before I reach thirty”
As Yingxue left these words lying on her pillow
In the end—she indeed persisted in upholding her promise to death
The night passed without incident and then the morning sun shined bright
Lady Su primped herself in the mirror before the window under sunlight
Let’s leave Lady Su’s boudoir affairs aside
Instead turn to the marriage preparation to wed the outstanding new couple
The betrothal gift was sent on the auspicious day of the eighth day of the month
The Provincial Administration Commissioner acted as matchmaker and made the arrangements busily
There was no need to speak of colorful silk and precious gold
Or elaborate on bright pearls and white jades
The betrothal letter embroidered of golden threads was delivered to the Huangfu family
This match—a couple who weathered hardships together was formed
Leaving the Minister and the Commissioner aside
Instead let’s turn to the young master of Liu family, Kuibi
[1] The original text is houyuan 後園 [back garden]. The garden is a reference to the Peony Garden from the play The Peony Pavilion or The Return of Soul at the Peony Pavilion. It is a romantic tragicomedy play written by dramatist Tang Xianzu in 1598.
