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The Golden LotusCHAPTER 12Pan Jinlian Narrowly Escapes DisasterThe tree is pitiful that stands aloneIts branches fragile and its roots uncertain.The dew may give it moisture, but the windBlows it to one side and the other.There is none to raise the silken coverletI must sit and keep my watch from night to morning.Sorrow has made me thinNo loving wish of yours has given meThis slender waist.Ximen Qing was so delighted with Guijie's beauty that he stayed at the bawdy house for several days. Many times Wu Yueniang sent servants with horses to bring him back, but Guijie's family hid his hat and cl...

The Golden LotusCHAPTER 11Li Guijie, the Singing GirlPan Jinlian, now settled in her new home and confident of Ximen's favor, grew more and more arrogant, and made so much trouble that the whole place was in a turmoil. She was suspicious too, and spent much time listening at doors and peeping through windows.Chunmei was not a model of patience. One day she had been doing some trifling thing for her mistress, and Jinlian found fault with her about it. She could not vent her bad temper upon her own mistress, so she went to the kitchen and there began to thump the table and knock the chairs about...

The Golden LotusCHAPTER 10 The Exiling of Wu SongWu Song was taken by the watch to the city jail. Meanwhile Ximen Qing, who had jumped out of the wineshop window, found himself in a courtyard that belonged to old Doctor Hu. One of the maids had just gone to the privy and had lifted her skirts. Suddenly she saw a man crouching at the foot of the wall. As she could not run away, she called, "Thief! thief!" as loudly as she could, and Doctor Hu ran out to see what was the matter. He recognized Ximen Qing, and said:"My Lord, I must congratulate you on your escape from Wu Song. He has killed a...

The Golden LotusCHAPTER 9Wu Song Seeks to Avenge His BrotherSo Ximen Qing and Pan Jinlian burned Wu Da's tablet. The next day they invited old woman Wang to a farewell party, and gave Ying'er into her charge."When Wu Song comes back," Ximen Qing said, "how am I to prevent his learning that I have married this lady?""I shall be here," the old woman said, smiling, "and no matter how inquisitive Wu Song may be, I shall have an answer ready for him. Don't worry about that."Ximen Qing was only too glad to receive such a comforting reply, and gave the old woman three taels of silver. The same evenin...

The Golden LotusCHAPTER 8The Magic DiagramsHigher and yet higher the red dawnCreeps slowly up the casement.She wakes and throws her silken wrapperCarelessly across one breast.Is it not strangeThis rising while the sun is not yet high?Blown by the gentle breezeThe hastening flowers wander through the tower of jade.She could not sleepThe image of her loved one lingered always with her.Now that Ximen Qing had married Meng Yulou, their love was so deep that they could not bear to be away from one another even for a moment. One day old woman Wen came on behalf of the Chen family to propose that the...

CHAPTER 7Ximen Qing Meets Meng YulouOne day there came to Ximen Qing's house an old woman called Xue. She was a seller of flowers made of kingfisher feathers, and was carrying a box of them. She could not find Ximen, but seeing Daian, asked him where his master was."My father," said the boy, "is in the shop, going through the accounts with Uncle Fu."The old woman went straight to the shop door, pulled aside the lattice, and looked in. Ximen Qing was going through the books with his manager. With a movement of the head she signaled to him to come out. He left the shop at once, and they sought a...