17

Shan Fulang’s Happy Marriage in Quanzhou

What is described in the above quatrain is the Western Capital [Xijing]², the seat of government of nine emperors of the Song dynasty and a city of unsurpassed prosperity, with the cities of Chenggao on its left, Mianchi on its right, and Yijue before it and the Yellow River behind it. I shall now tell of a County Magistrate Xing and a Judge Shan, both natives of the Western Capital, who lived next door to each other on Filial Piety Street. As their wives happened to be sisters, the men addressed each other as “Brother-in-law” and, with frequent visits back and forth, were as intimate as one family, though under di erent family names. Before the two men had gained office, the two sisters made a pledge to each other when they got pregnant at the same time: “Should we have a boy and a girl, we shall make them husband and wife.” It turned out that the Shan family had a boy, whom they named Fulang, and the Xing family had a girl, whom they named Chunniang [Spring Girl]. The two sisters thereupon talked their husbands into the idea, and henceforth they treated each other as in-laws. Fulang and Chunniang often played together when they were small and were called the “young couple” by the two families. Later, after they had grown up, Fulang, under the new name of Feiying, with the courtesy name of Tengshi, entered a school to study, and Chunniang remained in the seclusion of her boudoir. The two stopped seeing each other.

In the third month of the seventh year in the reign period of Xuanhe [1125] under Emperor Huizong of the Song dynasty, Mr. Xing was appointed as magistrate of the county of Shunyang in Dengzhou, and Mr. Shan Senior was selected as judge of Yangzhou. Before they left with their families to assume their respective posts, they pledged to return upon completion of their terms of office to the Western Capital to hold the wedding ceremony. Taking his wife and son Fulang with him, Judge Shan went to Yangzhou, and there I shall leave them.

Let us follow Magistrate Xing to the county of Shunyang in Dengzhou, where, in less than six months, Jurchens³ swept in from di erent directions and the Jurchen general Wolipu⁴ took Shunyang. With the exception of the twelve-year-old Chunniang, the entire family of County Magistrate Xing perished. Some riotous soldiers kidnapped her and sold her to a brothel owned by a certain Yang family in Quanzhou for seventeen thousand in cash. Having studied the classics and a thousand Tang dynasty poems at an early age, Chunniang was quite literate and was especially skilled in the art of conversation. Treasured dearly by the madam of the brothel, she, now named Yang Yu, learned to play musical instruments and to sing and dance, and she became most accomplished in these skills. Truly,

One thing that distinguished her from the rest of the girls was that, being from a genteel official’s family, she was demure and well-mannered. After performing at feasts in a yamen, all the other girls always flirted wantonly with the men, stopping at nothing, while she alone stood by herself in silence, never speaking or laughing improperly, more like a well-bred woman than a courtesan. For this, she won much admiration and respect from all and sundry.

Our story forks at this point. Let me now turn to Judge Shan. In the third year of his term of office, the Jurchens took Bianjing⁵ and kidnapped Emperors Huizong and Qinzong. Lü Haowen [1064–1131] persuaded Zhang Bangchang, the puppet emperor, to welcome Prince Kang as the successor to the throne. Prince Kang crossed the river into the south and ascended the throne in Yingtianfu.⁶ He became Emperor Gaozong. Out of fear of the Jurchens, Emperor Gaozong dared not return to the Western Capital but moved to Yangzhou. Because of his outstanding service leading the militia in protecting the emperor, Judge Shan was promoted repeatedly until he was appointed a vice minister and followed the emperor [from Yangzhou] to Hangzhou. Enraptured by the beautiful scenery of Hangzhou, Emperor Gaozong settled down there and made Hangzhou the new capital under the name Lin’an [Temporary Peace], as the following poem attests:

The northwestern regions being overrun by the Jurchens, countless civilians followed Emperor Gaozong to the Wu region in the south. As word about the new capital Lin’an spread around, many moved there and settled down as registered residents.

When going over the registry books in the Census Bureau, Mr. Shan noticed the name of Xing Xiang, a native of the Western Capital. He pondered to himself, “Could this Xing Xiang be a brother of County Magistrate Xing Zhen?” Ever since they parted to take up their respective official posts, he had heard nothing from the Xing family and wondered about their fate. Quietly he sent someone to investigate. It turned out that this man was indeed County Magistrate Xing’s younger brother, known as Master Xing the Fourth. Without losing a moment, he invited Mr. Xing over and asked him for news.

“After Dengzhou fell,” answered Mr. Xing, “I heard that my older brother and every member of his family died, but I am not sure if this is true.” With these words, tears flowed down his cheeks. Nor could Mr. Shan contain his grief. Considering that his son was old enough to marry, he thought of arranging another marriage, but hoping against hope that the rumor was groundless and that his daughter-in-law was still alive, he decided to wait until peace was restored before making inquiries. Henceforth, Mr. Shan and Master Xing the Fourth honored each other as relatives and remained in frequent contact.

Now, when Emperor Gaozong first ascended the throne, he changed the reign title to Jianyan [1127–30], which, four years later, was changed to Shaoxing [1131–62]. In the first year of Shaoxing, in appreciation of Mr. Shan’s service in escorting him to the south, the emperor appointed Mr. Shan’s son Shan Feiying revenue manager of Quanzhou. After thanking the emperor for the favor, Mr. Shan Junior took leave of his parents on a chosen day and set out on his journey to Quanzhou to assume his post. The handsome eighteen-year-old Revenue Manager Shan, the youngest official in the county, won admiration from all who laid their eyes on him. On the day he took up office, the prefect set out a feast attended by a host of courtesan singers. As a matter of fact, according to custom in the Song dynasty, all registered prostitutes were considered to be at the service of the government. All dinners held at the yamen, for business as well as private reasons, were occasions to summon courtesans. On that day, Yang Yu was among those summoned. Of all the courtesans present, she was the only one whom Revenue Manager Shan found appealing. In fact, he felt himself quite attracted to her. As the poem says,

Zheng An, administrator for public order, a talented young man of an old family from Xingyang, had taken a liking to Shan the very first time he saw him. Noticing Shan’s glances at Yang Yu, Administrator Zheng guessed what was on his mind. One day, when paying Shan a visit, Zheng asked, “Why did you, a nice young man from a good family, come to assume your post all alone, without bringing your family along?”

Shan answered, “To tell you the truth, I’ve been engaged ever since childhood, but I have no knowledge whether my betrothed is dead or alive after the turbulence of the Jurchen invasion. That’s why I’m still unmarried.”

Zheng said with a smile, “Who in the world is exempt from the feeling of loneliness? How would the graceful courtesan-singer Yang Yu do as a ‘plum for you to look at to quench your thirst,’ so to speak?”

Shan demurred at first, but, after much persuasion by Zheng, who claimed to understand his mind, he stopped trying to hide his true feelings, and laid them bare.

“If the gifted scholar is taken with the beautiful lady,” said Zheng An, “I will, of course, o er my help to bring about the union.” (Smart fellow.)

Henceforth, every time he saw Yang Yu at a dinner, Revenue Manager Shan deliberately avoided throwing glances her way, so as not to arouse suspicions, but his longing for her grew more intense. As eager as he was to bring about the union, Administrator Zheng found himself unable to do anything, out of fear of the strict prefect.

Two years later, the incumbent prefect left upon expiration of his term of office. The new prefect, Chen by name, was a sincere and kind man. The prefect being an old acquaintance of Zheng’s from the same native town, Zheng repeatedly recommended to him the talent and the integrity of Revenue Manager Shan. The prefect thus came to hold Shan in high regard.

One day, Zheng set out some wine and invited Shan to his private quarters for a talk, to be waited upon by Yang Yu alone. Unlike the usual feasts swarming with people, this time, with only the host present, Shan was able to look freely at Yang Yu, and he found her truly beautiful. There is a lyric poem to the tune of “Remembering the Lady of Qin” that says,

Zheng started by saying, “Today, there being no other guests, we will dispense with the usual etiquette—we will drink to our hearts’ content and have as much fun as possible.” Filling a huge wine vessel, he o ered it to Shan, who drank while Yang Yu sang songs to add to the pleasure.

When he was well-warmed with wine, Shan fixed his gaze upon Yang Yu in such rapt fascination that he was not able to control himself and feigned drunkenness as an excuse to stop drinking.

Knowing what was on his mind, Zheng suggested, “Why don’t you go to the study to take a rest. I’ll o er you more wine later.”

Shan was in no mood to admire the books, paintings, chess set, musical instruments, and antiques in the room where Zheng did his reading, but flung himself onto the bamboo couch for a nap.

Zheng said, “Rest for a while if the wine is too much for you.” Rushing out, he told Yang Yu to make a pot of jasmine tea and take it into the room.

Shan was well aware of Zheng’s intentions to bring him and Yang Yu together. Now that Yang Yu came in with the tea all by herself, he knew that Zheng was letting him have his way. With alacrity, he rose from the couch, closed the door, held Yang Yu in his arms, and asked for intimacy. Yang Yu feigned unwillingness, but Shan insisted, “I have long been admiring you, and this is a chance that’s hard to come by. The administrator is a good friend of mine. He will not mind, even if he knows about this.”

Yang Yu also gained a good idea of what was afoot. She did not firmly resist but had to submit. On the couch, they had a brief game of clouds and rain. There is a poem that bears witness:

Shan asked Yang Yu quietly, “With such outstanding talent and elegance that set you apart from all other courtesans, you must be from a good family. Now don’t hide anything from me. Tell me the truth. Who are you?”

With shame written all over her face, Yang Yu answered, “The truth is that I am indeed from an official’s family but got stranded here. I am not Madam Yang’s daughter.”

Flabbergasted, Shan asked further, “What, then, is the name of your father, and what office did he hold?”

Before she realized it, tears gushed out from her eyes. “My true last name is Xing,” said she. “I used to live on Filial Piety Street in the Eastern Capital.⁹ In my childhood I was betrothed to my aunt’s son. After my father was appointed magistrate of Shunyang County in Dengzhou, the barbarian invaders came and ravaged the land. Both of my parents died from their swords, and I ended up being kidnapped and sold to this place.”

Shan pursued his questioning: “What is the name of the family you were to marry into? What office does your father-in-law hold? What is the name of your betrothed?”

“It’s the family of Shan I was to marry into. My father-in-law was the judge of Yangzhou. His son is called Fulang, but I have no idea if he is still alive.” With these words, she broke down in passionate weeping.

By now Shan already knew that she was none other than Chunniang. But, instead of telling her the truth, he only comforted her by saying, “Now that you have more fine clothes, good food, and romance than you need, and even government officials treat you with respect, who would ever snub you? Moreover, being separated from your family and knowing nothing about the fate of your prospective husband, you can very well spend the rest of your life enjoying whatever your fate o ers you. Why all this grief and weeping?”

With a frown, Yang Yu countered, “I have heard that ‘all women are born with the desire for a home.’ I am where I am because I have no other choice. My fiancé’s family being of high status, I cherish no hope of marrying him even if he turns out to be safe and sound. I only wish I could marry some humble commoner and live the life, however simple, of a decent woman with a family. That’ll be thousands of times better than entertaining customers in this place.” (Sad words.)

Shan nodded in agreement. “That’s true. If you do indeed mean it, I’ll do something to help you.”

Yang Yu said with a bow, “If you can deliver me from this misery, you will have accumulated enough credit in the netherworld to last you for thousands of generations.”

Before the words were quite out of her mouth, Administrator Zheng pushed open the door and said, stepping in, “Have you woken up from your dreams? If you have nothing pressing, we can drink some more wine.”

“No,” objected Shan. “I’ve had too much. I can’t drink any more.”

“You are ten times more intoxicated from love than from wine,” said Zheng.

Shan corrected him: “I am ten times more intoxicated from admiration for virtue than from wine.” They all burst out laughing.

The table was laid out anew with clean wine cups and more wine. They did not take leave of each other until after they had enjoyed themselves to the full.

Several days later, Shan prepared some wine, invited Zheng, and summoned Yang Yu for service. Yang Yu having arrived first, Shan said to her gravely, with none of the previous flirtatiousness, “You said the other day that you would be content to marry a humble commoner. Would you be willing to live with me now that my wife has died and I have not yet found a replacement for her?”

Yang Yu answered in tears, “A thorny bush is by no means a resting place for a phoenix. Since you are kind enough to take me, it is indeed my wish to leave this life of sending o and welcoming clients, and to serve you and enjoy ample food and clothing. I am only afraid that your future wife might be of too stern a disposition to tolerate me. I will certainly restrain myself and submit to her, but, should she get too harsh, I will gladly enter the service of the Buddha and stay single for the rest of my life to repay your kindness.”

Saddened by these words, Shan now fully realized that she did indeed mean it when she expressed distaste for her life as a courtesan.

In a short while, Zheng arrived. Seeing Yang Yu’s tear-stained face, he teased, “The ancients said, ‘Extreme joy begets sorrow.’ Is that the case?”

Yang Yu replied gravely, “The sorrow comes from the depth of my heart. There is no end to it.”

After Shan told Zheng what Yang Yu had said about marrying, Zheng said, “If you indeed wish to do so, I will gladly do what I can to help.” They set to drinking, and the rest of the day passed without further ado.

After the dinner was over, Shan wrote a letter to his parents by candlelight, saying, “My father-in-law, County Magistrate Xing, perished with the rest of his family, except Chunniang, who ended up as a courtesan. She detests her life of shame and harbors aspirations that are most admirable. I do not mind her lowly status and would gladly fulfill the old pledge of marriage.” Mr. Shan Senior was greatly taken aback upon reading the letter. Without a moment’s delay, he asked Master Xing the Fourth over and discussed the matter with him. The two men were overcome with emotion. Mr. Xing o ered to go personally to Quanzhou to make arrangements for the wedding and asked Mr. Shan Senior to write a letter to the prefect, asking him to remove Chunniang’s name from the register of entertainers. Mr. Shan Senior accordingly wrote the letter and gave it to Mr. Xing, who then took his leave and set o on his journey. In a matter of days, he arrived at Quanzhou, went directly to Shan’s yamen, and stated the purpose of his visit.

When consulted by Revenue Manager Shan, Zheng was most encouraging, saying, “There is a proverb that says, ‘A man changes friends when he rises to power, and changes wives when he becomes rich.’ Your willingness to marry a courtesan and your disregard for her drop in status put you in the same class with the noblest ancients.” Thereupon he went with Shan to see the prefect, and told him the whole story.

After reading the letter from Mr. Shan Senior, the prefect said, “This is a wonderful thing. How can I refuse?”

The following day, Master Xing the Fourth handed in a formal request for Chunniang to be released from her registered status as a courtesan so that she could fulfill her pledge of marriage, a request that the prefect approved in Master Xing’s presence.

The morning passed without any document coming from the prefect. Growing apprehensive, Shan quietly sent someone to find out if things had taken an unexpected turn. He learned that chefs were busy preparing for a feast. “In whose honor?” he asked himself. “Could it be a farewell dinner for Yang Yu? But since preparations are already under way, there’s nothing I can do but wait and see.”

Shortly thereafter, Yang Yu was indeed summoned to serve at the feast to which the prefect had invited only one guest, the controller general. After three rounds of wine and two courses of food, the prefect called Yang Yu to his side and told her about Shan’s o er to fulfill the old marriage pledge and Xing Xiang’s request that she be relieved of her present registered status.

With a bow of gratitude, Yang Yu said, “Sir, I owe you my life and my honor.”

The prefect continued, “A courtesan today, but an honorable lady tomorrow. Now, how are you going to repay me?”

Yang Yu replied, “You have accumulated a mountain-high pile of credits in the netherworld by delivering me from misery. The only thing I can do is pray to heaven day and night that your descendants be blessed with wealth and rank.”

The prefect said with a sigh, “I will never again see a beauty like you.” In spite of himself, he stepped forward, put his arms around Yang Yu, and said, “Repay me now!”

Seeing that the prefect had lost control of himself, the controller general, being a man of honor, stood up and said harshly, “Since she has long been betrothed to the revenue manager, she is no less than a lady to be honored by us as the wife of a colleague. A gentleman should follow proper conduct and refrain from any act that might deviate from the right decorum.”

In embarrassment (He cannot but feel embarrassed, for this is no less than a lecture on morals) the prefect said thankfully, “I should not have been so carried away. I wouldn’t have realized my error had you not reminded me. Now that I have given o ense to the revenue manager, I owe him a sincere apology.” Thereupon he asked Yang Yu to go to his private quarters to make acquaintance with the women in his family, while he summoned Administrator Zheng and Revenue Manager Shan to the back hall for the feast. They did not part company until daybreak.

Without returning to his private quarters, the prefect went directly to the morning court session and issued an order that the Yang family remove Yang Yu’s name from the registry. Caught by surprise, Mr. Yang and his wife came to see the prefect with loud wails, saying, “We have spared no pains taking care of this daughter for over ten years, but we dare not resist your order. Our only wish is to bid her farewell. We’ll be content with just another look at her.”

The prefect sent Yang Yu the message. Standing in the back hall, Yang Yu said to the couple from the other side of the screen, “It is a good thing that I am reuniting with my husband. I have indeed benefited from your kindness for ten years, yet the money I have earned for you is enough to provide for you in your old age. We shall never meet again. Please put me out of your thoughts.”

The madam was still shedding copious tears when the prefect sharply ordered the couple to leave the hall. He then had some attendants carry Yang Yu out from the back hall all the way to Shan’s yamen and, out of his private account, gave Shan a hundred thousand in cash for the latter to use toward wedding expenses. The revenue manager repeatedly declined the o er and finally accepted it only at the prefect’s adamant insistence. On that day, with Administrator Zheng as the matchmaker and Master Xing the Fourth as the master of ceremonies, the wedding was held in accordance with proper etiquette, complete with decorated candles in the bridal chamber. There is a poem in evidence:

On the following day, the prefect and the entire assembly of officials in the prefecture came to o er their congratulations. The revenue manager set out wine for the guests. Master Xing the Fourth went back to Lin’an to report to Mr. Shan Senior. The love between the new couple does not need further description here.

Time sped by like an arrow. Before they knew it, Shan’s three-year term of office came to an end. Chunniang said to her husband, “In my years in the courtesans’ quarters, Mr. Yang and his wife treated me kindly and I made close friends with some of my sisters. Now that I am going to a faraway place, I will never get to see them again. Would you allow me to prepare a modest farewell dinner in their honor?”

“Who in the entire prefecture has not heard about your story?” said Shan. “What is there to hide from anyone? There is nothing inappropriate in bidding farewell over a cup of wine.” (Typical of a gallant man. A pedantic scholar would say this is superfluous, like adding feet to the drawing of a snake.)

Thereupon, Chunniang laid out a feast in Huisheng Monastery and invited Mr. Yang and his wife and over ten of the girls she was friends with. Shan sent a messenger to wait at the monastery for everybody to arrive before notifying him. The Yang couple were the first to arrive, followed one after another by the courtesans. The messenger counted the heads to make sure that everyone had arrived before he reported to the revenue manager. Escorted by a host of attendants, the lady mounted the sedan-chair and proceeded to Huisheng Monastery, where she exchanged greetings with all the guests and, after some amenities, sat down at the feast table. After rounds of wine, Chunniang left her seat to serve wine around the table.

One of the courtesans, Li Ying, a next-door neighbor of the Yang family, used to call Chunniang Elder Sister and had learned from the latter all of her musical skills. The two had been as loving as sisters born of the same parents. Since Chunniang left, Li Ying missed her so much that she often plunged into moods of dejection. Now when Chunniang stopped at her side to pour her more wine, she grabbed her hand and said, “You have lifted yourself out of the mud to soar above the clouds up on high, but I am still bogged down in this filth, with no end in sight. We are now as far apart as heaven and hell. Will you do something to save me?” With these words, she burst into loud sobs.

Overcome with grief, Chunniang also broke down in tears.

Now this Li Ying was most accomplished in the art of sewing, able to sew in the dark without missing one fraction of a stitch. Truly,

Chunniang said, “It just so happens that my husband needs a seamstress. Would you be willing to live with us?”

“If you can get me out of here, you’ll be doing a great work of merit. If your husband needs a seamstress anyway, I’d be a better choice than just any stranger.” (This will prove to be a more remarkable predestined marriage bond.)

“That’s true,” said the Chunniang, “but you have always been my equal in every way. How can you take a position beneath mine?”

Li Ying objected, “Even in our old days, I was your inferior. Now with you high in heaven and me down on earth in the mud, plus the di erence in status in your household, I’d be most content waiting on you day and night. How would I dream of being your equal?”

“In that case, I will talk this matter over with the revenue manager.”

After the guests had dispersed, Chunniang returned to her residence and raised the matter with her husband.

“Once is enough,” he said with a laugh. “How can I do the same thing a second time!”

Despite Chunniang’s urges, the revenue manager remained adamant. Chunniang sulked for days on end.

In the meantime, Li Ying sent someone to pay her respects to the lady by way of reminding her of the matter. Chunniang said to her husband, “Sister Li Ying is of a gentle disposition and unsurpassed in the art of sewing. To have such a helpmate would be a rare blessing. Moreover, it would be one thing if you don’t take in any concubine for the rest of your life, but if you will eventually, it would be better to take in Sister Li. I’ve known her so well since childhood that we wouldn’t ever scorn each other. Why don’t you ask for the prefect’s permission? If he refuses, you won’t be worse o than you are, except for having to su er the humiliation of a rejection. And for my part, I would be able to give her a reason for the refusal. If, by some lucky chance, the prefect approves, wouldn’t that be a most wonderful thing?”

Thus repeatedly pressed by his wife, Shan had no choice but to first tell Administrator Zheng about this. Then, he dragged Zheng with him to see the prefect and explained at great length the reason for this request. The prefect said with a smile, “So you wish to shoot down two birds with one arrow? I will certainly do as you wish, so as to atone for my o ense that the controller general scolded me about.” There and then the prefect issued another order, removing Li Ying from the registry and delivering her to Revenue Manager Shan. Shan used half of the prefect’s gift of one hundred thousand in cash to redeem Li Ying and gave the other half to Madam Yang as a reward for having brought up Yang Yu. From then on, Chunniang and Li Ying addressed each other as sisters and lived in great harmony.

Shan Feiying had been a bachelor when he first assumed office, but now, with boundless joy, he found himself blessed, all too unexpectedly, with a wife and a concubine, both as beautiful as they were talented. A later poet had this to say:

On a chosen auspicious day, Revenue Manager Shan bade farewell to the officials of the yamen and returned to Lin’an with his wife and concubine. When he presented Chunniang to his parents, all present gave way to their emotions and wept bitterly. After they had cried their fill, Shan Feiying brought forth Li Ying. When Mr. Shan Senior asked who she was, the son gave a full account of her background. Mr. Shan Senior flared up in anger: “As for the one who is of our own flesh and blood but was lost and regained, we should, by rights, accept her. We cannot do otherwise. But why do you have to drag in an outsider?” (Valid point.)

A frightened Shan Feiying hastened to ask for forgiveness, but his father’s anger remained unmollified. The old lady, trying to bring about some kind of a compromise, led Li Ying to her own room and asked her to marry some other man. Li Ying turned a deaf ear but piteously pleaded for permission to stay. Moved by her sincerity, the old lady kept her as a temporary companion. After a few days, she came to appreciate Li Ying’s discretion and gentleness as well as her skillful sewing, and persuaded her husband to accept her as their son’s concubine. When Shan Feiying was appointed to a new post as a vice-director, his superiors were, to a man, impressed by his chivalrous act of marrying courtesans, and, as the story circulated, no one did not hold him in high esteem. (The morals of our times being as bad as they are, such an event would instead be considered a crime.) Through recommendations, he was promoted time and again until he became chamberlain for ceremonials. Chunniang had no issue, but Li Ying gave birth to a son, whom Chunniang loved as if he were her own. The boy applied himself to his studies, passed the imperial examinations, and made quite a name for himself in Lin’an. This has become a much-told story going around, even to this day, among houses of pleasure. There is a poem that bears witness: