Chapter Fourteen: The Proud Old Magistrate Retires in a Single Morning; The Young Second-Place Graduate Triumphs Three Times Over

To the tune of "Joy in the Oriole's Call":

A heart like cassia, a temper like ginger —

unchanged to the last, unmoved through the years.

A lone official, unbending, untainted,

what harm is there in stepping away?

Talent flows like a spring, learning rises like a mountain,

the brush touches paper and the essay takes form.

Ten thousand words offered up to the brilliant throne —

how could such a name fail to ring out?

Duan Ju returned home after parting with Wang Chengmei and went back to the private quarters of the yamen. He told Duan Chang in full detail how Magistrate Liu Xing had used Wang Chengmei as a go-between, proposing to make Duan Chang his son-in-law, and how he himself had declined — saying only that such a matter could be discussed after the boy had made a name for himself.

Hearing this, Duan Chang felt a cold shock in his heart. He thought: "I have already sworn a life-and-death vow with Miss Feng. My only hope is to win honor in the examinations and then seek her out, so that we may reunite like a broken mirror made whole. How can I allow a match to be proposed with another family, even after I pass?" He said at once, "Father, why did you not simply tell him I am already promised to the Feng family and put an end to his hopes?"

Duan Ju replied, "Magistrate Liu's wish to form a family bond is a gesture of goodwill. Moreover, he is my superior in rank — how could I bluntly refuse him? Saying we would discuss it after you make your name is already a polite refusal. If he takes the hint and drops the matter, it leaves no awkwardness for either side. If he raises it again after you succeed, we can then say openly that you are already betrothed, and that will give no grounds for offense." Duan Chang heard this and felt a lingering discontent. He composed a poem to set out his own resolve:

To be parted from the flower I love — the grief is beyond bearing;

must I submit to clinging vines and idle creepers instead?

The sorrow of moonlit nights — with whom can it be shared?

Alone I stand beside the spring wind, driving away my own resentment.

No word, no sound — only tears, all for nothing;

the soul comes and goes in dreams, yet nothing can be relied on.

It is not that my heart-horse has been securely tethered —

long since, my innermost heart was bound by a red cord.

Before long, the provincial examiner came to take the roll, and Duan Chang registered early for the examinations. When the time for the test drew near, Duan Ju had Li Shi help the boy pack his travel bags and arranged for servants to attend him on the road. Duan Chang took his leave of his parents and set out for the provincial capital of Huguang, where he took lodgings. In no many days, the first of the three sessions fell on the eighth day. Duan Chang entered with the crowd of candidates and, once the essay prompts were announced, showed his superior gifts without restraint — his draft came pouring out like a sudden downpour, and he copied it fair with the swift sureness of a falcon stooping on a hare. While other candidates still furrowed their brows and held their brushes in hesitation, Duan Chang had already handed in his papers and left the hall, feeling thoroughly pleased with himself. The second and third sessions went the same way. When the examinations were over, he returned with his household to Yicheng.

Duan Ju had him write out his examination essays for inspection and found every one of them brimming with energy and spirit; he was overjoyed. Duan Chang simply remained in the yamen waiting quietly for news. In just a few days a great clamor arose in Yicheng County — someone came to report to Magistrate Duan: "Congratulations, Your Honor — the young master has passed with distinction!" Duan Ju hurried to receive the announcement and read it: his son had taken second place among the presented candidates. His delight knew no bounds. He rewarded the messenger and sent Duan Chang, still attended by his household servants, back to the provincial capital to pay his respects to the chief examiner and the examiner of his particular room. All of them saw that he was only seventeen or eighteen years of age, as fine-looking as polished jade, and had placed exceptionally high; they received him with great warmth. Duan Chang also met his fellow graduates and spent several busy days in the capital before at last returning home.

Now, ever since Wang Chengmei had broached the marriage proposal, Liu Xing had been at ease, waiting to hear the results of the examinations. At the beginning of the eighth month, word suddenly came that he had been called in to enter the examination hall as a reader — he was glad, thinking it would be easy to ensure Duan Chang placed well and thus smooth the way for the marriage. But when assignments were made, he was placed in the outer reviewing room and was greatly disappointed. Now, seeing that Duan Chang had taken second place as a provincial graduate, he was delighted, and had someone summon Wang Chengmei. He said: "The newly honored Duan has leapt the dragon's gate. What you promised before — now is exactly the time."

Wang Chengmei dared not tarry, and prepared a generous gift to go and congratulate Magistrate Duan. Duan Ju declined repeatedly but finally accepted. Wang Chengmei said, "I have come today both to offer congratulations and to speak of your son's marriage. Previously I had the good fortune of receiving the old magistrate's gracious consent. Now that the young master has made his name, I am here to fulfill that promise and would be glad to act as the matchmaker."

Duan Ju was taken aback. He said, "How could I dare disobey Magistrate Liu's wishes? But unfortunately my son has little fortune in this regard — he is already betrothed to another. I am sorry to disappoint Magistrate Liu's kind intentions, and I beg you to convey my regrets."

Wang Chengmei was greatly startled and pressed further. "When Magistrate Liu made this inquiry in the spring, he was well aware that the young master had no betrothed and felt a genuine private admiration for him, so he entrusted me to bring the two families together. And you, sir, gave your word — that the match would be discussed once your son had passed. How can you now say he is already betrothed? Surely you are not toying with us?" Duan Ju replied, "Marriage is a serious matter. Magistrate Liu is my superior, and I could not speak plainly at the time, so I deferred the answer until after the examinations — that is hardly toying with anyone." Wang Chengmei pressed on: "May I ask whether this prior betrothal was made before or after Magistrate Liu's proposal? And to whom is the young master pledged, and who served as go-between? Please tell me clearly, so that I may convey it." Magistrate Duan replied, "From childhood my son was honored by Censor Feng Yi, who set aside his daughter for him. A go-between has been engaged for some time. It is only because I have been stationed here on official duty, and because Feng Yi was sent far away in exile to the frontier, that the formal wedding has not yet taken place." Hearing the magistrate speak with such conviction, Wang Chengmei had no choice but to take his leave and report back to Liu Xing — of which no more need be said for now.

Now Duan Chang, having passed the provincial examination, was bursting with eagerness, wishing he could leave at once for the capital to seek news of Feng Yi. But the endless visits back and forth with fellow graduates left him not a moment to himself. He told his parents: "I was fortunate enough to pass this round, and the metropolitan examination in the capital awaits me. The social calls here are endless and exhausting. Would it not be better for me to set out early for the capital and take quiet lodgings at a temple, where I can study in peace and prepare to advance further? If I wait until the last moment and rush there in haste, that would not be proper."

Duan Ju and Li Shi saw the sense in this and made the necessary preparations, assigning the household servants Duan Jing and Duan Qin to attend him on the road. Duan Chang took his leave of his parents and set off with his attendants. As the boat traveled along the Yangtze, Duan Chang's thoughts ran ahead of him: "On the way to the capital I shall surely pass through Linqing, where I might inquire after Uncle Tang and his wife. After so many years apart, I wonder how they fare. I fear they may not even recognize me at first sight — I shall have to explain carefully, and then there will be a joyful surprise." At that thought, he could not bear to wait. He told the boatmen, "I have urgent business and need to reach Linqing as soon as possible. Please make all haste." The boatmen did not dare delay at the young master's command.

In a few days they reached the Shandong landing, where the servants had already hired sedan chairs and horses, and the party turned north toward Beijing. After traveling several more days, Duan Chang asked, "How far is it still to Linqing?" Duan Jing replied, "Only a day's journey now." The next day, sitting in his sedan chair, Duan Chang was so impatient he could hardly bear it. He got down from the chair and rode Duan Jing's horse instead. Though less comfortable than the chair, being on horseback let him look about, which helped ease his heart. Yet the farther he rode, the more restless he felt, and it was not until the sun sank behind the hills that they at last arrived in Linqing. It being inconvenient to make inquiries at that hour, they settled in at an inn for the night. Duan Chang did not sleep a wink.

The next morning, too impatient even to eat, he left Duan Qin to watch the luggage at the inn, and set out with Duan Jing to look for the Tang family. But Linqing was a broad and populous city, its streets countless and tangled. Though Duan Chang had been there only a few years ago, he had been young at the time and had rarely gone out, so he had little memory of the lanes and doorways. He wandered back and forth uncertainly. Duan Jing asked, "Young master, who is it you are looking for?" Duan Chang replied, "I have a very close relative here and must see him." Duan Jing said, "If you wish to find a relative, you must know his name and address." Duan Chang said, "I lived here as a child, and I thought I would still know the lanes — but east and west have all got muddled and I have entirely forgotten." Duan Jing said, "If you do not remember the address, you need only know the name, and we can ask." Duan Chang said, "This relative is surnamed Tang." Duan Jing said, "That makes it easy enough to ask around."

He stopped people to ask, but some pointed ahead and others pointed behind. By the time they made their way to any of these places, it turned out to be some other Tang entirely.

Duan Chang was at his wits' end. He spotted an old man sitting by the roadside in the sunlight, weaving straw sandals. He stepped over and asked, "Excuse me, elder, can you tell me where there is a family named Tang hereabouts?" The old man simply bowed his head and went on with his sandals, making no reply. Duan Jing said, "He seems to be hard of hearing, young master. You will have to speak up." Duan Chang, having no choice, stepped closer, laid a gentle hand on the old man's back, and said loudly, "I am a traveler passing through. I am looking for a family named Tang — do you know of them?"

The old man, suddenly aware of someone addressing him, set down his straw sandals and looked up. Seeing it was a young gentleman, he jumped to his feet at once. "Oh, not at all, not at all — the Tang family is just up ahead, they are relatives of mine." Duan Chang saw the man was indeed deaf and asked again: "I said Tang — not Tang the family name, but Tang." The old man grinned and pointed. "Go round the corner there and it is the third house — the Lang family."

Duan Chang could not help laughing. He shouted, "I said Tang — not Lang!"

The old man finally understood, and said with a cheerful smile, "Ah, Tang! Well now, there are quite a few families named Tang in this area. Which Tang are you after?" Duan Chang said, "I am looking for Tang Xiyao, the physician." At this, the old man's expression changed. "Young sir, why are you asking after this Tang Xiyao?"

Duan Chang said, "He is a close relative of mine, and I have not seen him in years, so I came to call on him." The old man said, "That Tang Xiyao is no longer here."

Duan Chang was alarmed. "Why is he gone? He hasn't — died, has he?" The old man said, "Amitabha — what a thing to say! You curse a man just like that — that's no way to behave. If you'd asked anyone else, they wouldn't know the details. But I and this Tang Xiyao have been friends since childhood. The pity of it is that he had no son of his own. He had just managed to adopt one, and then the boy was schemed to death." Duan Chang pressed him urgently: "What happened? How was the boy schemed to death?"

The old man said, "It was his nephew — a man called Tang Tu — who wanted to seize his uncle's estate. He saw that the adopted boy was very talented, had taken first place in both the prefectural and county examinations, and this made the nephew jealous. On the day the boy was to enter the examination hall, before dawn had even broken, Tang Tu and his son committed their crime of violence and carried the boy outside the city and beat him to death. Tang Xiyao's household knew nothing of it. The poor man and his wife wept and longed for the child day and night, nearly dying of grief seven or eight times over."

Duan Chang said, "How would Tang Tu have confessed such a deed to you?" The old man replied, "He never would confess it openly — but afterward, when he cheated the Tang family out of their silver, his two sons couldn't divide the spoils evenly and quarreled, and it came out in the fighting. I was the one who stepped in to mediate, so I heard all of it." Duan Chang asked again, "And what of Tang Xiyao himself now?" The old man said, "Later, his nephew conspired with local ruffians to pin a murder charge on him, and his fine household was stripped bare. Left with nowhere to stay, he was recently heard to have gone south to stay with relatives."

Duan Chang asked, "Do you know where he is now?" The old man said, "He left quietly to avoid his nephew — how would he have told anyone his destination?" Duan Chang asked, "And what became of the nephew?" The old man said, "Heaven punishes the wicked — his entire household was struck down by plague and died." Duan Chang asked further, "There was a Censor Feng in this area — is he at home now?" The old man said, "That Lord Feng was framed by enemies several years ago. He was demoted to postmaster at a frontier station and left with his whole family."

Duan Chang asked, "Is there anyone left at his house?" The old man said, "After Lord Feng departed, the servants had no master and scattered to the four winds. The property was seized by others."

Hearing that both families had come to such ends, Duan Chang was in a state where he could neither weep nor laugh. He could only sigh again and again. Seeing that the old man had been talking for a long while, he had his servant take out five qian of silver to give him as a reward. The old man took the silver with a joyful heart and made a half-bow. "Many thanks for the young master's generosity. Next time you need to inquire after relatives, just come and ask me." Duan Chang's visit had come to nothing. Helpless, he could only stifle his grief and sighs inwardly. He returned to the inn and passed another night there. That night in the inn, truly it was:

Returning, I hoped to speak of all that had been —

but returning, I found the journey was for nothing.

Thought upon thought, longing upon longing — the heart would break;

how could the dreaming soul find any peace?

The next day, Duan Chang had no choice but to continue on his way. In due time he arrived in Chang'an, had people find him lodgings, and settled in his belongings. Though his heart ached with worry for Tang Xiyao and a heaviness lay over him, the examination date was close at hand, so there was nothing to do but keep quietly to his studies — of which no more need be said here.

Now let us turn to Wang Chengmei, who, having received Magistrate Duan's answer, hurried to see Chief Magistrate Liu and relayed the whole of it. Liu Xing was furious when he heard. "Magistrate Duan is being most impertinent! I am a senior judicial official — is it beneath him to have me as a kinsman by marriage? I, the holder of a jinshi degree, am offering my daughter to the son of a common tribute student — which side should feel honored? Does the man have no understanding of the world at all? What I want is nothing more than the son of a common man. And he claims there is a prior pledge with the Feng family! This Feng Yi offended the court and has been exiled beyond the passes for years — how could such a betrothal have been arranged? If it existed, why did he not say so clearly the very first time the matter was raised? Why this vague evasion now? It is nothing more than seeing his son newly graduated and thinking himself too good for an alliance with me — so he makes one excuse after another to mock and humiliate me. You are still under my jurisdiction, Duan — how dare you be so insolent? No matter. Go back and tell him this from me: whatever the truth of this Feng family engagement, this Feng Yi's daughter has been in the frontier regions for years, and whether she is alive or dead is unknown. By now she has likely married some postmaster's son out there. Even if she still lives, years of frontier wind and frost will have faded whatever beauty she had — she is no longer fit to be the wife of a man who holds a prestigious post."

Wang Chengmei had no choice but to go back to Magistrate Duan and relay all of this in full, saying, "This match is truly a case of families well-suited to each other. Moreover, Magistrate Liu's daughter is both beautiful and virtuous — she would be a fine match for the young master." Magistrate Duan replied, "When my son left, he said clearly that his pledge to the Feng family is fixed as firmly as a single thread — he will not renounce it in life or in death, and no wealth or rank will change his heart. This shows his sense of loyalty and honor, and as his father I cannot compel him against it. Why will Magistrate Liu not understand this, and instead demand that a prior betrothal be broken and a new one forced? This is a matter that concerns the moral order — it should never be done. Even if it could be forced, both the man and the woman must be willing. A marriage made under compulsion is surely not what a good parent would teach."

Wang Chengmei could only say, "The magistrate and the young master are of course not wrong in their views. But your servant fears that the path of official advancement is narrow, and if this matter comes to nothing, Magistrate Liu's anger and shame may well have consequences for you, sir." Magistrate Duan laughed heartily. "Whether one governs well or ill, public opinion will settle the matter. There is no need for you to worry on my behalf."

Wang Chengmei saw that Magistrate Duan was an obstinate, principled man and went back to report in full to Liu Xing. Liu Xing flew into a rage. "I treated him with goodwill, and he repays me with rudeness! He is nothing but a tribute student — what standing does he have? He has kept his post only because his superiors have chosen to support him." He said further, "You may go, friend — I will deal with this in my own way. There will come a day when he has to come begging to me. Who knows — he may come to seek the match himself yet. But let us set that aside for now." Wang Chengmei, finding himself caught between two sides with no satisfaction on either, took his leave. Liu Xing quietly turned over in his mind how to make things difficult for Magistrate Duan and teach him regret.

Before a month had passed, the circuit inspector happened to arrive at the provincial capital. The judicial officials all went to pay their respects, and the inspector at once handed down a large number of concluded, unresolved, and long-accumulating difficult legal documents to the various judicial officials, ordering each to examine and report back clearly. All the judicial officials were alarmed and looked at one another, not daring to speak. Then Liu Xing came forward and knelt to report: "Yicheng County Magistrate Duan Ju is known for his skill in judging cases. Allow me to take these back and have him examine and settle them, and it will be most suitably managed."

The circuit inspector agreed and handed the documents to Liu Xing to take back. When Liu Xing returned to his yamen, he kept the easy cases for himself to review and record, and selected all the most difficult and bewildering ones to send down to Yicheng County Magistrate Duan Ju to adjudicate and report upward for decision. Duan Ju had no choice but to examine each case one by one in careful detail. When he sent his findings to Chief Magistrate Liu, Liu Xing would reject and send them back. He had not even managed to close three or five cases before Liu Xing had dispatched dozens more. In no time, the cases piled up like a mountain. Duan Ju could only work through them slowly. But Liu Xing kept sending urgent messengers, invoking the circuit inspector's authority and saying the matter could not be delayed. This left Duan Ju with no peace by day and no rest by night. After more than a month of examination, matters had gradually begun to take shape.

But then Liu Xing sent down yet more cases. Duan Ju thought to himself: "Examining the circuit inspector's cases is properly the work of the chief judicial official — what does it have to do with a county magistrate? This stream of documents is nothing but the chief magistrate's revenge for the failed marriage proposal, using this to torment me. If I continue to be oblivious, he need only pick out any small flaw in my work and stir up trouble before the circuit inspector, and my reputation would be ruined. Moreover, my son's engagement to the Feng family is the desire of his own heart — he has come close to death more than once and still has not forgotten her, holding firm to his loyalty. How can I, as his father, yield to pressure and abandon his lifelong commitment, leaving him to grieve forever? Would that not be to lead my own son into dishonor? While I am here in office I have some small reputation, but how long can I withstand the chief magistrate's animosity? He is the eyes and ears of the superior officials. If I fall into his trap, I could be stripped of rank or demoted — and that would be a disgrace. Besides, I am nearly sixty years old now — why cling to this empty prestige? My son is able to carry on my work. Would it not be better to retire before the trouble reaches me, plead illness, and withdraw to a leisured life in the countryside to enjoy my remaining years in peace?"

His mind made up, he closed his door and worked through the night to write a petition to his superiors reporting illness. Fortunately, his superiors had long known him as a man of integrity, and they approved his petition to return to his home county to recuperate, with provision to return to his post once recovered. When the documents came through in a few days, Duan Ju was greatly relieved. He handed over all pending matters to the acting official. Liu Xing suddenly learned of Duan Ju's retirement petition and tried to have the circuit inspector detain him, but all the superiors had already approved his return to his home county. Seeing the matter could not be reversed, Liu Xing had no choice but to let it go. Duan Ju said his farewells to his colleagues and set off with his wife, servants, and attendants. The people of Yicheng County burned incense and came out far along the road to see him off. As Duan Ju departed, he was truly a man freed of official burdens — light and at ease, he made his way home without a care. As it has been said:

To move through the world is to be entangled in right and wrong;

to be a man, one must know when to act and when to withdraw.

Once the cage has been cast off in a single morning,

it is like a wild swan soaring free in the high open sky.

Now, Duan Chang had settled in the capital and made careful inquiries. He learned at last that Feng Yi had been demoted to the post of postmaster at Yulin Station. His heart eased somewhat. He thought: "Since Uncle Feng is still alive, the young lady must naturally be safe. And if she is safe, she will surely be keeping faith with me. If fortune smiles on me again, there is still hope of seeing her — and then our reunion, like a broken mirror made whole, is not impossible." He put aside all other concerns, stayed quietly in his lodgings, and applied himself diligently to his studies. When the examination season came, he entered the halls just as before and fought his literary battles. With a mind full of brilliant talent and a brush that swept like wind and clouds, he excelled in all three sessions. When the results were announced, he had placed sixth overall as metropolitan graduate.

At the palace examination, his policy essays were thorough and eloquent, his words apt and incisive. The Emperor was greatly pleased. Noting also his youth, he bestowed on Duan Chang the title of Second Graduate — Bangyan. After his success, Duan Chang was greatly honored. He paraded through the capital's streets for three days and was selected as a compiler in the Hanlin Academy. Many officials in the capital saw that he was young and highly placed, and every family with a daughter to marry admired him. All manner of people came on their behalf to seek the match. Duan Chang declined them all, invoking his prior betrothal. But no sooner had he sent one family away than another arrived. Finding the incessant approaches impossible to bear, Duan Chang at last filled in "Married to Feng" in his official personal register, and only after people saw this did they at last desist.

At this time, Cao Jixiang and Shi Heng had grown arrogant on the strength of their past services, doing as they pleased and driving upright ministers away. Even the Emperor had come to regard them with contempt. Though memorials from various officials had come in, none dared speak plainly — they went through the motions, and all such documents were retained in the palace without being acted upon. Duan Chang thought to himself: "It was because of Feng Yi's demotion that I have been unable to be reunited with the young lady. Cao Jixiang and Shi Heng are the chief architects of that injustice. Why do I not submit a memorial impeaching them? If the Emperor in his mercy grants it, I would be serving the state, and at the same time, privately, I would secure Feng Yi's recall to the capital — then my cousin would return with her father, and the day we meet is not far off. To sit idle and hope is useless." He drafted a detailed memorial setting out the crimes of those two men and submitted it.

The Emperor was greatly pleased. "I did not expect a newly appointed junior official to show such courage — unafraid of powerful traitors. This is most admirable." He at once stripped both traitors of their offices, and issued an imperial decree recalling Feng Yi to court with his original rank restored. Once the imperial edict was issued, who would dare disobey? Duan Chang was overjoyed. He said: "I did not expect the Emperor to show such mercy — expelling the traitors and granting my father-in-law's return. This marriage is entirely a gift of imperial grace." He turned toward the palace and prostrated himself in gratitude.

He was about to send Duan Qin riding post-haste with a letter to inform his parents, when a report suddenly arrived from Huguang saying that Magistrate Duan had submitted a petition of illness and retired from office. Duan Chang was startled. "We have not been parted long, and though father is getting on in years, his health and vigor seemed still sound. Why should he have suddenly fallen ill and been forced to leave his post? Now that I have heard this, how can I not return home to see him?" He was about to prepare a memorial requesting leave to go home to visit his family. But then he thought: "If father is ill, why has no letter come? Surely there is more to this than meets the eye." He thought further: "Now that Uncle Feng has been recalled by imperial decree, he will likely arrive before long. If he arrives just as I depart, that would be yet another maddening case of missed timing. Better to wait for a letter from home, and also to receive Uncle Feng, Aunt Feng, and the young lady — to make clear the matter of the marriage — and then go home, see my parents, and bring back my bride. Would that not be achieving two things at once?" And so Duan Chang remained in the capital to wait. It was this waiting that would bring about:

Limitless joy, anticipated and longed for —

yet when the meeting came, it was tinged through with sorrow.

What happened next? Read the following chapter to find out.