Chapter Three: A Young Gentleman Questions the Source of the Trousseau — A Spirited Woman Rejects the Gifts and Proves Her Integrity

It is told that after Hou Chaozong and Xiangjun had consummated their union, they rose the following morning. They had not yet finished washing and dressing when Yang Longyou arrived early to offer his congratulations.

When he reached the house, he found the courtyard gate still firmly shut, the maidservants silent — clearly the couple had not yet risen from their late slumber. He told the matron: "Go to the window of the newlyweds' room and tell them I have come early to offer my congratulations." Before the matron could comply, Zhenli had already heard him from within and called out: "Who is it?" They replied: "Lord Yang has come to congratulate you." Hearing Lord Yang's name, Zhenli hurried out to receive him: "Many thanks to your lordship for bringing about my child's marriage — your kindness runs deep. How can we receive the added trouble of your coming so early to congratulate us!"

Longyou then asked: "Are the newlyweds up?" Zhenli said: "They retired late last night and have not yet risen."

Zhenli turned and went inside for a look, and saw the two of them there, clove-fastened and looking-glass-aligned, just completing their washing and dressing, not yet fully adorned. She came back out and invited Lord Yang to join them in the bridal chamber for a morning-after drink. When Longyou and Zhenli saw Chaozong, Longyou said playfully: "Forgive me for startling your sweet dream! Last night's bridal verse I sent — was it fitting?" Chaozong laughed in thanks: "Most fitting indeed — but although Xiangjun is young, she should be treasured in a golden chamber. How could I possibly have kept her tucked in my sleeve?" Everyone laughed together.

Longyou asked again: "You must have composed something fine in the depths of that tender night?" Chaozong said: "Merely a hasty scrawl — I dare not ask your opinion." He asked Xiangjun to bring out the palace fan and hand it to Longyou. Longyou read it through and said: "Wonderful, wonderful! Only Xiangjun is worthy of this poem — keep it well. See how Xiangjun looks even more radiant now that her hair has been dressed — she does full justice to such a poem." Chaozong said: "Xiangjun's natural beauty is the glory of the nation; today with a few ornaments of pearl and jade and a new gown of figured silk, her tenfold loveliness has gained two measures more — she is truly adorable!" Zhenli added: "All of this is thanks to Lord Yang's generous help." That single remark was enough to stir up the doubt that had been lodged in Hou Chaozong's heart. He bowed to Longyou and said: "I see that although Lord Yang is a close kinsman of Superintendent Ma, you are yourself a man living modestly on a stipend. Why would you so readily spend money to fill this nest of smoke and flowers? I feel ashamed to have received it on my side; on your side, Lord Yang, it seems bestowed without a proper cause. I venture to ask for a candid explanation, so that I may know how to repay you." Xiangjun also spoke up: "My lord asks well. I received Lord Yang's hundred kindnesses; yesterday's generosity was more than I could comfortably accept — it has left me uneasy." Seeing how he was questioned, Longyou replied: "Since you ask directly, I have no choice but to tell you plainly. These feast-furnishings and trousseau all came from the hand of Huaining — that is to say, from Ruan Dacheng." Chaozong exclaimed: "You do not mean the man from Yuan — Ruan Dacheng?" Longyou said: "Precisely." Chaozong was greatly alarmed: "This Ruan Yuanhai was formerly a family friend of my father's generation, yet I have long since kept my distance from him, disgusted by his character. Why would he extend such unsolicited kindness today? It is beyond my comprehension." Longyou said: "The elder Ruan has a grievance he has long wished to make clear to the world. In earlier years he moved in the circles of Zhao Mengzhi — he was of our company to begin with. Later he fell in with the Wei faction, intending to use them as a means of protecting the Donglin party; but when the Wei faction collapsed, the Donglin partisans turned on him with fire and water. Now the scholars of the Revival Society have taken up the campaign of condemnation, heaping humiliation upon him freely. Is this not turning swords upon one's own brothers? Though the elder Ruan has many old acquaintances, because his conduct has seemed suspect, no one has come forward to speak for him. Every day he cries out to heaven: 'To be destroyed by those of the same kind — how heartbreaking, how horrifying! None but the young Master Hou of Henan can save me!' And this is why he has been so earnest in cultivating your friendship today." And truly:

With no way to be known as a gentleman,

One buys another's goodwill with gifts and money.

Hearing this, Chaozong woke as if from a dream, and at last understood the reason for the trousseau. Not fully settled in his mind after a moment's consideration, he offered a conciliatory word: "The elder Ruan's situation is indeed pressing and pitiable. Even were he truly of the Wei faction, if he repents and comes back to the right path, one ought not to reject him entirely — and in his case there are mitigating circumstances. Dingsheng and Ciwei are my closest friends. When I see them tomorrow, I will speak on his behalf." Longyou gave thanks: "If it comes to that, it will be the good fortune of our whole company!"

But Xiangjun, standing nearby, had heard every word of Chaozong's, and now she flared up with sudden, uncontained fury: "My lord — what do you mean by this? Ruan Dacheng curried favor with the most powerful villains, and cast away every shred of honor and shame. Women and children alike spit upon him. Others attack him, yet you wish to defend him — I do not know, my lord, where you would place yourself in this world! Your intention is plain enough: it is because he has paid for my trousseau that you wish to overlook principle for private favor. But these few hairpins, ornaments, and gowns do not amount to anything in this Xiangjun's eyes!" When she finished, she pulled the pearl and jade ornaments from her hair, stripped off her gown, and flung every piece to the floor, then went off to the inner room.

Longyou, witnessing this scene, felt awkward and out of countenance. He gave a constrained smile tinged with displeasure: "Ah — Xiangjun's spirit is truly fierce and unyielding!" Chaozong said: "Bravo! Bravo! Such clarity of judgment — she is a true woman among heroes. I pale by comparison. Indeed, Hou Chaozong has met his match in a fearless friend! Old brother, do not blame her; I myself am not ignorant of propriety — but I dread being laughed at by a woman. The reason those friends of my society have always looked up to me, Hou Chaozong, is precisely for this kind of moral spirit. If I were to attach myself to powerful villains, they would all turn on me in a mass, and I would be unable to save even myself — how then could I save anyone else?" Seeing that his cause was lost, Longyou felt acutely uncomfortable and tried to gloss over the matter: "The elder Ruan had good intentions — let us not be too fierce about it. Since this is how things stand, I will take my leave." He made a single bow and was about to descend the stairs when Chaozong bowed deeply and said: "Do not take offense, Brother. These trunks and gowns are Ruan's property; since Xiangjun will not use them, there is no point in keeping them here. Please take them away." Longyou's face was thoroughly covered with shame. He made his parting bow and left. And truly:

Sincere feelings are frustrated by those who feel nothing —

Arriving with enthusiasm, he departs with spirits crushed.

For the full story, the next chapter will explain.