The Prequel to Yongqing Shengping

Author: Jiang Zhenming
Publisher:
Publishing Date: 2004-01-01
Features: The Emperor, riding a donkey, thought to himself, "During my last private visit, I captured the tyrant of the Five Tiger Village. Today, upon reviewing the (official report), I wonder where the bandits of the Earth Cult are located outside the Three Gates?" As he pondered, they arrived at Shunzhi Gate Street. Suddenly, he heard the murmuring, "The Xingshun (security) store is displaying its wares!" The Emperor, unaware of what "displaying wares" meant, thought, "Perhaps it's because they've eaten well and want to show off their physique. I shall go take a look." Following the crowd southward, he saw the southern end of the street densely populated. He spotted a tall mat shed with numerous red and gold decorations. It also displayed inscriptions such as "Zhu Zhu's Business" and "Roots Strong, Branches Flourish," signed by famous scholars, farmers, artisans, and merchants. A gold-painted plaque with golden flowers hung above the gate, reading "Xingshun Store," written by a renowned calligrapher. The Emperor dismounted, tied the donkey to the door of a neighboring grain store, took up a whip, parted the crowd, and walked inside. Upon entering, he sat on a large bench to observe. He noticed that the east side was considered the most prestigious, with five rooms in the main building, a front veranda and an rear pavilion, all windows filled with glass, dazzlingly bright. To the south stood snow-white courtyard walls, with four green screen doors in the center, inscribed with "Zhao Zhuang, Central and Proper." To the south were more courtyards, and to the north stood five rooms in the main building, extending into the rear courtyard. The courtyard screen wall inside was still under construction. A bald mason, wearing white cotton pants and a jacket, white socks, and blue satin shoes, in his early forties, with fine eyebrows and round eyes, was holding a trowel and plastering. Another small laborer, stout, wearing silk pants and a jacket, and Shandong-style shoes, stood eight feet tall with a purple jade-like face, broom-shaped eyebrows, large hoop eyes, and a flat hairline. He held a nine-pound and twelve-inch trowel, grinding plaster, with a radish-shaped snuff bottle tied to his belt. Under the ceiling, there were two weapon racks with eighteen types of weapons, each exquisite. In front of the north rooms stood three eight-immortals tables, covered with scarlet felt and piled with numerous ingots. The Emperor, after observing, did not know what kind of business it was, but heard the sounds of gambling and drinking in the southern courtyard, lively and boisterous. A young man, around twenty, emerged from the east room, wearing a white chicken-feathered jacket, a blue silk middle garment, purple cloth socks, and blue satin shoes with double faces, a blue silk satchel embroidered with cranes and bees on his waist; his hair was yellow and tightly braided, his face smooth as sweet porridge, with a sugar-cake-like nose; two willow eyebrows, horse-like eyes, and two sugar-shaped ears; holding a small rattan whip, he walked before the Emperor with a stern expression and said, "Get out of the way, old man, stop sitting here!" The Emperor looked up and felt a chill, gasping in surprise. Seeing the Emperor in a bronze-colored silk robe with matching sleeves and official boots, with long eyebrows, broad eyes, a full forehead, a silver beard, and an aura of divine majesty, he realized this was no ordinary person. After a moment, he smiled and said, "I thought it was someone else, but it’s you, sir. I’m Xiao Qinjiao Hu Laodai. Have you not heard of me? Inside." The Emperor did not reply. As the young man turned to leave, he heard someone outside say, "Your Majesty, have you any leftovers? Please give some to my brother and sister." The Emperor turned to see a man and a woman. The man, around twenty, looked sickly. The woman lowered her head and spoke not a word, but her features were delicate. She wore a hairpin and coarse skirt, narrow bow-shaped shoes, though not stunningly beautiful, she possessed a captivating charm. The Emperor thought, "Every year, officials from all provinces report bountiful harvests. Yet beneath my imperial capital, I find beggars! Judging by their appearance, they are not long-term beggars—there must be a reason. If I had brought silver, I would have asked about their situation and helped them." Just as he was thinking, the gatekeeper Xiao Qinjiao Hu Da raised a rattan whip and struck the beggar on the head. The beggar retaliated with a punch, knocking Xiao Qinjiao to the ground. Xiao Qinjiao laughed scornfully, "You still know some martial arts? Sing me a happy song, and I’ll give you a hundred coins." The beggar replied, "I don’t know any happy songs—don’t be ridiculous!" The young man glanced behind the beggar and saw a beautiful woman. Here is a praise for her:
Her hair like black silk, her face like a lotus,
Her nose like a suspended gourd, her ears like bows.
Her cherry lips hold jade fragments, her forehead full, her chin round.
Soft spring mountains hold her grace, clear autumn waters her wisdom.
Dressed in coarse clothes, she is neat and proper,
Her golden lotuses twist below her skirt.
Her sleeves half cover her painted wrists,
Her ten fingers like spring onions.
She holds her heart like Xi Shi,
A water brush and ink cannot paint her.