Original Text
A man named Gu from Jinling was highly talented and skilled in many arts, but his family was very poor. Moreover, because his mother was aged, he could not bear to leave her side, and so he had to make a living day by day by writing characters and painting pictures, selling them for a little money. Gu was already twenty-five years old and had not yet taken a wife. Opposite his house there had originally been an empty residence, but now an old woman and a young girl had rented it and were living there. Since they were all womenfolk, he had never inquired about their origins.
One day, Gu Sheng happened to return from outside and saw a young woman emerging from his mother's room, about eighteen or nineteen years of age, exquisitely beautiful and refined, rare in the world. She did not avoid him upon seeing him, but her expression was very stern. Gu Sheng entered the room and asked his mother, who said: "She is the girl from across the street, who came to borrow scissors and a ruler. She just mentioned that she also lives alone with her mother at home. This girl does not seem like the daughter of a poor family; when I asked why she was not yet married, she excused herself by saying she must care for her aged mother. Tomorrow I should go to pay respects to her mother and casually broach the subject of a marriage proposal. If their wishes are not too excessive, you could support her mother in her place." The next day, Gu Sheng's mother went to the girl's home, where her mother was a deaf old woman. Looking around the house, there was no surplus grain. When asked how they made a living, it was solely by the daughter's needlework. Gu's mother gradually hinted at the idea of merging their households, and the old woman seemed to agree, but then turned to consult her daughter, who remained silent, appearing quite displeased. So Gu's mother returned home and recounted the situation in detail to her son, speculating: "Could it be that this girl despises our poverty? She speaks to no one and smiles at no one, as beautiful as peach and plum blossoms, yet as cold as frost and ice—truly an extraordinary person!" Mother and son pondered and sighed, and then let the matter rest.
One day, Gu Sheng was sitting in his study when a young man came to buy a painting. The youth was exceedingly handsome in appearance but carried himself with a frivolous air. When asked where he came from, he said he was from a neighboring village. After that, he came once every two or three days. As they grew familiar, they gradually began to jest and tease each other. Gu Sheng embraced him affectionately, and the youth did not resist much, until at last they engaged in an illicit affair. From then on, their visits became very intimate. One day, it happened that the young woman passed by, and the youth stared at her intently, asking who she was. Gu Sheng said she was a neighbor's daughter. The youth remarked, "She is so exquisitely beautiful, yet her demeanor is so stern that it inspires fear." Shortly after, Gu Sheng entered the house, and his mother said, "Just now the girl from across the way came to ask for some rice, saying she had not lit the stove for over a day. This girl is very filial, pitifully poor, and from now on we should help them more often." Gu Sheng followed his mother's wishes, carried a peck of rice to the opposite door, and conveyed his mother's intentions. The girl accepted it but did not utter a word of thanks. Often, when the girl came to Gu Sheng's house, if she saw Gu's mother doing needlework, she would take it up and sew it herself; she also vied to do all the chores inside and outside the house, just like a daughter-in-law in the family. Gu Sheng respected her all the more. Whenever he obtained some delicacy, he would always share it with the girl's mother across the way, yet the girl still did not express much gratitude.
It happened that Gu Sheng's mother had developed a sore on her lower body, which caused her such agonizing pain that she cried out day and night without cease. The young woman frequently came to her bedside to visit, washing the wound and applying medicine, coming three or four times each day. Gu Sheng's mother felt deeply indebted, yet the young woman showed not the slightest sign of disgust. The old mother sighed and said, "Alas! Where could one find such a fine daughter-in-law, willing to serve me until my death?" As she spoke, she choked with sobs. The young woman comforted her, saying, "Your son is a man of great filial piety, a hundred times better than we, a widow and an orphaned daughter." Gu's mother replied, "These trivial matters by the bedside—how could they be the work of a filial son? Besides, I am already aged and frail, and death may come at any moment. What truly troubles my heart is the matter of continuing the family line!" As they spoke, Gu Sheng entered. His mother wept and said, "We owe this young lady far too much! Never forget to repay her kindness and virtue." Gu Sheng knelt and bowed to the young woman. She said, "You honor my mother, and I have not thanked you—why must you thank me?" From then on, Gu Sheng admired and cherished her all the more. Yet her every movement was grave and dignified, and he dared not presume upon her in the slightest.
One day, the young woman went out, and Gu Sheng watched her longingly. Suddenly, she turned back and gave him a sweet smile. Overjoyed, Gu Sheng hurriedly followed her to her home. He flirted with her with words, and she did not resist much, so they happily enjoyed each other's company. After the affair, the woman warned him, "This can be done once, but it must not happen again!" Gu Sheng said nothing and returned home. The next day, he tried to arrange another meeting, but she frowned and walked away without even a glance. She often came by, but when they met, she offered neither kind words nor a pleasant expression. When Gu Sheng made a slight jest, she retorted with cold, cutting remarks. One day, in a secluded spot, the woman asked Gu Sheng, "Who is that young man who often visits?" Gu Sheng told her. She said, "His behavior has offended me many times. Because of his closeness to you, I have ignored it. Please tell him that if he continues as before, he will not live to see another day!" That evening, Gu Sheng relayed her words to the young man, adding, "You must be cautious; she is not to be trifled with!" The young man replied, "If she is not to be trifled with, why did you trifle with her?" Gu Sheng denied it. The young man said, "If truly not, how did those intimate words reach your ears?" Gu Sheng could not explain. The young man added, "Also, tell her not to put on a false show of propriety, or else I will spread the word everywhere." Gu Sheng grew angry, his face changing color, and the young man then departed.
One evening, as Gu Sheng sat alone, the maiden suddenly appeared and said with a smile, "The bond between us is not yet broken—surely this is Heaven's will!" Overjoyed, Gu Sheng clasped her in his arms. Suddenly, they heard hurried footsteps and sprang up in alarm, only to see the young man push open the door and enter. Gu Sheng asked in astonishment, "What brings you here?" The young man laughed and replied, "I came to see the chaste lady." Then, turning to the maiden, he said, "Do you still blame me today?" The maiden's brows shot up in anger, her cheeks flushed crimson, and without a word, she swiftly opened her garment, revealing a leather pouch, from which she drew a gleaming dagger a full foot long. The young man, seeing this, fled in terror. The maiden chased him out the door, but when she looked around, there was no trace of him. She hurled the dagger into the air, and with a sharp whoosh, a beam of light like a rainbow flashed forth, and something fell to the ground with a loud crash. Gu Sheng hurriedly brought a lamp to examine it—it was a white fox, its body severed from its head. Gu Sheng was horrified. The maiden said, "This was that handsome young man you fancied. I had spared him, but since he courted death, what could I do?" With that, she returned the dagger to its pouch. Gu Sheng tried to draw her back into the room, but she said, "That fiend has spoiled our pleasure tonight; let us wait until tomorrow evening." So saying, she departed through the door.
On the second night, the maiden indeed arrived, and they shared a warm and affectionate rendezvous. Gu Sheng inquired about her swordsmanship, but she replied, "This is not something you should know. You must keep it strictly secret; once leaked, it may bring harm to you." Gu then proposed marriage, to which she said, "I have already shared your bed and pillow, and have undertaken the chores of drawing water and cooking meals—is this not what a wife does? We are already husband and wife; why speak further of marriage?" Gu asked, "Could it be that you disdain my poverty?" The maiden answered, "Your household is indeed poor, but is mine wealthy? Tonight's gathering was solely out of pity for your poverty." As she departed, she added, "Such clandestine unions cannot occur repeatedly. When it is fitting, I will come of my own accord; when it is not, no force will avail." Thereafter, whenever Gu met her and wished to speak privately, she would evade him. Yet she continued to mend clothes, prepare meals, and manage household tasks just as dutifully as any wife.
Several months later, the young woman's mother passed away, and Gu Sheng managed the funeral arrangements with all due diligence. The young woman then lived alone. Gu Sheng thought that since she was solitary in her sleeping quarters, she would be easy to seduce, so he climbed over the wall and called to her through the window, but there was never any response. When he looked at her door, the room was empty and locked. Gu Sheng suspected she had another rendezvous and was not at home. Yet when he went again at night, it was still empty, so he left a jade pendant on her windowsill and departed. A day later, Gu Sheng encountered the young woman in his mother's room. As he left, she followed behind and said, "Do you suspect me? Everyone has matters in their heart that cannot be told to others. Now, if I wish to make you not suspect me, how can that be? But there is an urgent matter I need to discuss with you." Gu Sheng asked her, and she said, "I have been pregnant for eight months now, and I fear I am about to give birth. My identity is not clear; I can only bear your child, but I cannot raise it for you. You should secretly tell your old mother to find a wet nurse, pretend to adopt a baby, and not mention me." Gu Sheng nodded in agreement and told his mother. His mother laughed and said, "This girl is truly strange! She would not agree to a proper marriage with betrothal gifts, yet she secretly carries on with my son." She was very pleased and followed the young woman's instructions.
After more than a month had passed, the young woman did not come for several days, and Mother Gu, fearing something was amiss, went to check on her. The gate was tightly shut, with not a sound to be heard. Mother Gu knocked for a long time before the young woman, her hair disheveled and face unwashed, finally opened the door and invited her in, then quickly closed it again. Entering the inner chamber, Mother Gu saw a baby crying loudly on the bed. Startled, she asked, "How long has it been since the birth?" The young woman replied, "Three days." Picking up the child, she saw it was a boy with a broad forehead and large face. Overjoyed, Mother Gu said, "You have already borne me a grandson, but you are all alone—how will you support yourself in the future?" The young woman answered, "My heart's secret I dare not reveal to you, old mother. Wait until the dead of night, and then I will bring the child over." When Mother Gu returned home, she told her son what had happened, and both mother and son were filled with wonder. That night, they brought the child back.
After several more nights, near midnight, the young woman suddenly knocked and entered, carrying a leather pouch in her hand. She smiled and said, "My great task is now complete, and I have come to bid you farewell." Gu Sheng urgently asked what had happened. The woman replied, "The kindness you showed in supporting my mother is forever engraved in my heart. In the past, I said that there could be one time but not a second, meaning that my repayment was not to be found in the pleasures of the bedchamber. Because your family was too poor for you to marry, I intended to continue your ancestral line and ensure the succession of your family. I had hoped that a single union would result in pregnancy, but unexpectedly your monthly flow returned, thus breaking the promise and leading to a second encounter. Now your kindness has been repaid, and my own wish has been fulfilled; there is no longer any regret." Gu Sheng asked, "What is in the pouch?" The woman replied, "The head of my enemy." He opened it and saw hair and beard tangled together, the flesh and blood a ghastly mess. Gu Sheng was so startled he nearly fainted, and pressed her for the full story. The woman said, "In the past, I would not tell you, for fear of leaking this secret matter. Now that the deed is done, I may as well speak the truth: I am originally from Zhejiang, and my father held the rank of Sima. He was framed by an enemy, and our entire household was confiscated. I carried my aged mother on my back and fled, living in hiding under a false name for three years. I could not take revenge immediately because my mother was still alive; after she passed away, I was burdened with pregnancy, and thus my great vow was long delayed. That night I went out not for any other reason, but because I was unfamiliar with the roads and gates, and feared making a mistake in my vengeance." With these words, she walked toward the door, then turned back to instruct him: "The son I have borne you, you must treat him well. Your fortune is thin and your life will not be long, but this child will bring glory to your family. It is late, and you must not disturb your mother again. I am leaving now." Gu Sheng was heartbroken and tried to ask where she was going, but the woman vanished like a flash of lightning, and in an instant, her figure was nowhere to be seen. Gu Sheng stood there sighing in sorrow, as if his very soul had left him. The next day, he told his mother everything, and the two could only marvel and sigh in mutual astonishment.
Three years later, Gu Sheng indeed passed away. His son, at the age of eighteen, attained the rank of a jinshi, and he cared for his grandmother until her final days, seeing her through to the end.
The Chronicler of the Strange remarks: A man must have a chivalrous woman in his household before he can keep a male favorite; otherwise, while you dally with him, he will covet your wife.
Commentary
After reading the chapter "The Chivalrous Maiden," Wang Yuyang exclaimed in astonishment: "A divine dragon shows its head but not its tail; is this chivalrous maiden not like a dragon?" Judging from the fact that the chivalrous maiden came without a shadow and left without a trace, and that her name remains unknown, Wang Yuyang's observation was likely quite accurate.
The chivalrous maiden possessed a temperament unlike that of ordinary women. She was "exquisitely beautiful and elegant, unmatched in the world." The tale describes her as "speaking cold words that chilled like ice," and "her demeanor was stiff and unyielding, utterly unapproachable." When Gu Sheng and his mother cared for her mother, she "barely uttered a word of acknowledgment," and "accepted their kindness without expressing thanks." Gu Sheng's mother aptly summarized her character as "radiant as peach and plum blossoms, yet cold as frost and snow," a description of utmost precision. Yet on the other hand, she was adept at needlework and considerate in every detail: "when she saw the mother making clothes or shoes, she would take over the sewing, moving about the hall and working like a daughter-in-law." Especially when Gu Sheng's mother "suffered from a boil in a private place, crying out day and night, the maiden would come to her bedside to attend to her, washing the wound and applying medicine three or four times daily. The mother felt deeply uneasy, but the maiden never tired of the filth."
In the chivalrous woman, whether in words or deeds, it seemed she was born only for two purposes: to avenge her father and repay her mother's kindness. Once these were accomplished, she declared, "My great tasks are now complete; allow me to take my leave from this point forward!"
In terms of the chivalrous woman's exceptional martial prowess and her act of personally avenging her enemy by taking his life, this is not particularly remarkable, as it is a conventional theme in classical Chinese literary tales. What truly astonishes and shocks is that, in order to repay Gu Sheng for his care of her elderly mother, and recognizing that Gu Sheng was too poor to marry and thus lacked an heir, she engaged in sexual relations with him, bore him a son, and forthrightly declared: "I can bear a child for you, but I cannot raise it for you." The chivalrous woman's conduct was upright and aboveboard, yet whether viewed through the lens of bearing a child out of wedlock or her rejection of the traditional notion of "offering oneself in marriage," her actions were beyond the capacity of ordinary people in feudal society and set her apart from the so-called "chivalrous women" of the past.
Jiang Ruizao, in his "Textual Research on Novels," cites "Anonymous Notes" suggesting that the chivalrous woman alludes to the story of Lu Wancun's granddaughter assassinating Emperor Yongzheng, but this claim lacks credibility.