Original Text
Qiao Sheng was a native of Jinning, renowned from his youth for his extraordinary literary talent, yet by the time he reached his twenties, he remained frustrated and unfulfilled in his ambitions. Qiao was a man of deep loyalty, treating his friends with utmost sincerity and devotion. He was a close friend of Gu Sheng, and after Gu's death, Qiao frequently provided for Gu's widow and children. The magistrate of Jinning County greatly admired Qiao's literary skill, and the two shared a deep rapport; however, when the magistrate died in office, his family, impoverished and stranded in Jinning, could not return to their homeland. Qiao sold all his possessions to escort the magistrate's coffin and family back to their native place, a round trip of over two thousand li. Because of this righteous act, scholars held him in even higher esteem, yet his own fortunes declined further. There was a man named Shi Xiaolian, whose daughter, Shi Liancheng, excelled at embroidery and was well-versed in the classics and propriety. Shi Xiaolian doted on this precious daughter. He thus displayed Liancheng's embroidered piece, "The Weary Embroidery," and widely solicited poems from young talents, intending to select a worthy husband for her. Qiao Sheng also answered the call and presented a poem, which read:
Her languid hair coiled high, green and lushly swaying, she sat early at the orchid-framed window, embroidering blue lotuses.
The needle pierced the mandarin ducks, her soul nearly breaking; silently she paused her sewing, her twin moth eyebrows furrowed.
Qiao Sheng also composed a poem to praise Liancheng's exquisite embroidery skills, writing thus:
Embroidered threads plucked forth as if from life, the flowers and birds within the scroll appear as nature's own creation.
In those days, weaving brocade was no great skill, yet fortunately the palindrome verses moved the sage emperor's heart.
Liancheng was overjoyed upon receiving the poem and could not stop praising the poet's talent before her father. Historian Xiaolian, however, disdained the Qiao family's poverty, but Liancheng would extol Qiao Sheng to everyone she met, and even feigned her father's orders to send a maidservant to deliver silver to Qiao Sheng, supporting his studies. Qiao Sheng sighed and said, "Liancheng is my true soulmate!" From that moment, Qiao Sheng poured all his heartfelt affection into Liancheng, yearning for her with a hunger and thirst that could not be quenched.
Shortly thereafter, Liancheng was betrothed to Wang Huacheng, the son of a salt merchant, and Qiao Sheng fell into utter despair, yet she lingered in his dreams and thoughts, impossible to forget. Before long, Liancheng fell ill with consumption, took to her bed, and hovered at death's door. A monk from the Western Regions claimed he could cure her, but required an ounce of flesh from a man's chest, ground into powder for the medicine. Shi Xiaolian sent word to the Wang family of this, and Wang Huacheng laughed, saying, "This foolish old man wants to cut out my heart's flesh!" When the messenger returned and relayed this to Shi Xiaolian, he announced publicly, "Whoever can cut flesh for Liancheng shall marry her!" Hearing this, Qiao Sheng went to the Shi residence, cut a piece of flesh from his own chest with a knife, and handed it to the Western monk; blood quickly soaked his outer robe and trousers, but the monk applied medicine to stop the bleeding. The monk made three pills from Qiao Sheng's flesh, having Liancheng take one each day; after three days the pills were gone, and Liancheng recovered completely. Shi Xiaolian prepared to fulfill his promise and marry Liancheng to Qiao Sheng, first informing Wang Huacheng, who flew into a rage upon hearing the news and threatened to sue Shi Xiaolian in court. Shi Xiaolian, helpless, then hosted a feast for Qiao Sheng, laid out a thousand taels of silver on the table, and said, "I have greatly wronged your immense kindness; please allow me to repay you with this!" He then detailed the reasons for breaking his promise. Qiao Sheng's anger flared, and he said, "The reason I did not spare the flesh from my own heart was to repay a kindred spirit; do you think I did it to sell my flesh for silver?" With these words, he flicked his sleeves and left.
When Liancheng heard of this, she was deeply distressed and sent a servant woman to convey words of comfort to Qiao Sheng, saying, "With your talent, you will not remain obscure for long. The world is vast—why fear there is no fair lady? I once had an ill-omened dream that within three years I must depart this life. You need not contend with others for one who is soon to die." Qiao Sheng instructed the servant woman to reply to Liancheng: "The ancients said, 'A scholar dies for one who knows his heart,' and it is not for the sake of beauty. I fear only that Liancheng may not truly understand me; but if she does, what matter if we never become husband and wife?" The servant woman then expressed Liancheng's sincere intentions. Qiao Sheng said, "If that is so, then when we meet, if Liancheng can but smile at me, I shall die without regret!" A few days after the servant woman departed, Qiao Sheng chanced to go out and met Liancheng returning from her uncle's house. He gazed fixedly at her, and she, with a glance of her autumn-wave eyes, parted her lips and smiled sweetly. Qiao Sheng was overjoyed and said, "Liancheng is truly my soulmate!" When the Wang family came to discuss the wedding date, Liancheng's old illness recurred, and within a few months she died. Qiao Sheng came to mourn, wept bitterly before her spirit tablet, and fell to the ground dead. Shi Xiaolian sent men to carry his body home.
Qiao Sheng realized that he was already dead and felt nothing to grieve over. He strolled out of the village, still hoping to catch another glimpse of Liancheng. Gazing into the distance beyond the village, he saw a broad north-south road, where travelers moved like ants in an endless stream, and before he knew it, he had mingled among the crowd. After a while, Qiao Sheng entered a grand hall and happened upon his old friend Gu Sheng, who asked in astonishment, "How did you come here?" With that, he took Qiao Sheng's hand, intending to send him back. Qiao Sheng sighed and said, "There is still an unresolved matter weighing on my heart." Gu Sheng replied, "I am in charge of the official documents and records here and am well trusted by my superiors. If there is any way I can be of service to you, I will spare no effort." Qiao Sheng inquired about Liancheng's whereabouts, and Gu Sheng led him through winding paths, searching several places, until at last they saw Liancheng sitting with a lady in white, her expression sorrowful and her face streaked with tears, seated on the ground in a corner beneath the eaves. When Liancheng saw Qiao Sheng approaching, she stood up at once, her heart filled with joy, and asked how he had come. Qiao Sheng said, "Since you departed without a backward glance, how could I dare to remain among the living?" Liancheng wept and said, "For someone as ungrateful as I am, why did you not abandon me sooner? What meaning is there in dying for my sake? It is my regret that in this life we could not become husband and wife, but I hope in the next life we may renew our bond." Qiao Sheng turned to Gu Sheng and said, "If you have many affairs to attend to, please go on ahead! I would rather die like this than be reborn. But I must trouble you to find out where Liancheng is to be reincarnated, so that I may go with her." Gu Sheng agreed to Qiao Sheng's request and then departed.
The white-clad maiden asked Liancheng who Qiao Sheng was, and Liancheng recounted the entire affair to her. Upon hearing this, the maiden was overcome with grief. Liancheng introduced the white-clad maiden to Qiao Sheng, saying, "This is my sister of the same surname, whose childhood name is Binniang, the daughter of Prefect Shi of Changsha Prefecture. We traveled together on the same road, and thus we have come to cherish one another." Qiao Sheng looked at Binniang and saw that her countenance was as lovely as a flower and as fair as the moon, stirring tender affection. Just as he was about to inquire further about Binniang's circumstances, Gu Sheng returned and congratulated Qiao Sheng, saying, "I have already settled your matter; I shall soon allow the young lady to follow you back to the mortal world. What do you think of that?" Qiao Sheng and Liancheng were overjoyed. As they were about to take leave of Gu Sheng, Binniang burst into loud weeping, sobbing, "If my elder sister departs, where shall I go? I beseech you to take pity on me and rescue me from this place. I am willing to serve as your maidservant, attending to you." Liancheng's heart ached at these words, but she could think of no solution, so she begged Qiao Sheng for help. Qiao Sheng then turned and earnestly implored Gu Sheng. Gu Sheng found it exceedingly difficult and firmly refused, saying there was no way to assist. Qiao Sheng pressed him insistently, and Gu Sheng, unable to evade, could only say, "I shall have to try, though it may be in vain." Gu Sheng went away and returned only after the time it takes to eat a meal. He waved his hand and said, "What can be done? Truly, there is not the slightest remedy!" Upon hearing this, Binniang wept again. She clung to Liancheng's arm with lingering reluctance, fearing that she might depart at any moment. The group was filled with sorrow and utterly at a loss; they could only gaze silently at one another, their hearts nearly breaking at the sight of her mournful and distressed countenance. Gu Sheng, moved with emotion, declared, "Take Binniang with you! If any blame arises, I shall bear it all alone!" Only then did Binniang brighten with joy and follow Qiao Sheng and the others out. Qiao Sheng worried that Binniang had no traveling companion for the long journey, but Binniang said, "I will go with you; I do not wish to return home." Qiao Sheng replied, "You are truly foolish. If you do not return home, how can you be restored to life? Later, when I come to Hunan, if you see me and do not avoid me, that will be my utmost good fortune." At that moment, it happened that two serving women were about to travel to Changsha to deliver official documents, so Qiao Sheng arranged for Binniang to accompany them. Only then did Binniang bid farewell to Qiao Sheng and Liancheng with tears in her eyes.
On the way home, Liancheng walked very slowly, stopping to rest after every li or so, and she paused more than ten times before the city gates came into view. She said, "After I am reborn, I fear there may be further complications. Please ask for my bones, and I will revive in your home, so they cannot go back on their word." Qiao Sheng thought this a fine plan, and so they went together to his house. As soon as they entered the gate, Liancheng grew anxious and fearful, as if she could not take another step, and Qiao Sheng stood by, waiting for her. She said, "Now that I am here, my limbs feel unsteady, and my spirit is in turmoil. I fear our wishes may not come to pass, so we must plan carefully; otherwise, how can I be my own master after rebirth?" They took each other's hands and went to a side chamber, where they gazed at one another in silence. After a while, Liancheng smiled and said, "Do you find me repulsive?" Qiao Sheng was startled and asked why she said this. She blushed and replied, "I worry that after revival, I may not get what I desire, and I would once again fail your deep affection. Let me repay you first as a ghost!" Overjoyed, Qiao Sheng embraced her, and they shared the same bed, indulging in the utmost pleasure. Yet Qiao Sheng, captivated by their intimacy, delayed his own revival, and they secretly stayed in the chamber for three days. Liancheng said, "As the saying goes, 'An ugly bride must eventually meet her in-laws.' Hiding here in constant fear is no lasting solution." So she urged him to go quickly to the spirit hall. As soon as Qiao Sheng approached his own deathbed, his body immediately revived. His family, astonished and at a loss, quickly fed him some broth. Qiao Sheng sent for Historian Xiaolian and asked for Liancheng's remains, claiming he could bring her back to life. Overjoyed, Historian Xiaolian sent Liancheng's body to Qiao Sheng's home, and as soon as it was carried through the door, Liancheng awoke. She said to her father, "I have already given myself to Qiao Lang, and there is no reason to return home. If you try to marry me to another, I will die again!" Historian Xiaolian returned home and sent a maidservant to attend to her at Qiao Sheng's house.
When Wang Huacheng heard that Liancheng had come back to life and given herself to Qiao Sheng, he was consumed with shame and fury, and wrote a plaint to lodge with the magistrate. The official, having accepted a bribe from Wang Huacheng, actually adjudged Liancheng to him. Qiao Sheng was beside himself with rage but could do nothing. Forced to go to the Wang household, Liancheng was so indignant that she refused all food and drink, only wishing for a speedy death. Even when no one was in the room, she would hang her sash from the beam to strangle herself. After a day, Liancheng grew even weaker and lay at death's door. Wang Huacheng, terrified, hastily sent her back to the Shi family, and Shi Xiaolian had her carried to Qiao Sheng's home. When Wang Huacheng heard of this, he could do nothing further and so let the matter drop.
After Liancheng fully recovered, she often thought of Binniang and wished to send someone to inquire after her, but the distance was great and the journey difficult, so she never managed to do so. One day, a servant rushed in and reported, "There are many carriages and horses outside the gate." When Qiao Sheng and his wife went out to look, Binniang was already entering the courtyard. The three met with mingled joy and sorrow. It turned out that Binniang's father, Prefect Shi, had personally escorted his daughter there. Qiao Sheng hastily welcomed Prefect Shi into the hall. Prefect Shi said, "My daughter owes her life to you, and she has long sworn never to marry another. Today, I fulfill her wish." Qiao Sheng performed the ceremonial bow of a son-in-law to his father-in-law. At that moment, Shi Xiaolian also arrived, and the two Shis recounted their common lineage. Qiao Sheng's given name was Nian, and his courtesy name was Danian.
The Chronicler of Strange Tales remarks: To become intimate through a single smile, and then pledge one's very life in return, the world may deem this utter foolishness—yet were the five hundred stalwart men of Tian Heng, who died for their knowing lord at the end of the Qin dynasty, all fools? From this we may perceive how rare and precious is a true understanding heart, and thus it is that worthy men and heroes are moved beyond restraint by the sincere emotion of a kindred spirit. Gazing across the vast, boundless world, where a true confidant is so hard to find, it comes to pass that gifted scholars can only yearn for the fleeting, bewitching smile of a maiden. Alas, how sorrowful!
Commentary
In terms of narrative framework, this tale is merely about a poor scholar triumphing over a wealthy scion in the contest for marriage. What distinguishes it from traditional stories is, first, that the scholar and the maiden share not only equal beauty and talent but also a profound bond of mutual understanding, a bond steeped in Pu Songling's own sense of life's vicissitudes, which is why he remarks in the Historian's Commentary: "This is the rarity of being understood, the deep emotion that noble and worthy souls cannot contain within themselves. Yet in the vastness of the world, a man of literary brilliance can only pour out his heart for a single smile from a beauty. Alas!" Second, Liancheng and Scholar Qiao, in their quest to be united, pass from life to death and back to life again, clearly influenced by Tang Xianzu's Peony Pavilion, leading Wang Yuyang, a contemporary of Pu Songling, to comment: "Truly a lover of deep passion—who would have thought that after Peony Pavilion, such a person would appear again!"
The novel vividly portrays the profound bond of mutual understanding and deep affection between Liancheng and Qiaosheng, who are willing to sacrifice their most precious possessions for each other. For Qiaosheng, upon hearing of Liancheng's illness, he unhesitatingly risks his life, resolutely going to her and cutting flesh from his own chest with a sharp blade to give to the monk, his blood soaking his robe and trousers. For Liancheng, fearing that their plans might fail and she would deeply wrong him, she says, "I fear things may not succeed, and I would be a great burden to you; let me first repay you as a ghost," thus offering her chastity. In response, Dan Minglun comments: "Truly, they can live together, die together; they can die and then come back to life, or die without returning to life. This single emotion fills heaven and earth, moving the one who truly understands. Does the author perhaps harbor the lingering intent of the fragrant beauty and the orchid?" Modern readers might find the appearance of Binniang an unnecessary complication, but in the Ming and Qing dynasties, it was not inconceivable for two women to marry the same man.
The novel is also meticulously crafted in its structure. For instance, it begins with the foreshadowing that Qiao Sheng "was on good terms with Gu Sheng," and only at the end does it reveal that Qiao Sheng's "given name was Nian, and his style name was Danian," demonstrating a narrative rich in variation and the like.