Original Text
Mi Sheng was a native of Fujian; the storyteller had forgotten his given name and place of origin. Once, by chance, Mi Sheng entered the city, and being drunk, passed through the bustling market. There he heard thunderous sounds of flutes and drums emanating from a grand mansion. Inquiring of the neighbors, he was told that a birthday feast was being held, yet the front gate of the house was strangely quiet. Entranced by the melodious music in his drunken haze, Mi Sheng, without asking what sort of household it was, bought birthday gifts from the street and presented a name card as a junior. Someone, seeing his shabby attire, asked, "Are you a relative of the old gentleman?" Mi Sheng replied, "No, I am not." Another person said, "This family is a newcomer here, a sojourner; no one knows what official rank they hold, but they appear very proud and lofty. Since you are not a relative, what do you seek?" Mi Sheng, now regretful, found that his card had already been delivered. Soon, two young men came out to welcome the guest; they were dressed in dazzling, splendid garments, with refined and elegant bearing. They bowed to Mi Sheng and invited him inside. Entering, Mi Sheng saw an old man seated facing south, with tables of feast arranged to the east and west, and six or seven guests, all appearing to be sons of noble families. Upon seeing Mi Sheng, they all rose to bow to him, and the old man also stood up, leaning on his staff. Mi Sheng stood for a long while, preparing to exchange pleasantries with the old man, but the old man did not leave his seat. The two young men stepped forward and said, "Our father is aged and frail, and it is difficult for him to rise and return the courtesy; we, his two sons, thank you on his behalf for the honor of your presence." Mi Sheng humbly returned the bow. Another table was then added, placed close to the old man's seat. Soon, performers began their music and dance below the hall. Behind the seats was a screen of colored glass, shielding the women of the household. For a time, the drums and music grew loud, and the guests could no longer converse. As the feast drew to a close, the two young men rose and each took a large goblet to toast the guests, each cup holding about three pints. Mi Sheng showed reluctance, but seeing the other guests accept, he did so as well. In an instant, looking around, Mi Sheng saw that both host and guests had drained their cups; compelled, he forced himself to drink his. The two young men came to refill his cup, and Mi Sheng, feeling utterly exhausted, rose to take his leave, but the young men forcibly held his sleeve. Mi Sheng, deeply intoxicated, collapsed to the ground, and only felt someone splashing cold water on his face; in a daze, he seemed to awaken. Rising, he saw that all the guests had departed; only one young man supported his arm to see him out, and Mi Sheng then took his leave and returned home. Later, when Mi Sheng passed by the mansion again, he found that they had already moved away.
Mi Sheng was returning from the county town when he happened to pass through the marketplace. A man came out from a shop and invited him to drink together. Mi Sheng looked at him but did not recognize him. He followed the man into the shop nonetheless, and upon entering, found that his fellow villager Bao Zhuang was already seated at the table. Mi Sheng asked Bao Zhuang who the man was, and it turned out that the man's surname was Zhu, and he was a mirror polisher in the marketplace. Mi Sheng asked Zhu, "How do you happen to know me?" Zhu replied, "The other day, when you went to offer birthday congratulations, do you remember that person?" Mi Sheng answered, "I do not." Zhu said, "I often frequent that household and am most familiar with them. The old gentleman's surname was Fu; I do not know from which province he hailed or what office he held. When you went to offer him birthday felicitations, I was sitting in the hall below, and thus I recognized you." As the day was growing late, they finished their wine and parted. That night, Bao Zhuang was killed on the road by someone. Bao Zhuang's father did not know Zhu, so he wrote a plaint and accused Mi Sheng. The officials examined the corpse and found that Bao Zhuang had suffered severe wounds. Mi Sheng was sentenced to death for murder and endured all manner of tortures from the instruments of punishment. Because Zhu had not been captured and there was no one to bear witness, Mi Sheng was thus imprisoned. After more than a year, a high-ranking imperial inspector came on a tour of inspection, deeply understood that Mi Sheng had been wronged, and released him.
When Mi Sheng returned home, his fields and property had all vanished, and his status as a scholar had been stripped away. Hoping to one day clear his name and restore his rank, he packed his bags and set off for the prefectural city. As dusk fell, weary from travel, he rested by the roadside. In the distance, he saw a small carriage approaching, with two maids in blue walking beside it. After the carriage had passed, the person inside suddenly ordered it to stop, and some words were exchanged, though he could not hear them. Presently, one of the maids asked Mi Sheng, "Are you not surnamed Mi?" Startled, he rose and replied that he was. The maid inquired, "How have you come to such poverty?" He recounted his misfortunes. She then asked, "Where are you bound?" He told her. The maid went to the carriage, spoke briefly with the occupant, then returned and invited Mi Sheng to approach the vehicle. A slender hand reached out from within to lift the curtain, and Mi Sheng caught a glimpse of a woman of peerless beauty. She said to him, "You have suffered an undeserved calamity, and it fills me with sighs. The present office of the academic commissioner is not a place one may enter empty-handed. On the road, I have little to offer you..." With that, she plucked a pearl flower from her hairpin and handed it to him, saying, "This can fetch a hundred taels of silver; keep it safe." Mi Sheng bowed in thanks and was about to ask her family name, but the carriage had already sped far away, and he never learned who she was. Holding the pearl flower, he examined it closely; the pearls set into it were of extraordinary quality, no common trinket. He carefully stowed it away and continued on his way. Upon reaching the city, he submitted a petition to the authorities, but the officials there extorted him relentlessly. Taking out the pearl flower and gazing at it, he could not bear to part with it for money, so he returned home. Back in his native place, his home was gone, and he had to lodge with his elder brother and sister-in-law. Fortunately, his brother was a virtuous man who managed his affairs, and though they were poor, he did not allow Mi Sheng to neglect his studies.
After a year had passed, Mi Sheng went to the prefectural city to take the scholar examination, but lost his way and wandered deep into the mountains. It happened to be the Qingming Festival, and many people were out enjoying the spring scenery. He saw several young women riding by on horseback, and among them was one lady who was none other than the girl he had seen in the carriage that day. As soon as she saw Mi Sheng, she reined in her horse and asked where he was going. Mi Sheng told her truthfully. The lady said in surprise, "Has your scholarly rank not yet been restored?" Mi Sheng felt a pang of sorrow, and taking out the pearl flower from his clothes, he said, "I could not bear to sell it for money, and so I remain a mere student to this day." The lady's face flushed with a rosy hue, and she bade him wait by the roadside while she rode slowly away. After a long while, a maidservant came galloping back on horseback and handed Mi Sheng a bundle, saying, "Our young mistress says that today the gate of the Academic Commissioner's office is like a marketplace—nothing can be done without money. She presents you with two hundred taels of silver as funds for your advancement." Mi Sheng declined, saying, "Your mistress has already shown me too much kindness! I believe that passing the examination is not a difficult task for me, and I dare not accept such a heavy gift. I only beg you to tell me your mistress's name, so that I may paint a small portrait of her at home, burn incense before it, and be fully content." The maidservant paid no heed to his words, threw the bundle on the ground, and rode away. From then on, Mi Sheng's circumstances became quite comfortable, but he still disdained to buy his way to a degree. Later, he came first in the prefectural examination and gave all the money to his elder brother. His brother was skilled at accumulating wealth, and in only three years, all of their former family fortune was restored.
It happened that at this time the Governor of Fujian was a former student of Mi Sheng's grandfather, and he provided generous relief to Mi Sheng's family, so the Mi brothers became immensely wealthy. However, Mi Sheng had always been upright and aloof; though he had hereditary connections with high officials, he never sought their favor. One day, a guest in splendid attire arrived at the Mi residence on horseback, but no one in the household recognized him. When Mi Sheng came out to see, it was none other than Young Master Fu. Mi Sheng bowed and invited him inside, and they exchanged pleasantries. Mi Sheng wished to prepare a feast to entertain him, but Young Master Fu declined, citing urgent affairs, yet he did not take his leave. After a short while, wine and dishes were brought out, and Young Master Fu rose, requesting Mi Sheng to speak in another room. The two entered one after the other, when suddenly Young Master Fu fell to his knees and kowtowed. Startled, Mi Sheng asked, "What is the meaning of this?" Young Master Fu said sorrowfully, "My father is facing a great calamity, and I wish to seek help from the Governor. This matter cannot be accomplished without you." Mi Sheng declined, saying, "Though he and my family have hereditary ties, to seek personal favors is something I have never been willing to do in my life." Young Master Fu prostrated himself on the ground, weeping bitterly. Mi Sheng said sternly, "I am merely a friend with whom you shared but a single cup of wine; why do you force me to compromise my integrity?" Greatly ashamed, Young Master Fu rose and took his leave.
The next day, Mi Sheng was sitting alone when a woman dressed in blue entered; he recognized her as the maidservant who had given him silver in the mountains. Startled, he rose, and the maidservant said, "Have you forgotten the pearl flower?" Mi Sheng replied, "How could I forget? I dare not!" The maidservant said, "The young gentleman who came yesterday is the elder brother of my mistress." Mi Sheng, secretly pleased, pretended to be doubtful and said, "This is hard to believe. If your mistress would come herself to explain, I would leap into a cauldron of boiling oil for her sake; otherwise, I dare not comply." The maidservant left swiftly. At midnight, she returned, knocked, and entered, saying, "My mistress has come!" Before she finished, a woman entered with a sorrowful expression, faced the wall weeping, and said nothing. Mi Sheng bowed and said, "Without your kindness, young lady, I would not be here today. Whatever command you have, how dare I disobey?" The woman said, "Those who are sought after are often proud, while those who seek are often fearful. To travel all night—I have never suffered such hardship in my life, but it is for the sake of seeking help; what more can I say?" Mi Sheng comforted her, "The reason I did not agree at once was my fear of losing this chance and never seeing you again. To make you travel through frost and dew is indeed my fault!" With that, he stepped forward, took her sleeve, and secretly caressed it. The woman grew angry and said, "You are truly heartless! You forget my past help and seek to take advantage of my plight. This is my own fault! My own fault!" She rose in fury, mounted her carriage, and was about to leave. Mi Sheng hurried out to apologize, kneeling to block her path. The maidservant also pleaded for him. Her anger somewhat abated, and from the carriage she said, "I will tell you the truth: I am no mortal, but a divine maiden. My father is the Grand Master of the Southern Peak, and for a slight discourtesy to the Earth God, he was reported to the Heavenly Emperor. Without the seal of a human magistrate, this calamity cannot be lifted. If you do not forget our past bond, take a sheet of yellow paper and beg the great official to affix his seal for me." With these words, the carriage departed.
After returning home, Mi Sheng was deeply fearful that he could not fulfill his promise. He therefore pretended to be driving away evil spirits and beseeched the provincial governor to affix his official seal. The governor, deeming this akin to a sorcerer's trickery, refused to consent. Mi Sheng then used a heavy bribe to win over the governor's trusted confidant, who agreed but could find no opportunity to act. When he returned home, the maidservant was already waiting at the gate. Mi Sheng told her the true circumstances; the maidservant departed without a word, her demeanor seeming to resent his lack of sincerity. Mi Sheng pursued her and said, "Return and tell your mistress: if this matter cannot be accomplished, I will repay it with my death!" Back in his home, Mi Sheng tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep, yet he could devise no good plan. It happened that the governor's favored concubine was purchasing jewels, so Mi Sheng presented the pearl flower to her. The concubine was greatly delighted and secretly stole the official seal to affix it for him. Mi Sheng tucked the yellow paper bearing the seal into his bosom and brought it home, just as the maidservant arrived. Mi Sheng smiled and said, "I am fortunate not to have failed in my charge, but the treasure I endured poverty and begged for years without bearing to sell—today, for its owner's sake, I have lost it!" He then recounted the matter to the maidservant and added, "To cast away gold, I do not regret at all. But pray tell your mistress: the pearl flower must be repaid by her!"
After several days, Young Master Fu came to the Mi residence to express his gratitude and presented a hundred taels of gold. Mi Sheng's countenance changed, saying, "The reason I acted as I did was because your sister once rendered me selfless assistance. Otherwise, even ten thousand taels of gold would not suffice to make me alter my integrity." Fu repeatedly urged him to accept, but Mi Sheng's tone grew even more severe. Fu withdrew in shame, saying, "This matter is not yet concluded!" The next day, a maidservant, sent by the lady, presented a hundred luminous pearls, asking, "Is this enough to repay that pearl hairpin?" Mi Sheng said, "What I value is that hairpin, not these pearls. If on that day I had been given a treasure worth ten thousand gold pieces, I would merely have sold it to become a wealthy man; but I would rather cherish the hairpin and remain content in poverty—for what purpose? The lady is a divine being; how dare I entertain any extravagant hopes? I only wish to repay a ten-thousandth part of her great kindness, and then I would die without regret!" The maidservant placed the pearls on the table; Mi Sheng bowed to them and returned them to her. A few days later, Fu came again, and Mi Sheng ordered a feast prepared. Fu then commanded his attendants to cook in the kitchen themselves, and the two sat opposite each other, drinking freely, as joyfully as if they were of one family. A guest had presented Mi Sheng with bitter glutinous rice wine; Fu found it sweet after drinking, and after downing a hundred cups, his face showed a faint flush of red. He then said to Mi Sheng, "You are a loyal and upright gentleman; my brothers and I failed to know you earlier, falling far short of my sister. My father, grateful for your great virtue, has nothing to repay you, and wishes to betroth his younger daughter to you, only fearing that you might disdain the separation between human and spirit." Upon hearing this, Mi Sheng was both delighted and alarmed, not knowing how to reply. Fu took his leave, saying, "Tomorrow evening is the seventh day of the ninth month, when the new moon rises—it is the auspicious time for the Weaving Maid's youngest daughter to descend into the mortal world for marriage. You may prepare the bridal chamber to welcome your bride."
On the second night, Lady Fu was indeed sent over, and she was no different from an ordinary person in every way. Three days later, she bestowed gifts upon everyone, from her brother and sister-in-law to the servants and maids, great and small. Lady Fu was also most virtuous, serving her sister-in-law as if she were her mother-in-law. After several years, Lady Fu had not borne any children, so she urged Mi Sheng to take a concubine, but Mi Sheng refused. It happened that Mi Sheng's elder brother was traveling to the Jianghuai region for trade and bought a young woman for him. The woman was surnamed Gu, with the childhood name Boshi, and her appearance was also refined and elegant, much to the delight of Mi Sheng and his wife. They noticed a pearl flower pinned in Boshi's hair, strikingly similar to the one from years past; when they took it down to examine it, it was indeed that very object. Mi Sheng and his wife were astonished and asked her about it. Boshi replied, "Once, the favorite concubine of a provincial governor died, and her maid stole this pearl flower and sold it in the market. My late father, seeing it was cheap, bought it, and I grew very fond of it. My father had no sons, only me, his daughter, so whatever I desired, I obtained. Later, my father passed away, our family fortunes declined, and I was entrusted to the care of Aunt Gu, a distant relative. When she saw the pearl flower, she tried several times to sell it, but I threatened to throw myself into a well rather than part with it, so it has been preserved until now." Mi Sheng and his wife sighed and said, "An old possession from ten years ago, now returned to its original owner—surely this is Heaven's will!" Lady Fu then produced another pearl flower, saying, "This flower has long been without a companion!" With that, she gave both to Boshi and personally pinned them in her hair. After Boshi left the room, she inquired in great detail about Lady Fu's background, but the household members refused to speak plainly. Boshi privately said to Mi Sheng, "I see that the elder lady is by no means a mortal, for there is a divine aura between her brows. Yesterday, when she pinned the flowers for me, I observed her closely and found that her beauty emanates from within her very flesh, unlike ordinary people who rely only on outward appearance." Mi Sheng merely laughed at this. Boshi said, "You need not laugh; I shall test it. If she is truly a divine maiden, and you have some request, go to a secluded place, burn incense, and pray to her—she will surely know." Lady Fu's embroidered stockings were exquisitely fine, and Boshi admired them greatly but dared not ask for them openly; instead, she burned incense in her own room and prayed. The next morning, Lady Fu rose and suddenly rummaged through a bamboo chest, found the stockings, and sent a maid to deliver them to Boshi. When Mi Sheng saw this, he could not help laughing, and Lady Fu asked him why. Mi Sheng then told her the truth. Lady Fu said, "This girl is truly cunning!" Seeing Boshi's intelligence, she grew even fonder of her, and Boshi in turn became more respectful, rising each morning to bathe and then pay her respects.
Later, the scholar fathered a pair of twin boys, each raised separately by Miss Fu and the scholar himself. When the scholar reached eighty years of age, Miss Fu's countenance remained as youthful as a young woman's. The scholar fell ill, and Miss Fu summoned artisans to construct a coffin, demanding it be made twice the size of an ordinary one. After the scholar died, Miss Fu shed no tears; once the mourners had departed, she too leaped into the coffin and perished. Thus, they were buried together in a single tomb, and to this day, people still speak of it as the "Great Coffin Grave."
The Chronicler of Strange Tales remarks: Miss Fu was indeed a divine maiden, yet how could the scholar have known this—what principle did he follow? From this it can be seen that the wisdom of mortals can sometimes surpass even that of the immortals!
Commentary
This story tells of a romance between a mortal and a goddess. Unlike other tales of mortal-divine unions in Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio, this bond is not forged through ethereal predestined fate but through mutual aid in times of hardship, culminating in marriage. Mi Sheng, entangled in an inexplicable legal case, receives assistance from the Divine Maiden. When her family faces calamity, Mi Sheng is willing to sacrifice his life for her. The narrative highlights Mi Sheng's upright and unyielding character; he disdains currying favor with the academic examiner to restore his scholar status, and despite having a familial friendship with the governor, he never seeks personal favors. Later, for love, he compromises his integrity. The Divine Maiden, deeply devoted to Mi Sheng, possesses both passion and dignity. She repeatedly aids Mi Sheng, and when her family is in distress and she seeks his help, she remarks, "Those who are sought after often lord over others, while those who seek often live in fear." When Mi Sheng behaves improperly, she angrily rebukes him and storms out. Contrasting with the righteous natures of Mi Sheng and the Divine Maiden is the corruption of the secular world. The tale repeatedly notes, "Today, one cannot enter the examiner's office empty-handed," "Upon arriving at the prefecture to file a complaint, extortion abounds at every level," and "The examiner's gate is now as bustling as a marketplace." These details not only highlight the purity of Mi Sheng and the Divine Maiden but also reflect Pu Songling's enduring contempt for the educational officials of his time.
The structure of this tale is quite exquisite. The first meeting between the Divine Maiden and Scholar Mi is subtly hinted at through the line, "Behind the seat was set a screen of colored glass, to shield the inner chambers." The pearl flower given by the Divine Maiden to Scholar Mi serves as the red thread running through the plot, appearing multiple times in the story to highlight the deep emotions between them. When Scholar Mi, in order to repay the Divine Maiden, is forced to present the pearl flower to the favored concubine of the provincial governor, he never expects that, by the tale's end, the appearance of a learned scholar would restore the flower to its original owner. Thus, the reunion of the lovers and the return of the pearl bring joy to all, imbuing the narrative with a rich, legendary charm.
The episode at the end of the tale, where the scholar offers prayers to the goddess, reflects the author's humanistic thought, namely that "human wisdom is inherently more inspired than that of the gods," while also supplementing the description of the goddess's beauty, which "emanates from within her very flesh and bone, not like ordinary mortals who excel merely in the arrangement of black and white features."