“How do you know she wasn’t bewitched by a sprite or pixie in the garden,” Mrs. Du argued. “If this is the case then medicine won’t work. In my opinion, we’d need a Taoist nun to eliminate evil sprites and dispel misfortunes by conducting religious rites.”
“A sprite or a pixy? Nonsense,” the lord exclaimed. “That’s the view of a superstitious woman. Now that she is sick, she must see the physician.”
They argued back and forth for some time, but eventually he ordered his wife to make arrangements for the doctor to come. Though she was obligated to do as her husband asked, she decided to invite a nun, nicknamed Mother Stone to the house as well.
The physician came. He diagnosed by feeling her pulse and had a small chat with the girl but still couldn’t find the cause of her illness. He prescribed her some medicine to get rid of the pathogenic heat and then left. The nun came next. She burned paper with “magic” characters written on it and chanted incantations but nothing seemed to work. When the rite was over, Miss Du seemed to be sicker than before.
Time passed. The Mid-Autumn Festival has arrived and Liniang was still confined to her sickbed. The window was open so she could hear the wind outside and feel the chill in the air.
“It is getting cold and the moon seems bright. W hat’s the date today,” she asked her maid, struggling to sit up.
“August 15.”
“It’s the Mid-Autumn Day.” This house is cold and cheerless and there is no sign of festivity. My parents are in no mood to admire the full moon tonight. Help me up to the window. I want to see the moon.”
With the help of her maid, Miss Du managed to reach the window. It was completely dark and the moon looked exceptionally bright. The moonlight shone on the ground liked as if it was covered by snow. To Liniang the beautiful night view was nothing but desolation. She thought of the lonely Goddess in the Moon Palace and of her own destiny. Alone and sick, she felt lonelier than ever before and knew that her days were numbered. She asked her maid to put her self-portrait in a sandalwood case and hide it underneath the rockery in the back garden. A gust of wind swept through the air, Miss Du could hear the sound of dying insects in the grass and of leaves falling from trees. She couldn’t help but think that this was an omen from heaven about her fate. She quailed and fainted at the window.
The maid, frightened for her young mistress, hurriedly helped her to the bed and sent for her mother. The Madame rushed to her daughter’s room, saw Liniang’s pale face and felt her cold feet, she wailed. After some time, the young mistress awoke to her mother sitting beside her bed and crying.
“Mom, I’m sorry. I can no longer serve you but in my next existence I will do better.”
“My child, stop thinking like that.” When the old lady finally managed to get control of her tears she tried to comfort her daughter. “Get some rest and everything’s going to be alright.”
“Mom, I know I am dying but I have a request of you.” “Go ahead and speak your mind.”
“There is a plum tree in the garden. I love it dearly. I hope to be buried behind it after my death.”
Her mother’s heart broke. Holding her daughter tightly, she lost control and cried so hard she almost passed out. The maid worried for both of them and rushed to get the lord. W hen he came, the young mistress was at her last gasp. When the old man saw his only daughter dying like this, he cried uncontrollably and his face covered with tears.
The young mistress died the very night.
Her parents were terribly sad over the loss of their daughter. The entire household mourned the girl’s death.
While the household was in great grief, the Jin army intruded the southern part of the country and the emperor sent out an order for the lord to act as the garrison commander of Yangzhou, a bigger area than his hometown. He was ordered to proceed to his new post immediately. Mr. Du intended to leave without delay. Liniang was buried underneath the plum tree beside the rockeries in the garden as she wished.
He left the tutor Chen and the nun Mother Stone in charge of building a Plum Blossom Nunnery in the garden, in which the young mistress was consecrated. He asked the abbess to preside over the nunnery and attend to the sacrifices and tutor to watch over their daughter’s grave. With everything was arranged, Mr. Du left with his wife and their entourage to go to his new post.
