“But consented you have. What can you do?”
Madame Cui thought for a moment then said, “Well, since Zhang Sheng had to marry by imperial decree, you should still be my son-in-law, as your uncle arranged it. Don’t waste any time
– choose an auspicious day for the wedding and make Yingying your wife.” Zheng Heng couldn’t help but laugh to himself at how easily Madame Cui had took his story hook, line and sinker. “I would love to,” he said. “But you have promised Zhang Sheng. What if he puts up a fuss when he comes back?” “How could he dare do so? I’m here as your guarantee. Just pick a date and move here as soon as possible.”
Zheng Heng couldn’t believe how easily Madam Cui was duped. In his head he was already planning the wedding – meals, tea, gifts and more.
So Madame Cui had changed her mind once again, despite Zhang Sheng’s tremendous achievement of finishing first on the imperial examination. The news of Yingying’s upcoming marriage to Zheng Heng caused quite a shock to those at the temple. The abbot, for one, was quite doubtful of Zheng Heng’s story. He had been cheering for Zhang Sheng throughout the time and waited anxiously for the exam results to be published. He was overjoyed when he saw Zhang Sheng’s name at the top of the list. He sent one of his disciples out to inquire about the young scholar’s forthcoming official appointment and had learned that He would become a prefecture magistrate – the third highest position in the official hierarchy. Local officials from the surrounding areas were coming to the temple to congratulate him. The General on White Horse also came, who was to preside over the wedding between Zhang Sheng and Yingying. However, Madame Cui refused to participate in the celebration, despite the vexed abbot’s urgings.
Having received his appointment as the magistrate for Hezhong prefecture, Zhang Sheng left the capital for the temple in great expectation. He carried the coronet and official robes that Yingying would wear on their wedding day. After greeting the local officials who had come to receive him at the rest pavilion by the road, he galloped straight for the temple. His overflowing joy made it seem as if he was riding on air. Amid the crash of galloping hooves, Zhang Sheng reflected on the events of the past year. Not so long ago he had been just another ordinary scholar; now he was the highest scorer on the imperial examination! His name had been registered with the Imperial Academy for his outstanding scholarship and he was appointed magistrate of a prefecture. His career had progressed leaps and bounds in such a short time. He pictured in his head how happy and proud Madame and Miss Cui would be to see him return in all his glory, and Madame Cui wouldn’t be able to look down on him any longer.
Outside the temple he quickly dismounted and went straight in, not even greeting those who were kneeling outside the gate to receive him. He rushed into the chamber where Madame Cui was staying and fell on his knees as any son-in-law would before his future mother-in-law.
“As the declared top candidate of the imperial examination and newly appointed magistrate of Hezhong Prefecture, I am honored to pay my respects to you as your son-in-law.”
Zhang Sheng knew that something went wrong when he saw that Madame Cui didn’t even deign to raise her eyes.
“Save it! By imperial decree, you have married the daughter of Minister Wei. I’m below your respect. As the son-in-law of the minister, what are you even doing here?”
Zhang Sheng was taken aback as he had no clue what she was talking about.
Madame Cui continued, “I have only one daughter, Mr. Zhang. Though she might not be called a startling beauty, she was born to the late Prime Minister and is of noble blood. If Sun Feihu hadn’t come here with his band of gangsters, you’d never have had a chance with her. You’ve accomplished much as a scholar and have been appointed a high official, and for this I congratulate you. But then you betrayed the Cui family within a single day! You’ve got the minister’s daughter as your wife and you still want my daughter as your concubine? How dare you!”
Now Zhang Sheng was doubly confused about this misunderstanding but he smelled a rat.
“Dear Madame, I don’t know where you heard such slander, but it’s all rumors – believe me. I am committed to marrying none other than Yingying. I don’t even know who this Minister Wei is, much less his daughter. I’ve rushed back here from the capital to marry Yingying!”
Madame Cui turned her head and refused to answer.
Zhang Sheng then turned to Hongniang and asked, “How is Yingying?” Hongniang glared at him and replied coldly, “You have no right to ask! You’re now the son-in-law of the Wei family and my mistress will marry into the Zheng family. The two of you have nothing to do with each other anymore.”
Zhang Sheng again entreated Madame Cui, “Mother-in-law, please, who told you this vicious rumor?”
Madame Cui replied im patiently, “My nephew saw everything – it must be so.”
She repeated the whole fabrication as Hongniang standing by the side, sneering at him with the deepest of contempt and scorn. Zhang Sheng sensed he was in a trap. He swore to heaven that he had never married the Minister’s daughter.
“Sister Hongniang ,” he began. ‘You have seen almost all that has happened between Yingying and me. I can understand that others might not believe me, but how can you? Surely, you know all the pains and hardships I have endured for Yingying more than anyone else. I swear to you all that I would rather be struck dead by lightning from heaven than betray my love Yingying.”
Hongniang had initially doubted the veracity Zheng Heng’s story. She knew Zhang Sheng pretty well from their long acquaintance, and seeing his present sincerity, she felt there must be some foul play.
“Madame Cui, I don’t believe Master Zhang is an ungrateful person. Perhaps we should invite your daughter in to ask for herself.”
Madame Cui didn’t take Zhang Sheng’s oath lightly and she began to suspect that there might be something undiscovered going on here. She agreed to Hongniang’s suggestion that Yingying be brought into the discussion.
