某御史家人，偶立市間，有一人衣冠華好，近與攀談。漸問主人姓字、官閥，家人並告之。其人自言：「王姓，貴主家之內使也。」語漸款洽，因曰：「宦途險惡，顯者皆附貴戚之門，尊主人所託何人也？」答曰：「無之。」王曰：「此所謂惜小費而忘大禍者也。」家人曰：「何託而可？」王曰：「公主待人以禮，能覆翼人。某侍郎係僕階進。倘不惜千金贄，見公主當亦不難。」家人喜，問其居止。便指其門戶曰：「日同巷不知耶？」家人歸告侍御。侍御喜，即張盛筵，使家人往邀王。王欣然來。筵間道公主情性及起居瑣事甚悉。且言：「非同巷之誼，即賜百金賞，不肯效牛馬。」御史益佩戴之。臨別訂約。王曰：「公但備物，僕乘間言之，旦晚當有報命。」越數日始至，騎駿馬甚都。謂侍御曰：「可速治裝行。公主事大煩，投謁者踵相接，自晨及夕，不得一間。今得少隙，宜急往，誤則相見無期矣。」侍御乃出兼金重幣，從之去。曲折十餘里，始至公主第，下騎祗候。王先持贄入。久之，出，宣言：「公主召某御史。」即有數人接遞傳呼。侍御傴僂而入，見高堂上坐麗人，姿貌如仙，服飾炳耀；侍姬皆著錦繡，羅列成行。侍御伏謁盡禮。傳命賜坐簷下，金椀進茗。主略致溫旨，侍御肅而退。自內傳賜緞靴、貂帽。既歸，深德王，持刺謁謝，則門闔無人。疑其侍主未歸。三日三詣，終不復見。使人詢諸貴主之門，則高扉扃錮。訪之居人，並言：「此間曾無貴主。前有數人僦屋而居，今去已三日矣。」使反命，主僕喪氣而已。
某御史家人，偶立市间，有一人衣冠华好，近与攀谈。渐问主人姓字、官阀，家人并告之。其人自言：「王姓，贵主家之内使也。」语渐款洽，因曰：「宦途险恶，显者皆附贵戚之门，尊主人所托何人也？」答曰：「无之。」王曰：「此所谓惜小费而忘大祸者也。」家人曰：「何托而可？」王曰：「公主待人以礼，能覆翼人。某侍郎系仆阶进。倘不惜千金贽，见公主当亦不难。」家人喜，问其居止。便指其门户曰：「日同巷不知耶？」家人归告侍御。侍御喜，即张盛筵，使家人往邀王。王欣然来。筵间道公主情性及起居琐事甚悉。且言：「非同巷之谊，即赐百金赏，不肯效牛马。」御史益佩戴之。临别订约。王曰：「公但备物，仆乘间言之，旦晚当有报命。」越数日始至，骑骏马甚都。谓侍御曰：「可速治装行。公主事大烦，投谒者踵相接，自晨及夕，不得一间。今得少隙，宜急往，误则相见无期矣。」侍御乃出兼金重币，从之去。曲折十余里，始至公主第，下骑祗候。王先持贽入。久之，出，宣言：「公主召某御史。」即有数人接递传呼。侍御伛偻而入，见高堂上坐丽人，姿貌如仙，服饰炳耀；侍姬皆着锦绣，罗列成行。侍御伏谒尽礼。传命赐坐檐下，金椀进茗。主略致温旨，侍御肃而退。自内传赐缎靴、貂帽。既归，深德王，持刺谒谢，则门阖无人。疑其侍主未归。三日三诣，终不复见。使人询诸贵主之门，则高扉扃锢。访之居人，并言：「此间曾无贵主。前有数人僦屋而居，今去已三日矣。」使反命，主仆丧气而已。
A censor’s servant happened to be standing in the market when a man in fine clothes and a handsome cap came up and fell into talk with him. Little by little he asked the master’s name and rank, and the servant told him everything. The man said of himself, “My name is Wang. I am an inner attendant in the household of the Princess.” As they grew friendlier, he said, “The road of office is full of dangers. Men of standing all attach themselves to the gate of some imperial in-law. Whom does your honoured master rely on?” “No one,” said the servant. “That is what they call sparing a small expense and forgetting a great disaster,” said Wang. “Whom should he rely on?” asked the servant. “The Princess treats people with courtesy,” said Wang, “and can shelter them under her wing. Vice-Minister So-and-so rose through me. If your master does not grudge a gift of a thousand in gold, an audience with the Princess should not be hard.” The servant was delighted and asked where he lived. Wang pointed to a gate. “We live on the same lane, and you never knew?” The servant went home and told the censor. The censor was delighted, laid on a great feast at once and sent the servant to invite Wang. Wang came gladly. Over the wine he talked of the Princess’s temper and the small details of her daily life, and knew them all. He also said, “If we were not neighbours on the same lane, I would not slave for you like an ox or a horse even for a hundred in gold.” The censor was all the more grateful. When they parted they settled the arrangement. Wang said, “You need only get the gifts ready. I will speak of it when I find a moment, and bring you word any day now.” Several days passed before he came, riding a fine horse, very splendid. “Get ready to go at once,” he said to the censor. “The Princess has a great deal of business. Callers arrive on each other’s heels from morning to night, and she has not a moment to spare. Now she has a little free time. We must hurry; if we miss it, there is no telling when you will see her.” The censor brought out gold of the finest and rich silks and went with him. They wound this way and that for more than ten li before they reached the Princess’s mansion, where the censor dismounted and waited respectfully. Wang went in first with the gifts. After a long while he came out and announced, “The Princess summons Censor So-and-so.” At once several people passed the call along, one to the next. The censor went in bent double. In a high hall sat a beautiful woman, lovely as an immortal, her clothes and ornaments dazzling; her waiting women, all in brocade and embroidery, stood in rows. The censor prostrated himself and paid his respects with full ceremony. Word came that he was to be given a seat beneath the eaves, and tea was brought in a gold bowl. The Princess said a few gracious words, and the censor withdrew with deep respect. From within came gifts for him of satin boots and a sable hat. Back home, deeply grateful to Wang, he took his card and went to thank him, but the gate was shut and there was no one there. He supposed Wang was in attendance on the Princess and had not come back. Three times in three days he called, and never saw him again. He sent someone to inquire at the Princess’s gate: the tall doors were locked fast. The neighbours, when asked, all said, “There has never been any princess here. Some time ago a few men rented the house and lived in it. They left three days ago.” The messenger reported back, and master and servant could do nothing but lose heart.