郭生，京都人。年二十餘，儀容修美。一日，薄暮，有老嫗貽尊酒。怪其無因。嫗笑曰：「無須問；但飲之，自有佳境。」遂逕去。揭尊微嗅，冽香四射，遂飲之。忽大醉，冥然罔覺。及醒，則與一人並枕臥。撫之，膚膩如脂，麝蘭噴溢，蓋女子也。問之，不答。遂與交。交已，以手捫壁，壁皆石，陰陰有土氣，酷類墳冢。大驚，疑為鬼迷。因問女子：「卿何神也？」女曰：「我非神，乃仙耳。此是洞府。與有夙緣，勿相訝，但耐居之。再入一重門，有漏光處，可以溲便。」既而女起，閉戶而去。久之，腹餒，遂有女僮來，餉以麵餅、鴨臛，使捫啖之。黑漆不知昏曉。無何，女子來寢，始知夜矣。郭曰：「晝無天日，夜無燈火，食炙不知口處；常常如此，則姮娥何殊於羅剎，天堂何別於地獄哉！」女笑曰：「為爾俗中人，多言喜泄，故不欲以形色相見。且暗中摸索，妍媸亦當有別，何必燈燭！」居數日，幽悶異常，屢請暫歸。女曰：「來夕與君一遊天宮，便即為別。」次日，忽有小鬟籠燈入，曰：「娘子伺郎久矣。」從之出。星斗光中，但見樓閣無數。經幾曲畫廓，始至一處，堂上垂珠簾，燒巨燭如晝。入，則美人華妝南向坐，年約二十許；錦袍眩目；頭上明珠，翹顫四垂；地下皆設短燭，裙底皆照：誠天人也。郭迷亂失次，不覺屈膝。女令婢扶曳入坐。俄頃，八珍羅列。女行酒曰：「飲此以送君行。」郭鞠躬曰：「向覿面不識仙人，實所惶悔；如容自贖，願收為沒齒不二之臣。」女顧婢微笑，便命移席臥室。室中流蘇繡帳，衾褥香軟。使郭就榻坐。飲次，女屢言：「君離家久，暫歸亦無妨。」更盡一籌，郭不言別。女喚婢籠燭送之。郭不言，偽醉眠榻上，抁之不動。女使諸婢扶裸之。一婢排私處曰：「箇男子容貌溫雅，此物何不文也！」舉置床上，大笑而去。女亦寢，郭乃轉側。女問：「醉乎？」曰：「小生何醉！甫見仙人，神志顛倒耳。」女曰：「此是天宮。未明，宜早去。如嫌洞中怏悶，不如早別。」郭曰：「今有人夜得名花，聞香捫幹，而苦無燈燭，此情何以能堪？」女笑，允給燈火。漏下四點，呼婢籠燭抱衣而送之。入洞，見丹堊精工，寢處褥革棕氈尺許厚。郭解履擁衾，婢徘徊不去。郭凝視之，風致娟好，戲曰：「謂我不文者，卿耶？」婢笑，以足蹴枕曰：「子宜僵矣！勿復多言。」視履端嵌珠如巨菽。捉而曳之，婢仆於懷，遂相狎，而呻楚不勝。郭問：「年幾何矣？」笑答云：「十七。」問：「處子亦知情否？」曰：「妾非處子，然荒疏已三年矣。」郭研詰仙人姓氏，及其清貫、尊行。婢曰：「勿問！即非天上，亦異人間。若必知其確耗，恐覓死無地矣。」郭遂不敢復問。次夕，女果以燭來，相就寢食，以此為常。一夜，女入曰：「期以永好；不意人情乖沮，今將糞除天宮，不能復相容矣。請以卮酒為別。」郭泣下，請得脂澤為愛。女不許，贈以黃金一斤、珠百顆。三琖既盡，忽已昏醉。既醒，覺四體如縛，糾纏甚密，股不得伸，首不得出。極力轉側，暈墮床下。出手摸之，則錦被囊裹，細繩束焉。起坐凝思，略見床櫺，始知為己齋中。時離家已三月，家人謂其已死。郭初不敢明言，懼被仙譴，然心疑怪之。竊間以告知交，莫有測其故者。被置床頭，香盈一室；拆視，則湖綿雜香屑為之，因珍藏焉。後某達官聞而詰之，笑曰：「此賈后之故智也。仙人烏得如此？雖然，此事亦宜慎祕，洩之，族矣！」有巫嘗出入貴家，言其樓閣形狀，絕似嚴東樓家。郭聞之，大懼，攜家亡去；未幾，嚴伏誅，始歸。
郭生，京都人。年二十余，仪容修美。一日，薄暮，有老妪贻尊酒。怪其无因。妪笑曰：「无须问；但饮之，自有佳境。」遂径去。揭尊微嗅，冽香四射，遂饮之。忽大醉，冥然罔觉。及醒，则与一人并枕卧。抚之，肤腻如脂，麝兰喷溢，盖女子也。问之，不答。遂与交。交已，以手扪壁，壁皆石，阴阴有土气，酷类坟冢。大惊，疑为鬼迷。因问女子：「卿何神也？」女曰：「我非神，乃仙耳。此是洞府。与有夙缘，勿相讶，但耐居之。再入一重门，有漏光处，可以溲便。」既而女起，闭户而去。久之，腹馁，遂有女僮来，饷以面饼、鸭臛，使扪啖之。黑漆不知昏晓。无何，女子来寝，始知夜矣。郭曰：「昼无天日，夜无灯火，食炙不知口处；常常如此，则姮娥何殊于罗刹，天堂何别于地狱哉！」女笑曰：「为尔俗中人，多言喜泄，故不欲以形色相见。且暗中摸索，妍媸亦当有别，何必灯烛！」居数日，幽闷异常，屡请暂归。女曰：「来夕与君一游天宫，便即为别。」次日，忽有小鬟笼灯入，曰：「娘子伺郎久矣。」从之出。星斗光中，但见楼阁无数。经几曲画廓，始至一处，堂上垂珠帘，烧巨烛如昼。入，则美人华妆南向坐，年约二十许；锦袍眩目；头上明珠，翘颤四垂；地下皆设短烛，裙底皆照：诚天人也。郭迷乱失次，不觉屈膝。女令婢扶曳入坐。俄顷，八珍罗列。女行酒曰：「饮此以送君行。」郭鞠躬曰：「向觌面不识仙人，实所惶悔；如容自赎，愿收为没齿不二之臣。」女顾婢微笑，便命移席卧室。室中流苏绣帐，衾褥香软。使郭就榻坐。饮次，女屡言：「君离家久，暂归亦无妨。」更尽一筹，郭不言别。女唤婢笼烛送之。郭不言，伪醉眠榻上，抁之不动。女使诸婢扶裸之。一婢排私处曰：「个男子容貌温雅，此物何不文也！」举置床上，大笑而去。女亦寝，郭乃转侧。女问：「醉乎？」曰：「小生何醉！甫见仙人，神志颠倒耳。」女曰：「此是天宫。未明，宜早去。如嫌洞中怏闷，不如早别。」郭曰：「今有人夜得名花，闻香扪干，而苦无灯烛，此情何以能堪？」女笑，允给灯火。漏下四点，呼婢笼烛抱衣而送之。入洞，见丹垩精工，寝处褥革棕毡尺许厚。郭解履拥衾，婢徘徊不去。郭凝视之，风致娟好，戏曰：「谓我不文者，卿耶？」婢笑，以足蹴枕曰：「子宜僵矣！勿复多言。」视履端嵌珠如巨菽。捉而曳之，婢仆于怀，遂相狎，而呻楚不胜。郭问：「年几何矣？」笑答云：「十七。」问：「处子亦知情否？」曰：「妾非处子，然荒疏已三年矣。」郭研诘仙人姓氏，及其清贯、尊行。婢曰：「勿问！即非天上，亦异人间。若必知其确耗，恐觅死无地矣。」郭遂不敢复问。次夕，女果以烛来，相就寝食，以此为常。一夜，女入曰：「期以永好；不意人情乖沮，今将粪除天宫，不能复相容矣。请以卮酒为别。」郭泣下，请得脂泽为爱。女不许，赠以黄金一斤、珠百颗。三琖既尽，忽已昏醉。既醒，觉四体如缚，纠缠甚密，股不得伸，首不得出。极力转侧，晕堕床下。出手摸之，则锦被囊裹，细绳束焉。起坐凝思，略见床櫺，始知为己斋中。时离家已三月，家人谓其已死。郭初不敢明言，惧被仙谴，然心疑怪之。窃间以告知交，莫有测其故者。被置床头，香盈一室；拆视，则湖绵杂香屑为之，因珍藏焉。后某达官闻而诘之，笑曰：「此贾后之故智也。仙人乌得如此？虽然，此事亦宜慎秘，泄之，族矣！」有巫尝出入贵家，言其楼阁形状，绝似严东楼家。郭闻之，大惧，携家亡去；未几，严伏诛，始归。
A scholar named Guo was a man of the capital. He was a little over twenty, and very handsome. One day at dusk an old woman made him a present of a jug of wine. He thought it strange, since there was no reason for it. The old woman laughed. “No need to ask. Just drink it, and you will find yourself somewhere pleasant.” And she went straight off. He lifted the lid and sniffed: a cool, sharp fragrance spread out on every side. So he drank it. All at once he was very drunk and knew nothing more. When he woke he was lying on a pillow beside someone. He felt: the skin was smooth as cream, and a scent of musk and orchid poured off it. It was a woman. He asked her questions; she did not answer. So he lay with her. When it was over he felt the wall with his hand. The walls were all stone, dank and smelling of earth, very like a tomb. He was terrified, and suspected a ghost had bewitched him. So he asked the woman, “What spirit are you, my dear?” “I am no spirit,” she said, “only an immortal. This is my grotto palace. You and I are bound by an old fate, so do not be alarmed; just bear with living here. Through the next door, where some light leaks in, you can relieve yourself.” Then she got up, shut the door and went away. After a long while he grew hungry, and a young maid came and fed him wheat cakes and duck broth, making him grope for them as he ate. It was pitch-black; he could not tell dusk from dawn. Before long the woman came to bed, and only then did he know it was night. Guo said, “No daylight by day, no lamp by night, and when I eat I can’t find my own mouth. If it is always like this, how is Chang’e any different from a rakshasa, or Heaven from hell?” The woman laughed. “You are a man of the vulgar world, talkative and fond of blabbing. That is why I would not let you see my face and form. Besides, groping in the dark you can still tell beauty from ugliness. What need of lamps and candles?” After some days he was unbearably gloomy and shut in, and kept asking to go home for a while. The woman said, “Tomorrow evening I will take you on a visit to the Heavenly Palace, and then we will part.” The next day a little maid suddenly came in carrying a lantern. “Our lady has been waiting for you a long time, sir.” He followed her out. In the light of the stars he saw countless towers and pavilions. They passed along several winding painted galleries and at last came to a place where pearl curtains hung in the hall and huge candles burned as bright as day. He went in. A beautiful woman, splendidly dressed, sat facing south; she was about twenty. Her brocade gown dazzled the eye; the bright pearls in her hair stood up, trembled and hung down all round; short candles were set all over the floor, so that even beneath her skirts was lit. She was truly a being from Heaven. Guo was dazed and lost all composure, and before he knew it he had gone down on his knees. The lady had her maids help him up and lead him to a seat. In a moment the Eight Delicacies were spread before him. The lady poured the wine. “Drink this, to send you on your way.” Guo bowed. “When I was face to face with you before, I did not know you for an immortal. I am truly ashamed and sorry. If you will let me atone, I beg to be taken as your servant, and never to waver till my teeth are gone.” The lady looked at her maids and smiled faintly, then ordered the feast moved to her bedchamber. The room had tasselled, embroidered bed curtains, and the quilts and mattresses were soft and fragrant. She had Guo sit on the bed. As they drank she said several times, “You have been away from home a long time. There is no harm in going back for a while.” Another watch of the night ran out, and still Guo said nothing about leaving. The lady called a maid to light him out with a lantern. Guo said nothing; he pretended to be drunk and lay asleep on the bed, and when they shook him he did not move. The lady had the maids hold him up and strip him. One maid poked at his private parts. “The fellow has such a gentle, refined face. Why is this thing so uncouth?” They lifted him onto the bed and went off laughing loudly. The lady came to bed too, and then Guo turned over. “Are you drunk?” she asked. “How could I be drunk?” he said. “I have only just seen you for the immortal you are, and my wits are turned upside down.” “This is the Heavenly Palace,” she said. “You should leave early, before it is light. If you find the grotto dreary, better that we part soon.” Guo said, “Suppose a man came by a famous flower at night. He can smell its fragrance and feel its stem, but has no lamp to see it by. How could he bear it?” The lady laughed and agreed to give him lamplight. At the fourth mark of the water clock she called a maid to carry a lantern and his clothes and see him out. Back in the grotto, he saw that it was finely plastered and painted in red and white, and that the bedding, leather mattress and palm-fibre felt, was a foot thick. Guo took off his shoes and wrapped himself in the quilt, but the maid lingered and did not go. Guo looked at her closely: she was graceful and pretty. He teased her, “Was it you who called me uncouth?” The maid laughed and kicked the pillow. “You should be dead asleep by now! Stop talking.” He saw that the toes of her shoes were set with pearls as big as beans. He caught one and pulled; the maid fell into his arms, and they made love, though she moaned that she could hardly bear it. “How old are you?” Guo asked. “Seventeen,” she answered, laughing. “Does a virgin know anything of love?” “I am no virgin,” she said, “but I have been out of practice for three years.” Guo pressed her for the immortal’s name, her family seat and her place in the family’s generations. “Don’t ask!” said the maid. “If it is not Heaven, it is no ordinary human world either. If you insist on knowing the truth, I fear you would not find even a place to die.” After that Guo did not dare ask again. The next evening the lady did indeed come with a candle, and they slept and ate together; this became their custom. One night she came in and said, “I hoped we would be together for ever. I never thought people would turn against us and spoil it. Now the Heavenly Palace is to be swept clean, and I cannot keep you any longer. Let us part over a cup of wine.” Guo wept, and begged for some of her face cream as a keepsake. She refused, but gave him a pound of gold and a hundred pearls. By the time he had drunk three cups he was suddenly dead drunk. When he woke he felt as if his limbs were bound: he was wrapped up very tight, could not stretch his legs and could not get his head out. He struggled to turn over, and fell dizzily off the bed. Working a hand free, he felt about: he was bundled in a brocade quilt like a sack and tied with fine cord. He sat up and thought hard. He could just make out the frame of a bed, and only then did he realize he was in his own study. He had been away from home three months, and his family thought he was dead. At first Guo did not dare speak openly, for fear an immortal would punish him, but in his heart he found it strange. Now and then he secretly told close friends, but none of them could guess what it meant. The quilt lay at the head of his bed and filled the whole room with fragrance. He unpicked it and found it was made of fine Huzhou silk floss mixed with powdered incense, so he kept it carefully put away. Later a certain high official heard of it and questioned him. He laughed. “This is Empress Jia’s old trick. How could an immortal behave like this? Still, you should keep the affair very quiet. If it gets out, your whole clan will die!” A witch who used to go in and out of great houses said that the towers and pavilions he described were exactly like those of Yan Donglou’s house. When Guo heard this he was terrified and fled with his family. Not long after, Yan was executed, and only then did they come back.