福建曾孝廉，捷南宮時，與二三同年，遨游郭外。聞毗盧禪院寓一星者，往詣問卜。入揖而坐。星者見其意氣揚揚，稍佞諛之。曾搖箑微笑，便問：「有蟒玉分否？」星者曰：「二十年太平宰相。」曾大悅，氣益高。
福建的曾孝廉考中進士後，和兩三個同年考中的人到城外遊玩。聽說毗盧禪院住著一個算命的人，就前去問問自己的前程。他們進去行了禮，坐下來。算命的人見曾孝廉得意揚揚，就說了幾句奉承話。曾孝廉搖著扇子微笑，隨即問：「我有穿蟒袍、系玉帶的命嗎？」算命的人說：「你能在太平年間做二十年的宰相。」曾孝廉十分高興，越發神氣起來。
福建曾孝廉，捷南宫时，与二三同年，遨游郭外。闻毗卢禅院寓一星者，往诣问卜。入揖而坐。星者见其意气扬扬，稍佞谀之。曾摇箑微笑，便问：「有蟒玉分否？」星者曰：「二十年太平宰相。」曾大悦，气益高。
福建的曾孝廉考中进士后，和两三个同年考中的人到城外游玩。听说毗卢禅院住着一个算命的人，就前去问问自己的前程。他们进去行了礼，坐下来。算命的人见曾孝廉得意扬扬，就说了几句奉承话。曾孝廉摇着扇子微笑，随即问：“我有穿蟒袍、系玉带的命吗？”算命的人说：“你能在太平年间做二十年的宰相。”曾孝廉十分高兴，越发神气起来。
Zeng, a provincial graduate of Fujian, had just passed the metropolitan examination when he went on an outing outside the city walls with two or three others who had passed the same year. Hearing that an astrologer was lodging at the Vairocana Chan Temple, they went to have their fortunes told. They went in, bowed and sat down. Seeing how pleased with himself Zeng was, the astrologer flattered him a little. Zeng waved his fan, smiled and asked, “Is there a python robe and a jade belt in my fate?” “Twenty years as chief minister in an age of peace,” said the astrologer. Zeng was delighted and grew more puffed up than ever.
值小雨，乃與游侶避雨僧舍。舍中一老僧，深目高鼻，坐蒲團上，淹蹇不為禮。眾一舉手，登榻自話，群以宰相相賀。曾心氣殊高，便指同游曰：「某為宰相時，推張年丈作南撫，家中表為參、游，我家老蒼頭亦得小千把，餘願足矣。」一座大笑。
正趕上下起小雨，曾孝廉便和同遊的人到僧房避雨。房裡有個老和尚，眼窩深陷，鼻梁高聳，坐在蒲團上，懶懶地沒有起身行禮。眾人抬手打了個招呼，就坐到榻上，自顧自地說起話來，紛紛祝賀曾孝廉將來要做宰相。曾孝廉心裡十分得意，指著同行的人說：「等我做了宰相，就舉薦張年丈做南撫，讓我家的表親做參將、游擊，我家的老僕人也能弄個小小的千總、把總來做。這樣，我的心願就都滿足了。」滿座的人都大笑起來。
值小雨，乃与游侣避雨僧舍。舍中一老僧，深目高鼻，坐蒲团上，淹蹇不为礼。众一举手，登榻自话，群以宰相相贺。曾心气殊高，便指同游曰：「某为宰相时，推张年丈作南抚，家中表为参、游，我家老苍头亦得小千把，余愿足矣。」一座大笑。
正赶上下起小雨，曾孝廉便和同游的人到僧房避雨。房里有个老和尚，眼窝深陷，鼻梁高耸，坐在蒲团上，懒懒地没有起身行礼。众人抬手打了个招呼，就坐到榻上，自顾自地说起话来，纷纷祝贺曾孝廉将来要做宰相。曾孝廉心里十分得意，指着同行的人说：“等我做了宰相，就举荐张年丈做南抚，让我家的表亲做参将、游击，我家的老仆人也能弄个小小的千总、把总来做。这样，我的心愿就都满足了。”满座的人都大笑起来。
It began to drizzle, so he and his companions took shelter from the rain in a monk’s cell. In it sat an old monk with deep-set eyes and a high nose, on a rush cushion. He was offhand and did not greet them. The company raised a hand to him in passing, climbed onto the couch and talked among themselves, all congratulating Zeng as the future chief minister. Zeng, in very high spirits, pointed at his companions. “When I am chief minister, I will put up Elder Zhang here as governor of a southern province, and make my cousin a colonel or a major, and even my old servant will get to be a little captain or lieutenant. Then I will have all I want.” The whole room roared with laughter.
俄聞門外雨益傾注，曾倦伏榻間。忽見有二中使，齎天子手詔，召曾太師決國計。曾得意榮寵，亦烏知其非有也，疾趨入朝。天子前席，溫語良久，命三品以下，聽其黜陟，不必奏聞。即賜蟒服一襲，玉帶一圍，名馬二匹。曾被服稽拜以出。入家，則非舊所居第，繪棟雕榱，窮極壯麗，自亦不解何以遽至于此。然拈須微呼，則應諾雷動。俄而公卿贈海物，傴僂足恭者疊出其門。六卿來，倒屣而迎；侍郎輩，揖與語；下此者，頷之而已。晉撫饋女樂十人，皆是好女子，其尤者為裊裊，為仙仙，二人尤蒙寵顧。科頭休沐，日事聲歌。一日，念微時嘗得邑紳王子良周濟，我今置身青雲，渠尚磋跎仕路，何不一引手？早旦一疏，薦為諫議，即奉諭旨，立行擢用。又念郭太僕曾睚眥我，即傳呂給諫及侍御陳昌等，授以意旨；越日，彈章交至，奉旨削職以去。恩怨了了，頗快心意。偶出郊衢，醉人適觸鹵簿，即遣人縛付京尹，立斃杖下。接第連阡者，皆畏勢獻沃產，自此富可埒國。無何而裊裊、仙仙，以次殂謝，朝夕遐想，忽憶曩年見東家女絕美，每思購充媵御，輒以綿薄違宿願，今日幸可適志。乃使幹僕數輩，強納資于其家。俄頃藤輿舁至，則較之昔望見時尤艷絕也。自顧生平，于願斯足。
不一會兒，聽見門外的雨越下越大，曾孝廉覺得疲倦，就伏在榻上休息。忽然看見兩個宮中使者，帶著天子親筆寫的詔書，召曾太師進宮商議國家大事。曾孝廉得意於自己受到的尊榮和寵信，哪裡知道這一切並不是真的，連忙趕去上朝。天子在座上向前移了移，溫和地和他說了很久，又下令三品及以下的官員，全由他決定升降罷免，不必上奏。隨即賜給他一套蟒服、一條玉帶、兩匹名馬。曾孝廉穿戴好，叩頭謝恩，退了出來。回到家裡，只見已經不是從前住的宅子了，梁棟彩繪，椽木雕刻，壯麗到了極點。他自己也不明白，怎麼一下子就到了這般地步。不過，他捻著鬍鬚輕輕叫一聲，僕人們的應答便像雷聲一樣響亮。不久，公卿紛紛送來海中珍品，彎腰屈背、滿臉恭敬的人接連出入他的家門。六卿來了，他急得連鞋都倒穿著就出去迎接；侍郎一類的人來了，他行個禮，同他們說說話；官位再低的，就只點點頭罷了。晉撫送給他十個女樂，都是美貌女子，其中最出眾的是嫋嫋和仙仙，這兩人尤其受他寵愛。休假的日子，他不戴帽子，天天聽歌賞樂。有一天，他想起自己貧寒時，曾受過同縣鄉紳王子良的周濟，心想：我如今已經飛黃騰達，他在仕途上卻還沒有什麼進展，為什麼不幫他一把？第二天一早，他上了一道奏疏，舉薦王子良做諫議，隨即接到諭旨，立刻提拔任用。他又想起郭太僕曾對自己怒目相視，就傳來呂給諫、侍御陳昌等人，把自己的意思告訴他們。第二天，彈劾郭太僕的奏章紛紛呈上，皇帝下旨，削去他的官職，趕他離任。恩情報了，怨仇也清了，曾孝廉心裡很是痛快。有一次，他出行到了城外的大路上，一個醉漢恰好衝撞了他的儀仗，他立即派人把醉漢綁起來，交給京尹，當場用杖打死。那些宅子和田地與他家相鄰的人，都害怕他的權勢，獻上肥沃的田產。從此，他的財富足以和國家相比。不久，嫋嫋、仙仙相繼死去，他早晚想念她們，忽然想起多年前見過東鄰人家的女兒，長得極美。他常想買來做妾，卻總因財力不足，不能實現這個多年的心願。如今總算可以如願了。於是，他派了幾個能幹的僕人，強行把錢送進那女子家裡。片刻後，女子就被藤轎抬了過來，比當年遠遠看見時還要美豔。他回想自己的一生，覺得所有心願到此都已滿足。
俄闻门外雨益倾注，曾倦伏榻间。忽见有二中使，赍天子手诏，召曾太师决国计。曾得意荣宠，亦乌知其非有也，疾趋入朝。天子前席，温语良久，命三品以下，听其黜陟，不必奏闻。即赐蟒服一袭，玉带一围，名马二匹。曾被服稽拜以出。入家，则非旧所居第，绘栋雕榱，穷极壮丽，自亦不解何以遽至于此。然拈须微呼，则应诺雷动。俄而公卿赠海物，伛偻足恭者叠出其门。六卿来，倒屣而迎；侍郎辈，揖与语；下此者，颔之而已。晋抚馈女乐十人，皆是好女子，其尤者为袅袅，为仙仙，二人尤蒙宠顾。科头休沐，日事声歌。一日，念微时尝得邑绅王子良周济，我今置身青云，渠尚磋跎仕路，何不一引手？早旦一疏，荐为谏议，即奉谕旨，立行擢用。又念郭太仆曾睚眦我，即传吕给谏及侍御陈昌等，授以意旨；越日，弹章交至，奉旨削职以去。恩怨了了，颇快心意。偶出郊衢，醉人适触卤簿，即遣人缚付京尹，立毙杖下。接第连阡者，皆畏势献沃产，自此富可埒国。无何而袅袅、仙仙，以次殂谢，朝夕遐想，忽忆曩年见东家女绝美，每思购充媵御，辄以绵薄违宿愿，今日幸可适志。乃使干仆数辈，强纳资于其家。俄顷藤舆舁至，则较之昔望见时尤艳绝也。自顾生平，于愿斯足。
不一会儿，听见门外的雨越下越大，曾孝廉觉得疲倦，就伏在榻上休息。忽然看见两个宫中使者，带着天子亲笔写的诏书，召曾太师进宫商议国家大事。曾孝廉得意于自己受到的尊荣和宠信，哪里知道这一切并不是真的，连忙赶去上朝。天子在座上向前移了移，温和地和他说了很久，又下令三品及以下的官员，全由他决定升降罢免，不必上奏。随即赐给他一套蟒服、一条玉带、两匹名马。曾孝廉穿戴好，叩头谢恩，退了出来。回到家里，只见已经不是从前住的宅子了，梁栋彩绘，椽木雕刻，壮丽到了极点。他自己也不明白，怎么一下子就到了这般地步。不过，他捻着胡须轻轻叫一声，仆人们的应答便像雷声一样响亮。不久，公卿纷纷送来海中珍品，弯腰屈背、满脸恭敬的人接连出入他的家门。六卿来了，他急得连鞋都倒穿着就出去迎接；侍郎一类的人来了，他行个礼，同他们说说话；官位再低的，就只点点头罢了。晋抚送给他十个女乐，都是美貌女子，其中最出众的是袅袅和仙仙，这两人尤其受他宠爱。休假的日子，他不戴帽子，天天听歌赏乐。有一天，他想起自己贫寒时，曾受过同县乡绅王子良的周济，心想：我如今已经飞黄腾达，他在仕途上却还没有什么进展，为什么不帮他一把？第二天一早，他上了一道奏疏，举荐王子良做谏议，随即接到谕旨，立刻提拔任用。他又想起郭太仆曾对自己怒目相视，就传来吕给谏、侍御陈昌等人，把自己的意思告诉他们。第二天，弹劾郭太仆的奏章纷纷呈上，皇帝下旨，削去他的官职，赶他离任。恩情报了，怨仇也清了，曾孝廉心里很是痛快。有一次，他出行到了城外的大路上，一个醉汉恰好冲撞了他的仪仗，他立即派人把醉汉绑起来，交给京尹，当场用杖打死。那些宅子和田地与他家相邻的人，都害怕他的权势，献上肥沃的田产。从此，他的财富足以和国家相比。不久，袅袅、仙仙相继死去，他早晚想念她们，忽然想起多年前见过东邻人家的女儿，长得极美。他常想买来做妾，却总因财力不足，不能实现这个多年的心愿。如今总算可以如愿了。于是，他派了几个能干的仆人，强行把钱送进那女子家里。片刻后，女子就被藤轿抬了过来，比当年远远看见时还要美艳。他回想自己的一生，觉得所有心愿到此都已满足。
Soon he heard the rain pouring down harder outside, and Zeng, feeling tired, lay down on the couch. Suddenly two palace envoys appeared, bearing an edict in the Son of Heaven’s own hand, summoning Grand Preceptor Zeng to decide affairs of state. Zeng, proud of the honour and the favour, had no idea that none of it was real, and hurried to court. The Son of Heaven leaned forward on his mat and spoke kindly with him for a long while. He decreed that all officials of the third rank and below should be promoted or dismissed as Zeng saw fit, with no need to report to the throne. Then he gave him a python robe, a jade belt and two fine horses. Zeng put on the robe, kowtowed and withdrew. When he went home, it was not the house he used to live in. It had painted beams and carved rafters, splendid beyond compare, and he himself could not understand how he had come to this so suddenly. Yet when he twirled his beard and gave the softest call, the answers came back like thunder. Soon high officials were sending him delicacies of the sea, and men bowing and scraping crowded in and out of his gate one after another. When one of the six ministers came, Zeng rushed out to greet him with his shoes on backwards; vice-ministers he bowed to and talked with; anyone lower got a nod and no more. The governor of Shanxi sent him ten singing girls, all beauties. The finest of them were Niaoniao and Xianxian, and these two were his special favourites. On his days off he went about bareheaded and spent all day on song and music. One day he remembered that when he was poor and obscure, Wang Ziliang, a gentleman of his county, had helped him out. “Now I have risen to the blue clouds, while he is still stuck on the road to office. Why not give him a hand?” Early next morning he sent up a memorial recommending Wang as a remonstrance counsellor, and an edict came down promoting him on the spot. Then he remembered that Guo, the Minister of the Imperial Stud, had once given him a dirty look. At once he sent for Supervising Secretary Lü, Censor Chen Chang and others, and let them know what he wanted. The next day impeachments poured in one after another, and by imperial order Guo was stripped of office and sent away. Kindness repaid and grudges settled, Zeng was very well pleased. Once, when he was out on a road in the suburbs, a drunk happened to blunder into his procession. He had the man tied up and handed over to the prefect of the capital, and he was beaten to death on the spot. Those whose houses adjoined his and whose fields bordered his were so afraid of his power that they all gave him their rich land, and from then on he was as wealthy as the state itself. Before long Niaoniao and Xianxian died, one after the other. As he pined for them day and night, he suddenly remembered a girl of the family next door, a great beauty he had seen years before. He had often thought of buying her as a concubine, but each time his slender means had kept him from his wish. Now, happily, he could have his way. He sent several capable servants to force the money on her family. Presently she was carried in on a rattan sedan chair, and she was even more stunning than when he had glimpsed her long ago. Looking back over his life, he felt that every wish had been fulfilled.