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。
郭生是京城人，二十多歲，身材修長，容貌俊美。一天傍晚，有個老婦人送給他一罈酒。他覺得奇怪，不知道她為什麼送酒。老婦人笑著說：「不必問，只管喝，自然會遇上好事。」說完便徑直走了。郭生揭開酒罈，輕輕聞了聞，一股清冽的香氣四散開來，便喝了下去。忽然間，他醉得不省人事。醒來時，發現自己和一個人並枕躺著。他伸手摸了摸，那人皮膚細膩如油脂，身上散發著濃郁的麝香和蘭花香，原來是個女子。他問她話，她不回答，便與她發生了關係。事後，他用手摸牆，發現四面都是石壁，陰冷潮溼，帶著泥土的氣味，很像墳墓。他大吃一驚，懷疑自己被鬼迷住了，便問女子：「你是什麼神？」女子說：「我不是神，是仙人。這裡是我的洞府。你我早有緣分，不必驚訝，只管安心住著。再往裡過一道門，有個透光的地方，可以在那裡大小便。」過了一會兒，女子起身，關上門走了。過了很久，郭生肚子餓了，便有個小婢女送來麵餅和鴨肉羹，讓他摸索著吃。四周漆黑，他分不清是早是晚。不久，女子來睡覺，他才知道已經到了夜裡。郭生說：「白天看不見太陽，晚上沒有燈火，吃東西連自己的嘴在哪裡都找不著。要是一直這樣，姮娥和羅剎有什麼分別，天堂和地獄又有什麼分別呢！」女子笑著說：「你是塵世中的人，話多，又喜歡洩露秘密，所以我不願讓你看見我的模樣。何況在黑暗中摸索，也該分得出美醜，何必點燈！」住了幾天，郭生覺得幽閉苦悶，實在難受，多次請求暫時回家。女子說：「明晚我帶你去天宮遊覽一次，然後就與你分別。」第二天，忽然有個小丫鬟提著燈進來，說：「娘子等候郎君很久了。」郭生跟著她出去，在星光下，只見無數樓閣。經過幾段曲折的彩繪長廊，才來到一處廳堂，堂上掛著珠簾，點著巨大的蠟燭，亮得如同白晝。他走進去，看見一個盛裝的美人朝南坐著，年紀約有二十歲，身上的錦袍光彩奪目，頭上的明珠隨著高翹的首飾輕輕顫動，四周還垂著珠飾。地上到處擺著短蠟燭，連裙子底下都照得明亮，真像天上的仙人。郭生看得心神迷亂，舉止失措，不知不覺跪了下來。女子讓婢女扶他起來，領他入座。片刻間，各種珍貴的菜餚便擺滿了桌子。女子斟酒說：「喝了這杯酒，送你回去。」郭生躬身說：「先前與你面對面，卻沒認出你是仙人，實在惶恐悔恨。如果肯讓我補償過錯，我願做你終身忠心不變的臣子。」女子回頭看著婢女微微一笑，便吩咐把酒席移到臥室。臥室裡掛著帶流蘇的繡花床帳，被褥又香又軟。她讓郭生坐到床上。喝酒時，女子幾次說：「你離家很久了，暫時回去也無妨。」又過了一更，郭生還是不提告辭。女子叫婢女提燈送他。郭生一聲不吭，裝醉躺在床上，任憑怎麼推也不動。女子便讓幾個婢女扶著他，脫去他的衣服。一個婢女撥弄他的私處，說：「這個男子長得溫和文雅，這東西怎麼一點也不文雅！」她們把他抬到床上，大笑著走了。女子也上床睡下，郭生這才翻過身來。女子問：「你醉了嗎？」郭生說：「我哪裡醉了！只是剛見到仙人，神魂都顛倒了。」女子說：「這裡是天宮。天還沒亮，你該早點離開。要是嫌洞裡苦悶，不如早些分別。」郭生說：「假如有人在夜裡得到一株名花，只能聞它的香氣，摸它的枝幹，卻苦於沒有燈火，看不見它，這種心情怎麼受得了？」女子笑了，答應給他燈火。到了四更，她叫婢女提著燈，抱著他的衣服，送他回去。進了洞府，郭生看見牆壁上的紅白塗飾十分精美，睡覺的地方鋪著皮褥和棕氈，足有一尺多厚。郭生脫了鞋，裹著被子躺下，婢女卻徘徊著不走。他仔細看她，見她姿態秀美，便逗她說：「說我不文雅的，是你吧？」婢女笑著用腳踢了踢枕頭，說：「你該躺著睡了！別再多嘴。」郭生看見她的鞋尖嵌著一顆大豆般的珍珠，便抓住她的腳往懷裡一拉。婢女倒進他懷中，兩人便親熱起來，她卻痛得呻吟不止。郭生問：「你多大了？」她笑著回答：「十七歲。」郭生問：「沒經過男女之事的姑娘，也懂得這滋味嗎？」她說：「我不是處女，不過已經三年沒做過這事了。」郭生追問那位仙人的姓名、籍貫和輩分。婢女說：「別問！這裡即使不是天上，也和普通人家不同。你要是一定想知道實情，只怕連死的地方都找不到了。」郭生便不敢再問。第二天晚上，女子果然帶著蠟燭來，與他一起吃飯睡覺，從此一直如此。一天夜裡，女子進來說：「原本盼著與你永遠相好，不料有人從中阻撓。如今天宮將要清掃，不能再留你了。請喝一杯酒，與你告別。」郭生流下眼淚，請求得到一點她用的脂粉，留作紀念。女子不答應，卻送給他一斤黃金、一百顆珍珠。喝完三杯酒，他忽然又醉得失去了知覺。醒來時，他覺得四肢像被捆住一樣，纏裹得很緊，腿伸不開，頭也露不出來。他使勁翻動身體，暈頭轉向地掉到了床下。他伸出一隻手摸索，發現自己被一床錦被裹成了袋子，又用細繩捆著。他坐起來，仔細回想，隱約看見床架，這才知道已經回到自己的書房。這時他已經離家三個月，家裡人都以為他死了。郭生起初不敢明說，怕受到仙人的責罰，心裡卻覺得這事可疑。他私下找機會告訴好友，誰也猜不出其中的緣故。那床被子放在床頭，香氣充滿了整個房間。他拆開檢視，發現裡面填的是摻著香料碎屑的湖綿，便珍藏起來。後來，一位高官聽說這事，向他詳細詢問，笑著說：「這是賈后用過的老把戲。仙人怎麼會這樣做？不過，這件事還是應當嚴守秘密，洩露出去，你全族都要被殺！」有個經常出入權貴人家的巫者，聽了他所說的樓閣形狀，說那地方極像嚴東樓家。郭生聽後，非常害怕，便帶著家人逃走了。不久，嚴東樓被處死，他才回家。
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。
郭生是京城人，二十多岁，身材修长，容貌俊美。一天傍晚，有个老妇人送给他一坛酒。他觉得奇怪，不知道她为什么送酒。老妇人笑着说：“不必问，只管喝，自然会遇上好事。”说完便径直走了。郭生揭开酒坛，轻轻闻了闻，一股清冽的香气四散开来，便喝了下去。忽然间，他醉得不省人事。醒来时，发现自己和一个人并枕躺着。他伸手摸了摸，那人皮肤细腻如油脂，身上散发着浓郁的麝香和兰花香，原来是个女子。他问她话，她不回答，便与她发生了关系。事后，他用手摸墙，发现四面都是石壁，阴冷潮湿，带着泥土的气味，很像坟墓。他大吃一惊，怀疑自己被鬼迷住了，便问女子：“你是什么神？”女子说：“我不是神，是仙人。这里是我的洞府。你我早有缘分，不必惊讶，只管安心住着。再往里过一道门，有个透光的地方，可以在那里大小便。”过了一会儿，女子起身，关上门走了。过了很久，郭生肚子饿了，便有个小婢女送来面饼和鸭肉羹，让他摸索着吃。四周漆黑，他分不清是早是晚。不久，女子来睡觉，他才知道已经到了夜里。郭生说：“白天看不见太阳，晚上没有灯火，吃东西连自己的嘴在哪里都找不着。要是一直这样，姮娥和罗刹有什么分别，天堂和地狱又有什么分别呢！”女子笑着说：“你是尘世中的人，话多，又喜欢泄露秘密，所以我不愿让你看见我的模样。何况在黑暗中摸索，也该分得出美丑，何必点灯！”住了几天，郭生觉得幽闭苦闷，实在难受，多次请求暂时回家。女子说：“明晚我带你去天宫游览一次，然后就与你分别。”第二天，忽然有个小丫鬟提着灯进来，说：“娘子等候郎君很久了。”郭生跟着她出去，在星光下，只见无数楼阁。经过几段曲折的彩绘长廊，才来到一处厅堂，堂上挂着珠帘，点着巨大的蜡烛，亮得如同白昼。他走进去，看见一个盛装的美人朝南坐着，年纪约有二十岁，身上的锦袍光彩夺目，头上的明珠随着高翘的首饰轻轻颤动，四周还垂着珠饰。地上到处摆着短蜡烛，连裙子底下都照得明亮，真像天上的仙人。郭生看得心神迷乱，举止失措，不知不觉跪了下来。女子让婢女扶他起来，领他入座。片刻间，各种珍贵的菜肴便摆满了桌子。女子斟酒说：“喝了这杯酒，送你回去。”郭生躬身说：“先前与你面对面，却没认出你是仙人，实在惶恐悔恨。如果肯让我补偿过错，我愿做你终身忠心不变的臣子。”女子回头看着婢女微微一笑，便吩咐把酒席移到卧室。卧室里挂着带流苏的绣花床帐，被褥又香又软。她让郭生坐到床上。喝酒时，女子几次说：“你离家很久了，暂时回去也无妨。”又过了一更，郭生还是不提告辞。女子叫婢女提灯送他。郭生一声不吭，装醉躺在床上，任凭怎么推也不动。女子便让几个婢女扶着他，脱去他的衣服。一个婢女拨弄他的私处，说：“这个男子长得温和文雅，这东西怎么一点也不文雅！”她们把他抬到床上，大笑着走了。女子也上床睡下，郭生这才翻过身来。女子问：“你醉了吗？”郭生说：“我哪里醉了！只是刚见到仙人，神魂都颠倒了。”女子说：“这里是天宫。天还没亮，你该早点离开。要是嫌洞里苦闷，不如早些分别。”郭生说：“假如有人在夜里得到一株名花，只能闻它的香气，摸它的枝干，却苦于没有灯火，看不见它，这种心情怎么受得了？”女子笑了，答应给他灯火。到了四更，她叫婢女提着灯，抱着他的衣服，送他回去。进了洞府，郭生看见墙壁上的红白涂饰十分精美，睡觉的地方铺着皮褥和棕毡，足有一尺多厚。郭生脱了鞋，裹着被子躺下，婢女却徘徊着不走。他仔细看她，见她姿态秀美，便逗她说：“说我不文雅的，是你吧？”婢女笑着用脚踢了踢枕头，说：“你该躺着睡了！别再多嘴。”郭生看见她的鞋尖嵌着一颗大豆般的珍珠，便抓住她的脚往怀里一拉。婢女倒进他怀中，两人便亲热起来，她却痛得呻吟不止。郭生问：“你多大了？”她笑着回答：“十七岁。”郭生问：“没经过男女之事的姑娘，也懂得这滋味吗？”她说：“我不是处女，不过已经三年没做过这事了。”郭生追问那位仙人的姓名、籍贯和辈分。婢女说：“别问！这里即使不是天上，也和普通人家不同。你要是一定想知道实情，只怕连死的地方都找不到了。”郭生便不敢再问。第二天晚上，女子果然带着蜡烛来，与他一起吃饭睡觉，从此一直如此。一天夜里，女子进来说：“原本盼着与你永远相好，不料有人从中阻挠。如今天宫将要清扫，不能再留你了。请喝一杯酒，与你告别。”郭生流下眼泪，请求得到一点她用的脂粉，留作纪念。女子不答应，却送给他一斤黄金、一百颗珍珠。喝完三杯酒，他忽然又醉得失去了知觉。醒来时，他觉得四肢像被捆住一样，缠裹得很紧，腿伸不开，头也露不出来。他使劲翻动身体，晕头转向地掉到了床下。他伸出一只手摸索，发现自己被一床锦被裹成了袋子，又用细绳捆着。他坐起来，仔细回想，隐约看见床架，这才知道已经回到自己的书房。这时他已经离家三个月，家里人都以为他死了。郭生起初不敢明说，怕受到仙人的责罚，心里却觉得这事可疑。他私下找机会告诉好友，谁也猜不出其中的缘故。那床被子放在床头，香气充满了整个房间。他拆开查看，发现里面填的是掺着香料碎屑的湖绵，便珍藏起来。后来，一位高官听说这事，向他详细询问，笑着说：“这是贾后用过的老把戏。仙人怎么会这样做？不过，这件事还是应当严守秘密，泄露出去，你全族都要被杀！”有个经常出入权贵人家的巫者，听了他所说的楼阁形状，说那地方极像严东楼家。郭生听后，非常害怕，便带着家人逃走了。不久，严东楼被处死，他才回家。
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.