王太常，越人。總角時，晝臥榻上。忽陰晦，巨霆暴作。一物大於貓，來伏身下，展轉不離。移時晴霽，物即逕出。視之，非貓，始怖，隔房呼兄。兄聞喜曰：「弟必大貴，此狐來避雷霆劫也。」後果少年登進士，以縣令入為侍御。生一子名元豐，絕癡，十六歲不能知牝牡，因而鄉黨無與為婚。王憂之。適有婦人率少女登門，自請為婦。視其女，嫣然展笑，真仙品也。喜問姓名。自言：「虞氏。女小翠，年二八矣。」與議聘金。曰：「是從我糠覈不得飽，一旦置身廣廈，役婢僕，厭膏粱，彼意適，我願慰矣，豈賣菜也而索直乎！」夫人大悅，優厚之。婦即命女拜王及夫人，囑曰：「此爾翁姑，奉侍宜謹。我大忙，且去，三數日當復來。」王命僕馬送之，婦言：「里巷不遠，無煩多事。」遂出門去。小翠殊不悲戀，便即奩中翻取花樣。夫人亦愛樂之。數日，婦不至。以居里問女，女亦憨然不能言其道路。遂治別院，使夫婦成禮。諸戚聞拾得貧家兒作新婦，共笑姍之；見女皆驚，群議始息。女又甚慧，能窺翁姑喜怒。王公夫婦，寵惜過於常情，然惕惕焉惟恐其憎子癡；而女殊歡笑，不為嫌。第善謔，刺布作圓，蹋蹴為笑。著小皮靴，蹴去數十步，給公子奔拾之；公子及婢恆流汗相屬。
王太常是越地人。小時候，有一天他白天躺在床上睡覺，天色忽然陰暗下來，猛烈的雷聲驟然響起。一隻比貓還大的動物跑來，伏在他身下，翻來轉去，始終不肯離開。過了一會兒，天氣放晴，那動物便徑直跑了出去。王太常看出它不是貓，這才害怕起來，隔著房間喊哥哥。哥哥聽了，高興地說：「弟弟以後一定會做大官，這是狐狸來躲避雷劫呢。」後來，他果然年輕時就考中了進士，從縣令調入京城，做了侍御。他有個兒子，名叫元豐，十分痴呆，十六歲了還不懂男女之事，因此鄉里沒有人願意把女兒嫁給他。王太常很為這件事發愁。正好有個婦人領著一個少女上門，主動提出讓女兒嫁過來。王家人看那少女，只見她笑容嫣然，真像仙女一般，便歡喜地問她們的姓名。婦人說：「我們姓虞，女兒叫小翠，今年十六歲。」王家和她商議聘金，她說：「這孩子跟著我，連糠皮碎米都吃不飽。一旦住進大宅子，有婢女僕人使喚，能吃飽精美的飯食，她過得舒心，我的心願也就滿足了。難道我是賣菜的，還要討價錢嗎！」夫人十分高興，給了婦人豐厚的款待。婦人隨即讓女兒拜見王太常和夫人，囑咐道：「這就是你的公公婆婆，要恭敬地侍奉他們。我忙得很，先走了，過三五天再來。」王太常吩咐僕人備馬送她，婦人說：「我住的巷子不遠，不必這樣費事。」便出門走了。小翠一點也沒有難過留戀的樣子，馬上從妝匣裡翻找繡花樣子。夫人也很喜歡她。過了幾天，婦人沒有來。問小翠住在哪裡，她也是一副天真懵懂的樣子，說不清回去的路。於是王家收拾出一座單獨的院子，讓兩人成了婚。親戚們聽說王家撿了個窮人家的女孩當兒媳，都譏笑他們；等見了小翠，卻無不驚豔，議論這才平息。小翠又很聰明，能察覺公公婆婆的喜怒。王公夫婦對她的寵愛遠遠超過尋常，卻總是提心吊膽，唯恐她嫌棄兒子痴呆。小翠卻整天歡歡喜喜，毫不嫌棄。只是她愛玩鬧，把布縫成一個球，踢著取樂。她穿著小皮靴，一腳把球踢到幾十步外，讓元豐跑去撿回來。元豐和婢女們常常一個接一個地追趕，跑得滿身是汗。
王太常，越人。总角时，昼卧榻上。忽阴晦，巨霆暴作。一物大于猫，来伏身下，展转不离。移时晴霁，物即径出。视之，非猫，始怖，隔房呼兄。兄闻喜曰：「弟必大贵，此狐来避雷霆劫也。」后果少年登进士，以县令入为侍御。生一子名元丰，绝痴，十六岁不能知牝牡，因而乡党无与为婚。王忧之。适有妇人率少女登门，自请为妇。视其女，嫣然展笑，真仙品也。喜问姓名。自言：「虞氏。女小翠，年二八矣。」与议聘金。曰：「是从我糠核不得饱，一旦置身广厦，役婢仆，厌膏粱，彼意适，我愿慰矣，岂卖菜也而索直乎！」夫人大悦，优厚之。妇即命女拜王及夫人，嘱曰：「此尔翁姑，奉侍宜谨。我大忙，且去，三数日当复来。」王命仆马送之，妇言：「里巷不远，无烦多事。」遂出门去。小翠殊不悲恋，便即奁中翻取花样。夫人亦爱乐之。数日，妇不至。以居里问女，女亦憨然不能言其道路。遂治别院，使夫妇成礼。诸戚闻拾得贫家儿作新妇，共笑姗之；见女皆惊，群议始息。女又甚慧，能窥翁姑喜怒。王公夫妇，宠惜过于常情，然惕惕焉惟恐其憎子痴；而女殊欢笑，不为嫌。第善谑，刺布作圆，蹋蹴为笑。着小皮靴，蹴去数十步，给公子奔拾之；公子及婢恒流汗相属。
王太常是越地人。小时候，有一天他白天躺在床上睡觉，天色忽然阴暗下来，猛烈的雷声骤然响起。一只比猫还大的动物跑来，伏在他身下，翻来转去，始终不肯离开。过了一会儿，天气放晴，那动物便径直跑了出去。王太常看出它不是猫，这才害怕起来，隔着房间喊哥哥。哥哥听了，高兴地说：“弟弟以后一定会做大官，这是狐狸来躲避雷劫呢。”后来，他果然年轻时就考中了进士，从县令调入京城，做了侍御。他有个儿子，名叫元丰，十分痴呆，十六岁了还不懂男女之事，因此乡里没有人愿意把女儿嫁给他。王太常很为这件事发愁。正好有个妇人领着一个少女上门，主动提出让女儿嫁过来。王家人看那少女，只见她笑容嫣然，真像仙女一般，便欢喜地问她们的姓名。妇人说：“我们姓虞，女儿叫小翠，今年十六岁。”王家和她商议聘金，她说：“这孩子跟着我，连糠皮碎米都吃不饱。一旦住进大宅子，有婢女仆人使唤，能吃饱精美的饭食，她过得舒心，我的心愿也就满足了。难道我是卖菜的，还要讨价钱吗！”夫人十分高兴，给了妇人丰厚的款待。妇人随即让女儿拜见王太常和夫人，嘱咐道：“这就是你的公公婆婆，要恭敬地侍奉他们。我忙得很，先走了，过三五天再来。”王太常吩咐仆人备马送她，妇人说：“我住的巷子不远，不必这样费事。”便出门走了。小翠一点也没有难过留恋的样子，马上从妆匣里翻找绣花样子。夫人也很喜欢她。过了几天，妇人没有来。问小翠住在哪里，她也是一副天真懵懂的样子，说不清回去的路。于是王家收拾出一座单独的院子，让两人成了婚。亲戚们听说王家捡了个穷人家的女孩当儿媳，都讥笑他们；等见了小翠，却无不惊艳，议论这才平息。小翠又很聪明，能察觉公公婆婆的喜怒。王公夫妇对她的宠爱远远超过寻常，却总是提心吊胆，唯恐她嫌弃儿子痴呆。小翠却整天欢欢喜喜，毫不嫌弃。只是她爱玩闹，把布缝成一个球，踢着取乐。她穿着小皮靴，一脚把球踢到几十步外，让元丰跑去捡回来。元丰和婢女们常常一个接一个地追赶，跑得满身是汗。
Wang the Chamberlain of Sacrifices was a man of Yue. When he was a small boy, he was napping on his bed one day when the sky suddenly went dark and a great clap of thunder broke. A creature bigger than a cat came and crouched underneath him, twisting and turning but never leaving him. After a while the sky cleared, and the creature went straight out. Seeing that it was not a cat, he took fright for the first time and called to his elder brother in the next room. When his brother heard, he was delighted. “You are sure to rise high,” he said. “That was a fox, come to hide from the trial of thunder.” And indeed, while still a young man Wang passed the jinshi examination, and from a county magistracy he was called to the capital as a censor. He had one son, named Yuanfeng, who was a complete simpleton: at sixteen he could not tell male from female, and so no one in the district would marry a daughter to him. Wang was worried about it. Then a woman came to the gate leading a young girl, and offered her as a bride. They looked at the girl: she smiled sweetly, a creature truly fit for the immortals. Delighted, they asked her name. “Our family is Yu,” said the woman. “The girl is Xiaocui. She is sixteen.” They began to discuss the betrothal money. “With me she never even had her fill of husks and bran,” said the woman. “Once she is set in a great house, with maids and servants to order about and fine food till she tires of it — if she is content, then my wish is satisfied. Am I selling vegetables, that I should ask a price?” Lady Wang was very pleased, and treated her generously. The woman at once told the girl to bow to Wang and his lady. “These are your father-in-law and mother-in-law,” she told her. “Serve them dutifully. I am very busy, so I’ll be off now. I’ll come back in three or four days.” Wang ordered servants and horses to see her home, but she said, “Our lane is not far. No need to go to such trouble.” And she went out of the gate. Xiaocui showed no grief at all, and no sign of missing her, but straight away began rummaging in the dressing case for embroidery patterns. Lady Wang grew very fond of her too. Several days passed and the woman did not come. They asked the girl where she lived, but she only looked blank and could not tell them the way. So they made ready a separate courtyard, and the young couple were married. When the relatives heard that the Wangs had picked up a girl from a poor family as a bride, they all laughed and sneered; but when they saw her, they were amazed, and the talk died down. The girl was very clever, too, and could read the moods of her parents-in-law. Lord Wang and his lady doted on her beyond all ordinary measure, yet they were always anxious that she would despise their son for a simpleton. But the girl laughed and played with him and showed no dislike. Only she was full of pranks. She stitched cloth into a ball and kicked it about for fun. In little leather boots she would kick it dozens of paces away for the young master to run and fetch, and the young master and the maids were forever chasing after it one behind another, dripping with sweat.
一日，王偶過，圓然來，直中面目。女與婢俱斂跡去，公子猶踴躍奔逐之。王怒，投之以石，始伏而啼。王以告夫人；夫人往責女，女俛首微笑，以手刓床。既退，憨跳如故，以脂粉塗公子作花面如鬼。夫人見之，怒甚，呼女詬罵。女倚几弄帶，不懼，亦不言。夫人無奈之，因杖其子。元豐大號，女始色變，屈膝乞宥。夫人怒頓解，釋杖去。女笑拉公子入室，代撲衣上塵，拭眼淚，摩挲杖痕，餌以棗栗。公子乃收涕以忻。女闔庭戶，復裝公子作霸王，作沙漠人；己乃豔服，束細腰，婆娑作帳下舞；或髻插雉尾，撥琵琶，丁丁縷縷然，喧笑一室，日以為常。王公以子癡，不忍過責婦；即微聞焉，亦若置之。同巷有王給諫者，相隔十餘戶，然素不相能；時值三年大計吏，忌公握河南道篆，思中傷之。公知其謀，憂慮無所為計。一夕，早寢，女冠帶，飾冢宰狀，翦素絲作濃髭，又以青衣飾兩婢為虞候，竊跨廄馬而出，戲云：「將謁王先生。」馳至給諫之門，即又鞭撾從人，大言曰：「我謁侍御王，寧謁給諫王耶！」回轡而歸。比至家門，門者誤以為真，奔白王公。公急起承迎，方知為子婦之戲。怒甚，謂夫人曰：「人方蹈我之瑕，反以閨閣之醜登門而告之，餘禍不遠矣！」夫人怒，奔女室，詬讓之。女惟憨笑，並不一置詞。撻之，不忍；出之，則無家：夫妻懊怨，終夜不寢。時冢宰某公赫甚，其儀采服從，與女偽裝無少殊別，王給諫亦誤為真。屢偵公門，中夜而客未出，疑冢宰與公有陰謀。次日早朝，見而問曰：「夜相公至君家耶？」公疑其相譏，慙顏唯唯，不甚響答。給諫愈疑，謀遂寢，由此益交懽公。公探知其情，竊喜，而陰囑夫人，勸女改行；女笑應之。逾歲，首相免，適有以私函致公者，誤投給諫。給諫大喜，先託善公者往假萬金，公拒之。給諫自詣公所。公覓巾袍，並不可得；給諫伺候久，怒公慢，憤將行。忽見公子袞衣旒冕，有女子自門內推之以出。大駭；已而笑撫之，脫其服冕而去。公急出，則客去遠。聞其故，驚顏如土，大哭曰：「此禍水也！指日赤吾族矣！」與夫人操杖往。女已知之，闔扉任其詬厲。公怒，斧其門。女在內含笑而告之曰：「翁無煩怒！有新婦在，刀鋸斧鉞，婦自受之，必不令貽害雙親。翁若此，是欲殺婦以滅口耶？」公乃止。給諫歸，果抗疏揭王不軌，袞冕作據。上驚驗之，其旒冕乃粱黠心所製，袍則敗布黃袱也。上怒其誣。又召元豐至，見其憨狀可掬，笑曰：「此可以作天子耶？」乃下之法司。給諫又訟公家有妖人，法司嚴詰臧獲，並言無他，惟顛婦癡兒，日事戲笑；鄰里亦無異詞。案乃定，以給諫充雲南軍。王由是奇女。又以母久不至，意其非人。使夫人探詰之，女但笑不言。再復窮問，則掩口曰：「兒玉皇女，母不知耶？」無何，公擢京卿。五十餘，每患無孫。女居三年，夜夜與公子異寢，似未嘗有所私。夫人舁榻去，囑公子與婦同寢。過數日，公子告母曰：「借榻去，悍不還！小翠夜夜以足股加腹上，喘氣不得；又慣掐人股裏。」婢嫗無不粲然。夫人呵拍令去。
有一天，王公偶然經過，布球飛來，正打在他臉上。小翠和婢女們都悄悄躲開了，元豐還蹦蹦跳跳地追著球跑。王公生氣地拿石頭扔他，他這才趴下來哭。王公把這件事告訴夫人，夫人便去責備小翠。小翠低著頭微笑，拿手指摳著床沿。夫人一走，她又像先前一樣嬉笑蹦跳，還用脂粉把元豐塗成一張花臉，像鬼一樣。夫人看見，氣得厲害，把小翠叫來責罵。小翠靠著桌子擺弄衣帶，既不害怕，也不說話。夫人拿她沒辦法，便用棍子打兒子。元豐放聲大哭，小翠這才變了臉色，跪下求夫人饒恕。夫人的氣頓時消了，放下棍子離開。小翠笑著拉元豐進屋，替他拍掉衣上的灰塵，擦去眼淚，輕輕揉著捱打的傷痕，又拿棗子和栗子給他吃。元豐這才止住眼淚，高興起來。小翠關上院門，又把元豐打扮成霸王，或打扮成沙漠中的人，自己則穿上豔麗的衣服，束起纖細的腰肢，婀娜地跳起帳下的舞蹈；有時又在髮髻上插著雉尾，撥弄琵琶，叮叮咚咚地彈個不停。滿屋都是笑鬧聲，天天如此。王公因為兒子痴呆，不忍過分責備兒媳，即使偶爾聽見一些，也就任由他們去了。同一條巷子裡住著一位王給諫，與王家隔著十幾戶，兩人一向不和。當時正逢三年一次的官吏大考核，王給諫忌憚王公掌管河南道的官印，想找機會中傷他。王公知道他的圖謀，十分憂慮，卻想不出應對的辦法。一天晚上，王公早早睡下了，小翠戴上官帽，繫上官帶，打扮成冢宰的模樣，剪白絲做了一副濃密的鬍鬚，又讓兩個婢女穿上青衣，扮作虞候，偷偷騎上馬廄裡的馬出了門，開玩笑說：「我要去拜訪王先生。」她騎馬來到王給諫門前，卻又拿鞭子抽打隨從，大聲說：「我要拜訪的是王侍御，難道是王給諫嗎！」說完便掉轉馬頭回家。到了家門口，守門人誤以為真是冢宰來了，趕緊跑去稟報王公。王公急忙起身迎接，這才知道是兒媳在胡鬧。他氣極了，對夫人說：「別人正想抓我的把柄，她倒把內宅裡的醜事送到人家門口去宣揚，災禍怕是不遠了！」夫人也很生氣，跑到小翠屋裡責罵她。小翠只是傻笑，連一句話也不說。要打她，又不忍心；要趕她走，她又沒有家可回。夫妻倆又懊惱又埋怨，整夜沒有睡覺。當時那位冢宰權勢顯赫，他的儀態、衣著和隨從，與小翠的裝扮毫無差別，王給諫也把她當成了真人。他屢次派人到王家門前探看，直到半夜，客人還沒有出來，便懷疑冢宰和王公在密謀什麼。第二天早朝時，他見到王公，問道：「昨晚相公到你家去了？」王公以為他在譏諷自己，滿臉羞慚，含含糊糊地應著，沒敢清楚回答。王給諫更加疑心，便停下了原來的圖謀，從此越發主動與王公交好。王公打聽到其中的緣故，暗自高興，卻私下囑咐夫人勸小翠改掉這些行為。小翠笑著答應了。過了一年，首相被免職，恰好有人寄了一封私信給王公，卻誤送到了王給諫那裡。王給諫十分高興，先托一個與王公交好的人去向他借一萬兩銀子，王公拒絕了。王給諫便親自登門。王公找官帽和官袍，卻怎麼也找不到。王給諫等了很久，覺得王公故意怠慢自己，正要氣憤地離開，忽然看見元豐穿著袞衣，戴著旒冕，被一個女子從門裡推了出來。他大吃一驚，隨後笑著撫了撫元豐，把他身上的衣冠脫下來，帶著走了。王公急忙出來時，客人已經走遠。聽說事情的經過，他嚇得面如土色，大哭道：「這真是禍水！眼看就要害得我們全族被殺光了！」他和夫人拿著棍子去找小翠。小翠已經知道了，關上房門，任憑他們厲聲責罵。王公氣得拿斧頭砍門。小翠在屋裡含笑說道：「公公不必生氣！只要有兒媳在，無論刀鋸還是斧鉞，都由我自己承受，絕不會讓災禍連累二老。公公這樣做，難道是想殺了兒媳滅口嗎？」王公這才停手。王給諫回去後，果然上奏揭發王公圖謀不軌，拿袞衣和旒冕作證據。皇上吃了一驚，命人查驗，發現旒冕是用高粱稈的芯做的，袍子則是一塊破舊的黃色包袱布。皇上惱怒他誣告，又召元豐來，看見他一副十足的憨傻模樣，笑道：「這樣的人能做天子嗎？」便把王給諫交給法司處理。王給諫又告王公家裡有妖人，法司嚴厲審問王家的奴僕，他們都說沒有這回事，只有一個瘋瘋癲癲的媳婦和一個痴呆的兒子，每天嬉戲說笑。鄰居們的說法也都一樣。案子就此判定，王給諫被髮配到雲南充軍。王公從此覺得小翠很不尋常，又因她母親久久不來，猜想她不是人，便讓夫人試探著追問。小翠只是笑，不肯說話。再三追問，她便掩著嘴說：「我是玉皇的女兒，母親不知道嗎？」不久，王公升任京卿。他已五十多歲，常為沒有孫子發愁。小翠在王家住了三年，每晚都與元豐分床睡，似乎從未有過夫妻間的親密之事。夫人叫人把元豐的床搬走，囑咐他與妻子同睡。過了幾天，元豐對母親說：「你借走我的床，硬是不還！小翠每晚都把腿腳壓在我肚子上，弄得我喘不過氣來，還老愛掐我的大腿裡側。」婢女和老婦們無不笑了起來。夫人呵斥著拍了拍他，把他趕了出去。
一日，王偶过，圆然来，直中面目。女与婢俱敛迹去，公子犹踊跃奔逐之。王怒，投之以石，始伏而啼。王以告夫人；夫人往责女，女俛首微笑，以手刓床。既退，憨跳如故，以脂粉涂公子作花面如鬼。夫人见之，怒甚，呼女诟骂。女倚几弄带，不惧，亦不言。夫人无奈之，因杖其子。元丰大号，女始色变，屈膝乞宥。夫人怒顿解，释杖去。女笑拉公子入室，代扑衣上尘，拭眼泪，摩挲杖痕，饵以枣栗。公子乃收涕以忻。女阖庭户，复装公子作霸王，作沙漠人；己乃艳服，束细腰，婆娑作帐下舞；或髻插雉尾，拨琵琶，丁丁缕缕然，喧笑一室，日以为常。王公以子痴，不忍过责妇；即微闻焉，亦若置之。同巷有王给谏者，相隔十余户，然素不相能；时值三年大计吏，忌公握河南道篆，思中伤之。公知其谋，忧虑无所为计。一夕，早寝，女冠带，饰冢宰状，翦素丝作浓髭，又以青衣饰两婢为虞候，窃跨厩马而出，戏云：「将谒王先生。」驰至给谏之门，即又鞭挝从人，大言曰：「我谒侍御王，宁谒给谏王耶！」回辔而归。比至家门，门者误以为真，奔白王公。公急起承迎，方知为子妇之戏。怒甚，谓夫人曰：「人方蹈我之瑕，反以闺阁之丑登门而告之，余祸不远矣！」夫人怒，奔女室，诟让之。女惟憨笑，并不一置词。挞之，不忍；出之，则无家：夫妻懊怨，终夜不寝。时冢宰某公赫甚，其仪采服从，与女伪装无少殊别，王给谏亦误为真。屡侦公门，中夜而客未出，疑冢宰与公有阴谋。次日早朝，见而问曰：「夜相公至君家耶？」公疑其相讥，慙颜唯唯，不甚响答。给谏愈疑，谋遂寝，由此益交懽公。公探知其情，窃喜，而阴嘱夫人，劝女改行；女笑应之。逾岁，首相免，适有以私函致公者，误投给谏。给谏大喜，先托善公者往假万金，公拒之。给谏自诣公所。公觅巾袍，并不可得；给谏伺候久，怒公慢，愤将行。忽见公子衮衣旒冕，有女子自门内推之以出。大骇；已而笑抚之，脱其服冕而去。公急出，则客去远。闻其故，惊颜如土，大哭曰：「此祸水也！指日赤吾族矣！」与夫人操杖往。女已知之，阖扉任其诟厉。公怒，斧其门。女在内含笑而告之曰：「翁无烦怒！有新妇在，刀锯斧钺，妇自受之，必不令贻害双亲。翁若此，是欲杀妇以灭口耶？」公乃止。给谏归，果抗疏揭王不轨，衮冕作据。上惊验之，其旒冕乃粱黠心所制，袍则败布黄袱也。上怒其诬。又召元丰至，见其憨状可掬，笑曰：「此可以作天子耶？」乃下之法司。给谏又讼公家有妖人，法司严诘臧获，并言无他，惟颠妇痴儿，日事戏笑；邻里亦无异词。案乃定，以给谏充云南军。王由是奇女。又以母久不至，意其非人。使夫人探诘之，女但笑不言。再复穷问，则掩口曰：「儿玉皇女，母不知耶？」无何，公擢京卿。五十余，每患无孙。女居三年，夜夜与公子异寝，似未尝有所私。夫人舁榻去，嘱公子与妇同寝。过数日，公子告母曰：「借榻去，悍不还！小翠夜夜以足股加腹上，喘气不得；又惯掐人股里。」婢妪无不粲然。夫人呵拍令去。
有一天，王公偶然经过，布球飞来，正打在他脸上。小翠和婢女们都悄悄躲开了，元丰还蹦蹦跳跳地追着球跑。王公生气地拿石头扔他，他这才趴下来哭。王公把这件事告诉夫人，夫人便去责备小翠。小翠低着头微笑，拿手指抠着床沿。夫人一走，她又像先前一样嬉笑蹦跳，还用脂粉把元丰涂成一张花脸，像鬼一样。夫人看见，气得厉害，把小翠叫来责骂。小翠靠着桌子摆弄衣带，既不害怕，也不说话。夫人拿她没办法，便用棍子打儿子。元丰放声大哭，小翠这才变了脸色，跪下求夫人饶恕。夫人的气顿时消了，放下棍子离开。小翠笑着拉元丰进屋，替他拍掉衣上的灰尘，擦去眼泪，轻轻揉着挨打的伤痕，又拿枣子和栗子给他吃。元丰这才止住眼泪，高兴起来。小翠关上院门，又把元丰打扮成霸王，或打扮成沙漠中的人，自己则穿上艳丽的衣服，束起纤细的腰肢，婀娜地跳起帐下的舞蹈；有时又在发髻上插着雉尾，拨弄琵琶，叮叮咚咚地弹个不停。满屋都是笑闹声，天天如此。王公因为儿子痴呆，不忍过分责备儿媳，即使偶尔听见一些，也就任由他们去了。同一条巷子里住着一位王给谏，与王家隔着十几户，两人一向不和。当时正逢三年一次的官吏大考核，王给谏忌惮王公掌管河南道的官印，想找机会中伤他。王公知道他的图谋，十分忧虑，却想不出应对的办法。一天晚上，王公早早睡下了，小翠戴上官帽，系上官带，打扮成冢宰的模样，剪白丝做了一副浓密的胡须，又让两个婢女穿上青衣，扮作虞候，偷偷骑上马厩里的马出了门，开玩笑说：“我要去拜访王先生。”她骑马来到王给谏门前，却又拿鞭子抽打随从，大声说：“我要拜访的是王侍御，难道是王给谏吗！”说完便掉转马头回家。到了家门口，守门人误以为真是冢宰来了，赶紧跑去禀报王公。王公急忙起身迎接，这才知道是儿媳在胡闹。他气极了，对夫人说：“别人正想抓我的把柄，她倒把内宅里的丑事送到人家门口去宣扬，灾祸怕是不远了！”夫人也很生气，跑到小翠屋里责骂她。小翠只是傻笑，连一句话也不说。要打她，又不忍心；要赶她走，她又没有家可回。夫妻俩又懊恼又埋怨，整夜没有睡觉。当时那位冢宰权势显赫，他的仪态、衣着和随从，与小翠的装扮毫无差别，王给谏也把她当成了真人。他屡次派人到王家门前探看，直到半夜，客人还没有出来，便怀疑冢宰和王公在密谋什么。第二天早朝时，他见到王公，问道：“昨晚相公到你家去了？”王公以为他在讥讽自己，满脸羞惭，含含糊糊地应着，没敢清楚回答。王给谏更加疑心，便停下了原来的图谋，从此越发主动与王公交好。王公打听到其中的缘故，暗自高兴，却私下嘱咐夫人劝小翠改掉这些行为。小翠笑着答应了。过了一年，首相被免职，恰好有人寄了一封私信给王公，却误送到了王给谏那里。王给谏十分高兴，先托一个与王公交好的人去向他借一万两银子，王公拒绝了。王给谏便亲自登门。王公找官帽和官袍，却怎么也找不到。王给谏等了很久，觉得王公故意怠慢自己，正要气愤地离开，忽然看见元丰穿着衮衣，戴着旒冕，被一个女子从门里推了出来。他大吃一惊，随后笑着抚了抚元丰，把他身上的衣冠脱下来，带着走了。王公急忙出来时，客人已经走远。听说事情的经过，他吓得面如土色，大哭道：“这真是祸水！眼看就要害得我们全族被杀光了！”他和夫人拿着棍子去找小翠。小翠已经知道了，关上房门，任凭他们厉声责骂。王公气得拿斧头砍门。小翠在屋里含笑说道：“公公不必生气！只要有儿媳在，无论刀锯还是斧钺，都由我自己承受，绝不会让灾祸连累二老。公公这样做，难道是想杀了儿媳灭口吗？”王公这才停手。王给谏回去后，果然上奏揭发王公图谋不轨，拿衮衣和旒冕作证据。皇上吃了一惊，命人查验，发现旒冕是用高粱秆的芯做的，袍子则是一块破旧的黄色包袱布。皇上恼怒他诬告，又召元丰来，看见他一副十足的憨傻模样，笑道：“这样的人能做天子吗？”便把王给谏交给法司处理。王给谏又告王公家里有妖人，法司严厉审问王家的奴仆，他们都说没有这回事，只有一个疯疯癫癫的媳妇和一个痴呆的儿子，每天嬉戏说笑。邻居们的说法也都一样。案子就此判定，王给谏被发配到云南充军。王公从此觉得小翠很不寻常，又因她母亲久久不来，猜想她不是人，便让夫人试探着追问。小翠只是笑，不肯说话。再三追问，她便掩着嘴说：“我是玉皇的女儿，母亲不知道吗？”不久，王公升任京卿。他已五十多岁，常为没有孙子发愁。小翠在王家住了三年，每晚都与元丰分床睡，似乎从未有过夫妻间的亲密之事。夫人叫人把元丰的床搬走，嘱咐他与妻子同睡。过了几天，元丰对母亲说：“你借走我的床，硬是不还！小翠每晚都把腿脚压在我肚子上，弄得我喘不过气来，还老爱掐我的大腿里侧。”婢女和老妇们无不笑了起来。夫人呵斥着拍了拍他，把他赶了出去。
One day Wang happened to pass by, and the ball came flying and hit him full in the face. The girl and the maids all slipped away, but the young master went on leaping and running after it. Wang, in a rage, threw a stone at him, and only then did he crouch down and cry. Wang told his lady, and she went to scold the girl. The girl hung her head and smiled a little, picking at the bed with her finger. When the lady had gone, she went on romping and playing the fool as before. She painted the young master’s face with rouge and powder until he was as gaudy as a ghost. When Lady Wang saw it she was furious, and called the girl in and railed at her. The girl leaned on the table, playing with her sash; she was not afraid, and said nothing. The lady could do nothing with her, so she took a rod to her son instead. Yuanfeng howled. Only then did the girl’s face change, and she went down on her knees to beg forgiveness. The lady’s anger melted at once; she dropped the rod and left. Laughing, the girl pulled the young master into their room. She brushed the dust off his clothes, wiped away his tears, rubbed the welts from the rod and fed him dates and chestnuts, and the young master stopped crying and was happy again. Then the girl shut the courtyard gate and dressed him up once more, now as the Hegemon King, now as a man from the desert, while she herself put on gorgeous clothes, cinched her slender waist and swayed through the dance before the general’s tent; or she stuck pheasant feathers in her hair and plucked the pipa, plink-plink, on and on, filling the room with noise and laughter. So it went every day. Because his son was a simpleton, Lord Wang could not bear to be hard on the girl, and even when he heard a little of it, he let it pass. In the same lane, a dozen or so gates away, lived a Supervising Secretary Wang, and the two men had never got on. It was the year of the great triennial review of officials, and the Supervising Secretary, jealous that Lord Wang held the seal of the Henan Circuit, was looking for a way to do him harm. Lord Wang knew of his plotting and was anxious, but could think of nothing to do. One evening he went to bed early. The girl put on cap and sash and got herself up as the Minister of Personnel. She cut white silk thread into a bushy moustache, dressed two maids in black as his guards, and slipped out on horses from the stable. “I’m off to call on Mr. Wang,” she said for a joke. She galloped to the Supervising Secretary’s gate, and there she whipped her attendants and said loudly, “It’s Censor Wang I came to call on. What would I want with Secretary Wang?” Then she turned her horse and rode home. When she reached the gate, the gatekeeper took her for the real thing and ran to tell Lord Wang. He hurried out to receive his guest — and found it was his daughter-in-law’s prank. He was furious. “The man is hunting for some flaw in me,” he said to his wife, “and now the scandal of our inner chambers is carried to his door and announced! Disaster cannot be far off!” Lady Wang, enraged, rushed to the girl’s room and berated her. The girl only giggled, and said not a word in her defence. They could not bring themselves to beat her, and if they sent her away, she had no home to go to. Husband and wife fretted and grumbled, and lay awake all night. At that time the Minister of Personnel, a certain lord, was at the height of his power, and his dress, his bearing and his retinue were no different from the girl’s disguise. Supervising Secretary Wang, too, had taken her for the real man. He sent men again and again to watch Lord Wang’s gate, and at midnight the visitor had still not come out, so he suspected that the Minister and Lord Wang were plotting something together. At the morning audience next day he saw Lord Wang and asked, “Did His Excellency call at your house last night?” Lord Wang thought he was mocking him; he flushed with shame and mumbled, hardly answering. The Supervising Secretary grew all the more suspicious. He let his scheme drop, and from then on went out of his way to be friendly. When Lord Wang found out how things stood, he was secretly pleased, but he quietly told his wife to urge the girl to mend her ways. The girl laughed and agreed. A year later the Senior Grand Secretary fell from office. Just then someone sent Lord Wang a private letter, and it was delivered by mistake to the Supervising Secretary. Overjoyed, the Supervising Secretary first sent a friend of Lord Wang’s to ask him for a loan of ten thousand taels. Lord Wang refused. So the Supervising Secretary came to the house himself. Lord Wang looked for his cap and gown and could not find them anywhere. The Supervising Secretary waited a long time, grew angry at the slight, and was about to leave in a temper when he suddenly saw the young master in the dragon robe and tasselled crown of an emperor, pushed out through a doorway by a girl. He was greatly startled. Then he laughed, patted the boy, stripped off the robe and crown and went away with them. When Lord Wang hurried out, his visitor was long gone. Hearing what had happened, he turned the colour of earth and wept aloud. “This girl is a curse on the house!” he cried. “Any day now our whole clan will be put to the sword!” He and his wife took up rods and went after her. The girl already knew. She shut her door and let them rage. Lord Wang, furious, took an axe to the door. From inside, the girl said with a smile, “Don’t trouble yourself to be angry, Father. While your daughter-in-law is here, knife and saw, axe and halberd — I will suffer them myself. I will never let harm come to my parents. If you go on like this, do you mean to kill me to shut my mouth?” Lord Wang stopped. The Supervising Secretary went home and, sure enough, sent up a memorial denouncing Wang for treason, with the robe and crown as proof. The Emperor, alarmed, had them examined: the crown was made of sorghum pith, and the robe was a ragged yellow wrapping cloth. The Emperor was angry at the false charge. He also summoned Yuanfeng, and seeing what an utter simpleton he was, he laughed and said, “Could this one be made an emperor?” And he handed the Supervising Secretary over to the courts. The Supervising Secretary then charged that there was a witch in Lord Wang’s house. The courts questioned the servants closely, and they all said there was nothing of the kind — only a crazy daughter-in-law and a simple son who spent every day in games and laughter. The neighbours said the same. So the case was settled, and the Supervising Secretary was banished to serve as a soldier in Yunnan. From then on Wang thought the girl remarkable. And since her mother had stayed away so long, he suspected she was not human. He had his wife sound her out, but the girl only laughed and said nothing. Pressed further, she covered her mouth and said, “I’m the Jade Emperor’s daughter. Didn’t you know, Mother?” Before long Lord Wang was promoted to a minister’s post in the capital. He was over fifty, and always fretted that he had no grandson. The girl had been with them three years, and every night she slept apart from the young master; it seemed nothing had ever passed between them. Lady Wang had the second bed carried away, and told her son to sleep with his wife. After a few days the young master said to his mother, “You borrowed my bed and now you won’t give it back! Every night Xiaocui puts her legs across my belly and I can’t breathe. And she keeps pinching the insides of my thighs.” Every maid and old nurse burst out laughing. Lady Wang scolded him and shooed him away.