洛陽孫公子，名麒，娶蔣太守女，甚相得。二十夭殂，悲不自勝。離家，居山中別業。適陰雨，晝臥，室無人。忽見複室簾下，露婦人足，疑而問之。有女子褰簾入，年約十八九，衣服樸潔，而微黑多麻，類貧家女。意必村中僦屋者，呵曰：「所須宜白家人，何得輕入！」女微笑曰：「妾非村中人，祖籍山東，呂姓。父文學士。妾小字無病。從父客遷，早離顧復。慕公子世家名士，願為康成文婢。」孫笑曰：「卿意良佳。然僕輩雜居，實所不便，容旋里後，當輿聘之。」女次且曰：「自揣陋劣，何敢遂望敵體？聊備案前驅使，當不至倒捧冊卷。」孫曰：「納婢亦須吉日。」乃指架上，使取通書第四卷，──蓋試之也。女翻檢得之。先自涉覽，而後進之，笑曰：「今日河魁不曾在房。」孫意少動，留匿室中。女閒居無事，為之拂几整書，焚香拭鼎，滿室光潔，孫悅之。至夕，遣僕他宿。女俛眉承睫，殷勤臻至。命之寢，始持燭去。中夜睡醒，則床頭似有臥人；以手探之，知為女。捉而撼焉。女驚起立榻下。孫曰：「何不別寢，床頭豈汝臥處也？」女曰：「妾善懼。」孫憐之，俾施枕床內。忽聞氣息之來，清如蓮蕊，異之；呼與共枕，不覺心蕩；漸與同衾，大悅之。念避匿非策，又恐同歸招議。孫有母姨，近隔十餘門，謀令遁諸其家，而後再致之。女稱善，便言：「阿姨，妾熟識之，無容先達，請即去。」孫送之，踰垣而去。孫母姨，寡媼也。凌晨起戶，女掩入。媼詰之。答云：「若甥遣問阿姨。公子欲歸，路賒乏騎，留奴暫寄此耳。」媼信之，遂止焉。孫歸，矯謂姨家有婢，欲相贈，遣人舁之而還，坐臥皆以從。久益嬖之，納為妾。世家論昏，皆勿許，殆有終焉之志。女知之，苦勸令娶；乃娶於許，而終嬖愛無病。許甚賢，略不爭夕；無病事許益恭：以此嫡庶偕好。許舉一子阿堅，無病愛抱如己出。兒甫三歲，輒離乳媼，從無病宿；許喚之，不去。無何，許病卒。臨訣，囑孫曰：「無病最愛兒，即令子之可也；即正位焉亦可也。」既葬，孫將踐其言。告諸宗黨，僉謂不可；女亦固辭，遂止。邑有王天官女，新寡，來求婚。孫雅不欲娶，王再請之。媒道其美，宗族仰其勢，共慫恿之。孫惑焉，又娶之。色果豔，而驕已甚，衣服器用，多厭嫌，輒加毀棄。孫以愛敬故，不忍有所拂。入門數月，擅寵專房，而無病至前，笑啼皆罪。時怒遷夫婿，數相鬧鬥。孫患苦之，以故多獨宿。婦又怒。孫不能堪，託故之都，逃婦難也。婦以遠遊咎無病。無病鞠躬屏氣，承望顏色；而婦終不快。夜使直宿床下，兒奔與俱。每喚起給使，兒輒啼。婦厭罵之。無病急呼乳媼來抱之，不去；強之，益號。婦怒起，毒撻無算，始從乳媼去。兒以是病悸，不食。婦禁無病不令見之。兒終日啼，婦叱媼，使棄諸地。兒氣竭聲嘶，呼而求飲；婦戒勿與。日既暮，無病窺婦不在，潛飲兒。兒見之，棄水捉衿，號咷不止。婦聞之，意氣洶洶而出。兒聞聲輟涕，一躍遂絕。無病大哭。婦怒曰：「賤婢醜態！豈以兒死脅我耶！無論孫家襁褓物；即殺王府世子，王天官女亦能任之！」無病乃抽息忍涕，請為葬具。婦不許，立命棄之。婦去，竊撫兒，四體猶溫。隱語媼曰：「可速將去，少待於野，我當繼至。其死也，共棄之；活也，共撫之。」媼曰：「諾。」無病入室，攜簪珥出，追及之。共視兒，已蘇。二人喜，謀趨別業，往依姨。媼慮其纖步為累，無病乃先趨以俟之，疾若飄風，媼力奔始能及。約二更許，兒病危，不復可前。遂斜行入村，至田叟家，倚門待曉，扣扉借室，出簪珥易貲，巫醫並致，病卒不瘳。女掩泣曰：「媼好視兒，我往尋其父也。」媼方驚其謬妄，而女已杳矣。駭詫不已。是日，孫在都，方憩息床上，女悄然入。孫驚起曰：「纔眠已入夢耶！」女握手哽咽，頓足不能出聲。久之久之，方失聲而言曰：「妾歷千辛萬苦，與兒逃於楊──」句未終，縱聲大哭，倒地而滅。孫駭絕，猶疑為夢。喚從人共視之，衣履宛然。大異不解。即刻趣裝，星馳而歸。既聞兒死妾遁，撫膺大悲。語侵婦，婦反唇相稽。孫忿，出白刃；婢嫗遮救，不得近，遙擲之。刀脊中額，額破血流，披髮嗥叫而出，將以奔告其家。孫捉還，杖撻無數，衣皆若縷，傷痛不可轉側。孫命舁諸房中護養之，將待其瘥而後出之。婦兄弟聞之，怒，率多騎登門；孫亦集健僕械禦之。兩相叫罵，竟日始散。王未快意，訟之。孫捍衛入城，自詣質審，訴婦惡狀。宰不能屈，送廣文懲戒以悅王。廣文朱先生，世家子，剛正不阿。廉得情，怒曰：「堂上公以我為天下之齷齪教官，勒索傷天害理之錢，以吮人癰痔者耶！此等乞丐相，我所不能！」竟不受命，孫公然歸。王無奈之，乃示意朋好，為之調停，欲生謝過其家。孫不肯，十反不能決。婦創漸平，欲出之，又恐王氏不受，因循而安之。
妾亡子死，夙夜傷心，思得乳媼，一問其情。
因憶無病言「逃於楊」，近村有楊家疃，疑其在是；往問之，並無知者。或言五十里外有楊谷，遣騎詣訊，果得之。兒漸平復；相見各喜，載與俱歸。兒望見父，噭然大啼，孫亦淚下。婦聞兒尚存，盛氣奔出，將致誚罵。兒方啼，開目見婦，驚投父懷，若求藏匿。抱而視之，氣已絕矣。急呼之，移時始甦。孫恚曰：「不知如何酷虐，遂使吾兒至此！」乃立離婚書，送婦歸。王果不受，又舁還孫。孫不得已，父子別居一院，不與婦通。乳媼乃備述無病情狀，孫始悟其為鬼。感其義，葬其衣履，題碑曰「鬼妻呂無病之墓」。無何，婦產一男，交手於項而死之。孫益忿，復出婦；王又舁還之。孫乃具狀控諸上臺，皆以天官故，置不理。後天官卒，孫控不已，乃判令大歸。孫由此不復娶，納婢焉。婦既歸，悍名譟甚，居三四年，無問名者。婦頓悔，而已不可復挽。有孫家舊媼，適至其家。婦優待之，對之流涕；揣其情，似念故夫。媼歸告孫，孫笑置之。又年餘，婦母又卒，孤無所依，諸娣姒頗厭嫉之；婦益失所，日輒涕零。一貧士喪偶，兄議厚其奩妝而遣之，婦不肯。每陰託往來者致意孫，泣告以悔，孫不聽。一日，婦率一婢，竊驢跨之，竟奔孫。孫方自內出，迎跪階下，泣不可止。孫欲去之。婦牽衣復跪之。孫固辭曰：「如復相聚，常無間言則已耳；一朝有他，汝兄弟如虎狼，再求離逷，豈可復得！」婦曰：「妾竊奔而來，萬無還理。留則留之，否則死之！且妾自二十一歲從君，二十三歲被出，誠有十分惡，寧無一分情？」乃脫一腕釧，並兩足而束之，袖覆其上，曰：「此時香火之誓，君寧不憶之耶？」孫乃熒眥欲淚，使人挽扶入室；而猶疑王氏詐諼，欲得其兄弟一言為證據。婦曰：「妾私出，何顏復求兄弟？如不相信，妾藏有死具在此，請斷指以自明。」遂於腰間出利刃，就床邊伸左手一指斷之，血溢如涌。孫大駭，急為束裹。婦容色痛變，而更不呻吟。笑曰：「妾今日黃梁之夢已醒，特借斗室為出家計，何用相猜？」孫乃使子及妾另居一所，而己朝夕往來於兩間。又日求良藥醫指創，月餘尋愈。婦由此不茹葷酒，閉戶誦佛而已。居久，見家政廢弛，謂孫曰：「妾此來，本欲置他事於不問，今見如此用度，恐子孫有餓莩者矣。無已，再腆顏一經紀之。」乃集婢媼，按日責其績織。家人以其自投也，慢之，竊相誚訕，婦若不聞知。既而課工，惰者鞭撻不貸，眾始懼之。又垂簾課主計僕，綜理微密。孫乃大喜，使兒及妾皆朝見之。阿堅已九歲，婦加意溫卹，朝入塾，常留甘餌以待其歸；兒亦漸親愛之。一日，兒以石投雀，婦適過，中顱而仆，踰刻不語。孫大怒，撻兒。婦蘇，力止之。且喜曰：「妾昔虐兒，心中每不自釋，今幸消一罪案矣。」孫益嬖愛之，婦每拒，使就妾宿。居數年，屢產屢殤，曰：「此昔日殺兒之報也。」阿堅既娶，遂以外事委兒，內事委媳。一日曰：「妾某日當死。」孫不信。婦自理葬具，至日，更衣入棺而卒。顏色如生，異香滿室；既殮，香始漸滅。
洛陽的孫公子名叫麒，娶了蔣太守的女兒，夫妻感情很好。妻子二十歲就去世了，他悲痛得無法承受，離開家，住到山中的別業。一天陰雨綿綿，他白天躺在床上，屋裡沒有旁人。忽然看見裡間的簾子下面露出一雙女人的腳，心裡疑惑，便開口詢問。有個女子掀簾進來，約莫十八九歲，衣服樸素整潔，皮膚略黑，臉上有很多麻子，像個窮人家的女兒。孫麒以為她一定是村裡租屋人家的女子，呵斥道：「有什麼需要，應當告訴家裡的僕人，怎麼能隨便進來！」女子微笑著說：「我不是村裡的人，祖籍山東，姓呂。父親是個讀書人，我的小名叫無病。我跟著父親遷居外鄉，很早就失去了父母的照料。仰慕公子出身世家，又是名士，願意像康成的婢女那樣，做個能幫您讀書的婢女。」孫麒笑道：「你的心意很好。不過這裡和僕人們住在一起，實在不方便。等我回家後，再用轎子把你接來。」女子遲疑著說：「我知道自己相貌醜陋，身份低微，怎麼敢指望做您的妻子？只想在書案前聽候使喚，至少不至於把書本拿倒了。」孫麒說：「收個婢女，也得挑個好日子。」於是指著書架，讓她取通書的第四卷，是想試試她。女子翻找到了，先自己看了看，然後遞給他，笑道：「今天河魁不在臥房。」孫麒有些動心，把她藏在屋裡留下了。女子閒著無事，替他擦桌子、整理書籍、焚香、擦拭香鼎，把整個屋子收拾得乾乾淨淨，孫麒很喜歡。到了晚上，他讓僕人到別處睡。女子低眉垂眼，殷勤周到地服侍他，直到他叫她去睡，才拿著蠟燭離開。半夜，孫麒醒來，覺得床頭似乎躺著一個人，伸手一摸，知道是那女子，便抓住她搖了搖。女子驚醒，起來站在床邊。孫麒說：「為什麼不去別處睡？床頭是你睡的地方嗎？」女子說：「我容易害怕。」孫麒憐惜她，讓她把枕頭放在床的裡側。忽然聞到她撥出的氣息，清香得像蓮花的花蕊，覺得奇異，便叫她和自己共用一個枕頭，不知不覺心動起來，漸漸又蓋在同一床被子裡，非常喜愛她。他覺得一直把她藏著不是辦法，又怕一起回家惹人議論。孫麒有個姨母，住處只隔著十幾戶人家，他打算讓女子悄悄去她家，以後再從那裡接來。女子說這個辦法好，又說：「您姨母，我很熟悉，不用先去打招呼，請讓我現在就去。」孫麒送她出去，她翻過牆走了。孫麒的姨母是個寡居的老婦。清晨開門時，女子閃身進來。老婦問她來意，她答道：「您外甥讓我來向姨母問好。公子準備回家，路遠，坐騎又不夠，所以把我暫時留在您這裡寄住。」老婦信了，便讓她住下。孫麒回家後，假稱姨母家有個婢女，要送給自己，派人用轎子把她接來。此後無論坐著還是躺著，她都跟在身邊。日子久了，他更加寵愛她，收她做了妾。世家大族來提親，他都不答應，幾乎有隻同她過一輩子的打算。女子知道後，苦苦勸他娶妻，他才娶了許家的女子，卻始終最寵愛無病。許氏很賢惠，從不爭著要丈夫陪自己過夜；無病服侍許氏，也越發恭敬，因此妻妾相處和睦。許氏生了個兒子，叫阿堅，無病像對待親生孩子一樣疼愛他。孩子才三歲，就總離開奶媽，跟無病一起睡，許氏叫他也不肯走。不久，許氏病死了。臨終時，她囑咐孫麒說：「無病最疼愛孩子，就讓孩子認她做母親吧；把她扶正做妻子，也可以。」安葬後，孫麒想照她的話辦，告訴族人，大家都說不行，無病也堅決推辭，這才作罷。本縣王天官的女兒剛死了丈夫，來求婚。孫麒本來不想再娶，王家又來請求。媒人誇她漂亮，族人看重王家的勢力，一起勸他。孫麒被說動了，又娶了她。王氏果然美貌，卻驕橫得很，對衣服和器物大多嫌棄，動不動就毀壞丟棄。孫麒因為愛她、敬重她，不忍違揹她的意思。進門幾個月，她就獨佔了丈夫的寵愛，無病來到她面前，無論笑還是哭，都要被挑錯。有時她又把怒氣轉到丈夫身上，兩人屢次爭吵。孫麒苦不堪言，因此常常獨自睡，她又為此發怒。孫麒忍受不了，藉故去了京城，逃避妻子的糾纏。王氏把他遠行的過錯歸到無病身上。無病彎著腰，大氣都不敢出，小心看著她的臉色行事，她卻始終不滿意。夜裡，她讓無病在床前值夜，孩子也跑來陪她。每次叫無病起來服侍，孩子就哭，王氏厭煩，開口罵他。無病連忙叫奶媽來抱他走，他不肯；強行抱他，他哭得更厲害。王氏氣得起身，狠狠打了他不知多少下，他才跟奶媽離開。孩子因此驚恐成病，不肯吃東西。王氏禁止無病去看他。孩子整天哭，王氏呵斥奶媽，讓她把孩子丟在地上。孩子哭得精疲力竭，聲音嘶啞，喊著要水喝，王氏不許給。天快黑時，無病看見王氏不在，偷偷給孩子喂水。孩子見了她，撇下水，抓住她的衣襟，放聲大哭，怎麼也不停。王氏聽見，氣勢洶洶地出來。孩子聽到她的聲音，頓時停止哭泣，身子猛地一跳，就斷了氣。無病大哭。王氏怒道：「賤婢裝出這副醜樣子！難道想拿孩子的死來要挾我嗎！別說孫家這個小孩子，就算殺了王府世子，我王天官的女兒也擔得起！」無病只好止住抽泣，忍住眼淚，請求準備安葬的東西。王氏不許，馬上命人把孩子丟掉。王氏走後，無病偷偷摸了摸孩子，手腳還溫熱，便低聲對奶媽說：「趕快把他帶走，在野外等一會兒，我隨後就來。他若死了，我們一起把他丟下；若活了，我們一起撫養他。」奶媽答應了。無病進屋拿了簪子和耳環出來，追上奶媽。兩人一起看孩子，已經醒過來了，十分歡喜，商量著到別業去，投靠孫麒的姨母。奶媽擔心無病的小腳走得慢，會拖累行程，無病便先跑到前面等她，快得像一陣風，奶媽拼命跑才追得上。到了二更左右，孩子病情危急，不能再往前走。她們便轉進一個村子，來到一位老農家門前，等到天亮，才敲門借了一間屋子住。無病拿出簪子和耳環換錢，又請巫者，又請醫生，孩子的病始終不見好。她掩面哭著說：「奶媽，好好照看孩子，我去找他的父親。」奶媽正驚訝她說得荒唐，女子卻已經不見了，令她驚駭不已。這一天，孫麒在京城，正躺在床上休息，無病悄悄走了進來。孫麒吃驚地起身，說：「才躺下，就做起夢來了嗎！」女子握住他的手，哽咽著，跺著腳，說不出話。過了很久很久，才哭著說：「我歷盡千辛萬苦，帶著孩子逃到楊……」話沒說完，就放聲大哭，倒在地上，消失了。孫麒驚駭極了，還疑心是夢，叫僕人一起來看，她的衣服鞋子卻實實在在地留在那裡。他非常驚異，想不明白，立即收拾行裝，日夜趕回家。聽說孩子死了，妾逃走了，他捶著胸口，十分悲痛。他責備妻子，妻子反過來與他爭辯。孫麒大怒，拔出刀來。婢女和老婦上前攔阻，保護王氏，他無法靠近，就從遠處把刀扔了過去。刀背打中王氏的額頭，額頭破了，鮮血直流。她披散著頭髮，號叫著往外跑，想回孃家告狀。孫麒把她抓回來，拿棍子打了不知多少下，衣服都碎成布條，她傷痛得無法翻身。孫麒命人把她抬進房裡照料，打算等她傷好了就休掉她。她的兄弟聽說後大怒，帶著許多騎馬的人登門，孫麒也聚集強壯的僕人，拿著兵器抵擋。雙方相互叫罵，整整一天才散去。王家仍不甘心，告到官府。孫麒帶著護衛進城，親自到官府接受審問，陳述妻子的惡行。縣令駁不倒他，無法認定他理虧，便把他交給廣文懲戒，好討王家歡心。廣文朱先生出身世家，剛直公正，不肯迎合權勢。他查明實情，怒道：「堂上的大人，竟把我當成天下最卑劣的教官，要我勒索傷天害理的錢，去吮吸別人的瘡痔，討好別人嗎！這種乞丐般的醜態，我做不出來！」他竟不接受縣令的命令，孫麒公然回了家。王家無可奈何，便示意親朋好友出面調解，想讓孫麒到他們家賠罪。孫麒不肯，往返交涉了十次，也沒談成。王氏的傷漸漸好了，孫麒想休掉她，又怕王家不肯接收，拖來拖去，便仍讓她住著。妾失蹤了，孩子死了，他日夜傷心，想找到奶媽，問問實情。忽然想起無病說過「逃到楊」，附近有個楊家疃，疑心她們在那裡，便前去詢問，卻沒有人知道。有人說五十里外有個楊谷，他派人騎馬去打聽，果然找到了。孩子已經漸漸恢復健康，彼此見面都很高興，便用車把孩子和奶媽一同接回來。孩子看見父親，放聲大哭，孫麒也流下眼淚。王氏聽說孩子還活著，怒氣衝衝地跑出來，準備責罵。孩子正在哭，睜眼看見她，嚇得撲進父親懷裡，像在求父親把自己藏起來。孫麒抱著一看，孩子已經沒了氣息，急忙呼喚，過了一陣才醒過來。孫麒憤怒地說：「不知道你怎樣殘酷地虐待他，竟把我的孩子嚇成這樣！」於是立即寫下休書，把妻子送回孃家。王家果然不肯接收，又把她抬回孫家。孫麒沒有辦法，帶著兒子另住一院，不再與她來往。奶媽這才詳細講述無病的種種情形，孫麒才明白她原來是鬼。感激她的情義，他把她的衣服鞋子埋葬了，碑上題著「鬼妻呂無病之墓」。不久，王氏生了個男孩，卻用雙手掐住孩子的脖子，把他弄死了。孫麒更加憤怒，再次休妻，王家又把她抬回來。孫麒便寫了訴狀，向上級官府控告，但各處都因為王天官的緣故，擱置不理。後來王天官死了，孫麒不停地告狀，才終於判令王氏回孃家，不得再回孫家。孫麒從此不再娶妻，只收了一個婢女做妾。王氏回家後，兇悍的名聲傳得很廣，過了三四年，也沒有人來提親。她這才悔恨，卻已經無法挽回。孫家一個過去的老婦人，恰好到了她家。王氏熱情款待，對著她流淚，看她的樣子，似乎還惦念著從前的丈夫。老婦回去告訴孫麒，孫麒一笑，沒放在心上。又過了一年多，王氏的母親也死了，她孤單無依，兄弟的妻子都很厭煩她。她越發無處容身，每天都流淚。有個窮書生死了妻子，她哥哥商量，給她置辦豐厚的嫁妝，把她嫁過去，她卻不肯。她常常偷偷托往來的人向孫麒傳話，哭著訴說自己的悔恨，孫麒不肯聽。一天，她帶著一個婢女，偷偷牽了一頭驢騎上，徑直跑到孫家。孫麒剛從裡面出來，她就迎上去，跪在臺階下，哭個不停。孫麒想趕她走，她拉住他的衣服，又跪下。孫麒堅決拒絕，說：「如果重新在一起，始終不鬧矛盾，那倒也罷了。一旦又出什麼事，你的兄弟像虎狼一樣，再想與你分開，怎麼還能辦到！」王氏說：「我是偷偷跑來的，絕沒有回去的道理。肯留就留，不肯留，我就死！況且我二十一歲嫁給你，二十三歲被休，就算有十分的壞處，難道連一分情意也沒有嗎？」她便脫下一隻手鐲，把雙腳併攏，用鐲子套住，再用衣袖蓋在上面，說：「那時在香火前立下的誓言，你難道不記得了嗎？」孫麒眼裡閃著淚光，幾乎要哭出來，叫人攙扶她進屋。不過，他仍懷疑王氏是在欺騙自己，想得到她兄弟的一句話作為憑據。王氏說：「我是私自出來的，還有什麼臉面去求兄弟？你若不相信，我身上帶著尋死的東西，請讓我斷一根手指，表明心意。」於是從腰間拿出一把利刃，在床邊伸出左手，切斷了一根手指，血湧了出來。孫麒大吃一驚，趕緊替她包紮。她痛得臉色都變了，卻沒有呻吟，笑著說：「我今天已經從那場榮華富貴的夢裡醒來了，只想借一間小屋，過出家人的生活，何必還猜疑我呢？」孫麒便讓兒子和妾另住一處，自己早晚在兩處來往，又天天尋找好藥，醫治她手指的傷，一個多月後，傷口便好了。王氏從此不吃葷、不喝酒，只關著門念佛。住了很久，她看見家務荒廢鬆懈，對孫麒說：「我這次來，本想別的事一概不管。如今看見這樣花費，恐怕子孫以後要餓死了。沒辦法，只好再厚著臉皮，管理一回家務。」於是召集婢女和老婦，安排她們每天紡紗織布。家裡人因為她是自己回來投靠的，都輕慢她，私下嘲笑譏諷，她像沒聽見一樣。等到檢查工作時，對懶惰的人卻毫不寬容，拿鞭子責打，眾人才開始怕她。她又隔著簾子督查管賬的僕人，大小事務都管理得細緻周密。孫麒非常高興，讓兒子和妾都來向她請安。阿堅已經九歲，她格外關心疼愛他。早晨孩子去私塾，她總留著甜點，等他回來，孩子也漸漸親近、喜愛她。一天，阿堅拿石頭打麻雀，王氏恰好經過，被打中頭部，倒在地上，過了一刻多還說不出話。孫麒大怒，責打孩子。王氏醒來，竭力阻止，還高興地說：「我從前虐待孩子，心裡一直不能釋懷。今天幸好償還了一筆罪債。」孫麒更加寵愛她，她卻常常拒絕，讓他去妾那裡睡。過了幾年，她屢次生孩子，孩子又都早早夭折，她說：「這是我從前殺死孩子的報應。」阿堅娶妻後，她便把外面的事務交給兒子，家裡的事務交給兒媳。一天，她說：「我會在某一天死。」孫麒不信。她自己準備好喪葬的東西，到了那一天，換好衣服，躺進棺材，便去世了。面容像活著一樣，奇異的香氣充滿屋子，等入殮後，香氣才漸漸消失。
洛阳孙公子，名麒，娶蒋太守女，甚相得。二十夭殂，悲不自胜。离家，居山中别业。适阴雨，昼卧，室无人。忽见复室帘下，露妇人足，疑而问之。有女子褰帘入，年约十八九，衣服朴洁，而微黑多麻，类贫家女。意必村中僦屋者，呵曰：「所须宜白家人，何得轻入！」女微笑曰：「妾非村中人，祖籍山东，吕姓。父文学士。妾小字无病。从父客迁，早离顾复。慕公子世家名士，愿为康成文婢。」孙笑曰：「卿意良佳。然仆辈杂居，实所不便，容旋里后，当舆聘之。」女次且曰：「自揣陋劣，何敢遂望敌体？聊备案前驱使，当不至倒捧册卷。」孙曰：「纳婢亦须吉日。」乃指架上，使取通书第四卷，──盖试之也。女翻检得之。先自涉览，而后进之，笑曰：「今日河魁不曾在房。」孙意少动，留匿室中。女闲居无事，为之拂几整书，焚香拭鼎，满室光洁，孙悦之。至夕，遣仆他宿。女俛眉承睫，殷勤臻至。命之寝，始持烛去。中夜睡醒，则床头似有卧人；以手探之，知为女。捉而撼焉。女惊起立榻下。孙曰：「何不别寝，床头岂汝卧处也？」女曰：「妾善惧。」孙怜之，俾施枕床内。忽闻气息之来，清如莲蕊，异之；呼与共枕，不觉心荡；渐与同衾，大悦之。念避匿非策，又恐同归招议。孙有母姨，近隔十余门，谋令遁诸其家，而后再致之。女称善，便言：「阿姨，妾熟识之，无容先达，请即去。」孙送之，逾垣而去。孙母姨，寡媪也。凌晨起户，女掩入。媪诘之。答云：「若甥遣问阿姨。公子欲归，路赊乏骑，留奴暂寄此耳。」媪信之，遂止焉。孙归，矫谓姨家有婢，欲相赠，遣人舁之而还，坐卧皆以从。久益嬖之，纳为妾。世家论昏，皆勿许，殆有终焉之志。女知之，苦劝令娶；乃娶于许，而终嬖爱无病。许甚贤，略不争夕；无病事许益恭：以此嫡庶偕好。许举一子阿坚，无病爱抱如己出。儿甫三岁，辄离乳媪，从无病宿；许唤之，不去。无何，许病卒。临诀，嘱孙曰：「无病最爱儿，即令子之可也；即正位焉亦可也。」既葬，孙将践其言。告诸宗党，佥谓不可；女亦固辞，遂止。邑有王天官女，新寡，来求婚。孙雅不欲娶，王再请之。媒道其美，宗族仰其势，共怂恿之。孙惑焉，又娶之。色果艳，而骄已甚，衣服器用，多厌嫌，辄加毁弃。孙以爱敬故，不忍有所拂。入门数月，擅宠专房，而无病至前，笑啼皆罪。时怒迁夫婿，数相闹斗。孙患苦之，以故多独宿。妇又怒。孙不能堪，托故之都，逃妇难也。妇以远游咎无病。无病鞠躬屏气，承望颜色；而妇终不快。夜使直宿床下，儿奔与俱。每唤起给使，儿辄啼。妇厌骂之。无病急呼乳媪来抱之，不去；强之，益号。妇怒起，毒挞无算，始从乳媪去。儿以是病悸，不食。妇禁无病不令见之。儿终日啼，妇叱媪，使弃诸地。儿气竭声嘶，呼而求饮；妇戒勿与。日既暮，无病窥妇不在，潜饮儿。儿见之，弃水捉衿，号咷不止。妇闻之，意气汹汹而出。儿闻声辍涕，一跃遂绝。无病大哭。妇怒曰：「贱婢丑态！岂以儿死胁我耶！无论孙家襁褓物；即杀王府世子，王天官女亦能任之！」无病乃抽息忍涕，请为葬具。妇不许，立命弃之。妇去，窃抚儿，四体犹温。隐语媪曰：「可速将去，少待于野，我当继至。其死也，共弃之；活也，共抚之。」媪曰：「诺。」无病入室，携簪珥出，追及之。共视儿，已苏。二人喜，谋趋别业，往依姨。媪虑其纤步为累，无病乃先趋以俟之，疾若飘风，媪力奔始能及。约二更许，儿病危，不复可前。遂斜行入村，至田叟家，倚门待晓，扣扉借室，出簪珥易赀，巫医并致，病卒不瘳。女掩泣曰：「媪好视儿，我往寻其父也。」媪方惊其谬妄，而女已杳矣。骇诧不已。是日，孙在都，方憩息床上，女悄然入。孙惊起曰：「才眠已入梦耶！」女握手哽咽，顿足不能出声。久之久之，方失声而言曰：「妾历千辛万苦，与儿逃于杨──」句未终，纵声大哭，倒地而灭。孙骇绝，犹疑为梦。唤从人共视之，衣履宛然。大异不解。即刻趣装，星驰而归。既闻儿死妾遁，抚膺大悲。语侵妇，妇反唇相稽。孙忿，出白刃；婢妪遮救，不得近，遥掷之。刀脊中额，额破血流，披发嗥叫而出，将以奔告其家。孙捉还，杖挞无数，衣皆若缕，伤痛不可转侧。孙命舁诸房中护养之，将待其瘥而后出之。妇兄弟闻之，怒，率多骑登门；孙亦集健仆械御之。两相叫骂，竟日始散。王未快意，讼之。孙捍卫入城，自诣质审，诉妇恶状。宰不能屈，送广文惩戒以悦王。广文朱先生，世家子，刚正不阿。廉得情，怒曰：「堂上公以我为天下之龌龊教官，勒索伤天害理之钱，以吮人痈痔者耶！此等乞丐相，我所不能！」竟不受命，孙公然归。王无奈之，乃示意朋好，为之调停，欲生谢过其家。孙不肯，十反不能决。妇创渐平，欲出之，又恐王氏不受，因循而安之。
妾亡子死，夙夜伤心，思得乳媪，一问其情。
因忆无病言「逃于杨」，近村有杨家疃，疑其在是；往问之，并无知者。或言五十里外有杨谷，遣骑诣讯，果得之。儿渐平复；相见各喜，载与俱归。儿望见父，噭然大啼，孙亦泪下。妇闻儿尚存，盛气奔出，将致诮骂。儿方啼，开目见妇，惊投父怀，若求藏匿。抱而视之，气已绝矣。急呼之，移时始甦。孙恚曰：「不知如何酷虐，遂使吾儿至此！」乃立离婚书，送妇归。王果不受，又舁还孙。孙不得已，父子别居一院，不与妇通。乳媪乃备述无病情状，孙始悟其为鬼。感其义，葬其衣履，题碑曰「鬼妻吕无病之墓」。无何，妇产一男，交手于项而死之。孙益忿，复出妇；王又舁还之。孙乃具状控诸上台，皆以天官故，置不理。后天官卒，孙控不已，乃判令大归。孙由此不复娶，纳婢焉。妇既归，悍名噪甚，居三四年，无问名者。妇顿悔，而已不可复挽。有孙家旧媪，适至其家。妇优待之，对之流涕；揣其情，似念故夫。媪归告孙，孙笑置之。又年余，妇母又卒，孤无所依，诸娣姒颇厌嫉之；妇益失所，日辄涕零。一贫士丧偶，兄议厚其奁妆而遣之，妇不肯。每阴托往来者致意孙，泣告以悔，孙不听。一日，妇率一婢，窃驴跨之，竟奔孙。孙方自内出，迎跪阶下，泣不可止。孙欲去之。妇牵衣复跪之。孙固辞曰：「如复相聚，常无间言则已耳；一朝有他，汝兄弟如虎狼，再求离逷，岂可复得！」妇曰：「妾窃奔而来，万无还理。留则留之，否则死之！且妾自二十一岁从君，二十三岁被出，诚有十分恶，宁无一分情？」乃脱一腕钏，并两足而束之，袖覆其上，曰：「此时香火之誓，君宁不忆之耶？」孙乃荧眦欲泪，使人挽扶入室；而犹疑王氏诈谖，欲得其兄弟一言为证据。妇曰：「妾私出，何颜复求兄弟？如不相信，妾藏有死具在此，请断指以自明。」遂于腰间出利刃，就床边伸左手一指断之，血溢如涌。孙大骇，急为束裹。妇容色痛变，而更不呻吟。笑曰：「妾今日黄梁之梦已醒，特借斗室为出家计，何用相猜？」孙乃使子及妾另居一所，而己朝夕往来于两间。又日求良药医指创，月余寻愈。妇由此不茹荤酒，闭户诵佛而已。居久，见家政废弛，谓孙曰：「妾此来，本欲置他事于不问，今见如此用度，恐子孙有饿莩者矣。无已，再腆颜一经纪之。」乃集婢媪，按日责其绩织。家人以其自投也，慢之，窃相诮讪，妇若不闻知。既而课工，惰者鞭挞不贷，众始惧之。又垂帘课主计仆，综理微密。孙乃大喜，使儿及妾皆朝见之。阿坚已九岁，妇加意温恤，朝入塾，常留甘饵以待其归；儿亦渐亲爱之。一日，儿以石投雀，妇适过，中颅而仆，逾刻不语。孙大怒，挞儿。妇苏，力止之。且喜曰：「妾昔虐儿，心中每不自释，今幸消一罪案矣。」孙益嬖爱之，妇每拒，使就妾宿。居数年，屡产屡殇，曰：「此昔日杀儿之报也。」阿坚既娶，遂以外事委儿，内事委媳。一日曰：「妾某日当死。」孙不信。妇自理葬具，至日，更衣入棺而卒。颜色如生，异香满室；既殓，香始渐灭。
洛阳的孙公子名叫麒，娶了蒋太守的女儿，夫妻感情很好。妻子二十岁就去世了，他悲痛得无法承受，离开家，住到山中的别业。一天阴雨绵绵，他白天躺在床上，屋里没有旁人。忽然看见里间的帘子下面露出一双女人的脚，心里疑惑，便开口询问。有个女子掀帘进来，约莫十八九岁，衣服朴素整洁，皮肤略黑，脸上有很多麻子，像个穷人家的女儿。孙麒以为她一定是村里租屋人家的女子，呵斥道：“有什么需要，应当告诉家里的仆人，怎么能随便进来！”女子微笑着说：“我不是村里的人，祖籍山东，姓吕。父亲是个读书人，我的小名叫无病。我跟着父亲迁居外乡，很早就失去了父母的照料。仰慕公子出身世家，又是名士，愿意像康成的婢女那样，做个能帮您读书的婢女。”孙麒笑道：“你的心意很好。不过这里和仆人们住在一起，实在不方便。等我回家后，再用轿子把你接来。”女子迟疑着说：“我知道自己相貌丑陋，身份低微，怎么敢指望做您的妻子？只想在书案前听候使唤，至少不至于把书本拿倒了。”孙麒说：“收个婢女，也得挑个好日子。”于是指着书架，让她取通书的第四卷，是想试试她。女子翻找到了，先自己看了看，然后递给他，笑道：“今天河魁不在卧房。”孙麒有些动心，把她藏在屋里留下了。女子闲着无事，替他擦桌子、整理书籍、焚香、擦拭香鼎，把整个屋子收拾得干干净净，孙麒很喜欢。到了晚上，他让仆人到别处睡。女子低眉垂眼，殷勤周到地服侍他，直到他叫她去睡，才拿着蜡烛离开。半夜，孙麒醒来，觉得床头似乎躺着一个人，伸手一摸，知道是那女子，便抓住她摇了摇。女子惊醒，起来站在床边。孙麒说：“为什么不去别处睡？床头是你睡的地方吗？”女子说：“我容易害怕。”孙麒怜惜她，让她把枕头放在床的里侧。忽然闻到她呼出的气息，清香得像莲花的花蕊，觉得奇异，便叫她和自己共用一个枕头，不知不觉心动起来，渐渐又盖在同一床被子里，非常喜爱她。他觉得一直把她藏着不是办法，又怕一起回家惹人议论。孙麒有个姨母，住处只隔着十几户人家，他打算让女子悄悄去她家，以后再从那里接来。女子说这个办法好，又说：“您姨母，我很熟悉，不用先去打招呼，请让我现在就去。”孙麒送她出去，她翻过墙走了。孙麒的姨母是个寡居的老妇。清晨开门时，女子闪身进来。老妇问她来意，她答道：“您外甥让我来向姨母问好。公子准备回家，路远，坐骑又不够，所以把我暂时留在您这里寄住。”老妇信了，便让她住下。孙麒回家后，假称姨母家有个婢女，要送给自己，派人用轿子把她接来。此后无论坐着还是躺着，她都跟在身边。日子久了，他更加宠爱她，收她做了妾。世家大族来提亲，他都不答应，几乎有只同她过一辈子的打算。女子知道后，苦苦劝他娶妻，他才娶了许家的女子，却始终最宠爱无病。许氏很贤惠，从不争着要丈夫陪自己过夜；无病服侍许氏，也越发恭敬，因此妻妾相处和睦。许氏生了个儿子，叫阿坚，无病像对待亲生孩子一样疼爱他。孩子才三岁，就总离开奶妈，跟无病一起睡，许氏叫他也不肯走。不久，许氏病死了。临终时，她嘱咐孙麒说：“无病最疼爱孩子，就让孩子认她做母亲吧；把她扶正做妻子，也可以。”安葬后，孙麒想照她的话办，告诉族人，大家都说不行，无病也坚决推辞，这才作罢。本县王天官的女儿刚死了丈夫，来求婚。孙麒本来不想再娶，王家又来请求。媒人夸她漂亮，族人看重王家的势力，一起劝他。孙麒被说动了，又娶了她。王氏果然美貌，却骄横得很，对衣服和器物大多嫌弃，动不动就毁坏丢弃。孙麒因为爱她、敬重她，不忍违背她的意思。进门几个月，她就独占了丈夫的宠爱，无病来到她面前，无论笑还是哭，都要被挑错。有时她又把怒气转到丈夫身上，两人屡次争吵。孙麒苦不堪言，因此常常独自睡，她又为此发怒。孙麒忍受不了，借故去了京城，逃避妻子的纠缠。王氏把他远行的过错归到无病身上。无病弯着腰，大气都不敢出，小心看着她的脸色行事，她却始终不满意。夜里，她让无病在床前值夜，孩子也跑来陪她。每次叫无病起来服侍，孩子就哭，王氏厌烦，开口骂他。无病连忙叫奶妈来抱他走，他不肯；强行抱他，他哭得更厉害。王氏气得起身，狠狠打了他不知多少下，他才跟奶妈离开。孩子因此惊恐成病，不肯吃东西。王氏禁止无病去看他。孩子整天哭，王氏呵斥奶妈，让她把孩子丢在地上。孩子哭得精疲力竭，声音嘶哑，喊着要水喝，王氏不许给。天快黑时，无病看见王氏不在，偷偷给孩子喂水。孩子见了她，撇下水，抓住她的衣襟，放声大哭，怎么也不停。王氏听见，气势汹汹地出来。孩子听到她的声音，顿时停止哭泣，身子猛地一跳，就断了气。无病大哭。王氏怒道：“贱婢装出这副丑样子！难道想拿孩子的死来要挟我吗！别说孙家这个小孩子，就算杀了王府世子，我王天官的女儿也担得起！”无病只好止住抽泣，忍住眼泪，请求准备安葬的东西。王氏不许，马上命人把孩子丢掉。王氏走后，无病偷偷摸了摸孩子，手脚还温热，便低声对奶妈说：“赶快把他带走，在野外等一会儿，我随后就来。他若死了，我们一起把他丢下；若活了，我们一起抚养他。”奶妈答应了。无病进屋拿了簪子和耳环出来，追上奶妈。两人一起看孩子，已经醒过来了，十分欢喜，商量着到别业去，投靠孙麒的姨母。奶妈担心无病的小脚走得慢，会拖累行程，无病便先跑到前面等她，快得像一阵风，奶妈拼命跑才追得上。到了二更左右，孩子病情危急，不能再往前走。她们便转进一个村子，来到一位老农家门前，等到天亮，才敲门借了一间屋子住。无病拿出簪子和耳环换钱，又请巫者，又请医生，孩子的病始终不见好。她掩面哭着说：“奶妈，好好照看孩子，我去找他的父亲。”奶妈正惊讶她说得荒唐，女子却已经不见了，令她惊骇不已。这一天，孙麒在京城，正躺在床上休息，无病悄悄走了进来。孙麒吃惊地起身，说：“才躺下，就做起梦来了吗！”女子握住他的手，哽咽着，跺着脚，说不出话。过了很久很久，才哭着说：“我历尽千辛万苦，带着孩子逃到杨……”话没说完，就放声大哭，倒在地上，消失了。孙麒惊骇极了，还疑心是梦，叫仆人一起来看，她的衣服鞋子却实实在在地留在那里。他非常惊异，想不明白，立即收拾行装，日夜赶回家。听说孩子死了，妾逃走了，他捶着胸口，十分悲痛。他责备妻子，妻子反过来与他争辩。孙麒大怒，拔出刀来。婢女和老妇上前拦阻，保护王氏，他无法靠近，就从远处把刀扔了过去。刀背打中王氏的额头，额头破了，鲜血直流。她披散着头发，号叫着往外跑，想回娘家告状。孙麒把她抓回来，拿棍子打了不知多少下，衣服都碎成布条，她伤痛得无法翻身。孙麒命人把她抬进房里照料，打算等她伤好了就休掉她。她的兄弟听说后大怒，带着许多骑马的人登门，孙麒也聚集强壮的仆人，拿着兵器抵挡。双方相互叫骂，整整一天才散去。王家仍不甘心，告到官府。孙麒带着护卫进城，亲自到官府接受审问，陈述妻子的恶行。县令驳不倒他，无法认定他理亏，便把他交给广文惩戒，好讨王家欢心。广文朱先生出身世家，刚直公正，不肯迎合权势。他查明实情，怒道：“堂上的大人，竟把我当成天下最卑劣的教官，要我勒索伤天害理的钱，去吮吸别人的疮痔，讨好别人吗！这种乞丐般的丑态，我做不出来！”他竟不接受县令的命令，孙麒公然回了家。王家无可奈何，便示意亲朋好友出面调解，想让孙麒到他们家赔罪。孙麒不肯，往返交涉了十次，也没谈成。王氏的伤渐渐好了，孙麒想休掉她，又怕王家不肯接收，拖来拖去，便仍让她住着。妾失踪了，孩子死了，他日夜伤心，想找到奶妈，问问实情。忽然想起无病说过“逃到杨”，附近有个杨家疃，疑心她们在那里，便前去询问，却没有人知道。有人说五十里外有个杨谷，他派人骑马去打听，果然找到了。孩子已经渐渐恢复健康，彼此见面都很高兴，便用车把孩子和奶妈一同接回来。孩子看见父亲，放声大哭，孙麒也流下眼泪。王氏听说孩子还活着，怒气冲冲地跑出来，准备责骂。孩子正在哭，睁眼看见她，吓得扑进父亲怀里，像在求父亲把自己藏起来。孙麒抱着一看，孩子已经没了气息，急忙呼唤，过了一阵才醒过来。孙麒愤怒地说：“不知道你怎样残酷地虐待他，竟把我的孩子吓成这样！”于是立即写下休书，把妻子送回娘家。王家果然不肯接收，又把她抬回孙家。孙麒没有办法，带着儿子另住一院，不再与她来往。奶妈这才详细讲述无病的种种情形，孙麒才明白她原来是鬼。感激她的情义，他把她的衣服鞋子埋葬了，碑上题着“鬼妻吕无病之墓”。不久，王氏生了个男孩，却用双手掐住孩子的脖子，把他弄死了。孙麒更加愤怒，再次休妻，王家又把她抬回来。孙麒便写了诉状，向上级官府控告，但各处都因为王天官的缘故，搁置不理。后来王天官死了，孙麒不停地告状，才终于判令王氏回娘家，不得再回孙家。孙麒从此不再娶妻，只收了一个婢女做妾。王氏回家后，凶悍的名声传得很广，过了三四年，也没有人来提亲。她这才悔恨，却已经无法挽回。孙家一个过去的老妇人，恰好到了她家。王氏热情款待，对着她流泪，看她的样子，似乎还惦念着从前的丈夫。老妇回去告诉孙麒，孙麒一笑，没放在心上。又过了一年多，王氏的母亲也死了，她孤单无依，兄弟的妻子都很厌烦她。她越发无处容身，每天都流泪。有个穷书生死了妻子，她哥哥商量，给她置办丰厚的嫁妆，把她嫁过去，她却不肯。她常常偷偷托往来的人向孙麒传话，哭着诉说自己的悔恨，孙麒不肯听。一天，她带着一个婢女，偷偷牵了一头驴骑上，径直跑到孙家。孙麒刚从里面出来，她就迎上去，跪在台阶下，哭个不停。孙麒想赶她走，她拉住他的衣服，又跪下。孙麒坚决拒绝，说：“如果重新在一起，始终不闹矛盾，那倒也罢了。一旦又出什么事，你的兄弟像虎狼一样，再想与你分开，怎么还能办到！”王氏说：“我是偷偷跑来的，绝没有回去的道理。肯留就留，不肯留，我就死！况且我二十一岁嫁给你，二十三岁被休，就算有十分的坏处，难道连一分情意也没有吗？”她便脱下一只手镯，把双脚并拢，用镯子套住，再用衣袖盖在上面，说：“那时在香火前立下的誓言，你难道不记得了吗？”孙麒眼里闪着泪光，几乎要哭出来，叫人搀扶她进屋。不过，他仍怀疑王氏是在欺骗自己，想得到她兄弟的一句话作为凭据。王氏说：“我是私自出来的，还有什么脸面去求兄弟？你若不相信，我身上带着寻死的东西，请让我断一根手指，表明心意。”于是从腰间拿出一把利刃，在床边伸出左手，切断了一根手指，血涌了出来。孙麒大吃一惊，赶紧替她包扎。她痛得脸色都变了，却没有呻吟，笑着说：“我今天已经从那场荣华富贵的梦里醒来了，只想借一间小屋，过出家人的生活，何必还猜疑我呢？”孙麒便让儿子和妾另住一处，自己早晚在两处来往，又天天寻找好药，医治她手指的伤，一个多月后，伤口便好了。王氏从此不吃荤、不喝酒，只关着门念佛。住了很久，她看见家务荒废松懈，对孙麒说：“我这次来，本想别的事一概不管。如今看见这样花费，恐怕子孙以后要饿死了。没办法，只好再厚着脸皮，管理一回家务。”于是召集婢女和老妇，安排她们每天纺纱织布。家里人因为她是自己回来投靠的，都轻慢她，私下嘲笑讥讽，她像没听见一样。等到检查工作时，对懒惰的人却毫不宽容，拿鞭子责打，众人才开始怕她。她又隔着帘子督查管账的仆人，大小事务都管理得细致周密。孙麒非常高兴，让儿子和妾都来向她请安。阿坚已经九岁，她格外关心疼爱他。早晨孩子去私塾，她总留着甜点，等他回来，孩子也渐渐亲近、喜爱她。一天，阿坚拿石头打麻雀，王氏恰好经过，被打中头部，倒在地上，过了一刻多还说不出话。孙麒大怒，责打孩子。王氏醒来，竭力阻止，还高兴地说：“我从前虐待孩子，心里一直不能释怀。今天幸好偿还了一笔罪债。”孙麒更加宠爱她，她却常常拒绝，让他去妾那里睡。过了几年，她屡次生孩子，孩子又都早早夭折，她说：“这是我从前杀死孩子的报应。”阿坚娶妻后，她便把外面的事务交给儿子，家里的事务交给儿媳。一天，她说：“我会在某一天死。”孙麒不信。她自己准备好丧葬的东西，到了那一天，换好衣服，躺进棺材，便去世了。面容像活着一样，奇异的香气充满屋子，等入殓后，香气才渐渐消失。
Sun Qi, a young gentleman of Luoyang, married the daughter of Prefect Jiang, and they got on very well. She died at twenty, and his grief was more than he could bear. He left home and went to live at his villa in the hills. One day it was dark and raining, and he lay down in the daytime with no one else in the room. Suddenly he saw a woman’s feet showing beneath the curtain of the inner room. Puzzled, he called out. A girl lifted the curtain and came in. She was about eighteen or nineteen, plainly but neatly dressed, rather dark and much pockmarked, like a girl from a poor family. Sure she must belong to one of the families renting rooms in the village, he snapped, “If you need something, tell my servants. How dare you walk in like this!” The girl smiled. “I’m not from the village. My family comes from Shandong, and our name is Lü. My father was a man of letters. My childhood name is Wubing. I went with my father when he moved away to live as a stranger, and lost my parents’ care early. I have long admired you, sir, as a gentleman of an old family and a scholar of name, and I would like to be your lettered maid, like the maids of Zheng Kangcheng.” Sun laughed. “A kind thought, my dear. But my servants all live here with me, and it would be awkward. Wait until I go home, and I will send a chair and gifts for you.” The girl hesitated. “I know how plain and lowly I am. How could I hope to be your equal? Only let me wait on you at your desk. At least I would not hold the books upside down.” “Even taking a maid needs a lucky day,” said Sun. He pointed to the shelf and told her to fetch the fourth volume of the almanac. It was a test. She searched and found it. She looked through it herself before handing it to him, and said with a smile, “Today Hekui is not in the Chamber.” Sun’s heart stirred a little, and he kept her hidden in his room. Having nothing else to do, she dusted the desk and put the books in order, burned incense and wiped the tripod, till the whole room shone. Sun was pleased with her. That night he sent his servant to sleep elsewhere. She kept her eyes lowered and watched his every look, and waited on him with great care. Only when he told her to go to bed did she take the candle and leave. In the middle of the night he woke and felt that someone seemed to be lying at the head of the bed. He reached out his hand and knew it was the girl. He took hold of her and shook her. She started up and stood beside the bed. “Why don’t you sleep somewhere else?” said Sun. “Is the head of my bed a place for you to lie?” “I am easily frightened,” she said. Sun pitied her and let her put her pillow on the inner side of the bed. Suddenly he noticed her breath, fresh as a lotus bud, and wondered at it. He called her to share his pillow, and before he knew it his heart was stirred. By degrees they came under one quilt, and he was delighted with her. He thought that hiding her was no plan, but feared there would be talk if they went home together. Sun had an aunt, his mother’s sister, who lived only a dozen doors from his house. He planned to have the girl slip away to her house and fetch her from there afterwards. The girl thought it a good plan. “I know your aunt well,” she said. “There’s no need to send word ahead. Let me go now.” Sun saw her off, and she went over the wall. The aunt was a widow. When she opened her door at dawn, the girl slipped in. The old woman asked who she was. “Your nephew sent me to ask after you, aunt. The young master wants to come home, but the road is long and he has no horse, so he has left me here with you for a while.” The old woman believed her, and she stayed. When Sun came home, he pretended that his aunt had a maid she wished to give him, and sent men with a chair to bring her back. Sitting or lying, she was always at his side. The longer it went on, the more he doted on her, and he took her as his concubine. Old families offered matches, and he refused them all; he seemed set on keeping her to the end. When the girl learned of it, she urged him hard to marry. So he married a girl of the Xu family, but it was Wubing he loved best. Mrs. Xu was a good woman and never vied for his nights; Wubing served her all the more humbly, and so wife and concubine got on well. Mrs. Xu bore a son, Ajian, and Wubing loved to hold him as if he were her own. As soon as the boy was three he left the wet nurse and slept with Wubing; when Mrs. Xu called him, he would not go. Before long Mrs. Xu fell ill and died. At the parting she said to Sun, “Wubing loves the boy best. Let her be his mother. Or make her your wife; that would be well too.” After the burial Sun meant to do as she said. He told his clan, and they all said no; the girl herself firmly refused, so the matter was dropped. In the town there was a daughter of Minister Wang, newly widowed, who sought to marry him. Sun did not much want to marry, but the Wangs asked again. The go-between praised her beauty, the clan looked up to her family’s power, and together they urged him on. Sun was swayed, and married again. She was indeed beautiful, but very proud. She found fault with most of her clothes and household things, and would break them or throw them out. Out of love and respect, Sun could not bear to cross her. Within a few months of coming into the house she had his favour and his bed to herself, and when Wubing came near her, her smiles and her tears were both a crime. At times she turned her anger on her husband, and they quarrelled again and again. Sun was so sick of it that he often slept alone, and that angered her too. Unable to stand it, he found an excuse to go to the capital, to escape his wife. She blamed Wubing for his going away. Wubing bowed low and hardly dared breathe, watching her face to please her, but the wife was never content. At night she made Wubing keep watch beneath her bed, and the boy ran in to be with her. Whenever the wife called her up to wait on her, the boy cried. The wife was sick of it and cursed him. Wubing quickly called the wet nurse to take him; he would not go, and when she tried to force him, he howled the louder. The wife got up in a rage and beat him savagely, past counting, before he would go with the nurse. After this the boy fell ill with fright and would not eat. The wife forbade Wubing to see him. The boy cried all day; the wife scolded the nurse and made her put him down on the floor. His strength gone, his voice hoarse, he cried for water; the wife forbade anyone to give him any. When dusk fell, Wubing watched till the wife was away and secretly gave him a drink. When he saw her, he threw the water aside, clutched at her clothes and wailed on and on. The wife heard and came out in a fury. At the sound of her the boy stopped crying, gave one jerk, and was dead. Wubing wept aloud. “Slut, what a show!” said the wife angrily. “Do you think you can threaten me with the brat’s death? Never mind a Sun-family baby — if I killed the heir of a prince’s house, the daughter of Minister Wang could answer for it!” Wubing choked back her sobs and asked to get things for his burial. The wife refused and ordered him thrown out at once. When the wife had gone, Wubing stroked the boy in secret: his limbs were still warm. She whispered to the nurse, “Take him away quickly and wait for me out in the country. I’ll come after you. If he dies, we’ll leave him together; if he lives, we’ll raise him together.” “Yes,” said the nurse. Wubing went into her room, took her hairpins and earrings, and caught up with her. They looked at the boy together: he had come round. Overjoyed, the two planned to make for the villa and take refuge with the aunt. The nurse was afraid that Wubing’s small feet would hold them back, so Wubing went on ahead to wait for her, swift as a gust of wind; only by running her hardest could the nurse keep up. At about the second watch the boy took a turn for the worse, and they could go no farther. So they turned off into a village, to the house of an old farmer, and waited by the gate till dawn. Then they knocked and borrowed a room, sold the pins and earrings, and fetched both shaman and doctor; but the boy did not get better. Covering her face and weeping, the girl said, “Look after him well, nurse. I’m going to find his father.” The nurse was just wondering at such wild talk when the girl was gone. She was astonished beyond words. That day, in the capital, Sun was resting on his bed when the girl came in without a sound. Sun started up. “I’ve only just lain down, and I’m dreaming already!” She clasped his hands, choking, stamping her feet, unable to make a sound. For a long, long time she could not speak. At last she cried out, “I went through a thousand hardships — I fled with the boy to Yang—” Before she could finish she burst into loud sobs, fell to the ground, and vanished. Sun was terrified, and still thought it a dream. He called his servants to look: her clothes and shoes lay there plain to see. He was amazed and could make nothing of it. At once he packed and rode home day and night. When he heard that the boy was dead and the concubine had fled, he beat his breast in grief. He said harsh things to his wife, and she answered him back. In fury Sun drew a blade. The maids and old women got in his way to save her, and he could not get near, so he threw it at her from where he stood. The back of the blade struck her forehead; it split, and the blood ran. Her hair loose, she ran out howling, meaning to go and tell her family. Sun dragged her back and beat her with a stick past counting, till her clothes hung in shreds and she was in too much pain to turn over. He had her carried to her room and nursed, meaning to send her away once she was well. Her brothers heard of it and came to the door in a rage with many horsemen; Sun gathered his strong servants with weapons to hold them off. The two sides shouted abuse at each other all day before they broke up. Still not satisfied, the Wangs took him to court. Sun went into the city under guard, presented himself for trial, and told of his wife’s wickedness. The magistrate could not find him in the wrong, and sent him to the director of studies for punishment, to please the Wangs. The director of studies, Mr. Zhu, came of an old family and was upright and unbending. He looked into the case and found out the truth. “Does His Honour take me for the filthiest schoolmaster in the land,” he said angrily, “to squeeze out money against Heaven and reason and suck men’s boils and piles? I can’t play the beggar like that!” He would not take the order at all, and Sun went home openly. The Wangs could do nothing about it, so they hinted to friends to mediate, wanting Sun to come and apologize to their family. Sun would not, and ten rounds of talk settled nothing. As the wife’s wounds healed, Sun wanted to send her away, but he feared the Wangs would not take her back, and so he let things drift and kept her.
His concubine gone and his son dead,he grieved day and night;he longed to find the wet nurseand ask her what had happened.
Then he remembered Wubing saying “fled to Yang.” There was a village nearby called Yangjiatuan; thinking they might be there, he went to ask, but no one knew anything. Someone said there was a Yang Valley fifty li away. He sent a rider to inquire, and there they were. The boy had slowly recovered. They were glad to see each other, and the rider brought them home in a cart. When the boy saw his father, he burst out crying, and Sun shed tears too. Hearing that the boy was alive, the wife came storming out, meaning to rail at him. The boy was still crying; he opened his eyes, saw her, and threw himself in terror into his father’s arms, as if begging to be hidden. Sun held him and looked: he had stopped breathing. They called to him urgently, and after a while he came round. “I don’t know how cruelly she treated him, to bring my boy to this!” said Sun bitterly. He wrote out a bill of divorce at once and sent his wife home. As he had feared, the Wangs would not take her, and carried her back to Sun. Sun could do nothing; he and his son lived in a separate courtyard and had nothing to do with her. Only now did the nurse tell him everything about Wubing, and Sun understood at last that she had been a ghost. Moved by her devotion, he buried her clothes and shoes and inscribed the stone: Tomb of Lü Wubing, Ghost Wife. Before long the wife gave birth to a boy, put her hands around his neck, and killed him. Sun was angrier than ever and sent her away again; again the Wangs carried her back. So Sun brought suits before the higher courts, but because of the Minister they all set them aside. Later the Minister died. Sun pressed his suit without stopping, and at last it was ruled that she go home for good. After this Sun never married again, but took a maid as his concubine. Back with her family, the wife’s name as a shrew was on everyone’s lips, and in three or four years no one came to ask for her hand. She was suddenly sorry, but it was too late to undo. An old woman who used to serve the Suns happened to come to her house. The wife treated her very well and wept in front of her; from the look of it, she was thinking of her former husband. The old woman went home and told Sun, who laughed and let it be. A year or so later the wife’s mother died too, and she was left alone with no one to lean on; her brothers’ wives resented and disliked her. She had less of a place than ever, and wept every day. A poor scholar had lost his wife, and her brother proposed to send her to him with a generous dowry, but she refused. Again and again she secretly asked people going to and fro to carry word to Sun, weeping that she was sorry; Sun would not listen. One day, with one maid, she stole a donkey, rode it, and ran straight to Sun. Sun was just coming out from the inner rooms; she knelt at the foot of the steps to meet him, weeping without stopping. Sun wanted to send her off. She caught at his clothes and knelt again. Sun refused firmly. “If we live together again and there’s never a word between us, well and good. But one day there will be trouble, and your brothers are tigers and wolves. If I want to be rid of you then, how will I ever manage it?” “I ran away to come here,” she said. “There is no way I can go back. If you keep me, keep me; if not, I die. And I came to you at twenty-one and was put out at twenty-three. Even if I am ten parts wicked, is there not one part of love?” She took off a bracelet, put her two feet together and slipped it round them, and covered it with her sleeve. “The vows we made before the incense then — don’t you remember them?” Sun’s eyes glistened as if he would weep. He had her helped into the house; but he still suspected Mrs. Wang of some trick, and wanted a word from her brothers as proof. “I came away in secret,” she said. “How could I face my brothers to ask them anything? If you don’t believe me, I have brought something to die with. Let me cut off a finger to prove it.” She took a sharp knife from her waist, stretched out her left hand by the bed and cut off a finger; the blood gushed out. Sun was horrified and quickly bound it up. Her face was twisted with pain, but she did not make a sound. She smiled. “Today I have woken from my dream of yellow millet. I only want a small room to live in as a nun. Why suspect me?” So Sun had his son and the concubine live in another part of the house, and went between the two morning and evening. He also sought good medicine every day for her finger, and in a month or so it healed. From then on she ate no meat and drank no wine; she kept her door shut and chanted the Buddha’s name, and that was all. After a long time there, seeing that the household had gone to ruin, she said to Sun, “When I came here, I meant to leave everything else alone. But seeing money spent like this, I fear your descendants will starve. There’s nothing for it but to swallow my shame and manage things once more.” She gathered the maids and old women and set them their spinning and weaving day by day. Because she had come back of her own accord, the household looked down on her and mocked her behind her back; she acted as if she heard nothing. Then, when she checked the work, she whipped the idle without mercy, and they began to fear her. She also sat behind a curtain and went over the accounts with the stewards, managing everything down to the smallest detail. Sun was delighted, and had his son and the concubine pay their respects to her every morning. Ajian was nine by now. She took special care of him; when he went to school in the morning, she always kept sweets for him to come home to, and the boy grew fond of her too. One day the boy threw a stone at a sparrow; the wife happened to be passing, it struck her head, and she fell and lay without speaking for more than a quarter of an hour. Sun beat the boy in a rage. When she came round, she stopped him with all her strength, and said gladly, “I was cruel to him once, and it has always weighed on me. Now, by luck, one crime is wiped out.” Sun loved her all the more, but she often refused him and sent him to sleep with the concubine. Over several years she bore child after child, and each one died. “This is my punishment for the child I killed,” she said. When Ajian married, she handed the outside affairs to him and the household to his wife. One day she said, “I shall die on such-and-such a day.” Sun did not believe it. She saw to her own burial things, and on that day she changed her clothes, lay down in the coffin, and died. Her face looked alive, and a strange fragrance filled the room; only after she was laid out did it slowly fade.