劉赤水，平樂人，少穎秀。十五入郡庠。父母早亡，遂以游蕩自廢。家不中貲，而性好修飾，衾榻皆精美。一夕，被人招飲，忘滅燭而去。酒數行，始憶之，急返。聞室中小語，伏窺之，見少年擁麗者眠榻上。宅臨貴家廢第，恆多怪異，心知其狐，亦不恐。入而叱曰：「臥榻豈容鼾睡！」二人遑遽，抱衣赤身遁去。遺紫紈袴一，帶上繫針囊。大悅，恐其竊去，藏衾中而抱之。俄一蓬頭婢自門罅入，向劉索取。劉笑要償。婢請遺以酒，不應；贈以金，又不應。婢笑而去。旋返曰：「大姑言：如賜還，當以佳耦為報。」劉問：「伊誰？」曰：「吾家皮姓，大姑小字八仙，共臥者胡郎也；二姑水仙，適富川丁官人；三姑鳳仙，較兩姑尤美，自無不當意者。」劉恐失信，請坐待好音。婢去復返曰：「大姑寄語官人：好事豈能猝合？適與之言，反遭詬厲；但緩時日以待之，吾家非輕諾寡信者。」劉付之。過數日，渺無信息。薄暮，自外歸。閉門甫坐，忽雙扉自啟，兩人以被承女郎，手捉四角而入，曰：「送新人至矣！」笑置榻上而去。近視之，酣睡未醒，酒氣猶芳，頳顏醉態，傾絕人寰。喜極，為之捉足解襪，抱體緩裳。而女已微醒，開目見劉，四肢不能自主，但恨曰：「八仙淫婢賣我矣！」劉狎抱之。女嫌膚冰，微笑曰：「今夕何夕，見此涼人！」劉曰：「子兮子兮，如此涼人何！」遂相歡愛。既而曰：「婢子無恥，玷人床寢，而以妾換袴耶！必小報之！」從此無夕不至，綢繆甚殷。袖中出金釧一枚，曰：「此八仙物也。」又數日，懷繡履一雙來，珠嵌金繡，工巧殊絕，且囑劉暴揚之。劉出誇示親賓。求觀者皆以貲酒為贄，由此奇貨居之。女夜來，作別語。怪問之，答云：「姊以履故恨妾，欲攜家遠去，隔絕我好。」劉懼，願還之。女云：「不必，彼方以此挾妾，如還之，中其機矣。」劉問：「何不獨留？」曰：「父母遠去，一家十餘口，俱託胡郎經紀，若不從去，恐長舌婦造黑白也。」從此不復至。踰二年，思念綦切。偶在途中，遇女郎騎款段馬，老僕鞚之，摩肩過；反啟障紗相窺，丰姿豔絕。頃，一少年後至，曰：「女子何人？似頗佳麗。」劉亟贊之。少年拱手笑曰：「太過獎矣！此即山荊也。」劉惶愧謝過。少年曰：「何妨。但南陽三葛，君得其龍，區區者又何足道！」劉疑其言。少年曰：「君不認竊眠臥榻者耶？」劉始悟為胡。敘僚婿之誼，嘲謔甚歡。少年曰：「岳新歸，將以省覲，可同行否？」劉喜，從入縈山。──山上故有邑人避難之宅──女下馬入。少間，數人出望，曰：「劉官人亦來矣。」入門謁見翁嫗。又一少年先在，靴袍炫美。翁曰：「此富川丁婿。」並揖就坐。少時，酒炙紛綸，談笑頗洽。翁曰：「今日三婿並臨，可稱佳集。又無他人，可喚兒輩來，作一團圞之會。」俄，姊妹俱出。翁命設坐，各傍其婿。八仙見劉，惟掩口而笑；鳳仙輒與嘲弄；水仙貌少亞，而沉重溫克，滿座傾談，惟把酒含笑而已。於是履舄交錯，蘭麝熏人，飲酒樂甚。劉視床頭樂具畢備，遂取玉笛，請為翁壽。翁喜，命善者各執一藝，因而合座爭取；惟丁與鳳仙不取。八仙曰：「丁郎不諳可也；汝寧指屈不伸者？」因以拍板擲鳳仙懷中，便串繁響。翁悅曰：「家人之樂極矣！兒輩俱能歌舞，何不各盡所長？」八仙起，捉水仙曰：「鳳仙從來金玉其音，不敢相勞；我二人可歌『洛妃』一曲。」二人歌舞方已，適婢以金盤進果，都不知其何名。翁曰：「此自真臘攜來，所謂『田婆羅』也。」因掬數枚送丁前。鳳仙不悅曰：「婿豈以貧富為愛憎耶？」翁微哂不言。八仙曰：「阿爹以丁郎異縣，故是客耳。若論長幼，豈獨鳳妹妹有拳大酸婿耶？」鳳仙終不快，解華妝，以鼓拍授婢，唱「破窰」一折，聲淚俱下；既闋，拂袖逕去，一座為之不懽。八仙曰：「婢子喬性猶昔。」乃追之，不知所往。劉無顏，亦辭而歸。至半途，見鳳仙坐路旁，呼與並坐。曰：「君一丈夫，不能為床頭人吐氣耶？黃金屋自在書中，願好為之！」舉足云：「出門匆遽，棘剌破複履矣。所贈物，在身邊否？」劉出之。女取而易之。劉乞其敝者。囅然曰：「君亦大無賴矣！幾見自己衾枕之物，亦要懷藏者？如相見愛，一物可以相贈。」旋出一鏡付之曰：「欲見妾，當於書卷中覓之；不然，相見無期矣。」言已，不見。怊悵而歸。視鏡，則鳳仙背立其中，如望去人於百步之外者。因念所囑，謝客下帷。一日，見鏡中人忽現正面，盈盈欲笑，益重愛之。無人時，輒以共對。月餘，銳志漸衰，游恆忘返。歸見鏡影，慘然若涕；隔日再視，則背立如初矣：始悟為己之廢學也。乃閉戶研讀，晝夜不輟；月餘，則影復向外。自此驗之：每有事荒廢，則其容戚；數日攻苦，則其容笑。於是朝夕懸之，如對師保。如此二年，一舉而捷。喜曰：「今可以對我鳳仙矣！」攬鏡視之，見畫黛彎長，瓠犀微露，喜容可掬，宛在目前。愛極，停睇不已。忽鏡中人笑曰：「『影裏情郎，畫中愛寵』，今之謂矣。」驚喜四顧，則鳳仙已在座右。握手問翁媼起居。曰：「妾別後，不曾歸家，伏處巖穴，聊與君分苦耳。」劉赴宴郡中，女請與俱；共乘而往，人對面不相窺。既而將歸，陰與劉謀，偽為娶於郡也者。女既歸，始出見客，經理家政。人皆驚其美，而不知其狐也。劉屬富川令門人，往謁之。遇丁，殷殷邀至其家，款禮優渥。言：「岳父母近又他徙。內人歸寧，將復。當寄信往，並詣申賀。」劉初疑丁亦狐，及細審邦族，始知富川大賈子也。初，丁自別業暮歸，遇水仙獨步，見其美，微睨之。女請附驥以行。丁喜，載至齋，與同寢處。櫺隙可入，始知為狐。女言：「郎無見疑。妾以君誠篤，故願託之。」丁嬖之。竟不復娶。劉歸，假貴家廣宅，備客燕寢，灑掃光潔。而苦無供帳；隔夜視之，則陳設煥然矣。過數日，果有三十餘人，齎旗采酒禮而至，輿馬繽紛，填溢堦巷。劉揖翁及丁、胡入客舍；鳳仙逆嫗及兩姨入內寢。八仙曰：「婢子今貴，不怨冰人矣。──釧履猶存否？」女搜付之，曰：「履則猶是也，而被千人看破矣。」八仙以履擊背，曰：「撻汝寄於劉郎。」乃投諸火，祝曰：
「新時如花開，舊時如花謝；珍重不曾著，姮娥來相借。」
水仙亦代祝曰：
「曾經籠玉筍，著出萬人稱；若使姮娥見，應憐太瘦生。」
鳳仙撥火曰：
「夜夜上青天，一朝去所懽，留得纖纖影，遍與世人看。」
遂以灰捻柈中，堆作十餘分，望見劉來，托以贈之，但見繡履滿柈，悉如故款。八仙急出，推柈墮地；地上猶有一二隻存者，又伏吹之，其跡始滅。次日，丁以道遠，夫婦先歸。八仙貪與妹戲，翁及胡屢督促之，亭午始出，與眾俱去。初來，儀從過盛，觀者如市。有兩寇窺見麗人，魂魄喪失，因謀劫諸途。偵其離村，尾之而去。相隔不盈一矢，馬極奔，不能及。至一處，兩崖夾道，輿行稍緩；追及之，持刀吼吒，人眾都奔。下馬啟簾，則老嫗坐焉。方疑誤掠其母；纔他顧，而兵傷右臂，頃已被縛。凝視之，崖並非崖，乃平樂城門也；輿中則李進士母，自鄉中歸耳。一寇後至，亦被斷馬足而縶之。門丁執送太守，一訊而伏。時有大盜未獲，詰之，即其人也。明春，劉及第。鳳仙以招禍，故悉辭內戚之賀。劉亦更不他娶。及為郎官，納妾，生二子。
劉赤水是平樂人，少年時聰明出眾，十五歲就進了郡學。父母早亡，他便整天遊蕩，荒廢了學業。他家連中等家境都算不上，可他天生喜歡講究裝飾，被褥床榻都很精美。一天晚上，有人請他去喝酒，他忘了熄滅蠟燭就出門了。喝過幾輪才想起來，急忙回家。聽見房裡有人低聲說話，他伏下身偷偷看去，發現一個年輕男子摟著一個美人，躺在自己床上。他家挨著一戶貴人廢棄的宅院，常有怪事，心裡知道這兩人是狐狸，也不害怕，走進去喝道：「我的床上，豈容你們鼾睡！」兩人驚慌失措，抱著衣服，光著身子逃走了，留下一條紫色薄綢褲子，褲帶上繫著針線袋。劉赤水十分高興，怕他們偷回去，便把褲子藏在被子裡抱著。不久，一個頭發蓬亂的婢女從門縫鑽進來，向他索要褲子。劉赤水笑著要她拿東西來換。婢女提出送酒，他不答應；提出送金子，他也不答應。婢女笑著走了，很快又回來，說：「大姑娘說，要是肯還給她，就替你說一門好親事作為報答。」劉赤水問：「她是誰？」婢女說：「我們家姓皮，大姑娘小名八仙，跟她一起睡的是胡郎；二姑娘叫水仙，嫁給了富川的丁官人；三姑娘叫鳳仙，比兩位姐姐還美，你一定會滿意。」劉赤水怕她們失信，要坐等好訊息。婢女去了又回來，說：「大姑娘讓我告訴官人：好事哪能一下子就辦成？剛才跟妹妹一說，反倒遭了她一頓狠罵。請寬限些日子等著，我們家不是隨便許諾又不守信用的人家。」劉赤水便把褲子給了她。過了幾天，一點訊息也沒有。一天傍晚，劉赤水從外面回來，關上門剛坐下，兩扇門忽然自行打開，兩個人用被子兜著一位姑娘，各抓著兩個角走進來，說：「新娘送到了！」笑著把她放在床上就走了。劉赤水走近一看，她還在酣睡，酒氣仍帶著香味，醉得臉頰通紅，美得世上無人可比。他高興極了，握著她的腳脫下襪子，抱住她，解開衣裳。這時姑娘已經稍稍醒來，睜眼看見劉赤水，四肢卻不聽使喚，只恨恨地說：「八仙那個淫蕩的賤丫頭，把我賣了！」劉赤水親暱地抱著她。姑娘嫌他皮膚冰涼，微笑道：「今夜是什麼好日子，竟見到你這個涼人！」劉赤水說：「姑娘啊姑娘，你拿我這個涼人怎麼辦呢！」兩人便歡好起來。事後姑娘說：「那個不要臉的丫頭，弄髒了人家的床，竟拿我來換褲子！一定要小小地報復她一下！」從此，鳳仙每晚都來，兩人十分恩愛。她從袖裡拿出一隻金釧，說：「這是八仙的東西。」又過幾天，她懷裡揣著一雙繡鞋來，鞋上鑲著珍珠，繡著金線，做工精巧無比，還囑咐劉赤水到處拿給人看。劉赤水便拿去向親戚朋友誇耀。凡是想看的，都送來錢財或酒作見面禮，他便把這雙鞋當作奇貨儲存起來。一天晚上，鳳仙來了，說起告別的話。劉赤水奇怪地問她，她回答：「姐姐因為繡鞋的事恨我，想帶著全家搬到遠處，拆散我們。」劉赤水害怕，願意把鞋還回去。鳳仙說：「不必，她正拿這件事要挾我，你若還回去，就中了她的計。」劉赤水問：「你為什麼不獨自留下？」她說：「父母在遠方，一家十幾口人的事都托胡郎照料。我要是不跟著走，就怕那個長舌婦搬弄是非。」從此，她再也沒來。過了兩年多，劉赤水思念得十分厲害。一次在路上，遇見一個姑娘騎著慢馬，由老僕牽著，從他身旁擦肩而過，又回頭掀起面紗看他，容貌姿態美豔無比。不一會兒，一個年輕男子從後面過來，說：「那女子是什麼人？似乎很漂亮。」劉赤水連忙讚美她。年輕男子拱手笑道：「你過獎了！那就是我的妻子。」劉赤水又慌又羞，連忙賠罪。年輕男子說：「沒關係。不過，南陽三葛裡，你得到的是那條龍，我這個又算得了什麼！」劉赤水不明白這話。年輕男子說：「你不認得那個偷偷睡在你床上的人了嗎？」劉赤水這才知道他是胡郎。兩人以連襟相稱，說笑打趣，十分歡快。胡郎說：「岳父剛回來，我正要去拜見，你能一起去嗎？」劉赤水高興地跟著他進了縈山，山上原有本縣人避難時住的宅子。那女子下馬進去。不一會兒，幾個人出來張望，說：「劉官人也來了。」劉赤水進門拜見老翁和老婦。另有一個年輕男子已先到了，靴子袍服華美耀眼。老翁說：「這是富川的女婿丁郎。」大家相互行禮，坐了下來。不久，酒和烤肉接連端上，眾人談笑得十分融洽。老翁說：「今天三個女婿一起來了，真是個好聚會。又沒有外人，可以叫女兒們來，一家團聚。」不一會兒，姐妹三人都出來了。老翁讓人擺好座位，各坐在自己的丈夫身旁。八仙看見劉赤水，只是捂著嘴笑；鳳仙則和八仙一起拿劉赤水打趣。水仙的容貌稍遜，卻穩重溫和，滿座的人盡情談笑，她只是端著酒杯含笑。席間眾人鞋履交錯，蘭香麝香撲鼻，喝酒喝得十分歡暢。劉赤水看見床邊各種樂器齊備，便拿起玉笛，請求吹奏為老翁祝壽。老翁很高興，讓會演奏的人各拿一件擅長的樂器，眾人爭著去拿，只有丁郎和鳳仙沒拿。八仙說：「丁郎不會也就罷了，你的手指難道彎著伸不直嗎？」說著，把拍板扔進鳳仙懷裡，大家便合奏起來，樂聲繁密響亮。老翁高興地說：「一家人的快樂真是到了極點！女兒們都會唱歌跳舞，何不各自施展所長？」八仙起身拉著水仙說：「鳳仙向來把自己的嗓音看得像金玉一樣貴重，我們不敢煩勞她；我們兩個可以唱一曲《洛妃》。」兩人剛唱舞完，恰好婢女用金盤端上水果，大家都不知道叫什麼。老翁說：「這是從真臘帶來的，就是所謂的田婆羅。」說著抓了幾枚，放到丁郎面前。鳳仙不高興地說：「難道對女婿也要看貧富來決定親疏嗎？」老翁微微一笑，沒有說話。八仙說：「爹因為丁郎是外縣人，才把他當客人招待。要是論長幼次序，難道只有鳳妹妹有個小小的窮酸丈夫嗎？」鳳仙仍不高興，卸去華麗的裝扮，把鼓和拍板交給婢女，唱起《破窯》中的一折，邊唱邊流淚。唱完，甩袖子直接走了，滿座的人都因此不快。八仙說：「這丫頭的彆扭脾氣還是老樣子。」便追出去，卻不知道她去了哪裡。劉赤水臉上無光，也告辭回家。走到半路，看見鳳仙坐在路旁，叫他過去一起坐。她說：「你一個大丈夫，就不能替與你同床共枕的人爭口氣嗎？書裡自有黃金屋，希望你好好努力！」她抬起腳說：「出門太匆忙，荊棘刺破了我的夾鞋。送你的東西，帶在身邊嗎？」劉赤水拿出來，她接過繡鞋換上。劉赤水求她把穿壞的鞋給他。她笑道：「你也太無賴了！哪有把自己枕邊人的東西，也要揣在懷裡收藏的？你要是真愛我，我有一樣東西可以送你。」隨即拿出一面鏡子交給他，說：「想見我，就到書本里去找；否則，我們再見就遙遙無期了。」說完便不見了。劉赤水惆悵地回家，看那鏡子，鳳仙背對著他站在裡面，像是在望著百步之外遠去的人。他想起她的囑咐，便謝絕來客，關門讀書。一天，鏡裡的人忽然轉過正面，姿態柔美，像是要笑，他越發珍愛這面鏡子。沒有人在時，就常常對著她坐。一個多月後，刻苦讀書的勁頭漸漸減退，他又常出去遊玩，忘了回來。回家看鏡中的人影，神色悽慘，像是在流淚；隔了一天再看，她又像起初那樣背對著他站著。他這才明白，是因為自己荒廢了學業。於是關門苦讀，日夜不停。一個多月後，人影又轉過來朝著外面。從此他留意驗證：每逢有事荒廢學業，她的臉色就憂傷；苦讀幾天，她的臉上就露出笑容。於是他把鏡子掛起來，早晚面對著，像面對老師一樣。這樣過了兩年，他一考就中了。劉赤水高興地說：「現在可以面對我的鳳仙了！」拿起鏡子看，只見她畫過的眉毛又彎又長，潔白整齊的牙齒微微露出，滿臉歡喜，彷彿就在眼前。他愛極了，一直盯著看。忽然，鏡裡的人笑著說：「『鏡影裡的情郎，畫中的心上人』，說的就是現在啊。」劉赤水又驚又喜，四下看去，鳳仙已經坐在身旁。他握著她的手，問岳父岳母近來可好。鳳仙說：「分別以後，我不曾回家，一直藏在山洞裡，也算與你分擔一點辛苦。」劉赤水要去郡城赴宴，鳳仙請求一起去。兩人同車前往，別人即使迎面相對，也看不見她。後來準備回家時，她暗中與劉赤水商量，假裝是在郡城娶了妻子。鳳仙回到家，才開始出來見客，料理家務。人人都驚歎她的美貌，卻不知道她是狐狸。劉赤水是富川令的門生，前去拜見，遇上丁郎。丁郎熱情地邀請他到家中，招待得十分周到豐厚，說：「岳父岳母最近又搬了家。內人回去探望他們，很快就回來。我會送信過去，一起前來道賀。」劉赤水起初懷疑丁郎也是狐狸，仔細問清他的鄉里和族屬，才知道他是富川一個大商人的兒子。當初，丁郎傍晚從別院回家，遇見水仙獨自走在路上，覺得她美，偷偷看她。水仙請求搭他的馬同行。丁郎高興地把她帶到書房，兩人一起生活。後來見她能從窗格縫隙進來，才知道她是狐狸。水仙說：「郎君不要懷疑我。我因為你誠懇厚道，才願意託付給你。」丁郎十分寵愛她，始終沒有再娶。劉赤水回家後，借了一戶貴人的寬大宅院，準備好客人宴飲和休息的房間，打掃得乾乾淨淨，只苦於沒有帷帳陳設。過了一夜再看，屋裡已經佈置得煥然一新。幾天後，果然來了三十多個人，帶著旗幟綵綢、酒和禮物，車馬紛紛，擠滿臺階和街巷。劉赤水行禮，請老翁和丁郎、胡郎進客廳；鳳仙迎接母親和兩個姐姐進內室。八仙說：「這丫頭如今富貴了，不怨我這個媒人了吧。金釧和繡鞋還在嗎？」鳳仙找出來交給她，說：「鞋還是原來的鞋，只是被上千個人看得都快破了。」八仙拿鞋打她的背，說：「這幾下打在你身上，替我轉給劉郎。」接著把鞋扔進火裡，念道：「新時像花兒開放，舊時像花兒凋謝；珍惜著不曾穿過，嫦娥來把你借去。」水仙也替姐姐念道：「曾經裹住白玉筍般的雙腳，拿出來得到萬人的稱讚；要是讓嫦娥看見，也該憐惜你實在太瘦了。」鳳仙撥著火說：「夜夜升上青天，有一天離開心上人；留下纖細的身影，讓世人都來看。」說著，把灰撮到盤子裡，堆成十幾小堆。看見劉赤水過來，她便托著盤子送給他，只見盤裡滿是繡鞋，都與原來的樣式相同。八仙急忙出來，推得盤子掉在地上，地上還有一兩隻鞋，她又俯身吹去，這才不留一點蹤跡。第二天，丁郎因為路遠，夫妻倆先回去了。八仙貪戀與妹妹嬉戲，老翁和胡郎一再催促，到中午她才出來，跟眾人一起離去。他們來時隨從太多，圍觀的人像趕集一樣。有兩個強盜看見那些美人，被迷得神魂顛倒，便商量在路上劫掠。他們探知一行人離村，便跟在後面追趕。雙方相距不到一箭遠，可把馬催得飛奔，也追不上。到了一處，兩旁懸崖夾著道路，車轎走得稍慢，前面的強盜追上來，拿著刀大吼，眾人全都逃散。他下馬掀開轎簾，裡面卻坐著一個老婦人。正在懷疑是不是誤劫了美人的母親，才一轉頭，右臂就被兵器砍傷，轉眼間已經被綁住。他仔細一看，所謂的懸崖根本不是懸崖，而是平樂城門；轎裡的則是李進士的母親，剛從鄉下回來。另一個強盜隨後趕到，馬腿也被砍斷，人被綁了起來。守門人把他們押送太守，一經審問就認了罪。當時有尚未捕獲的大盜，追問之下，發現正是這兩個人。第二年春天，劉赤水考中了進士。鳳仙因為上次的來訪招惹了禍事，便謝絕孃家親屬前來道賀。劉赤水也沒有再娶妻。後來做了郎官，納了妾，生下兩個兒子。
刘赤水，平乐人，少颖秀。十五入郡庠。父母早亡，遂以游荡自废。家不中赀，而性好修饰，衾榻皆精美。一夕，被人招饮，忘灭烛而去。酒数行，始忆之，急返。闻室中小语，伏窥之，见少年拥丽者眠榻上。宅临贵家废第，恒多怪异，心知其狐，亦不恐。入而叱曰：「卧榻岂容鼾睡！」二人遑遽，抱衣赤身遁去。遗紫纨袴一，带上系针囊。大悦，恐其窃去，藏衾中而抱之。俄一蓬头婢自门罅入，向刘索取。刘笑要偿。婢请遗以酒，不应；赠以金，又不应。婢笑而去。旋返曰：「大姑言：如赐还，当以佳耦为报。」刘问：「伊谁？」曰：「吾家皮姓，大姑小字八仙，共卧者胡郎也；二姑水仙，适富川丁官人；三姑凤仙，较两姑尤美，自无不当意者。」刘恐失信，请坐待好音。婢去复返曰：「大姑寄语官人：好事岂能猝合？适与之言，反遭诟厉；但缓时日以待之，吾家非轻诺寡信者。」刘付之。过数日，渺无信息。薄暮，自外归。闭门甫坐，忽双扉自启，两人以被承女郎，手捉四角而入，曰：「送新人至矣！」笑置榻上而去。近视之，酣睡未醒，酒气犹芳，頳颜醉态，倾绝人寰。喜极，为之捉足解袜，抱体缓裳。而女已微醒，开目见刘，四肢不能自主，但恨曰：「八仙淫婢卖我矣！」刘狎抱之。女嫌肤冰，微笑曰：「今夕何夕，见此凉人！」刘曰：「子兮子兮，如此凉人何！」遂相欢爱。既而曰：「婢子无耻，玷人床寝，而以妾换袴耶！必小报之！」从此无夕不至，绸缪甚殷。袖中出金钏一枚，曰：「此八仙物也。」又数日，怀绣履一双来，珠嵌金绣，工巧殊绝，且嘱刘暴扬之。刘出夸示亲宾。求观者皆以赀酒为贽，由此奇货居之。女夜来，作别语。怪问之，答云：「姊以履故恨妾，欲携家远去，隔绝我好。」刘惧，愿还之。女云：「不必，彼方以此挟妾，如还之，中其机矣。」刘问：「何不独留？」曰：「父母远去，一家十余口，俱托胡郎经纪，若不从去，恐长舌妇造黑白也。」从此不复至。逾二年，思念綦切。偶在途中，遇女郎骑款段马，老仆鞚之，摩肩过；反启障纱相窥，丰姿艳绝。顷，一少年后至，曰：「女子何人？似颇佳丽。」刘亟赞之。少年拱手笑曰：「太过奖矣！此即山荆也。」刘惶愧谢过。少年曰：「何妨。但南阳三葛，君得其龙，区区者又何足道！」刘疑其言。少年曰：「君不认窃眠卧榻者耶？」刘始悟为胡。叙僚婿之谊，嘲谑甚欢。少年曰：「岳新归，将以省觐，可同行否？」刘喜，从入萦山。──山上故有邑人避难之宅──女下马入。少间，数人出望，曰：「刘官人亦来矣。」入门谒见翁妪。又一少年先在，靴袍炫美。翁曰：「此富川丁婿。」并揖就坐。少时，酒炙纷纶，谈笑颇洽。翁曰：「今日三婿并临，可称佳集。又无他人，可唤儿辈来，作一团圞之会。」俄，姊妹俱出。翁命设坐，各傍其婿。八仙见刘，惟掩口而笑；凤仙辄与嘲弄；水仙貌少亚，而沉重温克，满座倾谈，惟把酒含笑而已。于是履舄交错，兰麝熏人，饮酒乐甚。刘视床头乐具毕备，遂取玉笛，请为翁寿。翁喜，命善者各执一艺，因而合座争取；惟丁与凤仙不取。八仙曰：「丁郎不谙可也；汝宁指屈不伸者？」因以拍板掷凤仙怀中，便串繁响。翁悦曰：「家人之乐极矣！儿辈俱能歌舞，何不各尽所长？」八仙起，捉水仙曰：「凤仙从来金玉其音，不敢相劳；我二人可歌『洛妃』一曲。」二人歌舞方已，适婢以金盘进果，都不知其何名。翁曰：「此自真腊携来，所谓『田婆罗』也。」因掬数枚送丁前。凤仙不悦曰：「婿岂以贫富为爱憎耶？」翁微哂不言。八仙曰：「阿爹以丁郎异县，故是客耳。若论长幼，岂独凤妹妹有拳大酸婿耶？」凤仙终不快，解华妆，以鼓拍授婢，唱「破窰」一折，声泪俱下；既阕，拂袖径去，一座为之不懽。八仙曰：「婢子乔性犹昔。」乃追之，不知所往。刘无颜，亦辞而归。至半途，见凤仙坐路旁，呼与并坐。曰：「君一丈夫，不能为床头人吐气耶？黄金屋自在书中，愿好为之！」举足云：「出门匆遽，棘剌破复履矣。所赠物，在身边否？」刘出之。女取而易之。刘乞其敝者。冁然曰：「君亦大无赖矣！几见自己衾枕之物，亦要怀藏者？如相见爱，一物可以相赠。」旋出一镜付之曰：「欲见妾，当于书卷中觅之；不然，相见无期矣。」言已，不见。怊怅而归。视镜，则凤仙背立其中，如望去人于百步之外者。因念所嘱，谢客下帷。一日，见镜中人忽现正面，盈盈欲笑，益重爱之。无人时，辄以共对。月余，锐志渐衰，游恒忘返。归见镜影，惨然若涕；隔日再视，则背立如初矣：始悟为己之废学也。乃闭户研读，昼夜不辍；月余，则影复向外。自此验之：每有事荒废，则其容戚；数日攻苦，则其容笑。于是朝夕悬之，如对师保。如此二年，一举而捷。喜曰：「今可以对我凤仙矣！」揽镜视之，见画黛弯长，瓠犀微露，喜容可掬，宛在目前。爱极，停睇不已。忽镜中人笑曰：「『影里情郎，画中爱宠』，今之谓矣。」惊喜四顾，则凤仙已在座右。握手问翁媪起居。曰：「妾别后，不曾归家，伏处岩穴，聊与君分苦耳。」刘赴宴郡中，女请与俱；共乘而往，人对面不相窥。既而将归，阴与刘谋，伪为娶于郡也者。女既归，始出见客，经理家政。人皆惊其美，而不知其狐也。刘属富川令门人，往谒之。遇丁，殷殷邀至其家，款礼优渥。言：「岳父母近又他徙。内人归宁，将复。当寄信往，并诣申贺。」刘初疑丁亦狐，及细审邦族，始知富川大贾子也。初，丁自别业暮归，遇水仙独步，见其美，微睨之。女请附骥以行。丁喜，载至斋，与同寝处。櫺隙可入，始知为狐。女言：「郎无见疑。妾以君诚笃，故愿托之。」丁嬖之。竟不复娶。刘归，假贵家广宅，备客燕寝，洒扫光洁。而苦无供帐；隔夜视之，则陈设焕然矣。过数日，果有三十余人，赍旗采酒礼而至，舆马缤纷，填溢堦巷。刘揖翁及丁、胡入客舍；凤仙逆妪及两姨入内寝。八仙曰：「婢子今贵，不怨冰人矣。──钏履犹存否？」女搜付之，曰：「履则犹是也，而被千人看破矣。」八仙以履击背，曰：「挞汝寄于刘郎。」乃投诸火，祝曰：
「新时如花开，旧时如花谢；珍重不曾着，姮娥来相借。」
水仙亦代祝曰：
「曾经笼玉笋，着出万人称；若使姮娥见，应怜太瘦生。」
凤仙拨火曰：
「夜夜上青天，一朝去所懽，留得纤纤影，遍与世人看。」
遂以灰捻柈中，堆作十余分，望见刘来，托以赠之，但见绣履满柈，悉如故款。八仙急出，推柈堕地；地上犹有一二只存者，又伏吹之，其迹始灭。次日，丁以道远，夫妇先归。八仙贪与妹戏，翁及胡屡督促之，亭午始出，与众俱去。初来，仪从过盛，观者如市。有两寇窥见丽人，魂魄丧失，因谋劫诸途。侦其离村，尾之而去。相隔不盈一矢，马极奔，不能及。至一处，两崖夹道，舆行稍缓；追及之，持刀吼咤，人众都奔。下马启帘，则老妪坐焉。方疑误掠其母；才他顾，而兵伤右臂，顷已被缚。凝视之，崖并非崖，乃平乐城门也；舆中则李进士母，自乡中归耳。一寇后至，亦被断马足而絷之。门丁执送太守，一讯而伏。时有大盗未获，诘之，即其人也。明春，刘及第。凤仙以招祸，故悉辞内戚之贺。刘亦更不他娶。及为郎官，纳妾，生二子。
刘赤水是平乐人，少年时聪明出众，十五岁就进了郡学。父母早亡，他便整天游荡，荒废了学业。他家连中等家境都算不上，可他天生喜欢讲究装饰，被褥床榻都很精美。一天晚上，有人请他去喝酒，他忘了熄灭蜡烛就出门了。喝过几轮才想起来，急忙回家。听见房里有人低声说话，他伏下身偷偷看去，发现一个年轻男子搂着一个美人，躺在自己床上。他家挨着一户贵人废弃的宅院，常有怪事，心里知道这两人是狐狸，也不害怕，走进去喝道：“我的床上，岂容你们鼾睡！”两人惊慌失措，抱着衣服，光着身子逃走了，留下一条紫色薄绸裤子，裤带上系着针线袋。刘赤水十分高兴，怕他们偷回去，便把裤子藏在被子里抱着。不久，一个头发蓬乱的婢女从门缝钻进来，向他索要裤子。刘赤水笑着要她拿东西来换。婢女提出送酒，他不答应；提出送金子，他也不答应。婢女笑着走了，很快又回来，说：“大姑娘说，要是肯还给她，就替你说一门好亲事作为报答。”刘赤水问：“她是谁？”婢女说：“我们家姓皮，大姑娘小名八仙，跟她一起睡的是胡郎；二姑娘叫水仙，嫁给了富川的丁官人；三姑娘叫凤仙，比两位姐姐还美，你一定会满意。”刘赤水怕她们失信，要坐等好消息。婢女去了又回来，说：“大姑娘让我告诉官人：好事哪能一下子就办成？刚才跟妹妹一说，反倒遭了她一顿狠骂。请宽限些日子等着，我们家不是随便许诺又不守信用的人家。”刘赤水便把裤子给了她。过了几天，一点消息也没有。一天傍晚，刘赤水从外面回来，关上门刚坐下，两扇门忽然自行打开，两个人用被子兜着一位姑娘，各抓着两个角走进来，说：“新娘送到了！”笑着把她放在床上就走了。刘赤水走近一看，她还在酣睡，酒气仍带着香味，醉得脸颊通红，美得世上无人可比。他高兴极了，握着她的脚脱下袜子，抱住她，解开衣裳。这时姑娘已经稍稍醒来，睁眼看见刘赤水，四肢却不听使唤，只恨恨地说：“八仙那个淫荡的贱丫头，把我卖了！”刘赤水亲昵地抱着她。姑娘嫌他皮肤冰凉，微笑道：“今夜是什么好日子，竟见到你这个凉人！”刘赤水说：“姑娘啊姑娘，你拿我这个凉人怎么办呢！”两人便欢好起来。事后姑娘说：“那个不要脸的丫头，弄脏了人家的床，竟拿我来换裤子！一定要小小地报复她一下！”从此，凤仙每晚都来，两人十分恩爱。她从袖里拿出一只金钏，说：“这是八仙的东西。”又过几天，她怀里揣着一双绣鞋来，鞋上镶着珍珠，绣着金线，做工精巧无比，还嘱咐刘赤水到处拿给人看。刘赤水便拿去向亲戚朋友夸耀。凡是想看的，都送来钱财或酒作见面礼，他便把这双鞋当作奇货保存起来。一天晚上，凤仙来了，说起告别的话。刘赤水奇怪地问她，她回答：“姐姐因为绣鞋的事恨我，想带着全家搬到远处，拆散我们。”刘赤水害怕，愿意把鞋还回去。凤仙说：“不必，她正拿这件事要挟我，你若还回去，就中了她的计。”刘赤水问：“你为什么不独自留下？”她说：“父母在远方，一家十几口人的事都托胡郎照料。我要是不跟着走，就怕那个长舌妇搬弄是非。”从此，她再也没来。过了两年多，刘赤水思念得十分厉害。一次在路上，遇见一个姑娘骑着慢马，由老仆牵着，从他身旁擦肩而过，又回头掀起面纱看他，容貌姿态美艳无比。不一会儿，一个年轻男子从后面过来，说：“那女子是什么人？似乎很漂亮。”刘赤水连忙赞美她。年轻男子拱手笑道：“你过奖了！那就是我的妻子。”刘赤水又慌又羞，连忙赔罪。年轻男子说：“没关系。不过，南阳三葛里，你得到的是那条龙，我这个又算得了什么！”刘赤水不明白这话。年轻男子说：“你不认得那个偷偷睡在你床上的人了吗？”刘赤水这才知道他是胡郎。两人以连襟相称，说笑打趣，十分欢快。胡郎说：“岳父刚回来，我正要去拜见，你能一起去吗？”刘赤水高兴地跟着他进了萦山，山上原有本县人避难时住的宅子。那女子下马进去。不一会儿，几个人出来张望，说：“刘官人也来了。”刘赤水进门拜见老翁和老妇。另有一个年轻男子已先到了，靴子袍服华美耀眼。老翁说：“这是富川的女婿丁郎。”大家相互行礼，坐了下来。不久，酒和烤肉接连端上，众人谈笑得十分融洽。老翁说：“今天三个女婿一起来了，真是个好聚会。又没有外人，可以叫女儿们来，一家团聚。”不一会儿，姐妹三人都出来了。老翁让人摆好座位，各坐在自己的丈夫身旁。八仙看见刘赤水，只是捂着嘴笑；凤仙则和八仙一起拿刘赤水打趣。水仙的容貌稍逊，却稳重温和，满座的人尽情谈笑，她只是端着酒杯含笑。席间众人鞋履交错，兰香麝香扑鼻，喝酒喝得十分欢畅。刘赤水看见床边各种乐器齐备，便拿起玉笛，请求吹奏为老翁祝寿。老翁很高兴，让会演奏的人各拿一件擅长的乐器，众人争着去拿，只有丁郎和凤仙没拿。八仙说：“丁郎不会也就罢了，你的手指难道弯着伸不直吗？”说着，把拍板扔进凤仙怀里，大家便合奏起来，乐声繁密响亮。老翁高兴地说：“一家人的快乐真是到了极点！女儿们都会唱歌跳舞，何不各自施展所长？”八仙起身拉着水仙说：“凤仙向来把自己的嗓音看得像金玉一样贵重，我们不敢烦劳她；我们两个可以唱一曲《洛妃》。”两人刚唱舞完，恰好婢女用金盘端上水果，大家都不知道叫什么。老翁说：“这是从真腊带来的，就是所谓的田婆罗。”说着抓了几枚，放到丁郎面前。凤仙不高兴地说：“难道对女婿也要看贫富来决定亲疏吗？”老翁微微一笑，没有说话。八仙说：“爹因为丁郎是外县人，才把他当客人招待。要是论长幼次序，难道只有凤妹妹有个小小的穷酸丈夫吗？”凤仙仍不高兴，卸去华丽的装扮，把鼓和拍板交给婢女，唱起《破窑》中的一折，边唱边流泪。唱完，甩袖子直接走了，满座的人都因此不快。八仙说：“这丫头的别扭脾气还是老样子。”便追出去，却不知道她去了哪里。刘赤水脸上无光，也告辞回家。走到半路，看见凤仙坐在路旁，叫他过去一起坐。她说：“你一个大丈夫，就不能替与你同床共枕的人争口气吗？书里自有黄金屋，希望你好好努力！”她抬起脚说：“出门太匆忙，荆棘刺破了我的夹鞋。送你的东西，带在身边吗？”刘赤水拿出来，她接过绣鞋换上。刘赤水求她把穿坏的鞋给他。她笑道：“你也太无赖了！哪有把自己枕边人的东西，也要揣在怀里收藏的？你要是真爱我，我有一样东西可以送你。”随即拿出一面镜子交给他，说：“想见我，就到书本里去找；否则，我们再见就遥遥无期了。”说完便不见了。刘赤水惆怅地回家，看那镜子，凤仙背对着他站在里面，像是在望着百步之外远去的人。他想起她的嘱咐，便谢绝来客，关门读书。一天，镜里的人忽然转过正面，姿态柔美，像是要笑，他越发珍爱这面镜子。没有人在时，就常常对着她坐。一个多月后，刻苦读书的劲头渐渐减退，他又常出去游玩，忘了回来。回家看镜中的人影，神色凄惨，像是在流泪；隔了一天再看，她又像起初那样背对着他站着。他这才明白，是因为自己荒废了学业。于是关门苦读，日夜不停。一个多月后，人影又转过来朝着外面。从此他留意验证：每逢有事荒废学业，她的脸色就忧伤；苦读几天，她的脸上就露出笑容。于是他把镜子挂起来，早晚面对着，像面对老师一样。这样过了两年，他一考就中了。刘赤水高兴地说：“现在可以面对我的凤仙了！”拿起镜子看，只见她画过的眉毛又弯又长，洁白整齐的牙齿微微露出，满脸欢喜，仿佛就在眼前。他爱极了，一直盯着看。忽然，镜里的人笑着说：“‘镜影里的情郎，画中的心上人’，说的就是现在啊。”刘赤水又惊又喜，四下看去，凤仙已经坐在身旁。他握着她的手，问岳父岳母近来可好。凤仙说：“分别以后，我不曾回家，一直藏在山洞里，也算与你分担一点辛苦。”刘赤水要去郡城赴宴，凤仙请求一起去。两人同车前往，别人即使迎面相对，也看不见她。后来准备回家时，她暗中与刘赤水商量，假装是在郡城娶了妻子。凤仙回到家，才开始出来见客，料理家务。人人都惊叹她的美貌，却不知道她是狐狸。刘赤水是富川令的门生，前去拜见，遇上丁郎。丁郎热情地邀请他到家中，招待得十分周到丰厚，说：“岳父岳母最近又搬了家。内人回去探望他们，很快就回来。我会送信过去，一起前来道贺。”刘赤水起初怀疑丁郎也是狐狸，仔细问清他的乡里和族属，才知道他是富川一个大商人的儿子。当初，丁郎傍晚从别院回家，遇见水仙独自走在路上，觉得她美，偷偷看她。水仙请求搭他的马同行。丁郎高兴地把她带到书房，两人一起生活。后来见她能从窗格缝隙进来，才知道她是狐狸。水仙说：“郎君不要怀疑我。我因为你诚恳厚道，才愿意托付给你。”丁郎十分宠爱她，始终没有再娶。刘赤水回家后，借了一户贵人的宽大宅院，准备好客人宴饮和休息的房间，打扫得干干净净，只苦于没有帷帐陈设。过了一夜再看，屋里已经布置得焕然一新。几天后，果然来了三十多个人，带着旗帜彩绸、酒和礼物，车马纷纷，挤满台阶和街巷。刘赤水行礼，请老翁和丁郎、胡郎进客厅；凤仙迎接母亲和两个姐姐进内室。八仙说：“这丫头如今富贵了，不怨我这个媒人了吧。金钏和绣鞋还在吗？”凤仙找出来交给她，说：“鞋还是原来的鞋，只是被上千个人看得都快破了。”八仙拿鞋打她的背，说：“这几下打在你身上，替我转给刘郎。”接着把鞋扔进火里，念道：“新时像花儿开放，旧时像花儿凋谢；珍惜着不曾穿过，嫦娥来把你借去。”水仙也替姐姐念道：“曾经裹住白玉笋般的双脚，拿出来得到万人的称赞；要是让嫦娥看见，也该怜惜你实在太瘦了。”凤仙拨着火说：“夜夜升上青天，有一天离开心上人；留下纤细的身影，让世人都来看。”说着，把灰撮到盘子里，堆成十几小堆。看见刘赤水过来，她便托着盘子送给他，只见盘里满是绣鞋，都与原来的样式相同。八仙急忙出来，推得盘子掉在地上，地上还有一两只鞋，她又俯身吹去，这才不留一点踪迹。第二天，丁郎因为路远，夫妻俩先回去了。八仙贪恋与妹妹嬉戏，老翁和胡郎一再催促，到中午她才出来，跟众人一起离去。他们来时随从太多，围观的人像赶集一样。有两个强盗看见那些美人，被迷得神魂颠倒，便商量在路上劫掠。他们探知一行人离村，便跟在后面追赶。双方相距不到一箭远，可把马催得飞奔，也追不上。到了一处，两旁悬崖夹着道路，车轿走得稍慢，前面的强盗追上来，拿着刀大吼，众人全都逃散。他下马掀开轿帘，里面却坐着一个老妇人。正在怀疑是不是误劫了美人的母亲，才一转头，右臂就被兵器砍伤，转眼间已经被绑住。他仔细一看，所谓的悬崖根本不是悬崖，而是平乐城门；轿里的则是李进士的母亲，刚从乡下回来。另一个强盗随后赶到，马腿也被砍断，人被绑了起来。守门人把他们押送太守，一经审问就认了罪。当时有尚未捕获的大盗，追问之下，发现正是这两个人。第二年春天，刘赤水考中了进士。凤仙因为上次的来访招惹了祸事，便谢绝娘家亲属前来道贺。刘赤水也没有再娶妻。后来做了郎官，纳了妾，生下两个儿子。
Liu Chishui, a man of Pingle, was bright and gifted as a boy, and at fifteen he entered the prefectural school. His parents died young, and he threw himself away in idle roaming. His family had less than middling means, but he loved fine things by nature, and his quilts and bed were all exquisite. One evening he was invited out to drink and left without putting out his candle. Several rounds into the wine he remembered it and hurried back. He heard low voices in his room. Crouching to peep in, he saw a young man lying on his bed with a beauty in his arms. His house stood next to the abandoned mansion of a great family, where strange things often happened, so he knew they were foxes and was not afraid. He went in and shouted, “How can I let others snore in my bed?” The two scrambled up and fled naked, clutching their clothes. They left behind a pair of purple silk trousers with a needle-case tied to the sash. Liu was delighted. Afraid they would steal them back, he hid them in his quilt and held them tight. Soon a maid with tousled hair slipped in through a crack in the door and asked for them. Liu laughed and demanded payment. She offered him wine; he refused. She offered gold; he refused again. The maid laughed and left. She was back at once. “Eldest Miss says that if you will kindly give them back, she will repay you with a good match.” “And who would that be?” asked Liu. “Our family name is Pi,” she said. “Eldest Miss’s pet name is Baxian, and the one sleeping with her is Master Hu. Second Miss, Shuixian, is married to Mr. Ding of Fuchuan. Third Miss, Fengxian, is lovelier than both her sisters. You could not fail to be pleased with her.” Liu was afraid they would not keep their word, and said he would sit and wait for the good news. The maid went off and came back again. “Eldest Miss sends word to you, sir: how can a happy match be made in a hurry? She has just spoken to her sister and got only a scolding for it. Give it a little time. Our family does not make promises lightly or break them.” Liu handed the trousers over. Several days passed without a word. One dusk he came home, shut the door, and had just sat down when both leaves of the door swung open by themselves. Two people came in carrying a girl in a quilt, holding it by the four corners. “We’ve brought the bride!” they said, and laughing, laid her on the bed and left. He looked at her closely. She was sound asleep, her breath still sweet with wine, her face flushed and drunken: a beauty beyond anything in this world. Overjoyed, he took her feet and drew off her stockings, held her in his arms and loosened her clothes. By then the girl was half awake. She opened her eyes and saw Liu, but she had no power over her limbs. She could only say bitterly, “That slut Baxian has sold me!” Liu fondled her and held her close. She complained that his skin was cold, and said with a little smile, “What night is this night, that I meet this cold man!” Liu said, “Oh you, oh you, what will you do with this cold man?” And so they made love. Afterwards she said, “The shameless thing! She dirties another person’s bed, and then trades me for her trousers! I shall pay her back a little for this.” From then on she came every night, and they were deeply devoted. She took a gold bracelet from her sleeve and said, “This is Baxian’s.” A few days later she brought a pair of embroidered shoes in the fold of her robe, set with pearls and worked in gold thread, of the most exquisite craftsmanship, and told Liu to show them off far and wide. Liu brought them out and boasted of them to his relatives and friends. Everyone who asked to see them brought money or wine as a gift for the privilege, so he hoarded them as a rare treasure. One night she came and spoke as if saying goodbye. Puzzled, he asked her why. “My sister hates me because of the shoes,” she said. “She wants to take the family far away and part us.” Liu was frightened and offered to give them back. “No need,” she said. “She is using this to force my hand. If you give them back, you will fall into her trap.” “Why not stay behind on your own?” asked Liu. “Our parents are far away, and the whole family, ten or more of us, are in Master Hu’s charge. If I do not go with them, I am afraid that long-tongued woman will twist black into white.” After that she came no more. More than two years passed, and he longed for her bitterly. One day on the road he met a young woman riding a slow horse led by an old servant. She brushed shoulders with him as she passed, then turned back, lifted her veil and looked at him. She was stunningly beautiful. A moment later a young man came along behind and said, “Who is that woman? She seems very pretty.” Liu praised her warmly. The young man cupped his hands and laughed. “You are too kind! That is my humble wife.” Liu, flustered and ashamed, begged his pardon. “No harm done,” said the young man. “But of the three Zhuges of Nanyang, you got the dragon. What is mine worth beside that?” Liu was puzzled. “Don’t you recognise the man who stole a sleep in your bed?” said the young man. Only then did Liu realise he was Hu. They talked as men married to sisters, joking and teasing in high good humour. “Our father-in-law has just come home,” said Hu. “I am going to pay my respects. Will you come?” Liu gladly went with him up Mount Ying. (There was a house on the mountain where people of the county had once taken refuge.) The woman dismounted and went in. Shortly several people came out to look, saying, “Mr. Liu has come too!” He went in and paid his respects to the old man and his wife. Another young man was already there, his boots and robe dazzling. “This is Ding, my son-in-law from Fuchuan,” said the old man. They all bowed and took their seats. Soon wine and roast meats came in profusion, and the talk and laughter flowed easily. “All three sons-in-law here at once today,” said the old man. “A fine gathering indeed. And there is no outsider here, so we can call the girls in and make it a family reunion.” Presently the sisters all came out. The old man had seats set for them, each beside her husband. Baxian, seeing Liu, only covered her mouth and laughed. Fengxian kept teasing and mocking him. Shuixian was not quite so pretty, but she was grave, gentle and composed; while the whole table chattered away, she only held her cup and smiled. So shoes and slippers jostled under the table, the scent of orchid and musk was heady, and the drinking was very merry. Liu saw that every kind of instrument was laid out on the couch, so he took up a jade flute and asked leave to play in the old man’s honour. The old man was pleased and told everyone who could play to take up an instrument. The whole table scrambled for them; only Ding and Fengxian took none. “Master Ding may not know how, and that’s fine,” said Baxian. “But you — are your fingers crippled, that you can’t stretch them?” She tossed the clappers into Fengxian’s lap, and they launched into a lively medley. “There is no joy like a family’s joy!” said the old man, delighted. “You girls can all sing and dance. Why not each show what you do best?” Baxian rose and took hold of Shuixian. “Fengxian has always treated her voice like gold and jade; we wouldn’t dare trouble her. The two of us can sing ‘The Goddess of the Luo.’” They had just finished singing and dancing when a maid brought in fruit on a golden platter. No one knew what it was called. “These were brought from Zhenla,” said the old man. “They are called tianpoluo.” He took a handful and set them before Ding. Fengxian was displeased. “Does one love or slight a son-in-law by whether he is rich or poor?” The old man smiled faintly and said nothing. “Father does it because Master Ding is from another county, so he is a guest,” said Baxian. “If it went by age, would Sister Feng be the only one with a shabby little sour scholar of a husband?” Fengxian stayed sullen. She took off her finery, handed the drum and clappers to a maid, and sang a scene from “The Broken Kiln,” her tears falling with her voice. When she had finished she flicked her sleeves and walked straight out, and the whole party was spoiled. “The wench is as contrary as ever,” said Baxian. She went after her, but no one knew where she had gone. Liu, his face lost, also took his leave and went home. Halfway there he found Fengxian sitting by the road. She called him to sit beside her. “You are a man,” she said. “Can’t you do something so the woman who shares your bed can hold up her head? The house of gold is in your books. Do your best!” She lifted her foot. “I left in such a hurry that thorns have torn my lined shoes. The things I gave you — do you have them with you?” Liu brought them out. She took them and changed into them. Liu begged for her worn-out pair. She laughed. “What a rascal you are! Who ever saw a man hoard his own bedfellow’s things in his clothes? If you really love me, here is something I can give you.” She took out a mirror and handed it to him. “If you want to see me, look for me in your books. Otherwise there is no telling when we shall meet again.” With that she vanished. He went home forlorn. When he looked in the mirror, there was Fengxian standing in it with her back to him, as though he were watching her walk away a hundred paces off. Remembering what she had told him, he turned away visitors and shut himself in with his books. One day he saw that the woman in the mirror had suddenly turned to face him, lovely and on the point of smiling. He loved it all the more, and whenever no one was about he would sit face to face with it. After a month or so his ardour began to cool, and he often went out roaming and forgot to come home. When he came back, the figure in the mirror looked wretched, as if weeping. A day later he looked again, and she was standing with her back to him as before. Only then did he understand that it was because he had neglected his studies. So he shut his door and studied day and night without stopping. After a month the figure faced outward again. After that he put it to the test. Whenever something drew him from his work, her face was sad; after a few days of hard study, her face smiled. So he hung it up and faced it morning and night, as if it were his tutor. After two years of this he passed the provincial examination at his first try. “Now I can face my Fengxian!” he said joyfully. He took up the mirror and looked. There she was, as if before his very eyes: her painted brows long and curved, her teeth like melon seeds just showing, her face brimming with joy. He loved her so that he could not take his eyes off her. Suddenly the woman in the mirror laughed and said, “‘A lover in a reflection, a darling in a picture’ — that is just what this is.” Startled and glad, he looked around: Fengxian was already at his side. He took her hand and asked after her father and mother. “Since we parted I have not been home,” she said. “I have been hiding in a cave in the rocks, to share a little of your hardship.” When Liu went to a banquet in the prefectural city, she asked to go with him. They rode in the same carriage, and people face to face with them could not see her. When they were about to go home, she plotted with Liu in secret to make it look as if he had taken a wife in the city. Once home, she began to come out to receive guests and to run the household. Everyone marvelled at her beauty, but no one knew she was a fox. Liu was a protégé of the magistrate of Fuchuan, and went to call on him. There he met Ding, who warmly pressed him to come to his house and entertained him lavishly. “Our wives’ parents have moved again lately,” said Ding. “My wife has gone to visit them and will soon be back. I will send them word, and we will all come to offer our congratulations.” At first Liu had suspected that Ding too was a fox, but when he asked closely about his family and home, he learned that he was the son of a rich Fuchuan merchant. It had happened like this. Ding was coming home at dusk from his country house when he met Shuixian walking alone. Struck by her beauty, he stole a glance at her. She asked to ride along with him. Ding was delighted, took her to his study and lived with her there. She could pass through the chinks of the window lattice, and so he knew she was a fox. “Do not be suspicious of me,” she said. “You are honest and steady, and that is why I chose to trust myself to you.” Ding doted on her, and never took another wife. When Liu came home he borrowed a great family’s spacious house and readied rooms for his guests to feast and rest in, swept and spotless. He had no hangings or furnishings for them, but the next morning he looked and found the rooms splendidly furnished. A few days later, sure enough, more than thirty people arrived bearing banners, coloured silks, wine and gifts, with sedan chairs and horses in a gay throng that filled the steps and overflowed into the lane. Liu bowed the old man, Ding and Hu into the guest hall; Fengxian welcomed her mother and two sisters into the inner rooms. “So the wench is a fine lady now,” said Baxian. “You won’t blame your matchmaker any more. — Do you still have the bracelet and the shoes?” Fengxian dug them out and handed them over. “The shoes are the same as ever,” she said, “but a thousand people have stared them threadbare.” Baxian struck her on the back with the shoes. “That beating is for you to pass on to Master Liu,” she said. Then she threw them into the fire and chanted:
“When you were new, you were like a flower opening;now you are old, you are like a flower fading.I treasured you and never wore you —let Chang’e come and borrow you.”
Shuixian chanted too, on her sister’s behalf:
“Once you sheathed shoots of jade;brought out, you won ten thousand praises.If Chang’e saw you,she would pity you for being far too thin.”
Fengxian stirred the fire and said:
“Night after night you climbed the blue sky;one morning you left the one you loved.You leave behind your slender shapesfor all the world to see.”
Then she pinched the ashes into a dish and heaped them into a dozen or so little piles. Seeing Liu coming, she held out the dish to give it to him, and he saw the dish full of embroidered shoes, all just like the old pair. Baxian rushed out and knocked the dish to the floor. One or two shoes still lay there on the ground, so she bent down and blew on them, and only then did every trace vanish. Next day Ding and his wife left first, because they had far to go. Baxian was enjoying her sister’s company too much to leave; the old man and Hu urged her again and again, and it was noon before she came out and left with the rest. When they had first come, their retinue was so grand that crowds gathered to watch as if at a market. Two bandits caught sight of the beauties and lost their souls over them, and they plotted to rob the party on the road. They watched for it to leave the village and followed. They were never more than a bowshot behind, but however hard they galloped, they could not catch up. At a place where the road ran between two cliffs, the sedan chairs slowed a little. The bandit in front caught up, brandishing his knife and roaring, and all the people fled. He dismounted and lifted the curtain: an old woman sat inside. He was just wondering whether he had seized the mother by mistake when, the moment he looked away, a blade wounded his right arm, and in an instant he was tied up. He stared about him. The cliffs were not cliffs at all but the gate of Pingle city, and the woman in the sedan chair was the mother of a jinshi named Li, coming home from the countryside. The other bandit, arriving after him, had his horse’s legs cut from under it and was bound too. The gatekeepers took them to the prefect, and at the first questioning they confessed. There were notorious robbers at large then who had not been caught; under examination, these turned out to be the very men. The next spring Liu passed the metropolitan examination. Because the visit had invited disaster, Fengxian declined all congratulations from her own family. Liu never took another wife. When he became a secretary in one of the ministries, he took a concubine and had two sons.