楊于畏，移居泗水之濱。齋臨曠野，牆外多古墓，夜聞白楊蕭蕭，聲如濤涌。夜闌秉燭，方復淒斷。忽牆外有人吟曰：「玄夜淒風卻倒吹，流螢惹草復沾幃。」反復吟誦，其聲哀楚。聽之，細婉似女子。疑之。明日，視牆外，並無人跡。惟有紫帶一條，遺荊棘中；拾歸，置諸窗上。向夜二更許，又吟如昨。楊移杌登望，吟頓輟。悟其為鬼，然心向慕之。
楊於畏搬到了泗水岸邊。書齋面對著空曠的野地，牆外有許多古墓，夜裡能聽見白楊樹沙沙作響，聲音像洶湧的波濤。深夜，他點著蠟燭獨坐，又感到淒涼難受。忽然，牆外有人吟道：「漆黑的夜裡，淒冷的風反向吹來，流螢掠過草叢，又落在帷帳上。」那人反覆吟誦，聲音悲哀悽楚。仔細聽來，聲音纖細婉轉，像是女子。他心裡很疑惑。第二天，他到牆外察看，沒有發現任何人的蹤跡，只有一條紫帶落在荊棘叢中。他撿回來，放在窗臺上。到了夜裡二更左右，牆外又像昨夜一樣傳來吟詩聲。楊於畏搬來一張凳子，登上去張望，吟聲立刻停了。他明白那是個鬼，心裡卻對她生出了愛慕。
杨于畏，移居泗水之滨。斋临旷野，墙外多古墓，夜闻白杨萧萧，声如涛涌。夜阑秉烛，方复凄断。忽墙外有人吟曰：「玄夜凄风却倒吹，流萤惹草复沾帏。」反复吟诵，其声哀楚。听之，细婉似女子。疑之。明日，视墙外，并无人迹。惟有紫带一条，遗荆棘中；拾归，置诸窗上。向夜二更许，又吟如昨。杨移杌登望，吟顿辍。悟其为鬼，然心向慕之。
杨于畏搬到了泗水岸边。书斋面对着空旷的野地，墙外有许多古墓，夜里能听见白杨树沙沙作响，声音像汹涌的波涛。深夜，他点着蜡烛独坐，又感到凄凉难受。忽然，墙外有人吟道：“漆黑的夜里，凄冷的风反向吹来，流萤掠过草丛，又落在帷帐上。”那人反复吟诵，声音悲哀凄楚。仔细听来，声音纤细婉转，像是女子。他心里很疑惑。第二天，他到墙外察看，没有发现任何人的踪迹，只有一条紫带落在荆棘丛中。他捡回来，放在窗台上。到了夜里二更左右，墙外又像昨夜一样传来吟诗声。杨于畏搬来一张凳子，登上去张望，吟声立刻停了。他明白那是个鬼，心里却对她生出了爱慕。
Yang Yuwei moved house to the banks of the Si River. His study looked out on open wilderness, and beyond its wall were many old graves. At night he heard the white poplars sighing, a sound like surging waves. One night, late, as he sat by his candle and the bleakness of it all was just coming over him again, someone outside the wall suddenly began to chant: “Black night, a bitter wind that blows back on itself; drifting fireflies brush the grass, then cling to the curtains.” Over and over the voice chanted the lines, sad and plaintive. Listening, he found it soft and delicate, like a woman’s. He wondered about it. The next day he looked outside the wall: there was no trace of anyone, only a purple sash left lying among the brambles. He picked it up, took it home and laid it on the windowsill. That night, at about the second watch, the chanting came again, just as before. Yang moved a stool over and climbed up to look, and at once the chanting stopped. He understood that it was a ghost; yet his heart went out to her.
次夜，伏伺牆頭。一更向盡，有女子珊珊自草中出，手扶小樹，低首哀吟。楊微嗽，女忽入荒草而沒。楊由是伺諸牆下，聽其吟畢，乃隔壁而續之曰：
「幽情苦緒何人見？翠袖單寒月上時。」
久之，寂然。楊乃入室。方坐，忽見麗者自外來，斂衽曰：「君子固風雅士，妾乃多所畏避。」楊喜，拉坐。瘦怯凝寒，若不勝衣。問：「何居里，久寄此間？」答曰：「妾隴西人，隨父流寓。十七暴疾殂謝，今二十餘年矣。九泉荒野，孤寂如鶩。所吟，乃妾自作，以寄幽恨者。思久不屬；蒙君代續，歡生泉壤。」楊欲與歡。蹙然曰：「夜臺朽骨，不比生人，如有幽歡，促人壽數。妾不忍禍君子也。」楊乃止。戲以手探胸，則雞頭之肉，依然處子。又欲視其裙下雙鉤。女俯首笑曰：「狂生太囉唣矣！」楊把玩之，則見月色錦襪，約彩線一縷。更視其一，則紫帶系之。問：「何不俱帶？」曰：「昨宵畏君而避，不知遺落何所。」楊曰：「為卿易之。」遂即窗上取以授女。女驚問何來，因以實告。女乃去線束帶。既翻案上書，忽見《連昌宮詞》，慨然曰：「妾生時最愛讀此，今視之，殆如夢寐！」與談詩文，慧黠可愛。剪燭西窗，如得良友。自此每夜但聞微吟，少頃即至。輒囑曰：「君秘勿宣。妾少膽怯，恐有惡客見侵。」楊諾之。兩人歡同魚水，雖不至亂，而閨閣之中，誠有甚于畫眉者。女每于燈下為楊寫書，字態端媚。又自選宮詞百首，錄誦之。使楊治棋枰，購琵琶。每夜教楊手談，不則挑弄弦索。作「蕉窗零雨」之曲，酸人胸臆；楊不忍卒聽，則為「曉苑鶯聲」之調，頓覺心懷暢適。挑燈作劇，樂輒忘曉。視窗上有曙色，則張皇遁去。
第二天夜裡，楊於畏伏在牆頭等候。一更快結束時，一個女子邁著輕盈的步子，從草叢裡走出來，手扶著一棵小樹，低頭悲吟。楊於畏輕輕咳了一聲，女子忽然鑽進荒草，消失了。此後，他便在牆下等候，聽她吟完，隔著牆接著吟道：「幽深的情意、苦悶的心緒，有誰能看見？月亮升起時，穿著翠袖衣衫的人，獨自承受著寒冷。」過了很久，外面仍然寂靜無聲。楊於畏便回到屋裡。剛坐下，忽然看見一個美麗的女子從外面進來，整好衣襟行禮，說：「原來您是個風雅的人，我卻一直有許多顧慮，躲著您。」楊於畏很高興，拉她坐下。她瘦弱怯生生的，身上透著寒意，彷彿連衣服的重量都承受不住。他問：「你是哪裡人，在這裡寄居很久了嗎？」她回答：「我是隴西人，跟隨父親流落到這裡居住。十七歲時，我突然得了急病死去，到現在已經二十多年了。在這地下的荒野裡，我像一隻落單的野鴨，孤單寂寞。我吟的詩是自己寫的，用來寄託幽怨。想了很久，也沒能續寫下去。承蒙您替我續上，讓我在地下也有了歡樂。」楊於畏想和她同房。她皺起眉頭說：「我是墳墓裡的朽骨，和活人不同。如果與我親熱，會縮短您的壽命。我不忍心害您。」楊於畏便打消了這個念頭。他又開玩笑地把手伸進她的胸前，摸到乳房像雞頭米般柔嫩，仍是處女的模樣。他還想看看她裙下的一雙小腳。女子低頭笑道：「你這個輕狂的書生，太胡鬧了！」楊於畏握著她的腳賞玩，見她穿著月白色錦襪，用一根綵線繫著。再看另一隻腳，卻繫著紫帶。他問：「怎麼不都用帶子繫著？」她說：「昨夜我害怕您，躲開時不知道把帶子落在哪裡了。」楊於畏說：「我替你換上。」便從窗臺上取來紫帶，交給她。女子吃驚地問他從哪裡得來，他就如實告訴了她。她於是解下彩線，換上帶子。隨後，她翻看桌上的書，忽然看見《連昌宮詞》，感慨地說：「我活著時最愛讀這首詩，如今再看，簡直像在夢裡一樣！」楊於畏和她談論詩文，覺得她聰慧機敏，十分可愛。兩人在西窗下剪燭夜談，他彷彿得到了一位知心好友。從此，每夜只要聽見輕輕的吟詩聲，過一會兒她就來了。她總是囑咐：「您一定要保守秘密，別告訴別人。我從小膽怯，怕有惡客來欺負我。」楊於畏答應了。兩人相處得如魚得水，雖然沒有同房，但私下裡的親暱，比夫妻之間畫眉還要深。女子常在燈下替楊於畏抄書，字寫得端正秀美。她還親自選了一百首宮詞，抄下來吟誦。她讓楊於畏備好棋盤，買來琵琶。每晚，她或者教他下棋，或者撥弄琴絃。彈起《蕉窗零雨》，聽得人心裡酸楚；楊於畏不忍心聽完，她便換彈《曉苑鶯聲》，讓人頓時覺得心情舒暢。兩人撥亮燈火，嬉戲作樂，常常高興得忘了天快亮了。等她看見窗上露出曙光，便慌忙離去。
次夜，伏伺墙头。一更向尽，有女子珊珊自草中出，手扶小树，低首哀吟。杨微嗽，女忽入荒草而没。杨由是伺诸墙下，听其吟毕，乃隔壁而续之曰：
「幽情苦绪何人见？翠袖单寒月上时。」
久之，寂然。杨乃入室。方坐，忽见丽者自外来，敛衽曰：「君子固风雅士，妾乃多所畏避。」杨喜，拉坐。瘦怯凝寒，若不胜衣。问：「何居里，久寄此间？」答曰：「妾陇西人，随父流寓。十七暴疾殂谢，今二十余年矣。九泉荒野，孤寂如鹜。所吟，乃妾自作，以寄幽恨者。思久不属；蒙君代续，欢生泉壤。」杨欲与欢。蹙然曰：「夜台朽骨，不比生人，如有幽欢，促人寿数。妾不忍祸君子也。」杨乃止。戏以手探胸，则鸡头之肉，依然处子。又欲视其裙下双钩。女俯首笑曰：「狂生太啰唣矣！」杨把玩之，则见月色锦袜，约彩线一缕。更视其一，则紫带系之。问：「何不俱带？」曰：「昨宵畏君而避，不知遗落何所。」杨曰：「为卿易之。」遂即窗上取以授女。女惊问何来，因以实告。女乃去线束带。既翻案上书，忽见《连昌宫词》，慨然曰：「妾生时最爱读此，今视之，殆如梦寐！」与谈诗文，慧黠可爱。剪烛西窗，如得良友。自此每夜但闻微吟，少顷即至。辄嘱曰：「君秘勿宣。妾少胆怯，恐有恶客见侵。」杨诺之。两人欢同鱼水，虽不至乱，而闺阁之中，诚有甚于画眉者。女每于灯下为杨写书，字态端媚。又自选宫词百首，录诵之。使杨治棋枰，购琵琶。每夜教杨手谈，不则挑弄弦索。作「蕉窗零雨」之曲，酸人胸臆；杨不忍卒听，则为「晓苑莺声」之调，顿觉心怀畅适。挑灯作剧，乐辄忘晓。视窗上有曙色，则张皇遁去。
第二天夜里，杨于畏伏在墙头等候。一更快结束时，一个女子迈着轻盈的步子，从草丛里走出来，手扶着一棵小树，低头悲吟。杨于畏轻轻咳了一声，女子忽然钻进荒草，消失了。此后，他便在墙下等候，听她吟完，隔着墙接着吟道：“幽深的情意、苦闷的心绪，有谁能看见？月亮升起时，穿着翠袖衣衫的人，独自承受着寒冷。”过了很久，外面仍然寂静无声。杨于畏便回到屋里。刚坐下，忽然看见一个美丽的女子从外面进来，整好衣襟行礼，说：“原来您是个风雅的人，我却一直有许多顾虑，躲着您。”杨于畏很高兴，拉她坐下。她瘦弱怯生生的，身上透着寒意，仿佛连衣服的重量都承受不住。他问：“你是哪里人，在这里寄居很久了吗？”她回答：“我是陇西人，跟随父亲流落到这里居住。十七岁时，我突然得了急病死去，到现在已经二十多年了。在这地下的荒野里，我像一只落单的野鸭，孤单寂寞。我吟的诗是自己写的，用来寄托幽怨。想了很久，也没能续写下去。承蒙您替我续上，让我在地下也有了欢乐。”杨于畏想和她同房。她皱起眉头说：“我是坟墓里的朽骨，和活人不同。如果与我亲热，会缩短您的寿命。我不忍心害您。”杨于畏便打消了这个念头。他又开玩笑地把手伸进她的胸前，摸到乳房像鸡头米般柔嫩，仍是处女的模样。他还想看看她裙下的一双小脚。女子低头笑道：“你这个轻狂的书生，太胡闹了！”杨于畏握着她的脚赏玩，见她穿着月白色锦袜，用一根彩线系着。再看另一只脚，却系着紫带。他问：“怎么不都用带子系着？”她说：“昨夜我害怕您，躲开时不知道把带子落在哪里了。”杨于畏说：“我替你换上。”便从窗台上取来紫带，交给她。女子吃惊地问他从哪里得来，他就如实告诉了她。她于是解下彩线，换上带子。随后，她翻看桌上的书，忽然看见《连昌宫词》，感慨地说：“我活着时最爱读这首诗，如今再看，简直像在梦里一样！”杨于畏和她谈论诗文，觉得她聪慧机敏，十分可爱。两人在西窗下剪烛夜谈，他仿佛得到了一位知心好友。从此，每夜只要听见轻轻的吟诗声，过一会儿她就来了。她总是嘱咐：“您一定要保守秘密，别告诉别人。我从小胆怯，怕有恶客来欺负我。”杨于畏答应了。两人相处得如鱼得水，虽然没有同房，但私下里的亲昵，比夫妻之间画眉还要深。女子常在灯下替杨于畏抄书，字写得端正秀美。她还亲自选了一百首宫词，抄下来吟诵。她让杨于畏备好棋盘，买来琵琶。每晚，她或者教他下棋，或者拨弄琴弦。弹起《蕉窗零雨》，听得人心里酸楚；杨于畏不忍心听完，她便换弹《晓苑莺声》，让人顿时觉得心情舒畅。两人拨亮灯火，嬉戏作乐，常常高兴得忘了天快亮了。等她看见窗上露出曙光，便慌忙离去。
The next night he lay in wait at the top of the wall. As the first watch was ending, a girl came out of the grass with light, graceful steps, rested one hand on a small tree, bowed her head and chanted mournfully. Yang gave a little cough, and she slipped into the wild grass and was gone. After that Yang waited at the foot of the wall, and when she had finished her chant, he went on with it from the other side:
“Who sees this hidden longing, these bitter thoughts? Thin green sleeves in the cold, as the moon comes up.”
For a long while there was silence. Yang went back indoors. He had only just sat down when a lovely girl came in from outside, drew her sleeves together in greeting and said, “So you are a man of taste after all, sir. And I have been hiding from you all this time.” Yang was delighted and pulled her down to sit beside him. She was thin and timid and seemed chilled through, as if even her clothes were too much for her. “Where are you from,” he asked, “and why have you stayed here so long?” “I am from Longxi,” she said. “I came here with my father, who had settled far from home. At seventeen I fell suddenly ill and died. That was more than twenty years ago. Down below in the wilds of the Nine Springs I have been as lonely as a stray wild duck. The lines I chanted are my own, written to voice my secret grief. For a long time I could not think how to go on with them. Now you have finished them for me, and brought joy to the world under the earth.” Yang wanted to make love to her. She frowned. “I am rotting bones from the grave, not a living woman. Such secret pleasures would shorten your life. I cannot bear to do you harm, sir.” So Yang stopped. Playfully he slipped a hand inside her bodice: her breasts were soft as fresh-shelled water-lily seeds, still a virgin’s. Then he wanted to see the two lotus feet beneath her skirt. She bowed her head and laughed. “What a wild young man! You go too far!” Yang took one in his hand to look at it. It wore a moon-white silk stocking, tied with a single coloured thread. He looked at the other: it was tied with a purple sash. “Why aren’t they both tied with sashes?” he asked. “Last night I was frightened of you and ran away, and I don’t know where I dropped it.” “Let me change it for you,” said Yang. He took the sash from the windowsill and gave it to her. Startled, she asked where it had come from, and he told her the truth. So she took off the thread and tied on the sash. Then, leafing through the books on the table, she suddenly came upon “The Lianchang Palace.” “When I was alive I loved this poem best of all,” she sighed. “Looking at it now, it is all like a dream!” He talked with her about poetry and prose, and found her clever and quick and lovable. Trimming the candle with her by the west window, he felt he had found a dear friend. From then on, every night he would hear a faint chanting, and a moment later she would be there. She always warned him: “Keep this secret, and tell no one. I have always been timid, and I am afraid some rough visitor may come and bully me.” Yang promised. The two of them were as happy together as fish in water. They never went so far as to make love, but in the privacy of their room there were pleasures greater than painting a wife’s eyebrows. Often, under the lamp, she wrote out books for Yang in a hand that was upright and graceful. She also chose a hundred palace poems herself, copied them out and recited them. She had Yang get a go board and buy a pipa. Every night she taught him to play go, or else she plucked the strings. When she played the tune “Rain on the Plantain Window,” it wrung his heart, and when Yang could not bear to hear it through, she played “Orioles in the Dawn Garden,” and at once his heart opened and eased. They trimmed the lamp and played their games, so happy that they often forgot the dawn. When she saw daylight in the window she would flee in a panic.
一日，薛生造訪，值楊晝寢。視其室，琵琶﹑棋枰俱在，知非所善。又翻書得宮詞，見字跡端好，益疑之。楊醒，薛問：「戲具何來？」答：「欲學之。」又問詩卷，托以假諸友人。薛反復檢玩，見最後一葉細字一行云：「某月日連瑣書。」笑曰：「此是女郎小字，何相欺之甚？」楊大窘，不能置詞。薛詰之益苦，楊不以告。薛卷挾，楊益窘，遂告之。薛求一見。楊因述所囑。薛仰慕慇切；楊不得已，諾之。夜分，女至，為致意焉。女怒曰：「所言伊何？乃已喋喋向人！」楊以實情自白。女曰：「與君緣盡矣！」楊百詞慰解，終不歡，起而別去，曰：「妾暫避之。」明日，薛來，楊代致其不可。薛疑支托，暮與窗友二人來，淹留不去，故撓之；恆終夜嘩，大為楊生白眼，而無如何。眾見數夜杳然，浸有去志，喧囂漸息。忽聞吟聲，共聽之，淒婉欲絕。薛方傾耳神注，內一武生王某，掇巨石投之，大呼曰：「作態不見客，那得好句？嗚嗚惻惻，使人悶損！」吟頓止。眾甚怨之。楊恚憤見于詞色。次日，始共引去。楊獨宿空齋，冀女復來，而殊無影跡。逾二日，女忽至，泣曰：「君致惡賓，幾嚇煞妾！」楊謝過不遑。女遽出，曰：「妾固謂緣份盡也，從此別矣。」挽之已渺。由是月餘，更不復至。楊思之，形銷骨立，莫可追挽。
一天，薛生來拜訪，正碰上楊於畏睡午覺。他看見屋裡擺著琵琶和棋盤，知道這些都不是楊於畏擅長的東西。又翻書找到那捲宮詞，見字跡端正漂亮，越發起了疑心。楊於畏醒來後，薛生問：「這些玩樂的東西從哪裡來的？」他回答：「我想學一學。」薛生又問那捲詩，他推說是向朋友借的。薛生反覆翻看賞玩，發現最後一頁有一行小字，寫著：「某月某日連瑣書。」便笑道：「這是女孩子的小名，你怎麼這樣騙我？」楊於畏十分窘迫，說不出話來。薛生越問越緊，他仍然不肯說。薛生把詩卷捲起來夾在腋下，楊於畏更加著急，只好把事情告訴了他。薛生要求見她一面，楊於畏便轉述了她的囑咐。薛生十分仰慕，懇切地請求，楊於畏無奈，答應了。半夜，女子來了，楊於畏替薛生傳達了請求。女子生氣地說：「我對您說過什麼？您竟然已經多嘴多舌地告訴別人了！」楊於畏把實情說出來，為自己解釋。女子說：「我和您的緣分已經盡了！」楊於畏用盡各種話安慰勸解，她始終不高興，起身告別，說：「我暫且躲開他。」第二天，薛生來時，楊於畏代她說明不能相見。薛生懷疑他在找藉口推託，傍晚又帶著兩個同窗來，賴著不走，故意攪擾。他們常常吵鬧一整夜，楊於畏對他們大翻白眼，卻也無可奈何。幾個人接連幾夜都沒見她出現，漸漸有了離開的念頭，喧鬧聲也小了。忽然傳來吟詩聲，大家一起傾聽，只覺得聲音淒涼婉轉，哀傷得彷彿要斷了。薛生正側耳凝神聽著，其中一個武生王某撿起一塊大石頭扔過去，大喊：「裝模作樣，不肯見客，能有什麼好詩句？嗚嗚咽咽，悽悽切切，悶得人難受！」吟聲立刻停了。眾人都很埋怨他，楊於畏的言語和臉色也顯出了憤怒。第二天，他們才一起離開。楊於畏獨自睡在空蕩蕩的書齋裡，盼著女子再來，卻始終不見她的蹤影。過了兩天，女子忽然來了，哭著說：「您招來那些惡客，差點把我嚇死！」楊於畏連忙賠罪，怎麼道歉都覺得不夠。女子卻立刻往外走，說：「我早說過，我們的緣分已經盡了。從此永別吧。」他伸手挽留，她已經消失了。此後一個多月，她再也沒有來。楊於畏思念她，瘦得只剩皮包骨頭，卻沒有辦法把她找回來。
一日，薛生造访，值杨昼寝。视其室，琵琶﹑棋枰俱在，知非所善。又翻书得宫词，见字迹端好，益疑之。杨醒，薛问：「戏具何来？」答：「欲学之。」又问诗卷，托以假诸友人。薛反复检玩，见最后一叶细字一行云：「某月日连琐书。」笑曰：「此是女郎小字，何相欺之甚？」杨大窘，不能置词。薛诘之益苦，杨不以告。薛卷挟，杨益窘，遂告之。薛求一见。杨因述所嘱。薛仰慕慇切；杨不得已，诺之。夜分，女至，为致意焉。女怒曰：「所言伊何？乃已喋喋向人！」杨以实情自白。女曰：「与君缘尽矣！」杨百词慰解，终不欢，起而别去，曰：「妾暂避之。」明日，薛来，杨代致其不可。薛疑支托，暮与窗友二人来，淹留不去，故挠之；恒终夜哗，大为杨生白眼，而无如何。众见数夜杳然，浸有去志，喧嚣渐息。忽闻吟声，共听之，凄婉欲绝。薛方倾耳神注，内一武生王某，掇巨石投之，大呼曰：「作态不见客，那得好句？呜呜恻恻，使人闷损！」吟顿止。众甚怨之。杨恚愤见于词色。次日，始共引去。杨独宿空斋，冀女复来，而殊无影迹。逾二日，女忽至，泣曰：「君致恶宾，几吓煞妾！」杨谢过不遑。女遽出，曰：「妾固谓缘份尽也，从此别矣。」挽之已渺。由是月余，更不复至。杨思之，形销骨立，莫可追挽。
一天，薛生来拜访，正碰上杨于畏睡午觉。他看见屋里摆着琵琶和棋盘，知道这些都不是杨于畏擅长的东西。又翻书找到那卷宫词，见字迹端正漂亮，越发起了疑心。杨于畏醒来后，薛生问：“这些玩乐的东西从哪里来的？”他回答：“我想学一学。”薛生又问那卷诗，他推说是向朋友借的。薛生反复翻看赏玩，发现最后一页有一行小字，写着：“某月某日连琐书。”便笑道：“这是女孩子的小名，你怎么这样骗我？”杨于畏十分窘迫，说不出话来。薛生越问越紧，他仍然不肯说。薛生把诗卷卷起来夹在腋下，杨于畏更加着急，只好把事情告诉了他。薛生要求见她一面，杨于畏便转述了她的嘱咐。薛生十分仰慕，恳切地请求，杨于畏无奈，答应了。半夜，女子来了，杨于畏替薛生传达了请求。女子生气地说：“我对您说过什么？您竟然已经多嘴多舌地告诉别人了！”杨于畏把实情说出来，为自己解释。女子说：“我和您的缘分已经尽了！”杨于畏用尽各种话安慰劝解，她始终不高兴，起身告别，说：“我暂且躲开他。”第二天，薛生来时，杨于畏代她说明不能相见。薛生怀疑他在找借口推托，傍晚又带着两个同窗来，赖着不走，故意搅扰。他们常常吵闹一整夜，杨于畏对他们大翻白眼，却也无可奈何。几个人接连几夜都没见她出现，渐渐有了离开的念头，喧闹声也小了。忽然传来吟诗声，大家一起倾听，只觉得声音凄凉婉转，哀伤得仿佛要断了。薛生正侧耳凝神听着，其中一个武生王某捡起一块大石头扔过去，大喊：“装模作样，不肯见客，能有什么好诗句？呜呜咽咽，凄凄切切，闷得人难受！”吟声立刻停了。众人都很埋怨他，杨于畏的言语和脸色也显出了愤怒。第二天，他们才一起离开。杨于畏独自睡在空荡荡的书斋里，盼着女子再来，却始终不见她的踪影。过了两天，女子忽然来了，哭着说：“您招来那些恶客，差点把我吓死！”杨于畏连忙赔罪，怎么道歉都觉得不够。女子却立刻往外走，说：“我早说过，我们的缘分已经尽了。从此永别吧。”他伸手挽留，她已经消失了。此后一个多月，她再也没有来。杨于畏思念她，瘦得只剩皮包骨头，却没有办法把她找回来。
One day a scholar named Xue came to call and found Yang taking an afternoon nap. Looking round the room, he saw the pipa and the go board, and knew that these were not things Yang went in for. Leafing through the books, he found the palace poems, and seeing how fine the handwriting was, he grew more suspicious still. When Yang woke, Xue asked, “Where did these toys come from?” “I want to learn,” Yang answered. Xue asked about the book of poems, and Yang made the excuse that he had borrowed it from a friend. Xue turned it over and over, and on the last leaf he found a line in small characters: “Written by Liansuo, on such-and-such a day of such-and-such a month.” He laughed. “This is a girl’s pet name. Why lie to me like this?” Yang was badly flustered and could find nothing to say. Xue pressed him harder and harder, but Yang would not tell. Then Xue rolled up the book and tucked it under his arm, and Yang, more flustered than ever, told him. Xue begged to see her. Yang told him what she had made him promise. But Xue’s admiration was so eager that Yang had no choice but to agree. At midnight the girl came, and Yang passed on Xue’s request. She was angry. “What did I tell you? And you have already gone babbling to someone!” Yang explained exactly how it had happened. “It is over between you and me!” she said. Yang tried a hundred ways to soothe her, but she would not be cheered. She got up to leave, saying, “I shall keep away for a while.” The next day, when Xue came, Yang told him she would not see him. Xue suspected he was being put off. That evening he came with two of his schoolfellows, and they stayed on and would not leave, to make trouble on purpose, keeping up a din all night long. Yang glared at them, but there was nothing he could do. After several nights with no sign of her, they began to think of leaving, and the noise died down. Suddenly they heard chanting. They all listened: it was mournful and sad beyond bearing. Xue was straining his ears, rapt, when one of them, a military licentiate named Wang, picked up a big rock and hurled it, shouting, “Putting on airs and won’t see visitors! What good lines can you have? All that sobbing and sighing — it’s enough to make a man sick!” The chanting stopped at once. The others were very annoyed with him. Yang’s anger showed in his words and in his face. The next day they finally all went away. Yang slept alone in his empty study, hoping she would come back, but there was no sign of her at all. Two days later she suddenly appeared, weeping. “You brought those brutes here, and they nearly frightened me to death!” Yang could not apologize enough. She left at once, saying, “I told you it was over between us. This is goodbye.” He reached out to hold her back, but she had vanished. For more than a month after that she did not come again. Yang pined for her until he was nothing but skin and bone, but there was no way to call her back.
一夕，方獨酌，忽女子搴幃入。楊喜極，曰：「卿見宥耶？」女涕垂膺，默不一言。亟問之，欲言復忍，曰：「負氣去，又急而求人，難免愧恧。」楊再三研詰，乃曰：「不知何處來一齷齪隸，逼充媵妾。顧念清白裔，豈屈身輿臺之鬼？然一線弱質，烏能抗拒？君如齒妾在琴瑟之數，必不聽自為生活。」楊大怒，憤將致死；但慮人鬼殊途，不能為力。女曰：「來夜早眠，妾邀君夢中耳。」於是復共傾談，坐以達曙。女臨去，囑勿晝眠，留待夜約。楊諾之。因于午後薄飲，乘醺登榻，蒙衣偃臥。忽見女來，授以佩刀，引手去。至一院宇，方闔門語，聞有人掿石撾門。女驚曰：「仇人至矣！」楊啟戶驟出，見一人赤帽青衣，猬毛繞喙。怒咄之。隸橫目相仇，言詞凶謾。楊大怒，奔之。隸捉石以投，驟如急雨，中楊腕，不能握刃。方危急間，遙見一人，腰矢野射。審視之，王生也。大號乞救。王生張弓急至，射之中股；再射之，殪。楊喜感謝。王問故，具告之。王自喜前罪可贖，遂與共入女室。女戰惕羞縮，遙立不作一語。案上有小刀，長僅尺餘，而裝以金玉；出諸匣，光芒鑒影。王嘆讚不釋手。與楊略話，見女慚懼可憐，乃出，分手去。楊亦自歸，越牆而仆，於是驚寤，聽村雞已亂鳴矣。覺腕中痛甚；曉而視之，則皮肉赤腫。
一天晚上，楊於畏正獨自喝酒，女子忽然掀開帷帳走進來。他高興極了，說：「你原諒我了嗎？」女子的眼淚落到胸前，卻一句話也不說。他急忙追問，她想說又忍住了，終於說：「我賭氣離開，現在一遇到急難，又來求您，實在難免慚愧。」楊於畏再三細問，她才說：「不知從哪裡來了一個齷齪的差役，逼我做他的妾。我想，自己出身清白人家，怎麼能委身給一個卑賤奴僕的鬼魂？可我身體這樣柔弱，怎麼抵抗得了？您如果把我當作妻子，就一定不會聽任我獨自謀求活路。」楊於畏大怒，恨不得去和那差役拼命，只是擔心人鬼各走各的路，自己幫不上忙。女子說：「明晚您早點睡，我會到夢中來邀您。」於是兩人又一同傾心交談，坐到天亮。女子臨走時，囑咐他白天不要睡覺，留到夜裡赴約。楊於畏答應了。到了午後，他喝了些酒，趁著醉意上床，蓋著衣服躺下。忽然看見女子來了，交給他一把佩刀，拉著他的手走。兩人來到一處院子，剛關上門說話，就聽見有人拿石頭砸門。女子驚叫：「仇人來了！」楊於畏開門猛地衝出去，看見一個人戴著紅帽，穿著黑衣，嘴邊滿是刺蝟毛一般的鬍鬚。他怒聲喝斥那人。差役怒目瞪著他，言語兇狠無禮。楊於畏大怒，向他衝去。差役抓起石頭投來，急得像一陣暴雨。一塊石頭打中了楊於畏的手腕，使他握不住刀。正在危急時，他遠遠看見一個人腰間帶著箭，在野外射獵。仔細一看，原來是王生，便大聲呼喊求救。王生張弓趕來，一箭射中差役的大腿，又射一箭，把他殺死了。楊於畏十分高興，向他道謝。王生問事情的緣由，他便全都告訴了他。王生很高興，覺得可以彌補先前的過錯，便和他一起進了女子的房間。女子又害怕又羞怯，縮著身子站在遠處，一句話也不說。桌上有一把小刀，只有一尺多長，卻用金玉裝飾；從刀匣裡抽出來，光亮得可以照見人影。王生讚歎不已，拿在手裡捨不得放下。他和楊於畏略談了幾句，見女子羞愧恐懼，十分可憐，便出了門，與楊於畏分別離去。楊於畏也獨自回家，翻牆時跌倒，這才猛然驚醒，聽見村裡的雞已經此起彼伏地叫起來。他覺得手腕疼得厲害，天亮後檢視，皮肉果然又紅又腫。
一夕，方独酌，忽女子搴帏入。杨喜极，曰：「卿见宥耶？」女涕垂膺，默不一言。亟问之，欲言复忍，曰：「负气去，又急而求人，难免愧恧。」杨再三研诘，乃曰：「不知何处来一龌龊隶，逼充媵妾。顾念清白裔，岂屈身舆台之鬼？然一线弱质，乌能抗拒？君如齿妾在琴瑟之数，必不听自为生活。」杨大怒，愤将致死；但虑人鬼殊途，不能为力。女曰：「来夜早眠，妾邀君梦中耳。」于是复共倾谈，坐以达曙。女临去，嘱勿昼眠，留待夜约。杨诺之。因于午后薄饮，乘醺登榻，蒙衣偃卧。忽见女来，授以佩刀，引手去。至一院宇，方阖门语，闻有人掿石挝门。女惊曰：「仇人至矣！」杨启户骤出，见一人赤帽青衣，猬毛绕喙。怒咄之。隶横目相仇，言词凶谩。杨大怒，奔之。隶捉石以投，骤如急雨，中杨腕，不能握刃。方危急间，遥见一人，腰矢野射。审视之，王生也。大号乞救。王生张弓急至，射之中股；再射之，殪。杨喜感谢。王问故，具告之。王自喜前罪可赎，遂与共入女室。女战惕羞缩，遥立不作一语。案上有小刀，长仅尺余，而装以金玉；出诸匣，光芒鉴影。王叹赞不释手。与杨略话，见女惭惧可怜，乃出，分手去。杨亦自归，越墙而仆，于是惊寤，听村鸡已乱鸣矣。觉腕中痛甚；晓而视之，则皮肉赤肿。
一天晚上，杨于畏正独自喝酒，女子忽然掀开帷帐走进来。他高兴极了，说：“你原谅我了吗？”女子的眼泪落到胸前，却一句话也不说。他急忙追问，她想说又忍住了，终于说：“我赌气离开，现在一遇到急难，又来求您，实在难免惭愧。”杨于畏再三细问，她才说：“不知从哪里来了一个龌龊的差役，逼我做他的妾。我想，自己出身清白人家，怎么能委身给一个卑贱奴仆的鬼魂？可我身体这样柔弱，怎么抵抗得了？您如果把我当作妻子，就一定不会听任我独自谋求活路。”杨于畏大怒，恨不得去和那差役拼命，只是担心人鬼各走各的路，自己帮不上忙。女子说：“明晚您早点睡，我会到梦中来邀您。”于是两人又一同倾心交谈，坐到天亮。女子临走时，嘱咐他白天不要睡觉，留到夜里赴约。杨于畏答应了。到了午后，他喝了些酒，趁着醉意上床，盖着衣服躺下。忽然看见女子来了，交给他一把佩刀，拉着他的手走。两人来到一处院子，刚关上门说话，就听见有人拿石头砸门。女子惊叫：“仇人来了！”杨于畏开门猛地冲出去，看见一个人戴着红帽，穿着黑衣，嘴边满是刺猬毛一般的胡须。他怒声喝斥那人。差役怒目瞪着他，言语凶狠无礼。杨于畏大怒，向他冲去。差役抓起石头投来，急得像一阵暴雨。一块石头打中了杨于畏的手腕，使他握不住刀。正在危急时，他远远看见一个人腰间带着箭，在野外射猎。仔细一看，原来是王生，便大声呼喊求救。王生张弓赶来，一箭射中差役的大腿，又射一箭，把他杀死了。杨于畏十分高兴，向他道谢。王生问事情的缘由，他便全都告诉了他。王生很高兴，觉得可以弥补先前的过错，便和他一起进了女子的房间。女子又害怕又羞怯，缩着身子站在远处，一句话也不说。桌上有一把小刀，只有一尺多长，却用金玉装饰；从刀匣里抽出来，光亮得可以照见人影。王生赞叹不已，拿在手里舍不得放下。他和杨于畏略谈了几句，见女子羞愧恐惧，十分可怜，便出了门，与杨于畏分别离去。杨于畏也独自回家，翻墙时跌倒，这才猛然惊醒，听见村里的鸡已经此起彼伏地叫起来。他觉得手腕疼得厉害，天亮后查看，皮肉果然又红又肿。
One evening, as he sat drinking alone, the girl suddenly lifted the door curtain and came in. Yang was overjoyed. “You’ve forgiven me?” She said not a word, her tears running down onto her breast. He pressed her to tell him what was wrong. She started to speak, then held back. “I left in a temper, and now I come begging for help the moment I am in trouble. I cannot help feeling ashamed.” Yang questioned her again and again, and at last she said, “Some filthy runner, I don’t know where from, is forcing me to be his concubine. I come of a decent family. How could I lower myself to a ghost of the meanest servant kind? But I am as frail as a thread. How can I fight him off? If you count me as your wife at all, you will not leave me to fend for myself.” Yang was furious, ready to fight the man to the death, but he worried that the living and the dead walk different roads and he could do nothing. “Go to bed early tomorrow night,” she said, “and I will bring you to me in a dream.” Then they talked their hearts out together again, and sat up until dawn. As she was leaving, she told him not to sleep during the day, but to keep his sleep for their meeting at night. Yang promised. In the afternoon he drank a little, and when he was tipsy he got onto his bed and lay down with his clothes pulled over him. Suddenly he saw the girl come in. She handed him a dagger and led him away by the hand. They came to a courtyard, and had just shut the gate and begun to talk when they heard someone pounding on it with a rock. “My enemy is here!” she cried in alarm. Yang flung the gate open and rushed out. He saw a man in a red hat and black clothes, his snout ringed with bristling whiskers. Yang shouted at him angrily. The runner glared back with hatred, his words savage and insolent. Yang flew into a rage and charged at him. The runner snatched up rocks and threw them, thick and fast as a rainstorm. One struck Yang on the wrist, and he could no longer hold the knife. Just when he was in the worst danger, he saw in the distance a man with arrows at his waist, out hunting in the fields. He looked closely: it was Wang. Yang shouted to him for help. Wang drew his bow and came running, shot the runner in the thigh, shot him again, and killed him. Yang thanked him gratefully. Wang asked what had happened, and Yang told him everything. Wang was glad to think he could make up for his earlier offence, and went with Yang into the girl’s room. The girl stood far off, trembling and shrinking, without a word. On the table lay a small knife, little more than a foot long, but mounted in gold and jade. Drawn from its case, it gleamed bright enough to show a reflection. Wang admired it and could not put it down. He talked with Yang for a little, and then, seeing how ashamed and frightened the girl was, how pitiful, he went out, and they parted. Yang too went home on his own. He climbed over the wall, fell — and woke with a start, to hear the village cocks already crowing on all sides. His wrist hurt badly. When it was light he looked at it: the skin was red and swollen.
亭午，王生來，便言夜夢之奇。楊曰：「未夢射否？」王怪其先知。楊出手示之，且告以故。王憶夢中顏色，恨不真見；自幸有功于女，復請先容。夜間，女來稱謝。楊歸功王生，遂達誠懇。女曰：「將伯之助，義不敢忘。然彼赳赳，妾實畏之。」既而曰：「彼愛妾佩刀。刀實妾父出使粵中，百金購之。妾愛而有之，纏以金絲，瓣以明珠。大人憐妾夭亡，用以殉葬。今願割愛相贈，見刀如見妾也。」次日，楊致此意。王大悅。至夜，女果攜刀來，曰：「囑伊珍重，此非中華物也。」由是往來如初。
中午，王生來了，一見面便說起昨夜那個奇怪的夢。楊於畏問：「你是不是夢見射箭了？」王生驚訝他竟然預先知道。楊於畏伸出手給他看，又告訴他事情的經過。王生想起女子在夢中的容貌，遺憾沒能親眼見到她；又慶幸自己幫了她的忙，再次請求楊於畏替自己介紹。夜裡，女子來道謝。楊於畏把功勞歸給王生，接著轉達了他懇切的請求。女子說：「他在危難中出手相助，按情義，我不敢忘記。可他那麼威武，我實在怕他。」過了一會兒，又說：「他喜歡我的佩刀。這把刀是父親出使粵中時，花了一百兩銀子買來的。我很喜歡，便把它要了來，用金絲纏繞，又用明珠排成花瓣裝飾。父親憐惜我年紀輕輕就死了，便把刀給我陪葬。現在我願意割捨心愛的東西，把它送給他。讓他見到刀，就像見到我一樣。」第二天，楊於畏把這番心意轉告王生，王生十分高興。到了夜裡，女子果然帶著刀來，說：「囑咐他好好珍惜，這不是中國的東西。」從此，她又像以前一樣來往。
亭午，王生来，便言夜梦之奇。杨曰：「未梦射否？」王怪其先知。杨出手示之，且告以故。王忆梦中颜色，恨不真见；自幸有功于女，复请先容。夜间，女来称谢。杨归功王生，遂达诚恳。女曰：「将伯之助，义不敢忘。然彼赳赳，妾实畏之。」既而曰：「彼爱妾佩刀。刀实妾父出使粤中，百金购之。妾爱而有之，缠以金丝，瓣以明珠。大人怜妾夭亡，用以殉葬。今愿割爱相赠，见刀如见妾也。」次日，杨致此意。王大悦。至夜，女果携刀来，曰：「嘱伊珍重，此非中华物也。」由是往来如初。
中午，王生来了，一见面便说起昨夜那个奇怪的梦。杨于畏问：“你是不是梦见射箭了？”王生惊讶他竟然预先知道。杨于畏伸出手给他看，又告诉他事情的经过。王生想起女子在梦中的容貌，遗憾没能亲眼见到她；又庆幸自己帮了她的忙，再次请求杨于畏替自己介绍。夜里，女子来道谢。杨于畏把功劳归给王生，接着转达了他恳切的请求。女子说：“他在危难中出手相助，按情义，我不敢忘记。可他那么威武，我实在怕他。”过了一会儿，又说：“他喜欢我的佩刀。这把刀是父亲出使粤中时，花了一百两银子买来的。我很喜欢，便把它要了来，用金丝缠绕，又用明珠排成花瓣装饰。父亲怜惜我年纪轻轻就死了，便把刀给我陪葬。现在我愿意割舍心爱的东西，把它送给他。让他见到刀，就像见到我一样。”第二天，杨于畏把这番心意转告王生，王生十分高兴。到了夜里，女子果然带着刀来，说：“嘱咐他好好珍惜，这不是中国的东西。”从此，她又像以前一样来往。
At noon Wang came, and at once began to talk about the strange dream he had had in the night. “Didn’t you dream of shooting someone?” said Yang. Wang was amazed that he knew. Yang held out his wrist to show him and told him the whole story. Wang remembered the girl’s face in the dream and was sorry he had not seen her for real. Pleased that he had done her a service, he asked again to be introduced. That night the girl came to thank Yang. Yang gave the credit to Wang and passed on his earnest request. “I would never forget such help in my need,” she said. “But he is so fierce. Truly, I am afraid of him.” Then she said, “He liked my dagger. My father bought it for a hundred in gold when he was sent as an envoy to Yue in the south. I loved it and made it mine. I wound the hilt with gold thread and set it with pearls like petals. My father grieved that I died so young, and buried it with me. Now I will give up what I love and make him a present of it. When he sees the dagger, let it be as if he saw me.” The next day Yang told Wang, and Wang was delighted. That night the girl brought the dagger as she had promised. “Tell him to treasure it,” she said. “It is not a thing of China.” And from then on she came and went just as before.
積數月，忽于燈下笑而向楊，似有所語，面紅而止者三。生抱問之。答曰：「久蒙眷愛，妾受生人氣，日食煙火，白骨頓有生意。但鬚生人精血，可以復活。」楊笑曰：「卿自不肯，豈我故惜之？」女云：「交接後，君必有念余日大病，然藥之可愈。」遂與為歡。既而著衣起，又曰：「尚鬚生血一點，能拼痛以相愛乎？」楊取利刃刺臂出血；女臥榻上，便滴臍中。乃起曰：「妾不來矣。君記取百日之期，視妾墳前，有青鳥鳴于樹頭，即速發塚。」楊謹受教。出門又囑曰：「慎記勿忘，遲速皆不可！」乃去。越十餘日，楊果病，腹脹欲死。醫師投藥，下惡物如泥，浹辰而愈。計至百日，使家人荷鍤以待。日既夕，果見青鳥雙鳴。楊喜曰：「可矣。」乃斬荊發壙。見棺木已朽，而女貌如生。摩之微溫。蒙衣舁歸，置暖處，氣咻咻然，細于屬絲。漸進湯酏，半夜而蘇。每謂楊曰：「二十餘年，如一夢耳。」
過了幾個月，一天，女子在燈下笑著看向楊於畏，似乎有話要說，卻三次都紅著臉停住了。楊於畏抱住她，問她想說什麼。她回答：「長久以來承蒙您疼愛，我吸收了活人的氣息，每天吃人間煮熟的食物，白骨竟然有了生機。只要再得到活人的精液和鮮血，就能復活。」楊於畏笑道：「是你自己不肯，難道是我故意捨不得嗎？」女子說：「我們同房之後，您一定會大病二十多天，不過用藥就能治好。」於是兩人同了房。隨後，女子穿好衣服起身，又說：「還需要一滴活人的血，您能為了愛我，忍受這點疼痛嗎？」楊於畏拿來利刃，刺破手臂，流出血來。女子躺在床上，他便把血滴進她的肚臍。她起身說：「我以後不來了。您記住一百天的期限，到時去我的墳前察看。如果有青鳥在樹梢鳴叫，就趕快掘開墳墓。」楊於畏鄭重地答應，記下她的話。她出門時又囑咐：「千萬記住，別忘了，早了晚了都不行！」說完便走了。過了十多天，楊於畏果然病了，肚子脹得幾乎要死。醫生給他用藥，他排出了像泥一樣的汙物，十二天後就痊癒了。算到第一百天，他讓家人拿著鐵鍬等候。天色將晚時，果然看見兩隻青鳥一同鳴叫。楊於畏高興地說：「可以了。」便讓人砍去荊棘，掘開墳墓。棺木已經腐朽，女子的容貌卻和活著時一樣，摸上去還有些溫熱。他們用衣服蓋住她，抬回家中，放在溫暖的地方。她微微喘息，氣息比一縷細絲還要微弱。他們慢慢喂她喝湯水和稀粥，到了半夜，她便甦醒了。她常對楊於畏說：「這二十多年，就像做了一場夢啊。」
积数月，忽于灯下笑而向杨，似有所语，面红而止者三。生抱问之。答曰：「久蒙眷爱，妾受生人气，日食烟火，白骨顿有生意。但须生人精血，可以复活。」杨笑曰：「卿自不肯，岂我故惜之？」女云：「交接后，君必有念余日大病，然药之可愈。」遂与为欢。既而着衣起，又曰：「尚须生血一点，能拼痛以相爱乎？」杨取利刃刺臂出血；女卧榻上，便滴脐中。乃起曰：「妾不来矣。君记取百日之期，视妾坟前，有青鸟鸣于树头，即速发冢。」杨谨受教。出门又嘱曰：「慎记勿忘，迟速皆不可！」乃去。越十余日，杨果病，腹胀欲死。医师投药，下恶物如泥，浃辰而愈。计至百日，使家人荷锸以待。日既夕，果见青鸟双鸣。杨喜曰：「可矣。」乃斩荆发圹。见棺木已朽，而女貌如生。摩之微温。蒙衣舁归，置暖处，气咻咻然，细于属丝。渐进汤酏，半夜而苏。每谓杨曰：「二十余年，如一梦耳。」
过了几个月，一天，女子在灯下笑着看向杨于畏，似乎有话要说，却三次都红着脸停住了。杨于畏抱住她，问她想说什么。她回答：“长久以来承蒙您疼爱，我吸收了活人的气息，每天吃人间煮熟的食物，白骨竟然有了生机。只要再得到活人的精液和鲜血，就能复活。”杨于畏笑道：“是你自己不肯，难道是我故意舍不得吗？”女子说：“我们同房之后，您一定会大病二十多天，不过用药就能治好。”于是两人同了房。随后，女子穿好衣服起身，又说：“还需要一滴活人的血，您能为了爱我，忍受这点疼痛吗？”杨于畏拿来利刃，刺破手臂，流出血来。女子躺在床上，他便把血滴进她的肚脐。她起身说：“我以后不来了。您记住一百天的期限，到时去我的坟前察看。如果有青鸟在树梢鸣叫，就赶快掘开坟墓。”杨于畏郑重地答应，记下她的话。她出门时又嘱咐：“千万记住，别忘了，早了晚了都不行！”说完便走了。过了十多天，杨于畏果然病了，肚子胀得几乎要死。医生给他用药，他排出了像泥一样的污物，十二天后就痊愈了。算到第一百天，他让家人拿着铁锹等候。天色将晚时，果然看见两只青鸟一同鸣叫。杨于畏高兴地说：“可以了。”便让人砍去荆棘，掘开坟墓。棺木已经腐朽，女子的容貌却和活着时一样，摸上去还有些温热。他们用衣服盖住她，抬回家中，放在温暖的地方。她微微喘息，气息比一缕细丝还要微弱。他们慢慢喂她喝汤水和稀粥，到了半夜，她便苏醒了。她常对杨于畏说：“这二十多年，就像做了一场梦啊。”
Several months went by. Then one evening under the lamp she smiled at Yang as if she had something to say, and three times she blushed and stopped. Yang took her in his arms and asked what it was. “All this time you have loved me,” she said, “and I have taken in the breath of a living man and eaten cooked food every day, and suddenly there is life in my white bones. Now all I need is a living man’s seed and blood, and I can live again.” Yang laughed. “It was you who would not. Was I ever the one holding back?” “After we make love,” she said, “you are sure to fall very ill for twenty days or more. But medicine will cure it.” And so they made love. Afterwards she dressed and got up, and said, “I still need one drop of living blood. Do you love me enough to bear the pain?” Yang took a sharp knife and pricked his arm until it bled. She lay down on the bed, and he let it drip into her navel. Then she got up and said, “I shall not come again. Remember: a hundred days from now, watch at my grave. When you see blue birds singing at the top of the tree, dig the grave open at once.” Yang solemnly promised. As she went out of the door she told him again, “Remember it carefully, and don’t forget. Neither too late nor too soon!” And she was gone. Ten days or so later Yang fell ill, just as she had said, his belly so bloated that he thought he would die. A doctor gave him medicine, he passed something foul like mud, and in twelve days he was well. When he had counted out the hundred days, he had his servants wait with spades. As the sun was setting, he saw two blue birds singing together. “Now!” said Yang, overjoyed. They cut away the brambles and opened the grave. The coffin had already rotted, but the girl looked as if she were alive. When he stroked her, she was faintly warm. They covered her with clothes, carried her home and laid her somewhere warm. She was breathing, a breath finer than a thread of silk. Little by little they fed her broth and thin gruel, and at midnight she came back to life. She often said to Yang, “Those twenty years and more were like a single dream.”