“Not yet. If you wish it I’ll go tell her straightaway,” and she began to head for the door.
Yingying stopped her, saying “Let’s keep this between us for now. You’ve already given him a sufficient reprimand, so we’ll leave it at that. It’s getting dark out. Please prepare the incense table; I’m going out to the garden shortly to burn some incense.”
Hongniang placed the table in the garden and returned to accompany Yingying there through the side gate.
Shortly after his arrival, Zhong Gong had learned from a monk that every evening Yingying would go into the garden to burn some incense. That night he had gone to the garden early and hidden himself in a corner behind some rockery, hoping to catch a glimpse of the young beauty.
By that hour, most of those living in the temple were already asleep. The cloudless night was lit up by a clear moon and cooled by a soft wind. The moon’s light shone down on the garden, projecting shadows through the trees that seemed to be dancing with the wind. The leaves and branches appeared as if they had a silver lining, adding to the evening’s mystique. As he admired the fragrance of the flowers and the beauty of the moonlight, he heard the side gate creak open. Shortly thereafter, he observed breathtaking figures of Yingying and Hongniang enter the garden.
Seen in the silvery moonlight, Yingying truly appeared as a moon goddess descending to earth. Her beauty and elegance froze Zhang Sheng in his place, and for a moment he forgot where he was and why he was there.
Yingying lit three sticks of incense and softly prayed.
“The first stick is for my father; may his soul swiftly ascend to heaven. The second stick is for my mother’s continued health. The third stick is for…”
She paused. But Hongniang knew what she was thinking, so she broke in:
“Let me finish the third wish for you, sister. The third stick is for Miss Cui herself; may she find her Mr. Right as soon as possible.”
Hongniang had taken Yingying’s thoughts and turned them into words. The young mistress leaned onto the incense table and heaved a deep sigh.
Seeing all this, Zhang Sheng’s admiration for Yingying only increased.
“I’m no poet,” thought the young man. “I bet she has a good appreciation for fine poetry.”
He began to recite a poem about her on the spot: In the evening bathed in moonlight’s shine, When spring flowers cast shadows on the ground.
I look up and into the light of the moon, Yet that beautiful creature is nowhere to be found.
Hongniang recognized his voice and remarked to Yingying, “This must be that 23 year-old unmarried loser.”
Yingying had also overheard him chant the poem and knew it must be Zhang Sheng. Impressed by the originality of the poem, she answered with her own poem in the same form:
Solitude, her only companion in the chamber, Witnesses the departure of springtime spent in vain.
He who cries out so, Must share with the sighing maid her love!
Yingying’s poem made Zhang Sheng’s heart soar. He was now struck by not just her beauty, but also by her intelligence. How delightful it would be to sit beside her, composing poems together with such a lovely creature! With this thought still in his mind, he left his hiding place and approached the ladies, presenting himself with a deep bow to Yingying. She was about to respond when Hongniang stepped in: “Someone is coming, sister. We should get back to the Chamber now, or risk Madam’s displeasure.”
With that, she dragged Yingying off. But before they were out of sight, Yingying turned around and cast a quick glance at Zhang Sheng. His heart leaped and he felt as light as if he could float. Back in his room, in the lonely light of his small lamp, he could neither study nor sleep; she was all he could think of.
On the fifteenth day of the second lunar month, the abbot and his disciples held the memorial service for the late Prime Minister Cui. As promised, the abbot let Zhang Sheng burn some incense for his parents in the Buddha Hall before the service began. Unsure if Madam Cui would disapprove if she found out, the abbot told Zhang Sheng that if she ever saw him and asked what he was doing, he should tell her that he is the abbot’s relative and is burning incense for his parents. Zhang Sheng nodded his agreement.
Soon, drums and chanting of Buddhist ures filled the temple. The abbot invited Madam Cui and Miss Yingying into the Buddha Hall to offer incense.
The abbot told Madam Cui, “A relative of mine is staying here in the temple. He is a well-read young scholar. His parents passed away just a year ago, so he wanted to use this memorial ser vice to offer incense and joss paper in memory of them. I agreed, but I fear you might be displeased with this intrusion.”
“A relative of yours is a relative of mine,” she replied. “Ask him to come over. I would like to meet him.”
Zhang Sheng quickly came over to pay his respects to Madam Cui and once again he saw Yingying sitting next to her mother. They dared not speak to each other in her mother’s presence. Nonetheless, Yingying used the opportunity to make a close observation of him. Recalling his splendid poem from that night in the garden, she could not help but be fond of this genteel and handsome young man. Throughout the service, Zhang Sheng also stole several looks at Yingying. He was completely captivated by her slim eyebrows, rosy cheeks and slender figure. He could never tire of looking at such beauty.
None of this escaped the attention of Hongniang who began to feel a little concerned, fearing Madam Cui might notice this exchange of admiring glances amongst the grand service. With the abbot and all the monks present, she also worried that they might come to their own conclusions if they noticed what was happening. As soon as the service ended she hurried up to Madam Cui. “It’s getting late now and it’s about time for Madam and
Mademoiselle to get back to the Western Chamber and take rest.” She then accompanied Madam Cui and Yingying back to their living quarters. Following her departing figure with his
eyes, Zhang Sheng no longer felt like burning more incense and a sudden and overwhelming feeling of emptiness came over him…
