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One day, the Zheng Family hosted a banquet for Hanlin. As the drinks flowed and the atmosphere was warm, Zheng Situ noticed Hanlin's pale complexion and asked with concern, "Why do you look so unwell lately, my dear nephew?" Hanlin forced a smile and replied, "I've been drinking and having fun with Zheng Shisan these past few days; I must have worn myself out."
Just then, Zheng Shisan unexpectedly arrived. Hanlin felt a surge of anger and shot him a glare, unwilling to speak to him. However, Zheng Shisan seemed oblivious to the tension and entered with greetings, asking warmly, "Brother, have you been busy with work lately? Or are you feeling troubled? Perhaps an old ailment has returned? Why do you look so haggard and your spirit so low?"
Hanlin casually brushed it off, saying, "It's just fatigue from overwork; it's nothing to worry about."
Zheng Situ interjected, "I heard from the household servants that they saw you in the garden recently, having a lively conversation with a beautiful woman. Is there any truth to this?"
Hanlin vehemently denied it, saying, "That garden is secluded and rarely visited; the servants must be making things up."
Upon hearing this, Zheng Shisan feigned surprise and said, "With a gentleman as upright as you, why hide trivial matters of romance? I recall how you once publicly scolded Master Du for spreading falsehoods. Now it seems you have something to hide! I'm worried that you might be oblivious to your own predicament. So I secretly placed the talisman Master Du gave me in your hairpin to ward off evil spirits. That night, I couldn't help but sneak into the garden and saw a female ghost float away from your window and disappear over the wall. This shows that Master Du's words were not mere fabrications; I acted out of concern for you. Yet instead of being grateful for my help, you treat me coldly. Why is that?"
Realizing he could no longer keep this matter hidden, Hanlin stepped forward and said, "What happened to me is quite strange; please listen closely." He then recounted everything in detail. At the end, he added, "I know that my thirteenth brother means well. Although that woman may be a spirit, her words and actions were not outrageous; she behaved properly and posed no threat. Even though I feel unwell, I am not so easily deceived by spirits. However, I am somewhat troubled by the talisman that Zheng brother placed without my consent; it blocked her path."
Zheng Situ laughed heartily and clapped his hands: "My son-in-law is indeed eloquent; he could rival Song Yu! You should write a poem titled 'The Goddess'! I'm not joking; many years ago I encountered an extraordinary person who taught me the art of summoning souls. Today I can summon Miss Zhang's spirit for you; it will both comfort your heart and serve as an apology from Thirteen. What do you think?"
Hanlin quickly replied, "Please don't jest with me, father-in-law. The art of summoning souls has long been lost; I cannot believe what you say."
Zheng Sheng chimed in: "Miss Zhang's spirit can come at Yang brother's thought alone; my talisman can drive away spirits too. She should be a docile ghost—what's there to doubt?"
Hearing this, Zheng Situ lightly tapped the screen with his feather duster and called out loudly: "Where is Miss Zhang?" As soon as he finished speaking, a woman stepped out from behind the screen with her hand covering her mouth in laughter, standing behind the lady of the house.
When Hanlin looked up and recognized Miss Zhang, he was immediately at a loss for words and stared blankly at Zheng Situ and Zheng Sheng, asking: "Is this person human or ghost? If she is a ghost, why can she appear in broad daylight?"
Zheng Situ and his wife exchanged amused glances while Zheng Sheng laughed so hard he nearly fell over. The surrounding maidservants also struggled to contain their laughter.
Finally, Zheng Situ said: "Let me clarify this for you. This girl is neither an immortal nor a ghost but rather a singer we keep at home named Chun Yun. Seeing that my son-in-law was always frowning and unhappy, we thought to send her to keep him company and lighten his mood—this was our good intention! Who would have thought your thirteenth brother would interfere with such good intentions and cause you unnecessary distress? Isn't that laughable?"
Zheng Sheng stopped laughing and said to Hanlin: "Both times we met were arranged by me. Instead of being grateful for my matchmaking efforts, you've treated me like an enemy—don't you think that's rather ungrateful?"
Hanlin couldn't help but chuckle: "Since father-in-law has already betrothed Miss Chun Yun to me, Zheng brother merely helped a little—there's no credit due!"
Zheng Sheng replied: "The responsibility for arranging this lies solely with me; however, there are others behind the scenes planning this—did you think it was all my doing?"
Hanlin turned to Zheng Situ with a smile: "Could there be more to this? Is father-in-law playing tricks on me?"
Zheng Situ stroked his beard seriously: "At my age, how could I engage in such childish antics? You worry too much."
Hanlin then turned back to Zheng Sheng: "If it wasn't you arranging this, who else would do such a thing?"
Zheng Sheng pretended to be profound: "As the sage says: 'What comes from you returns to you.' Brother Hanlin should think carefully if he has ever deceived anyone using some trickery himself. A man can disguise himself as a woman; mortals can impersonate immortals; even immortals can turn into ghosts—what strange things exist in this world!"
At last realizing the truth, Hanlin laughed at Zheng Situ: "So that's how it is! It seems I've offended Miss earlier; she is now taking revenge on me!" Both Zheng Situ and his wife only smiled without speaking.
Hanlin turned back to Chun Yun: "Chun Niang! You are truly a clever girl! Wanting to be close to someone yet first playing tricks on him—does that make sense for someone like you?"
Chun Yun knelt down and replied: "I only know how to obey the general's orders; I don't understand imperial edicts."
Upon hearing this, Hanlin sighed deeply: "Once upon a time there was the Goddess of Wushan who transformed into clouds by day and dew by night. Now we have Chun Niang who appears as an immortal during the day but turns into a ghostly figure at night. Though clouds and dew take different forms, they both come from the same goddess; similarly though immortals and ghosts look different—they are all played by you alone! In King Xiang of Chu's heart there was only one goddess—how could he care about clouds or rain? Now I feel the same way—I only have Chun Niang in my heart; why should I care if you're human or immortal or ghost? When King Xiang saw clouds he didn't say they were clouds but rather that the goddess had arrived; when he saw rain he didn't say it was rain but rather that the goddess had manifested her spirit. And here I am seeing you dressed as an immortal—I don't call you Chun Niang but insist you're an immortal! When I see you dressed as a ghost—I don't call you Chun Niang but insist you're a ghost! In this regard I'm far inferior to King Xiang of Chu! Your methods surpass even those of that goddess! I've heard that strong generals never have weak soldiers—your skills suggest that whoever orchestrated this behind the scenes must be quite remarkable!"
Everyone burst into laughter again before bringing out more food and drink to continue celebrating until late into the night when they finally dispersed. Chun Niang also stayed at the end of the table as the new bride.
Later that night, Chun Yun held a candle as she accompanied Hanlin into the garden. By then Hanlin was already tipsy; he took Chun Yun's hand while playing with it and asked: "Are you an immortal or a ghost?" Under the dim moonlight he examined Chun Yun closely before muttering to himself: "Not an immortal nor a ghost—you are clearly just a living person! Whether you're an immortal or ghost doesn't matter because I like you either way since you're alive!" As he spoke further he added: "No wait—that's not right! You're not who you used to be anymore! Whether it's an immortal or ghost—it’s not really who you are anymore. Someone must have incited you to become an immortal or ghost just to tease me! That person must understand sorcery! Why won't you stay here with me—a mere mortal? Why can't we meet here in this earthly garden? If others can turn you into an immortal or ghost—can't I do it too? If I want you as an immortal—why not become Chang'e from the Moon Palace? If I want you as a ghost—why not become Consort Xiang from Hengshan?"
Chun Yun hurriedly replied: "I am overstepping my bounds—I truly have deceived you! Please forgive my transgressions."
Hanlin smiled: "When you turned into an immortal or ghost just to tease me before—I never held it against you! Now that you're my wife—I wouldn't hold anything against you!" Upon hearing this Chun Yun quickly rose to thank Hanlin.
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