To this Mr. Kao replied, “The lady, your sister, is in the inner court with her women, another day you may meet her.”
Nien Chi urged Mr. Kao to introduce him that day, but the latter changed the subject of conversation, and then Nien Chi proposed that they should see who could take the most wine.
Alas! Mr. Kao did not dream of his plan, and very soon was fast asleep; seeing this, Nien Chi went to the family court in the rear and seeing her with her women, he said: [[130]]
“Most beautiful of great sisters, I salute you.”
Yü Yüch Ying immediately arose, and seeing the man who had troubled her so, there in her own court, she said:
“Who are you, and how do you dare to come into this inner court?” and then turning to a servant, she said, “Call your master.”
Nien Chi smiled and said, “Don’t be anxious, lady, your husband is my good brother by rite of blood. We have drank the wine and made the compact and that, you know, as he is older than I, gives me a right to meet you and call you ‘sister.’ My great brother is now asleep. He is a poor, stupid man who cannot let wine alone. Now, most beautiful and virtuous of all women, leave him to his books and marry me. You shall have, by promise of my master, the great Yen Sung, the finest of the land, in robes of silk and satin, servants by tens, jewels fit for an empress, and a most royal home.”
In great fear and rage the lady spurned him, and called to her women to bring her husband, asleep or awake.
The loud voices had awakened him, and when the women met him, telling of the fright of their lady, he picked up a stick and, entering the court, demanded how he had dared enter there. [[131]]
Yü Yüch Ying said to him, “How did you dare enter friendship’s bonds with such as he? Take him from my court and presence at once. He is more hateful to me than a serpent.”