"We must not neglect the rites. Do not let us forget to empty first the marriage cup."
Wang joyously accepted; and soon, seated opposite each other, they began exchanging cups of wine in the ritual way.
Seaweed, however, pretended to drink, and tried to make her lover tipsy; she contrived this little by little.
Wang, rendered sleepy by the wine, undressed himself, got on the bed, and ordered the young woman to put out the lamps and come to him.
She carefully blew the lamps and said:
"I will come in a minute!"
Then she quickly went to her luggage, took out a sword she had hidden there, and came back. Feeling with her hands in the darkness, she found the throat of the man and struck him as hard as she could: the man screamed and tried to get up; she struck again and again: there was a moaning, a gurgle, and then silence.
However, Wang's mother, having heard some noise, came with a lantern. Seaweed killed her before the old woman could even say a word.
Then the young woman, having avenged her family, tried to cut her own throat, in order to join her husband. The sword was blunt and she was only able to scratch herself. She then remembered that, outside the house, there was a fairly big pond; she ran out and threw herself into the water.
Some neighbours saw her and ran to her help; other people came; lanterns were brought forth; the poor girl at last was taken out of the pond, and brought back to her house. But, when the new-comers entered the room, they saw the bodies and the blood.