Mistress and Maid (Jiohong ji) by Meng Chengshun

Cyril Birch is Agassiz Professor Emeritus in the Department of East Asian Languages at the University of California, Berkeley, and is the author, editor, or translator of numerous books, including Scenes for Mandarins (Columbia) and The Peony Pavilion.

• Introduction Signposts of Romance Cast of Characters Scene 1: Legend Scene 2: Leaving Home Scene 3: Meeting with Bella Scene 4: Evening Embroidery Scene 5: In Search of a Beauty Scene 6: Flower Poems Scene 7: Response in Rhyme Scene 8: Trouble from Tibet Scene 9: Sharing the Lampblack Scene 10: Hugging the Stove Scene 11: Frontier Defense Scene 12: Thwarted Rendezvous Scene 13: Dispatching the Summons Scene 14: Quiet Despair Scene 15: Parting Vows Scene 16: Defense of the City Scene 17: Seeking a Cure Scene 18: Secret Pact Scene 19: The Portraits Delivered Scene 20: Cutting the Sleeve Scene 21: Sending the Matchmaker Scene 22: The Match Opposed Scene 23: A Drink with Courtesans Scene 24: The Matchmaker Reports Scene 25: Exorcism Scene 26: Third Visit Scene 27: The Slippers Scene 28: Petal Scolded Scene 29: Interrogation Scene 30: Viewing the Portraits Scene 31: Solemn Pact Scene 32: Petal Tells Scene 33: Reluctant Parting Scene 34: Envoys Appointed Scene 35: The Keepsake Scene 36: The Road to the Examinations Scene 37: Celebration Scene 38: Return in Triumph Scene 39: Bewitched Scene 40: A Haunting Suspected Scene 41: The Ghost Exposed Scene 42: Master Shuai Proposes Scene 43: Parting in Life Scene 44: Wedding Rehearsal Scene 45: Weeping on the Boat Scene 46: Petal Questioned Scene 47: Maiden's Passing Scene 48: Joined in Death Scene 49: United in the Tomb Scene 50: Reunion with Immortals