THE ADULTERESS
(Hsiao Pai Tsai)
(The Story)
One spring day in the waning days of the Ching Dynasty, Liu Tse-ho, son of the magistrate of Yuhang, went to druggist Chien Pao-sheng for help in his amorous advances toward Hsiao Pai Tsai, wife of peddler Ke Hsiao-ta. She had rebuffed him.
Hsiao Pai Tsai was the nickname of Pi Hsiu-Ku who had been in love with literary hero Yang Nai-wu prior to her marriage but had been a faithful wife since. But the town still talked about her love affair and her husband was heckled by ignorant children.
With the whole town laughing at him, Ke Hsiao-ta raced home. He was surprised to find a man with his wife. The man was Liu Tse - ho who had taken advantage of Hsiao Pai Tsai by means of drugs supplied by Chien. Hsiao-ta drove Liu off. He became sick.
Hsiao Pai Tsai appealed to Yang Nai-wu who was well versed in medicine, for help. Yang came, prescribed and supplied the money for the drug. When Hsiao Pai Tsai was buying the medicine from Chien, the druggist and Liu stealthily put poison in the drug.
Hsiaota was killed. The town again was upset by rumours of foul play. Hsiao-ta’s cousin went to the magistrate, charging Hsiao Pai Tsai with murder.
Magistrate Liu Shih-tung came to know his son's wrong doing. Yet he wanted to protect his own future. Counsel Wang then suggested the framing up of Yang Nai-wu.
Wang told Hsiao Pai Tsai if she blamed it on Yang, nothing serious would happen since Yang was a literary hero and a sworn brother of the magistrate's. Hsiao Pai Tsai was fooled into accusing Yang.
The magistrate stripped Yang of his literary title, then used torture to coerse a confession of murder. Town elders protested in vain. They went to the mandarin to appeal.
The mandarin, on the strength of bribery from Liu, saw to it that Yang Nai-wu confess and be sentenced to death.
Nai-wu’s wife died of sorrow, leaving behind a young son. Nai-wu's sister came home and learned of the tragedy. She went to see Hsiao Pai Tsai and told her Nai-wurs life was in danger. Hsiao Pai Tsai promised to tell the truth. But Liu Shih-tung threatened to kill all Yangs if she exposed his son.
Nai-wu's sister, Shou-ying, got the case to the governor. Again, bribery exerted its power. Hsiao Pai Tsai said Yang was innocent but dared not reveal the murderer's identity. At the insistance of his subordinates, the governor upheld Yang's death verdict.
Yang Shou-ying went to the capital and appealed to the Minister of Justice. The Minister was surprised when Hsiao Pai Tsai admitted guilt to spare Yang and Yang Nai-wu said he alone committed the murder.
The Minister flew into a rage, set aside a date for the execution of both but secretly got the two to meet while he eavesdropped. Hsiao Pal Tsai, knowing nothing could save them, told Yang who really committed the murder. The Minister surprised the two by laughing out in the other room.
The guilty ones were punished. Yang Nai-wu was given back his rank. While Hsiao Pai Tsai was about to be executed, a royal decree pardoned her. She then retired into a convent where she spent her borrowed life by praying for Yang Nai-wu who really loved her.