It is a very famous Chuanqi in the Tang Dynasty. Below is a full English translation of the story.
During the reign of Emperor Dezong in the Tang Dynasty, there was a man named Cui Sheng(崔生). His father was a prominent official who had a close relationship with high-ranking ministers of the time. Cui Sheng himself served as a guard in the palace. One of these high-ranking ministers fell ill, and Cui Sheng’s father instructed him to visit.
Cui Sheng was young, handsome as jade, straightforward in character, serene in demeanor, and eloquent in speech. When the minister summoned him, a lady attendant raised the door curtain, ushering Cui Sheng into the room. After paying respects to the minister, Cui Sheng conveyed his father’s concerns. The minister was fond of Cui Sheng and invited him to sit, engaging in conversation.
At that moment, three extraordinarily beautiful attendants stood before them, carrying golden utensils filled with fresh peaches soaked in syrup. The minister directed a maiden in red silk to offer a bowl to Cui Sheng, who, feeling bashful in the presence of the maiden, hesitated to eat. The minister then instructed the maiden to feed Cui Sheng with a spoon. Reluctantly, he ate, and the maiden giggled.
Cui Sheng expressed his intention to take his leave, but the minister said, “In your leisure time, you must visit me often. Don’t distance yourself from an old man.” He instructed the maiden in red silk to escort Cui Sheng out.
As Cui Sheng turned to leave, he saw the maiden extending three fingers, followed by three consecutive hand turns, then pointing to a small mirror on her chest, saying, “Remember.” She didn’t say anything further.
Upon his return, Cui Sheng relayed the minister’s sentiments to his father. However, upon returning to the academy, he became enchanted and distraught. His face grew thin, his speech diminished, and he seemed absent-minded, lost in thought all day. Despite this, he composed a poem:
“Mistakenly wandering atop Penglai’s peak,
The celestial beauty moves her starry gaze.
Through crimson doors half-opened, moonlight spills,
Reflecting on jade snow, worries bereft.”
誤到蓬山頂上遊，明璫玉女動星眸。
朱扉半掩深宮月，應照璚芝雪艷愁。
Those around him couldn’t grasp the poem’s meaning.
At this time, in Cui Sheng’s household, there was a Kunlun slave named Mo Le(磨勒). He visited Cui Sheng and asked, “What burdens your heart so heavily that you bear this resentment? Why won’t you confide in me?” Cui Sheng replied, “This is something within me. How could you possibly understand?” “Tell me, I can relieve your sorrows, no matter how difficult. I can make it happen.” insisted Mo Le.
Feeling that Mo Le’s words were exceptional, Cui Sheng shared his experience with him.
“This is a trivial matter. Why didn’t you speak of it earlier? You’ve brought this upon yourself.” Said Mo Le.
Cui Sheng then recounted the hidden message of the maiden in red silk.
Mo Le then explained. “It’s simple. ‘Three fingers’ signify that the minister has ten court attendants, and she belongs to the third one. ‘Turning palms three times’ indicates fifteen days from now. The ‘small mirror on her chest’ refers to the full moon on the fifteenth day. It’s a meeting invitation.”
Cui Sheng, elated upon hearing this, asked, “How can I untangle the knots in my heart and fulfill my desire?”
Mo Le smiled. “Two days from now, on the fifteenth night, take two pieces of green silk and fashion a tight-fitting garment. The minister’s home is guarded by fierce dogs at the court attendant’s gate. Ordinary people can’t enter; even if they do, they’ll be mauled to death. That dog, vigilant as a deity, fierce as a tiger, is the Caozhou Meng Hai’s hound. In this world, no one but me can kill it. For you, I’ll slay it.”
Cui Sheng then prepared wine and meat to reward Mo Le.
On the appointed night, at the third watch, Mo Le took a club and left. Within the time it took for a meal, he returned, saying, “The dog has been killed. There are no obstacles now.” After the third watch, Cui Sheng changed into the tight green garment. Mo Le carried him, flying over more than ten layers of courtyard walls, until they reached the court attendant’s place. The door was unlocked, lights still on, and the maiden in red silk sat there, sighing as if waiting.
The maiden was bare of adornments and makeup, filled with grievances and sorrow. She was reciting a poem:
“In the deep cave, the warbler laments her beloved,
stealing beneath the flowers to untangle her jewels.
The azure clouds drift, breaking off the sound of words,
alone leaning on a jade flute, sorrowing like a phoenix.”
深洞鸎啼恨阮郎，偷來花下解珠璫。
碧雲飄斷音書絕，空倚玉簫愁鳳凰。
The palace guards were all asleep, and the surroundings were quiet.
Cui Sheng slowly lifted the door curtain and entered.
After a while, the maiden recognized him and hastily jumped off the bed, grasping Cui Sheng’s hand, saying, “I knew you were clever and would decipher my hidden message, so I used hand signals that day. But I didn’t know how you, sir, had such divine skills to reach this secluded place.”
Cui Sheng recounted Mo Le’s suggestion and how he was carried here.
The maiden asked, “Where is Mo Le?”
“Outside the curtain.” Replied Cui Sheng.
He called Mo Le inside, and they toasted with golden cups filled with wine.
The maiden told Cui Sheng, “My family was once affluent, living in the north. The minister used force to coerce me into becoming a court attendant. Unable to end my life, I lived in misery, despite the luxurious lifestyle—feasting on delicacies, adorned in silks and satins, surrounded by gold and jade. This wasn’t my wish; it felt like a prison. Mo Le possesses such extraordinary skills; why not help me escape? Even if my wish is fulfilled, I’ll have no regrets, willing to serve you as a servant by your side. But I don’t know what plans you have?” Cui Sheng remained silent.
Mo Le said, “Since the lady is determined to escape the tiger’s den, it’s a trifling matter.”
The maiden was overjoyed. Mo Le took the maiden’s belongings out thrice, then said, “It might get late; dawn might approach.” Mo Le carried Cui Sheng and the maiden, flying out of the high walls and courtyards, undetected by the minister’s guards. Upon returning, they hid in the academy.
At daybreak, the minister’s household noticed the dead dog. The minister was astonished, saying, “With high walls and tight security, someone flew in without a trace. Surely, it was the work of a knight-errant. Keep this matter quiet to avoid trouble.”
The maiden secluded herself in Cui Sheng’s home for two years. During the blossoming of spring, she rode in a carriage to tour Qujiang. However, she was recognized by the minister’s people, who informed the minister. Puzzled, the minister summoned Cui Sheng to inquire. Afraid and unable to hide, Cui Sheng explained everything in detail, attributing it all to Mo Le’s guidance.
The minister said, “It’s the maiden’s fault, but she has served you for years. I can’t blame her. Still, I must rid the world of this menace.” He ordered fifty soldiers armed to besiege Cui Sheng’s residence and capture Mo Le. However, Mo Le, wielding a dagger, flew over the high walls as light as a feather, swift as an eagle. Despite the rain of arrows, none struck him, and in no time, he vanished without a trace.
Cui Sheng’s household was in panic. The minister, feeling regret and fear, stationed many armed servants for protection, patrolling every night for over a year.
Over a decade later, someone from Cui Sheng’s family saw Mo Le selling medicine in Luoyang market, looking just as he did before.
Original text in 《傳奇》:
唐大歷中，有崔生者，其父為顯僚，與蓋代之勛臣一品者熟。生是時為千牛，其父使往省一品疾。生少年，容貌如玉，性稟孤介，舉止安詳，發言清雅。一品命妓軸簾。召生入室。生拜傳父命。一品忻然愛慕。命坐與語。時三妓人艷皆絕代，居前。以金甌貯含桃而擘之。沃以甘酪而進。一品遂命衣紅綃妓者，擎一甌與生食。生少年赧妓輩，終不食。一品命紅綃妓以匙而進之，生不得已而食。妓哂之，遂告辭而去。一品曰。郎君閑暇，必須一相訪，無間老夫也。命紅綃送出院。時生回顧，妓立三指，又反三掌者，然後指胸前小鏡子雲。記取。餘更無言。生歸，達一品意。返學院，神迷意奪，語減容沮，恍然凝思，日不暇食，但吟詩曰。誤到蓬山頂上遊。明璫玉女動星眸。朱扉半掩深宮月，應照璚芝雪艷愁。左右莫能究其意。時家中有昆侖奴磨勒，顧瞻郎君曰。心中有何事，如此抱恨不已。何不報老奴。生曰。汝輩何知，而問我襟懷間事。磨勒曰。但言，當為郎君釋解，遠近必能成之。生駭其言異，遂具告知。磨勒曰。此小事耳，何不早言之，而自苦耶。生又白其隱語，勒曰。有何難會，立三指者，一品宅中有十院歌姬，此乃第三院耳；返掌三者，數十五指，以應十五日之數；胸前小鏡子，十五夜月圓如鏡，令郎來耶。生大喜不自勝，謂磨勒曰。何計而能導達我郁郁字原空闕。據明鈔本補。結。磨勒笑曰。後夜乃十五夜。請深青絹兩疋。為郎君製束身之衣。一品宅有猛犬。守歌妓院門。非常人不得輒入，入必噬殺之。其警如神，其猛如虎，即曹州孟海之犬也。世間非老奴不能斃此犬耳。今夕當為郎君撾殺之。遂宴犒以酒肉。至三更，攜鍊椎而往。食頃而回曰。犬已斃訖，固無障塞耳。是夜三更，與生衣青衣，遂負而逾十重垣，乃入歌妓院內，止第三門。綉戶不扃。金釭微明，惟聞妓長嘆而坐，若有所俟。翠環初墜，紅臉才舒，玉恨無妍，珠愁轉瑩。但吟詩曰。深洞鸎啼恨阮郎。偷來花下解珠璫。碧雲飄斷音書絕，空倚玉簫愁鳳凰。侍衛皆寢，鄰近闃然。生遂緩搴簾而入。良久，驗是生。姬躍下榻，執生手曰。知郎君頴悟。必能默識，所以手語耳。又不知郎君有何神術，而能至此。生具告磨勒之謀，負荷而至。姬曰。磨勒何在。曰。簾外耳。遂召入，以金甌酌酒而飲之。姬白生曰。某家本富，居在朔方。主人擁旄，逼為姬仆。不能自死，尚且偷生。臉雖鉛華，心頗郁結。縱玉筯舉饌。金爐泛香，雲屏而每進綺羅。綉被而常眠珠翠。皆非所願，如在桎梏。賢爪牙既有神術，何妨為脫狴牢。所願既申，雖死不悔。請為仆隸。願侍光容。又不知郎君高意如何。生愀然不語。磨勒曰。娘子既堅確如是，此亦小事耳。姬甚喜。磨勒請先為姬負其囊橐妝奩。如此三復焉。然後曰：恐遲明，遂負生與姬。而飛出峻垣十餘重。一品家之守禦。無有警者。遂歸學院而匿之。及旦，一品家方覺。又見犬已斃，一品大駭曰。我家門垣，從來邃密，扃鎖甚嚴，勢似飛騰，寂無形跡。此必俠士而挈之。無更聲聞，徒為患禍耳。姬隱崔生家二歲，因花時，駕小車而遊曲江，為一品家人潛誌認，遂白一品。一品異之，召崔生而詰之事。懼而不敢隱，遂細言端由，皆因奴磨勒負荷而去。一品曰。是姬大罪過，但郎君驅使逾年，即不能問是非，某須為天下人除害。命甲士五十人，嚴持兵仗圍崔生院，使擒磨勒。磨勒遂持匕首，飛出高垣。瞥若翅翎。疾同鷹隼。攢矢如雨，莫能中之。頃刻之間，不知所向。然崔家大驚愕。後一品悔懼，每夕。多以家童持劒戟自衛。如此周歲方止。後十餘年。崔家有人，見磨勒賣藥於洛陽市，容顏如舊耳。
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