Twin Lanterns: A Tale of Enigmatic Love and Parting

Explore the intriguing story of Wei Yunwang and the enigmatic young lady who appeared under twin lanterns on moonlit nights, their affection, and their inevitable parting.

Wei Yunwang, a native of Penduquan in Yidu, comes from a prestigious family. However, as his family’s fortunes declined, they couldn’t afford to continue his education. When he was in his twenties, he had to stop his studies and began working with his father-in-law in the wine business.

One night, Wei Yunwang was sleeping alone in the wine shop when he suddenly heard footsteps downstairs. He sat up in surprise, listening fearfully. The footsteps were getting closer, ascending the stairs and growing louder with each step. Before long, two maidservants holding lamps had arrived at his bedside. Following them was a young scholar leading a young lady, both of them approaching his bed with a smile.

Wei Yunwang was greatly astonished, and he thought they might be fox spirits. His hair stood on end, and he lowered his head, not daring to look directly at them. The scholar said with a smile, “You don’t need to be suspicious. My sister has a karmic connection with you from a past life, and she should serve you.”

Wei Yunwang glanced at the scholar, who was dressed in splendid attire, and felt ashamed of his own appearance. His face turned red with embarrassment, and he didn’t know how to respond. The scholar left the lamp and led the maidservants away.

Wei Yunwang carefully examined the young lady. She was charming and ethereal, like a celestial maiden. He was deeply fond of her but felt embarrassed and couldn’t utter playful words. The young lady looked at Wei Yunwang and said with a smile, “You’re not just a bookish scholar, so why do you exude an air of poverty?” She moved closer to the bed, placing her hand in Wei Yunwang’s embrace to keep warm.

Wei Yunwang finally smiled, adjusted his clothes flirtatiously, and became more intimate with her. Before morning’s bell had rung, the two maidservants came to escort the young lady away. They made arrangements to meet again at night.

When night fell, the young lady indeed appeared, smiling and saying, “How did such a lucky boy like you come by this fortune? Without spending a single coin, you have such a beautiful woman willingly coming to your door every night.” With no outsiders present, Wei Yunwang was delighted and set up wine for them. They drank, played guessing games, and the young lady won nine out of ten times. She then proposed, “Let me roll the dice, and you can guess. If you guess correctly, you win; if not, you lose. If you let me guess, you won’t have any winning moments.” They played as she suggested and had a joyful night.

Later, when it was time to sleep, the young lady said, “Last night, the bedding was cold and uncomfortable.” She asked the maidservants to bring the rolled bedding they had brought with them, spread it on the bed, and it was soft and fragrant. After a while, the two of them undressed, embraced each other, and the young lady’s rosy lips radiated an intoxicating fragrance. It was a level of tenderness that even the paradise of Emperor Han Chengdi couldn’t match. From then on, they were like this every day.

Half a year later, Wei Yunwang returned home. It happened to be a moonlit night, and he was talking with his wife beneath the window when suddenly he saw the young lady, dressed in splendid attire, sitting on the wall and waving at him. He approached, and she pulled him over, helped him climb the wall, and held his hand as she told him, “Today, we must part ways. Please accompany me for a few steps to signify the affection we’ve shared for the past six months.”

Wei Yunwang was surprised and asked for the reason. The young lady replied, “Marital destiny has its own preordained path, why speak more?” During their conversation, the two of them reached the outskirts of the village, where the maidservants with two lamps were waiting. They continued on to the South Mountain, ascended to a high point, and then bid farewell to Wei Yunwang. Unable to detain them, Wei Yunwang watched as their two lamps flickered in the distance, gradually fading away until they vanished. He returned home feeling gloomy and unsettled.

That night, the lights on the mountain were seen by all the villagers.

《双灯》

魏运旺，益都之盆泉人，故世族大家也。后式微，不能供读，年二十馀，废学，就岳业酤。一夕，魏独卧酒楼上，忽闻楼下踏蹴声。魏惊起，悚听。声渐近，寻梯而上，步步繁响。无何，双婢挑灯，已至榻下。后一年少书生，导一女郎，近榻微笑。魏大愕怪，转知为狐，发毛森竖，俯首不敢睨。书生笑曰：“君勿见猜。舍妹与有前因，便合奉事。”魏视书生，锦貂炫目，自惭形秽，觍颜不知所对。书生率婢子遗灯竟去。

魏细瞻女郎，楚楚若仙，心甚悦之，然惭怍不能作游语。女郎顾笑曰：“君非抱本头者，何作措大气？”遽近枕席，暖手于怀。魏始为之破颜，捋裤相嘲，遂与狎昵。晓钟未发，双鬟即来引去。复订夜约。至晚，女果至，笑曰：“痴郎何福？不费一钱，得如此佳妇，夜夜自投到也。”魏喜无人，置酒与饮，赌藏枚，女子什有九赢。乃笑曰：“不如妾约枚子，君自猜之，中则胜，否则负。若使妾猜，君当无赢时。”遂如其言，通夕为乐。既而将寝，曰：“昨宵衾褥涩冷，令人不可耐。”遂唤婢襆被来，展布榻间，绮縠香耎。顷之，缓带交偎，口脂浓射，真不数汉家温柔乡也。自此，遂以为常。

后半年，魏归家。适月夜与妻话窗间，忽见女郎华妆坐墙头，以手相招。魏近就之，女援之，逾垣而出，把手而告曰：“今与君别矣。请送我数武，以表半载绸缪之义。”魏惊叩其故，女曰：“姻缘自有定数，何待说也。”语次，至村外，前婢挑双灯以待，竟赴南山，登高处，乃辞魏言别。魏留之不得，遂去。魏伫立彷徨，遥见双灯明灭，渐远不可睹，怏郁而反。是夜山头灯火，村人悉望见之。