The wife of Liu led Yu-lang to the invalid’s bed; but he had been excited and troubled by the music and noise, and had fainted.  They had hastily to revive him by pouring some spoonfuls of hot soup in his mouth.

At length the false bride was led to the prepared pavilion, and her great veil was taken off.  Then her fresh beauty shone forth, and everybody uttered exclamations of joy:  the wife of Liu was alone in feeling a certain compassion, for she thought of all that the new bride would have to lose, and deplored her son’s misfortune in falling ill at the moment of tasting so great happiness.

As for Yu-lang, the tedium of beholding the hideousness of all the guests was curiously diminished by the pleasure of seeing Prudence’s delectable face.  He thought: 

“What a misfortune that I am already betrothed!  Here is she whom Fate should have given me.”

Prudence, on her part, felt herself drawn towards him in an irresistible manner, and said to her mother and the go-between: 

“Alas! surely my brother has no luck, and my sister-in-law will be very unhappy alone tonight!  Is she not charming?  If my future husband were like her, my life would be free from all regret.”

Meanwhile, the marriage feast came to an end, a present was sent to the musicians, and the guests withdrew.  The disguised boy, after being conducted to his pavilion, had his nurse’s assistance in unmaking the complicated structure of his nuptial adornment.  At last he found himself alone, but with no wish for sleep.  Now Liu and his wife said to each other: 

“It seems hard to leave the newly-wed bride alone for her first night under our roof.  Would it not be better to tell Prudence to go and keep her company?”

As always, the father made certain objections which were not listened to.  Prudence insisted, and soon mother and daughter went together to the new pavilion, and approached the bed, the curtains of which were drawn shut.

“Here is your sister-in-law come to spend the night with you....”

Yu-lang did not know what to say.  He was afraid of being discovered, and held the curtains very tightly under his chin, as he put his head through the opening.

“I am accustomed to be alone,” he stammered.  But the mother said: 

“Aya!  You are both of the same age, you are almost sisters.  What are you afraid of?  If you want to be particular, you have only to keep a blanket between you.”

During this time, Yu-lang was moved as much by fear as by delight.  Was it not strangely fortunate that Prudence’s mother should herself have come and let her in this manner to his bed?  But if the young girl should call out?  On the other hand he thought: 

“She is fifteen years old, therefore she has been ready for some time; the door of her emotions is ajar.  If I take precaution and kindle her heart little by little, there is no need to fear that she will refuse to nibble at my hook.”