Gu Sheng, a native of Jinling, was twenty-five, single, and poor, though possessed of vast knowledge. He lived by his skill in painting and calligraphy, supporting his aging mother.

Across the lane stood an empty house occupied by an old woman and her daughter. Lacking any male presence in their household, they rarely interacted with outsiders. One day, as Gu Sheng returned home, he saw a young woman emerge from her mother's room. She appeared to be eighteen or nineteen, exquisitely graceful and elegant, a beauty rarely matched. She met his gaze without flinching, yet her expression was icy, carrying an aura of untouchable reserve.

Shang Sheng entered his home and asked his mother, "Who was that young lady just now?"

His mother replied, "That was the girl from across the way; she came to borrow scissors. She mentioned she only has her mother. She doesn't seem like a girl from a poor family. When I asked why she wasn't married, she said, 'My mother is old and frail; I cannot bear to leave her.' You might call on them tomorrow, perhaps sound her out. If the old lady is amenable, and since you are unmarried and she is unwed, it would be perfect to take her daughter as your wife."

The next day, Gu Sheng visited the neighbors. The young woman's mother was a deaf elder, and their home was meager, surviving solely on the daughter's needlework and embroidery. Gu Sheng delicately broached the subject of marriage; the old woman seemed agreeable, but the daughter remained silent, her demeanor clearly showing reluctance.

Gu Sheng returned to discuss it with his mother. They privately surmised, "Perhaps the girl looks down on our poverty? See how she rarely smiles or speaks—as alluring as a peach blossom yet as cold as frost and snow. Truly an extraordinary person."

One day, while Gu Sheng sat quietly in his study, a young man arrived seeking a painting. The visitor was handsome, but his demeanor was rather frivolous. He introduced himself as a scholar from the neighboring village. From then on, the young man visited every two or three days. The two grew close, embracing and forgetting themselves in their intimacy.

On one occasion, the young man saw the maiden pass by and inquired, "Who is she?" Gu Sheng answered, "The young lady next door." The young man chuckled, "So beautiful, yet with such an intimidating, icy expression."

A while later, Gu Sheng went inside to see his mother. The old woman remarked, "That young woman came by just now to borrow rice; we’ve been without grain for days. That girl is incredibly filial, and her poverty is pitiable. We should offer her some relief in the future."

Obeying his mother’s wishes, Gu Sheng carried a peck of rice to the neighbor’s house. The maiden accepted the rice, her words remaining frosty, offering no thanks. In the days that followed, the young woman often dropped by the Gu household. Whenever Mother Gu worked on her needlepoint or weaving, the girl would come forward to help. She moved through the hall, assisting with household chores, behaving exactly like a daughter-in-law. Gu Sheng observed this with secret gratitude, always setting aside a portion of the silver he earned from selling paintings for her. The maiden accepted it readily, though she never uttered words of thanks or ceremony.

Once, Mother Gu fell ill in her private chambers, suffering unbearable pain and groaning day and night. Hearing of this, the maiden took the initiative to care for her, meticulously applying poultices and cleaning her.

Mother Gu felt greatly unsettled and sighed, "Alas, if only I could have a daughter-in-law like this maiden, I could die without regret." The girl comforted her, "Young Master Gu is a hundred times more dutiful than my solitary mother and I."

Mother Gu sighed again, "That may be true, but there are many trivial matters by the bedside that are only suited for a woman’s touch; a man cannot help with those. Furthermore, I am old now, and who knows when I will be laid to rest. The only thing that truly troubles me is that the Gu family has no heir."

As she spoke, Gu Sheng entered. His mother wept, "My child, during this sickness, I owe everything to the maiden’s care. You must remember this immense kindness forever." Hearing this, Gu Sheng hastily bowed in deep thanks.

The maiden said, "Young Master cared for my mother, and I never properly thanked you. There’s no need for such formalities; let us not thank each other back and forth."

One day, as the maiden went out, Gu Sheng watched her intently. Suddenly, she turned back and gave him a brilliant smile. Overjoyed, Gu Sheng followed her home. His words were playfully suggestive, and the maiden offered no resistance; the two delighted in their union.

Afterward, the maiden cautioned him, "This can happen once, but never again." Gu Sheng remained silent. The next day, he visited as usual, flattering her with every word, but the maiden’s expression was stern, and she paid him no heed.

During the day, the girl still visited occasionally. When they met, her demeanor was aloof, and she spoke with absolute coldness. If Gu Sheng tried to initiate conversation, she would respond with icy words and a frigid face.

One day, in a secluded spot, the maiden questioned Gu Sheng, "Who was that young scholar I saw you with during the day?"

Gu Sheng told her truthfully, "He is a scholar from the next village who came to buy a painting."

The maiden replied, "That man speaks too lightly and has been repeatedly disrespectful to me. Out of consideration for your acquaintance with him, I chose not to press the matter. Tell him for me: if he utters another absurd word, he is courting death."

The next day, when the young man arrived, Gu Sheng relayed the maiden’s words, urging him, "Be more careful in the future; you cannot take liberties with her again." The young man sneered, "If I cannot take liberties, does that mean you can?" Gu Sheng retorted, "Who said I took liberties with her?"

The young man said, "If you two have no entanglement, why would she direct such indecent remarks specifically at you?" Gu Sheng was struck dumb, sputtering in embarrassment.

The young man concluded, "I also have a message for you to deliver: advise that woman to stop being a hypocrite. If she doesn't, don't blame me for spreading the ugly truth of what happens between you two everywhere." With that, he left in resentment.

Gu Sheng’s blood boiled with anger. From then on, he ceased all contact with the young man. That evening, Gu Sheng sat alone in his room when, unexpectedly, the maiden pushed open the door and said, "Our fated connection is not severed; this must be Heaven's will." Gu Sheng was ecstatic and pulled her into his embrace, just as they were about to grow intimate, they suddenly heard approaching footsteps. They startled apart and stared—it was the young man, arriving uninvited.

Gu Sheng roared, "What is the meaning of this?"

The young man sneered, "No special meaning. I just wanted to see how a chaste, virtuous lady conducts her affairs with men." He stared at the maiden and declared, "This time I have caught you in the act. You have nothing to say now, do you?"

The maiden’s willow brows shot up. She remained silent, swiftly pulling up her outer garment to reveal a leather pouch. Reaching inside, a flash of white light erupted, and in her hand appeared a shimmering dagger, about a foot long.

Upon seeing the sharp weapon, the young man’s face turned the color of ash, and he bolted, running for his life. The maiden chased him out into the open air. She scanned the surroundings; the young man had vanished somewhere. After a moment's thought, she tossed the dagger towards the sky. A sharp crack echoed, and a streak of bright light, dazzling as a white rainbow, split the heavens. Soon, an object fell to the ground with a thud. Gu Sheng illuminated the spot with his candle: in the tall grass lay a white fox, stiff and dead, its head severed from its body.

The maiden said, "This creature was your young male companion. I intended to spare its life, but the fox demon was determined to die, so I obliged it." She tucked the dagger back into the pouch. Gu Sheng pulled her hand, eager to return to their passion, but the maiden shook her head. "With that fox demon’s interruption, how can I be in the mood? Come again tomorrow night."

The next evening, the maiden arrived precisely on schedule. After a session of deep affection, Gu Sheng asked, "You can actually fly with a sword? Are you an Immortal Swordswoman?"

The maiden replied, "That is not something you need to know. Please keep my secret; revealing it might bring disaster."

Gu Sheng nodded, then asked, "When will you marry me?"

The maiden said, "We have already shared a bed. As long as you consider me your wife in your heart, why must we insist on a formal marriage?"

Gu Sheng pressed, "Are you perhaps ashamed of my poverty?"

The maiden countered, "Your family is poor, but am I rich? The reason I sought pleasure with you was precisely because I pitied your desolate state." She moved to leave, pausing to instruct him, "Indiscretions like that can only be occasional. I will come when it is time. You are a dignified man; do not always crave carnal beauty."

Henceforth, whenever they met, if Gu Sheng sought to be alone with her, she would deliberately keep her distance, focusing all her energy on managing the household and serving Mother Gu.

Several months later, the maiden's mother passed away. Gu Sheng helped arrange the funeral. The maiden lived alone thereafter. Gu Sheng thought he might have an opportunity, so that night he climbed over the wall and softly called her name through the window. After a long silence with no reply, he peered closely: the doors and windows were sealed shut, and the bedroom was empty. The maiden had vanished.

For several days, the maiden remained completely out of sight, leaving Gu Sheng feeling lost and melancholic. At noon on the third day, she finally reappeared. As they met, the maiden said, "I have been absent these past few days, and I imagine you have grown suspicious, Young Master. But everyone has their secrets, and I cannot reveal the truth yet. There is one matter I need your help with."

Gu Sheng asked, "What is it?"

The maiden replied, "I am eight months pregnant and due to deliver soon. My status is uncertain; though I can bear a son for you, I cannot raise him. Please find a wet nurse for the child as quickly as possible."

Gu Sheng timidly agreed and returned to tell his mother. The old lady laughed, "This girl is truly strange. She refuses to marry you properly but secretly sleeps with my son."

More than a month later, the maiden had not been seen for several days. Mother Gu grew worried and went to check on her personally. Seeing the main door tightly shut, she knocked for a long time until the maiden responded faintly. She emerged with her hair disheveled and face unkempt, leading the elder inside. In the bedroom, a newborn infant lay crying incessantly.

Mother Gu was both shocked and overjoyed, asking, "When was he born?"

The maiden replied, "Three days ago. It is a boy."

Mother Gu picked up the baby and played with him, laughing, "Good girl, thank you for bearing an heir for the Gu family. But you are all alone, a fragile woman—what are your plans now?"

The maiden said, "I still have matters unfinished that I cannot share with you, Mother. Please care for the child." As soon as she finished speaking, she lightly departed.

Several days later, deep in the night, the maiden pushed open the door, holding the leather pouch. She smiled at Gu Sheng and said, "My great task is complete; I have come to bid you farewell."

Gu Sheng asked, "What exactly happened? Farewell? Where are you going?"

The maiden replied, "I have never forgotten the kindness you showed my mother. Before, I told you 'once but not again,' meaning that repayment should not occur in bed. Seeing your poverty and lack of a wife from the moment we met, I resolved to continue your lineage for you. I thought one night of intimacy would be enough to conceive, but unexpectedly, my cycle came, so I broke my rule and shared a room with you a second time. Now that I have borne your offspring, my purpose is fulfilled, and I have no regrets."

Gu Sheng asked, "What is in the leather pouch?"

The maiden replied, "The head of my enemy." Opening it, Gu Sheng saw a bloody, mangled mess.

Gu Sheng was thrown into a panic, but he composed himself and asked for the story.

The maiden said, "I never told you before because the matter was confidential, and I feared leaks. Now that everything is settled, I can tell you the truth: I am originally from Zhejiang. My father was a high-ranking official in the Sima’s court, but he was murdered by an enemy, and our entire family was executed. I narrowly escaped with my mother, hiding our identities until now—three years have passed. The reason I didn't seek revenge immediately was that my mother required care. Later, after she died, I became pregnant, which delayed me again. Those nights when I was absent recently, I was scouting my enemy's residence, memorizing the roads and entrances to ensure nothing went wrong." With that, she rose to leave, instructing him, "Entrust the child to your care. Young Master, your lifespan is short, but your son can bring glory to the family line. Do not wake your mother late at night; I am leaving now."

Three years later, Gu Sheng indeed passed away. His son, at the age of eighteen, achieved the rank of Jinshi, caring for his grandmother until her burial.