Fu Lian bowed deeply, facing Qiao Niang. "I truly don't know where I erred. If anything I said or did offended Miss Qiao Niang, please allow me to offer my deepest apologies."

Qiao Niang sighed. "It is not your fault; it is my fate. The husband I married in life was a eunuch, and now, after death, I meet you, only to find you too are a eunuch. This grief is profound."

Hua Gu expressed surprise. "Such an intelligent young man as Young Master Fu, yet a eunuch? Ah, what a pity, what a pity. Young Master Fu, this old woman has some slight knowledge of medicine. Please follow me; I shall take your pulse."

The two entered the East Wing. Hua Gu swiftly shut the door behind them, then reached into Fu Lian's groin and felt around, chuckling. "No wonder Qiao Niang weeps in sorrow. However, the root remains; there is hope, it can be cured." As she spoke, she lit an oil lamp, rummaged through chests and cupboards, and produced a single black pill. "Swallow this. You will reside here from now on; do not associate with outsiders." Having given her instructions, she departed on her own.

Fu Lian swallowed the pill and lay alone on the bed. Around the fifth watch, a ball of heat rose steaming from his navel, traveling downward and rushing straight to his most secret place. His vital root stirred and moved, rising erect. Touching it with his hand, it was hard and scalding, magnificent and massive. His ailment cured overnight, he could not help but become emotionally agitated, beaming with joy.

As dawn broke, Hua Gu entered with shaobing (baked flatbreads), offering them to Fu Lian to eat. She instructed him to sit patiently and not move about. After exchanging a few words, she excused herself and locked the door securely from the outside.

After leaving the room, Hua Gu went to Qiao Niang's private chamber and announced, "Young Master Fu performed the task of delivering the letter successfully. I intend to have my daughter, San Niang, become sworn sisters with him. For the time being, he can hide here for a few days to avoid drawing unwanted attention."

Fu Lian, confined alone indoors, felt like a bird caged; the boredom was suffocating. From time to time, he crept to the crack in the door to peer out. Sometimes he saw Qiao Niang pass by and wished to greet her, but shame held him back, and ultimately, lacking the courage, he let the moment pass.

When evening came, Hua Gu returned with her daughter and opened the door. "I apologize for keeping the Young Master waiting so long. Old woman, I beg your pardon. San Niang, this is Young Master Fu; come forward and greet him quickly."

San Niang hesitantly stepped into the room and performed a curtsy to Fu Lian. Hua Gu commanded them to address each other as brother and sister. Soon Qiao Niang arrived as well, and upon hearing this, she laughed. "Calling them siblings works too."

Hua Gu shot Qiao Niang a look, playfully scolding, "Young Master, pay no mind to her nonsense; this girl just loves winning arguments with her mouth." She clapped her hands several times, and servants, understanding the command, brought in a feast. The four sat together, drinking and chatting.

Fu Lian noticed San Niang’s beautiful appearance and gazed at her frequently during the banquet. Qiao Niang smiled teasingly, "Eunuch, you too can succumb to the lure of beauty?"

Fu Lian replied, "A lame man cannot forget shoes, just as a blind man cannot forget sight." The three women burst into simultaneous laughter. Because San Niang had been busy running errands, Qiao Niang ordered a servant to clean a separate room for her to rest. Hua Gu interjected, "No need for the trouble; let the brother and sister share a room."

San Niang kept her head bowed, shy and silent. Hua Gu coaxed her, "Young Master Fu appears to be a man, but he is actually a girl; you don't need to worry about him bullying you." While urging the two to rest early, she secretly instructed Fu Lian, "In front of outsiders, the Young Master is my son, but in my heart, I have long considered you my son-in-law."

Fu Lian was overjoyed. He pulled San Niang onto the bed for an intimate embrace. The sharp weapon was unsheathed, testing its new ability; the pleasure was incomparable. After they finished, whispering side-by-side, Fu Lian asked, "What kind of person is Qiao Niang?"

San Niang replied, "She is a female ghost, peerless in beauty and talent, but tragically fated. In life, she married a youth from the Mao family, who was a natural eunuch. At eighteen, he still could not consummate the marriage, which made Qiao Niang deeply unhappy, and she passed away from sorrow."

Fu Lian asked, his voice trembling, "Qiao Niang is a ghost; are you a ghost too, maiden?"

San Niang confessed, "To tell the truth, I am not a ghost, but a fox spirit. Qiao Niang lived alone in loneliness, and my mother and I were homeless. So, we all live together for company."

Fu Lian was stunned. "You are a fox spirit?"

San Niang assured him, "Young Master need not be afraid. Though Qiao Niang and I are ghosts and spirits, we never harm people."

From then on, Fu Lian and San Niang lived together. Although he knew Qiao Niang was a ghost, he was captivated by her beauty and secretly longed to draw close to her. In their daily interactions, Fu Lian was learned and witty in his speech, which also greatly pleased Qiao Niang. One day, when Hua Gu and her daughter were out, Fu Lian was alone in the room, feeling incredibly restless and bored. Seeing that San Niang was absent, he felt it was the perfect opportunity for a secret rendezvous. With this thought, he went to the window and began shouting loudly, calling out Qiao Niang's name.

Hearing the commotion, Qiao Niang took the key, opened the door, and frowned. "You wretched scholar, what demon are you summoning?"

Fu Lian, with a fawning expression, pleaded, "Dear girl, I miss you. Can we talk privately for a while?"

Qiao Niang nodded, dismissed the maid standing beside her, closed the door, and laughed. "If you have any nonsense, speak it quickly; I have things to attend to."

Fu Lian smiled without answering. He walked to her side, pulled Qiao Niang tightly into his arms, and began fumbling with her clothes. Qiao Niang’s face flushed crimson, and she pointed a finger toward the crotch of his trousers, saying, "The master is lustful, but alas, it is not cooperative."

Fu Lian chuckled, "Let's see if it is or not; why don't you touch and find out?"

Qiao Niang did reach out and felt it. She was both surprised and delighted, exclaiming, "How has it become so huge?"

Fu Lian explained, "Before, I was too ashamed to meet guests, so I remained curled up. Now that you have teased me, it is angry and naturally swelled up like a raging toad."

They looked at each other and smiled, then coupled upon the bed, weaving a silken tapestry of intimacy. When passion peaked, Qiao Niang could not get enough. After a long, long while, the man and woman finally sounded the retreat. Qiao Niang’s face, though drawn, held a spark of anger. She grumbled resentfully, "Now I understand why Hua Gu locks you in the room all day. Hmph, she is truly going too far. When her mother and daughter were adrift and helpless, I kindly took them in. San Niang and I were like sisters; she didn't know needlework, so I patiently taught her embroidery. But now she hogs the Young Master all to herself and won't share good things with her sister—tell me, isn't she ungrateful?"

Fu Lian smiled gently, "Qiao Niang, I must correct a few of your errors. First, I am not a thing; that must never be mistaken. Second, locking me in the room was entirely Hua Gu's decision; it has nothing to do with San Niang. Third, San Niang is kind-hearted and not the sort to be ungrateful. Alright, don't get angry; calm down, calm down."

Qiao Niang complained, "You side with outsiders to bully me; how can I calm down?"

Fu Lian smiled silently, gently pulling her into his embrace, indulging her freely, and coaxing her endlessly. Qiao Niang touched and grasped him, unable to stop the delicate gasps and moans, and her anger unconsciously dissipated like smoke.

As they were growing sweetly affectionate, the door suddenly burst open, and Hua Gu stormed in, her face contorted with fury, enraged. "Who opened the door?"

Qiao Niang smiled sweetly. "I did."

Hua Gu coldly sneered, "I knew it was you, you shameless slut, causing trouble. You... you seduce a man in broad daylight, without a shred of decency."

Dealing with a self-serving old woman like Hua Gu, Qiao Niang couldn't be bothered with courtesy and retorted sharply, "Old woman, you have too little memory. Didn't you personally say, 'Young Master Fu appears to be a man, but he is actually a girl'? Since Young Master Fu is a girl, what impropriety is there in me sleeping with him?"