In the twenty-second year of Kangxi’s reign, I was teaching at the residence of Prefect Bi, lodging in the Chuoran Hall. The Bi residence boasted luxuriant flora, and in my leisure, I often wandered through the blossoms, finding endless delight. One such day, returning from the garden utterly fatigued, I kicked off my shoes and collapsed onto the bed. In the deep of my sleep, I suddenly saw two women, clad in vibrant silks, approach and bow, saying, "By the command of our mistress, we are here to invite the Master to an audience."

A shock went through me, and I asked, "Who is your mistress?" They replied, "Jiang Fei." Filled with confusion and a hazy sense of unreality, I had no choice but to follow the two women.

Before long, we arrived at a grand palace, its towering structure piercing the very clouds. Below the main hall lay marble steps, ascending in tiers—more than a hundred in all. Above the steps, the vermilion gates stood ajar. From within emerged two or three maids who greeted me warmly, ushering me into a large reception hall.

The hall was dazzling, alight with golden splendor. Seated at the head was a breathtaking beauty, adorned in embroidered silks and jade bracelets, exuding grace and nobility. She spoke, "We are truly indebted to the Master for making this journey; we thank you in advance." As she spoke, she gathered her robes and curtsied. I returned the gesture and replied, "I am but a humble commoner, and to receive an invitation from a consort of such stature fills me with unexpected honor. May I ask why Consort Jiang summons me?"

Jiang Fei laughed, "Let us set aside serious matters for the moment; first, we drink." With two gentle claps of her hands, a banquet materialized, a lavish spread of rare delicacies, an unparalleled extravagance.

After several rounds of wine, Jiang Fei confided, "To be frank, Master, this humble one is not human, but a Flower Spirit. My entire family resides here, yet we are constantly harassed by the steward's maids, who cruelly pluck our blossoms and snap our leaves. We can endure it no longer. We have decided to make a final stand and engage in a magical duel against the Feng clan women. I implore the Master to draft a proclamation of war on my behalf."

A wave of apprehension washed over me. I rose from the table and said, "My talents are meager, and I fear I am ill-equipped for such a weighty task. However, if it is the command of Consort Jiang, I dare not refuse." Jiang Fei was overjoyed, immediately preparing the ink and brush. I pondered for a moment, then dashed the ink and began to write, finishing the declaration of war in an instant. Strangely, though I am not usually sharp-witted, at the moment of writing, inspiration flowed as if from a boundless spring.

When the proclamation was complete, Jiang Fei scrutinized it closely and declared, "Well written, truly well done. Attendants, escort the Master back to his quarters." Upon returning to my lodging, I woke with a start. Because the entire episode felt so preternatural, I still recall the bulk of that proclamation, which ran something like this:

The women of the Feng clan are arrogant and haughty, consumed by envy. They employ insinuation and slander, their conduct base and vile. Emperor Shun was beguiled by them, causing him to neglect his consorts Ehuang and Nüying; King Chu was instigated by them, dismissing worthy ministers and brave officers; Emperor Gaozu of Han feared them, his heart seized with terror; Emperor Wu of Han lived in constant anxiety because of them; When Tao Qian retired to his home, his robes were snatched up by their wind; When Meng Jia ascended the platform, his fine cap was plucked away by them. The Feng clan runs riot without restraint; if they open their mouths to howl, jade ornaments shatter; if their limbs move, seas are overturned. Dolphins are bullied by them, and wild geese are disgraced by their presence. Wherever the wicked women pass, kites fall to the earth, and sea birds flee in terror. Flowers wither, and willows droop in desolation.

If the Feng clan is not destroyed, heaven and earth will never know peace. The Flower Spirit lineage, though composed of women, shares the sacred duty of punishing evil and eradicating treachery; it is imperative that we unite as one to resist this powerful enemy. With unified will, sparrows can become soldiers; with one mind, bees and butterflies can become allies; the orchid and laurel trees can serve as oars; the mulberry and willow wood can fashion flagpoles. Through shared enmity, we shall cleanse a millennium of accrued grievances; through mutual alliance, we shall extinguish eons of accumulated hatred. (This proclamation totals over nine hundred characters. Though the rhetoric is ornate, it contains little substance and is difficult to translate elegantly; thus, this will have to suffice.)