In Kuaiji Commandery, there stood a shrine known as the Meigu Shrine. The honored lady, Meigu, was originally named Ma, hailing from Dongguan. She was betrothed to a scholar, but before the wedding could take place, her fiancé died. From that moment on, she vowed never to remarry. When she passed away from illness at the age of thirty, her clan erected a dedicated shrine in her memory, naming it the Meigu Shrine.

During the Bing Shen year, Young Master Jin from Shangyu County was traveling to the provincial capital for his examination. Passing by the Meigu Shrine, he entered the temple, wandering about and gazing fixedly at the statue of Meigu, his mind lost in reverie. That night, Young Master Jin dreamed of a maidservant who approached him, saying, "By order of Lady Meigu, the Young Master is summoned to an appointment."

Young Master Jin followed the maidservant to the shrine, where Meigu was already waiting beneath the eaves. She smiled and said, "I am honored by the Young Master's favor; if you do not disdain me, I wish to remain with you forever." Young Master Jin murmured his assent. After a brief conversation, Meigu waved him away, instructing him, "The Young Master must depart for now. I will build a statue for you. Return on the day the likeness is complete, and I shall welcome you."

That very night, the common folk near the Meigu Shrine all shared the same dream: they saw Lady Meigu manifest, announcing, "The scholar Jin from Shangyu County is my destined husband; I ask all of you to create a statue for him." The villagers reported the matter to the clan elder, who feared it would tarnish the chastity of Lady Meigu and firmly refused to consent. Before long, the elder's entire family fell ill. Filled with dread, they realized it was Meigu’s spirit punishing them, and they hastily commissioned the creation of a statue in the scholar's likeness.

After the statue was finished, the scholar told his wife, "Meigu has come to take me." He dressed himself properly and quietly passed away. His wife, consumed by grief, went personally to the shrine. Pointing at the statue of Meigu, she cursed it aloud, then climbed onto the altar and, drawing back both arms, delivered several sharp slaps across Meigu's face before finally departing in bitterness.

As for the scholar, because he became Lady Meigu's husband, the entire Ma clan thereafter respectfully referred to him as "Jin Gufu" (Husband Jin).