Guo Sheng, a native of the capital city, was past twenty and possessed handsome features. One twilight, an old crone visited his door, holding a jar of wine and inviting Guo Sheng to drink. Guo Sheng inquired, "Who are you? I do not know you, why invite me to drink?" The old woman laughed, "No need to ask. Just drink the wine, and a fine state awaits you." With that, she departed.

Guo Sheng unsealed the jar; upon a slight sniff, the rich aroma was sharp and biting. Unable to resist, he took several sips. The liquor settled in his stomach, and his mind grew hazy; he fell into a deep sleep. When he awoke, he found himself lying on the ** bed, beside him a woman whose skin was like congealed lard, emitting a fragrance like orchid. He asked her origin, but she merely smiled and offered no reply. They intertwined, their passion endless.

Afterward, Guo Sheng reached out and touched the wall. The walls were built of massive stones, mingled with the earthy stench of the soil, chillingly similar to a tomb. Greatly alarmed, he wondered, "Could I have encountered a ghost?" He asked, "Which realm’s Yin spirit are you, maiden?" The woman replied, "I am no Yin spirit, but an immortal maiden. This place is my grotto-heaven. Since you are destined to be here, there is no need for surprise. You shall live here from now on. If you need the privy, walk straight ahead; pass through a certain gateway, and that place is for your release."

Presently, the woman rose and left, closing the door and windows behind her. Guo Sheng remained alone. As time wore on, hunger gnawed at his belly. Just then, a maidservant arrived gracefully, carrying a food box. The box contained various delicacies such as flatbreads and duck meat, all exquisitely flavored. However, there was no light in the grotto, forcing him to eat in the dark, which was quite disorienting; the perpetual gloom made it impossible to distinguish day from night.

Not long after the meal, the woman arrived for a rendezvous. Guo Sheng complained, "There is no sunlight during the day, nor lamps at night. I cannot even find my mouth to eat! If this continues, what difference is there between Chang'e and a Rakshasi ghost? What difference between heaven and hell?" The woman smiled, "You are a man of the secular world, too talkative. I cannot guarantee you won't reveal the secrets of this place, hence I refuse to show you my true face. Furthermore, in the dark groping, beauty and ugliness should feel vastly different; one touch reveals all—why bother with a lamp?"

After several days of residency, Guo Sheng grew exceedingly restless, repeatedly begging to return home. The woman said, "Tomorrow night, I shall accompany you on a tour of the Celestial Palace, and take the opportunity to bid you farewell."

The next day, a young maid carrying a lantern entered the grotto, saying, "Mistress has been waiting for you for a long time." Guo Sheng followed her. Under the starlight, he saw countless pavilions. Passing through several long corridors, they arrived at a location where, in the main hall, pearl curtains hung low, and giant candles burned inside the room, making it bright as day.

Upon entering the main hall, not far away sat a stunningly adorned beauty, facing south. She appeared to be in her early twenties, dressed in brocade robes, with luminous pearls dangling from her ears; her countenance was exquisitely lovely, beautiful as a celestial being. The moment Guo Sheng saw her, his senses were utterly captivated, and he instinctively knelt in homage. The woman commanded her maidservant to help him up and invite him to sit. Soon after, the banquet was served, featuring countless rare and delicious dishes. The woman raised her cup to toast him, saying, "Drink this cup, and I shall send you on your way."

Guo Sheng bowed deeply and said, "In the past, not knowing I was meeting an immortal, I was truly fearful and regretful. If you permit me to atone, I would willingly remain by your side, loyal and true." The woman glanced at her maidservant, a smile flickering across her face, and ordered her to move the banquet to the bedchamber. Inside, tassels adorned the bed curtains, and the ** quilts and soft pillows emitted a heady fragrance.

The host and guest sat upon the couch, drinking and conversing merrily. The woman repeatedly suggested, "Young Master, you have been away from home for a long time; perhaps you should go back and check things." After several rounds of drink, Guo Sheng had no intention of leaving and stubbornly stayed. The woman called for her maidservant to light a lamp and escort the guest out. Guo Sheng remained silent, lying on the ** bed feigning sleep, refusing to stir no matter how much she pushed him.

The woman gave up insisting and ordered her maidservants to remove Guo Sheng's clothes, revealing his ** skin. One maidservant playfully flicked his lower parts and remarked, "Such a handsome man, yet cursed with such a savage weapon, completely unruly!" They helped Guo Sheng onto the bed and then laughed and departed.

The woman also ascended the bed to sleep, but Guo Sheng tossed and turned, unable to find rest. The woman asked, "Are you drunk?" Guo Sheng replied, "How could this young scholar be drunk! I am merely dazzled and disoriented by the immortal beauty before me." The woman said, "This is the Celestial Palace. Since you found the grotto stifling, perhaps you should depart sooner rather than later." Guo Sheng lamented, "The grotto is dark, without lamps or candles. A beauty as exquisite as you, like a delicate flower, I can only smell but not see—how can one bear such torment?"

The woman laughed, "You keep circling back to the same point, which is simply wanting lamps and candles. Very well, I agree to your request." With a clap of her hand, a maidservant entered the bedroom holding a lantern and inquired, "Mistress, what are your orders?" The woman said, "Prepare Young Master Guo's clothes and send him back to the grotto."

Returning to the grotto, under the light, Guo Sheng saw the walls were exquisitely finished, and the ** was covered in a carpet more than a foot thick. Guo Sheng removed his shoes to rest, but the maidservant lingered near the bed, unwilling to leave. Guo Sheng focused his gaze, noticing her delicate features, and playfully teased, "Are you the one who called me unruly?" The maidservant smiled slightly, nudged the pillow with her foot, and chuckled, "Go to sleep, you talk too much nonsense."

Guo Sheng gazed intently and saw that the tips of the maidservant's shoes were studded with luminous pearls, each as large as a pea. His heart fluttered, and he gently took hold of the maidservant's socks and shoes, examining them closely. Then he embraced her, caressing her **. They engaged in mutual pleasure, and the maidservant, unable to withstand his vigorous attentions, gasped repeatedly in pleasure. Guo Sheng asked, "How old are you?" The maidservant replied, "Seventeen." Guo Sheng asked, "Does even a virgin know of desire?" The maidservant said, "I am not a virgin, but I have not lain with a man for a full three years."

Guo Sheng inquired about the immortal woman's surname and origin. The maidservant said, "Don't ask! Even if this place isn't the Celestial Palace, it is vastly different from the mortal realm. If you probe too deeply, you might find yourself without a burial place." Hearing this, Guo Sheng was frightened and immediately fell silent. The next night, the woman arrived with a lantern, and the two began eating and sleeping together as if it were customary.

That night, the woman said, "I intended to stay with you forever; however, the mortal world shifts, and now the court is investigating grotto-heavens. Disaster is inevitable. Drink this final cup of wine, and we must part ways here." Guo Sheng felt a pang of sadness. As parting neared, he requested a keepsake token, but the woman refused, bestowing upon him only a pound of gold and a hundred luminous pearls.

Guo Sheng accepted the jewels and drank freely. After three cups, he grew groggy and fell heavily drunk. When he awoke, his limbs were bound, unable to stretch his legs or lift his head. He struggled violently, and suddenly tumbled onto the ground. Reaching out to touch, he realized he was inside a leather sack, deprived of light. With great effort, he managed to wriggle out. Looking around, the surrounding scenery felt intimately familiar; somehow, he had returned to his study.

By this time, Guo Sheng had been away from home for three months; his family believed he had met with foul play. Initially, Guo Sheng dared not tell the truth, fearing punishment from the immortals. But as time passed, repeatedly reflecting on his experiences, doubts began to multiply. He privately mentioned the matter to friends, but they were all baffled and unable to provide an explanation. Later, a high-ranking official visited and, upon hearing the story, laughed, "Brother Guo, you were tricked. The woman you were intimate with was certainly no immortal. She was merely the wife or concubine of a wealthy family. This trick was once used by Empress Jia of the Western Jin dynasty; it holds nothing new. Nevertheless, what is said is said—you must not reveal the secret, or destruction upon your entire clan is certain."

At that time, a certain sorceress often frequented the mansions of the nobility. Upon hearing Guo Sheng's tale, she told him, "The structure of the pavilion you described bears a striking resemblance to the residence of Lord Yan Shifan." Guo Sheng was terrified, and his entire family fled. Only after Yan Shifan was finally brought to justice and executed did Guo Sheng dare to return to his hometown.

(Empress Jia refers to Jia Nanfeng, a historically infamous ugly woman, the Empress of Emperor Hui of Jin, Sima Zhong, who was known to be simple-minded—some say an "idiot," others suggest he was impotent. The famous saying, "If they have no rice to eat, why don't they eat meat?" was attributed to Sima Zhong. Jia Nanfeng led a dissolute life and often gathered handsome young men into the palace. There was once a minor official in Luoyang City, handsome and poor. One day, he suddenly appeared clad in silks and spending lavishly. The authorities suspected him of theft and had him arrested for questioning. The official defended himself, saying, "I committed no robbery; my sudden wealth has a cause. Once, while walking on the road, I met an old crone who told me, 'Someone in my household is ill; the fortune-teller decreed that a young man must be invited to ward off evil. My mistress wishes to ask for your help, and great reward is promised.' I followed her into a carriage. The crone forcibly stuffed me into a wooden box and rushed for over ten li, passing through six or seven gates before finally opening the box. I found myself in a loft, exquisitely luxurious. I asked her, 'Where is this place?' She replied, 'This is Heaven.' As she spoke, she ordered me to bathe and change into fine brocade robes. Then she led me to a great hall where a woman sat, about thirty-five or six, short in stature, with a dark complexion and a scar behind her eyebrow. I stayed in the loft for several days, engaging in happy and passionate intimacy with the woman every day; there was nothing else to do. Later, the woman grew tired of me and ordered me sent back. Before parting, she gifted me much gold and silver." The magistrate hearing this immediately understood; from the official's description, he was certain the woman was Empress Jia. Since the matter was sensitive, he did not pursue it further, released the official, and let the matter rest.)