ENG
Sword raised to the azure sky,
Enemy blood stains the black robe high.
Fortunate to be a maiden fair,
Outshining heroes with grace and flair.
In the old days, the Scorpionlord brought his four sons to the Temple of Yellow Flowers, seeking refuge. The Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master, coveting the power of his venom, promised to arrange marriages between the young spider yaoguais and the scorpion princes. Hence, he called forth Violet Spider and four of her daughters to meet them.
Once everyone was seated, the Daoist Master asked the princes to introduce themselves one by one.
The eldest prince stood up, thumping his chest, and declared, "My skills were personally taught by my father. Among my brothers, I am the best bachelor. If all the sisters wish to marry me, don't let it cause any discord."
Seeing the sisters frown, the second prince quickly stood up and interjected, "Sisters, please forgive my brother's recklessness. Strong as he is, which I admit, I am no less capable. If you choose me as your husband, I will expand our domain and make it prosperous."
The Daoist Master was displeased by the second prince's ambition, and the sisters too remained non-committal, turning their gaze to the third scorpion son. Feeling the pressure of their stares, he reluctantly said, "My brothers are all skilled, and my younger brother is also exceptional. Sisters, please consider carefully before making a choice."
The fourth prince, disdainful of his third brother's lack of confidence, said, "My third brother is a bit awkward in temperament. I hope you don't mind. Although I am younger, my future is promising. Choosing me is choosing the future."
After hearing their self-introductions, the Daoist master asked the four daughters of the Zhu family to express their opinions one by one. The eldest sister spoke gently, "With many sisters to look after, and our mother's illness, I cannot lay down this burden and let my sisters suffer. My marriage can wait a few more years."
The scorpions shook their heads, expressing regret. The second sister laughed coquettishly and said, "I am busy managing the family business alone, with many financial gaps to fill. If any of you are willing to help bridge these gaps, I might consider marriage."
The Scorpionlord's mountain had long since fallen into ruin, with no wealth to speak of, so the second sister's words effectively ended the conversation. The third sister, holding a fan, said, "I wish to marry someone with whom I can live in harmony. I love the poetry of Luo Yin. Have any of you read his works?"
It's likely that the four princes didn't even know what poetry was, let alone who Luo Yin was. Consequently, everyone pinned their hopes on the fourth sister.
Sitting at the end, the fourth sister hummed softly out of boredom before speaking. "My sisters, you were too polite, speaking so tactfully that they probably didn't even understand. This so-called meeting is just a scheme against us. We would end up with no gain, while they take our dowries and positions in our cave. How dare they consider us as the ones to be taken advantage of? They call themselves princes, yet none of them are noble. If they truly had any skills, why not earn their own fortunes instead of showing off and making fools of themselves here?"
After the fourth sister's outburst, the conversation at the table shifted to criticizing her. Though apologies were exchanged, the topic of marriage was never brought up again.
The text opens with a short verse that paints a striking image: a maiden holding a sword toward the sky, her robe stained with enemy blood, and praised for beauty and skill that outshine heroes. That verse stands apart from the prose that follows but sets a tone of a powerful, notable woman.
The main story takes place at the Temple of Yellow Flowers. The Scorpionlord has brought his four sons there to seek refuge. The Hundred-Eyed Daoist Master, however, wants to take advantage of their venomous power. He proposes to arrange marriages between the scorpion princes and Violet Spider and her daughters, and summons Violet Spider and four daughters of the Zhu family to consider the matches.
Each scorpion prince speaks in turn. The eldest brags that his father trained him and calls himself the best bachelor. The second prince interrupts to promise that he will make their domain prosperous if chosen. The third speaks reluctantly and modestly, urging the sisters to think carefully. The fourth criticizes the third’s lack of confidence and pitches himself as the promising, forward-looking choice. The Daoist Master is displeased by the second prince’s ambition, and the sisters do not seem convinced.
The four sisters answer one by one. The eldest says she must care for her many sisters and their sick mother, so her marriage can wait. The second says she is busy running the family business and needs help with finances — but the Scorpionlord’s mountain is ruined and the princes have no wealth, so that rule-out matters to her. The third wants a husband she can live in harmony with and mentions loving the poet Luo Yin, a cultural preference the princes likely don’t share. That leaves expectations resting on the fourth sister. She then speaks bluntly, accusing the meeting of being a scheme to take their dowries and cave positions, saying the princes are showing off instead of earning their fortunes, and rejecting the arrangement.
After the fourth sister’s outburst the mood shifts; people criticize her, apologies are exchanged, and the marriage subject is dropped. The Daoist Master’s marriage plan fails at that meeting. The scene shows the princes as refugees without wealth, the daughters as protective of family duty, finances, and compatibility, and the Daoist as someone trying to profit from arranging matches but unable to secure consent. The conversation ends with no marriages and no agreement.