Injustice to Dou E

Chinese Drama

Chinese drama, from the Southern opera, Yuan drama, to the legend of the Ming and Qing dynasties, modern local opera, experienced nearly a thousand years of development, the emergence of a large number of outstanding writers and works, Yuan drama Guan Hanqing（关汉卿）, Wang Shifu（王实甫）, etc., Ming and Qing dynasty legend Tang Xianzu（汤显祖）, Kong Shangren（孔尚任）, Hong Sheng（洪昇）, etc.. All they can be ranked among the world's outstanding playwrights: the Romance of the Western Chamber, the Injustice to Dou E, the Orphan of the Zhao Family, the Peony Pavilion, the Peach Blossom Fan and the Palace of Eternal Life have become world classics.

Living under people's roof - Injustice to Dou E

Once upon a time, there was a young scholar named Dou Tianzhang. He was from Chang’an originally. He had read lots of books to prepare for the imperial examinations. But he came from a very poor family. He couldn't afford to go to Chang’an to take part in the exam so he couldn’t achieve any scholarly honours or gain official rank. He had a daughter named Duanyun who also was not blessed with luck in her life. Her mother passed away when she was three. After that, Dou Tianzhang roved to Chuzhou in today's Jiangsu Province with his daughter.

When Duanyun was seven years old, Dou was desperate to change their circumstances. He borrowed 760 grams of silver from the moneylender Ms. Cai who was a widow living in Chuzhou City. After some time he would have to pay 1,520 grams of silver back including interest when the debt matured the following year. Ms. Cai asked him for payment many times, but could never get repaid. Cai noticed that his lovely daughter was almost the same age as her eight-year-old son. Then she came up with the idea to let Duanyun be her child bride. She told Dou if he accepted this deal, she would write off the debt. Indeed, she said she would even pay him some money as travelling expenses for his imperial exams in Chang’an.

Dou loved his daughter so much that he was not willing to part with her especially as a child bride. However, he had no way out. He was not able to repay the debt; he hadn’t even enough to feed his daughter. He thought it over again and again. Finally, he made the terrible decision and sent his daughter to the Cai’s. Cai promised him she would treat Duanyun as her daughter.

With the 380 grams of silver Cai gave him, Dou Tianzhang left his daughter and set off for Chang, an to participate in the imperial exams.

Scoundrels - Injustice to Dou E

Before long, Cai moved to Shanyang County near Chuzhou with her two children. Duanyun grew up, and Cai kept her promise. She was very fond of the little girl and changed her name to Dou E. When she was 17, Dou E got married to Ms. Cai’s son. Two years later, however, her husband fell seriously ill and died soon after. Poor Dou E had become a widow at the tender age of 19. After that, she and Cai grew even closer.

Another three years passed, and Cai still made a living for both of them on her money lending. One day, she told Dou E, “I’m going out of town. Sai Luyi (a doctor surnamed Lu) owes me 760 grams of silver. I have asked him for it many times, but he still has not repaid it. Now, I want to try again.”

Sai Luyi used to be an imperial physician. He ran a traditional Chinese medicine shop in the south of town. His business was slow because his leechcraft was rather slipshod. One day, he was twiddling his thumbs, when Cai came in. After some small talk, she brought up the subject of the debt. He craftily replied, “I can give your money back, but not here. Come with me. It’s at my house.”

Cai was thinking only of getting back her money and followed him out of the shop. She never knew his true evil intention. He held a rope behind his back. When they had reached a quiet place, he slipped the cord around her neck and began to strangle her.

She struggled desperately, but Sai held the cord even tighter. There was no way the old woman could break free. Just as Cai was about to breathe her last, two people passed by and saw everything. They rushed to her aid and Sai fled in panic.

The two passers-by were a father, named Zhang Lao’er, and his son called Zhang Lu，er who was a knight’s page. Their arrival scared Sai away. Old Zhang helped Cai up and asked, “Old lady, where are you from? What’s your name? Why did that man try to kill you?”

Cai had not yet recovered from the fright. She replied, “My first name is Cai. I live in Shanyang County, with only my daughter-in-law. I’m a widow. That man is called Sai Luyi. He owed me money. I came to ask him to repay me. And then he tried to strangle me. It is only thanks to you that I am still alive.” However, Zhang Lu’er ’s mind had immediately switched to evil intentions. He whispered to his father, “Dad, did you hear that? She has a young daughter-in-law at home. We saved her life, so she must pay us back. We are both single men. Why don’t you marry the old lady and I will take the young girl?”

Zhang Lao’er thought it was a great idea. He turned to Ms. Cai and said, “I see you have no husband, and I don’t have a wife. I saved your life. Can I ask you to be my wife now.”

Cai got angry, “How can you speak like that? Yes, you saved me. I’ll thank you with a monetary reward which will be enough for you.”

Zhang Lu’er immediately grew angry. He threatened her, saying “How dare you to refuse me? If you try to send us away with just a little money, Sai’s rope is still here; I’ll strangle you to death myself.”

Having just escaped with her life, Cai didn’t fancy another attack. She was afraid that he would harm her, so she determined to try to calm them down first. She said, “Calm down. Let me think it over. Follow me home now.”

Cai brought them home. When they arrived at the gate, she asked them to wait outside and went inside alone. At the same time, Dou E was waiting anxiously. Cai started to cry the minute she saw Dou E. Dou E was confused and asked her what had happened. She told the whole story and added Zhang Lao’er wanted to marry her. Dou E said it was a crazy idea. “That’s exactly what I thought. So I said I’d give them some money. But they refused. They say they both have no wives, and we have no husbands. If I don’t accept, Zhang Lu’er will kill me. I was so scared that I accepted. I agreed not only to let the old guy be my husband but also to let the young one marry you.”

Unjustly accused - Injustice to Dou E

Dou E was irritated, “Mom, how could you agree to this kind of request? Yes, he saved you, but you don’t have to marry him to make up for it. Besides, if you want to take in a son-in-law, do it by yourself. I’ll never marry anyone.”

“Don’t be like that! I don’t want to take in anyone. It’s them who have forced me to do this! They are waiting outside. What am I supposed to do?”

While they were arguing, Zhang Lao’er and Zhang Lu’er came in. Zhang Lu'er saw that Dou E was beautiful. He saluted her brazenly. She frowned at him. However, he came closer to her and pulled at her clothes. Dou E pushed him to the ground and rushed to her room.

Zhang Lu’er got up slightly miffed, Cai didn’t dare to offend them. So she said to old Zhang, “She has a bad temper. Please forgive her. She is not willing to marry your son. So I can’t marry you either. You two can stay here; real treat you well. Meanwhile, I am going to try to persuade my daughter-in-law. When she changes her mind, we’ll decide what to do.”

In this way, senior and junior Zhang stayed and lived with Cai. Several days passed, and almost no progress had been made. Dou E paid no attention to them at all, and wouldn’t even come out of her room. Zhang Lu’er grew impatient, and an evil thought came to his mind - to poison Cai. He thought this young lady would have to listen to him when she was all alone. So, he went to a chemist in the south of town.

The boss of the store was none other than Sai Luyi. Sai was living in fear since the day he had tried to murder Cai, fearing every minute that the authorities would come to arrest him one day. Zhang went to the store and said he wanted some bane. He was shocked. He recognized him straight away.

Sai dared not sell poison to Zhang. However, Zhang seized him suddenly, “Don’t you think that I don’t know? It was you who tried to kill Cai that day! If you don’t give me the dosage I want, I’ll expose you to the officials.”

Sai was terrified. He obeyed. Zhang returned with the poison. Sai grew even more scared. This man knew him, he thought, and if someone died from the dosage he provided, he would be implicated. He packed up hastily and fled that same night.

Zhang Lu’er went back to the Cai’s. Cai was ill. Zhang felt it was a good chance for him. So he asked what she wanted to eat. She said she would like some lamb tripe soup. He turned back to Dou E. Dou E began to make a bowl of soup in the kitchen. When she was just about to give it to Cai, Zhang stopped her and tasted it. He said it was tasteless and needed some salt and vinegar. Dou E turned back to the kitchen. Zhang poured the poison into the soup. Dou E fetched salt and vinegar and put some in, and then took it to Cai’s room.

At this time, Zhang Lao’er was also there, busy with some of his business. Cai took the soup and got ready to eat. Suddenly, she felt nauseous and put the soup down. She didn’t feel like eating anymore, so she handed it to old Zhang. He declined the soup at first. When he saw Cai didn’t feel like eating, he ate it all.

After a while, old Zhang felt dizzy and sleepy. Before he could speak a word, he fell to the ground. Cai was very scared and sit there weak and limp. Dou E was very surprised. The younger Zhang was hiding in another room, waiting for Cai to die from the poison. However, he heard a noise and knew that something was wrong, and he ran in. He saw that his father had been poisoned. He soon thought on his feet, and he turned angrily and shouted at Dou E, ”My goodness how can you dare to poison my Dad. You will die for that!”

Cai asked, “What is going on? How can the soup be poisoned?”

Dou E replied, “Where could I get any poison? It is him who put bane into the soup when I fetched the salt and vinegar. “

Zhang argued, “He was my Dad: why would I poison him? Who would believe such a story?” Then, he asked, “Now that you have killed my Dad, do you want to settle this in the presence of officials or in private?”

“What do you mean by that?” Dou E asked.

Zhang answered, “If you choose the former way, I’ll send you to the Yamen. Under strict interrogation and torture, I’m afraid you won’t be able to stand it with your emaciated body. Or, you can marry me, and everything will be convenient for you.”

Dou E firmly replied, “I didn’t kill your father. I’m innocent. I’d rather go to the officials.”

Snow in Midsummer - Injustice to Dou E

Dou E, Cai, and Zhang went to the Yamen (government office in feudal China), where the prefect of Chuzhou-Taowu was trying cases. This man was a fatuous official who was completely corrupt. Money was his only standard of judgment, not truth. Dou E and others came into the hall of the Yamen. Zhang Lu’er told the perfect that Cai was the second wife of his father, his stepmother. He was here to accuse Dou E of poisoning his father.

Dou E argued, “My lord, my mother-in-law is not his stepmother, and his father is not my father-in-law either.” Then she told the official the whole story from the time Cai had tried to reclaim her debt from Sai Luyi and of how he had tried to murder her mother.

Zhang added, “My lord if her mother is not my father’s second wife, how can you explain the fact that two widows kept two men - neither a relative nor a friend - in their home? She is young but cruel and stubborn. She could do with a thrashing.”

Taowu only wanted to end the case as soon as possible, “People are always contemptible. No one ever admits his crime before torture. Men! Seize her and beat her with big sticks!”

Some attendants came to hold her down and gave her a good beating. Her skin was cut open, and her flesh was tom. They poured icy water over her to wake her up and carried on with the beating. Moments later, Tao asked, “Will you confess or not?"

“I didn’t do anything. What do you want me to confess?” Dou E insisted.

“Ok so if it’s not you, it must be this old woman. Let’s give her a thrashing instead!”

The attendants turned to Cai with the sticks. Dou E couldn’t bear to see her mother suffering, and she shouted at once, “Stop! Don’t hurt her! I will confess. It was me who poisoned my father-in-law.”

Dou E was sentenced to death by her confession. She was imprisoned and sat waiting for execution.

In June, it was time to carry out the execution. The day was very hot. Lots of people congregated at the execution ground. Dou E, bound in heavy chains, was led through the streets as a warning to the public. She was filled with grief and indignation. At the time, Cai rushed out of the crowd, jumped on her and wept bitterly. She cried out, “Mom, don’t cry for me anymore. After today, please just come to see my grave at festivals, and bring me some food if there is extra that you don’t need. Bum me some paper money also.” Cai was choked with sobs, and her wailing was deeply sad.

The overseer of the execution ordered that the time was up. Dou E’s chains were taken off. She went down on her knees, and begged, “My lord, I have a petition. Please grant my last request. “

“Ok. Ok. Go ahead.”

“I need a clean white silk mat four meters long hung. If I am innocent, my blood will splash onto the silk, and not one drop will fall on the ground.”

“I will grant your wish. Anything else? “

She went on, “If I am to be persecuted to death, after my death, over one meter of snow will fall to cover my innocent body.”

The overseer laughed, “It is the height of summer. Even if what you say is true, it is not possible for even one piece of snow to fall. Don’t talk nonsense.”

Dou E got down on her knees once again, “My lord, I am unjustly condemned! If Gods are listening, I curse Chuzhou with three years of drought.”

At that very moment, the sky grew dark. A wind began to blow, and the air got colder and colder. The overseer ordered the executioner to carry out his duties. He raised his knife, and Dou E fell dead. Her blood fell onto the piece of white silk - and not one drop of it fell on the ground. The official was shocked. In a very short time, he was even more shocked because large snowflakes started to fall from the sky. The overseer quickly wrote his verdict, “This girl must have suffered a terrible injustice. Her first two prophesies have come true; if the third one happens, it will be a disaster for all of us.”

Rehabilitated - Injustice to Dou E

After Dou E’s death, no rain fell in Chuzhou for the following three years. In the third year, a senior official from Lianghuai (encompassing the areas of Huaiyin County and Huai’an County) and Lianfang was sent to investigate local officials’ performance and to put to right cases that had been badly handled. This man was none other than Dou E’s father, Dou Tianzhang.

Sixteen years before, Dou had left his daughter to go to Chang'an to take the imperial exams. He had achieved the grade of Jin-Shi - successful candidate in the highest imperial examination and had become an official in Chang5an. He had sent emissaries to look for Dou E., But Cai had already moved away. Nobody knew where they had gone. Dou had been trying to find her ever since.

Dou was an honest official, and he enjoyed the unwavering trust of the emperor. On this occasion, he was appointed as Lianghuai-Lianfang Inspector. Upon his arrival, he heard that Chuzhou had suffered droughts for three successive years. He wanted to investigate the circumstances of the local people.

When he got to Chuzhou, Dou Tianzhang got straight to work. The first case he looked at was the trial of Dou E for murdering her father-in-law. He did not know Duanyun had changed her name to Dou E. When he read that a young woman who had the same first name as he had committed such a wicked crime, he sighed deeply and put it at the bottom of his list of cases to be looked at.

He took out the second case but suddenly felt tired. So he bent over and took a nap on the desk. In a dream, he saw a young woman. She said she was his daughter Duanyun and told him that Cai had changed her name to Dou E. She was the woman who was accused of killing her father-in-law in that case.

Dou looked at her carefully and saw that she was his daughter. Sternly he asked her “Like my daughter, how could you commit such an unforgivable crime? And now how dare you to come to see me?”

Dou E got down on her knees, “Father, I was wrongly accused. I beg you to believe me and not to think me capable of such a terrible crime.” Then, she told him the whole story.

After hearing the truth, Dou Tianzhang said, “It seems you were indeed treated unjustly. I will redress your injustice after I check the whole thing out.”

It became light. Dou Tianzhang woke up and thought that perhaps it was all just a dream. But something still troubled him, and he resolved to open the case again.

That night, Dou Tianzhang studied the case carefully. The second day, he sent some people to arrest Sai Luyi and Zhang Lu’er, and he also summoned Cai. All were brought to the Yamen. Dou interrogated Zhang first. In the beginning, Zhang denied everything. However, Dou E，s ghost had been hounding him since her death. He was frightened out of his wits and started to beg for mercy. Then Sai Luyi was brought before the official. He knew the cat was out of the bag, so he confessed his crimes openly. This forced Zhang too to make a full confession.

Dou Tianzhang reversed the original verdict: Zhang Lu’er was sentenced to death; Sai Luyi was permanently exiled to a remote wilderness for attempted murder and the illegal sale of bane; the Chuzhou prefect Taowu, for misuse of authority and executing an innocent person received, a hundred lashes and was dismissed from his post. Dou E was declared innocent.

The case was concluded. Dou Tianzhang met with Cai. He promised to bring her back home and provide for her for the rest of her life.