Hall of Worthy Reflection.
King of Xifeng, Chu Xianda, was reviewing memorials while his eunuch, Li Fu, served tea and water at his side.
Chu Xianda stopped wielding his vermilion brush and asked, somewhat bored, "Li Fu, has anything unusual happened lately? Tell me something to liven things up."
Li Fu knew His Majesty was growing tired again, so he promptly served a cup of ginseng tea at just the right temperature. Smiling, he said, "Your Majesty, speaking of unusual things, there really is an amusing one. I heard that Assistant Minister Zhou of the Ministry of Rites secretly kept a concubine outside, and by an unfortunate coincidence, that concubine became pregnant. Assistant Minister Zhou was overjoyed. Of the three things considered unfilial, having no heir is the greatest. Assistant Minister Zhou has been longing for a son for quite some years."
"I don't know how the news reached Madam Zhou's ears, but Madam Zhou brought her family and stormed into the concubine's residence, shouting and threatening violence. In the end, the concubine miscarried. Assistant Minister Zhou flew into a rage and clamored to divorce his wife, but Madam Zhou refused. She went all over the streets shouting that Assistant Minister Zhou was a heartless Chen Shimei, saying that her family had helped raise the money for his journey to the capital to take the examinations, and now that he had become rich and powerful, he wanted to divorce her and climb another tree. Everyone is watching their spectacle now."
Chu Xianda burst out laughing. "Zhou Ping'an really is an unlucky fellow. Just when he was finally about to have an heir, some shrew had ruined it. He must be feeling awful."
"Who says otherwise?" Li Fu grinned and chuckled along.
"What happened after that?"
"Heh, what else could happen?