| | Chu Yebianv was the wife of Zhao Shi. Duke Jian of Zheng sent a high official to pay a visit to Jing. When the official reached a narrow road, he encountered a woman riding in a carriage. Their carriages collided and broke the official's axle. The official became angry and was about to arrest her and flog her. The woman said, "I have heard that gentlemen do not transfer their anger, nor do they repeat mistakes." "In this narrow road, I have already reached the extreme limit. Yet your servants refused to yield slightly, which is why they damaged your carriage and you now wish to arrest me. Is this not transferring your anger?" "You are angry at me instead of at your servants, is this not repeating a mistake?" The Zhou Shu says: "Do not insult widowers and widows, but revere the noble and wise." "Now you are a high-ranking official yet fail to set an example, transferring your anger and repeating mistakes. You release the servants but arrest me, showing contempt for my weakness. Can this be called not insulting widowers and widows?" "Go ahead and flog me if you must, but I pity your loss of virtue!" The official was ashamed and had no words to respond. He then released her and asked who she was. She replied, "I am a humble woman from Chuye." The official said, "Why don't you come with me to Zheng?" She replied, "I already have a husband; Zhao Shi is at home." Then she left. A man of virtue said, "Bian Nü was able to avoid punishment through her eloquence." The Book of Songs says: "Only those who speak with reason have order and backbone." This is what it means.
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