话表陕西大国长安城，乃历代帝王建都之地。
The story goes on to tell that Chang'an city in the great land of Shaanxi had been a place where emperors and kings had made their capitals for generation after generation.
自周、秦、汉以来，三州花似锦，八水绕城流，真个是名胜之邦。
Ever since the Zhou, Qin and Han dynasties, the Three Prefectures had been as rich as brocade, and the eight rivers had flowed round its walls.
It was indeed a famous country.
彼时是大唐太宗皇帝登基，改元贞观，已登极十三年，岁在己巳，天下太平，八方进贡，四海称臣。
At that time Emperor Taizong of the Great Tang was on the throne.
He had changed the name of the reign-period to Zhenguan, and had been reigning for thirteen years.
The year was ji si and the world was at peace; tribute was being sent in from the eight directions, and all within the four seas acknowledged themselves as subjects.
忽一日，太宗登位，聚集文武众官，朝拜礼毕，有魏征丞相出班奏道：“方今天下太平，八方宁静，应依古法，开立选场，招取贤士，擢用人材，以资化理。”
One day Taizong took his seat on the throne and assembled all his military and civilian officials.
When they had finished making their greetings, the minister Wei Zheng came forward from the ranks of officials and memorialized, “As the world is now at peace and the eight directions are calm, an examination should be held in accordance with the practice of the ancients.
Thus we could recruit wise scholars and select men of talent to help with our civilizing mission.”
太宗道：“贤卿所奏有理。”
“The suggestion of our wise minister is right,” said the Emperor,
就传招贤文榜，颁布天下：各府州县，不拘军民人等，但有读书儒流，文义明畅，三场精通者，前赴长安应试。
and notices inviting worthy men to compete in the examinations were posted throughout the empire.
All the Confucian scholars on the civil or military rolls in every prefecture, district and county who had distinguished themselves in the three-stage examinations for their understanding of literature were to go to Chang'an for a final test.
此榜行至海州地方，有一人,姓陈,名萼，表字光蕊，见了此榜，即时回家，对母张氏道：“朝廷颁下黄榜，诏开南省，考取贤才，孩儿意欲前去应试。
When this notice reached the district of Haizhou it was seen by a man called Chen E, whose courtesy name was Guangrui.
He returned home and said to Madame Zhang, his mother, “The court has issued a yellow notice saying that the Chancellery will be opened for an examination to select men of wisdom and talent.
Your child wants to go and take part.
特此禀告母亲前去。”
and I have come to tell you, mother, that I am going.”
张氏道：“我儿读书人，‘幼而学，壮而行’，正该如此。
“You are a scholar, my son,” his mother replied, “and it is right that ‘one who studies when young should travel when grown up'.
但去赴举，路上须要小心，得了官，早早回来。”
But do take care on the journey to the examinations, and if you are given office, come back home as soon as you can.”
光蕊便吩咐家僮收拾行李，即拜辞母亲，趱程前进。
Chen Guangrui then ordered his servants to get his luggage together, took his leave of his mother, and started off on his journey.
到了长安，正值大开选场，光蕊就进场。
When he reached Chang'an the examination grounds were open and he went in.
考毕,中选，及廷试三策，唐王御笔亲赐状元，跨马游街三日。
Having been successful in this examination, he went to the palace for the three questions test.
The Tang Emperor personally awarded him the first place, and he was paraded round the streets on horseback for three days.
不期游到丞相殷开山门首，有丞相所生一女，名唤温娇，又名满堂娇，未曾婚配，正高结彩楼，抛打绣球卜婿。
It happened that just when the procession was passing the gateway of the minister Yin Kaishan, the minister's unmarried daughter Wenqiao, whose other name was Man-tang-qiao (Beauty Throughout the Hall), was making decorations for the house and throwing an embroidered ball to see who her future husband would be.
适值陈光蕊在楼下经过，小姐一见光蕊人材出众，知是新科状元，心内十分欢喜，就将绣球抛下，恰打着光蕊的乌纱帽。
When Chen Guangrui passed below she saw at once that he was exceptionally handsome, and she knew that he had come first in the recent examinations.
She was thoroughly taken with him, and when she dropped her embroidered ball it landed squarely on his black hat.
猛听得一派笙箫细乐，十数个婢妾走下楼来，把光蕊马头挽住，迎状元入相府成婚。
To the sound of pipes and flutes a dozen or so maidservants and serving women hurried downstairs to take hold of the head of Chen Guangrui's horse and invite him into the minister's mansion to marry his daughter.
那丞相和夫人，即时出堂，唤宾人赞礼，将小姐配与光蕊。
The minister and his wife came into the main hall, and when they had called for a master of ceremonies they married their daughter to Guangrui.
拜了天地，夫妻交拜毕，又拜了岳丈\岳母。
When bride and groom had bowed to Heaven, Earth and each other they both bowed to the bride's father and mother.
丞相吩咐安排酒席，欢饮一宵。
The minister ordered a banquet, and there was a night of drinking and celebration.
二人同携素手，共入兰房。
The bride and groom went hand in hand into the bridal chamber.
次日五更三点，太宗驾坐金銮宝殿，文武众臣趋朝。
At the third quarter of the fifth watch the next morning Emperor Taizong took his throne in the Golden Chariot Hall, and the civil and military officials came to court.
太宗同道：“新科状元陈光蕊应授何官？”
“What office should Chen Guangrui who came top in the examinations be given?” the Emperor asked,
魏征丞相奏道：“臣查所属州郡，有江州缺官。
and the minister Wei Zheng replied, “Your subject has gone through the list of the prefectures and commanderies, and found that the district of Jiangzhou needs a prefect.
太宗就命为江州州主,即令收拾起身。
The Emperor therefore appointed him prefect of Jiangzhou and ordered him to pack his belongings and set off