說起來還有這麼一個故事，流傳至今：

Actually the allusion has a background story which has been handed down to date since long, long ago.

在很久以前，有一位叫做朱耀宗的書生，一歲的時候父親因病去世。母親為了他不受委屈，而獨自一人含辛茹苦的把他養大，後來送到一位叫做張中舉的老師那裏讀書。

Once upon a time there was a young scholar name Zhu Yaozong who was bereaved of his father when he was just one year old.  In order not to let him suffer from hardships, his mother brought him up alone, enduring all kinds of grievances.  Later on, she sent him to study under the tutorship of a scholar named Zhang Zhongju.  

在張老師的嚴格教導下，朱耀宗學業有成。他十五歲中了秀才，十八歲中了狀元。 在皇上召見他的時候，他那種氣質和學識，讓皇帝非常高興，當即把他招為駙馬。

Uner the instruction of the strict master Zhong, Zhu acquitted himself quite brilliantly in his academic learning.  In 15, he passed the county exam, and at only 18 he became the number one finalist in imperial exam.  In the audience with the emperor, Zhu well presented himself as a knowledgeable scholar with temperament of quality.  The emperor was very fond of him, and immediately ordered him to marry her Highness, the princess.   

 

此時他想起了家中的老母親，於是把母親為了培養他，而一直未嫁的事情跟皇帝說了。皇帝一聽很是感動，當即下旨在朱耀宗的家鄉立一座「貞節牌坊」，以示嘉獎。

And then Zhu thought of his old mom back home and reported to the emperor the story of how his mother had nurtured and educated him, and how she still remained widowed and not remarried.  The emperor was deeply moved by the story and gave an edict on the spot that a Monumental Gateway of Chastity be built at Zhus hometown as a praise to his mother.

按理新科狀元應該回鄉省親，他也不例外。當母親見到他的狀元兒子時，那種感動自不必說。朱耀宗也把自己皇帝下詔要給母親立「貞節牌坊」的事情說了。母親卻流露出不安的神色。在朱耀宗的再三詢問下，他母親道出了實情。原來，他的老師張中舉老婆後來死了，他母親在與張老師相處的日子裏逐漸產生了感情。他母親準備在朱耀宗回來的時候就嫁給張中舉。

As a rule, any new winner of imperial exam should return home to pay his parents a visit and tell them the good news, Zhu was no exception.  Suffice it to say that how moving the scene was when the mother saw her son of glorious deed.  Zhu told her mother about the imperial edict of Monumental Gateway, but the mothers face was etched with nervousness.  Upon Zhus consecutive  inquires, the mother finally told the truth.  She said that in these days she had fallen in love with Zhang Zhongju, Zhus tutor, since he became a widower himself.  She also said that she was going to marry Zhang when Zhu came home. 

朱耀宗聞聽「撲嗵」跪在地上，哭著說：「娘呀，你真的要這樣做，那我可是犯了『欺君之罪』呀，那可要戶滅九族的呀！」

No sooner had Zhu heard what his mother said than he knelt down and wailed, "Mom, if you were to marry him, then Id had committed the felony of cheating emperor which would result in the death of you and I, and all of our kindred."