Zhang was a scholar who traveled to the provincial capital to take the imperial examination. As it was already late in the day, he decided to stay at an inn. Upon opening the bedcovers, he discovered a painting depicting a beautiful woman, accompanied by a written name. Curious about its origin, he inquired with the innkeeper. The innkeeper explained, "This doesn't belong to us. Many young people staying here for exams might have brought it and forgotten to take it with them." Intrigued, Zhang gazed at the woman in the painting and couldn't resist picking up a pen to write, "I use earth to make incense, praying to the immortals for their presence. May this woman share my bed tonight." He then hung the painting on the wall. After having a few drinks himself, Zhang, holding a cup, addressed the woman in the painting, saying, "Can you clink glasses with me?" In the dim light, he seemed to see the woman in the painting give a faint smile in response. He got drunk and fell asleep on the bed. Soon, he felt a woman lying beside him, shaking him awake and saying, "I am the one in the painting. Thank you for your devotion, so I've come to accompany you." They entwined with each other, and as dawn approached, the woman said she had to leave, instructing him to continue on his journey and wait for her ahead. From then on, every night the woman would come, but she refused to reveal her real name and hometown. One day, Zhang asked her, "Since you have supernatural abilities, can you enter the examination hall and help me see the exam questions?" The woman replied, "No, that place is guarded by immortals, and the security is tight. There's no way to get in." After the exams were over, on his way home, the woman followed him. When they neared the inn where they first met, the woman sadly said, "We're about to reach the place where we first met. Let's rest for a while. Tomorrow, I will bid you farewell." The next day, Zhang held her hand and said, "I haven't married yet. I want to take you home and follow the proper customs to marry you." The woman said, "Our fate hasn't come to that point. You didn't pass the imperial examination this time, but next year you will marry. Our separation won't be for long, and you will understand in the future." After saying this, she disappeared. As expected, Zhang failed the exam. Not long after, he became engaged to a girl and was set to marry in the spring of the following year. His wife's appearance was identical to the woman in the painting. One day, jokingly, Zhang said to his wife, "When the matchmaker introduced you to me, I secretly had an artist paint your likeness." His wife didn't believe him. He opened a box, took out the painting, and when the family saw it, they all agreed that the painting and his wife were truly identical, a remarkable and mysterious coincidence!