中国经典 》 紅樓夢 A Dream of Red Mansions 》
第十三回 秦可卿死封竜禁尉 王熙鳳協理寧國府 CHAPTER XIII.
曹雪芹 Cao Xueqin
高鶚 Gao E
CHAPTER XIII.
話說鳳姐兒自賈璉送黛玉往揚州去後，心中實在無趣，每到晚間，不過和平兒說笑一回，就胡亂睡了。
這日夜間，正和平兒燈下擁爐倦綉，早命濃薫綉被，二人睡下，屈指算行程該到何處，不知不覺已交三鼓。平兒已睡熟了。鳳姐方覺星眼微朦，恍惚衹見秦氏從外走來，含笑說道：“嬸子好睡！我今日回去，你也不送我一程。因娘兒們素日相好，我捨不得嬸子，故來別你一別。還有一件心願未了，非告訴嬸子，別人未必中用。”
鳳姐聽了，恍惚問道：“有何心願？你衹管托我就是了。”秦氏道：“嬸嬸，你是個脂粉隊裏的英雄，連那些束帶頂冠的男子也不能過你，你如何連兩句俗語也不曉得？常言‘月滿則虧，水滿則溢’，又道是‘登高必跌重’。如今我們傢赫赫揚揚，已將百載，一日倘或樂極悲生，若應了那句‘樹倒猢猻散’的俗語，豈不虛稱了一世的詩書舊族了！"鳳姐聽了此話，心胸大快，十分敬畏，忙問道：“這話慮的極是，但有何法可以永保無虞？"秦氏冷笑道：“嬸子好癡也。否極泰來，榮辱自古周而復始，豈人力能可保常的。但如今能於榮時籌畫下將來衰時的世業，亦可謂常保永全了。即如今日諸事都妥，衹有兩件未妥，若把此事如此一行，則後日可保永全了。”
鳳姐便問何事。秦氏道：“目今祖塋雖四時祭祀，衹是無一定的錢糧，第二，傢塾雖立，無一定的供給。依我想來，如今盛時固不缺祭祀供給，但將來敗落之時，此二項有何出處？莫若依我定見，趁今日富貴，將祖塋附近多置田莊房捨地畝，以備祭祀供給之費皆出自此處，將傢塾亦設於此。合同族中長幼，大傢定了則例，日後按房掌管這一年的地畝，錢糧，祭祀，供給之事。如此周流，又無爭競，亦不有典賣諸弊。便是有了罪，凡物可入官，這祭祀産業連官也不入的。便敗落下來，子孫回傢讀書務農，也有個退步，祭祀又可永繼。若目今以為榮華不絶，不思後日，終非長策。眼見不日又有一件非常喜事，真是烈火烹油，鮮花着錦之盛。要知道，也不過是瞬間的繁華，一時的歡樂，萬不可忘了那‘盛筵必散’的俗語。此時若不早為後慮，臨期衹恐後悔無益了。”鳳姐忙問：“有何喜事？"秦氏道：“天機不可泄漏。衹是我與嬸子好了一場，臨別贈你兩句話，須要記着。”因念道：
三春過後諸芳盡，各自須尋各自門。鳳姐還欲問時，衹聽二門上傳事雲板連叩四下，將鳳姐驚醒。人回：“東府蓉大奶奶沒了。”鳳姐聞聽，嚇了一身冷汗，出了一回神，衹得忙忙的穿衣，往王夫人處來。
彼時閤家皆知，無不納罕，都有些疑心。那長一輩的想他素日孝順，平一輩的想他素日和睦親密，下一輩的想他素日慈愛，以及傢中僕從老小想他素日憐貧惜賤，慈老愛幼之恩，莫不悲嚎痛哭者。
閑言少敘，卻說寶玉因近日林黛玉回去，剩得自己孤в，也不和人頑耍，每到晚間便索然睡了。如今從夢中聽見說秦氏死了，連忙翻身爬起來，衹覺心中似戳了一刀的不忍，哇的一聲，直奔出一口血來。襲人等慌慌忙忙上來д扶，問是怎麽樣，又要回賈母來請大夫。寶玉笑道：“不用忙，不相幹，這是急火攻心，血不歸經。”說着便爬起來，要衣服換了，來見賈母，即時要過去。襲人見他如此，心中雖放不下，又不敢攔，衹是由他罷了。賈母見他要去，因說：“г氣的人，那裏不幹淨，二則夜裏風大，等明早再去不遲。”寶玉那裏肯依。賈母命人備車，多派跟隨人役，擁護前來。一直到了寧國府前，衹見府門洞開，兩邊燈籠照如白晝，亂烘烘人來人往，裏面哭聲搖山振嶽。寶玉下了車，忙忙奔至停靈之室，痛哭一番。然後見過尤氏。誰知尤氏正犯了胃疼舊疾，睡在床上。然後又出來見賈珍。彼時賈代儒，代修，賈敕，賈效，賈敦，賈赦，賈政，賈琮，賈е，賈珩，賈ё，賈琛，賈瓊，賈ж，賈薔，賈菖，賈菱，賈蕓，賈芹，賈蓁，賈萍，賈藻，賈蘅，賈芬，賈芳，賈蘭，賈菌，賈芝等都來了。賈珍哭的淚人一般，正和賈代儒等說道：“閤家大小，遠近親友，誰不知我這媳婦比兒子還強十倍。如今伸腿去了，可見這長房內絶滅無人了。”說着又哭起來。衆人忙勸：“人已辭世，哭也無益，且商議如何料理要緊。”賈珍拍手道：“如何料理，不過盡我所有罷了！"正說着，衹見秦業，秦鐘並尤氏的幾個眷屬尤氏姊妹也都來了。賈珍便命賈瓊，賈琛，賈ж，賈薔四個人去陪客，一面吩咐去請欽天監陰陽司來擇日，擇準停靈七七四十九日，三日後開喪送訃聞。這四十九日，單請一百單八衆禪僧在大廳上拜大悲懺，超度前亡後化諸魂，以免亡者之罪，另設一壇於天香樓上，是九十九位全真道士，打四十九日解冤洗業醮。然後停靈於會芳園中，靈前另外五十衆高僧，五十衆高道，對壇按七作好事。那賈敬聞得長孫媳死了，因自為早晚就要飛升，如何肯又回傢染了紅塵，將前功盡弃呢，因此並不在意，衹憑賈珍料理。
賈珍見父親不管，亦發恣意奢華。看板時，幾副杉木板皆不中用。可巧薛蟠來吊問，因見賈珍尋好板，便說道：“我們木店裏有一副板，叫作什麽檣木，出在潢海鐵網山上，作了棺材，萬年不壞。這還是當年先父帶來，原係義忠親王老千歲要的，因他壞了事，就不曾拿去。現在還封在店內，也沒有人出價敢買。你若要，就擡來使罷。”賈珍聽說，喜之不盡，即命人擡來。大傢看時，衹見幫底皆厚八寸，紋若檳榔，味若檀麝，以手扣之，玎з如金玉。大傢都奇異稱贊。賈珍笑問：“價值幾何？"薛蟠笑道：“拿一千兩銀子來，衹怕也沒處買去。什麽價不價，賞他們幾兩工錢就是了。”賈珍聽說，忙謝不盡，即命解鋸糊漆。賈政因勸道：“此物恐非常人可享者，殮以上等杉木也就是了。”此時賈珍恨不能代秦氏之死，這話如何肯聽。因忽又聽得秦氏之丫鬟名喚瑞珠者，見秦氏死了，他也觸柱而亡。此事可罕，閤族人也都稱嘆。賈珍遂以孫女之禮斂殯，一並停靈於會芳園中之登仙閣。小丫鬟名寶珠者，因見秦氏身無所出，乃甘心願為義女，誓任摔喪駕靈之任。賈珍喜之不盡，即時傳下，從此皆呼寶珠為小姐。那寶珠按未嫁女之喪，在靈前哀哀欲絶。於是，閤族人丁並傢下諸人，都各遵舊製行事，自不得紊亂。
賈珍因想着賈蓉不過是個黌門監，靈幡經榜上寫時不好看，便是執事也不多，因此心下甚不自在。可巧這日正是首七第四日，早有大明宮掌宮內相戴權，先備了祭禮遣人來，次後坐了大轎，打傘鳴鑼，親來上祭。賈珍忙接着，讓至逗蜂軒獻茶。賈珍心中打算定了主意，因而趁便就說要與賈蓉捐個前程的話。戴權會意，因笑道：“想是為喪禮上風光些。”賈珍忙笑道：“老內相所見不差。”戴權道：“事倒湊巧，正有個美缺，如今三百員竜禁尉短了兩員，昨兒襄陽侯的兄弟老三來求我，現拿了一千五百兩銀子，送到我傢裏。你知道，咱們都是老相與，不拘怎麽樣，看着他爺爺的分上，胡亂應了。還剩了一個缺，誰知永興節度使馮胖子來求，要與他孩子捐，我就沒工夫應他。既是咱們的孩子要捐，快寫個履歷來。”賈珍聽說，忙吩咐：“快命書房裏人恭敬寫了大爺的履歷來。”小廝不敢怠慢，去了一刻，便拿了一張紅紙來與賈珍。賈珍看了，忙送與戴權。看時，上面寫道：
江南江寧府江寧縣監生賈蓉，年二十歲。曾祖，原
任京營節度使世襲一等神威將軍賈代化，祖，乙卯科進士賈
敬，父，世襲三品爵威烈將軍賈珍。戴權看了，回手便遞與一個貼身的小廝收了，說道：“回來送與戶部堂官老趙，說我拜上他，起一張五品竜禁尉的票，再給個執照，就把這履歷填上，明兒我來兌銀子送去。”小廝答應了，戴權也就告辭了。賈珍十分款留不住，衹得送出府門。臨上轎，賈珍因問：“銀子還是我到部兌，還是一並送入老內相府中？"戴權道：“若到部裏，你又吃虧了。不如平準一千二百兩銀子，送到我傢就完了。”賈珍感謝不盡，衹說：“待服滿後，親帶小犬到府叩謝。”於是作別。
接着，便又聽喝道之聲，原來是忠靖侯史鼎的夫人來了。王夫人，邢夫人，鳳姐等剛迎入上房，又見錦鄉侯，川寧侯，壽山伯三傢祭禮擺在靈前。少時，三人下轎，賈政等忙接上大廳。如此親朋你來我去，也不能勝數。衹這四十九日，寧國府街上一條白漫漫人來人往，花簇簇官去官來。
賈珍命賈蓉次日換了吉服，領憑回來。靈前供用執事等物俱按五品職例。靈牌疏上皆寫"天朝誥授賈門秦氏恭人之靈位"。會芳園臨街大門洞開，旋在兩邊起了鼓樂廳，兩班青衣按時奏樂，一對對執事擺的刀斬斧齊。更有兩面朱紅銷金大字牌對竪在門外，上面大書：“防護內廷紫禁道御前侍衛竜禁尉"。對面高起着宣壇，僧道對壇榜文，榜上大書：“世襲寧國公塚孫婦，防護內廷御前侍衛竜禁尉賈門秦氏恭人之喪。四大部州至中之地，奉天承運太平之國，總理虛無寂靜教門僧錄司正堂萬虛，總理元始三一教門道錄司正堂葉生等，敬謹修齋，朝天叩佛"，以及"恭請諸伽藍，揭諦，功曹等神，聖恩普錫，神威遠鎮，四十九日消災洗業平安水陸道場"等語，亦不消煩記。
衹是賈珍雖然此時心意滿足，但裏面尤氏又犯了舊疾，不能料理事務，惟恐各誥命來往，虧了禮數，怕人笑話，因此心中不自在。當下正憂慮時，因寶玉在側問道：“事事都算安貼了，大哥哥還愁什麽？"賈珍見問，便將裏面無人的話說了出來。寶玉聽說笑道：“這有何難，我薦一個人與你權理這一個月的事，管必妥當。”賈珍忙問：“是誰？"寶玉見座間還有許多親友，不便明言，走至賈珍耳邊說了兩句。賈珍聽了喜不自禁，連忙起身笑道：“果然安貼，如今就去。”說着拉了寶玉，辭了衆人，便往上房裏來。
可巧這日非正經日期，親友來的少，裏面不過幾位近親堂客，邢夫人，王夫人，鳳姐並閤族中的內眷陪坐。聞人報：“大爺進來了。”唬的衆婆娘唿的一聲，往後藏之不迭，獨鳳姐款款站了起來。賈珍此時也有些病癥在身，二則過於悲痛了，因拄個拐踱了進來。邢夫人等因說道：“你身上不好，又連日事多，該歇歇纔是，又進來做什麽？"賈珍一面扶拐，紮掙着要蹲身跪下請安道乏。邢夫人等忙叫寶玉攙住，命人挪椅子來與他坐。賈珍斷不肯坐，因勉強陪笑道：“侄兒進來有一件事要求二位嬸子並大妹妹。”邢夫人等忙問：“什麽事？"賈珍忙笑道：“嬸子自然知道，如今孫子媳婦沒了，侄兒媳婦偏又病倒，我看裏頭着實不成個體統。怎麽屈尊大妹妹一個月，在這裏料理料理，我就放心了。”邢夫人笑道：“原來為這個。你大妹妹現在你二嬸子傢，衹和你二嬸子說就是了。”王夫人忙道：“他一個小孩子傢，何曾經過這樣事，倘或料理不清，反叫人笑話，倒是再煩別人好。”賈珍笑道：“嬸子的意思侄兒猜着了，是怕大妹妹勞苦了。若說料理不開，我包管必料理的開，便是錯一點兒，別人看着還是不錯的。從小兒大妹妹頑笑着就有殺伐决斷，如今出了閣，又在那府裏辦事，越發歷練老成了。我想了這幾日，除了大妹妹再無人了。嬸子不看侄兒，侄兒媳婦的分上，衹看死了的分上罷！"說着滾下淚來。
王夫人心中怕的是鳳姐兒未經過喪事，怕他料理不清，惹人恥笑。今見賈珍苦苦的說到這步田地，心中已活了幾分，卻又眼看着鳳姐出神。那鳳姐素日最喜攬事辦，好賣弄才幹，雖然當傢妥當，也因未辦過婚喪大事，恐人還不伏，巴不得遇見這事。今見賈珍如此一來，他心中早已歡喜。先見王夫人不允，後見賈珍說的情真，王夫人有活動之意，便嚮王夫人道：“大哥哥說的這麽懇切，太太就依了罷。”王夫人悄悄的道：“你可能麽？"鳳姐道：“有什麽不能的。外面的大事已經大哥哥料理清了，不過是裏頭照管照管，便是我有不知道的，問問太太就是了。”王夫人見說的有理，便不作聲。賈珍見鳳姐允了，又陪笑道：“也管不得許多了，橫竪要求大妹妹辛苦辛苦。我這裏先與妹妹行禮，等事完了，我再到那府裏去謝。”說着就作揖下去，鳳姐兒還禮不迭。
賈珍便忙嚮袖中取了寧國府對牌出來，命寶玉送與鳳姐，又說：“妹妹愛怎樣就怎樣，要什麽衹管拿這個取去，也不必問我。衹求別存心替我省錢，衹要好看為上，二則也要同那府裏一樣待人才好，不要存心怕人抱怨。衹這兩件外，我再沒不放心的了。”鳳姐不敢就接牌，衹看着王夫人。王夫人道：“你哥哥既這麽說，你就照看照看罷了。衹是別自作主意，有了事，打發人問你哥哥，嫂子要緊。”寶玉早嚮賈珍手裏接過對牌來，強遞與鳳姐了。又問：“妹妹住在這裏，還是天天來呢？若是天天來，越發辛苦了。不如我這裏趕着收拾出一個院落來，妹妹住過這幾日倒安穩。”鳳姐笑道：“不用。那邊也離不得我，倒是天天來的好。”賈珍聽說，衹得罷了。然後又說了一回閑話，方纔出去。
一時女眷散後，王夫人因問鳳姐：“你今兒怎麽樣？"鳳姐兒道：“太太衹管請回去，我須得先理出一個頭緒來，纔回去得呢。”王夫人聽說，便先同邢夫人等回去，不在話下。
這裏鳳姐兒來至三間一所抱廈內坐了，因想：頭一件是人口混雜，遺失東西，第二件，事無專執，臨期推委，第三件，需用過費，濫支冒領，第四件，任無大小，苦樂不均，第五件，傢人豪縱，有臉者不服鈐束，無臉者不能上進。此五件實是寧國府中風俗，不知鳳姐如何處治，且聽下回分解。正是：
金紫萬千誰治國，裙釵一二可齊傢。
Ch'in K'o-ch'ing dies, and Chia Jung is invested with the rank of military officer to the Imperial Body-guard. Wang Hsi-feng lends her help in the management of the Jung Kuo Mansion.
Lady Feng, it must be added, in prosecuting our narrative, was ever since Chia Lien's departure to accompany Tai-yue to Yang Chou, really very dejected at heart; and every day, when evening came, she would, after simply indulging in a chat and a laugh with P'ing Erh, turn in, in a heedless frame of mind, for the night.
In the course of the night of this day, she had been sitting with P'ing Erh by lamp-light clasping the hand-stove; and weary of doing her work of embroidery, she had at an early hour, given orders to warm the embroidered quilt, and both had gone to bed; and as she was bending her fingers, counting the progress of the journey, and when they should be arriving, unexpectedly, the third watch struck.
P'ing Erh had already fallen fast asleep; and lady Feng was feeling at length her sleepy eyes slightly dose, when she faintly discerned Mrs. Ch'in walk in from outside.
"My dear sister-in-law," she said as she smiled, "sleep in peace; I'm on my way back to-day, and won't even you accompany me just one stage? But as you and I have been great friends all along, I cannot part from you, sister-in-law, and have therefore come to take my leave of you. There is, besides, a wish of mine, which isn't yet accomplished; and if I don't impart it to you, it isn't likely that telling any one else will be of any use."
Lady Feng could not make out the sense of the words she heard. "What wish is it you have?" she inquired, "do tell me, and it will be safe enough with me."
"You are, my dear sister-in-law, a heroine among women," observed Mrs. Ch'in, "so much so that those famous men, with sashes and official hats, cannot excel you; how is it that you're not aware of even a couple of lines of common adages, of that trite saying, 'when the moon is full, it begins to wane; when the waters are high, they must overflow?' and of that other which says that 'if you ascend high, heavy must be your fall.' Our family has now enjoyed splendour and prosperity for already well-nigh a century, but a day comes when at the height of good fortune, calamity arises; and if the proverb that 'when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter,' be fulfilled, will not futile have been the reputation of culture and old standing of a whole generation?"
Lady Feng at these words felt her heart heavy, and overpowered by intense awe and veneration.
"The fears you express are well founded," she urgently remarked, "but what plan is there adequate to preserve it from future injury?"
"My dear sister-in-law," rejoined Mrs. Ch'in with a sardonic smile, "you're very simple indeed! When woe has reached its climax, weal supervenes. Prosperity and adversity, from days of yore up to the present time, now pass away, and now again revive, and how can (prosperity) be perpetuated by any human exertion? But if now, we could in the time of good fortune, make provision against any worldly concerns, which might arise at any season of future adversity, we might in fact prolong and preserve it. Everything, for instance, is at present well-regulated; but there are two matters which are not on a sure footing, and if such and such suitable action could be adopted with regard to these concerns, it will, in subsequent days, be found easy to perpetuate the family welfare in its entity."
"What matters are these?" inquired lady Feng.
"Though at the graves of our ancestors," explained Mrs. Ch'in, "sacrifices and oblations be offered at the four seasons, there's nevertheless no fixed source of income. In the second place, the family school is, it is true, in existence; but it has no definite grants-in-aid. According to my views, now that the times are prosperous, there's, as a matter of course, no lack of offerings and contributions; but by and bye, when reverses set in, whence will these two outlays be met from? Would it not be as well, and my ideas are positive on this score, to avail ourselves of the present time, when riches and honours still reign, to establish in the immediate vicinity of our ancestral tombs, a large number of farms, cottages, and estates, in order to enable the expenditure for offerings and grants to entirely emanate from this source? And if the household school were also established on this principle, the old and young in the whole clan can, after they have, by common consent, determined upon rules, exercise in days to come control, in the order of the branches, over the affairs connected with the landed property, revenue, ancestral worship and school maintenance for the year (of their respective term.) Under this rotatory system, there will likewise be no animosities; neither will there be any mortgages, or sales, or any of these numerous malpractices; and should any one happen to incur blame, his personal effects can be confiscated by Government. But the properties, from which will be derived the funds for ancestral worship, even the officials should not be able to appropriate, so that when reverses do supervene, the sons and grandsons of the family may be able to return to their homes, and prosecute their studies, or go in for farming. Thus, while they will have something to fall back upon, the ancestral worship will, in like manner, be continued in perpetuity. But, if the present affluence and splendour be looked upon as bound to go on without intermission, and with no thought for the day to come, no enduring plan be after all devised, presently, in a little while, there will, once again, transpire a felicitous occurrence of exceptional kind, which, in point of fact, will resemble the splendour of oil scorched on a violent fire, or fresh flowers decorated with brocades. You should bear in mind that it will also be nothing more real than a transient pageant, nothing but a short-lived pleasure! Whatever you do, don't forget the proverb, that 'there's no banquet, however sumptuous, from which the guests do not disperse;' and unless you do, at an early date, take precautions against later evils, regret will, I apprehend, be of no avail."
"What felicitous occurrence will take place?" lady Feng inquired with alacrity.
"The decrees of Heaven cannot be divulged; but as I have been very friendly with you, sister-in-law, for so long, I will present you, before I take my leave, with two lines, which it behoves you to keep in mind," rejoined Mrs. Ch'in, as she consequently proceeded to recite what follows:
The three springs, when over, all radiance will wane; The inmates to seek each a home will be fain.
Lady Feng was bent upon making further inquiries, when she heard a messenger at the second gate strike the "cloudy board" four consecutive blows. It was indeed the announcement of a death; and it woke up lady Feng with a start. A servant reported that lady Jung of the eastern mansion was no more.
Lady Feng was so taken aback that a cold perspiration broke out all over her person, and she fell for a while into vacant abstraction. But she had to change her costume, with all possible haste, and to come over to madame Wang's apartments.
By this time, all the members of the family were aware of the tidings, and there was not one of them who did not feel disconsolate; one and all of them were much wounded at heart. The elder generation bethought themselves of the dutiful submission which she had all along displayed; those of the same age as herself reflected upon the friendship and intimacy which had ever existed with her; those younger than her remembered her past benevolence. Even the servants of the household, whether old or young, looked back upon her qualities of sympathy with the poor, pity of the destitute, affection for the old, and consideration for the young; and not one of them all was there who did not mourn her loss, and give way to intense grief.
But these irrelevant details need not be dilated upon; suffice it to confine ourselves to Pao-yue.
Consequent upon Lin Tai-yue's return home, he was left to his own self and felt very lonely. Neither would he go and disport himself with others; but with the daily return of dusk, he was wont to retire quietly to sleep.
On this day, while he was yet under the influence of a dream, he heard the announcement of Mrs. Ch'in's death, and turning himself round quickly he crept out of bed, when he felt as if his heart had been stabbed with a sword. With a sudden retch, he straightway expectorated a mouthful of blood, which so frightened Hsi Jen and the rest that they rushed forward and supported him.
"What is the matter?" they inquired, and they meant also to go and let dowager lady Chia know, so as to send for a doctor, but Pao-yue dissuaded them.
"There's no need of any flurry; it's nothing at all," he said, "it's simply that the fire of grief has attacked the heart, and that the blood did not circulate through the arteries."
As he spoke, he speedily raised himself up, and, after asking for his clothes and changing, he came over to see dowager lady Chia. His wish was to go at once to the other side; and Hsi Jen, though feeling uneasy at heart, seeing the state of mind he was in, did not again hinder him, as she felt constrained to let him please himself.
When old lady Chia saw that he was bent upon going: "The breath is just gone out of the body," she consequently remonstrated, "and that side is still sullied. In the second place it's now dark, and the wind is high; so you had better wait until to-morrow morning, when you will be in ample time."
Pao-yue would not agree to this, and dowager lady Chia gave orders to get the carriage ready, and to depute a few more attendants and followers to go with him. Under this escort he went forward and straightway arrived in front of the Ning mansion, where they saw the main entrance wide open, the lamps on the two sides giving out a light as bright as day, and people coming and going in confused and large numbers; while the sound of weeping inside was sufficient to shake the mountains and to move the hills.
Pao-yue dismounted from the carriage; and with hurried step, walked into the apartment, where the coffin was laid. He gave vent to bitter tears for a few minutes, and subsequently paid his salutations to Mrs. Yu. Mrs. Yu, as it happened, had just had a relapse of her old complaint of pains in the stomach and was lying on her bed.
He eventually came out again from her chamber to salute Chia Chen, just at the very moment that Chia Tai-ju, Chia Tai-hsiu, Chia Ch'ih, Chiao Hsiao, Chia Tun, Chia She, Chia Cheng, Chia Tsung, Chia Pin, Chia Hsing, Chia Kuang, Chia Shen, Chia Ch'iung, Chia Lin, Chia Se, Chia Ch'ang, Chia Ling, Chia Yuen, Chia Ch'in, Chia Chen, Chia P'ing, Chia Tsao, Chia Heng, Chia Fen, Chia Fang, Chia Lan, Chia Chun, Chia Chih and the other relatives of the families had likewise arrived in a body.
Chia Chen wept so bitterly that he was like a man of tears. "Of the whole family, whether young or old, distant relatives or close friends," he was just explaining to Chia Tai-ju and the rest, "who did not know that this girl was a hundred times better than even our son? but now that her spirit has retired, it's evident that this elder branch of the family will be cut off and that there will be no survivor."
While he gave vent to these words, he again burst into tears, and the whole company of relatives set to work at once to pacify him. "She has already departed this life," they argued, "and tears are also of no avail, besides the pressing thing now is to consult as to what kind of arrangements are to be made."
Chia Chen clapped his hands. "What arrangements are to be made!" he exclaimed; "nothing is to be done, but what is within my means."
As they conversed, they perceived Ch'in Yeh and Ch'in Chung, as well as several relations of Mrs. Yu, arrive, together with Mrs. Yu's sisters; and Chia Chen forthwith bade Chia Ch'ung, Chia Shen, Chia Lin and Chia Se, the four of them, to go and entertain the guests; while he, at the same time, issued directions to go and ask the Astrologer of the Imperial Observatory to come and choose the days for the ceremonies.
(This Astrologer) decided that the coffin should remain in the house for seven times seven days, that is forty-nine days; that after the third day, the mourning rites should be begun and the formal cards should be distributed; that all that was to be done during these forty-nine days was to invite one hundred and eight Buddhist bonzes to perform, in the main Hall, the High Confession Mass, in order to ford the souls of departed relatives across the abyss of suffering, and afterwards to transmute the spirit (of Mrs. Ch'in); that, in addition, an altar should be erected in the Tower of Heavenly Fragrance, where nine times nine virtuous Taoist priests should, for nineteen days, offer up prayers for absolution from punishment, and purification from retribution. That after these services, the tablet should be moved into the Garden of Concentrated Fragrance, and that in the presence of the tablet, fifteen additional eminent bonzes and fifteen renowned Taoist Priests should confront the altar and perform meritorious deeds every seven days.
The news of the death of the wife of his eldest grandson reached Chia Ching; but as he himself felt sure that, at no distant date, he would ascend to the regions above, he was loth to return again to his home, and so expose himself to the contamination of the world, as to completely waste the meritorious excellence acquired in past days. For this reason, he paid no heed to the event, but allowed Chia Chen a free hand to accomplish the necessary preparations.
Chia Chen, to whom we again revert, was fond of display and extravagance, so that he found, on inspection of coffins, those few made of pine-wood unsuitable to his taste; when, strange coincidence, Hsueeh P'an came to pay his visit of condolence, and perceiving that Chia Chen was in quest of a good coffin: "In our establishment," he readily suggested, "we have a lot of timber of some kind or other called Ch'iang wood, which comes from the T'ieh Wang Mount, in Huang Hai; and which made into coffins will not rot, not for ten thousand years. This lot was, in fact, brought down, some years back, by my late father; and had at one time been required by His Highness I Chung, a Prince of the royal blood; but as he became guilty of some mismanagement, it was, in consequence, not used, and is still lying stored up in our establishment; and another thing besides is that there's no one with the means to purchase it. But if you do want it, you should come and have a look at it."
Chia Chen, upon hearing this, was extremely delighted, and gave orders that the planks should be there and then brought over. When the whole family came to inspect them, they found those for the sides and the bottom to be all eight inches thick, the grain like betel-nut, the smell like sandal-wood or musk, while, when tapped with the hand, the sound emitted was like that of precious stones; so that one and all agreed in praising the timber for its remarkable quality.
"What is their price?" Chia Chen inquired with a smile.
"Even with one thousand taels in hand," explained Hsueeh P'an laughingly, "I feel sure you wouldn't find any place, where you could buy the like. Why ask about price? if you just give the workmen a few taels for their labour, it will be quite sufficient."
Chia Chen, at these words, lost no time in giving expression to profuse assurances of gratitude, and was forthwith issuing directions that the timber should be split, sawn and made up, when Chia Cheng proffered his advice. "Such articles shouldn't," he said, "be, in my idea, enjoyed by persons of the common run; it would be quite ample if the body were placed in a coffin made of pine of the best quality."
But Chia Chen would not listen to any suggestion.
Suddenly he further heard that Mrs. Ch'in's waiting-maid, Jui Chu by name, had, after she had become alive to the fact that her mistress had died, knocked her head against a post, and likewise succumbed to the blows. This unusual occurrence the whole clan extolled in high terms; and Chia Chen promptly directed that, with regard to ceremonies, she should be treated as a granddaughter, and that the body should, after it had been placed in the coffin, be also deposited in the Hall of Attained Immortality, in the Garden of Concentrated Fragrance.
There was likewise a young waiting-maid, called Pao Chu, who, as Mrs. Ch'in left no issue, was willing to become an adopted child, and begged to be allowed to undertake the charge of dashing the mourning bowl, and accompanying the coffin; which pleased Chia Chen so much that he speedily transmitted orders that from that time forth Pao Chu should be addressed by all as 'young miss.'
Pao Chu, after the rites of an unmarried daughter, mourned before the coffin to such an unwonted degree, as if bent upon snapping her own life; while the members of the entire clan, as well as the inmates of the Mansions, each and all, readily observed, in their conduct, the established mourning usages, without of course any transgression or confusion.
"Chia Jung," pondered Chia Chen, "has no higher status than that of graduate by purchase, and were this designation written on the funeral streamer, it will not be imposing, and, in point of fact, the retinue will likewise be small." He therefore was exceedingly unhappy, in his own mind, when, as luck would have it, on this day, which was the fourth day of the first seven, Tai Ch'uean, a eunuch of the Palace of High Renown, whose office was that of Palace Overseer, first prepared sacrificial presents, which he sent round by messengers, and next came himself in an official chair, preceded by criers beating the gong, to offer sacrificial oblations.
Chia Chen promptly received him, and pressed him into a seat; and when they adjourned into the Hall of the Loitering Bees, tea was presented.
Chia Chen had already arrived at a fixed purpose, so that he seized an opportunity to tell him of his wish to purchase an office for Chia Jung's advancement.
Tai Ch'uean understood the purport of his remark. "It is, I presume," he added smilingly, "that the funeral rites should be a little more sumptuous."
"My worthy sir," eagerly rejoined Chia Chen, "your surmise on that score is perfectly correct."
"The question," explained Tai Ch'uean, "comes up at an opportune moment; for there is just at present a good vacancy. Of the three hundred officers who at present constitute the Imperial Body Guard, there are two wanting. Yesterday marquis Hsiang Yang's third brother came to appeal to me with one thousand five hundred taels of ready money, which he brought over to my house. You know the friendship of old standing which exists between him and me, so that, placing other considerations aside, I without a second thought, assented for his father's sake. But there still remains another vacancy, which, who would have thought it, fat general Feng, of Yung Hsing, asked to purchase for his son; but I have had no time to give him an answer. Besides, as our child wants to purchase it, you had better at once write a statement of his antecedents."
Chia Chen lost no time in bidding some one write the statement on red paper, which Tai Ch'uean found, on perusal, to record that Chia Jung was a graduate, by purchase, of the District of Chiang Ning, of the Ying T'ien Prefecture, in Chiang Nan; that Chia Tai-hua, his great grandfather, had been Commander-in-Chief of the Metropolitan Camp, and an hereditary general of the first class, with the prefix of Spiritual Majesty; that his grandfather Chia Ching was a metropolitan graduate of the tripos in the Ping Ch'en year; and that his father Chia Chen had inherited a rank of nobility of the third degree, and was a general, with the prefix of Majestic Intrepidity.
Tai Ch'uean, after perusal, turned his hand behind him and passed (the statement) to a constant attendant of his, to put away: "Go back," he enjoined him, "and give it to His Excellency Mr. Chao, at the head of the Board of Revenue, and tell him, that I present him my compliments, and would like him to draw up a warrant for subaltern of the Imperial Body Guard of the fifth grade, and to also issue a commission; that he should take the particulars from this statement and fill them up; and that to-morrow I'll come and have the money weighed and sent over."
The young attendant signified his obedience, and Tai Ch'uean thereupon took his leave. Chia Chen did all he could to detain him, but with no success; so that he had no alternative but to escort him as far as the entrance of the Mansion. As he was about to mount into his chair, Chia Chen inquired, "As regards the money, shall I go and pay it into the Board, or am I to send it to the Board of Eunuchs?"
"If you were to go and pay it at the Board," observed Tai Ch'uean; "you are sure to suffer loss; so that it would be better if you just weighed exactly one thousand taels and sent them over to my place; for then an end will be put to all trouble."
Chia Chen was incessant in his expression of gratitude. "When the period of mourning has expired," he consequently added, "I shall lead in person, my despicable eldest son to your mansion, to pay our obeisance, and express our thanks."
They then parted company, but close upon this, were heard again the voices of runners. It was, in fact, the spouse of Shih Ting, the marquis of Chung Ching, who was just arriving. Shih Hsiang-yun, mesdames Wang, and Hsing, lady Feng and the rest came out at once, to greet her, and lead her into the Main Building; when they further saw the sacrificial presents of the three families, of the marquis of Chin Hsiang, the marquis of Ch'uan Ning, and the earl of Shou Shan, likewise spread out in front of the tablet.
In a short while, these three noblemen descended from their chairs, and Chia Chen received them in the Large Hall. In like manner all the relatives and friends arrived in such quick succession, one coming, another going, that it is impossible to remember even so much as their number. One thing need be said that during these forty-nine days the street on which the Ning Kuo mansion stood, was covered with a sheet of white, formed by the people, coming and going; and thronged with clusters of flowers, as the officials came and went.
At the instance of Chia Chen, Chia Jung, the next day donned his gala dress and went over for his papers; and on his return the articles in use in front of the coffin, as well as those belonging to the cortege and other such things, were all regulated by the rules prescribed for an official status of the fifth degree; while, on the tablet and notice alike the inscription consisted of: Spirit of lady Ch'in, (by marriage) of the Chia mansion, and by patent a lady of the fifth rank (of the titles of honour).
The main entrance of the Garden of Concentrated Fragrance, adjoining the street, was opened wide; and on both sides were raised sheds for the musicians, and two companies of players, dressed in blue, discoursed music at the proper times; while one pair after another of the paraphernalia was drawn out so straight as if cut by a knife or slit by an axe. There were also two large carmine boards, carved with gilt inscriptions, erected outside the gate; the designations in bold characters on the upper sides being: Guard of the Imperial Antechamber, charged with the protection of the Inner Palace and Roads, in the Red Prohibited City.
On the opposite side, facing each other, rose, high above the ground, two altars for the services of the Buddhist and Taoist priests, while a placard bore the inscription in bold type: Funeral Obsequies of lady Ch'in, (by marriage) of the Chia mansion, by patent a lady of the fifth rank, consort of the eldest grandson of the hereditary duke of Ning Kuo, and guard of the Imperial Antechamber, charged with the protection of the Inner Palace and Roads in the Red Prohibited City. We, Wan Hsue, by Heaven's commands charged with the perennial preservation of perfect peace in the Kingdom of the Four Continents, as well as of the lands contained therein, Head Controller of the School of Void and Asceticism, and Superior in Chief (of the Buddhist hierarchy); and Yeh Sheng, Principal Controller, since the creation, of the Disciples of Perfect Excellence and Superior in Chief (of the Taoist priesthood), and others, having in a reverent spirit purified ourselves by abstinence, now raise our eyes up to Heaven, prostrate ourselves humbly before Buddha, and devoutly pray all the Chia Lans, Chieh Tis, Kung Ts'aos and other divinities to extend their sacred bounties, and from afar to display their spiritual majesty, during the forty-nine days (of the funeral rites), for the deliverance from judgment and the absolution from retribution (of the spirit of lady Ch'in), so that it may enjoy a peaceful and safe passage, whether by sea or by land; and other such prayers to this effect, which are in fact not worth the trouble of putting on record.
Chia Chen had, it is true, all his wishes gratified; but, as his wife was laid up in the inner chambers, with a relapse of her old complaint, and was not in a fit state to undertake the direction of the ceremonies, he was very much distressed lest, when the high officials (and their wives) came and went, there should occur any breach of the prescribed conventionalities, which he was afraid would evoke ridicule. Hence it was that he felt in low spirits; but while he was plunged in solicitude Pao-yue, who happened to be close by, readily inquired, "Everything may be safely looked upon as being satisfactorily settled, and why need you, elder brother, still be so full of concern?"
Chia Chen forthwith explained to him how it was that in the ladies' apartments there was no one (to do the honours), but Pao-yue at these words smiled: "What difficulty is there about it?" he remarked; "I'll recommend some one to take temporary charge of the direction of things for you during the month, and I can guarantee that everything will be properly carried out."
"Who is it?" Chia Chen was quick to ask; but as Pao-yue perceived that there were still too many relatives and friends seated around, he did not feel as if he could very well speak out; so that he went up to Chia Chen and whispered a couple of remarks in his ear.
Chia Chen's joy knew no bounds when he heard this suggestion. "Everything will indeed be properly carried out," he added laughingly; "but I must now be going at once."
With these words, he drew Pao-yue along, and taking leave of the whole number of visitors, they forthwith came into the drawing rooms.
This day was luckily not a grand occasion, so that few relatives and friends had come. In the inner apartments there were only a small number of ladies of close kinship. Mesdames Hsing and Wang, and lady Feng, and the women of the whole household, were entertaining the guests, when they heard a servant announce that Mr. Chia Chen had come. (This announcement) took the whole body of ladies and young ladies so much by surprise, that, with a rushing sound, they tried to hide in the back rooms; but they were not quick enough (to effect their escape).
Lady Feng alone composedly stood up. Chia Chen was himself at this time rather unwell, and being also very much cut up, he entered the room shuffling along, propping himself up with a staff.
"You are not well?" therefore remarked madame Hsing and the others, "and you've had besides so much to attend to during these consecutive days, that what you require is rest to get all right; and why do you again come over?"
Chia Chen was, as he leant on his staff, straining every nerve to bend his body so as to fall on his knees and pay his respects to them, and express his sense of obligation for the trouble they had taken, when madame Hsing and the other ladies hastily called Pao-yue to raise him up, bidding a servant move a chair for him to sit on. Chia Chen would not take a seat; but making an effort to return a smile, "Your nephew," he urged, "has come over, as there's a favour that I want to ask of my two aunts as well as of my eldest cousin."
"What is it?" promptly inquired madame Hsing and the rest.
"My aunts," Chia Chen replied with all haste, "you surely are aware that your grandson's wife is now no more; your nephew's wife is also laid up unwell, and, as I see that things in the inner apartments are really not what they should properly be, I would trouble my worthy eldest cousin to undertake in here the direction of affairs for a month; and if she does, my mind will be set at ease."
Madame Hsing smiled. "Is it really about this that you've come?" she asked; "your eldest cousin is at present staying with your aunt Secunda, and all you have to do is to speak to her and it will be all right."
"How ever could a mere child like her," speedily remonstrated madame Wang, "carry out all these matters? and shouldn't she manage things properly, she will, on the contrary, make people laugh, so it would therefore be better that you should trouble some one else."
"What your ideas are, aunt," rejoined Chia Chen smiling, "your nephew has guessed; you're afraid lest my eldest cousin should have to bear fatigue and annoyance; for as to what you say, that she cannot manage things, why my eldest cousin has, from her youth up, ever been in her romping and playing so firm and decided; and now that she has entered the married estate, and has the run of affairs in that mansion, she must have reaped so much the more experience, and have become quite an old hand! I've been thinking these last few days that outside my eldest cousin, there's no one else who could come to my help; and, aunt, if you don't do it for the face of your nephew and your nephew's wife, do it, at least, for the affection you bore to her who is no more."
While he uttered these words tears trickled down his face. The fears that madame Wang inwardly entertained were that lady Feng had no experience in funeral matters, and she apprehended, that if she was not equal to managing them, she would incur the ridicule of others; but when she now heard Chia Chen make the appeal in such a disconsolate mood, she relented considerably in her resolution. But as she turned her eyes towards lady Feng (to ascertain her wishes), she saw that she was plunged in abstraction.
Lady Feng had all along found the greatest zest in taking the initiative in everything, with the idea of making a display of her abilities, so that when she perceived how earnest Chia Chen was in his entreaties, she had, at an early period, made up her mind to give a favourable reply. Seeing besides madame Wang show signs of relenting, she readily turned round and said to her, "My elder cousin has made his appeal in such a solicitous way that your ladyship should give your consent and have done with it."
"Do you think you are equal to the task?" inquired madame Wang in a whisper.
"What's there that I couldn't be equal to?" replied lady Feng; "for urgent matters outside, my cousin may be said to have already made full provision; and all there is to be done is to keep an eye over things inside. But should there occur anything that I don't know, I can ask you, madame, and it will be right."
Madame Wang perceiving the reasonableness of what she heard her say, uttered not a word, and when Chia Chen saw that lady Feng had assented; "How much you do attend to I don't mind," he observed, forcing another smile, "but I must, in any case, entreat you, cousin, to assume the onerous charge. As a first step I'll pay my obeisance to you in here, and when everything has been finished, I shall then come over into that mansion to express my thanks."
With these words still on his lips, he made a low bow, but lady Feng had scarcely had time to return the compliment, before Chia Chen had directed a servant to fetch the warrant of the Ning mansion, which he bade Pao-yue hand over to lady Feng.
"Cousin," he added, "take whatever steps you think best; and if you want anything, all you have to do is to simply send for it with this, and there will even be no use to consult me. The only thing I must ask you is, not to be too careful in order to save me expense, for the main consideration is that things should be handsomely done. In the second place, it will be well if you were also to treat servants here in the same way as in the other mansion, and not be too scrupulous in the fear that any one might take offence. Outside these two concerns, there's nothing else to disturb my mind."
Lady Feng did not venture to take over the warrant at once, but merely turned round to ascertain what were madame Wang's wishes.
"In view of the reason brother Chen advances," madame Wang rejoined, "you had better assume the charge at once and finish with it; don't, however, act on your own ideas; but when there's aught to be done, be careful and send some one to consult your cousin's wife, ever so little though it be on the subject."
Pao-yue had already taken over the warrant from Chia Chen's grasp, and forcibly handed it to lady Feng, "Will you, cousin," he went on to question, "take up your quarters here or will you come every day? should you cross over, day after day, it will be ever so much more fatiguing for you, so that I shall speedily have a separate court got ready for you in here, where you, cousin, can put up for these several days and be more comfortable."
"There's no need," replied lady Feng smiling; "for on that side they can't do without me; and it will be better if I were to come daily."
"Do as you like," Chia Chen observed; and after subsequently passing a few more irrelevant remarks, he at length left the room.
After a time, the lady relatives dispersed, and madame Wang seized the opportunity to inquire of lady Feng, "What do you purpose doing to-day?"
"You had better, please madame, go back," urged lady Feng, "for I must first of all find out some clue before I can go home."
Madame Wang, upon hearing these words, returned to her quarters, in advance, in company with madame Hsing, where we will leave them.
Lady Feng meanwhile came into a colonnade, which enclosed a suite of three apartments, and taking a seat, she gave way to reflection. "The first consideration," she communed within herself, "is that the household is made up of mixed elements, and things might be lost; the second is that the preparations are under no particular control, with the result that, when the time comes, the servants might shirk their duties; the third is that the necessary expenditure being great, there will be reckless disbursements and counterfeit receipts; the fourth, that with the absence of any distinction in the matter of duties, whether large or small, hardship and ease will be unequally shared; and the fifth, that the servants being arrogant, through leniency, those with any self-respect will not brook control, while those devoid of 'face' will not be able to improve their ways."
These five were, in point of fact, usages in vogue in the Ning mansion. But as you are unable, reader, to ascertain here how lady Feng set things right, listen to the explanations given in the following chapter.
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【选集】紅樓一春夢 |
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