中国经典 》 hóng lóu mèng A Dream of Red Mansions 》
dì shí sān huí qín kě qīng sǐ fēng lóng jìn wèi wáng xī fèng xié lǐ níng guó fǔ CHAPTER XIII.
cáo xuě qín Cao Xueqin
gāo 'ě Gao E
CHAPTER XIII. huà shuō fèng jiě 'ér zì jiǎ liǎn sòng dài yù wǎng yáng zhōu qù hòu, xīn zhōng shí zài wú qù, měi dào wǎn jiān, bù guò hé píng 'ér shuō xiào yī huí, jiù hú luàn shuì liǎo。
zhè rì yè jiān, zhèng hé píng 'ér dēng xià yōng lú juàn xiù, zǎo mìng nóng xūn xiù bèi, èr rén shuì xià, qū zhǐ suàn xíng chéng gāi dào hé chù, bù zhī bù jué yǐ jiāo sān gǔ。 píng 'ér yǐ shuì shú liǎo。 fèng jiě fāng jué xīng yǎn wēi méng, huǎng hū zhǐ jiàn qín shì cóng wài zǒu lái, hán xiào shuō dào: “ shěn zǐ hǎo shuì! wǒ jīn rì huí qù, nǐ yě bù sòng wǒ yī chéng。 yīn niàn 'ér men sù rì xiāng hǎo, wǒ shěbùdé shěn zǐ, gù lái bié nǐ yī bié。 hái yòu yī jiàn xīn yuàn wèi liǎo, fēi gào sù shěn zǐ, bié rén wèi bì zhōng yòng。 ”
fèng jiě tīng liǎo, huǎng hū wèn dào:“ yòu hé xīn yuàn? nǐ zhǐ guǎn tuō wǒ jiù shì liǎo。” qín shì dào:“ shěn shěn, nǐ shì gè zhī fěn duì lǐ de yīng xióng, lián nà xiē shù dài dǐng guān de nán zǐ yě bù néng guò nǐ, nǐ rú hé lián liǎng jù sú yǔ yě bù xiǎo dé? cháng yán ‘ yuè mǎn zé kuī, shuǐ mǎn zé yì ’, yòu dào shì‘ dēng gāo bì diē zhòng’。 rú jīn wǒ men jiā hè hè yáng yáng, yǐ jiāng bǎizǎi, yī rì cháng huò lè jí bēi shēng, ruò yìng liǎo nà jù‘ shù dǎo hú sūn sàn’ de sú yǔ, qǐ bù xū chēng liǎo yī shì de shī shū jiù zú liǎo! " fèng jiě tīng liǎo cǐ huà, xīn xiōng dà kuài, shí fēn jìng wèi, máng wèn dào:“ zhè huà lǜ de jí shì, dàn yòu hé fǎ kě yǐ yǒng bǎo wú yú? " qín shì lěng xiào dào:“ shěn zǐ hǎo chī yě。 fǒu jí tài lái, róng rǔ zì gǔ zhōu 'ér fù shǐ, qǐ rén lì néng kě bǎo cháng de。 dàn rú jīn néng yú róng shí chóu huà xià jiāng lái shuāi shí de shì yè, yì kě wèi cháng bǎo yǒng quán liǎo。 jí rú jīn rì zhū shìdōu tuǒ, zhǐ yòu liǎng jiàn wèi tuǒ, ruò bǎ cǐ shì rú cǐ yīháng, zé hòu rì kě bǎo yǒng quán liǎo。”
fèng jiě biàn wèn hé shì。 qín shì dào:“ mù jīn zǔ yíng suī sì shí jì sì, zhǐ shì wú yī dìng de qián liáng, dì 'èr, jiā shú suī lì, wú yī dìng de gōngjǐ。 yǐ wǒ xiǎng lái, rú jīn shèng shí gù bù quē jì sì gōngjǐ, dàn jiāng lái bài luò zhī shí, cǐ 'èr xiàng yòu hé chū chù? mò ruò yǐ wǒ dìng jiàn, chèn jīn rì fù guì, jiāng zǔ yíng fù jìn duō zhì tián zhuāng fáng shè dì mǔ, yǐ bèi jì sì gōngjǐ zhī fèi jiē chū zì cǐ chù, jiāng jiā shú yì shè yú cǐ。 hé tóng zú zhōng cháng yòu, dà jiā dìng liǎo zé lì, rì hòu 'àn fáng zhǎng guǎn zhè yī nián de dì mǔ, qián liáng, jì sì, gōngjǐ zhī shì。 rú cǐ zhōu liú, yòu wú zhēng jìng, yì bù yòu diǎn mài zhū bì。 biàn shì yòu liǎo zuì, fán wù kě rù guān, zhè jì sì chǎn yè lián guān yě bù rù de。 biàn bài luò xià lái, zǐ sūn huí jiā dú shū wù nóng, yě yòu gè tuì bù, jì sì yòu kě yǒng jì。 ruò mù jīn yǐ wéi róng huá bù jué, bù sī hòu rì, zhōng fēi cháng cè。 yǎn jiàn bù rì yòu yòu yī jiàn fēi cháng xǐ shì, zhēn shì liè huǒ pēng yóu, xiān huā zhe jǐn zhī shèng。 yào zhī dào, yě bù guò shì shùn jiān de fán huá, yī shí de huān lè, wàn bù kě wàng liǎo nà‘ shèng yán bì sàn’ de sú yǔ。 cǐ shí ruò bù zǎo wéi hòu lǜ, lín qī zhǐ kǒng hòu huǐ wú yì liǎo。” fèng jiě máng wèn:“ yòu hé xǐ shì? " qín shì dào:“ tiān jī bù kě xiè lòu。 zhǐ shì wǒ yǔ shěn zǐ hǎo liǎo yīcháng, lín bié zèng nǐ liǎng jù huà, xū yào jì zhe。” yīn niàn dào:
sān chūn guò hòu zhū fāng jìn, gè zì xū xún gè zì mén。 fèng jiě hái yù wèn shí, zhǐ tīng 'èr mén shàng chuán shì yún bǎn lián kòu sì xià, jiāng fèng jiě jīng xǐng。 rén huí:“ dōng fǔ róng dà nǎi nǎi méi liǎo。” fèng jiě wén tīng, xià liǎo yī shēn lěng hàn, chū liǎo yī huí shén, zhǐ dé máng máng de chuān yī, wǎng wáng fū rén chù lái。
bǐ shí hé jiā jiē zhī, wú bù nà hǎn, dōuyòu xiē yí xīn。 nà cháng yī bèi de xiǎng tā sù rì xiào shùn, píng yī bèi de xiǎng tā sù rì hé mù qīn mì, xià yī bèi de xiǎng tā sù rì cí 'ài, yǐ jí jiā zhōng pú cóng lǎo xiǎo xiǎng tā sù rì lián pín xī jiàn, cí lǎo 'ài yòu zhī 'ēn, mò bù bēi háo tòng kū zhě。
xián yán shǎo xù, què shuō bǎo yù yīn jìn rì lín dài yù huí qù, shèng dé zì jǐ gū в, yě bù hé rén wán shuǎ, měi dào wǎn jiān biàn suǒ rán shuì liǎo。 rú jīn cóng mèng zhōng tīng jiàn shuō qín shì sǐ liǎo, lián máng fān shēn pá qǐ lái, zhǐ jué xīn zhōng sì chuō liǎo yī dāo de bù rěn, wā de yī shēng, zhíbèn chū yī kǒu xuè lái。 xí rén děng huāng huāng máng máng shàng lái д fú, wèn shì zěn me yàng, yòu yào huí jiǎ mǔ lái qǐng dà fū。 bǎo yù xiào dào:“ bù yòng máng, bù xiāng gān, zhè shì jí huǒ gōng xīn, xuè bù guī jīng。” shuō zhe biàn pá qǐ lái, yào yī fú huàn liǎo, lái jiàn jiǎ mǔ, jí shí yào guò qù。 xí rén jiàn tā rú cǐ, xīn zhōng suī fàng bù xià, yòu bù gǎn lán, zhǐ shì yóu tā bà liǎo。 jiǎ mǔ jiàn tā yào qù, yīn shuō:“ cái г qì de rén, nà lǐ bù gān jìng, èr zé yè lǐ fēng dà, děng míng zǎo zài qù bù chí。” bǎo yù nà lǐ kěn yǐ。 jiǎ mǔ mìng rén bèi chē, duō pài gēn suí rén yì, yōng hù qián lái。 yī zhí dào liǎo níng guó fǔ qián, zhǐ jiàn fǔ mén dòng kāi, liǎng biān dēng lóng zhào rú bái zhòu, luàn hōng hōng rén lái rén wǎng, lǐ miàn kū shēng yáo shān zhèn yuè。 bǎo yù xià liǎo chē, máng máng bēn zhì tíng líng zhī shì, tòng kū yī fān。 rán hòu jiàn guò yóu shì。 shuí zhī yóu shì zhèng fàn liǎo wèi téng jiù jí, shuì zài chuáng shàng。 rán hòu yòu chū lái jiàn jiǎ zhēn。 bǐ shí jiǎ dài rú, dài xiū, jiǎ chì, jiǎ xiào, jiǎ dūn, jiǎ shè, jiǎ zhèng, jiǎ cóng, jiǎ е, jiǎ háng, jiǎ ё, jiǎ chēn, jiǎ qióng, jiǎ ж, jiǎ qiáng, jiǎ chāng, jiǎ líng, jiǎ yún, jiǎ qín, jiǎ zhēn, jiǎ píng, jiǎ zǎo, jiǎ héng, jiǎ fēn, jiǎ fāng, jiǎ lán, jiǎ jūn, jiǎ zhī děngdōu lái liǎo。 jiǎ zhēn kū de lèi rén yī bān, zhèng hé jiǎ dài rú děng shuō dào:“ hé jiā dà xiǎo, yuǎn jìn qīn yǒu, shuí bù zhī wǒ zhè xí fù bǐ 'ér zǐ hái qiáng shí bèi。 rú jīn shēn tuǐ qù liǎo, kě jiàn zhè cháng fáng nèi jué miè wú rén liǎo。” shuō zhe yòu kū qǐ lái。 zhòng rén máng quàn:“ rén yǐ cí shì, kū yě wú yì, qiě shāng yì rú hé liào lǐ yào jǐn。” jiǎ zhēn pāi shǒu dào:“ rú hé liào lǐ, bù guò jìn wǒ suǒ yòu bà liǎo! " zhèng shuō zhe, zhǐ jiàn qín yè, qín zhōng bìng yóu shì de jǐ gè juàn shǔ yóu shì zǐ mèi yědōu lái liǎo。 jiǎ zhēn biàn mìng jiǎ qióng, jiǎ chēn, jiǎ ж, jiǎ qiáng sì gè rén qù péi kè, yī miàn fēn fù qù qǐng qīn tiān jiān yīn yáng sī lái zé rì, zé zhǔn tíng líng qī qī sì shí jiǔ rì, sān rì hòu kāi sàng sòng fù wén。 zhè sì shí jiǔ rì, dān qǐng yī bǎi dān bā zhòng chán sēng zài dà tīng shàng bài dà bēi chàn, chāo dù qián wáng hòu huà zhū hún, yǐ miǎn wáng zhě zhī zuì, lìng shè yī tán yú tiān xiāng lóu shàng, shì jiǔ shí jiǔ wèi quán zhēn dào shì, dǎ sì shí jiǔ rì jiě yuān xǐ yè jiào。 rán hòu tíng líng yú huì fāng yuán zhōng, líng qián lìng wài wǔ shí zhòng gāo sēng, wǔ shí zhòng gāo dào, duì tán 'àn qī zuò hǎo shì。 nà jiǎ jìng wén dé zhǎngsūn xí sǐ liǎo, yīn zì wéi zǎo wǎn jiù yào fēi shēng, rú hé kěn yòu huí jiā rǎn liǎo hóng chén, jiāng qián gōng jìn qì ní, yīn cǐ bìng bù zài yì, zhǐ píng jiǎ zhēn liào lǐ。
jiǎ zhēn jiàn fù qīn bù guǎn, yì fā zì yì shē huá。 kàn bǎn shí, jǐ fù shāmù bǎn jiē bù zhōng yòng。 kě qiǎo xuē pán lái diào wèn, yīn jiàn jiǎ zhēn xún hǎo bǎn, biàn shuō dào:“ wǒ men mù diàn lǐ yòu yī fù bǎn, jiào zuò shénme qiáng mù, chū zài huáng hǎi tiě wǎng shān shàng, zuò liǎo guān cái, wàn nián bù huài。 zhè hái shì dāng nián xiān fù dài lái, yuán xì yì zhōng qīn wáng lǎo qiān suì yào de, yīn tā huài liǎo shì, jiù bù céng ná qù。 xiàn zài hái fēng zài diàn nèi, yě méi yòu rén chū jià gǎn mǎi。 nǐ ruò yào, jiù tái lái shǐ bà。” jiǎ zhēn tīng shuō, xǐ zhī bù jìn, jí mìng rén tái lái。 dà jiā kàn shí, zhǐ jiàn bāng dǐ jiē hòu bā cùn, wén ruò bīn láng, wèi ruò tán shè, yǐ shǒu kòu zhī, dīng з rú jīn yù。 dà jiādōu qí yì chēng zàn。 jiǎ zhēn xiào wèn:“ jià zhí jǐ hé? " xuē pán xiào dào:“ ná yī qiān liǎng yín zǐ lái, zhǐ pà yě méi chù mǎi qù。 shénme jià bù jià, shǎng tā men jǐ liǎng gōng qián jiù shì liǎo。” jiǎ zhēn tīng shuō, máng xiè bù jìn, jí mìng jiě jù hú qī。 jiǎ zhèng yīn quàn dào:“ cǐ wù kǒng fēi cháng rén kě xiǎng zhě, liàn yǐ shàng děng shāmù yě jiù shì liǎo。” cǐ shí jiǎ zhēn hèn bù néng dài qín shì zhī sǐ, zhè huà rú hé kěn tīng。 yīn hū yòu tīng dé qín shì zhī yā huán míng huàn ruì zhū zhě, jiàn qín shì sǐ liǎo, tā yě chù zhù 'ér wáng。 cǐ shì kě hǎn, hé zú rén yědōu chēng tàn。 jiǎ zhēn suì yǐ sūn nǚ zhī lǐ liǎn bìn, yī bìng tíng líng yú huì fāng yuán zhōng zhī dēng xiān gé。 xiǎo yā huán míng bǎo zhū zhě, yīn jiàn qín shì shēn wú suǒ chū, nǎi gān xīn yuàn wéi yì nǚ, shì rèn shuāi sàng jià líng zhī rèn。 jiǎ zhēn xǐ zhī bù jìn, jí shí chuán xià, cóng cǐ jiē hū bǎo zhū wéi xiǎo jiě。 nà bǎo zhū 'àn wèi jià nǚ zhī sàng, zài líng qián 'āi 'āi yù jué。 yú shì, hé zú rén dīng bìng jiā xià zhū rén, dū gè zūn jiù zhì xíng shì, zì bù dé wěn luàn。
jiǎ zhēn yīn xiǎng zhe jiǎ róng bù guò shì gè hóng mén jiān, líng fān jīng bǎng shàng xiě shí bù hǎo kàn, biàn shì zhí shì yě bù duō, yīn cǐ xīn xià shèn bù zì zài。 kě qiǎo zhè rì zhèng shì shǒu qī dì sì rì, zǎo yòu dà míng gōng zhǎng gōng nèi xiāng dài quán, xiān bèi liǎo jì lǐ qiǎn rén lái, cì hòu zuò liǎo dà jiào, dǎ sǎn míng luó, qīn lái shàng jì。 jiǎ zhēn máng jiē zhe, ràng zhì dòu fēng xuān xiàn chá。 jiǎ zhēn xīn zhōng dǎ suàn dìng liǎo zhù yì, yīn 'ér chèn biàn jiù shuō yào yǔ jiǎ róng juān gè qián chéng de huà。 dài quán huì yì, yīn xiào dào:“ xiǎng shì wéi sānglǐ shàng fēng guāng xiē。” jiǎ zhēn máng xiào dào:“ lǎo nèi xiāng suǒ jiàn bùchà。” dài quán dào:“ shì dǎo còu qiǎo, zhèng yòu gè měi quē, rú jīn sān bǎi yuán lóng jìn wèi duǎn liǎo liǎng yuán, zuó 'ér xiāng yáng hóu de xiōng dì lǎo sān lái qiú wǒ, xiàn ná liǎo yī qiān wǔ bǎi liǎng yín zǐ, sòng dào wǒ jiā lǐ。 nǐ zhī dào, zán mendōu shì lǎo xiāng yǔ, bù jū zěn me yàng, kàn zhe tā yé yé de fēn shàng, hú luàn yìng liǎo。 hái shèng liǎo yī gè quē, shuí zhī yǒng xīng jié dù shǐ féng pàng zǐ lái qiú, yào yǔ tā hái zǐ juān, wǒ jiù méi gōng fū yìng tā。 jì shì zán men de hái zǐ yào juān, kuài xiě gè lǚ lì lái。” jiǎ zhēn tīng shuō, máng fēn fù:“ kuài mìng shū fáng lǐ rén gōng jìng xiě liǎo dà yé de lǚ lì lái。” xiǎo sī bù gǎn dài màn, qù liǎo yī kè, biàn ná liǎo yī zhāng hóng zhǐ lái yǔ jiǎ zhēn。 jiǎ zhēn kàn liǎo, máng sòng yǔ dài quán。 kàn shí, shàng miàn xiě dào:
jiāng nán jiāng níng fǔ jiāng níng xiàn jiān shēng jiǎ róng, nián 'èr shí suì。 zēngzǔ, yuán
rèn jīng yíng jié dù shǐ shì xí yī děng shén wēi jiāng jūn jiǎ dài huà, zǔ, yǐ mǎo kē jìn shì jiǎ
jìng, fù, shì xí sān pǐn jué wēi liè jiāng jūn jiǎ zhēn。 dài quán kàn liǎo, huí shǒu biàn dì yǔ yī gè tiē shēn de xiǎo sī shōu liǎo, shuō dào:“ huí lái sòng yǔ hù bù táng guān lǎo zhào, shuō wǒ bài shàng tā, qǐ yī zhāng wǔ pǐn lóng jìn wèi de piào, zài gěi gè zhí zhào, jiù bǎ zhè lǚ lì tián shàng, míng 'ér wǒ lái duì yín zǐ sòng qù。” xiǎo sī dāyìng liǎo, dài quán yě jiù gào cí liǎo。 jiǎ zhēn shí fēn kuǎn liú bù zhù, zhǐ dé sòng chū fǔ mén。 lín shàng jiào, jiǎ zhēn yīn wèn:“ yín zǐ hái shì wǒ dào bù duì, hái shì yī bìng sòng rù lǎo nèi xiāng fǔ zhōng? " dài quán dào:“ ruò dào bù lǐ, nǐ yòu chī kuī liǎo。 bù rú píng zhǔn yī qiān 'èr bǎi liǎng yín zǐ, sòng dào wǒ jiā jiù wán liǎo。” jiǎ zhēn gǎn xiè bù jìn, zhǐ shuō:“ dài fú mǎn hòu, qīn dài xiǎo quǎn dào fǔ kòu xiè。” yú shì zuò bié。
jiē zhe, biàn yòu tīng hèdào zhī shēng, yuán lái shì zhōng jìng hóu shǐ dǐng de fū rén lái liǎo。 wáng fū rén, xíng fū rén, fèng jiě děng gāng yíng rù shàng fáng, yòu jiàn jǐn xiāng hóu, chuān níng hóu, shòu shān bó sān jiā jì lǐ bǎi zài líng qián。 shàoshí, sān rén xià jiào, jiǎ zhèng děng máng jiē shàng dà tīng。 rú cǐ qīn péng nǐ lái wǒ qù, yě bù néng shèngshǔ。 zhǐ zhè sì shí jiǔ rì, níng guó fǔ jiē shàng yī tiáo bái màn màn rén lái rén wǎng, huā cù cù guān qù guān lái。
jiǎ zhēn mìng jiǎ róng cì rì huàn liǎo jí fú, lǐng píng huí lái。 líng qián gōng yòng zhí shì děng wù jù 'àn wǔ pǐn zhí lì。 líng pái shū shàng jiē xiě " tiān cháo gào shòu jiǎ mén qín shì gōng rén zhī líng wèi "。 huì fāng yuán lín jiē dà mén dòng kāi, xuán zài liǎng biān qǐ liǎo gǔ lè tīng, liǎng bān qīng yī 'àn shí zòuyuè, yī duì duì zhí shì bǎi de dāo zhǎn fǔ qí。 gèng yòu liǎng miàn zhū hóng xiāo jīn dà zì pái duì shù zài mén wài, shàng miàn dà shū:“ fáng hù nèi tíng zǐ jìn dào yù qián shì wèi lóng jìn wèi "。 duì miàn gāo qǐ zhe xuān tán, sēng dào duì tán bǎng wén, bǎng shàng dà shū:“ shì xí níng guó gōng zhǒng sūn fù, fáng hù nèi tíng yù qián shì wèi lóng jìn wèi jiǎ mén qín shì gōng rén zhī sàng。 sì dà bù zhōu zhì zhōng zhī dì, fèng tiān chéng yùn tài píng zhī guó, zǒng lǐ xū wú jì jìng jiào mén sēng lù sī zhèng táng wàn xū, zǒng lǐ yuán shǐ sān yī jiào mén dào lù sī zhèng táng yè shēng děng, jìng jǐn xiū zhāi, cháo tiān kòu fó ", yǐ jí " gōng qǐng zhū gā lán, jiē dì, gōng cáo děng shén, shèng 'ēn pǔ xī, shén wēi yuǎn zhèn, sì shí jiǔ rì xiāo zāi xǐ yè píng 'ān shuǐ lù dào chǎng " děng yǔ, yì bù xiāo fán jì。
zhǐ shì jiǎ zhēn suī rán cǐ shí xīn yì mǎn zú, dàn lǐ miàn yóu shì yòu fàn liǎo jiù jí, bù néng liào lǐ shì wù, wéi kǒng gè gào mìng lái wǎng, kuī liǎo lǐ shù, pà rén xiào huà, yīn cǐ xīn zhōng bù zì zài。 dāng xià zhèng yōu lǜ shí, yīn bǎo yù zài cè wèn dào:“ shì shì dū suàn 'ān tiē liǎo, dà gē gē hái chóu shénme? " jiǎ zhēn jiàn wèn, biàn jiāng lǐ miàn wú rén de huà shuō liǎo chū lái。 bǎo yù tīng shuō xiào dào:“ zhè yòu hé nán, wǒ jiàn yī gè rén yǔ nǐ quán lǐ zhè yī gè yuè de shì, guǎn bì tuǒdàng。” jiǎ zhēn máng wèn:“ shì shuí? " bǎo yù jiàn zuò jiān hái yòu xǔ duō qīn yǒu, bù biàn míng yán, zǒu zhì jiǎ zhēn 'ěr biān shuō liǎo liǎng jù。 jiǎ zhēn tīng liǎo xǐ bù zì jìn, lián máng qǐ shēn xiào dào:“ guǒ rán 'ān tiē, rú jīn jiù qù。” shuō zhe lā liǎo bǎo yù, cí liǎo zhòng rén, biàn wǎng shàng fáng lǐ lái。
kě qiǎo zhè rì fēi zhèng jīng rì qī, qīn yǒu lái de shǎo, lǐ miàn bù guò jǐ wèi jìn qīn táng kè, xíng fū rén, wáng fū rén, fèng jiě bìng hé zú zhōng de nèi juàn péi zuò。 wén rén bào:“ dà yé jìn lái liǎo。” hǔ de zhòng pó niàn hū de yī shēng, wǎng hòu cáng zhī bù dié, dú fèng jiě kuǎn kuǎn zhàn liǎo qǐ lái。 jiǎ zhēn cǐ shí yě yòu xiē bìng zhèng zài shēn, èr zé guò yú bēi tòng liǎo, yīn zhǔ gè guǎi duó liǎo jìn lái。 xíng fū rén děng yīn shuō dào:“ nǐ shēn shàng bù hǎo, yòu lián rì shì duō, gāi xiē xiē cái shì, yòu jìn lái zuò shénme? " jiǎ zhēn yī miàn fú guǎi, zházhēng zhe yào dūn shēn guì xià qǐng 'ān dào fá。 xíng fū rén děng máng jiào bǎo yù chān zhù, mìng rén nuó yǐ zǐ lái yǔ tā zuò。 jiǎ zhēn duàn bù kěn zuò, yīn miǎnqiǎng péi xiào dào:“ zhí 'ér jìn lái yòu yī jiàn shì yào qiú 'èr wèi shěn zǐ bìng dà mèi mèi。” xíng fū rén děng máng wèn:“ shénme shì? " jiǎ zhēn máng xiào dào:“ shěn zǐ zì rán zhī dào, rú jīn sūn zǐ xí fù méi liǎo, zhí 'ér xí fù piān yòu bìng dǎo, wǒ kàn lǐ tóu zhuóshí bù chéng gè tǐ tǒng。 zěn me qū zūn dà mèi mèi yī gè yuè, zài zhè lǐ liào lǐ liào lǐ, wǒ jiù fàng xīn liǎo。” xíng fū rén xiào dào:“ yuán lái wéi zhè gè。 nǐ dà mèi mèi xiàn zài nǐ 'èr shěn zǐ jiā, zhǐ hé nǐ 'èr shěn zǐ shuō jiù shì liǎo。” wáng fū rén máng dào:“ tā yī gè xiǎo hái zǐ jiā, hé céng jīng guò zhè yàng shì, cháng huò liào lǐ bù qīng, fǎn jiào rén xiào huà, dǎo shì zài fán bié rén hǎo。” jiǎ zhēn xiào dào:“ shěn zǐ de yì sī zhí 'ér cāizháo liǎo, shì pà dà mèi mèi láo kǔ liǎo。 ruò shuō liào lǐ bù kāi, wǒ bāo guǎn bì liào lǐ de kāi, biàn shì cuò yī diǎn 'ér, bié rén kàn zhe hái shì bù cuò de。 cóng xiǎo 'ér dà mèi mèi wán xiào zhe jiù yòu shā fá jué duàn, rú jīn chū liǎo gé, yòu zài nà fǔ lǐ bàn shì, yuè fā lì liàn lǎo chéng liǎo。 wǒ xiǎng liǎo zhè jǐ rì, chú liǎo dà mèi mèi zài wú rén liǎo。 shěn zǐ bù kàn zhí 'ér, zhí 'ér xí fù de fēn shàng, zhǐ kàn sǐ liǎo de fēn shàng bà! " shuō zhe gǔn xià lèi lái。
wáng fū rén xīn zhōng pà de shì fèng jiě 'ér wèi jīng guò sāngshì, pà tā liào lǐ bù qīng, rě rén chǐ xiào。 jīn jiàn jiǎ zhēn kǔ kǔ de shuō dào zhè bù tián dì, xīn zhōng yǐ huó liǎo jǐ fēn, què yòu yǎn kàn zhe fèng jiě chū shén。 nà fèng jiě sù rì zuì xǐ lǎn shì bàn, hǎo mài nòng cáigàn, suī rán dāng jiā tuǒdàng, yě yīn wèi bàn guò hūn sàng dà shì, kǒng rén hái bù fú, bā bù dé yù jiàn zhè shì。 jīn jiàn jiǎ zhēn rú cǐ yī lái, tā xīn zhōng zǎo yǐ huān xǐ。 xiān jiàn wáng fū rén bù yǔn, hòu jiàn jiǎ zhēn shuō de qíng zhēn, wáng fū rén yòu huó dòng zhī yì, biàn xiàng wáng fū rén dào:“ dà gē gē shuō de zhè me kěnqiè, tài tài jiù yǐ liǎo bà。” wáng fū rén qiāoqiāo de dào:“ nǐ kě néng me? " fèng jiě dào:“ yòu shénme bù néng de。 wài miàn de dà shì yǐ jīng dà gē gē liào lǐ qīng liǎo, bù guò shì lǐ tóu zhào guǎn zhào guǎn, biàn shì wǒ yòu bù zhī dào de, wèn wèn tài tài jiù shì liǎo。” wáng fū rén jiàn shuō de yòu lǐ, biàn bù zuò shēng。 jiǎ zhēn jiàn fèng jiě yǔn liǎo, yòu péi xiào dào:“ yě guǎn bù dé xǔ duō liǎo, héng shù yào qiú dà mèi mèi xīn kǔ xīn kǔ。 wǒ zhè lǐ xiān yǔ mèi mèi xíng lǐ, děng shì wán liǎo, wǒ zài dào nà fǔ lǐ qù xiè。” shuō zhe jiù zuò yī xià qù, fèng jiě 'ér hái lǐ bù dié。
jiǎ zhēn biàn máng xiàng xiù zhōng qǔ liǎo níng guó fǔ duì pái chū lái, mìng bǎo yù sòng yǔ fèng jiě, yòu shuō:“ mèi mèi 'ài zěn yàng jiù zěn yàng, yào shénme zhǐ guǎn ná zhè gè qǔ qù, yě bù bì wèn wǒ。 zhǐ qiú bié cún xīn tì wǒ shěng qián, zhǐ yào hǎo kàn wéi shàng, èr zé yě yào tóng nà fǔ lǐ yī yàng dài rén cái hǎo, bù yào cún xīn pà rén bào yuàn。 zhǐ zhè liǎng jiàn wài, wǒ zài méi bù fàng xīn de liǎo。” fèng jiě bù gǎn jiù jiē pái, zhǐ kàn zhe wáng fū rén。 wáng fū rén dào:“ nǐ gē gē jì zhè me shuō, nǐ jiù zhào kàn zhào kàn bà liǎo。 zhǐ shì bié zì zuò zhù yì, yòu liǎo shì, dǎ fā rén wèn nǐ gē gē, sǎo zǐ yào jǐn。” bǎo yù zǎo xiàng jiǎ zhēn shǒu lǐ jiē guò duì pái lái, qiáng dì yǔ fèng jiě liǎo。 yòu wèn:“ mèi mèi zhù zài zhè lǐ, hái shì tiān tiān lái ní? ruò shì tiān tiān lái, yuè fā xīn kǔ liǎo。 bù rú wǒ zhè lǐ gǎn zhe shōu shí chū yī gè yuàn luò lái, mèi mèi zhù guò zhè jǐ rì dǎo 'ān wěn。” fèng jiě xiào dào:“ bù yòng。 nà biān yě lí bù dé wǒ, dǎo shì tiān tiān lái de hǎo。” jiǎ zhēn tīng shuō, zhǐ dé bà liǎo。 rán hòu yòu shuō liǎo yī huí xián huà, fāng cái chū qù。
yī shí nǚ juàn sàn hòu, wáng fū rén yīn wèn fèng jiě:“ nǐ jīn 'ér zěn me yàng? " fèng jiě 'ér dào:“ tài tài zhǐ guǎn qǐng huí qù, wǒ xū dé xiān lǐ chū yī gè tóu xù lái, cái huí qù dé ní。” wáng fū rén tīng shuō, biàn xiān tóng xíng fū rén děng huí qù, bù zài huà xià。
zhè lǐ fèng jiě 'ér lái zhì sān jiān yī suǒ bào shà nèi zuò liǎo, yīn xiǎng: tóu yī jiàn shì rén kǒu hùn zá, yí shī dōng xī, dì 'èr jiàn, shì wú zhuān zhí, lín qī tuī wěi, dì sān jiàn, xū yòng guò fèi, làn zhī mào lǐng, dì sì jiàn, rèn wú dà xiǎo, kǔ lè bù jūn, dì wǔ jiàn, jiā rén háo zòng, yòu liǎn zhě bù fú qián shù, wú liǎn zhě bù néng shàng jìn。 cǐ wǔ jiàn shí shì níng guó fǔ zhòngfēng sú, bù zhī fèng jiě rú hé chù zhì, qiě tīng xià huí fēn jiě。 zhèng shì:
jīn zǐ wàn qiān shuí zhì guó, qún chāi yī 'èr kě qí jiā。
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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