中国经典 》 hóng lóu mèng A Dream of Red Mansions 》
dì shí sì huí lín rú hǎi juān guǎn yáng zhōu chéng jiǎ bǎo yù lù yè běi jìng wáng CHAPTER XIV.
cáo xuě qín Cao Xueqin
gāo 'ě Gao E
CHAPTER XIV.
huà shuō níng guó fǔ zhōng dū zǒng guǎn lái shēng wén dé lǐ miàn wěi qǐng liǎo fèng jiě， yīn chuán qí tóng shì rén děng shuō dào： “ rú jīn qǐng liǎo xī fǔ lǐ liǎn 'èr nǎi nǎi guǎn lǐ nèi shì， cháng huò tā lái zhī qǔ dōng xī， huò shì shuō huà， wǒ men xū yào bǐ wǎng rì xiǎo xīn xiē。 měi rì dà jiā zǎo lái wǎn sàn， nìngkě xīn kǔ zhè yī gè yuè， guò hòu zài xiē zhe， bù yào bǎ lǎo liǎn diū liǎo。 nà shì gè yòu míng de liè huò， liǎn suān xīn yìng， yī shí nǎo liǎo， bù rèn rén de。 ” zhòng rén dū dào：“ yòu lǐ。” yòu yòu yī gè xiào dào：“ lùn lǐ， wǒ men lǐ miàn yě xū dé tā lái zhěng zhì zhěng zhì， dū tè bù xiàng liǎo。” zhèng shuō zhe， zhǐ jiàn lái wàng xí fù ná liǎo duì pái lái lǐng qǔ chéng wén jīng bǎng zhǐ zhá， piào shàng pī zhāoshù mù。 zhòng rén lián máng ràng zuò dàochá， yī miàn mìng rén 'àn shù qǔ zhǐ lái bào zhe， tóng lái wàng xí fù yī lù lái zhì yí mén kǒu， fāng jiāo yǔ lái wàng xí fù zì jǐ bào jìn qù liǎo。
fèng jiě jí mìng cǎi míng dīng zào bù cè。 jí shí chuán lái shēng xí fù， jiān yào jiā kǒu huā míng cè lái chá kàn， yòu xiàn yú míng rì yī zǎo chuán qí jiā rén xí fù jìn lái tīng chā děng yǔ。 dà gài diǎn liǎo yī diǎn shù mù dān cè， wèn liǎo lái shēng xí fù jǐ jù huà， biàn zuò chē huí jiā。 yīxiǔ wú huà。 zhì cì rì， mǎo zhèng 'èr kè biàn guò lái liǎo。 nà níng guó fǔ zhōng pó niàn xí fù wén dé dào qí， zhǐ jiàn fèng jiě zhèng yǔ lái shēng xí fù fēn pài， zhòng rén bù gǎn shàn rù， zhǐ zài chuāng wài tīng qù。 zhǐ tīng fèng jiě yǔ lái shēng xí fù dào：“ jì tuō liǎo wǒ， wǒ jiù shuō bù dé yào tǎo nǐ men xián liǎo。 wǒ kě bǐ bù dé nǐ men nǎi nǎi hǎo xìng 'ér， yóu zhe nǐ men qù。 zài bù yào shuō nǐ men ‘ zhè fǔ lǐ yuán shì zhè yàng ’ de huà， rú jīn kě yào yǐ zhe wǒ xíng， cuò wǒ bàn diǎn 'ér， guǎn bù dé shuí shì yòu liǎn de， shuí shì méi liǎn de， yī lì xiàn qīng bái chǔlǐ。” shuō zhe， biàn fēn fù cǎi míng niàn huā míng cè， àn míng yī gè yī gè de huàn jìn lái kàn shì。
yī shí kàn wán， biàn yòu fēn fù dào：“ zhè 'èr shí gè fēn zuò liǎng bān， yī bān shí gè， měi rì zài lǐ tóu dān guǎn rén kè lái wǎng dàochá， bié de shì bù yòng tā men guǎn。 zhè 'èr shí gè yě fēn zuò liǎng bān， měi rì dān guǎn běn jiā qīn qī chá fàn， bié de shì yě bù yòng tā men guǎn。 zhè sì shí gè rén yě fēn zuò liǎng bān， dān zài líng qián shàng xiāng tiān yóu， guà màn shǒu líng， gōng fàn gōng chá， suí qǐ jǔ 'āi， bié de shì yě bù yǔ tā men xiāng gān。 zhè sì gè rén dān zài nèi chá fáng shōu guǎn bēi dié chá qì， ruò shǎo yī jiàn， biàn jiào tā sì gè miáo péi。 zhè sì gè rén dān guǎn jiǔ fàn qì mǐn， shǎo yī jiàn， yě shì tā sì gè miáo péi。 zhè bā gè dān guǎn jiān shōu jì lǐ。 zhè bā gè dān guǎn gè chù dēng yóu， là zhú， zhǐ zhá， wǒ zǒng zhī liǎo lái， jiāo yǔ nǐ bā gè， rán hòu 'àn wǒ de dìng shù zài wǎng gè chù qù fēn pài。 zhè sān shí gè měi rì lún liú gè chù shàng yè， zhào guǎn mén hù， jiān chá huǒ zhú， dǎ sǎo dì fāng。 zhè xià shèng de 'àn zhe fáng wū fēn kāi， mǒu rén shǒu mǒu chù， mǒu chù suǒ yòu zhuō yǐ gǔ dǒng qǐ， zhì yú tán hé dǎn zhǒu， yī cǎo yī miáo， huò diū huò huài， jiù hé shǒu zhè chù de rén suàn zhàng miáo péi。 lái shēng jiā de měi rì lǎn zǒng chá kàn， huò yòu tōu lǎn de， dǔ qián chī jiǔ de， dǎ jià bàn zuǐ de， lì kè lái huí wǒ， nǐ yòu xùn qíng， jīng wǒ chá chū， sān sì bèi zǐ de lǎo liǎn jiù gù bù chéng liǎo。 rú jīn dōuyòu dìng guī， yǐ hòu nà yīháng luàn liǎo， zhǐ hé nà yīháng shuō huà。 sù rì gēn wǒ de rén， suí shēn zì yòu zhōng biǎo， bù lùn dà xiǎo shì， wǒ shì jiē yòu yī dìng de shí chén。 héng shù nǐ men shàng fáng lǐ yě yòu shí chén zhōng。 mǎo zhèng 'èr kè wǒ lái diǎn mǎo， sì zhèng chī zǎo fàn， fán yòu lǐng pái huí shì de， zhǐ zài wǔ chū kè。 xū chū shāo guò huáng hūn zhǐ， wǒ qīn dào gè chù chá yī biàn， huí lái shàng yè de jiāo míng yàoshì。 dì 'èr rì réng shì mǎo zhèng 'èr kè guò lái。 shuō bù dé zán men dà jiā xīn kǔ zhè jǐ rì bà， shì wán liǎo， nǐ men jiā dà yé zì rán shǎng nǐ men。”
shuō bà， yòu fēn fù 'àn shù fā yǔ chá yè， yóu zhú， jī máo dǎn zǐ， tiáo zhǒu děng wù。 yī miàn yòu bān qǔ jiā huǒ： zhuō wéi， yǐ dā， zuò rù， zhān xí， tán hé， jiǎo tà zhī lèi。 yī miàn jiāo fā， yī miàn tí bǐ dēng jì， mǒu rén guǎn mǒu chù， mǒu rén lǐng mǒu wù， kāi dé shí fēn qīng chǔ。 zhòng rén lǐng liǎo qù， yědōu yòu liǎo tóubèn， bù sì xiān shí zhǐ jiǎn piányí de zuò， shèng xià de kǔchāi méi gè zhāo lǎn。 gè fáng zhōng yě bù néng chèn luàn shī mí dōng xī。 biàn shì rén lái kè wǎng， yědōu 'ān jìng liǎo， bù bǐ xiān qián yī gè zhèng bǎi chá， yòu qù duān fàn， zhèng péi jǔ 'āi， yòu gù jiē kè。 rú zhè xiē wú tóu xù， huāng luàn， tuī tuō， tōu xián， qiè qǔ děng bì， cì rì yī gài dū Ь liǎo。
fèng jiě 'ér jiàn zì jǐ wēi zhòng lìng xíng， xīn zhōng shí fēn dé yì。 yīn jiàn yóu shì fàn bìng， jiǎ zhēn yòu guò yú bēi 'āi， bù dà jìn yǐn shí， zì jǐ měi rì cóng nà fǔ zhōng jiān liǎo gè yàng xì yù， jīng zhì xiǎo cài， mìng rén sòng lái quàn shí。 jiǎ zhēn yě lìng wài fēn fù měi rì sòng shàng děng cài dào bào shà nèi， dān yǔ fèng jiě。 nà fèng jiě bù wèi qín láo， tiān tiān yú mǎo zhèng 'èr kè jiù guò lái diǎn mǎo lǐ shì， dú zài bào shà nèi qǐ zuò， bù yǔ zhòng zhóu lǐ hé qún， biàn yòu táng kè lái wǎng， yě bù yíng huì。
zhè rì nǎi wǔ qī zhèng wǔ rì shàng， nà yìng fó sēng zhèng kāi fāng pò yù， chuán dēng zhào wáng， cān yán jūn， jū dū guǐ， yán qǐng dì cáng wáng， kāi jīn qiáo， yǐn chuáng fān， nà dào shì men zhèng fú zhāng shēn biǎo， zhāosān qīng， kòu yù dì， chán sēng men xíng xiāng， fàng yàn kǒu， bài shuǐ chàn， yòu yòu shí sān zhòng ní sēng， dā xiù yī， и hóng xié， zài líng qián mò sòng jiē yǐn zhū zhòu， shí fēn rè nào。 nà fèng jiě bì zhī jīn rì rén kè bù shǎo， zài jiā zhōng xiē sù yī yè， zhì yín zhèng， píng 'ér biàn qǐng qǐ lái shū xǐ。 jí shōu shí wán bèi， gēngyīプ shǒu， chī liǎo liǎng kǒu nǎi zǐ táng jīng mǐ yù， shù kǒu yǐ bì， yǐ shì mǎo zhèng 'èr kè liǎo。 lái wàng xí fù shuài lǐng zhū rén cìhou yǐ jiǔ。 fèng jiě chū zhì tīng qián， shàng liǎo chē， qián miàn dǎ liǎo yī duì míng jiǎo dēng， dà shū " róng guó fǔ " sān gè dà zì， kuǎn kuǎn lái zhì níng fǔ。 dà mén shàng mén dēng lǎng guà， liǎng biān yī sè chuō dēng， zhào rú bái zhòu， bái wāng wāng chuān xiào pú cóng liǎng biān shì lì。 qǐng chē zhì zhèng mén shàng， xiǎo sī děng tuì qù， zhòng xí fù shàng lái jiē qǐ chē lián。 fèng jiě xià liǎo chē， yī shǒu fú zhe fēng 'ér， liǎng gè xí fù zhí zhe shǒu bǎ dēng zhào， cù yōng zhe fèng jiě jìn lái。 níng fǔ zhū xí fù yíng lái qǐng 'ān jiē dài。 fèng jiě huǎn huǎn zǒu rù huì fāng yuán zhōng dēng xiān gé líng qián， yī jiàn liǎo guān cái， nà yǎn lèi qià sì duàn xiàn zhī zhū， gǔn jiāng xià lái。 yuàn zhōng xǔ duō xiǎo sī chuí shǒu cìhou shāo zhǐ。 fèng jiě fēn fù dé yī shēng：“ gōng chá shāo zhǐ。” zhǐ tīng yī bàng luó míng， zhū lè qí zòu， zǎo yòu rén duān guò yī zhāng dà juàn yǐ lái， fàng zài líng qián， fèng jiě zuò liǎo， fàng shēng dà kū。 yú shì lǐ wài nán nǚ shàng xià， jiàn fèng jiě chū shēng， dū máng máng jiē shēng háo kū。
yī shí jiǎ zhēn yóu shì qiǎn rén lái quàn， fèng jiě fāng cái zhǐ zhù。 lái wàng xí fù xiàn chá shù kǒu bì， fèng jiě fāng qǐ shēn， bié guò zú zhōng zhū rén， zì rù bào shà nèi lái。 àn míng chá diǎn， gè xiàng rén shù dōuyǐ dào qí， zhǐ yòu yíng sòng qīn kè shàng de yī rén wèi dào。 jí mìng chuán dào， nà rén yǐ zhāng huáng kuì jù。 fèng jiě lěng xiào dào：“ wǒ shuō shì shuí wù liǎo， yuán lái shì nǐ！ nǐ yuán bǐ tā men yòu tǐ miàn， suǒ yǐ cái bù tīng wǒ de huà。” nà rén dào：“ xiǎo de tiān tiān dōulái de zǎo， zhǐ yòu jīn 'ér， xǐng liǎo jué dé zǎo xiē， yīn yòu shuì mí liǎo， lái chí liǎo yī bù， qiú nǎi nǎi ráo guò zhè cì。” zhèng shuō zhe， zhǐ jiàn róng guó fǔ zhōng de wáng xīng xí fù lái liǎo， zài qián tàn tóu。
fèng jiě qiě bù fā fàng zhè rén， què xiān wèn：“ wáng xīng xí fù zuò shénme？ " wáng xīng xí fù bā bù dé xiān wèn tā wán liǎo shì， lián máng jìn qù shuō：“ lǐng pái qǔ xiàn， dǎ chē jiào wǎng luò。” shuō zhe， jiāng gè tiē 'ér dì shàng qù。 fèng jiě mìng cǎi míng niàn dào：“ dà jiào liǎng dǐng， xiǎo jiào sì dǐng， chē sì liàng， gòng yòng dà xiǎo làozi ruò gān gēn， yòng zhū 'ér xiàn ruò gān jīn。” fèng jiě tīng liǎo， shù mù xiāng hé， biàn mìng cǎi míng dēng jì， qǔ róng guó fǔ duì pái zhì xià。 wáng xīng jiā de qù liǎo。
fèng jiě fāng yù shuō huà shí， jiàn róng guó fǔ de sì gè zhí shì rén jìn lái， dōushì yào zhī qǔ dōng xī lǐng pái lái de。 fèng jiě mìng cǎi míng yào liǎo tiē niàn guò， tīng liǎo yī gòng sì jiàn， zhǐ liǎng jiàn shuō dào：“ zhè liǎng jiàn kāi xiāo cuò liǎo， zài suàn qīng liǎo lái qǔ。” shuō zhe zhì xià tiězǐ lái。 nà 'èr rén sǎo xīng 'ér qù。
fèng jiě yīn jiàn zhāng cái jiā de zài bàng， yīn wèn：“ nǐ yòu shénme shì？ " zhāng cái jiā de máng qǔ tiē 'ér huí shuō：“ jiù shì fāng cái chē jiào wéi zuò chéng， lǐng qǔ cái féng gōng yín ruò gān liǎng。” fèng jiě tīng liǎo， biàn shōu liǎo tiězǐ， mìng cǎi míng dēng jì。 dài wáng xīng jiā de jiāo guò pái， dé liǎo mǎi bàn de huí yā xiāng fú， rán hòu fāng yǔ zhāng cái jiā de qù lǐng。 yī miàn yòu mìng niàn nà yī gè， shì wéi bǎo yù wài shū fáng wán jùn， zhī mǎi zhǐ liào hú biǎo。 fèng jiě tīng liǎo， jí mìng shōu tiē 'ér dēng jì， dài zhāng cái jiā de jiǎo qīng， yòu fā yǔ zhè rén qù liǎo。
fèng jiě biàn shuō dào：“ míng 'ér tā yě shuì mí liǎo， hòu 'ér wǒ yě shuì mí liǎo， jiāng láidōu méi liǎo rén liǎo。 běn lái yào ráo nǐ， zhǐ shì wǒ tóu yī cì kuān liǎo， xià cì rén jiù nán guǎn， bù rú xiàn kāi fā de hǎo。” dēng shí fàng xià liǎn lái， hē mìng：“ dài chū qù， dǎ 'èr shí bǎn zǐ！ " yī miàn yòu zhì xià níng guó fǔ duì pái：“ chū qù shuō yǔ lái shēng， gé tā yī yuè yín mǐ！ " zhòng rén tīng shuō， yòu jiàn fèng jiě méi lì， zhī shì nǎo liǎo， bù gǎn dài màn， tuō rén de chū qù tuō rén， zhí pái chuán yù de máng qù chuán yù。 nà rén shēn bù yóu jǐ， yǐ tuō chū qù 'āi liǎo 'èr shí dà bǎn， hái yào jìn lái kòu xiè。 fèng jiě dào：“ míng rì zài yòu wù de， dǎ sì shí， hòu rì de liù shí， yòu yào 'áidǎ de， zhǐ guǎn wù！ " shuō zhe， fēn fù：“ sàn liǎo bà。” chuāng wài zhòng rén tīng shuō， fāng gè zì zhí shì qù liǎo。 bǐ shí níng fǔ róng fǔ liǎng chù zhí shì lǐng pái jiāo pái de， rén lái rén wǎng bù jué， nà bào kuì bèi dǎ zhī rén hán xiū qù liǎo， zhè cái zhī dào fèng jiě lì hài。 zhòng rén bù gǎn tōu xián， zì cǐ jīng jīng yè yè， zhí shì bǎo quán。 bù zài huà xià。
rú jīn qiě shuō bǎo yù yīn jiàn jīn rì rén zhòng， kǒng qín zhōng shòu liǎo wěi qū， yīn mò yǔ tā shāng yì， yào tóng tā wǎng fèng jiě chù lái zuò。 qín zhōng dào：“ tā de shì duō， kuàng qiě bù xǐ rén qù， zán men qù liǎo， tā qǐ bù fán nì。” bǎo yù dào：“ tā zěn hǎo nì wǒ men， bù xiāng gān， zhǐ guǎn gēn wǒ lái。” shuō zhe， biàn lā liǎo qín zhōng， zhí zhì bào shà。 fèng jiě cái chī fàn， jiàn tā men lái liǎo， biàn xiào dào：“ hǎo cháng tuǐ zǐ， kuài shàng lái bà。” bǎo yù dào：“ wǒ men piān liǎo。” fèng jiě dào：“ zài zhè biān wài tóu chī de， hái shì nà biān chī de？ " bǎo yù dào：“ zhè biān tóng nà xiē hún rén chī shénme！ yuán shì nà biān， wǒ men liǎng gè tóng lǎo tài tài chī liǎo lái de。” yī miàn guī zuò。
fèng jiě chī bì fàn， jiù yòu níng guó fǔ zhōng de yī gè xí fù lái lǐng pái， wéi zhī qǔ xiāng dēng shì。 fèng jiě xiào dào：“ wǒ suàn zhe nǐ men jīn 'ér gāi lái zhī qǔ， zǒng bù jiàn lái， xiǎng shì wàng liǎo。 zhè huì zǐ dào dǐ lái qǔ， yào wàng liǎo， zì rán shì nǐ men bāo chū lái， dū piányí liǎo wǒ。” nà xí fù xiào dào：“ hé cháng bù shì wàng liǎo， fāng cái xiǎng qǐ lái， zài chí yī bù， yě lǐng bù chéng liǎo。” shuō bà， lǐng pái 'ér qù。
yī shí dēng jì jiāo pái。 qín zhōng yīn xiào dào：“ nǐ men liǎng fǔ lǐ dōushì zhè pái， cháng huò bié rén sī nòng yī gè， zhī liǎo yín zǐ páo liǎo， zěn yàng？ " fèng jiě xiào dào：“ yǐ nǐ shuō， dōuméi wáng fǎ liǎo。” bǎo yù yīn dào：“ zěn me zán men jiā méi rén lǐng pái zǐ zuò dōng xī？ " fèng jiě dào：“ rén jiā lái lǐng de shí hòu， nǐ hái zuò mèng ní。 wǒ qiě wèn nǐ， nǐ men zhè yè shū duō zǎo wǎn cái niàn ní？ " bǎo yù dào：“ bā bù dé zhè rú jīn jiù niàn cái hǎo， tā men zhǐ shì bù kuài shōu shí chū shū fáng lái， zhè yě wú fǎ。” fèng jiě xiào dào：“ nǐ qǐng wǒ yī qǐng， bāo guǎn jiù kuài liǎo。” bǎo yù dào：“ nǐ yào kuài yě bù zhōng yòng， tā men gāi zuò dào nà lǐ de， zì rán jiù yòu liǎo。” fèng jiě xiào dào：“ biàn shì tā men zuò， yě dé yào dōng xī， gē bù zhù wǒ bù gěi duì pái shì nán de。” bǎo yù tīng shuō， biàn hóu xiàng fèng jiě shēn shàng lì kè yào pái， shuō：“ hǎo jiě jiě， gěi chū pái zǐ lái， jiào tā men yào dōng xī qù。” fèng jiě dào：“ wǒ fá de shēn zǐ shàng shēng téng， hái gē de zhù róu cuō。 nǐ fàng xīn bà， jīn 'ér cái lǐng liǎo zhǐ biǎo hú qù liǎo， tā men gāi yào de hái děng jiào qù ní， kě bù shǎ liǎo？ " bǎo yù bù xìn， fèng jiě biàn jiào cǎi míng chá cè zǐ yǔ bǎo yù kàn liǎo。 zhèng nào zhe， rén huí：“ sū zhōu qù de rén zhāo 'ér lái liǎo。” fèng jiě jí mìng huàn jìn lái。 zhāo 'ér dǎ qiān 'ér qǐng 'ān。 fèng jiě biàn wèn：“ huí lái zuò shénme de？ " zhāo 'ér dào：“ èr yé dǎ fā huí lái de。 lín gū lǎo yé shì jiǔ yuè chū sān rì sì shí méi de。” èr yé dài liǎo lín gū niàn tóng sòng lín gū lǎo yé líng dào sū zhōu， dà yuē gǎn nián dǐ jiù huí lái。 èr yé dǎ fā xiǎo de lái bào gè xìn qǐng 'ān， tǎo lǎo tài tài shì xià， hái qiáo qiáo nǎi nǎi jiā lǐ hǎo， jiào bǎ dà máo yī fú dài jǐ jiàn qù。” fèng jiě dào：“ nǐ jiàn guò bié rén liǎo méi yòu？ " zhāo 'ér dào：“ dū jiàn guò liǎo。” shuō bì， lián máng tuì qù。 fèng jiě xiàng bǎo yù xiào dào：“ nǐ lín mèi mèi kě zài zán men jiā zhù cháng liǎo。” bǎo yù dào：“ liǎo bù dé， xiǎng lái zhè jǐ rì tā bù zhī kū de zěn yàng ní。” shuō zhe， cù méi cháng tàn。
fèng jiě jiàn zhāo 'ér huí lái， yīn dāng zhe rén wèi jí xì wèn jiǎ liǎn， xīn zhōng zì shì jì guà， dài yào huí qù， zhēng nài shì qíng fán zá， yī shí qù liǎo， kǒng yòu yán chí shī wù， rě rén xiào huà。 shǎo bù dé nài dào wǎn shàng huí lái， fù lìng zhāo 'ér jìn lái， xì wèn yī lù píng 'ān xìn xī。 lián yè dǎ diǎn dà máo yī fú， hé píng 'ér qīn zì jiǎn diǎn bāo guǒ， zài xì xì zhuī xiǎng suǒ xū hé wù， yī bìng bāo cáng jiāo fù zhāo 'ér。 yòu xì xì fēn fù zhāo 'ér：“ zài wài hǎo shēng xiǎo xīn fú shì， bù yào rě nǐ 'èr yé shēng qì， shí shí quàn tā shǎo chī jiǔ， bié gòu yǐn tā rèn dé hùn zhàng lǎo pó， - huí lái dǎ zhé nǐ de tuǐ " děng yǔ。 gǎn luàn wán liǎo， tiān yǐ sì gèng jiāng jìn， zǒng shuì xià yòu zǒu liǎo kùn， bù jué tiān míng jī chàng， máng shū xǐ guò níng fǔ zhōng lái。
nà jiǎ zhēn yīn jiàn fā yǐn rì jìn。 qīn zì zuò chē， dài liǎo yīn yáng sī lì， wǎng tiě jiàn sì lái tà kàn jì líng suǒ zài。 yòu yī yī zhǔ fù zhù chí sè kōng， hǎo shēng yù bèi xīn xiān chén shè， duō qǐng míng sēng， yǐ bèi jiē líng shǐ yòng。 sè kōng máng kàn wǎn zhāi。 jiǎ zhēn yě wú xīn chá fàn， yīn tiān wǎn bù dé jìn chéng， jiù zài jìng shì hú luàn xiē liǎo yī yè。 cì rì zǎo， biàn jìn chéng lái liào lǐ chū bìn zhī shì， yī miàn yòu pài rén xiān wǎng tiě jiàn sì， lián yè lìng wài xiū shì tíng líng zhī chù， bìng chú chá děng xiàng jiē líng rén kǒu zuò luò。
lǐ miàn fèng jiě jiàn rì qī yòu xiàn， yě yù xiān zhú xì fēn pài liào lǐ， yī miàn yòu pài róng fǔ zhōng chē jiào rén cóng gēn wáng fū rén sòng bìn， yòu gù zì jǐ sòng bìn qù zhàn xià chù。 mù jīn zhèng zhí shàn guó gōng gào mìng wáng gù， wáng xíng 'èr fū rén yòu qù dǎ jì sòng bìn， xī 'ān jùn wáng fēi huá dàn， sòng shòu lǐ， zhèn guó gōng gào mìng shēng liǎo cháng nán， yù bèi hè lǐ， yòu yòu bāo xiōng wáng rén lián jiā juàn huí nán， yī miàn xiě jiā xìn bǐng kòu fù mǔ bìng dài wǎng zhī wù， yòu yòu yíng chūn rǎn bìng， měi rì qǐng yī fú yào， kàn yī shēng qǐtiě， zhèng yuán， yào 'àn děng shì， yì nán jìn shù。 yòu jiān fā yǐn zài 'ěr， yīn cǐ máng de fèng jiě chá fàn yě méi gōng fū chīde， zuò wò bù néng qīng jìng。 gāng dào liǎo níng fǔ， róng fǔ de rén yòu gēn dào níng fǔ， jì huí dào róng fǔ， níng fǔ de rén yòu zhǎo dào róng fǔ。 fèng jiě jiàn rú cǐ， xīn zhōng dǎo shí fēn huān xǐ， bìng bù tōu 'ān tuī tuō， kǒng luò rén bāo biǎn， yīn cǐ rì yè bù xiá， chóuhuà dé shí fēn de zhěng sù。 yú shì hé zú shàng xià wú bù chēng tàn zhě。
zhè rì bàn sù zhī xī， lǐ miàn liǎng bān xiǎo xì bìng shuǎ bǎi xì de yǔ qīn péng táng kè bàn sù， yóu shì yóu wò yú nèi shì， yī yìng zhāng luó kuǎn dài， dú shì fèng jiě yī rén zhōu quán chéng yìng。 hé zú zhōng suī yòu xǔ duō zhóu lǐ， dàn huò yòu xiū kǒu de， huò yòu xiū jiǎo de， huò yòu bù guàn jiàn rén de， huò yòu jù guì qiè guān de， zhǒng zhǒng zhī lèi， jù bù jí fèng jiě jǔ zhǐ shū xú， yán yǔ kāng kǎi， zhēn guì kuān dà， yīn cǐ yě bù bǎ zhòng rén fàng zài yǎn lǐ， huī huò zhǐ shì， rèn qí suǒ wéi， mù ruò wú rén。 yī yè zhōng dēng míng huǒ cǎi， kè sòng guān yíng， nà bǎi bān rè nào， zì bù yòng shuō de。 zhì tiān míng， jí shí yǐ dào， yī bān liù shí sì míng qīng yī qǐng líng， qián miàn míng jīng shàng dà shū：“ fèng tiān hóng jiàn zhào nián bù yì zhī cháo gào fēng yī děng níng guó gōng zhǒng sūn fù fáng hù nèi tíng zǐ jìn dào yù qián shì wèi lóng jìn wèi xiǎng qiáng shòu jiǎ mén qín shì gōng rén zhī líng jiù "。 yī yìng zhí shì chén shè， jiē xì xiàn gǎn zhe xīn zuò chū lái de， yī sè guāng yàn duó mù。 bǎo zhū zì xíng wèi jià nǚ zhī lǐ wài， shuāi sàng jià líng， shí fēn 'āi kǔ。
nà shí guān kè sòng bìn de， yòu zhèn guó gōng niú qīng zhī sūn xiàn xí yī děng bó niú jì zōng， lǐ guó gōng liǔ biāo zhī sūn xiàn xí yī děng zǐ liǔ fāng， qí guó gōng chén yì zhī sūn shì xí sān pǐn wēi zhèn jiāng jūn chén ruì wén， zhì guó gōng mǎ kuí zhī sūn shì xí sān pǐn wēi yuǎn jiāng jūn mǎ shàng， xiū guó gōng hóu xiǎo míng zhī sūn shì xí yī děng zǐ hóu xiào kāng， shàn guó gōng gào mìng wáng gù， gù qí sūn shí guāng zhū shǒu xiào bù céng lái dé。 zhè liù jiā yǔ níng róng 'èr jiā， dāng rì suǒ chēng " bā gōng " de biàn shì。 yú zhě gèng yòu nán 'ān jùn wáng zhī sūn， xī níng jùn wáng zhī sūn， zhōng jìng hóu shǐ dǐng， píng yuán hóu zhī sūn shì xí 'èr děng nán jiǎng zǐ níng， dìng chéng hóu zhī sūn shì xí 'èr děng nán jiān jīng yíng yóu jī xiè jīng， xiāng yáng hóu zhī sūn shì xí 'èr děng nán qī jiàn huī， jǐng tián hóu zhī sūn wǔ chéng bīng mǎ sī qiú liáng。 yú zhě jǐn xiāng bó gōng zǐ hán qí， shén wǔ jiāng jūn gōng zǐ féng zǐ yīng， chén yě jùn， wèi ruò lán děng zhū wáng sūn gōng zǐ， bù kě méi shù。 táng kè suàn lái yì yòu shí lái dǐng dà jiào， sān sì shí xiǎo jiào， lián jiā xià dà xiǎo jiào chē liàng， bù xià bǎi yú shíshèng。 lián qián miàn gè sè zhí shì， chén shè， bǎi shuǎ， hào hào dàng dàng， yī dài bǎi sān sì lǐ yuǎn。
zǒu bù duō shí， lù bàng cǎi péng gāo dā。 shè xí zhāng yán， hé yīn zòuyuè， jù shì gè jiā lù jì： dì yī zuò shì dōng píng wáng fǔ jì péng， dì 'èr zuò shì nán 'ān jùn wáng jì péng， dì sān zuò shì xī níng jùn wáng， dì sì zuò shì běi jìng jùn wáng de。 yuán lái zhè sì wáng， dāng rì wéi běi jìng wáng gōng gāo， jí jīn zǐ sūn yóu xí wáng jué。 xiàn jīn běi jìng wáng shuǐ róng nián wèi ruòguàn， shēng dé xíng róng xiù měi， qíng xìng qiān hé。 jìn wén níng guó gōng zhǒng sūn fù gào cú， yīn xiǎng dāng rì bǐ cǐ zǔ fù xiāng yǔ zhī qíng， tóng nán tóng róng， wèi yǐ yì xìng xiāng shì， yīn cǐ bù yǐ wáng wèi zì jū， shàng rì yě céng tàn sàng shàng jì， rú jīn yòu shè lù diàn， mìng huī xià gè guān zài cǐ cìhou。 zì jǐ wǔ gèng rù cháo， gōng shì yī bì， biàn huàn liǎo sù fú， zuò dà jiào míng luó zhāng sǎn 'ér lái， zhì péng qián luò jiào。 shǒu xià gè guān liǎng bàng yōng shì， jūn mín rén zhòng bù dé wǎng hái。
yī shí zhǐ jiàn níng fǔ dà bìn hào hào dàng dàng， yā dì yín shān yī bān cóng běi 'ér zhì。 zǎo yòu níng fǔ kāi lù chuán shì rén kàn jiàn， lián máng huí qù bào yǔ jiǎ zhēn。 jiǎ zhēn jí mìng qián miàn zhù zhā， tóng jiǎ shè jiǎ zhèng sān rén lián máng yíng lái， yǐ guó lǐ xiāng jiàn。 shuǐ róng zài jiào nèi qiàn shēn hán xiào dá lǐ， réng yǐ shì jiāo chēng hū jiē dài， bìng bù wàng zì zūn dà。 jiǎ zhēn dào：“ quǎn fù zhī sàng， lěi méng jùn jià xià lín， yìn shēng bèi hé yǐ kè dāng。” shuǐ róng xiào dào：“ shì jiāo zhī yì， hé chū cǐ yán。” suì huí tóu mìng cháng fǔ guān zhù jì dài diàn。 jiǎ shè děng yī bàng hái lǐ bì， fù shēn yòu lái xiè 'ēn。
shuǐ róng shí fēn qiān xùn， yīn wèn jiǎ zhèng dào：“ nà yī wèi shì xián bǎo 'ér dàn zhě？ jǐ cì yào jiàn yī jiàn， dū wéi zá rǒng suǒ zǔ， xiǎng jīn rì shì lái de， hé bù qǐng lái yī huì。” jiǎ zhèng tīng shuō， máng huí qù， jí mìng bǎo yù tuō qù xiào fú， lǐng tā qián lái。 nà bǎo yù sù rì jiù céng tīng dé fù xiōng qīn yǒu rén děng shuō xián huà shí， zàn shuǐ róng shì gè xián wáng， qiě shēng dé cái mào shuāng quán， fēng liú xiāo sǎ， měi bù yǐ guān sú guó tǐ suǒ fù。 měi sī xiāng huì， zhǐ shì fù qīn jū shù yán mì， wú yóu dé huì， jīn jiàn fǎn lái jiào tā， zì shì huān xǐ。 yī miàn zǒu， yī miàn zǎo piē jiàn nà shuǐ róng zuò zài jiào nèi， hǎo gè yí biǎo rén cái。 bù zhī jìn kàn shí yòu shì zěn yàng， qiě tīng xià huí fēn jiě。
Lin Ju-hai dies in the City of Yang Chou. Chia Pao-yue meets the Prince of Pei Ching on the way.
When Lai Sheng, be it noticed in continuing our story, the major-domo in the Ning Kuo mansion, came to hear that from inside an invitation had been extended to lady Feng to act as deputy, he summoned together his co-workers and other servants. "Lady Secunda, of the western mansion," he harangued them, "has now been asked to take over the control of internal affairs; and should she come we must, when we apply for anything, or have anything to say, be circumspect in our service; we should all every day come early and leave late; and it's better that we should exert ourselves during this one month and take rest after it's over. We mustn't throw away our old 'face,' for she's well known to be an impetuous thing, with a soured face and a hard heart, who, when angry, knows no distinction of persons."
The whole company unanimously admitted that he was right; and one of their number too observed smilingly, "It's but right that for the inner apartments, we should, in fact, get her to come and put things in proper order, as everything is very much what it should not be."
But while he uttered these words, they saw Lai Wang's wife coming, with an indent in hand, to fetch paper for the supplications and prayers, the amount of which was mentioned on the order; and they one and all hastened to press her into a seat, and to help her to a cup of tea; while a servant was told to fetch the quantity of paper required. (When it was brought,) Lai Wang carried it in his arms and came, the whole way with his wife, as far as the ceremonial gate; when he, at length, delivered it over to her and she clasped it, and walked into the room all alone.
Lady Feng issued prompt directions to Ts'ai Ming to prepare a register; and sending, there and then, for Lai Sheng's wife, she asked her to submit, for her perusal, the roll with the servants' names. She furthermore fixed upon an early hour of the following day to convene the domestics and their wives in the mansion, in order that they should receive their orders; but, after cursorily glancing over the number of entries in the list, and making a few inquiries of Lai Sheng's wife, she soon got into her curricle, and went home.
On the next day, at six and two quarters, she speedily came over. The matrons and married women of the Ning Kuo mansion assembled together, as soon as they heard of her arrival; but, perceiving lady Feng, assisted by Lai Sheng's wife, engaged in apportioning the duties of each servant, they could not presume to intrude, but remained outside the window listening to what was going on.
"As I've been asked to take over the charge," they heard lady Feng explain to Lai Sheng's wife, "I'm, needless to say, sure to incur the displeasure of you all, for I can't compare with your mistress, who has such a sweet temper, and allows you to have your own way. But saying nothing more of those ways, which prevailed hitherto among your people in this mansion, you must now do as I tell you; for on the slightest disregard of my orders, I shall, with no discrimination between those who may be respectable and those who may not be, clearly and distinctly call all alike to account."
Having concluded these remarks, she went on to order Ts'ai Ming to read the roll; and, as their names were uttered, one by one was called in, and passed under inspection. After this inspection, which was got over in a short time, she continued giving further directions. "These twenty," she said "should be divided into two companies; ten in each company, whose sole daily duties should be to attend inside to the guests, coming and going, and to serve tea for them; while with any other matters, they needn't have anything to do. These other twenty should also be divided into two companies, whose exclusive duties will be, day after day, to look after the tea and eatables of the relatives of our family; and these too will have no business to concern themselves with outside matters. These forty will again be divided into two companies, who will have nothing else to look to than to remain in front of the coffin and offer incense, renew the oil, hang up the streamers, watch the coffin, offer sacrifices of rice, and oblations of tea, and mourn with the mourners; and neither need they mind anything outside these duties. These four servants will be specially attached to the inner tea-rooms to look after cups, saucers and the tea articles generally; and in the event of the loss of any single thing, the four of them will have to make it good between them. These other four servants will have the sole charge of the articles required for eatables and wine; and should any get mislaid compensation will have likewise to be made by them. These eight servants will only have to attend to taking over the sacrificial offerings; while these eight will have nothing more to see to beyond keeping an eye over the lamps, oil, candles and paper wanted everywhere. I'll have a whole supply served out and handed to you eight to by and by apportion to the various places, in quantities which I will determine. These thirty servants are each day, by rotation, to keep watch everywhere during the night, looking after the gates and windows, taking care of the fires and candles, and sweeping the grounds; while the servants, who remain, are to be divided for duty in the houses and rooms, each one having charge of a particular spot. And beginning from the tables, chairs and curios in each place, up to the very cuspidors and brooms, yea even to each blade of grass or sprout of herb, which may be there, the servants looking after this part will be called upon to make good anything that may be either mislaid or damaged. You, Lai Sheng's wife, will every day have to exercise general supervision and inspection; and should there be those who be lazy, any who may gamble, drink, fight or wrangle, come at once and report the matter to me; and you mustn't show any leniency, for if I come to find it out, I shall have no regard to the good old name of three or four generations, which you may enjoy. You now all have your fixed duties, so that whatever batch of you after this acts contrary to these orders, I shall simply have something to say to that batch and to no one else. The servants, who have all along been in my service, carry watches on their persons, and things, whether large or small, are invariably done at a fixed time. But, in any case, you also have clocks in your master's rooms, so that at 6.30, I shall come and read the roll, and at ten you'll have breakfast. Whenever there is any indent of any permits to be made or any report to be submitted, it should be done at 11.30 a.m. and no later. At 7 p.m., after the evening paper has been burnt, I shall come to each place in person to hold an inspection; and on my return, the servants on watch for the night will hand over the keys. The next day, I shall again come over at 6.30 in the morning; and needless to say we must all do the best we can for these few days; and when the work has been finished your master is sure to recompense you."
When she had done speaking, she went on to give orders that tea, oil, candles, feather dusters, brooms and other necessaries should be issued, according to the fixed quantities. She also had furniture, such as table-covers, antimacassars, cushions, rugs, cuspidors, stools and the like brought over and distributed; while, at the same time, she took up the pencil and made a note of the names of the persons in charge of the various departments, and of the articles taken over by the respective servants, in entries remarkable for the utmost perspicacity.
The whole body of servants received their charge and left; but they all had work to go and attend to; not as in former times, when they were at liberty to select for themselves what was convenient to do, while the arduous work, which remained over, no one could be found to take in hand. Neither was it possible for them in the various establishments to any longer avail themselves of the confusion to carelessly mislay things. In fact, visitors came and guests left, but everything after all went off quietly, unlike the disorderly way which prevailed hitherto, when there was no clue to the ravel; and all such abuses as indolence, and losses, and the like were completely eradicated.
Lady Feng, on her part, (perceiving) the weight her influence had in enjoining the observance of her directions, was in her heart exceedingly delighted. But as she saw, that Chia Chen was, in consequence of Mrs. Yu's indisposition, even so much the more grieved as to take very little to drink or to eat, she daily, with her own hands, prepared, in the other mansion, every kind of fine congee and luscious small dishes, which she sent over, in order that he might be tempted to eat.
And Chia Lien had likewise given additional directions that every day the finest delicacies should be taken into the ante-chamber, for the exclusive use of lady Feng.
Lady Feng was not one to shirk exertion and fatigue, so that, day after day, she came over at the proper time, called the roll, and managed business, sitting all alone in the ante-chamber, and not congregating with the whole bevy of sisters-in-law. Indeed, even when relatives or visitors came or went, she did not go to receive them, or see them off.
This day was the thirty-fifth day, the very day of the fifth seven, and the whole company of bonzes had just (commenced the services) for unclosing the earth, and breaking Hell open; for sending a light to show the way to the departed spirit; for its being admitted to an audience by the king of Hell; for arresting all the malicious devils, as well as for soliciting the soul-saving Buddha to open the golden bridge and to lead the way with streamers. The Taoist priests were engaged in reverently reading the prayers; in worshipping the Three Pure Ones and in prostrating themselves before the Gemmy Lord. The disciples of abstraction were burning incense, in order to release the hungered spirits, and were reading the water regrets manual. There was also a company of twelve nuns of tender years, got up in embroidered dresses, and wearing red shoes, who stood before the coffin, silently reading all the incantations for the reception of the spirit (from the lower regions,) with the result that the utmost bustle and stir prevailed.
Lady Feng, well aware that not a few guests would call on this day, was quick to get out of bed at four sharp, to dress her hair and perform her ablutions. After having completed every arrangement for the day, she changed her costume, washed her hands, and swallowed a couple of mouthfuls of milk. By the time she had rinsed her mouth, it was exactly 6.30; and Lai Wang's wife, at the head of a company of servants, had been waiting a good long while, when lady Feng appeared in front of the Entrance Hall, mounted her carriage and betook herself, preceded by a pair of transparent horn lanterns, on which were written, in large type, the three characters, Jung Kuo mansion, to the main entrance gate of the Ning Household. The door lanterns shed brilliant rays from where they were suspended; while on either side the lanterns, of uniform colours, propped upright, emitted a lustrous light as bright as day.
The servants of the family, got up in their mourning clothes, covered the ground far and wide like a white sheet. They stood drawn in two rows, and requested that the carriage should drive up to the main entrance. The youths retired, and all the married women came forward, and raising the curtain of the carriage, lady Feng alighted; and as with one arm she supported herself on Feng Erh, two married women, with lanterns in their hands, lighted the way. Pressed round by the servants, lady Feng made her entry. The married women of the Ning mansion advanced to greet her, and to pay their respects; and this over, lady Feng, with graceful bearing, entered the Garden of Concentrated Fragrance. Ascending the Spirit Hall, where the tablet was laid, the tears, as soon as she caught sight of the coffin, trickled down her eyes like pearls whose string had snapped; while the youths in the court, and their number was not small, stood in a reverent posture, with their arms against their sides, waiting to burn the paper. Lady Feng uttered one remark, by way of command: "Offer the tea and burn the paper!" when the sound of two blows on the gong was heard and the whole band struck up together. A servant had at an early period placed a large armchair in front of the tablet, and lady Feng sat down, and gave way to loud lamentations. Promptly all those, who stood inside or outside, whether high or low, male or female, took up the note, and kept on wailing and weeping until Chia Chen and Mrs. Yu, after a time, sent a message to advise her to withhold her tears; when at length lady Feng desisted.
Lai Wang's wife served the tea; and when she had finished rinsing her mouth, lady Feng got up; and, taking leave of all the members of the clan, she walked all alone into the ante-chamber, where she ascertained, in the order of their names, the number of the servants of every denomination in there. They were all found to be present, with the exception of one, who had failed to appear, whose duties consisted in receiving and escorting the relatives and visitors. Orders were promptly given to summon him, and the man appeared in a dreadful fright. "What!" exclaimed lady Feng, as she forced a smile, "is it you who have been remiss? Is it because you're more respectable than they that you don't choose to listen to my words?"
"Your servant," he pleaded, "has come at an early hour every day; and it's only to-day that I come late by one step; and I entreat your ladyship to forgive this my first offence."
While yet he spoke, she perceived the wife of Wang Hsing, of the Jung Kuo mansion, come forward and pop her head in to see what was going on; but lady Feng did not let this man go, but went on to inquire of Wang Hsing's wife what she had come for.
Wang Hsing's wife drew near. "I've come," she explained, "to get an order, so as to obtain some thread to make tassels for the carriages and chairs." Saying this, she produced the permit and handed it up, whereupon lady Feng directed Ts'ai Ming to read the contents aloud. "For two large, sedan chairs," he said, "four small sedan chairs and four carriages, are needed in all so many large and small tassels, each tassel requiring so many catties of beads and thread."
Lady Feng finding, after she had heard what was read, that the numbers (and quantities) corresponded, forthwith bade Ts'ai Ming make the proper entry; and when the order from the Jung Kuo mansion had been fetched, and thrown at her, Wang Hsing's wife took her departure.
Lady Feng was on the very point of saying something, when she espied four managers of the Jung Kuo mansion walk in; all of whom wanted permits to indent for stores. Having asked them to read out the list of what they required, she ascertained that they wanted four kinds of articles in all. Drawing attention to two items: "These entries," she remarked, "are wrong; and you had better go again and make out the account clearly, and then come and fetch a permit."
With these words, she flung down the requisitions, and the two men went their way in lower spirits than when they had come.
Lady Feng then caught sight of the wife of Chang Ts'ai standing by, and asked her what was her business, whereupon Chang Ts'ai's wife promptly produced an indent. "The covers of the carriages and sedan chairs," she reported, "have just been completed, and I've come to fetch the amount due to the tailors for wages."
Lady Feng, upon hearing her explanation, took over the indent, and directed Ts'ai Ming to enter the items in the book. After Wang Hsing had handed over the money, and obtained the receipt of the accountant, duly signed, which tallied with the payment, he subsequently walked away in company with Chang Ts'ai's wife. Lady Feng simultaneously proceeded to give orders that another indent should be read, which was for money to purchase paper with to paste on the windows of Pao-yue's outer school-room, the repairs to which had been brought to completion, and as soon as lady Feng heard the nature of the application, she there and then gave directions that the permit should be taken over and an entry made, and that the money should be issued after Chang Ts'ai's wife had delivered everything clearly.
"If to-morrow he were to come late," lady Feng then remarked, "and if the day after, I were to come late; why by and by there'll be no one here at all! I should have liked to have let you off, but if I be lenient with you on this first instance, it will be hard for me, on the occurrence of another offence, to exercise any control over the rest. It's much better therefore that I should settle accounts with you."
The moment she uttered these words, she put on a serious look, and gave orders that he should be taken out and administered twenty blows with the bamboo. When the servants perceived that lady Feng was in an angry mood, they did not venture to dilly-dally, but dragged him out, and gave him the full number of blows; which done, they came in to report that the punishment had been inflicted.
Lady Feng likewise threw down the Ning Mansion order and exclaimed, addressing herself to Lai Sheng: "Cut him a month's wages and rice! and tell them all to disperse, and have done with it!"
All the servants at length withdrew to attend to their respective duties, while the man too, who had been flogged, walked away, as he did all he could to conceal his shame and stifle his tears. About this time arrived and went, in an incessant stream, servants from both the Jung and Ning mansions, bent upon applying for permits and returning permits, and with one by one again did lady Feng settle accounts. And, as in due course, the inmates of the Ning mansion came to know how terrible lady Feng was, each and all were ever since so wary and dutiful that they did not venture to be lazy.
But without going into further details on this subject, we shall now return to Pao-yue. Seeing that there were a lot of people about and fearing lest Ch'in Chung might receive some offence, he lost no time in coming along with him to sit over at lady Feng's. Lady Feng was just having her repast, and upon seeing them arrive: "Your legs are long enough, and couldn't you have come somewhat quicker!" she laughingly observed.
"We've had our rice, thanks," replied Pao-yue.
"Have you had it," inquired lady Feng, "outside here, or over on the other side?"
"Would we eat anything with all that riff-raff?" exclaimed Pao-yue; "we've really had it over there; in fact, I now come after having had mine with dowager lady Chia."
As he uttered these words, they took their seats. Lady Feng had just finished her meal, when a married woman from the Ning mansion came to get an order to obtain an advance of money to purchase incense and lanterns with.
"I calculated," observed lady Feng, "that you would come to-day to make requisition, but I was under the impression that you had forgotten; had you really done so you would certainly have had to get them on your own account, and I would have been the one to benefit."
"Didn't I forget? I did," rejoined the married woman as she smiled; "and it's only a few minutes back that it came to my mind; had I been one second later I wouldn't have been in time to get the things."
These words ended, she took over the order and went off. Entries had, at the time to be made in the books, and orders to be issued, and Ch'in Chung was induced to interpose with a smirk, "In both these mansions of yours, such orders are alike in use; but were any outsider stealthily to counterfeit one and to abscond, after getting the money, what could ever be done?"
"In what you say," replied lady Feng, "you take no account of the laws of the land."
"How is it that from our house, no one comes to get any orders or to obtain anything?" Pao-yue having inquired: "At the time they come to fetch them," rejoined lady Feng, "you're still dreaming; but let me ask you one thing, when will you two at last begin your evening course of studies?"
"Oh, I wish we were able to begin our studies this very day," Pao-yue added; "that would be the best thing, but they're very slow in putting the school-room in order, so that there's no help for it!"
Lady Feng laughed. "Had you asked me," she remarked, "I can assure you it would have been ready quick enough."
"You too would have been of no use," observed Pao-yue, "for it will certainly be ready by the time they ought to finish it in."
"But in order that they should do the work," suggested lady Feng, "it's also necessary that they should have the material, they can't do without them; and if I don't give them any permits, it will be difficult to obtain them."
Pao-yue at these words readily drew near to lady Feng, and there and then applied for the permits. "My dear sister," he added, "do give them the permits to enable them to obtain the material and effect the repairs."
"I feel quite sore from fatigue," ventured lady Feng, "and how can I stand your rubbing against me? but compose your mind. They have this very day got the paper, and gone to paste it; and would they, for whatever they need, have still waited until they had been sent for? they are not such fools after all!"
Pao-yue would not believe it, and lady Feng at once called Ts'ai Ming to look up the list, which she handed for Pao-yue's inspection; but while they were arguing a servant came in to announce that Chao Erh, who had gone to Su Chow, had returned, and lady Feng all in a flurry directed that he should be asked to walk in. Chao Erh bent one knee and paid his obeisance.
"Why have you come back?" lady Feng readily inquired.
"Mr. Secundus (Chia Lien)," he reported, "sent me back to tell you that Mr. Lin (our dowager lady's) son-in-law, died on the third of the ninth moon; that Master Secundus is taking Miss Lin along with him to escort the coffin of Mr. Lin as far as Su Chow; and that they hope to be back some time about the end of the year. Master despatched me to come and announce the news, to bring his compliments, and to crave our old lady's instructions as well as to see how you are getting on in my lady's home. He also bade me take back to him a few long fur pelisses."
"Have you seen any one else besides me?" lady Feng inquired.
"I've seen every one," rejoined Chao Erh; and withdrew hastily at the conclusion of this remark, out of the apartment, while lady Feng turned towards Pao-yue with a smile and said, "Your cousin Lin can now live in our house for ever."
"Poor thing!" exclaimed Pao-yue. "I presume that during all these days she has wept who knows how much;" and saying this he wrinkled his brow and heaved a deep sigh.
Lady Feng saw Chao Erh on his return, but as she could not very well, in the presence of third persons, make minute inquiries after Chia Lien, she had to continue a prey to inward solicitude till it was time to go home, for, not having got through what she had to do, she was compelled to wait patiently until she went back in the evening, when she again sent word for Chao Erh to come in, and asked him with all minuteness whether the journey had been pleasant throughout, and for full particulars. That very night, she got in readiness the long pelisses, which she herself, with the assistance of P'ing Erh, packed up in a bundle; and after careful thought as to what things he would require, she put them in the same bundle and committed them to Chao Erh's care. She went on to solicitously impress upon Chao Erh to be careful in his attendance abroad. "Don't provoke your master to wrath," she said, "and from time to time do advise him not to drink too much wine; and don't entice him to make the acquaintance of any low people; for if you do, when you come back I will cut your leg off."
The preparations were hurriedly and confusedly completed; and it was already the fourth watch of the night when she went to sleep. But soon again the day dawned, and after hastily performing her toilette and ablutions, she came over to the Ning Mansion.
As Chia Chen realised that the day for escorting the body away was drawing nigh, he in person went out in a curricle, along with geomancers, to the Temple of the Iron Fence to inspect a suitable place for depositing the coffin. He also, point by point, enjoined the resident managing-bonze, Se K'ung, to mind and get ready brand-new articles of decoration and furniture, and to invite a considerable number of bonzes of note to be at hand to lend their services for the reception of the coffin.
Se K'ung lost no time in getting ready the evening meal, but Chia Chen had, in fact, no wish for any tea or rice; and, as the day was far advanced and he was not in time to enter the city, he had, after all, to rest during that night as best he could in a "chaste" room in the temple. The next morning, as soon as it was day, he hastened to come into the city and to make every preparation for the funeral. He likewise deputed messengers to proceed ahead to the Temple of the Iron Fence to give, that very night, additional decorative touches to the place where the coffin was to be deposited, and to get ready tea and all the other necessaries, for the use of the persons who would be present at the reception of the coffin.
Lady Feng, seeing that the day was not far distant, also apportioned duties and made provision for everything beforehand with circumspect care; while at the same time she chose in the Jung mansion, such carriages, sedan chairs and retinue as were to accompany the cortege, in attendance upon madame Wang, and gave her mind furthermore to finding a place where she herself could put up in at the time of the funeral. About this very time, it happened that the consort of the Duke Shan Kuo departed this life, and that mesdames Wang and Hsing had likewise to go and offer sacrifices, and to follow the burial procession; that the birthday occurred of the consort of Prince Hsi An; that presents had to be forwarded on the occasion of this anniversary; and that the consort of the Duke of Chen Kuo gave birth to a first child, a son, and congratulatory gifts had, in like manner, to be provided. Besides, her uterine brother Wang Jen was about to return south, with all his family, and she had too to write her home letters, to send her reverent compliments to her father and mother, as well as to get the things ready that were to be taken along. There was also Ying Ch'un, who had contracted some illness, and the doctor had every day to be sent for, and medicines to be administered, the notes of the doctor to be looked after, consisting of the bulletins of the diagnosis and the prescriptions, with the result that the various things that had to be attended to by lady Feng were so manifold that it would, indeed, be difficult to give an exhaustive idea of them.
In addition to all this, the day for taking the coffin away was close at hand, so that lady Feng was so hard pressed for time that she had even no desire for any tea to drink or anything to eat, and that she could not sit or rest in peace. As soon as she put her foot into the Ning mansion, the inmates of the Jung mansion would follow close upon her heels; and the moment she got back into the Jung mansion, the servants again of the Ning mansion would follow her about. In spite however of this great pressure, lady Feng, whose natural disposition had ever been to try and excel, was urged to strain the least of her energies, as her sole dread was lest she should incur unfavourable criticism from any one; and so excellent were the plans she devised, that every one in the clan, whether high or low, readily conceded her unlimited praise.
On the night of this day, the body had to be watched, and in the inner suite of apartments two companies of young players as well as jugglers entertained the relatives, friends and other visitors during the whole of the night. Mrs. Yu was still laid up in the inside room, so that the whole task of attending to and entertaining the company devolved upon lady Feng alone, who had to look after everything; for though there were, in the whole clan, many sisters-in-law, some there were too bashful to speak, others too timid to stand on their feet; while there were also those who were not accustomed to meeting company; and those likewise who were afraid of people of high estate and shy of officials. Of every kind there were, but the whole number of them could not come up to lady Feng's standard, whose deportment was correct and whose speech was according to rule. Hence it was that she did not even so much as heed any of that large company, but gave directions and issued orders, adopting any course of action which she fancied, just as if there were no bystander.
The whole night, the lanterns emitted a bright light and the fires brilliant rays; while guests were escorted on their way out and officials greeted on their way in; but of this hundredfold bustle and stir nothing need, of course, be said.
The next morning at the dawn of day, and at a propitious moment, sixty-four persons, dressed all alike in blue, carried the coffin, preceded by a streamer with the record in large characters: Coffin of lady Ch'in, a lady of the fifth degree, (by marriage) of the Chia mansion, deceased at middle age, consort of the grandson of the Ning Kuo Duke with the first rank title of honour, (whose status is) a guard of the Imperial antechamber, charged with the protection of the Inner Palace and Roads in the Red Prohibited City.
The various paraphernalia and ornaments were all brand-new, hurriedly made for the present occasion, and the uniform lustrous brilliancy they shed was sufficient to dazzle the eyes.
Pao-chu, of course, observed the rites prescribed for unmarried daughters, and dashed the bowl and walked by the coffin, as she gave way to most bitter lamentations.
At that time, among the officials who escorted the funeral procession, were Niu Chi-tsung, the grandson of the Chen Kuo duke, who had now inherited the status of earl of the first degree; Liu Fang, the grandson of Liu Piao, duke of Li Kuo, who had recently inherited the rank of viscount of the first class; Ch'en Jui-wen, a grandson of Ch'en Yi, duke of Ch'i Kuo, who held the hereditary rank of general of the third degree, with the prefix of majestic authority; Ma Shang, the grandson of Ma K'uei, duke of Chih Kuo, by inheritance general of the third rank with the prefix of majesty afar; Hou Hsiao-keng, an hereditary viscount of the first degree, grandson of the duke of Hsiu Kuo, Hou Hsiao-ming by name; while the death of the consort of the duke of Shan Kuo had obliged his grandson Shih Kuang-chu to go into mourning so that he could not be present. These were the six families which had, along with the two households of Jung and Ning, been, at one time, designated the eight dukes.
Among the rest, there were besides the grandson of the Prince of Nan An; the grandson of the Prince of Hsi An; Shih Ting, marquis of Chung Ching; Chiang Tzu-ning, an hereditary baron of the second grade, grandson of the earl of P'ing Yuan; Hsieh K'un, an hereditary baron of the second order and Captain of the Metropolitan camp, grandson of the marquis of Ting Ch'ang: Hsi Chien-hui, an hereditary baron of the second rank, a grandson of the marquis of Nang Yang; Ch'in Liang, in command of the Five Cities, grandson of the marquis of Ching T'ien. The remainder were Wei Chi, the son of the earl of Chin Hsiang; Feng Tzu-ying, the son of a general, whose prefix was supernatural martial spirit; Ch'en Yeh-chuen, Wei Jo-lan and others, grandsons and sons of princes who could not be enumerated.
In the way of ladies, there were also in all about ten large official sedan chairs full of them, thirty or forty private chairs, and including the official and non-official chairs, and carriages containing inmates of the household, there must have been over a hundred and ten; so that with the various kinds of paraphernalia, articles of decoration and hundreds of nick-nacks, which preceded, the vast expanse of the cortege covered a continuous line extending over three or four li.
They had not been very long on their way, when they reached variegated sheds soaring high by the roadside, in which banquets were spread, feasts laid out, and music discoursed in unison. These were the viatory sacrificial offerings contributed by the respective families. The first shed contained the sacrificial donations of the mansion of the Prince of Tung P'ing; the second shed those of the Prince of Nan An; the third those of the Prince of Hsi Ning, and the fourth those of the Prince of Pei Ching.
Indeed of these four Princes, the reputation enjoyed in former days by the Prince of Pei Ching had been the most exalted, and to this day his sons and grandsons still succeeded to the inheritance of the princely dignity. The present incumbent of the Princedom of Pei Ching, Shih Jung, had not as yet come of age, but he was gifted with a presence of exceptional beauty, and with a disposition condescending and genial. At the demise, recently, of the consort of the eldest grandson of the mansion of Ning Kuo, he, in consideration of the friendship which had formerly existed between the two grandfathers, by virtue of which they had been inseparable, both in adversity as well as in prosperity, treating each other as if they had not been of different surnames, was consequently induced to pay no regard to princely dignity or to his importance, but having like the others paid, on the previous day, his condolences and presented sacrificial offerings, he had further now raised a shed wherein to offer libations. Having directed every one of his subordinate officers to remain in this spot in attendance, he himself went at the fifth watch to court, and when he acquitted himself of his public duties he forthwith changed his attire for a mourning costume, and came along, in an official sedan chair, preceded by gongs and umbrellas. Upon reaching the front of the shed the chair was deposited on the ground, and as his subordinate officers pressed on either side and waited upon him, neither the military nor the populace, which composed the mass of people, ventured to make any commotion. In a short while, the long procession of the Ning mansion became visible, spreading far and wide, covering in its course from the north, the whole ground like a silver mountain. At an early hour, the forerunners, messengers and other attendants on the staff of the Ning mansion apprised Chia Chen (of the presence of the sheds), and Chia Chen with all alacrity gave orders that the foremost part of the cortege should halt. Attended by Chia She and Chia Chen, the three of them came with hurried step to greet (the Prince of Pei Ching), whom they saluted with due ceremony. Shih Jung, who was seated in his sedan chair, made a bow and returned their salutations with a smile, proceeding to address them and to treat them, as he had done hitherto, as old friends, without any airs of self-importance.
"My daughter's funeral has," observed Chia Chen, "put your Highness to the trouble of coming, an honour which we, though noble by birth, do not deserve."
Shih Jung smiled. "With the terms of friendship," he added, "which have existed for so many generations (between our families), is there any need for such apologies?"
Turning his head round there and then, he gave directions to the senior officer of his household to preside at the sacrifices and to offer libations in his stead; and Chia She and the others stood together on one side and made obeisance in return, and then came in person again and gave expression to their gratitude for his bounty.
Shih Jung was most affable and complaisant. "Which is the gentleman," he inquired of Chia Chen, "who was born with a piece of jade in his mouth? I've long had a wish to have the pleasure of seeing him, and as he's sure to be on the spot on an occasion like this, why shouldn't you invite him to come round?"
Chia Chen speedily drew back, and bidding Pao-yue change his mourning clothes, he led him forward and presented him.
Pao-yue had all along heard that Shih Jung was a worthy Prince, perfect in ability as well as in appearance, pleasant and courteous, not bound down by any official custom or state rite, so that he had repeatedly felt a keen desire to meet him. With the sharp control, however, which his father exercised over him, he had not been able to gratify his wish. But on this occasion, he saw on the contrary that he came to call him, and it was but natural that he should be delighted. Whilst advancing, he scrutinised Shih Jung with the corner of his eye, who, seated as he was in the sedan chair, presented an imposing sight.
But, reader, what occurred on his approach is not yet known, but listen to the next chapter, which will divulge it.
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请给我换一个看看！ 拜托，快把噪音停掉！我读累了，想听点音乐或者请来支歌曲！
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