中国经典 》 紅樓夢 A Dream of Red Mansions 》
第十五回 王鳳姐弄權鐵檻寺 秦鯨卿得趣饅頭庵 CHAPTER XV.
曹雪芹 Cao Xueqin
高鶚 Gao E
CHAPTER XV.
話說寶玉舉目見北靜王水溶頭上戴着潔白簪纓銀翅王帽，穿着江牙海水五爪坐竜白蟒袍，係着碧玉紅ネ帶，面如美玉，目似明星，真好秀麗人物。寶玉忙搶上來參見，水溶連忙從轎內伸出手來輓住。見寶玉戴着束發銀冠，勒着雙竜出海抹額，穿着白蟒箭袖，圍着攢珠銀帶，面若春花，目如點漆。水溶笑道：“名不虛傳，果然如‘寶’似‘玉’。”因問：“銜的那寶貝在那裏？"寶玉見問，連忙從衣內取了遞與過去。水溶細細的看了，又念了那上頭的字，因問：“果靈驗否？"賈政忙道：“雖如此說，衹是未曾試過。”水溶一面極口稱奇道異，一面理好彩縧，親自與寶玉帶上，又攜手問寶玉幾歲，讀何書。寶玉一一的答應。
水溶見他語言清楚，談吐有緻，一面又嚮賈政笑道：“令郎真乃竜駒鳳雛，非小王在世翁前唐突，將來‘雛鳳清於老鳳聲’，未可量也。”賈政忙陪笑道：“犬子豈敢謬承金奬。賴蕃郡餘禎，果如是言，亦蔭生輩之幸矣。”水溶又道：“衹是一件，令郎如是資質，想老太夫人，夫人輩自然鐘愛極矣，但吾輩後生，甚不宜鐘溺，鐘溺則未免荒失學業。昔小王曾蹈此轍，想令郎亦未必不如是也。若令郎在傢難以用功，不妨常到寒第。小王雖不纔，卻多蒙海上衆名士凡至都者，未有不另垂青目。是以寒第高人頗聚。令郎常去談會談會，則學問可以日進矣。”賈政忙躬身答應。
水溶又將腕上一串念珠卸了下來，遞與寶玉道：“今日初會，倉促竟無敬賀之物，此是前日聖上親賜йк香念珠一串，權為賀敬之禮。”寶玉連忙接了，回身奉與賈政。賈政與寶玉一齊謝過。於是賈赦，賈珍等一齊上來請回輿，水溶道：“逝者已登仙界，非碌碌你我塵寰中之人也。小王雖上叨天恩，虛邀郡襲，豈V可越仙而進也？"賈赦等見執意不從，衹得告辭謝恩回來，命手下掩樂停音，滔滔然將殯過完，方讓水溶回輿去了。不在話下。
且說寧府送殯，一路熱鬧非常。剛至城門前，又有賈赦，賈政，賈珍等諸同僚屬下各傢祭棚接祭，一一的謝過，然後出城，竟奔鐵檻寺大路行來。彼時賈珍帶賈蓉來到諸長輩前，讓坐轎上馬，因而賈赦一輩的各自上了車轎，賈珍一輩的也將要上馬。鳳姐兒因記挂着寶玉，怕他在郊外縱性逞強，不服傢人的話，賈政管不着這些小事，惟恐有個失閃，難見賈母，因此便命小廝來喚他。寶玉衹得來到他車前。鳳姐笑道：“好兄弟，你是個尊貴人，女孩兒一樣的人品，別學他們猴在馬上。下來，咱們姐兒兩個坐車，豈不好？"寶玉聽說，忙下了馬，爬入鳳姐車上，二人說笑前來。不一時，衹見從那邊兩騎馬壓地飛來，離鳳姐車不遠，一齊躥下來，扶車回說：“這裏有下處，奶奶請歇更衣。”鳳姐急命請邢夫人王夫人的示下，那人回來說：“太太們說不用歇了，叫奶奶自便罷。”鳳姐聽了，便命歇了再走。衆小廝聽了，一帶轅馬，岔出人群，往北飛走。寶玉在車內急命請秦相公。那時秦鐘正騎馬隨着他父親的轎，忽見寶玉的小廝跑來，請他去打尖。秦鐘看時，衹見鳳姐兒的車往北而去，後面拉着寶玉的馬，搭着鞍籠，便知寶玉同鳳姐坐車，自己也便帶馬趕上去，同入一莊門內。早有傢人將衆莊漢攆盡。那莊農人傢無多房捨，婆娘們無處回避，衹得由他們去了。那些村姑莊婦見了鳳姐，寶玉，秦鐘的人品衣服，禮數款段，豈有不愛看的？
一時鳳姐進入茅堂，因命寶玉等先出去頑頑。寶玉等會意，因同秦鐘出來，帶着小廝們各處遊頑。凡莊農動用之物，皆不曾見過。寶玉一見了鍬，鐝，鋤，犁等物，皆以為奇，不知何項所使，其名為何。小廝在旁一一的告訴了名色，說明原委。寶玉聽了，因點頭嘆道：“怪道古人詩上說，‘誰知盤中餐，粒粒皆辛苦’，正為此也。”一面說，一面又至一間房前，衹見炕上有個紡車，寶玉又問小廝們：“這又是什麽？"小廝們又告訴他原委。寶玉聽說，便上來擰轉作耍，自為有趣。衹見一個約有十七八歲的村莊丫頭跑了來亂嚷：“別動壞了！"衆小廝忙斷喝攔阻。寶玉忙丟開手，陪笑說道：“我因為沒見過這個，所以試他一試。”那丫頭道：“你們那裏會弄這個，站開了，我紡與你瞧。”秦鐘暗拉寶玉笑道：“此卿大有意趣。”寶玉一把推開，笑道：“該死的！再鬍說，我就打了。”說着，衹見那丫頭紡起綫來。寶玉正要說話時，衹聽那邊老婆子叫道：“二丫頭，快過來！"那丫頭聽見，丟下紡車，一徑去了。
寶玉悵然無趣。衹見鳳姐兒打發人來叫他兩個進去。鳳姐洗了手，換衣服抖灰，問他們換不換。寶玉不換，衹得罷了。傢下僕婦們將帶着行路的茶壺茶杯，十錦屜盒，各樣小食端來，鳳姐等吃過茶，待他們收拾完畢，便起身上車。外面旺兒預備下賞封，賞了本村主人。莊婦等來叩賞。鳳姐並不在意，寶玉卻留心看時，內中並無二丫頭。一時上了車，出來走不多遠，衹見迎頭二丫頭懷裏抱着他小兄弟，同着幾個小女孩子說笑而來。寶玉恨不得下車跟了他去，料是衆人不依的，少不得以目相送，爭奈車輕馬快，一時展眼無蹤。
走不多時，仍又跟上大殯了。早有前面法鼓金鐃，幢幡寶蓋：鐵檻寺接靈衆僧齊至。少時到入寺中，另演佛事，重設香壇。安靈於內殿偏室之中，寶珠安於裏寢室相伴。外面賈珍款待一應親友，也有擾飯的，也有不吃飯而辭的，一應謝過乏，從公侯伯子男一起一起的散去，至未末時分方纔散盡了。裏面的堂客皆是鳳姐張羅接待，先從顯官誥命散起，也到晌午大錯時方散盡了。衹有幾個親戚是至近的，等做過三日安靈道場方去。那時邢，王二夫人知鳳姐必不能來傢，也便就要進城。王夫人要帶寶玉去，寶玉乍到郊外，那裏肯回去，衹要跟鳳姐住着。王夫人無法，衹得交與鳳姐便回來了。原來這鐵檻寺原是寧榮二公當日修造，現今還是有香火地畝布施，以備京中老了人口，在此便宜寄放。其中陰陽兩宅俱已預備妥貼，好為送靈人口寄居。不想如今後輩人口繁盛，其中貧富不一，或性情參商：有那傢業艱難安分的，便住在這裏了，有那尚排場有錢勢的，衹說這裏不方便，一定另外或村莊或尼庵尋個下處，為事畢宴退之所。即今秦氏之喪，族中諸人皆權在鐵檻寺下榻，獨有鳳姐嫌不方便，因而早遣人來和饅頭庵的姑子淨虛說了，騰出兩間房子來作下處。原來這饅頭庵就是水月庵，因他廟裏做的饅頭好，就起了這個渾號，離鐵檻寺不遠。當下和尚工課已完，奠過茶飯，賈珍便命賈蓉請鳳姐歇息。鳳姐見還有幾個妯娌陪着女親，自己便辭了衆人，帶了寶玉，秦鐘往水月庵來。原來秦業年邁多病，不能在此，衹命秦鐘等待安靈罷了。那秦鐘便衹跟着鳳姐，寶玉，一時到了水月庵，淨虛帶領智善，智能兩個徒弟出來迎接，大傢見過。鳳姐等來至淨室更衣淨手畢，因見智能兒越發長高了，模樣兒越發出息了，因說道：“你們師徒怎麽這些日子也不往我們那裏去？"淨虛道：“可是這幾天都沒工夫，因鬍老爺府裏産了公子，太太送了十兩銀子來這裏，叫請幾位師父念三日《血盆經》，忙的沒個空兒，就沒來請奶奶的安。”不言老尼陪着鳳姐。且說秦鐘，寶玉二人正在殿上頑耍，因見智能過來，寶玉笑道：“能兒來了。”秦鐘道：“理那東西作什麽？"寶玉笑道：“你別弄鬼，那一日在老太太屋裏，一個人沒有，你摟着他作什麽？這會子還哄我。”秦鐘笑道：“這可是沒有的話。”寶玉笑道：“有沒有也不管你，你衹叫住他倒碗茶來我吃，就丟開手。”秦鐘笑道：“這又奇了，你叫他倒去，還怕他不倒？何必要我說呢。”寶玉道：“我叫他倒的是無情意的，不及你叫他倒的是有情意的。”秦鐘衹得說道：“能兒，倒碗茶來給我。”那智能兒自幼在榮府走動，無人不識，因常與寶玉秦鐘頑笑。他如今大了，漸知風月，便看上了秦鐘人物風流，那秦鐘也極愛他妍媚，二人雖未上手，卻已情投意合了。今智能見了秦鐘，心眼俱開，走去倒了茶來。秦鐘笑道：“給我。”寶玉叫：“給我！"智能兒抿嘴笑道：“一碗茶也爭，我難道手裏有蜜！"寶玉先搶得了，吃着，方要問話，衹見智善來叫智能去擺茶碟子，一時來請他兩個去吃茶果點心。他兩個那裏吃這些東西，坐一坐仍出來頑耍。
鳳姐也略坐片時，便回至淨室歇息，老尼相送。此時衆婆娘媳婦見無事，都陸續散了，自去歇息，跟前不過幾個心腹常侍小婢，老尼便趁機說道：“我正有一事，要到府裏求太太，先請奶奶一個示下。”鳳姐因問何事。老尼道：“阿彌陀佛！衹因當日我先在長安縣內善纔庵內出傢的時節，那時有個施主姓張，是大財主。他有個女兒小名金哥，那年都往我廟裏來進香，不想遇見了長安府府太爺的小舅子李衙內。那李衙內一心看上，要娶金哥，打發人來求親，不想金哥已受了原任長安守備的公子的聘定。張傢若退親，又怕守備不依，因此說已有了人傢。誰知李公子執意不依，定要娶他女兒，張傢正無計策，兩處為難。不想守備傢聽了此言，也不管青紅皂白，便來作踐辱駡，說一個女兒許幾傢，偏不許退定禮，就打官司告狀起來。那張傢急了，衹得着人上京來尋門路，賭氣偏要退定禮。我想如今長安節度雲老爺與府上最契，可以求太太與老爺說聲，打發一封書去，求雲老爺和那守備說一聲，不怕那守備不依。若是肯行，張傢連傾傢孝順也都情願。”
鳳姐聽了笑道：“這事倒不大，衹是太太再不管這樣的事。”老尼道：“太太不管，奶奶也可以主張了。”鳳姐聽說笑道：“我也不等銀子使，也不做這樣的事。”淨虛聽了，打去妄想，半晌嘆道：“雖如此說，張傢已知我來求府裏，如今不管這事，張傢不知道沒工夫管這事，不希罕他的謝禮，倒象府裏連這點子手段也沒有的一般。”
鳳姐聽了這話，便發了興頭，說道：“你是素日知道我的，從來不信什麽是陰司地獄報應的，憑是什麽事，我說要行就行。你叫他拿三千銀子來，我就替他出這口氣。”老尼聽說，喜不自禁，忙說：“有，有！這個不難。”鳳姐又道：“我比不得他們扯篷拉牽的圖銀子。這三千銀子，不過是給打發說去的小廝作盤纏，使他賺幾個辛苦錢，我一個錢也不要他的。便是三萬兩，我此刻也拿的出來。”老尼連忙答應，又說道：“既如此，奶奶明日就開恩也罷了。”鳳姐道：“你瞧瞧我忙的，那一處少了我？既應了你，自然快快的了結。”老尼道：“這點子事，在別人的跟前就忙的不知怎麽樣，若是奶奶的跟前，再添上些也不夠奶奶一發揮的。衹是俗語說的，‘能者多勞’，太太因大小事見奶奶妥貼，越性都推給奶奶了，奶奶也要保重金體纔是。”一路話奉承的鳳姐越發受用，也不顧勞乏，更攀談起來。
誰想秦鐘趁黑無人，來尋智能。剛至後面房中，衹見智能獨在房中洗茶碗，秦鐘跑來便摟着親嘴。智能急的跺腳說：“這算什麽！再這麽我就叫喚。”秦鐘求道：“好人，我已急死了。你今兒再不依，我就死在這裏。”智能道：“你想怎樣？除非等我出了這牢坑，離了這些人，纔依你。”秦鐘道：“這也容易，衹是遠水救不得近渴。”說着，一口吹了燈，滿屋漆黑，將智能抱到炕上，就雲雨起來。那智能百般的掙挫不起，又不好叫的，少不得依他了。正在得趣，衹見一人進來，將他二人按住，也不則聲。二人不知是誰，唬的不敢動一動。衹聽那人嗤的一聲，掌不住笑了，二人聽聲方知是寶玉。秦鐘連忙起來，抱怨道：“這算什麽？"寶玉笑道：“你倒不依，咱們就叫喊起來。”羞的智能趁黑地跑了。寶玉拉了秦鐘出來道：“你可還和我強？"秦鐘笑道：“好人，你衹別嚷的衆人知道，你要怎樣我都依你。”寶玉笑道：“這會子也不用說，等一會睡下，再細細的算帳。”一時寬衣安歇的時節，鳳姐在裏間，秦鐘寶玉在外間，滿地下皆是傢下婆子，打鋪坐更。鳳姐因怕通靈玉失落，便等寶玉睡下，命人拿來在自己枕邊。寶玉不知與秦鐘算何帳目，未見真切，未曾記得，此是疑案，不敢纂創。
一宿無話。至次日一早，便有賈母王夫人打發了人來看寶玉，又命多穿兩件衣服，無事寧可回去。寶玉那裏肯回去，又有秦鐘戀着智能，調唆寶玉求鳳姐再住一天。鳳姐想了一想：凡喪儀大事雖妥，還有一半點小事未曾安插，可以指此再住一日，豈不又在賈珍跟前送了滿情，二則又可以完淨虛那事，三則順了寶玉的心，賈母聽見，豈不歡喜？因有此三益，便嚮寶玉道：“我的事都完了，你要在這裏逛，少不得越性辛苦一日罷了，明兒可是定要走的了。”寶玉聽說，千姐姐萬姐姐的央求：“衹住一日，明兒必回去的。”於是又住了一夜。
鳳姐便命悄悄將昨日老尼之事，說與來旺兒。來旺兒心中俱已明白，急忙進城找着主文的相公，假托賈璉所囑，修書一封，連夜往長安縣來，不過百裏路程，兩日工夫俱已妥協。那節度使名喚雲光，久見賈府之情，這點小事，豈有不允之理，給了回書，旺兒回來。且不在話下。
卻說鳳姐等又過一日，次日方別了老尼，着他三日後往府裏去討信。那秦鐘與智能百般不忍分離，背地裏多少幽期密約，俱不用細述，衹得含恨而別。鳳姐又到鐵檻寺中照望一番。寶珠執意不肯回傢，賈珍衹得派婦女相伴。後回再見。
Lady Peng, nee Wang, exercises her authority in the Iron Fence Temple. Ch'in Ching-ch'ing (Ch'ing Chung) amuses himself in the Man-t'ou (Bread) nunnery.
But we shall now resume our story. When Pao-yue raised his eyes, he noticed that Shih Jung, Prince of Pei Ching, wore on his head a princely cap with pure white tassels and silvery feathers, that he was appareled in a white ceremonial robe, (with a pattern representing) the toothlike ripple of a river and the waters of the sea, embroidered with five-clawed dragons; and that he was girded with a red leather belt, inlaid with white jade. That his face was like a beauteous gem; that his eyes were like sparkling stars; and that he was, in very truth, a human being full of graceful charms.
Pao-yue hastily pressed forward and made a reverent obeisance, and Shih Jung lost no time in extending his arms from inside the sedan-chair, and embracing him. At a glance, he saw that Pao-yue had on his head a silver cap, to which the hair was attached, that he had, round his forehead, a flap on which were embroidered a couple of dragons issuing from the sea, that he wore a white archery-sleeved robe, ornamented with dragons, and that his waist was encircled by a silver belt, inlaid with pearls; that his face resembled vernal flowers and that his eyes were like drops of lacquer.
Shih Jung smiled. "Your name is," he said, "no trumped-up story; for you, verily, resemble a precious gem; but where's the valuable trinket you had in your mouth?" he inquired.
As soon as Pao-yue heard this inquiry, he hastened to produce the jade from inside his clothes and to hand it over to Shih Jung. Shih Jung minutely examined it; and having also read the motto on it, he consequently ascertained whether it was really efficacious or not.
"It's true that it's said to be," Pao-yue promptly explained, "but it hasn't yet been put to the test."
Shih Jung extolled it with unbounded praise, and, as he did so, he set the variegated tassels in proper order, and, with his own hands, attached it on to Pao-yue's neck. Taking also his hand in his, he inquired of Pao-yue what was his age? and what books he was reading at present, to each of which questions Pao-yue gave suitable answer.
Shih Jung perceiving the perspicacity of his speech and the propriety of his utterances, simultaneously turned towards Chia Chen and observed with a smile on his face: "Your worthy son is, in very truth, like the young of a dragon or like the nestling of a phoenix! and this isn't an idle compliment which I, a despicable prince, utter in your venerable presence! But how much more glorious will be, in the future, the voice of the young phoenix than that of the old phoenix, it isn't easy to ascertain."
Chia Chen forced a smile: "My cur-like son," he replied, "cannot presume to such bountiful praise and golden commendation; but if, by the virtue of your Highness' excess of happiness, he does indeed realise your words, he will be a source of joy to us all!"
"There's one thing, however," continued Shih Jung; "with the excellent abilities which your worthy scion possesses, he's sure, I presume, to be extremely loved by her dowager ladyship, (his grandmother), and by all classes. But for young men of our age it's a great drawback to be doated upon, for with over-fondness, we cannot help utterly frustrating the benefits of education. When I, a despicable prince, was young, I walked in this very track, and I presume that your honourable son cannot likewise but do the same. By remaining at home, your worthy scion will find it difficult to devote his attention to study; and he will not reap any harm, were he to come, at frequent intervals, to my humble home; for though my deserts be small, I nevertheless enjoy the great honour of the acquaintance of all the scholars of note in the Empire, so that, whenever any of them visit the capital, not one of them is there who does not lower his blue eyes upon me. Hence it is that in my mean abode, eminent worthies rendezvous; and were your esteemed son to come, as often as he can, and converse with them and meet them, his knowledge would, in that case, have every opportunity of making daily strides towards improvement."
Chia Chen speedily bent his body and expressed his acquiescence, by way of reply; whereupon Shih Jung went further, and taking off from his wrist a chaplet of pearls, he presented it to Pao-yue.
"This is the first time we meet," he observed. "Our meeting was so unexpected that I have no suitable congratulatory present to offer you. This was conferred upon me by His Majesty, and is a string of chaplet-pearls, scented with Ling Ling, which will serve as a temporary token of respectful congratulations."
Pao-yue hastened to receive it from his hands, and turning round, he reverently presented it to Chia Chen. Chia Chen and Pao-yue jointly returned thanks; and forthwith Chia She, Chia Chen and the rest came forward in a body, and requested the Prince to turn his chair homewards.
"The departed," expostulated Shih Jung, "has already ascended the spiritual regions, and is no more a mortal being in this dusty world exposed to vicissitude like you and I. Although a mean prince like me has been the recipient of the favour of the Emperor, and has undeservedly been called to the princely inheritance, how could I presume to go before the spiritual hearse and return home?"
Chia She and the others, perceiving how persistent he was in his refusal had no course but to take their leave, express their sense of gratitude and to rejoin the cortege. They issued orders to their servants to stop the band, and to hush the music, and making the procession go by, they at length left the way clear for Shih Jung to prosecute his way.
But we will now leave him and resume our account of the funeral of the Ning mansion. All along its course the road was plunged in unusual commotion. As soon as they reached the city gates Chia She, Chia Cheng, Chia Chen, and the others again received donations from all their fellow officers and subordinates, in sacrificial sheds erected by their respective families, and after they returned thanks to one after another, they eventually issued from the city walls, and proceeded eventually along the highway, in the direction of the Temple of the Iron Fence.
Chia Chen, at this time, went, together with Chia Jung, up to all their seniors, and pressed them to get into their sedan chairs, and to ride their horses; and Chia She and all of the same age as himself were consequently induced to mount into their respective carriages or chairs. Chia Chen and those of the same generation were likewise about to ride their horses, when lady Feng, through her solicitude on Pao-yue's account, gave way to fears lest now that they had reached the open country, he should do as he pleased, and not listen to the words of any of the household, and lest Chia Chen should not be able to keep him in check; and, as she dreaded that he might go astray, she felt compelled to bid a youth call him to her; and Pao-yue had no help but to appear before her curricle.
"My dear brother," lady Feng remarked smiling, "you are a respectable person, and like a girl in your ways, and shouldn't imitate those monkeys on horseback! do get down and let both you and I sit together in this carriage; and won't that be nice?"
At these words, Pao-yue readily dismounted and climbed up into the carriage occupied by lady Feng; and they both talked and laughed, as they continued their way.
But not a long time elapsed before two men, on horseback, were seen approaching from the opposite direction. Coming straight up to lady Feng's vehicle they dismounted, and said, as they leaned on the sides of her carriage, "There's a halting place here, and will it not please your ladyship to have a rest and change?"
Lady Feng directed them to ask the two ladies Hsing and Wang what they would like to do, and the two men explained: "These ladies have signified that they had no desire to rest, and they wish your ladyship to suit your convenience."
Lady Feng speedily issued orders that they should have a rest, before they prosecuted their way, and the servant youth led the harnessed horses through the crowd of people and came towards the north, while Pao-yue, from inside the carriage, urgently asked that Mr. Ch'in should be requested to come.
Ch'in Chung was at this moment on horseback following in the track of his father's carriage, when unexpectedly he caught sight of Pao-yue's page, come at a running pace and invite him to have some refreshment. Ch'in Chung perceived from a distance that the horse, which Pao-yue had been riding, walked behind lady Feng's vehicle, as it went towards the north, with its saddle and bridles all piled up, and readily concluding that Pao-yue must be in the same carriage with that lady, he too turned his horse and came over in haste and entered, in their company, the door of a farm-house.
This dwelling of the farmer's did not contain many rooms so that the women and girls had nowhere to get out of the way; and when the village lasses and country women perceived the bearing and costumes of lady Feng, Pao-yue, and Ch'in Chung, they were inclined to suspect that celestial beings had descended into the world.
Lady Feng entered a thatched house, and, in the first place, asked Pao-yue and the rest to go out and play. Pao-yue took the hint, and, along with Ch'in Chung, he led off the servant boys and went to romp all over the place.
The various articles in use among the farmers they had not seen before, with the result that after Pao-yue had inspected them, he thought them all very strange; but he could neither make out their names nor their uses. But among the servant boys, there were those who knew, and they explained to them, one after another, what they were called, as well as what they were for. As Pao-yue, after this explanation, nodded his head; "It isn't strange," he said, "that an old writer has this line in his poetical works, 'Who can realise that the food in a bowl is, grain by grain, all the fruit of labour.' This is indeed so!" As he spoke, they had come into another house; and at the sight of a spinning wheel on a stove-bed, they thought it still more strange and wonderful, but the servant boys again told them that it was used for spinning the yarn to weave cloth with, and Pao-yue speedily jumping on to the stove-bed, set to work turning the wheel for the sake of fun, when a village lass of about seventeen or eighteen years of age came forward, and asked them not to meddle with it and spoil it.
The servant boys promptly stopped her interference; but Pao-yue himself desisted, as he added: "It's because I hadn't seen one before that I came to try it for fun."
"You people can't do it," rejoined the lass, "let me turn it for you to see."
Ch'in Chung secretly pulled Pao-yue and remarked, "It's great fun in this village!" but Pao-yue gave him a nudge and observed, "If you talk nonsense again, I'll beat you." Watching intently, as he uttered these words, the village girl who started reeling the thread, and presented, in very truth, a pretty sight. But suddenly an old woman from the other side gave a shout. "My girl Secunda, come over at once;" and the lass discarded the spinning-wheel and hastily went on her way.
Pao-yue was the while feeling disappointed and unhappy, when he espied a servant, whom lady Feng had sent, come and call them both in. Lady Feng had washed her hands and changed her costume; and asked him whether he would change or not, and Pao-yue, having replied "No! it doesn't matter after all if I don't change," the female attendants served tea, cakes and fruits and also poured the scented tea. Lady Feng and the others drank their tea, and waiting until they had put the various articles by, and made all the preparations, they promptly started to get into their carriages. Outside, Wang Erh had got ready tips and gave them to the people of the farm, and the farm women and all the inmates went up to them to express their gratitude; but when Pao-yue came to look carefully, he failed to see anything of the lass who had reeled the thread. But they had not gone far before they caught sight of this girl Secunda coming along with a small child in her arms, who, they concluded, was her young brother, laughing and chatting, in company with a few young girls.
Pao-yue could not suppress the voice of love, but being seated in the carriage, he was compelled to satisfy himself by following her with his eyes. Soon however the vehicle sped on as rapidly as a cloud impelled by the wind, so that when he turned his head round, there was already no vestige to be seen of her; but, while they were bandying words, they had unexpectedly overtaken the great concourse of the cortege.
Likewise, at an early stage men were stationed ahead, with Buddhist drums and gold cymbals, with streamers, and jewelled coverings; and the whole company of bonzes, belonging to the Iron Fence Temple, had already been drawn out in a line by the sides of the road. In a short while, they reached the interior of the temple, where additional sacrifices were offered and Buddhistic services performed; and where altars had again been erected to burn incense on. The coffin was deposited in a side room of the inner court; and Pao Chu got ready a bed-room in which she could keep her watch.
In the outer apartments, Chia Chen did the honours among the whole party of relatives and friends, some of whom asked to be allowed to stay for their meals, while others at this stage took their leave. And after they had one by one returned thanks, the dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts and barons, each in respective batches, (got up to go,) and they kept on leaving from between 1 and 3 p.m. before they had finally all dispersed.
In the inner Chambers, the ladies were solely entertained and attended to by lady Feng. First to make a move were the consorts of officials; and noon had also come, by the time the whole party of them had taken their departure. Those that remained were simply a few relatives of the same clan and others like them, who eventually left after the completion of the three days' rationalistic liturgies.
The two ladies Hsing and Wang, well aware at this time that lady Feng could on no account return home, desired to enter the city at once; and madame Wang wanted to take Pao-yue home; but Pao-yue, who had, on an unexpected occasion, come out into the country, entertained, of course, no wish to go back; and he would agree to nothing else than to stay behind with lady Feng, so that madame Wang had no alternative but to hand him over to her charge and to start.
This Temple of the Iron Fence had, in fact, been erected in days gone by, at the expense of the two dukes Ning and Jung; and there still remained up to these days, acres of land, from which were derived the funds for incense and lights for such occasions, on which the coffins of any members, old or young, (who died) in the capital, had to be deposited in this temple; and the inner and outer houses, in this compound were all kept in readiness and good order, for the accommodation of those who formed part of the cortege.
At this time, as it happened, the descendants mustered an immense crowd, and among them were poor and rich of various degrees, or with likes and dislikes diametrically opposed. There were those, who, being in straitened circumstances at home, and easily contented, readily took up their quarters in the temple. And there were those with money and position, and with extravagant ideas, who maintained that the accommodation in the temple was not suitable, and, of course, went in search of additional quarters, either in country houses, or in convents, where they could have their meals and retire, after the ceremonies were over.
On the occasion of Mrs. Ch'in's funeral, all the members of the clan put up temporarily in the Iron Fence Temple; lady Feng alone looked down upon it as inconvenient, and consequently despatched a servant to go and tell Ch'ing Hsue, a nun in the Bread Convent, to empty two rooms for her to go and live in.
This Bread Convent had at one time been styled the Shui Yueh nunnery (water moon); but as good bread was made in that temple, it gave rise to this nickname.
This convent was not very distant from the Temple of the Iron Fence, so that as soon as the bonzes brought their functions to a close, and the sacrifice of evening was offered, Chia Chen asked Chia Jung to request lady Feng to retire to rest; and as lady Feng perceived that there still remained several sisters-in-law to keep company to the female relatives, she readily, of her own accord, took leave of the whole party, and, along with Pao-yue and Ch'in Chung, came to the Water Moon Convent.
Ch'in Yeh, it must be noticed, was advanced in years and a victim to many ailments, so that he was unable to remain in the temple long, and he bade Ch'in Chung tarry until the coffin had been set in its resting place, with the result that Ch'in Chung came along, at the same time as lady Feng and Pao-yue, to the Water Moon Convent, where Ch'ing Hsue appeared, together with two neophytes, Chih Shan and Chih Neng, to receive them. After they had exchanged greetings, lady Feng and the others entered the "chaste" apartments to change their clothes and wash their hands; and when they had done, as she perceived how much taller in stature Chih Neng had grown and how much handsomer were her features, she felt prompted to inquire, "How is it that your prioress and yourselves haven't been all these days as far as our place?"
"It's because during these days we haven't had any time which we could call our own," explained Ch'ing Hsue. "Owing to the birth of a son in Mr. Hu's mansion, dame Hu sent over about ten taels and asked that we should invite several head-nuns to read during three days the service for the churching of women, with the result that we've been so very busy and had so little leisure, that we couldn't come over to pay our respects to your ladyship."
But leaving aside the old nun, who kept lady Feng company, we will now return to the two lads Pao-yue and Ch'in Chung. They were up to their pranks in the main building of the convent, when seeing Chih Neng come over: "Here's Neng Erh," Pao-yue exclaimed with a smile.
"Why notice a creature like her?" remarked Ch'in Chung; to which Pao-yue rejoined laughingly: "Don't be sly! why then did you the other day, when you were in the old lady's rooms, and there was not a soul present, hold her in your arms? and do you want to fool me now ?"
"There was nothing of the kind," observed Ch'in Chung smiling.
"Whether there was or not," replied Pao-yue, "doesn't concern me; but if you will stop her and tell her to pour a cup of tea and bring it to me to drink, I'll then keep hands off."
"This is indeed very strange!" Ch'in Chung answered laughing; "do you fear that if you told her to pour you one, that she wouldn't; and what need is there that I should tell her?"
"If I ask her," Pao-yue observed, "to pour it, she wouldn't be as ready as she would were you to tell her about it."
Ch'in Chung had no help but to speak. "Neng Erh!" he said, "bring a cup of tea."
This Neng Erh had, since her youth, been in and out of the Jung mansion, so that there was no one that she did not know; and she had also, time after time, romped and laughed with Pao-yue and Ch'in Chung. Being now grown up she gradually came to know the import of love, and she readily took a fancy to Ch'in Chung, who was an amorous being. Ch'in Chung too returned her affection, on account of her good looks; and, although he and she had not had any very affectionate tete-a-tetes, they had, however, long ago come to understand each other's feelings and wishes.
Chih Neng walked away and returned after having poured the tea.
"Give it to me," Ch'in Chung cried out smirkingly; while Pao-yue likewise shouted: "Give it to me."
Chih Neng compressed her lips and sneeringly rejoined, "Are you going to have a fight even over a cup of tea? Is it forsooth likely that there's honey in my hand?"
Pao-yue was the first to grasp and take over the cup, but while drinking it, he was about to make some inquiry, when he caught sight of Chih Shan, who came and called Chih Neng away to go and lay the plates with fruit on the table. Not much time elapsed before she came round to request the two lads to go and have tea and refreshments; but would they eat such things as were laid before them? They simply sat for a while and came out again and resumed their play.
Lady Feng too stayed for a few moments, and then returned, with the old nun as her escort, into the "unsullied" rooms to lie down. By this time, all the matrons and married women discovered that there was nothing else to be done, and they dispersed in succession, retiring each to rest. There only remained in attendance several young girls who enjoyed her confidence, and the old nun speedily availed herself of the opportunity to speak. "I've got something," she said, "about which I mean to go to your mansion to beg of madame Wang; but I'll first request you, my lady, to tell me how to set to work."
"What's it?" ascertained lady Feng.
"O-mi-to-fu!" exclaimed the old nun, "It's this; in days gone by, I first lived in the Ch'ang An district. When I became a nun and entered the monastery of Excellent Merit, there lived, at that time, a subscriber, Chang by surname, a very wealthy man. He had a daughter, whose infant name was Chin Ko; the whole family came in the course of that year to the convent I was in, to offer incense, and as luck would have it they met Li Ya-nei, a brother of a secondary wife of the Prefect of the Ch'ang An Prefecture. This Li Ya-nei fell in love at first sight with her, and would wed Chin Ko as his wife. He sent go-betweens to ask her in marriage, but, contrary to his expectations, Chin Ko had already received the engagement presents of the son of the ex-Major of the Ch'ang An Prefecture. The Chang family, on the other hand, were afraid that if they withdrew from the match, the Major would not give up his claim, and they therefore replied that she was already promised to another. But, who would have thought it, this Mr. Li was seriously bent upon marrying the young lady. But while the Chang family were at a loss what plan to devise, and both parties were in a dilemma, the family of the Major came unexpectedly to hear of the news; and without even looking thoroughly into the matter, they there and then had recourse to insult and abuse. 'Is a girl,' they insinuated, 'to be promised to the sons of several families!' And obstinately refusing to allow the restitution of the betrothal presents, they at once had recourse to litigation and brought an action (against the girl's people.) That family was at their wits' end, and had no alternative but to find some one to go to the capital to obtain means of assistance; and, losing all patience, they insisted upon the return of the presents. I believe that the present commander of the troops at Ch'ang An, Mr. Yuen, is on friendly terms with your honourable family, and could one solicit madame Wang to put in a word with Mr. Chia Cheng to send a letter and ask Mr. Yuen to speak to that Major, I have no fear that he will not agree. Should (your ladyship) be willing to take action, the Chang family are even ready to present all they have, though it may entail the ruin of their estate."
"This affair is, it's true, of no great moment," lady Feng replied smiling, after hearing this appeal; "but the only thing is that madame Wang does no longer attend to matters of this nature."
"If madame doesn't heed them," suggested the old nun, "you, my lady, can safely assume the direction."
"I'm neither in need of any money to spend," added lady Feng with a smirk, "nor do I undertake such matters!"
These words did not escape Ching Hsue's ear; they scattered to the winds her vain hopes. After a minute or so she heaved a sigh.
"What you say may be true enough," she remarked; "but the Chang family are also aware that I mean to come and make my appeal to your mansion; and were you now not to manage this affair, the Chang family having no idea that the lack of time prevents any steps being taken and that no importance is attached to their presents, it will appear, on the contrary, as if there were not even this little particle of skill in your household."
At these words lady Feng felt at once inspirited. "You've known of old," she added, "that I've never had any faith in anything concerning retribution in the Court of Judgment in the unseen or in hell; and that whatever I say that I shall do, that I do; tell them therefore to bring three thousand taels; and I shall then remedy this grievance of theirs."
The old nun upon hearing this remark was so exceedingly delighted, that she precipitately exclaimed, "They've got it, they've got it! there will be no difficulty about it."
"I'm not," lady Feng went on to add, "like those people, who afford help and render assistance with an eye to money; these three thousand taels will be exclusively devoted for the travelling expenses of those youths, who will be sent to deliver messages and for them to make a few cash for their trouble; but as for me I don't want even so much as a cash. In fact I'm able at this very moment to produce as much as thirty thousand taels."
The old nun assented with alacrity, and said by way of reply, "If that be so, my lady, do display your charitable bounty at once to-morrow and bring things to an end."
"Just see," remarked lady Feng, "how hard pressed I am; which place can do without me? but since I've given you my word, I shall, needless to say, speedily bring the matter to a close."
"A small trifle like this," hinted the old nun, "would, if placed in the hands of any one else, flurry her to such an extent that she would be quite at a loss what to do; but in your hands, my lady, even if much more were superadded, it wouldn't require as much exertion as a wave of your hand. But the proverb well says: 'that those who are able have much to do;' for madame Wang, seeing that your ladyship manages all concerns, whether large or small, properly, has still more shoved the burden of everything on your shoulders, my lady; but you should, it's but right, also take good care of your precious health."
This string of flattery pleased lady Feng more and more, so that heedless of fatigue she went on to chat with still greater zest.
But, thing unthought of, Ch'in Chung availed himself of the darkness, as well as of the absence of any one about, to come in quest of Chih Neng. As soon as he reached the room at the back, he espied Chih Neng all alone inside washing the tea cups; and Ch'in Chung forthwith seized her in his arms and implanted kisses on her cheek. Chih Neng got in a dreadful state, and stamping her feet, cried, "What are you up to?" and she was just on the point of shouting out, when Ch'in Chung rejoined: "My dear girl! I'm nearly dead from impatience, and if you don't again to-day accept my advances, I shall this very moment die on this spot."
"What you're bent upon," added Chih Neng, "can't be effected; not unless you wait until I've left this den and parted company from these people, when it will be safe enough."
"This is of course easy enough!" remonstrated Ch'in Chung; "but the distant water cannot extinguish the close fire!"
As he spoke, with one puff, he put out the light, plunging the whole room in pitch darkness; and seizing Chih Neng, he pushed her on to the stove-couch and started a violent love affair. Chih Neng could not, though she strained every nerve, escape his importunities; nor could she very well shout, so that she felt compelled to humour him; but while he was in the midst of his ecstatic joy, they perceived a person walk in, who pressed both of them down, without uttering even so much as a sound, and plunged them both in such a fright that their very souls flew away and their spirits wandered from their bodies; and it was after the third party had burst out laughing with a spurting sound that they eventually became aware that it was Pao-yue; when, springing to his feet impetuously, Ch'in Chung exclaimed full of resentment, "What's this that you're up to!"
"If you get your monkey up," retorted Pao-yue, "why, then let you and I start bawling out;" which so abashed Chih Neng that she availed herself of the gloomy light to make her escape; while Pao-yue had dragged Ch'in Chung out of the room and asked, "Now then, do you still want to play the bully!"
"My dear fellow," pleaded Ch'in Chung smilingly, "whatever you do don't shout out and let every one know; and all you want, I'll agree to."
"We needn't argue just now," Pao-yue observed with a grin; "wait a while, and when all have gone to sleep, we can minutely settle accounts together."
Soon it was time to ease their clothes, and go to bed; and lady Feng occupied the inner room; Ch'in Chung and Pao-yue the outer; while the whole ground was covered with matrons of the household, who had spread their bedding, and sat watching. As lady Feng entertained fears that the jade of Spiritual Perception might be lost, she waited until Pao-yue fell asleep, when having directed a servant to bring it to her, she placed it under the side of her own pillow.
What accounts Pao-yue settled with Ch'in Chung cannot be ascertained; and as in the absence of any positive proof what is known is based upon surmises, we shall not venture to place it on record.
Nothing worth noticing occurred the whole night; but the next day, as soon as the morning dawned, dowager lady Chia and madame Wang promptly despatched servants to come and see how Pao-yue was getting on; and to tell him likewise to put on two pieces of extra clothing, and that if there was nothing to be done it would be better for him to go back.
But was it likely that Pao-yue would be willing to go back? Besides Ch'in Chung, in his inordinate passion for Chih Neng, instigated Pao-yue to entreat lady Feng to remain another day. Lady Feng pondered in her own mind that, although the most important matters connected with the funeral ceremonies had been settled satisfactorily, there were still a few minor details, for which no provision had been made, so that could she avail herself of this excuse to remain another day would she not win from Chia Chen a greater degree of approbation, in the second place, would she not be able further to bring Ch'ing Hsue's business to an issue, and, in the third place, to humour Pao-yue's wish? In view of these three advantages, which would accrue, "All that I had to do, I have done," she readily signified to Pao-yue, "and if you be bent upon running about in here, you'll unavoidably place me in still greater trouble; so that we must for certain start homewards to-morrow."
"My dear cousin, my own dear cousin," urgently entreated Pao-yue, when he heard these words, "let's stay only this one day, and to-morrow we can go back without fail."
They actually spent another night there, and lady Feng availed herself of their stay to give directions that the case which had been entrusted to her the previous day by the old nun should be secretly communicated to Lai Wang Erh. Lai Wang's mind grasped the import of all that was said to him, and, having entered the city with all despatch, he went in search of the gentleman, who acted as secretary (in Mr. Yuen's office), pretending that he had been directed by Mr. Chia Lien to come and ask him to write a letter and to send it that very night to the Ch'ang An magistrate. The distance amounted to no more than one hundred li, so that in the space of two days everything was brought to a satisfactory settlement. The general, whose name was Yuen Kuang, had been for a long time under obligations to the Chia family, so that he naturally could not refuse his co-operation in such small trifles. When he had handed his reply, Wang Erh started on his way back; where we shall leave him and return to lady Feng.
Having spent another day, she on the morrow took leave of the old nun, whom she advised to come to the mansion after the expiry of three days to fetch a reply.
Ch'in Chung and Chih Neng could not, by any means, brook the separation, and they secretly agreed to a clandestine assignation; but to these details we need not allude with any minuteness; sufficient to say that they had no alternative but to bear the anguish and to part.
Lady Feng crossed over again to the temple of the Iron Fence and ascertained how things were progressing. But as Pao Chu was obstinate in her refusal to return home, Chia Chen found himself under the necessity of selecting a few servants to act as her companions. But the reader must listen to what is said in the next chapter by way of explanation.
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