中国经典 》 紅樓夢 A Dream of Red Mansions 》
第十六回 賈元春纔選鳳藻宮 秦鯨卿夭逝黃泉路 CHAPTER XVI.
曹雪芹 Cao Xueqin
高鶚 Gao E
CHAPTER XVI.
話說寶玉見收拾了外書房，約定與秦鐘讀夜書。偏那秦鐘秉賦最弱，因在郊外受了些風霜，又與智能兒偷期綣繾，未免失於調養，回來時便咳嗽傷風，懶進飲食，大有不勝之狀，遂不敢出門，衹在傢中養息。寶玉便掃了興頭，衹得付於無可奈何，且自靜候大愈時再約。
那鳳姐兒已是得了雲光的回信，俱已妥協。老尼達知張傢，果然那守備忍氣吞聲的受了前聘之物。誰知那張傢父母如此愛勢貪財，卻養了一個知義多情的女兒，聞得父母退了前夫，他便一條麻繩悄悄的自縊了。那守備之子聞得金哥自縊，他也是個極多情的，遂也投河而死，不負妻義。張李兩傢沒趣，真是人財兩空。這裏鳳姐卻坐享了三千兩，王夫人等連一點消息也不知道。自此鳳姐膽識愈壯，以後有了這樣的事，便恣意的作為起來。也不消多記。
一日正是賈政的生辰，寧榮二處人丁都齊集慶賀，鬧熱非常。忽有門吏忙忙進來，至席前報說：“有六宮都太監夏老爺來降旨。”唬的賈赦賈政等一幹人不知是何消息，忙止了戲文，撤去酒席，擺了香案，啓中門跪接。早見六宮都太監夏守忠乘馬而至，前後左右又有許多內監跟從。那夏守忠也並不曾負詔捧敕，至檐前下馬，滿面笑容，走至廳上，南面而立，口內說：“特旨：立刻宣賈政入朝，在臨敬殿陛見。”說畢，也不及吃茶，便乘馬去了。賈赦等不知是何兆頭。衹得急忙更衣入朝。
賈母等閤家人等心中皆惶惶不定，不住的使人飛馬來往報信。有兩個時辰工夫，忽見賴大等三四個管傢喘籲籲跑進儀門報喜，又說"奉老爺命，速請老太太帶領太太等進朝謝恩"等語。那時賈母正心神不定，在大堂廊下伫立，那邢夫人，王夫人，尤氏，李紈，鳳姐，迎春姊妹以及薛姨媽等皆在一處，聽如此信至，賈母便喚進賴大來細問端的。賴大稟道：“小的們衹在臨敬門外伺候，裏頭的信息一概不能得知。後來還是夏太監出來道喜，說咱們傢大小姐晉封為鳳藻宮尚書，加封賢德妃。後來老爺出來亦如此吩咐小的。如今老爺又往東宮去了，速請老太太領着太太們去謝恩。”賈母等聽了方心神安定，不免又都洋洋喜氣盈腮。於是都按品大妝起來。賈母帶領邢夫人，王夫人，尤氏，一共四乘大轎入朝。賈赦，賈珍亦換了朝服，帶領賈蓉，賈薔奉侍賈母大轎前往。於是寧榮兩處上下裏外，莫不欣然踴躍，個個面上皆有得意之狀，言笑鼎沸不絶。
誰知近日水月庵的智能私逃進城，找至秦鐘傢下看視秦鐘，不意被秦業知覺，將智能逐出，將秦鐘打了一頓，自己氣的老病發作，三五日光景嗚呼死了。秦鐘本自怯弱，又帶病未愈，受了笞杖，今見老父氣死，此時悔痛無及，更又添了許多癥候。因此寶玉心中悵然如有所失。雖聞得元春晉封之事，亦未解得愁悶。賈母等如何謝恩，如何回傢，親朋如何來慶賀，寧榮兩處近日如何熱鬧，衆人如何得意，獨他一個皆視有如無，毫不曾介意。因此衆人嘲他越發呆了。且喜賈璉與黛玉回來，先遣人來報信，明日就可到傢，寶玉聽了，方略有些喜意。細問原由，方知賈雨村亦進京陛見，皆由王子騰纍上保本，此來後補京缺，與賈璉是同宗弟兄，又與黛玉有師從之誼，故同路作伴而來。林如海已葬入祖墳了，諸事停妥，賈璉方進京的。本該出月到傢，因聞得元春喜信，遂晝夜兼程而進，一路俱各平安。寶玉衹問得黛玉"平安"二字，餘者也就不在意了。
好容易盼至明日午錯，果報：“璉二爺和林姑娘進府了。”見面時彼此悲喜交接，未免又大哭一陣，後又緻喜慶之詞。寶玉心中品度黛玉，越發出落的超逸了。黛玉又帶了許多書籍來，忙着打掃臥室，安插器具，又將些紙筆等物分送寶釵，迎春，寶玉等人。寶玉又將北靜王所贈йк香串珍重取出來，轉贈黛玉。黛玉說：“什麽臭男人拿過的！我不要他。”遂擲而不取。寶玉衹得收回，暫且無話。
且說賈璉自回傢參見過衆人，回至房中。正值鳳姐近日多事之時，無片刻閑暇之工，見賈璉遠路歸來，少不得撥冗接待，房內無外人，便笑道：“國舅老爺大喜！國舅老爺一路風塵辛苦。小的聽見昨日的頭起報馬來報，說今日大駕歸府，略預備了一杯水酒撣塵，不知賜光謬領否？"賈璉笑道：“豈敢豈敢，多承多承。”一面平兒與衆丫鬟參拜畢，獻茶。賈璉遂問別後傢中的諸事，又謝鳳姐的操持勞碌。鳳姐道：“我那裏照管得這些事！見識又淺，口角又笨，心腸又直率，人傢給個棒槌，我就認作‘針’。臉又軟，擱不住人給兩句好話，心裏就慈悲了。況且又沒經歷過大事，膽子又小，太太略有些不自在，就嚇的我連覺也睡不着了。我苦辭了幾回，太太又不容辭，倒反說我圖受用，不肯習學了。殊不知我是捻着一把汗兒呢。一句也不敢多說，一步也不敢多走。你是知道的，咱們傢所有的這些管傢奶奶們，那一位是好纏的？錯一點兒他們就笑話打趣，偏一點兒他們就指桑說槐的報怨。‘坐山觀虎鬥’，‘藉劍殺人’，‘引風吹火’，‘站幹岸兒’，‘推倒油瓶不扶’，都是全挂子的武藝。況且我年紀輕，頭等不壓衆，怨不得不放我在眼裏。更可笑那府裏忽然蓉兒媳婦死了，珍大哥又再三再四的在太太跟前跪着討情，衹要請我幫他幾日，我是再四推辭，太太斷不依，衹得從命。依舊被我鬧了個馬仰人翻，更不成個體統，至今珍大哥哥還抱怨後悔呢。你這一來了，明兒你見了他，好歹描補描補，就說我年紀小，原沒見過世面，誰叫大爺錯委他的。”正說着，衹聽外間有人說話，鳳姐便問：“是誰？"平兒進來回道：“姨太太打發了香菱妹子來問我一句話，我已經說了，打發他回去了。”賈璉笑道：“正是呢，方纔我見姨媽去，不防和一個年輕的小媳婦子撞了個對面，生的好齊整模樣。我疑惑咱傢並無此人，說話時因問姨媽，誰知就是上京來買的那小丫頭，名叫香菱的，竟與薛大傻子作了房裏人，開了臉，越發出挑的標緻了。那薛大傻子真玷辱了他。”鳳姐道：“噯！往蘇杭走了一趟回來，也該見些世面了，還是這麽眼饞肚飽的。你要愛他，不值什麽，我去拿平兒換了他來如何？那薛老大也是‘吃着碗裏看着鍋裏’的，這一年來的光景，他為要香菱不能到手，和姨媽打了多少饑荒。也因姨媽看着香菱模樣兒好還是末則，其為人行事，卻又比別的女孩子不同，溫柔安靜，差不多的主子姑娘也跟他不上呢，故此擺酒請客的費事，明堂正道的與他作了妾。過了沒半月，也看的馬棚風一般了，我倒心裏可惜了的。”一語未了，二門上小廝傳報：“老爺在大書房等二爺呢。”賈璉聽了，忙忙整衣出去。
這裏鳳姐乃問平兒：“方纔姨媽有什麽事，巴巴打發了香菱來？"平兒笑道：“那裏來的香菱，是我藉他暫撒個謊。奶奶說說，旺兒嫂子越發連個承算也沒了。”說着，又走至鳳姐身邊，悄悄的說道：“奶奶的那利錢銀子，遲不送來，早不送來，這會子二爺在傢，他且送這個來了。幸虧我在堂屋裏撞見，不然時走了來回奶奶，二爺倘或問奶奶是什麽利錢，奶奶自然不肯瞞二爺的，少不得照實告訴二爺。我們二爺那脾氣，油鍋裏的錢還要找出來花呢，聽見奶奶有了這個梯己，他還不放心的花了呢。所以我趕着接了過來，叫我說了他兩句，誰知奶奶偏聽見了問，我就撒謊說香菱來了。”鳳姐聽了笑道：“我說呢，姨媽知道你二爺來了，忽喇巴的反打發個房裏人來了？原來你這蹄子у鬼。”
說話時賈璉已進來，鳳姐便命擺上酒饌來，夫妻對坐。鳳姐雖善飲，卻不敢任興，衹陪侍着賈璉。一時賈璉的乳母趙嬤嬤走來，賈璉鳳姐忙讓吃酒，令其上炕去。趙嬤嬤執意不肯。平兒等早於炕沿下設下一杌，又有一小腳踏，趙嬤嬤在腳踏上坐了。賈璉嚮桌上揀兩盤餚饌與他放在杌上自吃。鳳姐又道：“媽媽很嚼不動那個，倒沒的了他的牙。”因嚮平兒道：“早起我說那一碗火腿燉肘子很爛，正好給媽媽吃，你怎麽不拿了去趕着叫他們熱來？"又道：“媽媽，你嘗一嘗你兒子帶來的惠泉酒。”趙嬤嬤道：“我喝呢，奶奶也喝一盅，怕什麽？衹不要過多了就是了。我這會子跑了來，倒也不為飲酒，倒有一件正經事，奶奶好歹記在心裏，疼顧我些罷。我們這爺，衹是嘴裏說的好，到了跟前就忘了我們。幸虧我從小兒奶了你這麽大。我也老了，有的是那兩個兒子，你就另眼照看他們些，別人也不敢呲牙兒的。我還再四的求了你幾遍，你答應的倒好，到如今還是燥屎。這如今又從天上跑出這一件大喜事來，那裏用不着人？所以倒是來和奶奶來說是正經，靠着我們爺，衹怕我還餓死了呢。”
鳳姐笑道：“媽媽你放心，兩個奶哥哥都交給我。你從小兒奶的兒子，你還有什麽不知他那脾氣的？拿着皮肉倒往那不相幹的外人身上貼。可是現放着奶哥哥，那一個不比人強？你疼顧照看他們，誰敢說個‘不’字兒？沒的白便宜了外人。-我這話也說錯了，我們看着是‘外人’，你卻看着‘內人’一樣呢。”說的滿屋裏人都笑了。趙嬤嬤也笑個不住，又念佛道：“可是屋子裏跑出青天來了。若說‘內人’‘外人’這些混帳原故，我們爺是沒有，不過是臉軟心慈，擱不住人求兩句罷了。”鳳姐笑道：“可不是呢，有‘內人’的他纔慈軟呢，他在咱們娘兒們跟前纔是剛硬呢！"趙嬤嬤笑道：“奶奶說的太盡情了，我也樂了，再吃一杯好酒。從此我們奶奶作了主，我就沒的愁了。”
賈璉此時沒好意思，衹是訕笑吃酒，說‘鬍說’二字，-"快盛飯來，吃碗子還要往珍大爺那邊去商議事呢。”鳳姐道：“可是別誤了正事。纔剛老爺叫你作什麽？"賈璉道：“就為省親。”鳳姐忙問道：“省親的事竟準了不成？"賈璉笑道：“雖不十分準，也有八分準了。”鳳姐笑道：“可見當今的隆恩。歷來聽書看戲，古時從未有的。”趙嬤嬤又接口道：“可是呢，我也老糊塗了。我聽見上上下下吵嚷了這些日子，什麽省親不省親，我也不理論他去，如今又說省親，到底是怎麽個原故？"賈璉道：“如今當今貼體萬人之心，世上至大莫如‘孝’字，想來父母兒女之性，皆是一理，不是貴賤上分別的。當今自為日夜侍奉太上皇，皇太後，尚不能略盡孝意，因見宮裏嬪妃才人等皆是入宮多年，拋離父母音容，豈有不思想之理？在兒女思想父母，是分所應當。想父母在傢，若衹管思念女兒，竟不能見，倘因此成疾致病，甚至死亡，皆由朕躬禁錮，不能使其遂天倫之願，亦大傷天和之事。故啓奏太上皇，皇太後，每月逢二六日期，準其椒房眷屬入宮請候看視。於是太上皇，皇太後大喜，深贊當今至孝純仁，體天格物。因此二位老聖人又下旨意，說椒房眷屬入宮，未免有國體儀製，母女尚不能愜懷。竟大開方便之恩，特降諭諸椒房貴戚，除二六日入宮之恩外，凡有重宇別院之傢，可以駐蹕關防之外，不妨啓請內廷鸞輿入其私第，庶可略盡骨肉私情，天倫中之至性。此旨一下，誰不踴躍感戴？現今周貴人的父親已在傢裏動了工了，修蓋省親別院呢。又有吳貴妃的父親吳天Щ傢，也往城外踏看地方去了。這豈不有八九分了？”
趙嬤嬤道：“阿彌陀佛！原來如此。這樣說，咱們傢也要預備接咱們大小姐了？"賈璉道：“這何用說呢！不然，這會子忙的是什麽？"鳳姐笑道：“若果如此，我可也見個大世面了。可恨我小幾歲年紀，若早生二三十年，如今這些老人傢也不薄我沒見世面了。說起當年太祖皇帝仿舜巡的故事，比一部書還熱鬧，我偏沒造化趕上。”趙嬤嬤道：“唉喲喲，那可是千載希逢的！那時候我纔記事兒，咱們賈府正在姑蘇揚州一帶監造海舫，修理海塘，衹預備接駕一次，把銀子都花的淌海水似的！說起來……"鳳姐忙接道：“我們王府也預備過一次。那時我爺爺單管各國進貢朝賀的事，凡有的外國人來，都是我們傢養活。粵，閩，滇，浙所有的洋船貨物都是我們傢的。”
趙嬤嬤道：“那是誰不知道的？如今還有個口號兒呢，說‘東海少了白玉床，竜王來請江南王’，這說的就是奶奶府上了。還有如今現在江南的甄傢，噯喲喲，好勢派！獨他傢接駕四次，若不是我們親眼看見，告訴誰誰也不信的。別講銀子成了土泥，憑是世上所有的，沒有不是堆山塞海的，‘罪過可惜’四個字竟顧不得了。”鳳姐道：“常聽見我們太爺們也這樣說，豈有不信的。衹納罕他傢怎麽就這麽富貴呢？"趙嬤嬤道：“告訴奶奶一句話，也不過是拿着皇帝傢的銀子往皇帝身上使罷了！誰傢有那些錢買這個虛熱鬧去？"正說的熱鬧，王夫人又打發人來瞧鳳姐吃了飯不曾。鳳姐便知有事等他，忙忙的吃了半碗飯，漱口要走，又有二門上小廝們回：“東府裏蓉，薔二位哥兒來了。”賈璉纔漱了口，平兒捧着盆盥手，見他二人來了，便問：“什麽話？快說。”鳳姐且止步稍候，聽他二人回些什麽。賈蓉先回說：“我父親打發我來回叔叔：老爺們已經議定了，從東邊一帶，藉着東府裏花園起，轉至北邊，一共丈量準了，三裏半大，可以蓋造省親別院了。已經傳人畫圖樣去了，明日就得。叔叔纔回傢，未免勞乏，不用過我們那邊去，有話明日一早再請過去面議。”賈璉笑着忙說：“多謝大爺費心體諒，我就不過去了。正經是這個主意纔省事，蓋造也容易，若采置別處地方去，那更費事，且倒不成體統。你回去說這樣很好，若老爺們再要改時，全仗大爺諫阻，萬不可另尋地方。明日一早我給大爺去請安去，再議細話。”賈蓉忙應幾個"是"。
賈薔又近前回說：“下姑蘇聘請教習，采買女孩子，置辦樂器行頭等事，大爺派了侄兒，帶領着來管傢兩個兒子，還有單聘仁，卜固修兩個清客相公，一同前往，所以命我來見叔叔。”賈璉聽了，將賈薔打諒了打諒，笑道：“你能在這一行麽？這個事雖不算甚大，裏頭大有藏掖的。”賈薔笑道：“衹好學習着辦罷了。”
賈蓉在身旁燈影下悄拉鳳姐的衣襟，鳳姐會意，因笑道：“你也太操心了，難道大爺比咱們還不會用人？偏你又怕他不在行了。誰都是在行的？孩子們已長的這麽大了，‘沒吃過豬肉，也看見過豬跑’。大爺派他去，原不過是個坐纛旗兒，難道認真的叫他去講價錢會經紀去呢！依我說就很好。”賈璉道：“自然是這樣。並不是我駁回，少不得替他算計算計。”因問：“這一項銀子動那一處的？"賈薔道：“纔也議到這裏。賴爺爺說，不用從京裏帶下去，江南甄傢還收着我們五萬銀子。明日寫一封書信會票我們帶去，先支三萬，下剩二萬存着，等置辦花燭彩燈並各色簾櫳帳縵的使費。”賈璉點頭道：“這個主意好。”
鳳姐忙嚮賈薔道：“既這樣，我有兩個在行妥當人，你就帶他們去辦，這個便宜了你呢。”賈薔忙陪笑說：“正要和嬸嬸討兩個人呢，這可巧了。”因問名字。鳳姐便問趙嬤嬤。彼時趙嬤嬤已聽呆了話，平兒忙笑推他，他纔醒悟過來，忙說：“一個叫趙天梁，一個叫趙天棟。”鳳姐道：“可別忘了，我可幹我的去了。”說着便出去了。賈蓉忙送出來，又悄悄的嚮鳳姐道：“嬸子要什麽東西，吩咐我開個帳給薔兄弟帶了去，叫他按帳置辦了來。”鳳姐笑道：“別放你娘的屁！我的東西還沒處撂呢，希罕你們鬼鬼祟祟的？"說着一徑去了。
這裏賈薔也悄問賈璉：“要什麽東西？順便織來孝敬。”賈璉笑道：“你別興頭。才學着辦事，倒先學會了這把戲。我短了什麽，少不得寫信來告訴你，且不要論到這裏。”說畢，打發他二人去了。接着回事的人來，不止三四次，賈璉害乏，便傳與二門上，一應不許傳報，俱等明日料理。鳳姐至三更時分方下來安歇，一宿無話。
次早賈璉起來，見過賈赦賈政，便往寧府中來，合同老管事的人等，並幾位世交門下清客相公，審察兩府地方，繕畫省親殿宇，一面察度辦理人丁。自此後，各行匠役齊集，金銀銅錫以及土木磚瓦之物，搬運移送不歇。先令匠人拆寧府會芳園墻垣樓閣，直接入榮府東大院中。榮府東邊所有下人一帶群房盡已拆去。當日寧榮二宅，雖有一小巷界斷不通，然這小巷亦係私地，並非官道，故可以連屬。會芳園本是從北拐角墻下引來一股活水，今亦無煩再引。其山石樹木雖不敷用，賈赦住的乃是榮府舊園，其中竹樹山石以及亭榭欄桿等物，皆可挪就前來。如此兩處又甚近，湊來一處，省得許多財力，縱亦不敷，所添亦有限。全虧一個老明公號山子野者，一一籌畫起造。
賈政不慣於俗務，衹憑賈赦，賈珍，賈璉，賴大，來升，林之孝，吳新登，詹光，程日興等幾人安插擺布。凡堆山鑿池，起樓竪閣，種竹栽花，一應點景等事，又有山子野制度。下朝閑暇，不過各處看望看望，最要緊處和賈赦等商議商議便罷了。賈赦衹在傢高臥，有芥豆之事，賈珍等或自去回明，或寫略節，或有話說，便傳呼賈璉，賴大等領命。賈蓉單管打造金銀器皿。賈薔已起身往姑蘇去了。賈珍，賴大等又點人丁，開册籍，監工等事，一筆不能寫到，不過是喧闐熱鬧非常而已。暫且無話。
且說寶玉近因傢中有這等大事，賈政不來問他的書，心中是件暢事，無奈秦鐘之病日重一日，也着實懸心，不能樂業。這日一早起來纔梳洗完畢，意欲回了賈母去望候秦鐘，忽見茗煙在二門照壁前探頭縮腦，寶玉忙出來問他：“作什麽？"茗煙道：“秦相公不中用了！"寶玉聽說，嚇了一跳，忙問道：“我昨兒纔瞧了他來，還明明白白，怎麽就不中用了？"茗煙道：“我也不知道，纔剛是他傢的老頭子來特告訴我的。”寶玉聽了，忙轉身回明賈母。賈母吩咐：“好生派妥當人跟去，到那裏盡一盡同窗之情就回來，不許多耽擱了。”寶玉聽了，忙忙的更衣出來，車猶未備，急的滿廳亂轉。一時催促的車到，忙上了車，李貴，茗煙等跟隨。來至秦鐘門首，悄無一人，遂蜂擁至內室，唬的秦鐘的兩個遠房嬸母並幾個弟兄都藏之不迭。
此時秦鐘已發過兩三次昏了，移床易簀多時矣。寶玉一見，便不禁失聲。李貴忙勸道：“不可不可，秦相公是弱癥，未免炕上挺扛的骨頭不受用，所以暫且挪下來鬆散些。哥兒如此，豈不反添了他的病？"寶玉聽了，方忍住近前，見秦鐘面如白蠟，合目呼吸於枕上。寶玉忙叫道：“鯨兄！寶玉來了。”連叫兩三聲，秦鐘不睬。寶玉又道：“寶玉來了。”
那秦鐘早已魂魄離身，衹剩得一口悠悠餘氣在胸，正見許多鬼判持牌提索來捉他。那秦鐘魂魄那裏肯就去，又記念着傢中無人掌管傢務，又記挂着父親還有留積下的三四千兩銀子，又記挂着智能尚無下落，因此百般求告鬼判。無奈這些鬼判都不肯徇私，反叱咤秦鐘道：“虧你還是讀過書的人，豈不知俗語說的：‘閻王叫你三更死，誰敢留人到五更。’我們陰間上下都是鐵面無私的，不比你們陽間瞻情顧意，有許多的關礙處。”正鬧着，那秦鐘魂魄忽聽見"寶玉來了"四字，便忙又央求道：“列位神差，略發慈悲，讓我回去，和這一個好朋友說一句話就來的。”衆鬼道：“又是什麽好朋友？"秦鐘道：“不瞞列位，就是榮國公的孫子，小名寶玉。”都判官聽了，先就唬慌起來，忙喝駡鬼使道：“我說你們放了他回去走走罷，你們斷不依我的話，如今衹等他請出個運旺時盛的人來纔罷。”衆鬼見都判如此，也都忙了手腳，一面又抱怨道：“你老人傢先是那等雷霆電雹，原來見不得‘寶玉’二字。依我們愚見，他是陽，我們是陰，怕他們也無益於我們。”都判道：“放屁！俗語說的好，‘天下官管天下事’，自古人鬼之道卻是一般，陰陽並無二理。別管他陰也罷，陽也罷，還是把他放回沒有錯了的。”衆鬼聽說，衹得將秦魂放回，哼了一聲，微開雙目，見寶玉在側，乃勉強嘆道：“怎麽不肯早來？再遲一步也不能見了。”寶玉忙攜手垂淚道：“有什麽話留下兩句。”秦鐘道：“並無別話。以前你我見識自為高過世人，我今日纔知自誤了。以後還該立志功名，以榮耀顯達為是。”說畢，便長嘆一聲，蕭然長逝了。蕭然長逝了。
Chia Yuan-ch'un is, on account of her talents, selected to enter the Feng Ts'ao Palace. Ch'in Ching-ch'ing departs, in the prime of life, by the yellow spring road.
But we must now return to the two lads, Ch'in Chung and Pao-yue. After they had passed, along with lady Feng from the Temple of the Iron Fence, whither she had gone to see how things were getting on, they entered the city in their carriages. On their arrival at home, they paid their obeisance to dowager lady Chia, madame Wang and the other members of the family, whence they returned to their own quarters, where nothing worth mentioning transpired during the night.
On the next day, Pao-yue perceiving that the repairs to the outer schoolroom had been completed, settled with Ch'in Chung that they should have evening classes. But as it happened that Ch'in Chung, who was naturally of an extremely delicate physique, caught somewhat of a chill in the country and clandestinely indulged, besides, in an intimacy with Chih Neng, which unavoidably made him fail to take good care of himself, he was, shortly after his return, troubled with a cough and a feverish cold, with nausea for drink and food, and fell into such an extremely poor state of health that he simply kept indoors and nursed himself, and was not in a fit condition to go to school. Pao-yue's spirits were readily damped, but as there was likewise no remedy he had no other course than to wait until his complete recovery, before he could make any arrangements.
Lady Feng had meanwhile received a reply from Yuen Kuang, in which he informed her that everything had been satisfactorily settled, and the old nun apprised the Chang family that the major had actually suppressed his indignation, hushed his complaints, and taken back the presents of the previous engagement. But who would have ever anticipated that a father and mother, whose hearts were set upon position and their ambition upon wealth, could have brought up a daughter so conscious of propriety and so full of feeling as to seize the first opportunity, after she had heard that she had been withdrawn from her former intended, and been promised to the Li family, to stealthily devise a way to commit suicide, by means of a handkerchief. The son of the Major, upon learning that Chin Ko had strangled herself, there and then jumped into the river and drowned himself, as he too was a being full of love. The Chang and Li families were, sad to relate, very much cut up, and, in very truth, two lives and money had been sacrificed all to no use.
Lady Feng, however, during this while, quietly enjoyed the three thousand taels, and madame Wang did not have even so much as the faintest idea of the whole matter. But ever since this occasion, lady Feng's audacity acquired more and more strength; and the actions of this kind, which she, in after days, performed, defy enumeration.
One day, the very day on which Chia Cheng's birthday fell, while the members of the two households of Ning and Jung were assembled together offering their congratulations, and unusual bustle and stir prevailed, a gatekeeper came in, at quite an unexpected moment, to announce that Mr. Hsia, Metropolitan Head Eunuch of the six palaces, had come with the special purpose of presenting an edict from his Majesty; a bit of news which plunged Chia She, Chia Cheng and the whole company into great consternation, as they could not make out what was up. Speedily interrupting the theatrical performance, they had the banquet cleared, and the altar laid out with incense, and opening the centre gate they fell on their knees to receive the edict.
Soon they caught sight of the head eunuch, Hsia Ping-chung, advancing on horseback, and besides himself, a considerable retinue of eunuchs. The eunuch Hsia did not, in fact, carry any mandate or present any decree; but straightway advancing as far as the main hall, he dismounted, and, with a face beaming with smiles, he walked into the Hall and took his stand on the southern side.
"I have had the honour," he said, "of receiving a special order to at once summon Chia Cheng to present himself at Court and be admitted in His Majesty's presence in the Lin Ching Hall."
When he had delivered this message, he did not so much as take any tea, but forthwith mounted his horse and took his leave.
Chia Cheng and the others could not even conceive what omen this summons implied, but he had no alternative but to change his clothes with all haste and to present himself at Court, while dowager lady Chia and the inmates of the whole household were, in their hearts, a prey to such perplexity and uncertainty that they incessantly despatched messengers on flying steeds to go and bring the news.
After the expiry of four hours, they suddenly perceived Lai Ta and three or four other butlers run in, quite out of breath, through the ceremonial gate and report the glad tidings. "We have received," they added, "our master's commands, to hurriedly request her venerable ladyship to take madame Wang and the other ladies into the Palace, to return thanks for His Majesty's bounty;" and other words to the same purport.
Dowager lady Chia was, at this time, standing, with agitated heart, under the verandah of the Large Hall waiting for tidings, whilst the two ladies, mesdames Hsing and Wang, Mrs. Yu, Li Wan, lady Feng, Ying Ch'un and her sisters, even up to Mrs. Hsueeh and the rest, were congregated in one place ascertaining what was the news. Old lady Chia likewise called Lai Ta in and minutely questioned him as to what had happened. "Your servants," replied Lai Ta, "simply stood waiting outside the Lin Chuang gate, so that we were in total ignorance of what was going on inside, when presently the Eunuch Hsia came out and imparted to us the glad tidings; telling us that the eldest of the young ladies in our household had been raised, by His Majesty, to be an overseer in the Feng Ts'ao Palace, and that he had, in addition, conferred upon her the rank of worthy and virtuous secondary consort. By and by, Mr. Chia Cheng came out and also told us the same thing. Master is now gone back again to the Eastern Palace, whither he requests your venerable ladyship to go at once and offer thanks for the Imperial favour."
When old lady Chia and the other members of the family heard these tidings they were at length reassured in their minds, and so elated were they all in one moment that joy was visible in their very faces. Without loss of time, they commenced to don the gala dresses suitable to their rank; which done, old lady Chia led the way for the two ladies, mesdames Hsing and Wang, as well as for Mrs. Yu; and their official chairs, four of them in all, entered the palace like a trail of fish; while Chia She and Chia Chen, who had likewise changed their clothes for their court dress, took Chia Se and Chia Jung along and proceeded in attendance upon dowager lady Chia.
Indeed, of the two households of Ning and Jung, there was not one, whether high or low, woman or man, who was not in a high state of exultation, with the exception of Pao-yue, who behaved just as if the news had not reached his ears; and can you, reader, guess why? The fact is that Chih Neng, of the Water Moon Convent, had recently entered the city in a surreptitious manner in search of Ch'in Chung; but, contrary to expectation, her visit came to be known by Ch'in Yeh, who drove Chih Neng away and laid hold of Ch'in Chung and gave him a flogging. But this outburst of temper of his brought about a relapse of his old complaint, with the result that in three or five days, he, sad to say, succumbed. Ch'in Chung had himself ever been in a delicate state of health and had besides received a caning before he had got over his sickness, so that when he now saw his aged father pass away from the consequences of a fit of anger, he felt, at this stage, so full of penitence and distress that the symptoms of his illness were again considerably aggravated. Hence it was that Pao-yue was downcast and unhappy at heart, and that nothing could, in spite of the promotion of Yuan Ch'un by imperial favour, dispel the depression of his spirits.
Dowager lady Chia and the rest in due course offered thanks and returned home, the relatives and friends came to present their congratulations, great stir and excitement prevailed during these few days in the two mansions of Ning and Jung, and every one was in high glee; but he alone looked upon everything as if it were nothing; taking not the least interest in anything; and as this reason led the whole family to sneer at him, the result was that he got more and more doltish.
Luckily, however, Chia Lien and Tai-yue were on their way back, and had despatched messengers, in advance, to announce the news that they would be able to reach home the following day, so that when Pao-yue heard the tidings, he was at length somewhat cheered. And when he came to institute minute inquiries, he eventually found out: "that Chia Yue-ts'un was also coming to the capital to have an audience with His Majesty, that it was entirely because Wang Tzu-t'eng had repeatedly laid before the Throne memorials recommending him that he was coming on this occasion to wait in the metropolis for a vacancy which he could fill up; that as he was a kinsman of Chia Lien's, acknowledging the same ancestors as he did, and he stood, on the other hand, with Tai-yue, in the relationship of tutor and pupil, he was in consequence following the same road and coming as their companion; that Lin Ju-hai had already been buried in the ancestral vault, and that every requirement had been attended to with propriety; that Chia Lien, on this voyage to the capital, would, had he progressed by the ordinary stages, have been over a month before he could reach home, but that when he came to hear the good news about Yuan Ch'un, he pressed on day and night to enter the capital; and that the whole journey had been throughout, in every respect, both pleasant and propitious."
But Pao-yue merely ascertained whether Tai-yue was all right, and did not even so much as trouble his mind with the rest of what he heard; and he remained on the tiptoe of expectation, till noon of the morrow; when, in point of fact, it was announced that Mr. Lien, together with Miss Lin, had made their entrance into the mansion. When they came face to face, grief and joy vied with each other; and they could not help having a good cry for a while; after which followed again expressions of sympathy and congratulations; while Pao-yue pondered within himself that Tai-yue had become still more surpassingly handsome.
Tai-yue had also brought along with her a good number of books, and she promptly gave orders that the sleeping rooms should be swept, and that the various nicknacks should be put in their proper places. She further produced a certain quantity of paper, pencils and other such things, and distributed them among Pao Ch'ai, Ying Ch'un, Pao-yue and the rest; and Pao-yue also brought out, with extreme care, the string of Ling-ling scented beads, which had been given to him by the Prince of Pei Ching, and handed them, in his turn, to Tai-yue as a present.
"What foul man has taken hold of them?" exclaimed Tai-yue. "I don't want any such things;" and as she forthwith dashed them down, and would not accept them, Pao-yue was under the necessity of taking them back. But for the time being we will not allude to them, but devote our attention to Chia Lien.
Having, after his arrival home, paid his salutations to all the inmates, he retired to his own quarters at the very moment that lady Feng had multifarious duties to attend to, and had not even a minute to spare; but, considering that Chia Lien had returned from a distant journey, she could not do otherwise than put by what she had to do, and to greet him and wait on him.
"Imperial uncle," she said, in a jocose manner, when she realised that there was no outsider present in the room, "I congratulate you! What fatigue and hardship you, Imperial uncle, have had to bear throughout the whole journey, your humble servant heard yesterday, when the courier sent ahead came and announced that Your Highness would this day reach this mansion. I have merely got ready a glass of mean wine for you to wipe down the dust with, but I wonder, whether Your Highness will deign to bestow upon it the lustre of your countenance, and accept it."
Chia Lien smiled. "How dare I presume to such an honour," he added by way of rejoinder; "I'm unworthy of such attention! Many thanks, many thanks."
P'ing Erh and the whole company of waiting-maids simultaneously paid their obeisance to him, and this ceremony concluded, they presented tea. Chia Lien thereupon made inquiries about the various matters, which had transpired in their home after his departure, and went on to thank lady Feng for all the trouble she had taken in the management of them.
"How could I control all these manifold matters," remarked lady Feng; "my experience is so shallow, my speech so dull and my mind so simple, that if any one showed me a club, I would mistake it for a pin. Besides, I'm so tender-hearted that were any one to utter a couple of glib remarks, I couldn't help feeling my heart give way to compassion and sympathy. I've had, in addition, no experience in any weighty questions; my pluck is likewise so very small that when madame Wang has felt in the least displeased, I have not been able to close my eyes and sleep. Urgently did I more than once resign the charge, but her ladyship wouldn't again agree to it; maintaining, on the contrary, that my object was to be at ease, and that I was not willing to reap experience. Leaving aside that she doesn't know that I take things so much to heart, that I can scoop the perspiration in handfuls, that I daren't utter one word more than is proper, nor venture to recklessly take one step more than I ought to, you know very well which of the women servants, in charge of the menage in our household, is easy to manage! If ever I make the slightest mistake, they laugh at me and poke fun at me; and if I incline a little one way, they show their displeasure by innuendoes; they sit by and look on, they use every means to do harm, they stir up trouble, they stand by on safe ground and look on and don't give a helping hand to lift any one they have thrown over, and they are, one and all of them, old hands in such tricks. I'm moreover young in years and not able to keep people in check, so that they naturally don't show any regard for me! What is still more ridiculous is that after the death of Jung Erh's wife in that mansion, brother Chen, time and again, begged madame Wang, on his very knees, to do him the favour to ask me to lend him a hand for several days. I repeatedly signified my refusal, but her ladyship gave her consent in order to oblige him, so that I had no help but to carry out her wish; putting, as is my wont, everything topsy-turvey, and making matters worse than they were; with the result that brother Chen up to this day bears me a grudge and regrets having asked for my assistance. When you see him to-morrow, do what you can to excuse me by him. 'Young as she is,' tell him, 'and without experience of the world, who ever could have instigated Mr. Chia Cheng to make such a mistake as to choose her.'"
While they were still chatting, they heard people talking in the outer apartments, and lady Feng speedily inquired who it was. P'ing Erh entered the room to reply. "Lady Hsueeh," she said, "has sent sister Hsiang Ling over to ask me something; but I've already given her my answer and sent her back."
"Quite so," interposed Chia Lien with a smile. "A short while ago I went to look up Mrs. Hsueeh and came face to face with a young girl, whose features were supremely perfect, and as I suspected that, in our household, there was no such person, I asked in the course of conversation, Mrs. Hsueeh about her, and found out eventually that this was the young waiting-maid they had purchased on their way to the capital, Hsiang Ling by name, and that she had after all become an inmate of the household of that big fool Hsueeh. Since she's had her hair dressed as a married woman she does look so much more pre-eminently beautiful! But that big fool Hsueeh has really brought contamination upon her."
"Ai!" exclaimed lady Feng, "here you are back from a trip to Suchow and Hang Chow, where you should have seen something of the world! and have you still an eye as envious and a heart so covetous? Well, if you wish to bestow your love on her, there's no difficulty worth speaking of. I'll take P'ing Erh over and exchange her for her; what do you say to that? that old brother Hsueeh is also one of those men, who, while eating what there is in the bowl, keeps an eye on what there is in the pan! For the last year or so, as he couldn't get Hsiang Ling to be his, he made ever so many distressing appeals to Mrs. Hsueeh; and Mrs. Hsueeh while esteeming Hsiang Ling's looks, though fine, as after all a small matter, (thought) her deportment and conduct so far unlike those of other girls, so gentle and so demure that almost the very daughters of masters and mistresses couldn't attain her standard, that she therefore went to the trouble of spreading a banquet, and of inviting guests, and in open court, and in the legitimate course, she gave her to him for a secondary wife. But half a month had scarcely elapsed before he looked upon her also as a good-for-nothing person as he did upon a large number of them! I can't however help feeling pity for her in my heart."
Scarcely had she time to conclude what she had to say when a youth, on duty at the second gate, transmitted the announcement that Mr. Chia Cheng was in the Library waiting for Mr. Secundus. At these words, Chia Lien speedily adjusted his clothes, and left the apartment; and during his absence, lady Feng inquired of P'ing Erh what Mrs. Hsueeh wanted a few minutes back, that she sent Hsiang Ling round in such a hurry.
"What Hsiang Ling ever came?" replied P'ing Erh. "I simply made use of her name to tell a lie for the occasion. Tell me, my lady, (what's come to) Wang Erh's wife? why she's got so bad that there's even no common sense left in her!" Saying this she again drew near lady Feng's side, and in a soft tone of voice, she continued: "That interest of yours, my lady, she doesn't send later, nor does she send it sooner; but she must send it round the very moment when master Secundus is at home! But as luck would have it, I was in the hall, so that I came across her; otherwise, she would have walked in and told your ladyship, and Mr. Secundus would naturally have come to know about it! And our master would, with that frame of mind of his, have fished it out and spent it, had the money even been at the bottom of a pan full of oil! and were he to have heard that my lady had private means, would he not have been still more reckless in spending? Hence it was that, losing no time in taking the money over, I had to tell her a few words which, who would have thought, happened to be overheard by your ladyship; that's why, in the presence of master Secundus, I simply explained that Hsiang Ling had come!"
These words evoked a smile from lady Feng. "Mrs. Hsueh, I thought to myself," she observed, "knows very well that your Mr. Secundus has come, and yet, regardless of propriety, she, instead (of keeping her at home), sends some one over from her inner rooms! and it was you after all, you vixen, playing these pranks!"
As she uttered this remark, Chia Lien walked in, and lady Feng issued orders to serve the wine and the eatables, and husband and wife took their seats opposite to each other; but notwithstanding that lady Feng was very partial to drink, she nevertheless did not have the courage to indulge her weakness, but merely partook of some to keep him company. Chia Lien's nurse, dame Chao, entered the room, and Chia Lien and lady Feng promptly pressed her to have a glass of wine, and bade her sit on the stove-couch, but dame Chao was obstinate in her refusal. P'ing Erh and the other waiting-maids had at an early hour placed a square stool next to the edge of the couch, where was likewise a small footstool, and on this footstool dame Chao took a seat, whereupon Chia Lien chose two dishes of delicacies from the table, which he handed her to place on the square stool for her own use.
"Dame Chao," lady Feng remarked, "couldn't very well bite through that, for mind it might make her teeth drop! This morning," she therefore asked of P'ing Erh, "I suggested that that shoulder of pork stewed with ham was so tender as to be quite the thing to be given to dame Chao to eat; and how is it you haven't taken it over to her? But go at once and tell them to warm it and bring it in! Dame Chao," she went on, "just you taste this Hui Ch'uean wine brought by your foster-son."
"I'll drink it," replied dame Chao, "but you, my lady, must also have a cup: what's there to fear? the one thing to guard against is any excess, that's all! But I've now come over, not for any wine or eatables; on the contrary, there's a serious matter, which I would ask your ladyship to impress on your mind, and to show me some regard, for this master of ours is only good to utter fine words, but when the time (to act) does come, he forgets all about us! As I have had the good fortune to nurse him in his infancy and to bring him up to this age, 'I too have grown old in years,' I said to him, 'and all that belong to me are those two sons, and do look upon them with some particular favour!' With any one else I shouldn't have ventured to open my mouth, but him I anyway entreated time and again on several occasions. His assent was of course well and good, but up to this very moment he still withholds his help. Now besides from the heavens has dropped such a mighty piece of good luck; and in what place will there be no need of servants? that's why I come to tell you, my lady, as is but right, for were I to depend upon our master, I fear I shall even die of starvation."
Lady Feng laughed. "You'd better," she suggested, "put those two elder foster brothers of his both under my charge! But you've nursed that foster-son from his babyhood, and don't you yet know that disposition of his, how that he takes his skin and flesh and sticks it, (not on the body of a relative), but, on the contrary, on that of an outsider and stranger? (to Chia Lien.) Which of those foster brothers whom you have now discarded, isn't clearly better than others? and were you to have shown them some favour and consideration, who would have ventured to have said 'don't?' Instead of that, you confer benefits upon thorough strangers, and all to no purpose whatever! But these words of mine are also incorrect, eh? for those whom we regard as strangers you, contrariwise, will treat just as if they were relatives!"
At these words every one present in the room burst out laughing; even nurse Chao could not repress herself; and as she invoked Buddha,--"In very truth," she exclaimed, "in this room has sprung up a kind-hearted person! as regards relatives and strangers, such foolish distinctions aren't drawn by our master; and it's simply because he's full of pity and is tenderhearted that he can't put off any one who gives vent to a few words of entreaty, and nothing else!"
"That's quite it!" rejoined lady Feng smiling sarcastically, "to those whom he looks upon as relatives, he's kindhearted, but with me and his mother he's as hard as steel."
"What you say, my lady, is very considerate," remarked nurse Chao, "and I'm really so full of delight that I'll have another glass of good wine! and, if from this time forward, your ladyship will act as you think best, I'll have then nothing to be sorry for!"
Chia Lien did not at this juncture feel quite at his ease, but he could do no more than feign a smile. "You people," he said, "should leave off talking nonsense, and bring the eatables at once and let us have our meal, as I have still to go on the other side and see Mr. Chia Chen, to consult with him about business."
"To be sure you have," ventured lady Feng, "and you shouldn't neglect your legitimate affairs; but what did Mr. Chia Chen tell you when he sent for you just a while back?"
"It was about the visit (of Yuan Ch'un) to her parents," Chia Lien explained.
"Has after all permission for the visit been granted?" lady Feng inquired with alacrity.
"Though not quite granted," Chia Lien replied joyously, "it's nevertheless more or less an accomplished fact."
"This is indeed evidence of the great bounty of the present Emperor!" lady Feng observed smirkingly; "one doesn't hear in books, or see in plays, written from time to time, any mention of such an instance, even so far back as the days of old!"
Dame Chao took up again the thread of the conversation. "Indeed it's so!" she interposed; "But I'm in very truth quite stupid from old age, for I've heard every one, high and low, clamouring during these few days, something or other about 'Hsing Ch'in' or no 'Hsing Ch'in,' but I didn't really pay any heed to it; and now again, here's something more about this 'Hsing Ch'in,' but what's it all about, I wonder?"
"The Emperor at present on the Throne," explained Chia Lien, "takes into consideration the feelings of his people. In the whole world, there is (in his opinion), no more essential thing than filial piety; maintaining that the feelings of father, mother, son and daughter are indiscriminately subject to one principle, without any distinction between honorable and mean. The present Emperor himself day and night waits upon their majesties his Father and the Empress Dowager, and yet cannot, in the least degree, carry out to the full his ideal of filial piety. The secondary consorts, meritorious persons and other inmates of the Palace, he remembered, had entered within its precincts many years back, casting aside fathers and mothers, so how could they not help thinking of them? Besides, the fathers and mothers, who remain at home must long for their daughters, of whom they cannot get even so much as a glimpse, and if, through this solicitude, they were to contract any illness, the harmony of heaven would also be seriously impaired, so for this reason, he memorialised the Emperor, his father, and the Empress Dowager that every month, on the recurrence of the second and sixth days, permission should be accorded to the relatives of the imperial consorts to enter the palace and make application to see their daughters. The Emperor, his father, and Empress Dowager were, forthwith, much delighted by this representation, and eulogised, in high terms, the piety and generosity of the present Emperor, his regard for the will of heaven and his research into the nature of things. Both their sacred Majesties consequently also issued a decree to the effect: that the entrance of the relatives of the imperial consorts into the Palace could not but interfere with the dignity of the state, and the rules of conventional rites, but that as the mothers and daughters could not gratify the wishes of their hearts, Their Majesties would, after all, show a high proof of expedient grace, and issue a special command that: 'exclusive of the generous bounty, by virtue of which the worthy relations of the imperial consorts could enter the palace on the second and sixth days, any family, having extensive accommodation and separate courts suitable for the cantonment of the imperial body-guard, could, without any detriment, make application to the Inner Palace, for the entrance of the imperial chair into the private residences, to the end that the personal feelings of relations might be gratified, and that they should collectively enjoy the bliss of a family reunion.' After the issue of this decree, who did not leap from grateful joy! The father of the honourable secondary consort Chou has now already initiated works, in his residence, for the repairs to the separate courts necessary for the visiting party. Wu T'ien-yu too, the father of Wu, the distinguished consort, has likewise gone outside the city walls in search of a suitable plot of ground; and don't these amount to well-nigh accomplished facts?"
"O-mi-to-fu!" exclaimed dame Chao. "Is it really so? but from what you say, our family will also be making preparations for the reception of the eldest young lady!"
"That goes without saying," added Chia Lien, "otherwise, for what purpose could we be in such a stir just now?"
"It's of course so!" interposed lady Feng smiling, "and I shall now have an opportunity of seeing something great of the world. My misfortune is that I'm young by several years; for had I been born twenty or thirty years sooner, all these old people wouldn't really be now treating me contemptuously for not having seen the world! To begin with, the Emperor Tai Tsu, in years gone by, imitated the old policy of Shun, and went on a tour, giving rise to more stir than any book could have ever produced; but I happen to be devoid of that good fortune which could have enabled me to come in time."
"Ai ya, ya!" ejaculated dame Chao, "such a thing is rarely met with in a thousand years! I was old enough at that time to remember the occurrence! Our Chia family was then at Ku Su, Yangchow and all along that line, superintending the construction of ocean vessels, and the repairs to the seaboard. This was the only time in which preparations were made for the reception of the Emperor, and money was lavished in quantities as great as the billowing waters of the sea!"
This subject once introduced, lady Feng took up the thread of the conversation with vehemence. "Our Wang family," she said, "did also make preparations on one occasion. At that time my grandfather was in sole charge of all matters connected with tribute from various states, as well as with general levees, so that whenever any foreigners arrived, they all came to our house to be entertained, while the whole of the goods, brought by foreign vessels from the two Kuang provinces, from Fukien, Yunnan and Chekiang, were the property of our family."
"Who isn't aware of these facts?" ventured dame Chao; "there is up to this day a saying that, 'in the eastern sea, there was a white jade bed required, and the dragon prince came to request Mr. Wang of Chin Ling (to give it to him)!' This saying relates to your family, my lady, and remains even now in vogue. The Chen family of Chiang Nan has recently held, oh such a fine old standing! it alone has entertained the Emperor on four occasions! Had we not seen these things with our own eyes, were we to tell no matter whom, they wouldn't surely ever believe them! Not to speak of the money, which was as plentiful as mud, all things, whether they were to be found in the world or not, were they not heaped up like hills, and collected like the waters of the sea? But with the four characters representing sin and pity they didn't however trouble their minds."
"I've often heard," continued lady Feng, "my eldest uncle say that things were in such a state, and how couldn't I believe? but what surprises me is how it ever happened that this family attained such opulence and honour!"
"I'll tell your ladyship and all in one sentence," replied nurse Chao. "Why they simply took the Emperor's money and spent it for the Emperor's person, that's all! for what family has such a lot of money as to indulge in this useless extravagance?"
While they were engaged in this conversation, a servant came a second time, at the instance of madame Wang, to see whether lady Feng had finished her meal or not; and lady Feng forthwith concluding that there must be something waiting for her to attend to, hurriedly rushed through her repast. She had just rinsed her mouth and was about to start when the youths, on duty at the second gate, also reported that the two gentlemen, Mr. Chia Jung and Mr. Chia Se, belonging to the Eastern mansion, had arrived.
Chia Lien had, at length, rinsed his mouth; but while P'ing Erh presented a basin for him to wash his hands, he perceived the two young men walk in, and readily inquired of them what they had to say.
Lady Feng was, on account (of their arrival), likewise compelled to stay, and she heard Chia Jung take the lead and observe: "My father has sent me to tell you, uncle, that the gentlemen, have already decided that the whole extent of ground, starting from the East side, borrowing (for the occasion) the flower garden of the Eastern mansion, straight up to the North West, had been measured and found to amount in all to three and a half li; that it will be suitable for the erection of extra accommodation for the visiting party; that they have already commissioned an architect to draw a plan, which will be ready by to-morrow; that as you, uncle, have just returned home, and must unavoidably feel fatigued, you need not go over to our house, but that if you have anything to say you should please come tomorrow morning, as early as you can, and consult verbally with him."
"Thank uncle warmly," Chia Lien rejoined smilingly, "for the trouble he has taken in thinking of me; I shall, in that case, comply with his wishes and not go over. This plan is certainly the proper one, for while trouble will thus be saved, the erection of the quarters will likewise be an easy matter; for had a distinct plot to be selected and to be purchased, it would involve far greater difficulties. What's more, things wouldn't, after all, be what they properly should be. When you get back, tell your father that this decision is the right one, and that should the gentlemen have any further wish to introduce any change in their proposals, it will rest entirely with my uncle to prevent them, as it's on no account advisable to go and cast one's choice on some other plot; that to-morrow as soon as it's daylight, I'll come and pay my respects to uncle, when we can enter into further details in our deliberations!"
Chia Jung hastily signified his assent by several yes's, and Chia Se also came forward to deliver his message. "The mission to Ku Su," he explained, "to find tutors, to purchase servant girls, and to obtain musical instruments, and theatrical properties and the like, my uncle has confided to me; and as I'm to take along with me the two sons of a couple of majordomos, and two companions of the family, besides, Tan P'ing-jen and Pei Ku-hsiu, he has, for this reason, enjoined me to come and see you, uncle."
Upon hearing this, Chia Lien scrutinised Chia Se. "What!" he asked, "are you able to undertake these commissions? These matters are, it's true, of no great moment; but there's something more hidden in them!"
Chia Se smiled. "The best thing I can do," he remarked, "will be to execute them in my novice sort of way, that's all."
Chia Jung was standing next to lady Feng, out of the light of the lamp, and stealthily pulled the lapel of her dress. Lady Feng understood the hint, and putting on a smiling expression, "You are too full of fears!" she interposed. "Is it likely that our uncle Chen doesn't, after all, know better than we do what men to employ, that you again give way to apprehensions that he isn't up to the mark! but who are those who are, in every respect, up to the mark? These young fellows have grown up already to this age, and if they haven't eaten any pork, they have nevertheless seen a pig run. If Mr. Chen has deputed him to go, he is simply meant to sit under the general's standard; and do you imagine, forsooth, that he has, in real earnest, told him to go and bargain about the purchase money, and to interview the brokers himself? My own idea is that (the choice) is a very good one."
"Of course it is!" observed Chia Lien; "but it isn't that I entertain any wish to be factious; my only object is to devise some plan or other for him. Whence will," he therefore went on to ask, "the money required for this purpose come from?"
"A little while ago the deliberations reached this point," rejoined Chia Se; "and Mr. Lai suggested that there was no necessity at all to take any funds from the capital, as the Chen family, in Chiang Nan, had still in their possession Tls. 50,000 of our money. That he would to-morrow write a letter of advice and a draft for us to take along, and that we should, first of all, obtain cash to the amount of Tls. 30,000, and let the balance of Tls. 20,000 remain over, for the purchase of painted lanterns, and coloured candles, as well as for the outlay for every kind of portieres, banners, curtains and streamers."
Chia Lien nodded his head. "This plan is first-rate!" he added.
"Since that be so," observed lady Feng, as she addressed herself to Chia Se, "I've two able and reliable men; and if you would take them with you, to attend to these matters, won't it be to your convenience?"
Chia Se forced a smile. "I was just on the point," he rejoined, "of asking you, aunt, for the loan of two men, so that this suggestion is a strange coincidence."
As he went on to ascertain what were their names, lady Feng inquired what they were of nurse Chao. But nurse Chao had, by this time, become quite dazed from listening to the conversation, and P'ing Erh had to give her a push, as she smiled, before she returned to consciousness. "The one," she hastened to reply, "is called Chao T'ien-liang and the other Chao T'ien-tung."
"Whatever you do," suggested lady Feng, "don't forget them; but now I'm off to look after my duties."
With these words, she left the room, and Chia Jung promptly followed her out, and with gentle voice he said to her: "Of whatever you want, aunt, issue orders that a list be drawn up, and I'll give it to my brother to take with him, and he'll carry out your commissions according to the list."
"Don't talk nonsense!" replied lady Feng laughing; "I've found no place, as yet, where I could put away all my own things; and do the stealthy practices of you people take my fancy?"
As she uttered these words she straightway went her way.
Chia Se, at this time, likewise, asked Chia Lien: "If you want anything (in the way of curtains), I can conveniently have them woven for you, along with the rest, and bring them as a present to you."
"Don't be in such high glee!" Chia Lien urged with a grin, "you've but recently been learning how to do business, and have you come first and foremost to excel in tricks of this kind? If I require anything, I'll of course write and tell you, but we needn't talk about it."
Having finished speaking, he dismissed the two young men; and, in quick succession, servants came to make their business reports, not limited to three and five companies, but as Chia Lien felt exhausted, he forthwith sent word to those on duty at the second gate not to allow any one at all to communicate any reports, and that the whole crowd should wait till the next day, when he would give his mind to what had to be done.
Lady Feng did not come to retire to rest till the third watch; but nothing need be said about the whole night.
The next morning, at an early hour, Chia Lien got up and called on Chia She and Chia Cheng; after which, he came over to the Ning Kuo mansion; when, in company with the old major-domos and other servants, as well as with several old family friends and companions, he inspected the grounds of the two mansions, and drew plans of the palatial buildings (for the accommodation of the Imperial consort and her escort) on her visit to her parents; deliberating at the same time, on the subject of the works and workmen.
From this day the masons and workmen of every trade were collected to the full number; and the articles of gold, silver, copper, and pewter, as well as the earth, timber, tiles, and bricks, were brought over, and carried in, in incessant supplies. In the first place, orders were issued to the workmen to demolish the wall and towers of the garden of Concentrated Fragrance, and extend a passage to connect in a straight line with the large court in the East of the Jung mansion; for the whole extent of servants' quarters on the Eastern side of the Jung mansion had previously been pulled down.
The two residences of Ning and Jung were, in these days, it is true, divided by a small street, which served as a boundary line, and there was no communication between them, but this narrow passage was also private property, and not in any way a government street, so that they could easily be connected, and as in the garden of Concentrated Fragrance, there was already a stream of running water, which had been introduced through the corner of the Northern wall, there was no further need now of going to the trouble of bringing in another. Although the rockeries and trees were not sufficient, the place where Chia She lived, was an old garden of the Jung mansion, so that the bamboos, trees, and rockeries in that compound, as well as the arbours, railings and other such things could all be very well removed to the front; and by these means, these two grounds, situated as they were besides so very near to each other, could, by being thrown into one, conduce to the saving of considerable capital and labour; for, in spite of some deficiency, what had to be supplied did not amount to much. And it devolved entirely upon a certain old Hu, a man of note, styled Shan Tzu-yeh, to deliberate upon one thing after another, and to initiate its construction.
Chia Cheng was not up to these ordinary matters, so that it fell to Chia She, Chia Chen, Chia Lien, Lai Ta, Lai Sheng, Lin Chih-hsiao, Wu Hsin-teng, Chan Kuang, Ch'eng Jih-hsing and several others to allot the sites, to set things in order, (and to look after) the heaping up of rockeries, the digging of ponds, the construction of two-storied buildings, the erection of halls, the plantation of bamboos and the cultivation of flowers, everything connected with the improvement of the scenery devolving, on the other hand, upon Shan Tzu-yeh to make provision for, and after leaving Court, he would devote such leisure moments as he had to merely going everywhere to give a look at the most important spots, and to consult with Chia She and the others; after which he troubled his mind no more with anything. And as Chia She did nothing else than stay at home and lie off, whenever any matter turned up, trifling though it may have been as a grain of mustard seed or a bean, Chia Chen and his associates had either to go and report it in person or to write a memorandum of it. Or if he had anything to say, he sent for Chia Lien, Lai Ta and others to come and receive his instructions. Chia Jung had the sole direction of the manufacture of the articles in gold and silver; and as for Chia Se, he had already set out on his journey to Ku Su. Chia Chen, Lai Ta and the rest had also to call out the roll with the names of the workmen, to superintend the works and other duties relative thereto, which could not be recorded by one pen alone; sufficient to say that a great bustle and stir prevailed, but to this subject we shall not refer for a time, but allude to Pao-yue.
As of late there were in the household concerns of this magnitude to attend to, Chia Cheng did not come to examine him in his lessons, so that he was, of course, in high spirits, but, as unfortunately Ch'in Chung's complaint became, day by day, more serious, he was at the same time really so very distressed at heart on his account, that enjoyment was for him out of the question.
On this day, he got up as soon as it was dawn, and having just combed his hair and washed his face and hands, he was bent upon going to ask dowager lady Chia to allow him to pay a visit to Ch'in Chung, when he suddenly espied Ming Yen peep round the curtain-wall at the second gate, and then withdraw his head. Pao-yue promptly walked out and inquired what he was up to.
"Mr. Ch'in Chung," observed Ming Yen, "is not well at all."
Pao-yue at these words was quite taken aback. "It was only yesterday," he hastily added, "that I saw him, and he was still bright and cheery; and how is it that he's anything but well now?"
"I myself can't explain," replied Ming Yen; "but just a few minutes ago an old man belonging to his family came over with the express purpose of giving me the tidings."
Upon hearing this news, Pao-yue there and then turned round and told dowager lady Chia; and the old lady issued directions to depute some trustworthy persons to accompany him. "Let him go," (she said), "and satisfy his feelings towards his fellow-scholar; but as soon as he has done, he must come back; and don't let him tarry too long."
Pao-yue with hurried step left the room and came and changed his clothes. But as on his arrival outside, the carriage had not as yet been got ready, he fell into such a state of excitement, that he went round and round all over the hall in quite an erratic manner. In a short while, after pressure had been brought to bear, the carriage arrived, and speedily mounting the vehicle, he drove up to the door of Ch'in Chung's house, followed by Li Kuei, Ming Yen and the other servants. Everything was quiet. Not a soul was about. Like a hive of bees they flocked into the house, to the astonishment of two distant aunts, and of several male cousins of Ch'in Chung, all of whom had no time to effect their retreat.
Ch'in Chung had, by this time, had two or three fainting fits, and had already long ago been changed his mat. As soon as Pao-yue realised the situation, he felt unable to repress himself from bursting forth aloud. Li Kuei promptly reasoned with him. "You shouldn't go on in this way," he urged, "you shouldn't. It's because Mr. Ch'in is so weak that lying flat on the stove-couch naturally made his bones feel uncomfortable; and that's why he has temporarily been removed down here to ease him a little. But if you, sir, go on in this way, will you not, instead of doing him any good, aggravate his illness?"
At these words, Pao-yue accordingly restrained himself, and held his tongue; and drawing near, he gazed at Ch'in Chung's face, which was as white as wax, while with closed eyes, he gasped for breath, rolling about on his pillow.
"Brother Ching," speedily exclaimed Pao-yue, "Pao-yue is here!" But though he shouted out two or three consecutive times, Ch'in Chung did not heed him.
"Pao-yue has come!" Pao-yue went on again to cry. But Ch'in Chung's spirit had already departed from his body, leaving behind only a faint breath of superfluous air in his lungs.
He had just caught sight of a number of recording devils, holding a warrant and carrying chains, coming to seize him, but Ch'in Chung's soul would on no account go along with them; and remembering how that there was in his home no one to assume the direction of domestic affairs, and feeling concerned that Chih Neng had as yet no home, he consequently used hundreds of arguments in his entreaties to the recording devils; but alas! these devils would, none of them, show him any favour. On the contrary, they heaped invectives upon Ch'in Chung.
"You're fortunate enough to be a man of letters," they insinuated, "and don't you know the common saying that: 'if the Prince of Hell call upon you to die at the third watch, who can presume to retain you, a human being, up to the fifth watch?' In our abode, in the unseen, high as well as low, have all alike a face made of iron, and heed not selfish motives; unlike the mortal world, where favouritism and partiality prevail. There exist therefore many difficulties in the way (to our yielding to your wishes)."
While this fuss was going on, Ch'in Chung's spirit suddenly grasped the four words, "Pao-yue has come," and without loss of time, it went on again to make further urgent appeals. "Gentlemen, spiritual deputies," it exclaimed; "show me a little mercy and allow me to return to make just one remark to an intimate friend of mine, and I'll be back again."
"What intimate friend is this again?" the devils observed with one voice.
"I'm not deceiving you, gentlemen," rejoined Ch'in Chung; "it's the grandson of the duke of Jung Kuo, whose infant name is Pao-yue."
The Decider of life was, at first, upon hearing these words, so seized with dismay that he vehemently abused the devils sent on the errand.
"I told you," he shouted, "to let him go back for a turn; but you would by no means comply with my words! and now do you wait until he has summoned a man of glorious fortune and prosperous standing to at last desist?"
When the company of devils perceived the manner of the Decider of life, they were all likewise so seized with consternation that they bustled with hand and feet; while with hearts also full of resentment: "You, sir," they replied, "were at one time such a terror, formidable as lightning; and are you not forsooth able to listen with equanimity to the two sounds of 'Pao-yue?' our humble idea is that mortal as he is, and immortal as we are, it wouldn't be to our credit if we feared him!"
But whether Ch'in Chung, after all, died or survived, the next chapter will explain.
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【选集】紅樓一春夢 |
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