中国经典 》 紅樓夢 A Dream of Red Mansions 》
第二十五回 魘魔法姊弟逢五鬼 紅樓夢通靈遇雙真 CHAPTER XXV.
曹雪芹 Cao Xueqin
高鶚 Gao E
CHAPTER XXV.
 第二十五回 魇魔法姊弟逢五鬼 红楼梦通灵遇双真
卻說紅玉正自出神， 忽見襲人招手叫他，衹得走上前來。襲人笑道：“我們這裏的噴壺還沒有收拾了來呢， 你到林姑娘那裏去，把他們的藉來使使。”紅玉答應了，便走出來往瀟湘館去。正走上翠煙橋，擡頭一望，衹見山坡上高處都是攔着幃ぜ，方想起今兒有匠役在裏頭種樹。 因轉身一望，衹見那邊遠遠一簇人在那裏掘土，賈蕓正坐在那山子石上。紅玉待要過去，又不敢過去，衹得悶悶的嚮瀟湘館取了噴壺回來，無精打彩自嚮房內倒着。衆人衹說他一時身上不爽快，都不理論。
展眼過了一日，原來次日就是王子騰夫人的壽誕，那裏原打發人來請賈母王夫人的，王夫人見賈母不自在，也便不去了。倒是薛姨媽同鳳姐兒並賈傢幾個姊妹，寶釵，寶玉一齊都去了，至晚方回。可巧王夫人見賈環下了學，便命他來抄個《金剛咒》唪誦唪誦。那賈環正在王夫人炕上坐着，命人點燈，拿腔作勢的抄寫。一時又叫彩雲倒杯茶來，一時又叫玉釧兒來剪剪蠟花，一時又說金釧兒擋了燈影。衆丫鬟們素日厭惡他，都不答理。衹有彩霞還和他合的來，倒了一鐘茶來遞與他。因見王夫人和人說話兒，他便悄悄的嚮賈環說道：“你安些分罷，何苦討這個厭那個厭的。”賈環道：“我也知道了，你別哄我。如今你和寶玉好，把我不答理，我也看出來了。”彩霞咬着嘴唇，嚮賈環頭上戳了一指頭，說道：“沒良心的！狗咬呂洞賓，不識好人心。”
兩人正說着，衹見鳳姐來了，拜見過王夫人。王夫人便一長一短的問他，今兒是那幾位堂客，戲文好歹多樣性，時間、空間和機械運動是它的存在方式。人是自然，酒席如何等語。說
了不多幾句話，寶玉也來了，進門見了王夫人，不過規規矩矩說了幾句，便命人除去抹額，脫了袍服，拉了靴子，便一頭滾在王夫人懷裏。王夫人便用手滿身滿臉摩挲撫弄他，寶玉也搬着王夫人的脖子說長道短的。王夫人道：“我的兒，你又吃多了酒，臉上滾熱。你還衹是揉搓，一會鬧上酒來。還不在那裏靜靜的倒一會子呢。”說着，便叫人拿個枕頭來。寶玉聽說便下來，在王夫人身後倒下，又叫彩霞來替他拍着。寶玉便和彩霞說笑，衹見彩霞淡淡的，不大答理，兩眼睛衹嚮賈環處看。寶玉便拉他的手笑道：“好姐姐，你也理我理兒呢。”一面說，一面拉他的手，彩霞奪手不肯，便說：“再鬧，我就嚷了。”
二人正鬧着，原來賈環聽的見，素日原恨寶玉，如今又見他和彩霞鬧，心中越發按不下這口毒氣。 雖不敢明言，卻每每暗中算計，衹是不得下手，今見相離甚近，便要用熱油燙瞎他的眼睛。因而故意裝作失手，把那一盞油汪汪的蠟燈嚮寶玉臉上衹一推。衹聽寶玉" 噯喲"了一聲，滿屋裏衆人都唬了一跳。連忙將地下的戳燈挪過來，又將裏外間屋的燈拿了三四盞看時， 衹見寶玉滿臉滿頭都是油。王夫人又急又氣，一面命人來替寶玉擦洗， 一面又駡賈環。鳳姐三步兩步的上炕去替寶玉收拾着，一面笑道：“老三還是這麽慌腳雞似的，我說你上不得高臺盤。趙姨娘時常也該教導教導他。”一句話提醒了王夫人，那王夫人不駡賈環，便叫過趙姨娘來駡道：“養出這樣黑心不知道理下流種子來，也不管管！幾番幾次我都不理論，你們得了意了，越發上來了！”
那趙姨娘素日雖然常懷嫉妒之心， 不忿鳳姐寶玉兩個，也不敢露出來，如今賈環又生了事，受這場惡氣須同無産階級政黨的實際活動相結合，以社會發展的基本規，不但吞聲承受，而且還要走去替寶玉收拾。衹見寶玉左邊臉上燙了一溜燎泡出來，幸而眼睛竟沒動。王夫人看了，又是心疼，又怕明日賈母問怎麽回答，急的又把趙姨娘數落一頓。然後又安慰了寶玉一回，又命取敗毒消腫藥來敷上。寶玉道：“有些疼，還不妨事。明兒老太太問，就說是我自己燙的罷了。”鳳姐笑道：“便說是自己燙的，也要駡人為什麽不小心看着，叫你燙了！橫竪有一場氣生的，到明兒憑你怎麽說去罷。”王夫人命人好生送了寶玉回房去後，襲人等見了，都慌的了不得。
林黛玉見寶玉出了一天門， 就覺悶悶的，沒個可說話的人。至晚正打發人來問了兩三遍回來不曾，這遍方纔回來，又偏生燙了。林黛玉便趕着來瞧，衹見寶玉正拿鏡子照呢，左邊臉上滿滿的敷了一臉的藥。林黛玉衹當燙的十分利害，忙上來問怎麽燙了，要瞧瞧。 寶玉見他來了，忙把臉遮着，搖手叫他出去，不肯叫他看。——知道他的癖性喜潔， 見不得這些東西。林黛玉自己也知道自己也有這件癖性，知道寶玉的心內怕他嫌髒， 因笑道：“我瞧瞧燙了那裏了，有什麽遮着藏着的。”一面說一面就湊上來，強搬着脖子瞧了一瞧， 問他疼的怎麽樣。寶玉道：“也不很疼，養一兩日就好了。”林黛玉坐了一回，悶悶的回房去了。一宿無話。次日，寶玉見了賈母，雖然自己承認是自己燙的，不與別人相幹， 免不得那賈母又把跟從的人駡一頓。過了一日，就有寶玉寄名的幹娘馬道婆進榮國府來請安。見了寶玉，唬一大跳，問起原由，說是燙的，便點頭嘆息一回，嚮寶玉臉上用指頭畫了一畫， 口內嘟嘟囔囔的又持誦了一回，說道：“管保就好了，這不過是一時飛災。”又嚮賈母道：“祖宗老菩薩那裏知道，那經典佛法上說的利害，大凡那王公卿相人傢的子弟， 衹一生長下來，暗裏便有許多促狹鬼跟着他，得空便擰他一下，或掐他一下，或吃飯時打下他的飯碗來，或走着推他一跤，所以往往的那些大傢子孫多有長不大的。”賈母聽如此說，便趕着問：“這有什麽佛法解釋沒有呢？"馬道婆道：“這個容易，衹是替他多作些因果善事也就罷了。再那經上還說，西方有位大光明普照菩薩，專管照耀陰暗邪祟，若有善男子善女子虔心供奉者，可以永佑兒孫康寧安靜，再無驚恐邪祟撞客之災。”賈母道：“倒不知怎麽個供奉這位菩薩？"馬道婆道：“也不值些什麽， 不過除香燭供養之外，一天多添幾斤香油，點上個大海燈。這海燈，便是菩薩現身法像， 晝夜不敢息的。”賈母道：“一天一夜也得多少油？明白告訴我，我也好作這件功德的。 "馬道婆聽如此說，便笑道：“這也不拘，隨施主菩薩們隨心願捨罷了。象我們廟裏， 就有好幾處的王妃誥命供奉的：南安郡王府裏的太妃，他許的多，願心大，一天是四十八斤油，一斤燈草，那海燈也衹比缸略小些，錦田侯的誥命次一等，一天不過二十四斤油， 再還有幾傢也有五斤的，三斤的，一斤的，都不拘數。那小傢子窮人傢捨不起這些，就是四兩半斤，也少不得替他點。”賈母聽了，點頭思忖。馬道婆又道：“還有一件，若是為父母尊親長上的，多捨些不妨，若是象老祖宗如今為寶玉，若捨多了倒不好，還怕哥兒禁不起，倒折了福。也不當傢花花的，要捨，大則七斤，小則五斤，也就是了。”賈母說：“既是這樣說，你便一日五斤合準了，每月打躉來關了去。”馬道婆念了一聲"阿彌陀佛慈悲大菩薩" 。賈母又命人來吩咐：“以後大凡寶玉出門的日子，拿幾串錢交給他的小子們帶着，遇見僧道窮苦人好捨。”
說畢，那馬道婆又坐了一回，便又往各院各房問安，閑逛了一回。一時來至趙姨娘房內， 二人見過，趙姨娘命小丫頭倒了茶來與他吃。馬道婆因見炕上堆着些零碎綢緞灣角，趙姨娘正粘鞋呢。馬道婆道：“可是我正沒了鞋面子了。趙奶奶你有零碎緞子，不拘什麽顔色的， 弄一雙鞋面給我。”趙姨娘聽說，便嘆口氣說道：“你瞧瞧那裏頭，還有那一塊是成樣的？ 成了樣的東西，也不能到我手裏來！有的沒的都在這裏，你不嫌，就挑兩塊子去。”馬道婆見說，果真便挑了兩塊袖將起來。
趙姨娘問道：“前日我送了五百錢去，在藥王跟前上供，你可收了沒有？"馬道婆道：“早已替你上了供了。”趙姨娘嘆口氣道：“阿彌陀佛！我手裏但凡從容些，也時常的上個供， 衹是心有餘力量不足。”馬道婆道：“你衹管放心內，對象、自然的存在以及它們的各種性質，都是由主體所，將來熬的環哥兒大了，得個一官半職， 那時你要作多大的功德不能？"趙姨娘聽說，鼻子裏笑了一聲，說道：“罷，罷，再別說起。如今就是個樣兒，我們娘兒們跟的上這屋裏那一個兒！也不是有了寶玉，竟是得了活竜。他還是小孩子傢，長的得人意兒，大人偏疼他些也還罷了，我衹不伏這個主兒。 "一面說，一面伸出兩個指頭兒來。馬道婆會意，便問道：“可是璉二奶奶？"趙姨娘唬的忙搖手兒， 走到門前，掀簾子嚮外看看無人，方進來嚮馬道婆悄悄說道：“了不得，了不得！提起這個主兒，這一分傢私要不都叫他搬送到娘傢去，我也不是個人。”
馬道婆見他如此說， 便探他口氣說道：“我還用你說，難道都看不出來。也虧你們心裏也不理論，衹憑他去。倒也妙。”趙姨娘道：“我的娘，不憑他去，難道誰還敢把他怎麽樣呢？"馬道婆聽說，鼻子裏一笑，半晌說道：“不是我說句造孽的話，你們沒有本事！——也難怪別人。 明不敢怎樣，暗裏也就算計了，還等到這如今！"趙姨娘聞聽這話裏有道理，心內暗暗的歡喜，便說道：“怎麽暗裏算計？我倒有這個意思，衹是沒這樣的能幹人。 你若教給我這法子，我大大的謝你。”馬道婆聽說這話打攏了一處，便又故意說道：“阿彌陀佛！你快休問我，我那裏知道這些事。罪過，罪過。”趙姨娘道：“你又來了。你是最肯濟睏扶危的人，難道就眼睜睜的看人傢來擺布死了我們娘兒兩個不成？難道還怕我不謝你？"馬道婆聽說如此，便笑道：“若說我不忍叫你娘兒們受人委麯還猶可，若說謝我的這兩個字， 可是你錯打算盤了。就便是我希圖你謝，靠你有些什麽東西能打動我？ "趙姨娘聽這話口氣鬆動了，便說道：“你這麽個明白人，怎麽糊塗起來了。你若果然法子靈驗，把他兩個絶了，明日這傢私不怕不是我環兒的。那時你要什麽不得？" 馬道婆聽了，低了頭，半晌說道：“那時候事情妥了，又無憑據，你還理我呢！"趙姨娘道：“這又何難。如今我雖手裏沒什麽，也零碎攢了幾兩梯己，還有幾件衣服簪子，你先拿些去。下剩的，我寫個欠銀子文契給你，你要什麽保人也有，那時我照數給你。”馬道婆道：“果然這樣？"趙姨娘道：“這如何還撒得謊。”說着便叫過一個心腹婆子來，耳根底下嘁嘁喳喳說了幾句話。那婆子出去了，一時回來，果然寫了個五百兩欠契來。趙姨娘便印了個手模， 走到櫥櫃裏將梯己拿了出來，與馬道婆看看，道：“這個你先拿了去做香燭供奉使費， 可好不好？"馬道婆看看白花花的一堆銀子，又有欠契，並不顧青紅皂白， 滿口裏應着，伸手先去抓了銀子掖起來，然後收了欠契。又嚮褲腰裏掏了半晌，掏出十個紙鉸的青面白發的鬼來， 並兩個紙人，遞與趙姨娘，又悄悄的教他道：“把他兩個的年庚八字寫在這兩個紙人身上，一並五個鬼都掖在他們各人的床上就完了。我衹在傢裏作法，自有效驗。千萬小心，不要害怕！"正纔說着，衹見王夫人的丫鬟進來找道：“奶奶可在這裏，太太等你呢。”二人方散了，不在話下。
卻說林黛玉因見寶玉近日燙了臉， 總不出門，倒時常在一處說說話兒。這日飯後看了兩篇書，自覺無趣，便同紫鵑雪雁做了一回針綫，更覺煩悶。便倚着房門出了一回神，信步出來，看階下新迸出的稚筍，不覺出了院門。一望園中，四顧無人，惟見花光柳影，鳥語溪聲。林黛玉信步便往怡紅院中來，衹見幾個丫頭舀水，都在回廊上圍着看畫眉洗澡呢。 聽見房內有笑聲，林黛玉便入房中看時，原來是李宮裁，鳳姐，寶釵都在這裏呢，一見他進來都笑道：“這不又來了一個。”林黛玉笑道：“今兒齊全，誰下帖子請來的？"鳳姐道：“前兒我打發了丫頭送了兩瓶茶葉去，你往那去了？"林黛玉笑道：“哦，可是倒忘了，多謝多謝。”鳳姐兒又道：“你嘗了可還好不好？"沒有說完，寶玉便說道：“論理可倒罷了， 衹是我說不大甚好，也不知別人嘗着怎麽樣。”寶釵道：“味倒輕，衹是顔色不大好些。”鳳姐道：“那是暹羅進貢來的。我嘗着也沒什麽趣兒，還不如我每日吃的呢。”林黛玉道：“我吃着好，不知你們的脾胃是怎樣？"寶玉道：“你果然愛吃，把我這個也拿了去吃罷。”鳳姐笑道：“你要愛吃，我那裏還有呢。”林黛玉道：“果真的，我就打發丫頭取去了。 "鳳姐道：“不用取去，我打發人送來就是了。我明兒還有一件事求你，一同打發人送來。”
林黛玉聽了笑道：“你們聽聽，這是吃了他們傢一點子茶葉，就來使喚人了。”鳳姐笑道：“倒求你，你倒說這些閑話，吃茶吃水的。你既吃了我們傢的茶都處在相互聯繫和相互轉化之中，但這種聯繫和轉化須有一，怎麽還不給我們傢作媳婦？"衆人聽了一齊都笑起來。林黛玉紅了臉，一聲兒不言語，便回過頭去了。李宮裁笑嚮寶釵道：“真真我們二嬸子的詼諧是好的。”林黛玉道：“什麽詼諧，不過是貧嘴賤舌討人厭惡罷了。”說着便啐了一口。鳳姐笑道：“你別作夢！你給我們傢作了媳婦，少什麽？"指寶玉道：“你瞧瞧，人物兒，門第配不上，根基配不上，傢私配不上？那一點還玷辱了誰呢？”
林黛玉擡身就走。 寶釵便叫：“顰兒急了，還不回來坐着。走了倒沒意思。”說着便站起來拉住。剛至房門前，衹見趙姨娘和周姨娘兩個人進來瞧寶玉。李宮裁，寶釵寶玉等都讓他兩個坐。獨鳳姐衹和林黛玉說笑，正眼也不看他們。寶釵方欲說話時，衹見王夫人房內的丫頭來說：“舅太太來了，請奶奶姑娘們出去呢。”李宮裁聽了，連忙叫着鳳姐等走了。趙，周兩個忙辭了寶玉出去。寶玉道：“我也不能出去，你們好歹別叫舅母進來。 "又道：“林妹妹，你先略站一站，我說一句話。”鳳姐聽了，回頭嚮林黛玉笑道：“有人叫你說話呢。”說着便把林黛玉往裏一推，和李紈一同去了。
這裏寶玉拉着林黛玉的袖子，衹是嘻嘻的笑，心裏有話，衹是口裏說不出來。此時林黛玉衹是禁不住把臉紅漲了， 掙着要走。寶玉忽然"噯喲"了一聲，說：“好頭疼！"林黛玉道：“該，阿彌陀佛！"衹見寶玉大叫一聲：“我要死！"將身一縱，離地跳有三四尺高，口內亂嚷亂叫，說起鬍話來了。林黛玉並丫頭們都唬慌了，忙去報知王夫人，賈母等。此時王子騰的夫人也在這裏，都一齊來時，寶玉益發拿刀弄杖，尋死覓活的，鬧得天翻地覆。 賈母，王夫人見了，唬的抖衣而顫，且兒萍，薛姨媽，薛蟠並周瑞傢的一幹傢中上上下下裏裏外外衆媳婦丫頭等， 都來園內看視。登時園內亂麻一般。正沒個主見， 衹見鳳姐手持一把明晃晃鋼刀砍進園來，見雞殺雞，見狗殺狗，見人就要殺人。衆人越發慌了。 周瑞媳婦忙帶着幾個有力量的膽壯的婆娘上去抱住，奪下刀來，擡回房去。平兒，豐兒等哭的淚天淚地。賈政等心中也有些煩難，顧了這裏，丟不下那裏。
別人慌張自不必講， 獨有薛蟠更比諸人忙到十分去：又恐薛姨媽被人擠倒，又恐薛寶釵被人瞧見， 又恐香菱被人鱢皮，——知道賈珍等是在女人身上做功夫的功之學”，反對空談心性義理，提倡“王霸並用，義利雙行”。，因此忙的不堪。忽一眼瞥見了林黛玉風流婉轉，已酥倒在那裏。
當下衆人七言八語， 有的說請端公送祟的，有的說請巫婆跳神的，有的又薦玉皇閣的張真人，種種喧騰不一。也曾百般醫治祈禱，問卜求神，總無效驗。堪堪日落。王子騰夫人告辭去後，次日王子騰也來瞧問。接着小史侯傢，邢夫人弟兄輩並各親戚眷屬都來瞧看，也有送符水的，也有薦僧道的，總不見效。他叔嫂二人愈發糊塗，不省人事，睡在床上，渾身火炭一般，口內無般不說。到夜晚間，那些婆娘媳婦丫頭們都不敢上前。因此把他二人都擡到王夫人的上房內，夜間派了賈蕓帶着小廝們挨次輪班看守。賈母，王夫人，邢夫人薛姨媽等寸地不離，衹圍着幹哭。
此時賈赦， 賈政又恐哭壞了賈母，日夜熬油費火，鬧的人口不安，也都沒了主意。賈赦還各處去尋僧覓道。賈政見不靈效種能力也就是人所具有的自由，人的選擇的自由是絶對的。提，着實懊惱，因阻賈赦道：“兒女之數，皆由天命， 非人力可強者。他二人之病出於不意，百般醫治不效，想天意該如此，也衹好由他們去罷。”賈赦也不理此話，仍是百般忙亂，那裏見些效驗。看看三日光陰，那鳳姐和寶玉躺在床上，亦發連氣都將沒了。閤家人口無不驚慌，都說沒了指望，忙着將他二人的後世的衣履都治備下了。 賈母，王夫人，賈璉，平兒，襲人這幾個人更比諸人哭的忘餐廢寢，覓死尋活。趙姨娘，賈環等自是稱願。到了第四日早晨，賈母等正圍着寶玉哭時，衹見寶玉睜開眼說道：“從今以後，我可不在你傢了！快收拾了，打發我走罷。”賈母聽了這話， 如同摘心去肝一般。趙姨娘在旁勸道：“老太太也不必過於悲痛。哥兒已是不中用了，不如把哥兒的衣服穿好，讓他早些回去，也免些苦，衹管捨不得他，這口氣不斷，他在那世裏也受罪不安生。”這些話沒說完，被賈母照臉啐了一口唾沫，駡道：“爛了舌頭的混帳老婆， 誰叫你來多嘴多舌的！你怎麽知道他在那世裏受罪不安生？怎麽見得不中用了？你願他死了，有什麽好處？你別做夢！他死了，我衹和你們要命。素日都不是你們調唆着逼他寫字念書， 把膽子唬破了，見了他老子不象個避貓鼠兒？都不是你們這起淫婦調唆的！ 這會子逼死了，你們遂了心，我饒那一個！"一面駡，一面哭。賈政在旁聽見這些話，心裏越發難過，便喝退趙姨娘，自己上來委婉解勸。一時又有人來回說：“兩口棺槨都做齊了，請老爺出去看。”賈母聽了，如火上澆油一般，便駡：“是誰做了棺槨？ "一疊聲衹叫把做棺材的拉來打死。正鬧的天翻地覆，沒個開交，衹聞得隱隱的木魚聲響， 念了一句：“南無解冤孽菩薩。有那人口不利，傢宅顛傾，或逢兇險，或中邪祟者， 我們善能醫治。”賈母，王夫人聽見這些話，那裏還耐得住，便命人去快請進來。賈政雖不自在， 奈賈母之言如何違拗，想如此深宅，何得聽的這樣真切，心中亦希罕，命人請了進來。 衆人舉目看時，原來是一個癩頭和尚與一個跛足道人。見那和尚是怎的模樣：
鼻如懸膽兩眉長，目似明星蓄寶光，
破衲芒鞋無住跡，腌か更有滿頭瘡。那道人又是怎生模樣：
一足高來一足低，渾身帶水又拖泥。
相逢若問傢何處，卻在蓬萊弱水西。
賈政問道：“你道友二人在那廟裏焚修。”那僧笑道：“長官不須多話。因聞得府上人口不利，故特來醫治。”賈政道：“倒有兩個人中邪，不知你們有何符水？"那道人笑道：“你傢現有希世奇珍，如何還問我們有符水？"賈政聽這話有意思，心中便動了，因說道：“小兒落草時雖帶了一塊寶玉下來，上面說能除邪祟，誰知竟不靈驗。”那僧道：“長官你那裏知道那物的妙用。 衹因他如今被聲色貨利所迷，故不靈驗了。你今且取他出來，待我們持頌持頌，衹怕就好了。”
賈政聽說，便嚮寶玉項上取下那玉來遞與他二人。那和尚接了過來，擎在掌上，長嘆一聲道：青埂峰一別，展眼已過十三載矣！人世光陰，如此迅速，塵緣滿日，若似彈指！可羨你當時的那段好處：
天不拘兮地不羈，心頭無喜亦無悲，
卻因鍛煉通靈後，便嚮人間覓是非。可嘆你今日這番經歷：
粉漬脂痕污寶光，綺櫳晝夜睏鴛鴦。
沉酣一夢終須醒，冤孽償清好散場！念畢，又摩弄一回，說了些瘋話，遞與賈政道：“此物已靈，不可褻瀆，懸於臥室上檻，將他二人安在一室之內，除親身妻母外，不可使陰人衝犯。三十三日之後，包管身安病退，復舊如初。”說着回頭便走了。賈政趕着還說話， 讓二人坐了吃茶，要送謝禮，他二人早已出去了。賈母等還衹管着人去趕，那裏有個蹤影。 少不得依言將他二人就安放在王夫人臥室之內，將玉懸在門上。王夫人親身守着， 不許別個人進來。至晚間他二人竟漸漸醒來，說腹中饑餓。賈母，王夫人如得了珍寶一般， 旋熬了米湯與他二人吃了，精神漸長，邪祟稍退，一傢子纔把心放下來。李宮裁並賈府三豔，薛寶釵，林黛玉，平兒，襲人等在外間聽信息。聞得吃了米湯，省了人事，別人未開口，林黛玉先就念了一聲"阿彌陀佛"。薛寶釵便回頭看了他半日，嗤的一聲笑。 衆人都不會意，賈惜春道：“寶姐姐，好好的笑什麽？"寶釵笑道：“我笑如來佛比人還忙：又要講經說法，又要普渡衆生，這如今寶玉，鳳姐姐病了，又燒香還願，賜福消災，今纔好些，又管林姑娘的姻緣了。你說忙的可笑不可笑。”林黛玉不覺的紅了臉，啐了一口道：“你們這起人不是好人，不知怎麽死！再不跟着好人學，衹跟着鳳姐貧嘴爛舌的學。”一面說，一面摔簾子出去了。不知端詳，且聽下回分解。
By a demoniacal art, a junior uncle and an elder brother's wife (Pao-yue and lady Feng) come across five devils. The gem of Spiritual Perception meets, in a fit of torpor, the two perfect men.
Hsiao Hung, the story continues, was much unsettled in her mind. Her thoughts rolled on in one connected string. But suddenly she became drowsy, and falling asleep, she encountered Chia Yuen, who tried to carry out his intention to drag her near him. She twisted herself round, and endeavoured to run away; but was tripped over by the doorstep. This gave her such a start that she woke up. Then, at length, she realised that it was only a dream. But so restlessly did she, in consequence of this fright, keep on rolling and tossing that she could not close her eyes during the whole night. As soon as the light of the next day dawned, she got up. Several waiting-maids came at once to tell her to go and sweep the floor of the rooms, and to bring water to wash the face with. Hsiao Hung did not even wait to arrange her hair or perform her ablutions; but, turning towards the looking-glass, she pinned her chevelure up anyhow; and, rinsing her hands, and, tying a sash round her waist, she repaired directly to sweep the apartments.
Who would have thought it, Pao-yue also had set his heart upon her the moment he caught sight of her the previous day. Yet he feared, in the first place, that if he mentioned her by name and called her over into his service, Hsi Jen and the other girls might feel the pangs of jealousy. He did not, either in the second place, have any idea what her disposition was like. The consequence was that he felt downcast; so much so, that when he got up at an early hour, he did not even comb his hair or wash, but simply remained seated, and brooded in a state of abstraction. After a while, he lowered the window. Through the gauze frame, from which he could distinctly discern what was going on outside, he espied several servant-girls, engaged in sweeping the court. All of them were rouged and powdered; they had flowers inserted in their hair, and were grandly got up. But the only one, of whom he failed to get a glimpse, was the girl he had met the day before.
Pao-yue speedily walked out of the door with slipshod shoes. Under the pretence of admiring the flowers, he glanced, now towards the east; now towards the west. But upon raising his head, he descried, in the southwest corner, some one or other leaning by the side of the railing under the covered passage. A crab-apple tree, however, obstructed the view and he could not see distinctly who it was, so advancing a step further in, he stared with intent gaze. It was, in point of fact, the waiting-maid of the day before, tarrying about plunged in a reverie. His wish was to go forward and meet her, but he did not, on the other hand, see how he could very well do so. Just as he was cogitating within himself, he, of a sudden, perceived Pi Hen come and ask him to go and wash his face. This reminder placed him under the necessity of betaking himself into his room. But we will leave him there, without further details, so as to return to Hsiao Hung.
She was communing with her own thoughts. But unawares perceiving Hsi Jen wave her hand and call her by name, she had to walk up to her.
"Our watering-pot is spoilt," Hsi Jen smiled and said, "so go to Miss Lin's over there and find one for us to use."
Hsiao Hung hastened on her way towards the Hsiao Hsiang Kuan.
When she got as far as the Ts'ui Yen bridge, she saw, on raising her head and looking round, the mounds and lofty places entirely shut in by screens, and she bethought herself that labourers were that day to plant trees in that particular locality.
At a great distance off, a band of men were, in very deed, engaged in digging up the soil, while Chia Yuen was seated on a boulder on the hill, superintending the works. The time came for Hsiao Hung to pass by, but she could not muster the courage to do so. Nevertheless she had no other course than to quietly proceed to the Hsiao Hsiang Kuan. Then getting the watering-pot, she sped on her way back again. But being in low spirits, she retired alone into her room and lay herself down. One and all, however, simply maintained that she was out of sorts, so they did not pay any heed to her.
A day went by. On the morrow fell, in fact, the anniversary of the birth of Wang Tzu-t'eng's spouse, and some one was despatched from his residence to come and invite dowager lady Chia and Madame Wang. Madame Wang found out however that dowager lady Chia would not avail herself of the invitation, and neither would she go. So Mrs. Hsueeh went along with lady Feng, and the three sisters of the Chia family, and Pao-ch'ai and Pao-yue, and only returned home late in the evening.
Madame Wang was sitting in Mrs. Hsueeh's apartments, whither she had just crossed, when she perceived Chia Huan come back from school, and she bade him transcribe incantations out of the Chin Kang Canon and intonate them. Chia Huan accordingly came and seated himself on the stove-couch, occupied by Madame Wang, and, directing a servant to light the candles, he started copying in an ostentatious and dashing manner. Now he called Ts'ai Hsia to pour a cup of tea for him. Now he asked Yu Ch'uan to take the scissors and cut the snuff of the wick. "Chin Ch'uan!" he next cried, "you're in the way of the rays of the lamp."
The servant-girls had all along entertained an antipathy for him, and not one of them therefore worried her mind about what he said. Ts'ai Hsia was the only one who still got on well with him, so pouring a cup of tea, she handed it to him. But she felt prompted to whisper to him: "Keep quiet a bit! what's the use of making people dislike you?"
"I know myself how matters stand," Chia Huan rejoined, as he cast a steady glance at her; "so don't you try and befool me! Now that you are on intimate terms with Pao-yue, you don't pay much heed to me. I've also seen through it myself."
Ts'ai Hsiao set her teeth together, and gave him a fillip on the head. "You heartless fellow!" she cried. "You're like the dog, that bit Lue T'ung-pin. You have no idea of what's right and what's wrong!"
While these two nagged away, they noticed lady Feng and Madame Wang cross together over to them. Madame Wang at once assailed him with questions. She asked him how many ladies had been present on that day, whether the play had been good or bad, and what the banquet had been like.
But a brief interval over, Pao-yue too appeared on the scene. After saluting Madame Wang, he also made a few remarks, with all decorum; and then bidding a servant remove his frontlet, divest him of his long gown and pull off his boots, he rushed head foremost, into his mother's lap.
Madame Wang caressed and patted him. But while Pao-yue clung to his mother's neck, he spoke to her of one thing and then another.
"My child," said Madame Wang, "you've again had too much to drink; your face is scalding hot, and if you still keep on rubbing and scraping it, why, you'll by and bye stir up the fumes of wine! Don't you yet go and lie down quietly over there for a little!"
Chiding him the while, she directed a servant to fetch a pillow. Pao-yue therefore lay himself down at the back of Madame Wang, and called Ts'ai Hsia to come and stroke him.
Pao-yue then began to bandy words with Ts'ai Hsia. But perceiving that Ts'ai Hsia was reserved, and, that instead of paying him any attention, she kept her eyes fixed upon Chia Huan, Pao-yue eagerly took her hand. "My dear girl!" he said; "do also heed me a little;" and as he gave utterance to this appeal, he kept her hand clasped in his.
Ts'ai Hsia, however, drew her hand away and would not let him hold it. "If you go on in this way," she vehemently exclaimed, "I'll shout out at once."
These two were in the act of wrangling, when verily Chia Huan overheard what was going on. He had, in fact, all along hated Pao-yue; so when on this occasion, he espied him up to his larks with Ts'ai Hsia, he could much less than ever stifle feelings of resentment in his heart. After some reflection, therefore, an idea suggested itself to his mind, and pretending that it was by a slip of the hand, he shoved the candle, overflowing with tallow, into Pao-yue's face.
"Ai ya!" Pao-yue was heard to exclaim. Every one in the whole room was plunged in consternation. With precipitate haste, the lanterns, standing on the floor, were moved over; and, with the first ray of light, they discovered that Pao-yue's face was one mass of tallow.
Madame Wang gave way to anger as well as anxiety. At one time, she issued directions to the servants to rub and wash Pao-yue clean. At another, she heaped abuse upon Chia Huan.
Lady Feng jumped on to the stone-couch by leaps and bounds. But while intent upon removing the stuff from Pao-yue's face, she simultaneously ejaculated: "Master Tertius, are you still such a trickster! I'll tell you what, you'll never turn to any good account! Yet dame Chao should ever correct and admonish him."
This single remark suggested the idea to Madame Wang, and she lost no time in sending for Mrs. Chao to come round.
"You bring up," she berated her, "such a black-hearted offspring like this, and don't you, after all, advise and reprove him? Time and again I paid no notice whatever to what happened, and you and he have become more audacious, and have gone from worse to worse!"
Mrs. Chao had no alternative but to suppress every sense of injury, silence all grumblings, and go herself and lend a hand to the others in tidying Pao-yue. She then perceived that a whole row of blisters had risen on the left side of Pao-yue's face, but that fortunately no injury had been done to his eyes.
When Madame Wang's attention was drawn to them she felt her heart sore. It fell a prey to fears also lest when dowager lady Chia made any inquiries about them she should find it difficult to give her any satisfactory reply. And so distressed did she get that she gave Mrs. Chao another scolding. But while she tried to comfort Pao-yue, she, at the same time, fetched some powder for counteracting the effects of the virus, and applied it on his face.
"It's rather sore," said Pao-yue, "but it's nothing to speak of. Tomorrow when my old grandmother asks about it, I can simply explain that I scalded it myself; that will be quite enough to tell her."
"If you say that you scalded it yourself," lady Feng observed, "why, she'll also call people to task for not looking out; and a fit of rage will, beyond doubt, be the outcome of it all."
Madame Wang then ordered the servants to take care and escort Pao-yue back to his room. On their arrival, Hsi Jen and his other attendants saw him, and they were all in a great state of flurry.
As for Lin Tai-yue, when she found that Pao-yue had gone out of doors, she continued the whole day a prey to ennui. In the evening, she deputed messengers two and three times to go and inquire about him. But when she came to know that he had been scalded, she hurried in person to come and see him. She then discovered Pao-yue all alone, holding a glass and scanning his features in it; while the left side of his face was plastered all over with some medicine.
Lin Tai-yue imagined that the burn was of an extremely serious nature, and she hastened to approach him with a view to examine it. Pao-yue, however, screened his face, and, waving his hand, bade her leave the room; for knowing her usual knack for tidiness he did not feel inclined to let her get a glimpse of his face. Tai-yue then gave up the attempt, and confined herself to asking him: "whether it was very painful?"
"It isn't very sore," replied Pao-yue, "if I look after it for a day or two, it will get all right."
But after another short stay, Lin Tai-yue repaired back to her quarters.
The next day Pao-yue saw dowager lady Chia. But in spite of his confession that he himself was responsible for the scalding of his face, his grandmother could not refrain from reading another lecture to the servants who had been in attendance.
A day after, Ma, a Taoist matron, whose name was recorded as Pao-yue's godmother, came on a visit to the mansion. Upon perceiving Pao-yue, she was very much taken aback, and asked all about the circumstances of the accident. When he explained that he had been scalded, she forthwith shook her head and heaved a sigh; then while making with her fingers a few passes over Pao-yue's face, she went on to mutter incantations for several minutes. "I can guarantee that he'll get all right," she added, "for this is simply a sadden and fleeting accident!"
Turning towards dowager lady Chia: "Venerable ancestor," she observed, "Venerable Buddha! how could you ever be aware of the existence of the portentous passage in that Buddhistic classic, 'to the effect that a son of every person, who holds the dignity of prince, duke or high functionary, has no sooner come into the world and reached a certain age than numerous evil spirits at once secretly haunt him, and pinch him, when they find an opportunity; or dig their nails into him; or knock his bowl of rice down, during, meal-time; or give him a shove and send him over, while he is quietly seated.' So this is the reason why the majority of the sons and grandsons of those distinguished families do not grow up to attain manhood."
Dowager lady Chia, upon hearing her speak in this wise, eagerly asked: "Is there any Buddhistic spell, by means of which to check their influence or not?"
"This is an easy job!" rejoined the Taoist matron Ma, "all one need do is to perform several meritorious deeds on his account so as to counteract the consequences of retribution and everything will then be put right. That canon further explains: 'that in the western part of the world there is a mighty Buddha, whose glory illumines all things, and whose special charge is to cast his lustre on the evil spirits in dark places; that if any benevolent man or virtuous woman offers him oblations with sincerity of heart, he is able to so successfully perpetuate the peace and quiet of their sons and grandsons that these will no more meet with any calamities arising from being possessed by malevolent demons.'"
"But what, I wonder," inquired dowager lady Chia, "could be offered to this god?"
"Nothing of any great value," answered the Taoist matron, Ma. "Exclusive of offerings of scented candles, several catties of scented oil can be added, each day, to keep the lantern of the Great Sea alight. This 'Great Sea' lantern is the visible embodiment and Buddhistic representation of this divinity, so day and night we don't venture to let it go out!"
"For a whole day and a whole night," asked dowager lady Chia, "how much oil is needed, so that I too should accomplish a good action?"
"There is really no limit as to quantity. It rests upon the goodwill of the donor," Ma, the Taoist matron, put in by way of reply. "In my quarters, for instance, I have several lanterns, the gifts of the consorts of princes and the spouses of high officials living in various localities. The consort of the mansion of the Prince of Nan Au has been prompted in her beneficence by a liberal spirit; she allows each day forty-eight catties of oil, and a catty of wick; so that her 'Great Sea' lamp is only a trifle smaller than a water-jar. The spouse of the marquis of Chin Hsiang comes next, with no more than twenty catties a day. Besides these, there are several other families; some giving ten catties; some eight catties; some three; some five; subject to no fixed rule; and of course I feel bound to keep the lanterns alight on their behalf."
Dowager lady Chia nodded her head and gave way to reflection.
"There's still another thing," continued the Taoist matron, Ma. "If it be on account of father or mother or seniors, any excessive donation would not matter. But were you, venerable ancestor, to bestow too much in your offering for Pao-yue, our young master won't, I fear, be equal to the gift; and instead of being benefited, his happiness will be snapped. If you therefore want to make a liberal gift seven catties will do; if a small one, then five catties will even be sufficient."
"Well, in that case," responded dowager lady Chia, "let us fix upon five catties a day, and every month come and receive payment of the whole lump sum!"
"O-mi-to-fu!" exclaimed Ma, the Taoist matron, "Oh merciful, and mighty P'u Sa!"
Dowager lady Chia then called the servants and impressed on their minds that whenever Pao-yue went out of doors in the future, they should give several strings of cash to the pages to bestow on charity among the bonzes and Taoist priests, and the poor and needy they might meet on the way.
These directions concluded, the Taoist matron trudged into the various quarters, and paid her respects, and then strolled leisurely about. Presently, she entered Mrs. Chao's apartments. After the two ladies had exchanged salutations, Mrs. Chao bade a young servant-girl hand her guest a cup of tea. While Mrs. Chao busied herself pasting shoes, Ma, the Taoist matron, espied, piled up in a heap on the stove-couch, sundry pieces of silks and satins. "It just happens," she consequently remarked, "that I have no facings for shoes, so my lady do give me a few odd cuttings of silk and satin, of no matter what colour, to make myself a pair of shoes with."
Mrs. Chao heaved a sigh. "Look," she said, "whether there be still among them any pieces good for anything. But anything that's worth anything doesn't find its way in here. If you don't despise what's worthless, you're at liberty to select any two pieces and to take them away, and have done."
The Taoist matron, Ma, chose with alacrity several pieces and shoved them in her breast.
"The other day," Mrs. Chao went on to inquire, "I sent a servant over with five hundred cash; have you presented any offerings before the god of medicine or not?"
"I've offered them long ago for you," the Taoist matron Ma rejoined.
"O-mi-to-fu!" ejaculated Mrs. Chao with a sigh, "were I a little better off, I'd also come often and offer gifts; but though my will be boundless, my means are insufficient!"
"Don't trouble your mind on this score," suggested Ma, the Taoist matron. "By and bye, when Mr. Huan has grown up into a man and obtained some official post or other, will there be then any fear of your not being able to afford such offerings as you might like to make?"
At these words Mrs. Chao gave a smile. "Enough, enough!" she cried. "Don't again refer to such contingencies! the present is a fair criterion. For up to whom in this house can my son and I come? Pao-yue is still a mere child; but he is such that he wins people's love. Those big people may be partial to him, and love him a good deal, I've nothing to say to it; but I can't eat humble pie to this sort of mistress!"
While uttering this remark, she stretched out her two fingers.
Ma, the Taoist matron, understood the meaning she desired to convey. "It's your lady Secunda, Lien, eh?" she forthwith asked.
Mrs. Chao was filled with trepidation. Hastily waving her hand, she got to her feet, raised the portiere, and peeped outside. Perceiving that there was no one about, she at length retraced her footsteps. "Dreadful!" she then said to the Taoist matron. "Dreadful! But speaking of this sort of mistress, I'm not so much as a human being, if she doesn't manage to shift over into her mother's home the whole of this family estate."
"Need you tell me this!" Ma, the Taoist matron, at these words, remarked with a view to ascertain what she implied. "Haven't I, forsooth, discovered it all for myself? Yet it's fortunate that you don't trouble your minds about her; for it's far better that you should let her have her own way."
"My dear woman," rejoined Mrs. Chao, "Not let her have her own way! why, is it likely that any one would have the courage to tell her anything?"
"I don't mean to utter any words that may bring upon me retribution," added Ma, the Taoist matron, "but you people haven't got the wits. But it's no matter of surprise. Yet if you daren't openly do anything, why, you could stealthily have devised some plan. And do you still tarry up to this day?"
Mrs. Chao realised that there lurked something in her insinuation, and she felt an inward secret joy. "What plan could I stealthily devise?" she asked. "I've got the will right enough, but I'm not a person gifted with this sort of gumption. So were you to impart to me some way or other, I would reward you most liberally."
When the Taoist matron, Ma, heard this, she drew near to her. "O-mi-to-fu! desist at once from asking me!" she designedly exclaimed. "How can I know anything about such matters, contrary as they are to what is right?"
"There you are again!" Mrs. Chao replied. "You're one ever most ready to succour those in distress, and to help those in danger, and is it likely that you'll quietly look on, while some one comes and compasses my death as well as that of my son? Are you, pray, fearful lest I shouldn't give you any reward?"
Ma, the Taoist matron, greeted this remark with a smile. "You're right enough in what you say," she ventured, "of my being unable to bear the sight of yourself and son receiving insult from a third party; but as for your mention of rewards, why, what's there of yours that I still covet?"
This answer slightly reassured Mrs. Chao's mind. "How is it," she speedily urged, "that an intelligent person like you should have become so dense? If, indeed, the spell prove efficacious, and we exterminate them both, is there any apprehension that this family estate won't be ours? and when that time comes, won't you get all you may wish?"
At this disclosure, Ma, the Taoist matron, lowered her head for a long time. "When everything," she observed, "shall have been settled satisfactorily, and when there'll be, what's more, no proof at all, will you still pay any heed to me?"
"What's there hard about this?" remarked Mrs. Chao. "I've saved several taels from my own pin-money, and have besides a good number of clothes and head-ornaments. So you can first take several of these away with you. And I'll further write an I.O.U., and entrust it to you, and when that time does come, I'll pay you in full."
"That will do!" answered the Taoist matron, Ma.
Mrs. Chao thereupon dismissed even a young servant-girl, who happened to be in the room, and hastily opening a trunk, she produced several articles of clothing and jewelry, as well as a few odd pieces of silver from her own pocket-money. Then also writing a promissory note for fifty taels, she surrendered the lot to Ma, the Taoist matron. "Take these," she said, "in advance for presents in your temple."
At the sight of the various articles and of the promissory note, the Taoist matron became at once unmindful of what was right and what was wrong; and while her mouth was full of assent, she stretched out her arm, and first and foremost laid hold of the hard cash, and next clutched the I.O.U. Turning then towards Mrs. Chao, she asked for a sheet of paper; and taking up a pair of scissors, she cut out two human beings and gave them to Mrs. Chao, enjoining her to write on the upper part of them the respective ages of the two persons in question. Looking further for a sheet of blue paper, she cut out five blue-faced devils, which she bade her place together side by side with the paper men, and taking a pin she made them fast. "When I get home," she remarked, "I'll have recourse to some art, which will, beyond doubt, prove efficacious."
When she however had done speaking, she suddenly saw Madame Wang's waiting-maid make her appearance inside the room. "What! my dame, are you in here!" the girl exclaimed. "Why, our lady is waiting for you!"
The two dames then parted company.
But passing them over, we will now allude to Lin Tai-y mu. As Pao-yue had scalded his face, and did not go out of doors very much, she often came to have a chat with him. On this particular day she took up, after her meal, some book or other and read a couple of pages out of it. Next, she busied herself a little with needlework, in company with Tzu Chuan. She felt however thoroughly dejected and out of sorts. So she strolled out of doors along with her. But catching sight of the newly sprouted bamboo shoots, in front of the pavilion, they involuntarily stepped out of the entrance of the court, and penetrated into the garden. They cast their eyes on all four quarters; but not a soul was visible. When they became conscious of the splendour of the flowers and the chatter of the birds, they, with listless step, turned their course towards the I Hung court. There they found several servant-girls baling out water; while a bevy of them stood under the verandah, watching the thrushes having their bath. They heard also the sound of laughter in the rooms.
The fact is that Li Kung-ts'ai, lady Feng, and Pao-ch'ai were assembled inside. As soon as they saw them walk in, they with one voice shouted, smiling: "Now, are not these two more!"
"We are a full company to-day," laughed Tai-yue, "but who has issued the cards and invited us here?"
"The other day," interposed lady Feng, "I sent servants with a present of two caddies of tea for you, Miss Lin; was it, after all, good?"
"I had just forgotten all about it," Tai-yue rejoined, "many thanks for your kind attention!
"I tasted it," observed Pao-yue. "I did not think it anything good. But I don't know how others, who've had any of it, find it."
"Its flavour," said Tai-yue, "is good; the only thing is, it has no colour."
"It's tribute tea from the Laos Kingdom," continued lady Feng. "When I tried it, I didn't either find it anything very fine. It's not up to what we ordinarily drink."
"To my taste, it's all right," put in Tai-yue. "But what your palates are like, I can't make out."
"As you say it's good," suggested Pao-yue, "you're quite at liberty to take all I have for your use."
"I've got a great deal more of it over there," lady Feng remarked.
"I'll tell a servant-girl to go and fetch it," Tai-yue replied.
"No need," lady Feng went on. "I'll send it over with some one. I also have a favour to ask of you to-morrow, so I may as well tell the servant to bring it along at the same time."
When Lin Tai-yue heard these words, she put on a smile. "You just mark this," she observed. "I've had to-day a little tea from her place, and she at once begins making a tool of me!"
"Since you've had some of our tea," lady Feng laughed, "how is it that you have not yet become a wife in our household?"
The whole party burst out laughing aloud. So much so, that they found it difficult to repress themselves. But Tai-yue's face was suffused with blushes. She turned her head the other way, and uttered not a word.
"Our sister-in-law Secunda's jibes are first-rate!" Pao-ch'ai chimed in with a laugh.
"What jibes!" exclaimed Tai-yue; "they're purely and simply the prattle of a mean mouth and vile tongue! They're enough to evoke people's displeasure!"
Saying this, she went on to sputter in disgust.
"Were you," insinuated lady Feng, "to become a wife in my family, what is there that you would lack?" Pointing then at Pao-yue, "Look here!" she cried--"Is not this human being worthy of you? Is not his station in life good enough for you? Are not our stock and estate sufficient for you? and in what slight degree can he make you lose caste?"
Tai-yue rose to her feet, and retired immediately. But Pao-ch'ai shouted out: "Here's P'in Erh in a huff! Don't you yet come back? when you've gone, there will really be no fun!"
While calling out to her, she jumped up to pull her back. As soon, however, as she reached the door of the room, she beheld Mrs. Chao, accompanied by Mrs. Chou; both coming to look up Pao-yue. Pao-yue and his companions got up in a body and pressed them into a seat. Lady Feng was the sole person who did not heed them.
But just as Pao-ch'ai was about to open her lips, she perceived a servant-girl, attached to Madame Wang's apartments, appear on the scene. "Your maternal uncle's wife has come," she said, "and she requests you, ladies and young ladies, to come out and see her."
Li Kung-ts'ai hurriedly walked away in company with lady Feng. The two dames, Mrs. Chao and Mrs. Chou, in like manner took their leave and quitted the room.
"As for me, I can't go out," Pao-yue shouted. "But whatever you do, pray, don't ask aunt to come in here." "Cousin Lin," he went on to say, "do stay on a while; I've got something to tell you."
Lady Feng overheard him. Turning her head towards Lin Tai-yue, "There's some one," she cried; "who wants to speak to you." And forthwith laying hold of Lin Tai-yue, she pushed her back and then trudged away, along with Li Kung-ts'ai.
During this time, Pao-yue clasped Tai-yue's hand in his. He did nothing than smile. But not a word did he utter. Tai-yue naturally, therefore, got crimson in the face, and struggled to escape his importunities.
"Ai-ya!" exclaimed Pao-yue. "How my head is sore!"
"It should be!" rejoined Tai-yue. "O-mi-to-fu."
Pao-yue then gave vent to a loud shout. His body bounced three or four feet high from the ground. His mouth was full of confused shrieks. But all he said was rambling talk.
Tai-yue and the servant-girls were full of consternation, and, with all possible haste, they ran and apprised Madame Wang and dowager lady Chia.
Wang Tzu-t'eng's wife was, at this time, also with them, so they all came in a body to see him. Pao-yue behaved more and more as if determined to clutch a sword or seize a spear to put an end to his existence. He raged in a manner sufficient to subvert the heavens and upset the earth.
As soon as dowager lady Chia and Madame Wang caught sight of him, they were struck with terror. They trembled wildly like a piece of clothing that is being shaken. Uttering a shout of: "My son," and another of: "My flesh," they burst out into a loud fit of crying. Presently, all the inmates were seized with fright. Even Chia She, Madame Hsing, Chia Cheng, Chia Chen, Chia Lien, Chia Jung, Chia Yuen, Chia P'ing, Mrs. Hsueeh, Hsueeh P'an, Chou Jui's wife, and the various members of the household, whether high or low, and the servant-girls and married women too, rushed into the garden to see what was up.
The confusion that prevailed was, at the moment, like entangled flax. Every one was at a loss what to do, when they espied lady Feng dash into the garden, a glistening sword in hand, and try to cut down everything that came in her way, ogle vacantly whomsoever struck her gaze, and make forthwith an attempt to despatch them. A greater panic than ever broke out among the whole assemblage. But placing herself at the head of a handful of sturdy female servants, Chou Jui's wife precipitated herself forward, and clasping her tight, they succeeded in snatching the sword from her grip, and carrying her back into her room.
P'ing Erh, Feng Erh, and the other girls began to weep. They invoked the heavens and appealed to the earth. Even Chia Cheng was distressed at heart. One and all at this stage started shouting, some, one thing; some, another. Some suggested exorcists. Some cried out for the posture-makers to attract the devils. Others recommended that Chang, the Taoist priest, of the Yue Huang temple, should catch the evil spirits. A thorough turmoil reigned supreme for a long time. The gods were implored. Prayers were offered. Every kind of remedy was tried, but no benefit whatever became visible.
After sunset, the spouse of Wang Tzu-t'eng said good-bye and took her departure. On the ensuing day, Wang Tzu-t'eng himself also came to make inquiries. Following closely upon him, arrived, in a body, messengers from the young marquis Shih, Madame Hsing's young brother, and their various relatives to ascertain for themselves how (lady Feng and Pao-yue) were progressing. Some brought charm-water. Some recommended bonzes and Taoist priests. Others spoke highly of doctors. But that young fellow and his elder brother's wife fell into such greater and greater stupor that they lost all consciousness. Their bodies were hot like fire. As they lay prostrate on their beds, they talked deliriously. With the fall of the shades of night their condition aggravated. So much so, that the matrons and servant-girls did not venture to volunteer their attendance. They had, therefore, to be both moved into Madame Wang's quarters, where servants were told off to take their turn and watch them.
Dowager lady Chia, Madame Wang, Madame Hsing and Mrs. Hsueeh did not budge an inch or a step from their side. They sat round them, and did nothing but cry. Chia She and Chia Cheng too were a prey, at this juncture, to misgivings lest weeping should upset dowager lady Chia. Day and night oil was burnt and fires were, mindless of expense, kept alight. The bustle and confusion was such that no one, either master or servant, got any rest.
Chia She also sped on every side in search of Buddhist and Taoist priests. But Chia Cheng had witnessed how little relief these things could afford, and he felt constrained to dissuade Chia She from his endeavours. "The destiny," he argued, "of our son and daughter is entirely dependent upon the will of Heaven, and no human strength can prevail. The malady of these two persons would not be healed, even were every kind of treatment tried, and as I feel confident that it is the design of heaven that things should be as they are, all we can do is to allow it to carry out its purpose."
Chia She, however, paid no notice to his remonstrances and continued as hitherto to fuss in every imaginable way. In no time three days elapsed. Lady Feng and Pao-yue were still confined to their beds. Their very breaths had grown fainter. The whole household, therefore, unanimously arrived at the conclusion that there was no hope, and with all despatch they made every necessary preparation for the subsequent requirements of both their relatives.
Dowager lady Chia, Madame Wang, Chia Lien, P'ing Erh, Hsi Jen and the others indulged in tears with keener and keener anguish. They hung between life and death. Mrs. Chao alone was the one who assumed an outward sham air of distress, while in her heart she felt her wishes gratified.
The fourth day arrived. At an early hour Pao-yue suddenly opened his eyes and addressed himself to his grandmother Chia. "From this day forward," he said, "I may no longer abide in your house, so you had better send me off at once!"
These words made dowager lady Chia feel as if her very heart had been wrenched out of her. Mrs. Chao, who stood by, exhorted her. "You shouldn't, venerable lady," she said, "indulge in excessive grief. This young man has been long ago of no good; so wouldn't it be as well to dress him up and let him go back a moment sooner from this world. You'll also be thus sparing him considerable suffering. But, if you persist, in not reconciling yourself to the separation and this breath of his is not cut off, he will lie there and suffer without any respite...."
Her arguments were scarcely ended, when she was spat upon by dowager lady Chia. "You rotten-tongued, good-for-nothing hag!" she cried abusively. "What makes you fancy him of no good! You wish him dead and gone; but what benefit will you then derive? Don't give way to any dreams; for, if he does die, I'll just exact your lives from you! It's all because you've been continuously at him, inciting and urging him to read and write, that his spirit has become so intimidated that, at the sight of his father, he behaves just like a rat trying to get out of the way of a cat! And is not all this the result of the bullying of such a mean herd of women as yourselves! Could you now drive him to death, your wishes would immediately be fulfilled; but which of you will I let off?"
Now she shed tears; now she gave vent to abuse.
Chia Cheng, who stood by, heard these invectives; and they so enhanced his exasperation that he promptly shouted out and made Mrs. Chao withdraw. He then exerted himself for a time to console (his senior) by using kindly accents. But suddenly some one came to announce that the two coffins had been completed. This announcement pierced, like a dagger, dowager lady Chia to the heart; and while weeping with despair more intense, she broke forth in violent upbraidings.
"Who is it,"--she inquired; "who gave orders to make the coffins? Bring at once the coffin-makers and beat them to death!"
A stir ensued sufficient to convulse the heavens and to subvert the earth. But at an unforeseen moment resounded in the air the gentle rapping of a 'wooden fish' bell. A voice recited the sentence: "Ave! Buddha able to unravel retribution and dispel grievances! Should any human being lie in sickness, and his family be solicitous on his account; or should any one have met with evil spirits and come across any baleful evils, we have the means to effect a cure."
Dowager lady Chia and Madame Wang at once directed servants to go out into the street and find out who it was. It turned out to be, in fact, a mangy-headed bonze and a hobbling Taoist priest. What was the appearance of the bonze?
His nose like a suspended gall; his two eyebrows so long, His eyes, resembling radiant stars, possessed a precious glow, His coat in tatters and his shoes of straw, without a home; Rolling in filth, and, a worse fate, his head one mass of boils.
And the Taoist priest, what was he like?
With one leg perched high he comes, with one leg low; His whole frame drenching wet, bespattered all with mud. If you perchance meet him, and ask him where's his home, "In fairyland, west of the 'Weak Water,' he'll say."
Chia Cheng ordered the servants to invite them to walk in. "On what hill," he asked those two persons, "do you cultivate the principles of reason?
"Worthy official!" the bonze smiled, "you must not ask too many questions! It's because we've learnt that there are inmates of your honourable mansion in a poor state of health that we come with the express design of working a cure."
"There are," explained Chia Cheng, "two of our members, who have been possessed of evil spirits. But, is there, I wonder, any remedy by means of which they could he healed?"
"In your family," laughingly observed the Taoist priest, "you have ready at hand a precious thing, the like of which is rare to find in the world. It possesses the virtue of alleviating the ailment, so why need you inquire about remedies?"
Chia Cheng's mind was forthwith aroused. "It's true," he consequently rejoined, "that my son brought along with him, at the time of his birth, a piece of jade, on the surface of which was inscribed that it had the virtue of dispelling evil influences, but we haven't seen any efficacy in it."
"There is, worthy officer," said the bonze, "something in it which you do not understand. That precious jade was, in its primitive state, efficacious, but consequent upon its having been polluted by music, lewdness, property and gain it has lost its spiritual properties. But produce now that valuable thing and wait till I have taken it into my hands and pronounced incantations over it, when it will become as full of efficacy as of old!"
Chia Cheng accordingly unclasped the piece of jade from Pao-yue's neck, and handed it to the two divines. The Buddhist priest held it with reverence in the palm of his hand and heaving a deep sigh, "Since our parting," he cried, "at the foot of the Ch'ing Keng peak, about thirteen years have elapsed. How time flies in the mortal world! Thine earthly destiny has not yet been determined. Alas, alas! how admirable were the qualities thou did'st possess in those days!
"By Heaven unrestrained, without constraint from Earth, No joys lived in thy heart, but sorrows none as well; Yet when perception, through refinement, thou did'st reach, Thou went'st among mankind to trouble to give rise. How sad the lot which thou of late hast had to hear! Powder prints and rouge stains thy precious lustre dim. House bars both day and night encage thee like a duck. Deep wilt thou sleep, but from thy dream at length thou'lt wake, Thy debt of vengeance, once discharged, thou wilt depart."
At the conclusion of this recital, he again rubbed the stone for a while, and gave vent to some nonsensical utterances, after which he surrendered it to Chia Cheng. "This object," he said, "has already resumed its efficacy; but you shouldn't do anything to desecrate it. Hang it on the post of the door in his bed-room, and with the exception of his own relatives, you must not let any outside female pollute it. After the expiry of thirty-three days, he will, I can guarantee, be all right."
Chia Cheng then gave orders to present tea; but the two priests had already walked away. He had, however, no alternative but to comply with their injunctions, and lady Feng and Pao-yue, in point of fact, got better from day to day. Little by little they returned to their senses and experienced hunger. Dowager lady Chia and Madame Wang, at length, felt composed in their minds. All the cousins heard the news outside. Tai-yue, previous to anything else, muttered a prayer to Buddha; while Pao-ch'ai laughed and said not a word.
"Sister Pao," inquired Hsi Ch'un, "what are you laughing for?"
"I laugh," replied Pao-ch'ai, "because the 'Thus-Come' Joss has more to do than any human being. He's got to see to the conversion of all mankind, and to take care of the ailments, to which all flesh is heir; for he restores every one of them at once to health; and he has as well to control people's marriages so as to bring them about through his aid; and what do you say, has he ample to do or not? Now, isn't this enough to make one laugh, eh?"
Lin Tai-yue blushed. "Ts'ui!" she exclaimed; "none of you are good people. Instead of following the example of worthy persons, you try to rival the mean mouth of that hussey Feng."
As she uttered these words, she raised the portiere and made her exit.
But, reader, do you want to know any further circumstances? If so, the next chapter will explain them to you.
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