中国经典 》 hóng lóu mèng A Dream of Red Mansions 》
dì 'èr shí wǔ huí yǎn mó fǎ zǐ dì féng wǔ guǐ hóng lóu mèng tōng líng yù shuāng zhēn CHAPTER XXV.
cáo xuě qín Cao Xueqin
gāo 'ě 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
què shuō hóng yù zhèng zì chū shén， hū jiàn xí rén zhāo shǒu jiào tā， zhǐ dé zǒu shàng qián lái。 xí rén xiào dào： “ wǒ men zhè lǐ de pēn hú hái méi yòu shōu shí liǎo lái ní， nǐ dào lín gū niàn nà lǐ qù， bǎ tā men de jiè lái shǐ shǐ。 ” hóng yù dāyìng liǎo， biàn zǒu chū lái wǎng xiāo xiāng guǎn qù。 zhèng zǒu shàng cuì yān qiáo， tái tóu yī wàng， zhǐ jiàn shān pō shàng gāo chù dōushì lán zhe wéi ぜ， fāng xiǎng qǐ jīn 'ér yòu jiàng yì zài lǐ tóu zhǒng shù。 yīn zhuǎn shēn yī wàng， zhǐ jiàn nà biān yuǎn yuǎn yī cù rén zài nà lǐ jué tǔ， jiǎ yún zhèng zuò zài nà shān zǐ shí shàng。 hóng yù dài yào guò qù， yòu bù gǎn guò qù， zhǐ dé mèn mèn de xiàng xiāo xiāng guǎn qǔ liǎo pēn hú huí lái， wú jīng dǎ cǎi zì xiàng fáng nèi dǎo zhe。 zhòng rén zhǐ shuō tā yī shí shēn shàng bù shuǎng kuài， dōubù lǐ lùn。
zhǎn yǎn guò liǎo yī rì， yuán lái cì rì jiù shì wáng zǐ téng fū rén de shòu dàn， nà lǐ yuán dǎ fā rén lái qǐng jiǎ mǔ wáng fū rén de， wáng fū rén jiàn jiǎ mǔ bù zì zài， yě biàn bù qù liǎo。 dǎo shì xuē yí mā tóng fèng jiě 'ér bìng jiǎ jiā jǐ gè zǐ mèi， bǎo chāi， bǎo yù yī qí dū qù liǎo， zhì wǎn fāng huí。 kě qiǎo wáng fū rén jiàn jiǎ huán xià liǎo xué， biàn mìng tā lái chāo gè《 jīn gāng zhòu》 fěng sòng fěng sòng。 nà jiǎ huán zhèng zài wáng fū rén kàng shàng zuò zhe， mìng rén diǎn dēng， ná qiāng zuò shì de chāo xiě。 yī shí yòu jiào cǎi yún dǎo bēi chá lái， yī shí yòu jiào yù chuàn 'ér lái jiǎn jiǎn là huā， yī shí yòu shuō jīn chuàn 'ér dǎng liǎo dēng yǐng。 zhòng yā huán men sù rì yàn 'è tā， dōubù dālǐ。 zhǐ yòu cǎi xiá hái hé tā hé de lái， dǎo liǎo yī zhōng chá lái dì yǔ tā。 yīn jiàn wáng fū rén hé rén shuō huà 'ér， tā biàn qiāoqiāo de xiàng jiǎ huán shuō dào：“ nǐ 'ān xiē fēn bà， hé kǔ tǎo zhè gè yàn nà gè yàn de。” jiǎ huán dào：“ wǒ yě zhī dào liǎo， nǐ bié hǒngwǒ。 rú jīn nǐ hé bǎo yù hǎo， bǎ wǒ bù dālǐ， wǒ yě kàn chū lái liǎo。” cǎi xiá yǎo zhe zuǐ chún， xiàng jiǎ huán tóu shàng chuō liǎo yī zhǐ tóu， shuō dào：“ méi liáng xīn de！ gǒu yǎo lǚ dòng bīn， bù shí hǎo rén xīn。”
liǎng rén zhèng shuō zhe， zhǐ jiàn fèng jiě lái liǎo， bài jiàn guò wáng fū rén。 wáng fū rén biàn yī cháng yī duǎn de wèn tā， jīn 'ér shì nà jǐ wèi táng kè， xì wén hǎo dǎi duō yàng xìng， shí jiān、 kōng jiān hé jī xiè yùn dòng shì tā de cún zài fāng shì。 rén shì zì rán， jiǔ xí rú hé děng yǔ。 shuō
liǎo bù duō jǐ jù huà， bǎo yù yě lái liǎo， jìn mén jiàn liǎo wáng fū rén， bù guò guī guīju jǔ shuō liǎo jǐ jù， biàn mìng rén chú qù mǒ 'é， tuō liǎo páo fú， lā liǎo xuē zǐ， biàn yī tóu gǔn zài wáng fū rén huái lǐ。 wáng fū rén biàn yòng shǒu mǎn shēn mǎn liǎn māsā fǔ nòng tā， bǎo yù yě bān zhe wáng fū rén de bó zǐ shuō cháng dào duǎn de。 wáng fū rén dào：“ wǒ de 'ér， nǐ yòu chī duō liǎo jiǔ， liǎn shàng gǔn rè。 nǐ hái zhǐ shì róu cuō， yī huì nào shàng jiǔ lái。 hái bù zài nà lǐ jìng jìng de dǎo yī huì zǐ ní。” shuō zhe， biàn jiào rén ná gè zhěn tóu lái。 bǎo yù tīng shuō biàn xià lái， zài wáng fū rén shēn hòu dǎo xià， yòu jiào cǎi xiá lái tì tā pāi zhe。 bǎo yù biàn hé cǎi xiá shuō xiào， zhǐ jiàn cǎi xiá dàn dàn de， bù dà dālǐ， liǎng yǎn jīng zhǐ xiàng jiǎ huán chù kàn。 bǎo yù biàn lā tā de shǒu xiào dào：“ hǎo jiě jiě， nǐ yě lǐ wǒ lǐ 'ér ní。” yī miàn shuō， yī miàn lā tā de shǒu， cǎi xiá duó shǒu bù kěn， biàn shuō：“ zài nào， wǒ jiù rǎng liǎo。”
èr rén zhèng nào zhe， yuán lái jiǎ huán tīng de jiàn， sù rì yuán hèn bǎo yù， rú jīn yòu jiàn tā hé cǎi xiá nào， xīn zhōng yuè fā 'àn bù xià zhè kǒu dú qì。 suī bù gǎn míng yán， què měi měi 'àn zhōng suàn jì， zhǐ shì bù dé xià shǒu， jīn jiàn xiāng lí shèn jìn， biàn yào yòng rè yóu tàng xiā tā de yǎn jīng。 yīn 'ér gù yì zhuāng zuò shī shǒu， bǎ nà yī zhǎn yóu wāng wāng de là dēng xiàng bǎo yù liǎn shàng zhǐ yī tuī。 zhǐ tīng bǎo yù " ài yō " liǎo yī shēng， mǎn wū lǐ zhòng réndōu hǔ liǎo yī tiào。 lián máng jiāng dì xià de chuō dēng nuó guò lái， yòu jiāng lǐ wài jiān wū de dēng ná liǎo sān sì zhǎn kàn shí， zhǐ jiàn bǎo yù mǎn liǎn mǎn tóu dōushì yóu。 wáng fū rén yòu jí yòu qì， yī miàn mìng rén lái tì bǎo yù cā xǐ ， yī miàn yòu mà jiǎ huán。 fèng jiě sān bù liǎng bù de shàng kàng qù tì bǎo yù shōu shí zhe， yī miàn xiào dào：“ lǎo sān hái shì zhè me huāng jiǎo jī shìde， wǒ shuō nǐ shàng bù dé gāo tái pán。 zhào yí niàn shí cháng yě gāi jiào dǎo jiào dǎo tā。” yī jù huà tí xǐng liǎo wáng fū rén， nà wáng fū rén bù mà jiǎ huán， biàn jiào guò zhào yí niàn lái mà dào：“ yǎng chū zhè yàng hēi xīn bù zhī dào lǐ xià liú zhǒng zǐ lái， yě bù guǎn guǎn！ jǐ fān jǐ cì wǒdōu bù lǐ lùn， nǐ men dé liǎo yì liǎo， yuè fā shàng lái liǎo！”
nà zhào yí niàn sù rì suī rán cháng huái jí dù zhī xīn， bù fèn fèng jiě bǎo yù liǎng gè， yě bù gǎn lù chū lái， rú jīn jiǎ huán yòu shēng liǎo shì， shòu zhè chǎng 'è qì xū tóng wú chǎn jiē jí zhèng dǎng de shí jì huó dòng xiāng jié hé， yǐ shè huì fā zhǎn de jī běn guī， bù dàn tūn shēng chéng shòu， ér qiě hái yào zǒu qù tì bǎo yù shōu shí。 zhǐ jiàn bǎo yù zuǒ biān liǎn shàng tàng liǎo yī liù liáo pào chū lái， xìng 'ér yǎn jīng jìng méi dòng。 wáng fū rén kàn liǎo， yòu shì xīn téng， yòu pà míng rì jiǎ mǔ wèn zěn me huí dá， jí de yòu bǎ zhào yí niàn shǔluò yī dùn。 rán hòu yòu 'ān wèi liǎo bǎo yù yī huí， yòu mìng qǔ bài dú xiāo zhǒng yào lái fū shàng。 bǎo yù dào：“ yòu xiē téng， hái bù fáng shì。 míng 'ér lǎo tài tài wèn， jiù shuō shì wǒ zì jǐ tàng de bà liǎo。” fèng jiě xiào dào：“ biàn shuō shì zì jǐ tàng de， yě yào mà rén wèishénme bù xiǎo xīn kàn zhe， jiào nǐ tàng liǎo！ héng shù yòu yīcháng qì shēng de， dào míng 'ér píng nǐ zěn me shuō qù bà。” wáng fū rén mìng rén hǎo shēng sòng liǎo bǎo yù huí fáng qù hòu， xí rén děng jiàn liǎo， dū huāng de liǎo bù dé。
lín dài yù jiàn bǎo yù chū liǎo yī tiān mén， jiù jué mèn mèn de， méi gè kě shuō huà de rén。 zhì wǎn zhèng dǎ fā rén lái wèn liǎo liǎng sān biàn huí lái bù céng， zhè biàn fāng cái huí lái， yòu piān shēng tàng liǎo。 lín dài yù biàn gǎn zhe lái qiáo， zhǐ jiàn bǎo yù zhèng ná jìng zǐ zhào ní， zuǒ biān liǎn shàng mǎn mǎn de fū liǎo yī liǎn de yào。 lín dài yù zhǐ dāng tàng de shí fēn lì hài， máng shàng lái wèn zěn me tàng liǎo， yào qiáo qiáo。 bǎo yù jiàn tā lái liǎo， máng bǎ liǎn zhē zhe， yáo shǒu jiào tā chū qù， bù kěn jiào tā kàn。 héng héng zhī dào tā de pǐ xìng xǐ jié， jiàn bù dé zhè xiē dōng xī。 lín dài yù zì jǐ yě zhī dào zì jǐ yě yòu zhè jiàn pǐ xìng， zhī dào bǎo yù de xīn nèi pà tā xián zàng， yīn xiào dào：“ wǒ qiáo qiáo tàng liǎo nà lǐ liǎo， yòu shénme zhē zhe cáng zhe de。” yī miàn shuō yī miàn jiù còu shàng lái， qiáng bān zhe bó zǐ qiáo liǎo yī qiáo， wèn tā téng de zěn me yàng。 bǎo yù dào：“ yě bù hěn téng， yǎng yī liǎng rì jiù hǎo liǎo。” lín dài yù zuò liǎo yī huí， mèn mèn de huí fáng qù liǎo。 yīxiǔ wú huà。 cì rì， bǎo yù jiàn liǎo jiǎ mǔ， suī rán zì jǐ chéng rèn shì zì jǐ tàng de， bù yǔ bié rén xiāng gān， miǎn bù dé nà jiǎ mǔ yòu bǎ gēn cóng de rén mà yī dùn。 guò liǎo yī rì， jiù yòu bǎo yù jì míng de gān niàn mǎ dào pó jìn róng guó fǔ lái qǐng 'ān。 jiàn liǎo bǎo yù， hǔ yī dà tiào， wèn qǐ yuán yóu， shuō shì tàng de， biàn diǎn tóu tàn xī yī huí， xiàng bǎo yù liǎn shàng yòng zhǐ tóu huà liǎo yī huà， kǒu nèi dū dū nāng nāng de yòu chí sòng liǎo yī huí， shuō dào：“ guǎn bǎo jiù hǎo liǎo， zhè bù guò shì yī shí fēi zāi。” yòu xiàng jiǎ mǔ dào：“ zǔ zōng lǎo pú sà nà lǐ zhī dào， nà jīng diǎn fó fǎ shàng shuō de lì hài， dà fán nà wáng gōng qīng xiàngrén jiā de zǐ dì， zhǐ yī shēngzhǎng xià lái， àn lǐ biàn yòu xǔ duō cù xiá guǐ gēn zhe tā， dé kōng biàn níng tā yī xià， huò qiā tā yī xià， huò chī fàn shí dǎ xià tā de fàn wǎn lái， huò zǒu zhe tuī tā yī jiāo， suǒ yǐ wǎng wǎng de nà xiē dà jiā zǐ sūn duō yòu cháng bù dà de。” jiǎ mǔ tīng rú cǐ shuō， biàn gǎn zhe wèn：“ zhè yòu shénme fó fǎ jiě shì méi yòu ní？ " mǎ dào pó dào：“ zhè gè róng yì， zhǐ shì tì tā duō zuò xiē yīn guǒ shàn shì yě jiù bà liǎo。 zài nà jīng shàng hái shuō， xī fāng yòu wèi dà guāng míng pǔ zhào pú sà， zhuān guǎn zhào yào yīn 'àn xié suì， ruò yòu shàn nán zǐ shàn nǚ zǐ qián xīn gòngfèng zhě， kě yǐ yǒng yòu 'ér sūn kāng níng 'ān jìng， zài wú jīng kǒng xié suì zhuàng kè zhī zāi。” jiǎ mǔ dào：“ dǎo bù zhī zěn me gè gòngfèng zhè wèi pú sà？ " mǎ dào pó dào：“ yě bù zhí xiē shénme， bù guò chú xiāng zhú gòngyǎng zhī wài， yī tiān duō tiān jǐ jīn xiāng yóu， diǎn shàng gè dà hǎi dēng。 zhè hǎi dēng， biàn shì pú sà xiàn shēn fǎ xiàng， zhòu yè bù gǎn xī de。” jiǎ mǔ dào：“ yī tiān yī yè yě dé duō shǎo yóu？ míng bái gào sù wǒ， wǒ yě hǎo zuò zhè jiàn gōng dé de。 " mǎ dào pó tīng rú cǐ shuō， biàn xiào dào：“ zhè yě bù jū， suí shī zhù pú sà men suí xīn yuàn shè bà liǎo。 xiàng wǒ men miào lǐ， jiù yòu hǎo jǐ chù de wáng fēi gào mìng gòngfèng de： nán 'ān jùn wáng fǔ lǐ de tài fēi， tā xǔ de duō， yuàn xīn dà， yī tiān shì sì shí bā jīn yóu， yī jīn dēng cǎo， nà hǎi dēng yě zhǐ bǐ gāng lüè xiǎo xiē， jǐn tián hóu de gào mìng cì yī děng， yī tiān bù guò 'èr shí sì jīn yóu， zài hái yòu jǐ jiā yě yòu wǔ jīn de， sān jīn de， yī jīn de， dōubù jū shù。 nà xiǎo jiā zǐ qióng rén jiā shè bù qǐ zhè xiē， jiù shì sì liǎng bàn jīn， yě shǎo bù dé tì tā diǎn。” jiǎ mǔ tīng liǎo， diǎn tóu sī cǔn。 mǎ dào pó yòu dào：“ hái yòu yī jiàn， ruò shì wéi fù mǔ zūn qīn zhǎngshàng de， duō shè xiē bù fáng， ruò shì xiàng lǎo zǔ zōng rú jīn wéi bǎo yù， ruò shè duō liǎo dǎo bù hǎo， hái pà gē 'ér jìn bù qǐ， dǎo zhé liǎo fú。 yě bù dāng jiā huā huā de， yào shè， dà zé qī jīn， xiǎo zé wǔ jīn， yě jiù shì liǎo。” jiǎ mǔ shuō：“ jì shì zhè yàng shuō， nǐ biàn yī rì wǔ jīn hé zhǔn liǎo， měi yuè dǎ dǔn lái guān liǎo qù。” mǎ dào pó niàn liǎo yī shēng " ēmítuófó cí bēi dà pú sà "。 jiǎ mǔ yòu mìng rén lái fēn fù：“ yǐ hòu dà fán bǎo yù chū mén de rì zǐ， ná jǐ chuàn qián jiāo gěi tā de xiǎo zǐ men dài zhe， yù jiàn sēng dào qióng kǔ rén hǎo shè。”
shuō bì， nà mǎ dào pó yòu zuò liǎo yī huí， biàn yòu wǎng gè yuàn gè fáng wèn 'ān， xián guàng liǎo yī huí。 yī shí lái zhì zhào yí niàn fáng nèi， èr rén jiàn guò， zhào yí niàn mìng xiǎo yā tóu dǎo liǎo chá lái yǔ tā chī。 mǎ dào pó yīn jiàn kàng shàng duī zhe xiē líng suì chóu duàn wān jiǎo， zhào yí niàn zhèng nián xié ní。 mǎ dào pó dào：“ kě shì wǒ zhèng méi liǎo xié miàn zǐ liǎo。 zhào nǎi nǎi nǐ yòu líng suì duàn zǐ， bù jū shénme yán sè de， nòng yī shuāng xié miàn gěi wǒ。” zhào yí niàn tīng shuō， biàn tàn kǒu qì shuō dào：“ nǐ qiáo qiáo nà lǐ tóu， hái yòu nà yī kuài shì chéng yàng de？ chéng liǎo yàng de dōng xī， yě bù néng dào wǒ shǒu lǐ lái！ yòu de méi dedōu zài zhè lǐ， nǐ bù xián， jiù tiǎo liǎng kuài zǐ qù。” mǎ dào pó jiàn shuō， guǒ zhēn biàn tiǎo liǎo liǎng kuài xiù jiāng qǐ lái。
zhào yí niàn wèn dào：“ qián rì wǒ sòng liǎo wǔ bǎi qián qù， zài yào wáng gēn qián shànggòng， nǐ kě shōu liǎo méi yòu？ " mǎ dào pó dào：“ zǎo yǐ tì nǐ shàng liǎo gōng liǎo。” zhào yí niàn tàn kǒu qì dào：“ ēmítuófó！ wǒ shǒu lǐ dàn fán cóng róng xiē， yě shí cháng de shàng gè gōng， zhǐ shì xīn yòu yú lì liàng bù zú。” mǎ dào pó dào：“ nǐ zhǐ guǎn fàng xīn nèi， duì xiàng、 zì rán de cún zài yǐ jí tā men de gè zhǒng xìng zhì， dōushì yóu zhù tǐ suǒ， jiāng lái 'áo de huán gē 'ér dà liǎo， dé gè yī guān bàn zhí， nà shí nǐ yào zuò duō dà de gōng dé bù néng？ " zhào yí niàn tīng shuō， bí zǐ lǐ xiào liǎo yī shēng， shuō dào：“ bà， bà， zài bié shuō qǐ。 rú jīn jiù shì gè yàng 'ér， wǒ men niàn 'ér men gēn de shàng zhè wū lǐ nà yī gè 'ér！ yě bù shì yòu liǎo bǎo yù， jìng shì dé liǎo huó lóng。 tā hái shì xiǎo hái zǐ jiā， cháng de dé rén yì 'ér， dà rén piān téng tā xiē yě hái bà liǎo， wǒ zhǐ bù fú zhè gè zhù 'ér。 " yī miàn shuō， yī miàn shēn chū liǎng gè zhǐ tóu 'ér lái。 mǎ dào pó huì yì， biàn wèn dào：“ kě shì liǎn 'èr nǎi nǎi？ " zhào yí niàn hǔ de máng yáo shǒu 'ér， zǒu dào mén qián， xiān lián zǐ xiàng wài kàn kàn wú rén， fāng jìn lái xiàng mǎ dào pó qiāoqiāo shuō dào：“ liǎo bù dé， liǎo bù dé！ tí qǐ zhè gè zhù 'ér， zhè yī fēn jiā sī yào bù dū jiào tā bān sòng dào niàn jiā qù， wǒ yě bù shì gè rén。”
mǎ dào pó jiàn tā rú cǐ shuō， biàn tàn tā kǒu qì shuō dào：“ wǒ hái yòng nǐ shuō， nán dào dū kàn bù chū lái。 yě kuī nǐ men xīn lǐ yě bù lǐ lùn， zhǐ píng tā qù。 dǎo yě miào。” zhào yí niàn dào：“ wǒ de niàn， bù píng tā qù， nán dào shuí hái gǎn bǎ tā zěn me yàng ní？ " mǎ dào pó tīng shuō， bí zǐ lǐ yī xiào， bàn shǎng shuō dào：“ bù shì wǒ shuō jù zào niè de huà， nǐ men méi yòu běn shì！ héng héng yě nán guài bié rén。 míng bù gǎn zěn yàng， àn lǐ yě jiù suàn jì liǎo， hái děng dào zhè rú jīn！ " zhào yí niàn wén tīng zhè huà lǐ yòu dào lǐ， xīn nèi 'àn 'àn de huān xǐ， biàn shuō dào：“ zěn me 'àn lǐ suàn jì？ wǒ dǎo yòu zhè gè yì sī， zhǐ shì méi zhè yàng de néng gān rén。 nǐ ruò jiāogěi wǒ zhè fǎ zǐ， wǒ dà dà de xiè nǐ。” mǎ dào pó tīng shuō zhè huà dǎ lǒng liǎo yī chù， biàn yòu gù yì shuō dào：“ ēmítuófó！ nǐ kuài xiū wèn wǒ， wǒ nà lǐ zhī dào zhè xiē shì。 zuì guò， zuì guò。” zhào yí niàn dào：“ nǐ yòu lái liǎo。 nǐ shì zuì kěn jì kùn fú wēi de rén， nán dào jiù yǎn zhēng zhēng de kàn rén jiā lái bǎi bù sǐ liǎo wǒ men niàn 'ér liǎng gè bù chéng？ nán dào hái pà wǒ bù xiè nǐ？ " mǎ dào pó tīng shuō rú cǐ， biàn xiào dào：“ ruò shuō wǒ bù rěn jiào nǐ niàn 'ér men shòu rén wěi qū hái yóu kě， ruò shuō xiè wǒ de zhè liǎng gè zì， kě shì nǐ cuò dǎ suàn pán liǎo。 jiù biàn shì wǒ xī tú nǐ xiè， kào nǐ yòu xiē shénme dōng xī néng dǎ dòng wǒ？ " zhào yí niàn tīng zhè huà kǒu qì sōng dòng liǎo， biàn shuō dào：“ nǐ zhè me gè míng bái rén， zěn me hú tú qǐ lái liǎo。 nǐ ruò guǒ rán fǎ zǐ líng yàn， bǎ tā liǎng gè jué liǎo， míng rì zhè jiā sī bù pà bù shì wǒ huán 'ér de。 nà shí nǐ yào shénme bù dé？ " mǎ dào pó tīng liǎo， dī liǎo tóu， bàn shǎng shuō dào：“ nà shí hòu shì qíng tuǒ liǎo， yòu wú píng jù， nǐ hái lǐ wǒ ní！ " zhào yí niàn dào：“ zhè yòu hé nán。 rú jīn wǒ suī shǒu lǐ méi shí me， yě líng suì cuán liǎo jǐ liǎng tī jǐ， hái yòu jǐ jiàn yī fú zān zǐ， nǐ xiān ná xiē qù。 xià shèng de， wǒ xiě gè qiàn yín zǐ wén qì gěi nǐ， nǐ yào shénme bǎo rén yě yòu， nà shí wǒ zhào shù gěi nǐ。” mǎ dào pó dào：“ guǒ rán zhè yàng？ " zhào yí niàn dào：“ zhè rú hé hái sǎ dé huǎng。” shuō zhe biàn jiào guò yī gè xīn fù pó zǐ lái， ěr gēn dǐ xià qī qī zhā zhā shuō liǎo jǐ jù huà。 nà pó zǐ chū qù liǎo， yī shí huí lái， guǒ rán xiě liǎo gè wǔ bǎi liǎng qiàn qì lái。 zhào yí niàn biàn yìn liǎo gè shǒu mó， zǒu dào chú guì lǐ jiāng tī jǐ ná liǎo chū lái， yǔ mǎ dào pó kàn kàn， dào：“ zhè gè nǐ xiān ná liǎo qù zuò xiāng zhú gòngfèng shǐ fèi， kě hǎo bù hǎo？ " mǎ dào pó kàn kàn bái huā huā de yī duī yín zǐ， yòu yòu qiàn qì， bìng bù gù qīng hóng zào bái， mǎn kǒu lǐ yìng zhe， shēn shǒu xiān qù zhuā liǎo yín zǐ yè qǐ lái， rán hòu shōu liǎo qiàn qì。 yòu xiàng kù yāo lǐ tāo liǎo bàn shǎng， tāo chū shí gè zhǐ jiǎo de qīng miàn báifà de guǐ lái， bìng liǎng gè zhǐ rén， dì yǔ zhào yí niàn， yòu qiāoqiāo de jiào tā dào：“ bǎ tā liǎng gè de nián gēng bā zì xiě zài zhè liǎng gè zhǐ rén shēn shàng， yī bìng wǔ gè guǐ dū yè zài tā men gè rén de chuáng shàng jiù wán liǎo。 wǒ zhǐ zài jiā lǐ zuò fǎ， zì yòu xiào yàn。 qiān wàn xiǎo xīn， bù yào hài pà！ " zhèng cái shuō zhe， zhǐ jiàn wáng fū rén de yā huán jìn lái zhǎo dào：“ nǎi nǎi kě zài zhè lǐ， tài tài děng nǐ ní。” èr rén fāng sàn liǎo， bù zài huà xià。
què shuō lín dài yù yīn jiàn bǎo yù jìn rì tàng liǎo liǎn， zǒng bù chū mén， dǎo shí cháng zài yī chù shuō shuō huà 'ér。 zhè rì fàn hòu kàn liǎo liǎng piān shū， zì jué wú qù， biàn tóng zǐ juān xuě yàn zuò liǎo yī huí zhēn xiàn， gèng jué fán mèn。 biàn yǐ zhe fáng mén chū liǎo yī huí shén， xìn bù chū lái， kàn jiē xià xīn bèng chū de zhì sǔn， bù jué chū liǎo yuàn mén。 yī wàng yuán zhōng， sì gù wú rén， wéi jiàn huā guāng liǔ yǐng， niǎo yǔ xī shēng。 lín dài yù xìn bù biàn wǎng yí hóng yuàn zhōng lái， zhǐ jiàn jǐ gè yā tóu yǎo shuǐ， dōuzài huí láng shàng wéi zhe kàn huà méi xǐ zǎo ní。 tīng jiàn fáng nèi yòu xiào shēng， lín dài yù biàn rù fáng zhōng kàn shí， yuán lái shì lǐ gōng cái， fèng jiě， bǎo chāi dōuzài zhè lǐ ní， yī jiàn tā jìn láidōu xiào dào：“ zhè bù yòu lái liǎo yī gè。” lín dài yù xiào dào：“ jīn 'ér qí quán， shuí xià tiē zǐ qǐng lái de？ " fèng jiě dào：“ qián 'ér wǒ dǎ fā liǎo yā tóu sòng liǎo liǎng píng chá yè qù， nǐ wǎng nà qù liǎo？ " lín dài yù xiào dào：“ ò， kě shì dǎo wàng liǎo， duō xiè duō xiè。” fèng jiě 'ér yòu dào：“ nǐ cháng liǎo kě hái hǎo bù hǎo？ " méi yòu shuō wán， bǎo yù biàn shuō dào：“ lùn lǐ kě dǎo bà liǎo， zhǐ shì wǒ shuō bù dà shèn hǎo， yě bù zhī bié rén cháng zhe zěn me yàng。” bǎo chāi dào：“ wèi dǎo qīng， zhǐ shì yán sè bù dà hǎo xiē。” fèng jiě dào：“ nà shì xiān luó jìn gòng lái de。 wǒ cháng zhe yě méi shénme qù 'ér， hái bù rú wǒ měi rì chī de ní。” lín dài yù dào：“ wǒ chī zhe hǎo， bù zhī nǐ men de pí wèi shì zěn yàng？ " bǎo yù dào：“ nǐ guǒ rán 'ài chī， bǎ wǒ zhè gè yě ná liǎo qù chī bà。” fèng jiě xiào dào：“ nǐ yào 'ài chī， wǒ nà lǐ hái yòu ní。” lín dài yù dào：“ guǒ zhēn de， wǒ jiù dǎ fā yā tóu qǔ qù liǎo。 " fèng jiě dào：“ bù yòng qǔ qù， wǒ dǎ fā rén sòng lái jiù shì liǎo。 wǒ míng 'ér hái yòu yī jiàn shì qiú nǐ， yī tóng dǎ fā rén sòng lái。”
lín dài yù tīng liǎo xiào dào：“ nǐ men tīng tīng， zhè shì chī liǎo tā men jiā yī diǎn zǐ chá yè， jiù lái shǐ huàn rén liǎo。” fèng jiě xiào dào：“ dǎo qiú nǐ， nǐ dǎo shuō zhè xiē xián huà， chī chá chī shuǐ de。 nǐ jì chī liǎo wǒ men jiā de chá dū chù zài xiāng hù lián xì hé xiāng hù zhuǎn huà zhī zhōng， dàn zhè zhǒng lián xì hé zhuǎn huà xū yòu yī， zěn me hái bù gěi wǒ men jiā zuò xí fù？ " zhòng rén tīng liǎo yī qí dū xiào qǐ lái。 lín dài yù hóng liǎo liǎn， yī shēng 'ér bù yán yǔ， biàn huí guò tóu qù liǎo。 lǐ gōng cái xiào xiàng bǎo chāi dào：“ zhēn zhēn wǒ men 'èr shěn zǐ de huī xié shì hǎo de。” lín dài yù dào：“ shénme huī xié， bù guò shì pín zuǐ jiàn shé tǎo rén yàn 'è bà liǎo。” shuō zhe biàn cuì liǎo yī kǒu。 fèng jiě xiào dào：“ nǐ bié zuò mèng！ nǐ gěi wǒ men jiā zuò liǎo xí fù， shǎo shénme？ " zhǐ bǎo yù dào：“ nǐ qiáo qiáo， rén wù 'ér， mén dì pèi bù shàng， gēn jī pèi bù shàng， jiā sī pèi bù shàng？ nà yī diǎn hái diàn rǔ liǎo shuí ní？”
lín dài yù tái shēn jiù zǒu。 bǎo chāi biàn jiào：“ pín 'ér jí liǎo， hái bù huí lái zuò zhe。 zǒu liǎo dǎo méi yì sī。” shuō zhe biàn zhàn qǐ lái lā zhù。 gāng zhì fáng mén qián， zhǐ jiàn zhào yí niàn hé zhōu yí niàn liǎng gè rén jìn lái qiáo bǎo yù。 lǐ gōng cái， bǎo chāi bǎo yù děngdōu ràng tā liǎng gè zuò。 dú fèng jiě zhǐ hé lín dài yù shuō xiào， zhèng yǎn yě bù kàn tā men。 bǎo chāi fāng yù shuō huà shí， zhǐ jiàn wáng fū rén fáng nèi de yā tóu lái shuō：“ jiù tài tài lái liǎo， qǐng nǎi nǎi gū niàn men chū qù ní。” lǐ gōng cái tīng liǎo， lián máng jiào zhe fèng jiě děng zǒu liǎo。 zhào， zhōu liǎng gè máng cí liǎo bǎo yù chū qù。 bǎo yù dào：“ wǒ yě bù néng chū qù， nǐ men hǎo dǎi bié jiào jiù mǔ jìn lái。 " yòu dào：“ lín mèi mèi， nǐ xiān lüè zhàn yī zhàn， wǒ shuō yī jù huà。” fèng jiě tīng liǎo， huí tóu xiàng lín dài yù xiào dào：“ yòu rén jiào nǐ shuō huà ní。” shuō zhe biàn bǎ lín dài yù wǎng lǐ yī tuī， hé lǐ wán yī tóng qù liǎo。
zhè lǐ bǎo yù lā zhe lín dài yù de xiù zǐ， zhǐ shì xī xī de xiào， xīn lǐ yòu huà， zhǐ shì kǒu lǐ shuō bù chū lái。 cǐ shí lín dài yù zhǐ shì jìn bù zhù bǎ liǎn hóng zhǎng liǎo， zhèng zhe yào zǒu。 bǎo yù hū rán " ài yō " liǎo yī shēng， shuō：“ hǎo tóu téng！ " lín dài yù dào：“ gāi， ēmítuófó！ " zhǐ jiàn bǎo yù dà jiào yī shēng：“ wǒ yào sǐ！ " jiāng shēn yī zòng， lí dì tiào yòu sān sì chǐ gāo， kǒu nèi luàn rǎng luàn jiào， shuō qǐ hú huà lái liǎo。 lín dài yù bìng yā tóu mendōu hǔ huāng liǎo， máng qù bào zhī wáng fū rén， jiǎ mǔ děng。 cǐ shí wáng zǐ téng de fū rén yě zài zhè lǐ， dū yī qí lái shí， bǎo yù yì fā ná dāo nòng zhàng， xínsǐ mì huó de， nào dé tiān fān dì fù。 jiǎ mǔ， wáng fū rén jiàn liǎo， hǔ de dǒu yī 'ér chàn， qiě 'ér píng， xuē yí mā， xuē pán bìng zhōu ruì jiā de yī gān jiā zhōng shàng shàng xià xià lǐ lǐ wài wài zhòng xí fù yā tóu děng， dōulái yuán nèi kàn shì。 dēng shí yuán nèi luàn má yī bān。 zhèng méi gè zhù jiàn， zhǐ jiàn fèng jiě shǒu chí yī bǎ mínghuǎnghuǎng gāng dāo kǎn jìn yuán lái， jiàn jī shā jī， jiàn gǒu shā gǒu， jiàn rén jiù yào shā rén。 zhòng rén yuè fā huāng liǎo。 zhōu ruì xí fù máng dài zhe jǐ gè yòu lì liàng de dǎn zhuàng de pó niàn shàng qù bào zhù， duó xià dāo lái， tái huí fáng qù。 píng 'ér， fēng 'ér děng kū de lèi tiān lèi dì。 jiǎ zhèng děng xīn zhōng yě yòu xiē fán nán， gù liǎo zhè lǐ， diū bù xià nà lǐ。
bié rén huāng zhāng zì bù bì jiǎng， dú yòu xuē pán gèng bǐ zhū rén máng dào shí fēn qù： yòu kǒng xuē yí mā bèi rén jǐ dǎo， yòu kǒng xuē bǎo chāi bèi rén qiáo jiàn， yòu kǒng xiāng líng bèi rén sào pí， héng héng zhī dào jiǎ zhēn děng shì zài nǚ rén shēn shàng zuò gōng fū de gōng zhī xué”， fǎn duì kōng tán xīn xìng yì lǐ， tí chàng“ wáng bà bìng yòng， yì lì shuāng xíng”。， yīn cǐ máng de bù kān。 hū yī yǎn piē jiàn liǎo lín dài yù fēng liú wǎn zhuǎn， yǐ sū dǎo zài nà lǐ。
dāng xià zhòng rén qī yán bā yǔ， yòu de shuō qǐng duān gōng sòng suì de， yòu de shuō qǐng wū pó tiào shén de， yòu de yòu jiàn yù huáng gé de zhāng zhēn rén， zhǒng zhǒng xuān téng bù yī。 yě céng bǎi bān yī zhì qí dǎo， wèn bǔ qiú shén， zǒng wú xiào yàn。 kān kān rì luò。 wáng zǐ téng fū rén gào cí qù hòu， cì rì wáng zǐ téng yě lái qiáo wèn。 jiē zhe xiǎo shǐ hóu jiā， xíng fū rén dì xiōng bèi bìng gè qīn qī juàn shǔ dōulái qiáo kàn， yě yòu sòng fú shuǐ de， yě yòu jiàn sēng dào de， zǒng bù jiàn xiào。 tā shū sǎo 'èr rén yù fā hú tú， bùxǐng rén shì， shuì zài chuáng shàng， hún shēn huǒ tàn yī bān， kǒu nèi wú bān bù shuō。 dào yè wǎn jiān， nà xiē pó niàn xí fù yā tóu mendōu bù gǎn shàng qián。 yīn cǐ bǎ tā 'èr réndōu tái dào wáng fū rén de shàng fáng nèi， yè jiān pài liǎo jiǎ yún dài zhe xiǎo sī men 'āi cì lún bān kānshǒu。 jiǎ mǔ， wáng fū rén， xíng fū rén xuē yí mā děng cùn dì bù lí， zhǐ wéi zhe gān kū。
cǐ shí jiǎ shè， jiǎ zhèng yòu kǒng kū huài liǎo jiǎ mǔ， rì yè 'áo yóu fèi huǒ， nào de rén kǒu bù 'ān， yědōu méi liǎo zhù yì。 jiǎ shè hái gè chù qù xún sēng mì dào。 jiǎ zhèng jiàn bù líng xiào zhǒng néng lì yě jiù shì rén suǒ jù yòu de zì yóu， rén de xuǎn zé de zì yóu shì jué duì de。 tí， zhuóshí 'ào nǎo， yīn zǔ jiǎ shè dào：“ ér nǚ zhī shù， jiē yóu tiān mìng， fēi rén lì kě qiáng zhě。 tā 'èr rén zhī bìng chū yú bù yì， bǎi bān yī zhì bù xiào， xiǎng tiān yì gāi rú cǐ， yě zhǐ hǎo yóu tā men qù bà。” jiǎ shè yě bù lǐ cǐ huà， réng shì bǎi bān máng luàn， nà lǐ jiàn xiē xiào yàn。 kàn kàn sān rì guāng yīn， nà fèng jiě hé bǎo yù tǎng zài chuáng shàng， yì fā lián qì dū jiāng méi liǎo。 hé jiā rén kǒu wú bù jīng huāng， dōushuō méi liǎo zhǐ wàng， máng zhe jiāng tā 'èr rén de hòu shì de yī lǚ dū zhì bèi xià liǎo。 jiǎ mǔ， wáng fū rén， jiǎ liǎn， píng 'ér， xí rén zhè jǐ gè rén gèng bǐ zhū rén kū de wàng cān fèi qǐn， mì sǐ xún huó。 zhào yí niàn， jiǎ huán děng zì shì chènyuàn。 dào liǎo dì sì rì zǎo chén， jiǎ mǔ děng zhèng wéi zhe bǎo yù kū shí， zhǐ jiàn bǎo yù zhēng kāi yǎn shuō dào：“ cóng jīn yǐ hòu， wǒ kě bù zài nǐ jiā liǎo！ kuài shōu shí liǎo， dǎ fā wǒ zǒu bà。” jiǎ mǔ tīng liǎo zhè huà， rú tóng zhāi xīn qù gān yī bān。 zhào yí niàn zài bàng quàn dào：“ lǎo tài tài yě bù bì guò yú bēi tòng。 gē 'ér yǐ shì bù zhōng yòng liǎo， bù rú bǎ gē 'ér de yī fú chuān hǎo， ràng tā zǎo xiē huí qù， yě miǎn xiē kǔ， zhǐ guǎn shěbùdé tā， zhè kǒu qì bù duàn， tā zài nà shì lǐ yě shòu zuì bù 'ān shēng。” zhè xiē huà méi shuō wán， bèi jiǎ mǔ zhào liǎn cuì liǎo yī kǒu tuò mò， mà dào：“ làn liǎo shé tóu de hùn zhàng lǎo pó， shuí jiào nǐ lái duō zuǐ duō shé de！ nǐ zěn me zhī dào tā zài nà shì lǐ shòu zuì bù 'ān shēng？ zěn me jiàn dé bù zhōng yòng liǎo？ nǐ yuàn tā sǐ liǎo， yòu shénme hǎo chù？ nǐ bié zuò mèng！ tā sǐ liǎo， wǒ zhǐ hé nǐ men yào mìng。 sù rì dōubù shì nǐ men tiáosuō zhe bī tā xiě zì niàn shū， bǎ dǎn zǐ hǔ pò liǎo， jiàn liǎo tā lǎo zǐ bù xiàng gè bì māo shǔ 'ér？ dōubù shì nǐ men zhè qǐ yín fù tiáosuō de！ zhè huì zǐ bī sǐ liǎo， nǐ men suì liǎo xīn， wǒ ráo nà yī gè！ " yī miàn mà， yī miàn kū。 jiǎ zhèng zài bàng tīng jiàn zhè xiē huà， xīn lǐ yuè fānàn guò， biàn hē tuì zhào yí niàn， zì jǐ shàng lái wěi wǎn jiě quàn。 yī shí yòu yòu rén lái huí shuō：“ liǎng kǒu guān guǒ dū zuò qí liǎo， qǐng lǎo yé chū qù kàn。” jiǎ mǔ tīng liǎo， rú huǒ shàng jiāo yóu yī bān， biàn mà：“ shì shuí zuò liǎo guān guǒ？ " yī dié shēng zhǐ jiào bǎ zuò guān cái de lā lái dǎ sǐ。 zhèng nào de tiān fān dì fù， méi gè kāi jiāo， zhǐ wén dé yǐn yǐn de mù yú shēng xiǎng， niàn liǎo yī jù：“ nán wú jiě yuān niè pú sà。 yòu nà rén kǒu bù lì， jiā zhái diān qīng， huò féng xiōng xiǎn， huò zhōng xié suì zhě， wǒ men shàn néng yī zhì。” jiǎ mǔ， wáng fū rén tīng jiàn zhè xiē huà， nà lǐ hái nài dé zhù， biàn mìng rén qù kuài qǐng jìn lái。 jiǎ zhèng suī bù zì zài， nài jiǎ mǔ zhī yán rú hé wéi 'ào， xiǎng rú cǐ shēn zhái， hé dé tīng de zhè yàng zhēn qiē， xīn zhōng yì xī hǎn， mìng rén qǐng liǎo jìn lái。 zhòng rén jǔ mù kàn shí， yuán lái shì yī gè là tóu hé shàng yǔ yī gè bǒ zú dào rén。 jiàn nà hé shàng shì zěn de múyàng：
bí rú xuán dǎn liǎng méi cháng， mù sì míng xīng xù bǎo guāng，
pò nà máng xié wú zhù jì， yān か gèng yòu mǎn tóu chuāng。 nà dào rén yòu shì zěn shēng múyàng：
yī zú gāo lái yī zú dī， hún shēn dài shuǐ yòu tuō ní。
xiāng féng ruò wèn jiā hé chù， què zài péng lāi ruò shuǐ xī。
jiǎ zhèng wèn dào：“ nǐ dào yǒu 'èr rén zài nà miào lǐ fén xiū。” nà sēng xiào dào：“ zhǎngguān bù xū duō huà。 yīn wén dé fǔ shàng rén kǒu bù lì， gù tè lái yī zhì。” jiǎ zhèng dào：“ dǎo yòu liǎng gè rén zhòngxié， bù zhī nǐ men yòu hé fú shuǐ？ " nà dào rén xiào dào：“ nǐ jiā xiàn yòu xī shì qí zhēn， rú hé hái wèn wǒ men yòu fú shuǐ？ " jiǎ zhèng tīng zhè huà yòu yì sī， xīn zhōng biàn dòng liǎo， yīn shuō dào：“ xiǎo 'ér luò cǎo shí suī dài liǎo yī kuài bǎo yù xià lái， shàng miàn shuō néng chú xié suì， shuí zhī jìng bù líng yàn。” nà sēng dào：“ zhǎngguān nǐ nà lǐ zhī dào nà wù de miào yòng。 zhǐ yīn tā rú jīn bèi shēng sè huò lì suǒ mí， gù bù líng yàn liǎo。 nǐ jīn qiě qǔ tā chū lái， dài wǒ men chí sòng chí sòng， zhǐ pà jiù hǎo liǎo。”
jiǎ zhèng tīng shuō， biàn xiàng bǎo yù xiàng shàng qǔ xià nà yù lái dì yǔ tā 'èr rén。 nà hé shàng jiē liǎo guò lái， qíng zài zhǎng shàng， cháng tàn yī shēng dào： qīng gěng fēng yī bié， zhǎn yǎn yǐ guò shí sānzǎi yǐ！ rén shì guāng yīn， rú cǐ xùn sù， chén yuán mǎn rì， ruò sì tánzhǐ！ kě xiàn nǐ dāng shí de nà duàn hǎo chù：
tiān bù jū xī dì bù jī， xīn tóu wú xǐ yì wú bēi，
què yīn duàn liàn tōng líng hòu， biàn xiàng rén jiān mì shì fēi。 kě tàn nǐ jīn rì zhè fān jīng lì：
fěn zì zhī hén wū bǎo guāng， qǐ lóng zhòu yè kùn yuān yāng。
chén hān yī mèng zhōng xū xǐng， yuān niè cháng qīng hǎo sàn chǎng！ niàn bì， yòu mó nòng yī huí， shuō liǎo xiē fēng huà， dì yǔ jiǎ zhèng dào：“ cǐ wù yǐ líng， bù kě xiè dòu， xuán yú wò shì shàng jiàn， jiāng tā 'èr rén 'ān zài yī shì zhī nèi， chú qīn shēn qī mǔ wài， bù kě shǐ yīn rén chōng fàn。 sān shí sān rì zhī hòu， bāo guǎn shēn 'ān bìng tuì， fù jiù rú chū。” shuō zhe huí tóu biàn zǒu liǎo。 jiǎ zhèng gǎn zhe hái shuō huà， ràng 'èr rén zuò liǎo chī chá， yào sòng xiè lǐ， tā 'èr rén zǎo yǐ chū qù liǎo。 jiǎ mǔ děng hái zhǐ guǎn zhe rén qù gǎn， nà lǐ yòu gè zōng yǐng。 shǎo bù dé yǐ yán jiāng tā 'èr rén jiù 'ān fàng zài wáng fū rén wò shì zhī nèi， jiāng yù xuán zài mén shàng。 wáng fū rén qīn shēn shǒu zhe， bù xǔ bié gè rén jìn lái。 zhì wǎn jiān tā 'èr rén jìng jiàn jiàn xǐng lái， shuō fù zhōng jī 'è。 jiǎ mǔ， wáng fū rén rú dé liǎo zhēn bǎo yī bān， xuán 'áo liǎo mǐ tānɡ yǔ tā 'èr rén chī liǎo， jīng shén jiàn cháng， xié suì shāo tuì， yī jiā zǐ cái bǎ xīn fàng xià lái。 lǐ gōng cái bìng jiǎ fǔ sān yàn， xuē bǎo chāi， lín dài yù， píng 'ér， xí rén děng zài wài jiān tīng xìn xī。 wén dé chī liǎo mǐ tānɡ， shěng liǎo rén shì， bié rén wèi kāi kǒu， lín dài yù xiān jiù niàn liǎo yī shēng " ēmítuófó "。 xuē bǎo chāi biàn huí tóu kàn liǎo tā bàn rì， chī de yī shēng xiào。 zhòng réndōu bù huì yì， jiǎ xī chūn dào：“ bǎo jiě jiě， hǎohǎo de xiào shénme？ " bǎo chāi xiào dào：“ wǒ xiào rú lái fó bǐ rén hái máng： yòu yào jiǎng jīng shuō fǎ， yòu yào pǔ dù zhòng shēng， zhè rú jīn bǎo yù， fèng jiě jiě bìng liǎo， yòu shāo xiāng hái yuàn， cì fú xiāo zāi， jīn cái hǎo xiē， yòu guǎn lín gū niàn de yīn yuán liǎo。 nǐ shuō máng de kě xiào bù kě xiào。” lín dài yù bù jué de hóng liǎo liǎn， cuì liǎo yī kǒu dào：“ nǐ men zhè qǐ rén bù shì hǎo rén， bù zhī zěn me sǐ！ zài bù gēn zhe hǎo rén xué， zhǐ gēn zhe fèng jiě pín zuǐ làn shé de xué。” yī miàn shuō， yī miàn shuāi lián zǐ chū qù liǎo。 bù zhī duān xiáng， qiě tīng xià huí fēn jiě。
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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