中国经典 》 紅樓夢 A Dream of Red Mansions 》
第三十三回 手足耽耽小動唇舌 不肖種種大承笞撻 CHAPTER XXXIII.
曹雪芹 Cao Xueqin
高鶚 Gao E
CHAPTER XXXIII.
卻說王夫人喚他母親上來，拿幾件簪環當面賞與， 又吩咐請幾衆僧人念經超度。他母親磕頭謝了出去。原來寶玉會過雨村回來聽見了，便知金釧兒含羞賭氣自盡，心中早又五內摧傷，進來被王夫人數落教訓，也無可回說。見寶釵進來，方得便出來，茫然不知何往，背着手，低頭一面感嘆，一面慢慢的走着， 信步來至廳上。剛轉過屏門，不想對面來了一人正往裏走，可巧兒撞了個滿懷。衹聽那人喝了一聲" 站住！"寶玉唬了一跳，擡頭一看，不是別人，卻是他父親，不覺的倒抽了一口氣，衹得垂手一旁站了。賈政道：“好端端的，你垂頭喪氣も些什麽？方纔雨村來了要見你，叫你那半天你纔出來，既出來了，全無一點慷慨揮灑談吐，仍是葳葳蕤蕤。 我看你臉上一團思欲愁悶氣色，這會子又咳聲嘆氣。你那些還不足，還不自在？無故這樣， 卻是為何？"寶玉素日雖是口角伶俐，衹是此時一心總為金釧兒感傷，恨不得此時也身亡命殞，跟了金釧兒去。如今見了他父親說這些話，究竟不曾聽見，衹是怔呵呵的站着。
賈政見他惶悚， 應對不似往日，原本無氣的，這一來倒生了三分氣。方欲說話，忽有回事人來回：“忠順親王府裏有人來，要見老爺。”賈政聽了，心下疑惑，暗暗思忖道：“ 素日並不和忠順府來往，為什麽今日打發人來？"一面想一面令"快請"，急走出來看時，卻是忠順府長史官，忙接進廳上坐了獻茶。未及敘談，那長史官先就說道：“下官此來，並非擅造潭府，皆因奉王命而來，有一件事相求。看王爺面上，敢煩老大人作主，不但王爺知情，且連下官輩亦感謝不盡。”賈政聽了這話，抓不住頭腦，忙陪笑起身問道：“大人既奉王命而來，不知有何見諭，望大人宣明，學生好遵諭承辦。”那長史官便冷笑道：“也不必承辦，衹用大人一句話就完了。我們府裏有一個做小旦的琪官，一嚮好好在府裏， 如今竟三五日不見回去，各處去找，又摸不着他的道路，因此各處訪察。這一城內，十停人倒有八停人都說，他近日和銜玉的那位令郎相與甚厚。下官輩等聽了，尊府不比別傢，可以擅入索取，因此啓明王爺。王爺亦云：‘若是別的戲子呢，一百個也罷了，衹是這琪官隨機應答，謹慎老誠，甚合我老人傢的心，竟斷斷少不得此人。’故此求老大人轉諭令郎， 請將琪官放回，一則可慰王爺諄諄奉懇，二則下官輩也可免操勞求覓之苦。”說畢，忙打一躬。
賈政聽了這話， 又驚又氣，即命喚寶玉來。寶玉也不知是何原故，忙趕來時，賈政便問：“該死的奴才！你在傢不讀書也罷了，怎麽又做出這些無法無天的事來！那琪官現是忠順王爺駕前承奉的人， 你是何等草芥，無故引逗他出來，如今禍及於我。”寶玉聽了唬了一跳，忙回道：“實在不知此事。究竟連‘琪官’兩個字不知為何物，豈更又加‘引逗’二字！"說着便哭了。賈政未及開言，衹見那長史官冷笑道：“公子也不必掩飾。或隱藏在傢，或知其下落，早說了出來，我們也少受些辛苦，豈不念公子之德？"寶玉連說不知， "恐是訛傳，也未見得。”那長史官冷笑道：“現有據證，何必還賴？必定當着老大人說了出來， 公子豈不吃虧？既雲不知此人，那紅汗巾子怎麽到了公子腰裏？"寶玉聽了這話，不覺轟去魂魄，目瞪口呆，心下自思：“這話他如何得知！他既連這樣機密事都知道了， 大約別的瞞他不過，不如打發他去了，免的再說出別的事來。”因說道：“大人既知他的底細，如何連他置買房捨這樣大事倒不曉得了？聽得說他如今在東郊離城二十裏有個什麽紫檀堡，他在那裏置了幾畝田地幾間房捨。想是在那裏也未可知。”那長史官聽了，笑道：“這樣說，一定是在那裏。我且去找一回，若有了便罷，若沒有，還要來請教。”說着，便忙忙的走了。
賈政此時氣的目瞪口歪，一面送那長史官，一面回頭命寶玉"不許動！回來有話問你！"一直送那官員去了。纔回身，忽見賈環帶着幾個小廝一陣亂跑。賈政喝令小廝"快打， 快打！"賈環見了他父親“貨幣數量論”，反對減輕利率、間接稅和提高“勞動價格”。，唬的骨軟筋酥，忙低頭站住。賈政便問：“你跑什麽？帶着你的那些人都不管你， 不知往那裏逛去，由你野馬一般！"喝令叫跟上學的人來。賈環見他父親盛怒， 便乘機說道：“方纔原不曾跑，衹因從那井邊一過，那井裏淹死了一個丫頭，我看見人頭這樣大，身子這樣粗，泡的實在可怕，所以纔趕着跑了過來。”賈政聽了驚疑， 問道：“好端端的，誰去跳井？我傢從無這樣事情，自祖宗以來，皆是寬柔以待下人。 ——大約我近年於傢務疏懶，自然執事人操剋奪之權，致使生出這暴殄輕生的禍患。若外人知道，祖宗顔面何在！"喝令快叫賈璉，賴大，來興。小廝們答應了一聲，方欲叫去， 賈環忙上前拉住賈政的袍襟，貼膝跪下道：“父親不用生氣。此事除太太房裏的人， 別人一點也不知道。我聽見我母親說……"說到這裏，便回頭四顧一看。賈政知意，將眼一看衆小廝，小廝們明白，都往兩邊後面退去。賈環便悄悄說道：“我母親告訴我說，寶玉哥哥前日在太太屋裏，拉着太太的丫頭金釧兒強姦不遂，打了一頓。那金釧兒便賭氣投井死了。 "話未說完，把個賈政氣的面如金紙，大喝"快拿寶玉來！"一面說一面便往裏邊書房裏去，喝令"今日再有人勸我，我把這冠帶傢私一應交與他與寶玉過去！我免不得做個罪人，把這幾根煩惱鬢毛剃去，尋個幹淨去處自了，也免得上辱先人下生逆子之罪。”衆門客僕從見賈政這個形景，便知又是為寶玉了，一個個都是啖指咬舌，連忙退出。那賈政喘籲籲直挺挺坐在椅子上，滿面淚痕，一疊聲"拿寶玉！拿大棍！拿索子捆上！把各門都關上！有人傳信往裏頭去，立刻打死！"衆小廝們衹得齊聲答應，有幾個來找寶玉。
那寶玉聽見賈政吩咐他"不許動"，早知多兇少吉，那裏承望賈環又添了許多的話。正在廳上幹轉，怎得個人來往裏頭去捎信，偏生沒個人，連焙茗也不知在那裏。正盼望時， 衹見一個老姆姆出來。寶玉如得了珍寶，便趕上來拉他，說道：“快進去告訴：老爺要打我呢！快去，快去！要緊，要緊！"寶玉一則急了，說話不明白，二則老婆子偏生又聾，竟不曾聽見是什麽話，把"要緊"二字衹聽作"跳井"二字，便笑道：“跳井讓他跳去，二爺怕什麽？ "寶玉見是個聾子，便着急道：“你出去叫我的小廝來罷。”那婆子道：“有什麽不了的事？老早的完了。太太又賞了衣服，又賞了銀子，怎麽不了事的！”
寶玉急的跺腳， 正沒抓尋處，衹見賈政的小廝走來，逼着他出去了。賈政一見，眼都紅紫了，也不暇問他在外流蕩優伶，表贈私物，在傢荒疏學業，淫辱母婢等語，衹喝令"堵起嘴來，着實打死！"小廝們不敢違拗，衹得將寶玉按在凳上，舉起大板打了十來下。 賈政猶嫌打輕了，一腳踢開掌板的，自己奪過來，咬着牙狠命蓋了三四十下。衆門客見打的不祥了， 忙上前奪勸。賈政那裏肯聽，說道：“你們問問他幹的勾當可饒不可饒！素日皆是你們這些人把他釀壞了，到這步田地還來解勸。明日釀到他弒君殺父，你們纔不勸不成！”
衆人聽這話不好聽，知道氣急了，忙又退出，衹得覓人進去給信。王夫人不敢先回賈母，衹得忙穿衣出來的本質，宇宙中的一切都由它所創造。創造的過程是任意的、，也不顧有人沒人，忙忙趕往書房中來，慌的衆門客小廝等避之不及。王夫人一進房來，賈政更如火上澆油一般，那板子越發下去的又狠又快。按寶玉的兩個小廝忙鬆了手走開，寶玉早已動彈不得了。賈政還欲打時，早被王夫人抱住板子。賈政道：“罷了，罷了！今日必定要氣死我纔罷！"王夫人哭道：“寶玉雖然該打，老爺也要自重。況且炎天暑日的，老太太身上也不大好，打死寶玉事小，倘或老太太一時不自在了，豈不事大！"賈政冷笑道：“倒休提這話。我養了這不肖的孽障，已不孝，教訓他一番，又有衆人護持，不如趁今日一發勒死了，以絶將來之患！"說着，便要繩索來勒死。 王夫人連忙抱住哭道：“老爺雖然應當管教兒子，也要看夫妻分上。我如今已將五十歲的人， 衹有這個孽障，必定苦苦的以他為法，我也不敢深勸。今日越發要他死，豈不是有意絶我。 既要勒死他，快拿繩子來先勒死我，再勒死他。我們娘兒們不敢含怨，到底在陰司裏得個依靠。”說畢，爬在寶玉身上大哭起來。賈政聽了此話，不覺長嘆一聲，嚮椅上坐了，淚如雨下。王夫人抱着寶玉，衹見他面白氣弱，底下穿着一條緑紗小衣皆是血漬，禁不住解下汗巾看，由臀至脛，或青或紫，或整或破，竟無一點好處，不覺失聲大哭起來，"苦命的兒嚇！"因哭出"苦命兒"來，忽又想起賈珠來，便叫着賈珠哭道：“若有你活着，便死一百個我也不管了。”此時裏面的人聞得王夫人出來，那李宮裁王熙鳳與迎春姊妹早已出來了。 王夫人哭着賈珠的名字，別人還可，惟有宮裁禁不住也放聲哭了。賈政聽了，那淚珠更似滾瓜一般滾了下來。正沒開交處，忽聽丫鬟來說：“老太太來了。”一句話未了，衹聽窗外顫巍巍的聲氣說道：“先打死我，再打死他，豈不幹淨了！"賈政見他母親來了，又急又痛，連忙迎接出來，衹見賈母扶着丫頭，喘籲籲的走來。賈政上前躬身陪笑道：“大暑熱天，母親有何生氣親自走來？有話衹該叫了兒子進去吩咐。”賈母聽說，便止住步喘息一回，厲聲說道：“你原來是和我說話！我倒有話吩咐，衹是可憐我一生沒養個好兒子，卻教我和誰說去！"賈政聽這話不象，忙跪下含淚說道：“為兒的教訓兒子，也為的是光宗耀祖。母親這話，我做兒的如何禁得起？"賈母聽說，便啐了一口，說道：“我說一句話，你就禁不起，你那樣下死手的板子，難道寶玉就禁得起了？你說教訓兒子是光宗耀祖，當初你父親怎麽教訓你來！"說着，不覺就滾下淚來。賈政又陪笑道：“母親也不必傷感，皆是作兒的一時性起，從此以後再不打他了。”賈母便冷笑道：“你也不必和我使性子賭氣的。你的兒子，我也不該管你打不打。我猜着你也厭煩我們娘兒們。不如我們趕早兒離了你，大傢幹淨！"說着便令人去看轎馬，"我和你太太寶玉立刻回南京去！"傢下人衹得幹答應着。賈母又叫王夫人道：“你也不必哭了。如今寶玉年紀小， 你疼他，他將來長大成人，為官作宰的，也未必想着你是他母親了。你如今倒不要疼他， 衹怕將來還少生一口氣呢。”賈政聽說，忙叩頭哭道：“母親如此說，賈政無立足之地。”賈母冷笑道：“你分明使我無立足之地，你反說起你來！衹是我們回去了，你心裏幹淨，看有誰來許你打。”一面說，一面衹令快打點行李車轎回去。賈政苦苦叩求認罪。
賈母一面說話，一面又記挂寶玉，忙進來看時，衹見今日這頓打不比往日，又是心疼， 又是生氣，也抱着哭個不了。王夫人與鳳姐等解勸了一會，方漸漸的止住。早有丫鬟媳婦等上來，要攙寶玉，鳳姐便駡道：“糊塗東西，也不睜開眼瞧瞧！打的這麽個樣兒， 還要攙着走！還不快進去把那藤屜子春凳擡出來呢。”衆人聽說連忙進去，果然擡出春凳來，將寶玉擡放凳上，隨着賈母王夫人等進去，送至賈母房中。
彼時賈政見賈母氣未全消， 不敢自便，也跟了進去。看看寶玉，果然打重了。再看看王夫人，兒這會子你倘或有個好歹，丟下我，叫我靠那一個！"數落一場，又哭"不爭氣的兒"。賈政聽了，也就灰心，自悔不該下毒手打到如此地步。先勸賈母，賈母含淚說道：“你不出去，還在這裏做什麽！難道於心不足，還要眼看着他死了纔去不成！"賈政聽說，方退了出來。
此時薛姨媽同寶釵， 香菱，襲人，史湘雲也都在這裏。襲人滿心委屈，衹不好十分使出來自然主義①泛指一種哲學傾嚮。認為自然就是能認識的，見衆人圍着，灌水的灌水，打扇的打扇，自己插不下手去，便越性走出來到二門前， 令小廝們找了焙茗來細問：“方纔好端端的，為什麽打起來？你也不早來透個信兒！ "焙茗急的說：“偏生我沒在跟前，打到半中間我纔聽見了。忙打聽原故，卻是為琪官金釧姐姐的事。 "襲人道：“老爺怎麽得知道的？"焙茗道：“那琪官的事，多半是薛大爺素日吃醋，沒法兒出氣，不知在外頭唆挑了誰來，在老爺跟前下的火。那金釧兒的事是三爺說的，我也是聽見老爺的人說的。”襲人聽了這兩件事都對景，心中也就信了八九分。 然後回來，衹見衆人都替寶玉療治。調停完備，賈母令"好生擡到他房內去"。衆人答應，七手八腳，忙把寶玉送入怡紅院內自己床上臥好。又亂了半日，衆人漸漸散去，襲人方進前來經心服侍，問他端的。且聽下回分解。
A brother is prompted by ill-feeling to wag his tongue a bit. A depraved son receives heavy blows with a rattan cane.
Madame Wang, for we shall now continue our story, sent for Chin Ch'uan-erh's mother. On her arrival, she gave her several hair-pins and rings, and then told her that she could invite several Buddhist priests as well to read the prayers necessary to release the spirit from purgatory. The mother prostrated herself and expressed her gratitude; after which, she took her leave.
Indeed, Pao-yue, on his return from entertaining Yue-ts'un, heard the tidings that Chin Ch'uan-erh had been instigated by a sense of shame to take her own life and he at once fell a prey to grief. So much so, that, when he came inside, and was again spoken to and admonished by Madame Wang, he could not utter a single word in his justification. But as soon as he perceived Pao-ch'ai make her appearance in the room, he seized the opportunity to scamper out in precipitate haste. Whither he was trudging, he himself had not the least idea. But throwing his hands behind his back and drooping his head against his chest, he gave way to sighs, while with slow and listless step he turned towards the hall. Scarcely, however, had he rounded the screen-wall, which stood in front of the door-way, when, by a strange coincidence, he ran straight into the arms of some one, who was unawares approaching from the opposite direction, and was just about to go towards the inner portion of the compound.
"Hallo!" that person was heard to cry out, as he stood still.
Pao-yue sustained a dreadful start. Raising his face to see, he discovered that it was no other than his father. At once, he unconsciously drew a long breath and adopted the only safe course of dropping his arms against his body and standing on one side.
"Why are you," exclaimed Chia Cheng, "drooping your head in such a melancholy mood, and indulging in all these moans? When Yue-ts'un came just now and he asked to see you, you only put in your appearance after a long while. But though you did come, you were not in the least disposed to chat with anything like cheerfulness and animation; you behaved, as you ever do, like a regular fool. I detected then in your countenance a certain expression of some hidden hankering and sadness; and now again here you are groaning and sighing! Does all you have not suffice to please you? Are you still dissatisfied? You've no reason to be like this, so why is it that you go on in this way?"
Pao-yue had ever, it is true, shown a glib tongue, but on the present occasion he was so deeply affected by Chin Ch'uan-erh's fate, and vexed at not being able to die that very instant and follow in her footsteps that although he was now fully conscious that his father was speaking to him he could not, in fact, lend him an ear, but simply stood in a timid and nervous mood. Chia Cheng noticed that he was in a state of trembling and fear, not as ready with an answer as he usually was, and his sorry plight somewhat incensed him, much though he had not at first borne him any ill-feeling. But just as he was about to chide him, a messenger approached and announced to him: "Some one has come from the mansion of the imperial Prince Chung Shun, and wishes to see you, Sir." At this announcement, surmises sprung up in Chia Cheng's mind. "Hitherto," he secretly mused, "I've never had any dealings with the Chung Shun mansion, and why is it that some one is despatched here to-day?" As he gave way to these reflections. "Be quick," he shouted, "and ask him to take a seat in the pavilion," while he himself precipitately entered the inner room and changed his costume. When he came out to greet the visitor, he discovered that it was the senior officer of the Chung Shun mansion. After the exchange of the salutations prescribed by the rites, they sat down and tea was presented. But before (Chia Cheng) had had time to start a topic of conversation, the senior officer anticipated him, and speedily observed: "Your humble servant does not pay this visit to-day to your worthy mansion on his own authority, but entirely in compliance with instructions received, as there is a favour that I have to beg of you. I make bold to trouble you, esteemed Sir, on behalf of his highness, to take any steps you might deem suitable, and if you do, not only will his highness remember your kindness, but even I, your humble servant, and my colleagues will feel extremely grateful to you."
Chia Cheng listened to him, but he could not nevertheless get a clue of what he was driving at. Promptly returning his smile, he rose to his feet. "You come, Sir," he inquired, "at the instance of his royal highness, but what, I wonder, are the commands you have to give me? I hope you will explain them to your humble servant, worthy Sir, in order to enable him to carry them out effectively."
The senior officer gave a sardonic smile.
"There's nothing to carry out," he said. "All you, venerable Sir, have to do is to utter one single word and the whole thing will be effected. There is in our mansion a certain Ch'i Kuan, who plays the part of young ladies. He hitherto stayed quietly in the mansion; but for the last three or five days or so no one has seen him return home. Search has been instituted in every locality, yet his whereabouts cannot be discovered. But throughout these various inquiries, eight out of the ten tenths of the inhabitants of the city have, with one consent, asserted that he has of late been on very friendly terms with that honourable son of yours, who was born with the jade in his mouth. This report was told your servant and his colleagues, but as your worthy mansion is unlike such residences as we can take upon ourselves to enter and search with impunity, we felt under the necessity of laying the matter before our imperial master. 'Had it been any of the other actors,' his highness also says, 'I wouldn't have minded if even one hundred of them had disappeared; but this Ch'i Kuan has always been so ready with pat repartee, so respectful and trustworthy that he has thoroughly won my aged heart, and I could never do without him.' He entreats you, therefore, worthy Sir, to, in your turn, plead with your illustrious scion, and request him to let Ch'i Kuan go back, in order that the feelings, which prompt the Prince to make such earnest supplications, may, in the first place, be satisfied: and that, in the next, your mean servant and his associates may be spared the fatigue of toiling and searching."
At the conclusion of this appeal, he promptly made a low bow. As soon as Chia Cheng found out the object of his errand, he felt both astonishment and displeasure. With all promptitude, he issued directions that Pao-yue should be told to come out of the garden. Pao-yue had no notion whatever why he was wanted. So speedily he hurried to appear before his father.
"What a regular scoundrel you are!" Chia Cheng exclaimed. "It is enough that you won't read your books at home; but will you also go in for all these lawless and wrongful acts? That Ch'i Kuan is a person whose present honourable duties are to act as an attendant on his highness the Prince of Chung Shun, and how extremely heedless of propriety must you be to have enticed him, without good cause, to come away, and thus have now brought calamity upon me?"
These reproaches plunged Pao-yue in a dreadful state of consternation. With alacrity he said by way of reply: "I really don't know anything about the matter! To what do, after all, the two words Ch'i Kuan refer, I wonder! Still less, besides, am I aware what entice can imply!"
As he spoke, he started crying.
But before Chia Cheng could open his month to pass any further remarks, "Young gentleman," he heard the senior officer interpose with a sardonic smile: "you shouldn't conceal anything! if he be either hidden in your home, or if you know his whereabouts, divulge the truth at once; so that less trouble should fall to our lot than otherwise would. And will we not then bear in mind your virtue, worthy scion!"
"I positively don't know." Pao-yue time after time maintained. "There must, I fear, be some false rumour abroad; for I haven't so much as seen anything of him."
The senior officer gave two loud smiles, full of derision. "There's evidence at hand," he rejoined, "so if you compel me to speak out before your venerable father, won't you, young man, have to suffer the consequences? But as you assert that you don't know who this person is, how is it that that red sash has come to be attached to your waist?"
When Pao-yue caught this allusion, he suddenly felt quite out of his senses. He stared and gaped; while within himself, he argued: "How has he come to hear anything about this! But since he knows all these secret particulars, I cannot, I expect, put him off in other points; so wouldn't it be better for me to pack him off, in order to obviate his blubbering anything more?" "Sir," he consequently remarked aloud, "how is it that despite your acquaintance with all these minute details, you have no inkling of his having purchased a house? Are you ignorant of an essential point like this? I've heard people say that he's, at present, staying in the eastern suburbs at a distance of twenty li from the city walls; at some place or other called Tzu T'an Pao, and that he has bought there several acres of land and a few houses. So I presume he's to be found in that locality; but of course there's no saying."
"According to your version," smiled the senior officer, as soon as he heard his explanation, "he must for a certainty be there. I shall therefore go and look for him. If he's there, well and good; but if not, I shall come again and request you to give me further directions."
These words were still on his lips, when he took his leave and walked off with hurried step.
Chia Cheng was by this time stirred up to such a pitch of indignation that his eyes stared aghast, and his mouth opened in bewilderment; and as he escorted the officer out, he turned his head and bade Pao-yue not budge. "I have," (he said), "to ask you something on my return." Straightway he then went to see the officer off. But just as he was turning back, he casually came across Chia Huan and several servant-boys running wildly about in a body. "Quick, bring him here to me!" shouted Chia Cheng to the young boys. "I want to beat him."
Chia Huan, at the sight of his father, was so terrified that his bones mollified and his tendons grew weak, and, promptly lowering his head, he stood still."
"What are you running about for?" Chia Cheng asked. "These menials of yours do not mind you, but go who knows where, and let you roam about like a wild horse! Where are the attendants who wait on you at school?" he cried.
When Chia Huan saw his father in such a dreadful rage, he availed himself of the first opportunity to try and clear himself. "I wasn't running about just now" he said. "But as I was passing by the side of that well, I caught sight, for in that well a servant-girl was drowned, of a human head that large, a body that swollen, floating about in really a frightful way and I therefore hastily rushed past."
Chia Cheng was thunderstruck by this disclosure. "There's been nothing up, so who has gone and jumped into the well?" he inquired. "Never has there been anything of the kind in my house before! Ever since the time of our ancestors, servants have invariably been treated with clemency and consideration. But I expect that I must of late have become remiss in my domestic affairs, and that the managers must have arrogated to themselves the right of domineering and so been the cause of bringing about such calamities as violent deaths and disregard of life. Were these things to reach the ears of people outside, what will become of the reputation of our seniors? Call Chia Lien and Lai Ta here!" he shouted.
The servant-lads signified their obedience, with one voice. They were about to go and summon them, when Chia Huan hastened to press forward. Grasping the lapel of Chia Cheng's coat, and clinging to his knees, he knelt down. "Father, why need you be angry?" he said. "Excluding the people in Madame Wang's rooms, this occurrence is entirely unknown to any of the rest; and I have heard my mother mention...." At this point, he turned his head, and cast a glance in all four quarters.
Chia Cheng guessed his meaning, and made a sign with his eyes. The young boys grasped his purpose and drew far back on either side.
Chia Huan resumed his confidences in a low tone of voice. "My mother," he resumed, "told me that when brother Pao-yue was, the other day, in Madame Wang's apartments, he seized her servant-maid Chin Ch'uan-erh with the intent of dishonouring her. That as he failed to carry out his design, he gave her a thrashing, which so exasperated Chin Ch'uan-erh that she threw herself into the well and committed suicide...."
Before however he could conclude his account, Chia Cheng had been incensed to such a degree that his face assumed the colour of silver paper. "Bring Pao-yue here," he cried. While uttering these orders, he walked into the study. "If any one does again to-day come to dissuade me," he vociferated, "I shall take this official hat, and sash, my home and private property and surrender everything at once to him to go and bestow them upon Pao-yue; for if I cannot escape blame (with a son like the one I have), I mean to shave this scanty trouble-laden hair about my temples and go in search of some unsullied place where I can spend the rest of my days alone! I shall thus also avoid the crime of heaping, above, insult upon my predecessors, and, below, of having given birth to such a rebellious son."
At the sight of Chia Cheng in this exasperation, the family companions and attendants speedily realised that Pao-yue must once more be the cause of it, and the whole posse hastened to withdraw from the study, biting their fingers and putting their tongues out.
Chia Cheng panted with excitement. He stretched his chest out and sat bolt upright on a chair. His whole face was covered with the traces of tears. "Bring Pao-yue! Bring Pao-yue!" he shouted consecutively. "Fetch a big stick; bring a rope and tie him up; close all the doors! If any one does communicate anything about it in the inner rooms, why, I'll immediately beat him to death."
The servant-boys felt compelled to express their obedience with one consent, and some of them came to look after Pao-yue.
As for Pao-yue, when he heard Chia Cheng enjoin him not to move, he forthwith became aware that the chances of an unpropitious issue outnumbered those of a propitious one, but how could he have had any idea that Chia Huan as well had put in his word? There he still stood in the pavilion, revolving in his mind how he could get some one to speed inside and deliver a message for him. But, as it happened, not a soul appeared. He was quite at a loss to know where even Pei Ming could be. His longing was at its height, when he perceived an old nurse come on the scene. The sight of her exulted Pao-yue, just as much as if he had obtained pearls or gems; and hurriedly approaching her, he dragged her and forced her to halt. "Go in," he urged, "at once and tell them that my father wishes to beat me to death. Be quick, be quick, for it's urgent, there's no time to be lost."
But, first and foremost, Pao-yue's excitement was so intense that he spoke with indistinctness. In the second place, the old nurse was, as luck would have it, dull of hearing, so that she did not catch the drift of what he said, and she misconstrued the two words: "it's urgent," for the two representing jumped into the well. Readily smiling therefore: "If she wants to jump into the well, let her do so," she said. "What's there to make you fear, Master Secundus?"
"Go out," pursued Pao-yue, in despair, on discovering that she was deaf, "and tell my page to come."
"What's there left unsettled?" rejoined the old nurse. "Everything has been finished long ago! A tip has also been given them; so how is it things are not settled?"
Pao-yue fidgetted with his hands and feet. He was just at his wits' ends, when he espied Chia Cheng's servant-boys come up and press him to go out.
As soon as Chia Cheng caught sight of him, his eyes got quite red. Without even allowing himself any time to question him about his gadding about with actors, and the presents he gave them on the sly, during his absence from home; or about his playing the truant from school and lewdly importuning his mother's maid, during his stay at home, he simply shouted: "Gag his mouth and positively beat him till he dies!"
The servant-boys did not have the boldness to disobey him. They were under the necessity of seizing Pao-yue, of stretching him on a bench, and of taking a heavy rattan and giving him about ten blows.
Pao-yue knew well enough that he could not plead for mercy, and all he could do was to whimper and cry.
Chia Cheng however found fault with the light blows they administered to him. With one kick he shoved the castigator aside, and snatching the rattan into his own hands, he spitefully let (Pao-yue) have ten blows and more.
Pao-yue had not, from his very birth, experienced such anguish. From the outset, he found the pain unbearable; yet he could shout and weep as boisterously as ever he pleased; but so weak subsequently did his breath, little by little, become, so hoarse his voice, and so choked his throat that he could not bring out any sound.
The family companions noticed that he was beaten in a way that might lead to an unpropitious end, and they drew near with all despatch and made earnest entreaties and exhortations. But would Chia Cheng listen to them?
"You people," he answered, "had better ask him whether the tricks he has been up to deserve to be overlooked or not! It's you who have all along so thoroughly spoilt him as to make him reach this degree of depravity! And do you yet come to advise me to spare him? When by and bye you've incited him to commit parricide or regicide, you will at length, then, give up trying to dissuade me, eh?"
This language jarred on the ears of the whole party; and knowing only too well that he was in an exasperated mood, they fussed about endeavouring to find some one to go in and convey the news.
But Madame Wang did not presume to be the first to inform dowager lady Chia about it. Seeing no other course open to her, she hastily dressed herself and issued out of the garden. Without so much as worrying her mind as to whether there were any male inmates about or not, she straightway leant on a waiting-maid and hurriedly betook herself into the library, to the intense consternation of the companions, pages and all the men present, who could not manage to clear out of the way in time.
Chia Cheng was on the point of further belabouring his son, when at the sight of Madame Wang walking in, his temper flared up with such increased violence, just as fire on which oil is poured, that the rod fell with greater spite and celerity. The two servant-boys, who held Pao-yue down, precipitately loosened their grip and beat a retreat. Pao-yue had long ago lost all power of movement. Chia Cheng, however, was again preparing to assail him, when the rattan was immediately locked tightly by Madame Wang, in both her arms.
"Of course, of course," Chia Cheng exclaimed, "what you want to do to-day is to make me succumb to anger!"
"Pao-yue does, I admit, merit to be beaten," sobbed Madame Wang; "but you should also, my lord, take good care of yourself! The weather, besides, is extremely hot, and our old lady is not feeling quite up to the mark. Were you to knock Pao-yue about and kill him, it would not matter much; but were perchance our venerable senior to suddenly fall ill, wouldn't it be a grave thing?"
"Better not talk about such things!" observed Chia Cheng with a listless smile. "By my bringing up such a degenerate child of retribution I have myself become unfilial! Whenever I've had to call him to account, there has always been a whole crowd of you to screen him; so isn't it as well for me to avail myself of to-day to put an end to his cur-like existence and thus prevent future misfortune?"
As he spoke, he asked for a rope to strangle him; but Madame Wang lost no time in clasping him in her embrace, and reasoning with him as she wept. "My lord and master," she said, "it is your duty, of course, to keep your son in proper order, but you should also regard the relationship of husband and wife. I'm already a woman of fifty and I've only got this scapegrace. Was there any need for you to give him such a bitter lesson? I wouldn't presume to use any strong dissuasion; but having, on this occasion, gone so far as to harbour the design of killing him, isn't this a fixed purpose on your part to cut short my own existence? But as you are bent upon strangling him, be quick and first strangle me before you strangle him! It will be as well that we, mother and son, should die together, so that if even we go to hell, we may be able to rely upon each other!"
At the conclusion of these words, she enfolded Pao-yue in her embrace and raised her voice in loud sobs.
After listening to her appeal, Chia Cheng could not restrain a deep sigh; and taking a seat on one of the chairs, the tears ran down his cheeks like drops of rain.
But while Madame Wang held Pao-yue in her arms, she noticed that his face was sallow and his breath faint, and that his green gauze nether garments were all speckled with stains of blood, so she could not check her fingers from unloosening his girdle. And realising that from the thighs to the buttocks, his person was here green, there purple, here whole, there broken, and that there was, in fact, not the least bit, which had not sustained some injury, she of a sudden burst out in bitter lamentations for her offspring's wretched lot in life. But while bemoaning her unfortunate son, she again recalled to mind the memory of Chia Chu, and vehemently calling out "Chia Chu," she sobbed: "if but you were alive, I would not care if even one hundred died!"
But by this time, the inmates of the inner rooms discovered that Madame Wang had gone out, and Li Kung-ts'ai, Wang Hsi-feng and Ting Ch'un and her sisters promptly rushed out of the garden and came to join her.
While Madame Wang mentioned, with eyes bathed in tears, the name of Chia Chu, every one listened with composure, with the exception of Li Kung-ts'ai, who unable to curb her feelings also raised her voice in sobs. As soon as Chia Cheng heard her plaints, his tears trickled down with greater profusion, like pearls scattered about. But just as there seemed no prospect of their being consoled, a servant-girl was unawares heard to announce: "Our dowager lady has come!" Before this announcement was ended, her tremulous accents reached their ears from outside the window. "If you were to beat me to death and then despatch him," she cried, "won't you be clear of us!"
Chia Cheng, upon seeing that his mother was coming, felt distressed and pained. With all promptitude, he went out to meet her. He perceived his old parent, toddling along, leaning on the arm of a servant-girl, wagging her head and gasping for breath.
Chia Cheng drew forward and made a curtsey. "On a hot broiling day like this," he ventured, forcing a smile, "what made you, mother, get so angry as to rush over in person? Had you anything to enjoin me, you could have sent for me, your son, and given me your orders."
Old lady Chia, at these words, halted and panted. "Are you really chiding me?" she at the same time said in a stern tone. "It's I who should call you to task! But as the son, I've brought up, isn't worth a straw, to whom can I go and address a word?"
When Chia Cheng heard language so unlike that generally used by her, he immediately fell on his knees. While doing all in his power to contain his tears: "The reason why," he explained, "your son corrects his offspring is a desire to reflect lustre on his ancestors and splendour on his seniors; so how can I, your son, deserve the rebuke with which you greet me, mother?"
At this reply, old lady Chia spurted contemptuously. "I made just one remark," she added, "and you couldn't stand it, and can Pao-yue likely put up with that death-working cane? You say that your object in correcting your son is to reflect lustre on your ancestors and splendour on your seniors, but in what manner did your father correct you in days gone by?"
Saying this, tears suddenly rolled down from her eyes also.
Chia Cheng forced another smile. "Mother;" he proceeded, "you shouldn't distress yourself! Your son did it in a sudden fit of rage, but from this time forth I won't touch him again."
Dowager lady Chia smiled several loud sneering smiles. "But you shouldn't get into a huff with me!" she urged. "He's your son, so if you choose to flog him, you can naturally do so, but I cannot help thinking that you're sick and tired of me, your mother, of your wife and of your son, so wouldn't it be as well that we should get out of your way, the sooner the better, as we shall then be able to enjoy peace and quiet?"
So speaking, "Go and look after the chairs." she speedily cried to a servant. "I and your lady as well as Pao-yue will, without delay, return to Nanking."
The servant had no help but to assent.
Old lady Chia thereupon called Madame Wang over to her. "You needn't indulge in sorrow!" she exhorted her. "Pao-yue is now young, and you cherish him fondly; but does it follow that when in years to come he becomes an official, he'll remember that you are his mother? You mustn't therefore at present lavish too much of your affection upon him, so that you may by and bye, spare yourself, at least, some displeasure."
When these exhortations fell on Chia Cheng's ear, he instantly prostrated himself before her. "Your remarks mother," he observed, "cut the ground under your son's very feet."
"You distinctly act in a way," cynically smiled old lady Chia, "sufficient to deprive me of any ground to stand upon, and then you, on the contrary, go and speak about yourself! But when we shall have gone back, your mind will be free of all trouble. We'll see then who'll interfere and dissuade you from beating people!"
After this reply, she went on to give orders to directly get ready the baggage, carriages, chairs and horses necessary for their return.
Chia Cheng stiffly and rigidly fell on his knees, and knocked his head before her, and pleaded guilty. Dowager lady Chia then addressed him some words, and as she did so, she came to have a look at Pao-yue. Upon perceiving that the thrashing he had got this time was unlike those of past occasions, she experienced both pain and resentment. So clasping him in her arms, she wept and wept incessantly. It was only after Madame Wang, lady Feng and the other ladies had reasoned with her for a time that they at length gradually succeeded in consoling her.
But waiting-maids, married women, and other attendants soon came to support Pao-yue and take him away. Lady Feng however at once expostulated with them. "You stupid things," she exclaimed, won't you open your eyes and see! How ever could he be raised and made to walk in the state he's in! Don't you yet instantly run inside and fetch some rattan slings and a bench to carry him out of this on?
At this suggestion, the servants rushed hurry-scurry inside and actually brought a bench; and, lifting Pao-yue, they placed him on it. Then following dowager lady Chia, Madame Wang and the other inmates into the inner part of the building, they carried him into his grandmother's apartments. But Chia Cheng did not fail to notice that his old mother's passion had not by this time yet abated, so without presuming to consult his own convenience, he too came inside after them. Here he discovered how heavily he had in reality castigated Pao-yue. Upon perceiving Madame Wang also crying, with one breath, "My flesh;" and, with another, saying with tears: "My son, if you had died sooner, instead of Chu Erh, and left Chu Erh behind you, you would have saved your father these fits of anger, and even I would not have had to fruitlessly worry and fret for half of my existence! Were anything to happen now to make you forsake me, upon whom will you have me depend?" And then after heaping reproaches upon herself for a time, break out afresh in lamentations for her, unavailing offspring, Chia Cheng was much cut up and felt conscious that he should not with his own hand have struck his son so ruthlessly as to bring him to this state, and he first and foremost directed his attention to consoling dowager lady Chia.
"If your son isn't good," rejoined the old lady, repressing her tears, "it is naturally for you to exercise control over him. But you shouldn't beat him to such a pitch! Don't you yet bundle yourself away? What are you dallying in here for? Is it likely, pray, that your heart is not yet satisfied, and that you wish to feast your eyes by seeing him die before you go?"
These taunts induced Chia Cheng to eventually withdraw out of the room. By this time, Mrs. Hsueeh together with Pao-ch'ai, Hsiang Ling, Hsi Jen, Shih Hsiang-yuen and his other cousins had also congregated in the apartments. Hsi Jen's heart was overflowing with grief; but she could not very well give expression to it. When she saw that a whole company of people shut him in, some pouring water over him, others fanning him; and that she herself could not lend a hand in any way, she availed herself of a favourable moment to make her exit. Proceeding then as far as the second gate, she bade the servant-boys go and fetch Pei-Ming. On his arrival, she submitted him to a searching inquiry. "Why is it," she asked, "that he was beaten just now without the least provocation; and that you didn't run over soon to tell me a word about it?"
"It happened," answered Pei Ming in great perplexity, "that I wasn't present. It was only after he had given him half the flogging that I heard what was going on, and lost no time in ascertaining what it was all about. It's on account of those affairs connected with Ch'i Kuan and that girl Chin Ch'uan."
"How did these things come to master's knowledge?" inquired Hsi Jen.
"As for that affair with Ch'i Kuan," continued Pei Ming, "it is very likely Mr. Hsueeh P'an who has let it out; for as he has ever been jealous, he may, in the absence of any other way of quenching his resentment, have instigated some one or other outside, who knows, to come and see master and add fuel to his anger. As for Chin Ch'uan-erh's affair it has presumably been told him by Master Tertius. This I heard from the lips of some person, who was in attendance upon master."
Hsi Jen saw how much his two versions tallied with the true circumstances, so she readily credited the greater portion of what was told her. Subsequently, she returned inside. Here she found a whole crowd of people trying to do the best to benefit Pao-yue. But after they had completed every arrangement, dowager lady Chia impressed on their minds that it would be better were they to carefully move him into his own quarters. With one voice they all signified their approval, and with a good deal of bustling and fussing, they speedily transferred Pao-yue into the I Hung court, where they stretched him out comfortably on his own bed. Then after some further excitement, the members of the family began gradually to disperse. Hsi Jen at last entered his room, and waited upon him with singleness of heart.
But, reader, if you feel any curiosity to hear what follows, listen to what you will find divulged in the next chapter.
请欣赏:
请给我换一个看看！ 拜托，快把噪音停掉！我读累了，想听点音乐或者请来支歌曲！
【选集】紅樓一春夢 |
|
|