第十三回

第十三回 秦可卿死封龙禁尉 王熙凤协理宁国府

话说凤姐儿自贾琏送黛玉往扬州去后，心中实在无趣，每到晚间，不过和平儿说笑一回，就胡乱睡了。

这日夜间，正和平儿灯下拥炉倦绣，早命浓薰绣被，二人睡下，屈指算行程该到何处，不知不觉已交三鼓。平儿已睡熟了。凤姐方觉星眼微朦，恍惚只见秦氏从外走来，含笑说道：“婶子好睡！我今日回去，你也不送我一程。因娘儿们素日相好，我舍不得婶子，故来别你一别。还有一件心愿未了，非告诉婶子，别人未必中用。”

凤姐听了，恍惚问道：“有何心愿？你只管托我就是了。”秦氏道：“婶婶，你是个脂粉队里的英雄，连那些束带顶冠的男子也不能过你，你如何连两句俗语也不晓得？常言‘月满则亏，水满则溢’；又道是‘登高必跌重’。如今我们家赫赫扬扬，已将百载，一日倘或乐极悲生，若应了那句‘树倒猢狲散’的俗语，岂不虚称了一世的诗书旧族了！”凤姐听了此话，心胸大快，十分敬畏，忙问道：“这话虑的极是，但有何法可以永保无虞？”秦氏冷笑道：“婶子好痴也。否极泰来[2]，荣辱自古周而复始，岂人力能可保常的。但如今能于荣时筹画下将来衰时的世业，亦可谓常保永全了。即如今日诸事都妥，只有两件未妥，若把此事如此一行，则后日可保永全了。”

凤姐便问何事。秦氏道：“目今〔一〕祖茔虽四时祭祀，只是无一定的钱粮；第二，家塾虽立，无一定的供给。依我想来，如今盛时固不缺祭祀供给，但将来败落之时，此二项有何出处？莫若依我定见，趁今日富贵，将祖茔附近多置田庄房舍地亩，以备祭祀供给之费皆出自此处，将家塾亦设于此。合同族中长幼，大家定了则例，日后按房掌管这一年的地亩、钱粮、祭祀、供给之事。如此周流，又无争竞，亦不有典卖诸弊。便是有了罪，凡物可入官，这祭祀产业连官也不入的。便败落下来，子孙回家读书务农，也有个退步，祭祀又可永继。若目今以为荣华不绝，不思后日，终非长策。眼见不日又有一件非常喜事，真是烈火烹油、鲜花着锦之盛。要知道，也不过是瞬息的繁华，一时的欢乐，万不可忘了那‘盛筵必散’〔二〕的俗语。此时若不早为后虑，临期只恐后悔无益了。”凤姐忙问：“有何喜事？”秦氏道：“天机不可泄漏。只是我与婶子好了一场，临别赠你两句话，须要记着。”因念道：

三春去后诸芳尽，各自须寻各自门。

凤姐还欲问时，只听二门上传事云板连叩四下[5]，将凤姐惊醒。人回：“东府蓉大奶奶没了。”凤姐闻听，吓了一身冷汗，出了一回神，只得忙忙的穿衣，往王夫人处来。

彼时合家皆知，无不纳罕，都有些疑心。那长一辈的想他素日孝顺，平一辈的想他素日和睦亲密，下一辈的想他素日慈爱，以及家中仆从老小想他素日怜贫惜贱、慈老爱幼之恩，莫不悲嚎痛哭者。

闲言少叙，却说宝玉因近日林黛玉回去，剩得自己孤恓，也不和人顽耍，每到晚间便索然睡了。如今从梦中听见说秦氏死了，连忙翻身爬起来，只觉心中似戳了一刀的不忍，哇的一声，直喷出一口血来。袭人等慌慌忙忙上来扶〔三〕[7]，问是怎么样，又要回贾母来请大夫。宝玉笑道：“不用忙，不相干，这是急火攻心，血不归经[8]。”说着便爬起来，要衣服换了，来见贾母，即时要过去。袭人见他如此，心中虽放不下，又不敢拦，只是由他罢了。贾母见他要去，因说：“才气的人，那里不干净；二则夜里风大，等明早再去不迟。”宝玉那里肯依。贾母命人备车，多派跟随人役，拥护前来。

一直到了宁国府前，只见府门洞开，两边灯笼照如白昼，乱烘烘人来人往，里面哭声摇山振岳。宝玉下了车，忙忙奔至停灵之室，痛哭一番。然后见过尤氏。谁知尤氏正犯了胃疼旧疾，睡在床上。然后又出来见贾珍。彼时贾代儒、代修〔四〕、贾敕、贾效、贾敦、贾赦、贾政、贾琮、贾、贾珩、贾珖、贾琛、贾琼、贾璘、贾蔷、贾菖、贾菱、贾芸、贾芹、贾蓁、贾萍、贾藻、贾蘅、贾芬、贾芳、贾兰、贾菌、贾芝等都来了。贾珍哭的泪人一般，正和贾代儒等说道：“合家大小，远近亲友，谁不知我这媳妇比儿子还强十倍。如今伸腿去了，可见这长房内绝灭无人了。”说着又哭起来。众人忙劝：“人已辞世，哭也无益，且商议如何料理要紧。”贾珍拍手道：“如何料理，不过尽我所有罢了！”

正说着，只见秦业〔五〕、秦钟并尤氏的几个眷属尤氏姊妹也都来了。贾珍便命贾琼、贾琛、贾璘、贾蔷四个人去陪客，一面吩咐去请钦天监阴阳司[11]来择日，择准停灵七七四十九日，三日后开丧送讣闻。这四十九日，单请一百单八众禅僧在大厅上拜大悲忏[12]，超度前亡后化诸魂，以免亡者之罪；另设一坛于天香楼上，是九十九位全真道士[13]，打四十九日解冤洗业醮[14]。然后停灵于会芳园中，灵前另外五十众高僧、五十众高道，对坛按七作好事[15]。那贾敬闻得长孙媳死了，因自为早晚就要飞升，如何肯又回家染了红尘，将前功尽弃呢，因此并不在意，只凭贾珍料理。

贾珍见父亲不管，亦发恣意奢华。看板时，几副杉木板皆不中用。可巧薛蟠来吊问，因见贾珍寻好板，便说道：“我们木店里有一副板，叫作什么樯木，出在潢海铁网山上，作了棺材，万年不坏。这还是当年先父带来，原系义忠亲王老千岁要的，因他坏了事[16]，就不曾拿去。现在还封在店内，也没有人出价敢买。你若要，就抬来使罢。”贾珍听说，喜之不尽，即命人抬来。大家看时，只见帮底皆厚八寸，纹若槟榔，味若檀麝，以手扣之，玎珰如金玉。大家都奇异称赞。贾珍笑问：“价值几何？”薛蟠笑道：“拿一千两银子来，只怕也没处买去。什么价不价，赏他们几两工钱就是了。”贾珍听说，忙谢不尽，即命解锯糊漆。贾政因劝道：“此物恐非常人可享者，殓以上等杉木也就是了。”此时贾珍恨不能代秦氏之死，这话如何肯听。

因忽又听得秦氏之丫鬟名唤瑞珠者，见秦氏死了，他也触柱而亡。此事可罕，合族人也都称叹。贾珍遂以孙女之礼殓殡，一并停灵于会芳园中之登仙阁。小丫鬟名宝珠者，因见秦氏身无所出，乃甘心愿为义女，誓任摔丧驾灵[17]之任。贾珍喜之不尽，即时传下，从此皆呼宝珠为小姐。那宝珠按未嫁女之丧，在灵前哀哀欲绝。于是，合族人丁并家下诸人，都各遵旧制行事，自不得紊乱。

贾珍因想着贾蓉不过是个黉门监[18]，灵幡经榜上写时不好看，便是执事[19]也不多，因此心下甚不自在。可巧这日正是首七第四日，早有大明宫掌宫内相[20]戴权，先备了祭礼遣人来，次后坐了大轿，打伞鸣锣，亲来上祭。贾珍忙接着，让至逗蜂轩献茶。贾珍心中打算定了主意，因而趁便就说要与贾蓉捐个前程的话。戴权会意，因笑道：“想是为丧礼上风光些。”贾珍忙笑道：“老内相所见不差。”戴权道：“事倒凑巧，正有个美缺。如今三百员龙禁尉短了两员，昨儿襄阳侯的兄弟老三来求我，现拿了一千五百两银子，送到我家里。你知道，咱们都是老相与，不拘怎么样，看着他爷爷的分上，胡乱应了。还剩了一个缺，谁知永兴节度使〔六〕冯胖子来求，要与他孩子捐，我就没工夫应他。既是咱们的孩子要捐，快写个履历来。”贾珍听说，忙吩咐：“快命书房里人恭敬写了大爷的履历来。”小厮不敢怠慢，去了一刻，便拿了一张红纸来与贾珍。贾珍看了，忙送与戴权。看时，上面写道：

江南〔七〕江宁府江宁县监生贾蓉，年二十岁。曾祖，原任京营节度使世袭一等神威将军贾代化；祖，乙卯科进士贾敬；父，世袭三品爵威烈将军贾珍。

戴权看了，回手便递与一个贴身的小厮收了，说道：“回来送与户部堂官[23]老赵，说我拜上他，起一张五品龙禁尉的票，再给个执照，就把这履历填上，明儿我来兑银子送去〔八〕。”小厮答应了，戴权也就告辞了。贾珍十分款留不住，只得送出府门。临上轿，贾珍因问：“银子还是我到部兑，还是一并送入老内相〔九〕府中？”戴权道：“若到部里，你又吃亏了。不如平准一千二百银子，送到我家就完了。”贾珍感谢不尽，只说：“待服满[26]后，亲带小犬[27]到府叩谢。”于是作别。

接着，便又听喝道之声，原来是忠靖侯史鼎的夫人来了。王夫人、邢夫人、凤姐等刚迎入上房，又见锦乡侯、川宁侯、寿山伯三家祭礼摆在灵前。少时，三人下轿，贾政等忙接上大厅。如此亲朋你来我去，也不能胜数。只这四十九日，宁国府街上一条白漫漫人来人往，花簇簇官去官来。

贾珍命贾蓉次日换了吉服，领凭回来。灵前供用执事等物，俱按五品职例。灵牌疏上皆写“天朝诰授贾门秦氏恭人[28]之灵位”。会芳园临街大门洞开，旋在两边起了鼓乐厅，两班青衣按时奏乐，一对对执事摆的刀斩斧齐。更有两面朱红销金大字牌对竖在〔一〇〕门外，上面大书：“防护内廷紫禁道御前侍卫龙禁尉”。对面高起着宣坛[30]，僧道对坛榜文，榜上大书：“世袭宁国公冢孙[31]妇、防护内廷御前侍卫龙禁尉贾门秦氏恭人之丧。四大部洲[32]至中之地、奉天承运太平之国，总理虚无寂静教门僧录司正堂万虚、总理元始三一教门道录司[33]正堂叶生等，敬谨修斋，朝天叩佛”，以及“恭请诸伽兰[34]、揭谛[35]、功曹[36]等神，圣恩普锡，神威远镇，四十九日消灾洗业平安水陆道场[37]”等语，亦不消烦记。

只是贾珍虽然此时心意满足，但里面尤氏又犯了旧疾，不能料理事务，惟恐各诰命[38]来往，亏了礼数，怕人笑话，因此心中不自在。当下正忧虑时，因宝玉在侧问道：“事事都算安贴了，大哥哥还愁什么？”贾珍见问，便将里面无人的话说了出来。宝玉听说笑道：“这有何难，我荐一个人与你权理这一个月的事，管必妥当。”贾珍忙问：“是谁？”宝玉见座间还有许多亲友，不便明言，走至贾珍耳边说了两句。贾珍听了喜不自禁，连忙起身笑道：“果然妥贴，如今就去。”说着拉了宝玉，辞了众人，便往上房里来。

可巧这日非正经日期[39]，亲友来的少，里面不过几位近亲堂客，邢夫人、王夫人、凤姐并合族中的内眷陪坐。闻人报：“大爷进来了。”唬的众婆娘唿的一声，往后藏之不迭，独凤姐款款站了起来。贾珍此时也有些病症在身，二则过于悲痛了，因拄个拐踱了进来。邢夫人等因说道：“你身上不好，又连日事多，该歇歇才是，又进来做什么？”贾珍一面扶拐，拃挣[40]着要蹲身跪下请安道乏。邢夫人等忙叫宝玉搀住，命人挪椅子来与他坐。

贾珍断不肯坐，因勉强陪笑道：“侄儿进来有一件事要求二位婶子并大妹妹。”邢夫人等忙问：“什么事？”贾珍忙笑道：“婶子自然知道，如今孙子媳妇没了[41]，侄儿媳妇偏又病倒，我看里头着实不成个体统。怎么屈尊大妹妹一个月，在这里料理料理，我就放心了。”邢夫人笑道：“原来为这个。你大妹妹现在你二婶子家，只和你二婶子说就是了。”王夫人忙道：“他一个小孩子家，何曾经过这样事，倘或料理不清，反叫人笑话，倒是再烦别人好。”贾珍笑道：“婶子的意思侄儿猜着了，是怕大妹妹劳苦了。若说料理不开——我包管必料理的开——便是错一点儿，别人看着还是不错的。从小儿大妹妹顽笑着就有杀伐决断〔一一〕，如今出了阁，又在那府里办事，越发历练老成了。我想了这几日，除了大妹妹再无人了。婶子不看侄儿、侄儿媳妇的分上，只看死了的分上罢！”说着滚下泪来。

王夫人心中怕的是凤姐儿未经过丧事，怕他料理不清，惹人耻笑。今见贾珍苦苦的说到这步田地，心中已活了几分，却又眼看着凤姐出神。那凤姐素日最喜揽事办，好卖弄才干，虽然当家妥当，也因未办过婚丧大事，恐人还不服，巴不得遇见这事。今见贾珍如此一来，他心中早已欢喜。先见王夫人不允，后见贾珍说的情真，王夫人有活动之意，便向王夫人道：“大哥哥说的这么恳切，太太就依了罢。”王夫人悄悄的道：“你可能么？”凤姐道：“有什么不能的。外面的大事已经大哥哥料理清了，不过是里头照管照管，便是我有不知道的，问问太太就是了。”王夫人见说的有理，便不作声。贾珍见凤姐允了，又陪笑道：“也管不得许多了，横竖要求大妹妹辛苦辛苦。我这里先与妹妹行礼，等事完了，我再到那府里去谢〔一二〕。”说着，就作揖下去，凤姐儿还礼不迭。

贾珍便忙向袖中取了宁国府对牌[44]出来，命宝玉送与凤姐，又说：“妹妹爱怎样就怎样，要什么只管拿这个取去，也不必问我。只求别存心替我省钱，只要好看为上；二则也要同那府里一样待人才好，不要存心怕人抱怨。只这两件外，我再没不放心的了。”凤姐不敢就接牌，只看着王夫人。王夫人道：“你哥哥既这么说，你就照看照看罢了。只是别自作主意，有了事，打发人问你哥哥、嫂子要紧。”宝玉早向贾珍手里接过对牌来，强递与凤姐了。贾珍又问：“妹妹住在这里，还是天天来呢？若是天天来，越发辛苦了。不如我这里赶着收拾出一个院落来，妹妹住过这几日倒安稳。”凤姐笑道：“不用。那边也离不得我，倒是天天来的好。”贾珍听说，只得罢了。然后又说了一回闲话，方才出去。

一时女眷散后，王夫人因问凤姐：“你今儿怎么样？”凤姐儿道：“太太只管请回去，我须得先理出一个头绪来，才回去得呢。”王夫人听说，便先同邢夫人等回去，不在话下。

这里凤姐儿来至三间一所抱厦内坐了，因想：头一件是人口混杂，遗失东西；第二件，事无专执，临期推委；第三件，需用过费，滥支冒领；第四件，任无大小，苦乐不均；第五件，家人豪纵，有脸者不服钤束[45]，无脸者不能上进。此五件实是宁国府中风俗，不知凤姐如何处治，且听下回分解。正是：

金紫万千谁治国，裙钗一二可齐家。

[1] 龙禁尉——作者虚拟的皇帝侍卫官名。

[2] 否（pǐ痞）极泰来——意思是情况坏到极点，就会往好的方面转化。否、泰：《周易》中的两个卦名。“否”，表示滞塞、坏运气、凶险；“泰”，表示亨通、好运气、吉利。

〔一〕 “目今”，原无“目”字，从各本补。

〔二〕 “盛筵必散”，底本、俄藏本作“盛筵不散”，从戚序本改。

[5] 云板连叩四下——报凶丧大事的讯号。旧俗吉事常用三数，凶事常用四数，有“神三鬼四”之说。云板：见第59页注①。

〔三〕 “扶”，底本“”字点改为“搀”，俄藏本作“搀”。

[7] （chōu抽）扶——意为从身后扶起。

[8] 急火攻心，血不归经——中医病症名。中医认为人的情绪受到突如其来的刺激，可以引起情志之火内发，而使心火肝火亢盛，干扰正常营血，逼血妄行，就会出现吐血、出鼻血等症状。但这只是一时的现象，与虚劳损伤引起的吐血不同。所以宝玉说“不用忙，不相干”。

〔四〕 “贾代儒代修”，己卯、蒙府、戚序、舒序、甲辰、程甲本均同底本。梦稿、俄藏本作“贾代儒贾代修”。唯甲戌本作“贾代儒带领”。从底本。

〔五〕 “秦业”，原作“秦叶”，从梦稿、甲辰、俄藏本改。

[11] 钦天监阴阳司——钦天监：明、清时代的官署名，主管观天文、定历数、卜吉凶、辨禁忌等事。阴阳司：作者虚拟的官署名。

[12] 拜大悲忏——拜忏：请僧众念经拜佛，代人消灾或超度亡魂的一种宗教活动。拜大悲忏：是在拜忏时念“大悲咒”。大悲咒是唐代伽梵达磨译《千手千眼观世音菩萨广大圆满无碍大悲心陀罗尼经》中的咒语。

[13] 全真道士——本指道士中信奉全真教派的人，后来也作为各派道士的通称。全真教：系道教的北宗，是南宋时金道士王喆（zhé哲）所创，杂糅儒家的忠孝、佛教的戒律和道教的丹鼎而成。

[14] 打醮（jiào叫）——旧时请僧道设坛念经，祈福消灾、超度亡魂的一种宗教仪式。

[15] 按七作好事——旧时迷信，认为人死后还会转生。从刚死之日算起，每七天为一期，期满后即再降生；若一期届满未得生缘，须再等一期；最多到第七期，必定降生。由于从已死到再生之间祸福未定，所以死者的亲属每隔七天要设奠一次，请僧道替死者诵经修福，直到七七为止。

[16] 坏了事——这里指因获罪而被革去官爵。

[17] 摔丧驾灵——旧日出殡，将起动棺材时，先由主丧孝子在灵前摔碎瓦盆一只，叫做“摔丧”，也称“摔盆”。主丧孝子亲自抬扶灵柩或牵引灵车叫做“驾灵”。后来，主丧孝子只在灵柩前领路，也称“驾灵”。

[18] 黉（hónɡ洪）门监——即监生。本指在明清时代最高学府国子监读书的学生，后来也可以捐钱买得，不一定要在国子监里读书。黉：古代学校名。

[19] 执事——这里指仪仗，有时也指差事或当差的人。

[20] 内相——本为翰林的别称。这里是对太监的尊称。

〔六〕 “永兴节度使”，原作“永节度使”，“永”下旁添“安”字。从甲戌、梦稿、舒序、甲辰、俄藏本改。

〔七〕 “江南”，底本、俄藏本无，从甲戌、梦稿、戚序本补。

[23] 堂官——明、清时代称各衙署的长官叫堂官。

〔八〕 “我来兑银子送去”，原作“我自己来兑银子送去”，“自己”二字旁添，“送去”二字点去。从甲戌、梦稿、蒙府、戚序、舒序、俄藏本改。

〔九〕 “老内相”，原无“内”字，从甲戌、梦稿、蒙府、俄藏本增。

[26] 服满——指服丧期满。据《清朝通典·礼·凶二》载，父母对嫡长子之妻服丧，为期一年。

[27] 小犬——旧对自己儿子的谦称。

[28] 恭人——封建时代，妇女根据丈夫或子孙的官职品级受封赠。明、清时四品官的妻子叫“恭人”，五品官的妻子叫“宜人”。贾蓉是五品龙禁尉，秦氏本应称“宜人”，此处明写“恭人”，或隐含讽喻。

〔一〇〕 “大字牌对竖在”，原“对”作“位”，从甲戌本改。

[30] 宣坛——僧道讲经作法时所设置的台子。

[31] 冢（zhǒnɡ肿）孙——嫡长孙。冢：大，引申为嫡长之意。

[32] 四大部洲——印度古代传说，称人类所居的世界为四大部洲。佛教袭用其说，但其名称佛家典籍中说法不一。据唐代沙门释普光述《俱舍论记》，四大部洲为南赡部洲、东胜身洲、西牛货洲、北拘卢洲。

[33] 僧录司、道录司——明、清时代掌管全国僧道事务的最高官衙。

[34] 伽兰——梵语僧伽摩兰的简称。意思是僧众居住的园林、寺院。这里指卫护园林、寺院的伽兰神。

[35] 揭谛——佛教传说中的护法猛神。

[36] 功曹——也称“四值功曹”。道教传说他们是值年、月、日、时的神，掌管传递人间呈文给玉皇大帝。

[37] 水陆道场——又叫水陆斋，简称水陆，是一种用诵经拜佛、施舍斋食来“超度”所谓水陆二界鬼众的佛教活动。创始于梁武帝萧衍。见元代觉岸《释氏稽古略》。

[38] 诰命——本指皇帝赐爵授官的诏令，在此义同“命妇”，代指受皇帝封赠的贵妇人。

[39] 正经日期——丧礼诵经期间吊祭死者的正日子。经：指诵经。

[40] 拃挣——又作“扎挣”、“挫挣”、“挣扎”。意谓勉强支持。

[41] 没了——死的讳语。

〔一一〕 “杀伐决断”，“伐”原作“法”，朱改为“抹”。从程甲本改。

〔一二〕 “去谢”，诸本并同。原作“去道谢”，“道”字旁添。

[44] 对牌——用木、竹制成的支领财物的凭证，上有标记，从中劈作两半。支领财物时，以两半标记相合为凭。

[45] 钤（qián前）束——约束、管制的意思。钤：锁。

CHAPTER 13. Qin-shi posthumously acquires the status of a Noble Dame And Xi-feng takes on the management of a neighbouring establishment

After Jia Lian’s departure for Yangchow Xi-feng felt bored and unhappy, particularly in the evenings when, apart from chatting with Patience, there seemed little to do but sleep. On the occasion of which we write she had sat beside the lamp with Patience until late into the evening; then, the bedding having been well warmed, the two women had gone to bed, where they lay until after midnight discussing the stages of Jia Lian’s journey and attempting to calculate what point he was likely to have reached in it. By this time Patience was fast asleep and Xi-feng herself was on the point of dropping off when she became dimly aware that Qin-shi had just walked into the room from outside.

‘So fond of sleep, Auntie?’ said Qin-shi with a gentle smile. ‘I shall have to begin my journey today without you to see me off. But never mind! Since you cannot come to me, I have come to you instead. We two have always been so close, I could not have borne to leave you without saying good-bye. Besides, I have a last wish that you alone must hear, because I cannot trust anyone else with it.’

‘What is your wish?’ Xi-feng heard herself asking. ‘You can trust me to carry it out for you.’

‘Tell me, Auntie,’ said Qin-shi, ‘how is it that you who are such a paragon among women that even strong men find more than their match in you can yet be ignorant of the simple truths expressed in homely proverbs? Take this one:

The full moon smaller grows,

Full water overflows.

Or this:

The higher the climb, the harder the fall.

Our house has now enjoyed nearly a century of dazzling success. Suppose one day “joy at its height engenders sorrow”. And suppose that, in the words of another proverb, “when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter”. Will not our reputation as one of the great, cultured households of the age then turn into a hollow mockery?’

Qin-shi’s question made Xi-feng feel uneasy, though at the same time inspiring a deep respect in her for her niece’s foresight.

‘You are quite right to show concern,’ she said. ‘Is there any means by which we can keep permanently out of danger?’

‘Now you are being silly, Auntie!’ said Qin-shi somewhat scornfully. ‘ “The extreme of adversity is the beginning of prosperity” – and the reverse of that saying is also true. Honour and disgrace follow each other in an unending cycle. No human power can arrest that cycle and hold it permanently in one position. What you can do, however, is to plan while we are still prosperous for the kind of heritage that will stand up to the hard times when they come.

‘At the moment everything seems well looked after; but in fact there are still two matters that have not been properly taken care of. If you will deal with them in the way that I shall presently suggest, you will be able to face the future without fear of calamity.’

‘What two matters?’ Xi-feng asked her.

‘Though the seasonal offerings at the ancestral burial-ground are at present regularly attended to,’ said Qin-shi, ‘no special income has been set aside to pay for them. That is the first matter. The second matter concerns the clan school. There again, there is no fixed source of income. Obviously there will be no lack of funds either for the seasonal offerings or for the school as long as we enjoy our present prosperity. But where is the money for them coming from in the future, when the family has fallen on hard times?

‘I am convinced that the only way of dealing with these two matters is to invest now, while we are still rich and powerful, in as much property as possible – land, farms, and houses – in the area around the burial-ground, and to pay for the seasonal offerings and the running of the school entirely out of the income from this property. Moreover the school itself ought to be situated on it. The whole clan, old and young alike, should be convened and a set of regulations drawn up whereby each family is made to administer the estate and look after the financing of the seasonal offerings and the clan school for one year in turn. By making the responsibility rotate in a fixed order you will remove the possibility of quarrels about it and also lessen the danger of the property getting mortgaged or sold.

‘Then even if the clan gets into trouble and its possessions are confiscated, this part of its property, as charitable estate, will escape confiscation; and when the family’s fortunes are in decline, it will be a place where the young people can go to farm and study, as well as a means of maintaining the ancestral sacrifices in unbroken succession. To refuse to take thought for the morrow on the grounds that our present prosperity is going to last for ever would be extremely short-sighted.

‘Quite soon a happy event is going to take place in this family, bringing it an even greater glory than it has enjoyed up to now. But it will be a glory as excessive and as transitory as a posy of fresh flowers pinned to an embroidered dress or the flare-up of spilt cooking-oil on a blazing fire. In the midst of that brief moment of happiness never forget that “even the best party must have an end”. For if you do, and if you fail to take precautions in good time, you will live to regret it bitterly when it is already too late.’

‘What is this happy event you speak of?’ Xi-feng asked her eagerly.

‘That is a secret which may not be revealed to mortal ears. However, for the sake of our brief friendship on this earth, I leave you these words as my parting gift. Be sure that you remember them well!

When the Three Springs have gone, the flowering time will end,

And each one for himself as best he may must fend.’

Xi-feng was about to ask her another question when she was interrupted by the sound of the iron chime-bar which hung in the inner gate.

Four strokes. The signal of death!

She woke with a start to hear a servant announcing, ‘Mrs Rong of the Ning-guo mansion is dead.’ A cold sweat broke out over her body and for a while she lay too stunned to move. Then forcing herself to get up she pulled on her clothes and went round to Lady Wang’s.

By this time the entire household had heard the news. All seemed bewildered by it and all were in one way or another deeply distressed. Those older than Qin-shi thought of how dutiful she had always been; those in her own generation thought of her warmth and friendliness; her juniors remembered how kindly and lovingly she had treated them; even the servants, irrespective of sex and age, remembering her compassion for the poor and humble and her gentle concern for the old and the very young, all wept and lamented as loud and bitterly as the rest.

But we digress.

During the last few days, since Dai-yu’s return to her father had deprived him of her companionship, Bao-yu, far from seeking diversion in the company of the others, had kept to himself, going to bed early every night and sleeping disconsolately on his own. The news of Qin-shi’s death came to him in the midst of his dreams, causing him to start up in bed with a jerk. A sudden stabbing pain shot through his heart. He retched involuntarily and spat out a mouthful of blood. Aroma and the maids clung to him, terrified, and asked him what was the matter. They wanted to tell Grandmother Jia and ask her to send for a doctor; but Bao-yu would not hear of it.

‘Don’t worry, it’s of no consequence!’ he told them. ‘Something that happens when a sudden rush of fire to the heart prevents the blood from getting back into the right channels.’

He climbed out of bed as he spoke and told them to bring him some clean clothes, so that he could see his grandmother and then go straight on to the other house. Aroma was still concerned for him, but seeing him so determined, allowed him to have his way.

Grandmother Jia did not want him to go, either.

‘It won’t be clean there,’ she said, ‘with her scarcely yet cold. And besides, there’s a nasty wind at this time of night. It will be soon enough if you go there first thing tomorrow.’

But Bao-yu would not be gainsaid, so she gave instructions for a carriage to be made ready for him and a numerous retinue of servants to attend him there.

Arriving in haste at the entrance of the Ning-guo mansion, they found the gates flung wide open and lanterns on either side turning the night into noonday. Despite the hour, a multitude of people were hurrying through it in both directions, while from inside the house issued a sound of lamentation that seemed to shake the very buildings to their foundations.

Alighting from his carriage, Bao-yu hurried through to the room in which Qin-shi lay and wept there for a while very bitterly. He then went to call on You-shi, whom he found ill in bed, struck down by a sudden attack of some gastric trouble from which she had occasionally suffered in the past. After leaving You-shi, he went to look for Cousin Zhen.

By now Jia Dai-ru, Jia Dai-xiu, Jia Chi, Jia Xiao, Jia Dun, Jia She, Jia Zheng, Jia Cong, Jia Bin, Jia Heng (I), Jia Guang, Jia Chen, Jia Qiong, Jia Lin, Jia Qiang, Jia Chang, Jia Ling, Jia Yun, Jia Qin, Jia Jin, Jia Ping, Jia Zao, Jia Heng (II), Jia Fen, Jia Fang, Jia Lan, Jia Jun and Jia Zhi had all arrived, and Bao-yu found Cousin Zhen in their midst addressing them, though well-nigh choked with tears:

‘Everyone, young or old, kinsman or friend, knows that my daughter-in-law was ten times better than any son. Now that she has been taken from us it’s plain to see that this senior branch of the family is doomed to extinction!’ and he broke down once more into incontrollable weeping.

The men present tried to console him:

‘Now that she’s gone, crying isn’t going to bring her back again. The important thing now is to make your plans for the funeral.’

‘Plans? What plans?’ Cousin Zhen cried, somewhat theatrically. ‘Just take everything I have – everything!’

As he was speaking Qin Bang-ye and Qin Zhong arrived, and various members of You-shi’s family, including her two younger sisters. Cousin Zhen deputed Jia Qiong, Jia Chen, Jia Lin and Jia Qiang from among the younger men present to look after them and any other guests who might arrive.

He also instructed someone to invite an expert from the Board of Astronomy to select dates for the funeral and the ceremonies preceding it. With the approval of this official it was decided that the lying in state should be for forty-nine days and that the notification of bereavement indicating the family’s readiness to receive official visits of condolence should be made in three days’ time. A hundred and eight Buddhist monks were engaged to perform a Grand Misericordia for the salvation of all departed souls in the main reception hall of the mansion during these forty-nine days, while at the same time ninety-nine Taoist priests of the Quan-zhen sect were to perform ceremonies of purification and absolution at a separate altar in the Celestial Fragrance pavilion. These arrangements having been made, the body was moved to a temporary shrine in another pavilion of the All-scents Garden. Fifty high-ranking Buddhist monks and fifty high-ranking Taoist priests took turns in chanting and intoning before it on every seventh day.

Nothing would induce old Jia Jing to return home when he learned of the death of his grandson’s wife. Immortality was within his grasp and he was not going to impair his hard-won sanctity with the taint of earthly pollution. Accordingly he left all these matters to Cousin Zhen to order as he wished.

Free to indulge his own extravagant tastes, Cousin Zhen had inspected several sets of deal coffin-boards without finding any to his liking. Xue Pan heard of his problem when he came round to condole.

‘We’ve got a set in our timber-yard,’ he told Cousin Zhen. ‘It’s in a wood supposed to have come from the Iron Net Mountains. They say that a coffin made from it will last for ever without rotting. It was brought here years ago by my father. Prince Zhong-yi was going to have it, but when he came unstuck it didn’t get used. It’s still locked up in store because no one has ever been found who could afford to buy it. If you are interested, I can have it carried round for you to look at.’

Cousin Zhen was delighted, and the timber was brought over at once for everyone to inspect. The planks for the base and sides were at least eight inches thick. The wood had a grain like areca palm and a fragrance suggestive of musk and sandalwood. When rapped with the knuckles it gave off a hard, ringing sound like jade or stone. Everyone was impressed and Cousin Zhen eagerly inquired the price. Xue Pan laughed.

‘I doubt you could buy a set like this for a thousand taels of silver cash down,’ he said. ‘Blow the price! Give the workmen a couple of taels for carrying it here and it’s yours.’

Cousin Zhen thanked him profusely and at once gave orders for the planks to be sawn up and made into a coffin. Jia Zheng doubted the propriety of using such material for the burial of a person not of royal blood and insisted that it would be sufficient to use the best quality deal; but Cousin Zhen refused to listen.

News was suddenly brought that Qin-shi’s little maid Gem, on hearing that her mistress was dead, had taken her own life by dashing her head against a pillar. Such rare devotion excited the wondering admiration of the entire clan. Cousin Zhen at once had her laid out and encoffined with the rites appropriate to a granddaughter and ordered her coffin to be placed in the Ascension Pavilion of the All-scents Garden side by side with Qin-shi’s.

As Qin-shi had died without issue, another of her little maids called Jewel volunteered to stand in as her daughter and perform the chief mourner’s duties of smashing the bowl when the bearers came in to take up the coffin and walking in front of it in the funeral procession. Cousin Zhen was very pleased and gave orders that thenceforth everyone was to address her as ‘Miss Jewel’ just as if she were Qin-shi’s real daughter. In the meantime she installed herself by the coffin and, comporting herself in the manner prescribed for an unmarried daughter, wept and wailed until she had almost lost her voice.

Following these preliminaries, the rest of the clan together with the family servants all proceeded to carry out their mourning duties according to long-established precedents and in a correct and orderly manner. The family’s respect for tradition was, however, a source of great unease to Cousin Zhen when he reflected on Jia Rong’s status: for Jia Rong was only an Imperial College Student – an absurdly insignificant title to write on a funeral banner; and the insignia to which Qin-shi was entitled would make a very poor showing when borne in the funeral procession.

By a stroke of luck the fourth day of the first seven-day period – the day on which official condolences were scheduled to begin – brought a visit from Dai Quan, the Eunuch Chamberlain of the Da-ming Palace. Having sent his representative along well in advance with offerings for the departed spirit, he presently arrived himself, seated in a great palanquin and preceded by criers and men with gongs clearing the streets before him, to present his offerings in person. Cousin Zhen at once made up his mind to take advantage of the visit.

As soon as Dai Quan had made his offering, Cousin Zhen ushered him into the Honey Bee Gallery, invited him to be seated, and served him with tea. Then, entering into conversation with his guest, he quickly found occasion to mention the fact that he was thinking of purchasing a place for his son Jia Rong. The eunuch guessed what was in his mind, and laughingly inquired whether it was not with a view to adding a little pomp to the funeral that he had conceived this notion.

‘My dear Chamberlain,’ Cousin Zhen readily agreed, ‘you have hit the nail on the head!’

‘Well, by a lucky coincidence,’ said Dai Quan, ‘there is rather a good place going at this very moment. The Corps of Officers of the Imperial Guard, which has an establishment of three hundred, has got two vacancies in it. Yesterday Lord Xiang-yang’s younger brother “Sannikins” begged me for one of them and sent fifteen hundred taels of silver round to my house to pay for it. He and I have always been good friends, as you know, and in any case I felt I had to do something, for his Grandpa’s sake; so I couldn’t very well refuse. “Piggy” Feng, the Military Governor of Yong-xing, has asked me if he can buy the remaining place for his son, but I haven’t yet had time to give him a reply. If our young friend here wants it, why not jot down his particulars and I’ll see what I can do.’

Cousin Zhen at once ordered someone to write out Jia Rong’s name, age and lineage on a sheet of red paper. The following description was hurriedly prepared and handed to Dai Quan for his inspection:

Name: JIA RONG

Place of Origin: (County) Kiangning; (Prefecture) Ying-tian-fu; (Province) Kiangnan.

Status: Imperial College Student

Age: 20

Great-grandfather: General Jia Dai-hua, C.-in-C. Metropolitan Barracks, hereditary noble of the first rank.

Grandfather: Jia Jing, Palace Graduate of the year 17—.

Father: Hon. Colonel Jia Zhen, third rank (hereditary).

After glancing through it quickly, Dai Quan handed it into the keeping of a young eunuch secretary at his side.

‘When we get back,’ he said to the latter, ‘give this to old Zhao, the President of the Board of Revenue, with my compliments, and ask him if he would kindly make out a commission for a captain in the Imperial Guard, fifth rank, and also the papers to go with it with these particulars filled in. Tell him I’ll call round tomorrow to pay in the money.’

The young eunuch bowed, and Dai Quan rose to go. Seeing that he could no longer detain him, Cousin Zhen showed him out as far as the main gate. As the eunuch was getting into his palanquin, Cousin Zhen asked him whether he should take the money to the Ministry or bring it round to Dai Quan’s own house.

‘Better bring a thousand taels, standard weight, to my house. If you go to the Ministry, they’re sure to fleece you.’

Cousin Zhen thanked him warmly.

‘When the period of mourning is over,’ he said, ‘I shall bring the young fellow round to your house to kotow his thanks.’

With that they parted. But no sooner had the eunuch gone than the sound of criers was once more heard in the street, this time heralding the arrival of the Marchioness of Zhong-jing, wife of Grandmother Jia’s nephew Shi Ding, with her little niece Shi Xiang-yun. Lady Wang, Lady Xing and Wang Xi-feng received them in Cousin Zhen’s drawing-room.

Offerings from the Marquises of Jin-xiang and Chuan-ning and the Earl of Shou-shan were now on display, and those three gentlemen were shortly to be observed alighting from their palanquins outside. Cousin Zhen went out to meet them and conducted them up the steps into the main reception hall.

From then on there was a continuous stream of arrivals, and throughout the whole forty-nine-day period the street in front of the Ning-guo mansion was thronged with family mourners in white and mandarins in their colourful robes of office, milling in and out and to and fro all day long.

The day after Dai Quan’s visit Cousin Zhen made Jia Rong change out of mourning into a court dress and go to collect his commission. The furnishings and insignia in the shrine were all rearranged in a manner befitting a person of the fifth rank. The wording on the spirit tablet which stood on the table of offerings at the foot of the coffin now read:

Spirit tablet of the Lady Qin-shi of the Jia family Gentlewoman of the Fifth Rank by Imperial Patent

The gate of the All-scents Garden opening on to the street was thrown wide open and booths for musicians were erected on either side of it, in which black-coated funeral bands played at fixed times throughout the day. To either side of them were displayed the insignia of rank: glittering rows of axes and halberds arranged in wooden stands. At each side of the gateway vermilion-painted boards inscribed in large golden characters boldly announced the status of the bereaved:

Honorary Captain of the Imperial Bodyguard

Inner Palace, Northern Capital Division

Inside the gateway, facing the street, a high staging was constructed on which Buddhist monks and Taoist priests sat on opposite sides of an altar intoning their sacred texts. In front of the staging was a notice on which was written in large characters:

FUNERAL OBSEQUIES OF THE LADY QIN-SHI

Senior great-great-granddaughter-in-law of Jia Yan, Hereditary Duke of Ning-guo, and wife of the Right Honourable Jia Rong, Captain in the Imperial Bodyguard, Inner Palace:

WHEREAS

in this favoured Country, situate in the centre-most part of the four continents of the earth, on which it has pleased Heaven to bestow the blessings of everlasting prosperity and peace,

WE,

The Very Reverend Wan-xu, Co-President of the Board of Commissioners having authority over all monks and clergy of the Incorporeal, Ever-tranquil Church of the Lord Buddha,

and

the Venerable Ye-sheng, Co-President of the Board of Commissioners having authority over all priests and practitioners of the Primordial, All-unifying Church of the Heavenly Tao,

HAVE,

with all due reverence and care, prepared offices for the salvation of all departed souls, supplicating Heaven and calling upon the Name of the Lord Buddha…

NOW,

earnestly praying and beseeching the Eighteen Guardians of the Sangha, the Warlike Guardians of the Law, and the Twelve Guardians of the Months mercifully to extend their holy compassion towards us, but terribly to blaze forth in divine majesty against the powers of evil, we do solemnly perform for nine and forty days the Great Mass for the purification, deliverance and salvation of all souls on land and on sea…

– and a great deal more on those lines which it would be tedious to repeat.

Although Cousin Zhen now had every reason to feel satisfied with his arrangements, there was still one matter which caused him uneasiness. You-shi’s unfortunate illness meant that she was unable to discharge any of her social obligations, and he was mortally afraid that with so many great ladies coming to the house on visits of condolence, some breach of etiquette might occur which would cause the family to look ridiculous.

Bao-yu once chanced to be sitting next to him when his mind was dwelling on this problem, and observing the gloomy and preoccupied expression on his cousin’s face, asked him why he should still be worried now that everything had been so excellently taken care of. Cousin Zhen explained that it was the present lack of a responsible female head of household which was the cause of his concern.

‘That’s no problem!’ said Bao-yu encouragingly. ‘I know just the person for this. Put her in temporary control here for a month, and I guarantee that you will have nothing further to worry about.’

‘Who?’ inquired Cousin Zhen eagerly.

Bao-yu deemed it imprudent to mention her name out loud in the hearing of so many friends and relations, so leaning across he whispered it in Cousin Zhen’s ear. Cousin Zhen’s reaction was ecstatic.

‘Yes, absolutely the right person!’ he cried. ‘Let’s see about it straight away!’

And seizing Bao-yu by the hand, he excused himself to the company and hurried round to the reception room in his own apartment.

It so happened that this day was not one of the seven on which masses were said, so visitors from outside the family were fairly few. In the inner apartments there was only a handful of lady visitors, all of them close connections of the Jia family, whom Lady Xing, Lady Wang, Wang Xi-feng and various female members of the clan were keeping company. When a servant announced ‘The Master is here’, all these females jumped up with little shrieks of alarm and rushed off to hide themselves – all, that is, except Xi-feng, who rose slowly to her feet and imperturbably stood her ground.

Cousin Zhen had of late been feeling far from well. The debility his sickness caused him had been further aggravated by excessive grief and obliged him to support himself with a staff. Lady Xing was concerned to see the pitiful figure he presented as he entered the room.

‘You are not well,’ she said, ‘and you have been doing too much now for days. You ought to be getting some rest. What do you want to come in here for?’

Clutching his staff in his hand, Cousin Zhen struggled down on to his knees, and having made his duty to his aunts, began thanking them for all their trouble. Lady Xing hurriedly ordered Bao-yu to raise him up and commanded a chair to be moved forward for him to sit on. But Cousin Zhen refused to be seated.

‘I have come to ask you three ladies a favour,’ he said, forcing his woebegone features into a smile.

‘What is it you want?’ Lady Xing asked him.

‘As you doubtless know,’ said Cousin Zhen, ‘my wife has been ill in bed ever since our daughter-in-law’s death, and with no one to run her side of the household it has been getting into a pretty deplorable state. I should like to ask Cousin Feng if she could possibly see her way to running things here for us during the coming month. It would be a great relief to me if she could.’

‘So that’s what you want!’ said Lady Xing with a smile. ‘Feng is now part of your Aunt Wang’s establishment. You’d better talk to her about it.’

‘She’s only a child yet; you know,’ Lady Wang put in hastily. ‘What experience has she ever had of this kind of thing? Suppose she proved not quite up to the task. We should all be made to look ridiculous. I think you had better trouble someone else.’

‘I can easily guess what is in your mind, Aunt,’ said Cousin Zhen. ‘You are afraid we should overwork her. For I assure you there is no question of her not being a good enough manager. Even in her childhood games, Cousin Feng had the decisiveness of a little general, and since she’s married and had some experience of running things next door, she is a thoroughly seasoned campaigner. I’ve thought the matter over carefully these past few days and am quite convinced that apart from Cousin Feng there really isn’t anyone else I can ask. If you won’t let her do this for my sake or my wife’s sake, at least won’t you let her for the sake of the one who has just died?’

And at this point he burst into tears.

Lady Wang’s only concern had been lest Xi-feng, who had had no experience of large-scale funerals, might find the task too big for her and perhaps end up by making a fool of herself. But Cousin Zhen’s moving plea caused her attitude to soften considerably and she eyed Xi-feng thoughtfully as though struggling to make up her mind. Xi-feng for her part had always loved managing things and enjoyed showing off her ability to do so. When Cousin Zhen first made his request, her mind had at once consented; and now, observing that Lady Wang appeared to be already half persuaded, she hastened to complete the process.

‘Cousin Zhen has spoken so eloquently. Oughtn’t we perhaps to agree, Aunt?’

‘Do you think you can do it?’ Lady Wang asked her in a low aside.

‘I don’t see why not,’ said Xi-feng. ‘Cousin Zhen has already seen to all the outside arrangements himself. It’s only a question of looking after the domestic side for a bit. And even if there is anything I don’t know about, I can always ask you.’

This seemed reasonable enough to Lady Wang, so she said nothing. Seeing that Xi-feng herself appeared to be willing, Cousin Zhen turned to her with a smile.

‘Actually there isn’t so very much to do,’ he said. ‘You really must let us persuade you to take this on. Let me make you a reverence now, to show my gratitude. Then, when this is all over, I shall come round to your place to thank you properly.’

So saying, he clasped his hands before him and made her a formal bow. Xi-feng hurriedly curtseyed back.

Cousin Zhen now ordered someone to fetch the tallies for the entire Ning-guo household and instructed Bao-yu to hand them to Xi-feng.

‘I want you to manage things whatever way you like,’ he told her. ‘Anything you want you can get by using one of these. There is no need to ask me for it. I have only two requests to make of you. First that you should dismiss from your mind any idea of trying to save me any money. The important thing is to put on a good show: the expense doesn’t matter. And secondly that you should treat our people here exactly as you treat the members of your own household. Don’t be afraid of upsetting them. Provided that you will observe those conditions, I leave everything in your hands with the utmost confidence.’

Xi-feng watched Lady Wang, not daring to accept the tallies without her approval.

‘You hear what your cousin says,’ said Lady Wang. ‘You had better do as he asks. Only do not take too much upon yourself. If there are any decisions to make, be sure to ask Cousin Zhen or his wife first.’

Bao-yu had already received the tallies from Cousin Zhen and now thrust them at Xi-feng. For politeness’ sake she feigned a certain amount of reluctance, but was soon prevailed upon to accept them.

‘Will you stay here with us,’ Cousin Zhen asked her, ‘or will you be coming over every day from the other house? If you intend to come over from the other house every day, it will greatly add to your burdens. We have an apartment here with its own courtyard which we can very quickly place at your disposal. If you would care to move in for the next week or two, I am sure we could make you comfortable.’

‘Thank you, but it won’t be necessary,’ said Xi-feng with a smile. ‘I am needed at the other house too, so it will be best if I come here every day.’

Having accomplished his mission, Cousin Zhen stayed chatting a little longer and then left. Presently, when the visiting ladies had dispersed, Lady Wang asked Xi-feng what her plans were for the rest of the day.

‘Please go on without me, Aunt,’ said Xi-feng. ‘Before I go back myself I must first try to sort out exactly what this job is going to entail.’

Lady Wang accordingly left without more delay in the company of Lady Xing, and the two ladies returned to the Rong-guo mansion, where we must now leave them.

Alone at last, Xi-feng wandered into a sort of penthouse building where she sat down and tried to formulate the task that lay ahead. Five major abuses, long habitual in the Ning-guo establishment, presented themselves to her mind as being specially in need of attention, viz:

1. Because it was so large and so motley an establishment, things were always getting lost.

2. Because there was no rational division of labour, it always seemed to be someone else’s responsibility whenever a job needed to be done.

3. Because the household’s expenditure was so lavish, money was always getting misappropriated or misspent.

4. Because no distinctions were made between one job and another, the rewards and hardships were unfairly distributed.

5. Because the servants were so arrogant and undisciplined, those with ‘face’ could brook no restraint and those without could win no advancement.

If you want to know how Xi-feng dealt with these abuses, you will have to read the chapter which follows.