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 Keqing dies, and Jia Rong is invested with the rank of military officer to the Imperial Bodyguard. Wang Xifeng lends her help in the management of the Rong Guo Mansion.
Lady Feng, it must be added, in prosecuting our narrative, was ever since Jia Lian’s departure to accompany Daiyu to Yang Zhou, really very dejected at heart; and every day, when evening came, she would, after simply indulging in a chat and a laugh with Ping’er, turn in, in a heedless frame of mind, for the night.
In the course of the night of this day, she had been sitting with Ping’er by lamp-light clasping the hand-stove; and weary of doing her work of embroidery, she had at an early hour, given orders to warm the embroidered quilt, and both had gone to bed; and as she was bending her fingers, counting the progress of the journey, and when they should be arriving, unexpectedly, the third watch struck.
Ping’er had already fallen fast asleep; and lady Feng was feeling at length her sleepy eyes slightly dose, when she faintly discerned Mrs. Qin walk in from outside.
“My dear sister-in-law,” she said as she smiled, “sleep in peace; I’m on my way back today, and won’t even you accompany me just one stage? But as you and I have been great friends all along, I cannot part from you, sister-in-law, and have therefore come to take my leave of you. There is, besides, a wish of mine, which isn’t yet accomplished; and if I don’t impart it to you, it isn’t likely that telling any one else will be of any use.”
Lady Feng could not make out the sense of the words she heard. “What wish is it you have?” she inquired, “do tell me, and it will be safe enough with me.”
“You are, my dear sister-in-law, a heroine among women,” observed Mrs. Qin, “so much so that those famous men, with sashes and official hats, cannot excel you; how is it that you’re not aware of even a couple of lines of common adages, of that trite saying, ‘when the moon is full, it begins to wane; when the waters are high, they must overflow?’ and of that other which says that ‘if you ascend high, heavy must be your fall.’ Our family has now enjoyed splendor and prosperity for already well-nigh a century, but a day comes when at the height of good fortune, calamity arises; and if the proverb that ‘when the tree falls, the monkeys scatter,’ be fulfilled, will not futile have been the reputation of culture and old standing of a whole generation?”
Lady Feng at these words felt her heart heavy, and overpowered by intense awe and veneration.
“The fears you express are well founded,” she urgently remarked, “but what plan is there adequate to preserve it from future injury?”
“My dear sister-in-law,” rejoined Mrs. Qin with a sardonic smile, “you’re very simple indeed! When woe has reached its climax, weal supervenes. Prosperity and adversity, from days of yore up to the present time, now pass away, and now again revive, and how can (prosperity) be perpetuated by any human exertion? But if now, we could in the time of good fortune, make provision against any worldly concerns, which might arise at any season of future adversity, we might in fact prolong and preserve it. Everything, for instance, is at present well-regulated; but there are two matters which are not on a sure footing, and if such and such suitable action could be adopted with regard to these concerns, it will, in subsequent days, be found easy to perpetuate the family welfare in its entity.”
“What matters are these?” inquired lady Feng.
“Though at the graves of our ancestors,” explained Mrs. Qin, “sacrifices and oblations be offered at the four seasons, there’s nevertheless no fixed source of income. In the second place, the family school is, it is true, in existence; but it has no definite grants-in-aid. According to my views, now that the times are prosperous, there’s, as a matter of course, no lack of offerings and contributions; but by and bye, when reverses set in, whence will these two outlays be met from? Would it not be as well, and my ideas are positive on this score, to avail ourselves of the present time, when riches and honors still reign, to establish in the immediate vicinity of our ancestral tombs, a large number of farms, cottages, and estates, in order to enable the expenditure for offerings and grants to entirely emanate from this source? And if the household school were also established on this principle, the old and young in the whole clan can, after they have, by common consent, determined upon rules, exercise in days to come control in the order of the branches, over the affairs connected with the landed property, revenue, ancestral worship, and school maintenance for the year (of their respective term.) Under this rotatory system, there will likewise be no animosities; neither will there be any mortgages, or sales, or any of these numerous malpractices; and should anyone happen to incur blame, his personal effects can be confiscated by Government. But the properties, from which will be derived the funds for ancestral worship, even the officials should not be able to appropriate, so that when reverses do supervene, the sons and grandsons of the family may be able to return to their homes, and prosecute their studies, or go in for farming. Thus, while they will have something to fall back upon, the ancestral worship will, in like manner, be continued in perpetuity. But, if the present affluence and splendor be looked upon as bound to go on without intermission, and with no thought for the day to come, no enduring plan be after all devised, presently, in a little while, there will, once again, transpire a felicitous occurrence of exceptional kind, which, in point of fact, will resemble the splendor of oil scorched on a violent fire, or fresh flowers decorated with brocades. You should bear in mind that it will also be nothing more real than a transient pageant, nothing but a short-lived pleasure! Whatever you do, don’t forget the proverb, that ‘there’s no banquet, however sumptuous, from which the guests do not disperse;’ and unless you do, at an early date, take precautions against later evils, regret will, I apprehend, be of no avail.”
“What felicitous occurrence will take place?” lady Feng inquired with alacrity.
“The decrees of Heaven cannot be divulged; but as I have been very friendly with you, sister-in-law, for so long, I will present you, before I take my leave, with two lines, which it behoves you to keep in mind,” rejoined Mrs. Qin, as she consequently proceeded to recite what follows:
The three springs, when over, all radiance will wane; The inmates to seek each a home will be fain.
Lady Feng was bent upon making further inquiries, when she heard a messenger at the second gate strike the “cloudy board” four consecutive blows. It was indeed the announcement of a death; and it woke up lady Feng with a start. A servant reported that lady Rong of the eastern mansion was no more.
Lady Feng was so taken aback that a cold perspiration broke out all over her person, and she fell for a while into vacant abstraction. But she had to change her costume, with all possible haste, and to come over to Madame Wang’s apartments.
By this time, all the members of the family were aware of the tidings, and there was not one of them who did not feel disconsolate; one and all of them were much wounded at heart. The elder generation bethought themselves of the dutiful submission which she had all along displayed; those of the same age as herself reflected upon the friendship and intimacy which had ever existed with her; those younger than her remembered her past benevolence. Even the servants of the household, whether old or young, looked back upon her qualities of sympathy with the poor, pity of the destitute, affection for the old, and consideration for the young; and not one of them all was there who did not mourn her loss, and give way to intense grief.
But these irrelevant details need not be dilated upon; suffice it to confine ourselves to Baoyu.
Consequent upon Lin Daiyu’s return home, he was left to his own self and felt very lonely. Neither would he go and disport himself with others; but with the daily return of dusk, he was wont to retire quietly to sleep.
On this day, while he was yet under the influence of a dream, he heard the announcement of Mrs. Qin’s death, and turning himself round quickly he crept out of bed, when he felt as if his heart had been stabbed with a sword. With a sudden retch, he straightway expectorated a mouthful of blood, which so frightened Xiren and the rest that they rushed forward and supported him.
“What is the matter?” they inquired, and they meant also to go and let dowager lady Jia know, so as to send for a doctor, but Baoyu dissuaded them.
“There’s no need of any flurry; it’s nothing at all,” he said, “it’s sim ply that the fire of grief has attacked the heart, and that the blood did not circulate through the arteries.”
As he spoke, he speedily raised himself up, and, after asking for his clothes and changing, he came over to see dowager lady Jia. His wish was to go at once to the other side; and Xiren, though feeling uneasy at heart, seeing the state of mind he was in, did not again hinder him, as she felt constrained to let him please himself.
When old lady Jia saw that he was bent upon going: “The breath is just gone out of the body,” she consequently remonstrated, “and that side is still sullied. In the second place it’s now dark, and the wind is high; so you had better wait until tomorrow morning, when you will be in ample time.”
Baoyu would not agree to this, and dowager lady Jia gave orders to get the carriage ready, and to depute a few more attendants and followers to go with him. Under this escort he went forward and straightway arrived in front of the Ning mansion, where they saw the main entrance wide open, the lamps on the two sides giving out a light as bright as day, and people coming and going in confused and large numbers; while the sound of weeping inside was sufficient to shake the mountains and to move the hills.
Baoyu dismounted from the carriage; and with hurried step, walked into the apartment, where the coffin was laid. He gave vent to bitter tears for a few minutes, and subsequently paid his salutations to Mrs. You. Mrs. You, as it happened, had just had a relapse of her old complaint of pains in the stomach and was lying on her bed.
He eventually came out again from her chamber to salute Jia Zhen, just at the very moment that Jia Dairu, Jia Daixiu, Jia Chi, Jia Xiao, Jia Dun, Jia She, Jia Zheng, Jia Cong, Jia Pin, Jia Xing, Jia Guang, Jia Shen, Jia Qiong, Jia Lin, Jia Se, Jia Chang, Jia Ling, Jia Yun, Jia Qin, Jia Zhen, Jia Ping, Jia Zao, Jia Heng, Jia Fen, Jia Fang, Jia Lan, Jia Jun, Jia Zhi, and the other relatives of the families had likewise arrived in a body.
Jia Zhen wept so bitterly that he was like a man of tears. “Of the whole family, whether young or old, distant relatives or close mends,” he was just explaining to Jia Dairu and the rest, “who did not know that this girl was a hundred times better than even our son? but now that her spirit has retired, it’s evident that this elder branch of the family will be cut off and that there will be no survivor.”
While he gave vent to these words, he again burst into tears, and the whole company of relatives set to work at once to pacify him. “She has already departed this life,” they argued, “and tears are also of no avail, besides the pressing thing now is to consult as to what kind of arrangements are to be made.”
Jia Zhen clapped his hands. “What arrangements are to be made!” he exclaimed; “nothing is to be done, but what is within my means.”
As they conversed, they perceived Qin Ye and Qin Zhong, as well as several relations of Mrs. You, arrive, together with Mrs. You’s sisters; and Jia Zhen forthwith bade Jia Qiong, Jia Shen, Jia Lin, and Jia Se, the four of them, to go and entertain the guests; while he, at the same time, issued directions to go and ask the Astrologer of the Imperial Observatory to come and choose the days for the ceremonies.
(This Astrologer) decided that the coffin should remain in the house for seven times seven days, that is forty-nine days; that after the third day, the mourning rites should be begun and the formal cards should be distributed; that all that was to be done during these forty-nine days was to invite one hundred and eight Buddhist bonzes to perform, in the main Hall, the High Confession Mass, in order to ford the souls of departed relatives across the abyss of suffering, and afterwards to transmute the spirit (of Mrs. Qin); that, in addition, an altar should be erected in the Tower of Heavenly Fragrance, where nine times nine virtuous Daoist priests should, for nineteen days, offer up prayers for absolution from punishment, and purification from retribution. That after these services, the tablet should be moved into the Garden of Concentrated Fragrance, and that in the presence of the tablet, fifteen additional eminent bonzes and fifteen renowned Daoist Priests should confront the altar and perform meritorious deeds every seven days.
The news of the death of the wife of his eldest grandson reached Jia Jing; but as he himself felt sure that, at no distant date, he would ascend to the regions above, he was loath to return again to his home, and so expose himself to the contamination of the world, as to completely waste the meritorious excellence acquired in past days. For this reason, he paid no heed to the event, but allowed Jia Zhen a free hand to accomplish the necessary preparations.
Jia Zhen, to whom we again revert, was fond of display and extravagance, so that he found, on inspection of coffins, those few made of pine-wood unsuitable to his taste; when, strange coincidence, Xue Pan came to pay his visit of condolence, and perceiving that Jia Zhen was in quest of a good coffin: “In our establishment,” he readily suggested, “we have a lot of timber of some kind or other called Qiang wood, which comes from the Tie Wang Mount, in Huanghai; and which made into coffins will not rot, not for ten thousand years. This lot was, in fact, brought down, some years back, by my late father; and had at one time been required by His Highness Yizhong, a Prince of the royal blood; but as he became guilty of some mismanagement, it was, in conse quence, not used, and is still lying stored up in our establishment; and another thing besides is that there’s no one with the means to purchase it. But if you do want it, you should come and have a look at it.”
Jia Zhen, upon hearing this, was extremely delighted, and gave orders that the planks should be there and then brought over. When the whole family came to inspect them, they found those for the sides and the bottom to be all eight inches thick, the grain like betel-nut, the smell like sandal-wood or musk, while, when tapped with the hand, the sound emitted was like that of precious stones; so that one and all agreed in praising the timber for its remarkable quality.
“What is their price?” Jia Zhen inquired with a smile.
“Even with one thousand taels in hand,” explained Xue Pan laughingly, “I feel sure you wouldn’t find any place where you could buy the like. Why ask about price? if you just give the workmen a few taels for their labor, it will be quite sufficient.”
Jia Zhen, at these words, lost no time in giving expression to profuse assurances of gratitude, and was forthwith issuing directions that the timber should be split, sawn, and made up, when Jia Zheng proffered his advice. “Such articles shouldn’t,” he said, “be, in my idea, enjoyed by persons of the common run; it would be quite ample if the body were placed in a coffin made of pine of the best quality.”
But Jia Zhen would not listen to any suggestion.
Suddenly he further heard that Mrs. Qin’s waiting-maid, Ruizhu by name, had, after she had become alive to the fact that her mistress had died, knocked her head against a post, and likewise succumbed to the blows. This unusual occurrence the whole clan extolled in high terms; and Jia Zhen promptly directed that, with regard to ceremonies, she should be treated as a granddaughter, and that the body should, after it had been placed in the coffin, be also deposited in the Hall of Attained Immortality, in the Garden of Concentrated Fragrance.
There was likewise a young waiting-maid, called Baozhu, who, as Mrs. Qin left no issue, was willing to become an adopted child, and begged to be allowed to undertake the charge of dashing the mourning bowl, and accompanying the coffin; which pleased Jia Zhen so much that he speedily transmitted orders that from that time forth Baozhu should be addressed by all as “young miss.”
Baozhu, after the rites of an unmarried daughter, mourned before the coffin to such an unwonted degree, as if bent upon snapping her own life; while the members of the entire clan, as well as the in mates of the Mansions, each and all, readily observed, in their conduct, the established mourning usages, without of course any transgression or confusion.
“Jia Rong,” pondered Jia Zhen, “has no higher status than that of graduate by purchase, and were this designation written on the funeral streamer, it will not be imposing, and, in point of fact, the retinue will likewise be small.” He therefore was exceedingly unhappy, in his own mind, when, as luck would have it, on this day, which was the fourth day of the first seven, Daiquan, a eunuch of the Palace of High Renown, whose office was that of Palace Overseer, first prepared sacrificial presents, which he sent round by messengers, and next came himself in an official chair, preceded by criers beating the gong, to offer sacrificial oblations.
Jia Zhen promptly received him, and pressed him into a seat; and when they adjourned into the Hall of the Loitering Bees, tea was presented.
Jia Zhen had already arrived at a fixed purpose, so that he seized an opportunity to tell him of his wish to purchase an office for Jia Rong’s advancement.
Daiquan understood the purport of his remark. “It is, I presume,” he added smilingly, “that the funeral rites should be a little more sumptuous.”
“My worthy sir,” eagerly rejoined Jia Zhen, “your surmise on that score is perfectly correct.”
“The question,” explained Daiquan, “comes up at an opportune moment; for there is just at present a good vacancy. Of the three hundred officers who at present constitute the Imperial Body Guard, there are two wanting. Yesterday marquis Xiangyang’s third brother came to appeal to me with one thousand five hundred taels of ready money, which he brought over to my house. You know the friendship of old standing which exists between him and me, so that, placing other considerations aside, I without a second thought, assented for his father’s sake. But there still remains another vacancy, which, who would have thought it, fat general Feng, of Yongxing, asked to purchase for his son; but I have had no time to give him an answer. Besides, as our child wants to purchase it, you had better at once write a statement of his antecedents.”
Jia Zhen lost no time in bidding someone write the statement on red paper, which Daiquan found, on perusal, to record that Jia Rong was a graduate, by purchase, of the District of Jiangning, of the Jiangling Prefecture, in Jiangnan; that Jia Daihua, his great grandfather, had been Commander-in-Chief of the Metropolitan Camp, and an hereditary general of the first class, with the prefix of Spiritual Majesty; that his grandfather Jia Jing was a metropolitan graduate of the tripos in the Ping Zhen year; and that his father Jia Zhen had inherited a rank of nobility of the third degree, and was a general, with the prefix of Majestic Intrepidity.
Daiquan, after perusal, turned his hand behind him and passed (the statement) to a constant attendant of his, to put away: “Go back,” he enjoined him, “and give it to His Excellency Mr. Zhao, at the head of the Board of Revenue, and tell him that I present him my compliments, and would like him to draw up a warrant for subaltern of the Imperial Bodyguard of the fifth grade, and to also issue a commission; that he should take the particulars from this statement and fill them up; and that tomorrow I’ll come and have the money weighed and sent over.”
The young attendant signified his obedience, and Daiquan thereupon took his leave. Jia Zhen did all he could to detain him, but with no success; so that he had no alternative but to escort him as far as the entrance of the mansion. As he was about to mount into his chair, Jia Zhen inquired, “As regards the money, shall I go and pay it into the Board, or am I to send it to the Board of Eunuchs?”
“If you were to go and pay it at the Board,” observed Daiquan; “you are sure to suffer loss; so that it would be better if you just weighed exactly one thousand taels and sent them over to my place; for then an end will be put to all trouble.”
Jia Zhen was incessant in his expression of gratitude. “When the period of mourning has expired,” he consequently added, “I shall lead in person, my despicable eldest son to your mansion, to pay our obeisance, and express our thanks.”
They then parted company, but close upon this were heard again the voices of runners. It was, in fact, the spouse of Shiding, the marquis of Zhongjing, who was just arriving. Shi Xiangyun, mesdames Wang, and Xing, lady Feng and the rest came out at once, to greet her, and lead her into the Main Building; when they further saw the sacrificial presents of the three families, of the marquis of Jinxiang, the marquis of Chuaning, and the earl of Shoushan, likewise spread out in front of the tablet.
In a short while, these three noblemen descended from their chairs, and Jia Zhen received them in the Large Hall. In like manner all the relatives and friends arrived in such quick succession, one coming, another going, that it is impossible to remember even so much as their number. One thing need be said that during these forty-nine days the street on which the Ning Guo mansion stood, was covered with a sheet of white, formed by the people, coming and going; and thronged with clusters of flowers, as the officials came and went.
At the instance of Jia Zhen, Jia Rong, the next day donned his gala dress and went over for his papers; and on his return the articles in use in front of the coffin, as well as those belonging to the cortege and other such things, were all regulated by the rules prescribed for an official status of the fifth degree; while, on the tablet and notice alike the inscription consisted of: Spirit of lady Qin, (by marriage) of the Jia mansion, and by patent a lady of the fifth rank (of the titles of honor).
The main entrance of the Garden of Concentrated Fragrance, adjoining the street, was opened wide; and on both sides were raised sheds for the musicians, and two companies of players, dressed in blue, discoursed music at the proper times; while one pair after another of the paraphernalia was drawn out so straight as if cut by a knife or slit by an axe. There were also two large carmine boards, carved with gilt inscriptions, erected outside the gate; the designations in bold characters on the upper sides being: Guard of the Imperial Antechamber, charged with the protection of the Inner Palace and Roads, in the Red Prohibited City.
On the opposite side, facing each other, rose, high above the ground, two altars for the services of the Buddhist and Daoist priests, while a placard bore the inscription in bold type: “Funeral Obsequies of lady Qin, (by marriage) of the Jia mansion, by patent a lady of the fifth rank, consort of the eldest grandson of the hereditary duke of Ning Guo, and guard of the Imperial Antechamber, charged with the protection of the Inner Palace and Roads in the Red Prohibited City. We, Wan Xu, by Heaven’s commands charged with the perennial preservation of perfect peace in the Kingdom of the Four Continents, as well as of the lands contained therein, Head Controller of the School of Void and Asceticism, and Superior in Chief (of the Buddhist hierarchy); and Ye Sheng, Principal Controller, since the creation, of the Disciples of Perfect Excellence and Superior in Chief (of the Daoist priesthood), and others, having in a reverent spirit purified ourselves by abstinence, now raise our eyes up to Heaven, prostrate ourselves humbly before Buddha, and devoutly pray all the Jia Lan’s, Jie Di’s, Gong Cao’s, and other divinities to extend their sacred bounties, and from afar to display their spiritual majesty, during the forty-nine days (of the funeral rites), for the deliverance from judgment and the absolution from retribution (of the spirit of lady Qin), so that it may enjoy a peaceful and safe passage, whether by sea or by land;” and other such prayers to this effect, which are in fact not worth the trouble of putting on record.
Jia Zhen had, it is true, all his wishes gratified; but, as his wife was laid up in the inner chambers, with a relapse of her old complaint, and was not in a fit state to undertake the direction of the ceremonies, he was very much distressed lest, when the high officials (and their wives) came and went, there should occur any breach of the prescribed conventionalities, which he was afraid would evoke ridicule. Hence it was that he felt in low spirits; but while he was plunged in solicitude Baoyu, who happened to be close by, readily inquired, “Everything may be safely looked upon as being satisfactorily settled, and why need you, elder brother, still be so full of concern?”
Jia Zhen forthwith explained to him how it was that in the ladies’ apartments there was no one (to do the honors), but Baoyu at these words smiled: “What difficulty is there about it?” he remarked; “I’ll recommend someone to take temporary charge of the direction of things for you during the month, and I can guarantee that everything will be properly carried out.”
“Who is it?” Jia Zhen was quick to ask; but as Baoyu perceived that there were still too many relatives and friends seated around, he did not feel as if he could very well speak out; so that he went up to Jia Zhen and whispered a couple of remarks in his ear.
Jia Zhen’s joy knew no bounds when he heard this suggestion. “Everything will indeed be properly carried out,” he added laughingly; “but I must now be going at once.”
With these words, he drew Baoyu along, and taking leave of the whole number of visitors, they forthwith came into the drawing rooms.
This day was luckily not a grand occasion, so that few relatives and friends had come. In the inner apartments there were only a small number of ladies of close kinship. Mesdames Xing and Wang, and lady Feng, and the women of the whole household, were entertaining the guests, when they heard a servant announce that Mr. Jia Zhen had come. (This announcement) took the whole body of ladies and young ladies so much by surprise, that, with a rushing sound, they tried to hide in the back rooms; but they were not quick enough (to effect their escape).
Lady Feng alone composedly stood up. Jia Zhen was himself at this time rather unwell, and being also very much cut up, he entered the room shuffling along, propping himself up with a staff.
“You are not well?” therefore remarked Madame Xing and the others, “and you’ve had besides so much to attend to during these consecutive days, that what you require is rest to get all right; and why do you again come over?”
Jia Zhen was, as he leant on his staff, straining every nerve to bend his body so as to fall on his knees and pay his respects to them, and express his sense of obligation for the trouble they had taken, when Madame Xing and the other ladies hastily called Baoyu to raise him up, bidding a servant move a chair for him to sit on. Jia Zhen would not take a seat; but making an effort to return a smile, “Your nephew,” he urged, “has come over, as there’s a favor that I want to ask of my two aunts as well as of my eldest cousin.”
“What is it?” promptly inquired Madame Xing and the rest.
“My aunts,” Jia Zhen replied with all haste, “you surely are aware that your grandson’s wife is now no more; your nephew’s wife is also laid up unwell, and, as I see that things in the inner apartments are really not what they should properly be, I would trouble my worthy eldest cousin to undertake in here the direction of affairs for a month; and if she does, my mind will be set at ease.”
Madame Xing smiled. “Is it really about this that you’ve come?” she asked; “your eldest cousin is at present staying with your aunt Secunda, and all you have to do is to speak to her and it will be all right.”
“How ever could a mere child like her,” speedily remonstrated Madame Wang, “carry out all these matters? and shouldn’t she manage things properly, she will, on the contrary, make people laugh, so it would therefore be better that you should trouble someone else.”
“What your ideas are, aunt,” rejoined Jia Zhen smiling, “your neph ew has guessed; you’re afraid lest my eldest cousin should have to bear fatigue and annoyance; for as to what you say, that she cannot manage things, why my eldest cousin has, from her youth up, ever been in her romping and playing so firm and decided; and now that she has entered the married estate, and has the run of affairs in that mansion, she must have reaped so much the more experience, and have become quite an old hand! I’ve been thinking these last few days that outside my eldest cousin, there’s no one else who could come to my help; and, aunt, if you don’t do it for the face of your nephew and your nephew’s wife, do it, at least, for the affection you bore to her who is no more.”
While he uttered these words tears trickled down his face. The fears that Madame Wang inwardly entertained were that lady Feng had no experience in funeral matters, and she apprehended, that if she was not equal to managing them, she would incur the ridicule of others; but when she now heard Jia Zhen make the appeal in such a disconsolate mood, she relented considerably in her resolution. But as she turned her eyes towards lady Feng (to ascertain her wishes), she saw that she was plunged in abstraction.
Lady Feng had all along found the greatest zest in taking the initiative in everything, with the idea of making a display of her abilities, so that when she perceived how earnest Jia Zhen was in his entreaties, she had, at an early period, made up her mind to give a favorable reply. Seeing besides Madame Wang show signs of relenting, she readily turned round and said to her, “My elder cousin has made his appeal in such a solicitous way that your ladyship should give your consent and have done with it.”
“Do you think you are equal to the task?” inquired Madame Wang in a whisper.
“What’s there that I couldn’t be equal to?” replied lady Feng; “for urgent matters outside, my cousin may be said to have already made full provision; and all there is to be done is to keep an eye over things inside. But should there occur anything that I don’t know, I can ask you, madame, and it will be right.”
Madame Wang perceiving the reasonableness of what she heard her say, uttered not a word, and when Jia Zhen saw that lady Feng had assented; “How much you do attend to I don’t mind,” he observed, forcing another smile, “but I must, in any case, entreat you, cousin, to assume the onerous charge. As a first step I’ll pay my obeisance to you in here, and when everything has been finished, I shall then come over into that mansion to express my thanks.”
With these words still on his lips, he made a low bow, but lady Feng had scarcely had time to return the compliment, before Jia Zhen had directed a servant to fetch the warrant of the Ning mansion, which he bade Baoyu hand over to lady Feng.
“Cousin,” he added, “take whatever steps you think best; and if you want anything, all you have to do is to simply send for it with this, and there will even be no use to consult me. The only thing I must ask you is, not to be too careful in order to save me expense, for the main consideration is that things should be handsomely done. In the second place, it will be well if you were also to treat servants here in the same way as in the other mansion, and not be too scrupulous in the fear that anyone might take offence. Outside these two concerns, there’s nothing else to disturb my mind.”
Lady Feng did not venture to take over the warrant at once, but merely turned round to ascertain what were Madame Wang’s wishes.
“In view of the reason brother Zhen advances,” Madame Wang rejoined, “you had better assume the charge at once and finish with it; don’t, however, act on your own ideas; but when there’s aught to be done, be careful and send someone to consult your cousin’s wife, ever so little though it be on the subject.”
Baoyu had already taken over the warrant from Jia Zhen’s grasp, and forcibly handed it to lady Feng, “Will you, cousin,” he went on to question, “take up your quarters here or will you come every day? should you cross over, day after day, it will be ever so much more fatiguing for you, so that I shall speedily have a separate court got ready for you in here, where you, cousin, can put up for these several days and be more comfortable.”
“There’s no need,” replied lady Feng smiling; “for on that side they can’t do without me; and it will be better if I were to come daily.”
“Do as you like,” Jia Zhen observed; and after subsequently passing a few more irrelevant remarks, he at length left the room.
After a time, the lady relatives dispersed, and Madame Wang seized the opportunity to inquire of lady Feng, “What do you purpose doing today?”
“You had better, please madame, go back,” urged lady Feng, “for I must first of all find out some clue before I can go home.”
Madame Wang, upon hearing these words, returned to her quarters, in advance, in company with Madame Xing, where we will leave them.
Lady Feng meanwhile came into a colonnade, which enclosed a suite of three apartments, and taking a seat, she gave way to reflection. “The first consideration,” she communed within herself, “is that the household is made up of mixed elements, and things might be lost; the sec ond is that the preparations are under no particular control, with the result that, when the time comes, the servants might shirk their duties; the third is that the necessary expenditure being great, there will be reckless disbursements and counterfeit receipts; the fourth, that with the absence of any distinction in the matter of duties, whether large or small, hardship and ease will be unequally shared; and the fifth, that the servants being arrogant, through leniency, those with any self-respect will not brook control, while those devoid of ‘face’ will not be able to improve their ways.”
These five were, in point of fact, usages in vogue in the Ning mansion. But as you are unable, reader, to ascertain here how lady Feng set things right, listen to the explanations given in the following chapter.