第十五回
第十五回 王凤姐弄权铁槛寺 秦鲸卿得趣馒头庵
话说宝玉举目见北静王水溶头上戴着洁白簪缨银翅王帽，穿着江牙海水五爪坐龙白蟒袍，系着碧玉红[1]带，面如美玉，目似明星，真好秀丽人物。宝玉忙抢上来参见，水溶连忙从轿内伸出手来挽住。见宝玉戴着束发银冠，勒着双龙出海抹额，穿着白蟒箭袖，围着攒珠银带，面若春花，目如点漆。水溶笑道：“名不虚传，果然如‘宝’似‘玉’。”因问：“衔的那宝贝在那里？”宝玉见问，连忙从衣内取了递与过去。水溶细细的看了，又念了那上头的字，因问：“果灵验否？”贾政忙道：“虽如此说，只是未曾试过。”水溶一面极口称奇道异，一面理好彩绦，亲自与宝玉带上，又携手问宝玉几岁，读何书。宝玉一一的答应。
水溶见他语言清楚，谈吐有致，一面又向贾政笑道：“令郎真乃龙驹凤雏，非小王在世翁前唐突，将来‘雏凤清于老凤声’[2]，未可量也。”贾政忙陪笑道：“犬子岂敢谬承金奖。赖藩郡馀祯[3]，果如是言，亦荫生辈之幸矣。”水溶又道：“只是一件，令郎如是资质，想老太夫人、夫人辈自然钟爱极矣；但吾辈后生，甚不宜钟溺，钟溺则未免荒失学业。昔小王曾蹈此辙，想令郎亦未必不如是也。若令郎在家难以用功，不妨常到寒第。小王虽不才，却多蒙海上众名士凡至都者，未有不另垂青目[4]，是以寒第高人颇聚。令郎常去谈会谈会，则学问可以日进矣。”贾政忙躬身答应。
水溶又将腕上一串念珠卸了下来，递与宝玉道：“今日初会，仓促竟无敬贺之物，此系前日圣上亲赐苓[5]香念珠一串，权为贺敬之礼。”宝玉连忙接了，回身奉与贾政。贾政与宝玉一齐谢过。于是贾赦、贾珍等一齐上来请回舆，水溶道：“逝者已登仙界，非碌碌你我尘寰中之人也。小王虽上叨天恩〔一〕，虚邀郡袭，岂可越仙[7]而进也？”贾赦等见执意不从，只得告辞谢恩回来，命手下掩乐停音，滔滔然将殡过完，方让水溶回舆去了。不在话下。
且说宁府送殡，一路热闹非常。刚至城门前，又有贾赦、贾政、贾珍等诸同僚属下各家祭棚接祭，一一的谢过，然后出城，竟奔铁槛寺大路行来。彼时贾珍带贾蓉来到诸长辈前，让坐轿上马，因而贾赦一辈的各自上了车轿，贾珍一辈的也将要上马。凤姐儿因记挂着宝玉，怕他在郊外纵性逞强，不服家人的话，贾政管不着这些小事，惟恐有个失闪，难见贾母，因此便命小厮来唤他。宝玉只得来到他车前。凤姐笑道：“好兄弟，你是个尊贵人，女孩儿一样的人品，别学他们猴在马上。下来，咱们姐儿两个坐车，岂不好？”宝玉听说，忙下了马，爬入凤姐车上，二人说笑前来。
不一时，只见从那边两骑马压地飞来，离凤姐车不远，一齐蹿下来，扶车回说：“这里有下处，奶奶请歇更衣[8]。”凤姐急命请邢夫人王夫人的示下，那人回来说：“太太们说不用歇了，叫奶奶自便罢。”凤姐听了，便命歇了再走。众小厮听了，一带辕马，岔出人群，往北飞走。宝玉在车内急命请秦相公。那时秦钟正骑马随着他父亲的轿，忽见宝玉的小厮跑来，请他去打尖[9]。秦钟看时，只见凤姐儿的车往北而去，后面拉着宝玉的马，搭着鞍笼，便知宝玉同凤姐坐车，自己也便带马赶上来，同入一庄门内。早有家人将众庄汉撵尽。那庄农人家无多房舍，婆娘们无处回避，只得由他们去了。那些村姑庄妇见了凤姐、宝玉、秦钟的人品衣服，礼数款段[10]，岂有不爱看的？
一时凤姐进入茅堂，因命宝玉等先出去顽顽。宝玉等会意，因同秦钟出来，带着小厮们各处游顽。凡庄农动用之物，皆不曾见过。宝玉一见了锹、镢、锄、犁等物，皆以为奇，不知何项〔二〕所使，其名为何。小厮在旁一一的告诉了名色，说明原委。宝玉听了，因点头叹道：“怪道古人诗上说，‘谁知盘中餐，粒粒皆辛苦’[12]，正为此也。”一面说，一面又至一间房前，只见炕上有个纺车，宝玉又问小厮们：“这又是什么？”小厮们又告诉他原委。宝玉听说，便上来拧转作耍，自为有趣。只见一个约有十七八岁的村庄丫头跑了来乱嚷：“别动坏了！”众小厮忙断喝拦阻。宝玉忙丢开手，陪笑说道：“我因为没见过这个，所以试他一试。”那丫头道：“你们那里会弄这个，站开了，我纺与你瞧。”秦钟暗拉宝玉笑道：“此卿大有意趣。”宝玉一把推开，笑道：“该死的！再胡说，我就打了。”说着，只见那丫头纺起线来。宝玉正要说话时，只听那边老婆子叫道：“二丫头，快过来！”那丫头听见，丢下纺车，一径去了。
宝玉怅然无趣。只见凤姐儿打发人来叫他两个进去。凤姐洗了手，换衣服抖灰，问他们换不换。宝玉不换，只得罢了。家下仆妇们将带着行路的茶壶茶杯、十锦屉盒、各样小食端来，凤姐等吃过茶，待他们收拾完备，便起身上车。外面旺儿预备下赏封，赏了本村主人。庄妇等来叩赏。凤姐并不在意，宝玉却留心看时，内中并无二丫头。一时上了车，出来走不多远，只见迎头二丫头怀里抱着他小兄弟，同着几个小女孩子说笑而来。宝玉恨不得下车跟了他去，料是众人不依的，少不得以目相送，争奈车轻马快，一时展眼无踪。
走不多时，仍又跟上大殡了。早有前面法鼓金铙，幢幡宝盖：铁槛寺接灵众僧齐至。少时到入寺中，另演佛事，重设香坛。安灵于内殿偏室之中，宝珠安于里寝室相伴。外面贾珍款待一应亲友，也有扰饭的，也有不吃饭而辞的，一应谢过乏，从公侯伯子男一起一起的散去，至未末时分方才散尽了。里面的堂客皆是凤姐张罗接待，先从显官诰命散起，也到晌午大错[13]时方散尽了。只有几个亲戚是至近的，等做过三日安灵道场方去。那时邢、王二夫人知凤姐必不能来家，也便就要进城。王夫人要带宝玉去，宝玉乍到郊外，那里肯回去，只要跟凤姐住着。王夫人无法，只得交与凤姐便回来了。
原来这铁槛寺原是宁荣二公当日修造，现今还是有香火地亩布施[14]，以备京中老了[15]人口，在此便宜寄放。其中阴阳两宅[16]俱已预备妥贴，好为送灵人口寄居。不想如今后辈人口繁盛，其中贫富不一，或性情参商[17]：有那家业艰难安分的，便住在这里了；有那尚排场有钱势的，只说这里不方便，一定另外或村庄或尼庵寻个下处，为事毕宴退之所。即今秦氏之丧，族中诸人皆权在铁槛寺下榻，独有凤姐嫌不方便，因而早遣人来和馒头庵[18]的姑子净虚说了，腾出两间房子来作下处。
原来这馒头庵就是水月庵〔三〕，因他庙里做的馒头好，就起了这个浑号，离铁槛寺不远。当下和尚工课已完，奠过晚茶，贾珍便命贾蓉请凤姐歇息。凤姐见还有几个妯娌陪着女亲，自己便辞了众人，带了宝玉、秦钟往水月庵来。原来秦业〔四〕年迈多病，不能在此，只命秦钟等待安灵罢了。那秦钟便只跟着凤姐、宝玉，一时到了水月庵，净虚带领智善、智能两个徒弟出来迎接，大家见过。凤姐等来至净室更衣净手毕，因见智能儿越发长高了，模样儿越发出息了，因说道：“你们师徒怎么这些日子也不往我们那里去？”净虚道：“可是[21]这几天都没工夫，因胡老爷府里产了公子，太太送了十两银子来这里，叫请几位师父念三日《血盆经》[22]，忙的没个空儿，就没来请奶奶的安。”
不言老尼陪着凤姐。且说秦钟、宝玉二人正在殿上顽耍，因见智能过来，宝玉笑道：“能儿来了。”秦钟道：“理那东西作什么？”宝玉笑道：“你别弄鬼，那一日在老太太屋里，一个人没有，你搂着他作什么？这会子还哄我。”秦钟笑道：“这可是没有的话。”宝玉笑道：“有没有也不管你，你只叫住他倒碗茶来我吃，就丢开手。”秦钟笑道：“这又奇了，你叫他倒去，还怕他不倒？何必要我说呢。”宝玉道：“我叫他倒的是无情意的，不及你叫他倒的是有情意的。”秦钟只得说道：“能儿，倒碗茶来给我。”
那智能儿自幼在荣府走动，无人不识，因常与宝玉秦钟顽笑。他如今大了，渐知风月，便看上了秦钟人物风流，那秦钟也极爱他妍媚，二人虽未上手，却已情投意合了。今智能儿见了秦钟，心眼俱开，走去倒了茶来。秦钟笑说：“给我。”宝玉叫：“给我！”智能儿抿嘴笑道：“一碗茶也争，我难道手里有蜜！”宝玉先抢得了，吃着，方要问话，只见智善来叫智能去摆茶碟子，一时来请他两个去吃茶果点心。他两个那里吃这些东西，坐一坐仍出来顽耍。
凤姐也略坐片时，便回至净室歇息，老尼相送。此时众婆娘媳妇见无事，都陆续散了，自去歇息，跟前不过几个心腹常侍小婢〔五〕，老尼便趁机说道：“我正有一事，要到府里求太太，先请奶奶一个示下。”凤姐因问何事。
老尼道：“阿弥陀佛！只因当日我先在长安县内善才庵内出家的时节，那时有个施主姓张，是大财主。他有个女儿小名金哥，那年都往我庙里来进香，不想遇见了长安府府太爷的小舅子李衙内[24]。那李衙内一心看上，要娶金哥，打发人来求亲，不想金哥已受了原任长安守备[25]的公子的聘定。张家若退亲，又怕守备不依，因此说已有了人家。谁知李公子执意不依，定要娶他女儿，张家正无计策，两处为难。不想守备家听了此信，也不管青红皂白，便来作践辱骂，说一个女儿许几家，偏不许退定礼，就打官司告状起来。那张家急了，只得着人上京来寻门路，赌气偏要退定礼。我想如今长安节度云老爷与府上最契，可以求太太与老爷说声，打发一封书去，求云老爷和那守备说一声，不怕那守备不依。若是肯行，张家连倾家孝顺也都情愿。”
凤姐听了笑道：“这事倒不大，只是太太再不管这样的事。”老尼道：“太太不管，奶奶也可以主张了。”凤姐听说笑道：“我也不等银子使，也不做这样的事。”净虚听了，打去妄想，半晌叹道：“虽如此说，张家已知我来求府里，如今不管这事，张家不知道没工夫管这事，不希罕他的谢礼，倒像府里连这点子手段也没有的一般。”
凤姐听了这话，便发了兴头[26]，说道：“你是素日知道我的，从来不信什么是阴司地狱报应的，凭是什么事，我说要行就行。你叫他拿三千银子来，我就替他出这口气。”老尼听说，喜不自禁，忙说：“有，有！这个不难。”凤姐又道：“我比不得他们扯蓬拉纤的图银子。这三千银子，不过是给打发说去的小厮做盘缠，使他赚几个辛苦钱，我一个钱也不要他的。便是三万两，我此刻也拿的出来。”老尼连忙答应，又说道：“既如此，奶奶明日就开恩也罢了。”凤姐道：“你瞧瞧我忙的，那一处少了我？既应了你，自然快快的了结。”老尼道：“这点子事，在别人的跟前就忙的不知怎么样，若是奶奶的跟前，再添上些也不够奶奶一发挥的。只是俗语说的，‘能者多劳’，太太因大小事见奶奶妥贴，越性[27]都推给奶奶了，奶奶也要保重金体才是。”一路话奉承的凤姐越发受用，也不顾劳乏，更攀谈起来。
谁想秦钟趁黑无人，来寻智能。刚至后面房中，只见智能独在房中洗茶碗，秦钟跑来便搂着亲嘴。智能急的跺着脚说〔六〕：“这算什么！再这么我就叫唤。”秦钟求道：“好人，我已急死了。你今儿再不依，我就死在这里。”智能道：“你想怎样？除非等我出了这牢坑，离了这些人，才依你。”秦钟道：“这也容易，只是远水救不得近渴。”说着，一口吹了灯，满屋漆黑，将智能抱到炕上，就云雨起来。
那智能百般的挣挫不起，又不好叫的，少不得依他了。正在得趣，只见一人进来，将他二人按住，也不则声。二人不知是谁，唬的不敢动一动。只听那人嗤的一声，撑不住笑了，二人听声方知是〔七〕宝玉。秦钟连忙起身，抱怨道：“这算什么？”宝玉笑道：“你倒不依，咱们就叫喊起来。”羞的智能趁黑地跑了。宝玉拉了秦钟出来道：“你可还和我强？”秦钟笑道：“好人，你只别嚷的众人知道，你要怎样我都依你。”宝玉笑道：“这会子也不用说，等一会睡下，再细细的算帐。”一时宽衣安歇的时节，凤姐在里间，秦钟宝玉在外间，满地下皆是家下婆子，打铺坐更。凤姐因怕通灵玉失落，便等宝玉睡下，命人拿来在自己枕边。宝玉不知与秦钟算何帐目，未见真切，未曾记得，此系疑案，不敢纂创。
一宿无话。至次日一早，便有贾母王夫人打发了人来看宝玉，又命多穿两件衣服，无事宁可回去。宝玉那里肯回去，又有秦钟恋着智能，调唆宝玉求凤姐再住一天。凤姐想了一想：凡丧仪大事虽妥，还有一半点小事未曾安插，可以指此再住一日，岂不又在贾珍跟前送了满情；二则又可以完净虚那事；三则顺了宝玉的心，贾母听见，岂不欢喜？因有此三益，便向宝玉道：“我的事都完了，你要在这里逛，少不得越性辛苦一日罢了，明儿可是定要走的了。”宝玉听说，千姐姐万姐姐的央求：“只住一日，明儿必回去的。”于是又住了一夜。
凤姐便命悄悄将昨日老尼之事，说与来旺儿。来旺儿心中俱已明白，急忙进城找着主文的相公，假托贾琏所嘱，修书一封，连夜往长安县来，不过百里路程，两日工夫俱已妥协。那节度使名唤云光，久欠贾府之情，这点小事，岂有不允之理，给了回书，旺儿回来。且不在话下。
却说凤姐等又过一日，次日方别了老尼，着他三日后往府里去讨信。那秦钟与智能百般不忍分离，背地里多少幽期密约，俱不用细述，只得含恨而别。凤姐又到铁槛寺中照望一番。宝珠执意不肯回家，贾珍只得派妇女相伴。后回再见。
[1] （tīnɡ听）——皮革制成的带子。
[2] “雏凤清于老凤声”——比喻儿子将胜过父亲。见唐代李商隐《韩冬郎即席为诗相送……因成二绝寄酬兼呈畏之员外》诗。
[3] 赖藩郡馀祯——犹言“托郡王的福”。藩郡：这里指受封的郡王。祯：吉祥。
[4] 垂青目——也作“垂青”，意思是用青眼（即正眼）看人，表示尊重、看得起。《晋书·阮籍传》：“籍又能为青白眼。见礼俗之士，以白眼对之。及嵇喜来吊，籍作白眼，喜不怿而退。喜弟康闻之，乃赍酒扶琴造焉，籍大悦，乃见青眼。”
[5] （jí及）苓——香草名。，《集韵》：资昔切，草名。《集韵·昔韵》：“，草名。”苓，《集韵》、《广韵》：“郎丁切，音灵。”《汉书·扬雄传》：“飏芳苓。”注：“苓，香草名。”
〔一〕 “上叨天恩”，原作“上叩天恩”，从舒序、甲辰、俄藏本改。
[7] （ér儿）——古时载运灵柩的车子。《释名·释丧制》：“舆棺之车曰。”
[8] 更衣——对大小便的雅称。《论衡·四讳》：“夫更衣之室，可谓臭矣。”
[9] 打尖——在旅途或劳作中间休息、饮食，俗称“打尖”。
[10] 款段——形容仪态举止从容舒缓的样子。
〔二〕 “何项”，底本作“何向”，甲戌、蒙府、戚序本均同。从梦稿、俄藏本改。
[12] “谁知”二句——唐代李绅《悯农二首》之二中的诗句。
[13] 晌午大错——晌午，正午；晌午错，正午已过；晌午大错，正午过去较久而未到下一个时辰。
[14] 香火地亩布施——施舍地亩给寺庙，其收入作为香火之费。
[15] 老了——即“死了”。旧俗讳说“死”字，故用“老”字代替。
[16] 阴阳两宅——迷信说法，埋葬死人的墓地或寄放灵柩之处叫“阴宅”，活人居住的地方叫“阳宅”。
[17] 性情参（shēn申）商——性情各有不同，合不来的意思。参商：参见第68页注②。
[18] 铁槛（kǎn砍）寺、馒头庵——槛：门槛，比喻生死界限。唐代王梵志诗：“世无百年人，强作千年调；打铁作门限（槛），鬼见拍手笑。”或云又喻富贵。馒头：喻坟墓。宋代范成大《重九日行营寿藏之地》诗：“纵有千年铁门限，终须一个土馒头。”铁槛寺和馒头庵之名或由此而来。
〔三〕 “水月庵”，底本作“水月寺”，从戚序本改。
〔四〕 “原来秦业”，底本无“原来”二字，从甲戌、梦稿、舒序、甲辰、俄藏本补。
[21] 可是——此处承接上文，表示附和，意谓“可不是”。
[22] 血盆经——佛经名，全称是《目连正教血盆经》，又叫《女人血盆经》。旧时认为妇女产时出血不吉利，要请僧众念血盆经祈福消灾。
〔五〕 “心腹常侍小婢”，原作“心腹常侍小禅”，从甲戌、戚序、舒序、俄藏本改。
[24] 衙内——唐代藩镇于所居州城之内又筑小城一重，作节度使的治所，前为节堂（办公的地方），后为私第，称做“牙城”。并自募亲兵由牙内指挥使统帅，保护牙城。五代及宋初，藩镇多用自己的子弟充当牙内指挥使，后遂称贵官之子弟为“衙内”。衙：同“牙”。
[25] 守备——明、清所置官名，掌管分守城堡或营务粮饷等事。
[26] 兴头——因兴奋所表现出来的劲头。作形容词用时，意为得意洋洋。
[27] 越性——索性。
〔六〕 “跺着脚说”，底本作“跺脚说着”。俄藏本作“跺脚说”，从。
〔七〕 “方知是”，原无“知”字，从甲戌、梦稿、舒序、俄藏本补。
CHAPTER 15. At Water-moon Priory Xi-feng finds how much profit may be procured by the abuse of power And Qin Zhong discovers the pleasures that are to be had under the cover of darkness
Looking up, Bao-yu saw that Shui Rong’s princely headgear was embellished by way of mourning with white bands, a white hatpin, and filigree silver ‘wings’. As a further token of mourning his robe, though heavily bordered with a ‘tooth and wave’ design of rainbow-coloured stripes and gold-emblazoned with the royal five-clawed dragon, was of a white material. It was confined at the waist by a red leather belt, studded with green jade. The splendid costume, the luminous eyes, the finely chiselled features really did make him an arrestingly handsome young man. Bao-yu started forward impulsively to make his salutation, but the prince extended an arm from the palanquin and prevented him from kneeling.
Bao-yu was wearing a little silver coronet on the top of his head and a silver headband round his brow in the form of two dragons emerging from the sea. He had on a narrow-sleeved, full-skirted robe of white material and a silver belt inlaid with pearls. After studying these and admiring the flowerlike face and coal-black eyes, the prince’s face broke into a smile.
‘If “Bao-yu” means “precious jade”, you are appropriately named,’ he said. ‘But where is the famous stone you were born with?’
Bao-yu hurriedly extracted the jade from inside his clothing and taking it off, handed it to the prince, who scrutinized it carefully, reciting the words of the inscription as he deciphered them.
‘And does it really have these powers?’ he asked.
‘It is only alleged to,’ Jia Zheng put in hastily. ‘We have never put them to the test.’
The prince pronounced the stone a great wonder and with his own hands refastened its plaited silken cord round Bao-yu’s neck. Then, taking one of Bao-yu’s hands in his own, he asked him how old he was, what books he was studying, and other such questions, to all of which Bao-yu gave prompt replies.
Delighted that everything Bao-yu said was so clear and to the point, the prince observed to Jia Zheng that ‘the young phoenix was worthy of his sire’.
‘I trust I shall not offend you by saying so to your face,’ he said, ‘but I venture to prophesy that this fledgling of yours will one day “sing sweeter than the parent bird”.’
Jia Zheng smiled politely.
‘My son is doubtless unworthy of the compliment Your Highness is good enough to pay him. If, thanks to your encouragement, he turns out as you say, we shall count ourselves truly fortunate.’
‘There is only one drawback in possessing such charm,’ said the prince. ‘I am sure it must make his grandmother dote upon him; and, unfortunately, being the object of too much affection is very bad for people of our years. It leads us to neglect our studies. This used at one time to be the case with me, and I suspect is now the case with your son. If he does find difficulty in working at home, he would be very welcome to come round to my palace. I do not pretend to be a gifted person myself, but I am fortunate in counting distinguished writers from all over the empire among my acquaintances, and my palace is a rendezvous for them when they are in the capital, so that I never want for intellectual company. By constantly mixing and conversing with such people at my palace, your son could do much to improve his education.’
‘Yes.’ Jia Zheng bowed deferentially.
The Prince of Bei-jing removed a rosary from his wrist and handed it to Bao-yu.
‘Today is our first meeting, but as it was an unforeseen one, I have not come prepared with a suitable gift. All I can offer you is this rosary made of the aromatic seeds of some Indian plant. It was given me by His Imperial Majesty. I hope you will accept it as a little token of my esteem.’
Bao-yu took the rosary and turning back offered it respectfully to Jia Zheng, who made his son join him in formally thanking the prince for his gift.
At this point Jia She and Cousin Zhen knelt before the prince and invited him to return.
‘The Departed is now in paradise,’ said the prince. ‘Though I enjoy imperial favour and princely rank, I would not presume to go past her carriage. Heavenly honours take precedence over earthly ones!’
When they saw that the prince was adamant, Jia She and the rest bowed their thanks, then, having ordered the musicians to vail their instruments and march by in silence, they caused the front part of the procession and the hearse to pass over the junction. As soon as the hearse had gone over, the prince and his retinue crossed in the other direction, after which the rear part of the procession moved forward and caught up with the rest.
The liveliness which attended the procession during the whole of its progress through the city reached a climax as it approached the city gate, for it was along this last stretch that the colleagues and office juniors of Jia She, Jia Zheng and Cousin Zhen had arranged their bowers, and it was necessary to stop and thank each one of them as they made their offerings to the passing hearse. They did at last succeed in getting out of the city gate, however, after which a clear road lay ahead all the way to the Temple of the Iron Threshold. Cousin Zhen went round with Jia Rong to the senior men among the mourners and invited them to proceed from there onwards by the transport provided. The upshot was that those of Jia She’s generation got into carriages and sedans, while Cousin Zhen and the younger men mounted on horseback.
Xi-feng was worried about Bao-yu. Out in the country, she thought, he was liable to become wild and disobedient. She felt sure that he would get up to some kind of mischief now that he was removed from Jia Zheng’s restraint. Accordingly she sent one of her pages to summon him, and presently he rode up to her carriage.
‘Bao dear,’ said Xi-feng, ‘a person of your refinement belongs here with us. You don’t want to go clomping around the countryside like apes on horseback with those horrid men! Why not get in with me? The two of us will keep each other company.’
Bao-yu at once dismounted and climbed up into the carriage, and the two of them drove on, laughing and chattering as they went. They had not been driving very long when two horsemen galloped up beside them, dismounted, and leaning into the carriage, informed Xi-feng that they were now near her stopping-place, in case she wished to get out and ‘stretch her legs’. Xi-feng sent them on ahead to ask Lady Xing and Lady Wang for instructions. The latter sent back word that they had no desire to stop, themselves, but that Xi-feng was welcome to do so if she wished. Xi-feng accordingly gave orders for a short halt. At once the pages led the horses out of the main stream of traffic and headed northwards down a small side-road.
Bao-yu hurriedly sent someone off to fetch Qin Zhong, who was riding along behind his father’s sedan. As the page came hurrying up and asked him to stop with Bao-yu for a little refreshment, he turned round and saw Bao-yu’s horse in the distance, jogging along in a northerly direction with an empty saddle on its back behind Xi-feng’s carriage, and he realized that Bao-yu must be inside the carriage with Xi-feng. Turning his horse’s head about, he hurried after, and followed them into the gateway of a farm.
Apart from the barns and outhouses, the farmhouse consisted of little more than a single large room, so that there was nowhere the farmer’s womenfolk could go to be out of the way of the visitors. The sudden appearance in their midst of Xi-feng, Bao-yu and Qin Zhong with their fashionable clothes and delicate city faces seemed to these simple countrywomen more like a celestial visitation than a human one.
As soon as they were inside the thatched central building, Xi-feng asked the boys to amuse themselves outside. Bao-yu realized that she needed to be alone, and conducted Qin Zhong and the pages on a tour of the farmyard. He had never in his life seen any of the farming implements before, and was very curious. One of his pages who had some experience of country matters was able to name each implement for him and explain its functions. Bao-yu was impressed.
‘Now I can understand the words of the old poet,’ he said:
‘Each grain of rice we ever ate
Cost someone else a drop of sweat.’
At that moment they came to an outhouse in which was a kang with a spinning-wheel on it. Bao-yu was even more intrigued.
‘That’s for spinning yarn with to make cloth out of,’ said the pages.
Bao-yu at once got up on the kang and had just started to turn it when a country lass of seventeen or eighteen summers came running up:
‘Don’t! You’ll spoil it!’
She was shouted at fiercely by the pages, but Bao-yu had already stayed his hand.
‘I’m sorry. I’ve never seen one before. I was just turning it for fun, to see how it works.’
‘You don’t know how to turn it properly,’ said the girl. ‘Let me show you how ’tis done.’
Qin Zhong gave Bao-yu a sly tug:
‘A comely damosel, thinkest thou nottest?’
‘Shut up, or I’ll clout you!’ said Bao-yu, pushing him.
During this muttered exchange the girl had begun spinning. She did, indeed, make a charming picture as she bent over her work. Suddenly an old woman’s voice called out from the other side of the yard:
‘Ertie! Come here at once my gal.’
The girl jumped up from her spinning and hurried over. Bao-yu’s spirits were quite dashed by her abrupt departure.
But just then someone came from Xi-feng inviting the boys indoors. They found her washed and changed. She asked them if they wanted to ‘change’ too, but Bao-yu replied that they did not. Then a variety of cakes and sweets were brought in by the servants, and fragrant tea was poured for them to drink. When the three had taken their fill of these refreshments and everything had been cleared away and repacked by the servants, they rose up and got back into their carriage.
Outside in the yard Brightie handed the farmer’s family their payment, which he had brought with him ready-wrapped in coloured paper, and the womenfolk hurried up to the carriage to express their thanks. Bao-yu scanned their faces carefully, but could not see his spinning-girl amongst them. They had not driven far, however, when he caught sight of her at the end of the village. She was standing watching for him beside the road, a baby brother in her arms and two little girls at her side. Bao-yu could not repress a strong emotion on seeing her, but sitting there in the carriage there was not much he could do but gaze back at her soulfully; and soon, as the carriage bowled along at a smarter pace, Ertie was lost to sight for ever.
With talk and laughter to beguile them, the journey passed quickly. Soon they had caught up with the main procession; soon the sound of drums and cymbals was heard and they could see ahead of them the banners and umbrellas of the monks from the Temple of the Iron Threshold who had come out in procession and lined either side of the road to welcome them; and soon they were inside the temple, where further ceremonies awaited them, a new staging having been erected for this purpose. The coffin was installed in one of the side-chapels leading off the inner hall, and Jewel arranged her sleeping-quarters near by to continue her watch over it.
In the outer hall Cousin Zhen was busy attending to his guests, some of whom were staying on, while others wished to leave immediately. To each he tendered formal thanks for their trouble in coming. They left in order of seniority; duke’s kin going first, then those of marquises, then those of earls, then those of viscounts, then those of barons, and so on downwards. It was three o’clock by the time the last of them had gone.
Xi-feng received the lady guests inside. They, too, left in order of precedence and had not finally dispersed until around two o’clock. Only members of the clan and a few very close friends stayed behind to see the ceremonies through to their conclusion two days later.
Lady Xing and Lady Wang were among those who left. They could see that Xi-feng would be unable to return that day and wanted to take Bao-yu back with them into town. But Bao-yu, after his first taste of the countryside, was extremely loth to return and begged to stay with Xi-feng; so Lady Wang went without him, leaving him in Xi-feng’s charge.
The Temple of the Iron Threshold was a private foundation of the Dukes of Ning-guo and Rong-guo which still had some land of its own in which members of the clan who died in the capital could be given temporary burial. The thoughtful Dukes had provided accommodation not only for the dead but also for the living, in the form of guest-rooms in which mourners might temporarily reside until their funereal business was over. What the old gentlemen had not foreseen was that their multitudinous progeny would come in time to exhibit differences of wealth and temperament so extreme as often to render their possessors mutually intolerable and that, whereas the more hard-up members of the clan gladly occupied the accommodation provided, the more affluent or pretentious found it ‘inconvenient’ to stay there and preferred to seek alternative accommodation in the farmsteads and convents round about.
Xi-feng was among those who found the Iron Threshold accommodation ‘inconvenient’. Some time previously she had sent someone to Wheatcake Priory to make arrangements on her behalf with the prioress Euergesia, and the old nun had turned out several rooms in readiness for her arrival. ‘Wheatcake Priory’ (so-called because of the excellent steamed wheatbread made in its kitchens) was the popular name for Water-moon Priory, an offshoot of Water-moon Abbey situated at no great distance from the Temple of the Iron Threshold.
Presently, when the monks had finished their service and the evening offering of tea had been made, Cousin Zhen sent Jia Rong in to Xi-feng with a message inviting her to retire. Having first glanced round to ascertain that a sufficient number of Jia ladies were present to look after the still remaining guests, Xi-feng bade the company good night and left for Wheatcake Priory with Bao-yu and Qin Zhong. Qin Zhong had attached himself to the other two when his father Qin Bang-ye, unable by reason of his age and frail state of health to risk a night away from home, had gone back to the city, leaving him to await the conclusion of the requiem services on his own.
They soon arrived at the priory and were met by Euergesia, who had brought her two little disciples Benevolentia and Sapientia to welcome them. As soon as the first greetings were over, Xi-feng retired to her room to wash and change. Emerging refreshed, she observed how much taller Sapientia had grown and how radiantly good-looking, and inquired of Euergesia why she and her two charges had lately not been into town to see them.
‘It is on account of Mr Hu’s good lady,’ said the old nun. ‘She has lately been brought to bed of a boy, and sent us ten taels of silver for a three-day recital of the Lake of Blood sūtra by some of the sisters to purge the stain of childbirth. We have been so busy with the arrangements that we haven’t had time to call.’
Let us leave Xi-feng in conversation with the prioress and turn to the other two.
Qin Zhong and Bao-yu were amusing themselves in the main hall of the priory when Sapientia happened to pass through.
‘Here’s Sappy,’ said Bao-yu with a meaningful smile.
‘Well, what about it?’ said Qin Zhong.
‘Now, now, stop play-acting!’ said Bao-yu. ‘I saw you holding her that day at Grandma’s when you thought nobody else was about. You needn’t think you can fool me after that!’
‘I don’t know what you’re talking about.’
‘All right then. Never mind whether you know what I’m talking about or not. Just ask her to pour me out a cup of tea, will you, and then we’ll let the subject drop.’
‘What sort of joke is this? Why can’t you ask her yourself? She’d pour it out just the same for you. Why ask me to tell her?’
‘I couldn’t do it with the same feeling as you. There’ll be much more feeling in it if you ask her.’
He finally prevailed upon Qin Zhong to make the request.
‘Oh, all right! – Sappy, pour us a cup of tea, will you?’
Sapientia had been a regular visitor at the Rong-guo mansion ever since she was a little girl and was familiar with all its inmates. The innocence of her childish rompings with Bao-yu and Qin Zhong had latterly, however – now that she had reached adolescence – given way to a more mature emotion. She had fallen in love with Qin Zhong, whose every feature and lineament now inspired her with romantic feelings; and Qin Zhong, captivated by her developing charms, had responded by loving her back. Although nothing serious had as yet passed between them, in their inclinations and affections they were already united.
Sapientia hurried out and returned with a cup of tea.
‘Give it to me, Sappy!’ said Qin Zhong.
‘No, give it to me, Sappy!’ said Bao-yu.
She stood between them, pouting prettily, and gave a little laugh:
‘Surely you’re not going to fight over a cup of tea? I must have honey on my hands!’
Bao-yu snatched the cup before Qin Zhong could do so and began drinking. He was about to say something when Benevolentia came in and fetched Sapientia away to help her lay the table. She was back again presently to invite the two boys to tea and cakes; but neither of them felt much enthusiasm for such feminine repasts, and after sitting a short while for the sake of politeness, were soon off to amuse themselves elsewhere.
Xi-feng, too, soon left, and retired to her private room to rest, Euergesia accompanying her. By this time the older servants, seeing that there was nothing further for them to do, had one by one drifted off to bed, leaving only a few personal maids, all of whom were in Xi-feng’s confidence, in attendance. The old nun deemed it safe to broach a private matter in their hearing.
‘There is something I have been meaning to call at your house and ask Her Ladyship about, but I should like to have your opinion on it first before I see her.’
‘What do you want to ask her?’ said Xi-feng.
‘Bless his Holy Name!’ the prioress began piously. ‘When I was a nun at the Treasures in Heaven Convent in Chang-an, one of the convent’s benefactors was a very wealthy man called Zhang, who had a daughter called Jin-ge. A certain young Mr Li, who is brother-in-law to the Governor of Chang-an, met her once when she was making an incense-offering in our temple and took a violent liking to her. He at once sent someone to the parents to ask for her hand in marriage, but unfortunately she was already betrothed to the son of a captain in the Chang-an garrison and the betrothal-presents had already been accepted. The Zhangs would have liked to cancel the betrothal but were afraid that the captain would object, so they told Li’s matchmaker that the girl was already engaged. But oh dear! young Mr Li wouldn’t take no for an answer, and the Zhangs were quite at their wit’s end, being now in trouble with both parties. You see, when the captain got to hear of these goings-on he was most unreasonable. He came rushing along in a great rage and made a most terrible scene. “Just how many young men is this girl betrothed to?” he said, and so on and so forth. He refused outright to take back the betrothal-gifts and straightway began an action for breach of promise. By now the Zhangs were really upset and sent to the capital for some moral support – for they are now quite determined to break off their daughter’s engagement, seeing that the captain has been so unreasonable.
‘Well, it occurred to me that the Area Commander for Chang-an, General Yun, is on very good terms with your husband’s family, and I thought I might try to find some way of persuading Her Ladyship to talk to Sir Zheng about this and get him to write a letter to General Yun and ask him to have a word with this captain. It is hardly likely that he would refuse to obey his commanding officer. The Zhangs would gladly pay anything – even if it meant bankrupting themselves – in return for this kindness.’
Xi-feng laughed.
‘It doesn’t sound very difficult. The only difficulty is that Lady Wang doesn’t touch this kind of thing any more.’
‘If Her Ladyship won’t, what about you, Mrs Lian?’
Xi-feng laughed again.
‘I’m not short of money; and besides, I don’t touch that sort of thing either.’
Euergesia’s face assumed an expression of great benignity. After sitting for a while in silence she sighed.
‘It’s a pity I let the Zhangs know that I was going to talk to you about this,’ she said. ‘Now if you don’t do this favour for them, they will never believe that it is because you haven’t the time or don’t want the money; they will take it as a sign that you are not able.’
This put Xi-feng on her mettle.
‘You’ve known me a long time,’ she said. ‘You know that I’ve never believed all that talk about hell and damnation. If I decide that I want to do something I do it, no matter what it is. Tell them that if they are prepared to pay out three thousand taels of silver, I will undertake to relieve them of their trouble.’
The prioress was delighted.
‘They will! They will! No doubt about it!’
‘Mind you,’ said Xi-feng, ‘I’m not one of your money-grubbing run-of-the-mill go-betweens. I’m not doing this for the money. Every bit of this three thousand taels will go into the pockets of my boys or towards their expenses. I shan’t touch a penny of it. If it was money I wanted, I could lay my hands on thirty thousand taels at this very moment.’
‘Well, that’s nicely settled!’ said the prioress. ‘So can we look forward to your kind help in this matter tomorrow? We may as well get it over and done with.’
‘You can see how busy I am and how impossible it is for me to get away,’ said Xi-feng. ‘I’ve told you I’ll do it, and so I will – in my own time. Surely that is enough for you?’
‘A little thing like this might seem a great deal of trouble to some people,’ said the old nun artfully, ‘but even if it involved more than it does, it would still be nothing to a capable person like you, Mrs Lian. You know what they say: “The able man gets little leisure” – that’s why Her Ladyship leaves everything to you. She knows how capable you are. Of course, you have to be careful that you don’t overtax yourself. Your health is precious!’
Soothed by such flatteries, Xi-feng forgot her weariness, and the conversation continued with animation.
Meanwhile Qin Zhong had taken advantage of the darkness and the fact that there was no one much about to prosecute his designs on Sapientia. He found her on her own in one of the rooms at the back of the priory washing up tea-things. Throwing his arms around her from behind, he gave her a kiss. Sapientia stamped with vexation:
‘What are you doing? Stop it!’
She was about to call out, but Qin Zhong spoke entreatingly:
‘Darling Sappy! I want you so desperately! If you won’t let me, I’ll just lie down and die!’
‘If you want me,’ said Sapientia, ‘you must first get me out of this hole and away from these people. Then you can do what you like.’
‘That’s easy,’ said Qin Zhong. ‘But “distant water is no cure for a present thirst”…’
And with that he blew out the light, plunging the room into inky darkness, and carried Sapientia on to the kang. She struggled hard to get up – though still not daring to call out; but soon, almost before she knew it, her breech-clout was off and the ship was in the harbour.
Suddenly, in less time than it takes to tell, a third person bore down on them from above and held them fast. The intruder made no sound, and for some moments the other two lay underneath his weight, half dead with fright. Then there was a splutter of suppressed laughter and they knew that it was Bao-yu.
‘What do you think you’re playing at?’ said Qin Zhong crossly, as he scrambled to his feet.
‘If you won’t let me, darling,’ Bao-yu mimicked, ‘I’ll call out!’
Poor Sapientia was so overcome with shame that she slipped away in the dark. Bao-yu hauled Qin Zhong from the room.
‘Now,’ he said: ‘are you still going to pretend that Sappy means nothing to you?’
‘Look, be a good chap! I’ll do anything you say as long as you promise not to shout.’
‘We won’t say any more about it just now,’ said Bao-yu genially. ‘Wait until we are both in bed and I’ll settle accounts with you then.’
Bedtime soon came and they partially undressed and settled down for the night, Xi-feng in an inner room and Bao-yu and Qin Zhong in an outer room adjoining it. As there were numerous old women on night duty lying about everywhere on the floor wrapped up in their bedding, Xi-feng was afraid that the ‘Magic Jade’ might disappear in the course of the night; so as soon as Bao-yu was in bed she sent someone to fetch it from him, and put it under her own pillow for safety.
As for the ‘settling of accounts’ that Bao-yu had proposed to Qin Zhong, we have been unable to ascertain exactly what form this took; and as we would not for the world be guilty of a fabrication, we must allow the matter to remain a mystery.
Next day someone arrived from Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang to see how Bao-yu was getting on. He was counselled to dress up well against the cold and to come back home if there was nothing further to do. Bao-yu was most unwilling to return on his own account, and his unwillingness was reinforced by the promptings of Qin Zhong, who was anxious to see more of Sapientia and urged him to ask Xi-feng for another day.
Xi-feng reflected a little. The main business of the funeral was now over, but a sufficient number of minor matters still remained to be done to justify their staying on another day if they wanted to. Three arguments in favour of staying presented themselves to her mind:
1. It would be a gesture of considerateness to Cousin Zhen which would increase his indebtedness to her.
2. It would give her a breathing-space in which to get Euergesia’s business attended to.
3. It would make Bao-yu happy, which would put her in good odour with Grandmother Jia.
Having now made her mind up, Xi-feng acceded to Bao-yu’s request in the following terms:
‘My own business here is all finished now, but if you want to amuse yourselves a bit longer, I suppose I must resign myself to staying. However, we definitely must go back tomorrow.’
When Bao-yu heard this it was all ‘dearest Feng’ this and ‘darling Feng’ that, and he promised faithfully to return on the morrow without demur. Accordingly it was settled that they should stay for one more night.
Xi-feng immediately sent someone in great secrecy to explain Euergesia’s business to Brightie. Brightie grasped the situation at once, hurried into town, sought out a public letter-writer, had a letter written in Jia Lian’s name to the captain’s commanding officer, and set off for Chang-an overnight bearing the spurious missive with him.
Chang-an is only thirty or so miles from the capital, so that Brightie could finish his business and be back again within a couple of days. The general’s name was Yun Guang. He was indebted to the Jia family for a number of past kindnesses and was only too pleased to be of service to them in a matter of such trifling importance. He said as much in the letter of reply which he gave Brightie to carry back with him. But that part of his mission is omitted from our story.
When their second day at the priory was over, Xi-feng and the boys took leave of Euergesia, and as she said good-bye, Xi-feng told the prioress to call at the Rong-guo mansion in two days’ time to hear the news from Chang-an.
This parting was an unbearably painful one for Sapientia and Qin Zhong, and all sorts of secret vows were exchanged and whispered contracts made before they could tear themselves apart. We omit all details of that harrowing scene.
Xi-feng called in at the Temple of the Iron Threshold on the way back to see that everything was in order. Jewel, it seemed, refused absolutely to go back home, and Cousin Zhen was obliged to leave a woman or two at the temple to keep her company.
Their return, and the events which followed it, will be dealt with in the following chapter.