第八十五回
第八十五回 贾存周报升郎中任 薛文起复惹放流刑
话说赵姨娘正在屋里抱怨贾环，只听贾环在外间屋里发话道：“我不过弄倒了药铞子，洒了一点子药，那丫头子又没就死了，值的他也骂我，你也骂我，赖我心坏，把我往死里糟踏。等着我明儿还要那小丫头子的命呢，看你们怎么着！只叫他们隄防着就是了。”那赵姨娘赶忙从里间出来，握住他的嘴说道：“你还只管信口胡唚[2]，还叫人家先要了我的命呢！”娘儿两个吵了一回。赵姨娘听见凤姐的话，越想越气，也不着人来安慰凤姐一声儿。过了几天，巧姐儿也好了。因此两边结怨比从前更加一层了。
一日林之孝进来回道：“今日是北静郡王生日，请老爷的示下。”贾政吩咐道：“只按向年旧例办了，回大老爷知道，送去就是了。”林之孝答应了，自去办理。不一时，贾赦过来同贾政商议，带了贾珍、贾琏、宝玉去与北静王拜寿。别人还不理论，惟有宝玉素日仰慕北静王的容貌威仪，巴不得常见才好，遂连忙换了衣服，跟着来到北府。贾赦贾政递了职名候谕。不多时，里面出来了一个太监，手里掐着数珠儿，见了贾赦贾政，笑嘻嘻的说道：“二位老爷好？”贾赦贾政也都赶忙问好。他兄弟三人也过来问了好。那太监道：“王爷叫请进去呢。”于是爷儿五个跟着那太监进入府中，过了两层门，转过一层殿去，里面方是内宫门。刚到门前，大家站住，那太监先进去回王爷去了。这里门上小太监都迎着问了好。一时那太监出来，说了个“请”字，爷儿五个肃敬跟入。只见北静郡王穿着礼服，已迎到殿门廊下。贾赦贾政先上来请安，捱次便是珍、琏、宝玉请安。那北静郡王单拉〔二〕着宝玉道：“我久不见你，很惦记你。”因又笑问道：“你那块玉儿好？”宝玉躬着身打着一半千儿回道：“蒙王爷福庇，都好。”北静王道：“今日你来，没有什么好东西给你吃的，倒是大家说说话儿罢。”说着，几个老公打起帘子，北静王说“请”，自己却先进去，然后贾赦等都躬着身跟进去。先是贾赦请北静王受礼，北静王也说了两句谦辞，那贾赦早已跪下，次及贾政等捱次行礼，自不必说。
那贾赦等复肃敬退出。北静王吩咐太监等让在众戚旧一处好生款待，却单留宝玉在这里说话儿，又赏了坐。宝玉又磕头谢了恩，在挨门边绣墩上侧坐，说了一回读书作文诸事。北静王甚加爱惜，又赏了茶，因说道：“昨儿巡抚吴大人来陛见，说起令尊翁前任学政[4]时，秉公办事，凡属生童，俱心服之至。他陛见时，万岁爷也曾问过，他也十分保举，可知是令尊翁的喜兆。”宝玉连忙站起，听毕这一段话，才回启道：“此是王爷的恩典，吴大人的盛情。”正说着，小太监进来回道：“外面诸位大人老爷都在前殿谢王爷赏宴。”说着，呈上谢宴并请午安的帖子〔三〕来。北静王略看了一看，仍递给小太监，笑了一笑说道：“知道了，劳动他们。”那小太监又回道：“这贾宝玉王爷单赏的饭预备了。”北静王便命那太监带了宝玉到一所极小巧精致的院里，派人陪着吃了饭，又过来谢了恩。北静王又说了些好话儿，忽然笑说道：“我前次见你那块玉倒有趣儿，回来说了个式样，叫他们也作了一块来。今日你来得正好，就给你带回去顽罢。”因命小太监取来，亲手递给宝玉。宝玉接过来捧着，又谢了，然后退出。北静王又命两个小太监跟出来，才同着贾赦等回来了。贾赦便各自回院里去。
这里贾政带着他三人回来见过贾母，请过了安，说了一回府里遇见的人。宝玉又回了贾政吴大人陛见保举的话。贾政道：“这吴大人本来咱们相好，也是我辈中人，还倒是有骨气的。”又说了几句闲话儿，贾母便叫“歇着去罢。”贾政退出，珍、琏、宝玉都跟到门口。贾政道：“你们都回去陪老太太坐着去罢。”说着，便回房去。刚坐了一坐，只见一个小丫头回道：“外面林之孝请老爷回话。”说着，递上个红单帖来，写着吴巡抚的名字。贾政知是来拜，便叫小丫头叫林之孝进来。贾政出至廊檐下。林之孝进来回道：“今日巡抚吴大人来拜，奴才回了去了。再奴才还听见说，现今工部出了一个郎中缺，外头人和部里都吵嚷是老爷拟正[6]呢。”贾政道：“瞧罢咧。”林之孝又回了几句话，才出去了。
且说珍、琏、宝玉三人回去，独有宝玉到贾母那边，一面述说北静王待他的光景，并拿出那块玉来。大家看着笑了一回。贾母因命人：“给他收起去罢，别丢了。”因问：“你那块玉好生带着罢？别闹混了。”宝玉在项上摘了下来，说：“这不是我那一块玉，那里就掉了呢。比起来，两块玉差远着呢，那里混得过。我正要告诉老太太，前儿晚上我睡的时候把玉摘下来挂在帐子里，他竟放起光来了，满帐子都是红的。”贾母说道：“又胡说了，帐子的檐子是红的，火光照着，自然红是有的。”宝玉道：“不是。那时候灯已灭了，屋里都漆黑的了，还看得见他呢。”邢、王二夫人抿着嘴笑。凤姐道：“这是喜信发动了。”宝玉道：“什么喜信？”贾母道：“你不懂得。今儿个闹了一天，你去歇歇儿去罢，别在这里说呆话了。”宝玉又站了一回儿，才回园中去了。
这里贾母问道：“正是。你们去看薛姨妈说起这事没有？”王夫人道：“本来就要去看的，因凤丫头为巧姐儿病着，耽搁了两天，今日才去的。这事我们都告诉了，姨妈倒也十分愿意，只说蟠儿这时候不在家，目今他父亲没了，只得和他商量商量再办。”贾母道：“这也是情理的话。既这么样，大家先别提起，等姨太太那边商量定了再说。”
不说贾母处谈论亲事，且说宝玉回到自己房中，告诉袭人道：“老太太与凤姐姐方才说话含含糊糊，不知是什么意思。”袭人想了想，笑了一笑道：“这个我也猜不着。但只刚才说这些话时，林姑娘在跟前没有？”宝玉道：“林姑娘才病起来，这些时何曾到老太太那边去呢。”正说着，只听外间屋里麝月与秋纹拌嘴。袭人道：“你两个又闹什么？”麝月道：“我们两个斗牌，他赢了我的钱他拿了去，他输了钱就不肯拿出来。这也罢了，他倒把我的钱都抢了去了。”宝玉笑道：“几个钱什么要紧，傻丫头，不许闹了。”说的两个人都咕嘟着嘴坐着去了。这里袭人打发宝玉睡下。不提。
却说袭人听了宝玉方才的话，也明知是给宝玉提亲的事。因恐宝玉每有痴想，这一提起不知又招出他多少呆话来，所以故作不知，自己心上却也是头一件关切的事。夜间躺着想了个主意，不如去见见紫鹃，看他有什么动静，自然就知道了。次日一早起来，打发宝玉上了学，自己梳洗了，便慢慢的去到潇湘馆来。只见紫鹃正在那里掐花儿呢，见袭人进来，便笑嘻嘻的道：“姐姐屋里坐着。”袭人道：“坐着，妹妹掐花儿呢吗？姑娘呢？”紫鹃道：“姑娘才梳洗完了，等着温药呢。”紫鹃一面说着，一面同袭人进来。见了黛玉正在那里拿着一本书看。袭人陪着笑道：“姑娘怨不得劳神，起来就看书。我们宝二爷念书若能像姑娘这样，岂不好了呢。”黛玉笑着把书放下。雪雁已拿着个小茶盘里托着一钟药，一钟水，小丫头在后面捧着痰盒漱盂进来。原来袭人来时要探探口气，坐了一回，无处入话，又想着黛玉最是心多，探不成消息再惹着了他倒是不好，又坐了坐，搭讪着辞了出来了。
将到怡红院门口，只见两个人在那里站着呢。袭人不便往前走，那一个早看见了，连忙跑过来。袭人一看，却是锄药，因问“你作什么？”锄药道：“刚才芸二爷来了，拿了个帖儿，说给咱们宝二爷瞧的，在这里候信。”袭人道：“宝二爷天天上学，你难道不知道，还候什么信呢。”锄药笑道：“我告诉他了。他叫告诉姑娘，听姑娘的信呢。”袭人正要说话，只见那一个也慢慢的蹭了过来，细看时，就是贾芸，溜溜湫湫[7]往这边来了。袭人见是贾芸，连忙向锄药道：“你告诉说知道了，回来给宝二爷瞧罢。”那贾芸原要过来和袭人说话，无非亲近之意，又不敢造次，只得慢慢踱来。相离不远，不想袭人说出这话，自己也不好再往前走，只好站住。这里袭人已掉背脸往回里去了。贾芸只得怏怏而回，同锄药出去了。
晚间宝玉回房，袭人便回道：“今日廊下小芸二爷来了。”宝玉道：“作什么？”袭人道：“他还有个帖儿呢。”宝玉道：“在那里？拿来我看看。”麝月便走去在里间屋里书槅子上头拿了来。宝玉接过看时，上面皮儿上写着“叔父大人安禀”。宝玉道：“这孩子怎么又不认我作父亲了？”袭人道：“怎么？”宝玉道：“前年他送我白海棠时称我作‘父亲大人’，今日这帖子封皮上写着‘叔父’，可不是又不认了么。”袭人道：“他也不害臊，你也不害臊。他那么大了，倒认你这么大儿的作父亲，可不是他不害臊？你正经连个——”刚说到这里，脸一红，微微的一笑。宝玉也觉得了，便道：“这倒难讲。俗语说：‘和尚无儿，孝子多着呢。’只是我看着他还伶俐得人心儿，才这么着；他不愿意，我还不希罕呢。”说着，一面拆那帖儿。袭人也笑道：“那小芸二爷也有些鬼鬼头头的。什么时候又要看人，什么时候又躲躲藏藏的，可知也是个心术不正的货。”宝玉只顾拆开看那字儿，也不理会袭人这些话。袭人见他看那帖儿，皱一回眉，又笑一笑儿，又摇摇头儿，后来光景竟大不耐烦起来。袭人等他看完了，问道：“是什么事情？”宝玉也不答言，把那帖子已经撕作几段。袭人见这般光景，也不便再问，便问宝玉吃了饭还看书不看。宝玉道：“可笑芸儿这孩子竟这样的混帐。”袭人见他所答非所问，便微微的笑着问道：“到底是什么事？”宝玉道：“问他作什么，咱们吃饭罢。吃了饭歇着罢，心里闹的怪烦的。”说着叫小丫头子点了一个火儿〔四〕来，把那撕的帖儿烧了。
一时小丫头们摆上饭来。宝玉只是怔怔的坐着，袭人连哄带怄催着吃了一口儿饭，便搁下了，仍是闷闷的歪在床上。一时间，忽然掉下泪来。此时袭人麝月都摸不着头脑。麝月道：“好好儿的，这又是为什么？都是什么芸儿雨儿的，不知什么事弄了这么个浪帖子来，惹的这么傻了的似的，哭一会子，笑一会子。要天长日久闹起这闷葫芦来，可叫人怎么受呢。”说着，竟伤起心来。袭人旁边由不得要笑，便劝道：“好妹妹，你也别怄人了。他一个人就够受了，你又这么着。他那帖子上的事难道与你相干？”麝月道：“你混说起来了。知道他帖儿上写的是什么混帐话，你混往人身上扯。要那么说，他帖儿上只怕倒与你相干呢。”袭人还未答言，只听宝玉在床上噗哧的一声笑了，爬起来抖了抖衣裳，说：“咱们睡觉罢，别闹了。明日我还起早念书呢。”说着便躺下睡了。一宿无话。
次日宝玉起来梳洗了，便往家塾里去。走出院门，忽然想起，叫焙茗略等，急忙转身回来叫：“麝月姐姐呢？”麝月答应着出来问道：“怎么又回来了？”宝玉道：“今日芸儿要来了，告诉他别在这里闹，再闹我就回老太太和老爷去了。”麝月答应了，宝玉才转身去了。刚往外走着，只见贾芸慌慌张张往里来，看见宝玉连忙请安，说：“叔叔大喜了。”那宝玉估量着是昨日那件事，便说道：“你也太冒失了，不管人心里有事没事，只管来搅。”贾芸陪笑道：“叔叔不信只管瞧去，人都来了，在咱们大门口呢。”宝玉越发急了，说：“这是那里的话！”正说着，只听外边一片声嚷起来。贾芸道：“叔叔听这不是？”宝玉越发心里狐疑起来，只听一个人嚷道：“你们这些人好没规矩，这是什么地方，你们在这里混嚷。”那人答道：“谁叫老爷升了官呢，怎么不叫我们来吵喜[9]呢。别人家盼着吵还不能呢。”宝玉听了，才知道是贾政升了郎中了，人来报喜的。心中自是甚喜。连忙要走时，贾芸赶着说道：“叔叔乐不乐？叔叔的亲事要再成了，不用说是两层喜了。”宝玉红了脸，啐了一口道：“呸！没趣儿的东西！还不快走呢。”贾芸把脸红了道：“这有什么的，我看你老人家就不——”宝玉沉着脸道：“就不什么？”贾芸未及说完，也不敢言语了。
宝玉连忙来到家塾中，只见代儒笑着说道：“我才刚听见你老爷升了。你今日还来了么？”宝玉陪笑道：“过来见了太爷，好到老爷那边去。”代儒道：“今日不必来了，放你一天假罢。可不许回园子里顽去。你年纪不小了，虽不能办事，也当跟着你大哥他们学学才是。”宝玉答应着回来。刚走到二门口，只见李贵走来迎着，旁边站住笑道：“二爷来了么，奴才才要到学里请去。”宝玉笑道：“谁说的？”李贵道：“老太太才打发人到院里去找二爷，那边的姑娘们说二爷学里去了。刚才老太太打发人出来叫奴才去给二爷告几天假，听说还要唱戏贺喜呢，二爷就来了。”说着，宝玉自己进去。进了二门，只见满院里丫头老婆都是笑容满面，见他来了，笑道：“二爷这早晚才来，还不快进去给老太太道喜去呢。”
宝玉笑着进了房门，只见黛玉挨着贾母左边坐着呢，右边是湘云。地下邢、王二夫人。探春、惜春、李纨、凤姐、李纹、李绮、邢岫烟一干姐妹，都在屋里，只不见宝钗、宝琴、迎春三人。宝玉此时喜的无话可说，忙给贾母道了喜，又给邢、王二夫人道喜，一一见了众姐妹，便向黛玉笑道：“妹妹身体可大好了？”黛玉也微笑道：“大好了。听见说二哥哥身上也欠安，好了么？”宝玉道：“可不是，我那日夜里忽然心里疼起来，这几天刚好些就上学去了，也没能过去看妹妹。”黛玉不等他说完，早扭过头和探春说话去了。凤姐在地下站着笑道：“你两个那里像天天在一处的，倒像是客一般，有这些套话，可是人说的‘相敬如宾’了。”说的大家一笑。林黛玉满脸飞红，又不好说，又不好不说，迟了一回儿，才说道：“你懂得什么？”众人越发笑了。凤姐一时回过味来，才知道自己出言冒失，正要拿话岔时，只见宝玉忽然向黛玉道：“林妹妹，你瞧芸儿这种冒失鬼。”说了这一句，方想起来，便不言语了。招的大家又都笑起来，说：“这从那里说起。”黛玉也摸不着头脑，也跟着讪讪的笑。宝玉无可搭讪，因又说道：“可是刚才我听见有人要送戏，说是几儿？”大家都瞅着他笑。凤姐儿道：“你在外头听见，你来告诉我们。你这会子问谁呢？”宝玉得便说道：“我外头再去问问去。”贾母道：“别跑到外头去，头一件看报喜的笑话，第二件你老子今日大喜，回来碰见你，又该生气了。”宝玉答应了个“是”，才出来了。
这里贾母因问凤姐谁说送戏的话，凤姐道：“说是舅太爷那边说，后儿日子好，送一班新出的小戏儿给老太太、老爷、太太贺喜。”因又笑着说道：“不但日子好，还是好日子呢。”说着这话，却瞅着黛玉笑。黛玉也微笑。王夫人因道：“可是呢，后日还是外甥女儿的好日子呢。”贾母想了一想，也笑道：“可见我如今老了，什么事都糊涂了。亏了有我这凤丫头是我个‘给事中’[10]。既这么着，很好，他舅舅家给他们贺喜，你舅舅家就给你做生日，岂不好呢。”说的大家都笑起来，说道：“老祖宗说句话儿都是上篇上论的，怎么怨得有这么大福气呢。”说着，宝玉进来，听见这些话，越发乐的手舞足蹈了。一时，大家都在贾母这边吃饭，甚热闹，自不必说。饭后，那贾政谢恩回来，给宗祠里磕了头，便来给贾母磕头，站着说了几句话，便出去拜客去了。这里接连着亲戚族中的人来来去去，闹闹穰穰，车马填门，貂蝉[11]满座，真是：
花到正开蜂蝶闹，月逢十足海天宽。
如此两日，已是庆贺之期。这日一早，王子腾和亲戚家已送过一班戏来，就在贾母正厅前搭起行台。外头爷们都穿着公服陪侍，亲戚来贺的约有十馀桌酒。里面为着是新戏，又见贾母高兴，便将琉璃戏屏隔在后厦，里面也摆下酒席。上首薛姨妈一桌，是王夫人宝琴陪着；对面老太太一桌，是邢夫人岫烟陪着；下面尚空两桌，贾母叫他们快来。一回儿，只见凤姐领着众丫头，都簇拥着林黛玉来了。黛玉略换了几件新鲜衣服，打扮得宛如嫦娥下界，含羞带笑的出来见了众人。湘云、李纹、李纨都让他上首座，黛玉只是不肯。贾母笑道：“今日你坐了罢。”薛姨妈站起来问道：“今日林姑娘也有喜事么？”贾母笑道：“是他的生日。”薛姨妈道：“咳，我倒忘了。”走过来说道：“恕我健忘，回来叫宝琴过来拜姐姐的寿。”黛玉笑说“不敢”。大家坐了。那黛玉留神一看，独不见宝钗，便问道：“宝姐姐可好么？为什么不过来？”薛姨妈道：“他原该来的，只因无人看家，所以不来。”黛玉红着脸微笑道：“姨妈那里又添了大嫂子，怎么倒用宝姐姐看起家来？大约是他怕人多热闹，懒待来罢。我倒怪想他的。”薛姨妈笑道：“难得你惦记他。他也常想你们姊妹们，过一天我叫他来，大家叙叙。”
说着，丫头们下来斟酒上菜，外面已开戏了。出场自然是一两出吉庆戏文，乃至第三出，只见金童玉女，旗幡宝幢，引着一个霓裳羽衣的小旦，头上披着一条黑帕，唱了一回儿进去了。众皆不识，听见外面人说：“这是新打的《蕊珠记》[12]里的《冥升》。小旦扮的是嫦娥，前因堕落人寰，几乎给人为配，幸亏观音点化，他就未嫁而逝，此时升引月宫。不听见曲里头唱的‘人间只道风情好，那知道秋月春花容易抛，几乎不把广寒宫忘却了！’”第四出是《吃糠》[13]，第五出是达摩带着徒弟过江回去[14]，正扮出些海市蜃楼，好不热闹。
众人正在高兴时，忽见薛家的人满头汗闯进来，向薛蝌说道：“二爷快回去，并里头回明太太也请速回去，家中有要事。”薛蝌道：“什么事？”家人道：“家去说罢。”薛蝌也不及告辞就走了。薛姨妈见里头丫头传进话去，更骇得面如土色，即忙起身，带着宝琴，别了一声，即刻上车回去了。弄得内外愕然。贾母道：“咱们这里打发人跟过去听听，到底是什么事，大家都关切的。”众人答应了个“是”。
不说贾府依旧唱戏，单说薛姨妈回去，只见有两个衙役站在二门口，几个当铺里伙计陪着，说：“太太回来自有道理。”正说着，薛姨妈已进来了。那衙役们见跟从着许多男妇簇拥着一位老太太，便知是薛蟠之母。看见这个势派，也不敢怎么，只得垂手侍立，让薛姨妈进去了。
那薛姨妈走到厅房后面，早听见有人大哭，却是金桂。薛姨妈赶忙走来，只见宝钗迎出来，满面泪痕，见了薛姨妈，便道：“妈妈听了先别着急，办事要紧。”薛姨妈同着宝钗进了屋子，因为头里进门时已经走着听见家人说了，吓的战战兢兢的了，一面哭着，因问：“到底是和谁？”只见家人回道：“太太此时且不必问那些底细，凭他是谁，打死了总是要偿命的，且商量怎么办才好。”薛姨妈哭着出来道：“还有什么商议？”家人道：“依小的们的主见，今夜打点银两同着二爷赶去和大爷见了面，就在那里访一个有斟酌的刀笔先生[15]，许他些银子，先把死罪撕掳开，回来再求贾府去上司衙门说情。还有外面的衙役，太太先拿出几两银子来打发了他们。我们好赶着办事。”薛姨妈道：“你们找着那家子，许他发送银子，再给他些养济银子，原告不追，事情就缓了。”宝钗在帘内说道：“妈妈，使不得。这些事越给钱越闹的凶，倒是刚才小厮说的话是。”薛姨妈又哭道：“我也不要命了，赶到那里见他一面，同他死在一处就完了。”宝钗急的一面劝，一面在帘子里叫人“快同二爷办去罢。”丫头们搀进薛姨妈来。薛蝌才往外走，宝钗道：“有什么信打发人即刻寄了来，你们只管在外头照料。”薛蝌答应着去了。
这宝钗方劝薛姨妈，那里金桂趁空儿抓住香菱，又和他嚷道：“平常你们只管夸他们家里打死了人一点事也没有，就进京来了的，如今撺掇的真打死人了。平日里只讲有钱有势有好亲戚，这时候我看着也是唬的慌手慌脚的了。大爷明儿有个好歹儿不能回来时，你们各自干你们的去了，撂下我一个人受罪！”说着，又大哭起来。这里薛姨妈听见，越发气的发昏。宝钗急的没法。正闹着，只见贾府中王夫人早打发大丫头过来打听来了。宝钗虽心知自己是贾府的人了，一则尚未提明，二则事急之时，只得向那大丫头道：“此时事情头尾尚未明白，就只听见说我哥哥在外头打死了人被县里拿了去了，也不知怎么定罪呢。刚才二爷才去打听去了，一半日得了准信，赶着就给那边太太送信去。你先回去道谢太太惦记着，底下我们还有多少仰仗那边爷们的地方呢。”那丫头答应着去了。薛姨妈和宝钗在家抓摸不着。
过了两日，只见小厮回来，拿了一封书交给小丫头拿进来。宝钗拆开看时，书内写着：
大哥人命是误伤，不是故杀。今早用蝌出名补了一张呈纸进去，尚未批出。大哥前头口供甚是不好，待此纸批准后再录一堂[16]，能够翻供得好，便可得生了。快向当铺内再取银五百两来使用。千万莫迟。并请太太放心。馀事问小厮。
宝钗看了，一一念给薛姨妈听了。薛姨妈拭着眼泪说道：“这么看起来，竟是死活不定了。”宝钗道：“妈妈先别伤心，等着叫进小厮来问明了再说。”一面打发小丫头把小厮叫进来。薛姨妈便问小厮道：“你把大爷的事细说与我听听。”小厮道：“我那一天晚上听见大爷和二爷说的，把我唬糊涂了。”未知小厮说出什么话来，下回分解。
〔一〕 “薛文起”，薛蟠的字，前八十回各本有作“文龙”的，如甲戌本。程本承用“薛文起”。
[2] 胡唚（qìn沁）——本指牲畜呕吐。借以骂人，比“胡说”更重。
〔二〕 “拉”字原无，从程乙本补。
[4] 学政——“提督学政”的简称，又称“督学使者”。清代朝廷派往各省主管生员考课升降的官员。
〔三〕 “帖子”，原无“帖”字，从藤本补。
[6] 拟正——封建官吏代任或试任官职后被正式任命，叫拟正。
[7] 溜溜湫湫——鬼鬼祟祟。
〔四〕 “一个火儿”，原作“一点火儿”，王本、藤本同。从金本改。
[9] 吵喜——到喜庆之家故意吵闹讨彩（赏钱、赏物），以示庆贺，叫吵喜。
[10] 给事中——官名，亦称给谏，清代属都察院，和御史同为谏官。这里借喻协理事务、随时从旁提醒的得力助手。
[11] 貂蝉——貂尾和金蝉。原指汉代侍从官员帽上的饰物。后用作达官贵人的代称。
[12] 新打的《蕊珠记》——新打的：意为新制或新创作的。打，打制、打造之意。《蕊珠记》：未详。曹本《录鬼簿》、《今乐考证》、《曲录》录有元人庾天锡《秋月蕊珠宫》。贾本《录鬼簿》、《太和正音谱》、《元曲选目》作《蕊珠宫》，但剧本已失传。《蕊珠记》或据此改编。
[13] 《吃糠》——指元代高明所作南戏《琵琶记》第二十一出《糟糠自厌》。写赵五娘甘守贫困、侍奉公婆事。
[14] 达摩带着徒弟过江回去——明代张凤翼《祝发记》第二十四出《达摩渡江》，有达摩折苇渡江，点化徐孝克的故事。达摩：禅宗始祖。
[15] 刀笔先生——古时以刀为笔，刻字于简牍。后因称公牍文书或诉讼状文为刀笔，以代写诉讼状文为业的人谓刀笔先生或刀笔吏，亦含其刀如笔，能左右生死之意。
[16] 再录一堂——即对案件的重审。堂：过堂、审讯。录：记录口供。
CHAPTER 85. It is announced that Jia Zheng has been promoted to the rank of Permanent Secretary And it is discovered that Xue Pan has once more brought upon himself the threat of exile
‘All I did was knock a skillet over and spill a bit of medicine!’ yelled Jia Huan before his mother could finish. ‘That measly little brat of hers is still alive, isn’t she? Anyone would think I’d done her in, the way you two are going on at me about it, slandering me and dragging my name in the mud! One day I really will finish her off! That would teach you all a lesson! You’d better tell them to look out!’
Aunt Zhao came hurtling in and clapped a hand over his mouth.
‘You’re asking for it, saying such dreadful things! They’ll have your neck first, my boy, see if they don’t!’
They kept it up like this for some time. Jia Huan slipped in Xi-feng’s barbed little message, which made his mother more implacable them ever. There was now no question of her sending anyone over to Xi-feng’s with an apology, and although Qiao-jie made a complete recovery a few days later, the episode had deepened the feud between the two sections of the family.
*
One day Steward Lin came in to report to Jia Zheng that it was the Prince of Bei-jing’s birthday.
‘Are there any special instructions, sir?’
‘Send whatever we usually send,’ replied Jia Zheng. ‘Report to Sir She first, before delivering the presents.’
‘Very good sir,’ said Lin, and went to make the necessary arrangements. A little later, Jia She arrived himself, to discuss with his brother the details of the visit. They decided to take Cousin Zhen, Jia Lian and Bao-yu along with them. If for the four older men it was merely another social engagement, for Bao-yu it was an opportunity long awaited. He had been a fervent admirer of the Prince’s handsome, looks and graceful bearing ever since their memorable first encounter at the roadside halt. He changed eagerly into his smartest clothes and went to join the others.
On arrival at the Palace, Jia She and Jia Zheng presented their cards and before long a Eunuch Chamberlain of the Household emerged, fingering his beads, and greeted them with a little peal of falsetto laughter:
‘I hope you are both keeping well?’
They reciprocated the inquiry and the three younger Jias came forward to make their greeting.
‘His Imperial Highness will be pleased to receive you now.’ The eunuch led the five of them in, through two further gateways and past a large state-room, to the Inner Gate of the Prince’s personal residence. Here they halted once more, while the eunuch went in to announce their arrival, leaving them to be entertained by the various junior eunuchs in attendance at the gate.
After a brief interval their original escort returned.
‘This way, please.’
They all stepped solemnly forward again. The Prince, dressed in full robe of state, had paid them the compliment of coming out to receive them in one of the covered walks by the entrance to the main hall. The two brothers advanced first and did homage, followed in order of seniority by Cousin Zhen, Jia Lian and Bao-yu. The Prince took Bao-yu by the hand.
‘It has been a long while since we last met. You have been much in my thoughts.’
He smiled:
‘Tell me, how fares it with that stone of yours?’
Bao-yu dropped to a half-kneeling position and with head bowed replied:
‘Your Highness’s beneficent aura has preserved us from misfortune.’
‘There is nothing very special to eat today,’ continued the Prince pleasantly. ‘But at least we shall be able to spend a little time talking together.’
Eunuchs lifted the portière, and the Prince made a charming gesture of yielding the pas to his guests before leading the way in. The Jias followed, walking with a deferential stoop, and once inside Jia She was the first to offer his birthday felicitations. These the Prince accepted modestly, while Jia She sank to his knees. The others followed suit.
Once these formalities (a detailed description of which our narrative omits) were over, the Jias began discreetly to take their leave. The Prince turned to his eunuchs and gave instructions that they were to be escorted to the reception which was being given for his own family and a few other distinguished guests and that they were to be attended to with the utmost care. He asked Bao-yu to stay behind for a chat.
‘Do sit down,’ he began, when the others had left. Bao-yu made his kotow of thanks for this honour, and perching delicately on a covered porcelain tabouret near the door, talked for a while of his studies and compositions and other things. The Prince seemed fonder than ever of his young protégé, and offered him some tea – a still greater honour. He went on to say:
‘Excellency Governor Wu was in town yesterday for an audience with His Majesty. He told me that your father, in his last posting as Commissioner of Education, showed the most scrupulous impartiality and gained the respect of all the candidates he examined. At the audience, when H.M. inquired, Wu gave your father the highest recommendation. Clearly a favourable omen…’
Bao-yu had risen swiftly to his feet when the Prince began speaking, and when he finished replied:
‘You have shown us a great favour, Your Highness, and Governor Wu has done us a great kindness.’
As he was speaking, a junior eunuch returned from the reception in the front state-room to convey a message of thanks from the various Lords and Gentlemen for their banquet, and to present their cards of appreciation and midday greeting to the Prince, who glanced through them and handed them back with a gracious smile and a brief word of acknowledgement.
‘And, if it please Your Highness,’ the eunuch continued, ‘the repast you ordered specially for Master Jia Bao-yu is now ready.’
The Prince gave him a few further words of instruction, and the eunuch led Bao-yu out to an exquisitely appointed suite of rooms facing a small courtyard, where he ordered another attendant to wait upon him during the meal. Afterwards, Bao-yu returned to give thanks and the Prince continued chatting in the same complimentary vein. Suddenly he laughed:
‘When I first saw that stone of yours, I was so taken with it, you know, that on my return I gave my jade-workers a description of it and asked them to make me one like it. I am so glad you have come today. I can give it to you to take home. It might amuse you to keep it.’
One of the junior eunuchs was ordered to bring the jade in, and the Prince himself handed it to Bao-yu, who received it humbly in both hands, gave thanks and then took his leave. The Prince told two more junior eunuchs to accompany him out, he rejoined the other members of the family, and they all returned home.
On arrival, Jia She paid his respects to Grandmother Jia and left for his own apartment. Jia Zheng and the others also paid their respects and gave her a full account of the reception. Bao-yu communicated to his father the news he had received about Governor Wu’s sponsorial activities.
‘Governor Wu,’ commented Jia Zheng drily, ‘is an old friend, and a man after my own heart. He is also, I might add, a statesman of the highest integrity.’
After a little more chat, Grandmother Jia gave permission for them all to disperse. Jia Zheng took his leave, and was followed by Cousin Zhen, Jia Lian and Bao-yu as far as the door.
With a parting injunction to the three of them to stay and keep Grandmother Jia company a little longer, Jia Zheng returned to his apartment. He had not been there long when a maid came in to announce that Steward Lin was waiting outside with something to report. She also handed him a red visiting card with Governor Wu’s name on it. Jia Zheng told her to admit Lin, and went out to speak to him on the verandah.
‘Excellency Governor Wu called to see you today, sir,’ reported Lin. ‘I informed him that you were out. And another thing, sir; I have heard that a Permanent Secretary’s position has become vacant in the Ministry of Works. According to various people, including officials in the Ministry, you are to be given the post as confirmation of your present rank.’
‘H’m…’ said Jia Zheng. ‘We shall see.’
Lin conferred with his master on one or two other matters and then left.
*
After Jia Zheng’s departure, Cousin Zhen and Jia Lian returned to their separate apartments, while Bao-yu went back to Grandmother Jia’s. He was now able to tell her all about his day at the Palace. He described how kindly the Prince had treated him, and took out the jade he had been given, which was passed round and commented on with some amusement. Grandmother Jia told a maid to put it safely away.
‘And don’t whatever you do take your own off,’ she said to Bao-yu. ‘You don’t want to go getting them mixed up.’
Bao-yu promptly untied his original from around his neck.
‘But look,’ he said, ‘they’re so different, how could I ever get them mixed up? That reminds me, Grannie, of something that happened the other night, as I was going to bed. I had just taken my jade off and hung it inside the bed-curtains, when I noticed a halo around it, and the whole inside of my bed was lit up with a rosy glow.’
‘You silly boy!’ exclaimed Grandmother Jia. ‘There’s red thread in your pelmet. That must have been the lamp-light showing through.’
‘But it couldn’t have been. The lamps were all out and it was pitch-black in my room, and I still saw it glowing.’
Lady Xing and Lady Wang exchanged a meaningful smile. A certain ‘rosy’ event had been much in the forefront of their minds recently. Xi-feng too could not restrain herself from remarking cryptically:
‘No doubt this heralds the Big Event…’
‘What big event?’ asked Bao-yu.
‘Nothing you would understand,’ put in Grandmother Jia promptly. ‘Now come along. It’s been a hectic day for you, and you ought to go and rest, and not waste any more time here telling tall stories.’
Bao-yu stayed a minute or two longer and then returned to the Garden. When he was out of the room, Grandmother Jia turned to Lady Wang:
‘Well, have you been to see Mrs Xue, and put it to her yet?’
‘Yes Mother, we have,’ replied Lady Wang. ‘Feng has been so busy with little Qiao-jie the last few days, and we just haven’t had a chance to go until today. Anyway, my sister seems very happy with the idea, but she says she will have to wait until Pan comes home before saying anything final. She must consult him first, as the eldest man in the family.’
‘Quite right,’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘We shall have to bide our time until they have had a chance to talk it over. In the meantime, not a word of this to anyone.’
*
We must leave these matrimonial confabulations and accompany the unwitting subject of them, who on his arrival at Green Delights confided to Aroma:
‘Grannie and Feng were being most mysterious about something just now. I don’t know what’s going on.’
Aroma looked thoughtful for a moment.
‘I’ve no idea either,’ she finally returned, with a peculiar smile, adding (as if it were an afterthought): ‘I wonder, was Miss Lin there when they were talking?’
‘Of course not! You know she’s been ill and has to stay in.’
Their conversation was interrupted by the sound of Musk and Ripple having a tiff in the next room.
‘What is the matter with you two?’ Aroma called out.
‘It’s all Ripple’s fault!’ replied Musk. ‘She’s been cheating at cards! She took my money fast enough when she won, but now that I’ve won she won’t let go of a penny. And now I’m cleaned right out!’
‘Oh come on!’ Bao-yu chided them with a laugh. ‘Stop being so stupid! Who wants to quarrel over a few coins?’ They both pouted and went off in high dudgeon, leaving Aroma to settle Bao-yu down for the night.
Now Aroma was sure that the mysterious conversation Bao-yu had referred to in some way concerned his betrothal. She had only feigned ignorance for fear that in his present mood, mention of such a touchy subject might provoke another of his fits. She herself was most anxious to know the latest news, and while she lay awake that night she decided to go and see Nightingale first thing in the morning. Nightingale would be sure to know, and would be able to tell her what was going on.
And so the next day she rose early, and after seeing Bao-yu off to school, completed her own toilet and strolled through the Garden to the Naiad’s House. Nightingale was out in the front courtyard picking flowers, and greeted her with a smile:
‘Hello, Aroma. Do come in and sit down.’
‘Thank you. Busy with your flowers, I see…How is Miss Lin?’
‘She has just finished her toilet. She’s waiting for her medicine to be warmed up.’
Nightingale took Aroma inside. Dai-yu was reading a book, which provided Aroma with a ready-made topic of conversation. She gave an ingratiating smile:
‘It’d be a wonder if you didn’t feel tired sometimes, Miss, reading at such an early hour. If Master Bao would only follow your good example!’
Dai-yu smiled wanly and put her book down. Meanwhile Snowgoose had come in with a small tray containing two cups, one of medicine and one of water. She was followed by a junior maid bearing spittoon and bowL.
Aroma’s intention in coming had been to sound them out; but somehow amid all these medical ministrations an easy opening failed to present itself, and she reckoned that it was not worth running the risk of offending the prickly Miss Lin on the offchance of obtaining the information she wanted. So, after sitting there a little longer and making a little desultory chat, she said goodbye and set off back home.
She was approaching Green Delights, when she saw to her considerable surprise two male figures standing a little way off, and thought it more discreet not to proceed any further. One of them had already spotted her, however, and came running up. It turned out to be Ploughboy, one of Bao-yu’s pages.
‘What do you think you’re doing here?’ she asked him.
‘Master Yun’s just come with a letter for Master Bao, and he’s waiting for a reply.’
‘But you know perfectly well that Master Bao goes to school every day, so what’s the point of waiting?’
‘That’s what I told him,’ said Ploughboy, grinning sheepishly. ‘But he just said that I was to tell you and he’d wait for your reply instead.’
A suitable retort was already on Aroma’s lips when she noticed that the other man had started slinking towards them. A closer inspection confirmed that the stealthy intruder was indeed Jia Yun. She turned to Ploughboy and said briskly:
‘Tell him his letter will be delivered to Master Bao in due course.’
Jia Yun’s slow and sinuous progress had been designed to camouflage his true aim, which was to achieve a tête-à-tête with the delectable Miss Aroma. His dismissal (which he heard only too clearly), when almost within reach of his goal, obliged him to abandon these plans and come to a premature standstill. Aroma turned smartly on her heel and walked on into Green Delights, leaving Ploughboy to escort the crestfallen Jia Yun from the Garden.
Aroma related the incident that evening to Bao-yu, on his return from school:
‘That Master Yun from West Lane was here today,’ she said briefly.
‘What did he want?’
‘He left a note for you.’
‘Where is it? I’d better see what it says.’
Musk went to fetch Yun’s note from the bookshelf in the inner room, and handed it to Bao-yu. The envelope bore the inscription: ‘To My Honoured Uncle’.
‘Funny,’ said Bao-yu. ‘I thought I was supposed to be his father!’
‘What?’ retorted Aroma.
‘Don’t you remember, the year before last when he sent me that white Autumn Crab-blossom, he signed himself my “Dutiful and Affectionate Son”? It seems I’ve been demoted to plain Uncle…’
‘Honestly!’ exclaimed Aroma. ‘The pair of you should be thoroughly ashamed of yourselves! Fancy a grown man like him passing himself off as your son! He ought to know better! And as for you… Father Bao indeed! Why you’re not even…’
Aroma stopped short. She blushed and gave a little smile. Bao-yu knew what she meant.
‘Who knows?’ he quipped. ‘Perhaps he thought of me as his Spiritual Father, like that
celebrated celibate of yore
whose children could be numbered by the score…
I only agreed to it because I thought he was quite clever and a likeable sort of fellow; if he’s changed his mind, I really couldn’t care less.’
‘If you want to know, he gives me the creeps,’ Aroma continued, as Bao-yu opened the letter. ‘He’s for ever trying to worm his way in, and looks so shifty about it. I wouldn’t trust him an inch.’
Bao-yu was too absorbed in examining the contents of the letter to take any notice of what she was saying. She studied his face as he read. A frown, then a smile, which soon gave way to a shake of the head, and finally an expression of impatience. When he seemed to have finished, she asked:
‘What’s it all about then?’
By way of response Bao-yu tore the letter into shreds. Aroma thought it wiser to change the subject.
‘Are you planning to do some work after dinner or not?’
‘What a cad!’
She smiled at this capricious reply:
‘Well, what was it about?’
‘Oh who cares! Let’s have dinner. Then I’m going straight to bed. I feel quite sick!’
He told one of the junior maids to light a fire and threw the remains of Yun’s letter into it.
Supper was soon served, but Bao-yu was in no mood for it and only sat there staring glumly in front of him. After trying every form of pressure and persuasion Aroma finally succeeded in making him swallow a mouthful, only to see him put his bowl down once more and flop listlessly onto his bed. Suddenly he began to cry.
Neither she nor Musk had the slightest idea what was the matter.
‘Come on, you’ve got to tell us,’ protested Musk. ‘It’s all this Yun’s fault, or whatever his wretched name is. I can’t imagine what his stupid letter was all about, to have such a queer effect on you, laughing one minute, crying your heart out the next. If you carry on in this strange way much longer, you’ll worry us to death, indeed you will!’
She was on the verge of tears herself. Aroma could not help smiling:
‘Musky dear, don’t you go making things worse, please. He’s got quite enough on his mind as it is. Unless of course you want people to think the letter had something to do with you…’
‘Well, that’s a stupid remark I must say!’ replied Musk. ‘You don’t know what it said, anyway. It might have been anything. Why drag me into it? Unless of course it’s got something to do with you…’
Before Aroma could reply there was a splutter of laughter from the bed and Bao-yu sat up, gave his clothes a shake and said to them both:
‘Come on, that’s enough. Let’s go to sleep. I’ve got to work early in the morning.’ With these words he settled himself down and went to sleep.
The night passed uneventfully, and next morning, after completing his toilet, he set off for school. He had just walked out of the doorway when he remembered something and, calling to Tealeaf to wait, turned back.
‘Musk!’
She came hurrying out.
‘What’s the matter?’
‘If Yun comes today, tell him not to make a nuisance of himself here again or I’ll report him to Her Old Ladyship and Sir Zheng.’
‘I will.’
Bao-yu set off once more, and was on his way out when who should come bustling in but Jia Yun himself. When he saw Bao-yu he promptly saluted and said:
‘My heartiest congratulations, Uncle!’
Bao-yu took this as a reference to the business contained in the previous day’s letter and replied curtly:
‘You tactless meddling fool! It makes no difference to you if there are things people care about…’
‘But Uncle!’ protested Yun with a smug smile. ‘If you don’t believe me, take a look for yourself. The crowds are outside the gate.’
‘What are you talking about?’ snapped Bao-yu, the anger rising in his voice.
At that moment a wave of shouting and cheering came wafting in from the street outside.
‘Hear that!’ exclaimed Jia Yun. ‘Now will you believe me?’
Bao-yu was more perplexed than ever. He could distinguish a few words above the general din:
‘Have you people no manners? What do you mean by coming here and making this racket?’
Another voice replied:
‘The hand that raised Sir Jia has given us the privilege of bearing tidings other houses would be only too glad of receiving!’
Bao-yu understood at last that his father’s promotion had been officially announced, and that the din outside the gates was coming from a crowd of professional well-wishers (their joy made the more vocal by the expectation of a tip). He was delighted and hurried on out of the Garden, only to be cornered again by Jia Yun.
‘Happy Uncle? Needless to say the joy would be doubled if we could only announce your betrothal as well…’
Bao-yu blushed fiercely and spat in Jia Yun’s face:
‘Ugh! Why don’t you clear off? You make me sick!’
Jia Yun blushed too.
‘What’s this? I can see you’re a little…’
‘A little what?’ asked Bao-yu angrily.
But Jia Yun’s nerve failed him and he left his remark unfinished.
Bao-yu hurried off to school, where Dai-ru greeted him with a smile:
‘I have just heard the good news, my boy. I must say, I am somewhat surprised to see you here at all today.’
‘I thought I should report to you first, sir, before going to offer my congratulations,’ replied Bao-yu with a polite smile.
‘I see. Well, no need to attend class today. Take a day’s grace. But please try not to fritter it away in that garden of yours. At your age, though you may not be able to take an active part in family affairs, I am sure you would benefit greatly from the company of your older cousins.’
‘Yes, sir.’
Bao-yu returned home. As he was approaching the inner gate of Grandmother Jia’s apartment, he encountered Li Gui coming in the opposite direction.
‘I’m glad you’re back,’ said Li Gui, halting by his side with a smile. ‘I was on my way to school to fetch you.’
‘Who told you to?’ asked Bao-yu.
‘Her Old Ladyship sent someone round to your place,’ replied Li Gui, ‘but the maids said you had already gone to school, so she sent someone with instructions for me to arrange a few days off school for you. I hear they are having players over for the festivities. Anyway, thanks, you’ve saved me a journey.’
Bao-yu went in, to find Grandmother Jia’s front courtyard overflowing with maids and serving-women, their loyal faces beaming with pleasure and excitement:
‘You’re late, Master Bao! You’d better hurry on in and congratulate Her Old Ladyship!’
Bao-yu’s face lit up. When he entered the room, he found Grandmother Jia with Dai-yu and Xiang-yun sitting to her left and right up on the kang, while assembled down below were Ladies Xing and Wang, Tan-chun, Xi-chun, Li Wan, Xi-feng, Li Wan’s two cousins Wen and Qi, and Lady Xing’s niece Xing Xiu-yan. He noticed that Bao-chai, Bao-qin and Ying-chun were not there.
Overjoyed to see such a gathering, Bao-yu offered his congratulations first to Grandmother Jia, then to his mother and Lady Xing, and then greeted the rest of the family. He turned to Dai-yu with a smile and said:
‘Are you quite recovered now, coz?’
‘Yes, thank you,’ replied Dai-yu, with a hint of a smile. ‘And you? I heard that you were not very well yourself.’
‘Yes, I had a sudden pain in my heart that night. It’s been better for quite a while, but I’ve been having to go to school every day, so I haven’t been able to come over and see you.’
Before he had even finished speaking, Dai-yu turned away to talk to Tan-chun. Xi-feng was standing near them and observed sarcastically:
‘I thought you two were meant to be inseparable? The way you talk anyone would think you were strangers. Still, I suppose
His to honour, Hers to obey…’
Everyone laughed. The colour flew into Dai-yu’s face and at first she was quite speechless with embarrassment. But thinking that some sort of reply was expected of her, she finally came out with:
‘Who’d expect you to understand…’ which seemed to amuse everyone even more.
After a moment’s reflection Xi-feng realized that her joke had been in rather poor taste, and she was about to introduce a fresh topic of conversation, in an attempt to clear the air a little, when Bao-yu suddenly turned to Dai-yu and said:
‘Coz, do you know what that tactless, blundering fool Yun tried to…’ But whatever it was he had been going to say, he thought better of it. There was a puzzled laugh from the others. Someone said:
‘What are you talking about?’
Dai-yu was as much in the dark as they were and smiled awkwardly. Bao-yu extricated himself by launching off at another tangent:
‘I heard just now that someone is planning to send over some players. When are they coming, does anyone know?’
They all stared at him in amazement and laughed. It was Xi-feng who replied:
‘You’re the one who’s heard. Why ask us?’
‘I’d better go and check,’ he said promptly.
‘Now don’t go getting into mischief out there,’ warned his grandmother. ‘You don’t want the crowd to make fun of you, do you? And remember, this is a very special day for your father, and if he comes home and finds you gadding about, there’s sure to be trouble.’
‘Yes, Grannie,’ replied Bao-yu, and effected his escape.
When he had gone, Grandmother Jia asked Xi-feng:
‘What’s all this about sending players?’
‘Uncle Wang Zi-sheng’s family,’ replied Xi-feng, ‘want to do something to congratulate you and Uncle Zheng and Auntie. They’ve hired a new troupe of young actors specially, and they say that the day after tomorrow is a lucky one.’
Xi-feng laughed:
‘And it is too, in more ways than one.’
She looked at Dai-yu and smiled. Dai-yu smiled shyly back.
‘Of course!’ exclaimed Lady Wang. ‘It’s our niece’s birthday!’
When Grandmother Jia had taken in what they were saying she laughed out loud:
‘It just goes to show how absent-minded I’m getting in my old age! It’s a good thing I’ve Secretary Feng here to keep me organized. Well, what could be better: they can celebrate your Uncle Zheng’s promotion, and we can celebrate your birthday at the same time!’
This had everyone laughing, and it was proposed and carried unanimously that with such an apt way of putting things, the old lady positively had a right to enjoy such prodigious good fortune.
Bao-yu had returned in time to hear about the party and was beside himself with joy. They all sat down to lunch in an atmosphere of great excitement. After lunch, Jia Zheng returned from giving thanks at court, and having performed his ceremonial prostrations in the family shrine, came in to kotow before Grandmother Jia. He rose to his feet and said a few words before leaving to pay various official calls.
Over the next day or two there was constant bustle and confusion, as a stream of relatives besieged Rong-guo House. Horses and carriages thronged the main entrance, and in every corner important-looking gentlemen in starched official hats trimmed with sable sat waiting their turn. Truly:
Where flowers bloom,
Bees and butterflies abound;
Skies and oceans swell
When the moon is round.
*
Two days later, the players, on the instructions of Wang Zi-sheng and other relations, arrived early in the morning to set up their mobile stage in Grandmother Jia’s courtyard, facing the main hall. The Jia menfolk, in full dress, entertained their relatives in the open courtyard, where more than ten tables had been laid. A special glass play-viewing screen had been put up between the courtyard and the gallery overlooking it from the north side, and four tables had been laid in the enclosed space, to give the ladies a chance of seeing the plays, and particularly for Grandmother Jia’s benefit (as she was more enthusiastic about the whole venture than anyone else). Aunt Xue was installed at the head of the table of honour, with her sister Lady Wang and her niece Bao-qin, while Grandmother Jia sat at the head of the table opposite with Lady Xing and her niece Xiu-yan. The two remaining tables were still empty, and Grandmother Jia sent word for the girls to hurry up.
Presently Dai-yu arrived, ushered in by Xi-feng and a convoy of maids. She had chosen one or two of her newer things to wear, and as she came into the enclosure she looked exactly like the Goddess of the Moon descending to Earth. She greeted Grandmother Jia and her aunts with a shy smile, and Xiang-yun and the two Li sisters asked her to sit at the head of their table. Her polite refusals were soon over-ruled by Grandmother Jia:
‘Go on, you must, dear. After all, this is your day too!’
‘Really?’ exclaimed Aunt Xue, rising to her feet. ‘Is Miss Lin celebrating something today as well?’
Grandmother Jia laughed:
‘It’s her birthday!’
‘Oh goodness, I quite forgot! How awful of me!’ Aunt Xue went up to Dai-yu: ‘I’m so sorry. I hope you’ll forgive me for being so forgetful. I must ask Bao-qin to call on you later and wish you happy returns properly.’
‘Please don’t go to such trouble on my account,’ murmured Dai-yu with a smile. She looked around her as they all sat down, and noticed that Bao-chai had not come.
‘I hope Cousin Chai isn’t ill or anything. Why couldn’t she come today?’
‘She was going to,’ replied Aunt Xue. ‘But we needed someone to look after things at home, so in the end she had to stay behind.’
Dai-yu flushed and said with a slightly puzzled smile:
‘Surely now that Cousin Pan’s married there’s no need for her to stay at home? She probably didn’t feel in the mood for all the noise and excitement. I’m sorry she didn’t come. I miss her such a lot.’
Aunt Xue smiled:
‘How very sweet of you, dear. She thinks of you all a great deal too. In a day or two I must tell her to come over and have a chat.’
The maids were already pouring wine and setting out dishes on the tables, while outside in the courtyard the show had begun. It opened, predictably enough, with a couple of festive pieces. The third selection, however, turned out to be something of a novelty. A chorus of Golden Pages and Jade Maidens came onto the stage, fairy streamers fluttering and flags aloft, to reveal in their midst a gorgeously attired lady, her head draped in black, her costume shimmering with the celestial hues of the Rainbow Skirt and Feathered Jacket. She (or rather he, for the part was played by a female impersonator) sang a short aria and then left the stage.
None of the family could identify the piece at all, but they overheard one of the guests saying:
‘That was “The Transfiguration”, from one of their latest productions, “The Palace of Pearls”. It tells the story of Chang E, who comes down to earth from her palace in the moon and is about to give her hand to her mortal lover when the Goddess of Mercy opens her eyes to the truth, and she dies before the marriage can take place. In that scene, she is being wafted up to the moon. Didn’t you catch the words of her aria?
‘Tis Love that rules the minds of men,
And of this Truth Eternal
Obscures all trace:
That even harvest moons must wane
And purest beauty vernal
Fade from grace.
Alas, ’twas Mortal Love
That veiled my sight,
And all but stole me
From my Orb of Light.’
Next on the programme was ‘A wife Eats Husks’, from ‘The Story of the Lute’, followed by ‘Bodhidharma and his Disciple Crossing the River’, from ‘The Pilgrim’s Path’. This last scene was full of the most spectacular feats of acrobatic mime and other phantasmagorical effects. The excitement had just reached its height when one of the Xue family’s servants, his face dripping with sweat, burst into the courtyard auditorium and hurried over to Xue Ke’s table:
‘Master Ke! Come home quickly! And send word in to Madam that she must come too. It’s very urgent!’
‘What’s happened?’ asked Xue Ke.
‘I’ll tell you when we get home, sir!’ panted the boy.
Without even stopping to thank his hosts, Xue Ke followed the boy out of the courtyard, sending one of the Jia maids in with a message to the ladies’ enclosure. When Aunt Xue heard the news, she went white in the face. Taking Bao-qin with her, she made a distracted farewell and went straight out to her carriage, leaving the whole assembly in a state of high alarm.
‘We had better send someone over with them,’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘I am sure everyone is most anxious to learn what this is all about.’
They all agreed.
*
The players continued with their programme. But we must leave them and follow Aunt Xue, who on her arrival at home saw two yamen runners waiting in the inner gateway. With them were some employees from the family pawnshop.
‘When Mrs Xue arrives,’ they were saying, ‘she’ll be able to explain everything.’
When the yamen runners saw this elderly lady sweeping up to the gate with her large retinue of male and female attendants, and realized the distinguished position of the person they were dealing with, they stood to attention and let her pass. Aunt Xue went on through the reception hall and could already, hear the sound of heavy wailing coming from her daughter-in-law’s apartment. She quickened her step. Bao-chai came out to meet her, her face wet with tears.
‘Have you heard, Mama? Please don’t panic! We must try to do something!’
They went inside together. Aunt Xue had already been told the main facts by one of the servants on her way in, and was still sobbing and trembling from the shock.
‘But who? Who was it?’ she asked agitatedly.
‘Madam,’ said one of the servants, ‘details like that are not going to make much difference at present. The law says “a life for a life”. So we must think what to do.’
‘Think!’ cried Aunt Xue hysterically. ‘What’s the earthly good of thinking at a time like this?’
The best thing as we see it,’ continued the servant, ‘is this. First, send young Master Ke with some money tonight to visit Mr Pan in prison. Then, first thing tomorrow, Master Ke must get himself a good scrivener, someone well-versed in legal terminology. He must offer him a good fee to make sure this death-sentence is quashed. Then, when that’s been done, we must ask one of the Jia gentlemen here to pull a few strings. But first of all, we must tip the yamen runners outside a few taels. Then we can get on with the rest of the plan.’
Aunt Xue was not convinced.
‘Just find the man’s family,’ she said. ‘Give them whatever they want for funeral expenses and compensation. If they don’t press the charge, surely he’ll be let off lightly?’
Bao-chai’s voice could be heard through the door-curtain:
‘No, Mama, that will never do. The more money we hand out the more trouble we’ll cause in the long run. We should do as the boy says.’
‘What have I left to live for?’ sobbed Aunt Xue. ‘Let me go there and see him once! Then the two of us can die together!’
Bao-chai begged her to take heart, and at the same time called out for the boy to set off with Xue Ke at once. The maids helped Aunt Xue indoors again. Xue Ke came by on his way out.
‘Send someone home with a letter as soon as you have any news,’ Bao-chai instructed him. ‘You must stay there. We’re counting on you.’
Xue Ke promised to do his utmost and left.
While Bao-chai applied herself once more to the task of soothing her agitated mother, Xia Jin-gui took the opportunity of launching an undisturbed attack on Caltrop:
‘So a murder was nothing to this family, was it?’ she screamed at her. ‘You all came straight up to town afterwards as if nothing had happened, did you? Well it looks as if you spoke once too often, Miss Swanky Panky! Because this time it’s the real thing, and look at you! Where’s all your money and all your fine friends and posh relatives now? You’re all so scared you don’t know if you’re coming or going! And in a few days, when they put Pan away, then I suppose you’ll bugger off and leave me here to carry the can single-handed!’
She broke into one of her dramatic wails. Aunt Xue heard every word and was so furious that she fainted. Bao-chai was at her wits’ end. And in the midst of this pandemonium one of Lady Wang’s senior maids arrived, to ask ‘if there was any news’. This presented Bao-chai with an additional problem. She was fully aware of her delicate position since the official betrothal visit a few days previously, and knew that strictly speaking she should shun all contact with her future bridegroom’s family (including the domestic staff). However, the fact that the betrothal was still not finally settled, and the nature of the present emergency, seemed to justify a temporary waiving of the rules.
‘We don’t know the full story yet,’ she said to the maid. ‘All we’ve heard is that my brother has killed someone and that he has been arrested by the local magistrate. We don’t know exactly what kind of homicide he has been found guilty of, but Master Ke has gone to find out. We should have more definite news in a day or two and will let Her Ladyship know straight away. Please thank her for her kind inquiry and say that at a later stage we’ll be sure to need all the support Sir She and Sir Zheng can give us.’
The maid returned with this message.
The next two days were spent by Aunt Xue and Bao-chai waiting in unbearable suspense. At last on the third day a boy came back with a letter from Xue Ke, which he gave to a maid to hand to the ladies. Bao-chai opened it, and this is what she read:
‘Pan’s case is “fatal bodily harm by mischance”, not “intentional homicide”. I lodged an appeal in my own name first thing this morning and am still waiting for the magistrate’s rescript. Pan bungled his original statement, and once the appeal has been approved, we must change his plea at the rehearing. We should be able to get him off.
‘I urgently need Tls. 5oo. Have the pawnshop forward it without delay. Tell Aunt not to worry. The boy can tell you the rest.’
When Bao-chai had finished reading the letter aloud to her, Aunt Xue wiped her eyes and said:
‘His life hangs in the balance, doesn’t it?’
‘Before you go upsetting yourself all over again, Mama,’ said Bao-chai, ‘let’s send for the boy and ask him what he knows.’
A maid was sent to fetch the boy. When he came in, Aunt Xue told him to give them a full account of everything he had heard.
‘The evening we arrived,’ he began, ‘when I heard what Mr Pan told Master Ke, I nearly died of fright…’
But for the rest of the account, please turn to the next chapter.