第九十三回

第九十三回 甄家仆投靠贾家门 水月庵掀翻风月案

却说冯紫英去后，贾政叫门上人来吩咐道：“今儿临安伯那里来请吃酒，知道是什么事？”门上的人道：“奴才曾问过，并没有什么喜庆事。不过南安王府里到了一班小戏子，都说是个名班。伯爷高兴，唱两天戏请相好的老爷们瞧瞧，热闹热闹。大约不用送礼的。”说着，贾赦过来问道：“明儿二老爷去不去？”贾政道：“承他亲热，怎么好不去的。”说着，门上进来回道：“衙门里书办来请老爷明日上衙门，有堂派[1]的事，必得早些去。”贾政道：“知道了。”说着，只见两个管屯里地租子的家人走来，请了安，磕了头，旁边站着。贾政道：“你们是郝家庄的？”两个答应了一声。贾政也不往下问，竟与贾赦各自说了一回话儿散了。家人等秉着手灯送过贾赦去。

这里贾琏便叫那管租的人道：“说你的。”那人说道：“十月里的租子奴才已经赶上来了，原是明儿可到。谁知京外拿车，把车上的东西不由分说都掀在地下。奴才告诉他说是府里收租子的车，不是买卖车。他更不管这些。奴才叫车夫只管拉着走，几个衙役就把车夫混打了一顿，硬扯了两辆车去了。奴才所以先来回报，求爷打发个人到衙门里去要了来才好。再者，也整治整治这些无法无天的差役才好。爷还不知道呢，更可怜的是那买卖车，客商的东西全不顾，掀下来赶着就走。那些赶车的但说句话，打的头破血出的。”贾琏听了，骂道：“这个还了得！”立刻写了一个帖儿，叫家人：“拿去向拿车的衙门里要车去，并车上东西。若少了一件，是不依的。快叫周瑞。”周瑞不在家。又叫旺儿，旺儿晌午出去了，还没有回来。贾琏道：“这些忘八羔子，一个都不在家！他们终年家吃粮不管事。”因吩咐小厮们：“快给我找去。”说着，也回到自己屋里睡下。不题。

且说临安伯第二天又打发人来请。贾政告诉贾赦道：“我是衙门里有事，琏儿要在家等候拿车的事情，也不能去，倒是大老爷带宝玉应酬一天也罢了。”贾赦点头道：“也使得。”贾政遣人去叫宝玉，说：“今儿跟大爷到临安伯那里听戏去。”宝玉喜欢的了不得，便换上衣服，带了焙茗、扫红、锄药三个小子出来，见了贾赦，请了安，上了车，来到临安伯府里。门上人回进去，一会子出来说：“老爷请。”于是贾赦带着宝玉走入院内，只见宾客喧阗。贾赦宝玉见了临安伯，又与众宾客都见过了礼。大家坐着说笑了一回。只见一个掌班的拿着一本戏单，一个牙笏，向上打了一个千儿，说道：“求各位老爷赏戏。”先从尊位点起，挨至贾赦，也点了一出。那人回头见了宝玉，便不向别处去，竟抢步上来打个千儿道：“求二爷赏两出。”宝玉一见那人，面如傅粉，唇若涂朱，鲜润如出水芙蕖，飘扬似临风玉树。原来不是别人，就是蒋玉菡。前日听得他带了小戏儿进京，也没有到自己那里。此时见了，又不好站起来，只得笑道：“你多早晚来的？”蒋玉菡把手在自己身子上一指，笑道：“怎么二爷不知道么？”宝玉因众人在坐，也难说话，只得胡乱点了一出。蒋玉菡去了，便有几个议论道：“此人是谁？”有的说：“他向来是唱小旦的，如今不肯唱小旦，年纪也大了，就在府里掌班。头里也改过小生。他也攒了好几个钱，家里已经有两三个铺子，只是不肯放下本业，原旧领班。”有的说：“想必成了家了。”有的说：“亲还没有定。他倒拿定一个主意，说是人生配偶关系一生一世的事，不是混闹得的，不论尊卑贵贱，总要配的上他的才能。所以到如今还并没娶亲。”宝玉暗忖度道：“不知日后谁家的女孩儿嫁他。要嫁着这样的人材儿，也算是不辜负了。”那时开了戏，也有昆腔，也有高腔，也有弋腔梆子腔[2]，做得热闹。

过了晌午，便摆开桌子吃酒。又看了一回，贾赦便欲起身。临安伯过来留道：“天色尚早，听见说蒋玉菡还有一出《占花魁》[3]，他们顶好的首戏。”宝玉听了，巴不得贾赦不走。于是贾赦又坐了一会。果然蒋玉菡扮着秦小官服侍花魁醉后神情，把这一种怜香惜玉的意思，做得极情尽致。以后对饮对唱，缠绵缱绻。宝玉这时不看花魁，只把两只眼睛独射在秦小官身上。更加蒋玉菡声音响亮，口齿清楚，按腔落板，宝玉的神魂都唱了进去了。直等这出戏进场后，更知蒋玉菡极是情种，非寻常戏子可比。因想着《乐记》[4]上说的是“情动于中，故形于声。声成文谓之音。”所以知声，知音，知乐，有许多讲究。声音之原，不可不察。诗词一道，但能传情，不能入骨，自后想要讲究讲究音律。宝玉想出了神，忽见贾赦起身，主人不及相留。宝玉没法，只得跟了回来。到了家中，贾赦自回那边去了，宝玉来见贾政。

贾政才下衙门，正向贾琏问起拿车之事。贾琏道：“今儿门人拿帖儿去，知县不在家。他的门上说了：这是本官不知道的，并无牌票[5]出去拿车，都是那些混帐东西在外头撒野挤讹头[6]。既是老爷府里的，我便立刻叫人去追办，包管明儿连车连东西一并送来，如有半点差迟，再行禀过本官，重重处治。此刻本官不在家，求这里老爷看破些，可以不用本官知道更好。”贾政道：“既无官票，到底是何等样人在那里作怪？”贾琏道：“老爷不知，外头都是这样。想来明儿必定送来的。”贾琏说完下来，宝玉上去见了。贾政问了几句，便叫他往老太太那里去。

贾琏因为昨夜叫空了家人，出来传唤，那起人多已伺候齐全。贾琏骂了一顿，叫大管家赖升：“将各行档的花名册子拿来，你去查点查点。写一张谕帖，叫那些人知道：若有并未告假，私自出去，传唤不到，贻误公事的，立刻给我打了撵出去！”赖升连忙答应了几个“是”，出来吩咐了一回。家人各自留意。

过不几时，忽见有一个人头上戴着毡帽，身上穿着一身青布衣裳，脚下穿着一双撒鞋[7]，走到门上向众人作了个揖。众人拿眼上上下下打谅了他一番，便问他是那里来的。那人道：“我自南边甄府中来的。并有家老爷手书一封，求这里的爷们呈上尊老爷。”众人听见他是甄府来的，才站起来让他坐下道：“你乏了，且坐坐，我们给你回就是了。”门上一面进来回明贾政，呈上来书。贾政拆书看时，上写着：

世交夙好，气谊素敦。遥仰襜帷[8]，不胜依切。弟因菲材获谴，自分万死难偿，幸邀宽宥，待罪边隅，迄今门户凋零，家人星散。所有奴子包勇，向曾使用，虽无奇技，人尚悫[9]实。倘使得备奔走，糊口有资，屋乌之爱[10]，感佩无涯矣。专此奉达，馀容再叙。不宣。

贾政看完，笑道：“这里正因人多，甄家倒荐人来，又不好却的。”吩咐门上：“叫他见我。且留他住下，因材使用便了。”门上出去，带进人来。见贾政便磕了三个头，起来道：“家老爷请老爷安。”自己又打个千儿说：“包勇请老爷安。”贾政回问了甄老爷的好，便把他上下一瞧。但见包勇身长五尺有零，肩背宽肥，浓眉爆眼，磕额[11]长髯，气色粗黑，垂着手站着。便问道：“你是向来在甄家的，还是住过几年的？”包勇道：“小的向在甄家的。”贾政道：“你如今为什么要出来呢？”包勇道：“小的原不肯出来。只是家爷再四叫小的出来，说是别处你不肯去，这里老爷家里只当原在自己家里一样的，所以小的来的。”贾政道：“你们老爷不该有这事情，弄到这样的田地。”包勇道：“小的本不敢说，我们老爷只是太好了，一味的真心待人，反倒招出事来。”贾政道：“真心是最好的了。”包勇道：“因为太真了，人人都不喜欢，讨人厌烦是有的。”贾政笑了一笑道：“既这样，皇天自然不负他的。”包勇还要说时，贾政又问道：“我听见说你们家的哥儿不是也叫宝玉么？”包勇道：“是。”贾政道：“他还肯向上巴结么？”包勇道：“老爷若问我们哥儿，倒是一段奇事。哥儿的脾气也和我家老爷一个样子，也是一味的诚实。从小儿只管和那些姐妹们在一处顽，老爷太太也狠打过几次，他只是不改。那一年太太进京的时候儿，哥儿大病了一场，已经死了半日，把老爷几乎急死，装裹都预备了。幸喜后来好了，嘴里说道，走到一座牌楼那里，见了一个姑娘领着他到了一座庙里，见了好些柜子，里头见了好些册子。又到屋里，见了无数女子，说是多变了鬼怪似的，也有变做骷髅儿的。他吓急了，便哭喊起来。老爷知他醒过来了，连忙调治，渐渐的好了。老爷仍叫他在姐妹们一处顽去，他竟改了脾气了，好着时候的顽意儿一概都不要了，惟有念书为事。就有什么人来引诱他，他也全不动心。如今渐渐的能够帮着老爷料理些家务了。”贾政默然想了一回，道：“你去歇歇去罢。等这里用着你时，自然派你一个行次儿[12]。”包勇答应着退下来，跟着这里人出去歇息。不提。

一日贾政早起刚要上衙门，看见门上那些人在那里交头接耳，好像要使贾政知道的似的，又不好明回，只管咕咕唧唧的说话。贾政叫上来问道：“你们有什么事，这么鬼鬼祟祟的？”门上的人回道：“奴才们不敢说。”贾政道：“有什么事不敢说的？”门上的人道：“奴才今儿起来开门出去，见门上贴着一张白纸，上写着许多不成事体的字。”贾政道：“那里有这样的事，写的是什么？”门上的人道：“是水月庵里的腌脏话。”贾政道：“拿给我瞧。”门上的人道：“奴才本要揭下来，谁知他贴得结实，揭不下来，只得一面抄一面洗。刚才李德揭了一张给奴才瞧，就是那门上贴的话。奴才们不敢隐瞒。”说着呈上那帖儿。贾政接来看时，上面写着：

西贝草斤年纪轻，水月庵里管尼僧。

一个男人多少女，窝娼聚赌是陶情。

不肖子弟来办事，荣国府内出新闻〔一〕。

贾政看了，气得头昏目晕，赶着叫门上的人不许声张，悄悄叫人往宁荣两府靠近的夹道子墙壁上再去找寻。随即叫人去唤贾琏出来。

贾琏即忙赶至。贾政忙问道：“水月庵中寄居的那些女尼女道，向来你也查考查考过没有？”贾琏道：“没有。一向都是芹儿在那里照管。”贾政道：“你知道芹儿照管得来照管不来？”贾琏道：“老爷既这么说，想来芹儿必有不妥当的地方儿。”贾政叹道：“你瞧瞧这个帖儿写的是什么。”贾琏一看，道：“有这样事么。”正说着，只见贾蓉走来，拿着一封书子，写着“二老爷密启”。打开看时，也是无头榜[14]一张，与门上所贴的话相同。贾政道：“快叫赖大带了三四辆车子到水月庵里去，把那些女尼女道士一齐拉回来。不许泄漏，只说里头传唤。”赖大领命去了。

且说水月庵中小女尼女道士等初到庵中，沙弥与道士原系老尼收管，日间教他些经忏。以后元妃不用，也便习学得懒怠了。那些女孩子们年纪渐渐的大了，都也有个知觉了。更兼贾芹也是风流人物，打量芳官等出家只是小孩子性儿，便去招惹他们。那知芳官竟是真心，不能上手，便把这心肠移到女尼女道士身上。因那小沙弥中有个名叫沁香的和女道士中有个叫做鹤仙的，长得都甚妖娆，贾芹便和这两个人勾搭上了。闲时便学些丝弦，唱个曲儿。那时正当十月中旬，贾芹给庵中那些人领了月例银子，便想起法儿来，告诉众人道：“我为你们领月钱不能进城，又只得在这里歇着。怪冷的，怎么样？我今儿带些果子酒，大家吃着乐一夜好不好？”那些女孩子都高兴，便摆起桌子，连本庵的女尼也叫了来，惟有芳官不来。贾芹喝了几杯，便说道要行令。沁香等道：“我们都不会，到不如搳拳罢。谁输了喝一杯，岂不爽快。”本庵的女尼道：“这天刚过晌午，混嚷混喝的不像。且先喝几盅，爱散的先散去，谁爱陪芹大爷的，回来晚上尽子喝去，我也不管。”

正说着，只见道婆急忙进来说：“快散了罢，府里赖大爷来了。”众女尼忙乱收拾，便叫贾芹躲开。贾芹因多喝了几杯，便道：“我是送月钱来的，怕什么！”话犹未完，已见赖大进来，见这般样子，心里大怒。为的是贾政吩咐不许声张，只得含糊装笑道：“芹大爷也在这里呢么。”贾芹连忙站起来道：“赖大爷，你来作什么？”赖大说：“大爷在这里更好。快快叫沙弥道士收拾上车进城，宫里传呢。”贾芹等不知原故，还要细问。赖大说：“天已不早了，快快的好赶进城。”众女孩子只得一齐上车，赖大骑着大走骡押着赶进城。不题。

却说贾政知道这事，气得衙门也不能上了，独坐在内书房叹气。贾琏也不敢走开。忽见门上的进来禀道：“衙门里今夜该班是张老爷，因张老爷病了，有知会来请老爷补一班。”贾政正等赖大回来要办贾芹，此时又要该班，心里纳闷，也不言语。贾琏走上去说道：“赖大是饭后出去的，水月庵离城二十来里，就赶进城也得二更天。今日又是老爷的帮班，请老爷只管去。赖大来了，叫他押着，也别声张，等明儿老爷回来再发落。倘或芹儿来了，也不用说明，看他明儿见了老爷怎么样说。”贾政听来有理，只得上班去了。

贾琏抽空才要回到自己房中，一面走着，心里抱怨凤姐出的主意，欲要埋怨，因他病着，只得隐忍，慢慢的走着。且说那些下人一人传十传到里头。先是平儿知道，即忙告诉凤姐。凤姐因那一夜不好，恹恹的总没精神，正是惦记铁槛寺的事情。听说外头贴了匿名揭帖的一句话，吓了一跳，忙问贴的是什么。平儿随口答应，不留神就错说了道：“没要紧，是馒头庵里的事情。”凤姐本是心虚，听见馒头庵的事情，这一唬直唬怔了，一句话没说出来，急火上攻，眼前发晕，咳嗽了一阵，哇的一声，吐出一口血来。平儿慌了，说道：“水月庵里不过是女沙弥女道士的事，奶奶着什么急。”凤姐听是水月庵，才定了定神，说道：“呸，糊涂东西，到底是水月庵呢，是馒头庵？”平儿笑道：“是我头里错听了是馒头庵，后来听见不是馒头庵，是水月庵。我刚才也就说溜了嘴，说成馒头庵了。”凤姐道：“我就知道是水月庵，那馒头庵与我什么相干。原是这水月庵是我叫芹儿管的，大约克扣了月钱。”平儿道：“我听着不像月钱的事，还有些腌脏话呢。”凤姐道：“我更不管那个。你二爷那里去了？”平儿说：“听见老爷生气，他不敢走开。我听见事情不好，我吩咐这些人不许吵嚷，不知太太们知道了么。但听见说老爷叫赖大拿这些女孩子去了。且叫个人前头打听打听。奶奶现在病着，依我竟先别管他们的闲事。”正说着，只见贾琏进来。凤姐欲待问他，见贾琏一脸的怒气，暂且装作不知。贾琏饭没吃完，旺儿来说：“外头请爷呢，赖大回来了。”贾琏道：“芹儿来了没有？”旺儿道：“也来了。”贾琏便道：“你去告诉赖大，说老爷上班儿去了。把这些个女孩子暂且收在园里，明日等老爷回来送进宫去。只叫芹儿在内书房等着我。”旺儿去了。

贾芹走进书房，只见那些下人指指点点，不知说什么。看起这个样儿来，不像宫里要人。想着问人，又问不出来。正在心里疑惑，只见贾琏走出来。贾芹便请了安，垂手侍立，说道：“不知道娘娘宫里即刻传那些孩子们做什么，叫侄儿好赶。幸喜侄儿今儿送月钱去还没有走，便同着赖大来了。二叔想来是知道的。”贾琏道：“我知道什么！你才是明白的呢。”贾芹摸不着头脑儿，也不敢再问。贾琏道：“你干得好事，把老爷都气坏了。”贾芹道：“侄儿没有干什么。庵里月钱是月月给的，孩子们经忏是不忘记的。”贾琏见他不知，又是平素常在一处顽笑的，便叹口气道：“打嘴的东西，你各自去瞧瞧罢！”便从靴掖儿里头拿出那个揭帖来，扔与他瞧。贾芹拾来一看，吓得面如土色，说道：“这是谁干的！我并没得罪人，为什么这么坑我！我一月送钱去，只走一趟，并没有这些事。若是老爷回来打着问我，侄儿便该死了。我母亲知道，更要打死。”说着，见没人在旁边，便跪下去说道：“好叔叔，救我一救儿罢！”说着，只管磕头，满眼泪流。贾琏想道：“老爷最恼这些，要是问准了有这些事，这场气也不小。闹出去也不好听，又长那个贴帖儿的人的志气了。将来咱们的事多着呢。倒不如趁着老爷上班儿，和赖大商量着，若混过去，就可以没事了。现在没有对证。”想定主意，便说：“你别瞒我，你干的鬼鬼祟祟的事，你打谅我都不知道呢。若要完事，就是老爷打着问你，你一口咬定没有才好。没脸的，起去罢！”叫人去唤赖大。

不多时，赖大来了。贾琏便与他商量。赖大说：“这芹大爷本来闹的不像了。奴才今儿到庵里的时候，他们正在那里喝酒呢。帖儿上的话是一定有的。”贾琏道：“芹儿你听，赖大还赖你不成。”贾芹此时红涨了脸，一句也不敢言语。还是贾琏拉着赖大，央他：“护庇护庇罢，只说是芹哥儿在家里找来的。你带了他去，只说没有见我。明日你求老爷也不用问那些女孩子了，竟是叫了媒人来，领了去一卖完事。果然娘娘再要的时候儿，咱们再买。”赖大想来，闹也无益，且名声不好，就应了。贾琏叫贾芹：“跟了赖大爷去罢，听着他教你。你就跟着他。”说罢，贾芹又磕了一个头，跟着赖大出去。到了没人的地方儿，又给赖大磕头。赖大说：“我的小爷，你太闹的不像了。不知得罪了谁，闹出这个乱儿。你想想谁和你不对罢。”贾芹想了一想，忽然想起一个人来。未知是谁，下回分解。

[1] 堂派——清代官府的办公处叫堂，中央各部主管长官通称“堂官”。由堂官或办公处交办的事叫堂派。

[2] 梆子腔——清乾隆中叶曾在北方地区兴盛过的一种戏曲声腔，因用梆子节乐而得名。

[3] 《占花魁》——明末清初人李玉根据话本《卖油郎独占花魁》改编的传奇，写卖油郎秦种同名妓王美娘结成夫妻的故事。

[4] 《乐记》——《礼记》中的一篇，相传为战国时公孙尼子所作，后散失。现存《乐记》为汉代人所辑录，主要阐述音乐的起源、作用等美学观点，是我国较有系统的音乐论著之一。

[5] 牌票——旧时各级衙门对下所发公文的一种。

[6] 挤讹头——也叫“拿讹头”，即找岔子进行敲诈勒索。讹头：岔子；借口。

[7] 撒鞋——布鞋的一种。鞋帮用线密密纳过，鞋的前脸较深，脸上有单梁、双梁或三角形梁，有的梁上包着皮子。撒，亦作“靸”、“洒”。

[8] 襜（chān搀）帷——车帷子。这里代指车子。

[9] 悫（què确）——诚实，谨慎。

[10] 屋乌之爱——即爱屋及乌。由于爱此而兼爱及彼的意思。《尚书大传·大战篇》：“爱人者，兼其屋上之乌。”

[11] 磕额——额头凸出。

[12] 行（hán航）次儿——行当；差事。

〔一〕 “出新闻”，程乙本作“好声名”；藤本同底本；王本作“出新文”。

[14] 无头榜——不具姓名的招贴、榜文。

CHAPTER 93. A Zhen retainer seeks shelter in the Jia household And shady activities are revealed behind the Iron Threshold

When Feng Zi-ying had gone, Jia Zheng sent for one of the men on the gate.

‘I see there’s an invitation here from the Earl of Lin-an,’ he said. ‘Do you know what sort of an occasion it is?’

‘I did inquire, sir,’ replied the servant. ‘It’s only the arrival of a new company of actors at the Prince of Nan-an’s. They are said to be first-class, and his lordship wants to celebrate by putting on a dramatic entertainment for a couple of days. Just an informal party for friends, nothing requiring a presentation I should say, sir.’

As the servant was speaking Jia She came over.

‘Will you be going tomorrow?’ he asked his brother.

‘I really ought to,’ replied Jia Zheng. ‘The Earl has always been most affable.’

Another servant came in from the gate and reported to Jia Zheng:

‘There’s a clerk from the Ministry, sir; will you please go in to the office tomorrow. The President has some important business for you, so could you be there a little earlier than usual.’

This received a brief acknowledgement from Jia Zheng. Two family servants came in next, whose job it was to collect the land rents from the Rong-guo country estates. They paid their respects, made their kotow and stood humbly to one side.

‘Are you from Hao-family village?’ asked Jia Zheng.

‘Yes, sir.’

Jia Zheng did not inquire any further into their business. He and Jia She talked a little longer and then both left for their apartments, Jia She accompanied by servants bearing lanterns.

When they had gone, Jia Lian asked the rent-collectors for their report.

‘We’ve been as fast as we could with the tenth-month rents, sir,’ replied one of them. ‘They were due to arrive tomorrow, but we ran into trouble a few miles from town. Our wagons were seized by a patrol and everything was tipped out onto the ground. They didn’t let us get a word in. I tried to explain that it was rent-produce for Rong-guo House, not ordinary goods in transit, but they couldn’t have cared less. And when I told our wagoner to keep on going, some of the highway-patrol beat him up and impounded two wagons. I’ve come on ahead to report, sir. The only thing now is for you to send someone to the local yamen and demand our goods back. And you’d be doing everyone a good turn, if you had those hooligans in the highway-patrol brought to order. You may not know it, but the regular goods-wagons have an even worse time with them. They tip out the contents and make off with them, and if the poor old wagoner dares to open his mouth in protest, he has his brains beaten out.’

‘What a preposterous state of affairs!’ exclaimed Jia Lian. He wrote a note at once and handed it to one of his men.

‘Take this to the yamen responsible for impounding the wagons. We want our wagons and all our goods back at once. If we discover the smallest thing missing there’ll be trouble.’

He sent for Zhou Rui. Zhou was out, so he sent for Brightie instead, only to be informed that Brightie had gone out at midday and had still not returned.

‘The lazy bastards! They’re never here when they’re wanted! All they do from one year to the next is slack around at our expense!’

Shouting to his pages to find them both at once, Jia Lian retired to his apartment for the night.

*

Next morning brought a reminder from the Earl of Lin-an.

‘I shall be busy at the Ministry,’ said Jia Zheng to his brother. ‘And Lian will have to stay here to sort out this trouble with the rent-wagons. You had better take Bao-yu with you for the day.’

Jia She nodded.

‘Very well.’

Jia Zheng sent word to Bao-yu that he was to accompany his uncle to the Earl of Lin-an’s theatre party. Bao-yu was thrilled. He changed, and choosing three of his pages, Tealeaf, Sweeper and Ploughboy, to go with him, came out to pay his morning respects to Jia She. They climbed into their carriages and were soon at the Earl’s palace. A gateman went in to announce their arrival and returned after a brief interval to escort them in.

Jia She led Bao-yu into the main courtyard, which was packed with a noisy throng. They paid their respects to the Earl and exchanged civilities with the other guests before sitting down and joining in the flow of light-hearted conversation. Before long the manager of the troupe came forward with two playbills, an ordinary one and a fancy one in the form of an ivory tablet, and saluting his patrons by dropping one knee to the ground Manchu-style, announced:

‘Will the gentlemen please select their favourite plays?’

Passing along the distinguished company, he came to Jia She, who made his choice. Then catching sight of Bao-yu, he hurried straight towards him, saluted him most elegantly and said:

‘Will Master Bao be so good as to choose two from our list?’

Bao-yu studied his face. Those powder-white cheeks, those lips as red as rouge, that fresh lustre, like a lotus on the water, that lilting gait, like a jade tree swaying in the wind – why, it was his old friend Jiang Yu-han! Bao-yu remembered having heard of his arrival in town with his own troupe. He also remembered wondering why he had still not seen anything of him. Meeting him now in such formal company, he felt unable to rise spontaneously to his feet, and had to content himself with asking:

‘When did you arrive?’

Jiang glanced quickly from left to right, then with a confidential smile whispered:

‘Surely you knew I was here?’

Bao-yu felt too inhibited to continue the conversation, and made his choice of plays in some confusion.

When Jiang returned backstage, the guests started talking about him.

‘He used to play soubrette parts,’ volunteered one of them. ‘Now that he’s older, he’s given that up and turned manager. He manages the Prince’s resident troupe. Before that he’d already started playing young male leads. He made quite a lot of money, and bought two or three shops. But nothing could keep him from the stage, so he has turned actor-manager.’

Someone asked:

‘He must surely be married by now?’

‘Not yet,’ came the reply. ‘He has strong views on the subject. ‘Marriage,’ says he, “is a once-and-for-all thing, a lifetime affair, and not to be trifled with.” His bride may be rich or poor, of high or low birth, but the one thing she must possess is talent to match his. So, he’s remained single to this day.’

‘I wonder who the lucky girl will be,’ thought Bao-yu secretly to himself, ‘to marry such a fine fellow…’

By now the plays had started. They performed in a variety of styles; the lyrical kun-qu, the noisier gao-qiang and yi-qiang, and the ‘clapper’ style from Shensi to the west. It was a splendid show. At midday the tables were set out, and wine and food were served. After an act or two of the afternoon programme, Jia She showed signs of wanting to leave. But the Earl came over and pressed him to stay:

The day is still young,’ he said, ‘and I understand that Bijou intends to perform a scene from The Queen of the Flowers’, their pièce de résistance.’

When Bao-yu heard this, he secretly prayed for his uncle to stay. Jia She sat down again.

It was soon time for The Queen of the Flowers’, with Jiang Yu-han playing Master Qin, the humble oil-vendor. The scene in which he sits up with the drunken flower-girl Jasper Lute had just the right degree of erotic tenderness, while the drinking duet was exactly as it should be, amoroso delicioso. Bao-yu hardly noticed Jasper Lute. He only had eyes for Master Qin. That ringing vocal timbre, that crystal diction, that subtle tempo were too much for his sensitive soul. He was enraptured. By the end of the performance he knew beyond any shadow of doubt that Jiang Yu-han was an artist of True Feeling, and not to be compared with the common run of actors. It reminded him of a passage from the chapter ‘On Music’, in the Liber Ritualis:

‘Feeling stirs within and is embodied in sound. When that sound is fashioned by art, music is born.’

‘No wonder true lovers of music make so much of “Knowing the Sound”, entering into the essence of the music,’ thought Bao-Yu to himself. ‘I must get to the heart of it. Poetry conveys feeling, but music strikes to the very core. From now on I must study it in earnest.’

He was awoken from this rapture by Jia She, who had had enough and this time left before his host had another chance to detain him. Bao-yu had no choice but to follow in his uncle’s steps.

On their arrival home, Jia She went straight to his own apartment, while Bao-yu went to report to his father, who had just returned from the Board and was discussing with Jia Lian the affair of the impounded rent-wagons.

‘I sent a man with a note today,’ Jia Lian was saying. ‘But the local mandarin was out. The gateman said that his master knew nothing of the affair and had certainly never issued a warrant in connection with it. He said it was a piece of flagrant corruption and extortion on the part of the “scum in the highway-patrol”. As this was Jia family property, he said he would have the culprits found and dealt with, and gave his personal guarantee that we would have the vehicles and goods back by tomorrow. If we discover a single thing missing, we are to report to his master and stern measures will be taken. But at present, as his master was away, he asked us as a special favour to be discreet and not bother him with it.’

‘How can such a thing be done without any kind of warrant?’ said Jia Zheng.

‘You don’t seem to realize, Uncle,’ said Jia Lian, ‘that this sort of thing goes on all the time. I think we shall probably have our goods back tomorrow all right.’

Business concluded, Jia Lian left the room. Bao-yu now came forward and reported on his day at the Earl’s. His father asked him a few questions, then sent him on to Grandmother Jia’s.

Jia Lian had not forgotten yesterday’s unaccounted absence on the part of the two menservants, and on leaving Jia Zheng he gave orders for a general assembly of the staff. This time there was a prompt response. After a few preliminary words of reprimand Jia Lian called forward Lai Da, the chief steward.

‘Fetch the general register for all household departments and call the roll. Then I want you to write out an announcement. I want everyone to know that if I detect a single case of absence without leave, or failure to come when sent for, or negligence in any other respect whatsoever, I shall have the culprit immediately flogged and dismissed.’

‘Yes sir!’ replied Lai Da several times. He went out and relayed this to the assembled servants, who all took due note.

*

Not long afterwards there was an unexpected arrival at the main gate. A man in a felt hat, blue cotton gown and sturdy, leather-patched slippers approached and bowed to the janitors on duty. They eyed him up and down and asked him where he hailed from.

‘From the Zhen family in the South,’ was his reply. ‘I have with me a letter from my Master, which I beg you to take in to Sir Zheng.’

When they learned that he was from the Zhen family, the men stood up and made room for the newcomer to sit down.

‘You must be tired. Here, sit down. We’ll take your letter in for you.’

One of them went in to report his arrival and deliver the letter to Jia Zheng. He opened it, and this is what he read:

‘My dear Zheng,

Over many generations our two families have established close ties of friendship and mutual understanding. We have always looked up to your illustrious house with the profoundest respect. Although for my heinous crime a thousand deaths would have been insufficient punishment, thanks to an exceptional act of clemency, I have been favoured with a mild sentence of banishment to the frontier. In the general dispersion of our family establishment, I have a manservant called Bao Yong, who has served me well and though lacking any particular skill, is a thoroughly trustworthy and dependable fellow. If you could see your way to employing him in some humble capacity in your household, my gratitude would be unbounded.

I shall write again when I can. With sincere regards,

Your fellow-graduate and friend, Zhen Ying-jia.’

Jia Zheng smiled wrily as he reached the end of the letter.

‘Here we are overstaffed ourselves,’ he mused aloud to himself, ‘and the Zhens must send us one of theirs. We shall have to try and find room for him somehow, I suppose.’

He turned to the gateman.

‘Send this fellow in to see me, and find somewhere for him to stay. There must be some way in which he can make himself useful.’

The gateman went out, and came back with Bao Yong, who prostrated himself before Jia Zheng and performed a threefold kotow. Rising to his feet, he declared solemnly:

‘My Master presents his greetings, sir.’

Then falling on one knee, he continued:

‘Bao Yong offers his humble respects, sir.’

Jia Zheng inquired after Zhen Ying-jia, and surveyed Bao Yong. He was something over five feet tall, broad-shouldered and strongly built, with heavy brows and prominent eyes, a protruding forehead, a long beard and a rough, dark complexion. He stood with his arms hanging respectfully at his side.

‘Have you been with the Zhens since birth?’ asked Jia Zheng. ‘Or have you only served them for a number of years?’

Bao Yong: ‘Since birth, sir.’

Jia Zheng: ‘Why do you wish to leave them now?’

Bao Yong: ‘It was not my wish at all, sir. But the Master insisted that I should, and said that I’d find things here very much the same as with them. That is why I have come here.’

Jia Zheng: ‘Your master has not deserved the hardship to which he and his family have been reduced.’

Bao Yong: ‘It is not my place to say such things but I think the Master is far too good a man, far too honest in his dealings with people. That is what has brought this trouble on him.’

Jia Zheng: ‘But honesty is a great virtue.’

Bao Yong: ‘Too much of it doesn’t always go down well. Some people are irked by it.’

Jia Zheng (with a smile): ‘If that is the case, I feel confident that the Supreme Providence will see justice done.’

Bao Yong was about to say something when Jia Zheng went on:

‘Am I right in thinking that your master has a son called Bao-yu?’

Bao Yong: ‘That is correct, sir.’

Jia Zheng: Tell me, does he work hard at his studies?’

Bao Yong: ‘That’s a very interesting question sir. There’s quite a story behind it. In a way our Master Bao-yu is just like his father, very single-minded, very – how shall I say – dedicated. His life has until recently been dedicated to playing with his sisters and lady cousins. The Master and Her Ladyship have given him quite a few thrashings, all to no effect. A year or so ago, however, when Her Ladyship was away on a trip to the capital, our Master Bao fell seriously ill. He had been given up for dead for a long while in fact, and the Master himself was nearly dead with worry. His funeral clothes were even laid out in readiness. In the end he recovered, thank goodness. When he came round, he said that he had been through a great archway, where he met a lady, who showed him a temple full of cabinets. And in these cabinets were a number of registers, which he saw. Then he went into a room full of girls, who turned into ghosts and skeletons. He was scared and cried out, and that was when he woke up.

‘After this experience of his, his father had him treated by a doctor and slowly but surely he became well. This time he was indulged and allowed to play with his sisters and cousins to his heart’s content. But who would have thought it – he had completely changed his ways! None of his old games appealed to him any more. Now it was all books and studying. And nobody could distract him. He’s even learning to help the Master with family business.’

Jia Zheng was silent, lost in thought. Then he said:

‘You may go now. When we have need of you we will find you a proper post.’

‘Thank you sir,’ said Bao Yong, and withdrew from the room. He was shown to his temporary quarters by some of the servants, and there we must leave him.

*

A few days later, Jia Zheng rose early and was passing through the main gate on his way to the Board, when he noticed the porters and servants huddled together in some sort of confabulation. They seemed to be trying to attract his attention, but at the same time were evidently too afraid to speak out, and could only whisper among themselves. He called one of them over and asked:

‘What’s going on? What’s all this muttering in corners about?’

‘We daren’t tell, sir…’ replied the servant.

Jia Zheng: ‘Daren’t tell what?’

Servant: ‘Well sir, this morning when I got up to open the gate, I found a sheet of white paper stuck to it with a lot of rude words written on it…’

Jia Zheng: ‘What’s this? What sort of thing do you mean?’

Servant: ‘Something about sordid goings-on at the Temple of the Iron Threshold, sir.’

Jia Zheng: ‘Show it to me!’

Servant: ‘I tried to peel it off in one piece, sir, but it was stuck on so firmly that I couldn’t. So I copied the wording down instead and then scrubbed it clean. Li De has just found another one. He showed it to me, and it says much the same. That’s the truth, sir.’

He handed Jia Zheng the most recent specimen. Jia Zheng took it and read:

Jia Qin’s a lucky young sod –

He’s in charge of the family nunnery.

All those girls for just one bod –

Whoring, gambling, loads of funnery!

Now that rakes are running the place,

Rong-guo House is a public disgrace!

Jia Zheng was boiling. His head began to swim, his eyes to swirl. Telling the servants at the gate not to breathe a word of this, he gave secret orders to search every alleyway in the neighbourhood for any further posters, and sent at once for Jia Lian, who came hurrying over.

‘Tell me,’ asked Jia Zheng, ‘have you ever personally checked the arrangements made for the nuns and Taoist novices lodged at the Iron Threshold Temple?’

‘Not personally, no,’ replied Jia Lian. ‘That has always been young Qin’s responsibility.’

‘And do you know if he is competent or not?’ asked Jia Zheng.

‘It sounds from what you say as though he must have slipped up over some detail,’ said Jia Lian.

‘Take a look at this!’

Jia Lian read the poster and exclaimed:

‘Why, this is an outrage!’

The words were no sooner out of his mouth than Jia Rong came in with a letter bearing the inscription: ‘For the attention of Sir Jia Zheng – Private and Confidential.’ Jia Zheng opened it and found it to be an anonymous letter couched in the same terms as the posters.

‘Tell Lai Da,’ he instructed them, ‘to take three or four carts at once to the Temple of the Iron Threshold and bring all the novices back here. This must be kept absolutely secret. He is to say that they are wanted at the Palace.’

Lai Da was given his orders and set off.

*

Now when the twenty-four Buddhist and Taoist novices first arrived at the Temple, they had been put under the surveillance of the older Sisters, who gave them their daily lessons and rehearsed them in their liturgies. As the months went by and their services were not once called upon by the Imperial Concubine, the girls became slacker and slacker in their studies. They also began to grow up and show a greater awareness of life. Jia Qin himself was a bit of a young fop, and reckoned that for a pretty young actress such as Parfumée the decision to enter a nunnery must have been a childish whim. She became the first object of his advances, over at Water-moon Priory. To his great surprise he discovered that she was in earnest and not at all willing to comply with his wishes. So he turned his attentions back to the Temple, to two of the young novices, a Buddhist nun called Thurible and a little Taoist nun called Crucible, both extremely attractive and much more cooperative. Many a pleasant hour they spent with him, playing music and singing songs.

In the middle of the tenth month, Jia Qin arrived as usual with the monthly allowance. He had no intention of leaving straight away and announced to them all:

‘I have brought you your month’s allowance. I’m afraid I shall be too late to catch the city-gates tonight and shall have to find somewhere to stay here. On such a chilly night as this, what could be better than for us to share the wine and the few nuts and things that I happen to have with me and make a little party of it?’

The girls were thrilled and immediately started putting out the tables. They even invited the nuns from Water-moon Priory to join them. Parfumée was the only one to abstain. After a few bowls of wine, Jia Qin suggested a drinking game. Thurible and her friends replied:

‘None of us can play those games. Why don’t we play guess-fingers instead? Loser to drink a bowl – that would be great fun!’

‘It’s only just past midday!’ objected one of the Sisters. ‘It will never do to start rioting about at this hour. I suggest we take a little drink or two now and then those who wish to may leave. Those of you who want to keep Mr Qin company can drink to your hearts’ content this evening. I shall turn a blind eye.’

Just at that moment, however, one of the lay-sisters came bursting into the room.

‘Quickly everyone! Break it up! Steward Lai’s here, from Rong-guo House!’

The girls rushed around tidying up, and told Jia Qin to hide. He was by now well in his cups, and bragged:

‘Why should I hide? I’m here to deliver the month’s allowance…’

Lai Da was in at the door before he had finished speaking. Signs of the incipient orgy were all too visible, and Lai Da’s loyal breast filled with rage. He was under the Master’s instructions to keep the whole operation quiet, however, and inquired with a nonchalant smile:

‘Would Mr Qin be here by any chance?’

Qin lurched to his feet.

‘Why Mr Lai! What brings you here?’

‘Pleased to find you here, sir,’ said Lai Da. ‘We must get the young ladies ready as quickly as possible, and take them back to town. They’re wanted at the Palace.’

Jia Qin and the girls wanted to know more, but Lai Da merely said:

‘Come along now. It’s getting late. We must hurry or we shall miss the gates.’

So they all bundled into the carts that were waiting for them, and Lai Da mounted his sturdy mule and led the convoy into town.

*

We must return to Jia Zheng. Usually so punctilious in his attendance at the Board, the Master was sitting alone in his study, breathing heavily and brooding over the anonymous posters. Jia Lian hovered within earshot, not daring to leave the house. At last there came the sound of someone at the gate and a messenger came in to report:

‘Excellency Zhang is indisposed, and will Sir Zheng please replace him this evening at the Board?’

Jia Zheng had been expecting Lai Da at any moment. It was most annoying to be called away like this. Jia Lian came in.

‘Lai Da didn’t leave until after lunch, Uncle, and the Temple is over eight miles from town. He won’t be back till eleven o’clock at the earliest. As you are ‘on call’ for this evening I think you should go. When Lai Da gets back, I shall tell him to keep the nuns locked up and not to say anything until you have had an opportunity of settling the affair yourself tomorrow. If Qin comes, I shall say nothing. We shall see how he reacts when you speak to him tomorrow.’

It seemed reasonable enough, and Jia Zheng left with some reluctance for the Board.

As soon as he had gone Jia Lian set off back to his own apartment, brooding as he went on what he was going to say to Xi-feng. He held her to blame for having given Qin this job in the first place. But then he remembered that she was ill and relented. He had better not be too hard on her. He slackened his pace.

*

Meanwhile the news had spread among the servants. It soon reached the ears of Patience, who immediately went to tell her mistress. Xi-feng had had a bad night anyway and was feeling very low. Her feeble state intensified her ever-present anxiety about the various misdeeds that lay on her conscience, in particular her unscrupulous dealings at Water-moon Priory. When she learnt of the anonymous poster, she sat up with a jolt and asked Patience:

‘What did it say?’

Patience thoughtlessly replied:

‘Oh, nothing much. Something to do with the nuns at Water-moon Priory…’

This nearly put paid to Xi-feng. Her guilty conscience spelled out for her the rest of the story. She was undone! A spasm of terror quite deprived her of the power of speech. She felt the heat surging within her, her eyes began to swim. She started coughing and collapsed on her bed, her eyes staring rigidly in front of her.

Patience called out in great agitation:

‘I meant the nuns at the Temple of the Iron Threshold! Something to do with the novices. There’s no cause for you to take on so, ma’am.’

The words ‘Iron Threshold’ brought Xi-feng back to her senses.

‘Stupid creature! Which is it, for heaven’s sake? The nuns at the Temple or the Priory?’

‘At first I thought it was the Priory,’ replied Patience. ‘Then I found out it was the Temple. That’s why I got it wrong just now.’

‘I thought it must have been the Temple,’ said Xi-feng. ‘The Priory has nothing to do with me. But I was the one who gave Qin the job of looking after the nuns at the Temple. He’s probably been making off with some of the money.’

‘No, ma’am,’ said Patience, ‘I don’t think it’s anything to do with money. I heard the word ‘filth’ mentioned several times.’

‘Well that’s nothing whatever to do with me. Where’s Mr Lian got to?’

‘He’s been in ever since he heard that the Master was in a rage,’ replied Patience. ‘When I heard what sort of an unpleasant affair it was, I told all the servants to keep quiet about it. I hope their Ladyships haven’t heard. The Master has sent Lai Da to bring all the girls back from the Temple. I’ll send someone out to see what’s happened. Now you settle down, ma’am. You’re not well and shouldn’t worry your head over such things.’

Just at that moment Jia Lian came in. Xi-feng would have liked to ask him for more details, but thought better of it when she saw the look on his face. He was obviously in a bad mood and she would be best advised to feign ignorance.

Jia Lian had not finished eating his dinner when Brightie came in.

‘Lai Da’s back, sir.’

‘Is Mr Qin with him?’

‘Yes, sir’.

‘Tell Lai Da the Master has had to go to the Board tonight. He’s to put the girls in the Garden for the time being, and tomorrow when the Master gets back we’ll see about sending them to the Palace. Tell Mr Qin to wait for me in the inner library.’

Brightie disappeared.

Jia Qin went as instructed to the library. On his way he noticed a lot of pointing and muttering among the servants. He could not make out what it was all about, but it was clearly something to do with him. This was beginning to seem less and less like a summons from the Palace. He would have dearly liked to ask one of them what was going on, but felt too uneasy to do so and could only wait there in ever increasing suspense. When Jia Lian arrived, Jia Qin greeted him and stood nervously with his hands at his side.

‘I wonder what Her Grace requires the nuns for at such short notice?’ he ventured. ‘I had to race all the way here. Luckily I was out there anyway today with the monthly allowance and was able to come back with Lai Da. But I’m sure you know all about that.’

‘All about what! You’re the one that should know!’

Jia Qin could make neither head nor tail of this, and stood there tongue-tied.

‘A fine mess you’ve made of things!’ continued Jia Lian. ‘Sir Zheng’s in a fuming rage!’

‘But I’ve done nothing!’ protested Jia Qin. ‘I’ve delivered the allowance on time every month, the girls know their services by heart…’

Jia Lian could see that he knew nothing of what had happened. He and Qin had played together as children, and he sighed.

‘You ass! Take a look at this!’

He pulled one of the posters from his boot-flap and threw it in Jia Qin’s direction. Jia Qin picked it up and read it. His face grew ashen pale.

‘Who could have done this? I’ve never done anyone any harm. Why should anyone want to blacken my name like this? I only go there once a month with the money – this is all lies! Sir Zheng will be very hard on me, I know he will! I shall die of shame! If my mother finds out, she’ll flog me to death!’

He checked that there was no one else in the room and knelt before Jia Lian.

‘Uncle! Please help me! Please!’

He went on knocking his head on the ground, tears streaming down his face. Several thoughts were going through Jia Lian’s mind.

‘Debauchery is Uncle Zheng’s pet abomination. If he finds out that there really has been any such thing we’ll be in for a major scene. It will only help smear the family name, besides. And give the anonymous author the greatest satisfaction, and then we can expect more of such posters in the future. No, why not take advantage of Uncle Zheng’s absence, talk to Lai Da and hush the whole thing up. So far there’s no proof that anything ever happened. And no one need be any the wiser.’

Having reached this decision, Jia Lian spoke to Jia Qin again:

‘There’s no point in trying to fool me. Don’t think I don’t know about every one of your mucky little pranks. Now listen: if you want to get out of this, you must deny everything, absolutely everything, no matter how hard Sir Zheng presses you. Do you understand? Now get up off the ground, you pathetic creature!’

Jia Lian sent for Lai Da and asked him for his opinion.

‘As a matter of fact, sir,’ said Lai Da, ‘Mr Qin was behaving in a very unbecoming manner. When I arrived at the Temple they were all drinking. I’d say the man who wrote the posters was telling the truth…’

‘Do you hear that, Qin?’ said Jia Lian. ‘Is Lai Da maligning you too?’.

Jia Qin was by now puce in the face and speechless with embarrassment. Jia Lian took Lai Da by the hand and pleaded with him:

‘Spare the lad, Lai. Say you found him at home. When you take him in to see the Master, there’s no need to say that I’ve already seen him. And tomorrow you can ask the Master not to bother with questioning the nuns. Send for a broker and have them all sold off. If Her Grace should really need them again, we can always buy some more.’

Lai Da reflected that there was nothing to be gained by letting the incident blow into a storm. The family’s name would only suffer. So he agreed to Jia Lian’s proposal.

‘You go with Mr Lai now, Qin,’ ordered Jia Lian. ‘And do whatever he tells you.’

Jia Qin kotowed once more to Jia Lian and followed Lai Da out. When they reached a secluded spot, he also kotowed to Lai Da.

‘Excuse me for saying so, Master Qin,’ said Lai, ‘but it was your fault for behaving in such a manner. I don’t know who it is that you offended. Can you think who it could be?’

Jia Qin thought for a while, but could think of no particular enemies. He followed Lai Da listlessly out.

To learn how he extricated himself, you must read the next chapter.