第九十四回

第九十四回 宴海棠贾母赏花妖 失宝玉通灵知奇祸

话说赖大带了贾芹出来，一宿无话，静候贾政回来。单是那些女尼女道重进园来，都喜欢的了不得，欲要到各处逛逛，明日预备进宫。不料赖大便吩咐了看园的婆子并小厮看守，惟给了些饮食，却是一步不准走开。那些女孩子摸不着头脑，只得坐着等到天亮。园里各处的丫头虽都知道拉进女尼们来预备宫里使唤，却也不能深知原委。

到了明日早起，贾政正要下班，因堂上发下两省城工估销册子[1]立刻要查核，一时不能回家，便叫人回来告诉贾琏说：“赖大回来，你务必查问明白。该如何办就如何办了，不必等我。”贾琏奉命，先替芹儿喜欢，又想道：若是办得一点影儿都没有，又恐贾政生疑，“不如回明二太太讨个主意办去，便是不合老爷的心，我也不至甚担干系。”主意定了，进内去见王夫人，陈说：“昨日老爷见了揭帖生气，把芹儿和女尼女道等都叫进府来查办。今日老爷没空问这种不成体统的事，叫我来回太太，该怎么便怎么样。我所以来请示太太，这件事如何办理？”王夫人听了，诧异道：“这是怎么说！若是芹儿这么样起来，这还成咱们家的人了么！但只这个贴帖儿的也可恶，这些话可是混嚼说得的么。你到底问了芹儿有这件事没有呢？”贾琏道：“刚才也问过了。太太想，别说他干了没有，就是干了，一个人干了混帐事也肯应承么？但只我想芹儿也不敢行此事，知道那些女孩子都是娘娘一时要叫的，倘或闹出事来，怎么样呢？依侄儿的主见，要问也不难，若问出来，太太怎么个办法呢？”王夫人道：“如今那些女孩子在那里？”贾琏道：“都在园里锁着呢。”王夫人道：“姑娘们知道不知道？”贾琏道：“大约姑娘们也都知道是预备宫里头的话，外头并没提起别的来。”王夫人道：“很是。这些东西一刻也是留不得的。头里我原要打发他们去来着，都是你们说留着好，如今不是弄出事来了么。你竟叫赖大那些人带去，细细的问他的本家有人没有，将文书查出，花上几十两银子，雇只船，派个妥当人送到本地，一概连文书发还了，也落得无事。若是为着一两个不好，个个都押着他们还俗，那又太造孽了。若在这里发给官媒，虽然我们不要身价，他们弄去卖钱，那里顾人的死活呢。芹儿呢，你便狠狠的说他一顿。除了祭祀喜庆，无事叫他不用到这里来，看仔细碰在老爷气头儿上，那可就吃不了兜着走了。并说与帐房儿里，把这一项钱粮档子销了。还打发个人到水月庵，说老爷的谕：除了上坟烧纸，若有本家爷们到他那里去，不许接待。若再有一点不好风声，连老姑子一并撵出去。”

贾琏一一答应了，出去将王夫人的话告诉赖大，说：“是太太主意，叫你这么办去。办完了，告诉我去回太太。你快办去罢。回来老爷来，你也按着太太的话回去。”赖大听说，便道：“我们太太真正是个佛心。这班东西着人送回去。既是太太好心，不得不挑个好人。芹哥儿竟交给二爷开发了罢。那个贴帖儿的，奴才想法儿查出来，重重的收拾他才好。”贾琏点头说：“是了。”即刻将贾芹发落。赖大也赶着把女尼等领出，按着主意办去了。晚上贾政回家，贾琏赖大回明贾政。贾政本是省事的人，听了也便撂开手了。独有那些无赖之徒，听得贾府发出二十四个女孩子出来，那个不想。究竟那些人能够回家不能，未知着落，亦难虚拟。

且说紫鹃因黛玉渐好，园中无事，听见女尼等预备宫内使唤，不知何事，便到贾母那边打听打听，恰遇着鸳鸯下来，闲着坐下说闲话儿，提起女尼的事。鸳鸯诧异道：“我并没有听见，回来问问二奶奶就知道了。”正说着，只见傅试家两个女人过来请贾母的安，鸳鸯要陪了上去。那两个女人因贾母正睡晌觉，就与鸳鸯说了一声儿回去了。紫鹃问：“这是谁家差来的？”鸳鸯道：“好讨人嫌。家里有了一个女孩儿生得好些，便献宝的似的，常常在老太太面前夸他家姑娘长得怎么好，心地怎么好，礼貌上又能，说话儿又简绝，做活计儿手儿又巧，会写会算，尊长上头最孝敬的，就是待下人也是极和平的。来了就编这么一大套，常常说给老太太听。我听着很烦。这几个老婆子真讨人嫌。我们老太太偏爱听那些个话。老太太也罢了，还有宝玉，素常见了老婆子便很厌烦的，偏见了他们家的老婆子便不厌烦。你说奇不奇！前儿还来说，他们姑娘现有多少人家儿来求亲，他们老爷总不肯应，心里只要和咱们这种人家作亲才肯。一回夸奖，一回奉承，把老太太的心都说活了。”紫鹃听了一呆，便假意道：“若老太太〔一〕喜欢，为什么不就给宝玉定了呢？”鸳鸯正要说出原故，听见上头说：“老太太醒了。”鸳鸯赶着上去。

紫鹃只得起身出来，回到园里。一头走，一头想道：“天下莫非只有一个宝玉，你也想他，我也想他。我们家的那一位越发痴心起来了，看他的那个神情儿，是一定在宝玉身上的了。三番五次的病，可不是为着这个是什么！这家里金的银的还闹不清，若添了一个什么傅姑娘，更了不得了。我看宝玉的心也在我们那一位的身上，听着鸳鸯的说话竟是见一个爱一个的。这不是我们姑娘白操了心了吗？”紫鹃本是想着黛玉，往下一想，连自己也不得主意了，不免掉下泪来。要想叫黛玉不用瞎操心呢，又恐怕他烦恼；若是看着他这样，又可怜见儿的。左思右想，一时烦躁起来，自己啐自己道：“你替人耽什么忧！就是林姑娘真配了宝玉，他的那性情儿也是难服侍的。宝玉性情虽好，又是贪多嚼不烂的。我倒劝人不必瞎操心，我自己才是瞎操心呢。从今以后，我尽我的心服侍姑娘，其馀的事全不管！”这么一想，心里倒觉清净。回到潇湘馆来，见黛玉独自一人坐在炕上，理从前做过的诗文词稿。抬头见紫鹃来，便问：“你到那里去了？”紫鹃道：“我今儿瞧了瞧姐妹们去。”黛玉道：“敢是找袭人姐姐去么？”紫鹃道：“我找他做什么。”黛玉一想这话，怎么顺嘴说了出来，反觉不好意思，便啐道：“你找谁与我什么相干！倒茶去罢。”

紫鹃也心里暗笑，出来倒茶。只听见园里的一叠声乱嚷，不知何故，一面倒茶，一面叫人去打听。回来说道：“怡红院里的海棠本来萎了几棵，也没人去浇灌他。昨日宝玉走去，瞧见枝头上好像有了骨朵儿似的。人都不信，没有理他。忽然今日开得很好的海棠花，众人诧异，都争着去看。连老太太、太太都哄动了来瞧花儿呢，所以大奶奶叫人收拾园里败叶枯枝，这些人在那里传唤。”黛玉也听见了，知道老太太来，便更了衣，叫雪雁去打听，“若是老太太来了，即来告诉我。”雪雁去不多时，便跑来说：“老太太、太太好些人都来了，请姑娘就去罢。”黛玉略自照了一照镜子，掠了一掠鬓发，便扶着紫鹃到怡红院来。

已见老太太坐在宝玉常卧的榻上，黛玉便说道：“请老太太安。”退后，便见了邢、王二夫人，回来与李纨、探春、惜春、邢岫烟彼此问了好。只有凤姐因病未来；史湘云因他叔叔调任回京，接了家去；薛宝琴跟他姐姐家去住了；李家姐妹因见园内多事，李婶娘带了在外居住：所以黛玉今日见的只有数人。大家说笑了一回，讲究这花开得古怪。贾母道：“这花儿应在三月里开的，如今虽是十一月，因节气迟，还算十月，应着小阳春[3]的天气，这花开因为和暖〔二〕是有的。”王夫人道：“老太太见的多，说得是。也不为奇。”邢夫人道：“我听见这花已经萎了一年，怎么这回不应时候儿开了，必有个原故。”李纨笑道：“老太太与太太说得都是。据我的糊涂想头，必是宝玉有喜事来了，此花先来报信。”探春虽不言语，心内想：“此花必非好兆。大凡顺者昌，逆者亡。草木知运，不时而发，必是妖孽。”只不好说出来。独有黛玉听说是喜事，心里触动，便高兴说道：“当初田家有荆树一棵[5]，三个弟兄因分了家，那荆树便枯了。后来感动了他弟兄们仍旧归在一处，那荆树也就荣了。可知草木也随人的。如今二哥哥认真念书，舅舅喜欢，那棵树也就发了。”贾母王夫人听了喜欢，便说：“林姑娘比方得有理，很有意思。”

正说着，贾赦、贾政、贾环、贾兰都进来看花。贾赦便说：“据我的主意，把他砍去，必是花妖作怪。”贾政道：“见怪不怪，其怪自败。不用砍他，随他去就是了。”贾母听见，便说：“谁在这里混说！人家有喜事好处，什么怪不怪的。若有好事，你们享去；若是不好，我一个人当去。你们不许混说。”贾政听了，不敢言语，讪讪的同贾赦等走了出来。

那贾母高兴，叫人传话到厨房里，快快预备酒席，大家赏花。叫：“宝玉、环儿、兰儿各人做一首诗志喜。林姑娘的病才好，不要他费心，若高兴，给你们改改。”对着李纨道：“你们都陪我喝酒。”李纨答应了“是”，便笑对探春笑道：“都是你闹的。”探春道：“饶不叫我们做诗，怎么我们闹的。”李纨道：“海棠社不是你起的么，如今那棵海棠也要来入社了。”大家听着都笑了。一时摆上酒菜，一面喝着，彼此都要讨老太太的欢喜，大家说些兴头话。宝玉上来，斟了酒，便立成了四句诗，写出来念与贾母听道：

海棠何事忽摧，今日繁花为底开？

应是北堂增寿考，一阳旋复占先梅〔三〕[7]。

贾环也写了来念道：

草木逢春当茁芽，海棠未发候偏差。

人间奇事知多少，冬月开花独我家。

贾兰恭楷誊正，呈与贾母，贾母命李纨念道：

烟凝媚色春前萎，霜浥微红雪后开。

莫道此花知识浅，欣荣预佐合欢杯。

贾母听毕，便说：“我不大懂诗，听去倒是兰儿的好，环儿做得不好。都上来吃饭罢。”宝玉看见贾母喜欢，更是兴头。因想起：“晴雯死的那年海棠死的，今日海棠复荣，我们院内这些人自然都好。但是晴雯不能像花的死而复生了。”顿觉转喜为悲。忽又想起前日巧姐提凤姐要把五儿补入，或此花为他而开，也未可知，却又转悲为喜，依旧说笑。

贾母还坐了半天，然后扶了珍珠回去了。王夫人等跟着过来。只见平儿笑嘻嘻的迎上来说：“我们奶奶知道老太太在这里赏花，自己不得来，叫奴才来服侍老太太、太太们，还有两匹红送给宝二爷包裹这花，当作贺礼。”袭人过来接了，呈与贾母看。贾母笑道：“偏是凤丫头行出点事儿来，叫人看着又体面，又新鲜，很有趣儿。”袭人笑着向平儿道：“回去替宝二爷给二奶奶道谢。要有喜大家喜。”贾母听了笑道：“嗳哟，我还忘了呢，凤丫头虽病着，还是他想得到，送得也巧。”一面说着，众人就随着去了。平儿私与袭人道：“奶奶说，这花开得奇怪，叫你铰块红绸子挂挂，便应在喜事上去了。以后也不必只管当作奇事混说。”袭人点头答应，送了平儿出去。不题。

且说那日宝玉本来穿着一裹圆[8]的皮袄在家歇息，因见花开，只管出来看一回，赏一回，叹一回，爱一回的，心中无数悲喜离合，都弄到这株花上去了。忽然听说贾母要来，便去换了一件狐腋箭袖，罩一件元狐腿外褂[9]，出来迎接贾母。匆匆穿换，未将通灵宝玉挂上。及至后来贾母去了，仍旧换衣。袭人见宝玉脖子上没有挂着，便问：“那块玉呢？”宝玉道：“才刚忙乱换衣，摘下来放在炕桌上，我没有带。”袭人回看桌上并没有玉，便向各处找寻，踪影全无，吓得袭人满身冷汗。宝玉道：“不用着急，少不得在屋里的。问他们就知道了。”袭人当作麝月等藏起吓他顽，便向麝月等笑着说道：“小蹄子们，顽呢到底有个顽法。把这件东西藏在那里了？别真弄丢了，那可就大家活不成了。”麝月等都正色道：“这是那里的话！顽是顽笑是笑，这个事非同儿戏，你可别混说。你自己昏了心了，想想罢，想想搁在那里了。这会子又混赖人了。”袭人见他这般光景，不像是顽话，便着急道：“皇天菩萨小祖宗，到底你摆在那里去了？”宝玉道：“我记得明明放在炕桌上的，你们到底找啊。”袭人、麝月、秋纹等也不敢叫人知道，大家偷偷儿的各处搜寻。闹了大半天，毫无影响，甚至翻箱倒笼，实在没处去找，便疑到方才这些人进来，不知谁捡了去了。袭人说道：“进来的谁不知道这玉是性命似的东西呢，谁敢捡了去呢。你们好歹先别声张，快到各处问去。若有姐妹们捡着吓我们顽呢，你们给他磕头要了回来；若是小丫头偷了去，问出来也不回上头，不论把〔四〕什么送他换了出来都使得的。这可不是小事，真要丢了这个，比丢了宝二爷的还利害呢。”麝月秋纹刚要往外走，袭人又赶出来嘱咐道：“头里在这里吃饭的倒先别问去，找不成再惹出些风波来，更不好了。”麝月等依言分头各处追问，人人不晓，个个惊疑。麝月等回来，俱目瞪口呆，面面相窥。宝玉也吓怔了。袭人急的只是干哭。找是没处找，回又不敢回，怡红院里的人吓得个个像木雕泥塑一般。

大家正在发呆，只见各处知道的都来了。探春叫把园门关上，先命个老婆子带着两个丫头，再往各处去寻去；一面又叫告诉众人：若谁找出来，重重的赏银。大家头宗要脱干系，二宗听见重赏，不顾命的混找了一遍，甚至于茅厕里都找到。谁知那块玉竟像绣花针儿一般，找了一天，总无影响。李纨急了，说：“这件事不是顽的，我要说句无礼的话了。”众人道：“什么呢？”李纨道：“事情到了这里，也顾不得了。现在园里除了宝玉，都是女人，要求各位姐姐、妹妹、姑娘都要叫跟来的丫头脱了衣服，大家搜一搜。若没有，再叫丫头们去搜那些老婆子并粗使的丫头。”大家说道：“这话也说的有理。现在人多手乱，鱼龙混杂，倒是这么一来，你们也洗洗清。”探春独不言语。那些丫头们也都愿意洗净自己。先是平儿起，平儿说道：“打我先搜起。”于是各人自己解怀，李纨一气儿混搜。探春嗔着李纨道：“大嫂子，你也学那起不成材料的样子来了。那个人既偷了去，还肯藏在身上？况且这件东西在家里是宝，到了外头，不知道的是废物，偷他做什么？我想来必是有人使促狭。”众人听说，又见环儿不在这里，昨儿是他满屋里乱跑，都疑到他身上，只是不肯说出来。探春又道：“使促狭的只有环儿。你们叫个人去悄悄的叫了他来，背地里哄着他，叫他拿出来，然后吓着他，叫他不要声张。这就完了。”大家点头称是。

李纨便向平儿道：“这件事还是得你去才弄得明白。”平儿答应，就赶着去了。不多时同了环儿来了。众人假意装出没事的样子，叫人沏了碗茶搁在里间屋里，众人故意搭讪走开。原叫平儿哄他，平儿便笑着向环儿道：“你二哥哥的玉丢了，你瞧见了没有？”贾环便急得紫涨了脸，瞪着眼说道：“人家丢了东西，你怎么又叫我来查问，疑我。我是犯过案的贼么！”平儿见这样子，倒不敢再问，便又陪笑道：“不是这么说，怕三爷要拿了去吓他们，所以白问问瞧见了没有，好叫他们找。”贾环道：“他的玉在他身上，看见不看见该问他，怎么问我。捧着他的人多着咧！得了什么不来问我，丢了东西就来问我！”说着，起身就走。众人不好拦他。这里宝玉倒急了，说道：“都是这劳什子闹事，我也不要他了。你们也不用闹了。环儿一去，必是嚷得满院里都知道了，这可不是闹事了么。”袭人等急得又哭道：“小祖宗，你看这玉丢了没要紧，若是上头知道了，我们这些人就要粉身碎骨了！”说着，便嚎啕大哭起来。

众人更加伤感，明知此事掩饰不来，只得要商议定了话，回来好回贾母诸人。宝玉道：“你们竟也不用商议，硬说我砸了就完了。”平儿道：“我的爷，好轻巧话儿！上头要问为什么砸的呢，他们也是个死啊。倘或要起砸破的碴儿来，那又怎么样呢？”宝玉道：“不然便说我前日出门丢了。”众人一想，这句话倒还混得过去，但是这两天又没上学，又没往别处去。宝玉道：“怎么没有，大前儿还到南安王府里听戏去了呢，便说那日丢的。”探春道：“那也不妥。既是前儿丢的，为什么当日不来回。”众人正在胡思乱想，要装点撒谎，只听得赵姨娘的声儿哭着喊着走来说：“你们丢了东西自己不找，怎么叫人背地里拷问环儿。我把环儿带了来，索性交给你们这一起洑上水的，该杀该剐，随你们罢。”说着，将环儿一推说：“你是个贼，快快的招罢！”气得环儿也哭喊起来。

李纨正要劝解，丫头来说：“太太来了。”袭人等此时无地可容，宝玉等赶忙出来迎接。赵姨娘暂且也不敢作声，跟了出来。王夫人见众人都有惊惶之色，才信方才听见的话，便道：“那块玉真丢了么？”众人都不敢作声，王夫人走进屋里坐下，便叫袭人。慌得袭人连忙跪下，含泪要禀。王夫人道：“你起来，快快叫人细细找去，一忙乱倒不好了。”袭人哽咽难言。宝玉生恐袭人真告诉出来，便说道：“太太，这事不与袭人相干。是我前日到南安王府那里听戏，在路上丢了。”王夫人道：“为什么那日不找？”宝玉道：“我怕他们知道，没有告诉他们。我叫焙茗等在外头各处找过的。”王夫人道：“胡说！如今脱换衣服不是袭人他们服侍的么。大凡哥儿出门回来，手巾荷包短了，还要个明白，何况这块玉不见了，便不问的么！”宝玉无言可答。赵姨娘听见，便得意了，忙接过口道：“外头丢了东西，也赖环儿！”话未说完，被王夫人喝道：“这里说这个，你且说那些没要紧的话！”赵姨娘便不敢言语了。还是李纨探春从实的告诉了王夫人一遍，王夫人也急得泪如雨下，索性要回明贾母，去问邢夫人那边跟来的这些人去。

凤姐病中也听见宝玉失玉，知道王夫人过来，料躲不住，便扶了丰儿来到园里。正值王夫人起身要走，凤姐姣怯怯的说：“请太太安。”宝玉等过来问了凤姐好。王夫人因说道：“你也听见了么，这可不是奇事吗？刚才眼错不见就丢了，再找不着。你去想想，打从老太太那边丫头起至你们平儿，谁的手不稳，谁的心促狭。我要回了老太太，认真的查出来才好。不然是断了宝玉的命根子了。”凤姐回道：“咱们家人多手杂，自古说的，‘知人知面不知心’，那里保得住谁是好的。但是一吵嚷已经都知道了，偷玉的人若叫太太查出来，明知是死无葬身之地，他着了急，反要毁坏了灭〔五〕口，那时可怎么处呢。据我的糊涂想头，只说宝玉本不爱他，撂丢了，也没有什么要紧。只要大家严密些，别叫老太太老爷知道。这么说了，暗暗的派人去各处察访，哄骗出来，那时玉也可得，罪名也好定。不知太太心里怎么样？”王夫人迟了半日，才说道：“你这话虽也有理，但只是老爷跟前怎么瞒的过呢。”便叫环儿过来道：“你二哥哥的玉丢了，白问了你一句，怎么你就乱嚷。若是嚷破了，人家把那个毁坏了，我看你活得活不得！”贾环吓得哭道：“我再不敢嚷了。”赵姨娘听了，那里还敢言语。王夫人便吩咐众人道：“想来自然有没找到的地方儿，好端端的在家里的，还怕他飞到那里去不成。只是不许声张。限袭人三天内给我找出来，要是三天找不着，只怕也瞒不住，大家那就不用过安静日子了。”说着，便叫凤姐儿跟到邢夫人那边商议踩缉[12]。不题。

这里李纨等纷纷议论，便传唤看园子的一干人来，叫把园门锁上，快传林之孝家的来，悄悄儿的告诉了他，叫他吩咐前后门上，三天之内，不论男女下人从里头可以走动，要出时一概不许放出，只说里头丢了东西，待这件东西有了着落，然后放人出来。林之孝家的答应了“是”，因说：“前儿奴才家里也丢了一件不要紧的东西，林之孝必要明白，上街去找了一个测字的，那人叫做什么刘铁嘴，测了一个字，说的很明白，回来依旧一找便找着了。”袭人听见，便央及林家的道：“好林奶奶，出去快求林大爷替我们问问去。”那林之孝家的答应着出去了。邢岫烟道：“若说那外头测字打卦的，是不中用的。我在南边闻妙玉能扶乩，何不烦他问一问。况且我听见说这块玉原有仙机，想来问得出来。”众人都诧异道：“咱们常见的，从没有听他说起。”麝月便忙问岫烟道：“想来别人求他是不肯的，好姑娘，我给姑娘磕个头，求姑娘就去，若问出来了，我一辈子总不忘你的恩。”说着，赶忙就要磕下头去，岫烟连忙拦住。黛玉等也都怂恿着岫烟速往栊翠庵去。一面林之孝家的进来说道：“姑娘们大喜。林之孝测了字回来说，这玉是丢不了的，将来横竖有人送还来的。”众人听了，也都半信半疑，惟有袭人麝月喜欢的了不得。探春便问：“测的是什么字？”林之孝家的道：“他的话多，奴才也学不上来，记得是拈了个赏人东西的‘赏’字。那刘铁嘴也不问，便说：‘丢了东西不是？’”李纨道：“这就算好。”林之孝家的道：“他还说，‘赏’字上头一个‘小’字，底下一个‘口’字，这件东西很可嘴里放得，必是个珠子宝石。”众人听了，夸赞道：“真是神仙。往下怎么说？”林之孝家的道：“他说底下‘贝’字，拆开不成一个‘见’字，可不是‘不见’了？因上头拆了‘当’字，叫快到当铺里找去。‘赏’字加一‘人’字，可不是‘偿’字？只要找着当铺就有人，有了人便赎了来，可不是偿还了吗。”众人道：“既这么着，就先往左近找起，横竖几个当铺都找遍了，少不得就有了。咱们有了东西，再问人就容易了。”李纨道：“只要东西，那怕不问人都使得。林嫂子，烦你就把测字的话快去告诉二奶奶，回了太太，先叫太太放心。就叫二奶奶快派人查去。”林家的答应了便走。

众人略安了一点儿神，呆呆的等岫烟回来。正呆等，只见跟宝玉的焙茗在门外招手儿，叫小丫头子快出来。那小丫头赶忙的出去了。焙茗便说道：“你快进去告诉我们二爷和里头太太奶奶姑娘们天大喜事。”那小丫头子道：“你快说罢，怎么这么累赘。”焙茗笑着拍手道：“我告诉姑娘，姑娘进去回了，咱们两个人都得赏钱呢。你打量什么，宝二爷的那块玉呀，我得了准信来了。”未知如何，下回分解。

[1] 估销册——预计工程花销的册子，犹预算册。

〔一〕 “老太太”，原无“老”字，从王本增。

[3] 小阳春——也叫小春，指阴历十月。南朝梁宗懔《荆楚岁时记》：“十月朔日黍臛，俗谓之秦岁首。”注：“天气和暖似春，故曰小春。”

〔二〕 “小阳春的天气，这花开因为和暖”，原作“小阳春的开花也天气因为和暖”，从藤本改。

[5] 田家有荆树一棵——传说田真兄弟三人分家，要把一棵紫荆树破成三份，紫荆树马上枯死。田家兄弟受了感动，复又合居，紫荆树即复活开花。见南朝梁吴均《续齐谐记》。

〔三〕 “一阳旋复占先梅”，“阳”原作“云”，从程乙本改。藤本作“一元旋复占先梅”。

[7] “海棠”一首——摧（cuī　tuí崔颓），同摧颓，萎败、干枯的意思。底，何。北堂，代指母亲。一阳旋复，冬至阴极阳回。占先梅，比梅花占先。

[8] 一裹圆——即一口钟。

[9] 元狐腿外褂——用黑狐腿皮吊成的褂子。元：玄，黑。

〔四〕 “把”原作“做”，从藤本改。

〔五〕 “灭”原作“溆”，从藤本改。

[12] 踩缉——追捕之意。

CHAPTER 94. Grandmother Jia gives a crab-blossom party: a celebration of the ominous Bao-yu loses his Magic Jade: a strange disappearance of the numinous

Lai Da led Jia Qin off, to await the Master’s return in the morning.

The little novices were thrilled to be back in the Garden and were eager to, revisit their favourite haunts, imagining that the next day would be taken up with preparations for their visit to the Palace. Imagine their dismay when they found themselves prisoners: Lai Da’s instructions to the old women and pages on duty were to feed them in their rooms and keep them in close confinement. The girls had no idea why they were being treated in this way and spent the night sitting up in suspense. Although the maids in the Garden’s various residences knew by now of their arrival, they had only been given the official story and knew nothing of the real facts of the case.

Early next day Jia Zheng, having completed his night duty, was about to leave the Board when another urgent file was passed down to him: the City Wall Repairs Estimates and Accounts for two of the Provincial Capitals, for Immediate Audit. He foresaw a considerable delay, and sent a message home to Jia Lian, authorizing him to go ahead and question Lai Da when he returned from the Temple, and to deal with the case as he saw fit.

Jia Lian received these instructions with relief, mainly on young Qin’s behalf, as he would now be spared the Master’s wrath. On further reflection, however, it occurred to him that he might attract Jia Zheng’s suspicion if he were to brush the entire affair under the carpet. It would be wiser to consult Lady Wang. Then if he incurred the Master’s displeasure, at least he would not be solely responsible.

Having decided on this course of action, Jia Lian went to see Lady Wang and told her what had happened, concluding:

‘Uncle Zheng was extremely angry about the anonymous poster and gave orders for Lai Da to bring young Qin and all the girls here for questioning. Today Uncle is too busy to deal with this sordid matter himself, and has asked me to consult you about it. What do you think we should do, Aunt?’

‘I never heard of such a disgraceful business!’ exclaimed Lady Wang in horror. ‘If young Qin really has behaved in this degrading fashion, the family should have nothing more to do with him. Mind you, it’s a despicable way to carry on, to go putting posters up about people… Do you suppose there is any truth in it? Have you asked Qin about it yet? What has he to say for himself?’

‘I’ve questioned him,’ replied Lian. ‘Only a few moments ago, as a matter of fact. Of course he denied the whole thing. But consider, Aunt; supposing he really had done it, do you think he would admit to it? Personally I don’t think he did. He knows that the girls are liable to be called to Court at short notice, and would be too scared of a scandal. We could find out the truth easily enough. But what then? What do you suggest?’

‘Where are the girls now?’ asked Lady Wang.

‘They are locked up in the Garden,’ replied Jia Lian.

‘Do the others know that they are there?’

‘They probably all know by now. But so far as they are concerned the girls are on their way to the Palace. That is what everyone has been told.’

‘Good,’ said Lady Wang. ‘We must get rid of these creatures immediately, once and for all. I never wanted to keep them on in the first place – it was all your idea and Xi-feng’s. Didn’t I say it would end in trouble? You’d better tell Lai Da to go through them one by one and find out if they’ve any relatives left at home. Find their contracts and authorize whatever money is necessary to hire a boat for them – twenty or thirty taels should be enough. Put someone dependable in charge and have them all taken home to wherever they came from in the first place. They can take their contracts with them, and that will be the end of that. Even if one or two of them have been up to some mischief, I don’t think it would be fair to punish them indiscriminately, by making them all return to lay-life. And if we hand them over to the official broker who usually finds husbands for orphan girls, even though we don’t want the body price, someone is sure to try and make money out of them, and no one will think of their welfare. Who knows what might happen to them? As for Qin, I want you to tell him in no uncertain manner exactly what we think of him. He is never to come here again except for a clan sacrifice or some other big celebration. He had better keep well out of Sir Zheng’s way too, unless he wants a taste of real trouble. And don’t forget to tell the accounts people to cancel the relevant entry.

‘Send someone to the Temple,’ concluded Lady Wang, ‘with strict instructions from Sir Zheng that none of the male members of the clan is to be allowed in there, except for the specific purpose of burning paper-money at the grave-site. And if there is any more nonsense, we will have all the Sisters removed too.’

Jia Lian took this all in and went to give Lai Da his orders.

‘That is what Her Ladyship says you are to do,’ he said. ‘Report to me when you’ve finished, and I shall report back to Her Ladyship. Look smart. When Sir Zheng comes in, all you need do is repeat Her Ladyship’s instructions.’

‘It’s very charitable of Her Ladyship to deal so generously with these worthless people,’ commented Lai Da. ‘I’ll make sure I pick a good ’un to take them all home, carrying on Her Ladyship’s good work, so to speak. And I’ll bring young Master Qin in here, sir, for you to deal with. As for that anonymous bill-sticker, I’ll track him down, and when I lay my hands on him I’ll teach him a lesson he won’t forget in a hurry.’

Jia Lian nodded.

‘Good.’

Jia Qin was summoned and disposed of, and Lai Da dealt with the girls in accordance with Lady Wang’s instructions.

When Jia Zheng came home that evening, Jia Lian and Lai Da both went in to report. Jia Zheng was not a man to look for unnecessary trouble, and was content to consider the matter closed. The news that the Jia household had dismissed twenty-four girl novices soon spread, and every young rake in town fancied the idea of getting hold of one of them for himself. What did happen to the girls in the end, and whether or not they ever reached home, our story does not relate, and it would be idle to speculate.

*

Let us return instead to the Naiad’s House. With the slight improvement in Dai-yu’s health, Nightingale was less busy than usual. Hearing of the arrival of the novices, and curious about the event that called for their presence at Court, she decided to pay a visit to Grandmother Jia’s apartment, in the hope of finding out more from one of the maids there. She arrived just as Faithful was coming off duty and the two of them were able to sit down for a chat. Nightingale mentioned the novices. Their presence in the Garden came as a complete surprise to Faithful who exclaimed:

‘That’s the first I’ve heard of it! I’ll ask Mrs Lian about it later on, she’ll be sure to know.’

At that moment two old women from Mr Fu Shi’s establishment came to call on Grandmother Jia, and Faithful went to take them through. Grandmother Jia had just retired for her midday nap, however, so the women exchanged a few words with Faithful and went on their way again.

‘Where are those two from?’ asked Nightingale.

‘They’re a tiresome pair,’ replied Faithful. ‘They’re always calling on Her Old Ladyship and telling her how wonderful their Miss Fu is – so sweet-natured, beautiful, well-mannered, softly spoken, a perfect needlewoman, deft with her writing-brush, nimble with her abacus, a paragon of daughterly obedience, kind and ladylike towards the servants, and so on and so forth… Every time they come they treat Her Old Ladyship to the same recital. I can’t bear that sort of thing, but Her Old Ladyship seems to love it. And the strange thing is that Bao-yu, who normally finds old women like that most irritating, makes an exception of these two. A few days ago, when they were here last, they said that Mr Fu wouldn’t look at any of his sister’s suitors (and there are plenty of them), but had set his heart on her marrying into a family like ours. They sung her praises all over again. Somehow they always seem to say just the thing to please the old lady.’

Nightingale looked thoughtful for a moment. Then she asked with affected nonchalance:

‘If Her Old Ladyship is so pleased with what they say, why doesn’t she marry Bao-yu to the young lady?’

Faithful was on the very point of explaining to Nightingale the real reason, when she heard a call from inside:

‘Her Old Ladyship is awake!’

She hurried in, leaving Nightingale to make her own way home.

As Nightingale reached the Garden and began to walk towards the Naiad’s House, she thought to herself:

‘Anyone would suppose Bao-yu to be the only boy in the world, from the amount of time we all spend thinking about him! My poor mistress just seems to get more and more besotted with him.Whenever I see her sinking into one of her depressions, I can tell it’s because of him. That’s what has been making her fall ill all the time too. What with all the uncertainty about the bond of gold and jade, and now this Miss Fu – I don’t know! I always thought Bao-yu loved Miss Lin, but from what Faithful said it seems he just flits from one girl to the next. My poor mistress! All your heartache is wasted on him!’

Nightingale had begun by feeling sad on Dai-yu’s account, but the more she thought about it the more wretched and confused she began to feel herself. She would have liked to advise Dai-yu not to wear her heart out in such a futile affair, but was too afraid of incurring her displeasure. And yet how could she just stand by and watch her suffer?

Presently, as she turned the problem over and over in her mind, her compassion gave way to a sudden feeling of annoyance and she chided herself:

‘Why should I worry about them anyway? Supposing Miss Lin does marry Bao-yu – she’ll still be as difficult to please as ever. And Bao-yu may be friendly enough, but I know how fickle he is too. I tell others not to wear their hearts out in vain, and then do so myself! No, from now on I shall concentrate on doing my duty and not allow myself to get involved.’

In this new spirit of detachment she continued on her way to the Naiad’s House, and arrived to find Dai-yu sitting alone on the kang, going over some of her old poems and other writings. As she entered the room Dai-yu looked up and asked:

‘Where have you been?’

‘Oh, I just went out for a chat with one of the other maids,’ replied Nightingale.

‘Was it Aroma?’

‘What should I want to see her for?’

The off-hand manner of her reply came as a shock to Dai-yu, who felt most put out and said curtly:

‘Do as you please, it’s all the same to me. Bring me a cup of tea.’

Nightingale smiled inwardly at the outcome of her experiment and went to pour the tea. As she did so she heard a confused hubbub in the Garden, but could not tell what was going on. She began pouring the tea and sent a junior maid out to investigate the disturbance. The maid returned in a short while to report:

‘It’s the crab-trees at Green Delights. Earlier this year some of them were struck with the blight, and no one bothered to water them. Yesterday Bao-yu went to have a look at them and thought he could see buds on some of the branches. No one believed him or paid any attention to his story at the time. But today there’s no doubt about it, they’ve come out in the most beautiful blossom! It has caused quite a stir and everyone is hurrying over there to have a look. Even Her Old Ladyship and Her Ladyship have been caught up in the excitement and are going along to see the blossom. So Mrs Zhu has given orders for all the paths to be cleared of leaves – that’s what all the shouting was about.’

When Dai-yu heard that Grandmother Jia was coming, she got up to change and sent Snowgoose on ahead, telling her to report back the moment Her Old Ladyship arrived. She soon came running back.

‘Her Old Ladyship and Her Ladyship and a lot of the other ladies have all arrived! Hurry, Miss!’

Dai-yu took a brief look in the mirror, passed a comb quickly through her hair and set off with Nightingale in the direction of Green Delights. She arrived to find Grandmother Jia installed on Bao-yu’s day-couch, and after greeting her and Lady Xing and Lady Wang went on to say hello to Li Wan, Tan-chun, Xi-chun and Xing Xiu-yan. She noticed that several people were absent: Xi-feng was ill in bed, Shi Xiang-yun had gone home to see her uncle who was in the capital on transfer, while Bao-qin had stayed at home with Bao-chai, and the two Li sisters, Wen and Qi, had been taken to live elsewhere by their mother, whom recent events had convinced that Prospect Garden was a rather unsuitable environment for her daughters.

They were all chatting away, each propounding a different interpretation of the strange phenomenon of the winter-flowering crab-trees.

‘They usually flower in the third month, I know,’ Grandmother Jia was saying. ‘And we are in the eleventh month now. But then the movable terms in the calendar are rather late this year, so we could say this is more like the tenth month, which is after all sometimes called “Little Spring”. With the exceptionally warm weather we have been having, a little blossom is only to be expected.’

‘You are quite right, Mother,’ agreed Lady Wang. ‘We need someone of your experience to show us that this is really nothing out of the ordinary.’

Lady Xing however was not so easily convinced.

‘I heard that these trees had already been struck by the blight for almost a year… How do you explain the fact that half-dead trees should start flowering now, at such an odd time of the year?’

Li Wan spoke next.

‘I think you are both right,’ she said with a smile. ‘My own humble suggestion is that they have flowered specially to tell us of some happy event that is about to take place in Bao-yu’s life.’

Tan-chun, although she remained silent, was secretly thinking to herself:

‘This must be an ill-omen. Everything that is in harmony with nature prospers, and things out of season, out of time, fade and die. Plants and trees obey a natural cycle. If a tree flowers out of season, it must be an ill-omen.’

She kept all this to herself, however. It was Dai-yu who spoke next. She had been struck by Li Wan’s mention of a happy event, and said with some excitement:

‘There was once a family of farmers who had a thornbush. There were three sons in the family, and one day these three sons decided to leave home and go their separate ways. No sooner had they gone than the thornbush began to fade away and die. But some time later the brothers began to yearn for each other’s company, returned home and were reunited. And at once the thornbush began to flourish again. So you see plants follow closely the fortunes of the people to whom they are attached. Now Cousin Bao is devoting himself seriously to his studies, which pleases Uncle Zheng, which pleases the crab-trees, which is why they are flowering!’

This went down very well with Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang.

‘What a well-chosen story! Such an interesting idea!’

Jia She and Jia Zheng now arrived to view the flowers, accompanied by Jia Huan and Jia Lan. Jia She spoke first.

‘Cut them down. That’s what I say. There’s evil work afoot here.’

On the contrary,’ said Jia Zheng. ‘Leave them alone. Evil manifestations thrive on such superstition. Ignore them and they disappear.’

‘What’s all this?’ interrupted Grandmother Jia testily. ‘We’re all gathered here to witness a happy event. Why do you have to start talking about manifestations and what-have-you? When there’s good luck then enjoy it while you can. I’ll take care of any bad luck. I forbid you to utter another word of such gloomy nonsense.’

This silenced Jia Zheng, and he and Jia She effected an awkward departure. Grandmother Jia was unperturbed and determined to enjoy herself.

‘Send someone to the kitchen,’ she said. ‘We want wine and some nice things to eat. We’ll have a little party. I should like you, Bao-yu, Huan and Lan, each to write a poem to celebrate the occasion. Miss Lin has been unwell so she can be excused. If she feels up to it she can help you boys polish yours.’

Turning to Li Wan she continued:

‘You and the others come up and have some wine with me.’

‘Yes Grannie,’ said Li Wan, then turning to Tan-chun she laughed and said:

‘This is all your fault, Tan!’

‘What do you mean?’ protested Tan-chun. ‘We’ve been let off the poetry-writing – my fault for what?’

‘Aren’t you the founder of the Crab-flower. Club?’ replied Li Wan. ‘I know that crab was an Autumn Crab – but can’t you see? Now the real crab-blossom wants to join in too…’

Everyone laughed at the idea.

Food and wine were now served, and they all drank and did their best to humour the old lady with light-hearted conversation. Bao-yu came up to pour himself some wine, and standing there thought up a quatrain which he then wrote out and recited for his grandmother.

I asked the crab-tree why at blossom-time it failed,

Yet now profusely bloomed so long before the spring?

The tree replied: ‘Midwinter marks the birth of light.

Glad tidings to the Mistress of this House I bring.’

It was Huan’s turn next. He wrote his out and began to recite:

Plants should put out buds in spring:

Our crab tree’s timing’s topsy-turvy.

Of all the wonders of the world

Ours is the only winter-flowering tree.

Then Jia Lan made a careful copy of his poem, in immaculate kai-shu calligraphy, and presented it to his great-grandmother, who asked Li Wan to read it out for her.

Your mist-congealed beauty blighted in the spring,

Your frosted petals blush now in the snow.

Hail Tree of Wisdom! Whose Rebirth

Adds lustre to our Family Hearth.

When she reached the end, Grandmother Jia commented:

‘I don’t know much about poetry, but I should judge Lan’s good, while I should say that Huan’s was poor. Come on now, everybody come and have something to eat.’

Bao-yu was affected by her jolly mood. But then he thought to himself:

‘Last year when the crab-trees died was the year Skybright died. Now the crab-trees have come back to life. That’s all very well for us; but Skybright can never live again…’

This thought threw him into a sudden depression; then he remembered what Qiao-jie had recently said, that Xi-feng might be sending him pretty Fivey. Perhaps it was her imminent arrival that the strange blossoming portended? This prospect dispelled his gloom and he became his smiling self once more.

Grandmother Jia stayed a while longer, then returned to her apartment, leaning on Pearl and escorted by Lady Wang and the others. As she was leaving, Patience came hurrying up, her face wreathed in smiles:

‘Mrs Lian heard that you were here viewing the flowers,’ she said ‘and though she couldn’t come herself, she asked me to come and attend to Your Ladyships and to bring this parcel. It contains two rolls of red silk for Master Bao to decorate the trees with, and comes with Mrs Lian’s congratulations on the happy event.’

Aroma came forward to receive the parcel and presented it to Grandmother Jia, who beamed with delight.

‘Trust Fengie to think of the right thing! What a nice idea! So distinguished!’

Aroma gave Patience a smile.

‘Please thank Mrs Lian for Master Bao when you go back, will you?’ she said. ‘The happy event she is referring to is one that will make all of us happy, I’m sure…’

When Aroma said this, it dawned on Grandmother Jia that Xi-feng was thinking of Bao-yu’s marriage, and her face lit up.

‘Aiyo!’ she exclaimed. ‘Of course! It never occurred to me! Fengie may be laid up in bed, but she’s still the cleverest of us all. What a perfect thing to send!’

As she said this, she was already walking away from Green Delights, followed by her entourage. Patience whispered to Aroma:

‘Actually Mrs Lian says this flowering is an ill-omen, and you’re to cut strips of this red silk and hang them on the trees; that will help turn the bad luck into good. And in future you’re to avoid any superstitious chat about it.’

Aroma nodded and saw Patience out.

*

Earlier that day, Bao-yu had been lounging around indoors, casually dressed in a fur-lined gown with slits at the sides. When he caught sight of the flowering crab-trees through the window, he went out to look at them. The more he gazed at the blossom the more lovely and poignant it seemed, the more strangely it seemed to reflect the mysterious vagaries of destiny, the joy and pathos of life. It was the embodiment of his own thoughts and feelings. Then, when he heard that Grandmother Jia was coming over, he hurried in to change into more formal attire, choosing a pale fox-lined robe with cut-away archer’s sleeves and a darker jacket, also fox-lined, to go with it. He emerged again properly dressed to receive his grandmother, and in his hurry quite forgot to put on his Magic Jade.

When Grandmother Jia left he went in again to change back into his comfortable clothes, and it was then that Aroma detected the absence of the jade and asked him where it was.

‘I was in such a rush when I came in to change,’ he replied. ‘I took it off and left it on the kang-table. Then I forgot to put it on again.’

Aroma looked but it was not on the table. She searched everywhere but could see no sign of it. She began to feel frightened, and broke into a cold sweat.

‘Please don’t worry,’ Bao-yu begged her. ‘It must be somewhere in the room. It’s bound to turn up. Ask the others – they might know.’

It occurred to Aroma that Musk or one of the other maids might have hidden it somewhere as a practical joke and she bore down on them with an expression of playful accusation:

‘You mean lot! Can’t you think of a better way of amusing yourselves? Come on, where have you hidden it? Don’t take this too far! If it really did get lost we’d be in real trouble, all of us!’

But Musk replied with a straight face:

‘What on earth do you mean? We’d know better than to play a trick like that. We’re not that silly. You’re the one who should stop and think a minute. Try to remember where you put it, instead of laying the blame on us!’

Aroma could tell that Musk was in earnest and cried out in alarm:

‘Heaven save us then! Oh little ancestor, where can you have put it? You must try to remember!’

‘I do,’ replied Bao-yu, ‘I remember quite clearly putting it on the kang-table. Have another look for it.’

The maids were too scared to tell anyone else, and joined together in a furtive search. This went on for most of the day but there was still no sign of the jade. They emptied every box, and rummaged in every trunk, until there simply was nowhere left to look and they began to wonder if perhaps one of the visitors might have picked it up earlier in the day.

‘How would anyone dare do such a thing?’ said Aroma. ‘Everyone knows how important it is, and that Master Bao’s very life hinges on it. Ask about it, but be very discreet. If you find out that one of the maids has taken it and is playing a trick on us, kotow to her and beg for it back. If it’s a junior maid who’s stolen it, don’t tell a soul, just do whatever is necessary to get it back. Give her whatever you like in exchange. This is very serious. It would be terrible if we lost the jade, worse even than losing Master Bao himself!’

Musk and Ripple set off on this mission. Aroma hurried out after them with a few final words of instruction:

‘On second thoughts, leave the people who were here at lunch-time till last. If it turns out to be someone else, we don’t want to offend them and cause a lot of ill-feeling to no purpose.’

The two maids split up to make their inquiries, but everywhere they went it was the same story. Nobody knew anything about it. Everybody was equally taken aback by the news. They hurried back to report their lack of success, and stared at one another in despondent silence. Bao-yu himself was now beginning to look rather stunned, and Aroma was so desperate that she could only weep helplessly. What could they do? There was nowhere left to look. They were too scared to tell any of the elder members of the family. The entire establishment at Green Delights was immobilized with fear and resembled a group of wooden statues or clay dolls.

One by one the others who had heard the news began to arrive, among them Tan-chun, who immediately gave orders for the Garden gate to be shut and sent an old serving-woman and two maids on another comprehensive search, announcing to everyone present that there would be a substantial reward for the recovery of the jade. They were all keen to establish their own innocence, and this, with the added incentive of winning the reward, now led to a flurry of indiscriminate searching. Every nook and cranny of the Garden was explored, not excluding the lavatories, but to no avail. It was as hopeless as hunting for an embroidery needle, and as evening drew on there was still no trace of the missing jade. Li Wan now sensed the urgency of the situation and said:

‘I have a suggestion to make. It’s not the sort of thing I would usually like to suggest but in the present circumstances I feel I must…’

They all gave her their attention.

‘Things are so desperate that I think we have to try anything. Now apart from Bao-yu, all the residents of the Garden are girls. I should like you all to ask your maids to remove their dresses, so that we can search everyone properly. If that produces no results, then we should send them to search the older serving-women and cleaners. Do you all agree?’

The consensus of opinion was that she was right. With so many people involved, and such confusion, this seemed the only way of establishing anyone’s innocence. Tan-chun was the only one to abstain from making any comment.

The maids were eager to clear themselves, and Patience was the first to volunteer. One by one they all undid their dresses and filed past, while Li Wan supervised the examination. Tan-chun could contain herself no longer.

‘My dear Wan, can’t you see what a futile waste of time this all is? Supposing someone has stolen it; do you really think he or she would be foolish enough to carry it around? Anyway, why should anyone want to steal it? It means a lot to us, but outside this household it’s quite valueless. If you ask me, someone’s doing this out of spite.’

They all knew immediately whom she was referring to. Jia Huan had been in and out of Green Delights many times that day. No one was prepared to mention his name, however, and she was obliged to be more specific herself:

‘It must be Huan. Who else would play such a nasty trick? Send someone secretly over to his room and bring him here. Get him on his own and talk him into producing the jade, then threaten to expose him unless he keeps his mouth shut, and there’s our mystery solved.’

Amid much nodding of heads, Li Wan turned to Patience and said:

‘You’d better go. This will require all your tact.’

‘Yes ma’am,’ replied Patience, and hurried off.

A few minutes later, when she returned with Jia Huan, the others pretended hardly to notice his arrival. One of them made him a pot of tea and placed it on a table in the inner room. Then they all shuffled out and left the scene clear for Patience. She gave him an ingenuous smile.

‘Master Bao’s jade has gone missing… I don’t suppose you’ve seen it anywhere have you?’

Jia Huan’s face instantly flushed to an ugly shade of purple. He glowered at her.

‘Just because somebody’s lost something, does that mean that I automatically become the suspect and get called in for interrogation? Have I got a criminal record or something?’

Patience decided to change tack, and said with a smile:

‘Of course no one would dream of suggesting you stole it! They just thought that perhaps you might have hidden it somewhere as a practical joke, and that by asking you if you’d seen it I might be able to get a few clues as to where they should look for it.’

‘It’s his jade, isn’t it?’ replied Jia Huan indignantly. ‘He’s the one that wears the thing – ask him, not me! You’re all so keen to please him, that’s your trouble! If something’s found I never get to hear of it! But the moment anything’s lost, it’s me that gets the blame!’

He got up and stomped out of the room. The maids stepped back to let him through.

All this only served to exasperate Bao-yu.

‘The amount of trouble that wretched thing has caused!’ he said. ‘I’ve no desire for it and I wish you would all forget about it. Now look what we’ve done. Huan will go and tell everybody and we’ll never hear the end of it.’

‘Little ancestor, please…’ came tearfully from where Aroma stood in the throng of distraught maids. ‘It’s all very well for you to say “forget about it”! But what you seem to have forgotten is that if their Ladyships get to hear, the likes of us will be torn to shreds and ground to powder!’

This was followed by prolonged wailing. It soon became clear to them all that things could not be hushed up for much longer. They would have to agree on a story to tell Grandmother Jia and the other ladies.

‘That’s easy,’ said Bao-yu. ‘Just tell them I smashed it myself.’

‘No no! That’s no good!’ said Patience. ‘Can’t you see? They’ll want to know why you smashed it, and then things will look just as black for Aroma and the others. And besides, what if they want to see the pieces?’

‘Well then, say I lost it on a trip to town.’

There was a moment’s silence as they all pondered this suggestion.

‘We might possibly have got away with that,’ said someone at last. ‘But during the past few days you haven’t been to school, and you haven’t been out anywhere either.’

‘Yes I have,’ Bao-yu corrected them. ‘A few days ago I went to the Earl of Lin-an’s to watch the plays. You can say I lost it then.’

‘No, that won’t do,’ said Tan-chun. ‘If you lost it as long ago as that, they’ll want to know why it hasn’t been reported till now.’

They were still busy discussing the relative merits of these various fictions when suddenly they heard the voice of Aunt Zhao, cursing and wailing her way towards them.

‘If you lose something, why can’t you look for it yourselves, instead of sneaking up and blaming my boy? Well, here he is! Take him! Sacrifice him if you think it will do you any good! Kill him! Hack him to pieces! Do what you like with him!’

She propelled Jia Huan into the room, crying:

‘Thief! Hurry up and confess your crime!’

This brought loud and angry protestations from Huan. Li Wan was just bracing herself to intervene and make the peace when a maid came rushing in and announced:

‘Her Ladyship is here!’

Aroma and the maids could see that a confrontation was now inevitable. Bao-yu and the girls went out at once to receive Lady Wang. Aunt Zhao’s wrath subsided for a moment and she followed them out. From the startled look on their faces Lady Wang could see that what she had heard must be true.

‘Is it really lost?’ she cried.

No one dared reply. Lady Wang walked in, sat down and called Aroma forward. Aroma fell trembling to her knees. In a choked voice she murmured ‘Yes.’

‘Well, get up!’ said Lady Wang. ‘We must have a thorough search made. Come on, this helpless attitude will never do.’

Aroma was sobbing and could not say a word. Bao-yu finally spoke up, fearful that she might blurt out the truth.

‘Mother, this has nothing to do with Aroma. I lost it the other day on my way back from seeing the plays at the Earl of Lin-an’s.’

‘Then why didn’t you look for it at the time?’

‘I didn’t want anyone to know. I just told Tealeaf to look for it everywhere along the street.’

‘Nonsense! You know perfectly well that Aroma or one of your other maids would have noticed. That’s their job. They are always with you when you change. Whenever you come in from a party or any kind of excursion, if one of your handkerchiefs is missing, or a little purse, they’re bound to ask you where it’s gone – do you really think that they would allow something as irreplaceable as your jade to disappear, and not say a word?’

Bao-yu was stumped for an answer. Aunt Zhao, who was gloating over his discomfiture, hastened to put in:

‘If you’re so sure you lost it outside, why try to pin the blame on Huan?’

‘That’s enough from you!’ said Lady Wang sharply. ‘You keep out of this!’

Aunt Zhao was reduced to silence. It was left to Li Wan and Tan-chun to give the true story, which brought tears to Lady Wang’s eyes. In her agitation she was for telling Grandmother Jia and going over to Lady Xing’s apartment to question the members of her household who had been to Green Delights earlier in the day.

The news had meanwhile reached Xi-feng on her sickbed. When she heard that Lady Wang had arrived at Green Delights she felt obliged to put in an appearance and, leaning on Felicity’s arm, made her way towards the Garden. She arrived just as Lady Wang was about to leave.

‘Good evening, Aunt.’

Xi-feng’s voice trembled slightly as she spoke. Bao-yu and the others came up to greet her.

‘So you’ve heard the news too!’ said Lady Wang to Xi-feng. ‘Most extraordinary! It vanished just like that, and can’t be found anywhere. Think for a moment: of all the maids, including all of Lady Jia’s and even your own Patience, which would you say showed thieving tendencies, or had a malicious disposition? I intend to tell Lady Jia, and to order a thorough search. Until we find it, Bao-yu’s life hangs in the balance!’

‘Ours is such a large household,’ said Xi-feng, ‘and, as the saying goes, you can know a man’s face, but never his heart. With all the commotion of a search, everyone is bound to hear, and the thief will be so scared of the consequences that rather than be caught, he could well panic and destroy the evidence – the jade itself – and then where would we be? No, my advice, for what it is worth, is that we should let it be known that Bao-yu threw it away in disgust and that it really doesn’t matter. Everyone must be very discreet so as to keep Her Old Ladyship and Sir Zheng from knowing. Meanwhile we can search everywhere in secret, and if we’re clever we should end up with both the jade and the thief. Does that make sense to you, Aunt?’

After a long pause Lady Wang replied:

‘It’s all very well, but will we ever succeed in keeping this from Sir Zheng?’

She called Jia Huan to her.

‘It was very silly of you to go shouting your head off about Bao-yu’s jade, just because they asked you about it. If the thief has heard and destroys the jade, you will pay for it with your life!’

‘I promise never to mention it again! wailed Jia Huan in terror. This time Aunt Zhao held her tongue.

‘There must be some places left where you haven’t looked,’ Lady Wang continued, addressing the assembled maids. ‘It must be somewhere here. It’s hardly going to fly away, is it? But when you look, be as quiet as possible. Aroma, I give you three days to find it. If we still haven’t found it by then, we shan’t be able to keep it from Her Old Ladyship and Sir Zheng any longer. And everyone knows what that will mean!’

Bidding Xi-feng accompany her, Lady Wang set off for Lady Xing’s apartment, for further consultations on how to apprehend the thief.

Li Wan and the others continued to debate what to do. They sent for the various domestics in charge of the Garden and gave orders for the gates to be securely locked. Steward Lin’s wife was also summoned and given confidential instructions.

‘Tell the servants on both gates that absolutely no one is to be allowed out of the Garden for the next three days. We can allow freedom of movement within the Garden, but no one must leave. Say that something has been lost and that no one can go out until it’s found.’

‘Yes, Mrs Zhu,’ said Lin’s wife. ‘Excuse me, ma’am,’ she went on, ‘but we lost something at home the other day – nothing of any value of course, but my husband was determined to find it, and he went and consulted one of those word-diviners that set themselves up at street corners. Iron Mouth Liu I think this one’s name was. His reading was very clear. My husband followed his instructions, and found the missing item straight away.’

When Aroma heard this she begged her to help them.

‘Oh, Mrs Lin! Please go and ask your husband to consult this man for us!’

‘Indeed I will. Straight away.’

Lin’s wife bustled off. Xing Xiu-yan now had a suggestion to make.

‘If you ask me, those word-diviners and fortune-tellers you find on street corners are all charlatans. But when I knew Adamantina, in the South, before she came to live here, I heard of her gift for the planchette. Why don’t we ask her to hold a séance for us? Didn’t Bao-yu’s jade have a mysterious origin anyway? It would surely lend itself to that sort of approach.’

The others seemed greatly surprised to hear this, and reflected that in all the time they had known her, Adamantina had never once mentioned such a gift. Musk earnestly beseeched Xiu-yan:

‘Oh, Miss! I don’t think she would agree to do it for anyone but you! Please, please, will you ask her for us? I’ll kotow to you – if she finds the answer, I’ll be indebted to you for a lifetime!’

She was about to perform a kotow, but Xiu-yan raised her from the ground. Dai-yu and the others added their entreaties to Musk’s, and Xiu-yan left with all speed for Green Bower Hermitage.

No sooner had she gone, than Steward Lin’s wife returned from her mission.

‘Ladies!’ she announced with great jubilation. ‘I bring good news! My husband has been to see the man, and he says the jade is sure to turn up. Someone will definitely bring it back.’

She had yet to convince her audience however – except for Aroma and Musk, who were ready to grasp at the slightest hope. Tan-chun asked:

‘What word came up, and what was the reading?’

‘He said a lot,’ replied Lin’s wife, ‘and some of it I couldn’t understand. But I know the word was shang(1)meaning “to reward”. Iron Mouth Liu took one look at it and said, “You’ve lost something, haven’t you?”!’

‘Goodness! He sounds pretty good!’ exclaimed Li Wan.

Lin’s wife continued:

‘Then he went on to say that as shang was made up of xiao(2)meaning “small” on top, with kou(3)meaning “mouth” in the middle, the lost object was small enough to fit inside the mouth. It must be some jewel or precious stone.’

Amid cries of ‘Miraculous!’ and ‘Go on!’, Lin’s wife continued:

‘Then he said that we should be careful to notice that the radical element was bei(4)meaning “a cowry shell” and not the similar radical jian(5)meaning “to appear”, hence the object’s disappearance … And the top element of the word taken as a whole was very like dang(6)meaning “to pawn”, so we should go straight to the pawnshop. Then he pointed out that by adding a ren(7)“man” to the left-hand side, the compound chang(8)meaning “to redeem” was formed. Find the man in the pawnshop, pay the price, and the lost object will be redeemed …’

‘What are we waiting for?’ cried the girls. ‘Search the neighbourhood! If we work our way through the pawnshops, we’re sure to find the right one sooner or later. And once we’ve found the jade, it will be easy enough to find the thief.’

‘Find the jade and we needn’t even bother who the thief is,’ said Li Wan. Turning to Steward Lin’s wife she continued: ‘Go and tell Mrs Lian what you have just told us. Then she can tell Her Ladyship and set her mind at rest. And ask Mrs Lian to send someone out to search the pawnshops.’

Lin’s wife set off at once.

Things seemed more hopeful now, and relative calm was restored. They were waiting in a somewhat bemused state for Xiu-yan to return when they saw Tealeaf beckoning from the gateway to one of the junior maids. She ran out and he said:

‘Quick! Go in and tell Master Bao and their Ladyships and the ladies and young misses that I’ve got the most wonderful piece of news!’

‘Well come on!’ burst out the maid. ‘What is it? Out with it!’

Tealeaf started laughing and clapping his hands.

‘All right, I’ll tell you. And then you can go in and tell them, and we can split the reward between us. Guess what? The most reliable information has reached me as to the whereabouts of the Missing Jade!’

The outcome of all this excitement will be related in the next chapter.