第一○一回
第一○一回 大观园月夜感幽魂 散花寺神签惊异兆
却说凤姐回至房中，见贾琏尚未回来，便分派那管办探春行装奁事的一干人。那天已有黄昏以后，因忽然想起探春来，要瞧瞧他去，便叫丰儿与两个丫头跟着，头里一个丫头打着灯笼。走出门来，见月光已上，照耀如水。凤姐便命打灯笼的“回去罢。”因而走至茶房窗下，听见里面有人嘁嘁喳喳的，又似哭，又似笑，又似议论什么的。凤姐知道不过是家下婆子们又不知搬什么是非，心内大不受用，便命小红进去，装做无心的样子细细打听着，用话套出原委来。小红答应着去了。凤姐只带着丰儿来至园门前，门尚未关，只虚虚的掩着。于是主仆二人方推门进去，只见园中月色比着外面更觉明朗，满地下重重树影，杳无人声，甚是凄凉寂静。刚欲往秋爽斋这条路来，只听唿的一声风过，吹的那树枝上落叶满园中唰喇喇的作响，枝梢上吱喽喽发哨，将那些寒鸦宿鸟都惊飞起来。凤姐吃了酒，被风一吹，只觉身上发噤起来。那丰儿也把头一缩说：“好冷！”凤姐也撑不住，便叫丰儿：“快回去把那件银鼠坎肩儿拿来，我在三姑娘那里等着。”丰儿巴不得一声，也要回去穿衣裳来，答应了一声，回头就跑了。
凤姐刚举步走了不远，只觉身后咈咈哧哧，似有闻嗅之声，不觉头发森然竖了起来。由不得回头一看，只见黑油油一个东西在后面伸着鼻子闻他呢，那两只眼睛恰似灯光一般。凤姐吓的魂不附体，不觉失声的咳了一声。却是一只大狗。那狗抽头回身，拖着一个扫帚尾巴，一气跑上大土山上方站住了，回身犹向凤姐拱爪儿。凤姐儿此时心跳神移，急急的向秋爽斋来。已将来至门口，方转过山子，只见迎面有一个人影儿一恍。凤姐心中疑惑，心里想着必是那一房里的丫头，便问：“是谁？”问了两声，并没有人出来，已经吓得神魂飘荡。恍恍忽忽的似乎背后有人说道：“婶娘连我也不认得了！”凤姐忙回头一看，只见这人形容俊俏，衣履风流，十分眼熟，只是想不起是那房那屋里的媳妇来。只听那人又说道：“婶娘只管享荣华受富贵的心盛，把我那年说的立万年永远之基都付于东洋大海了。”凤姐听说，低头寻思，总想不起。那人冷笑道：“婶娘那时怎样疼我了，如今就忘在九霄云外了。”凤姐听了，此时方想起来是贾蓉的先妻秦氏，便说道：“嗳呀，你是死了的人哪，怎么跑到这里来了呢！”啐了一口，方转回身，脚下不防一块石头绊了一跤，犹如梦醒一般，浑身汗如雨下。虽然毛发悚然，心中却也明白，只见小红丰儿影影绰绰的来了。凤姐恐怕落人的褒贬，连忙爬起来说道：“你们做什么呢，去了这半天？快拿来我穿上罢。”一面丰儿走至跟前服侍穿上，小红过来搀扶。凤姐道：“我才到那里，他们都睡了。咱们回去罢。”一面说，一面带了两个丫头急急忙忙回到家中。贾琏已回来了，只是见他脸上神色更变，不似往常，待要问他，又知他素日性格，不敢突然相问，只得睡了。
至次日五更，贾琏就起来要往总理内庭都检点太监裘世安家来打听事务。因太早了，见桌上有昨日送来的抄报，便拿起来闲看。第一件是云南节度使王忠一本，新获了一起私带神枪[1]火药出边事，共有十八名人犯。头一名鲍音，口称系太师[2]镇国公贾化家人。第二件苏州刺史李孝一本，参劾纵放家奴，倚势凌辱军民，以致因奸不遂杀死节妇一家人命三口事。凶犯姓时名福，自称系世袭三等职衔贾范家人。贾琏看见这两件，心中早又不自在起来，待要看第三件，又恐迟了不能见裘世安的面，因此急急的穿了衣服，也等不得吃东西，恰好平儿端上茶来，喝了两口，便出来骑马走了。
平儿在房内收拾换下的衣服。此时凤姐尚未起来，平儿因说道：“今儿夜里我听着奶奶没睡什么觉，我这会子替奶奶捶着，好生打个盹儿罢。”凤姐半日不言语。平儿料着这意思是了，便爬上炕来坐在身边轻轻的捶着。才捶了几拳，那凤姐刚有要睡之意，只听那边大姐儿哭了。凤姐又将眼睁开，平儿连向那边叫道：“李妈，你到底是怎么着？姐儿哭了，你到底拍着他些。你也忒好睡了。”那边李妈从梦中惊醒，听得平儿如此说，心中没好气，只得狠命拍了几下，口里嘟嘟哝哝的骂道：“真真的小短命鬼儿，放着尸不挺，三更半夜嚎你娘的丧！”一面说，一面咬牙便向那孩子身上拧了一把。那孩子哇的一声大哭起来了。凤姐听见，说“了不得！你听听，他该挫磨孩子了。你过去把那黑心的养汉老婆下死劲的打他几下子，把妞妞抱过来。”平儿笑道：“奶奶别生气，他那里敢挫磨姐儿，只怕是不隄防错碰了一下子也是有的。这会子打他几下子没要紧，明儿叫他们背地里嚼舌根，倒说三更半夜打人。”凤姐听了，半日不言语，长叹一声说道：“你瞧瞧，这会子不是我十旺八旺〔一〕的呢！明儿我要是死了，剩下这小孽障，还不知怎么样呢！”平儿笑道：“奶奶这怎么说！大五更的，何苦来呢！”凤姐冷笑道：“你那里知道，我是早已明白了。我也不久了。虽然活了二十五岁，人家没见的也见了，没吃的也吃了，也算全了。所有世上有的也都有了。气也算赌尽了，强也算争足了，就是寿字儿上头缺一点儿，也罢了。”平儿听说，由不的滚下泪来。凤姐笑道：“你这会子不用假慈悲，我死了你们只有欢喜的。你们一心一计和和气气的，省得我是你们眼里的刺似的。只有一件，你们知好歹只疼我那孩子就是了。”平儿听说这话，越发哭的泪人似的。凤姐笑道：“别扯你娘的臊了，那里就死了呢。哭的那么痛！我不死还叫你哭死了呢。”平儿听说，连忙止住哭，道：“奶奶说得这么伤心。”一面说，一面又捶，半日不言语，凤姐又朦胧睡去。
平儿方下炕来要去，只听外面脚步响。谁知贾琏去迟了，那袭世安已经上朝去了，不遇而回，心中正没好气，进来就问平儿道：“那些人还没起来呢么？”平儿回说：“没有呢。”贾琏一路摔帘子进来，冷笑道：“好，好，这会子还都不起来，安心打擂台打撒手儿！”一叠声又要吃茶。平儿忙倒了一碗茶来。原来那些丫头老婆见贾琏出了门又复睡了，不打谅这会子回来，原不曾预备。平儿便把温过的拿了来。贾琏生气，举起碗来，哗啷一声摔了个粉碎。
凤姐惊醒，唬了一身冷汗，嗳哟一声，睁开眼，只见贾琏气狠狠的坐在旁边，平儿弯着腰拾碗片子呢。凤姐道：“你怎么就回来了？”问了一声，半日不答应，只得又问一声。贾琏嚷道：“你不要我回来，叫我死在外头罢！”凤姐笑道：“这又是何苦来呢！常时我见你不像今儿回来的快，问你一声，也没什么生气的。”贾琏又嚷道：“又没遇见，怎么不快回来呢！”凤姐笑道：“没有遇见，少不得奈烦些，明儿再去早些儿，自然遇见了。”贾琏嚷道：“我可不吃着自己的饭替人家赶獐子呢。我这里一大堆的事没个动秤儿的[4]，没来由为人家的事，瞎闹了这些日子，当什么呢！正经那有事的人还在家里受用，死活不知，还听见说要锣鼓喧天的摆酒唱戏做生日呢。我可瞎跑他娘的腿子！”一面说，一面往地下啐了一口，又骂平儿。凤姐听了，气的干咽，要和他分证，想了一想，又忍住了，勉强陪笑道：“何苦来生这么大气，大清早起和我叫喊什么。谁叫你应了人家的事？你既应了，就得耐烦些，少不得替人家办办。也没见这个人自己有为难的事还有心肠唱戏摆酒的闹！”贾琏道：“你可说么，你明儿倒也问问他！”凤姐诧异道：“问谁？”贾琏道：“问谁！问你哥哥。”凤姐道：“是他吗？”贾琏道：“可不是他，还有谁呢！”凤姐忙问道：“他又有什么事叫你替他跑？”贾琏道：“你还在坛子里[5]呢。”凤姐道：“真真这就奇了，我连一个字儿也不知道。”贾琏道：“你怎么能知道呢，这个事连太太和姨太太还不知道呢。头一件怕太太和姨太太不放心，二则你身上又常嚷不好，所以我在外头压住了，不叫里头知道的。说起来真真可人恼！你今儿不问我，我也不便告诉你。你打谅你哥哥行事像个人呢，你知道外头人都叫他什么？”凤姐道：“叫他什么？”贾琏道：“叫他什么，叫他‘忘仁’！”凤姐扑哧的一笑：“他可不叫王仁叫什么呢。”贾琏道：“你打谅那个王仁吗，是忘了仁义礼智信的那个‘忘仁’哪！”凤姐道：“这是什么人这么刻薄嘴儿遭塌人。”贾琏道：“不是遭塌他吗，今儿索性告诉你，你也不知道知道你那哥哥的好处，到底知道他给他二叔做生日呵！”凤姐想了一想道：“嗳哟，可是呵，我还忘了问你，二叔不是冬天的生日吗？我记得年年都是宝玉去。前者老爷升了，二叔那边送过戏来，我还偷偷儿的说，二叔为人是最啬刻的，比不得大舅太爷。他们各自家里还乌眼鸡似的。不么，昨儿大舅太爷没了，你瞧他是个兄弟，他还出了个头儿揽了个事儿吗！所以那一天说，赶他的生日咱们还他一班子戏，省了亲戚跟前落亏欠。如今这么早就做生日，也不知道是什么意思。”贾琏道：“你还作梦呢。他一到京，接着舅太爷的首尾就开了一个吊[6]，他怕咱们知道拦他，所以没告诉咱们，弄了好几千银子。后来二舅嗔着他，说他不该一网打尽。他吃不住了，变了个法子就指着你们二叔的生日撒了个网，想着再弄几个钱好打点二舅太爷不生气，也不管亲戚朋友冬天夏天的，人家知道不知道，这么丢脸！你知道我起早为什么？这如今因海疆的事情御史参了一本，说是大舅太爷的亏空，本员已故，应着落其弟王子胜、侄王仁赔补。爷儿两个急了，找了我给他们托人情。我见他们吓的那么个样儿，再者又关系太太和你，我才应了。想着找找总理内庭都检点老裘替办办，或者前任后任挪移挪移。偏又去晚了，他进里头去了，我白起来跑了一趟。他们家里还那里定戏摆酒呢。你说说，叫人生气不生气！”
凤姐听了，才知王仁所行如此。但他素性要强护短，听贾琏如此说，便道：“凭他怎么样，到底是你的亲大舅儿。再者，这件事死的大太爷活的二叔都感激你。罢了，没什么说的，我们家的事，少不得我低三下四的求你了，省的带累别人受气，背地里骂我。”说着，眼泪早流下来，掀开被窝一面坐起来，一面挽头发，一面披衣裳。贾琏道：“你倒不用这么着，是你哥哥不是人，我并没说你呀。况且我出去了，你身上又不好，我都起来了，他们还睡觉。咱们老辈子有这个规矩么！你如今作好好先生不管事了。我说了一句你就起来，明儿我要嫌这些人，难道你都替了他们么。好没意思啊！”凤姐听了这些话，才把泪止住了，说道：“天呢不早了，我也该起来了。你有这么说的，你替他们家在心的办办，那就是你的情分了。再者也不光为我，就是太太听见也喜欢。”贾琏道：“是了，知道了。‘大萝卜还用屎浇’[7]。”平儿道：“奶奶这么早起来做什么，那一天奶奶不是起来有一定的时候儿呢。爷也不知是那里的邪火，拿着我们出气。何苦来呢，奶奶也算替爷挣够了，那一点儿不是奶奶挡头阵。不是我说，爷把现成儿的也不知吃了多少，这会子替奶奶办了一点子事，又关会着好几层儿呢，就是这么拿糖作醋[8]的起来，也不怕人家寒心。况且这也不单是奶奶的事呀。我们起迟了，原该爷生气，左右到底是奴才呀。奶奶跟前尽着身子累的成了个病包儿了，这是何苦来呢。”说着，自己的眼圈儿也红了。那贾琏本是一肚子闷气，那里见得这一对娇妻美妾又尖利又柔情的话呢，便笑道：“够了，算了罢。他一个人就够使的了，不用你帮着。左右我是外人，多早晚我死了，你们就清净了。”凤姐道：“你也别说那个话，谁知道谁怎么样呢。你不死我还死呢，早死一天早心净。”说着，又哭起来。平儿只得又劝了一回。那时天已大亮，日影横窗。贾琏也不便再说，站起来出去了。
这里凤姐自己起来，正在梳洗，忽见王夫人那边小丫头过来道：“太太说了，叫问二奶奶今日过舅太爷那边去不去？要去，说叫二奶奶同着宝二奶奶一路去呢。”凤姐因方才一段话，已经灰心丧意，恨娘家不给争气；又兼昨夜园中受了那一惊，也实在没精神，便说道：“你先回太太去，我还有一两件事没办清，今日不能去。况且他们那又不是什么正经事。宝二奶奶要去各自去罢。”小丫头答应着，回去回复了。不在话下。
且说凤姐梳了头，换了衣服，想了想，虽然自己不去，也该带个信儿。再者，宝钗还是新媳妇，出门子自然要过去照应照应的。于是见过王夫人，支吾了一件事，便过来到宝玉房中。只见宝玉穿着衣服歪在炕上，两个眼睛呆呆的看宝钗梳头。凤姐站在门口，还是宝钗一回头看见了，连忙起身让坐。宝玉也爬起来，凤姐才笑嘻嘻的坐下。宝钗因说麝月道：“你们瞧着二奶奶进来也不言语声儿。”麝月笑着道：“二奶奶头里进来就摆手儿不叫言语么。”凤姐因向宝玉道：“你还不走，等什么呢。没见这么大人了还是这么小孩子气的。人家各自梳头，你爬在旁边看什么？成日家一块子在屋里还看不够？也不怕丫头们笑话。”说着，哧的一笑，又瞅着他咂嘴儿。宝玉虽也有些不好意思，还不理会，把个宝钗直臊的满脸飞红，又不好听着，又不好说什么，只见袭人端过茶来，只得搭讪着自己递了一袋烟。凤姐儿笑着站起来接了，道：“二妹妹，你别管我们的事，你快穿衣服罢。”宝玉一面也搭讪着找这个，弄那个。凤姐道：“你先去罢，那里有个爷们等着奶奶们一块儿走的理呢。”宝玉道：“我只是嫌我这衣裳不大好，不如前年穿着老太太给的那件雀金呢〔二〕好。”凤姐因怄他道：“你为什么不穿？”宝玉道：“穿着太早些。”凤姐忽然想起，自悔失言，幸亏宝钗也和王家是内亲，只是那些丫头们跟前已经不好意思了。袭人却接着说道：“二奶奶还不知道呢，就是穿得，他也不穿了。”凤姐儿道：“这是什么原故？”袭人道：“告诉二奶奶，真真是我们这位爷的行事都是天外飞来的。那一年因二舅太爷的生日，老太太给了他这件衣裳，谁知那一天就烧了。我妈病重了，我没在家。那时候还有晴雯妹妹呢，听见说病着整给他补了〔三〕一夜，第二天老太太才没瞧出来呢。去年那一天上学天冷，我叫焙茗拿了去给他披披。谁知这位爷见了这件衣裳想起晴雯来了，说了总不穿了，叫我给他收一辈子呢。”凤姐不等说完，便道：“你提晴雯，可惜了儿的，那孩子模样儿手儿都好，就只嘴头子利害些。偏偏儿的太太不知听了那里的谣言，活活儿的把个小命儿要了。还有一件事，那一天我瞧见厨房里柳家的女人他女孩儿，叫什么五儿，那丫头长的和晴雯脱了个影儿似的。我心里要叫他进来，后来我问他妈，他妈说是很愿意。我想着宝二爷屋里的小红跟了我去，我还没还他呢，就把五儿补过来。平儿说太太那一天说了，凡像那个样儿的都不叫派到宝二爷屋里呢。我所以也就搁下了。这如今宝二爷也成了家了，还怕什么呢，不如我就叫他进来。可不知宝二爷愿意不愿意？要想着晴雯，只瞧见这五儿就是了。”宝玉本要走，听见这些话已呆了。袭人道：“为什么不愿意，早就要弄了来的，只是因为太太的话说的结实罢了。”凤姐道：“那么着明儿我就叫他进来。太太的跟前有我呢。”宝玉听了，喜不自胜，才走到贾母那边去了。这里宝钗穿衣服。凤姐儿看他两口儿这般恩爱缠绵，想起贾琏方才那种光景，好不伤心，坐不住，便起身向宝钗笑道：“我和你向老太太〔四〕屋里去罢。”笑着出了房门，一同来见贾母。
宝玉正在那里回贾母往舅舅家去。贾母点头说道：“去罢，只是少吃酒，早些回来。你身子才好些。”宝玉答应着出来，刚走到院内，又转身回来向宝钗耳边说了几句不知什么。宝钗笑道：“是了，你快去罢。”将宝玉催着去了。这贾母和凤姐宝钗说了没三句话，只见秋纹进来传说：“二爷打发焙茗转来，说请二奶奶。”宝钗说道：“他又忘了什么，又叫他回来？”秋纹道：“我叫小丫头问了，焙茗说是‘二爷忘了一句话，二爷叫我回来告诉二奶奶：若是去呢，快些来罢；若不去呢，别在风地里站着。’”说的贾母凤姐并地下站着的众老婆子丫头都笑了。宝钗飞红了脸，把秋纹啐了一口，说道：“好个糊涂东西！这也值得这样慌慌张张跑了来说。”秋纹也笑着回去叫小丫头去骂焙茗。那焙茗一面跑着，一面回头说道：“二爷把我巴巴的叫下马来，叫回来说的。我若不说，回来对出来又骂我了。这会子说了，他们又骂我。”那丫头笑着跑回来说了。贾母向宝钗道：“你去罢，省得他这么记挂。”说的宝钗站不住，又被凤姐怄他顽笑，没好意思，才走了〔五〕。
只见散花寺的姑子大了来了，给贾母请安，见过了凤姐，坐着吃茶。贾母因问他：“这一向怎么不来？”大了道：“因这几日庙中作好事，有几位诰命夫人不时在庙里起坐，所以不得空儿来。今日特来回老祖宗，明儿还有一家作好事，不知老祖宗高兴不高兴，若高兴也去随喜随喜。”贾母便问：“做什么好事？”大了道：“前月为王大人〔六〕府里不干净，见神见鬼的，偏生那太太夜间又看见去世的老爷。因此昨日在我庙里告诉我，要在散花菩萨跟前许愿烧香，做四十九天的水陆道场，保佑家口安宁，亡者升天，生者获福。所以我不得空儿来请老太太的安。”却说凤姐素日最厌恶这些事的，自从昨夜见鬼，心中总是疑疑惑惑的，如今听了大了这些话，不觉把素日的心性改了一半，已有三分信意，便问大了道：“这散花菩萨是谁？他怎么就能避邪除鬼呢？”大了见问，便知他有些信意，便说道：“奶奶今日问我，让我告诉奶奶知道。这个散花菩萨来历根基不浅，道行非常。生在西天大树国中，父母打柴为生。养下菩萨来，头长三角，眼横四目，身长三尺，两手拖地。父母说这是妖精，便弃在冰山之后了。谁知这山上有一个得道的老猢狲出来打食，看见菩萨顶上白气冲天，虎狼远避，知道来历非常，便抱回洞中抚养。谁知菩萨带了来的聪慧，禅也会谈，与猢狲天天谈道参禅，说的天花散漫缤纷。至一千年后飞升了。至今山上犹见谈经之处天花散漫，所求必灵，时常显圣，救人苦厄。因此世人才盖了庙，塑了像供奉。”凤姐道：“这有什么凭据呢？”大了道：“奶奶又来搬驳了。一个佛爷可有什么凭据呢？就是撒谎也不过哄一两个人罢咧，难道古往今来多少明白人都被他哄了不成。奶奶只想，惟有佛家香火历来不绝，他到底是祝国祝民，有些灵验，人才信服。”凤姐听了大有道理，因道：“既这么，我明儿去试试。你庙里可有签？我去求一签，我心里的事签上批的出？批的出来我从此就信了。”大了道：“我们的签最是灵的，明儿奶奶去求一签就知道了。”贾母道：“既这么着，索性等到后日初一你再去求。”说着，大了吃了茶，到王夫人各房里去请了安，回去不提。
这里凤姐勉强扎挣着，到了初一清早，令人预备了车马，带着平儿并许多奴仆来至散花寺。大了带了众姑子接了进去。献茶后，便洗手至大殿上焚香。那凤姐儿也无心瞻仰圣像，一秉虔诚，磕了头，举起签筒默默的将那见鬼之事并身体不安等故祝告了一回。才摇了三下，只听唰的一声，筒中撺出一支签来。于是叩头拾起一看，只见写着“第三十三签，上上大吉。”大了忙查签簿看时，只见上面写着“王熙凤衣锦还乡”。凤姐一见这几个字，吃一大惊，惊问大了道：“古人也有叫王熙凤的么？”大了笑道：“奶奶最是通今博古的，难道汉朝的王熙凤求官的这一段事也不晓得？”周瑞家的在旁笑道：“前年李先儿还说这一回书的，我们还告诉他重着奶奶的名字不要叫呢。”凤姐笑道：“可是呢，我倒忘了。”说着，又瞧底下的，写的是：
去国离乡二十年，于今衣锦返家园。
蜂采百花成蜜后，为谁辛苦为谁甜！[14]
行人至，音信迟，讼宜和，婚再议。
看完也不甚明白。大了道：“奶奶大喜。这一签巧得很，奶奶自幼在这里长大，何曾回南京去了。如今老爷放了外任，或者接家眷来，顺便还家，奶奶可不是‘衣锦还乡’了？”一面说，一面抄了个签经交与丫头。凤姐也半疑半信的。大了摆了斋来，凤姐只动了一动，放下了要走，又给了香银。大了苦留不住，只得让他走了。凤姐回至家中，见了贾母王夫人等，问起签来，命人一解，都欢喜非常，“或者老爷果有此心，咱们走一趟也好。”凤姐儿见人人这么说，也就信了。不在话下。
却说宝玉这一日正睡午觉，醒来不见宝钗，正要问时，只见宝钗进来。宝玉问道：“那里去了？半日不见。”宝钗笑道：“我给凤姐姐瞧一回签。”宝玉听说，便问是怎么样的。宝钗把签帖念了一回，又道：“家中人人都说好的。据我看，这‘衣锦还乡’四字里头还有原故，后来再瞧罢了。”宝玉道：“你又多疑了，妄解圣意。‘衣锦还乡’四字从古至今都知道是好的，今儿你又偏生看出缘故来了。依你说，这‘衣锦还乡’还有什么别的解说？”宝钗正要解说，只见王夫人那边打发丫头过来请二奶奶。宝钗立刻过去。未知何事，下回分解。
[1] 神枪——用火药发射的枪，明清时称为神枪。
[2] 太师——官名。古“三公”之一，位高望重。始设于殷周，历代职掌不同，明清以朝臣兼任，成为有职名无实权的虚衔。
〔一〕 “十旺八旺”，王本、金本作“七旺八旺”，藤本作“七望八望”。
[4] 动秤儿的——实际干事的。
[5] 在坛子里——受蒙蔽的意思，义近“蒙在鼓里”。
[6] 开吊——丧家择定日期接受亲友吊唁送礼。
[7] 大萝卜还用屎浇——嫌对方多话的意思。俗有“大萝卜——不用屎浇”的歇后语，“浇”谐音“教”。
[8] 拿糖作醋——故意作态、拿架子。
〔二〕 “雀金呢”，原作“金雀泥”，藤本同。程乙本作“雀金泥”，从，并改“呢”字。
〔三〕 “补了”，原无“补”字。程乙本作“缝了”。从藤本补。
〔四〕 “老太太”，原作“太太”，藤本、程乙本同。据下文“来见贾母”句改。
〔五〕 “说的宝钗站不住，又被凤姐怄他顽笑，没好意思，才走了”，原“才走了”在“住”字后，“没”前有“正”字。从梦稿、程乙本改。
〔六〕 “王大人”，原作“王夫人”，从藤本、程乙本改。
[14] “蜂采”二句——见唐代罗隐《蜂》诗。“蜂采”原作“采得”。
CHAPTER 101. In Prospect Garden a moonlit apparition repeats an ancient warning And at Scattered Flowers Convent the fortune-sticks provide a strange omen
Xi-feng returned to her apartment and, seeing that Jia Lian had not yet come home, began supervising the preparation of Tan-chun’s baggage and trousseau.
Later that evening, as dusk was giving way to night, she suddenly conceived the idea of going to visit Tan-chun. She told Felicity and a couple of other maids to accompany her, and sent one of them on ahead with a lantern. As they walked out, a brilliant moon had already risen, and Xi-feng told the maid carrying the lantern that she would not be needed and could go home. Then, as they passed the window of the tea-room frequented by the domestics, she heard the sound of chattering coming from within. An animated discussion of some sort seemed to be in progress, punctuated by an occasional sob or burst of laughter. It must be some of the older serving-women gathered for a gossip, thought Xi-feng; curious, and not a little apprehensive, she told Crimson to go in and mingle with them.
‘Listen carefully,’ she said. ‘Lead them on, and find out what it is they’re talking about.’
‘Yes, ma’am,’ said Crimson, and went on her errand.
Xi-feng continued towards the Garden, accompanied now only by Felicity. The gate had been left ajar and mistress and maid were able to push it lightly open and walk in. Within the Garden the moonlight seemed even brighter, and the trees cast deep pools of shadow. The intense silence created an atmosphere of extreme solitude and desolation. They were about to take the path to Autumn Studio when a gust of wind blew through the trees, releasing a shower of falling leaves and soughing through the branches with a doleful sound that startled the crows and other nesting birds into flight. Xi-feng had drunk a little wine earlier in the evening, and the wind, when it blew upon her, set her trembling.
‘How cold it is!’ said Felicity from behind, huddling up to try to keep warm. The cold was even too much for Xi-feng.
‘You’d better go home straight away and fetch me my ermine-lined sleeveless jacket. I shall wait for you at Miss Tan‘s.’
Felicity was glad of a chance to put on some warmer clothes herself, and needed no second bidding.
‘Yes, ma’am,’ she replied, turning about at once and heading for home at a run.
Xi-feng had not walked much further when she thought she heard something behind her, a strange sound, like that of an animal snuffling. Her hair stood on end, and looking back she caught sight of something black and shiny, a nose, pointed, sniffing in her direction, and two eyes that glowed like lanterns. She was beside herself with terror and gave a cry of alarm, only to see the creature – for it was now recognizable as some sort of large dog – pad away from her, trailing a bushy tail. It went bounding up to the top of a mound of earth, stood stock-still, and then turned back towards her, raising its front paws in the air in a grotesque salutation.
Xi-feng – now in a state of abject panic and shaking hysterically – hurried on as fast as she could towards Autumn Studio. She had almost reached her destination and was turning past a large rock when she caught a fleeting glimpse of a figure in the shadows ahead of her. After a moment’s hesitation she guessed it to be a maid from one of the apartments in the Garden, and called out:
‘Who’s there?’
Xi-feng repeated the question, but no one came forward. She was already beginning to feel quite faint, and in her confusion she thought she heard a voice behind her murmuring:
‘Auntie, don’t you even recognize me?’
She spun round and saw the figure of a lady standing there before her. There was something strangely familiar about her, the beauty of her features, the elegance of her attire; and yet somehow Xi-feng could not think for the moment whose young wife it could be.
‘Auntie,’ the lady continued, ‘I see that the enjoyment of splendour and wealth is still your only concern, and that my warning to you years ago, to “plan for the hard times to come”, has gone completely unheeded.’
Xi-feng lowered her head to try to think for a moment, but still could recall neither the person’s identity, nor the occasion to which she was referring. The lady gave a rueful laugh.
‘How you loved me once! Has all memory of me been utterly erased from your mind?’
Suddenly Xi-feng knew. It was Jia Rong’s first wife, Qin Ke-qing.
‘Aiyo!’ she cried. ‘But you died long ago! What are you doing here?’
She spat at the ghost and fled. But as she did so she tripped on a stone, and the shock of the fall gave her senses a jolt, as if waking them from a dream. Although her whole body had broken out in a sweat and she was still shivering with fright, she now felt alert and clear-headed and could distinguish the forms of Crimson and Felicity walking in her direction. Anxious lest her disarray provoke un-favourable comment, she hurriedly raised herself from the ground.
‘What have you two been doing?’ she scolded them. ‘You’ve been an age. Hurry up and bring me my jacket.’
Felicity came forward and helped her into the jacket, while Crimson supported her, ready to walk on to Autumn Studio.
‘I’ve already been there,’ said Xi-feng untruthfully. ‘They are all asleep. Let’s go home now.’
She set off in great haste with the two maids. She arrived to find Jia Lian already at home, and could tell from the expression on his face that he was in a worse humour than usual. Although she wanted to ask what the matter was, she reflected that she would only be scolded for her pains, and so went straight to bed.
Next morning Jia Lian rose at dawn, intending to pay an early call on Qiu Shi-an, Eunuch Superintendent of the Inner Palace, to seek his help in connection with some personal matter. He had a little time to spare before setting off, and began glancing through the copies of the Gazette that had been delivered the day before and were lying on his table. The first item he happened to read was a routine report from the Board of Civil Office, in which the Board requested an expedited appointment to the vacant position of Senior Secretary, and received imperial authorization to proceed according to precedent. The next report was from the Board of Punishments, and communicated a memorial from the Governor of Yunnan Province, Wang Zhong, concerning the arrest of a gang engaged in smuggling firearms and gunpowder. There were eighteen members of the gang in all, the ringleader being one Bao Yin, a domestic in the employment of Grand Preceptor Jia Hua, Duke of Zhen-guo. Jia Lian paused and appeared to be turning this last item of news over in his mind for a moment. Then he read on to the next item, an impeachment brought by Li Xiao, the magistrate of Soochow. The charge in this case was that a certain mandarin had indulged his household servants and allowed them to abuse their position in the maltreatment of soldiers and civilians. It referred in particular to the attempted rape and subsequent murder of an innocent married woman, and two other members of her family, committed by one Shi Fu, who claimed to be a servant in the household of Jia Fan, hereditary noble of the third degree.
Jia Lian seemed especially troubled by this last report. He would have liked to read the sequel, but was anxious not to miss his appointment with the eunuch. Changing into formal attire and dispensing with breakfast (though he did find time to take a couple of sips of the tea that Patience had just brought him), he left the house, mounted his horse and set off.
Patience put away his clothes and went in to wait on Xi-feng, who was still in bed.
‘I heard you tossing and turning last night, ma’am. You can hardly have slept a wink. Why don’t I give you a rub, and then maybe you’ll be able to have a little nap?’
Xi-feng made no reply, and Patience, interpreting this as consent, climbed up onto the kang, sat down next to her and started to administer a gentle massage. Xi-feng was on the point of falling asleep when she heard Qiao-jie crying in the next room and opened her eyes again. Patience called out:
‘Nannie Li, what are you doing? Qiao-jie’s crying. Go and pat her on the back, you lazy old so-and-so!’
Nannie Li was rudely awakened from her slumbers, and vented her ill humour on Qiao-jie by giving her a few hefty spanks, muttering to herself:
‘Confound you, you wretched little brat! You’ve not long to live anyway – so just shut up and go to sleep, instead of carrying on as if your mother was dead, bawling at this ungodly hour!’
She gnashed her teeth and gave the child a pinch for good measure. Qiao-jie began bawling again at once.
‘For heaven’s sake! Just listen to that!’ exclaimed Xi-feng. ‘She’s torturing my little girl! You go and give her the thrashing of her life, the evil old strumpet! And bring Qiao-jie in here to me.’
‘Don’t be too cross, ma’am,’ said Patience with a placatory smile. ‘Nannie Li would never dream of doing Qiao-jie any harm. It must have been an accident. If we beat her, there will be no end to the gossip. I can just hear it: “Beating the servants before the day’s even dawned!” ’
After a long silence, Xi-feng heaved a deep sigh:
‘See what they get up to while I’m still alive and kicking! When I die – which won’t be long now – I dread to think what will become of my poor Qiao-jie!’
‘How can you speak like that, ma’am?’ said Patience, trying to smile again. ‘Don’t start the day off on such a gloomy note!’
Xi-feng smiled bitterly:
‘What makes you so optimistic? I won’t last much longer. I’ve known it for some time. When I look back over my twenty-five years, I really can’t complain. I’ve seen things and tasted things most people have never so much as set eyes on. I’ve had more than my share of comfort and luxury. I’ve been able to indulge my every whim, no one’s ever managed to get the better of me in anything. If I am fated to die young, why, that’s something I shall simply have to accept.’
Tears were welling in Patience’s eyes. Xi-feng laughed:
‘Don’t pretend to feel sorry for me! You’ll be only too pleased to have me dead and out of the way. Then you’ll all be able to lead happy and peaceful lives, rid of this “thorn in your flesh”. There is only one thing I beg of you: whatever else happens, don’t forget my little girl!’
Patience was by now in floods of tears. Xi-feng laughed again:
‘Pull yourself together, for heaven’s sake! I’m not going to die for a little while yet. It’s too soon to start crying. Unless you want to send me to my grave before time?’
Patience dried her tears:
‘I just found what you were saying so upsetting, ma’am.’
She carried on rubbing her back, and eventually Xi-feng dozed off.
Patience had no sooner climbed down from the kang than she heard footsteps outside. It was Jia Lian. He had ended up late for his appointment, and by the time he arrived Eunuch Qiu had already left for court. So he had been obliged to return home without having achieved anything, and was clearly in the blackest of moods. His first words when he saw Patience were:
‘Aren’t the others up yet?’
‘No, sir.’
He flung aside the portière and walked into the inner room, exclaiming sarcastically:
‘Marvellous! Still in bed at this hour! Feet up and twiddling their thumbs at a time of family crisis!’
He called impatiently for tea and Patience hastened to pour him a cup. Earlier that morning, after Jia Lian’s departure, the maids and serving-women had all gone back to sleep, and as none of them had expected him back so early the household was still in a state of complete disorder. There was no fresh tea, and the best Patience could produce was a cup of cold tea warmed up. When Jia Lian discovered this, he was furious and hurled his cup to the ground. The sound of smashing china woke Xi-feng again, and she sat up in a cold sweat, crying out in alarm and staring wide-eyed around her. She saw her husband sitting beside the kang in a fuming rage, and Patience stooping to retrieve the fragments of broken cup.
‘Why are you back so soon?’ she asked. After a long interval in which no answer was forthcoming, she repeated the question, and finally he shouted at her:
‘Would you rather I hadn’t come back at all? Do you wish I’d dropped down dead somewhere?’
‘That’s a little unnecessary, isn’t it?’ said Xi-feng, smiling uneasily. ‘I just wondered why you were back so early today, that’s all. It’s nothing to lose your temper about.’
‘I failed to see the man again, so there was nothing to be gained by not coming home.’ His voice was still raised.
‘In that case,’ said Xi-feng, still attempting a wan smile, ‘you’ll just have to be patient and wait till tomorrow. Go a bit earlier next time, and you’ll be sure to see him.’
‘Here I am,’ shouted Jia Lian, ‘up to my eyes in work of my own, with no one to lend me a hand, and I have to waste my time like this chasing another man’s game! I’ve been tearing around days on end, and heaven alone knows why, when the person really involved is sitting at home and having a good time! He doesn’t seem the least bit bothered. On the contrary, he’s even had the nerve to throw a birthday party, with plays and all sorts of fun and games – while I’m still running around in circles trying to sort out his mess!’
He spat on the ground, and then proceeded to give Patience a thorough ticking-off for good measure. Xi-feng was choking with indignation. Her first impulse was to argue it out with him. But after a moment’s reflection she thought it advisable to contain herself and still struggled to keep a smile on her face:
‘But why work yourself up into such a rage about it? And why come ranting at me at this hour of the day? Did I ever say you had to do anyone this favour? If you’ve promised to, then be patient and go through with it for their sake. Anyway, it’s inconceivable that someone in serious trouble could feel in the mood for parties and plays.’
Jia Lian: ‘Precisely! Perhaps you’d like to go and ask him about it yourself tomorrow!’
Xi-feng (surprised): ‘Ask whom?’
Jia Lian: ‘Your brother.’
Xi-feng: ‘Him?’
Jia Lian: ‘Of course! Who else?’
Xi-feng (concerned): ‘But why does he need your help?’
Jia Lian: ‘You’re so well informed, you might as well be stuck at the bottom of a pickle-jar!’
Xi-feng: ‘But I had no idea he was in any kind of trouble! How extraordinary!’
Jia Lian: ‘Of course you didn’t. Even Aunt Wang and Aunt Xue don’t know about it. I didn’t want to worry them. And you’re always telling me how ill you are, so I decided to try to keep the whole thing from you as well. The very mention of it is enough to put me in a rage. Even today I wouldn’t have told you, if you hadn’t pressed me. No doubt you think that brother of yours is a marvellous fellow! But do you know what people call him?’
Xi-feng: ‘What?’
Jia Lian: ‘Wang Ren.’
Xi-feng let out a puzzled little laugh.
‘Well, that’s his name, isn’t it?’
Jia Lian: ‘That’s what you think. It’s not that “Wang Ren”; it’s the one meaning “Blind to all forms of human decency”!’
Xi-feng: ‘Why, that’s an insult! Who’d ever say such a thing?’
Jia Lian: ‘It’s no less than he deserves! I may as well tell you the truth, so that you can see for yourself what sort of a brother you really have. What about this birthday party he’s giving for Uncle Zi-sheng?’
Xi-feng thought for a moment, then exclaimed:
‘Aiyo! Why yes, now that you mention it, that’s something I meant to ask you about: surely Uncle Zi-sheng’s birthday falls during the winter? Bao-yu used to go every year. How strange! I remember quite clearly. When Uncle Zheng was promoted and Uncle Zi-sheng sent those players over, I made a mental note to myself. It seemed so out of character for him to do a thing like that. Uncle Zi-sheng has always been the mean one, not at all like Uncle Zi-teng. In fact the two brothers were always at daggers drawn. You only have to look at the casual way Uncle Zi-sheng behaved when Uncle Zi-teng died. You’d never have thought they were even related.
‘I remember saying that when his next birthday came round we should be sure to send him some players as a return gesture, so as not to be beholden to him. But surely it’s much too early in the year for him to be celebrating his birthday now? What’s going on?’
Jia Lian: ‘You still haven’t got the faintest idea, have you? The very first thing your precious brother Ren did when he got back to the capital was to profit from Uncle Zi-teng’s death by holding a memorial service. He was afraid we’d try to put a stop to it so he never told us. The funeral donations brought him in several thousand taels, I can tell you. Uncle Zi-sheng was furious with him afterwards for cornering the market. This put your brother in a bit of a spot. So for his next little project he picked Uncle Zi-sheng’s birthday, the perfect opportunity to make some more money for himself, and placate old Zi-sheng into the bargain. He wasn’t going to be held back by what the family or friends might say, or by the paltry fact that Uncle Zi-sheng doesn’t really have a birthday until next winter. Let people think what they like, he doesn’t care! He doesn’t know the meaning of the word “pride”!
‘Now, on top of all this, let me tell you why I got up so early this morning. Recently there’s been a memorial from the Censorate. It’s in some way connected with the recent disturbances on the coast. The wording refers to “the deficit left by Wang Zi-teng after his term of office” and asks that this deficit be “made good by his younger brother Wang Zi-sheng and by his nephew Wang Ren”. The two of them got the wind up and asked me to try to pull a few strings for them. I agreed to do it for them. They seemed so pathetic and scared, and anyway I was afraid it might eventually affect you and Aunt Wang. I hoped old Qiu in the Inner Palace might see to it for me, perhaps get Uncle Zi-teng’s successor to cook the books somehow. But I was late, damn it, he’d already left for court. So there I was, up at dawn, tearing around for nothing, while they put on plays and hold a party! If that isn’t enough to make a man’s blood boil, tell me what is!’
Xi-feng still felt she must put some sort of a case for her brother, partly out of her constitutional need never to admit defeat, and partly out of loyalty to her own family:
‘However badly he may have behaved, he’s still your brother-in-law. If you help him, you’ll be doing a good turn for both of my uncles, for the living and the dead. Our family honour is at stake; so I implore you to help. Otherwise you know what will happen: I shall be held responsible for your wrath, and they’ll blacken my name for ever.’
Xi-feng burst into tears. Sitting up in bed, she began to comb her hair, and to throw on some clothes.
‘There’s no need for you to react like that,’ said Jia Lian. ‘It’s your brother who’s behaved so abominably; I’ve said nothing against you. And the servants – when I had to go out this morning, I knew you were not well, so I didn’t disturb you. But they just went on sleeping. Our parents never tolerated such behaviour. You’ve grown too slack. You want to please everybody, that’s your trouble. And the moment I say anything critical, you start hauling yourself out of bed in protest. If I give the servants a piece of my mind, I suppose you’ll stick up for them next. It’s too absurd!’
Xi-feng dried her eyes.
‘It’s late,’ she said. ‘I ought to be getting up anyway.’ After a pause, she continued: ‘Even if that’s how you feel, please try to do what you can for my family, for my sake. And you know how grateful Aunt Wang will be.’
‘All right, all right,’ grumbled Jia Lian. ‘Stop teaching your grandmother to suck eggs.’
‘Why are you getting up, ma’am?’ put in Patience. ‘It’s too early yet. And I don’t see what you have to work yourself into such a terrible temper for, sir! Why take it all out on us? Hasn’t Mrs Lian gone to enough trouble for you in the past? The number of times she’s borne the brunt on your behalf! Perhaps I shouldn’t say this, but in view of all that she’s done for you, it doesn’t seem very fair to make such a big fuss about this one favour, especially when you think how many other people are involved. Do you have no consideration for her feelings? Why should she take all the blame anyway? We were late getting up, and you’re entitled to be angry with us – we’re only servants after all. But when you think how she has worked herself into the ground and ruined her health, it seems so unkind of you to pick a quarrel with her now!’
Patience’s eyes filled with tears. Jia Lian’s original ill humour, strong though it had undoubtedly been, could not withstand the combined opposition of both his womenfolk – at once so appealing and so sharp-tongued.
‘All right, forget it,’ he said, with a bitter smile. ‘She’s hard enough to cope with on her own, without you leaping to her defence. I know I’m just an outsider here anyway, and you’re both itching to have me dead and out of the way.’
‘Don’t speak like that,’ said Xi-feng. ‘Who knows what will happen to any of us? Very probably I shall die before you. The sooner I do, the sooner my heart will be at rest.’
She began to weep again, and Patience tried to comfort her. It was now broad daylight, and the sun was shining in at the window. Jia Lian, who saw little prospect of steering the conversation out of this impasse, took his leave.
Xi-feng was about to finish her toilet when one of Lady Wang’s junior maids came in:
‘Her Ladyship says, will you be visiting your uncle today, ma’am, and if so would you take Mrs Bao with you?’
Xi-feng had found the recent scene thoroughly depressing. It was deeply mortifying that her own family should let her down so badly, on top of which she was still suffering from the shock of her encounter in the Garden the previous evening, and felt in no mood for an excursion.
‘Tell Her Ladyship that I still have one or two things to see to, and won’t be able to go today. Anyway the party they’re holding is not what I would call a genuine occasion. If Mrs Bao wants to go, she can go on her own.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’
The maid returned with this message to Lady Wang’s apartment.
When she had completed her toilet and dressed herself, Xi-feng reflected that even if she didn’t attend the party, she ought at least to send a note. Besides, Bao-chai had not been married long, and would probably feel rather nervous about going by herself. She decided she should visit her, if only to offer moral support, and after a brief call on Lady Wang she excused herself on some pretext and made her way to Bao-yu’s apartment. He was reclining fully dressed on the kang, staring in a trance-like manner at Bao-chai, who was busy combing her hair. Xi-feng stood in the doorway for a while watching them. Bao-chai presently turned round and seeing her standing there promptly rose to her feet and asked her to be seated. Bao-yu also climbed down from the kang, as Xi-feng seated herself, with a playful smile on her face. Bao-chai scolded Musk:
‘Why didn’t you say that Mrs Lian was here?’
Musk laughed:
‘When Mrs Lian came in, she gave us a sign to be silent.’
Xi-feng turned to Bao-yu:
‘Well, what are you waiting for? Off you go! Honestly, I’ve never set eyes on such a great big baby. A lady wants to do her toilet in private, and you have to climb up beside her and sit there staring! Heavens above, you’re man and wife now, you’ve all day to gawp at her. And what about the maids? Don’t you care if they make fun of you?’
Xi-feng giggled and eyed Bao-yu, clicking her tongue in mock-disapproval. Her words seemed to have little effect on him other than making him feel rather uncomfortable. Bao-chai, however, blushed a fierce crimson, ashamed at having to listen but too embarrassed to reply. Aroma came in with some tea and Bao-chai endeavoured to conceal her embarrassment by offering Xi-feng a pipe of tobacco. Xi-feng rose to her feet and smilingly accepted.
‘Cousin Chai, take no notice of us. Hadn’t you better hurry and get dressed?’
Bao-yu meanwhile had begun shambling around, searching for something one moment, fiddling with something else the next.
‘Off with you then!’ said Xi-feng. ‘Who ever heard of a husband waiting for his wife to go out?’
‘These clothes aren’t right,’ said Bao-yu. ‘That peacock cape Grannie gave me to wear last time I went to Uncle Zi-sheng’s was so much nicer.’
‘Well, go ahead and wear it this time then,’ said Xi-feng teasingly.
‘How can I? It’s too early in the year.’
Xi-feng realized that she had inadvertently drawn attention to the incorrect ‘timing’ (and therefore fraudulent nature) of her uncle’s party. It didn’t matter so much about Bao-chai, who was herself related to the Wangs. But she felt embarrassed to have thus risked discrediting her own family in front of the maids. Aroma, whose mind was running along very different lines, hastened to add her explanation of Bao-yu’s words:
‘I don’t think you understand, ma’am. He wouldn’t wear that cape even if it were the right season.’
‘Why ever not?’ asked Xi-feng.
‘I should explain, ma’am,’ replied Aroma. ‘Mr Bao’s ways are sometimes so very strange. Her Old Ladyship gave him the cape to wear to his uncle Wang’s party two years ago. He had an accident and burnt a hole in it. My mother was seriously ill at the time and I was at home looking after her. Skybright was still with us then, though she was already ill, and I was told when I got back that she had stayed up all night darning the cape for him. The mend was so neat that Her Old Ladyship didn’t even notice it the next day. One day last year, when it was particularly cold, I told Tealeaf to take the cape to school in case Bao-yu needed something warmer to put on. But the sight of it reminded Bao-yu of Skybright and he said he never wanted to wear it again. He told me to put it away for good.’
‘Poor Skybright!’ put in Xi-feng before Aroma had finished speaking. ‘Such a pretty girl! And so clever with her hands! If only she hadn’t been quite so quick-tongued. Someone must have gone gossiping to Lady Wang, or she would never have dealt with the poor girl so harshly and driven her to such an early death.
‘Which reminds me. Not so very long ago I saw Cook Liu’s daughter – Fivey I think her name is – and couldn’t help noticing that she’s the spitting image of Skybright. I thought of bringing her in to work for me, and her mother seemed agreeable to the idea. Then I thought what a good replacement she’d make for Crimson in Bao-yu’s apartment. But Patience told me it was Lady Wang’s policy not to take on any more pretty maids like Skybright for Bao-yu. So I dropped the idea. Now that he’s married I’m sure there can be no objection. I’ll tell Fivey to start work here straight away. How would that be, Bao? Then if you ever find yourself missing Skybright, all you need to do is look at Fivey instead.’
Bao-yu had been about to leave the room, but at Xi-feng’s mention of Fivey had stood there bemused. Aroma spoke for him:
‘Of course he’d be pleased. He’s wanted her as a maid for a long while, but knew that Her Ladyship was against the idea.’
‘Very well then, I’ll tell her to come tomorrow,' said Xi-feng. ‘And I’ll square your mother myself.’
Bao-yu’s delight knew no bounds and he set off in high spirits for Grandmother Jia’s apartment, leaving Bao-chai to finish her toilet.
Xi-feng had found the contrast between the way in which Bao-yu and Bao-chai clung to each other, and her own recent conflict with Jia Lian, somewhat depressing, and she was now anxious to leave. She rose and said to Bao-chai with a smile:
‘Shall we go and see Aunt Wang now?’
Still smiling she walked out of the room, and Bao-chai accompanied her. They went first to Grandmother Jia’s apartment, where they found Bao-yu informing the old lady of the proposed expedition to Uncle Wang Zi-sheng’s. Grandmother Jia nodded:
‘Off you go then. But don’t drink too much, and be sure to come home early. Don’t forget you’re only just beginning to get well again.’
‘Yes, Grannie,’ said Bao-yu.
He had no sooner reached the courtyard than he turned round and re-entered the room, walking over to Bao-chai and whispering something in her ear. She smiled:
‘Yes of course. Now be off with you!’
She hurried him on his way once more.
Grandmother Jia, Xi-feng and Bao-chai settled down to a conversation, but had barely exchanged three sentences when Ripple appeared:
‘The Young Master has sent Tealeaf back with a message for Mrs Bao.’
Bao-chai: ‘What’s he forgotten now?’
Ripple: ‘I told one of the junior maids to ask Tealeaf. The message is this: “The Young Master forgot to tell Mrs Bao something. She should not be too long if she is coming; and if she isn’t, then she should take care not to stand in a draught”.’
Grandmother Jia, Xi-feng and the entire assembly of old serving-women and maidservants burst out laughing. Bao-chai blushed fiercely and said to Ripple with a scornful ‘pfui’:
‘Silly creature! Is that worth running back in such a fluster for?’
Ripple giggled and sent a junior maid to scold Tealeaf, who raced back to Bao-yu, calling to the maid over his shoulder:
‘The Young Master insisted on my dismounting to go on this fool’s errand. If I hadn’t delivered his message I’d have been in trouble with him, and now that I have I get it in the neck from them!’
The maid laughed and went running back to repeat this to the ladies. Grandmother Jia turned to Bao-chai:
‘You’d better go, my dear, or he’ll never stop fretting.’
What with this and Xi-feng’s merciless teasing, Bao-chai felt too embarrassed to stay any longer.
When Bao-chai had taken her leave, Perfecta, one of the nuns from the Convent of the Scattered Flowers, came to call on Grandmother Jia. She greeted Xi-feng also, and sat down to take tea.
‘Why haven’t you been to see us for such a long while?’ asked Grandmother Jia.
‘These past few days we have had so many services at the Convent,’ replied Perfecta, ‘and so many grand ladies coming to make their devotions; I just haven’t had a moment to call my own. Today I have a special reason for visiting Your Old Ladyship. We have a private service tomorrow which I thought you might possibly be interested in attending.’
‘What kind of service is it?’ asked Grandmother Jia.
‘Last month,’ replied Perfecta, ‘the household of the late Excellency Wang was afflicted with a possession of spirits. Her Ladyship even saw her husband’s departed spirit during the night. She came to tell me about it yesterday at the Convent, and pledged herself to an act of devotion at the shrine of our Bodhisattva of the Scattered Flowers. It’s to be a forty-nine-day Solemn Mass for Purification of All Souls on Land and Sea, for the Preservation and Peace of All Members of the Family, for the Ascension into the Celestial Regions of All Departed Souls, and for the Well-Being in This Life of All the Living. I’ve been extremely busy with the preparations, and this is the first opportunity I’ve had to come and pay my respects.’
Xi-feng had always scorned all forms of superstition. But her encounter with Qin Ke-qing’s spirit the night before had begun to undermine her scepticism, and Perfecta’s words now struck a new chord in her. She could almost feel herself being converted to a belief in the efficacy of such rituals.
‘Who is this Bodhisattva of the Scattered Flowers?’ she asked the nun. ‘How is it that he has the power to avert misfortune and keep evil spirits at bay?’
Perfecta could sense that a seed had been sown.
‘Since you have asked, dear lady,’ she replied, ‘allow me to tell you a little about this Saint of ours. His story is an ancient and well-attested one, full of miraculous events. Born in the Land of Giant Trees in the Western Paradise, of humble parents who hewed wood for a living, the Bodhisattva came into the world with three horns on his head and four eyes in his forehead. He was three feet tall at birth, with arms so long that his hands reached the ground. His parents thought him to be the incarnation of some monstrous spirit, and abandoned him on an icy mountainside. But, unbeknown to them, this mountain was the haunt of a magic monkey, who used to come there hunting for food. On one of his excursions he discovered the child and noticed that from the tip of his head there emanated a white aura that streamed up towards Heaven, causing tigers and wolves to keep their distance.
‘The monkey realized that this was someone very special indeed, and he carried the Bodhisattva-child home to his cave and reared him. The boy, so the monkey soon discovered, was endowed with prodigious innate powers of Perception, and with an intuitive ability to expound the Mysteries of Zen. He would engage the monkey in daily philosophical discussions and the two of them would practise meditation together. So wonderful were his words that at the sound of them the sky would be filled with an abundance of scattered flowers. After a thousand years had passed, he ascended into Heaven. The spot where he expounded the sutras, the Precinct of the Scattered Flowers, as it is called, can be seen on the hillside to this very day. Every prayer uttered there has proved efficacious. Many a miracle has been performed, many a soul delivered from its afflictions. In due time men built a temple there, and fashioned a statue of the Saint, before which they make offerings.’
‘But what proof is there that any of this is true?’ asked Xi-feng.
‘Still sceptical, ma’am? What proof of that sort can there be, of a Living Buddha? But consider: if it were all a mere fabrication, it might have fooled one or two, but it could hardly have fooled the multitudes of intelligent men and women who have put their faith in him over the ages. The unbroken incense-offerings of believers, and the miracles wrought, testify to the enduring power of our religion and serve continually to inspire our faith.’
Xi-feng was almost convinced.
‘In that case I shall visit you tomorrow and test it for myself. Do you have fortune-sticks at the temple? I should like to consult them. If they give me a plausible answer to my question, I shall embrace your faith.’
‘Our fortune-sticks are particularly efficacious, ma’am,’ said Perfecta. ‘Try them tomorrow and see for yourself.’
‘Why not wait until the day after?’ put in Grandmother Jia. ‘That will be the first of the month. Better to try then.’
Perfecta drank her tea and went on to visit Lady Wang, before returning to her Convent.
Xi-feng managed to struggle through the rest of that day and the next, and early in the morning of the first of the month she had her carriage made ready, and set out for the Convent of the Scattered Flowers, accompanied by Patience and a bevy of serving-women. Perfecta and the other nuns welcomed her, ushered her in and offered her tea, and then after she had washed her hands they all proceeded to the main hall of worship to burn incense. Xi-feng would not look up at the statues, but otherwise conducted herself like a devout believer, kowtowing and taking the tube of fortune-sticks from the altar. She prayed in silence, describing her encounter with the spirit and her chronic state of ill health, then shook the tube three times. There was a ‘whoosh!’ and one of the bamboo sticks shot out of the tube. Xi-feng kowtowed again and picked it up. It bore the inscription: ‘No. 33. Supreme Good Fortune.’ Perfecta promptly consulted the Divination Book and found under entry No. 33 the following line of verse, which she read aloud:
‘Wang Xi-feng comes home to rest, in finery arrayed.’
Xi-feng was astounded to hear her own name, and asked the nun:
‘Is there some historical person by the name of Wang Xi-feng?’
‘Surely, ma’am,’ replied Perfecta, ‘a lady of your wide knowledge has encountered the story of Wang Xi-feng of the Later Han dynasty and what befell him on his way to the examination?’
Zhou Rui’s wife was standing at Xi-feng’s side and added with a smile:
‘Why, that was the story the lady storyteller told at the Lantern Festival a couple of years ago. We asked her not to use your name as it was impolite.’
‘Of course,’ said Xi-feng with a laugh. ‘I forgot.’
She went on to read the rest of the text:
‘When twenty years away from home have passed, In silks the wanderer returns at last. The bee culls nectar from a hundred flowers; Honey for some, but for himself a thankless task.
A traveller arrives.
News is delayed.
In litigation, success.
In matrimony, reconsideration.’
Xi-feng could not make much sense of it, and Perfecta hastened to expound:
‘My congratulations, ma’am! What an uncannily apt response on the part of the oracle! Since you have grown up here in the capital, you have never had a chance to visit your old home in Nanking. But now that Sir Zheng has received this provincial posting, he may well send for his family to join him and then, surely, you will “come home to rest, in finery arrayed”!’
As she spoke Perfecta copied down the text and gave it to one of the maids. Xi-feng was still only half-convinced by her interpretation. Perfecta set a vegetarian meal before her guest, but Xi-feng seemed loath to eat, and after a mouthful put down her chopsticks and rose to leave. She gave Perfecta a contribution ‘for incense’, and the nun, realizing that she could not persuade her to stay any longer, saw her out of the Convent.
When Xi-feng returned home, Grandmother Jia, Lady Wang and the others insisted on having a full report. She told one of the maids to recite the words of the divination, complete with the interpretation. The ladies were delighted:
‘Perhaps Sir Zheng is planning to send for us all! What a nice trip that would be!’
Any doubts Xi-feng still harboured about the favourable reading of the omen were dispelled by their unanimous acceptance of it.
Our story now turns to Bao-yu. On the day in question, after waking from his midday nap, he noticed that Bao-chai was out and was beginning to wonder where she might be, when he saw her come back into the room.
‘Where have you been?’ he asked. ‘You’ve been out a long time.’
‘I’ve been looking at Cousin Feng’s divination.’
Bao-yu was keen to hear the whole story. Bao-chai obliged; and when she had finished reciting the divination verse for him, she commented:
‘Everyone else says it’s a lucky omen, but personally I think there’s more to the words than meets the eye. “Comes home to rest, in finery arrayed.” Hm … We shall have to wait and see.’
‘There you go, sceptical as ever,’ quipped Bao-yu. ‘Forever seeking strange meanings. It must be a lucky saying; anyone can tell that. You would have some pet theory of your own. So what do you think it means?’
Bao-chai was about to elaborate, when a maid arrived to inform her that her presence was required at Lady Wang’s. To learn the reason for this summons, please read the next chapter.