第一○六回
第一○六回 王熙凤致祸抱羞惭 贾太君祷天消祸患
话说贾政闻知贾母危急，即忙进去看视。见贾母惊吓气逆，王夫人鸳鸯等唤醒回来，即用疏气安神的丸药服了，渐渐的好些，只是伤心落泪。贾政在旁劝慰，总说是“儿子们不肖，招了祸来累老太太受惊。若老太太宽慰些，儿子们尚可在外料理；若是老太太有什么不自在，儿子们的罪孽更重了。”贾母道：“我活了八十多岁，自作女孩儿起到你父亲手里，都托着祖宗的福，从没有听见过那些事。如今到老了，见你们倘或受罪，叫我心里过得去么！倒不如合上眼随你们去罢了。”说着，又哭。
贾政此时着急异常，又听外面说：“请老爷，内廷有信。”贾政急忙出来，见是北静王府长史，一见面便说“大喜。”贾政谢了，请长史[1]坐下，“请问王爷有何谕旨？”那长史道：“我们王爷同西平郡王进内复奏，将大人的惧怕的心、感激天恩之话都代奏了。主上甚是悯恤，并念及贵妃溘逝[2]未久，不忍加罪，着加恩仍在工部员外上行走。所封家产，惟将贾赦的入官，馀俱给还。并传旨令尽心供职。惟抄出借券令我们王爷查核，如有违禁重利的一概照例入官，其在定例生息的同房地文书尽行给还。贾琏着革去职衔，免罪释放。”贾政听毕，即起身叩谢天恩，又拜谢王爷恩典。“先请长史大人代为禀谢，明晨到阙[3]谢恩，并到府里磕头。”那长史去了。少停，传出旨来。承办官遵旨一一查清，入官者入官，给还者给还，将贾琏放出，所有贾赦名下男妇人等造册入官。
可怜贾琏屋内东西除将按例放出的文书发给外，其馀虽未尽入官的，早被查抄的人尽行抢去，所存者只有家伙物件。贾琏始则惧罪，后蒙释放已是大幸，及想起历年积聚的东西并凤姐的体己不下七八万金，一朝而尽，怎得不痛。且他父亲现禁在锦衣府，凤姐病在垂危，一时悲痛。又见贾政含泪叫他，问道：“我因官事在身，不大理家，故叫你们夫妇总理家事。你父亲所为固难劝谏，那重利盘剥究竟是谁干的？况且非咱们这样人家所为。如今入了官，在银钱是不打紧的，这种声名出去还了得吗！”贾琏跪下说道：“侄儿办家事，并不敢存一点私心。所有出入的帐目，自有赖大、吴新登、戴良等登记，老爷只管叫他们来查问。现在这几年，库内的银子出多入少，虽没贴补在内，已在各处做了好些空头，求老爷问太太就知道了。这些放出去的账，连侄儿也不知道那里的银子，要问周瑞旺儿才知道。”贾政道：“据你说来，连你自己屋里的事还不知道，那些家中上下的事更不知道了。我这回也不来查问你，现今你无事的人，你父亲的事和你珍大哥的事还不快去打听打听。”贾琏一心委屈，含着眼泪答应了出去。贾政叹气连连的想道：“我祖父勤劳王事，立下功勋，得了两个世职，如今两房犯事都革去了。我瞧这些子侄没一个长进的。老天啊，老天啊！我贾家何至一败如此！我虽蒙圣恩格外垂慈，给还家产，那两处食用自应归并一处，叫我一人那里支撑的住。方才琏儿所说更加诧异，说不但库上无银，而且尚有亏空，这几年竟是虚名在外。只恨我自己为什么糊涂若此。倘或我珠儿在世，尚有膀臂；宝玉虽大，更是无用之物。”想到那里，不觉泪满衣襟。又想：“老太太偌大年纪，儿子们并没有自能奉养一日，反累他吓得死去活来。种种罪孽，叫我委之何人！”
正在独自悲切，只见家人禀报各亲友进来看候。贾政一一道谢，说起：“家门不幸，是我不能管教子侄，所以至此。”有的说：“我久知令兄赦大老爷行事不妥，那边珍哥更加骄纵。若说因官事错误得个不是，于心无愧，如今自己闹出的，倒带累了二老爷。”有的说：“人家闹的也多，也没见御史参奏，不是珍老大得罪朋友，何至如此。”有的说：“也不怪御史，我们听见说是府上的家人同几个泥腿在外头哄嚷出来的。御史恐参奏不实，所以诓了这里的人去才说出来的。我想府上待下人最宽的，为什么还有这事。”有的说：“大凡奴才们是一个养活不得的。今儿在这里都是好亲友我才敢说，就是尊驾在外任，我保不得——你是不爱钱的——那外头的风声也不好，都是奴才们闹的。你该隄防些。如今虽说没有动你的家，倘或再遇着主上疑心起来，好些不便呢。”贾政听说，心下着忙道：“众位听见我的风声怎样？”众人道：“我们虽没听见实据，只闻外面人说你在粮道任上怎么叫门上家人要钱。”贾政听了，便说道：“我是对得天的，从不敢起这要钱的念头。只是奴才在外招摇撞骗，闹出事来我就吃不住了。”众人道：“如今怕也无益，只好将现在的管家们都严严的查一查，若有抗主的奴才，查出来严严的办一办。”贾政听了点头。便见门上进来回禀说：“孙姑爷那边打发人来说，自己有事不能来，着人来瞧瞧。说大老爷该他一种银子，要在二老爷身上还的。”贾政心内忧闷，只说：“知道了。”众人都冷笑道：“人说令亲孙绍祖混帐，真有些。如今丈人抄了家，不但不来瞧看帮补照应，倒赶忙的来要银子，真真不在理上。”贾政道：“如今且不必说他。那头亲事原是家兄配错的，我的侄女儿的罪已经受够了，如今又招我来。”正说着，只见薛蝌进来说道：“我打听锦衣府赵堂官必要照御史参的办去，只怕大老爷和珍大爷吃不住。”众人都道：“二老爷，还得是你出去求求王爷，怎么挽回挽回才好。不然这两家就完了。”贾政答应致谢，众人都散。
那时天已点灯时候，贾政进去请贾母的安，见贾母略略好些。回到自己房中，埋怨贾琏夫妇不知好歹，如今闹出放账取利的事情，大家不好。方见凤姐所为，心里很不受用。凤姐现在病重，知他所有什物尽被抄抢一光，心内郁结，一时未便埋怨，暂且隐忍不言。一夜无话。次早贾政进内谢恩，并到北静王府西平王府两处叩谢，求两位王爷照应他哥哥侄儿。两位应许。贾政又在同寅[4]相好处托情。
且说贾琏打听得父兄之事不很妥，无法可施，只得回到家中。平儿守着凤姐哭泣，秋桐在耳房中抱怨凤姐。贾琏走近旁边，见凤姐奄奄一息，就有多少怨言，一时也说不出来。平儿哭道：“如今事已如此，东西已去不能复来。奶奶这样，还得再请个大夫调治调治才好。”贾琏啐道：“我的性命还不保，我还管他么！”凤姐听见，睁眼一瞧，虽不言语，那眼泪流个不尽，见贾琏出去，便与平儿道：“你别不达事务了，到了这样田地，你还顾我做什么。我巴不得今儿就死才好。只要你能够眼里有我，我死之后，你扶养大了巧姐儿，我在阴司里也感激你的。”平儿听了，放声大哭。凤姐道：“你也是聪明人。他们虽没有来说我，他必抱怨我。虽说事是外头闹的，我若不贪财，如今也没有我的事，不但是枉费心计，挣了一辈子的强，如今落在人后头。我只恨用人不当，恍惚听得那边珍大爷的事说是强占良民妻子为妾，不从逼死，有个姓张的在里头，你想想还有谁，若是这件事审出来，咱们二爷是脱不了的，我那时怎样见人。我要即时就死，又耽不起吞金服毒的。你到还要请大夫，可不是你为顾我反倒害了我了么。”平儿愈听愈惨，想来实在难处，恐凤姐自寻短见，只得紧紧守着。
幸贾母不知底细，因近日身子好些，又见贾政无事，宝玉宝钗在旁天天不离左右，略觉放心。素来最疼凤姐，便叫鸳鸯“将我体己东西拿些给凤丫头，再拿些银钱交给平儿，好好的服侍好了凤丫头，我再慢慢的分派。”又命王夫人照看了邢夫人。又加了宁国府第入官，所有财产房地等并家奴等俱造册收尽，这里贾母命人将车接了尤氏婆媳等过来。可怜赫赫宁府只剩得他们婆媳两个并佩凤、偕鸾二人，连一个下人没有。贾母指出房子一所居住，就在惜春所住的间壁。又派了婆子四人丫头两个服侍。一应〔一〕饭食起居在大厨房内分送，衣裙什物又是贾母送去，零星需用亦在帐房内开销，俱照荣府每人月例之数。那贾赦、贾珍、贾蓉在锦衣府使用，帐房内实在无项可支。如今凤姐一无所有，贾琏况又多债务满身，贾政不知家务，只说已经托人，自有照应。贾琏无计可施，想到那亲戚里头薛姨妈家已败，王子腾已死，馀者亲戚虽有，俱是不能照应，只得暗暗差人下屯将地亩暂卖了数千金作为监中使费。贾琏如此一行，那些家奴见主家势败，也便趁此弄鬼，并将东庄租税也就指名借用些。此是后话，暂且不提。
且说贾母见祖宗世职革去，现在子孙在监质审，邢夫人、尤氏等日夜啼哭，凤姐病在垂危，虽有宝玉宝钗在侧，只可解劝，不能分忧，所以日夜不宁，思前想后，眼泪不干。一日傍晚，叫宝玉回去，自己扎挣坐起，叫鸳鸯等各处佛堂上香，又命自己院内焚起斗香，用拐拄着出到院中。琥珀知是老太太拜佛，铺下大红短毡拜垫。贾母上香跪下磕了好些头，念了一回佛，含泪祝告天地道：“皇天菩萨在上，我贾门史氏，虔诚祷告，求菩萨慈悲。我贾门数世以来，不敢行凶霸道。我帮夫助子，虽不能为善，亦不敢作恶。必是后辈儿孙骄侈暴佚，暴殄天物，以致合府抄检。现在儿孙监禁，自然凶多吉少，皆由我一人罪孽，不教儿孙，所以至此。我今即求皇天保佑：在监逢凶化吉，有病的早早安身。总有合家罪孽，情愿一人承当，只求饶恕儿孙。若皇天见怜，念我虔诚，早早赐我一死，宽免儿孙之罪。”默默说到此，不禁伤心，呜呜咽咽的哭泣起来。鸳鸯、珍珠一面解劝，一面扶进房去。
只见王夫人带了宝玉、宝钗过来请晚安，见贾母悲伤，三人也大哭起来。宝钗更有一层苦楚：想哥哥也在外监，将来要处决，不知可减缓否；翁姑虽然无事，眼见家业萧条；宝玉依然疯傻，毫无志气。想到后来终身，更比贾母、王夫人哭得更痛。宝玉见宝钗如此大恸，他亦有一番悲戚。想的是老太太年老不得安，老爷、太太见此光景不免悲伤，众姐妹风流云散，一日少似一日。追想在园中吟诗起社，何等热闹，自从林妹妹一死，我郁闷到今，又有宝姐姐过来，未便时常悲切。见他忧兄思母，日夜难得笑容，今见他悲哀欲绝，心里更加不忍，竟嚎啕大哭。鸳鸯、彩云、莺儿、袭人见他们如此，也各有所思，便也呜咽起来。馀者丫头们看得伤心，也便陪哭，竟无人解慰。满屋中哭声惊天动地，将外头上夜婆子吓慌，急报于贾政知道。那贾政正在书房纳闷，听见贾母的人来报，心中着忙，飞奔进内。远远听得哭声甚众，打量老太太不好，急得魂魄俱丧，疾忙进来，只见坐着悲啼，神魂方定。说是“老太太伤心，你们该劝解，怎么的齐打伙儿哭起来了。”众人听到贾政声气，急忙止哭，大家对面发怔。贾政上前安慰了老太太，又说了众人几句。各自心想道：“我们原恐老太太悲伤，故来劝解，怎么忘情大家痛哭起来。”
正自不解，只见老婆子带了史侯家的两个女人进来，请了贾母的安，又向众人请安毕，便说：“我们家老爷、太太、姑娘打发我来，说听见府里的事原没有什么大事，不过一时受惊。恐怕老爷太太烦恼，叫我们过来告诉一声，说这里二老爷是不怕的了。我们姑娘本要自己来的，因不多几日就要出阁，所以不能来了。”贾母听了，不便道谢，说：“你回去给我问好。这是我们的家运合该如此。承你老爷太太惦记，过一日再来奉谢。你家姑娘出阁，想来你们姑爷是不用说的了。他们的家计如何？”两个女人回道：“家计倒不怎么着，只是姑爷长的很好，为人又和平。我们见过好几次，看来与这里宝二爷差不多，还听得说才情学问都好的。”贾母听了，喜欢道：“咱们都是南边人，虽在这里住久了，那些大规矩还是从南方礼儿，所以新姑爷我们都没见过。我前儿还想起我娘家的人来，最疼的就是你们家姑娘，一年三百六十天，在我跟前的日子倒有二百多天，混得这么大了。我原想给他说个好女婿，又为他叔叔〔二〕不在家，我又不便作主。他既造化配了个好姑爷，我也放心。月里出阁我原想过来吃杯喜酒的，不料我家闹出这样事来，我的心就像在热锅里熬的似的，那里能够再到你们家去。你回去说我问好，我们这里的人都说请安问好。你替另告诉你家姑娘，不要将我放在心里。我是八十多岁的人了，就死也算不得没福的了。只愿他过了门，两口子和顺，百年到老，我便安心了。”说着，不觉掉下泪来。那女人道：“老太太也不必伤心。姑娘过了门，等回了九，少不得同姑爷过来请老太太的安，那时老太太见了才喜欢呢。”贾母点头。那女人出去。别人都不理论，只有宝玉听了发了一回怔，心里想道：“如今一天一天的都过不得了。为什么人家养了女儿到大了必要出嫁，一出了嫁就改变。史妹妹这样一个人又被他叔叔硬压着配人了，他将来见了我必是又不理我了。我想一个人到了这个没人理的分儿，还活着做什么。”想到那里，又是伤心。见贾母此时才安，又不敢哭泣，只是闷闷的。
一时贾政不放心，又进来瞧瞧老太太，见是好些，便出来传了赖大，叫他将合府里管事家人的花名册子拿来，一齐点了一点，除去贾赦入官的人，尚有三十馀家，共男女二百十二名。贾政叫现在府内当差的男人共二十一名进来，问起历年居家用度，共有若干进来，该用若干出去。那管总的家人将近来支用簿子呈上。贾政看时，所入不敷所出，又加连年宫里花用，账上有在外浮借[7]的也不少。再查东省地租，近年所交不及祖上一半，如今用度比祖上更加十倍。贾政不看则已，看了急得跺脚道：“这了不得！我打量虽是琏儿管事，在家自有把持，岂知好几年头里已就寅年用了卯年的，还是这样装好看，竟把世职俸禄当作不打紧的事情，为什么不败呢！我如今要就省俭起来，已是迟了。”想到那里，背着手踱来踱去，竟无方法。
众人知贾政不知理家，也是白操心着急，便说道：“老爷也不用焦心，这是家家这样的。若是统总算起来，连王爷家还不够。不过是装着门面，过到那里就到那里。如今老爷到底得了主上的恩典，才有这点子家产，若是一并入了官，老爷就不用过了不成。”贾政嗔道：“放屁！你们这班奴才最没有良心的，仗着主子好的时候任意开销，到弄光了，走的走，跑的跑，还顾主子的死活吗！如今你们道是没有查封是好，那知道外头的名声。大本儿都保不住，还搁得住你们在外头支架子说大话诓人骗人，到闹出事来望主子身上一推就完了。如今大老爷与珍大爷的事，说是咱们家人鲍二在外传播的，我看这人口册上并没有鲍二，这是怎么说？”众人回道：“这鲍二是不在册档上的。先前在宁府册上，为二爷见他老实，把他们两口子叫过来了。及至他女人死了，他又回宁府去。后来老爷衙门有事，老太太们爷们往陵上去，珍大爷替理家事带过来的，以后也就去了。老爷数年不管家事，那里知道这些事来。老爷打量册上没有名字的就只有这个人，不知一个人手下亲戚们也有，奴才还有奴才呢。”贾政道：“这还了得！”想去一时不能清理，只得喝退众人，早打了主意在心里了，且听贾赦等事审得怎样再定。
一日正在书房筹算，只见一人飞奔进来说：“请老爷快进内廷问话。”贾政听了心下着忙，只得进去。未知凶吉，下回分解。
[1] 长史——即长府官。
[2] 溘（kè客）逝——逝世。溘：忽然。
[3] 阙（què确）——古代建于城门、宫殿、陵墓前的两个砖木或石砌的对称建筑物，两阙间之空缺作为道路，故称阙（古时“阙”通“缺”）。后亦以代指宫殿、朝廷。
[4] 同寅——称同在一处任事供职的人为同寅。
〔一〕 “一应”，原作“一夜”，从藤本、程乙本改。
〔二〕 “叔叔”，原本“妹妹”，藤本、王本同。从程乙本改。下文“叔叔”同。
[7] 浮借——暂借。浮：暂时。
CHAPTER 106. Wang Xi-feng feels remorse for the consequences of her past misdeeds And Grandmother Jia prays for the family’s deliverance from further calamity
Jia Zheng hurried straight in to Grandmother Jia’s apartment. The shock of the day’s events had finally taken its toll, and she was unconscious again and breathing fitfully. Lady Wang, with the help of Faithful and the other maids, eventually brought her round. They persuaded her to swallow one of her combined dispersant and sedative boluses, which brought some slight relief. But she remained tearful and distraught. Jia Zheng stood by her side and tried to comfort her and rally her spirits:
‘It is Brother She and I who have brought this misfortune on the family and caused you all this distress, Mother. Please try to take heart a little. We will do our utmost to set things to rights. If you should suffer in any way, our burden of guilt will be unbearable!’
‘I am over eighty now,’ replied the old lady, ‘and ever since the day I came here as a girl and was married to your father, I have led a sheltered life. I have been blessed and protected by the family ancestors. I’ve never even heard of such terrible goings-on as these. I am too old for it all. I couldn’t bear to see you punished. I’d rather die, and be spared the ordeal.’
She burst into tears once again, and Jia Zheng grew more and more agitated about her condition. Suddenly a voice was heard outside calling:
‘News from court for the Master!’
Jia Zheng hurried out. The Prince of Bei-jing’s aide-de-camp was waiting for him in the main reception hall, and greeted him with the words:
‘Excellent news, sir!’
Jia Zheng thanked the aide for coming and begged him to be seated.
‘What are my instructions from His Highness?’ he asked.
‘My master and His Highness the Prince of Xi-ping presented a joint report to His Majesty, and spoke at some length on your behalf, sir, stressing your penitence and your great appreciation of the clemency shown to you by the throne. His Majesty was most sympathetic, and mindful of the recent demise of Her Grace, he has resolved not to punish you, but instead to restore you to your former post as Under-Secretary at the Board of Works. Of the family property held under restraint, only that portion belonging to Sir She is to be confiscated. The rest will all be returned to you. His Majesty urges you to resume your official duties with diligence.
‘The matter of the promissory notes will be investigated personally by my master. Any such notes referring to loans made at usurious rates of interest will be confiscated outright according to the relevant statute; notes negotiated at permissible rates, together with title-deeds of houses and land, will all be returned. Jia Lian is to be deprived of his position and rank, but otherwise will be exempted from further punishment and released.’
Jia Zheng rose from his seat and kowtowed in the appropriate direction for this act of Imperial clemency. He also bowed to the aide to express his profound gratitude for the prince’s intervention on his behalf.
‘Be so good as to convey my thanks to His Highness. Tomorrow I shall attend court in order to express my gratitude to His Majesty in person, and shall also present myself at His Highness’s palace to make my kowtow.’
The prince’s aide took his leave. Shortly afterwards a court official arrived to proclaim the Edict, followed by the officers entrusted with its execution, who supervised the proceedings scrupulously, confiscating only what had been specified, and restoring everything else to its owner. Jia Lian was released, while Jia She’s domestic staff, men and women alike, were all taken away into public service.
Jia Lian’s position was not to be envied. Some of the promissory notes and documents were returned, and none of his other property had been officially confiscated, but his apartment had been ransacked and nothing but the bare furniture had been left in place. His initial relief at being set free and escaping the punishment he feared soon gave way to a profound sense of loss, when he beheld his own and Xi-feng’s possessions of a lifetime – altogether about sixty thousand taels’ worth – gone in a morning’s work. His father’s imprisonment, Xi-feng’s critical state of health: the strain was almost more than he could bear. And now he had to face Jia Zheng, who summoned him and berated him, barely suppressing a sob:
‘I have, alas, been too busy of late with my official duties, and have paid insufficient attention to family matters. I thought I could rely on you and your wife. I can hardly remonstrate with your father for his misconduct; but this usury that has come to light – who in heaven’s name is responsible for that? Families like ours simply do not dabble in such things. The documents have been confiscated, and both principal and interest are forfeit: but it’s not the money, it’s the appalling blow this will deal to our reputation!’
Jia Lian fell to his knees:
‘In managing our family’s affairs, Uncle, I have never acted with a view to private gain. All the accounts have been kept by the stewards – Lai Da, Wu Xin-deng, Dai Liang and the others. Please summon them and hear the truth from their lips. These past few years, our expenditure has far exceeded our income, and there have been deficits in the accounts that I have simply been unable to make good, despite the numerous unsecured debts I have had to negotiate. Aunt Wang will be able to tell you all about it. As for the money loaned out, even I have no idea where that has come from. You’d better ask Zhou Rui and Brightie.’
‘So, you are telling me you don’t even know what goes on in your own apartment, let alone the rest of the household! I shall not pursue this matter any further with you at present. Consider yourself extremely lucky to have been let off so lightly. Now you’d better stir yourself and find out what’s happening to your father and Cousin Zhen.’
Jia Lian felt very hard done by, but swallowed his tears and departed in obedience to his uncle’s instructions.
Left alone, Jia Zheng ruminated on the family’s misfortunes, heaving many a heartfelt sigh:
‘It was in vain that my grandfather and my great-uncle served the throne so loyally, winning the family great honour and two hereditary titles. Now both our houses have been disgraced, both titles have been stripped from us. And if I look further ahead, I can see no respite, no rising star in the younger generation capable of stemming this tide of degeneration! Great Heaven! That our noble line should have come to this! Thanks to an act of exceptional clemency on His Majesty’s part, I have been spared, and my property has been restored. But both households must now look to me for their daily sustenance, and how can I hope to support them all? This latest revelation of Lian’s is another grievous blow; not only have we no reserves, we are seriously in debt. We have evidently been living under false pretences for years! And I have only my own stupidity to blame! How can I have been so blind? If only my eldest son were still alive! In Zhu I might at least have had some support. But Bao-yu, for all that he is my son, and now a grown man, can offer me no help whatsoever.’
Throughout this silent soliloquy Jia Zheng had been weeping despite himself, and the collar of his gown was damp with tears.
‘As for Mother – so far from supporting her in her old age, we have nearly driven her to her death. Whom can I blame for this calamitous state of affairs but myself?’
He was brooding like this, sunk in the deepest gloom and self-reproach, when a servant entered to announce the arrival of various friends and relations. Jia Zheng received them, thanking them each individually for their concern.
‘These misfortunes of ours,’ he said to them, by way of apology, ‘are the direct consequence of my own failure to inculcate proper standards in the younger generation.’
‘We beg to differ,’ replied one of them. ‘We have long considered Sir She’s conduct questionable. And Mr Zhen has been even more arrogant and dissolute in his ways. Now their misdemeanours have come to light and have brought them public censure. The fault lies entirely with them. It is most regrettable that their misdeeds should have rebounded on you, sir.’
‘I have known many cases of similar conduct,’ commented another, ‘but none of them involved an indictment like this. Mr Zhen must have somehow caused offence …’
‘The intervention of the censor in this case can be easily explained,’ countered another. ‘It appears that one of your own household servants and some of his less respectable friends have been spreading unpleasant rumours, and that these reached the censor’s ears. He wished to substantiate them before proceeding any further, and persuaded this same servant of yours to go along and give information. Knowing how generously you treat your staff, I find it hard to believe that such a thing could have happened.’
‘That’s the way with servants,’ remarked another. ‘They take advantage of their masters’ generosity. Since we are among friends here, I think I may be permitted to speak my mind. I know what an incorruptible man you are, sir; but while you were in Kiangsi, your reputation was somehow tarnished. That was your servants’ doing. You will have to be more cautious in future. Although you have escaped with your own property intact this time, if His Majesty should ever have occasion to question your integrity again, it might be considerably less pleasant for you.’
Jia Zheng seemed greatly perturbed by this.
‘What do you mean? In what way was my reputation tarnished?’
‘There is of course no shred of material evidence,’ came the reply, ‘but we have heard others say that during your time as Grain Intendant you instructed your servants to practise extortion.’
‘As Heaven is my witness,’ exclaimed Jia Zheng, ‘no such thought even entered my head! My men were cheating and bullying behind my back. An more of this sort of gossip and I shall be finished!’
‘It’s no use fretting about the past,’ commented one of the company. ‘But you should examine your present staff carefully. Weed out any refractory elements among them and deal with them severely.’
At that moment one of the janitors entered the room:
‘Sir She’s son-in-law, Mr Sun, has sent a servant with a message, sir. His master is too busy to come in person. This man is instructed to inform you that the Suns are expecting you to discharge Sir She’s debts.’
Jia Zheng looked gloomy and harassed, and gave a perfunctory acknowledgement. His friends laughed contemptuously:
This Mr Sun has a bad reputation; and it certainly seems well founded. When his father-in-law has his home raided and his property confiscated, so far from offering assistance, he comes hounding him for money. It’s preposterous!’
‘Let’s not talk of him,’ replied Jia Zheng. ‘That whole match was a blunder on my elder brother’s part. I should have thought my poor niece had suffered enough at this young man’s hands, without his having to torment me as well.’
As he was speaking, Xue Ke appeared.
‘I have learned,’ he reported to Jia Zheng, ‘that Commissioner Zhao is insisting on pursuing every detail of the indictment. I am afraid that Uncle She and Cousin Zhen will have a hard time of it.’
‘You must seek the prince’s help in this matter,’ Jia Zheng’s friends advised him. ‘Without his intervention, you may all be ruined.’
Jia Zheng thanked his visitors for their advice, which he said he would be sure to follow, and they all took their leave.
It was already lighting-up time, and Jia Zheng went to pay his evening respects to Grandmother Jia, who seemed slightly recovered. He returned to his apartment, and sat once more silently brooding over Jia Lian and Xi-feng’s reckless behaviour. Their usury, now that it had come to light, would damage the whole family and he blamed them bitterly for it. But he reflected also that Xi-feng was gravely ill, and had lost everything in the raid, which was sure to have been a great additional blow to her, and decided not to criticize her for the time being, but to contain his anger and say nothing. The rest of that night passed without further event.
Early next morning Jia Zheng went to the Palace to give thanks for the Emperor’s clemency, and afterwards to the palaces of the Prince of Bei-jing and the Prince of Xi-ping, where he kowtowed to them and begged them to intervene on behalf of Jia She and Cousin Zhen. The princes spoke reassuringly in reply. Jia Zheng went on to visit other friends and colleagues to enlist their support.
Our narrative turns to Jia Lian. He ascertained, from his enquiries in official quarters, that his father and Cousin Zhen were indeed facing a serious charge; and seeing that there was nothing he could do to help, returned despondently home. In his apartment, Patience sat weeping and watching by Xi-feng’s bedside, while Autumn could be heard in the side-room grumbling to herself. When Jia Lian came close to Xi-feng and saw how feeble she was, he could not bring himself to vent his resentment on her. Patience said to him with tears in her eyes:
‘Everything’s gone! We’ll never get any of it back. And look at Mrs Lian, sir. You must send for a doctor.’
‘Psh!’ spat Lian bitterly. ‘I’m only alive by the skin of my teeth; do you expect me to bother on her behalf?’
These words did not escape Xi-feng, and she opened her eyes and looked at Jia Lian in silence. Tears began to trickle down her cheeks. Jia Lian walked out of the room, and Xi-feng said to Patience:
‘You must be more realistic! Now things have come to this, you must put me out of your mind. I only wish I could die today and have done with it! If I still mean anything to you, then the one thing I beg of you is to look after little Qiao-jie when I’m gone. Do that for me, and my soul will thank yours in the next world.’
Patience burst into tears.
‘Come on,’ said Xi-feng, ‘you’re no fool! They may not have come here and said so to my face, but I know they blame me for what’s happened. It’s not true. It was others outside who started it. But I admit I was foolish to lend money and create trouble for myself. All my plans and schemes have come to nothing. My lifetime of striving has been in vain. I’m broken, I’m the lowest of the low. Cousin Zhen took Mr Zhang’s fiancée as a concubine and drove her to her death – that’s one of the charges, isn’t it? Well you know who he is, this Mr Zhang, don’t you? If You Er-jie’s story ever comes to light, Mr Lian will be disgraced. And then how will I ever face the world? I wish I could put an end to everything! But how? I can’t bring myself to swallow gold or take poison. And you talk of sending for a doctor! That’s not showing your love for me; that’s just prolonging my agony!’
Patience grew more and more distraught with every word of Xi-feng’s. She felt deeply for her, and resolved to keep a closer watch on her, for fear she might give in to despair.
Luckily Grandmother Jia knew nothing of such harrowing scenes as these. Her own recovery and peace of mind were much aided by the knowledge of Jia Zheng’s reinstatement, and by the constant presence of Bao-yu and Bao-chai at her side. She had always had a soft spot for Xi-feng, and now she called Faithful to her and said:
‘Take these things of mine over to Mrs Lian. And give Patience some money, so that she can look after her properly. When she is well again, I shall go through the rest of my belongings carefully and see what else I can find for her.’
She also told Lady Wang to see to Lady Xing’s needs. The entire Ning-guo estate, including all their property and servants, had been inventoried and impounded. Grandmother Jia gave orders for a carriage to be sent to fetch You-shi and Jia Rong’s wife. These two forlorn ladies and Cousin Zhen’s two concubines, Lovey and Dove, were the only people left in the once luxurious apartments of Ning-guo House. Not a single servant had been spared. Grandmother Jia set aside an apartment for them next to Xi-chun’s, designated four old serving-ladies and two maids to wait on them, and ordered that their food and other daily requirements should be provided from the main kitchens. She also sent them clothes and other necessities, and instructed the accounts office to issue them the same monthly allowance as members of the Rong-guo branch.
But it was out of the question to squeeze money from accounts to cover the expenses (mainly bribes) now incurred in gaol by Jia She, Cousin Zhen and Jia Rong. Xi-feng was penniless and Jia Lian deeply in debt; while Jia Zheng, in his characteristically ineffectual fashion, could only say:
‘I have had a word with various friends, and am confident they will do whatever they can.’
Jia Lian could think of no way of raising the money. It was no use turning to Xi-feng’s side of the family; the Xues were bankrupt, her elder uncle Wang Zi-teng was dead, and the other Wangs were in no position to help. In the end, in desperation, he secretly sent a man to the Rong-guo country estates with orders to effect an urgent sale of one thousand silver taels’ worth of land. This money he used to provide for the family members in prison. When the servants saw their masters reduced to such measures, some decided to take advantage of the situation and themselves invented excuses for borrowing against the rent due from the family’s eastern estates. But we anticipate a later part of the story.
Grandmother Jia saw the family stripped of its hereditary titles; she saw one of her sons and the two other men in gaol awaiting trial; she heard the incessant lamentations of Lady Xing and You-shi, and knew that Xi-feng was gravely ill. Bao-yu and Bao-chai were some comfort to her, but they could not relieve her of the sorrow and grief that constantly gnawed at her heart. One day towards evening, she sent Bao-yu back to his apartment, and struggling up unaided from her couch instructed Faithful and the other maids to go round the mansion and light incense before every statue of the Buddha. Finally she gave orders for a large bushel-shaped bundle of joss-sticks to be lit in the open, and leaning on her stick walked out into her courtyard. Amber knew that she must be intending to pray, and placed a crimson felt hassock for her to kneel upon. The old lady made her offering of incense, knelt and kowtowed several times. She chanted the name of Buddha, and with tears in her eyes began to pray:
‘Almighty Lord Buddha! I your humble servant, born into the family of Shi, and married into the house of Jia, earnestly beseech you to show your compassion. For many generations we have done no wrong, we have not trodden in the ways of violence or arrogance. I have done my humble and inadequate best to stay in the paths of righteousness, to support my husband and to assist my sons. But the younger generation have acted with wanton recklessness, they have incurred the wrath of providence, and now our home has been raided and our property taken from us. My son and two of the younger men are held in prison and must expect the worst. The blame for all of these misfortunes must rest on my shoulders, for having failed to teach the younger generation the true principles of conduct. Now I kowtow and beg Almighty Heaven to protect us. May those in prison see their sorrow turned to joy, may the ailing swiftly recover their health. May I alone be permitted to carry the whole family’s burden of guilt! And may the sons and grandsons be forgiven! Have pity on me, Almighty Heaven, and heed my devout supplication; send me an early death that I may atone for the sins of my children and grandchildren!’
As this mumbled prayer came to an end, Grandmother Jia broke down and began sobbing so pitifully that she all but choked. Faithful and Amber consoled her, helped her to her feet and escorted her back into the house.
Lady Wang came in shortly afterwards with Bao-yu and Bao-chai to pay their evening respects. Grandmother Jia’s tearful state moved them greatly, and they all three began crying aloud. Bao-chai had her own cause for grief. Her brother’s future was very precarious; no one knew whether his sentence would be reduced or whether he would be released from gaol. As for herself, although Jia Zheng and Lady Wang were not directly affected by recent events, Bao-chai could see that the Jia family was nevertheless crumbling around her, while her own husband continued to behave in as moronic and helpless a fashion as ever. As she contemplated her own plight, her sobs became more heart-rending even than those of Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang.
Bao-yu himself succumbed to despair.
‘Grandmother is crippled with care in her old age, Mother and Father are weighed down with sorrow. My sisters and cousins are gone, scattered like clouds on the four winds, and every day leaves me more alone, with nothing to sustain me but memories of past happiness, of the golden days of the poetry club in the Garden. Ever since Cousin Lin’s death, there’s been nothing I can do to shake off this lethargy and depression, and I only keep myself from perpetual weeping so as not to upset Chai, who worries herself about her brother and grieves for her mother, and rarely so much as lets a smile cross her face.’
Bao-chai’s inconsolable weeping affected him so deeply that finally he began wailing desperately himself, which in its turn upset Faithful, Suncloud, Oriole and Aroma, and soon all of them, each for their separate reasons, were sobbing profusely. Eventually this incapacitating wave of grief spread to the other maids and there was no one left to play the part of comforter. A chorus of lamentation filled the room and reached the ears of the serving-women on night-duty outside, who sent urgent word to Jia Zheng.
Jia Zheng was sitting brooding in his study (as had become his wont) when the news reached him. He sprang up in alarm and hurried towards Grandmother Jia’s apartment. On his way he heard the sound of many voices wailing in the distance and feared the worst for the old lady. His heart sank as he hurried on into her apartment. He found her, however, to his great relief, sobbing but alive and well.
He turned to the assembled family and reproached them:
‘At a time like this, you should be comforting Lady Jia, not making matters worse with all this crying.’
There was a sudden silence, during which they all looked round at each other in amazement. Jia Zheng said a few soothing words to Grandmother Jia, then spoke to the others again before leaving.
‘We came here to cheer Lady Jia up,’ they were thinking to themselves. ‘We meant to comfort her. How could we forget ourselves like this and make matters worse!’
They were still in this state of bewilderment, when an old serving-woman arrived with two women from the Shi household. Having curtseyed to Grandmother Jia and greeted all the others present, they delivered their message:
‘Our Master the Marquis, Her Grace the Marchioness and Miss Shi have sent us with this message: they have heard your news and want to assure you that this will be nothing more than a temporary setback. They were concerned that Sir Zheng and Their Ladyships might be unduly distressed, and asked us particularly to say that Sir Zheng should set his mind at ease. He himself is in no danger. Miss Shi would have come herself, but she is being married in a few days’ time.’
Grandmother Jia felt a little awkward about expressing her gratitude to these serving-women.
‘When you return,’ she said, ‘please convey my regards to your Master and Mistress. What our family has suffered was decreed by fate. Another day I shall call in person to thank the Marquis and Marchioness for their concern. As for Xiang-yun’s marriage, I’m sure they must have found her a fine young man for a husband. I should be so pleased to know a little about his family.’
‘His family is not a particularly wealthy one,’ replied the women. ‘But he is a very nice young man, and has such a gentle nature. We have seen him quite a few times, and he closely resembles your Master Bao. He also has considerable literary talent.’
Grandmother Jia was very pleased with this description.
‘It sounds most suitable I must say. Xiang-yun is a lucky girl. Her family and ours have always abided by the old Southern marriage customs, and that is why none of us have set eyes on the groom to this day. Only recently I was thinking about my own family, and particularly about Xiang-yun. She has always been my favourite. She used to spend over half the year with me when she was a little girl. I had meant to find a nice husband for her myself when she grew up, but with her uncle away from home I could hardly be the one to take the initiative. Well, fortune has smiled on her, and she has found a good match, so now I can set my mind at rest. I know that they’ll be married within the month, and I would have so liked to drink a cup of wine at the reception – but even that’s out of the question I’m afraid. This latest upheaval has quite taken my strength away. Please give them my regards when you return, and say that we all send our very best wishes. And tell Miss Shi she is not to worry on my account. I’m over eighty now, and if I die I shall have no cause to complain. I have had more than my share of blessings. My only prayer is that she and her husband may live happily together to a ripe old age. Then I shall rest content.’
As she spoke, Grandmother Jia could not help weeping. One of the Shi serving-women replied:
‘Please do not distress yourself, Lady Jia. Once Miss Shi is married and has celebrated her Ninth Day, I’m sure she and her husband will come here to pay you their respects. Then you will be able to see them yourself, and that will make you happy.’
Grandmother Jia nodded.
The women left. Bao-yu seemed to be the only person at all affected by the news of Xiang-yun’s impending marriage. He looked somewhat bemused, and thought to himself:
‘Why is it that girls have to get married as soon as they grow up? Once they’re married, they’re bound to change. Even dear Yun has to obey her uncle’s will. Now if we meet again, it will never be the same. She is bound to be distant towards me. What is the point of living, if I am to be forever shunned like this?’
He felt himself becoming tearful again. But for Grandmother Jia’s sake he endeavoured not to weep and instead sat there brooding silently to himself.
Jia Zheng was still concerned for Grandmother Jia’s health, and presently he came in to see how she was. Finding her somewhat improved he went out again and summoned the steward Lai Da, ordering him to bring the complete register of household servants employed in responsible positions. He went over this register with him entry by entry. Apart from Jia She’s servants, who had been taken away, there were more than thirty families on the register, with a total of two hundred and twelve male and female servants. Jia Zheng sent for the forty-one male servants at present employed in the mansion and interrogated them all about the accounts for the past years – checking with them the totals for income and expenditure in their various departments. The chief steward presented the ledgers for inspection, and Jia Zheng could see at a glance that none of the figures balanced. Expenditure outweighed income by far, and additional expenses had been incurred over several years in connection with Her Grace the Imperial Concubine. There were several entries revealing irregular loans raised outside. When he looked at the rents from the family estates in the Eastern provinces, he could see that in recent years income had shrunk to less than half what it had been in his grandfather’s time, while the family’s expenses were ten times as great. This palpable evidence of mismanagement came as a great shock to him, and he stamped his foot angrily:
‘This is monstrous! I thought Lian was competent to handle these things! And now I find that we have been mortgaging ourselves up to the hilt in order to keep up an empty show! We’ve been living far beyond our means. This recklessness was bound to lead to ruin. And it is too late now for me to start introducing economies!’
He paced up and down with his hands behind his back, unable to devise a remedy for the family’s deep-seated economic infirmity. His servants knew that their master had no head for business, and that he would only agitate himself to no avail on this score.
‘It’s no use worrying, sir,’ they advised him. ‘Every household is the same. Even princes of the realm! If you could but see their accounts, you’d find that they fail to balance their books too. They just keep up appearances and muddle along from day to day as best they can. You should think how lucky you’ve been. The Emperor’s been kind and allowed you to keep your part of the family property. Mind you, even if everything had been confiscated, you would still have been able to get by somehow or other!’
‘What nonsense you talk!’ cried Jia Zheng angrily. ‘You servants are worthless rogues, every last one of you! When your masters prosper, you spend their money as you please; and when there’s nothing left to spend, you beat a retreat at the first opportunity. What is it to you if we live or die? You say we are lucky not to have had everything confiscated – but what do you know? Do you realize that with our reputation as it stands at present, we’ll be hard put to it to avoid bankruptcy. And with you putting on airs, acting as if you were rich, talking as if you were important, swindling people left right and centre, we don’t stand a chance. When calamity strikes, you are quite content to see us take all the consequences. I am informed that it was one of your number, a servant by the name of Bao Er, who spread the very rumours that have incriminated my brother and Mr Zhen. Why is his name nowhere to be seen on this register?’
‘Bao Er isn’t officially on our books, sir,’ came the reply. ‘He was originally on the Ning-guo register. Then he caught Mr Lian’s eye as a trustworthy sort of person, and both he and his wife were taken on by Mr Lian. His wife died, and after that he went back to Ning-guo House. Once when you were busy at the Board, sir, and Her Old Ladyship and Their Ladyships and the other young masters were all away mourning at the mausoleum, Mr Zhen came over to inspect things on this side, and brought Bao Er with him. Bao Er went back with him to Ning-guo House again afterwards. It is so many years since you were involved in matters of this nature, sir, and it is hardly surprising if such details slip your mind. You probably think his is the only name not entered on the register. The fact is that every man has several dependants – even servants have servants of their own!’ ‘Preposterous!’ exclaimed Jia Zheng.
An immediate solution to these economic ills still failed to present itself to Jia Zheng’s mind, and he sent the servants away. He had already resolved what general course of action to follow, but decided to wait first to see the nature of the sentence passed on Jia She and Cousin Zhen.
A day or so later, he was in his study puzzling his head over some figures, when a servant came hurrying in to inform him that his presence was immediately required at court. Jia Zheng set off at once, in a state of extreme trepidation. To learn whether the outcome was favourable or otherwise, please turn to the next chapter.