第一一八回

第一一八回 记微嫌舅兄欺弱女 惊谜语妻妾谏痴人

话说邢、王二夫人听尤氏一段话，明知也难挽回。王夫人只得说道：“姑娘要行善，这也是前生的夙根，我们也实在拦不住。只是咱们这样人家的姑娘出了家，不成了事体。如今你嫂子说了准你修行，也是好处。却有一句话要说，那头发可以不剃的，只要自己的心真，那在头发上头呢。你想妙玉也是带发修行的，不知他怎样凡心一动，才闹到那个分儿。姑娘执意如此，我们就把姑娘住的房子便算了姑娘的静室。所有服侍姑娘的人也得叫他们来问：他若愿意跟的，就讲不得说亲配人；若不愿意跟的，另打主意。”惜春听了，收了泪，拜谢了邢、王二夫人、李纨、尤氏等。王夫人说了，便问彩屏等谁愿跟姑娘修行。彩屏等回道：“太太们派谁就是谁。”王夫人知道不愿意，正在想人。袭人立在宝玉身后，想来宝玉必要大哭，防着他的旧病。岂知宝玉叹道：“真真难得。”袭人心里更自伤悲。宝钗虽不言语，遇事试探，见是执迷不醒，只得暗中落泪。王夫人才要叫了众丫头来问。忽见紫鹃走上前去，在王夫人面前跪下，回道：“刚才太太问跟四姑娘的姐姐，太太看着怎么样？”王夫人道：“这个如何强派得人的，谁愿意他自然就说出来了。”紫鹃道：“姑娘修行自然姑娘愿意，并不是别的姐姐们的意思。我有句话回太太，我也并不是拆开姐姐们，各人有各人的心。我服侍林姑娘一场，林姑娘待我也是太太们知道的，实在恩重如山，无以可报。他死了，我恨不得跟了他去。但是他不是这里的人，我又受主子家的恩典，难以从死。如今四姑娘既要修行，我就求太太们将我派了跟着姑娘，服侍姑娘一辈子。不知太太们准不准。若准了，就是我的造化了。”邢、王二夫人尚未答言，只见宝玉听到那里，想起黛玉一阵心酸，眼泪早下来了。众人才要问他时，他又哈哈的大笑，走上来道：“我不该说的。这紫鹃蒙太太派给我屋里，我才敢说。求太太准了他罢，全了他的好心。”王夫人道：“你头里姊妹出了嫁，还哭得死去活来；如今看见四妹妹要出家，不但不劝，倒说好事，你如今到底是怎么个意思，我索性不明白了。”宝玉道：“四妹妹修行是已经准的了，四妹妹也是一定主意了。若是真的，我有一句话告诉太太；若是不定的，我就不敢混说了。”惜春道：“二哥哥说话也好笑，一个人主意不定便扭得过太太们来了？我也是像紫鹃的话，容我呢，是我的造化，不容我呢，还有一个死呢。那怕什么！二哥哥既有话，只管说。”宝玉道：“我这也不算什么泄漏了，这也是一定的。我念一首诗给你们听听罢！”众人道：“人家苦得很的时候，你倒来做诗。怄人！”宝玉道：“不是做诗，我到一个地方儿看了来的。你们听听罢。”众人道：“使得。你就念念，别顺着嘴儿胡诌。”宝玉也不分辩，便说道：

勘破三春景不长，缁衣顿改昔年妆。

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李纨宝钗听了，诧异道：“不好了，这人入了迷了。”王夫人听了这话，点头叹息，便问宝玉：“你到底是那里看来的？”宝玉不便说出来，回道：“太太也不必问，我自有见的地方。”王夫人回过味来，细细一想，便更哭起来道：“你说前儿是顽话，怎么忽然有这首诗？罢了，我知道了，你们叫我怎么样呢！我也没有法儿了，也只得由着你们去罢！但是要等我合上了眼，各自干各自的就完了！”宝钗一面劝着，这个心比刀绞更甚，也掌不住便放声大哭起来。袭人已经哭的死去活来，幸亏秋纹扶着。宝玉也不啼哭，也不相劝，只不言语。贾兰贾环听到那里，各自走开。李纨竭力的解说：“总是宝兄弟见四妹妹修行，他想来是痛极了，不顾前后的疯话，这也作不得准的。独有紫鹃的事情准不准，好叫他起来。”王夫人道：“什么依不依，横竖一个人的主意定了，那也是扭不过来的。可是宝玉说的也是一定的了。”紫鹃听了磕头。惜春又谢了王夫人。紫鹃又给宝玉宝钗磕了头。宝玉念声“阿弥陀佛！难得，难得。不料你倒先好了！”宝钗虽然有把持，也难掌住。只有袭人，也顾不得王夫人在上，便痛哭不止，说：“我也愿意跟了四姑娘去修行。”宝玉笑道：“你也是好心，但是你不能享这个清福的。”袭人哭道：“这么说，我是要死的了！”宝玉听到那里，倒觉伤心，只是说不出来。因时已五更，宝玉请王夫人安歇，李纨等各自散去。彩屏等暂且服侍惜春回去，后来指配了人家。紫鹃终身服侍，毫不改初。此是后话。

且言贾政扶了贾母灵柩一路南行，因遇着班师的兵将船只过境，河道拥挤，不能速行，在道实在心焦。幸喜遇见了海疆的官员，闻得镇海统制钦召回京，想来探春一定回家，略略解些烦心。只打听不出起程的日期，心里又烦躁。想到盘费算来不敷，不得已写书一封，差人到赖尚荣〔一〕任上借银五百，叫人沿途迎上来应需用。那人去了几日，贾政的船才行得十数里。那家人回来，迎上船只，将赖尚荣的禀启呈上。书内告了多少苦处，备上白银五十两。贾政看了生气，即命家人立刻送还，将原书发回，叫他不必费心。那家人无奈，只得回到赖尚荣任所。

赖尚荣接到原书银两，心中烦闷，知事办得不周到，又添了一百，央求来人带回，帮着说些好话。岂知那人不肯带回，撂下就走了。赖尚荣心下不安，立刻修书到家，回明他父亲，叫他设法告假赎出身来。于是赖家托了贾蔷贾芸等在王夫人面前乞恩放出。贾蔷明知不能，过了一日，假说王夫人不依的话回复了。赖家一面告假，一面差人到赖尚荣任上，叫他告病辞官。王夫人并不知道。

那贾芸听见贾蔷的假话，心里便没想头，连日在外又输了好些银钱，无所抵偿，便和贾环相商。贾环本是一个钱没有的，虽是赵姨娘积蓄些微，早被他弄光了，那能照应人家。便想起凤姐待他刻薄，要趁贾琏不在家要摆布巧姐出气，遂把这个当叫贾芸来上，故意的埋怨贾芸道：“你们年纪又大，放着弄银钱的事又不敢办，倒和我没有钱的人相商。”贾芸道：“三叔，你这话说的倒好笑，咱们一块儿顽，一块儿闹，那里有银钱的事。”贾环道：“不是前儿有人说是外藩要买个偏房，你们何不和王大舅商量把巧姐说给他呢？”贾芸道：“叔叔，我说句招你生气的话，外藩花了钱买人，还想能和咱们走动么。”贾环在贾芸耳边说了些话，贾芸虽然点头，只道贾环是小孩子的话，也不当事。恰好王仁走来说道：“你们两个人商量些什么，瞒着我么？”贾芸便将贾环的话附耳低言的说了。王仁拍手道：“这倒是一种好事，又有银子。只怕你们不能，若是你们敢办，我是亲舅舅，做得主的。只要环老三在大太太跟前那么一说，我找邢大舅再一说，太太们问起来你们齐打伙说好就是了。”贾环等商议定了，王仁便去找邢大舅，贾芸便去回邢、王二夫人，说得锦上添花。

王夫人听了虽然入耳，只是不信。邢夫人听得邢大舅知道，心里愿意，便打发人找了邢大舅来问他。那邢大舅已经听了王仁的话，又可分肥，便在邢夫人跟前说道：“若说这位郡王，是极有体面的。若应了这门亲事，虽说是不是正配，保管一过了门，姊夫的官早复了，这里的声势又好了。”邢夫人本是没主意人，被傻大舅一番假话哄得心动，请了王仁来一问，更说得热闹。于是邢夫人倒叫人出去追着贾芸去说。王仁即刻找了人去到外藩公馆说了。那外藩不知底细，便要打发人来相看。贾芸又钻了[2]相看的人，说明“原是瞒着合宅的，只说是王府相亲。等到成了，他祖母作主，亲舅舅的保山，是不怕的。”那相看的人应了。贾芸便送信与邢夫人，并回了王夫人。那李纨宝钗等不知原故，只道是件好事，也都欢喜。

那日果然来了几个女人，都是艳妆丽服。邢夫人接了进去，叙了些闲话。那来人本知是个诰命，也不敢待慢。邢夫人因事未定，也没有和巧姐说明，只说有亲戚来瞧，叫他去见。那巧姐到底是个小孩子，那管这些，便跟了奶妈过来。平儿不放心，也跟着来。只见有两个宫人打扮的，见了巧姐便浑身上下一看，更又起身来拉着巧姐的手又瞧了一遍，略坐了一坐就走了。倒把巧姐看得羞臊，回到房中纳闷，想来没有这门亲戚，便问平儿。平儿先看见来头，却也猜着八九必是相亲的。“但是二爷不在家，大太太作主，到底不知是那府里的。若说是对头亲[3]，不该这样相看。瞧那几个人的来头，不像是本支王府[4]，好像是外头路数。如今且不必和姑娘说明，且打听明白再说。”

平儿心下留神打听。那些丫头婆子都是平儿使过的，平儿一问，所有听见外头的风声都告诉了。平儿便吓的没了主意，虽不和巧姐说，便赶着去告诉了李纨宝钗，求他二人告诉王夫人。王夫人知道这事不好，便和邢夫人说知。怎奈邢夫人信了兄弟并王仁的话，反疑心王夫人不是好意，便说：“孙女儿也大了，现在琏儿不在家，这件事我还做得主。况且是他亲舅爷爷和他亲舅舅打听的，难道倒比别人不真么！我横竖是愿意的。倘有什么不好，我和琏儿也抱怨不着别人！”

王夫人听了这些话，心下暗暗生气，勉强说些闲话，便走了出来，告诉了宝钗，自己落泪。宝玉劝道：“太太别烦恼，这件事我看来是不成的。这又是巧姐儿命里所招，只求太太不管就是了。”王夫人道：“你一开口就是疯话。人家说定了就要接过去。若依平儿的话，你琏二哥可不抱怨我么。别说自己的侄孙女儿，就是亲戚家的，也是要好才好。邢姑娘是我们作媒的，配了你二大舅子，如今和和顺顺的过日子不好么。那琴姑娘梅家娶了去，听见说是丰衣足食的很好。就是史姑娘是他叔叔的主意，头里原好，如今姑爷痨病死了，你史妹妹立志守寡，也就苦了。若是巧姐儿错给了人家儿，可不是我的心坏？”

正说着，平儿过来瞧宝钗，并探听邢夫人的口气。王夫人将邢夫人的话说了一遍。平儿呆了半天，跪下求道：“巧姐儿终身全仗着太太。若信了人家的话，不但姑娘一辈子受了苦，便是琏二爷回来怎么说呢！”王夫人道：“你是个明白人，起来，听我说。巧姐儿到底是大太太孙女儿，他要作主，我能够拦他么？”宝玉劝道：“无妨碍的，只要明白就是了。”平儿生怕宝玉疯颠嚷出来，也并不言语，回了王夫人竟自去了。

这里王夫人想到烦闷，一阵心痛，叫丫头扶着勉强回到自己房中躺下，不叫宝玉宝钗过来，说睡睡就好的。自己却也烦闷，听见说李婶娘来了也不及接待。只见贾兰进来请了安，回道：“今早爷爷那里打发人带了一封书子来，外头小子们传进来的。我母亲接了正要过来，因我老娘来了，叫我先呈给太太瞧，回来我母亲就过来来回太太。还说我老娘要过来呢。”说着，一面把书子呈上。王夫人一面接书，一面问道：“你老娘来作什么？”贾兰道：“我也不知道。我只见我老娘说，我三姨儿的婆婆家有什么信儿来了。”王夫人听了，想起来还是前次给甄宝玉说了李绮，后来放定下茶，想来此时甄家要娶过门，所以李婶娘来商量这件事情，便点点头儿。一面拆开书信，见上面写着道：

近因沿途俱系海疆凯旋船只，不能迅速前行。闻探姐随翁婿来都，不知曾有信否？前接到琏侄手禀，知大老爷身体欠安，亦不知已有确信否？宝玉兰哥场期已近，务须实心用功，不可怠惰。老太太灵柩抵家，尚需日时。我身体平善，不必挂念。此谕宝玉等知道。月日手书。蓉儿另禀。

王夫人看了，仍旧递给贾兰，说：“你拿去给你二叔叔瞧瞧，还交给你母亲罢。”

正说着，李纨同李婶娘过来。请安问好毕，王夫人让了坐。李婶娘便将甄家要娶李绮的话说了一遍。大家商议了一会子。李纨因问王夫人道：“老爷的书子太太看过了么？”王夫人道：“看过了。”贾兰便拿着给他母亲瞧。李纨看了道：“三姑娘出门了好几年，总没有来，如今要回京了。太太也放了好些心。”王夫人道：“我本是心痛，看见探丫头要回来了，心里略好些。只是不知几时才到。”李婶娘便问了贾政在路好。李纨因向贾兰道：“哥儿瞧见了？场期近了，你爷爷惦记的什么似的。你快拿了去给二叔叔瞧去罢。”李婶娘道：“他们爷儿两个又没进过学，怎么能下场呢？”王夫人道：“他爷爷做粮道的起身时，给他们爷儿两个援了例监[5]了。”李婶娘点头。贾兰一面拿着书子出来，来找宝玉。

却说宝玉送了王夫人去后，正拿着《秋水》[6]一篇在那里细玩。宝钗从里间走出，见他看的得意忘言，便走过来一看，见是这个，心里着实烦闷。细想他只顾把这些出世离群的话当作一件正经事，终久不妥。看他这种光景，料劝不过来，便坐在宝玉旁边，怔怔的坐着。宝玉见他这般，便道：“你这又是为什么？”宝钗道：“我想你我既为夫妇，你便是我终身的倚靠，却不在情欲之私。论起荣华富贵，原不过是过眼烟云，但自古圣贤，以人品根柢为重。”宝玉也没听完，把那书本搁在旁边，微微的笑道：“据你说人品根柢，又是什么古圣贤，你可知古圣贤说过‘不失其赤子之心’[7]。那赤子有什么好处，不过是无知无识无贪无忌。我们生来已陷溺在贪嗔痴爱中，犹如污泥一般，怎么能跳出这般尘网。如今才晓得‘聚散浮生’四字，古人说了，不曾提醒一个。既要讲到人品根柢，谁是到那太初一步地位的！”宝钗道：“你既说‘赤子之心’，古圣贤原以忠孝为赤子之心，并不是遁世离群无关无系为赤子之心。尧舜禹汤周孔时刻以救民济世为心，所谓赤子之心，原不过是‘不忍’二字[8]。若你方才所说的，忍于抛弃天伦，还成什么道理？”宝玉点头笑道：“尧舜不强巢许，武周不强夷齐。”[9]宝钗不等他说完，便道：“你这个话益发不是了。古来若都是巢许夷齐，为什么如今人又把尧舜周孔称为圣贤呢！况且你自比夷齐，更不成话，伯夷叔齐原是生在商末世，有许多难处之事，所以才有托而逃。当此圣世，咱们世受国恩，祖父锦衣玉食；况你自有生以来，自去世的老太太以及老爷太太视如珍宝。你方才所说，自己想一想是与不是。”宝玉听了，也不答言，只有仰头微笑。宝钗因又劝道：“你既理屈词穷，我劝你从此把心收一收，好好的用用功。但能博得一第，便是从此而止，也不枉天恩祖德了。”宝玉点了点头，叹了口气说道：“一第呢，其实也不是什么难事，倒是你这个‘从此而止，不枉天恩祖德’却还不离其宗。”宝钗未及答言，袭人过来说道：“刚才二奶奶说的古圣先贤，我们也不懂。我只想着我们这些人从小儿辛辛苦苦跟着二爷，不知陪了多少小心，论起理来原该当的，但只二爷也该体谅体谅。况二奶奶替二爷在老爷太太跟前行了多少孝道，就是二爷不以夫妻为事，也不可太辜负了人心。至于神仙那一层更是谎话，谁见过有走到凡间来的神仙呢！那里来的这么个和尚，说了些混话，二爷就信了真。二爷是读书的人，难道他的话比老爷太太还重么！”宝玉听了，低头不语。

袭人还要说时，只听外面脚步走响，隔着窗户问道：“二叔在屋里呢么？”宝玉听了，是贾兰的声音，便站起来笑道：“你进来罢。”宝钗也站起来。贾兰进来，笑容可掬的给宝玉宝钗请了安，问了袭人的好——袭人也问了好——便把书子呈给宝玉瞧。宝玉接在手中看了，便道：“你三姑姑回来了。”贾兰道：“爷爷既如此写，自然是回来的了。”宝玉点头不语，默默如有所思。贾兰便问：“叔叔看见爷爷后头写的叫咱们好生念书了？叔叔这一程〔二〕子只怕总没作文章罢？”宝玉笑道：“我也要作几篇熟一熟手，好去诓这个功名。”贾兰道：“叔叔既这样，就拟几个题目，我跟着叔叔作作，也好进去混场，别到那时交了白卷子惹人笑话。不但笑话我，人家连叔叔都要笑话了。”宝玉道：“你也不至如此。”说着，宝钗命贾兰坐下。宝玉仍坐在原处，贾兰侧身坐了。两个谈了一回文，不觉喜动颜色。宝钗见他爷儿两个谈得高兴，便仍进屋里去了。心中细想宝玉此时光景，或者醒悟过来了，只是刚才说话，他把那“从此而止”四字单单的许可，这又不知是什么意思了。宝钗尚自犹豫，惟有袭人看他爱讲文章，提到下场，更又欣然。心里想道：“阿弥陀佛！好容易讲四书似的才讲过来了！”这里宝玉和贾兰讲文，莺儿沏过茶来，贾兰站起来接了。又说了一会子下场的规矩并请甄宝玉在一处的话，宝玉也甚似愿意。一时贾兰回去，便将书子留给宝玉了。

那宝玉拿着书子，笑嘻嘻走进来递给麝月收了，便出来将那本《庄子》收了，把几部向来最得意的，如《参同契》、《元命苞》、《五灯会元》[11]之类，叫出麝月秋纹莺儿等都搬了搁在一边。宝钗见他这番举动，甚为罕异，因欲试探他，便笑问道：“不看他倒是正经，但又何必搬开呢。”宝玉道：“如今才明白过来了。这些书都算不得什么，我还要一火焚之，方为干净。”宝钗听了，更欣喜异常。只听宝玉口中微吟道：“内典语中无佛性，金丹法外有仙舟。”[12]宝钗也没很听真，只听得“无佛性”“有仙舟”几个字，心中转又狐疑，且看他作何光景。宝玉便命麝月秋纹等收拾一间静室，把那些语录名稿及应制诗之类都找出来搁在静室中，自己却当真静静的用起功来。宝钗这才放了心。

那袭人此时真是闻所未闻，见所未见，便悄悄的笑着向宝钗道：“到底奶奶说话透彻，只一路讲究，就把二爷劝明白了。就只可惜迟了一点儿，临场太近了。”宝钗点头微笑道：“功名自有定数，中与不中倒也不在用功的迟早。但愿他从此一心巴结正路，把从前那些邪魔永不沾染就是好了。”说到这里，见房里无人，便悄说道：“这一番悔悟回来固然很好，但只一件，怕又犯了前头的旧病，和女孩儿们打起交道来，也是不好。”袭人道：“奶奶说的也是。二爷自从信了和尚，才把这些姐妹冷淡了；如今不信和尚，真怕又要犯了前头的旧病呢。我想奶奶和我二爷原不大理会，紫鹃去了，如今只他们四个，这里头就是五儿有些个狐媚子，听见说他妈求了大奶奶和奶奶，说要讨出去给人家儿呢，但是这两天到底在这里呢。麝月秋纹虽没别的，只是二爷那几年也都有些顽顽皮皮的。如今算来只有莺儿二爷倒不大理会，况且莺儿也稳重。我想倒茶弄水只叫莺儿带着小丫头们服侍就够了，不知奶奶心里怎么样。”宝钗道：“我也虑的是这些，你说的倒也罢了。”从此便派莺儿带着小丫头服侍。

那宝玉却也不出房门，天天只差人去给王夫人请安。王夫人听见他这番光景，那一种欣慰之情，更不待言了。到了八月初三，这一日正是贾母的冥寿[13]。宝玉早晨过来磕了头，便回去，仍到静室中去了。饭后，宝钗袭人等都和姊妹们跟着邢、王二夫人在前面屋里说闲话儿。宝玉自在静室冥心危坐，忽见莺儿端了一盘瓜果进来说：“太太叫人送来给二爷吃的。这是老太太的克什〔三〕[15]。”宝玉站起来答应了，复又坐下，便道：“搁在那里罢。”莺儿一面放下瓜果，一面悄悄向宝玉道：“太太那里夸二爷呢。”宝玉微笑。莺儿又道：“太太说了，二爷这一用功，明儿进场中了出来，明年再中了进士，作了官，老爷太太可就不枉了盼二爷了。”宝玉也只点头微笑。莺儿忽然想起那年给宝玉打络子的时候宝玉说的话来，便道：“真要二爷中了，那可是我们姑奶奶的造化了。二爷还记得那一年在园子里，不是二爷叫我打梅花络子时说的，我们姑奶奶后来带着我不知到那一个有造化的人家儿去呢。如今二爷可是有造化的罢咧。”宝玉听到这里，又觉尘心一动，连忙敛神定息，微微的笑道：“据你说来，我是有造化的，你们姑娘也是有造化的，你呢？”莺儿把脸飞红了，勉强道：“我们不过当丫头一辈子罢咧，有什么造化呢！”宝玉笑道：“果然能够一辈子是丫头，你这个造化比我们还大呢！”莺儿听见这话似乎又是疯话了，恐怕自己招出宝玉的病根来，打算着要走。只见宝玉笑着说道：“傻丫头，我告诉你罢。”未知宝玉又说出什么话来，且听下回分解。

〔一〕 “赖尚荣”，原作“赖荣”，从藤本、程乙本改。下“赖尚荣心下不安”同。

[2] 钻（zuàn攥）了——意即诳骗。

[3] 对头亲——门当户对的亲事。

[4] 本支王府——属于皇族宗室的王府，与异姓王相对。

[5] 援了例监——明清制度，由捐纳取得监生资格者称为例监。援：引用成例。

[6] 《秋水》——《庄子》篇名。这是一篇富于哲理的寓言，借秋天河水入海的浩渺景象抒发天道难穷而人的智能有限的感慨。全篇用各种生动的譬喻说明大与小、是与非、善与恶都是相对的，主张率性自然、无所追求。因此被宝钗看作“出世离群”之作。

[7] 不失其赤子之心——语出《孟子·离娄下》。赤子：婴儿。

[8] “不忍”二字——不忍加害于人之意。语出《孟子·公孙丑上》，全句为“人皆有不忍人之心”。

[9] 尧舜不强巢许，武周不强夷齐——巢许：即巢父和许由，相传为唐尧时的隐士。尧要让天下给巢父，他不受，尧又让许由，由也引以为耻，逃走隐居起来。见《庄子·让王》及《史记·伯夷列传》注引皇甫谧《高士传》。武周：西周的武王和周公；夷齐：即伯夷叔齐，相传为殷代孤竹君之二子。武王灭殷，天下宗周，伯夷叔齐义不食周粟，隐居首阳山，终于饿死。见《史记·伯夷列传》。

〔二〕 “这一程子”，原作“这一成子”，藤本同。程乙本作“这成子”。从王本、金本改。

[11] 《参同契》、《元命苞》、《五灯会元》——《参同契》：道教书名，全称《周易参同契》，东汉魏伯阳著，意在将“大易”、“黄老”、“炉火”三家理法参照会同而契合为一。《元命苞》：“春秋纬”之一种，其书已佚，仅存遗编残图。纬书是西汉末假托经义而言符箓瑞应之书。《五灯会元》：佛教书名，宋代普济编，取《传灯录》、《广灯录》、《续灯录》、《联灯会要》及《普灯录》撮要汇编而成。

[12] 内典、金丹、仙舟——内典：佛典之通称。佛家称佛经教典为内典，称佛典以外的典籍为外典。金丹：道家炼得的所谓长生不老药。仙舟：借指求仙的途径。

[13] 冥寿——即阴寿。为已故父祖的逢十生辰行寿礼称为做阴寿。

〔三〕 “克什”，藤本、程乙本同，王本、金本作“冥供”。

[15] 克什——满语。清·福格《听语丛谈》卷十一“克食”条：“克食二字，或作克什，盖满汉字谐音书写……考清语‘克什’之义，为恩也，赐予也，赏赉也。”此指供品，分得撤供后赏赐的食品，有托庇福荫之意。

CHAPTER 118. Provoked by a rankling antipathy, Uncle and Cousin plot the ruin of an innocent maid Alarmed by riddling utterances, Wife and Concubine remonstrate with their idiot master

Lady Xing and Lady Wang judged from You-shi’s words that the situation was irretrievable.

‘If our niece wishes to become a nun,’ said Lady Wang, in a tone of resignation, ‘then it must have been decreed in some earlier life. This is evidently her karma, and there is nothing we can do to prevent it. But none the less, it would look very bad for a girl from a family such as ours to enter a nunnery. That really is unthinkable.’

She turned to Xi-chun:

‘Your sister-in-law has given you her permission, and we can only lend our approval to hers. But I must ask you not to shave your head. What matters is your state of mind, not your hair-style. After all, Adamantina never shaved hers. Talking of which, I simply cannot understand that dreadful business! How could she have succumbed to temptation so easily? Anyway, if your mind is really and truly made up, then we shall simply have to consider your present apartment your hermitage. Your maids and servants had better be sent for, and we can give them a choice. Those who wish to stay on with you can do so, and we’ll find husbands for the others.’

Xi-chun stopped crying at last, and bowed gratefully to Ladies Xing and Wang, Li Wan, You-shi and the others present.

Lady Wang now addressed Landscape and Xi-chun’s other maids:

‘Which of you wishes to enter the religious life with your mistress?’

‘We will do whatever you command, ma’am,’ was their response.

Lady Wang could tell that they were none of them genuinely willing and tried to think who else would be suitable to wait on Xi-chun in her new life. Aroma was standing behind Bao-yu, fully expecting this decision of Xi-chun’s to move him to tears and provoke one of his fits, but to her surprise and considerable distress, he merely sighed with admiration and exclaimed:

‘What a rare resolve!’

Bao-chai made no comment. But she was constantly on the lookout for telltale signs to help her gauge her husband’s innermost feelings and intentions, and could not help but weep at this further evidence (so she thought) of his deluded mind.

Lady Wang was about to summon all the other maids and question them, when Nightingale suddenly came forward and fell to her knees:

‘Have you decided yet, ma’am, who would be most suitable to wait on Miss Xi-chun?’

‘I have no intention of forcing anyone,’ replied Lady Wang. ‘Whoever is willing must speak up.’

‘Miss Xi-chun has chosen a religious life,’ said Nightingale. ‘But none of her maids, or so it seems, shares this aspiration of hers. I have something I should like to say, ma’am. It’s not that I wish Miss Xi-chun to be parted from her maids. But aspirations differ. I served Miss Lin for a long time, and as you know, ma’am, she treated me with a kindness that I shall never be able to repay. When she died, my one wish was to follow her to the grave; but because she was not a member of this family, and because I also owe so much to all of you, it was hard for me to take that step. Now that Miss Xi-chun wishes to become a nun, I beg Your Ladyships to let me go with her and devote the rest of my days to serving her. If Your Ladyships will only grant me this wish, my life will not have been in vain!’

When Nightingale had finished speaking, and before either Lady Xing or Lady Wang could reply, Bao-yu, who at the initial mention of Dai-yu’s name had begun to show ominous signs of being distressed and tearful, suddenly gave a loud laugh and came forward:

‘I have no business saying this, I know, but since you were so good as to send Nightingale to work in my apartment, Mother, I hope you will forgive me for speaking my mind. Please grant her this request, and allow her to carry out this fine resolution of hers.’

‘If it were any of your other cousins leaving home to get married,’ replied Lady Wang, ‘you would be crying your heart out. But now, when Xi-chun says she wants to leave home and become a nun, so far from trying to dissuade her, you actually praise her for it. I’m afraid I completely fail to understand what’s going on in your mind.’

‘First let me know whether this matter is settled,’ said Bao-yu. ‘Has Xi-chun definitely made up her mind? And has she definitely received your permission? If so, if it is real, then there is something further I should like to tell you, Mother. But if it is still not settled, I shall keep what I know to myself.’

‘What a peculiar way to talk!’ exclaimed Xi-chun. ‘If I were not in earnest, do you honestly think I would have been able to convince my aunts? I feel the same way as Nightingale: if they will let me do as I wish, I shall count myself blessed; if they will not, I should rather die than continue living my present life! So, there’s nothing to fear. Whatever you have to say, just go ahead and say it.’

‘If I do tell you this, it’s hardly divulging a secret,’ said Bao-yu, ‘since it refers to something already predestined. I want you all to listen while I recite a poem.’

‘Honestly!’ they chided him. ‘At a moment like this, with real people really suffering, all you can think about is poetry! It’s sickening!’

‘It’s not something of my own. It’s a poem I once saw somewhere. I’d like you to listen to it.’

‘Oh very well. Hurry up then. Enough of your prattling!’

Bao-yu did not try to explain himself any further, but began to recite:

‘When you see through the spring scene’s transient state, A nun’s black habit shall replace your own. Alas, that daughter of so great a house By Buddha’s altar lamp should sleep alone!’

Li Wan and Bao-chai both cried out in alarm:

‘Lord save us! He’s bewitched!’

Lady Wang shook her head and sighed:

‘Bao-yu, where on earth did you see this poem?’

Bao-yu was reluctant to say any more, and replied:

‘Please don’t ask, Mother. Just take my word for it.’

As the meaning of the poem gradually sank in, Lady Wang began sobbing again:

‘You said you were joking the other day, when you talked of becoming a monk yourself. And now this poem all of a sudden! Enough! I understand. What am I to do? There is nothing I can do, but let you go your own ways. If only you could have waited till I was dead and gone! Then you could all have done as you pleased!’

Bao-chai tried to console her, but was in no fit state to do so. The pain she herself felt was like a knife-wound piercing her heart, and eventually she broke down and burst into tears. Aroma was faint with weeping and had to be supported by Ripple. Bao-yu did not shed a single tear, nor did he try to offer them any solace. He maintained a total silence. Jia Lan and Jia Huan had already left, and it fell to Li Wan to do what she could to save the situation:

‘I’m sure it’s simply that Bao-yu is too upset by this decision of Xi-chun’s to know what he is saying. We should not take it seriously. Nightingale must receive an answer, though; we must let her stand up. Is she to be granted her request or not?’

‘What difference does it make?’ replied Lady Wang. ‘Her mind is clearly made up in any case, and when a person’s mind is made up there’s no stopping them. No doubt Bao-yu will tell us that this decision of Nightingale’s is predestined too.’

Nightingale kowtowed, and Xi-chun thanked Lady Wang. Nightingale also kowtowed to Bao-yu and Bao-chai.

‘Amida Buddha!’ exclaimed Bao-yu piously. ‘How noble! How rare! I never thought that you would be the first of us to be saved!’

Bao-chai’s self-control failed her again, and Aroma, heedless of Lady Wang’s presence, burst out sobbing and cried:

‘I want to go with Miss Xi-chun too, and spend the rest of my life in prayer!’

Bao-yu smiled:

‘Yours is also a fine aspiration. But alas, a life of seclusion has not been decreed you by fate.’

‘Then I would rather die!’ sobbed Aroma.

Despite his new-found detachment, Bao-yu could not help being moved by this declaration. But he said nothing.

It was already three o’clock in the morning, and he suggested to his mother that she should retire for the night. Li Wan went back to her apartment, and Landscape escorted Xi-chun to her room, where she continued to wait on her for the time being. Husbands were eventually found for each of Xi-chun’s maids, and Nightingale spent the rest of her days faithfully serving her. But we anticipate.

Jia Zheng, meanwhile, was on his way south with Grandmother Jia’s coffin, and had run into an army convoy returning to the capital after the victorious completion of a campaign. The canal was hopelessly congested with military transport boats, and the delay made Jia Zheng extremely fretful. His one consolation was an encounter with an official from the Coastal Defence Yamen, who informed him that the Commandant, Tan-chun’s father-in-law, had been recalled to the capital. Tan-chun would now be able to visit home, although there was no indication when she would be travelling.

Another consequence of the delay was that Jia Zheng found himself running short of cash. He was obliged to write a letter and have it delivered to the yamen of Steward Lai’s son, Lai Shang-rong, who happened to be a mandarin in the vicinity, asking him for a loan of five hundred silver taels. The servant entrusted with this mission was told to bring the money and overtake Jia Zheng further along the canal.

A few days and a dozen or so li later, the servant reappeared and came on board the boat with Lai Shang-rong’s reply. The letter was full of tales of woe of one sort or another, and enclosed fifty taels of silver. Jia Zhen was furious, and without a moment’s hesitation ordered the servant to return:

‘Take him back his money this instant! And he can have his letter too! Tell him not to bother!’

The poor servant did as he was ordered and returned to Lai’s yamen. Lai, perturbed at having both his letter and his paltry offering returned, and knowing that he had behaved meanly, made up another package, this time enclosing an additional hundred taels, and begged the servant to take it back with him to Jia Zheng. But despite Lai’s pleas and blandishments, the man absolutely refused, and returned to the boat empty-handed.

Lai Shang-rong was most apprehensive about the consequences of this episode, and immediately wrote to his father at Rong-guo House, advising him to take some leave and if possible to buy his way out of service. When Steward Lai received his son’s letter, he asked Jia Qiang and Jia Yun to plead with Lady Wang for his release. Jia Qiang knew quite well that it would be futile even to try; he let a day go by and then gave a false report that Lady Wang had refused his request. So Lai took a few days’ leave, and meanwhile sent a messenger to his son’s yamen, advising him also to plead sick and relinquish his official post. Lady Wang knew nothing whatsoever about all these goings-on.

Jia Yun was most disappointed to hear Jia Qiang turn down Lai’s request. It (or, rather, the commission it might have brought) had seemed his last chance of recouping the enormous gambling losses he had incurred over the past several days. His only other hope was to apply to Jia Huan for a loan. But Jia Huan was in no position to act as his creditor, having himself never had a penny of his own, and having already squandered his mother’s savings. If Yun failed to raise a loan, he did however succeed in stirring Jia Huan to fresh thoughts of revenge. Memories of Xi-feng’s cruelty still rankled in Jia Huan’s mind; and with Jia Lian away, he was more than ready to vent some of his spleen on Qiao-jie. The loan-seeking Jia Yun seemed an ideal accomplice.

‘You’re not a boy any longer, Yun!’ he grumbled provocatively. ‘Why come asking for a loan from a pauper like me when there’s a chance of making a nice little profit?’

‘Tell us another!’ replied Yun. ‘We’ve just been having a bit of a lark. I never saw any chances for profit passing us by.’

‘What was that a day or two ago about a Mongol prince wanting to buy himself a concubine? Why not talk it over with Dumbo, and offer the prince Qiao-jie?’

‘This may make you cross when I say it, Uncle Huan,’ replied Jia Yun. ‘But I’d better say it all the same. Supposing the prince did buy a concubine from our family, he’d probably never want anything more to do with us afterwards.’

In response to this, Jia Huan whispered something in Jia Yun’s ear and Yun nodded casually, judging the proposal to be a passing whim of Huan’s and not worthy of serious consideration. At that very moment Wang Ren happened along.

‘What are you two plotting?’ he asked. ‘Trying to keep me in the dark, are you?’

Jia Yun communicated to him, sotto voce, the substance of Jia Huan’s scheme, and Wang Ren clapped his hands enthusiastically.

‘Bravo! A capital idea! Lucrative too! But can you really pull it off? If you’ve the guts to go through with it, I’ll back you up. Don’t forget I’m her uncle. It’s my decision, after all. You just put the plan to Lady Xing, Huan, old chap, while I have a word with Dumbo. If the aunts start asking questions, we must be sure to back each other up with the same story.’

When this conference was over, Wang Ren went to find Dumbo, while Jia Yun went to impart the good news to Ladies Xing and Wang, adding many an enticing embellishment. Lady Wang made a note of the proposal, but was somewhat sceptical. Lady Xing on the other hand, when she heard that her brother knew, seemed in favour of the idea and sent for Dumbo to supply her with more details. Dumbo had already been briefed by Wang Ren (and had needless to say been offered his cut in the profits from the enterprise), and therefore when summoned to his sister’s apartment he knew what to say:

‘This prince is a very important man. Of course, what you’re being asked to consent to is not for her to become a proper wife exactly; but as soon as she goes to him I can guarantee that brother-in-law will get his job back and the family as a whole recover a bit of its old pull.’

Lady Xing had no real mind of her own. She was taken in by Dumbo’s story and invited Wang Ren to come and talk the matter over with her. Wang Ren’s enthusiastic support for the project finally swayed the balance. She communicated her consent to Jia Yun, while Wang Ren went ahead at once and sent word to the prince’s palace.

The prince for his part was unaware of all this behind-the-scenes activity. He was merely planning to despatch some of his ladies to examine the girl’s physiognomy and suitability to enter his harem. Jia Yun managed to have a word with the ladies in private before-hand:

‘None of the girl’s own family know the truth about this. So far as they are concerned, the prince is thinking of taking the girl as one of his wives. Once she is installed, everything will be all right, have no fear. Her grandmother has given her consent, and her uncle Wang Ren is acting as go-between.’

The ladies agreed to co-operate. Jia Yun went to give Lady Xing the latest news, and informed Lady Wang of the ‘match’. Li Wan and Bao-chai had no inkling of the truth and received the news of the princely ‘wedding’ with pleasure.

On the day appointed, several splendidly attired palace ladies arrived, and were received and entertained for a while by Lady Xing. They were soon aware that the lady with whom they were dealing was of considerable rank, and were most respectful towards her. As the terms of the transaction had not been finally agreed upon, Lady Xing had said nothing to Qiao-jie but had merely informed her that some relatives had come to call and asked her to go out and see them. Qiao-jie, who was little more than a child, and too young to suspect anything, went with her old nanny and Patience, who felt a little uneasy and insisted on accompanying her charge. The minute Qiao-jie entered the room the two palace ladies began subjecting her to a penetrating scrutiny, ogling her entire person, top to toe. They then rose to their feet, took her by the hand and looked her over once more, after which they sat down again for a few minutes and then left. Qiao-jie was most embarrassed by all this staring, and when she returned to her room she sat puzzling it over to herself. She could not recall ever having seen these ‘relatives’ before, and said as much to Patience, who for her part, as soon as she had seen the way the two women were carrying on, had guessed the truth.

‘They’re obviously examining her with a view to marriage,’ she thought to herself. ‘But with Mr Lian away from home, the responsibility for this rests with Lady Xing, and I’ve no idea which family is involved. A family of the same rank as ours would never go in for all this staring. Anyway, those women didn’t look as if they came from one of the royal princely establishments. There was something rather outlandish about them. I’d better not say anything to Qiao-jie for the present, but wait until I know more myself.’

Patience set about discovering the truth of the matter, and since the maids and serving-women concerned had all worked under her at one time or another in the past, they were well disposed and immediately gave her the information she wanted. She was horrified, and racked her brains for some means of averting this catastrophe. She still thought it wiser to say nothing to Qiao-jie, but hurried over to inform Li Wan and Bao-chai, begging them to lay the matter before Lady Wang.

Lady Wang herself had already sensed that there was something amiss, and had said as much to Lady Xing. But Lady Xing was quite taken in by her brother and Wang Ren, and instead of paying any heed to Lady Wang’s words, rather suspected some ulterior motive in her opposition to the scheme.

‘The girl is of age,’ she replied. ‘With Lian away from home, the decision in this matter is mine. And besides, my brother and the girl’s own uncle have both looked into it thoroughly. Surely they know the truth. I am very much in favour of the idea. And you needn’t worry; if anything should go wrong, Lian and I are not going to start laying the blame at your door.’

Lady Wang made some perfunctory reply, but was secretly furious with Lady Xing. She took her leave and went back to tell Bao-chai what had been decided. She wept as she spoke, and Bao-yu tried to console her.

‘Mother, don’t distress yourself. Nothing will come of this scheme. Whatever happens is already written in Qiao-jie’s destiny anyway, so please don’t try to interfere.’

‘Don’t be such an idiot!’ exclaimed Lady Wang. ‘Once they’ve agreed to this match, they’ll be here any day to fetch her away! Patience is right, your cousin Lian will blame me for this when he comes back! I would want the best for any member of the family, and especially for Qiao-jie, for her parents’ sake. Think of the other girls. We arranged Xiu-yan’s marriage to your cousin Ke, and now look how happy they are together! And the Mei family into which Bao-qin has married are by all accounts very comfortably off, so there’s no need to worry about her. Xiang-yun, I know, has not been quite so fortunate. That match was her own uncle’s idea in the first place, and it would have turned out well if her husband had not fallen ill of a consumption and died. Now the poor girl has vowed to spend the rest of her days a widow. If Qiao-jie falls into bad hands, I shall never forgive myself!’

As she was speaking, Patience came in to consult with Bao-chai and also to learn the results of Lady Wang’s meeting with Lady Xing. Lady Wang told her what Lady Xing had said. After a thoughtful silence, Patience fell to her knees.

‘Qiao-jie’s whole future now depends on you, ma’am!’ she pleaded. ‘If we deliver her into the hands of those people, it will mean a lifetime of suffering for her. And what do you think Mr Lian will say when he comes home?’

‘You are an intelligent girl,’ said Lady Wang. ‘Stand up now and listen to what I have to say. In the last resort, Qiao-jie is my sister-in-law’s granddaughter, not mine. If Lady Xing wants to take a decision, how can I stand in her way?’

‘There is really no cause for concern,’ insisted Bao-yu. ‘The important thing is to have a clear perception of destiny.’

Patience was afraid that Bao-yu would start raving again and commit some indiscretion, and she remained silent. She had said all that she wanted to say to Lady Wang, and now returned to her own apartment.

Lady Wang’s mental distress had brought on a pain in her heart. She summoned a maid to assist her and leaning heavily on her arm struggled back to her own room and lay down. She did not ask Bao-yu and Bao-chai to accompany her, saying that she would feel better after a sleep. But she found it impossible to shake off her troubled mood, and later when she heard that old Mrs Li had called, could not bring herself to rise from her bed and entertain her. Then Jia Lan came in to pay his respects and to deliver a message:

‘A letter has come from Grandfather. The boys at the gate have brought it in. Mother was going to give it to you, but as my Grandmother Li has just come, she asked me to bring it instead. Mother will be coming over shortly to talk to you, and bringing my Grandmother Li.’

He handed Lady Wang the letter. Lady Wang asked him, as she took it from him:

‘Why is your grandmother here?’

‘I don’t know myself,’ replied Lan. ‘I just heard say that there’s a letter from Cousin Qi’s fiancé’s family, the Zhens.’

Lady Wang knew that Li Qi had been promised to Zhen Bao-yu, and that the betrothal had already been sealed with the customary gift of tea. It must be that the Zhens wanted to proceed with the wedding, and old Mrs Li had come to discuss some last-minute details. She nodded, and opened the letter from Jia Zheng:

The canal is congested with boats bringing back the army from its successful campaign on the coast, and my progress has thereby been greatly delayed. I have heard that Tan-chun’s husband is travelling to the capital with his father, and wonder if you have heard anything from them? A day or two ago I had a letter from Lian, telling me of brother She’s illness. Is there any more news?

The time is drawing near for Bao-yu and Lan to sit their examinations. They must study diligently and on no account must they be allowed to fritter their time away. It will be a few days before I can reach Nanking with Mother’s coffin. I am in good health, so don’t worry about me.

Please pass on my instructions to Bao-yu and Lan.

Zheng.

Dated the __ day of the __ month PS Rong will be writing separately.

After reading the letter, Lady Wang handed it back to Jia Lan, saying:

‘Give this to Bao-yu and tell him to read it. And then give it back to your mother.’

While she was speaking, Li Wan and old Mrs Li came in and paid their respects. They seated themselves, and old Mrs Li spoke about the Zhens and Li Qi’s wedding. They discussed this for a while, and then Li Wan asked Lady Wang:

‘Have you read Father’s letter?’

‘I have.’

Jia Lan handed the letter to his mother, who read it herself and said:

‘Tan-chun has been away for over a year and not once come home. It will be such a relief for you now that they are moving up to the capital.’

‘Yes,’ replied Lady Wang. ‘I was in some pain just now, but this piece of news has made me feel much more comfortable. We still don’t know when they’ll be arriving, mind you.’

Old Mrs Li asked how Jia Zheng’s journey had been, while Li Wan turned to Jia Lan and said:

‘I hope you have taken note of what your grandfather says in his letter? The examination is drawing closer, and he is very concerned about you both. You’d better hurry and take the letter for Bao-yu to read.’

‘Please tell me,’ enquired old Mrs Li, ‘how it is that the two of them can take the second examination without having acquired their first degree?’

Lady Wang explained:

‘Before he set out on his posting as Grain Intendant, my husband arranged for the purchase of the Licentiate degree for the two of them.’

Old Mrs Li nodded, and Jia Lan went off with the letter to find Bao-yu.

Having taken his leave of Lady Wang earlier, Bao-yu had returned to his apartment, where he picked up his copy of the ‘Autumn Floods’ chapter from Zhuang-zi and began reading it with fascination. When Bao-chai came out from the inner room and saw him so totally absorbed in his reading, she wandered across and glanced at the book’s title. It disappointed her greatly that it should be a Taoist classic.

‘Still the only thing he takes seriously is nonsense like this about “quitting the world and rising above the mortal plane”,’ she reflected to herself. ‘He’s truly a hopeless case!’

It seemed futile to remonstrate with him, so she just sat by his side, gazing at him reproachfully. Observing her expression, Bao-yu asked:

‘What’s all this about, then?’

‘Since we are husband and wife,’ she replied, ‘I should be able to look to you for lifelong support. Our life together should be built on something more than the passion of a moment. Glory and wealth are as insubstantial as a cloud – that I can understand. But since ancient times, what the sages have prized most has always been virtue, not …’

Before he had heard her out, Bao-yu put his book down, smiled and said:

‘You talk of virtue and the sages of ancient times. But do you know that the sages also held up as an ideal the “heart of a new-born child”? What virtues has the new-born child? None, only a complete absence of knowledge, of consciousness, of greed, of envy. All our lives we sink deeper and deeper into the quagmire of greed, hatred, folly and passion. The great question is, how to rise above all this, how to escape the net of this mortal life? “This floating life, with its meetings and partings” – I can see now why in all the ages since it was first uttered the true meaning of this expression has never been fully grasped. As for your “virtue”, who has ever attained the true pristine state of virtue?’

‘What the ancients meant by the “heart of a new-born child”,’ retorted Bao-chai, ‘was a heart full of loyalty and filial devotion, not this mystical, escapist notion of yours. The Emperors Yao, Shun, Yu, Tang, the Duke of Zhou, Confucius – they all spent their lives improving the lot of mankind. Their “heart of a new-born child” was simply their spirit of compassion and concern for others. Whereas yours, it would seem, leaves you so blissfully unconcerned that you would be willing to forsake your own family. It doesn’t make any sense to me.’

Bao-yu nodded and smiled:

‘Yao and Shun were not able to prevail upon Chao-fu or Xu You to abandon their mountain retreats; nor could King Wu or the Duke of Zhou induce Bo Yi and his brother Shu Qi to involve themselves in the world …’

‘You are becoming more and more absurd!’ interrupted Bao-chai. ‘If all the men of old had been hermits like those four you mention, then there would never have been sages like Yao, Shun, the Duke of Zhou and Confucius. And besides, it’s ridiculous to compare yourself with Bo Yi. Both he and Shu Qi lived in the declining years of the Shang dynasty, and their lives were beset with difficulties of one kind or another. So they had a good pretext for escaping their responsibilities. But your case is totally different. Ours is a golden age, and we ourselves have received numerous favours from the throne, while our ancestors enjoyed lives of luxury. And you yourself have been treasured all your life, both by our late grandmother, and by Mother and Father. Reflect a little on what you said just now. Don’t you think that I’m right?’

Bao-yu listened in silence. His only response was to stare at the ceiling and smile.

‘Since you’re stuck for an answer,’ Bao-chai continued, ‘you should listen to my advice. Pull yourself together from now on, and work as hard as you can. Do well in the examination, and even if you never achieve anything else in your entire life, that will at least be some return for Heaven’s favour and for your ancestors’ virtue.’

Bao-yu nodded and heaved a sigh:

‘Doing well in the examination is not that difficult. And what you say about never achieving anything else and making some return for Heaven’s favour and our ancestors’ virtue is very much to the point …’

Before Bao-chai could reply to this, Aroma put in her word:

‘I didn’t really understand what Mrs Bao was saying about the sages of old. All I know is that we’ve all stuck with you through thick and thin since we were children, tending you with more devotion than I can say. Of course, I know that’s only as it should be, but shouldn’t you show us a little consideration in return? And look at the devotion Mrs Bao has shown to the Master and Her Ladyship, all for your sake! Even if you don’t set great store by your marriage, surely you owe her a simple debt of gratitude for what she has done? As for all that stuff about immortality, that’s just a lot of hot air. Who ever actually saw an immortal set foot in this world of ours? Some monk turns up from goodness knows where, talking a lot of rubbish, and you go and take him seriously! You’re an educated man, surely you don’t give more weight to his words than you do to the Master’s and Her Ladyship’s?’

Bao-yu bowed his head in silence.

Aroma had more ammunition ready, but just then footsteps were heard outside, and a voice came through the window:

‘Is Uncle Bao at home?’

Bao-yu recognized Jia Lan’s voice, stood up and said pleasantly:

‘Come in!’

Jia Lan entered, his face wreathed in smiles. He paid his respects to Bao-yu and Bao-chai, and exchanged greetings with Aroma, before presenting Bao-yu with Jia Zheng’s letter, which Bao-yu took from him and read.

‘So my sister is coming back to town, then?’

‘Judging from the letter it seems more than likely,’ was Jia Lan’s reply.

Bao-yu nodded his head in thoughtful silence, and Jia Lan continued:

‘You see at the end of the letter, Uncle Bao, Grandfather urges us to get down to some serious work. I don’t suppose you’ve been doing many compositions recently, have you?’

Bao-yu laughed:

‘I’d like to do a few, just to keep my hand in. Why not? May as well pull the wool over their eyes!’

‘In that case,’ suggested Jia Lan, ‘why don’t you propose a few themes, and we’ll write them together. That will help us prepare for the exam. I certainly don’t want to hand in a blank sheet and make a fool of us both.’

‘I know you will do nothing of the kind,’ said Bao-yu.

Bao-chai asked Jia Lan to take a seat. Bao-yu sat down again himself in his original chair, while Jia Lan perched politely nearby, and they chatted for a while about their compositions, their conversation becoming quite animated. Bao-chai, seeing the two of them thus engrossed, discreetly withdrew, thinking to herself:

‘It almost seems as if Bao-yu may have seen the light. But I wonder what he meant just now by picking on my words “never achieving anything else” and repeating them so emphatically?’

She was still greatly puzzled. Aroma on the other hand was delighted to hear him talking about compositions and the examination.

‘Praise be to Buddha!’ she exclaimed silently to herself. ‘What a sermon it took though, to bring him to his senses!’

The boys continued their discussion, and Oriole made them some tea. Jia Lan rose to his feet to receive his cup, and talked a little longer about the regulations governing the examination, adding that he would also like to invite Zhen Bao-yu over one day. Bao-yu seemed willing that he should do so.

After a while, Jia Lan returned to his apartment, leaving Jia Zheng’s letter behind with Bao-yu. Bao-yu read it through again, and with a smile on his lips went in and handed it to Musk to put away. Then he returned and removed his copy of Zhuang-zi from the table, collecting up at the same time some of his other favourite esoteric books (a collection that included The Hermetic Clavicule, The Secret of the Primordial Flower and The Compendium of the Five Lamps). He gave instructions to Musk, Ripple and Oriole to store all of these away. Bao-chai was amazed to see him do this, and wished to sound out his true motives.

‘It’s very commendable of you to forgo reading such books,’ she said with a quizzical smile. ‘But why do you have to move them out of sight altogether?’

‘Because now I understand,’ replied Bao-yu. ‘None of those books is worth anything. It would be best to burn the lot and be rid of them once and for all!’

Bao-chai was delighted to hear him saying this. But the very next minute she heard him recite, as if to himself:

‘True Buddha Mind Within Is not in Sutras to be found; Beyond the Crucible, There leads a path to Higher Ground.’

Bao-chai did not catch every word, but ‘Buddha Mind Within’ and ‘Higher Ground’ were enough to fill her once more with gloomy forebodings. She watched him anxiously. He told the maids to prepare a quiet room for him, looked out all his old copies of books like Zhucius’s Neo-Confucian Primer, and collections of examination essays and verses, and assembled them all in his new room. Then he sat down in earnest and began quietly working. Bao-chai felt she could finally set her mind at rest.

Aroma could hardly believe the evidence of her eyes and ears. She smiled conspiratorially at Bao-chai:

‘You certainly know how to talk him round, ma’am! Just that one lecture from you and he’s a new man! I only hope he hasn’t left it too late. The exams are looming very close.’

Bao-chai nodded and smiled:

‘These things are in the hands of fate. His success will not turn on how soon or late he begins preparing. I just hope that from now on he will learn to be more adult, and give up his old antics.’

Checking first that she and Aroma were alone in the room, she added in an undertone:

‘I’m certainly very pleased at this change of heart. But there is still one thing that worries me. His old weakness. We ought to try to isolate him from our own sex.’

‘You are quite right, ma’am,’ said Aroma. ‘So long as he was under the influence of that monk, he seemed to be quite indifferent to the girls around him. But now that he’s changed course again, we must once more be on our guard for a revival of his old habits. I don’t think he’s likely to show much interest in either of us, ma’am. With Nightingale gone, that only leaves the four other maids. Fivey is the little vixen among them, but I hear that her mother has been asking for permission to take her out of service to get married, so she’ll be leaving in a few days’ time. Musk and Ripple have never been particularly close to Master Bao, but we shouldn’t forget that they used to fool about with him when he was a child. That leaves Oriole. He doesn’t seem at all interested in her, and she’s a very dependable girl. I suggest that for day-to-day duties, like pouring tea and carrying water, Oriole should take charge, with a few of the junior maids to help her. What do you think, ma’am?’

‘I have been worrying about the same thing myself,’ replied Bao-chai. ‘Your proposal is a very sensible one.’

So from then on Oriole was put in charge. Bao-yu never left his room now. Every day he sent someone else to pay respects to his mother on his behalf. Lady Wang’s delight at this new regime of his needs no description.

When the third of the eighth came round (Grandmother Jia’s birthday), Bao-yu went early in the morning to kowtow at her shrine and then returned to his ‘quiet room’. After breakfast, Bao-chai, Aroma and some of the maids had gone to sit in the front room and were chatting with Ladies Xing and Wang, and he was sitting alone in his room, deep in concentration, when Oriole came in with a tray of sweetmeats.

‘Her Ladyship asked me to bring these for you,’ she said. ‘They are offerings left over from Her Old Ladyship’s sacrifice.’

Bao-yu rose to his feet to thank her and then sat down again.

‘Put them over there,’ he said.

As she placed the tray to one side, Oriole said to him in an undertone:

‘Her Ladyship has been speaking very highly of you in the front room.’

Bao-yu smiled. Oriole continued:

‘She said that now you are studying so hard, you are sure to pass your exam and then if you go on and become a Palace Graduate and an official, your parents’ hopes for you will not have been in vain.’

Oriole suddenly remembered what Bao-yu had once said to her, the day she had knotted tassels for him.

‘I hope you do pass!’ she went on animatedly. ‘It will be such a blessing for our mistress. Remember what you said that day in the Garden, when you asked me to knot you a plum-blossom tassel? You wondered what lucky household the mistress would take me to when she married? Well, you were the lucky one after all!’

There was something about what she said and the way she said it that aroused in Bao-yu once more an old and all too human emotion. But the nostalgia soon passed; he composed himself again and said with a gentle smile:

‘So, according to you, I am lucky, and so is your mistress. But how do you feel about it?’

Oriole flushed at once, and forced a smile:

‘We’re just maids. Being lucky or not doesn’t really enter into it for us.’

Bao-yu smiled again:

As a matter of fact, even if you did spend your whole life as a maid, you might turn out to have been luckier than either of us.’

This sounded to Oriole like more of his foolishness. She was. afraid of being responsible for another of his scenes, and deemed it prudent to leave, but before she could do so, Bao-yu laughed:

‘Silly girl! Let me tell you something.’

If you want to know what it was, you must turn to the next chapter.