第一一九回

第一一九回 中乡魁宝玉却尘缘 沐皇恩贾家延世泽

话说莺儿见宝玉说话摸不着头脑，正自要走，只听宝玉又说道：“傻丫头，我告诉你罢。你姑娘既是有造化的，你跟着他自然也是有造化的了。你袭人姐姐是靠不住的。只要往后你尽心服侍他就是了。日后或有好处，也不枉你跟着他熬了一场。”莺儿听了前头像话，后头说的又有些不像了，便道：“我知道了。姑娘还等我呢。二爷要吃果子时，打发小丫头叫我就是了。”宝玉点头，莺儿才去了。一时宝钗袭人回来，各自房中去了。不题。

且说过了几天便是场期，别人只知盼望他爷儿两个作了好文章便可以高中的了，只有宝钗见宝玉的功课虽好，只是那有意无意之间，却别有一种冷静的光景。知他要进场了，头一件，叔侄两个都是初次赴考，恐人马拥挤有什么失闪；第二件，宝玉自和尚去后总不出门，虽然见他用功喜欢，只是改的太速太好了，反倒有些信不及，只怕又有什么变故。所以进场的头一天，一面派了袭人带了小丫头们同着素云等给他爷儿两个收拾妥当，自己又都过了目，好好的搁起预备着；一面过来同李纨回了王夫人，拣家里的老成管事的多派了几个，只说怕人马拥挤碰了。

次日宝玉贾兰换了半新不旧的衣服，欣然过来见了王夫人。王夫人嘱咐道：“你们爷儿两个都是初次下场，但是你们活了这么大，并不曾离开我一天。就是不在我眼前，也是丫鬟媳妇们围着，何曾自己孤身睡过一夜。今日各自进去，孤孤凄凄，举目无亲，须要自己保重。早些作完了文章出来，找着家人早些回来，也叫你母亲媳妇们放心。”王夫人说着不免伤心起来。贾兰听一句答应一句。只见宝玉一声不哼，待王夫人说完了，走过来给王夫人跪下，满眼流泪，磕了三个头，说道：“母亲生我一世，我也无可答报，只有这一入场用心作了文章，好好的中个举人出来。那时太太喜欢喜欢，便是儿子一辈的事也完了，一辈子的不好也都遮过去了。”王夫人听了，更觉伤心起来，便道：“你有这个心自然是好的，可惜你老太太不能见你的面了！”一面说，一面拉他起来。那宝玉只管跪着不肯起来，便说道：“老太太见与不见，总是知道的，喜欢的，既能知道了，喜欢了，便不见也和见了的一样。只不过隔了形质，并非隔了神气啊。”李纨见王夫人和他如此，一则怕勾起宝玉的病来，二则也觉得光景不大吉祥，连忙过来说道：“太太，这是大喜的事，为什么这样伤心？况且宝兄弟近来很知好歹，很孝顺，又肯用功，只要带了侄儿进去好好的作文章，早早的回来，写出来请咱们的世交老先生们看了，等着爷儿两个都报了喜就完了。”一面叫人搀起宝玉来。宝玉却转过身来给李纨作了个揖，说：“嫂子放心。我们爷儿两个都是必中的。日后兰哥还有大出息，大嫂子还要带凤冠穿霞帔呢。”李纨笑道：“但愿应了叔叔的话，也不枉——”说到这里，恐怕又惹起王夫人的伤心来，连忙咽住了。宝玉笑道：“只要有了个好儿子能够接续祖基，就是大哥哥不能见，也算他的后事完了。”李纨见天气不早了，也不肯尽着和他说话，只好点点头儿。此时宝钗听得早已呆了，这些话不但宝玉，便是王夫人李纨所说，句句都是不祥之兆，却又不敢认真，只得忍泪无言。那宝玉走到跟前，深深的作了一个揖。众人见他行事古怪，也摸不着是怎么样，又不敢笑他。只见宝钗的眼泪直流下来。众人更是纳罕。又听宝玉说道：“姐姐，我要走了，你好生跟着太太听我的喜信儿罢。”宝钗道：“是时候了，你不必说这些唠叨话了。”宝玉道：“你倒催的我紧，我自己也知道该走了。”回头见众人都在这里，只没惜春紫鹃，便说道：“四妹妹和紫鹃姐姐跟前替我说一句罢，横竖是再见就完了。”众人见他的话又像有理，又像疯话。大家只说他从没出过门，都是太太的一套话招出来的，不如早早催他去了就完了事了，便说道：“外面有人等你呢，你再闹就误了时辰了。”宝玉仰面大笑道：“走了，走了！不用胡闹了，完了事了！”众人也都笑道：“快走罢。”独有王夫人和宝钗娘儿两个倒像生离死别的一般，那眼泪也不知从那里来的，直流下来，几乎失声哭出。但见宝玉嘻天哈地，大有疯傻之状，遂从此出门走了。正是：

走求名利无双地，打出樊笼第一关。[1]

不言宝玉贾兰出门赴考。且说贾环见他们考去，自己又气又恨，便自大为王说：“我可要给母亲报仇了。家里一个男人没有，上头大太太依了我，还怕谁！”想定了主意，跑到邢夫人那边请了安，说了些奉承的话。那邢夫人自然喜欢，便说道：“你这才是明理的孩子呢。像那巧姐儿的事，原该我做主的，你琏二哥糊涂，放着亲奶奶，倒托别人去！”贾环道：“人家那头儿也说了，只认得这一门子。现在定了，还要备一分大礼来送太太呢。如今太太有了这样的藩王孙女婿儿，还怕大老爷没大官做么！不是我说自己的太太，他们有了元妃姐姐，便欺压的人难受。将来巧姐儿别也是这样没良心，等我去问问他。”邢夫人道：“你也该告诉他，他才知道你的好处。只怕他父亲在家也找不出这么门子好亲事来！但只平儿那个糊涂东西，他倒说这件事不好，说是你太太也不愿意。想来恐怕我们得了意。若迟了你二哥回来，又听人家的话，就办不成了。”贾环道：“那边都定了，只等太太出了八字。王府的规矩，三天就要来娶的。但是一件，只怕太太不愿意，那边说是不该娶犯官的孙女，只好悄悄的抬了去，等大老爷免了罪做了官，再大家热闹起来。”邢夫人道：“这有什么不愿意，也是礼上应该的。”贾环道：“既这么着，这帖子太太出了就是了。”邢夫人道：“这孩子又糊涂了，里头都是女人，你叫芸哥儿〔一〕写了一个就是了。”贾环听说，喜欢的了不得，连忙答应了出来，赶着和贾芸说了，邀着王仁到那外藩公馆立文书兑银子去了。

那知刚才所说的话，早被跟邢夫人的丫头听见。那丫头是求了平儿才挑上的，便抽空儿赶到平儿那里，一五一十的都告诉了。平儿早知此事不好，已和巧姐细细的说明。巧姐哭了一夜，必要等他父亲回来作主，大太太的话不能遵。今儿又听见这话，便大哭起来，要和太太讲去。平儿急忙拦住道：“姑娘且慢着。大太太是你的亲祖母，他说二爷不在家，大太太做得主的，况且还有舅舅做保山。他们都是一气，姑娘一个人那里说得过呢。我到底是下人，说不上话去。如今只可想法儿，断不可冒失的。”邢夫人那边的丫头道：“你们快快的想主意，不然可就要抬走了。”说着，各自去了。平儿回过头来见巧姐哭作一团，连忙扶着道：“姑娘，哭是不中用的，如今是二爷够不着，听见他们的话头——”这句话还没说完，只见邢夫人那边打发人来告诉：“姑娘大喜的事来了。叫平儿将姑娘所有应用的东西料理出来。若是赔送呢，原说明了等二爷回来再办。”平儿只得答应了。

回来又见王夫人过来，巧姐儿一把抱住，哭得倒在怀里。王夫人也哭道：“妞儿不用着急，我为你吃了大太太好些话，看来是扭不过来的。我们只好应着缓下去，即刻差个家人赶到你父亲那里去告诉。”平儿道：“太太还不知道么？早起三爷在大太太跟前说了，什么外藩规矩三日就要过去的。如今大太太已叫芸哥儿写了名字年庚去了，还等得二爷么？”王夫人听说是“三爷”，便气得说不出话来，呆了半天，一叠声叫人找贾环。找了半日，人回：“今早同蔷哥儿王舅爷出去了。”王夫人问：“芸哥呢？”众人回说不知道。巧姐屋内人人瞪眼，一无方法。王夫人也难和邢夫人争论，只有大家抱头大哭。

有个婆子进来，回说：“后门上的人说，那个刘姥姥又来了。”王夫人道：“咱们家遭着这样事，那有工夫接待人。不拘怎么回了他去罢。”平儿道：“太太该叫他进来，他是姐儿的干妈，也得告诉告诉他。”王夫人不言语，那婆子便带了刘姥姥进来。各人见了问好。刘姥姥见众人的眼圈儿都是红的，也摸不着头脑，迟了一会子，便问道：“怎么了？太太姑娘们必是想二姑奶奶了。”巧姐儿听见提起他母亲，越发大哭起来。平儿道：“姥姥别说闲话，你既是姑娘的干妈，也该知道的。”便一五一十的告诉了。把个刘姥姥也唬怔了，等了半天，忽然笑道：“你这样一个伶俐姑娘，没听见过鼓儿词么，这上头的方法多着呢。这有什么难的。”平儿赶忙问道：“姥姥你有什么法儿快说罢。”刘姥姥道：“这有什么难的呢，一个人也不叫他们知道，扔崩[3]一走，就完了事了。”平儿道：“这可是混说了。我们这样人家的人，走到那里去！”刘姥姥道：“只怕你们不走，你们要走，就到我屯里去。我就把姑娘藏起来，即刻叫我女婿弄了人，叫姑娘亲笔写个字儿，赶到姑老爷那里，少不得他就来了。可不好么？”平儿道：“大太太知道呢？”刘姥姥道：“我来他们知道么？”平儿道：“大太太住在后头，他待人刻薄，有什么信没有送给他的。你若前门走来就知道了，如今是后门来的，不妨事。”刘姥姥道：“咱们说定了几时，我叫女婿打了车来接了去。”平儿道：“这还等得几时呢，你坐着罢。”急忙进去，将刘姥姥的话避了旁人告诉了。王夫人想了半天不妥当。平儿道：“只有这样。为的是太太才敢说明，太太就装不知道，回来倒问大太太。我们那里就有人去，想二爷回来也快。”王夫人不言语，叹了一口气。巧姐儿听见，便和王夫人道：“只求太太救我，横竖父亲回来只有感激的。”平儿道：“不用说了，太太回去罢。回来只要太太派人看屋子。”王夫人道：“掩密些。你们两个人的衣服铺盖是要的。”平儿道：“要快走了才中用呢，若是他们定了，回来就有了饥荒了。”一句话提醒了王夫人，便道：“是了，你们快办去罢，有我呢。”于是王夫人回去，倒过去找邢夫人说闲话儿，把邢夫人先绊住了。平儿这里便遣人料理去了，嘱咐道：“倒别避人，有人进来看见，就说是大太太吩咐的，要一辆车子送刘姥姥去。”这里又买嘱了看后门的人雇了车来。平儿便将巧姐装做青儿模样，急急的去了。后来平儿只当送人，眼错不见，也跨上车去了。

原来近日贾府后门虽开，只有一两个人看着，馀外虽有几个家下人，因房大人少，空落落的，谁能照应。且邢夫人又是个不怜下人的，众人明知此事不好，又都感念平儿的好处，所以通同一气放走了巧姐。邢夫人还自和王夫人说话，那里理会。只有王夫人甚不放心，说了一回话，悄悄的走到宝钗那里坐下，心里还是惦记着。宝钗见王夫人神色恍惚，便问：“太太的心里有什么事？”王夫人将这事背地里和宝钗说了。宝钗道：“险得很！如今得快快儿的叫芸哥儿止住那里才妥当。”王夫人道：“我找不着环儿呢。”宝钗道：“太太总要装作不知，等我想个人去叫大太太知道才好。”王夫人点头，一任宝钗想人。暂且不言。

且说外藩原是要买几个使唤的女人，据媒人一面之辞，所以派人相看。相看的人回去禀明了藩王。藩王问起人家，众人不敢隐瞒，只得实说。那外藩听了，知是世代勋戚，便说：“了不得！这是有干例禁的，几乎误了大事！况我朝觐已过，便要择日起程，倘有人来再说，快快打发出去。”这日恰好贾芸王仁等递送年庚，只见府门里头的人便说：“奉王爷的命，再敢拿贾府的人来冒充民女者，要拿住究治的。如今太平时候，谁敢这样大胆！”这一嚷，唬得王仁等抱头鼠窜的出来，埋怨那说事的人，大家扫兴而散。

贾环在家候信，又闻王夫人传唤，急得烦燥起来。见贾芸一人回来，赶着问道：“定了么？”贾芸慌忙跺足道：“了不得，了不得！不知谁露了风了！”还把吃亏的话说了一遍。贾环气得发怔说：“我早起在大太太跟前说的这样好，如今怎么样处呢？这都是你们众人坑了我了！”正没主意，听见里头乱嚷，叫着贾环等的名字说：“大太太二太太叫呢。”两个人只得蹭进去。只见王夫人怒容满面说：“你们干的好事！如今逼死了巧姐和平儿了，快快的给我找还尸首来完事！”两个人跪下。贾环不敢言语，贾芸低头说道：“孙子不敢干什么，为的是邢舅太爷和王舅爷说给巧妹妹作媒，我们才回太太们的。大太太愿意，才叫孙子写帖儿去的。人家还不要呢。怎么我们逼死了妹妹呢！”王夫人道：“环儿在大太太那里说的，三日内便要抬了走。说亲作媒有这样的么！我也不问你们，快把巧姐儿还了我们，等老爷回来再说。”邢夫人如今也是一句话儿说不出了，只有落泪。王夫人便骂贾环说：“赵姨娘这样混帐的东西，留的种子也是这混帐的！”说着，叫丫头扶了回到自己房中。

那贾环贾芸邢夫人三个人互相埋怨，说道：“如今且不用埋怨，想来死是不死的，必是平儿带了他到那什么亲戚家躲着去了。”邢夫人叫了前后的门人来骂着，问巧姐儿和平儿知道那里去了。岂知下人一口同音说是：“大太太不必问我们，问当家的爷们就知道了。在大太太也不用闹，等我们太太问起来我们有话说。要打大家打，要发大家都发。自从琏二爷出了门，外头闹的还了得！我们的月钱月米是不给了，赌钱喝酒闹小旦，还接了外头的媳妇儿到宅里来。这不是爷吗。”说得贾芸等顿口无言。王夫人那边又打发人来催说：“叫爷们快找来。”那贾环等急得恨无地缝可钻，又不敢盘问巧姐那边的人。明知众人深恨，是必藏起来了。但是这句话怎敢在王夫人面前说。只得各处亲戚家打听，毫无踪迹。里头一个邢夫人，外头环儿等，这几天闹的昼夜不宁。

看看到了出场日期，王夫人只盼着宝玉贾兰回来。等到晌午，不见回来，王夫人李纨宝钗着忙，打发人去到下处打听。去了一起，又无消息，连去的人也不来了。回来又打发一起人去，又不见回来。三个人心里如热油熬煎，等到傍晚有人进来，见是贾兰。众人喜欢问道：“宝二叔呢？”贾兰也不及请安，便哭道：“二叔丢了。”王夫人听了这话便怔了，半天也不言语，便直挺挺的躺倒床上。亏得彩云等在后面扶着，下死的叫醒转来哭着。见宝钗也是白瞪两眼。袭人等已哭得泪人一般，只有哭着骂贾兰道：“糊涂东西，你同二叔在一处，怎么他就丢了？”贾兰道：“我和二叔在下处，是一处吃一处睡。进了场，相离也不远，刻刻在一处的。今儿一早，二叔的卷子早完了，还等我呢。我们两个人一起去交了卷子，一同出来，在龙门口[4]一挤，回头就不见了。我们家接场的人都问我，李贵还说看见的，相离不过数步，怎么一挤就不见了。现叫李贵等分头的找去，我也带了人各处号里都找遍了，没有，我所以这时候才回来。”王夫人是哭的一句话也说不出来，宝钗心里已知八九，袭人痛哭不已。贾蔷等不等吩咐，也是分头而去。可怜荣府的人个个死多活少，空备了接场的酒饭。贾兰也忘却了辛苦，还要自己找去。倒是王夫人拦住道：“我的儿，你叔叔丢了，还禁得再丢了你么。好孩子，你歇歇去罢。”贾兰那里肯走。尤氏等苦劝不止。众人中只有惜春心里却明白了，只不好说出来，便问宝钗道：“二哥哥带了玉去了没有？”宝钗道：“这是随身的东西，怎么不带！”惜春听了便不言语。袭人想起那日抢玉的事来，也是料着那和尚作怪，柔肠几断，珠泪交流，呜呜咽咽哭个不住。追想当年宝玉相待的情分，有时怄他，他便恼了，也有一种令人回心的好处，那温存体贴是不用说了。若怄急了他，便赌誓说做和尚。那知道今日却应了这句话！看看那天已觉是四更天气，并没有个信儿。李纨又怕王夫人苦坏了，极力的劝着回房。众人都跟着伺候，只有邢夫人回去。贾环躲着不敢出来。王夫人叫贾兰去了，一夜无眠。次日天明，虽有家人回来，都说没有一处不寻到，实在没有影儿。于是薛姨妈、薛蝌、史湘云、宝琴、李婶等，接二连三的过来请安问信。

如此一连数日，王夫人哭得饮食不进，命在垂危。忽有家人回道：“海疆来了一人，口称统制大人那里来的，说我们家的三姑奶奶明日到京了。”王夫人听说探春回京，虽不能解宝玉之愁，那个心略放了些。到了明日，果然探春回来。众人远远接着，见探春出跳得比先前更好了，服采鲜明。见了王夫人形容枯槁，众人眼肿腮红，便也大哭起来，哭了一会，然后行礼。看见惜春道姑打扮，心里很不舒服。又听见宝玉心迷走失，家中多少不顺的事，大家又哭起来。还亏得探春能言，见解亦高，把话来慢慢儿的劝解了好些时，王夫人等略觉好些。再明儿，三姑爷也来了。知有这样的事，探春住下劝解。跟探春的丫头老婆也与众姐妹们相聚，各诉别后的事。从此上上下下的人，竟是无昼无夜专等宝玉的信。

那一夜五更多天，外头几个家人进来到二门口报喜。几个小丫头乱跑进来，也不及告诉大丫头了，进了屋子便说：“太太奶奶们大喜。”王夫人打谅宝玉找着了，便喜欢的站起身来说：“在那里找着的，快叫他进来。”那人道：“中了第七名举人。”王夫人道：“宝玉呢？”家人不言语，王夫人仍旧坐下。探春便问：“第七名中的是谁？”家人回说：“是宝二爷。”正说着，外头又嚷道：“兰哥儿中了。”那家人赶忙出去接了报单回禀，见贾兰中了一百三十名。李纨心下喜欢，因王夫人不见了宝玉，不敢喜形于色。王夫人见贾兰中了，心下也是喜欢，只想：“若是宝玉一回来，咱们这些人不知怎样乐呢！”独有宝钗心下悲苦，又不好掉泪。众人道喜，说是“宝玉既有中的命，自然再不会丢的。况天下那有迷失了的举人。”王夫人等想来不错，略有笑容。众人便趁势劝王夫人等多进了些饮食。只见三门外头焙茗乱嚷说：“我们二爷中了举人，是丢不了的了。”众人问道：“怎见得呢？”焙茗道：“‘一举成名天下闻’，如今二爷走到那里，那里就知道的。谁敢不送来！”里头的众人都说：“这小子虽是没规矩，这句话是不错的。”惜春道：“这样大人了，那里有走失的。只怕他勘破世情，入了空门，这就难找着他了。”这句话又招得王夫人等又大哭起来。李纨道：“古来成佛作祖成神仙的，果然把爵位富贵都抛了也多得很。”王夫人哭道：“他若抛了父母，这就是不孝，怎能成佛作祖。”探春道：“大凡一个人不可有奇处。二哥哥生来带块玉来，都道是好事，这么说起来，都是有了这块玉的不好。若是再有几天不见，我不是叫太太生气，就有些原故了，只好譬如没有生这位哥哥罢了。果然有来头成了正果，也是太太几辈子的修积。”宝钗听了不言语，袭人那里忍得住，心里一疼，头上一晕，便栽倒了。王夫人见了可怜，命人扶他回去。贾环见哥哥侄儿中了，又为巧姐的事大不好意思，只抱怨蔷芸两个，知道探春回来，此事不肯干休，又不敢躲开，这几天竟是如在荆棘之中。

明日贾兰只得先去谢恩，知道甄宝玉也中了，大家序了同年[5]。提起贾宝玉心迷走失，甄宝玉叹息劝慰。知贡举[6]的将考中的卷子奏闻，皇上一一的披阅，看取中的文章俱是平正通达的。见第七名贾宝玉是金陵籍贯，第一百三十名又是金陵贾兰，皇上传旨询问，两个姓贾的是金陵人氏，是否贾妃一族。大臣领命出来，传贾宝玉贾兰问话，贾兰将宝玉场后迷失的话并将三代陈明，大臣代为转奏。皇上最是圣明仁德，想起贾氏功勋，命大臣查复，大臣便细细的奏明。皇上甚是悯恤，命有司将贾赦犯罪情由查案呈奏。皇上又看到海疆靖寇班师善后事宜一本，奏的是海宴河清，万民乐业的事。皇上圣心大悦，命九卿[7]叙功议赏，并大赦天下。贾兰等朝臣散后拜了座师[8]，并听见朝内有大赦的信，便回了王夫人等。合家略有喜色，只盼宝玉回来。薛姨妈更加喜欢，便要打算赎罪。

一日，人报甄老爷同三姑爷来道喜，王夫人便命贾兰出去接待。不多一回，贾兰进来笑嘻嘻的回王夫人道：“太太们大喜了。甄老伯在朝内听见有旨意，说是大老爷的罪名免了，珍大爷不但免了罪，仍袭了宁国三等世职。荣国世职仍是老爷袭了，俟丁忧服满，仍升工部郎中。所抄家产，全行赏还。二叔的文章，皇上看了甚喜，问知元妃兄弟，北静王还奏说人品亦好，皇上传旨召见，众大臣奏称据伊侄贾兰回称出场时迷失，现在各处寻访，皇上降旨着五营[9]各衙门用心寻访。这旨意一下，请太太们放心，皇上这样圣恩，再没有找不着了。”王夫人等这才大家称贺，喜欢起来。只有贾环等心下着急，四处找寻巧姐。

那知巧姐随了刘姥姥带着平儿出了城，到了庄上，刘姥姥也不敢轻亵巧姐，便打扫上房让给巧姐平儿住下。每日供给虽是乡村风味，倒也洁净。又有青儿陪着，暂且宽心。那庄上也有几家富户，知道刘姥姥家来了贾府姑娘，谁不来瞧，都道是天上神仙。也有送菜果的，也有送野味的，到也热闹。内中有个极富的人家，姓周，家财巨万，良田千顷。只有一子，生得文雅清秀，年纪十四岁，他父母延师读书，新近科试中了秀才。那日他母亲看见了巧姐，心里羡慕，自想：“我是庄家人家，那能配得起这样世家小姐！”呆呆的想着。刘姥姥知他心事，拉着他说：“你的心事我知道了，我给你们做个媒罢。”周妈妈笑道：“你别哄我，他们什么人家，肯给我们庄家人么。”刘姥姥道：“说着瞧罢。”于是两人各自走开。

刘姥姥惦记着贾府，叫板儿进城打听，那日恰好到宁荣街，只见有好些车轿在那里。板儿便在邻近打听，说是：“宁荣两府复了官，赏还抄的家产，如今府里又要[10]起来了。只是他们的宝玉中了官，不知走到那里去了。”板儿心里喜欢，便要回去，又见好几匹马到来，在门前下马。只见门上打千儿请安说：“二爷回来了，大喜！大老爷身上安了么？”那位爷笑着道：“好了。又遇恩旨，就要回来了。”还问：“那些人做什么的？”门上回说：“是皇上派官在这里下旨意，叫人领家产。”那位爷便喜欢进去。板儿便知是贾琏了。也不用打听，赶忙回去告诉了他外祖母。刘姥姥听说，喜的眉开眼笑，去和巧姐儿贺喜，将板儿的话说了一遍。平儿笑说道：“可不是，亏得姥姥这样一办，不然姑娘也摸不着那好时候。”巧姐更自欢喜。正说着，那送贾琏信的人也回来了，说是：“姑老爷感激得很，叫我一到家快把姑娘送回去。又赏了我好几两银子。”刘姥姥听了得意，便叫人赶了两辆车，请巧姐平儿上车。巧姐等在刘姥姥家住熟了，反是依依不舍，更有青儿哭着，恨不能留下。刘姥姥知他不忍相别，便叫青儿跟了进城，一径直奔荣府而来。

且说贾琏先前知道贾赦病重，赶到配所，父子相见，痛哭了一场，渐渐的好起来。贾琏接着家书，知道家中的事，禀明贾赦回来，走到中途，听得大赦，又赶了两天，今日到家，恰遇颁赏恩旨。里面邢夫人等正愁无人接旨，虽有贾兰，终是年轻，人报琏二爷回来，大家相见，悲喜交集，此时也不及叙话，即到前厅叩见了钦命大人。问了他父亲好，说明日到内府领赏，宁国府第发交居住。众人起身辞别，贾琏送出门去。见有几辆屯车，家人们不许停歇，正在吵闹。贾琏早知道是巧姐来的车，便骂家人道：“你们这班糊涂忘八崽子，我不在家，就欺心害主，将巧姐儿都逼走了。如今人家送来，还要拦阻，必是你们和我有什么仇么！”众家人原怕贾琏回来不依，想来少时才破，岂知贾琏说得更明，心下不懂，只得站着回道：“二爷出门，奴才们有病的，有告假的，都是三爷、蔷大爷、芸大爷作主，不与奴才们相干。”贾琏道：“什么混帐东西！我完了事再和你们说，快把车赶进来！”

贾琏进去见邢夫人，也不言语，转身到了王夫人那里，跪下磕了个头，回道：“姐儿回来了，全亏太太。环兄弟太太也不用说他了。只是芸儿这东西，他上回看家就闹乱儿，如今我去了几个月，便闹到这样。回太太的话，这种人撵了他不往来也使得。”王夫人道：“你大舅子为什么也是这样？”贾琏道：“太太不用说，我自有道理。”正说着，彩云等回道：“巧姐儿进来了。”见了王夫人，虽然别不多时，想起这样逃难的景况，不免落下泪来。巧姐儿也便大哭。贾琏谢了刘姥姥。王夫人便拉他坐下，说起那日的话来。贾琏见平儿，外面不好说别的，心里感激，眼中流泪。自此贾琏心里愈敬平儿，打算等贾赦等回来要扶平儿为正。此是后话。暂且不题。

邢夫人正恐贾琏不见了巧姐，必有一番的周折，又听见贾琏在王夫人那里，心下更是着急，便叫丫头去打听。回来说是巧姐儿同着刘姥姥在那里说话，邢夫人才如梦初觉，知他们的鬼，还抱怨着王夫人“调唆我母子不和，到底是那个送信给平儿的？”正问着，只见巧姐同着刘姥姥带了平儿，王夫人在后头跟着进来，先把头里的话都说在贾芸王仁身上，说：“大太太原是听见人说，为的是好事，那里知道外头的鬼。”邢夫人听了，自觉羞惭。想起王夫人主意不差，心里也服。于是邢王夫人彼此心下相安。

平儿回了王夫人，带了巧姐到宝钗那里来请安，各自提各自的苦处。又说到“皇上隆恩，咱们家该兴旺起来了。想来宝二爷必回来的。”正说到这话，只见秋纹忽忙来说：“袭人不好了！”不知何事，且听下回分解。

[1] “走求”二句——名利无双地，指科举考场。樊笼，关鸟兽的笼子，喻世俗名利的羁绊。因宝玉将“博得一第”作为出家的先决条件，故赴考便是冲破“第一关”。

〔一〕 “芸哥儿”，原作“蔷哥儿”，藤本、程乙本同。从王本改。

[3] 扔崩（rī　bēnɡ）——形容极快离开、跑掉。

[4] 龙门口——这里指科举考场的门口。旧时以“登龙门”比喻科举中式，飞黄腾达。

[5] 序同年——科举制度下称同科考中的人为“同年”，明清时代乡试会试同榜登科者都称“同年”。序：排列、次第。

[6] 知贡举——主考官。《清史稿·选举志》：“以大员总摄场务，乡试曰监临。……会试曰知贡举。”这里写的是乡试，所以此处“知贡举”是泛指主考官。

[7] 九卿——秦汉即有此称，通常统指中央行政机构长官，历代多有变化，至明、清有大、小九卿之别。大九卿为六部尚书、都察院都御史、大理寺卿、通政司使；小九卿清时指宗人府府丞、詹事、太常寺卿、太仆寺卿、光禄寺卿、鸿胪寺卿、国子监祭酒、顺天府府尹、左右春坊庶子。但清代谕旨中常以六部九卿并称，一般不将六部尚书计算在九卿之内，九卿究指哪几种官，并无明文规定，记载中亦不一致。这里的“九卿”系泛指中央机构及朝中要员。

[8] 座师——明、清时代举人、进士称本科主考官为“座师”或“座主”。

[9] 五营——清代京城最高治安机构，属“提督九门巡捕五营步军统领”统辖。

[10] 要——将也。意为将要。

CHAPTER 119. Bao-yu becomes a Provincial Graduate and severs worldly ties The House of Jia receives Imperial favour and renews ancestral glory

As we told in the last chapter, Oriole, perplexed by Bao-yu’s words, had been about to leave when she heard him speak again:

‘Silly girl! Let me tell you something. If your mistress is lucky, then so are you, since you are her maid. Aroma cannot be depended upon. In future, mark my words, you must look after your mistress with care and devotion, and in the end you may receive a fitting reward for your years of service.’

To Oriole Bao-yu’s speech, although it began with some semblance of sense, tailed off into rambling nonsense.

‘Well,’ she replied, ‘I’d better be going now. Madam is waiting for me. If you want any more sweets, Mr Bao, just send one of the junior maids to fetch me.’

Bao-yu nodded and Oriole went on her way. Shortly afterwards, Bao-chai and Aroma returned from the front room.

The time drew near for the examination. All the family were full of eager anticipation, hoping that the two boys would write creditable compositions and bring the family honour. All except for Bao-chai; while it was true that Bao-yu had prepared well, she had also on occasions noticed a strange indifference in his behaviour. Her first concern was that the two boys, for both of whom this was the first venture of its kind, might get hurt or have some accident in the crush of men and vehicles around the examination halls. She was more particularly worried for Bao-yu, who had not been out at all since his encounter with the monk. His delight in studying seemed to her the result of a somewhat too hasty and not altogether convincing conversion, and she had a premonition that something untoward was going to happen. So, on the day before the big event, she despatched Aroma and a few of the junior maids to go with Candida and her helpers and make sure that the candidates were both properly prepared. She herself inspected their things and put them out in readiness, and then went over with Li Wan to Lady Wang’s apartment, where she selected a few of the more trusty family retainers to accompany them the next day, for fear they might be jolted or trampled on in the crowds.

The big day finally arrived, and Bao-yu and Jia Lan changed into smart but unostentatious clothes. They came over in high spirits to bid farewell to Lady Wang, who gave them a few parting words of advice:

‘This is the first examination for both of you, and although you are such big boys now, it will still be the first time either of you has been away from me for a whole day. You may have gone out in the past, but you were always surrounded by your maids and nurses. You have never spent the night away on your own like this. Today, when you both go into the examination, you are bound to feel rather lonely with none of the family by you. You must take special care. Finish your papers and come out as early as possible, and then be sure to find one of the family servants and come home as soon as you can. We shall be worrying about you.’

As she spoke, Lady Wang herself was greatly moved by the occasion. Jia Lan made all the appropriate responses, but Bao-yu remained silent until his mother had quite finished speaking. Then he walked up to her, knelt at her feet and with tears streaming down his cheeks kowtowed to her three times and said:

‘I could never repay you adequately for all you have done for me, Mother. But if I can do this one thing successfully, if I can do my very best and pass this examination, then perhaps I can bring you a little pleasure. Then my worldly duty will be accomplished and I will at least have made some small return for all the trouble I have caused you.’

Lady Wang was still more deeply moved by this:

‘It is a very fine thing, what you are setting out to do. It is only a shame that your grandmother couldn’t be here to witness it.’

She wept as she spoke and put her arms around him to draw him to her. Bao-yu remained kneeling however and would not rise.

‘Even though Grandmother is not here,’ he said, ‘I am sure she knows about it and is happy. So really it is just as if she were present. What separates us is only matter. We are together in spirit.’

Li Wan feared that this scene might provoke Bao-yu to one of his fits. Besides, she sensed something inauspicious. She hurried forward:

‘Mother, today we should be filled with joy. You mustn’t upset yourself like this. Think how sensible and dutiful and hard-working Bao-yu has been of late. All he needs to do now is to sit the examinations with Lan, write his papers properly and come home early. Then he can show copies of what he has written to some scholars connected with the family, and we’ll just wait for the good news.’

She told one of the maids to help Bao-yu to his feet. Bao-yu turned and bowed to her:

‘Sister-in-law, you are not to worry. Lan and I are sure to pass. What is more, Lan has a brilliant future ahead of him, while you yourself will one day become a lady of noble rank and dress in the finest robes.’

Li Wan smiled:

‘If all this were ever to come true, it would at least be some compensation …’

She stopped short, fearing to cause Lady Wang further distress. Bao-yu felt no such inhibition:

‘If Lan does well and upholds our family tradition, my late brother may not have lived to witness it, but you will at least see his dearest wishes fulfilled.’

It was getting late, and since Li Wan did not wish to prolong this exchange any further, she contented herself with a brief nod. Bao-chai had already perceived the strangeness of the conversation. Not only were Bao-yu’s remarks ominous in themselves, but every word uttered by Lady Wang and Li Wan seemed laden with inauspicious meaning as well. Not daring to express this presentiment of hers openly, Bao-chai held back her tears and remained silent. Bao-yu came up to her and made her a deep bow. It seemed to them all such an eccentric way to behave, and no one could imagine what it was supposed to mean; nor did anyone dare to laugh. The general amazement increased when Bao-chai burst into floods of tears, and Bao-yu bade her farewell:

‘Coz! I’m going now. Stay here with Mother and wait for the good news!’

‘It is time for you to go,’ replied Bao-chai. ‘There is no need to embark on another of your long speeches.’

‘Strange that you should be urging me on my way,’ said Bao-yu. ‘I know it is time to go.’

He glanced around him and saw that Xi-chun and Nightingale were absent.

‘Say goodbye to Xi-chun and Nightingale for me,’ he said. ‘I shall certainly be meeting them again.’

Everyone was forcibly struck by the strange blend of sense and nonsense in Bao-yu’s words. They thought him momentarily confused, in part by the unprecedented nature of the occasion, in part by Lady Wang’s injunctions. To all of them the best course of action in the circumstances seemed to be to speed him on his way and get the thing over with.

‘They’re waiting for you outside. No more dilly-dallying now, or you’ll be late.’

Bao-yu raised his head and laughed.

‘Off I go! Enough of this foolery! It’s over!’

‘Well – off you go then!’ they all cried, laughing nervously. Only Lady Wang and Bao-chai were sobbing inconsolably, as if they were parting from him for ever. Finally Bao-yu walked out through the door and on his way, giggling like a half-wit.

Entering the lists of worldly renown, He breaks the first bar of his earthly cage.

We must leave Bao-yu and Jia Lan on their way to the examination, and return to Jia Huan. The excitement surrounding the candidates’ departure had left him feeling even more peeved and sour than usual, and with their absence he was now free to carry out his plan:

‘My own mother will be avenged! Now there’s not a man left in the house, and Aunt Xing will do as I say. I need fear no one.’

With determined stride he hurried over to Lady Xing’s to pay her his respects, and then conversed with her for a while in a most obsequious tone. She was naturally flattered, and said to him:

‘Now you are speaking like an intelligent child! Or course I’m the one who ought to take the decision in an affair such as this of Qiao-jie’s. It was very stupid of your cousin Lian to ignore his own mother and place this in someone else’s hands.’

‘So far as the prince is concerned, your side of the family is the one that he recognizes,’ said Jia Huan. ‘The whole thing is settled, and now they are preparing to send you a large consignment of presents. With this prince married to your granddaughter, Uncle She is bound to be given an important position. It will benefit us all. I don’t want to sound critical of Mother, but all the time sister Yuan-chun was an Imperial Concubine, it didn’t prevent them from treating some of us very shoddily. I hope Qiao-jie will be less ungrateful. I must have a word with her.’

‘Yes, you should speak to her,’ said Lady Xing. ‘It will give her a chance to see how much you’ve done for her. I am sure if her father were at home he would never have found her such a good match! That foolish creature Patience has been saying things against it and protesting that your mother disapproves. It is probably nothing more than sour grapes on their part. We must lose no time, or Lian will be back and then they will set him against the idea too and we’ll never be able to go through with it.’

‘So far as the prince is concerned, the matter is already settled,’ said Jia Huan. ‘They are only waiting for you to send over the horoscope. Then, according to their princely customs, she will be fetched three days later for the wedding. There is however one condition that you may object to. They say that in view of the circumstances, because it is not quite proper to marry the granddaughter of a disgraced official, they will have to take her away quietly without any ceremony. Later, when Uncle She has been pardoned and reinstated in office, they can celebrate the union with all the usual festivities.’

‘Of course I agree,’ said Lady Xing. ‘What they suggest is only correct.’

‘In that case all you have to do now is give them the Eight Characters for Qiao-jie’s horoscope.’

‘Silly boy! What can we womenfolk do? You’d better ask Yun to write them out for you.’

Jia Huan was delighted by Lady Xing’s response and agreed at once to this proposal, which suited him perfectly. He hurried over to have a word with Jia Yun, and asked Wang Ren to go to the prince’s palace to sign the contract and receive the money.

The conversation between Jia Huan and Lady Xing had been overheard by one of Lady Xing’s maids who owed her appointment to Patience and who therefore, as soon as an opportunity presented itself, went straight to see Patience and told her the gist of what was happening. Patience had known all along that no good would come of this marriage plan, and had already told Qiao-jie all that she knew about it. When she first learnt that she was to be married, Qiao-jie had cried all night long; she demanded that they wait for her father’s return before making a decision, and insisted that there was no need to obey Lady Xing. Now, when this latest news arrived, she began howling and wanted to go and complain to Lady Xing herself. Patience hastened to prevent her:

‘You must calm down, miss. Lady Xing is your own grandmother, and with your father away she has every right to make these decisions. Besides, your own uncle is acting as go-between. They’re all in this together, and you’re on your own. You’ll never make them change their minds. And I am only a maid, I can say nothing. We must try to think of a plan ourselves, and not do anything rash!’

‘You’d better be quick,’ advised Lady Xing’s maid, ‘or it will be too late. The bridal chair will be here any day now and then Miss Qiao-jie will be taken away.’

With these gloomy words she returned to Lady Xing’s apartment.

Patience turned round to see Qiao-jie huddled up and weeping disconsolately to herself. She reached out a hand to comfort her:

‘It’s no use crying, miss. There’s nothing your father can do for you now. From what they’ve been saying, it seems as if …’

Before she could complete her sentence, a messenger arrived from Lady Xing’s and announced:

‘This is indeed a happy day for Miss Qiao-jie! Will Patience please prepare whatever Miss Qiao-jie will need to take with her. Her trousseau can wait until Mr Lian’s return.’

Patience was going through the motions of obeying these instructions, when Lady Wang arrived. Qiao-jie hugged her tightly and wept into her bosom. Lady Wang was in tears herself:

‘Try not to worry, child. I’ve spoken to your grandmother and done everything I can for you, and I’ve received nothing but insults for my pains. I can’t make her change her mind. We can only go along with it, and try to delay things as much as possible. Meanwhile we must send someone straight to your father to tell him what is going on.’

‘But haven’t you heard, ma’am?’ said Patience. ‘Early this morning Master Huan was over at Her Ladyship’s. According to this prince’s custom the bride will be fetched in three days. Her Ladyship has already asked Mr Yun to prepare the horoscope. By the time Mr Lian returns it will all be over!’

When she heard that Huan was involved, Lady Wang was speechless with rage. Eventually she stammered out, ‘Bring him to me! Bring him to me at once!’ A servant went in obedience to her command, but returned to report that Master Huan had gone out early that morning with Mr Jia Qiang and Mr Wang Ren.

‘Where’s young Yun?’ asked Lady Wang.

‘We don’t know,’ was the reply.

The people gathered in Qiao-jie’s room stood staring impotently around them. Lady Wang lacked the nerve to go and challenge Lady Xing directly. They all wept bitterly on each other’s shoulders.

Just as their spirits had sunk to these depths of gloom, a serving-woman came in to announce that Grannie Liu had arrived at the back gate of the mansion.

‘We’re all at sixes and sevens,’ was Lady Wang’s comment. ‘How can we start receiving guests at a moment like this? Find some excuse and ask her to leave.’

‘Perhaps you should ask her in, ma’am,’ said Patience. ‘After all she is Qiao-jie’s godmother. We should tell her what is happening.’

Lady Wang said nothing. The serving-woman left the room and reappeared shortly with Grannie Liu, who exchanged greetings with all the ladies present. Seeing their eyes red from weeping, and having no idea what the matter was, Grannie Liu asked, with some hesitation:

‘What is the trouble? It’s Mrs Lian you’re grieving for, I’ll be bound.’

The mention of her mother set Qiao-jie weeping with renewed abandon.

‘There’s no point in avoiding the issue, Grannie,’ said Patience. ‘As her godmother you ought to know the truth.’

She went on to tell Grannie Liu the whole story. At first the old dame was aghast. Then, after a long silence, she suddenly laughed.

‘A smart young woman like you ought to be able to hit on something without much difficulty. Look at the drum ballads, they are full of clever plots and schemes for getting people out of scrapes like this one.’

‘Oh, Grannie!’ begged Patience. ‘If you can think of a way, please tell us quickly!’

‘It’s easy,’ said the old dame. ‘We mustn’t tell a soul, though, and we must be sure to make a quick getaway and hide – that’s all that’s needed.’

‘You can’t be serious!’ protested Patience. ‘Where could someone from a family like ours possibly hide?’

‘Well,’ said Grannie Liu, ‘if you’re willing – and that’s the only if – then you can both come to our village. I can keep Miss Qiao-jie hidden and at the same time I’ll tell my son-in-law to send a man with a letter (which Miss Qiao-jie must write with her own hand) straight to Mr Lian. Once he arrives on the scene, everything can be mended well enough.’

‘And if Lady Xing finds out meanwhile?’ asked Patience.

‘Do they know that I’m here?’ asked Grannie Liu.

‘Lady Xing is living at the front, and as she treats people so harshly no one ever tells her what’s going on. If you’d come in by the front gate she might have known. As it is, we have nothing to fear.’

‘Well then,’ said Grannie Liu, ‘let us agree on a time, and then I’ll tell my son-in-law to send a cart for you both.’

‘There’s not a moment to be lost,’ urged Patience. ‘I’ll be as quick as I can.’

She went into the inner room with Lady Wang, and having dismissed all the servants explained Grannie Liu’s plan to her. Lady Wang considered it carefully, and judged it altogether too risky.

‘But it’s our only hope!’ pleaded Patience. ‘I can speak my mind to you, ma’am. This is what I think you should do. You must pretend to know nothing about it; later you can even go to Lady Xing’s and ask her where Qiao-jie has gone. We’ll send a message to Mr Lian, and surely he won’t be long coming.’

Lady Wang was silent, and heaved a deep sigh. Qiao-jie had heard them talking and added her entreaties to those of Patience:

‘Oh Auntie, please! Save me! I know how grateful Father will be to you when he returns.’

‘We must go ahead with our plan,’ said Patience decisively. ‘You can return to your own apartment, ma’am. But please send someone to keep an eye on Qiao-jie’s room.’

‘Very well then – but be secret about it!’ urged Lady Wang. ‘And both of you, remember to take plenty of clothes and bedding with you.’

‘We must leave quickly if we are to succeed,’ said Patience. ‘If they come back with the contract signed, we’ll be done for!’

This seemed to bring Lady Wang to her senses:

‘Yes! Of course! You must hurry! You can depend on me!’ Lady Wang returned to her own apartment, and then went to engage Lady Xing in conversation and thus hold her at bay.

Patience despatched a servant to prepare their things, with instructions not to seem too furtive about it. ‘If anyone comes in and sees what you are doing, just say that you are acting on Lady Xing’s instructions, and that you’re ordering a carriage for Grannie Liu to go home in.’ Meanwhile the men on the back gate were bribed and told to hire a carriage. Patience dressed Qiao-jie to look like Grannie Liu’s granddaughter Qing-er, and hurried out with her. She pretended to be seeing the ‘Liu family’ off, and then at the last minute jumped into the carriage herself. Although the back gate had recently been kept open, there were only one or two men on regular duty; as for the various other domestic servants, the mansion was so large and understaffed – indeed almost deserted – that their departure was sure to go virtually unnoticed. Besides, Lady Xing had a reputation for meanness with the servants, and they disapproved of what they knew she was planning to do to Qiao-jie. They were therefore very much on Patience’s side and only too willing to connive at Qiao-jie’s escape. Lady Xing was thus successfully engaged in conversation with Lady Wang, and remained completely unaware of the escape.

Lady Wang was still most apprehensive. After talking to Lady Xing she made her way to Bao-chai’s, trying to attract as little attention as possible, and sat there, her mind filled with doubts as to the safety of the enterprise. Seeing how distracted she was, Bao-chai asked her what was on her mind, and Lady Wang explained everything to her in confidence.

‘How very dangerous!’ exclaimed Bao-chai. ‘We must find Yun quickly and order him to halt matters at his end at once.’

‘But I can’t even find Huan!’ complained Lady Wang.

‘You must carry on as if you know nothing at all,’ advised Bao-chai. ‘I shall find someone to inform Aunt Xing.’

Lady Wang nodded and left Bao-chai to proceed with her plan.

Our story now turns to the Mongol prince himself. This gentleman was in fact doing no more than looking for a couple of presentable young concubines to add to his harem, and on the strength of a professional broker’s recommendation had sent two of his women to examine Qiao-jie. When they returned, and when their master questioned them about the young lady’s provenance, they did not dare conceal the truth. The prince was deeply shocked to learn that she was from such an old and noble family:

‘But this is monstrous! Such a thing is strictly forbidden! I have come close to committing a grave crime! Besides, I have already been received in audience by His Majesty and will shortly be choosing a suitable day to start on my return journey. If anyone should come to pursue this matter further, send him packing!’

This was precisely the day on which Jia Yun and Wang Ren were delivering Qiao-jie’s horoscope to the palace. When they arrived they met with a brusque reception:

‘His Highness has instructed that any person daring to misrepresent a member of the Jia family as a common citizen is to be arrested and dealt with according to due process of law! What an outrageous way to behave in these peaceful times!’

Wang Ren and Jia Yun skulked off at once with their tails between their legs, grumbling to themselves that someone had betrayed them and going their separate ways in extremely low spirits.

Jia Huan was at home waiting for news, and had become very agitated when he received Lady Wang’s summons. He saw Jia Yun returning home on his own, and rushed up to him:

‘Well? Is everything arranged?’

Jia Yun stamped his foot frantically:

‘It’s terrible! Something’s gone badly wrong! I can’t think who can have given us away.’

He told the whole story to Huan, who was at first speechless with rage, then burst out:

‘Only this morning I was at Aunt Xing’s singing the praises of this match; now what am I supposed to do? You’re all trying to ruin me!’

Just as they were wondering how to save the situation, a confused hubbub reached them from the inner apartments. They heard their own names called, ‘wanted by Their Ladyships’, and slunk shamefacedly into Lady Wang’s apartment.

‘A fine mess you’ve made of things!’ exclaimed Lady Wang, waiting for them with fury written on her face. ‘Well, now you’ve driven Qiao-jie and Patience to their deaths! The least you can do is bring me back their corpses!’

They both knelt at her feet. Jia Huan did not dare to open his mouth, but Jia Yun bowed his head and said:

‘I would never have dared to do it myself. We only mentioned this match to you, Great-aunts, because Great-uncle Xing and Uncle Wang suggested it. It was all their idea. Then Great-aunt Xing agreed to it and asked me to write out the horoscope. Now the other party wants to back out. How can you accuse us of driving Qiao-jie to her death?’

‘Huan told your great-aunt Xing that they would be arriving in three days to take the girl away,’ said Lady Wang. ‘Whoever heard of a proper wedding being conducted in such a hurry? I shall ask no more questions. Just give me back Qiao-jie. We shall see what Sir Zheng decides to do with you when he returns.’

Lady Xing wept in silent shame. Lady Wang turned next on Jia Huan:

‘That harpy Aunt Zhao evidently left behind her a son every bit as vile as herself!’

She called one of her maids to support her and retired to her bedroom.

Left on their own Jia Huan, Jia Yun and Lady Xing began to indulge in mutual recrimination, until finally one of them said:

‘What’s the use of blaming each other like this? The girl probably isn’t dead at all. Patience has almost certainly taken her off to hide in the home of a relative.’

Lady Xing summoned the janitors from the front and rear gates and after giving them a good scolding asked them where Qiao-jie and Patience had gone.

‘It’s no good asking us, ma’am,’ they replied with one voice. ‘Ask one of the stewards, they’re the ones who ought to know. We wouldn’t advise you to make a scene, ma’am. If Lady Wang should choose to question us, there’s plenty we could tell. And if one person is beaten or given the sack, it will have to be everyone. Since Mr Lian left it’s been a sheer disgrace what has been going on in the front of the mansion. We haven’t even received our wages or monthly grain allowance, but they’ve been drinking and gambling away, fooling around with pretty little actors, inviting girls into the house – is that how masters of the family are supposed to behave?’

Jia Yun and Jia Huan were silent. A servant arrived from Lady Wang’s with renewed orders to ‘hurry up and find Patience and Qiao-jie’, which sent them into another flurry of desperate activity. They did not even bother to question the servants in Qiao-jie’s own apartment, knowing they would be too hostile to reveal the whereabouts of the missing pair (though this was hardly something they could say to Lady Wang). Instead they had to go asking at the home of every relative, and still failed to unearth the slightest clue. Lady Xing in the inner apartments and Jia Huan in the outer spent a hectic few days and nights.

At last came the day when the examinations were due to be concluded and the students released from their cells. Lady Wang was eagerly awaiting the return of Bao-yu and Jia Lan, and when midday came and there was still no sign of either of them, she, Li Wan and Bao-chai all began to worry and sent one servant after another to find out what had become of them. The servants could obtain no news, and not one of them dared to return empty-handed. Later another batch was despatched on the same mission, with the same result. The three ladies were beside themselves with anxiety.

When evening came, someone returned at last: it was Jia Lan. They were delighted to see him, and immediately asked:

Where is Bao-yu?

He did not even greet them but burst into tears.

‘Lost!’ he sobbed.

For several minutes Lady Wang was struck dumb. Then she collapsed senseless onto her couch. Luckily Suncloud and one or two other maids were at hand to support her, and they brought her round, themselves sobbing hysterically the while. Bao-chai stared in front of her with a glazed expression in her eyes, while Aroma sobbed her heart out. The only thing they could find time to do between their fits of sobbing was to scold Jia Lan:

‘Fool! You were with Bao-yu – how could he get lost?’

‘Before the examinations we stayed in the same room, we ate together and slept together. Even when we went in we were never far apart, we were always within sight of each other. This morning Uncle Bao finished his paper early and waited for me. We handed in our papers at the same time and left together. When we reached the Dragon Gate outside there was a big crowd and I lost sight of him. The servants who had come to fetch us asked me where he was and Li Gui told them: “One minute he was just over there clear as daylight, the next minute he was gone. How can he have disappeared so suddenly in the crowd?” I told Li Gui and the others to split up into search parties, while I took some men and looked in all the cubicles. But there was no sign of him. That’s why I’m so late back.’

Lady Wang had been sobbing throughout this, without saying a word. Bao-chai had already more or less guessed the truth. Aroma continued to weep inconsolably. Jia Qiang and the other men needed no further orders but set off immediately in several directions to join in the search. It was a sad sight, with everyone in the lowest of spirits and the welcome-home party prepared in vain. Jia Lan forgot his own exhaustion and wanted to go out with the others. But Lady Wang kept him back:

‘My child! Your uncle is lost; if we lost you as well, it would be more than we could bear! You have a rest now, there’s a good boy!’

He was reluctant to stay behind, but acquiesced when You-shi added her entreaties to Lady Wang’s.

The only person present who seemed unsurprised was Xi-chun. She did not feel free to express her thoughts, but instead enquired of Bao-chai:

‘Did Bao-yu have his jade with him when he left?’

‘Of course he did,’ she replied. ‘He never goes anywhere without it.’

Xi-chun was silent. Aroma remembered how they had had to waylay Bao-yu and snatch the jade from his hands, and she had an overwhelming suspicion that today’s mishap was that monk’s doing too. Her heart ached with grief, tears poured down her cheeks and she began wailing despondently. Memories flooded back of the affection Bao-yu had shown her. ‘I annoyed him sometimes, I know, and then he’d be cross. But he always had a way of making it up. He was so kind to me, and so thoughtful. In heated moments he often would vow to become a monk. I never believed him. And now he’s gone!’

It was two o’clock in the morning by now, and still there was no sign of Bao-yu. Li Wan, afraid that Lady Wang would injure herself through excess of grief, did her best to console her and advised her to retire to bed. The rest of the family accompanied her to her room, except for Lady Xing who returned to her own apartment, and Jia Huan who was still lying low and had not dared to make an appearance at all. Lady Wang told Jia Lan to go back to his room, and herself spent a sleepless night. Next day at dawn some of the servants despatched the previous day returned, to report that they had searched everywhere and failed to find the slightest trace of Bao-yu. During the morning a stream of relations including Aunt Xue, Xue Ke, Shi Xiang-yun, Bao-qin and old Mrs Li came to enquire after Lady Wang’s health and to ask for news of Bao-yu.

After several days of this, Lady Wang was so consumed with grief that she could neither eat nor drink, and her very life seemed in danger. Then suddenly a servant announced a messenger from the Commandant of the Haimen Coastal Region, who brought news that Tan-chun was due to arrive in the capital the following day. Although this could not totally dispel her grief at Bao-yu’s disappearance, Lady Wang felt some slight comfort at the thought of seeing Tan-chun again. The next day, Tan-chun arrived at Rong-guo House and they all went out to the front to greet her, finding her lovelier than ever and most prettily dressed. When Tan-chun saw how Lady Wang had aged, and how red-eyed everyone in the family was, tears sprang to her eyes, and it was a while before she could stop weeping and greet them all properly. She was also distressed to see Xi-chun in a nun’s habit, and wept again to learn of Bao-yu’s strange disappearance and the many other family misfortunes. But she had always been gifted with a knack of finding the right thing to say, and her natural equanimity restored a degree of calm to the gathering and gave some real comfort to Lady Wang and the rest of the family. The next day her husband came to visit, and when he learned how things stood he begged her to stay at home and console her family. The maids and old serving-women who had accompanied her to her new home were thus granted a welcome reunion with their old friends.

The entire household, masters and servants alike, still waited anxiously day and night for news of Bao-yu. Very late one night, during the fifth watch, some servants came as far as the inner gate, announcing that they had indeed wonderful news to report, and a couple of the junior maids hurried in to the inner apartments, without stopping to inform the senior maids.

‘Ma’am, ladies!’ they announced. ‘Wonderful news!’

Lady Wang thought that Bao-yu must at last have been found and rising from her bed she exclaimed with delight:

‘Where did they find him? Send him in at once to see me!’

‘He has been placed seventh on the roll of successful candidates!’ the maid cried.

‘But has he been found?’

The maid was silent. Lady Wang sat down again.

‘Who came seventh?’ asked Tan-chun.

‘Mr Bao.’

As they were talking they heard a voice outside shouting:

‘Master Lan has passed too!’

A servant went hurrying out to receive the official notice, on which it was written that Jia Lan had been placed one hundred and thirtieth on the roll.

Since there was still no news of Bao-yu’s whereabouts, Li Wan did not feel free to express her feelings of pride and joy; and Lady Wang, delighted as she was that Jia Lan had passed, could not help thinking to herself:

‘If only Bao-yu were here too, what a happy celebration it would be!’

Bao-chai alone was still plunged in gloom, though she felt it inappropriate to weep. The others were busy offering their congratulations and trying to look on the cheerful side:

‘Since it was Bao-yu’s fate to pass, he cannot remain lost for long. In a day or two he is sure to be found.’

This plausible suggestion brought a momentary smile to Lady Wang’s cheeks, and the family seized on this opportunity to persuade her to eat and drink a little. A moment later Tealeaf’s voice could be heard calling excitedly from the inner gate:

‘Now that Mr Bao has passed, he is sure to be found soon!’

‘What makes you so sure of that?’ they asked him.

‘There’s a saying: “If a man once passes the examination, the whole world learns his name.” Now everyone will know Mr Bao’s name wherever he goes, and someone will be sure to bring him home.’

‘That Tealeaf may be a cheeky little devil, but there’s something in what he says,’ agreed the maids.

Xi-chun differed:

‘How could a grown man like Bao-yu be lost? If you ask me, he has deliberately severed his ties with the world and chosen the life of a monk. And in that case he will be hard to find.’

This set the ladies weeping all over again.

‘It is certainly true,’ said Li Wan, ‘that since ancient times many men have renounced worldly rank and riches to become Buddhas or Saints.’

‘But if he rejects his own mother and father,’ sobbed Lady Wang, ‘then he’s failing in his duty as a son. And in that case how can he ever hope to become a Saint or a Buddha?’.

‘It is best to be ordinary,’ commented Tan-chun. ‘Bao-yu was always different. He had that jade of his ever since he was born, and everyone always thought it lucky. But looking back, I can see that it’s brought him nothing but bad luck. If a few more days go by and we still cannot find him – I don’t want to upset you, Mother – but I think in that case we must resign ourselves to the fact that this is something decreed by fate and beyond our understanding. It would be better not to think of him as having ever been born from your womb. His destiny is after all the fruit of karma, the result of your accumulated merit in several lifetimes.’

Bao-chai listened to this in silence. Aroma could bear it no longer; her heart ached, she felt dizzy and sank to the ground in a faint. Lady Wang seemed most concerned for her, and told one of the maids to help her up.

Jia Huan was feeling extremely out of sorts. On top of his disgrace in the Qiao-jie affair, there was now the added humiliation of having to watch both his brother and nephew pass their examinations. He cursed Qiang and Yun for having dragged him into this trouble. Tan-chun was sure to take him to task now that she was back. And yet he dared not try to hide. He was altogether in a state of abject misery.

The next day Jia Lan had to attend court to give thanks for his successful graduation. There he met Zhen Bao-yu and discovered that he too had passed. So now all three of them belonged to the same ‘class’. When Lan mentioned Bao-yu’s strange disappearance, Zhen Bao-yu sighed and offered a few words of consolation.

The Chief Examiner presented the successful candidates’ compositions to the throne, and His Majesty read them through one by one and found them all to be well balanced and cogent, displaying both breadth of learning and soundness of judgement. When he noticed two Nanking Jias in seventh and one hundred and thirtieth place, he asked if they were any relation of the late Jia Concubine. One of his ministers went to summon Jia Bao-yu and Jia Lan for questioning on this matter. Jia Lan, on arrival, explained the circumstances of his uncle’s disappearance and gave a full account of the three preceding generations of the family, all of which was transmitted to the throne by the minister. His Majesty, as a consequence of this information, being a monarch of exceptional enlightenment and compassion, instructed his minister, in consideration of the family’s distinguished record of service, to submit a full report on their case. This the minister did and drafted a detailed memorial on the subject. His Majesty’s concern was such that on reading this memorial he ordered the minister to re-examine the facts that had led to Jia She’s conviction. Subsequently the Imperial eye lighted upon yet another memorial describing the success of the recent campaign to quell the coastal disturbances, ‘causing the seas to be at peace and the rivers to be cleansed, and leaving the honest citizenry free to pursue their livelihood unmolested once more’. His Majesty was overjoyed at this good news and ordered his council of ministers to deliberate on suitable rewards and also to pronounce a general amnesty throughout the Empire.

When Jia Lan had left court and had gone to pay his respects to his examiner, he learned of the amnesty and hurried home to tell Lady Wang and the rest of the family. They all seemed delighted, though their pleasure was marred by Bao-yu’s continued absence. Aunt Xue was particularly happy at the news, and set about making preparations for the payment of Xue Pan’s fine, since his death sentence would now be commuted as part of the amnesty.

A few days later it was announced that Zhen Bao-yu and his father had called to offer their congratulations, and Lady Wang sent Jia Lan out to receive them. Shortly afterwards Jia Lan returned with a broad smile on his face:

‘Good news, Grandmother! Uncle Zhen Bao-yu’s father has heard at court of an edict pardoning both Great-uncle She and Uncle Zhen from Ning-guo House, and restoring the hereditary Ning-guo rank to Uncle Zhen. Grandfather is to keep the hereditary Rong-guo rank and after his period of mourning will be reinstated as a Permanent Secretary in the Board of Works. All the family’s confiscated property is to be restored. His Majesty has read Uncle Bao’s composition and was extremely struck by it. When he discovered that the candidate concerned was Her Late Grace’s younger brother, and when the Prince of Bei-jing added a few words of commendation, His Majesty expressed a desire to summon him to court for an audience. The ministers then told him that Uncle Bao had disappeared after the examination (it was I who informed them of this in the first place), and that he was at present being looked for everywhere, without success, whereupon His Majesty issued another edict, ordering all the garrisons in the capital to make a thorough search for him. You can set your mind at rest now, Grandmother. With His Majesty taking a personal interest in the matter, Uncle Bao is sure to be found!’

Lady Wang and the rest of the family were delighted and congratulated each other on this new turn of events.

Meanwhile Jia Huan and his accomplices were still on tenterhooks, searching everywhere for Qiao-jie, who having left the city with Patience and Grannie Liu had meanwhile arrived in the village and been installed in Grannie Liu’s best room, specially cleaned out for the occasion. Although their daily diet was simple village fare, it was wholesome and clean, and with little Qing-er to keep them company they had relatively few cares. There were a few quite well-off families in the village, who when they heard that there was a Miss Jia staying at Grannie Liu’s insisted on coming to have a look for themselves. They all waxed eloquent on the subject of her fairylike appearance and sent presents of fruit, fresh produce and game. In fact, Qiao-jie’s presence caused a considerable stir. The richest family were the Zhous, whose wealth was composed partly of money and partly of extensive holdings of land. They had one son in the family, a cultivated, fine-looking lad of fourteen, who had studied with a family tutor and had recently passed the preliminary Licentiate exam. When his mother set eyes on Qiao-jie she was lost in admiration.

‘What a pity!’ she thought to herself, with a deep inner sigh of regret. ‘A boy from a country family like ours would never be thought fit for such a well-bred young lady.’ She stood there for some time deep in thought, and Grannie Liu soon guessed what was on her mind.

‘I know what you’re thinking,’ she said. ‘Why don’t I propose the match for you?’

Mrs Zhou laughed:

‘Don’t go making fun of me! A great family like theirs, stoop to the likes of us!’

‘Well, it’d do no harm to suggest it,’ replied Grannie Liu. ‘And we shall see.’

The two of them left it at that and went their separate ways.

Grannie Liu was concerned to know the latest developments at Rong-guo House and sent Ban-er into town to find out. He reached Two Dukes Street to find a throng of carriages outside the two mansions, and stationed himself close by to glean what news he could. This is what he overheard:

‘Both families have had their ranks restored and all their confiscated property returned. Things are looking up for them again. But young Bao-yu has disappeared without trace after passing his exams.’

Ban-er was delighted to hear of the family’s restoration to favour and was just setting off home to carry the good news back to his grandmother when he saw several horses pull up outside the gates. The riders dismounted and the gatemen saluted with one knee on the ground:

‘Welcome home, sir! And congratulations! How is Sir She’s health?’

‘Better,’ replied the young man who had first dismounted. ‘And he has received His Majesty’s gracious permission to return home.’ After a short pause he asked: ‘What are those men doing over there?’

‘His Majesty sent an official here with a decree. They require a member of the family to receive back all the confiscated property.’

The young master strode in cheerfully, and Ban-er, concluding that it must be Jia Lian, did not wait for any further news but hastened home to inform Grannie Liu. A smile spread across the old lady’s face when she heard, and she went at once to tell Qiao-jie and congratulate her on the good news.

‘We owe everything to you, Grannie,’ said Patience with a grateful smile. ‘Without your help Miss Qiao-jie would never have lived to see this happy day.’

Qiao-jie herself was even more excited. Presently the messenger who had been sent with a letter to Jia Lian returned.

‘Mr Lian says he is extremely grateful. He asks me to escort Miss Qiao-jie home at once, and to give you this handsome reward.’

Grannie Liu was highly satisfied that all had turned out for the best, and she sent someone to fetch two carts. When she asked Qiao-jie and Patience to make use of them for their return journey, they seemed reluctant to leave. They had grown accustomed to Grannie Liu’s home, and little Qing-er was in tears because her new friends were being taken from her. Grannie Liu, seeing how attached they had become to one another, told Qing-er that she could travel with them in the carts into town. And so they hurried back to Rong-guo House.

It will be remembered how Jia Lian, on hearing of his father’s grave illness, had hurried to his place of exile. When father and son met there was a tearful scene, which we need not describe in detail. Jia She gradually recovered his health, and when Jia Lian received a letter with the latest (and none too cheerful) news from home, he asked his father for permission to return. On his way he heard of the amnesty, and two days later arrived home on the very day that the Edict was delivered to Rong-guo House – at the very moment in fact when Lady Xing was wondering who could receive the Edict on behalf of the family. Jia Lan was now theoretically entitled to perform this function, but he was rather too young. Then Jia Lian’s arrival was announced. He exchanged greetings with them all, and the reunion was an occasion for expressions of both sorrow and joy. There was no time for much talk, however, and Jia Lian hurried to the main hall to make his kowtow to the Imperial emissary, who enquired after Jia She’s health and said:

‘Tomorrow you must proceed to the Imperial Treasury to receive your compensation. The Ning-guo residence will be restored to your family.’

The men rose to their feet, and the emissary took his leave. Jia Lian saw him off to the front gate, where he noticed a couple of country carts pulled up. The gatemen were refusing to allow the carts to stop there and a noisy argument was taking place. Jia Lian realized at once that these must be the carts bringing his daughter home and began shouting angrily at the gatemen:

‘You pack of misbegotten curs! While I was away you turned on your own masters and drove my daughter from home. Now you want to prevent her from returning! Are you trying to take vengeance on me?’

The servants had been dreading Jia Lian’s return, since he would be sure to find out sooner or later what had occurred in his absence and would certainly punish them for their part in it. It still came as something of a shock to them to hear him speaking like this so soon, as if he had already discovered everything (how this could be they did not understand). They rose to their feet and protested:

‘While you were away, sir, some of us were sick, some were away on leave; it was all the doing of Master Huan, Mr Qiang and Mr Yun, sir, it had nothing to do with us.’

‘Stupid incompetents!’ cried Jia Lian. ‘I’ll deal with you when I’m finished. Hurry up and let those carts in!’

When Jia Lian went in he said nothing to Lady Xing. He went to Lady Wang’s apartment, knelt before her and kowtowed:

‘It is thanks to your foresight, Aunt Wang, that my daughter has returned safely. I shall say nothing of Cousin Huan’s conduct in this matter. I hardly need to. But so far as that creature Yun is concerned, the last time he was left in charge there was trouble, and now, in the few months that I’ve been away, he has allowed the rot to set in. In my opinion he should be sent packing and never given a job of any kind here again.’

‘What about your own brother-in-law, Wang Ren?’ exclaimed Lady Wang. ‘What induced him to behave in such a despicable manner?’

‘Don’t waste your breath on him,’ replied Jia Lian. ‘I shall deal with him later.’

Suncloud came in to announce the arrival of Qiao-jie. When Lady Wang saw her, although the separation had not been a long one, the agonizing suspense of the days leading up to her escape flooded back into her mind, and she broke down and wept profusely. Qiao-jie cried a great deal herself. Jia Lian came over to thank Grannie Liu. Lady Wang bade her be seated, and together they discussed the whole adventure. When Jia Lian saw Patience again, he was overcome with gratitude for what she had done, and although he could hardly express his true feelings at such a family gathering, he could not help shedding a few tears. From this day on he held Patience in greater and greater esteem and resolved to promote her to the position of proper wife as soon as his father returned. But we anticipate.

Lady Xing had been sure there would be trouble as soon as Jia Lian learned of Qiao-Jie’s disappearance. When she heard that he was at Lady Wang’s she became most anxious and sent a maid to eavesdrop, who returned to inform her that Qiao-jie and Grannie Liu were both there talking, having just arrived back together. It suddenly dawned on Lady Xing what had happened. She knew that she had been hoodwinked and felt very peeved with Lady Wang:

‘Stirring up trouble between me and my son! I wonder who it was that told Patience our secret in the first place!’

At that moment she saw Qiao-jie and Grannie Liu come in, accompanied by Patience. Lady Wang followed them and spoke to her, laying the blame for everything on Jia Yun and Wang Ren:

‘You were taken in by what they said, Sister-in-law. You only meant the best. How could you have known the tricks and schemes they were up to!’

Lady Xing felt truly ashamed of herself. She saw that Lady Wang had acted rightly, and respected her for it. From now on relations between the two sisters-in-law became less strained.

Patience spoke to Lady Wang, and then took Qiao-jie to say hello to Bao-chai. The two of them exchanged commiserations.

‘With the Emperor’s favour now restored,’ said Qiao-jie, ‘our family is sure to prosper once more. And surely Uncle Bao will come back.’

As they were talking, Ripple came running into the room in a great lather, crying:

‘Help! Aroma’s been taken poorly!’

But for the outcome, you must read the next chapter.