第十一回

第十一回 庆寿辰宁府排家宴 见熙凤贾瑞起淫心

话说是日贾敬的寿辰，贾珍先将上等可吃的东西、稀奇些的果品，装了十六大捧盒，着贾蓉带领家下人等与贾敬送去，向贾蓉说道：“你留神看太爷喜欢不喜欢，你就行了礼来。你说：‘我父亲遵太爷的话未敢来，在家里率领合家都朝上行了礼了。’”贾蓉听罢，即率领家人去了。

这里渐渐的就有人来了。先是贾琏、贾蔷到来，先看了各处的座位，并问：“有什么顽意儿没有？”家人答道：“我们爷原算计请太爷今日来家来，所以并未敢预备顽意儿。前日听见太爷又不来了，现叫奴才们找了一班小戏儿并一档子打十番的[1]，都在园子里戏台上预备着呢。”

次后邢夫人、王夫人、凤姐儿、宝玉都来了，贾珍并尤氏接了进去。尤氏的母亲已先在这里呢。大家见过了，彼此让了坐。贾珍尤氏二人亲自递了茶，因说道：“老太太原是老祖宗，我父亲又是侄儿，这样日子，原不敢请他老人家；但是这个时候，天气正凉爽，满园的菊花又盛开，请老祖宗过来散散闷，看着众儿孙热闹热闹，是这个意思。谁知老祖宗又不肯赏脸。”凤姐儿未等王夫人开口，先说道：“老太太昨日还说要来着呢，因为晚上看着宝兄弟他们吃桃儿，老人家又嘴馋，吃了有大半个，五更天的时候就一连起来了两次，今日早晨略觉身子倦些。因叫我回大爷，今日断不能来了，说有好吃的要几样，还要很烂的。”贾珍听了笑道：“我说老祖宗是爱热闹的，今日不来，必定有个原故，若是这么着就是了。”

王夫人道：“前日听见你大妹妹说，蓉哥儿媳妇儿身上有些不大好，到底是怎么样？”尤氏道：“他这个病得的〔一〕也奇。上月中秋还跟着老太太、太太们顽了半夜，回家来好好的。到了二十后，一日比一日觉懒，也懒待吃东西，这将近有半个多月了。经期又有两个月没来。”邢夫人接着说道：“别是喜罢？”

正说着，外头人回道：“大老爷、二老爷并一家子的爷们都来了，在厅上呢。”贾珍连忙出去了。这里尤氏方说道：“从前大夫也有说是喜的。昨日冯紫英荐了他从学过的一个先生，医道很好，瞧了说不是喜，竟是很大的一个症候。昨日开了方子，吃了一剂药，今日头眩的略好些，别的仍不见怎么样大见效。”凤姐儿道：“我说他不是十分支持不住，今日这样的日子，再也不肯不扎挣着上来。”尤氏道：“你是初三日在这里见他的，他强扎挣了半天，也是因你们娘儿两个好的上头，他才恋恋的舍不得去。”凤姐儿听了，眼圈儿红了半天，半日方说道：“真是‘天有不测风云，人有旦夕祸福’。这个年纪，倘或就因这个病上怎么样了，人还活着有什么趣儿！”

正说话间，贾蓉进来，给邢夫人、王夫人、凤姐儿前都请了安，方回尤氏道：“方才我去给太爷送吃食去，并回说我父亲在家中伺候老爷们，款待一家子的爷们，遵太爷的话并未敢来。太爷听了甚喜欢，说：‘这才是。’叫告诉父亲母亲好生伺候太爷太太们，叫我好生伺候叔叔婶子们并哥哥们。还说那《阴骘文》，叫急急的刻出来，印一万张散人。我将此话都回了我父亲了。我这会子得快出去打发太爷们并合家爷们吃饭。”凤姐儿说：“蓉哥儿，你且站住。你媳妇今日到底是怎么着？”贾蓉皱皱眉说道：“不好么！婶子回来瞧瞧去就知道了。”于是贾蓉出去了。

这里尤氏向邢夫人、王夫人道：“太太们在这里吃饭好，还是在园子里吃去好？小戏儿现预备在园子里呢。”王夫人向邢夫人道：“我们索性吃了饭再过去罢，也省好些事。”邢夫人道：“很好。”于是尤氏就吩咐媳妇婆子们：“快送饭来。”门外一齐答应了一声，都各人端各人的去了。不多一时，摆上了饭。尤氏让邢夫人、王夫人并他母亲都上了坐，他与凤姐儿、宝玉侧席坐了。邢夫人、王夫人道：“我们来原为给大老爷拜寿，这不竟是我们来过生日来了么？”凤姐儿说道：“大老爷原是好养静的，已经修炼成了，也算得是神仙了。太太们这么一说，这就叫作‘心到神知’了。”一句话说的满屋里的人都笑起来了。

于是，尤氏的母亲并邢夫人、王夫人、凤姐儿都吃毕饭，漱了口，净了手；才说要往园子里去，贾蓉进来向尤氏说道：“老爷们并众位叔叔哥哥兄弟们也都吃了饭了。大老爷说家里有事，二老爷是不爱听戏又怕人闹的慌，都才去了。别的一家子爷们都被琏二叔并蔷兄弟让过去〔二〕听戏去了。方才南安郡王、东平郡王、西宁郡王、北静郡王四家王爷，并镇国公牛府等六家，忠靖侯〔三〕史府等八家，都差人持了名帖送寿礼来，俱回了我父亲，先收在帐房里了，礼单都上上档子[5]了。老爷的领谢的名帖都交给各来人了，各来人也都照旧例赏了，众来人都让吃了饭才去了。母亲该请二位太太、老娘、婶子都过园子里坐着去罢。”尤氏道：“也是才吃完了饭，就要过去了。”

凤姐儿说：“我回太太，我先瞧瞧蓉哥儿媳妇，我再过去。”王夫人道：“很是。我们都要去瞧瞧他，倒怕他嫌闹的慌，说我们问他好罢。”尤氏道：“好妹妹，媳妇听你的话，你去开导开导他，我也放心。你就快些过园子里来。”宝玉也要跟了凤姐儿去瞧秦氏去，王夫人道：“你看看就过去罢，那是侄儿媳妇。”于是尤氏请了邢夫人、王夫人并他母亲都过会芳园去了。

凤姐儿、宝玉方和贾蓉到秦氏这边来了。进了房门，悄悄的走到里间房门口，秦氏见了，就要站起来，凤姐儿说：“快别起来，看起猛了头晕。”于是凤姐儿就紧走了两步，拉住秦氏的手，说道：“我的奶奶！怎么几日不见，就瘦的这么着了。”于是就坐在秦氏坐的褥子上。宝玉也问了好，坐在对面椅子上。贾蓉叫：“快倒茶来，婶子和二叔在上房还未喝茶呢。”

秦氏拉着凤姐儿的手，强笑道：“这都是我没福。这样人家，公公婆婆当自己的女孩儿似的待。婶娘的侄儿虽说年轻，却也是他敬我，我敬他，从来没有红过脸儿。就是一家子的长辈同辈之中，除了婶子倒不用说了，别人也从无不疼我的，也无不和我好的。这如今得了这个病，把我那要强的心一分也没了。公婆跟前未得孝顺一天；就是婶娘这样疼我，我就有十分孝顺的心，如今也不能够了。我自想着，未必熬的过年去呢。”

宝玉正眼瞅着那《海棠春睡图》并那秦太虚写的“嫩寒锁梦因春冷，芳气笼人是酒香”的对联，不觉想起在这里睡晌觉梦到“太虚幻境”的事来。正自出神，听得秦氏说了这些话，如万箭攒心，那眼泪不知不觉就流下来了。凤姐儿心中虽十分难过，但恐怕病人见了众人这个样儿反添心酸，倒不是来开导劝解的意思了。见宝玉这个样子，因说道：“宝兄弟，你忒婆婆妈妈的了。他病人不过是这么说，那里就到得这个田地了？况且能多大年纪的人，略病一病儿就这么想那么想的，这不是自己倒给自己添病了么？”贾蓉道：“他这病也不用别的，只是吃得些饮食就不怕了。”凤姐儿道：“宝兄弟，太太叫你快过去呢。你别在这里只管这么着，倒招的媳妇也心里不好。太太那里又惦着你。”因向贾蓉说道：“你先同你宝叔叔过去罢，我还略坐一坐儿。”贾蓉听说，即同宝玉过会芳园来了。

这里凤姐儿又劝解了秦氏一番，又低低的说了许多衷肠话儿。尤氏打发人请了两三遍，凤姐儿才向秦氏说道：“你好生养着罢，我再来看你。合该你这病要好，所以前日就有人荐了这个好大夫来，再也是不怕的了。”秦氏笑道：“任凭神仙也罢，治得病治不得命。婶子，我知道我这病不过是挨日子。”凤姐儿说道：“你只管这么想着，病那里能好呢？总要想开了才是。况且听得大夫说，若是不治，怕的是春天不好呢。如今才九月半，还有四五个月的工夫，什么病治不好呢〔四〕？咱们若是不能吃人参的人家，这也难说了；你公公婆婆听见治得好你，别说一日二钱人参，就是二斤也能够吃的起。好生养着罢，我过园子里去了。”秦氏又道：“婶子，恕我不能跟过去了。闲了时候还求婶子常过来瞧瞧我，咱们娘儿们坐坐，多说几遭话儿。”凤姐儿听了，不觉得又眼圈儿一红，遂说道：“我得了闲儿必常来看你。”

于是凤姐儿带领跟来的婆子丫头并宁府的媳妇婆子们，从里头绕进园子的便门来。但只见：

黄花满地，白柳横坡。小桥通若耶之溪，曲径接天台之路[7]。石中清流激湍，篱落飘香；树头红叶翩翻，疏林如画。西风乍紧，初罢莺啼；暖日当暄[8]，又添蛩语[9]。遥望东南，建几处依山之榭；纵观西北，结三间临水之轩[10]。笙簧[11]盈耳，别有幽情；罗绮[12]穿林，倍添韵致。

凤姐儿正自看园中的景致，一步步行来赞赏。猛然从假山石后走过一个人来，向前对凤姐儿说道：“请嫂子安。”凤姐儿猛然见了，将身子望后一退，说道：“这是瑞大爷不是？”贾瑞说道：“嫂子连我也不认得了？不是我是谁！”凤姐儿道：“不是不认得，猛然一见，不想到是大爷到这里来。”贾瑞道：“也是合该我与嫂子有缘。我方才偷出了席，在这个清净地方略散一散，不想就遇见嫂子也从这里来。这不是有缘么？”一面说着，一面拿眼睛不住的觑着凤姐儿。

凤姐儿是个聪明人，见他这个光景，如何不猜透八九分呢，因向贾瑞假意含笑道：“怨不得你哥哥时常提你，说你很好。今日见了，听你说这几句话儿，就知道你是个聪明和气的人了。这会子我要到太太们那里去，不得和你说话儿，等闲了咱们再说话儿罢。”贾瑞道：“我要到嫂子家里去请安，又恐怕嫂子年轻，不肯轻易见人。”凤姐儿假意笑道：“一家子骨肉，说什么年轻不年轻的话。”贾瑞听了这话，再不想到今日得这个奇遇，那神情光景亦发不堪难看了。凤姐儿说道：“你快入席去罢，仔细他们拿住罚你酒。”贾瑞听了，身上已木了半边，慢慢的一面走着，一面回过头来看。凤姐儿故意的把脚步放迟了些儿，见他去远了，心里暗忖道：“这才是知人知面不知心呢，那里有这样禽兽样的人呢。他如果如此，几时叫他死在我的手里，他才知道我的手段！”

于是凤姐儿方移步前来。将[13]转过了一重山坡，见两三个婆子慌慌张张的走来，见了凤姐儿，笑说道：“我们奶奶见二奶奶只是不来，急的了不得，叫奴才们又来请奶奶来了。”凤姐儿说道：“你们奶奶就是这么急脚鬼似的。”凤姐儿慢慢的走着，问：“戏唱了几出了？”那婆子回道：“有八九出了。”说话之间，已来到了天香楼的后门，见宝玉和一群丫头们在那里玩呢。凤姐儿说道：“宝兄弟，别忒淘气了。”有一个丫头说道：“太太们都在楼上坐着呢，请奶奶就从这边上去罢。”

凤姐儿听了，款步提衣上了楼，见尤氏已在楼梯口等着呢。尤氏笑说道：“你们娘儿两个忒好了，见了面总舍不得来了。你明日搬来和他住着罢。你坐下，我先敬你一钟。”于是凤姐儿在邢、王二夫人前告了坐，又在尤氏的母亲前周旋了一遍，仍同尤氏坐在一桌上吃酒听戏。尤氏叫拿戏单来，让凤姐儿点戏，凤姐儿说道：“亲家太太和〔五〕太太们在这里，我如何敢点。”邢夫人王夫人说道：“我们和亲家太太都点了好几出了，你点两出好的我们听。”凤姐儿立起身来答应了一声，方接过戏单，从头一看，点了一出《还魂》[15]，一出《弹词》[16]，递过戏单去说：“现在唱的这《双官诰》[17]，唱完了，再唱这两出，也就是时候了。”王夫人道：“可不是呢，也该趁早叫你哥哥嫂子歇歇，他们又心里不静。”尤氏说道：“太太们又不常过来，娘儿们多坐一会子去，才有趣儿，天还早呢。”凤姐儿立起身来望楼下一看，说：“爷们都往那里去了？”旁边一个婆子道：“爷们才到凝曦轩，带了打十番的那里吃酒去了。”凤姐儿说道：“在这里不便宜[18]，背地里又不知干什么去了！”尤氏笑道：“那里都像你这么正经人呢。”

于是说说笑笑，点的戏都唱完了，方才撤下酒席，摆上饭来。吃毕，大家才出园子来，到上房坐下，吃了茶，方才叫预备车，向尤氏的母亲告了辞。尤氏率同众姬妾并家下婆子媳妇们方送出来；贾珍率领众子侄都在车旁侍立，等候着呢，见了邢夫人、王夫人道：“二位婶子明日还过来逛逛。”王夫人道：“罢了，我们今日整坐了一日，也乏了，明日歇歇罢。”于是都上车去了。贾瑞犹不时拿眼睛觑着凤姐儿。贾珍等进去后，李贵才拉过马来〔六〕，宝玉骑上，随了王夫人去了。这里贾珍同一家子的弟兄子侄吃过了晚饭，方大家散了。

次日，仍是众族人等闹了一日，不必细说。此后凤姐儿不时亲自来看秦氏。秦氏也有几日好些，也有几日仍是那样。贾珍、尤氏、贾蓉好不焦心。

且说贾瑞到荣府来了几次，偏都遇见凤姐儿往宁府那边去了。这年正是十一月三十日冬至。到交节的那几日，贾母、王夫人、凤姐儿日日差人去看秦氏，回来的人都说：“这几日也没见添病，也不见甚好。”王夫人向贾母说：“这个症候，遇着这样大节不添病，就有好大的指望了。”贾母说：“可是呢，好个孩子，要是有些原故，可不叫人疼死。”说着，一阵心酸，叫凤姐儿说道：“你们娘儿两个也好了一场，明日大初一，过了明日，你后日再去看一看他去。你细细的瞧瞧他那光景，倘或好些儿，你回来告诉我，我也喜欢喜欢。那孩子素日爱吃的，你也常叫人做些给他送过去。”凤姐儿一一的答应了。

到了初二日，吃了早饭，来到宁府，看见秦氏的光景，虽未甚添病，但是那脸上身上的肉全瘦干了。于是和秦氏坐了半日，说了些闲话儿，又将这病无妨的话开导了一遍。秦氏说道：“好不好，春天就知道了。如今现过了冬至，又没怎么样，或者好的了也未可知。婶子回老太太、太太放心罢。昨日老太太赏的那枣泥馅的山药糕，我倒吃了两块，倒像克化[20]的动似的。”凤姐儿说道：“明日再给你送来。我到你婆婆那里瞧瞧，就要赶着回去回老太太的话去。”秦氏道：“婶子替我请老太太、太太安罢。”

凤姐儿答应着就出来了，到了尤氏上房坐下。尤氏道：“你冷眼瞧媳妇是怎么样？”凤姐儿低了半日头，说道：“这实在没法儿了。你也该将一应的后事用的东西给他料理料理，冲[21]一冲也好。”尤氏道：“我也叫人暗暗的预备了。就是那件东西不得好木头，暂且慢慢的办罢。”于是凤姐儿吃了茶，说了一会子话儿，说道：“我要快回去回老太太的话去呢。”尤氏道：“你可缓缓的说，别吓着老太太。”凤姐儿道：“我知道。”

于是凤姐儿就回来了。到了家中，见了贾母，说：“蓉哥儿媳妇请老太太安，给老太太磕头，说他好些了，求老祖宗放心罢。他再略好些，还要给老祖宗磕头请安来呢。”贾母道：“你看他是怎么样？”凤姐儿说：“暂且无妨，精神还好呢。”贾母听了，沉吟了半日，因向凤姐儿说：“你换换衣服歇歇去罢。”

凤姐儿答应着出来，见过了王夫人，到了家中，平儿将烘的家常的衣服给凤姐儿换了。凤姐儿方坐下，问道：“家里没有什么事么？”平儿方端了茶来，递了过去，说道：“没有什么事。就是那三百银子的利银，旺儿媳妇送进来，我收了。再有瑞大爷使人来打听奶奶在家没有，他要来请安说话。”凤姐儿听了，哼了一声，说道：“这畜生合该作死，看他来了怎么样！”平儿因问道：“这瑞大爷是因什么只管来？”凤姐儿遂将九月里宁府园子里遇见他的光景，他说的话，都告诉了平儿。平儿说道：“癞蛤蟆想天鹅肉吃，没人伦的混帐东西，起这个念头，叫他不得好死！”凤姐儿道：“等他来了，我自有道理。”不知贾瑞来时作何光景，且听下回分解。

[1] 一档（dànɡ荡）子打十番的——一班演奏十番的艺人。一档子：一班、一拨儿。十番：又称十番锣鼓，一种用乐器合奏的套曲。详见李斗《扬州画舫录》。

〔一〕 “这个病得的”，原无“得”字，从梦稿本补。

〔二〕 “让过去”，原作“都让过去”，从蒙府本删。

〔三〕 “忠靖侯”，原作“中靖侯”。又，底本第十三、第十四回正文作“忠靖侯”，俄藏本作“忠靖侯”。从俄藏本改。

[5] 上档子——档子：分门别类登记的簿册。据《清稗类钞》，清初尚无此类册籍，有事记在木片上，年久积多，用皮条穿挂，叫“档子”或“牌子”；后来写在簿册上，也相沿叫“档子”。上档子：就是记在簿册上。

〔四〕 “如今才九月半，还有四五个月的工夫，什么病治不好呢”二十二字，原无，从蒙府、戚序、舒序、俄藏本补。

[7] 若耶之溪、天台之路——若耶溪：在浙江省绍兴县南。传说春秋时越国的美女西施曾在这里浣纱。天台路：传说汉代刘晨、阮肇入天台山采药，遇到两个仙女留住半年。这里借典形容园中溪水、路径的幽美别致，反衬下文。

[8] 暖日当暄——温和的日光晒得正暖。当：正当。暄：暖和。

[9] 蛩（qiónɡ穷）语——蟋蟀的鸣声。蛩：蟋蟀。

[10] 榭（xiè谢）、轩——榭：高台上建筑的房屋。轩：敞亮别致的小屋或小室。

[11] 笙簧——泛指管乐器，簧是管乐器中发声的薄片。这里以笙簧之声形容流水声的悠扬悦耳。杜甫《题终明府水楼》诗：“绝壁过云开锦绣，疏松夹水奏笙簧。”

[12] 罗绮（qǐ起）——皆丝织品。这里代指服饰华丽的人们。

[13] 将——刚刚。

〔五〕 “亲家太太和”，原无，从蒙府本补。

[15] 《还魂》——明代汤显祖著《牡丹亭》的第三十五出。《牡丹亭》写柳梦梅和杜丽娘的爱情故事。《还魂》一出写杜丽娘死而复生和柳梦梅结为夫妇。

[16] 《弹词》——清初洪升著《长生殿》的第三十八出。《长生殿》写唐玄宗、杨贵妃故事。《弹词》一出写唐玄宗的乐工李龟年，经“安史之乱”，流落江南，以弹琵琶卖唱为生。唱的是唐玄宗和杨贵妃的悲欢离合及唐王朝的盛衰陈迹。

[17] 《双官诰》——清代陈二白著《双官诰》传奇。写冯琳如的婢妾碧莲守节教子，后来得了夫子双份官诰的故事。地方戏中的《三娘教子》即由此而来。诰：即诰命。封建朝廷以皇帝的名义颁赐品爵的诏令。

[18] 便宜——方便。

〔六〕 “李贵才拉过马来”，原作“李纨才拿过马来”，“纨”点改为“贵”。从甲辰、俄藏本改。

[20] 克化——消化。

[21] 冲——一种习俗，有冲散噩运之意。如为重病人预先准备丧事或提前举行婚礼等等，认为可以冲掉病灾。

CHAPTER 11. Ning-guo House celebrates the birthday of an absent member And Jia Rui conceives an illicit passion for his attractive cousin

Jia Jing’s birthday had now arrived. Cousin Zhen packed sixteen lacquer gift-boxes with the rarest and choicest delicacies and instructed Jia Rong to take a number of domestics with him and deliver them to Jia Jing. He was to observe carefully whether or not his grandfather was pleased, and having made his kotow, was to deliver the following message:

‘Because of your request, Father has not ventured to visit you himself. Instead he will place himself at the head of the entire family and lead them in prostrating themselves in your direction.’

Having received his father’s instructions, Jia Rong mustered his band of servants and set out.

Back at home visitors gradually began to arrive. Jia Lian and Jia Qiang were the first. Having inspected the various seating arrangements, they inquired whether there was to be entertainment of some kind.

‘The Master had originally been reckoning on old Sir Jing coming here today,’ said one of the servants, ‘so he didn’t arrange for any entertainment. But the day before yesterday he learned that Sir Jing would not be coming, so he asked us to find a troupe of actors and a band. They are at present on the stage in the garden getting ready for the performance.’

Lady Xing, Lady Wang, Wang Xi-feng and Bao-yu arrived next and were welcomed and conducted inside by Cousin Zhen and You-shi. You-shi’s mother was already there. She was introduced to the new arrivals, who were then invited to sit down and were served by Cousin Zhen and You-shi with tea.

‘We realize,’ said Cousin Zhen, ‘that Lady Jia is a generation older than Father. Father is only her nephew, of course, and strictly speaking it wasn’t correct form to invite a person of her age at all. Nevertheless, since the weather is so fresh and nice just now and the chrysanthemums in the garden at their best, we had rather hoped that she might enjoy coming over for a bit and having all her children and grandchildren around her. That was our only motive in asking her. I’m sorry she decided not to honour us.’

‘Up to yesterday,’ Xi-feng put in hurriedly, not waiting for Lady Wang to reply, ‘Grandmother had been intending to come. Then yesterday evening she saw Bao-yu eating some peaches and the greedy old thing couldn’t resist trying one herself. She only ate about two thirds of a peach, but she had to get up twice running in the early hours, and this morning she still felt rather poorly and told me to tell you that she definitely wouldn’t be able to come. But she said that if you have any specially nice things to eat she would like one or two kinds to try; only they must be soft and easy to digest.’

Cousin Zhen smiled with pleasure.

‘Well, that’s all right then. Knowing how much Grandma enjoys a bit of fun, I thought it didn’t seem like her not to come today unless she had some good reason for not coming.’

‘The other day Xi-chun was telling us that Rong’s wife is not very well,’ said Lady Wang. ‘What exactly is wrong with her?’

‘It’s a very puzzling illness,’ You-shi replied. ‘At Mid-Autumn last month, when she got back from playing cards half the night with you and Lady Jia, she seemed perfectly all right. But from the twentieth onwards she seemed to get more and more tired and listless every day – too tired even to eat. She’s been like that for more than a fortnight now, and it is two months since she had a period.’

‘Couldn’t she be expecting?’ said Lady Xing.

They were interrupted by a servant from outside:

‘Sir She and Sir Zheng and all the other gentlemen have arrived, sir. They are in the main reception room.’

Cousin Zhen hurried out.

‘To begin with that’s what some of the doctors told us,’ said You-shi, resuming the conversation; ‘but yesterday Feng Zi-ying introduced a doctor friend of his to us who is terribly good, someone he went to school with, and he said that she wasn’t expecting at all. He said she was suffering from a serious illness. He wrote a prescription for her yesterday and she has already had one dose of the medicine. Today her giddiness is a bit better, but everything else is still pretty much the same.’

‘There!’ said Xi-feng. ‘I thought it must be something quite serious to keep her away, especially on a day like this. I know she would have forced herself to come if she could have done.’

‘You remember you saw her here on the third,’ said You-shi. ‘She had a terrible struggle to keep going on that occasion. It was only because the two of you have always been so close and she didn’t want to miss you that she made the effort.’

Xi-feng’s eyes became moist and for a moment she was too overcome to speak.

‘I know “the weather and human life are both unpredictable”,’ she said at last, ‘but she’s only a child still. If anything should happen to her as a result of this illness, I think all the fun would go out of life!’

While she was speaking Jia Rong came in, and having greeted in turn first Lady Xing, then Lady Wang, and then Xi-feng, he turned to his mother:

‘I’ve just delivered the food to Grandfather, and I told him that Father was entertaining all the men of the family at home and had not presumed to visit him because of what he said. Grandfather was very pleased. He said “That is exactly as it should be.” He said I was to tell you and Father to see that my great-uncles and great-aunts are properly looked after, and he told me that I was to look after my uncles and aunts and cousins. He also said he wanted the blocks for Divine Rewards to be cut as quickly as possible and ten thousand copies printed for free distribution. I’ve already given this message to Father. Now I’ve got to hurry off again to look after the gentlemen while they have their dinner.’

‘Rong, just a moment!’ said Xi-feng as he was going. ‘How is it really with your wife?’

Jia Rong’s brows contracted in a worried frown.

‘She’s not at all well, Auntie. You’ll know what I mean when you see her presently.’

He left without saying any more.

‘Well, ladies!’ said You-shi. ‘Will you have dinner in here, or shall we eat in the garden? There are some actors in the garden preparing an entertainment.’

‘In here would be all right, wouldn’t it?’ said Lady Wang with a glance in Lady Xing’s direction.

You-shi at once gave orders to her women to serve. There was an answering cry from outside the door and a great flurry of domestics each bustling about her own contribution to the meal. In no time at all the table was laid and dinner ready. You-shi made Lady Xing and Lady Wang sit at the head with her mother, while she, Xi-feng and Bao-yu sat at the two sides.

Lady Xing and Lady Wang politely protested that they had come to offer birthday felicitations, not to eat a birthday feast.

‘Yes,’ said Xi-feng. ‘After all these years of spiritual self-improvement, Uncle must by now be practically an Immortal. And with Immortals, as we all know, “it’s the thought that counts and not the ceremony”.’

The others all laughed.

You-shi’s mother, Lady Xing, Lady Wang and Xi-feng, having finished their meal, rinsed out their mouths and washed their hands, had just announced their intention of going into the garden, when Jia Rong came in with a message for his mother.

‘My great-uncles and all the other gentlemen have just finished their dinner. Great-uncle She says he has business at home, and Great-uncle Zheng doesn’t like plays because he says he can’t stand the noise; but all the others have gone with Uncle Lian and Cousin Qiang to watch the players.

‘People have come with cards and birthday presents from the Prince of An-nan, the Prince of Dong-ping, the Prince of Xi-ning, the Prince of Bei-jing, the Duke of Zhen-guo and five others of the Niu clan and the Marquis of Zhong-jing and seven others of the Shi clan. The presents have all been received at the counting-house. They have been entered in the gift-book, and the people who brought them have been issued with thank-you cards. They have also been tipped the usual amounts and given a meal before leaving.

‘And Father says will you please bring the great-aunts and Grandmother You and Auntie Feng to the garden now.’

‘Yes, we’ve finished too,’ said You-shi. ‘We were about to come over when you arrived.’

‘Aunt Wang,’ said Xi-feng, ‘may I go and see Rong’s wife first? I can go on to the garden from there.’

‘Certainly. You ought to go,’ said Lady Wang. ‘In fact, we should all like to go with you, but I am afraid it would be too much excitement for her. Please give her our love.’

‘My dear,’ said You-shi, ‘I know she will always do anything you ask her to. See if you can talk her into a more cheerful frame of mind. It would be such a relief to me if you could. But join us in the garden as soon as you can!’

Bao-yu asked if he could go with Xi-feng to see Qin-shi.

‘Yes,’ said Lady Wang. ‘She is your nephew’s wife. I think you should. Just look in for a moment, though, and then join the rest of us.’

Thereupon You-shi invited Lady Wang, Lady Xing and old Mrs You to accompany her to the All-scents Garden, while Xi-feng and Bao-yu accompanied Jia Rong to Qin-shi’s room.

Entering the door of the apartment, they tiptoed softly into the inner room. As soon as she saw them, Qin-shi attempted to rise, but Xi-feng would not let her.

‘No, no, don’t get up!’ she said. ‘You will make yourself giddy.’

In two rapid strides she was at her side and holding her by the hand.

‘My dearest child! It’s only a few days since last I saw you, but look how thin you have grown!’

She sat down beside her on the quilt on which she sat propped. Bao-yu, after greeting her, sat in a chair opposite.

‘Pour out some tea,’ said Jia Rong. ‘Auntie Feng and Uncle Bao didn’t get any after their dinner.’

Qin-shi grasped Xi-feng’s hand and forced a smile to her wan face.

‘It looks as though I wasn’t meant to be happy, Auntie!’ she said. ‘This is such a lovely family to have married into. Rong’s parents treat me as if I were their own daughter. Rong may be young, but he respects me, and I respect him; there has never been a cross word between us. You, it goes without saying – but not only you, all the older members of the family – have always been goodness itself to me. I did so want to be worthy of all this kindness. But now this wretched illness has come along and taken away the chance. Now I shall never be able to be a good daughter to Rong’s parents; and however badly I want to, I shall never be able to repay any of the love you have shown me. I have a feeling inside me, Auntie: I don’t think I am going to last the year out.’

Bao-yu had been studying the ‘Spring Slumber’ painting on Qin-shi’s wall all this time and re-reading the couplet by Qin Guan on the scrolls at each side of it:

The coldness of spring has imprisoned the soft buds in a wintry dream;

The fragrance of wine has intoxicated the beholder with imagined flower-scents.

As he did so, the memory returned of that earlier afternoon when he had slept in that very same room and dreamed about the Land of Illusion. He was musing on the contents of that dream when he suddenly became aware of the words that Qin-shi was saying. They pierced his heart like the points of a thousand arrows. Great tears welled up in his eyes and rolled down his cheeks. Xi-feng, seeing him, was herself deeply affected; but fearing that the sight of his grief might make Qin-shi even more distressed, whereas the declared purpose of their visit had been to cheer her up, she rallied him lightly on his tears.

‘Don’t be such a baby, Bao-yu! It’s not really that serious: sick people always say things like that. Besides, she’s still young, and when you are young you can shake an illness off in no time at all. – You mustn’t let yourself think such stupid things,’ she said, turning to Qin-shi. ‘You’ll make yourself worse.’

‘If only she could get a bit of food inside her.’ said Jia Rong. ‘That’s her real trouble: she won’t eat anything.’

‘Bao,’ said Xi-feng, ‘your mother told you not to stay long. If you’re going to be like this, you will only upset her, and in any case I expect your mother is beginning to wonder about you. – You go on ahead with Uncle Bao,’ she said to Jia Rong. ‘I am going to sit a little longer with your wife.’

Jia Rong at once led Bao-yu away to join the others in the All-scents Garden, while Xi-feng addressed some words of encouragement to Qin-shi, after which, dropping her voice to a murmur, she engaged in a long and intimate conversation with her, ignoring two or three messages from You-shi urging her to join the party. At last she felt unable to stay any longer.

‘Look after yourself!’ she said. ‘I shall come again. I feel sure that you are meant to get better. It can’t have been an accident that they found that doctor the other day; and now that you’ve got him, there’s really nothing to worry about.’

Qin-shi smiled.

‘Even if he’s a miracle-man, Auntie, “death’s a sickness none can cure”, and I know that it’s just a question of time now.’

‘If you will go on talking like that, how can you possibly get better?’ said Xi-feng. ‘If only you would try to look on the bright side. Remember what the doctor said. He said that if you weren’t being properly treated, next spring would be dangerous for you. If this were a household which couldn’t afford things like ginseng for your treatment, you might have something to worry about. But now they know that you can be cured, there’s nothing Rong’s parents wouldn’t do and nothing they couldn’t afford to do for you. Never mind two drams of ginseng a day; if you needed two pounds a day, they would get it for you gladly. So do try and get better! I must go over to the garden now.’

‘Forgive me for not being able to see you out, Auntie,’ said Qin-shi. ‘Please come again when you are free. We’ll have a nice talk together, just the two of us.’

There were tears in Xi-feng’s eyes as she promised to come often, whenever she was free. Then, followed by the women who had accompanied her from the Rong mansion and a number of female domestics belonging to the Ning household, she made her way round to one of the side gates leading into the gardens.

Golden chrysanthemums covered the open spaces;

Silvery willow-trees bordered the water’s margins.

The little bridge arched its span over a storied stream;

The winding path made its way into a fairy hill.

Crystal rills tinkled amidst the rocks.

A quickset hedge recalled preautumnal fragrances.

Crimson leaves fluttered upon the boughs.

A wintry copse described calligraphic traceries.

In the cold wind’s more insistent blast

The oriole’s cry could still be heard.

In the late sun’s more infrequent warmth

The cricket’s chirp a while revived.

At the far south-east end

Pavilions nestled in artificial mountains.

On the near north-west side

Verandahs brooded on circumjacent waters.

Music of little organs playing in the summer-house

Increased the melancholy in the air.

Glimpses of women’s dresses flitting through the little wood

Enhanced the delicacy of the scene.

Xi-feng was making her way through the garden, admiring the view as she went, when a figure suddenly stepped out from behind an artificial hill of rock and made its way towards her:

‘How are you, cousin?’

Xi-feng gave a start of surprise and retreated a step.

‘Isn’t it Cousin Rui?’

‘Don’t you even know who I am, cousin?’

‘It isn’t that I don’t know you,’ said Xi-feng, ‘but you did come up rather suddenly and I wasn’t expecting to see you here.’

‘We must have been fated to meet, cousin,’ said Jia Rui. ‘I had just slipped away from the party to take a little stroll in these peaceful surroundings. I never expected to meet my fair cousin here, but lo! So there must be a bond.’

He ogled her as he spoke with a fixed and meaningful stare.

Xi-feng’s sharp intelligence enabled her to penetrate without much difficulty the little game he was playing, and feigning an interest she did not feel, she answered him with a smile.

‘I can see why Lian is always speaking so highly of you. From seeing you today and just hearing you speak those few words I can tell at once that you are an intelligent, good-natured sort of person. At the moment I’m on my way to join my aunts, and I’m afraid that I can’t stay and talk to you. Perhaps we could meet some other time when we are both free?’

‘I should like to call on you when you are at home,’ said Jia Rui, ‘but I suppose a young person like your good self is not in a position to receive visitors of the other sex.’

Xi-feng feigned a laugh.

‘We’re all one family – all one flesh and blood. I don’t see that age comes into it.’

Jia Rui was secretly delighted by this encouragement.

‘I never dreamed today would bring a chance like this my way,’ he thought, and the goatish eagerness of his expression grew even more repellent.

‘You had better hurry back to the party,’ said Xi-feng. ‘If they catch you playing truant, you will find yourself being sconced!’

Jia Rui was by now scarcely in command of his own person. Slowly, very slowly he walked away, frequently turning back to gaze at Xi-feng as he did so. Xi-feng mischievously provoked him by deliberately slowing down the pace of her own progress through the garden.

‘What an odious creature!’ she thought to herself when there was some distance between them. ‘Appearances certainly are deceptive! Who would have guessed he was that sort of person? Well, if he is, he had better look out! One of these days I’ll settle his hash for him; then perhaps he will realize what sort of person he is up against!’

Xi-feng had resumed a normal pace and had just skirted the foot of a little hill, when she saw two or three old serving-women hurrying towards her in a state of great agitation.

‘Oh, Mrs Lian,’ said one of the old women with a smile, when they caught sight of her, ‘our mistress has been getting into such a state because you didn’t come! She’s sent us to fetch you.’

‘Just like your mistress!’ said Xi-feng. ‘Always in a lather about something or other!’ and she sauntered on quite unconcernedly, talking to the old woman as she went.

‘How many pieces have they done so far?’

‘Eight or nine,’ the old woman replied.

By this time they had arrived at the rear entrance of the two-storey Celestial Fragrance Pavilion, where they found Bao-yu playing with a group of maids.

‘Mind you don’t make a nuisance of yourself, Bao,’ said Xi-feng.

‘Lady Xing and Lady Wang are sitting upstairs watching,’ said one of the maids. ‘You can get up there from this side, madam.’

Lifting up her skirts, Xi-feng climbed slowly up the stairs. She found You-shi standing at the top waiting for her.

‘You are an affectionate pair!’ said You-shi with a smile. ‘Once the two of you meet, there’s no separating you. Tomorrow you had better move in with her and set up house together! Come on, sit down! I’m going to drink a cup of wine with you!’

Xi-feng asked her two aunts for permission to sit. When she had done so You-shi held out the playbill and invited her to make a choice.

‘It’s not for me to choose when Mother and Aunt Wang are here,’ said Xi-feng.

‘Go ahead and choose!’ said Lady Xing. ‘Mrs You and your aunt and I have already chosen a number of plays. Now you pick out one or two good ones for us!’

Xi-feng politely rose to thank her, and taking the playbill from You-shi, scanned it through and picked out two of the items listed: one a scene from The Return of the Soul and the other ‘Gui-nian Plays His Guitar’ from The Palace of Eternal Youth.

‘If they do these two after they have finished singing this scene from Faithful Bi-lian,’ she said, handing the playbill back to You-shi, ‘I think that will be just about enough for the day.’

‘I’m sure it will,’ said Lady Wang. ‘We ought in any case to break up early, so that our hosts can get a good night’s rest. They have had a lot on their minds lately.’

‘It isn’t often that you both come to see us,’ said You-shi. ‘Please stay as long as you can. It will be so much more fun. It’s really quite early yet.’

‘Where have all the gentlemen gone to?’ inquired Xi-feng, who had got up from her seat and was peering down into the lower storey.

‘They have gone off to the Frozen Sunlight Gallery to drink,’ said one of the old women in attendance. ‘They left only a moment ago. They’ve taken the band with them.’

‘What was wrong with this place?’ said Xi-feng, ‘Heaven knows what they can be getting up to behind our backs!’

‘We can’t all be as strait-laced as you are,’ said You-shi with a laugh.

As they laughed and chattered together, the actors eventually finished performing the second of the two pieces Xi-feng had selected, whereupon the wine was removed from the tables and rice served. When they had finished their meal, the company retired to the main reception room indoors and took tea there, after which carriages were called for and the other ladies took their leave of old Mrs You. You-shi stood at the head of all the concubines and female domestics of the Ning household to see them outside, while Cousin Zhen at the head of the junior male members of his family stood beside the waiting carriages.

‘You must come again tomorrow, ladies,’ said Cousin Zhen to Lady Xing and Lady Wang as they emerged from the house.

‘I think not,’ said Lady Wang. ‘We have sat here the whole day being entertained and we are all rather tired now. I think tomorrow we should like a rest.’

Jia Rui was staring fixedly at Xi-feng throughout this exchange.

After Cousin Zhen had gone indoors again, Li Gui led out a horse and Bao-yu mounted on its back and rode off behind Lady Wang’s carriage. Cousin Zhen and the other males then sat down to supper and, when it was over, the party broke up. Next day there was another day of feasting for the members of the clan, particulars of which, however, we omit from our record. We shall confine ourselves to observing that from that day on Xi-feng paid frequent calls on Qin-shi. Sometimes her illness seemed slightly better for a day or two, sometimes it seemed slightly worse. Cousin Zhen, You-shi and Jia Rong were acutely worried.

Jia Rui made several visits to the Rong mansion, but all his calls seemed to coincide with Xi-feng’s visits to the Ning mansion to see Qin-shi.

The thirtieth day of the eleventh month, the day of the winter solstice, arrived. It was the turn of the season, and for several days before it Grandmother Jia, Lady Wang and Xi-feng had been sending messengers daily to inquire after Qin-shi. Each time the report they brought back was the same:

‘She hasn’t got any worse these last few days, but she doesn’t seem to be very much better.’

‘At this time of year,’ said Lady Wang, ‘it’s a hopeful sign if an illness like hers doesn’t get any worse.’

‘Oh I do hope so!’ said Grandmother Jia. ‘That sweet child! If anything should happen to her, it would break my heart.’

A wave of bitterness passed over her.

‘You and she have always been good friends,’ she said, turning to Xi-feng. ‘Tomorrow is the “First of the Last”. Go and see her again some time after tomorrow. Have a very careful look and try to find out exactly how she is. If she seems a bit better, come and tell me when you get back. And if there is anything the dear child has ever fancied eating in the past, see that she is kept constantly supplied with it.’

Xi-feng promised to do as she had said, and on the second day of the next month she went over to the Ning-guo mansion as soon as she had finished her breakfast. Qin-shi’s sickness appeared to be no worse than previously, but the flesh on her face and body was pitifully wasted. Xi-feng sat for a long time chatting with her, and once more urged her to take a more optimistic view of her illness.

‘We shall know the worst when the spring comes,’ said Qin-shi. ‘At least I’ve got past the solstice without anything happening, so perhaps I shall get better. Give Grandma and Auntie Wang my regards, won’t you. I’ve eaten one or two bits of that yam-cake with the date stuff inside that Grandma sent me yesterday. I found it quite easy to digest.’

‘I’ll send you some more tomorrow,’ said Xi-feng. ‘Now I must go and see your mother-in-law, and after that I have to hurry back and give my report on you to Grandma.’

‘Give Grandma and Auntie Wang my love, Auntie.’

‘I will,’ said Xi-feng, and left her.

She went into You-shi’s reception room and sat down.

‘Tell me honestly,’ said You-shi. ‘What did you think of her?’

Xi-feng sat silent for some time with lowered head.

‘There’s no hope, is there? You’ll have to start getting things ready for the end. Of course, it’s always possible that doing so may break the bad luck.’

‘I’ve already been quietly making a few preparations on the side,’ said You-shi. ‘The only thing we haven’t yet got is the right timber for the you know what. But we’re looking round all the time.’

Xi-feng had some tea and chatted a while longer with You-shi. Then she said:

‘I must hurry back to report to Grandma.’

‘Break it to her gently,’ said You-shi. ‘You don’t want to give her a shock, at her age.’

‘Of course,’ said Xi-feng, and rising to her feet went straight back home and called on Grandmother Jia.

‘Rong’s wife asked me to give you her regards, Grandma. She sends you a kotow and she says she feels somewhat better. She begs you not to worry about her. And she says that when she’s made a bit more progress she’s going to come over to see you and make you a kotow in person.’

‘How did you think she seemed?’ said Grandmother Jia.

‘For the time being there doesn’t seem to be anything much to worry about,’ said Xi-feng. ‘She seems to be in quite good spirits.’

For a long time the old lady brooded in silence. Then, remembering Xi-feng, she told her to change her clothes and rest a while.

Xi-feng said yes, she would, and after calling on Lady Wang, went back to her own apartment, where Patience had warmed her everyday clothes for her to change into. When she had changed, she sat down and asked Patience if anything had happened during her absence.

‘Nothing, really,’ said Patience, handing her some tea. ‘Brightie’s wife came with the interest on the three hundred taels of silver and I received it for you. Oh, and Mr Rui sent someone to ask if you were in. He wants to pay you a call and talk about something.’

Xi-feng snorted.

‘Horrible creature! he seems to be looking for trouble. Just let him come, then!’

‘What does Mr Rui want?’ asked Patience. ‘Why does he keep coming like this?’

In reply Xi-feng gave her a full account of her encounter with him in the garden of the Ning-guo mansion and of the things he had said to her on that occasion.

‘What a nasty, disgusting man!’ said Patience. ‘A case of “the toad on the ground wanting to eat the goose in the sky”. He’ll come to no good end, getting ideas like that!’

‘Just wait till he comes!’ said Xi-feng. ‘I know how to deal with him.’

But if you wish to know the outcome of Jia Rui’s visit, you will have to read the next chapter.