第八十三回
第八十三回 省宫闱贾元妃染恙 闹闺阃薛宝钗吞声
话说探春湘云才要走时，忽听外面一个人嚷道：“你这不成人的小蹄子！你是个什么东西，来这园子里头混搅！”黛玉听了，大叫一声道：“这里住不得了。”一手指着窗外，两眼反插上去。原来黛玉住在大观园中，虽靠着贾母疼爱，然在别人身上，凡事终是寸步留心。听见窗外老婆子这样骂着，在别人呢，一句是贴不上的，竟像专骂着自己的。自思一个千金小姐，只因没了爹娘，不知何人指使这老婆子来这般辱骂，那里委屈得来，因此肝肠崩裂，哭晕去了。紫鹃只是哭叫：“姑娘怎么样了，快醒转来罢。”探春也叫了一回。半晌，黛玉回过这口气，还说不出话来，那只手仍向窗外指着。
探春会意，开门出去，看见老婆子手中拿着拐棍赶着一个不干不净的毛丫头道：“我是为照管这园中的花果树木来到这里，你作什么来了！等我家去打你一个知道。”这丫头扭着头，把一个指头探在嘴里，瞅着老婆子笑。探春骂道：“你们这些人如今越发没了王法了，这里是你骂人的地方儿吗！”老婆子见是探春，连忙陪着笑脸儿说道：“刚才是我的外孙女儿，看见我来了他就跟了来。我怕他闹，所以才吆喝他回去，那里敢在这里骂人呢。”探春道：“不用多说了，快给我都出去。这里林姑娘身上不大好，还不快去么。”老婆子答应了几个“是”，说着一扭身去了。那丫头也就跑了。
探春回来，看见湘云拉着黛玉的手只管哭，紫鹃一手抱着黛玉，一手给黛玉揉胸口，黛玉的眼睛方渐渐的转过来了。探春笑道：“想是听见老婆子的话，你疑了心了么？”黛玉只摇摇头儿。探春道：“他是骂他外孙女儿，我才刚也听见了。这种东西说话再没有一点道理的，他们懂得什么避讳。”黛玉听了点点头儿，拉着探春的手道：“妹妹……”叫了一声，又不言语了。探春又道：“你别心烦。我来看你是姊妹们应该的，你又少人服侍。只要你安心肯吃药，心上把喜欢事儿想想，能够一天一天的硬朗起来，大家依旧结社做诗，岂不好呢。”湘云道：“可是三姐姐说的，那么着不乐？”黛玉哽咽道：“你们只顾要我喜欢，可怜我那里赶得上这日子，只怕不能够了！”探春道：“你这话说的太过了。谁没个病儿灾儿的，那里就想到这里来了。你好生歇歇儿罢，我们到老太太那边，回来再看你。你要什么东西，只管叫紫鹃告诉我。”黛玉流泪道：“好妹妹，你到老太太那里只说我请安，身上略有点不好，不是什么大病，也不用老太太烦心的。”探春答应道：“我知道，你只管养着罢。”说着，才同湘云出去了。
这里紫鹃扶着黛玉躺在床上，地下诸事，自有雪雁照料，自己只守着旁边，看着黛玉，又是心酸，又不敢哭泣。那黛玉闭着眼躺了半晌，那里睡得着？觉得园里头平日只见寂寞，如今躺在床上，偏听得风声，虫鸣声，鸟语声，人走的脚步声，又像远远的孩子们啼哭声，一阵一阵的聒噪的烦躁起来，因叫紫鹃放下帐子来。雪雁捧了一碗燕窝汤递与紫鹃，紫鹃隔着帐子轻轻问道：“姑娘喝一口汤罢？”黛玉微微应了一声。紫鹃复将汤递给雪雁，自己上来搀扶黛玉坐起，然后接过汤来，搁在唇边试了一试，一手搂着黛玉肩臂，一手端着汤送到唇边。黛玉微微睁眼喝了两三口，便摇摇头儿不喝了。紫鹃仍将碗递给雪雁，轻轻扶黛玉睡下。
静了一时，略觉安顿。只听窗外悄悄问道：“紫鹃妹妹在家么？”雪雁连忙出来，见是袭人，因悄悄说道：“姐姐屋里坐着。”袭人也便悄悄问道：“姑娘怎么着？”一面走，一面雪雁告诉夜间及方才之事。袭人听了这话，也唬怔了，因说道：“怪道刚才翠缕到我们那边，说你们姑娘病了，唬的宝二爷连忙打发我来看看是怎么样。”正说着，只见紫鹃从里间掀起帘子望外看，见袭人，点头儿叫他。袭人轻轻走过来问道：“姑娘睡着了吗？”紫鹃点点头儿，问道：“姐姐才听见说了？”袭人也点点头儿，蹙着眉道：“终久怎么样好呢！那一位昨夜也把我唬了个半死儿。”紫鹃忙问怎么了，袭人道：“昨日晚上睡觉还是好好儿的，谁知半夜里一叠连声的嚷起心疼来，嘴里胡说白道，只说好像刀子割了去的似的。直闹到打亮梆子[1]以后才好些了。你说唬人不唬人。今日不能上学，还要请大夫来吃药呢。”正说着，只听黛玉在帐子里又咳嗽起来。紫鹃连忙过来捧痰盒儿接痰。黛玉微微睁眼问道：“你和谁说话呢？”紫鹃道：“袭人姐姐来瞧姑娘来了。”说着，袭人已走到床前。黛玉命紫鹃扶起，一手指着床边，让袭人坐下。袭人侧身坐了，连忙陪着笑劝道：“姑娘倒还是躺着罢。”黛玉道：“不妨，你们快别这样大惊小怪的。刚才是说谁半夜里心疼起来？”袭人道：“是宝二爷偶然魇住了，不是认真怎么样。”黛玉会意，知道是袭人怕自己又悬心的原故，又感激，又伤心。因趁势问道：“既是魇住了，不听见他还说什么？”袭人道：“也没说什么。”黛玉点点头儿，迟了半日，叹了一声，才说道：“你们别告诉宝二爷说我不好，看耽搁了他的工夫，又叫老爷生气。”袭人答应了，又劝道：“姑娘还是躺躺歇歇罢。”黛玉点头，命紫鹃扶着歪下。袭人不免坐在旁边，又宽慰了几句，然后告辞，回到怡红院，只说黛玉身上略觉不受用，也没什么大病。宝玉才放了心。
且说探春湘云出了潇湘馆，一路往贾母这边来。探春因嘱咐湘云道：“妹妹，回来见了老太太，别像刚才那样冒冒失失的了。”湘云点头笑道：“知道了，我头里是叫他唬的忘了神了。”说着，已到贾母那边。探春因提起黛玉的病来。贾母听了自是心烦，因说道：“偏是这两个玉儿多病多灾的。林丫头一来二去的大了，他这个身子也要紧。我看那孩子太是个心细。”众人也不敢答言。贾母便向鸳鸯道：“你告诉他们，明儿大夫来瞧了宝玉，就叫他到林姑娘那屋里去。”鸳鸯答应着，出来告诉了婆子们，婆子们自去传话。这里探春湘云就跟着贾母吃了晚饭，然后同回园中去。不提。
到了次日，大夫来了，瞧了宝玉，不过说饮食不调，着了点儿风邪，没大要紧，疏散疏散就好了。这里王夫人凤姐等一面遣人拿了方子回贾母，一面使人到潇湘馆告诉说大夫就过来。紫鹃答应了，连忙给黛玉盖好被窝，放下帐子。雪雁赶着收拾房里的东西。一时贾琏陪着大夫进来了，便说道：“这位老爷是常来的，姑娘们不用回避。”老婆子打起帘子，贾琏让着进入房中坐下。贾琏道：“紫鹃姐姐，你先把姑娘的病势向王老爷说说。”王大夫道：“且慢说。等我诊了脉，听我说了看是对不对，若有不合的地方，姑娘们再告诉我。”紫鹃便向帐中扶出黛玉的一只手来，搁在迎手[2]上。紫鹃又把镯子连袖子轻轻的搂起，不叫压住了脉息。那王大夫诊了好一回儿，又换那只手也诊了，便同贾琏出来，到外间屋里坐下，说道：“六脉皆弦[3]，因平日郁结所致。”说着，紫鹃也出来站在里间门口。那王大夫便向紫鹃道：“这病时常应得头晕，减饮食，多梦，每到五更，必醒个几次。即日间听见不干自己的事，也必要动气，且多疑多惧。不知者疑为性情乖诞，其实因肝阴亏损[4]，心气衰耗，都是这个病在那里作怪。不知是否？”紫鹃点点头儿，向贾琏道：“说的很是。”王太医道：“既这样就是了。”说毕起身，同贾琏往外书房去开方子。小厮们早已预备下一张梅红单帖[5]，王太医吃了茶，因提笔先写道：
六脉弦迟，素由积郁。左寸无力，心气已衰。关脉独洪，肝邪偏旺。木气不能疏达[6]，势必上侵脾土，饮食无味，甚至胜所不胜，肺金定受其殃。气不流精，凝而为痰；血随气涌，自然咳吐。理宜疏肝保肺，涵养心脾。虽有补剂，未可骤施。姑拟黑逍遥[7]以开其先，复用归肺固金以继其后。不揣固陋，俟高明裁服。
又将七味药与引子写了。贾琏拿来看时，问道：“血势上冲，柴胡使得么？”王大夫笑道：“二爷但知柴胡是升提之品，为吐衄[8]所忌。岂知用鳖血拌炒[9]，非柴胡不足宣少阳甲胆之气[10]。以鳖血制之，使其不致升提，且能培养肝阴，制遏邪火。所以《内经》[11]说：‘通因通用，塞因塞用。’[12]柴胡用鳖血拌炒，正是‘假周勃以安刘’[13]的法子。”贾琏点头道：“原来是这么着，这就是了。”王大夫又道：“先请服两剂，再加减或再换方子罢。我还有一点小事，不能久坐，容日再来请安。”说着，贾琏送了出来，说道：“舍弟的药就是那么着了？”王大夫道：“宝二爷倒没什么大病，大约再吃一剂就好了。”说着，上车而去。
这里贾琏一面叫人抓药，一面回到房中告诉凤姐黛玉的病原与大夫用的药，述了一遍。只见周瑞家的走来回了几件没要紧的事，贾琏听到一半，便说道：“你回二奶奶罢，我还有事呢。”说着就走了。周瑞家的回完了这件事，又说道：“我方才到林姑娘那边，看他那个病，竟是不好呢。脸上一点血色也没有，摸了摸身上，只剩得一把骨头。问问他，也没有话说，只是淌眼泪。回来紫鹃告诉我说：‘姑娘现在病着，要什么自己又不肯要，我打算要问二奶奶那里支用一两个月的月钱。如今吃药虽是公中的，零用也得几个钱。’我答应了他，替他来回奶奶。”凤姐低了半日头，说道：“竟这么着罢：我送他几两银子使罢，也不用告诉林姑娘。这月钱却是不好支的，一个人开了例，要是都支起来，那如何使得呢。你不记得赵姨娘和三姑娘拌嘴了，也无非为的是月钱。况且近来你也知道，出去的多，进来的少，总绕不过弯儿来。不知道的，还说我打算的不好；更有那一种嚼舌根的，说我搬运到娘家去了。周嫂子，你倒是那里经手的人，这个自然还知道些。”周瑞家的道：“真正委屈死人！这样大门头儿，除了奶奶这样心计儿当家罢了。别说是女人当不来，就是三头六臂的男人，还撑不住呢。还说这些个混帐话。”说着，又笑了一声，道：“奶奶还没听见呢，外头的人还更糊涂呢。前儿周瑞回家来，说起外头的人打谅着咱们府里不知怎么样有钱呢。也有说‘贾府里的银库几间，金库几间，使的家伙都是金子镶了玉石嵌了的。’也有说‘姑娘做了王妃，自然皇上家的东西分的了一半子给娘家。前儿贵妃娘娘省亲回来，我们还亲见他带了几车金银回来，所以家里收拾摆设的水晶宫似的。那日在庙里还愿，花了几万银子，只算得牛身上拔了一根毛罢咧。’有人还说‘他门前的狮子只怕还是玉石的呢。园子里还有金麒麟，叫人偷了一个去，如今剩下一个了。家里的奶奶姑娘不用说，就是屋里使唤的姑娘们，也是一点儿不动，喝酒下棋，弹琴画画，横竖有服侍的人呢。单管穿罗罩纱，吃的戴的，都是人家不认得的。那些哥儿姐儿们更不用说了，要天上的月亮，也有人去拿下来给他顽。’还有歌儿呢，说是‘宁国府，荣国府，金银财宝如粪土。吃不穷，穿不穷，算来……’”说到这里，猛然咽住。原来那时歌儿说道是“算来总是一场空”。这周瑞家的说溜了嘴，说到这里，忽然想起这话不好，因咽住了。凤姐儿听了，已明白必是句不好的话了。也不便追问，因说道：“那都没要紧。只是这金麒麟的话从何而来？”周瑞家的笑道：“就是那庙里的老道士送给宝二爷的小金麒麟儿。后来丢了几天，亏了史姑娘捡着还了他，外头就造出这个谣言来了。奶奶说这些人可笑不可笑？”凤姐道：“这些话倒不是可笑，倒是可怕的。咱们一日难似一日，外面还是这么讲究。俗语儿说的，‘人怕出名猪怕壮’，况且又是个虚名儿，终久还不知怎么样呢。”周瑞家的道：“奶奶虑的也是。只是满城里茶坊酒铺儿以及各胡同儿都是这样说，并且不是一年了，那里握的住众人的嘴。”凤姐点点头儿，因叫平儿称了几两银子，递给周瑞家的，道：“你先拿去交给紫鹃，只说我给他添补买东西的。若要官中的，只管要去，别提这月钱的话。他也是个伶透人，自然明白我的话。我得了空儿，就去瞧姑娘去。”周瑞家的接了银子，答应着自去。不提。
且说贾琏走到外面，只见一个小厮迎上来回道：“大老爷叫二爷说话呢。”贾琏急忙过来，见了贾赦。贾赦道：“方才风闻宫里头传了一个太医院御医、两个吏目[14]去看病，想来不是宫女儿下人了。这几天娘娘宫里有什么信儿没有？”贾琏道：“没有。”贾赦道：“你去问问二老爷和你珍大哥。不然，还该叫人去到太医院里打听打听才是。”贾琏答应了，一面吩咐人往太医院去，一面连忙去见贾政贾珍。贾政听了这话，因问道：“是那里来的风声？”贾琏道：“是大老爷才说的。”贾政道：“你索性和你珍大哥到里头打听打听。”贾琏道：“我已经打发人往太医院打听去了。”一面说着，一面退出来，去找贾珍。只见贾珍迎面来了，贾琏忙告诉贾珍。贾珍道：“我正为也听见这话，来回大老爷二老爷去的。”于是两个人同着来见贾政。贾政道：“如系元妃，少不得终有信的。”说着，贾赦也过来了。
到了晌午，打听的尚未回来。门上人进来，回说：“有两个内相在外要见二位老爷呢。”贾赦道：“请进来。”门上的人领了老公[15]进来。贾赦贾政迎至二门外，先请了娘娘的安，一面同着进来，走至厅上让了坐。老公道：“前日这里贵妃娘娘有些欠安。昨日奉过旨意，宣召亲丁四人进里头探问。许各带丫头一人，馀皆不用。亲丁男人只许在宫门外递个职名，请安听信，不得擅入。准于明日辰巳时进去，申酉时出来。”贾政贾赦等站着听了旨意，复又坐下，让老公吃茶毕，老公辞了出去。
贾赦贾政送出大门，回来先禀贾母。贾母道：“亲丁四人，自然是我和你们两位太太了。那一个人呢？”众人也不敢答言，贾母想了想，道：“必得是凤姐儿，他诸事有照应。你们爷儿们各自商量去罢。”贾赦贾政答应了出来，因派了贾琏贾蓉看家外，凡文字辈至草字辈一应都去。遂吩咐家人预备四乘绿轿，十馀辆大车，明儿黎明伺候。家人答应去了。贾赦贾政又进去回明老太太，辰巳时进去，申酉时出来，今日早些歇歇，明日好早些起来收拾进宫。贾母道：“我知道，你们去罢。”赦政等退出。这里邢夫人王夫人、凤姐儿也都说了一会子元妃的病，又说了些闲话，才各自散了。
次日黎明，各间屋子丫头们将灯火俱已点齐，太太们各梳洗毕，爷们亦各整顿好了。一到卯初，林之孝和赖大进来，至二门口回道：“轿车俱已齐备，在门外伺候着呢。”不一时，贾赦邢夫人也过来了。大家用了早饭。凤姐先扶老太太出来，众人围随，各带使女一人，缓缓前行。又命李贵等二人先骑马去外宫门接应，自己家眷随后。文字辈至草字辈各自登车骑马，跟着众家人，一齐去了。贾琏贾蓉在家中看家。
且说贾家的车辆轿马俱在外西垣门口歇下等着。一回儿，有两个内监出来说：“贾府省亲的太太奶奶们，着令入宫探问；爷们俱着令内宫门外请安，不得入见。”门上人叫快进去。贾府中四乘轿子跟着小内监前行，贾家爷们在轿后步行跟着，令众家人在外等候。走近宫门口，只见几个老公在门上坐着，见他们来了，便站起来说道：“贾府爷们至此。”贾赦贾政便捱次立定。轿子抬至宫门口，便都出了轿。早有几个小内监引路，贾母等各有丫头扶着步行。走至元妃寝宫，只见奎壁〔一〕[17]辉煌，琉璃照耀。又有两个小宫女儿传谕道：“只用请安，一概仪注都免。”贾母等谢了恩，来至床前请安毕，元妃都赐了坐。贾母等又告了坐。元妃便向贾母道：“近日身上可好？”贾母扶着小丫头，颤颤巍巍站起来，答应道：“托娘娘洪福，起居尚健。”元妃又向邢夫人王夫人问了好，邢、王二夫人站着回了话。元妃又问凤姐家中过的日子若何，凤姐站起来回奏道：“尚可支持。”元妃道：“这几年来难为你操心。”凤姐正要站起来回奏，只见一个宫女传进许多职名，请娘娘龙目[18]。元妃看时，就是贾赦贾政等若干人。那元妃看了职名，眼圈儿一红，止不住流下泪来。宫女儿递过绢子，元妃一面拭泪，一面传谕道：“今日稍安，令他们外面暂歇。”贾母等站起来，又谢了恩。元妃含泪道：“父女弟兄，反不如小家子得以常常亲近。”贾母等都忍着泪道：“娘娘不用悲伤，家中已托着娘娘的福多了。”元妃又问：“宝玉近来若何？”贾母道：“近来颇肯念书。因他父亲逼得严紧，如今文字也都做上来了。”元妃道：“这样才好。”遂命外宫赐宴，便有两个宫女儿、四个小太监引了到一座宫里，已摆得齐整，各按坐次坐了。不必细述。一时吃完了饭，贾母带着他婆媳三人谢过宴，又耽搁了一回。看看已近酉初，不敢羁留，俱各辞了出来。元妃命宫女儿引道，送至内宫门，门外仍是四个小太监送出。贾母等依旧坐着轿子出来，贾赦接着，大伙儿一齐回去。到家又要安排明后日进宫，仍令照应齐集。不题。
且说薛家夏金桂赶了薛蟠出去，日间拌嘴没有对头，秋菱又住在宝钗那边去了，只剩得宝蟾一人同住。既给与薛蟠作妾，宝蟾的意气又不比从前了。金桂看去更是一个对头，自己也后悔不来。一日，吃了几杯闷酒，躺在炕上，便要借那宝蟾做个醒酒汤儿，因问着宝蟾道：“大爷前日出门，到底是到那里去？你自然是知道的了。”宝蟾道：“我那里知道。他在奶奶跟前还不说，谁知道他那些事！”金桂冷笑道：“如今还有什么奶奶太太的，都是你们的世界了。别人是惹不得的，有人护庇着，我也不敢去虎头上捉虱子。你还是我的丫头，问你一句话，你就和我摔脸子，说塞话[19]。你既这么有势力，为什么不把我勒死了，你和秋菱不拘谁做了奶奶，那不清净了么！偏我又不死，碍着你们的道儿。”宝蟾听了这话，那里受得住，便眼睛直直的瞅着金桂道：“奶奶这些闲话只好说给别人听去！我并没和奶奶说什么。奶奶不敢惹人家，何苦来拿着我们小软儿[20]出气呢。正经的，奶奶又装听不见，‘没事人一大堆[21]’了。”说着，便哭天哭地起来。金桂越发性起，便爬下炕来，要打宝蟾。宝蟾也是夏家的风气，半点儿不让。金桂将桌椅杯盏，尽行打翻，那宝蟾只管喊冤叫屈，那里理会他半点儿。
岂知薛姨妈在宝钗房中听见如此吵嚷，叫香菱：“你去瞧瞧，且劝劝他。”宝钗道：“使不得，妈妈别叫他去。他去了岂能劝他，那更是火上浇了油了。”薛姨妈道：“既这么样，我自己过去。”宝钗道：“依我说妈妈也不用去，由着他们闹去罢。这也是没法儿的事了。”薛姨妈道：“这那里还了得！”说着，自己扶了丫头，往金桂这边来。宝钗只得也跟着过去，又嘱咐香菱道：“你在这里罢。”
母女同至金桂房门口，听见里头正还嚷哭不止。薛姨妈道：“你们是怎么着，又这样家翻宅乱起来，这还像个人家儿吗！矮墙浅屋的，难道都不怕亲戚们听见笑话了么。”金桂屋里接声道：“我倒怕人笑话呢！只是这里扫帚颠倒竖，也没有主子，也没有奴才，也没有妻，没有妾，是个混帐世界了。我们夏家门子里没见过这样规矩，实在受不得你们家这样委屈了！”宝钗道：“大嫂子，妈妈因听见闹得慌，才过来的。就是问的急了些，没有分清‘奶奶’‘宝蟾’两字，也没有什么。如今且先把事情说开，大家和和气气的过日子，也省的妈妈天天为咱们操心。”那薛姨妈道：“是啊，先把事情说开了，你再问我的不是还不迟呢。”金桂道：“好姑娘，好姑娘，你是个大贤大德的。你日后必定有个好人家，好女婿，决不像我这样守活寡，举眼无亲，叫人家骑上头来欺负的。我是个没心眼儿的人，只求姑娘我说话别往死里挑捡，我从小儿到如今，没有爹娘教导。再者我们屋里老婆汉子大女人小女人的事，姑娘也管不得！”宝钗听了这话，又是羞，又是气；见他母亲这样光景，又是疼不过。因忍了气说道：“大嫂子，我劝你少说句儿罢。谁挑捡你？又是谁欺负你？不要说是嫂子，就是秋菱，我也从来没有加他一点声气儿的。”金桂听了这几句话，更加拍着炕沿〔二〕大哭起来，说：“我那里比得秋菱，连他脚底下的泥我还跟不上呢！他是来久了的，知道姑娘的心事，又会献勤儿；我是新来的，又不会献勤儿，如何拿我比他。何苦来，天下有几个都是贵妃的命，行点好儿罢！别修的像我嫁个糊涂行子守活寡，那就是活活儿的现了眼了！”薛姨妈听到那里，万分气不过，便站起身来道：“不是我护着自己的女孩儿，他句句劝你，你却句句怄他。你有什么过不去，不要寻他，勒死我倒也是希松的。”宝钗忙劝道：“妈妈，你老人家不用动气。咱们既来劝他，自己生气，倒多了层气。不如且出去，等嫂子歇歇儿再说。”因吩咐宝蟾道：“你可别再多嘴了。”跟了薛姨妈出得房来。
走过院子里，只见贾母身边的丫头同着秋菱迎面走来。薛姨妈道：“你从那里来，老太太身上可安？”那丫头道：“老太太身上好，叫来请姨太太安，还谢谢前儿的荔枝，还给琴姑娘道喜。”宝钗道：“你多早晚来的？”那丫头道：“来了好一会子了。”薛姨妈料他知道，红着脸说道：“这如今我们家里闹得也不像个过日子的人家了，叫你们那边听见笑话。”丫头道：“姨太太说那里的话，谁家没个碟大碗小磕着碰着的呢。那是姨太太多心罢咧。”说着，跟了回到薛姨妈房中，略坐了一回就去了。宝钗正嘱咐香菱些话，只听薛姨妈忽然叫道：“左肋疼痛的很。”说着，便向炕上躺下。唬得宝钗香菱二人手足无措。要知后事如何，下回分解。
[1] 亮梆子——旧时巡夜人在天快亮时所打的末次梆子。梆子：打更的响器，用竹或木制成。
[2] 迎手——也叫迎枕。中医切脉时，垫在病人手背下的小枕。
[3] 六脉皆弦——六脉：指中医切脉的六个部位，即左右两手的寸、关、尺，分候脏腑之气。六部脉又有浮、沉、迟、数、缓、弦等象。弦是脉气紧张的表现。六脉皆呈弦象，说明病情严重。
[4] 肝阴亏损——中医用语。阴：这里指人体内的津液、精液之类。因肝郁化火，而致肝的津液过度损耗，叫肝阴亏损。
[5] 梅红单帖——梅红：近大红而稍浅。单帖：旧时礼帖的一种，用单页红纸制成，常用于婚嫁喜庆或中医开方。
[6] 木气不能疏达——中医用语。中医历来用火、木、土、金、水五行来代表心、肝、脾、肺、肾五脏，用五行生克制化来说明脏腑间的复杂内在关系。木气：肝气，即肝的机制能力。木气不能疏达：肝气不能条畅疏展，致成前文所说“肝阴亏损”症状。
[7] 黑逍遥——中药方剂名。以柴胡、当归、芍药、白术、茯苓、生姜、甘草、薄荷等药配方，名曰逍遥散。外加生地黄或熟地黄，因地黄色黑，故名黑逍遥。有滋阴、疏肝、养血、健脾之效。
[8] 吐衄（nǜ）——吐：吐血。衄：鼻子出血。
[9] 鳖血拌炒——鳖：甲鱼。鳖血性寒，有和肝、滋阴、养肝血之效。柴胡虽能入肝、疏肝，然本为升散之药，而过于升散又可伤阴，故用鳖血拌炒之，则既可滋养肝阴，又可抑制柴胡升散的副作用。
[10] 宣少阳甲胆之气——中医用语。中医常以天干代表脏腑，如肝胆同属木，则以甲木代胆，乙木代肝，等等。故“甲胆”亦即胆。少阳：即足少阳，经络之一，亦即胆经。“宣少阳甲胆之气”即宣发胆气。
[11] 《内经》——中医书名。《黄帝内经》的简称。系战国、秦、汉时医家汇集古代及当时医学资料纂述而成。
[12] 通因通用，塞因塞用——中医的一种反治法。通常属于“通”的病症当以“塞”法治之；属于“塞”的当以“通”法治之。但有些病却不能这样治，如心下痞积，倘属虚症，则不能用消导行通之法，而须用补气法，这叫“塞因塞用”；又如热痢，不能用塞敛法治之，而须用泻下之药以通泄热滞，叫“通因通用”。
[13] 假周勃以安刘——语出《汉书·周勃传》：“高祖（刘邦）曰：‘安刘氏者必勃也。’”意即安定刘氏天下的一定是周勃。这里用以譬喻某种治病的方法和道理。假：借。
[14] 吏目——这里指太医院吏目，八品或九品官职，在御医之下，医士之上。宋代称太医局教授，元代称太医院经历和都事，明清称太医院吏目。
[15] 老公——又作老公公，此处指太监。
〔一〕 “奎壁”，“壁”原作“璧”，滕本、王本并同。从程乙本改。
[17] 奎壁——原为二十八宿中的奎宿与壁宿的并称。旧谓二星主文运，以“奎”喻皇帝，以“壁”喻仙女。此处喻皇帝与元妃如同天上的奎、壁二星宿一样辉煌。
[18] 龙目——封建时代以龙作为帝王的象征，谓帝王之眼为龙目，后亦常用及后妃。目：这里作动词用，犹言看。
[19] 塞话——堵噎人、抢白人的话。
[20] 小软儿——软弱可欺的人。
[21] 没事人一大堆——不相干、不放在心上。
〔二〕 “炕沿”，原作“炕檐”，从王本改。
CHAPTER 83. An Indisposition in the Imperial Bedchamber calls for a Family Visitation While insubordination in the inner apartments reveals Bao-chai’s long-suffering nature
It was told in our last chapter how Dai-yu’s visitors, who were on the point of leaving, heard a voice outside the window crying:
‘What’s a little trouble-maker like you doing here in the garden anyway? You’re nothing but a nuisance!’
Dai-yu immediately let out a great cry:
‘I can’t stay here any longer!’
She rolled her eyes and gestured with one hand in the direction of the window.
The truth is that after all this time, despite Grandmother Jia’s constant love and protection, Dai-yu still suffered from an acute sense of insecurity, of being an ‘outsider in the Garden’. On this occasion, incredible though it may seem, she had instinctively taken herself to be the target of the old woman’s abuse (for the voice was that of an old serving-woman), and had immediately set about reconstructing the ‘plot’ in her mind: someone, taking advantage of the fact that she was an orphan, had sent this woman to insult her in public. She was being persecuted! The sense of injury, the unfairness of it, were more than she could bear. Another fit of sobbing left her unconscious.
‘What’s the matter, Miss?’ Nightingale was in tears herself. ‘Please wake up!’
Tan-chun also called out in an effort to rouse her, and eventually Dai-yu came round. She could not speak, and her only explanation was another gesture towards the window. Tan-chun understood. She opened the door and went outside, to discover the old woman, with a stick in her hand, chasing a scruffy little maid.
‘I’m trying to get on with my gardening,’ she was grumbling. ‘You’ve no business to be here. Just wait till we get home and I get my hands on you! I’ll learn you!’
The little girl merely cocked her head, stuck a finger in her mouth and stared at the old woman with a cheeky grin.
‘Have you both taken leave of your senses?’ exclaimed Tan-chun severely. ‘How dare you use language like that here?’
When the old woman saw who it was, she pulled herself up smartly and answered with her most ingratiating smile:
‘It’s my daughter’s girl here, Miss Tan-chun. She would follow me over you see, and I knew she’d only be a nuisance so I was shooing her along home. Dearie me, if I’d stopped to think where I was I’d never have dared raise my voice I’m sure.’
‘That’s quite enough,’ said Tan-chun. ‘Off you go both of you. Miss Lin is not feeling very well today – so hurry up and go!’
‘Yes Miss! Straightaway Miss!’ The old girl bustled off and her granddaughter went running after her.
Returning indoors, Tan-chun found Xiang-yun holding Dai-yu’s hand and crying helplessly, while Nightingale was supporting her mistress with one hand and using her free hand to rub her chest. Slowly the life returned to Dai-yu’s eyes and she looked up. Tan-chun smiled kindly:
‘Did you take offence at what that old woman said?’
Dai-yu answered with a feeble shake of the head.
‘It was her own granddaughter she was shouting at,’ Tan-chun went on to explain. ‘She told me all about it. People like her are the end. They never know when to hold their tongue.’
Dai-yu sighed and held Tan-chun’s hand.
‘Oh Tan…’ she cried feebly, but could say no more.
‘There, you mustn’t start worrying,’ said Tan-chun. ‘We’re cousins and cousins should stick by one another. That’s why I came to see you. Besides, I know you’re a bit short of help. Listen, all you have to do is take your medicine like a good girl and look on the bright side a bit, and you’ll soon start to build up your strength. And then we can start having meetings of our poetry club again, and everything will be fine.’
‘Tan’s right,’ echoed Xiang-yun. ‘Won’t that be fun!’
‘Oh, if only you knew!’ sobbed Dai-yu. ‘I feel so weak. I don’t think I’ll ever pull through.’
‘That’s no way to talk,’ said Tan-chun. ‘We all fall ill, we all have our troubles. There’s no cause for you to be so pessimistic. Be sensible and have a good rest now. Yun and I had better go over to Grannie’s. We’ll come and see you again later. If there’s anything you need, tell Nightingale and I’ll send it over for you.’
‘Tan, when you see Grannie, you won’t say I’m very ill, will you? Please!’ Tears were streaming down Dai-yu’s face as she spoke. ‘Just curtsey for me and say I’m not feeling very well but it’s nothing serious and she’s not to worry.’
‘Of course. Now don’t fuss. Just rest and get better.’
Tan-chun and Xiang-yun went on their way.
*
When they had gone, Nightingale settled Dai-yu down once more. She left all the fetching and carrying to Snowgoose, and herself stayed constantly at Dai-yu’s side, trying her best not to betray her own distress by shedding any more tears. Dai-yu closed her eyes and lay still for a while. But sleep would not come. The garden outside, which had always been such a haven of quiet and solitude, now seemed alive with sounds – the wind, insects buzzing, birds chattering, the fall of human footsteps, children crying faintly in the distance – all of which drifted in through the window and set her nerves on edge. She told Nightingale to let down the curtains around her bed.
Presently Snowgoose appeared, carrying before her in both hands a bowl of Bird’s Nest Soup, which she gave to Nightingale, who whispered through the curtains:
‘Would you like some soup, Miss?’
A faint ‘yes’ was heard from inside, and handing the soup back to Snowgoose for the moment, Nightingale climbed up and helped Dai-yu into a comfortable sitting position. Turning to take the bowl again, she first tasted the contents herself, then held it carefully to Dai-yu’s lips, while supporting her firmly round the shoulder with one arm. Dai-yu opened her eyes feebly, took a couple of sips, then showed by a shake of her head that she could not manage any more. Nightingale handed the bowl back to Snowgoose and gently settled her down again.
For a few minutes all was quiet and Dai-yu seemed more peaceful. Then a whisper was heard from outside the window:
‘Is Nightingale in?’
Snowgoose hurried out. It was Aroma.
‘Come in,’ she whispered.
‘How’s Miss Lin?’ asked Aroma.
They walked together towards the doorway and Aroma listened aghast as Snowgoose described what had happened that morning and the preceding night.
‘No wonder!’ she exclaimed. ‘Kingfisher said something of the sort just now and had Master Bao so worried that he sent me straight round to find out how she is.’
As they were talking, Nightingale lifted the portière and beckoned to Aroma, who tiptoed into the room:
‘Is Miss Lin asleep?’
Nightingale nodded. ‘Has Snowgoose told you?’ she added.
Aroma nodded, then frowned and said:
This is dreadful! Master Bao had me worried to death last night too!’
‘What do you mean?’ asked Nightingale. Aroma explained:
‘When he went to sleep in the evening he seemed perfectly all right. But in the middle of the night he started screaming his head off, first about a pain in his heart, and then about being stabbed by a knife – he was quite delirious, and didn’t quieten down till after the dawn watch. Wouldn’t you have been scared? He’s not allowed to go to school today, and the doctor has been sent for to prescribe something for him.’
While they were talking, Dai-yu could be heard coughing again from inside the bed-curtains, and Nightingale hurried over to hold up the spittoon. Dai-yu opened her eyes feebly:
‘Who’s that you’re talking to?’
‘It’s Aroma, Miss. She’s come to ask how you are.’
Aroma was already standing close by the bed. Dai-yu told Nightingale to help her up and gestured to Aroma to sit down on the bed. Aroma perched on the edge and said in her best bedside manner:
‘Are you sure you ought to be sitting up like this, Miss?’
‘Why not?’ replied Dai-yu. ‘Stop behaving as if it’s the end of the world, will you? Who was that you mentioned just now, with a pain in the heart during the night?’
‘Oh that wasn’t real!’ said Aroma. ‘That was just a nightmare Master Bao had.’
‘It’s very thoughtful of Aroma,’ thought Dai-yu to herself. ‘I know she’s only trying to stop me from worrying. But I must know!’ She tried again, more insistently this time:
‘What sort of a nightmare? What did he say?’
‘Oh, he didn’t say anything,’ lied Aroma.
Dai-yu nodded pensively and fell silent for a minute or two. Then she sighed again and said:
‘You’re none of you to mention my illness to Master Bao. It might affect his work and cause trouble with Sir Zheng.’
‘Of course we won’t, Miss,’ Aroma reassured her. ‘Now you lie down and rest.’
Dai-yu nodded and asked Nightingale to settle her down again. Aroma stayed a little longer by her bedside, said a few more comforting words and then left. When she arrived back at Green Delights she reported that Dai-yu was feeling a little uncomfortable but that her condition was not a serious one, and thereby succeeded in setting Bao-yu’s mind at rest.
*
Tan-chun and Xiang-yun, on leaving the Naiad’s House, made their way together to Grandmother Jia’s apartment. As they went, Tan-chun warned Xiang-yun:
‘When we see Grandmother, please be more careful what you say, will you?’
Xiang-yun nodded:
‘I will. I’m afraid just now I was too shocked by Dai’s state to think what I was doing.’
They arrived at Grandmother Jia’s and Tan-chun mentioned Dai-yu’s illness. As she had predicted, the old lady was somewhat ruffled:
‘Dear oh dear! How illness and misfortune seem to pick on those two! Ever since Dai-yu was a little girl, it’s been one thing after another. Now that she’s grown up, it is time she learned to take better care of her health. She’s too highly strung, that’s her trouble.’
No one dared say anything. She turned to Faithful:
‘The doctor’s coming in the morning to see Bao-yu. Tell them he’s to look in at Miss Lin’s afterwards.’
‘Yes, ma’am.’
Faithful went out to tell the serving-women, who passed on the instructions. Tan-chun and Xiang-yun stayed on at Grandmother Jia’s for dinner, and then returned to the Garden together.
*
Next day the doctor came to see Bao-yu. He pronounced that a dietary imbalance had brought on a slight chill, which would soon be put right by a mild dispersant. Lady Wang and Xi-feng sent the prescription over for Grandmother Jia to inspect, and at the same time sent someone ahead to the Naiad’s House to let them know the doctor was on his way. Nightingale tucked Dai-yu up in her quilt and let down the bed-curtains, while Snowgoose quickly tidied the room.
Presently Jia Lian arrived with the doctor, announcing that as it was their regular practitioner there was no need for the maids to disappear. An old serving-woman raised the portière, Jia Lian ushered the doctor into Dai-yu’s room and the two men sat down. Jia Lian began:
‘Nightingale dear, please tell Doctor Wang what you can about your mistress’s illness.’
‘Excuse me,’ interposed the doctor. ‘Please allow me to take her pulses and reach my own diagnosis first. Then the young ladies may judge for themselves and correct me if anything I say conflicts with what they already know of her condition.’
Nightingale arranged Dai-yu so that one of her hands was showing through the bed-curtains and resting on the diagnostic arm-rest, and gently slid back her bracelet and sleeve so as not to obstruct the pulse. The doctor sat for a long while feeling the pulses first of one hand, then of the other. When he had finished, he withdrew with Jia Lian to the outer room, where they both sat down.
‘The six pulses have an extremely taut quality,’ said the doctor, ‘and indicate an advanced morbid obstruction.’
As he spoke, Nightingale appeared in the doorway. He turned towards her and said:
‘This condition should manifest itself in the following ways: dizzy spells, loss of appetite, frequent dreams, and fitful sleeping in the early hours; during the daytime a tendency to take offence for no reason and a generally nervous and apprehensive attitude towards other people. Some might attribute all these to a peculiarity of temperament, but they would be mistaken. They are organically related to a deficiency of Yin in the liver, with a concomitant diminution of cardiac vitality. Does my diagnosis accord with what you have observed?’
Nightingale nodded, and turning to Jia Lian said: That is exactly how Miss Lin has been, sir.’
‘Good,’ said Doctor Wang, rising from his chair. ‘We may proceed.’
Jia Lian escorted him out of the Garden and across to his study, where his pages had already laid out the requisite pink prescription form in readiness. Tea was served, then Doctor Wang took up the brush and wrote:
DIAGNOSIS
The six pulses are slow and taut. Prolonged morbid obstruction of the humoral flow. Left distal pulse weak. Diminution of cardiac vitality. Left median pulse strong and irregular. Hyperactivity of the liver (Wood). The hepatic humour, unable to disperse naturally, has encroached upwards on the spleen (Earth), with consequent loss of appetite. The extreme distemper has also caused a reversal of the elemental sequence, and the lungs (Metal) have certainly been damaged. Since humour cannot circulate, it has congealed into phlegm. Upsurge and expectoration of blood.
TREATMENT
1. Sedation of liver.
2. Restoration of lungs.
3. Fortification of both heart and spleen.
The usual tonics are too violent in their action. For the present, I suggest my own Black Etbereal Essence, to be taken with Elixir Pneumoferriferum. Prescriptions for both humbly appended for esteemed approval.
The doctor wrote out a prescription of seven items and an adjuvant to go with it. Jia Lian took the paper and glanced down the list.
‘I see you include Hare’s Ear in your prescription,’ he said. ‘Forgive me if I am wrong, but I thought that was ruled out in haematic eruptions?’
‘You must be thinking,’ replied Doctor Wang with a knowledgeable smile, ‘of its emetic properties, which, as is well known, contra-indicate this particular herb in cases of haemoptysis or epistaxis. But allow me to inform you that in preparation with Turtle’s Blood (as in my prescription), Hare’s Ear constitutes the only effective remedy we have for draining the humour of the Lesser Yang periphery of the gall-bladder. You see, the judicious admixture of Turtle’s Blood has the remarkable effect of inhibiting the emetic properties of Hare’s Ear, while enabling it to restore the hepatic Yin and check the phlogistic disturbance. In the words of the Ars Medicandi: “Obstructa obstruit, aperitque aperta.” And the – at first sight – paradoxical inclusion of Hare’s Ear is none other than the classic stratagem of the loyal counsellor befriending the usurper…’
‘I see,’ said Jia Lian, nodding appreciatively. ‘Thank you for enlightening me, Doctor Wang.’
The doctor continued:
‘I should like the young lady to take two doses of the decoction, and then we shall see whether to alter the prescription, or perhaps try a new one altogether. I have another appointment, so I hope you’ll excuse me. I shall call again another day.’
As Jia Lian saw him out, he asked:
‘And what have you prescribed for my cousin?’
‘Oh there’s very little the matter with him. Another dose of the dispersant I have prescribed should put him right.’
With these words Doctor Wang stepped into his carriage.
Jia Lian dispatched a servant to purchase the various drugs needed and went in to inform Xi-feng of Dai-yu’s diagnosis. They had not been talking long when Zhou Rui’s wife arrived to consult Xi-feng about a few trivial details of domestic management. After listening for a while, Jia Lian rose to leave.
‘Carry on, Mrs Zhou, I must be going.’
With Jia Lian out of the room, and all remaining household business soon disposed of, Zhou Rui’s wife was able to come to the real purpose of her visit.
‘I’ve just come from Miss Lin’s, ma’am. I don’t like the look of it at all! There’s not a spot of colour left in her cheeks, and to touch her she’s nothing but skin and bones. I tried asking her what the matter was, but she wouldn’t speak, just sat there crying. Before I left, Nightingale asked if you could advance them a couple of months’ allowance. She said that with Miss Lin so ill, and her so proud anyway about not being beholden to a soul for anything, she’d made bold to ask about it herself. The medicine Miss Lin is taking goes on the general account of course, but she said they might be needing some extra money for incidental expenses. I said I’d mention it to you, ma’am.’
Xi-feng lowered her head for a moment, then replied:
‘Oh very well, I’ll send her a few taels to be going on with. There’s no need to tell Miss Lin though. I’m against advances on principle. If one person starts well never hear the end of it. Do you remember the scene Mrs Zhao and Miss Tan-chun had about this very question? Besides, as you know, with so many expenses and so little coming in to pay for them, things are extremely tight at present.’
After a pause, she continued:
‘Some people are under the illusion that it’s all caused by bad management on my part. Some even have the nerve to suggest that I am lining the Wang nest at the Jia family’s expense. But you know better, my dear Mrs Zhou. You’ve seen far too much of what really goes on to pay any attention to such gossip.’
‘Why I never heard such downright wicked lies in all my days, ma’am,’ said Zhou Rui’s wife. ‘Bless my soul! Where would this great rambling household be now, I should like to know, without you to keep everything running smoothly the way you do? I’d like to see any other lady try to take it on. Why, a grown man with six arms and three heads would crumple under the strain of what you have to bear, for certain sure! There’s no justice left in this world!’
Suddenly she broke into a cackle of laughter.
‘Mind you, Mrs Lian, the things people will say! The other day when Mr Zhou came home from town, he told me how people are all talking about us, trying to guess just how rich the family is. Take this for example: “The Jias have got rooms piled high with silver and gold! Every stick of furniture in the house is inlaid with gold and studded with precious stones!” Or sometimes they gossip about Her Grace: “That daughter of theirs at Court,” they’ll say, “you can bet your last buckle she’s managed to smuggle home half the Emperor’s things. That time she went on that grand visitation, we saw it with our own eyes – cartloads of gold and silver she brought along with her, had the old home twinkling away like a fairy palace… And when the family laid on that big do at the Temple (which must have cost them a fortune), they didn’t bat an eyelid! Those lions outside the main gate are solid jade, and they’ve a golden kylin in the garden – used to be two, till one was stolen! You’d expect the ladies to be grand of course: but in that set-up the maids are quite as genteel and ladylike as the ladies themselves! They never do a hand’s turn, just lounge around drinking wine, playing music or perhaps a little chess, or doing a spot of leisurely painting now and then… There’s never any shortage of others to do their work. All they need fuss about is which silk gown to slip into next. If you could see the delicacies they eat or the clothes they wear, you wouldn’t believe your eyes. And the children! So pampered, if they were to ask for a moonbeam someone would be off to fetch it down for the pretty little darlings to play with!” There’s even a song about us:
Moneybags Ning
And Rolling Rong
Treat their cash
Like piles of dung.
It seems so fine,
But please beware!
If you look too…’
Mrs Zhou broke off in mid flow. The last two lines of her song were in fact:
If you look too close,
The cupboard’s bare!
She had been so carried away with her rendition that she only stopped in the nick of time. Xi-feng could tell that the song carried a sting in its tail.
‘I know the sort of thing,’ she remarked casually. ‘But what could have given rise to that story about the golden kylin?’
‘They must mean the little one old Abbot Zhang gave Master Bao at the Temple,’ replied Mrs Zhou. ‘He lost it and then several days later young Miss Shi found it for him. A little thing like that is quite enough for those townfolk to spin one of their yarns around! They’re so ridiculous, aren’t they, Mrs Lian? The only thing one can do is laugh.’
‘I can’t say I find it particularly funny,’ replied Xi-feng. ‘It’s actually rather frightening. The trouble is that behind our magnificent façade things are going from bad to worse. There’s a popular saying:
Fattest pigs make choicest bacon;
Famous men are for the taking.
And our fame has been won under false pretences anyway. Sometimes I worry a great deal where all this will lead to.’
‘I understand your concern, ma’am,’ said Mrs Zhou. ‘But talk like that has been going round town for over a year, in the teahouses and wineshops, in every alley-way. It’s too late to stop it now, isn’t it?’
Xi-feng nodded. She told Patience to weigh out a few taels of silver and gave them to Mrs Zhou.
‘Take these to Nightingale. Say it’s just a little extra from me to help out. If she needs to make any purchases out of common funds, she mustn’t be afraid to say so. No more talk of advances, though. I know Nightingale is a bright girl and will understand what I mean. Tell her that when I’ve a free moment I’ll be over to see Miss Lin.’
Zhou Rui’s wife took the money and departed to carry out these instructions.
*
No sooner had Jia Lian left Xi-feng closeted with Zhou Rui’s wife than he was accosted by a page-boy with an urgent summons from his father, and was obliged to go straight over to Jia She’s apartment.
‘I’ve just got wind of the fact that someone at Court is ill,’ Jia She explained. ‘A senior consultant and two orderlies from the College of Physicians have been summoned to the palace, which indicates an illness in His Majesty’s immediate entourage. Tell me, have we had any news of Her Grace the past few days?’
‘None,’ replied Lian.
‘Go and ask your uncle, and check with Cousin Zhen,’ said Jia She. ‘See if they know any more about it. If not, then send someone to inquire at the College. We must find out what is going on.’
‘Yes, father.’
Jia Lian pursued both lines of inquiry simultaneously, dispatching one of his men to the College, while he himself set off in haste to find Jia Zheng.
‘Where did you hear of this?’ asked Jia Zheng, after listening to Lian’s account of the story.
‘From father, just a minute ago.’
‘Well, you and Cousin Zhen had better go straight to the Palace and see what information you can glean there.’
‘I have already sent someone to the College,’ replied Lian, ‘to see if there is any news. I’ll go to the Ning side and fetch Cousin Zhen.’
He had no need to go as far as Ning-guo House, however, since Cousin Zhen was already on his way over.
‘Yes, I’d heard the same rumour myself,’ remarked Zhen, as Lian told him the story and the two of them walked together towards Jia Zheng’s study. ‘I was just on my way to consult your father and Uncle Zheng about it’
By the time they arrived, Jia Zheng’s attitude had become somewhat more philosophical.
‘If it is Her Grace,’ he advised them, ‘we are sure to be informed sooner or later.’
Meanwhile Jia She had joined the gathering.
At noon, the four of them were still waiting for Jia Lian’s messenger to return with news from the College, when one of the janitors came in to report the arrival of two Palace Eunuchs, with an Imperial Communication for Sir She and Sir Zheng.
‘Show them in,’ ordered Jia She, and he and his brother went out to greet them at the inner gate. They knelt Manchu-style and did homage as ‘Her Grace’s most Humble Servants’, before ushering the Imperial delegation through the gateway and across the courtyard to the main reception-hall, where they begged them both to be seated. One of the eunuchs rose to his feet and said:
‘Your daughter, Her Grace the Imperial Concubine, having been somewhat indisposed of late, it is His Majesty’s Pleasure that four ladies of her family should visit the Imperial Bedchamber tomorrow. Each lady is to be permitted a single maidservant in attendance. Male relatives are to proceed as far as the Inner Gate and present their cards. They may not proceed any further but are to do homage and await any further instructions outside the gate. Appointed time of arrival is nine a.m., departure to be completed by five p.m.’
Jia Zheng and Jia She and all the others present received this edict standing. When it was concluded, they sat down once more and offered the eunuchs tea, after which the Imperial party took its leave. The two senior brothers saw them out as far as the main gate, and then went in to report to Grandmother Jia.
‘Four?’ queried the old lady. ‘Your two ladies and myself makes three. Who can the fourth place be for?’
There was a momentary pause. No one dared make a suggestion, and after a moment’s reflection Grandmother Jia continued: ‘It must be meant for Feng. She knows how to cope with any situation. Well, you menfolk go off and make your arrangements.’
Leaving promptly, Jia She and Jia Zheng gave instructions that apart from Lian and Rong whose job it would be to stay and look after the two mansions, a full turn-out of junior and senior clan-members was expected. Next the servants were told to fit out four of the family’s best green court-sedans, and a dozen carriages with blue canopies, and have them lined up before first light in the morning. The servants hurried about their business, while the two Masters returned for a final consultation with Lady Jia.
‘We have to be there at nine o’clock, and leave at five, Mother. It seems advisable to retire rather earlier than usual tonight if we are to make a prompt start in the morning. We need to allow ourselves ample time to prepare for court.’
‘Very well,’ replied Grandmother Jia. ‘You can go now.’
The brothers withdrew, leaving Grandmother Jia with her two daughters-in-law and Xi-feng. They talked for a while about Yuan-chun’s illness, and then after a little more desultory chat, retired for the night.
Next morning, before dawn, maids lit the lamps in every apartment, and the ladies sat down to their toilet. At five o’clock, when the ladies were ready and the gentlemen had put the finishing touches to their ceremonial outfits, Steward Lin and Lai Da came to the Inner Gate to report that the chairs and carriages were all ready as ordered and had been drawn up outside. Jia She and Lady Xing arrived, and the party was complete. After breakfast, which they all took together, Lady Jia led them out, leaning on Xi-feng’s arm, and the household gathered round as the four ladies, each accompanied by a single maid, walked slowly out. An advance party, consisting of Li Gui and one other senior boy, went on horseback to make preliminary arrangements at the Outer Gate of the Palace. Three generations of Jias stepped into their carriages or mounted their horses. The procession fell into line and, with retainers swelling the train, set off through the streets. Jia Lian and Jia Rong remained behind to look after the two mansions.
The procession came to a halt under Westwall Gate, one of the outer gates of the Forbidden City, and shortly afterwards two eunuchs emerged to announce:
‘By Imperial Dispensation! The ladies of the Jia family will now enter the Palace for their Personal Visitation. The gentlemen may also proceed but may not enter the Palace precincts. They will halt at the Inner Gate and do their homage from there.’
There was a cry of ‘Forward!’ from the men on the gate, and a junior eunuch guided the four ladies’ chairs onward, while the gentlemen followed on foot at a stately pace, leaving their servants at the Outer Gate. As they approached the Inner Gate, they could see several elderly eunuchs sitting there, who rose to their feet as the procession arrived and announced:
‘Gentlemen of the Jia family! Halt here!’
Jia She and Jia Zheng lined their men up outside the Gate in order of seniority, while the ladies passed through in their chairs, halted under the Gate and dismounted. A new escort of junior eunuchs now presented itself, and the Jia ladies, each leaning on a maid’s arm, continued on foot through the inner precincts of the Palace, until they saw before them the lavishly ornamented façade and brilliantly glazed roof-tiles of the Imperial Concubine’s Bedchamber.
Two young ladies-in-waiting stepped forward to inform them that the only formality required would be a curtsey. Expressing their humble appreciation for this favour, the visitors approached the bed and curtseyed in turn. Yuan-chun bade them be seated, which they did after a polite show of reluctance. She spoke first to Grandmother Jia:
‘Have you been keeping well?’
Leaning on her maid, the old lady rose shakily to her feet and replied:
‘Thanks to Your Grace’s beneficent aura I am still in good health.’
Yuan-chun went on to speak to Lady Wang and Lady Xing, who both rose to answer in similar fashion. Then she turned to Xi-feng:
‘How are things at home?’
Xi-feng rose to her feet.
‘We manage to get by, Your Grace,’ she replied, and sat down.
‘I appreciate,’ said Yuan-chun, ‘that it has not been easy for you these past few years.’
Xi-feng was about to rise again and reply when a lady-in-waiting entered with a lot of official cards for Her Grace’s inspection. As she recognized the familiar names, Yuan-chun felt a bitter pang of grief and tears began to flow down her cheeks. The lady-in-waiting proferred a silk handkerchief, which she used to wipe away her tears, saying:
‘I am a little better today, please tell them. And bid them wait outside.’
The Jia ladies were once more on their feet and expressing their gratitude. Yuan-chun’s eyes were still wet with tears.
‘Humble families are so much luckier than we are! At least they can be together!’
Lady Jia and the others were also on the brink of tears.
‘We beseech Your Grace not to be sad. Your exalted blessings have already made themselves felt a thousandfold at home.’
‘How is Bao-yu coming along?’ asked Yuan-chun.
‘He is taking his studies more seriously now,’ replied Lady Jia. ‘His father has been extremely strict with him, and he is turning into quite a little scholar.’
‘I am so glad to hear that.’
Yuan-chun gave orders for their luncheon to be served in the outer reception-hall, and two ladies-in-waiting, assisted by four junior eunuchs, escorted them out. The seating had been arranged in accordance with Jia family precedence, and the ladies sat down to an immaculately presented meal, details of which our narrative omits.
When luncheon was over, the four ladies returned to give thanks. After further desultory chat, they saw that it was nearly five o’clock, and anxious not to overstep their limit, took their leave. Yuan-chun sent one of her ladies-in-waiting to accompany them as far as the Inner Gate, where the same four eunuchs were waiting to guide them out. Lady Jia and company stepped into their chairs and were carried to the Outer Gate, where they were joined by Jia She and the menfolk. The whole family returned in procession together.
The Visitation was repeated the following day and the day after, and as the arrangements made were identical to the last detail, we need not elaborate any further here.
*
Meanwhile, in the Xue household, things were going from bad to worse. Ever since Xue Pan’s disappearance, Jin-gui had felt the lack of a sparring partner. Caltrop (Lily) had moved out to live with Bao-chai, and the only person left within range was Moonbeam. But since her promotion to the Master’s bed, Moonbeam had acquired a new self-assurance, and Jin-gui soon observed that her stratagem in giving Moonbeam to Pan had misfired. Her maid had indeed become her strongest rival. ‘Very well,’ she thought to herself one day, when she had been drinking heavily and was lying on her kang in a maudlin frame of mind, let’s see what she’s worth…’ A round or two with Moonbeam might be just the seltzer she needed.
‘Come on!’ she taunted her. ‘Where’s our precious Lord and Master disappeared to, eh? Where’s he hiding? You do know, of course, don’t you?’
‘I’ve not the least idea,’ replied Moonbeam coolly. ‘If he wouldn’t tell you, Mrs Pan, no one else is likely to know.’
Spare me the “Mrs”, will you!’ said Jin-gui with a malicious smile. ‘You and that Lily think you run the place, don’t you? I can’t get near that little Miss Unmolestable, with all her friends in high places to take care of her – all right! I won’t stick my neck out in that direction! But you’re still my maid, I don’t have to take cheek from you! If you’re so sure of yourself, why not get on with it and strangle me? Then you and Lily can have the field to yourselves. I’m just in your way – go on, say it!’
Moonbeam wasn’t taking this lying down. She looked Jin-gui straight in the eye:
‘Mrs Pan, you have no right to accuse me like that! When have I ever said a word against you? Just because you can’t do anything to her, there’s no need to take it out on me! You’re just being a bully! You know what the real trouble is, so why pretend you don’t?’
She burst into floods of tears and Jin-gui, who was now back in her element, clambered fuming down from the kang and went after her. Moonbeam had learned a thing or two in the Xia household and fought back every inch of the way. Jin-gui, ignoring her cries and protestations of innocence, attacked her with whatever she could lay hands on, and chairs, tables, cups and bowls were soon flying in every direction.
Aunt Xue happened to be in Bao-chai’s room and heard the terrible racket they were making.
‘Caltrop,’ she ordered without thinking, ‘go over and see what’s going on, will you? Try and get them to quieten down.’
‘You can’t possibly send Caltrop,’ Bao-chai reminded her. ‘That would only make things worse.’
‘Very well then, I shall go myself,’ declared Aunt Xue.
‘I don’t think you should, Mama,’ advised Bao-chai. ‘We shall have to let them fight it out. There’s nothing we can do, I’m afraid.’
‘What an intolerable state of affairs!’ cried Aunt Xue, and leaning on one of her maids she set off in the direction of Jin-gui’s apartment. Bao-chai followed reluctantly, giving Caltrop strict instructions to stay behind. As they approached Jin-gui’s apartment, they could hear the storm continuing unabated inside.
‘What’s the meaning of this?’ cried Aunt Xue. ‘Look at the state things are in! What a disgraceful way to behave! Other people can hear what goes on, you know. Aren’t you ashamed of what our relatives will think? Aren’t you afraid of being made a laughing-stock?’
‘Me a laughing-stock – that’s rich!’ Jin-gui yelled from inside. ‘It’s this topsy-turvy family of yours that’s a laughing-stock. There’s no respect, no proper order, not a single thing right in this godforsaken dump! I was brought up differently, I can tell you! In my home people knew their place. I’ve had as much from your family as I can take!’
‘Sister-in-law,’ pleaded Bao-chai, ‘Mother only came because she heard the two of you fighting. If she seemed to be blaming you, and didn’t distinguish between you and Moonbeam, it’s only because she was upset. I’m sure she didn’t mean anything by it. Wouldn’t it be better to explain whatever it is that’s troubling you, and all of us try to get along peaceably together? Poor Mother, we’re worrying her to death.’
‘Yes,’ added Aunt Xue, ‘before you start accusing me, kindly explain what the trouble is.’
‘You’re such a saint, aren’t you!’ said Jin-gui, addressing herself to Bao-chai. ‘I’m sure a fine lady like you will marry a gentleman and live in a nice home – not like me, stranded here, trampled under foot, taken advantage of by all and sundry! I might as well be a widow! What a fool I am! Don’t judge me too harshly. I’m only a poor father- less creature that’s never been taught any better. And I’m sure you’d rather I spared you the sordid details of what goes on in here between my husband and his various womenfolk!’
Only the thought of what her mother must be suffering enabled Bao-chai to contain her intense anger and shame at these words.
‘Sister-in-law,’ she pleaded, ‘please don’t say any more. No one is judging you, no one is taking advantage of you – we never did with Lily and of course we don’t with you.’
At this Jin-gui started whacking the side of the kang and shrieked at the top of her voice:
‘Lily! How could I ever compare with her? I’m not worth the ground she treads on, am I? She’s been here longer than I have, she understands you and knows how to butter you up, and I don’t, I’m just a newcomer! I know! There’s no need to remind me of it! But remember, we can’t all be Imperial Concubines; you’d better watch your step and make sure you don’t end up like me, married to a great half-baked booby, left in the lurch for all the world to mock at!’
Aunt Xue could contain herself no longer and rose to her feet:
‘I am not just defending her because she is my daughter; she has tried her best to make peace with you but you seem quite determined to provoke her. Whatever your trouble is, leave the poor girl alone! If you have to punish someone, why not strangle me instead?’
‘Please don’t you get angry too, Mama,’ begged Bao-chai. ‘We only came to try and help. If all we’re going to do is make things worse, I honestly think we should go. Let’s give her time to think it all over. And don’t you go causing any more trouble either!’ This last remark was addressed to Moonbeam.
And so the two of them left and returned to their own apartment. As they crossed the courtyard, they saw one of Lady Jia’s personal maids coming out to greet them with Caltrop.
‘Which way did you come?’ asked Aunt Xue, adding: ‘I hope Lady Jia is well.’
‘Very well, thank you ma’am,’ replied the maid. ‘Her Old Ladyship asked me to send you her best regards, to thank you for the lychees you sent the other day, and to congratulate Miss Qin on her engagement.’
‘How long have you been here?’ asked Bao-chai.
‘Quite a time,’ was her reply. The colour rose in Aunt Xue’s cheeks when she realized how much the maid must have overheard.
‘I’m afraid we’ve been having some dreadful scenes here recently,’ she said. ‘We must be a laughing-stock over on your side.’
‘Oh ma’am, it’s nothing serious,’ said the maid. ‘Every family has its little troubles. That’s as natural as plates clinking in a picnic-hamper. You’re worrying too much.’
She went inside with them and sat for a while before returning to Grandmother Jia’s.
A moment or two later, Bao-chai was busy giving Caltrop some instructions when suddenly Aunt Xue cried out:
‘Ai! My chest!’
She lay down on the kang, sending Bao-chai and Caltrop into a great state of panic. But if you wish to know the outcome, you must turn to the next chapter.