第九十六回

第九十六回 瞒消息凤姐设奇谋 泄机关颦儿迷本性

话说贾琏拿了那块假玉忿忿走出，到了书房。那个人看见贾琏的气色不好，心里先发了虚了，连忙站起来迎着。刚要说话，只见贾琏冷笑道：“好大胆，我把你这个混帐东西！这里是什么地方儿，你敢来掉鬼！”回头便问：“小厮们呢？”外头轰雷一般几个小厮齐声答应。贾琏道：“取绳子去捆起他来。等老爷回来问明了，把他送到衙门里去。”众小厮又一齐答应“预备着呢。”嘴里虽如此，却不动身。那人先自唬的手足无措，见这般势派，知道难逃公道，只得跪下给贾琏碰头，口口声声只叫：“老太爷别生气。是我一时穷极无奈，才想出这个没脸的营生来。那玉是我借钱做的，我也不敢要了，只得孝敬府里的哥儿顽罢。”说毕，又连连磕头。贾琏啐道：“你这个不知死活的东西！这府里希罕你的那朽不了的浪东西！”正闹着，只见赖大进来，陪着笑向贾琏道：“二爷别生气了。靠他算个什么东西，饶了他，叫他滚出去罢。”贾琏道：“实在可恶。”赖大贾琏作好作歹，众人在外头都说道：“糊涂狗攮的，还不给爷和赖大爷磕头呢。快快的滚罢，还等窝心脚呢！”那人赶忙磕了两个头，抱头鼠窜而去。从此街上闹动了“贾宝玉弄出‘假宝玉’”来。

且说贾政那日拜客回来，众人因为灯节底下，恐怕贾政生气，已过去的事了，便也都不肯回。只因元妃的事忙碌了好些时，近日宝玉又病着，虽有旧例家宴，大家无兴，也无有可记之事。到了正月十七日，王夫人正盼王子腾来京，只见凤姐进来回说“今日二爷在外听得有人传说，我们家大老爷赶着进京，离城只二百多里地，在路上没了。太太听见了没有？”王夫人吃惊道：“我没有听见，老爷昨晚也没有说起，到底在那里听见的？”凤姐道：“说是在枢密张老爷家听见的。”王夫人怔了半天，那眼泪早流下来了，因拭泪说道：“回来再叫琏儿索性打听明白了来告诉我。”凤姐答应去了。王夫人不免暗里落泪，悲女哭弟，又为宝玉耽忧。如此连三接二，都是不随意的事，那里搁得住，便有些心口疼痛起来。又加贾琏打听明白了来说道：“舅太爷是赶路劳乏，偶然感冒风寒，到了十里屯地方，延医调治。无奈这个地方没有名医，误用了药，一剂就死了。但不知家眷可到了那里没有？”王夫人听了，一阵心酸，便心口疼得坐不住，叫彩云等扶了上炕，还扎挣着叫贾琏去回了贾政，“即速收拾行装迎到那里，帮着料理完毕，即刻回来告诉我们。好叫你媳妇儿放心。”贾琏不敢违拗，只得辞了贾政起身。贾政早已知道，心里很不受用；又知宝玉失玉以后神志惛愦，医药无效；又值王夫人心疼。那年正值京察[1]，工部将贾政保列一等。二月，吏部带领引见。皇上念贾政勤俭谨慎，即放了江西粮道[2]。即日谢恩，已奏明起程日期。虽有众亲朋贺喜，贾政也无心应酬，只念家中人口不宁，又不敢耽延在家。正在无计可施，只听见贾母那边叫“请老爷。”

贾政即忙进去，看见王夫人带着病也在那里。便向贾母请了安。贾母叫他坐下，便说：“你不日就要赴任，我有多少话与你说，不知你听不听？”说着，掉下泪来。贾政忙站起来说道：“老太太有话只管吩咐，儿子怎敢不遵命呢。”贾母咽哽着说道：“我今年八十一岁的人了，你又要做外任去，偏有你大哥在家，你又不能告亲老[3]。你这一去了，我所疼的只有宝玉，偏偏的又病得糊涂，还不知道怎么样呢。我昨日叫赖升媳妇出去叫人给宝玉算算命，这先生算得好灵，说要娶了金命的人帮扶他，必要冲冲喜[4]才好，不然只怕保不住。我知道你不信那些话，所以教你来商量。你的媳妇也在这里，你们两个也商量商量，还是要宝玉好呢，还是随他去呢？”贾政陪笑说道：“老太太当初疼儿子这么疼的，难道做儿子的就不疼自己的儿子不成么。只为宝玉不上进，所以时常恨他，也不过是恨铁不成钢的意思。老太太既要给他成家，这也是该当的，岂有逆着老太太不疼他的理。如今宝玉病着，儿子也是不放心。因老太太不叫他见我，所以儿子也不敢言语。我到底瞧瞧宝玉是个什么病。”王夫人见贾政说着也有些眼圈儿红，知道心里是疼的，便叫袭人扶了宝玉来。宝玉见了他父亲，袭人叫他请安，他便请了个安。贾政见他脸面很瘦，目光无神，大有疯傻之状，便叫人扶了进去，便想到：“自己也是望六的人了，如今又放外任，不知道几年回来。倘或这孩子果然不好，一则年老无嗣，虽说有孙子，到底隔了一层；二则老太太最疼的是宝玉，若有差错，可不是我的罪名更重了。”瞧瞧王夫人，一包眼泪，又想到他身上，复站起来说：“老太太这么大年纪，想法儿疼孙子，做儿子的还敢违拗？老太太主意该怎么便怎么就是了。但只姨太太那边不知说明白了没有？”王夫人便道：“姨太太是早应了的。只为蟠儿的事没有结案，所以这些时总没提起。”贾政又道：“这就是第一层的难处。他哥哥在监里，妹子怎么出嫁。况且贵妃的事虽不禁婚嫁，宝玉应照已出嫁的姐姐有九个月的功服[5]，此时也难娶亲。再者我的起身日期已经奏明，不敢耽搁，这几天怎么办呢？”贾母想了一想：“说的果然不错。若是等这几件事过去，他父亲又走了。倘或这病一天重似一天，怎么好？只可越些礼办了才好。”想定主意，便说道：“你若给他办呢，我自然有个道理，包管都碍不着。姨太太那边我和你媳妇亲自过去求他。蟠儿那里我央蝌儿去告诉他，说是要救宝玉的命，诸事将就，自然应的。若说服里娶亲，当真使不得。况且宝玉病着，也不可教他成亲，不过是冲冲喜，我们两家愿意，孩子们又有金玉的道理，婚是不用合的了。即挑了好日子，按着咱们家分儿过了礼[6]。赶着挑个娶亲日子，一概鼓乐不用，倒按宫里的样子，用十二对提灯，一乘八人轿子抬了来，照南边规矩拜了堂，一样坐床撒帐[7]，可不是算娶了亲了么。宝丫头心地明白，是不用虑的。内中又有袭人，也还是个妥妥当当的孩子。再有个明白人常劝他更好。他又和宝丫头合的来。再者姨太太曾说，宝丫头的金锁也有个和尚说过，只等有玉的便是婚姻，焉知宝丫头过来，不因金锁倒招出他那块玉来，也定不得。从此一天好似一天，岂不是大家的造化。这会子只要立刻收拾屋子，铺排起来。这屋子是要你派的。一概亲友不请，也不排筵席，待宝玉好了，过了功服，然后再摆席请人。这么着都赶的上。你也看见了他们小两口的事，也好放心的去。”贾政听了，原不愿意，只是贾母做主，不敢违命，勉强陪笑说道：“老太太想的极是，也很妥当。只是要吩咐家下众人，不许吵嚷得里外皆知，这要耽不是的。姨太太那边，只怕不肯；若是果真应了，也只好按着老太太的主意办去。”贾母道：“姨太太那里有我呢。你去吧。”贾政答应出来，心中好不自在。因赴任事多，部里领凭，亲友们荐人，种种应酬不绝，竟把宝玉的事，听凭贾母交与王夫人凤姐儿了。惟将荣禧堂后身王夫人内屋旁边一大跨所二十馀间房屋指与宝玉，馀者一概不管。贾母定了主意叫人告诉他去，贾政只说很好，此是后话。

且说宝玉见过贾政，袭人扶回里间炕上。因贾政在外，无人敢与宝玉说话，宝玉便昏昏沉沉的睡去。贾母与贾政所说的话，宝玉一句也没有听见。袭人等却静静儿的听得明白。头里虽也听得些风声，到底影响，只不见宝钗过来，却也有些信真。今日听了这些话，心里方才水落归漕，倒也喜欢。心里想道：“果然上头的眼力不错，这才配得是。我也造化。若他来了，我可以卸了好些担子。但是这一位的心里只有一个林姑娘，幸亏他没有听见，若知道了，又不知要闹到什么分儿了。”袭人想到这里，转喜为悲，心想：“这件事怎么好？老太太、太太那里知道他们心里的事。一时高兴说给他知道，原想要他病好。若是他仍似前的心事，初见林姑娘便要摔玉砸玉；况且那年夏天在园里把我当作林姑娘，说了好些私心话；后来因为紫鹃说了句顽话儿，便哭得死去活来。若是如今和他说要娶宝姑娘，竟把林姑娘撂开，除非是他人事不知还可，若稍明白些，只怕不但不能冲喜，竟是催命了！我再不把话说明，那不是一害三个人了么。”袭人想定主意，待等贾政出去，叫秋纹照看着宝玉，便从里间出来，走到王夫人身旁，悄悄的请了王夫人到贾母后身屋里去说话。贾母只道是宝玉有话，也不理会，还在那里打算怎么过礼，怎么娶亲。

那袭人同了王夫人到了后间，便跪下哭了。王夫人不知何意，把手拉着他说：“好端端的，这是怎么说？有什么委屈起来说。”袭人道：“这话奴才是不该说的，这会子因为没有法儿了。”王夫人道：“你慢慢说。”袭人道：“宝玉的亲事老太太、太太已定了宝姑娘了，自然是极好的一件事。只是奴才想着，太太看去宝玉和宝姑娘好，还是和林姑娘好呢？”王夫人道：“他两个因从小儿在一处，所以宝玉和林姑娘又好些。”袭人道：“不是好些。”便将宝玉素与黛玉这些光景一一的说了，还说：“这些事都是太太亲眼见的。独是夏天的话我从没敢和别人说。”王夫人拉着袭人道：“我看外面儿已瞧出几分来了。你今儿一说，更加是了。但是刚才老爷说的话想必都听见了，你看他的神情儿怎么样？”袭人道：“如今宝玉若有人和他说话他就笑，没人和他说话他就睡。所以头里的话却倒都没听见。”王夫人道：“倒是这件事叫人怎么样呢？”袭人道：“奴才说是说了，还得太太告诉老太太，想个万全的主意才好。”王夫人便道：“既这么着，你去干你的，这时候满屋子的人，暂且不用提起，等我瞅空儿回明老太太，再作道理。”说着，仍到贾母跟前。

贾母正在那里和凤姐儿商议，见王夫人进来，便问道：“袭人丫头说什么？这么鬼鬼祟祟的。”王夫人趁问，便将宝玉的心事，细细回明贾母。贾母听了，半日没言语。王夫人和凤姐也都不再说了。只见贾母叹道：“别的事都好说。林丫头倒没有什么；若宝玉真是这样，这可叫人作了难了。”只见凤姐想了一想，因说道：“难倒不难，只是我想了个主意，不知姑妈肯不肯。”王夫人道：“你有主意只管说给老太太听，大家娘儿们商量着办罢了。”凤姐道：“依我想，这件事只有一个掉包儿的法子。”贾母道：“怎么掉包儿？”凤姐道：“如今不管宝兄弟明白不明白，大家吵嚷起来，说是老爷做主，将林姑娘配了他了。瞧他的神情儿怎么样。要是他全不管，这个包儿也就不用掉了。若是他有些喜欢的意思，这事却要大费周折呢。”王夫人道：“就算他喜欢，你怎么样办法呢？”凤姐走到王夫人耳边，如此这般的说了一遍。王夫人点了几点头儿，笑了一笑说道：“也罢了。”贾母便问道：“你娘儿两个捣鬼，到底告诉我是怎么着呀？”凤姐恐贾母不懂，露泄机关，便也向耳边轻轻的告诉了一遍。贾母果真一时不懂，凤姐笑着又说了几句。贾母笑道：“这么着也好，可就只忒苦了宝丫头了。倘或吵嚷出来，林丫头又怎么样呢？”凤姐道：“这个话原只说给宝玉听，外头一概不许提起，有谁知道呢。”

正说间，丫头传进话来说：“琏二爷回来了。”王夫人恐贾母问及，使个眼色与凤姐。凤姐便出来迎着贾琏努了个嘴儿，同到王夫人屋里等着去了。一回儿王夫人进来，已见凤姐哭的两眼通红。贾琏请了安，将到十里屯料理王子腾的丧事的话说了一遍，便说：“有恩旨赏了内阁的职衔，谥了文勤公，命本宗扶柩回籍，着沿途地方官员照料。昨日起身，连家眷回南去了。舅太太叫我回来请安问好，说如今想不到不能进京，有多少话不能说。听见我大舅子要进京，若是路上遇见了，便叫他来到咱们这里细细的说。”王夫人听毕，其悲痛自不必言。凤姐劝慰了一番，“请太太略歇一歇，晚上来再商量宝玉的事罢。”说毕，同了贾琏回到自己房中，告诉了贾琏，叫他派人收拾新房。不题。

一日，黛玉早饭后带着紫鹃到贾母这边来，一则请安，二则也为自己散散闷。出了潇湘馆，走了几步，忽然想起忘了手绢子来，因叫紫鹃回去取来，自己却慢慢的走着等他。刚走到沁芳桥那边山石背后，当日同宝玉葬花之处，忽听一个人呜呜咽咽在那里哭。黛玉煞住脚听时，又听不出是谁的声音，也听不出哭着叨叨的是些什么话。心里甚是疑惑，便慢慢的走去。及到了跟前，却见一个浓眉大眼的丫头在那里哭呢。黛玉未见他时，还只疑府里这些大丫头有什么说不出的心事，所以来这里发泄发泄；及至见了这个丫头，却又好笑，因想到：这种蠢货有什么情种，自然是那屋里作粗活的丫头受了大女孩子的气了。细瞧了一瞧，却不认得。那丫头见黛玉来了，便也不敢再哭，站起来拭眼泪。黛玉问道：“你好好的为什么在这里伤心？”那丫头听了这话，又流泪道：“林姑娘你评评这个理。他们说话我又不知道，我就说错了一句话，我姐姐也不犯就打我呀。”黛玉听了，不懂他说的是什么，因笑问道：“你姐姐是那一个？”那丫头道：“就是珍珠姐姐。”黛玉听了，才知他是贾母屋里的，因又问：“你叫什么？”那丫头道：“我叫傻大姐儿。”黛玉笑了一笑，又问：“你姐姐为什么打你？你说错了什么话了？”那丫头道：“为什么呢，就是为我们宝二爷娶宝姑娘的事情。”黛玉听了这句话，如同一个疾雷，心头乱跳。略定了定神，便叫了这丫头“你跟了我这里来。”那丫头跟着黛玉到那畸角儿上葬桃花的去处，那里背静。黛玉因问道：“宝二爷娶宝姑娘，他为什么打你呢？”傻大姐道：“我们老太太和太太二奶奶商量了，因为我们老爷要起身，说就赶着往姨太太商量把宝姑娘娶过来罢。头一宗，给宝二爷冲什么喜，第二宗——”说到这里，又瞅着黛玉笑了一笑，才说道：“赶着办了，还要给林姑娘说婆婆家呢。”黛玉已经听呆了。这丫头只管说道：“我又不知道他们怎么商量的，不叫人吵嚷，怕宝姑娘听见害臊。我白和宝二爷屋里的袭人姐姐说了一句：‘咱们明儿更热闹了，又是宝姑娘，又是宝二奶奶，这可怎么叫呢！’林姑娘，你说我这话害着珍珠姐姐什么了吗，他走过来就打了我一个嘴巴，说我混说，不遵上头的话，要撵出我去。我知道上头为什么不叫言语呢，你们又没告诉我，就打我。”说着，又哭起来。

那黛玉此时心里竟是油儿酱儿糖儿醋儿倒在一处的一般，甜苦酸〔一〕咸，竟说不上什么味儿来了。停了一会儿，颤巍巍的说道：“你别混说了。你再混说，叫人听见又要打你了。你去罢。”说着，自己移身要回潇湘馆去。那身子竟有千百斤重的，两只脚却像踩着棉花一般，早已软了，只得一步一步慢慢的走将来。走了半天，还没到沁芳桥畔，原来脚下软了。走的慢，且又迷迷痴痴，信着脚从那边绕过来，更添了两箭地的路。这时刚到沁芳桥畔，却又不知不觉的顺着堤往回里走起来。紫鹃取了绢子来，却不见黛玉。正在那里看时，只见黛玉颜色雪白，身子恍恍荡荡的，眼睛也直直的，在那里东转西转。又见一个丫头往前头走了，离的远，也看不出是那一个来。心中惊疑不定，只得赶过来轻轻的问道：“姑娘怎么又回去？是要往那里去？”黛玉也只模糊听见，随口应道：“我问问宝玉去！”紫鹃听了，摸不着头脑，只得搀着他到贾母这边来。

黛玉走到贾母门口，心里微觉明晰，回头看见紫鹃搀着自己，便站住了问道：“你作什么来的？”紫鹃陪笑道：“我找了绢子来了。头里见姑娘在桥那边呢，我赶着过去问姑娘，姑娘没理会。”黛玉笑道：“我打量你来瞧宝二爷来了呢，不然怎么往这里走呢。”紫鹃见他心里迷惑，便知黛玉必是听见那丫头什么话了，惟有点头微笑而已。只是心里怕他见了宝玉，那一个已经是疯疯傻傻，这一个又这样恍恍惚惚，一时说出些不大体统的话来，那时如何是好？心里虽如此想，却也不敢违拗，只得搀他进去。那黛玉却又奇怪了，这时不似先前那样软了，也不用紫鹃打帘子，自己掀起帘子进来，却是寂然无声。因贾母在屋里歇中觉，丫头们也有脱滑顽去的〔二〕，也有打盹儿的，也有在那里伺候老太太的。倒是袭人听见帘子响，从屋里出来一看，见是黛玉，便让道：“姑娘屋里坐罢。”黛玉笑着道：“宝二爷在家么？”袭人不知底里，刚要答言，只见紫鹃在黛玉身后和他努嘴儿，指着黛玉，又摇摇手儿。袭人不解何意，也不敢言语。黛玉却也不理会，自己走进房来。看见宝玉在那里坐着，也不起来让坐，只瞅着嘻嘻的傻笑。黛玉自己坐下，却也瞅着宝玉笑。两个人也不问好，也不说话，也无推让，只管对着脸傻笑起来。袭人看见这番光景，心里不大得主意，只是没法儿。忽然听着黛玉说道：“宝玉，你为什么病了？”宝玉笑道：“我为林姑娘病了。”袭人紫鹃两个吓得面目改色，连忙用言语来岔。两个却又不答言，仍旧傻笑起来。袭人见了这样，知道黛玉此时心中迷惑不减于宝玉，因悄和紫鹃说道：“姑娘才好了，我叫秋纹妹妹同着你挽回姑娘歇歇去罢。”因回头向秋纹道：“你和紫鹃姐姐送林姑娘去罢，你可别混说话。”秋纹笑着，也不言语，便来同着紫鹃搀起黛玉。

那黛玉也就站起来，瞅着宝玉只管笑，只管点头儿。紫鹃又催道：“姑娘回家去歇歇罢。”黛玉道：“可不是，我这就是回去的时候儿了。”说着，便回身笑着出来了，仍旧不用丫头们搀扶，自己却走得比往常飞快。紫鹃秋纹后面赶忙跟着走。黛玉出了贾母院门，只管一直走去。紫鹃连忙搀住叫道：“姑娘往这么来。”黛玉仍是笑着随了往潇湘馆来。离门口不远，紫鹃道：“阿弥陀佛，可到了家了！”只这一句话没说完，只见黛玉身子往前一栽，哇的一声，一口血直吐出来。未知性命如何，且听下回分解。

[1] 京察——明、清时考核京官、决定升降奖惩的一种制度。考核时间，明代六年一次，于巳、亥年举行；清代三年一次，于子、卯、午、酉年举行。

[2] 粮道——官名，督粮道的简称，掌管督运漕粮事务。

[3] 告亲老——即告终养。封建时代，官吏因父母或祖父母年老，家中又无兄弟者，可以辞官，回家奉养，叫“告终养”。

[4] 冲冲喜——民间以办喜事来“驱魔除邪”，企望转危为安。

[5] 九个月的功服——即五服中的大功服。此服用麻布略作加工而成。旧时凡为堂兄弟、未嫁的堂姊妹、已嫁的姑母，和已嫁妇女为娘家的伯、叔、兄弟等穿孝者，均穿此服。

[6] 过了礼——旧时男女双方同意订婚之后，男家把聘礼送到女家叫过礼，也叫“过定”或“下彩礼”。

[7] 坐床撒帐——旧日结婚时的一种风俗。宋代孟元老《东京梦华录·娶妇》：“凡男女对拜毕，就床，男向右女向左坐，妇女以金钱彩果散掷，谓之撒帐。”

〔一〕 “酸”原作“醋”，从程乙本改。

〔二〕 “顽去的”，原无“的”字，从藤本补。

CHAPTER 96. Xi-feng conceives an ingenious plan of deception And Frowner is deranged by an inadvertent disclosure

When he saw the scowl on Jia Lian’s face, the impostor’s heart sank. He rose nervously to greet him, but before he could say a word, Jia Lian gave a chilling laugh and silenced him with:

‘Impudent fool! I should like to wring your miserable little … Do you realize who you are dealing with? How dare you play such tricks on us?’

Turning, he called for his pages. The order was echoed outside like a clap of thunder, and several pages responded in unison and presented themselves.

‘Fetch a rope and bind this fellow!’ order Jia Lian. ‘When the Master returns, I shall report the matter and pack him off to the yamen.’

‘Ready, sir!’ cried the chorus of pages. But not one of them moved a muscle.

The impostor was at first immobilized with terreor. But Jia Lian’s hectoring, and the prospect of being taken to court, finally stirred him to action. He fell on his knees and kotowed frantically in Jia Lian’s direction, jabbering:

‘Your Honour! Spare me! It was poverty forced me to it! I know it was a shameful thing to do. I had to borrow money to have it made, but please keep it and give it to the young master of the house with my humble compliments, to play with!’

Repeated head-knocking followed. Jia Lian spat contemptuously.

‘Idiot! We certainly don’t want any of your trash here!’

At this point, Lai Da came into the room.

‘Do not waste your anger on this creature, sir,’ he interceded, with a placatory smile. ‘Spare him this once, and throw him out.’

‘Why should I? The worm …’

While Jia Lian and Lai Da continued to haggle over the poor man’s fate, the servants standing in the doorway offered him their advice:

‘Come on, you great ninny! Kotow to Mr Lian and Mr Lai, and clear off! What are you waiting for? A kick in the stomach?’

The man was down in a flash, kotowed to Jia Lian and Lai Da, wrapped his hands round the back of his head and fled like a rat.

This episode became known in the locality as ‘the case of Master Jia Bao-yu and the Counterfeit (Jia) Precious Jade (Bao-yu).

*

When Jia Zheng returned home that same day from a visit, no one told him what had happened in his absence. They thought that with the Lantern Festival coming up, it would be a mistake to make him angry about something that was, after all, over and done with. What with Yuan-chun’s death, and their concern at Bao-yu’s illness, the family was far too gloomy and preoccupied to celebrate New Year in anything but a perfunctory fashion, and it passed by without any event worthy of notice in this chronicle.

By the seventeenth of the first month, when Lady Wang was expecting her brother to arrive in the capital any day, she had an unannounced visit from Xi-feng:

‘Lian has just come home with a piece of bad news, Aunt. It is about Uncle Zi-teng. He was travelling post-haste on his way to the capital, and was only seventy miles from here, when he died. Had you heard?’

‘No!’ exclaimed Lady Wang, aghast. ‘Sir Zheng didn’t mention anything of the sort yesterday evening. Where did Lian hear this?’

‘At the home of Excellency Zhang from the Privy Council.’

Lady Wang stared in silence. Tears started from her eyes. Wiping them away, she finally said:

‘Go and tell Lian to get confirmation of the news, and to see me as soon as he has.’

Xi-feng departed as bidden. Left on her own, Lady Wang gave way to her tears. A brother and daughter dead, a son deranged – she could contain her burden of grief and anxiety no longer. She began to feel a pain in her chest. And here was Jia Lian to confirm the story:

‘Uncle was exhausted by the strain of the journey, and caught a chill. They were at Ten Mile Village when this happened. A doctor was called, but the only one available in such a remote spot turned out to be incompetent. He prescribed the wrong drugs, and the first dose proved fatal. Uncle’s own family have set out for the place already, but I do not know if they have arrived yet.’

These details touched Lady Wang to the quick, and the pain in her chest became so severe that she could no longer sit upright. She told Suncloud to help her onto the kang, and struggling to keep a grip on herself, told Jia Lian to report at once to Jia Zheng.

‘Pack your things as quickly as you can, and go straight there to join the family and help them with the funeral arrangements. Come back as soon as possible and let us know how things stand. I know Xi-feng will not set her mind at rest until you are back.’

Jia Lian could see that it would be inappropriate to raise any objections. He took his leave of Jia Zheng, and set out for Ten Mile Village.

Jia Zheng had learned the news of Wang Zi-teng’s death independently. Depressed already by the moronic decline into which his son had fallen since the loss of his jade, a condition no doctor seemed able to cure, he responded with extreme gloom to this latest blow and to Lady Wang’s attack following upon it. The time had come round for the triennial review of civil servants stationed in the capital. Jia Zheng’s Board gave him a high commendation, and in the second month the Board of Civil Office presented him for an audience with the Emperor. His Majesty, in view of Jia Zheng’s record as a ‘diligent, frugal, conscientious and prudent servant of the Throne’, appointed him immediately to the post of Grain Intendant for the province of Kiangsi. The same day, Jia Zheng offered his humble acceptance and gratitude for the honour, and suggested a day for his departure. Friends and relatives were all eager to celebrate, but he was not in festive mood. He was loth to leave the capital at a time when things were so unsettled at home, although at the same time he knew that he could not delay his departure.

He was pondering this dilemma, when a message came to summon him to Grandmother Jia’s presence. He made his way promptly to her apartment, where he found Lady Wang also present, despite her illness. He paid his respects to Grandmother Jia, who told him to be seated and then began:

‘In a few days, you will be leaving us to take up your post. There is something I should like to discuss with you, if you are willing.’

The old lady’s eyes were wet with tears. Jia Zheng rose swiftly to his feet, and said:

‘Whatever you have to say, Mother, please speak: your word is my command.’

‘I shall be eighty-one this year,’ said Grandmother Jia, sobbing as she spoke. ‘You are going away to a post in the provinces, and with your elder brother still at home, you will not be able to apply for early retirement to come and look after me. When you are gone, of the ones closest to my heart I shall only have Bao-yu left to me. And he, poor darling, is in such a wretched state, I don’t know what we can do for him! The other day I sent out Lai Sheng’s wife to have the boy’s fortune told. The man’s reading was uncanny. What he said was: “This person must marry a lady with a destiny of gold, to help him and support him. He must be given a marriage as soon as possible to turn his luck. If not, he may not live.” Now I know you don’t believe in such things, which is why I sent for you, to talk it over with you. You and his mother must discuss it among yourselves. Are we to save him, or are we to do nothing and watch him fade away?’

Jia Zheng smiled anxiously.

‘Could I, who as a child received such tender love and care from you, Mother, not have fatherly feelings myself? It is just that I have been exasperated by his repeated failure to make progress in his studies, and have perhaps been too ambitious for him. You are perfectly right in wanting to see him married. How could I possibly wish to oppose you? I am concerned for the boy, and his recent illness has caused me great anxiety. But as you have kept him from me, I have not ventured to say anything. I should like to see him now for myself, and form my own impression of his condition.’

Lady Wang saw that his eyes were moist, and knew that he was genuinely concerned. She told Aroma to fetch Bao-yu and help him into the room. He walked in, and when Aroma told him to pay his respects to his father, did exactly as she said. Jia Zheng saw how emaciated his face had grown, how lifeless his eyes were. His son was like some pathetic simpleton. He told them to take him back to his room.

‘I shall soon be sixty myself,’ he mused. ‘With this provincial posting, it is difficult to tell how many years it will be before I return. If anything were to happen to Bao-yu, I should be left without an heir in my old age. I have a grandson, but that is not the same. And then Bao-yu is the old lady’s favourite. If anything untoward occurred, I should be still more deeply at fault.’

He glanced at Lady Wang. Her face was wet with tears. He thought of the sorrow it would cause her too, and stood up again to speak.

‘If, from your wealth of experience, you have thought of a way to help him, Mother, then how could I possibly raise any objection? We should do whatever you think is best. But has Mrs Xue been informed?’

‘My sister has already expressed her agreement,’ replied Lady Wang. ‘We have only been biding our time because Pan’s court-case has still not been settled.’

‘Yes, that is certainly the first obstacle,’ commented Jia Zheng. ‘How can a girl be given in marriage while her elder brother is in jail? And besides there is Her Grace’s death. Although that does not strictly entail any such prohibition, Bao-yu should at least abide by the set term of mourning for a deceased elder sister, which would mean a period of nine months during which marriage would be highly irregular. And then, my own date of departure has already been reported to the throne, and I cannot postpone it now. That only leaves us a few days. There is not enough time.’

Grandmother Jia pondered her son’s words. ‘What he says is true,’ she thought to herself. ‘If we wait for all of these conditions to be fulfilled, his father will have left, and who knows to what state the boy’s health may deteriorate. And then it may be too late. We shall have to put aside the rules for once. There is no other way.’

Having reached this conclusion in her own mind, she spoke to Jia Zheng again.

‘If you will agree to this for him, I shall take care of any problems that may arise. There is nothing that cannot be ironed out, of that I am confident. His mother and I shall go over and put the matter personally to Mrs Xue. As for Pan, I shall ask young Ke to go to him and explain that we are doing this to save Bao-yu’s life. When he knows the reason, I am sure he will agree. As for marrying during a period of mourning, strictly speaking one shouldn’t, I know. And besides, it is not right for him to marry while he is so ill. But it’s a question of turning his luck. Both families are willing, and as the children have the bond of gold and jade to justify their union, we can dispense with the usual reading of horoscopes. We just need to choose an auspicious day to exchange presents in proper style, and then set a date for the wedding itself, possible afterwards. No music during the wedding itself, but otherwise we can follow court practice: twelve pairs of long-handled lanterns and an eight-man palanquin for the bride. We shall have the ceremony in our southern form, and keep our old customs of throwing dried fruit onto the bridal bed and so forth. That will be enough to make it quite a proper wedding. Bao-chai is a sensible girl. We need not worry on her account. And Aroma is a very reliable person. We can count on her to have a calming influence on Bao-yu. She gets on well with Bao-chai too.

‘One other thing: Mrs Xue once told us that a monk said Bao-chai should only marry someone with a jade to match her golden locket. Perhaps when she comes to live as Bao-yu’s wife, her locket will draw the jade back. Once they are married, things will look up and the whole family will benefit. So, we must prepare a courtyard and decorate it nicely – I should like you to choose it. We shan’t be inviting any friends or relations to the wedding, and we can have the party later, when Bao-yu is better and the mourning period is over. This way, everything will be done in time, and you will be able to see the young people married and set off with an easy mind.’

Jia Zheng had grave doubts about the proposal. But as it was Grandmother Jia’s, he knew he could not go against it. He smiled dutifully, and hastened to reply:

‘You have thought it all out very well, Mother, and have taken everything into account. We must tell the servants not to go talking about this to everyone they meet. It would hardly redound to our credit if people knew. And personally I doubt if Mrs Xue will agree to the idea. But if she does, then I suppose we should do as you suggest.’

‘You need not worry about Mrs Xue,’ said the old lady. ‘I can explain things to her. Off you go then.’

Jia Zheng took his leave. He felt extremely uneasy about the whole idea. Official business soon engulfed him, however – acceptance of his new papers of appointment, recommendations of staff from friends and relatives, an endless round of social gatherings of one sort or another – and he delegated all responsibility for the marriage plans to Grandmother Jia, who in turn left the arrangements to Lady Wang and Xi-feng. Jia Zheng’s only contribution was to designate a twenty-frame building in a courtyard behind the Hall of Exalted Felicity, to the side of Lady Wang’s private apartment, as Bao-yu’s new home. Grandmother Jia’s mind was now quite made up, and when she sent someone to communicate this to Jia Zheng he just replied: ‘Very well.’ But of this, more later.

*

Bao-yu, after his brief interview with his father, was escorted back by Aroma to his kang in the inner room. Intimidated by the Master’s presence in the next room, none of the maids dared speak to him and he soon fell into a deep sleep. As a consequence he did not hear a word of the conversation between his father and Grandmother Jia. Aroma and the others did, however, and stood in complete silence taking it all in. Aroma had heard rumours of this marriage-plan, rumours whose likelihood, it is true, had been strengthened by Bao-chai’s repeated absence from family gatherings. Now that she knew it for a fact, all became crystal clear. She was glad.

‘They’ve shown some sense at last!’ she thought to herself. ‘Those two will make by far the better match. And I shall be better off too. With Miss Chai here I’ll be able to unload a lot of my responsibilities. The only trouble is, Master Bao still thinks of no one but Miss Lin … It’s a good thing he didn’t hear just now. If he knew what they are planning, I dread to think what trouble we’d have.’

This cast a shadow over her previous optimism. ‘What’s to be done?’ she continued to brood to herself. ‘Her Old Ladyship and Her Ladyship obviously don’t know about the secret feelings Master Bao and Miss Lin have for each other, and in their enthusiasm they could tell him their plan, to try and cure him. But if he still feels as he did – when he first saw Miss Lin, for instance, and hurled his jade to the ground and wanted to smash it to pieces; or last summer in the Garden, when he mistook me for her and poured his heart out to me; or when Nightingale teased him by saying that Miss Lin was going away, and had him in such floods of tears – and if they go and tell him now that he’s betrothed to Miss Chai and will have to give Miss Lin up for ever, so far from turning his luck they’ll probably kill him! (Unless of course he’s going through one of his deaf-and-dumb spells, in which case he probably won’t even notice.) I’d better tell them what I know, or three people may suffer!’

Aroma’s mind was made up. As soon as Jia Zheng had taken his leave of the ladies, she left Ripple to look after Bao-yu, and went into the outer room. She walked over to Lady Wang and whispered that she would like a word with her privately in the room to the rear of Grandmother Jia’s apartment. Grandmother Jia imagined it to be some message from Bao-yu and did not pay much attention, but continued to engross herself in the wedding arrangements. Lady Wang rose to leave, and Aroma followed her into the rear chamber, where she at once fell on her knees and began crying. Lady Wang had no idea what it was all about, and taking her by the hand, said:

‘Come now! What is all this? Has someone done you wrong? If so, stand up, and tell me.’

‘It is something I shouldn’t really say, but in the circumstances I feel I must.’

‘Well, tell me then. And take your time.’

‘You and Her Old Ladyship have made an excellent decision, in choosing Miss Bao-chai as Bao-yu’s future bride …’ began Aroma. ‘But, I wonder, ma’am, if you have noticed which of the two young ladies Bao-yu is more closely attached to, Miss Chai, or Miss Lin?’

‘As they have lived together since they were children,’ replied Lady Wang, ‘I suppose he would be a little closer to Miss Lin.’

‘More than a little!’ protested Aroma, and went on to give Lady Wang a detailed history of how things had always stood between Bao-yu and Dai-yu, and of the various incidents that had occurred between them.

These are all things that you would have seen for yourself, ma’am,’ she added, ‘with the exception of his outburst during the summer, which I have not mentioned to a soul until now.’

Lady Wang drew Aroma towards her.

‘Yes, most of what you have told me I have been able to deduce for myself. What you have said simply bears out my own observations. But you must all have heard the Master’s words. Tell me, how did Bao-yu react?’

‘As things are at present, ma’am, Bao-yu smiles if someone talks to him, but otherwise he just sleeps. He heard nothing.’

‘In that case, what are we to do?’

‘It is not my place to say,’ replied Aroma. ‘Your Ladyship should inform Her Old Ladyship of what I have said, and think of a suitable way of solving the problem.’

‘Then you had better go,’ said Lady Wang, ‘and leave it to me. Now would not be a good moment to bring it up; there are too many people in the room. I shall wait for an opportunity to tell Her Old Ladyship, and we will discuss what to do.’

Lady Wang returned to Grandmother Jia’s apartment. The old lady was talking to Xi-feng, and when she saw Lady Wang come in, asked:

‘What did Aroma want? What was all that mysterious whispering about?’

Lady Wang answered her directly, and told the whole story of Bao-yu’s love for Dai-yu, as Aroma had told it her. When she had finished, Grandmother Jia was silent for a long while. Neither Lady Wang nor Xi-feng dared say a word. At last, Grandmother Jia sighed and said:

‘Everything else seemed somehow soluble. It does not matter so much about Dai-yu. But if Bao-yu really feels this way about her, it seems we have run into an insoluble problem.’

Xi-feng looked very thoughtful for a minute, then said:

‘Not insoluble. I think I can see a solution. But I am not sure if you would agree to it or not, Aunt.’

‘Whatever your idea is,’ said Lady Wang, ‘speak up and let Mother know. Then we can all discuss it together.’

‘There is only one solution that I can think of,’ said Xi-feng. ‘It involves two things: a white lie, and a piece of discreet substitution.’

‘Substitution? What do you mean?’ asked Grandmother Jia.

‘First of all,’ replied Xi-feng, ‘whether Bao-yu knows anything yet or not, we let it be known that Sir Zheng proposes to betroth him to Miss Lin. We must watch for his reaction. If he is quite unaffected, then there is no need to bother with my plan. But if he does seem at all pleased at the news, it will make things rather more complicated.’

‘Supposing he is pleased?’ asked Lady Wang. ‘What then?’

Xi-feng went over and whispered at some length in Lady Wang’s ear. Lady Wang nodded, smiled and said:

‘Well, well … An ingenious idea, I must say!’

‘Come on, you two!’ exclaimed Grandmother Jia. ‘Let me in on the secret: what are you whispering about?’

Xi-feng was afraid that Grandmother Jia might not grasp her idea at once, and might inadvertently give the game away. She leant across and whispered in the old lady’s ear. Grandmother Jia did seem rather puzzled at first. Xi-feng smiled, and added a few more words of explanation. Grandmother Jia finally said with a smile:

‘Why not? But isn’t it rather hard on Bao-chai? And what about Miss Lin? What if she gets to hear of it?’

‘We shall only tell Bao-yu’ replied Xi-feng. ‘No one else will be allowed to mention it. That way no one need know.’

A maid came in and informed them that Mr Lian had returned. Lady Wang was worried that Grandmother Jia might inquire into the distressing news that had occasioned his journey, and cast a meaningful glance in Xi-feng’s direction. Xi-feng went out to intercept him, and signalled to him with her lips to accompany her to Lady Wang’s apartment and wait there. It was not long before Lady Wang came in, to find Xi-feng red-eyed from weeping. Jia Lian paid his respects to Lady Wang, and gave her an account of the funeral arrangements for Wang Zi-teng at Ten Mile Village.

‘He has been posthumously awarded the rank of Grand Secretary, by Imperial Decree,’ Jia Lian went on, ‘and the title Lord Wen-qin. The Court has given instructions for the family to accompany the coffin en cortège to Nanking, and all local mandarins have been instructed to look after them en route. The whole family left yesterday for the South. Uncle’s widow asked me to convey her respects. She said that there was so much she wanted to talk to you about, but that she would not be able to come to the capital at present. My brother-in-law Wang Ren is coming here, so I heard, and if they meet him on the way, they will tell him to come and give us the latest news.’

Lady Wang responded to all of this with a grief that the reader can surely imagine.

‘Why don’t you lie down for a while, Aunt?’ said Xi-feng. ‘In the evening, we can talk further about Bao-yu’s affairs.’

Having uttered these comforting words, Xi-feng returned with Jia Lian to her own apartment, where she informed him of all that had been decided and told him to give instructions for the cleaning and refurbishing of the courtyard that was to be the couple’s new home. But of this no more for the present.

*

A day or two after these events, Dai-yu, having eaten her breakfast, decided to take Nightingale with her to visit Grandmother Jia. She wanted to pay her respects, and also thought the visit might provide some sort of distraction for herself. She had hardly left the Naiad’s House, when she remembered that she had left her handkerchief at home, and sent Nightingale back to fetch it, saying that she would walk ahead slowly and wait for her to catch up. She had just reached the corner behind the rockery at Drenched Blossoms Bridge – the very spot-where she had once buried the flowers with Bao-yu – when all of a sudden she heard the sound of sobbing. She stopped at once and listened. She could not tell whose voice it was, nor could she distinguish what it was that the voice was complaining of, so tearfully and at such length. It really was most puzzling. She moved forward again cautiously and as she turned the corner, saw before her the source of the sobbing, a maid with large eyes and thick-set eyebrows.

Before setting eyes on this girl, Dai-yu had guessed that one of the many maids in the Jia household must have had an unhappy love-affair, and had come here to cry her heart out in secret. But now she laughed at the very idea. ‘How could such an ungainly creature as this know the meaning of love?’ she thought to herself. ‘This must be one of the odd-job girls, who has probably been scolded by one of the senior maids.’ She looked more closely, but still could not place the girl. Seeing Dai-yu, the maid ceased her weeping, wiped her cheeks, and rose to her feet.

‘Come now, what are you so upset about?’ inquired Dai-yu.

‘Oh Miss Lin!’ replied the maid, amid fresh tears. Tell me if you think it fair. They were talking about it, and how was I to know better? Just because I say one thing wrong, is that a reason for sister to start hitting me?’

Dai-yu did not know what she was talking about. She smiled, and asked again:

‘Who is your sister?’

‘Pearl,’ answered the maid.

From this, Dai-yu concluded that she must work in Grandmother Jia’s apartment.

‘And what is your name?’

‘Simple.’

Dai-yu laughed. Then:

‘Why did she hit you? What did you say that was so wrong?’

‘That’s what I’d like to know! It was only to do with Master Bao marrying Miss Chai!’

The words struck Dai-yu’s ears like a clap of thunder. Her heart started thumping fiercely. She tried to calm herself for a moment, and told the maid to come with her. The maid followed her to the secluded corner of the garden, where the Flower Burial Mound was situated. Here Dai-yu asked her:

‘Why should she hit you for mentioning Master Bao’s marriage to Miss Chai?’

‘Her Old Ladyship, Her Ladyship and Mrs Lian,’ replied Simple, ‘have decided that as the Master is leaving soon, they are going to arrange with Mrs Xue to marry Master Bao and Miss Chai as quickly as possible. They want the wedding to turn his luck, and then …’

Her voice tailed off. She stared at Dai-yu, laughed and continued:

‘Then, as soon as those two are married, they are going to find a husband for you, Miss Lin.’

Dai-yu was speechless with horror. The maid went on regardless:

‘But how was I to know that they’d decided to keep it quiet, for fear of embarrassing Miss Chai? All I did was say to Aroma, that serves in Master Bao’s room: “Won’t it be a fine to-do here soon, when Miss Chai comes over, or Mrs Bao … what will we have to call her?” That’s all I said. What was there in that to hurt sister Pearl? Can you see, Miss Lin? She came across and hit me straight in the face and said I was talking rubbish and disobeying orders, and would be dismissed from service! How was I to know their Ladyships didn’t want us to mention it? Nobody told me, and she just hit me!’

She started sobbing again. Dai-yu’s heart felt as though oil, soy-sauce, sugar and vinegar had all been poured into it at once. She could not tell which flavour predominated, the sweet, the sour, the bitter or the salty. After a few moments’ silence, she said in a trembling voice:

‘Don’t talk such rubbish. Any more of that, and you’ll be beaten again. Off you go!’

She herself turned back in the direction of the Naiad’s House. Her body felt as though it weighed a hundred tons, her feet were as wobbly as if she were walking on cotton-floss. She could only manage one step at a time. After an age, she still had not reached the bank by Drenched Blossoms Bridge. She was going so slowly, with her feet about to collapse beneath her, and in her giddiness and confusion had wandered off course and increased the distance by about a hundred yards. She reached Drenched Blossoms Bridge only to start drifting back again along the bank in the direction she had just come from, quite unaware of what she was doing.

Nightingale had by now returned with the handkerchief, but could not find Dai-yu anywhere. She finally saw her, pale as snow, tottering along, her eyes staring straight in front of her, meandering in circles. Nightingale also caught sight of a maid disappearing in the distance beyond Dai-yu, but could not make out who it was. She was most bewildered, and quickened her step.

‘Why are you turning back again, Miss?’ she asked softly. ‘Where are you heading for?’

Dai-yu only heard the blurred outline of this question. She replied:

‘I want to ask Bao-yu something.’

Nightingale could not fathom what was going on, and could only try to guide her on her way to Grandmother Jia’s apartment. When they came to the entrance, Dai-yu seemed to feel clearer in mind. She turned, saw Nightingale supporting her, stopped for a moment, and asked:

‘What are you doing here?’

‘I went to fetch your handkerchief,’ replied Nightingale, smiling anxiously. ‘I saw you over by the bridge and hurried across. I asked you where you were going, but you took no notice.’

‘Oh!’ said Dai-yu with a smile. ‘I thought you had come to see Bao-yu. What else did we come here for?’

Nightingale could see that her mind was utterly confused. She guessed that it was something that the maid had said in the garden, and only nodded with a faint smile in reply to Dai-yu’s question. But to herself she was trying to imagine what sort of an encounter this was going to be, between the young master who had already lost his wits, and her young mistress who was now herself a little touched. Despite her apprehensions, she dared not prevent the meeting, and helped Dai-yu into the room. The funny thing was that Dai-yu now seemed to have recovered her strength. She did not wait for Nightingale but raised the portière herself, and walked into the room. It was very quiet inside. Grandmother Jia had retired for her afternoon nap. Some of the maids had sneaked off to play, some were having forty winks themselves and others had gone to wait on Grandmother Jia in her bedroom. It was Aroma who came out to see who was there, when she heard the swish of the portière. Seeing that it was Dai-yu, she greeted her politely:

‘Please come in and sit down, Miss.’

‘Is Master Bao at home?’ asked Dai-yu with a smile.

Aroma did not know that anything was amiss, and was about to answer, when she saw Nightingale make an urgent movement with her lips from behind Dai-yu’s back, pointing to her mistress and making a warning gesture with her hand. Aroma had no idea what she meant and dared not ask. Undeterred, Dai-yu walked on into Bao-yu’s room. He was sitting up in bed, and when she came in made no move to get up or welcome her, but remained where he was, staring at her and giving a series of silly laughs. Dai-yu sat down uninvited, and she too began to smile and stare back at Bao-yu. There were no greetings exchanged, no courtesies, in fact no words of any kind. They just sat there staring into each other’s faces and smiling like a pair of half-wits. Aroma stood watching, completely at a loss.

Suddenly Dai-yu said:

‘Bao-yu, why are you sick?’

Bao-yu laughed.

‘I’m sick because of Miss Lin.’

Aroma and Nightingale grew pale with fright. They tried to change the subject, but their efforts only met with silence and more senseless smiles. By now it was clear to Aroma that Dai-yu’s mind was as disturbed as Bao-yu’s.

‘Miss Lin has only just recovered from her illness,’ she whispered to Nightingale. ‘I’ll ask Ripple to help you take her back. She should go home and lie down.’ Turning to Ripple, she said: ‘Go with Nightingale and accompany Miss Lin home. And no stupid chattering on the way, mind.’

Ripple smiled, and without a word came over to help Nightingale. The two of them began to help Dai-yu to her feet. Dai-yu stood up at once, unassisted, still staring fixedly at Bao-yu, smiling and nodding her head.

‘Come on, Miss!’ urged Nightingale. ‘It’s time to go home and rest.’

‘Of course!’ exclaimed Dai-yu. ‘It’s time!’

She turned to go. Still smiling and refusing any assistance from the maids, she strode out at twice her normal speed. Ripple and Nightingale hurried after her. On leaving Grandmother Jia’s apartment, Dai-yu kept on walking, in quite the wrong direction. Nightingale hurried up to her and took her by the hand.

‘This is the way, Miss.’

Still smiling, Dai-yu allowed herself to be led, and followed Nightingale towards the Naiad’s House. When they were nearly there, Nightingale exclaimed:

‘Lord Buddha be praised! Home at last!’

She had no sooner uttered these words when she saw Dai-yu stumble forwards onto the ground, and give a loud cry. A stream of blood came gushing from her mouth.

To learn if she survived this crisis, please read the next chapter.