第九十八回

第九十八回 苦绛珠魂归离恨天 病神瑛泪洒相思地

话说宝玉见了贾政，回至房中，更觉头昏脑闷，懒待动弹，连饭也没吃，便昏沉睡去。仍旧延医诊治，服药不效，索性连人也认不明白了。大家扶着他坐起来，还是像个好人。一连闹了几天，那日恰是回九[1]之期，若不过去，薛姨妈脸上过不去，若说去呢，宝玉这般光景。贾母明知是为黛玉而起，欲要告诉明白，又恐气急生变。宝钗是新媳妇，又难劝慰，必得姨妈过来才好。若不回九，姨妈嗔怪。便与王夫人凤姐商议道：“我看宝玉竟是魂不守舍，起动是不怕的。用两乘小轿叫人扶着从园里过去，应了回九的吉期，以后请姨妈过来安慰宝钗，咱们一心一计的调治宝玉，可不两全？”王夫人答应了，即刻预备。幸亏宝钗是新媳妇，宝玉是个疯傻的，由人掇弄过去了。宝钗也明知其事，心里只怨母亲办得糊涂，事已至此，不肯多言。独有薛姨妈看见宝玉这般光景，心里懊悔，只得草草完事。

到家，宝玉越加沉重，次日连起坐都不能了。日重一日，甚至汤水不进。薛姨妈等忙了手脚，各处遍请名医，皆不识病源。只有城外破寺中住着个穷医，姓毕，别号知庵的，诊得病源是悲喜激射，冷暖失调，饮食失时，忧忿滞中，正气壅闭：此内伤外感之症。于是度量用药，至晚服了，二更后果然省些人事，便要水喝。贾母王夫人等才放了心，请了薛姨妈带了宝钗都到贾母那里暂且歇息。

宝玉片时清楚，自料难保，见诸人散后，房中只有袭人，因唤袭人至跟前，拉着手哭道：“我问你，宝姐姐怎么来的？我记得老爷给我娶了林妹妹过来，怎么被宝姐姐赶了去了？他为什么霸占住在这里？我要说呢，又恐怕得罪了他。你们听见林妹妹〔一〕哭得怎么样了？”袭人不敢明说，只得说道：“林姑娘病着呢。”宝玉又道：“我瞧瞧他去。”说着，要起来。岂知连日饮食不进，身子那能动转，便哭道：“我要死了！我有一句心里的话，只求你回明老太太：横竖林妹妹也是要〔二〕死的，我如今也不能保。两处两个病人都要死的，死了越发难张罗。不如腾一处空房子，趁早将我同林妹妹两个抬在那里，活着也好一处医治服侍，死了也好一处停放。你依我这话，不枉了几年的情分。”袭人听了这些话，便哭的哽嗓气噎。宝钗恰好同了莺儿过来，也听见了，便说道：“你放着病不保养，何苦说这些不吉利的话。老太太才安慰了些，你又生出事来。老太太一生疼你一个，如今八十多岁的人了，虽不图你的封诰，将来你成了人，老太太也看着乐一天，也不枉了老人家的苦心。太太更是不必说了，一生的心血精神，抚养了你这一个儿子，若是半途死了，太太将来怎么样呢。我虽是命薄，也不至于此。据此三件看来，你便要死，那天也不容你死的，所以你是不得死的。只管安稳着，养个四五天后，风邪散了，太和正气一足，自然这些邪病都没有了。”宝玉听了，竟是无言可答，半晌方才嘻嘻的笑道：“你是好些时不和我说话了，这会子说这些大道理的话给谁听？”宝钗听了这话，便又说道：“实告诉你说罢，那两日你不知人事的时候，林妹妹已经亡故了。”宝玉忽然坐起来，大声诧异道：“果真死了吗？”宝钗道：“果真死了。岂有红口白舌咒人死的呢。老太太、太太知道你姐妹和睦，你听见他死了自然你也要死，所以不肯告诉你。”宝玉听了，不禁放声大哭，倒在床上。

忽然眼前漆黑，辨不出方向，心中正自恍惚，只见眼前好像有人走来，宝玉茫然问道：“借问此是何处？”那人道：“此阴司泉路。你寿未终，何故至此？”宝玉道：“适闻有一故人已死，遂寻访至此，不觉迷途。”那人道：“故人是谁？”宝玉道：“姑苏林黛玉。”那人冷笑道：“林黛玉生不同人，死不同鬼，无魂无魄，何处寻访！凡人魂魄，聚而成形，散而为气，生前聚之，死则散焉。常人尚无可寻访，何况林黛玉呢。汝快回去罢。”宝玉听了，呆了半晌道：“既云死者散也，又如何有这个阴司呢？”那人冷笑道：“那阴司说有便有，说无就无。皆为世俗溺于生死之说，设言以警世，便道上天深怒愚人〔三〕，或不守分安常，或生禄未终自行夭折，或嗜淫欲尚气逞凶无故自陨者，特设此地狱，囚其魂魄，受无边的苦，以偿生前之罪。汝寻黛玉，是无故自陷也。且黛玉已归太虚幻境，汝若有心寻访，潜心修养，自然有时相见。如不安生，即以自行夭折之罪囚禁阴司，除父母外，欲图一见黛玉，终不能矣。”那人说毕，袖中取出一石，向宝玉心口掷来。宝玉听了这话，又被这石子打着心窝，吓的即欲回家，只恨迷了道路。

正在踌躇，忽听那边有人唤他。回首看时，不是别人，正是贾母、王夫人、宝钗、袭人等围绕哭泣叫着。自己仍旧躺在床上。见案上红灯，窗前皓月，依然锦绣丛中，繁华世界。定神一想，原来竟是一场大梦。浑身冷汗，觉得心内清爽。仔细一想，真正无可奈何，不过长叹数声而已。宝钗早知黛玉已死，因贾母等不许众人告诉宝玉知道，恐添病难治。自己却深知宝玉之病实因黛玉而起，失玉次之，故趁势说明，使其一痛决绝，神魂归一，庶可疗治。贾母王夫人等不知宝钗的用意，深怪他造次。后来见宝玉醒了过来，方才放心。立即到外书房请了毕大夫进来诊视。那大夫进来诊了脉，便道：“奇怪，这回脉气沉静，神安郁散，明日进调理的药，就可以望好了。”说着出去。众人各自安心散去。

袭人起初深怨宝钗不该告诉，惟是口中不好说出。莺儿背地也说宝钗道：“姑娘忒性急了。”宝钗道：“你知道什么好歹，横竖有我呢。”那宝钗任人诽谤，并不介意，只窥察宝玉心病，暗下针砭。一日，宝玉渐觉神志安定，虽一时想起黛玉，尚有糊涂。更有袭人缓缓的将“老爷选定的宝姑娘为人和厚；嫌林姑娘秉性古怪，原恐早夭；老太太恐你不知好歹，病中着急，所以叫雪雁过来哄你”的话时常劝解。宝玉终是心酸落泪。欲待寻死，又想着梦中之言，又恐老太太、太太生气，又不能撩开。又想黛玉已死，宝钗又是第一等人物，方信金石姻缘有定，自己也解了好些。宝钗看来不妨大事，于是自己心也安了，只在贾母王夫人等前尽行过家庭之礼后，便设法以释宝玉之忧。宝玉虽不能时常坐起，亦常见宝钗坐在床前，禁不住生来旧病。宝钗每以正言劝解，以“养身要紧，你我既为夫妇，岂在一时”之语安慰他。那宝玉心里虽不顺遂，无奈日里贾母王夫人及薛姨妈等轮流相伴，夜间宝钗独去安寝，贾母又派人服侍，只得安心静养。又见宝钗举动温柔，也就渐渐的将爱慕黛玉的心肠略移在宝钗身上，此是后话。

却说宝玉成家的那一日，黛玉白日已昏晕过去，却心头口中一丝微气不断，把个李纨和紫鹃哭的死去活来。到了晚间，黛玉却又缓过来了，微微睁开眼，似有要水要汤的光景。此时雪雁已去，只有紫鹃和李纨在旁。紫鹃便端了一盏桂圆汤和的梨汁，用小银匙灌了两三匙。黛玉闭着眼静养了一会子，觉得心里似明似暗的。此时李纨见黛玉略缓，明知是回光返照的光景，却料着还有一半天耐头，自己回到稻香村料理了一回事情。

这里黛玉睁开眼一看，只有紫鹃和奶妈并几个小丫头在那里，便一手攥了紫鹃的手，使着劲说道：“我是不中用的人了。你服侍我几年，我原指望咱们两个总在一处。不想我……”说着，又喘了一会子，闭了眼歇着。紫鹃见他攥着不肯松手，自己也不敢挪动，看他的光景比早半天好些，只当还可以回转，听了这话，又寒了半截。半天，黛玉又说道：“妹妹，我这里并没亲人。我的身子是干净的，你好歹叫他们送我回去。”说到这里，又闭了眼不言语了。那手却渐渐紧了，喘成一处，只是出气大入气小，已经促疾的很了。

紫鹃忙了，连忙叫人请李纨，可巧探春来了。紫鹃见了，忙悄悄的说道：“三姑娘，瞧瞧林姑娘罢。”说着，泪如雨下。探春过来，摸了摸黛玉的手已经凉了，连目光也都散了。探春紫鹃正哭着叫人端水来给黛玉擦洗，李纨赶忙进来了。三个人才见了，不及说话。刚擦着，猛听黛玉直声叫道：“宝玉，宝玉，你好……”说到“好”字，便浑身冷汗，不作声了。紫鹃等急忙扶住，那汗愈出，身子便渐渐的冷了。探春李纨叫人乱着拢头穿衣，只见黛玉两眼一翻，呜呼，香魂一缕随风散，愁绪三更入梦遥！〔四〕

当时黛玉气绝，正是宝玉娶宝钗的这个时辰。紫鹃等都大哭起来。李纨探春想他素日的可疼，今日更加可怜，也便伤心痛哭。因潇湘馆离新房子甚远，所以那边并没听见。一时大家痛哭了一阵，只听得远远一阵音乐之声，侧耳一听，却又没有了。探春李纨走出院外再听时，惟有竹梢风动，月影移墙，好不凄凉冷淡！一时叫了林之孝家的过来，将黛玉停放毕，派人看守，等明早去回凤姐。

凤姐因见贾母王夫人等忙乱，贾政起身，又为宝玉惛愦更甚，正在着急异常之时，若是又将黛玉的凶信一回，恐贾母王夫人愁苦交加，急出病来，只得亲自到园。到了潇湘馆内，也不免哭了一场。见了李纨探春，知道诸事齐备，便说：“很好。只是刚才你们为什么不言语，叫我着急？”探春道：“刚才送老爷，怎么说呢。”凤姐道：“还倒是你们两个可怜他些。这么着，我还得那边去招呼那个冤家呢。但是这件事好累坠，若是今日不回，使不得；若回了，恐怕老太太搁不住。”李纨道：“你去见机行事，得回再回方好。”凤姐点头，忙忙的去了。

凤姐到了宝玉那里，听见大夫说不妨事，贾母王夫人略觉放心，凤姐便背了宝玉，缓缓的将黛玉的事回明了。贾母王夫人听得都唬了一大跳。贾母眼泪交流说道：“是我弄坏了他了。但只是这个丫头也忒傻气！”说着，便要到园里去哭他一场，又惦记着宝玉，两头难顾。王夫人等含悲共劝贾母不必过去，“老太太身子要紧。”贾母无奈，只得叫王夫人自去。又说：“你替我告诉他的阴灵：‘并不是我忍心不来送你，只为有个亲疏。你是我的外孙女儿，是亲的了，若与宝玉比起来，可是宝玉比你更亲些。倘宝玉有些不好，我怎么见他父亲呢。’”说着，又哭起来。王夫人劝道：“林姑娘是老太太最疼的，但只寿夭有定。如今已经死了，无可尽心，只是葬礼上要上等的发送。一则可以少尽咱们的心，二则就是姑太太和外甥女儿的阴灵儿，也可以少安了。”贾母听到这里，越发痛哭起来。凤姐恐怕老人家伤感太过，明仗着宝玉心中不甚明白，便偷偷的使人来撒个谎儿哄老太太道：“宝玉那里找老太太呢。”贾母听见，才止住泪问道：“不是又有什么缘故？”凤姐陪笑道：“没什么缘故，他大约是想老太太的意思。”贾母连忙扶了珍珠儿，凤姐也跟着过来。

走至半路，正遇王夫人过来，一一回明了贾母。贾母自然又是哀痛的，只因要到宝玉那边，只得忍泪含悲的说道：“既这么着，我也不过去了。由你们办罢，我看着心里也难受，只别委屈了他就是了。”王夫人凤姐一一答应了。贾母才过宝玉这边来，见了宝玉，因问：“你做什么找我？”宝玉笑道：“我昨日晚上看见林妹妹来了，他说要回南去。我想没人留的住，还得老太太给我留一留他。”贾母听着，说：“使得，只管放心罢。”袭人因扶宝玉躺下。

贾母出来到宝钗这边来。那时宝钗尚未回九，所以每每见了人倒有些含羞之意。这一天见贾母满面泪痕，递了茶，贾母叫他坐下。宝钗侧身陪着坐了，才问道：“听得林妹妹病了，不知他可好些了？”贾母听了这话，那眼泪止不住流下来，因说道：“我的儿，我告诉你，你可别告诉宝玉。都是因你林妹妹，才叫你受了多少委屈。你如今作媳妇了，我才告诉你。这如今你林妹妹没了两三天了，就是娶你的那个时辰死的。如今宝玉这一番病还是为着这个，你们先都在园子里，自然也都是明白的。”宝钗把脸飞红了，想到黛玉之死，又不免落下泪来。贾母又说了一回话去了。自此宝钗千回万转，想了一个主意，只不肯造次，所以过了回九才想出这个法子来。如今果然好些，然后大家说话才不至似前留神。

独是宝玉虽然病势一天好似一天，他的痴心总不能解，必要亲去哭他一场。贾母等知他病未除根，不许他胡思乱想，怎奈他郁闷难堪，病多反复。倒是大夫看出心病，索性叫他开散了，再用药调理，倒可好得快些。宝玉听说，立刻要往潇湘馆来。贾母等只得叫人抬了竹椅子过来，扶宝玉坐上。贾母王夫人即便先行。到了潇湘馆内，一见黛玉灵柩，贾母已哭得泪干气绝。凤姐等再三劝住。王夫人也哭了一场。李纨便请贾母王夫人在里间歇着，犹自落泪。

宝玉一到，想起未病之先来到这里，今日屋在人亡，不禁嚎啕大哭。想起从前何等亲密，今日死别〔五〕，怎不更加伤感。众人原恐宝玉病后过哀，都来解劝，宝玉已经哭得死去活来，大家搀扶歇息。其馀随来的，如宝钗，俱极痛哭。独是宝玉必要叫紫鹃来见，问明姑娘临死有何话说。紫鹃本来深恨宝玉，见如此，心里已回过来些，又见贾母王夫人都在这里，不敢洒落[7]宝玉，便将林姑娘怎么复病，怎么烧毁帕子，焚化诗稿，并将临死说的话，一一的都告诉了。宝玉又哭得气噎喉干。探春趁便又将黛玉临终嘱咐带柩回南的话也说了一遍。贾母王夫人又哭起来。多亏凤姐能言劝慰，略略止些，便请贾母等回去。宝玉那里肯舍，无奈贾母逼着，只得勉强回房。

贾母有了年纪的人，打从宝玉病起，日夜不宁，今又大痛一阵，已觉头晕身热。虽是不放心惦着宝玉，却也挣扎不住，回到自己房中睡下。王夫人更加心痛难禁，也便回去，派了彩云帮着袭人照应，并说：“宝玉若再悲戚，速来告诉我们。”宝钗是知宝玉一时必不能舍，也不相劝，只用讽刺的话说他。宝玉倒恐宝钗多心，也便饮泣收心。歇了一夜，倒也安稳。明日一早，众人都来瞧他，但觉气虚身弱，心病倒觉去了几分。于是加意调养，渐渐的好起来。贾母幸不成病，惟是王夫人心痛未痊。那日薛姨妈过来探望，看见宝玉精神略好，也就放心，暂且住下。

一日，贾母特请薛姨妈过去商量说：“宝玉的命都亏姨太太救的，如今想来不妨了，独委屈了你的姑娘。如今宝玉调养百日，身体复旧，又过了娘娘的功服，正好圆房。要求姨太太作主，另择个上好的吉日。”薛姨妈便道：“老太太主意很好，何必问我。宝丫头虽生的粗笨，心里却还是极明白的。他的情性老太太素日是知道的。但愿他们两口儿言和意顺，从此老太太也省好些心，我姐姐也安慰些，我也放了心了。老太太便定个日子。还通知亲戚不用呢？”贾母道：“宝玉和你们姑娘生来第一件大事，况且费了多少周折，如今才得安逸，必要大家热闹几天。亲戚都要请的。一来酬愿，二则咱们吃杯喜酒，也不枉我老人家操了好些心。”薛姨妈听说，自然也是喜欢的，便将要办妆奁的话也说了一番。贾母道：“咱们亲上做亲，我想也不必这些。若说动用的，他屋里已经满了。必定宝丫头他心爱的要你几件，姨太太就拿了来。我看宝丫头也不是多心的人，不比的我那外孙女儿的脾气，所以他不得长寿。”说着，连薛姨妈也便落泪。恰好凤姐进来，笑道：“老太太姑妈又想着什么了？”薛姨妈道：“我和老太太说起你林妹妹来，所以伤心。”凤姐笑道：“老太太和姑妈且别伤心，我刚才听了个笑话儿来了，意思说给老太太和姑妈听。”贾母拭了拭眼泪，微笑道：“你又不知要编派谁呢，你说来我和姨太太听听。说不笑我们可不依。”只见那凤姐未从张口，先用两只手比着，笑弯了腰了。未知他说出些什么来，下回分解。

[1] 回九——新娘在婚后第九天，由新郎陪同回娘家，叫回九，也称“住九”或“回门”。

〔一〕 “林妹妹”，原无“林”字，从藤本补。

〔二〕 “要”原作“哭”，从藤本改。

〔三〕 “上天深怒愚人”，“怒愚”原作“恕遇”，从藤本改。

〔四〕 “愁绪三更入梦遥”，“遥”原作“香”，从藤本、程乙本改。

〔五〕 “死别”，原作“临死”，从藤本校改。

[7] 洒落——这里是数落、责备的意思。

CHAPTER 98. Crimson Pearl’s suffering spirit returns to the Realm of Separation And the convalescent Stone-in-waiting weeps at the scene of past affection

On his return from seeing his father, Bao-yu, as we have seen, regressed into a worse state of stupor and depression than ever. He was too lacking in energy to move, and could eat nothing, but fell straight into a heavy slumber. Once more the doctor was called, once more he took Bao-yu’s pulses and made out a prescription, which was administered to no effect. He could not even recognize the people around him. And yet, if helped into a sitting position, he could still pass for someone in normal health. Provided he was not called upon to do anything, there were no external symptoms to indicate how seriously ill he was. He continued like this for several days, to the increasing anxiety of the family, until the Ninth Day after the wedding, when according to tradition the newly-married couple should visit the bride’s family. If they did not go, Aunt Xue would be most offended. But if they went with Bao-yu in his present state, whatever were they to say? Knowing that his illness was caused by his attachment to Dai-yu, Grandmother Jia would have liked to make a clean breast of it and tell Aunt Xue. But she feared that this too might cause offence and ill-feeling. It was also difficult for her to be of any comfort to Bao-chai, who was in a delicate position as a new member of the Jia family. Such comfort could only be rendered by a visit from the girl’s mother, which would be difficult if they had already offended her by not celebrating the Ninth Day. It must be gone through with. Grandmother Jia imparted her views on the matter to Lady Wang and Xi-feng:

‘It is only Bao-yu’s mind that has been temporarily affected. I don’t think a little excursion would do him any harm. We must prepare two small sedan-chairs, and send a maid to support him. They can go through the Garden. Once the Ninth Day has been properly celebrated, we can ask Mrs Xue to come over and comfort Bao-chai, while we do our utmost to restore Bao-yu to health. They will both benefit.’

Lady Wang agreed and immediately began making the necessary preparations. Bao-chai acquiesced in the charade out of a sense of conjugal duty, while Bao-yu in his moronic state was easily manipulated. Bao-chai now knew the full truth, and in her own mind blamed her mother for making a foolish decision. But now that things had gone this far she said nothing. Aunt Xue herself, when she witnessed Bao-yu’s pitiful condition, began to regret having ever given her consent, and could only bring herself to play a perfunctory part in the proceedings.

When they returned home, Bao-yu’s condition seemed to grow worse. By the next day he could not even sit up in bed. This deterioration continued daily, until he could no longer swallow medicine or water. Aunt Xue was there, and she and the other ladies in their frantic despair scoured the city for eminent physicians, without finding one that could diagnose the illness. Finally they discovered, lodging in a broken-down temple outside the city, a down-and-out practitioner by the name of Bi Zhi-an, who diagnosed it as a case of severe emotional shock, aggravated by a failure to dress in accordance with the seasons and by irregular eating habits, with consequent accumulation of choler and obstruction of the humours. In short, an internal disorder made worse by external factors. He made out a prescription in accordance with this diagnosis, which was administered that evening. At about ten o’clock it began to take effect. Bao-yu began to show signs of consciousness and asked for water to drink. Grandmother Jia, Lady Wang and all the other ladies congregated round the sick-bed felt that they could at last have a brief respite from their vigil, and Aunt Xue was invited to bring Bao-chai with her to Grandmother Jia’s apartment to rest for a while.

His brief access of clarity enabled Bao-yu to understand the gravity of his illness. When the others had gone and he was left alone with Aroma, he called her over to his side and taking her by the hand said tearfully:

‘Please tell me how Cousin Chai came to be here? I remember Father marrying me to Cousin Lin. Why has she been made to go? Why has Cousin Chai taken her place? She has no right to be here! I’d like to tell her so, but I don’t want to offend her. How has Cousin Lin taken it? Is she very upset?’

Aroma did not dare tell him the truth, but merely said:

‘Miss Lin is ill.’

‘I must go and see her,’ insisted Bao-yu. He wanted to get up, but days of going without food and drink had so sapped his strength that he could no longer move, but could only weep bitterly and say:

‘I know I am going to die! There’s something on my mind, something very important, that I want you to tell Grannie for me. Cousin Lin and I are both ill. We are both dying. It will be too late to help us when we are dead; but if they prepare a room for us now and if we are taken there before it is too late, we can at least be cared for together while we are still alive, and be laid out together when we die. Do this for me, for friendship’s sake!’

Aroma found this plea at once disturbing, comical and moving. Bao-chai, who happened to be passing with Oriole, heard every word and took him to task straight away.

‘Instead of resting and trying to get well, you make yourself iller with all this gloomy talk! Grandmother has scarcely stopped worrying about you for a moment, and here you are causing more trouble for her. She is over eighty now and may not live to acquire a title because of your achievements; but at least, by leading a good life, you can repay her a little for all that she has suffered for your sake. And I hardly need mention the agonies Mother has endured in bringing you up. You are the only son she has left. If you were to die, think how she would suffer! As for me, I am wretched enough as it is; you don’t need to make a widow of me. Three good reasons why even if you want to die, the powers above will not let you and you will not be able to. After four or five days of proper rest and care, your illness will pass, your strength will be restored and you will be yourself again.’

For a while Bao-yu could think of no reply to this homily. Finally he gave a silly laugh and said:

‘After not speaking to me for so long, here you are lecturing me. You are wasting your breath.’

Encouraged by this response to go a step further, Bao-chai said:

‘Let me tell you the plain truth, then. Some days ago, while you were unconscious, Cousin Lin passed away.’

With a sudden movement, Bao-yu sat up and cried out in horror:

‘It can’t be true!’

‘It is. Would I lie about such a thing? Grandmother and Mother knew how fond you were of each other, and wouldn’t tell you because they were afraid that if they did, you would die too.’

Bao-yu began howling unrestrainedly and slumped back in his bed. Suddenly all was pitch black before his eyes. He could not tell where he was and was beginning to feel very lost, when he thought he saw a man walking towards him and asked in a bewildered tone of voice:

‘Would you be so kind as to tell me where I am?’

‘This,’ replied the stranger, ‘is the road to the Springs of the Nether World. Your time is not yet come. What brings you here?’

‘I have just learned of the death of a friend and have come to find her. But I seem to have lost my way.’

‘Who is this friend of yours?’

‘Lin Dai-yu of Soochow.’

The man gave a chilling smile:

‘In life Lin Dai-yu was no ordinary mortal, and in death she has become no ordinary shade. An ordinary mortal has two souls which coalesce at birth to vitalize the physical frame, and disperse at death to rejoin the cosmic flux. If you consider the impossibility of tracing even such ordinary human entities in the Nether World, you will realize what a futile task it is to look for Lin Dai-yu. You had better return at once.’

After standing for a moment lost in thought, Bao-yu asked again:

‘But if as you say, death is a dispersion, how can there be such a place as the Nether World?’

‘There is,’ replied the man with a superior smile, ‘and yet there is not, such a place. It is a teaching, devised to warn mankind in its blind attachment to the idea of life and death. The Supreme Wrath is aroused by human folly in all forms – whether it be excessive ambition, premature death self-sought, or futile self-destruction through debauchery and a life of overweening violence. Hell is the place where souls such as these are imprisoned and made to suffer countless torments in expiation of their sins. This search of yours for Lin Dai-yu is a case of futile self-delusion. Dai-yu has already returned to the Land of Illusion and if you really want to find her you must cultivate your mind and strengthen your spiritual nature. Then one day you will see her again. But if you throw your life away, you will be guilty of premature death self-sought and will be confined to Hell. And then, although you may be allowed to. see your parents, you will certainly never see Dai-yu again.’

When he had finished speaking, the man took a stone from within his sleeve and threw it at Bao-yu’s chest. The words he had spoken and the impact of the stone as it landed on his chest combined to give Bao-yu such a fright that he would have returned home at once, if he had only know which way to turn. In his confusion he suddenly heard a voice, and turning, saw the figures of Grandmother Jia, Lady Wang, Bao-chai, Aroma and his other maids standing in a circle around him, weeping and calling his name. He was lying on his own bed. The red lamp was on the table. The moon was shining brilliantly through the window. He was back among the elegant comforts of his own home. A moment’s reflection told him that what he had just experienced had been a dream. He was in a cold sweat. Though his mind felt strangely lucid, thinking only intensified his feeling of helpless desolation, and he uttered several profound sighs.

Bao-chai had known of Dai-yu’s death for several days. While Grandmother Jia had forbidden the maids to tell him for fear of further complicating his illness, she felt she knew better. Aware that it was Dai-yu who lay at the root of his illness and that the loss of his jade was only a secondary factor, she took the opportunity of breaking the news of her death to him in this abrupt manner, hoping that by severing his attachment once and for all she would enable his sanity and health to be restored. Grandmother Jia, Lady Wang and company were not aware of her intentions and at first reproached her for her lack of caution. But when they saw Bao-yu regain consciousness, they were all greatly relieved and went at once to the library to ask doctor Bi to come in and examine his patient again. The doctor carefully took his pulses.

‘How odd!’ he exclaimed. ‘His pulses are deep and still, his spirit calm, the oppression quite dispersed. Tomorrow he must take a regulative draught, which I shall prescribe, and he should make a prompt and complete recovery.’

The doctor left and the ladies all returned to their apartments in much improved spirits.

Although at first Aroma greatly resented the way in which Bao-chai had broken the news, she did not dare say so. Oriole, on the other hand, reproved her mistress in private for having been, as she put it, too hasty.

‘What do you know about such things?’ retorted Bao-chai. ‘Leave this to me. I take full responsibility.’

Bao-chai ignored the opinions and criticisms of those around her and continued to keep a close watch on Bao-yu’s progress, probing him judiciously, like an acupunturist with a needle.

A day or two later, he began to feel a slight improvement in himself, though his mental equilibrium was still easily disturbed by the least thought of Dai-yu. Aroma was constantly at his side, with such words of consolation as:

‘The Master chose Miss Chai as your bride for her more dependable nature. He thought Miss Lin too difficult and temperamental for you, and besides there was always the fear that she would not live long. Then later Her Old Ladyship thought you were not in a fit state to know what was best for you and would only be upset and make yourself iller if you knew the truth, so she made Snowgoose come over, to try and make things easier for you.’

This did nothing to lessen his grief, and he often wept inconsolably. But each time he thought of putting an end to his life, he remembered the words of the stranger in his dream; and then he thought of the distress his death would cause his mother and grandmother and knew that he could not tear himself away from them. He also reflected that Dai-yu was dead, and that Bao-chai was a fine lady in her own right; there must after all have been some truth in the bond of gold and jade. This thought eased his mind a little. Bao-chai could see that things were improving, and herself felt calmer as a result. Every day she scrupulously performed her duties towards Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang, and when these were completed, did all she could to cure Bao-yu of his grief. He was still not able to sit up for long periods, but often when he saw her sitting by his bedside he would succumb to his old weakness for the fairer sex. She tried to rally him in an earnest manner, saying:

‘The important thing is to take care of your health. Now that we are married, we have a whole lifetime ahead of us.’

He was reluctant to listen to her advice. But since his grandmother, his mother, Aunt Xue and all the others took it in turns to watch over him during the day, and since Bao-chai slept on her own in an adjoining room, and he was waited on at night by one or two maids of Grandmother Jia’s, he found himself left with little choice but to rest and get well again. And as time went by and Bao-chai proved herself a gentle and devoted companion, he found that a small part of his love for Dai-yu began to transfer itself to her. But this belongs to a later part of our story.

*

Let us return to the wedding-day. Dai-yu, it will be remembered, had lost consciousness while it was still light, and was holding onto life by the slenderest thread. Her weak breathing and precarious heart-beat caused Li Wan and Nightingale to weep in despair. By evening however, she seemed easier again. She feebly opened her eyes, and seemed to be asking for water or medicine. ‘Snowgoose had already left, and only Li Wan and Nightingale were at her bedside. Nightingale brought her a little cup of pear-juice blended with a decoction of longans, and with a small silver spoon fed her two or three spoonfuls of it. Dai-yu closed her eyes and rested for a while. Conscious ness would flicker momentarily within her, then fade away again. Li Wan recognized this peaceful state as the last transient revival of the dying, but thinking that the end would not come for a few hours, she returned briefly to Sweet-rice Village to see to her own affairs.

Dai-yu opened her eyes again. Seeing no one in the room but Nightingale and her old wet-nurse and a few other junior maids, she clutched Nightingale’s hand and said with a great effort:

‘I am finished! After the years you have spent seeing to my every need, I had hoped the two of us could always be together. But now …’

She broke off, panting for breath, closed her eyes and lay still, gripping Nightingale’s hand tightly. Nightingale did not dare to move. She had thought that Dai-yu seemed so much better, had even hoped she might pull through after all; but these words, sent a chill down her spine. After a long pause, Dai-yu spoke again:

‘Sister Nightingale! I have no family of my own here. My body is pure: promise me you’ll ask them to bury me at home!’

She closed her eyes again and was silent. Her grip tightened still further around Nightingale’s hand, and she was seized with another paroxysm of breathlessness. When she could breathe again, her outward breaths became longer, her inward breaths shorter and more feeble. They quickened at a rate that caused Nightingale great alarm, and she sent at once for Li Wan. Tan-chun happened to arrive at that very moment. Nightingale said to her in an urgent whisper:

‘Miss! Come and look at Miss Lin!’ As she spoke, her tears fell like drops of rain. Tan-chun came over and felt Dai-yu’s hand. It was already cold, and her eyes were glazed and lifeless. Tan-chun and Nightingale wept as they gave orders for water to be brought and for Dai-yu to be washed. Now Li Wan came hurrying in. She, Tan-chun and Nightingale looked at each other, but were too shocked to say a word. They began wiping Dai-yu’s face with a flannel, when suddenly she cried out in a loud voice:

‘Bao-yu! Bao-yu! How could you …’

Her whole body broke into a cold sweat and she could say no more. They tried to calm her down and support her. She sweated more and more profusely and her body became colder by degrees. Tan-chun and Li Wan told the maids to put up her hair and dress her in her grave-clothes, and to be quick about it. Her eyes rolled upwards. Alas!

Her fragrant soul disperses, wafted on the breeze; Her sorrows now a dream, drifting into the night.

The moment Dai-yu breathed her last was the very moment that Bao-yu took Bao-chai to be his wife. Nightingale and Dai-yu’s other maids began to wail and lament. Li Wan and Tan-chun recalled all their past affection for her, a memory made the more poignant by the lonely circumstances of her death, and they too shed many bitter and heartfelt tears. The wedding chamber was a long way off, and the guests heard nothing of the weeping, but from the Naiad’s House, in a brief interval of silence between their lamentations, they heard a faint snatch of music in the distance. They strained their ears to catch it, but it was gone. Tan-chun and Li Wan went out into the garden to listen again, but all they could hear was the rustling of the bamboos in the wind. The moonlight cast a wavering shadow on the wall. It was an eerie, desolate night.

Presently they sent for Steward Lin’s wife and had Dai-yu properly laid out. Maids were set to watch the body. Early next morning they reported her death to Xi-feng, who was now placed in an acute dilemma: Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang were both extremely busy and distraught, Jia Zheng was about to leave, Bao-yu in a worse stupor than ever; if she broke the bad news to them now, she was afraid for Grandmother Jia’s and Lady Wang’s health. They were already burdened with so many worries, and might not be equal to the shock. She decided to go to the Garden herself. When she arrived at the Naiad’s House and went inside, she could not help but weep. She spoke to Li Wan and Tan-chun, and learned that all the correct preparations had been made for the laying out.

‘Good,’ she said, resuming her brisk tone of voice. ‘But I wish you had told me earlier. I have been so worried.’

‘How could we?’ they replied. ‘Sir Zheng was just leaving.’

‘Perhaps it was considerate of you,’ said Xi-feng, on reflection. ‘Well, I must go back and see to the other half of this lovesick pair. I really do not know what to do for the best. I ought to tell them today. But if I do, I am afraid it may be too much for Grandmother.’

‘You do what you think best,’ said Li Wan.

Xi-feng nodded and hurried back. She arrived to find the doctor with Bao-yu. Hearing him say that Bao-yu’s condition was nothing to worry about, and seeing that Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang were calmer as a consequence, she decided to tell them without further delay. She broke it to them as gently as possible, in a place where there was no chance of Bao-yu overhearing. The news had a shattering effect, and Grandmother Jia broke down in tears.

‘I am to blame! I have brought this on her! But why did she have to be so obstinate and foolish?’

She wanted to go to the Garden to mourn, but was torn between that and her concern for Bao-yu. Lady Wang and the others all tried to dissuade her, containing their own grief as best they could, and saying:

‘You shouldn’t go, Mother. You must take care of yourself.’

Grandmother Jia submitted to their counsel, and had to content herself with sending Lady Wang in her place.

‘Give her spirit this message from me. Tell her: “It is not because I am hard-hearted that I have not come to bid you farewell, but because my grandson needs me here. You are my daughter’s child, I know. But Bao-yu is a Jia, and I cannot leave him now. If I did and he were to die, how would I ever be able to look his father in the face again?” ’

The old lady broke down again. Lady Wang tried to console her.

‘We all know how much you loved Miss Lin, Mother. But the fates have decreed her an early death. She is dead now and there is nothing more we can do for her, except give her the best possible funeral. That at least will be some expression of our love for her, and will bring some peace to her departed spirit, and that of her dear mother.’

These words brought a fresh and still more heartbroken outburst of tears from Grandmother Jia. Xi-feng was worried that she might damage her health through excess of grief and decided to take advantage of Bao-yu’s clouded state of mind to create a distraction. She gave secret instructions to one of the maids, who left the room. Shortly afterwards another maid came in with the timely news that Bao-yu was demanding to see his grandmother. Grandmother Jia stopped crying at once, and asked:

‘Gracious! Is anything the matter?’

Xi-feng smiled coaxingly.

‘Of course not, Grannie. He is probably just missing you.’

Grandmother Jia immediately put a hand on Pearl’s shoulder and set off, accompanied by Xi-feng. They were half-way to Bao-yu’s apartment, when they met Lady Wang returning from the Naiad’s House. She gave a minute account of her mission, which Grandmother Jia found most moving. But she was intent upon visiting Bao-yu, and had to check her tears and contain her grief.

‘Since you have been there and all is in order, I shall not go myself but leave it all to you. It would grieve me too much to see her. I shall rely on you to do things properly.’

Lady Wang and Xi-feng replied that she was quite right to do so, and left her to continue on her way to Bao-yu. When she saw him, she asked:

‘What did you want me for?’

He smiled wanly, and said:

‘Yesterday evening I saw Cousin Lin, and she told me she was going back to the South. I have been thinking that there is no one here to persuade her to stay, except you, Grannie. Will you, for my sake?’

‘Of course I will,’ replied Grandmother Jia. ‘Don’t worry.’

Aroma helped Bao-yu to lie down again, and Grandmother Jia went into Bao-chai’s room. This was before Bao-chai had celebrated her Ninth Day, and she still felt rather shy in her new surroundings. When Grandmother Jia came in, she saw that the old lady’s face was wet with tears. She served her with a cup of tea, after which Grandmother Jia asked her to be seated, which she did with great diffidence, sitting by her side on the edge of the couch and saying:

‘I hear that Cousin Lin has been ill. I hope she is getting better now.’

Tears began to stream from Grandmother Jia’s eyes.

‘My child! If I tell you, you must promise not to tell Bao-yu. It is all because of your Cousin Lin that you have been made to suffer so. But now that you are Bao-yu’s wife, I must tell you the truth. Your Cousin Lin has been dead now for some time. She died just at the time you were married. This present illness of Bao-yu’s is all because of her. The three of you were neighbours at one time in the Garden, so I am sure you know what I mean.’

The colour rose in Bao-chai’s cheeks. She began to weep too, as she thought of her departed friend. Grandmother Jia talked with her a little longer, and then left.

It was from this moment that Bao-chai began to rack her brains for a cure for Bao-yu. She still felt the need to be cautious, and it was only after the Ninth Day that she acquired the confidence to begin the course of treatment which was to prove so efficacious. With Bao-yu’s recovery, it became possible for everyone to talk to him more openly again. But although his health showed a marked daily improvement, nothing could abate his obsessive love for Dai-yu, and he began to insist on going over himself to weep by her corpse. Grandmother Jia forbade it, on the grounds that he was not yet fully cured and any such excursion might upset him. But cooped up as he was in his room, his depression grew almost intolerable and he began to suffer from his old fits again. It was finally the docto who, in view of the psychological nature of the illness, positively recommended the excursion, to enhance the efficacy of his medicines and speed up the cure. Bao-yu, when he heard this, wanted to go to the Naiad’s House at once. This time Grandmother Jia reluctantly gave her permission, and told them to bring a bamboo carrying-chair and help him into it. She and Lady Wang led the way. When they arrived and saw Dai-yu’s coffin, Grandmother Jia nearly wept herself into a fit, and was only kept from doing so by the repeated intervention of Xi-feng and the others present. Lady Wang wept too. Li Wan then asked Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang to retire to the inner room, which they did, still weeping. As Bao-yu arrived, his thoughts went back to the days before Dai-yu had fallen ill, before things had taken this turn. The sight of the familiar room was too much for him, and he started howling wildly. How close they had once been! What a gulf death had put between them! His passionate display of grief began to concern them all. They were afraid it might be dangerous, coming so soon after his illness, and all tried to console him. He was already beside himself with weeping, however, and the most they could do was help him to lie down and rest. The others who had accompanied him, including Bao-chai, all wept most bitterly.

Bao-yu, once he had sufficiently recovered, insisted on seeing Nightingale and asking her what Dai-yu’s last words had been. Nightingale had formed a most damning opinion of him; but seeing him now so overwhelmed with grief, she softened a little towards him. Besides, Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang were there and she did not dare to be disrespectful towards him in their presence. So she gave him a full account of how her mistress had been taken ill again so suddenly, of how she had destroyed the handkerchiefs and poems, and of the few words she had uttered before her death. Bao-yu cried himself hoarse. Tan-chun now took the opportunity to mention that just before she died Dai-yu had asked for her coffin to be taken to the South. This set Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang weeping again. Luckily Xi-feng was at hand with more words of consolation, and she prevailed upon them to contain their grief. She then politely suggested that they should return to their apartments. Bao-yu could not bring himself to leave. It was only when Grandmother Jia insisted, that he tore himself away and returned to his apartment.

Grandmother Jia, because of her age, and the state of permanent unrest that had prevailed in the household ever since the onset of Bao-yu’s illness, was beginning to show signs of strain. This latest scene of grief and lamentation affected her so deeply that she felt a feverishness and faintness coming on, and for all her concern for Bao-yu she no longer felt equal to the situation, but was forced to retire to her room and sleep. Lady Wang was if anything even more inconsolably affected, and retired likewise, giving Suncloud instructions to help Aroma in looking after Bao-yu, and adding:

‘If he seems to be taking it badly again, come and tell me at once.’

Bao-chai knew how strong the attachment was that bound Bao-yu to Dai-yu, but rather than try to console him, she continued to take him to task in the same pointed manner as before. He, anxious not to cause her any offence, soon put an end to his weeping and tried to moderate his grief. He went to sleep, and the night passed uneventfully. Early next morning when they came to see how he was, he was still weak and lacking in energy, but seemed to be over the worst. They tended him with renewed care, and gradually he began to recover his strength. Fortunately, Grandmother Jia did not fall sick. It was Lady Wang on whom the shock seemed to leave the most permanent mark.

When Aunt Xue came over to visit the convalescent, she was pleasantly surprised to find him in much better spirits. She stayed for a few days. On one of these days, Grandmother Jia made a point of inviting her over for a talk.

‘We owe Bao-yu’s life to you,’ she began. ‘He is out of danger now, I think. I only feel sorry for Bao-chai, after the way things have happened. Bao-yu has been convalescing for a hundred days, and is really quite fit again; and now that the mourning period for Her Grace is over, we can think of celebrating the Consummation. I should like you to choose a lucky day in the calendar for the occasion.’

‘Your idea is an excellent one,’ returned Aunt Xue. ‘But why should you ask me? Bao-chai may not be a very clever girl, but she has a sensible nature, and understands these things. I think you must be familiar with her disposition. If the two of them can live in harmony together, it will be such a relief for you, such a comfort to my sister, and it will set my mind at ease too. You must choose the day. Will we be inviting relatives and friends to the celebrations?’

‘I think we should,’ replied Grandmother Jia. ‘After all, it is the most important event in their lives. There have been so many problems and complications, but now at last they all seem to have been resolved. I think we should send out invitations and make a proper party of it. We will invite all our friends and relations. It will be a way of giving thanks, and besides, I feel that I deserve a bit of fun too, as a little reward for all the heartache this has caused me.’

Aunt Xue was very pleased. She went on to talk of her plans for preparing Bao-chai’s trousseau. Grandmother Jia protested:

‘As this is all within the family, there is no need for you to go to such trouble. They already have all the furniture they need. By all means bring some of Bao-chai’s favourite things. But please don’t bother with anything else. Yes, Bao-chai is such a calm, understanding girl, not at all like my poor granddaughter, whose over-sensitive nature was the cause of her death at such a tender age.’

Aunt Xue now began to cry too. Luckily Xi-feng came in at this moment, and inquired with a smile:

‘Grandmother, Auntie, what is troubling you?’

‘We were talking about Miss Lin,’ answered Aunt Xue. ‘It is so sad.’

Xi-feng smiled again.

‘You must not allow it to upset you. Listen to this – it’s a joke I have just heard.’

Grandmother Jia wiped away her tears, and managed a feeble smile.

‘Who are you going to make fun of now? Come on, we are listening. If you don’t make us laugh, we will not let you off lightly.’

Xi-feng began gesturing with her hands, but was doubled up with laughter before she could get a word out. To learn what it was she had in mind to tell them, you must turn to the next volume.

EXPLICIT QUARTA PARS LAPIDIS HISTORIAE