第一一○回

第一一○回 史太君寿终归地府 王凤姐力诎失人心

却说贾母坐起说道：“我到你们家已经六十多年了。从年轻的时候到老来，福也享尽了。自你们老爷起，儿子孙子也都算是好的了。就是宝玉呢，我疼了他一场。”说到那里，拿眼满地下瞅着。王夫人便推宝玉走到床前。贾母从被窝里伸出手来拉着宝玉道：“我的儿，你要争气才好！”宝玉嘴里答应，心里一酸，那眼泪便要流下来，又不敢哭，只得站着，听贾母说道：“我想再见一个重孙子我就安心了。我的兰儿在那里呢？”李纨也推贾兰上去。贾母放了宝玉，拉着贾兰道：“你母亲是要孝顺的，将来你成了人，也叫你母亲风光风光。凤丫头呢？”凤姐本来站在贾母旁边，赶忙走到眼前说：“在这里呢。”贾母道：“我的儿，你是太聪明了，将来修修福罢。我也没有修什么，不过心实吃亏，那些吃斋念佛的事我也不大干，就是旧年叫人写了些《金刚经》送送人，不知送完了没有？”凤姐道：“没有呢。”贾母道：“早该施舍完了才好。我们大老爷和珍儿是在外头乐了，最可恶的是史丫头没良心，怎么总不来瞧我。”鸳鸯等明知其故，都不言语。贾母又瞧了一瞧宝钗，叹了口气，只见脸上发红。贾政知是回光返照，即忙进上参汤。贾母的牙关已经紧了，合了一回眼，又睁着满屋里瞧了一瞧。王夫人宝钗上去轻轻扶着，邢夫人凤姐等便忙穿衣，地下婆子们已将床安设停当，铺了被褥，听见贾母喉间略一响动，脸变笑容，竟是去了，享年八十三岁。众婆子疾忙停床。

于是贾政等在外一边跪着，邢夫人等在内一边跪着，一齐举起哀来。外面家人各样预备齐全，只听里头信儿一传出来，从荣府大门起至内宅门扇扇大开，一色净白纸糊了，孝棚高起，大门前的牌楼立时竖起，上下人等登时成服[2]。贾政报了丁忧[3]。礼部奏闻，主上深仁厚泽，念及世代功勋，又系元妃祖母，赏银一千两，谕礼部主祭。家人们各处报丧。众亲友虽知贾家势败，今见圣恩隆重，都来探丧。择了吉时成殓[4]，停灵正寝。贾赦不在家，贾政为长，宝玉、贾环、贾兰是亲孙，年纪又小，都应守灵。贾琏虽也是亲孙，带着贾蓉尚可分派家人办事。虽请了些男女外亲来照应，内里邢、王二夫人、李纨、凤姐、宝钗等是应灵旁哭泣的，尤氏虽可照应，他贾珍外出依住荣府，一向总不上前，且又荣府的事不甚谙练。贾蓉的媳妇更不必说了。惜春年小，虽在这里长的，他于家事全不知道。所以内里竟无一人支持，只有凤姐可以照管里头的事。况又贾琏在外作主，里外他二人倒也相宜。

凤姐先前仗着自己的才干，原打量老太太死了他大有一番作用。邢、王二夫人等本知他曾办过秦氏的事，必是妥当，于是仍叫凤姐总理里头的事。凤姐本不应辞，自然应了，心想：“这里的事本是我管的，那些家人更是我手下的人，太太和珍大嫂子的人本来难使唤些，如今他们都去了。银项虽没有了对牌，这种银子是现成的。外头的事又是他办着。虽说我现今身子不好，想来也不致落褒贬，必是比宁府里还得办些。”心下已定，且待明日接了三，后日一早便叫周瑞家的传出话去，将花名册取上来。凤姐一一的瞧了，统共只有男仆二十一人，女仆只有十九人，馀者俱是些丫头，连各房算上，也不过三十多人，难以点派差使。心里想道：“这回老太太的事倒没有东府里的人多。”又将庄上的弄出几个，也不敷差遣。

正在思算，只见一个小丫头过来说：“鸳鸯姐姐请奶奶。”凤姐只得过去。只见鸳鸯哭得泪人一般，一把拉着凤姐儿说道：“二奶奶请坐，我给二奶奶磕个头。虽说服中不行礼，这个头是要磕的。”鸳鸯说着跪下。慌的凤姐赶忙拉住，说道：“这是什么礼，有话好好的说。”鸳鸯跪着，凤姐便拉起来。鸳鸯说道：“老太太的事一应内外都是二爷和二奶奶办，这种银子是老太太留下的。老太太这一辈子也没有糟踏过什么银钱，如今临了这件大事，必得求二奶奶体体面面的办一办才好。我方才听见老爷说什么诗云子曰，我不懂；又说什么‘丧与其易，宁戚’，我听了不明白。我问宝二奶奶，说是老爷的意思老太太的丧事只要悲切才是真孝，不必糜费图好看的念头。我想老太太这样一个人，怎么不该体面些！我虽是奴才丫头，敢说什么，只是老太太疼二奶奶和我这一场，临死了还不叫他风光风光！我想二奶奶是能办大事的，故此我请二奶奶来求作个主。我生是跟老太太的人，老太太死了我也是跟老太太的，若是瞧不见老太太的事怎么办，将来怎么见老太太呢！”凤姐听了这话来的古怪，便说：“你放心，要体面是不难的。况且老爷虽说要省，那势派也错不得。便拿这项银子都花在老太太身上，也是该当的。”鸳鸯道：“老太太的遗言说，所有剩下的东西是给我们的，二奶奶倘或用着不够，只管拿这个去折变补上。就是老爷说什么，我也不好违老太太的遗言。那日老太太分派的时候不是老爷在这里听见的么。”凤姐道：“你素来最明白的，怎么这会子那样的着急起来了。”鸳鸯道：“不是我着急，为的是大太太是不管事的，老爷是怕招摇的，若是二奶奶心里也是老爷的想头，说抄过家的人家丧事还是这么好，将来又要抄起来，也就不顾起老太太来，怎么处！在我呢是个丫头，好歹碍不着，到底是这里的声名。”凤姐道：“我知道了，你只管放心，有我呢！”鸳鸯千恩万谢的托了凤姐。

那凤姐出来想道：“鸳鸯这东西好古怪，不知打了什么主意，论理老太太身上本该体面些。嗳，不要管他，且按着咱们家先前的样子办去。”于是叫了旺儿家的来把话传出去请二爷进来。不多时，贾琏进来，说道：“怎么找我？你在里头照应着些就是了。横竖作主是咱们二老爷，他说怎么着咱们就怎么着。”凤姐道：“你也说起这个话来了，可不是鸳鸯说的话应验了么。”贾琏道：“什么鸳鸯的话？”凤姐便将鸳鸯请进去的话述了一遍。贾琏道：“他们的话算什么。才刚二老爷叫我去，说老太太的事固要认真办理，但是知道的呢，说是老太太自己结果自己，不知道的只说咱们都隐匿起来了，如今很宽裕。老太太的这种银子用不了谁还要么，仍旧该用在老太太身上。老太太是在南边的坟地虽有，阴宅却没有。老太太的柩是要归到南边去的，留这银子在祖坟上盖起些房屋来，再馀下的置买几顷祭田。咱们回去也好，就是不回去，也叫这些贫穷族中住着，也好按时按节早晚上香，时常祭扫祭扫。你想这些话可不是正经主意？据你这个话，难道都花了罢？”凤姐道：“银子发出来了没有？”贾琏道：“谁见过银子！我听见咱们太太听见了二老爷的话，极力的撺掇二太太和二老爷，说这是好主意。叫我怎么着！现在外头棚扛上要支几百银子，这会子还没有发出来。我要去，他们都说有，先叫外头办了回来再算。你想这些奴才们有钱的早溜了，按着册子叫去，有的说告病，有的说下庄子去了。走不动的有几个，只有赚钱的能耐，还有赔钱的本事么！”凤姐听了，呆了半天，说道：“这还办什么！”

正说着，见来了一个丫头说：“大太太的话问二奶奶，今儿第三天了，里头还很乱，供了饭还叫亲戚们等着吗？叫了半天，来了菜，短了饭，这是什么办事的道理！”凤姐急忙进去，吆喝人来伺候，胡弄着将早饭打发了。偏偏那日人来的多，里头的人都死眉瞪眼的。凤姐只得在那里照料了一会子，又惦记着派人，赶着出来叫了旺儿家的传齐了家人女人们，一一分派了。众人都答应着不动。凤姐道：“什么时候，还不供饭！”众人道：“传饭是容易的，只要将里头的东西发出来，我们才好照管去。”凤姐道：“糊涂东西，派定了你们少不得有的。”众人只得勉强应着。凤姐即往上房取发应用之物，要去请示邢、王二夫人，见人多难说，看那时候已经日渐平西了，只得找了鸳鸯，说要老太太存的这一分家伙。鸳鸯道：“你还问我呢，那一年二爷当了赎了来了么！”凤姐道：“不用银的金的，只要这一分平常使的。”鸳鸯道：“大太太珍大奶奶屋里使的是那里来的！”凤姐一想不差，转身就走，只得到王夫人那边找了玉钏彩云，才拿了一分出来，急忙叫彩明登帐，发与众人收管。

鸳鸯见凤姐这样慌张，又不好叫他回来，心想：“他头里作事何等爽利周到，如今怎么掣肘[5]的这个样儿。我看这两三天连一点头脑都没有，不是老太太白疼了他了吗！”那里知邢夫人一听贾政的话，正合着将来家计艰难的心，巴不得留一点子作个收局。况且老太太的事原是长房作主，贾赦虽不在家，贾政又是拘泥的人，有件事便说请大奶奶的主意。邢夫人素知凤姐手脚大，贾琏的闹鬼，所以死拿住不放松。鸳鸯只道已将这项银两交了出去了，故见凤姐掣肘如此，便疑为不肯用心，便在贾母灵前唠唠叨叨哭个不了。邢夫人等听了话中有话，不想到自己不令凤姐便宜行事，反说凤丫头果然有些不用心。王夫人到了晚上叫了凤姐过来说：“咱们家虽说不济，外头的体面是要的。这两三日人来人往，我瞧着那些人都照应不到，想是你没有吩咐。还得你替我们操点心儿才好。”凤姐听了，呆了一会，要将银两不凑手的话说出，但是银钱是外头管的，王夫人说的是照应不到，凤姐也不敢辨，只好不言语。邢夫人在旁说道：“论理该是我们做媳妇的操心，本不是孙子媳妇的事。但是我们动不得身，所以托你的，你是打不得撒手的。”凤姐紫涨了脸，正要回说，只听外头鼓乐一奏，是烧黄昏纸的时候了，大家举起哀来，又不得说。凤姐原想回来再说，王夫人催他出去料理，说道：“这里有我们的，你快快儿的去料理明儿的事罢。”

凤姐不敢再言，只得含悲忍泣的出来，又叫人传齐了众人，又吩咐了一会，说：“大娘婶子们可怜我罢！我上头捱了好些说，为的是你们不齐截〔一〕，叫人笑话。明儿你们豁出些辛苦来罢。”那些人回道：“奶奶办事不是今儿个一遭儿了，我们敢违拗吗？只是这回的事上头过于累赘。只说打发这顿饭罢，有的在这里吃，有的要在家里吃，请了那位太太，又是那位奶奶不来。诸如此类，那得齐全。还求奶奶劝劝那些姑娘们不要挑饬就好了。”凤姐道：“头一层是老太太的丫头们是难缠的，太太们的也难说话，叫我说谁去呢。”众人道：“从前奶奶在东府里还是署事[7]，要打要骂，怎么这样锋利，谁敢不依。如今这些姑娘们都压不住了？”凤姐叹道：“东府里的事虽说托办的，太太虽在那里，不好意思说什么。如今是自己的事情，又是公中的，人人说得话。再者外头的银钱也叫不灵，即如棚里要一件东西，传了出来总不见拿进来。这叫我什么法儿呢。”众人道：“二爷在外头倒怕不应付么？”凤姐道：“还提那个，他也是那里为难。第一件银钱不在他手里，要一件得回一件，那里凑手。”众人道：“老太太这项银子不在二爷手里吗？”凤姐道：“你们回来问管事的便知道了。”众人道：“怨不得我们听见外头男人抱怨说：‘这么件大事，咱们一点摸不着，净当苦差！’叫人怎么能齐心呢？”凤姐道：“如今不用说了，眼面前的事大家留些神罢。倘或闹的上头有了什么说的，我和你们不依的。”众人道：“奶奶要怎么样他们敢抱怨吗，只是上头一人一个主意，我们实在难周到的。”凤姐听了没法，只得央说道：“好大娘们！明儿且帮我一天，等我把姑娘们闹明白了再说罢咧。”众人听命而去。

凤姐一肚子的委屈，愈想愈气，直到天亮又得上去。要把各处的人整理整理，又恐邢夫人生气；要和王夫人说，怎奈邢夫人挑唆。这些丫头们见邢夫人等不助着凤姐的威风，更加作践起他来。幸得平儿替凤姐排解，说是“二奶奶巴不得要好，只是老爷太太们吩咐了外头，不许糜费，所以我们二奶奶不能应付到了。”说过几次才得安静些。虽说僧经道忏，上祭挂帐〔二〕，络绎不绝，终是银钱吝啬，谁肯踊跃，不过草草了事。连日王妃诰命也来得不少，凤姐也不能上去照应，只好在底下张罗，叫了那个，走了这个，发一回急，央及一会，胡弄过了一起，又打发一起。别说鸳鸯等看去不像样，连凤姐自己心里也过不去了。

邢夫人虽说是冢妇[9]，仗着“悲戚为孝”四个字，倒也都不理会。王夫人落得跟了邢夫人行事，馀者更不必说了。独有李纨瞧出凤姐的苦处，也不敢替他说话，只自叹道：“俗语说的，‘牡丹虽好，全仗绿叶扶持’，太太们不亏了凤丫头，那些人还帮着吗！若是三姑娘在家还好，如今只有他几个自己的人瞎张罗，面前背后的也抱怨说是一个钱摸不着，脸面也不能剩一点儿。老爷是一味的尽孝，庶务上头不大明白，这样的一件大事，不撒散几个钱就办的开了吗！可怜凤丫头闹了几年，不想在老太太的事上，只怕保不住脸了。”于是抽空儿叫了他的人来吩咐道：“你们别看着人家的样儿，也糟踏起琏二奶奶来。别打量什么穿孝守灵就算了大事了，不过混过几天就是了。看见那些人张罗不开，便插个手儿也未为不可，这也是公事，大家都该出力的。”那些素服李纨的人都答应着说：“大奶奶说得很是。我们也不敢那么着，只听见鸳鸯姐姐们的口话儿好像怪琏二奶奶的似的。”李纨道：“就是鸳鸯我也告诉过他，我说琏二奶奶并不是在老太太的事上不用心，只是银子钱都不在他手里，叫他巧媳妇还作的上没米的粥来吗？如今鸳鸯也知道了，所以他不怪他了。只是鸳鸯的样子竟是不像从前了，这也奇怪，那时候有老太太疼他倒没有作过什么威福，如今老太太死了，没有了仗腰子的了，我看他倒有些气质不大好了。我先前替他愁，这会子幸喜大老爷不在家才躲过去了，不然他有什么法儿。”

说着，只见贾兰走来说：“妈妈睡罢，一天到晚人来客去的也乏了，歇歇罢。我这几天总没有摸摸书本儿，今儿爷爷叫我家里睡，我喜欢的很，要理个一两本书才好。别等脱了孝再都忘了。”李纨道：“好孩子，看书呢自然是好的。今儿且歇歇罢，等老太太送了殡再看罢。”贾兰道：“妈妈要睡，我也就睡在被窝里头想想也罢了。”众人听了都夸道：“好哥儿，怎么这点年纪得了空儿就想到书上！不像宝二爷娶了亲的人还是那么孩子气，这几日跟着老爷跪着，瞧他很不受用，巴不得老爷一动身就跑过来找二奶奶，不知唧唧咕咕的说些什么，甚至弄的二奶奶都不理他了。他又去找琴姑娘，琴姑娘也远避他。邢姑娘也不很同他说话。倒是咱们本家的什么喜姑娘咧四姑娘咧，哥哥长哥哥短的和他亲蜜。我们看那宝二爷除了和奶奶姑娘们混混，只怕他心里也没有别的事，白过费[10]了老太太的心，疼了他这么大，那里及兰哥儿一零儿呢。大奶奶，你将来是不愁的了。”李纨道：“就好也还小，只怕到他大了，咱们家还不知怎么样了呢！环哥儿你们瞧着怎么样？”众人道：“这一个更不像样儿了！两个眼睛倒像个活猴儿似的，东溜溜，西看看，虽在那里嚎丧，见了奶奶姑娘们来了，他在孝幔子里头净偷着眼儿瞧人呢。”李纨道：“他的年纪其实也不小了。前日听见说还要给他说亲呢，如今又得等着了。嗳，还有一件事——咱们家这些人，我看来也是说不清的，且不必说闲话——后日送殡各房的车辆是怎么样了？”众人道：“琏二奶奶这几天闹的像失魂落魄的样儿了，也没见传出去。昨儿听见我的男人说，琏二爷派了蔷二爷料理，说是咱们家的车也不够，赶车的也少，要到亲戚家去借去呢。”李纨笑道：“车也都是借得的么？”众人道：“奶奶说笑话儿了，车怎么借不得？只是那一日所有的亲戚都用车，只怕难借，想来还得雇呢。”李纨道：“底下人的只得雇，上头白车[11]也有雇的么？”众人道：“现在大太太东府里的大奶奶、小蓉奶奶都没有车了，不雇那里来的呢？”李纨听了叹息道：“先前见有咱们家儿的太太奶奶们坐了雇的车来咱们都笑话，如今轮到自己头上了。你明儿去告诉你的男人，我们的车马早早儿的预备好了，省得挤。”众人答应了出去。不题。

且说史湘云因他女婿病着，贾母死后只来的一次，屈指算是后日送殡，不能不去。又见他女婿的病已成痨症，暂且不妨，只得坐夜[12]前一日过来。想起贾母素日疼他；又想到自己命苦，刚配了一个才貌双全的男人，性情又好，偏偏的得了冤孽症候，不过捱日子罢了。于是更加悲痛，直哭了半夜。鸳鸯等再三劝慰不止。宝玉瞅着也不胜悲伤，又不好上前去劝，见他淡妆素服，不敷脂粉，更比未出嫁的时候犹胜几分。转念又看宝琴等淡素装饰，自有一种天生丰韵。独有宝钗浑身孝服，那知道比寻常穿颜色时更有一番雅致。心里想道：“所以千红万紫终让梅花为魁，殊不知并非为梅花开的早，竟是‘洁白清香’四字是不可及的了。但只这时候若有林妹妹也是这样打扮，又不知怎样的丰韵了！”想到这里，不觉的心酸起来，那泪珠便直滚滚的下来了，趁着贾母的事，不妨放声大哭。众人正劝湘云不止，外间又添出一个哭的来了。大家只道是想着贾母疼他的好处，所以伤悲，岂知他们两个人各自有各自的心事。这场大哭，不禁满屋的人无不下泪。还是薛姨妈、李婶娘等劝住。

明日是坐夜之期，更加热闹。凤姐这日竟支撑不住，也无方法，只得用尽心力，甚至咽喉嚷破敷衍过了半日。到了下半天，人客更多了，事情也更繁了，瞻前不能顾后。正在着急，只见一个小丫头跑来说：“二奶奶在这里呢，怪不得大太太说，里头人多照应不过来，二奶奶是躲着受用去了。”凤姐听了这话，一口气撞上来，往下一咽，眼泪直流，只觉得眼前一黑，嗓子里一甜，便喷出鲜红的血来，身子站不住，就蹲倒在地。幸亏平儿急忙过来扶住。只见凤姐的血吐个不住。未知性命如何，下回分解。

[1] 力诎（qū屈）——力穷，力所不及。诎，缩短。

[2] 成服——按照与死者辈份远近亲疏关系穿上不同孝服。

[3] 丁忧——旧称遭父母之丧为丁忧，为官的须闭门谢客、辞官归里、守制三年（实际为二十七个月），期满之后方可“起复”。

[4] 成殓（liàn练）——将死者装裹后安放在棺中。

[5] 掣肘（chè　zhǒu彻帚）——掣：拉扯。肘：臂中部弯处。肘关节如被拉扯，手臂即不能屈伸自如，故常以掣肘比喻对别人作事从旁牵制阻梗。这里是办事不爽利、左支右绌、穷于应付的意思。

〔一〕 “齐截”，程乙本同，藤本、王本作“齐集”。

[7] 署事——代理事务。

〔二〕 “上祭挂帐”，藤本、王本均同，程乙本作“吊祭供饭”。

[9] 冢妇——嫡长子之妻。

[10] 过费——此处意为“辜负了”。

[11] 白车——送丧的车。

[12] 坐夜——也叫“伴宿”。殡葬前夜，丧家守灵不寐。

CHAPTER 110. Lady Jia ends her days, and returns to the land of shades Wang Xi-feng exhausts her strength, and forfeits the family’s esteem

Grandmother Jia sat up in bed and began to speak:

‘I have been part of the Jia family for over sixty years. I have had a long life and enjoyed my full share of happiness. I think I can say that all my children and grandchildren from Zheng downwards have turned out well. As for Bao-yu: I have loved him so dearly and …’

Her eyes searched the room for Bao-yu, and Lady Wang pushed him towards the bed. Grandmother Jia extended one hand from beneath the bedcovers and took hold of him:

‘My boy, you must promise to do your very best for the family!’

‘Yes, Grandma,' choked Bao-yu, his eyes brimming with tears. He struggled to contain his weeping and stood listening to her, as she continued:

‘I want to see one of my great-grandchildren, and then I think I can set my heart at rest. Where’s my little Lan?’

Li Wan pushed Lan forwards. Grandmother Jia let go of Bao-yu and took Lan by the hand.

‘You must be a good boy and always do your duty to your mother. And when you’re grown up, you must win her honour and glory! Now, where’s Fengie?’

Xi-feng was standing by the side of the bed and hurried round to face Grandmother Jia.

‘Here I am, Grandma.’

‘My child,’ said Grandmother Jia, ‘your trouble is that you’re too clever! Try to be more charitable in future and to make your peace with fate. I know I’m not much of a one to talk; the most I’ve done in my life is try to be honest and to bear my misfortunes with patience. I’ve never been the sort for fasting or prayer. The only good work I ever did was to have those copies of the Diamond Sutra made a year or so ago. I wonder if they’ve all been distributed yet?’

Xi-feng informed her that the copies had not yet been distributed.

‘The sooner that act of devotion is completed the better,’ said the old lady. ‘I know my elder son She and Cousin Zhen are detained in exile, and cannot be here: but how could that little devil Xiang-yun be so heartless? Why has she not come to see me?’

Faithful and her fellow maids knew the reason only too well, but said nothing.

Grandmother Jia looked next at Bao-chai. As she did so, she sighed and a flush began to spread across her face. Jia Zheng knew this to be a sign of imminent death. He came forward with the ginseng broth, but Grandmother Jia’s teeth were already tightly clenched. She closed her eyes, then opened them once more and gazed round the entire room. Lady Wang and Bao-chai came forward and supported her gently, while Lady Xing and Xi-feng dressed her. The old serving-woman prepared the bed where she was to be laid out, and arranged the coverlet. There was a faint rattle in her throat, a smile stole across her face, and she was gone. She was eighty-two years old. The serving-women hurried forward to lay her on the bed.

Jia Zheng and the other menfolk knelt in the outer room, Lady Xing and the womenfolk knelt by the bed; from both rose the first chorus of lamentation. The servants outside had all made their preparations, and as soon as word came from the inner quarters, every gateway was thrown open, from the main entrance to the inner gate leading to the ladies’ apartments, and white paper was pasted on every door. The funeral awning was raised over the courtyard, and a memorial archway erected outside the main entrance. Every member of the household immediately put on their mourning clothes.

Jia Zheng reported his bereavement and the commencement of his three-year period of mourning to the Board of Rites, who submitted a memorial requesting the Emperor’s instructions in the matter. His Majesty, being a person of the profoundest compassion and kindliness, in consideration of the services rendered and distinctions obtained by previous generations of the family, and especially in view of the relationship of the deceased to the Imperial Jia Concubine, authorized a bounty of one thousand taels of silver and instructed officers from the Board of Rites to make offerings and do reverence before her coffin. Jia household servants were despatched to notify all relatives and family friends of Lady Jia’s death, and they all came to condole; for while they knew that the Jias had come down in the world, they also saw that the family continued to enjoy the Emperor’s favour. An auspicious day was chosen for the encoffinment and subsequent lying-in-state.

Since Jia She was away from home, Jia Zheng was acting head of the family. Two of Grandmother Jia’s grandsons, Bao-yu and Jia Huan, and her great-grandson Jia Lan, all of whom were too young to take part in the reception, mourned by the coffin. Her other grandson, Jia Lian, was busy organizing the servants, with the help of Jia Rong and various male and female relatives. Ladies Xing and Wang, Li Wan, Xi-feng and Bao-chai were supposed to be chief mourners and therefore in constant attendance on the coffin. Strictly speaking, one of the other ladies had to be chosen to orchestrate the reception. There were three immediate possibilities: there was You-shi, who ever since Cousin Zhen’s departure and her installation in Rong-guo House as a dependant had kept very much in the background, and was anyway unfamiliar with the workings of this side of the family; there was Jia Rong’s new wife, who was even less confident of her abilities in this respect; and there was Xi-chun, who was still too young, and though she had grown up with the Rong-guo branch had remained totally ignorant of family practicalities. None of these was really a plausible candidate.

The only person for the job was Xi-feng. With Jia Lian in charge of the ‘outside’, it would make good sense for her to run the ‘inside’ and look after the lady guests. She had always had great confidence in herself in the past and had assumed that Grandmother Jia’s funeral would be the culmination of her career, an opportunity for her to prove how indispensable she was. Ladies Xing and Wang remembered how well she had coped with Qin Ke-qing’s funeral, and thought they could rely on her to repeat her success. When therefore they absolved her from her duties as a mourner and asked her to take over full responsibility as manageress once more, she could hardly refuse.

‘After all,’ she thought to herself, ‘I’ve always been in charge here. The servants are used to taking orders from me. It was Lady Xing’s servants and You-shi’s who were hard to handle before, and they’ve all gone. It will be less convenient settling bills without tallies, but I shall have cash available from Grandmother’s fund, so there should be no problem. It will help having Lian in charge of his side of the reception, too. Even though I’m not well, I think I should be able to get by without discrediting myself. It’s bound to be easier than Qin Ke-qing’s funeral.’

She waited until the morning after the Third Day, during which ceremonies were held welcoming back the spirit of the deceased. Then she told Zhou Rui’s wife to summon a general assembly of the staff and to bring the registers. When she scrutinized them, she found that altogether there were only twenty-one men, nineteen serving-women, and a dozen or so maids. It would not be enough.

‘Why, we have fewer servants for Lady Jia’s funeral than we had for Qin Ke-qing’s!’ she thought to herself with dismay. Even after calling in extra hands from the country estates, there would still be a serious shortage.

She was turning this problem over in her mind when one of the junior maids came in:

‘Miss Faithful would like you to go over and see her, Mrs Lian.’

Somewhat reluctantly Xi-feng went over to Grandmother Jia’s apartment, where she found Faithful in floods of tears. The moment she saw Xi-feng, she clutched hold of her and cried:

‘Please be seated, Mrs Lian, and let me kowtow to you! I know one shouldn’t do such things during a period of mourning, but I really must!’

Faithful fell to her knees, and Xi-feng held out her hands to prevent her.

‘Come on! What’s the meaning of all this? If you’ve something on your mind, then just go ahead and say it!’

Faithful insisted on kneeling, and Xi-feng continued her attempts to pull her to her feet.

‘Her Old Ladyship’s funeral has been placed entirely in your hands and Mr Lian’s,’ sobbed Faithful. ‘Her Old Ladyship left a special sum of money to pay for it. While she was alive, Her Old Ladyship never wasted a penny on herself; now that the time has come for her funeral, I beg you, ma’am, to do the right thing by her and give her a proper send-off! Just now I heard the Master talking about it – “The Book of Songs this”, and “Confucius that” – I didn’t understand a word of what he said. I caught one sentence, though: “In funerals, sincere grief is of more importance than outward show.” I asked Mrs Bao to explain what he meant, and she said that the Master wants to keep the funeral a simple affair. He believes that heart-felt grief is the truest form of devotion, and that there is no need for extravagant display. But as I see it, for someone like Her Old Ladyship, things ought to be a bit grand. I know I’m only a servant, and have no right to speak in these matters, but I feel that Her Old Ladyship loved us both during her lifetime, ma’am, both you and me, and now that she’s dead we owe it to her to send her off with a bit of style! I know how good you are at that sort of thing, ma’am, and I wanted to ask for your support, so that we could decide together what’s best. I’ve been with Her Old Ladyship all my life, and death cannot part us! If I don’t see this done properly, how am I ever to look her in the face again?’

Xi-feng found Faithful’s way of talking rather odd.

‘Don’t you worry,’ she replied. ‘Of course everything will be done in proper style. Sir Zheng may talk of economy, but we have certain standards to maintain. We’ll spend every penny of the money on Lady Jia, if need be.’

‘Before she died,’ said Faithful, ‘Her Old Ladyship said that everything left over after the family distribution had been made was to be given to us. If there’s not enough money for the funeral expenses, ma’am, then take our share of Her Old Ladyship’s belongings and pawn them. Whatever the Master may say, he can hardly go against Her Old Ladyship’s last wishes. He was here himself when she divided everything up.’

‘You’ve always been such a sensible girl,’ said Xi-feng. ‘What’s got into you today?’

‘Nothing’s got into me,’ protested Faithful. ‘I just know that Lady Xing doesn’t care, and that the Master is being too cautious. It may be that you are of the same mind as the Master, ma’am. If you’re afraid too, and think that a proper funeral will get us into trouble, then no one will dare to give Her Old Ladyship her due. That would be the most terrible thing! I’m only a maid, so of course it’s no personal concern of mine. But think what a disgrace it would be for the family!’

‘I hardly need reminding of that,’ replied Xi-feng. ‘Set your mind at rest. I shall take care of everything.’

Faithful once more entreated Xi-feng to do her utmost, and pledged her undying gratitude.

‘What a strange creature!’ thought Xi-feng to herself, as she left Grandmother Jia’s apartment. ‘I wonder what can be in her mind? Of course she’s right: Grannie’s funeral should be stylish. Oh dear! I can’t pay too much attention to Faithful’s complaints. I’d better just stick to the book and follow family precedent.’

She summoned Brightie’s wife, and sent her with a message to Jia Lian, asking him to come and see her.

‘What do you want me for?’ he asked, when he arrived shortly afterwards. ‘Just keep your end up on the “inside”. There should be no problems. If you’re in any doubt, stick to Uncle Zheng’s instructions.’

‘There you are,’ said Xi-feng. ‘What you say only bears out Faithful’s fears.’

‘What fears are they?’

Xi-feng repeated the substance of her interview with Faithful.

‘Who cares what the maids say?’ retorted Jia Lian. ‘I’ve just been in to see Uncle Zheng, and this is what he said: “We’d like to lay on something grand for Mother’s funeral, but although some people will understand that it’s her money we’re using, less well-informed observers may suspect us of secretly holding on to some of our own resources. They may think we still possess hidden wealth. Of course,” Uncle Zheng went on to say to me, “if we don’t spend all of Grandmother’s money on the funeral, no one will want to appropriate what’s left for their own personal use. In one way or another it should still be spent on Grandmother. Now she was a Southerner, and though we have ancestral burial-land in the South, there are no buildings on it. When her coffin has been transported to the South, with any money that’s left over we can put up some buildings on the ancestral burial-ground, and buy a few hectares of land to provide for the sacrifices. If we ever return to the South ourselves, it will come in handy, and even if we don’t, we can always let some of the poorer clan members live on it. They can keep up the seasonal offerings and sweep the graves at regular intervals.” That was Uncle Zheng’s proposal. Don’t you think it a sound one? You’re surely not suggesting that we spend the entire amount on the funeral, are you?’

‘Has any of the money been issued yet?’ asked Xi-feng.

‘Not a penny of it,’ replied Jia Lian. ‘I heard that when Mother learned of this proposal of Uncle Zheng’s, she sang its praises and did her utmost to encourage both him and Aunt Wang in their efforts to economize. So what can I do? I already have several hundred taels owing for the awning and the pall-bearers’ fees, but the cash still hasn’t been issued. If I go and ask for it, they’ll all tell me the money’s there but that I must get the work finished first and reckon up afterwards. There’s no one we can borrow from: the servants with any money of their own have all disappeared. When I called a roll, some were “absent sick”, others were “in the country”, while the ones still here have stayed on only out of sheer necessity and are no use to us. They’re interested only in making a profit for themselves.’

Xi-feng was lost in thought for a moment.

‘How are we going to manage, then?’ she said finally.

As she was speaking a maid came into the room:

‘There’s a message for you from Lady Xing, ma‘am. Today is the third day of the ladies’ reception, and the arrangements are still topsy-turvy. The guests should not have to be kept waiting for their food, after the funeral offering has been made! They had to ask for their meal several times before they were served. And even when the main dishes arrived, there was still no rice. Surely we can do better than that!’

Xi-feng hurried in to give the servants orders to serve lunch, and they managed to produce something passable. Unfortunately there was an unusually large crowd of guests that day and the staff were at their most sullen and apathetic. Xi-feng had to supervise them herself, then she hurried out and told Brightie’s wife to call a general meeting of all the serving-women. She gave each one clear instructions, to which they replied with a surly, ‘Yes, Mrs Lian,’ and proceeded to do nothing during the afternoon.

‘Look how late it is! Why haven’t you served the evening offering and meal yet?’ demanded Xi-feng.

‘Serving the food would be no problem, ma’am,’ came the reply, ‘if we had the necessary utensils …’

‘Fools!’ exclaimed Xi-feng. ‘This is your job! Of course you’ll get whatever you need!’

The servants reluctantly applied themselves to their ‘impossible’ tasks, while Xi-feng went straight to the main apartment to seek Ladies Xing and Wang’s permission for the necessary utensils. But there was still such a throng of guests around them that it was impossible for her to get a word in. Evening was drawing on, and in despair she went to see Faithful and asked her for the use of Grandmother Jia’s spare dinner service.

‘Why come asking me for it?’ exclaimed Faithful. ‘Mr Lian pawned it a couple of years ago! You’d better ask him if he ever redeemed it.’

‘I don’t want the silver or gold,’ said Xi-feng. ‘The regular service will do.’

‘What do you suppose Lady Xing and Mrs You have been using since they moved in?’ asked Faithful pointedly.

Xi-feng knew she must be telling the truth, and left at once for Lady Wang’s apartment, where she managed to talk Silver and Suncloud into lending her a service, had a quick inventory made by Sunshine, and told him to hand the things over to the servants.

Faithful saw Xi-feng in this state of disarray, and although she did not call her back to complain, she thought to herself:

‘Why is Mrs Lian, who used to be so capable, bungling things so badly this time? The past couple of days have been a disgrace. It’s poor gratitude for Her Old Ladyship’s love!’

She was not aware that Lady Xing was deliberately starving Xi-feng of funds. Jia Zheng’s views on economy coincided neatly with Lady Xing’s own anxieties about the future, and she saw every tael saved on the funeral as a contribution not only to the family’s reserves, but also to her own financial security. Her position in this was strengthened by the fact that strictly speaking it was Grandmother Jia’s eldest son who should have been in charge of the funeral. Jia She was not at home, but Jia Zheng was an incorrigible stickler for convention, and whenever consulted would reply: ‘Ask Lady Xing what she thinks.’ Lady Xing considered Xi-feng extravagant and Jia Lian untrustworthy, and consequently held tightly on to every penny of the funeral funds. Faithful however took it for granted that the money for the funeral had already been issued, and ascribing the present crisis to a lack of zeal and loyalty on Xi-feng’s part, she redoubled her wailing before the coffin of her dead mistress.

Lady Xing and Lady Wang knew only too well what Faithful was complaining about, but so far from acknowledging that the cause lay in their own refusal to equip Xi-feng properly for her task, they began criticizing Xi-feng out loud:

‘Faithful is right: Feng is letting us down badly …’

In the evening, Lady Wang summoned Xi-feng and rebuked her:

‘We may be living in somewhat straitened circumstances, but we must maintain our standards none the less. During the past two or three days I’ve noticed that the maids have not been looking after our guests properly. Clearly you have failed to give them adequate instructions. Please will you make more of an effort and show a little more family spirit.’

Xi-feng was speechless. She would have brought up the fact that she had not been issued with any money, but money was supposed to be Jia Lian’s province, whereas Lady Wang was complaining about the ‘inside’ service. She dared not answer back.

‘Strictly speaking,’ said Lady Xing, who was standing to one side, ‘your Aunt Wang and I, as Lady Jia’s daughters-in-law, should be taking care of the reception, not a member of the junior generation; but we’re very tied up with the mourning, and that is why we delegated the responsibility to you. You mustn’t think you can be slack.’

Xi-feng blushed fiercely. She was about to say something in her own defence when she heard a drum begin outside: it was time for the dusk offering of paper money. A wail rose from the assembled mourners and her chance to speak had gone. She thought she would wait till later, but after the offering Lady Wang urged her to hurry about her duties.

‘We can take care of things here. You go and see to it that everything is in order for tomorrow.’

Xi-feng did not dare utter a word, but went out, containing her chagrin and her tears as best she could. She called another meeting of the staff and reminded them once more of their duties:

‘Ladies, dears, take pity on me I beg you! I am being blamed for everything by Their Ladyships, and it’s all because you are not doing your jobs properly. You are making a laughing stock of us. I beseech you to make a special effort tomorrow.’

‘But madam,' came the reply, ‘this isn’t the first time you’ve been in charge. You know us, we’d never dare disobey your orders. But this time the ladies are asking too much. Take this last meal: some wanted to eat here, others wanted to eat in their own rooms. We ask Lady So-and-so to come and take her meal, and then Mrs Somebody-else doesn’t turn up … How can we possibly cope? We beg you, ma’am, to have a word with the maids and ask them not to be so fussy!’

‘Her Old Ladyship’s maids are very hard to please,’ replied Xi-feng. ‘And it’s hard for me to give orders to Their Ladyships’ maids. Who is there I can speak to?

‘But Mrs Lian! When you managed the funeral for Ning-guo House, you had people beaten, you scolded them, you took a very strong line – and everyone obeyed you. Are you going to let your authority be challenged now by these maids?’

‘On that occasion,’ sighed Xi-feng. ‘Their Ladyships were in no position to find fault with me. But this time it’s not Ning-guo House; I’m on home territory, and open to public scrutiny. So everyone’s finding fault with me. Besides, I’m not getting money when I ask for it from accounts. If something is needed at the reception, and I send out for it and nothing happens, what can I do?’

‘But Mr Lian’s in charge of that side of things. Surely he’ll give you whatever money you need?’

‘That’s what you think!’ replied Xi-feng. ‘His hands are just as tied as mine. He has no control over the money. He has to ask for every penny himself. He’s got no cash at all.’

‘But isn’t Her Old Ladyship’s money his to use?’

‘Ask the stewards,’ said Xi-feng. ‘They’ll tell you.’

‘No wonder the menservants outside are complaining! They keep saying what a big job it is, what hard work, and that there’s no chance of making anything on the side. How can things possibly run smoothly when there’s no money?’

‘Enough talking,’ said Xi-feng. ‘All of you concentrate on your jobs and do them as best you can. If I hear any more complaints from Their Ladyships, I’ll be after you.’

‘We’ll do whatever you tell us to do, ma’am, we’ll not say a word. But with all their different ideas, it will be hard to satisfy every one of the ladies.’

Xi-feng implored them:

‘My dears! Help me out tomorrow, please! Give me a chance to talk things over properly with the maids, and we’ll discuss the matter again.’

The servants went about their business.

Xi-feng felt bitterly wronged, and the more she thought about the situation she was placed in, the more pent-up she became.

At first light, after a sleepless night, she had to report once more for duty to Ladies Xing and Wang. She would have liked to discipline the maids, but was afraid of arousing Lady Xing’s resentment; she would have liked to confide in Lady Wang, but Lady Xing had already set Lady Wang against her. The maids, seeing that Their Ladyships were not supporting Xi-feng, started to make life harder for her than ever. The only exception was Patience, who stood loyally by Xi-feng.

‘Mrs Lian would like to do things properly,’ she explained to the others, in an attempt to win them over. ‘But Sir Zheng and Their Ladyships have given orders for strict economy to be observed, and there’s nothing she can do about it.’

Buddhist sutras were read, Taoist masses were celebrated, there was an endless stream of ritual lamentations and sacrifices to the spirit of the departed; but somehow, in the prevailing climate of retrenchment, the mourners did not fully throw themselves into things, and the ritual had a rather perfunctory air about it. Each day saw the arrival of princely consorts and ladies of high rank, none of whom Xi-feng could receive in person as she was too busy trying to keep things going below-decks. She had no sooner mobilized one servant, when another was found to be missing; she lost her temper, she begged; she muddled through one session, and then had to cope with a fresh set of problems. By now Faithful was not the only one to see that things were awry. Even Xi-feng herself knew, to her great mortification, that the funeral reception was a shambles.

Though Lady Xing was wife of the elder son of the deceased, she was able to justify her own indifference towards the practical arrangements with the handy text: ‘Grief is the Essence of Devotion.’ Lady Wang followed suit, as did all the other ladies of the family – with the single exception of Li Wan. She saw the difficulties Xi-feng was having, and though she did not dare speak up on her behalf, she sighed to herself and thought:

‘There’s a popular saying: “The Peony owes much of its beauty to its leaves.” Mother and Aunt Xing have always relied on Xi-feng; but how can she help them, when the servants no longer obey her? If Tan were at home, she could help. But as things are, even Xi-feng’s own servants are running round in circles and muttering behind her back, complaining that there’s no profit in it for them and that they’re just making fools of themselves. Father is a great believer in filial piety; but he doesn’t understand the practicalities. In something big like a funeral, you have to spend money if you want things done properly. Poor Feng! After all these years, who would have thought she would come to grief over Grandmother’s funeral!’

When an opportunity presented itself, Li Wan spoke to her own servants:

‘Now don’t you go treating Mrs Lian disrespectfully just because everyone else is. Don’t imagine it’s enough for a funeral if people dress in mourning and keep the wake. Don’t think a few days of muddling through like that will suffice. If you see the others in difficulties, you must lend a hand. This is a family concern. Everyone should do their best to help.’

Li Wan’s trusted servants replied:

‘You are quite right, ma’am. We wouldn’t dream of going against Mrs Lian. But Faithful and the others seemed to be blaming her …’

‘I’ve already spoken to Faithful,’ said Li Wan. ‘I’ve told her that it’s not Mrs Lian’s fault, Mrs Lian is doing all she can to give Her Old Ladyship a proper funeral. But she isn’t getting the money. How can the cleverest daughter-in-law in the world make congee without rice? Faithful knows the truth now, and she doesn’t hold Mrs Lian to blame any longer. Mind you, Faithful’s behaving quite strangely, I must say, she’s not at all her usual self. While Her Old Ladyship was still alive to love and protect her, she never put on airs, but now that Her Old Ladyship is dead and her support is gone, she seems to be acting in a most peculiar fashion. I felt sorry for her before. She should thank her lucky stars that Sir She is away from home, and that she’s escaped that fate. If he were here, her future really would look grim.’

As she was speaking, Jia Lan came in.

‘It’s time you went to bed, Mama,’ he said. ‘The guests have been coming and going all day, and you must be worn out. It’s time you had a rest. I haven’t looked at my books at all these past few days. Today Grandmother said I can sleep at home. I’m so pleased, as it means I shall be able to do some work. Otherwise, by the time the mourning period is over, I shall have forgotten everything.’

‘You’re such a good boy!’ said his mother. ‘Of course you’re right to study. But today you should rest too. Wait until the procession’s over, then you can get down to your books again.’

‘If you’re going to sleep,’ replied Jia Lan, ‘I’ll go to bed too, and do some revision in bed.’

The servants were loud in his praises:

‘What a wonderful boy! So young, but so keen to make the most of the slightest opportunity to study! Not like his uncle. Mr Bao may be a married man, but he’s still as childish as ever. To see him these last few days, kneeling down in there with Sir Zheng – so awkward and wretched, itching for Sir Zheng to get up so that he could dash off to find Mrs Bao and start whispering to her about goodness knows what. Mrs Bao wouldn’t pay him any attention so he went and pestered Miss Bao-qin, and she avoided him, and Miss Xiu-yan wouldn’t talk to him either, and in the end Miss Xi-luan and Miss Si-jie were the only ones who would. They hung on his every word. It seems Mr Bao still has only one interest in life: fooling about with the young ladies. There’s not a shred of gratitude in him for the way Her Old Ladyship loved him all those years. He’s not a patch on Master Lan! You certainly have no cause to worry for the future, Mrs Zhu!’

‘He may be a good boy,’ commented Li Wan, ‘but he’s still so young. By the time he’s grown up, who knows what will have become of the family? Tell me, how has young Master Huan been behaving?’

‘Oh, he’s a regular disgrace!’ replied one of the servants. ‘A right little rascal, forever poking his nose into other people’s affairs and sneaking around the place. Even when he is supposed to be mourning, the moment one of the young ladies arrives, he starts peeping out from behind the screens.’

‘Huan’s getting quite grown up now,’ said Li Wan. ‘The other day I heard something about his being engaged. But it had to be put off because of the funeral. Now, no more gossiping: in such a big family as ours, with so much going on, we’ll never be able to set everything to rights. There was one other thing I wanted to ask you. Have carriages been arranged for the funeral procession the day after tomorrow?’

‘Mrs Lian has been so busy these past few days,’ came the reply. ‘She’s been in a terrible state. So far as we know, she hasn’t given any instructions about carriages yet. Yesterday we heard one of the men saying that Mr Lian has put Mr Qiang in charge of that. Apparently we haven’t enough carriages or drivers ourselves, and they’re planning to borrow from relations.’

Li Wan smiled sadly:

‘Are they sure our relations will agree to lend?’

‘You must be joking, ma‘am! Of course they’d lend us their carriages. The trouble is, they may all be using their own for the funeral, so it looks as if we may have to end up hiring all the same.’

‘We can hire carriages for the servants. But will we be able to find decent white funeral carriages for Their Ladyships?’ said Li Wan.

‘Lady Xing and both Mrs You and Mrs Rong from Ning-guo House are all without carriages of their own. How are they going to come if we don’t hire?’

Li Wan sighed.

‘I remember the day when we thought it a joke to see one of our relatives riding in a hired carriage! Now they’ll be laughing at us. Tomorrow you must tell your menfolk to make sure our carriages and horses are prepared well in advance. We don’t want any last-minute panics.’

‘Yes, ma’am.’

Li Wan’s servants went about their business.

Our story now turns to Shi Xiang-yun. Earlier, because of her husband’s illness, she had only been able to come once to mourn for Grandmother Jia. She calculated now that there were two days left before the funeral procession was due to set off; and since her husband’s condition had been positively diagnosed as a consumption, and he was therefore in no immediate danger, she decided she must call once more. She came on the day before the final wake. She recalled all Grandmother Jia’s love for her, and then her thoughts turned to her own fate, to have married such a fine husband, a man of such grace and talent, of such a gentle disposition, only to watch him being taken from her slowly and inexorably by an illness whose roots must surely lie in some previous lifetime. She wept with renewed grief for most of that night, despite the persistent efforts of Faithful and the other maids to console her.

Bao-yu was unbearably distressed by the sight of Xiang-yun’s weeping, but could hardly go to comfort her in the midst of the ceremonial lamentations. The plain mourning-clothes she was wearing and the absence of any make-up seemed to make her even prettier than before her marriage. He looked round at Bao-qin and the other girls; they too were plainly dressed, with a minimum of ornamentation. The very simplicity lent a charm and grace to their appearance. His eyes rested on Bao-chai: how well mourning-clothes became her! She looked even more attractive than in her everyday attire.

‘The men of old,’ mused Bao-yu to himself, ‘used to say that of all flowers none could rival the splendour of plum-blossom, not for its early blooming but for the incomparable purity of its whiteness, the unsurpassable freshness and delicacy of its scent. If only Cousin Lin were here now, and dressed in a simple mourning gown, how exquisitely beautiful she would look!’

He felt a pang of grief, tears rolled down his cheeks, and he began sobbing loudly and unrestrainedly. It was a funeral after all, and no one would think such behaviour out of place. The ladies were already busy rallying Xiang-yun when suddenly they heard another familiar voice break out wailing on the outside of the screen. They surmised that both cousins were overwhelmed by memories of Grandmother Jia’s past love and kindness, and little guessed that Xiang-yun and Bao-yu each had private cause for grief. Their heart-felt lamentations soon brought tears to everyone’s eyes, and it fell to Aunt Xue and old Mrs Li to offer comfort and counsel moderation.

The following day was the wake proper, and therefore busier than ever. Xi-feng was utterly exhausted, but there was nothing for it, she had to struggle on and muddle her way through the morning, even though she had by now lost her voice. By the afternoon, when the number of guests reached its peak and demands were being made on her from all quarters, she had reached breaking point and was searching in desperation for some second wind when a young maid came running in:

‘Here you are, ma’am! No wonder Lady Xing is so cross! “So many guests,” she said. “I can’t possibly take care of them. Where’s Mrs Lian? Hiding somewhere with her feet up, I’ll be bound!” ’

This unmerited rebuke provoked a sudden surge of indignation within Xi-feng. She struggled to control herself, but tears started to her eyes, and all went black before her. A sickly taste rose into her mouth and she began to vomit up quantities of bright red blood. The strength ebbed from her legs and she sank to the ground. Luckily Patience was at hand and hurried over to support her mistress as she crouched there, blood gushing from her mouth in an un-staunchable stream.

To learn if she survived this crisis or not, you must turn to the next chapter.