第一一五回

第一一五回 惑偏私惜春矢素志 证同类宝玉失相知

话说宝玉为自己失言被宝钗问住，想要掩饰过去，只见秋纹进来说：“外头老爷叫二爷呢。”宝玉巴不得一声，便走了。去到贾政那里，贾政道：“我叫你来不为别的，现在你穿着孝，不便到学里去，你在家里，必要将你念过的文章温习温习。我这几天倒也闲着，隔两三日要做几篇文章我瞧瞧，看你这些时进益了没有。”宝玉只得答应着。贾政又道：“你环兄弟兰侄儿我也叫他们温习去了。倘若你作的文章不好，反倒不及他们，那可就不成事了。”宝玉不敢言语，答应了个“是”，站着不动。贾政道：“去罢。”宝玉退了出来，正撞见赖大诸人拿着些册子进来。

宝玉一溜烟回到自己房中，宝钗问了知道叫他作文章，倒也喜欢，惟有宝玉不愿意，也不敢怠慢。正要坐下静静心，见有两个姑子进来，宝玉看是地藏庵的，来和宝钗说：“请二奶奶安。”宝钗待理不理的说：“你们好？”因叫人来：“倒茶给师父们喝。”宝玉原要和那姑子说话，见宝钗似乎厌恶这些，也不好兜搭。那姑子知道宝钗是个冷人，也不久坐，辞了要去。宝钗道：“再坐坐去罢。”那姑子道：“我们因在铁槛寺做了功德，好些时没来请太太奶奶们的安，今日来了，见过了奶奶太太们，还要看四姑娘呢。”宝钗点头，由他去了。

那姑子便到惜春那里，见了彩屏，说：“姑娘在那里呢？”彩屏道：“不用提了。姑娘这几天饭都没吃，只是歪着。”那姑子道：“为什么？”彩屏道：“说也话长。你见了姑娘只怕他便和你说了。”惜春早已听见，急忙坐起来说：“你们两个人好啊？见我们家事差了，便不来了。”那姑子道：“阿弥陀佛！有也是施主，没也是施主，别说我们是本家庵里的，受过老太太多少恩惠呢。如今老太太的事，太太奶奶们都见了，只没有见姑娘，心里惦记，今儿是特特的来瞧姑娘来的。”惜春便问起水月庵的姑子来，那姑子道：“他们庵里闹了些事，如今门上也不肯常放进来了。”便问惜春道：“前儿听见说栊翠庵的妙师父怎么跟了人去了？”惜春道：“那里的话！说这个话的人隄防着割舌头。人家遭了强盗抢去，怎么还说这样的坏话。”那姑子道：“妙师父的为人怪僻，只怕是假惺惺罢。在姑娘面前我们也不好说的。那里像我们这些粗夯人，只知道讽经念佛，给人家忏悔，也为着自己修个善果。”惜春道：“怎么样就是善果呢？”那姑子道：“除了咱们家这样善德人家儿不怕，若是别人家，那些诰命夫人小姐也保不住一辈子的荣华。到了苦难来了，可就救不得了。只有个观世音菩萨大慈大悲，遇见人家有苦难的就慈心发动，设法儿救济。为什么如今都说大慈大悲救苦救难的观世音菩萨呢。我们修了行的人，虽说比夫人小姐们苦多着呢，只是没有险难的了。虽不能成佛作祖，修修来世或者转个男身，自己也就好了。不像如今脱生了个女人胎子，什么委屈烦难都说不出来。姑娘你还不知道呢，要是人家姑娘们出了门子，这一辈子跟着人是更没法儿的。若说修行，也只要修得真。那妙师父自为才情比我们强，他就嫌我们这些人俗，岂知俗的才能得善缘呢。他如今到底是遭了大劫了。”惜春被那姑子一番话说得合在机上，也顾不得丫头们在这里，便将尤氏待他怎样，前儿看家的事说了一遍。并将头发指给他瞧道：“你打谅我是什么没主意恋火坑的人么？早有这样的心，只是想不出道儿来。”那姑子听了，假作惊慌道：“姑娘再别说这个话！珍大奶奶听见还要骂杀我们，撵出庵去呢！姑娘这样人品，这样人家，将来配个好姑爷，享一辈子的荣华富贵。”惜春不等说完，便红了脸说：“珍大奶奶撵得你，我就撵不得么？”那姑子知是真心，便索性激他一激，说道：“姑娘别怪我们说错了话，太太奶奶们那里就依得姑娘的性子呢？那时闹出没意思来倒不好。我们倒是为姑娘的话。”惜春道：“这也瞧罢咧。”彩屏等听这话头不好，便使个眼色儿给姑子叫他走。那姑子会意，本来心里也害怕，不敢挑逗，便告辞出去。惜春也不留他，便冷笑道：“打谅天下就是你们一个地藏庵么！”那姑子也不敢答言去了。

彩屏见事不妥，恐担不是，悄悄的去告诉了尤氏说：“四姑娘绞头发的念头还没有息呢。他这几天不是病，竟是怨命。奶奶隄防些，别闹出事来，那会子归罪我们身上。”尤氏道：“他那里是为要出家，他为的是大爷不在家，安心和我过不去，也只好由他罢了。”彩屏等没法，也只好常常劝解。岂知惜春一天一天的不吃饭，只想绞头发。彩屏等吃不住，只得到各处告诉。邢、王二夫人等也都劝了好几次，怎奈惜春执迷不解。

邢、王二夫人正要告诉贾政，只听外头传进来说：“甄家的太太带了他们家的宝玉来了。”众人急忙接出，便在王夫人处坐下。众人行礼，叙些寒温，不必细述。只言王夫人提起甄宝玉与自己的宝玉无二，要请甄宝玉进来一见。传话出去，回来说道：“甄少爷在外书房同老爷说话，说的投了机了，打发人来请我们二爷三爷，还叫兰哥儿，在外头吃饭。吃了饭进来。”说毕，里头也便摆饭。不题。

且说贾政见甄宝玉相貌果与宝玉一样，试探他的文才，竟应对如流，甚是心敬，故叫宝玉等三人出来警励他们。再者倒底叫宝玉来比一比。宝玉听命，穿了素服，带了兄弟侄儿出来，见了甄宝玉，竟是旧相识一般。那甄宝玉也像那里见过的，两人行了礼，然后贾环贾兰相见。本来贾政席地而坐，要让甄宝玉在椅子上坐。甄宝玉因是晚辈，不敢上坐，就在地下铺了褥子坐下。如今宝玉等出来，又不能同贾政一处坐着，为甄宝玉又是晚一辈，又不好叫宝玉等站着。贾政知是不便，站着又说了几句话，叫人摆饭，说：“我失陪，叫小儿辈陪着，大家说说话儿，好叫他们领领大教。”甄宝玉逊谢道：“老伯大人请便。侄儿正欲领世兄们的教呢。”贾政回复了几句，便自往内书房去。那甄宝玉反要送出来，贾政拦住。宝玉等先抢了一步出了书房门槛，站立着看贾政进去，然后进来让甄宝玉坐下。彼此套叙了一回，诸如久慕竭想的话，也不必细述。

且说贾宝玉见了甄宝玉，想到梦中之景，并且素知甄宝玉为人必是和他同心，以为得了知己。因初次见面，不便造次。且又贾环贾兰在坐，只有极力夸赞说：“久仰芳名，无由亲炙[1]。今日见面，真是谪仙[2]一流的人物。”那甄宝玉素来也知贾宝玉的为人，今日一见，果然不差，“只是可与我共学，不可与你适道[3]，他既和我同名同貌，也是三生石上的旧精魂了。既我略知了些道理，怎么不和他讲讲。但是初见，尚不知他的心与我同不同，只好缓缓的来。”便道：“世兄的才名，弟所素知的，在世兄是数万人的里头选出来最清最雅的，在弟是庸庸碌碌一等愚人，忝附同名，殊觉玷辱了这两个字。”贾宝玉听了，心想：“这个人果然同我的心一样的。但是你我都是男人，不比那女孩儿们清洁，怎么他拿我当作女孩儿看待起来？”便道：“世兄谬赞，实不敢当。弟是至浊至愚，只不过一块顽石耳，何敢比世兄品望高清，实称此两字。”甄宝玉道：“弟少时不知分量，自谓尚可琢磨。岂知家遭消索，数年来更比瓦砾犹贱，虽不敢说历尽甘苦，然世道人情略略的领悟了好些。世兄是锦衣玉食，无不遂心的，必是文章经济高出人上，所以老伯钟爱，将为席上之珍[4]。弟所以才说尊名方称。”贾宝玉听这话头又近了禄蠹的旧套，想话回答。贾环见未与他说话，心中早不自在。倒是贾兰听了这话甚觉合意，便说道：“世叔所言固是太谦，若论到文章经济，实在从历练中出来的，方为真才实学。在小侄年幼，虽不知文章为何物，然将读过的细味起来，那膏粱文绣比着令闻广誉[5]，真是不啻百倍的了。”甄宝玉未及答言，贾宝玉听了兰儿的话心里越发不合，想道：“这孩子从几时也学了这一派酸论。”便说道：“弟闻得世兄也诋尽流俗，性情中另有一番见解。今日弟幸会芝范[6]，想欲领教一番超凡入圣的道理，从此可以净洗俗肠，重开眼界，不意视弟为蠢物，所以将世路的话来酬应。”甄宝玉听说，心里晓得“他知我少年的性情，所以疑我为假。我索性把话说明，或者与我作个知心朋友也是好的。”便说道：“世兄高论，固是真切。但弟少时也曾深恶那些旧套陈言，只是一年长似一年，家君致仕[7]在家，懒于酬应，委弟接待。后来见过那些大人先生尽都是显亲扬名的人，便是著书立说，无非言忠言孝，自有一番立德立言[8]的事业，方不枉生在圣明之时，也不致负了父亲师长养育教诲之恩，所以把少时那一派迂想痴情渐渐的淘汰了些。如今尚欲访师觅友，教导愚蒙，幸会世兄，定当有以教我。适才所言，并非虚意。”贾宝玉愈听愈不耐烦，又不好冷淡，只得将言语支吾。幸喜里头传出话来说：“若是外头爷们吃了饭，请甄少爷里头去坐呢。”宝玉听了，趁势便邀甄宝玉进去。

那甄宝玉依命前行，贾宝玉等陪着来见王夫人。贾宝玉见是甄太太上坐，便先请过了安，贾环贾兰也见了。甄宝玉也请了王夫人的安。两母两子互相厮认。虽是贾宝玉是娶过亲的，那甄夫人年纪已老，又是老亲，因见贾宝玉的相貌身材与他儿子一般，不禁亲热起来。王夫人更不用说，拉着甄宝玉问长问短，觉得比自己家的宝玉老成些。回看贾兰，也是清秀超群的，虽不能像两个宝玉的形象，也还随得上。只有贾环粗夯，未免有偏爱之色。众人一见两个宝玉在这里，都来瞧看，说道：“真真奇事，名字同了也罢，怎么相貌身材都是一样的。亏得是我们宝玉穿孝，若是一样的衣服穿着，一时也认不出来。”内中紫鹃一时痴意发作，便想起黛玉来，心里说道：“可惜林姑娘死了，若不死时，就将那甄宝玉配了他，只怕也是愿意的。”正想着，只听得甄夫人道：“前日听得我们老爷回来说，我们宝玉年纪也大了，求这里老爷留心一门亲事。”王夫人正爱甄宝玉，顺口便说道：“我也想要与令郎作伐[9]。我家有四个姑娘，那三个都不用说，死的死、嫁的嫁了，还有我们珍大侄儿的妹子，只是年纪过小几岁，恐怕难配。倒是我们大媳妇的两个堂妹子生得人才齐整，二姑娘呢，已经许了人家，三姑娘正好与令郎为配。过一天我给令郎作媒，但是他家的家计如今差些。”甄夫人道：“太太这话又客套了。如今我们家还有什么，只怕人家嫌我们穷罢了。”王夫人道：“现今府上复又出了差，将来不但复旧，必是比先前更要鼎盛起来。”甄夫人笑着道：“但愿依着太太的话更好。这么着就求太太作个保山。”甄宝玉听他们说起亲事，便告辞出来。贾宝玉等只得陪着来到书房，见贾政已在那里，复又立谈几句。听见甄家的人来回甄宝玉道：“太太要走了，请爷回去罢。”于是甄宝玉告辞出来。贾政命宝玉环兰相送。不题。

且说宝玉自那日见了甄宝玉之父，知道甄宝玉来京，朝夕盼望。今儿见面原想得一知己，岂知谈了半天，竟有些冰炭不投。闷闷的回到自己房中，也不言，也不笑，只管发怔。宝钗便问：“那甄宝玉果然像你么？”宝玉道：“相貌倒还是一样的。只是言谈间看起来并不知道什么，不过也是个禄蠹。”宝钗道：“你又编派人家了。怎么就见得也是个禄蠹呢？”宝玉道：“他说了半天，并没个明心见性[10]之谈，不过说些什么文章经济，又说什么为忠为孝，这样人可不是个禄蠹么！只可惜他也生了这样一个相貌。我想来，有了他，我竟要连我这个相貌都不要了。”宝钗见他又发呆话，便说道：“你真真说出句话来叫人发笑，这相貌怎么能不要呢。况且人家这话是正理，做了一个男人原该要立身扬名的，谁像你一味的柔情私意。不说自己没有刚烈，倒说人家是禄蠹。”宝玉本听了甄宝玉的话甚不耐烦，又被宝钗抢白了一场，心中更加不乐，闷闷昏昏，不觉将旧病又勾起来了，并不言语，只是傻笑。宝钗不知，只道是“我的话错了，他所以冷笑”，也不理他。岂知那日便有些发呆，袭人等怄他也不言语。过了一夜，次日起来只是发呆，竟有前番病的样子。

一日，王夫人因为惜春定要绞发出家，尤氏不能拦阻，看着惜春的样子是若不依他必要自尽的，虽然昼夜着人看着，终非常事，便告诉了贾政。贾政叹气跺脚，只说：“东府里不知干了什么，闹到如此地位。”叫了贾蓉来说了一顿，叫他去和他母亲说，认真劝解劝解。“若是必要这样，就不是我们家的姑娘了。”岂知尤氏不劝还好，一劝了更要寻死，说：“做了女孩儿终不能在家一辈子的，若像二姐姐一样，老爷太太们倒要烦心，况且死了。如今譬如我死了似的，放我出了家，干干净净的一辈子，就是疼我了。况且我又不出门，就是栊翠庵，原是咱们家的基趾，我就在那里修行。我有什么，你们也照应得着。现在妙玉的当家的在那里。你们依我呢，我就算得了命了；若不依我呢，我也没法，只有死就完了。我如若遂了自己的心愿，那时哥哥回来我和他说，并不是你们逼着我的。若说我死了，未免哥哥回来倒说你们不容我。”尤氏本与惜春不合，听他的话也似乎有理，只得去回王夫人。

王夫人已到宝钗那里，见宝玉神魂失所，心下着忙，便说袭人道：“你们忒不留神，二爷犯了病也不来回我。”袭人道：“二爷的病原来是常有的，一时好，一时不好。天天到太太那里仍旧请安去，原是好好儿的，今儿才发糊涂些。二奶奶正要来回太太，恐防太太说我们大惊小怪。”宝玉听见王夫人说他们，心里一时明白，恐他们受委屈，便说道：“太太放心，我没什么病，只是心里觉着有些闷闷的。”王夫人道：“你是有这病根子，早说了好请大夫瞧瞧，吃两剂药好了不好！若再闹到头里丢了玉的时候似的，就费事了。”宝玉道：“太太不放心便叫个人来瞧瞧，我就吃药。”王夫人便叫丫头传话出来请大夫。这一个心思都在宝玉身上，便将惜春的事忘了。迟了一回，大夫看了，服药。王夫人回去。

过了几天，宝玉更糊涂了，甚至于饭食不进，大家着急起来。恰又忙着脱孝，家中无人，又叫了贾芸来照应大夫。贾琏家下无人，请了王仁来在外帮着料理。那巧姐儿是日夜哭母，也是病了。所以荣府中又闹得马仰人翻。

一日又当脱孝来家，王夫人亲身又看宝玉，见宝玉人事不醒，急得众人手足无措。一面哭着，一面告诉贾政说：“大夫回了，不肯下药，只好预备后事。”贾政叹气连连，只得亲自看视，见其光景果然不好，便又叫贾琏办去。贾琏不敢违拗，只得叫人料理。手头又短，正在为难，只见一个人跑进来说：“二爷，不好了，又有饥荒来了。”贾琏不知何事，这一唬非同小可，瞪着眼说道：“什么事？”那小厮道：“门上来了一个和尚，手里拿着二爷的这块丢的玉，说要一万赏银。”贾琏照脸啐道：“我打量什么事，这样慌张。前番那假的你不知道么！就是真的，现在人要死了，要这玉做什么！”小厮道：“奴才也说了，那和尚说给他银子就好了。”又听着外头嚷进来说：“这和尚撒野，各自跑进来了，众人拦他拦不住。”贾琏道：“那里有这样怪事，你们还不快打出去呢。”正闹着，贾政听见了，也没了主意了。里头又哭出来说：“宝二爷不好了！”贾政益发着急。只见那和尚嚷道：“要命拿银子来！”贾政忽然想起，头里宝玉的病是和尚治好的，这会子和尚来，或者有救星。但是这玉倘或是真，他要起银子来怎么样呢？想了一想，姑且不管他，果真人好了再说。

贾政叫人去请，那和尚已进来了，也不施礼，也不答话，便往里就跑。贾琏拉着道：“里头都是内眷，你这野东西混跑什么！”那和尚道：“迟了就不能救了。”贾琏急得一面走一面乱嚷道：“里头的人不要哭了，和尚进来了。”王夫人等只顾着哭，那里理会。贾琏走近来又嚷，王夫人等回过头来，见一个长大的和尚，唬了一跳，躲避不及。那和尚直走到宝玉炕前，宝钗避过一边，袭人见王夫人站着，不敢走开。只见那和尚道：“施主们，我是送玉来的。”说着，把那块玉擎着道：“快把银子拿出来，我好救他。”王夫人等惊惶无措，也不择真假，便说道：“若是救活了人，银子是有的。”那和尚笑道：“拿来。”王夫人道：“你放心，横竖折变的出来。”和尚哈哈大笑，手拿着玉在宝玉耳边叫道：“宝玉，宝玉，你的宝玉回来了。”说了这一句，王夫人等见宝玉把眼一睁。袭人说道：“好了。”只见宝玉便问道：“在那里呢？”那和尚把玉递给他手里。宝玉先前紧紧的攥着，后来慢慢的得过手来，放在自己眼前细细的一看说：“嗳呀，久违了！”里外众人都喜欢的念佛，连宝钗也顾不得有和尚了，贾琏也走过来一看。果见宝玉回过来了，心里一喜，疾忙躲出去了。

那和尚也不言语，赶来拉着贾琏就跑。贾琏只得跟着到了前头，赶着告诉贾政。贾政听了喜欢，即找和尚施礼叩谢。和尚还了礼坐下。贾琏心下狐疑：“必是要了银子才走。”贾政细看那和尚，又非前次见的，便问：“宝刹何方？法师大号？这玉是那里得的？怎么小儿一见便会活过来呢？”那和尚微微笑道：“我也不知道，只要拿一万银子来就完了。”贾政见这和尚粗鲁，也不敢得罪，便说：“有。”和尚道：“有便快拿来罢，我要走了。”贾政道：“略请少坐，待我进内瞧瞧。”和尚道：“你去快出来才好。”

贾政果然进去，也不及告诉便走到宝玉炕前。宝玉见是父亲来，欲要爬起，因身子虚弱起不来。王夫人按着说道：“不要动。”宝玉笑着拿这玉给贾政瞧道：“宝玉来了。”贾政略略一看，知道此事有些根源，也不细看，便和王夫人道：“宝玉好过来了。这赏银怎么样？”王夫人道：“尽着我所有的折变了给他就是了。”宝玉道：“只怕这和尚不是要银子的罢。”贾政点头道：“我也看来古怪，但是他口口声声的要银子。”王夫人道：“老爷出去先款留着他再说。”贾政出来，宝玉便嚷饿了，喝了一碗粥，还说要饭。婆子们果然取了饭来，王夫人还不敢给他吃。宝玉说：“不妨的，我已经好了。”便爬着吃了一碗，渐渐的神气果然好过来了，便要坐起来。麝月上去轻轻的扶起，因心里喜欢，忘了情说道：“真是宝贝，才看见了一会儿就好了。亏的当初没有砸破。”宝玉听了这话，神色一变，把玉一撂，身子往后一仰。未知死活，下回分解。

[1] 亲炙（zhì至）——亲身受到熏陶教益。《孟子·尽心下》：“非圣人而能若是乎？而况于亲炙之者乎？”朱熹注：“亲近而熏炙之也”。

[2] 谪仙——贬谪人间的神仙，旧时常用作对才学出众、风度潇洒者的赞喻。又唐代贺知章曾称李白为“谪仙人”。见李白《对酒忆贺监二首》之一，后常用以代指李白。

[3] 可与我共学，不可与你适道——语出《论语·子罕》，原文是：“可与共学，未可与适道。”意谓可以一道学习，却不能共同完成某种事业或达到某种道德境界。

[4] 席上之珍——指贤才美质。为“儒者有席上之珍以待聘”的省语，见《礼记·儒行》。

[5] 膏粱文绣、令闻广誉——语本《孟子·告子上》，旨在说明君子安贫乐道。贾兰在此也是发挥这个意思，认为“膏粱文绣”同“令闻广誉”相比，不止相差百倍。膏粱文绣：代指锦衣玉食。令闻：美名。广誉：盛誉。

[6] 芝范——旧时客套话，意即高尚的典范。芝：香草名，古人常用以比喻高尚的品德和美好的事物。范：典范；榜样。

[7] 致仕——也作“致事”，辞职、退休的意思。见《春秋公羊传》。

[8] 立德立言——语本《左传》襄公二十四年。这是儒家历来主张的匡时济世名垂千古的大事业。

[9] 作伐——作媒。《诗·豳风·伐柯》：“伐柯如之何，匪斧不克；娶妻如之何，匪媒不得。”

[10] 明心见性——本为佛教禅宗用语，认为只要悟得人所固有的“净心”即“佛性”，便可见性成佛。后为宋、明理学家陆九渊、王阳明等袭用，认为“心”、“性”、“理”本是一体，只要通过“明心”的内省工夫，便可“见性”而认识“理”。这里宝玉借用此语来同所谓“文章经济”相对峙。

CHAPTER 115. A private obsession revived confirms Xi-chun in an ancient vow A physical likeness verified deprives Bao-yu of an imagined friend

Before Bao-yu had time to appease Bao-chai, Ripple came in and announced:

‘The Master wishes to see Bao-yu.’

Bao-yu did not wait for any second bidding.

‘I want to have a word with you,’ said Jia Zheng, when he arrived, ‘concerning your studies. You are still in mourning and it would therefore be improper for you to attend school; but you can and must revise your compositions. Over the next few days I shall have some leisure, and I want you to write me a few samples at home. I shall then be able to judge for myself whether in all this time you have made any discernible progress.’

‘Yes, Father,’ said Bao-yu rather miserably.

‘I have instructed your brother Huan and your nephew Lan to revise as well. I sincerely hope that your work will be better than theirs.’

‘Yes, Father.’ Bao-yu dared say nothing more, but stood rooted to the spot.

‘Off with you, then.’

As he withdrew from the study, Bao-yu passed Lai Da and the other stewards coming in with their registers.

He was back in his room like a flash, and communicated the substance of his interview to Bao-chai, who seemed rather pleased to hear it. Bao-yu himself groaned inwardly, but knew that it would be inadvisable to appear idle and was preparing to settle down and concentrate, when two nuns from the Convent of the Saviour King arrived to pay their respects to Bao-chai. She told a maid to bring them tea, but was otherwise decidedly offhand towards them, while Bao-yu, who would have liked to talk with the sisters, could tell that Bao-chai found their company distasteful and therefore refrained. The nuns for their part knew only too well that Bao-chai was unsympathetic to their cause, and after sitting for a short time they excused themselves.

‘Won’t you stay a little longer?’ asked Bao-chai somewhat disingenuously.

‘We have so many calls to make,’ replied one of them. ‘What with the masses we’ve been saying at the Temple of the Iron Threshold, we’ve been kept very busy and haven’t called on Their Ladyships and the young ladies in a very long while. Apart from your good self, we’ve already been to see Mrs Zhu and Their Ladyships, but we still have Miss Xi-chun to call on.’

Bao-chai nodded, and the nuns proceeded to Xi-chun’s apartment. They asked Landscape, who received them, where her mistress could be found.

‘My mistress hasn’t eaten for days,’ exclaimed Landscape, ‘and now she won’t even get up from her bed.’

‘Why? What’s the matter?’

‘Oh, it’s a long story. I’m sure she’ll tell you all about it when you see her.’

Xi-chun had heard them talking as they came in, and sat up at once.

‘How are you both?’ she asked. ‘I suppose you’ve stopped visiting us because our fortunes are so altered …’

‘Holy Name!’ came the pious ejaculation. ‘Benefactors are benefactors, whether they be rich or poor. Our convent was founded by your family, and we were always most generously provided for by Her Old Ladyship. We saw Their Ladyships and the young ladies at Her Old Ladyship’s funeral, but we didn’t see you there, miss, and we were worried about you. That’s why we’ve come here specially to visit you today.’

Xi-chun asked after the young nuns at the temple.

‘Ever since that scandal,’ was the reply, ‘the gatemen won’t let them so much as set foot in Rong-guo House.’

‘Talking of scandals,’ continued the same nun, ‘is it true, what we heard the other day, that Sister Adamantina from Green Bower Hermitage has run off with a man?’

‘What utter nonsense!’ replied Xi-chun. ‘People who tell such tales should beware of having their tongues cut out in hell! The poor girl was kidnapped by a gang of ruffians! How can anyone have the heart to spread such malicious gossip!’

‘Sister Adamantina was a strange one all the same,’ said the nun. ‘We always thought she overdid it a bit. Of course, we don’t like to criticize her in front of you, miss. Who are we when compared with her, after all? Just ordinary, unrefined people; we chant our liturgy, say our prayers, make intercession for the sins of others, and hope to earn ourselves a little merit, a little good karma.’

‘What does good karma really mean?’ asked Xi-chun earnestly.

‘Well, miss, putting aside the truly virtuous families like your own, which have nothing to fear, of course – other noble ladies and young misses of good family can never be certain how long their prosperity will last. If calamity once strikes, then nothing can save them. Nothing, that is, except Our Lady of Mercy: if Our Lady sees a mortal suffering, her infinite compassion moves her to try to guide that mortal towards salvation. That is why we all pray to her and say: “Hail, Lady of Mercy, Bodhisattva of Boundless Compassion and Grace, Deliverer, Saviour, Hail!”

‘A nun leads a hard life, it’s true, harder than a young lady in a rich family. But we’re saved! Even if we can’t hope to become Buddhas or Saints, at least by keeping up our devotions we may one day in another lifetime be reborn as men. And that would be sufficient reward in itself. At least then we would escape the endless trials and silent tribulations of womankind. You are still too young to understand, miss; but let me tell you, when once a young lady leaves home and marries, it is all over with her. She must spend the rest of her days a slave to her husband’s will.

‘In the true religious life, it is sincere devotion that counts. Sister Adamantina always thought herself so gifted and sensitive, so superior. To her we were always vulgar mortals. And yet ordinary folk like us can at least earn good simple karma, while look at this terrible thing that has befallen her.’

Their words found an all too receptive ear. Uninhibited by the presence of her maids, Xi-chun poured out the whole story of how badly You-shi had been treating her, and how she had been made to stay and look after the house, and the disastrous consequence. She showed them where she had already hacked off a part of her hair.

‘You think I’m just another worldling, trapped in the fiery pit of delusion! But you’re wrong, I’ve been wanting to be a nun for a long time myself. I just haven’t been able to think of a way of achieving my goal.’

The nuns feigned alarm:

‘Now, miss, don’t you ever say such a thing again! If Mrs Zhen were to hear, she’d give us the scolding of our lives and have us thrown out of the convent. Why, a young lady like yourself, bred in such a good family, you’re sure to marry a fine young gentleman and enjoy a lifetime of luxury and ease …’

The colour flew into Xi-chun’s cheeks:

‘What makes you think my sister-in-law can have you sent away, and I can’t?’

The nuns realized from this that she was in earnest, and decided to goad her on a little further:

‘Don’t take offence, miss. But do you honestly believe that Their Ladyships and the young mistresses would let you have your way? You will only stir up a lot of unnecessary trouble for yourself. It’s you we’re thinking of.’

‘We shall see,’ was Xi-chun’s brief comment.

Landscape thought this augured ill, and gave the nuns a meaningful glance. They took the hint, and too scared to lead Xi-chun on any further, made their farewells. Xi-chun did not detain them, but merely smiled scornfully after them and said:

‘Don’t imagine yours is the only convent!’

The nuns thought it wiser not to reply.

Landscape was worried by this latest turn of events, and fearing that she might be blamed if anything untoward occurred she crept off to inform You-shi:

‘Miss Xi-chun is still set on shaving her head and becoming a nun, ma’am. These past few days she’s not been ill, she’s been lying at home nursing her grievance. Perhaps it would be safer to take some precautions. If anything were to happen, we would be blamed …’

‘She doesn’t really want to leave home and take holy vows,’ said You-shi. ‘She just thinks she can take advantage of Mr Zhen’s absence to challenge my authority. Well, so far as I’m concerned, she can go ahead and good luck to her!’

Landscape continued none the less in her efforts to dissuade Xi-chun from her drastic course of action. But Xi-chun persisted in her fast, and her only thought now was to take the final step and cut off what remained of her hair. Landscape could bear it no longer, and went to tell Ladies Xing and Wang. They tried talking Xi-chun out of it several times, but their efforts were in vain. She seemed obsessed.

The two ladies were on the point of going to inform Jia Zheng when one of the servants outside announced the arrival of Lady Zhen and young Master Zhen Bao-yu. They hurried out to welcome their guests and escorted Lady Zhen into Lady Wang’s apartment, where they all sat down, formal greetings were exchanged and polite conversation was made, details of which we need not record. Lady Wang made a reference to the supposed resemblance between their two sons, the ‘two jades’, and expressed a desire to see Zhen Bao-yu for herself. He was sent for at once, but the answer returned that he was conversing with Sir Zheng in the outer study, and that they seemed to have struck up an immediate rapport. Bao-yu, Huan and Lan had also been summoned to take lunch in the study, and Master Zhen would call on Lady Wang afterwards.

Presently lunch was served for the ladies.

Jia Zheng, having witnessed for himself the physical resemblance between this Zhen Bao-yu and his own son, proceeded to test the young man’s literary and scholastic abilities and was most impressed by the fluent answers that he gave. He sent for his own Bao-yu and the other two boys, in order to exhibit to them this paragon of virtue, as both stimulus and admonition, and in particular to afford Bao-yu an opportunity for salutary self-comparison.

Bao-yu answered the summons promptly, and appeared in full mourning-dress, accompanied by Huan and Lan. When he saw Zhen Bao-yu for the first time, it seemed to him almost as if he were being reunited with an old friend, and the feeling of delight was apparently mutual. They bowed to each other, and Huan and Lan followed suit. Jia Zheng had been sitting on a mat on the floor, and had asked Master Zhen on arrival to sit at a chair, an invitation that Master Zhen had (very properly) declined, since his senior was seated at a lower level. Instead he installed himself on a cushion on the floor. Now that Bao-yu and the other two had joined the company, it would hardly be right for them to sit on the floor with Jia Zheng; nor on the other hand could they remain standing while Master Zhen, their contemporary, was seated below. Jia Zheng resolved the dilemma by standing up himself, and after talking with them for a few minutes, he instructed the servants to serve lunch.

‘I shall have to leave you now,’ he said to Master Zhen. ‘Please excuse me. I hand you over to the younger generation, who will learn much from you.’

‘It is I, sir,’ replied Zhen, with polite modesty, ‘who am most anxious to learn from these gentlemen.’

Jia Zheng said a few more words in reply, and then took his leave, politely preventing his young visitor from accompanying him, but allowing Bao-yu, Jia Huan and Jia Lan, who had preceded him and were waiting outside the threshold, to escort him into the inner study. They returned, prayed Master Zhen to be seated again, and there was a certain amount of conventional chat, with references to this ‘long-awaited and much anticipated meeting’, details of which we need not record here.

Jia Bao-yu, on seeing Zhen Bao-yu, had instantly been reminded of their earlier dream-encounter ‘in the mirror’. From what he knew by report of Zhen Bao-yu, he felt sure that this jade counterpart of his would be a person after his own heart, and that he was destined to find in him a true friend. However, since this was their first ‘real’ meeting, and since Huan and Lan were present, he felt the need to be somewhat discreet, and therefore addressed him in the polite hyperboles customary on such occasions:

‘Long have I admired you from afar, but alas till now I have been denied the honour of a personal acquaintance. Today this great blessing is mine, and lo, I see before me a reincarnation of the Great Bard, a second Li Bo!’

Zhen Bao-yu had also heard a great deal about his namesake, and found that the reality conformed pretty much to his expectations.

‘He seems a passable companion in my studies,’ he thought to himself, ‘but hardly someone to share my aspirations. And yet he has my name, and looks so like me; we must be souls linked by some bond at the Rock of Rebirth. I have made some progress of late in the understanding of Higher Principles, and should therefore seek to impart to him something of what I have learned. Since this is only our first meeting, however, and since I am still ignorant where his sympathies lie, I should tread cautiously.’

He replied to Jia Bao-yu’s remarks in what he deemed to be a fitting vein:

‘Long have I known of your great gifts. I fear that, before a person of such egregious purity, refinement and grace, I am but an ordinary and foolish mortal, and that by sharing your name I do but tarnish its lustre.’

‘He seems a sympathetic enough character,’ pondered Jia Bao-yu upon hearing this. ‘But why does he flatter me almost as if I were a girl? We are both of us men, and therefore creatures of impurity.’

‘Your praise is alas undeserved,’ he said. ‘I am but a dull and foolish creature, a mere lump of senseless stone! How can I compare with a person of such quality and nobility as yourself? It is I who am unworthy of the name that we both bear.’

‘When I was young,’ mused Zhen Bao-yu aloud for his new friend’s benefit, ‘I was blind to my own limitations and entertained ideas far above my station. But then my family fell on hard times, and we have all spent the past few years in greatly reduced circumstances. As a result, although I can hardly lay claim to a comprehensive experience of life’s vicissitudes, I feel I may have acquired some slight knowledge of the ways of the world, some meagre understanding of human nature. You, on the other hand, have lived in the lap of luxury all your life, you have lacked for nothing, and you have, I am sure, been able to achieve great distinction in your literary compositions and in the study of public affairs, a distinction that has caused your honourable father to hold you in high esteem, and to view you with great pride and affection. I say again, you are worthy of the fine name that we both bear.’

Jia Bao-yu recognized by now the telltale rhetoric of the ‘career worm’ and fell silent, wondering how best to respond, while Jia Huan for his part began to feel uncomfortable at having been so entirely excluded from the conversation. Jia Lan, however, found Zhen Bao-yu’s little sermon most congenial:

‘You are altogether too modest, sir. Surely, in the fields of literary composition and public affairs of which you speak, it is precisely from long experience that true ability and knowledge are derived. I am of course too young to claim any knowledge of literary composition, but a careful perusal of the little that I have read has led me to the conclusion that external grace and meretricious refinement are of little worth when compared with the cultivation of a good character.’

Jia Bao-yu found his nephew’s remarks nauseatingly priggish, and wondered where on earth he had picked up this way of speaking. He attempted to forestall a reply in like vein from Zhen Bao-yu:

‘I had always understood from what I had heard of you that you condemned vulgar and commonplace notions, and had formed your own personal view of the world. I was so happy to have had this opportunity of meeting you today, and of learning from you something that would help me transcend this mortal realm we live in and enter a more spiritual plane. I felt sure that such an encounter would help to cleanse my heart of worldly desires, and open my eyes to a more profound view of life. Alas, it is clear from your words that you consider me a coarse creature, and have therefore treated me out of politeness to this rigmarole of worldly wisdom.’

Young Zhen reflected:

‘Clearly he has heard tales of me as a child, and therefore thinks that I was speaking out of mere politeness, masking my true nature. I must be frank with him. Who knows, he may even turn out to be a true friend.’

‘I fully appreciate the sincerity of your remarks,’ he began. ‘When I was young, I too abhorred anything that smacked of the platitude and the cliché. But I grew older, and when my father resigned from his post and had little further inclination for social entertaining, the role of host devolved upon me. In the course of my duties I observed that each one of the distinguished gentlemen whom I met had in one way or another brought honour and glory to his family name. All their written works or spoken words were of loyalty and filial piety, their entire lives were devoted to virtue and truth and were indeed a fitting tribute to the enlightened rule under which we live and a due token of gratitude for the kind and illuminating instruction bestowed upon them by their fathers and teachers alike. So gradually I cast off the intractable theories and foolish passions of my youth. I am still searching for teachers and friends of a like mind to instruct me and guide me out of my benighted ignorance, and I consider it a great blessing to have met you. I feel sure that I have much to learn from you. Believe me, what I said earlier was in earnest.’

The more Jia Bao-yu heard the more exasperated he felt. For politeness’ sake he mumbled something ambiguous in reply, and was saved from further embarrassment by a summons from the inner apartments:

‘If the gentlemen have eaten, would Mr Zhen please join the ladies?’

Bao-yu seized this opportunity, promptly inviting Zhen Bao-yu to lead the way, and they proceeded to Lady Wang’s apartment, followed by the other boys. Seeing Lady Zhen seated in the place of honour, Jia Bao-yu paid her his respects, Jia Huan and Jia Lan followed suit, and Zhen Bao-yu likewise paid his respects to Lady Wang. At last the two ladies and their two ‘jades’ were face to face. Although Jia Bao-yu was now married, Lady Zhen was old enough not to have to stand on ceremony on that account, especially as the connection between their two families was such a long-standing one. She saw how alike the two of them were, and could not help warming towards Jia Bao-yu; with Lady Wang it was the same, she took Zhen Bao-yu by the hand and plied him with questions, finding him rather more mature than her own son. She glanced at Jia Lan, and reflected to herself that he too cut a fine figure; though not quite on a level with the two ‘jades’, he could certainly hold his own in their company. Jia Huan’s uncouth appearance, on the other hand, aroused all her old antipathy.

When it became known that both ‘jades’ were present together, all the maids came to have a look.

‘How extraordinary!’ they murmured to one another. ‘It’s one thing for them to have the same name; but they even look alike – face, build, everything! Luckily our Bao-yu is dressed in mourning white or we’d never be able to tell them apart!’

Nightingale in particular seemed momentarily quite stunned. She was thinking of Dai-yu:

‘If only she were still alive! They might have married her to this Bao-yu. I think she’d have been willing enough …’

Even as these thoughts were running through her head, she heard Lady Zhen say: ‘A few days ago, I believe my husband, who now considers our Bao-yu of an age to be married, asked Sir Zheng to look out for a suitable bride for him.’

Lady Wang was already much taken with Zhen Bao-yu and without any hesitation she replied:

‘I should be glad to act as a matchmaker for your son. Of our own girls, two have passed away, and one is already married. Cousin Zhen of Ning-guo House has an unmarried younger sister, but she is a few years too young for the match. I have another idea, though. My elder daughter-in-law, a member of the Li family by birth, has two cousins, both fine good-looking girls. The older of the two is already betrothed, but the younger is not and would make an excellent bride for your son. I will make the proposal on your behalf. I ought perhaps to mention that their family circumstances are somewhat reduced.’

‘You are being unnecessarily polite,’ said Lady Zhen. ‘Nowadays, we are nothing to boast about ourselves. In fact they may consider us beneath them.’

‘But your husband has been given this new commission,’ said Lady Wang, ‘and I feel certain that in the future he will not only be restored to his former prosperity, but will rise to new heights of glory.’

Lady Zhen smiled:

‘I only hope your predictions come true. Well, in that case, I should be most grateful if you would propose the match on our behalf.’

Zhen Bao-yu, on hearing them broach the subject of his betrothal, excused himself and was escorted by Jia Bao-yu and the other boys back to the study, where they rejoined Jia Zheng and stood for a while talking. Presently one of the Zhen servants came to summon Zhen Bao-yu:

‘Lady Zhen is leaving now, sir, and requests you to return.’

Zhen Bao-yu made his farewell, and Jia Zheng instructed Bao-yu, Jia Huan and Jia Lan to see him out. And there we must leave him.

Ever since his earlier encounter with Zhen Bao-yu’s father, Jia Bao-yu had been looking forward impatiently to the arrival of his supposed alter ego, hoping to find in him a true friend. Now that they had met, he was sorely disillusioned, realizing from their conversation that the two of them were poles apart, as far removed from each other as the proverbial ice and coal. He made his way back to his apartment in a mood of profound depression, said not a word, did not even smile, but stared vacantly into space.

‘Well?’ asked Bao-chai. ‘Is he your “living likeness” then?’

‘He certainly looks like me,’ replied Bao-yu. ‘But I could tell from the way he talked that he was a fool, just another career worm.’

‘There you go, finding fault again!’ protested Bao-chai. ‘How can you suddenly know that he’s a career worm?’

‘He talked a lot,’ replied Bao-yu, ‘and there was nothing the slightest bit profound or illuminating in what he said; he just spouted on at me about “literary composition and public affairs”, and “loyalty and filial piety”. Isn’t that the way a worm talks? It’s a shame that he looks like me; now that I know what he’s like, I wish I could look different …’

Bao-chai could see he was on one of his hobbyhorses again:

‘The things you say are really laughable! How could you possibly look different? What’s more, his ideas sound very right and proper to me. A man should want to set himself up in life and amount to something. Just because you’re so sentimental and wrapped up in your own feelings, does that mean that everyone else has to be too? You attack him for being a worm, when it’s really you who have no strength of character!’

Bao-yu had found Zhen Bao-yu’s sermon exasperating enough. With Bao-chai’s diatribe on top of it, he felt himself rapidly sinking into a slough of despond. A familiar feeling of overwhelming muz-ziness seemed to descend on him, and he could sense a relapse coming on. He said nothing, but smiled inanely, to the bewilderment of Bao-chai. She surmised that he was smiling to mask his annoyance with her harsh words, and therefore decided to ignore him. But for the rest of that day he remained in the same stupor, refusing to speak even if Aroma or one of the others deliberately provoked him, and when he rose the next morning he looked exactly as he had done before his recent convalescence.

Lady Wang meanwhile had finally concluded that she must inform Jia Zheng of Xi-chun’s determination to shave her head and take holy vows. You-shi had proved incapable of dissuading her and it seemed likely that any further opposition to her will would only drive her to suicide. They were keeping a watch on her day and night, but this was just a temporary measure. She and her aspirations could not be contained in this way for ever. Jia Zheng sighed and stamped his foot:

‘Goodness only knows what Ning-guo House has done to deserve an end like this!’

He sent for Jia Rong:

‘Go and tell your mother that she must make one last determined effort to talk Xi-chun round. Then if the girl persists in her folly, we will simply have to act as if she is no longer one of our family.’

You-shi did as she was instructed, but her efforts had the very opposite effect, and only elicited more threats of suicide from Xi-chun.

‘I’m a girl and you know I can’t stay at home for the rest of my life. What if I were to end up with a marriage like Ying-chun’s? Look at all the heartache she caused her parents, and Uncle Zheng and Auntie Wang, and then she died … If you love me, think of me as dead, let me go, let me at least try to make something pure of my life. I won’t be living away from home anyway, I’ll only be in Green Bower Hermitage, which is part of the Garden. Adamantina’s women are still living there. That can be my nunnery. You can look after my needs there. Please let me do this, and I shall think myself blessed. By continuing to go against me, you will be forcing me to put an end to my life. If I am allowed to follow my own chosen path, then when my brother returns I shall tell him plainly that I did it of my own free will. But if I die, he’s sure to say you drove me to my death.’

There had always been discord between You-shi and Xi-chun, and besides, You-shi could see the force of her argument. She went to report to Lady Wang. But Lady Wang was in Bao-chai’s apartment, where she had just discovered for herself the recent deterioration in Bao-yu’s condition, and was upbraiding Aroma:

‘You are altogether too careless! You should have told me at once when Bao-yu fell ill!’

‘But your Ladyship,’ pleaded Aroma, ‘Bao-yu is often ill – some days he may be better, then he’s worse again. He’s been visiting you and paying his morning duty every day and really he’s been quite all right until today, when he seems to have had a bit of a queer turn. Mrs Bao was going to come over and tell you, only she didn’t want you to scold us for making a fuss about nothing.’

This scolding of Aroma’s, and the fear that she and Bao-chai might suffer on his behalf, seemed to restore Bao-yu temporarily to his senses:

‘Don’t worry, Mother. There’s nothing the matter with me. I just feel a bit low.’

‘My child, you mustn’t forget you have a tendency to take ill. If only I’d known earlier, I could have sent for a doctor and had some proper medicine prescribed for you in time. If you allow yourself to sink into the dreadful state you were in after you lost your jade, you’ll cause us no end of trouble again!’

‘If you’re still worried, Mother,’ said Bao-yu, ‘then by all means send for a doctor and I’ll take some medicine.’

Lady Wang accordingly sent a maid to fetch a doctor, and was thus far too preoccupied with Bao-yu to think of Xi-chun’s predicament. The doctor arrived presently, examined Bao-yu and made out a prescription, after the administration of which Lady Wang returned to her own apartment.

Over the next few days, however, Bao-yu seemed to become more of an imbecile than ever. He stopped eating completely, and his condition began to cause general concern. When the time came for the ceremony to mark the end of the formal mourning period for Grandmother Jia, and since the family were especially busy at the temple, Jia Yun was called in to receive Bao-yu’s doctor; and because of the shortage of men in Jia Lian’s compound, Wang Ren also had to be asked to attend and help supervise there. Qiao-jie had made herself ill crying day and night for her mother, and in every respect Rong-guo House presented a picture of sad disarray.

When the family returned from the service at the temple, Lady Wang went at once to visit Bao-yu. She found that his condition had greatly deteriorated. He was unconscious, and the servants were in a helpless panic; some were standing there in tears, some had already gone to Jia Zheng’s, where they announced:

‘The doctor says it’s a waste of time to prescribe any more medicine, and we must be prepared for the worst …’

Jia Zheng heaved a bitter sigh and went to inspect for himself. Bao-yu indeed showed every sign of being at death’s door, and Jia Zheng ordered Jia Lian to make the necessary preparations. Jia Lian did not dare gainsay him, and reluctantly gave instructions for Bao-yu’s last things to be prepared. He was just wondering how they could possibly raise the money for yet another funeral, when one of the servants rushed into the room in a state of great agitation, crying:

‘Mr Lian! Something terrible! Another disaster!’

Jia Lian had no notion what the man could be referring to and stared at him transfixed with fear:

‘What is it?’

‘There’s a monk at the gate and he says he’s brought back Mr Bao’s lost jade. He wants ten thousand taels for it …’

Jia Lian spat in the servant’s face:

‘Hng! I thought from the fluster you were in that it was something serious. Didn’t you hear about that last hoax? And even if this jade were genuine, what good could it do now, when the boy’s already past hope?’

‘That’s what I said myself, sir. But the monk swore that Mr Bao would be cured as soon as we paid him the money.’

As he was speaking, another servant rushed in crying:

‘The monk’s gone berserk! He’s crashing his way in and none of us can stop him!’

‘This is unbelievable!’ exclaimed Jia Lian. ‘Send him packing this instant!’

When he learned what had happened, Jia Zheng was as flummoxed as Jia Lian. Meanwhile more cries came from within:

‘Bao-yu is sinking!’

Jia Zheng was growing desperate, when he heard the monk’s voice calling:

‘If you want the boy to live, just bring me the money!’

Jia Zheng suddenly thought:

‘It was a monk who cured Bao-yu’s earlier illness; perhaps this monk can save him after all. But if the jade is genuine, how will we ever raise the money for it?’

After a moment’s reflection, he concluded to himself:

‘Oh well, we can think of that in due course. Let’s cure him first, and bargain later.’

By the time he had reached this decision and despatched a servant with an invitation, the monk was already on his way, and without so much as a bow or a word of acknowledgement went striding into Bao-yu’s room. Jia Lian tried to restrain him, saying:

‘There are ladies in there! A tramp like you can’t go barging in!’

‘Any delay,’ cried the monk, ‘and it may be too late to save him!’

Jia Lian was too flustered to be able to do anything but follow him, calling out in confusion:

‘Quiet now! Stop your weeping! The monk has arrived!’

He continued calling out like this, but Lady Wang and the others were far too overwrought by Bao-yu’s condition to pay him any attention. When eventually they did look round, they were shocked to see the great burly figure of the monk descending on them, and at the last moment tried unsuccessfully to conceal themselves, while the monk made straight for the kang on which Bao-yu lay. Bao-chai withdrew to one side, but Aroma felt she should stay with Lady Wang, who had remained standing where she was.

‘Ladies, I have brought the jade,’ proclaimed the monk.

He held it up, as he continued:

‘Give me the money, and I can save the lad.’

Shock had utterly incapacitated Lady Wang, and she and the other ladies were certainly in no fit state to judge the authenticity of the stone exhibited to them.

‘Just save him,’ they cried, ‘and the money will be yours!’

The monk laughed.

‘I want it now!’

‘Don’t worry,’ said Lady Wang. ‘You shall have the money without fail, even if we have to pawn everything we have.’

The monk seemed to find this suggestion hysterically funny, and after a good deal of laughter he held the jade out in one hand, bent down and whispered in Bao-yu’s ear:

‘Bao-yu! Precious Jade! Your Stone has returned!’

No sooner had he spoken than Bao-yu opened his eyes a slit.

‘He lives!’ cried Aroma ecstatically.

‘Where is it?’ asked Bao-yu.

The monk placed the jade in Bao-yu’s hand.

At first Bao-yu clutched it tightly, then slowly he turned his hand palm upwards and brought the Stone up to eye-level. He peered at it closely and exclaimed:

‘Ah! We are reunited at last!’

Everyone began uttering fervent prayers to the Lord Buddha, and even Bao-chai now seemed oblivious of the monk’s male presence. Jia Lian came across to see what had happened, and the sight of a revivified Bao-yu brought momentary cheer to his heart too. Suddenly he slipped out, and without a word the monk raced after him and overtook him. Jia Lian had no choice but to escort the monk to the reception hall and then hurry over to inform Jia Zheng, who was enormously relieved by the news, and sent for the monk straight away, bowing to him and expressing his profound thanks. The monk returned the salutation and sat down. Jia Lian thought to himself apprehensively:

‘Now he won’t budge till he’s been paid …’

Jia Zheng scrutinized the monk. It was not, he concluded, one of the two he had seen on the previous occasion.

‘From which holy establishment do you hail?’ he enquired. ‘And what pray is your reverend’s own name in religion? Where did you obtain my son’s stone talisman? How is it that the sight of it has cured him so quickly?’

The monk greeted this stream of questions with an inscrutable smile:

‘Don’t ask me. I have not the slightest idea. Just give me my ten thousand taels, and we’ll call it a day.’

Jia Zheng could see he was dealing with rather a brusque sort of fellow, and was nervous of offending him:

‘The money? Why yes, of course you shall have it …’

‘I’d like it now. I’m in a hurry.’

‘Please be seated for a moment, while I go in and see whether it is ready.’

‘You’d better get a move on.’

Jia Zheng went in to the others. He said nothing of his interview with the monk but went straight to the kang where Bao-yu was lying. When Bao-yu saw his father coming, he tried to raise himself up, but was too weak to do so. Lady Wang held him down and told him on no account to move, while Bao-yu smiled from where he lay and handed the jade to his father, with the words:

‘You see, Bao-yu has returned!’

Jia Zheng was aware of the Stone’s reputedly supernatural properties. He glanced at it and said to Lady Wang:

‘Now that Bao-yu has recovered consciousness, how are we to pay the monk?’

‘Pawn everything I own!’ replied Lady Wang at once. ‘That should be enough.’

‘I hardly think he wants money,’ put in Bao-yu. ‘Do you?’

Jia Zheng nodded thoughtfully:

‘I thought it rather strange, I must say. But he absolutely insists.’

‘You must go out and entertain him,’ said Lady Wang. ‘We’ll see what we can do.’

As Jia Zheng went out, Bao-yu began clamouring for food. First he consumed a bowl of congee and then he demanded some rice, which the old women even brought him. But Lady Wang forbade him to eat it.

‘It’ll be perfectly all right,’ protested Bao-yu. ‘I’m better now.’

He leant forwards and promptly tucked into a bowl of rice. His spirits seemed greatly revived. He wanted to sit up properly, and Musk came forward and supported him gently. Carried away by her excitement at his recovery she blurted out:

‘What a treasure that Stone of yours is! Just seeing it has made you better! Thank goodness you never managed to smash it to pieces!’

Her words caused a sudden change to come over Bao-yu’s face. He threw the Stone aside and slumped back. But to learn if he survived, you must turn to the next chapter.