by Cao Xueqin
Xifeng had sense enough to see through him. “No wonder Lian always speaks so highly of you,” she rejoined with a smile, feigning pleasure. “From seeing you today and hearing you talk, I can see how clever and understanding you are. I’ve no time to spare now, I must join Her Ladyship. But perhaps we shall meet again some other day.”
“I’ve often wanted to call and pay my respects. But I thought, being young, you might not welcome me.”
“What nonsense.” She assumed another smile. “Aren’t we of the same family?”
Enraptured by this unexpected good fortune, Jia Rui looked ready to make more indecent advances. But Xifeng urged him, “You must hurry back before you’re missed, or they’ll make you drink forfeits.”
Half numbed by this tantalizing remark he walked slowly away, looking back at her over his shoulder. Xifeng purposely slowed down until he was out of sight.
“You can know a man’s face but not his heart,” she reflected, “I’ll show the beast! If he tries anything like that with me, I’ll sooner or later make him die at my hands, to let him know my ability.”
Then, rounding a miniature hill, she met several matrons hurrying breathlessly towards her.
“Our mistress sent us to fetch you, madam,” they cried. “She was worried because you didn’t come.”
“Your mistress is devilish impatient!”
Continuing to saunter along, she asked how many items had been performed. The answer was: Eight or nine. They had now reached the back door of the Pavilion of Heavenly Fragrance, where Baoyu was amusing himself with some maids.
“No silly tricks now, Cousin Baoyu,” she warned him.
“The ladies are all in the gallery,” one of the girls told her. “Just up those stairs, madam.”
Xifeng gathered up her skirts to mount the stairs and found Madam You waiting for her on the landing.
“You and your niece are so thick, I thought You’d never tear yourself away,” teased Madam You. “You’d better move over tomorrow and stay with her. Sit down now and let me give you a toast.”
Xifeng asked Lady Xing and Lady Wang’s permission to be seated and exchanged a few polite remarks with Madam You’s mother, then she sat down beside her hostess to sip wine and watch the performance. Madam You sent for the list of their repertoire and asked her to choose a few items.
“How can I presume when Their Ladyships are present?” demurred Xifeng.
“Old Mrs. You has chosen several already,” replied Lady Xing and Lady Wang. “It’s your turn to pick a couple of good ones for us.”
Xifeng rose to signify obedience. Taking the list she read through it and marked The Resurrection and The Rhapsody. Handing it back she observed, “When they’ve finished this Double Promotion there’ll be just time enough for these two.”
“Yes,” said Lady Wang. “We must let our hosts have some rest soon. Especially as this is a worrying time for them.”
“You come over so seldom,” protested Madam You, “I do hope you’ll stay a bit longer. It’s early yet.”
Xifeng stood up to look below and asked, “Where are the gentlemen?”
“They’ve gone to drink in the Pavilion of Lingering Dawn,” replied one of the matrons. “They took the musicians with them.”
“Our presence cramps their style,” remarked Xifeng. “I wonder what they’re up to behind our backs?”
“How can you expect everybody to be as proper as you?” said Madam You jokingly.
So they laughed and chatted till the plays came to an end, when the wine was taken away and rice brought in. After the meal they returned to the drawing-room for tea, then ordered their carriages and took their leave of old Mrs. You. They were seen to their carriages by Madam You, attended by all the concubines and maids, and there they found the young men waiting with Jia Zhen. The latter urged Lady Xing and Lady Wang to come back again the next day, but Lady Wang declined. “We’ve spent the whole day here and we’re tired. We shall have to rest tomorrow.”
Jia Rui kept his eyes on Xifeng as the visitors got into their carriages and drove off.
After Jia Zhen and the others had gone indoors, Li Gui led round Baoyu’s horse and the boy mounted it and followed his mother home. When Jia Zhen and all the young men had dined, the party broke up; and there is no need to describe the entertainment they offered all their kinsmen the next day.
Xifeng dropped in more often now to see Keqing, who seemed slightly better on some days although in general her health did not improve, to the great dismay of her husband and his parents. And Jia Rui, calling several times on Xifeng, invariably found she had gone to the Ning Mansion.
The thirtieth day of the eleventh month would be the winter solstice. As it approached, the Lady Dowager, Lady Wang and Xifeng sent daily to inquire after Keqing and were told each time that she was neither better nor worse.
“It’s a hopeful sign,” Lady Wang told the Lady Dowager, “if an illness grows no worse at a season like this.”
“Yes, of course,” replied the old lady. “If anything were to happen to the dear child, I’m sure it would break my heart.”
In her distress she sent for Xifeng and said, “You and she have always been good friends. Tomorrow’s the first of the twelfth month, but the day after that I want you to call on her and see just how she is. If she’s any better, come and tell me. That would take a great weight off my mind. And you must have the things she used to like to eat made and sent round.” Xifeng promised to do this and after breakfast on the second she went to the Ning Mansion to see Keqing. Although the invalid appeared no worse, she had grown very thin and wasted. Xifeng sat and chatted with her for some time, assuring her that she had no cause for alarm.
“Whether I’ll ever recover or not we’ll know when spring comes,” said Keqing. “Maybe I shall, for the winter solstice has passed and I’m no worse. Please tell the old lady and Lady Wang not to worry. Yesterday I ate two of the yam cakes stuffed with dates that the old lady sent, and I think they did me good.”
“We’ll send you some more tomorrow,” offered Xifeng. “Now I must go to see your mother-in-law before hurrying back to tell the old lady how you are.”
“Please send my respects to her and Lady Wang.” Promising to do so, Xifeng left. She went to sit with Madam You who asked, “Tell me frankly, how did you find her?”
Xifeng lowered her head for a while. “There seems to be little hope,” she said at last. “If I were you I’d make ready the things for the funeral. That may break the bad luck.”
“I’ve had them secretly prepared. But I can’t get any good wood for you know what, so I’ve let that go for the time being.”
After drinking some tea and chatting a little longer, Xifeng said she must go back to report to the Lady Dowager.
“Don’t break it to her yet,” said Madam You. “We don’t want to alarm the old lady.”
Xifeng agreed to this and took her leave. Home again, she told the Lady Dowager, “Rong’s wife sends her respects and kowtows to you. She says she’s better and you mustn’t worry. When she’s a little stronger, she’ll come herself to kowtow and pay her respects.”
“How did she seem?”
“For the present there’s nothing to fear. She’s in good spirits.”
The Lady Dowager thought this over, then said, “Go and change your clothes now and rest.”
Xifeng withdrew and reported to Lady Wang before going back to her room. Pinger helped her into the informal clothes she had warming by the fire. Then Xifeng, taking a seat, asked what had happened during her absence.
“Nothing much.” The maid handed her a bowl of tea. “Lai Wang’s wife came with the interest on that three hundred taels, which I put away. And Master Rui sent round again to ask if you were in, as he wanted to pay his respects.”
“That wretch! He deserves to die.” Xifeng snorted. “Just see what I do to the beast if he comes!”
“Why does he keep calling?”
Xifeng described their meeting and a
ll he had said to her in the Ning Mansion garden during the ninth month.
“A toad hankering for a taste of swan,” scoffed Pinger. “The beast hasn’t a shred of common decency. He deserves a bad end for dreaming of such a thing.”
“Let him come,” said Xifeng. “I know how to deal with him.”
What happened to Jia Rui when he came is told in the next chapter.
Chapter 12
Xifeng Sets a Vicious Trap for a Lover
Jia Rui Looks into the Wrong Side of the Precious Mirror of Love
While Xifeng was talking to Pinger, Jia Rui was announced. She ordered him to be admitted at once.
Overjoyed at being received, he hastened in and greeted her effusively, beaming with smiles. With a show of regard she made him take a seat and offered him tea. The sight of her in informal dress threw him into raptures. Gazing amorously at her he asked:
“Why isn’t Second Brother Lian home yet?”
“I wouldn’t know,” Xifeng replied.
“Perhaps he’s been caught by someone and can’t tear himself away?”
“Perhaps. Men are like that. Bewitched by every pretty face they see.
“Not all of us, sister-in-law. I’m not like that.”
“How many are there like you? Not one in ten.”
Tweaking his ears and rubbing his cheeks with delight, the young man insinuated, “You must be very bored here day in and day out.”
“Yes indeed. I keep wishing someone would drop in for a chat to cheer me up.”
“I have plenty of time. Suppose I were to drop in to amuse you every day?”
“Now you’re joking,” She replied archly. “You wouldn’t want to come and see me.”
“I mean every word I say. May a thunderbolt strike me if I don’t! I didn’t dare come before because I was told you were very strict and took offence at the least little thing. Now I see how charming and how kind you are, you may be sure I’ll come, even if it costs me my life.”
“You’re certainly much more understanding than Jia Rong and his brother. They look so refined one would expect them to be understanding, but they’re stupid fools with no insight at all into other people’s hearts.”
In flamed by this praise, he edged closer. Staring at the purse hanging from her girdle, he asked if he might look at her rings.
“Take care,” she whispered. “What will the maids think?”
He drew back instantly as if obeying an Imperial decree or a mandate from Buddha.
“You had better go now.” Xifeng smiled.
“Don’t be so cruel. Let me stay a little longer.”
“This is no place for you during the day with so many people about,” she murmured. “Go now but come back again secretly at the first watch. Wait for me in the western entrance hall.”
To Jia Rui this was like receiving a pearl of great price.
“You’re not joking are you?” he demanded. “How can I hide there with people passing back and forth all the time?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll dismiss all the pages on night duty. Once the gates on both sides are locked, no one can come through.”
Hardly able to contain himself for joy, the young man hurried off, convinced he would have his desire and longing for the evening.
That night, sure enough, he groped his way to the Rong Mansion, slipping into the entrance hall just before the gates were bolted. It was pitch dark and not a soul was about. Already the gate to the Lady Dowager’s quarters was locked, only the one on the east remaining open.
He waited, listening intently, but no one came. Then with a sudden clatter the east gate was bolted too. Frantic as he was, he dared not make a sound. He crept out to try the gate and found it securely closed. Escape was out of the question, for the walls on either side were too high to climb.
The entrance hall was bare and draughty. As it was the depth of winter the nights were long and an icy north wind chilled him to the bone. He almost froze to death.
At last dawn came and a matron appeared to open the east gate. As she went over to knock on the west gate and was looking the other way, Jia Rui shot out like a streak of smoke, hugging his shoulders. Luckily no one else was up at this early hour. He was able to escape unseen through the postern door.
Jia Rui had been orphaned early and left in the charge of his grandfather Jia Dairu, a strict disciplinarian who allowed him no freedom for fear he drink or gamble outside and neglect his studies. Now that he had stayed out all night his grandfather was furious and suspected him of drinking, gambling or whoring, little guessing the truth of the matter.
In a cold sweat with fright, Jia Rui tried to lie his way out.
T went to my uncle’s house, and because it was late he kept me for the night.”
“You have never dared leave home before without permission,” thundered his grandfather. “You deserve a beating for sneaking off like that. And a worse one for deceiving me.”
He gave Jia Rui thirty or forty strokes with a bamboo, would not let him have any food, and made him kneel in the courtyard to study ten days’ lessons. This thrashing on an empty stomach and kneeling in the wind to read essays completed the wretched youth’s misery after his freezing night.
But still too blinded by infatuation to realize that Xifeng was playing with him, he seized his first chance a couple of days later to call. She reproached him for his breach of faith, earnestly as he protested his innocence; and since he had delivered himself into her hands she could not but devise further means to cure him.
“Tonight you can wait for me in another place—that vacant room off the passage behind this apartment. But mind you don’t make any mistake this time.”
“Do you really mean it?”
“Of course I do. If you don’t believe me, don’t come.”
“I’ll come, I’ll come, even if I should die for it.”
“Now, you’d better go.”
Assuming that this time all would go well, Jia Rui went off.
Having got rid of him, Xifeng held a council of war and baited her trap while the young man waited at home impatiently, for to his annoyance one of their relatives called and stayed to supper. By the time he left the lamps were being lit, and Jia Rui had to wait for his grandfather to retire before he could slip over to the Rong Mansion and wait in the place appointed. He paced the room frantic as an ant on a hot griddle, but there was no sight or sound of anyone.
“Is she really coming?” he wondered. “Or shall I be left to freeze for another whole night?”
Just then a dark figure appeared. Sure that it was Xifeng, he threw caution to the winds and barely had the figure stepped through the door than he flung himself on it like a ravenous tiger, or a cat pouncing on a mouse.
“Dearest!” he cried. “I nearly died of longing.”
He carried her to the kang, where he showered kisses on her and fumbled with her clothes, pouring out incoherent endearments. Not a sound came from the figure in his arms.
Jia Rui had just pulled down his pants and prepared to set to work when a sudden flash of light made him look up. There stood Jia Qiang, a taper in his hand.
“What’s going on in here?” he demanded.
The figure on the kang said with a chuckle, “Uncle Rui was trying to bugger me.”
When Jia Rui saw that it was Jia Rong, he wished he could sink through the ground. In utter confusion he turned to run away.
“Oh, no you don’t!” Jia Qiang grabbed him. “Aunt Xifeng has told Lady Wang that without any reason you tried to make love to her. To escape your attentions she played this trick to trap you. Lady Wang’s fainted from shock. I was sent here to catch you. I found you on top of him, you can’t deny it. So come along with me to Lady Wang!”
Jia Rui nearly gave up the ghost. “Dear nephew,” he pleaded, “do tell her you couldn’t find me. I’ll pay you well for it tomorrow.”
“I might do that. Depends how much you’re willing to pay. I can’t just take your word for it, I must have it down in
writing.”
“How can I put a thing like this down in writing?”
“That’s no problem. Just write that you borrowed so much silver from the bank to pay a gambling debt.”
“All right. But I’ve no paper or brush.”
“That’s easy.” Jia Qiang disappeared for a moment and promptly returned with writing materials, where upon the two of them forced Jia Rui to write and sign an IOU for fifty taels which Jia Qiang pocketed. When he urged Jia Rong to leave, however, the latter at first absolutely refused and threatened to lay the matter before the whole clan the next morning. Jia Rui kowtowed to him in desperation. However, with Jia Qiang mediating between them, he was forced to write another IOU for fifty taels of silver.
“I’ll get the blame if you’re seen leaving,” said Jia Qiang. “The Lady Dowager’s gate is closed, and the Second Master is in the hall looking over the things which have arrived from Jinling, so you can’t get out that way. You’ll have to go through the back gate. But if anyone meets you I’ll be finished too. Let me see if the coast is clear. You can’t hide here, they’ll be bringing stuff in presently. I’ll find you somewhere to wait.”
He blew out the light and dragged Jia Rui out to the foot of some steps in the yard.
“Here’s a good place,” he whispered. “Squat down there until we come back and don’t make a sound.”
As the two others left, Jia Rui squatted obediently at the foot of the steps. He was thinking over his predicament when he heard a splash above him and a bucket of slops was emptied over his head. A cry of dismay escaped him. But he clapped one hand over his mouth and made not another sound, though covered with filth from head to foot and shivering with cold. Then Jia Qiang hurried over calling:
“Quick! Run for it!”
At this reprieve, Jia Rui bolted through the back door to his home. By now the third watch had sounded, and he had to knock at the gate. The servant who opened it wanted to know how he came to be in such a state.
