by Cao Xueqin
Jia Lian then withdrew to find Jia Zhen and, meeting him, told him about this.
“I heard the same news,” said Jia Zhen. “I was on my way to tell Their Lordships.”
Both went together to Jia Zheng, who said, “If it’s our Imperial Consort, we’re bound to be sent some word.”
Jia She joined them then and they waited till the afternoon, but the messengers sent out had still not returned. Then in came a gatekeeper.
“Two Imperial eunuchs have come, asking to see Your Lordships,” he announced.
“Invite them in,” said Jia She.
Servants led in the eunuchs, who were met by Jia She and Jia Zheng at the inner gate. Their Lordships first inquired after the health of Her Highness, then ushered the eunuchs into the hall and invited them to sit down.
“The other day the Imperial Consort from your house became indisposed,” the eunuchs informed them. “Yesterday we received the order to summon four of her female relatives to the Palace to see her. Each may bring one maid, no more. As for male relatives, they may send in their cards at the gate to pay their respects and await further orders there; but they must not enter the Palace. You are to go between eight and ten tomorrow morning and leave between four and six in the afternoon.”
Jia Zheng and Jia She had risen respectfully to hear these injunctions. When they had resumed their seats tea was offered to the eunuchs, who then took their leave. Their Lordships escorted them out of the main gate, returning to report this to the Lady Dowager.
“Four female relatives,” she said. “Naturally there’s myself and your wives, but who’s to be the fourth?”
No one venturing to answer her, she thought it over.
“It will have to be Xifeng,” she concluded. “She always knows how to cope. You menfolk go and discuss which of you will go.”
Their Lordships assented and withdrew. They decided that apart from Jia Lian and Jia Rong, who would be left in charge at home, all the other men of the family should go. They ordered four green sedan-chairs and some dozen carriages to be made ready by dawn, and servants went to carry out these instructions. Then Jia She and Jia Zheng went in again to report:
“You are to enter the Palace between eight and ten in the morning and leave between four and six in the afternoon; so you’d better retire early, madam, in order to make an early start tomorrow.”
“I know,” she said. “You may go.”
After their withdrawal Lady Xing, Lady Wang and Xifeng stayed behind a little longer to talk of Yuanchun’s illness and other things, then went back to their own quarters.
The next day at dawn, the maids in the different houses lit the lamps, their mistresses washed and dressed, and the masters made ready too. It was about six when Lin Zhixiao and Lai Da came to the inner gate to announce:
“The sedan-chairs and carriages are ready outside the gate.”
Presently Jia She and Lady Xing came over. When all had breakfasted Xifeng escorted the old lady out first, followed by the other ladies, each supported by one maid, advancing slowly. Li Gui and another steward were ordered to ride ahead, followed by their wives, to the outer gate of the Palace. Their Lordships and the gentlemen of lower generations rode in carriages or on horseback, with a great retinue of servants, leaving Jia Lian and Jia Rong at home in charge.
The Jia family’s carriages, sedan-chairs and horses had halted for some time outside the gate of the outer west wall when at last two eunuchs emerged.
“The Jia ladies come to see their noble relative can enter the Palace now,” they announced. “The gentlemen are to pay their respects outside the inner gate, but may not go in.”
Guards at the gate cried, “Make haste!”
The four sedan-chairs were borne in behind some young eunuchs, while the gentlemen followed on foot. All the menservants had been ordered to wait outside. When they approached the inner gate, some old eunuchs sitting there rose to their feet.
“No further, gentlemen!” they ordered.
Then Jia She, Jia Zheng and the rest ranged themselves at attention in order of seniority while the ladies alighted from their chairs which had also stopped at the gate and, each supported by her maid, were led in by the young eunuchs. Soon they came to the bed-chamber of Imperial Consort Yuanchun, its walls dazzling with gleaming glazed tiles. Two young maids-of-honour told them:
“You need only pay your respects. Other formalities can be dispensed with.”
The Lady Dowager’s party, having thanked the Imperial Consort, went over to the bed and paid their respects. The Imperial Consort told them to sit down, which they did with murmured thanks.
“How has your health been recently?” she asked her grandmother.
The old lady stood up, leaning on her maid’s arm.
“By grace of Your Highness, my health is still good.”
Lady Xing and Lady Wang were questioned next, and they rose to answer too.
Then Xifeng was asked, “How are you managing at home?”
Rising she replied, “We are managing all right.”
“It’s not been easy for you all these years working so hard.”
Before Xifeng could answer, a maid-of-honour brought in a list for Her Highness to inspect. When she saw on it the names of Jia She, Jia Zheng and others, her heart ached and she could not hold back her tears. The maid passed her a handkerchief.
“I’m a little better today,” she said wiping her eyes. “Tell them to rest outside.”
Her relatives rose to their feet again to give thanks for her gracious-ness.
With tears in her eyes she told them, “We are less fortunate than humble folk whose daughters can keep close to their fathers and brothers.”
Suppressing their own grief they answered, “Don’t grieve, Your Highness. Our family has benefited so much from your grace!”
“How is Baoyu these days?”
“Working much harder at his books,” said the old lady. “Because his father makes strict demands on him, he can write essays now.”
“That’s good.”
She ordered a feast to be served to them outside. Then two maids-of-honour and four young eunuchs led them to another palace where the feast was already laid, and they sat down in due order. But we need not dwell on this.
After dining, the old lady led the three others back to thank the Imperial Consort for the feast, and they kept her company until nearly five when, not daring to stay any longer, they took their leave. The Imperial Consort ordered her maids-of-honour to show them to the inner gate, outside which the same four young eunuchs escorted them. When the ladies had seated themselves once more in their chairs, Jia She and the other gentlemen followed them home, where similar arrangements were made for visiting the Palace on the two following days. No more of this.
Let us turn back now to Jingui in the Xue family. After driving Xue Pan away she had no one to squabble with as Qiuling had gone to stay with Baochai, leaving only Baochan with her. And Baochan since becoming Xue Pan’s concubine showed more spirit than before, so that Jingui found in her an even worse rival and repented—too late—of having made her a secondary wife.
One day after drinking a few cups alone Jingui, lying on the kang, decided to work off her spleen on Baochan.
“Where did the master go when he left home the other day?” she asked. “You must of course know.”
“How should I?” answered Baochan. “If he wouldn’t tell even you, madam, who can possibly know what he’s up to?”
Jingui laughed scornfully.
“Are you still calling me ‘madam’? You two have it all your own way. She’s untouchable because she has a protectress, and I dare not catch the lice on a tiger’s head, but you are still my maid. Yet when I ask you a question you scowl at me and snap back! If you’re so powerful, why not strangle me? Then either you or Qiuling could be the mistress—wouldn’t you like that better? It’s too bad that I’m not dead yet, blocking your path!”
Unable to stomach this, Baochan glared at her.<
br />
“Save that talk for someone else, madam!” she retorted. “I haven’t said anything wrong. Why should you work off your anger on someone weaker because you daren’t challenge her! If someone really offends you, you pretend not to hear so as to keep out of harm’s way.” She burst out crying.
More enraged than ever, Jingui scrambled down from the kang to beat her. But Baochan had also acquired the Xia family ways, and she would not give an inch. While Jingui smashed cups and saucers and overturned tables and chairs, Baochan paid no attention, just bewailing her unjust fate at the top of her voice.
Aunt Xue in Baochai’s room heard this commotion.
“Xiangling,” she said, “go over and see what’s happening. Tell them to calm down.”
“That won’t do, mother. Don’t tell her to go,” said Baochai. “How could she stop them? It would simply pour oil on the flames.”
“In that case, I’ll go myself.”
“I don’t think you need go either. Let them make a scene. There’s nothing we can do about it.”
“But this is outrageous!”
With that Aunt Xue took a maid and headed for Jingui’s room. Baochai, impelled to go with her, told Xiangling to stay behind. As mother and daughter reached Jingui’s door they heard unabated shouting and sobbing inside.
“What are you doing?” cried Aunt Xue. “Turning the house upside-down again! What way is this to behave? The walls are so thin, aren’t you afraid our relatives may hear and laugh at you?”
Jingui called back from inside, “Of course I don’t want people to laugh at us. But things here are topsy-turvy, with no distinction between mistress and maid, between wife and concubine—this whole household’s a mix-up! That’s not how we behave in our Xia family. I really can’t stand your household any longer!”
“Sister-in-law,” put in Baochai, “mother came because you’re making too much noise. Even if she spoke a little hastily, lumping mistress and maid together, never mind. Let’s first clear things up, so that we can live in peace and mother can stop worrying about us.”
“That’s right,” said Aunt Xue. “It’s first clear everything up. You’ll have plenty of time to grouse about me later.”
Jingui sneered, “Dear sister, good sister! What a paragon you are! You’re bound to marry into a good family and get yourself a good husband. You certainly won’t be a grass-widow like me, lone and lorn, trampled on and bullied by everyone. I’m a foolish creature but all I beg of you, sister, is not to twist my words like that so as to run me down! My parents never taught me properly. Besides, what goes on here between wife and husband, wife and concubine, is hardly the business of an unmarried girl!”
Baochai was mortified and enraged by such talk, but what rankled most was the affront to her mother.
Suppressing her anger she said, “Watch your tongue, sister-in-law. Who’s run you down? Who’s bullied you? Why, not to say you, not even Qiuling has ever had a single harsh word from me.” This only made Jingui pound the edge of the kang. “How can I compare with Qiuling?” she wailed. “I’m not even as good as the dirt beneath her feet. She’s been here so long, she’s in your confidence and knows how to make up to you. I’m a newcomer and no good at flattery. How can I compare with her? Why be so hard on me? How many girls are fated to be Imperial Consorts? Do a few good turns, or else you’ll end up like me—married to a fool, a grass-widow and a disgrace to the family!”
By now Aunt Xue could contain herself no longer. She sprang up. “I’m not defending my own child,” she cried. “She was advising you for your own good, yet you keep taunting her. If you have grievances, don’t quarrel with her. Better strangle me instead!”
Baochai hastily intervened, “Mother, don’t be angry. We came here to calm her down, but by losing our own tempers we’re making things worse. Let’s go now, and wait till sister-in-law feels better before we say any more.” She told Baochan, “You stop your rumpus too.”
As she and her mother went out to cross the courtyard, they saw one of the Lady Dowager’s maids approaching with Xiangling.
“Where have you come from?” asked Aunt Xue. “Is the old lady well?”
“Yes, madam, she is. She sent me to give you her greetings and thank you for those lichees the other day, as well as to congratulate Miss Baoqin.”
“How long have you been here?” asked Baochai. “Quite a while now.”
Aunt Xue flushed, aware that she must have overheard them.
“Nowadays we have these disgraceful scenes—not like a respectable family,” she said. “It must sound ridiculous to you over there.”
“Don’t say that, madam! What family doesn’t have a few tiffs and squabbles? You are over-sensitive.”
The maid followed them to their room and after sitting there for a while went off. Baochai was just giving Xiangling some instructions when Aunt Xue suddenly let out a cry:
“I’ve such a pain in my left side!”
To their consternation, she collapsed on the kang. To know the upshot of this, read the next chapter.
Chapter 84
Baoyu’s Writing Is Tested and His Marriage Considered
Jia Huan Visits an Invalid and Arouses Fresh Resentment
Aunt Xue’s anger over the scene with Jingui upset her liver, bringing on a pain in her left side. Baochai, knowing the cause, did not wait for the doctor to come but first sent out to buy a little Ourouparia rbyncbopbylla and brewed a strong bowlful of this for her to drink. Then she and Xiangling massaged the patient’s legs and rubbed her chest until presently she felt better.
Aunt Xue was both angry and sad: angry with Jingui who had proved such a shrew, and sorry for Baochai who was so forbearing. Baochai soothed her till she drifted off to sleep, and her liver gradually ceased to trouble her.
“You mustn’t take these quarrels to heart, mother,” Baochai urged her. “In a few days, when you feel up to it, why not go and enjoy a chat with the old lady and Aunt Wang. After all, Xiangling and I are here to see to things at home, and I don’t suppose she’ll dare try anything.”
Aunt Xue nodded. “I’ll wait a couple of days and see.”
The Imperial Consort’s recovery restored the whole household’s good humour. Especially when, a few days later, some old eunuchs came with gifts and silver from her, announcing that Her Highness wished to express her gratitude for the family’s concern, and apportioning each one’s share. Jia She and Jia Zheng sent word of this to the Lady Dowager, and together they returned thanks to Her Highness. After some tea the eunuchs left, and Their Lordships went to the old lady’s room to chat until one of the serving-women outside reported:
“The pages say someone has come to see the Elder Master on important business.”
The old lady urged him to go, and Jia She withdrew.
Struck by a sudden thought then, she remarked cheerfully to Jia Zheng, “Her Imperial Highness is really very concerned about Baoyu. The other day she asked after him specially.”
“But the scamp has fallen short of her kind expectations,” he answered. “He won’t study properly.”
“Well, I put in a good word for him. I told her that recently he’d learned to write essays.”
“No, he still isn’t up to that, madam.”
“You’re always sending him to write poems and essays outside, and doesn’t he do all right? He’s only a child; you have to teach him slowly. As the saying goes, ‘No one grows fat on just one mouthful.’“
“Quite right, madam,” he agreed at once with a smile.
“Talking of Baoyu,” she went on, “I want to consult you on something. Now that he’s growing up, you should look out for some nice girl for him. After all, marriage is for life—it’s very important. Whether she’s a distant relative or a close one, wealthy or poor, is immaterial. Provided we know for sure that she has a good temper and is nice-looking, that will do well enough.”
“That’s very true, madam, but I’d just like to add this: Before we find a good girl for him he must lea
rn better ways himself. Otherwise, if he turned out a ne’er-do-well and spoilt some girl’s life, that would be deplorable.”
This answer vexed the old lady.
“Of course,” she said, “with his father and mother at hand, why should I worry my head over this? I suppose, as Baoyu’s been with me since he was small, I may have spoilt him a bit and held up his progress. Still, he seems to me quite handsome and, what’s more, he has a good heart. How can you be so sure he’s a good-for-nothing, bound to spoil some girl’s life? Or am I prejudiced? I think he’s better anyway than Huan. What’s your opinion?”
Disconcerted by this, Jia Zheng answered with a smile, “You have so much experience of people, madam, if you approve of him and think him promising, you can’t be wrong. I was just a little too anxious for him to grow up quickly. This may be the reverse of that old saying, ‘No man recognizes his son’s good qualities.’“‘
The old lady laughed at this and the others joined in.
“Now that you’re getting on in years and have an official post you’re naturally growing more diplomatic,” she chuckled. She turned to tell Lady Xing and Lady Wang, “When I think of him as a boy, with his cranky ways, he was twice as bad as Baoyu! It was only after his marriage that he began to learn a little sense. Now he’s for ever complaining about his son, but to my mind Baoyu shows a bit more understanding than he does!”
Both her daughters-in-law laughed, “You will have your little joke, madam!”
Some young maids came in then to ask Yuanyang to announce that dinner was ready.
“What are you whispering about over there?” the old lady asked. When told by Yuanyang she said, “In that case the rest of you had better all go and have dinner, leaving just Xifeng and Zhen’s wife to eat with me.”
Jia Zheng and Their Ladyships agreed to this but waited none the less till the meal was served and she dismissed them again before withdrawing, Lady Xing returning to the other mansion.
Jia Zheng and Lady Wang went back to their own quarters, where he reverted to his mother’s proposal.
