by Cao Xueqin
The old lady, recollecting the Zhangs’ proposal, reminded Lady Wang, “You should go and let your husband know what we decided. Otherwise the Zhangs may send a matchmaker and their request.” She asked Lady Xing, “How is it you have nothing to do with the Zhang family these days?”
“Because their stingy ways don’t suit us, madam. They’re not good enough for Baoyu!”
From this Xifeng inferred what was afoot.
“Are you talking about Brother Bao’s marriage, madam?” she asked. Lady Xing having confirmed this, the old lady explained the conclusion they had reached.
“Excuse my presumption, Old Ancestress,” said Xifeng with a twinkle. “But there’s an ideal match here. Why look elsewhere?” The old lady, chuckling, asked what she meant. “One ‘precious jade’ and one ‘gold locket’—how could you forget that, madam?”
“Why didn’t you propose it yesterday when your aunt was here?” countered the old lady, laughing.
“In the presence of our Old Ancestress and Their Ladyships, how could we young people presume? Besides, how could I bring that up when it was our Old Ancestress aunty came to see? The way to do it is for Their Ladyships to call on her and make a formal proposal.” The Lady Dowager smiled, as did both her daughters-in-law. “Yes, that was stupid of me,” she conceded. Just then the doctor was announced. The old lady remained in the outer room while Lady Xing and Lady Wang went inside. The doctor, led in by Jia Lian, paid his respects to the Lady Dowager before going into the sickroom. Returning after examining the patient, he bowed to the old lady and standing before her reported:
“The child’s trouble is half owing to hot humours, half to some external shock. First we should dose her to clear up the cold and phlegm, then give her Four-Spirit Powder, because this illness is quite serious. Nowadays the cow bezoar sold in the market is usually counterfeit. We’ll have to find the genuine article.”
When the old lady had thanked him the doctor went out with Jia Lian to write his prescription, then left.
“We usually keep a stock of ginseng,” said Xifeng. “But I doubt if we have any cow bezoar. If we buy some outside we must make sure it’s genuine.”
“Let me send to Aunt Xue for some,” proposed Lady Wang. “Xue Pan does so much business with overseas merchants, he may have some genuine bezoar. I’ll send to ask them.”
At this point the girls of the family came to ask after Qiaojie, and after a short visit left with the old lady.
When the medicine was ready they forced it down Qiaojie’s throat and, gagging, she brought it up with some phlegm, much to her mother’s relief. And now one of Lady Wang’s young maids came in with a small red package.
“Here’s the bezoar, madam,” she said. “Her Ladyship wants you to weigh it yourself to make sure the amount is correct.”
Xifeng took it, assenting, and told Pinger to make haste and brew the pearl powder, baroos camphor and cinnabar while she herself used a small steelyard to weigh out the required amount of cow bezoar. This had just been mixed with the other ingredients, ready to dose Qiaojie when she woke up, when Jia Huan raised the portiere and came in.
“What’s the matter with Qiaojie, Second Cousin?” he asked. “My mother sent me to see her.”
“She’s better,” answered Xifeng, who had an aversion to both him and Concubine Zhao. “Go back and thank your mother for her concern.”
Jia Huan, while agreeing to this, kept staring around.
“I hear you’ve got cow bezoar here. What’s it like?” he asked. “Can I have a look?”
“Don’t be such a nuisance!” she scolded. “Qiaojie’s only just on the mend. The bezoar is being brewed.”
Jia Huan reaching out for the skillet bumped against it. It overturned with a splash, dousing the fire, and ashamed of his bungling he took to his heels.
Beside herself with fury Xifeng cursed, “Our true sworn enemy, aren’t you! Why play such dirty tricks here? Your mother tried to do me in before; now you come to do for Qiaojie! What cause have I given you to make you hate us so?”
She swore at Pinger too for not stopping him. As she was raging a maid came in looking for Huan. “Go and tell Concubine Zhao to stop trying so hard!” snapped Xifeng. “Qiaojie’s done for; she needn’t worry!”
Pinger was hastily brewing a fresh lot of medicine, and the maid not knowing what was amiss asked in a whisper why Madam Lian was so angry. Pinger told her how Huan had upset the skillet.
“No wonder he dared not go home!” exclaimed the maid. “He must be hiding somewhere. Goodness knows what he’ll be up to next! Let me clear up for you, sister.”
“There’s no need. Luckily there was still a bit of cow bezoar left, and it’s ready now. You’d better go.”
“I’m going back to tell Concubine Zhao,” said the maid. “This should stop her singing his praises every day.”
On her return she was as good as her word. Concubine Zhao sent angrily for her son, and the maid found him skulking in an outer room.
“You good-for-nothing!” scolded his mother. “Why spill their medicine, giving them a chance to curse us? I told you to call to ask after her, not to go in. But in you went, and instead of leaving at once you had to ‘catch lice on the tiger’s head.’ Just wait till I tell your father, and see what a thrashing he’ll give you!”
As Concubine Zhao was storming, Jia Huan in the outer room made an even more startling statement. To know what it was, read on.
Chapter 85
Jia Zheng Is Promoted to the Rank of Vice-Minister
Xue Pan Is Involved in Another Manslaughter Case
As Concubine Zhao in her room was raging at Jia Huan in the outer room, he suddenly blurted out:
“All I did was upset the skillet and spill some medicine—I didn’t kill the brat! Why should everyone curse me as if I were a monster? Do you want to hound me to death? Some day I’ll kill that little bitch, and let’s see what you do then! Just tell them to watch out.”
His mother hurried out to stop his mouth.
“Still raving!” she cried. “Do you want them to kill me first?”
Mother and son wrangled for a time. And Xifeng’s taunts so rankled with Concubine Zhao that she sent her no further condolences. Although in a few days Qiaojie recovered, their two households were on even worse terms than before.
One day, Lin Zhixiao reported to Jia Zheng, “Today is the birthday of the Prince of Beijing. What are your instructions, sir?”
“Just send presents as we did in the past, after letting Lord She know.”
The steward accepted these orders and went to carry them out.
Presently Jia She came over and they decided to take Jia Zhen, Jia Lian and Baoyu with them to offer congratulations. The others took this as a matter of course, but Baoyu was most eager to see more of the prince whose distinguished appearance and manners had so impressed him. He changed hastily into ceremonial dress and went with his father to the prince’s mansion, where Their Lordships sent in their cards, then waited to be summoned. Soon a eunuch came out, a chaplet in his hand, and beamed at the sight of them, asking:
“How are you two gentlemen?”
Jia She and Jia Zheng greeted him in return, and the three young men followed suit.
“His Highness asks you to come in,” said the eunuch.
The five of them followed him in past two gates and one court to the inner palace gate, where they halted while he went in to announce their arrival and the young eunuchs there stepped forward to greet them.
Before long, the eunuch returned to invite them in, and they followed him respectfully. The Prince of Beijing in ceremonial robes had come out to the corridor to meet them. First Their Lordships stepped forward to pay their respects, and after them Jia Zhen, Jia Lian and Baoyu.
The prince took Baoyu by the hand. “It’s so long since I saw you,” he said, “I’ve been thinking of you.” With a smile he asked, “Have you kept that jade of yours safe?”
Baoyu bowed and bent one knee as he r
eplied, “By the grace of Your Highness, yes.”
“I’ve no rich fare to offer you today, but let us have a chat,” the prince proposed.
Some eunuchs raised the portiere and he led the way in, followed by Jia She’s party with bowed heads. First Jia She asked to pay homage and knelt down even while the prince was declining. Then Jia Zheng and the others made obeisance too.
As they were withdrawing respectfully, the prince ordered eunuchs to take them—all but Baoyu—to join his relatives and friends and to entertain them well. He offered Baoyu a seat so that they could talk, and the boy kowtowed his thanks. Then seated on the edge of an openwork porcelain stool near the door he launched into a description of his studies and essay writing, to which the prince listened with sympathetic interest.
“Yesterday,” the prince told him after tea had been served, “Governor Wu came to court and spoke of your honourable father’s probity as an examiner, and the great respect in which all the candidates held him. His Majesty asked about this when he received him, and the governor commended your father most highly. This augurs well for him.”
Baoyu who had stood to hear this replied, “Your gracious Highness and Governor Wu are most kind.”
At this point a young eunuch entered to report, “The gentlemen in the front court thank Your Highness for the feast.”
He presented the cards on which the guests paid their respects, and the prince after glancing at them handed them back, remarking with a smile:
“I have put them to undue trouble.”
“And the special meal Your Highness is conferring on Jia Baoyu is ready now.”
He received orders then to take Baoyu to a small courtyard, a charming place where attendants waited on him at his meal. On his return to offer thanks, the prince spoke to him kindly again and suddenly remarked with a smile:
“Last time I was so intrigued by that jade of yours that on my return I had a replica made. I’m glad you have come today—you can take it back for your amusement.”
He made the young eunuch fetch it and gave it to Baoyu, who received it with both hands, thanked him and then withdrew. Two young eunuchs escorted him out on their master’s orders and he went back with Jia She and the rest.
While Jia She went home, Jia Zheng took the three young men to call on the old lady and tell her whom they had met in the prince’s mansion, after which Baoyu reported to his father how Governor Wu had recommended him to the Emperor.
“This Governor Wu is an old family friend,” observed Jia Zheng. “He is one of our sort, a man of integrity.”
After a little more casual talk the Lady Dowager urged them to go and rest. Jia Zheng took his leave but told his three juniors, who were following him to the door, to stay and keep the old lady company. Back in his room he had barely sat down when a maid announced:
“Lin Zhixiao is outside with something to report, sir.” She presented Governor Wu’s red visiting-card.
Realizing that Governor Wu had called in his absence, Jia Zheng told her to bring the steward in, and went out to the corridor to see him.
Lin Zhixiao reported, “Today Governor Wu came to call, and I told him where you had gone, sir. I also heard that a vacancy for a vice-minister has come up in the Ministry of Works, and people outside and in the ministry are all saying that you are to be appointed, sir.”
“That remains to be seen,” replied Jia Zheng.
Lin Zhixiao reported then on a few other matters and left.
Now Baoyu, the only one of the three young men to have stayed with his grandmother, described how the prince had entertained him and displayed the jade given him. When it had been admired by all, the old lady ordered the maids to put it away so that he would not lose it.
“Mind you keep your own jade safely,” she warned Baoyu. “Don’t mix them up!”
Taking his jade from his neck he rejoined, “This is mine how could I lose it? They’re quite different when you compare them. Impossible to confuse them. And there’s something else I’ve been meaning to tell you, madam. The other night when I went to bed and hung my jade on the curtain, it started glowing, making the whole curtain red!”
“You’re talking nonsense again,” she said. “The valance of the canopy is red, so naturally when it catches the light the curtain seems red too.”
“No, the light was out by then. The whole room was pitch dark, and yet I saw it clearly.”
Lady Xing and Lady Wang exchanged meaning smiles. “It’s a lucky sign,” Xifeng assured him. “A lucky sign? What do you mean?”
“You wouldn’t understand,” said his grandmother. “You’ve had an exciting day, so go and rest now. Don’t stay here talking nonsense.”
Baoyu hung around for a while before going back to the Garden, and as soon as he had gone the old lady said:
“That reminds me, when you went to see Aunt Xue did you broach that business?”
“We only went today,” replied Lady Wang, “because Xifeng was held up for two days by Qiaojie’s illness. We told Aunt Xue, and she was only too willing. However, she says she must first consult Xue Pan—as his father’s gone and Pan’s still away from home.”
“Quite right too,” agreed the old lady. “We’d better not make it public, in that case, until Aunt Xue has decided.”
But no more of their discussion about Baoyu’s marriage.
Baoyu back in his own quarters told Xiren, “Just now my grandmother and Cousin Xifeng were talking so cryptically, I’d no idea what they meant.”
Xiren reflected, then smiled.
“I can’t guess either,” she said. “Was Miss Lin there at the time?”
“No, she hasn’t been over there recently—she’s only just left her bed.”
Just then they heard a quarrel break out in the outer room between Sheyue and Qiuwen.
“What are you two scrapping about now?” called Xiren.
“We were playing cards,” said Sheyue, coming in. “When she won she took my money, but when I won she wouldn’t pay. To make it worse, she grabbed my whole bank too.”
“What does a little money matter?” chuckled Baoyu. “Stop making such a noise, you silly things.”
The two girls went off then and sat down to sulk while Xiren helped Baoyu to bed.
Xiren had realized from Baoyu’s remark that his marriage was under discussion. She had not told him this, however, for fear that his senseless notions would make him burst out again with a flood of foolish talk. But as she too was deeply concerned about his marriage, she lay awake that night thinking and decided to go to see if Zijuan knew of any developments which might shed light on the matter. The next day she rose early. Having seen Baoyu off to school, she spruced herself up and walked slowly to Bamboo Lodge. Zijuan, whom she found picking flowers, invited her to go in and take a seat.
“Thanks, sister, I will,” said Xiren. “Picking flowers are you? Where’s your young lady?”
“She’s just finished dressing and is waiting for her medicine to be heated.”
She led Xiren inside, where Daiyu was reading.
“No wonder you wear yourself out, miss, reading as soon as you get up,” said Xiren cheerfully. “I only wish our Master Bao would study as hard as yon do!”
Daiyu smilingly put down her book. By now Xueyan had brought in a small tray on which were one cup of medicine, another of water, while a young maid behind her was holding a spittoon and rinse-bowl.
Xiren had come to size up the situation. But although she sat there for a while she found it impossible to approach the subject; and she did not like to risk upsetting Daiyu, sensitive as she was, by fishing for information. So presently she made some excuse to leave. Approaching Happy Red Court, she halted at sight of two people standing outside. One of them, spotting her, ran over and Xiren saw it was Chuyao.
“What are you doing here?” she asked.
“Just now Master Yun came with a note for Master Bao. He’s waiting here for a reply.”
“Surely you know that Master Bao
goes to school every day. Why wait for a reply?”
“I told him that, but he wanted me to tell you, miss, so that you can give him an answer.”
Before Xiren could make any comment she recognized the other person as Jia Yun, now sidling sheepishly towards her.
“Tell him I’ve got the note and I’ll give it to Master Bao later,” she told Chuyao.
Jia Yun had been hoping to engage Xiren in conversation in order to ingratiate himself with her, but for fear of seeming presumptuous he had come over slowly. Being close enough now to hear this remark, he could hardly come any further. And as Xiren now turned her back on him and went in, he had to leave dejectedly with Chuyao.
When Baoyu came home that evening Xiren told him, “Today young Master Yun who lives in the lane called.”
“What did he want?”
“He left a note.”
“Where is it? Let me see it.”
Sheyue fetched it from the bookcase in the inner room, and Baoyu saw that the envelope was inscribed “Respected Uncle.”
“Why has this boy stopped calling me father?” he demanded. “What do you mean?” asked Xiren.
“The other year when he sent me those white begonias, he called me his god-father. Now on this envelope he’s written ‘uncle.’ Evidently he no longer considers me as his father.”
“He has no sense of shame, and neither have you!” she scolded. “A big fellow like him calling a boy like you father—isn’t that shameless? Why, you’re not even... “She broke off, blushing and smiling.
Baoyu knowing what she meant rejoined, “That doesn’t follow. As the saying goes, ‘A childless monk may have many filial sons.’ I agreed to it only because he struck me as clever and pleasant. If he backs out, what do I care!” While saying this he opened the letter.
“There’s something shifty about young Master Yun,” observed Xiren. “At times he insists on seeing you, at others he looks around slyly; it shows he’s up to no good.”
Baoyu concentrating on his letter ignored her comments, and Xiren saw that its contents made him frown, smile and shake his head by turns. He ended up looking exasperated.
