A Dream of Red Mansion

by Cao Xueqin

  “She won’t come unless Madam Bao sends for her.”

  “That’s why I want you to go and persuade her.”

  “What should I say?”

  “You understand how I feel and how she feels—both of us because of Miss Lin. Tell her that I wasn’t faithless to her. It was you people who made me look faithless.” He glanced towards the inner room and pointing at it continued, “I never wanted to marry her, but they tricked me into it—the old lady and others—and that was the death of poor Cousin Lin. But even so, they should have let me see her and clear myself—then she wouldn’t have died with such a sense of grievance! You must have heard from Miss Tanchun and the others that, at the last, she reproached me angrily. And Zijuan hates me like poison because of her.”

  “But how can you think me so heartless? Qingwen was only a maid who didn’t mean so much to me, yet the truth is that when she died I wrote an elegy for her and sacrificed to her. Miss Lin saw that for herself. Now that Miss Lin is dead, would I treat her worse than Qingwen? But I can’t even sacrifice to her. Besides, her spirit is living on; so when she thinks about this won’t she blame me still more?”

  “You can sacrifice to her if you like,” said Xiren. “What do you want of me?”

  “Since my health started improving I’ve been wanting to write an elegy but somehow I’ve grown dim-witted. I can sacrifice any old way to other people, but there mustn’t be anything the least bit crude about a sacrifice to her: So I want to find out from Zijuan what her mistress was thinking and how she detected it. Before my illness I could have figured it out, but now I can’t remember a thing. You told me that Miss Lin was getting better; how did she come to die so suddenly? What did she say when she was well and I didn’t go to see her? She didn’t call when I was ill, and how did she explain that? And why is it your mistress never lets me touch those things of hers which I managed to get hold of?”

  “She’s afraid they might upset you, that’s all.”

  “I don’t believe it. If Miss Lin felt for me, why did she burn her poems before she died instead of leaving them to me as a memento? I heard tell that music sounded in the sky, so she must have become a goddess or an immortal. I saw her coffin, it’s true, but who knows whether she was in it or not?”

  “You’re talking more and more nonsensically. How could anyone announce a death simply by displaying an empty coffin?”

  “I didn’t mean that!” he cried. “But when people become immortals, some retain their bodily form, others shed their mortal frame. Good sister, please fetch Zijuan for me!”

  “You’ll have to wait till I’ve explained to her just how you feel. If she’s willing to come, all right; if she refuses it may take time to talk her round. But even if she comes, at sight of you she’s bound to hold certain things back. It seems to me I’d better question her tomorrow after Madam Bao had gone to see the old lady. That way I may find out more. Then when there’s time to spare, I’ll tell you about it.”

  “That’s all very well, but I’m too impatient to wait!”

  At this point Sheyue came out. “The young mistress says it’s already the fourth watch and she wants the young master to go to bed,” she announced. “And Sister Xiren must have been enjoying her chat so much that she lost track of the time.”

  “That’s right!” exclaimed Xiren. “It’s time to go to bed. We can talk again tomorrow.”

  Though distressed, Baoyu had to comply, but as he was leaving he whispered, “Mind you don’t forget tomorrow!”

  Xiren smiled and said, “All right.”

  “You two are up to some tricks again,” Sheyue teased. “Why not ask the mistress to let you sleep with Xiren, then you can talk all night for all we care.”

  Baoyu waved his hand saying, “There’s no need for that.”

  “You bitch, talking such rot!” scolded Xiren. “Tomorrow I’ll pinch your lips.” She turned to Baoyu. “Look at all the trouble you’ve caused. Sitting up so late talking but without so much as a word about this.” They escorted him to the inner room then went to bed themselves.

  Baoyu could not sleep that night, and he was still thinking of Daiyu the next day when a servant brought in the message, “Relatives and friends have offered to send over operas and feasts to celebrate the master’s return; but the master has declined. He says there’s no need for operas, but we’ll have a simple meal at home to invite them all for a chat. The date fixed is the day after tomorrow, so I’ve come to notify you.”

  To know what visitors came, turn to the next chapter.

  Chapter 105

  Imperial Guards Raid the Ning Mansion

  A Censor Brings a Charge Against the Prefect of Pingan

  Jia Zheng was entertaining his guests in the Hall of Glorious Felicity when in burst Lai Da.

  “Commissioner Zhao of the Imperial Guards and several of his officers are here to see you, sir,” he announced. “When I asked for their cards the commissioner said, ‘No need: we are old friends.’ He dismounted from his carriage and came straight in. Please make haste to meet them, sir, with the young gentlemen.”

  Jia Zheng, who had had no dealings with Commissioner Zhao, could not understand why he should have come uninvited. As he had guests he could hardly entertain him, yet not to ask him in would be discourteous.

  He was thinking it over when Jia Lian urged, “Better go at once, uncle, before they all come in.”

  That same moment a servant from the inner gate announced, “Commissioner Zhao has entered the inner gate.”

  Jia Zheng and others hastily went to meet him. The commissioner, smiling, said not a word as he walked straight into the hall. Behind him were five or six of his officers, only a few of whom they recognized, but none of these answered their greetings. At a loss, Jia Zheng had to offer them seats. Certain of the guests knew Commissioner Zhao, yet with his head in the air he ignored them all, simply taking Jia Zheng’s hand as he made a few conventional remarks. This looked so ominous that some of the guests slipped into the inner room while all the rest stood at respectful attention.

  Jia Zheng, forcing a smile, was about to make conversation when a flustered servant announced the Prince of Xiping. Before he could hasten to meet him the prince had entered.

  Commissioner Zhao stepped forward at once to salute him, then ordered his officers, “Since His Highness has arrived, you gentlemen can take runners to guard the front and back gates.”

  His officers assented and went out. Jia Zheng, knowing that this spelt trouble, fell on his knees to welcome the prince, who helped him to his feet with a smile.

  “We wouldn’t presume to intrude without special reason,” he said. “We have come to announce an Imperial decree to Lord She. You have many feasters here, which is somewhat inopportune, so I’ll ask your relatives and friends to disperse, leaving only your own household to hear the decree.”

  Commissioner Zhao put in, “Your Highness is very gracious, but the prince officiating at the East Mansion takes his duties so seriously that the gates are doubtless already sealed up.”

  Hearing that both mansions were involved, the guests were desperate to extricate themselves.

  “These gentlemen are free to go,” the prince said affably. “Have attendants see them out and notify your guards that there is no need to search them as they are all guests. Let them leave at once.”

  Then those relatives and friends streaked off like lightning, leaving Jia Zheng, Jia She and their households livid and trembling with fear. Meanwhile runners had swarmed in to guard all the doors, so that no one whether master or man—could stir a foot from his place.

  Commissioner Zhao turned to request the prince. “Please read the decree, Your Highness, then we can start the search.”

  The runners hitched up their tunics and rolled up their sleeves, ready to go into action.

  The Prince of Xiping proclaimed slowly, “His Majesty has ordered me to bring Zhao Quan of the Imperial Guards to search Jia She’s property.”

  Jia She and the
rest prostrated themselves on the ground.

  The prince, standing on the dais, continued. “Hear the Imperial decree: Jia She has intrigued with provincial officials and abused his power to molest the weak, showing himself unworthy of Our favour and sullying his ancestors’ good name. His hereditary rank is hereby abolished.”

  Commissioner Zhao thundered, “Arrest Jia She! Keep guard over the others.”

  At that time, all the men of both Jia Mansions were in the hall except for Baoyu, who had slipped off to join the old lady on the pretext of indisposition, and Jia Huan who was seldom presented to guests. So all the rest were now under surveillance.

  Commissioner Zhao told his men to dispatch officers and runners to search the different apartments and draw up an inventory. This order made Jia Zheng’s household exchange consternated glances, while the runners gleefully rubbed their hands, eager to ransack the place.

  The prince interposed, “We hear that Lord She and Lord Zheng keep separate accounts, and according to the decree we are to search the former’s property. The rest is to be sealed up pending further orders.”

  Commissioner Zhao rose to his feet. “May it please Your Highness,” he said, “Jia She and Jia Zheng have not divided the family property, and we hear that Jia Zheng has put his nephew Jia Lian in charge of his household affairs. We shall therefore have to search the whole premises.” When the prince made no comment he added, “I must go in person with my officers to search the houses of Jia She and Jia Lian.”

  “There is no hurry,” demurred the prince. “Send word first so that the ladies inside may withdraw before you start to search.”

  But already the commissioner’s attendants and runners, making the Jias’ servants show them the way, had set off in different directions to ransack both mansions.

  “No disorder now!” called the prince sternly. “I shall come in person to supervise the search!” Then getting up slowly he ordered, “None of those who came with me are to move. Wait here. Later we shall check up on the property and make an inventory.”

  Just then a guard came in and knelt to report, “In the inner apartments we have found some clothes from the Palace and other forbidden things which we haven’t presumed to touch. I have come, Your Highness, to ask for your orders.”

  Presently another group gathered round the prince to report, “In Jia Lian’s house we have found two cases of title-deeds and one of promissory notes—all at illegally exorbitant rates of interest.”

  “Good!” cried Commissioner Zhao. “So they are usurers too. All their property should certainly be confiscated! Please rest here, Your Highness, while I supervise the search before coming back for your instructions.”

  Just then, however, the prince’s steward announced, “The guards at the gate say that His Majesty has sent the Prince of Beijing to proclaim another decree and they ask the commissioner to receive him.”

  As Commissioner Zhao started out to meet the Prince of Beijing he told himself, “I was out of luck having that crabbed prince foisted on me. Now, with this other one here, I should be able to crack down on them hard!”

  The Prince of Beijing had already entered the hall. Standing facing the doorway he announced, “Here is a decree. Let Zhao Quan, Commissioner of the Imperial Guards, pay heed.” He then proclaimed, “The commissioner’s sole task is to arrest Jia She for trial. The Prince of Xiping will determine what other measures to take according to the earlier decree.”

  Elated by this, the Prince of Xiping seated himself beside the Prince of Beijing and sent the commissioner back to his yamen with Jia She. This development disappointed all his officers and runners, who had come out on hearing of the second prince’s arrival. They had to stand there awaiting Their Highnesses’ orders. The Prince of Beijing selected two honest officers and a dozen of the older runners, sending away the rest.

  The Prince of Xiping told him, “I was just losing patience with Old Zhao. If you hadn’t brought that decree in the nick of time, sir, they’d have been really hard hit here.”

  “When I heard at court that Your Highness had been sent to search the Jia Mansions I was relieved, knowing you would let them off more lightly, “the Prince of Beijing replied. “I never thought Old Zhao was such a scoundrel. But where are Jia Zheng and Baoyu now? And how much damage has been done inside?”

  His men reported, “Jia Zheng and the rest are under guard in the servants’ quarters, and the whole place has been turned upside-down.”

  At the Prince of Beijing’s orders, the officers fetched Jia Zheng for questioning. He fell on his knees before Their Highnesses and with tears in his eyes begged for mercy. The prince helped him up and urged him not to worry, then informed him of the terms of the new decree. With tears of gratitude, Jia Zheng kowtowed towards the north to thank the Emperor then turned back for further instructions.

  The prince said, “When Old Zhao was here just now, Your Lordship, his runners reported finding various articles for Imperial use and some promissory notes for usurious loans—this we cannot cover up. Regarding those forbidden articles, as they were for Her Imperial Highness’ use it will do no harm to report them. But we must find some way to explain those IOU’s. Now I want you, sir, to take the officers and honestly hand over to them all your brother’s property, to end the matter. Don’t on any account conceal anything, or you will be asking for trouble.”

  “I would never dare,” answered Jia Zheng. “But we never divided up our ancestral estate, simply considering the things in our two houses as our own property.”

  “Very well,” they said. “Just hand over everything in Lord She’s house.” They sent the two officers off with orders to attend only to this and nothing else.

  Let us return now to the ladies’ feast in the Lady Dowager’s quarters. Lady Wang had just warned Baoyu that unless he went out to join the gentlemen his father might be angry.

  Xifeng, still unwell, said faintly, “I don’t think Baoyu’s afraid of meeting them, but he knows there are plenty of people there to entertain the guests, so he’s waiting on us here instead. If it occurs to the master that they need more people there to look after the guests, you can trot out Baoyu, madam. How about that?”

  “This minx Xifeng!” the old lady chuckled. “She still has the gift of the gab for all she’s so ill!”

  The fun was at its height when one of Lady Xing’s maids came rushing in crying, “Your Ladyships! We’re done for! A whole lot of robbers have come, all in boots and official caps... They’re opening cases, overturning crates, ransacking the whole place!

  The old lady and the others had not recovered from this shock when Pinger, her hair hanging loose, dashed in with Qiaojie.

  “We’re ruined!” she wailed. “I was having lunch with Qiaojie when Lai Wang appeared in chains, and told me to lose no time in warning you ladies to keep out of the way, as some prince has come to raid our house! I nearly died of fright! Before I could go in to fetch any valuables, a band of men drove me out. You’d better make haste to get together the clothes and things you need.”

  Lady Xing and Lady Wang were completely flummoxed, frightened out of their wits. Xifeng who had listened wide-eyed now collapsed in a faint. The old lady was crying with terror, unable to utter a word.

  Pandemonium reigned as the maids tried to attend to their mistresses. Then they heard shouts, “The women inside must make themselves scarce! The prince is coming!”

  Baochai and Baoyu looked on helplessly as the maids and nurses attempted desperately to hustle the ladies out. Then in ran Jia Lian.

  “It’s all right now!” he panted. “Thank goodness the prince has come to our rescue!”

  Before they could question him, he saw Xifeng lying as if dead on the floor and gave a cry of alarm. Then the sight of the old lady, terror-stricken and gasping for breath, made him even more frantic. Luckily Pinger and others managed to revive Xifeng and help her up. The old lady recovered consciousness too, but lay back dizzily on the couch sobbing and choking for breath, while
Li Wan did her best to soothe her.

  Taking a grip on himself, Jia Lian explained to them how kindly the two princes had intervened. But fearing that the news of Jia She’s arrest might make the old lady and Lady Xing die of fright, he withheld it for the time being and went back to his own quarter.

  Once over the threshold, he saw that all their cases and wardrobes had been opened and rifled. He stood speechless in consternation, shedding tears, till he heard his name called and had to go out. Jia Zheng was there with two officers drawing up an inventory, which one of the officers read out as follows:

  One hundred and twenty-three gold trinkets set with jewels; thirteen strings of pearls two pale gold plates; two pairs of gold bowls; two gilded bowls; forty gold spoons; eighty big silver bowls and twenty silver plates; two pairs of ivory chopsticks inlaid with gold; four gilded pots; three pairs of gilded cups; two tea-trays; seventy-six silver saucers; thirty-six silver cups; eighteen black fox furs; six deep-grey fox furs; thirty-six sable furs; thirty yellow fox furs; twelve ermine furs; three grey fox furs; sixty marten furs; forty grey fox-leg furs; twenty brown sheep-skins; two raccoon furs; two bundles of yellow fox-leg furs; twenty pieces of white fox fur; thirty lengths of Western worsted; twenty-three lengths of serge; twelve lengths of velveteen; twenty musk-rat furs; four pieces of spotted squirrel fur; one bolt of velvet; one piece of plum-deer skin; two fox furs with ornamental cloud patterns; a roll of badgercub skin; seven bundles of platypus fur; a hundred and sixty squirrel furs; eight male wolf-skins; six tiger-skins; three seal-skins; sixteen otter furs; forty bundles of grey sheep-skins; sixty-three black sheep-skins; ten sets of red fox-fur hat material; twelve sets of black fox-fur hat material; two sets of sable-fur hat material; sixteen small fox furs; two beaver-skins; two otter-skins; thirty-five civet-cat furs; twelve lengths of Japanese silk; one hundred and thirty bolts of satin; one hundred and eighty-one bolts of gauze; thirty-two bolts of crepe; thirty bolts of Tibetan serge; eight bolts of satin with serpent designs; three bales of hemp-cloth; three bales of different kinds of cloth; one hundred fur coats; thirty-two Tibetan serge garments; three hundred and forty padded and unpadded garments; thirty-two jade articles; nine jade buckles; over five hundred utensils of copper and tin; eighteen clocks and watches; nine chaplets; thirty-two lengths of different kinds of satin with serpent designs; three satin cushions with serpent designs for Imperial use; eight costumes for Palace ladies; one white jade belt; twelve bolts of yellow satin; seven thousand and two hundred taels of silver; fifty taels of gold; seven thousand strings of cash.