Chapter 11: The Ningguo Mansion Hosts a Birthday Feast; Jia Rui Lusts After Xifeng and Conceives Evil Thoughts
CHAPTER 11
Ningguo House Celebrates a Birthday
Jia Rui Meets Xi-feng and Conceives an Evil Design
It was Jia Jing’s birthday. Jia Zhen, having first packed sixteen large hampers with the choicest delicacies and rarest fruits, told Jia Rong to take the household servants and deliver them to Jia Jing. He instructed Jia Rong: “Take note whether the Grand Old Gentleman is pleased or not, then pay your respects and come back. You are to say: ‘My father, obeying your command, did not dare to come; he is at home leading the entire household in paying homage to you from afar.’” Jia Rong listened, then led the servants and left.
Meanwhile, guests began to arrive. First came Jia Lian and Jia Qiang. They inspected the seating arrangements and asked: “Are there any entertainments?” The servants replied: “Our master originally planned to invite the Grand Old Gentleman here today, so he did not dare prepare any entertainments. The day before yesterday he heard that the Grand Old Gentleman would not come after all, so now he has ordered us to find a troupe of young actors and a group of musicians to play the ten-stringed instruments; they are all ready in the garden theater.”
Soon after, Lady Xing, Lady Wang, Xifeng, and Baoyu arrived. Jia Zhen and You Shi welcomed them inside. You Shi’s mother was already there. After exchanging greetings, they seated each other. Jia Zhen and You Shi personally served tea, then said: “The Old Lady is our ancestor, and my father is her nephew. On such an occasion, we dared not presume to invite her. But now the weather is cool and pleasant, and the chrysanthemums in the garden are in full bloom. We thought to invite our ancestor to come and enjoy some diversion, to see the lively bustle of her children and grandchildren—that was our intention. Who would have thought the Old Lady would not grant us the favor?” Before Lady Wang could speak, Xifeng said: “Yesterday the Old Lady said she wanted to come. But in the evening, when she saw Brother Bao and the others eating peaches, she grew greedy, ate more than half a peach, and got up twice during the fifth watch. This morning she felt a bit tired, so she told me to inform the Master that she absolutely cannot come today. She said she would like a few kinds of nice things to eat, but they must be very soft.” Jia Zhen laughed and said: “I said our ancestor loves a lively scene. If she didn’t come today, there must be a reason. So that’s it.”
Lady Wang said: “The day before yesterday I heard your elder sister say that Rong’s wife is not very well. What is it exactly?” You Shi said: “Her illness is strange. Last month, at Mid-Autumn, she still stayed up half the night playing with the Old Lady and the ladies. She came home perfectly fine. But after the twentieth, she grew lazier day by day, and lost her appetite. This has gone on for nearly half a month. And her menses haven’t come for two months.” Lady Xing interjected: “Could it be that she is pregnant?” Just then, a servant announced: “The Elder Master, the Second Master, and all the gentlemen of the family have arrived and are in the main hall.” Jia Zhen hurried out. Then You Shi said: “Earlier, some doctors also said it was pregnancy. Yesterday Feng Ziying recommended a teacher he once studied with, a fine physician. He examined her and said it is not pregnancy, but a serious illness. Yesterday he wrote a prescription; she took one dose. Today her dizziness is a little better, but otherwise there is no great improvement.” Xifeng said: “I said that if she weren’t utterly unable to bear up, on a day like today she would never have refrained from forcing herself to come.” You Shi said: “You saw her here on the third. She forced herself to stay for a long time. It was only because of the bond between you two women that she was reluctant to leave.” Xifeng’s eyes reddened. After a long pause, she said: “Truly, ‘storms gather without warning in nature, and bad luck befalls men overnight.’ At her age, if she should die of this illness, what joy would there be in living?” As they spoke, Jia Rong entered. He paid his respects to Lady Xing, Lady Wang, and Xifeng, then reported to You Shi: “I just delivered the food to the Grand Old Gentleman and told him that Father is at home attending to the gentlemen and hosting the family, and that obeying his command, he did not dare come. The Grand Old Gentleman was very pleased and said, ‘That is as it should be.’ He told me to inform Father and Mother to serve the Elder Master and the ladies well, and to tell me to serve my uncles, aunts, and elder brothers well. He also said that the ‘Yinzhi Wen’ should be carved quickly, printed in ten thousand copies, and distributed. I have reported all this to Father. Now I must hurry out to see to the meals for the Elder Master and all the gentlemen.” Xifeng said: “Rong, wait a moment. How is your wife today, really?” Jia Rong frowned and said: “Not good! Auntie, go see for yourself when you come back.” Then Jia Rong left.
You Shi said to Lady Xing and Lady Wang: “Will the ladies eat here, or in the garden? A small theatrical troupe is ready in the garden.” Lady Wang said to Lady Xing: “Let’s eat first and then go over; it will save trouble.” Lady Xing said: “Very well.” So You Shi ordered the women servants: “Bring the meal quickly.” A chorus of assent came from outside the door, and each servant went to fetch their dishes. Soon the meal was laid out. You Shi invited Lady Xing, Lady Wang, and her own mother to take the seats of honor, while she, Xifeng, and Baoyu sat at the side. Lady Xing and Lady Wang said: “We came to offer birthday greetings to the Elder Master; now it seems we are the ones celebrating a birthday!” Xifeng said: “The Elder Master has always been fond of quiet cultivation; he has perfected himself and may be considered an immortal. When the ladies say this, it is exactly ‘When the heart reaches, the spirits know.’” At these words, everyone in the room laughed.
When You Shi’s mother, Lady Xing, Lady Wang, and Xifeng had finished eating, rinsed their mouths, and washed their hands, they were about to go to the garden when Jia Rong entered and said to You Shi: “The gentlemen and all my uncles, elder brothers, and cousins have also finished their meal. The Elder Master said he had business at home, and the Second Master does not enjoy opera and dreads the noise, so they have both left. The rest of the gentlemen have been invited by Uncle Lian and Brother Qiang to go watch the opera. Just now, the four princes—Nan’an, Dongping, Xining, and Beijing—as well as the six families headed by Duke Niu of Zhenguo, and the eight families headed by Marquis Zhongjing of the Shi household, all sent messengers with name cards and birthday gifts. I reported this to Father, who had them stored in the account room. The gift lists have been recorded. The Elder Master’s thank-you cards have been given to each messenger, and each messenger has been rewarded according to custom. They were all invited to eat before leaving. Mother, you should invite the two ladies, Grandmother, and Auntie to go over to the garden and sit.” You Shi said: “We have just finished eating and were about to go.”
Xifeng said: “I’ll tell the ladies: let me first go see Rong’s wife, then I’ll come over.” Lady Wang said: “Yes, we all want to see her, but we fear she may find us too noisy. Tell her we send our regards.” You Shi said: “Good sister, my daughter-in-law listens to you. Go and comfort her; it will set my mind at ease. But come quickly to the garden.” Baoyu wanted to follow Xifeng to see Qin Keqing. Lady Wang said: “Take a look and then come over; she is your nephew’s wife.” So You Shi invited Lady Xing, Lady Wang, and her mother to go to the Huifang Garden.
Xifeng and Baoyu went with Jia Rong to Qin Keqing’s rooms. Entering the door, they quietly approached the inner room. When Qin saw them, she tried to rise. Xifeng said: “Don’t get up! You might get dizzy if you stand too quickly.” So Xifeng hurried forward, took Qin’s hand, and said: “My dear! How can you have grown so thin in just a few days?” Then she sat down on the cushion where Qin was sitting. Baoyu also greeted her and sat on a chair opposite. Jia Rong called out: “Bring tea quickly! Auntie and Second Uncle haven’t had tea in the main hall yet.”
Qin Keqing held Xifeng’s hand and forced a smile: “It’s all my ill fortune. In a family like this, my father- and mother-in-law treat me like their own daughter. My husband, though young, respects me and I respect him; we have never so much as exchanged a cross word. As for the elders and peers in the family—apart from you, Auntie, whom I need not even mention—there is no one who does not dote on me and get along with me. Now that I have this illness, I have lost all my ambition. I have not been able to serve my parents-in-law for a single day. Even though you care for me so much, even if I had the utmost filial devotion, I cannot fulfill it now. I think to myself, I may not last through the year.”
Bao-yu was staring at the painting 'Spring Slumber in the Hibiscus Pavilion' and the couplet by Qin Taixu which read, 'A delicate chill imprisons dreams in the cold of spring; A fragrant aura envelops men in the scent of wine,' when, without realizing it, he recalled the incident of dreaming of the 'Illusory Realm of Great Void' while taking a nap there. As he was lost in thought, he heard Qin-shi say these words, and it was as if ten thousand arrows pierced his heart; tears streamed down his face before he knew it. Xi-feng, though deeply distressed in her heart, was afraid that if the patient saw everyone in such a state, it would only add to her sorrow, defeating the purpose of coming to comfort her. Seeing Bao-yu like this, she said, 'Brother Bao, you're being far too soft-hearted. She's just speaking like this as a sick person; how could it be that serious? Besides, how old is she? To have such thoughts over a slight illness—isn't that just adding to her own sickness?' Jia Rong said, 'As for her illness, there's nothing else to be done—if she could only eat a little, there'd be no cause for worry.' Xi-feng said, 'Brother Bao, Madam wants you to go over quickly. Don't keep on like this here; it only makes your sister-in-law feel worse. And Madam is thinking of you over there.' So she said to Jia Rong, 'You go ahead with your Uncle Bao; I'll sit here a while longer.' Jia Rong, hearing this, went with Bao-yu to the Garden of Assembled Fragrance.
Meanwhile, Xi-feng comforted Qin-shi a bit more and whispered many heartfelt words to her. You-shi had sent someone to invite her two or three times before Xi-feng said to Qin-shi, 'Take good care of yourself, and I'll come see you again. It's fated that you should get better, for the day before yesterday someone recommended this excellent doctor, so there's no more need to be afraid.' Qin-shi smiled and said, 'Even if it were an immortal, they can cure the illness but not fate. Aunt, I know that my illness is just a matter of biding time.' Xi-feng said, 'If you keep thinking that way, how can you ever get better? You must take a more positive view. Besides, the doctor said that if it's not treated, he fears it might be bad in the spring. It's only mid-September now, and there are four or five months yet—what illness can't be cured in that time? If we were a family that couldn't afford ginseng, it would be another matter, but your father- and mother-in-law, when they hear that you can be cured, wouldn't blink at using two qian of ginseng a day, or even two catties if needed. Rest well now; I'm going to the garden.' Qin-shi said again, 'Aunt, forgive me for not seeing you out. When you have free time, I beg you to come often and see me; let us sit together, mother and daughter, and talk more.' Xi-feng, hearing this, couldn't help but redden at the eyes again, and said, 'When I have leisure, I will certainly come to see you often.' Then Xi-feng, leading the old serving women and maids who had come with her, along with the women and maids of the Ning-guo household, entered the garden through a side gate from inside. What met her eyes:
Golden chrysanthemums cover the ground, white willows slant across the slopes. A small bridge leads to a stream like Ruoye, a winding path connects to a road to the Heavenly Terrace. Clear torrents rush among the rocks, fragrance wafts from the hedges; red leaves flutter on the treetops, sparse woods form a picture. The west wind suddenly sharpens, the oriole's song has just ceased; the warm sun grows gentle, adding the chirp of crickets. Gazing far to the southeast, there are several pavilions leaning against the hills; looking far to the northwest, three waterside verandas are built. The sound of pipes and reeds fills the ears, stirring a hidden melancholy. Silk-clad figures thread through the woods, adding to the charm.
Xi-feng was admiring the garden scenery, walking step by step and praising it. Suddenly, from behind a rockery, a man came out, stepped forward, and said to Xi-feng, 'Greetings, sister-in-law.' Xi-feng, startled, stepped back and said, 'Isn't this Master Jia Rui?' Jia Rui said, 'Sister-in-law, don't you even recognize me? If not me, who else?' Xi-feng said, 'It's not that I don't recognize you, but seeing you so suddenly, I didn't expect you to be here.' Jia Rui said, 'It must be fate that brought us together. I just slipped away from the feast to take a stroll in this quiet place, and who would have thought I'd meet you coming this way too? Isn't that fate?' As he spoke, he kept stealing glances at Xi-feng.
Xi-feng was an intelligent woman; seeing his manner, how could she not guess eight or nine parts of it? So she smiled at Jia Rui deceitfully and said, 'No wonder your elder brother often speaks of you, saying you're very good. Seeing you today and hearing these few words, I know you're a clever and amiable person. Right now I have to go to the ladies, so I can't talk with you; when I have leisure, we can talk again.' Jia Rui said, 'I wanted to go to your house to pay my respects, but I was afraid that being young, you might not be willing to see people easily.' Xi-feng smiled falsely and said, 'We're all one family, what talk of being young or not?' Jia Rui, hearing this, never expected to have such a lucky encounter today; his expression and manner became even more unseemly and repulsive. Xi-feng said, 'Hurry back to the feast; be careful they don't catch you and fine you a drink.' Jia Rui, hearing this, felt half his body go numb; as he walked slowly, he kept turning his head back to look. Xi-feng deliberately slowed her steps, and when she saw he was far away, she thought to herself, 'This is truly knowing a man's face but not his heart. How can there be such a beastly person? If he goes on like this, I'll make him die at my hands one day, and then he'll know my skill!' Then Xi-feng moved forward. Just as she was about to round a hill, she saw two or three old serving women hurrying toward her in a fluster. Seeing Xi-feng, they smiled and said, 'Our mistress saw that you, Second Mistress, weren't coming, and was frantic with worry, so she sent us to come and invite you again.' Xi-feng said, 'Your mistress is always like an impatient ghost.' Xi-feng walked slowly and asked, 'How many acts of the opera have been performed?' The old woman replied, 'Eight or nine.' As they spoke, they arrived at the back gate of the Pavilion of Celestial Fragrance, where they saw Bao-yu playing with a group of maids. Xi-feng said, 'Brother Bao, don't be too mischievous.' One maid said, 'The ladies are all sitting upstairs; please, Mistress, go up this way.'
Xi-feng, hearing this, walked gracefully, lifting her skirt, and went upstairs. There she saw You-shi already waiting at the top of the stairs. You-shi smiled and said, 'You two, mother and child, are too close; once you meet, you can't bear to part. Tomorrow, you should move in and live with her. Sit down; let me offer you a toast.' So Xi-feng took her seat after greeting Lady Xing and Lady Wang, and also paid her respects to You-shi's mother, then sat at the same table with You-shi, drinking wine and listening to the opera. You-shi called for the playbill and asked Xi-feng to choose a play. Xi-feng said, 'With Madam Jia's mother and the ladies here, how dare I choose?' Lady Xing and Lady Wang said, 'We and Madam Jia's mother have already chosen several acts; you pick two good ones for us to hear.' Xi-feng stood up, acknowledged the command, then took the playbill, looked it over from the beginning, and selected 'Return of the Soul' and 'Lute Ballad.' Handing back the playbill, she said, 'The one playing now is "Double Promotion of the Official"; after it's done, if we sing these two, it will be about time.' Lady Wang said, 'Indeed, we should let your elder brother and sister-in-law rest early; they're not at ease anyway.' You-shi said, 'The ladies don't come often; let us, mother and child, sit a while longer; it's still early.' Xi-feng stood up and looked downstairs, saying, 'Where have the gentlemen gone?' A nearby old woman said, 'The gentlemen just went to the Pavilion of Congealed Radiance, taking the musicians, to drink there.' Xi-feng said, 'It's not convenient here; who knows what they're up to behind our backs!' You-shi smiled and said, 'Who's as proper as you?' So they chatted and laughed until the chosen plays were all finished; then the wine tables were cleared, and the meal was served. After eating, everyone left the garden, went to the main hall, sat down, and drank tea. Then they ordered the carriages prepared, bid farewell to You-shi's mother. You-shi, leading her concubines and the household women and maids, saw them out. Jia Zhen, leading his sons and nephews, was standing by the carriages waiting. Seeing Lady Xing and Lady Wang, he said, 'Aunties, come again tomorrow for a visit.' Lady Wang said, 'Enough; we've sat here the whole day and are tired. Tomorrow we'll rest.' So they all got into their carriages and left. Jia Rui kept stealing glances at Xi-feng. After Jia Zhen and the others had gone in, Li Gui led the horse over, Bao-yu mounted it, and followed Lady Wang away. Here, Jia Zhen, along with the brothers, sons, and nephews of the family, finished their evening meal, and then everyone dispersed.
The next day, the clan members made a commotion again all day; there's no need to describe it in detail. After this, Xi-feng came frequently to see Qin-shi in person. Some days Qin-shi was a bit better, other days she remained the same. Jia Zhen, You-shi, and Jia Rong were extremely anxious.
Now Jia Rui had come to the Rong Mansion several times, but each time he happened to miss Xifeng, who was over at the Ning Mansion. That year, the winter solstice fell on the thirtieth day of the eleventh month. In the days around the turning point of the season, Grandmother Jia, Lady Wang, and Xifeng sent someone every day to see Qin Shi. Those who returned all said: “These past few days, we haven’t seen any worsening of her illness, nor any improvement.” Lady Wang said to Grandmother Jia: “With this kind of illness, if she doesn’t get worse at such an important seasonal turn, there’s great hope.” Grandmother Jia said: “Isn’t that so? Such a good girl. If anything should happen to her, it would break one’s heart.” As she spoke, her heart ached, and she said to Xifeng: “The two of you, aunt and niece, have also had a good friendship. Tomorrow is New Year’s Day. After tomorrow, the day after, you go and see her again. Take a good look at her condition. If she’s somewhat better, come back and tell me, so I can be happy too. As for the things she usually likes to eat, you often have some made and sent over to her.” Xifeng agreed to everything.
On the second day of the new year, after breakfast, she went to the Ning Mansion and saw Qin Shi’s condition. Though she hadn’t gotten any worse, all the flesh on her face and body had shriveled away. So Xifeng sat with Qin Shi for half the day, chatted about trivial matters, and comforted her by saying that the illness was nothing to worry about. Qin Shi said: “Whether it gets better or not, we’ll know in the spring. Now that the winter solstice has passed and nothing has happened, perhaps it might get better, who knows? Aunt, please tell the old lady and Lady Wang to rest easy. As for the date-and-jujube paste yam cake that the old lady sent over yesterday, I actually ate two pieces, and I seemed to digest them well.” Xifeng said: “I’ll send you some more tomorrow. I’ll go and see your mother-in-law now, then I must hurry back to report to the old lady.” Qin Shi said: “Aunt, please convey my respects to the old lady and Lady Wang.”
Xifeng agreed and went out. She went to You Shi’s main room and sat down. You Shi asked: “What do you think of my daughter-in-law, now that you’ve seen her with your own eyes?” Xifeng lowered her head for a long while, then said: “There’s really no way out now. You should also prepare all the things needed for the funeral for her. Even as a shock tactic, it might help.” You Shi said: “I’ve already had people secretly prepare things. But for that one item, we haven’t found good wood yet. For now, we’ll take it slowly.” Then Xifeng drank some tea, chatted for a while, and said: “I must hurry back to report to the old lady.” You Shi said: “You should break it gently, don’t frighten the old lady.” Xifeng said: “I know.” Then Xifeng returned home. Once there, she saw Grandmother Jia and said: “Rong Ge’s wife sends her respects to the old lady and kowtows to you. She says she is somewhat better and begs the old ancestor to rest easy. When she is a little better, she will come to kowtow and pay her respects to the old ancestor.” Grandmother Jia asked: “What did you think of her?” Xifeng said: “For now, there’s no immediate danger. Her spirits are still good.” When Grandmother Jia heard this, she pondered for a long time, then said to Xifeng: “Go change your clothes and rest for a while.”
Xifeng agreed and went out. After paying respects to Lady Wang, she went home. Pinger gave Xifeng some warmed everyday clothes to change into. Xifeng had just sat down when she asked: “Has nothing happened at home?” Pinger had just brought tea and handed it to her, saying: “Nothing much. Just the interest of three hundred taels of silver, which Wang Er’s wife brought in, and I received it. Also, Master Rui sent someone to inquire whether you were at home. He wants to come and pay his respects and have a talk.” Xifeng heard this, snorted, and said: “That beast is looking for death. Let him come, and we’ll see what happens!” Pinger asked: “Why does Master Rui keep coming?” Xifeng then told her about meeting him in the Ning Mansion garden in the ninth month, and what he had said. Pinger remarked: “A toad lusting after a swan’s flesh. A scoundrel without any human decency, to have such thoughts. May he die a bad death!” Xifeng said: “When he comes, I’ll have my own way of dealing with him.” What happened when Jia Rui came is unknown, and we must wait for the next chapter to find out.