Chapter 14: Lin Ruhai Dies in the City of Yangzhou; Jia Baoyu Visits the Prince of Beijing on the Road
Chapter 14: Lin Ruhai Dies in Yangzhou; Jia Baoyu Encounters the Prince of Beijing on the Road
It is said that Lai Sheng, the chief steward of the Ningguo mansion, upon hearing that Xifeng had been appointed to manage internal affairs, summoned all his colleagues and said: "Now that the Second Mistress of Lian from the West Mansion has been invited to take charge of internal matters, if she comes to requisition supplies or give orders, we must be more cautious than usual. Everyone should arrive early and leave late each day. Better to work hard for this one month and rest afterward, than to lose face. She is a well-known hothead, sharp-tongued and hard-hearted; if she gets angry, she shows no regard for anyone." All present said, "That makes sense." Another person laughed and said, "By rights, our household really needs someone like her to set things straight; it’s been far too undisciplined." As they were speaking, Lai Wang’s wife arrived with a tally to collect paper for official documents and imperial announcements, the requisition slip marked with quantities. Everyone hurriedly offered her a seat and tea, while ordering someone to fetch the paper in the required amounts. They accompanied Lai Wang’s wife to the ceremonial gate, where they handed the paper to her, and she carried it inside herself.
Xifeng then ordered Caiming to prepare ledgers and account books. She summoned Lai Sheng’s wife and requested the household register to review, also ordering that by dawn the next day all the women servants of the Ningguo mansion were to report for duty. She roughly glanced over the register, asked Lai Sheng’s wife a few questions, then took her carriage home. That night passed without incident. The next day, she arrived at the hour of Mao Zheng Er Ke (just after six in the morning). The women and maids of the Ningguo mansion, having heard she had arrived, gathered, but seeing Xifeng giving orders to Lai Sheng’s wife, they dared not enter and only peered and listened from outside the windows. They heard Xifeng say to Lai Sheng’s wife: "Since I’ve been entrusted with this, I must say I’ll have to displease you. I’m not like your mistress, who is easygoing and lets you do as you please. Don’t say things like ‘That’s how it’s always been in this house.’ From now on, you must follow my orders. If you make the slightest mistake, I don’t care who has face or who doesn’t—everyone will be dealt with on the spot." With that, she ordered Caiming to read the register and call each person by name to come forward and be inspected.
After the inspection was done, she gave further orders: "These twenty will be divided into two shifts, ten per shift. Each day, they will be solely responsible for receiving guests and serving tea at the mansion—no other duties. These twenty will also be divided into two shifts, each day solely responsible for serving tea and meals to family and relatives—no other duties. These forty will also be divided into two shifts, solely responsible for burning incense, adding oil, hanging curtains, keeping vigil before the spirit, offering food and tea, and leading the mourning wails—no other business concerns them. These four will be solely in charge of the inner tea room, managing cups, saucers, and tea utensils. If even one piece goes missing, they will be made to replace it at their own expense. These four will be solely in charge of wine and food vessels; if one is missing, they too must replace it. These eight will be solely responsible for supervising and receiving sacrificial offerings. These eight will be solely responsible for lamp oil, candles, and paper goods throughout the mansion. I will draw the total supplies and hand them over to you eight, and then you will distribute them to each area according to my fixed quotas. These thirty will take turns each day to keep night watches, guard the gates, watch for fire hazards, and sweep the grounds. The remaining staff will be assigned by rooms: each person is responsible for a specific area, and from the furniture, antiques, down to spittoons and dusters, every blade of grass or leaf—if anything is lost or damaged, the person in charge of that area will be held accountable and made to pay compensation. Lai Sheng’s wife will conduct daily inspections. If there is any laziness, gambling, drinking, brawling, or quarreling, report it to me immediately. If you show favoritism and I find out, even your three or four generations of old face won’t save you. Now that everything is regulated, if any department makes a mistake, I’ll deal only with that department. My personal attendants all carry watches; for every matter, big or small, I have fixed times. In any case, your main hall also has a clock. I’ll take roll call at Mao Zheng Er Ke, eat breakfast at Si Zheng, and handle all requisitions and reports only at Wu Chu Ke. At Xu Chu, after burning the evening paper money, I’ll personally inspect every place, then return and hand over the keys to the night watch. The next day, I’ll be back at Mao Zheng Er Ke. I suppose we’ll all have to work hard for these few days. When it’s over, your master will naturally reward you."
After speaking, she ordered the distribution of tea leaves, oil candles, feather dusters, brooms, and other items according to the quotas. At the same time, she had furniture moved out: table curtains, chair covers, cushions, felt mats, spittoons, footrests, and the like. As she issued these items, she recorded everything with a brush: who was in charge of which area, who received what—all clearly noted. The staff, having received their assignments, now had clear duties, unlike before when they only picked easy tasks and left the hard ones unattended. The various rooms could no longer lose things in the chaos. Even the comings and goings of guests became orderly, unlike before when someone would be serving tea and then be called away to bring food, or be mourning one moment and then have to attend to a visitor. Such disorganization, confusion, shirking, loafing, and pilfering were all eliminated from the next day onward.
Xifeng, seeing that her authority was respected and her orders obeyed, felt quite pleased. Noticing that Madam You was ill and Jia Zhen was so grief-stricken he barely ate, she herself had various fine congees and delicate dishes prepared daily in the Rongguo mansion and sent over to urge them to eat. Jia Zhen also ordered that superior dishes be sent to the side hall each day exclusively for Xifeng. Xifeng, undaunted by hard work, came every day at Mao Zheng Er Ke to take roll call and conduct business, sitting alone in the side hall and not mingling with the other sisters-in-law. Even when female guests arrived, she did not go out to greet them.
This day happened to be the fifth day of the fifth week of mourning. The Buddhist monks were performing rituals to open the path and break through hell, lighting lamps to guide the dead, worshipping King Yama, summoning ghosts, inviting Kshitigarbha, opening the Golden Bridge, and raising banners. The Taoist priests were presenting memorials to the Three Pure Ones and bowing to the Jade Emperor. The Chan monks were burning incense, performing the Flaming Mouth ceremony, and reciting the Water Repentance. Additionally, thirteen nuns, dressed in embroidered robes and red slippers, silently chanted sutras for guiding souls before the spirit tablet. The scene was extremely lively. Xifeng, knowing that many guests would come that day, stayed home to rest overnight. At Yin Zheng (around four in the morning), Pinger urged her to get up, wash, and dress. By the time she was fully prepared, changed clothes, washed her hands, drank a few mouthfuls of sweetened rice congee with milk, and rinsed her mouth, it was already Mao Zheng Er Ke. Lai Wang’s wife and the others had been waiting for some time. Xifeng went out to the front hall, boarded her carriage, with a pair of horn lanterns ahead bearing the large characters "Rongguo Mansion" in bold script, and proceeded slowly to the Ningguo mansion. At the main gate, lanterns were brightly hung, and identical torches lined both sides, lighting up the area like daylight. Mourning servants in white stood in rows on either side. When the carriage reached the main gate, the young male servants withdrew, and the women came forward to lift the carriage curtain. Xifeng alighted, one hand supporting Fenger, while two maids held up lantern shades and escorted her inside. The women of the Ningguo mansion came forward to greet her. Xifeng walked slowly into the Hall of Ascending to Immortality in the Garden of Meeting Fragrance, before the spirit tablet. As soon as she saw the coffin, her tears fell like a broken string of pearls. In the courtyard, many young servants stood with hands at their sides, ready to burn paper money. Xifeng gave the order: "Offer tea and burn paper." At once, a gong sounded, all the instruments played, and someone quickly brought a large round armchair and placed it before the spirit tablet. Xifeng sat down and burst into loud wails. Then, inside and out, men and women, high and low, hearing Xifeng cry, all joined in with loud weeping.
After a while, Jia Zhen and Madam You sent someone to urge her to stop, and Xifeng finally ceased. Lai Wang’s wife offered tea for her to rinse her mouth. Xifeng then rose, took leave of the family members, and went into the side hall. She called the roll by name; all the assigned staff were present except for one person responsible for greeting and seeing off guests. She immediately ordered that person to be brought in. The woman arrived, flustered and ashamed. Xifeng sneered and said, "I wondered who had been negligent—so it’s you! You thought you had more prestige than others, so you don’t listen to my orders." The woman said, "I usually come early every day. Only today, I woke up feeling it was early, so I dozed off again and came late. Please, Mistress, forgive me this once." As she spoke, Wang Xing’s wife from the Rongguo mansion arrived and peered in from the front.
Xifeng did not dismiss the offender but instead asked, "Wang Xing’s wife, what business do you have?" Wang Xing’s wife, eager to finish her errand quickly, hurried in and said, "I’ve come to get a tally to collect thread for making carriage and sedan chair nets." With that, she handed up a note. Xifeng ordered Caiming to read it: "Two large sedan chairs, four small sedan chairs, four carriages. Total required: so many lengths of large and small net cords, so many catties of pearl thread." Xifeng, seeing the quantities matched, ordered Caiming to record it, took the tally for the Rongguo mansion, and threw it down. Wang Xing’s wife left.
Just as Xifeng was about to speak, four stewards from the Rongguo mansion entered, all coming to draw supplies or obtain tallies. Xifeng ordered Caiming to take their notes and read them. After hearing all four items, she pointed to two and said, "These two requisitions are wrongly calculated. Recalculate and then come to collect." With that, she threw the notes down. The two men left dejectedly.
Xifeng, noticing Zhang Cai’s wife standing by, asked, “What business do you have?” Zhang Cai’s wife hastily produced a slip and replied, “It’s about the carriage and sedan chair curtains just completed. I’ve come to collect the tailor’s wages, so many taels of silver.” Upon hearing this, Xifeng accepted the slip and ordered Caiming to register it. After Wang Xing’s wife had returned her tally and it had been matched with the purchasing agent’s receipt, she then allowed Zhang Cai’s wife to collect the silver. Meanwhile, she ordered another slip to be read, concerning the completion of Baoyu’s outer study and the requisition of money for buying paper and paste for papering. Xifeng listened, then ordered the slip to be taken and registered, and after Zhang Cai’s wife had settled her account, she issued it to that person as well.
Xifeng then said, “Tomorrow he’s oversleeping, the day after I’m oversleeping—soon there’ll be no one left. I meant to let you off, but if I’m lenient the first time, it’ll be hard to manage people later. Better to deal with it now.” Instantly she put on a stern face and shouted, “Take him out and give him twenty strokes!” At the same time, she threw down the Ningguo House tally and said, “Go out and tell Lai Sheng to dock him a month’s silver and grain!” When the crowd heard this and saw Xifeng’s brows knit in anger, they knew she was furious and dared not be slow. Those who were to drag him out dragged him out, and those who were to carry the tally and deliver the order hurried to do so. The man, unable to control himself, was dragged out and received twenty strokes, after which he had to come back in to kowtow in thanks. Xifeng said, “If there’s another delay tomorrow, it’ll be forty strokes; the day after, sixty. If anyone wants a beating, just keep being late!” With that, she ordered, “Dismissed.” The people outside the window, upon hearing this, each went back to their duties. At that time, the stewards of both the Ning and Rong Houses, coming to receive or return tallies, were coming and going without cease. The man who had been beaten and felt ashamed left in disgrace, and only then did everyone realize Xifeng’s severity. From then on, no one dared to slack off, and they all worked diligently to preserve their positions. But no more of this.
Now let us speak of Baoyu. Seeing the large crowd that day and fearing that Qin Zhong might feel ill at ease, he quietly consulted with him, suggesting they go together to sit with Xifeng. Qin Zhong said, “She has many affairs, and besides, she doesn’t like people coming. If we go, won’t she be annoyed?” Baoyu replied, “How could she be annoyed with us? It doesn’t matter; just come with me.” With that, he took Qin Zhong by the hand and led him straight to the covered corridor. Xifeng was just eating her meal. Seeing them arrive, she laughed and said, “You long-legged fellows, come on up quickly.” Baoyu said, “We’ve already eaten.” Xifeng asked, “Did you eat out here or over there?” Baoyu said, “What would I eat here with that rabble? We ate over there, the two of us, with the old lady.” As he spoke, they took their seats.
After Xifeng finished her meal, a stewardess from the Ningguo House came to receive a tally for the requisition of incense and lamp oil. Xifeng laughed and said, “I figured you should have come today to collect this, but you never showed up. I thought you’d forgotten. Now you’ve finally come to get it. If you had forgotten, you’d have to cover it yourselves, and I’d have saved the money.” The stewardess laughed and said, “I had indeed forgotten. I only just remembered. Another moment’s delay and I wouldn’t have been able to collect it.” With that, she took the tally and left.
After a while, the tallies were registered and returned. Qin Zhong smiled and asked, “If both your houses use these tallies, what if someone forges one, takes the silver, and runs off?” Xifeng laughed and said, “According to you, there’d be no law at all.” Baoyu then asked, “Why is it that no one in our house comes to get tallies to have things made?” Xifeng said, “When people come to get them, you’re still dreaming. Let me ask you, when do you plan to start your evening studies?” Baoyu said, “I wish we could start right now, but they’re slow to clear out the study. There’s no help for it.” Xifeng laughed and said, “If you invite me to a meal, I guarantee it’ll be done quickly.” Baoyu said, “It’s no use even if you hurry them; they’ll get done when they’re supposed to.” Xifeng laughed and said, “Even if they do the work, they need materials, and if I don’t give them the tally, it’s hard for them.” Upon hearing this, Baoyu clung to Xifeng and immediately demanded the tally, saying, “Good sister, give me the tally so they can get the materials.” Xifeng said, “I’m so tired my whole body aches, and I can’t stand your pestering. Rest assured, they’ve already taken the paper for papering today. If they need anything else, they’ll have to wait until they’re called for. Aren’t you being silly?” Baoyu didn’t believe her, so Xifeng ordered Caiming to check the register and show it to Baoyu.
Just as they were in the midst of this commotion, a servant announced, “Zhao’er, who went to Suzhou, has returned.” Xifeng urgently ordered him to be brought in. Zhao’er knelt on one knee and paid his respects. Xifeng asked, “Why have you come back?” Zhao’er said, “The Second Master sent me back. Master Lin Ruhai died at the ninth hour on the third day of the ninth month. The Second Master has taken Miss Lin to escort Master Lin’s coffin back to Suzhou. They’ll probably return by the end of the year. The Second Master sent me to report the news, pay respects, and ask for the old lady’s instructions. He also told me to see how things are at home and to have me take a few pieces of heavy fur clothing with me.” Xifeng asked, “Have you seen the others?” Zhao’er said, “I’ve seen everyone.” With that, he quickly withdrew. Xifeng said to Baoyu with a smile, “Your cousin Lin will be staying with us for a long time now.” Baoyu said, “Oh no! I imagine she’s been crying terribly these past few days.” As he spoke, he knitted his brows and sighed deeply.
Xifeng, seeing that Zhao’er had returned but had not been able to question Jia Lian in detail in front of others, was naturally concerned. She wanted to go back, but her affairs were so numerous and complicated that she feared any delay or mistake would invite ridicule. She had no choice but to wait until evening when she returned home. Then she called Zhao’er in again and carefully asked about the safety of the journey. That night, she prepared the heavy fur clothing, inspecting the bundles personally with Ping’er. She thought carefully about what else might be needed, packed it all together, and handed it over to Zhao’er. She also gave Zhao’er detailed instructions: “Serve him well while away, and don’t make your Second Master angry. Always urge him to drink less, and don’t lead him to meet any disreputable women—or I’ll break your legs when you return,” and so on. By the time all this was done, it was nearly the fourth watch. She had just lain down but could not sleep, and before she knew it, dawn came and the roosters crowed. She hurriedly washed and dressed and went to the Ningguo House.
Jia Zhen, seeing that the day for the funeral procession was approaching, took a carriage himself, accompanied by the yin-yang officials, to the Iron Threshold Temple to inspect the site where the spirit was to be temporarily housed. He also gave detailed instructions to the abbot, Se Kong, to carefully prepare fresh furnishings and invite many eminent monks to receive the spirit. Se Kong hurriedly prepared the evening meal. Jia Zhen had no appetite for tea or food, and since it was too late to return to the city, he spent the night in a quiet room at the temple. The next morning, he returned to the city to make arrangements for the funeral procession. He also sent men ahead to the Iron Threshold Temple to make further repairs to the spirit’s resting place overnight, as well as to prepare the kitchens, tea, and lodgings for those receiving the spirit.
Inside, Xifeng, seeing that the time was limited, also made detailed arrangements in advance. She sent men from the Rong House to prepare carriages and sedan chairs to follow Lady Wang in the funeral procession, while also making arrangements for her own place to stay during the funeral. At that time, the consort of the Duke of Shan, who had been granted an imperial title, had just passed away. Ladies Wang and Xing went to offer sacrifices and attend the funeral. The consort of the Prince of Xi’an had a birthday, so birthday gifts were sent. The consort of the Duke of Zhen had given birth to a son, so congratulatory gifts were prepared. Additionally, her elder brother, Wang Ren, was returning south with his family, so she had to write a family letter to inform her parents and prepare the things to be sent with him. Furthermore, Yingchun had fallen ill, requiring daily visits from doctors, administration of medicine, and examination of the doctor’s notes, diagnoses, and prescriptions—these matters are too numerous to describe in full. Added to all this, the funeral procession was imminent, so Xifeng was so busy she had no time for tea or meals and could not rest peacefully. As soon as she arrived at the Ningguo House, people from the Rong House would follow her there, and when she returned to the Rong House, people from the Ningguo House would come looking for her. Despite this, Xifeng was quite pleased and did not shirk her duties or make excuses, fearing others’ criticism. Thus, she was busy day and night, making everything impeccably orderly. Consequently, everyone in the clan, high and low, praised her without end.
On the night of the vigil, two troupes of young actors and variety performers entertained the female relatives and guests who stayed overnight. Madam You was still lying ill in her inner chamber, so all the hosting and entertaining fell solely on Xifeng’s shoulders. Although there were many sisters-in-law in the clan, some were too shy to speak, some too awkward to move, some unaccustomed to seeing visitors, and some intimidated by rank and authority. None of them could match Xifeng’s graceful bearing, generous speech, and noble magnanimity. Therefore, she paid them no heed, issuing orders and directing affairs as she pleased, acting as if no one else were present. All night long, lamps blazed and fireworks lit the sky, as guests were welcomed and officials seen off. The boundless bustle and excitement need not be described in detail. At dawn, when the auspicious hour arrived, the usual sixty-four pallbearers in black came to invite the spirit. The funeral banner in front was inscribed in large characters:
All the ceremonial trappings and furnishings had been newly made on the spot, shining and dazzling to the eye. Baozhu, following the rites for an unmarried daughter, performed the ritual of smashing the basin and led the mourning procession, displaying great grief.
At that time, the official mourners included: the grandson of Duke Zhenguo Niu Qing, the current First-Class Baron Niu Jizong; the grandson of Duke Liguo Liu Biao, the current First-Class Viscount Liu Fang; the grandson of Duke Qiguo Chen Yi, the hereditary Third-Class Weizhen General Chen Ruiwen; the grandson of Duke Zhiguo Ma Kui, the hereditary Third-Class Weiyuan General Ma Shang; the grandson of Duke Xiuguo Hou Xiaoming, the hereditary First-Class Viscount Hou Xiaokang; the grandson of Duke Shanguo, whose titled lady had already passed away, was Shi Guangzhu, who did not come because he was observing mourning. These six families, together with the Ning and Rong families, were what were once called the "Eight Dukes." The rest included the grandson of the Prince of Nan'an, the grandson of the Prince of Xining, Loyal and Valiant Marquis Shi Ding, the grandson of the Marquis of Pingyuan and hereditary Second-Class Baron Jiang Zining, the grandson of the Marquis of Dingcheng and hereditary Second-Class Baron concurrently Battalion Commander Xie Jing, the grandson of the Marquis of Xiangyang and hereditary Second-Class Baron Qi Jianhui, the grandson of the Marquis of Jingtian and Commander of the Five City Patrol Qiu Liang. In addition, there were the son of Baron Jinxiang Han Qi, the son of General Shenwu Feng Ziying, Chen Yejun, Wei Ruolan, and various other princely and noble scions, too many to count. Among the women, there were roughly ten large sedan chairs and thirty to forty small ones, and including the household's male and female sedan chairs and carriages, they numbered no less than a hundred. Additionally, at the front were all manner of ceremonial objects, displays, and entertainments, stretching in a mighty procession for three or four li.
Not long after they set out, high-colored awnings were erected by the roadside, with feasts laid out and music playing—these were offerings set up by various families along the way: the first was the mourning shed of the Prince of Dongping, the second that of the Prince of Nan'an, the third that of the Prince of Xining, and the fourth that of the Prince of Beijing. Among these four princes, in former times only the Prince of Beijing had the highest merit, and to this day his descendants still inherit the princely rank. The current Prince of Beijing, Shui Rong, was not yet twenty years old, with a handsome countenance and a gentle, modest nature. Recently, hearing that the wife of the eldest grandson of the Duke of Ningguo had passed away, and recalling the friendship between their grandfathers—how they shared hardships and honors alike, never estranged by different surnames—he did not stand on his princely dignity. Days before, he had already come to offer condolences and sacrifices; now he set up a roadside offering and ordered his officers to wait in attendance here. He himself went to court at the fifth watch, and as soon as his official business was finished, he changed into plain clothes, mounted his large sedan chair, and came with gongs sounding and umbrellas spread. When he reached the mourning shed, he alighted from his chair. His officers clustered on either side, standing in attendance, while the common people and soldiers were forbidden to pass.
Presently, the great funeral procession of the Ning Mansion was seen rolling forward like a silver mountain pressing down from the north. The heralds and messengers of the Ning Mansion, seeing this, hurried back to report to Jia Zhen. Jia Zhen quickly ordered the procession to halt at the front, and together with Jia She and Jia Zheng, he hurried forward to greet the prince, observing the rites due to a prince. Shui Rong, from within his sedan chair, leaned forward slightly and returned the greeting with a smile, addressing them in the manner of a family friend, without any arrogance. Jia Zhen said, "For my daughter-in-law's funeral, we have been honored many times by Your Highness's presence; we juniors are unworthy of such favor." Shui Rong laughed and replied, "Given our friendship across generations, why say such things?" Then he turned and ordered the chief household officer to conduct the sacrificial rites. Jia She and the others, having finished returning the rites, stepped aside and then turned back to express their gratitude.
Shui Rong was extremely humble, and then asked Jia Zheng, "Which one is the young man born with jade in his mouth? I have wanted to meet him several times, but I was always hindered by various affairs. I imagine he is here today—why not invite him to meet me?" When Jia Zheng heard this, he quickly went back and urgently ordered Baoyu to remove his mourning clothes and bring him forward. Baoyu had often heard his father, elder brother, relatives, and friends praise Shui Rong in casual conversation as a virtuous prince, gifted in both talent and appearance, free and unrestrained, and often unconstrained by the formalities of officialdom or imperial protocol. He had long wished to meet him, but his father's strict supervision had given him no opportunity. Now that he was being summoned instead, he was naturally delighted. As he walked, he had already caught a glimpse of Shui Rong seated in his sedan chair—a truly fine figure of a man. What he would see upon closer approach, and how it would turn out, must be heard in the next chapter.