Chapter 63: The girls hold a night feast to celebrate Bao-yu's birthday; the death of a Daoist leaves his concubine to manage the funeral
When Baoyu returned to his room to wash his hands, he consulted with Xiren: “We’ll drink tonight and have a good time—it can’t be too formal. Whatever we’re eating, tell them early to prepare it.” Xiren laughed and said, “Don’t worry. Qingwen, Sheyue, Qiuwen, and I have each put in five qian of silver, making two taels in total. Fangguan, Bihen, Xiaoyan, and Si’er have each put in three qian, and even counting the fake ones they have, that comes to three taels and two qian. I’ve already handed it over to Sister Liu, and she’s prepared forty plates of refreshments. I also told Pinger, and she’s had a jar of good Shaoxing wine carried over and stored away. The eight of us are celebrating your birthday on our own.” Baoyu was delighted and quickly said, “Where did they get the money? They shouldn’t have to pay.” Qingwen said, “They have no money—do we have any? This is everyone’s own wish. Even if they stole it, just accept their kindness.” Baoyu laughed and said, “You’re right.” Xiren laughed and said, “You can’t get through a day without her giving you a few harsh words to set you straight.” Qingwen laughed and said, “You’ve learned bad habits too, always stirring up trouble.” With that, everyone laughed. Baoyu said, “Let’s close the courtyard gate.” Xiren laughed and said, “No wonder people call you ‘busy for nothing.’ If we close the gate now, people will suspect something. Better wait a bit longer.” Baoyu nodded and said, “I’ll go out for a walk. Si’er, fetch some water. Xiaoyan, come with me.” He went outside, and seeing no one, asked about Wuer. Xiaoyan said, “I just told Sister Liu, and she was quite pleased. But Wuer was wronged and upset that night, and when she got home she fell ill from anger—how could she come? We’ll have to wait until she’s better.” Baoyu sighed regretfully and asked, “Does Xiren know about this?” Xiaoyan said, “I didn’t tell her. I don’t know if Fangguan has said anything.” Baoyu said, “I haven’t told her either. Never mind, I’ll tell her when I get the chance.” He then went back inside and deliberately washed his hands again.
By the time the lamps were lit, they heard a group of people entering the courtyard gate. Peering through the window, they saw Lin Zhixiao’s wife and several supervising women approaching, with someone in front carrying a large lantern. Qingwen chuckled quietly, “They’ve come to check on the night watch. Once they leave, we can close the gate.” All the night watchmen from Yihong Court went out to greet them, and Lin Zhixiao’s wife examined them carefully. She instructed, “No gambling or drinking, and don’t just flop down and sleep until dawn. If I hear otherwise, I won’t let it pass.” Everyone laughed and said, “Who would dare to be so bold?” Lin Zhixiao’s wife then asked, “Has Master Bao gone to sleep yet?” They all said they didn’t know. Xiren quickly nudged Baoyu. He shuffled into his slippers and went out, smiling, “I’m not asleep yet, Mother. Come in and rest a while.” He called out, “Xiren, bring some tea.” Lin Zhixiao’s wife hurried in, smiling, “Not asleep yet? The days are long and the nights short now. You should sleep early so you can rise early tomorrow. Otherwise, if you get up late, people will laugh and say you don’t act like a scholarly young gentleman, but like those porters.” She laughed again. Baoyu quickly smiled and said, “Mother is right. I usually sleep early, but every time you come in, I’m already asleep and don’t know it. Tonight, because I ate noodles and fear they might not digest, I’m playing a little longer.” Lin Zhixiao’s wife then said to Xiren and the others, smiling, “You should brew some Pu’er tea.” Xiren and Qingwen quickly replied, “We’ve already brewed a pot of daughter tea and drunk two bowls. Auntie, have a taste—it’s ready.” With that, Qingwen poured a bowl. Lin Zhixiao’s wife smiled and said, “Lately I’ve heard that Master’s language has changed, and he’s taken to calling these young ladies by their names. Though they’re in this room, they’re still the Old Lady and Madam’s people. You ought to show them proper respect. If it’s just occasionally, that’s fine, but if you keep it up, later your brothers and nephews might follow suit, and people will laugh, saying this household has no regard for elders.” Baoyu smiled and said, “Mother is right. It was only on the spur of the moment.” Xiren and Qingwen both laughed and said, “Don’t wrong him. To this day, he’s never left off calling them ‘sister.’ It’s only in play that he sometimes calls them by name once or twice. In public, he’s just as before.” Lin Zhixiao’s wife smiled and said, “That’s good—this is what it means to be learned and courteous. The more modest you are, the more respect you command. Not to mention these old servants who’ve been here for three or five generations, or those reassigned from the Old Lady and Madam’s quarters—even the cats or dogs in the Old Lady and Madam’s rooms shouldn’t be lightly harmed. This is the conduct of a well-trained young gentleman.” After drinking her tea, she said, “Rest now—we’ll be going.” Baoyu still said, “Stay a while longer.” But Lin Zhixiao’s wife had already led the others off to inspect elsewhere. Qingwen and the others quickly ordered the gate closed and came inside, laughing and talking. “Where did that old lady get a drink? She comes in, rambling on and on, giving us a lecture before she leaves.” Sheyue laughed and said, “She means well. We have to be reminded now and then, to keep from straying too far from the rules.” With that, they set out the wine and refreshments. Xiren said, “No need for the table. Let’s put that pearwood round kang table on the kang—it’s more spacious and convenient.” They carried it over. Sheyue and Si’er went to fetch the refreshments, using two large tea trays, making four or five trips to bring them all. Two old women crouched outside by the brazier, warming the wine. Baoyu said, “It’s hot. Let’s all take off our outer clothes.” Everyone laughed and said, “You take yours off if you want. We still have to take turns offering toasts.” Baoyu laughed and said, “If we start that, we’ll be here till dawn. You know how much I hate these formalities. I can’t avoid them in front of outsiders, but don’t make me put up with them now.” Hearing this, they all said, “As you wish.” So instead of sitting down first, they busied themselves with removing their makeup and loosening their clothes.
After a while, they took off their formal clothes, with their hair simply coiled up casually on their heads and wearing long skirts and short jackets. Baoyu was dressed only in a large red cotton gauze undershirt, with green silk padded trousers of a patterned fabric, the legs loose, and he leaned on a new jade-colored gauze pillow stuffed with assorted rose and peony petals, starting a finger-guessing game with Fangguan. At that moment, Fangguan kept shouting that she was hot, wearing only a small jade-colored jacket of three-toned satin—red, green, and brown—woven in a patchwork pattern, tied with a willow-green sash, and underneath, pink flowered padded trousers with loose legs. On her head, she wore a circle of small braids around her forehead, all gathered at the crown into a single braid as thick as a goose egg, trailing down her back. In her right ear was a tiny jade plug the size of a grain of rice, while her left ear had a single large red-gold earring as big as a gingko nut, which made her face seem even whiter than the full moon and her eyes clearer than autumn waters. This drew laughter from the others, who said, “Those two look like twin brothers.” Xiren and the others poured wine one by one and said, “Wait a bit before playing the finger game. Even though we’re not formally seated, let each person take a sip from our hands.” So Xiren went first, raising her cup to her lips and taking a sip, and the rest followed in order, each drinking, before they all sat down in a circle. Because the edge of the kang was too crowded for Xiaoyan and Sier, they brought two chairs and placed them close to the kang. The forty dishes were all of white Ding ware, no larger than small tea saucers, containing delicacies from all over—mountain and sea, north and south, Central Plains and foreign lands—dried or fresh, from water or land, every kind of wine, snack, fruit, and vegetable under heaven. Baoyu said, “We should play a drinking game.” Xiren replied, “Better keep it refined, not loud and rowdy, or people will hear. Besides, we’re illiterate, so no literary games.” Sheyue smiled and said, “Let’s use dice and play ‘snatching the red’.” Baoyu said, “That’s boring, no good. Let’s play ‘drawing flower names’.” Qingwen laughed, “Exactly, I’ve been wanting to play that game for a while.” Xiren said, “This game is fun, but it’s dull with too few people.” Xiaoyan smiled, “In my opinion, why don’t we quietly invite Miss Bao and Miss Lin to play for a while, and we won’t sleep until the second watch.” Xiren said, “That means opening doors and making a racket; what if we run into the night watchmen?” Baoyu said, “What’s there to fear? Our Third Miss also drinks, so we should invite her too. And Miss Qin as well.” Everyone said, “Never mind Miss Qin; she’s in the Elder Mistress’s quarters, and stirring things up too much would be a bother.” Baoyu said, “What’s the harm? You go quickly and invite them.” Xiaoyan and Sier needed no urging; they hurriedly ordered the door opened and went off separately to issue the invitations.
Qingwen, Sheyue, and Xiren then said, “If those two go to invite them, Miss Bao and Miss Lin probably won’t come. We need to go ourselves and drag them here, alive or dead.” So Xiren and Qingwen quickly told an old woman to light a lantern, and the two of them set off. Sure enough, Baochai said it was too late, and Daiyu said she wasn’t feeling well. The two pleaded repeatedly, “At least do us the honor, just sit for a little while and then go.” Tanchun was delighted when she heard this. Thinking, “If I don’t invite Li Wan and she finds out, it won’t be good,” she ordered Cuimo to go with Xiaoyan and repeatedly invite Li Wan and Baoqin as well. They all gathered and arrived at Yihong Courtyard one after another. Xiren also dragged Xiangling along, dead or alive. Another table was placed on the kang to accommodate everyone. Baoyu quickly said, “Sister Lin is afraid of the cold; come over here and sit by the wall.” He also took a backrest and padded it for her. Xiren and the others all pulled up chairs and sat along the edge of the kang to keep them company. Daiyu, however, sat far from the table, leaning against her backrest, and said with a smile to Baochai, Li Wan, Tanchun, and the others, “You always say people gather at night to drink and gamble, and now we’re doing the same. What will you say about others in the future?” Li Wan laughed, “What does it matter? It’s only on birthdays and festivals, not every night. There’s no need to worry.” As she spoke, Qingwen brought a bamboo-carved lot container, filled with ivory flower-name sticks, shook it, and placed it in the center. Then she took the dice, put them in a box, shook them, opened it, and saw it was a five. Counting around, it fell to Baochai. Baochai laughed and said, “I’ll draw first; I wonder what I’ll get.” She shook the container, reached in, and pulled out a stick. Everyone looked and saw it had a peony painted on it, with the inscription “Surpassing all flowers in beauty,” and below, engraved in small characters, a line from a Tang poem:
“Even if heartless, it still moves people.”
The note read: “Everyone at the table drinks a cup in congratulations. This is the queen of flowers; the drawer may command anyone, in poetry or jest, to offer a toast.” Everyone laughed and said, “How fitting! You really match the peony.” So they all drank a cup in congratulations. After Baochai drank, she smiled and said, “Fangguan, sing us a song.” Fangguan said, “In that case, let everyone drink a cup first, and then listen well.” So they all drank. Fangguan began to sing: “The birthday feast opens, the scene is fine.” Everyone said, “Stop that quickly! We don’t need birthday congratulations here; sing the best you have.” Fangguan had to sing a refined piece, “Appreciating the Flowers”:
“With a broom of kingfisher feathers and phoenix down, idly sweeping fallen blossoms at the Heavenly Gate. Watch the wind raise jade dust. Suddenly, beneath that layer of clouds, how far beyond the gate is the horizon! No more straying like the sword that missed the yellow dragon; no more selling wine at the poor old man’s eastern hut. Fix your gaze on the rosy clouds. Oh, Lü Dongbin, if you find someone, report back early; if you delay, you’ll make me leave regret among the green peach blossoms.”
She finished. Baoyu, however, kept holding the lot stick, muttering “Even if heartless, it still moves people” over and over. Hearing the song, he stared at Fangguan without speaking. Xiangyun snatched the stick from him and tossed it to Baochai. Baochai then threw a sixteen, counting to Tanchun. Tanchun laughed and said, “I wonder what I’ll get.” She reached in and pulled out a stick. After looking at it, she threw it on the ground, blushed, and said with a laugh, “This thing is no good; we shouldn’t have played this game. It’s a game for men outside, full of nonsense.” The others didn’t understand. Xiren quickly picked it up, and everyone saw it was a branch of apricot blossoms, with red characters reading “Immortal product of the Jasper Pool,” and a poem:
“Red apricot by the sun leans on the clouds.”
The note read: “The drawer of this stick will surely marry a noble husband. Everyone offers congratulations and drinks a cup together.” Everyone laughed and said, “So that’s what it is. This game is just for fun in the women’s quarters; aside from these two or three sticks with such words, there’s nothing indecent. What does it matter? We already have a princess in the family; could you become one too? Great luck, great luck.” They all raised their cups to toast her. Tanchun refused to drink, but Shi Xiangyun, Xiangling, Li Wan, and three or four others forced it down her throat. Tanchun ordered this stick set aside and another game played, but the others wouldn’t allow it. Xiangyun took her hand and forced a throw of nineteen, which meant it was Li Wan’s turn. Li Wan shook the container, drew a stick, looked at it, and laughed, “Excellent. Look, this thing has some meaning.” Everyone saw the stick had an old plum branch painted on it, with the words “Cold beauty in the frosty dawn,” and on the other side an old poem:
“Content in a thatched cottage with bamboo fence.”
The note read: “Drink one cup yourself; the next player throws the dice.” Li Wan laughed, “How amusing! You all throw. I’ll just drink my cup and not bother with your rise or fall.” She drank her wine and passed the dice to Daiyu. Daiyu threw an eighteen, which meant it was Xiangyun’s turn. Xiangyun laughed, rolled up her sleeves, and reached in to draw a stick. Everyone looked: on one side was a branch of crabapple blossoms, inscribed “Deep in fragrant sleep,” and on the other side a poem:
“Only afraid the flowers will sleep in the deep night.”
Daiyu laughed, “Change the words ‘deep night’ to ‘cold stone’.” Everyone knew she was teasing about Xiangyun’s drunken nap in the daytime and laughed. Xiangyun pointed at the toy boat and said to Daiyu, “Quick, get on that boat and go home; stop your nonsense.” Everyone laughed again. They read the note: “Since it says ‘Deep in fragrant sleep,’ the drawer of this stick need not drink; only the two neighbors, upper and lower, each drink a cup.” Xiangyun clapped her hands and laughed, “Amitabha! What a truly wonderful lot!” As it happened, Daiyu was the upper neighbor and Baoyu the lower. The two poured their cups and had to drink. Baoyu drank half a cup, and when no one was looking, handed it to Fangguan, who tilted her head and downed it. Daiyu, absorbed in talking to someone, poured her wine into the spittoon. Xiangyun then grabbed the dice and threw a nine, which landed on Sheyue. Sheyue drew a stick. Everyone saw it had a branch of roseleaf raspberry flowers, inscribed “The height of youthful splendor,” and on the other side an old poem:
“When the roseleaf raspberry blooms, the flowers’ season is done.”
The annotation said: "Everyone present must drink three cups to see off spring." Sheyue asked what that meant. Baoyu, frowning anxiously, quickly hid the slip and said, "Let's drink first." So saying, they all took three sips, counting them as three cups. Sheyue rolled a nineteen, and it was Xiangling's turn. Xiangling drew a slip depicting twin lotus blossoms side by side, inscribed with the words "Linked Spring Encircling Auspiciousness." On the reverse was a line of verse:
The flowers bloom on the twinned branch.
The annotation said: "Let all congratulate the drawer with three cups, and everyone else joins in with one cup." Xiangling then rolled a six, and it was Daiyu's turn to draw. Daiyu thought silently, "I wonder what good one I might draw." Reaching out, she took a slip; it showed a hibiscus flower, inscribed with the words "Wind and Dew, Clear Sorrow." On the reverse was an old verse:
Blame not the east wind, but your own fate.
The annotation said: "Drink one cup yourself, and let the peony drink one cup as accompaniment." Everyone laughed and said, "This is perfect. No one else but her deserves to be the hibiscus." Daiyu also smiled. So she drank, then rolled a twenty, and it was Xiren's turn. Xiren reached out and drew a slip—it was a peach blossom, inscribed with the words "Wuling's Other Scene." On the reverse was an old verse:
Peach blossoms red, another spring begins.
The annotation said: "Let the apricot blossom drink one cup; those born in the same year among those present drink one cup; those born on the same month and day drink one cup; those with the same surname drink one cup." Everyone laughed and said, "This round is lively and fun." They calculated: Xiangling, Qingwen, and Baochai were all born in the same year as her; Daiyu shared the same month and day, but there was no one with the same surname. Fangguan quickly said, "I also have the surname Hua; let me drink a cup with her." So they all poured wine. Daiyu then said to Tanchun with a smile, "Fate decrees you'll get a noble son-in-law. You're the apricot blossom; drink up quickly so we can drink too." Tanchun laughed, "What nonsense is this? Sister-in-law, give her a slap." Li Wan laughed, "If she doesn't get a noble son-in-law but gets a beating instead, I couldn't bear it." This made everyone laugh.
Just as Xiren was about to roll, they heard someone knocking at the door. The old woman hurried out to ask and found it was a maid sent by Aunt Xue to fetch Daiyu. Everyone asked what time it was, and the servant replied, "It's after the second watch; the bell has already struck eleven." Baoyu didn't believe it and asked for a watch to check; it was already ten minutes past the first hour of the zi period. Daiyu stood up and said, "I really can't hold out any longer; I still need to go back and take my medicine." Everyone said, "We should all be breaking up now." Xiren and Baoyu still wanted to keep everyone. Li Wan, Baochai, and the others said, "It's too late at night; it wouldn't look right. This is already breaking the rules." Xiren said, "Since that's the case, let each person have one more cup before leaving." As she spoke, Qingwen and the others had already filled the cups; everyone drank, then called for lanterns. Xiren and the others escorted them all the way to the other side of Qinfang Pavilion Bridge before returning.
After closing the door, they resumed the drinking game. Xiren and the others filled several large cups and arranged various fruits and dishes on a tray for the old women on the floor to eat. By now they were all a bit tipsy, so they began playing finger-guessing games, with the losers singing ditties. It was already the fourth watch; the old women ate openly while secretly pilfering, and the wine jar was empty. The others found this strange, then tidied up, washed, and went to bed. Fangguan's cheeks were as red as rouge, and her brows and eyes had gained much charm; feeling drowsy, she leaned against Xiren and said, "Good sister, my heart is racing." Xiren laughed and said, "Who told you to drink so much?" Xiaoyan and Sir were also tired and had already gone to sleep. Qingwen was still calling out. Baoyu said, "Don't call anymore; let's just rest a bit as we are." He himself lay down on the red fragrant pillow, turned sideways, and fell asleep. Xiren saw that Fangguan was very drunk and afraid she might make a fuss and vomit, so she gently got up, helped Fangguan to lie beside Baoyu, and let her sleep. She herself lay down on the couch opposite.
They all slept soundly, unaware of the time. When dawn came, Xiren opened her eyes and saw the sky was bright. She quickly said, "It's late." She glanced at the opposite bed and saw Fangguan with her head pillowed on the edge of the kang, still asleep. She hurriedly got up to wake her. Baoyu had already turned over and woken up; he laughed and said, "It's late!" Then he pushed Fangguan to get up. Fangguan sat up, still dazed and rubbing her eyes. Xiren laughed and said, "Aren't you ashamed? You got drunk and didn't even pick a place to lie down." Fangguan heard this, looked around, and realized she had shared the bed with Baoyu. She quickly laughed and got down, saying, "How did I not know what I was doing?" Baoyu laughed and said, "I didn't know either. If I had, I'd have smeared some black ink on your face." As they spoke, the maids came in to attend to their washing and combing. Baoyu laughed and said, "Thank you for last night's treat; tonight I'll return the favor." Xiren laughed and said, "Enough, enough, enough. Don't stir things up today; if you do, people will start talking." Baoyu said, "What's there to fear? It's only been twice. We can consider ourselves good drinkers now—how did that whole jar of wine get finished? It was just getting interesting, and then it ran out." Xiren laughed and said, "So that's what makes it interesting. If you push it to the limit, there's no aftertaste. Last night everything was perfect; Qingwen even forgot her shyness. I remember she sang a song." Sir laughed and said, "Sister, you've forgotten; even you sang one. Who among those present didn't sing?" When everyone heard this, they blushed and covered their faces with both hands, laughing uncontrollably.
Suddenly, Pinger came in smiling and said she had come in person to invite everyone who was at the party last night: "Today I'm hosting a return feast; even one missing won't do." Everyone quickly offered her a seat and tea. Qingwen laughed and said, "It's a pity she wasn't there last night." Pinger quickly asked, "What were you all doing last night?" Xiren said, "I can't tell you. Last night was incredibly lively—even the times when the old lady and the mistress took everyone out for fun couldn't compare to last night's party. We finished off a whole jar of wine, and everyone drank until they lost all modesty, and without knowing it, we all started singing. It was past the fourth watch before we slept, all sprawled out any which way." Pinger laughed and said, "Fine, you got the wine from me for nothing. You didn't invite me, and now you tell me about it just to annoy me." Qingwen said, "Today he's returning the favor; he'll definitely invite you. Just wait." Pinger laughed and asked, "Who is 'he'? Who is 'he'?" Qingwen heard this and chased after her, laughing and hitting her, saying, "You and your sharp ears, catching every word." Pinger laughed and said, "I have things to do now and can't chat with you. I'm off to handle them. Later I'll send someone to invite you; if anyone doesn't come, I'll come knocking at your door." Baoyu and the others tried to keep her, but she was already gone.
Baoyu was washing and combing and drinking tea when he suddenly spotted a piece of paper pressed under the inkstone. He said, "It's not good for you to be so careless, pressing things anywhere." Xiren and Qingwen quickly asked, "What now? Who's done something wrong again?" Baoyu pointed and said, "What's that under the inkstone? It must be another pattern someone forgot to put away." Qingwen quickly lifted the inkstone and took it out; it was a note. She handed it to Baoyu to look at; it was a piece of pink stationery, on which was written: "Miaoyu, the World-Outside, respectfully sends distant birthday greetings." After Baoyu read it, he jumped up and quickly asked, "Who received this? No one told me." Seeing this, Xiren and Qingwen, not knowing what important person's note this was, all asked together, "Who received a note yesterday?" Sir hurried in, laughing, and said, "Yesterday Miaoyu didn't come in person; she just sent an old woman with it. I put it there, and who knew that with all the drinking, I forgot." Everyone heard this and said, "I thought it was someone important, making such a fuss. It's not worth it." Baoyu quickly called out, "Bring paper immediately." Paper was brought, and ink was ground. He looked at the signature "World-Outside" and didn't know what phrase to use in his reply to match it properly. He just held the brush, lost in thought, and after a long time still had no idea. Then he thought, "If I ask Baochai, she'll surely criticize it as bizarre. Better to ask Daiyu."
Thinking this over, he tucked the note into his sleeve and went straight to find Daiyu. Just as he passed by Qinfang Pavilion, he suddenly saw Xiuyan walking toward him, swaying unsteadily. Baoyu quickly asked, “Sister, where are you going?” Xiuyan smiled and said, “I’m going to talk with Miaoyu.” Baoyu was very surprised and said, “She’s so aloof and out of step with the world, with no one worthy of her notice. It turns out she thinks highly of you, knowing you’re not the common sort like us.” Xiuyan smiled and replied, “It’s not that she truly esteems me, but we were neighbors for ten years, with only a wall between us. She was cultivating herself at Pansi Temple, and my family, being poor, rented a house from her temple. For ten years, I often went to the temple to keep her company. The characters I know were all taught by her. We share a bond of friendship from humble times, and she’s also half my teacher. Later, when we went to seek out relatives, I heard that because she couldn’t fit in, she was driven away by the powerful and ended up coming here. Now, by a stroke of fate, we’ve met again, and our old friendship remains unchanged. She treats me with special regard, even better than before.” Baoyu listened, feeling as if struck by a thunderclap, and laughed joyfully, saying, “No wonder your manner and speech are so transcendent, like a wild crane or drifting cloud—there’s a reason for it. Just now, there’s something about her that has me stumped, and I was going to ask someone else for advice. Now that I’ve met you, it’s truly a stroke of luck. Please, sister, give me your guidance.” As he spoke, he took out the note and showed it to Xiuyan. Xiuyan smiled and said, “She just can’t change that temper of hers—born so eccentric and unorthodox. I’ve never seen anyone use a pen name on a visiting card. This is exactly what the saying goes: ‘Neither monk nor lay, neither woman nor man’—what kind of principle is that?” Baoyu quickly smiled and said, “You don’t understand, sister. She doesn’t count herself among ordinary people; she’s beyond what the world expects. Because she thinks I have a bit of insight, she gave me this note. I don’t know what to write in reply, and I’m at a loss. I was just going to ask Sister Lin, but luckily I met you instead.” Xiuyan, hearing this, stared at him carefully for a long moment, then smiled and said, “No wonder the saying goes, ‘To see someone is better than to hear their name,’ and no wonder Miaoyu sent you this note, and no wonder she gave you those plum blossoms last year. Since even she treats you like this, I’ll have to tell you the reason. She often says: ‘Among the ancients, from Han, Jin, the Five Dynasties, Tang, and Song, there are no good poems, only two good lines: “Though you have a thousand-year iron threshold, in the end you need but an earthen grave mound.”’ So she calls herself ‘The Person Beyond the Threshold.’ She also often praises Zhuangzi’s writings as the best, so sometimes she calls herself ‘The Odd One.’ If her note says ‘The Odd One,’ you should reply with ‘The Worldly One.’ ‘Odd one’ means she considers herself a solitary being, and by humbly calling yourself one of the bustling worldly folk, she’ll be pleased. Now that she calls herself ‘The Person Beyond the Threshold,’ she considers herself standing outside the iron gate, so you should write ‘The Person Within the Threshold,’ and it will suit her wishes.” Baoyu felt as if he’d been drenched with enlightenment, let out an “Aiya,” and smiled, saying, “No wonder our family’s temple is called ‘Iron Threshold Temple’—there’s a reason for it. Please go on, sister, let me go write the reply.” Xiuyan then went on her way to Longcui Nunnery. Baoyu returned to his room, wrote a note with the words, “The Person Within the Threshold, Baoyu, bathed in incense, respectfully bows,” took it himself to Longcui Nunnery, slipped it through the crack in the door, and came back.
Next, he saw Fangguan with her hair combed and tied up in a bun, adorned with some flowers and ornaments. He quickly ordered her to change her style, and had her shave off the short hair around her temples, revealing a bluish scalp, with a large part in the middle. He said, “In winter, make a big sable hat like a sleeping rabbit to wear, and on your feet, wear tiger-head cloud-patterned five-colored small battle boots, or let your trouser legs hang loose, just wearing plain socks and thick-soled embroidered shoes.” He added, “The name Fangguan is no good; change it to a boy’s name to make it more distinctive.” So he changed it to “Xiongnu.” Fangguan was very pleased and said, “In that case, when you go out, take me along too. If anyone asks, just say I’m a page like Mingyan.” Baoyu laughed and said, “People will still see through it.” Fangguan smiled and said, “I told you, you have no imagination. Our household has several native barbarians; just say I’m a little barbarian boy. Besides, everyone says I look good with my hair braided and hanging down. What do you think of that idea?” Baoyu was overjoyed and quickly laughed, saying, “That’s a good idea. I’ve often seen officials and others keeping people from foreign lands, like captured tribute-bearers, for their endurance of wind and frost and swift horsemanship. Since that’s the case, let’s give you a barbarian name too, like ‘Yelü Xiongnu.’ The syllables ‘Xiongnu’ sound like the Xiongnu tribes, both barbarian names. Moreover, these two types have been a plague to China since the times of Yao and Shun, causing great harm in the Jin and Tang dynasties. Fortunately, we’re blessed to be born in this era, as true descendants of Great Shun, whose virtue, benevolence, and filial piety shine so brightly, reaching heaven, enduring eternally with heaven, earth, sun, and moon. So all those petty rebels of past dynasties now, without a single spear or shield, by heaven’s will, bow their heads and submit from afar. We ought to mock them, to add luster to our sovereign and father.” Fangguan laughed and said, “If so, you should practice archery and horsemanship, learn some martial arts, and go out to capture a few rebels—wouldn’t that be loyal and meritorious? Why use us to wag your tongue and amuse yourself in play, pretending to praise merit and virtue?” Baoyu laughed and said, “That’s why you don’t understand. Now, with all the world at peace and the eight directions tranquil, for a thousand, a hundred years, there’s no need for arms. Even in our games and laughter, we should offer praise, so as not to waste this peaceful prosperity.” Fangguan thought it made sense, and the two considered it fitting. Baoyu then called her “Yelü Xiongnu.”
In fact, both households of the Jia family had slaves descended from prisoners captured by their ancestors, but they were only used for tending horses and were of no great use. Xiangyun, always fond of mischief and most given to play-acting, especially loved male attire. She often tied on a belt with jingles and wore tight-sleeved jackets. Lately, seeing Baoyu dress up Fangguan as a boy, she also dressed up Kuiguan as a lad. Kuiguan, who usually had her short hair shaved for easy application of face paint and grease, and was quick and nimble, became even more convenient in this disguise. Li Wan and Tanchun liked it too, so they had Baoqin’s Douguan also dressed as a little page, with two topknots, a short jacket, and red shoes, only missing the face paint, making her look exactly like a qin boy from a play. Xiangyun changed Kuiguan’s name to “Da Ying.” Since her surname was Wei, she called her “Wei Da Ying,” which suited her meaning, hinting at the saying, “Only a great hero can be true to his nature”—why rouge and powder? That’s what makes a man. Douguan was very young and small, but extremely clever and sharp, so she was called “Douguan.” People in the garden also called her “Little Dou” or “Fried Beans.” Baoqin, however, thought names like qin boy or book boy were too common, and that “Dou” was more distinctive, so she changed it to “Dou Tong.”
After the meal, Pinger returned the feast, saying Red Fragrance Garden was too hot, so she set out several tables of new wine and fine dishes in Elm Shade Hall. Happily, Madam You also brought Peifeng and Xieluan, her two concubines, for a visit. These two were young and charming women who didn’t often come. Now that they were in the garden, meeting Xiangyun, Xiangling, Fangguan, Ruiguan, and the others, the saying “Birds of a feather flock together” proved true, as they chattered and laughed without stop, ignoring Madam You, leaving the maids to attend to her, while they roamed about with the others. Soon they reached Happy Red Court, where they suddenly heard Baoyu call out “Yelü Xiongnu.” Peifeng, Xieluan, and Xiangling all laughed together, asking what it meant. Everyone started imitating the name, but mispronounced it or forgot the characters, sometimes even calling out “Wild Donkey,” causing all who heard in the garden to collapse with laughter. Baoyu, seeing everyone mocking it and afraid of belittling her, quickly said, “I’ve heard that in Fulinasi of the Western Seas, there’s a gem called Venus Glass; in their barbarian tongue, they call it ‘Wendulina.’ Now I’ll compare you to it and change your name to ‘Wendulina’—how about that?” Fangguan was even more delighted and said, “Let it be so.” So she was called by this name. The others found it hard to pronounce and reverted to the Chinese name, calling her “Glass.”
Let us cease idle talk and speak of the scene before us. All the company were gathered in the Elmshadow Hall, using the excuse of drinking wine to enjoy themselves, making the female performer beat the drum. Pinger had plucked a branch of peony; about twenty people were passing the flower and making merry to the beat, enjoying a lively time for a while. Then someone came to report: “Two women from the Zhen family have brought some things over.” Tanchun, Li Wan, and Madam You went out to the Council Chamber to receive them, while the rest of the company dispersed for a moment to stretch their legs. Peifeng and Xieyuan went to play on the swings, and Baoyu said, “You two go up, let me give you a push.” Peifeng said in alarm, “Oh no, don’t stir up trouble for us. Better let the ‘wild donkey’ give the push.” Baoyu quickly laughed and said, “Good sisters, don’t make sport, or you’ll have people learning to curse him from you.” Xieyuan added, “We’re laughing so hard we’re weak, how can we swing? If we fall off, we’ll smash your little wretch out of you.” Peifeng chased after her in mock anger.
Just as their merriment was at its height, suddenly several men from the Eastern Mansion came rushing in panic, crying, “The Master has ascended to Heaven!” Everyone was greatly startled and said, “He was perfectly well, without any illness—how could he be gone?” The household servants replied, “The Master was cultivating immortality every day; surely his merit was complete and he has become an immortal and departed.” When Madam You heard this, and saw that Jia Zhen and his son, along with Jia Lian and the others, were not at home, she was at a loss for a close male relative to rely on, and was inevitably flustered. She hastily removed her ornaments and ornaments, ordered someone to go at once to Xuanzhen Temple and lock up all the Taoist priests, awaiting the Master’s return for interrogation. Meanwhile, she hurriedly took a carriage, accompanied by Laisheng and a group of serving women, and left the city. She also invited a physician to come and see what the illness had been. The doctors, seeing that the man was already dead, had no pulse to examine; they knew all along that Jia Jing’s methods of breath control were entirely false and absurd, and that his practices—worshipping stars and the Dipper, keeping the Gengshen vigils, taking cinnabar pills—were all vain and reckless, overstraining his spirit and energy, and in fact had cost him his life. Though he was dead, his belly was as hard as iron, and his face and lips were scorched a purple-crimson and cracked. So they reported to the women: “He died from swallowing gold and taking cinnabar in the Taoist sect, burning and swelling until he expired.” The Taoists, terrified, reported: “It was the new elixir made by the Master’s secret method that went wrong. We humble ones did try to dissuade him, saying, ‘Your merit is not yet complete, you must not take it,’ but we never expected that the Master, during tonight’s Gengshen vigil, would swallow it secretly and ascend to immortality. This must be because he earnestly cultivated the Way, escaped the sea of suffering, shed his earthly shell, and departed of his own accord.” Madam You paid no heed, only ordered them kept locked up, to be dealt with when Jia Zhen arrived, and sent someone on a fast horse to report the news. Seeing that the place here was too cramped to lay out the body, and that in any case it could not be taken into the city, she hastily had the corpse enshrouded and carried in a soft sedan chair to Iron Threshold Temple for enshrinement. Calculating the time, it would be at least half a month before Jia Zhen could arrive. The weather at present was very hot, and truly they could not wait; so she took matters into her own hands, ordered the astrologer to choose a date for encoffining. The coffin had been prepared years ago and stored in this temple, so it was very convenient. Three days later, they opened the mourning and put on the funeral whites. Meanwhile, they started a Taoist service to await Jia Zhen.
In the Rong Mansion, Xifeng could not come out; Li Wan had to look after the girls; Baoyu did not understand affairs; so the external matters were temporarily entrusted to a few second-rank stewards in the household. Jia Bin, Jia Guang, Jia Heng, Jia Ying, Jia Chang, Jia Ling, and others each had their duties. Madam You could not return home, so she sent for her stepmother to come and look after the Ning Mansion. This stepmother could only bring her two unmarried daughters along, and they lived together to set her mind at ease.
Now, when Jia Zhen received the news, he immediately asked for leave; Jia Rong also held an official post. The Board of Rites, seeing that the present Emperor greatly honored filial piety and fraternal duty, dared not act on their own authority, and submitted a memorial to request an imperial decree. It turned out that the Emperor was exceedingly benevolent and filial, and moreover honored the descendants of meritorious ministers. As soon as he saw this memorial, he issued an edict asking what office Jia Jing had held. The Board of Rites replied on his behalf: “He was a successful candidate in the examinations, and his ancestral title had already been inherited by his son, Jia Zhen. Because of advanced age and frequent illness, Jia Jing often cultivated tranquillity outside the capital at Xuanzhen Temple. Now he has died of illness in the temple. His son Zhen and his grandson Rong are currently attending the imperial mourning here, and thus they beg for leave to return for the funeral.” When the Emperor heard this, he quickly issued an extra grace decree: “Though Jia Jing was a commoner with no merits to the state, in consideration of his grandfather’s and father’s merits, I posthumously bestow upon him the fifth rank. Let his son and grandson escort the coffin through the North Gate into the capital, and enter his private residence for encoffining. Let them observe the full mourning rites, and then escort the coffin back to their native place. Moreover, let the Court of Imperial Entertainments grant an official sacrifice according to the standard precedent. All officials from princes and dukes downward are permitted to offer sacrifices and condolences. Respect this.” No sooner was this decree issued than not only the members of the Jia family thanked the Emperor, but all the great ministers in court shouted praises without cease. Jia Zhen and his son sped back day and night. On the road, they met Jia Bin and Jia Guang leading household servants on flying horses. Seeing Jia Zhen, they all dismounted and paid their respects. Jia Zhen hastily asked, “What are you doing?” Jia Bin replied, “Our elder sister-in-law was afraid that you and your nephew might be on the way, and that the old lady would have no one to escort her on the road, so she sent us two to come and escort the old lady.” Jia Zhen heard this and praised them without end, then asked how things were being managed at home. Jia Bin and the others told him how they had arrested the Taoists, moved the body to the family temple, and, fearing no one at home, had invited the mother-in-law and the two aunts to stay in the main hall. Jia Rong dismounted at once and, hearing that the two aunts had arrived, exchanged a smile with Jia Zhen. Jia Zhen quickly said, “Very proper,” several times, then spurred his horse and went on, not stopping at any inn, changing horses and flying on through the night. In one day they reached the capital gate and first rushed to Iron Threshold Temple. It was already the fourth watch of the night. The night watchmen, hearing of their arrival, roused everyone. Jia Zhen dismounted, and he and Jia Rong wept aloud. They knelt and crawled in from outside the main gate, prostrating themselves before the coffin and weeping blood, not stopping until dawn, when their throats were hoarse. Madam You and the others all came to greet them. Jia Zhen and his son quickly changed into mourning garments according to ritual and prostrated themselves before the coffin. But since they had to manage affairs, they could not keep their eyes from seeing or ears from hearing; they had to moderate their grief somewhat in order to direct everyone. They recounted the imperial grace decree in detail to all the relatives and friends. Meanwhile, Jia Zhen sent Jia Rong ahead to the mansion to arrange matters for the lying-in-state. Jia Rong needed no second bidding; he mounted his horse and flew home. He ordered the front hall cleared of tables and chairs, the partitions removed, mourning curtains hung, and at the gate, a drummers’ shed and a memorial arch erected. He then hurried in to see his grandmother and the two aunts. Now the old Lady You, being advanced in years, was fond of sleep and was often reclining. His Second Aunt and Third Aunt were doing needlework with the maids. When he arrived, they all expressed their condolences. Jia Rong, grinning, looked at his Second Aunt and laughed: “Second Aunt, so you’ve come again. Our father has been thinking of you.” You Erjie blushed and scolded, “You little wretch! If I don’t curse you for a couple of days, you can’t stand it. You have no sense of decency at all. And you call yourself a young gentleman from a great family, studying books and learning rites every day—why, you’re worse than the scum of a mean little household!” As she spoke, she grabbed an iron in her hand and aimed it at his head, frightening Jia Rong so much that he ducked his head and rolled into her arms, begging for mercy. You Sanjie came up to tear his mouth and said, “When our elder sister comes home, we’ll tell her.”
Jia Rong quickly knelt on the kang, smiling and begging for mercy, and the two aunts laughed. He then snatched some cardamom from the Second Aunt to eat. You Erjie chewed a mouthful of the husks and spat them in his face. Jia Rong licked them all up with his tongue. The maids, unable to bear it, all laughed and said, “You’re in mourning, and the old lady has just gone to sleep. Though they are young, they are still your aunts—you have no respect for the mistress at all. When we tell the Master, you’ll have more than you can handle.” Jia Rong left his aunts and hugged the maids, kissing them: “My dears, you’re right—let’s tease them.” The maids pushed him away, cursing angrily, “You short-lived devil! You have a wife and maids of your own, and you only carry on with us. Those who know say it’s just fun; those who don’t, and if you run into some filthy-minded, meddling gossip, they’ll spread it all over the mansion—everyone will know, and everyone will be whispering behind our backs that this house is a mess.” Jia Rong laughed and said, “Each house is separate—who cares about whose business? We’ve all got enough of our own. From ancient times down to the present, even in the Han and Tang dynasties, people talk about the ‘filthy Tang and stinking Han’; how much more for a family like ours? What family doesn’t have its romantic affairs? Don’t make me name names. Even that stern old Master over in the other house—Uncle Lian is not clean with that little aunt. And as for Miss Feng, so strong-willed—Uncle Rui still had his eye on her. What of this is hidden from me?”
Jia Rong was in the midst of his wild and reckless talk when he saw his old mother-in-law wake up. He stepped forward to pay his respects and ask after her health, then said, "It’s been hard on you, old ancestress, to worry so, and hard on my two aunts to suffer such indignities. We men of the family are deeply grateful. We can only wait until this business is finished, and then our whole household, young and old, will come to your door and kowtow." Old Mrs. You nodded and said, "My boy, you certainly know how to talk. Relatives should naturally act this way." Then she asked, "How is your father? When did he get the news and arrive?" Jia Rong smiled and replied, "He just got here, and sent me ahead to see you, venerable lady. Please, I beg you, wait until this matter is settled before leaving." As he spoke, he winked at his second aunt, and Er Jie, grinding her teeth, smiled and cursed under her breath, "You little chatterbox monkey! Do you want to keep us here to be a mother for your father or something?" Jia Rong then teased his mother-in-law, saying, "Don’t worry. My father frets over my two aunts every day, wanting to find two sons-in-law with good family backgrounds, wealth, youth, and charm to marry them off properly. For years he couldn’t find any, but luckily the other day on the road he finally spotted a suitable one." Old Mrs. You took it as the truth and hastily asked whose family it was. The two sisters put down their needlework, and laughing, they chased after him to hit him, saying, "Mother, don’t believe this thunder-struck rascal!" Even the maids said, "Heaven’s eye sees all—watch out for the thunder!" Just then someone came to report, "The matter is finished. Please, young master, go out and have a look, then report back to your father." Only then did Jia Rong go off laughing. To know what happened next, listen to the next chapter’s explanation.