A Dream of Red Mansion

by Cao Xueqin

  “I see you are an authority,” replied Jia Rong. “I am only sorry we did not meet earlier. Do examine her and let us know if she can be cured, to spare my father further anxiety.”

  Some maids rested Qin Keqing’s arm on a pillow and raised her sleeve to expose the wrist. The doctor first took the pulse of the right wrist, feeling it carefully for a considerable time before he turned to the left wrist.

  This done, he proposed, “Shall we go and sit outside?”

  Jia Rong conducted him to another room, where they seated themselves on the Kang. A serving woman brought in tea, and when they had drunk it Jia Rong asked:

  “Judging by her pulse, doctor, is there any cure for her?”

  “Your honourable wife’s left distal pulse is deep and agitated, the median pulse deep and faint,” replied the doctor. “The right distal pulse is faint and feeble, the median pulse slight and lacking in energy.

  “A deep and agitated left distal pulse indicates a febrile condition arising from the weak action of the heart; the deep and faint median pulse is due to anemia caused by a sluggish liver. A faint and feeble distal pulse on the right wrist comes of debility of the lungs; a slight and listless median pulse indicates a wood element in the liver too strong for the earth element in the spleen.

  “The fire produced by the weak action of the heart results in irregular menses and insomnia. A deficiency of blood and sluggish condition of the liver produce pain in the ribs, delayed menses and heartburn. Debility of the lungs leads to giddiness, perspiration in the early hours of the morning, and a feeling like sea-sickness. And the predominance of the wood element in the liver over the earth element in the spleen causes loss of appetite, general lassitude and soreness of the limbs. These are the symptoms I would expect from my reading of the lady’s pulse. I cannot agree with the view that this pulse indicates a pregnancy.”

  An old woman who had been attending Keqing exclaimed, “That’s exactly how it is. This doctor must have second sight: there’s no need for us to tell him anything. Quite a few of our household physicians have seen her, but not one of them came so close to the truth. One says it’s a pregnancy, another that it’s an illness; this one declares it’s of no consequence, that one that there’ll be a crisis at the winter solstice. They can’t make up their minds. Please tell us just what to do, sir.”

  “Those gentlemen have delayed your lady’s recovery,” said the doctor. “If she had taken the right medicine when she first missed her menses, she’d have been quite well by now. Since she’s had no effective treatment, this trouble is only to be expected. I would rate her chances of recovery at three out of ten. If she sleeps well tonight after taking my medicine, that will about double her chances.

  “Judging by her pulse, your lady is highly strung and unusually intelligent. Because of this she is easily upset and prone to worry, which has affected her spleen. The element of wood in the liver has produced hot humours which have upset her menstruation. Am I right in assuming that your lady’s periods always tended to be irregular and several days late?”

  “Yes, to be sure,” said the woman. “Never early but two or three days later than normal, sometimes as much as ten days behind time.”

  “Quite so,” observed the doctor. “There’s the cause of her illness. If she’d taken a tonic to regulate her menses, this could have been avoided. This is clearly a case of enervation caused by too little water and too much wood. We’ll see how she responds to medicine.”

  Thereupon he wrote out and gave Jia Rong the following prescription:

  DECOCTION TO IMPROVE THE RESPIRATION, FORTIFY

  THE BLOOD AND TRANQUILLIZE THE LIVER

  Ginseng .2 oz

  Atractylis (clay baked) .2 oz

  Pachyma cocos .3 oz

  Prepared Ti root .4 oz

  Aralia edulis (cooked in wine) .2 oz

  White peony (cooked) .2 oz

  Szechuan selinum .15 oz

  Sophora tomentosa .3 oz

  Cyperus rotundus (processed) .2 oz

  Gentian soaked in vinegar .08 oz

  Dioscorea from the Huai region (cooked) .2 oz

  Genuine Tung-ngo glue (prepared with

  powdered oyster-shell) .2 oz

  Carydalis ambigua (cooked in wine) .15 oz

  Dried liquorice 08 oz

  Adjuvant: Seven Fujien lotus-seeds with the pits extracted and two large red dates

  “Excellent,” remarked Jia Rong after reading this. “Can you tell me, doctor, if her life is in any danger?”

  “A man of your intelligence must know that at this stage it is impossible to predict how long the illness may last. We must see how she responds to this treatment. In my humble opinion, there is no danger this winter and if she gets through the spring equinox we may expect a cure.”

  Jia Rong was too sensible to press the matter. After seeing the doctor out he showed his father the prescription and diagnosis and told his parents all that had been said.

  “No other doctor has been so definite,” observed Madam You to her husband. “His prescription must be good.”

  “He is not a professional doctor,” replied Jia Zhen. “He doesn’t practise medicine for a living and only came as a favour to our friend Feng Ziying. With his help, there’s hope that our daughter-in-law may be cured. I see his prescription calls for ginseng. You can use that catty of a superior quality we bought the other day.”

  Jia Rong withdrew to see about buying the medicine, which was then prepared and given to his wife. To know the effect of the treatment, read the next chapter.

  Chapter 11

  Jia Jing’s Birthday Is Celebrated in the Ning Mansion

  Jia Rui Meets and Lusts After Xifeng

  Jia Jing’s birthday had now arrived. Jia Zhen had six large hampers filled with choice delicacies and rare fruit and sent Jia Rong with some servants to deliver them.

  “Make sure your grandfather’s agreeable before you pay your respects,” he cautioned his son. “Tell him that in compliance with his wishes I’ve not ventured to go, but I am assembling the whole family here to honour him.”

  After Jia Rong had left the guests began to arrive. First Jia Lian and Jia Qiang. Observing the seating arrangements, they asked what entertainment was to be offered.

  “His Lordship originally planned to invite the old master, so he didn’t prepare any theatricals,” said the servants. “But the day before yesterday, when he heard that the old gentleman wouldn’t be coming, he got us to hire some young actors and musicians. They’re getting ready now on the stage in the garden.”

  Next to arrive were Lady Xing, Lady Wang, Xifeng and Baoyu. They were welcomed in by Jia Zhen and Madam You, whose mother had already come. After greetings had been exchanged they were urged to be seated. Jia Zhen and his wife handed round tea.

  “The Lady Dowager is our Old Ancestress,” said Jia Zhen with a smile. “My father is only her nephew, and we wouldn’t have presumed to invite her on his birthday if not for the fact that the weather is refreshingly cool now and all the chrysanthemums in our garden are at their best. We thought it might prove a pleasant distraction for her to watch all her children and grandchildren enjoying themselves. She hasn’t favoured us with her presence, however.”

  “Up to yesterday she meant to come,” explained Xifeng before Lady Wang could get a word in. “But yesterday evening she saw Baoyu eating some peaches and she couldn’t resist eating nearly a whole peach. She had to get up twice just before dawn, which left her tired out this morning. She asked me to tell you that she couldn’t come, but she hopes you’ll send her a few delicacies if you have some that are easy to digest.”

  “That explains it,” said Jia Zhen. “The old lady is so fond of lively parties, I was sure there must be some reason for her absence.”

  Lady Wang remarked, “The other day Xifeng told me that Rong’s wife is indisposed. What’s wrong with her?”

  “It’s a very puzzling illness,” replied Madam You. “At the Mid-Autumn Festival last month sh
e enjoyed herself half the night with the old lady and you, and came home none the worse. But for a fortnight since the twentieth of last month she’s grown weaker and weaker every day and lost all her appetite. And she hasn’t had a period for two months.”

  “Can she be pregnant?” asked Lady Xing.

  Just then the arrival of Jia She, Jia Zheng and the other gentlemen was announced. They were in the reception hall. Jia Zhen hurried out.

  Madam You continued, “Some doctors thought it might mean a happy event. But yesterday she was examined by an excellent physician recommended by Feng Ziying, who once studied with him, and according to him it isn’t a pregnancy but a serious illness. He made out a prescription, and today after one dose she feels less dizzy but there hasn’t been much other improvement.”

  “If she weren’t quite incapable of any exertion, I know she’d have made an effort to be here today,” observed Xifeng.

  “You saw her here on the third,” said Madam You. “She forced herself to bear up for several hours, because she’s so fond of you she couldn’t bear to tear herself away.”

  Xifeng’s eyes became moist. After a pause she exclaimed, “Truly, ‘Storms gather without warning in nature, and bad luck befalls men overnight.’ But life is hardly worth living if such an illness can carry off one so young!”

  As she was speaking Jia Rong walked in. Having greeted the visitors he told his mother, “I’ve just taken the delicacies to my grandfather. I told him my father was waiting on Their Lordships and entertaining the young gentlemen here, and that in compliance with his orders he wouldn’t presume to go over. Grandfather was very pleased. He expressed approval and told me to ask you and my father to attend to the elder generation while we entertain the younger. He also wants to have ten thousand copies of his version of Rewards and Punishments printed and distributed as quickly as possible. I’ve already given this message to my father. Now I must hurry and see to the food for all the grand-uncles, uncles and other gentlemen.”

  “Just a minute, Master Rong,” interposed Xifeng. “Tell me, how is your wife today?”

  “Not well at all.” The young man’s face clouded. “Do go and see her for yourself, aunt, on your way home.” He left without saying any more.

  Madam You asked Lady Xing and Lady Wang, “Would you prefer to eat here or in the garden? The actors are preparing out there.”

  “Why not eat here and then go out?” suggested Lady Wang. “That would be simple.”

  Lady Xing seconded this.

  So Madam You ordered the meal to be served at once. There was an answering cry in unison outside the door and the maids went to fetch the dishes. Soon the feast was ready. Madam You made Lady Xing, Lady Wang and her mother take the places of honour, while she sat at a side table with Xifeng and Baoyu.

  “We came to congratulate the old gentleman on his birthday,” remarked Lady Xing and Lady Wang. “But now it looks, doesn’t it, as if we were celebrating our own?”

  “The Elder Master is fond of retirement,” said Xifeng. “He’s lived SO long as an ascetic, we can already consider him an immortal. So he’ll know by divine intuition what you’ve just said.”

  This set the whole company laughing. The ladies, having by now finished their meal, rinsed their mouths and washed their hands. Just as they were ready to go into the garden, Jia Rong turned up to tell his mother

  “All my grand-uncles, uncles and cousins have finished their meal. Lord She has some business at home, and Lord Zheng has also left as he doesn’t care for theatricals or anything rowdy. Uncle Lian and Cousin Qiang have taken the others over to watch the performance.

  “Cards and gifts have been brought from the four princes of Nanan, Dongping, Xining and Beijing, from Duke Niu of Zhenguo and five other dukes, as well as from Marquis Shi of Zhongjing and seven other marquises. I’ve reported this to my father, had the presents put in the counting-house and the catalogues of gifts placed on file, and my father’s ‘received with thanks’ cards handed to the messengers, who were given the usual tips and a meal before they left.

  “Won’t you ask the ladies to go and sit in the garden now, mother?”

  “We’ve just finished our meal too,” said Madam You. “We’re coming over.”

  “I’d like to drop in and see Rong’s wife first, madam,” said Xifeng. “May I join you later?”

  “A good idea,” approved Lady Wang. “We’d all go if not for fear of disturbing her. Tell her we asked after her.”

  “My daughter-in-law always does as you ask her, dear sister,” said Madam You. “I’ll feel much easier in my mind if you go and cheer her up. But join us in the garden as soon as you can.”

  Baoyu asked permission to go with Xifeng.

  “Go if you want, but don’t be long,” said his mother. “Remember she’s your nephew’s wife.”

  So Madam You took Lady Xing, Lady Wang and her own mother to the Garden of Concentrated Fragrance, while Xifeng and Baoyu went with Jia Rong to see Keqing.

  They entered her room quietly and when she made an effort to rise Xifeng protested, “Don’t. It would make you dizzy.” She hurried forward to clasp Keqing’s hand, exclaiming, “How thin you’ve grown, my poor lady, in the few days since last I saw you!”

  She sat down on her mattress, while Baoyu also asked after his niece’s health and took a chair opposite.

  “Bring in tea at once,” called Jia Rong. “My aunt and second uncle had none in the drawing-room.”

  Holding Xifeng’s hand, Keqing forced a smile.

  “Living in a family like this is more than I deserve,” She said. “My father-in-law and mother-in-law treat me as their own daughter. And although your nephew’s young, we have such a regard for each other that we’ve never quarrelled. In fact the whole family, old and young, not to mention you, dear aunt—that goes without saying—have been goodness itself to me and shown me nothing but kindness. But now that I’ve fallen ill all my will power’s gone, and I haven’t been able to be a good daughter-in-law. I want so much to show how I appreciate your goodness, aunt, but it’s no longer in my power now. I doubt if I shall last the year out.”

  Baoyu was looking pensively at the picture Sleeping Under a Crab-Apple Tree in Spring and Qin Guan’s couplet:

  Coolness warps her dream, for spring is chill;

  A fragrance assails men, the aroma of wine.

  As he raptly recalled his dream here of the Illusory Land of Great Void, Keqing’s remarks pierced his heart like ten thousand arrows and unknown to himself his tears flowed. Xifeng, distressed as she was, did not want to upset the patient even more, knowing it would be better to distract and console her.

  “You’re a regular old woman, Baoyu,” she scolded. “It’s not as bad as your niece would have us believe.” She turned to Keqing. “How can someone your age give way to such foolish fancies just because of a little illness? Do you want to make yourself worse?”

  “She’d be all right if only she’d eat,” put in Jia Rong.

  “Her Ladyship told you not to be too long,” Xifeng reminded Baoyu. “Don’t hang about here upsetting Keqing and making Her Ladyship worry. “She then turned to Jia Rong and said, “Take Uncle Bao to rejoin the others while I stay here a little longer.”

  So Jia Rong led Baoyu to the Garden of Concentrated Fragrance while Xifeng soothed Keqing and whispered some well-meant advice into her ear.

  When Madam You sent a servant for the third time to fetch her she said to Keqing, “Take good care of yourself. I’ll come back again to see you. The fact that this good doctor has been recommended to us is a sign that you’re going to get better. Don’t you worry.”

  “Even if he were an immortal, he could cure a disease but not avert my fate,” retorted Keqing with a smile. “I know it’s only a matter of time now, auntie.”

  “How can you get better if you keep thinking like that? You must look on the bright side. In any case, I’m told the doctor said that even if you’re not cured there’s no danger until the spring. It’
s only the middle of the ninth month now. You’ve four or five months yet, quite long enough to recover from any illness. It would be another matter if our family couldn’t afford ginseng; but your father and mother-in-law can easily give you two catties of ginseng a day, not to mention two drams. Mind you rest well. I’m off now to the garden.”

  “I’m sorry I can’t go with you, dear aunt,” said Keqing. “Do come back again when you’ve time and let’s have a few more good talks.”

  Xifeng’s eyes smarted again at this. “Of course I’ll come whenever I’m free,” she promised.

  Accompanied by her own maids and some from the Ning Mansion, she took a winding path to the side gate of the garden. There a rare sight met her eyes.

  Yellow chrysanthemums carpeted the ground;

  Green willows covered the slopes;

  Small bridges spanned the brooks

  And winding pathways led to quiet retreats.

  Clear springs welled from the rocks,

  Fragrance was wafted from trellises laden with flowers,

  While russet tree-tops swayed In scattered copses lovely as a painting.

  The autumn wind was chilly

  And the song of golden orioles had ceased,

  But crickets were still chirping in the warm sunshine.

  At the far southeast end Cottages nestled among the hills;

  On the northwest side Pavilions brooded over the lake water.

  Fluting cast a subtle enchantment over men’s senses,

  And silk-gowned girls strolling through the woods

  Added to the charm of the scene.

  Xifeng was strolling along enjoying this sight when a man appeared without warning from behind an artificial rockery and accosted her with, “Greetings, sister-in-law!”

  She stepped back, startled, and asked, “Is it Master Rui?”

  “Who else could it be? Don’t tell me you don’t know me.”

  “Of course I do, but you took me by surprise.”

  “We must have been fated to meet, sister-in-law.” He was devouring her with his eyes as he spoke. “I slipped away from the banquet just now for a quiet stroll in this secluded spot. And I meet you here! What is this if not fate?”