A Dream of Red Mansion

by Cao Xueqin

Yingchun was already asleep. They knocked for some time before the gate was opened. Xifeng gave orders not to disturb the young lady and went with the others to the maids’ quarters. As Siqi there was Mrs. Wang’s grand-daughter, Xifeng was curious to know whether or not she was biased by family ties and she therefore paid special attention to this search. Mrs. Wang started with the other girls’ cases and, finding nothing exceptionable, went on to open Siqi’s case. After a perfunctory search she declared there was nothing there and started to close it.

  “Wait!” cried Zhou Rui’s wife. “What’s this?”

  She reached to pick out a man’s silk socks and slippers as well as a small bundle. When they opened this, they found inside a love-knot and a letter. These were handed to Xifeng for her inspection, for as she was in charge of the household and had to read letters and go through accounts, she knew quite a few characters. Xifeng saw that this stationery was red with double happy-life designs. On it was written:

  After your visit home last month my parents found out about our understanding, but we can’t have our wish until after your young lady’s marriage. If it’s possible to meet in the Garden, get Mrs. Zhang to send me word. That would be more convenient than your coming here. Do, do arrange it! Also, I’ve received the two pouches you sent me, and I’m sending you a string of scented beads as a token of my love. Please. Keep them safely. Your cousin, Pan Youan.

  This letter, far from angering Xifeng, amused her. As none of the others could read and Mrs. Wang had no inkling of this romance between her grand-daughter and young Pan, the sight of the slippers and socks had made her uneasy. When Xifeng started laughing at what was written on the red paper she said:

  “I suppose this is some account and you’re amused by their poor writing, madam?”

  “Quite. This account takes some working out. As Siqi’s maternal grandmother, tell me how her cousin comes to have the name Pan instead Of Wang?”

  In some surprise Mrs. Wang stammered, “Her paternal aunt married a Pan, so she has a cousin named Pan—the Pan Youan who ran away the other day.”

  “That explains it,” chuckled Xifeng. I’ll read it for you.”

  She read the letter, and everybody was shocked, it had never occurred to Wang Shanbao’s wife, so intent had she been on exposing others, that her grand-daughter would be caught out. She was quite overwhelmed by shame and vexation. Zhou Rui’s wife and the other stewardesses asked her, “Well, what have you to say to that? How should we deal with her in your opinion?”

  Mrs. Wang wished she could sink into the ground, and Xifeng laughed at her. “This is just as well,” she remarked to Mrs. Zhou. “She’s saved her granny and everyone trouble by quietly picking a fine young man for herself.”

  Zhou Rui’s wife chuckled too and made some caustic comments. Unable to vent her anger on anyone else, Mrs. Wang slapped her own face.

  “You old bitch who’s lived beyond your time!” she swore. “This is retribution for your sins. You brought this on yourself.”

  The others burst out laughing, then while making a show of consoling her flung a few taunts at her. Only Siqi stood silent with lowered head, but to Xifeng’s surprise she showed no sign of fear. It was too late to question the girl, but for fear she might do away with herself that night Xifeng detailed two matrons to keep an eye on her. Then she had the evidence they had discovered taken back to her place and retired, meaning to settle the matter the next day.

  During the night, however, Xifeng had to get up several times and lost a good deal of blood. The next morning she kept to her bed, feeling weak and dizzy. The court physician summoned to examine her reported:

  “The young mistress suffers from lack of vital blood and a hot humour in the spleen caused by worry and undue exertion. This has resulted in listlessness, drowsiness, indigestion and lack of appetite. A tonic to restore her strength and cool the hot humour is recommended.”

  Having made out a prescription including ginseng, angelica, astragalus and the like, he took his leave.

  Some old nurses took the prescription to Lady Wang, and this so added to her worries that for the time being she set Siqi’s business aside.

  That day Madam You happened to call first on Xifeng and then on Li Wan in the Garden. She was meaning to visit the girls when Xichun sent a maid to invite her over. Xichun told her all that had happened the night before and showed her the ingots found among Ruhua’s things.

  “These really were gifts to her brother from Zhen,” Madam You confirmed. “His giving them was above-board, but she shouldn’t have smuggled them in here on the sly—that’s turned state traffic in salt into contraband.” She scolded Ruhua for her stupidity, saying eating too much rich food had addled her wits.

  “As master and mistress you weren’t strict enough with your servants, yet now you blame the maid,” protested Xichun. “Of all us girls here I’m the only one to lose face through my maid. How am I to face people in future? Last night I urged Xifeng to take her away, but she wouldn’t. That’s natural, I suppose, as Ruhua comes from the East Mansion. But today I meant to take her there myself, so I’m glad you’ve come. Do take her away quickly. You can beat her, kill her or sell her —I shan’t care in the least.”

  Ruhua fell on her knees weeping.

  “I won’t do such a thing again. But please, miss, for old time’s sake, let me die here with you!” she pleaded.

  Madam You and the nurses interceded too.

  “This was just a momentary slip-up, and she won’t dare do it again,” they said. “She’s been waiting on you since childhood. You’d better allow her to stay.”

  But Xichun although young had a will of her own and was most uncompromising and eccentric. However hard they pleaded, she was adamant as she felt the maid had disgraced her.

  “I don’t want Ruhua,” she insisted. “Not only that, now that I’m growing up I think it best not to visit you people over there myself. Especially as these last few days I’ve been hearing a lot of gossip. I don’t want to be mixed up in any scandal.”

  “Who’s been gossiping?” asked Madam You. “What about? Aren’t we all one family? If you hear talk about us, you should ask the gossips why they spread such rumours.”

  Xichun smiled scornfully.

  “A fine way to talk! A young girl like me should just steer clear of scandals. What sort of creature would I be if instead I sought them out? And at the risk of offending you I must say: Your reputation’s known, so I don’t have to ask what it is. As the ancients said: ‘Where good and evil, life and death are concerned, even fathers and sons are unable to help each other.’ That’s even truer of us. What I care about is my good name, not yours. If you get involved in scandals in future, don’t drag me in.”

  Madam You did not know whether to laugh or be angry. She said to the servants, “No wonder they all call her young and foolish. I didn’t believe them, but you heard the unreasonable way she talked just now— showing no judgement or sense of proportion at all. It’s childish talk, but it cuts people to the quick.”

  “She’s young, madam,” the nurses rejoined. “You must make allowances.”

  “I may be young,” Xichun retorted. “All the same I’m speaking from experience. You don’t know enough characters to read, so you’re all so benighted that when I talk sense you call me young and foolish.”

  “You’re the Number One Scholar, the greatest talent of all times,” quipped Madam You. “Stupid people like us don’t have your sense. How’s that?”

  “Even Number One scholars can be foolish. In fact they’re most likely to lack enlightenment.”

  “Fine!” Madam You crowed. “A moment ago you were a talented scholar, now you’ve become a chief monk holding forth on enlightenment.”

  “If I weren’t enlightened, I wouldn’t have the heart to give up Ruhua.”

  “But that proves you heartless and cold.”

  “As the ancients said: ‘One must be ruthless to keep out of trouble.’ I’m pure and spotless. Why should I spoil m
y integrity by letting you involve me in your affairs?”

  Being sensitive on this point, Madam You disliked such talk She had been mortified to hear that there had been gossip, but had controlled herself in front of Xichun. This last thrust was more than she could take, however.

  “In what way have we involved you?” she demanded. “Your maid does wrong, and for no reason you round on me. I’ve put up with it for some time, but that’s only emboldened you to keep on like this. If you’re such a fine young lady, we won’t venture to approach you in future for fear of spoiling your good reputation.” She ordered her servants to take Ruhua away and got up in a temper to leave.

  “If you do stay away that will save us bickering and trouble, and we can all have a quiet life,” cried Xichun.

  Madam You did not answer this but went straight out. To know what happened later, read the next chapter.

  Chapter 75

  At a Feast One Night Portentous Sighing Is Heard

  New Poems on the Moon Festival Are Taken as Good Omens

  Madam You left Xichun in a huff to call on Lady Wang, but the nurses accompanying her quietly warned her, “Better not go there, madam. The Zhen family have just sent people with some things and they seem to want it kept quiet, so this may not be a good time to call.”

  “Only yesterday your master told me that, according to the Court Gazette, the Zhens have been charged with crimes,” said Madam You. “Their house has been raided, their property confiscated, and they’ve been fetched to the capital to stand trial. So why have these people come?”

  “Why indeed?” answered the nurses. “The few women who arrived just now looked flustered and agitated. They must be up to something they don’t want to be known.”

  In view of this, Madam You called instead on Li Wan. The court physician treating her had just left, and as her health had recently improved she was sitting propped up against her pillow in bed with a quilt around her, just hoping someone would drop in for a chat. She soon noticed, however, that Madam You was not her usual amiable self, simply sitting there lost in thought.

  “It was good of you to come,” said Li Wan. “Have you eaten anything in your round of calls? You must be hungry.” She told Suyun to try to find Some delicacies for her.

  “No need, no need,” Madam You at once demurred. “Ill as you’ve been, you can’t have any delicacies here. Besides, I’m not hungry.”

  “Lan’s aunt has sent me some good fried flour; let’s mix a bowl for you to taste.” She ordered a maid to prepare this, while Madam You remained silent in a brown study.

  The attendants who had come with her suggested. “You didn’t wash at noon, madam. Would you like to freshen up now?”

  When she nodded, Li Wan told Suyun to fetch her dressing case, and with it the girl brought some of her own rouge and powder.

  “Our mistress doesn’t use cosmetics, so please make do with these of mine if you don’t think them dirty, madam,” she said with a smile.

  “The idea!” scolded Li Wan. “Although I haven’t got such things, you should have fetched some from one of the young ladies, instead of producing your own. You’re lucky it’s her and not anybody else—or they’d have taken offence at your impudence.”

  “What does it matter?” said Madam You. “I use all your servants’ things each time I come here. Why should I be fussy today?”

  She sat cross-legged on the kang while Yindie took off her bracelets and rings, then spread a large handkerchief on her lap to protect her clothing. A large basin of warm water was brought in by Chaodou, one of the younger maids, who stooped to hold it out for Madam You.

  “Will you never learn to adapt yourself to circumstances?” cried Yindie. “Once given an instruction, you stick to it, regardless. Because our mistress is lenient and not particular about etiquette at home, you get the idea you can be equally casual in a relative’s house, carrying on in public the way you do in private.”

  “Never mind,” said Madam You. “All I want is a wash.” Chaodou hastily knelt down.

  “In our family,” went on Madam You with a smile, “high and low alike, all observe the outward forms of etiquette but actually carry on in a scandalous way.”

  Li Wan knew from this that she had heard about the last night’s happenings.

  “Why do you say that?” she laughed. “Who’s been carrying on in a

  scandalous way?”

  “Why ask me? You may have been ill but you weren’t dead....”

  Before she could say more, Baochai was announced and she entered even as Li Wan was asking her in. Madam You quickly wiped her face and got up to offer her a seat.

  “All by yourself?” she asked. “Where are the other girls?”

  “I haven’t seen them,” said Baochai. “I’ve come because mother’s unwell, and our only two reliable maids are ill in bed; so I must go back to keep her company tonight. I meant to ask leave from Their Ladyships, but then I thought that as it’s not really serious there’s no need to mention it; and anyway I’ll come back as soon as she’s better. So I’ve just come to let you know.”

  Li Wan and Madam You exchanged smiles at this. And now that the latter had cleaned up they all had some fried-flour “tea.”

  Li Wan remarked, “We must send to inquire after Aunt Xue’s illness, as I’m not well enough to go myself. Yes, just go along home, dear cousin. I’ll assign people to keep an eye on your rooms for you while you’re away. But mind you come back after a day or two, otherwise I’ll be held to blame.”

  “Why should you be? This is just for the time being and perfectly natural. It’s not as if you were taking a bribe to let a thief escape! And I see no reason for you to send people over. Why not invite Xiangyun here to stay with you for a few days? Wouldn’t that be simpler?”

  “Where is she?” asked Madam You.

  “I just sent her to find Tanchun and bring her here, so that I can let her know too.”

  That same moment Xiangyun and Tanchun were announced, and after they had been offered seats Baochai explained why she was leaving the Garden.

  “Very good,” commented Tanchun. “So you’ll come back when auntie’s better. And even if you don’t, that won’t matter either.”

  “That’s strange way to talk!” exclaimed Madam You. “Are we driving our relatives away?”

  “That’s the idea.” Tanchun smiled mockingly. “Better drive them out before getting thrown out by others. In any case, there’s no need for relatives to live together all the time. We’re a happy family of kith and kin I must say, all like game-cocks fighting to finish each other off.”

  “I’m certainly out of luck today,” Madam You laughed, “Finding so many of you girls in a bad temper.”

  “Who told you to come and burn yourself on the stove?” Tanchun retorted. “And who else has offended you?” She went on thoughtfully, “Xichun has no reason to scold you, so who else could it be?” Madam You just muttered an evasive reply.

  Knowing she was reluctant to speak out for fear of trouble, Tanchun teased, “Don’t pretend to be so simple. People don’t get their heads chopped off except for crimes against the state, so what are you so afraid of? I’ll tell you the truth: I slapped that old wife of Wang Shanbao’s yesterday, and I’m quite willing to take the consequences. But apart from calling me names behind my back, nobody’s likely to give me a beating for it.”

  Asked by Baochai what had provoked her, Tanchun described in detail the search made the night before and why she had struck Mrs. Wang. Since Tanchun had come out with it, Madam You told them how Xichun had just treated her.

  “She’s like that,” observed Tanchun, “so eccentric and stubborn there’s just no talking her round.” Then she informed them, “When no action was taken this morning and I heard that our peppery Xifeng was ill again, I sent my nanny to find out what had happened to Wang Shanbao’s wife. She came back to report that the old creature got a thrashing for being too meddlesome.”

  “Serves her right too,” approved Ma
dam You and Li Wan.

  Tanchun laughed caustically.

  “Who can’t see through that trick? Just wait and see....” Madam You and Li Wan made no answer to this. And presently, thinking it time for the Lady Dowager’s meal, Xiangyun and Baochai went back to pack their things while Madam You took her leave of Li Wan and went straight to the old lady’s place. She found her sitting on her couch listening to Lady Wang’s disturbing account of how the Zhen family had got into trouble, had their property confiscated and been fetched to the capital for punishment. She asked Madam You where she had come from and if Xifeng and Li Wan were any better.

  “They’re both better today,” Madam You made haste to assure her.

  The old lady nodded and sighed.

  “Well, let’s not trouble ourselves about other people’s affairs but consider how to celebrate the Moon Festival.”

  “We’ve got everything ready,” said Lady Wang. “But we don’t know where you’d like to have the feast. Only the wind may be cold at night in the empty Garden.”

  “That doesn’t matter. We can dress more warmly. That’s just the place to enjoy the moon, of course.”

  While they were chatting tables had been brought in, and Lady Wang and Madam You at once helped to serve the food. The Lady Dowager saw that in addition to the dishes prepared for her there were two big hampers of others, it being the custom for the two mansions to present her with extra dishes every day. She asked what they were.

  “I’ve told you several times to stop this, but you never listen,” she complained. “We’re not as well off as we used to be.”

  “I’ve passed on your instructions more than once, but this goes on as usual,” Yuanyang said. “So I had to let it go.”

  “This is only everyday family fare,” put in Lady Wang. “As today is one of my fast days we haven’t got much, and knowing that you’re not too fond of gluten of wheat and beancurd I just chose minced water-mallow with pepper sauce.”

  “That’s good. Just what I fancy.”