A Dream of Red Mansion

by Cao Xueqin

  At dawn, the servants came back to report that they had searched high and low without finding a trace of Baoyu. Then Aunt Xue, Xue Ke, Xiangyun, Baoqin and Aunt Li called in turn to pay their respects and ask for news. This went on for several days, with Lady Wang too grief-stricken to eat.

  She was at death’s door when a servant announced, “A messenger from the coast says he comes from the Garrison Commander, and our Miss Tanchun will be arriving tomorrow.”

  This news relieved Lady Wang’s mind, although she still grieved for Baoyu. And the next day, sure enough, Tanchun came home. They all went out some distance to welcome her and saw that, splendidly dressed, she looked lovelier than ever. At sight of Lady Wang’s haggard looks and the red, swollen eyes of the others, she too broke down and wept before greeting them. It distressed her to see Xichun dressed like a Tao-ist nun; and when she learned of Baoyu’s disappearance and the family’s many misfortunes they all wept again. Fortunately, with her persuasiveness and good sense she succeeded little by little in consoling Lady Wang to some extent.

  The following day Tanchun’s husband also called and, when informed what had happened, urged her to stay for a while to comfort the household. The maids who had accompanied her at the time of her marriage, reunited with their old friends, talked of all that had taken place since their departure; but day and night high and low alike were waiting for word of Baoyu.

  One day, after the fifth watch, servants from the outer apartments came to the inner gate to announce good tidings. A few young maids rushed in, without waiting for the senior maids’ permission, and burst out, “Such good news, madam!”

  Jumping to the wrong conclusion, Lady Wang stood up elatedly to ask, “Where did they find him? Bring him in at once!”

  “He’s come seventh of the successful candidates.”

  “But where is he?” When there was no answer she sat down again.

  “Who came seventh?” asked Tanchun.

  “Master Bao,” they told her.

  Then another Shout went up outside, “Master Lan has passed too!” The maids hurried out and came back with the announcement that Jia Lan’s name was the hundred-and-thirtieth on the list. Li Wan was naturally overjoyed, but while Baoyu was missing she dared not show it. Lady Wang too was pleased that Jia Lan had passed but thought, “If only Baoyu were to come back how happy we all should be!”

  Baochai, the only one still overcome with grief, had to hold back her tears.

  All who offered congratulations said, “Since Baoyu was fated to pass, he’s bound to turn up. Besides, now as a successful candidate, he’s too well-known to remain lost.”

  Lady Wang half convinced by this gave a wan smile, whereupon they urged her to take some nourishment.

  Beiming outside the third gate was clamouring, “Now that Master Bao has passed, we’re certain to find him!” Asked what he meant he explained, “The proverb says: ‘A successful candidate’s fame spreads throughout the world.’ Wherever he goes now, people will know about him and will have to send him back.”

  Those in the inner apartments commented, “That young fellow has no manners, yet he talks sense.”

  Xichun, however, countered, “How could a grown man like him get lost? I suspect he’s seen through the ways of the world and taken monastic vows, in which case it will be difficult to find him.”

  This set Lady Wang and the others weeping again.

  Li Wan agreed, “Yes, since ancient times many men have given up rank and wealth to achieve Buddhahood and become immortals.”

  “If he’s so unfilial as to abandon his parents, how can he become a Buddha?” sobbed Lady Wang.

  “People shouldn’t have anything unique about them,” Tanchun remarked. “We all thought it a good thing Brother Baoyu being born with that jade; but now it seems all this trouble stems from it. Don’t be angry, madam, at what I’m going to say, but if he doesn’t turn up in the next few days then there must be some reason, and you’d better consider him as never having been born. If there really is some mystery about him and he becomes a Buddha, this must be owing to your virtue in some previous existence.”

  Baochai said nothing, but Xiren could not bear her mental anguish— her head reeled and she collapsed. Lady Wang compassionately told some maids to help her back to her room.

  Jia Huan was thoroughly mortified by the success of his brother and his nephew on top of Qiaojie’s disappearance, for which he held Jia Qiang and Jia Yun to blame. He knew that with Tanchun back this matter would not be dropped, yet he dared not hide himself. These days he felt on thorns.

  The next day when Jia Lan went to offer his thanks at court, he learned that Zhen Baoyu had also passed and so they ranked as classmates. Young Zhen, told of Baoyu’s mysterious disappearance, expressed his sympathy.

  The officer in charge of recommendations presented the papers of the successful candidates to the Emperor, who perused each in turn and found them all perspicuous. Observing that the seventh candidate Jia Baoyu was a native of Jinling, as was the hundred-and-thirtieth Jia Lan, he asked, “Is either of these Jias from Jinling from the same family as the late Imperial Consort?”

  His ministers sent for them to question them, then repeated Jia Lan’s account of Baoyu’s disappearance as well as of their antecedents. Thereupon our sagacious, compassionate Emperor recalled the Jia family’s services to the state and ordered his ministers to draw up a detailed memorial on the subject. His Majesty in his great goodness then ordered the bureau in charge to re-investigate Jia She’s case and submit their findings to him. He also read in the report “On the Successful Conclusion of the Campaign Against Brigands at the Coast” that “the whole empire is at peace and the people are content.” In his delight he ordered his ministers to reward those officials responsible and to proclaim a general amnesty.

  After Jia Lan had left the court and thanked his examiner, he heard of the general amnesty and reported it to Lady Wang. The whole family rejoiced and only hoped that Baoyu would now return home. Aunt Xue, even more overjoyed, made ready to ransom Xue Pan.

  Then one day it was announced that old Mr. Zhen and Tanchun’s husband had called to offer congratulations. Lady Wang sent Jia Lan out to entertain them. Presently he returned to her beaming.

  “Wonderful news, madam!” he told her. “Mr. Zhen has heard at court that our Elder Master has been pardoned; and Uncle Zhen has not only been pardoned but is to inherit the Ning Mansion’s noble title. Grandfather will keep the title of Duke of Rongguo, and after the period of mourning is to be made vice-minister of the Ministry of Works. All the property confiscated will be returned. The Emperor was impressed by Uncle Bao’s essays, and discovered that he is the Imperial Consort’s younger brother, whose good character the Prince of Beijing has vouched for. His Majesty summoned him to court and when it was reported that according to his nephew Jia Lan he had disappeared after the examination and a search was being made for him everywhere, the Emperor decreed that all the garrisons of the capital must do their utmost to find him. This decree should set your mind at rest, madam. Now that the Emperor has shown us such favour, Uncle Bao is bound to be found!”

  Lady Wang and the rest of the family exchanged jubilant congratulations. Only Jia Huan was frantic as he searched high and low for Qiaojie, who had left the city with Granny Liu and Pinger. In the village Granny Liu treated her with respect, cleaning out the best rooms for her and Pinger to stay in; and though she could only offer them country fare the food was fresh and clean, while with Qinger to keep her company Qiaojie felt quite at home.

  When the few well-to-do families in the village heard that a young lady from the Jia Mansion was staying with Granny Liu, they flocked to see her and thought her a goddess come down to earth. Some sent presents of vegetables and fruit, others of game, making quite a commotion. The richest family among them, named Zhou, were millionaires owning a vast estate of good land. Their only son, a handsome, intelligent lad of fourteen for whom his parents had procured a tutor, had just passed t
he county examination. When his mother saw Qiaojie she thought enviously, “Country folk like us aren’t good enough for such a young lady from a noble house.”

  Granny Liu guessed what she was thinking. “I know what’s in your mind,” she said. “Let me propose the match.”

  “Don’t make fun of me!” laughed Mrs. Zhou. “Such grand people would never agree to marry her to a family like ours.”

  “We’ll see about that,” was the reply. And there the matter rested.

  Concerned to know how the Jia family was faring, Granny Liu sent Baner to town to make inquiries. As it happened, he found Rongning Street lined with carriages and sedan-chairs, and people in the neighbourhood informed him, “The heads of the Ning and Rong Mansions are getting back their official posts and their confiscated property. They’re going up in the world again. Only that Baoyu of theirs who passed the examination has disappeared.”

  Baner was about to go happily home when some horsemen galloped up and alighted before the gate. The gateman went down on one knee to salute the foremost. “So you’re back, Second Master,” he cried. “Congratulations! Is the Elder Master better?”

  “He is,” was the smiling answer. “Thanks to the Imperial favour, he will be home very soon. Whose are all these carriages?”

  The gateman reported, “Imperial envoys have been sent to order us to fetch back the family property.” Then the gentleman went in as if walking on air, and Baner guessed that he must be Jia Lian. Without making further inquiries, he hurried back to tell his grandmother.

  When Granny Liu heard this news, beaming with smiles she passed it on to Qiaojie with her congratulations.

  Pinger exclaimed, “What a lot we owe you, granny! If not for the way you fixed things, our young lady wouldn’t be so happily placed today.” Qiaojie was still more delighted.

  As they were chatting, the messenger who had taken her letter to Jia Lian came back to report, “Master Lian is extremely grateful and told me, as soon as I reached home, to escort the young lady back. He rewarded me too with several taels of silver.”

  Granny Liu, gratified to hear this, had two carts prepared for them and urged Qiaojie to mount one. But by now she felt so at home here that she was reluctant to leave, while Qinger burst into tears, unwilling to part with her. Seeing this, Granny Liu told Qinger to go with them, and together they drove straight back to the Rong Mansion.

  Earlier on, when Jia Lian had heard that his father was mortally ill and sped to his place of exile, they had wept on meeting again; but gradually Jia She recovered. When Qiaojie’s letter arrived, Jia Lian told his father what had happened at home and promptly started back. On the way he heard of the general amnesty, and pressing on for another two days he reached home just as the Imperial decree had been brought. Lady Xing was worried because there was no one to receive it, Jia Lan being too young. Now Jia Lian’s return was announced, and both joy and sadness attended this reunion, but having no time to stop and talk he hurried to the front hall to pay homage.

  The Imperial envoys asked after his father and instructed him, “Come tomorrow to the Imperial Treasury to receive your bounty. The Ning Mansion is yours to live in again.” With that they took their leave.

  When Jia Lian escorted them out, he saw several countrified carts which the servants were forbidding to draw up there. He knew from the altercation going on that Qiaojie had come back.

  “Stupid bastards!” he swore at the servants. “When I was away you swindled us, forcing my daughter to flee, and now that they’re bringing her back you bar the way! What grudge have you got against me?”

  The servants had been afraid that Jia Lian on his return would bring them to book, not grasping the situation; but to their surprise he knew more about it than they did. Standing at respectful attention they reported, “After you left, sir, some of us fell ill, some had to ask for leave. Master Huan, Master Qiang and Master Yun were in charge—we had nothing to do with this.”

  “You scoundrels!” he swore. “When I’m through with my business I’ll deal with you. Let those carts in at once!”

  When Jia Lian went inside again he ignored Lady Xing. Going instead to Lady Wang’s apartments he knelt down and kowtowed to her. “Qiaojie is back safe and sound, all thanks to you, madam!” he said. “I’ll leave Cousin Huan out of this, but Yun is a rascal who made trouble before when left in charge of the house. Now I’ve only been away a couple of months, yet look at the chaos here! A fellow like this, I suggest we drive him away and have no more to do with him!”

  “That wretch Wang Ren is just as bad,” she complained. “Don’t worry, madam. I know how to deal with them.” As they were talking, Caiyun announced Qiaojie, and the girl paid her respects to Lady Wang. They had not been parted long, yet the thought of her narrow escape moved them both to tears, Qiaojie weeping bitterly. Jia Lian lost no time in thanking Granny Liu, and Lady Wang made the old woman sit beside her to talk over recent events. When Jia Lian saw Pinger he shed tears of gratitude, although he could not express his feelings in public. And so much had she risen in his estimation that he decided, after his father’s return, to ask to have her promoted to be his wife. But this is anticipating.

  Lady Xing had feared ructions when Jia Lian found Qiaojie missing. The news that he had gone to see Lady Wang alarmed her even more, and she sent a maid to find out what was afoot. When the girl came back to report that Qiaojie and Granny Liu were talking there too, Lady Xing at last realized the trick played on her and suspected Lady Wang of setting her son against her. “But who could have sent Pinger word?” she fumed.

  Just then Qiaojie came in with Granny Liu and Pinger, followed by Lady Wang who laid the whole blame on Jia Yun and Wang Ren.

  “When you heard their proposal, you naturally thought it a good one,” she said. “How were you to know what they were up to outside?”

  Abashed, Lady Xing admitted to herself that Lady Wang had made the right decision. After this, these two mistresses were on better terms.

  Upon leaving Lady Wang, Pinger took Qiaojie to see Baochai, and each confided her troubles to the other.

  Pinger told them, “The Emperor has shown us such favour that now our family should prosper again. I’m sure Master Bao will come back.”

  Just then Qiuwen came running in frantically. “Xiren is dying!” she cried. If you want to know what had happened, read the next chapter.

  Chapter 120

  Zhen Shiyin Expounds the Illusory Realm

  Jia Yucun Concludes the Dream of Red Mansions

  On hearing from Qiuwen that Xiren was dying, Baochai hurried to her bedside with Qiaojie and Pinger. Finding her unconscious after a heart attack they revived her with a drink of boiled water, then laid her down again and sent for a doctor.

  “How did Sister Xiren fall so ill?” Qiaojie asked.

  Baochai explained, “The other evening she wept so bitterly that she fainted away. The mistress made people help her back to sleep; but because of that commotion outside we didn’t get her a doctor.”

  The doctor arriving just then, they withdrew. After taking her pulse he attributed her illness to anxiety and anger, and made out a prescription accordingly.

  Now Xiren had heard it rumoured that if Baoyu failed to return all his maids would be dismissed, and anxiety on this score aggravated her illness. After the doctor had gone Qiuwen brewed medicine for her, but lying there alone she had no peace of mind. She seemed to see Baoyu before her, then had a hazy vision of a monk who was leafing through an album and who told her, “Don’t make a wrong decision. I’m having nothing more to do with you.”

  Before she could question him, Qiuwen came over saying, “Here’s your medicine. Drink it up, sister.”

  Xiren opened her eyes and kept to herself what she now knew had been a dream. When she had drunk the medicine she reflected, “Baoyu must have left with the monk. That time when he tried to take the jade out, he looked as if he wanted to escape. When I stopped him he wasn’t his usual self, the rough way he pushed
and shoved me without any feeling at all; and later he had less patience with Madam Bao and not the least feeling for the other girls either, as if he’d awoken to the Truth. But even so, how can you abandon your wife? I was sent by the mistress to wait on you, and though I’ve been getting the monthly allowance of a concubine, this was never publicly announced to the masters and mistresses. If they dismiss me and I insist on staying, people will laugh at me; yet if I leave I shan’t be able to bear it, remembering how good Baoyu was to me.” She could not resolve this dilemma until recalling her dream in which it had been implied that she and Baoyu were destined to part she decided, “Better die and be done with it.”

  The medicine had eased the pain in her heart, yet she had to lie there in discomfort for several days before getting up again to wait on Baochai. The latter secretly shed tears of longing for Baoyu, lamenting her wretched fate; however, since her mother was preparing to ransom her brother, there was much to attend to and she had to help out. But no more of this for the present.

  Jia Zheng escorting the old lady’s coffin, and Jia Rong those of Keqing, Xifeng and Yuanyang, had now reached Jinling where they had them interred. Then Jia Rong took Daiyu’s coffin to be buried in her ancestral graveyard, leaving Jia Zheng to supervise the building of the tombs. One day he received a letter from home, and the news that Baoyu and Jia Lan had passed the examination delighted him; but Baoyu’s disappearance so perturbed him that he felt constrained to hurry back at once. On the way he heard of the general amnesty and received another letter from home confirming his pardon and official reinstatement. Much heartened, he pressed on rapidly day and night.

  The day they reached the Piling post station, it suddenly turned cold and began to snow, and their boat moored in a secluded spot. Jia Zheng sent servants ashore to deliver cards to friends in that locality, and to explain that he had no time to call and they should not trouble to call on him either, as the boat would be leaving again immediately. Only one page remained to wait on him as he wrote a letter to send home by a messenger travelling ahead by road. Before broaching the subject of Baoyu he paused. Looking up through the snow, he glimpsed at the prow of the boat a figure with a shaven head and bare feet, draped in a red felt cape. This man prostrated himself before Jia Zheng, who hurried out of the cabin, meaning to raise him up and see who he was, but the man had already kowtowed four times, then stood up and made him a Buddhist salutation. Jia Zheng was about to bow in return when he recognized his son.