Chapter 101

Chapter 101

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Chapter 101

A Soul Is Stirred by the Moonlit Night in the Garden of Grand View

Strange Omens Are Revealed by a Divine Oracle in the Temple of the Scattered Blossoms

When Xifeng returned to her quarters, she found that Lian had not yet come back. She set to assigning tasks to the various people in charge of preparing Tanchun's trousseau. By then it was already past dusk. Suddenly thinking of Tanchun, she wanted to go and see her. She told Feng'er and two maids to accompany her, with a maid carrying a lantern leading the way. When they stepped outside, she saw that the moon had risen, shining as brightly as water. Xifeng ordered the lantern-carrier, "Go back." She then walked to the window of the tea room, where she heard the sound of people inside whispering and chattering—now like weeping, now like laughing, now like discussing something. Xifeng supposed that the household women servants were once again gossiping and stirring up some trouble, and she found this extremely disagreeable. She ordered Xiaohong to go inside, pretending to be casual, and carefully find things out, using her questions to draw out the truth of the matter. Xiaohong assented and went in. Xifeng took only Feng'er with her and came to the garden gate. It had not yet been closed—it was merely shut loosely. So the mistress and servant pushed the gate open and entered. They saw that the moonlight in the garden seemed even brighter than outside, the ground covered with layers of dense tree shadows. There was no sound of human voices anywhere—it was desolate and silent in the extreme. Just as they were about to take the road leading to Autumn Studio, they suddenly heard a gust of wind pass through, causing the dead leaves on the branches to rustle and swirl all through the garden, while the treetops whistled and wailed, startling into flight the cold crows and roosting birds. Xifeng had been drinking, and the wind's chill made her shiver all over. Feng'er also pulled her head down and said, "How cold!" Xifeng could not hold out either, so she told Feng'er, "Quick, go back and fetch that silver-skin sleeveless jacket. I'll wait at Third Miss's place." Feng'er had been hoping for just such an excuse—she too wanted to go back and put on more clothes. She assented and turned and ran off.

Xifeng had only taken a few steps when she felt behind her a snorting, sniffing sound, and the hairs on her body stood on end. Unable to help herself, she turned her head for a look. She saw a pitch-black creature behind her, stretching its nose out to sniff her, its two eyes gleaming like lanterns. Xifeng's soul nearly fled her body, and she could not suppress a cry. It turned out to be a large dog. The dog pulled its head back, turned, dragged its broom-like tail, and ran in one breath up the large earthen mound, where it stood and turned back to paw at Xifeng. By now Xifeng's heart was pounding and her spirit was shaken. She hurried toward Autumn Studio. When she was almost at the door and had just rounded the mound, she saw the figure of a person flash before her. Xifeng felt puzzled. She thought it must be a maid from one of the households and called out, "Who is it?" She asked twice, but no one emerged. Already her soul was floating in terror. In a dazed and hazy state, it seemed that someone behind her said, "Auntie, you don't even recognize me!" Xifeng hastily turned her head and saw a person of handsome appearance, elegantly dressed—extremely familiar, yet she could not recall whose wife from which household it was. She heard the person say again, "Auntie is so intent on enjoying glory and wealth that she has cast into the eastern ocean what I said to her that year about establishing a foundation to last ten thousand years forever." Xifeng heard this and lowered her head in thought, but still could not remember. The person said with a cold laugh, "Auntie was so good to me back then—now you've cast me beyond the ninefold heavens." When Xifeng heard this, she then remembered that it was Qin Keqing, Jia Rong's first wife. She said, "Ai-ya! You're a dead person—how did you come here!" She spat once, then turned around, and her foot caught on a stone, throwing her to the ground. It was as if she had awakened from a dream—sweat poured from her entire body. Though her hair stood on end, her mind was clear. She saw Xiaohong and Feng'er approaching in the shadows. Xifeng, fearing people would talk, quickly climbed to her feet and said, "What have you been doing all this time? Hurry up and bring it to me to put on." Even as she spoke, Feng'er came forward and helped her dress, while Xiaohong came over to support her. Xifeng said, "I only just got there and they were already asleep. Let's go back." As she spoke, she led the two maids and hurried all the way back home. Lian had already returned, but she saw that his expression had changed from its usual look. She wanted to ask him about it, but knowing his temperament, she did not dare to question him abruptly, and so she went to sleep. By the fifth watch the next morning, Lian had already risen and was about to go to the residence of Qiu Shian, the chief inspector of the inner court eunuchs, to inquire about matters. Since it was too early, he saw on the desk the gazette that had been delivered the previous day and picked it up to read idly. The first item was a memorial from Wang Zhong, military governor of Yunnan, reporting the seizure of a case involving the illegal transport of divine firearms and gunpowder across the frontier, with a total of eighteen suspects. The first-named was Bao Yin, who claimed to be a servant of the Grand Preceptor and Duke of Townhold, Jia Hua. The second item was a memorial from Li Xiao, prefect of Suzhou, impeaching a man for allowing his household slaves to run rampant, relying on his power to oppress soldiers and civilians, which led to the killing of a chaste widow and three members of her family because his attempt at seduction had failed. The culprit was named Shi Fu, who claimed to be a servant of Jia Fan, hereditary holder of a third-rank official title. When Lian read these two items, he immediately felt uneasy. He wanted to read the third item but feared that if he delayed, he would not be able to get an audience with Qiu Shian. So he hastily dressed, not even waiting to eat anything. As it happened, Ping'er brought tea, and after taking two sips, he went out and rode off on horseback.

P'ing-erh was inside the room putting away the clothes that had been changed out of. At this time Phoenix had not yet risen, and P'ing-erh said, "Last night I didn't hear you sleep much, ma'am. Let me rub your back now while you take a good nap." Phoenix was silent for a long time. P'ing-erh reckoned this meant consent, and climbed onto the kang to sit by her side and rub her gently. After only a few strokes, Phoenix was just beginning to feel drowsy when they heard the little girl crying on the other side. Phoenix opened her eyes again, and P'ing-erh called out in that direction, "Nurse Li, what exactly is the matter? The little miss is crying. Do hold her properly. You're too sound a sleep yourself." Nurse Li started up from her dream and, hearing what P'ing-erh said, was inwardly vexed. She had no choice but to slap the child several times hard, muttering and scouring all the while: "You truly short-lived little devil, won't lie still but wail for your dead mother at the midnight hour!" As she spoke, she gritted her teeth and pinched the child hard on the body. The child burst out crying with a wail. Phoenix heard it and said, "Intolerable! Listen to that, she's tormenting the child. Go over there and beat that black-hearted bitch who keeps a man as hard as you can, and bring the little girl here." P'ing-erh laughed and said, "Don't be angry, ma'am. How would she dare torment the little miss? She probably didn't mean to and just bumped her by accident. It wouldn't matter to beat her a few times now, but tomorrow the others will gossip behind our backs and say we beat people in the middle of the night." After hearing this, Phoenix was silent for a long time, then said with a long sigh, "Look at this—I'm not so flourishing now, am I? If I die tomorrow, leaving this little wretch behind, who knows what will become of her!" P'ing-erh laughed and said, "Why does ma'am say such things! It's the dead of night—why bring this on!" Phoenix said with a cold laugh, "You don't understand. I've seen through it long ago. I won't be here much longer. Though I've lived only twenty-five years, I've seen what others haven't seen, eaten what others haven't eaten—that counts as complete. I've had everything this world has to offer. I've vented all my anger, I've fought all the battles I could win. The only thing lacking is a little something in the matter of longevity—and that's all right." When P'ing-erh heard this, she couldn't help but shed tears. Phoenix laughed and said, "You can drop the false compassion now. When I die you'll only be glad. You'll all be of one mind and one heart, living in harmony, and I won't be the thorn in your eyes anymore. There's just one thing—if you know what's good for you, take care of my child." When P'ing-erh heard these words, she cried all the more like a broken-hearted soul. Phoenix laughed and said, "Stop your damned nonsense, I'm not dead yet. Crying so hard! If I don't die, you'll cry me to death." P'ing-erh quickly stopped crying and said, "Ma'am, you're saying such heartbreaking things." As she spoke, she went on rubbing. For a long time neither said anything, and Phoenix drifted off into a fitful sleep.

P'ing-erh had just come down from the kang to leave when she heard footsteps outside. As it happened, Chia Lian had set out late, and Chiu Shih-an had already gone to court. Having missed him, Chia Lian returned in a foul mood and came in asking P'ing-erh, "Have those people gotten up yet?" P'ing-erh replied, "Not yet." Chia Lian came in flinging the portières aside, saying with a cold laugh, "Fine, fine! None of them up yet—they're all set to put on a free-for-all and wash their hands of things!" He demanded tea in a loud voice. P'ing-erh hurriedly poured a bowl of tea. The maids and old servants, having seen Chia Lian leave, had gone back to sleep and hadn't expected him to return at this hour, so nothing had been prepared. P'ing-erh brought the warmed-over tea. Chia Lian was furious. He lifted the bowl and smashed it to pieces with a crash.

Xifeng started awake, breaking into a cold cry and a cold sweat. She opened her eyes with a gasp to find Jia Lian sitting beside her, breathing angrily, while P'ing-er crouched down gathering pieces of a bowl.

"Why are you back so soon?" she asked.

When he made no reply, she had to ask again.

Jia Lian shouted, "If you don't want me back, let me die outside!"

Xifeng laughed. "What's all this fuss about? You usually don't come back as quickly as this. I only asked one question and you don't need to lose your temper."

Jia Lian shouted again, "I didn't meet him, so of course I came back quickly!"

Xifeng laughed. "If you didn't meet him, you'll just have to be patient. Go earlier tomorrow and you're bound to run into him."

Jia Lian shouted, "I'm not going to eat my own rice while chasing a deer for someone else. I have a whole pile of business here with no one to weigh it out—no reason to go running around for someone else's affairs all these days. What's the point? The very man who has the trouble is enjoying himself at home, and for all I know he may be dead or alive—I hear they're even talking about setting off firecrackers, setting out wine, and performing operas for his birthday. I've been running my legs off for nothing!"

As he spoke he spat on the ground and cursed P'ing-er.

Xifeng was choking with rage and wanted to argue with him, but after thinking it over she restrained herself and forced a smile.

"Why be so angry? It's early in the morning—what are you shouting at me for? Who told you to take on someone else's business? Since you did, you'll have to be patient and see it through for them. I've never heard of a man with troubles of his own who still has the heart to put on operas and set out wine!"

Jia Lian said, "You say that—why don't you ask him tomorrow?"

Xifeng asked in surprise, "Ask whom?"

Jia Lian said, "Ask whom! Ask your brother."

Xifeng said, "Was it he?"

Jia Lian said, "Who else could it be?"

Xifeng quickly asked, "What business does he have that made you run around for him?"

Jia Lian said, "You're still in the dark."

Xifeng said, "This really is strange. I haven't heard a single word about it."

Jia Lian said, "How could you know? Even the Lady Dowager and Aunt Hsueh haven't heard. First, I was afraid the Lady Dowager and Aunt Hsueh would worry. Second, you're always complaining of being unwell. So I kept it quiet outside and didn't let the inside know. When I think about it, it's really infuriating! If you hadn't asked me today, I wouldn't have told you. You think your brother behaves like a decent man? Do you know what people outside call him?"

Xifeng said, "What do they call him?"

Jia Lian said, "They call him 'Forget Virtue'!"

Xifeng burst out laughing. "Isn't his name Wang Jen—Wang Jen?"

Jia Lian said, "Do you think that Wang Jen is the Wang Jen who has forgotten benevolence, righteousness, propriety, wisdom, and good faith?"

Xifeng said, "What kind of malicious tongue would run a man down like that?"

Jia Lian said, "It's not running him down. I may as well tell you today so you'll know what your precious brother is really like—did you even know he's giving a birthday celebration for his Second Uncle?"

Xifeng thought for a moment. "Oh, yes! I forgot to ask you—isn't the Second Uncle's birthday in winter? I remember it's always Pao-yu who goes. After the old master was promoted, the Second Uncle's household sent over an opera troupe, and I said privately that the Second Uncle is the stingiest man—nothing like the eldest uncle. They glare at each other like fighting cocks at home. Otherwise, when the eldest uncle died yesterday, did you see him, a brother, step forward and take charge of anything? That's why I said at the time that for his birthday we'd return the favor with a troupe of actors so as not to fall short before the relatives. Now they're having the birthday celebration so early—I wonder what the reason is."

Jia Lian said, "You're still dreaming. As soon as he arrived in the capital, he took advantage of the eldest uncle's affairs to hold a funeral service. He was afraid we'd find out and stop him, so he didn't tell us—and made several thousand taels of silver. Later the Second Uncle was angry with him for trying to take everything for himself. He couldn't take it anymore, so he changed his tactics and used your Second Uncle's birthday as a pretext, thinking to squeeze out a few more taels to placate the Second Uncle and keep him from being angry—never mind whether it's winter or summer for the relatives and friends, or whether people know about it or not—such a disgrace! Do you know why I got up early? Now because of coastal defense matters, a censor has impeached him, saying that the eldest uncle's deficit should be made up by his younger brother Sheng and his nephew Jen. The two of them were in a panic and came to me to pull strings for them. Seeing how frightened they were, and considering it affected the Lady Dowager and you, I agreed. I thought I'd go look for the Palace Commandant, old Ch'iu, and ask him to help, perhaps shifting the responsibility from the former to the current officeholder. But I went too late—he had already gone into the palace. I got up for nothing and ran a wasted errand. And at their house they're still hiring actors and setting out wine. Tell me, is that infuriating or not?"

When Xifeng heard this, she realized what Wang Ren had done. But she had always been proud and partial to her own people; hearing Jia Lian speak this way, she said, "No matter what he's done, after all he's your own wife's elder brother. Besides, in this matter both the dead uncle and the living second uncle are grateful to you. Enough—there's nothing more to say. It's our family's affair, and I can't help but humble myself and beg you, so as not to drag others into trouble and have them curse me behind my back." Even as she spoke, tears began to flow. She threw back the quilts and sat up, pinning her hair with one hand and throwing on her clothes with the other.

Jia Lian said, "You don't need to carry on like this. It's your brother who's no good, I wasn't talking about you. Besides, I've already gotten up, and you're still unwell—they're still asleep. Did our elders ever have such a rule? You've turned into a do-nothing good-natured gentleman who doesn't manage anything anymore. I say one thing and you get up; tomorrow if I complain about these people, will you take all their places too? How pointless!"

When Xifeng heard these words, she managed to stop her tears and said, "It's getting late, I should get up too. Since you put it that way, just do your best to handle things for their family—that will show your goodwill. Besides, it's not just for me; if the Lady hears of it, she'll be pleased too."

Jia Lian said, "Right, I understand. 'Even turnips don't need manure poured on them.'"

Ping'er said, "Why is Her Ladyship getting up so early? Isn't there a regular time every day when Her Ladyship gets up? Who knows what devil's got into His Lordship, taking it out on us. What for? Her Ladyship has done enough for His Lordship—was there a single time it wasn't Her Ladyship who stood at the front line? I'm not exaggerating when I say His Lordship has had plenty of ready-made advantages, and now that he's done this little thing for Her Ladyship, which involves several layers of obligation too, he puts on airs like this—isn't he afraid of making people's hearts cold? Besides, this isn't just Her Ladyship's affair. We got up late, so naturally His Lordship should be angry—after all, we're only servants. Her Ladieship has worn herself out till she's become a bundle of ailments. What for?" As she said this, her own eyes grew red.

Jia Lian had been full of pent-up frustration, but how could he bear hearing this beautiful wife and lovely concubine speak so sharply yet so tenderly? He laughed and said, "Enough, let's drop it. One of you is enough to deal with, I don't need your help. After all, I'm an outsider—sooner or later I'll die, and then you'll have your peace."

Xifeng said, "Don't talk like that. Who knows what will happen to whom? If you don't die, I will—the sooner I die, the sooner I'll have peace of mind." As she spoke, she began to cry again. Ping'er had no choice but to comfort her once more.

By now it was already broad daylight, the sun's shadow falling across the window. Jia Lian could say no more and got up to go out.

Here Xifeng got up and was washing and dressing when suddenly a young maid from Lady Wang's side came over and said, "The Lady has sent me to ask whether the Second Young Lady is going over to Grand Uncle's place today. If so, she says the Second Young Lady should go together with the Second Young Lady Bao."

Because of the conversation just past, Xifeng had already lost heart and will, resenting her natal family for failing to uphold her honor; moreover, she had been frightened in the garden the night before and truly had no spirit left. She said, "Go back and tell the Lady that I still have one or two matters to settle and can't go today. Besides, it's not as if they have anything important going on. If the Second Young Lady Bao wants to go, let her go on her own."

The young maid assented and went back to report. Let us leave this matter here.

Meanwhile, Xifeng had finished dressing her hair and changing her clothes. After some reflection, she decided that even though she would not be going herself, she ought to send word. Moreover, Baochai was still a new bride, so it was only proper that she go over to see to things. She went to see Lady Wang, made some excuse about a matter of business, and then went over to Baoyu's room. She found Baoyu, already dressed, lying on the kang, staring blankly as Baochai did her hair. Xifeng stood in the doorway until Baochai happened to glance back and saw her, at which she quickly rose and offered her a seat. Baoyu also got up, and only then did Xifeng sit down with a smile. Baochai said to Sheyue, "Look, Second Sister-in-law came in and you didn't say a word." Sheyue laughed and replied, "But Second Sister-in-law waved her hand at us when she first came in, telling us not to say anything." Xifeng said to Baoyu, "Aren't you leaving yet? What are you waiting for? You're not a little boy anymore, yet you still act like one. Everyone's doing their own hair, and what are you lying there watching for? Don't you spend all day together in the same room? Are you not afraid the maids will laugh at you?" As she spoke, she gave a little snicker and pursed her lips at him. Baoyu was somewhat embarrassed but paid no attention, which made Baochai blush crimson from ear to ear. She could neither ignore it nor say anything in reply. Just then Xiren brought in the tea, and she could only make some idle conversation by passing him a pipe. Xifeng smiled, got up to take it, and said, "Second Sister, don't mind us. You'd better hurry and get dressed." Baoyu also busied himself making small talk, fumbling with this and that. Xifeng said, "You go on ahead. Since when does a young master wait for the ladies to leave together?" Baoyu said, "It's just that I don't think this outfit of mine is as nice as the one Grandmother gave me that year — the golden sparrow one." Xifeng deliberately provoked him: "Then why don't you wear it?" Baoyu said, "It would be too early to wear it." Xifeng suddenly realized what she had said and regretted her slip of the tongue. Fortunately, Baochai was also related by marriage to the Wang family, but she still felt embarrassed in front of the maids. Xiren then chimed in: "Second Sister-in-law may not know this, but even if he could wear it, he wouldn't." Xifeng asked, "Why is that?" Xiren said, "Let me tell you, Second Sister-in-law — the way our young master does things is truly out of this world. That year, for Second Uncle's birthday, Old Lady gave him this garment, and who would have known that very same day it got burned. My mother was gravely ill and I wasn't home. At that time Sister Qingwen was still here. She heard about it and spent the whole night mending it while she herself was sick, so that the next day Old Lady didn't even notice. Last year, one cold day when he was going to school, I had Mingwen take it along for him to throw over his shoulders. Who would have known that the moment our young master saw the garment, he thought of Qingwen and declared he would never wear it again. He told me to put it away for the rest of his life." Before she could finish, Xifeng said, "You mention Qingwen — what a pity about that girl. She had such a lovely face and such skilled hands, only her tongue was a bit sharp. Who would have known that our Lady, having heard some rumor from goodness knows where, actually took the poor girl's life. There's another thing — one day I saw the woman from the Liu family in the kitchen, a daughter of hers called Wuer. That maid looked exactly like Qingwen's twin. I had a mind to bring her in, and later I asked her mother about it, and her mother said she'd be very willing. I thought that Xiaohong from Second Master Bao's room had come over with me, and I hadn't returned her yet, so I thought I'd fill the place with Wuer. But P'ing-erh said that Lady had declared on that day that no one who looked like that was to be assigned to Second Master Bao's quarters. So I dropped the matter. But now that Second Master Bao is married, what's there to worry about? I might as well bring her in. I just don't know whether Second Master Bao would be willing. If he misses Qingwen, he need only look at this Wuer." Baoyu had been about to leave, but hearing all this, he stood transfixed. Xiren said, "Why wouldn't he be willing? He wanted to get her long ago, only because Lady's words were so firm." Xifeng said, "Then I'll bring her in tomorrow. Leave Lady to me." Baoyu was overjoyed and went off to Grandmother Jia's quarters. Here Baochai finished dressing. Xifeng saw the deep affection and intimacy between the husband and wife and thought of Jia Lian's behavior earlier that day. She was so overcome with sorrow that she could not bear to stay. She rose and said to Baochai with a smile, "Let's go to Old Lady's room together." They left the room laughing and went together to pay their respects to Grandmother Jia.

Baoyu was just then reporting to Grandmother Jia that he was going to his uncle's house. Grandmother Jia nodded and said, "Go then, but drink less and come back early. You've only just recovered." Baoyu assented and came out. He had barely reached the courtyard when he turned back and whispered a few words in Baochai's ear, no one knew what. Baochai smiled and said, "Very well, go quickly." And she urged him off.

Grandmother Jia, Xifeng, and Baochai had exchanged no more than three sentences when Qiowen came in and reported, "The Second Master has sent Beiming back to ask for the Second Mistress." Baochai said, "What has he forgotten now, sending him back again?" Qiowen replied, "I asked the little maid, and Beiming said, 'The Second Master forgot to say something. He told me to come back and tell the Second Mistress: if you're coming, come quickly; if you're not coming, don't stand out in the wind.'" At this, Grandmother Jia, Xifeng, and all the old serving women and maids standing below burst out laughing. Baochai flushed crimson and spat at Qiowen, saying, "What a muddle-headed creature! Was this worth running back in such a frantic hurry to say?" Qiowen laughed too and went back to have the little maid scold Beiming. Beiming, running all the while, looked back and said, "The Second Master made me dismount specially and come back to say it. If I hadn't said it, I'd have been scolded when I got back for not delivering the message. Now that I've said it, they're scolding me again." The maid ran back laughing and reported this. Grandmother Jia said to Baochai, "Go, so he won't keep worrying about you." At these words Baochai could hardly stay, and Xifeng teased her further, so she left in some embarrassment.

Then the nun Da Liao from Scattered Flowers Temple arrived to pay her respects to Grandmother Jia, greeted Xifeng, and sat down to drink tea. Grandmother Jia asked her, "Why haven't you come these last days?" Da Liao said, "We've been holding services at the temple these days, and several ladies of rank have been coming and going, so I couldn't find the time. Today I came specially to report to the Old Ancestress. Tomorrow another family will be holding a service. I wonder if the Old Ancestress would be inclined to go—if you're willing, perhaps you'd like to join in the merit-making." Grandmother Jia asked, "What kind of service?" Da Liao said, "Last month, Lord Wang's household was troubled by unclean forces—they saw spirits and ghosts. What's more, the Lady saw her deceased husband in a vision at night. So yesterday she came to our temple and told me she wishes to make vows and burn incense before the Scattered Flowers Bodhisattva, and hold a Water and Land Mass for forty-nine days, to pray for the peace of the family, the ascension of the departed, and blessings for the living. That's why I couldn't come sooner to pay my respects to the Old Ancestress."

Now Xifeng had always been most averse to such matters, but since seeing the ghost the previous night, her mind had been full of doubts and misgivings. Hearing Da Liao's words now, she found her habitual disposition half altered, and she was already three parts convinced. She asked Da Liao, "Who is this Scattered Flowers Bodhisattva? How is it that she can ward off evil and exorcise ghosts?" Da Liao, seeing that she was somewhat inclined to believe, said, "Since the Lady asks today, let me tell you. This Scattered Flowers Bodhisattva has deep origins and extraordinary spiritual power. She was born in the Country of Great Trees in the Western Heaven. Her parents were woodcutters. When the Bodhisattva was born, she had a triangular head, four eyes set horizontally, a body three feet long, and hands that dragged on the ground. Her parents said she was a demon and abandoned her behind the Ice Mountain. But an old enlightened monkey who had attained the Way came out on the mountain to forage. Seeing a white vapor rising to the sky from the Bodhisattva's head and tigers and wolves keeping far away, he knew she was no ordinary being and carried her back to his cave to raise her. The Bodhisattva brought with her a natural wisdom—she could discuss Chan, and she and the monkey talked of the Way and meditated together day after day, until flowers scattered everywhere in profusion. After a thousand years, she ascended to heaven. Even today, the place on the mountain where they discussed the sutras is still covered with scattered flowers. Whatever is prayed for is granted, and she often manifests her sacred power to save people from suffering. That is why people built temples and made images to worship her."

Xifeng said, "What proof is there of all this?" Da Liao replied, "The Lady is raising objections again. What proof can a Buddha have? Even if it were a lie, it would only fool one or two people—how could so many wise people through the ages all have been deceived by it? The Lady should consider this: it is only the incense and candles of the Buddha's temples that have never been extinguished through the ages. It must be that they truly bless the nation and the people, and that they have some efficacy, for people to believe in them."

Xifeng thought this made good sense and said, "In that case, I'll go tomorrow and try. Does your temple have divination sticks? I'll draw one and see whether it can tell me what's in my heart. If it can tell me, then from now on I'll believe." Da Liao said, "Our divination sticks are the most efficacious. If the Lady goes tomorrow and draws one, she'll know." Grandmother Jia said, "In that case, wait until the day after tomorrow, the first of the month, before you go." After this, Da Liao finished her tea, went to pay her respects in Lady Wang's apartments, and returned to her temple—no more of this.

Here Xifeng, having barely pulled herself together, had the carriages and horses prepared early on the first day of the month, and arrived at the Scattering Flowers Temple with Ping'er and a great many servants. The Superior received her with all the nuns and escorted her inside. After tea was offered, Xifeng washed her hands and went to the great hall to burn incense before the altar. She had no heart to gaze upon the sacred image, but with a single-minded devotion, she kowtowed, raised the divination tube, and silently prayed about the matter of seeing ghosts and her failing health. She shook the tube three times, and at once there was a swishing sound as a slip shot out. She kowtowed again, picked it up, and looked: it bore the inscription "Slip No. 33: Supreme Good Fortune." The Superior hastily consulted the divination book and read aloud, "Wang Xifeng returns home in glory." Xifeng was greatly startled at these words and asked the Superior in astonishment, "Was there ever an ancient person also called Wang Xifeng?" The Superior laughed. "Madam, you are the most well-read person alive — surely you know the story of Wang Xifeng seeking office in the Han dynasty?" Zhou Rui's wife, standing nearby, smiled and added, "Just the year before last, Sister Li was telling that chapter, and we reminded her not to use your name." Xifeng laughed. "So she did — it had quite slipped my mind." She looked again at the bottom of the slip, which read:

"Twenty years since leaving your homeland,

Today you return to your garden in splendor.

After the bees have gathered honey from a hundred flowers,

For whom the toil, for whom the sweetness?"

"The traveler arrives, but news comes slowly;

Lawsuits should be settled amusably;

Marriage should be reconsidered."

After reading it, she did not fully understand. The Superior said, "Great joy for you, Madam! This slip is wonderfully apt. You grew up here and have never been back to Nanjing. Now that your father-in-law has been appointed to a post outside, he may send for the family and take you home on the way. Is this not 'returning home in glory'?" As she spoke, she copied out the divination text and handed it to a maid. Xifeng was still half-doubting, half-believing. The Superior laid out a vegetarian meal, but Xifeng barely touched it and rose to leave, making an offering of incense silver. The Superior urged her to stay, but could not prevail, and had to let her go.

When Xifeng returned home and saw Grandmother Lady Jia, Lady Wang, and the others, they asked about the slip, and she had someone interpret it. They were all overjoyed. "If his lordship truly has this in mind, it would be good for us to make the trip," they said. When Xifeng saw that everyone spoke this way, she came to believe it. So much for this.

Now on this particular day, Baoyu had been taking his afternoon nap. When he awoke, he did not see Baochai and was just about to ask when she came in. "Where have you been? I haven't seen you all this time," said Baoyu. Baochai smiled. "I went to look at Sister Xifeng's divination slip." Baoyu asked what it said, and Baochai read the slip aloud, then added, "Everyone in the household says it is good. But in my view, there is something behind these four words 'returning home in glory.' We shall see what happens later." Baoyu said, "You are being overly suspicious again, misreading the sacred meaning. 'Returning home in glory' has always been understood as a good omen since ancient times. Why must you today find some hidden meaning in it? According to you, what other interpretation could there be?" Just as Baochai was about to explain, a maid arrived from Lady Wang's side asking for the Second Mistress. Baochai went at once. What happened next will be told in the following chapter.