Chapter 95

Chapter 95

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Chapter 95

A False Report Becomes True: Yuanfei Dies

A Fake Is Taken for Real: Baoyu Goes Mad

Now Xiren's page Beiming had been telling a young maidservant at the gate that Baoyu's jade had been found. The girl hurried back to tell Baoyu, and when the others heard they all pushed Baoyu out to question him. Everyone waited in the corridor while Baoyu, feeling somewhat reassured, went to the gate and asked: "Where did you find it? Bring it here quickly."

Beiming replied: "I can't bring it. Someone has to go surety for it."

Baoyu said: "Quick, tell me how it was found, so I can send someone to fetch it."

Beiming said: "I heard outside that Master Lin [Zhibai] had gone to have his fortune told by characters, and I followed him. I heard him say it was being searched for in pawnshops, and before he had finished speaking I rushed off to several pawnshops. I showed them a description. One of them said they had it. I said, 'Give it to me then,' but the shop wanted the pawn ticket. I asked how much it had been pawned for, and they said there were pieces pawned for three hundred cash and others for five hundred cash. A few days ago someone brought a piece of jade like this and pawned it for three hundred cash. Today someone else brought a piece of jade and pawned it for five hundred cash."

Before he had finished, Baoyu said: "Quick, go and fetch it for three hundred or five hundred cash. We can look at it and see if it's the right one."

Inside, Xiren spat and said: "Don't pay any attention to him, Second Master. When I was young I often heard my brother say that some people sell little jade pieces and pawn them when they're short of money. They're probably in every pawnshop."

The others had been listening in amazement, but when Xiren said this they thought about it and all burst out laughing. "Quick, call the Second Master back inside," they said. "Don't pay any attention to that muddlehead. Those pieces of jade he's talking about can't be the real thing."

Baoyu was just laughing when Xiuyan arrived. It turned out that Xiuyan had gone to Green Bower Nunnery to see Miaoyu, and without wasting time on pleasantries, had begged Miaoyu to hold a planchette session. Miaoyu gave a cold laugh and said: "The reason I associate with you, miss, is that you're not one of those worldly people. How is it that today you've listened to some rumor and come pestering me? Besides, I don't know anything about planchette writing." With that, she was about to ignore her.

Xiuyan regretted coming and knew that Miaoyu was just like this. "I've already spoken, I can't go back empty-handed, but I also can't confront her about her knowing how to hold a planchette session." All she could do was smile apologetically and explain that the lives of Xiren and the others were at stake. Seeing Miaoyu soften slightly, she rose and bowed several times.

Miaoyu sighed and said: "Why must one dress others for their weddings? But since coming to the capital I've been unknown, and today you've made an exception. I'm afraid I'll be pestered endlessly in the future."

Xiuyan said: "I couldn't bear it for a moment. I know you must be compassionate. If others beg you in the future, whether you consent or not is up to you. Who would dare force you?"

Miaoyu smiled and told the old nun to burn incense. She took out a planchette tray and stand from a box, wrote a charm, and told Xiuyan to bow. After making her invocation, Xiuyan rose and together with Miaoyu held the planchette. Before long, the spirit planchette wrote swiftly:

Alas! It comes without a trace, it goes without a shadow,

Beneath Blue Ridge Peak, leaning against an ancient pine.

If you would seek it, mountains ten thousandfold,

Enter my gate and meet it with a smile.

When the writing was finished, the planchette stopped. Xiuyan asked which immortal had been invoked. Miaoyu said: "We invoked the Immortal of the Crutch." Xiuyan copied it down and asked Miaoyu to interpret it. Miaoyu said: "That's impossible. Even I don't understand it. Take it back quickly. They have plenty of clever people there."

Xiuyan had no choice but to return. When she entered the courtyard, everyone asked how it had gone. Xiuyan didn't go into details but handed the copied planchette text to Li Wan. The sisters and Baoyu all crowded around to read it. Their interpretation was: "For the moment it can't be found, but it isn't truly lost. One day it will turn up without being sought. But who knows where Blue Ridge Peak is?"

Li Wan said: "This is an immortal's cryptic message. How could Blue Ridge Peak appear in our household? Someone must have been afraid of being found out and tossed it beneath the rocks on a mountain with pine trees. But as for the line 'Enter my gate,' whose gate does it refer to?"

Daiyu asked: "Who was invoked?"

Xiuyan said: "The Immortal of the Crutch."

Tanchun said: "If it's the gate of the immortals, then it will be hard to enter."

Xiren was frantic inside and searched recklessly on every suspicion, turning over every stone, but found nothing. When she returned to the courtyard, Baoyu didn't ask whether she had found it or not—he just smiled stupidly.

Sheyue was anxious and said: "Little Ancestor! Where exactly did you lose it? Tell us, and at least we'll suffer in the light!"

Baoyu laughed and said: "I said it was lost outside, but you wouldn't believe me. Now you're asking me—how should I know?"

Li Wan and Tanchun said: "We've been making a commotion since this morning, and it's already the third watch of the night. Look, Sister Lin couldn't hold out any longer and has gone back to her room. We should rest too and carry on tomorrow."

With that, everyone dispersed. Baoyu went straight to bed. Poor Xiren and the others cried for a while, thought for a while, and didn't sleep all night. But no more of this for now.

Meanwhile, Daiyu had already returned to her own quarters. Recalling the old talk of gold and jade, she felt secretly pleased and said to herself, "The words of monks and Taoists truly cannot be trusted. If there really were a predestined match of gold and jade, how could Baoyu have lost his jade? Perhaps because of my affairs, their gold and jade union will be broken—that too is possible." After pondering this for a long while, she felt even more at ease and paid no heed to the fatigue of the day, but instead sat up and resumed reading her book. Zijuan, on the other hand, felt weary and urged Daiyu repeatedly to sleep. Though Daiyu lay down, her thoughts turned again to the begonia flowers. "This jade was carried in from the womb—it is no ordinary object; its coming and going must have its own significance. If this flower presages good fortune, then the jade should not have been lost. It seems this flower's blooming is inauspicious—could it be that some ill omen attends it?" Before she knew it, her heart was troubled again. Then her thoughts shifted to the happy occasion, and the flower seemed to bloom in keeping with that, while the jade seemed fated to be lost. Thus alternating between sorrow and joy, she thought on until the fifth watch before finally falling asleep.

The next day, Lady Wang and the others had already sent people early to the pawnshops to make inquiries, while Fengjie secretly devised ways to search for it. For several days they made a great fuss, but there was no trace of it. Fortunately, the Dowager and Jia Zheng had not yet learned of the matter. Xiren and the others lived in daily dread, and Baoyu too stayed away from school for several days, sitting in a dazed silence, saying nothing, his mind in disarray. Lady Wang only knew that it was the loss of the jade that had caused this, and she paid it little mind. One day, just as she was sitting in perplexity, she suddenly saw Jia Lian come in to pay his respects, smiling cheerfully as he said, "Today I heard that Jia Yucun, the Grand Secretary of the Grand Council, has sent someone to inform the Second Master that the Grand Uncle has been promoted to Grand Secretary of the Inner Cabinet and has received an imperial summons to the capital. The edict is to be issued on the twentieth day of the first month of next year. A dispatch has already been sent by three-hundred-li courier. I imagine the Grand Uncle will hasten day and night and will arrive in a little over half a month. Your nephew has come specially to let the Lady know." When Lady Wang heard this, she was overjoyed. She had long lamented that her own family was small, that Aunt Xue's household had declined, and that her brothers were away in provincial posts and unable to offer support. Now suddenly to hear that her brother had been made prime minister and was returning to the capital—the glory of the Wang family would mean that Baoyu too would have someone to rely upon. The anxiety over the lost jade was somewhat eased. She now looked forward daily to her brother's arrival in the capital. Then one day Jia Zheng came in, his face streaked with tears, panting as he said, "Go quickly at once and inform the Old Lady. She must go into the palace immediately. She need not bring many attendants—you yourself will go in to serve her. The Imperial Consent has suddenly fallen gravely ill, and the eunuchs are waiting outside. They say the Imperial Academy of Medicine has already memorialized the throne that it is a case of phlegm syncope and cannot be cured." When Lady Wang heard this, she burst into loud weeping. Jia Zheng said, "This is no time for tears. Quickly go and ask the Old Lady, and tell her in gentle terms so as not to frighten the old lady." With that, Jia Zheng went out and ordered the servants to make ready. Lady Wang dried her tears and went to invite the Dowager, saying only that Consort Yuan was unwell and wished her to come into the palace to inquire after her health. The Dowager murmured a prayer and said, "How can she be ill again! The last time she frightened me terribly, and then it turned out to be a false report. I would rather it were a false report again this time." Lady Wang answered her while at the same time urging Yuanyang and the others to open the trunks and bring out clothes and ornaments to dress the Dowager. Lady Wang then hurried back to her own rooms, dressed herself, and came back to attend upon her. In due course they emerged into the hall, mounted their sedan chairs, and entered the palace. But let us leave this for now.

As for Yuanchun, ever since she had been chosen for the Fengzao Palace, the Emperor's favor had been profound, and her body had grown stout, so that she found her movements somewhat laborious. The exertions of daily life often brought on her phlegm ailment. After attending a banquet and returning to the palace the other day, she had happened to catch a chill, which stirred up her old complaint. She had not expected this episode to be so severe—the phlegm had completely blocked her breathing and her limbs had grown cold. A memorial was sent to the throne at once, and imperial physicians were summoned to treat her. But the medicines could not be administered, and even the most potent restorative draughts had no effect. The palace officials were alarmed and memorialized the throne requesting that preparations for the funeral be made. For this reason an edict had been issued summoning the women of the Jia family, being relatives of the imperial consorts, to enter the palace for an audience. The Dowager and Lady Wang, obeying the edict, entered the palace and saw that Consort Yuan's mouth and nose were blocked with phlegm and she could not speak. When she saw the Dowager, she could only show an expression of grief, but shed few tears. The Dowered stepped forward to pay her respects and spoke words of consolation. After a while, Jia Zheng and others submitted their names, and the palace ladies announced them, but Consort Yuan could not turn her eyes toward them, and gradually her complexion changed. The chief eunuch of the inner palace was about to report this to the Emperor, fearing that the other consorts would be sent to attend her, and that it would be improper for the relatives of the consorts to remain long in the inner palace, so he requested that they wait in the outer palace. How could the Dowager and Lady Wang bear to leave? But they had no choice before the regulations of the state, and they could only come down, not daring to weep aloud, their grief confined to their hearts. Officials at the palace gates had already received word. Before long, a eunuch came out and summoned the director of the Imperial Observatory. The Dowager knew at once that the news was bad, but she did not yet dare to move. A moment later, a young eunuch came out with the announcement: "Consort Jia has passed away." That year, the Beginning of Winter fell on the eighteenth day of the twelfth month of the yin year, and Consort Yuan died on the nineteenth day of the twelfth month, which was already the first month of the mao year. She had lived forty-three years. The Dowered rose with grief in her heart and had no choice but to leave the palace, mount her sedan chair, and return home. Jia Zheng and the others had already received the news, and they were filled with sorrow along the way. When they arrived home, Lady Xing, Li Wan, Fengjie, Baoyu, and the others came out into the hall and stood on either side to greet the Dowager, paid their respects, and then paid their respects to Jia Zheng and Lady Wang. All wept together. But let us leave this for now.

The next morning, all those with official rank, in accordance with the funeral rites for an imperial consort, entered the palace to pay their respects and weep at the mourning ceremony. Jia Zheng, being of the Ministry of Works, though he managed affairs according to prescribed ritual, could not avoid having to attend to superiors at the yamen and consult with colleagues besides, so he was doubly busy on both fronts—this was nothing like the funerals of the Empress Dowager and Consort Zhou in times past. But as Princess Yuan had left no issue, she was merely given the posthumous title "The Virtuous and Gentle Imperial Consort." This was a matter of royal protocol, and there is no need to elaborate further. Let us simply say that the men and women of the Jia household went into the palace every day, so busy they could scarcely catch their breath. Fortunately, Feng Jiefeng's health had improved somewhat of late, and she was able to come out once more to manage the household affairs, while at the same time preparing to welcome and celebrate Wang Ziteng's arrival in the capital. Feng Jiefeng's brother Wang Ren, learning that his uncle had entered the Grand Secretariat, brought his whole family to the capital as well. Feng Jiefeng was delighted at heart, and though she had some old ailment of the mind, with these relatives from her natal family about, she was able to set it aside, so that her health actually seemed somewhat better than before. Lady Wang, seeing Feng Jiefeng managing affairs as before, felt half her burden lifted; and with her own brother's arrival in the capital, she felt reassured in all matters and at greater ease. Only Baoyu, who held no official post and did not study—Dai Ru, hearing that the family had matters to attend to, did not come to supervise him either, and Jia Zheng, being occupied as he was, naturally had no leisure to check on him—Baoyu, one might have thought, would have taken this opportunity to spend his days in happy companionship with his sisters and cousins. But ever since he had lost his jade, he was listless and disinclined to stir; his speech too was muddled. When the others, including Grandmother Jia, returned from the palace and someone summoned him to pay his respects, he would go; but if no one called for him, he did not move. Xiren and the others, nursing their secret anxieties, did not dare provoke him, fearing he might fly into a rage. Each day, when tea and food were brought before him, he would eat; if they did not come, he did not ask for them. Xiren, observing this state of affairs, felt it did not resemble anger but rather illness. She stole a moment to go to Bamboo Lodge and tell Zijuan, saying, "The young master is like this—I beg the young lady to counsel him a little." Zijuan promptly told Daiyu, but Daiyu, supposing that the marriage arrangements must concern herself, felt embarrassed now at the thought of seeing him: "If he comes, we were together as children after all, and it would be hard not to acknowledge him; but for me to go looking for him—that is absolutely out of the question." So Daiyu refused to go over. Xiren then went in secret to tell Tanchun. But Tanchun, in her heart of hearts, already knew that the crabapple blossoms had opened strangely, that the loss of "Baoyu" was even stranger, and that紧接着 Sister Yuanfei had passed away—she judged these to be ill omens for the family's fortune and was troubled with grief day after day, having no heart to counsel Baoyu. Besides, brothers and sisters must observe the proper distinctions between the sexes; she could only come once or twice. And Baoyu remained so listless that she did not come often either.

Baochai too knew about the loss of the jade. For Aunt Xue, having that day consented to the match with Baoyu, had gone home and told Baochai. Aunt Xue had added, "Though your aunt has spoken, I have not yet given my final consent—I said we must wait for your brother to return before deciding. Are you willing or not?" Baochai answered her mother with grave severity: "Mother, those words are wrong. A girl's marriage is for her parents to decide. Now that my father is no longer with us, you should be the one to decide, or if not, then ask my brother. Why ask me?" Therefore Aunt Xue cherished her all the more, saying that though she had been spoiled and indulged since childhood, she was by nature chaste and quiet, and so she no longer mentioned Baoyu in her presence. Ever since Baochai had heard this, the two words "Baoyu" naturally went unmentioned by her even more. Now, though she had heard of the loss of the jade, she was deeply startled and perplexed, but it was not proper for her to inquire, so she could only listen to what others said, as though the matter had nothing to do with her at all. Only Aunt Xue sent her maids over several times for news. For she was distracted by worry over her own son Xue Pan's troubles, and only waited for her brother's arrival in the capital so that he might get the charges against him cleared away. And knowing that Yuanfei had passed away, though the Jias were in turmoil, the fact that Feng Jiefeng had recovered and was managing the household enabled her to set the Jia family's affairs aside. Only Xiren suffered: though she served and comforted Baoyu with gentle humility, Baoyu understood nothing of it, and Xiren could only fret in secret.

Several days passed, and after the Imperial Consort's remains were laid to rest in the ancestral temple, the Dowager and others attended the funeral for several days. Who would have known that Baoyu grew more vacant by the day—he had no fever, no pain, yet he could not eat like eating or sleep like sleeping, and even his speech became incoherent. Xiren and Sheyue grew more alarmed than ever and several times reported this to Lady Feng. Lady Feng came over from time to time. At first she supposed it was anger over not finding the jade, but now seeing him in this state of utter distraction, she could only summon physicians daily to treat him. Several doses of medicine were decocted and taken, but they only added to his ailments rather than diminishing them. When asked where he felt uncomfortable, Baoyu could not say.

After the Imperial Consort's affairs were concluded, the Dowager, thinking of Baoyu, went personally to the Garden to see him. Lady Wang came with her. Xiren and the others hurriedly told Baoyu to go out and pay his respects. Though Baoyu was said to be ill, he had been getting up and moving about each day. Today, when asked to go out to greet the Dowager, he still performed the usual obeisance, only with Xiren supporting and guiding him at his side. The Dowager looked at him and said, "My child, I thought you were truly ill, and that is why I came to see you. Now that you look as you always do, my heart is somewhat eased." Lady Wang naturally felt relieved too. But Baoyu made no reply, merely grinning and laughing. The Dowager and the others went inside and sat down. When they asked him questions, Xiren prompted him with one line and he would say one line—quite unlike his usual self, he was like a simpleton indeed. The Dowager looked more and more suspicious and said, "When I first came in, I did not see anything wrong, but now that I look closely, this illness is indeed serious—it is clearly a case of the spirit being scattered. How did it arise in the first place?" Lady Wang knew the matter could be hidden no longer. Glancing at Xiren, who looked so pitiable, she could only follow what Baoyu had said before and quietly related the whole story—how the jade had been lost while attending the theatre at the Prince of Nan'an's mansion. She herself was very uneasy at heart, afraid the Dowager would be alarmed, and added, "People are searching everywhere now. Lots have been drawn and divinations made—all say it will be found in a pawnshop. It will surely be found." The Dowager, upon hearing this, stood up in distress, tears streaming down her face. "How could this jade be lost! You people are too careless! Could it be that the Master has simply washed his hands of the matter!" Lady Wang, seeing the Dowager was angry, made Xiren and the others kneel. She composed herself and said with head bowed, "Your daughter-in-law feared the Master would be alarmed and angry, so she dared not report it." The Dowager coughed and said, "This jade is Baoyu's life-root. Because it was lost, he has become so bereft of soul and spirit. This is dreadful! Moreover, this jade is known throughout the city—whoever picked it up would call on you to find it! Quickly summon the Master. I shall speak with him." By this time Lady Wang and Xiren and the others were so frightened they all pleaded, "If the Grandmother is angry, when the Master returns it will be even worse. Baoyu is ill now—entrust it to us and we will search with all our might." The Dowager said, "You fear the Master will be angry, but I am here." She told Sheyue to have someone summon him. In a moment word came back: "The Master has gone to decline visitors." The Dowager said, "It is fine not to use him then. You shall convey my words—for the time being, do not punish the servants either. I shall have Lian put up a notice offering a reward, to be posted in the places passed through the other day. It shall say: whoever finds and returns the jade will be given ten thousand taels of silver; whoever knows who found it and sends word leading to its recovery will be given five thousand taels. If it is truly found, do not begrudge the silver. With such a search, it will surely be found. If we rely only on a few people from our household, we could search all our lives and never find it." Lady Wang did not dare speak plainly. The Dowager sent word to Jia Lian, telling him to handle this quickly. The Dowager then ordered, "Move all of Baoyu's personal belongings to my quarters. Only send Xiren and Qiuwen to follow; let the rest remain in the Garden to watch the rooms." Upon hearing this, Baoyu said nothing at all, only smiling like a fool.

The Dowager then took Baoyu and departed, with Xiren and the others helping him out of the Garden. Returning to her own rooms, she had Lady Wang be seated and saw to it that people prepared the inner chamber for his accommodation. Then she said to Lady Wang, "Do you know my reasoning? It is because there are too few people in the Garden—the flowers and trees in Happy Red Court wither and bloom in strange ways. Previously we relied on that jade to dispel evil influences, but now that the jade is lost, I fear evil forces can easily invade. Therefore I have brought him here to live together with me. These next few days he need not go out—when the physician comes, he can examine him here." Lady Wang, hearing this, replied, "What the Grandmother considers is naturally right. Now that Baoyu is staying with the Grandmother, the Grandmother has great fortune—whatever it is, it will be subdued." The Dowager said, "What fortune? It is merely that my rooms are cleaner and there are more sutras—he can recite them to settle his mind and spirit. Ask Baoyu how he is." When Baoyu was asked, he only smiled. Xiren told him to say "well," and Baoyu then said "well." Lady Wang, seeing such a scene, could not help shedding tears, but in the Dowager's presence she dared not make a sound. The Dowager, knowing Lady Wang was anxious, said, "You may go back. I shall tend to him here. When the Master returns this evening, tell him he need not see me and must say nothing." After Lady Wang left, the Dowager had Yuanyang find some medicine to calm the spirit and settle the soul, and he took it according to the prescription. Here we leave the matter.

That evening, when Jia Zheng returned home in his carriage, he heard people on the road saying, "It's remarkably easy for a man to make a fortune." One asked, "How do you figure?" The other replied, "Today I heard that some precious jade belonging to the young master of the Rong Mansion has been lost. They've put up notices describing the jade's size, shape, and color. It says that anyone who finds it and brings it back will be rewarded with ten thousand taels of silver, and even someone who brings news of it will get five thousand." Though Jia Zheng had not heard every word clearly, his mind was filled with misgivings, and he hurried home, where he immediately summoned the gatekeepers to inquire about the matter. The gatekeepers reported, "We didn't know about it earlier, but at noon today Master Lian, Second Master, circulated the Old Lady's order to have the notices posted, and that's when we learned of it." Jia Zheng heaved a sigh and said, "It's a sign that our family fortunes are declining—that we should have brought up such a cursed creature! When he was first born, rumors filled the streets. After a decade or so things quieted down somewhat, and now they're putting up notices all over the place searching again for this jade. What sort of conduct is this!" With that, he hurried inside to question Lady Wang. Lady Wang told him everything from beginning to end. Jia Zheng realized it was the Old Lady's idea and dared not defy her, but he vented his frustration on Lady Wang with a few words. Then he went back out and gave orders that the Old Lady should be kept in the dark while the notices were quietly taken down behind her back. But it was too late—those with idle hands and itching palms had already torn them down long ago.

Some time later, a man actually came to the gate of the Rong Mansion claiming to have the jade. The household servants who heard this were overjoyed and said, "Bring it here—we'll take it in for you." The man then pulled the reward notice from his breast and pointed it out to the gatekeepers. "Isn't this your household's notice? It clearly states that whoever brings the jade will receive ten thousand taels of silver. Second Master, don't look down on me for being poor now. Once I get that silver, I'll be a rich man. Don't treat me with such indifference." The gatekeepers, hearing that he spoke with some force, said, "At least let us have a look first, so I can take it in to report." The man was at first unwilling, but when the others reasoned with him, he brought out the jade, held it in his palm, and raised it up. "Is this it or not?" The family servants had always been on outdoor duty; they knew of the jade's existence but had rarely seen it. Only today did they finally get a look at what it actually resembled. They rushed inside to report, each trying to be first. That day both Jia Zheng and Jia She were away from home; only Jia Lian was in. The servants made their report, and Jia Lian carefully questioned them about whether it was genuine. The gatekeepers declared, "We saw it with our own eyes, but he wouldn't give it to us. He insists on seeing the master of the house—silver and jade to be exchanged simultaneously." Jia Lian was delighted and went at once to inform Lady Wang, and through her the Old Lady. Xiren was so overjoyed that she pressed her palms together and murmured prayers of thanks. The Old Lady did not change her tune in the least and called out repeatedly, "Quickly tell Master Lian to invite that man into the study and have him sit as a guest. Bring the jade in for us to examine, and then pay him the silver without delay." Jia Lian did as she said, invited the man in, and treated him as an honored guest. He spoke graciously and thanked him, saying, "We need to borrow the jade and take it inside. Once our master sees it, not a fraction of the reward will be withheld." The man had no choice but to hand over a package wrapped in red silk. Jia Lian opened it—was it not indeed that luminous, beautiful piece of jade? Jia Lian had never paid it much mind before, but today he took the time to examine it. After looking at it for some time, he seemed to be able to make out the characters on it—phrases like "ward off evil spirits" and the like. Jia Lian was beside himself with joy and ordered the servants to attend to the man. Then he hastily sent the jade in for the Old Lady and Lady Wang to inspect.

By now the whole household had been roused, and everyone was waiting, eager to see. When she saw Jia Lian come in, Xifeng snatched it from him without a glance and passed it to the Dowager. "You won't even let me have the credit for this little thing?" Jia Lian laughed. The Dowager opened the package and saw that the jade was much dimmer than before. As she rubbed it, Yuanyang brought her spectacles, and the old lady put them on and looked. "Strange," she said. "This jade is genuine, but how come the precious luster inside has disappeared?" Lady Wang examined it for a while but could not identify it either, so she called Xifeng over to look. Xifeng studied it and said, "It does resemble it, but the color is not quite right. Better let Brother Bao take a look himself—he'll know at once." Xiren, standing nearby, was not sure it was the same piece either, but her longing was so intense that she dared not say it didn't match. So Xifeng took it from the Dowager's hands and, together with Xiren, carried it in to show Baoyu. Baoyu had just woken from sleep. "Your jade has turned up," Xifeng told him. Still heavy with sleep, Baoyu took it in his hand without looking and flung it to the ground. "You're trying to fool me again," he said with a cold laugh. Xifeng quickly picked it up. "That's odd. How could you know without even looking?" Baoyu said nothing, only smiled. Lady Wang had now come into the room and, seeing him like this, said, "That settles it. His jade was a strange thing he brought with him from the womb—naturally he has his reasons. I suppose this one was made by someone who saw a notice and copied it." Everyone present suddenly saw the light. Jia Lian, in the outer room, heard this and said, "Since it's not the right one, hand it to me quickly and let me go question him. How dare someone pull a trick like this?" The Dowager stopped him. "Lian'er, take it back to him and let him go. He must be desperately poor and had no other way out. Seeing that our household had lost such a thing, he thought he could make a few coins out of it. Now he's spent his money for nothing making this, and we've seen through it. For my part, I don't want to make things hard for him. Give the jade back, tell him it isn't ours, and reward him with a few taels of silver. When people outside hear of it, they'll be willing to bring in the real one. If we make trouble for this man, even if someone has the genuine article, they won't dare come forward." Jia Lian assented and went out. The man had been waiting, and after a long while with no one appearing, he was beginning to feel uneasy when he saw Jia Lian come out in a rage. What happened next will be told in the following chapter.

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