A Foolish Concubine Shames Her Own Daughter in a Petty Quarrel; A Crafty Servant Bullies a Young Mistress and Nurses Treachery

The Lantern Festival was over. Because the present dynasty governed the empire by filial piety, and one of the Imperial Dowager Consorts in the palace was unwell, all the imperial consorts and concubines reduced their meals and put aside their ornaments. Not only were family visits suspended, but all feasting and music were canceled. Hence the Rong mansion had no lantern-riddle party this year either.

No sooner had the New Year celebrations ended than Xifeng suffered a miscarriage. She rested at home for a month and could not manage affairs; two or three physicians attended her daily with medicine. Xifeng, confident in her strong constitution, might not leave her rooms, but she still schemed and calculated. Whenever something occurred to her, she sent Ping’er to report it to Lady Wang. No matter how others remonstrated, she would not listen.

Lady Wang felt she had lost her right arm. How much energy could one person have? She decided all important matters herself, but temporarily handed all the household’s petty affairs to Li Wan to manage jointly. Li Wan was a woman who prized virtue above ability, and inevitably she indulged the servants. Lady Wang therefore told Tanchun to share the decisions with Li Wan, saying that when Xifeng had recovered after a month, the duties would be returned to her.

But Xifeng’s constitution had always been deficient in blood and vitality. Young and heedless of her health, she had spent her life striving to outdo others and pitting her wits against them, which drained her strength still further. So although it was only a miscarriage, she was seriously weakened. A month later she developed a flooding discharge. She would not speak of it, but everyone could see from her sallow, thin face that she had failed to recuperate. Lady Wang only told her to take her medicine and rest, and not to worry about anything. Xifeng herself feared it might become a serious illness and make her a laughingstock, so she tried to steal time to recuperate, longing to be restored to her former self at once. In fact, it was not until the eighth or ninth month, after continued medicine and rest, that she gradually recovered and the discharge slowly stopped. But this is later.

For now, seeing Xifeng in this state and Tanchun and Li Wan unable to lay down their duties for the time being, and fearing that with so many people in the garden something might be neglected, Lady Wang specially invited Baochai and asked her to keep an eye on things: “The old women are useless. Whenever they get a moment, they drink and gamble. They sleep by day and gamble by night—I know it all. While Xifeng was out and about, they were still afraid of her. Now they will do as they please. Good child, you are a reliable person. Your cousins are young, and I have no time. Do this for me for a few days and keep watch. If there is anything no one has thought of, come and tell me. Don’t wait until Lady Jia asks and I have no answer. If those people misbehave, just speak up. If they won’t listen, come and tell me. We mustn’t let anything serious happen.” Baochai had no choice but to agree.

It was early spring, and Daiyu’s cough had returned. Xiangyun, too, had caught a seasonal illness and lay sick in the Alpinia Garden, with doctors and medicine daily. Tanchun and Li Wan lived far apart, and since they were now working together, unlike previous years, it was inconvenient for those coming and going to report matters. So the two agreed to meet every morning in the three small flower halls south of the garden gate to conduct business together, and after breakfast to return to their rooms around noon. These three halls had originally been prepared as resting places for the eunuchs in charge during the family visits, and after the visits they were no longer needed; only old women kept night watch there. Now that the weather was warm, they needed little repair—just a little furnishing—and the two could sit there. There was also a plaque in the hall inscribed with four characters: “Cultivating Benevolence and Proclaiming Virtue.” The household commonly called it the “Council Hall.” Now the two arrived at dawn and dispersed at noon. Stewardesses and other servants came and went without cease to report and receive orders.

When the servants first heard that Li Wan was to manage alone, each was secretly pleased, thinking that Li Wan was by nature kind, generous, and disinclined to punish, and would therefore be easier to put off than Xifeng. Then Tanchun was added, but they all thought she was merely a young unmarried young lady, and that she had always been the most gentle and placid, so they paid her no mind and grew even more slack than before Xifeng’s illness. Only after three or four days, once several matters had passed through their hands, did they gradually realize that Tanchun was as sharp as Xifeng in her attention to detail; it was only that she spoke quietly and had a gentle nature. It happened that for several days in a row there were more than a dozen hereditary princes, marquises, earls, and officials—all relatives, friends, or old family connections of the Rong and Ning households—with promotions, demotions, weddings, funerals, and other occasions. Lady Wang was busy with congratulations, condolences, welcomes, and farewells, and had no time for entertainment; there was no one in the front. So the two spent the whole day in the hall. Baochai kept watch in the inner quarters each day and did not leave until Lady Wang returned. At night, when there was a spare moment from needlework, before bed, she would take a small sedan chair and lead the night watchmen of the garden on an inspection tour. With the three of them managing in this way, things were even more careful than when Xifeng had been on duty. Consequently the servants inside and out grumbled secretly: “No sooner had we got rid of one ‘Sea-patrolling Yaksha’ than three ‘Mountain-guarding Taisui’ were added. Now we haven’t even a moment to drink and play at night on the sly.”

That day Lady Wang had gone to a banquet at the Marquis of Jinxiang’s mansion. Li Wan and Tanchun had long since washed and dressed, seen her out, and returned to sit in the hall. Just as they were drinking tea, Wu Xindeng’s wife came in and reported: “Zhao Yiniang’s brother Zhao Guoji died yesterday. Yesterday I reported it to Lady Wang. She said she knew and told me to report it to the young ladies and the mistress.” Having said this, she stood with hands at her sides and said no more. At that time many people were coming to report matters, all trying to find out how the two would handle things: if they handled them well, everyone would feel some fear; if there was the slightest unfairness or impropriety, not only would they not be respected, but once outside the second gate they would make up endless jokes about it. Wu Xindeng’s wife had already made up her mind. If it had been Xifeng, she would long since have curried favor by offering many suggestions and produced many precedents for Xifeng to choose from and carry out. Now, despising Li Wan as honest and simple and Tanchun as a young girl, she said only this one sentence to test what the two would decide.

Tanchun asked Li Wan. Li Wan thought for a moment and said, “The other day Xiren’s mother died, and I heard forty taels were given. Give her forty taels as well.” Wu Xindeng’s wife assented promptly, took the tally, and was about to go. Tanchun said, “Come back.” Wu Xindeng’s wife had to return. Tanchun said, “Don’t issue the silver yet. Let me ask you: in those years, the old concubines in Lady Jia’s rooms were either house-born or brought from outside. How much was given when someone in a house-born concubine’s family died, and how much when someone in an outside concubine’s family died? Tell us two examples.” At this question, Wu Xindeng’s wife had forgotten everything. She hastily smiled and replied, “This isn’t such a great matter. Whoever would dare dispute how much is given?” Tanchun said with a smile, “That’s nonsense. If you ask me, a hundred taels would be fine. But if we don’t follow precedent, not only will you laugh at us, but tomorrow we’ll have no face to meet your Second Mistress.” Wu Xindeng’s wife said with a smile, “If you put it that way, I’ll go look up the old accounts. Just now I can’t remember.” Tanchun said with a smile, “You’ve handled affairs all your life and still can’t remember, yet you come to make things difficult for us. When you usually report to your Second Mistress, do you go and look them up on the spot? If that were the case, Sister Xifeng wouldn’t be considered strict—she’d be considered generous! Hurry and find them for me to see. If you delay another day, people won’t say you were careless; they’ll think we have no judgment.” Wu Xindeng’s wife flushed crimson and hurried out. The other stewardesses all stuck out their tongues. Then other matters were reported.

Presently Wu Xindeng’s wife brought the old accounts. Tanchun looked: two house-born concubines had each been given twenty taels; two outside concubines had each been given forty taels. There were also two other outside concubines, one given a hundred taels and one sixty. Both had reasons noted below: one was for transporting a parent’s coffin from another province, with an extra sixty taels; one was for buying a burial plot, with an extra twenty taels. Tanchun handed them to Li Wan to look at. Then she said, “Give her twenty taels. Leave the accounts here; we’ll look them over carefully.” Wu Xindeng’s wife left.

Suddenly Zhao Yiniang came in. Li Wan and Tanchun quickly offered her a seat. Zhao Yiniang began at once: “Everyone in this house tramples on my head, and that’s bad enough. But you, girl, think about it—you ought to stand up for me.” As she spoke, she burst into tears and sniveled. Tanchun said quickly, “I don’t understand whom you mean, Yiniang. Who is trampling on your head? Tell me and I’ll stand up for you.” Zhao Yiniang said, “You are trampling on me right now! To whom can I complain?” Hearing this, Tanchun stood up quickly and said, “I would never dare.” Li Wan also stood up to urge peace. Zhao Yiniang said, “Please sit down, both of you, and hear me out. I have endured like oil boiling in this house till I reached this age, and I have you and your brother. Now I am not even as good as Xiren. What face have I left? Even you have no face, let alone me!” Tanchun said with a smile, “So that’s what this is about. I said I would never dare break the law or violate propriety.” She sat down, opened the accounts for Zhao Yiniang to see, read them aloud to her, and said, “This is the old rule from our ancestors. Everyone follows it. Am I to change it? And it isn’t only Xiren. In the future, when Huan’er takes an outside concubine, she will naturally be treated the same as Xiren. This is not a matter of competing for greater or lesser status, nor does it come down to face or no face. Xiren is Lady Wang’s servant, and I am following the old rule. If it is done well, it is owing to the ancestors’ grace and Lady Wang’s grace. If it is done unfairly, then she is muddled and does not know her good fortune, and she can only complain. If Lady Wang gives away even a house, what face does that give me? If she gives not a penny, what loss of face is that to me? I say, while Lady Wang is away, Yiniang should be quiet and rest. Why must you always worry? Lady Wang loves me with all her heart, but because you repeatedly stir up trouble, she has been disappointed several times. If I were a man, I could go out and make a career for myself, and then I would have my own way of doing things. But I am a girl, and I have no right to say a single extra word. Lady Wang knows all this in her heart. Now, because she thinks highly of me, she has asked me to look after household affairs. Before I have done a single good deed, you come to humiliate me. If Lady Wang hears of it and, fearing it will make things difficult for me, tells me not to manage, then I will truly lose face—and you, Yiniang, will lose face too!” As she spoke, tears streamed down despite herself.

Zhao Yiniang had no other reply, so she said, “Lady Wang loves you, so you should pull us along all the more. You only care about pleasing Lady Wang, and so you forget us.” Tanchun said, “How have I forgotten? How am I to pull you along? That depends on each of you. Which master does not love those who work hard and are useful? Which good person needs someone to pull them along?” Li Wan kept urging from the side, “Yiniang, don’t be angry. You can’t blame the girl. She may want to pull you along in her heart, but how can she say it aloud?” Tanchun said quickly, “Sister-in-law, you’re being foolish too. Whom am I to pull along? Whose young ladies pull servants along? You should know their merits and faults yourselves—what has that to do with me?” Zhao Yiniang asked angrily, “Who told you to pull others along? If you weren’t in charge, I wouldn’t ask you. But now you say one thing and it’s one, say two and it’s two. Now your uncle is dead. If you give twenty or thirty taels more, would Lady Wang not agree? Clearly Lady Wang is a good lady. It’s you people who are mean and petty. It’s a pity Lady Wang’s kindness has nowhere to go. Don’t worry, girl—this won’t come out of your silver. Tomorrow, when you marry out, I still expect you to look after the Zhao family extra. Now that your feathers haven’t grown, you’ve forgotten your roots and fly only to the high branches!” Before she finished, Tanchun was white with anger and choking. Sobbing, she asked, “Who is my uncle? My uncle was promoted only at the New Year to Inspector of Nine Provinces. Where has another uncle come from? I have always respected people according to propriety, and the more I do, the more relatives I seem to acquire. If that’s how it is, why did Zhao Guoji stand up when Huan’er went out, and why did he go to school with him? Why didn’t he put on the airs of an uncle? Why make such a fuss? Everyone knows I was born of a concubine. Must you find an excuse every two or three months to rake it all up, as if afraid people won’t know, deliberately making a show of it? I don’t know who is giving face to whom. Fortunately I am clear-headed. Anyone muddled and unreasonable would have lost her temper long ago.” Li Wan was frantic with trying to calm them, while Zhao Yiniang kept grumbling.

Suddenly someone announced, “The Second Mistress has sent Miss Ping to speak with you.” Hearing this, Zhao Yiniang stopped talking. Ping’er came in. Zhao Yiniang quickly smiled and offered her a seat, asking, “Is your mistress better? I’ve been meaning to visit her, but haven’t had time.” Li Wan, seeing Ping’er, asked what she had come for. Ping’er said with a smile, “My mistress says that Zhao Yiniang’s brother has died. She was afraid the mistress and the young lady might not know the old precedents. According to the usual rule, it is only twenty taels. She asks the young lady to decide—if you wish to add a little, that would be permissible.” Tanchun had already wiped away her tears and said quickly, “Why should we add anything for no reason? Was he carried for twenty-four months? Or did he save his master’s life by escaping on horseback from battle? Your mistress is clever indeed—she wants me to set a precedent so she can play the good person, using Lady Wang’s money, which she doesn’t begrudge, to do favors as she pleases. Tell her I dare not add or subtract or make arbitrary decisions. If she wants to add and show kindness, then when she is well and comes out, she may add as much as she likes.”

Ping’er had already understood half of it when she arrived, and now hearing this, she understood even more. Seeing Tanchun angry, she did not dare treat her with the familiarity of happier times, but stood silently with hands at her sides.

Just then Baochai also came from the inner quarters, and Tanchun and the others quickly rose to offer her a seat. Before they could speak, another stewardess came in to report a matter. Because Tanchun had just been crying, three or four little maids brought in a washbasin, towels, a hand mirror, and other items. Tanchun was sitting cross-legged on a low wooden couch. The maid holding the basin came before her, knelt on both knees, and raised the basin high. The two little maids also knelt beside her, holding towels and the mirror with cosmetics. Ping’er, seeing that Daishu was not there, hurried forward to roll up Tanchun’s sleeves and remove her bracelets, then took a large towel and covered the front of Tanchun’s dress. Only then did Tanchun reach into the basin to wash. The stewardess then reported, “May it please the mistress and young lady, the family school requests the annual allowance for Master Huan and Master Lan.” Ping’er spoke first: “What’s your hurry? You can see with your own eyes that the young lady is washing her face, yet instead of going outside to wait, you start talking. Do you behave so tactlessly before the Second Mistress too? The young lady may be forbearing, but if I report to the Second Mistress that you have no respect for the young lady, you will all suffer for it—don’t blame me.” The stewardess was frightened and quickly smiled, “I was careless.” She hurriedly withdrew.

As Tanchun smoothed her face, she said to Ping’er with a cold smile, “You’re a step late. There’s something even more absurd: even Sister Wu, who has handled affairs for years, didn’t check clearly before trying to muddle us. Fortunately we questioned her, and she had the face to say she had forgotten. I said, when she reports to your mistress, does she also forget and then go look it up? I doubt your mistress has the patience to wait while she searches.” Ping’er quickly smiled, “After this once, I guarantee two tendons in her legs will be broken. Don’t believe them, young lady. They see that the senior mistress is a Buddha and that you are a shy young lady, so they deliberately shirk and muddle through.” Then she called toward the door, “You may act wildly now, but when my mistress is fully recovered, we’ll settle accounts.” The stewardesses outside all laughed, “Miss, you are the most understanding person. As the saying goes, ‘Each person bears the blame for his own crime.’ We would never dare deceive the young lady. Now the young lady is a precious guest. If she were truly angered, we would have no place to die.” Ping’er sneered, “It’s good that you understand.” Then she turned to Tanchun with a smile, “You know the Second Mistress has always had many affairs. How could she attend to all these? She can’t help overlooking some. As the saying goes, ‘The bystander sees clearly.’ These past years you have watched with cool eyes. If there are things that should be added or cut that the Second Mistress has not done, you should add or cut them. First, it benefits Lady Wang’s affairs; second, it will not have been in vain that you have shown kindness to our mistress.” Before she finished, Baochai and Li Wan both laughed, “Good girl! No wonder Xifeng dotes on her. There was really nothing to add or cut, but now that you’ve said this, we must find two things to consider, so as not to disappoint you.” Tanchun said with a smile, “I was full of anger and had no one to vent it on. I was just about to take it out on her mistress, and she happened to come and say all this, leaving me with no idea what to do.” As she spoke, she called in the stewardess from before and asked, “The annual silver for Master Huan and Master Lan at the family school—what is it used for?” The stewardess replied, “For refreshments at school or for paper and brushes, each gets eight taels a year.” Tanchun said, “All the young gentlemen’s allowances are drawn as monthly stipends from their own quarters. Huan’s is two taels drawn by Yiniang; Baoyu’s is two taels drawn by Xiren in Lady Jia’s rooms; Lan’s is drawn by the senior mistress. Why is there another eight taels each at the school? So going to school was for this eight taels! From today, abolish this item. Ping’er, go back and tell your mistress that this is my word: this item must be eliminated.” Ping’er said with a smile, “It should have been eliminated long ago. Last year my mistress said she wanted to eliminate it, but because of the New Year rush, she forgot.” The stewardess had no choice but to assent and leave. Then stewardesses from the Grand View Garden brought in food boxes.

Daishu and Suyun had already set up a small dining table, and Ping’er busied herself serving the dishes. Tanchun said with a smile, “When you’ve finished speaking, go about your business. Why busy yourself here?” Ping’er said with a smile, “I have nothing to do. The Second Mistress sent me here, first to speak, and second because she feared it would be inconvenient for the people here. She told me to help the younger maids serve you and the mistress.” Tanchun asked, “Why isn’t Baochai’s meal brought here to eat with us?” The maids hurried out to the eaves and told the stewardesses, “Miss Baochai is eating here in the hall now. Tell them to bring her meal here.” Hearing this, Tanchun said loudly, “Don’t go ordering people about blindly! Those are the stewardesses who handle important matters. You send them for food and tea as if you didn’t know their rank! Ping’er is standing here—tell her to go.”

Ping’er assented and went out. The stewardesses all quietly pulled her back, laughing, “There’s no need for you to go, miss. We’ve already sent someone.” One brushed a stone bench with a handkerchief and said, “You’ve been standing a long time, miss. You must be tired. Rest here in the sun.” Ping’er sat down. Two old women from the tea room brought a cushion and spread it out, saying, “The stone is cold. This is very clean. Please make do and sit awhile, miss.” Ping’er quickly smiled and said, “Thank you.” Another brought a bowl of fine new tea and whispered with a smile, “This isn’t our everyday tea. It’s kept for the young ladies. Please moisten your throat, miss.” Ping’er rose slightly to receive it, then pointed at the stewardesses and said quietly, “You are making far too much trouble. She is a young lady. She won’t lose her temper and rage—that is her self-respect. But you despise and bully her. If you really make her angry, she may only be called rough, but you will suffer in ways you can’t handle now. If she puts on airs, even Lady Wang must yield to her a little, and the Second Mistress wouldn’t dare do anything. How dare you be so bold and look down on her? You’re like eggs striking a stone.” They all said quickly, “We would never dare be bold. It’s all Zhao Yiniang’s doing.” Ping’er said quietly, “Enough, good ladies. ‘When a wall falls, everyone pushes it.’ Zhao Yiniang is indeed a bit muddled, and whenever something happens, you blame her. You’ve always had no respect for anyone and your hearts are fierce. Haven’t I known it these years? If the Second Mistress were a little less shrewd, she would long ago have been defeated by you ladies. Even so, whenever you get a moment, you still make things difficult for her, and several times you’ve damaged her reputation. Everyone says she is fierce and you are all afraid of her, but I alone know that in her heart she is not entirely unafraid of you. The other day we were discussing this very thing. There will be no end to it. There are bound to be two quarrels. The Third Miss may be a girl, but you have all misjudged her. Among all the Second Mistress’s sisters-in-law and sisters, she is the only one Xifeng fears by five parts. Yet now you don’t even put her in your eyes.”

Just then Qiuwen came over. The stewardesses hurried to greet her and said, “You rest too, miss. They’re setting the meal inside. Wait until the table is cleared before you report.” Qiuwen said with a smile, “I’m not like you. How can I wait?” She was about to go straight up to the hall. Ping’er called quickly, “Come back!” Qiuwen turned, saw Ping’er, and said with a smile, “What are you doing here playing outer guard?” She turned and sat down on Ping’er’s cushion. Ping’er asked quietly, “What are you reporting?” Qiuwen said, “I want to ask when Baoyu’s monthly silver and our monthly allowance will be paid.” Ping’er said, “What great matter is that? Go back quickly and tell Xiren, on my word, that no matter what business there is today, don’t report it. If you report one thing, it will be rejected; if you report a hundred, a hundred will be rejected.” Qiuwen asked quickly, “Why?” Ping’er and the stewardesses all hurried to explain, and added, “She is just looking for a few serious matters involving people of standing to make an example and warn everyone. Why must you be the first to run into the nail? If you go and report, and they make an example of you, it will reflect on Lady Jia and Lady Wang. If they don’t make an example of you, people will say they favor one and lean to another, fearing those who rely on Lady Jia and Lady Wang’s authority and not daring to touch them, only picking on the soft ones. Just listen—she will even reject two of the Second Mistress’s own matters before she can silence everyone.” Qiuwen heard this, stuck out her tongue, and said with a smile, “Lucky Sister Ping is here, or I’d have got a nose full of ashes. I’ll go warn them at once.” She rose and left.

Then Baochai’s meal arrived, and Ping’er hurried in to serve. By then Zhao Yiniang had gone, and the three ate on the wooden couch. Baochai faced south, Tanchun west, and Li Wan east. The stewardesses waited quietly in the corridor. Inside, only their close personal maids attended; no one else dared enter without permission. The stewardesses whispered among themselves, “Let’s all be sensible and not harbor ungrateful thoughts. Even Mrs. Wu just got a rebuff. What face do we have?” They whispered while waiting for the meal to end so they could report. Inside it was utterly silent; not even the sound of bowls and chopsticks could be heard. Presently a maid raised the curtain high, and two others carried out the table. Three maids from the tea room had already been holding three basins of water. Seeing the table removed, they went in. After a while they brought out the washbasins and mouth-rinsing cups. Then Daishu, Suyun, and Yinger each carried in a covered bowl of tea on a tray. When the three came out, Daishu told the little maids, “Attend them well. We’ll eat and then come back to relieve you. Don’t sneak off and sit down again.” Only then did the stewardesses slowly, one by one, report their matters properly, no longer daring to be as casual and negligent as before.

Tanchun’s anger gradually subsided. She said to Ping’er, “I have an important matter that I’ve long wanted to discuss with your mistress. Now it happens to come to mind. Come quickly after you eat. Baochai is here too. The four of us will discuss it, and then we’ll ask your mistress in detail whether it can be done or not.” Ping’er agreed and went back.

Xifeng asked why she had been gone all day. Ping’er told her in detail, with a smile, all that had happened. Xifeng laughed, “Good, good, good! What a Third Miss! I’ve always said she was remarkable. It’s only a pity her fate is thin—she wasn’t born from Lady Wang’s womb.” Ping’er said with a smile, “Now you’re talking nonsense, mistress. Even if she wasn’t born of Lady Wang, who would dare look down on her or not treat her like the others?” Xifeng sighed, “You don’t understand. Though being born of a concubine is the same for sons and daughters, a daughter is not like a man. In the future, when it comes to marriage, there are frivolous people nowadays who first inquire whether a girl is legitimate or born of a concubine, and many will not take a concubine’s daughter. They don’t realize that never mind a concubine’s daughter—even our maids are better than other families’ young ladies. I don’t know who the unlucky one will be who fusses over legitimate versus concubine and ruins the match, or who the lucky one will be who doesn’t fuss and gets her.” Then she said to Ping’er with a smile, “You know how many economies I’ve devised these past years. There’s not one in the household who doesn’t hate me behind my back. I’m riding a tiger now. Though I see through some things, there’s no way to relax for the moment. Second, the household spends much and takes in little. Everything, great and small, still follows the old rules from the ancestors’ time, but the income each year is less than before. If we economize too much, outsiders laugh, Lady Jia and Lady Wang feel wronged, and the servants complain of meanness. If we don’t take steps to economize early, in a few years everything will be eaten up.” Ping’er said, “Isn’t that so! There are still three or four young ladies, two or three young gentlemen, and one old lady—these major matters are not yet finished.” Xifeng said with a smile, “I’ve thought of that too, and it should be enough. Baoyu and Cousin Lin—one to marry, one to be married—need not use the public funds; Lady Jia has her own private savings. Second Miss is on Lord She’s side, so she doesn’t count. That leaves three or four, and at the most each will cost ten thousand taels. Huan’er’s marriage will be limited—three thousand taels, and by skimping somewhere it will be enough. When Lady Jia’s funeral comes, everything is already prepared; only miscellaneous items, at most three or five thousand taels. If we economize a little more now, in time it will be enough. I only fear that suddenly one or two more things may come up, and then it will be terrible. But let’s not worry about the future. You eat quickly and go hear what she wants to discuss. This is just my chance. I’ve been worrying that I have no right arm. There’s Baoyu, but he’s not the stuff for this sort of thing; even if I won him over, he’d be useless. The senior mistress is a Buddha—also useless. Second Miss is even more useless, and she’s not of this household anyway. Fourth Miss is young. Lan is younger still. Huan’er is a singed little freezing cat, just waiting to crawl into a warm stove or fire pit. Truly, from one mother’s womb come two people as far apart as heaven and earth. When I think of it, I can’t accept it. Then there are Lin girl and Baochai—they’re both good, but they are relatives and can’t very well manage our household affairs. Besides, one is a beautiful lantern that breaks in the wind; the other has made up her mind, ‘If it’s not my business, I won’t open my mouth; ask her, and she’ll shake her head and say she knows nothing.’ Even if you ask her ten times, it’s no use. That leaves only the Third Miss, who has both head and tongue. She is also a legitimate member of our family, and Lady Wang loves her. Though outwardly she is cool, that’s because of that old creature Zhao Yiniang. In her heart she is like Baoyu. She can’t compare with Huan’er, who is truly hard to love. If it were up to me, I’d have driven him out long ago. Now that she has this idea, I should cooperate with her. We’ll be each other’s right arm, and I won’t be alone. By reason and conscience, with her help we’ll save some worry, and it will benefit Lady Wang’s affairs. But if I look at it from a selfish, scheming point of view, I’ve been too ruthless and should pull back. Looking back, if I keep pursuing and oppressing people, they will hate me to the bone and hide knives behind smiles. You and I together have only four eyes and two hearts. If we’re not careful, we’ll be ruined. While things are tense, if she steps forward to manage, everyone’s hatred for us may temporarily ease. One more thing: I know you understand perfectly, but I fear your heart may not turn that way, so I’m telling you now. Though she is a girl, she understands everything in her heart; she is merely cautious in speech. And she is more literate than I am, so she is one level more formidable. As the saying goes, ‘To catch bandits, first catch their leader.’ Now that she wants to start making rules, she will certainly begin with me. If she rejects any of my decisions, don’t argue. The more respectful you are, and the more you say she is right to reject it, the better. Don’t think about saving my face and arguing with her—that would be bad.” Before she finished, Ping’er laughed, “You think people are too foolish. I already did that first. Now you’re warning me after the fact.” Xifeng laughed, “I was afraid that in your heart and eyes there was only me and no one else, so I had to warn you. Since you already did it first, you understand even better than I do. You’re impatient again—‘you’ and ‘I’ all over the place.” Ping’er said, “I’ll say ‘you’ if I like! If you don’t like it, here’s a slap—or another beating. Haven’t you tasted it on this face before?” Xifeng laughed, “You little wretch, how many accounts are you going to settle? Here I am sick like this, and you still provoke me. Come sit down. There’s no one here anyway. We’ll eat together—that’s the proper thing.”

As she spoke, Feng’er and three or four little maids came in and set up a small kang table. Xifeng ate only bird’s-nest porridge and two dishes of delicate pickles; her daily allotted dishes had been temporarily reduced. Feng’er brought Ping’er’s four allotted dishes to the table and served her rice. Ping’er knelt with one knee on the edge of the kang, half her body still standing below, and ate with Xifeng, then attended her while she rinsed her mouth and washed. After that, she gave Feng’er some instructions and went to Tanchun’s rooms. She found the courtyard quiet; everyone had dispersed.