A Servant of the Zhen Family Takes Refuge with the Jia Household; Water Moon Nunnery Uncovers a Scandal of Lust

After Feng Ziying had gone, Jia Zheng called the gatekeeper and asked, “The Earl of Lin’an sent someone today to invite me to a drinking party. Do you know the occasion?”

The gatekeeper replied, “Your servant made inquiries. There is no great happy event. It is only that the Prince of Nan’an’s household has a new troupe of young actors, very well spoken of. The Earl is pleased and has invited the gentlemen he knows well to come see the plays and make merry for two days. I think no gifts are required.”

Just then Jia She came in and asked, “Second Brother, are you going tomorrow?”

Jia Zheng said, “He is so warm about it. How can I not go?”

Then the gate servant came in again and reported: the clerk from the yamen had come to ask the master to go to the office early tomorrow; there was official business assigned by the court above, and he must be early. Jia Zheng assented.

At this point two family servants in charge of the rents from Hao Family Estate came in, kowtowed, and stood to one side. Jia Zheng asked, “Are you from Hao Family Estate?” They answered yes. Jia Zheng asked no more, said a few words to Jia She, and they went their separate ways. The servants lighted lanterns to see Jia She back.

Jia Lian stayed behind to question the rent steward. The man reported, “The October rents could have been delivered tomorrow. But outside the city some yamen runners stopped the carts. Without a word, they threw all the goods on the carts to the ground. I told them this was a cart collecting rents for the Jia household, not a merchant’s cart, but they would not listen. I told the carters to go on, and several runners came up and beat the carters and forcibly seized two carts. I came back first to report and beg you, sir, to send someone to the yamen to get the carts and goods back, and to deal with these lawless runners. You do not know, sir—the merchants’ carts fared even worse. Their goods were thrown on the ground, and if a carter said one extra word, he was beaten till blood ran.”

Jia Lian was furious. “This is too much!” He at once wrote a card and instructed a servant: “Take this card to the yamen that seized the carts and demand every cart and every piece of goods back. Not one piece may be missing! Go and call Zhou Rui.” Zhou Rui was not at home. He called Wang’er, but Wang’er had gone out at noon and had not returned. Jia Lian cursed, “These mongrels! They draw their pay but do no work. Not one of them is at home!” He told a page to go find them quickly, then went back to his rooms to rest.

The next day the Earl of Lin’an again sent someone to invite them. Jia Zheng said to Jia She, “I have official business at the yamen, and Lian’er must stay home waiting to deal with the seized carts. He cannot leave either. Eldest Brother, take Baoyu with you to return the courtesy.” Jia She nodded. Jia Zheng sent for Baoyu and told him that today he was to go with Jia She to the Earl of Lin’an’s mansion to hear plays. Baoyu was delighted. He changed his clothes and, with Beiming, Saohong, and Chuyao, three pages, paid his respects to Jia She and rode with him to the Earl’s mansion. The gatekeeper announced them, and before long they were invited in. The courtyard was full of noisy guests. Jia She and Baoyu greeted the Earl of Lin’an, exchanged salutes with the other guests, sat down, and chatted.

A troupe manager came forward with a playbill and an ivory tablet, bowed, and asked the gentlemen to choose plays. When it came in turn to Jia She, the man turned and saw Baoyu. He hurried forward, bowed, and asked Baoyu to choose two plays. The moment Baoyu saw him—white face, red lips, handsome as a lotus rising from water, a jade tree in the wind—he knew it was Jiang Yuhan. He had heard that Jiang Yuhan had brought a troupe to the capital, but he had not come to the Jia household to visit. With so many guests present, Baoyu could not say much. He only asked with a smile, “When did you come to the capital?” Jiang Yuhan pointed at himself and smiled. “How does the Second Master not know?” With everyone seated there, they could not talk intimately. Baoyu casually chose a play.

Jiang Yuhan withdrew. The guests discussed him. Someone said, “Who is that?” Another said, “He used to play young female roles. Now that he is older, he no longer plays dan roles; he plays young male roles and manages the troupe. He has saved a good deal of silver and opened two or three shops in the city, but he will not give up his old trade. He still leads a troupe and performs.” Some guessed he had married; others said his marriage was not yet settled. Jiang Yuhan had made up his mind that marriage was a lifelong matter and could not be settled carelessly. No matter whether the family was high or low, the match must suit his own talent and feelings. So he was still unmarried. Baoyu thought to himself: I wonder what girl will marry him in the future. To match such a talent would not be unworthy.

The plays began: Kunqu, high-pitched, Yiyang, and clapper tunes in turn. It was very lively. After noon, wine was set out. After watching for some time, Jia She wanted to take his leave. The Earl of Lin’an urged him to stay. “It is still early. I hear Jiang Yuhan has a special play, The Courtesan’s Conquest, the best piece in the troupe’s repertoire.” Baoyu was only too glad to stay, so Jia She sat a while longer. Jiang Yuhan played Qin the young official, serving the drunken courtesan. He acted tender pity and gentleness to the full. The two drank and sang to each other with deep feeling. Baoyu fixed his eyes on Qin the young official onstage. Jiang Yuhan’s singing was clear, his enunciation distinct, his rhythm exact. Baoyu was wholly absorbed.

When the play ended, Baoyu felt even more that Jiang Yuhan was a man of true feeling, by no means an ordinary actor. He recalled what the Record of Music said: “Feeling moves within, and so takes form in sound. When sound is patterned, it is called music.” He understood that there was great learning in sound and music. Poetry could convey feeling, but music could enter the bone. He thought that in the future he must study music seriously. As he was lost in thought, Jia She rose to take leave. The host could not keep him. Baoyu had to follow him home. Jia She returned to his own quarters, and Baoyu went to see Jia Zheng.

Jia Zheng had just returned from the yamen and was discussing the cart seizure with Jia Lian. Jia Lian reported, “Today the servant took the card there, but the magistrate was not in. The gatekeeper said: This office knows nothing of the matter. No official warrant was issued to seize carts. It was all done by underlings privately, extorting and running wild outside. Since it is your household’s cart, we will certainly recover it at once and guarantee that the carts and goods will be returned tomorrow. If there is the slightest loss, when the magistrate returns he will punish them severely. For now, since the magistrate is absent, I hope you will not alarm him.” Jia Zheng said, “If there was no official warrant, who was so bold?” Jia Lian said, “Such things are common outside. I think they will certainly send them back tomorrow.” Jia Lian withdrew. Baoyu came forward to pay his respects. Jia Zheng asked a few questions and told him to go to Grandmother Jia.

The night before, when servants had been summoned, many were absent. Jia Lian summoned them again, and all the household servants assembled. Jia Lian cursed them roundly and instructed the chief steward Lai Sheng: “Bring the roster of every household and check them carefully. Write a notice: Anyone who leaves without leave, fails to answer a summons, or delays public business will be beaten at once and driven out of the household.” Lai Sheng assented repeatedly and went out to arrange it. All the servants became careful.

Before long a man came to the gate. He wore a felt cap, a blue cloth gown, and shoes, and bowed with clasped hands to the gatekeeper. The gatekeeper looked him up and down and asked where he was from. The man said, “I come from the Zhen family in the south. I carry a letter in my master’s own hand. Please deliver it to your master.” Hearing that he was from the Zhen family, the gatekeeper rose, asked him to sit and rest, went in, reported to Jia Zheng, and presented the letter.

Jia Zheng opened it. It read:

Our two families have been friends for generations, and our affection is deep. I have long looked up to your honorable house and think of you often. Your younger brother, through lack of ability, incurred guilt and deserved ten thousand deaths. By imperial grace he was spared and sent to the frontier to atone. Now our family estate is ruined and our servants scattered. My household servant Bao Yong has long served in my house. He is not outstanding in ability, but he is honest and loyal. If he could do odd jobs in your household and earn a living, I would be grateful for your kindness in loving even the crow on my roof, and I would never forget it. Written in haste; the rest will be told later.

Jia Zheng read it and smiled. “Our household already has many people, and the Zhen family still recommends someone. It is hard to refuse.” He told the gatekeeper, “Bring him to see me. Let him stay for now, and we will assign him work according to his ability.”

The gatekeeper brought Bao Yong into the study. Bao Yong kowtowed three times to Jia Zheng, rose, and said, “My master sends his regards to you, sir.” Then he saluted again. “Bao Yong pays his respects to you, sir.” Jia Zheng asked after Master Zhen and looked Bao Yong over: over five feet tall, broad shoulders and back, thick brows and large eyes, high forehead, long beard, dark face, standing with hands at his sides.

Jia Zheng asked, “Have you always served in the Zhen household?” Bao Yong replied, “Yes, I have always served there.” Jia Zheng asked, “Why have you come here?” Bao Yong said, “I did not wish to leave. My master urged me again and again to go, saying, ‘You need not go anywhere else. Go to the Rong-guo House. It will be like your own home.’ So I came.” Jia Zheng sighed. “Your master was a good man. How did he come to such a pass?” Bao Yong said, “Your servant dare not say much. My master’s heart was too good. He treated people with wholehearted sincerity, and that instead brought disaster.” Jia Zheng said, “To treat people sincerely is a good thing.” Bao Yong said, “It was just that he was too honest, and so he offended people.” Jia Zheng smiled slightly. “If that is so, Heaven will not treat him unfairly.”

Bao Yong wanted to say more. Jia Zheng asked again, “I hear your master’s son is also called Baoyu?” Bao Yong said, “That is right.” Jia Zheng asked, “Is he willing to study and improve?” Bao Yong said, “When it comes to our young master, it is a strange tale. His nature is like my master’s—honest. From childhood he loved to play with the girls. My master and mistress beat him severely several times, but he never changed. That year when the mistress came to the capital, the young master fell gravely ill. He was dead for half a day. My master was frantic and even prepared the burial clothes. But then he revived and said he had walked to a memorial arch, where a girl led him into a temple. There he saw many cabinets filled with registers. Then he went into a room and saw countless women, some turned into monsters, some into skeletons. He was so frightened that he cried out, and then he woke. My master hurried to get doctors, and he slowly recovered.

After he recovered, he was still allowed to be with the girls. But his nature had changed greatly. The games he used to love he wanted no more. He set his heart on study. Others tried to tempt him, but he was unmoved. Now he can even help my master manage household affairs.” Jia Zheng thought quietly for a moment and said to Bao Yong, “Go and rest. When there is work, I will assign it to you.” Bao Yong saluted and withdrew.

One morning Jia Zheng was preparing to go to the yamen when he saw a group of gatekeepers whispering together, hesitating, muttering. Jia Zheng called them over and asked, “What is it? Why so secretive?” The gatekeeper said, “Your servant dare not say.” Jia Zheng said, “What is there to be afraid of?” The gatekeeper said, “When we opened the gate this morning, we saw a sheet of white paper pasted on the main gate, with words too ugly to look at. It is about a scandal at Water Moon Nunnery.” Jia Zheng said, “Bring it to me.” The gatekeeper said, “It is pasted too firmly to peel off. We could only copy it. Li De has already taken down a copy.” He presented the copied notice.

Jia Zheng unfolded it. It read:

Young is the man of West-shell, Grass-axe,
At Water Moon he rules the nuns.
One man, so many girls—
Whoring and gambling are his pleasure.
Unworthy youths come here on business;
In Rong-guo House there is news.

When Jia Zheng finished reading, he was so angry that his head swam. He told the gatekeepers not to spread it about, and quietly sent men to search the walls of the alleys near the Ning and Rong households for other copies. He at once sent for Jia Lian.

Jia Lian hurried over. Jia Zheng asked, “The nuns and Daoist women lodging at Water Moon Nunnery—have you ever checked on them?” Jia Lian said, “I have not examined them closely. It has always been left to Jia Qin to oversee.” Jia Zheng said, “Do you know whether Jia Qin can manage them properly?” Jia Lian said, “If you say this, sir, then Jia Qin must have done something improper.” Jia Zheng sighed and showed him the notice. Jia Lian was shocked. “Can such a thing be?” As they spoke, Jia Rong sent a secret letter. They opened it. It was another anonymous notice, the same as the one at the gate.

Jia Zheng at once ordered, “Tell Lai Da to take three or four carts to Water Moon Nunnery and bring all the nuns and Daoist women back to the household. Do not let word leak out. Say only that the palace has summoned them.” Lai Da accepted the order and went.

At Water Moon Nunnery, when the young nuns and Daoist girls first came, the old nuns had disciplined them, and they studied scriptures every day. Later, when the Imperial Concubine no longer used them, they gradually grew slack. These girls grew older, and their feelings began to stir. Jia Qin was a man of pleasure by nature. He thought Fangguan and the others had become nuns only out of childishness and wanted to dally with them. Fangguan was devoted to the Buddha and would not submit. So Jia Qin turned to the other nuns and Daoist women. Among them, the young novice Qinxiang and the Daoist girl Hexian were seductive and charming. Jia Qin carried on secretly with both, and in idle times they played strings and sang together.

In the middle of the tenth month, Jia Qin came to the nunnery to collect the monthly allowances for everyone. He had evil intentions and said to them, “I have come to get your monthly money, and I cannot return to the city, so I must stay here overnight. The weather is so cold. I have brought fruit and good wine. Shall we drink and make merry tonight?” The girls were delighted. They set out wine, and the nuns came to sit with them. Only Fangguan refused to come. Jia Qin drank a few cups and proposed a drinking game. Qinxiang and the others said they did not know how to play, and it would be better to guess fingers; the loser would drink. The old nun advised, “It is only just past noon. Such noisy drinking is improper. Let us drink a little first. Those who wish to go back and rest may go. Those who wish to keep Master Qin company can drink again at night. I will not interfere.”

Just then the old Daoist woman came running in panic. “Disperse quickly! Master Lai from the household has come!” They hurried to clear things away and told Jia Qin to hide. Jia Qin was drunk and said, “I came to deliver the monthly money. What is there to fear?” Before he finished speaking, Lai Da had entered. He was furious at the scene, but Jia Zheng had ordered him not to make it public, so he could only pretend to smile. “Master Qin is here too?” Jia Qin rose. “Master Lai, what have you come for?” Lai Da said, “It is good that you are here. Quickly tell the novices and Daoist girls to pack and get into the carts and return to the city. The palace has summoned them.” Jia Qin and the others did not understand why and wanted to ask more. Lai Da said, “It is getting late. We must hurry into the city.” The girls had no choice but to get into the carts. Lai Da rode a mule and escorted them back to the city.

When Jia Zheng heard the details, he was so angry that he could not even go to the yamen. He sat alone in the inner study sighing. Jia Lian did not dare leave. The gatekeeper came in and reported: Mr. Zhang, who was on duty at the yamen tonight, was ill and had sent word asking the master to take his place. Jia Zheng had been waiting for Lai Da to return to deal with Jia Qin, and now he also had to go to the yamen. He was depressed and said nothing. Jia Lian came forward and advised, “Lai Da set out after dinner. Water Moon Nunnery is more than twenty li from the city. He cannot return before the second watch. Today you are only taking someone’s place. You may go. When Lai Da returns, have him keep the people under guard and not spread the matter. Wait until you return tomorrow to deal with it. When Jia Qin returns, do not expose him either. See how he answers tomorrow.” Jia Zheng thought this reasonable and set out for the yamen.

Jia Lian found time to return to his own courtyard. Along the way he inwardly blamed Xifeng for recommending Jia Qin to oversee Water Moon Nunnery, which had caused this. He wanted to complain, but Xifeng was ill, so he held it in.

The servants passed the news from one to ten and from ten to a hundred. It reached the inner quarters. Ping’er was the first to learn of it and hurried to tell Xifeng. Xifeng was already unwell and listless. Her mind had long been fixed on the old case at Iron Threshold Temple. When she heard that an anonymous notice had been pasted outside, she was startled and quickly asked what it said. Ping’er made a slip of the tongue and said casually, “It is nothing much—it is the matter at Steamed Bun Nunnery.” Xifeng, already uneasy at heart, froze at the words “Steamed Bun Nunnery.” The shock struck her, her vision went black, she coughed violently, and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Ping’er panicked and quickly explained, “It is Water Moon Nunnery—only a matter of the young nuns and Daoist girls. Why should you be so frightened, mistress?” Xifeng collected herself and spat. “You muddle-headed thing! Is it Water Moon Nunnery or Steamed Bun Nunnery?” Ping’er smiled. “I misspoke just now. It is not Steamed Bun Nunnery, it is Water Moon Nunnery. My tongue slipped.” Xifeng said, “I knew it was Water Moon Nunnery. Steamed Bun Nunnery has nothing to do with me. Water Moon Nunnery is where I recommended Jia Qin to oversee. I suppose he has been skimming their monthly allowances.” Ping’er said, “I hear it is not only skimming allowances. There are also ugly romantic scandals.” Xifeng said, “Those I do not care about. Where has your Second Master gone?” Ping’er said, “The master is angry, and the Second Master does not dare leave. The matter looks bad. I have already told the servants not to make noise. I do not know whether the mistresses know. I hear the master told Lai Da to bring those girls back to the household. I have sent someone to the front to find out. You are not well, mistress. If you ask me, do not meddle in this idle business for now.”

Just then Jia Lian returned. Xifeng wanted to question him, but seeing Jia Lian’s face full of anger, she pretended for the moment not to know. Before Jia Lian had finished his meal, Wang’er came to report, “Someone outside is asking for you, sir. Lai Da has returned.” Jia Lian asked, “Has Jia Qin returned?” Wang’er said, “He has come back with him.” Jia Lian instructed, “Tell Lai Da that the master has gone to the yamen on duty. Put the girls for now in Prospect Garden. When the master returns tomorrow, we will send them into the palace. Tell Jia Qin to wait for me in the inner study.” Wang’er went off to carry out the order.

Jia Qin walked into the study and saw the servants pointing and whispering. He was puzzled. It did not look as if the palace had summoned anyone. He wanted to ask, but no one would tell him. As he stood uneasy, Jia Lian came out. Jia Qin paid his respects and stood with hands at his sides. “I do not know why the Imperial Concubine’s palace suddenly summoned these children. Your nephew happened to be delivering the monthly money and had not yet returned to the city, so I came back with Master Lai. Second Uncle must know the reason.” Jia Lian sneered. “How would I know? You know best in your own heart.” Jia Qin was bewildered and did not dare ask more. Jia Lian said, “You have done a fine thing. You have angered the master.” Jia Qin protested, “Your nephew has done nothing bad. The monthly allowances at the nunnery are paid on time, and the scriptures and lessons have not been neglected.”

Jia Lian saw that he was still playing the innocent. Since Jia Qin was a junior with whom he usually joked, Jia Lian sighed. “You good-for-nothing. Look at this yourself.” He took the anonymous notice from his boot and threw it to him. Jia Qin picked it up and looked. He turned pale with fright and cried, “Who is framing me? I have not offended anyone. Why do they ruin me like this? I only go once a month to deliver the monthly money. How could there be such doings? If the master questions me, I will surely die. If my mother hears, she will beat me to death!” Seeing no one nearby, Jia Qin knelt and kowtowed, tears streaming. “Good Second Uncle, save me!”

Jia Lian thought to himself: The master hates scandals of this kind most of all. If this is verified, the punishment will be severe. If the matter spreads, the Jia household’s reputation will suffer, and it will only encourage the person who pasted the notice. In the future there will be even more trouble at home. Now there is no solid witness. It would be better, while the master is on duty at the yamen, to discuss it with Lai Da and cover it up. Having made up his mind, he said to Jia Qin, “Do not hide it from me. I know all about your sneaking around. If you want to settle this, then even if the master interrogates you, you must insist nothing happened. You worthless thing, get up.” He sent someone to call Lai Da.

Before long Lai Da came in, and Jia Lian discussed it with him. Lai Da said, “Master Qin really made too much of a scene. When your servant arrived at the nunnery, they were drinking. What was written on the notice must be true.” Jia Lian said to Jia Qin, “You hear him. Would Master Lai wrong you?” Jia Qin’s face was crimson, and he could not say a word. Jia Lian then turned to beg Lai Da to help cover it up. “Help us patch this over. Say that Cousin Qin brought it on himself. Take him out and do not say you saw me. Tomorrow beg the master not to question the girls, but simply call matchmakers and have them married out. If the Imperial Concubine wants attendants again in the future, we will buy new ones.” Lai Da reflected that if the matter blew up, it would harm the Jia household’s name, so he agreed.

Jia Lian said to Jia Qin, “Follow Master Lai and do as he tells you when you answer.” Jia Qin kowtowed again and followed Lai Da out. When they reached a place where no one was around, Jia Qin kowtowed again to Lai Da and begged him. Lai Da sighed. “My young master, you really made too great a scandal. I do not know whom you offended to bring this disaster. Think carefully. Whom have you quarreled with in the past?” Jia Qin thought back carefully and suddenly thought of someone. Who it was will be told in the next chapter.