At a Crabapple Feast, Grandmother Jia Admires a Flower Omen; The Magic Jade Is Lost, and Its Spirit Knows a Strange Calamity

Lai Da led Jia Qin out. The night passed quietly, and they waited only for Jia Zheng to return. The nuns and Daoist women were sent back into Prospect Garden. They were still cheerful at heart, thinking they might stroll in the garden and wait until the next day to be sent into the palace. But Lai Da had already instructed the old women and pages guarding the garden to keep strict watch. They were given food and drink, but not allowed to take a single step about freely. The girls could not understand why, and could only sit until dawn. The maids in the garden had only heard that the nuns had been brought back in preparation for palace service; none of them knew the scandal of lust that lay behind it.

Early the next morning, Jia Zheng had intended to come off duty, but the ledgers for reviewing the provincial works were sent over and had to be checked at once. For the moment he could not go home. He sent word to Jia Lian: “When Lai Da returns, you must get to the bottom of this matter. Deal with it as you see fit. There is no need to wait for me.”

When Jia Lian received these instructions, he first felt relieved on Jia Qin’s account. Then he reflected that if not the slightest trace were found, Jia Zheng would instead become suspicious. He thought: It would be better to report to Lady Wang and ask her to decide. Then even if the handling did not suit the master’s mind, I would not bear the responsibility alone. Having made up his mind, he went into the inner quarters to see Lady Wang and explained everything: “Yesterday the master saw the anonymous notice and flew into a rage. He had Jia Qin and all the nuns and Daoist women brought back to the household for investigation. Today the master has official business at the yamen and no time to question them. He told me to report to you, madam, and ask you to decide how to deal with it.”

Lady Wang was greatly shocked. “What is this! If Jia Qin has done such a shameful thing, can he still be counted as one of our family? But the person who wrote the notice is hateful too. How can such things be written at random? Did you ask Jia Qin whether it is true?”

Jia Lian replied, “I asked him just now. Think, madam: even if he had done it, would he honestly admit it? But I think Jia Qin would not dare be so bold. He knows these girls may be summoned by the Imperial Concubine at any time. If something went wrong, the consequences would be unthinkable. Only, if the truth were really discovered, how would you wish to deal with it?”

Lady Wang asked, “Where are the girls now?”
Jia Lian said, “They are all shut up in Prospect Garden.”
Lady Wang asked, “Do the young ladies know of this?”
Jia Lian said, “They probably only know that the girls are being prepared for palace use. The ugly scandal outside has not yet spread.”

Lady Wang said, “You are right. These people cannot remain in the household for a single moment. I wanted to send them away long ago, but you all said it was convenient to keep them. Now trouble has come of it, as expected. Tell Lai Da to investigate carefully whether they still have relatives in their native places, find their indentures of sale, give them several tens of taels of silver, hire a boat, and send reliable people to escort them home. Return the indentures as well. That will settle the matter. If one or two of them are of bad character, and we force them all to return to lay life, that would be too cruel. If we hand them over to the official matchmaker to be sold, even if we do not want the purchase money, the matchmaker will sell them for profit and care nothing whether they live or die.
As for Jia Qin, give him a severe scolding. Except for sacrifices and great celebrations, he is not to come to the Rong-guo House again, lest he run into the master while he is still angry and bring disaster on himself. Also tell the accounts office to cancel this monthly allowance. Send someone to Water Moon Nunnery to relay the master’s words: except for visiting graves and burning incense, the men of our household are not to go to the nunnery, and the nunnery is not to receive them. If another word of this leaks out, the old nuns will be driven out as well.”

Jia Lian accepted each order. He went out and relayed Lady Wang’s instructions to Lai Da: “This is the mistress’s decision. Carry it out accordingly. When it is done, come back and tell me, and I will report to the mistress. When the master returns, answer him in the same way.” Lai Da sighed. “The mistress truly has a Bodhisattva’s heart. She is willing to spend money to send these people home. Since the mistress is merciful, we must choose reliable men to escort them. Jia Qin can be left to the Second Master to deal with. As for the one who wrote the anonymous notice, I will find him out and punish him severely.” Jia Lian nodded. He at once dealt with Jia Qin, and Lai Da hurried to arrange for the nuns to return home.

That evening Jia Zheng returned. Jia Lian and Lai Da reported what had been done. Jia Zheng was not fond of stirring up trouble in the first place, and after hearing it he let the matter drop. But outside, many rascals heard that the Jia household had released twenty-four girls, and their minds were stirred. Whether these girls ever reached their homes safely was never clearly known.

Meanwhile, Zijuan saw that Daiyu was gradually recovering and that nothing was happening in the garden. She heard that the household had brought back nuns in preparation for palace service, but did not know the inside story. So she went to Grandmother Jia’s rooms to inquire. She happened to find Yuanyang sitting with nothing to do, and the two chatted. The talk turned to the nuns. Yuanyang was surprised. “I had not heard. I will ask the Second Mistress later.”

Just then two old women from Fu Shi’s family came to pay their respects. Seeing that Grandmother Jia was taking a nap, they spoke to Yuanyang and left. Zijuan asked whose family had sent them.
Yuanyang said, “They are truly tiresome. Their daughter is pretty, and they display her like a treasure. They are always praising Miss Fu before the Old Ancestor—her looks, her character, her manners, her concise speech, her fine needlework, her ability to write and reckon, her filial devotion, her gentleness with servants. Every visit they pour out long praises. The Old Ancestor likes to hear it. Baoyu usually hates such old women, but with the Fu family’s old women he is not averse. Not long ago they came and said many families had sought a match, but Master Fu refused them all, wishing to ally with a great family like ours. After repeated praise and flattery, even the Old Ancestor was moved.”

Zijuan was startled and asked falsely, “Since the Old Ancestor likes her, why not settle a match for Baoyu?”
Yuanyang was about to explain in detail when a servant inside said the Old Ancestor had woken. Yuanyang hurried in to attend her.

Zijuan had to return to Prospect Garden. Along the way she thought privately: Is there only one Baoyu in the world? Everyone wants to marry him. Our young mistress is so devoted. Several times she has fallen ill because of Baoyu. Now the marriages of Baochai and Daiyu are still unsettled, and here comes another Miss Fu. The matter will only grow more tangled. I think Baoyu’s heart is toward our young mistress, but from what Yuanyang says, Baoyu also seems to like every pretty girl he sees. Then is our young mistress wearing herself out for nothing?
Zijuan’s whole heart was fixed on Daiyu, and the more she thought, the more confused she became. Tears fell without her knowing. She wanted to urge Daiyu not to brood, but feared to wound her. She watched Daiyu’s infatuation and felt truly sorry for her. After thinking back and forth, she spat at herself: “What business is it of mine to worry? Even if Miss Lin married Baoyu, Baoyu’s nature would not last. He is greedy for much and wants everything. I tell others not to think too much, yet I cannot let go myself. From now on I will only serve the young mistress with all my heart and pay no attention to any marriage matters.” With this thought, her heart grew a little calmer.

When she returned to Xiaoxiang Lodge, Daiyu was sitting alone on the kang sorting old poems and manuscripts. She looked up and saw Zijuan. “Where have you been?”
Zijuan said, “I went to see the other sisters.”
Daiyu asked casually, “Did you go to see Sister Xiren?”
Then she herself felt she had spoken amiss and was embarrassed. She spat. “Whom you go to see is no concern of mine. Go pour tea.”
Zijuan laughed inwardly and went out to pour tea. Suddenly she heard a great commotion in the garden. She quickly sent someone to ask. The report came back: The few crabapple trees in Happy Red Court had long been withered and neglected. Yesterday Baoyu saw buds on the branches, and no one believed it. Today the trees had suddenly burst into full bloom. Everyone was astonished and rushed to see. The Old Ancestor and the mistress were both alarmed and came to admire the flowers. Li Wan told people to sweep the withered branches and fallen leaves in the garden. Servants ran about spreading the word.

When Daiyu heard Grandmother Jia was coming, she quickly changed clothes and told Xueyan to keep watch. “The moment the Old Ancestor arrives, tell me.” Before long Xueyan ran back and said the Old Ancestor, Lady Wang, and the others had all reached Happy Red Court. Daiyu adjusted her hair a little and, leaning on Zijuan, went over.

Grandmother Jia sat on the couch where Baoyu usually rested. Daiyu came forward to pay her respects. She greeted Lady Xing and Lady Wang, and exchanged greetings with Li Wan, Tanchun, Xichun, and Xing Xiuyan. Xifeng was ill and did not come. Shi Xiangyun had been taken home because her uncle had been transferred back to the capital. Xue Baoqin was living elsewhere with her sister. The Li sisters, because trouble after trouble had occurred in the garden, had been taken by Aunt Li to live outside. So not many people were present.

Everyone talked and laughed, all remarking on how strangely the flowers had bloomed. Grandmother Jia said, “Crabapple normally blooms in the third month. Now it is the eleventh month, but the season is late, so it may count as the tenth. The little Indian summer is warm, and an occasional bloom is normal.”
Lady Wang agreed. “The Old Ancestor has seen much and is right. It is not strange.”
Lady Xing said, “I hear these crabapples have been withered for a year. They should not bloom now. There must be some reason.”
Li Wan smiled. “I say Baoyu is about to have a happy event, and the crabapple has come first to announce it.”
Tanchun said nothing. She thought to herself: This is by no means an auspicious sign. To bloom in season is prosperity; to bloom out of season is abnormality. Plants and trees sense the fortunes of the age. To bloom when it should not is surely a monster omen. But she could not say so openly.

Daiyu, hearing it called a happy event, was stirred. She said gladly, “In ancient times there was a thorn tree. When three brothers divided the family, the thorn tree withered. Later, when the brothers were reconciled and did not divide the family, the thorn tree flourished again. So plants and trees follow the rise and fall of human hearts. Now Second Brother has applied himself to study, and Uncle is pleased. That is why the crabapple has bloomed again.” Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang were delighted, saying Daiyu’s comparison was ingenious.

Just then Jia She, Jia Zheng, Jia Huan, and Jia Lan came to see the flowers. Jia She said, “In my opinion, cut it down at once. It is a flower demon at work.”
Jia Zheng said, “If you see the strange and are not startled by it, the strangeness will defeat itself. There is no need to cut it. Let it be.”
Grandmother Jia heard this and was displeased. “Who is talking nonsense here? It is clearly a happy event. How is it a demon? If there is blessing, we shall enjoy it together. If disaster comes, I will bear it alone. No wild talk.” Jia Zheng did not dare say more. He withdrew awkwardly with Jia She and the others.

Grandmother Jia was in high spirits. She told the kitchen to prepare a feast, and everyone admired the flowers and drank. She told Baoyu, Jia Huan, and Jia Lan each to write a poem to commemorate the event. Cousin Lin had just recovered from a serious illness and need not tax herself with writing; if she wished, she could help revise the others’ poems. She also said to Li Wan, “You all keep me company and drink.”
Li Wan agreed and said to Tanchun with a smile, “It is all your doing.”
Tanchun did not understand. “We are not even asked to write poems. How is it my fault?”
Li Wan smiled. “Was it not you who founded the Crab-Flower Poetry Club? Now this crabapple wants to join the club too.” Everyone laughed.

Wine and dishes were soon set out. As they drank, everyone spoke auspicious words to please Grandmother Jia. Baoyu rose, poured wine, and wrote a poem on the spot, which he read to Grandmother Jia:

Why did the crabapple suddenly wither and fall?
For what do its branches bloom so full today?
It must be to add years to the North Hall’s life;
The returning yang claims first place before the plum.

Jia Huan also wrote his and read it:

When plants meet spring, they should put forth buds;
The crabapple blooms late, out of season’s course.
How many strange things in the world are known?
In winter’s month, only our house has flowers.

Jia Lan wrote his in neat regular script. Grandmother Jia told Li Wan to read it aloud:

Smoke congeals its charm; before spring it withered.
Frost moistens faint red; after snow it opens.
Do not say this flower has little understanding;
Its joyful bloom foretells the cup of union.

After hearing them, Grandmother Jia said, “I do not understand poetry, but Lan’er’s sounds best. Huan’er’s is poor. Come and eat.” Baoyu saw Grandmother Jia happy and his own spirits rose. Suddenly he remembered that in the year Qingwen died, these crabapples had withered. Now that the crabapples had bloomed again, everyone in the courtyard ought to be safe, but Qingwen could never come back to life. In an instant his joy turned to grief. Then he remembered that Qiaojie had said Xifeng meant to have Wu’er fill a place in Happy Red Court. Perhaps the flowers had bloomed for Wu’er. He cheered up again and laughed and talked.

Grandmother Jia sat for a long time before leaning on Zhenzhu and returning to her rooms. Lady Wang and the others followed. Ping’er came up smiling. “Our mistress heard the Old Ancestor was admiring the flowers. She cannot come herself, so she sent me to attend you. She also sends two lengths of red silk for Master Bao to wrap around the flower branches as a congratulatory gift.” Xiren took it and showed Grandmother Jia. Grandmother Jia smiled. “Feng girl is thoughtful as ever—dignified and fresh.” Xiren asked Ping’er to thank Baoyu on her return. Ping’er privately said quietly to Xiren, “Our mistress says these flowers are strange. Tell you to cut a piece of red silk and hang it on the tree, and treat the whole thing as a happy event. Do not let people talk of it everywhere as something strange.” Xiren nodded and saw Ping’er out.

Now Baoyu had originally been resting in a fur jacket. When he heard the crabapples had bloomed, he came back and forth to look at them, and many feelings of joy and sorrow rose in his heart. Hearing Grandmother Jia was coming, he hurriedly changed into a fox-fur archer’s sleeve and an outer jacket of dark fox legs, and came out to welcome her. In his haste, he took off the Magic Jade and laid it on the kang table, without putting it back on. After Grandmother Jia left, he changed clothes again. Xiren saw that his neck was bare and asked, “Where is the jade?”
Baoyu said, “Just now I was busy changing. I took it off and laid it on the kang table. I did not put it on.” Xiren turned and looked. The table was empty. She searched everywhere, but there was no trace. She was so frightened that cold sweat broke out all over her. Baoyu said, “Do not panic. It must still be in the room. Ask everyone.”

Xiren thought Sheyue and the others had hidden it for a joke. She smiled and said, “Little hussies, even a joke must have limits. Do not really lose it. None of us can bear the blame.” Sheyue and the others looked serious. “Who would dare play such a joke! Think carefully where you put it. Do not wrongly accuse people.” Seeing that they did not seem to be pretending, Xiren wept in alarm. “Heavens, little ancestor! Where did you put it?” Baoyu insisted he had laid it on the kang table. Xiren, Sheyue, and Qiuwen did not dare make a noise. They quietly searched the room, opening boxes and chests, for a long time, but found no trace. They guessed that someone who had come to see the flowers had picked it up.

Xiren said, “Everyone knows this jade is a treasure like life itself. Who would dare take it? We must not spread the word. Quietly inquire everywhere. If one of the young ladies took it to tease him, we will kowtow and beg it back. If a little maid stole it, we will not report it to those above. We can exchange things or ransom it back. Losing the jade is a greater disaster than losing the Second Master himself.” Sheyue and Qiuwen were about to go out when Xiren added, “Do not question those who were here eating just now. If we ask and get nothing, it will only stir up trouble.” They searched separately, but everyone said they had not seen it. When they came back, they looked at one another. Baoyu was also stunned. Xiren wept dry tears. There was nowhere to search, and they dared not report it. Everyone in Happy Red Court stood as if carved of clay.

The news gradually spread. Tanchun ordered the garden gates closed and sent old women and maids to search again carefully. She promised a heavy reward in silver to whoever found the jade. The servants, partly fearing blame and partly coveting the reward, searched everywhere, even the latrines, but the jade was like a needle in a haystack. The whole day passed with no trace.

Li Wan grew anxious and spoke up. “This is no trifling matter. I will say something bold. Everyone in the garden except Baoyu is female. Tell all the young ladies and maids to take off their outer garments and be searched. After that, search the old women and rough maids.” Everyone thought this reasonable and wished to prove their innocence. Ping’er was the first to say, “Search me first.” The others opened their jackets, and Li Wan checked them one by one. Only Tanchun disapproved. She reproached Li Wan: “Elder Sister-in-law, how could you think of such a method? Would the thief still be hiding it on her person? In this household it is a treasure; outside it is a piece of stone. Why steal it? In my opinion, someone is deliberately playing a prank.”

Everyone thought of how Jia Huan had been running about the room just before, and all suspected him, though they could not say so openly. Tanchun said, “The only one who loves pranks is Jia Huan. Send someone quietly to call him, coax him into giving it back, then frighten him and tell him not to spread it about. The matter can be settled.” Everyone thought this workable. Li Wan told Ping’er to see to it.

Before long Ping’er brought Jia Huan over. Everyone pretended nothing was wrong, made tea, and deliberately scattered, leaving Ping’er to coax him. Ping’er asked with a smile, “Your Second Brother’s jade is lost. Have you seen it?” Jia Huan’s face flushed red at once. He glared and said angrily, “When something is lost, you call me to question me. Am I a habitual thief?” Ping’er quickly smiled apologetically. “I only asked. I was afraid you had taken it to tease them.” Jia Huan said angrily, “His jade is worn on his own person. Ask him! When there are benefits, no one asks me. When something is lost, I am suspected!” He rose and left. No one could stop him.

Baoyu said anxiously, “It is all this cursed thing that brings trouble. I do not want it. Stop making a fuss. If Jia Huan goes out and shouts, everyone will know.” Xiren and the others wept. “Little ancestor, losing the jade is a small matter. If the master and the Old Ancestor learn of it, all of us will lose our lives!” They wept aloud.

The others knew it could not be hidden. They gathered to discuss and prepare a story before reporting to Grandmother Jia. Baoyu said, “Why not say I smashed it myself?” Ping’er said, “The Second Master speaks lightly! If those above ask for the pieces and we cannot produce them, we will still die.” Baoyu said again, “Say I lost it outside a few days ago.” The others thought this might barely work, but Baoyu had not gone out these last two days. Baoyu said, “A few days ago I went to the Prince of Nan’an’s mansion to hear plays. Say I lost it on the road that day.” Tanchun said, “That is not good. If it was lost that day, why did no one report it then?”

As they were struggling to invent a lie, they suddenly heard Zhao Yiniang weeping and shouting as she came in. “When you lose something, you do not look for it yourselves, but secretly question Huan’er! I have brought Huan’er. Hand him over to you. Kill him or cut him up as you please!” She pushed Jia Huan forward. “You are the thief. Confess quickly!” Jia Huan wept bitterly.

Li Wan was about to mediate when a maid reported: Lady Wang had come. Xiren and the others were frightened. Baoyu hurried out to welcome her. Zhao Yiniang did not dare make a scene for the moment and followed behind. Lady Wang saw everyone panicking and knew the report was true. She asked, “Is the jade really lost?” No one dared answer. Lady Wang went inside and sat down. She called Xiren. Xiren hurriedly knelt, tears in her eyes, about to report. Lady Wang told her to rise and ordered a careful search, not to panic. Xiren choked and could not speak. Baoyu, afraid Xiren would tell everything, spoke first: “Madam, this has nothing to do with Xiren. A few days ago I went to the Prince of Nan’an’s mansion to hear plays and lost it on the road.”

Lady Wang questioned him. “Why did you not look for it then?” Baoyu said, “I was afraid everyone would know, so I did not tell Xiren. I told Beiming to search quietly outside.” Lady Wang said, “Nonsense! When you go out and come back, if even a handkerchief or pouch is missing, you ask about it. How could the Magic Jade be lost without your noticing?” Baoyu had no answer. Zhao Yiniang heard and at once put in, “When something is lost, you blame Huan’er instead!” Lady Wang sternly ordered her to be silent. Li Wan and Tanchun truthfully reported what had happened to Lady Wang. Lady Wang wept in anxiety and meant to report to Grandmother Jia and strictly investigate the servants brought by Lady Xing.

Xifeng was ill. When she heard Baoyu had lost his jade and that Lady Wang had come, she could not avoid going. Leaning on Feng’er, she came into the garden. Lady Wang was just preparing to leave. Xifeng paid her respects. Lady Wang said, “Have you heard? In the blink of an eye the jade was gone. It cannot be found anywhere. Think—from the Old Ancestor’s maids to Ping’er, who has light fingers and a wicked heart? I want to report to the Old Ancestor and investigate thoroughly. This is Baoyu’s root of life.”

Xifeng advised, “There are many people in the household, a jumble of good and bad. You may know a face but not a heart. Now that the matter has spread, if the thief is found, he knows he will die. In desperation he may destroy the jade to silence the matter, and that would be worse. In my view, say only that Baoyu never valued the jade much and lost it himself. Do not treat it as too important. Everyone must keep strict silence and hide it from the Old Ancestor and the master. Send people secretly to search. Coax the other party into returning it, and then decide the punishment. What does madam think?” Lady Wang pondered for a long time. “Your words are reasonable, but how can we hide it from the master?” She called Jia Huan over and scolded him. “I only asked you one question. Why did you shout everywhere? If the thief hears and destroys the jade, you will not live either!” Jia Huan was frightened and wept, promising not to say more. Zhao Yiniang did not dare speak. Lady Wang instructed everyone: “The jade is in the house. It cannot have flown away. No one is to spread the word. Xiren is to find it within three days. If it is not found in three days, it can no longer be hidden, and no one will be at peace.” Then she called Xifeng to go with her to Lady Xing’s rooms to discuss the search.

Li Wan and the others continued to make arrangements. They locked the garden gates and summoned the garden servants. They called Mrs. Lin Zhixiao and quietly instructed her: “Guard the front and back gates strictly. Within three days, people inside may move about, but no one is to leave the household. Say only that something has been lost in the household and no one may leave until it is found.”

Mrs. Lin Zhixiao reported, “A few days ago my family lost something. Lin Zhixiao went to the street to see the character diviner Liu Tiezui. His reading was very accurate, and afterward the thing was found.” Xiren quickly begged her to have Lin Zhixiao go again for a divination. Xing Xiuyan said, “Outside divination may not be reliable. In the south I heard Miaoyu can work a planchette. This jade has spiritual nature. Perhaps we can ask the planchette about good or ill.” Everyone was surprised; they had never heard Miaoyu could work a planchette. Sheyue quickly begged Xiuyan to go to Green Lattice Nunnery and ask Miaoyu. Daiyu also urged Xiuyan to go quickly.

Just then Mrs. Lin Zhixiao came back and reported, “Rest easy, young ladies! Lin Zhixiao has returned from the divination. He says the jade cannot be lost, and someone will bring it back in the future.” Everyone was half doubtful, half believing. Xiren and Sheyue were overjoyed. Tanchun asked what character had been drawn. Mrs. Lin Zhixiao said, “He drew the character shang, ‘reward.’ When Liu Tiezui saw it, he asked at once: Have you lost something?
He said: The top of shang is xiao, ‘small,’ and below is kou, ‘mouth.’ An object can be put in the mouth, so it is a pearl or gem. Below is bei, ‘shell’ or ‘treasure.’ Split apart, it resembles jian, ‘to see.’ Put together, it means ‘not seen.’ Within the character can be found dang, ‘pawn.’ You must search the pawnshops. Add the person radical to shang and it becomes chang, ‘to repay.’ When you find the pawnshop, someone will redeem the jade, and it will be repaid to you.”

Everyone said this made sense and at once sent people to search the nearby pawnshops. Li Wan told Mrs. Lin Zhixiao to tell Xifeng the divination and report it to Lady Wang, to comfort her first, and to send people to the pawnshops to trace it.

The others felt a little calmer and quietly waited for Xiuyan to return from Green Lattice Nunnery. As they waited, Baoyu’s page Beiming beckoned from outside the door to a little maid. Beiming clapped his hands and smiled. “Go in quickly and tell the Second Master, the mistress, the young ladies, and the maids—great good news! I have reliable word about Master Bao’s jade!” What the news was will be told in the next chapter.