Deceived by Wicked Slander, They Search Grand View Garden; In Her Solitary Integrity, She Cuts Off the Ning Mansion

Patience had just finished listening to Yingchun and was secretly amused when Baoyu arrived. It turned out that the younger sister of Mrs. Liu, who worked in the Grand View Garden kitchen, had been punished for running a gambling table. There were people in the garden who had long been at odds with the Liu family, and they took the chance to inform on them, saying that Mrs. Liu and her sister had jointly run the gambling, and that although the sister was nominally in charge, the winnings were split between them. So Xifeng intended to punish Mrs. Liu.

Mrs. Liu panicked when she heard. She had always been friendly with the people at Green Delights, so she quietly came to beg Skybright, Golden Star Glass, and the others to plead for her. Golden Star Glass told Baoyu. Baoyu remembered that Yingchun’s wet nurse had also been punished for gambling, and thought it would be better to ask Yingchun to go with him to plead than to speak for the Liu family alone. So he came. As soon as he entered and saw so many people, they asked him, “Are you better? What are you doing here?” Baoyu could not very well mention the plea, so he said only, “I came to see Second Sister.” No one suspected anything, and they chatted a while. Patience then went out to deal with the filigree golden phoenix.

Wang Zhu’er’s wife followed close behind Patience, begging bitterly. “Miss, be kind. Spare me in what you say, and I will surely redeem the golden phoenix.” Patience smiled. “Redeem it sooner or later, you must redeem it. If you had known today, why did you do it then? You thought you could muddle through. Since that is so, I will not spread it abroad. Redeem it as soon as you can and bring it to me. I will not mention a word.” Wang Zhu’er’s wife was relieved and quickly thanked her. “Miss, go about your business first. I will get it tonight, report to you first, and then send it over. Is that all right?” Patience said, “If it is not sent tonight, do not blame me.” With that, the two parted.

Patience returned to the room. Xifeng asked, “What did Third Girl want you for?” Patience smiled. “Third Girl was afraid you would be angry. She told me to soothe you and ask how your appetite has been these two days.” Xifeng smiled. “She is the one who still thinks of me. Just now another matter came up: someone informed on Liu Er’s wife and her sister for running a gambling table together. What the sister did was really directed by her. I used to hear you advise me, ‘The less trouble the better. Rest and recover.’ At first I would not listen, and I made Lady Wang displeased and brought illness on myself. Now I have thought it through. Let them make trouble as they please. There are others to deal with it. I worry for nothing and only earn everyone’s resentment. I must first recover. Even when I am well, I will be a good old peacemaker and pay no attention to right or wrong. So I only said I understood and did not take it to heart.” Patience smiled. “If you can truly be like that, it will be our good fortune.”

Before she finished, Jia Lian came in, clapping his hands and sighing. “Trouble out of nowhere again! A few days ago I borrowed by pawning through Faithful. How did Lady Wang find out? Just now she called me and told me to raise two hundred taels from somewhere for the Mid-Autumn Festival. I said I had nowhere to get it. She said, ‘When you have no money, you find a way. When you discuss it with me, you make excuses. Where did that thousand-tael pawn ticket come from? You can even get the old lady’s things out. Now two hundred taels is impossible? Lucky I have not told anyone.’ I think Lady Wang is not short of money. Why make things hard for us?” Xifeng said, “No outsiders were present that day. Who leaked it?” Patience thought carefully about who had been there, then smiled. “I have it. No outsiders were present when we discussed it, but that evening when the things were sent over, the mother of the silly eldest maid from the old lady’s quarters happened to come to deliver washing. She sat in the servants’ room for a while and saw a large chest. Naturally she asked. I think a little maid was careless and let something slip.” They called several little maids and questioned them about who had told the silly maid’s mother. The little maids knelt in fright and swore they had never dared gossip; whatever they were asked, they said they did not know and did not dare reveal such a great matter.

Xifeng thought and said, “They probably do not dare talk. Do not wrong them. Put this aside for now. The most important thing is to satisfy Lady Wang. Better we tighten our own belts than ask for trouble.” She called Patience. “Bring my gold necklaces and pawn them for two hundred taels to send over and settle it.” Jia Lian said, “Why not pawn two hundred more? We need money ourselves.” Xifeng said, “No need. I have nowhere to spend it. Who knows what we will redeem this silver with later?” Patience brought the necklaces and told someone to call Wang’er’s wife to pawn them. Before long the silver arrived. Jia Lian delivered it himself. We need not mention it.

Xifeng and Patience repeatedly guessed who had leaked the news, but could not think who it was. Xifeng said again, “The matter itself is small, but I fear petty people will use it to spread rumors and cause more trouble. Lady Xing has already formed a grievance with Faithful. Now if she hears that Faithful secretly lent things to you, those greedy petty people can find bones in an egg. With this excuse, they may invent unbearable gossip. Jia Lian is all right, but Faithful is a respectable girl. If she is dragged in and wronged, it will be our fault.” Patience smiled. “That is no problem. Faithful lent the things for your sake, not for the Second Master. Nominally it was a private loan, but in fact she reported it to the old lady. The old lady feared that one by one the younger generation would come borrowing and coaxing, and it would be hard to deal with, so she pretended not to know. Even if it comes out, it is not serious.” Xifeng said, “That is the reasoning, but only you and I know it. Those who do not know will inevitably suspect.”

Just then a servant announced, “Lady Wang has come.” Xifeng was very surprised, not knowing why Lady Wang had come in person, and hurried out with Patience to meet her. Lady Wang’s face was greatly changed. She brought only one personal little maid and, without a word, went straight into the inner room and sat down. Xifeng quickly offered tea and asked with a smile, “What brings Lady Wang here to stroll today?” Lady Wang ordered sternly, “Patience, go out!” Patience panicked, quickly obeyed, took all the little maids out, closed the door, and sat on the steps, allowing no one to enter. Xifeng was also alarmed, not knowing what great matter had happened.

Lady Wang, tears in her eyes, threw the embroidered spring pouch from her sleeve and said, “Look at this.” Xifeng picked it up and saw it was the colorful erotic scent pouch. She too was shocked and quickly asked, “Where did Lady Wang get this?” Lady Wang’s tears flowed, and her voice trembled. “I am asking you! Every day I sit like a frog in a well, thinking you are careful and reliable, and so I dare relax. Who knew you were as muddle-headed as I? This thing was dropped in broad daylight on the rocks in the garden and picked up by the old lady’s maid. If your mother-in-law had not run into her, it would have been sent to the old lady long ago. I ask you, how did this come to be there?”

Xifeng’s face changed greatly. She asked, “How does Lady Wang conclude it is mine?” Lady Wang wept and sighed. “You ask me instead! In the whole household, except you young married couples, what would old women do with this? Where would the girls get it? Naturally Jia Lian brought it in with his filthy ways. You two are harmonious, and young people have private things in the bedchamber. Do you still want to deny it? Fortunately the people in the garden did not understand and did not pick it up. If the maids or girls had seen it, how terrible! If a little maid had picked it up and said it was found in Grand View Garden, and outsiders heard, how could we keep our face and our lives?”

Xifeng was both anxious and ashamed. Her face turned purple. She knelt by the kang and, with tears, defended herself. “Lady Wang’s words are reasonable. I dare not say I certainly have no such things, but please think carefully. First, this pouch is embroidered by outside craftsmen imitating palace styles. The cords and tassels are ordinary market goods. Even if I were young and immodest and wanted such a thing, I would use something fine and superior, not this vulgar object. Second, such a thing is not carried about everywhere. Even if I had one, I would keep it in my room. How would it get to Grand View Garden? The sisters often come close to me and pull at me. If it fell out, not only the girls but the servants would see it. Where would my face be? Even if I were foolish, I would not do that. Third, among masters, I am a young married woman; among servants, there are maids younger than I who often enter the garden and go home at night. How do we know it is not theirs? Fourth, Lady Xing often brings young concubines like Yinhong and Cuiyun into the garden. They are even more likely to have such a thing. And Cousin Zhen’s wife, Madam You, often brings Peifeng and the others. It may be theirs. Fifth, there are many maids in the garden. Not all are well behaved. Some older ones understand such matters and may go out privately or flirt with the pages at the second gate and get it from outside. I can guarantee that neither Patience nor I have this thing. Please think carefully.”

Lady Wang heard this and found it reasonable. She sighed. “Get up. I know you are from a great family and would not be so frivolous. I was so angry I spoke to provoke you. But what shall we do about this now? Your mother-in-law sent someone to seal the pouch and send it over, saying it was taken from the silly maid’s hands. I am furious.” Xifeng said, “Lady Wang must not be angry. If people notice, it may reach the old lady’s ears. Better to investigate quietly. Even if we cannot find out, outsiders will not know. This is what is called ‘hiding a broken arm in the sleeve.’ Just now many people were expelled for gambling. We can use the gambling investigation as a pretext and send Zhou Rui’s wife, Wang’er’s wife, and a few trusted people into the garden. Besides, there are too many maids now, and trouble is bound to arise. When it grows too late, it will be too late. If we dismiss maids for no reason, the girls will feel wronged, and neither Lady Wang nor I can explain to them. Better take this chance to catch the older, troublesome maids in some fault and send them out to be married. First, it prevents disaster; second, it saves expense. What does Lady Wang think?”

Lady Wang sighed. “You are right. But when I think of it, these girls are truly pitiable. Not to speak of far-off things, when your Cousin Lin’s mother was unmarried, how honored and precious she was—a true thousand-gold young lady. Now these sisters are only a little better than ordinary maids. Each has only two or three proper maids, and the rest are like little imps in a temple. Now we would cut them further. I cannot bear it, and I fear the old lady will not agree. Though times are hard, it has not come to that. I have not known great wealth, but I am better off than you. I would rather economize myself than wrong the girls. If we must save, start with me. Now call Zhou Rui’s wife and the others and tell them to investigate this important matter secretly.” Xifeng immediately told Patience to pass on the order.

Soon Zhou Rui’s wife, Wu Xing’s wife, Zheng Hua’s wife, Lai Wang’s wife, and Lai Xi’s wife—five dowry servants—came in. The other dowry servants were on duty in the south. Lady Wang was just complaining that there were not enough people when Wang Shanbao’s wife, Lady Xing’s dowry servant, came in. It was she who had brought the pouch. Lady Wang ordinarily had no suspicion of Lady Xing’s trusted people. Seeing her take the initiative to concern herself with the matter, she said to her, “Go back and report to Lady Xing, and also come into the garden to help keep watch. You are more reliable than the others.”

Wang Shanbao’s wife usually entered Grand View Garden, and the maids never flattered her. She had long been unhappy and wanted to catch them in fault but had no chance. Now with this matter, she had a handle. Hearing Lady Wang entrust her with it, it suited her perfectly. She said, “This is easy. Not that I, a servant, should speak too much, but discipline should have been stricter long ago. Lady Wang seldom enters the garden, and those girls are like titled ladies, thinking themselves thousand-gold young ladies. If a great scandal occurs, no one dares say a word. Otherwise they incite their mistresses’ maids, saying they are bullied by their masters. Who could bear the blame?” Lady Wang said, “That is also common. The maids who serve the girls are naturally delicate. You should admonish them. If masters and girls are not taught, they are still unbearable, let alone maids.”

Wang Shanbao’s wife added, “The rest are all right. Lady Wang does not know, but in Baoyu’s room there is a Skybright. Relying on her good looks and sharp tongue, she dresses like Xi Shi every day and competes to be first before others. If a word displeases her, she glares and scolds. She is frivolous and improper.” Hearing this, Lady Wang suddenly remembered something. She asked Xifeng, “Last time when I followed the old lady to tour the garden, I saw a maid with a water-snake waist, sloping shoulders, and eyebrows somewhat like Cousin Lin’s, scolding a little maid. I disliked her frivolous look, but because I was with the old lady, I said nothing. Later I wanted to ask who she was but forgot. Today it fits. I think it was her.” Xifeng said, “In looks, none of the maids can compare with Skybright. Her manners and speech are indeed a little frivolous. What Lady Wang describes sounds like her. I do not remember the details that day and dare not be certain.”

Wang Shanbao’s wife said, “It is easy. Call her now and let Lady Wang see her.” Lady Wang said, “The only ones from Baoyu’s room who often come to see me are Aroma and Musk. Those two are dull and obedient. This girl certainly would not dare come before me. I hate such frivolous girls most in my life. Now with this pouch matter, if our good Baoyu is seduced and ruined by this wretch, how terrible!” She called her own maid. “Go into the garden and say I have questions for someone. Tell Aroma and Musk to stay and serve Baoyu; they need not come. Bring that cleverest one, Skybright, at once. Do not tell her why.”

The maid went to Green Delights. Skybright was not feeling well. She had just risen from her nap and was feeling irritable, but had to follow. The maids all knew Lady Wang disliked those who dressed brightly and spoke frivolously, so Skybright usually avoided her. These past days she had been unwell and had not dressed carefully, thinking it would not matter. When she reached Xifeng’s room, Lady Wang saw her hair loose, clothes hanging loosely, with the sickly beauty of Xi Shi holding her heart. Her face was exactly the one she had seen before. Lady Wang’s anger flared. Lady Wang showed all her feelings on her face. Now anger filled her heart. She sneered, “What a beauty! A regular sick Xi Shi. For whom do you put on this frivolous look every day? What you do—do not think I do not know! I will keep you for now, but sooner or later I will flay you! Is Baoyu any better today?”

When Skybright heard this, she was greatly shocked and knew someone had secretly slandered her. Though angry, she did not dare speak. She was extremely clever. Hearing the question about Baoyu, she would not tell the truth. She answered, “I do not often go into Baoyu’s room and am seldom with him. Whether he is well or not I do not know. Ask Aroma and Musk.” Lady Wang shouted, “You deserve a slap! Are you a dead person? What are you there to serve for?” Skybright said, “I was originally one of the old lady’s people. The old lady said the garden was empty and few people were there, and Baoyu was afraid, so she sent me to keep watch outside at night, only to look after the rooms. I told the old lady then that I was stupid and did not know how to serve. The old lady said I need not serve Baoyu, only be clever and watch the house. So I went. Every ten days or half a month, when Baoyu is bored, we laugh and talk a while and then disperse. Baoyu’s food and daily life are looked after by the old nurses above and by Aroma, Musk, and Autumn below. I also have the old lady’s needlework to do when free, so I have never paid much attention to Baoyu’s affairs. Since Lady Wang blames me, I will pay attention from now on.”

Lady Wang believed her and quickly said, “Amitabha! That you do not go near Baoyu is my great fortune. You need not trouble yourself. Since the old lady sent you, I will report to the old lady tomorrow and dismiss you.” She turned and told Wang Shanbao’s wife, “Go in and watch her for a few days. Do not let her sleep in Baoyu’s room. Wait until I report to the old lady, then deal with her.” She shouted at Skybright, “Go out! I cannot stand your wanton looks! Who allowed you to dress so gaudily?” Skybright had to withdraw, full of anger. She covered her face with a handkerchief as she went out, weeping all the way back to the garden gate.

Lady Wang reproached herself to Xifeng and the others. “These years my energy has grown worse, and I have not watched carefully. I did not discover such a bewitching creature. I fear there are more like her. Tomorrow we must investigate carefully.” Xifeng saw Lady Wang was furious, and Wang Shanbao’s wife was Lady Xing’s eyes and ears, always inciting Lady Xing to make trouble. Though she had a thousand things to say, she did not dare speak now, but only bowed her head and agreed.

Wang Shanbao’s wife said, “Lady Wang, take care of your health. Leave these small matters to us servants. It is easy to find the owner of the pouch. Wait until tonight when the garden gates are closed and no one can pass in or out. We will suddenly take people and search the maids’ rooms everywhere. Whoever has hidden this pouch will surely have other private things. If we find other things, the pouch is hers.” Lady Wang said, “That is reasonable. Without that, we cannot get to the bottom of it.” She asked Xifeng’s opinion. Xifeng had to say, “Lady Wang is right. Let us do that.” Lady Wang said, “This plan is very good. Otherwise we could not find it in a year.” They discussed it and settled.

After dinner, when the old lady had retired and Baochai and the others had entered the garden, Wang Shanbao’s wife asked Xifeng to go into the garden with her. She ordered all the side gates locked. They began with the rooms of the old women on night duty, but found only extra stores of candles and lamp oil. Wang Shanbao’s wife said, “These too count as stolen goods. Do not touch them. Wait until tomorrow and report to Lady Wang.”

The group first went to Green Delights and ordered the gate closed. Baoyu was worrying about Skybright when he suddenly saw these people heading straight for the maids’ rooms. He met Xifeng and asked why. Xifeng said, “Something important has been lost. Everyone is blaming everyone else. We fear a maid stole it, so we are searching to clear suspicion.” She sat down and drank tea. Wang Shanbao’s wife led the search. She asked whose each chest was and made the owner open it. Aroma had already guessed Skybright was in trouble and sensed something was wrong. She opened her own boxes and chests and let them search. They contained only ordinary clothes and articles. After her, they searched the others.

When they came to Skybright’s chest, they asked whose it was and why it was not opened. Aroma was about to open it for her when Skybright rushed in with her hair loose, threw open the lid with a crash, and, seizing the bottom of the chest with both hands, dumped everything onto the ground. Wang Shanbao’s wife was much embarrassed. She looked through it and found nothing improper. She reported to Xifeng and wanted to go elsewhere. Xifeng said, “Search carefully. If we find nothing this time, it will be hard to report.” Everyone said they had looked carefully and found nothing against the rules. A few men’s items were old things from Baoyu’s childhood and of no importance. Xifeng smiled. “In that case, let us go elsewhere.”

After going out, Xifeng said to Wang Shanbao’s wife, “I have something to say. We are only searching the servants of our own masters. Miss Xue’s rooms must absolutely not be searched.” Wang Shanbao’s wife smiled. “Naturally. How could we search a relative’s rooms?” Xifeng nodded. The group went to Bamboo Lodge. Daiyu had already gone to bed. Hearing them come, she did not know why and was about to rise. Xifeng quickly pressed her down and told her to lie still. “We will leave soon.” She chatted with her a while.

Wang Shanbao’s wife took people into the maids’ rooms and opened chests and boxes. From Nightingale’s chest they found two amulets Baoyu often wore, sashes, two scent pouches, and a fan case with a fan inside—all things Baoyu had used. Wang Shanbao’s wife thought she had found evidence and quickly called Xifeng to look. She asked, “Where did these come from?” Xifeng smiled. “Baoyu and they grew up together. Naturally they are old things of his. It is not strange. Put them down. Let us go to the important places.” Nightingale smiled. “By now the things on both sides are long mixed up. I cannot even remember when these were put here.” Hearing Xifeng speak this way, Wang Shanbao’s wife had to let it drop.

They came to Tanchun’s courtyard. Someone had already informed Tanchun. She guessed such an ugly scene would happen. She ordered her maids to light candles and open the door to wait. When the group entered, Tanchun deliberately asked what it was. Xifeng smiled apologetically. “Something is lost and we cannot find who took it. We fear others will blame the maids, so we are searching to clear them.” Tanchun sneered, “Our maids are naturally all thieves. I am the receiver of stolen goods. Since that is so, search my chests first. The things they stole are all hidden with me.” She ordered her maids to open all her chests, dressing cases, bedding, and bundles, and invited Xifeng to search.

Xifeng smiled apologetically. “I am only here on Lady Wang’s orders. Sister, do not blame me. There is no need to be angry.” She told the maids to put things back quickly. Patience and Feng’er helped Shishu tidy up. Tanchun said, “My things may be searched as you please, but you may not search my maids. I am strict. I know everything my maids have. It is all kept with me. They cannot hide a thread or a line. If you want to search, search me. Then report to Lady Wang that I disobeyed. Whatever punishment is due, I will accept. Do not be so pleased with yourselves. Sooner or later there will be a day when your own homes are searched! This morning you were discussing the Zhen family. Their house was fine, yet they searched their own home. Now we are doing the same. Great families cannot be overthrown by outsiders. As the ancients said, ‘A centipede dies but does not fall.’ It must first destroy itself from within before it collapses!” As she spoke, tears fell.

Xifeng only looked at the wives. Zhou Rui’s wife said, “Since the maids’ things are all here, let us go elsewhere, Mistress, and let the young lady rest.” Xifeng rose to take leave. Tanchun said, “Have you searched carefully? If you come again tomorrow, I will not allow it.” Xifeng smiled. “The maids’ things are all with you. There is no need to search.” Tanchun sneered, “You are clever. My bundles are all opened, and you still say you did not search. Tomorrow you can say I shielded my maids and would not let you search. Speak clearly now. If you still want to search, do it again now.” Xifeng knew Tanchun was unlike the others. She smiled apologetically. “We have already searched your things.” Tanchun asked the others, “Have you all searched clearly?” Zhou Rui’s wife smiled apologetically. “We have looked through everything.”

Wang Shanbao’s wife was simple-minded. She had heard Tanchun was formidable, but thought it was only others exaggerating from fear. She was only a concubine-born girl; what could she do? Relying on being Lady Xing’s dowry servant, even Lady Wang treated her with special consideration. Seeing Tanchun angry, she thought it was only anger at Xifeng and had nothing to do with her. She wanted to curry favor, so she stepped past the others, reached out, and lifted Tanchun’s jacket, grinning. “I will even search the young lady’s person. Sure enough, no stolen goods.” Xifeng quickly stopped her. “Mother, go quickly. Do not act crazy.” Before she finished, there was a slap, and Wang Shanbao’s wife received a box on the ear from Tanchun.

Tanchun flew into a rage and pointed at her. “What are you? You dare pull at my clothes! For Lady Wang’s sake, and because you are old, I call you mother. But you rely on your master’s power and stir up trouble every day. Now you are more and more lawless. You think I am as soft as Second Sister and will let you bully me. You have miscalculated! I am not angry that you searched. You should not have made a joke of me.” She was about to take off her clothes herself and told Xifeng to search her carefully so that no servant would touch her. Xifeng and Patience quickly helped Tanchun straighten her clothes and scolded Wang Shanbao’s wife. “You must have been drinking and lost your senses. You have offended Lady Wang before. Go out quickly and say no more.” They urged Tanchun to calm down.

Tanchun sneered, “If I had any spirit at all, I would have dashed my brains out long ago! Otherwise, how could I let a servant search my person? Tomorrow morning I will first report to the old lady and Lady Wang, then go to Lady Xing and apologize. Whatever punishment is due, I will accept.” Wang Shanbao’s wife was utterly shamed. Outside the window she muttered, “Enough, enough. This is the first time in my life I have been struck. Tomorrow I will report to Lady Wang and go back to my mother’s home. What use is this old life?” Tanchun told her maid, “You hear her. I need not argue with her.” Shishu went out and said, “If you really go home, it will be our good fortune. I fear you cannot bear to leave.” Xifeng smiled. “Good girl. Truly, like mistress, like maid.” Tanchun sneered, “We thieves can all talk a little. She is still stupid. She does not know how to stir up trouble behind people’s backs.” Patience quickly soothed her and pulled Shishu back. Zhou Rui’s wife and the others urged them a while. Xifeng waited until Tanchun slept, then took the people to the neighboring Warm Fragrance Dock.

Li Wan was ill in bed. Her rooms were next to Xichun’s, so they went there first on the way. Li Wan had just taken medicine and fallen asleep. They did not disturb her, only searched the maids’ rooms and found nothing unusual. Then they went to Xichun’s room. Xichun was young and did not understand the world. She was frightened and uneasy. Xifeng comforted her a few words. Then in Ruhua’s chest they found a large packet of gold and silver ingots, thirty or forty of them, a jade belt plaque, and a bundle of men’s boots and socks. Ruhua turned pale with fright.

When questioned, Ruhua knelt and confessed tearfully, “These were given to my brother by Master Zhen. My parents are in the south, and I live with my uncle. My uncle and aunt are fond of food and gambling. My brother feared they would squander the silver, so each time he received a reward, he asked an old woman to secretly bring it into the garden for me to keep.” Xichun was timid and was frightened by the things. She said, “I knew nothing about it. How terrible! Sister-in-law, if she is to be punished, take her out and deal with her. I cannot bear to hear it.” Xifeng said, “If it is true, it is understandable, but she should not have secretly passed things in. If gold and silver can be passed in secretly, anything can be passed in. The one who helped pass them is at fault. If she is lying and the things were stolen, her life is forfeit.”

Ruhua wept and swore, “I dare not lie. Mistress, just ask the First Mistress and Master Zhen. If these are not rewards, beat my brother and me to death, and I will not complain.” Xifeng said, “Naturally we must verify it. Even if they were truly rewards, secretly passing them in is wrong. Tell me who helped pass them, and I can spare you. Never do it again.” Xichun said, “Sister-in-law, you must not spare her this time. There are many people in the garden. If we do not make an example of someone, the other maids will hear of it and become more unruly. If you spare her, I will not agree.” Xifeng said, “I usually see her as fairly proper. This one time, if she does it again, both crimes will be punished together. First ask clearly who helped pass them.” Xichun said, “There is no one else. It must be Old Zhang at the back gate. She often sneaks about with the maids, and the maids cover for her.” Xifeng ordered it recorded. The things were given to Zhou Rui’s wife to keep temporarily until they could verify tomorrow. They took leave of Xichun and went to Yingchun’s room.

Yingchun had already gone to bed. The maids were about to rest. They knocked a long time before the door opened. Xifeng told them not to disturb the young lady and went straight to search the maids’ rooms. Chess was Wang Shanbao’s wife’s granddaughter. Xifeng wanted to see whether she would show favoritism and paid special attention. First they searched the other chests and found nothing unusual. When they came to Chess’s chest, they searched through it. Wang Shanbao’s wife said, “Nothing there.” Just as she was about to close it, Zhou Rui’s wife said, “Wait. What is this?” She reached in and took out a pair of men’s brocade socks, satin shoes, and a small bundle containing a heart-shaped jade and a letter. She handed them all to Xifeng. Xifeng, as household manager, could read letters and accounts.

The letter was written on red double-happiness note paper: “After you went home last month, my parents noticed our feelings. But you are not yet married, so our wish cannot be fulfilled. If we can meet in the garden, send word through Old Zhang. Meeting in the garden is more convenient than talking at home. Be sure, be sure. I have received the two scent pouches you sent. I send you a string of fragrant beads to express my feelings. Keep them well. Your cousin Pan You’an bows.”

Xifeng read it and laughed instead. The others could not read. Wang Shanbao’s wife had not known of her granddaughter’s affair. Seeing the shoes and socks, she was already uneasy. Then seeing the red note and Xifeng laughing, she tried to explain. “It must be some careless account, badly written, which is why you laugh.” Xifeng smiled. “This account is not easy to reckon. You are Chess’s grandmother. Her cousin should be surnamed Wang. Why is he surnamed Pan?” Wang Shanbao’s wife had to say, “Chess’s aunt married into the Pan family, so the cousin is surnamed Pan. The one who ran away, Pan You’an, is he.” Xifeng smiled. “So that is it. I will read it to everyone.” She read the letter from beginning to end. Everyone was shocked.

Wang Shanbao’s wife had wanted to catch others’ faults, but unexpectedly found her own granddaughter’s. She was both angry and ashamed. Zhou Rui’s wife and the others asked, “Old woman, did you hear? It is clear. What do you say? How should she be dealt with?” Wang Shanbao’s wife wished she could crawl into a crack. Xifeng looked at her and smiled. To Zhou Rui’s wife she said, “This saves trouble. You need not worry. She has quietly found you a son-in-law.” Zhou Rui’s wife teased along. Wang Shanbao’s wife had no place to vent. She slapped herself and cursed herself for being an old wretch who had done evil and reaped what she sowed. The others laughed and half urged, half mocked her.

Xifeng saw Chess standing with her head lowered, without fear or shame, and was surprised. It was late and not convenient to interrogate her. Fearing she would be ashamed and take her own life, she had two old women watch her. She took the evidence and went back to rest, to deal with it tomorrow. But that night Xifeng rose several times; her bleeding below would not stop.

The next day Xifeng was weak. When she got up she was dizzy and could not hold up. A doctor was called. He wrote a diagnosis: the young mistress’s heart qi was insufficient, deficient fire had injured the spleen, and long anxiety and overwork had damaged her. She was listless, her spleen and stomach weak, and she had no appetite. He prescribed a formula to raise yang and nourish the blood. The prescription included ginseng, angelica, astragalus, and other herbs. The doctor left. The old nurse took the prescription to Lady Wang. Lady Wang grew even more worried. Chess’s matter was set aside for the time being.

That day Madam You came to see Xifeng. After sitting a while, she went into the garden to visit Li Wan. She was about to go and see the girls when Xichun sent for her, so she went to Xichun’s room. Xichun told Madam You in detail about the search the night before and had the things found in Ruhua’s chest shown to her. Madam You said, “They were indeed given to her brother by your brother. But she should not have secretly passed them into the garden. A lawful thing became contraband.” She scolded Ruhua for being muddle-headed.

Xichun said, “It is you who do not discipline properly, and yet you scold the maid. Among all the sisters, only my maid has done such a shameful thing. How can I face anyone? Last night I insisted that Sister Xifeng take her away, but she would not. I thought she was originally from the Ning Mansion. Xifeng would not take her, which is understandable. Today you happen to be here. Take her away quickly. Beat her, sell her, kill her—I do not care.” Ruhua knelt and begged tearfully, “I will never dare again. I beg you, Miss, for the sake of our years together, let me stay with you.” Madam You, the nurse, and the others urged her, saying she had only been muddle-headed once and had served the girl since childhood; let her stay.

Xichun, though young, was by nature cold and obstinate. No matter how they urged, she only felt her own dignity was lost and refused to keep her. She also said, “Not only do I not want Ruhua. I am grown now and should not go to the Ning Mansion in future. Recently I often hear people talking behind the Ning Mansion’s back about shameful things. If I go there again, people will gossip about me too.” Madam You said, “Who is gossiping? What gossip? What is your status, and what are we? If you heard people talking, you should ask them.” Xichun sneered, “That is funny. I am a girl. I should avoid right and wrong, not go looking for it. Besides, if I may say so without offending you, right and wrong have their own public judgment. Why ask others? The ancients said that in good and evil, life and death, even father and son cannot help each other, let alone you and me. I only ask to keep my own purity and not concern myself with your affairs. From now on, do not let your affairs implicate me.”

Madam You was both angry and amused. She said to the old women nearby, “No wonder everyone says Fourth Girl is young and muddle-headed. I did not believe it. Hear her. For no reason, without weighing matters, she says things that chill the heart.” The nurse smiled. “The girl is young. Do not take it to heart, Mistress.” Xichun sneered, “I am young, but my words are not childish. You do not read or write and are all muddle-headed. Yet you call clear-headed people young and muddle-headed.” Madam You said, “Are you a top scholar, the cleverest person in the world? We are all muddle-headed and cannot compare with you.” Xichun said, “Even a top scholar has things he cannot see through.” Madam You smiled. “You have just been a talent, and now you are like a great monk, talking of enlightenment.” Xichun said, “If I could not see through, I would not be able to part with Ruhua.” Madam You said, “It seems your heart is cold and your tongue is cold. You are hard-hearted.” Xichun said, “The ancients said, ‘If one is not hard-hearted, one cannot be a free man.’ I am a clean, white person. Why should I be ruined by you and have my name dragged down?”

Madam You already had troubles of her own and most feared mention of the Ning Mansion’s rumors. Hearing this, she was both ashamed and angry. Because of Xichun’s status, she had restrained herself, but now she could not hold back. She questioned Xichun. “How do we implicate you? It was your maid who did wrong, and you drag me in for nothing. I have endured it half a day, and you go further and further. You are a thousand-gold young lady. In future we will not come near you, so as not to stain your fair name. Take Ruhua away at once!” She rose in anger and left. Xichun said, “If you truly do not come, it will save talk and trouble, and we will all be quiet.” Madam You did not answer and went straight to the front.