Devising a Poisonous Scheme, Jingui Burns Herself to Death; Blind to True Zen, Yucun Meets an Old Friend in Vain

Now to return to Jia Lian. He came to Lady Wang's rooms and told her the whole story of Jia Zheng's affair, exactly as it was. The next day Jia Lian went to the Ministry of Personnel and arranged all the necessary matters. When he returned, he paid his respects to Lady Wang again and told her that everything at the Ministry had been settled. Lady Wang said, "Is the news reliable? If it is true, then the master is actually fortunate, and the whole family can set their minds at ease. How is being posted to a provincial office an easy assignment? If he had not been impeached and recalled, those wicked servants might well have destroyed the master's life."

Jia Lian asked, "How does Auntie see it so clearly?" Lady Wang said, "Ever since your Second Uncle was posted outside, not a single coin has come back to the family. Instead, we have had to send money out to make up for him. Look at those serving women who went with the master. Their men had not been in the yamen long before they were all decked out in gold and silver. Is that not proof they were secretly lining their pockets behind the master's back? Your Second Uncle let them do as they pleased. If a great disaster had really broken out, not only would his office have been lost, but the merit left by our ancestors would have been stripped away as well." Jia Lian said, "What you say is truly right, Auntie. When I first heard of the impeachment, I was badly frightened. Only after I made inquiries did I feel relieved. If Second Uncle remains in the capital as an official and lives peacefully for a few years, he can preserve his reputation for a lifetime. Even if the Old Ancestor learns of it, she can be at ease. I only hope you will break the news gently." Lady Wang said, "I know. Go out again and find out more."

Jia Lian agreed and was just about to leave when he saw an old woman from Aunt Xue's household run in in a panic. She went straight into Lady Wang's inner room and did not even stop to pay her respects. She said, "Our mistress sent me to tell you, madam, that something terrible has happened in our house. We are in trouble again." Lady Wang quickly asked, "What exactly has happened?" The old woman could only repeat, "Terrible, terrible!" Lady Wang frowned. "You muddle-headed thing! If it is urgent, speak plainly!" The old woman then said, "Second Master Xue is not at home, and there is no grown man in the house. With such a thing happening, what are we to do? I beg you, madam, to send some of your gentlemen over to help manage it." Lady Wang was utterly confused. She pressed urgently, "What exactly do you need men for?" The old woman then said, "Our eldest mistress is dead."

Lady Wang spat. "If that sort of woman is dead, then she is dead. Is that worth such a fuss?" The old woman said quickly, "She did not die a natural death. It is a case of murder. I beg you, madam, to send someone over at once to manage it." Then she turned and was about to hurry back. Lady Wang was both angry and amused. "This old woman is truly confused. Lian'er, you had better go over and take a look. Pay no attention to this foolish creature." The old woman did not hear that anyone was being sent to help. She only heard that she was not to be paid attention to. Angrily, she ran straight back to the Xue household.

Meanwhile Aunt Xue was at home so anxious she could not sit still. She waited a long time before she saw the old woman return. She quickly asked, "Whom did the mistress send over?" The old woman sighed. "It is only in hardship that you see people's hearts. Even the best relatives cannot be relied on at a critical moment. The mistress not only refused to help us, she scolded me for being confused." Aunt Xue was both anxious and angry. "If the mistress will not manage it, then what about our own girl Baochai?" The old woman answered, "If the mistress will not manage it, then the young mistress naturally will not either. I did not even dare announce it to her." Aunt Xue scolded, "The mistress is an outsider after all. Baochai is my own daughter. How could she not care?" The old woman then realized. "That is right. Then I will go again."

As she spoke, Jia Lian had already arrived. He paid his respects to Aunt Xue and offered condolences for the death in the household. He said, "My aunt heard that your daughter-in-law had died, and the old woman's account was so vague that she was very worried. She especially sent me to ask the true circumstances and to stay and help manage matters. Whatever needs to be done, Auntie, just give the order." Aunt Xue had known only grief and tears. Hearing Jia Lian's words, some color returned to her face. She said, "Thank you for taking the trouble, Second Master. I said the mistress has always been kind to us. It was all this old slave's unclear words that nearly ruined everything. Please sit, Second Master. I will tell you slowly." Then she said, "The truth is this: my daughter-in-law did not die a natural death." Jia Lian asked, "Could it be that because Xue Pan was in trouble with the law, she could not bear it and took her own life?" Aunt Xue said, "If only it were that. For the past few months she has been wild and unkempt, making scenes day after day. Later, when she heard Xue Pan had been sentenced to death, she wept for a while, but before long she began to dress up elaborately. If I said a few words to her, she would make a great uproar, so I stopped paying attention to her. One day she insisted on having Xiangling move in to keep her company. I said, 'You have Baochan to serve you. Why do you want Xiangling too? Besides, you have always disliked Xiangling. Why bring trouble on yourself?' But she would not give up. I had no choice but to tell the sick Xiangling to move in with her. Poor Xiangling did not dare disobey my order and went over ill as she was. Who would have thought that at first she treated Xiangling very kindly, and I was quite comforted. Baochai knew and warned me, 'I fear she has no good intentions.' But I did not take it to heart. A few days ago Xiangling was sick in bed, and she even cooked soup for Xiangling with her own hands. But she was careless and scalded her hand, and the bowl fell and broke. I thought she would surely vent her anger on Xiangling, but she did not get angry at all. She swept it up herself, poured water to wash the floor, and the two still lived in harmony. Last night she again told Baochan to cook two bowls of soup, saying she would drink it with Xiangling. After a moment, we heard the sound of feet kicking wildly in her room. Baochan screamed in fright, and then Xiangling came out supporting herself against the wall and calling for help. I hurried over and saw my daughter-in-law Xia Jingui with blood flowing from all seven openings, rolling on the ground, clutching her chest with both hands and kicking her legs. I was frightened out of my wits. When I questioned her, she could no longer speak, only cry out in agony. After a while she stopped breathing. It clearly looks like she drank poison. Baochan at once seized Xiangling, weeping, and insisted that Xiangling had poisoned her mistress. But I do not think Xiangling is that sort of person. Besides, she was so ill she could hardly stand. How could she have the strength to harm anyone? Yet Baochan clung to her accusation and would not let go. Second Master, what was I to do? I could only steel my heart and tell the old women to tie Xiangling up and hand her over to Baochan to watch, then lock the door. Baochai and I kept watch the whole night. Only when the gates of the Rong-guo House opened did I send someone to report. Second Master, you understand such matters. How should this be settled?"

Jia Lian asked, "Has the Xia family been notified?" Aunt Xue said, "We must first find out the truth before we can send word." Jia Lian said, "In my opinion, this matter must be reported to the authorities before it can be settled. In our hearts we suspect Baochan, but if others ask why Baochan would poison her own mistress, she cannot give a reason. If the charge is pushed onto Xiangling, it will seem all the more plausible." As he was speaking, a maid from the Rong household came in and announced, "Second Mistress Bao has come." Jia Lian was her elder brother-in-law, but they had grown up together, so there was no need for avoidance. Baochai came in, paid her respects to her mother, and greeted Jia Lian. Then she went into the inner room and sat with Baoqin. Aunt Xue told Baochai the whole story again. Baochai heard it and said, "Now that Xiangling is tied up, does that not mean we too believe Xiangling poisoned her? Mother just said the soup was made by Baochan. Baochan should be tied up and questioned. Send someone to notify the Xia family, and at the same time we must report to the authorities." Aunt Xue thought this reasonable and turned to ask Jia Lian. Jia Lian said, "Second Sister is quite right. Leave the reporting to me. I will ask a favor at the Ministry of Justice so that there will be some consideration during the autopsy and interrogation. But now, if we untie Xiangling and tie up Baochan, I fear it will cause trouble." Aunt Xue explained, "I did not really mean to tie up Xiangling. I feared she would be wronged and take her own life in despair, adding another death. That is why I gave her to Baochan to watch. It was a last resort." Jia Lian said, "Even so, we have actually helped Baochan. If we release one, we should release both. If we tie one, we should tie both. All three were in the room when it happened. We need only comfort Xiangling."

Aunt Xue then told someone to open the door. Several serving women brought by Baochai went in and tied up Baochan. Xiangling was weeping as if she would die, while Baochan looked smug. But when she saw she was to be tied up, Baochan immediately began to shout and struggle. Yet under the stern scolding of the Jia household women, she was bound in the end. The door was left open so outsiders could bear witness. The messenger to the Xia family had already set out.

The Xia family had not originally lived in the capital. In recent years their fortunes had declined, and because they missed their daughter Xia Jingui, they had only just moved into the city. Jingui's father had long been dead. Only her mother remained, and she had adopted a good-for-nothing son. The family property had been squandered, and they often came to the Xue household to sponge off them. Xia Jingui herself was of poor character. Her husband Xue Pan was in prison, and she was lonely in her room. Her heart still longed for Xue Ke, and she acted without any shame. Her adopted brother was a fool. Though he vaguely sensed something, he never succeeded in anything. Jingui often went back to her mother's home and used Xue family money to support her natal family. That day the Xia family was waiting for Jingui to return. When they saw someone from the Xue household come, they thought more money and goods were being sent. Instead they heard that their daughter had died of poison. They raised a great outcry. When Jingui's mother heard the evil news, she wailed, "My daughter married into your family in good health. How could she have taken poison?" Weeping and shouting, she took her son and, without even hiring a proper carriage, rushed to the Xue household. The Xia family were merchants, and now that their fortunes had declined, they cared nothing for dignity. The son ran ahead. She followed with an old servant, weeping in the street as she hired a broken-down cart and rushed to the Xue house.

As soon as she entered, she began to wail and demand that the Xue family pay with their lives. At that time Jia Lian had gone to the Ministry of Justice to ask a favor. Only Aunt Xue, Baochai, and Baoqin were at home. They had never seen such a wild scene and were too frightened to speak. They wanted to reason with her, but she would not listen. She cried, "My daughter suffered every grievance in your house. The couple quarreled all day. You deliberately had my son-in-law thrown into prison so they could never meet. You rely on your Jia relatives to live in comfort. You found my daughter in the way, so you poisoned her and then claimed she took poison herself! Why would she take poison when she was well?" As she spoke, she rushed at Aunt Xue. Aunt Xue could only dodge backward. "Mother-in-law, first go and look at your daughter's body and question Baochan. It is not too late to make a scene after that." Baochai and Baoqin, because an outside man was present, could not step forward to stop her and could only fret in the inner room. Fortunately Lady Wang had sent Zhou Rui's wife over to help. When Zhou Rui's wife entered and saw the old woman pointing at Aunt Xue's face and wailing curses, she recognized her as Jingui's mother. She came forward and said, "Is this the mother-in-law? The eldest mistress took poison herself. It has nothing to do with our mistress. Why shame people in public like this?" Jingui's mother asked, "Who are you?" Aunt Xue, seeing help arrive, took a little courage and said, "This is someone from the Jia household come to help." Jingui's mother sneered. "Who does not know you rely on the Jia family's power and have my son-in-law locked in prison? Now my daughter has lost her life for nothing!" She reached out to grab Aunt Xue. "How exactly did you kill my daughter? I want to see!" Zhou Rui's wife put out her hand to keep them apart and advised, "If you want to look, then look. But do not use force." When the Xia family's adopted son saw this, he rushed over and made a great scene. "You are relying on the Jia family's power to beat my mother!" He seized a chair and threw it. Fortunately no one was hit. The servants who had come with Baochai heard the uproar outside and all ran out, half coaxing, half scolding. The Xia mother and son then went completely wild. "We know the Rong-guo House has power and influence. My daughter is already dead. We do not want our lives either!" They rushed at Aunt Xue again. Though there were many servants in the room, as the saying goes, one person desperate can hold off ten thousand. For a time they could not be restrained.

At the critical moment, Jia Lian returned with seven or eight servants. Seeing the chaos, he at once ordered the Xia son to be dragged out. He shouted, "No more making a scene! If you have something to say, say it properly. Hurry and tidy the house. The officials from the Ministry of Justice will be here at once to examine the body." Jingui's mother had been making a scene, but when she saw the official manner and the servants standing respectfully awaiting orders, she panicked. She had originally planned to make a great scene and then go file a complaint herself. She had not expected the Xue family to report to the authorities first. Her arrogance immediately deflated by more than half. Aunt Xue was so frightened her mind was numb. Zhou Rui's wife spoke up. "They came and did not even look at their daughter's body. Instead they bullied our mistress. We kindly tried to reason with them, and the outside man barged into the inner quarters, shouting and using force. Is there no law?" Jia Lian said, "There is no need to argue with them now. When they are questioned later, ask them this: the inner quarters are full of women. The mother may look at her daughter. Why did a young man force his way in? Did he come to rob and make trouble?" The servants coaxed and threatened and at last subdued the mother and son. Zhou Rui's wife took advantage of the crowd and said, "Mrs. Xia, you are not being reasonable. Since you have come, you should investigate the truth. Your daughter either took poison herself or Baochan poisoned her mistress. Instead of examining the body and questioning witnesses, you want to extort money? We will not let a daughter-in-law die for nothing either. Baochan has already been tied up. Your daughter insisted on having the sick Xiangling move in with her, so both were in the room and were watched. We were waiting for you to arrive and for the Ministry of Justice to examine the body and find the truth."

Jingui's mother, isolated and without support, had to follow Zhou Rui's wife to her daughter's bedroom. When she saw Xia Jingui lying stiff on the kang with black blood over her face, she wept aloud. Baochan, seeing people from her own family arrive, cried out, "Our mistress kindly treated Xiangling and had her live with her. Who knew Xiangling would take the chance to poison her mistress!" Everyone from the Xue family shouted in unison, "Nonsense! The mistress was poisoned after drinking the soup. That soup was made by your own hands!" Baochan argued, "I did cook the soup and bring it in. After that I had business and left. Who knows whether Xiangling secretly put poison in it?" When Jingui's mother heard this, she rushed at Xiangling, but was held back. Aunt Xue said, "The symptoms show arsenic poisoning. There is no such poison in our house. Whether it was Xiangling or Baochan, someone bought the poison. When the Ministry of Justice questions them, the truth will come out. No one can escape. First lay out the body properly and wait for the officials to examine it." The old women came forward to arrange the corpse. Baochai instructed, "Since men will be coming in from outside, count carefully all the woman's personal belongings."

The maids tidied the bed and found a crumpled paper packet under the mattress. Jingui's mother picked it up, opened it, and found it empty. She threw it aside. Baochan immediately cried, "The evidence is here! I recognize this paper packet. A few days ago there were many rats, and the mistress went back to her mother's house to ask her brother for this. It was originally kept in the jewel box. Xiangling must have stolen it to poison her. If you do not believe me, open the jewel box and see." Jingui's mother did as she said and found only a few silver hairpins left. Aunt Xue was puzzled. "Why are so many pieces of jewelry missing?" Baochai told someone to open the chests and cabinets. They were almost empty. She said, "Sister-in-law's jewelry is all gone. Baochan should be asked about this." Jingui's mother was already feeling guilty and quickly spoke for Baochan. "How would she know about my daughter's things?" Zhou Rui's wife said, "Mother-in-law, you cannot say that. Baochan served the eldest mistress every day. How could she not know?" Baochan was pressed hard and could no longer lie. She could only say, "The mistress took those pieces back to her mother's house again and again. How could I stop her?" Everyone immediately said, "Fine, Mother-in-law! You coaxed your daughter to take her valuables back to her natal family, and in the end your daughter lost her life. Now you want to extort the Xue family. When the officials examine the body, we will report everything exactly." Baochai told the servants, "Go out and tell Second Master Lian not to let the Xia family leave."

In the room Jingui's mother panicked. She turned and cursed Baochan. "Little wretch, do not wag your tongue! When did my daughter take jewelry back to her mother's house?" Baochan replied, "The valuables are a small matter. What matters now is paying with a life for the mistress." Baoqin said, "Once the jewelry matter is out, we have found the clue to the real murderer. Quick, tell Second Brother Lian to question the Xia son and find out who bought the arsenic, so we can answer the Ministry of Justice." Jingui's mother cried out in alarm, "Baochan must be possessed and talking nonsense! My daughter never bought arsenic. By what she says, it is clearly Baochan who poisoned her!" Baochan cried out in desperation, "Others may wrong me, but how can you frame me too? In the past you often told the mistress not to suffer wrongs, to make the Xue family break up and lose their property, to take the money and remarry into a good family. Did you not say that?" Before Jingui's mother could retort, Zhou Rui's wife took up the thread. "This was said by your own household. Do you still want to deny it?" Jingui's mother ground her teeth and cursed Baochan. "I treated you well. Why do you turn around and frame me? When we see the officials, I will accuse you of poisoning my daughter." Baochan glared and said, "It would be better to release Xiangling and not involve an innocent person. When we reach the official hall, I will tell the whole truth."

Baochai saw that Baochan was willing to speak the truth. She told the servants to untie Baochan and said, "You are a straightforward person. Why suffer wrongful blame? If you have the truth, speak it plainly. Once everyone understands, this case can be settled." Baochan also feared torture at the yamen, so she told the truth. "Our mistress complained every day, saying, 'My fate is bad. I had to marry a muddle-headed man like Xue Pan. If I could live with Xue Ke, I would die content.' She resented Xiangling. At first I did not think much of it. Later she suddenly became very kind to Xiangling, and I thought Xiangling had won her over. Who knew that last night's two bowls of soup were not meant for good?" Jingui's mother retorted, "Nonsense! If she wanted to poison Xiangling, how did she poison herself instead?" Baochai turned and asked Xiangling, "Did you drink that soup yesterday?" Xiangling answered, "A few days ago I was gravely ill and did not even have the strength to lift my head. The mistress called me to drink soup. I did not dare refuse. I had just forced myself up when the bowl tipped over. She had to clean it up, and I felt very sorry. Yesterday she called me again to drink soup. I truly could not drink it. I was just about to force myself when I suddenly felt dizzy. Just then Sister Baochan brought the soup in. I relaxed a little and closed my eyes to rest. The mistress lifted the soup and told me to taste a little with her. I forced myself to drink a few mouthfuls."

Before she had finished, Baochan spoke up and confessed. "Enough, I will tell the whole truth. Yesterday the mistress told me to cook two bowls of soup, saying she would drink them with Xiangling. I was resentful and thought Xiangling did not deserve to drink soup I made. I deliberately put a large handful of salt in one bowl and secretly marked it, meaning to give the salty bowl to Xiangling. Just as I brought the soup in, the mistress sent me out to tell the servants to hire a carriage. She said she was going back to her mother's house that day. When I had arranged it and came back, I saw the salty bowl placed before the mistress. I was afraid she would drink it, find it too salty, and scold me. Just then the mistress turned and went into the inner room. Taking the moment when no one was looking, I switched the two bowls. Who knew fate had so decreed it? The mistress came back, took the soup to Xiangling's bedside, and told Xiangling to taste it. Both of them drank. I was still secretly laughing that Xiangling did not notice the salt. I never imagined the mistress had planned to put arsenic in the soup to kill Xiangling. She did not know I had switched the bowls. In the end she drank the poison herself. Truly, Heaven's justice is clear. She brought it on herself."

Everyone pieced the whole story together, and it all matched. So Xiangling was untied and, weak as she was, helped back to bed to rest.

Xiangling had been cleared of the wrong. Now to return to Jingui's mother. With the evidence before her, she still wanted to argue and deny. Aunt Xue and the others all spoke at once, and now it was the Xia family son who was to be held responsible for buying arsenic. As the argument continued, Jia Lian said loudly from outside, "There is no need to argue further. Tidy everything. The officials from the Ministry of Justice will arrive at once." Now the Xia mother and son were in a panic. They understood they would certainly be dragged into the lawsuit. There was no help for it. They turned and begged Aunt Xue. "Whatever was wrong, it was my dead daughter who was of poor character and brought it on herself. Once the officials open the case and examine the body, it will not look good for the Xue family's reputation either. We beg you, Mother-in-law, to settle this privately." Baochai said, "That is absolutely impossible. The case has already been reported to the authorities. How can it be suppressed privately?" Zhou Rui's wife and the others mediated and advised, "If you want to settle it privately, then the mother-in-law herself must come forward and petition the authorities to stop the autopsy. We will not pursue the details further." Jia Lian outside also threatened the Xia son. The other party had no choice but to agree to go to the Ministry of Justice, sign the papers, and petition to block the autopsy. Only then did everyone agree. Aunt Xue arranged for a coffin to collect Xia Jingui's body. Of this we shall say no more for now.

Now to return to Jia Yucun. He had been promoted and made prefect of the capital prefecture, and also put in charge of tax affairs. One day he left the capital to inspect reclaimed fields. He passed through Jiliu Ferry in Zhiji County. He was about to cross the river to the other side and was waiting for his attendants and carriage, so he rested for a while in his sedan. Beside the village was a small ruined temple. The walls had collapsed, and several ancient pines stood gnarled and old. Yucun stepped down from his sedan and walked idly into the temple. Inside, the Buddha's gold paint was peeling, the halls were crooked, and beside them stood a broken stone stele whose inscription was blurred and unreadable. He meant to go to the rear hall and saw, under the shade of green cypress, a small thatched hut. Inside, a Daoist sat with eyes closed in meditation. Yucun went closer. The face was very familiar. He vaguely remembered having seen it somewhere, but could not recall where. His attendants were about to shout at the man, but Yucun stopped them. He stepped forward slowly and called, "Old Master Daoist."

The Daoist opened his eyes slightly and smiled faintly. "What does the official want with me?" Yucun said, "I am on official business, inspecting outside the city, and have passed this place. I see you cultivate in quiet. You must have deep attainment. I have come presumptuously to ask for instruction." The Daoist answered, "Coming has its coming; going has its going." Yucun saw that this man was no ordinary person. He bowed deeply and asked, "Where does the Daoist come from? Why have you built a thatched hut here to cultivate? What is the name of this temple? How many people are in it? If you truly wish to cultivate, you may go to famous mountains and great rivers. If you wish to make broad connections, you should live on a great thoroughfare." The Daoist said, "A gourd hut is enough to shelter the body. Why seek famous mountains and great temples? The temple's name has long been buried. Only the broken stele remains. I am alone and need no alms. I am not like some people: 'The jade in the chest seeks a good price; the hairpin in the box waits for the right time to fly.'"

Jia Yucun was clever and quick. Hearing the word "gourd" and then the lines about jade and hairpin, he suddenly thought of Zhen Shiyin. He looked at the Daoist again carefully. The face was the same. He dismissed his attendants and asked softly, "Are you not Mr. Zhen?" The Daoist smiled calmly. "What is true, what is false? The true is the false, and the false is the true." When Yucun heard this, he was even more certain. He bowed again and said respectfully, "In those years I received your generous silver and was able to go to the capital for the examinations and gain office. Later, when I served as an official in your native place, I learned that you had seen through the red dust and gone forth into the world. I have often thought of you, but I am only a worldly official and have no further chance to see your immortal face. Today I am fortunate to meet you here. I beg you, immortal, to instruct my foolish worldly heart. If you do not disdain it, the capital is not far from here. I am willing to support you, so that I may hear your teaching every day." The Daoist rose and returned the bow. "I sit on a straw mat and no longer concern myself with the affairs of the world. All that you have just said, I do not understand at all." Then he sat down again, closed his eyes, and meditated.

Yucun was puzzled. If this was not Zhen Shiyin, how could his face and words be so similar? Nineteen years had passed since they parted, yet his face had not changed at all. He must have attained the Way and be unwilling to reveal his identity. Now that he had met his former benefactor, he could not let the chance pass. Wealth and honor could not move him, and the worldly ties of wife and child need not be mentioned. So he said again, "Immortal Master, if you will not reveal the past, my heart will be uneasy." He was about to bow when his attendants came in and reported that it was growing dark and begged him to cross the river quickly. Yucun was caught between going and staying. The Daoist spoke. "Go quickly and cross the river, Excellency. There will be a chance to meet again. If you delay, there will be great wind and waves. If we are fated, I will wait for you another day at the ferry." Then he closed his eyes again and sat in meditation. Yucun had no other choice. He took leave of the Daoist and walked out of the temple. He was just about to board the boat and cross when he saw a man running swiftly toward him. What the man wanted will be told in the next chapter.