Mother Jia Scatters Her Remaining Wealth and Shows Great Righteousness; Old Master Zheng Receives Imperial Grace as the Hereditary Office Is Restored

When Jia Zheng entered the palace, he paid his respects to the ministers of the Privy Council and to several princes. Prince Bejing said, “You have been summoned today by the Emperor’s command to be questioned.” Jia Zheng quickly knelt. The ministers asked him, “Your elder brother associated with provincial officials, used his power to oppress the people, indulged his son in gambling, and tried to seize commoners’ wives and daughters. When he failed, he drove them to death. Did you know of these things?” Jia Zheng replied, “Your humble servant, by the Emperor’s grace, was appointed Education Commissioner. After his term ended, he was put in charge of famine relief. Only last winter did I return home. Then the court assigned me to manage public works, and afterward I was sent to Jiangxi to inspect official affairs. After being impeached, I returned to the capital and again served in the Ministry of Works, not daring to idle day or night. I never paid attention to the great and small affairs of my family. I was muddled and incompetent, and failed to discipline the younger members of the household. I have betrayed the Emperor’s grace and beg that I be severely punished.”

Prince Bejing reported Jia Zheng’s words to the Emperor, and before long an imperial decree was handed down. Prince Bejing read it aloud: “The Emperor has received a censor’s impeachment of Jia She for associating with provincial officials and abusing his power to oppress others. The censor stated that Jia She had private dealings with officials in Ping’an Prefecture and meddled in local lawsuits. The court questioned Jia She severely. Jia She admitted only to visiting relatives by marriage in Ping’an Prefecture and denied interfering in government business. The censor could produce no solid evidence. Only the charge of using power to demand the antique fans in Fool Shi’s collection is true; but antique fans are merely objects of amusement, not the means by which common people keep body and soul together. Although Fool Shi finally took his own life, he was deranged and unable to see reason, which differs from being hounded to death. He is therefore treated leniently: Jia She is sent to serve at a post station to atone for his offense.

“As for the censor’s charge that Jia Zhen tried to force a commoner’s daughter into concubinage and drove her to death when she refused, an examination of the Censorate’s original records shows that Second Sister You had been betrothed to Zhang Hua in childhood but was not yet married. Because the Zhang family was poor, the betrothal was voluntarily dissolved, and Second Sister You’s mother was willing to give her daughter to Jia Zhen’s younger brother as a concubine. This was not forcible seizure. As for Third Sister You’s private burial after she cut her throat, without reporting the matter to the authorities, investigation shows that Third Sister You was the younger sister of Jia Zhen’s wife. She had intended to find her a husband, but because someone pressed for betrothal gifts and spread rumors everywhere that she was unchaste, Third Sister You took her own life out of shame and anger. Jia Zhen did not directly drive her to death. Nevertheless, as a scion of a hereditary noble family, he disregarded the law and secretly buried a dead body. He should have been severely punished; but in consideration of his being a descendant of meritorious officials, the Emperor cannot bear to deal harshly with him. He too is treated leniently: his hereditary office is stripped from him, and he is sent to the frontier to redeem himself through service. Jia Rong is young and took no part in the wrongdoing; he is released without guilt.

“Jia Zheng has served as an official in distant places for many years, diligent and cautious in office. He is exempted from blame for failing to govern his household strictly.”

When Jia Zheng heard the decree, tears of gratitude streamed down his face. He knocked his head repeatedly and begged the prince to convey his thanks to the Emperor. Prince Bejing said, “You should thank the Emperor for his grace. Have you anything else to memorialize?” Jia Zheng said, “Your humble servant has received the Emperor’s great leniency. Not only was I spared severe punishment, but the confiscated family property is to be returned. I am both ashamed and frightened. I am willing to hand over to the government the stipends left by my ancestors, as well as the fields and houses accumulated and purchased over the years.” Prince Bejing said, “The Emperor is benevolent and generous, careful in punishment, and clear in reward and blame. Now that this great grace has already restored your property, you need not raise the matter again.” The other officials also urged him not to do so. Jia Zheng thanked the Emperor, bowed to the princes, and withdrew. Anxious that Mother Jia would be worrying at home, he hurried back.

No one in the household, high or low, knew whether Jia Zheng had been summoned to the palace for good or ill. They were all outside trying to learn news. When they saw Jia Zheng return, their hearts eased a little, but they did not dare come forward and ask. Jia Zheng went quickly to Mother Jia and explained in detail how the Emperor had shown the family leniency. Mother Jia was relieved, but since both hereditary offices had been stripped away, Jia She was to serve at a post station, and Jia Zhen was to go to the frontier, she could not help feeling sorrowful. When Lady Xing and Lady You heard this, they wept aloud.

Jia Zheng tried to comfort them: “Mother, set your heart at rest. Though my elder brother must serve at a post station, he is still serving the country and will not suffer too much. If he performs his duties well, there may yet be a chance to restore his office. Zhen’er is young and ought to exert himself in service to the court. If he does not go through this trial, then even relying on the blessings left by his ancestors, he could not live securely for long.” He said many such comforting words.

Mother Jia had never much liked Jia She, and Jia Zhen of the Ningguo House was, after all, one step removed from her. Only Lady Xing and Lady You wept without stopping. Lady Xing thought: The family property has all been confiscated, and my husband, old as he is, must go far away. Though I still have Jia Lian, he has always listened more to his second uncle Jia Zheng. Now the whole family must depend on Jia Zheng, and Jia Lian and his wife will surely lean even more toward the Rongguo side. I alone will be left helpless. How shall I live hereafter? Lady You had formerly managed the Ningguo household. Apart from Jia Zhen, she had been highest in rank there, and husband and wife had been fond of each other. Now her husband had been exiled far away, their property had been confiscated, and she could only lodge in the Rongguo House. Though Mother Jia loved her, she was still living under another’s roof. She had with her the two concubines Xieluan and Peifeng, while Jia Rong and his wife could not support the family. She also thought: The disasters of Second Sister You and Third Sister You were both brought about by Jia Lian. Now he and his wife are safe and reunited, while we are left behind. How are we to live? At this thought, she wept still more bitterly.

Mother Jia could not bear it. She asked Jia Zheng, “Your elder brother’s and Zhen’er’s cases are settled. Can they come home? Since Jia Rong is innocent, he should be released.” Jia Zheng said, “According to court rules, my elder brother cannot come home. I have already asked a favor of someone, and permission has been granted for the Elder Master and his nephew to return home to prepare their luggage. The authorities have agreed. Jia Rong will probably come back with his grandfather and father. Mother, set your mind at ease. I will arrange it.”

Mother Jia said, “These past years I have grown old and long ago stopped managing household affairs. Now the Ningguo House has been completely confiscated, and its houses must go to the government; there is no need to speak of that. Your elder brother’s property and Jia Lian’s property have also been confiscated. In our Rongguo House, the silver vaults and the outlying lands—how much is left? The two of them must set out, and at least several thousand taels will be needed for their traveling expenses.”

Jia Zheng was at his wit’s end. Hearing Mother Jia’s question, he thought to himself: If I tell her the truth, I fear it will ruin her health. But if I conceal it, not only the future, even the present crisis cannot be survived. Having made up his mind, he replied, “If you had not asked, I would not have dared to speak. Since you ask, and Jia Lian happens to be here, I checked yesterday: the old treasury is already empty. Not only has all the silver been spent, but we owe many debts outside. This time, with my elder brother’s trouble, if we do not spend money to smooth things over, then even though the Emperor has shown leniency, their situation will not be easy. That money for smoothing things over has not yet been found. The rents from the outlying farms have long since been advanced and spent, and cannot be collected for the moment. We can only sell the clothes and jewelry that the Emperor graciously did not confiscate, and raise money for my elder brother and Zhen’er to travel. As for how we shall live afterward, we can only think of that later.”

When Mother Jia heard this, tears fell in her anxiety. She said, “Can our family really have fallen to such a pass? Though I never managed affairs myself, I remember that our family was once ten times more splendid than now. Even when we were only keeping up appearances, before this disaster of confiscation, the estate was already declining. In another year or two it would have collapsed completely. According to you, we cannot last even a year or two?” Jia Zheng said, “If the hereditary stipend could still be kept, we might still find people outside to lend us money. Now that we have nothing to rely on, who will be willing to help us?” As he spoke, tears streamed down his face. “As for our relatives, those who once received kindness from us are now poor themselves; those who never received kindness will not lift a hand. Yesterday I had not yet carefully checked the servants’ roster. Not to mention that there is no money above, we cannot even support so many servants at home.”

Mother Jia was full of sorrow when Jia She, Jia Zhen, and Jia Rong came in together to pay their respects. Seeing their wretched appearance, Mother Jia took Jia She by one hand and Jia Zhen by the other and wept aloud. Jia She and Jia Zhen, their faces full of shame, saw Mother Jia weeping and all knelt, crying, “Your sons and grandsons are worthless. We have lost the honors won by our ancestors and made you grieve, Mother. We are so ashamed that we could not die.” Everyone in the room, seeing this scene, also wept together.

Jia Zheng could only step forward to urge them: “First we must prepare the money they need for the journey. They can stay at home only a day or two; if they delay too long, the authorities will not permit it.” Mother Jia held back her grief and said through tears, “You two go back and speak with your wives.” She then instructed Jia Zheng, “This matter cannot be delayed. Borrowing money outside will probably be hopeless. If we miss the court’s deadline for departure, great trouble will follow. This expense can only be met by me. The house is in chaos now and cannot go on like this for long.” As she spoke, she called Yuanyang and told her to open the boxes and take out things.

Jia She and the others withdrew. They spoke with Jia Zheng through tears of how willful and reckless they had been, how full of regret they now were, and how they were about to be parted flesh from bone. Then each returned to his own quarters to take sorrowful leave of his wife. Jia She was old and could bear it somewhat better. Jia Zhen and Lady You were deeply attached and could hardly bear to part. Jia Lian and Jia Rong could only cling to their fathers and weep. Though this sentence was lighter than exile, it was still like a parting of life and death. Since things had come to this, everyone could only harden his heart and face it.

Now Mother Jia called Lady Xing, Lady Wang, and Yuanyang and the others. They opened all the chests and cabinets and took out the property she had saved over the many years since marrying into the Jia family. She also called Jia She, Jia Zheng, Jia Zhen, and the others and distributed it before them:

“Of the silver on hand, give three thousand taels to Jia She. Take two thousand taels for traveling expenses, and leave one thousand taels for Lady Xing’s daily needs. Give three thousand taels to Zhen’er. You may take only one thousand taels; leave the other two thousand with your wife for household expenses. Though we still live in the same compound, each household will from now on bear its own food and expenses. Fourth Girl Xichun’s future marriage will still be my concern. Poor Wang Xifeng has toiled all her life. Now her property has been confiscated completely. Give her three thousand taels of silver to keep herself, and Jia Lian is not to touch it. She is gravely ill and her mind is weak. Call Ping’er to come and take the silver.

“These are the clothes left by your grandfather, and the clothes and jewelry I wore in my youth. I no longer need them. The men’s clothes are to be divided among the Elder Master, Zhen’er, Jia Lian, and Jia Rong. The women’s clothes and jewelry are to be divided among Lady Xing, Zhen’er’s wife, and Wang Xifeng. Give five hundred taels to Jia Lian, to send Lin Daiyu’s coffin back to the south next year.”

When the distribution was finished, Mother Jia said to Jia Zheng, “You say the family has debts outside; those must be repaid. Take these pieces of gold and sell them to pay the debts. These things were squandered by them, but you too are my son, and I will not be partial. Baoyu is already married. The gold and silver vessels left to me are worth perhaps several thousand taels; leave them all to Baoyu. Li Wan has always been filial to me, and Jia Lan is a promising child. I will also give them a share. My funeral arrangements are settled by this.”

Jia Zheng saw that his mother handled matters with understanding and distributed everything clearly. He knelt and said through tears, “Mother, you are so advanced in years. Your sons and grandsons have failed to serve you dutifully, and now we must receive such compassion and aid from you. We are truly so ashamed that we have no place to hide.” Mother Jia said, “Do not say such dispiriting things. If this great disaster had not happened, I would have kept these things anyway. Now there are too many servants at home. Only you are still serving in court. Keep only a few useful servants. Tell the steward to gather all the servants and arrange them properly. Each household need only have enough. Think of it as though the family property had all been confiscated—what then? The maids and attendants in the house must also be arranged properly: those who should be married off should be married off; those who should be sent away or given as rewards should be sent away. Though our residence has not been confiscated by the government, it would be best to hand over the Grand View Garden. As for the fields, give them to Jia Lian to manage. Sell what should be sold, keep what should be kept, and by no means keep up false appearances.

“I will speak plainly: the Zhen family in the south still has some of our silver stored with them, kept by Lady Wang. Send someone to return it as soon as possible. If any new trouble arises, it will truly be escaping a storm only to meet a heavy rain.”

Jia Zheng had never been good at managing household finances. After hearing Mother Jia’s words, he obeyed in everything and thought to himself: Mother is the one who truly knows how to manage a household. It is we younger generations who are worthless and have ruined the estate. Seeing Mother Jia weary, he quickly urged her to rest and recover.

Mother Jia added, “I have not much left. After I pass away, use it for my funeral. What remains is to be rewarded to the maids who serve me.” When Jia Zheng and the others heard this, they felt even more sorrowful and all knelt, saying, “Please set your heart at ease, Mother. We only hope that your sons and grandsons may, by your blessing, in time receive the Emperor’s grace, revive the family fortunes, make up for past faults, and support you to a ripe old age.” Mother Jia said, “If only it could be so. Then after death I would have face to meet our ancestors. Do not think I care only for wealth and cannot bear poverty. In past years, when the family was lively, I was content to stop managing affairs and enjoy my old age in peace. How could I have known the family fortunes would decline to this degree? Outside there was splendor and dignity, but inside it was already empty. I knew this long ago. I had simply grown used to wealth and comfort and could not bring myself to lose face. Now it is just as well to use this change to live frugally, preserve the family’s dignity, and avoid being laughed at by outsiders.

“Do not think that because I know the family is poor I will fret myself to death. I have always remembered the great merit our ancestors won, and I hoped daily that you would surpass them. Even simply preserving the family estate would have been enough. Who could have imagined that Jia She, Jia Zhen, and their sons would do so many absurd and wicked things?”

Mother Jia was speaking earnestly when Feng’er came hurrying in panic to report to Lady Wang: “This morning our mistress Wang Xifeng heard of the trouble outside, wept bitterly, and now cannot catch her breath. Ping’er told me to hurry and report to you, madam.” Before Feng’er had finished, Mother Jia heard and quickly asked, “How is she now?” Lady Wang answered for her, “They say she is not well.” Mother Jia rose and said, “Ah, these cursed children—they will torment me to death.” She called for someone to support her and wanted to go see for herself.

Jia Zheng hurried to stop her: “Mother, you have already been grieving and toiling for a long time, and you have arranged and settled so many family matters. Now you should rest. As for our daughter-in-law, it is enough for Lady Wang to go and see her. Why must you go yourself? If you grieve too much and anything should happen to your health, how could I, your son, bear the blame?” Mother Jia said, “All of you go out first. Come back after a while; I still have things to say.” Jia Zheng did not dare urge her further, so he withdrew and busied himself arranging the departure of his brother and nephew. He also told Jia Lian to choose attendants. Meanwhile Mother Jia told Yuanyang to bring the share allotted to Wang Xifeng, and went with her to visit.

Wang Xifeng had already fainted. Ping’er had cried until her eyes were red and swollen. Hearing that Mother Jia had come with Lady Wang, Baoyu, and Xue Baochai, she hurried out to welcome them. Mother Jia asked, “How is she now?” Ping’er, afraid of upsetting Mother Jia, said, “She is a little better now. Since you are here, please go in and see her.” Ping’er went quickly into the room and gently lifted the bed curtain.

Wang Xifeng opened her eyes and saw Mother Jia. She was filled with shame. She had thought Mother Jia and the others would resent and despise her, leaving her to live or die as she might. She had never expected Mother Jia to come in person. Her heart eased a little, and the tightness in her chest also lessened somewhat. She struggled to sit up. Mother Jia told Ping’er to hold her down, saying, “Do not move. Are you feeling any better?” Wang Xifeng said with tears in her eyes, “I grew up in this house, and you and Lady Wang have always loved me. I can only blame my own poor fortune. It was as if ghosts and spirits had confused my mind. Not only could I not serve you as a filial daughter-in-law, I also failed to win the favor of my parents-in-law. I was trusted to help manage the household, but I made a mess of it. How can I have the face to see you and Lady Wang? Today I have put you to the trouble of coming in person. I cannot bear it. I fear I had only a few days left to live, but this kindness will shorten my life even more.” As she spoke, she sobbed bitterly.

Mother Jia comforted her: “These disasters were brought about by the men outside. They have little to do with you. The confiscation of your property is no great matter either. I have brought many things for you, to use as you please.” She then had the things brought over for Wang Xifeng to see.

Wang Xifeng had always been greedy. After her property was confiscated, she had been in agony and had spent every day fearing that others would blame her. She had almost not wanted to live. Now she saw that Mother Jia still loved her, that Lady Wang did not blame her and had come to comfort her, and she learned that Jia Lian was safe. Her heart settled somewhat. Lying in bed, she knocked her head toward Mother Jia and said, “Please set your heart at ease, Mother. If by your blessing my illness can improve, I am willing to become a rough servant girl and serve you and Lady Wang with all my heart.” Mother Jia heard how pitiful she sounded and could not help weeping too.

Baoyu had never experienced such a great upheaval. He had always known only pleasure and never worried about trouble. Now, with sorrow and weeping everywhere, he became dazed and foolish; when he saw others cry, he cried too. Wang Xifeng saw everyone gloomy and forced herself to say a few comforting words to Mother Jia. She begged, “Please go back first, Mother and Lady Wang. When I am a little better, I will come and knock my head before you.” Then she leaned weakly back.

Mother Jia instructed Ping’er, “Take good care of her. If she lacks anything, come to me for it.” Then she took Lady Wang and prepared to return to her own rooms. Along the way, weeping came from several rooms. Mother Jia could not bear to hear it, so she told Lady Wang to go back to her own quarters, and told Baoyu, “Go pay your respects to your elder uncle and your cousin. After seeing them off, come back quickly.” She herself lay down on the bed and wept secretly. Fortunately, Yuanyang and the others coaxed and comforted her in every way, and Mother Jia was able to rest a little.

We need not speak here of the grief of Jia She and Jia Zhen at parting. None of the servants who were to accompany them was willing to go; they grumbled and complained privately without end. Though it was only a parting in life, it was almost as sorrowful as a parting by death. The bystanders were even more grieved than those who suffered. The whole Rongguo House was filled with the sound of weeping, utterly miserable.

Jia Zheng had always been strict in matters of propriety. After clasping hands in farewell with his elder brother and nephew, he rode out of the city and set out wine to see them off. Again and again he urged them to remember the court’s kindness to the descendants of meritorious officials and to serve the country with all their hearts. They parted in tears.

Jia Zheng returned home with Baoyu. Before they entered the gate, they saw a crowd of people outside clamoring: “The imperial decree has come down! The hereditary office of the Duke of Rongguo is permitted to be inherited by Jia Zheng.” These people wanted reward money for bringing good news. The gate servants argued with them: “The hereditary office was ours to begin with. Why should there be reward money?” The outsiders said, “This hereditary honor is exceedingly rare. It was lost before by the Elder Master Jia She, and could never have been regained. Now the Emperor, in his generosity, pardons the fault and grants it to the Second Master Jia Zheng. This is a rare and joyful event. How can you not give reward money?”

While they were arguing, Jia Zheng arrived home. The gate servants came forward to report the news. Jia Zheng was glad at heart, but since the office had come to him only after his brother had lost it, his feelings were mixed. Tears of emotion filled his eyes. He hurried inside to tell Mother Jia. Lady Wang had been comforting Mother Jia and worrying about her grief. When she heard that the hereditary office had been restored, she was naturally delighted. Mother Jia took Jia Zheng’s hand and urged him to be diligent in office and repay the Emperor’s grace. Only Lady Xing and Lady You were inwardly bitter, though they did not dare show it.

Now those relatives and friends who fawned on the powerful had all kept far away when the Jia family was in trouble and had not dared come to the door. When they heard that Jia Zheng had inherited the hereditary office and knew that the Emperor still favored the Jia family, they came one after another to offer congratulations. But Jia Zheng was honest and sincere by nature. The office should rightfully have belonged to his elder brother. Now that it had fallen to him, he felt uneasy instead, and was filled only with gratitude for the Emperor’s grace. The next day he entered the palace to thank the Emperor. He also memorialized, asking that the returned residence and the Grand View Garden be handed back to the government. The court refused to permit it, and only then did Jia Zheng set his mind at ease.

After returning home, he kept to his duties and served as an official honestly, but the family fortunes had declined, and income fell far short of expenses. Jia Zheng was also not skilled at socializing outside to raise money.

The servants saw that Jia Zheng was honest and lenient, that Wang Xifeng was too ill to manage the household, and that Jia Lian’s debts were growing. The family could not avoid pawning houses and selling land. The servants who had money, afraid that Jia Lian would come borrowing and pestering them, all pretended to be poor, shirked their duties, and even asked for leave and left the Jia household to seek other ways out.

There was only one servant named Bao Yong, who had just recently come to the Jia house and happened to arrive when the family met disaster. He was honest and truly devoted to his master’s interests. Seeing the other servants cheat and deceive their masters, he often burned with indignation. But he had been there only a short time and had no standing, so he could not speak out. He was so angry that every day he ate his fill and then slept. The other servants disliked him for not knowing how to be smooth and worldly, so they spread rumors before Jia Zheng that he drank all day, caused trouble, and would not work properly. Jia Zheng said, “Let him be. He was recommended by the Zhen family, and I cannot treat him shabbily. If the family is poor, one more mouth to feed will not make much difference.” He did not drive him away. These servants then spoke ill of Bao Yong to Jia Lian. Jia Lian no longer had his former power, so he could only let it be.

One day Bao Yong was feeling depressed. He drank a few cups of wine and was strolling outside the gate of the Rongguo House when he heard two men talking by the roadside. One said, “Look at such a grand and illustrious family. Only a while ago they were confiscated. I wonder what has become of them now.” The other said, “How could their family decline so easily? I hear the imperial consort in the palace was their daughter. Though she has passed away, their foundation is still there. Those who associate with them are all princes and nobles. How could no one look after them? The current Prefect and a former official of the Ministry of War are both their relatives and friends. Would they not protect them?”

The first man said, “You have lived here for nothing. Others aside, that Master Jia is the most heartless! I often saw him going about the Ningguo and Rongguo Houses. When the censor impeached the Jia family, the Emperor told the Prefect to verify the truth. Guess what he did? He had received great kindness from the Jia family, but fearing people would say he favored them, he struck hard and added stones to the falling well. That is why the Jia family was completely confiscated. People’s hearts today are truly frightening!”

The two men were only chatting idly, but Bao Yong heard every word clearly. He thought to himself: There really are such ungrateful people in the world! I do not know what relative he is of our master. If I meet him, I will give him a severe beating. Even if trouble comes of it, I will bear it alone.

Bao Yong was drunk and brooding angrily when the sound of outriders clearing the way for an official came from afar. Bao Yong stood far off to the side. He heard the two men who had just been talking whisper, “Here comes that Master Jia.” Bao Yong’s anger flared. Borrowing the courage of wine, he shouted loudly, “You heartless creature! Have you forgotten the kindness the Jia family once showed you?”

Jia Yucun was sitting in his sedan chair. Hearing the word “Jia,” he paid attention and looked out. Seeing only a drunken servant, he ignored him, and the sedan chair passed on. Bao Yong, drunk and reckless, returned to the house well pleased with himself. He asked his companions and learned that the official just now was Jia Yucun, the very man the Jia family had raised up. He thought: This man does not remember old kindness, but instead harms our Jia house. I cursed him in public, and he did not dare answer back.

The servants of the Rongguo House already disliked Bao Yong. Previously the master had not pursued the matter, but now that he had caused trouble outside, they had no choice but to report it to Jia Zheng, truthfully telling him that Bao Yong had been drinking and causing a disturbance outside. Jia Zheng now feared nothing so much as new trouble. When he heard the servants’ report, he was very angry. He called Bao Yong in and scolded him severely, then sent him to guard the Grand View Garden and forbade him to go out freely. Bao Yong was straightforward and loyal by nature. Having thrown in his lot with the Jia family, he was devoted to protecting his masters. He had never expected to be scolded by Jia Zheng instead. He did not dare argue, but could only pack his belongings and go to the Grand View Garden to watch over the garden and tend the flowers and trees. What happened afterward will be told in the next chapter.