Chapter 93

甄家仆投靠贾家门

水月庵掀翻风月案

Zheng and She discuss an invitation to see a new company of actors before dealing with other business, including rent collectors returned from the Rongguo estate, and parting. The rent collectors then explain to Lian that the rents had been seized by a patrol in transit. Lian sends a note to the responsible yamen, before looking for two unaccountably absent servants. The next day, Zheng is busy so asks She to take Baoyu to the Earl of Lin’an’s 临安伯 theatre party. After paying their respects to the Earl, the troupe manager asks She and Baoyu to choose their favourite plays; while choosing, he notices that it is Jiang Yuhan. When Jiang goes backstage, the guests gossip about him. The show starts and is exquisite; She makes motions to leave but is persuaded to stay by the Earl, to Baoyu’s delight. He is entranced by Jiang’s performance in the next piece but has to leave with She promptly after. Back at Rongguo, Baoyu goes to see Zheng who is discussing the rent collectors with Lian – it seems the patrol had no warrant, so it was certainly a case of corruption. Lian leaves, and orders a general assembly of the staff to reprimand absenteeism and negligence.

A man from the Zhen family in the South arrives with a note for Zheng from his master, Zhen Yingjia 甄应嘉. Zhen has been banished to the frontier and has sent the man, Bao Yong 包勇, to the Jias for employment. Bao pays his respects to Zheng and is questioned about Zhen and his son Baoyu. Bao reports that he had previously just played before a serious illness, after which he has become single mindedly studious. This silences Zheng, who dismisses Bao until a post can be found for him.

The next morning, on his way to work, Jia Zheng encounters servants huddled round a note which has been pinned up alleging sordid activities by Jia Qin in the Iron Threshold nunnery, disgracing Rongguo. Furious, he has the town searched for similar notices and discusses it with Lian. A note arrives for Zheng personally with similar allegations; he orders Lai Da to fetch all the nuns. The novices, having not been called upon by Yuanchun for some time, have indeed slackened, and Jia Qin had taken a fancy to Parfumée. When she proved devout, he found others who were more cooperative. That day, he has arrived at noon with their allowance, encouraging them, along with some of Watermoon Priory, into a lengthy session of drinking games when Lai Da arrives. Despite his rage at the incipient orgy, Lai Da calmly gathers the novices, saying they are wanted at the Palace. While waiting for Lai, Zheng is called to the Board, Lian returns to his apartment, and rumours have spread amongst the servants. Xifeng, ill and doubly anxious due to her own unscrupulous dealings at Watermoon Priory, interrogates Patience about the posters, panicking Xifeng until Patience clarifies that it concerns Iron Threshold. Xifeng washes her hands of responsibility for Jia Qin. Soon after Lian enters, Lai returns with Jia Qin. Qin, told to wait in the inner library, notices the servants muttering. When Lian meets him, he soon sighs with the realisation that his childhood friend Qin doesn’t know the real reason for his summons. Shown one of the posters, he protests his innocence and kowtows to Lian. Lian sees through it, but tells Qin to deny everything. Lai is summoned and tells Lian of the earlier scene he encountered, embarrassing Qin further. Lai agrees to spare Qin for the good of the family name. After leaving together, Lai asks Qin who could have written the poster, but he can think of no one.