第十二回　　王熙鳳毒設相思局　賈天祥正照風月鑒 Wang Xifeng Sets a Vicious Trap of Longing; Jia Rui Looks into the Mirror of Love

話說鳳姐正與平兒說話，只見有人回說：「瑞大爺來了。」鳳姐急命「快請進來。」賈瑞見往裡讓，心中喜出望外，急忙進來，見了鳳姐，滿面陪笑，連連問好。Now to tell how Xifeng was talking with Pinger when someone came to report, "Master Rui has arrived." Xifeng hastily ordered, "Quick, ask him in." When Jia Rui saw himself being shown inside, his heart overflowed with unexpected joy; he hurried in, and upon seeing Xifeng, his face wreathed in smiles, greeted her again and again.鳳姐兒也假意殷勤，讓茶讓坐。Xifeng too, feigning warmth, offered him tea and a seat.

话说凤姐正与平儿说话，只见有人回说：「瑞大爷来了。」凤姐急命「快请进来。」贾瑞见往里让，心中喜出望外，急忙进来，见了凤姐，满面陪笑，连连问好。凤姐儿也假意殷勤，让茶让坐。

賈瑞見鳳姐如此打扮，亦發酥倒，因餳了眼問道：「二哥哥怎麼還不回來？」鳳姐道：「不知什麼原故。」賈瑞笑道：「別是路上有人絆住了腳了，舍不得回來也未可知？」鳳姐道：「也未可知。Seeing Xifeng dressed so becomingly, Jia Rui grew all the more weak with infatuation, and with melting eyes he asked, "Why hasn't Second Brother come home yet?" Xifeng said, "I don't know the reason." Jia Rui said with a smile, "Could it be that someone on the road has caught his foot, and he can't bear to tear himself away to come home — who's to say?" Xifeng said, "Who's to say indeed.男人家見一個愛一個也是有的。」賈瑞笑道：「嫂子這話說錯了，我就不這樣。」鳳姐笑道：「象你這樣的人能有幾個呢，十個裡也挑不出一個來。」賈瑞聽了喜的抓耳撓腮，又道：「嫂子天天也悶的很。」鳳姐道：「正是呢，只盼個人來說話解解悶兒。」賈瑞笑道：「我倒天天閒著，天天過來替嫂子解解閒悶可好不好？」鳳姐笑道：「你哄我呢，你那裡肯往我這裡來。」賈瑞道：「我在嫂子跟前，若有一點謊話，天打雷劈！There are men who fall in love with every woman they see, that does happen." Jia Rui said with a smile, "Sister-in-law, you're wrong to say that — I'm not like that at all." Xifeng said with a smile, "How many men could there be like you? You couldn't pick one out of ten." Hearing this, Jia Rui was so delighted he scratched his ears and cheeks, and went on, "Sister-in-law must be very bored, day after day." Xifeng said, "That's just it — I only hope someone will come and talk with me to relieve the tedium." Jia Rui said with a smile, "I happen to be idle every day — how would it be if I came every day to relieve Sister-in-law's boredom?" Xifeng said with a smile, "You're only fooling me — as if you'd ever be willing to come here." Jia Rui said, "If I speak so much as one false word before Sister-in-law, may heaven strike me with thunder!只因素日聞得人說，嫂子是個利害人，在你跟前一點也錯不得，所以唬住了我。It's only that I've long heard people say Sister-in-law is a formidable person, that one dare not make the slightest slip before you, and so I've been frightened off.如今見嫂子最是個有說有笑极疼人的，我怎麼不來，死了也願意！」鳳姐笑道：「果然你是個明白人，比賈蓉兩個強遠了。Now that I see Sister-in-law is someone who laughs and talks so freely and is so warm to people, how could I not come — I'd be willing even if it killed me!" Xifeng said with a smile, "You really are a man who understands things — far better than that Jia Rong pair.我看他那樣清秀，只當他們心裡明白，誰知竟是兩個胡涂虫，一點不知人心。」Seeing how refined and handsome they look, I had taken them for men who understood things in their hearts — who would have thought they were nothing but a pair of muddleheads, utterly ignorant of human feeling."

贾瑞见凤姐如此打扮，亦发酥倒，因饧了眼问道：「二哥哥怎么还不回来？」凤姐道：「不知什么原故。」贾瑞笑道：「别是路上有人绊住了脚了，舍不得回来也未可知？」凤姐道：「也未可知。男人家见一个爱一个也是有的。」贾瑞笑道：「嫂子这话说错了，我就不这样。」凤姐笑道：「象你这样的人能有几个呢，十个里也挑不出一个来。」贾瑞听了喜的抓耳挠腮，又道：「嫂子天天也闷的很。」凤姐道：「正是呢，只盼个人来说话解解闷儿。」贾瑞笑道：「我倒天天闲著，天天过来替嫂子解解闲闷可好不好？」凤姐笑道：「你哄我呢，你那里肯往我这里来。」贾瑞道：「我在嫂子跟前，若有一点谎话，天打雷劈！只因素日闻得人说，嫂子是个利害人，在你跟前一点也错不得，所以唬住了我。如今见嫂子最是个有说有笑极疼人的，我怎么不来，死了也愿意！」凤姐笑道：「果然你是个明白人，比贾蓉两个强远了。我看他那样清秀，只当他们心里明白，谁知竟是两个胡涂虫，一点不知人心。」

賈瑞聽了這話，越發撞在心坎兒上，由不得又往前湊了一湊，覷著眼看鳳姐帶的荷包，然後又問帶著什麼戒指。Hearing this, Jia Rui felt it strike straight to his heart all the more, and could not help edging a little closer; squinting, he eyed the purse Xifeng wore at her waist, and then went on to ask what ring she had on.鳳姐悄悄道：「放尊重著，別叫丫頭們看了笑話。」賈瑞如聽綸音佛語一般，忙往後退。Xifeng said in a low voice, "Behave yourself — don't let the maids see and make a joke of it." Jia Rui, as though hearing an imperial edict or the words of Buddha himself, hastily drew back.鳳姐笑道：「你該走了。」賈瑞說：「我再坐一坐兒。——好狠心的嫂子。」鳳姐又悄悄的道：「大天白日，人來人往，你就在這裡也不方便。Xifeng said with a smile, "You ought to be going now." Jia Rui said, "Let me sit a little longer — what a hard-hearted sister-in-law you are." Xifeng again said in a low voice, "In broad daylight, with people coming and going, it isn't convenient even for you to stay here.你且去，等著晚上起了更你來，悄悄的在西邊穿堂兒等我。」賈瑞聽了，如得珍寶，忙問道：「你別哄我。You'd best go now, and wait until the night watches begin this evening, then come quietly and wait for me in the passage-hall on the west side." Hearing this, Jia Rui felt as though he had gotten hold of some rare treasure, and hastily asked, "You mustn't be fooling me.但只那裡人過的多，怎麼好躲的？」鳳姐道：「你只放心。It's only that so many people pass through that place — how could I hide there properly?" Xifeng said, "Just set your mind at ease.我把上夜的小廝們都放了假，兩邊門一關，再沒別人了。」賈瑞聽了，喜之不盡，忙忙的告辭而去，心內以為得手。I'll give the night-watch boys all leave, and once both doors are shut, there won't be another soul about." Hearing this, Jia Rui was overjoyed beyond measure, and hastily took his leave, believing in his heart that he had succeeded.

贾瑞听了这话，越发撞在心坎儿上，由不得又往前凑了一凑，觑著眼看凤姐带的荷包，然后又问带著什么戒指。凤姐悄悄道：「放尊重著，别叫丫头们看了笑话。」贾瑞如听纶音佛语一般，忙往后退。凤姐笑道：「你该走了。」贾瑞说：「我再坐一坐儿。——好狠心的嫂子。」凤姐又悄悄的道：「大天白日，人来人往，你就在这里也不方便。你且去，等著晚上起了更你来，悄悄的在西边穿堂儿等我。」贾瑞听了，如得珍宝，忙问道：「你别哄我。但只那里人过的多，怎么好躲的？」凤姐道：「你只放心。我把上夜的小厮们都放了假，两边门一关，再没别人了。」贾瑞听了，喜之不尽，忙忙的告辞而去，心内以为得手。

盼到晚上，果然黑地裡摸入榮府，趁掩門時，鑽入穿堂。He waited eagerly for evening to come, and sure enough, once it was dark he groped his way into the Rongguo mansion, and while the gates were being closed he slipped into the passage-hall.果見漆黑無一人，往賈母那邊去的門戶已倒鎖，只有向東的門未關。Indeed he found it pitch-dark and not a soul about; the door leading toward the Lady Dowager's quarters was already locked from the other side, and only the door facing east remained unshut.賈瑞側耳聽著，半日不見人來，忽聽咯登一聲，東邊的門也倒關了。Jia Rui listened intently, and for a long while no one came; then suddenly he heard a clank, and the east door too was shut and locked from outside.賈瑞急的也不敢則聲，只得悄悄的出來，將門撼了撼，關的鐵桶一般。In his distress Jia Rui dared not make a sound, and could only creep out quietly and give the door a shake — it was shut as tight as an iron bucket.此時要求出去亦不能夠，南北皆是大房牆，要跳亦無攀援。By now there was no way to get out; to the north and south were only the high walls of the great houses, and even to jump there was nothing to climb by.這屋內又是過門風，空落落，現是腊月天氣，夜又長，朔風凜凜，侵肌裂骨，一夜幾乎不曾凍死。This chamber, moreover, was a through-passage swept by drafts, bare and empty, and it was now the depth of the twelfth month; the night was long, the north wind bitter and cutting, piercing to the flesh and splitting the bone, so that he very nearly froze to death before the night was out.好容易盼到早晨，只見一個老婆子先將東門開了，進去叫西門。At last, with great difficulty, he waited out the night until morning, when an old serving-woman came and first opened the east door, then went in to unlock the west one.賈瑞瞅他背著臉，一溜煙抱著肩跑了出來，幸而天氣尚早，人都未起，從後門一徑跑回家去。Watching for the moment her back was turned, Jia Rui, hugging his shoulders against the cold, darted out in a streak; luckily it was still early and no one else was yet up, so he ran straight home by way of the back gate.原來賈瑞父母早亡，只有他祖父代儒教養。It happened that Jia Rui's parents had died long ago, and he had been raised only by his grandfather, Dairu.那代儒素日教訓最嚴，不許賈瑞多走一步，生怕他在外吃酒賭錢，有誤學業。This Dairu was ordinarily most strict in his instruction, and would not allow Jia Rui to stray a single step, ever fearful that he might drink and gamble outside and so neglect his studies.今忽見他一夜不歸，只料定他在外非飲即賭，嫖娼宿妓，那裡想到這段公案，因此氣了一夜。Now, seeing that he had suddenly failed to come home all night, Dairu could only assume that he had been out either drinking or gambling, or whoring the night away — how could he ever have guessed at this whole affair — and so he raged the entire night through.賈瑞也捻著一把汗，少不得回來撒謊，只說：「往舅舅家去了，天黑了，留我住了一夜。」代儒道：「自來出門，非稟我不敢擅出，如何昨日私自去了？Jia Rui too was in a cold sweat, and once home there was nothing for it but to lie, saying only, "I went to my uncle's house, and since it grew dark, he kept me overnight." Dairu said, "In the past you have never gone out without reporting to me first — how is it that yesterday you went off on your own without leave?据此亦該打，何況是撒謊。」因此，發狠到底打了三四十扳，不許吃飯，令他跪在院內讀文章，定要補出十天的工課來方罷。For that alone you deserve a beating, let alone for lying." Whereupon, in a fury, he had him beaten thoroughly with thirty or forty strokes, forbade him any food, and made him kneel in the courtyard reciting his lessons, insisting he make up ten days' worth of assignments before he would let the matter rest.賈瑞直凍了一夜，今又遭了苦打，且餓著肚子，跪著在風地裡讀文章，其苦萬狀。Having been frozen through the entire previous night, Jia Rui now on top of it suffered a bitter beating, and with an empty stomach knelt reciting his lessons out in the open wind — his misery beyond all telling.

盼到晚上，果然黑地里摸入荣府，趁掩门时，钻入穿堂。果见漆黑无一人，往贾母那边去的门户已倒锁，只有向东的门未关。贾瑞侧耳听著，半日不见人来，忽听咯登一声，东边的门也倒关了。贾瑞急的也不敢则声，只得悄悄的出来，将门撼了撼，关的铁桶一般。此时要求出去亦不能够，南北皆是大房墙，要跳亦无攀援。这屋内又是过门风，空落落，现是腊月天气，夜又长，朔风凛凛，侵肌裂骨，一夜几乎不曾冻死。好容易盼到早晨，只见一个老婆子先将东门开了，进去叫西门。贾瑞瞅他背著脸，一溜烟抱著肩跑了出来，幸而天气尚早，人都未起，从后门一径跑回家去。原来贾瑞父母早亡，只有他祖父代儒教养。那代儒素日教训最严，不许贾瑞多走一步，生怕他在外吃酒赌钱，有误学业。今忽见他一夜不归，只料定他在外非饮即赌，嫖娼宿妓，那里想到这段公案，因此气了一夜。贾瑞也捻著一把汗，少不得回来撒谎，只说：「往舅舅家去了，天黑了，留我住了一夜。」代儒道：「自来出门，非禀我不敢擅出，如何昨日私自去了？据此亦该打，何况是撒谎。」因此，发狠到底打了三四十扳，不许吃饭，令他跪在院内读文章，定要补出十天的工课来方罢。贾瑞直冻了一夜，今又遭了苦打，且饿著肚子，跪著在风地里读文章，其苦万状。

此時賈瑞前心猶是未改，再想不到是鳳姐捉弄他。Yet even now Jia Rui's former infatuation remained unchanged, and it never once occurred to him that Xifeng had been toying with him.過後兩日，得了空，便仍來找鳳姐。Two days later, finding a moment free, he went once again to seek out Xifeng.鳳姐故意抱怨他失信，賈瑞急的賭身發誓。Xifeng deliberately reproached him for breaking his word, and Jia Rui, flustered, swore oaths on his very life.鳳姐因見他自投羅网，少不得再尋別計令他知改，故又約他道：「今日晚上，你別在那裡了。Seeing that he had thrown himself into her net of his own accord, Xifeng could not but devise some further scheme to teach him a lesson, and so made another appointment with him, saying, "Tonight, don't wait in that place.你在我這房後小過道子裡那間空屋裡等我，可別冒撞了。」賈瑞道：「果真？」鳳姐道：「誰可哄你，你不信就別來。」賈瑞道：「來，來，來。Wait for me instead in that empty room in the little side-passage behind my quarters — but mind you don't come blundering in." Jia Rui said, "Really and truly?" Xifeng said, "Who would bother fooling you — if you don't believe me, then simply don't come." Jia Rui said, "I'll come, I'll come, I'll come.死也要來！」鳳姐道：「這會子你先去罷。」賈瑞料定晚間必妥，此時先去了。I'll come even if it kills me!" Xifeng said, "Go on now, for the time being." Jia Rui, certain that all would be settled that evening, took his leave for the moment.鳳姐在這裡便點兵派將，設下圈套。Xifeng thereupon set about mustering her troops and assigning her officers, laying her trap.

此时贾瑞前心犹是未改，再想不到是凤姐捉弄他。过后两日，得了空，便仍来找凤姐。凤姐故意抱怨他失信，贾瑞急的赌身发誓。凤姐因见他自投罗网，少不得再寻别计令他知改，故又约他道：「今日晚上，你别在那里了。你在我这房后小过道子里那间空屋里等我，可别冒撞了。」贾瑞道：「果真？」凤姐道：「谁可哄你，你不信就别来。」贾瑞道：「来，来，来。死也要来！」凤姐道：「这会子你先去罢。」贾瑞料定晚间必妥，此时先去了。凤姐在这里便点兵派将，设下圈套。

那賈瑞只盼不到晚上，偏生家裡親戚又來了，直等吃了晚飯才去，那天已有掌燈時候。Jia Rui, unable to bear the wait for evening, found that of all times relatives had come calling at his home, so that he could not get away until after supper, and by then it was already lamp-lighting time.又等他祖父安歇了，方溜進榮府，直往那夾道中屋子裡來等著，熱鍋上的螞蟻一般，只是乾轉。He had further to wait until his grandfather had settled down for the night before he could slip into the Rongguo mansion, and made straight for that room in the narrow passage to wait, pacing about like an ant on a hot skillet, all for nothing.左等不見人影，右聽也沒聲響，心下自思：「別是又不來了，又凍我一夜不成？」正自胡猜，只見黑魆魆的來了一個人，賈瑞便意定是鳳姐，不管皂白，餓虎一般，等那人剛至門前，便如貓捕鼠的一般，抱住叫道：「親嫂子，等死我了。」說著，抱到屋裡炕上就親嘴扯褲子，滿口裡「親娘」「親爹」的亂叫起來。He waited and waited to no avail, and listened and listened for the slightest sound, until he thought to himself, "Could it be she isn't coming again, and means to freeze me all night once more?" Just as he was turning over such wild guesses, he saw a dark figure approaching, and Jia Rui, taking it for certain to be Xifeng, without stopping to think, pounced like a starving tiger; the instant the figure reached the doorway, he seized it as a cat pounces on a mouse, clasping it and crying, "Darling sister-in-law, you've kept me waiting to death." So saying, he dragged it onto the kang inside the room and began kissing it and tearing at its trousers, babbling wildly, "My dear mother," "my dear father," all in the same breath.那人只不作聲。The figure only kept silent.賈瑞拉了自己褲子，硬幫幫的就想頂入。Jia Rui pulled down his own trousers, and, rigid with arousal, was about to force his way in.忽見燈光一閃，只見賈薔舉著個捻子照道：「誰在屋裡？」只見炕上那人笑道：「瑞大叔要肏我呢。」賈瑞一見，卻是賈蓉，真臊的無地可入，不知要怎麼樣才好，回身就要跑，被賈薔一把揪住道：「別走！Suddenly a light flashed, and there was Jia Qiang holding up a taper, calling out, "Who's in here?" And then the figure on the kang said with a laugh, "Uncle Rui wants to bugger me." At the sight, Jia Rui saw it was none other than Jia Rong, and was so mortified he wished the earth would swallow him; not knowing what on earth to do, he turned to flee, but Jia Qiang seized hold of him, saying, "Don't run!如今璉二嫂已經告到太太跟前，說你無故調戲他。Second Sister-in-law Lian has already gone and reported to Her Ladyship that you molested her without any provocation.他暫用了個脫身計，哄你在這邊等著，太太氣死過去，因此叫我來拿你。She used a ruse to slip away for the moment, tricking you into waiting over here, and Her Ladyship was so furious she nearly fainted dead away, and so sent me to catch you.剛才你又攔住他，沒的說，跟我去見太太！」And just now you went and grabbed hold of him besides — there's nothing more to be said, come with me to see Her Ladyship!"

那贾瑞只盼不到晚上，偏生家里亲戚又来了，直等吃了晚饭才去，那天已有掌灯时候。又等他祖父安歇了，方溜进荣府，直往那夹道中屋子里来等著，热锅上的蚂蚁一般，只是干转。左等不见人影，右听也没声响，心下自思：「别是又不来了，又冻我一夜不成？」正自胡猜，只见黑魆魆的来了一个人，贾瑞便意定是凤姐，不管皂白，饿虎一般，等那人刚至门前，便如猫捕鼠的一般，抱住叫道：「亲嫂子，等死我了。」说著，抱到屋里炕上就亲嘴扯裤子，满口里「亲娘」「亲爹」的乱叫起来。那人只不作声。贾瑞拉了自己裤子，硬帮帮的就想顶入。忽见灯光一闪，只见贾蔷举著个捻子照道：「谁在屋里？」只见炕上那人笑道：「瑞大叔要肏我呢。」贾瑞一见，却是贾蓉，真臊的无地可入，不知要怎么样才好，回身就要跑，被贾蔷一把揪住道：「别走！如今琏二嫂已经告到太太跟前，说你无故调戏他。他暂用了个脱身计，哄你在这边等著，太太气死过去，因此叫我来拿你。刚才你又拦住他，没的说，跟我去见太太！」

賈瑞聽了，魂不附体，只說：「好侄兒，只說沒有見我，明日我重重的謝你。」賈薔道：「你若謝我，放你不值什麼，只不知你謝我多少？Hearing this, Jia Rui was frightened out of his wits, and could only say, "Good nephew, just say you never saw me, and tomorrow I'll thank you most generously." Jia Qiang said, "If you want to thank me, letting you off is no great matter — only I don't know just how much you mean to thank me with?況且口說無憑，寫一文契來。」賈瑞道：「這如何落紙呢？」賈薔道：「這也不妨，寫一個賭錢輸了外人帳目，借頭家銀若干兩便罷。」賈瑞道：「這也容易。Besides, a spoken word is no proof — write me out a note." Jia Rui said, "But how would I ever put such a thing down on paper?" Jia Qiang said, "That's no trouble at all — just write that you lost money gambling with an outsider and borrowed so many taels of silver from the moneylender, and that will do." Jia Rui said, "That's easy enough.只是此時無紙筆。」賈薔道：「這也容易。」說罷翻身出來，紙筆現成，拿來命賈瑞寫。Only there's no brush or paper at hand right now." Jia Qiang said, "That's easy too." So saying, he turned and stepped out, and brush and paper being ready at hand, brought them in and had Jia Rui write it out.他兩作好作歹，只寫了五十兩，然後畫了押，賈薔收起來。Between the two of them, cajoling and threatening by turns, they settled on fifty taels; Jia Rui then signed his mark, and Jia Qiang put the note away.然後撕邏賈蓉。After that, he set about wrangling with Jia Rong.賈蓉先咬定牙不依，只說：「明日告訴族中的人評評理。」賈瑞急的至于叩頭。Jia Rong at first clenched his teeth and would not agree, saying only, "Tomorrow I'll tell the clan elders and let them judge who's in the right." Jia Rui, in his desperation, went so far as to kowtow to him.賈薔作好作歹的，也寫了一張五十兩欠契才罷。Jia Qiang, coaxing and threatening in turn, at last got him to write out a note for fifty taels owed as well, and only then let the matter rest.賈薔又道：「如今要放你，我就擔著不是。Jia Qiang went on, "Now, if I let you go, I'll be the one taking the blame.老太太那邊的門早已關了，老爺正在廳上看南京的東西，那一條路定難過去，如今只好走後門。The gate to the Lady Dowager's side has long since been shut, and the Master is out in the main hall looking over the goods just come from Nanjing, so that way is certain to be hard to pass — for now there's nothing for it but to go by the back gate.若這一走，倘或遇見了人，連我也完了。If you go that way and happen to run into someone, I'll be finished right along with you.等我們先去哨探哨探，再來領你。Let us go first and scout about, and then come back for you.這屋你還藏不得，少時就來堆東西。You can't stay hidden in this room either — before long they'll be coming to pile things in here.等我尋個地方。」說畢，拉著賈瑞，仍熄了燈，出至院外，摸著大臺磯底下，說道：「這窩兒裡好，你只蹲著，別哼一聲，等我們來再動。」說畢，二人去了。Let me find you a spot." With that, he took hold of Jia Rui, put out the lamp again, and led him out into the courtyard, feeling his way to the foot of the great stone platform, and said, "This little nook here will do — just crouch down and don't make a sound, and don't move until we come for you." So saying, the two of them went off.

贾瑞听了，魂不附体，只说：「好侄儿，只说没有见我，明日我重重的谢你。」贾蔷道：「你若谢我，放你不值什么，只不知你谢我多少？况且口说无凭，写一文契来。」贾瑞道：「这如何落纸呢？」贾蔷道：「这也不妨，写一个赌钱输了外人帐目，借头家银若干两便罢。」贾瑞道：「这也容易。只是此时无纸笔。」贾蔷道：「这也容易。」说罢翻身出来，纸笔现成，拿来命贾瑞写。他两作好作歹，只写了五十两，然后画了押，贾蔷收起来。然后撕逻贾蓉。贾蓉先咬定牙不依，只说：「明日告诉族中的人评评理。」贾瑞急的至于叩头。贾蔷作好作歹的，也写了一张五十两欠契才罢。贾蔷又道：「如今要放你，我就担著不是。老太太那边的门早已关了，老爷正在厅上看南京的东西，那一条路定难过去，如今只好走后门。若这一走，倘或遇见了人，连我也完了。等我们先去哨探哨探，再来领你。这屋你还藏不得，少时就来堆东西。等我寻个地方。」说毕，拉著贾瑞，仍熄了灯，出至院外，摸著大台矶底下，说道：「这窝儿里好，你只蹲著，别哼一声，等我们来再动。」说毕，二人去了。

賈瑞此時身不由己，只得蹲在那裡。By now Jia Rui was no longer master of himself, and could only crouch there as told.心下正盤算，只聽頭頂上一聲響，嘩拉拉一淨桶尿糞從上面直潑下來，可巧澆了他一身一頭。Just as he sat turning things over in his mind, he suddenly heard a noise directly overhead, and with a great splash a whole chamber-pot of urine and filth came pouring straight down, drenching him from head to foot as ill luck would have it.賈瑞掌不住噯喲了一聲，忙又掩住口，不敢聲張，滿頭滿臉渾身皆是尿屎，冰冷打戰。Jia Rui could not help crying out "Ow!", but quickly clapped a hand over his own mouth, not daring to make a sound; his whole head, face, and body were covered in urine and filth, and he shivered with the icy cold.只見賈薔跑來叫：「快走，快走！」賈瑞如得了命，三步兩步從後門跑到家裡，天已三更，只得叫門。Just then Jia Qiang came running up, calling, "Quick, run, run!" Jia Rui, as though granted a new lease on life, dashed off in a few short steps and ran home by the back gate; by then it was already the third watch of the night, and he had no choice but to call for the door to be opened.開門人見他這般景況，問是怎的。The one who opened the door, seeing him in such a state, asked what had happened.少不得扯謊說：「黑了，失腳掉在茅廁裡了。」一面到了自己房中更衣洗濯，心下方想到是鳳姐頑他，因此發一回恨，再想想鳳姐的模樣兒，又恨不得一時摟在怀內，一夜竟不曾合眼。There was nothing for it but to lie again, saying, "It was dark, and I lost my footing and fell into the privy." As he went to his own room to change and wash up, it finally dawned on him that Xifeng had been playing with him, and he gave way to a fit of resentment over it; but then, thinking again of Xifeng's looks, he found himself longing all the more to hold her in his arms at once, and did not close his eyes the whole night through.

贾瑞此时身不由己，只得蹲在那里。心下正盘算，只听头顶上一声响，哗拉拉一净桶尿粪从上面直泼下来，可巧浇了他一身一头。贾瑞掌不住嗳哟了一声，忙又掩住口，不敢声张，满头满脸浑身皆是尿屎，冰冷打战。只见贾蔷跑来叫：「快走，快走！」贾瑞如得了命，三步两步从后门跑到家里，天已三更，只得叫门。开门人见他这般景况，问是怎的。少不得扯谎说：「黑了，失脚掉在茅厕里了。」一面到了自己房中更衣洗濯，心下方想到是凤姐顽他，因此发一回恨，再想想凤姐的模样儿，又恨不得一时搂在怀内，一夜竟不曾合眼。

自此滿心想鳳姐，只不敢往榮府去了。From that time on his mind was full of nothing but Xifeng, though he no longer dared go to the Rongguo mansion.賈蓉兩個又常常的來索銀子，他又怕祖父知道，正是相思尚且難禁，更又添了債務，日間工課又緊，他二十來歲人，尚未娶親，邇來想著鳳姐，未免有那指頭告了消乏等事，更兼兩回凍惱奔波，因此三五下裡夾攻，不覺就得了一病：心內發膨脹，口中無滋味，腳下如綿，眼中似醋，黑夜作燒，白晝常倦，下溺連精，嗽痰帶血。Jia Rong and the other kept coming again and again to demand their silver, and he was afraid besides that his grandfather might find out; his lovesickness alone was hard enough to bear, and now debts were piled on top of it, while his daily lessons pressed on him no less hard; being a young man of some twenty years, not yet married, and having of late thought so constantly of Xifeng, he could hardly help resorting now and then to relieving himself by hand, and on top of that had twice suffered the misery and exhaustion of freezing and running about — so that, assailed on every side at once, he fell, before he knew it, into illness: his chest felt swollen and tight, his mouth had no taste for anything, his legs were weak as cotton, his eyes blurred as though stung by vinegar, at night he burned with fever, by day he was constantly listless, his urine came mixed with semen, and his cough brought up phlegm streaked with blood.諸如此症，不上一年都添全了。Within less than a year, every one of these symptoms in turn had come upon him in full.于是不能支持，一頭睡倒，合上眼還只夢魂顛倒，滿口亂說胡話，驚怖异常。At last he could no longer hold up, and took to his bed altogether; even with his eyes shut his dreaming soul remained in turmoil, and he raved on wildly, in a state of extraordinary terror.百般請醫療治，諸如肉桂，附子，鱉甲，麥冬，玉竹等藥，吃了有幾十斤下去，也不見個動靜。Physicians were called in by every means to treat him, and medicines such as cinnamon bark, aconite, turtle shell, ophiopogon, and Solomon's seal were fed to him by the tens of catties, yet to no visible effect whatsoever.倏又腊盡春回，這病更又沉重。Then all at once the twelfth month drew to its close and spring returned, and with it his illness grew even graver still.代儒也著了忙，各處請醫療治，皆不見效。Dairu too grew frantic with worry, and sent everywhere for physicians to treat him, but none of it had any effect.因後來吃「獨參湯」，代儒如何有這力量，只得往榮府來尋。When it later came to needing a decoction of pure ginseng, how could Dairu possibly afford such a thing — there was nothing for it but to come to the Rongguo mansion to seek some.王夫人命鳳姐秤二兩給他，鳳姐回說：「前兒新近都替老太太配了藥，那整的太太又說留著送楊提督的太太配藥，偏生昨兒我已送了去了。」王夫人道：「就是咱們這邊沒了，你打發個人往你婆婆那邊問問，或是你珍大哥哥那府裡再尋些來，湊著給人家。Lady Wang ordered Xifeng to weigh out two liang for him, but Xifeng reported back, saying, "Just the other day all of it that was whole was made up into medicine for the Lady Dowager, and Her Ladyship herself said the rest should be kept to send over for General Yang's wife to make up medicine with — and as ill luck would have it, I sent that off only yesterday." Lady Wang said, "Well, even if there's none left on our side, send someone over to your mother-in-law's to ask, or else look for some more over at your Elder Cousin Zhen's household, and put enough together to give the poor man.吃好了，救人一命，也是你的好處。」鳳姐聽了，也不遣人去尋，只得將些渣末泡須湊了幾錢，命人送去，只說：「太太送來的，再也沒了。」然後回王夫人，只說：「都尋了來，共湊了有二兩送去。」If he recovers from taking it, saving a man's life will be to your credit too." Hearing this, Xifeng did not even send anyone to look, but simply gathered together a few odd bits of scraps and root-fibers amounting to a few qian, and had someone deliver it, saying only, "This is what Her Ladyship sent — there's no more to be had." She then reported back to Lady Wang, saying only, "I sought it out from everywhere, and altogether gathered a full two liang, which I've sent over."

自此满心想凤姐，只不敢往荣府去了。贾蓉两个又常常的来索银子，他又怕祖父知道，正是相思尚且难禁，更又添了债务，日间工课又紧，他二十来岁人，尚未娶亲，迩来想著凤姐，未免有那指头告了消乏等事，更兼两回冻恼奔波，因此三五下里夹攻，不觉就得了一病：心内发膨胀，口中无滋味，脚下如绵，眼中似醋，黑夜作烧，白昼常倦，下溺连精，嗽痰带血。诸如此症，不上一年都添全了。于是不能支持，一头睡倒，合上眼还只梦魂颠倒，满口乱说胡话，惊怖异常。百般请医疗治，诸如肉桂，附子，鳖甲，麦冬，玉竹等药，吃了有几十斤下去，也不见个动静。倏又腊尽春回，这病更又沉重。代儒也著了忙，各处请医疗治，皆不见效。因后来吃「独参汤」，代儒如何有这力量，只得往荣府来寻。王夫人命凤姐秤二两给他，凤姐回说：「前儿新近都替老太太配了药，那整的太太又说留著送杨提督的太太配药，偏生昨儿我已送了去了。」王夫人道：「就是咱们这边没了，你打发个人往你婆婆那边问问，或是你珍大哥哥那府里再寻些来，凑著给人家。吃好了，救人一命，也是你的好处。」凤姐听了，也不遣人去寻，只得将些渣末泡须凑了几钱，命人送去，只说：「太太送来的，再也没了。」然后回王夫人，只说：「都寻了来，共凑了有二两送去。」

那賈瑞此時要命心甚切，無藥不吃，只是白花錢，不見效。By now Jia Rui was desperate above all to save his own life, and there was no medicine he would not take, but it was all money spent for nothing, with no effect to show for it.忽然這日有個跛足道人來化齋，口稱專治冤業之症。Then one day, quite unexpectedly, a lame Daoist came begging alms, claiming that he specialized in curing illnesses caused by karmic debts.賈瑞偏生在內就聽見了，直著聲叫喊說：「快請進那位菩薩來救我！」一面叫，一面在枕上叩首。As luck would have it, Jia Rui, inside the house, happened to overhear this, and cried out at the top of his voice, "Quick, ask that living Bodhisattva in to save me!" — all the while knocking his head against the pillow as he called.眾人只得帶了那道士進來。The household had no choice but to bring the Daoist in.賈瑞一把拉住，連叫「菩薩救我！」那道士歎道：「你這病非藥可醫。Jia Rui seized hold of him at once, crying over and over, "Bodhisattva, save me!" The Daoist sighed and said, "This illness of yours cannot be cured by medicine.我有個寶貝與你，你天天看時，此命可保矣。」說畢，從褡褳中取出一面鏡子來——兩面皆可照人，鏡把上面鏨著「風月寶鑒」四字——遞與賈瑞道：「這物出自太虛幻境空靈殿上，警幻仙子所制，專治邪思妄動之症，有濟世保生之功。I have a precious treasure to give you — look into it every day, and this life of yours can be preserved." So saying, he took from his satchel a mirror — both sides of it could reflect a person, and on the handle were engraved the four characters 'Precious Mirror of Wind and Moon' — and handed it to Jia Rui, saying, "This object comes from the Hall of Illusory Spirits in the Land of Illusion, wrought by the Fairy of Disenchantment herself; it specializes in curing the sickness of wanton and depraved thoughts, and has the virtue of aiding the world and preserving life.所以帶他到世上，單與那些聰明杰俊，風雅王孫等看照。That is why I have brought it into the mortal world, to be looked into solely by clever and talented men of parts, refined and elegant young lords, and the like.千萬不可照正面，只照他的背面，要緊，要緊！Whatever you do, you must never look into the front face — look only into the back. This is of the utmost importance, of the utmost importance!三日後吾來收取，管叫你好了。」說畢，佯常而去，眾人苦留不住。In three days I shall come back to reclaim it, and I promise you'll be well by then." With that, he went off as casually as if nothing at all had happened, and for all the household's earnest pleading, he could not be made to stay.

那贾瑞此时要命心甚切，无药不吃，只是白花钱，不见效。忽然这日有个跛足道人来化斋，口称专治冤业之症。贾瑞偏生在内就听见了，直著声叫喊说：「快请进那位菩萨来救我！」一面叫，一面在枕上叩首。众人只得带了那道士进来。贾瑞一把拉住，连叫「菩萨救我！」那道士叹道：「你这病非药可医。我有个宝贝与你，你天天看时，此命可保矣。」说毕，从褡裢中取出一面镜子来——两面皆可照人，镜把上面錾著「风月宝鉴」四字——递与贾瑞道：「这物出自太虚幻境空灵殿上，警幻仙子所制，专治邪思妄动之症，有济世保生之功。所以带他到世上，单与那些聪明杰俊，风雅王孙等看照。千万不可照正面，只照他的背面，要紧，要紧！三日后吾来收取，管叫你好了。」说毕，佯常而去，众人苦留不住。

賈瑞收了鏡子，想道：「這道士倒有意思，我何不照一照試試。」想畢，拿起風月鑒來，向反面一照，只見一個骷髏立在裡面，唬得賈瑞連忙掩了，罵：「道士混帳，如何嚇我！Jia Rui took the mirror and thought to himself, "This Daoist is rather an interesting fellow — why shouldn't I look into it once, just to try?" So thinking, he picked up the Mirror of Wind and Moon and looked into the back of it, and there stood a skeleton within, which so terrified Jia Rui that he hastily covered it up again, cursing, "That confounded Daoist, how dare he try to frighten me like that!我倒再照照正面是什麼。」想著，又將正面一照，只見鳳姐站在裡面招手叫他。I'll just look into the front and see what that shows instead." So thinking, he turned it over and looked into the front, and there stood Xifeng within, beckoning to him.賈瑞心中一喜，蕩悠悠的覺得進了鏡子，與鳳姐雲雨一番，鳳姐仍送他出來。Jia Rui's heart leapt with joy, and in a dizzy, drifting daze he felt himself passing into the mirror, where he made love with Xifeng, after which she saw him out again.到了床上，哎喲了一聲，一睜眼，鏡子從手裡掉過來，仍是反面立著一個骷髏。Back on his bed, he gave a cry of "Oh!", and opening his eyes found the mirror had flipped over in his hand, and once again there stood the skeleton on the reverse side.賈瑞自覺汗津津的，底下已遺了一灘精。Jia Rui felt himself bathed in sweat, and found that below he had already emitted a pool of semen.心中到底不足，又翻過正面來，只見鳳姐還招手叫他，他又進去。Yet in his heart he was still not satisfied, and turned the mirror to the front once more, and there was Xifeng still beckoning to him, so that he went in again.如此三四次。This happened three or four times over.到了這次，剛要出鏡子來，只見兩個人走來，拿鐵鎖把他套住，拉了就走。This last time, just as he was about to come back out of the mirror, he saw two men come up, throw an iron chain about him, and drag him off.賈瑞叫道：「讓我拿了鏡子再走。」只說了這句，就再不能說話了。Jia Rui cried out, "Let me take the mirror with me before I go!" He had barely gotten these words out when he could speak no more.

贾瑞收了镜子，想道：「这道士倒有意思，我何不照一照试试。」想毕，拿起风月鉴来，向反面一照，只见一个骷髅立在里面，唬得贾瑞连忙掩了，骂：「道士混帐，如何吓我！我倒再照照正面是什么。」想著，又将正面一照，只见凤姐站在里面招手叫他。贾瑞心中一喜，荡悠悠的觉得进了镜子，与凤姐云雨一番，凤姐仍送他出来。到了床上，哎哟了一声，一睁眼，镜子从手里掉过来，仍是反面立著一个骷髅。贾瑞自觉汗津津的，底下已遗了一滩精。心中到底不足，又翻过正面来，只见凤姐还招手叫他，他又进去。如此三四次。到了这次，刚要出镜子来，只见两个人走来，拿铁锁把他套住，拉了就走。贾瑞叫道：「让我拿了镜子再走。」只说了这句，就再不能说话了。

旁邊伏侍賈瑞的眾人，只見他先還拿著鏡子照，落下來，仍睜開眼拾在手內，末後鏡子落下來便不動了。The attendants at his bedside saw that at first he still held the mirror up and gazed into it; when it slipped from his grasp, he still opened his eyes and picked it up again; but the last time it fell from his hand, he moved no more.眾人上來看看，已沒了氣。The others came forward to look, and found that he had already stopped breathing.身子底下冰涼漬濕一大灘精，這才忙著穿衣抬床。Beneath his body was a great cold, damp pool of semen soaked through, and only then did they hurry to dress him and move the bed.代儒夫婦哭的死去活來，大罵道士，「是何妖鏡！Dairu and his wife wept until they nearly died of grief themselves, cursing the Daoist bitterly: "What manner of demon mirror is this!若不早毀此物，遺害于世不小。」遂命架火來燒，只聽鏡內哭道：「誰叫你們瞧正面了！If this thing is not destroyed at once, it will do no small harm loose in the world." So they ordered a fire built to burn it, whereupon a voice from within the mirror was heard weeping, "Who told you to look at the front of me!你們自己以假為真，何苦來燒我？」正哭著，只見那跛足道人從外面跑來，喊道：「誰毀『風月鑒』，吾來救也！」說著，直入中堂，搶入手內，飄然去了。It's you yourselves who take the false for the true — why should you go and burn me for it?" Just as it was weeping, the lame Daoist came running in from outside, shouting, "Who dares destroy the 'Mirror of Wind and Moon'? I have come to save it!" So saying, he strode straight into the main hall, snatched it up into his hand, and vanished like a wisp of smoke.

旁边伏侍贾瑞的众人，只见他先还拿著镜子照，落下来，仍睁开眼拾在手内，末后镜子落下来便不动了。众人上来看看，已没了气。身子底下冰凉渍湿一大滩精，这才忙著穿衣抬床。代儒夫妇哭的死去活来，大骂道士，「是何妖镜！若不早毁此物，遗害于世不小。」遂命架火来烧，只听镜内哭道：「谁叫你们瞧正面了！你们自己以假为真，何苦来烧我？」正哭著，只见那跛足道人从外面跑来，喊道：「谁毁『风月鉴』，吾来救也！」说著，直入中堂，抢入手内，飘然去了。

當下，代儒料理喪事，各處去報喪。Then and there Dairu set about arranging the funeral, and sent word of the death to every quarter.三日起經，七日發引，寄靈于鐵檻寺，日後帶回原籍。On the third day the sutras were begun, on the seventh the coffin was borne out, and the coffin was lodged for the time being at Iron Threshold Temple, to be carried back to the ancestral home at some later date.當下賈家眾人齊來吊問，榮國府賈赦贈銀二十兩，賈政亦是二十兩，宁國府賈珍亦有二十兩，別者族中貧富不等，或三兩五兩，不可胜數。At this all the members of the Jia clan came together to offer their condolences; from the Rongguo mansion, Jia She gave twenty taels of silver, Jia Zheng likewise twenty taels, and from the Ningguo mansion Jia Zhen also gave twenty taels; the rest of the clan, being of varying means, gave three taels here, five taels there, in numbers too many to count.另有各同窗家分資，也湊了二三十兩。In addition, the families of his various schoolmates contributed shares as well, amounting altogether to some twenty or thirty taels more.代儒家道雖然淡薄，倒也丰丰富富完了此事。Although Dairu's household was of modest means, the funeral was in the end carried out handsomely and in full.

当下，代儒料理丧事，各处去报丧。三日起经，七日发引，寄灵于铁槛寺，日后带回原籍。当下贾家众人齐来吊问，荣国府贾赦赠银二十两，贾政亦是二十两，宁国府贾珍亦有二十两，别者族中贫富不等，或三两五两，不可胜数。另有各同窗家分资，也凑了二三十两。代儒家道虽然淡薄，倒也丰丰富富完了此事。

誰知這年冬底，林如海的書信寄來，卻為身染重疾，寫書特來接林黛玉回去。Who could have known that, at the end of that same winter, a letter arrived from Lin Ruhai, saying that he had fallen gravely ill, and writing expressly to have Lin Daiyu brought back home.賈母聽了，未免又加憂悶，只得忙忙的打點黛玉起身。On hearing this, the Lady Dowager could not help growing all the more anxious and troubled, and had no choice but to hurry about making preparations for Daiyu's departure.寶玉大不自在，爭奈父女之情，也不好攔勸。Baoyu was thoroughly out of sorts over it, but given the bond between father and daughter, he could hardly object or try to dissuade her.于是賈母定要賈璉送他去，仍叫帶回來。So the Lady Dowager insisted that Jia Lian escort her there, with instructions to bring her back again afterward.一應土儀盤纏，不消煩說，自然要妥貼。As for all the local gifts and traveling expenses needed, there is no need to dwell on it — naturally everything was seen to properly.作速擇了日期，賈璉與林黛玉辭別了賈母等，帶領仆從，登舟往揚州去了。A date was chosen without delay, and Jia Lian and Lin Daiyu, having taken leave of the Lady Dowager and the rest, set out with their attendants and boarded a boat bound for Yangzhou.要知端的，且聽下回分解。To know how it all turned out, one must hear the next chapter's explanation.

谁知这年冬底，林如海的书信寄来，却为身染重疾，写书特来接林黛玉回去。贾母听了，未免又加忧闷，只得忙忙的打点黛玉起身。宝玉大不自在，争奈父女之情，也不好拦劝。于是贾母定要贾琏送他去，仍叫带回来。一应土仪盘缠，不消烦说，自然要妥贴。作速择了日期，贾琏与林黛玉辞别了贾母等，带领仆从，登舟往扬州去了。要知端的，且听下回分解。