第六十三回　壽怡紅群芳開夜宴　死金丹獨艷理親喪 In Happy Red Court the Flowers Hold a Night Feast; A Golden Elixir Kills, and a Funeral Is Managed Alone

話說寶玉回至房中洗手，因與襲人商議：“晚間吃酒，大家取樂，不可拘泥。The story goes that Baoyu returned to his room and washed his hands, then took counsel with Xiren: "Tonight when we drink wine and make merry, we mustn't stand on ceremony.如今吃什麼，好早說給他們備辦去。”襲人笑道：“你放心，我和晴雯，麝月，秋紋四個人，每人五錢銀子，共是二兩。Whatever we're to eat, we'd better tell them early so they can get it ready." Xiren said with a smile, "Set your mind at ease — Qingwen, Sheyue, Qiuwen and I, four of us, five qian of silver each, two taels in all.芳官、碧痕、小燕、四兒四個人，每人三錢銀子，他們有假的不算，共是三兩二錢銀子，早已交給了柳嫂子，預備四十碟果子。Fangguan, Bihen, Xiaoyan and Si'er, four of them, three qian each — not counting theirs which weren't genuine — three taels two qian in all, already handed over to Sister Liu, to prepare forty dishes of fruit.我和平兒說了，已經抬了一壇好紹興酒藏在那邊了。I also spoke with Ping'er, and a jar of good Shaoxing wine has already been carried over and hidden on that side.我們八個人單替你過生日。”寶玉聽了，喜的忙說：“他們是那里的錢，不該叫他們出才是。”晴雯道：“他們沒錢，難道我們是有錢的！The eight of us alone will celebrate your birthday." When Baoyu heard this he was delighted and said hastily, "Where would they get the money from — they oughtn't to be made to pay out of their own pockets." Qingwen said, "They have no money — do you think we're the ones with money?這原是各人的心。This is simply everyone's own feeling.那怕他偷的呢，只管領他們的情就是。”寶玉聽了，笑說：“你說的是。”襲人笑道：“你一天不挨他兩句硬話村你，你再過不去。”晴雯笑道：“你如今也學坏了，專會架橋撥火兒。”說著，大家都笑了。Even if it were stolen money, just accept their good will and let it be." Baoyu heard this and said with a laugh, "You're right." Xiren said with a smile, "If a day goes by without her giving you a couple of sharp words to needle you, you can't get through it." Qingwen said with a laugh, "You've learned to be wicked too now, always egging things on and fanning the flames." So saying, everyone laughed.寶玉說：“關院門去罷。”襲人笑道：“怪不得人說你是‘無事忙’，這會子關了門，人倒疑惑，越性再等一等。”寶玉點頭，因說：“我出去走走，四兒舀水去，小燕一個跟我來罷。”說著，走至外邊，因見無人，便問五兒之事。Baoyu said, "Let's shut the courtyard gate." Xiren said with a smile, "No wonder people call you 'busy over nothing' — if we shut the gate now people will only grow suspicious; better to wait a while longer." Baoyu nodded, then said, "I'll go out for a walk. Si'er, go fetch water; Xiaoyan, come along with me alone." So saying, he went outside, and seeing no one about, asked about the matter of Wu'er.小燕道：“我才告訴了柳嫂子，他倒喜歡的很。Xiaoyan said, "I just told Sister Liu about it, and she was very pleased indeed.只是五兒那夜受了委屈煩惱，回家去又氣病了，那里來得。It's only that Wu'er suffered such a grievance and distress that night, and going home she fell ill again from anger — how could she possibly come.只等好了罷。”寶玉聽了，不免後悔長歎，因又問：“這事襲人知道不知道？”小燕道：“我沒告訴，不知芳官可說了不曾。”寶玉道：“我卻沒告訴過他，也罷，等我告訴他就是了。”說畢，复走進來，故意洗手。We'll just have to wait till she's better." Hearing this, Baoyu could not help feeling regret and sighing at length, and then asked further, "Does Xiren know about this or not?" Xiaoyan said, "I haven't told her — I don't know whether Fangguan has said anything or not." Baoyu said, "I haven't told her either. Never mind, I'll tell her myself." So saying, he went back inside again, pretending to wash his hands.

话说宝玉回至房中洗手，因与袭人商议：“晚间吃酒，大家取乐，不可拘泥。如今吃什么，好早说给他们备办去。”袭人笑道：“你放心，我和晴雯，麝月，秋纹四个人，每人五钱银子，共是二两。芳官、碧痕、小燕、四儿四个人，每人三钱银子，他们有假的不算，共是三两二钱银子，早已交给了柳嫂子，预备四十碟果子。我和平儿说了，已经抬了一坛好绍兴酒藏在那边了。我们八个人单替你过生日。”宝玉听了，喜的忙说：“他们是那里的钱，不该叫他们出才是。”晴雯道：“他们没钱，难道我们是有钱的！这原是各人的心。那怕他偷的呢，只管领他们的情就是。”宝玉听了，笑说：“你说的是。”袭人笑道：“你一天不挨他两句硬话村你，你再过不去。”晴雯笑道：“你如今也学坏了，专会架桥拨火儿。”说著，大家都笑了。宝玉说：“关院门去罢。”袭人笑道：“怪不得人说你是‘无事忙’，这会子关了门，人倒疑惑，越性再等一等。”宝玉点头，因说：“我出去走走，四儿舀水去，小燕一个跟我来罢。”说著，走至外边，因见无人，便问五儿之事。小燕道：“我才告诉了柳嫂子，他倒喜欢的很。只是五儿那夜受了委屈烦恼，回家去又气病了，那里来得。只等好了罢。”宝玉听了，不免后悔长叹，因又问：“这事袭人知道不知道？”小燕道：“我没告诉，不知芳官可说了不曾。”宝玉道：“我却没告诉过他，也罢，等我告诉他就是了。”说毕，复走进来，故意洗手。

已是掌燈時分，聽得院門前有一群人進來。By now it was lamp-lighting time, and they heard a group of people come in through the courtyard gate.大家隔窗悄視，果見林之孝家的和幾個管事的女人走來，前頭一人提著大燈籠。Everyone peered out quietly from behind the window, and sure enough saw Lin Zhixiao's wife and several of the managing women coming, with one person in front holding up a large lantern.晴雯悄笑道：“他們查上夜的人來了。Qingwen whispered with a laugh, "They've come to check on the night watch.這一出去，咱們好關門了。”只見怡紅院凡上夜的人都迎了出去，林之孝家的看了不少。Once they go out, we can shut the gate properly." Sure enough all those on night duty in Yihong Court went out to greet them, and Lin Zhixiao's wife looked them over carefully.林之孝家的吩咐：“別耍錢吃酒，放倒頭睡到大天亮。Lin Zhixiao's wife instructed them: "No gambling or drinking — lie down and sleep straight through till broad daylight.我聽見是不依的。”眾人都笑說：“那里有那樣大膽子的人。”林之孝家的又問：“寶二爺睡下了沒有？”眾人都回不知道。If I hear of anything otherwise, I won't let it pass." Everyone said with a laugh, "Who would have such nerve." Lin Zhixiao's wife then asked, "Has Master Bao the Second gone to bed yet?" Everyone answered that they didn't know.襲人忙推寶玉。Xiren hastily nudged Baoyu.寶玉靸了鞋，便迎出來，笑道：“我還沒睡呢。Baoyu slid his feet into his shoes and came out to greet her, saying with a smile, "I'm not asleep yet.媽媽進來歇歇。”又叫：“襲人倒茶來。”林之孝家的忙進來，笑說：“還沒睡？Come in and rest a while, Mama." Then he called, "Xiren, bring tea." Lin Zhixiao's wife came in hastily and said with a smile, "Not asleep yet?如今天長夜短了，該早些睡，明兒起的方早。Now that the days are long and the nights short, you ought to sleep early so you can rise early tomorrow.不然到了明日起遲了，人笑話說不是個讀書上學的公子了，倒象那起挑腳漢了。”說畢，又笑。Otherwise, if you rise late tomorrow, people will laugh and say you're no proper young master who studies, but more like one of those load-carrying coolies." Having said this, she laughed again.寶玉忙笑道：“媽媽說的是。Baoyu said hastily with a smile, "You're quite right, Mama.我每日都睡的早，媽媽每日進來可都是我不知道的，已經睡了。I go to sleep early every day — it's just that every day when you come in, I'm already asleep without knowing it.今兒因吃了面怕停住食，所以多頑一會子。”林之孝家的又向襲人等笑說：“該沏些個普洱茶吃。”襲人晴雯二人忙笑說：“沏了一盄子女兒茶，已經吃過兩碗了。Today, because I ate noodles and was afraid of indigestion, I've been amusing myself a while longer." Lin Zhixiao's wife then said to Xiren and the others with a smile, "You should brew some Pu'er tea for him to drink." Xiren and Qingwen both said hastily with a smile, "We've already brewed a pot of Nver tea and had two bowls of it already.大娘也嘗一碗，都是現成的。”說著，晴雯便倒了一碗來。Auntie, have a bowl too, it's all ready at hand." So saying, Qingwen poured out a bowl.林之孝家的又笑道：“這些時我聽見二爺嘴里都換了字眼，赶著這幾位大姑娘們竟叫起名字來。Lin Zhixiao's wife said again with a smile, "These past few days I've noticed the Second Master has changed his way of speaking, and has taken to calling these young ladies by their names outright.雖然在這屋里，到底是老太太，太太的人，還該嘴里尊重些才是。Although they're in this room with you, after all they belong to Old Lady's and Madam's household, and you ought still to show them proper respect in how you address them.若一時半刻偶然叫一聲使得，若只管叫起來，怕以後兄弟侄兒照樣，便惹人笑話，說這家子的人眼里沒有長輩。”寶玉笑道：“媽媽說的是。If just once in a while you happen to call out a name, that's fine, but if you keep on doing it, I'm afraid the younger brothers and nephews will follow suit, and it will invite people's mockery, saying the people of this house have no regard for their elders." Baoyu said with a smile, "You're right, Mama.我原不過是一時半刻的。”襲人晴雯都笑說：“這可別委屈了他。It really was only just once in a while." Xiren and Qingwen both said with a smile, "Don't wrong him over this.直到如今，他可姐姐沒離了口。Right up until now, he's never stopped calling her 'sister.'不過頑的時侯叫一聲半聲名字，若當著人卻是和先一樣。”林之孝家的笑道：“這才好呢，這才是讀書知禮的。It's only in play that he calls out a name once in a while — in front of others he's exactly the same as before." Lin Zhixiao's wife said with a smile, "That's exactly as it should be — that's what it means to be a well-read young master who knows propriety.越自己謙越尊重，別說是三五代的陳人，現從老太太，太太屋里撥過來的，便是老太太，太太屋里的貓兒狗兒，輕易也傷他不的。The more modest one is oneself, the more one honors others — not to mention those who've been here three or five generations, but even the ones just transferred over from Old Lady's or Madam's own rooms, why, even the cats and dogs from Old Lady's or Madam's rooms are not to be lightly offended.這才是受過調教的公子行事。”說畢，吃了茶，便說：“請安歇罷，我們走了。”寶玉還說：“再歇歇。”那林之孝家的已帶了眾人，又查別處去了。This is exactly how a young master who has received proper upbringing behaves." So saying, she drank her tea, then said, "Please go to rest now, we'll be on our way." Baoyu still said, "Do sit a while longer." But Lin Zhixiao's wife had already led the group off to check the other quarters.這里晴雯等忙命關了門，進來笑說：“這位奶奶那里吃了一杯來了，嘮三叨四的，又排場了我們一頓去了。”麝月笑道：“他也不是好意的，少不得也要常提著些兒。Here, Qingwen and the others hastily had the gate shut, then came in laughing and said, "That old dame must have had a cup somewhere, going on and on like that, and giving us all a good scolding to boot." Sheyue said with a smile, "She doesn't mean any harm by it — she can't help mentioning it now and then.也提防著怕走了大褶兒的意思。”說著，一面擺上酒果。She's just guarding against things getting too far out of hand." So saying, they set out the wine and fruit.襲人道：“不用圍桌，咱們把那張花梨圓炕桌子放在炕上坐，又寬綽，又便宜。”說著，大家果然抬來。Xiren said, "No need for a big round table — let's just put that round kang table of rosewood on the kang and sit there, it's roomier and more convenient." So saying, they had it carried over.麝月和四兒那邊去搬果子，用兩個大茶盤做四五次方搬運了來。Sheyue and Si'er went over to fetch the fruit, using two large tea trays and making four or five trips to carry it all over.兩個老婆子蹲在外面火盆上篩酒。Two old women squatted outside by the brazier warming the wine.寶玉說：“天熱，咱們都脫了大衣裳才好。”眾人笑道：“你要脫你脫，我們還要輪流安席呢。”寶玉笑道：“這一安就安到五更天了。Baoyu said, "It's hot — we'd best all take off our outer robes." Everyone said with a laugh, "If you want to take yours off, take it off — we still have to take turns seating everyone properly first." Baoyu said with a smile, "If we start on that, we won't be seated properly till the fifth watch.知道我最怕這些俗套子，在外人跟前不得已的，這會子還慪我就不好了。”眾人聽了，都說：“依你。”于是先不上坐，且忙著卸妝寬衣。You all know I hate these formalities most of all — in front of outsiders I can't help it, but if you insist on it now just to vex me, that won't do." Hearing this, everyone said, "We'll do as you say." So they did not take their seats first, but hurried instead to remove their formal dress and loosen their clothes.

已是掌灯时分，听得院门前有一群人进来。大家隔窗悄视，果见林之孝家的和几个管事的女人走来，前头一人提著大灯笼。晴雯悄笑道：“他们查上夜的人来了。这一出去，咱们好关门了。”只见怡红院凡上夜的人都迎了出去，林之孝家的看了不少。林之孝家的吩咐：“别耍钱吃酒，放倒头睡到大天亮。我听见是不依的。”众人都笑说：“那里有那样大胆子的人。”林之孝家的又问：“宝二爷睡下了没有？”众人都回不知道。袭人忙推宝玉。宝玉靸了鞋，便迎出来，笑道：“我还没睡呢。妈妈进来歇歇。”又叫：“袭人倒茶来。”林之孝家的忙进来，笑说：“还没睡？如今天长夜短了，该早些睡，明儿起的方早。不然到了明日起迟了，人笑话说不是个读书上学的公子了，倒象那起挑脚汉了。”说毕，又笑。宝玉忙笑道：“妈妈说的是。我每日都睡的早，妈妈每日进来可都是我不知道的，已经睡了。今儿因吃了面怕停住食，所以多顽一会子。”林之孝家的又向袭人等笑说：“该沏些个普洱茶吃。”袭人晴雯二人忙笑说：“沏了一盄子女儿茶，已经吃过两碗了。大娘也尝一碗，都是现成的。”说著，晴雯便倒了一碗来。林之孝家的又笑道：“这些时我听见二爷嘴里都换了字眼，赶著这几位大姑娘们竟叫起名字来。虽然在这屋里，到底是老太太，太太的人，还该嘴里尊重些才是。若一时半刻偶然叫一声使得，若只管叫起来，怕以后兄弟侄儿照样，便惹人笑话，说这家子的人眼里没有长辈。”宝玉笑道：“妈妈说的是。我原不过是一时半刻的。”袭人晴雯都笑说：“这可别委屈了他。直到如今，他可姐姐没离了口。不过顽的时侯叫一声半声名字，若当著人却是和先一样。”林之孝家的笑道：“这才好呢，这才是读书知礼的。越自己谦越尊重，别说是三五代的陈人，现从老太太，太太屋里拨过来的，便是老太太，太太屋里的猫儿狗儿，轻易也伤他不的。这才是受过调教的公子行事。”说毕，吃了茶，便说：“请安歇罢，我们走了。”宝玉还说：“再歇歇。”那林之孝家的已带了众人，又查别处去了。这里晴雯等忙命关了门，进来笑说：“这位奶奶那里吃了一杯来了，唠三叨四的，又排场了我们一顿去了。”麝月笑道：“他也不是好意的，少不得也要常提著些儿。也提防著怕走了大褶儿的意思。”说著，一面摆上酒果。袭人道：“不用围桌，咱们把那张花梨圆炕桌子放在炕上坐，又宽绰，又便宜。”说著，大家果然抬来。麝月和四儿那边去搬果子，用两个大茶盘做四五次方搬运了来。两个老婆子蹲在外面火盆上筛酒。宝玉说：“天热，咱们都脱了大衣裳才好。”众人笑道：“你要脱你脱，我们还要轮流安席呢。”宝玉笑道：“这一安就安到五更天了。知道我最怕这些俗套子，在外人跟前不得已的，这会子还怄我就不好了。”众人听了，都说：“依你。”于是先不上坐，且忙著卸妆宽衣。

一時將正裝卸去，頭上只隨便挽著兒，身上皆是長裙短襖。In a moment their formal attire was removed, their hair simply twisted up any old way, and they were all in long skirts and short jackets.寶玉只穿著大紅棉紗小襖子，下面綠綾彈墨袷褲，散著褲腳，倚著一個各色玫瑰芍藥花瓣裝的玉色夾紗新枕頭，和芳官兩個先划拳。Baoyu wore only a small crimson cotton-gauze jacket, with green damask trousers below splashed with ink-pattern, the trouser legs left loose, leaning against a jade-colored lined gauze pillow newly stuffed with petals of rose and peony of every color, and began a finger-guessing game with Fangguan first.當時芳官滿口嚷熱，只穿著一件玉色紅青酡絨三色緞子斗的水田小夾襖，束著一條柳綠汗巾，底下水紅撒花夾褲，也散著褲腿。At the time Fangguan was complaining loudly of the heat, wearing only a short lined jacket of jade-white, crimson-black, and fermented-rose three-colored satin pieced in a paddy-field pattern, with a willow-green sash tied at the waist, and below rose-pink flower-splashed lined trousers, the trouser legs also left loose.頭上眉額編著一圈小辮，總歸至頂心，結一根鵝卵粗細的總辮，拖在腦後。On her forehead and temples her hair was braided into a ring of small plaits gathered together at the crown, tied into a single braid as thick as a goose egg, trailing down behind her head.右耳眼內只塞著米粒大小的一個小玉塞子，左耳上單帶著一個白果大小的硬紅鑲金大墜子，越顯的面如滿月猶白，眼如秋水還清。In her right ear she wore only a tiny jade plug the size of a grain of rice, and in her left ear alone a large hard red pendant rimmed in gold, the size of a gingko nut, which made her face look all the whiter, like a full moon, and her eyes all the clearer, like autumn water.引的眾人笑說：“他兩個倒象是雙生的弟兄兩個。”襲人等一一的斟了酒來，說：“且等等再划拳，雖不安席，每人在手里吃我們一口罷了。”于是襲人為先，端在唇上吃了一口，餘依次下去，一一吃過，大家方團圓坐定。This made everyone laugh and say, "The two of them really do look like twin brothers." Xiren and the others poured the wine round one by one, saying, "Let's wait a bit before the finger-guessing game — even though we're not taking formal seats, let each person at least take a sip from our hands." So Xiren went first, raised it to her lips and took a sip, and the rest followed in turn, each one drinking, and only then did everyone settle down together in a circle.小燕四兒因炕沿坐不下。Xiaoyan and Si'er, since there wasn't room for them on the edge of the kang.便端了兩張椅子，近炕放下。Brought over two chairs instead and set them down close to the kang.那四十個碟子，皆是一色白粉定窯的，不過只有小茶碟大，里面不過是山南海北，中原外國，或干或鮮，或水或陸，天下所有的酒饌果菜。As for the forty small dishes, they were all of the same white Ding-ware porcelain, no bigger than small tea saucers, and held every sort of wine delicacy and fruit and dish under heaven, from the mountains of the south to the seas of the north, from the Central Plains to foreign lands, whether dried or fresh, from water or land.寶玉因說：“咱們也該行個令才好。”襲人道：“斯文些的才好，別大呼小叫，惹人聽見。Baoyu then said, "We really ought to play some sort of drinking game." Xiren said, "Something refined would be best — let's not shout and carry on and let others hear us.二則我們不識字，可不要那些文的。”麝月笑道：“拿骰子咱們搶紅罷。”寶玉道：“沒趣，不好。And besides, we can't read, so let's not have anything too literary." Sheyue said with a smile, "Let's take the dice and play 'grab the red.'" Baoyu said, "That's no fun, not good.咱們占花名兒好。”晴雯笑道：“正是早已想弄這個頑意兒。”襲人道：“這個頑意雖好，人少了沒趣。”小燕笑道：“依我說，咱們竟悄悄的把寶姑娘林姑娘請了來頑一回子，到二更天再睡不遲。”襲人道：“又開門喝戶的鬧，倘或遇見巡夜的問呢？”寶玉道：“怕什麼，咱們三姑娘也吃酒，再請他一聲才好。Let's draw flower-name lots instead, that's better." Qingwen said with a smile, "That's exactly it, I've been wanting to play that for ages." Xiren said, "That game is fine, but with so few of us it won't be much fun." Xiaoyan said with a smile, "If you ask me, let's quietly invite Miss Bao and Miss Lin over to join in for a while, and go to bed no later than the second watch." Xiren said, "Opening and shutting doors and making a fuss — what if we run into the night patrol and they ask questions?" Baoyu said, "What's there to be afraid of? Our Third Miss is drinking too, so we ought to invite her along as well.還有琴姑娘。”眾人都道：“琴姑娘罷了，他在大奶奶屋里，叨登的大發了。”寶玉道：“怕什麼，你們就快請去。”小燕四兒都得不了一聲，二人忙命開了門，分頭去請。And Miss Qin too." Everyone said, "Never mind Miss Qin — she's over at the Senior Mistress's room, being made too much fuss of already." Baoyu said, "What's there to fear — go and invite them quickly." Xiaoyan and Si'er, only too glad to be given the word, at once had the gate opened and went off in different directions to invite them.

一时将正装卸去，头上只随便挽著儿，身上皆是长裙短袄。宝玉只穿著大红棉纱小袄子，下面绿绫弹墨夹裤，散著裤脚，倚著一个各色玫瑰芍药花瓣装的玉色夹纱新枕头，和芳官两个先划拳。当时芳官满口嚷热，只穿著一件玉色红青酡绒三色缎子斗的水田小夹袄，束著一条柳绿汗巾，底下水红撒花夹裤，也散著裤腿。头上眉额编著一圈小辫，总归至顶心，结一根鹅卵粗细的总辫，拖在脑后。右耳眼内只塞著米粒大小的一个小玉塞子，左耳上单带著一个白果大小的硬红镶金大坠子，越显的面如满月犹白，眼如秋水还清。引的众人笑说：“他两个倒象是双生的弟兄两个。”袭人等一一的斟了酒来，说：“且等等再划拳，虽不安席，每人在手里吃我们一口罢了。”于是袭人为先，端在唇上吃了一口，余依次下去，一一吃过，大家方团圆坐定。小燕四儿因炕沿坐不下。便端了两张椅子，近炕放下。那四十个碟子，皆是一色白粉定窑的，不过只有小茶碟大，里面不过是山南海北，中原外国，或干或鲜，或水或陆，天下所有的酒馔果菜。宝玉因说：“咱们也该行个令才好。”袭人道：“斯文些的才好，别大呼小叫，惹人听见。二则我们不识字，可不要那些文的。”麝月笑道：“拿骰子咱们抢红罢。”宝玉道：“没趣，不好。咱们占花名儿好。”晴雯笑道：“正是早已想弄这个顽意儿。”袭人道：“这个顽意虽好，人少了没趣。”小燕笑道：“依我说，咱们竟悄悄的把宝姑娘林姑娘请了来顽一回子，到二更天再睡不迟。”袭人道：“又开门喝户的闹，倘或遇见巡夜的问呢？”宝玉道：“怕什么，咱们三姑娘也吃酒，再请他一声才好。还有琴姑娘。”众人都道：“琴姑娘罢了，他在大奶奶屋里，叨登的大发了。”宝玉道：“怕什么，你们就快请去。”小燕四儿都得不了一声，二人忙命开了门，分头去请。

晴雯，麝月，襲人三人又說：“他兩個去請，只怕寶林兩個不肯來，須得我們請去，死活拉他來。”于是襲人晴雯忙又命老婆子打個燈籠，二人又去。Qingwen, Sheyue and Xiren then said, "If those two go to invite them, I'm afraid Baochai and Daiyu won't be willing to come — we'd better go ourselves and drag them here alive or dead." So Xiren and Qingwen hurriedly had an old woman light a lantern, and the two of them went as well.果然寶釵說夜深了，黛玉說身上不好，他二人再三央求說：“好歹給我們一點体面，略坐坐再來。”探春聽了卻也歡喜。Sure enough Baochai said it was late at night, and Daiyu said she wasn't feeling well, but the two of them pleaded again and again, saying, "Please, do us the honor, just sit a little while and then come back." When Tanchun heard of this she too was pleased.因想：“不請李紈，倘或被他知道了倒不好。”便命翠墨同了小燕也再三的請了李紈和寶琴二人，會齊，先後都到了怡紅院中。But she thought to herself, "If we don't invite Li Wan, and she happens to find out, that won't do." So she had Cuimo go with Xiaoyan to invite Li Wan and Baoqin as well, again and again, and once assembled, they all arrived one after another at Yihong Court.襲人又死活拉了香菱來。Xiren also insisted on dragging Xiangling along, dead or alive.炕上又并了一張桌子，方坐開了。Another table was joined onto the kang, and only then was there room enough for everyone to sit.寶玉忙說：“林妹妹怕冷，過這邊靠板壁坐。”又拿個靠背墊著些。Baoyu said hastily, "Sister Lin is afraid of the cold — come sit over here against the wall panel." And he fetched a backrest and cushioned it for her.襲人等都端了椅子在炕沿下一陪。Xiren and the others all brought chairs and sat in attendance below the edge of the kang.黛玉卻離桌遠遠的靠著靠背，因笑向寶釵，李紈，探春等道：“你們日日說人夜聚飲博，今兒我們自己也如此，往後怎麼說人。”李紈笑道：“這有何妨。Daiyu, however, sat some distance from the table, leaning against the backrest, and said with a smile to Baochai, Li Wan, Tanchun and the others, "Every day you all talk about people carousing and gambling at night, and here today we're doing exactly the same ourselves — how will we ever criticize others again in future?" Li Wan said with a smile, "What harm is there in this.一年之中不過生日節間如此，并無夜夜如此，這倒也不怕。”說著，晴雯拿了一個竹雕的簽筒來，里面裝著象牙花名簽子，搖了一搖，放在當中。Once a year, only on birthdays or festival occasions we do this — it's not as if we do it every single night, so there's no need to be afraid of that." So saying, Qingwen brought out a carved bamboo lot-cylinder, holding ivory flower-name lots inside, gave it a shake, and set it down in the middle.又取過骰子來，盛在盒內，搖了一搖，揭開一看，里面是五點，數至寶釵。Then she took the dice, put them in the box, gave it a shake, lifted the lid to look, and found five dots — counting round, it fell to Baochai.寶釵便笑道：“我先抓，不知抓出個什麼來。”說著，將筒搖了一搖，伸手掣出一根，大家一看，只見簽上畫著一支牡丹，題著“艷冠群芳”四字，下面又有鐫的小字一句唐詩，道是：Baochai said with a smile, "Let me draw first, and see what comes out." So saying, she gave the cylinder a shake and drew one out with her hand; everyone looked, and saw painted on the lot a spray of peony, inscribed with the four characters "Fairest Among All Flowers," and below, engraved in small characters, a line from a Tang poem, which read:

晴雯，麝月，袭人三人又说：“他两个去请，只怕宝林两个不肯来，须得我们请去，死活拉他来。”于是袭人晴雯忙又命老婆子打个灯笼，二人又去。果然宝钗说夜深了，黛玉说身上不好，他二人再三央求说：“好歹给我们一点体面，略坐坐再来。”探春听了却也欢喜。因想：“不请李纨，倘或被他知道了倒不好。”便命翠墨同了小燕也再三的请了李纨和宝琴二人，会齐，先后都到了怡红院中。袭人又死活拉了香菱来。炕上又并了一张桌子，方坐开了。宝玉忙说：“林妹妹怕冷，过这边靠板壁坐。”又拿个靠背垫著些。袭人等都端了椅子在炕沿下一陪。黛玉却离桌远远的靠著靠背，因笑向宝钗，李纨，探春等道：“你们日日说人夜聚饮博，今儿我们自己也如此，往后怎么说人。”李纨笑道：“这有何妨。一年之中不过生日节间如此，并无夜夜如此，这倒也不怕。”说著，晴雯拿了一个竹雕的签筒来，里面装著象牙花名签子，摇了一摇，放在当中。又取过骰子来，盛在盒内，摇了一摇，揭开一看，里面是五点，数至宝钗。宝钗便笑道：“我先抓，不知抓出个什么来。”说著，将筒摇了一摇，伸手掣出一根，大家一看，只见签上画著一支牡丹，题著“艳冠群芳”四字，下面又有镌的小字一句唐诗，道是：

任是無情也動人。Though it shows no feeling, still it moves the heart.

任是无情也动人。

又注著：“在席共賀一杯，此為群芳之冠，隨意命人，不拘詩詞雅謔，道一則以侑酒。”眾人看了，都笑說：“巧的很，你也原配牡丹花。”說著，大家共賀了一杯。There was also a note: "Everyone at the table drink one cup in celebration; this being the crown of all flowers, let her call on anyone as she pleases, whether with poetry or witty jest, to offer a toast." Everyone looked and said with a smile, "How fitting, you really are a perfect match for the peony." So saying, they all drank a cup together in celebration.寶釵吃過，便笑說：“芳官唱一支我們聽罷。”芳官道：“既這樣，大家吃門杯好聽的。”于是大家吃酒。When Baochai had finished drinking, she said with a smile, "Let's have Fangguan sing us a song." Fangguan said, "In that case, let everyone drink a full cup first to make it worth hearing." So everyone drank.芳官便唱：“壽筵開處風光好。”眾人都道：“快打回去。Fangguan then sang: "Where the birthday feast is spread, the scene is fine." Everyone said, "Cut that off at once.這會子很不用你來上壽，揀你极好的唱來。”芳官只得細細的唱了一支《賞花時》：There's no need at all for you to be wishing anyone long life just now — pick the very best one you know and sing that instead." Fangguan had no choice but to sing carefully through a song to the tune "Appreciating the Flowers":

又注著：“在席共贺一杯，此为群芳之冠，随意命人，不拘诗词雅谑，道一则以侑酒。”众人看了，都笑说：“巧的很，你也原配牡丹花。”说著，大家共贺了一杯。宝钗吃过，便笑说：“芳官唱一支我们听罢。”芳官道：“既这样，大家吃门杯好听的。”于是大家吃酒。芳官便唱：“寿筵开处风光好。”众人都道：“快打回去。这会子很不用你来上寿，拣你极好的唱来。”芳官只得细细的唱了一支《赏花时》：

翠鳳毛翎扎帚叉，閒踏天門掃落花。With kingfisher-feather plumes fashioned into a broom, idly she treads Heaven's Gate sweeping fallen blossoms.您看那風起玉塵沙。See how the wind stirs up jade-like dust and sand.猛可的那一層云下，抵多少門外即天涯。Suddenly, beneath that one layer of cloud, how much lies beyond the gate is already the edge of the sky.您再休要劍斬黃龍一線兒差，再休向東老貧窮賣酒家。Never again make the mistake of the single stroke that beheaded the Yellow Dragon, never again go east to sell wine at old Dongfang's poor tavern.您與俺眼向云霞。With you I turn my eyes toward the rosy clouds.洞賓呵，您得了人可便早些兒回話，若遲呵，錯教人留恨碧桃花。Dongbin, ah, once you have found the man, do send word back soon — if you delay, you'll wrongly leave someone grieving over the peach blossoms of jade.

翠凤毛翎扎帚叉，闲踏天门扫落花。您看那风起玉尘沙。猛可的那一层云下，抵多少门外即天涯。您再休要剑斩黄龙一线儿差，再休向东老贫穷卖酒家。您与俺眼向云霞。洞宾呵，您得了人可便早些儿回话，若迟呵，错教人留恨碧桃花。

才罷。And so it ended.寶玉卻只管拿著那簽，口內顛來倒去念“任是無情也動人”，聽了這曲子，眼看著芳官不語。But Baoyu just went on holding the lot, murmuring over and over to himself, "Though it shows no feeling, still it moves the heart," and having heard the song, he gazed at Fangguan without a word.湘雲忙一手奪了，擲與寶釵。Xiangyun quickly snatched it from his hand and tossed it over to Baochai.寶釵又擲了一個十六點，數到探春，探春笑道：“我還不知得個什麼呢。”伸手掣了一根出來，自己一瞧，便擲在地下，紅了臉，笑道：“這東西不好，不該行這令。Baochai then threw the dice and got sixteen dots, counting round to Tanchun; Tanchun said with a smile, "I still don't know what I'll get." She reached out and drew one out, looked at it herself, then flung it down on the floor, blushing, and said with a smile, "This one's no good, we shouldn't be playing this game with it.這原是外頭男人們行的令，許多混話在上頭。”眾人不解，襲人等忙拾了起來，眾人看上面是一枝杏花，那紅字寫著“瑤池仙品”四字，詩云：This is really a game meant for men outside to play, full of all sorts of nonsense on it." Everyone was puzzled; Xiren and the others hastily picked it up, and everyone saw on it a spray of apricot blossom, with the four red characters "A Rarity of the Jasper Pool" written on it, and a poem that read:

才罢。宝玉却只管拿著那签，口内颠来倒去念“任是无情也动人”，听了这曲子，眼看著芳官不语。湘云忙一手夺了，掷与宝钗。宝钗又掷了一个十六点，数到探春，探春笑道：“我还不知得个什么呢。”伸手掣了一根出来，自己一瞧，便掷在地下，红了脸，笑道：“这东西不好，不该行这令。这原是外头男人们行的令，许多混话在上头。”众人不解，袭人等忙拾了起来，众人看上面是一枝杏花，那红字写著“瑶池仙品”四字，诗云：

日邊紅杏倚云栽。Red apricots by the sun's edge planted against the clouds.

日边红杏倚云栽。

注云：“得此簽者，必得貴婿，大家恭賀一杯，共同飲一杯。”眾人笑道：“我說是什麼呢。The note read: "Whoever draws this lot is destined to marry a man of noble rank; let everyone drink a cup in congratulation, all drinking together." Everyone said with a laugh, "So that's what it was about.這簽原是閨閣中取戲的，除了這兩三根有這話的，并無雜話，這有何妨。This lot was really only meant for amusement among the women's chambers — apart from these two or three lots with such words on them, there's nothing else improper on it, so what harm is there in it.我們家已有了個王妃，難道你也是王妃不成。Our family already has one imperial consort — surely you don't mean to become one too?大喜，大喜。”說著，大家來敬。How wonderful, how wonderful." So saying, everyone came to offer her a toast.探春那里肯飲，卻被史湘雲，香菱，李紈等三四個人強死強活灌了下去。Tanchun was most unwilling to drink, but Shi Xiangyun, Xiangling, Li Wan and two or three others forced it down her throat by main force.探春只命蠲了這個，再行別的，眾人斷不肯依。Tanchun insisted they do away with this lot and go on to something else, but everyone absolutely refused to agree.湘雲拿著他的手強擲了個十九點出來，便該李氏掣。Xiangyun took hold of her hand and forced her to throw nineteen dots, so it fell next to Li Wan to draw.李氏搖了一搖，掣出一根來一看，笑道：“好极。Li Wan gave it a shake, drew one out, looked at it, and said with a laugh, "Excellent.你們瞧瞧，這勞什子竟有些意思。”眾人瞧那簽上，畫著一枝老梅，是寫著”霜曉寒姿”四字，那一面舊詩是：Just look, this little trinket really does have something to it." Everyone looked at the lot, and saw painted on it a spray of old plum blossom, with the four characters "Frosty Dawn, Cold Bearing" written on it, and on the other side an old poem, which read:

注云：“得此签者，必得贵婿，大家恭贺一杯，共同饮一杯。”众人笑道：“我说是什么呢。这签原是闺阁中取戏的，除了这两三根有这话的，并无杂话，这有何妨。我们家已有了个王妃，难道你也是王妃不成。大喜，大喜。”说著，大家来敬。探春那里肯饮，却被史湘云，香菱，李纨等三四个人强死强活灌了下去。探春只命蠲了这个，再行别的，众人断不肯依。湘云拿著他的手强掷了个十九点出来，便该李氏掣。李氏摇了一摇，掣出一根来一看，笑道：“好极。你们瞧瞧，这劳什子竟有些意思。”众人瞧那签上，画著一枝老梅，是写著”霜晓寒姿”四字，那一面旧诗是：

竹篱茅舍自甘心。Content with a bamboo fence and thatched cottage, all on my own.

注云：“自飲一杯，下家擲骰。”李紈笑道：“真有趣，你們擲去罷。The note read: "Drink one cup yourself, then the next person throws the dice." Li Wan said with a smile, "How amusing indeed — go on and throw, all of you.我只自吃一杯，不問你們的廢與興。”說著，便吃酒，將骰過與黛玉。I'll just drink my own cup and not concern myself with whether your game rises or falls." So saying, she drank, and passed the dice on to Daiyu.黛玉一擲，是個十八點，便該湘雲掣。Daiyu threw once and got eighteen dots, so it fell to Xiangyun to draw.湘雲笑著，揎拳擄袖的伸手掣了一根出來。Xiangyun, laughing, pushed up her sleeves and bared her arms, reached out and drew one out.大家看時，一面畫著一枝海棠，題著”香夢沉酣”四字，那面詩道是：Everyone looked, and on one side was painted a spray of crab-apple blossom, inscribed with the four characters "A Fragrant Dream, Deep and Sound," and on the other side a poem that read:

注云：“自饮一杯，下家掷骰。”李纨笑道：“真有趣，你们掷去罢。我只自吃一杯，不问你们的废与兴。”说著，便吃酒，将骰过与黛玉。黛玉一掷，是个十八点，便该湘云掣。湘云笑著，揎拳掳袖的伸手掣了一根出来。大家看时，一面画著一枝海棠，题著”香梦沉酣”四字，那面诗道是：

只恐夜深花睡去。Only fearing that in the deep of night the flowers may have gone to sleep.

黛玉笑道：“‘夜深’兩個字，改‘石涼’兩個字。”眾人便知他趣白日間湘雲醉臥的事，都笑了。Daiyu said with a smile, "Change the two words 'deep of night' to 'cold on the rocks.'" Everyone at once understood she was teasing her about the incident of Xiangyun lying drunk in the daytime among the rocks, and all burst out laughing.湘雲笑指那自行船與黛玉看，又說“快坐上那船家去罷，別多話了。”眾人都笑了。Xiangyun laughed and pointed out the little self-propelled boat design to Daiyu, saying, "Quick, go and sit in that boat and be off — don't say any more." Everyone laughed at this.因看注云：“既云‘香夢沉酣’，掣此簽者不便飲酒，只令上下二家各飲一杯。”湘雲拍手笑道：“阿彌陀佛，真真好簽！”恰好黛玉是上家，寶玉是下家。They then read the note, which said: "Since it says 'a fragrant dream, deep and sound,' whoever draws this lot need not drink herself, but let the person above and the person below each drink one cup instead." Xiangyun clapped her hands and laughed, "Amitabha, what a truly wonderful lot!" As it happened, Daiyu was seated above her and Baoyu below.二人斟了兩杯只得要飲。The two of them, having poured out two cups, had no choice but to drink.寶玉先飲了半杯，瞅人不見，遞與芳官，端起來便一揚脖。Baoyu drank half a cup first, then, when no one was looking, passed it to Fangguan, lifted the cup and tossed back the rest in one gulp.黛玉只管和人說話，將酒全折在漱盂內了。Daiyu, busy talking with someone, poured the whole cup out into the spittoon.湘雲便綽起骰子來一擲個九點，數去該麝月。Xiangyun then took up the dice and threw a nine, and counting round it fell to Sheyue.麝月便掣了一根出來。Sheyue then drew one out.大家看時，這面上一枝荼縻花，題著“韶華胜极”四字，那邊寫著一句舊詩，道是：Everyone looked, and on this side was a spray of tu-mi rose, inscribed with the four characters "Glorious Springtime at Its Height," and on the other side was written a line of an old poem, which read:

黛玉笑道：“‘夜深’两个字，改‘石凉’两个字。”众人便知他趣白日间湘云醉卧的事，都笑了。湘云笑指那自行船与黛玉看，又说“快坐上那船家去罢，别多话了。”众人都笑了。因看注云：“既云‘香梦沉酣’，掣此签者不便饮酒，只令上下二家各饮一杯。”湘云拍手笑道：“阿弥陀佛，真真好签！”恰好黛玉是上家，宝玉是下家。二人斟了两杯只得要饮。宝玉先饮了半杯，瞅人不见，递与芳官，端起来便一扬脖。黛玉只管和人说话，将酒全折在漱盂内了。湘云便绰起骰子来一掷个九点，数去该麝月。麝月便掣了一根出来。大家看时，这面上一枝荼縻花，题著“韶华胜极”四字，那边写著一句旧诗，道是：

開到荼縻花事了。When the tu-mi blooms, the flowers' season is over.

开到荼縻花事了。

注云：“在席各飲三杯送春。”麝月問怎麼講，寶玉愁眉忙將簽藏了說：“咱們且喝酒。”說著大家吃了三口，以充三杯之數。The note read: "Everyone at the table drink three cups to see off the spring." Sheyue asked what this meant; Baoyu, his brow knitting, hastily hid the lot away and said, "Let's just drink, shall we." So saying, everyone took three sips to make up the count of three cups.麝月一擲個十九點，該香菱。Sheyue threw again and got nineteen dots, which fell to Xiangling.香菱便掣了一根并蒂花，題著”聯春繞瑞”，那面寫著一句詩，道是：Xiangling then drew out a lot of twin-stemmed flowers, inscribed with "Linked Springs Encircling Good Fortune," and on the other side was written a line of poetry, which read:

注云：“在席各饮三杯送春。”麝月问怎么讲，宝玉愁眉忙将签藏了说：“咱们且喝酒。”说著大家吃了三口，以充三杯之数。麝月一掷个十九点，该香菱。香菱便掣了一根并蒂花，题著”联春绕瑞”，那面写著一句诗，道是：

連理枝頭花正開。On the twin-stemmed branch the flowers are just now in bloom.

连理枝头花正开。

注云：“共賀掣者三杯，大家陪飲一杯。”香菱便又擲了個六點，該黛玉掣。The note read: "All present drink three cups in congratulation of the one who drew it, and let everyone accompany her with one cup." Xiangling then threw a six, and it fell to Daiyu to draw.黛玉默默的想道：“不知還有什麼好的被我掣著方好。”一面伸手取了一根，只見上面畫著一枝芙蓉，題著”風露清愁”四字，那面一句舊詩，道是：Daiyu thought to herself silently, "I wonder what good one I might draw." So saying, she reached out and took one; on it was painted a spray of hibiscus, inscribed with the four characters "Wind and Dew, a Pure Sorrow," and on the other side an old line of poetry, which read:

注云：“共贺掣者三杯，大家陪饮一杯。”香菱便又掷了个六点，该黛玉掣。黛玉默默的想道：“不知还有什么好的被我掣著方好。”一面伸手取了一根，只见上面画著一枝芙蓉，题著”风露清愁”四字，那面一句旧诗，道是：

莫怨東風當自嗟。Do not blame the east wind, but sigh only at yourself.

莫怨东风当自嗟。

注云：“自飲一杯，牡丹陪飲一杯。”眾人笑說：“這個好极。The note read: "Drink one cup yourself, and let the peony accompany you with one cup." Everyone said with a smile, "This one is perfect.除了他，別人不配作芙蓉。”黛玉也自笑了。Apart from her, no one else is worthy to represent the hibiscus." Daiyu herself smiled too.于是飲了酒，便擲了個二十點，該著襲人。So she drank her wine, then threw twenty dots, and it fell to Xiren.襲人便伸手取了一支出來，卻是一枝桃花，題著“武陵別景”四字，那一面舊詩寫著道是：Xiren then reached out and drew one out; it was a spray of peach blossom, inscribed with the four characters "A Parting Scene from the Land of Peach Blossoms," and on the other side an old poem was written, which read:

注云：“自饮一杯，牡丹陪饮一杯。”众人笑说：“这个好极。除了他，别人不配作芙蓉。”黛玉也自笑了。于是饮了酒，便掷了个二十点，该著袭人。袭人便伸手取了一支出来，却是一枝桃花，题著“武陵别景”四字，那一面旧诗写著道是：

桃紅又是一年春。The peach blossoms are red again — another spring has come.

桃红又是一年春。

注云：“杏花陪一盞，坐中同庚者陪一盞，同辰者陪一盞，同姓者陪一盞。”眾人笑道：“這一回熱鬧有趣。”大家算來，香菱，晴雯，寶釵三人皆與他同庚，黛玉與他同辰，只無同姓者。The note read: "Whoever draws the apricot blossom must have one cup poured for her in penalty; anyone born in the same year as her drinks one cup; anyone born on the same day as her drinks one cup; anyone with the same surname drinks one cup." Everyone laughed, "This round is lively and fun!" Counting it up, they found that Xiangling, Qingwen, and Baochai were all born in the same year as her, Daiyu was born on the same day as her, but no one shared her surname.芳官忙道：“我也姓花，我也陪他一鐘。”于是大家斟了酒，黛玉因向探春笑道：“命中該著招貴婿的，你是杏花，快喝了，我們好喝。”探春笑道：“這是個什麼，大嫂子順手給他一下子。”李紈笑道：“人家不得貴婿反挨打，我也不忍的。”說的眾人都笑了。Fangguan quickly said, "My surname is Hua too — so I'll drink a cup with her as well." So everyone poured wine, and Daiyu said to Tanchun with a smile, "Fate has it you're to marry a noble husband — you're the apricot blossom, drink up quickly so the rest of us can drink too." Tanchun said with a smile, "What kind of talk is this — Sister-in-law, give her a slap for that." Li Wan said, laughing, "The poor thing gets no noble husband but a beating instead — I can't bear to do it." Everyone laughed at this.襲人才要擲，只聽有人叫門。Xiren was just about to throw the dice when she heard someone knocking at the door.老婆子忙出去問時，原來是薛姨媽打發人來了接黛玉的。The old woman hurried out to ask, and it turned out that Aunt Xue had sent someone to fetch Daiyu home.眾人因問幾更了，人回：“二更以後了，鐘打過十一下了。”寶玉猶不信，要過表來瞧了一瞧，已是子初初刻十分了。Everyone asked what watch it was, and someone answered, "It's past the second watch — the bell has already struck eleven." Baoyu still did not believe it and asked for a watch to check for himself, and found it was already ten minutes past the first quarter of the Hour of the Rat.黛玉便起身說：“我可撐不住了，回去還要吃藥呢。”眾人說：“也都該散了。”襲人寶玉等還要留著眾人。Daiyu then rose and said, "I really can't hold out any longer, and I still have to take my medicine when I get back." Everyone said, "We should all break up now, too." Xiren, Baoyu, and the others still wanted to keep everyone there.李紈寶釵等都說：“夜太深了不象，這已是破格了。”襲人道：“既如此，每位再吃一杯再走。”說著，晴雯等已都斟滿了酒，每人吃了，都命點燈。Li Wan, Baochai, and the others all said, "It's too late at night, it wouldn't look right — this is already beyond what's proper." Xiren said, "Since that's so, let everyone drink one more cup before leaving." As she spoke, Qingwen and the others had already filled everyone's cups; each person drank, and lanterns were called for.襲人等直送過沁芳亭河那邊方回來。Xiren and the others saw them all the way across the stream past Qinfang Pavilion before turning back.

注云：“杏花陪一盏，坐中同庚者陪一盏，同辰者陪一盏，同姓者陪一盏。”众人笑道：“这一回热闹有趣。”大家算来，香菱，晴雯，宝钗三人皆与他同庚，黛玉与他同辰，只无同姓者。芳官忙道：“我也姓花，我也陪他一钟。”于是大家斟了酒，黛玉因向探春笑道：“命中该著招贵婿的，你是杏花，快喝了，我们好喝。”探春笑道：“这是个什么，大嫂子顺手给他一下子。”李纨笑道：“人家不得贵婿反挨打，我也不忍的。”说的众人都笑了。袭人才要掷，只听有人叫门。老婆子忙出去问时，原来是薛姨妈打发人来了接黛玉的。众人因问几更了，人回：“二更以后了，钟打过十一下了。”宝玉犹不信，要过表来瞧了一瞧，已是子初初刻十分了。黛玉便起身说：“我可撑不住了，回去还要吃药呢。”众人说：“也都该散了。”袭人宝玉等还要留著众人。李纨宝钗等都说：“夜太深了不象，这已是破格了。”袭人道：“既如此，每位再吃一杯再走。”说著，晴雯等已都斟满了酒，每人吃了，都命点灯。袭人等直送过沁芳亭河那边方回来。

關了門，大家复又行起令來。Once the gate was closed, everyone took up the drinking game again.襲人等又用大鐘斟了幾鐘，用盤攢了各樣果菜與地下的老嬤嬤們吃。Xiren and the others filled several large cups with wine and piled plates with all sorts of fruit and dishes for the old matrons waiting below to eat.彼此有了三分酒，便猜拳贏唱小曲兒。Once everyone had a bit of wine in them, they began playing finger-guessing games, and the losers sang little tunes.那天已四更時分，老嬤嬤們一面明吃，一面暗偷，酒壇已罄，眾人聽了納罕，方收拾盥漱睡覺。By then it was already the fourth watch; the old matrons ate openly with one hand while pilfering with the other, until the wine jar was empty. When the others heard this they were astonished, and only then did they wash up and go to bed.芳官吃的兩腮胭脂一般，眉稍眼角越添了許多丰韻，身子圖不得，便睡在襲人身上，”好姐姐，心跳的很。”襲人笑道：“誰許你盡力灌起來。”小燕四兒也圖不得，早睡了。Fangguan had drunk until her cheeks were as red as rouge, and the corners of her brows and eyes had taken on an even more captivating charm; unable to hold herself up, she lay down against Xiren, saying, "Dear sister, my heart is pounding so." Xiren laughed, "Who told you to pour it down without restraint?" Xiaoyan and Si-er, likewise unable to manage, had already gone to sleep.晴雯還只管叫。Qingwen kept right on calling out.寶玉道：“不用叫了，咱們且胡亂歇一歇罷。”自己便枕了那紅香枕，身子一歪，便也睡著了。Baoyu said, "No need to keep calling — let's just rest anyhow for a while." With that he pillowed his head on the red fragrant cushion, and lying down, fell asleep at once.襲人見芳官醉的很，恐鬧他唾酒，只得輕輕起來，就將芳官扶在寶玉之側，由他睡了。Seeing that Fangguan was quite drunk and fearing she might be sick from the wine if disturbed, Xiren had no choice but to rise gently, help Fangguan over to Baoyu's side, and let her sleep there.自己卻在對面榻上倒下。She herself lay down on the couch across from them.

关了门，大家复又行起令来。袭人等又用大钟斟了几钟，用盘攒了各样果菜与地下的老嬷嬷们吃。彼此有了三分酒，便猜拳赢唱小曲儿。那天已四更时分，老嬷嬷们一面明吃，一面暗偷，酒坛已罄，众人听了纳罕，方收拾盥漱睡觉。芳官吃的两腮胭脂一般，眉稍眼角越添了许多丰韵，身子图不得，便睡在袭人身上，”好姐姐，心跳的很。”袭人笑道：“谁许你尽力灌起来。”小燕四儿也图不得，早睡了。晴雯还只管叫。宝玉道：“不用叫了，咱们且胡乱歇一歇罢。”自己便枕了那红香枕，身子一歪，便也睡著了。袭人见芳官醉的很，恐闹他唾酒，只得轻轻起来，就将芳官扶在宝玉之侧，由他睡了。自己却在对面榻上倒下。

大家黑甜一覺，不知所之。Everyone fell into a deep, sweet sleep, oblivious to everything around them.及至天明，襲人睜眼一看，只見天色晶明，忙說：“可遲了。”向對面床上瞧了一瞧，只見芳官頭枕著炕沿上，睡猶未醒，連忙起來叫他。By the time dawn came, Xiren opened her eyes to find the sky already bright and clear, and exclaimed, "Oh no, we've overslept!" She glanced toward the bed opposite and saw Fangguan still asleep with her head pillowed against the edge of the kang, not yet awake, and hurriedly got up to wake her.寶玉已翻身醒了，笑道：“可遲了！”因又推芳官起身。Baoyu had already turned over and woken up, and said with a laugh, "We've overslept indeed!" and went on to shake Fangguan awake.那芳官坐起來，猶發怔揉眼睛。Fangguan sat up, still dazed, rubbing her eyes.襲人笑道：“不害羞，你吃醉了，怎麼也不揀地方兒亂挺下了。”芳官聽了，瞧了一瞧，方知道和寶玉同榻，忙笑的下地來，說：“我怎麼吃的不知道了。”寶玉笑道：“我竟也不知道了。Xiren laughed, "Aren't you ashamed — you got drunk and just sprawled out anywhere without picking a proper spot!" Hearing this, Fangguan looked around and only then realized she had been sharing a bed with Baoyu; she hastily laughed and climbed down, saying, "I don't even know how I got so drunk." Baoyu laughed, "I really didn't know either.若知道，給你臉上抹些黑墨。”說著，丫頭進來伺候梳洗。If I had known, I'd have smeared some black ink on your face." As he spoke, the maids came in to attend to their washing and combing.寶玉笑道：“昨兒有扰，今兒晚上我還席。”襲人笑道：“罷罷罷，今兒可別鬧了，再鬧就有人說話了。”寶玉道：“怕什麼，不過才兩次罷了。Baoyu said with a laugh, "We troubled everyone yesterday, so tonight I'll return the favor with a banquet of my own." Xiren laughed, "Enough, enough, enough — don't make a fuss again today, or people will start talking." Baoyu said, "What's there to be afraid of? It's only been twice, after all.咱們也算是會吃酒了，那一壇子酒，怎麼就吃光了。We can really count ourselves good drinkers now — how did that whole jar of wine get finished off so completely?正是有趣，偏又沒了。”襲人笑道：“原要這樣才有趣。It was just getting fun, and then it ran out." Xiren laughed, "That's exactly what makes it fun.必至興盡了，反無後味了，昨兒都好上來了，晴雯連臊也忘了，我記得他還唱了一個。”四兒笑道：“姐姐忘了，連姐姐還唱了一個呢。If it went on until everyone's spirits were spent, it would lose its savor afterward. Yesterday everyone really got into the spirit of it — Qingwen even forgot to be shy, and I recall she sang a song too." Si-er laughed, "Sister, you've forgotten — even you sang one yourself.在席的誰沒唱過！”眾人聽了，俱紅了臉，用兩手握著笑個不住。Who at that table didn't sing?" When the others heard this, they all blushed and covered their faces with both hands, laughing without stop.

大家黑甜一觉，不知所之。及至天明，袭人睁眼一看，只见天色晶明，忙说：“可迟了。”向对面床上瞧了一瞧，只见芳官头枕著炕沿上，睡犹未醒，连忙起来叫他。宝玉已翻身醒了，笑道：“可迟了！”因又推芳官起身。那芳官坐起来，犹发怔揉眼睛。袭人笑道：“不害羞，你吃醉了，怎么也不拣地方儿乱挺下了。”芳官听了，瞧了一瞧，方知道和宝玉同榻，忙笑的下地来，说：“我怎么吃的不知道了。”宝玉笑道：“我竟也不知道了。若知道，给你脸上抹些黑墨。”说著，丫头进来伺候梳洗。宝玉笑道：“昨儿有扰，今儿晚上我还席。”袭人笑道：“罢罢罢，今儿可别闹了，再闹就有人说话了。”宝玉道：“怕什么，不过才两次罢了。咱们也算是会吃酒了，那一坛子酒，怎么就吃光了。正是有趣，偏又没了。”袭人笑道：“原要这样才有趣。必至兴尽了，反无后味了，昨儿都好上来了，晴雯连臊也忘了，我记得他还唱了一个。”四儿笑道：“姐姐忘了，连姐姐还唱了一个呢。在席的谁没唱过！”众人听了，俱红了脸，用两手握著笑个不住。

忽見平兒笑嘻嘻的走來，說親自來請昨日在席的人：“今兒我還東，短一個也使不得。”眾人忙讓坐吃茶。Just then Pinger came in smiling, saying she had come in person to invite everyone who had been at yesterday's table: "Today I'm hosting in return, and not one of you may be missing." Everyone quickly offered her a seat and tea.晴雯笑道：“可惜昨夜沒他。”平兒忙問：“你們夜里做什麼來？”襲人便說：“告訴不得你。Qingwen laughed, "What a pity she wasn't here last night." Pinger asked quickly, "What did you all get up to last night?" Xiren said, "I can't tell you.昨兒夜里熱鬧非常，連往日老太太，太太帶著眾人頑也不及昨兒這一頑。Last night was tremendously lively — even the times when the Old Lady and Madam brought everyone together for fun didn't compare to last night's revelry.一壇酒我們都鼓搗光了，一個個吃的把臊都丟了，三不知的又都唱起來。We polished off a whole jar of wine between us, every one of us drank until we'd shed all our shyness, and before we knew it everyone started singing.四更多天才橫三豎四的打了一個盹兒。”平兒笑道：“好，白和我要了酒來。It wasn't until past the fourth watch that we finally dozed off, sprawled every which way." Pinger laughed, "Well! And you had the nerve to ask me for wine.也不請我，還說著給我聽，氣我。”晴雯道：“今兒他還席，必來請你的，等著罷。”平兒笑問道：“他是誰，誰是他？”晴雯聽了赶著笑打，說著：“偏你這耳朵尖，聽得真。”平兒笑道：“這會子有事不和你說，我幹事去了。And didn't even invite me, and now you tell me about it just to make me angry." Qingwen said, "She's hosting a return banquet today, and she's sure to invite you — just wait and see." Pinger asked with a laugh, "Who's 'she'? Who is this 'she'?" Hearing this, Qingwen chased after her laughing to hit her, saying, "Trust your sharp ears to catch that so well." Pinger laughed, "I have things to do right now, I won't argue with you — I'm off to attend to business.一回再打發人來請，一個不到，我是打上門來的。”寶玉等忙留，他已經去了。In a little while I'll send someone to invite you all, and if even one of you doesn't show up, I'll come pound on your door myself." Baoyu and the others hastily tried to keep her there, but she had already gone.

忽见平儿笑嘻嘻的走来，说亲自来请昨日在席的人：“今儿我还东，短一个也使不得。”众人忙让坐吃茶。晴雯笑道：“可惜昨夜没他。”平儿忙问：“你们夜里做什么来？”袭人便说：“告诉不得你。昨儿夜里热闹非常，连往日老太太，太太带著众人顽也不及昨儿这一顽。一坛酒我们都鼓捣光了，一个个吃的把臊都丢了，三不知的又都唱起来。四更多天才横三竖四的打了一个盹儿。”平儿笑道：“好，白和我要了酒来。也不请我，还说著给我听，气我。”晴雯道：“今儿他还席，必来请你的，等著罢。”平儿笑问道：“他是谁，谁是他？”晴雯听了赶著笑打，说著：“偏你这耳朵尖，听得真。”平儿笑道：“这会子有事不和你说，我干事去了。一回再打发人来请，一个不到，我是打上门来的。”宝玉等忙留，他已经去了。

這里寶玉梳洗了正吃茶，忽然一眼看見硯台底下壓著一張紙，因說道：“你們這隨便混壓東西也不好。”襲人晴雯等忙問：“又怎麼了，誰又有了不是了？”寶玉指道：“硯台下是什麼？Meanwhile Baoyu, having washed and combed, was just drinking tea when his eye suddenly fell on a piece of paper pressed beneath the inkstone. He said, "It's not good to just press things under here carelessly like this." Xiren, Qingwen, and the others quickly asked, "What is it now? Who's done something wrong again?" Baoyu pointed and said, "What's under the inkstone?一定又是那位的樣子忘記了收的。”晴雯忙啟硯拿了出來，卻是一張字帖兒，遞與寶玉看時，原來是一張粉箋子，上面寫著”檻外人妙玉恭肅遙叩芳辰。”寶玉看畢，直跳了起來，忙問：“這是誰接了來的？It must be some pattern someone forgot to put away again." Qingwen quickly lifted the inkstone and took it out — it turned out to be a card. When she handed it to Baoyu to look at, it proved to be a sheet of pink note-paper, on which was written: "The One Beyond the Threshold, Miaoyu, respectfully and reverently bows from afar in honor of your fragrant birthday." When Baoyu finished reading it, he leapt straight up and asked hurriedly, "Who received this?也不告訴。”襲人晴雯等見了這般，不知當是那個要緊的人來的帖子，忙一齊問：“昨兒誰接下了一個帖子？”四兒忙飛跑進來，笑說：“昨兒妙玉并沒親來，只打發個媽媽送來。And nobody told me." Seeing him like this, Xiren, Qingwen, and the others, not knowing which important person's card this might be, all asked together in a hurry, "Who received a card yesterday?" Si-er came running in quickly and said with a laugh, "Yesterday Miaoyu didn't come in person, she just sent an old woman to deliver it.我就擱在那里，誰知一頓酒就忘了。”眾人聽了，道：“我當誰的，這樣大驚小怪，這也不值的。”寶玉忙命：“快拿紙來。”當時拿了紙，研了墨，看他下著”檻外人”三字，自己竟不知回帖上回個什麼字樣才相敵。I set it there, and then who'd have thought that with all the wine we forgot all about it." When the others heard this, they said, "Here I thought it was someone important — making such a fuss over this, it's not even worth it." Baoyu hurriedly ordered, "Quick, bring me paper." Paper was brought at once and ink ground, but looking at how she had signed herself "The One Beyond the Threshold," he found he had no idea what words he ought to write in reply to match it fittingly.只管提筆出神，半天仍沒主意。He simply held his brush and stared blankly into space, and after a long while still had no idea what to write.因又想：“若問寶釵去，他必又批評怪誕，不如問黛玉去。”Then he thought again, "If I go and ask Baochai, she's sure to criticize it as eccentric — better to go ask Daiyu instead."

这里宝玉梳洗了正吃茶，忽然一眼看见砚台底下压著一张纸，因说道：“你们这随便混压东西也不好。”袭人晴雯等忙问：“又怎么了，谁又有了不是了？”宝玉指道：“砚台下是什么？一定又是那位的样子忘记了收的。”晴雯忙启砚拿了出来，却是一张字帖儿，递与宝玉看时，原来是一张粉笺子，上面写著”槛外人妙玉恭肃遥叩芳辰。”宝玉看毕，直跳了起来，忙问：“这是谁接了来的？也不告诉。”袭人晴雯等见了这般，不知当是那个要紧的人来的帖子，忙一齐问：“昨儿谁接下了一个帖子？”四儿忙飞跑进来，笑说：“昨儿妙玉并没亲来，只打发个妈妈送来。我就搁在那里，谁知一顿酒就忘了。”众人听了，道：“我当谁的，这样大惊小怪，这也不值的。”宝玉忙命：“快拿纸来。”当时拿了纸，研了墨，看他下著”槛外人”三字，自己竟不知回帖上回个什么字样才相敌。只管提笔出神，半天仍没主意。因又想：“若问宝钗去，他必又批评怪诞，不如问黛玉去。”

想罷，袖了帖兒，徑來尋黛玉。Having thought this, he tucked the card into his sleeve and went straight off to find Daiyu.剛過了沁芳亭，忽見岫煙顫顫巍巍的迎面走來。He had just passed Qinfang Pavilion when he suddenly saw Xiuyan coming toward him, tottering along on her bound feet.寶玉忙問：“姐姐那里去？”岫煙笑道：“我找妙玉說話。”寶玉聽了詫异，說道：“他為人孤癖，不合時宜，萬人不入他目。Baoyu asked hastily, "Sister, where are you off to?" Xiuyan said with a smile, "I'm going to have a chat with Miaoyu." Hearing this, Baoyu was astonished and said, "She's such an odd, aloof sort by nature, out of step with the times — hardly anyone catches her eye at all.原來他推重姐姐，竟知姐姐不是我們一流的俗人。”岫煙笑道：“他也未必真心重我，但我和他做過十年的鄰居，只一牆之隔。So it turns out she thinks highly of you, sister — she must know you're not an ordinary, worldly sort like the rest of us." Xiuyan laughed, "It's not necessarily that she truly thinks highly of me — but she and I were neighbors for ten years, separated only by a single wall.他在蟠香寺修煉，我家原寒素，賃的是他廟里的房子，住了十年，無事到他廟里去作伴。She was cultivating herself at Panxiang Temple, and my family, being poor, rented rooms belonging to her temple. We lived there for ten years, and whenever there was nothing to do I would go over to her temple to keep her company.我所認的字都是承他所授。All the characters I know, I owe to her teaching.我和他又是貧賤之交，又有半師之分。She and I are friends from humble, poverty-stricken days, and she is also something of a teacher to me besides.因我們投親去了，聞得他因不合時宜，權勢不容，竟投到這里來。After my family went off to seek shelter with relatives, I heard that because she was out of step with the times and couldn't be tolerated by those in power, she had come to take refuge here.如今又天緣湊合，我們得遇，舊情竟未易。Now, by a happy turn of fate, we've met again here, and our old bond has not changed in the least.承他青目，更胜當日。”寶玉聽了，恍如聽了焦雷一般，喜的笑道：“怪道姐姐舉止言談，超然如野鶴閒云，原來有本而來。She still favors me with her regard — even more than before." Hearing this, Baoyu felt as though a thunderclap had gone off in his ears, and he said delightedly, "No wonder your manner and speech, sister, are so transcendent, like a wild crane or a drifting cloud — there was good reason behind it after all.正因他的一件事我為難，要請教別人去。As it happens, I'm troubled over a matter concerning her and was just going to ask someone else for advice.如今遇見姐姐，真是天緣巧合，求姐姐指教。”說著，便將拜帖取與岫煙看。Now that I've run into you, sister, it's truly a stroke of providence — please, enlighten me." So saying, he took out the card and showed it to Xiuyan.岫煙笑道：“他這脾氣竟不能改，竟是生成這等放誕詭僻了。Xiuyan laughed, "That temper of hers really can't be changed — she was simply born this eccentric and unconventional.從來沒見拜帖上下別號的，這可是俗語說的‘僧不僧，俗不俗，女不女，男不男’，成個什麼道理。”寶玉聽說，忙笑道：“姐姐不知道，他原不在這些人中算，他原是世人意外之人。I've never once seen anyone sign a calling card with a courtesy title like this — it's just as the saying goes, 'neither monk nor layman, neither woman nor man' — what sense does that make?" When Baoyu heard this, he said quickly with a smile, "Sister, you don't understand — she was never meant to be counted among ordinary people to begin with; she's someone quite outside the common run of the world.因取我是個些微有知識的，方給我這帖子。It's only because she considers me to have a bit of understanding that she sent me this card at all.我因不知回什麼字樣才好，竟沒了主意，正要去問林妹妹，可巧遇見了姐姐。”岫煙聽了寶玉這話，且只顧用眼上下細細打量了半日，方笑道：“怪道俗語說的‘聞名不如見面’，又怪不得妙玉竟下這帖子給你，又怪不得上年竟給你那些梅花。I simply don't know what wording would be right to reply with, and I'm quite at a loss — I was just on my way to ask Cousin Lin when I happened to run into you, sister." Hearing Baoyu's words, Xiuyan looked him up and down carefully for a good while before saying with a smile, "No wonder the saying goes, 'Hearing of someone doesn't compare to meeting them.' And no wonder Miaoyu sent this card to you, and no wonder she gave you those plum blossoms last year, too.既連他這樣，少不得我告訴你原故。Since she's treated you this way, I suppose I'd better tell you the reason for it.他常說：‘古人自漢晉五代唐宋以來皆無好詩，只有兩句好，說道：“縱有千年鐵門檻，終須一個土饅頭。”所以他自稱‘檻外之人’。She often says, 'None of the poets from the Han, Jin, the Five Dynasties, Tang, or Song down to today have written good poetry, save for two lines that are truly fine: "Though there be an iron threshold that lasts a thousand years, in the end there's only a mound of earth."' That's why she calls herself 'the One Beyond the Threshold.'又常贊文是庄子的好，故又或稱為‘畸人’。She also often praises Zhuangzi's writings as the finest, and so at times calls herself an 'eccentric' instead.他若帖子上是自稱‘畸人’的，你就還他個‘世人’。If on her card she styled herself an 'eccentric,' you should address her in return as 'a worldly person.'畸人者，他自稱是畸零之人，你謙自己乃世中扰扰之人，他便喜了。By 'eccentric' she means she calls herself one set apart from the common lot; if you humbly call yourself a person caught up in the busy, troubled world, she'll be pleased.如今他自稱‘檻外之人’，是自謂蹈于鐵檻之外了，故你如今只下‘檻內人’，便合了他的心了。”寶玉聽了，如醍醐灌頂，噯喲了一聲，方笑道：“怪道我們家廟說是‘鐵檻寺’呢，原來有這一說。Now, since she calls herself 'the One Beyond the Threshold,' meaning she considers herself to have stepped beyond the iron threshold, you need only sign yourself 'the One Within the Threshold,' and that will suit her heart exactly." Hearing this, Baoyu felt as if he'd been doused with clarified butter and enlightened all at once; he let out an "Ah!" and then said with a laugh, "No wonder our family temple is called 'Tiejian Temple' — the Temple of the Iron Threshold — so there was this saying behind it after all.姐姐就請，讓我去寫回帖。”岫煙聽了，便自往櫳翠庵來。Please go on ahead, sister — let me go write my reply." Hearing this, Xiuyan went on by herself to Longcui Nunnery.寶玉回房寫了帖子，上面只寫“檻內人寶玉熏沐謹拜”幾字，親自拿了到櫳翠庵，只隔門縫兒投進去便回來了。Baoyu returned to his room and wrote out his card, on which he wrote only the words "The One Within the Threshold, Baoyu, having bathed and purified himself, bows with reverence." He carried it himself to Longcui Nunnery, slipped it through the crack of the gate, and came straight back.

想罢，袖了帖儿，径来寻黛玉。刚过了沁芳亭，忽见岫烟颤颤巍巍的迎面走来。宝玉忙问：“姐姐那里去？”岫烟笑道：“我找妙玉说话。”宝玉听了诧异，说道：“他为人孤癖，不合时宜，万人不入他目。原来他推重姐姐，竟知姐姐不是我们一流的俗人。”岫烟笑道：“他也未必真心重我，但我和他做过十年的邻居，只一墙之隔。他在蟠香寺修炼，我家原寒素，赁的是他庙里的房子，住了十年，无事到他庙里去作伴。我所认的字都是承他所授。我和他又是贫贱之交，又有半师之分。因我们投亲去了，闻得他因不合时宜，权势不容，竟投到这里来。如今又天缘凑合，我们得遇，旧情竟未易。承他青目，更胜当日。”宝玉听了，恍如听了焦雷一般，喜的笑道：“怪道姐姐举止言谈，超然如野鹤闲云，原来有本而来。正因他的一件事我为难，要请教别人去。如今遇见姐姐，真是天缘巧合，求姐姐指教。”说著，便将拜帖取与岫烟看。岫烟笑道：“他这脾气竟不能改，竟是生成这等放诞诡僻了。从来没见拜帖上下别号的，这可是俗语说的‘僧不僧，俗不俗，女不女，男不男’，成个什么道理。”宝玉听说，忙笑道：“姐姐不知道，他原不在这些人中算，他原是世人意外之人。因取我是个些微有知识的，方给我这帖子。我因不知回什么字样才好，竟没了主意，正要去问林妹妹，可巧遇见了姐姐。”岫烟听了宝玉这话，且只顾用眼上下细细打量了半日，方笑道：“怪道俗语说的‘闻名不如见面’，又怪不得妙玉竟下这帖子给你，又怪不得上年竟给你那些梅花。既连他这样，少不得我告诉你原故。他常说：‘古人自汉晋五代唐宋以来皆无好诗，只有两句好，说道：“纵有千年铁门槛，终须一个土馒头。”所以他自称‘槛外之人’。又常赞文是庄子的好，故又或称为‘畸人’。他若帖子上是自称‘畸人’的，你就还他个‘世人’。畸人者，他自称是畸零之人，你谦自己乃世中扰扰之人，他便喜了。如今他自称‘槛外之人’，是自谓蹈于铁槛之外了，故你如今只下‘槛内人’，便合了他的心了。”宝玉听了，如醍醐灌顶，嗳哟了一声，方笑道：“怪道我们家庙说是‘铁槛寺’呢，原来有这一说。姐姐就请，让我去写回帖。”岫烟听了，便自往栊翠庵来。宝玉回房写了帖子，上面只写“槛内人宝玉熏沐谨拜”几字，亲自拿了到栊翠庵，只隔门缝儿投进去便回来了。

因又見芳官梳了頭，挽起來，帶了些花翠，忙命他改妝，又命將周圍的短髮剃了去，露出碧青頭皮來，當中分大頂，又說：“冬天作大貂鼠臥兔兒帶，腳上穿虎頭盤雲五彩小戰靴，或散著褲腿，只用淨襪厚底鑲鞋。”又說：“芳官之名不好，竟改了男名才別致。”因又改作”雄奴”。Then, seeing that Fangguan had done her hair up and pinned it with some flowers and kingfisher-feather ornaments, he promptly had her change her appearance — he had the short hair around her hairline shaved away to show the bluish-green scalp beneath, with the rest parted into one large crown of hair on top. He said further, "In winter you'll wear a big sable 'crouching rabbit' hood, and on your feet little tiger-head war boots with swirling-cloud patterns in five colors, or else you can leave your trouser legs loose and just wear plain socks with thick-soled, trimmed shoes." He also said, "The name Fangguan isn't good — it would be far more distinctive to change it to a boy's name." And so he renamed her "Xiongnu."芳官十分稱心，又說：“既如此，你出門也帶我出去。Fangguan was thoroughly delighted with this, and said further, "Since that's so, take me along whenever you go out.有人問，只說我和茗煙一樣的小廝就是了。”寶玉笑道：“到底人看的出來。”芳官笑道：“我說你是無才的。If anyone asks, just say I'm a page-boy like Mingyan." Baoyu laughed, "People would still be able to tell, in the end." Fangguan laughed, "I said you had no imagination.咱家現有幾家土番，你就說我是個小土番兒。Our household already has a few native foreign servants — you can just say I'm one of the little native foreigners.況且人人說我打聯垂好看，你想這話可妙？”寶玉聽了，喜出意外，忙笑道：“這卻很好。Besides, everyone says my hair looks good braided in dangling locks — don't you think that's a clever idea?" Hearing this, Baoyu was delighted beyond expectation and said quickly with a laugh, "Why, that's excellent.我亦常見官員人等多有跟從外國獻俘之种，圖其不畏風霜，鞍馬便捷。I've often seen officials and the like keeping attendants from among the foreign captives presented as tribute, valuing them for being unafraid of wind and frost and quick and nimble on horseback.既這等，再起個番名，叫作“耶律雄奴”。‘雄奴’二音。Since that's so, let's give you a foreign name besides — we'll call you 'Yelü Xiongnu.' The two syllables 'Xiongnu'—又與匈奴相通，都是犬戎名姓。also sound the same as 'Xiongnu,' the Huns — both are names of the barbarian tribes.況且這兩种人自堯舜時便為中華之患，晉唐諸朝，深受其害。Besides, these two peoples have been a scourge to China ever since the time of Yao and Shun, and through the Jin and Tang dynasties and others, China suffered greatly at their hands.幸得咱們有福，生在當今之世，大舜之正裔，圣虞之功德仁孝，赫赫格天，同天地日月億兆不朽，所以凡歷朝中跳梁猖獗之小丑，到了如今竟不用一干一戈，皆天使其拱手俯頭緣遠來降。Fortunately for us, we have the good fortune to be born into the present age, under the rightful descendants of the great Shun, whose merit and virtue, benevolence and filial piety, blaze forth gloriously to Heaven, enduring imperishably alongside heaven and earth, sun and moon, for ten thousand generations. And so all the unruly, rampaging troublemakers of past dynasties now, without so much as a single weapon being raised, have been made by Heaven to fold their hands and bow their heads, coming from afar to submit.我們正該作踐他們，為君父生色。”芳官笑道：“既這樣著，你該去操習弓馬，學些武藝，挺身出去拿幾個反叛來，豈不進忠效力了。It's only right that we should mock and mistreat them, to bring glory to our sovereign and our fathers." Fangguan laughed, "If that's so, then you ought to go practice archery and horsemanship, learn some martial skill, and go out yourself to capture a few rebels — wouldn't that be serving with true loyalty and effort?何必借我們，你鼓唇搖舌的，自己開心作戲，卻說是稱功頌德呢。”寶玉笑道：“所以你不明白。Why bother using us, wagging your tongue and moving your lips just to amuse yourself and play games, and then calling it singing praises to merit and virtue?" Baoyu laughed, "That's exactly why you don't understand.如今四海賓服，八方宁靜，千載百載不用武備。Nowadays all within the four seas submit as guests, and peace reigns in every direction — for a thousand years, for a hundred years, there will be no need for arms.咱們雖一戲一笑，也該稱頌，方不負坐享昇平了。”芳官聽了有理，二人自為妥貼甚宜。Even in our idle jests and laughter, we ought still to sing its praises, so as not to squander the peace and prosperity we enjoy while sitting idle." Fangguan found this reasonable, and the two of them considered the matter thoroughly settled and fitting.寶玉便叫他”耶律雄奴”。So Baoyu began calling her "Yelü Xiongnu."

因又见芳官梳了头，挽起来，带了些花翠，忙命他改妆，又命将周围的短发剃了去，露出碧青头皮来，当中分大顶，又说：“冬天作大貂鼠卧兔儿带，脚上穿虎头盘云五彩小战靴，或散著裤腿，只用净袜厚底镶鞋。”又说：“芳官之名不好，竟改了男名才别致。”因又改作”雄奴”。芳官十分称心，又说：“既如此，你出门也带我出去。有人问，只说我和茗烟一样的小厮就是了。”宝玉笑道：“到底人看的出来。”芳官笑道：“我说你是无才的。咱家现有几家土番，你就说我是个小土番儿。况且人人说我打联垂好看，你想这话可妙？”宝玉听了，喜出意外，忙笑道：“这却很好。我亦常见官员人等多有跟从外国献俘之种，图其不畏风霜，鞍马便捷。既这等，再起个番名，叫作“耶律雄奴”。‘雄奴’二音。又与匈奴相通，都是犬戎名姓。况且这两种人自尧舜时便为中华之患，晋唐诸朝，深受其害。幸得咱们有福，生在当今之世，大舜之正裔，圣虞之功德仁孝，赫赫格天，同天地日月亿兆不朽，所以凡历朝中跳梁猖獗之小丑，到了如今竟不用一干一戈，皆天使其拱手俯头缘远来降。我们正该作践他们，为君父生色。”芳官笑道：“既这样著，你该去操习弓马，学些武艺，挺身出去拿几个反叛来，岂不进忠效力了。何必借我们，你鼓唇摇舌的，自己开心作戏，却说是称功颂德呢。”宝玉笑道：“所以你不明白。如今四海宾服，八方宁静，千载百载不用武备。咱们虽一戏一笑，也该称颂，方不负坐享升平了。”芳官听了有理，二人自为妥贴甚宜。宝玉便叫他”耶律雄奴”。

究竟賈府二宅皆有先人當年所獲之囚賜為奴隸，只不過令其飼養馬匹，皆不堪大用。As it happened, both branches of the Jia household did have captives taken by their ancestors in years past and bestowed as slaves, but these were only set to tending the horses, being fit for nothing of greater use.湘雲素習憨戲异常，他也最喜武扮的，每每自己束鑾帶，穿折袖。Xiangyun had always by nature been extraordinarily playful and high-spirited, and she too loved dressing in martial style more than anything, often binding on a jeweled belt herself and wearing narrow-sleeved robes.近見寶玉將芳官扮成男子，他便將葵官也扮了個小子。Seeing Baoyu lately dress Fangguan up as a boy, she likewise dressed Kuiguan up as a lad.那葵官本是常刮剔短髮，好便于面上粉墨油彩，手腳又伶便，打扮了又省一層手。Kuiguan had always kept her hair cropped short in any case, to make it easier to apply powder, paint, and greasepaint on her face for the stage, and being nimble of hand and foot besides, dressing her up this way saved a whole extra step.李紈探春見了也愛，便將寶琴的豆官也就命他打扮了一個小童，頭上兩個丫髻，短襖紅鞋，只差了涂臉，便儼是戲上的一個琴童。Li Wan and Tanchun, seeing this, took a liking to it too, and had Baoqin's Douguan dressed up as a young page-boy as well, with two small tufted buns on her head, a short jacket, and red shoes — lacking only the painted face, she looked for all the world like a lute-boy straight off the opera stage.湘雲將葵官改了，換作“大英”。Xiangyun changed Kuiguan's name, replacing it with "Daying."因他姓韋，便叫他作韋大英，方合自己的意思，暗有‘惟大英雄能本色’之語，何必涂朱抹粉，才是男子。Since her surname was Wei, she called her Wei Daying, which suited her own idea precisely — a hidden allusion to the saying "only a truly great hero can be himself" — why should one need rouge and powder to be a man?豆官身量年紀皆极小，又极鬼靈，故曰豆官。Douguan was very small in both build and age, and extremely quick-witted besides, and so was called Douguan — "Bean."園中人也喚他作“阿豆”的，也有喚作“炒豆子”的。People in the garden also called her "Ah Dou," and some called her "Fried Bean" as well.寶琴反說琴童書童等名太熟了，竟是豆字別致，便換作“豆童”。Baoqin, however, said that names like "Lute-boy" or "Book-boy" were far too common, and that the character "Bean" was actually rather distinctive, so she changed it to "Bean-boy" instead.因飯後平兒還席，說紅香圃太熱，便在榆蔭堂中擺了幾席新酒佳肴。After the meal, since Pinger was hosting her return banquet and said Hongxiangpu was too hot, several tables of fresh wine and fine dishes were set out in Yuyintang instead.可喜尤氏又帶了佩鳳偕鴛二妾過來游頑。As it happened, You-shi also brought her two concubines, Peifeng and Xieyuan, over to join in the fun.這二妾亦是青年姣憨女子，不常過來的，今既入了這園，再遇見湘雲，香菱，芳蕊一干女子，所謂‘方以類聚，物以群分’二語不錯，只見他們說笑不了，也不管尤氏在那里，只憑丫鬟們去伏侍，且同眾人一一的游頑。These two concubines were likewise young, pretty, and playful girls who did not often come over; but now that they had entered the garden and met Xiangyun, Xiangling, Fangguan, and the rest of the girls, the saying "like attracts like, and things gather by kind" proved quite true — the girls chattered and laughed without pause, paying no mind to where You-shi was, leaving the maids to attend to her while they went off to enjoy themselves with everyone else, one by one.一時到了怡紅院，忽聽寶玉叫“耶律雄奴”，把佩鳳，偕鴛，香菱三個人笑在一處，問是什麼話，大家也學著叫這名字，又叫錯了音韻，或忘了字眼，甚至于叫出“野驢子”來，引的合園中人凡聽見無不笑倒。In a little while they reached Yihongyuan, and hearing Baoyu suddenly call out "Yelü Xiongnu," Peifeng, Xieyuan, and Xiangling all burst out laughing together and asked what on earth that meant; then everyone else tried imitating the name too, getting the sounds wrong or forgetting the words, until some even blurted out "Wild Donkey" instead — which set everyone in the whole garden who heard it laughing until they nearly fell over.寶玉又見人人取笑，恐作賤了他，忙又說：“海西福朗思牙，聞有金星玻璃寶石，他本國番語以金星玻璃名為‘溫都里納’。Seeing everyone making such fun of it and fearing it demeaned her, Baoyu hastily added, "In Folangsiya in the far West, I've heard there's a gemstone called gold-flecked glass, which in their own foreign tongue they call 'Wenduolina.'如今將你比作他，就改名喚叫‘溫都里納’可好？”芳官聽了更喜，說：“就是這樣罷。”因此又喚了這名。Now, comparing you to that, suppose we change your name to 'Wenduolina' — how would that be?" Fangguan, hearing this, was even more delighted and said, "Let it be that, then." And so she was called by this name from then on.眾人嫌拗口，仍翻漢名，就喚“玻璃”。The others found it too much of a mouthful, though, and translated it back into Chinese, calling her simply "Boli" — Glass.

究竟贾府二宅皆有先人当年所获之囚赐为奴隶，只不过令其饲养马匹，皆不堪大用。湘云素习憨戏异常，他也最喜武扮的，每每自己束銮带，穿折袖。近见宝玉将芳官扮成男子，他便将葵官也扮了个小子。那葵官本是常刮剔短发，好便于面上粉墨油彩，手脚又伶便，打扮了又省一层手。李纨探春见了也爱，便将宝琴的豆官也就命他打扮了一个小童，头上两个丫髻，短袄红鞋，只差了涂脸，便俨是戏上的一个琴童。湘云将葵官改了，换作“大英”。因他姓韦，便叫他作韦大英，方合自己的意思，暗有‘惟大英雄能本色’之语，何必涂朱抹粉，才是男子。豆官身量年纪皆极小，又极鬼灵，故曰豆官。园中人也唤他作“阿豆”的，也有唤作“炒豆子”的。宝琴反说琴童书童等名太熟了，竟是豆字别致，便换作“豆童”。因饭后平儿还席，说红香圃太热，便在榆荫堂中摆了几席新酒佳肴。可喜尤氏又带了佩凤偕鸳二妾过来游顽。这二妾亦是青年姣憨女子，不常过来的，今既入了这园，再遇见湘云，香菱，芳蕊一干女子，所谓‘方以类聚，物以群分’二语不错，只见他们说笑不了，也不管尤氏在那里，只凭丫鬟们去伏侍，且同众人一一的游顽。一时到了怡红院，忽听宝玉叫“耶律雄奴”，把佩凤，偕鸳，香菱三个人笑在一处，问是什么话，大家也学著叫这名字，又叫错了音韵，或忘了字眼，甚至于叫出“野驴子”来，引的合园中人凡听见无不笑倒。宝玉又见人人取笑，恐作贱了他，忙又说：“海西福朗思牙，闻有金星玻璃宝石，他本国番语以金星玻璃名为‘温都里纳’。如今将你比作他，就改名唤叫‘温都里纳’可好？”芳官听了更喜，说：“就是这样罢。”因此又唤了这名。众人嫌拗口，仍翻汉名，就唤“玻璃”。

閒言少述，且說當下眾人都在榆蔭堂中以酒為名，大家頑笑，命女先兒擊鼓。Enough of such digressions — to return to the matter at hand, everyone was gathered in Yuyintang under the pretext of drinking wine, all making merry together, and they had the blind female storyteller beat the drum.平兒采了一枝芍藥，大家約二十來人傳花為令，熱鬧了一回。Pinger plucked a spray of peony blossoms, and the some twenty people there agreed to play the flower-passing game as a forfeit round, making quite a lively time of it for a while.因人回說：“甄家有兩個女人送東西來了。”探春和李紈尤氏三人出去議事廳相見，這里眾人且出來散一散。Then someone came to report, "Two women from the Zhen family have come to deliver gifts." Tanchun, Li Wan, and You-shi went out together to receive them in the reception hall, while the others here came out to stroll about for a while.佩鳳偕鴛兩個去打秋千頑耍，寶玉便說：“你兩個上去，讓我送。”慌的佩鳳說：“罷了，別替我們鬧亂子，倒是叫‘野驢子’來送送使得。”寶玉忙笑說：“好姐姐們別頑了，沒的叫人跟著你們學著罵他。”偕鴛又說：“笑軟了，怎麼打呢。Peifeng and Xieyuan went off to swing on the swings for fun, and Baoyu said, "You two get on, and let me push you." Flustered, Peifeng said, "Never mind — don't go stirring up trouble for us, better to call 'Wild Donkey' over to do the pushing instead." Baoyu said quickly with a laugh, "Dear sisters, don't joke like that — you'll have people picking up the habit of cursing her along with you." Xieyuan said further, "We've laughed ourselves weak — how are we supposed to swing now?掉下來栽出你的黃子來。”佩鳳便赶著他打。If we fall off, out will come whatever's inside you." Peifeng chased after her to hit her for saying that.

闲言少述，且说当下众人都在榆荫堂中以酒为名，大家顽笑，命女先儿击鼓。平儿采了一枝芍药，大家约二十来人传花为令，热闹了一回。因人回说：“甄家有两个女人送东西来了。”探春和李纨尤氏三人出去议事厅相见，这里众人且出来散一散。佩凤偕鸳两个去打秋千顽耍，宝玉便说：“你两个上去，让我送。”慌的佩凤说：“罢了，别替我们闹乱子，倒是叫‘野驴子’来送送使得。”宝玉忙笑说：“好姐姐们别顽了，没的叫人跟著你们学著骂他。”偕鸳又说：“笑软了，怎么打呢。掉下来栽出你的黄子来。”佩凤便赶著他打。

正頑笑不絕，忽見東府中幾個人慌慌張張跑來說：“老爺賓天了。”眾人聽了，唬了一大跳，忙都說：“好好的并無疾病，怎麼就沒了？”家下人說：“老爺天天修煉，定是功行圓滿，升仙去了。”尤氏一聞此言，又見賈珍父子并賈璉等皆不在家，一時竟沒個著己的男子來，未免忙了。Just as the laughter and play were going on without pause, several people from the Ning mansion suddenly came running in a great fluster, crying, "The Master has ascended to Heaven!" Hearing this, everyone was thrown into a great fright, and all said at once, "He was perfectly well, with no illness at all — how could he suddenly be gone?" The household servants said, "The Master cultivated himself day after day — he must have achieved the fullness of his practice and ascended to become an immortal." The moment You-shi heard this, and realizing that Jia Zhen and his son, along with Jia Lian and the others, were none of them at home, so that for the moment there was not a single close male relative to turn to, she could not help but be thrown into a fluster.只得忙卸了妝飾，命人先到玄真觀將所有的道士都鎖了起來，等大爺來家審問。She had no choice but to hastily remove her ornaments and finery, and ordered someone to go first to Xuanzhen Temple and have all the Taoist priests there locked up, to await questioning when the Eldest Master returned home.一面忙忙坐車帶了賴升一干家人媳婦出城。At the same time, she hurriedly got into a carriage and, taking Lai Sheng and a group of the household servants' wives with her, set out of the city.又請太醫看視到底系何病。She also sent for the imperial physicians to examine the body and determine just what illness it had been.大夫們見人已死，何處診脈來，素知賈敬導氣之術總屬虛誕，更至參星禮斗，守庚申，服靈砂，妄作虛為，過于勞神費力，反因此傷了性命的。The physicians, finding the man already dead, had nowhere to take a pulse from; they had long known that Jia Jing's arts of "guiding the breath" were nothing but empty nonsense, and that his further practices — worshipping the stars, paying obeisance to the Dipper, keeping vigil through the night of Gengshen, and swallowing cinnabar elixirs — were all reckless, baseless undertakings that had overtaxed his spirit and strength, and had in the end cost him his life instead.如今雖死，肚中堅硬似鐵，面皮嘴唇燒的紫絳皺裂。Now, though he was dead, his belly was hard as iron, and his face and lips had been scorched a deep purplish-red and were cracked and shriveled.便向媳婦回說：“系玄教中吞金服砂，燒脹而歿。”眾道士慌的回說：“原是老爺秘法新制的丹砂吃坏事，小道們也曾勸說‘功行未到且服不得’，不承望老爺于今夜守庚申時悄悄的服了下去，便升仙了。So they reported to the wife, "This was a case of swallowing gold and cinnabar according to Taoist practice, resulting in death from internal burning and swelling." The Taoist priests, flustered, explained, "It was the cinnabar elixir the Master had newly compounded by a secret method that did the harm — we lesser priests did urge him, saying, 'Your practice has not yet reached the necessary stage, you mustn't take it yet,' but we never expected that the Master would quietly swallow it down tonight during his Gengshen vigil, and so ascend to become an immortal.這恐是虔心得道，已出苦海，脫去皮囊，自了去也。”尤氏也不聽，只命鎖著，等賈珍來發放，且命人去飛馬報信。This must surely be a case of his devout heart attaining the Way, escaping the sea of suffering, shedding his mortal shell, and passing on of his own accord." You-shi paid no heed to this at all, and only ordered them kept locked up to await Jia Zhen's decision on their fate when he returned, while also sending someone riding at full speed to carry the news.一面看視這里窄狹，不能停放，橫豎也不能進城的，忙裝裹好了，用軟轎抬至鐵檻寺來停放，掐指算來，至早也得半月的工夫，賈珍方能來到。Seeing meanwhile that the place was too cramped for the body to lie in state, and that in any case it could not be brought into the city, she had it hastily dressed and shrouded and carried by soft-curtained sedan to Tiejian Temple to lie there instead; reckoning on her fingers, it would take at least half a month before Jia Zhen could possibly arrive.目今天氣炎熱，實不得相待，遂自行主持，命天文生擇了日期入殮。Since the weather was now scorching hot and truly would not permit further delay, she took charge of matters herself and had the astrologer select a date for the encoffining.壽木已系早年備下寄在此廟的，甚是便宜。The coffin had already been prepared years before and stored at this very temple, which made things quite convenient.三日後便開喪破孝。Three days later, the mourning was formally opened and the mourning garb put on.一面且做起道場來等賈珍。Meanwhile, Taoist rites were begun in the interim, to await Jia Zhen's arrival.

正顽笑不绝，忽见东府中几个人慌慌张张跑来说：“老爷宾天了。”众人听了，唬了一大跳，忙都说：“好好的并无疾病，怎么就没了？”家下人说：“老爷天天修炼，定是功行圆满，升仙去了。”尤氏一闻此言，又见贾珍父子并贾琏等皆不在家，一时竟没个著己的男子来，未免忙了。只得忙卸了妆饰，命人先到玄真观将所有的道士都锁了起来，等大爷来家审问。一面忙忙坐车带了赖升一干家人媳妇出城。又请太医看视到底系何病。大夫们见人已死，何处诊脉来，素知贾敬导气之术总属虚诞，更至参星礼斗，守庚申，服灵砂，妄作虚为，过于劳神费力，反因此伤了性命的。如今虽死，肚中坚硬似铁，面皮嘴唇烧的紫绛皱裂。便向媳妇回说：“系玄教中吞金服砂，烧胀而殁。”众道士慌的回说：“原是老爷秘法新制的丹砂吃坏事，小道们也曾劝说‘功行未到且服不得’，不承望老爷于今夜守庚申时悄悄的服了下去，便升仙了。这恐是虔心得道，已出苦海，脱去皮囊，自了去也。”尤氏也不听，只命锁著，等贾珍来发放，且命人去飞马报信。一面看视这里窄狭，不能停放，横竖也不能进城的，忙装裹好了，用软轿抬至铁槛寺来停放，掐指算来，至早也得半月的工夫，贾珍方能来到。目今天气炎热，实不得相待，遂自行主持，命天文生择了日期入殓。寿木已系早年备下寄在此庙的，甚是便宜。三日后便开丧破孝。一面且做起道场来等贾珍。

榮府中鳳姐兒出不來，李紈又照顧姊妹，寶玉不識事体，只得將外頭之事暫托了幾個家中二等管事人。In the Rong mansion, Xifeng could not get away, Li Wan was occupied looking after the young ladies, and Baoyu had no head for practical affairs, so there was nothing for it but to entrust outside matters for the time being to a few of the second-tier stewards of the household.賈、賈珖、賈珩、賈瓔、賈菖、賈菱等各有執事。Jia Zhi, Jia Guang, Jia Heng, Jia Ying, Jia Chang, Jia Ling, and the others were each given their duties to attend to.尤氏不能回家，便將他繼母接來在宁府看家。Since You-shi could not go home herself, she had her stepmother brought over to look after things at the Ning mansion.他這繼母只得將兩個未出嫁的小女帶來，一并起居才放心。Her stepmother, in turn, had no choice but to bring along her own two unmarried young daughters, so as to have everyone's daily needs seen to together and set her mind at ease.

荣府中凤姐儿出不来，李纨又照顾姊妹，宝玉不识事体，只得将外头之事暂托了几个家中二等管事人。贾、贾珖、贾珩、贾璎、贾菖、贾菱等各有执事。尤氏不能回家，便将他继母接来在宁府看家。他这继母只得将两个未出嫁的小女带来，一并起居才放心。

且說賈珍聞了此信，即忙告假，并賈蓉是有職之人。Now, as for Jia Zhen — when he received this news, he at once hastened to request leave, along with Jia Rong, who likewise held official posts.禮部見當今隆敦孝弟，不敢自專，具本請旨。The Board of Rites, seeing how deeply the reigning Emperor prized filial piety and brotherly duty, dared not decide the matter on its own authority, and drew up a memorial to request an imperial ruling.原來天子极是仁孝過天的，且更隆重功臣之裔，一見此本，便詔問賈敬何職。It happened that the Emperor was a man of benevolence and filial devotion surpassing even Heaven itself, and moreover held the descendants of meritorious officials in the highest regard; the moment he saw this memorial, he issued an edict asking what office Jia Jing had held.禮部代奏：“系進士出身，祖職已蔭其子賈珍。The Board of Rites reported on his behalf: "He rose through the examinations to the rank of jinshi; his ancestral office had already been passed down by hereditary privilege to his son, Jia Zhen.賈敬因年邁多疾，常養靜于都城之外玄真觀。Jia Jing, being advanced in years and often ill, had for long lived in quiet retirement at the Xuanzhen Temple outside the capital.今因疾歿于寺中，其子珍，其孫蓉，現因國喪隨駕在此，故乞假歸殮。”天子聽了，忙下額外恩旨曰：“賈敬雖白衣無功于國，念彼祖父之功，追賜五品之職。Now he has died of illness within the temple; his son Zhen and his grandson Rong are presently here in attendance on the imperial progress on account of the state mourning, and therefore beg leave to return home to see to the encoffining." On hearing this, the Emperor at once issued a special edict of grace, saying: "Although Jia Jing, being without office, rendered no service to the state, yet in consideration of the merit of his forefathers, I posthumously bestow upon him the rank of the fifth grade.令其子孫扶柩由北下之門進都，入彼私第殯殮。Let his sons and grandsons bear the coffin in through the northern gate of the capital, and lay it out for encoffining at his own private residence.任子孫盡喪禮畢扶柩回籍外，著光祿寺按上例賜祭。Besides permitting his sons and grandsons to complete the mourning rites in full before bearing the coffin back to the family's native place, let the Court of Imperial Entertainments bestow sacrificial offerings according to precedent.朝中由王公以下准其祭吊。At court, all from the princes and dukes downward are permitted to offer sacrifice and condolence.欽此。”此旨一下，不但賈府中人謝恩，連朝中所有大臣皆嵩呼稱頌不絕。Respect this." No sooner was this edict issued than not only did the members of the Jia household give thanks for the imperial favor, but all the ministers at court as well raised their voices in praise without end.賈珍父子星夜馳回，半路中又見賈賈珖二人領家丁飛騎而來，看見賈珍，一齊滾鞍下馬請安。Jia Zhen and his son galloped back day and night, and midway they encountered two Jia kinsmen, Jia Guang among them, leading household servants and riding swiftly toward them; the moment they saw Jia Zhen, both flung themselves off their horses to pay their respects.賈珍忙問：“作什麼？”賈回說：“嫂子恐哥哥和侄兒來了，老太太路上無人，叫我們兩個來護送老太太的。”賈珍聽了，贊稱不絕，又問家中如何料理。Jia Zhen hurriedly asked, "What is it?" One of them answered, "Sister-in-law feared that with you and our nephew both away, the old lady would have no one to see her on the road, and so sent the two of us to escort her." Hearing this, Jia Zhen praised them over and over, and then asked how things at home were being handled.賈等便將如何拿了道士，如何挪至家廟，怕家內無人接了親家母和兩個姨娘在上房住著。Jia Guang and his companion then told him how they had seized the Daoist priest, how the coffin had been moved to the family temple, and how, fearing no one would be left at home to receive guests, they had brought his mother-in-law and her two younger sisters to stay in the front apartments.賈蓉當下也下了馬，聽見兩個姨娘來了，便和賈珍一笑。Jia Rong, too, dismounted at once, and on hearing that his two aunts had come, exchanged a smile with Jia Zhen.賈珍忙說了幾聲“妥當”，加鞭便走，店也不投，連夜換馬飛馳。Jia Zhen quickly said "good, good" several times, then whipped his horse onward; without even stopping at an inn, they changed horses and galloped on through the night.一日到了都門，先奔入鐵檻寺。In due course they reached the gate of the capital, and made straight for the Tie Kan Temple.那天已是四更天氣，坐更的聞知，忙喝起眾人來。By then it was already the fourth watch of the night; the watchman on duty, hearing them arrive, hastily roused everyone.賈珍下了馬，和賈蓉放聲大哭，從大門外便跪爬進來，至棺前稽顙泣血，直哭到天亮喉嚨都啞了方住。Jia Zhen dismounted and, together with Jia Rong, broke into loud weeping; from outside the main gate they crawled in on their knees, and before the coffin knocked their heads to the ground and wept tears of blood, weeping on until dawn, until their throats had gone hoarse, before they stopped.尤氏等都一齊見過。You Shi and the others all came forward together to greet them.賈珍父子忙按禮換了凶服，在棺前俯伏，無奈自要理事，竟不能目不視物，耳不聞聲，少不得減些悲戚，好指揮眾人。Father and son hurriedly changed into mourning garments as ritual required, and prostrated themselves before the coffin; but since they themselves had to take charge of affairs, they could not simply shut their eyes and ears to everything around them, and had no choice but to set aside some of their grief in order to direct the household.因將恩旨備述與眾親友聽了。He then related the full particulars of the imperial edict of grace to the assembled relatives and friends.一面先打發賈蓉家中料理停靈之事。At the same time, he sent Jia Rong ahead to see to the arrangements at home for laying out the coffin.賈蓉得不得一聲兒，先騎馬飛來至家，忙命前廳收桌椅，下槅扇，挂孝幔子，門前起鼓手棚牌樓等事。Jia Rong, only too glad of the chance, at once galloped home ahead of the rest, and hastily ordered the tables and chairs in the front hall cleared away, the lattice partitions taken down, the mourning curtains hung, and the drummers' shed and memorial archway set up before the gate.又忙著進來看外祖母兩個姨娘。He then hurried inside to see his maternal grandmother and his two aunts.原來尤老安人年高喜睡，常歪著，他二姨娘三姨娘都和丫頭們作活計，他來了都道煩惱。Now old Madame You, being advanced in years, was fond of resting and often lay reclining; his second and third aunts were both doing needlework with the maids, and when he arrived they all complained that he was a nuisance.賈蓉且嘻嘻的望他二姨娘笑說：“二姨娘，你又來了，我們父親正想你呢。”尤二姐便紅了臉，罵道：“蓉小子，我過兩日不罵你幾句，你就過不得了。Jia Rong, grinning, looked at his second aunt and said with a laugh, "Second Aunt, so you've come again — my father has been thinking of you." You Erjie flushed red and scolded him, "You little wretch Rong, if I don't curse you a few times every couple of days, you can't seem to get through the day.越發連個体統都沒了。You've grown more and more improper by the day, without a shred of decency left.還虧你是大家公子哥兒，每日念書學禮的，越發連那小家子瓢坎的也跟不上。”說著順手拿起一個熨斗來，摟頭就打，嚇的賈蓉抱著頭滾到怀里告饒。And to think you're supposed to be a young gentleman of a great family, studying your books and your manners every day — you've ended up worse than the roughest boy from some petty household." So saying, she snatched up a flatiron and swung it straight at his head; Jia Rong, terrified, threw his arms over his head and rolled into her lap, begging for mercy.尤三姐便上來撕嘴，又說：“等姐姐來家，咱們告訴他。”You Sanjie then came up and pinched his mouth, saying, "Wait till your mother comes home — we'll tell her all about this."

且说贾珍闻了此信，即忙告假，并贾蓉是有职之人。礼部见当今隆敦孝弟，不敢自专，具本请旨。原来天子极是仁孝过天的，且更隆重功臣之裔，一见此本，便诏问贾敬何职。礼部代奏：“系进士出身，祖职已荫其子贾珍。贾敬因年迈多疾，常养静于都城之外玄真观。今因疾殁于寺中，其子珍，其孙蓉，现因国丧随驾在此，故乞假归殓。”天子听了，忙下额外恩旨曰：“贾敬虽白衣无功于国，念彼祖父之功，追赐五品之职。令其子孙扶柩由北下之门进都，入彼私第殡殓。任子孙尽丧礼毕扶柩回籍外，著光禄寺按上例赐祭。朝中由王公以下准其祭吊。钦此。”此旨一下，不但贾府中人谢恩，连朝中所有大臣皆嵩呼称颂不绝。贾珍父子星夜驰回，半路中又见贾贾珖二人领家丁飞骑而来，看见贾珍，一齐滚鞍下马请安。贾珍忙问：“作什么？”贾回说：“嫂子恐哥哥和侄儿来了，老太太路上无人，叫我们两个来护送老太太的。”贾珍听了，赞称不绝，又问家中如何料理。贾等便将如何拿了道士，如何挪至家庙，怕家内无人接了亲家母和两个姨娘在上房住著。贾蓉当下也下了马，听见两个姨娘来了，便和贾珍一笑。贾珍忙说了几声“妥当”，加鞭便走，店也不投，连夜换马飞驰。一日到了都门，先奔入铁槛寺。那天已是四更天气，坐更的闻知，忙喝起众人来。贾珍下了马，和贾蓉放声大哭，从大门外便跪爬进来，至棺前稽颡泣血，直哭到天亮喉咙都哑了方住。尤氏等都一齐见过。贾珍父子忙按礼换了凶服，在棺前俯伏，无奈自要理事，竟不能目不视物，耳不闻声，少不得减些悲戚，好指挥众人。因将恩旨备述与众亲友听了。一面先打发贾蓉家中料理停灵之事。贾蓉得不得一声儿，先骑马飞来至家，忙命前厅收桌椅，下槅扇，挂孝幔子，门前起鼓手棚牌楼等事。又忙著进来看外祖母两个姨娘。原来尤老安人年高喜睡，常歪著，他二姨娘三姨娘都和丫头们作活计，他来了都道烦恼。贾蓉且嘻嘻的望他二姨娘笑说：“二姨娘，你又来了，我们父亲正想你呢。”尤二姐便红了脸，骂道：“蓉小子，我过两日不骂你几句，你就过不得了。越发连个体统都没了。还亏你是大家公子哥儿，每日念书学礼的，越发连那小家子瓢坎的也跟不上。”说著顺手拿起一个熨斗来，搂头就打，吓的贾蓉抱著头滚到怀里告饶。尤三姐便上来撕嘴，又说：“等姐姐来家，咱们告诉他。”

賈蓉忙笑著跪在炕上求饒，他兩個又笑了。Jia Rong hastily knelt on the kang, laughing, and begged for pardon, at which the two of them burst out laughing again.賈蓉又和二姨搶砂仁吃，尤二姐嚼了一嘴渣子，吐了他一臉。Jia Rong then tried to snatch some cardamom seeds from his second aunt to eat; You Erjie, chewing a mouthful of the pulp, spat it straight into his face.賈蓉用舌頭都舔著吃了。Jia Rong licked it all off with his tongue and ate it.眾丫頭看不過，都笑說：“熱孝在身上，老娘才睡了覺，他兩個雖小，到底是姨娘家，你太眼里沒有奶奶了。The maids, unable to bear the sight of this, said laughingly, "Here you are still in deep mourning, and the old lady has only just fallen asleep — these two may be young, but they are your aunts after all; you show no respect at all for your grandmother.回來告訴爺，你吃不了兜著走。”賈蓉撇下他姨娘，便抱著丫頭們親嘴：“我的心肝，你說的是，咱們讒他兩個。”丫頭們忙推他，恨的罵：“短命鬼兒，你一般有老婆丫頭，只和我們鬧，知道的說是頑，不知道的人，再遇見那髒心爛肺的愛多管閒事嚼舌頭的人，吵嚷的那府里誰不知道，誰不背地里嚼舌說咱們這邊亂帳。”賈蓉笑道：“各門另戶，誰管誰的事。Wait till we tell your father when he's back — you'll get more than you bargained for." Jia Rong left off teasing his aunts and threw his arms round the maids to kiss them instead, saying, "My darlings, you're quite right — let's go tease those two together." The maids hastily pushed him away and cursed him bitterly, "You short-lived wretch, you've got a wife and maids of your own, yet you must go on carrying on with us — those who know you will say it's just fooling around, but if some foul-hearted, rotten-lunged busybody with a wagging tongue should hear of it and spread it about, is there anyone in that mansion who wouldn't know, who wouldn't gossip behind our backs about the goings-on in our branch of the family?" Jia Rong laughed and said, "Each household keeps to its own gate — who's to mind whose business?都夠使的了。There's plenty to go around for everyone.從古至今，連漢朝和唐朝，人還說髒唐臭漢，何況咱們這宗人家。From ancient times to now, even the Han and Tang dynasties themselves are spoken of as 'the filthy Tang and the foul Han' — how much more a clan like ours.誰家沒風流事，別討我說出來。Whose family doesn't have its scandals? Don't make me start naming them.連那邊大老爺這麼利害，璉叔還和那小姨娘不乾淨呢。Even over there, stern as our Elder Uncle is, Uncle Lian still carries on improperly with that little concubine of his.鳳姑娘那樣剛強，瑞叔還想他的帳。And for all that Sister Feng is so strong-willed, Uncle Rui still has designs on her.那一件瞞了我！”Which single one of these has ever been kept from me!"

贾蓉忙笑著跪在炕上求饶，他两个又笑了。贾蓉又和二姨抢砂仁吃，尤二姐嚼了一嘴渣子，吐了他一脸。贾蓉用舌头都舔著吃了。众丫头看不过，都笑说：“热孝在身上，老娘才睡了觉，他两个虽小，到底是姨娘家，你太眼里没有奶奶了。回来告诉爷，你吃不了兜著走。”贾蓉撇下他姨娘，便抱著丫头们亲嘴：“我的心肝，你说的是，咱们谗他两个。”丫头们忙推他，恨的骂：“短命鬼儿，你一般有老婆丫头，只和我们闹，知道的说是顽，不知道的人，再遇见那脏心烂肺的爱多管闲事嚼舌头的人，吵嚷的那府里谁不知道，谁不背地里嚼舌说咱们这边乱帐。”贾蓉笑道：“各门另户，谁管谁的事。都够使的了。从古至今，连汉朝和唐朝，人还说脏唐臭汉，何况咱们这宗人家。谁家没风流事，别讨我说出来。连那边大老爷这么利害，琏叔还和那小姨娘不干净呢。凤姑娘那样刚强，瑞叔还想他的帐。那一件瞒了我！”

賈蓉只管信口開合胡言亂道之間，只見他老娘醒了，請安問好，又說：“難為老祖宗勞心，又難為兩位姨娘受委屈，我們爺兒們感戴不盡。While Jia Rong ran on this way, saying whatever came into his mouth without regard to sense, he saw that his grandmother had woken; he greeted her respectfully and asked after her health, then said, "It has been such trouble for you, Old Ancestress, and such a hardship for my two aunts to be put out like this — we, father and son, are deeply grateful.惟有等事完了，我們合家大小，登門去磕頭。”尤老人點頭道：“我的兒，倒是你們會說話。Only once everything here is settled shall the whole of our household, young and old, come to your door to kowtow in thanks." Old Madame You nodded and said, "My child, you certainly do know how to talk.親戚們原是該的。”又問：“你父親好？But that is only what relatives ought to do." She then asked, "Is your father well?幾時得了信赶到的？”賈蓉笑道：“才剛赶到的，先打發我瞧你老人家來了。When did he get word and hurry here?" Jia Rong said with a laugh, "He's only just arrived — he sent me ahead first to see you, Old Ancestress.好歹求你老人家事完了再去。”說著，又和他二姨擠眼，那尤二姐便悄悄咬牙含笑罵：“很會嚼舌頭的猴兒崽子，留下我們給你爹作娘不成！”賈蓉又戲他老娘道：“放心罷，我父親每日為兩位姨娘操心，要尋兩個又有根基又富貴又年青又俏皮的兩位姨爹，好聘嫁這二位姨娘的。He begs that you, Old Ancestress, will by all means stay until things here are finished before you go." As he spoke, he winked again at his second aunt, and You Erjie, gritting her teeth and smiling, muttered under her breath, "You little monkey with your wagging tongue — do you mean to leave the two of us behind here to be your father's wives!" Jia Rong then teased his grandmother further, saying, "Set your mind at ease — my father spends every day worrying over my two aunts, trying to find two men of good family, wealthy, young, and clever, to be their husbands and give my two aunts in marriage properly.這幾年總沒揀得，可巧前日路上才相准了一個。”尤老只當真話，忙問是誰家的，二姊妹丟了活計，一頭笑，一頭赶著打。For years now he's never managed to find the right ones, but as luck would have it, just the other day on the road he settled on one." Old Madame You, taking this for the truth, hastily asked whose family it was; the two sisters dropped their needlework and, laughing all the while, chased after him to beat him.說：“媽別信這雷打的。”連丫頭們都說：“天老爺有眼，仔細雷要緊！”又值人來回話：“事已完了，請哥兒出去看了，回爺的話去。”那賈蓉方笑嘻嘻的去了。Saying, "Mother, don't believe a word this liar deserving of a thunderbolt says." Even the maids said, "Heaven above has eyes — mind you don't get struck by lightning!" Just then someone came in to report, "Everything is ready; will the young master please come out and take a look, so as to report back to the master." Only then did Jia Rong go off, still grinning.不知如何，且聽下回分解。What happened next is not yet known; listen to the explanation given in the following chapter.

贾蓉只管信口开合胡言乱道之间，只见他老娘醒了，请安问好，又说：“难为老祖宗劳心，又难为两位姨娘受委屈，我们爷儿们感戴不尽。惟有等事完了，我们合家大小，登门去磕头。”尤老人点头道：“我的儿，倒是你们会说话。亲戚们原是该的。”又问：“你父亲好？几时得了信赶到的？”贾蓉笑道：“才刚赶到的，先打发我瞧你老人家来了。好歹求你老人家事完了再去。”说著，又和他二姨挤眼，那尤二姐便悄悄咬牙含笑骂：“很会嚼舌头的猴儿崽子，留下我们给你爹作娘不成！”贾蓉又戏他老娘道：“放心罢，我父亲每日为两位姨娘操心，要寻两个又有根基又富贵又年青又俏皮的两位姨爹，好聘嫁这二位姨娘的。这几年总没拣得，可巧前日路上才相准了一个。”尤老只当真话，忙问是谁家的，二姊妹丢了活计，一头笑，一头赶著打。说：“妈别信这雷打的。”连丫头们都说：“天老爷有眼，仔细雷要紧！”又值人来回话：“事已完了，请哥儿出去看了，回爷的话去。”那贾蓉方笑嘻嘻的去了。不知如何，且听下回分解。