第六十九回　弄小巧用借劍殺人　覺大限吞生金自逝 By Cunning She Kills with a Borrowed Sword; Sensing Her End, You Swallows Gold and Dies

話說尤二姐聽了，又感謝不盡，只得跟了他來。The story goes that You Erjie, hearing this, was overwhelmed with gratitude, and had no choice but to follow her.尤氏那邊怎好不過來的，少不得也過來跟著鳳姐去回，方是大禮。How could You-shi, on her side, not come along? She too had to accompany Xifeng to report the matter—that was only proper etiquette.鳳姐笑說：“你只別說話，等我去說。”尤氏道：“這個自然。Xifeng said with a smile, "Just don't say anything, and let me do the talking." You-shi said, "Of course.但一有個不是，是往你身上推的。”說著，大家先來至賈母房中。But if anything goes wrong, it will be pushed onto you." So saying, the group first went to Grandmother Jia's quarters.

话说尤二姐听了，又感谢不尽，只得跟了他来。尤氏那边怎好不过来的，少不得也过来跟著凤姐去回，方是大礼。凤姐笑说：“你只别说话，等我去说。”尤氏道：“这个自然。但一有个不是，是往你身上推的。”说著，大家先来至贾母房中。

正值賈母和園中姊妹們說笑解悶，忽見鳳姐帶了一個標致小媳婦進來，忙覷著眼看，說：“這是誰家的孩子！Just then Grandmother Jia was chatting and laughing with the girls of the garden to pass the time, when she suddenly saw Xifeng bring in a handsome young wife. She peered at her closely and said, "Whose child is this?好可怜見的。”鳳姐上來笑道：“老祖宗倒細細的看看，好不好？”說著，忙拉二姐說：“這是太婆婆，快磕頭。”二姐忙行了大禮，展拜起來。What a pitiable dear." Xifeng came forward and said with a smile, "Won't the old ancestress take a good close look and see if she's not pretty?" So saying, she hastily pulled Erjie forward and said, "This is your husband's grandmother—kowtow quickly." Erjie hastened to perform the great obeisance, bowing and rising.又指著眾姊妹說：這是某人某人，你先認了，太太瞧過了再見禮。Then, pointing to the assembled girls, she said: this is so-and-so, this is so-and-so—get acquainted with them first, and after Madam has looked you over, you may exchange greetings with them properly.二姐聽了，一一又從新故意的問過，垂頭站在旁邊。Erjie listened, and deliberately asked each name over again one by one, then stood with head bowed to the side.賈母上下瞧了一遍，因又笑問：“你姓什麼？Grandmother Jia looked her over from head to toe, then asked with a smile, "What is your surname?今年十幾了？”鳳姐忙又笑說：“老祖宗且別問，只說比我俊不俊。”賈母又戴了眼鏡，命鴛鴦琥珀：“把那孩子拉過來，我瞧瞧肉皮兒。”眾人都抿嘴兒笑著，只得推他上去。How old are you this year?" Xifeng hastily broke in with a smile, "Old Ancestress, don't ask that yet—just tell me whether she's prettier than I am or not." Grandmother Jia put on her spectacles again and ordered Yuanyang and Hupo, "Pull that child over here, let me see her skin." Everyone covered their mouths and smiled, and had no choice but to push her forward.賈母細瞧了一遍，又命琥珀：“拿出手來我瞧瞧。”鴛鴦又揭起裙子來。Grandmother Jia examined her closely all over, then told Hupo again, "Bring out her hand for me to see." Yuanyang lifted the hem of her skirt as well.賈母瞧畢，摘下眼鏡來，笑說道：“更是個齊全孩子，我看比你俊些。”鳳姐聽說，笑著忙跪下，將尤氏那邊所編之話，一五一十細細的說了一遍，“少不得老祖宗發慈心，先許他進來，住一年後再圓房。”賈母聽了道：“這有什麼不是。When Grandmother Jia had finished looking, she took off her spectacles and said with a smile, "She's a well-formed child indeed—I think she's even prettier than you." Hearing this, Xifeng smiled and quickly knelt down, and recounted in full detail, point by point, the story that had been concocted on You-shi's side, saying, "It only remains for the Old Ancestress to show mercy and allow her to be brought in first, to live here a year before the marriage is formally consummated." Grandmother Jia heard this and said, "What fault could there be in that?既你這樣賢良，很好。Since you are being so virtuous about it, very good.只是一年後方可圓得房。”鳳姐聽了，叩頭起來，又求賈母著兩個女人一同帶去見太太們，說是老祖宗的主意。Only, the marriage may only be consummated after a year has passed." Hearing this, Xifeng kowtowed and rose, then begged Grandmother Jia further to have two women accompany them to present her to the wives of the household, saying it was the Old Ancestress's own decision.賈母依允，遂使二人帶去見了邢夫人等。Grandmother Jia agreed, and so had the two women take her to see Madam Xing and the others.王夫人正因他風聲不雅，深為憂慮，見他今行此事，豈有不樂之理。Lady Wang had been deeply worried precisely because of the ugly talk about him [Jia Lian], so seeing him do such a thing now—how could she not be pleased?于是尤二姐自此見了天日，挪到廂房住居。And so from this time on You Erjie saw the light of day, and was moved to live in the side chambers.鳳姐一面使人暗暗調唆張華，只叫他要原妻，這里還有許多賠送外，還給他銀子安家過活。Meanwhile Xifeng secretly had someone incite Zhang Hua, urging him only to demand his original wife back—besides everything else being given here as dowry, they would also give him silver to set up a household and make a living.張華原無膽無心告賈家的，後來又見賈蓉打發人來對詞，那人原說的：“張華先退了親。Zhang Hua originally had neither the nerve nor the intention to sue the Jia family, but later, when he saw that Jia Rong had sent someone to argue the matter with him, that person had said, "Zhang Hua had already broken off the betrothal beforehand.我們皆是親戚。We are all relatives.接到家里住著是真，并無娶嫁之說。It is true that she was taken in to live with us, but there was never any talk of marrying her formally.皆因張華拖欠了我們的債務，追索不與，方誣賴小的主人那些個。”察院都和賈王兩處有瓜葛，況又受了賄，只說張華無賴，以窮訛詐，狀子也不收，打了一頓赶出來。It was only because Zhang Hua owed us a debt, and when we pressed him to repay it and he would not, he then falsely accused my masters of these things." The censorate offices were both tied by connections to the Jia and Wang families, and moreover had taken bribes, so they simply declared Zhang Hua a scoundrel trying to extort money through poverty, refused to accept his complaint, gave him a beating, and drove him out.慶兒在外替他打點，也沒打重。Qing'er took care of things for him outside, so the beating was not too severe.又調唆張華：“親原是你家定的，你只要親事，官必還斷給你。”于是又告。Someone then further incited Zhang Hua: "The betrothal was originally arranged by your family—if you only insist on the marriage, the officials are bound to rule it back in your favor." So he brought suit again.王信那邊又透了消息與察院，察院便批：“張華所欠賈宅之銀，令其限內按數交還，其所定之親，仍令其有力時娶回。”又傳了他父親來當堂批准。Wang Xin's people, meanwhile, leaked word to the censorate, and the censorate then ruled: "As for the silver Zhang Hua owes the Jia household, let him be required to repay the full amount within the set period; as for the betrothal that was arranged, let him still be permitted to marry her back once he has the means." They also summoned his father to appear in court to confirm the ruling.他父親亦系慶兒說明，樂得人財兩進，便去賈家領人。His father too had been coached beforehand by Qing'er, and being delighted to gain both money and person, went to the Jia household to collect her.鳳姐兒一面嚇的來回賈母，說如此這般，都是珍大嫂子幹事不明，并沒和那家退准，惹人告了，如此官斷。Xifeng, in alarm, went at once to report to Grandmother Jia, saying that things stood thus, and that it was all because Sister-in-law Zhen [You-shi] had not handled matters properly—she had never formally settled the annulment with that family, which had led to the lawsuit and this ruling by the officials.賈母聽了，忙喚了尤氏過來，說他作事不妥，”既是你妹子從小曾與人指腹為婚，又沒退斷，使人混告了。”尤氏聽了，只得說：“他連銀子都收了，怎麼沒准。”鳳姐在旁又說：“張華的口供上現說不曾見銀子，也沒見人去。Hearing this, Grandmother Jia hastily summoned You-shi and told her she had handled the matter badly: "Since your sister was betrothed to someone by pointing at the womb when she was a child, and the match was never properly broken off, you let people bring a confused lawsuit over it." You-shi, hearing this, could only say, "He even accepted the silver—how can it not be considered settled?" Xifeng put in from the side, "Zhang Hua's own deposition now states he never saw any silver, nor did anyone ever come to him.他老子說：‘原是親家母說過一次，并沒應准。His father says: 'It was only that the child's mother once mentioned it, but nothing was ever formally agreed.親家母死了，你們就接進去作二房。’如此沒有對證，只好由他去混說。After the child's mother died, you people simply took her in as a second wife.' With no evidence to counter this, we can only let him go on talking nonsense.幸而璉二爺不在家，沒曾圓房，這還無妨。Fortunately Master Lian the Second is not at home, and the marriage has not yet been consummated, so this is not too serious.只是人已來了，怎好送回去，豈不傷臉。”賈母道：“又沒圓房，沒的強占人家有夫之人，名聲也不好，不如送給他去。It's only that, now that the person has already come, how can we send her back—wouldn't that be a loss of face?" Grandmother Jia said, "Since the marriage hasn't been consummated, there's no reason to forcibly hold on to another man's wife—it wouldn't look good either. Better to send her back to him.那里尋不出好人來。”尤二姐聽了，又回賈母說：“我母親實于某年月日給了他十兩銀子退准的。Where could one not find a good match?" Hearing this, You Erjie in turn said to Grandmother Jia, "My mother truly did, on a certain date in a certain year, give him ten taels of silver to settle the annulment.他因窮急了告，又翻了口。It is only that, being driven to poverty and desperation, he brought suit and has now gone back on his word.我姐姐原沒錯辦。”賈母聽了，便說：“可見刁民難惹。My sister did nothing wrong in handling this." Hearing this, Grandmother Jia said, "One can see how hard it is to deal with unscrupulous commoners.既這樣，鳳丫頭去料理料理。”鳳姐聽了無法，只得應著。Since that's how it is, let Xifeng go and settle the matter." Xifeng, hearing this, had no way out and could only agree.回來只命人去找賈蓉。On returning, she at once sent someone to find Jia Rong.賈蓉深知鳳姐之意，若要使張華領回，成何体統，便回了賈珍，暗暗遣人去說張華：“你如今既有許多銀子，何必定要原人。Jia Rong understood full well what Xifeng intended—if Zhang Hua were really allowed to take her back, what would that look like?—so he reported to Jia Zhen, and secretly sent someone to tell Zhang Hua: "Now that you already have plenty of silver, why must you insist on having the person herself back?若只管執定主意，豈不怕爺們一怒，尋出個由頭，你死無葬身之地。If you keep stubbornly holding to your position, aren't you afraid that when the young masters lose their temper, they'll find some pretext to make sure you die without even a place to be buried?你有了銀子，回家去什麼好人尋不出來。Now that you have the silver, once you go home, what good match could you not find?你若走時，還賞你些路費。”張華聽了，心中想了一想，這倒是好主意，和父親商議已定，約共也得了有百金，父子次日起個五更，回原籍去了。If you leave now, we'll even give you extra money for the road." Zhang Hua, hearing this, thought it over in his mind, and decided this was indeed the best plan; having settled it in consultation with his father, they got altogether about a hundred taels of silver, and the next day, before dawn, father and son set off back to their native place.賈蓉打聽得真了，來回了賈母鳳姐，說：“張華父子妄告不實，懼罪逃走，官府亦知此情，也不追究，大事完畢。”鳳姐聽了，心中一想：若必定著張華帶回二姐去，未免賈璉回來再花幾個錢包占住，不怕張華不依。Jia Rong, having confirmed this was really so, came back to report to Grandmother Jia and Xifeng, saying, "Zhang Hua and his father, fearing punishment for their false and unfounded accusation, have fled; the authorities too know of this and will not pursue it further—the whole matter is now settled." Hearing this, Xifeng thought to herself: if Zhang Hua were made to take Erjie back with him, it would only mean that once Jia Lian returned, he would spend a bit more money and set her up again somewhere, and there would be no stopping Zhang Hua from agreeing to it.還是二姐不去，自己相伴著還妥當，且再作道理。Better that Erjie not go anywhere, and that she herself keep her close at hand—that would be safer; there would be time enough later to think of something else.只是張華此去不知何往，他倘或再將此事告訴了別人，或日後再尋出這由頭來翻案，豈不是自己害了自己。The only trouble was that no one knew where Zhang Hua had gone off to this time; if he should ever tell someone else about this affair, or if at some later date someone should dig up this pretext again to reopen the case, would that not mean bringing harm upon herself?原先不該如此將刀靶付與外人去的。She should never have handed the hilt of the sword to an outsider like that in the first place.因此悔之不迭，复又想了一條主意出來，悄命旺兒遣人尋著了他，或說他作賊，和他打官司將他治死，或暗中使人算計，務將張華治死，方剪草除根，保住自己的名譽。For this she was full of regret, and again thought up another scheme: she secretly ordered Wang'er to send someone to track him down, either to accuse him of theft and have him prosecuted to death through a lawsuit, or else to secretly arrange to have him done away with—in any case, Zhang Hua absolutely had to be killed, so as to cut the grass and remove the root, and preserve her own reputation.旺兒領命出來，回家細想：人已走了完事，何必如此大作，人命關天，非同兒戲，我且哄過他去，再作道理。Wang'er took the order and went out, but on returning home thought it over carefully: the man had already left and the matter was over—why make such a great fuss over it? A human life was a matter of the utmost gravity, not something to be trifled with; he would simply put her off for now, and think of something else later.因此在外躲了幾日，回來告訴鳳姐，只說張華是有了幾兩銀子在身上，逃去第三日在京口地界五更天已被截路人打悶棍打死了。So he stayed away for a few days, then came back and told Xifeng that Zhang Hua, having a few taels of silver on him, had fled, and that on the third day of his flight, in the small hours before dawn, within the borders of Jingkou, he had been waylaid and beaten to death with a club by highwaymen.他老子唬死在店房，在那里驗尸掩埋。His father had been frightened to death right there in the inn, and was there overseeing the inquest and burial.鳳姐聽了不信，說：“你要扯謊，我再使人打聽出來敲你的牙！”自此方丟過不究。Hearing this, Xifeng did not believe it, and said, "If you're lying to me, I'll have someone else look into it later and knock your teeth out!" From this point on, however, the matter was simply dropped and not pursued further.鳳姐和尤二姐和美非常，更比親姊親妹還胜十倍。Xifeng and You Erjie got along extremely well together, even better, ten times over, than real sisters.

正值贾母和园中姊妹们说笑解闷，忽见凤姐带了一个标致小媳妇进来，忙觑著眼看，说：“这是谁家的孩子！好可怜见的。”凤姐上来笑道：“老祖宗倒细细的看看，好不好？”说著，忙拉二姐说：“这是太婆婆，快磕头。”二姐忙行了大礼，展拜起来。又指著众姊妹说：这是某人某人，你先认了，太太瞧过了再见礼。二姐听了，一一又从新故意的问过，垂头站在旁边。贾母上下瞧了一遍，因又笑问：“你姓什么？今年十几了？”凤姐忙又笑说：“老祖宗且别问，只说比我俊不俊。”贾母又戴了眼镜，命鸳鸯琥珀：“把那孩子拉过来，我瞧瞧肉皮儿。”众人都抿嘴儿笑著，只得推他上去。贾母细瞧了一遍，又命琥珀：“拿出手来我瞧瞧。”鸳鸯又揭起裙子来。贾母瞧毕，摘下眼镜来，笑说道：“更是个齐全孩子，我看比你俊些。”凤姐听说，笑著忙跪下，将尤氏那边所编之话，一五一十细细的说了一遍，“少不得老祖宗发慈心，先许他进来，住一年后再圆房。”贾母听了道：“这有什么不是。既你这样贤良，很好。只是一年后方可圆得房。”凤姐听了，叩头起来，又求贾母著两个女人一同带去见太太们，说是老祖宗的主意。贾母依允，遂使二人带去见了邢夫人等。王夫人正因他风声不雅，深为忧虑，见他今行此事，岂有不乐之理。于是尤二姐自此见了天日，挪到厢房住居。凤姐一面使人暗暗调唆张华，只叫他要原妻，这里还有许多赔送外，还给他银子安家过活。张华原无胆无心告贾家的，后来又见贾蓉打发人来对词，那人原说的：“张华先退了亲。我们皆是亲戚。接到家里住著是真，并无娶嫁之说。皆因张华拖欠了我们的债务，追索不与，方诬赖小的主人那些个。”察院都和贾王两处有瓜葛，况又受了贿，只说张华无赖，以穷讹诈，状子也不收，打了一顿赶出来。庆儿在外替他打点，也没打重。又调唆张华：“亲原是你家定的，你只要亲事，官必还断给你。”于是又告。王信那边又透了消息与察院，察院便批：“张华所欠贾宅之银，令其限内按数交还，其所定之亲，仍令其有力时娶回。”又传了他父亲来当堂批准。他父亲亦系庆儿说明，乐得人财两进，便去贾家领人。凤姐儿一面吓的来回贾母，说如此这般，都是珍大嫂子干事不明，并没和那家退准，惹人告了，如此官断。贾母听了，忙唤了尤氏过来，说他作事不妥，”既是你妹子从小曾与人指腹为婚，又没退断，使人混告了。”尤氏听了，只得说：“他连银子都收了，怎么没准。”凤姐在旁又说：“张华的口供上现说不曾见银子，也没见人去。他老子说：‘原是亲家母说过一次，并没应准。亲家母死了，你们就接进去作二房。’如此没有对证，只好由他去混说。幸而琏二爷不在家，没曾圆房，这还无妨。只是人已来了，怎好送回去，岂不伤脸。”贾母道：“又没圆房，没的强占人家有夫之人，名声也不好，不如送给他去。那里寻不出好人来。”尤二姐听了，又回贾母说：“我母亲实于某年月日给了他十两银子退准的。他因穷急了告，又翻了口。我姐姐原没错办。”贾母听了，便说：“可见刁民难惹。既这样，凤丫头去料理料理。”凤姐听了无法，只得应著。回来只命人去找贾蓉。贾蓉深知凤姐之意，若要使张华领回，成何体统，便回了贾珍，暗暗遣人去说张华：“你如今既有许多银子，何必定要原人。若只管执定主意，岂不怕爷们一怒，寻出个由头，你死无葬身之地。你有了银子，回家去什么好人寻不出来。你若走时，还赏你些路费。”张华听了，心中想了一想，这倒是好主意，和父亲商议已定，约共也得了有百金，父子次日起个五更，回原籍去了。贾蓉打听得真了，来回了贾母凤姐，说：“张华父子妄告不实，惧罪逃走，官府亦知此情，也不追究，大事完毕。”凤姐听了，心中一想：若必定著张华带回二姐去，未免贾琏回来再花几个钱包占住，不怕张华不依。还是二姐不去，自己相伴著还妥当，且再作道理。只是张华此去不知何往，他倘或再将此事告诉了别人，或日后再寻出这由头来翻案，岂不是自己害了自己。原先不该如此将刀靶付与外人去的。因此悔之不迭，复又想了一条主意出来，悄命旺儿遣人寻著了他，或说他作贼，和他打官司将他治死，或暗中使人算计，务将张华治死，方剪草除根，保住自己的名誉。旺儿领命出来，回家细想：人已走了完事，何必如此大作，人命关天，非同儿戏，我且哄过他去，再作道理。因此在外躲了几日，回来告诉凤姐，只说张华是有了几两银子在身上，逃去第三日在京口地界五更天已被截路人打闷棍打死了。他老子唬死在店房，在那里验尸掩埋。凤姐听了不信，说：“你要扯谎，我再使人打听出来敲你的牙！”自此方丢过不究。凤姐和尤二姐和美非常，更比亲姊亲妹还胜十倍。

那賈璉一日事畢回來，先到了新房中，已竟悄悄的封鎖，只有一個看房子的老頭兒。One day, when Jia Lian had finished his business and returned, he went first to the new apartments, only to find them already quietly sealed up, with just one old man left to watch the house.賈璉問他原故，老頭子細說原委，賈璉只在鐙中跌足。Jia Lian asked him what had happened, and the old man explained the whole affair in detail; Jia Lian could only stamp his foot in his stirrups in frustration.少不得來見賈赦與邢夫人，將所完之事回明。He had no choice but to go and see Jia She and Madam Xing, and report to them that the matter entrusted to him had been completed.賈赦十分歡喜，說他中用，賞了他一百兩銀子，又將房中一個十七歲的丫鬟名喚秋桐者，賞他為妾。Jia She was overjoyed, said he had proved himself capable, rewarded him with a hundred taels of silver, and further gave him, as a concubine, a seventeen-year-old maid from his own quarters named Qiutong.賈璉叩頭領去，喜之不盡。Jia Lian kowtowed and took her away, overjoyed beyond measure.見了賈母和家中人，回來見鳳姐，未免臉上有些愧色。After seeing Grandmother Jia and the rest of the household, he came back to see Xifeng, and could not help but show some trace of shame on his face.誰知鳳姐兒他反不似往日容顏，同尤二姐一同出迎，敘了寒溫。To his surprise, Xifeng's expression was quite unlike her usual self; she came out together with You Erjie to greet him, and they exchanged polite pleasantries.賈璉將秋桐之事說了，未免臉上有些得意之色，驕矜之容。When Jia Lian told them about the matter of Qiutong, he could not help but show, on his face, a certain look of self-satisfaction and pride.鳳姐聽了，忙命兩個媳婦坐車在那邊接了來。Hearing this, Xifeng promptly ordered two matrons to take a carriage over and fetch her.心中一刺未除，又平空添了一刺，說不得且吞聲忍氣，將好顏面換出來遮掩。With one thorn not yet removed from her heart, another had now been added out of nowhere; she had no choice but to swallow her anger for the time being, and put on a pleasant face to cover it over.一面又命擺酒接風，一面帶了秋桐來見賈母與王夫人等。At the same time she ordered wine to be set out to welcome him home, and also took Qiutong along to be presented to Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang and the others.賈璉心中也暗暗的納罕。Jia Lian too, in his heart, secretly found this rather strange.

那贾琏一日事毕回来，先到了新房中，已竟悄悄的封锁，只有一个看房子的老头儿。贾琏问他原故，老头子细说原委，贾琏只在镫中跌足。少不得来见贾赦与邢夫人，将所完之事回明。贾赦十分欢喜，说他中用，赏了他一百两银子，又将房中一个十七岁的丫鬟名唤秋桐者，赏他为妾。贾琏叩头领去，喜之不尽。见了贾母和家中人，回来见凤姐，未免脸上有些愧色。谁知凤姐儿他反不似往日容颜，同尤二姐一同出迎，叙了寒温。贾琏将秋桐之事说了，未免脸上有些得意之色，骄矜之容。凤姐听了，忙命两个媳妇坐车在那边接了来。心中一刺未除，又平空添了一刺，说不得且吞声忍气，将好颜面换出来遮掩。一面又命摆酒接风，一面带了秋桐来见贾母与王夫人等。贾琏心中也暗暗的纳罕。

那日已是腊月十二日，賈珍起身，先拜了宗祠，然後過來辭拜賈母等人。That day it was already the twelfth of the twelfth month, and Jia Zhen set out on his journey; he first paid respects at the ancestral hall, and then came to take leave of Grandmother Jia and the rest.和族中人直送到灑淚亭方回，獨賈璉賈蓉二人送出三日三夜方回。The clansmen escorted him all the way to the Pavilion of Parting Tears before turning back; only Jia Lian and Jia Rong saw him off, and did not return for three full days and nights.一路上賈珍命他好生收心治家等語，二人口內答應，也說些大禮套話，不必煩敘。Along the way, Jia Zhen told them to settle their minds properly and manage the household affairs, and other such instructions; the two of them assented verbally, and exchanged some formal, polite words as well—there is no need to go into it at length.

那日已是腊月十二日，贾珍起身，先拜了宗祠，然后过来辞拜贾母等人。和族中人直送到洒泪亭方回，独贾琏贾蓉二人送出三日三夜方回。一路上贾珍命他好生收心治家等语，二人口内答应，也说些大礼套话，不必烦叙。

且說鳳姐在家，外面待尤二姐自不必說得，只是心中又怀別意。To return to the story: as for Xifeng at home, how well she treated You Erjie on the surface goes without saying, but in her heart she still harbored other intentions.無人處只和尤二姐說：“妹妹的聲名很不好聽，連老太太，太太們都知道了，說妹妹在家做女孩兒就不乾淨，又和姐夫有些首尾，‘沒人要的了你揀了來，還不休了再尋好的。’我聽見這話，氣得倒仰，查是誰說的，又查不出來。When no one else was around, she would say to You Erjie alone, "Sister, your reputation is really not good to hear about—even the Old Ancestress and the various ladies have heard of it, saying that while you were still a girl at home you were already not clean, and had some entanglement with your brother-in-law besides—'no one wanted her, so he picked her up; he ought to divorce her and look for someone better.' When I heard this talk, I was so angry I nearly fainted; I tried to find out who said it, but could never trace it.這日久天長，這些個奴才們跟前，怎麼說嘴。As time drags on, day after day, how am I to hold my head up in front of all these servants?我反弄了個魚頭來拆。”說了兩遍，自己又氣病了，茶飯也不吃，除了平兒，眾丫頭媳婦無不言三語四，指桑說槐，暗相譏刺。Instead, I've ended up taking on a fish head to pick apart for myself." Having said this twice over, she made herself sick with anger, and would not touch tea or rice; apart from Pinger, all the maids and matrons were forever making sly remarks and veiled insinuations, mocking one thing to jeer at another, and secretly ridiculing her.秋桐自為系賈赦之賜，無人僭他的，連鳳姐平兒皆不放在眼里，豈肯容他。Qiutong, considering herself a gift bestowed by Jia She himself, felt that no one had the right to outrank her, and did not even take Xifeng or Pinger seriously in her eyes—how then could she be willing to tolerate Erjie?張口是”先奸後娶沒漢子要的娼婦，也來要我的強。”鳳姐聽了暗樂，尤二姐聽了暗愧暗怒暗氣。She would open her mouth and say things like, "That whore who let herself be seduced before marrying in, whom no man wanted—now she dares to try to outdo me!" Hearing this, Xifeng secretly rejoiced, while You Erjie, hearing it, felt secret shame, secret anger, and secret resentment.鳳姐既裝病，便不和尤二姐吃飯了。Xifeng, having already feigned illness, now stopped eating meals together with You Erjie altogether.每日只命人端了菜飯到他房中去吃，那茶飯都系不堪之物。Every day she merely had someone carry a bowl of food to Erjie's room for her to eat, and the food and tea sent were always something unfit to eat.平兒看不過，自拿了錢出來弄菜與他吃，或是有時只說和他園中去頑，在園中廚內另做了湯水與他吃，也無人敢回鳳姐。Pinger could not bear to watch this, and took money out of her own pocket to buy dishes and cook for her; sometimes she would simply say she was taking her to play in the garden, and there, in the garden's kitchen, prepare soup and other food for her separately to eat—and no one dared report this to Xifeng.只有秋桐一時撞見了，便去說舌告訴鳳姐說：“奶奶的名聲，生是平兒弄坏了的。Only once did Qiutong happen to come upon them, and went at once to tattle to Xifeng, saying, "Madam's reputation has truly been ruined by Pinger.這樣好菜好飯浪著不吃，卻往園里去偷吃。”鳳姐聽了，罵平兒說：“人家養貓拿耗子，我的貓只倒咬雞。”平兒不敢多說，自此也要遠著了。Here such good dishes and rice are left to go to waste uneaten, while she sneaks off to the garden to eat on the sly." Hearing this, Xifeng scolded Pinger, saying, "People keep cats to catch rats, but my cat instead goes and bites the chickens." Pinger did not dare say much in reply, and from then on had to keep her distance as well.又暗恨秋桐，難以出口。She also harbored secret resentment against Qiutong, but found it hard to voice it.

且说凤姐在家，外面待尤二姐自不必说得，只是心中又怀别意。无人处只和尤二姐说：“妹妹的声名很不好听，连老太太，太太们都知道了，说妹妹在家做女孩儿就不干净，又和姐夫有些首尾，‘没人要的了你拣了来，还不休了再寻好的。’我听见这话，气得倒仰，查是谁说的，又查不出来。这日久天长，这些个奴才们跟前，怎么说嘴。我反弄了个鱼头来拆。”说了两遍，自己又气病了，茶饭也不吃，除了平儿，众丫头媳妇无不言三语四，指桑说槐，暗相讥刺。秋桐自为系贾赦之赐，无人僭他的，连凤姐平儿皆不放在眼里，岂肯容他。张口是”先奸后娶没汉子要的娼妇，也来要我的强。”凤姐听了暗乐，尤二姐听了暗愧暗怒暗气。凤姐既装病，便不和尤二姐吃饭了。每日只命人端了菜饭到他房中去吃，那茶饭都系不堪之物。平儿看不过，自拿了钱出来弄菜与他吃，或是有时只说和他园中去顽，在园中厨内另做了汤水与他吃，也无人敢回凤姐。只有秋桐一时撞见了，便去说舌告诉凤姐说：“奶奶的名声，生是平儿弄坏了的。这样好菜好饭浪著不吃，却往园里去偷吃。”凤姐听了，骂平儿说：“人家养猫拿耗子，我的猫只倒咬鸡。”平儿不敢多说，自此也要远著了。又暗恨秋桐，难以出口。

園中姊妹和李紈迎春惜春等人，皆為鳳姐是好意，然寶黛一干人暗為二姐擔心。The girls of the garden, along with Li Wan, Yingchun, Xichun, and the others, all took Xifeng's behavior to be well-intentioned; but Baoyu, Daiyu, and that whole group secretly worried for Erjie's sake.雖都不便多事，惟見二姐可怜，常來了，倒還都憫恤他。Though none of them found it proper to interfere, they all pitied Erjie, and often came to see her, showing her sympathy and concern.每日常無人處說起話來，尤二姐便淌眼抹淚，又不敢抱怨。Whenever they found a moment alone, away from others, and fell to talking, You Erjie would shed tears, yet dared not utter a word of complaint.鳳姐兒又并無露出一點坏形來。Xifeng, for her part, never let slip so much as a trace of ill intent.賈璉來家時，見了鳳姐賢良，也便不留心。When Jia Lian came home, seeing how virtuous and good-natured Xifeng appeared, he too paid it no particular mind.況素習以來因賈赦姬妾丫鬟最多，賈璉每怀不軌之心，只未敢下手。Moreover, it had long been the case that, because Jia She kept so many concubines and maids, Jia Lian had often harbored improper thoughts of his own, only he had never dared to act on them.如這秋桐輩等人，皆是恨老爺年邁昏憒，貪多嚼不爛，沒的留下這些人作什麼，因此除了幾個知禮有恥的，餘者或有與二門上小么兒們嘲戲的。As for the likes of Qiutong and others, they all resented the old master for being aged and muddled yet greedy for more than he could handle, feeling there was no point in keeping so many women around for nothing; and so, apart from a few who knew propriety and had a sense of shame, the rest would sometimes flirt and banter with the young pages at the second gate.甚至于與賈璉眉來眼去相偷期的，只懼賈赦之威，未曾到手。There were even those who exchanged furtive glances with Jia Lian, stealing secret trysts with him, restrained only by fear of Jia She's authority from ever actually going through with it.這秋桐便和賈璉有舊，從未來過一次。As for this Qiutong, she had had an old understanding with Jia Lian, but had never once actually been with him.今日天緣湊巧，竟賞了他，真是一對烈火干柴，如膠投漆，燕爾新婚，連日那里拆的開。Today, by a stroke of fate, she had been bestowed upon him outright, and it was truly like dry firewood meeting raging fire, like glue mixed with lacquer—in the flush of their new union, day after day, there was no prying them apart.那賈璉在二姐身上之心也漸漸淡了，只有秋桐一人是命。And so Jia Lian's feelings toward Erjie gradually cooled, until Qiutong alone held his whole heart.鳳姐雖恨秋桐，且喜借他先可發脫二姐，自己且抽頭，用“借劍殺人”之法，“坐山觀虎斗”，等秋桐殺了尤二姐，自己再殺秋桐。Though Xifeng hated Qiutong, she was secretly glad to make use of her to dispose of Erjie first, while she herself stepped back out of the fray—using the method of "killing with a borrowed sword" and "sitting on the mountain to watch the tigers fight," waiting for Qiutong to destroy You Erjie, after which she would deal with Qiutong herself.主意已定，沒人處常又私勸秋桐說：“你年輕不知事。Her mind made up, whenever no one else was about she would often privately urge Qiutong, saying, "You're young and don't understand these things.他現是二房奶奶，你爺心坎兒上的人，我還讓他三分，你去硬碰他，豈不是自尋其死？”那秋桐聽了這話，越發惱了，天天大口亂罵說：“奶奶是軟弱人，那等賢惠，我卻做不來。She is, after all, the second wife now, someone close to your husband's heart—even I give her some deference. If you go and clash with her head-on, aren't you just courting your own destruction?" Hearing this, Qiutong grew only more furious, and day after day cursed loudly and recklessly, saying, "Madam is a soft, weak sort of person, so tolerant and virtuous—but that's not something I can manage.奶奶把素日的威風怎都沒了。How has Madam lost all her usual authority?奶奶寬洪大量，我卻眼里揉不下沙子去。Madam is broad-minded and generous, but I can't stand having so much as a grain of sand rubbed in my eye.讓我和他這淫婦做一回，他才知道。”鳳姐兒在屋里，只裝不敢出聲兒。Just let me have it out with that shameless slut once, and she'll learn her lesson." Xifeng, in her own room, only pretended not to dare make a sound.氣的尤二姐在房里哭泣，飯也不吃，又不敢告訴賈璉。This so angered You Erjie that she wept in her room, unable to eat, yet not daring to tell Jia Lian.次日賈母見他眼紅紅的腫了，問他，又不敢說。The next day Grandmother Jia noticed that her eyes were red and swollen, and asked her about it, but she still did not dare say anything.秋桐正是抓乖賣俏之時，他便悄悄的告訴賈母王夫人等說：“專會作死，好好的成天家號喪，背地里咒二奶奶和我早死了，他好和二爺一心一計的過。”賈母聽了便說：“人太生嬌俏了，可知心就嫉妒。Qiutong, just then in the mood to show off and curry favor, went and quietly told Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang and the others, "She's simply bent on making trouble for herself—wailing over nothing all day long, and behind people's backs cursing Second Madam and me, wishing us an early death, so that she could have Second Master all to herself, of one mind and one plan with him." Hearing this, Grandmother Jia said, "A person who's too delicately pretty is bound, you can be sure, to be jealous at heart.鳳丫頭倒好意待他，他倒這樣爭鋒吃醋的。Here Xifeng treats her so well and kindly, and yet she goes on like this, vying for favor and eaten up with jealousy.可是個賤骨頭。”因此漸次便不大喜歡。She really is a creature of low, contemptible stock." And from this time on, Grandmother Jia's fondness for her gradually diminished.眾人見賈母不喜，不免又往下踏踐起來，弄得這尤二姐要死不能，要生不得。Seeing that Grandmother Jia no longer favored her, the others too could not help but begin to trample on her further, until this You Erjie found herself wishing to die but unable, wishing to live but unable either.還是虧了平兒，時常背著鳳姐，看他這般，與他排解排解。It was only thanks to Pinger, who, often behind Xifeng's back, seeing her in such a state, would try again and again to comfort and console her.

园中姊妹和李纨迎春惜春等人，皆为凤姐是好意，然宝黛一干人暗为二姐担心。虽都不便多事，惟见二姐可怜，常来了，倒还都悯恤他。每日常无人处说起话来，尤二姐便淌眼抹泪，又不敢抱怨。凤姐儿又并无露出一点坏形来。贾琏来家时，见了凤姐贤良，也便不留心。况素习以来因贾赦姬妾丫鬟最多，贾琏每怀不轨之心，只未敢下手。如这秋桐辈等人，皆是恨老爷年迈昏愦，贪多嚼不烂，没的留下这些人作什么，因此除了几个知礼有耻的，余者或有与二门上小么儿们嘲戏的。甚至于与贾琏眉来眼去相偷期的，只惧贾赦之威，未曾到手。这秋桐便和贾琏有旧，从未来过一次。今日天缘凑巧，竟赏了他，真是一对烈火干柴，如胶投漆，燕尔新婚，连日那里拆的开。那贾琏在二姐身上之心也渐渐淡了，只有秋桐一人是命。凤姐虽恨秋桐，且喜借他先可发脱二姐，自己且抽头，用“借剑杀人”之法，“坐山观虎斗”，等秋桐杀了尤二姐，自己再杀秋桐。主意已定，没人处常又私劝秋桐说：“你年轻不知事。他现是二房奶奶，你爷心坎儿上的人，我还让他三分，你去硬碰他，岂不是自寻其死？”那秋桐听了这话，越发恼了，天天大口乱骂说：“奶奶是软弱人，那等贤惠，我却做不来。奶奶把素日的威风怎都没了。奶奶宽洪大量，我却眼里揉不下沙子去。让我和他这淫妇做一回，他才知道。”凤姐儿在屋里，只装不敢出声儿。气的尤二姐在房里哭泣，饭也不吃，又不敢告诉贾琏。次日贾母见他眼红红的肿了，问他，又不敢说。秋桐正是抓乖卖俏之时，他便悄悄的告诉贾母王夫人等说：“专会作死，好好的成天家号丧，背地里咒二奶奶和我早死了，他好和二爷一心一计的过。”贾母听了便说：“人太生娇俏了，可知心就嫉妒。凤丫头倒好意待他，他倒这样争锋吃醋的。可是个贱骨头。”因此渐次便不大喜欢。众人见贾母不喜，不免又往下踏践起来，弄得这尤二姐要死不能，要生不得。还是亏了平儿，时常背著凤姐，看他这般，与他排解排解。

那尤二姐原是個花為腸肚雪作肌膚的人，如何經得這般磨折，不過受了一個月的暗氣，便懨懨得了一病，四肢懶動，茶飯不進，漸次黃瘦下去。Now this You Erjie had originally been a person as delicate as flowers for her very entrails and snow for her very skin—how could she endure such tormenting and grinding? After bearing this secret suffering for scarcely a month, she fell into a lingering illness, her four limbs grew listless, she could take no tea or rice, and little by little she grew sallow and thin.夜來合上眼，只見他小妹子手捧鴛鴦寶劍前來說：“姐姐，你一生為人心痴意軟，終吃了這虧。At night, when she closed her eyes, she would see her little sister come to her, bearing the Mandarin Duck Sword, saying, "Sister, all your life you have been foolishly infatuated and weak of will, and in the end you have suffered for it because of this.休信那妒婦花言巧語，外作賢良，內藏奸狡，他發恨定要弄你一死方罷。Do not believe that jealous woman's honeyed words—outwardly she plays the virtuous one, but inwardly she hides cunning and treachery; she has sworn she will not rest until she has driven you to your death.若妹子在世，斷不肯令你進來，即進來時，亦不容他這樣。If your little sister were still alive, I would never have let you come into this household in the first place; and even had you come, I would never have allowed her to treat you like this.此亦系理數應然，你我生前淫奔不才，使人家喪倫敗行，故有此報。This, too, is simply the working of principle and fate as they ought to be: in our former lives, you and I indulged in lust and impropriety, and caused other people's households to lose their moral order and their conduct to be corrupted—hence this retribution now.你依我將此劍斬了那妒婦，一同歸至警幻案下，聽其發落。Do as I say: take this sword and slay that jealous woman, then return together with me before the bench of the Goddess of Disillusion, and await her judgment.不然，你則白白的喪命，且無人怜惜。”尤二姐泣道：“妹妹，我一生品行既虧，今日之報既系當然，何必又生殺戮之冤。Otherwise, you will simply die in vain, and no one will grieve for you." You Erjie wept and said, "Sister, my conduct in this life has already been flawed, and if today's retribution is indeed only what is due, why should I go further and create the added wrong of killing someone?隨我去忍耐。Let me go along and simply endure it as it comes.若天見怜，使我好了，豈不兩全。”小妹笑道：“姐姐，你終是個痴人。If Heaven takes pity and lets me recover, would that not be best for everyone?" The little sister said with a smile, "Sister, you are foolish to the last.自古‘天网恢恢，疏而不漏’，天道好還。Since ancient times it has been said, 'Heaven's net is vast, its mesh wide, yet nothing slips through'—the way of Heaven always repays in kind.你雖悔過自新，然已將人父子兄弟致于麀聚之亂，天怎容你安生。”尤二姐泣道：“既不得安生，亦是理之當然，奴亦無怨。”小妹聽了，長歎而去。Though you have repented and reformed yourself, you once brought father and son, elder and younger brother, into an incestuous tangle like deer herding together—how can Heaven allow you to live on in peace?" You Erjie wept and said, "If I am not to be allowed peace, that too is only what principle demands, and I too harbor no resentment." Hearing this, the little sister heaved a long sigh and departed.尤二姐驚醒，卻是一夢。You Erjie woke with a start—it had only been a dream.等賈璉來看時，因無人在側，便泣說：“我這病便不能好了。When Jia Lian came to see her, since there was no one else nearby, she said to him tearfully, "This illness of mine will not get better.我來了半年，腹中也有身孕，但不能預知男女。I have been here half a year now, and I am also with child in my womb, though I cannot know in advance whether it is a boy or a girl.倘天見怜，生了下來還可，若不然，我這命就不保，何況于他。”賈璉亦泣說：“你只放心，我請明人來醫治。”于是出去即刻請醫生。If Heaven takes pity, and I am able to give birth, it may still turn out well; but if not, my own life will not be spared, let alone the child's." Jia Lian too wept and said, "Just set your mind at ease—I will send for a competent physician to treat you." And with that he went out at once to fetch a doctor.

那尤二姐原是个花为肠肚雪作肌肤的人，如何经得这般磨折，不过受了一个月的暗气，便恹恹得了一病，四肢懒动，茶饭不进，渐次黄瘦下去。夜来合上眼，只见他小妹子手捧鸳鸯宝剑前来说：“姐姐，你一生为人心痴意软，终吃了这亏。休信那妒妇花言巧语，外作贤良，内藏奸狡，他发恨定要弄你一死方罢。若妹子在世，断不肯令你进来，即进来时，亦不容他这样。此亦系理数应然，你我生前淫奔不才，使人家丧伦败行，故有此报。你依我将此剑斩了那妒妇，一同归至警幻案下，听其发落。不然，你则白白的丧命，且无人怜惜。”尤二姐泣道：“妹妹，我一生品行既亏，今日之报既系当然，何必又生杀戮之冤。随我去忍耐。若天见怜，使我好了，岂不两全。”小妹笑道：“姐姐，你终是个痴人。自古‘天网恢恢，疏而不漏’，天道好还。你虽悔过自新，然已将人父子兄弟致于麀聚之乱，天怎容你安生。”尤二姐泣道：“既不得安生，亦是理之当然，奴亦无怨。”小妹听了，长叹而去。尤二姐惊醒，却是一梦。等贾琏来看时，因无人在侧，便泣说：“我这病便不能好了。我来了半年，腹中也有身孕，但不能预知男女。倘天见怜，生了下来还可，若不然，我这命就不保，何况于他。”贾琏亦泣说：“你只放心，我请明人来医治。”于是出去即刻请医生。

誰知王太醫亦謀干了軍前效力，回來好討蔭封的。Who would have thought that Physician Wang had also arranged to go serve with the army at the front, in hopes of earning a hereditary title upon his return.小廝們走去，便請了個姓胡的太醫，名叫君榮。So the houseboys went out and instead brought back a physician surnamed Hu, by the name of Junrong.進來診脈看了，說是經水不調，全要大補。He came in, took her pulse and examined her, and pronounced that her menstrual cycle was irregular, and that what was needed above all was a great tonic.賈璉便說：“已是三月庚信不行，又常作嘔酸，恐是胎氣。”胡君榮聽了，复又命老婆子們請出手來再看看。Jia Lian then said, "Her monthly courses have already failed to come in the third month, and she has also often been retching sour water — I fear it may be the vital signs of pregnancy." Hearing this, Hu Junrong again told the old women to have her put out her hand once more for him to examine.尤二姐少不得又從帳內伸出手來。Youerjie could do nothing but again stretch her hand out from within the bed-curtains.胡君榮又診了半日，說：“若論胎氣，肝脈自應洪大。Hu Junrong took the pulse for a long while again and said, "Speaking in terms of pregnancy, the liver pulse ought naturally to be full and surging.然木盛則生火，經水不調亦皆因由肝木所致。But when wood is too abundant it engenders fire, and irregularity of the menstrual flow is likewise all traceable to the liver-wood.醫生要大膽，須得請奶奶將金面略露露，醫生觀觀氣色，方敢下藥。”賈璉無法，只得命將帳子掀起一縫，尤二姐露出臉來。A physician must be bold — I must ask Madam to let her golden face be shown a little, so that I, the physician, may observe her complexion; only then would I dare prescribe medicine." Jia Lian, having no choice, had to order the bed-curtain lifted a crack, and Youerjie let her face show.胡君榮一見，魂魄如飛上九天，通身麻木，一無所知。The moment Hu Junrong saw it, his very soul seemed to fly up to the ninth heaven; his whole body went numb, and he knew nothing at all.一時掩了帳子，賈璉就陪他出來，問是如何。After a while the curtain was let down again, and Jia Lian accompanied him out, asking what the matter was.胡太醫道：“不是胎氣，只是迂血凝結。Doctor Hu said, "It is not the vital signs of pregnancy, only stagnant blood that has congealed.如今只以下迂血通經脈要緊。”于是寫了一方，作辭而去。For now the important thing is simply to expel the stagnant blood and open the channels." Thereupon he wrote out a prescription and took his leave.賈璉命人送了藥禮，抓了藥來，調服下去。Jia Lian had someone send the consultation fee, had the medicine fetched and prepared, and had it taken.只半夜，尤二姐腹痛不止，誰知竟將一個已成形的男胎打了下來。Within only half a night, Youerjie's stomach pained her without ceasing, and who would have thought that she actually miscarried a male fetus that had already taken form.于是血行不止，二姐就昏迷過去。Thereupon the bleeding would not stop, and Youerjie fell into a swoon.賈璉聞知，大罵胡君榮。When Jia Lian heard of it, he cursed Hu Junrong roundly.一面再遣人去請醫調治，一面命人去打告胡君榮。On the one hand he sent someone again to fetch a doctor to treat her; on the other he had someone go to lodge a complaint against Hu Junrong.胡君榮聽了，早已卷包逃走。By the time Hu Junrong heard of this, he had already packed up his things and fled.這里太醫便說：“本來氣血生成虧弱，受胎以來，想是著了些氣惱，郁結于中。Here the [new] physician said, "Her vital energy and blood were originally formed weak, and ever since conceiving she seems to have suffered some vexation and anger that knotted up within her.這位先生擅用虎狼之劑，如今大人元氣十分傷其八九，一時難保就愈。This gentleman rashly used medicines as fierce as tigers and wolves, and now the lady's primal vital energy has been damaged in eight or nine parts out of ten; it will be hard for a while to guarantee recovery.煎丸二藥并行，還要一些閒言閒事不聞，庶可望好。”說畢而去。Decoction and pills must both be taken together, and besides that she must be kept from hearing any idle talk or troublesome affairs — only then may there be hope of recovery." Having said this, he left.急的賈璉查是誰請了姓胡的來，一時查了出來，便打了半死。Jia Lian anxiously had it investigated who it was that had invited this fellow named Hu, and once it was found out, he had the man beaten half to death.鳳姐比賈璉更急十倍，只說：“咱們命中無子，好容易有了一個，又遇見這樣沒本事的大夫。”于是天地前燒香禮拜，自己通陳禱告說：“我或有病，只求尤氏妹子身体大愈，再得怀胎生一男子，我願吃長齋念佛。”賈璉眾人見了，無不稱贊。Xifeng was ten times more anxious than Jia Lian, and kept saying, "It is our fate to have no son — we finally had one, and then we met with such an incompetent doctor." Thereupon she burned incense before Heaven and Earth and bowed in worship, praying aloud herself: "If I am to suffer illness, I only beg that sister You's body recover fully, and that she conceive again and bear a son; I am willing to eat a lifelong vegetarian fast and chant the Buddha's name." When Jia Lian and the others saw this, none failed to praise her.賈璉與秋桐在一處時，鳳姐又做湯做水的著人送與二姐。While Jia Lian was together with Qiutong, Xifeng for her part again had people send soups and broths to Youerjie.又罵平兒不是個有福的，”也和我一樣。She also scolded Ping'er for not being someone blessed with good fortune, "—just like me.我因多病了，你卻無病也不見怀胎。Because I have been often ill, and you, though not ill, still show no sign of conceiving.如今二奶奶這樣，都因咱們無福，或犯了什麼，沖的他這樣。”因又叫人出去算命打卦。Now that Second Sister is in such a state, it is all because we have no good fortune, or have offended something, that has brought this affliction upon her." Thereupon she also sent someone out to have fortunes told and divinations cast.偏算命的回來又說：“系屬兔的陰人沖犯。”大家算將起來，只有秋桐一人屬兔，說他沖的。As it happened, the fortune-teller came back saying, "It is a yin-natured person born in the Year of the Rabbit who has caused the affliction." When they all reckoned it up, only Qiutong among them was born in the Year of the Rabbit, so it was said she was the one who had caused it.秋桐近見賈璉請醫治藥，打人罵狗，為尤二姐十分盡心，他心中早浸了一缸醋在內了。Of late, seeing how Jia Lian had summoned doctors and fetched medicine, beaten people and cursed dogs, exerting himself to the utmost on Youerjie's behalf, Qiutong's heart had already been steeped in a whole vat of vinegar.今又聽見如此說他沖了，鳳姐兒又勸他說：“你暫且別處去躲幾個月再來。”秋桐便氣的哭罵道：“理那起瞎肏的混咬舌根！Now hearing besides that she was being said to have caused the affliction, and with Xifeng moreover advising her, "You had better go stay elsewhere for a few months and come back later," Qiutong grew so angry she wept and cursed, "Pay no heed to those blind, damnable gossip-mongers and their loose tongues!我和他‘井水不犯河水’，怎麼就沖了他！She and I are like well water and river water — we don't interfere with each other — how could I possibly have caused her affliction!好個愛八哥兒，在外頭什麼人不見，偏來了就有人沖了。What a fine dear little darling she is — outside, she saw who knows how many men, and it's only after she came here that suddenly someone's afflicted her.白眉赤臉，那里來的孩子？Pale-faced and shameless — where would a child come from?他不過指著哄我們那個棉花耳朵的爺罷了。She's merely using it to point at and fool that soft-eared master of ours, that's all.縱有孩子，也不知姓張姓王。Even if there is a child, who knows whether its surname would be Zhang or Wang.奶奶希罕那雜种羔子，我不喜歡！If Madam treasures that bastard whelp, I for one don't care for it!老了誰不成？Who couldn't manage to grow old?誰不會養！Who doesn't know how to bear children!一年半載養一個，倒還是一點攙雜沒有的呢！”罵的眾人又要笑，又不敢笑。Bear one every year or every eighteen months, and it would still be one with not a speck of mixed blood in it!" Her cursing made everyone want to laugh, yet none dared to.可巧邢夫人過來請安，秋桐便哭告邢夫人說：“二爺奶奶要攆我回去，我沒了安身之處，太太好歹開恩。”邢夫人聽說，慌的數落鳳姐兒一陣，又罵賈璉：“不知好歹的种子，憑他怎不好，是你父親給的。As it happened, Lady Xing came over to pay her respects, and Qiutong tearfully complained to her, "The Second Master and Second Mistress want to drive me out, and I have nowhere to settle myself — may Madam in her mercy show some grace." Hearing this, Lady Xing hastily gave Xifeng a scolding, and cursed Jia Lian besides: "You ungrateful wretch of a creature — whatever her faults, she was given to you by your father.為個外頭來的攆他，連老子都沒了。To drive her out for the sake of some outsider who's come in — soon you'll have no father left either.你要攆他，你不如還你父親去倒好。”說著，賭氣去了。If you want to drive her out, you'd do better to go back to your father." So saying, she stalked off in a huff.秋桐更又得意，越性走到他窗戶根底下大哭大罵起來。Qiutong grew all the more pleased with herself, and went so far as to walk right under Youerjie's window and set up a great wailing and cursing there.尤二姐聽了，不免更添煩惱。Hearing this, Youerjie could not help but grow yet more troubled.

谁知王太医亦谋干了军前效力，回来好讨荫封的。小厮们走去，便请了个姓胡的太医，名叫君荣。进来诊脉看了，说是经水不调，全要大补。贾琏便说：“已是三月庚信不行，又常作呕酸，恐是胎气。”胡君荣听了，复又命老婆子们请出手来再看看。尤二姐少不得又从帐内伸出手来。胡君荣又诊了半日，说：“若论胎气，肝脉自应洪大。然木盛则生火，经水不调亦皆因由肝木所致。医生要大胆，须得请奶奶将金面略露露，医生观观气色，方敢下药。”贾琏无法，只得命将帐子掀起一缝，尤二姐露出脸来。胡君荣一见，魂魄如飞上九天，通身麻木，一无所知。一时掩了帐子，贾琏就陪他出来，问是如何。胡太医道：“不是胎气，只是迂血凝结。如今只以下迂血通经脉要紧。”于是写了一方，作辞而去。贾琏命人送了药礼，抓了药来，调服下去。只半夜，尤二姐腹痛不止，谁知竟将一个已成形的男胎打了下来。于是血行不止，二姐就昏迷过去。贾琏闻知，大骂胡君荣。一面再遣人去请医调治，一面命人去打告胡君荣。胡君荣听了，早已卷包逃走。这里太医便说：“本来气血生成亏弱，受胎以来，想是著了些气恼，郁结于中。这位先生擅用虎狼之剂，如今大人元气十分伤其八九，一时难保就愈。煎丸二药并行，还要一些闲言闲事不闻，庶可望好。”说毕而去。急的贾琏查是谁请了姓胡的来，一时查了出来，便打了半死。凤姐比贾琏更急十倍，只说：“咱们命中无子，好容易有了一个，又遇见这样没本事的大夫。”于是天地前烧香礼拜，自己通陈祷告说：“我或有病，只求尤氏妹子身体大愈，再得怀胎生一男子，我愿吃长斋念佛。”贾琏众人见了，无不称赞。贾琏与秋桐在一处时，凤姐又做汤做水的著人送与二姐。又骂平儿不是个有福的，”也和我一样。我因多病了，你却无病也不见怀胎。如今二奶奶这样，都因咱们无福，或犯了什么，冲的他这样。”因又叫人出去算命打卦。偏算命的回来又说：“系属兔的阴人冲犯。”大家算将起来，只有秋桐一人属兔，说他冲的。秋桐近见贾琏请医治药，打人骂狗，为尤二姐十分尽心，他心中早浸了一缸醋在内了。今又听见如此说他冲了，凤姐儿又劝他说：“你暂且别处去躲几个月再来。”秋桐便气的哭骂道：“理那起瞎肏的混咬舌根！我和他‘井水不犯河水’，怎么就冲了他！好个爱八哥儿，在外头什么人不见，偏来了就有人冲了。白眉赤脸，那里来的孩子？他不过指著哄我们那个棉花耳朵的爷罢了。纵有孩子，也不知姓张姓王。奶奶希罕那杂种羔子，我不喜欢！老了谁不成？谁不会养！一年半载养一个，倒还是一点搀杂没有的呢！”骂的众人又要笑，又不敢笑。可巧邢夫人过来请安，秋桐便哭告邢夫人说：“二爷奶奶要撵我回去，我没了安身之处，太太好歹开恩。”邢夫人听说，慌的数落凤姐儿一阵，又骂贾琏：“不知好歹的种子，凭他怎不好，是你父亲给的。为个外头来的撵他，连老子都没了。你要撵他，你不如还你父亲去倒好。”说著，赌气去了。秋桐更又得意，越性走到他窗户根底下大哭大骂起来。尤二姐听了，不免更添烦恼。

晚間，賈璉在秋桐房中歇了，鳳姐已睡，平兒過來瞧他，又悄悄勸他：“好生養病，不要理那畜生。”尤二姐拉他哭道：“姐姐，我從到了這里，多虧姐姐照應。That evening, Jia Lian slept in Qiutong's room, and Xifeng had already gone to bed. Ping'er came over to look in on Youerjie, and quietly urged her, "Take good care and nurse your illness — pay no attention to that beast." Youerjie took hold of her and wept, saying, "Sister, ever since I came here, I have relied so much on your care.為我，姐姐也不知受了多少閒氣。For my sake, sister, you too have no idea how much petty spite you have had to endure.我若逃的出命來，我必答報姐姐的恩德，只怕我逃不出命來，也只好等來生罷。”平兒也不禁滴淚說道：“想來都是我坑了你。If I manage to escape with my life, I will surely repay sister's kindness; but I fear I shall not escape with my life, and can only hope to repay it in the next." Ping'er too could not help but let tears fall, and said, "When I think of it, it is all I who have entrapped you.我原是一片痴心，從沒瞞他的話。I was originally acting out of simple devotion, and never once hid anything from him.既聽見你在外頭，豈有不告訴他的。Once he heard that you were out there, how could I possibly not have told him about it.誰知生出這些個事來。”尤二姐忙道：“姐姐這話錯了。Who would have thought it would bring about all these troubles." Youerjie hastily said, "Sister, that is wrong of you to say.若姐姐便不告訴他，他豈有打聽不出來的，不過是姐姐說的在先。Even if sister had not told him, how could he possibly not have found out on his own — it is only that sister happened to speak of it first.況且我也要一心進來，方成個体統，與姐姐何干。”二人哭了一回，平兒又囑咐了幾句，夜已深了，方去安息。Besides, I too was of a mind to come in wholeheartedly, so as to give the matter its proper form — what has that to do with sister?" The two of them wept for a while, and Ping'er, after giving a few more words of counsel, saw that the night had grown deep, and only then went to rest.

晚间，贾琏在秋桐房中歇了，凤姐已睡，平儿过来瞧他，又悄悄劝他：“好生养病，不要理那畜生。”尤二姐拉他哭道：“姐姐，我从到了这里，多亏姐姐照应。为我，姐姐也不知受了多少闲气。我若逃的出命来，我必答报姐姐的恩德，只怕我逃不出命来，也只好等来生罢。”平儿也不禁滴泪说道：“想来都是我坑了你。我原是一片痴心，从没瞒他的话。既听见你在外头，岂有不告诉他的。谁知生出这些个事来。”尤二姐忙道：“姐姐这话错了。若姐姐便不告诉他，他岂有打听不出来的，不过是姐姐说的在先。况且我也要一心进来，方成个体统，与姐姐何干。”二人哭了一回，平儿又嘱咐了几句，夜已深了，方去安息。

這里尤二姐心下自思：“病已成勢，日無所養，反有所傷，料定必不能好。Here Youerjie thought to herself, "My illness has already taken hold, and with each passing day there is nothing to nourish me, only more to harm me — I am certain it cannot be cured.況胎已打下，無可懸心，何必受這些零氣，不如一死，倒還乾淨。Besides, the child has already been lost, so there is nothing left to hold my heart in suspense — why should I go on suffering these petty humiliations? Better to die and be done, and be clean of it after all.常聽見人說，生金子可以墜死，豈不比上吊自刎又乾淨。”想畢，扎掙起來，打開箱子，找出一塊生金，也不知多重，恨命含淚便吞入口中，幾次狠命直脖，方咽了下去。I have often heard people say that swallowing raw gold can cause death — surely that would be cleaner than hanging oneself or cutting one's throat." Having thought this through, she struggled up, opened her trunk, and found a piece of raw gold, not knowing how much it weighed, and with bitter resolve and tears swallowed it into her mouth, straining her throat hard several times before it finally went down.于是赶忙將衣服首飾穿戴齊整，上炕躺下了。Thereupon she hastily put on her clothes and ornaments, neat and complete, and lay down upon the kang.當下人不知，鬼不覺。At that time no man knew of it, nor any spirit sensed it.到第二日早晨，丫鬟媳婦們見他不叫人，樂得且自己去梳洗。By the next morning, when the maids and matrons saw that she did not call for anyone, they were glad enough to go off and wash and dress themselves first.鳳姐便和秋桐都上去了。Xifeng and Qiutong had both gone off elsewhere as well.平兒看不過，說丫頭們：“你們就只配沒人心的打著罵著使也罷了，一個病人，也不知可怜可怜。Ping'er could not bear it, and said to the maids, "It's all very well for you to be so heartless as to strike and scold her as you please, but she is a sick person — you ought at least to show her some pity.他雖好性兒，你們也該拿出個樣兒來，別太過逾了，牆倒眾人推。”丫鬟聽了，急推房門進來看時，卻穿戴的齊齊整整，死在炕上。Even though she is good-natured, you ought still to put on some show of decency, and not go too far — when a wall is falling, everyone gives it a shove." Hearing this, the maids hurried and pushed the door open to look in, and found her dressed and adorned all neat and complete, dead upon the kang.于是方嚇慌了，喊叫起來。Only then did they take fright and cry out in alarm.平兒進來看了，不禁大哭。Ping'er came in and looked, and could not help but weep loudly.眾人雖素習懼怕鳳姐，然想尤二姐實在溫和怜下，比鳳姐原強，如今死去，誰不傷心落淚，只不敢與鳳姐看見。Though everyone habitually feared Xifeng, they all thought that Youerjie had truly been gentle and kind to those beneath her, better by far than Xifeng, and now that she had died, who did not grieve and shed tears — only none dared let Xifeng see it.

这里尤二姐心下自思：“病已成势，日无所养，反有所伤，料定必不能好。况胎已打下，无可悬心，何必受这些零气，不如一死，倒还干净。常听见人说，生金子可以坠死，岂不比上吊自刎又干净。”想毕，扎挣起来，打开箱子，找出一块生金，也不知多重，恨命含泪便吞入口中，几次狠命直脖，方咽了下去。于是赶忙将衣服首饰穿戴齐整，上炕躺下了。当下人不知，鬼不觉。到第二日早晨，丫鬟媳妇们见他不叫人，乐得且自己去梳洗。凤姐便和秋桐都上去了。平儿看不过，说丫头们：“你们就只配没人心的打著骂著使也罢了，一个病人，也不知可怜可怜。他虽好性儿，你们也该拿出个样儿来，别太过逾了，墙倒众人推。”丫鬟听了，急推房门进来看时，却穿戴的齐齐整整，死在炕上。于是方吓慌了，喊叫起来。平儿进来看了，不禁大哭。众人虽素习惧怕凤姐，然想尤二姐实在温和怜下，比凤姐原强，如今死去，谁不伤心落泪，只不敢与凤姐看见。

當下合宅皆知。Before long the whole household knew of it.賈璉進來，摟尸大哭不止。Jia Lian came in, embraced the corpse, and wept without ceasing.鳳姐也假意哭：“狠心的妹妹！Xifeng too wept in pretense, "My hard-hearted sister!你怎麼丟下我去了，辜負了我的心！”尤氏賈蓉等也來哭了一場，勸住賈璉。How could you leave me and go, betraying the devotion I felt for you!" You-shi and Jia Rong and the others also came and wept a good while, and persuaded Jia Lian to stop.賈璉便回了王夫人，討了梨香院停放五日，挪到鐵檻寺去，王夫人依允。Jia Lian then reported to Lady Wang, and requested that the coffin be laid out in the Pear Fragrance Court for five days before being moved to Iron Threshold Temple; Lady Wang consented.賈璉忙命人去開了梨香院的門，收拾出正房來停靈。Jia Lian hastily had someone go open the gate of the Pear Fragrance Court, and had the main hall cleared out to lay out the coffin for the wake.賈璉嫌後門出靈不象，便對著梨香院的正牆上通街現開了一個大門。Jia Lian felt it would look unseemly to carry the coffin out by the back gate, so he had a large gate freshly opened facing the street in the main wall of the Pear Fragrance Court.兩邊搭棚，安壇場做佛事。Awnings were put up on both sides, and an altar was set up to hold Buddhist services.用軟榻舖了錦緞衾褥，將二姐抬上榻去，用衾單蓋了。A soft couch was spread with brocade quilts and bedding, Youerjie was carried up onto the couch, and covered with a coverlet.八個小廝和幾個媳婦圍隨，從內子牆一帶抬往梨香院來。Eight page-boys and several matrons attended around her, and carried her from within, past the inner wall, over to the Pear Fragrance Court.那里已請下天文生預備，揭起衾單一看，只見這尤二姐面色如生，比活著還美貌。There they had already engaged an astrologer to be in readiness, and when he lifted the coverlet to look, he saw that Youerjie's face was as if still alive, more beautiful even than when she had lived.賈璉又摟著大哭，只叫”奶奶，你死的不明，都是我坑了你！”賈蓉忙上來勸：“叔叔解著些兒，我這個姨娘自己沒福。”說著，又向南指大觀園的界牆，賈璉會意，只悄悄跌腳說：“我忽略了，終久對出來，我替你報仇。”天文生回說：“奶奶卒于今日正卯時，五日出不得，或是三日，或是七日方可。Jia Lian again embraced her and wept loudly, crying only, "Madam, you died without your wrong being made clear — it is I who entrapped you!" Jia Rong hurried up to console him, "Uncle, ease yourself a little — this aunt of mine simply had no good fortune of her own." So saying, he pointed south toward the boundary wall of Daguanyuan, and Jia Lian, understanding his meaning, only stamped his foot quietly and said, "I have been careless — in the end I will find it out, and avenge you." The astrologer reported, "Madam passed away today at the exact hour of Mao; she may not be kept out for five days — it must be either three days or seven days.明日寅時入殮大吉。”賈璉道：“三日斷乎使不得，竟是七日。Tomorrow at the hour of Yin will be auspicious for encoffining." Jia Lian said, "Three days will absolutely not do — let it be seven days instead.因家叔家兄皆在外，小喪不敢多停，等到外頭，還放五七，做大道場才掩靈。Since my uncle and elder brother are both away from home, I dare not keep so small a mourning too long — once they are back, we shall still hold the fifth seven-day rite and perform a great Buddhist service before sealing the coffin for good.明年往南去下葬。”天文生應諾，寫了殃榜而去。Next year we shall go south to bury her." The astrologer assented, wrote out the death certificate, and departed.寶玉已早過來陪哭一場。Baoyu had already come over earlier to keep her company in mourning for a while.眾族中人也都來了。The various members of the clan also all came.賈璉忙進去找鳳姐，要銀子治辦棺槨喪禮。Jia Lian hurried inside to find Xifeng, to ask for silver to arrange the coffin and funeral rites.鳳姐見抬了出去，推有病，回：“老太太，太太說我病著，忌三房，不許我去。”因此也不出來穿孝，且往大觀園中來。Seeing that the coffin had been carried out, Xifeng pretended to be ill, and replied, "The Old Ancestress and Madam say I am unwell and must avoid the ill luck of the third chamber, and will not allow me to go." For this reason she did not come out to put on mourning either, and instead went off to Daguanyuan.繞過群山，至北界牆根下往外聽，隱隱綽綽聽了一言半語，回來又回賈母說如此這般。She went around past the cluster of rockery hills, and at the foot of the north boundary wall stood listening outward, catching faint snatches of talk here and there, then came back and reported to the Lady Dowager how things stood.賈母道：“信他胡說，誰家癆病死的孩子不燒了一撒，也認真的開喪破土起來。The Lady Dowager said, "Never mind his nonsense — in whose family does a child who died of consumption not get burned and its ashes scattered, and yet here they must take it seriously and open a proper funeral and break ground for a grave.既是二房一場，也是夫妻之分，停五七日抬出來，或一燒或亂葬地上埋了完事。”鳳姐笑道：“可是這話。Still, since she was a second wife for a time, there is after all the bond of husband and wife — let the coffin be kept for five-times-seven days and then carried out, and either cremated or buried anywhere in a common burial ground, and have done with it." Xifeng said with a smile, "That is exactly so.我又不敢勸他。”正說著，丫鬟來請鳳姐，說：“二爺等著奶奶拿銀子呢。”鳳姐只得來了，便問他“什麼銀子？I dare not advise him on it either." Just as she was speaking, a maid came to fetch Xifeng, saying, "The Second Master is waiting for Madam to bring the silver." Xifeng had no choice but to come, and asked him, "What silver?家里近來艱難，你還不知道？Don't you even know how hard-pressed the household has been of late?咱們的月例，一月赶不上一月，雞兒吃了過年糧。Our monthly allowances can't keep up from one month to the next — the chicks have already eaten next year's grain.昨兒我把兩個金項圈當了三百銀子，你還做夢呢。Just yesterday I pawned two gold neck-rings for three hundred taels of silver, and you're still dreaming.這里還有二三十兩銀子，你要就拿去。”說著，命平兒拿了出來，遞與賈璉，指著賈母有話，又去了。There is still twenty or thirty taels of silver here — take it if you want it." So saying, she had Ping'er bring it out and hand it to Jia Lian, then, saying she had something to attend to with the Lady Dowager, went off again.恨的賈璉沒話可說，只得開了尤氏箱柜，去拿自己的梯己。Jia Lian, resentful and with nothing to say, had no choice but to open Youshi's — [Youerjie's] — trunks and cabinets to get his own private savings.及開了箱柜，一滴無存，只有些拆簪爛花并幾件半新不舊的綢絹衣裳，都是尤二姐素習所穿的，不禁又傷心哭了起來。But when he opened the trunks and cabinets, not a drop remained — there were only some broken hairpins and withered flowers, and a few half-new, half-worn silk garments, all things Youerjie had habitually worn, and he could not help but weep in sorrow again.自己用個包袱一齊包了，也不命小廝丫鬟來拿，便自己提著來燒。He wrapped them all up himself in a bundle, and rather than have a page-boy or maid carry them, he himself carried them off to burn.

当下合宅皆知。贾琏进来，搂尸大哭不止。凤姐也假意哭：“狠心的妹妹！你怎么丢下我去了，辜负了我的心！”尤氏贾蓉等也来哭了一场，劝住贾琏。贾琏便回了王夫人，讨了梨香院停放五日，挪到铁槛寺去，王夫人依允。贾琏忙命人去开了梨香院的门，收拾出正房来停灵。贾琏嫌后门出灵不象，便对著梨香院的正墙上通街现开了一个大门。两边搭棚，安坛场做佛事。用软榻铺了锦缎衾褥，将二姐抬上榻去，用衾单盖了。八个小厮和几个媳妇围随，从内子墙一带抬往梨香院来。那里已请下天文生预备，揭起衾单一看，只见这尤二姐面色如生，比活著还美貌。贾琏又搂著大哭，只叫”奶奶，你死的不明，都是我坑了你！”贾蓉忙上来劝：“叔叔解著些儿，我这个姨娘自己没福。”说著，又向南指大观园的界墙，贾琏会意，只悄悄跌脚说：“我忽略了，终久对出来，我替你报仇。”天文生回说：“奶奶卒于今日正卯时，五日出不得，或是三日，或是七日方可。明日寅时入殓大吉。”贾琏道：“三日断乎使不得，竟是七日。因家叔家兄皆在外，小丧不敢多停，等到外头，还放五七，做大道场才掩灵。明年往南去下葬。”天文生应诺，写了殃榜而去。宝玉已早过来陪哭一场。众族中人也都来了。贾琏忙进去找凤姐，要银子治办棺椁丧礼。凤姐见抬了出去，推有病，回：“老太太，太太说我病著，忌三房，不许我去。”因此也不出来穿孝，且往大观园中来。绕过群山，至北界墙根下往外听，隐隐绰绰听了一言半语，回来又回贾母说如此这般。贾母道：“信他胡说，谁家痨病死的孩子不烧了一撒，也认真的开丧破土起来。既是二房一场，也是夫妻之分，停五七日抬出来，或一烧或乱葬地上埋了完事。”凤姐笑道：“可是这话。我又不敢劝他。”正说著，丫鬟来请凤姐，说：“二爷等著奶奶拿银子呢。”凤姐只得来了，便问他“什么银子？家里近来艰难，你还不知道？咱们的月例，一月赶不上一月，鸡儿吃了过年粮。昨儿我把两个金项圈当了三百银子，你还做梦呢。这里还有二三十两银子，你要就拿去。”说著，命平儿拿了出来，递与贾琏，指著贾母有话，又去了。恨的贾琏没话可说，只得开了尤氏箱柜，去拿自己的梯己。及开了箱柜，一滴无存，只有些拆簪烂花并几件半新不旧的绸绢衣裳，都是尤二姐素习所穿的，不禁又伤心哭了起来。自己用个包袱一齐包了，也不命小厮丫鬟来拿，便自己提著来烧。

平兒又是傷心，又是好笑，忙將二百兩一包的碎銀子偷了出來，到廂房拉住賈璉，悄遞與他說：“你只別作聲才好，你要哭，外頭多少哭不得，又跑了這里來點眼。”賈璉聽說，便說：“你說的是。”接了銀子，又將一條裙子遞與平兒，說：“這是他家常穿的，你好生替我收著，作個念心兒。”平兒只得掩了，自己收去。Ping'er felt both grieved and yet found it laughable; she hastily stole out a packet of two hundred taels of loose silver, and going to the side room, caught hold of Jia Lian and quietly handed it to him, saying, "Only don't make a sound about it, that's all — if you want to weep, there are plenty of places outside to weep in; why come running here to draw attention?" Hearing this, Jia Lian said, "You're right." He took the silver, and also handed Ping'er a skirt, saying, "This is one she wore every day at home — keep it carefully for me, as a keepsake." Ping'er had no choice but to hide it away and keep it for herself.賈璉拿了銀子與眾人，走來命人先去買板。Jia Lian took the silver and gave it to the others, then went and had someone go first to buy planks for the coffin.好的又貴，中的又不要。The good ones were too expensive, and the middling ones would not do.賈璉騎馬自去要瞧，至晚間果抬了一副好板進來，价銀五百兩賒著，連夜赶造。Jia Lian rode off himself to see to it, and by evening a fine set of coffin planks was indeed carried in, five hundred taels of silver owed on credit, and the coffin was rushed to completion through the night.一面分派了人口穿孝守靈，晚來也不進去，只在這里伴宿。[1]He also assigned people to put on mourning and keep watch by the coffin; that night he did not go back inside either, but stayed there to keep vigil.

平儿又是伤心，又是好笑，忙将二百两一包的碎银子偷了出来，到厢房拉住贾琏，悄递与他说：“你只别作声才好，你要哭，外头多少哭不得，又跑了这里来点眼。”贾琏听说，便说：“你说的是。”接了银子，又将一条裙子递与平儿，说：“这是他家常穿的，你好生替我收著，作个念心儿。”平儿只得掩了，自己收去。贾琏拿了银子与众人，走来命人先去买板。好的又贵，中的又不要。贾琏骑马自去要瞧，至晚间果抬了一副好板进来，价银五百两赊著，连夜赶造。一面分派了人口穿孝守灵，晚来也不进去，只在这里伴宿。[1]