Chapter 11 The Eleventh Chapter Stealing the Jade Vase, Sister Feng Miscalculates and Borrows the Silver Hairpin to Explore the Spring and Think Far Away
In addition, since the marriage proposal, Daiyu's illness has become more and more serious day by day, and all the decoctions and medicines she has taken are vomited out, which adds to the hard work.At this time, most of the whole family has heard about the marriage proposal of King Beijing, and they are all strange. Some say that Baoyu is affectionate and righteous, and he dares to break into the palace to resist the marriage. "What a beautiful couple, but they were torn apart like this"; there are also those who got their wish and took the opportunity to spread rumors and cause trouble, and that doesn't need to be said about him.Now it is only said that Sister Feng suffered from old illnesses due to continuous hard work, and her body was dripping; even Jia Mu was not very well. Diagnosis and treatment, but nothing works; Mrs. Wang has been restless since she dreamed of Yuanchun, and she dared not tell others. She only told the Buddha that if she could return Yuanchun safely, she would voluntarily eat a long fast and donate money. Temple Sanjing, lighting the ever-burning lanterns to honor the Buddha.
Just after eating that day, Mother Jia felt bored, and was thinking of something to entertain her and eat to break her boredom, when the sister-in-law Jingxu from Shuiyue Temple came to the mansion with Zhitong to say hello, looked at the color, and inquired. True and false.Jia Mu was just about to find someone to talk to, but when she saw the two of them coming, she liked it, so she leaned on the black lacquered and gilded armchair and said, "You guys came just in time, our second wife said that we would worship Buddha from now on and eat a long fast. It's a coincidence, let's talk about cause and effect with us to listen to, and let us always think about the Buddha in our hearts and accumulate some fate." Jingxu first said: "The old Bodhisattva is very proficient. Worshiping the scriptures and worshiping the Buddha, I am afraid that the Buddhist scriptures and anecdotes are more familiar than us, and they are well-informed and understandable. What can we say?" Jia Mu laughed: "How can it be? They all say that the Dharma is boundless , How much can I know? It’s just a drop in the bucket.” Jingxu said: “Although we have cultivated Buddha all our lives, we will end up as ordinary people, and we may not be able to pass the old Bodhisattva in terms of predestined relationship.” Jia Mu only said: “This It’s over, it’s over. Let’s listen to some casual talk.”
Jingxu asked Zhitong to give the lecture, and said: "You are well spoken, the old Bodhisattva likes it, and the master will reward you; if you don't speak well, you will be punished for memorizing scriptures when you go back." Zhitong said, "Since the old Bodhisattva is so devout, I will Tell me a story about King Sibi cutting meat to buy pigeons." Jiamu said, "I've heard this one before." Zhitong said again, "Then tell a story about King Nine-Colored Deer saving a drowning man." Jiamu said: "I've heard that too." Zhitong thought about it and said, "Then tell a story about Prince Mahasa who sacrificed his life to feed a tiger." Jia Mu still said she had heard it.Zhitong deliberately told several familiar Buddhist stories such as "five hundred robbers became Buddha", "the benefactor mentioned the prince cut his flesh to restore the country", "the prince went to the sea to seek pearls for good deeds", and so on. , Zhitong sighed: "I said that there is no unknown story of the old Bodhisattva in the world. Ordinarily, when you go to other people to teach scriptures and dharmas, who doesn't listen to it and praise it? It's just here with the old Bodhisattva. There is nothing new. It's hard to blame me. This is talking about Buddhism, and it's clearly an exam. If I can fool the old Bodhisattva, I don't need to lecture on the scriptures, but I will go to the exam to become an official. The sutra punishment at night is actually an escape. It’s not going to drop.” Laughing for a while, the party told a story about “Fo Tucheng listened to the bell to distinguish good and bad”.
Mrs. Wang, Sister Feng, Li Wan, etc. also sat beside him and listened to his lectures.Then I heard the aunt say: "It turns out that there is a nine-level Buddhist pagoda in the deep mountain. Listen to the bell in order to avoid bad luck and predict life and death. On a certain day in a certain year, Shi Xuan, the Prince of Zhao, wanted to murder his younger brother Qin Gongtao, kill his father and make trouble, but he was afraid that his plan would fail, so he deliberately went to visit Fotucheng first. I want to try the depth. It is hard to explain the purpose of my visit. I just heard a bell ringing alone on the pagoda, so I asked: "The great monk knows the sound of the bell. What is the omen of the Lord?" The Buddha's picture has clear eyes and Buddha heart. He purposely didn't say what he came for, but he just replied, "It's Huzi Luodu." Shi Xuan was taken aback, and quickly asked, "What is Huzi Luodu?" Qin Gongtao walked in slowly, and Fotucheng just stared at Tao's face. Tao was naturally surprised, and asked why, Fotucheng replied: 'Your Excellency smells like blood, I'm afraid something bad will happen in the near future'..."
At this point, Baoyu and Tanchun came to pay their respects, and Jiamu asked a few words, and then said to her aunt, "This story is too murderous, so it's better to listen to it in a peaceful and smooth way. " Mrs. Wang's face changed a long time ago, and she hurriedly said after hearing the words: "Exactly, I just had dinner, let alone the blood is unlucky."
Jingxu observes the words and looks, guesses Jia Mu's mind early, and sees Baoyu coming in again, knowing that most of their sons and brothers like to listen to fragrant stories, so he has an idea, stops Zhitong quickly, and said with a smile: "This is me telling a story about the Peacock King Let’s tell a story.” Yin said, “Once upon a time there was a Peacock King who had five hundred wives, but he was only in love with one blue sparrow, and he abandoned all five hundred wives, just wanting to be favored by this blue sparrow. The green sparrow likes to drink nectar and eat honeydew fruit, so the peacock king would personally go to the mountains to gather dew and honeydew fruit every morning, and come back to feed the green sparrow, so as to make him happy."
Baoyu has always been reluctant to listen to the scriptures, and he just wanted to invite An Lue to sit for a while and leave. After hearing these words, his heart moved, and he thought to himself: Manna, honey fruit, it seems that I have heard it there.Then he sat down and blurted out to ask: "The Peacock King is so infatuated, I don't know what the green bird will give him back?" Such obsession with the green sparrow is naturally because the green sparrow has its special benefits, or maybe the two have a karmic relationship in the past." Jia Mu said: "Don't worry about this, just go on."
Jingxu then said: "But it is said that the queen of this country has a disease, and a hundred medicines can't cure it. That night, she had a dream. When she woke up, she told the king: A fairy told me that as long as I eat the flesh of the Peacock King, my The disease will be cured. So the king asked for a reward for medicine, saying that whoever catches the peacock king will not only reward him with ten thousand taels of silver, but also make him a wife with the princess. A hunter who often walks in the mountains heard it. He used to have a peacock before. Knowing that he had to eat honey fruit for the green bird every morning, he came up with an idea, covered himself with honey and lay down on the ground to lure the peacock king. Sure enough, the peacock king fell into the trap and was caught by the hunter. The Peacock King knew that he was betrayed by the hunter, so he had to discuss with him: If you let me go, I will tell you a place where there is a golden mountain. The hunter doesn’t believe me, what should I do if I let you go, but there is no golden mountain? The king’s The rewards are clearly written. So I dedicated the Peacock King to the king."
Hearing this, Baoyu paused and said, "This hunter is ungrateful and can really be killed." Jia Mu and Mrs. Wang were also in a trance.Sister Feng urged: "I don't know if the peacock king has healed the queen?" The old nun continued: "The peacock king saw the king, and then plotted against the king again, saying: Don't kill me, I just need to hold a bowl of water. Reciting the mantra can make the queen recover. The king heard this and ordered someone to bring a bowl of water. The peacock king recited a few mantras to the queen and gave the queen some water to drink. The queen was so sick that she couldn't even lift herself up. After drinking the water, he went down to the ground and walked around immediately. He was more radiant than before the illness. The king was naturally happy and wanted to reward the peacock and make him a royal doctor in the palace." Jia Mu nodded and said: "This king has a serious attitude. Idea." The old nun smiled and continued: "The Peacock King said: Your Majesty is not in a hurry to reward, what is this, if I recite a mantra on the lake water, the water in the lake will have the properties of immortality and medicine, which can cure all diseases. The king was even more happy, so he brought the peacock to the lake. The peacock jumped into the lake and performed the magic trick. After the people drank the water from the lake, the blind saw the light, the deaf heard the sound, the dumb sang, and the lame jumped. Dancing is like celebrating a festival. The Peacock King saw that the disaster was over, so he flew to the branch and said to the king: Do you know that there are three fools in this world?" At this point, he deliberately stopped.
Jia Mu was listening eagerly, and hurriedly asked: "Those three fools?" Jing Xu smiled and said: "The old Bodhisattva asked the same question as the king. The Peacock King replied: "The first one is myself. I have five Hundreds of wives, but only one loves Qingque, running around every morning, morning and evening to pick fruit and dew for him, like a servant, and almost lost his life, so naturally he is the first fool." Baoyu interrupted: "This statement is wrong. This is infatuation. Weak water is three thousand. Just take a ladle to drink. This is the most precious and rare thing in the world. How can the so-called choosing the good and being stubborn be called stupid?" Tanchun hurriedly said: " Don't interrupt, just listen to him." The old nun said again: "The second fool is a hunter, he betrayed his promise, took the fake as the truth, refused the whole gold mountain I promised him, but coveted ten thousand taels of gold, isn't he a fool? Baoyu said: "Taking the false as the truth, and losing the big because of the small, can indeed be called stupid. I don't know who the third fool is?" The old nun said with a smile: "The king said the same thing, and he thought about it with my brother." The peacock king said: "The third one is you, the king. I have such magic power, how could you let me go so easily?" After that, the peacock king flapped his wings and disappeared in a blink of an eye."
After the speech, everyone spoke well.Jia Mu said with a smile: "There are many greedy and stubborn people in this world. According to what the Peacock King said, the people sitting in our room are all dissatisfied, ignorant, who lost watermelon and picked sesame seeds." You're just an idiot." Everyone who said it laughed, and my aunt was naturally full of flattery.Sister Feng laughed and said: "Although I don't believe in these retribution karma, if I say no, I will do good deeds for our sister and donate some sesame oil. When I am tired of master, I often pray for our sister in front of Guanyin Bodhisattva, Maitreya Buddha, and Erlang God." Wisdom Channel: "If grandma wants to be safe, she only recites the words of the Great Merciful and Greatly Compassionate Avalokitesvara Bodhisattva in her heart. I can help grandma pray for a string of Buddhist beads in front of the Buddha, recite a sentence and dial a bead, and recite the scriptures three times a day. The fate is natural. You don’t have to worship Erlang God or Maitreya Buddha.” Sister Feng said with a smile: “They all talk about worshiping that temple on that mountain, but I don’t know that our sister and I will pass through those temples on those mountains in the future, and those Buddhas are inside those temples.” The main thing, according to me, I gave the gift early. It’s good to be acquainted with people. It’s not surprising that there are many people in the ceremony. It’s better to have a favor than no one. When I really ask, I’m afraid I won’t Emergency." Everyone who said that said laughed.
The two aunts were flattering again, and they said directly that the treasure statue hangs down from the sky, and the golden lotus springs from the ground.Baoyu gradually couldn't hear her, so she left and went out. Sister Feng, her sons-in-law and sisters-in-law and sisters all dispersed, but Jia Mu and Mrs. Wang were still sitting there listening to her aunt's lecture.
Just as they were talking lively, suddenly the servants at the second gate came in to report that it was Mrs. Xia, the inner minister, who was here. Mother Jia was taken aback, shaking her clothes tremblingly, and hurriedly changed clothes and went out to greet her.Jia Amnesty, Jia Zheng, Jia Zhen, Jia Lian and others all went out of the gate of the ceremony to wait.
I saw Xia Shouzhong sitting in a sedan chair for four people, followed by the Yulin Army holding tassel guns in line, shouting all the way, Jia Amnesty and others rushed to greet him, the Yulin Army stopped outside the Yimen, and the eunuch Xia still kept the sedan chair , directly ordered to carry it into the middle hall, Fang shouted to stop, and helped the little eunuch's shoulders off.Jia Amnesty and others had no choice but to follow in. Seeing that the eunuch Xia was dressed in plain clothes and had a dignified face, he didn't know what happened. They were all trembling.But Eunuch Xia helped She and Zheng up one by one, and said: "The father-in-law, please, the old slave is not here to pass the decree, but to report that the emperor will return to Beijing within a few days, and the coffin of the empress will follow." It’s here, so I’m here to report to the Zunfu so that we can prepare for the ceremony to welcome the spirit.”
When Jia Zheng heard this, he almost fainted. Suspecting that he heard it wrong, his whole body trembled and he couldn't speak.Jia She Shili asked: "Elder-in-law, please explain clearly. What are the coffins, the spirits, and the lower officials are dull, so I can't understand for a while." Xia Shouzhong sighed: "I also heard the report from the spies eight hundred miles away. There was a dragon species, who was hunting with his car a month ago, accidentally fell off his horse, and died of illness. The emperor was very sad and had no intention of hunting, so he drove back to Beijing in advance. The coffin of the empress came back later. I came here to tell the mansion to make preparations early to avoid I won’t be able to prepare it in time.” Because I told in detail that the concubine of the Yuan Dynasty, Xu Shi, was still pregnant, she was not diagnosed in time before the trip, and when she arrived at Iron Net Mountain, she was jolting around for days, unable to eat and drink, although she felt nausea, chest tightness, and discomfort in every possible way. , but it was only caused by the exhaustion of the horses and horses, and he only tried his best to support him, neither to ask the imperial physician for consultation, nor to teach the saint to work hard.That day when he was hunting with his horse, the emperor shot the rabbit with an arrow, and the imperial guards brought it upside down to announce the good news. The concubine Yuan thought she could smell the blood and vomited, so she suddenly fell off the horse, but she couldn't get her boots off the pedals. The horse was frightened and drove him wildly for a while. The guards hurriedly surrounded and chased him, but they managed to stop him. After saving Concubine Yuan, she was already fainted, and her lower body was bleeding profusely. I didn't know that she had a miscarriage. Although she used all kinds of medicines, she couldn't save her life.Before dawn, he died.Because of this, the emperor had no intention of hunting, so he left behind a group of troops to be buried with the concubine Yuan, and led his own army back to the capital.It will take about one or two days to ascend to the palace.
When Jia Zheng heard this, he burst into tears, and Jishou wept bitterly. Jia Amnesty had already walked a long way with Eunuch Xia, and Shang knelt on the ground and didn't know how to get up.Jia Lian flew to report to the inner government in the early morning. After hearing this, Jia's mother yelled, "My house is over", and fell back, with her eyes stuck upside down. When I woke up, I heard Caiyun cry again: "Madam has passed out." Sister Feng hurriedly came to pat Mrs. Wang again, and ordered Ping'er to take snuff to sniff.Fortunately, Mrs. Xing and Mrs. You also heard the news and came to help with the cooking.
At that moment, Ningrong and Rong's two houses burst into tears, all the plains were spread, all the lanterns and colored silks were covered, and the lintels and trees were all hung with white banners. Because the Grand View Garden was originally built by the empress to visit relatives, it was even more carefully arranged, covered with silver and plain, and decorated. Snow caves are like cloud caves, and Sugong lanterns hang from the garden to the street.The Daguanlou was used as the mourning hall, and the Hanfang Pavilion next to it was used as a resting place. The three small flower halls in the south were still cleaned up to prepare for the palace, and the area from the main entrance to the Daguanlou was separated from the garden by curtains against the natural mountain. , Another five sheds were set up, monks and Taoists were invited to recite the scriptures "Jie Yuan" and "Surangama", and the west corner gate was opened for monks and Taoists to come in and out.Also, Qingxu Temple booked a few days for ritual offerings, performing water and land Taoism; Tiekan Temple for a few days to recite the mantra of passing away, and set up a stage to put on a play; There is an endless stream of people sending fairy crowns.No problem.
Let's say that when the emperor Luanzhan started to drive, he met the guards sent by the Northern King to escort him, so they came back together. Halfway through, the soldiers of Zhongshun Mansion also arrived, and they all returned to Beijing together.The kings set up tents in the outskirts early to welcome them, and knelt to receive Luanjia. The monarchs and ministers thanked each other for their hard work, and returned to the palace together. First, they discussed the state affairs.Jia Zheng kowtowed his head to thank him, and reluctantly reported: "The Emperor Hemeng is so generous and generous. Day and night, he thought about exhausting his dog and horse strength, and tried to donate Egypt but failed. Before returning to Beijing the day before yesterday, the emperor ordered the inner minister to inform the mother of the death. Looking down on Yin Yin, the minister is grateful, and his heart is so deep that it is difficult to describe it. Now that the emperor personally caressed him, the servant was overwhelmed with fear. After returning home, the only thing to do is to set up a case to burn incense and kowtow to pay his respects." So thank you and return. Mansion, to inform the concubine Yuan's coffin to return to Beijing, and sent family members to tell relatives in different shifts, arranged for help on the grave, and called in tailors to measure clothes, silversmiths to make jewelry, paper craftsmen to tie colored ware, stonemasons Come to engrave the copy of the epigraph, and although there are painters in the palace, the mansion must also invite another statue of the gentleman to enshrine, and another altar to chant scriptures in Yuancui nunnery, and ask Duoduo to prepare the curtains and incense candles, and order the troupe's ceremonies, People who are busy at the moment are turned on their backs.
Mrs. Wang is busy with troubles again, as long as she can get married for Baoyu in hot filial piety, Jia Zheng hesitated and said, "Isn't it against the system to marry in the clothes?" Is it against the rules?" Although Jia's mother is unwilling, it's not easy to stop, and the situation is a foregone conclusion, it's hard to undo it, and the truth will come to light early, so they have to let them talk about it, and said lightly: "I'm afraid his aunt is not happy." Wang Madam then taught Sister Feng to invite Aunt Xue to come in, and explained the important meaning, because she said: "there is such a rule in the south that you either keep it for three years, or you have to get married in the hundred-day hot filial piety, but you can't blow or beat. I Thinking that Baoyu can still wait, Bao girl is eighteen years old this year, and waiting for another three years will delay her youth, so she rushed to get married after seven days. The date was originally selected by the astronomical officer in the palace. , and there is no need to change him. It’s just advocating all the fun and feasting, and we only pay homage to the hall first, and then make up the ceremony and music after three years of filial piety. Although it is an expedient measure, it will be wronged to the niece. I don’t know what my sister thinks?”
Although Aunt Xue was in a dilemma, she felt reasonable, so she had to say: "This is also their fate. It cannot be contested, but it's up to the old lady's wishes." When Bao girl's eight characters were chiseled on the golden lock, she also sent a sentence, saying that it should be used in marriage." Mrs. Wang, Sister Feng and others hurriedly asked what to say.Aunt Xue remembered it clearly, so she read it out slowly, saying:
Both Jia Mu and Mrs. Wang said with a smile: "It's really a treasure he brought from the womb. It was born with a mouthful. How is it fake? Pearl is not so real. This is what the monk has already expected." At that time, everyone agreed that the horoscope had already been matched, so there was no need to ask for the name of the blind date, and they exchanged tea for a cup, that is, they exchanged Geng Tie.Since then, Baochai has been forbidden to walk in her boudoir, holding her needles day and night, and never going forward to meet Jiamu and Mrs. Wang in the morning and evening, nor walking in the garden, so she has affairs, and only teaches Yinger, Wenxing and others to communicate and pass on messages. do not mention.
In addition, there are many people in the mansion, so many thieves and concealers are inevitable, or they go on the road to seek errands and fail to take personal revenge, or they form gangs to collude with each other to make false accounts, or there are even counterfeit cards to exchange money for other purposes. Yes, if we can't get together, we have another child together. It's just pressing the gourd and picking up the ladle. That Sister Feng has not been in good health recently, and this big incident has happened. From the beginning, people were sent to ask for this and that. Doctors came in and out of Jiamu, Mrs. Wang and Daiyu every day. Sister Feng took care of all the details, big and small.Just sent Wu Xindeng's family out that day, when Jia Chang and Jia Ling came in again, saying that the ginseng dispensed had run out, and asked if they should get it from the mansion or pay to buy it, Sister Feng sighed, "Give me back the ginseng." In the old school, the old man came to ask for it, and he even found out the end of the beard, and used it in the whole package. Now I am afraid that there is not even a grass root in the cabinet." Because of the relationship between Chang and Ling. The two discussed it, and according to the prescription prescribed by the doctor, it is enough to make a decoction and decoct it. You might as well suspend the preparation of the pills, and think about it after these major events are over.
Jia Chang and Jia Ling had no choice but to agree with each other, and went out disconsolately.Ping'er then said to Sister Feng: "Grandma has been busy for a long time, and she hasn't even had a sip of tea. Why don't you take advantage of the fact that there is no one around?" Sister Feng nodded, took a walking pillow and put it behind her. Thinking crookedly, Jia Lian picked up the curtain and came in, but it was to pay for the curtain money. The money was not available at the moment, so she came in to borrow money from Sister Feng.Sister Feng said: "You are dreaming. Didn't you keep the rent from years ago? Besides, the imperial court has its own rewards for the funeral of the empress. Why do you ask me for money again?"
Jia Lian said: "Last year the farm failed to harvest due to the severe drought, and the bandits snatched most of it. There was only a little money left, which was not enough to pay for the New Year. It's not like you don't know about it. Now that it's not harvested, where's the rent money? This incident suddenly happened at this moment, and there is no place to collect money. The imperial court's idea of rewarding silver and building a shed is not enough, and it was used up two days ago. You should make room for it, first let me get rid of the plain curtain, Candles and ingots." Sister Feng sneered and said, "This is a strange thing to say, the earth Bodhisattva crosses the river, but the mud Bodhisattva carries it on his back—you don't have it, can I? If they are sent down, regardless of their sons, nephews and servants, they will only ask for money with both hands, earning a living of twenty taels, but not willing to move for less than one hundred taels. Now it has become a rule, where is there left? According to me, The matter of the empress is originally a matter of the royal family, and the palace originally had a share of money, and it didn't matter how much food it had to guard the bowl, but it also had to play tricks, show off, slap a swollen face to pretend to be fat, and wear white silk dresses , it’s completely plain, and how many paper pavilions, paper carts, paper houses, even the railings, pools, flowers, trees, and grass and insects have to be cut out of colored paper, and it’s enough to build another grand view garden. Just come out. A dozen skilled craftsmen have been busy for many days, but they are just preparing to burn it when the time comes. There is burning paper, but burning money! Now I don’t know where to get money to cut clothes for everyone. Fortunately, just now I have been busy with the second girl's affairs, so I can save some money for clothes and hairpin rings. There is also news, probably Miss Bao was afraid that his sister-in-law would not look good, so she quietly asked someone to send a pair of bergamot hairpins and a pair of silver-colored hairpins with the pavilion boy's pattern. The earrings came for Miss Xing. Somehow the old lady heard it again, and said: He is thoughtful. Then he opened the private box again, picked out many silver hairpins and plain hairpins, and put them on for everyone to wear. Even I rewarded this one Hairpin." Then he pulled out a pearl-filled unicorn hairpin from his head and showed it to Jia Lian, and said, "It's ridiculous that this foot hits the back of the head, and my wife wants to add fuel to the fire, urging me When organizing Baoyu's wedding, they said they wanted to marry according to the will, discussed how big the bed would be, how many cabinets, what kind of gold clothes, three animals and six rituals, all pointing to the sky to drop gold."
Jia Lian said with a smile: "I came here to do business with you, but I heard your complaints. If you don't borrow money, there are so many nonsense things to say. Baoyu's marriage was not prepared by the old lady, so why ask?" What do you want? Ignore that, and quickly dismiss the money in hand. It’s true. Why don’t you discuss it with Yuanyang, or there are other ways.” Sister Feng hurriedly said: “Don’t ask for that nail. Because he helped you last time I bought a box of things to pawn, and I somehow told my wife about it, and I have talked about it many times before and after, and I also threw some sour and not vinegary words to Yuanyang. Now he is far away from you, and you can’t avoid suspicion. Come on. Look at these days when you talk to him, how can he ever give you a straight look, let alone begging him for money, even if you give him money with a bouquet of white flowers, he may not be willing to take it. " Jia Lian became anxious, and said with a stamp of his feet, "this will not work, and that will not work. Can you tell me to go back to other people's house empty-handed and return the curtain?"
Sister Feng thought for a while and said, "It's not a problem. Even if you pay back the curtain today, and the silver jue lamp and silver lamp stand tomorrow, it's still not enough." Jia Lian said, "Who says it's not? I wish I had no way to think about it." Sister Feng said, "There is one way, but I don't know if you dare or not?" Jia Lian hurriedly asked what to do, and Sister Feng said: "Didn't the Zhen family keep a lot of things here last time, but the key is You keep it? Why don't you take him out now to exchange some money. Anyway, the Zhen family has sunk to the bottom, and there may not be a chance to turn over again. Those things are neither edible nor usable, and they are useless. Come here and use it to save the emergency, let's put out the fire in front of us." Jia Lian said in a deep voice, "This is also an emergency method. It's just that most of them are imperial things, and ordinary pawnshops may not dare to accept them." Sister Feng said: " You are still thinking about the right and the redemption, I advise you to beat the dog with meat buns - just watch him go, don't expect him to come back. Let me tell you, the son-in-law of Zhou Rui's family, wife's housemate, is called Leng Zixing, It is said that he is a well-known antique dealer in Beijing, who knows many big households in various provinces and prefectures. In my opinion, it is better to ask him to get out of the capital and find a place with high mountains and rivers to sell to those deep houses. Wouldn't it be convenient to keep it secret?"
Jia Lian said with a smile, "Even I don't know that he has such a son-in-law, but you can find out clearly." Sister Feng said, "Fart. You don't know. Could it be that I am patient to inquire about the family's family? It turned out that he was that year The son-in-law is in a lawsuit with someone for an antique business, and the defendant says that he is of unknown origin and wants to be deported back to his hometown. Zhou Rui’s family came to beg me to come forward and tear the kidnappers away, so I made a note of it.” Jia Lian said: “So that’s how it is. How can I do this? Yi Xing'er doesn't know? Let's not talk about him. Since he owes you this favor, he will accept it. It's just that he can't quench his thirst at a distance, so where is he going to move the money at this time?" Sister Feng said. "If you agree to give me half of the sale price of the Zhen family's things, I'll lend you two hundred taels to pay for it." Jia Lian gritted his teeth and said, "I'll persuade you to do the same for you who are not satisfied." Come on, 'A golden doll is pulled out with a shovel, and you still have to find the baby's mother', can it all be brought into the coffin?" Sister Feng scolded: "Fart, did I deliberately not give you the money? This is the money that the old lady gave Baoyu for the wedding, and she only gave this amount first, which is called clothes. The wife is good at human feelings, and she said that anyway, if you do it, the wedding dates of Miss Qin and Miss Yun are also on the horizon. If you arrive, why don't you prepare the gift in advance. I wish I could break one coin into two flowers. I will pay the money to the silk and satin shop tomorrow. I have given it to you now, but I don't know where to get it tomorrow Woolen cloth?"
But Jia Lian hesitated and said: "Since Zhou Rui's family is his wife's companion, I'm afraid we can't hide this matter from my wife." Sister Feng said: "My wife is a coward who hides things and refuses to take responsibility. If he knows about this, he is tied up. I'd rather keep it secret from him. Don't worry, it's fine if Zhou Rui's family refuses to agree. Since I'm involved in this matter, I have something wrong with me, so I might not have the courage to speak out."
Just as we were discussing, someone came to report, "Feng Ziying and Chen Yejun are here." Jia Lian went out to meet him.Here, Sister Feng ordered someone to come into Zhou Rui's house and told him in detail.He was also ordered to tell his son-in-law Leng Zixing that he knew about it.Zhou Rui's family was afraid at first, but later I heard from Sister Feng that she didn't show up, and he and her son-in-law took care of all the handover.Sister Feng said again: "My wife is timid, and these days I am busy with two important things, red and white, but I can't let my wife know about this matter."
Saying that, Mrs. Wang sent Caiyun to look for Sister Feng again. Zhou Rui's family was taken aback, and hurriedly got up and said: "Since grandma ordered it, I will tell him when I go home, and I will teach him to beat him with a stick." Caiyun laughed Said: "Sister-in-law Zhou is angry with who, the sword-wielding stick?" Zhou Rui's family sighed deliberately: "Who else is my son who is not up to date. Last time grandma taught him a lesson, and it took two days, not a few days. It caused trouble again." Caiyun smiled and did not ask any more questions.
The three of them came out together, Zhou Rui's family went home, and Sister Feng followed Caiyun into the corner gate to Mrs. Wang.I saw Mrs. Xing, You Shi, and Li Wan were also here, but they were discussing the spirit of the two prefectures.Sister Feng first replied: "Just now the second master went back and said that the curtains and banners are all ready, but there are still some clothes for the old ladies and ladies. Because it is made to order, it will be a day or two late." Mrs. Wang nodded Nodding his head, he sighed, "Why have I ever done these things? Never would I have imagined that I have eaten vegetarian food and recited Buddha all my life, but I have not accumulated any virtue. A white-haired man sends a black-haired man away, and every son and daughter walks ahead of me, Pearl." That's right, the big girl is also like this..." Then she started to cry again.
When Li Wan heard that Jia Zhu was mentioned, he couldn't be restrained there, so he also covered his mouth with silk and sobbed.Even Youshi felt sad, and reluctantly persuaded: "Your Majesty went there only after she had enjoyed all her blessings, so she is different from us ordinary people. It is because of his life span, so it cannot be contested, so Auntie should not be too sad. Mrs. Wang cried: "It's a pity that the child who didn't live in this world didn't even know whether it was a boy or a girl, so he went with his mother. The eunuch in the palace said that the mother was pregnant when she was in Beijing, but she didn't find out." How can the imperial physician in the palace be negligent in making monthly pulse checks? Could it be that someone harmed him." Sister Feng was startled, and hurriedly persuaded: "Where did Madam think? Madam has always been in good health, and she just got pregnant. I don’t think it’s possible to call the imperial physician to check the pulse in the future, or the imperial physician may make a half-diagnosis; the empress is the emperor’s beloved, so how could anyone dare to harm her?” Mrs. Xing sneered and said, “I can’t say for sure. It's often seen in that drama, there are many concubines in the palace, you hurt me, I hurt you, and I have no children, so I wish everyone can't have children. Seeing that the empress has a dragon seed, I don't want Fang'er Killing him? Everyone thought that the palace was strict, but the bigger the place, the more filthy it is, otherwise, where did the story of the civet cat changing the prince come from?"
Sister Feng originally had ghosts in her heart, she couldn't listen to these words, and couldn't refute them, so she said: "As the two wives said, maybe it is because of these worries that the empress deliberately concealed the news from the imperial physician. My wife thought, what a favor it is to accompany Chunwei, there are three thousand beauties in the harem, there are a lot of concubines and Zhaoyi, the emperor doesn't like anyone, so he ordered our empress to accompany him, this is what other concubines want The glory that can't be won, if the empress doesn't go, there must be other concubines who are lacking, so she won't be favored, maybe there will be some gossip during the two months by the emperor's side. So The empress refused to tell the truth, trying to hide it from everyone, and tried her best to travel far; or the empress was afraid that the emperor would leave the palace, and those concubines would have a chance to harm herself, so she would rather risk herself and hide out of the palace with her driver. Even if the monthly letter arrives late, it is naturally only due to the long distance and the imbalance of yin and yang. Those who refuse to teach the imperial doctor to diagnose the pulse may not be intentionally harmed. This was originally a painstaking effort of the empress. Make your mother smart all her life." As she spoke, she also wiped away her tears with a silk cloth to cover it up.
After hearing this, Xing and Wang both felt reasonable, nodded and said, "What you said is also human nature, and the two reasons you mentioned probably never come out. It's hard to guess what happens in the court." So they didn't mention it again. .Sister Feng was restless and thought for a long time alone.
That night, Jia Lian went to find Leng Zixing himself, handed over a box of utensils, and repeatedly told him not to do anything in Beijing.Leng Zixing had a business to go to the south, so he agreed with everything, and said: "Second Master, don't worry, if you can't handle it clearly, you won't come back to see Second Master."
Unexpectedly, the two of them were whispering to each other, and Zhou Rui's son Lu'er had already seen him. Lu'er was ignorant and incompetent. He only cared about fighting cocks and dogs, gambling money and drinking. Because he lost money, he had no money to drink. , and didn’t dare to tell my mother, so I came to my sister and brother-in-law’s house to borrow money. I saw Jia Lian talking with Leng Zixing, and saw Jia Lian’s servants Xing’er and Wang’er moving boxes. I couldn’t help thinking: I heard that Lian The second grandma secretly released the profit silver from her superiors, earning black-hearted money, and said that the second master stole the old lady's things to pawn.Seeing how sneaky they are now, it must not be a good thing to see, so I stole it, but they didn't dare to say it.
After making up his mind, he took advantage of people's unpreparedness, looked at Kong'er, walked into the room, pried open the box, didn't dare to pick carefully, just took a few things at random, and slipped out without anyone noticing.When I came out and looked closely under the lamp, I saw a suet porcelain vase inlaid with gold and jade, a three-legged tripod with carved patterns, and an exquisite Ruyi jade, all of which were jeweled and expected to be of great value, so I couldn't help but feel very happy.Seeing that the vase is exquisite in texture, painted with colorful characters, with distinct clothes and beards and hair, it is very delicate and lovely, so I am reluctant to sell it.At dawn the next day, I hid the bottle first, took Yu Ruyi and Tongding to the pawnshop, and pawned fifty taels of silver in pawn, feeling very proud, knowing that a catastrophe had already occurred.Regardless.
Now it's only said that Aunt Zhao got anxious again when she heard Jiamu distribute the jewelry, because she came to Tanchun on tiptoe to borrow hairpins.Tanchun was writing at the window, and was surprised when he heard the words: "You don't have a lot of these, so why ask me to borrow them?" Aunt Zhao complained: "Although I have a few gilt ones, they are not suitable for this day. As far as the silver ones are concerned, all the two-strand hairpins were made when your uncle died that year, and another strand was broken just before. I remember that the mansion has been doing funeral things over the years, and you have a clear head. A lot of them are worn, and now the old lady has rewarded you again, and there are so many inserted in one head. You don’t usually like these hairpins and hairpins, so you might as well lend me to wear them for two days, and then return them to you.” Tanchun heard “ The word "uncle" made me angry in my heart, and said with a sneer, "Don't say to pay back, you can borrow it if you don't pay it back. Who doesn't know that my aunt has many relatives. I borrowed from you today, and you don't know who to borrow tomorrow. I'm afraid that even if my aunt wants to give it to me, the person who borrowed it won't give it back to my aunt. Otherwise, my aunt borrowed the plain skirt from my girl Cuimo the year before last, and a calligraphy and painting borrowed by Huan Erkan when I was not at home , two boxes of rouge, why haven’t they been returned? Don’t care about anything else, the rouge was originally given by my elder sister’s palace on my birthday last year, and I usually have nowhere to buy it with silver, so Huan’er took it away without saying a word. I don’t know what kind of rotten cats and stinky dogs I gave to the table. If it spreads, not only will I lose face, but the face of the palace will also be lost. It’s nice to say: Borrow! Who expects to pay back.”
After hearing this, Aunt Zhao became angry and said: "But I came here to borrow a silver hairpin from you. It's not gold or emerald. It's worth a lot, but you go round and round to find out all these old accounts. Just take the word Block me. The left word "aunt" is long, and the right word "aunt" is short. I'm afraid that if you say "mother" you will lose your eldest lady's worth. I'm not afraid to tell you clearly that I borrowed the filial skirt to hang you舅舅的丧，你又不肯去磕头尽孝，你的裙子替你尽了礼，你还该谢我才是，倒问着我。就是那字画、胭脂，也是你亲兄弟拿了去，你做姐姐的难道不该照应点亲兄弟，倒把钱攒下来添活那些钱多的压沉箱底的外人，都不记的谁才是跟你一个肚子里掉下来的。姑娘也别太势利了些。'得胜的猫儿欢胜虎'，我知道姑娘瞧不上我，那又如何？你能耐，难道能耐的重托生一次，生在太太肚子里不成？”
探春那里禁的住这些话，直哭的声哽喉咽，恨道：“我自然知道自己是姨娘生的，不用姨娘这么三天两头的提着，变着方儿作践我，自己作践了不算，生怕别人不跟着作践，所以每每的要闹些事故来好教我没脸。姨娘自己被人瞧不起，就见不的我活的有点人样子，拿着下三滥的奴才逼我认舅舅，又每每造谣生事，说我拿钱添活外人。别说没有，就是有，也是我自己的份例，给那我添活的着的人，只要我愿意，就算把钱撂在水里，抛到街上，姨娘管的着么？”待书、翠墨看见，忙上来解劝，又嗔着赵姨娘道：“姨奶奶是怎么了，既然口口声声提着姑娘是姨奶奶生的，倒不知疼爱，次次来必惹的姑娘伤心。”探春骂道：“你们也胡说了，我凭什么要他疼？难道老爷、太太疼我还不够的？我倒肯知足，并不指望谁疼爱。只望他少来两遭儿就是我的造化了。”
赵姨娘见探春哭了，也怕闹大了自己吃亏，不敢再嚷，却只嘟哝着不肯去，道：“这府里难道还缺少疼他的人？我就把心剖出来给他，只怕他还嫌腥呢。只当自己是金枝玉叶，把生身母亲嫌的脚底下泥也不如，我实告诉你罢，这些日子官媒没少往府里跑，倒也羡慕姑娘的美貌学识，巴不的娶回家去，只可惜，不是门第寒酸，就是身家贫薄，就难得有个把王孙公侯之家，又是讨姑娘去填房的。为的是什么？我倒也不必说明，姑娘既然天天念着正呀庶呀的，只管自己想去。”
一习话，更说的探春面红耳赤，掩面而哭，枉然伶牙俐齿，又岂是悍妇对手。待书见姑娘哭的可怜，又知道赵姨娘得不着好处再不肯走的，只得从自己头上拔下根白菜蝈蝈的银押发来递与他说：“姨娘若不嫌弃，就把这押发且拿去戴吧，好过在这里惹姑娘生气。”探春道：“你又充什么潘通、石崇，有那些金银散发？便有，倒不如施济穷人去。”赵姨娘道：“正是呢，这府里，我们不是穷人，谁还是穷人？丫环的插戴也比我们体面。”说着摔帘子去了。翠墨叹道：“真真是'贼不走空'，饶是得了东西，还要撂这许多闲话。”待书忙把他衣襟一拉，不叫说话。探春这里气的哭了半日，只说“什么时候彻底离了这府里才算好呢”，晚饭也没吃便睡下了，不提。
且说潇湘馆诸人起先听的元妃身殁，都道：“这回可没有什么金玉赐婚的了吧。自古以来都只说'金童玉女'，谁听过'金女玉童'的呢？”后来又闻说王夫人决意奉旨成婚，要赶在热孝里办了白事办红事，连日子都择定下来，就在陪灵回来当月里。不禁都瞠目结舌，叹道：“口谕成了遗旨，是更难收回了。”
黛玉早自贾母提亲日起，已知万无生理，如今闻说金玉佳期已定，更是万念俱灰，一尘不起，惟有心头一点留恋固执不破，虽是神色淡然，若无其事，脸上却一天天瘦下去，水粒俱绝，身如燕轻，只日进梨汁一盏续命，虽精心烹调，何尝有粥饭之思，纵浓薰绣被，终不能安枕片刻。大夫每日一次诊脉开药，贾母一日三次的遣人来看顾，有时亲眼看着进汤进药，无奈刚吃下去，略一转眼便又吐了。贾母看了，又是忧心又是烦恼，无法可想，也惟有叮嘱紫鹃等小心伏侍而已。
紫鹃到了此时，明知便说尽千言万语亦不能略解黛玉之忧，每日里夕卜灯花，晨占鹊语，当庭拜月，临鼎焚香，无人处便暗暗垂泪祝祷，只盼还有回天之机。看着园里人忙进忙出，商量着怎么装饰新房，怎么打床造柜，又是怎么订制衣裳头面，只恨不能堵住双耳，不闻不见。这日回过贾母话回来，又见黛玉依在床头抱膝沉思，面上木无表情，腮边泪痕不干，眼里却是空空的，不禁叹道：“姑娘好端端的怎么又哭了？”黛玉闻声回头，惨然笑道：“谁哭了？这两天我只觉眼睛发涩，这泪大概是终于流到尽头了。”紫鹃心里难受，强笑劝道：“姑娘又说笑了，泪是人体之水，那有流尽的时候？”
黛玉听的一个“水”字，又觉刺心，猛回头“哇”的一声，将早晨吃的燕窝尽皆吐出。紫鹃忙过来揉抚胸口，便忍不住哭起来。黛玉喘吁吁笑道：“傻丫头，我不哭，你倒哭了。那里就死了呢？”紫鹃更听不的这话，越发掩着脸大哭起来。雪雁、春纤等听见哭声，只当发生了什么大事，及进来，才知黛玉又吐了，都叹道：“姑娘不吃东西这个毛病，可怎么样才好呢？医生便有回天妙手，仙丹灵药，也得姑娘肯吃才行。”捶了一回，收拾了出去，也都坐在石矶上纳闷。
恰宝玉从外面进来，看见他两个，忙拉了雪雁的手走到竹下悄悄问道：“妹妹这两日怎样？我每每问他，只说好些，竟连我也生疏起来。我又不好驳他的。”说着眼圈儿红起来。雪雁由不的哭道：“那里'好些'？你只看他脸上瘦的那样就知道了，刚刚还吐了呢。”宝玉听见，忙掀帘子进去，果见紫鹃在与黛玉揉胸口，忙凑近问：“妹妹觉的怎样？”黛玉微微叹道：“好多了。”一语未了，又喘起来。宝玉坐在椅上，见他玉容惨淡，形销骨立，心里只如万千勾戟抓挠一般，疼的有口难言，半晌方道：“妹妹放心，凭别人说什么，都别往心里去，也别理会。待我迎了大姐姐的灵回来，自有决断的。”
黛玉叹道：“你也不用多说，这些日子，我思前想后，也想清了许多事。我这病横竖是好不了的了，你只和宝姐姐两个好好的过吧。”宝玉大惊失色道：“妹妹说什么话？我的心妹妹是知道的，如何又来怄我？”黛玉眼中流出泪来，摇摇头不教宝玉说话，又喘了半晌方继续道：“我已经想明白了，娘娘殁了，大祸眼看就要临头，这偌大一家子几百口人，指望可都在你身上呢。你负了他们，天也不恕你。我是不能尽力的了，可你是这家里的人，你不管，谁来管呢？”
宝玉心痛如绞，哭道：“妹妹这么说是拿刀子剜我的心呢，我也不指望当官做宰，就算家败了又怎么样，只要我们在一块儿，有一口粥吃我就不怨什么了。”黛玉收了泪，摇头苦笑道：“只怕一口粥吃不上的日子也还有呢，那时可又怎么样呢？乌鸦尚知反哺，我来这府里十年，并不能报恩，再叫你为我惹祸生非，是叫我死也不安生、不清净了。我也背不起这骂名，你要真心体谅我，就听我这一回，拿待我的心待宝姐姐，只要你好，我也就……”说到这里，又咳起来，眼睛看着宝玉，无限怜惜，却再没有一滴泪。宝玉哭的肝肠寸断，黛玉的话只是一句听不进去，紧紧攥了他手哭道：“好妹妹，我决不负你！”
黛玉见他这样，更觉不忍，暗想我同他自小相知，如今我撒手去了，叫他情何以堪？心中并无自己，只是一意为宝玉伤感，愣愣望了他半晌，方叹道：“我在这世上，并无一个亲兄弟，亲姐妹，所知己者，不过你和宝姐姐两个。从前我在窗外头看见你穿着贴身衣裳睡在床上，他坐在旁边替你绣肚兜，一边摆着蝇帚子，我心里还不自在。这几日不知怎的，闭上眼睛，便每每想起这个形状儿来，想来今后你们两个在一处，这情形自是家常见的，我想着，倒觉的安心。如今我要去了，不指望别的，能看见你两个好好在一起，我的魂灵儿在天上看见，也是欢喜的。”说罢，手慢慢松开，竟转身睡去，不复再言。
宝玉那里听的进这些话，只疼的肝胆俱裂，恨不的将心剜出来千刀万剐，整个人灵魂出窍般，木呆呆的眼神也散了，脸色也青了，眼泪流下来，也不知道擦拭。紫鹃雪雁见了，都惟恐他犯了呆症，忙将他一阵乱摇乱叫，半晌，宝玉方“呀”一声哭出来，因见黛玉力倦神微，只怕吵着他，因将手拳起堵着嘴，哭的喉梗声嘶。紫鹃等见了，更觉伤心，忙将他拉出来，扶他在竹下藤椅上坐着，叹道：“二爷好歹保重身子，若是不肯自己珍重，岂不辜负了姑娘的一片心呢？”
正劝着，袭人与秋纹已经闻讯来了，紫鹃惦记着黛玉，抽身回屋。袭人见宝玉面无人色，忙搀了回房。宝玉却不用人扶，一路飞跑回怡红院，扑在榻上，这方放开声音，尽兴大哭起来，叫道：“这回活不得了。林妹妹天仙一般人物，老天何以叫他受这般荼毒？想是我家运道尽了，后头更有许多腌臜不堪的事情不忍心叫他看见，所以早早的要收他回去。”袭人听了又好气又好笑，推他说：“听听你这满嘴里说的什么？那有红口白牙自己咒自己家运道差的。老爷听见，问你还有命在么？”又道，“这些日子府里为着娘娘的事忙的不可开交的，太太还要在百忙里抽出工夫来，乱着裁尺头做衣裳订床打柜，为的是谁？你倒事不关己的，只做撒手大爷一般，还有这许多抱怨，太太听见，岂不寒心？”宝玉哭道：“我才不要结那劳什子亲事，我只要跟妹妹一起，要活一处活，要死一处死。什么金玉良姻？又是什么娘娘遗旨？活人的事，凭什么倒要一个死人做主？”袭人听他说的大胆，唬的忙上前捂住他嘴道：“我的小祖宗，这话也是混说得的？”看他这样，深觉忧心。
且说到了灵柩进京这日，贾母亲自率了邢、王二夫人及尤氏、凤姐、李纨、探春、惜春等嫡亲女眷，贾赦、贾政率领敕、效、敦、珍、琏、玉、环、琮、珩、珖、琛、璜、琼、璎、璘、蓉、蔷、菖、菱、芸、芹、蓁、萍、藻、蘅、芬、芳、芝、蓝、荇、芷、范、兰等一干男丁，无论有职无职，俱披缟着素，苴棒菅履，或坐车，或乘轿，或骑马，或疾行，都往东出城十里外高丘上站定，铭旌蔽日，帷幄如云，恰如银山匝地，雪浪翻伏，更有僧尼高宣佛号，各王府亲宅也都设了路祭斋坛，也有送和尚道士念经超度的，也有送整台素轿车马金银山的，也有送吹打班子的，远薄一点的也都依例送了许多猪羊香烛并扎了百花亭男女童来，直将东郊十里亭铺成一片雪山银海。接着，大明宫掌宫内监戴权也带着一众侍卫内相着素车打锣张伞而来，与贾政等厮见了，连道“节哀、珍重”。
一时羽林军护着梓宫队伍来到，执事太监高宣一声“停棺”，顿时鸣锣檀板齐响，佛号哭声大作，贾母、王夫人等扶着棺材几次哭的昏死过去，贾赦、贾政一边哭泣，一边跪请老太太节哀，凤姐命人抬了陈年铁梨木扶手靠背椅子来请贾母坐下。抱琴装裹的绢人儿一般，过来给贾母跪着磕头，贾母见了抱琴，便如见了元春一般，一把抱在怀里，复又放声大哭起来。
执事太监高喊一声“宣旨”，顿时四下里偃旗停乐，贾府众人忙都过来列队跪倒，数百人群，只闻呼吸之音，不闻抽泣之声，静的月夜风轻一般。戴权遂高声宣旨，备述元妃生前身后事，椒房失鸾之痛，今上哀悼之情，因潢海往京城路途遥远，又为解木造棺诸事，已经耽搁近旬，头七已过，二七将即，况且天气炎热，尸身不敢久停，宫中监天正又早择定入殓日期，不得有误，因此特命梓宫不必进城，径往孝慈先陵归葬可也。
贾母等听了，俱是一愣，无奈只得山呼万岁，磕头谢恩，一时只见素浪翻滚，雪山起伏。戴权亲自扶起贾母来，再三劝慰，又说先陵早已派人通报告诉，一应事宜都是预备妥当的。贾母只得再谢皇恩，临时命人回家去打点行囊，又将贾赦、贾政、贾珍、贾琏等叫至跟前来叮嘱一番，眼看着太阳下山，不便久留，方又抚棺痛哭一回，就此别过。
于是前头执事太监执牌引路，先是九命丧仪牌一对，诔言五座，肃静牌、回避牌等两列，接着吹手四名，清道旗一对，门旗一对，御棍、腰锣、伞瓶、令箭、令旗等一队队过去，又有贾珍、贾琏、宝玉等孝主骑马开道，引马、对马共计十六匹，后头六十四个杠夫轮番抬着梓宫灵轿随行，再后面是僧尼队伍一路诵经响板，皇帝圣旨、诰命、王侯等座轿亭十数座，每座八人抬轿，明器和下帐香亭等五亭，每亭四人，再后面才是亲眷所赠绢亭、金银幡、引魂轿、宝盖华伞、食案罂缶、香鼎提炉、角灯宫灯，前呼后拥，又有魂帛、执幕、执披、高照等数十人，扯白布穿白服男女执事者七十四人，吹手三班十二人，最后面才是孝妇诸眷，以及留灵路仪执白条纸花、散纸钱的数十人，一路鸣锣开道，响号喧阗而行，径往先陵破土下葬，守制哭灵，须七七四十九天方可回京。
贾母年迈不禁，且又是长辈，便不亲往，凤姐因病情沉重，巧姐儿又年幼，且府中事务也着实离不了他，探春、惜春又都因造册待诏，黛玉、湘云等是亲戚，也都随贾母留京不去。凤姐扶着贾母，探春、惜春等跪着，眼睁睁看送殡队伍浩浩荡荡径自往东去了，足有一盏茶时候方过完。贾母犹自引颈遥望，直看的人影儿不见，方打起轿子回府。府中又另设祭仪，每日请僧尼道姑念经超度。No problem.
且说薛姨妈因是亲戚，不必随灵守制，贾母因怕闷，便请他仍搬进来住在潇湘馆，薛姨妈因要打点薛蝌与宝琴两桩婚事，推辞不肯，只答应每日过来一处说话；贾母无奈，便又请了李婶娘来园中略住几日，李婶娘为着李纨与贾兰不在园中，避嫌不愿前往，贾母命人再三请了来。宝琴和湘云两个，便仍陪贾母住，日夕承奉起坐，小心伏侍，每每贾母伤心垂泪，必想方设法，设辞安慰。凤姐因诸事繁杂，精神恍惚，反不及他两个周到。
宝钗又寻空约了湘云来家，悄声向他说道：“你的大好日子就在眼前。料想你叔叔婶子未必肯替你准备周全，倘若嫁过去，也是这样单衫零钗的，岂不落人褒贬？虽说我们诗礼人家不讲究这些虚名，总也得面儿上过的去才好。因前些日子替琴儿准备嫁妆，我便私下做主也替你备了几件。你若多心，我就不好拿出来了。”
湘云听了，眼圈泛红，低头愧道：“姐姐一心待我，感激还来不及，那有什么多心？只是姐姐的日子也近了，难道不替自己留着些？”宝钗眼圈儿便也红起来，连颈带腮一并泛起桃花，半晌说道：“这宗亲事其实不妥，只是娘娘有命，那里容我说的一句半句？如今也不好进园去，许久不见颦丫头，也不知他怎样了？”湘云叹道：“不是我说句咒他的话，只怕不好呢。太太还说过几日办了你同宝玉的事，就要再托人同北府里说，还叫来下催妆礼呢，那里是催妆，依我说分明是催命呢。”说着滚下泪来。宝钗亦低头不语。
湘云又坐一坐，告辞欲去，宝钗送出门来，这方拉着手儿叮嘱道：“你好歹多替我去劝劝林妹妹，同他说，并不是我不念姐妹的情份，但有一点法儿可想，我宁可他做我，好过这样吞心的。”湘云劝道：“这是你多虑了，他虽多心，也断不会这样想。这原是各人的命，那里怪的了你呢？”说着又洒了几点泪，方进园来。
却说黛玉送灵回来后，许是劳动着了，反肯略进些饮食，倒比前些时候觉的舒展些似的。紫鹃、雪雁等都大喜过望，只说：“阿弥陀佛，宁可好了吧。”这日晚间，黛玉吃过药，又见紫鹃端上玫瑰花熬的粥来，倒也颜色鲜美，便尝了几勺，幸喜不曾呕吐。因取茶来漱了口，问道：“宝玉走了多久了？”紫鹃答道：“刚走了三天。”黛玉点头叹道：“那是还有四十多天，只怕见不到了。”紫鹃听了难过，忙劝道：“姑娘刚刚身上好些，怎么又说这样丧气话？”黛玉点头不语，凭窗出了一回神，自觉身上清爽些，便欲去给贾母请安，亦是宽解之意。紫鹃看他双颊潮红，似比前精神些，想着走动一下也好，免的老太太惦记，一天几次的派人来问，遂扶出园来。
果然贾母见了他，脸上有些喜色，道：“你又起来做什么？这早晚凉，小心风吹着，回头又吐了。”凤姐、湘云等也都在贾母处定省，见了黛玉，都拉着手问长问短。黛玉道：“这两日倒比前好些，昨日并不曾吐。”贾母更觉放心，说了几句话，仍催紫鹃送他回去，叮嘱：“刚好些，千万别劳动着。”凤姐笑道：“可看出个亲疏远近来了，妹妹病了，老祖宗一日三次的叫人探问，略走几步路就怕妹妹累着。我现也病着，老祖宗非但不心疼，每日里还嫌我懒，干的活少，恨不的叫我扛了笤帚扫院子去。”说的贾母笑了。
这里黛玉进了园子，方走到沁芳闸边，忽然一阵风，吹的满树落英缤纷，便如识人性的一般，飞飞扬扬扑了黛玉一头一身。黛玉不禁站住了长叹一声，心道久病不起，竟将春光也辜负了，可怜这些花儿早已凋萎，只为自己不来收葬，宁肯枯死枝头亦不随风飞落。因叹了一声，回头道：“紫鹃，你回去将我的花锄锦囊取来。”紫鹃劝道：“姑娘刚好些，又操劳了，况且天色已晚，不如等明儿好了再来收拾吧。”黛玉喟然长叹道：“那里还有好的日子呢？”挥挥手只命紫鹃快去。紫鹃无奈，只得回身去了。
黛玉遂慢慢行来花冢之旁，猛可里想起那年三月中浣葬花时，与宝玉同读《会真记》的往事，一时许多句子扑上心头，思及“玉宇无尘，银河浣影，月色横空，花阴满庭，罗袂生寒，芳心自警”诸句，正应着眼前景物，一点不差，又想及“去住无因，后退无门”，“玉堂人物难亲近”等句，不禁心恸神驰，柔肠百转，顾不的风清月冷，树荫露寒，身上一软，就便儿坐在花下石凳上。却又忽然省的，此处便是自己瘗花埋香，哭作《葬花吟》，后与宝玉互剖心事之地，耳边蓦的清清楚楚响起一声“妹妹，你放心”，听着就像是宝玉在自己耳边说话的一样，更觉万箭攒心，喉头一甜，猛的一口血喷出，手扶着花树，便软绵绵倒下来。
紫鹃取了花锄回来，却不见黛玉，正