Volume I Part 34 (1/2)
In the way of ladies, there were also in all about ten large official sedan chairs full of them, thirty or forty private chairs, and including the official and non-official chairs, and carriages containing inmates of the household, there must have been over a hundred and ten; so that with the various kinds of paraphernalia, articles of decoration and hundreds of nick-nacks, which preceded, the vast expanse of the cortege covered a continuous line extending over three or four li.
They had not been very long on their way, when they reached variegated sheds soaring high by the roadside, in which banquets were spread, feasts laid out, and music discoursed in unison. These were the viatory sacrificial offerings contributed by the respective families. The first shed contained the sacrificial donations of the mansion of the Prince of Tung P'ing; the second shed those of the Prince of Nan An; the third those of the Prince of Hsi Ning, and the fourth those of the Prince of Pei Ching.
Indeed of these four Princes, the reputation enjoyed in former days by the Prince of Pei Ching had been the most exalted, and to this day his sons and grandsons still succeeded to the inheritance of the princely dignity. The present inc.u.mbent of the Princedom of Pei Ching, s.h.i.+h Jung, had not as yet come of age, but he was gifted with a presence of exceptional beauty, and with a disposition condescending and genial. At the demise, recently, of the consort of the eldest grandson of the mansion of Ning Kuo, he, in consideration of the friends.h.i.+p which had formerly existed between the two grandfathers, by virtue of which they had been inseparable, both in adversity as well as in prosperity, treating each other as if they had not been of different surnames, was consequently induced to pay no regard to princely dignity or to his importance, but having like the others paid, on the previous day, his condolences and presented sacrificial offerings, he had further now raised a shed wherein to offer libations. Having directed every one of his subordinate officers to remain in this spot in attendance, he himself went at the fifth watch to court, and when he acquitted himself of his public duties he forthwith changed his attire for a mourning costume, and came along, in an official sedan chair, preceded by gongs and umbrellas. Upon reaching the front of the shed the chair was deposited on the ground, and as his subordinate officers pressed on either side and waited upon him, neither the military nor the populace, which composed the ma.s.s of people, ventured to make any commotion. In a short while, the long procession of the Ning mansion became visible, spreading far and wide, covering in its course from the north, the whole ground like a silver mountain. At an early hour, the forerunners, messengers and other attendants on the staff of the Ning mansion apprised Chia Chen (of the presence of the sheds), and Chia Chen with all alacrity gave orders that the foremost part of the cortege should halt. Attended by Chia She and Chia Chen, the three of them came with hurried step to greet (the Prince of Pei Ching), whom they saluted with due ceremony. s.h.i.+h Jung, who was seated in his sedan chair, made a bow and returned their salutations with a smile, proceeding to address them and to treat them, as he had done hitherto, as old friends, without any airs of self-importance.
”My daughter's funeral has,” observed Chia Chen, ”put your Highness to the trouble of coming, an honour which we, though n.o.ble by birth, do not deserve.”
s.h.i.+h Jung smiled. ”With the terms of friends.h.i.+p,” he added, ”which have existed for so many generations (between our families), is there any need for such apologies?”
Turning his head round there and then, he gave directions to the senior officer of his household to preside at the sacrifices and to offer libations in his stead; and Chia She and the others stood together on one side and made obeisance in return, and then came in person again and gave expression to their grat.i.tude for his bounty.
s.h.i.+h Jung was most affable and complaisant. ”Which is the gentleman,” he inquired of Chia Chen, ”who was born with a piece of jade in his mouth?
I've long had a wish to have the pleasure of seeing him, and as he's sure to be on the spot on an occasion like this, why shouldn't you invite him to come round?”
Chia Chen speedily drew back, and bidding Pao-yu change his mourning clothes, he led him forward and presented him.
Pao-yu had all along heard that s.h.i.+h Jung was a worthy Prince, perfect in ability as well as in appearance, pleasant and courteous, not bound down by any official custom or state rite, so that he had repeatedly felt a keen desire to meet him. With the sharp control, however, which his father exercised over him, he had not been able to gratify his wish.
But on this occasion, he saw on the contrary that he came to call him, and it was but natural that he should be delighted. Whilst advancing, he scrutinised s.h.i.+h Jung with the corner of his eye, who, seated as he was in the sedan chair, presented an imposing sight.
But, reader, what occurred on his approach is not yet known, but listen to the next chapter, which will divulge it.
CHAPTER XV.
Lady Peng, nee w.a.n.g, exercises her authority in the Iron Fence Temple.
Ch'in Ching-ch'ing (Ch'ing Chung) amuses himself in the Man-t'ou (Bread) nunnery.
But we shall now resume our story. When Pao-yu raised his eyes, he noticed that s.h.i.+h Jung, Prince of Pei Ching, wore on his head a princely cap with pure white ta.s.sels and silvery feathers, that he was appareled in a white ceremonial robe, (with a pattern representing) the toothlike ripple of a river and the waters of the sea, embroidered with five-clawed dragons; and that he was girded with a red leather belt, inlaid with white jade. That his face was like a beauteous gem; that his eyes were like sparkling stars; and that he was, in very truth, a human being full of graceful charms.
Pao-yu hastily pressed forward and made a reverent obeisance, and s.h.i.+h Jung lost no time in extending his arms from inside the sedan-chair, and embracing him. At a glance, he saw that Pao-yu had on his head a silver cap, to which the hair was attached, that he had, round his forehead, a flap on which were embroidered a couple of dragons issuing from the sea, that he wore a white archery-sleeved robe, ornamented with dragons, and that his waist was encircled by a silver belt, inlaid with pearls; that his face resembled vernal flowers and that his eyes were like drops of lacquer.
s.h.i.+h Jung smiled. ”Your name is,” he said, ”no trumped-up story; for you, verily, resemble a precious gem; but where's the valuable trinket you had in your mouth?” he inquired.
As soon as Pao-yu heard this inquiry, he hastened to produce the jade from inside his clothes and to hand it over to s.h.i.+h Jung. s.h.i.+h Jung minutely examined it; and having also read the motto on it, he consequently ascertained whether it was really efficacious or not.
”It's true that it's said to be,” Pao-yu promptly explained, ”but it hasn't yet been put to the test.”
s.h.i.+h Jung extolled it with unbounded praise, and, as he did so, he set the variegated ta.s.sels in proper order, and, with his own hands, attached it on to Pao-yu's neck. Taking also his hand in his, he inquired of Pao-yu what was his age? and what books he was reading at present, to each of which questions Pao-yu gave suitable answer.
s.h.i.+h Jung perceiving the perspicacity of his speech and the propriety of his utterances, simultaneously turned towards Chia Chen and observed with a smile on his face: ”Your worthy son is, in very truth, like the young of a dragon or like the nestling of a phoenix! and this isn't an idle compliment which I, a despicable prince, utter in your venerable presence! But how much more glorious will be, in the future, the voice of the young phoenix than that of the old phoenix, it isn't easy to ascertain.”
Chia Chen forced a smile: ”My cur-like son,” he replied, ”cannot presume to such bountiful praise and golden commendation; but if, by the virtue of your Highness' excess of happiness, he does indeed realise your words, he will be a source of joy to us all!”
”There's one thing, however,” continued s.h.i.+h Jung; ”with the excellent abilities which your worthy scion possesses, he's sure, I presume, to be extremely loved by her dowager ladys.h.i.+p, (his grandmother), and by all cla.s.ses. But for young men of our age it's a great drawback to be doated upon, for with over-fondness, we cannot help utterly frustrating the benefits of education. When I, a despicable prince, was young, I walked in this very track, and I presume that your honourable son cannot likewise but do the same. By remaining at home, your worthy scion will find it difficult to devote his attention to study; and he will not reap any harm, were he to come, at frequent intervals, to my humble home; for though my deserts be small, I nevertheless enjoy the great honour of the acquaintance of all the scholars of note in the Empire, so that, whenever any of them visit the capital, not one of them is there who does not lower his blue eyes upon me. Hence it is that in my mean abode, eminent worthies rendezvous; and were your esteemed son to come, as often as he can, and converse with them and meet them, his knowledge would, in that case, have every opportunity of making daily strides towards improvement.”
Chia Chen speedily bent his body and expressed his acquiescence, by way of reply; whereupon s.h.i.+h Jung went further, and taking off from his wrist a chaplet of pearls, he presented it to Pao-yu.
”This is the first time we meet,” he observed. ”Our meeting was so unexpected that I have no suitable congratulatory present to offer you.