妙玉归去，早有道婆接着，掩了庵门，坐了一会，把“禅门日诵”念了一遍。吃了晚饭，点上香，拜了菩萨，命道婆子自去歇着，自己的禅床靠背俱已整齐，屏息垂帘，跏趺坐下，断除妄想，趋向真如。坐到三更以后，听得房上“骨碌碌”一片瓦响，妙玉恐有贼来，下了禅床，出到前轩。独自一个凭栏站了一会，忽听房上两个猫儿一递一声厮叫。妙玉忽想起日间宝玉之言，不觉一阵心跳耳热，自己连忙收慑心神，走进禅房，仍到禅床上坐了。怎奈神不守舍，一时如万马奔驶，觉得禅床便恍荡起来，身子已不在庵中。便有许多王孙公子，要来娶她；又有些媒婆扯扯拽拽，扶她上车，自己不肯去。一回儿，又有盗贼劫她，持刀执棍的逼勒，只得哭喊求救。早惊醒了庵中女尼、道婆等众，都拿火来照看，只见妙玉两手撒开，口中流沫，急忙把她叫醒。然后便打发人去请大夫来看脉，但医生们意见不一致。后请得一个大夫来看了，问：“曾打坐过没有？”道婆说道：“向来打坐的。”大夫道：“这病可是昨夜忽然来的么？”道婆道：“是。”大夫道：“这是走魔入火的原故。”写了降伏心火的药，吃了一剂，稍稍平复些。一日，惜春正坐着，彩屏忽然进来，问道：姑娘知道妙玉师父的事吗？惜春道：“他有什么事？”彩屏道：“他自从那日和姑娘下棋回去，夜间忽然中了邪，嘴里乱嚷，说强盗来抢他来了。到如今还没好呢。姑娘，你说这不是奇事吗？”惜春听了，默默无语。因想：“妙玉虽然洁净，毕竟尘缘未断。”这正是为什么妙玉那日和惜春下棋回去忽然中邪的原因。

miaoyureurnedohenu

ery，andheolddeaconesswaiingforherhereclosedhegaeshesadownforawhileochanhesuraforheday，andafersupperburnedincenseandworshipedbuddha

hisdone，shedismissedhedeaconessforhenighashercouchandbackreswereready，shequielyledownhecurainandsacrossleggedomediae，banishingallfrivoloushoughsoconcenraeonheruhsomeimeafermidnigh，sheheardahudofileonheroofsuspecingahief，shelefhercouchandwenouoheverandashesoodherealoneforawhilebyhebalusradeillasuddencaerwaulingbrokeouonheroofabruplyrecallingbaoyu’sremarkshaday，miaoyu’shearsaredbeaingfaserandherfaceburnedhasilysuppressingherfeelings，shereurnedohercellandsadownagainonhecouch

buherfancy，nowru

ingaswildasgallopinghorsesmadeherimagihahecouchwasrockingandshewasnolongerinhenu

erymanyyounglordlingshadcomeoaskforherhandand，againsherwishes，gobeweenswereuggingandpushingherinoacarriagehenbrigandskidnappedherandhreaenedherwihswordsandclubs，sohashescreamedforhelphisarousedhenovicesanddeaconess，whocamewihorchesoseewhawashemaerfindingmiaoyuwihouflungarms，frohingahemouh，heyhasilywokeherupheysenfordocorshenbuhedocorscouldnoreachagreemenerheycalledinanoherdocorwhoaferexamininghepaienasked，“didshepraciceyoga？”“yes，everynigh，”answeredhedeaconess“washisasuddenfisnigh？”“ha’srigh”“henicameonbecauseevilhoughscrossedhermindandkindledahohumour”hedocorprescribedsomemedicioalleviaehehohumourinherhear，andaferakingimiaoyufelsomereliefoneday，xichunwassiingquielywhencaipingcameinoask，“doyouknow，miss，whahappenedosisermiaoyu？”“no

wha？”“henighafershewenbackfrompyingchesswihyou，someevilspiriookpossessionofher，andshesaredravinghabandishadcomeokidnapher！evennowshehasn’recoveredisn’haexraordinary？”xichunremainedsilen，hinking，“houghmiaoyuissochase，she’snoseveredallearhlyiesye”hisiswhyhanighafermiaoyuwenbackfrompyingchesswihxichun，someevilspiriookpossessionofher

那伙贼一心想着妙玉，知是孤庵女众，不难欺负。到了三更夜静，便拿了短兵器，带了些闷香，跳上高墙。其中一人潜身溜下，藏在房头僻处。等到四更，见里头只有一盏海灯，妙玉一人在蒲团上打坐。歇了一会，便唉声叹气的说道：“我自玄墓到京，原想传个名的，为这里请来，不能又栖他处。昨好心去瞧四姑娘，反受了这蠢人的气，夜里又受了大惊。今日回来，那蒲团再坐不稳，只觉肉跳心惊。”因素常一个打坐的，今日又不肯叫人相伴。岂知到了五更，寒颤起来，自己坐着，觉得一股香气透入囟门，便手足麻木，不能动弹，口里也说不出话来，心中更自着急。只见一个人拿着明晃晃的刀进来。此时妙玉心中却是明白，只不能动，想是要杀自己，索性横了心，倒也不怕。哪知那个人把刀插在背后，腾出手来，将妙玉轻轻的抱起，轻薄了一回子，便拖起背在身上。此时妙玉心中只是如醉如痴。可怜一个极洁极净的女儿，被这伙强盗的闷香熏住，由着他撮弄了去了。不知妙玉被劫，或是甘受污辱，还是不屈而死，不知下落，也难忘拟。正如“金陵十二钗正册”中诗所说：“欲洁何曾洁，云空未必空；可怜金玉质，终陷淖泥中。”

hehieveswereseonkidnappingmiaoyu，knowinghaherewereonlyweakwomeninhenu

ery

byhehirdwachwhenallwassill，armedwihdaggersandnarcoicincenseheyclimbedonohehighwalloneofhemslihereddownandhidhimselfbesideihewaiedillhefourhwach，whenherewasonlyonemplefburninginside，andsawmiaoyuonherhassocksiingcrossleggedinmediaionaferawhileshesighed，“icamefromxuanmuohecapialhopingomakeaname；buheniwasinviedhereandcouldn’goanywhereelseyeserdayouofkindnessicalledonxichunonlyobeabusedbyhalou，andduringhenighihadanoherbadfrighcomingbackodayisillfeelonenerhooks，unableoconcenrae”asaruleshemediaedinsoliudeandshewashereforerelucanocallinsomeoodayokeephercompanybubyhefifhwach，shiveringwihcold，shesahereandsmelawhiffofscenwhichseemedoseepinoherbrain；andanumbnessovercameher，makingherunableomoveoruerasoundpanicsrickenhen，shesawamanclimbinwihagleamingdaggeralhoughsillconsciousshecouldnosirand，hinkinghahemusbegoingokillher，sheresignedherselfoherfaeandherfearlefherhowever，heinruderuckedhisknifeinhebackofhisbelofreehishands，henquielyookherinhisarmsandrifledwihherawhilehehenpickedherupandslungheronohisbackmiaoyufelasifdrunkorderangedso，as，hispuremindedgirlwasdruggedbyherobberandravished！whehermiaoyulivedoninshameaferbeingkidnapped，orwhehersheresisedandwaskilledweca

ovenureosay，noknowinghesequeljusasheverseinhefirsregiserofwelvebeauiesofjinlingreads：

chasiyisherwish，seclusionherdesire；as，houghfineasgoldorjade，shesinksasinhemire

王熙凤：王熙凤出身在名宦富贵之家——即“护官符”中说的“东海缺少白玉床，龙王请来金陵王”的王家。“自幼假充男儿教养”，“一双丹凤三角眼，两弯柳叶掉梢眉，身量苗条，体格风骚，粉面含春威不露，丹唇未启笑先闻”。“嘴甜心苦，两面三刀，上头笑着，脚底下就使绊子，明是一盆火，暗是一把刀，她都占全了。”她“模样又极标致，言谈又爽利，心机又极深细，竟是个男人万不及一的！”

wangxifeng：wangxifengwasborninoarichandnoblefamily—jushefamilyasi’ssaidinhe“official’sproecivecharm”ha“ifhedragonkingwansawhiejadeofbed，heappliesohewangsofjinling”“shewaseducaedlikeaboy”“shehadhealmondshapedeyesofaphoenix，sningeyebrowsaslonganddroopingaswillowleavesherfigurewasslenderandherma

ervivacious

hespringimecharmofherpowderedfacegavenohinofherenformidabiliyandbeforehercrimsonlipspared，herugherrangou”“she’llgiveyousweealkwhenhere’sharedinherhear，she’ssodoublefacedandrickyallheimeshe’ssmilingsheriesoripyouup，makingashowofgreawarmhwhileshesabsyouinhebackha’shewaysheis”“she’sexremelygoodlookingandacleveralker，soresourcefulandasuehanoamaninenhousandisamachforher”

她嫁给了她姑妈王夫人丈夫贾政的侄儿贾琏。贾琏捐了个同知，也是个不喜正务的；于世路上好机变，言谈去得，所以他们婚后仍在叔政老爷家住，帮着料理家务。谁知他们婚后，倒上下无人不称颂他夫人凤姐，琏爷倒退了一舍之地。越称颂，熙凤变得越胆大。她毒设思局，害死追求者贾瑞。

shewasmarriedoffoareivejialian，henephewofheraundywang’shusbandjiazhengjialianhasboughherankofasubprefec，akesnoineresinbooksbuisasmoohmanofheworld；soheylivewihheirunclejiazhengandaundywangaferheirmarriageandhelphemomanageheirdomesicaffairssinceheirmarriagejialianhasbeenhrowninoheshadebyhiswifexifeng，whoispraisedbyeverybodyhighandlowhemorepraised，hebolderxifengbecomesshesesaviciousrapforaloverjiarui，whodiesofherapas

在秦可卿死后，贾珍去请熙凤照料里头，王夫人说：“她一个小孩子，何曾经过这些事，倘或料理不清，反叫人见笑，倒是再烦别人好。”贾珍笑道：“从小儿大妹妹玩笑时就有杀伐决断，如今出了阁，在那府里办事，越发历练老成了。我想了这几日，除了大妹妹再无人可求了。”“那凤姐素日最喜揽事，好卖弄能干，今见贾珍如此央她，心中早已允了。”贾珍便命人取了宁国府的对牌来，命宝玉送与凤姐，说道：“妹妹爱怎么就怎么样办，要什么，只管拿这个取去，也不必问我。只求别存心替我省钱，要好看为上；二则也同那府里一样待人才好，不要存心怕人抱怨：只这两件外，我再没不放心的了。”从此，熙凤管理贾府内事，“弄权铁槛寺”，使张李两家“人财两空”——张家女儿闻得父母退了婚约聘礼，便一条汗巾悄悄地寻了自尽；李家公子也是个情种，听说她自杀了，遂投河而死。熙凤却安享了张家三千两，并对老尼说：“我从来不信什么阴司地狱报应的；凭是什么事，我说要行就行。”她除受贿外，还放高利贷。“这个月的月钱，我们奶奶早自己支了，放给人使呢。等别处利钱收了来，凑齐了才放呢。”“她这几年，只拿着这一项银子翻出有几百来了。她的公费月例又使不着，十两八两零碎攒了，又放出去，单她这体己利钱，一年不到，上千的银子呢！”

aferqinkeqing’sdeah，jiazhenwenoaskxifengoakechargeofhei

eraparmens“she’syoungandinexperiencedinhesemaers，”saiddywang“ifshehandledhingsbadlypeoplewouldughyou’dbeerfindsomeoneelse”jiazhensmilinglyreplied：“eversinceshewasachildapycousinxifenghasknownherownmind，andbymanagingheoherhousesincehermarriageshe’sgainedexperiencei’vebeenhinkinghisoverforsomedaysandhere’snooneelsesocompeen”“nowxifenglovednohingbeerhandispyingheradminisraiveabiliyalhoughsheranhehouseholdcompeenly，asshehadneverbeenenrusedwihgrandaffairslikeweddingsorfuneralsshewasafraidoherswerenoyefullyconvincedofherefficiencyandshewaslongingforachancelikehis”jiazhenmadealowbowand，beforexifengcouldreurni，producedheningmansionallyfromhissleeveandaskedbaoyuohandioher“youwillhaveafreehand，cousin，”hepromised“jususehisorequisiionwhaeveryouwan，here’snoneedoconsulmei’veonlyworequessomakefirs，pleasedon’ryosparemeexpense，asiwaneveryhingdonehandsomelyandsecondly，reaheservanshereasyouwouldyourown，don’beafraidheymayreseniaparfromhesewoprovisions，nohingelseworriesme”fromhenonxifengmanageshedomesicaffairsofhejiamansionssheabusesherpoweraironhresholdemple

she’smadehezhangandlifamilies“losebohgirlandmoney”—hezhang’sdaugherlearnedhaherengagemenhadbeenbrokenshefoundaropeandquielyhangedherself；andheli’ssonwassomuchinlovehahedrownedhimselfwhenheheardofhersuicide，showinghahewasworhyofhisgoodfiancée

onlyxifenghasbecomehegainerbyhreehousandaelsfromhezhang’sfamily，”andshesaidoheabbess：“i’veneverbelievedallhaalkabouhellandreribuionidowhaipleaseandamalwaysasgoodasmyword”besidesaccepingbribes，shepracicesusuryaswell“mymisressgohismonh’sallowancesomeimeagobuhasloanedioushe’lldisribueiassoonasshe’scollecedheineres”“hesesfewyearsshe’sbeenlendingouhismoneyforhemonhlyallowancesogeherwihherownheineresshegesonheseloanscomesomorehanahousandaelsofsilverayear”

熙凤善于阿谀奉承。她携着黛玉的手，上下细细打量一回，便仍送至贾母身边坐下，因笑道：“天下真有这样标致人儿！我今日才算看见了！况且这通身的气派竟不象老祖宗的外孙女儿，竟是嫡亲的孙女儿似的，怨不得老祖宗天天嘴里心里放不下。只可怜我这妹妹这么命苦，怎么姑妈就去世了呢！”说着便用帕拭泪。熙凤也善于察言观色，见风使舵。例如，贾母笑道：“我才好了，你又来招我。你妹妹远路才来，身子又弱，也才劝住了，快别再提了。”她忙转悲为喜道：“正是呢！我一见了妹妹，一心都在她身上，又是喜欢，又是伤心，竟忘了老祖宗了，该打，该打！”

xifengisgoodaferyandcajolerysheookdaiyu’shandandcarefullyinspecedherfromheadofoo，henledherbackoherseabyhedydowager“well，”shecriedwihaugh，“hisishefirsimei’veseeyesonsucharavishingbeauyherwholeairissodisinguished！shedoesn’akeaferherfaher，soninwofouroldancesress，bulooksmorelikeajianowonderouroldancesresscouldn’puyououofhermindandwasforeveralkingorhinkingabouyoubupoorillfaedlilecousin，losingyourmohersoyoung！”wihhashedabbedhereyeswihahandkerchiefxifengisalsogoodawachingaperson’sexpressionsandweighinghiswordscarefullysoasosailwihhewindforinsance，“i’veonlyjusdriedmyearsdoyouwanosarmeoffagain？”saidheolddypyfully“youryoungcousin’shadalongjourneyandshe’sdelicaewe’vejusgoherosopcryingsodon’reopenhasubjec”sheswichedaoncefromgriefomerrimen“ofcourse，”shecried“iwassocarriedawaybyjoyandsorrowasighofmylilecousin，iforgoouroldancesressideserveobecaned”

凤姐禀赋气血不足，兼年幼不知保养，平生争强斗智，心力更亏，故虽系小月，竟着实亏虚下来，一月之后，复添了下红之症，不能理事，天天两三个大夫用药。王夫人便觉失了膀臂，凡大事就自己主张，将家中琐碎之事，一应都交李纨和探春暂理。在这种情况下，熙凤对她心爱的丫头平儿说：“若按私心藏奸上论，我也太行毒了，也该抽回退步，回头看看；再要穷追苦克，人恨极了，他们笑里藏刀，咱们两个才四个眼睛两个心，一时不防，倒弄坏了。趁着紧溜之中，李纨和探春出头料理，众人就把往日咱们的恨暂可解了。”但当她搞清贾琏偷娶了尤二姐为妾时，她是个醋罐子，尽管身体尚未完全康复，但岂肯善罢甘休？

于是，她借刀杀人——“凤姐虽恨秋恫，且喜借她先可发脱二姐，用‘借刀杀人’之法，‘坐山观虎斗’，等秋桐杀了尤二姐，自己再杀秋桐。”然而，事与愿违，她年轻轻的就死在了秋桐之前。真是“机关算尽太聪明，反误了卿卿性命”。“凡鸟偏从末世来，都知爱慕此生才，一从二令三人木，哭向金陵事更哀。”

xifenghasadelicaeconsiuion，however，andasagirlhasneverlookedaferherhealhinherpassionoshineshehasoveraxedhersrengh，wihheresulhahermiscarriagehaslefherveryweakamonhaferisheissilllosingbloodshehasosopru

inghehouseholdandwoorhreedocorsaendhereverydaydywangfeelsasifshelosherrigharm，andsimplyhasnoheenergyocopeshehasdecidedimporanmaersherself，enrusinglesserdomesicaffairsoliwanandanchunforheimebeingundersuchcircumsances，xifengsaysoherfavoriemaidping’er：“fromaselfishpoinofview，i’vemademyselfsounpopurhai’simeformeobackdownandlookaboume；becauseifigoonbeingsosricishallgemyselfhoroughlyhaed，andeverybody’ssmileswillhidedaggers！youandihaveonlyfoureyesandwobrainsbeweenus：ifheyoncecachusoffguardheycandoforuswemusmakehemosofhischancesolongasliwanandanchunareincharge，hey’llforgeheirpasgrudgesagainsusforheimebeing”buwhenshecameoknowhajialianhadakenaconcubinesecondsiseryouinsecre，assheisveryjealous，houghshehasnocompleelyrecoveredherhealh，howcanshelesecondsiseryouoff？hus，shekillsherrivalbyproxy“xifeng，houghhaingqiuong，waseagerouseherfirsoridherselfofsecondsiserby‘killingwihaborrowedsword’and‘wachingfromahillopwhilewoigersfough’foronceqiuonghadkilledsecondsiser，shecoulddohisnewconcubinein”however，shegesheopposieofwhashewansshediesyoungbeforeqiuongi’srueha“oomuchcu

inginploingandschemingishecauseofherownundoing”“hisbirdappearswhenheworldfallsonevilimes；nonebuadmiresheralensandherskill；firsshecomplies，hencommandshenisdismissed，deparinginearsojinlingmorewrechedsill”

李纨：李纨出身金陵名宦之家，其父李守中，曾为国子监祭酒；族中男女无不读诗书者。至李守中当家以来，便谓“女子无才便是德”，故生了此女不曾叫她十分认真读书，只不过将些《女四书》、《列女传》、《贤媛集》读读，认得几个字，记得前朝这几个贤女便了；却以纺绩女红为要，因取名李纨（意为平纹丝绸），字宫裁（意为皇宫中的裁缝）。她嫁给贾政和王夫人的大儿子贾珠，生有一子名叫贾兰。但不幸的是贾珠不到二十岁，一病就死了。

liwan：liwanwasbornofanoableofficialfamilyofjinling，whosefaherlishouzhongservesasalibaionerinheimperialcollegeallhesonsanddaughersofhiscnhavebeendevoedohesudyofhecssicswhenhebecameheadofhefamily，however，inhebeliefha“anunaccomplishedwomanisaviruouswoman”，inseadofmakinghisdaughersudyhardhesimplyhasheraughenoughoreadafewbookssuchashefourbooksforgirls，biographiesofmaryredwomen，andlivesofexemprydiessohashemighrememberhedeedsofworhywomenofearlierdynasieswhiledevoinghermainaenionoweavingandhouseholdasksha’swhyhegaveherhenameliwan(imeanspinsilk)andhecouresynamegongcai(imeansaailoressofimperialpace)shewasmarriedoffojiazhu，hefirssonofjiazhenganddywangsheandjiazhuhaveasonnamedjianbuunforunaelyjiazhufellill，anddiedbeforehewasweny

李纨虽青春丧偶，且居处于膏粱锦绣之中，竟如“槁木死灰”一般，对外界事物，一概不闻不问，唯知侍亲养子，闲时陪侍小姑等针黹诵读而已。当熙凤小月不能理事时，王夫人决定大事自己主张，将家中琐碎之事，一应都暂令李纨协理。李纨本是个尚德不尚才的，未免逞纵了下人，王夫人便命探春合同李纨裁处，只说过了一月，凤姐将养好了，仍交给她。

因李纨素日是个厚道多恩无罚的人，一惯过着平淡恬静的生活，与世无争。她有意让探春去管理家政，自己严格遵守“三从四德”，成了封建妇节的“典范”。李纨的人生正如《金陵十二钗正册》判词所云：桃李春风结子完，到头谁似一盆兰；如冰水好空相妒，枉与他人作笑谈。

alhoughliwanisayoungwidowandlivinginhepofluxury，sheisnobeeroffhanwiheredwoodorcoldashes，akingnoineresinheousideworldaparfromwaiingonhereldersandlookingaferherson，allshedoesisoaccompanyhegirlsaheirembroideryorreadingwhenxifenghadamiscarriageandcouldn’runhehouseholdforamonh，dywangdecidedimporanmaersherself，enrusinglesserdomesicaffairsoliwanforheimebeingbuliwan，beingoneofhosepeoplewhohavemoreviruehanabiliy，ineviablyleheservanshaveheirownway；sodywangoldanchunohelpherouforamonh，unilxifengwaswellenoughoakeoveragainasliwanisookindhearedopunishanyone，alwayslivingasimpleandpeacefullifeandholdingherselfalooffromheworld，sheinenionallylesanchundealwihhedomesicaffairsandsheherselfsriclyobserveshehreeobediences(inancienchinaawomanwasrequiredoobeyherfaherbeforemarriagelifeandherhusbandduringmarriedlifeandhersonsinwidowhood)andhefourvirues(fideliy，physicalcharm，proprieyinspeechandefficiencyi

eedlework)—wifelysubmissionandvirueconsequenly，shehasbecomeamodelofhefeudalwomen’svirueliwan’slifeisjuslikehesummaryinhefirsregiserofwelvebeauiesofjinlingireads：

peachandpluminspringwindsfinishseeding，whocanbloomlikeheorchidas？

pureasiceandwaershearousesenvy，vainhegroundlessaunshaarecas

。。