秦可卿：秦可卿的养父秦业，任工部营缮司郎中，年近七旬，夫人早亡；因年至五旬时尚无儿女，便向养生堂抱了一个儿子和一个女儿。谁知儿子又死了，只剩下个女儿，可卿，长大后，生得形容袅娜，性格风流，因素与贾家有些瓜葛，故结了亲。
Qin Keqing： Qin Keqing’s foster father Qin Ye， a secretary in the Board of Works， was nearly seventyand had lost his wife early. Having no children of his own he had adopted a son and daughter from anorphanage， but the boy had died leaving only the little girl， Keqing. She grew up to be a graceful， charmingyoung woman. Because Qin was remotely connected with the Jia family， they arranged a match and shebecame Jia Rong’s wife.
因东边宁府花园内梅花盛开，贾珍之妻尤氏乃治酒具，请贾母、刑夫人、王夫人等赏花。一时宝玉倦怠，欲睡中觉，贾母命人好生哄着歇息一回再来。贾蓉媳妇秦氏便忙笑道：
“我们这里有给宝二叔收拾下的屋子，老祖宗放心，只管交给我就是了。”贾母素知秦氏是极妥当的人——因她生得袅娜纤巧，行事又温柔和平，乃重孙媳中第一个得意之人，——见她去安置宝玉，自然是放心的了。可卿“鲜艳妩媚，大似宝钗；袅娜风流，又如黛玉”。
As the plum blossom was now in full bloom in the Ning Mansion’s garden， Jia Zhen’s wife Madam Youinvited the Lady Dowager， Lady Xing， Lady Wang and the others to a party to enjoy the flowers. Soon Baoyuwas tired and wanted to have a nap. The Lady Dowager ordered his attendants to take good care of him andbring him back after a rest. At once Jia Rong’s wife Qin Keqing said with a smile：“We have a room readyhere for Uncle Baoyu. The Old Ancestress can set her mind at rest and leave him safely to me.”The LadyDowager had every confidence in this lovely slender young woman who with her gentle， amiable behaviourwas her favourite of all the great-grandsons’s wives of the Rong and Ning branches. She was therefore sureBaoyu would be in good hands. Keqing’s charm reminded Baoyu of Baochai， her grace of Daiyu.
秦可卿上月中秋还跟着老太太、太太玩了半夜，回家来好好的。到了二十以后，一日比一日觉懒，又懒怠吃东西，这将近有半个多月。经期又有两个月没来。从前大夫也有说是喜的，但神武将军冯唐之子冯紫英推荐的好医生张友士，医道很好，瞧了说不是喜，是一个大症候。熙凤去看她，拉住可卿的手，说：“怎么几日不见，就瘦的这样了！你好生养着！合该你这病要好了，所以前日遇着这个好大夫，再也是不怕的了。”秦氏笑道：“任凭他是神仙，‘治了病治不了命’。婶子，我知道这病不过是挨日子的。”一天夜间，熙凤梦见可卿来向她告别。凤姐还欲问时，只听二门上传出云板，连叩四下，正是丧音，将凤姐惊醒，人回：“东府蓉大奶奶没了。”凤姐吓了一身冷汗，只得忙穿衣服往王夫人处来。彼时合家皆知，无不纳闷，都有些伤心。那长一辈的，想她素日孝顺；平辈的，想她素日和睦亲密；下一辈的，想他素日慈爱；以及家中仆从老小，想她素日怜贫惜贱、爱老慈幼之恩，莫不悲号痛哭。
At the Mid-Autumn Festival last month Qin Keqing enjoyed herself half the night with the Old LadyDowager and Lady Wang， and came home none the worse. But for a fortnight since the twentieth of lastmonth she’s grown weaker and weaker every day and lost all her appetite. And she hasn’t had a period for twomonths. Some doctors thought it might mean a happy event. But she was examined by an excellent physiciannamed Zhang Youshi recommended by Feng Ziying， the son of Feng Tang， General Shenwu， and according tohim it isn’t a pregnancy but a serious illness. Xifeng went to see her， clasping Keqing’s hand and said：“Howthin you’ve grown in the few days since last I saw you！ Take good care of yourself. The fact that this gooddoctor has been recommended to us is a sign that you’re going to get better. Don’t you worry.”“Even if hewere an immortal， he could cure a disease but not avert my fate，”retorted Keqing with a smile.“I knowit’s only a matter of time now， auntie.”One night， Xifeng dreamed about Keqing coming to say goodbye toher. Before Xifeng could ask more she was woken with a start by four blows on the chime-bar at the secondgate. And a servant announced，“Madam Jia Rong of the East Mansion has passed away.”Xifeng brokeinto a cold sweat. She dressed quickly and hurried over to Lady Wang. By that time the whole household waslamenting， distressed by this shocking news. The old people recalled Keqing’s filial behaviour， the youngpeople her affectionate ways and the children her kindness； while not one of the servants but wept for griefrecollecting her compassion for the poor and humble and her loving goodness to old and young alike.
秦可卿的人生是短暂的，与香菱（甄英莲——真应怜）一样可怜。她们虽出身不同，却“万艳同杯”——她们都同样悲惨。不是吗？请看下文：“这是宫里头作的新鲜花样儿堆纱花，十二枝。”薛姨妈对周瑞家的说，“你今儿来得巧，就带了去罢。你家的三位姑娘，每位两枝，下剩六枝送林姑娘两枝，那四枝给凤姐儿罢。”周瑞家的拿了匣子，走出房门，见金钏儿仍在那里晒日阳儿，便问道：“那香菱小丫头子可就是时常说的、临上京时买的、为她打人命官司的那个小丫头吗？”金钏儿道：“可不就是她。”正说着，只见香菱笑嘻嘻的走来，周瑞家的便拉了她的手细细的看了一回，因向金钏儿笑道：“这个模样儿，竟有些象咱们东府里的小蓉奶奶的品格儿。”金钏儿道：“我也这么说呢。”周瑞家的又问香菱：
“你几岁投身到这里？”又问：“你父母在那里呢？今年十几了？本处是那里的人？”香菱听问摇头说：“不记得了。”周瑞家的和金钏儿听了，倒反为叹息了一回。凤姐把给她的四枝花给了两枝给可卿。正如第七回的标题诗云：
十二花容色最新，不知谁是惜花人？
相逢若问名何氏，家住江南姓本秦。
读了上述故事和诗词，我们终就悟出了秦可卿的真实出身：她出生在宫中，婚后住在江南。
Qin Keqing’s life is short， and just as pitiful as Xiangling’s (What a real pitiful life). Though they comefrom different families，“Ten Thousand Beauties in One Cup”—all of them are the same in deep misery.
Isn’t it true？ Please read the following：“There are twelve sprays of gauze flowers of the new sort made inthe Palace，”Aunt Xue said to Mrs. Zhou.“You may as well take them now that you’re here. Give two eachto your three young ladies. Of the six left， give a couple to Miss Lin and the other four to Master Feng.”Goingout with the box， Mrs. Zhou found Jinchuan still sunning herself on the steps.“Tell me，”she said，“isn’tXiangling the girl there was all that talk about？ The one bought just before they came to the capital， who wasat the bottom of that manslaughter case？”“That’s right，”said Jinchuan. Just then Xiangling came over，smiling. Mrs. Zhou took her hand and studied her intently， then turned to Jinchuan again.“She’s a handsomegirl. Reminds me of Master Rong’s wife in our East Mansion.”“That’s what I say，”agreed Jinchuan. Mrs.
Zhou asked Xiangling how old she had been when sold， where her parents were， her age now and nativeplace. But the girl simply shook her head and said she could not remember， so that their hearts bled for her.
Xifeng gave two of the four flowers to Keqing. Just as the theme poem of Chapter 7 reads：
Twelve maids pretty as flowers，But who is it that loves them？
Do you ask the name of the one he meets？
It is Qin whose home is south of the Yangtze River.
Having read the story and poem， we’ve come to know the true fact of Qin Keqing’s origin： She camefrom the Palace， living in the south of the Yangtze River after her marriage.
到了秦可卿的卧房，他们便闻到一股细细的甜香，宝玉此时便觉眼饧骨软，连说：“好看！”入房向壁上看时，有唐伯虎画的《海棠春睡图》，两边有宋学士秦太虚写的一副对联云：嫩寒锁梦因春冷，芳气袭人是酒香，案上设着武则天当日镜室中设的宝镜，一边摆着赵飞燕立着舞的金盘，盘内盛着安禄山掷过伤了太真乳的木瓜，上面设着寿昌公主于含章殿下卧的宝榻，悬的是同昌公主制的连珠帐。可卿亲自展开了西施浣过的纱衾，移了红娘抱过的鸳枕，于是众奶姆伏侍宝玉卧好了，款款散去，只留下袭人、晴雯、麝月、秋纹四个丫鬟为伴。看！秦可卿的床是“寿昌公主于含章殿下卧的宝榻”！秦可卿的蚊帐是“同昌公主制的连珠帐”！读者很自然地要想秦可卿可能也是公主吧！
Having reached Qin Keqing’s room， they were met at the threshold by a subtle perfume which mistedover Baoyu’s eyes and melted his bones.“How good it smells here！”he cried. Entering， he saw on the walla picture by Tang Yin of a lady sleeping under the blossom of a crab-apple tree in spring. On the two scrollsflanking it， Qin Guan the Song scholar had written：
Coolness wraps her dream， for spring is chill；A fragrance assails men， the aroma of wine.
On the dressing-table was a rare mirror from Wu Zetian’s Hall of Mirrors. In the gold tray by it， on whichZhao Feiyan once danced， was the quince thrown in fun by An Lushan at Lady Yang， which had woundedher breast. At one end of the room stood the couch on which Princess Shouchang had slept in the HanzhangPalace， and over it hung the curtains strung from pearls by Princess Tongchang. With her own hands Keqingspread a gauze coverlet washed by Xi Shi and arranged the bridal pillow carried by Hongniang. Then thenurses and attendants made Baoyu lie down and slipped out leaving only four maids Xiren， Qingwen， Sheyueand Qiuwen to keep him company. Look！ Qin Keqing’s couch on which Princess Shouchang had slept inthe Hanzhang Palace！ Qin Keqing’s curtains strung from pearls by Princess Tongchang！ It’s very natural thereaders would unavoidably think that Qin Keqing might also be a princess！
还有很多其他形迹暗示“真事隐”——秦可卿的真实出身是皇家而不是“养生堂”，并且，她的死亡是政治性自杀而不是病故。
首先，警幻仙姑对贾宝玉说：“今既遇尔祖宁荣二公剖腹深嘱，吾不忍子独为我闺阁增光而见弃于世道，故引子前来，醉以美酒，沁以仙茗，警以妙曲，再将吾妹一人，乳名兼美（兼有宝钗和黛玉之美）表字可卿者，许配与汝。今夕良时即可成姻。不过令汝领略此仙闺幻境之风光尚然如此，何况尘世之情景呢。从今后，万万解释，改悟前情，留意于孔孟之间，委身于经济之道。”而警幻仙姑居离恨天之上，灌愁海之中，乃放春山遣香洞太虚幻境，司人间之风情月债，掌尘世之女怨男痴。因近来风流冤孽，缠绵于此，是以前来访察机会，布散相思。由此可见，秦可卿和她姐姐警幻仙姑比贾家更优越，出身更高贵。
There are many other signs that indicate“true facts concealed”—Qin Keqing’s real origin is from theEmperor’s family instead of an orphanage， and her death is a political suicide instead of a sick one.
The first， the Goddess of Disenchantment told Baoyu：“After meeting your worthy ancestors theDuke of Ningguo and the Duke of Rongguo today and hearing their heartfelt request， I could not bear to letyou be condemned by the world for the greater glory of women. So I brought you here to entertain you withdivine wine and fairy tea， then tried to awaken you with subtle songs. And now I am going to match you withmy younger sister Jianmei (‘Combining the best，’i. e. the best features of Baochai and Daiyu)， whosechildhood name is Keqing， and this very night at the auspicious hour you must consummate your union. Thisis simply to let you know that after you have proved for yourself the illusory nature of pleasures in fairylandyou should realize the vanity of love in your dusty world. From this day on you must understand this andmend your ways， giving your minds to the teachings of Confucius and Mencius and devoting yourself to thebetterment of society.”As the Goddess of Disenchantment said， her home is above the Sphere of PartingSorrow in the Sea of Brimming Grief， i.e. She’s from the Grotto of Emanating Fragrance on the Mountain ofExpanding Spring in the Illusory Land of Great Void. She presides over romances and unrequited love onearth， the grief of women and the passion of men in the mundane world. The reincarnations of some formerlovers have recently gathered here， and so she has come to look for a chance to meet out love and longing.
From here we can see that Qin Keqing and her elder sister the Goddess of Disenchantment are superior to theJias， their origin is much nobler than that of the Jias as well.
其次，在《金陵十二钗正册》中，诗后又画一座高楼，上有一美女悬梁自尽。其判云：
情天情海幻情深，情既相逢必主淫；漫言不肖皆荣出，造衅开端实在宁。
判词中的“情天”、“情海”和画中的“高楼”（天香楼）暗示了秦可卿来自“天”上，回到了“天香楼”天上，即她出身最高贵，死于悬梁自尽。
The second， in First Register of Twelve Beauties of Jinling， next comes a picture of a beautiful womanhanging herself on a tower， with the verdict：
Love boundless as sea and sky is but illusion；When lovers meet， lust must be king.
Say not all evil comes from the Rong Mansion，Truly， disaster originates from the Ning.
The“sky”， the“sea”in the verdict and“tower”(the Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion) in a pictureindicate that Qin Keqing comes from the“sky”and returns to the“Heavenly Fragrance Pavilion”， i.e.
She’s born of the noblest family and died of hanging herself on a tower.
再次，在王熙凤的梦中，秦可卿叫她做这做那，就像是熙凤的上司，而不是晚辈，甚至预言她们家的政治前途。可卿道：“婶娘好痴也！‘否极泰来’，荣辱自古周而复始，岂人力所能保常的，但如今能于荣时筹画下将来衰时的世业，亦可以常保永全了。即如今日诸事俱妥，只有两件未妥，若把此事如此一行，则后日可保永全了。目今祖茔虽四时祭祀，只是无一定的钱粮；第二，家塾虽立，无一定的供给。依我想来，如今盛时固不缺祭祀供给，但将来败落之时，此二项有何出处？莫若依我定见，趁今日富贵，将祖茔附近多置田庄、房舍、地亩，以备祭祀供给之费皆出自此处；将家塾亦设于此。合同族中长幼，大家定了则例，日后按房掌管这一年的地亩、钱粮、祭祀、供给之事。如此周流，又无争竞，也没有典卖诸弊。便是有了罪，凡物可入官，这祭祀产业连官也不入的。便败落下来，子孙回家读书务农，也有个退步，祭祀又可永继。若目今以为荣华不绝，不思后日，终非长策。眼见不日又有一件非常喜事，真是烈火烹油、鲜花着锦之盛。要知道，也不过是瞬息的繁华，一时的欢乐，万不可忘了那‘盛筵必散’的俗语。此时若不早为后虑，临期只恐后悔无益了！”由此可见，秦可卿不仅出身高贵，而且颇有政治经验。
The third， in Wang Xifeng’s dream， Qin Keqing told her to do this and that， just like her superior， nother junior， even predicting the political future of their family.“Now you’re being naive， aunt，”Keqingsaid.“Fortune follows calamity as disgrace follows honour. This has been so from time immemorial. Howcan men prevent it？ The only thing one can do is to make some provision for lean years in times of plenty.
All’s well at present except for two things. Take care of them and the future will be secure. Although seasonalsacrifices are offered at the ancestral tombs there’s no fixed source of income for this， and although wehave a family school there’s no definite fund for it. Of course， while we’re still prosperous， we don’t lackthe wherewithal for sacrifices， but where’s it to come from once we fall on hard times？ I’d like to suggestthat while we’re still rich and noble we should invest in some farms and estates near our ancestral tombsto provide for sacrifices. The family school should be moved to the same place. Let the whole family， oldand young alike， draw up rules whereby each branch of the family will take it in turn to manage the land，income and sacrifices for a year. Taking turns will prevent disputes and malpractices like mortgages or sales.
Then even if the family property were confiscated because of some crime， the estate for ancestral worshopwould be exempted and in those hard times the young people could go there to study and farm. They’d havesomething to fall back on， and there would be no break in the sacrifices. It would be very short-sighted not totake thought for the future in the belief that our present good fortune will last for ever. Before long somethingmarvellous is going to happen which will really‘pour oil on the flames and add flowers to brocade.’But itwill simply be a flash in the pan， a brief moment of bliss. Whatever happens don’t forget the proverb，‘Eventhe grandest feast must have an end.’Take thought for the future before it is too late.”Hence one can seethat Qin Keqing has not only a noble origin but also rich political experience.
第四，秦可卿死后，可巧这日正是首七第四日，早有大明宫掌宫内相戴权，先备了祭礼遣人来，次后坐了大轿，打伞鸣锣，亲来上祭。如果秦可卿真是抱自养生堂，与皇宫没有任何关系，为什么大明宫掌宫内监要亲来上祭？如果没有皇帝的批准，大明宫掌宫内相戴权敢大张旗鼓地亲来上祭？
The fourth， after Qin Keqing’s death， on the fourth day of the first week of mourning servants withsacrificial offerings arrived from the eunuch Dai Quan， chamberlain of the Palace of Great Splendour， whofollowed in a grat palanquin with an official umbrella and gonging and drumming to offer an oblation. IfQin Keqing was really adopted from an orphanage and had nothing to do with the Imperial Palace， why didthe Chamberlain of the Palace of Great Splendour go in person to offer an oblation？ Without the Emperor’sapproval， how dare the eunuch Dai Quan， chamberlain of the Palace of Great Splendour， go to offer anoblation with colors flying and band playing？
第五，那时官客送殡的，有镇国公牛清之孙现袭一等伯牛继宗，理国公柳彪之孙现袭一等子柳芳等六家，与荣宁二家，当日所称“八公”的便是。余者更有南安郡王之孙，西宁郡王之孙，忠靖侯史鼎等。余者锦乡伯公子韩奇、神武将军公子冯紫英等，诸王孙公子，不可枚数。堂客也共有十来顶大轿，三四十顶小轿，连家下大小轿子车辆，不下百十余乘。连前面各色执事陈设，接连一带摆了有三四里远。由此可见，秦可卿绝非普通的家庭妇女，而是受到王公大臣们高度重视的皇亲国戚。否则，为什么有那么多的达官贵人去参加她的葬礼？
The fifth， among the officials attending Qin Keqing’s funeral were： Niu Jizong， hereditary earl of thefirst rank， grandson of Niu Qing， Duke of Zhenguo； Liu Fang， hereditary viscount of the first rank， grandsonof Liu Biao， Duke of Liguo， and other six families， with those of Ning and Rong， were known as the“EightDucal Households.”The other mourners included： the grandson of the Prince of Nan’an； the grandson of thePrince of Xining； Shi Ding， Marquis of Zhongjing， etc. Also present were Han Qi， son of the Earl of Jinxiang；Feng Ziying， son of the General of Divine Valour， and countless other sons of nobles. There were also overa dozen palanquins and thirty to forty sedan-chairs for lady guests. These together with the carriages andsedan-chairs of the Jia family numbered well over a hundred. With the elaborate equipage in front and theperformances given on the way， the procession extended a good three or four li. This shows that Qin Keqing isno ordinary housewife at all but a kinswoman whom the imperial princes and court ministers set a very highvalue on. Otherwise， why have so many princes， dukes and ministers attended her funeral？
第六，秦可卿死后，贾珍一直在为她寻找棺材。看板时，几副杉木板皆不中意。可巧薛蟠来吊，因见贾珍寻好板，便说：“我们木店里有一副板，说是铁网山上出的，作了棺材，万年不坏的。这还是当年先父带来的，原系忠义亲王老千岁要的，因他坏了事，就不曾用。
现在还封在店里，也没有人买得起。你若要，就抬来看看。”贾珍听说甚喜，即命抬来，大家看时，只见帮底皆厚八寸，纹若槟榔，味若檀麝，以手扣之，声如玉石。大家称奇。贾珍连忙道谢不尽，即命解锯造成。综上所述，我们可以推断，秦可卿可能是忠义亲王老千岁的女儿，并且因为其真实出身被揭露而被迫悬梁自杀身死。
The sixth， after Qin Keqing died， Jia Zhen was looking for a good coffin for her. He decided that thecelar-boards he had seen would not do for the coffin and was searching for something better when Xue Pancalled to offer condolences.“In our timber-yard is some qiang wood from the Iron-Net Mountain across thesea，”said the young man.“A coffin made of this would last for ten thousand years. My father bought thistimber for Prince Zhong Yi， but after his disgrace the prince didn’t take it. It’s still stored with us because noone has ventured to buy it. If you like， I’ll have it sent over.”Overjoyed by this news， Jia Zhen had the timberfetched without delay. Everyone gathered round and exclaimed in wonder， for the planks for the sides and thebase were eight inches thick with a grain like that of the areca palm and the perfume of sandalwood or musk.
When tapped they gave off a clear ringing sound like metal or jade. After copious thanks Jia Zhen lost no timein giving directions for the wood to be sawn and varnished. By summing up what mentioned above， we caninfer that Qin Keqing may be the daughter of Prince Zhong Yi and the disclosure of her real origin forces herto commit suicide—hanging herself on a tower.
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