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Ordinarily， there was no one but Pao-yue to say much or talk at any length， but on this day， with Chia Cheng present， his remarks were limited to assents. And as to the rest， Hsiang-yuen had， though a young girl， and of delicate physique， nevertheless ever been very fond of talking and discussing； but， on this instance， Chia Cheng was at the feast， so that she also held her tongue and restrained her words. As for Tai-yue she was naturally peevish and listless， and not very much inclined to indulge in conversation； while Pao-ch'ai， who had never been reckless in her words or frivolous in her deportment， likewise behaved on the present occasion in her usual dignified manner. Hence it was that this banquet， although a family party， given for the sake of relaxation， assumed contrariwise an appearance of restraint， and as old lady Chia was herself too well aware that it was to be ascribed to the presence of Chia Cheng alone， she therefore， after the wine had gone round three times， forthwith hurried off Chia Cheng to retire to rest.
No less cognisant was Chia Cheng himself that the old lady's motives in packing him off were to afford a favourable opportunity to the young ladies and young men to enjoy themselves， and that is why， forcing a smile， he observed： "Having to-day heard that your venerable ladyship had got up in here a large assortment of excellent riddles， on the occasion of the spring festival of lanterns， I too consequently prepared prizes， as well as a banquet， and came with the express purpose of joining the company； and why don't you in some way confer a fraction of the fond love， which you cherish for your grandsons and granddaughters， upon me also， your son？"
"When you're here，" old lady Chia replied smilingly， "they won't venture to chat or laugh； and unless you go， you'll really fill me with intense dejection！ But if you feel inclined to guess conundrums， well， I'll tell you one for you to solve； but if you don't guess right， mind， you'll be mulcted！"
"Of course I'll submit to the penalty，" Chia Cheng rejoined eagerly， as he laughed， "but if I do guess right， I must in like manner receive a reward！"
"This goes without saying！" dowager lady Chia added； whereupon she went on to recite：
the monkey's body gently rests on the tree top！
"This refers，" she said， "to the name of a fruit."
Chia Cheng was already aware that it was a lichee， but he designedly made a few guesses at random， and was fined several things； but he subsequently gave， at length， the right answer， and also obtained a present from her ladyship.
In due course he too set forth this conundrum for old lady Chia to guess：
Correct its body is in appearance， Both firm and solid is it in substance； To words， it is true， it cannot give vent， But spoken to， it always does assent.
When he had done reciting it， he communicated the answer in an undertone to Pao-yue； and Pao-yue fathoming what his intention was， gently too told his grandmother Chia， and her ladyship finding， after some reflection， that there was really no mistake about it， readily remarked that it was an inkslab.
"After all，" Chia Cheng smiled； "Your venerable ladyship it is who can hit the right answer with one guess！" and turning his head round， "Be quick，" he cried， "and bring the prizes and present them！" whereupon the married women and waiting-maids below assented with one voice， and they simultaneously handed up the large trays and small boxes.
Old lady Chia passed the things， one by one， under inspection； and finding that they consisted of various kinds of articles， novel and ingenious， of use and of ornament， in vogue during the lantern festival， her heart was so deeply elated that with alacrity she shouted， "Pour a glass of wine for your master！"
Pao-yue took hold of the decanter， while Ying Ch'un presented the cup of wine.
"Look on that screen！" continued dowager lady Chia， "all those riddles have been written by the young ladies； so go and guess them for my benefit！"
Chia Cheng signified his obedience， and rising and walking up to the front of the screen， he noticed the first riddle， which was one composed by the Imperial consort Yuean， in this strain：
the pluck of devils to repress in influence it abounds， Like bound silk is its frame， and like thunder its breath resounds. But one report rattles， and men are lo！ in fear and dread； Transformed to ashes 'tis what time to see you turn the head.
"Is this a cracker？" Chia Cheng inquired.
"It is，" Pao-yue assented.
Chia Cheng then went on to peruse that of Ying-Ch'un's， which referred to an article of use：
Exhaustless is the principle of heavenly calculations and of human skill； Skill may exist， but without proper practice the result to find hard yet will be！ Whence cometh all this mixed confusion on a day so still？ Simply it is because the figures Yin and Yang do not aGREe.
