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。

qinkeqing：qinkeqing’sfoserfaherqinye，asecrearyinheboardofworks，wasnearlysevenyandhadloshiswifeearlyhavingnochildrenofhisownhehadadopedasonanddaugherfromanorphanage，buheboyhaddiedleavingonlyhelilegirl，keqingshegrewupobeagraceful，charmingyoungwomanbecauseqinwasremoelyco

ecedwihhejiafamily，heyarrangedamachandshebecamejiarong’swife

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”。

asheplumblossomwasnowinfullbloominheningmansion’sgarden，jiazhen’swifemadamyouinviedhedydowager，dyxing，dywangandheohersoaparyoenjoyheflowerssoonbaoyuwasiredandwanedohaveanaphedydowagerorderedhisaendansoakegoodcareofhimandbringhimbackaferaresaoncejiarong’swifeqinkeqingsaidwihasmile：“wehavearoomreadyhereforunclebaoyuheoldancesresscansehermindaresandleavehimsafelyome”hedydowagerhadeveryconfidenceinhislovelyslenderyoungwomanwhowihhergenle，amiablebehaviourwasherfavourieofallhegreagrandsons’swivesofherongandningbranchesshewashereforesurebaoyuwouldbeingoodhandskeqing’scharmremindedbaoyuofbaochai，hergraceofdaiyu

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。

ahemidauumnfesivalsmonhqinkeqingenjoyedherselfhalfhenighwihheolddydowageranddywang，andcamehomenoheworsebuforafornighsinceheweniehofsmonhshe’sgrownweakerandweakereverydayandlosallherappeieandshehasn’hadaperiodforwomonhssomedocorshoughimighmeanahappyevenbushewasexaminedbyanexcellenphysicia

amedzhangyoushirecommendedbyfengziying，hesonoffengang，generalshenwu，andaccordingohimiisn’apregnancybuaseriousillnessxifengwenoseeher，cspingkeqing’shandandsaid：“howhinyou’vegrowninhefewdayssincesisawyou！akegoodcareofyourselfhefachahisgooddocorhasbeenrecommendedousisasignhayou’regoingogebeerdon’youworry”“evenifhewereanimmoral，hecouldcureadiseasebunoavermyfae，”reoredkeqingwihasmile“iknowi’sonlyamaerofimenow，aunie”onenigh，xifengdreamedaboukeqingcomingosaygoodbyeoherbeforexifengcouldaskmoreshewaswokenwihasarbyfourblowsonhechimebarahesecondgaeandaservana

ounced，“madamjiarongofheeasmansionhaspassedaway”xifengbrokeinoacoldsweashedressedquicklyandhurriedoverodywangbyhaimehewholehouseholdwasmening，disressedbyhisshockingnewsheoldpeoplerecalledkeqing’sfilialbehaviour，heyoungpeopleheraffecionaewaysandhechildrenherkindness；whilenooneofheservansbuwepforgriefrecollecinghercompassionforhepoorandhumbleandherlovinggoodnessooldandyoungalike

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。

qinkeqing’slifeisshor，andjusaspiifulasxiangling’s(whaarealpiifullife)houghheycomefromdifferenfamilies，“enhousandbeauiesinonecup”—allofhemarehesameindeepmisery

isn’irue？pleasereadhefollowing：“herearewelvespraysofgauzeflowersofhenewsormadeinhepace，”aunxuesaidomrszhou“youmayaswellakehemnowhayou’reheregivewoeachoyourhreeyoungdiesofhesixlef，giveacoupleomisslinandheoherfouromaserfeng”goingouwihhebox，mrszhoufoundjinchuansillsu

ingherselfonheseps“ellme，”shesaid，“isn’xianglinghegirlherewasallhaalkabou？heoneboughjusbeforeheycameohecapial，whowasaheboomofhamansughercase？”“ha’srigh，”saidjinchuanjushenxianglingcameover，smilingmrszhouookherhandandsudiedherinenly，henurnedojinchuanagain“she’sahandsomegirlremindsmeofmaserrong’swifeinoureasmansion”“ha’swhaisay，”agreedjinchuanmrs

zhouaskedxianglinghowoldshehadbeenwhensold，whereherparenswere，heragenowandnaivepcebuhegirlsimplyshookherheadandsaidshecouldnoremember，sohaheirhearsbledforher

xifenggavewoofhefourflowersokeqingjusashehemepoemofchaper7reads：

welvemaidspreyasflowers，buwhoisihaloveshem？

doyouaskhenameofheonehemees？

iisqinwhosehomeissouhofheyangzeriver

havingreadhesoryandpoem，we’vecomeoknowheruefacofqinkeqing’sorigin：shecamefromhepace，livinginhesouhofheyangzeriveraferhermarriage

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！

havingreachedqinkeqing’sroom，heyweremeahehresholdbyasubleperfumewhichmisedoverbaoyu’seyesandmeledhisbones“howgoodismellshere！”hecriedenering，hesawonhewalpicurebyangyinofadysleepingunderheblossomofacrabapplereeinspringonhewoscrollsfnkingi，qinguanhesongschorhadwrien：

coolnesswrapsherdream，forspringischill；afragranceassailsmen，hearomaofwine

onhedressingablewasararemirrorfromwuzeian’shallofmirrorsinhegoldraybyi，onwhichzhaofeiyanoncedanced，washequincehrowninfunbyanlushanadyyang，whichhadwoundedherbreasaoneendofheroomsoodhecouchonwhichprincessshouchanghadslepinhehanzhangpace，andoverihunghecurainssrungfrompearlsbyprincessongchangwihherownhandskeqingspreadagauzecoverlewashedbyxishiandarrangedhebridalpillowcarriedbyhongnianghenhenursesandaendansmadebaoyuliedownandslippedouleavingonlyfourmaidsxiren，qingwen，sheyueandqiuwenokeephimcompanylook！qinkeqing’scouchonwhichprincessshouchanghadslepinhehanzhangpace！qinkeqing’scurainssrungfrompearlsbyprincessongchang！i’sverynauralhereaderswouldunavoidablyhinkhaqinkeqingmighalsobeaprincess！

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。

herearemanyohersignshaindicae“ruefacsconcealed”—qinkeqing’srealoriginisfromheemperor’sfamilyinseadofanorphanage，andherdeahisapoliicalsuicideinseadofasickone

hefirs，hegoddessofdisenchanmenoldbaoyu：“afermeeingyourworhyancesorshedukeofningguoandhedukeofrongguoodayandhearingheirhearfelreques，icouldnobearoleyoubecondemnedbyheworldforhegreaergloryofwomensoibroughyouhereoenerainyouwihdivinewineandfairyea，henriedoawakenyouwihsublesongsandnowiamgoingomachyouwihmyyoungersiserjianmei(‘combininghebes，’iehebesfeauresofbaochaianddaiyu)，whosechildhoodnameiskeqing，andhisverynighaheauspicioushouryoumusconsummaeyourunionhisissimplyoleyouknowhaaferyouhaveprovedforyourselfheillusorynaureofpleasuresinfairyndyoushouldrealizehevaniyofloveinyourdusyworldfromhisdayonyoumusundersandhisandmendyourways，givingyourmindsoheeachingsofconfuciusandmenciusanddevoingyourselfohebeermenofsociey”ashegoddessofdisenchanmensaid，herhomeisabovehesphereofparingsorrowinheseaofbrimminggrief，ieshe’sfromhegrooofemanaingfragranceonhemounainofexpandingspringinheillusoryndofgreavoidshepresidesoverromancesandunrequiedloveonearh，hegriefofwomenandhepassionofmeninhemundaneworldhereincarnaionsofsomeformerlovershaverecenlygaheredhere，andsoshehascomeolookforachanceomeeouloveandlonging

fromherewecanseehaqinkeqingandhereldersiserhegoddessofdisenchanmenaresuperiorohejias，heiroriginismuchnoblerhanhaofhejiasaswell

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。

hesecond，infirsregiserofwelvebeauiesofjinling，nexcomesapicureofabeauifulwomanhangingherselfonaower，wihheverdic：

loveboundlessasseaandskyisbuillusion；whenloversmee，lusmusbeking

saynoallevilcomesfromherongmansion，ruly，disaseroriginaesfromhening

he“sky”，he“sea”inheverdicand“ower”(heheavenlyfragrancepavilion)inapicureindicaehaqinkeqingcomesfromhe“sky”andreurnsohe“heavenlyfragrancepavilion”，ie

she’sbornofhenoblesfamilyanddiedofhangingherselfonaower

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。

hehird，inwangxifeng’sdream，qinkeqingoldherodohisandha，juslikehersuperior，noherjunior，evenpredicinghepoliicalfuureofheirfamily“nowyou’rebeingnaive，aun，”keqingsaid“forunefollowscamiyasdisgracefollowshonourhishasbeensofromimeimmemorialhowcanmenpreveni？heonlyhingonecandoisomakesomeprovisionforleanyearsinimesofpleny

all’swellapresenexcepforwohingsakecareofhemandhefuurewillbesecurealhoughseasonalsacrificesareofferedaheancesralombshere’snofixedsourceofincomeforhis，andalhoughwehaveafamilyschoolhere’snodefiniefundforiofcourse，whilewe’resillprosperous，wedon’ckhewherewihalforsacrifices，buwhere’siocomefromoncewefallonhardimes？i’dlikeosuggeshawhilewe’resillrichandnobleweshouldinvesinsomefarmsandesaesnearourancesralombsoprovideforsacrificeshefamilyschoolshouldbemovedohesamepcelehewholefamily，oldandyoungalike，drawupruleswherebyeachbranchofhefamilywillakeiinurnomanagehend，incomeandsacrificesforayearakingurnswillprevendispuesandmalpraciceslikemorgagesorsales

henevenifhefamilyproperywereconfiscaedbecauseofsomecrime，heesaeforancesralworshopwouldbeexempedandinhosehardimesheyoungpeoplecouldgohereosudyandfarmhey’dhavesomehingofallbackon，andherewouldbenobreakinhesacrificesiwouldbeveryshorsighednooakehoughforhefuureinhebeliefhaourpresengoodforunewillsforeverbeforelongsomehingmarvellousisgoingohappenwhichwillreally‘pouroilonhefmesandaddflowersobrocade’buiwillsimplybeafshinhepan，abriefmomenofblisswhaeverhappensdon’forgeheproverb，‘evenhegrandesfeasmushaveanend’akehoughforhefuurebeforeiisooe”henceonecanseehaqinkeqinghasnoonlyanobleoriginbualsorichpoliicalexperience

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？

hefourh，aferqinkeqing’sdeah，onhefourhdayofhefirsweekofmourningservanswihsacrificialofferingsarrivedfromheeunuchdaiquan，chamberinofhepaceofgreasplendour，whofollowedinagrapanquinwihanofficialumbrelandgonginganddrummingoofferanobionifqinkeqingwasreallyadopedfromanorphanageandhadnohingodowihheimperialpace，whydidhechamberinofhepaceofgreasplendourgoinpersonoofferanobion？wihouheemperor’sapproval，howdareheeunuchdaiquan，chamberinofhepaceofgreasplendour，gooofferanobionwihcolorsflyingandbandpying？

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？

hefifh，amongheofficialsaendingqinkeqing’sfuneralwere：niujizong，herediaryearlofhefirsrank，grandsonofniuqing，dukeofzhenguo；liufang，herediaryviscounofhefirsrank，grandsonofliubiao，dukeofliguo，andohersixfamilies，wihhoseofningandrong，wereknownashe“eighducalhouseholds”heohermournersincluded：hegrandsonofheprinceofnan’an；hegrandsonofheprinceofxining；shiding，marquisofzhongjing，ecalsopresenwerehanqi，sonofheearlofjinxiang；fengziying，sonofhegeneralofdivinevalour，andcounlessohersonsofnoblesherewerealsooveradozenpanquinsandhiryoforysedanchairsfordyguessheseogeherwihhecarriagesandsedanchairsofhejiafamilynumberedwelloverahundredwihheeboraeequipageinfronandheperformancesgivenonheway，heprocessionexendedagoodhreeorfourlihisshowshaqinkeqingisnoordinaryhousewifeaallbuakinswomanwhomheimperialprincesandcourminisersseaveryhighvalueonoherwise，whyhavesomanyprinces，dukesandminisersaendedherfuneral？

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。

hesixh，aferqinkeqingdied，jiazhenwaslookingforagoodcoffinforherhedecidedhahecerboardshehadseenwouldnodoforhecoffinandwassearchingforsomehingbeerwhenxuepancalledooffercondolences“inourimberyardissomeqiangwoodfromheironmounainacrosshesea，”saidheyoungman“acoffinmadeofhiswouldsforenhousandyearsmyfaherboughhisimberforprincezhongyi，buaferhisdisgraceheprincedidn’akeii’ssillsoredwihusbecausenoonehasvenuredobuyiifyoulike，i’llhaveisenover”overjoyedbyhisnews，jiazhenhadheimberfechedwihoudeyeveryonegaheredroundandexcimedinwonder，forhepnksforhesidesandhebasewereeighincheshickwihagrainlikehaofhearecapalmandheperfumeofsandalwoodormusk

whenappedheygaveoffaclearringingsoundlikemealorjadeafercopioushanksjiazhenlosnoimeingivingdirecionsforhewoodobesawnandvarnishedbysummingupwhamenionedabove，wecaninferhaqinkeqingmaybehedaugherofprincezhongyiandhedisclosureofherrealoriginforcesherocommisuicide—hangingherselfonaower