《石头记》“辩冤”记——《石头记》是如何为曹家、李家“辩冤”的

"Grievance Argument" in The Story of the Stone——How is the grievance for the Cao's and Li's families argued in The Story of the Stone

《石头记》一书,"借省亲事写南巡",并以"草蛇灰线、空谷传声、一击两鸣、明修栈道、暗渡陈仓"等手法,叙明曹家、李家的"亏空"实由康熙"南巡"所致。然而雍正继位后,竟以"亏空"之名,"抄"了他们的家。这对曹李两家的当事人而言,自然是"冤枉"的。《石头记》的主旨,就是委婉地在替曹李两家"辩冤"。

The Story of the Stone, the ＂deficit＂ of Cao＇s and Li＇s families was actually caused by Kang Xi＇s ＂southward joumey＂through such writing techniques as ＂the description of southward journey by way of a concubine＇s coming back to visit her family＂,＂grass snake＇s grey line, the transmission of sound in a hollow valley, two percussions with one stroke, the hiding of one＇s real intention through apparent deeeption＂.However,the families were ransacked for the sake of ＂deficit＂ after Yongzheng＇s accession to the throne. This was naturally ＂wrongful＂ for the clients of Cao＇s and Li＇s families. The main purpose of The Story of the Stone was to ＂argue for grievance for the Cao＇s and Li＇s families＂in an euphemistic way.