话说贾琏起身去后，偏值平安节度巡边在外，约一个月方回，贾琏未得确信，只得住在下处等候。
When Jia Lian made his second expedition to Ping-an in the tenth month, he found that the Military Governor was away on a tour of inspection; and since no one seemed willing to predict when he would be back, there was obviously nothing he could do but sit in his lodgings and wait for that elusive official to turn up.
贾琏未得确信，只得住在下处等候。
To get a definite reply, Jia Lian had to wait in the hostel for his return.
及至回来相见，将事办妥，回程已是将近两个月的限了。
Thus by the time the governor came back, received him and settled the matter, nearly two months had passed.
谁知凤姐早已心下算定，只得贾琏前脚走了，回来便传各色匠役，收拾东厢房三间，照依自己正室一样，装饰陈设。
After hearing Joker's revelations, Xi-feng deliberately concealed her knowledge from Jia Lian for several weeks.
It was not until he had started out on his journey to Ping-an that she began putting her plan into execution.
The first thing she did was to call in the workmen - carpenters, decorators, paperers and so forth - and have the three-frame building on the east side of her and Jia Lian's courtyard converted into a smaller replica of the main apartment.
至十四日，便回明贾母王夫人，说十五日一早要到姑子庙进香去。
On the fourteenth, she reported to the Lady Dowager and Lady Wang that she wanted to go to the nunnery to offer incense the next morning,
只带了平儿、丰儿、周瑞媳妇、来旺媳妇四人，未曾上车，便将原故告诉了众人。
taking only Pinger, Fenger and the wives of Zhou Rui and Lai Wang.
Before setting out she disclosed her true purpose to them
未曾上车，便将原故告诉了众人，又吩咐众男人，素衣素盖，一径前来。
and ordered them all to wear mourning.
兴儿引路，一直到了二姐门前扣门。
Then they set off, Xinger leading the way, to the house where Second Sister You lived.
鲍二家的开了门。
He knocked at the gate, which was opened by Bao Er's wife.
鲍二家的开了，兴儿笑道：“快回二奶奶去，大奶奶来了。”
The Mattress came to the door.
Joker had by this time resolved the problem of nomenclature to his own satisfaction: ‘Tell Mrs Er,' he said blandly, ‘that Mrs Lian is here.”
尤二姐虽也一惊，但已来了，只得以礼相见，于是忙整理衣裳，迎了出来。
Second Sister You, too, was taken aback; but since Xifeng had come she had no choice but to receive her with befitting respect.
She hastily straightened her clothes
出至门前，凤姐方下车进来。
and went out to meet her as Xifeng dismounted from her carriage and stepped through the gate.
悄丽若三春之桃，清素若九秋之菊。
As the wives of Zhou Rui and Lai Wang helped her into the courtyard, Second Sister You stepped forward with a smile to curtsey to her, addressing her as ‘elder sister.” “I wasn't expecting the honour of this visit, so I didn't come out to meet you,” she apologized. “Please overlook my negligence, elder sister.”
说着便福了下来。
This was followed by another low curtsey,
凤姐忙陪笑还礼不迭，赶着拉了二姐儿的手，同入房中。
where Xifeng took the seat of honour while Second Sister ordered her maid to bring a cushion, then knelt to pay her respects. “Your slave is young,” she said. ‘Since coming here, I've left all decisions to my mother and my step-sister.
凤姐在上坐，二姐忙命丫头拿褥子，便行礼，说：“妹子年轻，一从到了这里，诸事都是家母和家姐商议主张。
Inside, Er-jie made Xi-feng sit down in the place of honour and ordered one of the maids to bring a cushion and put it down in front of her on the floor. ‘I am still very young,' she explained to Xi-feng. ‘Since I first came here, everything has been decided for me by others, either my mother, when she was still with us, or my elder sister.
说着，便行下礼去。
Xifeng left her seat to return the courtesy.“This all comes of my behaving like a silly woman,” she answered,“for ever advising my husband to take good care of his health and keep away from brothels, to spare his parents worry.
这都是你我的痴心，怎奈二爷错会了我的意。
If he'd taken a mistress outside and hidden it from me, that wouldn't have signified; but now he's taken you as his second wife, and that's an important matter, in accordance with the rules of propriety, yet he never told me about it.
眠花宿柳之事瞒着家里也罢了；如今娶了姐姐作二房这样正经大事，也是人家大礼，却不曾对我说。
“Actually, I'd advised him to take another wife, because if he begets a son I, too, shall have someone to rely on in future.
But he seems to have thought me the jealous type, and so he took this important step in secret.
That was really wronging me!
前十天头里，我就风闻着知了，只怕爷又错想了，遂不敢先说；目今可巧二爷走了，所以我亲自过来拜见，还求姐姐体谅我的苦心，起动大驾，挪至家中。
I do hope you'll understand how much I take this to heart and agree to move into our house so that we can live together as sisters, both of one mind, to advise Second Master to pay careful attention to his business and to look after his health.This is only right and proper.
再者，使外人听着，不但我的声名不好听，就是姐姐的名儿也不雅；况且二爷的名声更是要紧，倒是谈论咱们姐妹们还是小事。
I dare say you've heard talk about me from servants who think I run the household too strictly and most likely exaggerate behind my back.
姐姐乃何等样人物，岂可信真?
If I were really so impossible, why have three generations of my seniors as well as all my cousins and in-laws and don't forget that the Jias are a well-known old family ‘ put up with me all this time?”
今日二爷私娶姐姐在外，若别人则怒，我则以为幸。
which shows that the gods and Buddhas of Heaven and Earth don't want me to be defamed by those low creatures' slander.
正是天地神佛不忍我被小人们诽谤，故生此事。
“I've come today to beg you to move in and live with me, on the same footing, share and share alike to serve our father and mother-in-law and advise our husband together,