贾政正要带笑叙话，只见家人慌张报道：“西平王爷到了。”
Jia Zheng, forcing a smile, was about to make conversation when a flustered servant announced the Prince of Xiping.
贾政慌忙去接，已见王爷进来。
Jia Zheng hurried out once again, to find the prince already entering the courtyard.
赵堂官抢上去请了安，便说：“王爷已到，随来的老爷们就该带领府役把守前后门。”
Commissioner Zhao stepped forward at once to salute him, then ordered his officers, "Since His Highness has arrived, you gentlemen can take runners to guard the front and back gates."
贾政等知事不好，连忙跪接。
while Jia Zheng and the other menfolk, filled with foreboding by this sinister turn of events, fell to their knees and kowtowed before the Prince of Xi-ping.
西平郡王用两手扶起，笑嘻嘻的说道：“无事不敢轻造。
The prince raised Jia Zheng with both hands and said with a reassuring smile: ‘I would not intrude on you at such a time did I not have special reasons:
有奉旨交办事件，要赦老接旨。
"We have come to announce an Imperial decree to Lord She.
如今满堂中筵席未散，想有亲友在此未便，且请众位府上亲友各散，独留本宅的人听候。”
You have many feasters here, which is somewhat inopportune, so T'll ask your relatives and friends to disperse, leaving only your own household to hear the decree."
赵堂官回说：“王爷虽是恩典，但东边的事，这位王爷办事认真，想是早已封门。”
Commissioner Zhao put in, "Your Highness is very gracious, but the prince officiating at the East Mansion takes his duties so seriously that the gates are doubtless already sealed up."
众人知是两府干系，恨不能脱身。
The guests learned from this that both mansions were in some sort of trouble, and began to fear that they themselves were trapped as well.
只见王爷笑道：“众位只管就请。
"These gentlemen are free to go," the prince said affably.
叫人来给我送出去，告诉锦衣府的官员说，这都是亲友，不必盘查，快快放出。”
"Have attendants see them out and notify your guards that there is no need to search them as they are all guests.
Let them leave at once.
那些亲友听见，就一溜烟如飞的出去了。
As soon as they heard this, the guests vanished like a puff of smoke,
独有贾赦贾政一干人，唬得面如土色，满身发颤。
leaving Jia Zheng, Jia She and their households livid and trembling with fear.
不多一会，只见进来无数番役，各门把守，本宅上下人等一步不能乱走。
Shortly afterwards, constables swarmed in and stationed themselves at every doorway, thereby denying freedom of movement to masters and servants alike.
赵堂官便转过一副脸来，回王爷道：“请爷宣旨意，就好动手。”
Zhao turned to the prince, his face positively venomous:‘Will Your Highness be so good as to read the Edict, so that we can proceed with our task?”‘
这些番役都撩衣奋臂，专等旨意。
The runners hitched up their tunics and rolled up their sleeves, ready to go into action.
西平王慢慢的说道：“小王奉旨，带领锦衣府赵全来查看贾赦家产。”
The prince began his preamble with great deliberation:‘I am hereby instructed by His Majesty to proceed with Commissioner Zhao Quan of the Embroidered Jackets and to search, and take a complete inventory of, the property of Jia She.”
贾赦等听见，俱俯伏在地。
Jia She cowered prostrate on the ground
王爷便站在上头说：“有旨意：贾赦交通外官，依势凌弱，辜负肤恩，有忝祖德，着革去世职。
as the prince mounted the terrace and, facing south, began the proclamation of the Edict proper:“‘Hearken!Inasmuch as Our subject Jia She has connived with a provincial official and has used his influence to persecute a defenceless citizen, he has shown himself unworthy of Our favour, has disgraced his ancestors, and is to be deprived of his hereditary rank.
其余皆看守！”
Keep guard over the others."
维时贾赦、贾政、贾琏、贾珍、贾蓉、贾蔷、贾芝、贾兰俱在，惟宝玉假说有病，在贾母那边打混，贾环本来不大见人的，所以就将现在几人看住。
At that time, all the men of both Jia Mansions were in the hall except for Baoyu, who had slipped off to join the old lady on the pretext of indisposition, and Jia Huan who was seldom presented to guests.
So all the rest were now under surveillance.
锦衣军查抄宁国府 骢马使弹劾平安州
The Embroidered Jackets raid Ning-guo HouseAnd Censor Li impeaches the Prefect of Ping-an
话说贾政正在那里设宴请酒，忽见赖大急忙走上荣禧堂来，回贾政道：“有锦衣府堂官赵老爷带领好几位司官，说来拜望。
The day of the reception arrived.Jia Zheng was busily entertaining his guests in the Hall of Exalted Felicity, when Lai Da the steward hurried in to report that a Commissioner Zhao was outside, with a detachment of the Embroidered Jackets, the Imperial secret police:‘He says he is making a social call,
奴才要取职名来回，赵老爷说：‘我们至好，不用的。’
"When I asked for their cards the commissioner said,‘No need: we are old friends.'