秦鲸卿得趣馒头庵
Baoyu impresses the Prince,
although he expresses concern that too much affection can have bad side
effects. The Prince gives him a rosary of Indian seeds. The funeral procession
continues, but out of fear that he would get up to mischief, Xifeng asks Baoyu
to ride in a sedan with her, not on horseback with the other young men. The
procession goes through a simple farm, in which Xifeng asks Baoyu and the boys
to amuse themselves. Baoyu is impressed at the farming equipment, and is
reprimanded by a farm girl, Ertie 二丫头, for using a loom.
Baoyu is taken with her, and looks out for her as they leave the farm.
At the Ning-Rong Temple of the
Iron Threshold, the less well-off Jia members take advantage of the guest rooms
after the ceremony. Xifeng, Baoyu and Qin Zhong make for nearby Watermoon
Priory to stay, where they are met by Prioress Euergesia 净虚.
Baoyu ribs Qin Zhong about disciple Sapientia, a regular visitor to Rongguo who
had fallen in love with Qin, who reciprocates. She brings them tea, which they
fight over, before being called away.
Euergesia approaches Xifeng about
an amorous matter concerning contacts of theirs in Chang’an, and Xifeng agrees
to help out for significant profit. Meanwhile, Qin Zhong makes his move on
Sapientia; Baoyu surprises them in flagrante, shaming Sapientia; Baoyu promises
to ‘settle accounts’ with Qin later when they are in bed. Xifeng puts the jade
under her pillow for safety. Xifeng allows them to stay for an extra day, and
commands Brightie 旺儿 to attend to Euergesia’s affair in Lian’s name. Qin and Sapientia
make all sorts of secret vows.
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