Chapter 26

蜂腰桥设言传心事

潇湘馆春困发幽情

Baoyu has recovered, and his burns are healed. Meanwhile, Crimson notices Jia Yun carries a handkerchief much like the one she lost. She gossips about Baoyu, Aroma and the household with a younger maid, Melilot 佳蕙. She learns from Nanny Li that Baoyu has asked for Yun to see him; Trinket 坠儿 is sent to escort him in, and his eyes meet Crimson’s on Wasp Waist Bridge.

Yun enters Green Delights, and Baoyu apologises for missing their last meeting. They chat, and Yun protests at Aroma serving him – a servant - tea. He dawdles back with Trinket, asking her a lot of personal questions, including about Crimson. He mentions the handkerchief, which he gives her to give to Crimson.

Baoyu is bored and lethargic, but Aroma persuades him to go out instead of sleeping. He finds Jia Lan 贾兰 hunting, and disturbs Daiyu quoting from ‘the Western Chamber’; she claims to have been asleep. He presses her, leading to tears. He apologises, but is called by Aroma as Zheng wants him. It turns out to be a deceit by Xue Pan and Tealeaf; Baoyu is angry, but it is because Pan has been given food for his coming birthday and wants to share it. Pan announces that he wants dirty pictures for his birthday. Feng Ziying 冯紫英, son of a general, arrives; Baoyu gets pleasingly drunk, and arrives back to find Aroma still anxious about his meeting, and discusses the food with Baochai.

Daiyu goes to Green Delights, and Skybright, not recognising her voice, doesn’t let her in, apparently on Baoyu’s orders. She weeps for being such an outsider. She hears Baoyu and Baochai’s voices, and continues to lament her situation. A door opens, and someone comes out.