Chapter 28

蒋玉函情赠茜香罗

薛宝钗羞笼红麝串

It is Daiyu weeping (again). One of the lyrics she is reciting refers to a maiden’s death, and this sets Baoyu off too, as a considers a world without Daiyu and the girls. She notices him, and walks away ignoring him. He chases after her, and reminds her of when she first arrived, and how close they were. They work out that the earlier misunderstanding was just the maids’ faults. Lady Wang approaches and asks after Daiyu’s health; they discuss her medicines. She doesn’t believe some of the expensive ingredients he lists; Baochai and Daiyu won’t lie for him, but Xifeng corroborates his story.

When Baoyu is walking to Grandmother Jia’s, Xifeng calls him over and lists some items for him to write down. He assents to her taking Crimson. At Grandmother Jia’s, Daiyu resumes acting standoffish to him.

Baoyu is invited to Feng Ziying’s, where he drinks with Xue Pan, singer Nuageuse 云儿 and others. Baoyu leads them all in a rhyming drinking game – Xue Pan keeps coming up with nonsense or filth. Drag actor Jiang Yuhan 蒋玉菡 is embarrassed after he happens to use a line of poetry referring to Aroma. Baoyu invites him round, and discovers that he is Bijou 琪官, an actor that he’s been hearing about. Jiang gives him his cummerbund, which had been given to him by the Prince of Beijing; Baoyu gives him a sash in return, which he later remembers is Aroma’s, when she notices its absence. He persuades her to take the cummerbund. Presents have arrived for the Double Fifth festival from Yuanchun, and Aroma tells Baoyu who has received what, which they discuss – Baochai is the only girl to receive the same level as Baoyu.

Baoyu bumps into Daiyu, who has forgotten her resentments; nevertheless, she makes cracks about her status and how Baochai has usurped her in his affections. Baochai arrives and is embarrassed; Baoyu asks to have a look at one of her medicine chaplets. He admires her arm, and thinks of the matching gold and jade talismans, of which Baochai is also well aware. He gawps at her; Baochai walks away in embarrassment, and Daiyu mocks him.