Chapter 34

情中情因情感妹妹

错里错以错劝哥哥

When Aroma is finally left alone with Baoyu, she asks what happened and checks his wounds. He does not answer in full. Baochai arrives with some medicine and overexposures the depth of her feeling for him when telling him how upset everyone is. Baoyu, who is fairly dismissive of the beating, finds their concern attractive, and considers that it would be worth dying just to find out how they would react. He hears Baochai asking Aroma what set Zheng off; she retells her and Tealeaf’s conclusion. He interrupts before she can mention Xue Pan – Baochai senses this is out of respect for her, and marvels at his considerateness, but talks at length about her brother’s failings of character (while not acknowledging any deviousness). Aroma is embarrassed, Baoyu impressed. Baochai leaves, with Aroma full of gratitude for her kindness. His maids leave and, despite the pain, Baoyu drifts off - dreaming of Golden – and he is woken by Daiyu sobbing. He tells her she ought not to have come, and that his injuries are a sham to guilt his father. She struggles to say all that is in her heart, just supposes that he’ll change, which he denies. When Xifeng arrives, she hurries away, not wanting to have her tears mocked again. Aunt Xue also visits and some soup is sent, but he is asleep by the time a large group of other women come to see him.

Lady Wang summons a member of Baoyu’s staff, and is disappointed when Aroma arrives – she should be looking after him. Aroma reports about how he is doing, and Lady Wang gives her two precious bottles of essence for him to take. Just as she is leaving, they begin to discuss the possible reasons for the beating – Aroma denies knowledge of any reason other than the actor. They do, however, agree that he needed the beating, and Lady Wang again becomes tearful to think of Zhu, Baoyu’s wayward character and the shame it will bring on her if it continues. Aroma agrees – she and the maids are also worried, and try to change him with no effect. With a great degree of courage, Aroma asks if Baoyu could be moved out of the garden – she is concerned about his spending so much time with girls, particularly as they are getting older, and she worries about potential scandal. With the Golden case, Lady Wang is taken aback at this and is full of love and gratitude for Aroma’s solicitude – she places Baoyu entirely at her care.

On return, Baoyu sends her to Baochai so that he can send Skybright to ask after Daiyu, sending her away with some old handkerchiefs to give her as pretence. Daiyu understands the meaning of this, and is overjoyed that, even in his pain, he thinks of her and understands her, but is nevertheless sad to think of her own pain. She is inspired to write a poem, and looks in the mirror to find herself flushed, little imagining it to be the start of a serious illness.

Aroma is waiting at Baochai’s, but she is out at her mother’s. What started life as Tealeaf’s guesswork regarding Xue Pan’s involvement had grown into a certainty that all knew, and when he goes to Aunt Xue’s she rebukes him. Baochai tries to mediate, but also tells Pan off for his misdemeanours. Pan is exasperated at this, and mouths off about Baoyu and his special treatment, threatening to kill him, and causing a great scene. He tells them about Bijou giving Baoyu his sash, which to the Xues only confirms Tealeaf’s conjecture. Pan, realising that Baochai has reason on her side, accuses her of sticking up for Baoyu because of his jade matching her locket. She is injured and cries; Pan leaves in a sulk. The next morning she passes Daiyu on her way to her mother’s – Daiyu sarcastically calls after her, telling her not to cry so much and make herself so ill.