Chapter 93 - supercondensed

Jia She takes Baoyu to a theatre party, where he is delighted to watch Jiang Yuhan; Lian and Zheng worry about missing rent and staff negligence. Zheng finds more about Zhen Baoyu from a new servant. Lian questions Jia Qin as well-founded allegations of sordid activity in the nunnery are investigated.

Chapter 93

甄家仆投靠贾家门

水月庵掀翻风月案

Zheng and She discuss an invitation to see a new company of actors before dealing with other business, including rent collectors returned from the Rongguo estate, and parting. The rent collectors then explain to Lian that the rents had been seized by a patrol in transit. Lian sends a note to the responsible yamen, before looking for two unaccountably absent servants. The next day, Zheng is busy so asks She to take Baoyu to the Earl of Lin’an’s 临安伯 theatre party. After paying their respects to the Earl, the troupe manager asks She and Baoyu to choose their favourite plays; while choosing, he notices that it is Jiang Yuhan. When Jiang goes backstage, the guests gossip about him. The show starts and is exquisite; She makes motions to leave but is persuaded to stay by the Earl, to Baoyu’s delight. He is entranced by Jiang’s performance in the next piece but has to leave with She promptly after. Back at Rongguo, Baoyu goes to see Zheng who is discussing the rent collectors with Lian – it seems the patrol had no warrant, so it was certainly a case of corruption. Lian leaves, and orders a general assembly of the staff to reprimand absenteeism and negligence.

A man from the Zhen family in the South arrives with a note for Zheng from his master, Zhen Yingjia 甄应嘉. Zhen has been banished to the frontier and has sent the man, Bao Yong 包勇, to the Jias for employment. Bao pays his respects to Zheng and is questioned about Zhen and his son Baoyu. Bao reports that he had previously just played before a serious illness, after which he has become single mindedly studious. This silences Zheng, who dismisses Bao until a post can be found for him.

The next morning, on his way to work, Jia Zheng encounters servants huddled round a note which has been pinned up alleging sordid activities by Jia Qin in the Iron Threshold nunnery, disgracing Rongguo. Furious, he has the town searched for similar notices and discusses it with Lian. A note arrives for Zheng personally with similar allegations; he orders Lai Da to fetch all the nuns. The novices, having not been called upon by Yuanchun for some time, have indeed slackened, and Jia Qin had taken a fancy to Parfumée. When she proved devout, he found others who were more cooperative. That day, he has arrived at noon with their allowance, encouraging them, along with some of Watermoon Priory, into a lengthy session of drinking games when Lai Da arrives. Despite his rage at the incipient orgy, Lai Da calmly gathers the novices, saying they are wanted at the Palace. While waiting for Lai, Zheng is called to the Board, Lian returns to his apartment, and rumours have spread amongst the servants. Xifeng, ill and doubly anxious due to her own unscrupulous dealings at Watermoon Priory, interrogates Patience about the posters, panicking Xifeng until Patience clarifies that it concerns Iron Threshold. Xifeng washes her hands of responsibility for Jia Qin. Soon after Lian enters, Lai returns with Jia Qin. Qin, told to wait in the inner library, notices the servants muttering. When Lian meets him, he soon sighs with the realisation that his childhood friend Qin doesn’t know the real reason for his summons. Shown one of the posters, he protests his innocence and kowtows to Lian. Lian sees through it, but tells Qin to deny everything. Lai is summoned and tells Lian of the earlier scene he encountered, embarrassing Qin further. Lai agrees to spare Qin for the good of the family name. After leaving together, Lai asks Qin who could have written the poster, but he can think of no one.

Chapter 92 - supercondensed

Aroma warns Baoyu to be more discreet with Daiyu. Early for a party at Lady Jia’s, Baoyu goes over Qiaojie’s studies with her. Chess and her boyfriend have killed themselves dramatically; her mother appeals for help from Xifeng. Feng Ziying tries to see Zheng some curios; they discuss the Jias’ fortunes over dinner.

Chapter 92

评女传巧姐慕贤良

玩母珠贾政参聚散

The urgent summons was an invention by Ripple – it is just Aroma who wants to interrogate Baoyu. She tells him to be more discreet with Daiyu. Baoyu has been looking forward to one of Grandmother Jia’s annual parties, including taking the next day off school, but is upset to find he has not received an invitation. Aroma, concerned that the studious Lan will overtake him, insists he should go to school, although Musk disagrees. They are on the point of a full scale row when one of Lady Jia’s maids arrives with his invitation. She also says that Aunt Xue is invited, and so Baoyu is looking forward to seeing Baochai too. The next morning, after gaining Zheng’s consent, Baoyu hurries to Lady Jia’s. Only Qiaojie is there so far, paying her respects to Lady Jia. Qiaojie turns to Baoyu – Xifeng doesn’t believe that she is as advanced in her characters as she claims, so has asked Baoyu to check. He consents to go over her characters, and offers to go through the Lives of Noble Women with her. He recounts reams of the stories of famous beauties and paragons of virtue until Grandmother Jia tells him to stop for fear of confusing Qiaojie, but she says that he has helped. An out of the blue comment about Crimson and Fivey triggers Baoyu to compare Qiaojie favourably to Xifeng; Lady Jia insists that embroidery is more important than literacy. Baoyu is daydreaming about Fivey, who has not yet been able to start in his service, when some of the other guests arrive. When Baoqin and Aunt Xue arrive later, he notes Xiuyan and Baochai’s absence, and the question (posed directly by Daiyu) is avoided. Xifeng has a fever and is late; the lunch party starts.

Xifeng’s illness, in truth, is embarrassment at being late, and was complicated by the arrival of one of Yingchun’s servants who has come to ask a favour regarding Chess. Her mother has forbidden her to marry the boyfriend who caused her dismissal, and during an argument she dashed her head against a wall, killing herself. The boyfriend had, unbeknownst to her, grown very rich in the meantime and, to her mother’s bafflement, arrived for the funeral with two coffins. While preparing her corpse he slit his own throat. In her distress, Chess’s mother is appealing for Xifeng’s influence in case it goes to court. Xifeng’s perspective on the earlier Chess affair is changed.

Feng Ziying comes to see Zheng, who is playing Go with a literary gentleman. He watches them finish the game before telling him of two fascinating and ornate curios and showing him two smaller ones, an unfathomably light and thin fabric and a large magnetic pearl, called a Mother Pearl. While agreeing that they would make excellent Palace offerings, Zheng cannot afford to buy them, but sends them to Grandmother Jia’s for inspection. Xifeng agrees that they do not have the money, and that it would not fit in with the family’s standing or financial strategy. Feng is disappointed, but is invited to stay for dinner with Zheng and She. They discuss official appointments and matters, Zheng explaining their relationship to Yucun, who is to be promoted. Reflecting on the unpredictability of life’s fortunes, Zheng uses the Mother Pearl as an example. Accepting that they have had a good run, Zheng feels that the Jias are living on borrowed time. Feng leaves after dinner, snow having already fallen an inch thick during the meal.

Chapter 91 - supercondensed

Jingui and Moonbeam are both disappointed by Ke’s lack of interest, and change plans; Jingui becomes charming and Moonbeam demure. Further bribes are needed for Pan, the stress causing Baochai illness. A date for the official betrothal is agreed; Baoyu, sad to be out of touch with Baochai, discusses her with Daiyu.

Chapter 91

纵淫心宝蟾工设计

布疑阵宝玉妄谈禅

Ignoring the laughter, Ke soon hears a tapping at the window. A peephole has appeared; he puts his eye to it and receives a blast of air followed by more laughter. It is Moonbeam; Ke feigns sleep and ignores her, before another voice – possibly Jingui – calls him a spoilsport. He sleeps with no doubt as to their intentions. In the morning, Moonbeam appears at his door, seductively deshabille. Blushing, she takes away the sweetmeats. Ke washes, and decides to lie low at home to avoid Pan’s venal friends.

Meanwhile, Jingui is disappointed to have miscalculated about Ke’s susceptibility to her charms. Unknown to her, however, Moonbeam is also looking for a replacement for Pan, and also has her own designs on Ke. Her morning appearance has been carefully planned, but again he had been incorruptible, and she walks out in a huff. Jingui and Moonbeam plot together, revealing their shared aims. Moonbeam suggests that he’s just scared of being caught and that Jingui should have patience; get into his good books, then get him drunk and he’s hers. Later, when Moonbeam collects the wine jug, Ke feels some remorse for judging her a strumpet. She becomes demure to him, while Jingui is quiet and charming. Aunt Xue interprets this as a sign that Pan’s luck has turned. She goes to visit Jingui, and is introduced to her adopted brother Xia San 夏三. After Aunt Xue leaves, Jingui and San start plotting for him to buy her certain objects. He becomes a regular visitor.

A letter arrives from Pan: the circuit court has rejected the prefectural court’s verdict on account of malpractice. He asks them to make an immediate approach to the new court. Aunt Xue is very upset; Ke leaves immediately with money. The exhaustion and strain puts Baochai in a fever, exacerbating Aunt Xue’s upset. A doctor is called and Baochai soon improves, but the whole household soon hears and sends various remedies in order that Baoyu not find out about the illness. Ke sends a letter back – the official needs a more tangible incentive, and so they appeal to Zheng via Lady Wang. Talking about Baochai, they agree the betrothal should take place in the winter, and the marriage around Grandmother Jia’s birthday. The next day, this is proposed to Lady Jia, who has just agreed when Baoyu enters. He asks after Baochai and receives a short reply, and leaves for school perplexed by the lull his presence caused. That evening he goes to see Daiyu, who has just returned from seeing Aunt Xue at Lady Jia’s. Baoyu hopes he has not offended the Xues given his earlier experience, and is sorry he hasn’t visited her, let alone known about the illness. Daiyu doesn’t think he should take her for granted – not to visit her after how close they’ve become is bound to have offended her. After a bout of petulant existentialism, Daiyu brings Baoyu to his senses with an enlightening truth, and they continue their discussion of Baochai’s feelings towards Baoyu in a mock Zen inquisition. After he makes an enigmatic confession, Ripple runs into the room with urgent summons for Baoyu from Zheng.

Chapter 90 - supercondensed

All are greatly concerned for Daiyu and speculate wildly, but she improves after deducing that she could be Baoyu’s betrothed. Lady Jia orders the marriage be kept secret from Daiyu. Xifeng sends new clothes to Xiuyan, while Ke broods about her. His suspicions are aroused by Moonbeam flirting with him.

Chapter 90

失绵衣贫女耐嗷嘈

送果品小郎惊叵测

Daiyu’s erratic state, sometimes lucid, sometimes almost unconscious, causes her maids to be interrogated. They keep quiet, but feel responsible. One day, Snowgoose is watching Daiyu, frightened by her state, while Nightingale is urgently summoning the senior women. Scribe arrives, sent by Tanchun to enquire after her. Taking advantage of Nightingale’s absence and Daiyu’s state, Snowgoose asks Scribe about Baoyu’s betrothal; she tells her she heard it from Crimson, and has since heard that it isn’t true and that Lady Jia has one of the Garden girls in mind for him. Beside herself, Snowgoose reveals to her the reason for Daiyu’s terrible state when Nightingale arrives, telling them off for gossiping. Daiyu stirs and feebly asks for water. She opens her eyes and sends Scribe away with her regards for Tanchun. She had been feigning sleep and had heard them talking; she reasons that Scribe could have been referring to her. She feels light and clear. Their ladyships arrive; Daiyu responds to them well, despite her weakness, and Xifeng asks Nightingale why she had exaggerated her condition. Lady Jia explains that she is young and naïve and right to have called them. As Daiyu’s condition improves, the maids pray and conclude that she and Baoyu are, after all, destined to be together. Her illness and recovery are the source of speculation for all in the household. Their ladyships discuss it; Lady Jia thinks the illnesses mean the Daiyu and Baoyu should be separated; Lady Wang thinks they should be married, but Lady Jia disagrees. She feels her constitution contributes to her being an unsuitable wife, and that marrying Baoyu is a priority. Understanding Daiyu’s feelings, they determine that the betrothal should be kept completely secret. Lady Jia tells Xifeng to pay more attention to the Garden before they part.

Inspecting the Garden one day, she finds with an old servant woman who has been accused of stealing a jacket by Xiuyan’s maid. After managing the dispute, she talks with Xiuyan; she is concerned that her bedclothes and clothes are too worn and thin. Later, she asks Patience to send her some clothes. Xiuyan, meanwhile, makes herself depressed reflecting on how rude the servants are to her and her alone. Felicity 丰儿 arrives with the clothes from Xifeng; Xiuyan refuses to accept them. Felicity returns with Patience, who persuades her to take them. After tea, they leave and refuse an invitation from one of Aunt Xue’s women for a chat.

The woman returns to the Xues, who weep to hear about Xiuyan’s humiliation. Ke arrives, despairing with Pan’s friends’ indifference. Aunt Xue’s anxiety over Pan and Jingui is still heightened. Reflecting on his betrothed Xiuyan’s state, particularly compared to Jingui, Ke broods and composes a poem which his self-consciousness prohibits him displaying. Moonbeam arrives with wine and a plate of sweetmeats from Jingui, ostensibly in discreet thanks for helping Pan. He accepts, but her flirting and suggestive behaviour arouses his suspicions. He concludes that either Jingui is a harlot or is trying to disgrace the family name. He hears laughter outside the window.

Chapter 89 - supercondensed

Zheng is called away for the winter; Baoyu is reminded of Skybright after wearing the cape she mended, and writes her an ode. Daiyu overhears maids talking about Baoyu’s engagement and is overwhelmed with grief, refusing to eat.

Chapter 89

人亡物在公子填词

蛇影杯弓颦卿绝粒

Lian has been called on a Ministry affair – Xifeng is reassured, and tells the maid he has not yet returned from business. Zhen receives the Ministry visitor; there is a serious flood in Henan. This requires Zheng’s great attention throughout the winter, which in turn allows Baoyu a less intensive period of study. One day at school, when it is particularly cold, Tealeaf brings him the Peacock Gold snowcape, which Skybright had mended; he is persuaded to wear it, with great reluctance. After school he pleads illness and is exempted the next day’s attendance; Dairu has grown more lenient with age. Back at home, he refuses to eat, and Aroma has to persuade him to remove the cape, which he carefully folds. Dejected, he has an early night, but doesn’t sleep till near dawn, waking half an hour later. The next day it is too cold to go out; he settles in with some soup and a brazier, and has his writing things laid out in Skybright’s old room. He invites Musk and Aroma to eat with him before moving to Skybright’s. He writes her a prayer and an ode, which he then burns. Feeling better, he goes out into the Garden. He goes in to see Daiyu, pausing to admire a pair of calligraphic scrolls by her doorway. She is copying out the sutra; while she works he also admires a newly hung painting of Chang E. Daiyu reminds him of the allusion in the title. When she finishes a section of the sutra, they talk, firstly about the Qin. Baoyu mentions hearing her chant her poem; she responds fairly brusquely, and after some silence he leaves to see Tanchun.

With him gone, Daiyu sits brooding on his recent curious behaviour. Snowgoose, meanwhile, has heard from Scribe that Baoyu is engaged, and tells Nightingale. Hearing Daiyu cough, they whisper about it; Nightingale is surprised that it has not been mentioned. Snowgoose says she is sworn to secrecy, but that it is Lady Jia’s idea so as not to distract Baoyu from his studies. After a misunderstanding, each believes that Daiyu has overheard them; she was eavesdropping, and had understood their meaning. Overwhelmed by grief, she resolves to die before feigning sleep – what is life worth without Baoyu? The two maids continue to discuss the news and whether Daiyu has heard. The next morning Daiyu wakes early and weeps through her toilet. She asks Nightingale to light her some incense; Nightingale protests that work will exhaust her, but she insists. Nightingale weeps too. Daiyu resolves to destroy her health deliberately; she loses her appetite and begins to waste away. Baoyu continues to visit, but they become estranged in the extremity of love. Doctors are called for her, but the cause is put down merely to her constitution. Soon she can barely eat, refuses to take her medicine and sees signs of the marriage everywhere; Baochai’s absence confirms her suspicions. Her life soon hangs by a thread.

Chapter 88 - supercondensed

Everyone copies out sutras for Lady Jia’s birthday. A fight between servants leads to tension amongst the staff. Yun tries to get jobs for his friends, then makes Qiaojie cry. Xifeng scoffs to hear that a maid has seen a ghost, but is later spooked.

Chapter 88

博庭欢宝玉赞孤儿

正家法贾珍鞭悍仆

Faithful is calling; as Grandmother Jia’s 81^st birthday is approaching, she wants numerous copies of the Diamond and Heart Sutras made, the Heart Sutras to be copied by family members. Xichun is happy to do so, and invites Faithful for a quick tea. She returns to Grandmother Jia’s, where a backgammon game is disturbed by Baoyu. He has brought crickets for Lady Jia; Huan gave them to him for helping him out in class. She also asks after Lan, and is moved to hear from Baoyu that he is doing well at school. Li Wan is also moved, and tells Baoyu to look after him; she weeps as Huan and Lan enter. Lady Jia praises Lan, and they all eat together.

The next day, Cousin Zhen goes over to Rongguo where the farm bailiff has arrived. Not having time to check the inventory entries, he trusts Zhou Rui; Bao Er appears and begs to be released. Sensing trouble, he dismisses them both, before hearing that Bao Er has fought with an adopted son of Zhou Rui, He San 何三. They are both apprehended, along with Zhou Rui, and brought before Zhen and Jia Lian, who order lashings. This incident becomes gossip fodder for the servants, reflecting badly on Zhen. With the family supposedly flourishing thanks to Jia Zheng’s appointment, Xifeng is anxious to avoid such incidents for fear of future mutiny, and tells Lian so. Meanwhile, Jia Yun arrives and, after trying to steal a moment to flirt with Crimson, he is shown in, whispering to Crimson as they walk together. Yun presents himself formally to Xifeng, offering a gift, but she sees through his act, knowing the state of his finances. He comes to the point, and asks for jobs for a couple of friends with Zheng. Xifeng has no influence there, and dismisses him and his presents. Qiaojie is brought in, and Yun makes her cry by talking to her. Unable to amend it, he leaves, rebuffed and embarrassed, and greatly resenting Xifeng. Leaving, he surreptitiously gives some of the presents to Crimson, which she takes after initially rejecting. They part looking forward to their next meeting, despite family politics. Xifeng, meanwhile, is ordering some food when firstly Patience reports curious going ons amongst the prioress’s women at Watermoon Priory (for which they need pickles), then Crimson informs her that Lian won’t be home, and Patience tells her about a maid who has seen a ghost. She dismisses such superstition, but that night calls in Patience and Autumn having felt her flesh creep. Despite trying to dismiss Autumn, they sleep alongside her till dawn. Spooked, Xifeng struggles to get up the next day. A maid arrives from Lady Wang calling for Jia Lian to attend to a visitor from the yamen; Xifeng catches her breath in alarm.

Chapter 87 - supercondensed

Daiyu is made homesick for the South, which soon turns to brooding about Baoyu. She writes a poem and sets it to music. Baoyu disturbs Xichun playing Go with Adamantina, and is confused by her Buddhist comments. Later, she has a distressing out of body experience while meditating.

Chapter 87

感秋声抚琴悲往事

坐禅寂走火入邪魔

Baochai’s servant delivers a letter to Daiyu in which Baochai anguishes about her current state. A poem is attached. Daiyu is greatly moved, and is lost in thought when Xiangyun, Tanchun and the Lis arrive. They discuss Baochai’s absence from the Garden and her current predicaments, when a scent wafts in; Daiyu thinks it smells like cassia, which provokes a discussion about Northerners and Southerners and people’s karmic ties to places. When her guests, Daiyu drifts into a daydream about what her life would have been like in the South if her parents had lived. Nightingale, understanding the cause of her absence, reassures her that she is neither unpopular nor imposing on people in her illnesses. Snowgoose brings her soup, cooked by Fivey, and makes her some Southern slaw. The maids eat while Daiyu’s attention is caught by the melancholy wind; she asks Snowgoose for her fur clothes, as it is getting colder. In the bundle of clothes she finds the silk, tear-stained handkerchiefs with poetry written on them which Baoyu had sent her, and the remains of the cord she made for his jade and torn fancase. Nightingale enters and sees her new tearful reverie and, realising sympathy will not work, offers a cheerful rebuke, which only releases more tears. She finally puts on some furs and, in the next room, picks up Baochai’s letter again, and in the spirit of empathy decides to write some stanzas and set them to the qin. Snowgoose brings her her brush, music and qin, and she sets to it.

On the way to school, Baoyu is told by a pageboy that he has the day off. Having confirmed it with Huan and Lan, he returns to Green Delights before setting out to see the girls. Daiyu is sleeping, but he finds Xichun playing Go with Adamantina. He listens in to their game at length, not wishing to disturb them, but finds himself bursting out in laughter at a victorious joke by Adamantina, startling them. He enters and tries to charm the embarrassed nun. He is relieved when she speaks to him at last, asking from where he had come, but is tonguetied with worry that the question is more Zen subtlety than straightforward. Xichun banters him, but Adamantina also takes this badly and decides to leave; Baoyu offers to accompany her back to the Hermitage. Passing Daiyu’s, they hear her playing the qin, and listen to her four stanzas. They are moved, until Adamantina recoils at her sharp intonation. A string snaps, and the nun stands up to walk away.  She tells Baoyu not to speak of this event, her cryptic words leaving him confused.

Back at the Hermitage, she completes her religious duties and eats. She starts to meditate, but Baoyu’s earlier words keep her from doing so successfully. Her body seems to leave the Hermitage and is hustled and kidnapped; she screams, and the sisters find her in an apparent coma shouting at her fantasy ruffians. The nuns consult tallies (a Yin spirit has been offended) and reassure and massage her until she sleeps. Several doctors inspect her, coming up with several diagnoses, but one attributes it to an evil spirit entering during meditation; he writes her a prescription. She recovers, but loses her powers of concentration, and becomes a subject of gossip around town, exacerbated given her youth and looks. When Xichun hears from a maid, she is overwhelmed by an illuminative desire to become a nun. She meditates and studies Go, when she hears a voice outside calling.

Chapter 86 - supercondensed

A messenger explains that Pan hit a waiter with a wine cup, killing him. After Zheng refuses to send a bribe, Pan is found guilty. An Imperial concubine dies and they discuss Yuanchun. Baoyu visits Daiyu, who teaches him about the qin.

Chapter 86

受私贿老官翻案牍

寄闲情淑女解琴书

The boy explains that, driven by the chaos at home, Pan had set off on a business trip to the South. He became enraged at a waiter who made eyes at two of his companions, one of whom was Jiang Yuhan, and took the bait when the waiter challenged him to hit him; the blow, from a wine cup, killed him. Aunt Xue sends some money to Xue Ke, but is unable to enlist Zheng's full support. Ke writes back that neither Pan's friends nor the victim's family are cooperating, but a good scrivener is helping him get to work on a witness; Ke also sends a copy of the appeal and the judge's rejection of it. The boy, however, also brings a confidential instruction to send a large bribe to the yamen, who know of the family's wealth. Zheng refuses to help, but an agreement is reached with Lian and the case is reopened. The deceased's mother, a poor country woman, gives her appeal. The proprietor of the bar, Pan's companion, Pan, the coroner and the deceased's uncle then give testify in turn that it had been an accident. The judge is disbelieving at first as the testimonies are so different from the inquest and previous trial, and portions out abuse to Pan and his companion, but finally adjourns the Court, finding Pan guilty only of manslaughter with a fine to pay.

With the news that an Imperial Concubine has died, Ke returns home to give Aunt Xue a full account and ask for a bit more money for the victim's family. The concubine is not Yuanchun, as he had heard, but nevertheless the family are involved in official matters and Aunt Xue wants to look after the girls in thanks to the Jias. Lady Jia, it seems, had been having premonitions that Yuanchun was dying and was warning her that the family's prosperity was soon all to be spent. Baochai comments that the Jias are oversensitive about Yuanchun, and tells a story she heard from a maid about Yuanchun's fortune reading, which predicted her death in a different month and year. Ke wants the fortune teller to read Pan, but he was provincial and would be impossible to find. Aunt Xue is welcomed back to the mansion by the girls, and laughs off Baochai's inability to join her; Li Wan explains that things are too busy for her. The rest of the family arrive back and ask after Pan's affair. Baoyu is set off brooding by the mention of Jiang Yuhan and Baochai's absence; that evening he asks Aroma for the cummerbund Jiang had given him, but receives instead a telling off about hanging round such actor riffraff and not conforming. The mention of the word sweetheart sends him running off to Daiyu's. She is reading music, which Baoyu cannot interpret, having recently become fascinated by the qin and its technical, spiritual and musical disciplines. She teaches some of the script to Baoyu, who proposes that they learn together. She expounds at length on the art of the qin, the complexity of which both fascinates Baoyu and puts him off learning, until Nightingale arrives and suggests that, although she is pleased to see her, Baoyu should let her rest. Daiyu protests that talking about music is restful, but he takes his leave. Before going, Ripple arrives with a pot of orchids for each of them as a present from Lady Jia; Daiyu stares at them, lost in thought, while Baoyu is still stimulated by the musical talk. When alone, her sombre reflections bring tears to her eyes. One of Baochai's serving women enters.

Chapter 85 - supercondensed

Baoyu is invited to see the Prince of Beijing; he reports his jade glowing. Zheng is promoted, and Baoyu finds out about his engagement. The Xues leave a celebratory gathering after hearing that Pan has been arrested for murder.

Chapter 85

贾存周报升郎中任

薛文起复惹放流刑

Huan rants and raves about Xifeng; after slipping in her barbed message to Aunt Zhao, the rift between the two sides of the family is permanently deepened. Meanwhile, Baoyu is delighted to be brought along on a visit to give birthday felicitations to the Price of Beijing. After being shown in by a eunuch, the Prince immediately asks after Baoyu’s stone, and asks him to stay after the others leave post-formalities. He gives his protégé tea and food, a great honour, and tells him that Governor Wu 吴大人 has given Zheng the highest possible recommendation. He also gives him a replica of the jade that he has had made. Back at the house, they report back to Grandmother Jia and Baoyu tells Zheng of Governor Wu’s recommendation; Zheng later learns that Governor Wu had visited him while he was out, and that a Permanent Secretary position has become available. Baoyu, meanwhile, discusses the new jade with Grandmother Jia, and reports that he has seen his own jade give off a mysterious glow. Lady Wang and Lady Xing take this as an auspicious portent. After he leaves, the ladies discuss his matrimonial prospects further – Aunt Xue is happy with the plan but Pan, as the senior male Xue, also needs to be consulted.

Baoyu discusses their mysterious tone with Aroma before retiring for the night; Aroma feigns ignorance, but is certain of its meaning and the next morning she goes to see Nightingale for the latest gossip. Amid Daiyu’s toilet, she is unable to broach the subject, and heads back; waiting for her is a pageboy representing Jia Yun (who wants to see Aroma alone), who she dismisses. When Baoyu returns in the evening, she tells him that Yun has left a note for him, and that she doesn’t trust the shifty Yun at all. Baoyu cheerily rips up and burns the note after reading it, without divulging the contents. He then doesn’t eat his supper, and starts crying, causing Musk and Aroma some alarm. He sits up, laughs, and goes to sleep. The next day Baoyu bumps into Yun on his way to school; Yun points out the throngs of crowds outside the gate – Zheng’s promotion has been made official. Baoyu spits angrily at the obsequious Yun (who makes reference to Baoyu’s engagement) before heading to school, from which he is given a day’s celebratory grace. He joins a general gathering at Lady Jia’s, and takes the opportunity to catch up with Daiyu, for which they are mocked by Xifeng. A relative has sent a new troupe of players for them, and as it is soon Daiyu’s birthday, they plan to celebrate that and the promotion together. A stream of visitors cause the house to bustle for the few days before the party. At the party, Daiyu sits at the head of the table; she notices Baochai’s absence. They enjoy several pieces before a panicked servants extracts Xue Ke, followed by Aunt Xue and Baoqin. At Jingui’s apartment, they hear wailing and are met by a tearful Baochai; Pan is in prison accused of murder. Baochai insists they need a good scrivener; Aunt Xue wants to pay the victim’s family off, but Baochai wins out and Ke is despatched to find more information. With a dramatic wail, Jingui launches an attack on Caltrop, causing Aunt Xue to faint. Given the emergency, Baochai breaks protocol (after the betrothal visit, she is to spurn contact with Baoyu’s family) and sends an update to Lady Wang. A letter from Ke arrives a few days later; Pan is charged with manslaughter. They need more money and a change of plea; the delivery boy starts to give them a full account.

Chapter 84 - supercondensed

Lady Jia and Zheng discuss finding a bride for Baoyu. Zheng tests him on his studies. The Xues arrive and tell of the horror of living with Jingui; Qiaojie is ill. Lady Jia vetoes a proposed match for Baoyu, and Xifeng suggests Baochai. Huan knocks Qiaojie’s medicine over, inciting Xifeng’s wrath.

Chapter 84

试文字宝玉始提亲

探惊风贾环重结怨

Baochai recognises Aunt Xue’s illness as being brought on by the scene with Jingui; medicine, massage and reassurance causes it to subside, and she agrees to go away.

Yuanchun has recovered; she sends the family some gifts in thanks. Grandmother Jia is touched that she remembered Baoyu; Zheng is snide about his prospects. She reminds him that they should choose him a suitable bride; her only concern is that she is pretty and sweet natured. Zheng is unwilling to start until Baoyu shows an improvement in attitude, which angers her. Zheng jokes, uncomfortably; in response Lady Jia reminds the assembled that he was much worse than Baoyu as a youth.

Later, with Lady Wang, Zheng decides to summon Baoyu. He quizzes him on his studies, and asks him to fetch a school book. He runs through his translations and interpretations with a critical eye. He has some praise for Baoyu’s octopartites, and asks him to compose something on the spot. While he is doing so, a pageboy runs past saying that Aunt Xue has arrived; Baoyu is excited to think that Baochai may also have arrived, and speeds up his composition. Dismissed, he runs to Grandmother Jia’s (who is proud to hear how his meeting with Zheng went), but is disappointed to find that Baochai isn’t with Aunt Xue. Over dinner, Lady Jia asks Aunt Xue about Caltrop’s change of name; Aunt Xue tells her of the horror of living with Jingui and her provocations of Baochai. Grandmother Jia tells her to stop worrying; they’re a new couple and will settle down. Baoyu is rapt by Aunt Xue’s praise for Baochai, and chirps in to defend Pan’s friends. Xifeng is called away suddenly; Qiaojie is ill. Aunt Xue also soon takes her leave. Zheng, meanwhile, is playing Go with friends, who praise Baoyu’s progress. Zheng still considers him uncultured, but is pleased by their opinion. One of them proposes an acquaintance’s daughter, and relation of Lady Xing, as a match for Baoyu. Later, he discusses the proposal with Lady Wang, and asks after Qiaojie.

The next day, Lady Wang asks Lady Xing about the family of the proposed match; she has had no contact with them for years, but has also heard they are looking for a husband for the daughter. Grandmother Jia vetoes the match, as Baoyu would also be taking on the role of head of her family. They go to visit Xifeng; Qiaojie has had convulsions. They tell Xifeng about the match, Lady Xing also admitting the family are very mean. Xifeng laughs and reminds them of Baoyu’s jade and Baochai’s locket – they are surely a predestined pair! The doctor arrives to see Qiaojie and diagnoses fever; they send for the prescribed ingredients. The expectorant works and the potion just brewed when Huan arrives, making Xifeng tense. She tells him to leave them alone, but he clumsily knocks the potion into the fire, igniting her anger. She sends a spiteful message to Aunt Zhao with a maid, for whom Patience explains the context. She delivers the message, and an agitated Aunt Zhao sends for Huan and abuses him.

Chapter 83 - supercondensed

All are concerned for Daiyu and a doctor is called. Baoyu has suffered similar pain in the night. Xifeng has concerns about the household finances and reputation. Four women are invited to visit Yuanchun, and have an emotional reunion. Aunt Xue is made ill by another confrontation with Jingui.

Chapter 83

省宫闱贾元妃染恙

闹闺阃薛宝钗吞声

Outside is an old woman shouting abuse at a girl; such is Daiyu’s insecurity that she assumes it is directed at her, and she sobs herself unconscious. After she comes round, Tanchun shouts at the old woman outside. She then suggests reviving the poetry club; Daiyu is more concerned that the acuity of her illness be known to Grandmother Jia.

Snowgoose and Nightingale tend to Daiyu; Aroma arrives. She is shocked by her state, not least as last night Baoyu started screaming in pain in the middle of the night. Daiyu overhears and questions her; she asks that Baoyu not be told about her illness. Meanwhile, Tanchun and Xiangyun tell Grandmother Jia about Daiyu’s illness; she orders that Baoyu’s doctor, arriving tomorrow, also see her. His diagnosis of an advanced morbid obstruction accords with her symptoms. He writes a prescription, and explains its ingredients to Jia Lian. He is discussing it with Xifeng when Zhou Rui’s wife arrives. When Lian leaves, she expresses her concern for Daiyu and asks for more money for the maids’ incidental expenses. She consents, but asks that it is kept quiet, and discusses the household’s tight financial straits and the gossip surrounding her management. Zhou Rui’s wife tells of how extravagantly rich the townsfolk think they are (although she knows that they know the truth really). Xifeng reiterates her intense concern about their finances and reputation.

Jia Lian, meanwhile, hears from a page boy that a senior consultant has been summoned to the Palace. He and other household gentlemen are investigating the rumour when eunuchs arrive, inviting four women to the Palace to see Yuanchun, who has been lately indisposed. The next morning, the party of the whole Jia clan sets off with some pomp. The men halt at the Inner Gate of the Forbidden City; the four ladies continue in to Yuanchun’s bedchamber. They have a formal but emotional catch-up, repeated over the next few days.

In the Xue household, meanwhile, Jingui has found her stratagem in giving the now self-assured Moonbeam to Pan has misfired. One day, she taunts her, which soon develops into another fight. Hearing the racket, Aunt Xue sets off to confront them with Baochai reluctantly in tow. When Jingui turns on Aunt Xue, Baochai tries to reason with her, attracting her taunts. Baochai manages to contain her anger; Jingui only erupts further, inflaming Aunt Xue. She and Baochai leave, and encounter one of Lady Jia’s personal maids on the way; she has been waiting there a while, but reassures them that all families have their little troubles. Soon after, Aunt Xue cries out in pain, clutching her chest.

Chapter 82 - supercondensed

Baoyu promises to study hard, and is criticised at school. Now alone, Aroma gossips with Daiyu. Daiyu later has a vivid nightmare about Baoyu, which distresses her; she nearly faints coughing up blood. 

Chapter 82

老学究讲义警顽心

病潇湘痴魂惊恶梦

After school, Baoyu checks in with Zheng and Grandmother Jia before heading to Daiyu’s. He has some tea and complains to her at length; to his surprise she defends octopartite essays. He returns to Green Delights to find Aroma is shaken by a notice that they will be dismissed for fooling around any more with Baoyu; he promises to work hard, and starts immediately, struggling at the classics till late. He cannot sleep, and is feeling ill; the next morning he is late for school. Dairu makes him recite passages from the classics, giving lengthy and pedantic criticism.

With Baoyu at school, Aroma is left with her thoughts, pondering Baoyu’s likely marriage to Daiyu; she goes to visit her for a gossip, the first time she has done so with Daiyu. An old woman comes blundering in with lychees from Baochai, and makes everyone awkward by talking about Daiyu and Baoyu.

That night, Daiyu is feeling weary and depressed, when Jia Yucun, Xifeng and others arrive saying that she is to leave and be married to a relation of a new stepmother. Panicked, and in a cold sweat, she finds herself pleading Grandmother Jia to let her stay. Grannie Jia orders the emotional girl out. In her suicidal despair, she conceives of Baoyu as her only hope, but he just congratulates her. Suddenly, however, it is clear to her – she was brought to the house to be engaged to him, and he tells her to stay if she wants. To prove himself, he takes a knife and cuts into his chest to show her his heart. She cries out, trying to staunch the blood flow; he cannot find his heart any more, and so dies. She screams, and hears Nightingale calling to her that she has been having a nightmare. Her pillow is sodden; she considers the dream, knowing her parents are dead and she is not really engaged to Baoyu. Thinking about the dream and Baoyu dying distresses her further; Nightingale is distressed at her ill condition, particularly when she notices blood in her spittoon. Daiyu works out something is wrong from her reaction. Nightingale tells her that she’s not well, and tries to reassure her by talking about the household members; given her dream, this only upsets her more. She nearly faints, before coughing up more blood. Nightingale sends Snowgoose to fetch someone; as she leaves, she bumps into two maids who have arrived to fetch Daiyu. Xichun, Tanchun and Xiangyun are elsewhere discussing Xichun’s painting of the garden, and the two maids explain Daiyu’s illness to them. Tanchun and Xiangyun set off to see her; their entrance again reminds her of her dream and sets her brooding. Xiangyun exclaims her shock at the spittoon; Tanchun covers up for her to stop Daiyu worrying. They are about to leave when they hear a loud voice outside.

Chapter 81 - supercondensed

Baoyu suggests moving Yingchun back in; Lady Wang, although upset, laughs. Depressed, he joins four girls fishing, but cannot catch anything. Baoyu’s godmother has been arrested for witchcraft; Baoyu is re-enrolled at school.

Chapter 81

占旺相四美钓游鱼

奉严词两番入家塾

Unlike Lady Xing, Lady Wang is upset about Yingchun’s departure. Baoyu visits her; he has been sleepless with worry for Yingchun. He suggests getting Grandmother Jia to move her back in. Lady Wang laughs at his naïveté: they will grow together in time. Baoyu goes to Daiyu and explains his current existential crisis and disappointment in Lady Wang’s response. She does not respond, but is moved; he is called away. Later, he tries to read but cannot; he goes for a walk, but is depressed by the dereliction he sees. He hears four girls, including Tanchun and Xiuyan, fishing in the lake and scares them by throwing a stone. They decide to play a game – all must catch a fish to guarantee an auspicious year. The girls all catch a fish each quickly before Baoyu tries. He has no luck for some time, blaming his impatience and incompatibility; when he does get a bite, the rod breaks. He is suddenly summoned to Lady Jia by Musk with some urgency; she mentions a ‘scandalous revelation’.

At Lady Jia’s, he is asked what his previous illness – as cured by the monk and Daoist – felt like. He describes a vision of green, fanged devils and a shaft of light. Xifeng arrives, and is asked the same, giving a similar answer. Lady Wang explains that Baoyu’s godmother, Mother Ma, has been arrested as a witch, and Lady Jia is certain that it is related to the illnesses. Xifeng agrees, and recalls her collecting money from Aunt Zhao – it must have been a grudge as Grandmother Jia prefers Baoyu to Huan. They agree it will be hard to prove, but are content to agree between themselves. Lady Wang is called by Zheng; he asks after Yingchun, she tells him about Baoyu’s plan. Tangentially, Zheng suggests that Baoyu, currently very idle, should rejoin the family school. Baoyu is summoned to him the next day, where he receives a dressing down for his idleness and is sent off to rejoin the school the next day. Aroma is pleased; Baoyu is horrified, and asks Grandmother Jia to intervene. She encourages him to go. The next day, he is accompanied to school by Zheng and Tealeaf. Zheng hands him over to Jia Dairu’s care. When Zheng has left, Dairu sets out the curriculum to Baoyu; he looks round at the class, whose composition has changed much since he was last at school. He thinks of Qin Zhong as the day’s lessons start.

Chapters 41-80

Grannie Liu is horrified after getting drunk and passing out at Baoyu’s. She leaves, after naming Xifeng’s baby girl Qiaojie.

Xichun is given leave from the poetry club to complete a painting, and Baoyu misses a club meeting and the start of Xifeng’s birthday party to visit a nearby temple with his page. At her party, Xifeng finds her husband Lian in flagrante with a servant’s wife, leading to a violent domestic. Lian apologises and negotiates a settlement after the servant’s wife kills herself. Lady Xing tries to get Lady Jia’s maid Faithful as a concubine for her husband; she is unwilling and swears devotion to Lady Jia.

Xue Pan is led on, beaten and humiliated by an actor; he leaves to go travelling. His chamber-wife Caltrop is taught poetry by Daiyu, showing great enthusiasm and eventually writing some impressive poetry. Some more cousins, including Baoqin arrive, to great excitement. Lady Jia adopts Baoqin, and she impresses with her New Year riddles and poetry in a snow themed competition.

Maid Skybright falls ill. Baoyu gives her some snuff, and she exhausts herself darning one of Baoyu’s cloaks. Despite a poor financial year, the household holds extravagant New Year celebrations, with a succession of parties and feasts, which lead to Xifeng having a miscarriage. Consequently, Tanchun and Li Wan take a greater role in running the household; Tanchun builds a strong reputation after having to deal with unrest involving her own mother. She decides to appoint garden wardens.

Baoyu is distressed to hear of his double, and becomes deranged after arguing about Daiyu. During a period of official mourning, the household’s resident actresses are disbanded but stay on as maids, causing a series of fights and arguments with the older maids and garden wardens. When the cook is accused of stealing, Baoyu tries to take the blame. Xiangyun passes out amid peony petals after Baoyu’s drunken birthday party, and one of the former actresses is embarrassed to have slept beside him. The death of a senior household member interrupts a further party.

Lian arranges a secret second wedding to Erjie, paying off her previous betrothed. Her sister, Sanjie, milks the enamoured Cousin Zhen for all he’s worth. Sanjie  kills herself dramatically after her betrothed visits and reveals a prior betrothal. While Lian is away, Xifeng finds out about Erjie and, feigning friendship, invites her to live in the household. Xifeng arrangements an indictment against Lian, and plays Erjie off against his new concubine, driving Erjie to kill herself.

The poetry club reconvenes; concerned about finances, Xifeng tries to call in some loans. A maid finds an erotic purse and, using an uncovered gambling ring as a pretext, Xifeng and Lady Wang carry out raids, leading to dismissals of some maids, including Skybright. Skybright soon dies; Baoyu performs a small ceremony for her.

Baochai has moved out to look after her mother, and Lady Jia regrets how depleted the household is at the Mid-Autumn Festival party, which breaks up after becoming too melancholy. Xiangyun and Daiyu miss the party, composing poetry together, and joined by nun Adamantina. Cousin Yingchun is married off to a libertine, and Pan marries Xia Jingui who manipulates him, causing violent arguments.

Chapter 80 - supercondensed

Jingui manipulates Pan, Caltrop and her maid Moonbeam until he beats Caltrop. The Xues are disgusted; ill Caltrop moves in with Baochai while the violent arguments continue. Baoyu visits an amusing Daoist, and Yingchun returns with tearful accounts of her libertine husband.

Chapter 80

美香菱屈受贪夫棒

王道士胡诌妒妇方

Jingui reacts to Caltrop’s defence of Baochai with scorn. They discuss the merits of various floral names, and in the discussion Caltrop refers to cassias, incurring Jingui’s wrath. She apologises, but Jingui appears magnanimous. She proposes changing Caltrop’s name to ‘Lily’, which she agrees to, and which Baochai doesn’t mind. Pan, meanwhile, has taken a fancy to Jingui’s maid Moonbeam 宝蟾. Jingui allows this, as he will cool about Caltrop and she can get rid of her. After catching him flirting, she allows him Moonbeam – he is very grateful indeed. However, she sets up Caltrop – who, puzzled by Jingui, is easily malleable - to burst in on Pan and Moonbeam in flagrante. Caltrop is embarrassed, Pan unconcerned, but Moonbeam is upset and calls out that Pan is trying to rape her. Pan is furious with Caltrop, who runs away. That night, when he is drunk, he kicks Caltrop as his bath is too hot. Jingui continues to play with the others; she constantly calls on Caltrop to wait on her, and while Pan is busy with Moonbeam, gradually lays a trap for her. She feigns illness, and plants a voodoo-style doll under her pillow. An enraged Pan rushes to find Caltrop and beats her. While Aunt Xue tries to calm him, Jingui manipulates and inflames him. Aunt Xue is disgusted by this. She lambasts Pan and suggests that they sell Caltrop; he is silent, but Jingui shouts back at her, provoking further argument with Pan, who is besides himself. Baochai is trying to persuade Aunt Xue not to sell Caltrop, which would bring ridicule on the family, but Aunt Xue worries that it will provoke Jingui further. She relents, but Caltrop is not allowed into the front part of the house, spending all her time with Baochai. As well as apparently being barren, the emotional and physical trauma soon makes her very ill; she does not respond to medicine. Pan, Moonbeam and Jingui continue to argue violently, often wielding weapons and threatening suicide. Pan is helpless, but Baochai and Aunt Xue do not dare intervene.

When Baoyu is better, he visits Jingui, who seems harmless. He hears that Yingchun is constantly in tears thanks to Sun Shaozu. He travels to a Temple to make offerings, having fully recovered. He goes sightseeing round the Temple precincts, which soon tires him out, and receives the hospitality of Father Wang 王道士, known in the household as One Plaster Wang for his panaceas. He amuses Baoyu and his retinue, telling jokes and talking about his plasters. He offends Tealeaf by guessing that Baoyu is looking for medicinal help in the bedroom. He does admit, though, that they cannot cure a woman of jealousy, but suggests an infusion which might do so in the long term, by which he means that she will eventually die and no longer be jealous, which amuses Baoyu and Tealeaf. He goes on to admit that even his plasters are just tomfoolery. Baoyu goes to make the sacrifice, and leaves. Yingchun is back visiting the house, giving a tearful account of her matrimonial troubles. Shaozu is a womanising, gambling, drinking libertine. Lady Wang is distressed but tries to comfort her. She asks to stay in her old Garden apartment, and Baoyu is sworn to secrecy about the affair – Lady Jia must not know. After a few days in the Garden and a few days with Lady Xing (who does not enquire once about the state of her marriage), she returns unwillingly to her new home.

Chapter 79 - supercondensed

Daiyu praises his elegy. Yingchun is betrothed; few are enthusiastic about the match. Caltrop is excited about Pan’s wedding to Xia Jingui, but cumulative grief makes Baoyu ill; he laid up for a month. Jingui exploits and dominates Pan.

Chapter 79

薛文起悔娶河东吼

贾迎春误嫁中山狼

Daiyu has appeared; Baoyu blushes as she praises his elegy. They discuss it further, and decide on some alterations. Talk of death gives Daiyu premonitory dread. She warns Baoyu that he is to be expected at Lady Xing’s the next day – Yingchun’s betrothal has been decided. They part, Daiyu coughing.

Jia She is marrying Yingchun into a Datong army family, to their son Sun Shaozu 孙绍祖. He is very eligible, but Grandmother Jia doesn’t share She’s enthusiasm and Zheng positively hates the family, thinking that they lack breeding. Baoyu is appalled to find that the marriage is to be quick, and Yingchun is to move out of the Garden immediately. He walks in a Yingchun’s old part of the Garden, which seems neglected, composing a poem. He sees Caltrop; Pan is back, so she is no longer at liberty. He is to get married, to the daughter of the Xias, a rich, famous family about to die out, who are old friends of the Xues. Caltrop is excited, but Baoyu worried for her standing. She leaves, and he feels even more desolate. He doesn’t sleep well that night, and the cumulative effect of illness and weeks of shocks and grief lays him up for a month. He is then ordered to take a hundred days of convalescence, during which he gets very bored and comes up with wild and inventive ways of amusing himself and the maids. He hears about Yingchun and Pan’s wedding with some despondency.

Caltrop, meanwhile, decides to ignore Baoyu and devote herself to planning the wedding. She has built great expectations for the new wife Xia Jingui 夏金桂, who she believes will be gracious, educated, beautiful and a good companion. Jingui – who refuses to allow maids to use the syllables ‘jin’ or ‘gui’, which rules out ‘cassia’, which is her name’s meaning – soon works out what sort of man Pan is, and exploits her advantage. After a drunken argument, Jingui refuses to eat or drink and falls ill. He is admonished by Aunt Xue and humbles himself before Jingui, who thereafter presses her advantage further, planning to dominate Pan, Aunt Xue and eventually Baochai completely. Baochai observes this and aims to keep her in check; Jingui is ready for a fight, and despite Caltrop’s warmness, Jingui (who has taken against Caltrop) questions Baochai’s intelligence in giving her the name ‘Caltrop’. Caltrop defends Baochai.

Chapter 78 - supercondensed

Baoyu finds Skybright has been cremated, and reflects on the number of people lost. He impresses Zheng’s literary friends with a poem. Later, he writes an elegy and performs a small ceremony for Skybright by hibiscus bushes

Chapter 78

老学士闲征姽婳词

痴公子杜撰芙蓉诔

Lady Wang tells Grandmother Jia about the actresses and having sent Skybright away for being consumptive; Lady Jia regrets this. They discuss the virtues of Skybright and Aroma as concubines for Baoyu, and Baoyu’s worrying preference for female company. Later, Lady Wang accompanies Xifeng back; she hasn’t taken the ginseng, but is much better. They wonder why Baochai left without saying anything, and whether Baoyu has offended her. They summon Baochai; she asks to move out entirely, but they invite her back instead. She explains about her mother’s illness, and thinks that they would be pleased to reduce the number of inhabitants in the Garden. Baoyu enters; he is back from the party with a number of presents from the literary gentlemen. He then goes with Huan and Lan to tell Grandmother Jia about the party too. He is impatient to find out about Skybright; walking back, he loses Ripple and Musk and questions two junior maids. One tells him that Aroma had sent Mamma Song, who saw that she was dying. The other maid realises what he wants to hear and improvises a tale about going to see Skybright; she says that she called out for Baoyu, and that she was to become a flower spirit in charge of hibiscus. Baoyu is delighted with this, and runs to Skybright’s cousin’s house. It is locked; as a consumptive, she has already been taken for cremation. Walking back, he goes to see Daiyu and Baochai, neither of whom are in, and he reflects on the number of people the Garden has lost. He is summoned by his father, who is regaling the literary gentlemen with a historical tale about a romantic Prince who made a certain beautiful Miss Lin a colonel. She then dies avenging his death in battle. They agree that she is an admirable figure and poetic subject. A summary is written, and, mimicking a recent Court event, Zheng asks the three boys to write a poem each based on it. Lan and Huan finish quickly and receive some praise, but not from Zheng. Baoyu has chosen to compose in a very different style; the literary gentlemen give whoops of admiration as he recites, while Zheng is more critical, not least as he keeps changing his mind. His final poem is long, but admired by all (except Zheng), and they are sent away.

Baoyu, still grieving, gazes at hibiscus bushes by the lake, and decides to prepare a small ceremony for Skybright. After composing and writing out a lengthy elegy to the spirit of the hibiscus, he then reads it out by the hibiscus bushes, followed by an invocation. He makes some offerings of tea and flowers. He lingers, but turning to leave, his little maid thinks she sees Skybright’s ghost.

Chapter 77 - supercondensed

Chess is escorted out after emotional protestations, to Baoyu’s shock.  Skybright and two of his maids are also dismissed; fearing for Skybright, Baoyu sneaks out to visit her. Later, he has a vision of her declaring her life over. Zheng publicly praises Baoyu; three dismissed actresses join the convent.

Chapter 77

俏丫鬟抱屈夭风流

美优伶斩情归水月

Lady Wang feels that Xifeng looks much better and looks for some of her best ginseng for her medicine – no-one seems to have any, and the doctor rejects Lady Jia’s ginseng for being too old, so she has to buy more. Baochai suggests bypassing swindling traders and asking Pan. Meanwhile, Lady Wang is informed about the result of the raids; Zhou Rui’s wife tells her about the argument between Wang Shanbao’s wife and Lady Xing and of the dilemma of telling Lady Xing about Chess. She agrees to let Zhou Rui’s wife tackle it head on. She goes to Yingchun who gives tearful approval to letting Chess go, despite her emotional protestations. Yingchun recognises that they are trying to reduce the number of maids. Yingchun gives her a parting gift of a silk purse, but Zhou Rui’s wife ignores Chess’s plea to be given time to say goodbye to the others. While being escorted out, she bumps into Baoyu, who is shocked to see her leaving, particularly given Skybright’s illness. Back at Green Delights, he finds his mother and a group of women sitting round Skybright, who is also to leave imminently. Lady Wang inspects his maids, also dispensing with Number Four and Parfumée, before ordering that none of the former actresses are to stay and going through Baoyu’s belongings. His mother’s rage makes Baoyu feel wretched – her knowledge of his private affairs is uncanny. He silently accompanies her out before she orders him back to study. He discusses the developments with a tearful Aroma. Baoyu believes Skybright will die if sent back, having seen a portent in a tree; Aroma is doubtful, and he gives historical examples of the interconnectedness of plants and humans’ fates. They agree to smuggle Skybright some cash and things to take. That night he sneaks out to see Skybright.

She is lodging with her timorous cousin, also employed by the household, and his errant wife, who are unkind to her. They are with her when he arrives. He greets her tearfully; he is shocked by the poor quality of the tea. She is certain she will die soon; she bites off the nails she has carefully grown and gives them to him. They swap shirts. Her cousin’s wife enters having eavesdrops on their conversation. She pulls him into another room and tries to seduce him; he manages to pull away when a voice calls for Skybright. Cook Liu and Fivey have brought things for her; having tried to hide from them, Baoyu rushes out after them when they leave. He runs until he reaches the Garden; luckily, no-one seems to have noticed his absence. He discusses the new living arrangements with Aroma before sleeping; during the night, he calls out for Skybright. They laugh about it. Later, he sees Skybright enter and declare her life is over; he calls her name. When Aroma goes to him, he insists that she is dead. The next morning, Baoyu is invited to join Zheng at a chrysanthemum viewing, as he is impressed with one of Baoyu’s poems. Zheng praises Baoyu in front of Jia Huan and Jia Lan, to Lady Wang’s delight. She is cornered by Parfumée’s mother, who complains that Parfumée, Nénuphar and Étamine have been refusing to eat and saying they want to kill themselves unless they can join a convent. Thinking it youthful waywardness, Lady Wang tells her to beat them, but Euergesia, who has overheard this, suggests encouraging it. Thinking it sensible, and preoccupied with other matters, Lady Wang asks Euergesia to take them on. She agrees; the girls are brought in. They kowtow to Euergesia and set off for Watermoon Priory.

Chapter 76 - supercondensed

Lady Jia regrets how depleted the gathering seems. All present enjoy flute music, but the party breaks up when it becomes too melancholy. Meanwhile, Xiangyun and Daiyu are by the lake composing poetry. Adamantina emerges, applauding their poem, and invites them to the hermitage for tea; she adds more couplets.

Chapter 76

凸碧堂品笛感凄清

凹晶馆联诗悲寂寞

Noting Baochai and Baoqin’s absence as the party regroups, Grandmother Jia again comments on how depleted the family seems. She is still game and drinking, and the other women, who are exhausted, are obliged to carry on at her pace. Looking at the large, clear moon, she calls for the flautist to play for them from far away. Hearing that Jia She has twisted his ankle, she tells Lady Xing to look after him; she also tells Youshi to leave, but she doesn’t want to. The rest of the party are admiring cassia when the beautiful flute music starts, startling them to silence and leading to great praise when it finishes. Grandmother Jia keeps drinking – against Faithful’s wishes, she wants to stay up till dawn – when the flute starts up again. This time it is so ghostly and melancholy that people try to escape it with forced talk; Youshi begins to tell Lady Jia a joke when she drops off. After denying her tiredness, she sees that the cousins (except Tanchun) have given in and gone to bed, so she calls an end to the party and returns to her room. One of the ladies notices a cup is missing; talking with Kingfisher, they establish that Xiangyun must have taken it to bed.

Xiangyun is actually comforting Daiyu, who, as an orphan, had found the family occasion painful. After lamenting that the poetry club wasn’t able to meet for the festival, she suggests composing linked verses together. They go to Concave Pavilion by the lake for a more inspirational environment. They discuss the poeticism of the words ‘convex’ and ‘concave’. The two night watchwomen at the Pavilion are not awake; Xiangyun and Daiyu sit and watch the lake and talk about poetry. When they hear the flute playing, they decide on a form and a rhyme and start their linked verses, joking, admiring and offering criticism on them as they go. Daiyu sees a dark shadow in the lake. Throwing a pebble into it, a stork flies out of the lake and into one of Xiangyun’s couplets. In awe of Xiangyun’s efforts, Daiyu ends the poem to Xiangyun’s reciprocated admiration. A stranger steps out and applauds their efforts – it is Adamantina, who has been tempted out to observe the moon by the flute playing. She invites them back to her Hermitage where they drink tea when their maids Nightingale and Kingfisher arrive, looking for them. Before leaving, Daiyu is impressed by Adamantina’s enthusiasm for poetry and asks for some criticism. She declares that she would like to bring their poem back to a Buddhist ‘proper aspect’ and adds thirteen more couplets to Daiyu and Xiangyun’s admiration. It is nearly dawn, and they leave the Hermitage for Daiyu’s where they go to bed. However, they are now beyond tiredness and neither can sleep.