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.