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.