Chapter 100

破好事香菱结深恨

悲远嫁宝玉感离情

Li Shi rushes in to see Zheng after his meeting with the Viceroy; it transpires that the meeting was because Viceroy is related to Tanchun’s suitor, and Li Shi rejoices. Zheng sends a servant home to enquire after the Xue Pan affair (he is not implicated) and to ask Tanchun to join him.

Aunt Xue’s bribes are in vain; she is distraught to hear that Pan is to be executed by strangulation. Baochai tries to comfort her despite her own distress; fate was against them. Aunt Xue explains that the family businesses have been ruined, but Baochai encourages her not to worry. Jingui enters fleetingly, hysterical, and scaring Baoqin.

Jingui continues trying to seduce Ke; his lack of interest encourages her further and his favour for Caltrop makes her jealous. Moonbeam and Jingui find him drunk one evening, having had their wine spurned by him; just as Jingui escalates her seduction, Caltrop arrives and Ke escapes; Jingui’s resentment of her now festers.

Lady Wang and Grandmother Jia discuss Tanchun’s suitor, who they haven’t met. Lady Jia is concerned about the distances involved, but they haven’t seen Yingchun, who married locally and is suffering greatly, either. They trust Zheng’s judgement and set about the arrangements, which saddens Baochai, although Aunt Zhao, who resents Tanchun’s favourable treatment, is delighted. She goes to ‘congratulate’ Tanchun and thoroughly depresses her; Tanchun goes to see Baoyu. He asks her about the music she heard when Daiyu died. Thinking of Daiyu’s ethereal beauty, he asks for Nightingale after Tanchun leaves; she reluctantly complies. His emotions vary wildly, thinking of Daiyu’s fate and Tanchun’s forthcoming wedding. He relapses, distressed that all his cousins are leaving him. Baochai is firm with him before Aroma can humour him. Grandmother Jia instructs Aroma to comfort him after his relapse; she also orders Xifeng to assemble Tanchun’s effects for her journey.