Chapter 113 - supercondensed

Aunt Zhao dies, and gossip predicts a speedy death for Xifeng. Grannie Liu visits with her daughter Qinger and is devastated by events and Xifeng’s health. A brooding Baoyu resolves to speak with Nightingale; she reevaluates him.

Chapter 113

忏宿冤凤姐托村妪

释旧憾情婢感痴郎

Aunt Zhao’s delirium gets worse; her fits are irregular and terrifying, and none of the women can bear to be with her. The doctor who arrives pronounces her dead, and Zheng sends someone to attend to Huan and the funeral. Gossip spreads, predicting a speedy death for Xifeng too. Patience is distressed; she seems beyond hope, and Lian is unconcerned. Xifeng wants to die, and sees an apparition of Erjie, which scares her. Grannie Liu has arrived with her granddaughter Qinger 青儿; Xifeng calls her in despite her illness, but sees another spectral apparition before she enters. Grannie Liu, who is visiting having heard of Lady Jia’s death, is devastated to see how ill Xifeng is. Patience is cautious that she doesn’t say anything tactless to upset her; Grannie Liu talks with Qiaojie, who she named. Xifeng suggests taking her with her back to the country. Grannie Liu tells Xifeng how she upsetting she has found all the recent news. Upon leaving, she tells Patience that she fears the illness is very nasty. Lian enters in a black mood, which upsets Patience. He asks her to open a casket, when Xifeng takes a turn for the worse. Qiaojie and Grannie Liu rush in, followed by Lady Wang, by which time she has improved. Warmed by Grannie Liu’s presence, Xifeng calls her over and asks her to pray for her. She offers her a bracelet, and is refused; Grannie Liu hurries out to pray, leaving Qinger, who is by now firm friends with Qiaojie.

The nuns inform the Jias of their decision to stay, despite Adamantina’s disappearance. The house staff have not told anyone apart from Xichun, but rumours reach Baoyu, who sighs at her strange and worldly end. After he is depressed for several days, Baochai finds out. Although sad, she criticises his brooding and lack of work. He falls asleep; upon waking, he resolves to speak with Nightingale for the first time since she entered his service. At first she tells him to go away; he is disheartened. He then talks her round, but finds himself at a loss for words. Eventually he asks her what he has done wrong, at which she scoffs and snivels, causing him to sob. Musk interrupts and rebukes them both; he returns in tears with Musk to further rebuke from Aroma. Both he and Nightingale have a sleepless night; she reflects deeply and reevaluates him and his situation, feeling touched by his devotion and regretting Daiyu’s fate. She hears a great rumpus come from Xifeng’s.