Chapter 15 - supercondensed

 

The procession passes through a farm, where Baoyu is taken with a farm girl. After the ceremony, Xifeng, Baoyu and Qin Zhong stay at Watermoon Priory, where Qin Zhong makes a move on a disciple, and Baoyu catches them in flagrante. Xifeng helps the prioress with a profitable matter.

Chapter 15

王凤姐弄权铁槛寺 

 秦鲸卿得趣馒头庵 

Baoyu impresses the Prince, although he expresses concern that too much affection can have bad side effects. The Prince gives him a rosary of Indian seeds. The funeral procession continues, but out of fear that he would get up to mischief, Xifeng asks Baoyu to ride in a sedan with her, not on horseback with the other young men. The procession goes through a simple farm, in which Xifeng asks Baoyu and the boys to amuse themselves. Baoyu is impressed at the farming equipment, and is reprimanded by a farm girl, Ertie 二丫头, for using a loom. Baoyu is taken with her, and looks out for her as they leave the farm.

At the Ning-Rong Temple of the Iron Threshold, the less well-off Jia members take advantage of the guest rooms after the ceremony. Xifeng, Baoyu and Qin Zhong make for nearby Watermoon Priory to stay, where they are met by Prioress Euergesia 净虚. Baoyu ribs Qin Zhong about disciple Sapientia, a regular visitor to Rongguo who had fallen in love with Qin, who reciprocates. She brings them tea, which they fight over, before being called away.

Euergesia approaches Xifeng about an amorous matter concerning contacts of theirs in Chang’an, and Xifeng agrees to help out for significant profit. Meanwhile, Qin Zhong makes his move on Sapientia; Baoyu surprises them in flagrante, shaming Sapientia; Baoyu promises to ‘settle accounts’ with Qin later when they are in bed. Xifeng puts the jade under her pillow for safety. Xifeng allows them to stay for an extra day, and commands Brightie 旺儿 to attend to Euergesia’s affair in Lian’s name. Qin and Sapientia make all sorts of secret vows.