Chapter 111

鸳鸯女殉主登太虚

狗彘奴欺天招伙盗

Patience escorts Xifeng to her room, where she sleeps. Lady Xing suspects her of malingering, and her absence leads to almost complete chaos. Later in the evening, Faithful wails to think of Lady Jia, and is then absent at the wake ritual. With the cortege about to leave, Zheng and Lian discuss who should remain behind to mind the house. Faithful, wandering alone, broods on her bleak future and wishes to die. Entering Lady Jia’s apartment, she sees the spectre of a hanging woman, and deduces that it Rong’s first wife Keqing showing her how to kill herself. He resolve fixed, she loops a sash round a beam and quickly hangs herself. Her wandering soul addresses the spectre, who introduces herself as Disenchantment’s sister Keqing, and explains her role in the Tribunal of Love, and about the natural state of love. Faithful’s soul nods understanding and follows her. Amber and Pearl, looking for Faithful on Lady Wang and Lady Xing’s orders, are horrified to find her body, as are the household ladies when they hear the news. Baoyu is dumbfounded before wailing, thinking only of the nobility of her death, which soon comforts him. Zheng also commends Faithful, before ordering a coffin to travel with her mistress. The maids all weep; Nightingale in particular wishes she had done the same after Daiyu’s death. Faithful’s sister-in-law is summoned and given an allowance; she is rather pleased. For her Confucian loyalty, Zheng affords her coffin particular honour. Baoyu is delighted and kowtows to her, Lady Xing tries to stop the others from doing the same, but Baochai does, dividing opinion amongst the assembled crowd. The cortege leaves for the temple at seven the next morning; Xifeng and Xichun stay behind, Zheng heads the procession.

Following Grandmother Jia’s death, He San thinks he might be able to find a job at Rongguo again, but it is futile. He tells his friends that, contrary to what they’ve heard, the Jias have lots of money, but are just not spending it. A friend suggests robbing them while they are at the funeral. He thinks it’s a crazy idea at first; they talk a while before parting. Bao Yong has not been assigned any tasks during the funeral, and is living independently. Adamantina is furious when he offends her, not letting her into the household; she eventually enters and visits Xichun, playing Go until the early hours. They are just retiring when the night watch cry that intruders have entered. They have robbed Lady Jia’s apartment, and are escaping on the roof; the night watch are frozen to the spot as Bao Yong, club in hand, vaults onto the roof in pursuit. The thieves had been in Xichun’s courtyard, distracted by the meditating Adamantina before fleeing. They confront Bao Yong on the roof with swords; he knocks one off before a melee ensures. The thieves flee, leaving some chests behind – on inspection, they are empty. Jia Yun and Steward Lin go round the apartments, berating the night watch. At Xichun’s they are told of Bao Yong’s heroics. He takes them to the body he knocked from the roof – it is He San’s, all are taken aback. The police arrive, finding no evidence that the burglers were armed. All gather at Lady Jia’s, but they are unable to provide the police an inventory of the stolen goods without Faithful – everything has been taken. Xifeng is livid, assuming the night watch were complicit, and orders them to be tied up and handed over to the police; the women all beg for mercy.

Chapter 53

宁国府除夕祭宗祠

荣国府元宵开夜宴

Baoyu and a junior maid massage an exhausted Skybright, before they get a few hours sleep. In the morning, Dr Wang is called and is disconcerted by her deterioration – the illness has become serious and he writes a new prescription. Baoyu is upset, Skybright tells him not to worry. By the afternoon, Baoyu feigns illness at his uncle’s and returns to her. She is soon on the mend, thanks to a strong constitution and good care.

Aroma returns and is told about Trinket; she feels Skybright had been too hasty. Illnesses and preoccupations have prevented the poetry club from meeting several times, and in the twelfth month there is a fever of activity anticipating New Year. Jia Rong, Youshi and Cousin Zhen are busy concerning New Year medallions and receiving the bounty money for sacrifices from the Emperor. Jia Rong is sent to Xifeng to ensure that there are no event clashes between the two households this year. Greetings and a large number of good luck gifts arrive from a country bailiff to Cousin Zhen, mostly livestock and cereals and proceeds from sales. Cousin Zhen accuses him of holding out on them – expenses, particularly at Rongguo, have gone up a lot, and several farms have had disastrous years. Zhen and Rong joke about Xifeng and how hard-up Rongguo is – they’re still far from desperate. Things are divided between the houses and for ancestral sacrifices, and some shares given to young clansmen without income. Zhen tells off Jia Qin for coming to the distribution when he has an income. More presents arrive from the Prince of Beijing.

The houses get busier and busier in preparation, particularly in redecorating. On the last day of the year, the noble ladies process to the Palace before joining the young men going to the Hall of the Ancestors in Ningguo. Baoqin is impressed by the fine hall, where they carry out the lengthy sacrificial rite. After the ceremony, Youshi hosts everyone for tea. She invites them to stay for dinner, but they leave for Rongguo where Grandmother Jia hosts a reception and is kowtowed to by all. Gifts are then distributed to children and servants, and a feast starts. More offerings are given, firecrackers let off, and everyone in their finery enjoys themselves greatly. The ladies head back to the Palace in the early hours to felicitate Yuanchun; on return, Grandmother Jia retires. For several days, Xifeng and Lady Wang are kept busy entertaining many guests. Before long, it is time to prepare for the Lantern Festival as well, and a large family feast is organised with all clansmen in the city invited. Jia Jing and Jia She do not attend; Grandmother Jia watches the actors with her feet up, and being massaged by Amber. The decorations and furnishings are exquisite. Lin Zhixiao’s wife enters with many strings of cash, and pours the coins onto tables. A young actor adlibs based on what is going on in the hall. Everyone bursts out laughing, and money is put into baskets and tipped onto the stage for the boy as largesse from Grandmother Jia, Aunt Xue and Li Wan.

Chapter 49

琉璃世界白雪红梅

脂粉香娃割腥啖膻

The cousins gather round Daiyu to read Caltrop’s poem – it is excellent, but Caltrop thinks they are humouring her. A number of servants arrive calling to them to meet two relations who have arrived. Lady Wang’s main reception room is packed – Xifeng’s brother is there with Lady Xing’s brother and his family, and Li Wan’s widowed aunt and her daughters and Xue Pan’s cousins have also arrived simultaneously. All are very busy making introductions and making family talk, especially Xifeng, but Daiyu weeps to think of her solitary state – Baoyu consoles her. Baoyu runs back to tell his maids to see the visitors – he is particularly awed by Li Wan’s cousins’ beauty. Tanchun arrives – she is excited by the potential new club members, and they discuss who may be good and who is prettiest. Tanchun reports that Lady Jia is particularly captivated with Baochai’s cousin Baoqin 宝琴 and has adopted her. They are due to have a club meeting today but, thanks to the new arrivals and illnesses, they choose to delay a few days. They go to Grandmother Jia’s apartment together, where the new arrivals’ living arrangements are being sorted out. Li Wan’s cousins are to live with her; Xifeng has put Lady Xing’s niece Xiuyan 岫烟 with Yingchun, and Baoqin is to stay with Lady Jia. News arrives that Shi Xiangyun’s father is to be posted elsewhere, and Grandmother Jia moves Xiangyun in to stay with Baochai. There are now thirteen people living in the garden, all but two between fifteen and seventeen years old – they abandon all attempts at formalities of address. Caltrop and Xiangyun are inseparable, and their chatter annoys Baochai. Baoqin arrives in a spectacular cape, given to her by Grandmother Jia – Xiangyun teases her that she wouldn’t even let Baoyu wear something so fine. Xiangyun advises her to stay in the garden, and Amber arrives with a message for Baochai to allow Baoqin to have her own way. She teases her, and they all tease Baoyu and Daiyu, who have just arrived, which puzzles him, not to mention Baochai and Daiyu’s apparent rapprochement, and Daiyu and Baoqin’s immediate intimacy. The others leave, and Daiyu asks Baoyu about a passage in ‘the Western Chamber’, and explains her thawing of relations with Baochai. She cries to talk of Baoqin as a sister, and he consoles her. They are summoned by Li Wan to discuss the poetry meeting. Almost all are present when they arrive – it is starting to snow, and they all have fine coats, particularly Xiangyun. They arrange to have a welcome party in the snow the next day. All, apart from the new arrivals, will contribute some money.

The next day, Baoyu is enchanted by the snow-covered garden. He walks to the party, but is early and returns, visiting Lady Jia with Tanchun. After talking with Xiangyun, Baoyu asks Xifeng for some fresh venison to cook later in the garden. They are late for the party; soon the stove and grill arrive and Patience, there carrying Xifeng’s apologies, starts cooking. The newcomers are extremely excited and tuck in, and when Xifeng arrives later, she joins; only Daiyu and Baochai are unimpressed. After cooking, Patience has lost a bracelet, but Xifeng mysteriously assures her she knows where it is, reminding the others that it is nearly time for New Year’s riddles. Wine and food is arranged, and a theme – snow - announced for the poetry competition. Li Wan suggests giving three lines to start off the poem; Baochai suggests a fixed order.

Chapter 46

尴尬人难免尴尬事

鸳鸯女誓绝鸳鸯偶

Xifeng has been summoned by Lady Xing – Jia She wants Faithful for a concubine, and she wants advice as to how to approach Grandmother Jia. Xifeng doesn’t think she’ll allow it, and that Lady Xing needs to talk him out of it. Lady Xing is always desperate to please her husband, and Xifeng listens to her reaction before telling her what she wants to hear, suggesting she talk to Grandmother Jia immediately. Instead, Xing plans to talk with Faithful first. Xifeng reflects and proposes that Xing leave with her; Xing talks with Faithful on her own. She responds with silence, and Xing leaves for Xifeng’s, where Patience has been fully briefed.

Faithful decides to decamp, and makes her excuses through Amber. Angry, she wanders in the garden and comes across Patience, who teases her. Faithful reflects on the maids’ friendships and tells Patience reveals her dislike of Jia She. Aroma appears, and is told the situation. They teasingly suggest asking Grandmother Jia to tell him that she’s already been given to Lian or Baoyu, upsetting Faithful. After further discussion, her sister-in-law arrives, apparently having been spoken to by Lady Xing, and they argue – her sister-in-law retreats in a huff. The conversation changes – Aroma had been looking for Baoyu, who suddenly appears having been hiding. He has heard all, and is concerned for Faithful – he invites them all back to his for tea, worrying while they laugh and chatter.

Lady Xing had asked after Faithful’s parents, who are in Nanjing, and had asked her sister-in-law to do her bidding; she comes back to Xifeng and Xing and tells them of the earlier scene. Xifeng summons Patience, but she is reported to be detained by Daiyu. Lady Xing returns home and reports to Jia She, who summons Jia Lian, ordering him to recall Faithful parents. He cannot – the father is probably dead, the mother deaf, and a scared and ignorant Lian then loiters when her brother Jin Wenxiang 金文翔 is then sent for.

The next day, Wenxiang takes her back home for the day. He talks with Faithful and later reports to Jia She that she is unwilling – he is incensed and tells him to send his wife to give her a threatening message from him. He tells Faithful straight away – she calculates and goes to see Grandmother Jia with him and his wife. She kneels before her and, weeping, vows her faithfulness and that she will not marry at all, preferring to become a nun when Grandmother Jia dies. She takes a pair of scissors from her sleeve and begins snipping her hair. Grandmother Jia is trembling with rage, and accusing all present of deceiving her, aimed particularly (and unjustly) at Lady Wang. Tanchun defends her; Grandmother Jia smiles, and asks Baoyu why he did defend his mother. She turns to Xifeng, who blames her for training such an exemplary girl. While bantering, Lady Xing is announced.