Chapter 1116

得通灵幻境悟仙缘

送慈柩故乡全孝道

Lady Wang is unable to wake Baoyu, and finds the monk has vanished. Baoyu’s spirit has left his body and joined the monk; passing the figure of You Sanjie, they float towards a monumental archway marked ‘The Paradise of Truth’. After chasing the vanishing figure of Faithful, he realises he’s not in the Garden – it’s the site of his childhood dream. He enters a building out of curiosity, and picks up the register of the twelve beauties of Jinling, and quickly works out the references to Daiyu and Baochai before working through the rest. He wants to copy out the poems, but can’t find a brush or ink. A picture in a supplementary register causes him to cry, before Faithful reappears, calling him to see Daiyu. He follows her into a new vista of tall buildings, where he loses himself looking at a plant and talking to its minder, a Flower Fairy, who tells him the history of the flower, the Crimson Pearl Flower, which had descended into the world of men to repay its debt of tears. The Fairy says that her mistress is the River Queen, but threatens Baoyu for thinking that she is Daiyu. Addressing him as a divine page, someone resembling Skybright chases after him to bring him to Daiyu; he tries to escape but is threatened with a sword by Sanjie. He is taken to the River Queen’s palace, and is ushered in by ladies-in-waiting; the Queen resembles Daiyu, but he is quickly forced out after calling her ‘cousin’. He is delighted to see Xifeng, but on closer inspection it is Keqing; in a daze, he bursts into tears as guards in yellow turbans chase after him. He runs after several other visions of cousins, who turn into ghouls and chase him too. Suddenly the monk reappears, the monsters vanish and they are back in wilderness. The monk mocks Baoyu: he has read the registers but still doesn’t understand. The monk tells him to ponder on his experience – he will explain further when they meet again – before giving him a shove, and Baoyu finds himself back with his family, who are all in tears. He is pleased to find he can remember every detail of his dream.

Zheng sends for a doctor and Baoyu is given some soup. Baochai wonders where the monk could have found the jade, suspecting that he took it in the first place. Lady Wang muses on Baoyu’s strange relationship with the jade. Xichun, remembering words of Adamantina, offers a Buddhist interpretation, which Baoyu and Youshi sniff at; Xichun reaffirms her desire to become a nun. The conversation triggers a flash of recognition in Baoyu, remembering what he read in the registers.

With Baoyu improved, Zheng is anxious to arrange the interment of Lady Jia’s coffin, along with Xifeng and Daiyu, in the South. He discusses the ways and means with Lian, given their financial straits. He selects a day to leave, and before going reminds Lian that the civil service examinations are coming up and Lan and Baoyu can restore some family pride; Lady Wang begins to apply more pressure on Baoyu. While Baoyu is improving outwardly, he is undergoing a deep inner change, rejecting love along with worldly success. Nightingale notices this, and is upset at his indifference when Daiyu’s coffin leaves. She scoffs when Fivey complains to her that Baoyu is unkind to her. Someone shouts that the monk has returned and is demanding his payment, and Lady Wang wants Baochai to help.

Chapter 109

Baochai reacts to Aroma’s account by talking directly about Daiyu becoming a fairy within Baoyu’s earshot. Baoyu is led to reflect that she hasn’t yet appeared to him in a dream, and he decides to sleep in the outer room. He does not dream of her, and is embarrassed when Baochai – who hasn’t slept all night - hears him sighing about her in the morning. They are called to Lady Jia’s; Baochai goes first and lies when asked about Baoyu’s night. Yingchun bids them farewell, trying to contain her grief. Aunt Xue asks Baochai for approval to go ahead with Ke’s wedding; she agrees.

候芳魂五儿承错爱

还孽债迎女返真元

Baoyu ponders Daiyu’s failure to appear, and concludes that he is too impatient. He decides to sleep outside again; Baochai chooses not to object. Aroma does, however, and Musk and Fivey are to wait on him. Baoyu sits up meditating, having sent the others to bed; the situation makes him think of the night Skybright caught the cold that eventually killed her. He calls for Musk; Fivey responds and brings him tea. Romantic feelings overcome them both, although he is transferring his feelings for Skybright onto her. He asks her about Skybright and holds her hand; she cannot discern his intentions. They talk together a while - he is sincere, she prudish and feeling in a dilemma – when they hear a sudden noise outside, which also wakes Baochai, who starts coughing, and they part. Baoyu is certain that the noise was Daiyu; Fivey, meanwhile, is left with a guilty conscience, and suspects that Musk overheard them. Baoyu has a good night’s sleep despite not dreaming of Daiyu, he and Fivey are awkward discussing this, while Baochai is left pensive – she realises that she has to win him over herself.

Grandmother Jia decides to fast, having eaten too much during the party. The next evening, Baoyu is embarrassed to think of the previous night, and although Fivey defends his deep sleep, he meekly goes along with Aroma’s orders to move his bed back into the inner room. He and Baochai are brought together emotionally by the situation; that night, the marriage is consummated and she conceives a child. The next morning, Lady Jia gives Baoyu a jade ring, a family heirloom. She is still ill from eating and a doctor is called; there is no sign of improvement, however. Zheng and Lian search for other doctors, while the ladies all wait attendance on her. Adamantina arrives and consoles her, before catching up with the others. Lady Jia continues to deteriorate, despite the treatment; Zheng is concerned and takes leave from work to be with her. One day an old woman arrives with news that Yingchun is seriously ill; Lady Jia overhears and is very distressed. News soon arrives that Yingchun has died, Aunt Xing is distraught, but no one dares tell Lady Jia. None is able to leave Lady Jia, and Yingchun is given a makeshift funeral. Despite her condition, Lady Jia continues to ask after the young family members; Xiangyun is distraught after her husband has fallen ill, but Lady Jia is not told. With Lady Jia deteriorating, Zheng orders Lian to make sure everything is prepared for a funeral – she has made provision for the expense. Lian also finds Xifeng too weak to dress herself when he comes to take her to Lady Jia’s. All gather round Lady Jia prepared for the worst; the Imperial Physician arrives. She asks for a proper cup of tea and announces that she wishes to sit up and chat.

Chapter 102

宁国府骨肉病灾祲

大观园符水驱妖孽

Lady Wang asks Baochai to cheer Tanchun up before she leaves, and warns her that Fivey does not seem reliable. Tanchun leaves the next day; Baoyu is upset, but her outlook is calm and philosophical. After seeing her off, Youshi returns to Ningguo via Prospect Garden, and is struck by its desolation; she is soon struck by a serious fever. After medicine fails, Jia Rong calls for a fortune teller. The fortune teller prays, divining through trigrams and the Yijing; the divinations show dire misfortune to come. Jia Rong is stunned at the inauspicious reading. Rong and Zhen discuss the divination; they remember that Xifeng also fell ill after seeing spirits in the Garden, and that Skybright and Daiyu’s spirits are probably there. Youshi screams deliriously; word spreads and soon even the servants dare not enter the Garden. Cousin Zhen soon falls ill too, as divined. They burn paper money in the Garden, but all are afraid of it; the costs of keeping it up escalate, and before long it is abandoned and locked up.

Skybright’s cousin’s promiscuous wife is found suddenly dead, exacerbating the rumours of Garden spirits and general apprehension. Jia She, completely disbelieving the rumours, inspects the Garden himself; even he is a shaken by its oppressive nature, which his servants enjoy embellishing. He decides to call for an exorcism; on a suitable day, priests, monks and deacons descend on the Garden. The household menfolk watch the elaborate ceremony, and conduct them round every corner of the Garden. The spirits are ‘contained’ in jars and stored in a geomantic place. The younger men find the ceremony absurd, but there is an observed diminution of demonic activity and the invalids recover; all are half convinced, but the Garden remains empty and unused.

Jia She thinks to move some servants back into the Garden; however, Lian arrives with news that Zheng has been impeached. She is stunned, having just received a letter from him with good news, but Lian soon confirms the news. Zheng has been inept at managing his staff, who have proven exploitative and extortionate. Zheng is just demoted three grades and sent back to Beijing, thanks to Imperial dispensation, but his reputation is ruined. Lian takes the news to Lady Wang.

Chapter 101

大观园月夜警幽魂

散花寺神签惊异兆

Xifeng goes to visit Tanchun at night; the moon is extremely bright. Having dismissed her maids on various errands, she finds herself confronted by a large doglike creature, and hurries away in panic. She sees the elegant figure of a lady, who calls her Auntie, and chides her for not heeding her advice. Realising it is the ghost of Qin Keqing, Xifeng spits and flees in fright; when her maids find her, she lies about seeing Tanchun and they head back straight to bed. The next morning, Lian is troubled by several reports in the newspaper before leaving for a meeting. Patience gives Xifeng a massage, while she hears a nanny mistreating Qiaojie; she worries about their future, which upsets Patience. Unexpectedly, Lian arrives back early, having been unable to complete his meeting; he is furious to see the household still so disorderly, and shouts at Xifeng, who contains herself. He reveals that he has been trying to pull strings on behalf of Xifeng’s brother, Wang Ren 王仁, who, as Ziteng’s successor, owes money to the Censorate, but Ren, meanwhile, is holding a party for Zisheng and behaving abominably. Xifeng is upset; Lian criticises her for being too slack and putting up with lax behaviour from her brother and the servants. Patience gives Lian a piece of her mind; he takes his leave. Thoroughly upset, Xifeng decides not to go to Zisheng’s party, but does visit Baochai to explain. She tries to dismiss the doltish Baoyu, but he makes a fuss over his peacock cape; Aroma explains that he had previously said he never wanted to wear it again. Xifeng is reminded of Fivey; now that Baoyu is married, there can be no objection to her working for him, so she will arrange it, delighting Baoyu. Xifeng observes how close Baoyu and Baochai are, and while having an audience with Grandmother Jia, teases Baochai after Baoyu sends back a silly message with urgency.

A nun from Scattered Flowers, Perfecta 大了, calls on Xifeng and Lady Jia to invite her to a particular service regarding spirits. Xifeng’s encounter with Keqing’s ghost has cast her scepticism aside and is intrigued. Perfecta tells Xifeng about the Bodhisattva of the Scattered Flowers, and Xifeng decides to visit the next day to test her story. She does so; after praying like a devout believer, she tests the fortune sticks. She is astounded to read her own name (a reference to a historical Wang Xifeng) on the stick; Perfecta expounds on the fortune telling, interpreting it as a good omen: that Zheng will send for his family. Xifeng is only half convinced; she eats and leaves. At home, any doubts she harbours as to the omen are dispelled by the others’ unanimous acceptance of it.

Baochai, meanwhile, tells Baoyu about the divination; she is sceptical about the interpretation of the verse. Before she can elaborate, she is summoned to Lady Wang’s.

Chapter 92

评女传巧姐慕贤良

玩母珠贾政参聚散

The urgent summons was an invention by Ripple – it is just Aroma who wants to interrogate Baoyu. She tells him to be more discreet with Daiyu. Baoyu has been looking forward to one of Grandmother Jia’s annual parties, including taking the next day off school, but is upset to find he has not received an invitation. Aroma, concerned that the studious Lan will overtake him, insists he should go to school, although Musk disagrees. They are on the point of a full scale row when one of Lady Jia’s maids arrives with his invitation. She also says that Aunt Xue is invited, and so Baoyu is looking forward to seeing Baochai too. The next morning, after gaining Zheng’s consent, Baoyu hurries to Lady Jia’s. Only Qiaojie is there so far, paying her respects to Lady Jia. Qiaojie turns to Baoyu – Xifeng doesn’t believe that she is as advanced in her characters as she claims, so has asked Baoyu to check. He consents to go over her characters, and offers to go through the Lives of Noble Women with her. He recounts reams of the stories of famous beauties and paragons of virtue until Grandmother Jia tells him to stop for fear of confusing Qiaojie, but she says that he has helped. An out of the blue comment about Crimson and Fivey triggers Baoyu to compare Qiaojie favourably to Xifeng; Lady Jia insists that embroidery is more important than literacy. Baoyu is daydreaming about Fivey, who has not yet been able to start in his service, when some of the other guests arrive. When Baoqin and Aunt Xue arrive later, he notes Xiuyan and Baochai’s absence, and the question (posed directly by Daiyu) is avoided. Xifeng has a fever and is late; the lunch party starts.

Xifeng’s illness, in truth, is embarrassment at being late, and was complicated by the arrival of one of Yingchun’s servants who has come to ask a favour regarding Chess. Her mother has forbidden her to marry the boyfriend who caused her dismissal, and during an argument she dashed her head against a wall, killing herself. The boyfriend had, unbeknownst to her, grown very rich in the meantime and, to her mother’s bafflement, arrived for the funeral with two coffins. While preparing her corpse he slit his own throat. In her distress, Chess’s mother is appealing for Xifeng’s influence in case it goes to court. Xifeng’s perspective on the earlier Chess affair is changed.

Feng Ziying comes to see Zheng, who is playing Go with a literary gentleman. He watches them finish the game before telling him of two fascinating and ornate curios and showing him two smaller ones, an unfathomably light and thin fabric and a large magnetic pearl, called a Mother Pearl. While agreeing that they would make excellent Palace offerings, Zheng cannot afford to buy them, but sends them to Grandmother Jia’s for inspection. Xifeng agrees that they do not have the money, and that it would not fit in with the family’s standing or financial strategy. Feng is disappointed, but is invited to stay for dinner with Zheng and She. They discuss official appointments and matters, Zheng explaining their relationship to Yucun, who is to be promoted. Reflecting on the unpredictability of life’s fortunes, Zheng uses the Mother Pearl as an example. Accepting that they have had a good run, Zheng feels that the Jias are living on borrowed time. Feng leaves after dinner, snow having already fallen an inch thick during the meal.

Chapter 87

感秋声抚琴悲往事

坐禅寂走火入邪魔

Baochai’s servant delivers a letter to Daiyu in which Baochai anguishes about her current state. A poem is attached. Daiyu is greatly moved, and is lost in thought when Xiangyun, Tanchun and the Lis arrive. They discuss Baochai’s absence from the Garden and her current predicaments, when a scent wafts in; Daiyu thinks it smells like cassia, which provokes a discussion about Northerners and Southerners and people’s karmic ties to places. When her guests, Daiyu drifts into a daydream about what her life would have been like in the South if her parents had lived. Nightingale, understanding the cause of her absence, reassures her that she is neither unpopular nor imposing on people in her illnesses. Snowgoose brings her soup, cooked by Fivey, and makes her some Southern slaw. The maids eat while Daiyu’s attention is caught by the melancholy wind; she asks Snowgoose for her fur clothes, as it is getting colder. In the bundle of clothes she finds the silk, tear-stained handkerchiefs with poetry written on them which Baoyu had sent her, and the remains of the cord she made for his jade and torn fancase. Nightingale enters and sees her new tearful reverie and, realising sympathy will not work, offers a cheerful rebuke, which only releases more tears. She finally puts on some furs and, in the next room, picks up Baochai’s letter again, and in the spirit of empathy decides to write some stanzas and set them to the qin. Snowgoose brings her her brush, music and qin, and she sets to it.

On the way to school, Baoyu is told by a pageboy that he has the day off. Having confirmed it with Huan and Lan, he returns to Green Delights before setting out to see the girls. Daiyu is sleeping, but he finds Xichun playing Go with Adamantina. He listens in to their game at length, not wishing to disturb them, but finds himself bursting out in laughter at a victorious joke by Adamantina, startling them. He enters and tries to charm the embarrassed nun. He is relieved when she speaks to him at last, asking from where he had come, but is tonguetied with worry that the question is more Zen subtlety than straightforward. Xichun banters him, but Adamantina also takes this badly and decides to leave; Baoyu offers to accompany her back to the Hermitage. Passing Daiyu’s, they hear her playing the qin, and listen to her four stanzas. They are moved, until Adamantina recoils at her sharp intonation. A string snaps, and the nun stands up to walk away.  She tells Baoyu not to speak of this event, her cryptic words leaving him confused.

Back at the Hermitage, she completes her religious duties and eats. She starts to meditate, but Baoyu’s earlier words keep her from doing so successfully. Her body seems to leave the Hermitage and is hustled and kidnapped; she screams, and the sisters find her in an apparent coma shouting at her fantasy ruffians. The nuns consult tallies (a Yin spirit has been offended) and reassure and massage her until she sleeps. Several doctors inspect her, coming up with several diagnoses, but one attributes it to an evil spirit entering during meditation; he writes her a prescription. She recovers, but loses her powers of concentration, and becomes a subject of gossip around town, exacerbated given her youth and looks. When Xichun hears from a maid, she is overwhelmed by an illuminative desire to become a nun. She meditates and studies Go, when she hears a voice outside calling.

Chapter 77

俏丫鬟抱屈夭风流

美优伶斩情归水月

Lady Wang feels that Xifeng looks much better and looks for some of her best ginseng for her medicine – no-one seems to have any, and the doctor rejects Lady Jia’s ginseng for being too old, so she has to buy more. Baochai suggests bypassing swindling traders and asking Pan. Meanwhile, Lady Wang is informed about the result of the raids; Zhou Rui’s wife tells her about the argument between Wang Shanbao’s wife and Lady Xing and of the dilemma of telling Lady Xing about Chess. She agrees to let Zhou Rui’s wife tackle it head on. She goes to Yingchun who gives tearful approval to letting Chess go, despite her emotional protestations. Yingchun recognises that they are trying to reduce the number of maids. Yingchun gives her a parting gift of a silk purse, but Zhou Rui’s wife ignores Chess’s plea to be given time to say goodbye to the others. While being escorted out, she bumps into Baoyu, who is shocked to see her leaving, particularly given Skybright’s illness. Back at Green Delights, he finds his mother and a group of women sitting round Skybright, who is also to leave imminently. Lady Wang inspects his maids, also dispensing with Number Four and Parfumée, before ordering that none of the former actresses are to stay and going through Baoyu’s belongings. His mother’s rage makes Baoyu feel wretched – her knowledge of his private affairs is uncanny. He silently accompanies her out before she orders him back to study. He discusses the developments with a tearful Aroma. Baoyu believes Skybright will die if sent back, having seen a portent in a tree; Aroma is doubtful, and he gives historical examples of the interconnectedness of plants and humans’ fates. They agree to smuggle Skybright some cash and things to take. That night he sneaks out to see Skybright.

She is lodging with her timorous cousin, also employed by the household, and his errant wife, who are unkind to her. They are with her when he arrives. He greets her tearfully; he is shocked by the poor quality of the tea. She is certain she will die soon; she bites off the nails she has carefully grown and gives them to him. They swap shirts. Her cousin’s wife enters having eavesdrops on their conversation. She pulls him into another room and tries to seduce him; he manages to pull away when a voice calls for Skybright. Cook Liu and Fivey have brought things for her; having tried to hide from them, Baoyu rushes out after them when they leave. He runs until he reaches the Garden; luckily, no-one seems to have noticed his absence. He discusses the new living arrangements with Aroma before sleeping; during the night, he calls out for Skybright. They laugh about it. Later, he sees Skybright enter and declare her life is over; he calls her name. When Aroma goes to him, he insists that she is dead. The next morning, Baoyu is invited to join Zheng at a chrysanthemum viewing, as he is impressed with one of Baoyu’s poems. Zheng praises Baoyu in front of Jia Huan and Jia Lan, to Lady Wang’s delight. She is cornered by Parfumée’s mother, who complains that Parfumée, Nénuphar and Étamine have been refusing to eat and saying they want to kill themselves unless they can join a convent. Thinking it youthful waywardness, Lady Wang tells her to beat them, but Euergesia, who has overheard this, suggests encouraging it. Thinking it sensible, and preoccupied with other matters, Lady Wang asks Euergesia to take them on. She agrees; the girls are brought in. They kowtow to Euergesia and set off for Watermoon Priory.

Chapter 63

寿怡红群芳开夜宴

死金丹独艳理亲丧

Baoyu and Aroma are planning a drinking party in Green Delights, hosted by the maids; Baoyu is pleased but concerned that the young maids have given so much money for it. He is distressed when Swallow tells him Fivey has had a relapse. It is lighting-up time and Lin Zhixiao’s wife is doing the rounds; she warns the inhabitants of Green Delights not to drink or gamble, and is shocked that Baoyu is not in bed. She has some tea, and disapproves of Baoyu using the maids’ first names. After she leaves, the maids strip down to their underwear and join Baoyu on the kang; he is already playing guess-fingers with Parfumée. After a brief birthday ceremony (he drinks from each of their cups), they decide to play a drinking game. As it requires more players, some of the maids sneak off to gather some of the girls. They arrive after persuasion from the more senior maids. Daiyu questions Li Wan’s presence, as she generally disapproves of the servants drinking and gambling, but she is willing to make an exception for a birthday. The drinking game involves throwing dice, counting round to that player who draws a card with a particular flower and poem on, and does what the card says. Parfumée sings for them. All assembled take their turns in good spirits – Xiangyun is particularly mocked for her recent drunkenness, and Tanchun for selecting a card intimating a noble marriage. Someone comes to collect Daiyu, as it is late, and the rest of the guests also break off. Back at Green Delights, the party continues with guess-fingers and songs, and all are extremely drunk, including the old women. The wine has run out, and they clear up, but Swallow and Number Four are asleep on the kang. Skybright cannot wake them, and Baoyu says it will be alright if they all sleep on the kang. The next morning, they wake late, and Parfumée is embarrassed to have slept by Baoyu’s side. He thanks them for the party. Patience comes round, faking indignation not to have been invited to the party.

Baoyu is agitated to find a birthday card from Adamantina; he starts to write a response and heads off. He bumps into Xing Xiuyan who is also going to see her. They discuss her – she is very important to Xiuyan – and her love of Zhuangzi, and knowing more, Baoyu is able to return and complete his letter, which he delivers. He orders Parfumée to have her hair cut like a boy; they can pretend she’s foreign, and he gives her a new foreign sounding name as a result, Yelu Hunni 耶律雄奴. Patience is having a return party, with Youshi and other Ningguo guests too; some of the guests suggest more names for Parfumée. The party is unrestrained and drunken fun, until a messenger announces Sir Jing’s death. Youshi is distressed and hurries back. Physicians conclude that the metallic elixirs he drank in search of immortality caused his death – the Daoists deny this, but are put under arrest. The body is taken to the Iron Threshold Temple out of expediency, and Youshi arranges for the earliest possible burial, as it is very hot. All enter mourning three days later. With senior ladies away, and those present unable, junior clansmen are required to handle guests and household matters. Cousin Zhen and Jia Rong apply for leave to return, which is referred to the Emperor. The Emperor confers posthumous high rank on him and allows them to go, with some expenses. They hurry back, and grieve, arranging for Jing’s lying-in-state. Jia Rong goes to see his grandmother and shocks his aunts, and molests some maids, before paying solicitous respects to her and leaving.

Chapter 61

投鼠忌器宝玉瞒赃

判冤决狱平儿行权

The page boy banters Cook Liu, talking and Fivey and asking her to take some fruit from the Garden for her, finally letting her pass. Yingchun’s maid Lotus 莲花儿 later asks her for a special dish for her principal maid Chess 司棋, causing an argument when she doesn’t offer anything to cover the cost. She leaves and reports back to Chess, who is incensed and goes to the kitchen, causing havoc. Her pillages ceases on seeing that Cook Liu is preparing her dish after all.

Liu gives Fivey the lycoperdon snow; she resolves to give half to Parfumée, and heads out. She gives it to Swallow to pass on, but while she’s out is confronted by Lin Zhixiao’s wife – she is supposed to be ill. Her halting response reminds Lin Zhixiao’s wife that Silver had recently reported several things missing; unfortunately several maids arrive, and Lotus reveals seeing essence of rose (one of the missing objects) at Cook Liu’s. They search the kitchen, and also find the lycoperdon snow; they take Fivey to Tanchun’s, then Xifeng’s. Xifeng orders Cook Liu and Fivey to be thrown out and lashed. Fivey explains to Patience, who believes her, but she still spends the night guarded and weeping continuously. The next morning all resume investigations. Baoyu is shocked, and suggests to Patience that they say the lycoperdon snow – which had been a present for their Ladyships - was also given to her by Parfumée. (They all know that it was Sunset who had really stolen the essence of roses to give to Huan.)  Patience, Aroma et al agree that it would be best if Baoyu takes the blame, which he has volunteered to do, but call Silver and Sunset to straighten it out first. Sunset confesses to being the thief. Patience and Parfumée tell Fivey what to say, and take her to Xifeng, where Patience tells her and Lin Zhixiao’s wife that Baoyu is the thief. Xifeng isn’t convinced, knowing Baoyu’s propensity for taking the blame, and wants further harsh investigation and Cook Liu dismissed anyway. Patience persuades her to mercy.

Chapter 60

茉莉粉替去蔷薇硝

玫瑰露引出茯苓霜

Patience won’t tell Aroma what it is just now – she hasn’t time, and hasn’t got to the bottom of it yet. She is summoned away. Baoyu sends Swallow and her mother to apologise to Oriole; they bicker as they walk, until Swallow mentions that Baoyu wants to give them all freedom. Their apology is accepted; before they leave, Étamine gives them a packet of rose orris as a present for Parfumée. Jia Huan and Jia Cong are visiting Baoyu, so Swallow cannot report back; she gives Parfumée the rose orris, and Baoyu, observing, calls her in and inspects it. Huan is impressed and asks for some; Parfumée is reluctant and says she’ll give him some of her own. However, her own supply is missing, so in order to hurry them out, and she gives him jasmine scented facepowder instead. Huan then looks for Sunset, who is with Aunt Zhao, to give her the packet; she laughs at him. Sunset doesn’t think it worth a fuss, but Aunt Zhao sees an opportunity to put the ‘hussies’ in their place. Huan is timid, angering her, and she storms off to the Garden. She meets Swallow’s aunt Mamma Xia on the way, who strengthens her resolve as she tells of her encounter with Nénuphar.

She arrives at Baoyu’s when he is out, and Parfumée is eating with Aroma and the maids. Her outburst sends Parfumée into tears as she explains; Zhao slaps her several times while Aroma protests. Parfumée goes into histrionics, headbutting Zhao’s belly. Skybright advises Aroma against getting involved; servants and actresses alike gather to watch the rumpus, the older women delighted that an actress was getting beaten. Before long, two other actresses charge in and set upon Aunt Zhao – the senior maids are concerned but can’t help but laugh. Skybright sends for Tanchun, who soon arrives. She sighs at Aunt Zhao’s fury and gives her a dressing-down in which she concludes that the actresses are like pets, and that she needs more patience. Aunt Zhao leaves, but the more Tanchun thinks about it, the angrier she is, and makes inquiries as to who provoked it. Her actress, Artémisie 艾官, tells her privately that it was Mamma Xia’s fault; she doesn’t act on this, knowing the actresses to be in league. Meanwhile, Ebony tells Cicada 蝉姐, Tanchun’s maid and Xia’s granddaughter, about the denunciation, and she tells Xia by the kitchen. Parfumée is there talking to the cook, and when a fritter that Ebony has paid for arrives, Cook Liu 柳家的 gives her one free. Parfumée breaks it in front of Cicada, angering her.  Cicada leaves, and Cook Liu discusses her ill daughter Fivey 柳五儿 with Parfumée, who has been helping her via Baoyu. She returns and asks Baoyu (who reproves her for earlier) for some more rose essence for Fivey, and he lets her take a whole bottle. She delivers it to Fivey (who mistakes it for Western wine), who is very grateful. Parfumée assure Fivey she’s asked him about domestic positions – both Crimson’s and Trinket’s are available, but there are budgetary pressures prohibiting new maids. Cook Liu decides to siphon some essence off for her sick nephew. While there, Fivey’s suitor (who she despises) Qian Huai 钱槐 arrives – both are flustered by each other’s presence, and Liu makes her excuses. Before she leaves, her sister-in-law gives her a packet of lycoperdon snow from Canton for Fivey. On her way back, Cook Liu is stopped by a banterous page boy who tells her there have been several calls for her.