Chapter 73

A window casement has fallen; Aunt Zhao organises for it to be fixed. Her maid Magpie 小鹊 has hurried to Baoyu’s to let him know that she overheard Zheng and Aunt Zhao talking about something involving him. This makes him very uncomfortable, and he decides that the only solution is to revise his texts. It is soon clear that there is too much he doesn’t know, and he is merely getting himself into a more fraught state. The senior maids look after him, but the junior maids, obliged to stay awake but with no role, keep dropping off, causing Skybright indignation. Parfumée enters having seen an intruder; he cannot be found, but Skybright takes the opportunity of the panic to get Baoyu off his duties the next day because of the shock. The next day, Grandmother Jia is angry to find out about the intruder; Tanchun suggests that security is lax because Xifeng has been ill and the guards have become lax and gamble. The ill Xifeng gives a dressing down to Lin Zhixiao’s wife and the chief stewardesses, and Grandmother Jia orders them to find out who are the gambling ringleaders. They are soon found, and the three principal organisers beaten and dismissed. One of them is Yingchun’s nurse; Yingchun is humiliated and tries to get her off, with no luck.

Leaving Grandmother Jia’s, Lady Xing spots one of Lady Jia’s maids, Simple 傻大姐 who is young, stupid and has very big feet, smiling and holding a colourful object. It is an embroidered purse, on one side of which is an erotic scene. Lady Xing is shocked and confiscates it; she is puzzled by its origin. She goes to Yingchun’s to rebuke her about her nurse, and goes on to compare her unfavourably to Tanchun – also a chamber wife’s daughter - in every respect, before leaving for Grandmother Jia’s again. Yingchun argues with her maid Tangerine 绣桔 about her nurse, who Tangerine and Lady Xing believe to have been taking her property (particularly a pearl and gold phoenix) and pawning it for gambling money. Tangerine wants to tell Xifeng; this disturbs the nurse’s daughter-in-law, who overhears the conversation. She rushes in and confesses that the nurse took it, but intends to redeem and return it. Yingchun refuses to appeal for her again and Tangerine rebukes her, causing an argument about money. To stop the fuss and fighting, Yingchun declares that she will tell Lady Xing that she has just lost the phoenix. This upsets Tangerine further, as she expects to take the blame; Chess joins the argument. Meanwhile, Baochai, Daiyu, Baoqin and Tanchun arrive to check on Yingchun; Tanchun’s presence breaks up the argument, but she overhears some snippets and quizzes Yingchun about the phoenix. The daughter-in-law rushes back in to explain, but Tanchun politely suggests that she go to Xifeng and save some face. Patience arrives on cue, arranged by Tanchun. The daughter-in-law bounds up to Patience, and is rebuked for her bad manners and leaves. Tanchun explains the situation to Patience, and coldly asks her if Xifeng is trying to undermine her, Yingchun and Xichun. She turns to Yingchun, who is reading, and expresses at some length her desire to let the situation rest and not exacerbate by interfering, which amuses the others. 

Chapter 71

嫌隙人有心生嫌隙

鸳鸯女无意遇鸳鸯

Jia Zheng has arrived home. After reporting to the Emperor he is granted a month’s recuperation leave. It is Grandmother Jia’s birthday, there are to be eight days of celebration in both houses for various groups of guests, including royalty. At one of the banquets, the Princess Dowager of Nan’an asks after the cousins, and five of the girls are presented to her. Grandmother Jia is exhausted by the celebrations.

Throughout the celebrations, Youshi is staying at Rongguo and helping Xifeng. One night when she is free and Xifeng is not available, she goes to the Garden to see the cousins. Her maid cannot find a soul, and has an argument with two stewardesses as the gate is open and lights on. She reports this with indignation to Youshi, who has found Aroma, Xiangyun and Baoqin. Youshi stalls on punishing them, due to the celebrations, but word reaches Xifeng via an over-attentive Zhou Rui’s wife, and she orders them to be detained and sent to be death with by Youshi after the celebrations finish. Zhou Rui’s wife orders Lin Zhixiao’s wife to go to Youshi immediately, leading to an awkward meeting. After she leaves, she complains to Aunt Zhao and manages the entreating daughters of the two stewardesses. Gossip spreads, and a busybody relative of one of the stewardesses complains to Lady Xing. Lady Xing, currently jealous of Xifeng who is more favoured by Grandmother Jia, sees this as an attack on herself by Xifeng. The next day there are further elaborate celebrations. In the evening, just before leaving, Lady Xing confronts Xifeng about the detained stewardesses in public. Xifeng is humiliated and tries to laugh it off, but when there is agreement that they should be released her humiliation is compounded. She runs back to her quarters to weep, but is summoned by Grandmother Jia immediately. She hides her tears and they eat. Faithful explains Xifeng’s tears to Grandmother Jia after she leaves; she feels Xifeng acted correctly. She sends Faithful to the Garden to complete the arrangements for two guests, Xiluan 喜鸾 and Sijie 四姐, to stay on and while there she discusses Xifeng’s difficult position with Li Wan, Youshi and the cousins. Conversation soon turns to Baoyu’s happy-go-lucky attitude to life, the future and death; young Xiluan is embarrassed by talk of marriage.

When returning, Faithful notices one of the side gates is not barred, and she takes the opportunity to empty her bladder. She spots two figures hide in the bushes and identifies one as Yingchun’s maid Chess and calls after her in jest. Chess has a guilty conscience and is terrified – she begs her not to cry out. Faithful notices that the other figure is a boy; Chess says that he’s her cousin, and they are all embarrassed. Faithful swears she will have mercy on them and won’t tell, and leaves through the gate.

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 62

After resolution, Patience disposes of the matter. The replacement cook has already begun embezzling when she receives her dismissal. Aunt Zhao and Huan – who received the stolen goods – are scared, and Huan throws them back at Sunset, assuming she is thick with Baoyu. Upset, she throws the things into the lake.

憨湘云醉眠芍药裀

呆香菱情解石榴裙

It is Baoyu and Baoqin’s birthday; less fuss is made than normal as Lady Wang is still away. He returns after making all his formal obeisances and reverences to find many maids and the girls wishing him happy returns. They make extended reverences to each other – it turns out that it is also Patience’s and Xing Xiuyan’s birthday. Tanchun remarks on the coincidence; they discuss birthdays and get Xifeng to agree to let Patience celebrate with them. Cook Liu prepares them a meal; it is all unusually gay. Baoyu sees Xue Ke first, and walks back with Baochai, who tells him that she knows about an extremely serious incident which she hopes never comes to light. They reach the party in the Peony Garden, which is very lively. Aunt Xue is present, but goes to lie down in the jobs room. The birthday four object to toasts, as they will get too drunk, and send the old blind ballad singer to entertain Aunt Xue, as they don’t like old music. They decide to play a drinking game; everyone puts suggestions into a hat. The first one drawn (cover-ups, suggested by newly enthusiastically literary Caltrop) is combined with guess-fingers. They all get extremely rowdy and drunk as they play – especially Xiangyun, who applies herself to the game with some vigour - although Daiyu’s dry joke about the essence of rose is not appreciated by Baoyu or Sunset. With the senior ladies away, the party soon becomes bedlam. Lin Zhixiao’s wife appears, concerned by the noise, and Patience feels they ought to stop. They find Xiangyun passed out on a rock, covered in peony petals, and reciting drinking games in her sleep. She is embarrassed to be woken, but feels better after taking some ‘hangover rock’ and soup. They send some of the party food to Xifeng, and the party breaks into smaller groups. Lin Zhixiao’s wife arrives again with an old lady who has heard swearing; Tanchun dismisses her from service. Baoyu and Daiyu watch this and comment on how detached she is; Baoyu tells her how much management Tanchun has done while she has been ill. Daiyu goes to see Baochai, and Baoyu looks for Parfumée, who is bored and lonely. She is complaining about her food, of which he is jealous, so they share it. He tells Swallow to look after her, and to tell Cook Liu that Fivey will definitely work there. He rejoins the party as food is served, causing Skybright to mock him.

Outside, Caltrop and the maids are playing with flowers, and she is jeered when she reveals greater knowledge. In the ensuing jostling, Caltrop rolls into a puddle and ruins her special new skirt. The others run off and Baoyu arrives; he is sympathetic. He is delighted to be able to help – fetching one of Aroma’s similar skirts that she can’t wear as she is in mourning – but regrets that she has been sold to Pan. Aroma returns with him to Caltrop, who changes skirts. She catches Baoyu burying the flowers that had caused the kerfuffle, and finds it endearingly odd. They separate, and she calls to him not to tell Pan about the incident.

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 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 44

变生不测凤姐泼醋

喜出望外平儿理妆

Daiyu has guessed the reason for Baoyu’s earlier absence, and makes loud comments to Baochai during the play regarding offerings. Grandmother Jia is fussing that Xifeng enjoy herself and makes Youshi do her bidding, but Xifeng is being difficult and not drinking much unless forced. She is forced, and is very drunk. She slips away with Patience and, in an alley, a junior maid runs when she sees them. She is caught and, after threats and blows, admits that Jia Lian has returned and she had been stationed to give him warning of her coming. She reveals under further duress that he has Bao Er’s 鲍二 wife there. Xifeng is furious and strides off, encountering and slapping another junior maid, and eavesdropping on Lian’s conversation badmouthing her tyranny and praising Patience, wanting to kill the former and marry the latter. She strikes Patience before bursting in and shouting at and beating Bao Er’s wife. Patience is overwhelmed and joins in the pummelling of the woman. Lian, also drunk, threatens Patience, who stops; Xifeng then hits her for being scared of him. Attacked on both sides, she dashes out threatening suicide, and is seized by maids. Xifeng and Lian’s rumpus continues with him grabbing a sword, when Youshi and a crowd arrive. Xifeng runs weeping to Grandmother Jia, exaggerating the tale and threats. Lian, assuming impunity, is dragged in, sword in hand, and roundly scolded by mother and aunt as well. Grandmother Jia sends for his father, and he finally sulks out. To Xifeng, she dismisses the incident, but expects apologies the next day, and sends a sympathetic message to Patience.

Patience is a sobbing heap with Baochai and Li Wan trying to lift her spirits. She perks up when Amber arrives with a Grandmother Jia’s message. The girls return, and Baoyu invites Patience to his place, where she continues to be upset, but is treated kindly – it is the first time that Baoyu has been able to deal closely with Patience, who he admires greatly. He offers her one of Aroma’s dresses to wear and she is touched. He urges her to put on some make up, talking her through his luxurious toiletries. She is summoned away to Li Wan’s; he is overjoyed to have been able to show her something of what he feels for her. Thinking of her lot with the boorish Lian and vindictive Xifeng, he weeps. He irons and folds her dress before heading out.

The next morning a remorseful Lian heads to Grandmother Jia’s to apologise. He smarts at her injustice, but acknowledges guilt. He eventually apologises to Xifeng in a droll manner that causes laughter. He apologises immediately to Patience, causing further laughter, and Patience and Xifeng have a tearful reunion. When alone, Xifeng provokes further argument, turning to laughter, when a woman arrives to report that Bao Er’s wife has hanged herself. Lin Zhixiao’s 林之孝 wife arrives and says that her family are thinking of taking the matter to court. Xifeng is resolutely stubborn. Jia Lian leaves to talk to Lin Zhixiao himself, and eventually they keep quiet for a payment, against Xifeng’s wishes, and he flatters Bao Er back to his side. Xifeng inquires after the injuries she cause Patience, when Li Wan and the cousins arrive.