Chapter 66

情小妹耻情归地府

冷二郎一冷入空门

Sanjie asks Joker about Baoyu; Joker describes him as lazy, stupid, soft and spoiled. Erjie is disappointed, but Sanjie defends him on the basis of their experience of him. Erjie and Joker joke about betrothing her to him anyway; Joker mentions his attachment to Daiyu before being taken away by Rich. That night, Sanjie tells Erjie who it is she wants to marry. Lian arrives the next day before going away for a long assignment and she tells him not to worry about Sanjie – the man she is prepared to marry is actor Liu Xianglian, who is now missing. Lian tells her of Xianglian’s friendship with Baoyu and beating of Xue Pan, before Sanjie enters and swears her determination. Lian makes enquiries after Xianglian, but finds nothing. Several days into his journey, however, he encounters Xue Pan and Xianglian, riding together as blood brothers after a bonding incident on their travels. He tells them of Sanjie, and Xianglian agrees to marry her, giving him an heirloom swords as a pledge.

Lian returned early to Erjie and gives the swords to a happy Sanjie. He tells Cousin Zhen about Sanjie, who is happy for him to deal with the engagement. Xianglian arrives back in the capital and visits the Xues and Baoyu, who congratulates him on the match with Sanjie – Lian’s insistence and the lack of suitors has made him suspicious. When he goes to see Lian he greets Mrs You formally and tells Lian that, unbeknownst to him, his Aunt had already betrothed him, and he asks for the swords back. Sanjie overhears, and assumes that the rejection is because he has heard ill of her, and realises that Lian won’t be able to stop him breaking off the engagement. She takes one of the swords and cuts her throat in front of Xianglian. Erjie dissuades Lian from taking Xianglian to the yamen for her murder; he weeps as if for his bride. He returns to his new house, distraught, and Sanjie visits him holding a ledger and the sword on her way to work for the Fairy Disenchantment before vanishing. With a jolt, Xianglian finds himself in a temple. He talks with a mysterious Daoist before slashing his hair off with the now companionless heirloom sword, and joins the Daoist in his wanderings.

Chapter 47

呆霸王调情遭苦打

冷郎君惧祸走他乡

Lady Wang hurries out to bring Lady Xing in, who receives a frosty reception when she pays her respects to Grandmother Jia. The others leave until they are alone: Grandmother Jia admonishes her for encouraging her husband, and for ignoring her own need of Faithful. She recalls everyone, and they play cards. Grandmother Jia wins, with Xifeng losing lots of money and resists paying up, causing all to laugh. Patience brings her money, and on her way out meets Lian, who has been sent by She to find Xing. She advises him not to enter due to Grandmother Jia’s mood. He peers in and, despite Xifeng signalling to him that he shouldn’t, enters. Grandmother Jia snaps at him and he bolts. Lady Xing exits with him, and returns home to report to She, who is mortified, and makes arrangements to purchase a different girl.

On the fourteenth, Grandmother Jia and others spend the day at Lai Da’s. Jia She is notably absent, and Xue Pan is excited to see an amateur actor, Liu Xianglian 柳湘莲, present, who he assumes shares his proclivities. He escapes from a distasteful Xue Pan, and is detained by Baoyu. They talk emotionally about Qin Zhong’s grave before Xianglian tries to leave, but Xue Pan finds him at the main gate. Revolted by his intimacy, he draws him aside and leads him on, inviting him to his place later before they rejoin the party. Xianglian leaves and waits outside; Xue follows soon after and leads him into the country. Xue begins to swear an oath when Xianglian strikes him; Xue lies prostate, and Xianglian whips him, drags him to muddy water and forces him to drink. He tries to make him eat his own vomit before riding away.

At the party, Cousin Zhen and the others seek them without success. Jia Rong and some boys are sent to track them down, and find Xue Pan. They work out what must have happened and mock him before sending for a chair to take him back. Cousin Zhen is unconcerned, but Aunt Xue, after finding Caltrop upset, is torn between anguish and anger, requiring Baochai to reassure her and stop her from pressing charges. She hopes that this might bring him to his senses. Xue Pan curses Xianglian, but Aunt Xue tells him that he had repented afterwards and fled the country.