Chapter 93 - supercondensed

Jia She takes Baoyu to a theatre party, where he is delighted to watch Jiang Yuhan; Lian and Zheng worry about missing rent and staff negligence. Zheng finds more about Zhen Baoyu from a new servant. Lian questions Jia Qin as well-founded allegations of sordid activity in the nunnery are investigated.

Chapter 93

甄家仆投靠贾家门

水月庵掀翻风月案

Zheng and She discuss an invitation to see a new company of actors before dealing with other business, including rent collectors returned from the Rongguo estate, and parting. The rent collectors then explain to Lian that the rents had been seized by a patrol in transit. Lian sends a note to the responsible yamen, before looking for two unaccountably absent servants. The next day, Zheng is busy so asks She to take Baoyu to the Earl of Lin’an’s 临安伯 theatre party. After paying their respects to the Earl, the troupe manager asks She and Baoyu to choose their favourite plays; while choosing, he notices that it is Jiang Yuhan. When Jiang goes backstage, the guests gossip about him. The show starts and is exquisite; She makes motions to leave but is persuaded to stay by the Earl, to Baoyu’s delight. He is entranced by Jiang’s performance in the next piece but has to leave with She promptly after. Back at Rongguo, Baoyu goes to see Zheng who is discussing the rent collectors with Lian – it seems the patrol had no warrant, so it was certainly a case of corruption. Lian leaves, and orders a general assembly of the staff to reprimand absenteeism and negligence.

A man from the Zhen family in the South arrives with a note for Zheng from his master, Zhen Yingjia 甄应嘉. Zhen has been banished to the frontier and has sent the man, Bao Yong 包勇, to the Jias for employment. Bao pays his respects to Zheng and is questioned about Zhen and his son Baoyu. Bao reports that he had previously just played before a serious illness, after which he has become single mindedly studious. This silences Zheng, who dismisses Bao until a post can be found for him.

The next morning, on his way to work, Jia Zheng encounters servants huddled round a note which has been pinned up alleging sordid activities by Jia Qin in the Iron Threshold nunnery, disgracing Rongguo. Furious, he has the town searched for similar notices and discusses it with Lian. A note arrives for Zheng personally with similar allegations; he orders Lai Da to fetch all the nuns. The novices, having not been called upon by Yuanchun for some time, have indeed slackened, and Jia Qin had taken a fancy to Parfumée. When she proved devout, he found others who were more cooperative. That day, he has arrived at noon with their allowance, encouraging them, along with some of Watermoon Priory, into a lengthy session of drinking games when Lai Da arrives. Despite his rage at the incipient orgy, Lai Da calmly gathers the novices, saying they are wanted at the Palace. While waiting for Lai, Zheng is called to the Board, Lian returns to his apartment, and rumours have spread amongst the servants. Xifeng, ill and doubly anxious due to her own unscrupulous dealings at Watermoon Priory, interrogates Patience about the posters, panicking Xifeng until Patience clarifies that it concerns Iron Threshold. Xifeng washes her hands of responsibility for Jia Qin. Soon after Lian enters, Lai returns with Jia Qin. Qin, told to wait in the inner library, notices the servants muttering. When Lian meets him, he soon sighs with the realisation that his childhood friend Qin doesn’t know the real reason for his summons. Shown one of the posters, he protests his innocence and kowtows to Lian. Lian sees through it, but tells Qin to deny everything. Lai is summoned and tells Lian of the earlier scene he encountered, embarrassing Qin further. Lai agrees to spare Qin for the good of the family name. After leaving together, Lai asks Qin who could have written the poster, but he can think of no one.

Chapter 92 - supercondensed

Aroma warns Baoyu to be more discreet with Daiyu. Early for a party at Lady Jia’s, Baoyu goes over Qiaojie’s studies with her. Chess and her boyfriend have killed themselves dramatically; her mother appeals for help from Xifeng. Feng Ziying tries to see Zheng some curios; they discuss the Jias’ fortunes over dinner.

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 91 - supercondensed

Jingui and Moonbeam are both disappointed by Ke’s lack of interest, and change plans; Jingui becomes charming and Moonbeam demure. Further bribes are needed for Pan, the stress causing Baochai illness. A date for the official betrothal is agreed; Baoyu, sad to be out of touch with Baochai, discusses her with Daiyu.

Chapter 91

纵淫心宝蟾工设计

布疑阵宝玉妄谈禅

Ignoring the laughter, Ke soon hears a tapping at the window. A peephole has appeared; he puts his eye to it and receives a blast of air followed by more laughter. It is Moonbeam; Ke feigns sleep and ignores her, before another voice – possibly Jingui – calls him a spoilsport. He sleeps with no doubt as to their intentions. In the morning, Moonbeam appears at his door, seductively deshabille. Blushing, she takes away the sweetmeats. Ke washes, and decides to lie low at home to avoid Pan’s venal friends.

Meanwhile, Jingui is disappointed to have miscalculated about Ke’s susceptibility to her charms. Unknown to her, however, Moonbeam is also looking for a replacement for Pan, and also has her own designs on Ke. Her morning appearance has been carefully planned, but again he had been incorruptible, and she walks out in a huff. Jingui and Moonbeam plot together, revealing their shared aims. Moonbeam suggests that he’s just scared of being caught and that Jingui should have patience; get into his good books, then get him drunk and he’s hers. Later, when Moonbeam collects the wine jug, Ke feels some remorse for judging her a strumpet. She becomes demure to him, while Jingui is quiet and charming. Aunt Xue interprets this as a sign that Pan’s luck has turned. She goes to visit Jingui, and is introduced to her adopted brother Xia San 夏三. After Aunt Xue leaves, Jingui and San start plotting for him to buy her certain objects. He becomes a regular visitor.

A letter arrives from Pan: the circuit court has rejected the prefectural court’s verdict on account of malpractice. He asks them to make an immediate approach to the new court. Aunt Xue is very upset; Ke leaves immediately with money. The exhaustion and strain puts Baochai in a fever, exacerbating Aunt Xue’s upset. A doctor is called and Baochai soon improves, but the whole household soon hears and sends various remedies in order that Baoyu not find out about the illness. Ke sends a letter back – the official needs a more tangible incentive, and so they appeal to Zheng via Lady Wang. Talking about Baochai, they agree the betrothal should take place in the winter, and the marriage around Grandmother Jia’s birthday. The next day, this is proposed to Lady Jia, who has just agreed when Baoyu enters. He asks after Baochai and receives a short reply, and leaves for school perplexed by the lull his presence caused. That evening he goes to see Daiyu, who has just returned from seeing Aunt Xue at Lady Jia’s. Baoyu hopes he has not offended the Xues given his earlier experience, and is sorry he hasn’t visited her, let alone known about the illness. Daiyu doesn’t think he should take her for granted – not to visit her after how close they’ve become is bound to have offended her. After a bout of petulant existentialism, Daiyu brings Baoyu to his senses with an enlightening truth, and they continue their discussion of Baochai’s feelings towards Baoyu in a mock Zen inquisition. After he makes an enigmatic confession, Ripple runs into the room with urgent summons for Baoyu from Zheng.

Chapter 90 - supercondensed

All are greatly concerned for Daiyu and speculate wildly, but she improves after deducing that she could be Baoyu’s betrothed. Lady Jia orders the marriage be kept secret from Daiyu. Xifeng sends new clothes to Xiuyan, while Ke broods about her. His suspicions are aroused by Moonbeam flirting with him.