Chapter 100 - supercondensed

Pan is to be executed; Zheng is not implicated. Jingui’s attempts to seduce Ke result in further resentment of Caltrop. Despite the long distance, Lady Wang and Lady Jia trust Zheng’s judgement and make arrangements for Tanchun’s wedding. Baoyu talks to her and relapses, distressed that all his cousins are leaving.

Chapter 100

破好事香菱结深恨

悲远嫁宝玉感离情

Li Shi rushes in to see Zheng after his meeting with the Viceroy; it transpires that the meeting was because Viceroy is related to Tanchun’s suitor, and Li Shi rejoices. Zheng sends a servant home to enquire after the Xue Pan affair (he is not implicated) and to ask Tanchun to join him.

Aunt Xue’s bribes are in vain; she is distraught to hear that Pan is to be executed by strangulation. Baochai tries to comfort her despite her own distress; fate was against them. Aunt Xue explains that the family businesses have been ruined, but Baochai encourages her not to worry. Jingui enters fleetingly, hysterical, and scaring Baoqin.

Jingui continues trying to seduce Ke; his lack of interest encourages her further and his favour for Caltrop makes her jealous. Moonbeam and Jingui find him drunk one evening, having had their wine spurned by him; just as Jingui escalates her seduction, Caltrop arrives and Ke escapes; Jingui’s resentment of her now festers.

Lady Wang and Grandmother Jia discuss Tanchun’s suitor, who they haven’t met. Lady Jia is concerned about the distances involved, but they haven’t seen Yingchun, who married locally and is suffering greatly, either. They trust Zheng’s judgement and set about the arrangements, which saddens Baochai, although Aunt Zhao, who resents Tanchun’s favourable treatment, is delighted. She goes to ‘congratulate’ Tanchun and thoroughly depresses her; Tanchun goes to see Baoyu. He asks her about the music she heard when Daiyu died. Thinking of Daiyu’s ethereal beauty, he asks for Nightingale after Tanchun leaves; she reluctantly complies. His emotions vary wildly, thinking of Daiyu’s fate and Tanchun’s forthcoming wedding. He relapses, distressed that all his cousins are leaving him. Baochai is firm with him before Aroma can humour him. Grandmother Jia instructs Aroma to comfort him after his relapse; she also orders Xifeng to assemble Tanchun’s effects for her journey.

Chapter 99 - supercondensed

The household soon celebrates the marriage’s formal consummation. The garden is now abandoned. Zheng’s staff in his new posting rebel at his inflexibility, and he is soon corrupted. He receives a proposal of marriage for Tanchun, and is distressed to read about further wrongdoing in Pan’s case which could implicate him.

Chapter 99

守官箴恶奴同破例

阅邸报老舅自担惊

Aunt Xue and Grandmother Jia laugh at Xifeng’s story about observing Baoyu and Baochai’s foibles, before conversation turns to Daiyu’s memory. They soon celebrate the marriage’s formal, if not actual, consummation. Aroma gradually stops taking Baoyu to task about his dulled wits; the maids are obedient to Baochai. Baoyu is restless and wants to go to the Garden, which he is forbidden to do. Everyone has now moved out of the Garden.

Zheng has arrived in his provincial posting; his inflexible nature grates with the corrupt clerks, servants and bureaucrats, who tender their resignations. A porter, Li Shi 李十, leads a cunning rebellion amongst the staff; all the yamen services slacken off, and Zheng, after Li’s counsel, finds himself corrupted in order to pay them off and secure his position. Li earns Zheng’s faith, and, with Zheng’s superlative reputation, the yamen appears to be running smoothly.

Zheng soon receives a proposal of marriage for Tanchun from an old Southern acquaintance.  While considering it, his eye alights upon Xue Pan’s in the newspaper; it reports that Pan had connived with the deceased’s relatives to reduce the charge. Zheng recalls that it was his pressure on the local magistrate that reversed the verdict. Not only could he be implicated, but the magistrate could lose his job. He scans more copies of the Gazette, but there is no more mention of the case. The Viceroy arrives, but Zheng’s mind is elsewhere; Li Shi tries to reassure him that, as a lot of bribes were involved, officials are unlikely to admit to wrongdoing and it’ll wash over.

Chapter 98 - supercondensed

The newlyweds undergo formalities while Baoyu deteriorates; Baochai disobeys orders and tells him that Daiyu has died. He howls with grief and has a vision, but gradually improves. Daiyu had died during the wedding, and Baoyu’s recovery is helped by seeing her corpse. Lady Jia is distraught, blaming herself.

Chapter 98

苦绛珠魂归离恨天

病神瑛泪洒相思地

Baoyu’s illness lasts several days; he can neither eat nor recognise others. Despite this, the couple visit the bride’s family as a formality. Baochai and Aunt Xue, knowing the truth, regret giving their consent to the wedding but stay silent. His condition continues to deteriorate, causing a frantic search for a doctor capable of diagnosing it. One does, eventually, and his prescription takes effect quickly. Now comprehending the situation, Baoyu begs Aroma to arrange for him and Daiyu to be cared for together as they die. Baochai takes him to task for this talk, before telling him that Daiyu has already died. He howls in grief, seeing only pitch black; he suddenly finds himself talking to a stranger on the Road to the Nether World. He asks after Daiyu – she has returned to the Land of Illusion, and he must self-cultivate if he is to see her again. The man throws a stone at Baoyu’s chest, and he returns. Baochai had disobeyed Grandmother Jia’s orders to keep Daiyu’s death from him as she knew her to be the real cause of the illness, not the jade; she is reproached, but as he comes to, the doctor finds him much improved. Baochai ignores the others’ criticisms and keeps a close watch on Baoyu, with Aroma regularly consoling him. His mind gradually eases and Baochai calms; she proves a reliable and devoted wife, and part of his love for Daiyu begins to transfer to her.

On the wedding day, Daiyu has improved by the evening, but drifts in and out of consciousness. Li Wan returns to her apartment; Daiyu opens her eyes and grasps Nightingale’s hand, she asks to be buried at home. Tanchun and Li Wan arrive; weeping, they wash the lifeless Daiyu, who suddenly cries out for Baoyu. She breaks out into a cold sweat, and dies at the very moment that Baoyu takes Baochai as his wife. All present wail in their grief, hearing brief snatches of music in the silences of the desolate night. The body is laid out, and Xifeng told the next morning. With everyone else busy and distraught, she faces a dilemma, but decides to tell Grandmother Jia as soon as possible. She is distraught, believing herself to blame. To distract her, Xifeng takes to her to see Baoyu, who claims that Daiyu has told him she is leaving for the South. She tells Baochai of Daiyu’s death, and Baochai begins to rack her brains for a cure for Baoyu. After his recovery, he insists on going to see Daiyu’s corpse; the doctor feels it may help and so Grandmother Jia assents. He goes, and he and all who accompany weep bitterly. He speaks with Nightingale, softening somewhat her damning opinion of him; she gives a full account of the death. The strain of the grief causes Grandmother Jia a feverishness; Baoyu, with Baochai taking him to task, soon learns to moderate his grief. Tended by all around him, he returns to full strength. With the mourning for Yuanchun over, Lady Jia tells Aunt Xue that they should celebrate the consummation; it should be a proper party to put an end to all the troubles. Xifeng enters, and begins to tell a joke.

Chapter 97 - supercondensed

The wedding plans are approved and progress despite concern for Daiyu’s health. Daiyu burns her poems, too weak to rip them. Li Wan frets about her, rallying her maids. Snowgoose is summoned to play a part in the elaborate wedding deception. Baoyu is bewildered to lift his bride’s veil and see Baochai; he suffers a relapse.