Chapter 104 - supercondensed

The Drunken Diamond’s animosity towards the Jias is stoked after Jia Yun cannot get him off after he insults Yucun. Zheng returns to Rongguo after being told to be stricter with his family at the Palace. Baoyu wants to write an ode to Daiyu, and asks Aroma to fetch Nightingale, although she is shunning him.

Chapter 104

醉金刚小鳅生大浪

痴公子馀痛触前情

The runner tells Yucun that the temple is on fire; surprised and uneasy, he asks him to stay behind to look out for the old Daoist, before he gets onto the ferry. At the next village, Ni Er the drunkard staggers in front of his sedan and is whipped and taken to the yamen. Word reaches Ni Er’s family, who count Jia Yun amongst their friends. They call on Yun, who promises to get him off, but he is humiliated to be rebuffed by the stewards at Rongguo. He tries to get in the back, but finds it locked, and laments Xifeng’s venality. He lies to the Nis to save face; they find someone else to assist Er and he is released. His animosity towards the Jias is stoked when he hears how little Yun was able to assist, and he swears to spread the rumours he’s heard about the family’s misdeeds.

Back home, Yucun’s wife rebukes him for not having gone back for the Daoist. The runner arrives with his report – no trace of the Daoist was found. At the Cabinet Office, he meets Jia Zheng who is appealing for clemency. While in the Emperor’s presence, Zheng is asked about the misdemeanours of two distantly related Jias, which he thinks bodes ill. He also learns of irregularities at Ningguo, and is advised by ministers to be stricter with his family. Back at Rongguo, the favourable outcome of his audience and news that Tanchun may move back calms Grandmother Jia, and Zheng is pleased to see an outward improvement in Baoyu. Noting Daiyu’s absence, Lady Wang tells him she is ill, but tells him of her death later at the homecoming feast; neither can contain their tears. The next day, after a short ceremony, he warns Zhen to exercise greater diligence.

Meanwhile Baoyu, upset to think of Daiyu, returns home from the family gathering, and requests some time alone from Baochai to concentrate his thoughts. He asks Aroma to fetch Nightingale – who has turned her back on Baoyu for marrying Baochai – as he wants her help to write an ode to Daiyu. He explains to Aroma his confusion and regret over Daiyu’s final days, even his doubts that she is even dead. Aroma agrees to speak with Nightingale the next day, despite his impatience. Musk arrives from Baochai to call Baoyu to bed, teasing them saucily. That night, Baoyu cannot sleep; the next day he learns that there is to be a theatre party to honour Zheng’s return.

Chapter 103 - supercondensed

Jingui has died from poisoning; Caltrop and Moonbeam blame each other and are bound. Jingui’s illbred family arrives, and a fight escalates. Moonbeam asks for Caltrop to be released – Jingui drank poisoned soup intended for her. Jia Yucun encounters Zhen Shiyin, now a monk in a dilapidated temple.

Chapter 103

施毒计金桂自焚身

昧真禅雨村空遇旧

Lady Wang and Lian agree that it is better for Zheng – he is not suited to a provincial post, and is being exploited by all his subordinates. A distressed old woman enters from the Xues – Jingui is dead. Lian is sent to investigate, and Aunt Xue explains how she appeared to die from poisoning after Moonbeam made soup for her and Caltrop; both maids blame the other, and have been locked together. Baochai arrives and they discuss the situation, deciding to bind both maids. Jingui’s mother and adopted brother San, who she was trying to seduce, arrive at the Xues while Lian goes to enlist support at the Board of Punishment. Jingui’s ill bred mother starts abusing and slandering Aunt Xue; Zhou Rui’s wife intervenes and Xia San joins in. Lian arrives, stopping the fight, and Jingui’s mother goes in to see her body. She lunges at Caltrop, but when Moonbeam reveals that Jingui had been taking her jewellery home, the Jias accuse Jingui’s mother of being a thief. She turns on Moonbeam, who in turn asks that Caltrop is released – she explains that she had switched the bowls for Caltrop and Jingui round, and that Jingui must have been planning to poison Caltrop. The story is plausible, and Caltrop is released. With the Xias under suspicion, they are forced to request for the inquest to be dispensed with.

Jia Yucun is conducting a rural tax collection, when he encounters a Daoist in a dilapidated temple; he feels a strange familiarity. The monk’s propensity for puns and references leads him Yucun to recognise him as Zhen Shiyin; however, he does not show any reciprocal recognition, and a reluctant Yucun moves on. Reaching a ferry, he turns and sees someone running towards him.

Chapter 102 - supercondensed

Tanchun leaves; Youshi falls ill after walking in the garden. Fearing spirits, it is abandoned and locked. Even Jia She is shaken by its oppression, and arranges an unconvincing exorcism. Zheng has been impeached, his reputation is ruined.

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 - supercondensed

Xifeng is petrified to see the ghost of Qinshi in the garden. Lian is trying to help her badly behaved brother Wang Ren. Xifeng finally arranges for Fivey to work for Baoyu. A nun invites Xifeng to a service. Despite her previous scepticism, she prays and has her fortune read; only Baochai interprets it negatively.