Affection Moves a Younger Cousin through Deep Affection; A Mistake Leads an Elder Cousin to Advise a Brother in Error

After the Dowager and Lady Wang had left, Xiren sat down beside Baoyu and asked tearfully, "How did it come to such a beating?" Baoyu sighed, "It was all over those things—why ask? But the lower part hurts dreadfully. See how badly I'm hurt." Gently, Xiren reached under his clothes to remove his undergarment. At the slightest movement, Baoyu gritted his teeth and groaned. She had to stop and try three or four times before she could get it off. She saw that from his thighs down there were black-and-blue welts, swollen to the width of four fingers. She gritted her teeth, "Heavens! How could he strike so hard! If you had listened to me just once, you wouldn't be in this state. Thank goodness the bones aren't broken—if you were crippled, what would become of us?"

Just then the maids announced, "Miss Baochai is here." Knowing there was no time to put his undergarment back on, Xiren covered Baoyu with a light gauze quilt. Baochai entered, carrying a pill in her hand, and said to Xiren, "Grind this with wine tonight and apply it to his bruises—it will disperse the heat and toxins and he'll recover." She handed it to Xiren and asked, "Is he feeling any better?" Baoyu thanked her and said he was better, offering her a seat. Seeing him speak with his eyes open and not as dazed as before, Baochai felt somewhat relieved. She nodded and sighed, "If you had listened to advice earlier, you wouldn't be in this state. Not only does the Dowager and your mother grieve—even we feel for you." She stopped mid-sentence, regretting her haste, and blushed, lowering her head. Baoyu, hearing such warm, meaningful words, saw her hesitate and blush, shyly fingering her sash—a picture of tender grace. His heart swelled, and his pain was forgotten. He thought, "I've only been beaten a few times, and already they show such pity. If I died suddenly, how much more would they grieve! If I could die and have them feel so, even if all my ambitions came to nothing, I'd have no regrets—I'd die a happy ghost." Baochai asked Xiren, "What made him so angry that he beat him?" Xiren told her what Beiming had said. Baoyu, who hadn't known about Jia Huan's part, learned it from her. Fearing Baochai might be upset if薛蟠 was implicated, he interrupted, "Brother Xue would never do such a thing—don't make wild guesses." Baochai understood he was shielding her feelings and thought, "Even in such pain, he's still so considerate—he cares about us. But if he put that thought into more important matters, his father would be pleased and he wouldn't suffer. Yet he's right to fear my suspicion—I know my brother's reckless, thoughtless nature. He caused a great fuss over Qin Zhong—now he's even worse." She smiled, "Don't blame this or that person. I think it's because Baoyu has been careless and associated with those people that his father was angry. Even if my brother spoke carelessly and mentioned him, he didn't mean to stir trouble—he speaks whatever's on his mind. You, Xiren, have only seen Baoyu's careful ways—you've never met someone who fears nothing and says exactly what he thinks." Xiren, realizing she had misspoken and fearing Baochai might be offended, felt ashamed and was silent. Baoyu, hearing Baochai's words—partly righteous, partly to reassure him—felt even more at ease. He was about to speak when Baochai rose, "I'll come see you tomorrow. Rest well. I've given the medicine to Xiren—apply it tonight and you'll be better." She left. Xiren saw her out, "You've gone to such trouble. When Baoyu recovers, he'll thank you in person." Baochai turned with a smile, "No need for thanks. Just tell him to rest quietly and not let his mind wander. Don't disturb the Dowager or Lady Wang—if word reaches your master, though he may say nothing now, it could cause more trouble later." She left.

Xiren returned, grateful to Baochai. Seeing Baoyu lying silent, half-asleep, she went out to wash. Baoyu lay in a daze; his buttocks ached as if pierced with needles and burned with heat. Even turning slightly made him groan. Dusk fell. Seeing Xiren gone, with two or three maids attending, he said, "Go and wash—I'll call when I need you." They withdrew.

In a haze, Baoyu dreamed that Jiang Yuhan came, telling of the Prince's men seizing him, and Jinchuan weeping that she had drowned because of him. Half-asleep, he took little notice. Then he felt someone shake him, and heard sobbing. He woke with a start—it was Lin Daiyu. Fearing it was still a dream, he raised himself to look. Her eyes were swollen like peaches, her face tear-streaked—it was indeed Daiyu. He tried to look closer, but the pain was unbearable; he groaned and fell back. "Why have you come?" he sighed. "Though the sun has set, the ground is still hot—you'll get heatstroke. I'm not really in pain; I'm just pretending to fool them, so they'll tell my father. Don't take it seriously." Daiyu, though not wailing, was weeping silently—even more distressing. She had a thousand words, but could only choke out, "From now on, you must change!" Baoyu sighed, "Don't worry—even if I died for them, I'd die happy." Before he finished, someone outside said, "Second Mistress is here." Daiyu knew it was Xifeng and rose, "I'll go out the back and come back later." Baoyu held her, "How strange—why fear her?" Daiyu stamped her foot, "Look at my eyes—she'll tease me." Baoyu let go, and Daiyu slipped out the back as Xifeng entered. "Feeling better?" Xifeng asked. "What would you like to eat? Just say the word." Then Aunt Xue arrived, and soon the Dowager sent people.

By lamplight, Baoyu drank only two spoonfuls of soup and fell asleep. Then Zhou Rui's wife, Wu Xindeng's wife, Zheng Haoshi's wife—older women who often visited—came to see him. Xiren welcomed them, whispering, "You're a step too late—he's just fallen asleep." She led them to another room for tea. They sat a while and said, "When he wakes, tell him we called." Xiren agreed and saw them out. As she returned, a servant from Lady Wang came saying, "The lady wants one of Baoyu's attendants." Xiren thought a moment, then whispered to Qingwen, Sheyue, Tanyun, and Qiowen, "The lady wants me—mind the room." She went with the servant to Lady Wang's quarters.

Lady Wang sat on a cool couch, fanning herself. "Why not send anyone else? You've left him alone," she said. Xiren smiled, "He's sleeping soundly now, and the other maids are capable. I feared you might have instructions that they might not understand clearly." Lady Wang said, "Nothing much—just how is his pain?" Xiren said, "Miss Baochai's medicine has been applied—he's better than before. He was in too much pain to lie still, but now he's sleeping deeply." Lady Wang asked if he had eaten. Xiren said, "The Dowager sent soup, but he only drank a little. He was thirsty and wanted sour plum soup. But sour plum is astringent; after a beating, with all that heat and blood trapped inside, I feared it might cause more trouble, so I persuaded him to take some rose syrup instead. He had half a bowl but found it cloying." Lady Wang said, "You should have told me. The other day someone sent two bottles of aromatic essence—I was saving them for him but feared he'd waste them. Since he finds the rose syrup too sweet, take two bottles. A teaspoon in a bowl of water is wonderfully fragrant." She called Caiyun to fetch them. Xiren said, "Just two bottles—more would be wasted. If he needs more, we can ask." Caiyun returned with two small glass bottles, about three inches high, with silver screw caps and pale yellow labels: "Osmanthus Essence" and "Rose Essence." Xiren laughed, "What precious things—so tiny!" Lady Wang said, "They're tribute—didn't you see the yellow labels? Keep them safe." Xiren was about to leave when Lady Wang called, "Wait—I want to ask you something."

Seeing no one else, Lady Wang said, "I heard that Baoyu's beating was because Huan'er said something to his father. Did you hear anything? Tell me—I won't reveal it." Xiren said, "I heard it was because he kept an actor and the Prince's men came to demand him." Lady Wang shook her head, "That too—but there was more." Xiren said, "I don't know the rest. But if I may be bold..." She hesitated. Lady Wang said, "Speak freely." Xiren said, "If you'll forgive me—I think our master should discipline Baoyu. If he doesn't, who knows what he'll do." Lady Wang clasped her hands, "Amitabha! You understand—just as I do. I know how to raise sons; when your elder brother Zhu was alive, I was strict. But now I'm nearly fifty, and he's my only one—delicate, and the Dowager dotes on him. If I were too harsh and something happened, or the Dowager fell ill, all would be chaos. So I've spoiled him. I often scold him and weep, but it does no good. If he's ruined, who will I depend on?" She wept.

Xiren, moved, wept too. "I'm always advising him, but he won't listen. Those people keep drawing him in. I've been meaning to ask your advice, but feared you'd suspect me." Lady Wang said, "Speak freely. I've heard only praise of you—I thought you just served him well. But your words show great wisdom. Tell me anything, but don't let others know." Xiren said, "I only want to ask: couldn't you find a way to move him out of the garden?" Lady Wang was startled, "Has he done something wrong?" Xiren said, "No—it's my humble opinion. He and the young ladies are grown now. Though they're cousins, there's a difference between men and women. It's not proper for them to sit together day and night—it's worrying, and outsiders might talk. As the saying goes, 'In times of peace, think of trouble.' Many careless people cause problems without meaning to, but the sharp-eyed see it and spread rumors. Your son's temper is known to you—he likes to play among us. If any slip occurs, true or false, gossip will follow. If he's praised, all is well; if blamed, his reputation is ruined, and you'd have to answer to his father. Better to prevent it. I've been worrying day and night, but dared not speak." Lady Wang was thunderstruck, reminded of Jinchuan. She was deeply moved, "My child, you're so thoughtful! I've thought of it too but forgot. You've reminded me—you've preserved our reputation. Go now—I know what to do. And one more thing: since you've spoken so, I entrust him to you. Guard him well—guard him and you guard me. I won't forget."

Xiren agreed and returned. Baoyu had woken, and she told him about the essence. Delighted, he had some mixed and found it wonderfully fragrant. Thinking of Daiyu, he wanted to send someone but feared Xiren. He sent Xiren to borrow a book from Baochai. When she left, he told Qingwen, "Go see what Miss Lin is doing. If she asks, say I'm better." Qingwen said, "Why go for no reason? I should have something to say." Baoyu said, "There's nothing." Qingwen said, "Then send something—or I won't know how to begin." Baoyu thought, took two old handkerchiefs, and gave them to her, "Say I sent these." Qingwen said, "Why old handkerchiefs? She'll be angry and think you're teasing her." Baoyu smiled, "Don't worry—she'll understand."

Qingwen took them to the Xiaoxiang Pavilion. Chunxian was drying handkerchiefs on the railing and waved her in, saying, "She's asleep." The room was dark, no lamp lit. Daiyu called from the bed, "Who is it?" Qingwen said, "It's me." "What do you want?" "Second Master sent these handkerchiefs for you." Puzzled, Daiyu asked, "Who gave them to him? They must be fine ones—tell him to give them to someone else. I don't need them now." Qingwen said, "They're not new—just old ones." Daiyu pondered deeply, then understood. "Leave them and go," she said. Qingwen left, wondering what it meant.

Daiyu, grasping the meaning, felt her soul stir: Baoyu's thoughtfulness showed he understood her—she was glad. Yet she didn't know how it would end—sad. A sudden gift of old handkerchiefs, without meaning, would be laughable. The secret exchange was frightening. And her own weeping felt foolish—shameful. Her heart churned. She called for a lamp, and regardless of propriety, wrote on the handkerchiefs:

Empty eyes store tears that fall in vain—
For whom are these secret tears shed?
A foot of fine silk, sent to comfort me—
How can I not be moved to grief?

Like pearls or jade, my secret tears fall;
All day I'm listless, all day at ease.
On pillow and sleeve, I cannot wipe them dry—
Let them leave their spots and stains.

No coloured thread can gather these pearls on my face;
The old traces by the Xiang River are dim.
Before my window stand a thousand bamboos—
Do they not bear the stain of fragrant tears?

She would have written more, but felt hot and flushed. Looking in the mirror, her cheeks were red as peach-blossom—though she didn't realize illness was taking root. She lay down, still thinking of the handkerchiefs.

Xiren, finding Baochai not in the garden but at her mother's, returned empty-handed. At the second watch, Baochai returned. She had suspected Xue Pan of stirring trouble, and Xiren's words confirmed it. But Beiming's guess was only speculation—yet the blame fell on Xue Pan, who had such a reputation, though this time he was innocent. That evening, returning drunk, he saw his mother and sister. When he asked about Baoyu's beating, his mother scolded, "It's all your doing!" Xue Pan was stunned, "What did I do?" His mother said, "Everyone knows you told." Xue Pan said, "If everyone says I killed someone, will you believe it?" His mother said, "Even your sister says it was you." Baochai urged calm and said, "Whether you said it or not, it's over. Don't make a small thing big. I only advise you to stay out of trouble and meddling. You're careless—if anything happens, even if it wasn't you, everyone will suspect you." Xue Pan, hot-tempered, raged at being blamed. "Who's slandering me? I'll knock their teeth out! Just because Baoyu was beaten, they use me as a scapegoat. If he's a heavenly king, let his father beat him—why drag me in?" He grabbed a door-bar and would have run out, but his mother held him, "Wretch! Who are you going to hit? Hit me first!" Xue Pan, eyes like copper coins, shouted, "What's the point? If he lives, I'll bear the blame. Let's all die!" Baochai said, "Be patient. Look at Mother. Instead of soothing her, you rage. Even if others advise you, it's for your good." Xue Pan said, "You only blame me—not his scandalous ways. That actor Qi Guan—we've met ten times, and I never spoke a kind word to him. Yet Baoyu, not knowing his name, gave him his sash. Is that my doing?" His mother and sister said, "That's why he was beaten—so you did tell!" Xue Pan, furious, said, "I'm not angry at being blamed—I'm angry at all this fuss over Baoyu." Baochai said, "Who made a fuss? You're the one waving weapons." Xue Pan, unable to argue, tried to hurt her with words. "Don't quarrel with me. I know your heart. Mother said your gold needs jade to match—you've set your heart on Baoyu and protect him." Baochai, stunned, wept to her mother, "Did you hear what he said?" Xue Pan, realizing his error, stalked off.

His mother, shaking with anger, comforted Baochai, "I'll make him apologize." Baochai, full of shame and anger, but fearing her mother's distress, left and wept all night. The next morning, listless and unkempt, she went to see her mother, passing Daiyu standing in the shade. When Daiyu asked where she was going, Baochai said, "Home." Seeing her downcast, her eyes red, Daiyu called after her, "Take care of yourself. Even two jars of tears won't heal a beaten back." How Baochai answered, we shall hear in the next chapter.