An Old Tutor’s Lesson Awakens a Playful Youth; Lin Daiyu Has a Nightmare and Is Frightened to the Soul

Bao-yu came home from school and first went to pay his respects to Grandmother Jia. She smiled and said, “Wonderful! At last the wild horse has been bridled and settled down. Go and see your father, then come back and rest as you please.”

Bao-yu assented and went to see Jia Zheng.

Jia Zheng asked, “Why are you back from school so early? Has the tutor set you any lessons?”

Bao-yu replied, “Yes. In the morning I review old texts; after breakfast I practice calligraphy; at noon I listen to explanations of the classics and recite essays.”

Jia Zheng nodded. “All right. Go and sit with your grandmother for a while. You should also learn something of how to conduct yourself in the world, instead of thinking only of play. Go to bed early tonight, and from now on get up early for school every day. Do you hear me?”

Bao-yu answered quickly and repeatedly, then withdrew. He hurried to pay his respects to Lady Wang, then made a brief appearance before Grandmother Jia.

Once out of the room, he wished he could fly straight to Bamboo Lodge. As soon as he entered, he clapped his hands and called out laughing, “I’m back again!” Daiyu was startled. Zijuan lifted the curtain, and Bao-yu went in and sat down.

Daiyu said, “I thought I heard you had gone to school. Why are you back so early?”

Bao-yu said, “Oh, it nearly wore me out! Today Father forced me to study, and I felt as if I had not seen any of you for ages. I barely endured the day, and now that I see you, it is almost like escaping death and coming back to life. The ancients said, ‘One day apart seems like three autumns.’ How true that is!”

Daiyu asked, “Have you paid your respects to all the elders?”

Bao-yu said, “I have been to them all.”

Daiyu said, “Are you not going to call on your other sisters?”

Bao-yu said, “I am too lazy to move about now. I only want to sit and talk with you. Father has ordered me to sleep early and rise early, so I shall visit them tomorrow.”

Daiyu said, “Then sit a while, but you ought to go back and rest.”

Bao-yu said, “I am not tired. I am simply depressed. Sitting with you loosens the gloom. Yet you keep urging me to leave.”

Daiyu smiled slightly and told Zijuan, “Brew a bowl of my Longjing tea for the Second Master. Now that he is studying, he cannot be treated as before.”

Zijuan smiled and agreed. She took out tea leaves and told a little maid to brew the tea.

Bao-yu sighed. “You still speak of studying. I hate those empty words of the moralists most of all. The most ridiculous thing is the eight-legged essay. If people use it to gain office and earn a living, that is one thing. But they also claim it speaks for the ancient sages. The better ones are merely patched together from lines in the classics. The more absurd ones know nothing real at all, yet drag things in from here and there, write something strange and outlandish, and fancy themselves profound. How can that be expounding the Way of the sages? Now Father forces me to learn this every day, and I dare not disobey. And still you mention studying to me.”

Daiyu said, “We girls do not have to take the examinations, but when I was little and studied with Mr. Jia Yucun, I read some eight-legged essays too. Some of them were reasonable and refined, with a clear and far-reaching spirit. I did not understand much then, but even I could see that some were well written. You cannot condemn them all alike. Besides, if you wish to win fame and office, this road is considered honorable and noble.”

Bao-yu felt very uncomfortable at these words. He thought to himself that Daiyu had never been one to think this way. Why was she now so full of official ambition and worldly success? Yet he could not very well contradict her to her face, so he only gave a faint laugh through his nose.

Just then, they heard Qiuwen and Zijuan talking outside. Qiuwen said, “Xiren sent me to Grandmother Jia’s place to fetch the Second Master, but who would have thought he was here?”

Zijuan said, “The tea has just been brewed. Let him finish it before he goes.”

The two came in together. Bao-yu smiled at Qiuwen and said, “I was just about to go back. I am sorry to have put you to the trouble of coming for me.”

Before Qiuwen could answer, Zijuan teased, “Drink your tea and hurry back. Everyone in your rooms has been thinking of you all day.”

Qiuwen spat. “Bah, you mischievous girl!” Everyone in the room laughed. Only then did Bao-yu rise and take his leave. Daiyu saw him to the door. Zijuan stood below the steps and did not return inside until he was far away.

When Bao-yu returned to Green Delights, Xiren came out from the inner room. “You are back?”

Qiuwen answered, “The Second Master came back long ago. He was just at Miss Lin’s.”

Bao-yu asked, “Has anything happened at home today?”

Xiren said, “Nothing else. Just now Lady Wang sent Yuanyang to tell us: now that the Master has made up his mind that you must study properly, if any maid dares to laugh and play with you again, she will be dealt with as Qingwen and Siqi were. After serving you all this time, to end up receiving such a warning—when I think of it, I feel truly miserable.” As she spoke, she could not help grieving.

Bao-yu quickly comforted her. “Good sister, set your mind at ease. I will study properly, and then Lady Wang will not blame you. Tonight I still have to read. Tomorrow the tutor will ask me to explain a lesson. If anything is needed, send Sheyue or Qiuwen. You rest well.”

Xiren said, “If you truly are willing to study, we will serve you gladly.”

Bao-yu hurried through dinner, had a lamp lit, and took out the Four Books he had already read. But he did not know where to begin. When he opened the book, superficially he seemed to understand it all, but when he looked closely he became muddled. One moment he read the text, the next the commentary and explanations, and he kept at it until deep into the night. He thought to himself: poetry and prose I can read with ease, but these classics make no sense to me at all. He sat there staring blankly.

Xiren urged him, “Rest a little. Studying diligently does not depend on this one moment.”

Bao-yu made a few careless replies. Sheyue and Xiren waited on him until he lay down, then they too went to rest.

After one sleep, Xiren heard Bao-yu tossing and turning in bed. She asked, “Are you still awake? Do not let your thoughts run wild. You need to preserve your strength if you are to study.”

Bao-yu said, “I want to sleep, but I cannot. Help me throw off one blanket.”

Xiren said, “The weather is not hot. Do not throw it off.”

Bao-yu said, “I feel terribly restless.” He pulled the blanket down himself. Xiren quickly sat up and held him, then reached out and touched his forehead. He was a little feverish.

Xiren said, “Do not move. You have a fever.”

Bao-yu said, “It is only from restlessness. It is nothing. Do not make a fuss, and whatever you do, do not let Father know. If he does, he will be sure to think I am pretending to be ill to escape school. How could I fall ill so conveniently? If I am better tomorrow, I shall go to school as usual and it will be fine.”

Xiren felt sorry for him. “I will lean here and sleep beside you for a while.” She rubbed his back, and before they knew it, both had fallen asleep.

The next day, when the sky was already bright, Bao-yu suddenly woke with a start. “Oh no, I am late!” He hurriedly washed and dressed, paid his respects, and rushed to the school.

The tutor Dai-ru already looked grim. “No wonder your father is angry and says you are good for nothing. On only your second day, you are already shirking. Look what time it is!”

Bao-yu explained that he had had a fever the night before, and only then was he allowed to pass. He sat down to study.

Before school ended that evening, Dai-ru said, “Bao-yu, choose a chapter and explain it.”

Bao-yu stepped forward and saw that it was the passage in the Analects beginning “The young should be regarded with awe.” He secretly breathed a sigh of relief: fortunately it was not from the Great Learning or the Doctrine of the Mean.

Dai-ru said, “Explain the general meaning and go through the sentences carefully.”

Bao-yu read it aloud, then began, “This chapter is the Sage urging young people to strive while they are young, and not to fall into…”

Here he looked up at the tutor. Dai-ru saw that he was hesitating and smiled. “Go on. In explaining a text, there is no need for taboo. The Book of Rites says that in expounding a passage one need not avoid such things. Not to fall into what?”

Bao-yu continued, “Not to end up old and having accomplished nothing. First he uses ‘the young should be regarded with awe’ to encourage young people to press forward, and then he uses ‘not worthy of awe’ to warn against failure in later years.” He looked at the tutor.

Dai-ru said, “The general idea is more or less acceptable. Now explain it all the way through.”

Bao-yu said, “The Sage says that when people are young, their minds are quick and their energy abundant, and their future is very much to be respected. No one can tell whether they may one day accomplish great things. But if they muddle along until forty or fifty and still have achieved nothing, then even if they seemed capable in youth, by that time they are no longer worthy of much regard.”

Dai-ru smiled. “The main point is not bad, but your understanding is childish. The words ‘not heard of’ in the text do not mean being unable to become an official. ‘Heard of’ means truly understanding the truth for oneself. Even if one does not hold office, one may still be a person of understanding and repute. In ancient times, many sages and worthies lived in retirement and did not become officials. Were they therefore unknown? ‘Not worthy of awe’ means that by then the outcome is already clear, corresponding to the earlier phrase ‘how can one know?’ It does not simply mean ‘afraid.’ Only when you understand this layer have you read it carefully. Do you understand?”

Bao-yu said, “I understand.”

Dai-ru turned another page and pointed to another passage. “Now explain this one.”

Bao-yu saw that it was “I have not seen one who loves virtue as he loves beauty.” The words touched his own heart, and he could only smile and say, “There is nothing much to explain in this one.”

Dai-ru scolded him. “Nonsense! If this appeared in the examinations, would you also say there was nothing to write?”

Bao-yu had no choice but to explain. “The Sage sighs that people in the world do not love virtue, but are exceedingly attached to beauty. Virtue is something people possess by nature, yet they do not value it. Beauty is also a natural human liking, but virtue is Heavenly Principle, while beauty is human desire. Few in the world can honor Heavenly Principle as much as they indulge desire. Confucius’s words are both a sigh and a hope that people will awaken. Many people praise virtue with their lips, but only superficially. To love virtue as truly as one loves beauty—that is real goodness.”

Dai-ru said, “That is more or less passable. But I ask you: since you understand the principle, why do you yourself suffer from these two faults? Even if your father had not told me, I would know all your problems. A person must always strive to improve. You are now at the age of ‘the young should be regarded with awe.’ Whether you amount to anything in the future depends entirely on you. I give you one month to go over all the old texts you have studied until you understand them thoroughly, and another month to practice essays. After that I will set topics for you to write on. If you dare to be lazy or negligent, I will not forgive you. The old saying goes, ‘If you wish to become accomplished, you must not seek ease; seeking ease prevents accomplishment.’ Keep that firmly in mind.”

Bao-yu could only agree. From then on he studied hard according to his lessons, and we shall say no more of it for now.

After Bao-yu went to school, Green Delights became much quieter. Xiren had time for needlework. She planned to embroider an areca-nut pouch. Thinking that Bao-yu now had proper lessons and that the maids no longer had to spend every day playing with him and getting into trouble, she sighed inwardly. If things had been like this earlier, Qingwen would not have come to such a miserable end. Like the fox grieving for the hare, she unknowingly shed tears.

Then she thought that after all she was only Bao-yu’s concubine, not his lawful wife. Bao-yu’s temper was easy enough to manage, but if in the future he married a fierce principal wife, her own fate might be as wretched as that of Second Sister You or Xiangling. From the way Grandmother Jia, Lady Wang, and Wang Xifeng usually spoke and behaved, Bao-yu’s future wife would most likely be Daiyu. But Daiyu was sensitive and suspicious. At this thought, Xiren became so agitated that she did not even notice the needle piercing her hand. She put down her work and decided to go to Bamboo Lodge to sound out Daiyu’s feelings.

Daiyu was reading. When she saw Xiren, she half rose and offered her a seat. Xiren quickly greeted her. “Has Miss been feeling any better these days?”

Daiyu said, “How could I be completely well? I am only a little more spirited. What have you been busy with at home?”

Xiren said, “The Second Master has gone to school, and the courtyard is quiet. I came especially to chat with Miss.” Zijuan served tea.

Xiren stood up politely. “Sit down, sister. A few days ago I heard Qiuwen say that you had been talking about us behind our backs?”

Zijuan said with a smile, “Do not believe her nonsense, sister! I only said that now the Second Master has gone to school, Miss Bao does not come often, and Xiangling does not visit either, so Miss must be lonely.”

Xiren sighed. “You mention Xiangling—she has a hard life. With such a shrewish mistress, how could her days be easy? She held up two fingers. “Speaking of it, that mistress is fiercer than most and cares nothing for decency.”

Daiyu said, “Xiangling has indeed suffered. Was not Second Sister You killed by her?”

Xiren said, “Exactly. We are all human, only our positions differ. Why must some be so cruel? When word gets out, it ruins their own reputation too.”

Daiyu rarely heard Xiren speak ill of others in private. She sensed there was something behind her words and said, “In a family like this, either the east wind prevails over the west wind, or the west wind prevails over the east wind.”

Xiren said, “Those who are concubines are already humble and timid at heart. How would they dare bully others?”

Just then, outside the courtyard gate, an old woman asked, “Is this Miss Lin’s room? Is there a sister inside?”

Xueyan went out and recognized her as a serving woman from Aunt Xue’s household. “What is it?”

The old woman said, “Our young lady sent me to bring something to Miss Lin.”

Xueyan said, “Wait a moment.” She went in and reported to Daiyu, who told her to bring the woman in.

The old woman entered and made her salutation. Instead of immediately taking out the gift, she stared at Daiyu from head to toe, making Daiyu quite uncomfortable. Daiyu asked, “What has Miss Bao sent you to bring me?”

Only then did the old woman answer with a smile, “Our young lady sent Miss a bottle of candied lychees.” Then she noticed Xiren and asked, “Is this Miss Hua from Master Bao’s quarters?”

Xiren said, “How does Auntie know me?”

The old woman smiled. “I usually keep watch at the gate in Her Ladyship’s courtyard and seldom go out with the masters, but I remember the faces of all the young ladies. When you sometimes come to our side, I notice you.” She handed the porcelain bottle to Xueyan, then turned to look at Daiyu again and said casually to Xiren, “No wonder Mrs. Xue says Miss Lin and Master Bao were made for each other. She really does look like a fairy.”

Xiren found her words rude and tactless and quickly changed the subject. “Auntie has had a long walk. Sit down and have a cup of tea.”

The old woman said cheerfully, “I am busy at home, busy seeing to Miss Qin’s affairs. There are two more bottles of lychees to be sent to Master Bao.” With that, she tremblingly took her leave.

Daiyu disliked the old woman’s rudeness, but since the gift was from Baochai, she could not show her anger. Only after the woman had gone out did she say casually, “Thank your young lady for her trouble.”

As the old woman went out, she was still muttering, “Such a pretty girl—who but Bao-yu could be worthy of her?” Daiyu pretended not to hear.

Xiren said with a smile, “Some people, when they grow old, lose all sense of propriety. It is both annoying and laughable to hear them.” Xueyan brought the bottle of lychees over. Daiyu said, “I do not want any. Put it away.” The two chatted a while longer, and then Xiren went back.

Soon it was evening. Daiyu prepared to remove her makeup and rest. When she went into the inner room, she looked up and saw the bottle of lychees. She could not help recalling the old woman’s idle talk that day, every word of which had stung her.

As dusk deepened into night, countless sorrows surged up in her heart. She thought of her frail health and her growing years. Bao-yu might have only her in his heart, but Grandmother Jia and her aunts had never once mentioned their marriage. She felt bitter regret: if only her parents were alive, they could have settled the match early. Then she thought again: if her parents were alive, they might have betrothed her to someone else. Where else could she find a man as good in character and appearance as Bao-yu? At least now there was still a thread of hope.

Her heart turned back and forth in confusion, like a well windlass turning round and round. She sighed, wept silently, and had no spirit for anything. She lay down without undressing.

Half asleep, she seemed to see a little maid come in and announce, “Mr. Jia Yucun is outside asking to see Miss.”

Daiyu thought: I studied with him, but I am a girl. Why should he see me? Besides, he only associates with my uncles. He has never asked to see me. It would not be proper for me to go out. She told the maid, “Say I am ill and cannot receive visitors. Thank him and send my regards.”

But the maid said, “I heard he has come to bring Miss good news. People from Nanjing have come to take you home.”

In an instant, Wang Xifeng, Lady Xing, Lady Wang, Baochai, and a whole group came in smiling. “We have come first to congratulate you and second to see you off.”

Daiyu panicked. “What are you talking about?”

Xifeng said, “Are you still pretending to be ignorant? Do you not know that your father has been promoted to Grain Intendant of Hubei? He has taken a new wife, and the two are very harmonious. Thinking it improper to leave you forever in the Jia household, he asked Jia Yucun to act as matchmaker and betroth you to a relative of your stepmother. You are to go there as a second wife. They have sent people to bring you back to Nanjing. As soon as you arrive, you will be married. Your stepmother will arrange everything. Lest you lack care on the road, Cousin Lian is to escort you.”

These words frightened Daiyu into a cold sweat. In her daze, it seemed her father really was an official elsewhere, and she was frantic. She struggled to deny it. “There is no such thing, Sister Xifeng. Do not joke about it!”

Lady Xing glanced at Lady Wang. “She still will not believe it. Let us go.” The others all smiled coldly and left without a word.

Daiyu was frantic and could not voice her bitterness. Choking with tears, she seemed to see Grandmother Jia before her. She thought: only by begging Grandmother may I still be saved.

She fell to her knees, clung to Grandmother Jia’s waist, and cried, “Grandmother, save me! I will die before I go back south! And now there is a stepmother—she is not my own mother. I would rather stay by Grandmother’s side!”

But Grandmother Jia’s face was expressionless. She smiled faintly. “I cannot manage this matter.”

Daiyu wept bitterly. “Grandmother, this concerns my whole life!”

Grandmother Jia said, “Remarrying as a second wife is not bad. You may even get a larger dowry.”

Daiyu cried, “If I stay with Grandmother, I will never waste a single coin of the household. I only beg Grandmother to save me.”

Grandmother Jia said, “It is no use. A girl must marry in the end. You are young and do not understand. Staying here can never be a lasting arrangement.”

Daiyu said, “I am willing to be a maid here, to work with my own hands and support myself. I only beg Grandmother to decide for me.” Grandmother Jia remained silent.

Daiyu clung to her waist and wept loudly. “Grandmother, you have always been compassionate and loved me most. Why do you let go of me in my hour of danger? Even if I am only your granddaughter through a daughter, my mother was your own flesh and blood. For my mother’s sake, you should protect me!” She threw herself into Grandmother Jia’s arms, sobbing.

Then she heard Grandmother Jia say, “Yuanyang, help the young lady out to rest. She has worn me out with all this noise.”

Daiyu understood that pleading was useless. Better to die. She stood up and walked out. Her heart was cold: even if her grandmother, aunts, and sisters usually treated her well, at the crucial moment it was all false affection. Suddenly she thought: why do I not see Bao-yu? If I could see him once, perhaps there might still be a way.

In an instant Bao-yu stood before her, smiling. “Congratulations, sister.”

Hearing this, Daiyu was desperate. Forgetting all propriety, she seized him. “Bao-yu! Only today do I see clearly that you are a heartless, unrighteous person!”

Bao-yu said, “How am I heartless? Since you have been betrothed to another, we must each go our own way.”

Daiyu grew more despairing. She held him and cried, “Good brother, then where am I to go?”

Bao-yu said, “If you do not want to go, then stay here. You were mine to begin with—that is why you came to the Jia household. You know very well how I feel about you.”

Daiyu was dazed. It seemed as if the two of them really had been betrothed long ago. Sorrow and joy shifted in an instant. She asked Bao-yu, “I have already made up my mind about life and death. Are you truly going to let me go?”

Bao-yu said, “I said you should stay. If you do not believe me, I will cut out my heart and show it to you.”

He took out a small knife and slashed his own chest. Blood poured out at once. Daiyu was frightened out of her wits. She pressed her hand to his chest and wept. “Why do you do this? You might as well kill me first!”

Bao-yu said, “Do not be afraid. I will take out my heart and let you see it.” He reached his hand into the open wound.

Daiyu trembled all over and wept bitterly. Afraid someone would come in, she held Bao-yu tightly.

Suddenly Bao-yu said, “Oh no, my heart is gone. I cannot live.” His eyes rolled upward, and he fell straight down.

Daiyu wailed loudly. Then she heard Zijuan shaking her. “Miss! Miss! You are having a nightmare. Wake up! Take off your clothes and sleep properly.”

Daiyu turned over and woke with a start. It had all been a dream.

Her throat was still choking, her heart pounding wildly. Her pillow was soaked with tears, and her whole body was cold. She calmed herself and thought: my father died long ago, and my marriage with Bao-yu has never even been settled. Where did such things in the dream come from? The feeling of being utterly alone and helpless was still vivid. If Bao-yu really died in the dream, how could I go on living?

The more she thought, the more grief-stricken she became. She cried again for a while, and a faint sweat broke out over her body. Struggling to sit up, she took off her thick outer jacket. Zijuan helped her lie down under the quilt. But she tossed and turned and could not sleep.

Outside the window the wind rustled like rain. After a while, someone in the distance called out faintly. Turning her head, she heard Zijuan sleeping deeply beside her, breathing heavily. She propped herself up, wrapped the quilt around her, and sat for a moment. Cold wind came in through the window crack and chilled her through, so she had to lie down again.

Just as she was about to drift off, a flock of sparrows in the tree outside chattered noisily. Light gradually showed through the window paper. Dawn was near.

Daiyu was fully awake, her eyes open without a trace of sleep. A violent fit of coughing shook her and woke Zijuan.

Zijuan said, “Miss, are you still awake? Coughing again—you must have caught a chill. It is almost dawn. Do not let your thoughts run wild. Rest and take care of yourself.”

Daiyu said, “I wish I could sleep, but I cannot. Go back to sleep.”

She coughed again. Zijuan saw how she was and felt miserable, unable to sleep either. Hearing Daiyu cough again, she quickly rose and brought the spittoon. By now it was fully light.

Daiyu said, “You are not sleeping?”

Zijuan smiled bitterly. “It is already light. What is the use of sleeping?”

Daiyu said, “Since you are awake, change the spittoon.”

Zijuan agreed. She brought a clean one and set the one used during the night on the table. She went out of the inner room, closed the door, lowered the curtain, and went to wake Xueyan. She picked up the old spittoon on the table to empty it. One look inside showed it was full of phlegm mixed with many bright red streaks of blood. Zijuan was so frightened that she cried out, “Oh! This is terrible!”

Daiyu heard her from inside and asked, “What is it outside?”

Zijuan knew she had spoken out of turn and quickly changed her words. “My hand slipped and I almost dropped the spittoon.”

Daiyu was suspicious. “Is there something strange in the spittoon?”

Zijuan said, “Nothing.” But as she spoke, her heart ached, tears streamed down, and her voice changed.

Daiyu already tasted a sweet, fishy taste in her throat and was uneasy at heart. Hearing Zijuan cry out and then hearing the grief in her voice, she guessed seven or eight parts of the truth. She called, “Zijuan, come in. You will catch cold outside.”

Zijuan answered, her voice full of sorrow. She pushed the door open and came in, still wiping her tears with a handkerchief.

Daiyu asked, “Why are you crying so early in the morning for no reason?”

Zijuan forced a smile. “Who is crying? My eyes are just a little uncomfortable this morning. Miss, you were awake almost all night. I heard you coughing for most of it.”

Daiyu said, “Indeed. The more I wanted to sleep, the more awake I became.”

Zijuan urged, “Miss, your health is poor. You must try to look on the bright side. Health is the root of everything. As the saying goes, ‘While the green hills remain, there will never be a shortage of firewood.’ In this household, from the Old Ancestress and Her Ladyship down, who does not care for Miss?”

These words suddenly brought back Daiyu’s nightmare. Her heart gave a violent shudder. Her vision went dark, and her face changed greatly. Zijuan quickly held the spittoon ready, while Xueyan came to pat her back. After a long while, Daiyu coughed up a mouthful of phlegm, and a strand of dark purple blood floated in it.

Zijuan and Xueyan turned pale with fright and stayed by the bed. Daiyu lay back faintly. Zijuan saw that the situation was dangerous and quickly signaled to Xueyan to go and report to the elders.

As soon as Xueyan stepped out the door, she met Cuilu and Cuimo coming over smiling. Cuilu said, “Why has Miss Lin not come out for so long? Our young lady and Miss Shi Xiangyun are in Miss Xichun’s room discussing the painting of the Grand View Garden.”

Xueyan quickly waved them to silence. The two maids were startled. “What has happened?” Xueyan briefly told them about the blood coughed up in the night. They were so frightened that they put out their tongues. “This is no small matter! Why are you not hurrying to report to the Old Ancestress? How can you be so muddled?”

Xueyan said, “I was just going to report it when I met you.”

Inside, Zijuan called out, “Who is talking outside? Miss can hear you.” The three hurried in. Cuilu and Cuimo saw Daiyu lying under the quilt.

Daiyu looked at them and said, “Who sent for you? There is no need to make such a fuss.”

Cuimo said, “Miss Tanchun and Shi Xiangyun are in Miss Xichun’s room judging the painting and sent us to invite Miss over. We did not expect Miss to be unwell again.”

Daiyu said, “It is not a serious illness. I am only weak all over. I will lie down a while and be better. Go back and tell Tanchun and Xiangyun that if they have time after dinner, they are welcome to come and sit with me. Has Master Bao been over there?”

The two answered, “No.”

Cuimo added, “The Second Master has been going to school these days. The Master checks his lessons every day, so he cannot wander about as before.”

Daiyu heard this and said nothing. The two stood a little longer, then quietly withdrew.

Meanwhile, Tanchun and Xiangyun were in Xichun’s room commenting on the Grand View Garden painting. They discussed where too much had been painted, where too little, where the arrangement was too sparse, where too crowded. They were also planning to inscribe poems on it and were just about to send someone to invite Daiyu to join the discussion.

Cuilu and Cuimo returned looking flustered. Xiangyun asked first, “Why did Miss Lin not come?”

Cuilu said, “Miss Lin’s old illness flared up last night. She coughed all night. Xueyan said there was a great deal of blood in her spittoon.”

Tanchun was shocked. “Is that true?”

Cuilu said, “Absolutely true.”

Cuimo said, “We just went in to see her. Her face is very poor, and she speaks without strength.”

Xiangyun said, “If she is that ill, how can she still speak?”

Tanchun stopped her. “How foolish you are. If she could not even speak, then she would already be…” She swallowed the rest and did not dare say it.

Xichun sighed. “Sister Lin is so clever and perceptive, but she takes everything too much to heart. Even the smallest thing goes deep into her mind. How many things in this world are illusions anyway?”

Tanchun said, “Since that is so, let us go together to visit her. If her illness is serious, we will report to Li Wan, then to the Old Ancestress, and ask a doctor to come and examine her and decide what to do.”

Xiangyun said, “You are right.”

Xichun said, “You sisters go first. I will come a little later.”

Tanchun and Xiangyun, supported by their maids, hurried to Bamboo Lodge. When they entered, Daiyu saw them and felt another surge of sorrow. She thought of her dream, in which even Grandmother Jia had been cold-hearted, let alone others. Usually, if I do not invite them, they do not come either. Yet she still had to receive them properly. She told Zijuan to help her sit up and asked them to sit down.

Tanchun and Xiangyun sat on either edge of the bed. Seeing how wan Daiyu looked, they too felt grieved. Tanchun said, “Why has Sister’s health worsened again?”

Daiyu said, “It is nothing much. I am only weak all over.”

Zijuan stood behind Daiyu and quietly pointed with her finger at the spittoon on the table to warn them. Xiangyun was straightforward and artless. She reached out and picked up the spittoon to look. She was so frightened that her face changed. “Sister, is this what you coughed up? This is terrible!”

Daiyu had been too faint earlier to look closely. Hearing Xiangyun’s words, she turned her head and saw it. In that instant, all hope died within her.

Tanchun blamed Xiangyun for being rash and quickly tried to smooth things over. “It is only that the fire in her lungs is too strong. Once in a while a trace of blood appears. That is common enough. Yun girl, you make a fuss over everything.”

Xiangyun blushed scarlet, regretting that she had spoken without thinking. Tanchun saw that Daiyu was listless and exhausted, so she rose. “Sister, rest peacefully. We will come again another day.”

Daiyu said, “Thank you both for thinking of me.”

Tanchun carefully instructed Zijuan to take good care of her, and Zijuan agreed. Tanchun was just about to leave when suddenly there was a loud commotion outside. No one knew who had come. Let the next chapter tell.