Barring the Transcendent, Two Beauties Guard the Jade; Joyfully Gathering with Wicked Sons, One Alone Inherits the House

When Lady Wang sent for Baochai to discuss the matter, Baoyu heard that a monk had come from outside. He hurried out to the front alone, calling, “Where is my master?” He called for a long time but saw no monk. He went to the main gate and saw Li Gui blocking the monk and refusing to let him in. Baoyu said, “Lady Wang told me to invite the master in.” Hearing this, Li Gui let go. The monk came in, swaying and unsteady. Baoyu looked at him and saw that he was exactly as he had appeared when Baoyu’s soul had wandered during his death. He already understood something in his heart. He came forward, bowed, and said again and again, “Master, your disciple is late to welcome you.” The monk said, “I do not want your welcome. I only want silver. Give me the silver and I will go.” When Baoyu heard this, it did not sound like the words of a monk of the Way. He looked at the monk: his head was covered with running sores, and his clothes were filthy and torn. Baoyu thought: Since ancient times it has been said that true men do not reveal their form, and those who reveal their form are not true men. I must not miss him face to face. I will first agree to give him silver and take the chance to probe his background. So he said, “Master, do not be anxious. My mother is arranging it. Please sit and wait a moment. Your disciple wishes to ask: Have you come from the Great Illusory Realm?” The monk said, “What illusory realm? I only come from where I should come and go where I should go. I have brought the jade back to you. But let me ask you: where did this jade originally come from?” Baoyu could not answer at once. The monk laughed. “You do not even know your own origin, and yet you question me!” Baoyu was naturally intelligent, and after the awakening in the illusory realm he had already seen through the red dust, but he had not yet fully understood his own root and cause. Hearing the monk ask about the jade was like a blow to the head. He said, “Then there is no need to give silver. I will return this jade to you.” The monk laughed. “It should have been returned to me long ago.”

Baoyu said no more. He turned and ran inside. When he reached his own courtyard, he saw that Baochai, Xiren, and the others had all gone to Lady Wang’s. He hurried to the bedside, took up the jade, and turned to go out. He ran headlong into Xiren and collided with her, giving her a fright. She said, “Lady Wang told you to sit with the monk. She is trying to find some silver to send him away. Why have you run back?” Baoyu said, “Go quickly and tell Lady Wang not to prepare silver. I will just return this jade to him.” When Xiren heard this, she quickly caught hold of Baoyu. “You must not! This jade is your life. If he takes it away, you will fall gravely ill again.” Baoyu said, “I will not be ill this time. I have already seen through it. What do I want with this jade?” He flung Xiren off and was about to go. Xiren, frantic, chased after him, crying, “Come back first! I have something to say to you!” Baoyu turned his head. “There is nothing to say.” Xiren, caring for nothing else, chased him, weeping and calling, “Last time you lost the jade, it nearly killed me! At last it has come back, and now you want to give it away again. If you cannot live, neither can I! If you must return the jade, then I must die first!” She rushed forward and clung to Baoyu desperately. Baoyu grew frantic. “If you die, I still must return it; if you do not die, I still must return it!” He pushed Xiren hard, trying to break free. But Xiren gripped his belt with both hands and would not let go, weeping and sinking to the ground. The maids in the room heard the commotion and ran out. Seeing the two struggling, they heard Xiren cry, “Go quickly and report to Lady Wang! Second Master Bao wants to return the jade to the monk!” A maid ran swiftly to report to Lady Wang. Baoyu grew more anxious. He reached to pry open Xiren’s hands. Xiren endured the pain and would not let go. Zijuan, hearing in her room that Baoyu meant to give the jade to an outsider, was more anxious than anyone. All her former coldness toward Baoyu was forgotten. She hurried out and threw her arms around Baoyu. Though Baoyu was a man and struggled hard, the two women clung to him desperately, and he could not get away. Baoyu sighed. “For the sake of one piece of jade, you hold me back with all your might. If I were to go alone, what would become of you?” When Xiren and Zijuan heard this, they could not help weeping aloud.

As the struggle reached its height, Lady Wang and Baochai hurried over. Seeing the scene, they wept and scolded, “Baoyu, have you gone mad again?” When Baoyu saw Lady Wang had come, he knew he could not leave. He forced a smile and said, “Why trouble Lady Mother over such a small matter? They are making a fuss over nothing. I saw that the monk was unreasonable, demanding ten thousand taels and refusing to take a penny less. I was angry and came in to get the jade, meaning to tell him it was fake and useless. When he sees we do not prize the jade, he will take whatever silver we give him and the matter will be settled.” Lady Wang said, “I thought you really meant to give him the jade. If that is all, why did you not explain to them clearly, instead of making them weep and wail so?” Baochai said, “That plan will do. But if the jade truly fell into the monk’s hands, and the monk is so strange, there is no telling what trouble might follow. As for the silver, even if I sell my jewelry, it will be enough.” Lady Wang heard this and said, “Very well, let it be so.” Baoyu said nothing. Baochai came forward, took the jade from Baoyu’s hand, and said, “You need not go out. Lady Wang and I will give him the silver.” Baoyu said, “It is all right if the jade is not given to him, but I must see him once more face to face.” Xiren and the others still would not let go. Baochai said decisively, “Let him go.” Xiren had to release him. Baoyu laughed. “So you value the jade more than the person. Since you let me out, I might as well go with him and see what good it does you to guard the jade!” Xiren grew frightened again and wanted to hold him back, but with Lady Wang and Baochai present, she did not dare make too great a scene. Baoyu slipped away and ran out. Xiren quickly told a young maid to go to the third gate and tell Mingyan and the others, “Take good care of Second Master. He is somewhat confused now.” The maid assented and went out.

Lady Wang, Baochai, and the others sat down inside and asked Xiren what had happened. Xiren told them in detail what Baoyu had said. Lady Wang and Baochai were very uneasy. They sent someone out again to tell the servants to pay attention and listen to what the monk said. Before long the young maid came back and reported to Lady Wang, “Second Master really is somewhat mad. The servants outside say that since we will not give him the jade, he has no way. Now Second Master has run out himself and is begging the monk to take him along.” Lady Wang was startled. “How dreadful! What did the monk say?” The maid replied, “The monk said he only wants the jade, not the man.” Baochai asked, “Then he does not want the silver?” The maid said, “I did not hear mention of silver. Later the monk and Second Master talked and laughed together and said many things. Most of the servants outside could not understand.” Lady Wang said, “What muddled creatures! If they could not understand, they should at least have repeated the words.” She told the maid, “Call that servant in.” The maid went out and brought the servant in. He stood under the corridor and paid his respects through the window. Lady Wang asked, “The monk and Second Master said things you could not understand—could you not even repeat the words?” The servant replied, “We only heard them speak of the Great Famine Mountain, Blue Ridge Peak, the Great Illusory Realm, and cutting off earthly ties.” Lady Wang did not understand. When Baochai heard, she was so frightened that her eyes went straight, and for a long time she could not say a word.

They were about to send someone out to pull Baoyu back when Baoyu came in smiling. “It is settled, it is settled.” Baochai still sat dazed. Lady Wang said, “You were raving. What exactly did you say?” Baoyu said, “I spoke proper words, and you call me mad. This monk already knew me. He only wanted to see me. He did not really want silver. He came to form a good karmic tie. I explained it clearly to him, and he drifted away. Is the matter not settled?” Lady Wang did not believe him and questioned the servant again through the window. The servant hurried out to ask the gatekeeper and came back to report, “The monk has indeed gone. He said to tell the ladies not to worry. He originally did not want silver. He only hoped that Second Master Bao would have time to go and find him. All things follow karma and have their fixed number.” Lady Wang said, “So he was a monk who had attained the Way. Did you ask where he lives?” The gatekeeper said, “This servant asked. He said Second Master himself knows.” Lady Wang asked Baoyu, “Where does he live?” Baoyu smiled. “That place is far if you say it is far, and near if you say it is near.” Before he finished, Baochai said, “Wake up. Do not keep clinging to this. The Master and Lady Wang love only you. The Master told you to study hard and seek fame.” Baoyu said, “Is not what I speak of the great Way of fame? You do not know: if one son enters the priesthood, seven generations of ancestors ascend to heaven.” When Lady Wang heard this, she could not help weeping in sorrow. “What fate is ours? Fourth Girl talks all day of leaving the world, and now you are added to her. What pleasure is there left in my life?” She wept aloud. Baochai, seeing Lady Wang grieved, had to urge her earnestly to stop. Baoyu laughed. “I was only joking. Why did Lady Mother take it seriously?” Lady Wang stopped weeping. “Can such words be spoken carelessly?”

As they were in confusion, a maid came in and announced, “Second Master Lian has returned. His face looks very grim. He asks Lady Wang to come back and speak with him.” Lady Wang was startled again. She said, “Call him in. There is no need to avoid anyone. His wife is family too.” Jia Lian came in, paid his respects to Lady Wang, and Baochai rose to greet him. Jia Lian said, “I have just received a letter from my father. He says he is gravely ill and calls me to go at once. If I am late, I fear I will not see him alive.” As he spoke, tears fell. Lady Wang asked, “What illness does the letter mention?” Jia Lian said, “At first it was only a cold, but now it has become consumption. He is in great danger. He sent someone traveling day and night with the letter, saying that if I delay a day or two more, I will not see him. So I have come to report to Lady Wang. Your nephew must set out at once. But there is no one to look after the house. Jia Qiang and Jia Yun are muddled, but at least they are men and can pass messages outside. My own household has no great matters. Qiutong cries and makes scenes every day and does not want to stay here. I have already sent word to her family to take her back, which saves Ping’er trouble. Qiaojie has no one to look after her, but fortunately Ping’er is kindhearted. Qiaojie is sensible and has an even firmer nature than her mother. I beg Lady Wang to discipline her from time to time.” As he spoke, his eyes reddened, and he pulled out the small handkerchief tied to his betel-nut pouch to wipe his tears. Lady Wang said, “She still has her own grandmother. Why entrust her to me?” Jia Lian said softly, “If you say that, Lady Wang, your nephew deserves to be beaten to death. I will say no more. I only beg you to always cherish Qiaojie.” Then he knelt. Lady Wang’s eyes reddened too. She said, “Get up quickly. We are mother and son speaking. Why do this? There is one thing: Qiaojie has grown up. If something happens to your father and your return is delayed, and a suitable family comes to propose, should we wait for you or decide among the ladies?” Jia Lian said, “With the ladies at home, naturally the ladies will decide. There is no need to wait for me.” Lady Wang said, “Before you leave, write a letter to Second Master and tell him the household is short-handed and your father is gravely ill. Urge him to finish the great matter of Old Ancestor’s burial and return as soon as possible.” Jia Lian assented. He was about to go out when he turned back and reported, “The servants at home are enough, but the Grand View Garden is empty and no one is watching it. Bao Yong went south with Second Master. Aunt Xue’s courtyard—Second Master Xue has already moved back to his own house. A great many buildings in the garden are all empty, with no one to watch them. I beg Lady Wang to send someone to patrol from time to time. The Green Lattice Hermitage was originally our family’s property. Miaoyu’s whereabouts are unknown, and the nuns there do not dare decide on their own. They want the household to send someone to manage it.” Lady Wang said, “We can hardly manage our own affairs. How can we bother with the nunnery? Do not let Fourth Girl hear of this. If she knew, she would make a scene about leaving the world. In a great family like ours, for a proper young lady to become a nun—how could that be?” Jia Lian said, “If Lady Wang had not mentioned it, I would not have dared speak. Fourth Sister is of the East House. She has no parents, her brother is away, and her sister-in-law cannot persuade her. I hear she has several times threatened to die. Since her mind is made up, if we forcibly stop her and she really takes her own life, it will be worse than leaving the world.” Lady Wang heard and nodded. “This matter is truly difficult. I cannot decide it either. Let her elder sister-in-law decide.”

Jia Lian said a few more words and went out. He called all the servants and gave them careful instructions. He wrote letters and packed his luggage. Ping’er and the others urged him again and again. Qiaojie was very grieved. Jia Lian had wanted to entrust Qiaojie to Wang Ren, but Qiaojie was unwilling. Hearing that the household was entrusted to Jia Yun and Jia Qiang, she was even more displeased, but could not say so. She could only see her father off with tears and carefully live on with Ping’er. Feng’er and Xiaohong, since Xifeng’s death, had either asked for leave or pleaded illness. Ping’er wanted to invite a girl to come, both to keep Qiaojie company and to help look after things. She thought it over but found no suitable person. Only Xiluan and Fourth Girl, whom Mother Jia had loved, came to mind. But Fourth Girl had just married, and Xiluan was betrothed and would soon be married. So the matter was dropped.

Now Jia Yun and Jia Qiang saw Jia Lian off and came in to pay their respects to Lady Xing and Lady Wang. The two took turns staying in the outer study. By day they fooled around with the young servants. Sometimes they invited friends to feast and drink in turn, and even gathered to gamble. No one in the inner quarters knew. One day Xing the Elder Uncle and Wang Ren came. Seeing that Jia Yun and Jia Qiang were staying there, they knew it was lively and, under the pretext of helping watch the house, often came to the outer study to gamble and drink. The reliable servants of the household had either gone south with Jia Zheng or left with Jia Lian. Only the younger members of the Lai and Lin families remained. These young people, relying on their fathers’ privileges, knew only how to eat, drink, and enjoy themselves. They understood nothing of managing a household. With the elders away, they were like wild horses without reins. With Jia Yun and Jia Qiang urging them on, they were willing to do any wicked thing. In this way, the Rongguo House was thrown into chaos, with no distinction between inner and outer. Jia Qiang even wanted to draw Baoyu into their games. Jia Yun stopped him: “Baoyu is an unlucky fellow. Do not provoke him. Years ago I proposed an excellent match for him. The man’s father was a tax official outside and had several pawnshops. The girl was as beautiful as a fairy. I took great pains to write him a long letter, but he had no good fortune—” Here he looked around to see no one was near, then went on: “He had long set his heart on our Second Aunt. Have you not heard? There was also a Miss Lin who died of lovesickness for him. Everyone knows. The marriage matter aside, he actually bore a grudge against me because of it and has never paid me much attention. He thinks everyone wants to bask in his glory.” Jia Qiang nodded and gave up the idea of seeking out Baoyu.

They did not know that since Baoyu had seen the monk, he was determined to cut off earthly ties. He only did not dare act willfully before Lady Wang. He also gradually grew distant from Baochai and Xiren. The maids did not understand and still tried to tease him into talking, but Baoyu had no heart for it. He paid no attention to the great and small affairs of the household. Lady Wang and Baochai often urged him to study. He pretended to work hard, but in his heart he kept pondering the mystery of the immortal realm the monk had shown him. Everyone around him seemed vulgar and common. He found staying at home oppressive and, when he had time, went to talk with Xichun. The two found each other congenial, and Baoyu’s resolve to leave the world grew firmer. He paid no heed to Jia Huan and Jia Lan. Jia Huan, because his father was away and his mother Concubine Zhao was dead, and Lady Wang did not much care about him, fell in with Jia Qiang and his gang. Caiyun often urged him against it, but Jia Huan cursed her instead. Yuchuan saw that Baoyu was growing more and more mad and had long ago told her mother she wanted to leave the Jia household. Now Baoyu and Jia Huan each had their strange tempers, and no one in the household wanted to have anything to do with them. Only Jia Lan studied hard with his mother Li Wan and sent his essays to Mr. Daiyu for correction. Recently Mr. Daiyu had grown old and ill and lay in bed, so Jia Lan could only study on his own. Li Wan had always been quiet. Apart from paying respects and visiting Baochai, she hardly went out. She devoted herself to urging Jia Lan to study. Though many people still lived in the Rongguo House, each minded his own business, and no one could control anyone else. Jia Huan and Jia Qiang grew more and more outrageous, even secretly pawning and selling the family’s things. Jia Huan also visited prostitutes and gambled outside, doing every kind of wicked thing.

One day Xing the Elder Uncle and Wang Ren were drinking in the Jia family’s outer study. In a moment of excitement, they called several singing girls to play and sing and urge them to drink. Jia Qiang said, “This is too vulgar. Let us play a drinking game.” Everyone said, “Good.” Jia Qiang said, “Let us play ‘moon-character floating cups.’ I will begin by saying a line containing ‘moon.’ Whoever the count falls on must drink and also give a wine-face and wine-bottom. You must obey the master of the game. Those who do not will be fined three large cups.” Everyone agreed. Jia Qiang drank a cup as master and said, “Flying feather cups and drunken moon.” Counting in order, it fell on Jia Huan. Jia Qiang said, “The wine-face must contain the character ‘gui.’” Jia Huan said, “Cold dew silently wets the cassia flower. And the wine-bottom?” Jia Qiang said, “Say a line with ‘fragrance.’” Jia Huan said, “Heavenly fragrance drifts beyond the clouds.” Xing the Elder Uncle said, “No fun, no fun! You know a few characters and put on airs here! This is not amusement; it is enough to stifle a man. Cancel the drinking game. Let us play finger-guessing. The loser drinks and sings, and we call it ‘bitterness within bitterness.’ If he cannot sing, he tells a joke, as long as it is funny.” Everyone said it was good. So they began to play finger-guessing. Wang Ren lost, drank a cup, and sang a passage. Everyone applauded and they went on. One of the singing girls lost and sang a line, “Young lady, young lady, how beautiful you are.” Later Xing the Elder Uncle lost. Everyone told him to sing. He said, “I cannot sing. I will tell a joke.” Jia Qiang said, “If the joke does not make us laugh, you will still be fined.” Xing the Elder Uncle drank a cup and said, “Listen, everyone. In a village there was a Temple of the Dark Emperor, and beside it a shrine to the Earth God. The Dark Emperor often called the Earth God over to chat. One day the temple was robbed, and the Dark Emperor told the Earth God to investigate. The Earth God reported, ‘There are no thieves here. It must be that the divine generals in the temple were careless, and an outsider stole the things.’ The Dark Emperor said angrily, ‘Nonsense! You are the Earth God. If something is stolen, to whom should I turn if not to you? Instead of catching the thief, you blame my divine generals?’ The Earth God said, ‘Though the generals were careless, in the end it is because the temple’s feng shui is bad.’ The Dark Emperor said, ‘You also read feng shui?’ The Earth God said, ‘Let me take a look.’ The Earth God looked around and came back to report, ‘My lord, the two red doors behind your statue are not secure. Behind me is a brick wall, and so nothing is stolen. If you changed your back to a wall, it would be well.’ The Dark Emperor thought this reasonable and told the divine generals to find someone to build the wall. The generals sighed, ‘Now we do not even have a stick of incense. Where would bricks, tiles, and labor come from to build a wall?’ The Dark Emperor had no way and asked the gods for ideas. No one had any. The Turtle General at the Dark Emperor’s feet stood up and said, ‘You are all useless. I have a plan. Take down the red doors, and at night I will lie at the doorway as a wall. Would that not keep out thieves?’ The gods all said, ‘A good plan. It costs nothing, saves trouble, and is sturdy.’ So the Turtle General guarded the doorway, and the temple was peaceful for several days. But before long, things were stolen again. The gods called the Earth God. ‘You said if the wall were built nothing would be stolen. Now there is a wall, so why are things still stolen?’ The Earth God said, ‘The wall is not sturdy.’ The gods said, ‘Go and look.’ The Earth God went and saw a complete wall. How could trouble still occur? He reached out and touched it. ‘I thought it was a real wall. It was only a fake wall!’” Everyone roared with laughter. Jia Qiang could not help laughing. “Silly Elder Uncle, your joke is cursing us! Drink a large cup as forfeit.” Xing the Elder Uncle drank and was already somewhat drunk.

The others drank a few more cups and all became drunk. Xing the Elder Uncle reproached his sister Lady Xing, and Wang Ren cursed his sister Xifeng, using most bitter words. Jia Huan, emboldened by wine, also spoke of how Xifeng had once treated them harshly and oppressed them. Everyone said, “One should be kind. When Miss Feng relied on Old Ancestor’s support, she was so powerful. Now she has come to such an end, leaving only a daughter, who perhaps will also reap what was sown.” Jia Yun remembered how Xifeng had treated him badly, and seeing that Qiaojie wept whenever she saw him, he too joined in the careless talk. Jia Qiang urged, “Drink if you are drinking. Why discuss others?” One of the singing girls asked, “How old is his family’s young lady, and what does she look like?” Jia Qiang said, “She is very pretty, thirteen or fourteen.” The singing girl said, “It is a pity such a good girl was born into such a family. If she had been born into an ordinary family and her father or brother became an official and grew rich, that would be good.” Everyone asked, “What do you mean?” The singing girl said, “There is a prince of the outer fiefs, kind in temperament, who is choosing a consort. If she were chosen, her parents and brothers would all share in the glory. Would that not be a great blessing?” The others paid little attention, but Wang Ren’s heart was stirred. They went on drinking.

Then the younger members of the Lai and Lin families came in and said, “You are all enjoying yourselves!” Everyone rose. “Elder Brother, Third Brother, why are you so late? We have been waiting.” The two said, “This morning we heard a rumor that something had happened in our family again. We were anxious and came into town to inquire. It was not our family’s trouble.” Everyone said, “If it was not our family’s trouble, why were you delayed so long?” The two said, “Though it was not our trouble, it had some connection. Guess who it was? Master Jia Yucun. Today we went in and saw him in chains, being taken to the Three Judicial Offices for questioning. He used to come often to our house. We feared implication, so we made inquiries.” Jia Yun said, “You are careful. You did right to inquire. Sit and drink a cup and tell us slowly.” The two sat and drank. They said, “Yucun was capable and knew how to scheme. He became a great official. But he was greedy for wealth and was impeached. He was accused of squeezing subordinate officials. Our present Emperor is sage and benevolent, and most hates corrupt officials who oppress the people and abuse their power. He ordered Yucun seized and questioned. If the charges are verified, he will not be able to withstand it. Even if there is no solid evidence, the one who impeached him must bear responsibility. These are clear and bright times. Only with good fortune can one be an official.” Everyone said, “Your elder brother has good fortune. He is now a district magistrate. Is that not good?” The Lai family youth said, “My elder brother is a magistrate, but judging by his conduct, I fear he will not keep his office either.” Everyone asked, “Is he also greedy?” The Lai youth nodded and raised his cup. Everyone asked, “What other news is there?” The two said, “Nothing else. We hear many pirates have been caught in the coastal region and sent to the judicial offices for questioning. It has been discovered that many spies are hidden in the city, watching for a chance to raid. Now the court’s ministers are both civil and martial, and troops have been sent to surround and destroy them. The pirates will soon be wiped out.” Everyone asked, “We heard there were thieves hidden in the city. Was anything found out about the robbery at our Green Lattice Hermitage?” The two said, “We did not hear of that. Vaguely we heard that a man from the interior committed a crime in the city, seized a woman, and planned to go to sea. The woman would not submit and was killed by the thieves. The thieves tried to force their way through the pass and were caught by soldiers and executed on the spot.” Everyone said, “Could the Miaoyu of the Green Lattice Hermitage be that woman?” Jia Huan said, “It must be she!” Everyone asked, “How do you know?” Jia Huan said, “Miaoyu was the most annoying. She put on airs all day. When she saw Baoyu, she smiled and beamed. When she saw me, she never gave me a straight look. If she has come to grief, I am glad!” Everyone said, “There were many women seized. It may not be her.” Jia Yun said, “There is some hint. A few days ago someone said the old Daoist woman at the hermitage dreamed that Miaoyu had been killed.” Everyone laughed. “Dreams cannot be trusted.” Xing the Elder Uncle said, “Whether true or false, let us eat quickly. Tonight we will gamble big.” Everyone agreed. After eating, they gathered to gamble and played until the third watch.

Suddenly they heard a great clamor inside. A maid came to report, “Fourth Girl and Lady You have quarreled. She has cut off her own hair and has gone before Lady Xing and Lady Wang, knocking her head and begging to be allowed to leave the world and become a nun, asking for a room to cultivate in. If she is not allowed, she will take her own life on the spot.” Lady Xing and Lady Wang had no idea what to do and called Jia Qiang and Jia Yun in. Jia Yun, hearing this, knew that Xichun had wanted to leave the world ever since she watched the garden last time and could not be dissuaded. He discussed with Jia Qiang: “The ladies call us in, but we cannot decide, nor should we decide. We can only urge her. If she will not be urged, we can only let them do as they wish. Let us write a letter to Second Uncle Lian, so as to clear ourselves of responsibility.” The two agreed and went in to see Lady Xing and Lady Wang. They pretended to urge Xichun, but Xichun’s mind was made up. She insisted on leaving the world. Even if she were not allowed to go out, she begged only for one or two quiet rooms in the household where she could chant sutras and worship Buddha. Lady You saw that Jia Yun and Jia Qiang would not take responsibility, and she feared Xichun would seek death. She simply made the decision herself: “I will bear the blame for this. If others must talk, let them say that I, her sister-in-law, could not tolerate my husband’s sister and forced her to leave the world. She absolutely cannot be sent to an outside nunnery. Let her be settled at home. The ladies are all here. Say it was my decision. Tell Jia Qiang to write to Master Zhen and Second Uncle Lian.” Jia Qiang and the others agreed. No one knew whether Lady Xing and Lady Wang would consent. Read the next chapter for the outcome.