Forcing Laughter, Hengwu Celebrates a Birthday; In Death’s Lingering Longing, Xiaoxiang Hears Ghostly Weeping

It is said that Jia Zheng had earlier memorialized the throne, wishing to hand over the family residence and the Grand View Garden to the government. The court had declined to accept them. Since no one lived in the garden, it had to be locked and sealed. Because the garden adjoined the courtyards where Lady You and Xichun lived, the area was vast, empty, and bleak; Bao Yong was therefore assigned to guard the deserted garden as a punishment. At this time Jia Zheng managed the household, and in accordance with Mother Jia’s instructions he gradually reduced the number of servants and cut expenses everywhere. Even so, the family could barely hold together. Fortunately, Mother Jia doted on Wang Xifeng. Although Lady Wang and the others did not much like her, Xifeng was still capable in managing domestic affairs, so the inner household was still left in her hands. But ever since the confiscation, money had been tight in every direction, and there was a shortage everywhere. The servants in the various households had long been used to comfortable days. Now their income was seventy percent less than before, and they could hardly have everything they wanted. They grumbled endlessly. Xifeng did not dare shirk her duties. Dragging her sick body along, she kept Mother Jia company and tried to keep the old lady cheerful. After some time, Jia She and Jia Zhen each reached the places of their banishment and took up their duties. They still had some money with them and were temporarily settled. They wrote home saying all was well and asking the family not to worry. Only then did Mother Jia set her heart at ease, and Lady Xing and Lady You also relaxed a little.

One day, after her marriage, Shi Xiangyun returned to her natal home and came to pay her respects to Mother Jia. Mother Jia remarked that Xiangyun’s husband seemed a man of good character. Xiangyun also said that life on that side was stable and asked the old lady not to worry. When they spoke of Lin Daiyu’s death, everyone could not help shedding tears. Mother Jia then thought of Yingchun suffering in her husband’s house and felt even more grieved. Xiangyun comforted her a little, then went to the other apartments to pay her respects and greetings. Afterward she returned to Mother Jia’s room to rest. She mentioned, “In a family like the Xue household, Brother Xue Pan has brought them to ruin, with family broken and people dead. This year Xue Pan’s execution was postponed, but who knows whether his punishment may be reduced next year?” Mother Jia said, “You still do not know. A few days ago Xue Pan’s wife died in a mysterious way, and we nearly had another great disaster. Thank Heaven, the maid she brought with her confessed the truth herself. Only then did Mrs. Xia stop making trouble and block the authorities from holding an autopsy. Your aunt barely managed to finish the funeral in a hurried way. Think of it—several families of relatives all suffering together! The Xue family has fallen to such a state, and your aunt now lives with Xue Ke. Xue Ke is a boy with a conscience. He says his elder brother is still in prison and the case is not settled, so he refuses to marry. Your cousin Xing Xiuyan has a bitter life at Lady Xing’s. As for Baoqin, because her father-in-law has died and she is still in mourning, the Mei family has not yet brought her over as a bride. In Lady Wang’s maiden family, after your second maternal uncle died, Xifeng’s brother turned out good for nothing; another second maternal uncle is stingy and still owes money and grain to the government, so life there is very hard too. Since the Zhen family was confiscated, there has been no news at all.” Xiangyun asked, “After Third Sister Tanchun married, has any letter come back?” Mother Jia said, “Since she married, Second Master’s letters said that your Third Sister is well enough in the coastal region. But she has never sent a letter herself, and I miss her day and night. Our family has had one trouble after another, so I have not had the leisure to think of much else. Now Fourth Girl Xichun has still not been betrothed. As for Huan’er, who has time to bother about him? Our life now is much harder than when you were here before. Poor Baochai—since she married into this house, she has not had one peaceful day. And your Second Brother Baoyu is still as foolish and dazed as ever. What is to be done?” Xiangyun said, “I grew up here and know the tempers of everyone in the household. Coming back this time, I feel that everyone has changed. At first I thought it was because I had been away so long that they had grown distant from me. But when I thought more carefully, that was not it. When they saw me, they wanted to laugh and talk as before, but somehow, as they spoke, they would grow sad. That is why I sat for a while and then came to you, Old Ancestor.” Mother Jia said, “I have grown used to days like this, but how can you young people bear them? I was just thinking of finding some way to let everyone have one lively day, but I have no energy to arrange it.” Xiangyun said, “Now I remember—is not Sister Baochai’s birthday the day after tomorrow? I will stay one more day to offer her birthday greetings, and we can all have a lively day. What does Old Ancestor think?” Mother Jia said, “I am so worried that I am muddled. If you had not mentioned it, I would have forgotten. The day after tomorrow is indeed her birthday! Tomorrow I will take out silver and hold a birthday celebration for her. Before she married, she had several birthday feasts. Since marrying into our family, she has had none. Baoyu used to be clever and mischievous, but now, after all our troubles, he has become quiet and says little. Li Wan, though, is good. When the family was prosperous, she was as she was; now that it has declined, she is still the same, quietly living with Jia Lan. It is truly hard on her.” Xiangyun said, “The others are one matter, but Sister-in-law Lian, Wang Xifeng, looks worn and thin, and even her speech is no longer quick. Tomorrow I will stir everyone up to be lively. Only, though no one says it, they may resent me in their hearts, thinking I have married and am now enjoying good fortune—” At this point Xiangyun blushed. Mother Jia understood and said, “What of it? Sisters are used to enjoying themselves together. Just laugh and talk; do not think too much. In this life, whether one has money or not, one must be able to enjoy wealth and also endure poverty. Your Sister Baochai is naturally generous. When her family was prosperous, she was not proud; later, when the Xue family declined, she remained calm and steady. Now in our house, when Baoyu treats her well, she is peaceful; when he is occasionally cold to her, she does not seem troubled. I think that child has good fortune. Your Sister Lin was sensitive and given to brooding, and so she did not live long. Xifeng has seen something of the world too. She should not collapse at the first storm. If she cannot bear even this, then her heart is too narrow. The day after tomorrow is Bao girl’s birthday. I will give silver myself and make a lively celebration for her, so that she may be happy for one day.” Xiangyun agreed, “Old Ancestor is right. Why not invite all the sisters and have everyone gather together?” Mother Jia said, “Of course we must invite them.” Suddenly in good spirits, she instructed Yuanyang, “Take out a hundred taels of silver and give it to the stewards outside. Beginning tomorrow, prepare feasts for two days.” Yuanyang obeyed and told the old women to send the silver out. Nothing else happened that night.

The next day, word was sent out. Someone was sent to fetch Yingchun, and Aunt Xue and Baoqin were invited and told to bring Xiangling with them. Aunt Li was also invited. Before long, Li Wen and Li Qi arrived. Baochai had not known about the plan. When she heard Mother Jia’s maid come to invite her, saying, “Aunt Xue is here, and the Second Mistress is asked to come over,” Baochai was pleased. She went in her everyday clothes to see her mother. She saw her younger sister Baoqin and Xiangling there, and Aunt Li and the others had also come. She thought to herself: They must have heard that the Xue family case is settled and have come to visit and ask after us. She greeted Aunt Li, paid her respects to Mother Jia, exchanged a few words with her mother, and then greeted the Li sisters. Xiangyun said from the side, “Ladies, please sit down, and let us sisters offer birthday greetings to our elder sister.” Baochai was startled. Then she thought: Tomorrow really is my birthday! She quickly declined. “It is right that you younger sisters should come to visit Old Ancestor, but if you have come especially for my birthday, I truly do not deserve it.” While they were declining and urging one another, Baoyu also came to pay his respects to Aunt Xue and Aunt Li. Hearing Baochai decline the birthday celebration, Baoyu—who had long remembered her birthday, but had not dared mention it before Mother Jia because the household was in such confusion—was delighted to see Xiangyun and the others wanting to offer birthday greetings. He said, “Tomorrow is the birthday. I was just about to tell Old Ancestor.” Xiangyun laughed and said, “Nonsense! Does Old Ancestor need you to tell her? Why do you think these people have come? Old Ancestor invited them all!” Baochai still found it hard to believe. Then they heard Mother Jia say to her mother, Aunt Xue, “Poor Bao girl has been a new bride for a year, and the family has had one trouble after another. She has never had a birthday celebration. Today I will hold one for her. I have invited Aunt Xue and the other ladies so that everyone may talk and divert themselves.” Aunt Xue said, “Old Ancestor has only just begun to feel a little easier. She is a junior; before she has had a chance to be filial to you, she has put you to such trouble.” Xiangyun said, “Old Ancestor loves Second Brother Baoyu most—does that mean you do not love Second Sister-in-law? Besides, Sister Baochai deserves to have Old Ancestor hold a birthday for her.” Baochai lowered her head and said no more. Baoyu thought to himself: I used to think that after Sister Shi married, she had changed completely, so I did not dare be close to her, and she paid no attention to me. Today, hearing her speak, she is just as she used to be. Why is it that since my wife Baochai married into this house, she has become so shy and can hardly speak?

As Baoyu was thinking, a young maid came in and announced, “Second Aunt Yingchun has returned.” Right after, Li Wan and Wang Xifeng also came in, and everyone exchanged greetings. Yingchun spoke of her husband: “I wanted to come earlier, but he stopped me, saying our family is now unlucky and he feared being tainted by our bad fortune. I argued with him again and again, but it was no use. I could not come, and I cried for two or three days because of it.” Xifeng asked, “Why did he let you come today?” Yingchun said, “He heard that our Second Master Jia Zheng has inherited the hereditary office and thought it would be safe to associate with us and not bring trouble, so he let me come.” As she spoke, she began to weep again. Mother Jia said, “I was feeling gloomy, and today I brought you all here to celebrate our daughter-in-law’s birthday, to talk and laugh and lighten our hearts. Now you bring up these miserable matters and make me sad again.” Hearing this, Yingchun and the others did not dare say more. Wang Xifeng forced out a few amusing remarks, but she was no longer as quick and witty as before, and could hardly make anyone laugh. Mother Jia, intent on making Baochai happy, deliberately led Xifeng to say more. Xifeng understood Mother Jia’s meaning and tried her best to liven the mood. She said, “Old Ancestor is in better spirits today. See how long it has been since everyone was gathered. Today at last we are all together.” As she spoke, she turned and saw that her mother-in-law Lady Xing and Lady You were not present, so she stopped short. When Mother Jia heard the words “all together,” she too thought of Lady Xing and the others and sent someone to invite them. When Lady Xing, Lady You, and Xichun heard that Mother Jia had called, they did not dare not come, though they were most unwilling at heart. They thought: The family fortunes have declined, yet the old lady is eagerly holding a birthday for Baochai. They felt Mother Jia was partial. When they came, they were listless. Mother Jia asked why Xiuyan had not come. Lady Xing made the excuse that Xiuyan was ill. Mother Jia understood that, with Aunt Xue present, it would be a little awkward for Xiuyan to come, so she said no more.

Soon the wine and dishes and fruits were set out. Mother Jia said, “There is no need to send anything outside. Today let us women in the inner quarters enjoy ourselves.” Though Baoyu was already married, because Mother Jia doted on him, he still stayed in the inner quarters. He did not sit at the same table as Xiangyun, Baoqin, and the others, but had a separate seat beside Mother Jia and helped Baochai offer wine to everyone in turn. Mother Jia said, “Let everyone sit and drink first. Toward evening we can offer birthday greetings and perform the ceremonies. If we rush now to perform rituals and observe formalities, it will spoil the fun and be pointless.” Baochai accordingly sat down. Mother Jia then said, “Today let us be relaxed. Each person need keep only one or two maids to serve her. I will tell Yuanyang to take Caiyun, Ying’er, Xiren, Ping’er, and the others into the inner room and have a cup of wine too.” Yuanyang and the others said, “We have not yet knocked our heads to congratulate the Second Mistress on her birthday. How can we go drink first?” Mother Jia said, “I have said you may go. When you are needed, you can come back.” So Yuanyang and the rest withdrew into the inner room. Mother Jia then urged Aunt Xue and the others to drink. Seeing that no one had the liveliness of former days, she grew anxious and said, “What is the matter with you all? You should be a little happier.” Xiangyun said, “We are eating and drinking. What more do you want?” Xifeng said, “When they were little, they all loved excitement. Now they are restrained by propriety and do not dare laugh and talk freely, so Old Ancestor finds it dull.”

Baoyu quietly said to Mother Jia, “Everyone has nothing to say. If they say much, they will speak of sad things. Why not have Old Ancestor think of a plan and let us play a drinking game?” Mother Jia listened and said with a smile, “If we are to have a drinking game, we must call Yuanyang to preside.” When Baoyu heard this, without waiting for further orders, he rose from his seat and went to the inner room to find Yuanyang. He said, “Old Ancestor wants to play a drinking game and asks you to come.” Yuanyang said, “Young Master, would it not be better to let us quietly drink a cup of wine? Why must you come and stir us up again?” Baoyu said, “It really is Old Ancestor who told you to go. It has nothing to do with me.” Yuanyang had no choice. She said, “You all drink first. I will go and come back soon.” So she came to Mother Jia. Mother Jia said, “You have come. We want to play a drinking game.” Yuanyang said, “I heard Second Master Bao relay the message that Old Ancestor called me. How would I dare not come? What drinking game does Old Ancestor wish to play?” Mother Jia said, “Elegant drinking games are too dull, and rowdy ones are unsuitable. Think of something fresh and amusing.” Yuanyang thought for a moment and said, “Aunt Xue is advanced in years and does not want to tax her brain. Why not bring a dice bowl and dice, and let everyone throw the dice and wager cups by the names of tunes that come up?” Mother Jia said, “That will do.” She immediately had a dice bowl brought and placed on the table. Yuanyang said, “Let us throw four dice. If no matching name comes up, the thrower drinks one cup. If a name does come up, how many cups each person should drink will be decided when it appears.” Everyone said, “That is simple. We will all play.” Yuanyang first threw the dice to determine the order. Everyone made Yuanyang drink a cup, and counting from her, it happened to be Aunt Xue’s turn first. Aunt Xue threw casually, and all four dice came up as ones. Yuanyang said, “This has a name: ‘The Four White-Haired Sages of Mount Shang.’ All the elderly must drink a cup.” So Mother Jia, Aunt Li, Lady Xing, and Lady Wang all had to drink. Mother Jia raised her cup to drink, but Yuanyang added, “This was thrown by Aunt Xue, so Aunt Xue must also name a tune, and the next player must follow with a line from the Thousand Family Poems. If she cannot, she drinks a cup.” Aunt Xue said, “You are scheming against me again. How could I say such a thing?” Mother Jia said, “It will be too dull if you do not. It is better to say one line. The next player is me. If you cannot, I will drink a cup with Aunt Xue.” Aunt Xue had no choice but to say, “I say, ‘In old age, one enters the flowers.’” Mother Jia nodded and followed with, “One would think he steals leisure to imitate the young.” Then the dice bowl passed to Li Wen. Li Wen threw two fours and two twos. Yuanyang said, “That also has a name: ‘Liu and Ruan Enter Tiantai.’” Li Wen named a tune: “Two Scholars Enter Peach Blossom Spring.” The next player was Li Wan, who followed with a poem line: “They found Peach Blossom Spring to escape Qin.” Everyone drank another sip. The dice bowl came again to Mother Jia. She threw two twos and two threes. Mother Jia said, “Does this mean I must drink?” Yuanyang said, “It has a name: ‘River Swallows Lead Their Young.’ Everyone drinks a cup.” Xifeng said offhand, “Young they may be, but many little birds have flown away.” Everyone glanced at her, and Xifeng said no more. Mother Jia said, “I name the tune ‘Grandfather Leads Grandson.’” The next player was Li Qi, who followed with, “Idly watching children catch willow catkins.” Everyone said this line was very apt. Baoyu had long been waiting for his turn, but the dice bowl had not come to him. At last it was his turn. He threw one two, two threes, and one one. Baoyu asked, “What is this called?” Yuanyang laughed and said, “This is ‘Stinker.’ Drink a cup first, then throw again.” Baoyu had to drink and throw again. This time he threw two threes and two fours. Yuanyang said, “It has a name: ‘Zhang Chang Paints His Wife’s Eyebrows.’” Baoyu knew this was teasing him and Baochai, and Baochai blushed scarlet. Xifeng did not quite understand the allusion and urged, “Second Brother, hurry and name the tune. See who the next player is.” Baoyu knew it was awkward to speak, so he simply said, “Fine me a cup. I will not say it, and there is no need for a next player.” The dice bowl passed to Li Wan. Li Wan threw once. Yuanyang said, “What the Elder Mistress has thrown is ‘The Twelve Golden Hairpins.’” When Baoyu heard this, he hurried over to Li Wan to look. The red and green dice had come up in pairs, and he could not help saying, “This is really beautiful.” Suddenly he remembered the old dream of the Twelve Beauties of Jinling and sat back in his seat in a daze. He thought: The Twelve Golden Hairpins were originally girls of Jinling. Now the people in this household are scattered, with only a few left. He looked again at Xiangyun and Baochai. Though they were still here, Daiyu was gone. For a moment he could not control himself, and tears were about to fall. Afraid that others would see, he made the excuse that he was hot and wanted to take off a layer of clothing. He put down his drinking tally and left the feast. Shi Xiangyun saw Baoyu behave this way and thought he was displeased because he had failed to throw a good name and someone else had gotten ahead of him. Besides, she found the drinking game rather dull and felt somewhat annoyed. Li Wan said, “I will not say mine either. The people at the table are not all here. Let me just drink a cup as a forfeit.” Mother Jia said, “This game is not lively enough either. We might as well stop. Yuanyang, you throw once and see what comes up.” A young maid put the dice bowl before Yuanyang. Yuanyang obeyed and threw. Two twos and one five came up, while the last die spun round and round in the bowl. Yuanyang muttered, “Not a five!” But the die stopped exactly on five. Yuanyang said, “Oh no! I have lost.” Mother Jia said, “Does this also have a meaning?” Yuanyang said, “It has a name, but I cannot name the matching tune.” Mother Jia said, “First tell us the name, and I will help you think of a tune.” Yuanyang said, “It is called ‘Waves Sweep the Duckweed.’” Mother Jia said, “That is not hard. I will say for you, ‘Autumn Fish Enter the Water-Chestnut Nest.’” Yuanyang’s next player was Xiangyun. Xiangyun followed with, “White duckweed all sung, the Chu River autumn.” Everyone said this line fit perfectly. Mother Jia said, “The drinking game ends here. Let us drink two more cups and then eat.” She turned and saw that Baoyu had still not returned. She asked, “Where has Baoyu gone? Why has he not come back?” Yuanyang said, “He went to change his clothes.” Mother Jia asked, “Who went with him?” Ying’er came forward and replied, “I saw the Second Master go out and called Sister Xiren to follow him.” Only then did Mother Jia and Lady Wang feel reassured.

After a while, Lady Wang sent someone to look for Baoyu. The young maid went to the new apartment and saw Wu’er lighting candles. The maid asked, “Where is Second Master Bao?” Wu’er said, “He is drinking at Old Ancestor’s.” The maid said, “I just came from Old Ancestor’s. Lady Wang sent me to find him. If he were there, why would she need me to look for him?” Wu’er said, “Then I do not know. Go and look elsewhere.” The maid had no choice but to go back. On the way she met Qiuwen. Qiuwen asked, “Did you see where the Second Master went? The ladies are waiting to eat, and he is nowhere to be seen. Hurry back and tell Old Ancestor—do not say he cannot be found. Say that the Second Master drank wine and feels unwell, so he will not eat. He will lie down a little and come later. Ask Old Ancestor and the others to eat first.” The maid went back and told Zhenzhu, who reported it to Mother Jia. Mother Jia said, “He never eats much anyway. It is just as well if he does not eat. Let him rest. Tell him he need not come today. His wife can keep him company.” Zhenzhu said to the maid, “Did you hear?” The maid assented. She could not very well tell the truth, so she went off somewhere, made a round, and came back saying the message had been delivered. The others did not think much of it. After the meal, everyone sat about talking in small groups. Of this no more for the moment.

Now Baoyu, full of sorrow, had gone out alone. He did not know where to go when Xiren hurried up and asked what was wrong. Baoyu said, “Nothing. I am just depressed. Why not take advantage of their drinking and go stroll over to Sister-in-law Zhen’s place?” Xiren said, “Sister-in-law Zhen is right here at Old Ancestor’s feast. Whom would we go to see?” Baoyu said, “Not to see anyone. Just to look at the rooms where she lives now.” Xiren had no choice but to follow him, talking as they went. When they reached the area near Lady You’s residence, a small side door stood half open. Baoyu did not go in. He saw two old women guarding the garden sitting on the threshold chatting. Baoyu asked, “Is this little door open?” The old woman said, “Usually it is locked. Today word came from inside that Old Ancestor wanted fruit from the garden, so the door was opened and we are waiting.” Baoyu walked slowly over and indeed saw the waist gate half open. He lifted his foot to enter the garden. Xiren quickly pulled him back. “Do not go in. No one has lived in the garden for a long time. It is not clean. You might run into something.” Baoyu, emboldened by wine, said, “I am not afraid of such things.” Xiren held him tightly and would not let him go in. The old women came up and urged, “The garden is quiet now. Ever since the Daoist came to catch the demon last time, we have picked flowers and fruit, and even going in alone has been fine. If the Second Master wants to go, we will follow you. With so many people, what is there to fear?” Baoyu was delighted. Xiren could not stop him and had to follow.

Baoyu walked into the Grand View Garden. Everywhere he looked was desolation. Most of the flowers, grasses, and trees had withered. In several pavilions and towers, the paint and colored decoration had long since peeled and faded. In the distance he saw a clump of bamboo, which had instead grown lush and green. Baoyu’s heart stirred. “Since I fell ill and moved out of the garden to the rear courtyard, for months on end I was not allowed to enter. In such a short time it has become this desolate. Look at that grove of green bamboo, so thick and flourishing—is that not the Xiaoxiang Lodge?” Xiren said, “You have not been here for months, and you have even mixed up the directions. While we were talking, we already passed the Yihong Court.” Pointing into the distance, Xiren said, “The Xiaoxiang Lodge is over there.” Baoyu looked where she pointed and said, “So we did pass it! Let us go back and look.” Xiren said, “It is almost dark. Old Ancestor is surely waiting for us to go back and eat. We should return.” Baoyu said nothing and followed the old path straight toward the Xiaoxiang Lodge.

You may wonder how Baoyu, who had been away from the Grand View Garden for nearly a year, could have forgotten the way. In truth, Xiren was afraid that if he saw the Xiaoxiang Lodge and thought of Daiyu, he would grieve, so she deliberately lied and said they had already passed it. But Baoyu had set his heart on going to the Xiaoxiang Lodge and insisted on walking on. The sky gradually darkened. Xiren feared they might meet some evil influence. When Baoyu asked her about it, she lied again that they had passed it, hoping to persuade him to turn back. But Baoyu’s heart was fixed only on the Xiaoxiang Lodge. Seeing him walk quickly ahead, Xiren had to follow. Baoyu stopped and seemed to see something, and also seemed to hear something. Xiren asked, “What did you hear?” Baoyu said, “Can someone still be living in the Xiaoxiang Lodge?” Xiren said, “There should be no one.” Baoyu said, “I clearly heard someone crying inside. How can there be no one?” Xiren said, “You are letting your mind run wild. When you used to be here, you often heard Miss Lin weeping in sorrow, so now you imagine it.” Baoyu would not believe her and wanted to listen more carefully. The old women caught up and urged, “Second Master, go back quickly. It is too late. Other places are still passable, but this place is secluded. They say that after Miss Lin died, weeping is often heard here, and no one dares come this way.” Baoyu and Xiren were both greatly startled. Baoyu murmured, “So it is.” Tears fell as he wept, “Lin妹妹, Lin妹妹, such a fine person—I ruined you! Do not blame me. The marriage was arranged by my parents. It was not that I was unfaithful.” The more he spoke, the more bitter he became, until he wept aloud. Xiren did not know how to comfort him when Qiuwen came hurrying up with a group of people. She said to Xiren, “You are too bold! How could you bring the Second Master here? Old Ancestor and Lady Wang are looking everywhere for him. Someone at the waist gate reported that you were with the Second Master in the garden. Old Ancestor and the others were badly frightened. They scolded me and told me to bring people quickly to find you. Hurry back!” Baoyu was still weeping bitterly. Xiren had no time to persuade him. She and Qiuwen together pulled Baoyu back, wiping his tears and telling him that Old Ancestor was extremely anxious. Baoyu had no choice but to follow them back.

Fearing that Old Ancestor would worry, Xiren brought Baoyu back to Mother Jia’s side. The company had not yet dispersed. Mother Jia scolded Xiren: “I have always known you were sensible, which is why I entrusted Baoyu to your care. Why did you take him into the garden today? He has only just recovered. If he runs into something and his old illness returns, what then?” Xiren did not dare argue and could only bow her head in silence. Baochai saw that Baoyu looked unwell and was greatly alarmed. But Baoyu, afraid that Xiren would be punished, spoke up: “It is broad daylight—what could be there? I had not been in the garden for a long time, and I went to stroll while in my cups. How could I have met anything?” Xifeng had once suffered a fright in the garden. Hearing this, she felt her hair stand on end and said, “Brother Bao is too bold.” Xiangyun said, “It is not so much boldness as a heart too full of feeling. I wonder whether he went to meet the Hibiscus Spirit or to seek some immortal traces.” Baoyu heard this but did not answer. Only Lady Wang was too anxious to speak. Mother Jia asked Baoyu, “Were you frightened just now in the garden? We will not pursue the matter. In the future, if you want to stroll in the garden, you must take more people with you. Everyone should disperse early. Go back and sleep well. Come again early tomorrow. I still plan to have another lively day. Do not let this matter give rise to anything else.” Hearing this, everyone took leave of Mother Jia and went back. Aunt Xue stayed to rest in Lady Wang’s room. Shi Xiangyun still slept in Mother Jia’s room. Yingchun went to Xichun’s quarters. The rest returned to their own rooms. Of this no more for the moment.

When Baoyu returned to his room, he sighed again and again. Baochai knew the reason in her heart and did not disturb him. She was only afraid that his gloom would bring back his old illness. So she went into the inner room and called Xiren to ask in detail what had happened to Baoyu in the garden. What Xiren said in reply will be told in the next chapter.