The Blessed Ones, Deeply Blessed, Still Pray for Blessings; The Infatuated Maid, Weighed Down by Love, Delves Deeper into Emotion

Baoyu was in a daze when Daiyu flicked her handkerchief, hitting him squarely in the eye. Startled, he asked who it was. Lin Daiyu shook her head and laughed, "It was I—my hand slipped. Cousin Baochai wanted to see the silly goose, so I pointed it out to her, but I lost control." Baoyu rubbed his eye, wanting to say something but holding back.

Just then Xifeng arrived and mentioned the prayer-offering at the Temple of Pure Void on the first day of the month, inviting Baochai, Baoyu, and Daiyu to watch the plays. Baochai laughed, "No, no—it's too hot. There's nothing we haven't seen before—I won't go." Xifeng said, "It's cool there, with towers on both sides. If we go, I'll send word a few days ahead to clear out all the Daoists, sweep the tower clean, hang curtains, and let no outsiders in. I've already told Aunt. If you won't go, I'll go alone—I've been so bored lately. Even when there are plays at home, I can't watch them properly."

The Dowager laughed, "In that case, I'll go with you." Xifeng laughed, "If the Old Ancestress goes, wonderful! But then I won't have any fun." The Dowager said, "On that day, I'll sit in the main tower, and you in the side tower. You won't have to stand on ceremony with me—how's that?" Xifeng laughed, "That's the Old Ancestress's way of spoiling me." The Dowager said to Baochai, "You come too, and your mother as well. It's a long day—you'd just be sleeping at home." Baochai had to agree.

The Dowager also sent word to Aunt Xue and informed Lady Wang that she was taking the girls. Lady Wang, being unwell and also expecting visits from Yuanchun's emissaries, had already declined, but she laughed, "She's still so energetic." She sent word to the garden: "Anyone who wants to go may go with the Old Ancestress on the first day." When this news spread, the maids, who were usually confined indoors, were eager to go. Even if their mistresses were reluctant, they would coax them into it, so Li Wan and the others all agreed. The Dowager was even more pleased and sent people ahead to prepare.

On the first day of the fifth month, the gate of the Rongguo Mansion was crowded with carriages and horsemen. The attendants, hearing that the Imperial Consort was sponsoring the rites and that the Dowager herself would burn incense—on the first day of the month and during the Dragon Boat Festival—had prepared everything in full splendour. Soon the Dowager and the others came out. The Dowager rode in an eight-carried sedan; Li Wan, Xifeng, and Aunt Xue each had a four-carried sedan; Baochai and Daiyu shared a canopied carriage with pearl tassels and eight treasures; Yingchun, Tanchun, and Xichun shared a red-wheeled ornate carriage. Then came the maids: Yuanyang, Yingwu, Hupo, Zhenzhu for the Dowager; Zijuan, Xueyan, Chunxian for Daiyu; Ying'er, Wenxing for Baochai; Siqi, Xiuju for Yingchun; Daishu, Cuimo for Tanchun; Ruhua, Caiping for Xichun; Tongxi, Tonggui for Aunt Xue; Xiangling and her maid Zhen'er; Suyun, Biyue for Li Wan; Ping'er, Feng'er, Xiaohong for Xifeng; and Jinchuan and Caiyun, who were Lady Wang's maids but were following Xifeng. Nurses carried Sister Da and Qiaojie in another carriage, with two more maids. Together with the old nannies and married women from each household, they filled the street with a dark mass of carriages. By the time the Dowager and the others had ridden far ahead, the line at the gate was still not fully boarded. Some were saying, "I won't ride with you," others, "You're crushing our mistress's bundle," one shouting, "You've scratched my flower," another, "You've broken my fan," and so on, chattering and laughing incessantly. Zhou Rui's wife went about saying, "Young ladies, this is a public street—people will laugh at you." After a couple of reminders, they quieted down. The full ceremonial procession had already reached the Temple of Pure Void. Baoyu rode on horseback before the Dowager's sedan, while the street crowds pressed to the sides.

As they neared the temple, bells and drums sounded. Chief Daoist Zhang, in his ceremonial robe and holding incense, led the Daoists in welcoming them by the roadside. Just as the Dowager's sedan entered the mountain gate, she saw the guardian statues—the Great General, Thousand-mile Eye, Wind-accompanying Ear, the local Earth God, and the City God—and ordered the sedan to stop. Jia Zhen and the younger men came forward to greet her. Xifeng, knowing that Yuanyang and the others were behind and couldn't help the Dowager, alighted from her sedan and hurried to support her. Just then a young Daoist of twelve or thirteen, carrying a candle-snuffer, tried to slip out but ran straight into Xifeng. She raised her hand and slapped him across the face, knocking him over, and cursed, "Where do you think you're going, you little beast!" The boy didn't even bother to pick up his snuffer; he scrambled up and tried to run out. Just then Baochai and the others were alighting, surrounded by a dense crowd of women, when the little Daoist rolled out among them. They all shouted, "Catch him! Catch him! Beat him! Beat him!"

The Dowager heard the commotion and asked what was happening. Jia Zhen hurried out to ask. Xifeng, supporting the Dowager, replied, "It was a little Daoist trimming the lamp-wicks—he couldn't get out in time and was trying to sneak through." The Dowager said, "Bring the child here—don't frighten him. Children from humble families are delicate and haven't seen such pomp. If he's scared, it's pitiful—his parents would worry." She told Jia Zhen to bring him gently. Jia Zhen fetched the boy, who still held his candle-snuffer and knelt trembling. The Dowager told Jia Zhen to help him up and tell him not to be afraid, asking how old he was—but the boy couldn't speak. The Dowager said, "Poor thing," and told Jia Zhen, "Take him away. Give him some money to buy fruit, and don't let anyone mistreat him." Jia Zhen led him off. The Dowager and the others then proceeded to worship and view the temple. Outside, the pages saw Jia Zhen leading the little Daoist out and heard him order that the boy be given a few hundred coppers and not be harmed. They took him away.

Jia Zhen stood on the steps and asked, "Where is the steward?" The pages, hearing this, shouted in unison, "Call the steward!" Lin Zhixiao, adjusting his hat, ran up to Jia Zhen. Jia Zhen said, "Though this place is large, we didn't expect so many people today. Take those you need to your own courtyard; send the rest to the other courtyard. Assign several young pages to the second gate and the side gates to take orders and relay messages. You know that today the young ladies and mistresses are out—no outsider is to come near." Lin Zhixiao agreed and said, "Yes, yes." Jia Zhen said, "Go." Then he asked, "Where is Rong'er?" Before the words died, Jia Rong came running out of the bell tower. Jia Zhen said, "Look at him—I haven't dared say it's hot, and he's already gone to enjoy the cool!" He ordered the pages to spit on him. The pages, knowing Jia Zhen's temper, dared not disobey; one stepped up and spat in Jia Rong's face. Jia Zhen said, "Question him!" The page asked, "Young master, if the master isn't afraid of the heat, why did you go to enjoy the cool?" Jia Rong hung his hands and dared not speak. When Jia Yun, Jia Ping, and Jia Qin heard this, they were not only alarmed but also Jia Huang, Jia Guang, Jia Qiong, and others hurriedly crept up from the foot of the wall. Jia Zhen said to Jia Rong, "What are you standing there for? Why don't you ride home and tell your mother that the Old Ancestress and the young ladies are here—tell her to come quickly to attend them!" Jia Rong ran out, calling for a horse, grumbling, "Where were you all earlier? Now you come to fix the blame on me." He cursed the pages, "Are your hands tied? Can't you bring a horse?" He thought of sending a page but feared being found out later, so he had to go himself and rode off.

Jia Zhen was about to go back in when Chief Daoist Zhang stood beside him and said with a smile, "I am not like others—I ought to be attending inside. But the weather is hot, and the young ladies are out, so I dare not enter without your permission. If the Old Ancestress asks for me, or wishes to visit any place, I'll just wait here." Jia Zhen knew that Zhang Daoshi had been the substitute for the late Duke of Rongguo, and had been personally addressed by the former Emperor as "Great Illusory Immortal." He now held the seal of the Daoist Registry and had been titled "Final Truth Immortal" by the current Emperor, and nobles and officials all called him "Immortal." So Jia Zhen dared not treat him lightly. Moreover, Zhang often visited both mansions and was acquainted with the ladies. Hearing him speak thus, Jia Zhen laughed, "We are all family—why speak like that? If you say more, I'll pull your beard! Come in with me." Zhang laughed heartily and followed Jia Zhen in.

Jia Zhen went to the Dowager, bowed, and said with a smile, "Grandfather Zhang is here to pay his respects." The Dowager said, "Help him in." Jia Zhen helped Zhang forward. Zhang laughed heartily, "Boundless life to the Buddha! Old Ancestress, may you always enjoy health and happiness! And all the ladies and misses, may you be blessed! I haven't been to the mansion to pay my respects lately—but your complexion is better than ever." The Dowager laughed, "Good health to you, Old Immortal!" Zhang laughed, "Thanks to your blessings, I am still well. But I always worry about the young master—how is his health? On the twenty-sixth of last month, we celebrated the birthday of the Great King Who Covers the Sky here. Few people came, but the offerings were clean. I invited the young master to come and enjoy himself, but I heard he wasn't at home." The Dowager said, "Indeed he wasn't." She turned to call Baoyu, who had just returned from the privy. He came forward and said, "How are you, Grandfather Zhang?" Zhang hugged him and exchanged greetings, then said to the Dowager, "The young master has grown even more prosperous." The Dowager said, "He looks well enough on the outside, but he's weak within. And his father forces him to study—it's enough to make a child ill." Zhang said, "I've seen his calligraphy and poems in several places—they are excellent. Why does the master complain that he doesn't like studying? In my humble opinion, he's doing fine." He sighed, "Seeing his bearing, speech, and manner, he is the very image of the old Duke!" Tears rolled down his cheeks. The Dowager, too, was moved to tears, "Indeed—of all my sons and grandsons, none resembles his grandfather except this jade."

Zhang said to Jia Zhen, "The old Duke's appearance—your generation naturally didn't see it, and even the elder and second masters probably don't remember it clearly." He laughed heartily, then said, "The other day I saw a young lady in someone's house, fifteen years old, quite good-looking. I thought the young master ought to be thinking of marriage. In looks, intelligence, family, and fortune, she would be a suitable match. But I don't know what the Old Ancestress thinks—I dare not be rash. Only after hearing your opinion would I dare to mention it." The Dowager said, "Last time a monk said this child is not destined to marry early. We should wait until he's a bit older. But you may make inquiries—regardless of family wealth, as long as her looks match, come and tell me. Even if the family is poor, a few taels of silver will suffice. But good looks and character are hard to come by."

Xifeng then laughed, "Grandfather Zhang, you haven't exchanged my girl's name-talisman yet. And you had the nerve to send someone for that yellow satin the other day! If I hadn't given it, your old face would have been embarrassed." Zhang laughed heartily, "Oh, I didn't see you there, Mistress—I should thank you. The talisman has been ready for some time; I meant to send it, but with the rites for the Imperial Consort, I forgot. It's still enshrined before the Buddha—let me fetch it." He went to the main hall and returned with a tea-tray covered with a red satin embroidered cloth, carrying the talisman. Sister Da's nurse took it. Zhang was about to take Sister Da in his arms when Xifeng laughed, "You just hand it over—why use a tray?" Zhang said, "My hands aren't clean—the tray is more respectful." Xifeng laughed, "You brought out the tray and startled me. I thought you were here to beg for alms, not to deliver a talisman." Everyone laughed, even Jia Zhen couldn't help it. The Dowager turned, "You monkey! Aren't you afraid of being tongued in hell?" Xifeng laughed, "It doesn't matter between us. He's always saying we should accumulate virtue, or we'll die young!"

Zhang laughed too, "I brought out the tray for two purposes—not for alms, but to take the young master's jade and show it to my distant colleagues and disciples." The Dowager said, "If so, why run about yourself, old as you are? Just take him to see it and bring him back—it would save trouble." Zhang said, "You don't know, Old Ancestress—though I'm over eighty and still healthy, thanks to your blessings, there are many people outside with bad smells, and it's hot. The young master might not be used to it; if he catches a bad odour, it would be a pity." The Dowager told Baoyu to take off his jade and place it on the tray. Zhang tremblingly took it, padded with the satin cloth, and carried it out.

The Dowager and the others toured the temple for a while and then went up to the tower. Jia Zhen reported, "Grandfather Zhang has returned the jade." Zhang came up with the tray and said with a smile, "Everyone, through my good fortune, got to see the young master's jade—they all found it rare. They had no worthy gifts to offer, so each gave a Daoist ritual object as a token of respect. Even if the young master doesn't value them, he may keep them for play or give them away." The Dowager looked into the tray: there were gold ornaments, jade pendants, some engraved with "May everything go as you wish," some with "Peace year after year"—all set with pearls and gems, carved in gold and jade, perhaps thirty or fifty pieces. She said, "You're being silly. They are monks—where did they get these? There's no need for this—I cannot accept them." Zhang laughed, "This is their sincere respect; I couldn't stop them. If you don't accept, they'll think I'm mean and unworthy of their regard." The Dowager then accepted them. Baoyu laughed, "Old Ancestress, since Grandfather Zhang says so and we can't refuse, I have no use for these. Why not have the pages carry them and follow me to give them to the poor?" The Dowager laughed, "That's a good idea." Zhang quickly stopped him, "Though the young master wants to do good, these objects, though not rare, are still vessels. If given to beggars, they would be of no use to them and would be wasted. If you want to give to the poor, just give them money." Baoyu then ordered them put away, to be used later for charitable donations. Zhang withdrew.

The Dowager and the others went up to the main tower. Xifeng and her party occupied the east tower, while the maids took turns waiting in the west tower. Jia Zhen came to report, "The lot has been drawn before the gods: the first play is The White Snake." The Dowager asked, "What story is The White Snake?" Jia Zhen said, "It's about the founding Emperor of Han killing the serpent and raising his army. The second is Full House of Official Hats." The Dowager laughed, "So the second is that—well, if the gods will it, so be it." She asked about the third. Jia Zhen said, "The Dream of Nanke." The Dowager fell silent. Jia Zhen withdrew to prepare the rites and the plays.

Baoyu, sitting beside the Dowager, had a little maid hold the tray of gifts while he put on his jade. He rummaged through the tray, showing each piece to the Dowager. She noticed a gold-encrusted, turquoise-inlaid kylin, picked it up, and said, "This looks like something I've seen a child wear." Baochai said, "Cousin Shi has one—smaller than this." The Dowager said, "Yes, Xiangyun has one." Baoyu said, "She's stayed with us, but I never saw it." Tanchun laughed, "Cousin Baochai has a good memory—she remembers everything." Lin Daiyu said with a cold smile, "She may not be good at other things, but she's especially attentive to what people wear." Baochai turned away as if she hadn't heard. Baoyu, hearing that Xiangyun had such a thing, quickly put the kylin in his bosom. He feared being seen, but he glanced around. The others paid little attention, only Lin Daiyu nodded at him with a knowing look. Embarrassed, Baoyu took it out again and said to Daiyu, "This is quite a nice thing. I'll keep it for you, and when we get home, I'll string it for you to wear." Daiyu turned her head, "I don't want it." Baoyu laughed, "If you really don't, then I'll keep it." He put it back.

Just as he was about to speak, Jia Zhen's wife You Shi and Jia Rong's wife Qin Keqing arrived. After greetings, the Dowager said, "Why have you come? I just came for a casual outing." Before she finished, a report came: "Someone from General Feng's house is here." Feng Ziying's family, hearing that the Jia household was holding rites at the temple, had sent gifts of pigs, sheep, incense, candles, tea, and silver. Xifeng hurried to the main tower, clapping her hands, "Oh! I didn't expect this. We just came for a casual visit, and they think we're holding a grand altar. It's all the Old Ancestress's doing. Now we have to prepare reward envelopes." Just then the two stewardesses from the Feng household came up. Before they left, gifts came from Vice-Minister Zhao as well. One after another, relatives and friends, hearing that the Jia ladies were at the temple, sent gifts. The Dowager regretted it, "It wasn't a proper rite—we were just out for a stroll. I didn't think of gifts; now we've troubled everyone." Though they watched plays all day, they returned in the afternoon. The next day, the Dowager was reluctant to go again. Xifeng said, "We've already disturbed people—we might as well enjoy another day." But the Dowager, because Zhang's talk of marriage had upset Baoyu all day—he had come home angry, swearing he would never see Zhang again—and because Daiyu had suffered heatstroke, she insisted on not going. Xifeng went with her own people.

Now Baoyu, seeing Daiyu ill again, was worried and couldn't eat; he visited her frequently. Daiyu, fearing for him, said, "Just go watch the plays—why stay at home?" Baoyu, already upset about Zhang's marriage proposal, felt even worse. He thought, "If others don't understand my heart, I can forgive—but even she mocks me." This anger was a hundred times greater than usual. He wouldn't have shown such temper to anyone else, but coming from Daiyu it was different. His face fell immediately, "I've wasted my feelings for you. That's it!" Daiyu sneered, "I know I'm not worthy—unlike others who are a perfect match." Baoyu stepped forward and said directly, "You say that—do you mean to curse me to destruction?" Daiyu didn't understand at first. Baoyu continued, "I swore oaths about this yesterday, and now you curse me again. If I'm destroyed, what good does it do you?" Daiyu then remembered yesterday's words. She had indeed spoken wrongly, and now she was both flustered and ashamed. Trembling, she said, "If I really meant to curse you, may I be destroyed too. But I know—yesterday Zhang Daoshi talked about marriage, and you're afraid it will spoil your good match, so you're angry and taking it out on me."

Now Baoyu had a peculiar affliction from childhood. He had grown up with Daiyu, sharing every mood, and now, as he grew older and had read some forbidden books, he had seen no young lady among relatives or friends who could compare with Daiyu. So he had long harboured feelings for her, but dared not express them. He would often test her through joy and anger. Daiyu, too, had her own foolishness and used false feelings to test him. Each hid their true heart behind pretence, and when two pretenses met, truth would eventually emerge. These small quarrels were inevitable. At this moment, Baoyu thought: "It's forgivable that others don't know my heart—but don't you know that my eyes and heart are only for you? Instead of sharing my distress, you mock me. It shows I've wasted my feelings on you, and you have none for me." But he couldn't say this. Daiyu thought: "You do have me in your heart, despite all the talk of 'gold and jade.' If you truly valued me above that, you wouldn't be so disturbed when I mention it. But you always get so agitated when I bring up 'gold and jade'—it shows it's always on your mind, and you're only pretending to be upset to hide it."

Thus, although they were of one heart, they had created divisions and became two hearts. Baoyu thought: "I don't care what happens, as long as you're happy. I'd even die for you. Whether you know or not, it's my heart—that shows you are close to me, not distant." Daiyu thought: "You should be yourself—if you're well, I'm well. Why lose yourself for me? Don't you see that if you lose yourself, I lose myself too? That shows you're pushing me away, deliberately keeping me at a distance." Both sought closeness, yet ended up creating distance. Such thoughts, their private feelings, are too many to recount.

Now, on the surface, Baoyu, hearing her say "good match," was even more offended. Choking with anger, he grabbed the magic jade from his neck and flung it to the ground, gritting his teeth, "What's this worthless thing? I'll smash it and be done!" But the jade was hard and didn't break. Seeing it intact, he looked for something else to smash it with. Daiyu, seeing this, wept, "Why do that? If you want to smash something, smash me instead." Zijuan, Xueyan, and the others tried to intervene. When they saw Baoyu determined to break the jade, they tried to take it from him but couldn't, and seeing the commotion was worse than usual, they called Xiren. Xiren rushed over and took it from him. Baoyu sneered, "It's my thing—what business is it of yours?"

Xiren, seeing his face yellow with anger and his features distorted—he had never been so angry—took his hand and laughed, "You quarrel with your cousin, but why smash this? If you break it, how will she feel and face you?" Daiyu, crying, heard these words and thought: Baoyu doesn't even understand me as well as Xiren does. She wept even more bitterly. In her agitation, she couldn't hold down the elsholtzia decoction she had taken for the heat, and vomited it up. Zijuan quickly caught it in a handkerchief, soaking it. Xueyan patted her back. Zijuan said, "Though you're angry, miss, you should take care of yourself. You just took your medicine, and now you've brought it up because of the quarrel. If you fall ill again, how will Second Master Bao bear it?" Baoyu heard these words and thought: Daiyu doesn't understand me as well as Zijuan does. Seeing Daiyu flushed, panting, and sweating from crying, so frail, he regretted the quarrel. He thought, "Now she's like this, and I can't help her." Tears fell. Xiren, seeing them both crying, grew sad too, and felt Baoyu's hands were cold. She wanted to stop his tears, but feared he might be holding something in; she also didn't want to slight Daiyu. So she let herself cry too. Zijuan, while cleaning up the vomited medicine, fanned Daiyu gently, and seeing the three of them weeping in silence, she too was moved and wiped her tears. The four of them wept silently.

After a while, Xiren forced a smile and said to Baoyu, "Leaving everything else aside, look at the tassel on this jade—you shouldn't have quarrelled with Miss Lin." Daiyu, disregarding her illness, snatched the jade and grabbed scissors to cut the tassel. Before Xiren and Zijuan could stop her, she had already cut several strands. Daiyu wept, "I've wasted my efforts. He doesn't care—others will make a new one for him." Xiren took the jade, "Why do this? It was my fault for being indiscreet." Baoyu said to Daiyu, "Cut it if you like—I won't wear it anymore, it doesn't matter."

Inside the room, the old women, seeing Daiyu vomiting and Baoyu smashing the jade, feared the situation would escalate and involve them, so they went to report to the Dowager and Lady Wang. The Dowager and Lady Wang, hearing the seriousness of the report, rushed into the garden. Xiren, flustered, blamed Zijuan for disturbing them, while Zijuan thought Xiren had told them and blamed her. The Dowager and Lady Wang, finding Baoyu and Daiyu silent and unable to explain, vented their frustration on Xiren and Zijuan, scolding them for not attending properly. They had to listen in silence. The Dowager took Baoyu away, and the incident subsided.

The next day, the third of the month, was Xue Pan's birthday; he had a feast and plays at home and invited everyone. Baoyu, having offended Daiyu and not seen her since, was deeply regretful and listless—he had no heart for plays and pleaded illness. Daiyu had only suffered a little heatstroke and was not seriously ill. When she heard he wasn't going, she thought: "He loves wine and plays—why would he refuse? He must still be angry about yesterday. Or perhaps because I'm not going, he has no interest. But I shouldn't have cut the tassel on the jade. Now he'll refuse to wear it—he'll only wear it again if I string it anew." She regretted it deeply.

The Dowager, seeing them both angry, thought that going to the plays would allow them to meet and make up, but neither went. She complained, "This old wretch—what karmic debt from a past life brought me these two troublesome little ghosts? Not a day goes by without worry. As the saying goes, 'Enemies are not meant to meet.' If only I could close my eyes and breathe my last, I wouldn't have to see their troubles." She wept. When this reached the two lovers, they had never heard the saying "Enemies are not meant to meet." Now it struck them like a Zen koan; they both pondered its meaning and were moved to tears. Though apart—one shedding tears in the wind at Xiaoxiang Pavilion, the other sighing at the moon in the Crimson Delight Court—their hearts were united in feeling.

Xiren urged Baoyu, "Whatever the rights and wrongs, you are at fault. Usually when you hear pages quarrel with maids, you scold them for not understanding a girl's heart. Now you're doing the same. Tomorrow is the fifth, a festival; if you two are still like enemies, the Old Ancestress will be even angrier and everyone will be upset. My advice: humble yourself and apologize, and things will return to normal." Whether Baoyu would follow her advice, we shall hear in the next chapter.