The Dead Are Gone, the Thing Remains: The Young Master Writes a Lyric; A Bow’s Shadow in the Cup, a Snake in the Wine: Daiyu Refuses Food

Xifeng had just risen and was still fretting when she heard the little maid’s report and gave another start. She quickly asked, “What official business?” The little maid said, “I do not know either. The page at the inner gate passed on the message that there is urgent government business at the Ministry. The mistress asks the Second Master to go over at once.” When Xifeng heard it was a matter for the Ministry of Works, her heart relaxed a little. She said to the maid, “Go back and report to the mistress that the Second Master went out of the city last night on business and has not yet returned. Send someone first to tell Master Zhen to deal with it.” The little maid assented and left. Before long Jia Zhen came out to receive the men from the Ministry of Works. After he had asked what the matter was, he went in and reported to Lady Wang: “Word has come from the Ministry of Works that yesterday the Director-General of Riverways memorialized the throne. The dikes in the Henan region have broken, and several prefectures and counties have been flooded. The court is......