Virtuous Xiren Uses Playful Reproach to Admonish Baoyu; Pretty Ping'er Uses Gentle Words to Rescue Jia Lian

Shi Xiangyun ran out, afraid Lin Daiyu might chase her. Baoyu called after her, "Mind you don't trip! She won't catch you." Daiyu reached the door, but Baoyu blocked her with both arms on the doorframe, laughing, "Let her off this once." Daiyu tried to pull his hands away, saying, "If I spare Xiangyun, I won't live!" Xiangyun, seeing Baoyu blocking the door and knowing Daiyu couldn't get out, stopped and laughed, "Dear sister, forgive me this time." Just then Baochai came up behind Xiangyun and laughed too, "I beg you both, for Brother Bao's sake, let it go." Daiyu said, "I won't. You're all in league together—all teasing me!" Baoyu said, "Who would dare tease you? If you hadn't teased her, she wouldn't have said anything." The four were still wrangling when someone came to call them to eat, so they went to the front. By then it was already lamplight. Lady Wang, Li Wan, Xifeng, Yingchun, Tanchun, Xichun, and the others all came to the Dowager's quarters; they chatted for a while and then retired. Xiangyun still slept in Daiyu's room.

Baoyu saw them to their room; it was already past the second watch. Xiren urged him several times before he went back to his own room to sleep. The next morning, he threw on his clothes and slippers and went to Daiyu's room. He didn't see Zijuan or Cuilu; the two cousins were still in bed. Lin Daiyu was snugly wrapped in a apricot-red satin quilt, sleeping peacefully with her eyes closed. Shi Xiangyun had her black hair spread across the pillow, the quilt only up to her chest, with one white arm bare, wearing two gold bracelets. Baoyu sighed, "Still not sleeping properly! If the wind catches you, you'll be complaining of a sore shoulder again." He gently pulled the quilt over her. Lin Daiyu had already woken; sensing someone, she guessed it was Baoyu, turned over, and saw it was indeed him. "Why are you here so early?" she asked. Baoyu laughed, "It's still early! Get up and see." Daiyu said, "Go out first, let us get up." Baoyu turned and went outside.

Daiyu got up and woke Xiangyun; they both dressed. Baoyu came back in and sat by the dressing-table. Zijuan and Xueyan came in to help with washing and combing. After Xiangyun washed her face, Cuilu was about to pour out the water when Baoyu said, "Wait—I'll wash here and save the trouble of going back." He came over, bent down, and splashed water on his face. Zijuan handed him soap, but Baoyu said, "There's plenty in the basin—no need." He washed twice more and asked for a towel. Cuilu said, "Still the same habit—when will you ever change?" Baoyu ignored her, took some green salt to brush his teeth, rinsed, and was done. Seeing Xiangyun had finished combing her hair, he came over laughing, "Dear cousin, comb my hair for me." Xiangyun said, "I can't do that now." Baoyu coaxed, "But you used to comb it for me." Xiangyun said, "I've forgotten how." Baoyu said, "I'm not going out anyway—no hat or headband—just a few loose braids will do." He pleaded, calling her "dear cousin" again and again. Xiangyun had to take his head and comb it. At home he didn't wear a hat or a topknot—she just braided the short hair around his temples into the hair on top to form one thick braid, tied with a red cord. From the crown to the tip were four pearls, with gold tassels at the end. As she braided, she said, "There are only three pearls—this one isn't the same. I remember they were all alike—how did one go missing?" Baoyu said, "I lost one." Xiangyun said, "You must have dropped it outside, and someone picked it up—lucky for them." Daiyu, washing her hands nearby, sneered, "Who knows if it was really lost, or given to someone to set in a ring or something?" Baoyu didn't answer. The dressing-table was covered with cosmetics; he picked them up and played with them, and without thinking, picked up some rouge and was about to put it to his lips—but feared Xiangyun would scold him. While he hesitated, Xiangyun saw him from behind; with one hand holding his braid, she reached over and knocked the rouge from his hand with a slap, saying, "That bad habit—when will you ever change it!"

Before she finished, Xiren came in. Seeing they had already washed and dressed, she had to go back and do her own washing. Just then Baochai came in and asked, "Where's Brother Bao?" Xiren smiled, "Brother Bao has no time to be at home!" Baochai understood. She heard Xiren sigh, "It's good that the cousins are so close, but there should be some restraint—not carrying on day and night! No matter what anyone says, it goes in one ear and out the other." Baochai thought to herself, "I mustn't underestimate this girl—she has some sense." She sat on the kang and casually asked Xiren about her age and hometown, observing her carefully; she found her words and character deeply admirable.

Presently Baoyu came, and Baochai left. Baoyu asked Xiren, "Why did Cousin Baochai leave as soon as I came in, when you were chatting so merrily?" No answer. He asked again, and Xiren said, "You ask me? How should I know what's between you?" Hearing this and seeing her expression different from usual, he laughed, "What's made you so angry?" Xiren sneered, "How dare I be angry? Just from now on, don't come into this room anymore. You'll have someone to serve you—don't bother with me. I'll go back to serving the Dowager." With that she lay down on the kang and closed her eyes. Baoyu was alarmed and came to console her. Xiren kept her eyes closed and ignored him. Baoyu didn't know what to do. Seeing Sheyue come in, he asked, "What's wrong with your sister?" Sheyue said, "How should I know? Ask yourself." Baoyu was baffled and, feeling awkward, sighed, "If you won't speak to me, I'll go to sleep too." He went to his own bed and lay down. Xiren heard him quiet for a long while and faintly snoring; thinking he was asleep, she got up, took a cloak, and was just putting it over him when he flung it off with a start, still pretending to sleep. Xiren knew what he was doing and nodded with a cold smile, "Don't be angry. From now on I'll be dumb—I won't say a word to you. How's that?" Baoyu couldn't help sitting up, "What have I done? You say you're advising me—I didn't hear you advise me just now. You came in, ignored me, and went to sleep in a huff. I don't know why. Now you say I'm angry. I never heard you say anything." Xiren said, "You know perfectly well—why do you need me to say it?"

Just then someone from the Dowager called him to eat. He went to the front, ate half a bowl carelessly, and returned. He saw Xiren sleeping on the outer kang, with Sheyue playing dominoes beside her. Knowing Sheyue was close to Xiren, Baoyu ignored her too, lifted the soft curtain, and went into the inner room. Sheyue followed him in. He pushed her out, saying, "I wouldn't dare disturb you." Sheyue had to smile and come out, sending two little maids in. Baoyu took a book and read for a while; wanting tea, he looked up and saw the two maids standing there. One, older and quite pretty, caught his eye. He asked her name. She said, "Huixiang." Baoyu asked, "Who gave you that name?" Huixiang said, "I was originally Yunxiang, but Sister Hua changed it to Huixiang." Baoyu said, "You might as well be called 'Bad Luck'—what's 'Huixiang' about it?" He asked how many sisters she had. She said four. "Which are you?" "The fourth." "Then from now on I'll call you 'Fourth Child'—no need for 'Huixiang' or 'orchid fragrance.' Who are you to be named after such flowers—you'd only dishonor a good name." He had her pour tea. Xiren and Sheyue outside heard and smiled to themselves.

That day Baoyu hardly left his room, didn't play with the girls or maids, but stayed cooped up, reading or writing to pass the time, and didn't call the others—only Fourth Child. Now Fourth Child was a clever, quick-witted girl; seeing that Baoyu favored her, she tried every way to please him. After supper, Baoyu had drunk a couple of cups of wine and was feeling drowsy and warm. On other days, Xiren and the others would have been laughing and joking, but today he sat alone by the lamp, utterly bored. If he drove them away, they'd be pleased and advise him even more; if he asserted his authority, it seemed too harsh. He steeled himself to pretend they were dead; after all, he could get by. He had Fourth Child trim the lamp and brew tea, while he read the Zhuangzi. He came to the chapter "Cutting Open Satchels" and read:

"Therefore, when sages are abolished and wisdom discarded, great thieves cease; when jade is smashed and pearls destroyed, petty thieves cease; when tallies and seals are burned, the people become simple and honest; when measures and scales are broken, the people cease to contend; when all the sacred laws of the world are destroyed, the people may begin to be reasoned with. When the six notes are thrown into confusion, flutes and lutes are burned, and the ears of the blind musician Kuang are stopped up, then all the world may preserve its hearing. When patterns are destroyed and colors scattered, when the eyes of Li Zhu are glued shut, then all the world may preserve its sight. When hooks and lines are broken and compasses and squares discarded, when the fingers of the artisan Chui are broken, then all the world may preserve its skill."

Reading this, he felt inspired. In the spirit of the wine, he took up his brush and continued:

"Burn Hua (Xiren) and scatter She (Sheyue), and the women's chambers will each contain its own admonition; destroy Baochai's immortal beauty and dim Daiyu's spiritual sensitivity, obliterate their feelings, and the good and bad in the women's chambers will become alike. Then each containing its own admonition, there will be no fear of discord; destroy their immortal beauty, and there will be no heart for love; dim their spiritual sensitivity, and there will be no thoughts of talent. These—Baochai, Daiyu, Xiren, Sheyue—all spread their nets and tunnel their paths, thereby bewitching, deluding, and ensnaring the world."

He threw down the brush and went to sleep. His head touched the pillow and he fell into a deep sleep, not waking till dawn. Turning over, he saw Xiren sleeping on top of the quilt, still dressed. He had already forgotten yesterday's quarrel and pushed her, "Get up and sleep properly—you'll catch cold."

Xiren had originally used her soft manner to warn him, hoping he would come around after a while. She hadn't expected him to stay aloof all day and night—she herself had grown uneasy and slept poorly. Now that he was being kind again, she decided to ignore him. Seeing she didn't respond, he reached to unbutton her clothes, but she pushed his hand away and refastened them. At a loss, he took her hand and laughed, "What is it really?" She opened her eyes and said, "Nothing. If you're awake, go wash in the other room—it'll be too late soon." Baoyu said, "Where should I go?" She sneered, "You ask me? How should I know? Go wherever you like. From now on we'll part ways, and avoid all that squabbling. Over there you have your 'Fourth Child' and 'Fifth Child' to wait on you. We're nothing but 'dishonor to good names.'" Baoyu laughed, "You're still on about that?" Xiren said, "I'll remember it a hundred years! Unlike you, who treat my words as wind—said at night, forgotten by morning." Seeing her lovely pout, he was moved. He took a jade hairpin from beside the pillow and broke it in two, saying, "If I don't listen to you again, may I be like this." Xiren quickly picked up the pieces and said, "So early in the morning—why do that? Whether you listen or not, what's the point of this?" Baoyu said, "You don't know how anxious I am!" Xiren laughed, "So you do know anxiety? Then you know how I feel. Now get up and wash." So they rose and washed together.

After Baoyu had gone upstairs, Daiyu came by. Finding him gone, she looked through the books on the table and chanced upon the Zhuangzi from the day before. Seeing his continuation, she was both amused and annoyed, and wrote a quatrain:

Who was it that took up the idle pen,
To misuse the words of Zhuangzi's lore?
Not knowing his own ignorance,
He blames others with foolish words!

She then went upstairs to see the Dowager, and afterward to Lady Wang's quarters.

Now Xifeng's daughter, Sister Da, had fallen ill; a doctor was hastily summoned to take her pulse. He said, "I congratulate the ladies—the child's fever is smallpox, nothing else." Lady Wang and Xifeng quickly asked if it was serious. He said, "It's a dangerous illness, but it's progressing well—nothing to worry about. Be sure to prepare silkworm paste and pig's tail." Xifeng was immediately busy: she had the rooms swept and the Goddess of Smallpox enshrined; she ordered no frying or stir-frying in the kitchen; she had Ping'er prepare bedding and clothes for Jia Lian to sleep separately; she had red silk satin made into clothes for the nurse and maids. A clean room was set aside for the two doctors, who took turns consulting and prescribing, and were not allowed to go home for twelve days. Jia Lian had to move to the outer study to fast and purify himself, while Xifeng and Ping'er joined Lady Wang in daily offerings to the Goddess.

Now Jia Lian, away from Xifeng, was prone to mischief. After two nights alone, he grew restless and chose the handsomest of the pages to relieve himself. There was in the Rong Mansion a worthless, drunken cook called Duo Guan (Mr. Much), nicknamed "Duo Hunchong" (Much Worm) for his cowardice and incompetence. His parents had married him young to a wife now barely twenty, rather good-looking—everyone who saw her admired and desired her. She was flighty and fond of flirting, while her husband cared nothing as long as he had wine, meat, and money, so she had had affairs with many men in both mansions. Because of her extraordinary beauty and wantonness, she was called "Duo Guniang" (Much Girl). Jia Lian, suffering in the outer study, had seen this woman before and been smitten, but had never dared—fearing his jealous wife on one side and his reputation on the other. She too had had her eye on Jia Lian, but had never found the chance. Hearing he had moved to the outer study, she made excuses to come by, provoking him until he was as hungry as a starving rat. He confided in his trusted pages, who promised to arrange things for a price. They were all well acquainted with her, so it was easily done. That night, at the second watch, when Duo Hunchong was dead drunk on the kang, Jia Lian slipped out to meet her. At first sight of her, he was utterly bewitched; without need for sweet talk, they undressed and fell to it. This woman had a natural charm that made any man who touched her feel as if lying on silk; her passionate words and abandon outdid any courtesan. No man could resist—Jia Lian wished he could melt into her. She teased him with lewd talk, "Your daughter has the smallpox—you should be abstaining, not dirtying yourself for me. Go away." But Jia Lian, panting, replied, "You are my goddess—I care nothing for any goddess!" The more she played, the more shameless he became. When it was over, they swore eternal devotion and became regular lovers.

After twelve days, Sister Da's smallpox had passed. They sent off the Goddess, offered sacrifices to heaven and ancestors, burned incense in thanks, celebrated, and distributed rewards. Jia Lian moved back to the bedroom. As the saying goes, "A reunion after separation is sweeter than a new marriage." Their passion was beyond description.

The next morning, Xifeng went to the main quarters. Ping'er was packing Jia Lian's clothes and bedding from the study when she shook out a lock of black hair from the pillowcase. She understood at once, hid it in her sleeve, went to the inner room, and showed it to Jia Lian with a laugh, "What's this?" Jia Lian, startled, grabbed for it. Ping'er ran, but he caught her and threw her onto the kang, trying to pry her hand open, laughing, "You little minx—if you don't hand it over, I'll break your arm!" Ping'er laughed, "You ungrateful wretch! I kept it from her to ask you, and you threaten me! Just wait—when she comes back, I'll tell her everything." Jia Lian quickly let go and begged, "Dear girl, give it to me—I won't threaten you again."

Before he finished, Xifeng's voice was heard. Jia Lian released Ping'er; she had barely risen when Xifeng came in and told Ping'er to open the chest and find a pattern for her. Ping'er did so. Xifeng, seeing Jia Lian, suddenly asked, "Have you put away all the things you took out?" Ping'er said, "Yes." "Nothing missing?" "I checked carefully—nothing." "Good. But nothing extra, I hope?" Ping'er laughed, "It's lucky nothing's lost—who would add anything?" Xifeng said with a cold smile, "In half a month, who knows? Some lover might have left a ring, a handkerchief, a sachet—or even hair or nails." Jia Lian turned pale. Behind Xifeng, he made frantic signals to Ping'er, but she pretended not to see and laughed, "How my heart agrees with yours! I feared just that, so I searched carefully—not a trace. If you don't believe me, I haven't put those things away yet—you can search yourself." Xifeng laughed, "Silly girl—if he had such things, you think we'd find them?" She took the pattern and left.

Ping'er pointed at her nose and shook her head, laughing, "How will you thank me for this?" Jia Lian was so delighted he ran up, hugged her, and cried, "Sweetheart, darling!" calling her every endearment. Ping'er still held the hair, laughing, "This is a hold over you forever. Be good, and it's safe; be bad, and it comes out." Jia Lian laughed, "Just keep it safe—don't let her know." Seizing a moment when she wasn't watching, he snatched it, laughing, "As long as you have it, it's trouble—better I burn it." He stuffed it in his boot. Ping'er gritted her teeth, "Ungrateful beast! You cross the bridge and burn it—will I ever lie for you again?" Seeing her so charming, Jia Lian embraced her again, but she slipped away and ran off, leaving him bent over in frustration. "Wretched little tease! You get a man all worked up and then run away!" Ping'er called through the window, "I can tease all I want—who told you to get worked up? If she found out, she'd never forgive me." Jia Lian said, "You needn't fear her. When I'm in the mood, I'll smash that vinegar jar to pieces and she'll know who I am! She watches me like a thief—she can talk to men all she likes, but if I so much as speak to a woman, she's suspicious. She'll joke with any brother-in-law or nephew, old or young, and not care if I'm jealous. From now on, she's not to see anyone either!" Ping'er said, "She may be jealous of you, but you can't be jealous of her. She's always been proper; you have a bad heart as soon as you move—even I don't trust you, never mind her." Jia Lian said, "You two are in cahoots. You're always right, and I'm always wrong. One day you'll both die by my hand!"

Before he finished, Xifeng came into the courtyard. Seeing Ping'er outside the window, she asked, "If you have something to say, why doesn't one of you come out? Standing by the window—what does that mean?" Jia Lian answered from inside, "Ask her—she acts as if there's a tiger in here." Ping'er said, "There's no one inside—what would I do there?" Xifeng laughed, "It's best when there's no one." Ping'er said, "Is that meant for me?" Xifeng laughed, "Who else?" Ping'er said, "Don't make me say what I think." She didn't hold the curtain for Xifeng, but brushed past and went off. Xifeng lifted it herself, saying, "Ping'er's gone mad. Is she really trying to lord it over me? Just watch your skin!" Jia Lian lay on the kang clapping and laughing, "I never knew Ping'er could be so fierce—I really respect her now." Xifeng said, "It's all your spoiling—and I'll settle with you!" Jia Lian said, "You two don't get along, and you take it out on me. I'll leave you to it." Xifeng said, "I'll see where you go." Jia Lian said, "I'll be back." Xifeng said, "I have something to discuss with you." What they discussed, we shall hear in the next chapter. As the verse says:

Gentle ladies often have complaints to make;
And loving wives are ever prone to jealousy.