Chapter 49: Red plums and white snow in a crystal world; the perfumed young ladies feast on venison

Just then, Xiangling saw the others chatting and laughing, so she went up to them and said with a smile, "Look at this poem. If it's any good, I'll keep on studying; if it's not, I'll give up all hope of writing poetry." With that, she handed the poem to Daiyu and the others to read. It read:

Her essence hard to hide, though she would fain conceal,

Her shadow’s graceful, but her soul is cold and chill.

For miles and miles the washerwomen’s pounding’s heard,

The cock crows, the moon wanes, the night is on the wane.

In a green straw cloak, on the river, hearing autumn’s flute,

A red-sleeved maiden leans at night upon the rail.

The Goddess of the Moon, if she could ask, would say:

"Why won’t you let us be together for evermore?"

The group read it and laughed, saying, "This poem is not only good, but also fresh, clever, and interesting. It shows that the proverb is true: 'Nothing in the world is difficult for one who sets his mind to it.' The poetry club must surely invite you." Xiangling was skeptical, suspecting they were just humoring her, and kept pressing Daiyu and Baochai for their true opinion.

Just then, several maids and old women hurried over, all laughing and saying, "Many young ladies and mistresses have arrived, but we don’t know any of them. You ladies and young misses must go quickly and greet your relatives." Li Wan laughed and said, "What are you talking about? Tell us clearly—whose relatives are they?" The old woman and maids laughed and replied, "Both of your young mistresses, madam, have come. There’s also a young lady who is said to be Miss Xue’s younger sister, and a young gentleman who is said to be Mr. Xue’s younger brother. We are now going to invite Madam Xue. Please go ahead, madam and young ladies." With that, they went straight off. Baochai laughed and said, "Could it be that our Xue Ke and his sister have come?" Li Wan also laughed and said, "Has our aunt come to the capital too? It’s strange that they should all arrive together." Puzzled, they went to Lady Wang’s main room, where they found the house packed with people.

It turned out that Lady Xing’s elder brother and his wife had brought their daughter Xiuyan to the capital to seek refuge with Lady Xing. Just then, Xifeng’s brother Wang Ren was also on his way to the capital, so the two families traveled together. Halfway, when their boat stopped, they happened to meet Li Wan’s widowed aunt, who was bringing her two daughters—the elder called Li Wen and the younger Li Qi—to the capital as well. When they got to talking, they found they were related, so all three families traveled on together. Later, Xue Pan’s cousin Xue Ke, whose father had while alive in the capital betrothed his younger sister Baoqin to the son of Academician Mei of the capital, was bringing her to be married. Hearing that Wang Ren was going to the capital, he took his sister and followed. So today they all gathered and came to seek out their respective relatives. After exchanging greetings and introductions, Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang were overjoyed. Grandmother Jia laughed and said, "No wonder the lampwick burst into sparks and knotted again and again last night—it was an omen of today." While they chatted about family matters, they sorted through the gifts brought, and ordered wine and food to be prepared. Xifeng, naturally, was busier than ever. Li Wan and Baochai, of course, talked with their aunts and cousins about their separation. When Daiyu saw this, she was happy at first, but then, remembering that everyone had relatives except her, she was alone and had none, she couldn’t help crying again. Baoyu, who understood her feelings well, comforted her at length before she stopped.

Then Baoyu hurried to Happy Red Court and said to Xiren, Sheyue, Qingwen, and the others with a laugh, "Why don’t you go quickly and see! Who would have thought that Baochai’s own brother is like that, but this cousin of hers has a completely different manner and appearance—he looks more like her real brother. Stranger still, you all always say that Baochai is a peerless beauty. Now go and look at her younger sister, and our elder sister-in-law’s two younger sisters—I simply can’t describe them. Heaven, Heaven, how much essence and spirit do you have, to produce such superior beings! I see now that I’ve been like a frog at the bottom of a well, always saying that the few people here are unmatched in the world. Who would have thought that without looking far, right before our eyes, each one surpasses the other? I’ve gained another measure of learning today. Besides these, could there be even more?" As he spoke, he laughed and sighed to himself. Xiren, seeing that he was getting carried away again, refused to go look. Qingwen and the others had already gone to take a look and came back, giggling as they said to Xiren, "Go quickly and see! The eldest mistress’s niece, Miss Bao’s sister, and our elder mistress’s two sisters are like four fresh scallions."

Before she finished, Tanchun came in laughing, looking for Baoyu, and said, "Our poetry club is going to thrive now." Baoyu laughed and said, "Exactly. It’s because you started the club in high spirits that Heaven has sent these people here. But one thing—do they know how to write poetry or not?" Tanchun said, "I just asked them all. Though they were modest, from the look of things, none of them can’t do it. Even if they can’t, it’s no problem—you can see that from Xiangling." Xiren laughed and said, "They say Miss Xue’s younger sister is even better. What do you think, Third Miss?" Tanchun said, "That’s true. In my opinion, even her sister and all these others can’t compare to her." Xiren was astonished and said with a laugh, "That’s strange. How could anyone be better than that? I must go and see." Tanchun said, "The old lady was delighted as soon as she saw her and has already insisted that Lady Wang adopt her as a goddaughter. The old lady wants to keep her, and it’s been settled just now." Baoyu was overjoyed and asked quickly, "Is that really true?" Tanchun said, "Have I ever told a lie?" Then she added with a laugh, "Now that she has this good granddaughter, she’s forgotten all about this grandson." Baoyu laughed and said, "That’s fine. It’s only right to dote more on daughters. Tomorrow is the sixteenth, and we should start the club." Tanchun said, "Lin has just recovered, and Second Sister is ill again—things are always up and down." Baoyu said, "Second Sister isn’t very good at poetry anyway; what does it matter if she’s not here?" Tanchun said, "Let’s wait a few days until the newcomers are familiar with everyone, and then we can invite them—wouldn’t that be better? Right now, Elder Sister-in-law and Baochai’s minds are naturally not on poetry, and besides, Xiangyun hasn’t come, and Lin is just getting better—everyone is out of sorts. Better to wait until Yun has arrived, these new ones are familiar, Lin is fully recovered, Elder Sister-in-law and Baochai have leisure, and Xiangling’s poetry has improved. Then we can hold a full club—wouldn’t that be wonderful? For now, you and I should go to the old lady’s place and listen. Apart from Baochai’s sister, who will definitely stay here, if those three don’t stay here, we can beg the old lady to let them live in the Garden. Wouldn’t that add a few more people and make things even more interesting?" Baoyu was so delighted that his eyebrows danced and his eyes smiled, and he said quickly, "You’re the one who understands. I’m always muddle-headed—I get happy for nothing but never think of this."

With that, the brother and sister went together to Grandmother Jia’s place. Sure enough, Lady Wang had already adopted Baoqin as her goddaughter. Grandmother Jia was so pleased that she wouldn’t even let her live in the Garden but had her sleep in her own rooms at night. Xue Ke went to stay in Xue Pan’s study. Grandmother Jia then said to Lady Xing, "Your niece needn’t go home either. Let her stay in the Garden for a few days, look around, and then go." Lady Xing’s brother and his wife were originally hard up, and this trip to the capital depended on Lady Xing to provide them with a house and traveling expenses, so they were more than willing. Lady Xing then entrusted Xiuyan to Xifeng. Xifeng calculated that with so many sisters in the Garden, each with different temperaments, it wouldn’t be convenient to set up a separate place for her, so she decided to send her to Yingchun’s place. If Xiuyan encountered any troubles in the future, even if Lady Xing found out, it wouldn’t involve Xifeng. From then on, except for the time Xiuyan spent at home, if she stayed in Grand View Garden for up to a month, Xifeng would give her an allowance equal to Yingchun’s. Xifeng observed Xiuyan’s character and found her, unlike Lady Xing and her parents, to be gentle and lovable. So Xifeng, pitying her for her poverty and hard fate, treated her more kindly than the other sisters, while Lady Xing paid little attention.

Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang had always admired Li Wan for her virtue and for remaining chaste as a young widow, which commanded respect. Now that her widowed aunt had arrived, they were unwilling to let her stay outside. Although Aunt Li was very reluctant, Grandmother Jia insisted, so she had no choice but to bring Li Wen and Li Qi to live in Paddy Sweet Cottage.

After everything was settled, it happened that the Marquis of Baoling, Shi Nai, was transferred to a high post in another province and would soon take his family there. Grandmother Jia, unable to bear parting with Xiangyun, kept her and brought her home. She originally intended to have Xifeng set up a separate place for her, but Xiangyun insisted on staying with Baochai, so that plan was dropped.

At this time the Grand View Garden was much livelier than before. Li Wan was at the head, and the others included Yingchun, Tanchun, Xichun, Baochai, Daiyu, Xiangyun, Li Wen, Li Qi, Baoqin, Xing Xiuyan, along with Xifeng and Baoyu—thirteen people in all. Arranged by age, except for Li Wan who was the oldest, the other twelve were all no more than fifteen, sixteen, or seventeen. Some were the same age in groups of three, others in groups of five, and some two shared the same month and day, while another two shared the same hour and moment; the only differences were in the time and month. Even they themselves could not distinguish clearly, merely using the terms "younger brother," "elder brother," "younger sister," and "elder sister" randomly.

Now Xiangling was completely focused on learning to write poetry, but she dared not disturb Baochai too much. It happened that Shi Xiangyun arrived. Shi Xiangyun was extremely talkative, and when Xiangling sought her advice and discussed poetry, she became even more excited, chattering away day and night. Baochai then laughed and said, "I really can't stand the noise anymore. A girl making poetry her sole serious business—when learned people hear of it, they'll laugh and say she doesn't know her place. One Xiangling is already too much, and now you've added this talking mill, spouting nothing but nonsense: how Du Gongbu's style is somber and profound, Wei Suzhou's is plain and elegant, how Wen Bachai's is ornate and flowery, and Li Yishan's is obscure and recondite. With two living poets right before you, why bring up those dead ones?" Xiangyun heard this and quickly laughed, asking, "Which two? Good sister, tell me." Baochai laughed and said, "Foolish Xiangling's mind is bitter, and crazy Xiangyun's words are many." Xiangyun and Xiangling both burst out laughing.

Just as they were speaking, Baoqin arrived, wearing a cape of brilliant gold and emerald, and they could not tell what material it was made of. Baochai immediately asked, "Where did this come from?" Baoqin laughed and said, "Because it was hailing, the old lady found this for me." Xiangling stepped forward to look and said, "No wonder it's so beautiful—it's woven from peacock feathers." Xiangyun said, "It's not peacock feathers; it's made from the feathers on wild ducks' heads. You can see how much the old lady dotes on you—even when she doted on Baoyu, she never gave him anything like this." Baochai said, "It's just as the saying goes: 'Each person has their own destiny.' She never expected to come here now, but since she has, the old lady dotes on her like this." Xiangyun said, "Besides being near the old lady, you can come into the garden. In these two places, feel free to play, laugh, eat, and drink. When you go to Lady Wang's room, if the lady is there, you can chat and laugh with her and stay a while; it's fine. But if the lady isn't there, don't go in. Too many people in that room have wicked hearts—they all want to harm us." Baochai, Baoqin, Xiangling, and Yinger all laughed at this. Baochai laughed and said, "To say you're simple-minded, yet you have a heart; though you have a heart, your mouth is still too blunt. This little Qin of ours is a bit like you. You keep saying you want me to be your real elder sister; today I'll let you take her as your younger sister instead." Xiangyun stared at Baoqin for a long time, then laughed and said, "This garment only suits her to wear; if anyone else wore it, it truly wouldn't suit them." Just as they were speaking, Hupo came over and said with a smile, "The old lady says to tell Miss Bao not to be too strict with Miss Qin. She's still young; let her do as she pleases. If she wants anything, just ask for it—don't be overly sensitive." Baochai quickly stood up and agreed, then pushed Baoqin and said with a laugh, "Where did you get such good fortune? You'd better go now, or we might wrong you. I just don't believe I'm inferior to you in any way." As they spoke, Baoyu and Daiyu both entered, and Baochai was still teasing herself. Xiangyun then laughed and said, "Sister Bao, though your words are a joke, it just so happens that someone truly thinks that way." Hupo laughed and said, "There's no one else who would really be angry—just him." As she spoke, she pointed at Baoyu. Baochai and Xiangyun both laughed and said, "He's not that kind of person." Hupo laughed again and said, "If not him, then it's her." With that, she pointed at Daiyu. Xiangyun fell silent. Baochai quickly laughed and said, "Even less so. My younger sister is the same as his younger sister. He dotes on her even more than I do—why would he be angry? You're talking nonsense. That mouth of hers has no real evidence." Baoyu had always known that Daiyu was somewhat sensitive, and he was still unaware of the recent developments between Daiyu and Baochai. He was worried that the old lady's favoritism toward Baoqin might make Daiyu uncomfortable. Today, seeing Xiangyun say this and Baochai respond that way, and then observing Daiyu's expression—unlike her usual self—it indeed matched what Baochai had said. He felt puzzled and uneasy. He thought, "Those two were never so close before; now they seem ten times more intimate than anyone else." At that moment, Daiyu rushed over and called Baoqin "little sister," without using her full name, just like a real sibling. Baoqin was young, warm-hearted, naturally clever, and had studied reading and writing since childhood. After staying in the Jia mansion for two days, she had roughly gotten to know the main people. Seeing that none of the sisters were frivolous or vain, and that they were all very harmonious with her sister Baochai, she did not dare to be negligent. Noticing that Lin Daiyu stood out among them, she became especially close and respectful to her. Baoyu watched all this, merely wondering silently.

After a while, Baochai and her sister went to Aunt Xue's room, Xiangyun went to the old lady's place, and Lin Daiyu returned to her room to rest. Baoyu then sought out Daiyu and said with a smile, "Although I've read 'The Western Chamber' and understood a few lines that I used to tease you with, and you got angry before, now I recall a line I don't understand. Let me recite it, and you explain it to me." Daiyu, knowing there was something behind this, laughed and said, "Go ahead and recite it; let me hear it." Baoyu laughed and said, "In the 'Disturbing the Bedchamber' scene, there's a line that's best: 'Since when did Meng Guang accept Liang Hong's tray?' This line is superb. The five characters 'Meng Guang accepted Liang Hong's tray' are just a ready-made allusion, but it's the three empty words 'since when' that make the question so interesting. Since when did she accept it? Tell me." Daiyu couldn't help laughing and said, "This question is indeed well-asked. He asked it well, and you ask it well too." Baoyu said, "Before, you only suspected me. Now you have nothing to say, and I'm left out in the cold." Daiyu laughed and said, "Who knew he was actually a good person? I always thought he was hiding some deceit." She then told him about the mistake with the drinking game and the conversation during her illness when he sent the bird's nest, recounting everything in detail. Baoyu finally understood the reason and laughed, saying, "I thought as much—I was wondering 'since when did Meng Guang accept Liang Hong's tray.' So it turns out it all started from 'a child's mouth has no restraint' that led to the acceptance." Daiyu then brought up Baoqin again and, remembering that she had no sisters of her own, couldn't help crying again. Baoyu quickly tried to console her, saying, "You're borrowing trouble again. Look at yourself—this year you're even thinner than last. Why don't you take better care of yourself? Every day, when you're fine, you insist on worrying and crying a bit before you consider the day done." Daiyu wiped her tears and said, "Lately, I only feel heartache, but my tears seem fewer than last year. My heart aches, but the tears don't come as much." Baoyu said, "That's just your imagination from crying so often. How could tears ever decrease!"

Just as they were speaking, a little maid from his room brought a scarlet woolen felt cape and said, "The elder mistress just sent word that it's snowing and she wants to discuss inviting people to write poems tomorrow." Before she finished, Li Wan's maid arrived to invite Daiyu. Baoyu then asked Daiyu to go with him to the Rice Fragrance Village. Daiyu changed into a pair of small, gold-embroidered, cloud-patterned red lamb-skin boots, put on a hooded cloak of red woolen fabric lined with white fox fur, tied a belt of blue-green silk with gold thread and double-ringed (ruyi) clasps, and covered her head with a snow hat. The two of them walked together through the snow. They saw all the other girls there, all wearing identical scarlet woolen felt or satin capes. Only Li Wan wore a blue woolen mandarin jacket buttoned down the middle, and Xue Baochai wore a hooded cloak of lotus-blue, brocade-patterned, foreign yarn and woolen fabric. Xing Xiuyan still wore her usual old clothes, with no snow-proof garment. Soon Shi Xiangyun arrived, wearing a large, full-length jacket given to her by Grandmother Jia, made with a sable head-face outer layer and thick, black squirrel fur inside, with a wide, flared cut. On her head she wore a Zhaojun-style hood of scarlet woolen felt, with cloud patterns and a goose-yellow, gold-threaded lining, and she also had a large sable wind-collar. Daiyu was the first to laugh: "Look, everyone, the Monkey King has come! She's even carrying a snow cape, deliberately pretending to be a little Tartar." Xiangyun laughed and said, "Look at the clothes I'm wearing underneath!" As she spoke, she took off the jacket. They saw that she wore a short, close-fitting, silver-fox-lined jacket of russet color, with triple borders on collar and sleeves, and embroidered with coiled gold threads and five-colored dragons. Beneath that was a short, pink, satin, fox-fur-lined gown, tightly cinched at the waist with a long-tasseled, five-colored palace sash tied in a butterfly knot. On her feet she also wore small deerskin boots. This made her waist look waspish and her back simian, her posture like a crane's and her form like a mantis's. Everyone laughed and said, "She's the only one who likes to dress up like a boy, and it makes her look even more beautiful than when she dresses as a girl." Xiangyun said, "Let's quickly discuss writing poems! Let me hear who's hosting?" Li Wan said, "It's my idea. Since the main day for the poetry club has passed, and waiting for the next proper day would be too far off, and it happens to be snowing, I think it's better for us to get together and form a club. We can welcome the new members and also write poems. What do you all think?" Baoyu was the first to say, "That's a very good idea. But it's late today. If we wait until tomorrow and it clears up, it won't be as interesting." The others looked at the sky and said, "This snow isn't likely to stop. Even if it clears, the snow that fell overnight will be enough to enjoy." Li Wan said, "My place is nice, but it's not as good as the Reed Snow Cottage. I've already sent someone to light the kang. We can all gather around the stove and write poems. I doubt the old lady will be interested, and besides, this is just a little game of ours. Just send word to Xifeng. One tael of silver from each of you will be enough. Send it to me." Pointing at Xiangling, Baoqin, Li Wen, Li Qi, and Xiuyan, she said, "These five don't count. Of us here, the second girl (Yingchun) is ill and doesn't count, and the fourth girl (Xichun) has asked for leave, so she doesn't count either. The four of you send your shares, and with the five or six taels I'll add, it should be more than enough." Baochai and the others all agreed. As they were about to decide on the theme and rhymes, Li Wan laughed and said, "My mind is made up already. Wait until tomorrow when the time comes, and you'll know anyway." After that, they chatted for a while and then went to Grandmother Jia's place. There was nothing else that day.

The next morning, Baoyu, still preoccupied with this matter, had slept poorly all night and got up at dawn. He lifted the bed curtain and saw that, although the doors and windows were still closed, the window was dazzlingly bright. His heart sank for a moment, and he complained to himself that it must have cleared up and the sun was already out. He hurriedly got up, pushed open the window sash, and looked out through the glass window. It turned out not to be sunlight, but a night's heavy snowfall, over a foot deep, while the sky was still filled with falling snow, like cotton being teased and silk being fluffed. Baoyu was overjoyed. He quickly called for someone to help him wash and rinse. Then he put on an eggplant-purple woolen fox-fur jacket, threw a small otter-skin eagle-wing shoulder cape over it, cinched his waist, donned a palm-leaf rain cape of jade-green, put on a gold-wicker rain hat, stepped into sandalwood clogs, and hurried off to the Reed Snow Cottage. As he left the courtyard gate, he looked around and saw nothing but white. In the distance were green pines and emerald bamboos, while he felt as if he were enclosed in a glass box. He reached the foot of the slope and had just turned along the base of the hill when a cold, fragrant scent greeted his nose. He looked back and saw more than a dozen red plum trees outside Miaoyu's Green Lattice Nunnery, as red as rouge, standing out vividly against the snow, exceptionally spirited and charming. Baoyu stopped and savored the sight for a long time before moving on. As he reached the Wasp Waist Bridge, he saw someone walking under an umbrella—it was the person Li Wan had sent to invite Xifeng.

Baoyu arrived at the Reed Snow Cottage to find maids and old women sweeping snow and clearing a path. The Reed Snow Cottage was built on a riverside beach against the hill, a few rooms with thatched eaves and earthen walls, hibiscus fences and bamboo windows. Pushing open a window, one could fish directly. It was surrounded on all sides by reeds, and a winding path led through them to the bamboo bridge of the Lotus Fragrance Pavilion. When the maids and old women saw him arriving in his cape and hat, they laughed and said, "We were just saying we were short one fisherman, and now we have the complete set. The young ladies won't be here until after they've eaten. You're too impatient." Hearing this, Baoyu had to turn back. Just as he reached the Drenching Fragrance Pavilion, he saw Tanchun coming from the Autumn Freshness Studio, wrapped in a large scarlet woolen felt cape, wearing a hood (Guanyin hood), and leaning on a little maid, with an older woman behind her holding a blue silk oiled-paper umbrella. Baoyu knew she was going to Grandmother Jia's, so he stood by the pavilion and waited for her to arrive. Then the two of them left the garden together. Baoqin was still inside her room, washing and changing her clothes.

Soon all the girls had gathered. Baoyu kept shouting that he was hungry and repeatedly urged that the meal be served. After much difficulty, the food was laid out. The first dish was steamed lamb with milk. Grandmother Jia said, "This is medicine for us older people, something that hasn't seen the light of day. It's a pity that you children can't eat it. Today there is also some fresh venison; you can wait for that." The others agreed. But Baoyu couldn't wait. He just poured tea over a bowl of rice and, with some pickled pheasant, hastily gulped it down. Grandmother Jia said, "I knew you had something going on today, so you don't even care about eating properly." She then ordered, "Save the venison for him to eat this evening." Xifeng quickly said, "There's still more," and that was the end of it. Shi Xiangyun then whispered to Baoyu, "Since there's fresh venison, why don't we ask for a piece and take it into the garden to cook ourselves? We can have fun and eat at the same time." Hearing this, Baoyu couldn't have been more eager. He really did ask Xifeng for a piece and ordered an old woman to take it into the garden.

After a while, everyone dispersed and went into the garden, all heading to the Reed Snow Cottage to hear Li Wan set the theme and rhymes. Only Xiangyun and Baoyu were missing. Daiyu said, "Those two can never be apart. When they get together, all sorts of mischief ensues. Right now, they must be scheming over that piece of venison." Just then, Aunt Li came to watch the fun and asked Li Wan, "How is it that the jade-wearing boy and the gold-unicorn-wearing girl, so clean and refined, and with plenty to eat, are in there discussing eating raw meat, talking quite earnestly about it? I simply can't believe that meat can be eaten raw." When the others heard this, they all laughed and said, "This is terrible! Quickly, bring them both here." Daiyu laughed and said, "This is all Xiangyun's doing. My divination is never wrong."

Li Wan and the others hurried out to find them and said, "If you two want to eat it raw, I'll send you to the old lady's place to eat it. Even if you eat a whole raw deer and get sick, it's none of my concern. In this heavy snow and bitter cold, you're just making trouble for me." Baoyu laughed and said, "No, no, we're going to roast it." Li Wan said, "Well, that's better." Just then, some old women brought an iron stove, iron skewers, and an iron wire grid. Li Wan said, "Be careful not to cut your hands, and don't come crying!" Having said this, she went back inside with Tanchun.

Xifeng sent Pinger back to say she couldn't come, as she was busy distributing New Year's supplies. Xiangyun saw Pinger and absolutely refused to let her leave. Pinger was also fond of fun and, having seen all sorts of things while following Xifeng, found this amusing and was happy to join in. She removed the bracelets from her wrists, and the three of them gathered around the stove to roast three pieces of meat first. Baochai and Daiyu, accustomed to such scenes, found nothing strange, but Baoqin and the others, along with Aunt Li, thought it quite novel. Tanchun and Li Wan had already settled on the theme and rhyme scheme. Tanchun said with a smile, "Just smell that—the aroma reaches even here. I want to go eat some too." With that, she went over. Li Wan followed, saying, "All the guests have arrived, and you still haven't had enough?" Xiangyun, eating as she spoke, replied, "I need this to whet my appetite for wine, and wine stirs my poetic inspiration. Without this venison, I absolutely couldn't compose a poem today." As she spoke, Baoqin was seen standing there in her wild-duck-feather cape, smiling. Xiangyun laughed and said, "Silly girl, come and try some." Baoqin smiled and replied, "It looks awfully dirty." Baochai said, "Go and taste it—it's quite good. Your Cousin Lin is too delicate; it wouldn't digest well for her, or she'd love it too." Baoqin, upon hearing this, went over and ate a piece. It was indeed delicious, and she joined in eating.

Before long, Xifeng sent a maid to fetch Pinger. Pinger said, "Miss Shi is keeping me here; you go on ahead." The maid left. After a while, Xifeng herself came, draped in a cloak, and said with a laugh, "Enjoying such good food and not telling me!" She then joined them, eating as well. Daiyu laughed and said, "Where did this band of beggars come from? Enough, enough—today Luhua Nunnery has met its ruin, thoroughly desecrated by Yun. I weep a great flood for Luhua Nunnery!" Xiangyun sneered and retorted, "What do you know? 'A true scholar is naturally free and elegant.' You're all falsely pure and aloof—utterly detestable. We now gorge on this greasy, gamey fare, but later we'll produce verses with brocade hearts and embroidered mouths." Baochai smiled and said, "If your verses turn out poorly later, we'll dig out that meat and stuff in some of this snow-covered reeds to settle this calamity."

With that, they finished eating and washed up. When Pinger put her bracelets back on, she found one missing. She searched high and low, but there was no trace of it. Everyone found it strange. Xifeng laughed and said, "I know where that bracelet is. You all just go on with your poetry; we don't need to search. Just go ahead, and within three days, I guarantee it will turn up." Then she asked, "What poems are you composing today? The old lady said that since the New Year is near, we should make some lantern riddles for everyone to enjoy during the first month." Upon hearing this, the others laughed and said, "Indeed, we forgot about that. Let's quickly craft a few good ones to prepare for the first month." With that, they all went together to the heated room, where cups, dishes, fruits, and vegetables were already laid out, and the poetry topic and rhyme scheme were posted on the wall. Baoyu and Xiangyun hurried to look and saw the title: "Impromptu Linked Verses, a Five-Character Octet, with the Second Xiao Rhyme." There was no order listed afterward. Li Wan said, "I'm not very good at poetry; I'll just start with three lines, and then whoever gets it first can continue." Baochai said, "We still need to establish an order." If you want to know what happened next, listen to the next chapter's explanation.