Chapter 80: Gentle Yingchun's heart is twisted with anguish; Delicate Xiangling's illness reaches its crisis

CHAPTER 80

The Timid Yingchun’s Heart Is Torn with Grief; The Delicate Xiangling’s Illness Reaches a Critical Stage

When Jin’gu heard this, she twisted her neck, curled her lip, snorted twice through her nostrils, clapped her hands, and said with a cold laugh: “Who ever heard of water caltrop flowers being fragrant? If you say water caltrop is fragrant, where would that leave all the truly fragrant flowers? That’s utterly absurd!” Xiangling said: “It’s not just the water caltrop flowers; even the lotus leaves and seedpods have a pure, subtle fragrance. But it’s not a fragrance that can be compared to floral scents. If you quietly savor it on a still day or a still night, or in the early morning or midnight, that fragrance is even more delightful than flowers. Even the water caltrop, foxnut, reed leaves, and rush roots, when touched by wind and dew, have a pure fragrance that refreshes the spirit.” Jin’gu said: “According to you, then, the orchid and osmanthus are not good scents?” Xiangling, caught up in her enthusiasm, forgot her caution and replied: “The fragrance of orchids and osmanthus cannot be compared to other flowers either.” Before she could finish, Jin’gu’s maid, named Baochán, quickly pointed at Xiangling’s face and said: “You’re done for! You’re done for! How dare you actually call the young lady’s name!” Xiangling suddenly realized her mistake and felt embarrassed. She quickly forced a smile and apologized: “I spoke too hastily; please don’t hold it against me, Mistress.” Jin’gu laughed and said: “What’s the harm? You’re too cautious. But I think the character ‘xiang’ (fragrance) is not quite right. I was thinking of changing it to another character. I wonder if you’ll agree.” Xiangling hurriedly smiled and said: “Mistress, what are you saying? At this moment, even my entire person belongs to you. Why ask whether I agree to changing a name? How could I presume to do otherwise? Whatever character you think best, use it.” Jin’gu laughed and said: “What you say is reasonable, but I’m afraid the young lady might think I’m overstepping. She might say, ‘I gave her that name; are you saying yours is better? You’ve only been here a few days and already you’re contradicting me.’” Xiangling smiled and said: “You don’t understand, Mistress. When I was bought back then, I was originally assigned to the old mistress, so the young lady gave me my name. Later, when I came to serve the master, I was no longer under the young lady’s authority. Now that you are the mistress, it has even less to do with her. Besides, the young lady is very sensible; how could she be upset about such a thing?” Jin’gu said: “If that’s the case, the character ‘xiang’ is not as appropriate as ‘qiu’ (autumn). Water caltrops and their flowers all flourish in autumn; isn’t that more fitting than ‘xiang’?” Xiangling said: “Let it be as you say, Mistress.” From then on, she was called Qiuling, and Baochai paid no attention to the matter.

Now, Xue Pan was by nature one who “after gaining Long, covets Shu.” Having married Jin’gu, and seeing that her maid Baochán had some charm and a coquettish manner, he often found excuses to ask for tea or water, deliberately teasing her. Baochán, though aware of his intentions, was afraid of Jin’gu and dared not act rashly, always watching Jin’gu’s reactions. Jin’gu had also noticed this and thought to herself: “I’ve been wanting to deal with Xiangling but haven’t found an opportunity. Now that he has set his sights on Baochán, I can sacrifice Baochán to him for now. He will surely grow distant from Xiangling, and when he does, I’ll take care of Xiangling. Since Baochán is originally my person, it will be easy to manage then.” Having made up her mind, she waited for the right moment to act.

One evening, Xue Pan, slightly tipsy, ordered Baochán to pour him some tea. As he took the cup from her, he deliberately pinched her hand. Baochán pretended to be shy and quickly withdrew her hand. In the confusion, the teacup crashed to the floor, spilling tea all over both of them. Xue Pan, embarrassed, pretended to scold Baochán for not holding the cup properly. Baochán retorted: “The master didn’t take it properly.” Jin’gu laughed coldly and said: “You two put on quite a show. Don’t think anyone’s a fool here.” Xue Pan hung his head and smiled without a word, while Baochán blushed and left the room. When it was time to retire, Jin’gu deliberately urged Xue Pan to sleep elsewhere, saying: “That way, you won’t be eyeing her so hungrily.” Xue Pan just smiled. Jin’gu said: “If you want something, tell me; don’t sneak around—it’s useless.” Xue Pan, emboldened by the wine, knelt on the bedding, grabbed Jin’gu, and laughed: “Dear sister, if you’ll give me Baochán, I’ll do whatever you want. Even if you want someone’s brains, I’ll get them for you.” Jin’gu laughed and said: “That’s nonsense. If you love someone, just say so and take her into your room; it saves others from seeing unseemly behavior. What do I want?” Hearing this, Xue Pan was overjoyed and thanked her profusely. That night, he did his utmost as a husband to please Jin’gu. The next day, he didn’t leave the house but stayed home, growing bolder. By afternoon, Jin’gu deliberately went out to give them some privacy. Xue Pan then began to paw at Baochán. Baochán, who had guessed what was coming, half resisted and half yielded, and they were about to get down to business. Little did they know that Jin’gu was waiting for this moment. Expecting them to be in a compromising position, she called for a maidservant named Xiao She’er. This little maid had served Jin’gu at home since childhood. Because she had lost both parents young and had no one to look after her, everyone called her Xiao She’er, and she was assigned to rough work. Jin’gu now intentionally called her alone and instructed: “Go tell Qiuling to fetch my handkerchief from my room. Don’t say I sent you.” Xiao She’er went straight to find Xiangling and said: “Miss Ling, the mistress’s handkerchief is still in her room. Wouldn’t it be good if you went and fetched it for her?” Xiangling, who had been suffering Jin’gu’s recent humiliations without understanding why and was trying every means to win her favor, hurried to the room to get it. Unexpectedly, she stumbled upon the two of them in the midst of their dalliance. Startled, she blushed to the tips of her ears and quickly turned to flee. Xue Pan, thinking that since Jin’gu had given her tacit approval, he had nothing to fear except Jin’gu herself, hadn’t even bothered to close the door. Seeing Xiangling barge in, he felt a slight embarrassment but wasn’t too concerned. Baochán, however, was usually proud and sharp-tongued. When she saw Xiangling, she wished the ground would swallow her up. She quickly pushed Xue Pan away and ran off, cursing him for forcing himself on her. Xue Pan, who had gone to great lengths to seduce her, was furious that Xiangling had ruined his plans. His excitement turned to rage, and he vented it all on Xiangling. Without giving her a chance to explain, he chased her out, spat at her twice, and cursed: “You damned whore! What are you doing here, haunting the place like a ghost?” Xiangling sensed trouble and ran off as fast as she could. When Xue Pan went back to look for Baochán, she was already gone. In his anger, he could only curse Xiangling. After dinner, he was thoroughly drunk. While bathing, the water was a bit too hot and scalded his foot. He accused Xiangling of deliberately harming him and, stark naked, chased after her, kicking and hitting her twice. Although Xiangling had never suffered such abuse, there was nothing she could do now but grieve and complain to herself, and she withdrew.

Meanwhile, Jin’gu had secretly arranged with Baochán that tonight Xue Pan and Baochán would consummate their relationship in Xiangling’s room, and she ordered Xiangling to come and sleep with her. At first, Xiangling refused. Jin’gu accused her of thinking the place was too dirty or that she was too lazy to serve her at night. She then scolded: “That master of yours, who has no sense of decency, falls for every new face he sees. He’s taken my maid away and won’t even let you come. What’s his plan? Is he trying to drive me to death?” Xue Pan, hearing this and fearing that the matter with Baochán might be ruined, rushed over and cursed Xiangling: “Ungrateful wretch! If you don’t go, I’ll beat you!” Xiangling had no choice but to take her bedding and go. Jin’gu ordered her to sleep on the floor. Xiangling had to comply. No sooner had she lain down than Jin’gu called for tea, then for a leg massage, and so on seven or eight times through the night, never letting her rest for a moment. Xue Pan, having obtained Baochán, treated her like a treasure and ignored everything else. Jin’gu secretly fumed: “Enjoy yourself for a few days. I’ll deal with you slowly, and then don’t blame me!” While concealing her anger, she began to devise a plan to deal with Xiangling.

About half a month later, she suddenly pretended to fall ill again, claiming that her heart ached unbearably and that her limbs could not move. Physicians were called to treat her, but to no avail, and everyone said it was because Xiangling had angered her. After two days of this uproar, a paper figure was suddenly shaken out of Jin'gui's pillow, bearing her birth date and eight characters, with five needles stuck into the heart and the joints of the limbs. Thereupon the whole household was thrown into confusion, taking it as a novelty, and first reported it to Aunt Xue. Aunt Xue was at first flustered and frantic, and Xue Pan naturally became even more agitated, immediately wanting to beat and interrogate everyone. Jin'gui said with a cold smile, "Why wrong all these innocent people? It's probably Baochan who has used this witchcraft." Xue Pan said, "She hasn't had much spare time to be in your room lately; why wrong a good person for nothing?" Jin'gui sneered, "Who else could it be? Could I have done it to myself? Though there are others, who would dare enter my room?" Xue Pan said, "Xiangling is with you every day now; she naturally knows. Interrogate her first, and you'll find out." Jin'gui sneered again, "Interrogate whom? Who would confess? In my opinion, just pretend not to know and let the matter drop. After all, even if you kill me, it's no great loss—you can just marry another, better one. To be fair, it's just that the three of you find me too many." With these words, she burst into loud wails. Xue Pan, even more incensed by this speech, grabbed a door bolt on the spot and rushed straight to find Xiangling. Without giving her a chance to explain, he began beating her wildly about the head and face, insisting that she was the one who had done it. Xiangling cried out in protest, but Aunt Xue ran over to stop him, scolding, "Without finding out the truth, you start beating people! This girl has served you for years—was there ever a thing she didn't do properly or wholeheartedly? How could she do such an unfeeling thing now? Ask clearly what's what before you resort to violence!" When Jin'gui heard her mother-in-law say this, fearing that Xue Pan might soften and be swayed, she wailed even more loudly, crying out, "For the past half month he's monopolized my Baochan, not letting her into my room, leaving only Qiuling to sleep with me. When I want to interrogate Baochan, you shield her. Now in a fit of pique you go and beat her. Just kill me, then go pick a rich, pretty one to marry—why put on this charade!" Hearing these words, Xue Pan grew even more frantic. Aunt Xue, seeing that Jin'gui was threatening her son at every turn and slandering him in every possible way, found it utterly detestable. But unfortunately her son lacked backbone and had long been cowed and softened by her. Now that he had also taken up with a maid, and she accused him of monopolizing her, he himself tried to put on a show of yielding to his wife's virtuous jealousy. As for who had actually performed the witchcraft, no one knew—truly, as the saying goes, "Even an upright official finds it hard to settle family quarrels," and this was a case where the in-laws themselves could not judge the affairs of the bedchamber. Having no other recourse, Aunt Xue had to scold Xue Pan in anger: "You disgraceful wretch! A mangy dog has more decency than you! Who would have thought you'd be so muddled as to seduce your wife's dowry maid, giving your wife cause to say you've taken over her servant—what face have you got to go out and see people? And without finding out who used the spell, or what's right or wrong, you beat people anyway. I know you're the sort who casts aside the old for the new, wasting all my past care for you. Even if she's no good, you're not to beat her. I'll send for a slave dealer at once and sell her, and you'll be at peace." With that, she ordered Xiangling, "Pack your things and come with me," and told someone, "Quickly fetch a slave dealer and sell her for a few taels of silver, to pull out the thorn in the flesh and the nail in the eye, so we can all live in peace." Xue Pan, seeing his mother angry, had already hung his head. When Jin'gui heard this, she cried out through the window, "You just sell her, ma'am, but don't drag in others with every word. Are we the jealous, unforgiving sort? What do you mean by 'pulling out the thorn and the nail'? Whose nail? Whose thorn? If I really found her too much, I wouldn't have let my own maid be taken into his room." Aunt Xue, hearing this, trembled with rage and could barely breathe, saying, "What family's rules are these? When the mother-in-law speaks here, the daughter-in-law argues back through the window! And you claim to come from an old, respectable family! Shouting and yelling at the top of your voice—what nonsense are you spouting!" Xue Pan, frantic, stamped his feet and said, "Enough, enough! People will hear and laugh." Jin'gui, thinking she might as well go all the way, grew even more outrageous and screamed, "I'm not afraid of being laughed at! Your concubine schemes to harm me, and I'd be afraid of being laughed at? If not that, keep her and sell me instead. Everyone knows your Xue family has money, always using it to lord it over others, and you've got good relatives to bully people with. If you don't act quickly, what are you waiting for? If you think I'm no good, who told you to be so blind as to come begging and pleading to my family in the first place? Now that I'm here, and gold and silver have been spent, and every girl with eyes and a nose has been taken, it's time to squeeze me out!" As she cried and yelled, she rolled on the ground, thrashing and beating herself. Xue Pan, frantic, could neither speak, nor persuade, nor hit, nor beg—he just paced in and out, sighing and complaining of his bad luck. By then Aunt Xue had been persuaded inside by Xue Baochai, and only ordered someone to sell Xiangling. Baochai said with a smile, "Our family has always known only about buying people, never about selling them. Mother must be out of your wits with anger. If anyone hears of this, won't it be a laughingstock? If my brother and sister-in-law find her troublesome, let her stay and serve me—I have no one to attend to me anyway." Aunt Xue said, "Keeping her will only cause more trouble; it's cleaner to send her away." Baochai smiled and said, "It's the same if she follows me; just don't let her go to the front compound. From now on, cut off her connection with that place—it's as good as selling her." Xiangling had already run to Aunt Xue, weeping and begging, unwilling to leave, preferring to stay with the young mistress, and Aunt Xue had to relent. From then on, Xiangling indeed went with Baochai, severing all ties with the past. Yet even so, she could not help grieving in the moonlight and sighing alone by her lamp. Originally frail and weak, though she had been in Xue Pan's household for years, she had never conceived due to a blood disorder. Now, with added anger, grief, and chagrin, and suffering from both internal and external torment, she developed a wasting blood disease, growing thinner day by day, running fevers, losing her appetite, and despite physicians' treatments and medicines, showing no improvement. Meanwhile, Jin'gui caused several more scenes of uproar, leaving Aunt Xue and her daughter with no recourse but to weep in private and lament their fate. Xue Pan, though emboldened by drink to confront her once or twice and raise a stick to strike, found Jin'gui offering her body for him to beat, and when he grabbed a knife to kill her, she stretched out her neck. He could not bring himself to do it, and so ended up merely making a scene. By now it had become a habit, making Jin'gui even more overbearing and Xue Pan even more spineless. Though Xiangling was still around, it was as if she were not; though things were not entirely smooth, she no longer seemed an eyesore, and he let matters rest for the time being. Then Jin'gui began to pick on Baochan. But Baochan was not like Xiangling in temperament—she was fiery and explosive. Having grown fond of Xue Pan, she had forgotten Jin'gui entirely. Lately, when Jin'gui mistreated her, she refused to yield an inch. At first they just traded sharp words, but then Jin'gui, in a rage, went so far as to curse and even hit her. Though Baochan dared not answer back or strike back, she threw wild tantrums, banging her head, rolling on the ground, threatening suicide—by day with knives and scissors, by night with ropes—making a row over everything. Xue Pan, unable to handle both women at once, could only waver between them, and when the chaos became unbearable, he would go out and hide. When Jin'gui was not in a rage and was in good spirits, she would gather people to play cards or throw dice for amusement. She also had a lifelong passion for gnawing bones; every day she had to have chickens or ducks killed, giving the meat to others to eat, while she alone fried the bones crisp in oil to go with her wine. When bored or angered, she would curse freely, saying, "If other bastards and sluts can have fun, why shouldn't I?" The Xue women paid her no attention. Xue Pan had no other recourse but to regret day and night that he had married such a troublemaker—all because he had lost his wits at the time. And so, from top to bottom, everyone in the Ning and Rong mansions knew about it, and none failed to sigh.

By this time, Baoyu had passed the hundred-day period and could go out and move about. He had also come to see Jin'gui before. "Observing her manner and appearance, she did not seem vicious; she was also a figure like a fresh flower or tender willow, not inferior to any of the other sisters. How could she have such a disposition? Truly strange to the utmost." Thus he felt puzzled. That day, going to pay his respects to Lady Wang, he happened to meet Yingchun's wet nurse, who had come to the house to pay her respects. She spoke of Sun Shaozu's extremely improper behavior: "The young lady can only wipe away tears in secret, and begs only that you fetch her back to relax for a couple of days." Lady Wang said, "I was just planning to fetch her in the next day or two, but because all sorts of matters were not going smoothly, I forgot. A few days ago, Baoyu went there, and after returning, he also mentioned it. Tomorrow is an auspicious day, so I will go and fetch her." As they were speaking, a maid sent by Grandmother Jia came to find Baoyu, saying, "Tomorrow morning, go to the Tianqi Temple to fulfill the vow." Baoyu was now eager to go everywhere and take a stroll; hearing this, he was so happy he could not sleep all night, longing for dawn but unable to wait for it to arrive.

The next morning, after washing, combing, and dressing, he followed two or three old nurses, took a carriage out of the West Gate, and went to the Tianqi Temple to burn incense and fulfill the vow. The temple had already been prepared the day before. Baoyu was naturally timid and dared not approach the fierce-looking clay statues of gods and demons. This Tianqi Temple had been built in the previous dynasty and was extremely grand and magnificent. Now, after many years, it was also extremely desolate. The clay statues inside were all very ferocious, so he quickly burned the paper horses and money offerings and withdrew to the Daoist courtyard to rest. After a while, he ate a meal, and the nurses and Li Gui and the others surrounded Baoyu as they strolled about to relax and play for a while. Baoyu grew tired and returned to the quiet room to rest. The nurses, afraid he might fall asleep, invited the resident old Daoist Wang to come and keep him company. This old Daoist Wang specialized in selling medicines on the streets, using folk remedies to cure illnesses and make money. Outside the temple, a signboard now hung, advertising pills, powders, ointments, and elixirs, all complete. He often visited the Ning and Rong mansions and was well known there; everyone had given him the nickname "Wang Yitie," meaning his plaster was so effective that one application could cure all ailments. At that moment, Wang Yitie entered. Baoyu was lying crooked on the kang, wanting to sleep. Li Gui and the others were saying, "Don't fall asleep, young master," joking around. Seeing Wang Yitie come in, they all laughed and said, "You've come at just the right time, just the right time. Master Wang, you are best at telling stories; tell one for our young master to hear." Wang Yitie laughed and said, "Exactly. Don't sleep, young master; be careful that the tendons in your belly don't start acting up." As he spoke, everyone in the room laughed. Baoyu also laughed, got up, and straightened his clothes. Wang Yitie ordered his apprentices to quickly brew some strong tea. Mingyan said, "Our master won't drink your tea; even sitting in this room, he finds the plaster smell offensive." Wang Yitie laughed and said, "Nonsense; plaster has never been brought into this room. Knowing that the young master would come today, I had it fumigated with incense for three or four days beforehand." Baoyu said, "Indeed, I only hear every day about the excellence of your plaster. What disease does it actually cure?" Wang Yitie said, "If the young master asks about my plaster, it's a long story. The fine details cannot be explained in a single sentence. It uses a total of one hundred and twenty ingredients, with the sovereign and minister ingredients properly matched, the guests and hosts appropriately arranged, warm and cool in combination, and costly and cheap ingredients different. Taken internally, it harmonizes the original qi, replenishes qi, opens the appetite, nourishes the nutritive and defensive qi, calms the spirit and settles the mind, removes cold and heat, digests food and dissolves phlegm. Applied externally, it harmonizes the blood and vessels, relaxes the sinews and collaterals, removes dead flesh, generates new flesh, dispels wind and dissipates toxins. Its effects are divine; those who have applied it will know." Baoyu said, "I don't believe that one plaster can cure all these diseases. Let me ask you instead, is there one kind of disease that can be cured by applying it?" Wang Yitie said, "A hundred diseases and a thousand calamities, none fail to have an immediate effect. If it doesn't work, young master, you can just grab my beard and hit this old face, or even tear down this temple, whatever you wish. Just name the source of the disease." Baoyu laughed and said, "You guess. If you can guess it, then the plaster will be effective." Wang Yitie listened, pondered for a moment, and laughed, "This is hard to guess. I'm afraid the plaster might not be so effective." Baoyu ordered Li Gui and the others, "You all go out and relax for a while. With so many people in this room, it's becoming more and more stuffy and smelly." Li Gui and the others, hearing this, all went out to amuse themselves, leaving only Mingyan. This Mingyan held a lit "dream-sweet" incense stick in his hand. Baoyu ordered him to sit beside him, and then leaned against him. Wang Yitie, sensing something, approached cheerfully and whispered, "I think I've guessed it. It must be that the young master now has matters of the bedchamber and needs a tonic medicine, isn't that so?" Before he finished speaking, Mingyan shouted, "Damned! Shut your mouth!" Baoyu, still not understanding, quickly asked, "What did he say?" Mingyan said, "Don't believe his nonsense." Frightened, Wang Yitie dared not ask further and only said, "Young master, just say it plainly." Baoyu said, "I ask you, is there any prescription for a plaster to cure women's jealousy?" Wang Yitie, hearing this, clapped his hands and laughed, "Well, that's a new one. Not only is there no prescription, I've never even heard of it." Baoyu laughed and said, "Then it's nothing much." Wang Yitie quickly added, "I haven't come across a plaster for jealousy, but there is a kind of decoction that might be able to cure it, only it's a bit slow and won't show immediate results." Baoyu said, "What decoction, and how is it taken?" Wang Yitie said, "It's called the 'Jealousy-Curing Decoction': take one very good autumn pear, two qian of rock sugar, one qian of dried tangerine peel, and three bowls of water. Cook until the pear is done. Eat one such pear every morning, and after eating them for a while, it will be cured." Baoyu said, "That's nothing, but I'm afraid it might not be effective." Wang Yitie said, "If one dose doesn't work, take ten doses. If it's not effective today, take it again tomorrow. If it's not effective this year, take it into next year. After all, these three ingredients are all for moistening the lungs and opening the appetite, harmless, sweet-tasting, and also stop coughing, and are good to eat. After eating them for a hundred years, people will die anyway, and when they're dead, what jealousy will there be! That's when you'll see the effect." As he spoke, Baoyu and Mingyan both laughed uncontrollably and cursed, "Oily-tongued ox-head!" Wang Yitie laughed and said, "It's just to while away the time in the afternoon nap, what harm does it do? Making you laugh is worth something. To tell you the truth, even the plaster is fake. If I had real medicine, I would have taken it myself and become an immortal. If I had real stuff, would I still be here fooling around?" As they were speaking, the auspicious hour arrived, and Baoyu was invited to go out to burn the paper money and distribute the blessed offerings. After the rituals were completed, he then entered the city and returned home.

By the time Yingchun had been home for quite a while, the matrons and maids from the Sun household had already served her evening meal and been sent back. Only then did Yingchun, sobbing and weeping, pour out her grievances in Lady Wang’s room. She said that Sun Shaozu “is utterly given over to lust, gambling, and heavy drinking; he has debauched nearly every maid and wife in the household. The few times I tried to remonstrate with him, he cursed me, saying I was ‘squeezed out of a vinegar vat of a wife.’ He also claimed that Father once took five thousand silver taels from him and shouldn’t have used his money. Now, after asking for it back two or three times without success, he pointed at my face and said: ‘Don’t put on airs with me as if you were a proper lady. Your father used five thousand taels of mine and sold you to me in exchange. If I’m not pleased, I can beat you and send you to sleep in the servants’ quarters. In the old days, when your grandfather was alive, he sought our family out for our wealth and rank. By rights, I’m of the same generation as your father, yet now he’s forced me down a generation and sold you to me. This match shouldn’t have been made—it only makes people think I was after your family’s influence.’” As she spoke, she sobbed bitterly, and even Lady Wang and all the other girls could not help shedding tears. Lady Wang could only try to soothe her, saying: “Since you’ve run into such a senseless man, what can be done? Think back—your uncle did advise your father against this match. But your father stubbornly refused to listen and went ahead with all his heart, and in the end, it turned out badly. My child, this is your fate.” Yingchun wept, “I don’t believe my fate is so cruel! I lost my mother as a child, and was fortunate enough to come to Aunt’s side and enjoy a few years of peace. Now, just when things seemed settled, I end up like this!” As Lady Wang tried to console her, she asked where Yingchun would like to rest for the night. Yingchun said: “Having just been torn from my sisters, I think of them day and night. Besides, I miss my own room; I’d like to stay in my old quarters in the Garden for three or five days, and then I’ll die content. Who knows if I’ll ever have the chance to live there again!” Lady Wang quickly urged: “Don’t talk such nonsense. Young married couples squabble and quarrel—it’s a common thing among thousands upon thousands of people. Why say such gloomy words?” She then ordered that the rooms at Purple Caltrop Isle be made ready at once, and told the girls to keep Yingchun company and cheer her up. She also instructed Baoyu: “Don’t breathe a word of this in front of the old lady. If she hears of it, I’ll know it was you.” Baoyu humbly agreed. That evening, Yingchun stayed in her old lodgings. The girls were even more affectionate than usual. After staying for three days, she went to Lady Xing’s place. First she took leave of Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang, then bid farewell to the girls, feeling even more sorrowful and reluctant to part. Only after Lady Wang and Aunt Xue had comforted and urged her could she stop crying and go. After two more days at Lady Xing’s, Sun Shaozu’s people came to fetch her. Though Yingchun did not want to go, she was terrified of Sun Shaozu’s brutality and could only force herself to bear it and say goodbye. Lady Xing was indifferent and did not ask about the harmony of the couple or the difficulties of household management, merely going through the motions out of politeness. The full details are not yet known; listen to the next chapter for the explanation.