Chapter 82: The old pedant's lecture alarms the stubborn mind; The ailing Xiangyun has a frightening nightmare

CHAPTER 82

The Old Pedant Expounds the Classics to Warn an Obstinate Heart;

The Ailing Xiao-xiang Has a Nightmare of Her Troubled Soul

When Baoyu came back from school and went to see Grandmother Jia, she said with a smile, “Well, at last the wild colt has a bridle on. Go now and see your father, and then come back and relax a bit.” Baoyu assented and went to see Jia Zheng. Jia Zheng asked, “School’s out so early? Did the teacher set you any assignments?” Baoyu replied, “Yes, he did. In the morning I’m to review the texts, after lunch practice calligraphy, and in the afternoon he’ll lecture on the classics and explain essays.” Jia Zheng nodded at this and said, “Go on, then. Go keep your grandmother company for a while. You should also start learning a bit about human affairs and common sense—don’t just fool around all the time. Go to bed early in the evening, and get up early every day for school. Do you hear me?” Baoyu quickly answered “yes” several times, withdrew, and hurried off to see Lady Wang, then made a brief appearance at Grandmother Jia’s place.

He rushed out, wishing he could get to the Bamboo Lodge in one bound. As soon as he entered the gate, he clapped his hands and laughed, “I’m back again!” This sudden outburst startled Daiyu. Zijuan raised the portiere, and Baoyu came in and sat down. Daiyu said, “I thought I heard you were off to study. How come you’re back so early?” Baoyu replied, “Ai ya, it’s terrible! Today when Father called me to go study, I felt as if I’d never get to see you all again. I barely managed to get through the day, and now seeing you feels like coming back from the dead. Truly, the ancients were right when they said, ‘One day apart feels like three years’—that saying couldn’t be more accurate.” Daiyu asked, “Have you been to see the elders?” Baoyu said, “I’ve been to all of them.” Daiyu asked, “And elsewhere?” Baoyu said, “No.” Daiyu said, “You ought to go see them too.” Baoyu said, “Right now I can’t be bothered to move. I’ll just sit here and chat with you for a while. Father told me to go to bed early and get up early, so I’ll have to go see them tomorrow.” Daiyu said, “You’ve sat a while; you really ought to go rest now.” Baoyu said, “It’s not that I’m tired—I’m just bored. Sitting here with you is what dispels the boredom, and now you’re hurrying me off.” Daiyu smiled faintly and told Zijuan, “Brew a cup of my Longjing tea for Master Bao. Now that he’s studying, it’s not like before.” Zijuan smiled in acknowledgment, went to get the tea leaves, and told a little maid to steep the tea. Baoyu went on, “Don’t even mention studying—I hate all this moralizing talk. What’s even more ridiculous is the eight-legged essay. It’s bad enough that people use it to get official rank and make a living, but they also claim it’s ‘speaking for the sages and worthies.’ The better ones just cobble together some passages from the classics, but there’s an even more laughable sort—people with nothing in their heads who drag in all sorts of nonsense, making a monstrous mess, yet thinking themselves profound and learned. How can that possibly elucidate the principles of the sages? Now Father keeps insisting I learn this stuff, and I don’t dare disobey him. And here you are, bringing up studying again.” Daiyu said, “We girls don’t need this sort of thing, but when I was young and studied with your Mr. Yucun, I did read some of them. Some of those essays were reasonable and close to human sentiment; others were subtle, pure, and far-reaching. Though I didn’t fully understand them at the time, I still thought they were good. You can’t dismiss them all out of hand. Besides, if you want to win fame and rank, this path is at least clean and honorable.” When Baoyu heard this, he found it quite grating. He thought to himself, “Daiyu was never this sort of person—how can she be so obsessed with worldly success now?” But he dared not contradict her to her face, so he just snorted through his nose. As they were talking, they suddenly heard two people speaking outside—it was Qiuwen and Zijuan. Qiuwen said, “Sister Xiren sent me to fetch him from the old lady’s place, but I find he’s here instead.” Zijuan said, “We’ve just brewed tea here—let him finish it before he goes.” With that, the two came in together. Baoyu laughed and said to Qiuwen, “I was just about to go; I’m sorry to have put you to the trouble of looking for me.” Before Qiuwen could answer, Zijuan said, “Drink your tea quickly and be off—they’ve been thinking of you all day.” Qiuwen spat and said, “Pah, you wretched little maid!” This made everyone laugh. Baoyu got up and took his leave. Daiyu saw him to the door, with Zijuan standing on the steps below. Only after Baoyu had left did Daiyu return to her room.

Now, let us return to Baoyu, who had gone back to Happy Red Court. As he entered the room, Xiren came out from the inner chamber to greet him and asked, “Are you back?” Qiuwen answered, “The Second Master came back early; he was at Miss Lin’s place.” Baoyu asked, “Is there anything to do today?” Xiren said, “Nothing in particular. Just now, Her Ladyship sent Sister Yuanyang to tell us: Now that the Master is pushing you hard to study, if any of the maids dare to joke or play with you again, they will be dealt with according to the precedent of Qingwen and Siqi. I was thinking, after serving you all this time, to end up with such talk, it’s really no fun.” As she spoke, she began to feel hurt. Baoyu quickly said, “Dear sister, don’t worry. If I just study properly, Her Ladyship won’t say anything more to you. Tonight I still have to read; tomorrow the teacher wants me to expound on the texts. If I need anything, Sheyue and Qiuwen will be around. You go and rest.” Xiren said, “If you truly are willing to study, we’ll be happy to serve you.” Hearing this, Baoyu hastily ate his evening meal and then called for a lamp, taking out the Four Books he had studied before. But where to begin? He flipped through one volume, and each chapter seemed clear at first glance, but when he looked closely, he didn’t quite understand. He read the annotations and then the commentaries, and went on until the night watch sounded. He thought to himself, “I find poetry and lyrics so easy, but with this stuff I’m completely lost.” So he sat there in a daze, staring blankly. Xiren said, “Take a break; you don’t have to do all your work in this one stretch.” Baoyu just mumbled some vague reply. Sheyue and Xiren then helped him to bed, and they both went to sleep. But after they had slept a while, they heard Baoyu tossing and turning on his kang. Xiren said, “Are you still awake? Don’t let your mind wander; rest your spirit so you can study tomorrow.” Baoyu said, “I’m thinking the same thing, but I can’t sleep. Come and take off a layer of my quilt for me.” Xiren said, “It’s not hot; don’t take it off.” Baoyu said, “I feel very restless.” He pushed the quilt down himself. Xiren quickly got up and pressed it back, feeling his forehead with her hand; it seemed slightly feverish. Xiren said, “Don’t move; you have a bit of a fever.” Baoyu said, “That’s right.” Xiren exclaimed, “How did this happen!” Baoyu said, “It’s nothing, it’s just because I’m upset. Don’t make a fuss, or the Master will find out and say I’m pretending to be sick to skip school—why else would I fall ill so conveniently? Tomorrow when I’m better, I’ll just go to school and that will be the end of it.” Xiren felt sorry for him and said, “I’ll sleep close to you, then.” She massaged his back for a while, and before they knew it, they both drifted off to sleep. They didn’t wake until the red sun was high in the sky. Baoyu said, “Oh no, it’s late!” He hurriedly washed and dressed, paid his respects, and then went to the school. Dai Ru was already scowling and said, “No wonder your father is angry, calling you worthless. On the very second day you’re already lazy—what time is this for you to be coming!” Baoyu explained about his fever the previous night, and that got him off the hook, so he went back to his reading. In the late afternoon, Dai Ru said, “Baoyu, there’s a passage I want you to explain.” Baoyu came over and saw it was the chapter “Youth is to be Awed.” Baoyu thought to himself, “This is all right; at least it’s not from the Great Learning or the Doctrine of the Mean.” He asked, “How should I explain it?” Dai Ru said, “Go over the main points and the sentences in detail.” Baoyu read the passage aloud clearly and said, “This passage is the Sage encouraging young people, urging them to work hard in time and not end up…” At this point, he looked up and glanced at Dai Ru. Dai Ru noticed and smiled, saying, “Go on; when explaining texts, there’s no need to avoid anything. The Book of Rites says, ‘When facing a text, there is no taboo.’ Just say it—‘not end up what?’” Baoyu said, “Not end up old and accomplished in nothing. First, the phrase ‘to be awed’ stirs the ambition of the young; then, the phrase ‘not worth awing’ warns them about the future.” Having said this, he looked at Dai Ru. Dai Ru said, “That’s acceptable. Now give the running commentary.” Baoyu said, “The Sage says that when people are young, their minds and abilities are sharp and clever in every way—truly awe-inspiring. Who can be sure that their later days won’t be like my present? If they drift idly until they’re forty, then fifty, and still haven’t achieved distinction, such people, even if they seemed promising in youth, by that time no one will fear them anymore.” Dai Ru laughed and said, “You explained the main points clearly enough, but your phrasing is a bit childish. The term ‘without renown’ doesn’t just mean failing to achieve high office or rank. ‘Renown’ means truly understanding principle and seeing the Way; even if one doesn’t hold office, one can still have ‘renown.’ Otherwise, some ancient sages and worthies withdrew from the world and were unknown—were they without office, and does that make them ‘without renown’? ‘Not worth awing’ means that one can predict the outcome, which corresponds to the word ‘know’ in ‘who knows,’ not the word ‘fear.’ You must see it from this angle to grasp the subtlety. Do you understand or not?” Baoyu said, “I understand.” Dai Ru said, “There’s another passage; explain this one too.” Dai Ru turned forward a page and pointed it out to Baoyu. Baoyu looked and saw it was “I have never seen one who loves virtue as he loves beauty.” Baoyu felt this passage was a bit piercing, so he forced a smile and said, “This sentence doesn’t have much to explain.” Dai Ru said, “Nonsense! Suppose this topic came up in the examinations—would you say there’s nothing to write about?” Baoyu had no choice but to explain: “The Sage saw that people are unwilling to love virtue, but when they see beauty, they love it excessively. They don’t stop to think that virtue is something inherent in one’s nature, yet people simply won’t love it. As for beauty, though it too comes from innate nature, no one doesn’t love it. But virtue is heavenly principle, while beauty is human desire—how could people love heavenly principle as much as they love human desire? Although Confucius’s words are a sigh, they also express a hope that people will turn back. Moreover, it shows that even if people do love virtue, their love is always shallow and superficial; only if they loved it as much as beauty would it be true love.” Dai Ru said, “That will do. I have a question for you: Since you understand the Sage’s words, why do you precisely suffer from these two faults? Though I’m not at home, and your father hasn’t told me, I know all your faults. As a person, how can you not want to improve? Right now, you are at the age of ‘youth is to be awed’—whether you achieve ‘renown’ or become ‘not worth awing’ is entirely up to you. I now give you one month to go over all the old texts you’ve studied, then another month to study essays. After that, I’ll set topics and have you write essays. If you slack off, I absolutely won’t tolerate it. As the ancients said, ‘To become a man, there is no ease; to be at ease, one does not become a man.’ Remember my words well.” Baoyu agreed, and from then on he had to follow his lessons every day. But let us leave that for now.

Now, after Baoyu started going to school, Happy Red Court felt very quiet and leisurely. Xiren could do some needlework; she took up her needle and thread to embroider a betel nut pouch, thinking that now that Baoyu had his lessons, the maids wouldn’t have any trouble either. If only it had been like this earlier, how could Qingwen have come to such an end? The fox mourns the hare’s death—she couldn’t help shedding tears. Then she suddenly thought of her own future: she was not Baoyu’s rightful wife, but only a concubine. Baoyu’s character she could manage, but she was afraid that if he married a formidable wife, she would end up like You Erjie or Xiangling. From what she had always seen of the attitudes of Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang, and from the hints Fengjie often let drop, it was undoubtedly Daiyu. And Daiyu was a very suspicious person. At this thought, her face flushed and her heart raced; she didn’t know where she was poking her needle. So she put down her work and went to Daiyu’s place to sound her out.

Dai-yu was just reading a book when she saw Xi-ren enter. She half rose to offer her a seat. Xi-ren promptly came forward and asked, “How are you feeling these days, miss? Are you much better?”

“Not really,” said Dai-yu. “I’m just a little stronger. What have you been doing at home?”

“Now that Bao-er ye has started going to school,” said Xi-ren, “there’s nothing at all to do in our rooms, so I came to see you, miss, and have a chat.”

As she spoke, Zi-juan brought in tea. Xi-ren stood up hastily and said, “Do sit down, sister.” Then she added with a smile: “The other day I heard Qiu-wen say you were talking about us behind our backs.”

Zi-juan laughed too. “Don’t you believe her, sister! I only said that now Bao-er ye is at school, and Bao-chai jie jie is cut off from us, and even Xiang-ling doesn’t come over, it must be very dull here.”

“Don’t talk to me about Xiang-ling,” said Xi-ren. “She’s really having a hard time. Running into that ‘Grand Lord of the Year’ madam—how does she manage to get by!” She held up two fingers. “When you come to talk about it, she’s even worse than that one. She doesn’t care at all about appearances outside.”

“She’s had enough to suffer too,” put in Dai-yu. “How did You-san jie die?”

“Exactly,” said Xi-ren. “When you think of it, they are all human beings, only a little different in status. Why be so cruel? It doesn’t sound good for one’s reputation either.”

Dai-yu had never before known Xi-ren to speak ill of anyone behind their back, and now she sensed there was something behind these words. “That’s hard to say,” she remarked. “In any family affair, it’s either the east wind prevailing over the west wind, or the west wind prevailing over the east wind.”

“When one is in a secondary position,” said Xi-ren, “one’s heart is already timid. How would one dare to bully others?”

Just then, an old woman’s voice was heard in the courtyard asking, “Is this Miss Lin’s room? Which sister is here?”

Xue-yan went out to look. She vaguely recognized the woman as one of Aunt Xue’s servants and asked, “What is it?”

“Our young lady sent me to bring something for Miss Lin here,” said the woman.

“Wait a moment,” said Xue-yan. She went back inside and informed Dai-yu, who told her to bring the woman in.

The old woman entered, made her curtsy, and without saying what she had brought, peered at Dai-yu with such a stare that Dai-yu felt embarrassed. “What did Bao-chai jie jie send you to bring me?” she asked.

The old woman smiled at last. “Our young lady told me to bring you a bottle of preserved lychees in honey.” Then she turned and saw Xi-ren. “Isn’t this Miss Hua from Bao-er ye’s apartment?” she asked.

Xi-ren laughed. “How do you recognize me, nanny?”

“We just keep the rooms at the old lady’s place,” said the woman with a grin. “We don’t go out much with the ladies or the young ladies, so we don’t know most of the young ladies well. But when you girls come over to our side, we have a vague memory of you.” She handed the bottle to Xue-yan, then turned back to look at Dai-yu once more, and said to Xi-ren with a smile: “No wonder our old lady says that this Miss Lin and your Bao-er ye are a perfect match. She really is a heavenly fairy!”

Xi-ren, seeing the woman had spoken so tactlessly, hastily changed the subject. “Nanny, you must be tired. Sit down and have some tea.”

The old woman grinned. “We’re busy over there, all bustling about with Miss Qin’s affair. Our young lady has two more bottles of lychees, and she told me to take them to Bao-er ye.” With that, she tottered out, taking her leave.

Dai-yu was annoyed at the woman’s impertinence just now, but since she had been sent by Bao-chai, she could not say anything to her. Only after the woman had left the room did she murmur, “Please thank your young lady for her trouble.”

The old woman was still mumbling to herself as she went out: “With such a lovely face, who but Bao-yu could be worthy of her?” Dai-yu pretended not to hear.

Xi-ren laughed. “Why is it that when people get old, they talk nonsense like that? It makes one both angry and amused.”

Presently Xue-yan brought the bottle over for Dai-yu to look at. “I don’t feel like eating any,” said Dai-yu. “Just put it away somewhere.”

They talked a while longer, and then Xi-ren left.

When it was time to take off her evening makeup, Dai-yu went into the inner room. Suddenly she looked up and saw the bottle of lychees, and could not help recalling the old woman’s nonsense that day, which had stung her deeply. Now, in the twilight stillness, a thousand cares and ten thousand anxieties crowded into her heart. She thought of her own frail health and her advancing age. As for Bao-yu, though there was no one else in his heart, the old lady and her aunt seemed to show no sign of making any move. She bitterly regretted that her parents, while alive, had not settled this marriage earlier. Then she thought: “If my parents had been alive and had betrothed me elsewhere, could they have found anyone with Bao-yu’s looks and heart? At least now there is still some hope.”

Her mind went up and down, twisting and turning like a windlass. She sighed a few times, shed a few tears, and feeling utterly listless, lay down fully clothed.

Before she knew it, a little maid came in and said, “Master Jia Yucun outside requests to see you, Miss Lin.” Daiyu said, “Though I studied with him, I’m not like the male students—what does he want to see me for? Besides, he has dealings with my uncle and never mentioned it before; it’s not proper for me to receive him.” So she told the little maid, “Reply that I am ill and cannot come out, and give him my respects and thanks.” The little maid said, “Perhaps he wants to congratulate you, miss; there are also people from Nanjing coming to fetch you.” As she spoke, Xifeng arrived with Lady Xing, Lady Wang, Baochai, and others, all smiling and saying, “We’ve come both to offer congratulations and to see you off.” Daiyu said in alarm, “What are you all saying?” Xifeng said, “Why pretend to be dense? Don’t you know that your father, Master Lin, has been promoted to Grain Intendant of Hubei, and has married a stepmother who suits him perfectly? Now he thinks it improper to leave you abandoned here, so he has asked Jia Yucun to act as matchmaker, betrothing you to some relative of your stepmother’s—a second marriage, they say—and has sent people here to fetch you back. Most likely you’ll be married as soon as you arrive home; it’s all arranged by your stepmother. Fearing there might be no one to look after you on the road, he’s also ordered your cousin Lian to escort you.” At these words, Daiyu broke out in a cold sweat. In a daze, she seemed to see her father indeed holding that post, and in great anxiety she insisted, “That’s not true; it’s all nonsense from Sister Xifeng.” Then she saw Lady Xing exchange a glance with Lady Wang, saying, “She still doesn’t believe it; let’s go.” Daiyu, with tears in her eyes, said, “Do sit a while longer, aunts.” But they said nothing, and left with cold smiles. Daiyu’s heart was choked with desperation, yet she could not speak, sobbing and choking. In a daze, she seemed to be with Grandmother Jia again, and thought to herself, “Only by begging the old lady can I perhaps be saved.” So she fell to her knees, clutching the old lady’s waist, and said, “Grandmother, save me! I would rather die than go south! Besides, having a stepmother who is not my own mother, I would much rather stay with you, Grandmother.” But the old lady stared blankly and said with a smile, “This is none of my business.” Daiyu wept, “Grandmother, what kind of affair is this?” The old lady said, “A second marriage is fine; you’ll even get an extra trousseau.” Daiyu sobbed, “If I stay by your side, Grandmother, I will never use a single extra cent from here; I only beg you to save me.” Grandmother Jia said, “It’s no use. Once a girl is born, she must marry eventually; you’re still a child and don’t understand—staying here forever is no solution.” Daiyu said, “I’m willing to be a maidservant here, earning my own keep and feeding myself—I’m content with that. I only beg you to decide for me, Grandmother.” But the old lady remained silent. Daiyu clung to the old lady’s waist and wept, “Grandmother, you have always been the kindest and the most fond of me—how can you ignore me in my hour of need! Even if you say I am only your granddaughter, a generation removed, my mother was your own daughter; for her sake, you should protect me a little.” As she spoke, she threw herself into the old lady’s arms, sobbing bitterly, and heard Grandmother Jia say, “Yuanyang, see the young lady out to rest. She has worn me out with her fussing.” Daiyu knew then that there was no way out, that begging was useless, and she might as well seek death. She stood up and walked out, deeply grieving that she had no mother of her own, and that even her grandmother, aunts, and cousins, who usually treated her so well, had all proved false. Then she thought, “Why haven’t I seen Baoyu today? If I could see him once, perhaps he might have a way.” At that moment, Baoyu appeared before her, smiling, and said, “Great happiness to you, dear cousin!” Hearing this, Daiyu grew even more frantic, and without regard for anything, she seized Baoyu tightly and said, “Well, Baoyu, today I realize you are a heartless and unfeeling person.” Baoyu said, “How am I heartless and unfeeling? Since you are betrothed to someone else, we each go our own way.” The more Daiyu heard, the angrier she became, and the more at a loss, so she could only cling to Baoyu and weep, “Dear cousin, whom do you want me to go with?” Baoyu said, “If you don’t want to go, just stay here. You were originally promised to me—that’s why you came to our house. Think about how I’ve treated you.” In her daze, Daiyu seemed to recall that she had indeed been promised to Baoyu, and her grief suddenly turned to joy as she asked Baoyu, “I have made up my mind, whether to live or die. Do you want me to go or not?” Baoyu said, “I tell you to stay. If you don’t believe my words, just look at my heart.” With that, he took a small knife and cut open his chest, and blood gushed out. Daiyu was terrified out of her wits, and hastily pressed her hand over Baoyu’s heart, weeping, “How could you do such a thing? Kill me first!” Baoyu said, “No fear—I’ll show you my heart.” He kept clawing at the open wound. Daiyu, trembling and crying, afraid someone might discover them, hugged Baoyu and wept bitterly. Baoyu said, “It’s no good—my heart is gone; I can’t live.” With that, his eyes rolled back, and he fell with a thud. Daiyu let out a piercing wail. Then she heard Zijuan calling, “Miss, miss, what nightmare has taken hold of you? Wake up quickly and take off your clothes to sleep.” Daiyu turned over—it had all been a bad dream.

Her throat was still choked with sobs, her heart still pounding wildly, and the pillow was already soaked through; her shoulders, back, and body felt icy cold. She thought for a while, “Father has been dead so long, and I am not yet betrothed to Baoyu—where did all that come from?” Then she recalled the scenes in her dream—utterly helpless and alone—and if Baoyu were really dead, what would become of her! For a moment, the pain after the pain made her spirit and soul all confused. She wept again, broke out in a slight sweat all over, struggled up, took off her outer robe, told Zijuan to tuck her in properly, and lay down again. She tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She heard a rustling outside, like the wind or the rain. After a while, she heard a distant snoring sound—it was Zijuan already asleep, breathing through her nose. Daiyu struggled to sit up, wrapped the quilt around herself, and sat for a while. A chilly draft came through a crack in the window, making her hair stand on end, so she lay down again. Just as she was about to doze off, she heard the chirping of countless sparrows on the bamboo branches, twittering without stop. Gradually, through the window paper and the lattice, the pale light of dawn began to seep in.

By this time Daiyu was already awake, her eyes bright and piercing. Before long she began coughing again, and even Zijuan was roused by the sound. Zijuan said, “Miss, haven’t you fallen asleep yet? You’re coughing again—you must have caught a chill. The window paper is turning white now; it will soon be dawn. Rest a while, gather your strength, and don’t keep brooding over distant matters.” Daiyu replied, “It’s not that I don’t want to sleep, but I simply can’t. You go back to sleep.” As she finished speaking, she coughed again. Seeing Daiyu in this state, Zijuan felt deeply grieved and found herself unable to sleep. When she heard Daiyu cough once more, she quickly got up and brought the spittoon. By then, it was already light. Daiyu said, “Aren’t you going back to sleep?” Zijuan smiled and said, “It’s already light—what sleep is there left?” Daiyu said, “Since that’s the case, you might as well change the spittoon.” Zijuan assented, hurried out to fetch a fresh spittoon, set the old one on the table, opened the inner door, went out, closed the door again, let down the soft embroidered curtain, and went out to wake Xueyan. When she opened the outer door to empty the spittoon, she saw it was full of phlegm, with many streaks of blood in it. Startled, Zijuan could not help exclaiming, “Aiyo, this is terrible!” From inside, Daiyu heard and asked what was the matter. Knowing she had let slip, Zijuan quickly changed her words and said, “My hand slipped, and I nearly dropped the spittoon.” Daiyu said, “Is there something wrong with the sputum in the spittoon?” Zijuan replied, “Nothing at all.” But as she said this, her heart ached, tears streamed down, and her voice had already changed. Daiyu, feeling a sweetish, fishy taste in her throat, had already grown suspicious. When she heard Zijuan’s exclamation outside and then the sorrowful tone of her voice, she understood eight or nine parts of it and called out, “Come in—be careful not to catch cold outside.” Zijuan answered with a sound even more plaintive than before, full of the choking of grief. Hearing this, Daiyu felt a chill run through her. She watched Zijuan push the door open and enter, still wiping her eyes with a handkerchief. Daiyu said, “So early in the morning, why are you crying for no reason?” Zijuan forced a smile and said, “Who’s crying? My eyes were a bit uncomfortable when I got up. Miss must have been awake longer than usual tonight—I heard you coughing most of the night.” Daiyu said, “Indeed—the more I wanted to sleep, the less I could.” Zijuan said, “Miss is not in good health. In my opinion, you should try to comfort yourself a little. Health is the foundation, as the saying goes, ‘Keep the green hills, and you’ll still have firewood.’ Besides, from the old lady and the madam down, everyone dotes on you.” At these words, Daiyu was reminded of her dream. She felt a thump in her heart, a blackness before her eyes, and her expression changed completely. Zijuan quickly held the spittoon, while Xueyan pounded her back. After a long while, she finally brought up a mouthful of phlegm. In it was a streak of purplish blood, quivering violently. Both Zijuan and Xueyan turned pale with fright. The two stood by to watch over her, and Daiyu sank back into a dazed sleep. Seeing that things were not good, Zijuan quickly gestured with her lips for Xueyan to go and call someone.

Just as Xueyan stepped out the door, she saw Cuilü and Cuimo coming toward her, both smiling. Cuilü said, “Why is Miss Lin still not out so late? Our young lady and the third young lady are both in the fourth young lady’s room, discussing the garden scene she painted.” Xueyan hurriedly waved her hand. Cuilü and Cuimo were both startled and said, “What’s the matter?” Xueyan told them everything that had just happened. The two stuck out their tongues and said, “This is no joke! Why don’t you tell the old lady? This is too serious! How can you be so foolish?” Xueyan said, “I was just about to go when you arrived.” As she spoke, they heard Zijuan call out, “Who’s talking out there? Miss is asking.” The three hurried in together. Cuilü and Cuimo saw Daiyu lying in bed under a quilt. When she saw them, she said, “Who told you? Why are you making such a fuss?” Cuimo said, “Our young lady and Miss Xiangyun were just now in the fourth young lady’s room discussing the garden picture she painted, and they sent us to invite you. We didn’t know you were unwell again.” Daiyu said, “It’s nothing serious—I just feel a little weak. I’ll get up after lying down a while. When you go back, tell the third young lady and Miss Xiangyun that if they have nothing to do after the meal, please ask them to come and sit here. Has Master Bao been to your place?” The two replied, “No.” Cuimo added, “Master Bao has been going to school these past couple of days. His father checks his lessons every day—how could he still run about like before?” Daiyu heard this and remained silent. The two stood there a little longer, then quietly withdrew.

Meanwhile, Tanchun and Xiangyun were at Xichun’s place, commenting on Xichun’s painting of the Grand View Garden—saying this part was too much, that part too little, this area too sparse, that area too dense. They were also discussing adding a poem and had sent someone to invite Daiyu to consult with them. Just as they were talking, Cuilü and Cuimo returned, looking flustered. Xiangyun asked first, “Why hasn’t Miss Lin come?” Cuilü said, “Miss Lin had another attack last night and coughed all night. We heard from Xueyan that she coughed up a whole spittoon of bloody phlegm.” Tanchun was astonished and said, “Is this true?” Cuilü said, “How could it not be true?” Cuimo said, “We went in and saw her just now—her complexion was nothing like it should be, and her voice was so weak when she spoke.” Xiangyun said, “If she’s that bad, how can she still talk?” Tanchun said, “How can you be so foolish? If she couldn’t talk, it would already be…” Here she stopped herself. Xichun said, “Sister Lin is such a clever person, but I always think she can’t let things go—she takes everything to heart. How many things in this world are truly real?” Tanchun said, “Since that’s the case, let’s all go and see her. If her illness is serious, we should go and tell the elder sister-in-law to inform the old lady and call a doctor in to examine her—at least then we’d know what to do.” Xiangyun said, “Exactly.” Xichun said, “Sisters, go on ahead; I’ll come later.” So Tanchun and Xiangyun, supported by a young maid, went to the Xiaoxiang Pavilion. When they entered the room, Daiyu saw them and could not help feeling sad again. Then she thought of her dream and reflected that even the old lady had been like that, let alone these others. Besides, if she hadn’t invited them, they wouldn’t have come. Though she thought this, her face could not show it, so she had Zijuan help her sit up and offered them seats. Tanchun and Xiangyun both sat on the edge of the bed, one at each end. Seeing Daiyu in such a state, they too felt grieved. Tanchun said, “Sister, why are you unwell again?” Daiyu said, “It’s nothing serious—I just feel very weak.” Behind Daiyu’s back, Zijuan secretly pointed at the spittoon. Xiangyun, being younger and straightforward by nature, reached out and picked up the spittoon to look. It would have been better if she hadn’t looked—once she did, she was shocked and alarmed, saying, “Did you cough this up, sister? This is terrible!” At first, Daiyu had been drowsy and hadn’t looked closely at what she’d brought up. Now, hearing Xiangyun say this, she turned to look, and her heart was already more than half dead. Seeing Xiangyun’s rashness, Tanchun quickly explained, “This is just lung fire rising—it’s common to bring up a little like this. But Yun, you’re always so excitable, making a fuss over nothing!” Xiangyun blushed, regretting her careless words. Tanchun, seeing that Daiyu seemed low in spirits and weary, quickly stood up and said, “Sister, rest quietly and gather your strength. We’ll come back to see you later.” Daiyu said, “I’m troubling you both to think of me.” Tanchun also instructed Zijuan to take good care of the young lady, and Zijuan assented. Just as Tanchun was about to leave, they heard someone shouting outside. Who it was will be told in the next chapter.