Chapter 108

Chapter 108

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Chapter 108

At the Feast for Hengwu's Birthday, Forced Mirth Prevails;

At the Boudoir of Xiaoxiang, Amid Deathly Stillness, Ghostly Weeping Is Heard

Now Jia Zheng had earlier submitted a memorial to the throne requesting that the family residences and the Grand View Garden be confiscated by the state. The imperial court did not accept them, and since no one lived there, they had to be sealed up. As the garden was connected to the residences of Madam You and Xichun, it seemed too vast and desolate without inhabitants, so they assigned Bao Yong, as a punishment, to watch over the abandoned garden.

At this time, Jia Zheng was managing the family estate and had also received the Dowager's orders to gradually reduce the number of servants and dependents. Although they practiced economy in every possible way, they still could not make ends meet. Happily, Xifeng was cherished by the Dowager. Although Lady Wang and the others were not particularly fond of her, when it came to managing the household and handling affairs, she could still be of service, so the internal affairs were still entrusted to Xifeng's management. But recently, after the confiscation, she found it difficult to carry out even routine matters and was constantly pinched for resources. The various household retainers and servants had long been accustomed to generous treatment, and now, compared with former days, they had lost seven-tenths of their former benefits. How could their needs be fully met? Complaints were thus incessant.

Xifeng dared not shirk her duties and, despite her illness, strove to please the Dowager. After some time, Jia She and Jia Zhen each arrived at their assigned posts of duty. Having resources to rely upon, they were temporarily at ease and wrote letters home saying that all was well, so the family need not worry. Thereupon the Dowager was reassured, and Madam Xing and Madam You were somewhat comforted as well.

One day, Shi Xiangyun returned from her new home to pay her respects to the Lady Dowager. The Lady Dowager remarked that her son-in-law seemed a fine man, and Xiangyun reassured her that all was well there, asking the old lady not to worry. When they touched on Daiyu's death, tears fell on all sides. The Lady Dowager then thought of Yingchun's wretchedness and grew even sadder. Xiangyun consoled her for a while, then went to pay her respects to the other ladies before returning to rest in the Lady Dowager's room. She mentioned, "The Xue family has been brought to ruin by Brother Xue's troublemaking. Though his sentence has been suspended this year, who knows whether it may be commuted next year?" The Lady Dowager said, "You don't know this, but yesterday Pan's wife died in suspicious circumstances, and there was nearly another big scene. Fortunately, the Old Buddha opened her eyes, and the maid she had brought with her confessed everything. Then the Xia family had no grounds for making trouble and stopped the inquest themselves. Your aunt managed to get rid of her, skin wrapped around flesh as she was. Truly, all our relatives share the same fate! The Xues are in this state, and your Aunt Xue is living with Xue Ke, who is so conscientious that he refuses to marry while his brother's case is still unsettled in prison. Your sister Xing is having a hard time too, living with the Lady of the Elder Mansion. Miss Qin hasn't yet completed mourning for her father-in-law, so the Mei family hasn't fetched her. Since the Elder Uncle of the Second Lady's family died, Sister Feng's brother has gone to the dogs too, and the Second Uncle is a miser besides, with his official accounts in arrears—he's in difficulties too. And since the Zhen family was confiscated, we've heard nothing from them." Xiangyun asked, "Has Third Sister written home since her marriage?" The Lady Dowager replied, "Since she married, the Second Master told me she's doing very well on the frontier, but she hasn't sent any letters, and I worry about her day and night. With all these misfortunes in our family, I haven't been able to attend to it. And no one has proposed a match for Fourth Sister either. As for Huan, who has the time to think of him? Our family's circumstances now are even harder than when you used to live here. It's a pity about your Cousin Bao-chai—since her marriage she hasn't had a single peaceful day. And your Second Cousin is still raving like a madman. What's to be done?" Xiangyun said, "I grew up here, and I know everyone's temper. Coming back this time, I find they've all changed. I thought perhaps because I'd been away so long they'd grown distant from me, but when I thought it over, that wasn't it. When they see me, they mean to be as warm and lively as before, but somehow, as soon as they start talking, they get sad. That's why I came straight to you, Grandmother." The Lady Dowager said, "I can put up with life like this at my age, but how can you young people bear it? I've been trying to think of some way to make them lively again for a day, but I haven't the spirit for it." Xiangyun said, "I've just remembered—isn't Cousin Bao-chai's birthday the day after tomorrow? If I stay an extra day and wish her happy birthday, we can all have a lively time. What do you think, Grandmother?" The Lady Dowager said, "I'm really getting senile. If you hadn't reminded me, I'd have forgotten—the day after tomorrow is indeed her birthday! Tomorrow I'll get some money and give her a birthday celebration. Before she was engaged, we had several good ones, but since her marriage, we haven't had any. Bao-yu used to be very clever and mischievous, but because of all the family troubles, the boy has been so affected that he can barely speak. It's Widow Zhu who's all right—she's the same whether things go well or badly, quietly bringing up Lan with her. She deserves credit for that." Xiangyun said, "The others haven't changed much, but Lian's wife—even her looks are different, and she's lost her old wit. Tomorrow I'll try to liven them up and see how they respond. But even if they don't say so, they'll resent me inwardly and say that now I have—" Xiangyun blushed crimson. The Lady Dowager understood and said, "What's there to fear? You sisters used to be happy together, laughing and joking—don't harbor such thoughts. A person must be able to endure both wealth and poverty. Your Cousin Bao-chai is naturally generous. When her family was prosperous, she was never arrogant; when things went wrong, she took it calmly. Now that she's in our family, when Bao-yu treats her well, she's content; when he doesn't, she shows no sign of vexation. I think this girl is blessed with good fortune. Your Cousin Lin-dai was always touchy and suspicious—that's why she didn't live long. Sister Feng has seen something of the world too; it's wrong of her to change so much after just a little setback. If she has so small a mind, she's simply petty. For Bao-yu-jie's birthday the day after tomorrow, I'll get out some silver and give her a proper celebration to cheer her up for the day." Xiangyun agreed, "You're quite right, Grandmother. We might as well invite all the sisters and have a good reunion." The Lady Dowager said, "Of course we must invite them." In a moment of high spirits she called out, "Tell Yuanyang to take a hundred taels of silver and give it to the stewards outside to prepare two days' feasting starting tomorrow." Yuanyang obeyed and sent a woman to deliver the order. Nothing else happened that night. The next day the order was sent out, and messengers were dispatched to fetch Yingchun. Aunt Xue and Bao-qin were invited, with instructions to bring Xiangling. Widow Li was also invited. Before long, Li Wen and Li Qi arrived. Bao-chai had not known about this, but when one of the Lady Dowager's maids came to invite her, saying, "The Xue aunt has arrived, and the Second

"Auntie, you should go over." Baochai was pleased. She went over in her clothes at hand, intending to see her mother. She found her younger sister Baoqin and Xiangling already there, and saw that Aunt Li and the others had also come. She thought to herself, "Those people must know that our family's troubles are over, so they've come to pay their respects." She went and greeted Aunt Li, saw the Dowager, then exchanged a few words with her mother and greeted the Li sisters. By her side, Xiangyun said, "Would the ladies all be seated, so that we sisters may come and wish the elder sister a happy birthday." Baochai was stunned at this. On reflection, she realized, "Isn't tomorrow my birthday!" So she said, "It's only right that my sisters should come and see the Dowager, but I really wouldn't dare let them do anything for my birthday." As they were politely pressing each other, Baoyu came to pay his respects to Aunt Xue and Aunt Li. Hearing Baochai modestly decline, he had in fact been planning to celebrate Baochai's birthday for some time, but with the household in such chaos he hadn't dared mention it to the Dowager. Now that he saw Xiangyun and the others wanting to offer birthday wishes, he was delighted and said, "Tomorrow is her birthday. I was just about to tell the Dowager." Xiangyun laughed, "Nonsense! Do you think the Dowager was waiting for you to tell her? Why do you suppose these people are here? The Dowager invited them!" Baochai was not quite convinced by this. She heard the Dowager say to her mother, "Poor Baochai has been a new daughter-in-law for a year now, but with one thing after another happening at home, we've never given her a birthday celebration. Today I shall give her one and ask the ladies to come and have a chat." Aunt Xue said, "You've only just recovered your peace of mind these days. As a young person, she ought to be showing her respect to you, instead of troubling you." Xiangyun said, "The Dowager's favorite grandson is Second Brother, but doesn't she care for Second Sister-in-law too! Besides, Baochai deserves having the Dowager give her a birthday celebration." Baochai lowered her head and said nothing. Baoyu thought to myself, "I always said that after Sister Shi married she became a different person. That's why I didn't dare get too close to her, and she didn't pay any attention to me either. But listening to her now, she's just the same as before. Why is it that the one who married into our family has become even more bashful and can barely say a word?" As he was thinking this, a little maid came in and announced, "Second Sister-in-law has returned." Then Li Wan and Fengjie came in, and everyone greeted each other. Yingchun mentioned her father's departure and said, "He wanted to hurry back to see you, but Father stopped him and wouldn't let him come, saying our family is in a run of bad luck and he shouldn't get tainted by it. I couldn't go against him, so he didn't come, and he cried for two or three days straight." Fengjie said, "Why did he let you come today?" Yingchun said, "Then he said that Second Master has inherited his rank again, so it would be all right to visit and it wouldn't matter, and that's why he let me come." As she spoke, she started crying again. The Dowager said, "I was originally upset, but today I asked you all to come celebrate my grandson daughter-in-law's birthday, to chat and laugh and cheer ourselves up. And now you bring up all these troubles again, which only stirs up my vexation." Yingchun and the others dared not say a word. Although Fengjie managed to make a few amusing remarks, she was not as brisk and entertaining as before, and no one laughed. The Dowager wanted to make Baochai happy, so she deliberately teased Fengjie to speak. Fengjie understood the Dowager's intention and did her best, saying, "The Dowager is in a better mood today. Look at all these people—it's been ages since they were all together, and today everyone is here." She turned her head and saw that her mother-in-law Madam You was not there, and stopped short. The Dowager, struck by the word "everyone," also thought of Madam Xing and the others and sent people to invite them. When Madam Xing, Madam You, Xichun and the others heard that the Dowager had summoned them, they dared not stay away, though they were very much unwilling at heart. Thinking of the family's ruin and yet being made to celebrate Baochai's birthday, they concluded that the Dowager was being partial, and so they came in low spirits. The Dowager asked about Xingyan. Madam Xing pretended she was ill and could not come. The Dowager understood and knew that with Aunt Xue present it might be somewhat awkward, so she did not press the matter.

Presently fruit and wine were set out. The Dowager said, "Don't send them to the outer rooms. Today I shall allow only us women to enjoy ourselves." Although Baoyu was a married man, the Dowager doted on him and he still mixed with the women inside, but he did not sit at the same table with Xiangyun, Baoqin and the others. Instead, a seat was placed for him beside the Dowager, and he took turns with Baochai in offering the wine. The Dowager said, "Now sit down, everyone, and drink. You can go and pay your respects later when evening comes. If you start doing that now, everyone will get caught up in formalities and spoil my fun." Baochai sat down as told. The Dowager also called someone and said, "Today let's be more relaxed. Leave just one or two people to wait on each of us. I'll have Yuanyang take Caiyun, Ying'er, Xiren, Ping'er and the others to the back room to have a cup of wine." Yuanyang and the others said, "We haven't kowtowed to Second Young Lady yet—how can we just go and drink?" The Dowager said, "I've spoken. Just go, and I'll call for you when I need you." Yuanyang and the others went. Only then did the Dowager invite Aunt Xue and the others to drink. Seeing that none of them were their usual selves, the Dowager said anxiously, "What's the matter with you all? You should be more cheerful!" Xiangyun said, "We're eating and drinking—what more do you want!" Fengjie said, "When they were young they were all cheerful, but now they're too self-conscious to speak freely, so it looks cold and quiet to the Dowager."

Baoyu softly said to Grandmother Jia, "There's nothing much to say—if we say any more, we'll get onto unpleasant topics. It would be better if you, Old Ancestress, suggested something, and let them all play a drinking game." Grandmother Jia, listening with her head tilted to one side, smiled and said, "If we're to play a game, we'll have to call Yuanyang." The moment Baoyu heard this, without waiting for more, he rose from his seat and went to the back room to find Yuanyang. "The Old Ancestress wants to play a game, Sister—she's asking for you," he said. Yuanyang replied, "Young master, let's just drink our wine in peace. Why must you go and stir things up again?" Baoyu said, "Truly, the Old Ancestress said you must go. What's it got to do with me?" Yuanyang, having no choice, said, "All of you just keep drinking. I'll go and be right back." She then went over to Grandmother Jia.

"Now that you're here," said the Old Ancestress, "it's because we want to play a game, isn't it?" Yuanyang replied, "I heard the Second Master Baoyu say the Old Ancestress wanted me—how dare I not come? I don't know what sort of game you have in mind." Grandmother Jia said, "The literary ones are dull and stuffy, and the boisterous ones aren't suitable. You'd better think of something novel and amusing." Yuanyang thought for a moment and said, "Now that Aunt Xue is getting on in years and doesn't care to tax her brains, why not bring out the dice cup and dice and have everyone throw for a tune name and wager drinks on it?" Grandmother Jia said, "That will do." She ordered someone to bring the dice cup and set it on the table.

Yuanyang said, "Now we'll use four dice. Anyone who throws and can't name a tune will be penalized one cup. If a tune name comes up, the number of cups each person drinks will be determined by what's thrown." When the others heard this, they said, "That's easy enough—we'll all follow along." Yuanyang then made the arrangements.

Everyone made Yuanyang drink a cup, and then counting around from her, it turned out that Aunt Xue would throw first. Aunt Xue threw the dice, and they came up four ones. Yuanyang said, "That's a well-known throw—it's called 'The Four White-Haired Sages of Shang Mountain.' Those of age should drink a cup." So Grandmother Jia, Aunt Li, Lady Xing, and Lady Wang all had to drink. Grandmother Jia raised her cup to drink, but Yuanyang said, "Aunt Xue threw these dice, so Aunt Xue should name a tune, and the next person should quote a line from the *Thousand Family Poems*. Anyone who can't say a line will be penalized one cup." Aunt Xue said, "You're calculating against me again—how could I possibly come up with anything?" Grandmother Jia said, "It would be dull not to say anything at all—it's better to say a line. The next person is me. If I can't say one, I'll drink a cup along with Aunt Xue." Aunt Xue then said, "I'll say 'Entering the flower garden in old age.'" Grandmother Jia nodded and said, "I thought I was just stealing leisure to learn from youth." When she had finished, the dice cup passed to Li Wen, who threw two fours and two twos. Yuanyang said, "That has a name too—it's called 'Liu Chen and Ru Zhao Enter Mount Tiantai.'" Li Wen then said, "Two scholars enter the Peach Blossom Spring." The next person was Li Wan, who said, "Seeking out the Peach Blossom Spring to flee from Qin." Everyone then drank another sip.

The dice cup came around again to Grandmother Jia, who threw two twos and two threes. Grandmother Jia said, "Does this call for drinking?" Yuanyang said, "It has a name—this is 'The Swallow Leading Its Young.' Everyone should drink a cup." Xifeng said, "The young ones are young enough, but some have already flown away quite a bit." Everyone shot a glance at her, and Xifeng fell silent. Grandmother Jia said, "What shall I say? 'The grandfather leading his grandson.'" The next was Li Qi, who said, "Idly watching the children catch willow catkins." Everyone said it was good.

Baoyu had been longing to speak, but the dice cup hadn't come around to him. He was just thinking about it when it happened to reach his turn. He threw one two, two threes, and one one. "What's this?" he asked. Yuanyang laughed and said, "This is a 'stink'—drink a cup first and throw again." Baoyu had no choice but to drink and throw again. This time he threw two threes and two fours. Yuanyang said, "There's a name now—this is 'Zhang Chang Painting His Wife's Eyebrows.'" Baoyu understood that this was making fun of him, and Baochai's face flushed red. Xifeng didn't quite understand and said, "Second Brother, hurry up and say your line—who's the next person?" Baoyu knew it would be hard to say anything, so he admitted, "I'll take the penalty. I don't have a next person anyway."

When the dice cup passed to Li Wan, she threw once. Yuanyang said, "Eldest Sister-in-law has thrown 'Twelve Golden Hairpins.'" Baoyu, hearing this, hurried over to Li Wan's side to look and saw that the red and green were evenly matched. "This one is quite beautiful," he said. He suddenly thought of the dream about the twelve hairpins, and dully returned to his own seat, thinking to himself, "These twelve hairpins were said to be from Jinling—so why are there so few of the family left now, and those who remain are such a mixed assortment?" He then looked again at Xiangyun and Baochai. Although they were both there, Daiyu was nowhere to be seen. He could not hold back his tears, which began to well up. Fearing that others would notice, he said he felt very warm and needed to take off his clothes. He then excused himself and left the table.

Shi Xiangyun, seeing Baoyu in this state, surmised that he had been unable to throw anything good and that someone else had thrown it instead, and she was displeased. She left, finding the game dull and feeling somewhat irritated. Li Wan then said, "I can't say a line. The people at the table aren't all here—I might as well be penalized a cup." Grandmother Jia said, "This game isn't very lively. Let's cancel it. Let Yuanyang throw and see what comes up." A little maid set the dice cup in front of Yuanyang. Yuanyang, as instructed, threw two twos and a five, while the remaining die kept spinning in the cup. Yuanyang cried, "Not a five!" The die came to rest showing a five. Yuanyang said, "Oh no! I've lost." Grandmother Jia said, "Doesn't this count for anything?" Yuanyang said, "There is a name, but—"

"I can't recall the tune name," said one of them.

Grandmother Jia said, "Tell me the name, and I'll improvise one."

Yuanyang said, "It's called 'Waves Sweeping the Duckweed.'"

Grandmother Jia said, "That's not difficult. I'll give you 'Autumn Fish Entering the Water-chestnut Nest.'"

The one below Yuanyang was Xiangyun, who then said, "White duckweed's song ends, the Chu River autumn."

Everyone said, "That line fits perfectly."

Grandmother Jia said, "That finishes the round. Let's drink two cups and have our meal."

She turned her head and noticed that Baoyu still hadn't come in. She asked, "Where is Baoyu? Why hasn't he come?"

Yuanyang said, "He's changing his clothes."

Grandmother Jia said, "Who went with him?"

Ying'er stepped forward and replied, "I saw the Second Master go out, and I asked Sister Xiren to follow him."

Only then were Grandmother Jia and Lady Wang reassured.

After waiting a while, Lady Wang sent someone to fetch him. The young maid arrived at the new bridal chamber and found only Wu'er there, lighting candles. The maid asked, "Where has the Second Master gone?"

Wu'er said, "He's drinking wine at the Old Lady's place."

The maid said, "I just came from the Old Lady's, and the Lady sent me to find him. How could he be there when she's asking me to look for him?"

Wu'er said, "I don't know about that. Go look somewhere else."

The maid had no choice but to return. On the way she met Qiunwen and asked, "Have you seen where the Second Master went?"

Qiunwen said, "I'm looking for him too. The ladies are waiting for him for dinner. Where could he have gone? Quick, go back and report to the Old Lady. Don't say he's not home—just say the wine didn't sit well with him, so he's not eating. He'll rest a little while and come later. Ask the ladies to go ahead and eat."

The maid went back as instructed and told Zhenzhu, who in turn reported to Grandmother Jia.

Grandmother Jia said, "He never eats much anyway. It's fine if he doesn't eat. Let him rest. Tell him he need not come over today—his wife is here."

Zhenzhu said to the maid, "Did you hear that?"

The maid acknowledged it but, unable to explain the real situation, wandered about elsewhere for a while before saying she had delivered the message. No one paid it any mind. They finished their meal and sat around chatting. But let us leave this account here.

Let us now speak of Baoyu, who had been so overcome with grief that he had walked out, not knowing where to go. Just then Xiren hurried up and asked what was the matter.

Baoyu said, "Nothing in particular. I just feel restless inside. Since they're all drinking, why don't the two of us go stroll over to Madam Zhen's place?"

Xiren said, "Madam Zhen is here. Who would we be looking for?"

Baoyu said, "No one in particular. I just want to see what her quarters look like now."

Xiren had no choice but to follow him, talking as they walked. When they reached Madam You's side, there was a small gate half open and half shut. Baoyu did not go in. He only saw the two old women who guarded the garden gate sitting on the threshold chatting.

Baoyu asked, "Is this small gate open?"

One of the old women said, "It's never open. But today someone came out and said the Old Lady would be needing fruit from the garden, so we left it open and are waiting."

Baoyu slowly walked over and saw that the waist-gate was indeed half open. He went in at once.

Xiren hastily pulled him back. "Don't go in. The garden is unclean. No one goes there regularly. You might run into something."

Baoyu, emboldened by wine, said, "I'm not afraid of that."

Xiren desperately held him back and would not let him go.

The old women came up and said, "The garden is peaceful now. Ever since the Taoist priest captured the evil spirit the other day, we've been going in alone to pick flowers and gather fruit. If the Second Master wants to go in, we'll all follow. With so many of us, what is there to fear?"

Baoyu was delighted. Xiren could not insist any further and had no choice but to follow along.

When Baoyu entered the garden, all he could see was desolation. The flowers and trees had withered, and in several places the pavilions had long since lost their paint. In the distance, a cluster of tall bamboo still appeared lush and green.

Baoyu thought for a moment and said, "I left the garden when I fell ill and lived in the back for months, not allowed to come here. In such a short time it's become so desolate. Look—only those few stalks of emerald bamboo remain luxuriant. This must be Bamboo Lodge!"

Xiren said, "You haven't been here in months—you've even forgotten which direction is which. We were so busy talking we walked right past Happy Red Court." She turned around and pointed. "That's Bamboo Lodge over there."

Baoyu looked where Xiren pointed and said, "So we've already passed it! Let's go back and take a look."

Xiren said, "It's getting late. The Old Lady must be waiting for dinner. We should go back."

Baoyu said nothing. He found the old path and walked straight ahead.

You might think that although Baoyu had left the Grand View Garden for nearly a year, he would have forgotten the way. But Xiren, fearing that if he saw the Bamboo Lodge it would remind him of Daiyu and make him sad, had deliberately misled him with her words. She had not expected Baoyu to keep walking deeper into the garden. The sky was growing late, and he feared attracting evil spirits, so when Baoyu asked her, Xiren said they had already passed it, hoping Baoyu would not go. But Baoyu's heart was set only on the Bamboo Lodge. Seeing him hurrying forward, Xiren had no choice but to catch up. She found Baoyu standing still, as if he saw something and heard something. "What are you listening to?" she asked. "Is someone actually living in the Bamboo Lodge?" said Baoyu. "Probably not," said Xiren. "But I clearly hear someone crying inside—how can there be no one!" "You're being suspicious," said Xiren. "In the old days, when you came here, you often used to hear Miss Lin weeping, and so it's the same now." Baoyu was unconvinced and still wanted to listen. The old women hurried up and said, "Second Master, please go back quickly. It's already late. We'd dare walk elsewhere, but this path is secluded, and people say that since Miss Lin died here, her crying is often heard, so no one dares to come." When Baoyu and Xiren heard this, they both started in alarm. "So it is," said Baoyu, and tears began to fall. "Sister Lin, Sister Lin, it was I who ruined you, when I was doing so well! Don't blame me—it was our parents' decision, I didn't betray you." The more he spoke, the more anguished he became, and he broke into loud weeping. Xiren was at her wits' end when Qiuwen arrived with some people and said to Xiren, "How dare you be so bold—bringing Second Master here! The Old Lady and Lady Wang have had people searching everywhere. Just now someone at the side gate said you had come here with Second Master, and the Old Lady and Lady Wang were frightened beyond measure. They scolded me and told me to bring people and hurry here. Aren't you going back at once?" Baoyu was still weeping bitterly. Xiren paid no heed to his tears; the two of them pulled him along, wiping his face as they went and telling him how anxious the Old Lady was. Baoyu had no choice but to return.

Knowing the Old Lady would not be at ease, Xiren took Baoyu to the Lady Dowager's quarters. Everyone was still waiting and had not dispersed. The Lady Dowager said, "Xiren, I have always known you to be sensible, which is why I entrusted Baoyu to you. How could you take him to the garden today? He has only just recovered from his illness. If he should encounter something and have another episode, what then?" Xiren dared not defend herself and kept her head down in silence. Baochai, seeing that Baoyu's complexion was poor, was truly alarmed. But it was Baoyu, fearing Xiren might suffer unjustly, who said, "What is there to fear in broad daylight? I hadn't strolled through the garden for some time, and today, in my tipsy mood, I felt like a walk. How could I have encountered anything?" Xifeng, who had suffered greatly in the garden, shuddered at this and said, "Brother Bao, your courage is too great." Xiangyun said, "It's not courage—it's sincerity of heart. I don't know whether he went to meet the Hibiscus Spirit or to seek some immortal." Baoyu heard this but said nothing. Only Lady Wang was so anxious she could not utter a word. The Lady Dowager asked, "Did anything frighten you in the garden? Say no more about it for now. In future, if you want to stroll, you must take several people with you. Now everyone can go home early. Go back and sleep well tonight, and come early tomorrow—I shall make it up to you and have you all enjoy yourselves for another day. Don't let anything happen on his account." At this, everyone took their leave of the Lady Dowager and came out. Aunt Xue went to stay with Lady Wang. Shi Xiangyun remained in the Lady Dowager's room. Yingchun went to Xichun's quarters. The rest returned to their own rooms. We shall say no more of them. As for Baoyu, when he returned to his room, he sighed and groaned. Baochai knew full well the reason but paid him no attention, only fearing that his melancholy might bring back his old illness. She went inside and called Xiren to ask in detail how things had gone when Baoyu went to the garden. What Xiren's reply was, we shall relate in the next chapter.