Chapter 46

Chapter 46

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Chapter 46: An Awkward Person Involves Himself in Awkward Affairs; The Pledge Maiden Swears She Will Reject the Mandarin-Duck Match

When we left our story, Lin Daiyu had not fallen asleep until the fourth watch was drawing to a close. Let us pass over this for the time being. Now, Xifeng had been summoned by Lady Xing and, not knowing what it was about, had hastily changed her clothes and driven over in her carriage. Lady Xing sent everyone else out of the room and then said to Xifeng in a low voice, "I've called you here for a particular reason. There's a difficult matter that your master has entrusted to me, and I can't make up my mind about it, so I wanted to discuss it with you first. Your master has taken a fancy to the old lady's Yuanyang and wants to take her as one of his concubines. He's asked me to go to the old lady and ask for her. I thought this would ordinarily be a straightforward matter, but I'm afraid the old lady might not agree to let her go. Do you have any ideas?"

When Xifeng heard this, she quickly said, "In my opinion, you shouldn't go looking for that kind of trouble. The old lady can't even eat without Yuanyang—how could she bear to part with her? Besides, in her idle moments the old lady often says that your master is getting on in years, and what's the point of keeping one concubine after another around? It only ruins their youth. Instead of taking care of his health, he neglects his official duties and spends his days drinking with his concubines. Do you really think the old lady is pleased to hear such things? She'd want him to keep his distance right now, and instead you're poking a tiger's nose with a straw! Now, don't be angry, madam, but I wouldn't dare do it. It's obviously not going to work, and it'll only cause bad feelings. Your master is getting on in years and doesn't conduct himself properly—you should be the one to advise him. It wouldn't matter if he were still young, but now that he has sons, grandsons, nephews, and great-grandsons all around him, how can he carry on like this? What will people think?"

Lady Xing said with a cold laugh, "Even in great households, having three or four concubines is common enough—why shouldn't we be allowed? Even if I tried to advise him, he probably wouldn't listen. Besides, even if she's the old lady's favorite maid, she's still just a maid. For a grown son with gray whiskers who holds an official position to ask for a woman to keep in his quarters—the old lady might not refuse. I called you here merely to talk it over with you, and before I could even explain, you've already started lecturing me. As if I'd ask you to go! Naturally I'll go myself. You even say I'm not advising him—you don't understand his temperament. If I tried to talk to him and failed, he'd turn against me first."

Xifeng knew that Lady Xing was by nature stubborn and foolish, that she knew only how to defer to Jia She in order to protect herself, and that her next concern was amassing wealth for her own satisfaction. All household matters large and small were controlled by Jia She. Whenever money passed through his hands, he was extraordinarily miserly, always using Jia She's extravagance as an excuse: "I have to economize on my end to make up for it." She relied on neither servants nor children and listened to no one's advice. Now hearing Lady Xing talk this way, Xifeng realized she was being difficult again and that advising her would be useless. She quickly put on a smiling face and said, "What you say is absolutely right. What do I know, given my limited experience? When it comes to parents, let alone a maid, even the most precious living treasure they have—if not for your master, who would it be for? How can we trust what people say behind others' backs? I must be a fool. If Master Lian ever did something wrong and the master and madam were so angry they wanted to seize him and beat him to death on the spot, when they actually saw him, they'd let it go and still give him whatever they treasured most. The way the old lady treats your master now is surely the same. In my opinion, if the old lady is in a good mood today, ask for her today. Let me go first and coax the old lady into a good humor. When you arrive later, I'll find an excuse to slip away and take everyone else in the room with you, so you can speak with the old lady privately. If she agrees, so much the better. If she doesn't, it won't matter, and no one else will know about it."

When Lady Xing heard her say this, she was pleased again and told him, "My idea is not to ask the old lady first. If the old lady says no, the matter would be dead. I'm thinking of speaking to Yuanyang quietly first. She'll be embarrassed, but if I explain it to her carefully, she'll say nothing, and that will be that. Then I'll speak to the old lady. Even if the old lady doesn't agree, if Yuanyang herself is willing, as the saying goes, 'you can't keep someone who wants to leave,' and it will naturally be settled."

Xifeng smiled and said, "After all, madam, you have the wisdom—this plan is absolutely foolproof. Yuanyang aside, who wouldn't want to rise in the world and make something of themselves? Who would choose to remain a maid instead of being a semi-mistress, only to be married off to some servant boy in the end?"

Lady Xing smiled and said, "That's exactly right. It's not just Yuanyang—even among the senior maids in charge of household affairs, who wouldn't want the same thing? You go ahead first and don't let anything slip. I'll come over after dinner."

Xifeng thought to herself: "Yuanyang has always been a stubborn creature. Even so, I can't be sure she'll agree. If I go ahead of Lady Xing and she does agree, then there's no problem. But if she refuses, Lady Xing is a suspicious woman—she'll suspect that I gave Yuanyang advance notice, putting her on her guard. Then Lady Xing will see that I was right after all, and her shame and vexation will turn to anger, and she'll take it out on me. That would be pointless. Better to go together. Whether Yuanyang agrees or not, suspicion won't fall on me." Having thought this through, she said with a smile, "When I was just leaving, my aunt sent over two cages of quail. I told them to fry it up—I meant to rush it over in time for your supper. But when I came in through the gate, I saw the boys lifting the carriage. They said your carriage had come apart at the seams and had been taken away to be mended. Why don't we ride over together in my carriage instead?" Lady Xing, hearing this, ordered her attendants to help her change her clothes. Xifeng busied herself serving her for a while, and then the two of them rode over in the carriage together. Xifeng added, "If you're going to Grandmother's place and I go with you, she might ask what I've come for, and that would be awkward. Better go first, Lady Xing, and I'll change my clothes and come after."

Lady Xing thought this made sense and went by herself to the Dowager's quarters. After chatting with the Dowager for a while, she made an excuse that she was going to Lady Wang's rooms, slipped out through the back gate, and passed by Yuanyang's bedroom. She found Yuanyang sitting there doing needlework, and when Yuanyang saw Lady Xing, she quickly stood up. Lady Xing said with a smile, "What are you working on? Let me look—your embroidery has gotten even better." As she said this, she took the needlework from Yuanyang's hand and examined it, praising it over and over. She set the needlework down and looked Yuanyang over from head to toe. Yuanyang was wearing a pale lavender silk padded jacket that was only slightly worn, a black satin vest with piped edges, and a light green skirt beneath. She had a wasp waist and slender back, an oval face, glossy black hair, a high nose, and a few faint freckles on each cheek. Yuanyang felt uncomfortable under such scrutiny and was inwardly puzzled. She smiled and asked, "Lady Xing, what brings you here at this hour?" Lady Xing gave a signal with her eyes, and her attendants withdrew. Lady Xing sat down, took Yuanyang's hand, and said with a smile, "I've come specially to congratulate you!" Yuanyang had already guessed three-tenths of it. She flushed and lowered her head, saying nothing. Lady Xing continued, "You know your master has no reliable person at his side. He's wanted to buy someone, but he's afraid the girls from those slave dealers aren't clean—who knows what defects they might have? He'd bring one home and in a couple of days she'd be carrying on and making trouble. So he's been looking to pick a girl born in the household, but there's been no good one—either the looks aren't right or the temperament isn't right. She'd have one good quality and lack another. So he's been watching with cool eyes for half a year, and among all these girls, you're the pick of the lot—your looks, the way you conduct yourself, your gentleness and reliability, everything is complete. He means to ask the Dowager for you and take you into his quarters. You're not like some girl bought from outside. Once you go in, you'll be formally recognized at the start and given the title of Concubine—so dignified, so honorable! And you're an ambitious person. As the saying goes, 'Gold must be exchanged for gold.' Who would have thought the Master would set his eye on you? Now this way, you can fulfill the great ambitions you've always had, and you'll shut the mouths of those who've looked down on you. Come with me to the Dowager!" She took Yuanyang's hand and tried to pull her along. Yuanyang flushed and pulled her hand back, refusing to go. Lady Xing knew she was feeling shy and said, "What is there to be shy about? You don't have to say anything—just come with me." Yuanyang only lowered her head and didn't move. Seeing her like this, Lady Xing said again, "Can it be that you don't want this? If you really don't, you're a silly girl indeed! You'd rather be a maid than a master's lady! In three years or two, they'll match you with some young fellow, and you'll still be a slave. Come with us—you know my temper is good, and I'm not the sort who can't tolerate others. The Master treats you girls well too. In a year or so, if you bear a son or a daughter, you'll stand shoulder to shoulder with me. Anyone in the household you want to order about—who would refuse? Here's a chance to be a ready-made mistress, and if you let it pass, you'll regret it when it's too late." Yuanyang kept her head lowered and still said nothing. Lady Xing said again, "You're usually such a decisive person—why are you so sticky about this? If there's anything that doesn't sit right with you, just tell me, and I'll see to it that you get your heart's desire." Yuanyang still said nothing. Lady Xing added with a smile, "I suppose you have a father and mother, and you're too shy to speak for yourself—you're waiting for them to ask you. That makes sense. Let me go ask them. I'll have them come ask you, and you can tell them whatever you like." With that, she went to Xifeng's quarters.

Xifeng had already changed her clothes. With no one else in the room, she told Ping'er about this. Ping'er shook her head and smiled. "In my view, this business is unlikely to work out. Usually when we talk behind his back, from what we hear of his intentions, he's not likely to agree. It's just being said to see what happens." Xifeng said, "Madam is sure to come to this room to discuss it. If she agrees, fine; if she doesn't, I'll just be courting humiliation, and with all of you there, won't it be embarrassing for me? Tell them to deep-fry some quail, and prepare a few other dishes to go with it—get things ready for a meal. You go wander somewhere else for now, and come back when you reckon they've gone." Ping'er, upon hearing this, passed the instructions along to the old servants and then sauntered off at her ease toward the garden.

Here, Yuanyang, seeing that Lady Xing had left, figured that she must have gone to discuss the matter in Xifeng's room, and that someone was bound to come looking for her. She thought it best to hide out here, so she sought out Hupo and said, "If the Old Lady asks about me, just tell her I'm feeling unwell and haven't had my breakfast—I'm going to stroll around the garden and will be back soon." Hupo agreed. Yuanyang also headed for the garden to amuse herself, and as it happened, she ran into Ping'er right there. Ping'er, seeing no one else about, smiled and said, "Here comes the new concubine!" Yuanyang flushed crimson at this. "So that's it—you've all been in league plotting against me! Just you wait, I'll make trouble with your mistress." Ping'er, realizing she had misspoken, led her beneath the maple trees and sat her down on a rock. Then she went ahead and told her everything—all of Xifeng's manner, words, and the entire sequence of events from the time she had left and returned. Yuanyang's face reddened, and she said coldly to Ping'er, "It's because we're close. Take Xiren, Hupo, Suyun, Zijuan, Caixia, Yuchuan, Sheyue, Cuimo, Cuilü who went with Miss Shi, the deceased Keren and Jinchuan, and the departed Qianxue—counting you and me, the dozen or so of us, since childhood what haven't we said to each other? What haven't we done together? Now that we've all grown up and gone our separate ways, my heart hasn't changed—I still tell you everything, I don't keep words or deeds from you. I'll entrust this to your heart, but don't tell Second Mistress: not even if the Grand Master wants me as a concubine—even if Madam died right now and he sent out matchmakers and betrothal gifts to take me as his principal wife, I still wouldn't go."

Ping'er was just about to reply with a laugh when she heard someone chuckling behind the rockery. "What a shameless little wretch!" came the voice. "Aren't you afraid of getting a mouthful of grit?" Both women started in alarm and quickly rose to look behind the rockery. It was no one else but Xiren, who came out laughing and asked, "What's going on? Tell me." With that, the three of them sat down on the stone. Ping'er repeated what had just been said for Xiren's benefit: "Truly, it's not our place to say such things, but this Elder Master is far too lecherous. If a girl is even passably good-looking, he won't let her go."

Ping'er said, "Since you're unwilling, let me teach you a way—it'll be settled without any fuss." Yuanyang asked, "What way? Tell me." Ping'er laughed and said, "Just tell the Old Lady that you've already been given to Master Lian. Then the Elder Master won't dare ask for you." Yuanyang spat out, "What kind of creature are you! You're still talking! Didn't your master say something like that the other day? And who'd have thought it would come true today!" Xiren laughed and said, "Since neither of the two of them is willing, I'll tell the Old Lady and have her say that you've already been promised to Baoyu. Then the Elder Master will give up hope." Yuanyang was at once furious, flustered, and frantic. "You two bitches, may you die a bad death! When someone has a difficult situation and takes you seriously, confiding in you so you can help sort it out, you take turns making sport of her instead. You think you both have your futures settled—you'll all be concubines someday. In my opinion, not everything in this world goes according to one's wishes. You'd better watch yourselves—don't carry your rejoicing too far!" Seeing that she was truly upset, the two women hastily put on smiles and pleaded, "Dear sister, don't take offense. We've been as close as real sisters since childhood. We were just having a laugh when no one was around. Tell us what you plan to do, so we can put our minds at ease." Yuanyang said, "What plan! I simply won't go, that's all." Ping'er shook her head. "Even if you don't go, it may not end things. You know the Elder Master's temperament. Although you're someone from the Old Lady's household and he wouldn't dare do anything to you right now, do you think you'll stay with the Old Lady forever? Eventually you'll have to leave. If you fall into his hands then, things will be bad indeed." Yuanyang said with a cold laugh, "As long as the Old Lady is alive, I won't leave this place for a single day. And if she passes to the Western Paradise, he has three years of mourning in any case. No man would take a concubine right after his mother dies! After three years, who knows what the situation will be—we can talk about it then. Even if it comes to the most desperate pass, I'll cut my hair off and become a nun. Failing that, there's still death. What's so terrible about never marrying a man? I'd be clean and free!" Ping'er and Xiren laughed. "Truly this bitch has no shame—the more she says, the wilder it gets." Yuanyang retorted, "Things have come to this—what does a little shame matter! If you don't believe me, watch and see. The Mistress just said she'd find my father and mother. Let her go look for them in Nanjing!" Ping'er said, "Your parents are in Nanjing looking after the house—they haven't come up here, but she'll find them eventually. And right now you still have your brother and sister-in-law here. It's a pity you're a born bondservant of this household, unlike the two of us, who are only here on our own." Yuanyang said, "What does being a born bondservate matter? 'You can force an ox's head down to the water, but can't make it drink.' If I'm unwilling, will they kill my father and mother?"

Just then, his sister-in-law came walking over from that direction. Xiren said, "When they couldn't find your father and mother at the time, they must have spoken to your sister-in-law." Yuanyang said, "This whore specializes in being a 'camel trader among nine kingdoms'—hearing those words, how could she not rush to flatter them!" While they were speaking, she had already arrived before them. His sister-in-law said with a smile, "I searched everywhere and couldn't find you—you've run off here, miss! Come with me, I have something to talk to you about." Ping'er and Xiren both hurriedly offered her a seat. His sister-in-law said, "Ladies, please sit. I've come to say a word to our miss." Xiren and Ping'er both pretended not to know and said with a smile, "What words are so urgent? We're here playing riddles and winning forfeits—let's finish guessing this one first, then you can go." Yuanyang said, "What is it? Speak." His sister-in-law said with a smile, "Come with me, and when we get there I'll tell you—it's nothing but good news in any case." Yuanyang said, "Could it be what the Old Madame said to you?" His sister-in-law said with a smile, "Since you already know, why put me through the wringer? Come quickly, I'll tell you in detail—it's a matter of heaven-sent good fortune." When Yuanyang heard this, she stood up, spat with all her might right in her sister-in-law's face, and pointing at her, cursed, "You'd better clamp your cunt-shut mouth and get out of here—consider yourself lucky! What 'good news'! Emperor Huizong's eagle, Zhao Ziyang's horse—those are both fine paintings! What 'good fortune'! When a case of smallpox fills with pus, that's also full of good fortune! No wonder you've spent all these days envying other families whose daughters became concubines, the whole family relying on her to act like tyrants—the whole family has become concubines! Your eyes burned with envy, so you're sending me into a fiery pit too. If I succeed, you'll strut around outside acting like tyrants and appoint yourselves uncles. If I fail and lose face, you'll just shrink your turtle necks and leave me to live or die as I please." As she spoke, she wept. Ping'er and Xiren held her back and tried to soothe her. His sister-in-law's face could not bear the shame, and so she said, "Whether you're willing or not, you could at least say so—there's no need to drag this one and that one into it. As the saying goes, 'Don't mention short stature in front of a dwarf.' When the young lady curses me, I don't dare talk back, but these two ladies haven't offended you. 'Concubine this, concubine that'—how can they bear that on their faces?" Xiren and Ping'er quickly said, "You really shouldn't talk that way. She wasn't talking about us either—you mustn't drag this one and that one into it. Did you hear any Old Madame or master appoint us as concubines? Besides, neither of us has a father, mother, brother, or cousin in this household relying on us to act like tyrants. Whoever she's cursing, she's cursing—we have no reason to take it to heart." Yuanyang said, "She saw that I had cursed her and was embarrassed, with nothing to cover her face, so she used words to provoke you two. Fortunately, you two are sensible. It was my own fault—I was agitated and didn't distinguish, so she seized that opening." His sister-in-law, feeling she had lost face, left in a huff.

Yuanyang was still furious and cursing. Ping'er and Xiren comforted her for a while before she finally stopped. Ping'er then asked Xiren, "What were you hiding over there for? We didn't see you at all." Xiren said, "I had gone to the Fourth Young Lady's room to check on our Master Bao, and as it turned out I was a step too late—they said he had come home. I wondered why I hadn't run into him, so I thought of going to Miss Lin's house to look for him, but then I met his man who said he hadn't gone there either. I was just wondering if he had left the garden, when right on cue you came from over there. I slipped aside and you didn't see me. Then he came again. I walked from behind this tree to behind the artificial rock, and that was when I saw the two of you talking—who knew you four eyes hadn't spotted me."

Before she had finished speaking, someone behind them laughed and said, "Four eyes didn't see you? You six eyes didn't see me!" The three of them were startled and jumped, and turning around to look, it was none other than Baoyu approaching. Xiren said first with a smile, "You gave me such a good search—where did you come from?" Baoyu said with a smile, "I was coming out from my Fourth Sister's place and saw you coming from up ahead. I knew you were looking for me, so I hid myself to fool you. I watched you walk past with your head down, and once you'd entered the courtyard I came out, asking everyone I met. I was laughing to myself, just waiting until I was right beside you to give you a good scare. Then later I saw you also hiding and dodging, and I knew you too were trying to fool someone. I peeked around and took a look—it turned out to be those two. So I circled around behind you. When you came out, I hid where you had been hiding." Ping'er said with a smile, "Let's keep looking further back—we might even find two more people." Baoyu said with a smile, "That's definitely all of them." Yuanyang already knew that Baoyu had heard everything that was said, and only lay down on the rock pretending to be asleep. Baoyu nudged her and said with a smile, "This rock is cold—let's go back to the room to sleep, wouldn't that be better?" Saying this, he pulled Yuanyang up and also hurriedly invited Ping'er to come home for some tea. Ping'er and Xiren both urged Yuanyang to leave, and only then did Yuanyang stand up. The four of them made their way to Happy Red Court. Baoyu had already heard everything that had been said, and in his heart he was naturally displeased. He only lay silently sprawled on the bed, letting the three of them chat and laugh in the outer room.

Over on her side, Lady Xing asked Xifeng about Yuanyang's parents. Xifeng replied, "Her father's name is Jin Cai. He and his wife are in Nanjing, looking after the house there, and they rarely come to the capital. Her brother Jin Wenxiang is currently in charge of purchases on the Old Lady's side, and her sister-in-law is head of the laundry on the Old Lady's side." Lady Xing then had someone summon the sister-in-law, Jin Wenxiang's wife, and explained the matter to her in detail. The Jin woman was naturally delighted and went off in high spirits to find Yuanyang, expecting that one word would settle it. She had not anticipated being sharply rebuffed by Yuanyang, and then being lectured a few times by Xiren and Ping'er besides. She returned in shame and irritation, and told Lady Xing, "It's no use—he actually scolded me the whole time." Since Xifeng was present, she did not dare mention Ping'er, and only said, "Xiren also joined in rebuking me and said many ungrateful things—things I dare not repeat to my mistress. The Master and you should discuss buying someone else instead. That little wretch surely doesn't have such great fortune, and neither do we." Lady Xing listened and said, "What does Xiren have to do with this? How did she know about it?" She asked further, "Who else was present?" The Jin woman said, "Miss Ping was also there." Xifeng quickly said, "Why didn't you come back and slap him? The moment I left, he went wandering off, and when I came home, I couldn't find a trace of him! He must have been helping say something too!" The Jin woman said, "Miss Ping wasn't right there—from a distance it looked like her, but I couldn't be sure; I was just guessing." Xifeng then ordered someone to go: "Quickly fetch him and tell him I'm home and the Lady is also here, and ask him to come help out." Feng'er hurried back and reported, "Miss Lin sent people with a note inviting him three or four times before he went. I called him the moment you entered the gate. Miss Lin said, 'Tell your mistress that I need him for something.'" Only then did Xifeng let the matter drop, though she deliberately added, "Needing him every day—what business could there possibly be!"

Lady Xing, having no other recourse, went home after dinner and told Jia She that evening. Jia She thought for a moment, then immediately summoned Jia Lian and said, "There are people looking after the house in Nanjing—more than one family. Send for Jin Cai at once." Jia Lian replied, "The last letter from Nanjing said that Jin Cai has already suffered a stroke with phlegm blocking his heart. They've even given him money for his coffin over there. I don't know whether he's dead or alive now. Even if he's alive, he's unconscious—there would be no use summoning him. And his wife is deaf." Upon hearing this, Jia She roared a rebuke and cursed, "You low-down scoundrel—how is it that you know so much? Get out of my sight!" This frightened Jia Lian into withdrawing. Shortly after, Jia She had Jin Wenxiang summoned. Jia Lian waited in the outer study and did not dare go home, nor did he dare see his father, so he could only wait. Presently Jin Wenxiang arrived, and the young pages led him straight through the inner gate. He did not emerge and leave until the time it would take to eat five or six meals. Jia Lian did not dare inquire for the moment; after a while, when he learned that Jia She had gone to bed, he finally came over. That evening, when Xifeng told him, he understood everything.

Yuanyang had not slept the whole night. The next day, her brother came to report to the Old Lady and asked to take Yuanyang home for a visit. The Old Lady gave permission and told her to go. Yuanyang did not wish to go but feared that the Old Lady might grow suspicious, so she had no choice but to go out. Her brother had no choice but to tell her what Jia She had said, promising her how respectable it would be and how she would manage the household as a concubine. Yuanyang only clenched her teeth and refused. Her brother, having no recourse, had no choice but to go back and report to Jia She. Jia She flew into a rage and said, "I'm telling you this so you can have your wife tell him my words: 'Since ancient times, the moon goddess has favored young men.' He certainly thinks I'm too old for him. He's probably infatuated with the young masters—most likely he has her eye on Baoyu, though Jia Lian is also a possibility. If that is indeed his wish, let him give up that notion early. If I can't have him, who else would dare to take him in? That's the first thing. The second is: he's counting on the Old Lady's affection for him and assumes that in the future he'll be married off as a proper wife to someone outside. Let him think it over carefully—no matter whose house he marries into, he'll never escape my grasp. Unless he dies, or never marries a man for the rest of his life, I'll have him! If not, let him come to his senses early—there would be many advantages." Jia She said one sentence, and Jin Wenxiang answered one "Yes." Jia She said, "Don't try to deceive me. I'll send your wife to ask Yuanyang again tomorrow. If you've told him and he refuses, it won't be your fault. But if you ask him and he agrees, watch your head!"

Jin Wenxiang hastily assented again and again, then withdrew and went home. Without waiting to tell his wife to relay the message, he said it straight to Yuanyang's face himself. Yuanyang was so angry she could not reply. After thinking for a moment, she said, "Even if I were willing, you'd have to take me back to report to the Old Lady." Her brother and sister-in-law, hearing this, thought she had changed her mind and were overjoyed. Her sister-in-law immediately took her up to see the Old Lady.

It so happened that Lady Wang, Aunt Xue, Li Wan, Fengjie, Baochai, and the other young ladies, along with several of the prominent married serving-women from outside, were all clustered around the Dowager, trying to amuse her. Deliriously glad, Yuanyang pulled her sister-in-law and knelt before the Dowager, weeping as she spoke. She told how Lady Xing had come to talk to her, what her sister-in-law in the garden had said, and what her brother had said that very day. "Because I refused, the Master was even more determined. He said I was infatuated with Baoyu and that if I wouldn't wait to be married off, I'd never escape his grasp even if I went to heaven—he'd have his revenge in the end. I've steeled myself. Here in front of everyone, I swear that for all my life, not just 'Baoyu'—even if it were 'Golden Treasure,' 'Silver Treasure,' 'Heavenly Treasure King,' or 'Treasure Emperor'—I simply will not marry! Even if the Old Ancestress forces me, I'll cut my own throat and die rather than obey! If I'm blessed, I'll die before the Old Ancestress. If I'm not, and am fated to beg for my living, I'll serve the Old Ancestress until she passes on to the west, and I won't go with my parents or my brother. I'll either kill myself or shave my head and become a nun! If you think I'm not sincere and am just stalling for time before plotting something else—may heaven and earth, the spirits, the sun and the moon shine into my throat and cause a malignant ulcer to grow inside it that rots and festers into paste right here!" It turned out that when she had first come in, she had hidden a pair of scissors in her sleeve. Even as she spoke, she opened up her hair with her left hand and began cutting it with her right. The old women and maids rushed forward to restrain her, but she had already cut off a lock. Fortunately her hair was very thick and the scissors hadn't cut all the way through, so they quickly did it up again for her.

The Dowager was shaking with rage. "I have only this one reliable person left," she said, "and even they want to scheme against her!" Seeing Lady Wang standing nearby, she turned on her. "So you've all been fooling me all along! You pay me outward respect but secretly plot against me. When there's something good you want it, and when there's a good person you want her too. Now that this one little wretch is left, you can't bear to see me treat her well, so you try to get rid of her the better to manipulate me!" Lady Wang quickly rose to her feet and did not dare say a word. Since even Lady Wang had been blamed, Aunt Xue felt it would be awkward for her to put in a good word. Li Wan, on hearing Yuanyang's speech, had already taken the other young ladies outside.

Tanchun, who was perceptive, reflected that although Lady Wang had been wronged, she dared not defend herself; Aunt Xue, being her sister, could naturally not put in a good word either; and Baochai could hardly plead on her aunt's behalf. Li Wan, Fengjie, and Baoyu all lacked the courage to speak up. This was precisely the moment when a young woman's intervention was needed. Yingchun was too guileless and Xichun too young. So she listened for a moment outside the window, then came in with a smile and said to the Dowager, "What has this to do with Her Ladyship? Just think, if a senior brother-in-law wants to take a concubine, how would his younger sister-in-law know about it? Even if she did, she would pretend not to." Before she had finished, the Dowager laughed. "I'm a silly old fool! Don't laugh at me, Aunt. Your sister is extremely filial to me—unlike that elder daughter-in-law of mine, who simply cowers before her husband and goes through the motions with me. I've been wronging her." Aunt Xue could only say "Yes," adding, "It's natural for the Old Ancestress to have a weakness for her younger daughter-in-law and to dote on her more." "I don't play favorites!" the Dowager retorted. Then she went on, "Baoyu, I blamed your mother unjustly. Why didn't you point that out to me instead of letting her suffer?" Baoyu smiled. "How could I take Mother's side against my uncle and aunt? There's only one wrong here, and if Mother won't admit it, who should I push it onto? I'd be willing to claim it as my own fault, but you wouldn't believe me." "That makes sense," the Dowager laughed. "Quick, kneel down before your mother and tell her not to feel wronged. Say that the Old Ancestress is getting on in years and that Baoyu begs her." Baoyu at once went over and knelt down to speak, but Lady Wang quickly pulled him up with a smile. "Get up, get up, you mustn't do this! You can't make amends to me on the Old Ancestress's behalf!" Baoyu hastily stood up. "Fengjie didn't remind me either," the Dowager continued. "I'm not the one to blame the Old Ancestress," Fengjie said with a smile, "yet the Old Ancestress is finding fault with me!" The Dowager and all the others laughed. "That's strange! Let's hear what fault you find." "Who trained the Old Ancestress to be so good at cultivating people? She's cultivated someone as pretty as a young scallion—how can you blame anyone for wanting her? It's lucky I'm a granddaughter-in-law. If I were a grandson, I'd have taken her long ago and waited until now!" "So it's my fault, is it?" the Dowager laughed. "Naturally it's the Old Ancestress's fault!" "In that case, I don't want her either. Take her away with you!" "Wait until I've cultivated myself in this life and am reborn as a man in the next, then I'll take her!" "Take her back and put her in Lian's room. Let's see if that shameless father-in-law of yours still wants her!" "Lian's not good enough for her. He'll just have to make do with me and Ping'er—that pair of burnt-up rolls—mixed in with him!" At this everyone burst out laughing. A maid came in to announce that the Elder Lady had arrived. Lady Wang hurried out to meet her. What happened next will be told in the following chapter.