Chin-kuei and Pao-chan work out a cunning plan to seduce Hsueh Ko. They plan to treat him warmly, do favors for him from time to time, then eventually invite him in and get him drunk. If he refuses to do as they want, they will accuse him of trying to […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Volume III: Chapters 91-100Summary and Analysis Volume III: Chapters 81-90
This chapter and the next thirty-nine chapters were written by Kno Ngo, Tsao Hsueh-chin’s contemporary. The continuation of the story sometimes follows Tsao Hsueh-chin’s creative intent — such as the tragic end of the devoted love between Pao-yu and Tai-yu, the description of the search of both the Jung and […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Volume III: Chapters 81-90Summary and Analysis Volume II: Chapters 71-80
Chin Chen returns from the capital for a month’s home-leave, just in time for the celebration of Lady Dowager’s eightieth birthday. All of the royal relatives, including the Prince of Peiching, the Prince of Nanan, and the Imperial Consort, Yuan-chun, come to offer congratulations. The celebration is marked by ostentation […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Volume II: Chapters 71-80Summary and Analysis Volume II: Chapters 62-70
Chapter 62 finds everybody in the Garden busy with birthday preparations for Pao-yu’s birthday. By coincidence, Pao-yu shares his birthday with Pao-chin, Ping-erh, and Hsiu-yen. This coincidence makes everybody extremely happy, so, in addition to sending each other gifts, they decide to collect money for a really sumptuous feast, outside […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Volume II: Chapters 62-70Summary and Analysis Volume II: Chapters 51-61
Pao-chin’s unusual talent for composing poems is shown again when she creates ten riddles about the places that she has visited in different provinces. The subtlety of these riddles is admired by all the people present. Suddenly, Hsi-jen’s brother arrives and asks the Chia family’s permission to take Hsi-jen home […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Volume II: Chapters 51-61Summary and Analysis Volume II: Chapters 41-50
Chapter 41 continues Granny Liu’s adventures in Grand View Garden. When her turn comes to add a poetic line to the collective poem, she says, “A huge pumpkin forms when the flowers fall,” and the whole party bursts into gales of laughter. The Chia family is having such a good […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Volume II: Chapters 41-50Summary and Analysis Volume I: Chapters 31-40
Hsi-jen’s spitting blood worries Pao-yu, so he secretly sends for Doctor Wang (so as not to alarm the entire household). Doctor Wang says that His-jen has had a contusion and prescribes some pills for her recovery. Next day, in a gloomy mood, Pao-yu criticizes his maid Ching-wen for dropping his […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Volume I: Chapters 31-40Summary and Analysis Volume I: Chapters 20-30
Chapter 20 reveals some “trivial” matters about the Chia family: (1) Nanny Li (Pao-yu’s old nurse) is nagging and threatening Hsi-jen because she thinks that Hsi-jen is not really ill; she thinks that Hsi-jen is staying in bed only to avoid her; (2) Chia Huan (the son of Chia Cheng’s […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Volume I: Chapters 20-30Summary and Analysis Volume I: Chapters 16-19
Yuan-chun (Cardinal Spring), the eldest daughter of Chia Cheng, is selected as “Chief Secretary of the Phoenix Palace with the title of Worthy and Virtuous Consort,” and there is more good news: in the future, ladies of the court will be allowed to go home at regular intervals so that […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Volume I: Chapters 16-19Summary and Analysis Volume I: Chapters 7-15
From this chapter to Chapter 15, the author focuses mostly on the hostess of the Jung Mansion — Wang Hsi-feng (Phoenix). In Chapter 7, Aunt Hsueh and Mrs. Chou go on an errand to deliver twelve sprays of gauze flowers to the girls in the Jung Mansion. Here, Tai-yu’s overly […]
Read more Summary and Analysis Volume I: Chapters 7-15