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 seduce Chin-kuei; thus they will frighten him into giving in to them.
Hsueh Pan's case has not been settled yet because the provincial governor wants to try the case himself. Hsueh Pan's letter to his mother reveals the situation: the governor has not received a bribe; therefore, Hsueh Pan urges his mother to send silver as soon as possible—making clear once again the greed and decadence of the court officials.
Without Pao-yu's knowledge, Lady Wang and Aunt Hsueh choose a day after the old lady's birthday for Pao-yu and Pao-chai's marriage.
Pao-yu goes to see Tai-yu, who sounds him out about his love for her; he professes to be loyal and true to her.
In Chapter 92, invited by Lady Dowager to attend the "cold-dispelling" party, Pao-yu arrives a bit earlier than the young ladies, so he has a chance to talk to Chiao-chieh, who has read The Book of Filial Woman and The Lives of the Chaste Martyrs. Pao-yu instructs Chiao-chieh on the virtuous stories of famous beauties, such as Wang Chiang and Hsi Shih, and such chaste ladies as Tsao-shih. These descriptions are another instance of Kno Ngo's distortion of Pao-yu's original character. Under Tsao Hsueh-chin's pen, Pao-yu was never described as a person who preached feudal order, the virtues of feudal ladies, filial piety to parents and emperors, women's natural inferiority, or women's three obediences to men. The young man who was originally presented to us was against the feudal system, but here he becomes a person who propagandizes for the absolute maintenance of feudal order.
A representative of Ssu-chi's mother comes to see Hsi-feng and asks for a favor because Ssu-chi has committed suicide by smashing her head against a wall because of her mother's opposition to a marriage between Ssu-chi and her cousin, an episode that vividly presents the cruelty of the feudal rulers and the rebellious spirit of the oppressed against their ruthless oppressors. Feng Tzu-ying comes to visit Chin Cheng with four novelties from the south and from overseas, and he urges Chin Cheng (and later Lady Dowager and Hsi-feng ) to buy them; unfortunately, they all say that they cannot afford the price of twenty thousand taels. As Chin Sheh explains, "Our family isn't what it was. We're simply keeping up appearances," a fact that we are already aware of.
The first part of Chapter 93 finds Pao-yu going to the opera with Chia Sheh at the Duke of Linan's place, where Pao-yu meets his old friend Chiang Yu-han, who gives an excellent performance in a scene from The Oil Vendor and the Courtesan. Two bailiffs report that two loaded carts for rent have been commandeered and the produce dumped on the ground. All the servants in charge are out, and the magistrate to whom the incident is reported is out as well.
Mr. Chen, whose fortunes have declined and whose family is scattered, sends his servant's son Pao Yung with a letter of recommendation to ask for employment with the Chin family. Chin Cheng has to accept him because Mr. Chen is his good friend.
A poster on the gate exposes the fact that the amorous supervisor Chin Chin has been drinking, whoring, and gambling in Water Moon Convent. Chin Lien is asked to investigate the matter. Since Chin Chin was recommended by Hsi-feng , and in order to save face and the family's reputation, Chin Lien tries to cover up the real situation by asking Chin Chin to deny any inappropriate behavior in the convent and, also, to deny that he has been trying to convince Chin Cheng to sell some of the novices in the convent to faraway places. This is blatant hypocrisy on the part of Chin Lien, Chin Chin, and some of the nuns.
In Chapter 94, although it is the eleventh month, the crab-apple trees in Happy Red Court that have been withered for a year suddenly burst into blossom. People are so amazed that everyone (except the ailing Hsi-feng ) rushes over to have a look at the wonderful, flowering phenomenon. They all have different opinions about this out-of-season blossoming. Some say that it is auspicious; others think that it is a flower-monster making trouble. Tanchun believes it to be an evil omen, although she keeps silent, while Tai-yu agrees with Li Wan's opinion that a happy occurrence will soon take place in Pao-yu's life; she says this in order to please Lady Dowager. Here, Tai-yu is portrayed as a creature of conceit, one who is eager to please and flatter others, behavior that is inconsistent with earlier characterizations of her as a rebellious girl.
Pao-yu feels sad; the crab-apples withered on the same day that Ching-wen died, yet despite the fact that the Garden is filled with lovely, beautiful blossoms, nothing can bring Ching-wen back. Pao-yu does not wear his jade when he goes to look at the blossoms, and when he returns home, he finds that the jade is missing! After a careful search everywhere, no one can find any trace of the precious piece of jade.
This episode marks a major turning point in the Chin family's decline. From now on, a new series of misfortunes will soon befall the family.
In Chapter 95, the Imperial Consort Yuan-chun falls ill a second time, and, according to the Imperial physicians, she is in critical condition. Accordingly, palace officials ask permission to prepare for her death. Immediately, Lady Dowager and Lady Wang are sent for. Shortly after they arrive at the palace, a eunuch announces the death of Imperial Consort Chin. Her death keeps family members busy going to the palace to mourn and attend to a multitude of age-old funeral traditions.
Yuan-chun's death is a heavy blow to the Chin family, whose prosperity is, to some extent, directly related to Yuan-chun's being in the Emperor's favor. After her death, the Chin family will gradually lose that favor, along with its power and influence.
With the loss of the Jade of Spiritual Understanding, Pao-yum becomes more and more deranged—until he finally loses his mind. A few days later, a man comes to the Jung Mansion, claiming to have brought the missing jade. He says that he wants to see one of the masters to hand over the jade to him in exchange for the offered reward of ten thousand taels. The jade, however, turns out to be counterfeit, although it is identical in shape and design to Pao-yu's.
In Chapter 96, when Lady Wang learns that her brother Wang Tzu-teng died on the road while traveling to his newly appointed job as General Secretary, she breaks into tears; her hopes for the Wangs' prosperity, in spite of a multitude of misfortunes, is rapidly vanishing.
In the meantime, Chin Cheng's work in the Ministry of Works is judged to be first class, and the Emperor, in recognition of Chia Cheng's frugality and circumspection, appoints him Grain commissioner of Kiangsi.
Before he leaves for his new post, Chin Cheng is summoned to see Lady Dowager and Lady Wang. They ask his consent for an immediate marriage between Pao-yu and Pao-chai, hoping that Pao-chai's "golden locket" may bring the "jade" back and that this happy event may ward off further evils.
