Jia Baoyu's Visit to the Land of Illusion (part 2)

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Meanwhile, in the Ning Mansion's garden, the plum blossoms are in full bloom. Jia Zhen's wife, You Shi, prepares a feast and invites Jia Mu, Lady Xing, and Lady Wang to enjoy the flowers. After breakfast, Jia Mu and the others head to the garden, where they first have tea and then wine. It is a family gathering of the Ning and Rong households, with no particularly novel or interesting events to record.

At one point, Baoyu feels tired and wants to take a nap. Jia Mu instructs someone to take good care of him and let him rest. Qin Shi, Jia Rong's wife, smiles and says, "We have a room prepared for Baoyu. Don't worry, Grandmother. Leave it to me." She then leads Baoyu's nurse and maids to the room. Jia Mu, knowing that Qin Shi is very meticulous and reliable, feels at ease.

Qin Shi takes them to an inner room where Baoyu notices a painting on the wall. Although the figures are well-drawn, the story depicted, "The Lamp of Wisdom," displeases him. There is also a couplet that reads:
"Worldly affairs, once understood, are all knowledge;
Human interactions, once mastered, are all literature."

After reading these lines, Baoyu, despite the room's elegance and luxurious furnishings, refuses to stay there. He quickly says, "Let's leave, let's leave!" Qin Shi laughs and asks, "If this room isn't good, where should we go? How about my room?" Baoyu nods and smiles. One of the nurses comments, "It's not proper for an uncle to sleep in his niece-in-law's room." Qin Shi laughs and replies, "He's still young and doesn't understand these things. Last month, my brother, who is the same age as Baoyu, visited, and they got along well." Baoyu asks, "Why haven't I met him? Bring him here so I can see him." Everyone laughs and says, "He lives thirty miles away. You'll have plenty of chances to meet."

They then proceed to Qin Shi's bedroom. As soon as they enter, a delicate fragrance fills the air. Baoyu, feeling drowsy, repeatedly says, "What a lovely scent!" He looks around and sees a painting by Tang Bohu titled "Sleeping in Spring Among the Peonies." The couplet beside it reads:
"A gentle chill locks dreams in spring's cold,
Fragrance wafts, it's the scent of wine."

The room is adorned with treasures: a mirror from Empress Wu Zetian's chamber, a golden tray from which Zhao Feiyan once danced, and a wooden gourd that An Lushan threw at Yang Guifei. There is also a luxurious couch and a beaded curtain made by Princess Tongchang. Baoyu, smiling, says, "This place is wonderful!" Qin Shi laughs and says, "Even immortals could live here." She then personally prepares a quilt and pillow for Baoyu. Once he is settled, the maids leave, leaving only Xiren, Qingwen, Sheyue, and Qiuwen to accompany him. Qin Shi instructs the little maids to watch the cats and dogs outside.

Baoyu soon falls into a deep sleep and dreams that he is still with Qin Shi. They wander until they reach a place with jade railings and marble steps, green trees, and clear streams. It is a place untouched by human presence. Delighted, Baoyu thinks, "This place is wonderful. If I could live here forever, it would be better than being constantly supervised by my parents and teachers." As he daydreams, he hears a girl's voice singing:
"Spring dreams scatter like clouds,
Falling flowers drift with the stream.
To all the young hearts,
Why seek idle sorrows?"

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