The Party Ends
This brief excerpt is a transition passage, and is actually pretty simple. However, Cao Xueqin reminds us of the unrequited love that Jia Rui apparently feels for Wang Xifeng.
My Translation
After that they went on chatting and laughing, and the operas they had ordered were performed for them. When that was done, their meal was served.
After they ate, everybody left the garden and went to the main reception hall. They sat down and drank tea, after which they had their carriages ready and said goodbye to Lady You. Lady You accompanied them to the gate, along with the concubines and senior maids in her household.
Jia Zhen was there, standing in front of all the younger male members of the family by the carriages as they all waited to pay their respects. “Dear aunts, we hope you will honor us again tomorrow with a visit,” he said politely to Lady Xing and Lady Wang.
“We likely won’t come,” replied Lady Wang. “We’ve sat here for an entire day and are exhausted. We’ll need to rest tomorrow.” And, after they said this, they got on the carriages and took off.
Meanwhile, Jia Rui’s eyes remained fixated on Wang Xifeng.
After Jia Zhen had gone back inside, Li Gui brought Baoyu his horse. Baoyu mounted the horse and followed after Lady Wang.
After all that, Jia Zhen and the other men of the household finished eating, after which everybody finally dispersed. The next day a number of family members came again for another celebration, but there’s no need to mention the details here.
After this, Wang Xifeng came to visit Qin Keqing whenever she had time. Keqing would get better for a few days, but then would be worse for a few days after that. Jia Zhen, Lady You, and Jia Rong were extremely concerned.
Now, Jia Rui came to the Rongguo Mansion several times. However, as luck would have it, every single time he came Xifeng would just so happen to be at the Ningguo Mansion.
Translation Critique
There’s not much to say this time around. This is a relatively straightforward passage, and both Hawkes and Yang offer translations that are in line with the original.
Chinese Text
於是說說笑笑，點的戲都唱完了，方才撤下酒席，擺上飯來。吃畢，大家才出園子，來到上房，坐下吃了茶，才叫預備車，向尤氏的母親告了辭。尤氏率同眾姬妾並家人媳婦們送出來。賈珍率領眾子侄在車旁侍立，都等候著見了邢王二夫人，說道：「二位嬸子明日還過來逛逛。」王夫人道：「罷了，我們今兒整坐了一日，也乏了，明日也要歇歇。」於是都上車去了。賈瑞猶不住拿眼看著鳳姐兒。賈珍進去後，李貴才拉過馬來，寶玉騎上，隨了王夫人去了。
這裡賈珍同一家子的弟兄子侄吃過飯，方大家散了。次日，仍是眾族人等鬧了一日，不必細說。此後鳳姐不時親自來看秦氏。秦氏也有幾日好些，也有幾日歹些。賈珍、尤氏、賈蓉甚是焦心。
且說賈瑞到榮府來了幾次，偏都值鳳姐兒往寧府去了。
Translation Notes
乏 means tired.