Qin Zhong, having returned from the country, falls ill from the romantic exertion he experienced with his lover Sapientia, and Bao-yu is upset about his friend’s sickness. There is a similar tragedy when Xi-feng receives news that the favor she granted the Prioress Euergesia was dealt with, but it caused the daughter and her fiancé to kill themselves in grief, hearing that the proposal had been revoked. Later, Sapientia, Qin Zhong’s lover, runs away from the priory to find Qin Zhong, but Qin Zhong’s grandfather discovers her. The grandfather beats Qin Zhong in punishment, but the exertion of beating Qin Zhong takes its toll on the grandfather, who dies a few days later. Qin Zhong is left alone with no one to care for his family’s estate and with his lover missing in the city.

Meanwhile, the family is thrilled at news from the Emperor that Bao-yu’s sister has been chosen to become an Imperial Concubine. A decree from the Emperor was made about the possibility of visitation on family grounds for concubines if the family provides appropriate quarters, so the Rong and Ning-guo families embark on a construction project to prepare a space for a future visitation by Bao-yu’s sister.