Ruhua

Her Story

Xichun’s maid. In Chapter 74, when the Garden is searched at night, a bundle of silver and men’s clothing is turned out of her box. She explains it at once: her elder brother, in service on the Ningguo side, has no parents left and sends her his savings to keep. Wang Xifeng is prepared to let it pass. Xichun is not — she wants the girl out of her rooms and will not hear the explanation. Ruhua is sent away.

In Xiang Li's Hands

Half-kneeling on a spill of yellow, head tipped back, one palm raised flat, eyes up and away from the viewer. Purple and gold flowered robe, orange lining, nothing else on the sheet. It is an appeal, painted at the moment before the answer comes — and in the novel the answer is no.

The Calligraphy

入画 — “entering the picture”, the given name alone in two loose characters at the upper left, a painter’s word given to a girl and then inscribed on a painting.

Connections

• Jia Xichun 贾惜春 — her mistress, who casts her off without hearing her out.
• Wang Xifeng 王熙凤 — willing to overlook the box; overruled by Xichun.
• Baoqin 抱琴, Siqi 司棋, Shishu 侍书 — the other three of the 琴棋书画 set, one maid to each Jia daughter.

Others of the same kind · maid – Yingchun, Tanchun, Xichun, Li Wan, Xiangyun Siqi 司棋 · Xiuju 绣橘 · Lianhua'r 莲花儿 · Shishu 侍书 · Cuimo 翠墨 · Xiaochan 小蝉 · Caiping 彩屏 · Cai'er 彩儿 · Suyun 素云 · Biyue 碧月 · Cuilü 翠缕 · Baoqin 抱琴 · Xiaoque 小鹊 · Xiaojixiang'r 小吉祥儿 and 5 more

Named on these pages Jia Xichun 贾惜春 · Shishu 侍书 · Caiping 彩屏 · Baoqin 抱琴

Dream of the Red Chamber
Xiang Li painted all 413 characters of the novel between 1975 and 1985, the first person to complete the entire cast. See the whole collection · Chinese Empresses