Chapter 20 (第20章 王熙凤正言弹妒意 林黛玉俏语谑娇音)

Chapter 19 (第19章 情切切良宵花解语 意绵绵静日玉生香)

Chapter 18 (第18章 皇恩重元妃省父母 天伦乐宝玉呈才藻)

Chapter 17 (第17章 大观园试才题对额 荣国府归省庆元宵)

Chapter 16 (第16章 贾元春才选凤藻宫 秦鲸卿夭逝黄泉路)

Chapter 15 (第15章 王凤姐弄权铁槛寺 秦鲸卿得趣馒头庵)

Chapter 14 (第14章 林如海灵返苏州郡 贾宝玉路遏北静王)

Chapter 13: A Grand Departure and the Rise of a Manager

In Chapter 13, the passing of Qin Keqing plunges the Ningguo Mansion into a state of profound grief and logistical chaos. Jia Zhen, consumed by an almost excessive sorrow, spares no expense for the funeral, even purchasing a high-ranking imperial title for his son, Jia Rong, to ensure the ceremony's prestige. Beneath the white mourning robes and the heavy scent of incense, the mansion struggles with its own internal disorder, as the lack of a strong hand leads to negligence and theft among the unruly servants.

However, the need for order brings a formidable new power to the forefront. Recognizing that his own wife is too ill to manage the massive undertaking, Jia Zhen turns to Wang Xifeng. Stepping into the Ningguo Mansion with absolute authority, Xifeng transitions from a socialite to a high-powered executive. She immediately identifies the systemic failures of the household and imposes a rigid, militaristic schedule. This is Xifeng at her most dominant—efficient, cold, and utterly capable—demonstrating the iron-fisted management skills that cement her status as the most powerful woman in the Jia clan.

In this episode:

• The tragic and elaborate passing of the enigmatic Qin Keqing.
• Jia Zhen’s desperate and lavish display of mourning and social climbing.
• The official appointment of Wang Xifeng as the "Adjuvant Manager" of the Ningguo Mansion.
• The chillingly efficient implementation of Xifeng’s new organizational reforms.