Seeking plum Blossoms in snow

Betrothed to the son of a Imperial Academician surnamed Mei, baoqin staryed in Jia Residence waiting for her wedding date. In the depth of winter, the earth was draped with a cloak of snow. Li Wan invited cousina over to chant poems and enjoy the snowy scene. She told baoyu to fetch some plum blossoms from Miaoyu's place. Baoyu did as he was bid and soon returned with crimson flowers in fine bloom. Then Li Wan bid three of her cousins to compose poems, each taking "red," "plum" and "flower" as a subject matter. Amid the excitement, old lady Jia came in a sedan chair to join them. She praised the flowers and drank cheerfully in the company of the merry girls around her. Suddenly, lady Jia noticed that out in the snow stood an ethereal, beautiful young lady in a fur drape, accompanied by a servant girl holding a branch of plum blossoms. It was a scene just like a picture. It was Baoqin on her way back from a plum-fetching trip from the same place. Lady Jia appreciated Baoqin's beauty and talents, and thought of making a marriage proposal on behalf of baoyu. On learning that the girl had been betr4othed to young Lord Mei and that the wedding would soon happen, the old lady reluctantly quit the idea. This picture shows Baoqin in the snow with flower blossoms.

踏雪寻梅

薛宝钗的堂妹薛宝琴，许配给都中梅翰林之子为妻，进京待嫁，来到贾府。此时正值隆冬，刚好下了一场大雪，给大地披上了一层银装。李纨组织姐妹们以"雪"为题办起诗社，大家在芦雪庭赏雪吟诗。李纨命宝玉去栊翠院向妙玉要一枝红梅。宝玉欣然从命，很快就折回一枝红梅。李纨又命邢岫烟、李纹、宝琴分别一红、梅、花三个字各赋诗一首。一时间，芦雪庭内热闹非常。贾母高兴，背着王熙凤等人坐轿来到芦雪庭，边夸梅花开的好，边饮酒取乐，大家陪着贾母玩笑。突然贾母见白雪之中，宝琴身披凫裘，旁边丫头抱着一瓶红梅，竟想画中的天仙一般。原来宝琴看栊翠院红梅开得好看，非常喜爱，也去栊翠院折了几枝。贾母见宝琴长得美如天仙，又很有才气，心中十分喜欢，有意为宝玉求婚。一问薛姨妈，才知早已许给梅翰林家，而且很快就要完婚，贾母只好作罢。这幅画描绘宝琴折梅回来的情景。