The book A Dream of Red Mansions published now basically ends with the last forty chapters of Gao E. In the sequel to Gao E, Daiyu was shocked to hear that Baoyu was going to marry Baochai and was ill in bed. In the end, she couldn't afford to get sick. Silly Baoyu married Baochai, and Daiyu vomited blood and died of intoxication. This is the book you have read.

I have basically avoided the ending of the TV series A Dream of Red Mansions, so I can't remember what happened in the end. But if it's true, as you said, the 87th edition is the result of a Redology expert's judgment: people believe that Cao Xueqin did it, Baoyu ran away from home, and Daiyu thought too much about him and worried too much. If Baoyu doesn't come home, the beauty will never return.