The subject famous quote from "A Dream Of Red Mansions" has been often used by Taiwanese politicians for accusing opponents among one another. FYI, if I recall correctly, the one who first used this phrase commited suicide not long ago. 

Anyway, the peerless duo-translators, the couple of Yang and Dai, give their rendering on the phrase as follows:

"Too much cunning in plotting and scheming is the cause of her own undoing."