Xiao Juan was furious. She stood up and cursed, "That damned woman! Has she gone mad? Does she want to move into this room tomorrow? She even tried to cozy up to me earlier to ask about Sister Xianglan! It's infuriating that she has Taitai's backing, otherwise she wouldn't even be allowed through the Main House door!"
Chun Ling frowned and said, "This whole situation is frustrating. Since Master divorced his wife, these matters were originally managed by Shuran. Now that Shuran has been dismissed over that incident, that little frozen rat Zidai knows how to pick her moment. She just got promoted to first-class maid and immediately seized control of everything. Even Lianxin has to give way to her. She even made an example of a maid who defied her, so everyone in the courtyard has to watch her mood... Master hasn't even taken her as a concubine yet, but she's already putting on airs."
Xiao Juan whispered, "Should I go to Wu Mama later and ask for her advice?"
Xianglan put down her book, took a sip of tea, and sat up. "No need. This is such a small matter. She's just trying to intimidate me. As I said before, this likely has Taitai's approval behind it. Let her be for now."
Xiao Juan quickly responded, "How can we let her be? Today she's just changing a Chair Cover. If you don't intervene, tomorrow she'll dare to come in and start ordering people around, maybe even tear the roof off! Sister Xianglan, we can't be so passive!"
Xianglan picked up a pastry from the plate and stuffed it into Xiao Juan's mouth, laughing, "Fill your mouth with this. I know what I'm doing about this matter. You need to control your temper too - don't start any fights with her. Avoid her when you see her. She's Taitai's favorite now. If you offend her, I might not be able to protect you. People's hearts are made of flesh - when Taitai sees I've submitted, she won't let Zidai continue making trouble like this. Besides, it's good that she's making some noise. With Shuran gone and Lianxin being too soft to maintain control, Zidai's show of authority might actually bring some peace to Knowing Spring Pavilion."
Xiao Juan pouted in agreement, while Chun Ling felt that Xianglan was being passive again and let out a long sigh.
The next morning, when Xianglan and Zidai went to Qin Shi's courtyard again, Zidai massaged Qin Shi's shoulders while selectively reporting the more pleasant news about Knowing Spring Pavilion. She smiled and said, "Sister Shuran managed things quite properly before, but after she left and with Master away, it's like 'when the tiger's away from the mountain, the monkey proclaims himself king.' Those monkeys below have become quite cunning. Although Lianxin is capable, there are still areas she can't fully manage. I'm young and soft-faced, and being new here, I shouldn't really handle these matters. But I couldn't just watch everything fall into chaos, so I had to thicken my skin and take charge. Fortunately, Lianxin taught me and helped me - after all, she was trained by the old lady, and it shows."
Xianglan, who was quietly copying the Diamond Sutra nearby, allowed a slight smile to touch her lips. This speech both accounted for Zidai's recent actions while avoiding anything that might displease Taitai - Zidai was indeed quite skilled with words.
Qin Shi felt quite satisfied. Although she didn't want to inquire into every detail of Knowing Spring Pavilion's affairs, she didn't want to be completely kept in the dark either. Previously, Shuran had been too shrewd and slippery - she couldn't get straight answers from her. The other maids and old women were too afraid of Lin Jinlou's authority to say much. Only Zidai truly shared her perspective on everything. Closing her eyes, she smiled and said, "I know you're a sensible child who understands what's important. When Master returns, I'll have him reward you."Zidai blushed, her face beaming with a radiant smile. "Oh, Taitai, you flatter me! I'm just grateful for your trust in me—how could I possibly be doing this for any reward?"
Mama Han chimed in playfully, "Exactly! She's always been mischievous, but these days under Taitai's guidance, she's finally showing some promise. It all comes down to Taitai's teaching—if she were left in my hands, she'd remain a naive little girl forever." Before finishing, her gaze drifted to Xianglan sitting in the distance, and she froze momentarily. Still hoping to maintain good relations with Xianglan, she regretted her loose tongue and silently blamed Zidai for speaking so freely in front of Qin Shi while Xianglan was present. Noticing Xianglan's calm demeanor, as if she hadn't heard a word, Mama Han felt slightly relieved.
After amusing Qin Shi with lighthearted banter, Zidai noticed her looking weary and helped her lie down on the Imperial Concubine Couch. She gently draped a cloud-crane brocade quilt over her before preparing to leave. Passing by Xianglan, she paused briefly and observed her: head bowed, revealing a slender neck in an elegant posture, meticulously writing in delicate calligraphy with a brush. Since arriving at Knowing Spring Pavilion, Zidai had boldly taken charge of all affairs and subdued the others, even earning flattery from some maids and old women. She had expected Xianglan to openly challenge her or at least scheme against her in secret, but instead, Xianglan remained silent and withdrawn, rarely even showing her face. Zidai found herself unable to decipher Xianglan, a feeling that left her deeply unsettled.
In the following days, Knowing Spring Pavilion buzzed with activity again. Zidai, having integrated herself seamlessly, carried the air of a head maid and meddled in everything, repeatedly overstepping into Lianxin's responsibilities. Once, when Lin Jinlou's Manor sent several baskets of crabs, Lianxin had them placed in the courtyard, but upon returning moments later, discovered they were gone. Inquiring with a maidservant, she learned Zidai had already taken charge and distributed them to various households—a duty that traditionally belonged to Lianxin. Though displeased by the encroachment, Lianxin let it go. However, by noon, it emerged that Zidai had secretly reserved one basket, had the kitchen steam the crabs, and gifted them to Taitai's household and the maidservants of Knowing Spring Pavilion as a personal favor. Everyone praised Zidai for being "righteous and always sharing good fortune," lamenting that such generosity had been absent before.
"...You should've seen it! When Lianxin found out, her face turned green with rage—she skipped dinner entirely. Zidai even sent her two female crabs, but Lianxin didn't even glance at them. Tsk, tsk, even someone as mild-tempered as Lianxin was provoked!" Xiao Juan cracked melon seeds, her eyes sparkling with gossip.
Chun Ling remarked, "Traditionally, tributes from the Manor are managed by Lianxin—distributions follow set rules, and any leftovers after serving the masters are shared among everyone, but always under the masters' name. Zidai has some nerve, using the Manor's resources to boost her own reputation and making Lianxin look bad, as if she'd been stingy before. No wonder Lianxin is furious!" Her tone carried a hint of schadenfreude.Xianglan picked up her brush and painted a large crab on the rice paper. After dotting its eyes, she remarked, "Zidai is quite clever. Though her actions overstep boundaries, they’re hard to criticize. The crabs were shared with everyone—if Lianxin gets angry, wouldn’t she be opposing the whole group? She’s had to swallow this injustice in silence."
Chun Ling tentatively suggested, "Should I… bring Lianxin over to speak with you? If you join forces with her, you could avoid being bullied by Zidai."
Xianglan set down her brush. "No need. What’s the hurry?"
Two days later, Zidai promoted Yin Liu, who had previously served Zhao Yuechan. Yin Liu was the daughter of an eighth-rank county magistrate who had been convicted for misconduct and embezzlement, plunging the entire family into disgrace. Noticing Yin Liu’s delicate features at thirteen, an opportunist sent her to the Lin Family when they were purchasing maids, and she was assigned to the Knowing Spring Pavilion. Unexpectedly, within months, spots began appearing on Yin Liu’s face. Over half a year, these dark patches merged into a large, unsightly blotch on her cheek. Lin Jinlou, finding it displeasing, dismissed her from his quarters.
Zhao Yuechan, however, preferred to employ maids with plain appearances. Since Yin Liu was literate, she served by Zhao Yuechan’s side for two years and gained some favor. But after Zhao Yuechan’s departure, she was cast down into obscurity. Yin Liu, skilled in flattery and keenly observant, had been a third-class maid but willingly stooped to perform maidservant tasks for Zidai. She even spent her silver to buy fine cloth, meticulously crafting two sets of clothing and a pair of silver bracelets as gifts for Zidai. Needing allies, Zidai began keeping Yin Liu close at hand.
Though Zidai was power-hungry, she was also capable, never falling behind in her duties and treating the Knowing Spring Pavilion as her own home, working diligently from dawn to dusk. Yin Liu, however, was not bright. Despite her efforts, she often bungled tasks and created more problems than she solved. Yet, she was silver-tongued, downplaying her mistakes and exaggerating her minor contributions. Zidai, inexperienced and impatient, was easily deceived by her. The lower-ranking maids and old women, however, grumbled incessantly. Yin Liu issued chaotic orders, sending them on pointless errands, and she loved forming cliques to ostracize others. She had poisoned Zidai’s mind against every maid eligible for promotion to second-class. Groups of two or three maids and old women came to Lianxin to complain.
After careful thought, Lianxin seized an opportunity to gently admonish Yin Liu in Xianglan’s presence. Yin Liu loudly defended herself, denying any wrongdoing.
Seeing Lianxin in an awkward position, Xianglan kindly intervened, saying, "If there’s truth to it, correct yourself; if not, take it as a warning. Perhaps your words were too blunt—the speaker may not intend harm, but the listener takes it to heart. Be more careful next time."
Yin Liu’s face darkened as she sneered, "No need to speak in such roundabout, hesitant ways. It’s just gossip and tattling against me, isn’t it? Those little sluts already complained to Sister Zidai, but she saw through it clearly, clarified the matter in no time, and didn’t reprimand me at all. Everyone says Miss Xianglan is reasonable, but now it seems…"
Xianglan was momentarily stunned.Chun Ling grew angry and said sharply, "What's gotten into you? Who gave you the nerve to speak to the young lady like that! The young lady is kind-hearted and offered you a way out with gentle words, yet you push your luck! Remember what you said today, and tomorrow when the Master returns, say it to his face! Since you think so highly of Zidai, have her come over then too, and we'll confront this matter face to face!"
Upon hearing the words "the Master," Yin Liu's face instantly turned pale.
Xianglan said, "Forget it, it's not a big deal. Let's all disperse."
Chun Ling had originally intended to make an example of Yin Liu to intimidate Zidai, but seeing Xianglan again seeking peace, she couldn't help but feel frustrated by her lack of resolve. She had no choice but to grit her teeth and follow along.
Meanwhile, Yin Liu returned home even more fearful and told Zidai about the incident. Coincidentally, Mama Han was also there and, after hearing the story, pondered for a long while before giving Yin Liu some instructions.
That evening, Yin Liu knelt at the entrance of the Main House, wearing only thin clothes, braving the cold wind, and tearfully apologized to Xianglan. No one could persuade her to leave until Xianglan came out to console her, and only then did Yin Liu depart. However, she caught a cold upon returning, coughing incessantly, and fearing she might spread the illness, she was sent beyond the second gate the very next day. As soon as she left, a new maid immediately took her place. In the afternoon, a steward came and promptly sold Yin Liu, saying it was on Taitai's orders.
Thank you to 05111039283 for the Peach Blossom Fan, Arabian Plastic Bag for the sachet, and Fat Wanghua001 for the pink vote, and thanks to all for your pink votes! Writing Zidai has a purpose—her existence sets the stage for greater turmoil later in the story. If I only wrote about "a maid scheming to climb into the master's bed," it would truly be repetitive and uninteresting. PS, did everyone understand the meaning of this chapter's ending? O(∩_∩)O~
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