Xiao Juan flew into a rage, 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 Madam backing her, otherwise she wouldn't even be allowed through the main door!"
Chunling frowned and said, "This whole situation is frustrating. Since the Eldest Master divorced his wife, all these matters were originally managed by Shu Ran. Now that Shu Ran has been dismissed over some trouble, that little frozen rat Zidai knows how to pick her moment. She just got promoted to first-rank 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 now everyone in the courtyard has to watch her mood... The Eldest 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 straight. "No need, this is just a trivial matter. She's trying to intimidate me. As I said before, this likely has Madam's approval behind it. Let her be for now."
Xiao Juan quickly responded, "How can we let her be? Today she just changed the chair cushions. 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 meek!"
Xianglan picked up a pastry from the plate and stuffed it into Xiao Juan's mouth, smiling as she said, "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. If you see her, walk the other way. She's Madam's favorite. If you anger her, I might not be able to protect you. People's hearts are made of flesh—when Madam sees that I've submitted, she won't let Zidai continue causing trouble like this. Besides, it's good that she's making a scene. Since Shu Ran left, Lianxin has been too soft to maintain order. Zidai's intimidation might actually bring some peace to the Hall of Knowing Spring."
Xiao Juan pouted in agreement, while Chunling felt that Xianglan was being meek again and let out a long sigh.
The next morning, Xianglan and Zidai went to Qin Shi's courtyard again. While massaging Qin Shi's shoulders, Zidai selectively reported the more pleasant news about the happenings in the Hall of Knowing Spring, smiling as she said, "Sister Shu Ran used to manage everything perfectly, but after she left and with the Eldest Master away, it's like 'when the tiger is away from the mountain, the monkey proclaims himself king'—those lower monkeys 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 be handling these matters. But I couldn't just watch everything fall into chaos, so I had to swallow my pride and step in. Thankfully, Lianxin taught me and helped me out—after all, she was trained by Old Madam, and that makes all the difference."
Xianglan, who was quietly copying the Diamond Sutra nearby, allowed a slight smile to curl at the corners of her mouth. This speech both accounted for Zidai's recent actions and skillfully avoided upsetting Madam—Zidai was truly quite eloquent.
Qin Shi was satisfied. Although she didn't want to inquire into every detail of the Hall of Knowing Spring's affairs, she didn't want to be completely kept in the dark either. Previously, Shu Ran had been too shrewd and slippery—she could never get a straight answer from her. The other maids and matrons were too afraid of Lin Jinlou's authority to say much. Only Zidai truly shared her perspective in everything. Closing her eyes, she smiled and said, "I know you're a sensible child who understands what's important. When the Eldest Master returns, I'll have him reward you."Zidai blushed, her face beaming with a brilliant smile. "Look at what Madam is saying! I'm doing this out of gratitude for Madam valuing me—how could it be for any reward?"
Han Mama chimed in from the side, eager to join the flattery: "Exactly! She's usually so mischievous all day. It's only these past few days, with Madam's guidance, that she's started to show some promise. When it comes down to it, it's all because Madam knows how to teach. If she were left in my hands, no matter how I raised her, she'd just remain a naive little girl who doesn't understand the ways of the world." Before she finished speaking, her gaze swept over to Xianglan sitting far away, and she couldn't help but pause. She still wanted to stay on good terms with Xianglan and immediately regretted her earlier words. She silently blamed Zidai for speaking like this in front of Qin Shi with Xianglan present. However, seeing that Xianglan's expression remained calm, as if she hadn't heard anything, she felt slightly reassured.
Zidai amused Qin Shi with jokes and conversation for a while. Noticing that Qin Shi looked tired, she helped her lie down on the reclining couch, gently covered her with a cloud-and-crane brocade quilt, and prepared to leave. As she passed by Xianglan, she paused briefly and glanced over a few times. She saw Xianglan with her head lowered, revealing a slender neck, her posture graceful and elegant, holding a brush as she meticulously wrote in delicate, floral-style calligraphy. Since Zidai had arrived at the Hall of Knowing Spring, she had boldly taken charge of all affairs and managed to suppress everyone, even winning the flattery of some maids and matrons. She had expected Xianglan to jump up and challenge her openly or, at the very least, cause trouble behind the scenes if not in direct conflict. To her surprise, Xianglan remained completely silent, not even bothering to confront her, simply shutting herself away in her room. Zidai truly felt she couldn't figure Xianglan out, and this feeling left her extremely unsettled.
After that, the Hall of Knowing Spring remained lively for a few more days. Zidai had never acted like an outsider since her arrival, fully embracing the airs of a first-rank senior maid and insisting on managing everything. She overstepped several times, even meddling in matters under Lianxin's purview. Once, when several baskets of crabs were sent from Lin Jinlou's estate, Lianxin had them moved to the courtyard. But when she turned around and came back, she found the crabs gone. Upon asking the junior maids, she learned that Zidai had already taken charge and sent people to distribute them to various quarters. This task had always been under Lianxin's management, and now Zidai had snatched it away. Though displeased, Lianxin let it go. Unexpectedly, by noon, it was discovered that Zidai had secretly kept a basket for herself, ordered the kitchen to steam them, and used them as favors to gift to the servants in Madam's quarters and the Hall of Knowing Spring. As a result, everyone praised Zidai for "being righteous and always thinking of everyone when she gets something good—why didn't we have such wonderful things before?"
"...You didn't see it, but when Lianxin found out, her face turned green with anger. She didn't even eat dinner! Zidai even sent her two round-bellied crabs, but Lianxin didn't even glance at them. Tsk, tsk, it's really something that even someone as good-tempered as Lianxin got so upset!" Xiao Juan cracked melon seeds, her eyes sparkling.
Chunling said, "Originally, all the tribute from the estate was under Lianxin's management. Where things were sent and what was given followed set rules. Even when there were leftovers after distributing to the masters, it was always in the masters' name that everyone got to enjoy the crabs. Zidai is truly audacious—using the Eldest Master's estate goods to boost her own reputation and making Lianxin take the blame, making people think she wasn't generous before. No wonder Lianxin is angry!" There was a hint of schadenfreude in her tone.Xianglan picked up her brush and painted a large crab on the rice paper, dotting its eyes before saying, "Zidai is rather clever. Though her actions overstep boundaries, they’re hard to criticize. The crab was shared with everyone—if Lianxin gets upset, wouldn’t she be opposing everyone? She’s suffered a loss she can’t speak of."
Chunling tentatively suggested, "Should I... go fetch Lianxin to chat with you, miss? If you join forces with her, you won’t have to endure Zidai’s bullying."
Xianglan set down her brush and replied, "No need. What’s the hurry?"
Two days later, Zidai promoted Yinliu, who had previously served Zhao Yuechan. Yinliu was the daughter of an eighth-rank county magistrate who had been convicted for misconduct and embezzlement, plunging the entire family into disgrace. Someone, noticing Yinliu’s decent looks at thirteen, sent her to the Lin family when they were purchasing maids, and she was assigned to the Hall of Knowing Spring. However, within a few months, spots began to appear on Yinliu’s face, and over half a year, they merged into a dark patch covering her cheek. Lin Jinlou, finding it unsightly, dismissed her from his quarters.
Zhao Yuechan, however, preferred to employ maids with plain appearances. Since Yinliu was literate, she served by Zhao Yuechan’s side for two years and gained some favor. But after Zhao Yuechan left, she was cast down into the mud. Yinliu, skilled at flattery and perceptive, was originally a third-tier maid but willingly stooped to do lowly tasks for Zidai. She even spent her own silver to buy a fine bolt of cloth, meticulously crafting two sets of clothing and a pair of silver bracelets as gifts for Zidai. Zidai, in need of allies, began keeping her close.
Though Zidai was power-hungry, she was also capable, ensuring she never fell behind in her duties and treating the Hall of Knowing Spring as her own home, working diligently from dawn to dusk. Yinliu, however, was not very bright; despite her efforts, she often messed things up and caused more trouble. Yet she was glib-tongued, downplaying her mistakes and exaggerating her minor contributions. Zidai, being inexperienced and impatient, was easily fooled by her. The lower-ranking maids and matrons, however, were full of complaints—Yinliu issued chaotic orders, sending them on pointless errands, and she loved forming cliques to ostracize others, poisoning Zidai against the maids eligible for promotion to second-tier. Groups of maids and matrons went to Lianxin to voice their grievances.
After much thought, Lianxin seized an opportunity to gently admonish Yinliu in front of Xianglan. Yinliu loudly defended herself, denying any wrongdoing.
Seeing Lianxin in an awkward position, Xianglan kindly intervened, saying, "If there’s truth to it, correct it; if not, take it as a warning. Perhaps your words were too blunt—the speaker may not mean harm, but the listener takes it to heart. Be more careful next time."
Yinliu scowled and sneered, "No need to beat around the bush. Isn’t it just that some gossips have been tattling on me? Those little sluts complained to Sister Zidai too, but she saw right through it, clarified the matter in no time, and didn’t scold me at all. They say Miss Xianglan is reasonable, but now it seems..."
Xianglan was momentarily stunned.Chunling grew furious and said sharply, "What has 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 a gentle word, but you just push your luck! Remember what you said today, and tomorrow when the Eldest Master returns, you can 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!"
At the mention of "Eldest Master," Yinliu’s face instantly turned pale.
Xianglan said, "Forget it, it’s nothing serious. Let’s all disperse."
Chunling had originally intended to make an example of Yinliu to intimidate Zidai, but seeing Xianglan trying to smooth things over again, she couldn’t help but feel frustrated by her lack of resolve. Gritting her teeth, she had no choice but to follow along and leave.
Meanwhile, Yinliu returned home even more frightened. She recounted the incident to Zidai, and as it happened, Han Mama was also present. After hearing the story, Han Mama pondered for a long while and gave Yinliu some instructions.
That evening, Yinliu knelt at the entrance of the main residence, 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 Yinliu finally go. But upon returning, she caught a severe cold and coughed incessantly. 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 arrived and, without delay, sold Yinliu off, saying it was on Madam’s orders.
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