Yindie kept a sharp eye on her surroundings. The moment Chunling left, she immediately chose a bed by the window. This spot was relatively secluded and closest to the dressing table, making it more convenient for grooming or storing miscellaneous items. However, upon closer inspection, she noticed the bedding and pillow appeared faded and worn, which displeased her. She glanced discreetly at Xianglan, who was lost in thought gazing at a painting on the wall, then quietly swapped the quilt and pillow from her bed with those from another.
Xianglan had long noticed Yindie’s sly maneuver but pretended not to see, inwardly shaking her head in disapproval. After surveying the room, she selected a bed near the door and drew aside the lightweight bed curtains. Inside, she found bedding of stone-blue fabric embroidered with golden coin patterns and a jade-colored gauze pillow. Beside the pillow lay a slightly worn scented sachet embroidered with floral sprays, filled with herbs to calm the mind and ward off impurities. Lifting it to her nose, she detected a hint of jasmine fragrance. Stroking the sachet’s tassels, Xianglan remarked, "The accommodations here are far superior to those in Luoxue Courtyard. No wonder they say the Lin family is a place of wealth and luxury. This room is even better than an ordinary young lady’s boudoir, and it’s actually meant for maids."
Yindie’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she admired the exquisite furnishings, looking left and right in admiration. Yet, upon hearing Xianglan’s words, she feigned disdain and said, "What’s so remarkable about this? It’s just quarters for low-ranking maids, and you’re already this astonished. If you saw the main rooms where the masters reside, your eyes would pop out... Then again, it’s no surprise. You used to serve the young mistress from the collateral branch, so you’ve never seen truly luxurious chambers."
Xianglan frowned slightly, unwilling to bicker over trivial matters with Yindie. She simply pretended not to hear and began unpacking her bundle, carefully arranging its contents.
Suddenly, footsteps were heard, and Lin Jinlou lifted the curtain to enter. Xianglan and Yindie hurriedly stood up, clasping their hands respectfully and appearing somewhat flustered. Lin Jinlou’s gaze swept over them, lingering on Xianglan standing meekly by the bed with downcast eyes. He couldn’t help but smile. His handsome features seemed to glow with that smile, and Yindie, stealing a glance, was momentarily mesmerized. Previously, Chunyan had enforced strict rules, keeping all maids at a distance whenever Lin Jinlou was near. They had never been this close to their master before, and Yindie’s cheeks flushed instantly.
Seeing Xianglan, Lin Jinlou’s voice unconsciously softened. "There’s no need to stand on ceremony. From now on, you’ll reside here. Serve your mistress well according to the rules, and I will surely reward you."
While Xianglan hesitated, Yindie promptly responded in a clear, cheerful voice, "Rest assured, Eldest Master. We will serve Concubine Lan diligently—it is our duty."
Lin Jinlou glanced at Yindie and nodded. His eyes then returned to Xianglan, who remained motionless with her head bowed. He wanted to engage her in conversation, but with others present, he decided there would be time for that later. After giving a few casual instructions, he turned and left.Now that there were no others in the room, Xianglan had no mind to tidy up. The day's upheavals had left her physically and mentally exhausted; she collapsed on the bed, unable to rise again. Remembering how she had nearly been violated earlier, her legs still trembled slightly, her heart filled with both hatred and fear. The performance and plea she had just given before Old Madam Lin had drained her completely. Then Cao Lihuan was expelled, and she herself, as if in a dream, ended up serving under Lan Yiniang at the Hall of Knowing Spring, even inexplicably promoted to second-rank maid—this brought a flicker of joy. The day had been a mix of sorrow and delight, sudden and bizarre, leaving Xianglan with an inexplicable unease. But she was too weary now to dwell on it.
Yindie was clearly in high spirits, unpacking her belongings one by one. Being naturally sociable, she casually probed Xianglan about her family background. Upon learning that Xianglan’s father was merely a third manager at an antique shop, Yindie immediately put on airs, covering her small mouth with a laugh: "My father is the second overseer of the estate in the outskirts of the capital. With his status, if he were serving in the mansion, he’d at least be a second steward, or at worst a supervisor. The Eldest Master thinks highly of him... My cousin Hanfang serves in Miss Ling’s quarters and holds considerable prestige. Every young maid has to address her respectfully as 'elder sister'."
Xianglan found her bragging tiresome but didn’t wish to offend, so she occasionally responded with a noncommittal "Hmm," offering no further reply.
Yindie suddenly sighed, "I thought that once Chunyan left, I could switch to a different assignment. Even serving a young lady would be a dignified and face-giving job. Who’d have thought I’d still be serving a concubine... Tsk, tsk, I’m afraid there won’t be much future in this."
Xianglan, lying sideways on the bed, replied with a smile, "I’m content. It would be even better if Lan Yiniang had a gentler temperament."
Yindie consoled herself as well, "That’s true. I’ve heard Lan Yiniang was personally promoted by the Madam and comes from a respectable family. Chunyan was just a bedchamber maid, occupying only one room in the west wing. But Lan Yiniang is a proper concubine, with an entire east wing to herself. If she gives birth to a son this time, our lives might be even more glorious than those serving the young ladies."
Xianglan merely smiled without responding, thinking to herself, "This is just a temporary place to stay. No matter how glorious a servant’s life may seem, how glorious can it truly be? It’s better to calm down, gather information, and plan carefully—being able to leave servitude is what really matters."
For a while, neither spoke. Yindie finished putting away her things and lay down on the bed, tossing and turning as she recalled how her family had spent a considerable sum of silver, enlisted her cousin Hanfang’s help, and sought out an influential matron before Chunling finally relented, accepting a gold hairpin to transfer Yindie from the rough work of the tea kitchen to Lan Yiniang’s quarters. She had initially been reluctant, but now she felt somewhat uplifted. Then she thought of Lin Jinlou—his striking handsomeness, tall and straight figure, noble and graceful bearing, and today, the smile in his eyes and brows. It felt as if a little mouse were scratching at her heart, an indescribable sensation that, upon closer reflection, was somewhat embarrassing. Unable to lie still, she couldn’t help but speak up: "The Eldest Master smiled at us today, did you see? So handsome."
Xianglan, half-asleep and drowsy, murmured in response, "Indeed handsome. Only a beauty like Da Nǎinai is a match for him."Yindie recalled Zhao Yuechan's flower-like countenance and moon-like features, her alluring and captivating demeanor, knowing she could never compare, and felt a pang of irritation in her heart. She said, "The Eldest Master and Da Nǎinai are quite incompatible. Even if she is beautiful, she doesn't please the Eldest Master."
Xianglan remarked, "The Lan Yiniang we're serving must be very much in the Eldest Master's favor. For her pregnancy to make him this happy, she must be a beauty too. We'll have to take a closer look later."
Yindie sneered, "No matter how beautiful she is, she's still just a concubine. The Eldest Master dotes on her now, but who knows how long this favor will last?" Then, softening her tone, she added, "I think the Eldest Master should find someone more clever and understanding, even if it's a maid from the household. Preferably one who excels at needlework, able to make shoes and clothes for him, knows how to sweet-talk him, and is utterly obedient—only then could she truly win his heart."
Xianglan found Yindie's words increasingly inappropriate and felt goosebumps all over, jolting herself awake. She mulled it over and suddenly understood, chuckling inwardly, "No wonder she was so eager to drag me into conversation. It's a case of 'longing for what one cannot have, tossing and turning in bed.'" After a moment's thought, she said, "After all, Da Nǎinai and the Eldest Master are the rightful couple. Any others the Eldest Master takes in are just concubines... and some might not even be elevated to that status. Which of the maids he's taken to his room has been made a concubine?"
Yindie, in the throes of first love and full of romantic fantasies, had her beautiful dreams harshly shattered by Xianglan's words. She turned over in a huff and fell silent.
Xianglan faced the wall, and hearing no movement from Yindie's side, peacefully closed her eyes, a slight smile curling at the corners of her lips.
Soon, Chunling entered the room and said, "The Concubine has returned. She wants both of you to come over."
Xianglan hurriedly got up, straightening her clothes and hair. Yindie quickly tidied her hairline in the mirror, dabbed a bit of rouge on her lips, then thought it too bright and pressed a handkerchief to her lips to tone it down.
Chunling led the two of them into the adjacent side room.
Inside stood Xiao Juan and an elderly woman. Seated by the table was a woman of about eighteen or nineteen, her figure fuller due to her pregnancy. She had jet-black hair and snow-white skin, a long face with almond-shaped eyes. Though not as stunning as Zhao Yuechan, she was still a rare beauty. She wore a turquoise jacket with a snow-purple collar, embroidered with a subtle plum blossom pattern, and had only a single gold hairpin in her hair, agate earrings, and a pair of jade bracelets on her wrists—no other jewelry, looking extremely plain and simple. This was Qinglan.
Chunling said, "Lan Yiniang, these are the two maids I mentioned earlier. One is called Xianglan, the other Yindie."
Yindie, quick to read the situation, immediately knelt down. Xianglan hurriedly followed suit, saying, "We pay our respects to the Concubine."
Qinglan said, "Rise." She examined them carefully. Seeing that both were quite beautiful, she felt somewhat uneasy. Noticing that Xianglan wore old clothes, her hair tied in two simple buns with white strings and a white flower, while Yindie was dressed in brand-new blue silk garments and seemed to have powder on her face, as if she had taken care with her appearance, she thought to herself, "This Xianglan looks honest, but Yindie is fond of dressing up—I wonder if she's the well-behaved type." Aloud, she said, "Since you two are now with me, just follow the rules and serve diligently. I won't ask for much else."
Chunling added, "Lan Yiniang is the most kind-hearted and caring. You two are lucky to be with her."Xianglan discreetly surveyed the room and noticed the east chamber was meticulously cleaned and adorned with lavish, extravagant furnishings—even Qin Shi’s quarters were scarcely more opulent. Finding this somewhat improper, she frowned slightly, but then reconsidered: Qinglan had entered the household as a concubine from a respectable family, her status distinct from other concubines, and now, with her pregnancy, her standing had risen further. Yet, as her gaze swept over several precious curios displayed openly, she felt such items were rather too conspicuous.
Soon, Qinglan grew weary and dismissed everyone. Chunling led Lan, Die, and Xiao Juan into the side room and said, "I am Chunling, formerly a maid in the Third Madam’s household. As Lan Yiniang is with child, I was assigned here to serve. If you need anything in the future, feel free to come to me." Pointing to Xiao Juan, she added, "She is Xiao Juan, who arrived a few days earlier. The elderly woman inside is surnamed Wu; you may address her as Wu Mama." She then explained the rules of service and assigned a few simple tasks. She instructed Yindie to make a scented sachet for calming herbs, directed Xiao Juan to water the flowers and embroider a handkerchief, and said to Xianglan, "Come with me." She then led Xianglan into the bedroom where Qinglan resided.
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