A voice answered from within the courtyard, and soon a girl of seventeen or eighteen emerged. Tall and robust, she had small eyes and faint eyebrows, her features were passably regular, her skin fair but dotted with freckles. Though she wore a smile, a sharpness was still visible beneath it. She was adorned with a magnolia hairpin and kingfisher-feather step-shake, dressed in a sapphire-blue satin jacket with scattered floral patterns and a white silk skirt. Blue enamel earrings dangled from her ears, and a pair of silver bracelets circled her wrists. Her attire was neat and pleasing to the eye, and though she was no great beauty, it added a certain charm to her appearance.
This young lady, Cao Lihuan, beamed at the sight of Yingshuang and hurried forward to greet her. "What brings you here, Miss Yingshuang? Please, come inside and have a cup of hot tea."
Yingshuang replied, "Didn't you mention to Da Nǎinai the other day that you were short of maids? She's kept it in mind, and today, as it happens, a few new maids have arrived at the estate. One has been assigned to you."
Cao Lihuan clasped her hands and exclaimed, "Oh, my dear Da Nǎinai, so thoughtful and considerate! I only mentioned it once, and she remembered." She then turned to inspect the maid and, noticing her striking beauty, froze for a moment.
Yingshuang looked meaningfully at Cao Lihuan and said, "Da Nǎinai specifically instructed that she be sent to you. She's new and doesn't know the rules yet, so you'll need to train her properly. Make sure she doesn't wander around aimlessly."
Cao Lihuan's expression shifted slightly. She thought to herself, "A newly arrived maid, untrained and unruly, sent to me—clearly, they're looking down on me." In an instant, she plastered a smile back on her face and called out to the old woman at the door, "Liu Pozi, take her inside and get her settled."
Liu Pozi wiped her hands and led Xianglan into the house. Luoxue Courtyard was small but exquisitely furnished. Though there were few decorative items, each was refined and delicate. The furniture was new and cleverly designed. The main hall featured a calligraphy and painting desk and an Eight Immortals table. To the left was a bedroom, and to the right, a reception room for entertaining guests. Liu Pozi directed Xianglan to place her bundle in a small cabinet in the corner of the reception room and pointed to a soft couch by the window. "You'll sleep here at night. There's a set of bedding in the cabinet, clean and freshly aired the other day."
Xianglan repeatedly expressed her thanks. Liu Pozi glanced out the window and, seeing Yingshuang and Cao Lihuan still standing outside, lowered her voice. "I'm sorry you have to sleep in this small side room. There's a bed in the warm alcove of the bedroom, but it's already taken by another maid."
Xianglan smiled and said, "It's just a place to sleep. I think it's quite nice here."
Liu Pozi took Xianglan's hand and said warmly, "My child, you speak so kindly and gently, and you're so pretty—I daresay even the young ladies of the estate can't compare." She then asked in detail about Xianglan's age, parents, and other matters, to which Xianglan answered one by one.
Soon, Cao Lihuan entered the room, and Liu Pozi quickly slipped away. Cao Lihuan sat down by the Eight Immortals table in the hall and beckoned Xianglan over. After scrutinizing her from head to toe, she finally said, "Do you know why you were sent to me?"
Xianglan was taken aback and shook her head.
Cao Lihuan glanced at her with a haughty expression and said coolly, "You're older than most. The maids who enter the estate are usually under ten—they're obedient and easy to train. At your age, masters don't usually want you. Besides, you're too pretty. Old Madam and Madam often say that a maid who's too beautiful is no good—she's bound to be ambitious and restless. Clumsy and plain ones are more likable. Yingshuang just told me that if you don't perform well, I'm to report to Da Nǎinai and have you expelled. But I think you seem somewhat honest, so out of kindness, I've decided to keep you. Don't disappoint me."Xianglan lowered her head and said, "Miss, please understand, I've never harbored any 'lofty ambitions.' I only wish to serve my master diligently and peacefully for a few years before returning home." Hearing that she might be dismissed made her somewhat anxious, but she showed no sign of it on her face. She glanced at Cao Lihuan and thought to herself, "This cousin has started with a show of authority right from the beginning—she seems like a tough one to handle."
Cao Lihuan stared intently at Xianglan. "Just because you don't have such intentions doesn't mean others won't think that way. While you're under my care, your words, actions, and demeanor all reflect on my reputation. If you make a mistake or bring shame, people won't blame you—they'll point fingers at me behind my back, saying I don't know how to train my servants. Back at home, I had four matrons teaching me etiquette and manners; even the slightest gesture had to follow the rules. Now, even my great-grandmother praises me when she sees me. Those under my command must not lower their standards by imitating those wild, unruly maids. Don't you dare disgrace me."
Xianglan quickly bowed and said, "I will serve diligently and conduct myself properly, never bringing shame to Miss Huan." Internally, however, she held little regard for Cao Lihuan. In her previous life, Xianglan had been a renowned gentlewoman in the capital. Though her life had taken a dramatic turn and she was reborn into a humble family, becoming much more sharp-tongued, her innate grace still set her apart. She found it somewhat amusing how Cao Lihuan, whose demeanor was that of a girl from a modest background, insisted on putting on airs and flaunting herself as a noble lady.
Seeing that the new maid was both beautiful and elegant, Cao Lihuan felt a pang of jealousy and thus sought to suppress her harshly from the start. Noting Xianglan's obedience, her expression softened slightly. "There's quite a bit to manage here, but it's peaceful. There are two other maids in the room: Huier, who has served me since childhood, and Huairui, who was given to me by the Old Madam. One manages jewelry, the other handles meals. Outside, there's also Liu Pozi, who originally did rough work in Luoxue Courtyard. Though the household is small, those who perform well can stand out. If you truly do well, I'll put in a good word for you with my sister-in-law, so you can be promoted sooner and have a promising future."
Xianglan replied humbly, "I don't seek any grand future. My only blessing is to serve you well and live peacefully." Secretly, she was surprised: "After all, she's a cousin who came seeking refuge with the Lin family. If her family had fallen into decline, it would be understandable for her to have only one maid. But the Lin family only assigned one maid from the Old Madam's quarters to serve her—that speaks volumes."
Cao Lihuan asked, "How are your needlework skills?"
Xianglan hurriedly replied, "Please look, Miss, the embroidery on my skirt is my own work."
Upon hearing this, Cao Lihuan motioned for Xianglan to come closer. After examining the floral patterns on the skirt, she nodded with satisfaction. "Good. I happen to need someone for needlework here. Huier can only embroider simple patterns, and Huairui is useless with a needle. Often, I have to sit and embroider all day myself, which is utterly exhausting. Since you can embroider, that will make things much easier..."Before she could finish her words, the sound of girls' playful laughter came from outside. One said, "Flowers should be properly worn in the hair, but you insist on plucking all the petals off. You're ruining such tender blossoms." Another replied, "Miss Huan is still in mourning—how could she wear flowers? I think this one is blooming so brightly, we shouldn't let others have it. Even if we can't wear it, we can crush the petals to make rouge." Xianglan turned her head to look and saw two girls of about fifteen or sixteen entering. One was slightly shorter with a plump figure, while the other was tall and sturdy. Neither was particularly beautiful nor plain, and both were dressed simply. However, one wore a red gold Five Blessings hairpin in her hair, and the other had a red gold necklace as thick as a little finger around her neck.
The two girls paused in surprise upon seeing Xianglan standing in the room. Cao Lihuan beckoned and said, "This is Xianglan, the new maid who arrived today." She pointed to the shorter, plumper girl and said, "This is Huier," then pointed to the tall, sturdy one, "and this is Huairui."
Xianglan smiled and said, "Sister Huier, Sister Huairui."
Huairui wore a stern expression and gave Xianglan a casual nod as a greeting. Huier looked Xianglan up and down, and upon noticing her old clothes, a hint of disdain flashed in her eyes. She turned her head away as if she hadn't seen Xianglan and instead said to Cao Lihuan, "Miss, these are the flowers I just picked in the garden. They're perfect for bathing or making rouge. There are also a few peach blossoms—we can put them in a vase later to enjoy." Xianglan sighed inwardly, faintly sensing that her days in Luoxue Courtyard might not be easy.
Cao Lihuan ordered Huairui to fetch a wooden box containing over a dozen brand-new handkerchiefs. She picked out two and handed them to Xianglan, saying, "Go embroider these two handkerchiefs. The embroidery patterns I drew yesterday are on the dressing table, and the sewing kit is in the dressing table drawer." Xianglan immediately took the handkerchiefs and was about to fetch the patterns when Cao Lihuan called her back, saying, "Take the handkerchiefs and go to the side hall to embroider." With that, she led Huier and Huairui into the bedroom.
Xianglan lowered her head and replied, "Yes." She then collected the items and went to the side hall, sitting on a soft couch. She took out the needle and thread and began embroidering according to the patterns. The designs were simple: one was a treasure vase, and the other was a longevity peach. Xianglan carefully selected the colors and worked swiftly with her needle. Suddenly, laughter drifted from the bedroom. When she pricked up her ears, she could also hear the murmur of conversation.Xianglan set down the embroidery hoop in her hands and rubbed her neck, thinking to herself: "In most respectable households, when a new personal maid arrives, she is usually rewarded with something—be it a few pieces of jewelry or some old clothes. Though stern words may be spoken to discipline her, most mistresses would still offer a few kind words to show consideration for their servants. But this cousin lady gave no rewards at all; instead, she harshly lectured me, assigned a pile of tasks, and chatted and laughed with her two personal maids while sending me off to this room. This clearly shows she intends to ostracize me. Among the two maids in Luoxue Courtyard, Huier, who has served the cousin lady since childhood, is overly arrogant and lacks humility—she’s likely a troublemaker. Huairui was given by Old Madam; she seems quiet, yet she gets along well with both her mistress and Huier. I suppose the cousin lady values Huairui because she came from Old Madam’s quarters and deliberately treats her well. My father is merely the third manager of an antique shop, and I have no one to rely on in this household. If the cousin lady were a bit kinder and considered my future diligence, life might not be too difficult. But if she’s a harsh mistress, then it will be tough..."
She turned her head to look out the window and saw Liu Pozi holding a large broom, sweeping fallen petals into the babbling stream. She thought of how she was once a noble daughter of a prominent family, yet now she had fallen to being a maid—cautious, careful, and constantly having to read others’ moods. She was like those scattered red petals floating in the stream, drifting with the current, her fate entirely beyond her control. A wave of melancholy washed over her. But then she reconsidered: "My current situation is a hundred times better than being exiled to the borderlands and dying in a foreign place. What more could I possibly be dissatisfied with? I’ve already experienced both glory and wealth, as well as the destruction of my family. I didn’t drink the Mengpo Soup and was granted another life—if I can’t see past these small hardships, then all those years I’ve lived would have been in vain. Besides, the world is full of ups and downs, and fate is unpredictable. Who can truly know what their destiny holds? Back when I was the daughter of a chief minister, how could I have imagined I would one day be trampled into the dust? By the same token, now that I’m just a lowly maid, who’s to say I won’t have a chance to rise again someday!"
Having consoled herself this way, Xianglan felt the earlier melancholy dissipate like dust carried away by the spring breeze. She lifted her spirits, picked up the embroidery hoop, and began stitching carefully, one thread at a time.
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