Upon learning that Longevity and Peace Hall had sent another senior maid, Madam Wang pondered for a long time before sneering coldly, "Old Madam is watching so closely."
Liu Kun's wife hurriedly advised, "Madam, you mustn't be foolish. Old Madam is giving you a warning. As I've said before, she understands things perfectly. If you treat everyone fairly, she won't mistreat Fourth Miss. Look how dearly she cares for Eldest Miss—sending letters to the capital every few days to inquire about her. After all, they're her own granddaughters. She just pities Consort Wei for passing away early. Why trouble yourself over a maid and clash with Old Madam again? What matters most now is that Brother Bai is proving himself."
Madam Wang twisted her handkerchief, her expression dark. "It's just as well to assign a few maids there. We can't remain completely in the dark—we should know what needs to be known, but only to an appropriate extent."
This matter wasn't over yet. That afternoon, two more girls were sent to Twilight Cang Study. Liu Kun's wife personally brought them over and explained with a bitter smile that Consort Lin and Sheng Hong had pleaded for this, saying it wouldn't do for their younger sister to lack attendants while her elder brother enjoyed being served by numerous maids. Thus, they transferred two of the best maids from Changfeng's quarters to Sixth Miss.
When Sheng Hong saw the two maids—both cultured, polite, and excelling in needlework and appearance—he was deeply moved and lavishly praised Consort Lin for her broad-mindedness and Changfeng for his brotherly affection. Encouraged by the praise, Changfeng shut himself in to study for several consecutive days.
Looking at the two delicate girls, Ke'er and Mei'er, about thirteen or fourteen years old—one charmingly pretty, the other coolly elegant, both slender and graceful—the residents of Twilight Cang Study fell silent. Xiaotao, inexperienced and naive, stared dumbfounded, her jaw nearly dropping as she touched her own round face. Danju woodenly turned to look at Minglan, while Yinxing and Jiu'er exchanged glances. Only Cuiwei remained composed, smiling as she took their hands to chat. Minglan nearly sighed to the heavens—it seemed for every measure of virtue, there was tenfold cunning. She promptly announced publicly: Twilight Cang Study was small and, though not fully staffed, was already "fully stocked." Everyone could rest assured—there were plenty of hands for all tasks.
Minglan observed the two beautiful girls and, recalling her third brother Changfeng's nature, almost asked, "Are you two... still untouched?"—but she immediately chided herself for such wicked thoughts.
Thus, Twilight Cang Study became livelier.
Jiu'er, having a mother who was a stewardess, had inherited a meddlesome temperament. She loved inserting herself into every matter, big or small. Shortly after arriving at Twilight Cang Study, she acted as if she belonged there entirely. Before Cuiwei could even speak, she would scold the younger maids whenever they squabbled, threatening to have her mother expel them from the inner household. The little maids were often frightened to tears. Danju was displeased, feeling Jiu'er had overstepped.
Minglan smiled wryly, "It doesn't matter if it's a black cat or a white cat, as long as it catches mice." After all, Jiu'er had managed to intimidate the younger maids.
Yinxing, in contrast, kept a low profile and was diligent, but she was nosy and loved rummaging through things. She constantly tried to get close to Minglan, showering her with flattery. Danju exerted great effort to keep her at bay. Cuiwei reprimanded her several times: "Do you understand the rules? You've only just arrived and you're already barging into the young lady's inner chamber? How dare you touch the young lady's belongings?! Stop doing courtyard cleaning—start with needlework instead, and stop peering around and prying all day!"Yinxing meekly agreed, but as soon as she turned around, she went back to her old ways, leaving Xiaotao to keep an eye on her. Minglan comforted herself, thinking: At least this is a troublesome situation with some progress; the other two are far worse.
One warm day, several maids were tidying up Minglan’s room and taking things out to air in the sun. Suddenly, a crisp sound rang out—Mei’er had knocked over a blue-and-white brush washer, shattering it on the floor. Minglan couldn’t help but feel a pang of distress and said, “Be careful. If you can’t manage it, just put it down and let Danju or Xiaotao handle it.” Unexpectedly, Mei’er raised her almond-shaped eyes defiantly, lowered her head, and retorted stubbornly, “It’s just a brush washer. I’ve broken far more valuable things in Third Master’s room, and he never said a word. Everyone says you have a gentle temper, but I never thought…”
Minglan froze on the spot. As a time traveler, she didn’t hold strong hierarchical views, but even in modern times, if you broke something belonging to a roommate or friend, you’d at least apologize. Yet this delicate, pretty girl in front of her, with her cold, defiant glare, seemed to expect Minglan to console her instead.
Minglan stood there stiffly, unsure of what to say. Xiaotao, unable to contain her anger, stepped forward with her hands on her hips and snapped, “How dare you put on such airs! Our mistress hasn’t even scolded you, and you’re already criticizing her! Do you think breaking things gives you the right to complain? This brush washer is part of a set, a birthday gift from Great Uncle Wei in the south two years ago. With one piece broken, the entire scholar’s set is ruined! If you miss Third Master’s place so much, why did you come to Mucangzhai? If you feel wronged, hurry back! Our humble abode is too small for someone as grand as you!”
Mei’er immediately burst into tears and ran out. It was said she cried in her room for a full two hours and only calmed down after Cuiwei went to console her.
That was still manageable. Though Mei’er was proud and ill-tempered, at least she still performed her duties as a maid. But Ke’er acted like a literary young lady, hiding in her room every day clutching a book of poetry, lamenting the passing of spring and grieving over autumn. She neglected the tasks assigned to her, and even if she reluctantly picked up needlework, she’d only make a few stitches before setting it aside. A falling leaf would make her weep for half a day, and the cry of wild geese would inspire her to write a couple of sorrowful lines in the style of “the cuckoo crying blood.” Every time anyone saw her, she was either on the verge of tears or already had tears streaming down her face. When Cuiwei reminded her not to weep all day and bring bad luck to the household, she spent the entire night crying in the garden in the cold wind and then fell ill.
Qinsang, gentle by nature, and Yancao, straightforward and cheerful, exhausted themselves trying to coax a smile out of her. Ke’er would skip medicine one day and refuse to eat the next, demanding to be comforted and attended to. Lüzhi was so infuriated she wanted to discipline her, but Danju stopped her. Later, they found out Ke’er was the daughter of an official who had been convicted of a crime.
“So what? Even if she was once a phoenix, she’s a maid now and should act like one. Did our household buy her to be a young lady? Look at this—we’ve all become her attendants!” Lüzhi, who had spent the whole day tending the medicine stove for Mei’er, was still fuming.
“She used to be a young lady who was waited on, so it’s only natural she’s struggling with her feelings as a maid,” Danju said sympathetically as she took the medicine pot and carefully strained the dregs.
Bisi added softly, “She entered the household at the same time as us. She’s been a maid for years, yet she still puts on airs like a young lady! She’s just showing off because she can write poetry and paint. Hmph, it’s not like anyone here is illiterate.” Bisi was a tragic case—she was pretty, literate, and her overall qualities surpassed those of the other three Lans.Though Molan and Rulan were as incompatible as fire and water, they shared surprisingly similar taste when selecting maids - neither wanted girls more beautiful or talented than themselves. Thus, Bi Si was passed over. Changfeng, who did appreciate pretty girls, had limited slots available and ultimately chose even more beautiful and talented candidates. Once again, Bi Si was rejected, eventually finding her way to Minglan's side.
Yancao was refilling the teapot, exhausted from coaxing Ke'er. She had asked Qinsang to cover for her while she took a break. After drinking half a pot of water, Yancao managed to say: "It's only because our young lady is too kind-hearted that these girls dare to show her such disrespect. If Mama Fang were here, they'd have been caned long ago!" The younger maids nearby overheard this and suddenly found themselves missing Mama Fang's strictness, sighing nostalgically.
"They've all been spoiled by the Third Young Master, yet our young lady bears the consequences!" Lüzhi concluded.
Danju, sent by her fellow maids to convey their concerns to Minglan, finally added tactfully: "Young lady, this situation cannot continue. The newer maids were just beginning to learn proper manners under Mama Fang's training - we can't let all that discipline go to waste."
Minglan responded with difficulty: "They're the Madame and Third Young Master's people - we can't embarrass them! I know Mei'er has been troubling you all, but... her parents and relatives are all gone, she can't help feeling wronged and resentful!"
"Wronged?!" Cuiwei looked strangely at Minglan. "What is young lady talking about? I heard from my father that Mei'er's father was a magistrate near our Dengzhou - notoriously greedy and insatiably corrupt. That's why he was dismissed, imprisoned, had his property confiscated, and his family sold into service." Her father managed an outer estate and handled the procurement of all new maids and servants.
"But could her father have been wrongly accused?" Minglan thought of all the dramas about loyal officials' families suffering unjust persecution.
Cuiwei laughed incredulously: "Oh my dear young lady! While many officials get dismissed for misconduct, barely one in ten cases involve punishing their families. Those sent to the Orchestra and entertainment office are even rarer - not one in a hundred! There aren't that many false accusations. Many people know about Mei'er's father - he was undoubtedly corrupt, living extravagantly beyond his means. The confiscated property didn't even cover his debts, hence his family suffered the consequences."
Minglan persisted: "But what crime did his wife and daughter commit?"
Xiaotao happened to enter the room just then. Recently she'd been guarding against Yinxing as if against thieves, leaving her mentally exhausted. Hearing these words, she retorted impatiently: "Young lady, the silks and satins those corrupt officials' families wore, the delicacies they ate - all came from the people's hard-earned wealth! Think of all the commoners ruined by her father, forced to sell their children in desperation. Isn't it fair that she repays her father's debts? She's fortunate to have ended up in our household!"
Minglan fell silent, embarrassed. She couldn't be blamed - this was how all the dramas portrayed such situations. Despite her complaints, Minglan preferred to keep peace, believing she could gradually educate the troublesome maids through subtle influence. However, her education plan couldn't keep up with changing circumstances.
One morning, Brother Changbai came to inspect Twilight Cang Study. Minglan had finally completed the cotton shoes she promised him, so he came to collect them. Minglan personally went to greet him. Changbai had barely stepped through the gate when he saw an aloof young beauty sweeping with a broom. Finding her unfamiliar, he glanced at her a few times. Unexpectedly, she lifted her chin and snorted coldly, her expression haughty and striking. Changbai immediately frowned and said to Minglan: "Why are the servants so ill-mannered? You should discipline them better!"
Mei'er, humiliated and angry, threw down her broom and stormed inside. Minglan was left deeply embarrassed.After walking a few steps into the courtyard, they saw a delicate young woman as fragile as willow catkins leaning against a corridor pillar, softly reciting poetry. Upon hearing the lines "Green is the collar, my heart is weary with woe," Changbai frowned again and scolded Danju, "It's acceptable for maids to be literate and sensible, but why teach them this? A woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent, let alone for a maid!"
Ke'er turned pale and stumbled back to her room. Minglan felt deeply depressed and let out two dry, hollow laughs.
Upon entering the room and sitting down, Minglan had barely exchanged two words with Changbai when Yinxing snatched Danju's duties, serving tea and snacks while standing to the side, pursing her lips in a constant smile and casting flirtatious glances at Changbai. Even when Xiaotao tried to pull her away, she refused to leave. Changbai looked displeased and slammed his teacup heavily on the table, saying sternly, "Sixth Sister should discipline the maids in your courtyard properly!"
With that, he grabbed the new shoes, turned, and left. Minglan nearly choked with frustration.
Just after lunch, Changfeng, who had been studying behind closed doors, came out for a stroll and ended up at Twilight Cang Study. Though Minglan was not very familiar with him, she warmly invited him in for tea. Changfeng was clearly distracted, and as soon as he saw Mei'er, he stood up and repeatedly asked, "Mei'er, how have you been lately?" Mei'er replied bitterly, "Being driven out doesn't mean I'll die! Third Young Master need not worry." Changfeng's voice trembled, "...You... you've suffered!"
At that moment, Ke'er, frail as drifting catkins, approached with unsteady steps. Changfeng's eyes grew moist: "Ke'er, you... you've lost weight!" Ke'er could no longer hold back, and tears streamed down like broken pearls: "Third Young Master~~, I thought I would never see you again in this lifetime..."
Changfeng went over and held her, and Ke'er burst into loud sobs. Changfeng comforted her incessantly, and the study was filled with the sound of weeping.
Cuiwei, Danju, and the others watched in stunned silence; even Yinxing and Jiuer were dumbfounded, standing there unsure of what to do. Then, they turned their gazes to Minglan, signaling, "What should we do?" Minglan was speechless, inwardly wounded.
She thought things couldn't get worse, but the grand finale was yet to come.
Before the New Year, Lord Qi submitted a memorial to the emperor, who permitted the Qi family of three to return to the capital for the New Year. Zhuang Xiansheng then announced a brief winter break. Before leaving, he sent an advance housewarming gift: a mutton-fat white jade paired-fish chime suspended from a foreign-lacquered frame, accompanied by a delicate white jade hammer. Such a large piece of mutton-fat white jade was truly translucent and crystalline. Minglan didn't dare display it prominently in the main hall, keeping it only on her bedroom desk.
Unexpectedly, one day, Molan and Rulan came to visit together. Rulan had already settled on the kang bed to drink tea, but Molan insisted on touring Minglan's new residence and dragged Rulan straight into Minglan's bedroom. Minglan immediately sensed trouble. Molan pointed at the white jade chime and said coyly, "...So this is the gift Brother Yuanruo sent you!"
Rulan fixed her eyes on the chime for a long while, then stared at Minglan for another extended period. Her gaze sent chills down Minglan's spine. Molan smiled smugly beside her: "Sixth Sister is truly fortunate to have Brother Yuanruo remember you so fondly. When I moved into Weirui Pavilion, he didn't send any housewarming gift. Brother Yuanruo treats you with such special favor—I wonder what the reason could be?"Minglan opened her large eyes in a daze and said blankly, "...Right? What's the reason for this, do you know, Fifth Sister?" As she spoke, she looked at Rulan with an innocent expression. Rulan, seeing Molan's smug face, felt a surge of inexplicable anger. Glancing at Minglan again, she chose the lesser of two evils and declared loudly, "It's simple! Brother Qi often eats with Sixth Sister at Longevity and Peace Hall, treating her like a little sister. Mother said our family is related to the Qi family—we're all like siblings!"
The more she spoke, the louder she became, and Rulan even convinced herself. As she talked, she looked at Minglan's childish face and felt her explanation was perfectly logical. Minglan clapped her hands and laughed, "Fifth Sister, with your explanation, I understand everything now. You're so clever!"
Heaven be praised—this was the first time in Rulan's life she had ever been praised for her intelligence.
Molan was about to stir up more trouble when Minglan shook her head and said innocently, "...No wonder Fourth Sister often sends snacks to Brother Yuanruo at the family school—it turns out we're all like siblings!" Rulan shot a sharp glare at Molan, whose face flushed red as she retorted loudly, "What nonsense are you talking? I was sending snacks to our two brothers!"
Minglan rubbed her head, confused, "Huh? But I heard from Eldest Brother and Fourth Brother that Fourth Sister's snacks all ended up with Brother Yuanruo... Did I mishear?" She looked doubtfully at Rulan, who had already made up her mind. Sneering contemptuously at Molan, Rulan said, "...Fourth Sister, you're quite skilled—truly a family tradition!"
Molan slammed a teacup over, shouting, "What did you say?" Rulan's heart sank—if this involved Consort Lin, she'd be in trouble again. Minglan quickly added, "Fifth Sister means that hospitality is an old tradition of our Sheng family. Fourth Sister truly embodies the Sheng family spirit!"
Rulan breathed a sigh of relief and patted Minglan's head contentedly. Molan glared at them furiously, while Minglan thought to herself: I had no choice—it was self-defense.
After cheerfully seeing them off, Danju returned with a cold expression, closed the doors, and said seriously to Minglan, "Miss, we need to properly manage our courtyard. We can't let these little minxes embarrass themselves and ruin your reputation!" Xiaotao and Cuiwei agreed in unison.
Sitting on the kang, Minglan compared an embroidery manual with a hoop and said cheerfully, "No rush, no rush. Don't do anything—let them cause trouble. When you go visiting, seek out close maids and matrons and tell them everything happening here, especially when Eldest Brother and Third Young Master visit. Make sure Madam finds out!"
Danju's eyes lit up, and she said happily, "Miss, you—" then stopped herself.
Cuiwei shook her head, "Even if everyone knows, what good will it do? They'll just laugh at you for poor management and incompetence! By then, Madam might even blame you."
Xiaotao nodded, "Yes, Madam may not support you. Plenty of people would love to see you mocked."
Minglan waved her hand, signaling them to stop, and said calmly, "Come to me after dinner—all three of you. I need your help with something."
The three maids had no choice but to leave gloomily.Minglan gently cracked the window open a sliver and peered outside. The vibrant red plum blossoms swayed gracefully, their brilliant splendor undiminished even in the icy snowscape. To claim she wasn’t angry would be a lie—this was no longer about keeping the peace. These maids clearly held no regard for her, daring to act so insolently. The Mistress managed the Sheng household, Concubine Lin had wealth and children, while she—merely an insignificant illegitimate daughter—had only an elderly grandmother’s affection. They were certain she wouldn’t dare stir trouble or offend their powerful patrons!
For the first time, Minglan began to grasp the complexities of ancient noble households. She wasn’t afraid to discipline these maids, but she couldn’t risk alienating Changfeng or the Mistress. Though she had Old Mrs. Sheng’s support, she couldn’t rely on her for every confrontation. As grandmother to all her grandchildren, Old Mrs. Sheng couldn’t show overt favoritism. Some battles Minglan had to fight herself.
If she possessed Rulan’s status, she could have lived comfortably as a young lady of the house, untroubled. But she didn’t. Where there are people, there are conflicts—and now that she was entangled in them, remaining aloof would be laughable. What should her first step be?
That evening, Danju and Xiaotao secured the doors and windows while Cuiwei helped Minglan cut a large sheet of white paper and prepare ink. Minglan instructed, "You three, think carefully about any improper or undisciplined behavior you’ve observed among the junior maids. Let’s compile a set of rules—written clearly in black and white—to keep them in check."
Cuiwei thought it a sound idea, but Danju remained skeptical. "I understand your intention, Miss, but what good will writing rules do? We can’t punish them."
Minglan began grinding ink, her features soft in the lamplight, a faint dimple appearing at the corner of her lips as she smiled. "Don’t be upset. We must take things one step at a time—troubles should be resolved gradually. Just do as I say for now." She wouldn’t let these insignificant people tarnish her character; they weren’t worth sacrificing her inner peace and joy.
Xiaotao, ever obedient, promptly listed the maids’ daily improprieties she’d witnessed. Cuiwei summarized with a smile, while meticulous Danju filled in the gaps. Though "three cobblers combined may not equal Zhuge Liang’s wisdom," they were certainly more effective than Minglan alone. Swiftly, they condensed the points into concise rules: "Do not leave Twilight Cang Study without permission," "Do not gossip about the masters’ affairs," "Fulfill duties diligently during shifts," "No quarreling or causing disturbances," "Do not enter the main rooms uninvited," and so forth.
Having been maids since childhood, the three were well-versed in the nuances of servant conduct. Initially hesitant, they grew more thorough as the discussion progressed. Minglan personally served them tea and snacks, then took up the brush to record each point. By late night, the task was nearly complete. Cuiwei and Xiaotao cleared away the scattered paper scraps and ink supplies, while Danju brought a basin of warm water for Minglan to wash her hands.
As she carefully scrubbed the ink stains from Minglan’s fingers, Danju couldn’t help asking, "Miss, will this truly work? Couldn’t we ask Old Madam to intervene?"
Minglan tapped Danju’s nose with her damp fingers. "This mountain dweller has her own clever plan." Danju turned away with a pout, drying Minglan’s hands with a cloth.
Suddenly recalling something, Minglan picked up the brush again, dipped it in ink, and added a line at the bottom of the large paper: To be continued, updating...
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[Author’s Note]The Orchestra and Entertainment Office has existed since ancient times, primarily serving the entertainment of officials or court celebrations. It houses various performers skilled in music, fine arts, dance, and singing, along with salaried administrators and art instructors. The women in the Orchestra and Entertainment Office mainly come from court and government purchases, direct acquisitions from brothels, or the families of the defeated, with occasional inclusion of the families of convicted officials (typically political offenders). This practice was consistent throughout the previous dynasties of Han, Tang, Song, and Yuan.
During the Ming Dynasty, it was well known that Zhu Yuanzhang came from a humble peasant background, harboring deep-seated resentment and natural animosity towards the scholar-official class. As a result, the Orchestra and entertainment office began to include family members of convicted officials. However, it was the Yongle Emperor Zhu Di who truly filled the office with officials' relatives. After seizing the throne, he faced widespread opposition from literati and gentry, leading him to impose severe punishments extensively.
"Yang Shi, wife of Tie Xuan, aged thirty-five, sent to the Orchestra and entertainment office; Zhang Shi, wife of Mao Dafang, aged fifty-six, sent to the Orchestra and entertainment office..."
These were cases where family members of political offenders were implicated, though most of those affected were actually corrupt officials.
Nevertheless, the proportion of officials' family members consigned to the Orchestra and entertainment office in the Ming Dynasty was not high. In most cases, after corrupt officials had their properties confiscated, their families were spared further punishment. It was more common for them to be sold to repay debts, while consignment to the Orchestra and entertainment office was relatively rare. The Ming regime was primarily governed by the literati class, and officials who fell from grace often had chances for rehabilitation. Out of collective sympathy, the system generally avoided excessive harshness.
A notable example is Wang Cuiqiao, a famous courtesan from an official family. Despite her literary and poetic accomplishments, she never claimed her father was wrongly accused.
The Orchestra and entertainment office saw a resurgence during the Qing Dynasty due to more intense political struggles: literary inquisition cases were ten times more frequent than in the Ming Dynasty, Manchu officials distrusted Han officials, and imperial succession conflicts (like the Nine Princes' struggle) led to major cases that uprooted prominent families (some comprising hundreds of members). Women from such backgrounds filled the Orchestra and entertainment office. Conversely, the proportion of corrupt officials' family members consigned there or sold into servitude decreased.
Moreover, the Qing Dynasty was dominated by Manchu nobility. Regardless of the fame of Han advisors like Zhou Peigong, Zhang Tingyu, Liu Yong, or Yao Qisheng, real power rested with Manchu aristocrats such as Songgotu, Mingzhu, Heshen, and Fukang'an. These powerful figures showed no restraint in dealing with Han officials' families.
Cao Xueqin's family spanned the Kangxi, Yongzheng, and Qianlong reigns as part of the Han Banner. The Cao family's women narrowly escaped such fates, but the Li family was less fortunate—their female relatives and servants were reportedly sold locally for months without completion, a truly tragic circumstance.
(Approximately so, without delving deeper.)
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