When Chun Ling left, Yin Die quickly surveyed the room and chose a bed near the window. This bed was relatively secluded and closest to the dressing table, making it convenient for grooming and storing items. However, sitting on the bed and examining it carefully, she noticed the bedding and pillows looked worn, which displeased her. She secretly glanced at Xiang Lan, who was lost in thought looking at the wall painting and quietly swapped her bedding and pillows with those from another bed.

Xiang Lan had noticed Yin Die’s small maneuver but pretended not to see, secretly shaking her head. After surveying the room, she chose the bed near the door and lifted the light gauzy curtains to reveal bluish-green money pattern brocade bedding and jade-colored gauze pillows. Next to the pillow was a slightly worn sachet embroidered with flower branches, filled with calming and evil-dispelling herbs, which also carried a jasmine fragrance. Touching the sachet’s tassels, Xiang Lan said, “The accommodations here are far better than at Luxue Pavilion. No wonder they say the Lin family is wealthy. This room is better than ordinary young ladies’ embroidery rooms, yet it’s for maids.”

Seeing the room’s exquisite furnishings, Yin Die’s eyes sparkled with excitement as she looked around admiringly. However, hearing Xiang Lan’s words, she felt disdain, saying, “What’s so special about this? You’re amazed by mere servants’ quarters—your eyes would probably fall out if you saw the masters’ main chambers… But I suppose that’s understandable since you only served a cousin before, you’ve never seen truly wealthy rooms.”

Xiang Lan frowned slightly but didn’t want to argue over such trivial matters with Yin Die. She simply pretended not to hear and began unpacking her bundle.

Suddenly, they heard footsteps and Lin Jinlou lifted the curtain to enter. Xiang Lan and Yin Die hurriedly stood up, hands at their sides, appearing somewhat nervous. Lin Jinlou’s eyes swept the room and saw Xiang Lan standing by the bed, head lowered obediently, which made him smile. He was naturally handsome and dignified, and his smile made his features even more radiant. Yin Die glanced up and became transfixed. Previously under Spring Yan’s strict management, when Lin Jinlou came, no maids were allowed near him, and they usually kept their distance. She had never been this close to the master before, and her face immediately reddened.

Seeing Xiang Lan, Lin Jinlou’s voice unconsciously softened as he said, “Don’t be so formal. From now on, you’ll live here. Serve your mistress well according to the rules, and I’ll certainly reward you.”

While Xiang Lan was still hesitating, Yin Die had already responded sweetly, “Rest assured, Young Master. We will certainly serve Concubine Lan well—it’s our duty.”

Lin Jinlou glanced at Yin Die and nodded, then looked at Xiang Lan again. Seeing she still kept her head down motionlessly, he wanted to draw her into the conversation, but with others present in the room, he thought there would be time later and simply gave a few casual instructions before leaving.

Once alone in the room, Xiang Lan had no energy left to unpack. The day’s various events had left her physically and mentally exhausted, and she collapsed onto the bed, unable to get up. Thinking about her near-violation earlier made her legs still tremble with fear and hatred. Her performance and plea before Old Madam Lin had drained her completely. Then Cao Lihuan’s expulsion, and her dreamlike transfer to serve Concubine Lan at Zhichun Hall with an unexpected promotion to second class—brought some joy. This day of mixed sorrow and joy, with its sudden and strange events, left Xiang Lan with an inexplicable unease, but she was too tired to think about it further.

Yin Die was clearly in an excellent mood as she unpacked her belongings one by one. Being naturally sociable, she casually asked about Xiang Lan’s family background. Upon hearing that her father was merely the third manager of an antique shop, she immediately put on airs, covering her mouth as she laughed, “My father is the second steward of the estate in the capital’s outskirts. With his status, if he worked in the mansion, he’d at least be a second-level manager, or at minimum a supervisor. Young Master values him highly… My cousin Han Fang serves in Miss Ling’s chambers and has great status—every young maid must respectfully call her ‘Sister’ when they see her.”

Xiang Lan found her boasting tiresome but didn’t want to offend her, so she merely responded with occasional “mm-hmm” sounds without engaging further.

Yin Die suddenly sighed: “I thought after Spring Yan left, I could change positions—even serving a Young Miss would be a respectable job. Who would have thought I’d still be serving a concubine… tsk tsk, I fear there won’t be much advancement in the future.”

Lying on her bed, Xiang Lan said with a smile, “I’m content. It would be even better if Concubine Lan has a gentle temperament.”

Yin Die consoled herself, “That’s true. I heard Concubine Lan was personally elevated by the Madam and comes from a good family. Spring Yan was just a bedchamber maid occupying a room in the west wing, but Concubine Lan is a proper concubine with the entire east wing to herself. If she bears a son this time, our status might even surpass those serving the Young Misses.”

Xiang Lan just smiled without responding, thinking to herself: “This is just a temporary place. As maids, how grand can our lives be? It’s better to stay calm and gather information—finding a way to buy freedom is what matters.”

They fell silent for a while. Yin Die finished putting away her things and lay down on her bed, tossing and turning as she recalled how she had spent so much silver and relied on her cousin Han Fang and an influential elderly servant woman before Chun Ling finally agreed, accepting a golden hairpin to transfer her from the rough work in the tea room to serve Concubine Lan. Though she had been somewhat reluctant at first, she now felt more optimistic. Thinking of Lin Jinlou’s exceptional handsomeness, tall stature, and noble, romantic bearing, how his eyes and brows had been full of smiles today, she felt as if a little mouse was scratching at her heart, creating an indescribable feeling that made her bashful upon reflection. Unable to lie still, she couldn’t help saying, “Young Master smiled at us today, did you see? He’s so handsome.”

Half-asleep, Xiang Lan mumbled in response, “Indeed handsome—only a beauty like the First Madam is worthy of him.”

Remembering Zhao Yuechan’s stunning beauty and alluring manner, Yin Die knew she could never compare and felt somewhat annoyed, saying, “Young Master and First Madam aren’t compatible at all. Even if she’s beautiful, she doesn’t please Young Master.”

Xiang Lan said, “Then our Concubine Lan must greatly please Young Master—making him so happy with her pregnancy, she must be a beauty too. I’ll have to look carefully when I see her.”

Yin Die sneered, “No matter how beautiful she is, she’s still just a concubine. Young Master favors her now, but who knows how long that will last.” Her voice softened as she continued, “I think Young Master should find someone more clever and understanding, even if she’s a maid in the household. Best if she’s good at needlework and can make his shoes and clothes, knows how to talk and please him, and follows his every wish—that would truly win his heart.”

Hearing Yin Die’s increasingly inappropriate talk, Xiang Lan got goosebumps and suddenly became fully alert. After some thought, she understood and secretly laughed, “So that’s why she’s so eager to chat with me—she ‘desires what she cannot have, thinking of it day and night, tossing and turning restlessly.'” After consideration, she said, “In any case, First Madam and Young Master are properly married husband and wife. Anyone else Young Master takes would be a concubine… some might not even reach concubine status. Which maid that Young Master has taken has been elevated to concubine?”

Yin Die, experiencing her first awakening of love and full of romantic thoughts, had her beautiful dream harshly shattered by Xiang Lan’s words. She turned over angrily and stopped talking.

Facing the wall, Xiang Lan heard Yin Die grow quiet and peacefully closed her eyes, her lips curling slightly upward.

Soon, Chun Ling entered the room, saying, “The Concubine has returned and wants to see you both.”

Xiang Lan quickly got up and tidied her clothes and hair. Yin Die hurriedly arranged her temples in front of the mirror, dabbed some rouge on her lips, then thought it too bright and pressed it with her handkerchief.

Chun Ling led them into the adjacent wing.

Inside stood Xiao Juan and an elderly servant woman. By the long table sat a woman of eighteen or nineteen years, somewhat full-figured due to pregnancy, with black hair and fair skin, an oval face, and almond eyes. Though her beauty didn’t match Zhao Yuechan’s allure, she was still remarkably attractive. She wore a snow-blue collared cyan jacket with subtle plum blossom patterns, only a gold hairpin in her hair, carnelian earrings, and a pair of jade bracelets, with no other ornaments—appearing very simple and modest. This was Qing Lan.

Chun Ling said, “Concubine Lan, these are the two maids I mentioned earlier—one called Xiang Lan and one called Yin Die.”

Yin Die, being very perceptive, immediately knelt. Xiang Lan quickly followed, saying, “We wish the Concubine peace and prosperity.”

Qing Lan said, “Rise.” She examined them carefully, noting that both were beautiful, which made her somewhat uncomfortable. She noticed that Xiang Lan wore old clothes and had her hair simply tied in two white ribbons with a white flower, while Yin Die wore new blue silk clothes and seemed to have applied powder and rouge, appearing carefully dressed up. She thought to herself, “This Xiang Lan looks honest, while Yin Die likes to dress up—I wonder if she’ll behave properly.” Aloud she said, “Now that you’ve joined my service, just follow the rules and serve well. I don’t ask for anything else.”

Chun Ling said, “Concubine Lan is most kind and caring—you two are fortunate to serve her.”

Xiang Lan discreetly surveyed the room, noting that the east wing was clean and luxuriously furnished, with appointments matching even Madam Qin’s quarters. Xiang Lan found this improper and frowned slightly, but then remembered that Qing Lan was a free-born woman who married in as a concubine, different from other concubines, and was now pregnant, making her status even more distinct. However, glancing at several valuable decorative pieces, she felt displaying such items so openly was perhaps too ostentatious.

Soon Qing Lan grew tired and dismissed everyone. Chun Ling led Xiang Lan, Yin Die, and Xiao Juan to the secondary room, saying, “I’m Chun Ling, originally a maid from Third Madam’s quarters. Because Concubine Lan became pregnant, I was assigned here to serve. In the future, if you need anything, just come to me.” Pointing to Xiao Juan, she said, “This is Xiao Juan, who arrived a few days earlier. The elderly servant woman in there is surnamed Wu—you can call her Mother Wu.” She then explained the rules of service and assigned some simple tasks. She ordered Yin Die to make a sachet for calming herbs, told Xiao Juan to water the flowers and make an embroidered handkerchief, and said to Xiang Lan, “Come with me,” leading her into Qing Lan’s bedchamber.