In early spring, the weather was still slightly chilly. Over twenty young girls stood in the courtyard outside the Lin Manor’s second gate. Xianglan wore a faded red apricot-colored jacket, her hair in a maiden’s bun, carrying a floral cloth bundle. She stood last in line. The girl standing in front of her, around eleven or twelve, wore a semi-new floral cotton jacket and had a round face, large eyes, and fair skin – quite charming to look at. She turned to Xianglan with a smile and said: “My surname is Liang, my parents call me Juanzi. I was just bought into the manor. Sister, where are you from?”

Xianglan smiled back: “I’m Chen Xianglan, house-born to the Lin family.”

They started chatting, and Juanzi, being naturally innocent and straightforward in speech, quickly became familiar. Juanzi asked: “I wonder where we’ll be assigned to serve. Since you’re house-born, you must know quite a bit about the Lin family. What masters, mistresses, young masters, and young ladies are there? Tell me quickly!”

Xianglan thought for a moment and said quietly: “Old Master Lin Zhaoxiang was originally Minister of Personnel, later retiring to his hometown. After the Emperor ascended the throne, he wanted to reinstate him, but Old Master Lin had an old ailment, so he only served as Director of the Imperial Academy for five years before retiring again. Old Master Lin has only two sons. His eldest legitimate son, Lin Changzheng, achieved the highest imperial examination honors, was selected as an Imperial Hanlin Academy scholar, served in the provinces for several years, returned to Beijing to enter the Hanlin Academy, and after some years became Vice Minister of Revenue. He married Lady Qin from a noble family and had three sons and three daughters. Lin Jinlou is the eldest legitimate son, married to Lady Zhao from an aristocratic family; Lin Jinxuan is the second son, born of a concubine, not yet betrothed; Lin Jinyuan is the youngest legitimate son, still young; the eldest daughter’s name is Lin Dongwan, born of a concubine; the second daughter is the legitimate Lin Dongqi; the third daughter is the concubine-born Lin Dongxiu.

Old Master Lin’s second son, Lin Changmin, pursued a military career. A few years ago, he followed General Zhang Huanping during the Japanese troubles and now serves as a Brigade Commander in Jinling. He married Lady Wang, daughter of a civil official, and has only one legitimate son and one legitimate daughter, called Lin Jinting and Lin Dongling.”

Juanzi asked: “So the First Master’s family is still in Beijing now?”

Xianglan nodded and added: “However, First Master’s eldest son, Master Lou, was raised by the Old Master and Old Mistress since childhood.”

As they continued chatting, Second Steward Yang Zhong came out and said: “Quiet down now. Master Lou will come personally to inspect you shortly. Don’t make any embarrassing mistakes.”

Everyone immediately fell silent, the girls looking at each other without speaking. Xianglan held her bundle and looked up to see a young gentleman of twenty-four or twenty-five emerging from the arched doorway. He wore a dark green formal robe embroidered with orchid patterns, his jet-black hair bound with a gold and jade crown. Tall and straight-backed, with broad shoulders, striking features, and eyes that shone like cold stars, he carried an air of dignity and refinement. This was Lin Jinlou, the Lin family’s eldest legitimate grandson.

Among these girls, the youngest were only eight or nine, the oldest no more than thirteen or fourteen. Some blushed and lowered their heads sharply, some shyly tried to hide behind others, and some peeked out from behind others. Xianglan trembled slightly, thinking: “I saw him twice when we were young. Back then he was like a delicate jade figurine, willful and mischievous, known as a little terror. After fourteen years unseen, he’s grown into this – looking much more refined.” Remembering their once-proposed engagement, she felt a strange sensation.

Yang Zhong called out: “Stand properly, as instructed earlier.” He arranged the girls in a line and handed the roster to Lin Jinlou, saying: “Fifteen girls in total, ten house-born and five purchased. Please inspect them, Young Master.”

Lin Jinlou took the roster and compared it while looking at them, then crossed off several names with his brush, saying: “Didn’t I say we wanted those with proper appearances? How can these be considered proper?”

Yang Zhong bowed and smiled apologetically: “Some may look a bit rough, but they’re skilled and good at needlework…”

Lin Jinlou glanced sideways at Yang Zhong: “Does the manor lack people who can do needlework? Maids should first look presentable to be pleasing to the eye. Yang Zhong, you’re usually quite clever – don’t you understand this? Did some house servants give you silver to get their daughters and nieces in?”

Yang Zhong protested: “My lord, how dare I!”

Lin Jinlou snorted and had those he’d marked taken away. He questioned the remaining ones one by one, giving them new names, renaming Juanzi as “Xiaojuan.” When he reached Xianglan, the servant Shuangxi came running: “Young Master, two managers from the dock are waiting in the outer courtyard to see you, saying it’s urgent.”

Lin Jinlou immediately said: “I’ll go right away.” Remembering he hadn’t questioned the last maid, he drew a circle around Xianglan’s name as a marker, planning to question her later. He stuffed the roster to Yang Zhong, saying: “Just these few. Take them to Jihong Hall and have the old matrons teach them proper etiquette for a few days.” With that, he hurried away.

Yang Zhong called Yang Hongying and handed her the roster and the ten selected maids. Yang Hongying immediately led them toward Jihong Hall. Xianglan walked last, carrying her bundle and looking around. They passed through the small hall at the second gate and walked up a covered corridor. Suddenly the view opened up – everywhere were carved beams and painted rafters, exotic flowers, and plants. A winding stream flowed under the corridor, falling into a small pool surrounded by strange rocks, like a fairyland.

Xianglan felt overwhelmed by the sights, suddenly remembering her previous life in a grand mansion in Beijing, with even more magnificent scenery than this. Now with family destroyed and people gone, it truly matched the verse “The carved railings and jade steps must still be there, only the rosy faces have changed.” They passed around a large black wood screen carved with clouds and landscapes and saw a four-room hall with the main courtyard behind it. A maid wearing a silver-red vest stood on the steps, saying to Yang Hongying: “Why are you so late? I’ve been waiting here for ages.”

This maid was called Yingshuang, a servant to Lin Jinlou’s wife Zhao Yuechan. Yang Hongying knew that Zhao Yuechan and her servants were all difficult to deal with, and though troubled, she put on a smile and approached, asking: “What did you need me for?”

Yingshuang maintained a haughty demeanor and didn’t answer, just looked down the steps and said: “Are these the maids the Young Master selected? Just these few?” Without waiting for Yang Hongying’s response, she snatched the roster and turned around, saying: “Bring them all in, the Mistress wants to inspect them personally.”

Yang Hongying had no choice but to lead Xianglan and the others inside. Entering the main hall, Xianglan glanced up to see a dazzlingly beautiful woman sitting in the chair opposite. She wore a kingfisher feather and pearl phoenix hairpin, a red gold necklace with white jade, a five-colored silk sash with long tassels, a gold-embroidered jacket with peony patterns, and a rose-purple pleated skirt. Her thin upswept eyebrows and peach blossom eyes were captivating, her glances seeming both indifferent and alluring, full of grace and charm.

Yingshuang hurried forward to address the woman: “Mistress, they’ve all been brought.”

Zhao Yuechan took a sip of tea and said flatly: “Weren’t there over twenty brought in? Why are there so few now?” She looked at Yang Hongying.

Yang Hongying quickly replied: “These were personally selected by the Young Master, the rest were sent back.”

Zhao Yuechan smiled coldly: “Let me see how good the Young Master’s taste is. All of you, raise your heads so I can look.”

Everyone raised their heads, and Zhao Yuechan examined them carefully. She suddenly noticed a small maid wearing a new lake-blue dress, with a pretty oval face and darting eyes. She pointed and asked: “What’s your name?”

The maid started in fright and timidly replied: “Called… the Young Master just renamed me Yindie.”

Zhao Yuechan said coldly: “Listen to that, ‘Yindie’ – always choosing such coquettish names.” The room fell silent, no one daring to make a sound. Xianglan thought to herself: “This Mistress looks like a celestial maiden, but her temperament is like a demon – not so lovely after all.” Since Zhao Yuechan couldn’t read, she ordered Yingshuang to read the names from the roster. When Yingshuang reached the last name, she paused slightly, brought the roster to Zhao Yuechan, and pointed at Xianglan’s name, saying quietly: “Mistress, this one called Xianglan – the Young Master circled her name with his brush.”

Zhao Yuechan raised an eyebrow: “Who is Xianglan?”

Xianglan said: “I am.”

Zhao Yuechan looked Xianglan up and down several times, noting the girl’s refined features and extraordinary bearing. Her face darkened as she thought: “I knew when he urgently wanted me to buy maids, there was something behind it. It wasn’t about ‘making his parents and siblings comfortable at home’ at all, but about his base desires. Just as I suspected!” Looking at Xianglan again made her even more displeased. Just then, she heard Yingshuang whisper: “Perhaps Mistress wants to send this little hussy away? That won’t do – since the Young Master circled her name, he’s already taken an interest in her. Mistress is already at odds with the Young Master, driving away someone he’s chosen would only cause more trouble.”

Zhao Yuechan said stiffly: “If I don’t send her away, I’ll have trouble.”

Yingshuang said: “I have an idea. Why not place her somewhere remote? Perhaps the Young Master’s interest is momentary and he’ll forget about her. If he forgets her, we can send her away later. The Old Mistress has only days left – once she’s gone, the Young Master won’t have much attention to spare, no matter what he wants.”

Zhao Yuechan asked: “What if the Young Master asks about her?”

Yingshuang replied: “We’ll make excuses at first, and if that doesn’t work, the girl is still in the manor after all.”

Zhao Yuechan thought for a moment and nodded slightly, then told Yang Hongying: “Keep Xianglan here, take the rest away.”

Yang Hongying thought: “The Mistress immediately keeps the most beautiful girl – who knows what will become of this young girl?” She gave Xianglan a worried look but dared not argue, quickly leading the others away. Juanzi kept looking back at Xianglan, seeming very reluctant to leave.

Zhao Yuechan told Yingshuang: “Take her to Luoxue Courtyard. It happens that my cousin asked me for a maid recently, saying she was short-handed. Go tell her this maid is for her use.”

Following orders, Yingshuang led them out. Xianglan frowned, thinking: “Who is this cousin? Why haven’t I heard of her before?”

“The cousin is the granddaughter of the Old Master’s second sister. Her elders passed away early, and her brother’s family is poor, so she came to seek refuge with us,” Yingshuang glanced at Xianglan. “Serve her well. The cousin was betrothed in childhood, and now she’s just staying with our family for a year or so. Once the mourning period ends, she’ll marry. When she marries from our Lin family, it will bring honor.”

Xianglan inwardly sneered: “Just a maid, yet saying ‘us’ and ‘our Lin family’ – truly laughable.” But her face remained expressionless as she continued walking with downcast eyes.

Yingshuang led the two of them for quite a while until they reached a delicate small house built by the water, with one front room and two back rooms, uniformly finished with polished walls and black tile roofing, without any red or pink decorations. A robust woman in her fifties sat at the main door washing clothes. Seeing Yingshuang, she stood up and called into the house: “Miss Huan, Yingshuang is here!” Then she leaned against the doorframe, her large eyes scrutinizing Xianglan.