Hui Er peeked several times into the east room, then tiptoed back to the bedroom in the west room and whispered to Cao Li Huan, “She’s still embroidering, and hasn’t even lifted her head once. Seems like an honest one.”
Cao Li Huan sneered, “Of course she’s diligent now, having just arrived. Who knows what she’ll be like later?”
Hui Er frowned and said, “She’s far too eye-catching. With that face alone, I doubt she’ll stay grounded. What’s her background? Was she bought or house-born?” Her skin was yellowish and she was somewhat plump, yet she loved beauty and finery, so seeing Xiang Lan’s snow-white complexion and graceful figure made her bitter with jealousy.
“Ying Shuang told me she’s house-born. Her father is a third manager at an antique shop,” Cao Li Huan took a sip of tea. “Such families are neither high nor low, just barely respectable. They’re easy to handle though – no need to worry about insolent servants defying their masters.”
Hui Er giggled, “My dear Young Lady, forget about insolent servants – even their ancestors would have to bow before you.”
Cao Li Huan looked pleased, lifted her teacup for a sip, then turned to Huai Rui and said, “Both of you keep an eye on her.” She added irritably, “That worthless Zhao Yue Chan – I wasted a pair of fine jade bracelets on her, and she sends me an untrained maid fresh to the household!”
Huai Rui said, “Well, at least we finally got someone after asking for so long.”
Hui Er picked up a piece of cake and said while chewing, “True enough. The only person we can talk to is Elder Madam. Having one maid is better than none at all.”
Cao Li Huan maintained her dark expression and sneered, “I’ll endure it for now, but once I’m married, I’ll have my revenge. There isn’t a single good person in this entire Lin household!”
“Who says there aren’t any? Our Young Lady is excellent!” Hui Er poured tea for Cao Li Huan from a porcelain pot decorated with birds and flowers, giving Huai Rui a meaningful look.
Huai Rui smiled and said, “Indeed! All the young ladies in the mansion combined can’t match Young Lady’s talent, beauty, and capability.”
These words struck right at Cao Li Huan’s heart. Though she couldn’t hide her smile, she sighed, “I just wasn’t born lucky. In earlier years when Father was bedridden, among all the children, only I attended his sickbed. Right after Father passed, Mother fell ill and didn’t last long. Not only did we spend all our money, but I couldn’t even make a good marriage match.”
Hui Er said, “Speaking of that, I feel upset too. With Young Lady’s qualities, if Master and Madam were still alive, suitors would be breaking down our door. You could have had anyone. Now… sigh, it’s truly unfair to Young Lady.”
“The Ren family isn’t bad. The other day when they sent their carriage to the mansion, I saw Young Master Ren – truly a fine gentleman. The Ren family is small, and after marrying there, the Young Lady would only need to serve their Old Madam and young sister-in-law. In a couple of years, the young sister-in-law will marry out, and after another couple of years, when the Old Madam passes, the household will be peaceful and quiet – much better than marrying into a large family,” Huai Rui said. As she spoke, Cao Li Huan nodded, her expression finally brightening.
Time passed quietly.
Before dinner, Xiang Lan brought one finished embroidered handkerchief to Cao Li Huan. Seeing one piece completed so quickly, Cao Li Huan was shocked. Upon close inspection, she found the stitches even and delicate, the colors subtle and elegant – though a small piece, it was exceptionally bright and vivid.
Though satisfied inside, her earlier displeasure with Xiang Lan had only slightly diminished. Feeling she needed to point out some flaws to demonstrate her expertise, she forcefully criticized several “poorly done” areas and said, “Though you work quickly, speed shouldn’t come at the expense of quality. I learned embroidery from Yu Zhou’s finest embroiderer, and by age seven or eight, my work was better than yours is now.”
Realizing her words seemed inappropriate, she put on a smile and added, “Huai Rui’s needlework is unspeakable, and Hui Er has many other duties. Once you perfect your embroidery, you’ll have your chance to shine. In a household like this, maids skilled in needlework always catch their masters’ attention. You’re new and don’t understand anything, and it’s only because I’m kindhearted that I’m guiding you. Other masters wouldn’t care about their maids’ welfare at all.”
Having gained some understanding of Cao Li Huan’s character, Xiang Lan thought to herself, “This young lady thinks too highly of herself and likes to praise some while belittling others. She’s not easy to get along with. I’d better just agree with her.” So she replied anxiously, “Thank you for your guidance, Young Lady. I’m fortunate to have such a mistress as yourself.”
As expected, Cao Li Huan smiled and selected a piece of confectionery she didn’t particularly like from the plate in front of her, offering it to Xiang Lan, “You’ve worked hard all afternoon. I specially saved this sweet for you. Take a break and enjoy it.”
Xiang Lan accepted the sweet and smiled, “Thank you for your reward, Young Lady. I’ll return to my embroidery now.”
As soon as she left, Xiang Lan’s smile vanished. She walked straight to the bamboo grove beside Luo Xue Wu, lifted the white pastry to examine it, and a mocking smile crossed her lips. She muttered, “This afternoon, I heard her shouting in the room: ‘This white pastry has too much osmanthus sugar, it’s sickeningly sweet. Huai Rui, take the remaining two pieces out to feed the dogs, and if they won’t eat them, throw them in the pond for the fish.’ I exhausted myself embroidering a handkerchief, received not one kind word, and am rewarded with a sweet that even dogs won’t eat – yet she claims she ‘specially saved it’ for me. This young lady is truly ‘generous.'” She took a large bite of the pastry and felt a sickeningly sweet and greasy taste rush to her head, making her want to vomit.
Xiang Lan forced herself to chew and swallow, fighting back the urge to retch. She told herself, “Chen Xiang Lan, remember the taste of this sweet. As long as you’re someone’s servant, you must endure such humiliation. But this shouldn’t be your fate. You must maintain patience, cultivate humility, control your anger, and find a way to leave service with dignity so that no one can look down on you!”
She stood in the bamboo grove for a moment, watching the orange-red sunset and listening to the flowing water. She recited the Great Compassion Mantra twice. The evening breeze blew through the window, caressing her cheeks and dispersing the last traces of irritation from her heart. Only then did she take several deep breaths, adjust her clothes, and slowly walk back.
The next morning, Cao Li Huan brought out crimson silk and had Xiang Lan embroider a pair of pillowcases with mandarin ducks playing in the water, along with red wedding clothes and hundred-children garments, all with complex patterns requiring considerable effort.
Xiang Lan was dumbfounded and thought to herself, “These are all essential items for a bride, normally made by the unmarried young lady herself. Only those with poor skills have their parents arrange for embroiderers to rush the work. How can this young lady give me all these tasks alone? When will I ever finish? Even working for three years, I doubt I could complete it all.”
Cao Li Huan said, “All the work is here, get to it quickly.” Then she left with Hui Er to pay respects to the elders.
Having no choice, Xiang Lan buried herself in needlework. There was much to do, and Cao Li Huan was extremely particular – if anything didn’t meet her standards, she’d make Xiang Lan undo it and start over, followed by scolding: “You’re so clumsy! My former needlework maid Xiao Yuan was a hundred times more skillful than you,” or “You’re too slow and stupid. Xiao Yuan was much faster – she could finish two pillowcases and an entire bedspread with magpies and plum blossoms in just half a year.” After each scolding, she’d put on a smile and say earnestly, “I’m doing this for your good. What other master would take such care in training their servants? You’ll appreciate my kindness later.”
Hearing such words, Xiang Lan had to maintain her simple and honest appearance, saying sincerely, “I know Young Lady Huan means well.” She swallowed her grievances and continued playing the role of the docile fool.
Xiang Lan was good-natured and appeared gentle and weak. She never shirked work or tried to be clever, and her hands were quick. She spoke little in Luo Xue Wu, and after two or three days, people began to see her as someone easy to bully, calling on her for everything. “Xiang Lan, quickly fan the stove.” “Xiang Lan, wipe all the windows with a cloth.” “Xiang Lan, why haven’t you brought Young Lady’s soup yet?” “Xiang Lan, Young Lady wants to wear her pea-green clothes, go look for them in the wardrobe.” “Xiang Lan, wash the handkerchiefs and then mend the purse.” The demands were endless. Being new, she inevitably made mistakes when busy and couldn’t avoid being scolded.
Xiang Lan spent her days spinning like a top, often having new tasks assigned before finishing the current ones. When Cao Li Huan distributed work, she gave easy and visible tasks to Hui Er and Huai Rui, while giving all the rough and tedious work to Xiang Lan. She spent her days walking in the garden with Hui Er, chatting about whose hairpin looked nice, which family’s powder was good, how certain clothes complemented someone’s complexion, laughing and playing around. Huai Rui would frequently disappear to avoid work, and Cao Li Huan would turn a blind eye.
Gradually, whenever Xiang Lan completed a task, whether brewing tea, finishing needlework, or anything else, Hui Er would snatch it away saying, “Alright, you rest now, I’ll take this in.” She would then present it to Cao Li Huan with flattery and compliments. Naturally pleased, Cao Li Huan would reward her with small items and assign new tasks, which Hui Er would then pass on to Xiang Lan as soon as she left the room.
Xiang Lan endured it all silently, keeping her head down and working without saying a word.