It was the height of summer in July. The sun blazed in the sky, and the wind felt as if it carried fire. Even the lotus flowers in the courtyard pond had wilted slightly under the intense heat.
Tan Yin delicately wiped the sweat from her forehead with a handkerchief while gazing ahead. The line was still long, with no fewer than several hundred young women standing under the scorching sun. Some had their carefully applied makeup smudged by sweat, while others had their fine silk garments soaked through, each looking more disheveled than the next, yet not a single one dared to complain.
The courtyard was enormous, with a grand fountain made of white stone at its center. The water spouted in ever-changing patterns, and a rainbow arced above it. Nearby were artificial mountains, ponds, and small bridges. The lotus flowers, a mix of red and white, looked fresh and enchanting.
In the shade of the trees opposite the fountain sat a luxurious long table made of purple sandalwood. A man in purple robes, elegantly fanning himself with a folding fan, sat there, looking completely at ease. Among the young women standing in line, eight out of ten were stealing glances at him.
The girl at the front was asked a few questions, and the man in purple shook his head, seemingly rejecting her. Her face turned pale as she hurried away, stifling her sobs, not daring to make a sound. Afterward, five or six more girls were also rejected in quick succession, and the mood grew tense. Some even began to tremble slightly.
Was it really this strict just to select a maid? Tan Yin wiped her sweat again.
It had been many years since she’d witnessed such worldly opulence. She had heard that the Youhu clan selected young, capable girls from nearby towns every year to stay in this secluded mountain sanctuary and perform chores like cleaning and laundry for the immortal clan members.
She hadn't expected the immortals to hold themselves in such high regard these days, nor had she imagined so many people would come, many of them dressed in fine clothes and wearing elaborate makeup. How could anyone dressed like that be considered for a maid’s position?
Perhaps because of the oppressive heat, the elegant man in purple seemed to be losing patience. He asked each girl one or two casual questions before quickly shaking his head and dismissing them. The line was moving faster and faster, and soon it was Tan Yin’s turn.
The man in purple, bored, tapped the purple sandalwood table with his fan and spoke in a voice as clear as a breeze, “Step closer. How old are you? Where are you from?”
Tan Yin took two steps forward and calmly introduced herself, “Ji Tan Yin, seventeen years old, from Yuan City.”
Hearing her composed tone and confident speech, the man in purple raised his head to look at her. She wore simple, clean light blue clothes that set off her fair skin, giving her a fresh appearance. Though her beauty wasn’t striking, she carried herself with elegance and poise, leaving a good impression.
For the first time, he nodded slightly and asked, “What are your skills? Chess? Music? Or perhaps fine line drawing?”
Tan Yin was taken aback for a moment and then shook her head. “I don’t know any of those things, but I can handle cleaning and dusting.”
The man in purple sighed, just about to dismiss her, when he suddenly noticed her opening a worn, gold-embroidered pouch at her waist. She rummaged through it as she spoke, “I may not know chess or music, but I’m quite handy. I can fix doors, repair carts, and even make furniture.”
With that, she pulled out a small black hammer from the tiny pouch and confidently waved it.
The man in purple looked at the hammer, then at the pouch, which was clearly too small to hold such an item. His elegant brow furrowed, and his expression grew serious. His once relaxed gaze now carried a hint of suspicion and wariness as he silently observed her.
Tan Yin, still hopeful, added, “I’m really quite capable.”
At her words, the two maids standing behind the man in purple chuckled, their laughter like the sound of silver bells. Only then did Tan Yin notice that although their clothing was simple, the fabric was of the finest quality, and even their earrings were made of pearls. Both maids were stunningly beautiful, their radiance almost overshadowing the blinding sunlight, especially in the company of the extraordinarily handsome man in purple, an immortal of the Youhu clan.
The maid on the left laughed softly, “She’s amusing, talking about fixing doors and carts. There are skilled craftsmen for those things—why would we need a delicate girl like her for that?”
The maid on the right also smiled and said, “Let me tell you, the reason our master, Lord Tang Hua, and several other immortals are choosing new maids is that their previous ones have reached the age to be sent home. That’s why he has deigned to personally select new attendants. As one of his maids, you won’t be fixing doors or carts, nor will you need to clean or dust. You’ll need to be literate, know how to grind ink, light incense, and have at least a basic knowledge of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Since you don’t know any of these, you’d best leave quickly and not waste everyone’s time.”
Tan Yin lowered her head in thought, then simply put the small hammer back into her pouch and decisively walked away.
This wasn’t good—she couldn’t blend into the Youhu clan. Should she try another method? But she still hadn’t figured out exactly which person in the Youhu clan…
Lost in thought, she found herself walking near the lotus-filled pond. It was midday, and the sunlight was intense. She noticed that the lotus flowers had begun to change color—the white ones turning pink, and the pink ones gradually becoming white. The petals shifted in color, dreamlike and surreal.
It turned out to be a celestial-grade lotus. Tan Yin reached out, wanting to touch it, but suddenly a flash of cold light appeared before her eyes—two bronze halberds stopped just three inches from her wrist. A cold voice came from above, “How dare you! How could you attempt to touch or pick something belonging to the immortals?”
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