Chapter 2

It was midsummer in the seventh lunar month, with the sun blazing and the wind feeling like it carried a hint of fire. The lotus flowers in the courtyard pond were all wilting under the scorching sun.

Tanyin wiped the sweat off her forehead with a handkerchief, looking ahead. The line was still long, with hundreds of girls standing under the blazing sun. Some had their delicate makeup washed away by sweat, while others had their exquisite silk garments soaked. Each one looked disheveled, yet not a single person dared to complain.

The courtyard was spacious, with a grand fountain made of white stone in the center. The water was sprayed in various patterns, surrounded by rainbow hues. Beside it were artificial hills, ponds, and small bridges, with lotus flowers blooming in abundance in shades of red and white, adding a charming touch.

Under the shade of the trees opposite the fountain, there was a magnificent rosewood table. A young man in purple attire sat there, fanning himself gracefully. Among the young girls in line, eight out of ten were secretly stealing glances at him.

The girl at the front was asked a few questions, but the young man in purple shook his head, seemingly refusing her. She turned pale, turned around, and hurried out, stifling her sobs in her throat, too afraid to make a sound. Then, five or six more girls were rejected in succession, and the atmosphere sank to its lowest point. Some even began to tremble slightly.

“To be so strict in choosing a servant girl…” Tanyin wiped her sweat again.

She hadn’t witnessed the worldly hustle and bustle for many years. She heard that every year, the Fox Clan would select some young, capable girls from nearby towns to stay in this hidden mountain cave and do some household chores like dusting and washing for the immortals of the Fox Clan.

She couldn’t believe how lofty these immortals had become now, nor could she believe that so many people had come. Most of them were well-dressed and adorned, so how could they be dressed like this for chores?

Perhaps because of the scorching weather, the elegant young man in purple seemed impatient. He casually asked one or two questions to each girl before immediately shaking his head and sending them away. The queue moved faster and faster, and soon it was Tanyin’s turn.

The young man in purple lazily tapped the rosewood table with his fan and spoke in a voice as light as a breeze, “Step forward. How old are you? Where are you from?”

Tanyin took two steps forward and calmly introduced herself: “Ji Tanyin, seventeen years old, from Yuancheng.”

The young man in purple, hearing her calm voice and composed demeanor, looked up at her. She was wearing a clean and simple light blue cloth, which complemented her fair skin, giving her a refreshing look. Although she wasn’t stunningly beautiful, she had an elegant and graceful demeanor that was quite appealing.

For the first time, he nodded and asked, “What are you good at? Chess? Playing the zither? Or meticulous painting?”

Tanyin was taken aback for a moment, then shook her head and said, “I don’t know any of those. But I can do cleaning and dusting.”

The young man in purple sighed, about to wave her away, when he suddenly noticed her opening the old gilded leather pouch at her waist. With one hand rummaging inside, she said, “Though I may not be skilled in chess or such, I’m good with my hands. I can mend doors, fix carts, and even make furniture.”

As she spoke, she pulled out a small black hammer from the tiny pouch, confidently shaking it.

The young man in purple glanced at the hammer in her hand, then at the small pouch, clearly too small to hold such a tool. His attractive eyebrows furrowed, his expression no longer relaxed but now tinged with scrutiny and caution, as he quietly assessed her.

Tanyin continued to gaze at him, hopefully adding, “I’m really capable.”

At this, the two maids standing behind the young man chuckled, their laughter as melodious as silver bells. Tanyin then noticed that although the maids’ attire was simple, the materials were exquisite; even their earrings were pearls. Both of them had bright eyes, white teeth, and stunning beauty. Standing beside the extraordinary and elegant young man in purple, they overshadowed even the glaring sunlight.

The maid on the left chuckled lightly. “She’s quite amusing, talking about fixing doors and carts. Those tasks are usually done by skilled craftsmen. What use does a delicate girl have for them?”

The maid on the right also chuckled. “Let me tell you, this time it’s because our young master Tanghua has released several maidservants from our clan who have reached the age to return home. That’s why our young master has graciously come here to personally select a suitable maidservant. Let me also tell you that being the young master’s maid doesn’t require fixing doors and carts or doing household chores. You need to know how to read, grind ink, and add incense. You should have some knowledge of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Since you don’t know any of these, it’s best for you to leave quickly and not delay others.”

Tan Yin lowered her head, pondered for a moment, and reluctantly put the small hammer back into her pouch, then swiftly turned around and left.

Now things were getting difficult. Unable to blend in with the Fox Clan, should she try another approach? But she couldn’t be certain which member of the Fox Clan she was supposed to approach…

Lost in thought, she unknowingly approached the pond filled with a large patch of lotus flowers. In the strong sunlight of noon, she noticed the lotus flowers gradually changing color, white turning pink, then pink fading back to white. The colors of the petals shifted, creating a dreamlike scene.

It turned out to be the Lotus of Immortality. Tanyin reached out to touch it when suddenly, a cold light flashed before her eyes, and two bronze halberds stopped just inches away from her wrist. A chilly voice echoed above her: “How dare you! How dare you touch or pick anything from the immortal clan without permission!”

Tanyin raised her head to see two immortal clan guards who had been patrolling nearby standing on either side of her, glaring down at her from a higher vantage point. She paused and patiently explained, “This is the Lotus of Immortality. It won’t die so easily. Each flower has eighty-one petals, impossible to pluck by mortal strength alone. Its roots are tougher than iron wire, and the lotus seeds it produces are also very hard…”

The bronze halberds pressed against her neck, and the guard coldly ordered, “Get up! Leave quickly!”

Tanyin had no choice but to get up and dust herself off. Suddenly, a delightful and melodious chirping sounded from above her head. Then, a shower of golden light fell, revealing a massive Bird of Paradise hovering in mid-air, its feathers as white as snow, with several golden tail feathers swaying gracefully. Perched on the bird’s back was a man dressed in soap clothes, with intricate golden patterns embroidered on his collar and cuffs, looking very luxurious. He curiously looked down below for a moment before smiling and speaking, his voice gentle but with a slightly frivolous tone.

(T/N: soap clothes, also known as soap coats, are black clothes that were worn by officials during the Qin and Han dynasties, later demoted to the attire of lower-ranking officials.)

Immediately, the two guards dropped their halberds and knelt on the ground, speaking in respectful tones, “We pay our respects to the High Priest.”

As soon as the five words “High Priest” were uttered, the girls in the courtyard couldn’t help but whisper. Was this the extremely noble High Priest of the Fox Clan?!

The priests of the Fox Clan were different from ordinary priests. They presided over all kinds of ceremonies and celebrations within the clan. Apart from the elders, the priests held the most prestigious status in the clan.

The title “High Priest” was not his name; these three words represented his status as the highest-ranking priest among the Fox Clan.

With his robes fluttering, the man in soap clothes gracefully descended to the ground, clasping his hands together and bowing to the girls. In a slightly frivolous tone, he softly asked, “Why are so many young ladies gathered here?”

…Young ladies?

The girls were sweating profusely, daring to sneak glances at him. His long black hair was casually tied up, and although his attire was luxurious, it seemed particularly casual on him. It was said that immortals were stunning figures. For example, the young man in purple sitting under the tree should at least have a handsome appearance, but this immortal… cough, cough, was rather forgettable at first sight, almost as if the two guards standing next to him had more distinctive features.

The girls couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed.

Meanwhile, Tanyin silently scrutinized him from head to toe, then from toe to head, finally fixing her gaze on his left hand. Despite the scorching summer sun, he was wearing a black silk glove on his left hand.

Her eyes narrowed suddenly. It was him, no mistake. The High Priest of the Fox Clan? What was that? Since he was a priest, why did he still have such long hair?

Yuan Zhong smiled as he appraised the girls, each with a beautiful face and graceful figure. Some were even exceptionally stunning, truly a sight to behold. As he looked, his gaze fell upon Tanyin, and when he noticed the gilded leather pouch hanging from her waist, his eyebrows raised slightly—was that a Qiankun Bag?

He averted his gaze and smiled, asking, “You still haven’t told me; what are so many young ladies doing here in the Zifang Courtyard?”

One of the guards replied, “In response to the High Priest, they are young ladies from good families selected by Young Master Tanghua from Yuancheng. A few days ago, he released several batches of maidservants who had reached the age of twenty-two. Seeing the shortage of manpower, Young Master Tanghua decided to select a group beforehand.”

Yuan Zhong intentionally teased, “Tanghua has so many matters to attend to. It’s hard to believe he still remembers this. Indeed, old habits die hard.”

Before he could finish, the young man in purple under the tree interrupted angrily, “Feel your own cheek; see if it’s gotten a few inches thicker.”

With that, Tanghua walked over with two stunning maids. Their elegance and beauty instantly outshone everyone else; however, compared to the high priest next to them, their beauty is easily overshadowed.

Even his hair seemed to glow. The girls were almost intoxicated; this was what true immortal looked like!

Yuan Zhong indeed felt his own cheek. “It does seem to have thickened a bit.”

Tanghua could only smile wryly. He couldn’t have a serious conversation with this guy. Well, no one in the clan could have a serious conversation with the High Priest. He loved cracking jokes and diverting the topic, often with chillingly cold humor.

“I want to continue to select people. If you have something to do, you can leave. If you don’t have anything to do, please leave.”

Tanghua bluntly urged.

Yuan Zhong lazily leaned on his hand, smiling. “I happen to need a capable maid. Let me pick one first.”

With that, his eyes wandered back and forth among the girls, causing each one he looked at to lower their heads, wishing they could shrink into a ball.

Yuan Zhong strolled over with a smirk on his face, glancing at one girl and then another, each of them trying to avoid his gaze. Only Tanyin stared blankly at him. He walked directly up to her, suddenly raised his hand, and lightly tapped her forehead with his finger, saying, “It’s you.”

Amidst a chorus of relieved sighs, Tanyin’s calm voice sounded surprisingly delighted, “My name is Ji Tanyin, seventeen years old. It’s my fortune to serve the High Priest.”

Tanghua looked at Yuan Zhong thoughtfully. This man was always lazy and unruly, and his status was special. There had never been any talk of maids serving him before, so it was quite unusual for him to request a maid. Tanghua, knowing that Yuan Zhong had much broader knowledge than himself, must have seen something special in this girl. Was the item hanging from her waist indeed the legendary Qiankun Bag?

The Qiankun Bag, an extremely rare treasure in the world, was casually worn by an ordinary woman. Who was she? The Fox Clan had no shortage of enemies, and there was a possibility that the newcomer might not be friendly.

Yuan Zhong suddenly glanced at Tanghua, who immediately understood. It seemed they needed to thoroughly investigate the true identity of this woman.