The back courtyard of Rongguo Immortal Estate, on the floating island where Lin Daiyu lived.
It was afternoon. The dazzling sunlight filtered through the lush branches of several immortal trees in the courtyard, making everyone want to squint.
The small courtyard sat on its own miniature floating island. It wasn't very large, perhaps just over a thousand square meters, but it was peaceful and secluded, far from Grandmother Jia's main courtyard and rich in spiritual energy. From afar, one could see white clouds drifting and unfurling; nearby, exotic flowers and plants filled the air with fragrance. It was a fine place for quiet cultivation.
"..."
By then, Lin Daiyu had already been waiting for quite some time in the little pavilion in the courtyard.
She wore a simple moon-white ruqun with narrow sleeves that allowed her to move freely. Her long hair was simply pinned up with a jade hairpin. She wore no makeup, yet still possessed an ethereal grace.
She sat upright in the pavilion. On the small table before her stood a pot of clear tea and two porcelain cups. The tea had gone lukewarm, but she had no mind to drink it. Every so often, she glanced toward the moon gate leading to the inner room, an almost imperceptible mix of impatience and anticipation between her brows.
Behind her stood only two maids, Zijuan and Xueyan. They were both respectful, their eyes occasionally straying toward the inner room.
Zijuan, whose original name was Yingge, had been a second-rank maid in Grandmother Jia's quarters. When Lin Daiyu arrived with only two young maids, Grandmother Jia worried they wouldn't be enough to serve her, so she gave Yingge to Daiyu and renamed her Zijuan.
Unlike the taciturn Xueyan, Zijuan was clever and quick-witted. She soon became close to Daiyu,