The Legend of the Jade Hairpin Pouch

Xue Xiangling, daughter of the wealthy Xue family of Dengzhou, was born into a life of luxury and spoiled from childhood. On her wedding day, following local custom, her mother prepared a beautifully embroidered qilin pouch for her, symbolizing the hope that she would soon have a child. The pouch was filled with priceless jewels, a symbol of the Xue family's wealth and glory. But fate had other plans. A sudden downpour forced the wedding sedan to stop at Chunqiu Pavilion for shelter. Just then, another, much plainer bridal sedan arrived. Inside was Zhao Shouzhen, daughter of the impoverished scholar Zhao Luhan. Her family had fallen on hard times, and she had no dowry at all for her wedding. Grief overcame her, and she began to weep inside the sedan. Hearing her, Xue Xiangling sent a servant to ask what was wrong. Moved by her plight, she generously gave Shouzhen her own qilin pouch to ease her hardship. Zhao Shouzhen was overcome with gratitude, but refused to accept such a gift without giving something in return. She kept only the empty pouch as a memento and returned every jewel it contained. When the rain stopped, the two bridal sedans went their separate ways, leaving behind a bond that would endure. Six years later, a devastating flood struck Dengzhou. Xue Xiangling was displaced and separated from her family, left to wander alone until she reached Laizhou. The young woman who had once been a wealthy heiress was now a destitute orphan with nowhere to turn. Fortunately, she encountered Hu, an old family servant, who brought her to stay at the residence of Lu Shengchou, a local official. The Lu family happened to be looking for someone to keep their young son, Lu Tianlin, company, so Xue Xiangling was made to serve as his nanny, her heart heavy with mixed emotions. During one of their games, Lu Tianlin tossed a toy into a side tower and insisted she go retrieve it. To her surprise, Xue Xiangling found the qilin pouch she had given away years ago in the tower, and burst into tears. It turned out that the lady of the Lu household was none other than Zhao Shouzhen, whom she had met at Chunqiu Pavilion. Now a high-ranking official's wife, Zhao was astonished to see Xiangling so haggard and destitute, and filled with gratitude for the great kindness she had shown her years ago.