Xiangling

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Xiangling (Chinese:香菱; Pinyin: xiānglíng) is a major character in the novel Dream of the Red Chamber. She is the primary maid of the Xue household. Originally born as Zhen Yinglian(甄英蓮), she is the lost daughter of Zhen Shiyin(甄士隱), the country gentleman in chapter 1. She was kidnapped as a toddler and sold to the Xue family under the name Xiangling(Lotus). Also "concubine" to Xue Pan, she is greatly abused by him and later his wife Xia Jin'gui. Xiangling is a kind girl who is loved by Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai. When Pan leaves on a business trip and Jin'gui tries to kill Xiangling, Baochai takes her to the Garden to live with her. There, Xiangling is taught to write verses(Shi (poetry)). Eventually Xiangling dies of Xue Pan's maltreatment to her.