In the declining years of the Qing Dynasty in 18th Century China, a boy was born with a jade pendant in his mouth. The jade would portend happiness that would wane, a result of tragedy and loss.

Baoyu was born into the privileged Jia clan, a noble family living in a sprawling family compound in the center of Beijing. He lived with his doting Grandmother, visited regularly with his mother in her separate courtyard but avoided his rigid, authoritarian father who displayed “harshness when leniency was an alternative.”

Baoyu’s idyllic life was enhanced by the arrival of first cousin Daiyu, a thin waif who came to live at the mansion. She taught herself to write poetry, was gifted in painting and engaged in Zen conversations. She tended toward melancholy. Daiyu and Baoyu became inseparable, that is, until first cousin Baochai arrived. Baochai was beautiful, even tempered and obedient, gracious to both masters and servants. Daiyu appeared to be arrogant and was a bundle of nervous energy. “Each girl shared half of my name…Baoyu, Daiyu, Baochai…I saw a triangle with me at the apex…while Daiyu and I were soulmates, I also felt a pull toward Baochai.” Baoyu knew that aristocratic families liked to marry first cousins to each other. Would Grandmother arrange for Baoyu to marry Daiyu?

Secrets did not exist in the Jia mansion. “Servants surrounded us every moment of our lives…watching and listening…” When Baoyu formed his own independent household on his 14th birthday, Grandmother gifted him with her junior maid, Amber. Amber would become his chief maid. “No rule prohibited Jia masters from consorting…with their servants…Daiyu knew the rules…As long as my other partners (such as Amber) were mere servants, it didn’t matter.”

As a spoiled, pampered young man, Baoyu was unable to “man up” and prevent the repercussions of innocently sharing a candy. Unspeakable tragedy occurred when he returned home tearfully, wearing the red shirt belonging to another. His jade pendant was missing. Deception…a veil covered face…Baoyu, duped into an unwanted arranged marriage.

Worldly possessions were fleeting. Anyone, at any time, could fall from grace. The dilemma: uphold societal expectations in deference to Grandmother (Her Old Ladyship), parents and wife, or follow the path to enlightenment and personal fulfillment. How timely the mystical presence of a barefoot Buddhist monk wearing a moth eaten maroon robe and a lame Taoist priest with a head full of long, tangled hair. They had discovered the lost jade pendant! “There was an alternative to always obeying my family dictates…to seek peace of mind…that became the purpose of my life…”.”He who has attained the Way makes no show of it. He who makes a show of it has not attained the Way.”

An excellent historical fiction read of 18th Century Chinese society during the Qing Dynasty.

Thank you HTF Publishing and Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.