What is "xiangling"

Xiangling (; Pinyin: Xiānglíng, rendered Caltrop in David Hawkes's translation) is a character in the novel Dream of the Red Chamber. She is the primary maid of the Xue household. Originally named Zhen Yinglian , she is the lost daughter of Zhen Shiyin , the country gentleman in Chapter 1. Kidnapped as a young girl on the streets and sold to the Xue family under the name Xiangling (Lotus). Also an unofficial " concubine" to Xue Pan, she is greatly abused by him and later his wife, the cruel Xia Jingui. Xiangling is a kind girl who is much loved by Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai.

When Pan leaves on a business trip and Jingui tries to kill Xiangling, Baochai takes her to the Garden to live with her. There, Xiangling is taught to write verses ( Shi (poetry)). In the Cheng-Gao version, Xiangling eventually dies of Xue Pan's maltreatment.