There is also the choice of age. At that time, it was stipulated that the age of young people entering the palace to be selected was between 13 and 16, and they were selected every three years. The book says that in the second year after Baochai entered the Jia family, Wang Xifeng and Jia Lian discussed giving Baochai a birthday. It is clearly written here that Baochai 15 years old is in the prime of life, which means Baochai was 14 years old when she entered the palace for election, just in line with her age. Of course, as we all know, Baochai was finally defeated. That's why there was the later saying of blessing.
Lin Daiyu's ancestor was a hereditary marquis sealed by the imperial court, which was mentioned in the book when introducing her father, Lin Ruhai. As can be seen from the account in the book, the Daiyu family should not lose to the Jia family, but also made great contributions with the first emperor, and was later named as a Liehou, hereditary for three generations. Therefore, it is also possible that, like Jia Jia, he was born in a coating. Therefore, it stands to reason that Daiyu's identity is much more noble than Baochai's. If you are elected to the palace, you are eligible to be elected as the emperor's concubine.
The grade of Daiyu in the original text is explained like this. Daiyu was only five years old when Jia Yucun taught her to study. After teaching for a year, my mother Jia Min died and was taken in by Jia Fu. In other words, Daiyu should be six or seven years old when she entered Jiafu. Combined with the age requirements of the imperial manuscript, it is obvious that this time does not meet. In addition, the mother just died, according to etiquette is to keep filial piety for three years. When Baochai 14 entered Jiafu, Baochai was two years older than Baoyu, and Baoyu was one year older than Daiyu. In this way, when Baochai entered Jiafu, Daiyu should be 1 1. That is to say, at this time, Baoyu and Daiyu have been together for five years.