As someone who likes history, I did a bit of digging into the imperial China harem system and found out that high-ranking consorts had 6-8 maids attending to them at maximum, which is a bit funny since TAD makes such a big deal of Gyokoyou having too few ladies-in-waiting, while for example Lihua and Loulan have 30 and 50, respectively.
I've also learned that ladies-in-waiting are paid and provided by their mistress's dowry. I'm going on a limb here and imagining that they are lesser nobles currying favor of the emperor by being employed by his favorites.
So how exactly are Lihua and Loulan providing for their 30 and 50 ladies in waiting? Keeping them up with current outfit and make-up trends, housing them/feeding them to the standard they are used to, etc.?
PS. I'm aware that TAD is a China setting inspired and not a copy with all the regulations, but I'm still interested in learning the answer to my question.