At seventeen, the old madam gave the head maids in the courtyard two choices.
Either become concubines to the masters of the various branches, or become the wife of a steward from the outer quarters.
There were four of us. Three chose to be concubines; only Yuchuan chose the steward.
She asked me why. I lowered my head and thought silently:
Because I don’t want my children to be servants anymore.