My Mother was a courtesan, earning money with her own flesh and blood to support my father’s studies and imperial examinations.
Five years later, my father succeeded and was granted marriage to a princess by the Emperor.
Yet, in the Golden Throne Hall, he refused the marriage at the risk of his own life, and with great fanfare, married my Mother with ten miles of red bridal procession.
The princess was displeased.
Three days later, Mother was found abused and disheveled, dying at the entrance of an alley.
Half a year later, the princess finally married my father as she wished.
She did not know that this was the beginning of her misfortune.