Chapter 1

When I was fourteen, I got so hungry that I sold myself to a slave broker.

My plan was to find some temporary work, stay for three or five days, eat for three or five days, then pack another three or five days’ worth of food and leave.

Of course I knew taking a servant’s job meant signing an indenture contract. That wouldn’t stop me from leaving whenever I pleased, though. Otherwise, what had I spent ten years training in martial arts for?

The day after I sold myself, the broker brought me and several other young girls to an enormous estate. The place was so big that it took me half an hour just to reach a fragrant, beautiful courtyard.

I thought using my lightness skill would have been much easier.

Still, the courtyard truly was lovely. Soft gauze hung from the pavilion, and pretty flowers bloomed everywhere.

While I was craning my neck and peering around, a group of people arrived.

At their head was a man who looked to be in his thirties. He was tall and elegant as carved jade, with eyes like stars. He was so handsome.

Half a step behind him stood a beautiful woman in her twenties. Her brows were like distant mountains, and her eyes seemed to hold all the gentleness in the world.

I had never seen anyone so beautiful before. I stared, spellbound. The girl beside me desperately tugged at my sleeve, but I shook her off.

Don’t interrupt me while I’m admiring a beauty. How annoying!

The broker snapped, “Insolence! Lower your head!”

I froze, realized she was talking to me, and could only pout and duck my head. Then I secretly glanced up from the corner of my eye.

They really were beautiful—the kind of people who filled your heart with delight at first sight.

“It’s all right,” the man said. Oh, even his voice sounded wonderful!

I couldn’t help lifting my head again, only to find him watching me with an assessing look in his eyes.

The man walked over and raised a hand. I instinctively leaned aside to dodge—huh? Was that a folding fan?

Was he planning to rap me with it? Why? I wasn’t a watermelon.

In the space of that thought, I shifted back into place and let him tap me twice.

The man paused. “Hold out your hand.”

Was he going to smack my palm? That was exactly what my father used to do.

I held out my hand, but the man didn’t strike me. He examined it, then told the broker, “Keep this one.” Turning to me, he added, “Go stand beside Madam.”

Madam had to be that beautiful woman, right? Wonderful!

I scampered over to the beautiful woman—no, Madam—and gazed at her with stars in my eyes.

Madam’s voice was soft and gentle, like clear spring water. “What is your name, and where are you from?”

My name was Ruan Qingzhu, and I came from the north. But Father had said I must never casually give anyone my real name. I agreed completely, especially since I planned to run away.

So I said, “My name is Xiaozhu. I’m from Jiangnan.”

Madam nodded. “Xiaozhu. A lovely name. From today onward, you will be the eldest young lady’s dowry maid.”

I was delighted. The beautiful woman had praised my name and made me the eldest young lady’s maid.

The eldest young lady! That had to make her the third most important person in the household. She was bound to have plenty of delicious food!

Many years later, whenever I thought back to my first day at the Jiang estate, I couldn’t help lamenting how thoroughly rotten scholars could be. With just two sentences, they swindled away most of my life.

Beauty truly leads people astray. It does indeed!