Chapter 1

My birth mother died in her third year at the Luo estate.

Luo Hongsheng had bought her for ten taels of silver.

Yet when she died, there were not ten taels to be found anywhere on her body.

Luo Hongsheng did not come when she died.

Only an old attendant from his principal wife’s household came to look. She summoned servants to carry my mother’s body away.

A maid was holding me at the time.

When I saw several matrons cover my mother with a white cloth and move to lift her, I struggled down and fished a few copper coins from inside my clothes.

With reddened eyes, I begged them to buy her a coffin so that she could be laid properly to rest.

The matrons hesitated and glanced at the old attendant.

Those few coppers would not buy more than a handful of paper offerings, much less a coffin.

A nameless woman without recognized status like my mother did not even count as a concubine.

Wrapping her in a straw mat and burying her in a pit would already be considered generous.

The attendant sent by Father’s wife was surnamed Chang. When Nanny Chang saw me stubbornly holding out those pitiful coins, she finally sighed.

“The child is a devoted daughter, at least.”

Because of that one sentence from Nanny Chang, my mother received a coffin and a reasonably dignified burial.

I was moved out of our little courtyard as well.

I was deeply grateful to Nanny Chang.

I heard a new woman moved into the courtyard the very next day.

Luo Hongsheng had brought her home from a brothel for one hundred taels of silver.

She was worth more than my mother.

After my mother died, I was taken to the main courtyard of Father’s principal wife.

She was not like the cruel stepmothers in the operas who delighted in tormenting children born to concubines.

She was not harsh, merely stern and seldom given to smiles.

When she saw me, she asked, “Which courtyard is she from?”

“The woman Master brought back from the countryside in Qi County—” Nanny Chang gave me a pitying look.

“The woman died the day before yesterday. This old servant saw how young the child was and how little noise she made. I doubt she would be any trouble—”

Father’s wife raised an eyebrow. “She’s mute?”

Trembling, I hid behind Nanny Chang.

My dirty face was streaked with dried tears, and my whole body shook.

Father’s wife shook her head and sighed. “What a pity—”

“Madam, she’s an honest child, young and obedient. Not being able to speak may be for the best. She can keep Eldest Miss company,” Nanny Chang said.

Father’s wife looked tired. After a moment’s thought, she waved a hand. “Then keep her.”

Just then, a servant came to report.

“The new lady asked for our finest pearl powder. I took her what we had in the storeroom, but she said it wasn’t enough. She wants to use it as a face mask—”

“A cheap thing out of a brothel, and she already thinks herself somebody? Even Madam would not indulge in washing her face with pearl powder. Who does she think she is?”

Nanny Chang was incensed.

Father’s wife rubbed her temples and glanced at me, standing beside her in bewilderment.

“These are merely petty tricks. Let her have her way.

“Master is infatuated with that woman at present. If a little pearl powder gives her an excuse to make a scene, there will be no end to the quarrel.

“It is tiresome. Better to buy a little peace and quiet—”

“Madam is right—” Mindful of my presence, Nanny Chang lowered her voice as she massaged her mistress’s temples.

“Master truly is… In the past, although he took one woman after another, they were respectable daughters at least. Even a woman like the one from Qi County would have been acceptable; her origins were clean. But now he has actually brought a prostitute into the estate. Won’t outsiders laugh at us?”

Father’s wife gave a cold laugh, her face utterly still.

“Men forever tire of the old and crave the new. He returned from his provincial posting convinced that his career was flourishing and he could climb all the way to the heavens. Since then, he has grown ever more reckless. Men are contemptible to the marrow—”

“Madam—”

At Nanny Chang’s warning, Father’s wife stopped. She called a maid to take me away and arrange my quarters.

As I left, I heard Nanny Chang murmur,

“In any case, she’s nothing but a plaything. Master won’t stay interested for long. Humor her now, and later… she may prove useful.”

Father’s wife answered with a cold laugh.