Chapter 1: When lacking clothing, the weather is indeed cold

Yuwen Muzhou rampaged through the East Market's twenty-eight lanes, engaging daily in fights and brawls or extorting traveling merchants. Money came quickly and left just as fast; as soon as it was in hand, it was immediately spent, never taken home. He showed no regard for his mother's hard life, lacking even a shred of filial piety

Yu Wenhua was inherently cold-hearted and had witnessed many instances of legitimate children sidelining their illegitimate siblings, so he did not take it to heart. The expulsion of the Han mother and son was even better; out of sight, out of mind. He had long regretted his initial attraction to Han, and having his wife take action saved him the trouble. As for the son from Muzhou, he was not lacking in sons anyway; in prominent families, it was not uncommon to kill a son, let alone discard one, which was a trivial matter.

A few days ago, he led a group of subordinates to the West Market to vie for territory, charging to the front and engaging in brawls with the local thugs. However, leading the charge often results in being the first to fall, suffering severe injuries and returning in disgrace. After the thugs sent him home, he passed away that very night

"No, no, our little ones can manage to pull a cart and carry some goods, but how can they compare to the soldiers? Accompanying them on an expedition is a matter of life and death!" the head servant said with a forced smile.

After being driven away, Han was left with no support and could only endure a hard life as a servant in the streets, raising Mu Zhou. Every day, Han scrimped and saved, preferring to go without food herself to ensure her son was well-fed. She even managed to set aside a meager portion of her scant salary to send Mu Zhou to school, hoping that he would achieve success in the future and not suffer the same bullying she had endured throughout her life. Life was difficult, yet twenty years passed in the blink of an eye.

At this time, Yuwen Huaji had not yet married, but suddenly heard that he had a son, leaving him dumbfounded and unable to think of a solution. However, Yuwen Shu was quite pleased. Although the child's mother was merely a rough servant girl, the child was the eldest grandson of the Yuwen family. In his moment of joy, he ordered someone to bring the child over and even named him Yuwen Muzhou, officially recognizing this grandson. The Han mother and son finally had an identity. Although Yuwen Huaji had never even glanced at them, with Yuwen Shu, the grandfather, providing support, they were at least assured of their basic needs. The child was indeed the eldest grandson of the Yuwen family, and in his moment of joy, he ordered someone to bring the child over and even named him Yuwen Muzhou, officially recognizing this grandson. The Han mother and son finally had an identity. Although Yuwen Huaji had never even glanced at them, with Yuwen Shu, the grandfather, providing support, they were at least assured of their basic needs.

Just like the *Illustrated* book, Han had no choice but to endure in silence. Sold into the Duke's household as a servant since childhood, she had long lost her home; what else could she do but bear the hardship?

Han initially thought that seeking out her father-in-law, Yuwen Shu, would provide her and her son with an explanation. However, she found herself unable to even enter the gates of the Duke's residence. The low-ranking servants she had previously known dared not report her presence, while the stewards who could have informed Yuwen Shu were unwilling to offend the lady of the Shaoqing's residence, deliberately avoiding mentioning her and her son in front of Yuwen Shu.

Several servants were transporting vegetables while whispering to each other, occasionally glancing with the corners of their eyes at a middle-aged woman standing in the corner.

Unfortunately, after reaching adulthood, Yu Wen Mu Zhou did not pursue his studies diligently. Instead of focusing on his education, he engaged in violent confrontations. Even at over twenty years of age, he has not established a proper livelihood, yet he relies on the reputation of the Yu Wen family to swagger and deceive others.

Upon reflecting on these matters, a trace of compassion surged within him, and his expression softened somewhat. Yu Wenlaifu and Han, both hailing from the household of Duke Xu, Yu Wenxu, were already acquainted. Yu Wenlaifu had long been aware of Han's unfortunate fate. As fellow servants, although he did not dare to complain about their master, he truly could not bear to witness Han's plight.

Yuwen Laifu snorted, noticing the servant standing cautiously beside him, he felt somewhat more at ease and said: "Look at you all, it's just a matter of transporting winter vegetables, yet each of you is shouting hoarsely as if in a ghostly wail. With this much energy, why not report to the Emperor and join the expedition to Goguryeo? Tell me, who among you wishes to enlist? I can go speak to the Prince Consort and fulfill your wishes right away"

The woman, upon hearing their mockery, felt her face flush with shame. However, she was also at her wit's end; a destitute person has no choice but to endure. Even though she was fully aware of the disdain directed at her, she could not bring herself to leave.

The heavens are blind, for Yu Wenxiu's eldest son, Yu Wenhuaji, in his youth and arrogance, relied on his father's influence in the court to rampage through the capital daily, disregarding the law and earning the notorious title of "The Licentious Young Master" known to all in the city. One day, after getting drunk, Yu Wenhuaji accidentally stumbled into the kitchen, a place he had never visited before, where he encountered Miss Han, who was busy working. In a moment of unbridled lust, he dragged Miss Han into the woodshed and committed a heinous act that outraged both gods and men.

At this moment, a person emerged from the Moon Gate to the south and quickly entered the western courtyard. Upon entering the courtyard, this person displayed a hint of anger on his face and shouted in a sharp voice: "What is all this noise about? Such a commotion has even reached the inner chambers. Anyone who disturbs the princess's afternoon rest should be careful, or I will punish them severely!"

Yuwen Laifu tucked his hands into his sleeves, gazing at the sky, and pointed at the servants with his chin, speaking in a sarcastic tone: "Achievements can only be gained on horseback! However, given your character, you can forget about mounting a horse and wielding a spear; riding a donkey and using a sieve would be more appropriate!"

Not only did Yu Wenshu gain the title of the legitimate grandson in Chengdu, but his younger son Yu Wenshi also married Princess Nanyang and became a royal consort. His attention had long since shifted, and coupled with his busy efforts to curry favor with the emperor, he had no time to manage the conflicts between his sons and their wives. When others did not mention it, he too would forget about it. However, during family gatherings on holidays, he would naturally inquire about Mu Zhou when he did not see him, but after receiving a few perfunctory replies from his daughter-in-law, he would let it go.

The story begins over twenty years ago, when Yu Wenlaifu was merely a minor steward, not yet having attained the position of housekeeper, while Han was still a young girl. Due to her humble origins, she could only wash dishes and vegetables in the kitchen. With over a thousand servants in the Yu Wen household, Han was relegated to the kitchen to perform menial tasks, and it seemed that she would never have any interaction with her masters in her lifetime.

He has come back to life, yet he begins to speak incoherently, uttering a number of nonsensical statements, claiming that he is not of this world, and mentioning that he used to be some kind of marketing manager. Han Shi cannot comprehend this, but her son insists that he is not his mother. This is something she understands clearly; he has lost his mind and is afflicted by madness

The woman known as Han approached Yu Wenlaifu, raising high a basket of eggs she was carrying, and with a smiling face said: "This year, the snow came early. I have been thinking of the princess, knowing she loves honey-boiled eggs, so I brought her a basket of eggs. I hope the chief steward will accept them!" As she spoke, her eyes were fixed on Yu Wenlaifu's, fearing that he might find it unworthy. She knew that this gift was not presentable, but her family could no longer produce anything decent, and there was truly nothing else to consider.

Feigning ignorance was no longer an option. Yu Wenlaifu first frowned, then forced a look that seemed to be both crying and laughing, a mix of welcome and rejection. He stood still, affecting a tone of feigned surprise as he said, "Oh, is this not Han? What brings you to the Princess's residence?" The words 'Princess's residence' were pronounced with particular emphasis, as if to remind Han that this was not a place she should be visiting.

Although it has just entered winter, this year's weather is unusually cold. It seems that the heavens are displeased with the poor, as a heavy snowfall arrived early, covering Daxing City with a layer of white. The rooftops and streets are blanketed in white fluff, and the cold has driven the sun back home, leaving the sky overcast and gray

The Sui Dynasty, Year 7 of the Daye Era, Daxing City in the capital, Xingdao Fang, Princess Nanyang's residence

Han wept inconsolably at the death of his son, wailing throughout the night. Perhaps moved by his grief, Yuwen Muzhou unexpectedly came back to life again

The new mistress increasingly looked down upon the Han mother and son, and at the same time, she was unwilling for her son to call Mu Zhou "brother" when he grew up. How could the son of a lowly servant be worthy of being called "brother" by Chengdu? It was simply an insult to the noble lineage. One day, she found an excuse and drove the Han mother and son out of the house

A servant suddenly said: "You bunch of worthless scoundrels, hurry up and work harder. If you slack off and provoke the prince, he might throw you out of the residence, and you won't even be able to eat pickled vegetables and steamed buns, forced to beg like others!" His tone was filled with sarcasm as he cast a glance at the woman in the corner. The servants responded in unison, laughing and joking as they carried the vegetables into the storage room

The woman's clothing was not as warm as that of the servants; on this cold day, she was still wearing autumn attire. Her clean, light gray coarse cloth skirt was full of patches, and she carried a bamboo basket in her hand, her feet constantly stamping on the ground. The coarse black cloth shoes had already become worn and faded. This woman had a gaunt face, with a somewhat sallow complexion, as if she had endured much suffering from hunger and cold. She was aware that the servants were discussing her, and her expression was inevitably awkward as she lowered her head and remained silent

Once they moved out of the Duke's residence, the living standards of Han and her son plummeted immediately. The lady of noble birth was already extremely dissatisfied with Yu Wenhua having a son out of wedlock, and although such matters were not uncommon among aristocratic families, few could remain magnanimous when it happened to them. Furthermore, Yu Wenhua showed no regard for Han, allowing the new lady to act without restraint, driving Han and her son into the woodshed to live, providing insufficient food and clothing, and truly mistreating the two of them.

In the western courtyard of the princess's residence, a group of servants is busy transporting winter vegetables to the warehouse. They are all dressed in blue garments and small hats, wearing thick cotton robes and sturdy high-bottomed cotton boots. Each of them is sweating profusely, and the breath they exhale forms small puffs of white mist in front of their faces. The snow on the ground in the courtyard crunches under the weight of their cotton boots.

Yu Wenlaifu glanced at the basket and noticed that the eggs inside were of mixed colors, clearly accumulated over a long period. It was likely that the Han family usually could not bear to eat them, and when coming to the princess's residence to seek assistance, they could not arrive empty-handed, which is why this basket of eggs was brought. Furthermore, seeing her hands, which were frozen and turning purple from the cold, one could easily guess that she had been waiting in the courtyard for quite some time, yet no one was willing to announce her presence. Had it not been for his chance arrival, she would probably have waited in vain for an entire day.

The chief steward is named Yu Wenlaifu. He was previously the second steward of the Yu Wen residence. Since Yu Wen Shiji married the Princess of Nanyang, he has been assigned to the princess's residence as the chief steward, which can be considered a promotion of half a rank

This person has a short stature, is in his fifties, wears a sheepskin hat, is dressed in a deep blue robe, and has a neatly trimmed goatee on his chin. From the tone of his speech, it is said that he is a steward in the princess's residence

Yuwen Laifu said, "Who is it?" Following the direction pointed by the head servant, he saw the woman. His expression changed from clear to gloomy, and he immediately shot a fierce glare at the head servant, whispering, "Why didn't you say so earlier!"

The good times did not last long. Soon after, Yu Wenhua married the daughter of a prominent family and was promoted to the position of Minister of Imperial Horses. He moved out of the residence of the Duke of Xu to establish his own household, and naturally, the Han family also followed suit with their son.

The servant hurriedly said, "Indeed, indeed, the chief steward is absolutely right!" Having long been in a subordinate position, he understood how to deal with his superiors. Seeing that Yu Wenlaifu was relentless, he decided to change the subject to hasten the old man's departure. He swallowed hard, pointed to the wall corner, and whispered, "That woman is here again. We can't send her away; it will have to be up to you, chief steward, to take charge."

However, this situation did not last long, as the new lady gave birth to a son a year later, naming him Yuwen Chengdu. He was the legitimate eldest son of the Yuwen family, and compared to Chengdu, the eldest son born out of wedlock in Muzhou was of no value at all

Yu Wenhua had committed too many evil deeds, and afterward he forgot them all. However, he did remember the saying, "A gentleman stays away from the kitchen." If it weren't for being drunk, he would never have come to the kitchen, a place for servants! After that, he never returned to the kitchen, not even when drunk. Yet, Miss Han secretly conceived and, ten months later, gave birth to a son, which could no longer be concealed, so she had no choice but to report it to her master

The scions of prominent families who knew his background looked down on him, but the common folk were intimidated by the reputation of the Yuwen family. They genuinely believed that Yuwen Muzhou was an unsuccessful scion of a noble family, temporarily down on his luck, but destined for greatness in the future. Consequently, many similarly bold and fierce ruffians gathered around him, elevating Yuwen Muzhou to the status of a tyrant in the East Market, earning him the nickname "The Reversed Hook Tai Sui," while the thugs who opposed him referred to him as "The Poisonous Scorpion"

The servant who had just spoken mockingly changed his expression immediately upon seeing this person, and with a fawning demeanor, approached with a bow, saying: "Chief Steward, why have you come here in person? If there is anything you need, just give the order, and I will take care of it right away, ensuring that you do not have to worry even a little bit!"

The woman had also seen him and timidly called out, "Uncle Afu!" She took a few steps towards Yu Wenlaifu, but upon noticing that he had no intention of letting her pass, she had no choice but to stop, gazing longingly at Yu Wenlaifu.