Chapter 1, Lowly Birth

So this is the support that gives one the confidence to act in such a manner

With each swing of the axe, a dull thud resounded, shaking the hearts of those who heard it

It is the aroma of firewood, smoky and charred, mingled with the salty taste of pickled vegetables, along with an indescribable greasy flavor, which is truly intoxicating

Chulan mumbled in a daze, and then suddenly remembered—Xiao Gu's half room was partitioned from the side, so there were no windows at all

Who is she talking to!

Miss Fang slightly parted her lips, gritting her teeth as she spat out the words "lowly status". In her heart, there seemed to be boundless resentment, along with an endless sense of frustration mixed with the pleasure of asserting her dominance. "Hmph, you will be a servant for the rest of your life, but I am going to rid myself of this lowly status!"

Chulan was lost in thought when she suddenly heard a rapid approach of footsteps coming this way, followed by a loud bang as the wooden door was violently pushed open

In the winter of the 14th year of the Yongle era

Miss Fang stood up after speaking, placing her hand on her flat abdomen with an air of superiority, smiling even sweeter, "What the master said can definitely be accomplished—if not for me, then for the sake of his future child."

Miss Fang, this crude place will soil our clothes, let us return instead

Quickly escape

Outside the courtyard ... ...

The mere mention of the two characters "贱籍" caused the faces of the two individuals nearby to turn pale instantly— even the young maidservants within the secluded courtyard still felt a lingering fear regarding the origins of these two characters

Chulan lazily curled up in the blanket, comfortably stretching with a yawn. Just as she closed her eyes, intending to doze off for a while longer, she heard a continuous rustling sound coming from the half-room next door.

It seems that I feel slighted, and the beauty stepped forward, blocking the hand that wielded the axe, "Are you mute? Why don't you say a word?"

Chulan's gaze was somewhat complex—there was envy, curiosity, and even disdain. The master’s debauchery and lechery were well known throughout the estate; in a moment of whimsy, he could spend a thousand or eight hundred taels to indulge a performer, but once his interest waned, he would regard them as nothing more than discarded shoes, showing no pity whatsoever

Chulan felt somewhat perplexed—although she had always been a rough servant girl and had not seen many masters and madams, she could tell that the attire and title of this "Miss Fang" were quite ambiguous, creating an awkward situation of whether she was a master or a servant. While she understood a bit of the situation in her heart, she could not ascertain her intentions and found it difficult to speak up.

Long time no see

With a heart full of doubts, Miss Fang walked gracefully and alluringly, followed by the timid little maid. After strolling through the flower garden, they finally returned to their courtyard, only to find that the two old matrons had been waiting for quite some time.

Under the bright lights, Xiao Gu remained dazed as he looked at her, his palm-sized face covered in black coal dust. His small frame was enveloped in a large cotton robe, making him appear even more comical.

What does this mean

Looking up, it was indeed Xiao Gu alone, wielding a large axe, chopping firewood stroke by stroke

The young maid said weakly, and with just a glance from the beauty, she was immediately frightened into silence

The low voice sounds quite indistinct

What?

With a slight lift of her chin, the beauty's smile carried a sense of proud superiority

deportation

Chulan Yileng—having lived together for so many years, she knows that Xiaogu has very keen hearing; her saying this surely means she has heard some kind of noise

The scream seems to contain immense pain, one cry follows another without pause, and after the high pitch, it abruptly comes to a halt

The two people beside were taken aback—how could the distinction between the noble and the lowly be so easily accomplished?

Since the ascension of the current emperor following the Jingnan Rebellion, many loyal ministers to Emperor Jianwen have resolutely refused to submit, leading the current emperor to unleash his fury and subject these individuals to brutal punishment, executing their relatives and friends, resulting in the execution of thousands. Grand Secretary Fang Xiaoru even faced the extreme punishment of exterminating his entire clan.

There are great opportunities in a large kitchen. If one follows the head chef at the stove, although it may be hard work and one might easily face scolding, one can still learn a trick or two that will be immensely beneficial in the future; if one is assigned to assist and ensures that the person in charge is well taken care of, one can also take advantage of the situation to slack off; however, if one is assigned to the firewood and charcoal room, then the future looks bleak.

Chulan had long heard that Xiaogu was sent to the manor as a servant because of her family's troubles. At this moment, upon hearing the term "lowly status," her heart immediately became clear, and she secretly sighed for Xiaogu—clearly a young lady of exceptional quality, yet now reduced to such a foolish state.

The Shen residence covers a vast area, with the spacious kitchen featuring a row of bright, high-eaved large rooms, totaling eight in number. The first six rooms are designated for meat dishes, fruits and vegetables, grilling, pastries, and rice and flour, respectively. The last two rooms consist of a large hall where everyone washes vegetables and cuts meat, and the other is the firewood and charcoal room

That large axe, with a solid and imposing presence, weighs as much as 30 pounds. Its broad and soaring blade, when held in the delicate and slender hands of the young Gu, appears particularly incongruous and comical

Once, again, and once more

Miss Fang, the elderly lady requests your presence

No one answered, and the rustling sound continued incessantly. After a while, it finally stopped, only to be followed by a creaking sound as the wooden door opened. Suddenly, an indescribable strange odor rushed out, causing her to cover her nose and cough twice

At this moment, the neighbors gradually got up and opened their doors, and Liu Mama's distinctive loud voice had already sounded, causing Chulan to put this matter out of her mind.

Chulan, still in shock, lightly poked her forehead and said

Before the two individuals appeared a captivating beauty: she wore a peach-colored brocade dress, her hair styled in a crescent bun, adorned with a purple-gold hairpin shaped like five bats. The large red gemstones on her ears dazzled the eyes, and behind her followed a small maid, whose expression was somewhat anxious and flustered, as if she were trying to prevent her from entering.

She squinted her eyes, and in the blurred light and shadow, a slender and frail figure slowly emerged from within, holding a flickering oil lamp that was barely alive, swaying uncertainly in the wind

Chulan let out a scream, finally fully awake. She quickly dressed in her clothes and shoes, ran over and grabbed Xiaogu, then lit the wick of the oil lamp, finally letting out a sigh of relief

Miss Fang was quite astonished, and then the axe was pulled out. When she looked again, Xiao Gu still had that wooden, expressionless face—at that moment, she almost thought she was seeing things.

Little Gu, you are up so early

Two people were carrying a water bucket and were walking inside when suddenly a piercing scream echoed, startling Chulan to the point of nearly falling over

A strange silence enveloped the scene, with only the sound of the axe chopping wood resonating steadily.

At first glance, it appears to be a sinister ghostly creature lurking there, watching for a delectable person to pounce on and devour!

The skin on her hands, feet, and neck was yellow and dry, making her appear disheveled and unkempt. Not to mention, compared to those young ladies adorned in fine silks in the main house, she was the least noticeable even in the courtyard of the rough servant girls.

I want to chop firewood

noisy

Although it was not the first time she had seen it, Chulan's mouth still twitched: such a small person, yet so strong!

Xiao Gu, you should also open the window for ventilation; the smell in the room is quite strong

Without pausing for breath, Xiao Gu spoke a series of words in one go, yet his expression remained dazed. The young maid beside him let out a giggle, but was immediately intimidated by Miss Fang's fierce glare.

The entire large kitchen relies on the charcoal room for its firewood and water supply. The firewood must be dry and not produce smoke, cut into pieces that are neither too large nor too small, and arranged neatly. The coarse black charcoal must be delivered in full measure without any shortage, and it should be sent to each room in a timely manner. Even the water used on the stove must be properly guarded, and no unauthorized personnel are allowed to approach.

Miss Fang let out a cold laugh, crouched down, and pinched Xiao Gu's chin with her fingers stained with red vermilion, softly saying: "Look at you now, you look like a fool, just short of drooling—reduced to a lowly status, are you all willing to be slaves, lying in the mud for a lifetime?"

The family members and relatives of these former officials of the Jianwen era suffered countless deaths and injuries, with most of the survivors being the elderly, women, and children. They were either exiled, granted as slaves to meritorious officials, or sold into the filthy places of prostitution...! ... The current emperor even issued an edict: these individuals are forever condemned to a lowly status and cannot be pardoned

How many times have I told you not to hide behind the door and watch people so sneakily? It is terrifying!

Xiao Gu is forever an action, a rhythm, an expression. If you look closely at the firewood she splits, you will find that the lengths and thicknesses are all the same. Because of this, she has received several praises from the big stove!

Today, Mama Qin, the manager of the charcoal house, did not come. Chu Lan decided to take a break and amusingly watched Xiao Gu chop wood.

In the twelfth month of the lunar calendar, the cold is so severe that it could freeze a dog. The large stove emits a warm and comforting steam, yet inside the charcoal room, water drips and freezes, the chill penetrating to the bone. Chulan stomped her feet vigorously and sniffed her nose, just as she was about to continue stacking the charcoal, she heard the sound of chopping wood coming from the other side, steady and unhurried.

Xiao Gu silently exerted force to pull out the axe, while Miss Fang, unable to stand steadily, also crouched down. In that fleeting moment, she clearly saw Xiao Gu silently forming the words with his lips: Hurry and escape

Miss Fang gently caressed the jade bracelet on her wrist, revealing not only her fondness but also a hint of shyness. "I am already the person of the master; he has promised me in person that he will help me change my status and will take me as a concubine."

Xiao Gu still had a wooden expression, as if he could not understand Miss Fang's words

Miss Fang originally came to express her feelings, and after saying so much in one breath, she noticed that Xiao Gu was still in a daze, and her enthusiasm was suddenly extinguished. With a cold snort, she kicked the axe and turned to leave, only to find that the sole of her shoe was stuck in the axe blade, making it impossible for her to pull her foot away.

Today, the meat kitchen will stew chicken, the roasting kitchen will roast goose feet, the dim sum room will prepare lotus seed cake, and the flour room will also steam green stem porridge, requiring fifty pounds of firewood

The polite tone made her even more excited and elated—there are only two young masters in total, and the old lady must have heard about her pregnancy, thus in her joy, she bestowed some rewards

Chulan, feeling frustrated, wrapped the blanket around her head, ultimately losing her desire to sleep. She let out a soft sigh and suddenly jumped up, only to be hit by a gust of cold wind that made her nose tingle. Just as she was about to sneeze, she was instantly startled into swallowing it back upon seeing the scene before her.

Xiao Gu! Are you trying to scare me to death!

The charcoal room is situated in a corner, and even a bit of oil or water benefits are not seen. All day long, one toils away in hardship, yet is often subject to blame, making it very easy to incur penalties. Therefore, among the rough laborers, it is also an unpopular task.

Chulan mumbled indistinctly, rolled over in her blanket, yet still refused to open her eyes

During dinner time, Xiao Gu and Chu Lan passed through the numerous inner courtyards to collect the water used for cooking today. The water for cooking is stored in a large vat that is as tall as a person, and each day, the steward leads the young servants from the outer courtyard to fetch water and fill it up. At the second gate, the water is handed over to the two of them, as the young servants are not allowed to step into the inner courtyard—this illustrates the strict rules of the Shen residence.

The door was half open, and in the dim, cramped corner behind it, a shadowy figure was curled up, with only a pair of bright, glistening eyes peering out through the crack of the door

Xiao Gu said in a low voice

Xiao Gu said softly

Xiao Gu's gaze, however, remained as vacant as that of a dead fish, as if he did not understand the meaning of the term "deportation" at all

What are you saying

The gong of the hour had just struck at the time of the Rabbit, and through the paper window, the sky remained pitch black without a hint of light. It was the early morning of the cold winter month, with the north wind howling, causing the branches to sway east and west, casting ghostly shadows on the paper window.

It turns out that it was the master who...