Chapter 2 The Punishments
I was surprised by Xu Fengwan's lavish life.
After all I had grown up in hardship and did not know clothes could be so soft or hair so fragrant or pastries so sweet.
As a personal maid I was supposed to know how to tie hair and dress. But I was a crude slave and knew nothing of these things.
Every day she would scold and curse me repeatedly. If I did not do well enough I would be beaten with rods.
To avoid her scolding I worked hard to learn everything I could around me and gradually became her shadow.
At eleven when I failed to finish the tutor's lessons she made me endure thirty rattan canes.
At twelve when she pushed the fourth young miss into the lotus pond I endured thirty big boards and seven days in the ancestral hall kneeling.
At thirteen when she admired the current Crown Prince I helped her embroider a handkerchief. The prince praised it and when she returned she stabbed my fingers full of blood holes with needles.
At fourteen I composed a poem at the spring banquet that won the Crown Prince's favor. She became the young lady everyone in the capital wanted to marry yet I was beaten with a soft whip until I was covered in bruises.
Everyone knew Xu Fengwan had a maid who never spoke and always wore a veil. But no one knew I had a face exactly like hers. Whenever she made a mistake I would wear her clothes and take her punishment.
Yet whenever my abilities exceeded hers her jealousy always left me suffering again.
Except for her and Madam almost no one had ever seen my true face.
And I was her maid her slave her shadow and her object. She had the right to dispose of me as she pleased and I could only thank her and obey.
At fifteen she was granted marriage to a young Huaihua General. Two years later when they married she was furious inside and smashed things. Fragments flew and left a blood mark on my face. I quickly took off my veil. She cursed me as a lowly wench and ordered me out to kneel in the snow.
It was so cold. From the age of eleven I had never faced such a cold winter again.
Xu Fengwan still felt dissatisfied. She made me repeat again and again.
“I will always be Xu Fengwan's most lowly and worthless maid.”
“I will always be Xu Fengwan's most lowly and worthless maid.”
“… ”
The words echoed in the empty courtyard. The cold wind blew over and the wounds on my face throbbed painfully.
In my most desperate moment a young boy climbed onto the roof eaves and tilted his head to look at me. “Little young miss what are you doing?”
I was startled and covered my mouth. My eyes were full of fear as I looked at him.
He knew his behavior was rude and pulled out a Malt Candy from his pocket to give me.
Xu Fengwan inside the room refused. She shouted through the door. “What sound did you make! If you make no sound again I will make you kneel here for three days!”
I choked up and lowered my head to continue.
“I will always be Xu Fengwan's most lowly and worthless maid.”
“I will always be Xu Fengwan's most lowly and worthless maid.”
“… ”
The boy on the wall went from confusion to anger. He finally pulled out his sword and jumped down over the wall.
I was terrified by his actions and wondered which family had such a bold thief.
Fortunately he stopped near the door turned around and placed a small bag of Malt Candy in front of me. Then he jumped over the wall and left the Xu residence.
I stared at the Malt Candy on the ground. My vision gradually blurred.