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I Serve as the Prince's Sister
墨書 Inktalez
1. The Emperor passed away suddenly.
For several days, the head of the family, Master Yang, was deeply troubled and suddenly summoned all the family members and servants to issue a command: "All maids, cooks, and flower workers... return their contracts, each will receive ten coins. Those with relatives should seek them out; those with friends should rely on them; those without kin or friends should fend for themselves."
Even though I was young, I understood that a great disaster was looming over the Yang Family.
My surname is Zhao. When I was nine, my gambling father sold our land and plowed oxen. When there was nothing left to sell, the children became commodities. My younger brother was delicate and charming, and since he carried the heavy responsibility of continuing the family line, he was not to be sold. I, on the other hand, grew up large and coarse, eating a lot, thus becoming my father's burden and bargaining chip.
Selling me would serve two purposes.
My mother was reluctant to part with me, but when the family could not afford to eat, she had no choice but to go back to my grandfather's house to beg for help. Although my grandfather had a small piece of land, he had to support two uncles' families with seven or eight mouths to feed.
My aunt's face was grim, and my grandfather found it difficult as well.
When my mother managed to bring back two pounds of sweet potatoes, I had already been sent away by my father on a one-wheeled cart. My father told my mother that I had been abducted by a flower seller.
The two coins he received from selling me were quickly lost in gambling houses.
From then on, the Zhao family no longer had a daughter named Amiao.
Initially, I was sold to a family with the surname Jia. The lady of the house made me fetch water, chop firewood, wash clothes, and grind grain... She not only beat me with bamboo strips but also complained about how much I ate. Later, for two coins, I was resold to a family with the surname Gou. The Gou family did not make me do heavy labor but wanted me to bring good fortune to their son who suffered from tuberculosis. Seeing their son turning into nothing but bones and coughing up blood, one night while getting up to relieve myself, I accidentally overheard this wicked couple plotting to strangle me as a sacrifice for their dying son. Terrified, I fled over the wall that very night and ran aimlessly for an entire night and half a day without eating or drinking anything.
The eldest son of the Yang Family, Yang Shien, found me fainted at his doorstep.
After consuming two bowls of hot soup, I revived. I told the lady of the house about my experiences; she shed tears: "You are still young; stay with Mingzhu for now and when you are older, you can help out."
With food and clothing secured, I felt grateful to the head of the family and volunteered to be the companion reader for the eldest son. However, I was always clumsy; either knocking over candlesticks or spilling ink. Later on, I became an attendant for the second young master Yang Fengchun. While I didn’t learn much in terms of serious matters, I became quite skilled at catching fish in rivers, climbing trees for bird nests, and practicing swordplay at the martial arts school.
The second young master was happy; so was I.
But the head of the family sighed: "Jade is still jade; no matter how finely stone is polished, it remains stone." So he let the second young master be.
Four years passed; now everyone could see that the Yang Family’s mansion was on the verge of collapse. Soon enough everyone received their silver coins and left cleanly. Yet in my heart, I felt even more desolate than the Yang Family: Where would I go? Back home? This ten coins wouldn’t last long; perhaps I would be sold again to some unknown Zhao or Qian or Sun or Li.
Days of continuous rain brought yellow leaves falling in the autumn wind, adding a chill and sense of foreboding.
A troop of soldiers surrounded Yang Manor.
A soldier brandishing a sword read aloud an imperial decree: "The offender Yang Menglong has shown disrespect towards His Majesty and will have his property confiscated; all household members aged fourteen or older will be sent to Dali Temple for investigation!"
The soldiers came in and bound the head of the family, his wife, and both young masters while sealing the doors with official seals guarded by soldiers.
There was no way out now; however, there was one more person with me—the daughter of the Yang Family, Mingzhu.
Mingzhu is only seven years old, and the master and mistress of the Yang Family are willing to take her to the prison, saying that the whole family can die together. However, the commanding Grandfather nearly kicked her away.
I was driven out of the Yang Family by soldiers, and Mingzhu pouted her lips tightly holding onto the corner of my clothes. I had nowhere to go, and she had even less. If I ignored her, she would soon disappear from this world.
During my years in the Yang Family, I not only had no worries about food and clothing but also became plumper than I was at home. Sometimes I played with Mingzhu, and when I was extremely tired, I would sleep beside her on the mistress's bed, and the mistress never punished me.
The Yang Family has shown me kindness; I cannot abandon Miss.
In just a few days, it felt as if I had grown a few years older. I bought some pancakes and asked the pancake vendor for some tea water, borrowing their pot's ashes to smear on my cheeks. Mingzhu and I disguised ourselves as two boys and left the capital begging for food.
I told Mingzhu: "Sister's name is Amiao, and you are my dear little sister, Abao. We both share the surname Zhao."
The night was very cold; our thin clothes were soaked by the autumn rain. We huddled together shivering beside a haystack in the wild, occasionally hearing wild dogs howl, fear momentarily overshadowing our hunger and cold.
The cold rain and bleak wind made even the waning moon and cold stars seem like a luxury.
I wanted to cry, but I had to hold it back. If I held back my tears, Abao wouldn’t cry either.
She curled up in my arms and fell asleep before I dared to wipe away my tears.
Eighty miles from the city, we found a dilapidated cave. Though small, it was better than sleeping in the wilderness. Thinking that there shouldn’t be any more disturbances from the Constable, we decided to settle here for now. I left Abao in the cave while I dragged a dog-beating stick door-to-door begging for scraps. After a light snowfall, with coldness biting and hunger gnawing at me, life became increasingly difficult.
There was no news from the head of the family, but I often heard tidbits about court matters: Elder Brother Emperor had passed away. The younger brother not only usurped power but also took his nephew's place in court while seizing many of the Late Emperor's loyal ministers. He even refused to spare his own nephew, sending his henchmen everywhere to capture people. The hardships of the common people went completely unnoticed.
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