Chapter 4
After Mother died, Dad went to the capital to report for duty.[]
He began to hate me, hate my face that looked just like Mother’s, and stopped spoiling me like before.]
His bad habits got worse and worse. He dug a dungeon in the house and threw anyone who annoyed him down there to torture.]
Then my stepmother married in.[]
A commotion outside woke me up. I saw Lydia walking to my door looking annoyed, telling the maids:[]
“This girl is still lazing in bed when the sun’s already high? All of you, get out. I’ll deal with her myself.“[]
The maids wisely closed the door for us. Lydia came in, pale–faced, and immediately grabbed my arm and started dry heaving.[]
Then she muttered: “Already a wandering ghost myself, and I’m still afraid of disgusting things.“[]
Only then did I realize that all of Lydia’s calm composure was just an act for Dad.]
Lydia looked at me and smiled, then pulled a whip from her sleeve and struck a fur cushion nearby.
I spotted a figure standing under the window and cooperated by sobbing loudly.]
The servants all gossiped that Lydia and I didn’t get along.
She had the governess constantly correct my posture and made me practice lady–like walking under the blazing sun.
But when night fell, she’d slip into my room like a ghost and teach me to read herself.[]
She was incredibly learned any question I had, she could solve instantly.
Would a brothel giri really know so much?
I didn’t ask, just greedily absorbed all the knowledge.[]
Lydia told me that when push came to shove, music, chess, court etiquette and painting were nowhere near as useful as reading.
After a month of etiquette lessons, Dad got interested and had me serve him tea.
My hands shook holding the teacup, and I got burned. The cup shattered on the ground.[]
Lydia was angrier than Dad. She stood up to grab my ear:[]
“I taught you for a month and you’re still this useless!“]
Just as she said that, she suddenly started dry heaving.
The doctor came to examine her and said she was actually over a month pregnant.[]
Dad was ecstatic. He immediately set up a chapel in the house and knelt there praying every day.[]
To show his sincerity, he even locked the dungeon door.
He’d always wanted a son, but after coming to the capital, the imperial physician said he’d damaged his body in his youth and could hardly have children anymore.
Chapter 4
After me, neither Mother nor my stepmother got pregnant, but Lydia seemed to be Dad’s lucky star – she conceived just like that.
He held his wife’s hand and said:[]
“With a son, I can do what I need to do with more confidence.“]
Strangers started appearing in the house frequently. They gathered with Dad, looking serious.
Dad often had me stand beside them, spreading out thick silk cloth covered with dense writing.
When someone looked at me with bad intentions, Dad would naturally call me over and say pleasantly:
“This is my daughter. If any of you gentlemen take à liking to her, I’ll gladly arrange it.“]
He really did treat me like an object for trading favors, thinking I couldn’t read a single word.
Lydia’s belly swelled up like a balloon. I didn’t dare touch it.
Dad got anxious too and called a doctor, who said she was carrying twins.
Dad was so happy he danced around, but still ordered that news of the pregnancy must not spread outside.
But this mansion was given to him by the Crown, and some of the old servants were personally selected and sent by the Crown.
So one night, while Lydia was quietly teaching me to read, we saw torches blazing outside the window.
Aunt Empress came in with two squads of guards, coldly ordering:
“Arrest this wench!“]]
