Gentle Springtime

I was a bondservant maid who entered the palace with my young lady. Everyone told me that she was as pure and aloof as a chrysanthemum, and that I had to be unwaveringly loyal to her, serving as her vanguard.

When my young lady wore a golden peony robe and offended the empress, she blamed me, and I was beaten in front of everyone.

When someone framed my young lady, I let them break one of my legs to prove her innocence.

But later, I refused the marriage she arranged between me and a young eunuch from my hometown.

She became convinced I was seducing the emperor, and sent me to the empress’s palace, where I was left to endure the empress’s torment.

Just before I died, my young lady came to see me, her face full of disgust.

“You seduced the emperor and betrayed your childhood sweetheart. How did you end up like this? What excuse could you possibly have?”

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my young lady was about to take me into the palace.