Because I fell in love with the master who raised me, I was sent to the Heavenly Punishment Pavilion to learn the rules.
My parents were ashamed of me and cut ties with me.
My senior brothers and sisters said I had disgraced our sect and attacked me together.
My master, who had always doted on me, pulled out my spiritual root himself and sent me to the Heavenly Punishment Pavilion to appease the crowd:
“I spoiled you too much, and you forgot your place and the rules. Stay in the Pavilion and learn what it means to respect your master.”
Then, at a banquet five years later,
just because I accidentally broke a cup, I, once so proud, knelt before everyone, stripped off all my clothes, and expertly offered myself in a plea for forgiveness.
But my master took off his own clothes and wrapped them around me, covering me completely. His eyes reddened as he choked out,
“Chu Ning'er, where is your pride?”
I looked at my master in confusion.
“Master, didn't you tell Ning'er to learn the rules? You ground my pride away with your own hands a long time ago!”
