My name is An Lingrong. I was born in Songyang County. My father was An Bihai, the county magistrate, and my mother was an ordinary woman who supported the family by doing embroidery. From as far back as I can remember, my home was filled with the sharp tongues of my aunts, my father's coldness towards my mother, and the contemptuous looks from others. In that oppressive environment, I learned to be cautious, to read people's expressions, and to protect myself with silence and obedience. That year, the imperial concubine selection was held. For me, this was the only chance to change my fate, the hope for my mother and me to escape our predicament. I stepped onto the path of selection with a mixture of anticipation and trepidation.
