A Sparrow in the Hall

Xianzhi is a third-class maid in the Shen household of Anyang. She earns one tael a month, and her greatest wish is to save enough money to buy her freedom, return to Tianjia Village, marry a reliable farmer, care for her parents, and live out her days in peace.

She knows her place and has never dreamed of marrying into wealth. Her neighbor, Sister Cuizhi, caught the eye of the household's second young master and became his concubine. Everyone says she is blessed with good fortune. Xianzhi, however, does not envy her. She knows not everyone can bear such a blessing.

The Shen family is one of Anyang's most powerful houses. The man they value most, Third Master Shen, was a favored student of the emperor and came third in the palace examinations. In less than three years, he was promoted to Vice Censor-in-Chief, and next month he is to be transferred back to the capital.

The Shen family carefully selected a marriage match for him, but on the wedding night, the prefect's daughter ran away.

With the move to the capital fast approaching, Old Madam Shen had no choice but to arrange a bedchamber maid for Third Master Shen to soothe him.

She had to be young, born into the household, clever and pretty, and able to win the man's heart and calm him.

That was how Xianzhi was chosen.

Shen Minghui looked down on a lowly maid. To him, Xianzhi was a bird in a cage, there for his amusement when he was bored and to be cast aside when he tired of her.

But Xianzhi did not want to be a caged bird. One day, she would fly free of his grasp.

Reader's guide: The male lead is a jerk, and the female lead is beautiful.

Theme: Independence and self-reliance.