The Young Official's Daughter

[This novel is complete. My new book, The Duke's Mansion's Little Maid, is now available. I hope you'll show it lots of support! ("^.^")]

During the Taichang era, the dynasty flourished in wealth and splendor. Lanterns at the night market lit up the clouds, and red-sleeved beauties filled the tall pavilions.

It was an age of heady prosperity, like flowers at their finest and oil at a rolling boil.

Song Yi had somehow muddled her way into this world and become the eldest daughter of a low-ranking official in Yanqing County.

Her father was rigid and unlucky in his career. Her mother was frail and needed a doctor year-round.

Her younger siblings still needed raising, and she also had to deal now and then with relatives from the old family home showing up to mooch off them.

They were already drained on the inside, while keeping up appearances on the outside.

They got by on meager meals and worn-out clothes.

But just as the county magistrate's wife was holding a banquet, her aunt came around hoping to extort money.

Everywhere she turned, someone wanted gold.

Song Yi took a deep breath, rolled up her sleeves, and pushed open the front door.

Life as the daughter of a deputy county magistrate was no easy ride, either.

P.S.

The lives of low-ranking officials are actually quite interesting. On one hand, they have left the world of ordinary townsfolk and entered a stage where they have enough to eat and wear. On the other, they cannot entirely escape ordinary life. After all, they are at the bottom of the official class, and still cannot touch the extravagant lives of people who spend money like water and dine off bronze cauldrons and jade dishes.

Women stuck in this class can glimpse the hidden intrigues of wealthy households above them, while also dealing with the financial calculations of villagers below. It feels like there are plenty of stories to tell.

The blurb may still change, but the general idea is to tell the story of the life of a minor official's daughter in a prosperous dynasty: the streets and alleys, social ties, elegant music and tea, variety acts and acrobatics. I want to write about all of it.

[This is a slow-paced slice-of-life story. If you like it, please add it to your favorites to show your support! Hehe~]

Coming soon:

The Duke's Mansion's Little Maid

Rong Jin's father, mother, grandfather, grandmother, maternal grandfather, maternal grandmother, and every generation of her family have all been servants in the Duke of Ying's household.

Naturally,

This little servant born to servants was stamped with the Duke of Ying's seal from the moment she was born, destined to devote her life to the duke's household and die in its service.

There was nothing wrong with that, in principle. The duke's servants lived more comfortably than people outside: they had food and clothes without worry, and could even bully others and embezzle money through their connections.

Unfortunately,

Rong Jin, a maid from a family so lowly that smoke barely rose from their chimney, had been lucky enough to make it through the second gate and serve inside. Yet she harbored an ungrateful, restless wish.

She wanted to buy her freedom.

Step one of the plan: start as a little maid running errands and sweeping floors.

The great mansion is crumbling, and the Duke of Ying's household faces a dark future.

The first branch schemes for wealth.

The second branch plots murder.

The masters of the third and fourth branches are even more debauched.

To save her own life, and the lives of her entire family,

Rong Jin, a little maid, has to get out of there as soon as possible.

The Unruly Maid

In an ordinary household-intrigue story, there is always a maid hoping to climb the social ladder and become a concubine.

They may be flirtatious or foolish, ambitious and clueless, or sharp-tongued and spiteful.

But without exception, they all meet miserable ends.

A servant seems destined to spend her whole life as an obedient servant who follows orders.

A maid who wants to become a concubine? That's called being unruly.

But...

Caijin, a little maid born to servants in the household, wants to change her station.

After enjoying a past life where she had everything handed to her, why should she learn to serve others and do hard labor?

Why can't she be the one in charge?

From menial maid to Concubine Zheng, and then to the ennobled Lady Zheng, Caijin keeps making waves.

She has chosen the path that everyone considers the most unruly.

One maid, two choices. Add it to your favorites if you like it!

Theme: Wherever and whenever you are, be independent and strong, and make life better for yourself.