Her father disappeared, her mother fell gravely ill, and Huiniang, who had transmigrated here, had to earn a living and raise her little brother on her own.
If her brother hadn't passed the xiucai exam at the age of eight, she might never have learned that her father was a trusted court official of the emperor, serving as Vice Minister of Revenue.
But becoming the daughter of an official only made Huiniang's situation more awkward. Her father had long since taken another wife, a daughter of a prominent family, and they had two sons and three daughters together. The rules in a great household were numerous: within, her stepmother and concubines watched her like hawks; without, political enemies kicked her while she was down... And she was just a country girl.
Neither a legitimate daughter nor a concubine-born one.
How can a young woman of humble origins carve out a splendid future for herself?
Why does this article start so well but only has one chapter so many years ago?
I'll occupy the sofa, come on MM