Gentle Springtime

I was a bondmaid who entered the palace with my young mistress. Everyone told me she was as aloof as a chrysanthemum, and that I had to be unwaveringly loyal to her and charge ahead on her behalf. When she wore a yellow peony gown and offended the empress, she blamed me, and I was beaten in front of everyone. When someone framed her, I had one of my legs broken to prove her innocence. But later, I turned down her offer to arrange a marriage between me and a young eunuch from my hometown. She decided I had seduced the emperor and sent me to the empress's chambers, leaving the empress free to vent her anger and torment me. Before I died, my young mistress came to see me with a look of disgust.

“You seduced the emperor and betrayed your childhood sweetheart. How did you end up in this sorry state?”

When I opened my eyes again, I was back on the day my young mistress was about to take me into the palace.