Chapter 1

During the Hongzhi period of the Ming Dynasty, in Shen Family Village, Huating County, Songjiang Prefecture, the Shen clan lived together as a community.

The Shen family was a prominent surname in Songjiang, originating from Wuxing. Since the first ancestor followed Emperor Gaozong to the south, the family had been settled in Songjiang for over three hundred years, spanning more than ten generations. Although the Han people suffered under the Yuan Dynasty, with their family businesses declining and their descendants dispersing, the Shen family's lineage never broke.

When the Ming Dynasty was established, the people's lives revived, and the Shen family gradually recovered. Over a hundred years, the Shen family continued to cultivate the land and study, with successive generations entering government service. The family's scholarly tradition never waned, and they once again became one of the leading families in Songjiang.

The Shen scholar who had recently lost his wife, Sun Shi, was the head of the fourth branch of the Shen family. Although the fourth branch was not as prominent as the main branch or as successful in government service as the second branch, it had a single line of descendants, with no brothers to divide the property. Additionally, he had married a wife with a substantial dowry, and their life was prosperous, earning him respect among the clan.

Sun Shi, his deceased wife, was a very considerate person. Despite being born into a wealthy family and becoming the lady of a prestigious household, she remained kind and compassionate, always helping the poor and the weak.

When Sun Shi passed away, many relatives and clan members remembered her kindness and came to pay their respects, with the mourning continuing without end. On the day of the "receiving the third" ceremony, the Shen family's mourning tent was busy from morning until evening. As the sun set, the monks and Taoist priests stopped their chanting, and the guests gradually dispersed, leaving the place to return to its usual quiet.

In a slightly distant wing of the compound, in a dimly lit northern room, a child of about ten years old lay on the bed, staring blankly at the window, his eyes somewhat vacant. After a while, the child tried to get out of bed, but as he moved, he pulled at the wound on his buttocks, causing him to wince and break out in a cold sweat.

Not only did his back feel like it was on fire, but his stomach also felt as if it had claws, causing intense pain. The child felt dizzy and almost fell. He held onto the bed frame, barely managing to stand, his legs trembling from the pain.

He gritted his teeth and took a few steps to the round table by the south window, picked up the teapot, and drank the water inside. The water was already cold, but the child drank it all, until the teapot was empty. He felt somewhat relieved, but the cold water made him shiver even more. He tightened his clothes and looked around, his gaze falling on the extinguished charcoal brazier in the corner, his expression serious.

The charcoal brazier was covered in ash, with no warmth at all.

Shen Rui had woken up at noon the previous day, but his mind was still foggy, and he was afraid of making any mistakes. He thought, "Since I'm here, I should adapt and gradually figure out my identity and the environment."

The original owner of this body had a wound on his buttocks, and who knew what other troubles lay ahead.

He didn't know how many days he had been unconscious, but his small body was extremely weak. Since the afternoon of the previous day, he had only had three meals, each consisting of half a bowl of thin porridge. The original owner's body was already weak, and if this continued, he might die again.

He had thought that even though the living conditions were cramped and simple, he was alone in a small courtyard with old women and maids, and he should be the son of an official or a scholar. However, the situation over the past two days seemed strange.

The old woman who took care of him was a quiet person, only speaking when asked. Shen Rui, feeling guilty, didn't dare to ask many questions. He only knew that the food was thin porridge, and each meal was only about half a bowl, with the reason being "to clear the fire." He was confined to the small courtyard, with the reason being "to calm the mind." Given the wound on his buttocks, it seemed he had gotten into trouble and was being confined.

However, in the cold winter, the room was damp and cold, and even the charcoal brazier was not lit. What was the reason for this?

Even though Shen Rui was still confused, he could sense something was wrong.

For one thing, the old women and maids were dressed in rough hemp and mourning clothes, and the faint chanting heard during the day indicated that the family was in mourning. However, he himself was wearing a new silk robe and was not in mourning.

Was he living under someone else's roof, with no familial ties? But the maids and old women called him "Second Brother," not "Young Master." If he were a guest, he should have changed into mourning clothes, but no one mentioned this. The old woman who took care of him often looked at his clothes with a complex expression, as if she felt pity, worry, and doubt.

Was the original owner's status so low that he was not recorded in the family register, like an illegitimate child or a child born to a servant, and thus forbidden to wear mourning clothes?

In the Ming Dynasty, the private ownership of slaves was prohibited, and private slaves were often referred to as "adopted children," so they called the young master "Father," "Mother," "Brother," or "Sister."

Given the household items in the room, Shen Rui estimated that he was in the Ming Dynasty, but he didn't know the exact time.

He remembered reading that during the Ming Dynasty, although the law stipulated that family property should be divided equally among the sons, in the southern regions of the Yangtze River, the status of "illegitimate children" (children born out of wedlock, to servants, or to concubines) was extremely low, sometimes even lower than that of servants. After all, the servants in the household had slave status or were adopted children, while "illegitimate children" sometimes could not even be registered.

Shen Rui was lost in thought when he heard movement outside and quickly lay back down on the bed.

The one who entered was a young maid named "Liuya," dressed in rough hemp mourning clothes, with a white rope around her head. She was about ten years old, with a slightly dark complexion, yellowish hair, and ordinary features, looking timid. Shen Rui, who was not asleep, looked at her straightforwardly, and his heart moved.

Seeing that Shen Rui was awake, Liuya said timidly, "Second Brother is awake, it's time to light the lamp."

This was the first person Shen Rui saw after waking up. He didn't have a "chick" mentality and didn't feel dependent on this young girl. However, her simple and honest behavior made her the best person to extract information from.

Shen Rui knew he couldn't remain confused, so he nodded and said, "You will stay with me tonight!"

Liuya's eyes widened, and she said nervously, "Mother is on duty tonight..."

There were footsteps outside, and Shen Rui raised his voice, "I don't want Mother, I want you to play with me..."

"Second Brother, what's wrong..." A woman entered, holding a hot water bottle. She was dressed in rough mourning clothes, about fifty years old, with a thin and gaunt figure, her hair neatly combed, and a slightly bitter expression. She was the old woman, Wang Mama, who had been taking care of Shen Rui for the past two days.

Shen Rui tried to sit up, but his body swayed. Wang Mama quickly put down the hot water bottle and stepped forward to support him, but he pushed her arm away.

"No one is playing with me, I want her to stay with me..." Shen Rui pointed at Liuya, looking at Wang Mama, his eyes wide with a mix of childish stubbornness and pleading.

Although Wang Mama was quiet, she had been very careful and attentive in taking care of Shen Rui. When she saw him always looking unsatisfied after drinking the porridge, her expression showed a struggle and reluctance, indicating that she was not a cruel person.

Sure enough, Wang Mama's face showed sympathy, and she said softly, "Then let Liuya stay with you tonight..."

Shen Rui, seeing her quick agreement, grumbled, "I don't want Mother to stay, she snores..."

Wang Mama looked slightly embarrassed, "Did I disturb Second Brother? It's all my fault, I won't sleep tonight..."

Shen Rui wasn't lying; Wang Mama was indeed old and had snored loudly the previous night.

While she was asleep, Shen Rui had even gone out of the room a couple of times, but it was late at night, and he couldn't see much. He only knew that the courtyard was very small, with only two small northern rooms and one western room. When Wang Mama and Liuya were not serving in the northern room, they stayed in the western room.

A child of about ten years old, who had committed some unknown offense, was being confined in this secluded place.

Although Shen Rui hadn't left the courtyard, he could guess from the sounds of the funeral rites during the day that the scene was grand, far beyond what a small family could manage.

Shen Rui was puzzled about the original owner's situation but knew it wasn't the time to think about it. He said, "The room is small and crowded. Mother, go to sleep, she will be enough."

Wang Mama was about to say more, but Shen Rui frowned and sat up, shouting, "I don't want Mother in the room, not even in the outer room..."

He moved too abruptly, and his vision blurred with stars. He gritted his teeth to steady himself, his face turning pale and slightly distorted.

It wasn't that Shen Rui was being stubborn, but the old and dilapidated room, combined with the careful and respectful treatment by Wang Mama and Liuya, indicated that the original owner was not a gentle and kind master. This gave Shen Rui the confidence to act this way.

Wang Mama was startled, afraid that he would get angry, and quickly said, "I will do as Second Brother says, I won't stay in the outer room..."

Shen Rui "hmm"ed, and his expression improved.

Liuya had already lit the lamp and stood by the window, looking at Wang Mama, unsure what to do.

Wang Mama whispered, "Girl, stay with Second Brother and talk to him. I will bring your bedding."

Liuya's face turned red, and she pulled on Wang Mama's sleeve, trembling, "Mother, I don't know how to stay overnight..."

Wang Mama patted her hand, "Just be alert at night. If Second Brother needs water or to use the toilet, take good care of him..."

Wang Mama left, and Liuya still stood there, afraid to move.

Shen Rui leaned against the head of the bed, looking straight at Liuya, and said with a hint of stubbornness, "Come over and tell me a story!"

Liuya counted her fingers, not daring to approach, and said in a trembling voice, "I... don't know how..."

Shen Rui said, "Then come over and talk about something else... How old are you, and where did you work before? Are you a family-born servant or an outsider?"

Liuya's behavior was overly timid and clumsy, and she needed Wang Mama's guidance in everything, which didn't seem like someone who had been serving since childhood.

Liuya trembled, "Ten... twelve... I swept the floor in the old lady's courtyard... I was bought from outside..."

Shen Rui was somewhat surprised and looked at her more closely. Seeing her small and thin figure, he thought she was about the same age as the original owner, but he didn't expect her to be twelve. She looked like a withered bean sprout, showing no signs of a young girl's charm.

"How long have you been in my family? Do you have any close friends?" Shen Rui asked.

"I came in August... No, no close friends..." The series of questions made Liuya even more flustered, and she almost cried.

Just then, Wang Mama came in with the bedding and sighed, "This girl is honest and doesn't play tricks. She used to sweep the floor in the old lady's courtyard. Everyone bullied her, and she did the work of two or three people. She was so timid, like a mouse, and had no chance to get close to the old lady. She was often robbed of her food. Otherwise, after being in the family for half a year, she should have grown taller..."

Truly, those who are pitiful must have some fault. Shen Rui looked at Liuya with a "hate iron for not being steel" expression, but he felt greatly relieved and grateful.

Thank you, all the gods and Buddhas.

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