Shen Nirui was living like a maid in Ming Mansion — no, a life worse than that of a maid. Normally, new brides are only required to serve dishes at the dining table.
But not so with Mrs. Ming. As long as the Magistrate Ming was not around, nobody stood in her way and she could torment Shen Nirui to her heart's content, treating her like a lowly maid.
Nirui was required to fetch water for Mrs. Ming's morning ablutions. This would not be so hard had the latter not been so particular. One moment she would complain the water was too hot and accuse Nirui of trying to scald her; the next moment, she would fuss that the water was too cold, as though Nirui wanted her to catch a cold! Nirui was sent back and forth three or four times before she was finally allowed to stop.
