The JIANG MANSION is one of the largest in Yin Dynasty and the Jiang Family is one of the richest families. The Jiang Mansion situated in the capital, stretched gracefully and exquisitely, adorned with the finest of granite and richest of woods. Every brick contributed in building the Jiang Mansion was imported from foreign countries.
Passers-by often gaze longingly at the mansion. Some with admiration-filled gaze and other with envious-filled gaze. However, they all had one desire - they wanted to live in it. Whether as a part of the Jiang family or as a maid.
Little wonder envious, sinister stares are often thrown at Ri Sun whenever she is sent on an errand to the capital market by Madam BinYi, her mother, and the head maid of the Jiang Family.
And, that snowy, frosty evening wasn't an exception.
Madam BinYi had barged in on her dressing her hair and sent her for varieties of ingredients to celebrate Jiang Yua's birthday - the matron of the Jiang family and the only child of Lord Jiang Lu - which happened to be the same as hers.
Usually, Ri Sun would flaunt the expensive new things Jiang Yua always got for her to the other girls as their glare would harden and their voices of gossips will fill the air.
Everyday, she had a new item from Yua to flaunt. If it weren't a limited edition bracelet, it would be an hair pin. If it werent that, it most definitely would be a dress or heels and lip gloss. Yua gifted Sun expensive things every week. And, the other girls are jealous because not only did she lived in the Jiang Mansion, she as well had a loving boss.
Yua had always treated Sun with love. She would always take Sun to the capital market on market days and get her the finest of accessories. Sun felt loves in the Jiang Mansion. She was adored and by everyone in the Jiang Mansion including, Jiang Lu, but, her own mother.
All she had received from her mother was contempt.
Earlier on, she had had a huge fight with her mother, Madam BinYi, where she had finally confronted her mother for always treating Jiang Yua's birthday special but, would always ignores the fact that hers was infact the same day. She had always made preparations to celebrate Yua's but not hers. She had always prepared mouth-watering meals for her but, would let Sun eat the porridge pudding they had always fed the maids even on her birthday.
Of course, the argument had closed off with BinYi striking her across the face twice and warning her to know her place.
It hadn't come as a shock to Ri Sun that her mother would strike her for an harmless confrontation. Right from when she was birthed till that minute, BinYi had never regarded Ri Sun as her daughter and performed all her mother duties to Jiang Yua instead.
She had always left her to be taken care of by the assistant head maid, Madam Minq. She had often ignored her whenever she fell sick. Never put her to sleep. Always jumped to defend Jiang Yua but would watch her get flogged twenty times by Madam Minq for something she didn't do. And, had always regarded her with a sinister gaze that said, "I wish you were never born."
Hence, Ri Sun had come to a torturous conclusion that BinYi hated her.
Her maid robe was soaked with the white flakes of snow when the guards let her through the rigid gate of Jiang Mansion.
She had been too absentminded and had left her purse behind.
When she set to grab it in the maid's residence and head back to the capital market, footsteps halted her, accompanied by whispered hushes thereafter.
She ran for a corner behind a curtain, listening to the footsteps until they approached and stepped into the room.
She saw the faces via the curtain texture.
BinYi, her mother and Jiang Yua.
"We need to stop doing this! What if someone notices?" Jiang Yua protested whilst glancing around. Fortunately for Ri Sun, she hadn't thought to glance over at her hiding spot.
"I'm sorry. I got you a present. I want you to try it on. Its a Jade bracelet."
Ri Sun's eyebrows pinched together behind the curtain. Aside it being her first time hearing her mother speak in such calm and collected tone, why would she buy Jiang Yua such an expensive piece for her birthday?
"Why do you keep using the money I give you to get me presents?"
"No. No. No, dear. This is not from the money you gave me. I promise. Just take it. I wanted to give you before Sun returns from the market."
"You have to be careful. Don't underestimate that wench, Sun. She might actually be suspecting something and chose to stay quiet."
Jiang Yua had said this with spite-filled and comtempt-filled tone hence, Ri Sun's interest piqued.
"This is pretty," Yua says with a pleased smile, accepting the bracelet. "Thank you, mother."
Ri Sun froze in her spot.
Mother?
"I'll leave now. Sun must not meet me here."
Jiang Yua darts out almost immediately and BinYi followed closely behind, shutting the door softly after her.
Ri Sun remains hidden behind the curtain, her lips are parted in shock and her limbs stiffened.
She struggled to decipher what she had just heard.
Did Jiang Yua, her boss and the daughter of Lord Jiang Lu and Late Lady Dai, just address her mother as "mother"?
Did she hear right?
Moments after deliberating on the 'maybes' and 'maybe nots', Sun headed back to the capital market. She got the things demanded of her and headed back to Jiang Mansion, her legs wobbling.
Her mother had gone back to that sinister gaze and cold tone when she returned but, she couldn't regard her the same way again.
Lord Jiang Lu holds a party where ministers and people of high ranks from all around the city's capital, made an attendance. They ate and drank till they couldn't.
Lord Jiang Lu had provided them with plenty and even ensured his maids and servants ate enough.
Lord Jiang Lu wasn't only renowned for his wealth but, as well his generosity. His generosity and kindness had earned him respect even from the Great Hall of Jade. He had been too kind and warm-hearted that he made his servants, maids and guards wear imported silks.
That evening, when he had seen Sun sitting quietly in a corner as the party became more lively, he had approached her and asked what was wrong. When Sun assured him that it was nothing, he had forced her to her feet and ensured she joined the lively party.
However, the night did not end there.
Once the party wrapped up, Sun had cornered assistant head maid Madam Minq and urged her to let her meet Jiang Yua.
"My job will be on the line if anyone finds out about this. Make it as discreet as you can." Madam Minq had warned after several moments of persuasion from Sun.
Sun immediately nodded, grabbed the key from Madam Minq and headed to Blooming Garden House - a residence for Jiang Yua.
Jiang Yua was changing from her birthday attire into something comfortable when Sun barged into the brightly lit astonished residence.
The brightly lit lanterns illuminated the residence, presenting it gracefully and exquisitely. It was times five of the maid's residence both in size and in its interior.
Sun was only allowed to enjoy its beauty for a few minutes before she had approaching footsteps.
Jiang Yua stepped into the lounge in her night attire, her face moulded in confusion when she saw Sun standing in her lounge.
"What are you doing here? How did you get in?"
"Madam BinYi sent me here. She asked me to deliver an important information to you."
Jiang Yua's frown deepened.
"But, first, I'd like to confirm something. Pardon me, young lady Jiang."
Sun reached for Jiang's shoulder and grabbed it, peeking at the back of her ear.
"What do you think you are doing? Have you lost your mind?!"
Jiang Yua snapped, pushing Sun away from her. However, she had already confirmed what she wanted to. The birthmark at a corner of her ear. That same red dot her mother had and she didn't.
"Get out this minute! Or, do I need to call my guards to drag you out? Gua—!"
"Are you my mother's daughter?"
Jiang Yua stiffened.
"What nonsense are you spewing?" Yua tried to deny, her cracked tone failing her woefully.
"I heard you and mother speaking in the Maid's residence. You addressed her as 'mother'".
Jiang Yua straightened, titling her chin in the air with pride.
"Yes, and? BinYi is my mother. Is that what you want you hear?"
Sun's heart tightened against her chest, threatening to transform into bricks.
"S-so. Does that mean we are sisters?"
Jiang Yua chuckled darkly.
"You wish. BinYi is my mother, not yours. About your parents and where she popped you out from, those are her questions to answer. Now, get out!"
"Does Lord Jiang know this? That you are not Late Lady Dai's daughter? If he does, do you know the punishment for pretending as an elite? You'd be exiled."
Without hesitation, Yua strikes Sun across her face. The impact had been so hard that it sent her stumbling backwards whilst she held her cheek.
"How dare you threaten me?!"
Yua spat, grabbing Sun violently and hurling her out of her residence.
"Guards! There is a thief here!" Yua alarmed, throwing Sun on the granite floor with full force.
Six guards gathered around the entrance of Yua's residence, accompanied by BinYi, Madam Minq and few other maids.
"I caught her stealing my earrings."
Yua accused.
"Is that true, Sun?" Madam Minq asked, her voice laced with disappointment.
"Madam Minq, take her to the investigation room and flog her sixty strokes." BinYi instructed ruthlessly.
"Please, no! Stop! Wait! Say you didn't do it, Sun!" Madam Minq urged Sun but, she held her tongue, unable to spill out a word.
"If you don't do what you are asked to, Madam Minq, you would be regarded as an accomplice and punished as well."
Reluctantly, Madam Minq grabbed Sun and hurled her along with her.
~