Chapter One: Unbearable Humiliation

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On the afternoon of August 29th, 2024, a little after five o’clock, the First People's Hospital of Zhongzhou City had finished its day.

After putting his white coat and stethoscope away in the doctors’ lounge, Dr. Zhang Chen of the emergency department left the ER. A few minutes later, he exited the nine-story emergency building. Smiling, Zhang Chen threw a flirtatious wink at the beautiful nurse Tian Yachun, who was walking toward him: “Xiao Ya, darling, tonight isn’t your night shift. Why are you here? Missing me, aren’t you? I missed you too.”

“I have to tell you something you need to hear: my aunt introduced me to a handsome guy. Sis isn’t interested in you, a married man in his thirties anymore. Ah, get out of the way!”

Seeing a flowerpot falling from above, Tian Yachun cried out in alarm as it crashed down onto Zhang Chen’s head.

A falling object from the sixth floor of the emergency building—a flowerpot—struck Zhang Chen, who was glancing around cluelessly, unaware of the danger, his face blank with confusion.

Unlucky Zhang Chen let out a miserable scream. He suffered severe cranial trauma, collapsed to the ground, and died.

...

At noon on August 29th of the second year of Chongzhen, behind the main gate of the county office in Fushan County, Dengzhou Prefecture, Shandong, Great Ming.

Squatting beside Zhang Chen, Fat Ox was pinching his philtrum while shouting, “Young master, wake up, young master…”

Zhang Chen, courtesy name Chuyang, was the legitimate son of the greatest grain merchant in Fushan County, Zhang Yuanyi, and his wife Madam Liu.

Zhang Chen’s hair was sharp as if cut by a blade, his brows as if painted with ink, his eyes bright as stars, his nose straight and bold; he had practiced martial arts since childhood and was robust—a strikingly handsome young man.

Tragedy struck when he was just six months old: Madam Liu died of a severe illness.

A few months after her death, Zhang Yuanyi remarried, taking Madam Zhao as his new wife.

Sadly, a few years ago, Zhang Yuanyi also died of a grave illness.

Thus Zhang Chen became an orphan without parents—but fortunately, he excelled academically.

Last year, at fifteen, Zhang Chen topped both the county and prefectural exams, earning the title of ‘Tongsheng’ in Fushan County, Dengzhou Prefecture, becoming a renowned prodigy.

Tongshengs were eligible to take the academy exam; passing that would make one a ‘Xiucai,’ who could then participate in the provincial examination.

At the time, Zhang Chen received much praise. Most in the scholarly circles believed he would surely become a Xiucai, then pass the provincial exam to become a ‘Juren,’ and eventually rise to the rank of ‘Jinshi’ with his name on the golden list.

Tian Xuewen was the county magistrate of Fushan. Though he had many wives and concubines, he only had two daughters.

Both were legitimate. His eldest daughter, Tian Yuecha, married Zhu Cikao, heir to the Prince of Heng, as his main wife a few years ago, becoming the Princess Consort.

When Zhu Cikao succeeded as the next Prince of Heng, Tian Yuecha would become the princess.

Tian Xuewen, as the father-in-law of the future prince, was expected to enjoy a prosperous official career.

After Tian Yuecha married Zhu Cikao, the Tian family soared to become the top family in Dengzhou Prefecture.

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When a single person attains power, even his chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. Tian Xuewen was invigorated, striding with energy.

His second daughter, Tian Yachun, was sixteen this year.

The legal marriage age for women in Ming China was fourteen; thus, at fifteen or sixteen, Tian Yachun was considered a grown maiden.

Last August, after the prefectural exam in Dengzhou, Tian Xuewen invited Lady Li, the matchmaker, to the Zhang family mansion to propose a match. He greatly admired Zhang Chen’s talent and had his eye on him.

Lacking a son, Tian Xuewen wanted Zhang Chen to marry into his family as a son-in-law, to wed Tian Yachun as a live-in husband.

A few years ago, after Zhang Yuanyi died, Madam Zhao took charge of the Zhang family estate.

By Ming law, Madam Zhao was Zhang Chen’s mother—his legal guardian.

When it came to Zhang Chen’s marriage, Madam Zhao had the final say.

For a man, becoming a live-in son-in-law was a shameful matter even in the twenty-first century.

In Ming China, it was a deep disgrace!

Perhaps fearing to offend Magistrate Tian Xuewen, Madam Zhao agreed to marry Zhang Chen to Tian Yachun, allowing him to become a live-in son-in-law.

Marriage was a matter of parental command and the matchmaker’s word.

Madam Zhao did not consult Zhang Chen; her actions seemed beyond reproach.

As his mother, she could easily find a pretext to have the servants beat him to death, and the authorities would at most fine her a bit of silver.

Afraid Madam Zhao might have him killed for disobedience, Zhang Chen, timid and resigned, prepared to marry into the Tian family.

Last year, Tian Xuewen, after consulting a master about the auspicious date, set the wedding for this August.

Yesterday, Zhang Chen and Tian Yachun were wed. He moved into the Tian family as a live-in son-in-law, earning a dishonorable status.

That meant last night was their wedding night.

Yet last night, Tian Yachun refused to consummate the marriage with Zhang Chen.

She made it clear: only after Zhang Chen passed the academy exam would he have a chance to share her bed.

It was a humiliation!

Days ago, Zhang Chen had participated in the academy exam in Dengzhou.

This morning, the results were announced—tragically, Zhang Chen failed.

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Another blow struck Zhang Chen!

If there was shame, this was worse.

This morning, the Tian family’s chief steward, Tian Dafu, came to Zhang Chen: “Young master Zhang, to help you focus on your studies, madam and the second young lady have decided to send you to Zhang Manor for diligent study. You may return once you pass the academy exam...”

Madam Zhao had prepared a dowry worth over fifty thousand taels of silver when sending Zhang Chen to the Tian family as a son-in-law.

His dowry included a manor (Zhang Manor) and over a dozen male and female servants.

The fact that Tian Xuewen’s wife Madam Wang and Tian Yachun actually intended to banish Zhang Chen to Zhang Manor was a grave insult.

More importantly, living at Zhang Manor was unsafe.

In recent years, the world had grown increasingly chaotic.

Zhang Manor, with over two thousand villagers, lay more than ten li from Fushan's county seat, and likewise from the seashore and Cishan.

Within dozens of li around Cishan lurked bandits and brigands, and pirates (Japanese raiders) prowled the seas.

In other words, bandits, brigands, and pirates could easily attack Zhang Manor.

Yet, the Tian family exiled Zhang Chen there, and he dared not resist.

They ordered him to take his dozen or so dowry servants to live at the manor.

Most of those servants were unwilling to go; in the end, only Fat Ox, his plump study attendant, and Summer Flower, his personal maid, were willing to follow Zhang Chen.

Fat Ox was Zhang Chen’s page, Summer Flower his attendant maid; both had signed indenture contracts. Crucially, neither had immediate family left in this world, and the Tian family had no regard for them—they had nowhere else to go.

Just now, after Fat Ox had loaded Zhang Chen’s belongings onto the carriage, he invited Zhang Chen aboard.

Nodding, Zhang Chen walked toward the carriage, spotting Winter Plum approaching.

Winter Plum, Tian Yachun’s personal maid, cast a contemptuous glance at Zhang Chen and threw a bank note on the ground: “Zhang Chen, Miss has granted you one hundred taels of silver. Don’t come back unless absolutely necessary—and even then, it’s best if you don’t return.”

“You... you all, hmm…” Furious and despairing, Zhang Chen clutched his chest and collapsed, unable to catch his breath. He died.

Winter Plum tossed the bank note disdainfully, treating Zhang Chen like a beggar.

It was the final straw that broke the camel’s back—Zhang Chen died of anger.