The deep palace is claustrophobic, the fragrance is sealed, and the years of the maids are like flowers in the courtyard, and they spend their time hard. The turmoil of fate, who can understand the blood and tears in their hearts? The wealthy family is as vast as the sea, but the maids silently bear humiliation and hardship in it. Life is as fragile as grass and trees, when will we be able to regain the sky of freedom?
In ancient society, maids were divided into two types: court maids and slaves, and their fate was mostly restricted by social hierarchy. Under wars and famines, daughters of ordinary families often become victims. In order to provide food and clothing, some women have to enter wealthy families as maids, but this often means a lifetime of slavery, and life is tantamount to being sold.
In those days, handmaidens with beautiful posture or exquisite craftsmanship were more sought-after, and they were worth more. According to records, during the 60 years of Kangxi, the landlord Wang of Xiuning, Anhui Province, spent a huge amount of silver taels to buy a maid, which is enough to see its high value. And Nian Qianyao, the general of the Yongzheng period, purchased a large number of maids, showing an amazing luxury scene.
However, the maids were traded like commodities in society at that time. Their fate was entirely in the hands of their masters, and they were divided into different ranks, some of whom could only perform heavy labor, while others became personal maids, serving their masters day and night. However, the life of a valet is not a glamorous one, and they not only have to serve the daily life of their master, but also have to endure the abuse and unreasonable demands of their master.
In historical records, there have been many handmaidens who were brutally treated by their masters. For example, in the eighth year of Zhengde in the Ming Dynasty, Cheng Shi, the wife of Chen Lianghan, the head of the Criminal Department, was known for her tyranny, frequently beating the maids, and even causing death. What's worse is that she also dismembered the maid, which shows how cruel she is.
In addition to being physically tortured, some handmaidens also had to deal with the special needs of their masters. For example, during the period of Emperor Sima Yan of the Jin Dynasty, the wealthy Shi Chong, in order to show off his wealth, actually hired maids to clean the toilet for him. This humiliation not only reflected the debauchery of the society at that time, but also caused great harm to the maids.
What is even more unimaginable is that some maids even have to endure the eccentricities of their masters. For example, Yan Shifan, the son of Yan Song in the Ming Dynasty, had a bad habit and liked to spit phlegm into the mouths of maids and treat it as a spittoon. This kind of humiliation and abuse of people is heartbreaking.
In ancient society, the life of the maids was as light as a feather, fluttering in the wind of fate. Their fate is controlled by their masters, and they are miserable. In this world, they can't choose their own destiny, so they can only bear everything in silence. Their stories, like a touch of deep sorrow, will forever remain in the pages of history.