Betas Innocent Mate

In the biting cold of February, Sylvia Lin stood in front of the pawnshop, her hand clutching a pearl hairpin, stroking it repeatedly.

Her father, a fifth-rank official, had been implicated in King Jings rebellion half a year ago and was executed. After the familys assets were seized, her elder sister ran off with her fiancé, and her stepmother hanged herself in their once grand home. The Lin Family was now reduced to Sylvia, her third concubine mother, and two younger sisters, living in a dilapidated house in West Town, scraping by.

A few days ago, her stepmother fell ill, coughing up blood. If Sylvia didnt exchange some silver today, not only would her stepmothers illness go untreated, but her sisters would starve.

The pawnshop door creaked open, and the shopkeeper, yawning, glanced at Sylvia and shook his head.

"Miss Lin, Eunuch Bao has spoken, no one dares to take your things," the shopkeeper said.

Sylvia pleaded, "Pawn just a little, Im waiting for this money to save a life."

The shopkeeper looked her up and down and said, "Why not seek a high branch, Miss Lin? With your agreement, mountains of gold and silver would be at your disposal."

Sylvias fair skin flushed with embarrassment.

The high branch he referred to was Eunuch Bao, the Empress Dowagers right-hand man. Eunuch Bao, captivated by her beauty, had intended to dishonor her during the familys downfall. After she slapped him, he vowed to make her kneel and serve him. Though she was a commoners daughter, she was raised in a decent household and would never stoop to such depths, no matter how desperate her situation.

Feeling aggrieved, she left the pawnshop and aimlessly wandered before steeling herself to approach a silk shop. Her needlework was commendable, and she hoped to find work. But with Eunuch Baos threats, no one in the capital dared to hire her. Perhaps today, she might encounter a brave and kind shopkeeper.

Before she could reach the shop, the owner slammed the door shut as if a ghost.

A gust of cold wind sent shivers down Sylvias spine, and her stomach growled in hunger. For two months, she had survived on little more than a bowl of watery porridge every other day, accompanied by picked-up cabbage leaves. Her young sisters cried from hunger daily, counting on her to bring back some food.

What could she do now?

In the vast capital, she couldnt find a single opportunity, and the injustice of it all threatened to bring her to tears.

"Miss Lin, wait," the pawnshop owner caught up to her, speaking in a low voice, "I do have a job for you, but I dont know if youre willing."

"As long as its not illegal or immoral, and it earns silver, Ill take it," Sylvia nodded eagerly.

The owners voice dropped even lower: "A nobleman is looking for a concubine."

Sylvias face flushed red.

"Youre in a difficult situation now. If it continues, your mother and sisters will starve to death. Even if you wanted to escape, Eunuch Bao has spies at the city gates." The owner raised his index finger and continued, "You just need to go for one night..."

"One night?" Sylvia was stunned.

"The family who paid 300 taels of silver found out their daughter was no longer a virgin. Theyve spent all the silver and cant get out of the deal. So, theyre looking for a girl who looks and is built similarly to take her place for one night. Theyre willing to pay this much!"

He stretched out five fingers and wiggled them, "Fifty taels!"

Sylvia blushed, swallowing the words of refusal.

The wind grew stronger.

She stood shivering in the cold, a chilling sensation rising from the soles of her feet to the top of her head.

Was this her destiny?

It was late at night.

Sylvia cooked a pot of rice, rendered some lard with pork fat, wiped the pig skin on the iron pot, added cabbage and tofu, and cooked a meal that smelled delicious. She wouldnt be back tomorrow night, so she prepared two days worth of food.

"Sister, how much did you sell the hairpin for?" Her younger sister, who was only six, crouched in front of the stove, curiously asking. She had been helping Sylvia with chores lately, her hands covered in cuts.

"Enough to last for a while," Sylvia didnt dare mention the fifty taels. If it got out, someone would surely come to rob them.

With the fifty taels, she could start a small business, and they would get by.

Anyway, she never wanted to marry. She had been betrothed, but her fiancé didnt want to be implicated by her family and broke off the engagement. She cried all night and was sick for days before recovering.

"I have to go out tonight and wont be back until the day after tomorrow. Take good care of our aunt and sister, and dont open the door for anyone," she arranged the food and whispered.

Her sister froze, tears welling up soon after: "Sister, are you leaving us?"

"I have to do some embroidery for a nobleman, its urgent and will take two nights," she soothed.

"Sister, dont leave us," her sister hugged her legs tightly, crying and heartbroken.

"I wont," Sylvia held her sister gently, tears brimming in her eyes.

"Miss Lin, its time to leave," a voice called from outside the courtyard.

The family of the little concubine was waiting outside, knocking on the door several times to urge her.

A small sedan chair was waiting outside the door. As soon as she came out, the old woman blindfolded her and helped her into the chair. The blindfold was to prevent her from knowing whose house she was going to, so she wouldnt have any undue thoughts in the future.

Sitting in the sedan, she thought about what she was about to face, sadness welling up inside her.

After all the twists and turns, she was still on this path. Her heart ached, she wanted to cry, but she was afraid her eyes would swell and mess up tomorrows matters. So she pressed her hand against her chest all the way, enduring the grievance, and was carried into a magnificent mansion.

The sedan entered through the back door, where two old women were waiting to receive her. After getting off the sedan, they led her away.

"Remember, your name is Yunix. Do whatever the master says," one of them said.

Sylvias head buzzed, her whole body flushed with blood.

Wasnt it supposed to be tomorrow night? Why was it tonight? She didnt know what to do, how would she handle it?

"Go in," they arrived at the door of a side room, and the old woman removed the blindfold and pushed her into the room.

The room was spacious, with a luxurious rosewood couch in the center, draped with light blue curtains, within which a figure lay vaguely.

This must be the nobleman she was to serve tonight.

What should she do? She was so panicked, her hands didnt know where to go.

"Water," the person in the帐 called out in a hoarse voice.

Sylvia looked at the table, which was set with fine Ru ware white porcelain tea sets. She poured a bowl of tea with trembling hands and brought it to the couch, trying to overcome her fear.

A mans hand reached out from the帐, his long, well-defined fingers beckoning.

Sylvia quickly put the tea bowl into his hand.

"Idiot," the man suddenly got angry, gripped the tea bowl, and sat up.

Sylvia was too scared to move, watching as he pulled back the帐 and looked at