Fang Han served as a stable boy in the Fang family, tasked with taking care of a prized steed named Thousand-Mile Snow that belonged to the family's second young lady, Fang Qingwei.
Caring for a horse was no small feat — it required waking in the middle of the night to feed and groom the animals, especially the high-bred ones like Thousand-Mile Snow. The routine included preparing special feed made from soybeans, eggs, and other fine ingredients, followed by a walk to help the horse digest before the young lady arrived for her ride.
But that morning, Fang Han became distracted. He had been sneaking peeks at the martial training in the Fang family's inner courtyard, captivated by the teachings of Fang Tong, a powerful family elder. The lecture on body cultivation and the secrets of divine power completely absorbed him, causing him to forget his duties.
By the time he arrived at the paddock, he saw Thousand-Mile Snow already mounted by Fang Qingwei, riding with grace and elegance. Around her stood her attendants, armed guards, and several young nobles on horseback, all radiating a formidable aura of martial prowess.
"Fang Han! You've committed a grave mistake! Hurry up and kneel to beg the Second Young Lady's forgiveness!" an elderly overseer shouted as he hurried toward him.
"I... I had a stomachache this morning..." Fang Han stammered, offering a weak excuse.
The overseer, head of the stables, was not impressed. "I don't care what your reason is. Delaying the Second Young Lady's plans is an unforgivable crime. Didn't your father teach you the most important lesson? A servant's duty is above all else, even your own life!"
Just then, a maid with an air of superiority approached, her eyes narrowed as she seized Fang Han by the shoulder with a grip stronger than anything he could have expected.
Fang Han realized immediately that her strength far surpassed his own, and despite his brief exposure to martial techniques, he was helpless to resist. Even if he wanted to fight back, he knew it would only bring more trouble.
With a swift motion, the maid tossed him to the ground. His body felt like it was on fire from the impact.
"Kneel properly and answer!" the maid barked, kicking him for emphasis.
Fang Qingwei, the Second Young Lady, spoke from her steed, her voice cold and commanding. "You're Fang Han?"
"Yes, my lady," he said, bowing his head low, his pain momentarily forgotten in the presence of her authority.
Fang Qingwei inspected him coldly. "You've done well with Thousand-Mile Snow, but you failed this morning. A servant's duty is to anticipate their master's needs — your negligence is unforgivable."
"I understand, my lady. I'll give my life to care for the horse. I promise to never fail again," Fang Han responded, fear in his voice as he lowered his head.
Fang Qingwei's gaze lingered on him for a moment before she flicked her hand, signaling the maid to administer a punishment.
"Ten lashes. Remember this lesson," she commanded.
With a simple motion, the maid brandished a whip, delivering each lash with incredible force. Fang Han gritted his teeth, enduring the pain as the lashes tore at his flesh, but he knew better than to resist. The pain was unbearable, but he had to remain composed. After the tenth strike, he collapsed to the ground, his body wracked with agony.
"Thank you, Second Young Lady," he managed to choke out, following the proper servant's ritual of gratitude.
Fang Qingwei nodded in approval. "I reward and punish fairly. You failed today, so you were punished. But you've taken good care of Thousand-Mile Snow and didn't steal its feed. For that, you deserve a reward."
A gleaming silver ingot, worth five taels — an entire year's wages for a servant — fell to the ground before him. This was an unusually generous reward, and it didn't go unnoticed.
"Remember," she said, turning her horse to leave, "punishment is for failure, but rewards are for loyalty. Serve faithfully, and you'll be rewarded."
As she left, her entourage following her out of the paddock, some of the other stablehands approached Fang Han, admiring the silver he had received.
"Ten lashes for five taels? Not bad at all," one stableboy commented.
Fang Han gave a slight, bitter smile. Next time, it might be a funeral instead of a reward.
After limping back to his quarters, Fang Han thought about the silver in his hand. He understood that the Second Young Lady's actions were all part of her system of control — to keep her servants in line with both reward and punishment.
But deep inside, he was tired of this life. He had grown weary of being a servant, a life of endless subjugation and humiliation.
His father's words echoed in his mind: "Better to be a beggar than a slave."
Fang Han couldn't help but feel that one day, he would break free from this cycle. And maybe, just maybe, he would stand tall, no longer looking up at others but having them look up at him instead.