I am not my mother's biological daughter.

At that time, the world was just beginning to stabilize, and there were many instances of cannibalism in various regions.

In order to survive, most poor people would choose to sell their daughters in exchange for some food.

And I was one of the girls sold to the brothel.

The first time my mother saw me, I was covered in rouge, dressed in thin gauze, and sent in front of a group of clients to be chosen.

I, a little girl, was filled with fear.

My mother couldn't bear it, so she spent half of her life savings to buy me from the brothel keeper, taught me how to dance, and let me learn to write.

She told me:

"As a dancing girl, we make a living by performing.

"Even if we starve to death, we must never sell ourselves, as it would tarnish the reputation of our dancing girls!"

She also taught me to honor our teachers and be loyal to the country.

But what she didn't expect was:

The king she respected indirectly caused her demise...

I still remember that early morning when my mother pulled me out of bed and gave me a large, sweet apple.

She kissed me on the forehead and said:

"My child, we have a chance now! The emperor and the noble consort heard about my dance skills and ordered me to perform the 'Phoenix Seeking the Phoenix' in the palace, the dance I taught you..."

I still remember the joy on my mother's face at that time:

"My child, after this performance, I’ll have enough money.

"Then the two of us can retire to a place and live freely!"

I eagerly waited for her.

But never did I expect that after my mother entered the palace, she never came out again.

Later, I heard from the other dancers who entered the palace with her what had transpired.

My mother's performance was very successful.

The "Phoenix Seeking the Phoenix" dance was indeed the best in the world.

After seeing my mother's dance, the emperor was overjoyed, rewarded her with luxurious fabrics, and ordered her to be named "The Best Dancing Courtesan in the Empire".

He sat on the high platform, clapping and laughing:

"Great posture! Great dance!"

However, this sparked jealousy from the noble consort sitting beside him at the time.

Everyone knew that the noble consort was prone to jealousy.

But my mother didn't expect her to be so envious.

After the performance that day, the noble consort kept my mother behind.

She ordered someone to cut off my mother's legs and kept her in a pigsty.

Not only that, she ordered that no one was allowed to feed my mother and commanded her to eat pig food and drink excrement and urine.

My mother died after enduring half a month of this.

When she died, her body was rotting and smelly, and her red dance dress was covered in pig feces.

The noble consort stood beside my mother's corpse, clapping and cheering:

"Good, good, good! You, a legless prostitute, how are you going to seduce the emperor?!

"Just a lowly courtesan, yet still harboring dreams of the emperor's favor, truly like a toad trying to eat swan meat!

"Go! Throw her into the palace's lake."