The Duke of Yu's Daughter

The Duke of Yu was in serious financial trouble, not least because his wives produced only daughters, many, many of them as he continued to try for a son and heir, and he was obliged to provide dowries for the young women as they reached marriageable age.

The solution, suggested by the rich and powerful moneylender to whom the Duke was indebted, was to allow the moneylender to select a wife from the as yet unmarried daughters, and in return he would cancel the debt once a successful marriage was confirmed. Naturally, he selected the most beautiful of the daughters, a young woman whose remarkable beauty was already well known throughout the Middle Kingdom. Unfortunately, this particular young woman had no desire to be married, and absolutely no wish to endure the whims of the sadistic, cruel moneylender. Of course, out of duty to her family, she agreed, but she had no idea what pain and indignities she would have to endure at his hands…