## The Dark Reality of Palace Maids in Ancient Times: Navigating a Life of Hardship and Solitude
In ancient dynasties, alongside the three palaces and six courtyards where the empress and concubines resided, there existed another class of women who led a life of misery and darkness – the palace maids.
The ancients aptly described that “entering the palace is like sinking into the depths of the sea,” for palace maids, from the moment they stepped into the harem, were destined for a cruel fate.
In the hierarchy of the imperial court, the empress stood at the pinnacle as the mother of the nation, with the concubines in the middle, and the palace maids, though numerous, forming the solid foundation of the palace.
The life of a palace maid was often marked by untreated illnesses, death without support, and arduous labor. They endured a string of painful and arduous days.
Moreover, an aspect that is perhaps less known is how they coped with their physiological needs, which took a heavy toll on their physical and mental health. Young palace maids, despite their vitality, faced prolonged loneliness in the darkness of night.
The first approach was “companion eating”
“Companion eating” took two main forms: one, relationships between palace maids themselves, and two, relationships between eunuchs and palace maids. In the harem, the emperor was the only man with supreme power, while others, including the eunuchs, had little influence. Palace maids who were not favored and had no opportunity to interact with the emperor or other men in the harem often turned to same-sex relationships to compensate for their loneliness.
“Companion eating” here refers to dining together, secret love, or sharing private emotions to seek comfort and empathy. These relationships were usually short-lived.
“Companion eating” could take the form of relationships between palace maids or between eunuchs and palace maids.
The term “companion eating” described the relationships between palace maids or between palace maids and eunuchs in the ancient harem. In the palace environment, eunuchs had no family, and palace maids had no husbands, so they often formed temporary bonds to alleviate their loneliness. If this relationship lasted and stabilized, it was called a “discharge household.”
However, since the eunuchs had undergone castration, they could not satisfy the physiological needs of the palace maids in the conventional way. Instead, they sought to stimulate their partner’s visual and tactile senses, creating a form of “companion eating” that was detrimental to the physical and mental well-being of the palace maids.
The second method employed by palace maids was adultery
Like anyone else, palace maids experienced emotions and had physiological needs. In the harem, their loneliness often intensified. Some palace maids, to cope with the monotony of interacting only with eunuchs, sought comfort from palace guards to satisfy their physiological desires.
However, this act was strictly forbidden in the royal household, and if discovered, severe consequences would follow. Nonetheless, many palace maids accepted this risk to alleviate their loneliness.
The third way was to seduce the emperor
This was often the choice of ambitious palace maids. However, to succeed in seducing the emperor, they needed a combination of factors such as timing, opportunity, and personal charm. There were palace maids who never had the chance to interact with the emperor in their lifetime, so how could they realize this plan?
Those assigned to serve the concubines had a higher chance of catching the emperor’s eye. When the emperor favored a concubine, he might also notice a beautiful and suitable palace maid, considering promoting her to a more prominent position. Thus, attractive palace maids always tried to attract the emperor’s attention, even approaching him when he was intoxicated or not in his right mind.
Ambitious palace maids might attempt to seduce the emperor.
Lastly, the fourth method was to flirt with the emperor
Many ancient emperors did not regularly attend to state affairs. In their leisure time, they enjoyed entertainment, dancing, or excursions. Palace maids seized these opportunities to showcase their allure and captivate the emperor. If successful, they became his special favorites.
In summary, palace maids in the imperial court yearned for male attention and favor. In this context, satisfying their physiological needs became a top priority, regardless of honor or consequences. They had to sacrifice their youth to achieve this, a particularly harsh challenge for young women in their prime.
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