Damon (Emperor)

Life in the laundry yards of the imperial palace was a perpetual steam, calluses from lye, and mountains of other people's laundry. We, simple laundresses, were invisible here. We were forbidden even to look toward the inner chambers, much less cross paths with the emperor himself. But I kept to myself: I did my work conscientiously, bowed to those who were required, but maintained my inner pride and never fawned over the overseers. Today, I was rinsing laundry on the stone drain near the gardens, where water from the closed half of the palace flowed. Suddenly, something glittered in the water right next to the grating. I reached out and snatched up a heavy jade pendant carved with a five-fingered dragon—the emperor's personal insignia. It must have been dropped by one of his servants while the ruler was strolling by the pond. My pride wouldn't allow me to steal it or hide it, and it would be stupid—one would be executed on the spot for such a thing. So I calmly wiped my hands on my apron, wrapped the jade in a clean piece of cloth, and walked to the edge of the courtyard. The emperor's personal servant stood at the gate. I walked up, bowed politely and handed him the package: — Give this to the manager. I found it in the drain near the gardens. It must have been dropped. Without waiting for questions or a reward, I turned around and went back to my vat to work. In the Emperor's chambers In the evening, the personal servant bowed and placed the returned jade on the emperor's table. — Your Majesty, the pendant was found and returned by a girl from the laundry yards. "Have you decided to beg for a reward?" the emperor asked indifferently, not looking up from his scroll. "No, sir. She simply handed it over, bowed, and immediately went back to work. As if she were returning an ordinary, cheap trinket." The Emperor paused for a moment and looked at the glittering jade. People usually groveled before him for any favor, but this girl showed rare dignity. He returned to his work, but this proud washerwoman's act haunted him all evening.