Meiyue was taken to Wang Fugui's private estate, a place of lush greenery, shimmering artificial lakes, and magnificent palace-like buildings. However, for Meiyue, this was not paradise, but a glittering prison.

Wang Fugui is a mining tycoon in his fifties who made his fortune by mining rare ores.

He already has two wives, both local women from the Kingdom of Stars, whose status is far higher than that of Mizuki.

In this manor, Meiyue is defined as the "Third Lady," but in reality, she is more like a high-class servant, responsible for taking care of Wang Fugui's daily life and even meeting his various needs.

"You have to give me a son."

On the first night, Wang Fugui stumbled into Meiyue's room, making no attempt to hide his desire: "I spent 550,000 to buy you, not so you could eat and drink here for free."

Meiyue gritted her teeth, enduring the humiliation.

She knew that if she disobeyed, Wang Fugui could send her back to the market or even to the mines at any time. Meanwhile, her younger siblings were still waiting for her remittances amidst the ruins of Kyushu. She had no other choice.

As the days went by, Mizuki's life was bound by strict rules.

Every morning, she had to get up at six o'clock to prepare breakfast for Wang Fugui; during the day, she had to clean the manor and serve Wang Fugui's two wives; at night, she also had to drink and chat with Wang Fugui, and even... she dared not think any further.

Every night, when all was quiet, she would hide in her room, silently shedding tears, reminiscing about her days in Kyushu.

At the same time, Rena's fate was equally tragic.

She was assigned to a retired miner named Qiansen, who lived in a run-down town.

Qian Sen's home was a simple metal house, filled with clutter, and the air was thick with the smell of machine oil and sweat.

Although Qian Sen was over sixty years old, he was still in good health. He spent 300,000 dragon coins to buy Ling Nai, mainly so that she could "carry on his family line".

"Girl, you have to give me a few children."

Qian Sen would repeat this sentence every day, his tone carrying an unquestionable command: "I paid money to buy you, you have to be worth that price."

Rena tried to fight back, but each time she did, she was met with Qian Sen's fists and insults.

She also wore an electric shock collar around her neck; any slight disobedience would cause her excruciating pain from the electric current. She could only force herself to accept reality, because her mother and younger brother were still in a refugee camp in Kyushu, relying on the money she sent back to buy food and medicine.

Ayaka's fate was even more tragic.

She was sent to the home of a farmer named Zhang Daniu.

Zhang Daniu is a rude man who already has three wives, but still greedily wants more "labor".

Caihua was required to work on the farm every day, from dawn till dusk, feeding livestock, planting crops, and cleaning the house, with almost no time to rest. At night, she also had to serve Zhang Daniu and his other wives, and would be severely beaten if she was not careful.

"I don't want to live anymore..." One late night, Ayaka secretly found Mizuki and contacted her through the manor's communication equipment.

Her voice was hoarse and desperate, "Meiyue, I can't take it anymore... He beats me every day and wants me to have his child... I'd rather die!"

"Ayaka, don't say that!" Mizuki cried, fighting back tears as she whispered comfortingly, "You have to live... for your family. We have no choice... we must live."

As time went on, the Star Kingdom's "redemption" system became increasingly sophisticated.

The Empire began to promote a "preferential policy": if women from Yingzhou behaved well and gave birth to enough children, their families might even be accepted as citizens of the Empire, leaving the ruins of Kyushu to live in the colonies of the Star Kingdom.

A Japanese woman named Koizumi Yuki became a "typical" example of this policy.

Koizumi Yuki was assigned to a wealthy businessman named Chen Tianhao, and gave birth to three children.

Chen Tianhao was quite satisfied with her, not only increasing her "salary" but also using the Empire's channels to bring her parents to the mainland.

Koizumi Yuki's parents moved into a simple but clean apartment and, for the first time, had plenty of food and clean water.

Koizumi Yuki thus became a "role model" for other women, and the empire's propaganda machine constantly publicized her "success story" to inspire other women to be more obedient.

Meiyue heard Lin Xue's story and felt a mix of emotions.

She envied Xiaoquan Xue's family for being able to escape their suffering, and she began to try even harder to please Wang Fugui, even taking the initiative to learn how to be a "qualified wife," just so that her younger siblings could one day also come to the Kingdom of Stars.

A year later, Meiyue gave birth to a boy for Wang Fugui, whom she named Wang Haoran.

The birth of the child filled the manor with a festive atmosphere, and Wang Fugui, the mining tycoon in his fifties, rarely showed a satisfied smile.

"Mizuki, you did a great job!"

Wang Fugui patted Meiyue on the shoulder, drunkenly saying with a smug glint in his eyes, "This kid looks just like me, haha! From now on, the Wang family's business will depend on him!"

Meiyue lowered her head and forced a smile. Her heart was filled with mixed emotions—this child was a symbol of her humiliation, but at the same time, it was also the hope for her and her family's future.

She knew that the laws of the Star Kingdom stipulated that as long as the father was a citizen of the kingdom, the child would automatically acquire citizenship regardless of the mother's status.

This policy stems from the kingdom's patrilineal tradition, aimed at ensuring the continuation of bloodlines and the stability of the empire. Hao Ran's birth means he will become a formal citizen of the empire, enjoying access to education, healthcare, and future career opportunities—things Mei Yue had never dared to dream of.

More importantly, the empire also had certain "preferential policies" for the mothers of newborn citizens.

To encourage childbirth and stabilize the colony population, the empire stipulated that mothers who gave birth to citizens would receive certain benefits, including a fixed monthly allowance, medical care, and, in some cases, even a degree of freedom.

As Haoran grew up, the benefits of the empire began to flow steadily to Meiyue.

Every month, the Empire would directly deposit a stipend into her account. Although the amount was small, it was enough for her to send back to Kyushu to improve the lives of her younger brother, Sato Yuto, and her younger sister, Sato Aoi.

The Empire also provided her with free medical care to ensure the health of both her and Haoran.

More importantly, the Empire stipulated that any mother who gave birth to a citizen could apply for "limited freedom status" after the child turned three years old, allowing them to move freely within the colony and even engage in some simple work.

Mizuki used the allowance to buy more food and medicine for her younger siblings in the refugee camp in Kyushu.

She also used the Empire's channels to apply for distance learning courses for them, so that Yuto and Aoi could learn the language and culture of the Star Kingdom in preparation for possible future immigration.

These small steps gave Meiyue a glimmer of hope—perhaps her sacrifice could bring a better future for her family.

Although Wang Fugui was greedy, he dared not disobey the empire's favor in the slightest.

He knew that these benefits came directly from "His Majesty's" decree, and any withholding or misappropriation could trigger an investigation by the Empire.

On one occasion, he attempted to deduct a portion of Mizuki's allowance as "manor management fees," but he quickly received a warning from imperial officials, which frightened him so much that he immediately returned the money and personally apologized to Mizuki.

"Meiyue, I was just confused for a moment," Wang Fugui said sheepishly, a hint of embarrassment on his face. "Don't worry, this money will all be yours from now on. His Majesty is watching closely, how could I dare to touch it?"

Meiyue said softly, "Thank you, Master." Her tone was calm, but she felt a sense of triumphant joy. Although the Empire's policies were intended to control women like them from Yingzhou, they had inadvertently given her a weapon to protect herself.

As time went by, Mizuki gradually began to integrate into life in the Kingdom of Stars.

Haoran's citizenship steadily elevated her status in the manor. Although Zhao Yali and Li Manyun still mocked her, they no longer dared to make things difficult for her as they had in the past.

Mizuki was also allowed to participate in some community activities, such as the Mothers' Support Association, an organization specifically for women who give birth to citizens, designed to help them adapt to life in the kingdom.

At the mutual aid society, Mizuki met other women from Yingzhou, such as Koizumi Yuki.

Koizumi Yuki is now Chen Tianhao's "fourth wife," has given birth to three children, and has received numerous benefits from the empire. Her parents have been brought to the kingdom and are living a relatively stable life.

Mizuki felt both envious and moved by Koizumi Yuki's experience. She began to understand that as long as she followed the rules of the Empire, her and her family's lives might really improve.

“Mizuki, you have to learn to accept reality,” Koizumi Yuki whispered to her at a mutual aid meeting. “We can’t change the past, but we can fight for a future for our children and family. Haoran is a citizen, and he will have his own path in the future. As long as we persevere, there will always be hope.”

Mizuki nodded, a determined glint in her eyes. She knew that Koizumi Yuki was right.

Her son, Haoran, is a citizen of the Empire and may become a doctor, engineer, or even an official in the Empire in the future. As Haoran's mother, she will also gain more respect and opportunities as a result.

Five years later, the Empire's "preferential policies" finally extended to Mizuki's family.

Her younger brother, Yuto Sato, and younger sister, Aoi Sato, were taken to the kingdom and moved into a small, allocated apartment. Although the apartment was simple, it was a huge improvement compared to the refugee camps in Kyushu.

Yuto was enrolled in a technical school to study mechanical repair, while Aoi went to a girls' school to study nursing and home economics. Although their lives were still under the Empire's surveillance, at least they no longer had to worry about food and safety.

When Mizuki first saw Yuto and Aoi, tears streamed down her face. She hugged them tightly and choked out, "You've finally come... All the suffering I've endured hasn't been in vain."

“Mizuki-nee, you’ve suffered so much…” Yuto said softly, his eyes filled with guilt. “We must study hard and repay you in the future.”

Aoi, holding Mizuki's hand, said with a smile, "Sister, I saw Haoran! He's so cute! I'll take care of him for you from now on!"

Mizuki smiled and nodded, her heart filled with warmth.

She knew that her sacrifice had finally brought her family together. Although their future remained uncertain, at least they were together now, and life was much better than before.