What kind of a servant is Wèi Wúxiàn?
In MDZS 家仆 Jiā pū is the word used for servant in WWX's WCZ's cases - the same word is used for A-Tong (servant at Mo manor).
家仆之子 Jiā pū zhīzǐ - son of a servant.
I got these from a friend as I'm non Chinese reader/speaker.
Google translates these characters as: servant, myrmidon; and supplies the Chinese 跟班 Gēnbān as a synonym (attendant, servitor, myrmidon, pensioner).
跟 Gēn follower, heel, go-with; v: to follow, to go with
班 Bān class, shift, squad, duty, team, rank, body.
Servitor (archaic English) is interesting: someone who serves or attends a social superior. A retainer. So is Myrmidon - brother of arms.
I get the feeling these terms must relate to the whole clan vs sect/school issue.
Wonder if the same term is used for Wen Zhuliu (obviously a bodyguard):
Jiang Cheng: His name is Wen ZhuLiu, also known as the ‘Core-melting Hand’. He’s servant kept by Wen Chao’s side, specially to protect him. Don’t provoke him.”
Update from my Chinese source 😅: the term for Wen ZhuLiu is Sui Shi (随侍); I quote: "not a servant but a follower. Like Feng Xin and Mu Qing."
Google confirms. So apparently the EXR translation is off
It seems to me the usage of the term is typically derogatory when applied to Wei Wuxian, but that it anyways carries a different weight from a menial labourer (even a domestic one).
Madame Yu: “What, something I said? Servant? You don’t want to hear the word? Jiang FengMian, let me ask you—this time, do you intend to let him go?”.
Jin GuangShan: “Sect Leader Jiang, Wei Ying is your right-hand man. You value him a lot. Al of us know this. However, on the other hand, it’s hard to tell whether or not he actual y respects you. In any case, I’ve been a sect leader for so many years and I’ve never seen the servant of any sect dare be so arrogant, so proud. Have you heard what they say outside?
Unnamed sect leader: Excuse my bluntness, but he’s the son of a servant. How could the son of a servant be so arrogant?”
Both Yanli and Cheng openly deny this.
Yanli has it out with the Jin:
Jin ZiXun final y regained his composure, he yelled, “Wei WuXian! You’re only the son of a servant—how dare you be so bold!!!” (omissis)
Yanli: "A-Xian is a disciple of the Yunmeng Jiang Sect. He grew up with my brother and I, and so he’s as close as a brother is to me. Calling him the ‘son of a servant’—I’m sorry, but I won’t accept this.
While Jiang Cheng has this discussion with WWX:
Jiang Cheng frowned, “You’re at it again. You don’t really like her, do you? The girl does look fine, but it’s obvious that she doesn’t have much background. Maybe she isn’t even a disciple. She seems like the daughter of a servant.”
(The words here are actually 家奴 Jiā = domestic slave)
Wei WuXian, “What’s wrong with servants? I’m also the son of a servant, aren’t I?”
Jiang Cheng, “How can you compare to her? Whose servant is like you, having your master peel lotus seeds for you and boil you soup. I didn’t even get to have some!”
Meaning: stop being an idiot! You damn well you're no (common) servant.
It would be interesting to figure out if other words for servant are employed in the book.
@tamingwangxian your takes would be greatly appreciated.