That night’s dialog was definitely to question Lady Lin’s guilt but the topic did not know when has become crooked. Lady Lin became the plaintiff from the defendant. Above-mentioned case from investigating Concubine Wei’s cause of death subtly became an investigative follow-up of the case of the legitimate wife persecuting the concubine.
The change in the course of events was faintly discernible, as if an antelope hung in the corner, not a trace to be found and the audience unknowingly got caught into it. In fact, Lady Lin did not accuse Wang shi of any crime when listening superficially but her every word seems to hint at something. Even Yao Yiyi who was the accustomed expert to the courts, listening and listening, felt like Wang shi has wronged her and set a false charge on her.
Lady Lin’s play of dying very quickly had its desired effect, Comrade Sheng Hong stopped his punishment. In addition, the next day he went to Concubine Lin’s place to sit for a little while. Concubine Lin dismissed everyone and gave a five coloured kiln cup with a lid to Sheng Hong to steep his strong Tieguanyin1 tea, exactly the way Sheng Hong’s usually likes to fight the heat. Again, Concubine Lin dressed in a frail moon white thin silk jacket, her beautiful hair only has a tiny plain silver flower silk hairpin inserted. Indeed pitiful in all aspects and delicate like the flower. Even when he first came in with extreme anger, it has declined by half.
“Yesterday at Madame’s place, I gave you some face. According to your words, Concubine Wei’s death, you actually do not have the least bit of responsibility?” Sheng Hong coldly said. He is at least considered to be one that has rolled about in officialdom, in any case still remembered what he came to do.
Concubine Lin’s teardrops glistening “Master gave me face, how can I not know. Master came to speak with this concubine alone today, this concubine just simply openly speak out. That Concubine Wei is invited2 by Madame for Master. Before that, Madame one after another came out with Concubine Xiang and Concubine Ping. For what purpose it is, the whole household up and down understands, simply because she sees that Master love me, pity me and Madame is unhappy. By myself, I have little power in this household and usually there is no one to talk that I actually can talk to. If I do not put some capable and reliable people at my side, I do not know others will destroy me. I am not important but I cannot allow Little Boy Feng and Little Girl Mo suffer hardships. That is why the door is closed firmly, clearing3 myself, do not come into contact generally, it is to protect myself, safe and sound. That night when Concubine Wei had an accident, I indeed had selfish motives and was unwilling to care but to say I deliberately want to harm her life, it is really venomous slander. Darling Hong Darling Hong, even though I have thousands kind and ten thousands kind of fault, also look upon the face of Little Boy Feng and Little Girl Mo. The day before teacher still praised Little Boy Feng for studying well.”
Sheng Hong’s heart was moved also did not make any noise. He lifted the teacup to drink a mouthful. Concubine Lin slowly moved to his side, head on his shoulders, lightly complained “Darling Hong, I am fully aware of your conduct. That time when you and I pledged our love, Master made an oath towards me and absolutely would not allow me to be bullied. This is why you had bruised the honour of Madame’s maiden family and bought me lands and shops, allowing me to properly straighten my back and conduct myself within the household. The deep thought Darling Hong has towards me, how can I not know. If I was to do that cruel and unscrupulous thing, let me to be destroyed by heavens and earth so that I may not have a good death.”
Her voice suave and was bewitching and charming. Even if a poisonous oath was vowed, it is also like saying words of love. Sheng Hong cannot help but loosen his countenance and was right about to reach out to affectionately embrace Concubine Lin. Suddenly he remembered the discussion with Old Madame Sheng that day, thus withdrew his hands and pushed Concubine Lin away.
Usually Concubine Lin is able to grasp onto Sheng Hong’s temperament. Never once she thought to be pushed away but not the slightest bit is shown on her face, only eyes filled with tears gazing at Sheng Hong. Sheng Hong looked at Concubine Lin, in a deep voice said “The matter of Concubine Wei at this point will be closed. Madame and myself will order everyone in the household that nobody will be allowed to speak of this. However from this day forth, there are several things I want to tell you clearly.”
While speaking, both hands on his back stood before the couch “This current matter, I also have fault. Blindly taking pity on you and deeply loving you and actually forgetting the words of the sage. It is called, respect for seniority, differences between legitimate and concubine. This kind of family such as us cannot learn from the merchant families, what equal wives and to be a disgrace. Even if Madame has ten thousands of wrong, she is after all the primary and you are the concubine, you ought to obey etiquette to the utmost. From today onwards, you remove that small kitchen, I will stop giving you expenses. The maids in your courtyard are treated as the same class as the rest of the household and must not be favoured. If you wish to reward people, then use your own money. All matters according to rules of the household, it can be assumed that all these years you have quite a bit of private savings, that should be enough. In the future, you must abide by the rules, pay respects to Madame daily, if you feel unwell, going on a separate day is okay. However order your courtyard’s people to control themselves and must not be disrespectful towards Madame. Saying some nonsense without rules, if I were to find out, beating to death and selling all without exceptions!”
Concubine Lin’s pretty face lost colour, her heart chilled and simply waiting to defend herself. Sheng Hong continued to speak “I am also not one that does not understand things, you and Madame have been at odds already for a long time. I also would not think that you and her could become sisters and be harmonious within a day but you must first be flexible. I will not retake the properties that I gave you, those things given to you still remains but I cannot allow you to carelessly assign stewards. That time, those two clan mates of yours drinking with female entertainers, embracing singers in Quan Prefecture their show is more extravagant than mine. In the future, the stewards you assign must go through me and be approved. Not allowed to recruit those fearless dog ability, if not it will ruin the reputation of my Sheng family! …… Little Boy Feng and Little Girl Mo still be raised at your side, if you really are thinking for the children, then it is unlikely that you are in this current predicament. Now, just think more for those two children.
Concubine Lin originally had a stomach full of words to say but when she listened to the last sentence of Sheng Hong, she had nothing to say. She knows that if Sheng Hong wants to continue to be an official, he must seize a good reputation and cannot allow others to catch any shortcomings regarding his character. Sheng Hong’s words just now is to merely want her to lie low but he did not peel off her properties, also did not separate her children, this already is his bottom line. This time, Concubine Wei’s death she have much responsibility in the end and able to close the case in this manner is already great fortune. She is a smart person who knows when to stop, even though her heart is somewhat unwilling. She could only bite her teeth and endure and instead get ready for things and raise her spirits to be affectionate with Sheng Hong.
Shen Hong at Concubine Lin’s place enjoyed the soft fragrance and warmth for quite a while. Afterwards he straightly went to Wang shi’s legitimate house. There is still another battle to fight.
He came to Wang shi’s room, as before, sent away the servants and maids leaving behind only the husband and wife in the inner room talking. He told her everything that was said to Concubine Lin, Wang shi’s powdered face contained anger “Your treasured darling, when did I dare to say anything. What you want to be done, just do it. How dare I say half a no!”
Sheng Hong took a deep breath “You do not suppose that I do not know, I only want to ask you three questions. First, there is no illness or calamity in Master Brother’s house, you did not go earlier or later. Why did you insist on waiting until several days before Concubine Wei’s labour to drag me to go? Second, within the household those old maids who knows how to deliver, there are a total of four. Among them, three are from your dowry, usually whose orders they go all out to listen to, you know better than me. Third, how is it a coincidence that just when I returned to the household, I would see Concubine Wei for the last time?”
Wang shi’s heart was slightly frightened but her speech was composed “I have never done any shameful deed in my entire life, ghosts will not come knocking on the door at midnight! That day when I left, I specially invited the physician to give Concubine Wei an examination, it was obviously fine. That physician is that Physician Liao whom Master trust most, if Master does not believe, you can ask him. He said that Concubine Wei before marriage worked all year round, her body is strong. Even if there is no midwife, she is able to give birth; but once I left, Concubine Lin put some cooling things in Concubine Wei’s food practically every day. That led to Concubine Wei’s unfavourable labour. Concubine Lin has plenty of money and has people inside and out. Even if the old maids from my dowry do not listen to her orders, she does not have anyone to use? It is obvious that she is clever and eloquent, Master believes it completely. Quan Prefecture had many midwives and she dragged it out for a few hours to get the midwife, even if she did not deliberately do it, her people are also undisciplined! Humph, I stand upright. Even if there is some gaudy tricks, it is also merely how to respond to Concubine Lin. If she does not have the intention to harm others, even if there is no one to bother about Concubine Wei, staying in the courtyard by herself, she is also able to give birth to the child safe and sound.”
Sheng Hong did not retort instead nod his head continuously “I have already investigated these inner matters. This time, Lin shi has much responsibility but to say she is really thinking of harming others also is going too far. Only could say the Concubine Wei is unlucky. Two gathered and just happened to match up; those old maids from your dowry usually bear a grudge against Lin shi and she also did not intentionally delay. Things has reached this point but can it be that I kill Concubine Lin? If those two children’s hearts breed resentment, how will the house be at peace.”
Wang shi got angry and turned her body to ignore Sheng Hong, twisted up the handkerchief in fumes.
Sheng Hong sat towards Wang shi’s side, softly soothing “I have left Madame to suffer these few years. Be assured Madame, from today onwards, I will no longer indulge Concubine Lin. You are the primary and she the small. You are the legitimate wife that I officially married through the three letters and six etiquette4. A hundred years later you are the one that I will share the ancestral hall and the incense in rest together. She Lin shi, even if she flipped heavens she will never surpass you. She ought to pay respects to you, drawing water and serving.”
Wang shi’s heart was immediately happy, turning her head and smiling “You are willing?”
Sheng Hong simply held Wang shi’s waist, gently caressing “There is nothing to be unwilling about, everything is done with Sheng family as the importance. No matter how important Concubine Lin is, can it still be more important than face of the Sheng household? Madame, once you take out the rules of an established family, you also must remember your own behaviour. If you do not first establish it right, how will others be obedient? Old Madame there……”
Wang shi was caressed a few times by him, her body already became soft by half. For a long time, she has not been this intimate with Sheng Hong, her tender sentiments greatly vigorous “I know that I have areas that are lacking. Rest assured, only if she abide by the rules, I will not push her around and also will not get angry like a child with Master. Our children are all this big, can it be that I will still rival her for your affections?
While Sheng Hong stroked, Wang shi’s tone has eased up quite a bit. Thus he persisted and hugged Wang shi while lightly blowing air by her ears, teasing Wang shi till her face flushed, breathing hot “My good Madame, you are a young miss from an established family. You know the logic that if the family traditions are not right, the family will not be at peace. Now we must look forward, Little Girl Hua soon will reach the marriageable age and we are presently discussing marriage. If unbearable news about our family spreads out, will it not implicate Little Girl Hua? Hua’er is my firstborn daughter also from the legitimate line. I still wish to find a husband that is thousand of good and ten thousand of good for her. When the time comes, I will display that impressive father-in-law figure.”
Wang shi listened till she got excited and became all the more submissive “What Master says is right, shall listen to Master in everything.”
Classmate Yao Yiyi lied in the other5 room. Finally for the first time ever she drank a steaming and fragrant bowl of shredded chicken porridge yesterday. She somewhat has vigour today, lying askew on the soft couch, unable to sleep. Once again. sorry, she heard the other couple’s every word.
En, how should this be said?
1. A premium oolong tea and it is named after the Chinese goddess, the processing of the tea is very complex as it requires the right time to harvest and the right method to process
2. 讨 (Tao): Has the meaning of getting her to marry over
3. 撇清 (Pie Qing): Emphasises innocency, has nothing to do with any matter
4. 三书六礼 (San Shu Liu Li): Ancient Chinese customs, three letters are the betrothal, gift and wedding letters and the six etiquettes are proposing, birthday matching, presenting betrothal gifts, presenting wedding gifts, arranging the marriage and marriage ceremony https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sEeKobHJP00 (for more details)
5. 隔间 (Ge Jian): It has the idea of a separate room that has been partitioned off
The Legend of the Concubine’s Daughter Minglan Chapter 5 Part 2
NOVEMBER 17, 2016
ALPENGLOWPALED
The chaos in Sheng household originated from the rising power of Concubine Lin. Have to say, Concubine Lin gave up being a legitimate madame outside and would rather be a concubine, she has already observed and marked the person. She is not the least bit like the muddle-headed Second Sister You.1
She found Sheng Hong. Reason being that she knows he has an independent character and not a man who is suppressed by the wife. She also knows of sufferings of his early years as a concubine-born and what he regarded as cutting point. She got an invincible position for herself in the Sheng household.
Yao Yiyi feels there is no need to blame Father Sheng Hong. The only thing that can be said is that there are no principles in forgiveness in a man towards his lover and yet there are conditions for respect towards a wife whom he does not have much love for. Sheng Hong this kind of feudalistic scholar who received education, although scrupulously abide by etiquette but being a young bureaucrat who has goals and culture, he in the end has requirements to feelings. Wang shi may be considered as an arranged marriage for him but if after marriage, both parties used their hearts to engage, the arranged marriage also could produce true love between a couple who has deep feelings and importance for each other. What a pity Wang shi made many mistakes in this aspect. In comparison, Concubine Lin with regards to Sheng Hong is actually the result of freedom in love. In the circumstances where nobody knew, the two sneaky and in secret. The more feelings is being suppressed, the more the stronger the flavour. Surely Sheng Hong at that time used his real heart.
Xu Zhimo treats Lin Huiyin and Lu Xiaoman with profound love and treats Zhang Youyi with cruelness.2 Simply cannot believe that they are the same person, compared to the very gifted scholar Xu, Sheng Hong can still be considered temperate.
It should be that Concubine Lin’s foresight is not bad, her luck even better. Sheng Hong is not the weak and muddle-headed Jia Lian. He climbed from being a concubine-born to today’s position. He is very clear that there are only two areas that the concubine can be bullied by the legitimate wife, everyday livelihood and raising children. Therefore he carried it through, no matter the consequences and simply giving Concubine Lin independent source of money. With money, her back can be straight. Furthermore taking the initiative to break the rules and insisted to let Concubine Lin raise her children.
But if this happens, the rules will be obliterated. With the passage of time, Concubine Lin bore and raised children, Wang is also unable to use feelings to drag her husband back, Concubine Lin’s position will become more and more firm. She starts to train her aides, gradually being equals with Wang shi. Gradually in and out of the Sheng household has been formed into two camps and the fire of the war are ever more critical. This biological mother of Yao Yiyi’s current body, Concubine Wei, is the innocent cannon folder in this kind of situation where the wives and concubines are stand on opposites.
《Guliang Zhuan》3 says: Do not take concubines, take wives. In other words, concubines have no right to support themselves to be wives, man with concubines and no wife are still considered to be unmarried. If the legitimate wife dies, no matter how many concubines the husband has, he is also a widower and must look for a legitimate wife in another good family.
But the rules are dead, people are alive. Moreover this is only rules and not laws so there are fishes that have escaped the net. For example, there is also Jiaoxing4 who was a lucky concubine being lifted up to legitimate. Although there are not many cases but they exist.
Yao Yiyi studied law, she knows. Typically speaking the feudal society’s laws protect the rights and benefits of men. Once the man’s entire interest lies on a woman other than the legitimate wife, the situation of the legitimate wife stepping down for another will happen. This is very sorrowful but it is still better. The unlucky Classmate Chen Shimei suffered a stab from Grandfather Bao. Not because cast his wife and married another but it is because he committed a crime of killing5. Man who committed the crime of remarrying will not be beheaded. Of course in the ancient times’ strict code of ethics, if people like Sheng Hong who wants to bring his official career a level up, that cannot be done because of this ill-reputation.
Sheng Hong did not bother the first few years. His feelings with Concubine Lin are like the sea without borders, he was unwilling to go ashore6. He is after all an intellectual feudalistic scholar, not a Republic of China’s poet who takes it upon himself to break through the chained feudalistic system. His passion towards Concubine Lin waned in the end because of the maiden family of Wang shi, who intervene to accelerate this process.
The Wang family exerted people and power, still thought of the beauty trap. This trick indeed is not fresh but is preciously effective. From the olden times till today, from the courts to the common folk, it has been time-tested. But unexpectedly Concubine Lin’s fighting strength is extremely strong, she even carved the faces of several rather good-looking maids, it actually also could not drag Sheng Hong back. All in all, Concubine Lin was born in an official house, good-looking and elegant, romance in the air when she converse with Sheng Hong on verses, songs and poetic essays. Even Wang shi could not interrupt let alone several maids.
Thus Wang used the unconventional plan, found a female commoner who is just in a predicament, Wei shi. Although she did not have very good literature education but she possess the most direct and fastest results of every woman’s strong point, beauty.
As expected, a thousand catty of love cannot be equalled to one-quarter catty of chest. The moment Sheng Hong saw Wei shi, he was immediately smitten. She cannot read, no problem, he will teach her. She does not understand verses, painting and calligraphy, no problem, he will give advice. A very close relationship, be attended by a beauty, how not to be happy; in addition, Wei shi’s nature is tender and genuine, Sheng Hong actually really liked her.
This time Concubine Lin is worried, the only thing that she relies on is Sheng Hong’s doting. How can she tolerate others sleeping beside him on the narrow bed, she absolutely would not allow others to step into her domain. She wants to torment Concubine Wei repeatedly. In the beginning, she did not wish for her life, only expecting to lose the unborn child. The best would be that her body is ruined.
But Concubine Wei is especially out of luck, right away breathing her last.
Concubine Wei’s death allowed Sheng Hong to be suddenly sobered. Even though there is no affection for her like that of Concubine Lin’s, she is still after all a woman whom he shared the bed with. Seeing that she died in a pool of blood, Sheng Hong at last realises the contradiction in the inner household has already intensified. Being an official who ignores the truth and discrepancies for years, how can Sheng Hong not understand that Concubine Wei’s death is actually the result of the ruined rules of the household.
The bitter battle of the wife and concubines allowed Sheng Hong to tremble with fear, thus he is determined to rectify. He must recover that good household rules of rank, then he ought to abandon over partial love towards Concubine Lin. Climbing ashore from the ocean of feelings, standing from the perspective of the head of an established family, running the household fairly.
However even if it is this way, he still dare not completely hand Concubine Lin and her children to Wang shi for her to manage. He knows these two women’s hostility perhaps cannot be smoothed out in one or two days.
Wang shi basically got what she wanted this time. Even if she still cannot fight over Concubine Lin in terms of love, at least she obtained the position of sole mistress in the household. All along, the legitimate wife is always guarded towards the concubines. Especially when facing treasured concubines, the feeling of being in a crisis is stronger. Just like what Daiyu said if it not the east wind that overpowers the west wind, it is the west wind that overpowers the east wind.
Baoyu’s mother towards Concubine Zhao, that kind of indifference attitude is established in a situation where the strength of two parties has a large disparity. One is from a rich and powerful Wang family, the other entire family are slaves, not even considered free, she herself is a family born servant.
And the reason why Wang Xifeng is so afraid of Second Sister You but disregard Qiutong is because Second Sister You is a treasured concubine. Moreover she got married for so many years and is already twenty over years but still has not given birth to a son. This is basically classified under violating the seven misconduct7, there is no reason not to allow concubines. Only because she has the support of her maiden family that there is no one to say her. The moment Second Sister You gives birth to a son, not saying that it will replace her, at least it will endanger her position. Therefore once Wang Xifeng heard matters regarding Second Sister You, she immediately unsheathed her sword.
Wives and concubines striving is a very complex proposition. It embodies wisdom, willpower, courage, family background, character and of course luck. All kinds of factors are at work inside, it only can be said that superiority is still better to be on the wives’ side. Concubines even if they have children but breaking through a tight encirclement and lifted to be legitimate, the probability is actually not high.
The entire literature, Dream of Red Chambers, there are so many unlucky woman but only one with the luck of Jiaoxing. Afterwards whether Ping’er and Xiangling was lifted to be the legitimate is still to be said, even if they were lifted to be the legitimate, it is also when Xue Pan and Jia Lian are down and out. It is not considered to be any good thing as big as the sky.
And so this pitiful Concubine Wei is merely one of the numerous unlucky small concubines. Her death is like the minute ocean spray in the big sea, although stirring up a little activity yet it was wordlessly covered up. Subsequently, Sheng Hong and Wang shi for the sake of the clan’s face, changed the servants and maids within the household one by one. And Concubine Lin obviously would not mention, gradually there is no one who will mention the death of Concubine Wei again in the Sheng household. So much so that there are few who knows of this beautiful and weak woman who died tragically.
Yao Yiyi thought till here, again has no willpower to survive. Since she does not have a powerful concubine to be her birth mother, she is also not born of the legitimate line, her position in the Sheng household will be very fragile in the future. This time her reincarnation is really of little value. Compared to the bad, it is somewhat good, compared to the good yet bad. Compared to the top, it is very lacking, compared to the bottom yet there is not much surplus.
What should be done so that life can be properly lived in this world? The five years old, approaching six, Sheng Minglan began to solemnly examine this survival issue.
1. A minor character from Dream of Red Chambers, she married a notorious womanizer, Jia Lian with a jealous primary wife and she eventually died by the primary wife
2. Xu Zhimo is a famous modern poet, Zhang Youyi is his wife through arranged marriage and the other two are his lovers. On a side note, the famous wuxia writer Jin Yong is his cousin.
3. One of the classic book of ancient Chinese history and deals mainly with affairs of families.
4. A maid from the Dreams of Red Chamber who later became a concubine then made to be the legitimate wife after the previous one died from illness.
5. Based off from Chinese opera where Chen Shimei became the son-in-law of the emperor killed his former wife, Grandfather Bao aka Bao Zheng, an extremely righteous judge was in charge of this case.
6. 上岸 (Shang An): Figuratively means to give up the evil ways and return to virtue
7. A man is not allowed to divorce or demote his legitimate wife unless she has broken one of the seven misconduct, in this case it is known as incapable of bearing sons and it is a misconduct as it threatens the family’s bloodline