Episode 5

  That night's conversation was originally questioning Ms. Lin's guilt, but somehow the topic went off track, and Ms. Lin turned from defendant to plaintiff. The case of investigating the cause of Wei Niang's death mysteriously became an investigation into the persecution of a younger wife by an older wife. The process changed subtly, like a deer hanging its horns, leaving no trace. The audience was unknowingly led astray. On the surface, it seemed that Ms. Lin did not accuse Wang of any crime, but every word she spoke seemed to imply something. Even Yao Yiyi, a seasoned professional in court, felt that Wang had wronged her after listening for a while.

  Mrs. Lin's sacrifice was soon effective, and Comrade Sheng Heng suspended the punishment measures and even went to Mrs. Lin's room for a short visit the next day. Mrs. Lin dismissed everyone and poured a bowl of strong Tieguanyin tea from a small five-color ceramic teapot for Sheng Heng, which was exactly his usual preference. Looking at Mrs. Lin's thin moon-white silk shirt and her hair adorned with only one silver flower-shaped hairpin, she looked pitifully beautiful and delicate, like a fragile flower. Even if he had been furious when he arrived, his anger had dissipated by half.

  "Yesterday, at your wife's place, I gave you face, as you said, Madam Wei's death has nothing to do with you?" Sheng Hong said coldly. He was after all someone who had been in the official circle for a long time and still remembered what he came for.

  "Master, you're giving me face, I don't know how to repay it. You came alone today to speak with me, and I'll be frank. That Wei niangniang was brought in by the mistress for you, and previously she also introduced Xiang niangniang and Ping niangniang one after another. Everyone in the household understands what's going on - it's all because the mistress doesn't like how much you care for me. I'm alone and powerless in this household, and usually don't even have anyone to talk to. If I didn't have some reliable people by my side, who knows how I'd be bullied? It's not just about me, but also about protecting Feng gege and Mo jiejie from suffering. That's why I've been careful to keep a low profile and avoid getting involved in anything. When Wei niangniang had that accident, I did have some personal thoughts, but if you say I intentionally tried to harm her, that's just slander! Master, even if I'm wrong in many ways, please consider Feng gege and Mo jiejie's faces - the other day, sir was still praising Feng gege for reading well!"

  Sheng Hong's heart moved, but he didn't make a sound. He picked up his tea cup and took a sip. Lin Niang slowly leaned against him and sat down beside him, her head resting on his shoulder. She whispered: "Hong Lang, I know you well. When we first got engaged, your father made a promise to me that he would never let anyone bully me again. That's why he gave me property and shops, so I could hold my head high in the mansion. You have always treated me with kindness, how could I not know? If I were to do something treacherous and cruel, may heaven and earth destroy me and I wouldn't be able to die a good death."

  Her voice was soft and charming, with a thousand tender entreaties, even when she swore an oath it sounded like sweet nothings, Sheng Hong couldn't help but relax his brow, just as he was about to reach out and pull Lin Niang in for some affection, he suddenly remembered what he had said to Old Lady Sheng that day, so he withdrew his hand and pushed Lin Niang away.

  Lin's aunt had always grasped Sheng Hong's temperament, but she didn't expect to be pushed away. Her face didn't reveal anything, only her eyes were filled with tears as she looked at Sheng Hong. Sheng Hong looked at Lin's aunt and said in a deep voice: "The matter of Wei's aunt will be covered up from now on, I will order everyone in the manor not to mention it again. However, from today on, there are a few things I want to make clear with you."

  "Today's events I have also experienced, overly indulging and loving you more than is proper, forgetting the words of the sage. As it is said, there is an order to age and youth, a distinction between birth mothers and concubines. In our kind of household, we cannot learn from those merchant families who play at being equal wives and lose face. Even if your mother has ten thousand faults, she is still older than you, and you should show her the proper respect. From now on, you will dismantle that small kitchen of yours, and I will stop providing for your expenses. The maids and servants in your courtyard should be treated equally with others in the household, without favoritism. If you want to reward someone, use your own money. All matters will follow the rules of the household, and it seems that over the years you have accumulated enough personal wealth. In the future, you must follow the rules, pay respects to your mother every day, and if there is something inconvenient, going every other day is also acceptable. However, from now on, instruct the people in your courtyard to be more restrained and not show disrespect to your mother, speaking nonsense that goes against the rules. If I find out about it, they will all be beaten to death and sold!"

  Lin's aunt's face lost color, and her heart cooled down a bit. Just as she was about to explain herself, Sheng Xiang continued, "I'm not someone who doesn't understand the situation either. You and your wife have been at odds for a long time, and I wouldn't think that you two could become close sisters overnight. But you should take the initiative to make amends first. I won't take back those properties from you, and they can still be used by you. However, the people in charge cannot be appointed arbitrarily by you. Those two relatives of yours in Quanzhou were drinking and having fun with prostitutes every day, and their extravagance was even greater than mine. From now on, anyone you appoint to manage things must be approved by me first. Don't hire those useless good-for-nothings again, or they'll ruin the reputation of the Sheng family!... Are Fengge and Mosi still living with you? If you really care about the children, you wouldn't have let things get to this point. Now just think about those two kids for a moment."

  Lin's aunt had a lot to say, but after hearing Sheng Hong's last sentence, she didn't speak. She knew that this was Sheng Hong wanting to continue being an official, and in order to get a good reputation as an official, he couldn't let people catch him with any private moral flaws. What Sheng Hong said earlier was just asking her to make some concessions, but he hadn't taken away her property or separated her from her children, this was already the bottom line. This time, Wei's aunt's death was ultimately closely related to her, and being able to settle the case like this was already a great fortune. She was a clever person, knowing when to see the good in things and be content, even if she had some resentment in her heart, she would only grit her teeth and endure it, and instead put on a good face and make nice with Sheng Hong.

  Sheng Hong lingered at Lin Niang's place for a while, enjoying the warmth and fragrance of her body, before rushing to Wang Shi's main room, where another fierce battle awaited.

  He came to the Wang's house, still dismissed the servant girls, leaving only the couple in the inner room talking. After he finished telling what he had just said to Lin Niang, Wang Shi's face was red with anger: "Your precious darling, when did I dare say anything? You want to do whatever you want, how can I dare have half a word of dissent!"

  Sheng Hong took a deep breath: "Don't think I don't know, I'll only ask you three questions. First, your uncle's family was fine, no illness or disaster, why did you wait until just before Wei Niangniang gave birth to drag me there? Second, among the four midwives in the mansion who knew how to deliver babies, three were brought by you as part of your dowry, and they usually listened to whom? You know better than I do. Third, how could I have been so coincidentally returning to the mansion that I happened to see Wei Niangniang for the last time?"

  Wang's heart was slightly startled, but her mouth remained calm and composed: "I've never done anything wrong in my life, so ghosts won't come knocking on my door at midnight! On the day I left, I specifically asked Dr. Liao to examine Madame Wei's pulse, and he said she was perfectly fine. That doctor is the one Master trusts the most, so if you don't believe me, go ask him yourself. He said that Madame Wei had always been healthy because of her active lifestyle before marriage, and even without a midwife, she could have given birth smoothly on her own. But after I left, Lin's wife kept putting cold foods into Madame Wei's meals, which caused the difficult labor. Lin's wife has plenty of money and people at her disposal, so even if my personal maid didn't listen to me, she had others to use! It's clear that she's a smooth talker and Master believed everything she said. There are many midwives in Quanzhou City, but she deliberately delayed calling one for several hours. Even if it wasn't intentional, her people were still negligent! Hmph, I stand upright and straight, and even if there are some fancy tricks, it's just to see how Lin's wife responds. If she didn't have malicious intentions, Madame Wei would have been ignored and left alone in the courtyard, but she could still have given birth safely."

  Sheng Hong did not refute, but instead nodded repeatedly: "I had already investigated the inside story of this matter. This time, Lin's family is deeply involved, but to say that she really wanted to harm someone, it's not that serious either. It can only be said that Wei Niang's fate was thin, and the two coincided, just matching up; your accompanying maids have been at odds with Lin's family for a long time, and it's not intentional delay. Now that things have come to this point, I really can't kill Lin Niang to fill the quota, can I? If those two children harbor resentment, how can the family be at peace?"

  Wang was angry and turned his body away from Sheng Hong, puffing out his chest and twisting the handkerchief.

  Sheng Hong sat down beside Wang Shi and softly advised, "These past few years I've wronged you, wife. Please be at ease, from now on I will no longer indulge Lin Niang. You are the elder and she is younger; you are my formally married first wife with whom I exchanged three books and six gifts, and in a hundred years we will share the ancestral temple's incense and fire together as husband and wife. She, Lin Shi, even if she turns the world upside down, cannot surpass you; she should naturally come to pay her respects and ask after your well-being, and serve you with water."

  Wang's heart skipped a beat, and he turned back with a smile: "Can you bear to part with it?"

  Sheng Hong wrapped his arms around Wang's waist, gently stroking: "There's nothing to be reluctant about, everything should prioritize the Sheng family. Can Lin Niang still maintain the dignity of the entire household? Madam, you should also remember your own rules and regulations, if you don't set a good example yourself, how can you expect others to obey? As for Old Lady Sheng..."

  Wang was touched by his words, her body had already softened a lot, it had been a long time since she had been so close to Sheng Hong, and her heart was filled with tender feelings: "I know I also have my own shortcomings, don't worry, as long as she follows the rules, I won't bully her, nor will I let my temper get the better of me and argue with Master again. The children are all grown up now, would I still be petty and jealous?"

  Sheng Hong's tone softened a lot as he stroked Wang Shi's hair, and then continued to tease her, blowing gently into her ear. Wang Shi's face turned red with embarrassment, her breathing hot: "My good wife, you are the mistress of the house, don't you know that if the family is not proper, the household will not be peaceful? Now we should look forward, Hua Jie is about to reach adulthood, and the marriage proposal is imminent. If something unpleasant happens in our family and gets out, won't it affect Hua Jie's future? Hua Er is my eldest daughter, born to me and you, I want to find her a perfect husband, so that when the time comes, we can show off the prestige of being the parents-in-law."

  The Wang family listened with a smile and nodded in agreement: "Whatever you say, sir, I'll listen to you."

  Yao Yiyi lay in the compartment, she finally had a bowl of fragrant chicken and rice porridge yesterday, today she was somewhat spirited, lying on the soft couch unable to sleep, feeling embarrassed again, she overheard the conversation between the couple once more.

  Well, how can I put this?

  The chaos in the Sheng Mansion originated from Lin Daiyu's rise. It must be said that Lin Daiyu gave up being a legitimate wife and instead became a concubine, which was a deliberate choice. She wasn't like You Erjie, who was muddle-headed. She chose Sheng Hong because she knew he was a man with an independent personality who wasn't controlled by his wife. She also knew about the hardships Sheng Hong had faced as a young concubine-born son and used this to her advantage, gaining an unbeatable position for herself in the Sheng Mansion.

  Yao Yiyi thinks that it's not necessary to blame Sheng Hong's father, but rather that men are unprincipled when it comes to forgiving their lovers, while showing respect to their wives who don't have much love is conditional. As a well-educated feudal scholar-official, Sheng Hong adheres to etiquette and morality, but as a young official with aspirations and culture, his emotions are still driven by needs. His marriage to Wang was arranged, but if the couple had put in effort after marriage, an arranged marriage could have also produced a deep and loving relationship. Unfortunately, Wang made mistakes in this regard. On the other hand, Lin's relationship with Sheng Hong is the result of free love, and in secret, without anyone knowing, the two people stole glances at each other, covering up their feelings, which only intensified them. At that time, Sheng Hong must have been deeply moved.

  Xu Zhimo's deep affection and good intentions towards Lin Huiyin and Lu Xiaoman, compared to his cold-blooded cruelty towards Zhang Youyi, are almost unbelievable as the same person. Compared to Xu Da, a great talent, Sheng Xuan is still somewhat restrained.

  It must be that Lin's aunt has a good eye and even better luck, as Xing Zhen is not the weak and foolish Jia Yun. He finally managed to climb up from being a concubine-born son to his current position, so he is very clear about the two areas where concubines are bullied by their wives: daily life and child-rearing. Therefore, he took drastic measures and directly gave Lin's aunt an independent source of income. With money, she naturally became more confident, and even broke the rules first, insisting that Lin's aunt raise her own children.

  But this way, the rules are gone, as time goes by, Lin Niang gave birth to children, and Wang Shi was unable to pull her husband back emotionally. Lin Niang's position became more and more stable, she began to cultivate her own confidants, and gradually formed a faction against Wang Shi. The Sheng Mansion, from inside to outside, gradually formed two factions, and the war fire became more and more intense. And the current birth mother of Yao Yiyi, Wei Niang, was an innocent victim in this situation of wife and concubine confrontation.

  "The Book of Gu Liang" says: Do not make a concubine into a wife. In other words, a concubine is not qualified to be promoted to wife, and a man with only concubines but no wife can still be considered unmarried. If the legitimate wife dies, even if there are many concubines in the house, the husband is still a widower without a wife and must find another good family to marry a new legitimate wife.

  However, rules are dead and people are alive. Moreover, this is just a rule, not a law, so there are exceptions, for example, there is the case of Rong'er being promoted to a formal wife, although such cases are rare, but they do exist.

  Yao Yiyi studied law, and she knew that in feudal society, the laws protected men's rights. Once a man's interests shifted to a woman outside of his legal wife, the legal wife would be replaced. This was sad but not uncommon. Chen Shimiao was unlucky and got punished by Bao because he committed murder, not because he took a concubine. Men who committed bigamy were not beheaded, but in ancient times, if someone like Sheng Hong wanted to advance his career, he couldn't afford to ruin his reputation over this.

  In the early years, Sheng Hong was reckless and indulgent with Lin Niangniang, unwilling to come ashore from their boundless passion. However, he was after all a rational Confucian scholar-official, not a Republican poet who sought to break free from feudal shackles. His ardor for Lin Niangniang would eventually subside, and the intervention of Wang's family accelerated this process.

  The Wang family spared no effort and even came up with the "beautiful woman strategy". This trick is not new, but it's effective from ancient times to the present, from the palace to the folk. However, Lin Niang didn't expect that her fighting power was so strong, she gave several pretty maids a slap in the face one after another, and still couldn't pull back Sheng Xuan. After all, Lin Niang came from an official family, with beautiful appearance and talent, when talking about poetry and literature with Sheng Xuan, even Wang's wife couldn't interrupt, let alone the several maids.

  Wang's sword went to the biased side, and found a civilian woman, Wei Shi, who was in trouble. Although she didn't have good literary breeding, she had the most direct and obvious advantage that all women had - beauty.

  It turns out that true love is worth more than a thousand pounds of gold, and Sheng Hong was immediately smitten with Wei Shi. She couldn't read or write, but that didn't matter - he would teach her; she didn't understand poetry, painting, or music, but that didn't matter either - he would guide her. They spent their days in each other's company, enjoying the pleasures of life together. And as it happened, Wei Shi was a kind and gentle soul, so Sheng Hong really did come to like her.

  She was furious, relying on Sheng Hong's favor. How could she allow someone to sleep by her side? She would not allow anyone to step into her territory. She wanted to torment Wei Niangniang, at first, she didn't want her life, but hoped to make the fetus disappear, and best of all, ruin her body as well.

  But Wei Niang was particularly unlucky and died instantly.

  Wei's death suddenly sobered Sheng Hong, although he didn't have the same affection for her as he did for Lin, she was still a woman with whom he had shared a bed. Seeing her die in a pool of blood, Sheng Hong finally realized that the contradictions within his family had intensified. As an official who had long been accustomed to being away from home on business, how could Sheng Hong not understand that Wei's death was actually the result of the collapse of discipline within the household?

  The cruel struggle between his wives made Sheng Hong shudder, so he made up his mind to rectify the situation and restore good family discipline. To do this, he had to give up his excessive favoritism towards Lin Daiyu, climb out of the sea of emotions, stand from a fair and just perspective, and manage the household impartially.

  However, even so, he still did not dare to hand over Lin Niang and her children completely to Wang Shi's hands for handling. He knew that the grudge between these two women would not be easily resolved in a day or two.

  Wang's family basically got what they wanted this time, even if she still couldn't win over Lin Niang in love, at least she gained the status of the only female master in the family. The wife of the main house always has a sense of vigilance against concubines, especially when facing noble concubines, and there is a sense of crisis, just like Daiyu said, it's either the east wind overpowering the west wind or the west wind overpowering the east wind.

  Baoyu's mother had such a nonchalant attitude towards Zhao Yiniang because of the vastly different circumstances between the two families, one being the wealthy and noble Wang family, while the other was a family of slaves, not even considered free people, with herself being born into slavery.

  Wang Xifeng was so wary of You Erjie, but didn't take Qiu Tong in consideration, because You Erjie was a noble concubine and she herself had been married for many years, already over twenty years old, yet still hadn't given birth to a son. She originally belonged to the category of those who should be replaced, there was no reason not to take in a new concubine, it's just that her family background supported her so nobody dared say anything about her. Once You Erjie gave birth to a son, if she wouldn't replace Wang Xifeng, at least she would threaten her position. Therefore, when Wang Xifeng heard about You Erjie's situation, she immediately unsheathed her sword.

  The struggle between wife and concubine is a very complex proposition, involving wisdom, perseverance, courage, family background, personal character, and of course luck. Various factors are at play here, but it can be said that the advantage is basically still on the side of the wife. Even if the concubine has the support of the second lady, the possibility of being promoted to the position of wife after overcoming many difficulties is still not high.

  The whole Dream of the Red Chamber has so many unlucky women, but only Jiao Xing has such good luck. Ping'er and Xianglian's fate is still uncertain, even if they were promoted to be legitimate wives, it was already when Xue Pan and Jia Lian had fallen on hard times, which can't be considered a great blessing.

  But this poor Wei Niangniang was just one of the many unfortunate concubines, her death was like a small wave in the ocean, it stirred up some noise but eventually was covered up silently. Afterwards, Sheng Hong and Wang Shi replaced the servants and maids in the mansion one by one for the sake of family dignity, Lin Niangniang herself wouldn't mention it, gradually, no one in the Sheng family mentioned Wei Niangniang's death again, even fewer people knew about this beautiful but weak woman who died tragically.

  Yao Yiyi thought about this and lost her will to live. She didn't have a powerful mother-in-law, nor was she born of the first wife. Her future status in the Sheng household would be very delicate. This life of hers was really mediocre, better than the worst but worse than the best, not enough compared to those above, yet not much different from those below.

  How can I live a good life in this world? Five-year-old Sheng Minglan began to seriously think about survival issues.