In the dim lamplight, Consort Lin wore a bashful expression, her demeanor filled with tenderness as she spoke softly, "Hong Lang, today I am truly overjoyed—first, because our eldest daughter has secured a favorable marriage, and second, because many ladies praised our Mo'er for her grace and charm, finding her delightful. Yet... ah..." She let out a long, melancholic sigh, trailing off into sorrow.
"If you're happy, why sigh?" Sheng Hong, feeling drowsy, was eager to sleep.
"I worry whether Mo'er will have the same good fortune as our eldest daughter in the future. Although all the young ladies in the household are treated equally now, I fear that when it comes time for marriage proposals, others might look down on her for not being born of the wife..." Consort Lin's voice gradually faded.
Sheng Hong recalled the difficulties he had faced when seeking marriage with the Wang family and sighed as well. "There will always be a distinction between legitimate and illegitimate children, but as long as I am here, Mo'er will not be wronged."
Consort Lin replied gently, "I know best how well you treat the three of us, but how can you intervene in the social interactions among the ladies of official and noble families? The wife must take the young ladies out to gain experience so that Mo'er won't be held back by her humble birth mother, hidden away in the inner quarters and unknown to others." Her tone grew increasingly sorrowful as she spoke.
After a moment of contemplation, Sheng Hong said, "You're right. I'll speak with the wife later. From now on, when socializing with female guests, she shouldn't only take Rulan; she must bring Mo'er and Ming'er as well. If they prove to be virtuous and fortunate, the Sheng family may secure two more good marriages in the future."
Consort Lin, looking charming, nestled against Sheng Hong and exclaimed sweetly, "Oh, my dear Hong Lang!" But in the next moment, her expression turned troubled, her brows slightly furrowed. "I heard from the maids who watched the excitement outside that Hua Jie'er had a dowry of one hundred twenty-eight chests, along with fields, estates, and many accompanying servants. Such grandeur! I wonder if Mo'er..."
Sheng Hong, though somewhat groggy, had been influenced by Kong Momo's advice twice before and grew wary of Consort Lin's demands. After a moment's thought, he replied, "Setting aside the in-laws' families, I treat all my daughters equally. However, the eldest daughter's dowry was supplemented by the wife's own marriage portion. Strictly speaking, Mo'er may not receive a dowry as lavish as the eldest daughter's."
Consort Lin pouted coquettishly, "Hong Lang, you're so kind-hearted. Since the wife has married into the family, her dowry naturally belongs to the Sheng family. All the sons and daughters call her 'Mother'; she simply cannot show too much favoritism!"
A chill ran through Sheng Hong's heart, and his mind began to clear. He spoke slowly, "Favoritism aside, only a man without ambition would constantly covet a woman's dowry. My brother-in-law, who came from a prestigious official family spanning three generations, used his wife's Wang family dowry and now can hardly speak up in front of his elder sister-in-law. When I sought this marriage, I resolved not to touch a single coin of the wife's dowry—it will all be left to Changbai, as he is also a descendant of the Sheng family."
Consort Lin grew anxious, sitting up abruptly from under the covers. "What about Feng Ge'er and Mo'er? Does that mean you won't care for them? Must they suffer in the future because of me, a mere concubine?" Her eyes welled up with tears once more.
Remembering the strategies Kong Momo had taught him, Sheng Hong replied leisurely, "Is it my fault that you don't have a substantial dowry?"
Consort Lin was left speechless, staring at Sheng Hong in disbelief, stunned that he would speak to her in such a manner.Sheng Hong secretly marveled at Kong Momo's foresight. During a casual conversation once, Kong Momo had pinpointed a cyclical pattern in his interactions with Consort Lin: first, Consort Lin would weep about her lowly and pitiable state, then he would comfort her out of pity, followed by her growing more fearful and anxious about her future, weeping incessantly, until he softened and promised her this and that.
Kong Momo had sneered at the time, asking if Consort Lin, with a family background and dowry like the Madame's, would ever consent to be Sheng Hong's concubine.
Though Sheng Hong believed he and Consort Lin shared "true feelings," he hadn't lost his self-awareness to the point of such delusion. Thus, Kong Momo taught him the very words he had just used, serving as an emergency brake for Consort Lin's excessive demands, even preparing follow-up responses in advance.
Sheng Hong threw on his inner garment and sat up, his voice turning cold. "Back then, I feared you and the children would be bullied, so I insisted on allocating a portion from the ancestral estate for your security. This was already against the rules, but I did it for you, Feng Ge'er, and Sister Mo. You already enjoy far more dignity than most concubines—are you still not satisfied?! If you wished to be on equal footing with the Madame, you shouldn't have agreed to be my concubine in the first place."
Consort Lin nearly choked with rage, her body trembling as she said, "Why are you like this, Hong Lang? What I feel for you is genuine affection. I wouldn't even be another family's Madame if it meant I couldn't be with you—I chose to be your concubine willingly. How could you... how could you..."
Feeling somewhat gloomy, Sheng Hong inwardly acknowledged Kong Momo as a female Zhuge Liang, having predicted even Consort Lin's next words. He countered accordingly, "If your feelings for me are genuine and you willingly became my concubine, why do you constantly complain and always ask me for this and that? Is this how true sincerity manifests?"
As he spoke, even Sheng Hong himself grew somewhat disgusted, as if realizing that Consort Lin's and his "true feelings" weren't as profound as he had thought.
Consort Lin was left speechless, as if struck dumb by a blunt blow. After sobbing for a while and collecting her thoughts, she choked out with grievance, "If it were for myself, I wouldn't utter a single word. But... but I have to think of the children! I know my place is lowly, but Feng Ge'er and Sister Mo are your own flesh and blood! I... I'm truly worried..."
Sheng Hong said coldly, "If Mo'er marries into a highly ranked family, for the sake of the Sheng family's reputation, I will make an exception and provide generously. But if her in-laws are ordinary, should I still equip her with a dowry rivaling Hua'er's, who married into a Count's household? And what about Ru'er and Ming'er? They are also my own flesh and blood! As for Feng Ge'er, a true man stands firm in this world—he should be self-reliant, study for the imperial exams, pursue an official career, and eventually establish his own household. How can he rely solely on ancestral inheritance? In the past, my uncle nearly squandered the family fortune, and most of my elder brother's current wealth was earned through his own efforts! Though I am not particularly talented, what I have achieved today wasn't entirely dependent on the old master either!"
Wiping her eyes, Consort Lin seethed inwardly. Ever since Kong Momo's arrival, Sheng Hong had been far less doting and accommodating toward her. She had been suppressing her feelings, serving him with forced cheer and meekness. Today, she had hoped to take advantage of his good mood to persuade him to place more assets under her name, ensuring her children wouldn't fall behind in the future. But unexpectedly, Sheng Hong seemed prepared, responding with well-rehearsed arguments that left no room for negotiation. She couldn't help but feel a growing sense of panic.Sheng Hong noticed Consort Lin’s fearful expression and pitiable demeanor, and unconsciously softened his tone. "How could I not love Feng Ge'er and Sister Mo? But ultimately, seniority and legitimacy must be upheld. If I disrupt the rules, not only will I invite ridicule, but it might even lead to family discord."
Suddenly, Sheng Hong felt he had been too lenient. Recalling Kong Momo’s final words, he immediately put them to use, his voice turning stern. "You must discipline yourself as well! It’s because you constantly entertain such thoughts that Sister Mo competes for favor with her sisters. If Feng Ge'er ever shows similar disrespect, I will deal with you immediately!"
With that, he threw on his robe, rose from the bed, and tidied his appearance. Ignoring Consort Lin’s pleas from behind, he strode toward the door, pausing only to say one last thing: "Focus on raising our children well, and you will have a good life in the future. I’ve given you all I can—do not covet anything more!"
Consort Lin was both shocked and furious. Accustomed to being spoiled, she could not bring herself to beg Sheng Hong and could only grit her teeth in frustration.
As Sheng Hong walked away, he sighed. Kong Momo, having spent years navigating inner households, understood the intricacies of noble families all too well. He was familiar with—and had even met—the descendants of the fallen marquisates and earldoms she had mentioned. Family ruin often stemmed from wayward descendants, and wayward descendants arose from negligent upbringing. A phoenix that has fallen from its perch is worse than a chicken—he had witnessed firsthand the destitution of these fallen families in the capital, living on meager rations, and it had shaken him to the core. He had also seen how his own uncle’s favoritism toward a concubine over his wife had nearly depleted their vast family fortune. If not for the support of his own mother and Sheng Wei’s hard work, that branch of the family would have long since fallen into ruin. Reflecting on all these instances, past and present, Sheng Hong felt a chill of dread.
A cold breeze outside steadied his nerves, and he began to feel he was overthinking. After all, both Changbai and Changfeng were diligent and studious—how could they be compared to those idle nobles who spent their days gambling, bird-watching, and indulging in frivolities? When Sheng Hong’s late father’s old friends had introduced him to various influential families, he had deeply admired those esteemed scholarly households known for their strict discipline and accomplished descendants, families that remained prosperous for generations. Even titled families dared not look down on them. He wondered if the Sheng family would ever be so fortunate.
Sheng Hong heaved a long sigh. Is it easy to be an idealistic and ambitious official?
…
When Hualan married, Madam Wang not only provided a generous dowry but also selected many diligent and honest maids and matrons from the household to accompany her. Old Mrs. Sheng had long intended to reorganize the household and seized this opportunity to reassign the staff. Initially, Madam Wang resisted these changes, but upon hearing that Linqi Pavilion’s personnel would be reduced, she immediately gave her full support.
According to feudal hierarchy theory, a concubine should have fewer servants than the primary wife. Previously, Sheng Hong had shown favoritism, but now that he had mended his ways, Linqi Pavilion had to downsize. Consort Lin had protested, arguing that the staff were for Changfeng and Sister Mo’s use. Madam Wang promptly retorted, "Then what about Brother Bai and Sister Ru?"
The equation was as follows: Madam Wang + Changbai + Rulan = Consort Lin + Changfeng + Sister Mo; however, Madam Wang should > Consort Lin, meaning Changbai + Rulan < Changfeng + Sister Mo. At this, Old Mrs. Sheng remarked with displeasure, "What absurd logic! How could this be allowed?"Consort Lin watched as many of the personnel she had carefully arranged over the years were dismissed, her heart burning with hatred like fire. Yet she dared not resist. Before Old Madam, she couldn't win arguments with reason; before Sheng Hong, she couldn't "move" his "true feelings"; and before Madam Wang, she couldn't match her status. In the end, she could only sulk in her own courtyard, her face dark and gloomy, smashing an entire set of tea utensils.
Like Consort Lin, Liu Guniang Minglan also experienced personnel changes. Faced with the prospect of adding servants—a seemingly good thing—Minglan was quite uncooperative. Her first reaction upon hearing about the addition was: "Why do we need more people? With Cui Mama, Danju, and Xiaotao, three people are already serving me. I have enough help, and other tasks are also taken care of."
Minglan's thinking was quite natural. The place she came from was in the midst of an economic crisis, with layoffs happening worldwide. It was a situation where women were used like men, and men were used like beasts. If two people could do the job, they would never hire two and a half. Old Mrs. Sheng looked at Minglan with an expression of exasperation for as long as it took to drink a cup of tea, then sighed deeply and went to the Buddhist hall to chant the Heart-Cleansing Mantra twice, restraining herself from strangling her beloved granddaughter. Meanwhile, Mama Fang thoughtfully took it upon herself to enlighten Liu Guniang.
Back when Old Mrs. Sheng was the young lady of the Yongyi Marquis Manor, she not only had her own independent courtyard but also had three steward mamas, five first-class maids, eight second-class maids, eight third-class maids, and five or six errand boys, along with several women for needlework, laundry, and cleaning—"several" roughly equating to ten.
Minglan counted on her fingers, her mouth gaping wider and wider: "Th-that... that means over thirty people were serving Grandmother alone?"
Mama Fang smoothed her slightly worn chestnut-colored standing-collar jacket, its fine cotton and silk brocade embroidered with six exquisite floral patterns, and said with great pride, "That's natural. The late old marquis had only this one daughter, so she was pampered and cherished beyond measure. At that time, Old Madam was among the most distinguished young ladies in the entire capital."
Minglan thought for a moment and immediately asked, "Is the Yongyi Marquis Manor still like that now? I once heard Grandmother say that the current generation of the marquis manor has three sisters."
Mama Fang's old face couldn't quite hold its composure, and she stammered, "...Well, not exactly. The current Yongyi Marquis... is somewhat different from the previous one." She sighed inwardly, thinking that this Liu Guniang always managed to pinpoint the key issue with precision.
Minglan smiled and said, "Mama, don't frown. Back then, Grandmother was the only one, but now the marquis manor has three sisters, so naturally, the arrangements can't be the same."
"Young lady speaks wisely, that's exactly the reasoning," Mama Fang said, her old face regaining some composure as she smiled, her wrinkles warm and gentle. "Now, our master holds a sixth-rank official position as a prefectural magistrate, so we can't match the grandeur of the marquis manor. There's no need for first, second, or third-class distinctions. However, the young ladies of the household must still carry themselves in a manner befitting their status. When you were younger, having only Danju and Xiaotao by your side was acceptable, but now that you're growing up day by day, it wouldn't do to appear as shabby as those from lesser families. It would make our family a laughingstock if word got out. Besides, Fourth Miss and Fifth Miss are both treated this way. Of course, we must not overstep either, lest some official impeach us for extravagance and wastefulness, which would be a disaster."Mama Fang rambled on at length, and Minglan nodded repeatedly like pounding garlic. The next day, the stewardess from outside led over ten young girls of varying heights and builds into Longevity and Peace Hall, where they stood in the main room. Madam Wang sat nearby with a cheerful smile, pulling Minglan closer and saying, "Take a look yourself. Pick whichever one you like."
Minglan turned to observe them, her gaze briefly meeting the girls' eyes. Like startled rabbits, most immediately averted their glances, though a few bold ones smiled ingratiatingly at her. Minglan felt somewhat uncomfortable, as if she were picking trinkets from a roadside stall—these girls didn’t seem like independent individuals but more like little goldfish or turtles, mere playthings.
Whether bold or timid, the girls' eyes all held a look of longing. After Mama Fang’s instruction, Minglan understood that being chosen would mean immediate entry into the inner household, escaping a life of menial labor and coarse clothing. With luck, some might even climb higher in the future. Minglan asked herself inwardly: which is more important, a comfortable life or personal dignity and freedom?
While Minglan pondered these profound questions, Old Mrs. Sheng glanced at her. Noticing this, Mama Fang turned to Madam Wang and said, "Liu Guniang is still young and hasn’t met many people. How can she choose? Better let the Old Madam handle it."
Old Mrs. Sheng nodded in agreement.
The Old Madam was clearly experienced in selecting servants. She meticulously questioned the stewardess who had brought the girls: Which were bought from outside? Which were born into servant families? Where had they worked before? Where were their parents? What special skills did they have? The girls brought had already been screened to exclude those with unsightly appearances or poor health. In the end, Old Mrs. Sheng selected four girls.
Madam Wang quickly interjected, "So few? Wouldn’t that shortchange our sixth girl? Old Madam, please pick a few more. If these aren’t suitable, we can always buy others." Minglan lowered her head, thinking to herself, Rulan probably already has more maids than she should.
Old Mrs. Sheng glanced at Madam Wang and said, "One should wear a hat that fits one’s head. The master has worked hard to establish his career—saving silver is wise, and avoiding gossip is prudent. We women in the inner household ought to be more considerate of our men."
Madam Wang looked embarrassed and murmured in agreement, resolving inwardly to "be considerate" by trimming the number of maids on Molan’s side as well.
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