Madam Sheng and her daughter conversed for a full two hours, during which Minglan heard everything she ought and ought not to have. Finally, the elderly lady grew weary, and Sheng Yun assisted her to rest. Minglan struggled to move her numb legs as she slowly retreated, her limbs aching and tingling, her back hunched like an old granny. All the while, she had to avoid being seen. Minglan marveled at her own presence of mind—even in such a state, she remembered to pull the water vat back into place and rearrange the weeds after crawling out of the dog hole.
Covered in mud and looking utterly disheveled, Minglan didn't dare return to her own room. Instead, she sneaked off to Pinlan's quarters, where the traitor who had abandoned her comrade was waiting anxiously. At the sight of Minglan, Pinlan immediately put on a fawning smile, offering prepared clothes for her to wash and change.
Minglan gave her a good pinch and scratch to vent some frustration before starting to clean up. When she removed her clothes, both girls were startled: Minglan's elbows and knees were swollen and red, her fair skin imprinted with the patterned marks of the prayer hall's stone tiles like stamped seals. Pinlan massaged her with her own medicinal ointment for a long while and brewed ginger soup to help Minglan ward off the cold. Despite this, the injured areas turned into mottled bruises by the next day, resembling the colored tiles of an outhouse. Furious, Minglan grabbed Pinlan's cheeks and pulled them hard in both directions. Pinlan yelped loudly but took it meekly, behaving as obediently as a little lapdog for days on end, constantly apologizing.
By the time the bruises on Minglan's knees began to fade, Da Lao Taitai had gathered the clan elders from both the Sun and Sheng families, along with respected elders of good repute, and finally invited Mother Sun and her son. The room was packed as they convened to resolve the matter. Such a grand occasion was too much for Pinlan to sit still through; she pleaded with Li Shi for a long time. Naturally, Li Shi refused to let her daughter watch the adults argue, but Da Lao Taitai interjected, "She's not too young anymore. It's time she learned about the hardships of the world, lest she become like a delicate flower unable to withstand storms."
Da Lao Taitai's philosophy of survival differed from her daughter-in-law's; she believed weeds were far superior to ornamental orchids. Li Shi couldn't defy her mother-in-law and merely glared at Pinlan before letting it go. Pinlan immediately sought out Minglan, urging, "Let's go together!" Minglan was equally tempted but first sought permission from Old Madam Sheng. To her surprise, her grandmother didn't stop her. So the two girls eagerly sneaked into the side room adjacent to the main hall. "Let's finish him off!" Pinlan was particularly excited.
Upon entering the side room, they found Shulan already seated there, her expression as gaunt and sorrowful as a widow's.
"Old Madam asked our young lady to come," Shulan's personal maid whispered. Minglan and Pinlan exchanged glances—this time, Da Lao Taitai seemed determined to administer a harsh remedy, aiming to sever Shulan's lingering hopes once and for all.
When Mother Sun and her son received a respectful invitation from the Sheng family servants, they assumed the Shengs had capitulated and swaggered over. Upon arrival, they found half the room filled with people—either locally esteemed figures or elders from both families. Turning around, they were startled to see the local deputy magistrate present, accompanied by two clerks. Sun Zhigao grew somewhat uneasy, though his mother remained oblivious, haughtily taking a seat in the front row.
After everyone exchanged greetings, Uncle Hu and Changsong escorted the deputy magistrate and the two clerks out for tea. Peering through the door crack, Pinlan carefully observed and then turned back to say softly: "Luckily the third branch didn't come, or they'd surely make us a laughingstock.""After a cup of tea had been served, Sheng Wei scanned the assembled elders in the hall and clasped his hands respectfully. "I have invited you all here today to discuss the matter concerning my daughter and her husband from the Sun family. It is an unfortunate family affair, and I beg your pardon for any embarrassment."
Seeing the situation, Sun Zhigao thought to himself, "Is the Sheng family trying to force my hand by leveraging their influence?" Deciding to strike first, he snorted coldly and said, "Father-in-law, as the saying goes, there are three forms of unfilial conduct, and the gravest is to have no descendants. I, Zhigao, am ashamed to be a descendant of the Sun family. At twenty-five, I still have no heir—this is truly unfilial. Now that a concubine in my household is with child, it is a joyous occasion for the Sun family. My wife should have taken proper care of her, but who would have thought she would be so jealous and refuse to tolerate her? Father-in-law, being a man of principle, ought to admonish her."
Hearing him twist the truth so shamelessly, Sheng Wei, though usually tolerant, felt a surge of anger rise within him. Seeing her husband's face turn purple with rage, Li Shi slowly stood up and said, "This is a matter of the inner household, and my husband cannot speak of it. Let me, as her mother, address it." She turned to Sun Zhigao and asked, "Son-in-law, let me ask you: in the three years since my daughter married into your family, how many concubines has she arranged for you?"
Sun Zhigao choked on his words and snorted without replying. Li Shi continued, "Within half a year of my daughter's marriage, she arranged three bedroom servants for you. A year later, she bought two more from outside. In the second year, she hired a respectable Concubine and three more bedroom servants. In the third year, there were another four or five. Now, at twenty-five, you have a total of twelve or thirteen women in your household."
As Li Shi laid out his affairs in meticulous detail, Sun Zhigao's face flushed crimson. The elders and clansmen around them cast sidelong glances. A clan uncle who had long held a grudge against Sun Zhigao remarked sarcastically, "No wonder our nephew has repeatedly failed the imperial examinations—he has been so busy!"
Sun Zhigao was too humiliated and enraged to speak. Seeing her son in distress, Madam Sun quickly interjected, "It is common for a man to have multiple wives and concubines. Moreover, my son is doing this for the sake of having descendants. What is the meaning of this, in-laws?"
Sheng Wei's sister, Sheng Yun, snorted coldly and said, "Whether it's for descendants or for lust, only heaven knows!"
Sun Zhigao was furious and nearly slammed the table in anger.
Seeing the situation escalating, the Sun family's elder clan leader hurriedly stepped in to mediate. "In-laws, please calm your anger. As the saying goes, husband and wife may quarrel at the head of the bed but make up at the foot. Since we are all family, let's speak calmly. Why must we argue?"
Seeing an opportunity to save face, Madam Sun quickly added, "Exactly, let's not dwell on irrelevant matters. Even if my daughter-in-law is incapable, now that someone in the household is pregnant, she should graciously accept her. If she gives birth to a son or daughter, it will be her blessing as well."
Li Shi's voice turned icy. "Today, we must address this matter. Let me ask you, in-laws: if my daughter firmly refuses to accept that woman, what will you do?"
Sun Zhigao abruptly stood up, his face filled with arrogance. "What use is an unvirtuous woman? I will write a letter of divorce and send her away!"
Sheng Wei could no longer contain himself and let out a series of cold laughs. "Well, well, well! What a fine son-in-law who has studied the classics!"
Minglan felt a pang of pity and turned to look at Shulan. Her eyes were vacant, and her body swayed unsteadily, supported only by her maid. Pinlan gritted her teeth repeatedly and whispered into Minglan's ear, "If I were a man, I would go out and give him a good beating!" Seeing Pinlan's fierce expression, Minglan thought to herself, "Even though you are a woman, your brother-in-law might not be able to defeat you in a fight."Sun Zhigao, seeing the Sheng family remain silent, smiled arrogantly again: "As the saying goes, one day as husband and wife brings a hundred days of affection. Had she been more virtuous and properly cared for the Sun family's descendants, our household wouldn't have denied her a meal! Father-in-law and mother-in-law should consider this carefully." He sat down with an imposing posture, looking utterly convinced that the Sheng family couldn't bear to lose him as a son-in-law.
Seeing his attitude, Li Shi's last trace of hesitation vanished. Her heart burned with murderous rage as she declared loudly: "No need for consideration! We dare not aspire to keep such an eminent scholar as you. However, there will be no divorce - only mutual separation. All dowry items must be returned!"
The Sun mother and son were greatly shocked, never expecting the Sheng family to be so unyielding. They exchanged stunned glances while the assembled guests also expressed surprise. After the initial shock, everyone began urging reconciliation with platitudes like "don't act on impulse" and "better to destroy ten bridges than break one marriage."
When Sun Zhigao finally regained his composure, he shouted: "Mutual separation? For such an unvirtuous and unfilial woman, a letter of divorce would be merciful enough!" His mother quickly added: "Since she married into our Sun family, all dowry naturally belongs to the Suns! Why should it be returned?!"
Witnessing the mother and son's behavior and realizing they held no affection for her diligent, honest daughter, Li Shi finally understood Da Lao Taitai's profound concern. Her resolve hardened as she retorted sharply: "Unvirtuous and unfilial? How dare you venomous-hearted people say such things! If you wanted filial piety and descendants, did my daughter ever object? Though we're merchants, we still understand womanly virtues and filial duties! They say a woman must be childless for seven years before it's considered a fault, yet my daughter arranged a concubine for you within half a year of marriage - and you still call her 'jealous'?! In three years of marriage, she spent over twenty nights each month sleeping in your mother's room - serving tea and water, attending to meals, working from kitchen to main house, resting at midnight and rising before dawn, enduring scoldings and beatings without complaint! Is this not virtuous?!"
Remembering how her young daughter had become as gaunt as an old woman, Li Shi could barely contain her sobs. The guests sighed sympathetically, casting accusing looks at the Sun pair. Some thought privately: How could they expect grandchildren when they never let the couple share a bed? What a malicious mother-in-law!
Under the crowd's scrutiny, even the thick-skinned Madam Sun flushed with shame. Sun Zhigao sat fuming with bowed head, remaining silent. Overflowing with hatred, Li Shi declared: "After mistreating my daughter so cruelly, you still want to divorce her and keep the dowry? I tell you - don't even dream of it!"
Sun Zhigao sneered: "A man divorcing his wife is perfectly justified. How can you stop me?"
Li Shi answered with her own cold laugh, drawing a paper from her sleeve and holding it up: "You brought disgrace to scholars by taking a prostitute as concubine! This is that slut's former courtesan registry from the Thousand Gold Pavilion. Though you redeemed her, you forgot to burn this document, didn't you? Hah! Since she originally came from base status, shall I write a letter enclosing this registry to send to your teacher and the Nanjing Education Intendant? Let those scholars who daily compose poetry with you see your true character! Even if we can't revoke your scholarly rank, your reputation among the literati..."
Sun Zhigao finally showed genuine alarm, though he forced composure: "Hmph! Many scholars have romantic liaisons. All four renowned Yu Hang talents have companions from the pleasure quarters!"Sheng Yun said with a smile, "But none of them brought them home, let alone allowed them to enter the household and bear children."
Sun Zhigao was furious but dared not show it, as the magistrate was right outside. Seeing Li Shi's confident demeanor, the Sun family patriarch immediately realized they had come prepared and that the matter could not be easily dismissed. He quickly turned to persuade Sun Zhigao: "In that case, once the woman gives birth, send her away. It's not worth abandoning your wife for a woman of ill repute."
Upon hearing this, Sun Zhigao suddenly transformed into a lovesick romantic, tears welling in his eyes: "Absolutely not! She... she sells her talents, not her body. She is truly an extraordinary woman from the pleasure quarters!"
From the adjacent room, Pinlan muttered under her breath, "Bullshit!" Minglan couldn't help but sigh, "That's quite normal. Extraordinary women mostly emerge from brothels, while ordinary households typically produce respectable ladies." And these extraordinary women often encountered one or two heroic patrons, enacting touching tales of true love.
However, Shulan was not as open-minded as Minglan. Hearing this, her hollow eyes finally spilled over with torrents of tears as she wept silently behind her hand.
At that moment, a woman dressed as a steward entered from outside. She respectfully approached Li Shi and handed over a thick stack of documents and a large set of keys. Li Shi accepted them with a slight smile and nod. When Sun Zhigao and his mother saw this person, they exclaimed in shock, "Nanny Bian! What are you doing here?"
Nanny Bian smiled faintly, "I merely accompanied the young mistress as part of her dowry. I've always been from the Sheng family—why shouldn't I be here?" Turning to Li Shi, she continued, "Madam, these are the deeds for the young mistress's farmland and estates, the contracts for the servants, and here is the original dowry list."
Da Lao Taitai had planned this meticulously for a long time, leaving no detail overlooked. The moment Sun Zhigao and his mother left their residence, the Sheng family retainers who had stayed behind immediately sprang into action. Burly servants blocked the gates while stewards swiftly organized and packed the belongings, gathering all the personnel and retrieving every item—both people and possessions—that Shulan had brought with her as dowry, returning everything to the Sheng household.
Sun's mother leaped up in rage, nearly lunging forward: "How dare you, Li Shi of the Sheng family! You actually dare to ransack our Sun family? Those are our belongings! Return them at once! I... I'll fight you to the death!" As she moved to scratch Li Shi's face, the maidservants nearby quickly restrained her. The servants present were all Li Shi's trusted aides, and seeing their young mistress insulted, they secretly seethed with anger. Suddenly, with a thud—no one quite knew how—Sun's mother stumbled and fell flat on her face, biting her tongue in the process and stammering incoherently.
Sun Zhigao hurried to help her up. Pinlan and Minglan felt immensely satisfied watching this scene.
Li Shi raised the documents in her hand and sneered, "The dowry list is right here! I haven't taken so much as a needle or thread from your Sun family. In fact, several thousand taels of silver and numerous pieces of jewelry are missing, but never mind—consider it payment for my daughter's three years of living expenses in your household! Hmph, if you're dissatisfied and wish to take this to court, I'll be happy to oblige!"
Sun Zhigao, boiling with rage, roared, "Once she married into our family, she became a Sun in life and a Sun ghost in death! Everything she owns naturally belongs to the Sun family! There's no 'yours' or 'mine'—it's all the Sun family's property!"Sheng Yun burst into laughter, pointing as she said: "Though I'm no scholar, I've heard the saying 'seeing carved railings makes one think of fine horses.' Since my niece catches your eye so much, why keep her belongings? Wouldn't that make you think of her whenever you see them? Oh, unless—" Sheng Yun drew out her words, wearing an expression of sudden realization, "unless the greatest talent of Youyang can't bear to part with his money?! Tsk tsk, that would be far too vulgar."
Sun Zhigao was left speechless, his neck bulging and flushed crimson, his face nearly contorted. Everyone in the hall tried to mediate, creating a temporary uproar. Then, Da Lao Taitai, who had remained silent for a long time, suddenly spoke: "Fellow elders and villagers, please hear this old woman out."
The crowd gradually quieted down. Da Lao Taitai's hoarse voice slowly continued: "Our Sheng family has been in Youyang for generations. Counting from the old master's time, we've maintained good relations with every family for decades. It's not that our Sheng daughter is jealous or intolerant, but rather... but rather... ah..." Da Lao Taitai sighed deeply, her expression sorrowful.
A village head from the Li family cupped his hands and said: "Old Madam, do you have some unspeakable difficulty? Please share it with us."
Da Lao Taitai said mournfully: "Decades ago, a woman from the pleasure quarters entered our Sheng household. What happened afterward is known to all you uncles and brothers—my eldest daughter Hong'er was not yet ten when she passed! Wei'er's father nearly bankrupted our family for that woman, even selling this ancestral home—" Da Lao Taitai pointed at the roof above, "this very house!"
The matter of the old master favoring his concubine over his wife was notorious far and wide. Anyone of a certain age knew about it. The elderly present had witnessed it themselves—how the vast family fortune was gradually pawned and exhausted. This incident had been used by countless parents as a classic example to warn their sons against frequenting brothels.
Da Lao Taitai suddenly played the emotional card, leaving Mother Sun and her son completely bewildered. They only heard Da Lao Taitai continue with a bleak expression: "Thanks to our ancestors' blessings and the support of all you elders, we mother and son have managed to endure these years and regain our footing. That's how we redeemed this ancestral home. I can close my eyes knowing I've faced our ancestors in the netherworld without shame. This old woman thanks you all!"
As she spoke, Da Lao Taitai actually stood up, preparing to bow to the assembled elders. Everyone hurriedly rose to stop her, unanimously declaring it improper. Sheng Wei had an excellent reputation in Youyang, not only for his charity toward orphans and elders and his road and bridge constructions, but also because his story of reviving the family business was highly inspirational.
Da Lao Taitai straightened up and declared resolutely: "On the day we redeemed this ancestral home, I swore to heaven: I cannot control other clan members, but for my own lineage, whether men or women, none shall associate with women from brothels! If anyone breaks this vow, may I die a terrible death, fall into the eighteen levels of hell, and have ox-headed and horse-faced demons pull out my tongue and fry me in oil!"
These decisive words shocked everyone, yet they understood: having been nearly ruined by a courtesan back then, how could they now expect their daughter to treat a dancing girl as a sister? That would be adding insult to injury.
With these words, the atmosphere in the hall shifted completely. While not everyone sided with the Sheng family, no one spoke up for the Sun family anymore. The Sun clansmen could only sit in silence, while Mother Sun and her son began to panic inwardly. With such a grave accusation hanging over them, they found themselves in a very passive position.At this moment, Da Lao Taitai suddenly softened her voice again and sighed slowly, "I understand the difficulties your Sun family faces. It's hard to come by an heir, how could you bear to let go? Moreover, Zhigao has affection for that woman. But our Sheng family's daughter absolutely cannot live under the same roof with that woman..." Everyone craned their necks, looking up eagerly to hear more.
Old Madam said, "Why don't we each take a step back? Let them divorce peacefully. Of Shulan's dowry that she brought with her, half will remain with the Sun family. This would preserve the relationship between our two families. What do you think?"
As soon as these words were spoken, everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief. The Sun clan leader immediately said loudly, "After all, Old Madam is wise and reasonable. This is indeed the best outcome. Our two families should not damage their harmony! Nephew Zhigao, what do you say?"
Minglan secretly marveled at this. Da Lao Taitai usually appeared dull and silent, but who would have thought she could be so extraordinary when she took action? The entire event was perfectly orchestrated - roles clearly assigned, pace well controlled, emotions appropriately handled. Step by step, she led everyone into her trap, writing, directing, and acting in this play herself. Truly a remarkable talent!
Sun Zhigao still felt unwilling and aggrieved in his heart. Sun's mother also refused to give up. She had been eyeing Shulan's dowry from the very beginning. If not for the capable matrons who came along, she would have swallowed it all long ago. Now being forced to spit out half of it - how could she accept this peacefully!
Li Shi glanced at the mother and son and said loudly, "If you refuse, we'll see you in court! We'll drag that adulteress out to parade through the streets, letting everyone in Youyang County see the virtue of the great talented scholar Sun!"
Sun Zhigao, who valued face above all else, snorted coldly upon hearing this, "Divorce then! As if I care?" Anyway, having half the dowry in hand was still considerable.
Sheng Wei, with a stern face, immediately invited the magistrate waiting outside to come in. Together with the two clerks, he explained the situation in a low voice, and they immediately began drafting the divorce document on the spot. Then Li Shi produced the dowry list. Sun's mother still wanted to examine it carefully to pick out the good items, but Sun Zhigao, standing before the magistrate, couldn't bear to give people cause for gossip. Without even looking, he tore the list in half and threw down one portion.
Li Shi added, "The servants who accompanied her to the Sheng family are all family-born servants. Now that we are two separate families, we shouldn't separate family members. How about this - I'll make up the difference with silver, and we won't keep any of the people."
As she spoke, she took several banknotes from her sleeve and handed them over. The clan elders standing nearby glanced at them - each was for one hundred taels, and there seemed to be four or five of them. They all thought to themselves: The Sheng family is quite generous. This silver could buy plenty of people.
After the document was prepared, the magistrate looked at Sheng Wei and said, "Now for the signatures." Sun Zhigao stepped forward first and signed his name with flamboyant strokes, then pressed his fingerprint onto the document. Li Shi quickly said, "My daughter is weak, let her father do it for her."
At that moment, there was a loud crashing sound. Minglan and Pinlan were both startled and turned to look. They saw that Shulan had stood up at some point, pushed open the partition door with both hands with great force, and strode out. Pinlan wanted to chase after her but was pulled firmly behind the door by Minglan. Peering through the crack in the door, they watched.
"Shulan, why have you come out?" Li Shi exclaimed in surprise.Shulan's tear stains were still wet on her face, yet she knelt straight before her parents and wept, "It is all your daughter's fault for being unfilial, causing Grandmother, Father, and Mother to worry about me!" Li Shi covered her face and wept silently, while Sheng Wei felt a sharp pang of heartache and turned away to avoid looking. Yet, in Da Lao Taitai's eyes, there flickered a glimmer of relief.
With resolute grace in her sleeves and unwavering determination in her expression, Shulan bowed gracefully to everyone in the hall, then walked slowly to the desk. She picked up a brush, wrote decisively, and pressed her fingerprint onto the paper.
Sun Zhigao, observing Shulan's sallow complexion, could not help but sneer contemptuously, "You lack both talent and beauty, never a match for me from the start. It was my family's mistake to agree to this marriage. Now that you are leaving properly, you should be more virtuous when you marry some butcher or farmer in the future."
This was beyond insulting! Both Li Shi and Sheng Wei were furious, and even those around them felt the remark had gone too far.
Sun Zhigao was still laughing when Shulan suddenly turned around, her eyes blazing with fury as she looked at the man she had once relied on for her very existence. That face now seemed utterly repulsive to her. With great force, she spat a mouthful of saliva directly onto Sun Zhigao’s face, then watched the man’s furious reaction and calmly said, “You lustful, faithless, immoral, and shameless scoundrel—even looking at you for one more moment makes me sick.”
After speaking, she bowed once more to the assembled guests, then turned and swept out of the room. Sun Zhigao hurriedly wiped his face with his sleeve, his ears burning with the soft, mocking laughter around him, and he seethed with hatred.
The onlookers wore expressions of disdain as they bid farewell to Sheng Wei one by one, not a single person paying any attention to Sun Zhigao or his mother. Even members of the Sun clan merely cupped their hands briefly toward Sun Zhigao. Feeling that he had become a laughingstock in front of the magistrate, Sun Zhigao quickly stepped forward to strike up a conversation and ingratiate himself. To his surprise, the magistrate paid him no mind, instead giving him a cold once-over before warmly exchanging a few words with Sheng Wei and taking his leave.
Furious, Sun Zhigao turned to his mother and said, “What a snobbish, greedy old official! Just a few days ago, he was drinking and discussing poetry with me, and now he acts as if he doesn’t know me. Once I pass the imperial exams and secure an official post, I’ll make sure to impeach him severely!”
Sheng Wei’s sister gave a light laugh. “Oh my, how many times have you taken the exams now? You haven’t even managed to become a provincial graduate, and here you are talking about impeaching others? Truly, ‘a toad yawning—such a big mouth!’”
Sun Zhigao was so enraged he began shouting incoherently, but in a war of words, he was no match for Sheng Wei’s sister, who proceeded to mock him with several more pointed remarks.
Pinlan had already left the side room to follow and comfort Shulan, leaving only Minglan still inside. The two maids attending her exchanged glances, finding it odd that Minglan stood motionless, lost in thought with a pensive expression.
Minglan slowly shifted her feet, her head bowed in contemplation. Many things that had puzzled her over the past days, along with her grandmother’s well-intentioned efforts, were beginning to make sense to her now.
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