The conversation that night was clearly meant to interrogate Madam Lin about her crimes, yet somehow the topic veered off course. Madam Lin transformed from the accused into the accuser, and the case inexplicably shifted from investigating Consort Wei’s death to tracking incidents of the main wife persecuting a concubine. The transition was subtle, like an antelope hanging its horns—leaving no trace to follow. The listeners were unwittingly drawn into her narrative. On the surface, Madam Lin did not directly accuse Madam Wang of any crime, but every word she spoke seemed to imply something. Even Yao Yiyi, a professional accustomed to court proceedings, found herself gradually swayed, feeling as though Madam Wang had falsely framed her.
Madam Lin’s desperate performance soon yielded results. Comrade Sheng Hong suspended the punitive measures and visited Consort Lin’s quarters the next day for a brief stay. Consort Lin dismissed the servants and brewed a strong cup of Tieguanyin tea in a Chenghua five-colored lidded bowl, perfectly steeped to Sheng Hong’s usual preference. Dressed in a thin, moon-white silk dress, her cloud-like hair adorned only with a plain silver floral twisted hairpin, she appeared utterly pitiable and delicate as a flower. Even if Sheng Hong had arrived with immense anger, half of it would have dissipated.
"Yesterday at the madam’s place, I spared you some dignity. As you claimed, are you truly completely uninvolved in Consort Wei’s death?" Sheng Hong said coldly. Having navigated the official circles, he at least remembered his purpose for being there.
Tears glistened in Consort Lin’s eyes: "I am well aware of the dignity you’ve granted me, Master. Since you’ve come alone to speak with me today, I shall speak frankly. Consort Wei was brought to you by the madam. Before that, she successively introduced Concubine Xiang and Concubine Ping. Everyone in the household understands the reason—it’s all because the madam dislikes how much you dote on me. I am isolated and powerless in this household, with hardly anyone to confide in. If I don’t surround myself with reliable allies, who knows how I might be trampled upon? I don’t mind for myself, but I cannot let Feng Ge’er and Sister Mo suffer. That’s why I’ve kept my doors shut and distanced myself from everything, solely to ensure my own safety. On the night Consort Wei met her misfortune, I did act selfishly by refusing to intervene, but to accuse me of intentionally causing her death is a blatant slander. Hong Lang, Hong Lang, even if I have countless faults, please consider Feng Ge’er and Sister Mo. Just the other day, the tutor praised Feng Ge’er for his excellent studies."
Sheng Hong’s heart stirred, but he remained silent, taking a sip of tea. Consort Lin slowly moved closer, sitting beside him and resting her head on his shoulder. She whispered tenderly, "Hong Lang, I know your character well. When we pledged our love, you vowed never to let anyone bully me. You even defied the madam’s family to secure land and shops for me, allowing me to hold my head high in this household. I am deeply grateful for your unwavering affection. If I were to commit such heartless acts, may heaven strike me dead and grant me a miserable end."
Her voice was melodious and enchanting, turning even a venomous oath into sweet nothings. Sheng Hong’s expression softened, and he was about to embrace Consort Lin for some intimacy when he suddenly recalled his conversation with Old Mrs. Sheng. He withdrew his hand and gently pushed her away.Consort Lin had always understood Sheng Hong's temperament well, but being pushed away unexpectedly, she showed no change in expression, only gazing at him with tear-filled eyes. Sheng Hong looked at Consort Lin and said in a low voice, "The matter of Consort Wei ends here. I will order everyone in the household not to mention it again. But starting today, there are a few things I must make clear to you."
With his hands clasped behind his back, he stood before the kang: "I am also at fault for what happened today. I was too indulgent and fond of you, forgetting the teachings of the sages. As the saying goes, there is an order between the elder and the younger, and a distinction between the legitimate and the illegitimate. Families like ours do not imitate merchant households by having something like an equal wife to bring shame upon ourselves. No matter how many faults Madam Wang may have, she is senior and you are junior. You should show her due respect. From now on, you will dismantle your private kitchen, and I will stop all the allowances I give you. The maids and matrons in your courtyard shall receive the same provisions as everyone else in the household, with no special treatment. If you wish to reward anyone, you must use your own money. All matters shall follow the household rules. I assume you have accumulated considerable private savings over the years, which should be more than enough. From now on, you must abide by the rules and pay respects to Madam Wang daily. If you are unwell, you may go the next day. But from now on, restrain the people in your courtyard. They must not disrespect Madam Wang or speak any unruly nonsense. If I find out, they will be beaten to death or sold!"
Consort Lin turned pale with fright, her heart growing cold. Just as she was about to defend herself, Sheng Hong continued, "I am not an unreasonable person. You and Madam Wang have been at odds for a long time, and I do not expect you to become like sisters overnight. But you must take the first step to yield. I will not take back the properties I gave you. Those assets are for your security, but you cannot appoint managers arbitrarily. Back in Quanzhou, your two clansmen spent their days drinking and patronizing actors, putting on a show even grander than mine. From now on, any manager you appoint must be approved by me. Do not hire those reckless scoundrels again, lest they tarnish the reputation of the Sheng family!... Feng Ge'er and Sister Mo will remain under your care. If you truly care for the children, you would not have let things come to this. Now, focus more on those two children."
Consort Lin had a bellyful of words to say, but upon hearing Sheng Hong's final remarks, she fell silent. She knew that for Sheng Hong to continue his official career and strive for a good reputation, he could not afford to have his private conduct criticized. What Sheng Hong had just said was merely asking her to humble herself, without stripping her of her properties or separating her from her children. This was already the bottom line. She was deeply implicated in Consort Wei's death, and being able to settle the matter like this was a great fortune. As a clever woman, she knew when to stop while she was ahead. Though she felt resentful, she gritted her teeth and endured it, mustering her energy to be affectionate with Sheng Hong instead.
After spending a good while in Consort Lin's tender embrace, Sheng Hong went straight to Madam Wang's main chamber, bracing himself for another tough battle.
When he arrived at Madam Wang's room, he dismissed the servants as before, leaving only the two of them to talk in the inner chamber. After he relayed what he had said to Consort Lin, Madam Wang's face flushed with anger: "Your precious darling—when have I ever dared to say anything about her? Do as you please. How would I dare utter a single word of dissent?"Sheng Hong took a deep breath. "Don't think I'm unaware of what's been happening. I'll ask you just three questions. First, your maternal uncle's household was perfectly healthy—why did you insist on dragging me there neither earlier nor later, but specifically a few days before Consort Wei's delivery? Second, there are exactly four midwives in the residence, three of whom came with your dowry. You know better than I whose orders they normally follow. Third, how did I coincidentally return to the residence just in time to witness Consort Wei's final moments?"
Madam Wang felt a slight shock inwardly, but her response remained unhurried. "A clear conscience fears no midnight knock! When I left that day, I specifically had a physician examine Consort Wei—it was Dr. Liao, whom you trust most. He confirmed she was perfectly healthy. The physician said Consort Wei had been physically robust from years of labor before marriage and could have delivered naturally even without midwives. Yet after I left, Consort Lin repeatedly added cold-natured ingredients to Consort Wei's meals, causing complications during childbirth. Consort Lin has ample silver and connections inside and outside the residence. Even if my dowry midwives disobeyed her, could she truly lack alternatives? It's her silver tongue you've trusted blindly! There are countless midwives in Quanzhou—she delayed for hours before summoning one. Even if it wasn't her direct intention, it was her subordinates' negligence! Hmph! My stance is upright. Any maneuvers I employed were merely to observe how Consort Lin would react. Had she harbored no ill intent, Consort Wei could have safely delivered her child alone in her courtyard, utterly unattended."
Instead of refuting, Sheng Hong nodded repeatedly. "I've long investigated the internal affairs. Consort Lin bears significant responsibility for this incident, but it wasn't intentional murder—rather, Consort Wei's fate was unfortunate, and circumstances aligned tragically. Your dowry midwives have long clashed with Consort Lin, but their delay wasn't deliberate. What's done is done—should I execute Consort Lin as retribution? If her two children grow resentful, how could our household know peace?"
Madam Wang turned away in anger, ignoring Sheng Hong as she fretfully twisted her handkerchief.
Sheng Hong sat beside her, speaking softly. "These years have wronged you, my wife. Rest assured, from now on I'll no longer indulge Consort Lin. You are the principal wife, she the secondary. You are my lawfully wedded spouse through proper ceremonies, the one who will share my ancestral rites centuries hence. Even if Consort Lin overturns the skies, she cannot surpass you. She should pay respects and serve you dutifully."
Delighted, Madam Wang turned back with a smile. "Could you bear to?"
Sheng Hong embraced her waist, gently caressing. "There's nothing I cannot bear. The Sheng family's interests come first. How could Consort Lin outweigh the dignity of our entire household? My wife, you must uphold noble conduct while remembering your own standing. If you don't establish authority properly, how will others submit? As for Old Madam..."Madam Wang's body had already softened halfway under his caresses. Having not been this intimately close with Sheng Hong for a long time, her heart swelled with tender affection: "I know I have my shortcomings too. Rest assured, as long as she follows the rules, I won't oppress her, nor will I throw tantrums to anger you anymore. The children have all grown so big—would I still compete with her for your favor?"
Sensing Madam Wang's tone had softened considerably, Sheng Hong redoubled his efforts, holding her close and whispering in her ear, making her cheeks flush pink and her breath grow warm: "My dear wife, you come from a noble family and understand well that improper family conduct leads to household discord. Now we must look forward—Hua Jie'er is approaching her coming-of-age ceremony, and marriage arrangements are imminent. If any unsavory rumors about our family spread, wouldn't it harm Hua Jie'er? Hua'er is my firstborn, and legitimate at that. I intend to find her the most perfect husband, so I can properly play the majestic father-in-law role someday."
Hearing this, Madam Wang beamed with delight and became even more compliant: "You're absolutely right, I'll follow your guidance in everything."
Meanwhile, Yao Yiyi lay in the adjacent room. Having finally managed to drink a bowl of fragrant chicken and rice porridge yesterday, she felt somewhat more energetic today. Resting on the soft couch but unable to sleep, she found herself inadvertently overhearing the couple's conversation once again.
Well, how should one put this?
The chaos in the Sheng household originated from Consort Lin's rise. It must be said that Consort Lin had accurately assessed her target when she abandoned the prospect of becoming a legitimate wife elsewhere to become a concubine here. She wasn't a confused simpleton like You Erjie—she chose Sheng Hong because she recognized him as a man of independent character who wouldn't be controlled by his wife. She also understood the hardships Sheng Hong had endured as a son born out of wedlock in his youth, using this as her entry point to secure an unshakable position in the Sheng household.
Yao Yiyi felt there was no need to blame Father Sheng Hong either. One could only say that men forgive their lovers unconditionally, while their respect for wives they don't deeply love comes with conditions. As an educated feudal scholar-official, Sheng Hong adhered to propriety, but being an ambitious young bureaucrat with cultural refinement, he still had emotional needs. Madam Wang represented an arranged marriage to him, yet had both parties worked to nurture their relationship, even an arranged marriage could have grown into deeply devoted love. Unfortunately, Madam Wang had made some mistakes in this regard. To Sheng Hong, Consort Lin represented the outcome of free love—their secret, concealed relationship, forbidden and therefore intensified. During that time, Sheng Hong had undoubtedly been genuinely moved.
The profound affection Xu Zhimo showed Lin Huiyin and Lu Xiaoman, contrasted with his cold and cruel treatment of Zhang Youyi, made it hard to believe they were the same person. Compared to the talented Xu, Sheng Hong showed considerably more restraint.
It seemed Consort Lin had good judgment, and even better luck. Sheng Hong was no weak-willed fool like Jia Lian—having climbed from a lowly status to his current position, he clearly understood that concubines typically suffered oppression from legitimate wives in two areas: daily life and child-rearing. So he took decisive action, directly providing Consort Lin with independent financial means. With money, her confidence naturally grew. Moreover, he took the lead in breaking the rules by insisting she raise her own children.However, this led to the complete breakdown of rules and decorum. As time passed, Consort Lin bore children while Madam Wang failed to win back her husband's affection emotionally. Consort Lin's position grew increasingly secure as she began cultivating her own loyal followers, gradually forming a rival faction against Madam Wang. From the inner quarters to the outer household, the Sheng residence slowly split into two opposing camps, with their conflicts intensifying over time. Yao Yiyi's current birth mother, Consort Wei, became an innocent casualty in this confrontation between wife and concubine.
The Guliang Zhuan states: "A concubine shall not become a wife." This means a concubine is not qualified to be elevated to the status of principal wife. A man with concubines but no wife is still considered unmarried. If the principal wife dies, even if the husband has numerous concubines, he remains a widower without a wife and must seek another respectable family to marry a proper principal wife.
But rules are rigid while people are flexible. Moreover, these were merely conventions, not laws, so there were exceptions. For instance, there were fortunate concubines like Jiao Xing who were elevated to wife status, though such cases were rare.
As a law student, Yao Yiyi understood that feudal laws fundamentally protected men's interests. When a man's complete devotion shifted to a woman other than his principal wife, situations where the principal wife had to step aside would inevitably occur. This was tragic, though fortunately uncommon. The unfortunate Chen Shimei was executed by Lord Bao not for abandoning his wife to remarry, but for committing murder. Men committing bigamy wouldn't face execution, though in the strictly regulated ancient society, someone like Sheng Hong aspiring for higher official positions couldn't afford to tarnish his reputation this way.
In the early years, Sheng Hong had been recklessly immersed in his passionate affair with Consort Lin, unwilling to extricate himself. However, being a rational feudal scholar-official rather than a Republican-era poet dedicated to breaking feudal shackles, his passion for Consort Lin eventually waned. The intervention from Madam Wang's family accelerated this process.
The Wang family contributed both personnel and strategies, even devising a scheme using beautiful women - a tactic neither novel nor original, but effective nonetheless, proven successful throughout history from imperial courts to common households. Unexpectedly, Consort Lin proved highly formidable. Even after several attractive maids were made concubines, they failed to win Sheng Hong back. After all, Consort Lin came from an official family, possessed elegant beauty, and could discuss poetry and romance with Sheng Hong in ways even Madam Wang couldn't match, let ordinary maids.
Thus Madam Wang adopted an unconventional approach by finding Wei Shi, a commoner woman in dire circumstances. Though lacking literary cultivation, she possessed the most direct and immediately effective advantage any woman could have: stunning beauty.
Indeed, true love weighing a thousand pounds couldn't compare to four ounces of feminine charm. Sheng Hong was captivated upon seeing Wei Shi. Her illiteracy didn't matter - he would teach her. Her ignorance of poetry and painting didn't matter - he would mentor her. The intimacy of whispered lessons and her presence as an ink-grinding companion brought him genuine pleasure. Combined with Wei Shi's gentle and sincere nature, Sheng Hong genuinely grew fond of her.
This alarmed Consort Lin, whose reliance rested entirely on Sheng Hong's favor. How could she tolerate someone sharing her intimate space? She wouldn't permit anyone trespassing into her domain. She began scheming against Consort Wei, initially not intending to kill her but hoping to cause a miscarriage and ideally ruin her health.However, Consort Wei was particularly unlucky and immediately met her demise.
Consort Wei's death abruptly awakened Sheng Hong. Though he didn't share the same depth of affection for her as he did for Consort Lin, she was still a woman who had shared his bed. Witnessing her perish in a pool of blood made Sheng Hong realize that the internal conflicts within the household had intensified. As an official who had long served in substantive posts outside the capital, he understood perfectly well that Consort Wei's death was ultimately a consequence of the breakdown of household discipline.
The brutality of the strife between wife and concubines sent chills down Sheng Hong's spine. Thus, he resolved to restore order. To reestablish proper family hierarchy and rules, he had to relinquish his excessive favoritism toward Consort Lin, extricate himself from the sea of passion, and, from the standpoint of the family patriarch, manage the household with fairness and impartiality.
Even so, he still dared not entrust Consort Lin and her children entirely into Madam Wang's hands. He knew the rift between these two women could not be smoothed over in just a day or two.
This time, Madam Wang essentially obtained what she wanted. Even if she still couldn't surpass Consort Lin in matters of love, she at least secured her position as the sole mistress of the household. A principal wife always remains vigilant against concubines, especially when facing a noble concubine, her sense of crisis deepens. As Daiyu once said, "Either the east wind prevails over the west wind, or the west wind prevails over the east wind."
Bao Yu's mother's indifferent attitude toward Concubine Zhao was based on the vast disparity in their status—one was from the powerful and wealthy Wang family, while the other came from a family of servants, not even considered free persons, and she herself was born into servitude.
As for why Wang Xifeng was so wary of You Erjie but looked down upon Qiu Tong, it was because You Erjie was a noble concubine. Moreover, Wang Xifeng had been married for many years, was already in her twenties, and had yet to bear a son, which itself constituted a violation of the "seven grounds for divorce." There was no reason to forbid taking a concubine; it was only due to the backing of her maternal family that no one dared to criticize her. Once You Erjie gave birth to a son, it might not necessarily mean she would replace Wang Xifeng, but it would certainly threaten her position. Hence, the moment Wang Xifeng heard about You Erjie, she immediately drew her sword.
The conflict between wife and concubines is a complex issue, involving wisdom, perseverance, courage, family background, personal character, and, of course, luck—all these factors come into play. It can only be said that the advantage generally lies with the wife. Even if a concubine holds the position of a secondary wife, her chances of breaking through and being elevated to principal wife are still quite low.
Among all the unfortunate women in the entire Dream of the Red Chamber, only Jiao Xing had such luck. Whether Ping'er and Xiang Ling were later elevated remains uncertain, and even if they were, it was during the decline of Xue Pan and Jia Lian, hardly a great blessing.
And this poor Consort Wei was merely one of many unfortunate concubines. Her death was like a tiny wave in the vast ocean—though it stirred some ripples, it was ultimately silenced and forgotten. Afterwards, to maintain the family's dignity, Sheng Hong and Madam Wang gradually replaced all the servants in the household. Consort Lin, of course, would never bring it up, and gradually, no one in the Sheng family mentioned Consort Wei's death anymore. Few even remembered the beautiful, timid woman who had died so tragically.Yao Yiyi thought this far and lost her will to survive again. She neither had a capable concubine as her birth mother nor was she born from the legal wife. Her future status in the Sheng residence would be quite delicate. This reincarnation of hers was truly mediocre—better than the worst but worse than the best, far inferior to the upper class yet not much better off than the lower class.
How could she live well in this world? Sheng Minglan, almost six years old, began to ponder the issue of survival seriously.
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【Author's Note】
Recently, while revisiting Ming Dynasty script novels and Dream of the Red Chamber, I noticed an issue: it seems that feudal scholar-officials in the Ming Dynasty still involved themselves in household affairs, whereas in the Qing Dynasty, especially among Manchu nobles, men basically managed nothing, leaving all matters big and small to women. Those with official duties fared better, while those without whiled away their time bird-watching or indulging in leisurely pursuits.
This marks a significant difference between men of the Ming and Qing dynasties.
During the Ming dynasty, scholar-officials emphasized the cultivation of personal moral character and virtue, largely adhering to the four-step Confucian path of "cultivating oneself, regulating the family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world." Among these, proper family governance was also a criterion for evaluating a scholar-official's moral standing. Of course, they did not involve themselves in trivial household matters but rather imposed general constraints on the conduct and speech of the women in their households.
With the Manchu invasion and establishment of the Qing dynasty, they brought not only the Eight Banners system but also the custom of the "matriarchal household manager" (readers may refer to the character of the Second Mistress in the TV drama "The Grand Mansion Gate," who had the obedience of her father-in-law, husband, and brothers-in-law. The original novel makes it even clearer that this kind of management went beyond overseeing children and accounts, directly deciding major matters concerning the family's economic life).
To maximize the Manchu people's military strength and tactical advantages, Nurhaci established the Eight Banners system, turning the entire population into soldiers. At that time, it was customary for Manchu men to go out to war and plunder, while all household affairs, from financial matters to children's marriages and futures, were managed by women, who essentially had the final say.
Later, when the Qing established their dynasty and the Manchu men laid down their arms, they found themselves with little to do. We see in television dramas those Manchu men who, from birth, were entitled to a stipend, idling away their time on streets and alleys, walking birds, with many among them being imperial clansmen (distinguished by yellow and red girdles). These individuals were colloquially known as "iron-clad crops" (a privilege that was not abolished until the Republic of China era).
In the Qing dynasty, some Han Chinese official families who entered government service through the imperial examinations still strictly adhered to the Han Chinese four-step path of "cultivating oneself, regulating the family, governing the state, and bringing peace to the world." Examples include the renowned families of Zhang Tingyu and Liu Yong, famous for their strict management of family and descendants (which kept them safe and stable). However, as those above set an example, those below follow. The Manchus, along with some Han Chinese who had marital ties with them and were incorporated into the banners, gradually adopted Manchu customs, such as the family of Cao Xueqin, who served as the Commissioner of Imperial Textiles in Jiangning.
In "Dream of the Red Chamber," almost all adult men of the Jia family are idle, with household affairs managed by capable women like Wang Xifeng. This led to Wang Xifeng engaging in various unscrupulous activities outside the household (such as lending money at high interest, accepting bribes, committing evil deeds, and being involved in fatal lawsuits). The men either knew but did nothing to stop it (like Jia Lian) or were entirely unaware (like Jia Zheng). The women in "Dream of the Red Chamber," from Lady Wang to Tanchun, Baochai, and Daiyu, are generally more learned and capable in management than the men. This phenomenon of female dominance and male decline was likely not uncommon in the early Qing dynasty. The lines "Who among the myriad in golden robes governs the state? A skirt or two can regulate the household" probably reflect the reality of the time.
(Approximately so, please do not delve too deeply; if you must, remain calm.)
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