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Concubine Lin sobbed with grievances, “Although I can’t go out and take part in madams’ social activities, I know that when they choose daughters-in-law, other people’s remarks play a more important role in their finally decisions than their own observations do. If Madam put in a good word for Molan, she wouldn’t have been despised. Madam, I beg you to help my daughter for Master’s sake. It bears on her happiness for a lifetime. Madam, you can scold me or hit me, but just give Molan a hand. I’m willing to kowtow at your feet as long as you help my daughter.”

With this she made kowtows to Wang shi. Her forehead repeatedly hit the floor and slowly reddened. Sheng Hong’s serious expression softened. Just then Molan regained consciousness and pulled at Concubine Lin’s sleeves, crying sorrowfully. They both looked pitiful.

It was the first time Hai shi saw with her own eyes what Concubine Lin truly got. She couldn’t help but admire Concubine Lin in mind. No wonder Wang shi hadn’t pulled her down after twenty years of struggle. Concubine Lin was really a resourceful woman. She was good at confounding black and white. In this matter, Minglan was the one who suffered a loss. But her explanation was likely to give others a misconception that Molan was wronged.

Hai shi tipped a wink to Liu Kun’s wife, who, upon getting it, immediately came up to steady Wang shi and stroke her back gently. She quietly made up her mind not to let Wang shi say a word anymore.

Seeing Sheng Hong wearing a hesitant expression on his face, Hai shi took a few steps forward and bowed to him before she said, “Father, can I say something?” Sheng Hong thought for a few seconds and nodded slowly.

Hai shi first asked maids to help Concubine Lin stand up, and then said gently, “Concubine Lin, as a junior, I have a question to ask you. Can you resolve my confusion?”

Concubine Lin wiped her face with a handkerchief, feeling a bit dazed. Hai shilooked at her quietly and continued, “According to your statements, whenever Molan feels that she’s treated unfairly, she can follow her bent to beat and scold her sister, hurt her brother, smash ornaments, and even disobey her legal mother. You mean that, right?”

Just as the words fell from her lips, Sheng Hong was shocked. Concubine Lin also changed her expression.

Hai shi turned to Sheng Hong and said slowly, “Father, though I have only one sister in my family, I know that there must be unfairness among brothers and sisters in the daily interactions. But I know of no one who would make a scene because of this. Even if they just quarrel, they will be laughed at. Only this time Madam didn’t ask Molan to accompany the guest, but Molan flew into a rage. She insulted her sister and even tried to disfigure Minglan. If she had succeeded, Minglan’s face…”

Sheng Hong’s anger slowly faded away, and he regained his clear head. He looked at Molan with disappointment. Concubine Lin was so smart that she immediately perceived a change in his attitude. She was about to say something but Hai shipreempted, “Concubine Lin, just follow your conscience and think about what Madam has done. Since coming to the capital, every time Madam went out, she took Molan with her. As for Minglan, she seldom followed Madam out. Besides, when two families hold a consultation about the marriage of their children, it’s surely improper for the girl’s parents to beg for a promise. So, how can Madam help your daughter?”

Hai shi’s simple words hit the nail on the head. Concubine Lin was not reconciled and said in injured tones, “How about Molan? Her sisters are all promised to sons of noble families. Only she is left forlorn.”

Hai shi couldn’t help laughing. She covered her smile with a handkerchief and said, “You must be joking! Molan has Old Madam, Master, Madam, brothers and sisters-in-law behind her. How can she be left forlorn? Marriages are made in heaven. Other people’s good marriages are the results of their benevolent actions in the previous life. We shouldn’t be jealous.”

Concubine Lin was annoyed at having been interrupted. The pitiable expression on her face disappeared. With a gleam of murderous look in her eyes, she said in a hoarse voice, “Young Madam, you said that with massive understatement. Molan is not your daughter, surely you can’t understand my feelings. After all, you don’t need to marry a poor Xiucai or a Juren.”

T/N note:

Xiucai: one who passed the imperial examination at the county level.

Juren: a successful candidate in the imperial examinations at the provincial level.

Hai shi sighed slightly, “Every high-ranking official at the Court started his official career as a Xiucai or Juren, a poor scholar as you would say. No one is born as a Cabinet or a Grand Secretary. Even our Master, before he became an official, he had taken the imperial examinations and got on the list of the successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations by studying hard. After that, Master worked hard to accumulate experience and benefit the people within his jurisdiction. Gradually, he becomes the backbone of our country. Concubine Lin, why do you look down on Xiucai or Juren?”

Sheng Hong was pleased by the flattery. Then he couldn’t resist wondering whether Concubine Lin would have been with him if he had just been a poor scholar.

Concubine Lin was choked. She glared at Hai shi with hatred. But when she saw Sheng Hong cast a piercing glance at her with a dissatisfied expression on his face, she immediately changed her attitude and obediently apologized, “Young Madam, you’re right. I was unreasonable and said something wrong. Madam, I’m sorry to offend you. And I will ask Molan to apologize and make up to Minglan. Master, if you think it’s not enough, you can flog her and teach her a lesson. But don’t lock her up. She… She has to seek out her marriage.”

She spoke that in an earnest tone, as if she had really realized her mistakes.

Hai shi sneered and didn’t want Concubine Lin off the hook so easily. So she put on a serious expression and respectfully curtsied to Sheng Hong before she said, “Father, I want to say something. Maybe I shouldn’t say that, but what happened today will become a bane of our family. Although it’s a petty thing, it will leave a calamity to our descendants.”

Sheng Hong was quite satisfied with his daughter-in-law, so he said softly, “Just say it.”

Hai shi straightened up with her head bowed and said deferentially, “Molan has done something awful and unreasonable. Even if it’s quite within reason for her to do that, her behavior to Minglan is a sin that shouldn’t be pardoned. Molan is fifteen years old now and will soon get married. If she marries into a new family with her bad temper, she won’t lead a good life. Besides, Brother Changfeng behaved foolishly. I cannot believe he would have taken part in the affairs of the inner Mansion. It’s absolutely ridiculous… But I can understand him. He’s brought up by Concubine Lin. Surely, he couldn’t bear to see his mother and sister suffer losses. Moreover, their servants should take most of the blame. Anyway, Madam is the hostess of inner Mansion. Whether Madam was right or wrong, they shouldn’t have disobeyed her orders. If they are gossipy and pass this matter on to outsiders, it will ruin Father’s reputation.”

Sheng Hong was shocked. Hai shi lowered her voice and gave a more direct, sharp warning, “Father, Marquis Yongchang Household have many options in choosing in-laws. If Sister Molan continues making troubles, this possible marriage will be blown away. And the most important is…. His Majesty has just ascended the throne, and what he hates most is that officials blur the boundary between legal wife and illegal concubine, and favor illegal children over legal children.”

Sweat beaded up on Sheng Hong’s forehead. When he recalled the noblemen who had been ousted and the high-ranking officials who had been given the cold shoulder by Emperor, his palms sweated.

Wang shi finally sorted herself out. She covered her face with a handkerchief and cried softly, “Before Old Madam left the capital, she repeatedly entrusted me to take care of Minglan. Old Madam also said that Minglan was so honest and kind that she wouldn’t speak out her grievance even if she got bullied. Now Minglan is leaving for Youyang soon. If Old Madam sees the bruise on Minglan’s face, she will be heart-broken.”

Wang shi was not skilled in crying. After a short and dry cry, she stopped and sighed quietly. No wonder the ancients said that one should specialize in one subject. Obviously, Concubine Lin was quite good at crying.

There were as many versions of this incident as there were people involved in it. However, at this moment, Sheng Hong was clearheaded and knew what the root of the trouble was. After a brief consideration, he finally pronounced, “Molan bullied her sister and uttered bad words. She is void of virtues. From now on, she is not allowed to leave her courtyard. And she must copy ‘Commandments for Women’ to improve her character.”

Molan originally thought that she would be flogged. Sheng Hong’s words relieved her fear. But Concubine Lin was alarmed. Although Sheng Hong didn’t flog Molan, she knew that there must be a harsher punishment waiting for her daughter. He didn’t say how long Molan would be grounded. Did that mean that it was an endless confinement?

Sheng Hong turned around and said to Wang shi, “Molan has reached the age of fifteen. Last time I told you about a Juren, Wen Yanjing. He’s a good boy. In a few days you can invite Old Madam Wen to our mansion and ask about his birthdate and dislikes. If you think he’s good, we can hold a marriage ceremony for Molan after the national mourning.”

Molan and Concubine Lin both paled with shock at his words. They screamed and implored Sheng Hong to change his mind. Sheng Hong glared at them and berated sharply, “My decision is final. Say no more of it. If you say one more word, I will disown you.”

Molan’s legs gave out and she collapsed on the floor. Concubine Lin looked at Sheng Hong with disbelief. Wang shi lowered her head and was delighted with this result.

Sheng Hong glanced round the people in the room with commanding eyes and said, “Concubine Lin is incompetent as a mother. She has no strict parental control on Molan. From now on, she is grounded in her house until Molan gets married. Concubine Lin, if you meet Molan secretly before the wedding ceremony, I will give you an affidavit and drive you out of Sheng Mansion. Moreover, you can’t meet Changfeng without my permission. You are such an immoral woman and even put your children up to all sorts of evil. You are an encumbrance to them!” Sheng Hong fulminated against her dereliction of duty. Concubine Lin cried and tried to pull his gown. But Sheng Hong kicked her hand aside with disgust and ignored her. Concubine Lin despaired deeply and uttered a stifled cry of agony.

Sheng Hong felt very tired. He stood up and walked slowly to Concubine Lin and Molan. He looked at Molan and said, “You have won my favor since you were a child. I taught you poems and songs, but you uttered bestial words. I taught you to read and write and hoped you could distinguish right from wrong, but you are unruly and rude now. You get jealous easily. And you even bullied your young brother and young sister… I’m utterly disappointed with you.” Sheng Hong gave her a look of disgust, coldly and disapprovingly. Molan was breathless with terror, her heart sinking into icy sea of despair.

Then Sheng Hong turned to Concubine Lin and said lightly, “Now I realized what Old Madam said to me before was right. Greed is the root of evil. If I didn’t dote on you, you and your daughter wouldn’t have improper thoughts.” With these words he walked straight toward the door, completely ignoring Concubine Lin’s pleas and cry. Then he stopped at the door, looked back at Wang shi and Hai shi, and said earnestly, “You two would better clean up the servants by selling black sheep and punishing wicked ones. The inner Mansion should be peaceful.”

Wang shi was overjoyed at his words. Liu Kun’s wife quickly pinched her arm slightly to remind her not show her happiness on her face. Wang shi lowered her head and tried hard to hold her smile back. But Hai shi’s face remained unchanged, and she even comforted, “Father, don’t take it to your heart. Few families in the capital are as peaceful as ours, though I say it myself. It’s just a little thing. Everything will be fine in a few days.”

Sheng Hong found a bit of comfort in Hai shi’s words. He turned around and left.

…

Dangju and Luzhi came back and told Minglan the result. The case was settled, and there was no need to keep the evidence anymore. So Dangju rushed to find an herbal ointment for Minglan. Luzhi put her hands on her hips and fluently narrated what happened just now in main hall.

“Young Madam is really a shrewd woman. Even though she looks gentle and polite, she is incredibly incisive and incredibly intelligent. She cut Concubine to the quick and reduced her to silence. That’s great!” Luzhi said with a great admiration, “Now we can live a peaceful life. Lady Molan dares not stir up trouble again. Master must hate her now. I hear that Juren Wen’s family is very poor.”

Minglan listened to Luzhi quietly. Then she shook her head and said, “Father is afraid that Sister Molan will make mistakes again, so he forbids her to go out. It’s good for her. As long as she waits obediently until Wen Yanjing goes smoothly in his official career and gets a firm foothold at Court, she will lead a good life.”

Luzhi shook her head and poured cold water on Minglan’s thoughts, “There are so many students in the world. The imperial examination is held every three years. Even if they pass every rank of imperial examination and become officials, they still have a long way to go in their official careers. Maybe in the future, Juren Wen will look to Master and First Young Master for support.” Luzhi had lived in a village before she had been bought to Sheng Mansion. She had seen some castaway Xiucai and Juren who had been dismissed from office after years of official careers, because they lacked the obsequious ability and had poor interpersonal relations. Some capable persons bought stores and houses, and became the landed gentry. The others had to find another way to support families.

Minglan didn’t agree with Luzhi. Basically, Sheng Hong had a good eye for people. His assessments of Yuan Wenshao, Hai shi and even the current political situation were spot on. Since he took a liking to Wen Yanjing, this man must be outstanding. But… The impoverished life after marrying into Wen family was indeed a great torment for Molan. Perhaps it was a well-deserved punishment for her.

Dangju gently rubbed Minglan’s swollen bruised arms. She raised her head with a smile and said, “Anyway… Concubine Lin suffers a crushing defeat this time. Now she can only look forward to the day that her son distinguishes himself, or she will lose all hope of her life.”

This time Minglan agreed with Dangju. She couldn’t help but nod when she recalled Changfeng’s cowardly behaviors.