The Legend of Concubine's Daughter Minglan

Chapter 30

Wang shi got into the hall and sat down in the center seat. Cai Pei immediately put an oval brass foot warmer with five circle rings and two "Fu" ("福" which means blessings) on opposite sides under her feet. And the three concubines came in after Wang shi but could only stand reverently aside. The three Lan sisters also stood up and lowered their head to show respect. Wang shi then casually raised her eyelids to scan all people in the hall, waved her hand and said, "Just sit down. It's too cold now, poke the fire up a bit."

The latter was said to the maid. Then Cai Huan instantly took a pair of tongs with crooked lines and put some fine charcoal into the eight-edged furnace made of cupronickel, on which engraved clouds and dragons. Soon after, the hall was much warmer. Rulan pouted and sat down beside Molan. Minglan knew the etiquette and sat down next to Rulan according to their age. And right in the opposite side of the room sat the three concubines. The seats of the three young ladies were big chairs with brocade covers while those of the three concubines were round stools.

It was the first time for Minglan to see the airs of a 'legitimate wife, which made her immediately think of a leader inspecting the troops, and the only difference was that Wang shi didn't shout that slogan "Hello comrades and thanks for your hard work, comrades!" Minglan, while thinking wildly, observed the concubines sitting in the opposite carefully. Although she hadn't seen Concubine Lin for years, time left little traces on her, face still pretty and moves still enchanting. Concubine Xiang, though without outstanding appearance, was gentle and soft in spirit. And Concubine Ping was a real beauty with a small cherrylike mouth, curved eyebrows and gracile eyes, but somehow seemed frivolous and timid, showing that low-class spirit of hers entirely.

Their origins were: the daughter of an old friend, the maid of Wang shi, woman given as gift by a colleague, and the already dead Concubine Wei who used to be a girl of common birth. And these were basically all the ways to get concubines. Minglan couldn't help exclaiming secretly to herself that this was typically "small as a sparrow but still has it all"!

Wang shi took a sip of her warm tea and then expressed her concerns for Minglan by asking questions like if she was acclimatized to her new house. Minglan answered reverently sticking strictly to the etiquette taught by Fang Mama. Wang shi had thought that, having been in the good graces of the Old Madam for long, Minglan might be more or less spoiled and rebellious, so she planned to put on airs and subject her to discipline. But she never expected her to be so courteous, polite and obedient, making not a single error in her behaviors. This really comforted Wang shi.

"If you lack anything, just tell me." Wang Shi said this to Minglan softly.

Minglan said jokingly, "With your words, I will bluntly come to ask for things."

Wang shi smiled and said some other things with Minglan. Then she turned around, put on a serious face and asked solemnly, "Right before I came in, what are you girls arguing about?"

Minglan was shocked because Wang shi used the word "arguing", indicating that she intended to put all the cards on the table. Minglan lowered her head to look at Molan while pulling her handkerchief uneasily, and Concubine Lin sat there with a mocking smile. Minglan knew she was used, so she confessed in a low voice, "Madam, please do forgiven us and it's all my fault. I was late on the first day of greeting and sisters were just teaching me some rules and disciplines."

Wang shi glanced at her with surprise and thought that the Old Madam did have her way to teach girls. Then she mused for a while and rebuked Molan and Rulan, "You two are the elder sisters! Mere scolding won't demonstrate your competence nor your identity. Since you knew that today was the sixth young lady's first time here for daily greeting, then you should remind her this morning when you girls were visiting the Old Madam, rather than putting on airs of elder sisters after she made mistakes!"