Chapter 193: The Ways of the World - Demons and Monsters (Part 2)
Everyone turned to look, and they saw her right pinky finger bent in a strange way, with the base of the finger pressed backward, nearly touching the back of her hand, while the fingertip was bent outward at an angle of over ninety degrees. Wang Shi stared at the finger in horror, trembling uncontrollably, as if in a daze. Liu Kun's wife also had an unsightly expression, while Sheng Hong maintained a serious demeanor and said nothing.
Mama Qian's face turned a purplish-red from the pain, and her eyes rolled back as she nearly fainted. Xiao Tao quickly poured a bowl of the hot tea that Luzhi had just brought and splashed it onto Mama Qian's face. Although television often depicts the use of cold or icy water to wake someone up, it turns out that hot tea is also very effective. Mama Qian gradually regained consciousness, only to find herself staring into the terrifying face of Tu Hu.
The man said in a chilling tone, "If you say one more word of nonsense, we'll do this again. After all, you have ten fingers." Mama Qian was so frightened that she almost passed out, and she quickly nodded in agreement.
This time, Qian Mama couldn't hold back any longer; she clutched her finger and trembled as she confessed, "...Aunt Kang gave me money and asked me to report everything happening in the household to her. Yesterday, she gave me more and told me to keep a close watch. When the old lady falls ill, if there's the slightest hint of trouble, I should report it to her immediately..."
Ming Lan smiled and turned to her father, saying, "Father, now you understand why I wanted to seal the residence."
Sheng Hong was furious. If Ming Lan hadn't pretended last night to drive everyone away first and then investigated carefully, but instead had acted right away, their own internal traitor would have already communicated with outside enemies.
Ming Lan instructed Tu Hu to drag Qian Mama away. As she looked at the gradually brightening sky, she murmured to herself, "Let Aunt Kang think everything is calm at home." — This timing was just right.
She turned to Liu Kun's wife and said, "Liu Mama, please get up quickly; it seems you will have to work hard this time."
Liu Kun's wife stood up and steeled herself, saying, "Please give your orders, Sixth Miss."
Ming Lan spoke with a particularly gentle demeanor, "Over the years, you've often advised the Madam not to be foolish, so I know you're a good person. Now that such a big incident has occurred, the Madam is also significantly affected. I can only trouble you to visit the Kang family and invite Aunt Kang here. Once she arrives, we can sit down and discuss things thoroughly; perhaps everything will become clear."
Liu Kun's wife was confused, "Go invite Aunt Kang?" At this moment, Sixth Miss felt as if she could strip Aunt Kang of her heart; why would she invite her?
Ming Lan nodded, "You must appear flustered, saying that the old lady has struggled all night and is now finally very ill. The Madam is timid and frightened, so as soon as day broke, she wanted to invite Aunt Kang over. Perhaps she could help her younger sister muster some courage and offer some advice or assistance."
Liu Kun's wife understood and felt a chill in her heart, "But… will Aunt Kang even come?"
Ming Lan smiled knowingly, "Why wouldn't she come? If she asks whether the Madam has informed the other ladies, you can say that you reported it to her first. The other ladies have their own families and will wait until it's fully bright to visit."
Liu Kun's wife understood thoroughly after a moment's thought; Aunt Kang would indeed come.
The fact that Qian Mama hadn't gone to report anything indicated that everything was normal. If she acted a bit, Aunt Kang would naturally think that Wang Shi was terrified after a life had been lost and would need her help. She would also want to gather some information and dispose of any evidence.
Liu Kun's wife couldn't help but admire Sixth Miss for being so cunning; she could only respond softly.
"Liu Mama," Ming Lan said slowly, "you know about my bond with the old lady. If I can't seek justice from the rightful owner this time, I'll have to find someone else to vent my anger. I've heard that Jiu Er is doing very well in her marriage, and your sons have promising futures. So…" she smiled as she adjusted her hair, "make it look convincing, and don't give anything away."
Liu Kun's wife felt a chilling dread; she knelt down and bowed her head, saying, "I will definitely invite Aunt Kang over!"
Once Liu Kun's wife left, Luzhi helped the terrified Wang Shi back into the inner room. Only then did Sheng Hong furrow his brow and say, "Why deceive people? We could have just confronted the Kang family directly."
"If the matter is true and all the evidence is in place, will the Kang family... oh no, the Wang family really hand over Aunt Kang to us and let us deal with her? At that point, do we take the servants and barge into their home, or do we truly report it to the authorities and seek a legal punishment?"
Ming Lan personally poured a bowl of tea and presented it to her father. "If we have someone in our hands, whether to kill, torture, or use poison and silk, it will be up to us to decide. I doubt the Wang family would dare to report us." She lowered her voice, "Father, if possible, I wouldn't want to ruin my elder brother's future or disgrace the Sheng family."
Sheng Hong was taken aback. "You want Kang Wang Shi's life?!"
Ming Lan replied, "Father, don't worry. I won't cause you any trouble; I'll take her outside to deal with her."
Sheng Hong held the teacup, unable to process what he had just heard.
His obedient and lovely little daughter had suddenly transformed into a fierce woman. Not only was she defying her biological father, threatening her stepmother, and torturing people without batting an eye, but now she was openly talking about killing someone!
He murmured, "Your birth mother passed away early, and Mo Lan wants to scar your face. Your engagement has faced so many ups and downs; it's been quite difficult for you. You've always been so considerate of the bigger picture, never complaining about anything. Why is it now..."
Ming Lan gave a bitter smile and replied softly, "Yes. Why is that?"
After saying this, she turned and left, saying, "... Father, you should rest for a bit. I'll go check on the old lady again."
Sheng Hong looked at his daughter's frail back and suddenly realized that he had never truly known this child.
...
Xiao Tao supported Ming Lan, her nose filled with tears, "Madam, can we really take revenge for the old lady?"
Ming Lan replied wearily, "Remember one thing: in this world, people often see who is willing to go all out. My father, the Madam, and the Wang and Kang families—they all fear to truly go all out, but I dare!"
After a pause, she softly said, "Not avenging those closest and dearest to us sometimes isn't a matter of inability, but of unwillingness. Fear of this and that is merely excessive concern; one hesitates to let go of this and that."
Xiao Tao looked up and asked, "Madam, have you let go of everything then?"
Ming Lan had a peculiar expression and replied, "If I didn't have my grandmother, what would I have to let go of?" This body originally did not belong to her, so there was no need to be grateful for Sheng Hong and Wei Yiniang's gift of life.
Upon entering the inner room, Ming Lan said, "I'll talk with Grandmother for a while."
Mama Fang glanced at the swelling on Ming Lan's cheek, her eyes filled with tears as she led everyone out.
In just half a day, Old Lady Sheng had lost a significant amount of weight; her skin was dry, wrinkled, and a sickly yellow. She was still in a deep sleep, but her vomiting and diarrhea had stopped. Ming Lan sat by the bed, slowly resting her head on the old lady's arm, just like when she was a child.
In her heart, she silently murmured—thank you. During my most lost and helpless moments, you raised me, protected me, taught me how to grow up, and gave me the courage to face this hateful place.
She had always been good at pretending. Pretending not to care, pretending to be fearless, but deep down, she was terrified. In this entirely unfamiliar world, if it weren't for the care and warmth of this elderly woman, what would she have become? Old Lady Sheng was like a solid rock, firmly standing behind her, someone she could rely on. No matter when or where, whatever happened, she always knew that when she turned back, there was a safe haven waiting for her.
"I won't let them get away with this," she whispered. "You shouldn't die like this." The old lady should have lived to be over a hundred, cherished by her children and grandchildren, passing away peacefully in her sleep.
"You were alone for most of your life, without children, without a home, so they bullied you. But don't worry, you still have me." Suddenly, she started to cry sorrowfully. "Even if I end up abandoned by everyone, so be it. I'll just count this as a wasted journey through this world."
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**Author's Note:**
Regarding this part of the novel, I'd like to make a comment here.
Ancient China was never a society ruled by law (and even now, it's not entirely one). Some readers have suggested that Sheng Hong must punish those involved severely, and handle this situation properly, otherwise things will turn out terribly—these suggestions are all based on one assumption: that Old Madam Sheng's situation gets exposed.
If it doesn't get exposed, then it can be swept under the rug.
In *Dream of the Red Chamber*, Xue Pan killed Master Feng, who came from a respectable, well-off family. His family even went through the proper legal channels to seek justice, but what was the result...?
In *Jin Ping Mei*, how did Li Ping'er's husband die? How did Wu Dalang die? And yet, Ximen Qing continued to live happily.
Some readers have even speculated that this was all part of Old Madam Sheng's scheme, deliberately sending Minglan away to harm her child. I think... you're overthinking it.
**Everything depends on power. At that time, Aunt Kang had already split from the family, and Wei Ge (Wang Ruofu's son) wasn't very capable—how could they compare to Gu Tingye, who held significant authority? There simply weren't that many people supporting her. Moreover, as long as Madam Cui, who was in charge of looking after the child, didn't agree, Aunt Kang wouldn't even be able to see the child. What was she going to do, lead a fight?
And don't forget, Mr. Gongsun is still at home.
For this incident with Old Madam Sheng, I tried to write from each character's perspective.
First, a wife attempting to poison her husband's mother—whether or not this matter can be resolved perfectly, once it's exposed, it becomes a scandal. It would significantly affect Sheng Hong's career and that of his son.
So how would Sheng Hong think? Of course, he would want to keep this matter within the family, and preferably, not let a single outsider find out.
Second, why did Wang Ruofu dare to be so arrogant? It's because she relied on this very point. The saying 'family scandals should not be aired' holds weight, and she knew Sheng Hong wouldn't want this matter publicized. Internally, with her own family backing her, she felt secure in her position.**
**Furthermore, what is Minglan using to threaten others?
The relationships among this father, daughter, and husband and wife form a delicate balance of mutual compromise.
Let me say it again—ancient times always emphasized that family scandals should not be exposed. Any family problems were best kept hidden and never aired publicly, let alone taken to court.
In large families, much like in *Dream of the Red Chamber*, the internal affairs could be rotten to the core, but outwardly everything appeared flourishing, with no sign of disturbance. Minglan's role, however, is precisely to stir things up.
To summarize, some readers expressed dissatisfaction with the plot in Chapter 193. Their main concern was that filial piety was a cornerstone of ancient moral conduct, one of the top few offenses that could not be tolerated. Even if Wang Ruofu were completely deranged, she would never commit such an act. Therefore, this plot felt out of place and somewhat forced. In order to highlight the protagonist, the characters of Wang Ruofu and Sheng Hong seemed to fall apart.
Is that right? Thank you to the readers for your feedback. Now, let me explain my perspective.
When I first wrote this storyline, I thought about it for a long time. However, I came across a similar case in *Yuewei Cottage Notes* and *Collected Notes on the Washing Away of Wrongs* (I can't remember which one). The case involved a mother-in-law who was extremely malicious and abusive, constantly mistreating and even encouraging her son to divorce his wife. In the end, the daughter-in-law, unable to bear it any longer, killed or poisoned her mother-in-law.**
**Setting aside the question of who was right or wrong, the point is that this daughter-in-law did kill her mother-in-law. This shows that even though the principle of filial piety was widely taught and accepted as a social norm, it wasn't an absolute guarantee. There were still people who, for certain reasons, would take drastic measures. So, a daughter-in-law plotting to harm her mother-in-law is not entirely impossible.
Some readers who were dissatisfied with this part of the plot compared it to *Dream of the Red Chamber*, saying that even with all the chaos in the Jia family, no one ever thought of poisoning Grandmother Jia. I believe this comparison is not valid at all.
In *Dream of the Red Chamber*, Grandmother Jia was the biological mother of Jia She and Jia Zheng, and Jia Zheng was deeply filial, almost to the point of foolish devotion. His filial piety was genuine and heartfelt. Moreover, at that time, Grandmother Jia's maternal family, the Shi family, was still influential and intact. Which daughter-in-law would dare to stir up trouble in such a situation?
In reality, Cao Xueqin's own ancestor was Sun Shi, Kangxi's wet nurse. This adds an even deeper layer of respect. Kangxi, having lost his parents at a young age, had a profound emotional bond with his wet nurse. Much of the Cao family's glory came from this connection with Sun Shi. Even though Cao Xueqin's father wasn't Sun Shi's biological son, he still treated her with utmost respect, almost worshiping her like a deity.
This situation cannot be compared with the Sheng family in this novel.
First of all, the Sheng matriarch's ties to her maternal family were long severed. Secondly, she had been widowed at a young age, so she hadn't received any noble title (诰命) through her husband. To this day, Sheng Hong is only a middle-ranking civil official and has not been able to secure a noble title for her. Lastly, Sheng Hong is not her biological son, and most of his filial piety is superficial, not truly heartfelt, which is something Wang Ruofu is well aware of.**
["诰命" (*gàomìng*) refers to an imperial decree or title of honor granted by the emperor in ancient China, usually to the wives or mothers of officials who had made significant contributions to the state. It was a form of recognition and bestowed status upon these women, elevating their social rank. The titles given through these decrees were often honorary, and they could come with specific titles such as "诰命夫人" (*gàomìng fūrén*), meaning "lady of imperial decree," a noble title for the wife of a high-ranking official.]
Let's talk about Wang shi.
Although she doesn't hold much favor with her husband, she has a strong backing from her maternal family. Her brother holds a government position about equal to her husband's, her mother is a titled *gàomìng* lady, and her elder sister's illegitimate daughter has become a concubine to a prince (all of which has been instilled in her by Aunt Kang as her source of confidence). Most importantly, her son, Changbai, is rising like the morning sun with unlimited prospects, and her eldest daughter, Hualan, is flourishing in the Yuan family, with her son-in-law, Yuan Wenshao, growing more and more successful.
Because of this, she firmly believes that she deserves to live comfortably and with great respect, and that within the household, she ought to be in charge.
But reality was quite the opposite. The Old Madam continually suppressed her, and every time a major decision had to be made, Sheng Hong invariably sided with his legitimate mother. As a result, the power of running the household ended up in the hands of the eldest daughter-in-law, leaving Wang shi sidelined and reduced to a mere figurehead.
The gap between reality and her expectations caused Wang shi to become more and more frustrated. With Aunt Kang's instigations, her anger grew.
Here, some readers may have forgotten one fact: Wang shi never intended to kill the Old Madam. She didn't have the courage or intelligence for that. She merely wanted the Old Madam to fall ill, so that she could regain control over the household and restore her dignity.
For clear-headed individuals, like our smart readers, of course, they wouldn't be so easily swayed by someone else's words. They would think more carefully, weighing the pros and cons. But Wang shi was a foolish person—more precisely, she was someone prone to emotional outbursts. This is exactly why she lost her husband's heart entirely to Lin Yiniang's soft, tearful manipulation.
Do such foolish people not exist in real life? Actually, in my own family, there are people like this—when they get upset, they forget everything, saying whatever harsh words come to mind and doing all sorts of foolish things.
So, when Aunt Kang slyly and smoothly egged her on, Wang shi, caught in her menopausal haze, lost her wits. In her mind, it was just a matter of slipping in some croton seeds—nothing too serious. Besides, she didn't think she would get caught (as all wrongdoers tend to believe).
Aunt Kang, on the other hand, was far more scheming, with the idea that even if the matter was exposed, she could wash her hands of it, leaving Wang shi to take the fall.
As for Sheng Hong, he wasn't entirely indifferent to his legitimate mother's life. There was still some level of affection between mother and son, but he was far more invested in his career and reputation. In his view, the best approach was to suppress the matter for now and resolve it behind closed doors. Of course, as Wang shi had anticipated, considering the influence of the Wang family and their children, how severely could Sheng Hong actually punish his wife?
And as for Aunt Kang, if the Wang family refused to hand her over, Sheng Hong wouldn't dare make a public fuss about it, and would likely not even be able to touch her.
In summary, Sheng Hong didn't want to entirely let Wang shi off the hook, but the way and extent of his punishment would clearly fall short of Minglan's expectations, something she had already anticipated. That's why she laid the groundwork in advance, deliberately escalating the situation to ensure justice was served.
Let me add one more point here.
I'll say it again: ancient times were not a society governed by the rule of law, so please don't imagine that the legal system in those days was ideal.
Even if a wife poisoned her husband's mother, the son (and husband) might not necessarily report the crime afterward. This would typically be seen as a "failure to investigate," more seriously as "harboring a criminal," and even more seriously as "disloyalty and lack of filial piety." As long as he didn't participate in the poisoning, he wouldn't be executed, nor would his family be wiped out. However, he might lose his position or title, and in harsher cases, face legal repercussions.
As for Minglan's private trial—some readers have criticized this aspect, and honestly, I don't know what to say.
Have you seen *Raise the Red Lantern*? The movie is based on the famous novel *Wives and Concubines*. That was during the Republican era, so how did the third concubine who had an affair die? She was a legal concubine, not a bonded servant, so by what right did the family kill her?
From ancient times, clan power has been an incredibly strong force. In more isolated or remote areas, ancestral halls within the clan could directly judge certain crimes, such as disobedience or adultery. Punishments like "drowning in a pig cage" and other private penalties were often tacitly accepted by local authorities to some extent.
In ancient China, there was a hierarchy of reason, custom, and law, with law coming last. This doesn't mean that law was the least important, but rather that it was the last resort for solving problems. The general belief was that if possible, people should avoid taking matters to court; especially when it came to family affairs. Once a family matter reached the courts, it became a scandal.
Of course, Minglan's private trial was still illegal, and she was fully aware of that. But she had no other choice. She needed to seize the initiative swiftly in order to confront the Kang family, the Wang family, and the hesitant Sheng Hong.
Minglan knew that what she was doing was wrong, but it didn't matter to her as long as she could avenge her grandmother.
This is the thought process I had when writing this part of the story.
You're welcome to offer corrections, but please refrain from arguing that "because filial piety was the number one standard in ancient times, Wang shi wouldn't do such a thing" or "the crime of harming one's legitimate mother is too severe for Wang shi to act that irrationally." As I've mentioned before, whether in literary records or in oral stories, cases of descendants harming their elders have always existed.
Who doesn't know that rebellion is a crime punishable by exterminating the clan? Yet, throughout history, there has been no shortage of ambitious figures. Who doesn't know that taking a second wife is a major taboo? But hasn't there been a stream of Chen Shimei types over the past few thousand years? Murdering one's mother-in-law is as unforgivable as murdering one's husband. There have been plenty of daring and resourceful Pan Jinlians as well.
Regardless of the punishments these individuals ultimately faced, at least some dared to take such actions.
In the martial arts world, is there anything more important than one's sect? Undisciplined disciples are everywhere.
Wu Hua and the Nanguo Ling brothers, despite being pampered and receiving a proper education from a young age, had no hesitation in using divine water against their master and adoptive father. In reality, Tian Feng Shisi Lang didn't want to live anymore; he wasn't murdered. The old monk from Shaolin and the leader of the Beggar Sect were the ones who truly had bad luck. They were invited for a duel, acted honorably, and everything was above board. Life and death were predetermined. But they ended up being ambushed by little devils, and years later, they had to face the consequences from the children they raised. Wu Hua and Nanguo Ling kept insisting on avenging their father's death, but I believe their true ambition lies in dominating the martial world.
Then there are the likes of Zhang Zhao Chong, who betrays his master, and Huo Du, who abandons his master Jin Lun Fa Wang in times of crisis. Master Wu Chen's disciples, aside from Cheng Ling Su, are just as chaotic. The entire story of "Xiao Ao Jiang Hu" and "Lian Cheng Jue" is filled with treachery.
Any widely accepted social norm has its betrayers, and that's not surprising.
Where there are benefits, there is human nature. Is it really so far-fetched? Moreover, from Wang's muddled perspective, she thought she was just tossing out a few beans.
As a qualified novel, the plot should be both reasonable and surprising, and it's difficult to strike the right balance.
Guo Jing, for instance, encounters Huang Yaoshi's only daughter despite everything being seemingly inevitable; Huang Rong falls head over heels for him; he meets Hong Qigong and repeatedly experiences extraordinary adventures—these elements seem logical when penned by a master like Jin Yong. If I were to write it, I'd be criticized as a 'dead author recklessly giving out golden fingers.' The same can be said for Wei Xiaobao and Zhang Wuji.
Ying Gu, as a noble consort, engages in an affair. According to our understanding, after the incident, she should at least be sent to the cold palace, yet the emperor allows her to give birth to an illegitimate child within the palace. Lord Duan refuses to rescue this cuckold's offspring, and Ying Gu harbors resentment for decades (acting as if nothing happened while she was the one who cuckolded the emperor)—from the perspective of rural novels centered on societal norms, isn't this woman a bit too outrageous?
In real life, there are all kinds of peculiar people—some are extremely lucky, some are muddled in thought, some are impulsive, some are honest and kind, while others are selfish and hypocritical… So, why couldn't Wang poison her mother-in-law with the beans without considering her grandson?
"Foolish, gullible, unfilial; she is neither the first nor will she be the last."