Spoiler The Young Lady of the General's House

Discussion in 'Spoilers' started by OKDR, Oct 4, 2019.

  1. OKDR

    OKDR Well-Known Member

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    Hi! I looked for this novel, since a drama is being made, but there's nothing on the information page NU has to post updates, as nobody picked it up to translate.

    The title in Mandarin is
    将军家的小娘子
    MTL translates it as General's little lady.

    It is a slow one, but it doesn't take much to start escalating a little into the harem intrigue.

    It is also more a Slice of Life placed into a little of politics conflict.

    Main character is Shen Jin a daughter of Rui Wang the Emperor's brother.

    Male lead is Chu Xiu Min a powerful general from a household with legacy that protects the border.

    It is a little similar to Minglan's story, but the pacing and story telling is quite different. It may take a few chapters to start to grasp what's trully about, as it starts in the middle of nowhere, it has no rebirth theme or transmigrations with its usual introduction, etc.

    I'll post different entries to explain what I've encountered so far.
     
  2. OKDR

    OKDR Well-Known Member

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    Shen Jin

    She is the third daughter, concubine born, of Rui Wang.

    She is constantly bullied by the second sister (also concubine born), Shen Yan, but she has a nice relationship with the eldest one, Shen Qi.

    She is forced to marry a general, that has a lot of rumors saying he's a monster and has got 3 previous fiancées dead or killed already, and to go to the border to live.

    She seems naïve, but she is not stupid. She is sensible and can understand what others need quickly. She is gentle but not a pushover. She just knows her place inside Rui Wang's Manor and lets Shen Yan get her way because her mother, Xu Concubine, is their father's favorite.

    Shen Jin's mother is Chen Concubine. She is unfavored and has no other children.
     
  3. OKDR

    OKDR Well-Known Member

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    Situation at Rui Wang's

    Rui Wang is not a simple character. You can't say he is a horrible father, but he is, indeed, biased towards Xu Concubine and his 3 daughters: Shen Yan, Shen Jing and Shen Rong.

    They are utterly spoiled, especially Shen Yan whom always tries to suppress the eldest sister, Shen Qi.

    Rui Wangfei is a good woman. Her position in the house is unshakeable but she clearly lacks her husband's love and, sometimes, consideration. She has 1 daughter, Shen Qi, and I think both eldest sons are hers (?), Shen Xi and the other name sorry I forgot, I'll edit it later.

    She is reasonable, smart, and gentle. She is the one to protect Shen Jin and her mother, Chen Concubine.

    When Shen Qi marries off, Rui Wang takes Shen Jin to be raised by the Wangfei (he isn't much sensible), however she doesn't suppress Chen shi and cuts her bond with Shen Jin.

    Shen Jin is smart enough to know that this Wangfei seems miserable in her marriage because Rui Wang is too biased towards Xu shi and that Rui Wangfei doesn't seem to love him and looks entraped. Like she deserved way better because she is a smart and sensible woman.

    There's no vicious schemes at appearance, and they mostly need to watch over the Emperor not finding them a nuisance.
     
  4. OKDR

    OKDR Well-Known Member

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    The marriage setting, Shen Jin at the border and the Emperor's mindset

    Shen Jin becomes the scapegoat because:

    The Emperor is wary of Chu's clan power and wants to subdue Chu Fei Ming by tying him to the Royal family with a marriage.

    His eldest daughters (names when I find them again), both at the care of the Empress (one is her biological daughter) are too precious, so he passes the burden with a decree to his brother, Rui Wang.

    Shen Qi has married Yongle (I think he's a Marquees' son), so the marriage should fall onto Shen Yan, but she believes in the ugly rumors about CXM (short for Male Lead's name) and Xu manipulates Rui Wang to force the unfavored Shen Jin to be the scapegoat.

    Shen Jin is underage. She gets packed to the border at the age of 13!

    That is how biased Rui Wang is. Even though, later one can see he is not like the usual novel shitty fathers.

    Shen Jin arrives at the border and is treated lukewarm but properly by the General's servants. When she meets his little brother Chu Xu Yuan, they get on good terms, even though it's not immediately. Also, soon that city they're staying gets attacked by barbarians and they must fight. CXY first intends to pack her back to the Capital, but Shen Jin insists on staying and help lead the troops left and the people of the city to defend themselves.

    She does quite right, despite the circumatances.

    She also quickly adjusts to life there. The steward(ess?) and CXY soon grasp that she was suppressed and neglected back home, and they come to appreciate her more for not being arrogant but also being able to have such courage.

    They get saved by Chu Xiu Ming that had been away because the Emperor had called him back to the Capital. However, since the Emperor refused to send them troops to help the border city that was being sieged, CXM turned back and helped them fight and win against the barbarians.

    After that, he meets the wife.

    He is, of course, nothing like the rumors said. He is handsome and he is simple but even a little gentle. He quickly gets to like Shen Jin (whom has grown a little, still not 14, I guess) and he treats her really good. Even though those passages aren't nothing too pompous, there are simple cute scenes, like him taking her to the market.

    They marry not much later. I guess is hard to ignore the fact she is not even 15, 14 at most, but the love-making scenes aren't developed... well, still I am not sure of CXM's age (I guess between 18 and 25).
     
    Last edited: Oct 15, 2020
  5. OKDR

    OKDR Well-Known Member

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    Return to the Capital the Politics and domestic harem conflict start

    Well, it's already started, but our leads just come in to intervene/be part of this plots.

    The Border war and the Emperor's hostages

    After the war that got Shen Jin's city besieged, the Emperor sent rewards.

    However the messengers bringing those behaved rudely, so Shen Jin nicely handled them and put them in their places. She also made sure they brought back letters for Rui Wang & Ru Wangfei to inquire the Emperor Why he had sent no grain and medicines. The border especially lacks on those, salts and other basic stuff, and money is quite useless.

    So, when Rui Wang got the letters, he passed the message onto his Emperor brother and he also wrote back sending a lot of money along with some food that Shen Jin requested.

    When Rui Wangfei & Chen recieved the letters, Rui Wangfei felt even worst for Shen Jin always being wronged in favor of Shen Yan.

    The Emperor got the message and he got even more wary of CXM, so he got the Empress to call Rui Wangfei and Chen shi as hostages into the Palace, with the excuse they would accompany their mother-in-law (the Empress Dowager).

    Because Shen Jin got the news, she decided to ho back (actually I think the Empetor decreed for her to go) and CXM also accompanied her.

    She goes back into the Capital and first thing she does is to get rid of Chu Manor's (In the capital) servants (some were supposed to be bedwarmers or even concubine-wannabes).

    She smartly grasps that they have altered the house account-books and, since she can't know whom to trust, she gets rid of everbody to avoid a tedious plot of looking for spies.

    She enters the palace and puts the Empress and the two arrogant Princesses on a tought posistion. She plays the naïve but righteous card, however she comes out as a sassy smart little fox. She not only infudes fear onto the Empress, she comes out with her mothers smoothly (they wanted to keep them longer).

    Going back to Rui Wangfu

    They go back a day after freeing Shen Jin's mothers. And her other 2 elder sisters also go back.

    Shen Qi had married that Yongle

    Shen Yan had married Zheng Jiaxuan to avoid marrying CXM
    .

    On the Wang Manor the real troubles of each one of them finally arise. I'll expand that in a new post.

    When Shen Jin returns, Rui Wang feels remorseful for what he's done (because she suffered from the war) and starts appreciating more the way she's been brought up as someone smart and righteous. He is also aware of CXM's potential and advises his 2 sons that they should get close to him.

    Rui Wang sent CXM that much money, probably so he could fund his army better. As he knows that his Emperor brother plans to suppress him and he can't tolerate one of his daughters to suffer more dangers (that is why I said he ain't that shitty).

    Shen Jin doesn't get to see Chen shi, but she gets to come back a little at Shen Yan's party.

    When they leave, after some incident happened earlier during the lunch, Shen Jing (4th sister) tries to impose herself to visit Chu Manor. I can't quite understand how this quarrel to refuse her ends, but the bad relationship the Xu party has with Shen Jin gets displayed in front of everyone and Shen Yan's husband feels embarrassed.

    I'll explain further in a new post.
     
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2019
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  6. OKDR

    OKDR Well-Known Member

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    Shen Qi and her miserable marriage

    Unfortunately, Shen Qi being gentle and complacent brings her misfortune.

    Shen Jin knows through one of the letters sent at the border that her eldest sister has lost her son. She miscarriage or gave birth too early to a dead son.

    When she inquires further, she gets to know that Shen Qi's husband also took in a concubine like only half a year after they've been married and that concubine is now pregnant.

    The story is further explained while Shen Jin and her other sisters revisit Rui Wang Manor and their parents first confront their son-in-law in private and later with Shen Jin, the two eldest brothers and CXM, Shen Jin speaks her mind. After that, Rui Wangfei chats in private with Shen Qi, Shen Jin and forgot who else, and they advise her.

    The plot:

    Shen Qi married Yongle but after a while, his cousins appeared at their door saying they had lost their parents an had nowhere to go, so they took them in.

    One of the cousins seduced the husband (Really, the husband is crap if aphrodisiac wasn't involved), got pregnant and, presumably (we know it's true) she poisoned Shen Qi so she would lost her child. Shen Qi miscarried right after drinking a bowl of soup her husband gave her (it was supposed to be drunk by him).

    When Shen Jin firstly intervenes, is because the private confrontation Rui Wang & Wangfei had with Yongle was about him intending to keep the baby (in other words, he should had quickly feed miscarriage medicine instead of allowing his cousin concubine to grow the fetus further). Shen Jin throws light into how ridiculous is of him (Yongle) to pretend to give the baby -if this one turns to be a son- to Shen Qi to raise, if the schemmy cousin is not sick and right when Shen Qi miscarried her own biological son. She makes Yongle pale, as he realizes he's offended the Emperor's brother with his actions and that there's no way to fix this now.

    Later, during Wangfei all-female conversation, she and Shen Jin make Shen Qi realize where she was wrong:

    She allowed the cousins to enter the manor to not upset her mother-in-law when she should had excercise her power to suggest them to be placed in an outside house, still being well cared-off (being filial) but preventing the husband to meet them and allowing the cousin to climb his bed.

    Other stuff happens related to Shen Yan during the time they all visit the Rui Wang Manor, but when Shen Qi and Yongle are back at the carriage, he tries to coax her and then she explodes crying her grievances out.

    Yongle gets to know is not just about the disrespect to the Emperor's brother household, Shen Qi clearly expresses that how come cannot she feel jealous and hurt when she lost her child in such a fishy way and her husband is all the time with the concubine and looking forward her pregnancy. That is not like Shen Qi did anything to harm the overly favored cousin, while she is hurting and being neglected like that.

    What the MTL didn't allow me to understand is whether Yongle trully likes his cousin or if he was really tricked into getting her pregnant (or forced to take her as a concubine) and he is just trying to please his own mother.

    I still have to see how this unfolds, but Shen Qi is clearly not comforted by her husband's attempts to appease her and appologize. He is clearly late at this.

    Also, Shen Jin and the two brothers are supposed to visit Shen Qi & Yongle's home the day after.
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2020
  7. OKDR

    OKDR Well-Known Member

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    Shen Yan, the spoiled brat and overly favored daughter becoming Cannon Fodder disguised as the anagonist?

    Shen Yan is unreasanable selfish, but that is Rui Wang's fault for only favoring her mother and over spoiling her, always letting her get her way when she tries to suppress Shen Jin and steal Shen Qi's things.

    Rui Wang just started to realize at the homecoming that this daughter and the other two daughters from Xu shi aren't that good, as the schemme to embarrass Shen Jin (I trully didn't understand that part) but end up loosing Rui Wang's face in front of CXM.

    Shen Yan is ready to make Shen Jin lose face, because she went to the border and had to forget her status during the city's siege, leaving along with the citizens and working together with them.

    However, Shen Jin suddenly is not the old pushover she used to be. She quickly lets her know the tables have turned, that her status as Yongning Bo Madam (CXM's title) is higher than hers, whom married a rich merchant son with no title.

    She doesn't fall to the little trick she has set along with Shen Jing and Shen Rong to embarrass her, and she gets Shen Jing and Shen Rong punished instead, being sent back to Xu shi and forced to copy some military book.

    When the little sisters get sent back, Shen Yan joins them and they all complain to Xu shi that she lied to them, that CXM is actually handsome and doesn't look cruel like the rumors.

    Yes the "Shen Jin stole what was supposed to be mine" plot engines.

    So now, the little monster that Rui Wang allowed Xu to create, feels wronged and starts to covet CXM.

    While they are complaining, because actually Shen Yan's marriage is not that good... her husband, Zheng-something gets into an embarrassing conversation when Shen Jin tries to ask him for a copy of his "famous" poetry book.

    It seems that Zheng's poetry that had Shen Yan bragging all around before marriage, is actually (That is my guess after trying to read throgh MTL) about courtesans of a brothel. LOL and, apparantly, he abuses of the rethoric so he's the laughing stock of the Capital and his book was deemed as inappropiate. However, Shen Jin ignores this fact and she naively keeps pushing her questions and it takes her some time to notice the others' (brothers, father...) glances and Zheng's pale embarrassed face. When she does, she stops asking and appologizes just in case she embarrassed him unkowingly.

    Later, when they leave, Shen Jing reappears to try to impose herself into visiting Chu fu (Yes, it seems she's also after CXM) but Shen Jin tries her best to refuse and the conversation ends up openly exposing the fact they haven't much relationship as sisters. Everybody also gets to understand that Shen Jin life at the Wangfu wasn't that good.

    So when they are alone at the carriage back home, Zheng tells Shen Yan that he will avoid associating with Xu shi and her sisters from now on. That he feels embarrassed of them, and when Shen Yan refutes that Xu shi is his mother-in-law, Zheng corrects her that this is Rui Wangfei's position not Xu's.

    Well, that's allI read.
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2020
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  8. OKDR

    OKDR Well-Known Member

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    Chat about having an harem between SJ & CXM

    That comes right after they leave Rui Wang Manor for the first time (and everything my previous posts explained).

    Shen Jin is sad and analyzing the situation for CXM, saying that Rui Wangfei is pitiful and she doesn't think she loves Rui Wang, as she is not trully favored.

    Then she also says that Chen shi actually put herself in that position. She was quickly neglected after she birthed Shen Jin, but she didn't like living in that Manor because there are many concubines and Rui Wang is overly favoring just one (Xu), so she didn't desire to have more children, because that would put her into a troublesome spot.

    Shen Jin also tells CXM that when an harem has too many women, like Rui Wang's, then the husband attention divides too much and schemes happen. So that is better for them not to have too many concubines (if he ever starts getting some).

    CXM answers that he plans not to have any.

    He has already displayed his affection for Shen Jin in front her full family. As he gently put her his own cloack while preparing to leave. With a lot of care.

    Everybody noticed that CXM trully cared for Shen Jin.
     
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  9. OKDR

    OKDR Well-Known Member

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    Solving the Yongle Concubine Problem?

    Shen Jin ends up going alone to visit Shen Qi, as Shen Yan and Zheng end up fighting in the carriage (probably a little injured after the carriage gets into some uncontrolled speed) and CXM is called into the Royal Palace.

    She's already putting Shen Qi's mother-in-law in a tought spot when the annoying cousin concubine appears trying to show-off her favor, thinking that perhaps Shen Jin and Shen Qi relationship is no good and she might help her lose face...

    But Shen Jin and her sassy naivity is putting everybody on its place.

    Yongle status is just a rank higher than Yonging Bo (CXM), however, the concubine comes from Yongle's mother side, and she gets easily embarrassed by Shen Jin.

    First, she asks who is her husband that allows her to go work at the kitchen when she is pregnant (Implying lack of common sense), and she also displays her dissatisfaction at how her big sister is being disrespected.

    Zhao mama (CXM's momo) also puts her on her place when she tries to associate herself as Shen Jin's sister.

    When Yongle arrives, he finds his mother with a stunned face and the Concubine crying... he wants to asks what's happened and the cousin wants to play the victim, but Shen Jin keeps her naive play and wants to leave, encouraged by her Zhao mama, because she's been offended. Shen Qi not only won't stop her, she also seems to wanna join them...

    The situation keeps like this for a while, with the Yongle mother playing the pity party but also being afraid of trully offending Shen Jin and getting her leave in bad terms, but Shen Jin keeps her front and gets to know she is Yongle's cousin so more putting people on their place happens:

    She lets them see her behavior is inappropiate, since now she is a concubine but she keeps acting like she is the cousin as is some sort of master, plus Yongle and Madam Yongle are indulging her (favoring the Concubine while suppressing and neglecting the official main wife).

    The Concubine ends up offending Shen Jin even more, when her servant spouts that she is no ordinary concubine because she is a noble, in fact... which unfolds the truth that she descends from the previous dinasty and it seems that is some sort of taboo, perhaps she shouldn't even be alive?

    Because when this is being said, they want to kill the maid to silence her and Shen Qi & Shen Jin resolve that when the concubine gives birth, they will take the child and send her away to marry someone else.

    The mother-in-law actually quickly wanted to send her to an outer state, but the girls became smarter and made use of their status and the power that implies to finally cut the crap.

    Shen Qi, I think, even said she would talk to Rui Wang to buy them some beauties, if the husband trully wanted concubines.

    I am not sure if it's like this and how it will evolve, but I think even the husband understood that Shen Qi is done with him, the only reason she is not leaving him is to preserve her face.

    But Shen Jin actually threatened to leave and take Shen Qi with her a couple of times during this passage.
     
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2019
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  10. OKDR

    OKDR Well-Known Member

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    Shen Yan playing the villainess and Rui Wang meeting some facts

    *I'll edit later the first posts, it seems Rui Wang has 3 sons (?), Shen Xi, Shen Xuan... and then not sure if Shen Yu or that's the MTL messing Shen Yan's name sometimes*

    Shen Yan appears after Yongle old Madam has been stunned with the way Shen Jin & Shen Qi solved her niece being sent away. (Hahaha).

    Shen Yan has actually beaten her husband, Zheng Jiaxuan, and he fell from the carriage because of it and got injured.

    She's comming with bad intentions, and she tries to come at Shen Jin but Shen Jin quickly draws a line and she keeps interrupting Shen Yan's speech, reminding her to call her Mrs. Yonging Bo.

    Shen Rong (fifth sister, she's better than her two elder sisters from Xu shi) appears in between this fight and we get to see how Shen Yan voices out that Shen Jin stole her engagement, Shen Qi scolds her, refuting that Shen Yan ditched it because of the rumors, and that she always tried to abuse Shen Jin, but our sassy girl just keeps pissing Shen Yan off by telling her they aren't close for her to call her sister and reminding her of the status difference (now) by correcting her every time she says "Third sister" to call her "Yongning Bo Madam".

    In the end, Shen Yan scratches Shen Rong's face badly and when Shen Qi is reprobing her and demanding an explanation, she accidentally leaks that she intended to scrtatch Shen Jin's face so CXM wouldn't like her anymore.

    Only that, unfortunately, the male entered right at that moment, hearing all Shen Yan's petty words, and her brother Shen Xuan confronts her and slaps her hard... causing Shen Yan to miscarriage/almost miscarriage (still haven't unfold this part).

    While asking for doctors to see Shen Yan & Shen Rong, the men of the family/s that are at the Palace (the Emperor's) get to know that something has happened, as Yongle goes to ask for the Imperial doctor (or is it Rui Wangfei? sorry I forgot). The Emperor allows Rui Wang & CXM to leave, and they go to join the party at Yongle's Manor.

    When Rui Wang arrives and he tries to know what's happened, he ends up knowing his own ugly truth:

    First, it is revelaed by Shen Xi what happened when they entered and the ugly words Shen Yan said about Shen Jin and her intention to actually scratch her face.

    Then the women arrive and join in the conversation, so Rui Wang is angry and keeps asking for what's happened and why, so everybody decides to let him know how shitty her Xu Concubine girls are (minus Shen Rong, I guess).

    It's all because Rui Wangfei can't hold her grieve anymore and lets out that she's always tried to protect Sen Jin, but that Shen Yan and Shen Jing always tried to bully her, steal her things, especially Shen Jing. That whenever they tried to give nice things to Shen Jin, those always ended on Xu's daughters' hands, and that if they wanted to prevent it to happen, they always had to give stuff secretely, behind those little monsters' backs.

    All the brothers plus Shen Qi corrobore her story, and add their own memories and views.

    Rui Wang keeps getting angry and also regretful, so he asks why they had never let him know.

    I think that it's Rui Wangfei that tells him that he didn't need to know, Shen Xi says that they're telling him now and Shen Jin boldly says that how would they tell him when Xu is the one being super-favored while she was the one being neglected?

    Rui Wang feels terrible and says that he's wronged her so much.

    Shen Jin (I think that she's being just polite for Rui Wangfei's sake) says that she is not angry, because Rui Wangfei & the rest are good to her. CXM corrobores her words, saying that she always told so when they were at the border.

    Before leaving, CXM and Shen Jin shared a sort of "private" moment, he is angry because he knows Shen Yan wanted to harm her, Shen Jin notices it and tries coaxing him saying she doesn't believe Shen Yan wanted to hurt her, that she hasn't the courage, but that she didn't want to defend her because she doesn't like Shen Yan.

    They are hugging and get interrupted by Mrs Zheng, being really rude and harsh, so Shen Jin asks her who she is, if she know her. She keeps telling Shen Jin that she's rude and indecent, but CXM shuts her up and tells her that if they ever try to harm his wife again, he will beat his son and cut his limbs.

    Instead of getting afraid, idiot Mrs. Zheng keeps refuting. Shen Jin tries to sass her around by sort of ignoring her after some cold replies... they leave, but it is Shen Qi whom says something that makes her stunned, and Rui Wang telling them that from now on, Rui Wangfu and Zhengfu have no relation at all. That don't come to him for help.
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2020
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  11. OKDR

    OKDR Well-Known Member

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    More Rui Wanfu drama aka second round of Xu, Shen Yan & their mess

    It seems that Shen Yan trully miscarriages (?)

    What's gonna be told next is what Shen Qi's servant explains to Shen Jin when Shen Qi and Yongle go to visit them at their Manor.

    *I'm skipping the fluffy moments the couples have with Shen Yan's wolf-dog*

    It seems that when Xu got the news on Shen Rong being injured, she was also told to be confined in her courtyard, but in the end she was allowed to see Shen Rong and when she was told what had happened to Shen Yan, the drama starts:

    It seems that everybody is there (and yes, Shen Yu is Xu's son). It is said that Xu tried to kill or threaten to kill herself with scissors.

    Xu starts ranting that because Shen Qi miscarried, then no one else is allowed to be pregnant and that is why Shen Xuan slapped Shen Yan hard and provocked the miscarriage (no one knew she was pregnant on the first place!)...

    The verbal fight gets Xu going at Chen shi and Chen shi this time won't take it. She confronts her and spits out all the truth about them being bullied by their side and only protected by Rui Wangfei.

    Xu tells firs that because Shen Jin became Yongning Bo's wife she became arrogant, so Chen shi starts from the beginning, saying they've been bullied for ages and how she became Yongning Bo's wife, everyone in the Manor knows (but no one dares to say), that Jin'er is also Rui Wang's daughter, that is why she got the marriage, that and because Shen Yan refused to marry. That Jin'er suffered war in the border and is only now, that she started to be happy, that they want to come at her and make her embarrassed.
    Chen shi also says that is because they are in the Rui Wangfu that her daughter can live like this, and because Rui Wang helped CXM (with the money, I guess) they could get back to the Capital. That Shen Xuan is her brother and they have a good relationship (meaning, I guess, that's why he defended her).

    Then Rui Wangfei gets in, she tells to Rui Wang that during the 20 years of marriage she tried not to be biased towards the side-rooms (Concubine born children), trying to give them the same things she'd give her own children (Shen Qi & Shen Xuan), but that Shen Yan actually came out like this, even harming her own sister.

    Rui Wang says something to Xu about letting her killed (? I wish I could decode the MTL hahaha or know Mandarin), so Shen Yu (the son from Xu) intervenes, somehow Rui Wang wants to get him out of the way (I think that Xu is trying to stab herself with scissors, that's how the whole drama started)...

    So when the son and mother are playing at the drama, Chen shi says to Xu that her calculations are that if Shen Xuan and Shen Xi's reputations get ruined, everything will end up getting in the hands of Shen Yu (the third young master). I really can't grasp what's the scheme or plot. Is it her suiciding because of Shen Xuan's provoking a miscarriage? Or is something else she did?

    This words stun Rui Wang, whom seems to suddenly see the light LOL He says "you poisonous woman, you actually held this kind of mind" (well, whose fault is this?)

    And Rui Wangfei tells Xu shi that she always tried to tolerate her, despite she was always arrogant and disrespectful, then she turns to Rui Wang and tells him that she has two children that she doesn't want to see being harmed (by this snake).

    Rui Wang tells her that Xuan'er is also his son, and I think it's Wangfei the one to say that this time he can't keep this poisonous woman.

    Xu pleads to get Shen Rong as a witness... only that while Shen Jing goes to get her (she doesn't want to show her face), she coarces her to lie and say that it was Shen Qi who scratched her face.

    The servants try to prevent Shen Jing to force Shen Rong to lie... and Shen Rong is quite affected by the way Shen Jing wants to push all the blame on others, while using Xu's life as bait. She even gets to tell Shen Rong that now she won't be able to marry, that she should care to save their mother, because she will need to stay with Rui Wang forever.

    Then, Shen Jing goes out and tries to change the tale by saying Xu misunderstood Shen Rong's explanation, that it wasn't Shen Yan whom hurt her but Shen Qi and it was all Shen Jin's fault.

    Shen Jing says that Shen Rong wanted to get rid of Shen Jin so she could marry CXM instead.

    This girl sure is twisted, maybe even more than her sister!

    Shen Rong gets silent a little, while they keep lying to Rui Wang, until she can't stand it anymore and tries to say that is not like they are telling, Shen Jing tries to make her shut up and they start fighting. Rui Wang gets the servants to separate them, Shen Rong turns to Shen Jing and asks her to tell the truth.

    The idiot, Shen Rong, at the end feels bad for Xu and tries to blame everything on her own self. The girl is obviously neglected, always in favor of Shen Yan, Shen Jing and Shen Yu. But in the end, she gets her filial pity to lie for her concubine mother.

    Rui Wang gets mad, because he knows she's lying, and makes her shut up when she tries to fabricate her own tale to put all the blame on her own self. I guess that he wants to send them all away, but Wangfei stops him and tells him that Shen Rong is not at fault. That she felt trapped because one is her sister and the other is her mother. She asks Chen shi to take Shen Rong to her courtyard (?).

    Chen shi takes Shen Rong and her injured servant to her courtyard and the doctor visits them. After that, Shen Rong gets anxious and asks if Chen shi knows what will happen to Xu and Shen Jing, she answers that she doesn't know. She recalls all the hatred that's been accumulated because Shen Jin was always bullied by them, and that she has finally let it all out in the open to Rui Wang to know.

    Shen Rong requests Chen shi to call Shen Jin so she can help her mother out, but Chen shi just looks at her straight into the eye and asks "why?". Shen Rong gets quiet. I guess she understood that they had it coming, that she can't pretend for someone that's been bullied by her mother and sisters all her life to help her out now. Especially after they keept trying to push all the blame on her daughter and Shen Qi.

    In the end (I remind you that everything is being re-told to Shen Jin by Shen Qi's servant), Xu is sent to Zhuangzi (outer state, she's been casted out) and Shen Jing to the temple to raise. The excuse is that Xu shi is sick.

    The best part of all is that Shen Yan could beat her husband up without being punished by Zheng Madam, because they were counting on using her dowry to make up for their expenses (he is a scholar, but I guess without the success), but Shen Yan's dowry was cut because of Shen Jin's dowry, and it seems it hadn't been properly settled yet, but now Rui Wang cut ties with them so... no dowry? I guess that what they're talking about is that Shen Yan is now being mistreated (?).
     
    Last edited: Oct 4, 2019
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  12. OKDR

    OKDR Well-Known Member

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    Rui Wang gets punished, Shen Jin pregnant

    Rui Wangfu is preparing for his birthday but the night before the banquet, an earthquake shakes the Capital ( and maybe other regions).

    The Emperor, instead of rushing to bring aid to the people, he gets mad looking for a culprit. He blames it on Rui Wang for being extravagant and calling CXM back to the city for his birthday.

    A lot of officials jump the blaming babdwagon, CXM tries to refute them but in the end, Rui Wang gets beaten and imprisoned.

    Rui Wang feels disapointed on Yongle (son-in-law) as he is supposed to have a closer relationship with him, but he just remained silent.

    When the news hit the Wangfu, Rui Wangfei quickly organizes her people to be ready for anything that's to come and sends Shen Xi to Shen Jin's home.

    Nobody trully believes the Emperor will kill his younger brother, but he will surely have him demoted and suppressed as a way to suppress CXM.

    It seems there's an imminent war in the South and they have no one else but CXM to send, which means he would get even more powerful for his merits. That is why the Emperor is jealous and wary.

    Shen Qi gets the news when Yongle comes back home and tells her. She gets ready to go to the Wangfu, he tells her he will go together but then his mother have him called and Shen Qi gets tired of waiting. She assumes he's chickened and his mother convinced him to not go. When Shen Qi is about to ride her carriage, a servant appears to excuse the husband and hand her silver notes.

    Shen Qi gets her servant take the silver notes, but then she hands those back to Yongle's servant as a "reward" (It is a way to refuse his pity money by not refusing straight). So it seems the husband gets the message (Shen Qi has lost her hopes for him to actually care) and he runs after the carriage, when he catches up he sees that Shen Qi has been crying (She started crying out of frustration with him).

    At Shen Jin's, she is oblivious to what's happened, but she has pain in her belly and when the doctor sees her, he finds out that she's pregnant.

    She was visited not long ago and when the doctor said she wasn't pregnant, CXM felt relief because she is too young (Well, why fk her if you know that? LOL). However, this time he is actually happy to know the news.

    CXM tells her what's happened with Rui Wang but she doesn't get anxious.

    Not long after, CXM discusses with one of his subordinates about who will be the next pawn to be discarded (presumably by the Emperor). It seems that soon the political schemes will increase.
     
  13. OKDR

    OKDR Well-Known Member

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    The next part is confusing.

    Still with Rui Wang kept captive as punishment, the Emperor discusses whether to send CXM to pacify a region where some trouble arised (not sure if it was attacked by Sea otters or that's MTL playing funny on the name of a region or a rebellious subject).

    We have a "new" characater (it started being named by Rui Wangfei, Shen Xuan & CXM in previous chapter's conversations), Chen Yuxiang. I really have no clue what's his position, title, etc. other than being the Empress' father. But he's obviously colluding with Emperor Chen to try to suppress/get rid of CXM.

    They really try to get CXM convicted while discussing what to do with this conflict and CXM gives his opinion... however, they decide to send him after a few days with not many soldiers and suddenly memorials asking for Chen Yuxiang (Empress father) to be impeached (accusing him of several different things) get sent to the Palace. I guess this is the pawn CXM was planning to discard.

    Shen Jin has got her concubine mother (Chen shi) take care of her in Chu's Manor for a few days, but after it's been decided that CXM will leave, they both get sent to Rui Wangfu, under Wangfei's care.
     
    Last edited: Oct 7, 2019
  14. OKDR

    OKDR Well-Known Member

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    It is interesting how Shen Qi becomes so insecure and has low self-esteem after she experiences such disturbances on her marriage.

    She is the di daughter of Rui Wang, she wasn't overly spoiled, nor neglected like Shen Jin by her father, and she recieved good education.
    However, because she wanted to be complacent, the cousin of Yongle got her miscarrying and she got pregnant.

    Despite her fixing this mishap by sending the cousin away -after she gave her a good excuse-, her marriage with Yongle is already affected. She is constantly feeling alienated from him and she knows that Yongle will quickly jump into whatver woman enters his harem and probably harm her again.

    During the arch Rui Wang is still being held captive as punishment, she goes to visit Shen Jin to the Wangfu and she gets anxious to marry her closest servant because at Yonglefu everybody thinks she is saving her for the husband (that horrible ancient costum) and she knows she wouldn't be able to bear it if she gave the servant to Yongle and she became pregnant, as well as she couldn't trust her anymore.

    Then, it seems her mother-in-law gets angered and sick when she founds out that Shen Qi just refused to take her pity money. She refused to see Yongle & Shen Qi when Rui Wangfei sent them back with a list of gifts.

    Yongle Madam seems to treat the younger sister-in-law better, and she and the younger brother of Yongle want to blame his mother sickness on Shen Qi and send her to pray to the temple.

    It's confusing because of the MTL but, somehow, Shen Qi manages to get to see Yongle Madam and confront her and she gets the management of the house instead of getting her worse.

    It seems that Yongle Madam only plans to let Shen Qi manage the household so she can fail, however Shen Qi smartly gets hold of everything, getting rid of those servants that dare to not cooperate, and she also sends the younger sister-in-law to pray for Yongle Madam to the temple, instead.

    MORE: Shen Qi suspects her mother-in-law may be behind her miscarriage?

    Shen Jin gets that imperial doctor to check Shen Qi and she finds out she's pregnant.

    When Yongle gets the news he rushes to Rui Wangfu (Shen Qi is staying there) but finds her crying.

    When he asks why she isn't happy, Shen Qi's servant ends up telling that they are sure that her mother (Yongle) was behind her previous miscarriage, so she is scared.

    Yongle thinks a little and he remembers how his younger brother/s wanted to blame them for his mother falling sick, and that Yongle Madam had them kneeling for hours because she refused to see them. And he comes to understand that the reason why his mother is trying to always suppress Shen Qi is because if she gets birth to the first son of the household, her position will be harder to shake. I guess she doesn't like her... she probably is behind the cousin entering the manor and becoming a concubine scheme as well.

    Yongle goes back to see his mother, but he doesn't reveal what he's been told. However, Yongle Madam seems disappointed (she expected Shen Qi to return the management to her) that Shen Qi is still not coming back, and she implies some ugly stuff, so Yongle tells her that she should stop suppressing his wife, otherwise she'll also become alienated from him (Yongle).

    I think that the husband is finally coming around and seeing he trully made his wife miserable by not protecting her from his mother. However, Shen Qi's state of mind has already been too damaged in this matter, she'll probably need Yongle to be way better and show that he trully cares for her before she decides to open again to him. She's obviously disappointed so much with him, she's not even that moved by him rushing after her carriage when his mother tried to retain him at home (and not have Yongle accompany Shen Qi to the Wangfu when Rui Wang was punished).
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2020
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  15. OKDR

    OKDR Well-Known Member

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    The next part is about Shen Jin thinking about the situation of the Emperor towards Rui Wang & CXM compared to Xu shi and what's happened with her.
    I wish I could explain better which similitudes she finds and why she realizes the Emperor is trully after CXM, but MTL is still confusing (despite it's not that bad).

    However, I'd like to highlight how Shen Jin analizes how the Wangfu roles were played in the past and how she heaertfelt praises Rui Wangfei for being smart an courageous and being able to understand she had to educate her children better than the over-pampered way Xu shi was raising hers.

    The similitudes about both cases (Emperor/Xu) is thrown in there because Rui Wang is back and there are 2 doctors in the Wangfu (1 for Rui Wang, 1 for Shen Jin). And Chen shi finds the situation dangerous (?) or perhaps it reminds her of back in the day it happened something similar when Xu was pregnant... it is the confusing bit, but something's up with the doctors being sent from the Place and the Emperor being able to calculate from this.
     
  16. OKDR

    OKDR Well-Known Member

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    So, Shen Jin sees Rui Wang, who can't help but realize that he ill-treated her, and afterwards, she talks with Zhao mama (Chen shi is also there) about all the thoughts concerning the Emperor sending the two doctor, one being a gynecologist.

    Zhao mama asks her 3 questions regarding what would happen if something trully happened to CXM, and Shen Jin realizes that she is just a pawn for the Emperor.

    She has no resentment towards Rui Wang, but she finally understands that she was treated as a pawn by him too. That he has little power, so when the Emperor imposed that marriage, he didn't hesitate to send her. Because, even if it was Shen Qi, he still would sacrifice 1 daughter to protect the rest of his children and household.

    Only that is alwas Shen Jin the one to be sacrificed.

    Shen Jin knows that she being pregnant is a big danger, so she is considering to take Chen shi with her and leave.

    Also, during this chat, she gets to know that Chu Xuanyan is actually CXM's cousin (probably maternal), and that's why the Emperor won't persecute him.
     
  17. OKDR

    OKDR Well-Known Member

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    Chu Xiu Ming could be the son of the former Crown Prince.

    And that would be the main reason why the Emperor wants him gone and his previous 3 fiancées died before they could get married.

    MTL CONFUSING TIME:

    The Emperor Cheng has been enthroned for 25 years (ugh, I think that's CXM's age).

    Before that, there was one of the princes that rebelled against the Emperor and used the barbarians to infiltrate the Capital and killed the previous Crown Prince.

    The Crown Princess was from the Chu clan.

    What is confusing is whether that rebellious prince is the current Emperor Cheng or a brother that died after rebelling...

    I assume he is a different one, because it says that Chu familiy tried to fight the rebels, but it was hard because they could match their strenght.
     
  18. OKDR

    OKDR Well-Known Member

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    How Shen Jin (un)willingly temporary resolved her predicament

    She tells some filial gibberish to the imperial doctor to be passed onto the Emperor and the idiot takes it as Shen Jin is smart but she's sort of declaring she'll stay loyal to him (she's not).

    He rewards her a lot of stuff and believes that when he gets rid of CXM he will be able to use Shen Jin to control the army in the border. If she has son, he'll also use him.
     
  19. OKDR

    OKDR Well-Known Member

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    Rui Wang celebrates a dinner with all his family

    Shen Yan
    is also invited. Her hatred and envy towards Shen Jin has increased. The thought that if she didn't exist her mother wouldn't had fallen in disgrace, she'd be Mrs. Yongning Bo and everything would be great has been strongly planted in her head.

    Zheng feels trully embarrassed because Shen Yan tries to provoke Shen Jin but all she gets is the reminding that her husband has no title and he has to rely on her (I assume) Junzhu title in return. That makes him look face and despise his wife even more...

    He is also starting to get infatuated with Shen Jin.

    Yongle is trying harder to show his care for Shen Qi and the family notices it.
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2020
  20. OKDR

    OKDR Well-Known Member

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    Zheng Jiaxuan

    He happens to accidentally hear Shen Rong talking about the events when Shen Yan scratched her face and how the process of Shen Jin marrying CXM went.

    So, he feels sour when he discovers he wasn't a first choice for marriage and that Shen Yan is also regretting not marrying CXM.

    When he is back home, we get to know he had a tongfang, Man Rong, whom he hasn't bed (it seems) ever since he married Shen Jin.

    He thinks now, after the "honeymoon" period passed and he discovered he had nothing in common with Shen Yan, that the perfect wife would be a combination of the 2.

    He is asking the servant how to get someone to tell the truth because he wants to confirm things with Shen Yan.

    Shen Yan, on the other hand, is trying to make Shen Jin lose her baby, out of pure hate.
     
    Last edited: Oct 14, 2020
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