NOVEL NEXT At the east side of the household was a magnificent lotus pond. The view there was breathtaking, especially when the sunset hit the edge of the pond. The inner room was stiflingly hot, thankfully the cold wind gently blew in the courtyard as a few young maids at the courtyard were cracking melon seeds between their teeth as they gossiped. Not a single person remained inside the room to serve Yao Yiyi, leaving her to lie on the beech bed alone in a half-dead state.
Yao Yiyi buries her meatball like body into the heap of pillows. Her arms and legs were spread out and there was a dull look on her face. Yao Yiyi had always been in a lifeless state, ever since she came to this world. She turns her small head to examine the room, it looked exactly like one of those ancient rooms in those tv shows. There was a round table in the middle of the room, Yao Yiyi wasn’t sure what wood was used to make it but it was definitely high quality. At the side, leaning on the wall, was a wooden cabinet and some small round stools beside it. The wooden cabinet had flower engravings that seemed to imitate the eight gods sailing through the sea.
Yao Yiyi was starting to feel thirsty, so she got off the bed. Since the southern people were used to wooden floors, she didn’t feel a chill when her barefeet touched the ground. Once she was in front of the round table, she sees a small stool next to another longer stool placed under the table. Yao Yiyi didn’t know whether to be mad or glad about the situation yet she still stepped on the small stool, then proceeded to climb up the bigger stool and table edge until she finally reached the table top, safely. On top of the table was a heavy kettle, pulling it closer to her mouth, she drank the water directly from the kettle..
After drinking, she went back to bed. Once in bed she suddenly noticed the lingering fragrance inside her cheeks. Yao Yiyi’ realized belatedly, ‘Oh it’s not plain water today…That was tea, really good tea.’
A few days ago, she had woken up from thirst, similar to today. That day she had taken a cup of water and drank it by herself when, suddenly, some people had come in. The one leading them was an old mama who looked as if she had been struck by lightning. Watching the young girl climbing to get herself a drink made her heart beat as if she was suffering a heart attack. Immediately, she scolded the courtyard’s servants and properly consoled and pacified Yao Yiyi. But Yao Yiyi had just came to this world two days ago and thus, still didn’t understand what was happening. After arriving to this new world, unable to see her father, mother, wet nurse or personal maid, she had no idea where she was. Before, the only people she seen were a group of busy people, entering and exiting her room constantly. She hadn’t recognized their faces. Therefore, she could only dull-wittedly listen and not having any reaction. The old mama had just sighed and said, ‘pitiful’ a few times before leaving.
Yao Yiyi found herself constantly being pitied. Actually, she wanted to say that she felt more comfortable without anyone in the room. Always having to act calm when, in fact, she is terrified is…relatively difficult.
When she’s alone in the room, if she wants to stretch her legs, then she can just stretch. If she wants to lean like a frog, then she can just lean like a frog. The solitude was also unexpectedly useful for recovering from the shock of time-travelling. After the day old mama left, the servants immediately improved their service. They started placing some food and desserts on the table, and stored the teas in the teapots. Taking Yao Yiyi’s height into consideration, they made “stairs” from various stools to make climbing up and down easier. They even placed a plate of freshly washed grapes on the table yesterday, such considerate people. Afterwards, they went out to entertain themselves again.
Yao Yiyi was extremely touched.
Waves of voices from the courtyard suddenly entered the room. Yao Yiyi didn’t have to strain her ears to hear them clearly. Currently, the Sheng household was going through violent changes. The lonely courtyard’s maids gathered their spirits and started gossiping like wildfire about the recent activities.
“Today, I heard that Master’s close aid, Laifu, said the imperial decree was passed two days ago. Our Master will be promoted to a senior provincial government official and will be going to Deng Prefecture to take up the post at the end of the month. The last few days, Concubine Lin’s place has been in a uproar, urgently selling the shop goods in order to have more assets to bring along. ” Maid A said.
“My dears, how much wealth do you think Concubine Lin has managed to accumulate all these years? She’s even living more extravagantly than Madame.”
“Everyone says she was born as a young miss from an established family but, because she admired our family’s Master, she was willing to suffer and become a concubine. Seems like these words are not false.” Maid B excitedly said.
“What! You are only listening to those who flatter the popular and trample the lowly! My mother told me, long ago Concubine Lin was merely a declined official family’s lone daughter. When she first came to our Sheng household, she only brought a young maid and an older maid. All together her luggage added up to only five or six boxes. Her clothes were not better than our household’s second class maid. What family properties!” Maid C somewhat furiously said.
“Ah, that Concubine Lin is now living very lavishly. Master favours her so much that it is not surprising for Madame to always be angry. Besides, Master also prefers Concubine Lin’s children:Young Master Feng and Young Lady Mo over Madame’s children: Young Lady Hualan, Young Master Changbai, and Young Lady Rulan. Concubine Lin sure has some capabilities.” Maid D enviously said.
Maid E added, “That is only natural, if not how would we be convinced that master likes her so much? He doesn’t even care about Madame’s pride or the rules of the family. Even though Old Madam is not happy, she cannot do be bothered to do anything about this. Her belly also doesn’t fall short as she has a son and daughter, naturally a strong backing.”
“You wretch, in your dreams! I say, Concubine Lin is not a master that is easy to get along with.” Yao Yiyi recognised Maid C’s voice. She said sneering, “When she first married over, things were still okay. But soon afterward, around the time she was pregnant with Young Master Feng, she slowly demoted a few great servants without a trace. Even my mother, aunty Lai, Older Sister Cuixi and old grandma were demoted! And do you know for what reason? Just because they had seen her poverty-stricken self before!”
“Oh! Is what Older Sister said true? Then, this Concubine Lin is indeed quite powerful.” Maid E, who wanted to be transferred away, was very shocked.
“If I am talking nonsense, then call me a gossiper!” Maid C firmly said. “A mama with a high rank will not talk about it, and the lesser ranks that do say anything so are taken out of the household. That’s why no one talks about her past and only good things are passed along by those vicious demons who benefit from her. Who’s impassable in the four arts [1], who’s proficient in all verses and poetic songs, who has a kind, humble and pure innate disposition? Ah! The one who’s really kind, honest and pure just passed away, our extremely sincere Concubine Wei!”
“Older Sister Cui, lower your voice! If anyone hears you, your fate wouldn’t be good!” Maid F kindly reminded.
“Humph! What do I have to fear? I have already been matched with someone. Moreover, my mother is Old Madam’s close aid, if it wasn’t for Old Madam, I wouldn’t be in this household but would be working at a farm instead. My old mother has already requested this favour from Old Madam. When Master goes to Deng Prefecture to take up the post, I will not follow, but instead, will help out at the farmstead. When the time comes, I will not have these rotten worries anymore.”
As it turns out, Maid C has already found a good escape route, no wonder she didn’t fear the consequences, Yao Yiyi thought.
“Ah. If not for Concubine Wei’s case, who would know that Concubine Lin’s heart is actually this cruel.Seeing her refined speech , pleasant mannerisms, and friendly way of treating people, who would have thought… Even though our Concubine Wei has just died, she drove away Older Sister Die’er and a few other servants. Even our Young Lady’s wet nurse was not spared. Lumping them all in one go and sending them out. Only leaving behind us, a few third class maids who don’t know anything…” Maid A said in an increasingly low voice.
“Those maids she drove away were Concubine Wei’s most competent and close maids. Of course they could have clues, leading us to discover what had really happened. If they remain and Master looks into this matter, then things will get uncovered. What then?” Maid C, Cui said.
“What clue? What nonsense are you talking about again?” Maid B softly asked.
Maid C, Cui dropped her voice, “Humph! Although we are third class maids, we’re not blind. That day, when Concubine Wei was in labour, it was obviously around 3 to 5 am that she cried out in pain. Older Sister Die’er urgently went to Concubine Lin’s place, to ask for a midwife, but why did the midwife only came around 9 to 11am. There are some old maids in the household who know how to deliver, yet why was it that all of them, coincidently weren’t there? They let Concubine Wei wait until she could not endure anymore. Older Sister Die’er urgently needed clean cloth and boiled water, but why was it that most of us were either asked to call someone or sent away on an errand? During the critical moment, there was no one in the courtyard that was easy to order. Remember that Master and Madame had already a few days prior and Old Madam in the West Courtyard does not manage the household. All matters, big and small, were decided by Concubine Lin. What clue you ask? Heaven has eyes! Master suddenly had official matters and returned to the household a few days early, just to see Concubine Wei take her last breath. We had asked Older Sister Die’er a few questions, thoroughly furious. If Master had returned a few days later, then we I am afraid Concubine Lin would have already thoroughly cleaned this matter up and there would have been nothing to investigate!”
After she finished talking, the courtyard went silent, only a few long sighs were heard. Little Yao Yiyi lightly sighed while changing her posture, waiting to listen to some more.After sometime, one maid said, “But these ten days I have yet to see Master take action? He’s always staying in the study room and Concubine Lin is also fine. It seems that, in Master’s heart Concubine Lin is more important than Concubine Wei.”
Maid C, Cui sneered a few times and did not speak.
“If that was true, then why did Concubine Lin need to strive againstt Concubine Wei. Why did she need to kill Concubine Wei when she’s better than her? Why did she pay attention to her while ignoring the others, like Concubine Ping and Concubine Xiang,” Maid D asked sighing.
“Don’t you know? How can Concubine Ping and Concubine Xiang be compared to our Concubine Wei. Although Concubine Wei did not understand poetry or songs, she’s was not some lowly maid. She married over honourably and more importantly our Concubine Wei had an excellent background, was young, and considerate. Since their marriage, Master had been doting on her, causing her to give birth to a young lady. If she was to give birth to a young master, then she wouldn’t be necessarily be inferior to Concubine Lin. But what a pity…” Maid F said with an experienced tone.
“That’s right, I heard that Young Master would have been extremely handsome, his eyes were exactly like Master’s. It’s really a pity that he suffocated to death in the womb. Ah, what an outrageous act.” Maid B used a very soft voice to say, “Even if things are investigated, how would it be possible for Master to allow Concubine Lin to repay the lives lost with her own life. Even just for Young Master Feng and Young Lady Mo, that cannot be done. The only thing he can do is punish the servants to appease his anger. .”
The courtyard went silent again, Yao Yiyi nods her head. This maid’s insight was spot on.
“Older Sister Cui, you are so lucky that your father, mother and brothers are all capable people. Once you leave this household, you’ll be able to enjoy good fortune. We just do not know about us, your other sisters’ fate will be. Soon this small courtyard will be dispersed. Who knows where our Young Lady will be going.” Maid E constantly reminded everyone of thier possible employment issue.
“Enjoy what fortune? Merely changing my place to work and being a bit closer to my family, able to enjoy a little family love and joy, that’s all. All of you don’t need to worry. All of you are third class maids, no matter if Concubine Lin does vent her anger against us, it won’t cost us our lives. At most, changing the master we serve when that time comes would solve the problem.” Maid C said gladly.
“Changing to another master is also not easy as one does not know whether they would be as easy to talk to as Concubine Wei. She was a kind and honest person who never got angry with us. The year my younger sister fell sick, she still bestowed a few taels of money to me.” Maid A said.
“She may have been honest, but that was also her weakness. Our house has no propriety. Others love to come as they wish and even the other courtyard’s maids dared to secretly scheme against her. She, even after suffering at the hands of the maids, didn’t learn anything and continued to be friendly and suffer in silence. Apart from Older Sister Die’er, who dared standing up against the injustice done to her, who still remembered her goodness? I say masters ought to have some haughtiness, an aura of a master,. They must be able to distinguish the right from the wrong, if one wants everything to be done well” Maid B said.
The topic was getting too serious so the maids quickly changed the topic of their discussion. They talked about Young Lady Cui’s marriage and momentarily the courtyard became relaxed again. Little Yao Yiyi laid on the bed, staring blankly at the green carved line on the decorative frame. She had already been listening to this kind of gossip, that has neither head nor tail, for ten days. She was now in the body of the Sheng household’s sixth young lady, Sheng Minglan.
She was a daughter of a concubine who had just lost the only person she could rely on. Now, it seems that they’re saying the fever burned her head which caused her dazed to the point of foolishness and wouldn’t even say a word. The servants completely don’t care about her and to add to that, currently, inside the Sheng Household, all hell had broken loose. If they were not busy attending the matters of moving the house, then they would be busy sorting out the money.
The senior maidservants and the stewards’ wives were so busy that their feet hardly touched the ground. No one had time to supervise this group of little maids, and, since most of them were children of the household’s servants [2], that were not that old or experienced and still needed guidance. The only positive of these maids was their understanding of the situation. They did not have strict rules, being third class maids, and thus did not avoid any topics when talking, which was advantageous to Yao Yiyi. These past 10 days was like listening to a serial drama, even the most trivial matter of the Sheng Household was sufficient to the ears.
Sheng Minglan’s biological father, the Sheng household’s Master, was Sheng Hong. Coming from a successful Imperial examination graduate background [3], he is currently a sixth ranked official, about to be promoted to a senior provincial official. He is, originally, a concubine-born, and the Old Madam in the west courtyard is his legitimate mother. He has one wife and numerous concubines, so don’t ask Yao Yiyi how many concubines there are. These few maids have no order in their story, making her unclear on the details.
First about the main wife, Sheng household’s legitimate Madame, Wang shi [4], the young miss of the Left Assistant Minister of Revenue. This marriage could be considered Sheng Hong climbing the social ladder. The Wang family was an old and powerful family, which had produced high ranking officials for many generations. The Sheng Family’s late Master, Sheng Hong’s father, official career path was already nearing its end when Sheng Hong had just graduated. But that wasn’t a problem since the Old Madam Sheng was around and her background was better than the Wang family. After all, she’s the eldest di [5] daughter of the Marquis Yongyi household and beside that is the late Old Master’s name that became famous throughout the world when he became a Tanhua [6]. And that was why the Wang family’s Old Master scratched his scalp, making sure to consider it carefully before finally he declared this marriage to be approved.
Wang Shi’s eldest daughter, Miss Sheng Hualan, is at the age where marriage talks are in progress. Her eldest son, Mister Sheng Changbai, is approximately the same age as one who graduated elementary school. There is still someone below them, another daughter, Sheng Rulan, who was about the same age as Yao Yiyi.
Speaking of those numerous concubines again, the first would naturally be the country’s name shaking Concubine Lin (fresh flowers making a request to applaud), although she is also surnamed Lin, yet more powerful than Younger Sister Daiyu[7], not limited to any points. Both their strength is practically not in one quality, just like distance between Ye Yuqing and wang Zuxian[8]. Younger Sister Daiyu only has the shelter of her paternal grandmother and her father’s riches, drifting along and ultimately becoming a beauty passed away. Looking at Concubine Lin, entered the Sheng household in a poverty-stricken state, building up from scratch. Stubbornly turning a oppressed semi-feudal and semi-colonial into a tentative developed nation. Successfully transformed into a well-off person from from an impoverished state, simply more astonishing than the result of reformation. This lady has a son and daughter, Mister Sheng Changfeng and Miss Sheng Molan. Ages not quite clear, probably between Sheng Changbai and Sheng Rulan.
Then there is Concubine Ping and Concubine Xiang. Between the two, Concubine Xiang is ranked higher as she has a young son named Sheng Changdong.As for the rest of the concubines, Yao Yiyi doesn’t know anything besides that they have no children, Please don’t blame this inactive,lazy time-travelling behaviour of Yao Yiyi. The time-travelling had left her a bit depressed.
Have you watched Hongkong’s drama ‘File of Justice’ [9]? A battle of words, the show is about – you come and I go, love and hate, friendship and enmity, this is how challenging the workplace is. Did you see the lawyers’ gown draped on that beautiful woman? No, no, Yao Yiyi is not that lawyer. Notice that upright and plainspoken judge ahead? No no, Yao Yiyi is still not qualified to be one. Please follow that line of sight and look lower. On the judge’s right side, there is a person who’s engrossed in writing, that’s correct, Yao Yiyi is exactly that glorious employee of the people’s court.
Since graduating from XX Political Law University, Yao Yiyi gave the exams for office-bearers. She showed her impressive manpower as she squeezed her way to the narrow path, and finally, succeeded in taking up a post at a nearby district court. This secure employment made her close female classmates envy her endlessly. Her job consisted of filing for court cases in both criminal court and civil court, supervising the court, and implementing the constitution. Yao Yiyi had the fortune of being fancied by a highly committed and established madam of a military, and was appointed to one of the busiest civil courts.
The job in the courts and the one in the Hong Kong dramas are two very different things. In the court, Yao Yiyi is required not to speak, not judge. Apart from continuously recording proofs, she is practically an invisible person. However, in the final judgement book, her name is recorded. Most of these cases deal with dividing family properties or claiming a share of inheritance, which put Yao Yiyi’s young spirit through the wringer.
However, occasionally, Yao Yiyi would meet a handsome older lawyer or a very classy older judge. Unfortunately in the presence of beautiful female lawyers, Yao Yiyi did not have the slightest chance to shine. Therefore, the day when news came that those two older brothers have girlfriends, the quick-witted Yao Yiyi, who was about to get promoted, bravely expressed that she is willing to help develop the border’s areas with the old judge madam for a year.
There are courts known as ‘Horseback Courts’ whose main job is regulating the mountain area. Getting there is extremely inconvenient. To enter the town one must wait for the transport for a few days, at minimum, or up to a week, at maximum. If the plaintiff does not have the perseverance of an autumn chrysanthemum lady [10], they could not be in this line of work. In the early stages ‘Horseback Courts’ was a single judge and a small group of employees on horses or mules with the necessary equipment: documents, stamps, etc. They would walk on foot from village to village, traveling through mountains and other areas where cars couldn’t enter. Each court session was in accordance with regular procedure and began with summons. It short it was a tough assignment. Local courts often lacked manpower, thus requiring the assistance of the surrounding cities courts.
Yao Yiyi’s immediate supervisor could become a deputy manager at a stretch, therefore she clenched her teeth to go.The girls in the department were unwilling to go because they either had no boyfriend, and were urgently looking, or had boyfriends, and didn’t want to leave them behind. No one was willing to go, so when Yao Yiyi bravely stepped forward, the Old Madam was moved to the point of tears.
When Yao’s mother, the director of the local committee of the Women’s Federation for ten years, first heard this decision she immediately wanted to drag her daughter to the hospital and check her sanity. Her capable brother, who was working hard at a big city, called back in rage. Only Yao’s father, who was also working for the government, thought it was splendid and felt that his daughter had extremely good virtue. After a detailed analysis of the pros and cons of developing the borders, Yao’s mother had gradually come to terms with it.
Actually Yao Yiyi was not really in rush to get a promotion. She only felt like she had always followed the same pattern in her lifetime. From studying in elementary school, middle school and university, then working, and finally preparing to get married and make a family in the future. Living in this typical pattern made the days comfortable, but lacked some important life experiences. So, she hoped that in going to a different place; to look, walk, and understand the lives of others, different from her own, she would learn some of those lacking experience.
During that year, Yao Yiyi suffered hardships, but at least by the time she returns to the city, it would be with a satisfied heart and pride. Yet, on the way back they suddenly they encountered rainstorms for several days, continuously. With great difficulty, the rain finally cleared and the Old Judge Madam hurriedly brought the employees in a van to hurry on. Mid-way they met with a landslide and Yao Yiyi woke up in this body.
Lying in bed, Little Yao Yiyi, who had changed, she wished to say: Everyone has the responsibility of protecting the mountain and forest. Chopping and cutting down trees randomly – may your children die!
[0] [Title] In the Chinese culture Hell is depicted in a similar manner to that of the Romans and Greeks. Hell is constructed to a similarly to the Judicial Branch, with a judge sentencing a soul’s life. In the title Minglan is using this similarity to claim that Hell has wronged her by sending her to ancient China where life is difficult when she did nothing wrong in her original life, essentially making a pass at Hell’s corruption.
[1] 琴棋书画 (Qin Qi Shu Hua): The four arts mainly: zither, chess, calligraphy and painting.
[2] 家生子 (Jia Sheng Zi): Family-born, it most possibly means that the group of maids’ parents are also servants of the Sheng household
[3] This means the previous Master Sheng along with Sheng Hong were able to pass the imperial court exam and become Jinshi.
[4] 氏 (Shi): Wang is her maiden family’s name while Shi denotes that she’s a married woman who’s clan’s name in the past is Wang.
[5] 嫡 (Di): first wife’s children; the legitimate.
[6] 探花 (Tan Hua): the jinshi (someone who passed the triennial court exam, as far as I know this is the highest exam) and ranked third overall.
[7] One of the main female characters from Dream of the Red Chamber by Cao Xueqin which is considered one of the Four Great Classical Novels
[8] Hongkong Actress.
[9] It is a Hong Kong legal drama first aired in 1992 and five seasons have been released.
[10] 秋菊傲霜 (Qiu Ju Ao Shuang): meaning the autumn chrysanthemum braves the frost.