[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army":3,"chapter-a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-199":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","A Little Soldier of the Late Ming Border Army",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},1205488,1561,"Chapter 199: Provincial Governor Ji Wishes to See Wang Dou","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-199",199,"\u003Cp>\"How should this matter be handled?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His mother, Lady Zhong, sat there with a worried frown. For a son to take a concubine and produce more offspring was a good thing. In this era, infant mortality was high; often eight or nine children were born, but only two or three survived. If Wang Dou took more concubines, Lady Zhong would only be pleased. The crux was that the newly arrived Young Lady Ji was the daughter of the Provincial Governor. For his daughter to become a concubine — there was simply no way to justify it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet if she did not become a concubine, was she to become the wife? That was certainly out of the question too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Ji Junjiao was beautiful and of noble status, Lady Zhong recognized only Xie Xiuniang as her daughter-in-law. She had raised Xiuniang from childhood, and the three of them — mother, son, and Xiuniang — had depended on one another to survive. The bond between them was extremely deep and could not be replaced by anyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Moreover, in ancient times, both marrying and divorcing a wife were governed by strict patriarchal rites and regulations; a husband could not act recklessly. As an appointed official of the imperial court, if Wang Dou divorced his wife and remarried without just cause, the offense would be grave. Impeachment memorials from the censors would drown him. Besides, Wang Dou had absolutely no such intention.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What was to be done? Lady Zhong frowned in distress.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Xiuniang sat beside her with her head bowed, silent. She stared blankly, lost in who knows what thoughts.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After Wang Dou entered the room, Lady Zhong said, \"My son, that young lady from the Provincial Governor's residence — how do you plan to settle her?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, puzzled, \"Mother, hasn't it already been settled? Let her be a concubine. She agreed to it herself.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Zhong said, \"How foolish. Given Young Lady Ji's status, how can she be a concubine? If word gets out, outsiders will ridicule our Wang family for lacking proper upbringing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, \"Then according to Mother's wishes, what should be done?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Zhong said, \"That is precisely what troubles me. As for the rightful daughter-in-law, I recognize only Xiuniang. I will not accept an outsider. There can only be one daughter-in-law, so this...\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She furrowed her brow for a long while but could not think of any good solution.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, Xie Xiuniang suddenly rose, knelt before Lady Zhong, and said, \"Mother-in-law, why not divorce Xiuniang and marry that young lady from the Provincial Governor's residence into the family as Brother Dou's principal wife?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Zhong exclaimed, \"Aiya, what is this daughter-in-law of mine doing? Get up, quickly.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said gently, \"Xiuniang, get up.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Xiuniang simply knelt there without a word.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou furrowed his brow. His wife appeared frail on the outside, but deep in her bones there was a stubborn streak. He said, \"Xiuniang, get up. How could I possibly divorce you?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Xiuniang tilted her head and said, \"Xiuniang is useless and can offer Brother no great support. That Young Lady Ji is the Provincial Governor's daughter. If Brother marries her, his future prospects will surely be boundless — far better than having Xiuniang as his wife.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou flew into a rage. He shouted, \"Xiuniang! Do you think I let Ji Junjiao into this household because I covet her father's power?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He suddenly realized his voice had been too loud. He softened his tone and said gently, \"Xiuniang, why would you think such a thing?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He pulled Xie Xiuniang up in one motion, sat her down beside him, then reached out and held her soft hand. Calmly he said, \"Xiuniang, think about your husband's path to success. From an ordinary garrison soldier to Platoon Leader, then to Battalion Commander, then to Garrison Commander — every single step was earned by risking my life. If I, Wang Dou, had any intention of relying on women, I would probably still be just an ordinary garrison soldier.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He looked at Xie Xiuniang. \"Xiuniang, I do not need to rely on anyone, much less any woman, to pursue my future. It was so in the past, and it will remain so in the future!\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His tone carried a heroic spirit. \"I will rise even higher in the future, but I do not need to depend on Provincial Governor Ji's favor or protection.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said, \"The reason I am taking Ji Junjiao as a concubine is that she fled an arranged marriage to seek me out. I cannot bear to betray her, so I am simply giving her a proper status.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said quietly, \"Perhaps I will take a few concubines to bear more children, but as for the principal wife, in my heart there is only you. I can swear to you: if I, Wang Dou, ever harbor any thought of divorcing you and marrying another, may heaven strike me with thunder and leave me dead without a burial place.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Tears burst from Xie Xiuniang's eyes. She choked, \"Brother, say no more. I believe you, I believe you.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Though her eyes brimmed with tears, her heart was filled with boundless joy. Lady Zhong was also delighted. She said, \"Hearing my son speak thus gladdens me as a mother. Now that is right. The ancients said a wife who shared one's poverty must not be cast aside — could my son be any less than them?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou said, \"No more than three times. Xiuniang, if you say such foolish words again, your husband will truly have to punish you severely.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xie Xiuniang obediently nodded and murmured an assent.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Looking at Xie Xiuniang, Wang Dou sighed. In truth, whether in the later era or in the present Great Ming, Wang Dou had never been particularly concerned with women. Without them was fine; having them was merely an added grace. When he arrived in the Great Ming in the seventh year of Chongzhen, he could not really speak of any deep feelings for Xie Xiuniang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet after several years of marriage, having shared both sweet and bitter times, even a couple without feelings had developed them. And this kind of feeling, mixed with mutual support, daily necessities like oil, salt, soy sauce, vinegar, tea, and children's diapers, was even more solid than the love born of romantic moonlit trysts. With feelings came mutual care — and the duty to grow old together.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The old wife is the best wife. Wang Dou had no desire to court trouble by marrying one after another.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After this storm subsided, regarding how to handle Young Lady Ji, Mother Zhong began to have a headache again.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At that moment, a maidservant entered to report that Clerk Feng had arrived. Lady Zhong was overjoyed and said, \"Quickly, invite the gentleman in.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Zhong said to Wang Dou with a smile, \"Mr. Feng is a learned man of wide experience. As your mother, I wish to have him offer us some advice.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou smiled faintly. \"Mother's consideration is always thorough.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Dachang was meticulous about his appearance at all times. His beard, his attire — all were impeccably groomed. He always wore a warm, pleasant smile, presenting the image of a refined, cultured clerk that made people take to him at once. After he entered, he paid his respects to Wang Dou and the two ladies with scrupulous formality. With his mother present, Wang Dou naturally let her take charge.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Zhong bade Feng Dachang dispense with formalities and sit. Feng Dachang bowed deeply once more before seating himself with a composed smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lady Zhong recounted the matter of Young Lady Ji, then said expectantly, \"In the gentleman's opinion, how should this matter be handled?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Dachang was inwardly astonished. The young lady of the Provincial Governor's residence had fled an arranged marriage and come to Baoanzhou, willing to become Garrison Commander Wang's concubine — this was truly unheard of. At the same time, he secretly rejoiced. That the Garrison Commander would consult him on such an important matter showed the weight he carried in the Commander's estimation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After a moment's deliberation, he said, \"In this student's view, having Young Lady Ji become a concubine must absolutely not be done. If you were to do so, my lord, it would surely bring calamity, not blessing.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing that Wang Dou and the others seemed somewhat unclear about the Great Ming's ritual system, he offered a brief explanation. It turned out that in ancient times, the status of a concubine was extremely low. A wife could be said to be equal to her husband, protected by strict ritual laws and statutes. A wife could refuse to curry favor with her husband or even ignore him, and the husband was often powerless to do anything about it.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>A concubine, however, was different. The relationship between a concubine and a wife was that of master and servant. A concubine was the husband's property, and likewise the wife's property. If a concubine committed any transgression against the wife, the wife could have the concubine beaten to death on the spot, and the husband could not utter a single word of objection.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In terms of treatment, the two were worlds apart. A concubine had to pay her respects to the wife every day. When the wife sat, the concubine could only stand. When the wife ate, the concubine had to serve her food. Even the children born to a concubine could only address the wife as \"Mother\" and had to call their own birth mother \"Aunt.\" In the Great Rites Controversy of the Jiajing Emperor, when the Jiajing Emperor, who was born of a secondary consort, wished to recognize his birth mother, he faced fierce opposition from the entire court. Hundreds were beaten to death, yet the outcome could not be changed — showing how harsh the ancient rites and laws were.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Under China's millennia-old system of \"one husband, one wife,\" the powerful and wealthy could take hundreds or even thousands of concubines, but there could be only one principal wife. Precisely because the principal wife was honored and the concubine was lowly, given Provincial Governor Ji's eminence, if he heard that his daughter, after fleeing her marriage, had become a concubine in the Garrison Commander's residence in Baoanzhou, he would certainly fly into a towering rage and feel utterly humiliated.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although, given Young Lady Ji's status, everyone in the Garrison Commander's residence would certainly treat her with courtesy and not mistreat her, would outsiders think so? And what would Provincial Governor Ji think? He would surely believe that Wang Dou was showing him disrespect, deliberately humiliating and tormenting him.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In Feng Dachang's view, the fact that the Provincial Governor's young lady was enamored with his lord was a good thing — a golden opportunity to leverage the power behind Young Lady Ji. To offend Provincial Governor Ji over this would be terribly unwise and utterly not worth it. Therefore, having Ji Junjiao become a concubine must absolutely not be done!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hearing Feng Dachang's words, Lady Zhong broke out in a cold sweat. She said, \"Many thanks to the gentleman for the warning. Otherwise, this old woman and the others nearly made a grave mistake.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Wang Dou was also quite alarmed. He had little understanding of the ancient wife-and-concubine system. Ji Junjiao was in the height of passionate love; even if she knew something of these matters, she might have overlooked them, remembering only that Wang Dou treated her well. With negligence on all sides, they had nearly caused a great error.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Although Wang Dou had no desire to use Ji Junjiao to leverage Provincial Governor Ji's power and influence, offending Ji Shiwei over this was hardly a wise move either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He said, \"In Mr. Feng's opinion, what should be done?\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Feng Dachang pondered for a long while, then said, \"Given my lord's current rank and position, if Provincial Governor Ji permits it, my lord could propose marriage to Provincial Governor Ji and marry Young Lady Ji as a wife — as my lord's equal wife.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He explained to Wang Dou in detail. From the Ming dynasty onward, equal wives had become common practice everywhere. Except for slightly inferior treatment in matters of mourning attire and carriage protocol, an equal wife's status within the household was essentially the same as that of the principal wife. She did not have to perform concubine rites to the principal wife; her children were considered legitimate issue; she had the right to have her name listed on tombstones or ancestral tablets after death; and the marriage process followed the same formal matchmaking and wedding rites as a principal wife.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, under Great Ming ritual law, there were considerable restrictions on the number of equal wives. Even the several Grand Secretaries and cabinet ministers could have at most two equal wives. Fortunately, the Garrison Commander currently had not a single equal wife — this was an opportune moment.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>However, Feng Dachang privately thought that, given Provincial Governor Ji's eminence, even if the Garrison Commander had no wife at all, it would still be impossible for him to marry his daughter to Wang Dou as a wife, let alone as an equal wife, which was a rank lower. That civil officials were esteemed and military officers despised in the Great Ming was no empty saying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Of course, the Garrison Commander did have one advantage: Young Lady Ji was already residing in the Garrison Commander's residence — the rice was already cooked. Although proposing marriage would be extremely difficult, the likelihood of Provincial Governor Ji agreeing was also quite high.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The matter was thus decided. How to propose marriage to Provincial Governor Ji — this was a question Wang Dou needed to carefully plan out.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Considering that Ji Junjiao had just fled the Provincial Governor's residence, this was far from the right time to propose marriage — better to wait a while and first see how the winds blow.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>What Wang Dou did not expect was that although the Provincial Governor's office tried its utmost to cover up Ji Junjiao's flight from marriage, the matter still spread and became a boiling scandal. Governor Ji was beside himself with rage. His daughter could not be married off again, and this being the second broken engagement, Governor Ji became the laughingstock of officialdom, feeling he had utterly lost face.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Somehow Governor Ji learned that his daughter was hiding in the Garrison Commander's residence in Baoanzhou, which enraged him even further. A few days later, several fast horses arrived at Wang Dou's residence, bearing word that Governor Ji summoned Wang Dou, Garrison Commander of Baoanzhou.\u003C\u002Fp>",2451,"2026-06-03T14:05:19.908Z",1,"Novelzhen Translator","b57e2a91ef655c1c14daab5b552f6e9d5255499a072496c9c05d2fc7053d9a2a","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-200","a-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-chapter-198",896,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Fa-little-soldier-of-the-late-ming-border-army-cover.jpg"]