Leaving One's Husband

Spoilers Ahead

1)Ming Lan has a heart to heart with her grandmother. She tells her grandmother that she believes one of Brother He's best qualities is the fact that he is sympathetic/empathetic of how difficult it is to be a woman. She seems to genuinely respect him. Grandmother explains that his father died when he was young, and his mother has always been sickly, and he has seen his grandmother suffer--so he learned a lot about the difficulties of others.

2)Back to GTY: men in the woods appear to be sneaking up to the encampment to attack--they quietly surround the place, take out the look outs, and enter the camp. But they are in for a big surprise: once they enter, GTY and company light a fire to oil that was designed to entrap/kill those who enter. The remaining soldiers rush in to attack, and it is this battle cry which has the general screaming for guards--but this is a well planned attack by GTY as they use nets, and giant burning balls of fire to ruthlessly take the enemies out, after surrounding them completely.

3)By the time the general leaves his tent, he watches an extremely well planned and organized attack unfold as the soldiers attack the people part of the ambush. It is a huge success, this reverse ambush. GTY then has them congratulate the general and compliment him for his brilliance of stopping the attack (GTY can't really take credit). The general appears to have completely decided to take full credit, and appears to want to give no mention of GTYs involvement when writing to the emperor.

4) Next we witness a marriage ceremony in the country. The clothes are the same, but it is a much more unrestrained celebration, with everyone drinking and eating. There is still someone who creates a scene, but it is more of a brawl, with people rudely insulting while drunk. Big Madame diffuses the situation by insisting they all drink with him and kowtow to him--but in doing so she is mocking him and humiliating him more

5)Old Madame drags Ming Lan out of bed to witness an important life changing event: the matriarch of the provincial Sheng clan is telling her grandaughter Shu'er to essentially leave this disreputable son in law (he was the drunk one who caused a scene/also the son of the 'drunk' madame wanted Ming to marry). Her problems are big: her mother in law runs her life, she is berated for not having children, gets him concubines he then finds a prostitute, and apparently, the biggest crime of all, he beats her. It isn't that she can't have a children, it's just he barely sleeps with her. This is an instant where no positive choices are really available; but if she leaves, then it might leave a scandal with the unmarried women.

6)Ming Lan chooses to speak up (presumably she empathizes with her). Ming Lan says that Shu'er's husband is not going to change unless some big calamity befalls him. She explains that Shu'er should not live a life full of regret, and she believes that Pinglan (the unmarried girl) would not one to use her bones as a stepping stone. Ming Lan says that clans exist to help protect their own when they need it, otherwise everything is an illusion. Ping Lan then bursts in and says she doesn't care if her sister's divorce impacts her marriage prospects. The conversations ends with an 'amicable separation' .

7)When the master sheng of the country goes to visit, they shove him out (I think he came to discuss a separation). They not only refuse but make an embarrassing scene (they embarrass themselves but have no insight). Now that they have tried this card, I presume a divorce is next. Provincial grandma asks ming Lan for advice again, and she says they will take away Shu'er's dowry if they refuse to agree to the amicable separation. First the servants all resign because they came as part as the wife's dowry. The servants leave with all the deeds that were given as part of the dowry (Lol). Then they take all the account books and lock up the shops!

8)Back at the evil husband's house, laundry is piled up, there is dirty things everywhere as they have no servants to do anything. Now they have no servants, no money, and a pregnant woman to take care off. His mother wants to bring her back, but he does not want to. He believes that the Sheng family will return the wife to protect her reputation. His mother tries to discourage him from spending, but he refuses. In a humiliating scene, he learns after inviting his friends out that the Sheng family has stopped paying on all of his accounts. Instead of helping him, his friends just leave him there in this situation.

9)Finally there is a meeting with the clan elders. The evil husband paints a picture of a wife leaving out of jealousy. They suggest he keep the child and get rid of the woman. He refuses, and the elders say they cannot accept a common prostitute as a clan member.

10)Ming Lan has an idea, and it involves going to a brothel: the evil man's prostitute is a slave, and they can get her original contract. the contract of sale is not enough to assert ownership. Ming Lan recently learned this because she was a steward. They enlist Brother He to go inside.

11)The elders continue to debate, and they will only agree to a divorce if they return her dowry items. The clan counters: the dowry is hers, that's the law. The evil husband then plans to marry the prostitute to humiliate the family.

12)Ming Lan enters the brothel, veiled, and the brothel owner is happy that they treat her with respect but is restrained in the conversation. Ming Lan asks a high price for the deed, and even better, Brother offers to give her medication for the migraine attacks he sees she suffers from....

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