Prostitutes are all despicable in this show

Early in this episode, Ming Lan's cousin Shulan gets an "amicable separation" from her brutish xiucai husband who has immpregnated a prostitute and wants to take her in as a concubine. Everyone agrees that that would be an unforgivable insult to main wife Shulan, as she is from a "good family" 良家. At this point, it's the third or fourth time that prostitutes have been universally denigrated in this show (previous times include families looking down on Manniang's status). While this is probably consistent with prevailing beliefs at the time (like Anna Karenina's status as a "fallen woman" leading to her ostracism from gentle society), I can totally see how the theme of 《A Dream of Splendour》 (that the distinction between 良贱 virtuous / debased is false, and members of the courtesan / entertainer / slave class in the Northern Song should be treated as human beings as well) might have been inspired as a 21st-century reaction to this show.

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GTY, Always Protecting Ming Lan From the Shadows

Spoilers Ahead

1)The meeting has broken down to the evil husband and his wife brawling with the family (they are almost like a caricature). It seems they are at an impasse but Ming Lan returns and gives the registration deed to the elders. The registration deed is proof that he wanted to bring in a prostitute as a concubine (they now view him with disdain--apparently they were impressed with him because he passed the civil exam at age 12)

2)They elders decide to give them half of her dowry and then amicably separate, and if they refuse, Shu'er's mother will sue him at the academy (i think having a prostitute for a concubine violates some sort of ethics code). He agrees. But before leaving he still insults her, and she spits on him and calls him immoral scum.

3)Ming Lan reflects in what happened with her grandmother later. She learns here that it is okay to lose a little to avoid an even bigger disaster (in this case, returning half the dowry). Her grandmother points out how submissive Brother He is to her and says marriage with him will be relaxing. Ming Lan points out how Shu'er married into a lower status family but had difficult days (normally the lower status family is respectful) but they were pretentious and put on false airs. Grandmother wants Ming Lan to have a sincere husband and kind in laws (I don't know if kind in laws exist in reality--if they do I hope to meet them someday).

4)The matriarch of the Sheng clan in the countryside--eldest madame--her health suddenly declines and is surrounded by her family. She is calling for Shu-er (not the cousin, but a daughter of hers who died young). Her last words are for the husband of that daughter who favored his concubines and neglected her--she vows to go to the gods and have her revenge for this daughter, then dies (maybe that is why she was so ready to defend this living shu'er).

5)Eldest madame, she dies and after writing a letter to her Aunt Wei (I presume they do this to show that Ming Lan maintains a constant contact with the Wei family) we observe a funeral ritual, with mourning clothes. This is different from when Marqui Gu died because GTY could not be part of it. It's a beautiful procession. Unfortunately the funeral procession is attacked by bandits. Ming Lan is being chased down, luckily soldiers stop by, but she is pulled onto a horse by GTY (LOL

)6)Unfortunately by late evening Ming Lan is not found causing Old Madame to panic. The family sends out people to search. GTY gives her his robe and they sit at a road side....cafe(?) and catch up. Ming lan tells him that if he is on the front line fighting won't he have a good chance of getting a promoted? She think she has this job because he offended his superior. he tells her that if he relies on people or his family then it can be taken away, but if he rises through his own hard work then no one can take that. Ming Lan toasts him and basically says she hopes that one day she can live for herself--he tries to tell her otherwise but she rejects that. The bandits are cleared, and he has her go home. he doesn't escort her home himself because it might be misinterpreted. he gives her a little weapon so she can defend herself (shoot arrows via blowdart). Ming Lan makes it back unescorted and encounters a guy with a sword who wants her valuables. She tries to defend herself and shoots out arrows at random, which sends the old guy away (it seems that GTY followed in secret, and she takes the sword this guy dropped and runs away though she can't lift it (actually it was GTY who hit him)

7)Shitou says that if he is this worried he should have followed her, but GTY says he cant because it would be a crime in her family for her travel with a male alone. (this is great, because he too knows what it is like for women, like brother he....)

.8)Ming lan runs inside and everyone is so happy to see her. her grandmother is in tears she was so worried. because of the situation with the bandits (they were planning to stay through the new year). So back to the city they go. Meanwhile, GTY chooses to bring his daughter back to the capital because he is worried about the bandits. He follows behind Ming Lan's caravan (awwww!!!)(Rong'er wants to go the stand and eat but he lies to her and says he is too poor to buy her food and keeps making up lies he is trying to avoid having Ming Lan see him)

.9)The caravan is attacked by bandits and in a very memorable scene he casually hands Rong' er over and tells her 'father is going to fight' and she tells him to be careful. He takes care of all the bandits before they even attack!! He is such a badass!!

10)So after secretly protecting her from bandits the entire way back and watching her safely get home, he goes to visit Momo Nanny so that she will take care of Rong'er while he goes off to war. End of episode.

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