Momo Kong Teaches the Sheng Family Some Lessons

Spoilers Ahead

1)Our episode begins with Momo Kong providing the Sheng sisters lessons in flower arrangement. As viewers, we see Mo'er really is elegant and graceful as she arranges her flowers. However she monopolizes the teacher's attention, making it impossible for Rulan to ask questions . Rulan also, in contrast, appears to be confused with the entire process while Ming Lan quietly listens to Momo's answers. Momo Kong leaves the room for water

2)Alone, Rulan accuses of Mo'er of monopolizing Momo's attention. She also accuses her of being an upstart, and that these lessons are essentially useless to her, for she will never have cause to use them (i.e. she will not marry into a noble house). Mo'er becomes defensive, but Rulan continues to push back, until finally Mo'er breaks down into her characteristic crying act, a reaction that leaves Rulan momentarily stunned, then she accuses her of faking and acting as if the world is over for no reason. Ming Lan tries to encourage Mo'er to stop with a few words, but Rulan antagonizes her more, leading to the girls brawling

3)The girls are all punished to copy a book 50x. The Big Madame, Master, and Concubine Lin are invited to learn what happened by Momo (Concubine Lin was invited because she raised Mo'er personally). She wants them to understand that the girls need to learn that a weak link can cause a collapse of the family. Momo has planned this well, she prepared kneeling mats for the girls in advance (so no one can accuse her of being thoughtless) and explains that the sisters need to understand what they did wrong and she asks them each if they understand, and when they nod their heads, she tells them she does not believe them. but will let them explain

4) She begins with Mo'er: your Fifth sister accused you of stealing the thunder of the younger sisters and hogging my lesson time, do you acknowledge this? Mo'er says all is her fault, and that she only wanted to learn more to honor the family (tearfully she delivers this) and says she never thought it would incur the displeasure of her sisters (i.e. I am the victim). Momo Kong acknowledges that she is smart, sharp, and tries the hardest but warns her not to suppose everyone else is a fool because of those msarts--she tells her that she should not have bemoaned her existence as a concubine born when her father clearly favors her--she points out that she has bad intention because she wanted to learn and honor the family, but assumes that only she can gain honor for the family instead of her sisters.; it appears like fifht sister started this but this is really linked to and escalated by you

5)Next is Rulan (Fifth Miss) Momo points out how mighty she is for not only angering Mo'er but refusing to filter her words and deliberately trying to provoke and hurt her. She implores her to change her temper or else disaster will follow. She ays she should be punished more severely. Rulan takes ownership for her mistake and apologizes

.6)Next is Ming Lan: Momo tells her that she must think she did nothing wrong. She teaches her that a family is fated to share the same fate based on the actions of the individuals: glory and shame effects everyone. She erred simply by association (also, I think the implicit message is that she could have tried more to stop them from bickering).

7)Although Master Sheng believes Ming Lan should not be punished, Momo reminds him that favoritism will do greater harm to sister hood and breed resentment. The girls will be hit equally. Concubine Lin intervenes and says that although she should not speak, Mo'er should take Ming Lan's punishment as well because she is weak

..8)Concubine Lin is lectured: you miss the point, Momo says, that I am promoting harmony. Momo gives her a chance to back out, but Concubine Lin persists and begs for punishment for not treating Mo'er well. Momo tells her she needs to study the rules: she says she did not teach Mo'er well so she should be punished, but if she punishes her, it means the Master and Old Madame and Big Madame should be punished. Second, she knowingly broke rules by speaking out of turn but still did it. In doing so it humiliates the Sheng family. She continues to claim she is ignorant but by acting this way she shows she believes she is above the rules and can do what she wants. This is what triggers Master Sheng to yell at Concubine Lin (recall, he values reputation most). The girls are then hit ten times each (not lightly)

9)On her way back, Ming Lan is stopped by her father who inquires about the wound. Then he is called off to attend to Big Madame. Ming Lan tells her servant she is not upset because she does not rely on him--that time has passed. Big Madame wants to cane Concubine Lin. Master Sheng yells at Big Madame in front of Concubine Lin and accuses her of not caring about reputation she is venting a grudge (I bet Momo would lecture him here, because he is right, but by doing this it causes the authority of Big Madame to lessen, and contributes to the problem of disharmony in the house because of his favoritism of Consort Lin. Also, Big Madame is wrong to do this knowing that the master favors her, and she does something that will obviously provoke him to defend Concubine Lin i.e. she is short sighted

10)Ming Lan tells her grandmother that she learned so much from Momo Kong this night alone and is grateful. Mo'er is angry and believes her father hates her while Concubine Lin reassures her this is not so. Furthermore, she is angry at herself for forgetting that she must not 'show of her talents' (I think she is missing the point here). Master Sheng smothers the two with attention

11)Big Madame is angry at Concubine Lin, in her rooms she blames Concubine Lin for her problems because of the games she plays (viewers, you might think that Big Madame is wrong because she allows herself to be manipulated again and again because she cannot control her anger). Big Madame also expresses frustration that her husband immediately went to Concubine Lin

12)While meeting with her Aunt, we learn Ming Lan's plan: they must be carefully and lure the snake out before striking i.e. set something up

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