This content depicts the tragic and cyclical nature of life within a polygamous household, where tradition, power struggles, and emotional manipulation lead to the downfall of its women, particularly the new Fourth Mistress, Songlian.
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Mother, stop!
You've been talking for three days.
I've thought it over.
Alright, I'll get married.
Good! To what sort of man?
What sort of man? Is it up to me?
You always speak of money. Why not marry a rich man?
Marry a rich man and you'll only be his concubine.
Let me be a concubine.
Isn't that a woman's fate?
Miss, looking for someone?
I'm Songlian.
We met once, remember?
It's our Fourth Mistress! Please wait...
We sent the bridal sedan for you. Didn't it arrive?
I walked here myself.
- Let me carry it. - I can manage.
Wait here. I'll go take a look.
Who are you?
Fourth Mistress, please come in.
So the Fourth Mistress is you!
Yes, I'm the Fourth Mistress!
Bring my suitcase inside.
This is where you will live.
My name is Chen Baishun, the housekeeper. I am at your service.
Why are there so many red lanterns?
Because you're coming!
Fourth Mistress, this is part of our family custom.
I'm here to serve you.
You'll get used to it.
Fourth Mistress. we're here to do your hair and help you change.
Master, congratulations on your wedding.
How was the foot massage?
A woman's feet are very important.
When they're comfortable, she is healthier...
...and better able to serve her man.
Pick up that lantern.
Yes, that one.
Higher...
Look up.
Educated girls are different.
Now, undress and get in bed.
Put out the lights.
What? I have all these lanterns so I can see.
I like it bright and formal.
Who's there?
Third Mistress is sick. She wants you to come.
I'm in bed.
It's an emergency.
She said you must come.
It can wait till tomorrow.
If something serious happens to her,
we'll be blamed.
Damn it! What is she up to?
I'll have to go see. Or she won't let me sleep tonight.
The Master is leaving? Going to the third house?
Yes!
Light the lanterns at the third house!
Fourth Mistress...
Fourth Mistress. According to our custom,
you should visit the other three mistress.
Take your breakfast later.
It's our custom to have all meetings and meals here.
The Chen family's customs go back many generations.
It is important that you obey them.
Kowtow to our ancestors.
First, go to greet the master at the Third Mistress' house.
It seems they're still asleep.
We'll come back.
First Mistress, the Fourth Mistress is here to visit.
Big sister.
How old are you?
Nineteen.
I heard you went to university.
For six months.
It's good you're educated.
You'll get used to living here.
Get on well with your sisters.
Serve the Master well.
You can go now.
Such sins, such sins...
What is she, about 100 years old? Ancient!
Second Mistress, the Fourth Mistress has come to visit.
Fourth sister is here. Come in!
Second sister.
Do come in.
What a pretty face! What is your name?
Songlian.
A pretty name, too.
I'm Zhouyun. Just call me by my name.
You look like a student.
I was at university for six months.
Why did you leave?
My father died. The family couldn't afford it.
How old was your father?
Fifty-three.
So young!
Life is so unpredictable.
Tea, Fourth Mistress.
Fourth sister, please have some tea.
Where are you from?
Fengcheng.
They grow tea there.
My father was in the tea business.
His shop closed down.
Your mother let you marry someone from so far away?
She's my stepmother.
I see.
So, how was the foot massage last night?
Is it like that every night?
Silly.
You can't have it whenever you wish.
Where the master spends the night...
...that mistress gets a foot massage and lighted lanterns.
With a new wife as young and pretty as you...
...I'm afraid I won't be enjoying these privileges for some time.
But don't underestimate the importance of this custom.
If you can manage to have a foot massage everyday...
...you'll soon be running this household.
Yizhen, come meet your Fourth Aunt.
Fourth Aunt!
How useless! I only have a daughter.
It's getting late.
We must visit the Third Mistress.
Sorry, I just keep talking.
Of course you must meet the Third Mistress.
She was a famous opera singer.
She sings well and is pretty too.
But she can be so difficult.
Asking for the Master on...
...your wedding night!
So impolite to you!
Wasn't she sick?
Sick? She's just spoiled!
Has the Master left?
Just now. They're putting out the lanterns.
Let's meet the Third Mistress.
Third Mistress says she isn't feeling well...
...and says she'll meet you another day.
Third Mistress' son, Feilan.
Same age as Miss Yizhen.
Come meet your Fourth Aunt.
Fourth Aunt!
Fourth Mistress...
...this is Yan'er.
Master says she'll be your maid.
Yan'er, come greet the Fourth Mistress.
I've seen her before. Bad tempered, isn't she?
No, she's a good girl. Quick and hardworking too.
Been here for several years.
No lice in her hair, are there? I hate lice.
Let the Fourth mistress take a look.
Kneel down. Let's look at your hair.
What is that smell? Go wash your hair!
Didn't you hear?
I only washed it yesterday.
And wash the clothes I just took off while you're at it.
Go, quickly!
Or the Fourth Mistress will be angry. Go!
Yan'er!
Why haven't you washed your hair?
The Master favours you and you thought he'd choose you as a wife.
You as our Fourth Mistress?
You were born to be a servant.
Serve the Fourth Mistress well!
Don't waste your time dreaming!
And don't forget to wash your hair!
Where is Meishan?
The Third Mistress is coming.
Doctor Gao is writing her a prescription.
Here comes third sister.
Third sister, this is our fourth sister.
You haven't met, have you?
Third sister!
Songlian is new here. Take good care of her.
From now on, you sisters must get on well with each other.
"Ringing bells reach my boat, breaking the midnight still."
Well done!
Master, the Second Mistress wishes to see you.
Master.
Fourth sister seems very tired lately.
When I was pregnant...
...I nearly had a miscarriage and didn't even know it.
You should ask Doctor Gao to come.
Thank you for reminding me.
Tomorrow, ask Doctor Gao to visit the Fourth Mistress.
Yes, Master.
Doctor Gao has finished?
Finished.
Thank you, doctor.
Where is the Master? I must speak to him.
Please follow me.
Doctor Gao...
...you're here.
Third Mistress,
are you better after taking my medicine?
Much better. Only I can't sleep at night.
When I've time, I'll change the prescription.
Fine.
How is fourth sister?
I can't explain now. I'll tell you later.
Doctor Gao!
Second Mistress!
How is fourth sister? Not serious, is it?
I've got to see the master first.
Sorry for troubling you, doctor.
Not at all.
Please have some tea.
How is fourth sister?
I don't know if I should be frank.
Go, leave us alone.
Is anything wrong with Songlian?
Master, the Fourth Mistress isn't pregnant.
What? Is it true?
I checked carefully.
She isn't pregnant.
You're trying to cheat me?
Tell me, why did you lie?
Don't you know we've rules in this family?
Rules we've been following...
...for many generations!
How dare you!
- Cover the lanterns! - What did you say, Master?
Cover the lanterns!
Yan'er...
Why did Doctor Gao come all of a sudden?
Where are my white pants?
I'll fetch them.
A servant secretly lighting lanterns in her room!
Who let you put lanterns here?
Who do you think you are?
Have you no respect for the mistresses?
Does this family have rules or not?
Stop making a scene!
Don't act like one of the servants.
No, this is one of your rules.
Rules are rules,
but everyone can make mistakes.
Let me remind you that they've just covered your lanterns.
But I am still a mistress.
Mistresses are mistresses! Maids are maids!
Big sister, the Master is away...
...In front of everyone here...
...you be the judge.
I broke a rule and they covered my lanterns.
What happens if a servant breaks the rule?
Follow the old custom!
The First Mistress said...
...you could get up if you apologized.
Why do this?
Have her drink this hot ginger tea.
It'll make her sweat.
Has the doctor come?
He came several times but she isn't improving.
The Master's back.
Said to send her to the hospital.
Who could tell the Fourth Mistress would be so vicious?
Yan'er shouldn't have made her angry.
- Housekeeper. - Yes, Master.
Get her good medicine. Never mind the money.
Or people will say we let our servant die.
Yes, Master.
Light the lanterns at the second house!
Fourth sister, what are you doing here so early?
I've come to listen to third sister sing.
You sing so well.
Good or bad, it's all playacting.
If you play well, you fool the others.
If you play badly, you can only fool yourself.
If you can't even fool yourself,
you can fool the ghosts.
People breathe, ghosts cannot. That's the only difference.
People are ghosts, and ghosts are people.
Don't mind me for saying this...
...but you shouldn't have made such a fuss about Yan'er.
She's only dreaming of becoming a mistress.
She's only scapegoat. I was after someone else.
Yes, she's only a maid.
Someone is behind her.
Look how pleased Zhuoyun was last night.
She thinks she's so smart. I'll take care of her soon!
Light the lanterns, blow out the lanterns, cover the lanterns.
What do I care?
What do people amount to in this house?
They're like dogs, cats or rats.
But certainly not people.
Isn't it better to hang yourself in that room?
Don't talk about dying.
Why think about what people are like? Just go on living.
Don't be so unhappy.
Look at me. I always keep myself amused.
Of course you're happy.
You've got Doctor Gao.
What do you mean by that?
Nothing.
I should thank him for coming to see me.
Don't joke about this.
If you tell anyone,
you'll have me to deal with.
To be honest, I'm meeting him soon.
What can they do to me?
Fourth Mistress...
You frightened me.
I thought nobody was here.
Master said I'd be your maid from now on.
I may be old, but I'm experienced.
Not like those young girls.
Get me some wine.
What? I didn't hear you.
Bring me some wine. Today's my birthday.
Your birthday?
How old are you?
Twenty.
Why didn't you say so earlier?
I'll get the wine.
The wine is here.
Why are you looking at me that way?
Yan'er is dead.
She died in the hospital.
When?
I don't know.
They said she died calling your name.
Why? Did she think I killed her?
I'm only repeating what they said.
She can't blame you. It's her destiny.
Where is she now?
Her family took the body back to the village.
They were all crying. It was very sad.
Why cry?
It's better dead than alive and suffering.
She's lucky to have died.
Fourth Mistress, stop drinking! You're drunk!
I'm happy today. It's my birthday.
My twentieth birthday.
Young master, you're back?
Please talk to the Fourth Mistress.
She's drunk!
You're back, young master.
Why are you drinking?
Sit down.
I'm celebrating my birthday.
Have a drink. Congratulate me.
Alright, I'll have some.
May you live to be 99.
Nonsense! I don't want to live that long.
Save such wishes for your father.
I heard what happened.
You're so foolish.
How long could you lie about being pregnant?
Foolish? I'm not foolish.
I had it planned. At first it was a lie.
But if the Master stayed with me,
soon it would be true.
I was planning this, but they were plotting against me.
Everyone is plotting against each other.
What is the meaning of all this?
This is from Yunnan.
Take it as your birthday gift.
Only women give this to men.
Not the other way around.
Don't want it? Never mind. Someone gave it to me.
Hypocrite! Which woman gave it to you?
If I take it, won't my hands be soiled?
I was just fooling. Wasn't really going to let you have it.
Fooling? I'm used to being fooled.
Everyone is fooling me.
And now you?
Get out! Get out of here!
Feipu!
I'm going.
Master! Master!
Fourth Mistress, please stop!
Why is she drinking?
She wants to drink.
Ask the first Mistress for medicine to sober her up!
Don't go to that old witch!
See how crazy you look!
People will laugh!
What is there to laugh at?
The Master likes you.
Meishan has gone to meet her good-looking doctor.
What do I have? I've nothing! Nothing!
Where is Meishan?
She's meeting the good-looking doctor.
What do I have? Nothing!
When did the Third Mistress go out?
I don't know.
What am I afraid of? Nothing!
Big sister!
The medicine is here. Make her drink it.
I won't! I'm not drunk!
Don't just stand there!
Hold that crazy woman!
Hold her down! Quick!
Get out!
Let her scream! Let her make a fool of herself!
The Master's away and she's turned the house upside down!
Fourth sister, are you sober now?
I'm glad you told me yesterday.
Or there would be such a scandal!
It's cold here. Go back to your room.
What happened?
The Third Mistress and Doctor Gao were in a hotel in town.
When the Second Mistress had the door opened...
...they were still in bed.
Such sin!
Did the Second Mistress say I told her?
You told her when you were drunk yesterday.
I was so shocked.
I said it?
You did.
I wondered why you told her.
Is it that you hate the doctor?
You drank a lot yesterday. You can't remember.
What will happen to the Third sister?
They've gone to fetch the Master.
What must happen...will happen.
Go and rest. Or you'll catch cold.
Such heavy snow! Must be a bad year!
Murderers!
Murderers!
The Master is here.
- Master - Master
The Master is back.
What did you see?
Meishan is dead. You murderers!
Nonsense! What did you see?
You didn't see a thing!
Murderers! You murderers!
You're mad! You're gone mad!
Murderers...You murderers!
Housekeeper!
Housekeeper! The lanterns are lit!
What happened?
The lanterns in the third house are lit!
What...What?
Where?
It's haunted!
It's the Third Mistress' ghost!
The Third Mistress is singing!
It's haunted!
The housekeeper congratulates the Fifth Mistress on her wedding.
Who is that?
She was our Fourth Mistress. She has gone mad.
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