The so-called three wives and four concubines, to put it bluntly, is the self-hypnosis of our descendants. In fact, if we open the twenty-four histories, we can find that except for some royal families and noble families, ordinary people are really reluctant to take concubines. Why? Because concubines are subject to all kinds of discrimination, even if they are pregnant. Here's an example. It is said that during the Guangxu period, there was a man named Tan Zhonglin in the Chaling area of Hunan, who served as the governor of Liangguang.
Since it is a family of official eunuchs, it is natural to have three wives and four concubines. This Tan Zhonglin took a fancy to a Yahuan, surnamed Li. A yahuan, which can be favored by the master, means that it is possible to get rid of the identity of a slave and become a half master. In that turbulent era, this was the relatively happy ending of countless rings! Therefore, this Li surname Yahuan thus ascended to the throne and became Tan Zhonglin's concubine.
But what surprised people was that after becoming a concubine, the woman's life was not much better. According to historical records, Tan Zhonglin was a typical feudal scholar, so there were many rules in Tan Province. First of all, every morning, at about five or six o'clock, this aunt surnamed Li (hereinafter referred to as Li) has to run to the main room to ask for peace. If people don't get up, Li Shi will have to wait outside the house. In this process, as long as Li Shi has a little negligence, even if the voice of please Ann is louder, or the makeup is not proper enough, he will be severely reprimanded by the main room.
So guys, what we see on TV, what aunt and wife are pampered and proud, fighting with the main room and jealousy, etc., that is all fake! Also, no matter where it is, as long as the concubine encounters the main room, she must bow her head and avoid it, and let the main room go first. Also, when it came time to eat, Lee couldn't sit down and eat together. She had to stand aside and serve dishes and tea to the main room and her husband. When everyone has finished eating, she can hold the rice bowl, stand on the edge, and eat quietly!
According to historical records, this Li Shi was pregnant that year, and Tan Zhonglin still let her stand and eat. Even if Li Shi later gave birth to a son, Tan Zhonglin only gave her a little more reward. As for eating, she was still standing! Oh yes, her son is called Tan Yanmin, who grew up to be very prominent, and was called "the three princes of Huxiang" with Chen Sanli and Tan Sitong. At the age of 24, he became a jinshi.
According to historical records, after his son became a jinshi, Li Shi was entitled to sit and eat! It is said that when her husband announced this decision, Lee wept with joy and prostrated his husband several times! However, even if the son was so prominent, after Li's death, the Tan family still did not allow his coffin to be carried out of the main gate of the ancestral hall, but to go through the side door. It can be seen how discriminated against the ancient concubines were! It is precisely because of seeing the tragic fate of the concubines that many literati with conscience have declared that they will not take concubines for life. Tan Yanmin is one of them!