As we all know, ancient Chinese marriage focused on family matching, especially officialdom marriage. For example, Yuan Shikai, a rising star in the last years of the Qing Dynasty, was favored by the imperial court many times. It just so happened that Cixi chose Yuan Shikai's second son Yuan Kewen to marry, however, in the end, Yuan Kewen married Liu Meizhen, the daughter of a merchant, and how Yuan Shikai skillfully resolved it.
As a wife and 9 concubines, Yuan Shikai has 17 sons and 15 daughters. Among them, the second son, Yuan Kewen, was born to the third aunt of North Korea, Taijin, and his status was slightly lower, so he was raised by the Shen family after birth. The Shen family regarded Yuan Kewen as their own flesh and blood, while Yuan Shikai and the Jin family looked forward to the fact that they were born as a giant leopard.
Yuan Kewen is gifted and intelligent, and is deeply cultivated. He has high attainments in science and culture, especially in the fields of poetry and painting. Yuan Shikai was very proud of this and specially hired famous teachers to educate him. Yuan Kewen lives up to expectations and constantly strives for excellence.
The son-in-law of the Yuan family is famous and has won the hearts of the people. For example, the Empress Dowager Cixi summoned Yuan Shikai to the palace in 1907 and wanted to marry her niece to Yuan Kewen. But Yuan Shikai politely declined with "the child has a marriage contract". On the one hand, he did not want Cixi to be too restrictive, and on the other hand, he was worried about the uncontrollable situation at home.
Therefore, Yuan Shikai decisively refused Cixi's marriage and successfully diverted Cixi's attention. Then he looked for a suitable wife, Liu Meizhen, the daughter of Liu Shangwen, a wealthy businessman in Tianjin. In addition to the wealth of the Liu family, Liu's father, Liu Ruifen, served as an envoy of the Qing Dynasty abroad, which was very helpful for Yuan Shikai to expand his network and obtain foreign aid.
However, Yuan Kewen still lingered in Fireworks Willow Lane after marriage, which caused his father's dissatisfaction. For example, once, he went to Nanjing without authorization and met Ye Liyu, a famous prostitute in Qinhuaihe. In order to cover up the truth, Yuan Kewen actually claimed that this woman was arranged for him by Yuan Shikai. Yuan Shikai believed it and ordered someone to take her home.
Overnight, Ye Liyu changed from marrying the hero Yuan Kewen in her heart to Yuan Shikai's sixth wife, and she was helpless and powerless. Similarly, due to various changes, Yuan Keding, who was supposed to become the crown prince, was defeated, and Yuan Kewen won attention for his outstanding performance. Yuan Keding regarded it as hostile and intended to get rid of it as soon as possible. The ambiguous relationship between Ye Liyu and Yuan Kewen became an excuse for the latter to attack Yuan Keding.
Knowing the extraordinary relationship between Yuan Kewen and his concubine, Yuan Shikai was so angry that he almost beat and scolded Yuan Kewen. So, in desperation, Yuan Kewen went to Shanghai and had less contact with his father. Yuan Kewen swore to oppose his father's and brother's restoration plan and was repeatedly reprimanded. After Yuan Shikai passed away, the family property was divided by his children, and Yuan Kewen lived easily and freely with the property he obtained. Frequent visitors to Qinglou, cultural creation, drama and entertainment, all dabbled.
In order to maintain his power, Yuan Kewen did not hesitate to join the Green Gang, became a veteran elder, and opened an incense hall to inherit morality. However, as his living situation became increasingly embarrassing, Yuan Kewen had to try his best to make a living and sell calligraphy and paintings, which gradually became difficult to maintain. It is rumored that Yuan Kewen died of illness on March 22, 1931 at the age of 42 in his apartment in Liangyili, the British Concession in Tianjin.