Wang Chunshen’s wife was named Wu Fen, his mistress Jin Lan. Judging by his financial and social position, he should not have had two women by his side. A houseful of wives and concubines was an extravagance belonging to the rich and powerful. Yet from the time she entered his door, Wu Fen clearly demonstrated she wasn’t fated to be a mother, her two miscarriages followed by barrenness. Wang Chunshen’s bedridden mother demanded she hold a grandson before she died, so to be filial, Wang had no choice but to take an official mistress.