The Twelve Beauties of Jinling – Wang Xifeng

　　 "A common bird comes from a decadent age, all know and admire its talent.
　　 One command, two orders, three lives, and it's all wood; weeping towards Jinling, the tragedy deepens. "
　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　 — Prophecy.
　　The phrase "a common bird comes from a decadent age" refers to the misfortune of a capable and strong woman like Feng Jie, born in a decadent era. "Common bird" is the traditional Chinese character for "phoenix," implicitly referring to Wang Xifeng. The phrase "common bird" is derived from the character for "phoenix," a metaphor for mediocrity. Using the allusion of Lü An's relationship with Xi, the mention of "phoenix" is naturally a form of satire. The iceberg upon which the female phoenix in the painting leans symbolizes the melting Jia family's support. "One command, two orders, three lives, and it's all wood" refers to the changing attitude of her husband, Jia Lian, towards Feng Jie. Initially, he "followed" her, obeying her every whim; "two orders" signifies his gradual indifference and his increasing control over her; "three lives, and it's all wood" uses the character splitting method to indicate her eventual abandonment. "Crying towards Jinling, her sorrow only deepens" perfectly captures her grief as she weeps as she returns to her parents' home after being divorced. In the feudal society of that time, being divorced was an extremely tragic fate.
Many women in *Dream of the Red Chamber* suffer tragic ends. Even a woman like Wang Xifeng, with her exceptional cunning, skill, political acumen, and beauty, could have lived a life of wealth and comfort. However, born in a "dying age," she could not escape her tragic destiny. The feudal landlord class she relied on had by then vanished, leaving her, this "female phoenix," with no place to stand. Her downfall symbolizes the decline of the Jia family; her fate and end are the inevitable result of the decline of the landlord class in the late feudal period.
　　Wang Xifeng is one of the most successfully portrayed characters by the author. She is shrewd, adept at using power, the "housekeeper" of the feudal family, and also the "watchdog" of the feudal system. She gained the favor of her feudal masters, but also incurred the jealousy of her peers and the rebukes of the lower-ranking servants. She was incredibly cunning and calculating, but ultimately, she met her demise. This tells us that those who aid and abet evil will never have a good end.