At the Wet Nurse Bureau.
The forty-four female officials were divided into groups of ten each for body searches. Due to the shoe incident, Hu Shanwei stood at the very back and was among the last four people.
By coincidence, Chen Er’mei from Guangzhou, who had questioned her about her chilblains, had also been selected.
First they searched the bundles carried with them. Hu Shanwei had left home with nothing, possessing only a personal pouch containing an iron military tag and a bottle of chilblain ointment.
The searching female official asked, “Is this all?”
Hu Shanwei replied, “Yes, just these two items.”
This young woman could be said to be the most destitute new female official in history, not even having proper luggage.
The female official opened the white porcelain medicine bottle and smelled it. “What is this?”
Hu Shanwei spread out both hands. “Chilblain ointment, for treating my hands.”
Though it was spring and the weather was gradually warming, the chilblain area had shrunk by more than half, but her little finger and ring finger hadn’t healed yet, looking like two wilted carrots.
The female official said, “Medicine is contraband. All medical supplies are purchased uniformly by the palace’s Medicine Bureau. You cannot privately bring them into the palace. From now on you serve the court, and the court will take responsibility for your birth, aging, sickness, and death. The Medicine Bureau’s medical women will prescribe medicine and treat your injuries. Don’t worry.”
The female official discarded the medicine bottle into a bamboo basket already overflowing with various contraband items.
The second item was an iron military tag. The female official read the text engraved on it: “Imperial Guard Rear Division, Centurion, Wang Ning. What is Wang Ning to you?”
The Imperial Guard Rear Division was the forbidden army of the capital, with its main camp west of Yan Family Bridge in the northern city.
Hu Shanwei’s eyelid twitched as she said, “He was my fiancé, killed in battle during the court’s second northern expedition.”
More than half of the forty-four selected female officials were widows, including one who was an officially recognized seventh-rank lady. Hu Shanwei’s status as an unmarried “gate-gazing widow” wasn’t unusual.
The female official made a note in the register and returned the iron military tag to Hu Shanwei. “That’s all.”
Hu Shanwei put the military tag in her pouch. Beside her, Guangdong native Chen Er’mei’s large bundle was nearly half her body size, containing clothes, jewelry, the four treasures of the study, and a package of plum vegetable and duck fat pastries still steaming hot.
“Food items cannot be brought into the rear palace. Not just you—even officially recognized ladies cannot bring food into the rear palace.” The searching female official first took away the pastries, intending to discard them.
Chen Er’mei hastily said, “These are my favorite things to eat in Nanjing. It would be such a waste to throw them away. Can I eat them here? Once they’re in my stomach, they shouldn’t count as contraband, right?”
The female official found this amusing and pushed the pastries toward her. “Eat them, but don’t delay everyone’s time. Finish within one tea interval.”
Chen Er’mei finished one in two bites. By the time she reached the fifth one, she choked, clutching her throat asking for water. She finally managed to wash it down with tea water. There was still one left in the oil paper wrapping, but Chen Er’mei was already starting to feel nauseous and burp.
The female official was about to throw away the oil paper package when the burping Chen Er’mei showed a regretful expression.
“I’ll eat it,” Hu Shanwei picked up the last one and finished it in three bites.
Chen Er’mei thanked her, and Hu Shanwei said, “I happened to be a bit hungry.”
Little palace maids escorted the last four people into separate compartments. Two old palace women ordered her to undo her hair knot and combed through her hair with a fine-toothed comb to ensure no one was hiding anything in their hairstyle.
They carefully examined her eyes, mouth, and even her ears. Finally, they ordered her to undress completely and lie down to check her private areas.
Hu Shanwei instinctively resisted. The old palace woman said, “Forgive the offense. Previously, a female assassin hid deadly poison in her private area and nearly harmed the Emperor. From now on, all palace servants and female officials entering the palace to serve must pass this examination.”
Hu Shanwei had no choice but to endure it.
Fortunately, the examination was completed quickly. The old palace woman respectfully presented a complete set of new inner and outer garments, saying, “Please, Female Scribe Hu, change your clothes. New female officials entering the palace must dress uniformly to go to the Palace Justice Department for instruction.”
The Ming Dynasty rear palace female officials were divided into six bureaus and one department. The Palace Justice Department was similar to the court’s censorate, independent of the six bureaus and supervising all female officials.
Palace female officials had clear hierarchical ranks, with the highest position being fifth-rank Shanggong. But new female officials entering the palace all had to start from the lowest eighth-rank Female Scribe position, advancing level by level based on work performance. If they made mistakes, they would be sent to the Palace Justice Department for judgment and punishment. The lightest punishment was salary deduction; more severe could result in demotion to palace maid or even execution.
From head to toe, Hu Shanwei was completely transformed. She wore a bright red four-harmony auspicious wide-sleeve robe, a lake-blue pleated skirt with a band of gold brocade trim at the bottom, and wooden platform shoes as thick as a brick!
The old palace woman arranged her black hair into a topknot, then wrapped it with a silver hair band adorned with pearls and peonies.
The old palace woman showed an appreciative expression. “Miss has natural beauty. She looks even more attractive when dressed up.”
Hu Shanwei looked at herself in the mirror, feeling somewhat dazed.
The old palace woman gathered up her changed clothes, shoes, and other items. “Female Scribe Hu may go to the Palace Justice Department for instruction. Someone will deliver your luggage to your room.”
Hu Shanwei hastily expressed thanks. “May I ask how to address you, honored elder?”
The old palace woman smiled. “Female Scribe Hu is an official. I’m just an old palace servant. My humble name isn’t worth mentioning. If we’re fated, we’ll meet again.”
At this time, the female official outside urged them on. Hu Shanwei didn’t dare linger, bowed to the old palace woman, and went out to join the formation.
In the courtyard of the Wet Nurse Bureau, forty-four new female officials formed two lines. Hu Shanwei and Chen Er’mei stood at the back of the formation.
The new female officials all wore identical bright red four-harmony auspicious wide-sleeve robes and lake-blue pleated skirts, with brick-thick platform shoes.
The only difference was that married widows wore cone-shaped Dié«» woven from horsehair on their heads, decorated with nine types of silver-inlaid gemstone hair ornaments: top pins, pick-hearts, flower decorations, and left and right temple-covering pins, flower-head pins, and plant-grass pins. They appeared dignified and elegant.
Unmarried female officials, like Hu Shanwei, wore round topknots wrapped with a silver hair band adorned with pearls and peonies, looking charming and lovely.
The old palace women watched this group of female officials walking somewhat awkwardly in their thick-soled shoes toward the Forbidden City. She withdrew her gaze and began ironing Hu Shanwei’s changed old clothes.
Another old palace woman was somewhat puzzled. “Mei Xiang, at your age, with one foot in the grave, why curry favor with a newly entered little female official? Even little palace maids would disdain these coarse old clothes. Why are you ironing them? Just roll them up and throw them in a box.”
The old palace woman called Mei Xiang, about forty years old, pointed to the black boots Hu Shanwei had changed out of. “Don’t just look at the clothes. Look at these shoes.”
The old palace woman touched them and her expression changed. “The outside is lambskin, the lining is tribute zhang velvet from Fujian, soft and comfortable.”
Looking at the workmanship and the “Court Wardrobe” mark on the sole, the old palace woman exclaimed in shock, “These are palace-made items, supervised by the Court Wardrobe Bureau. How could something from the rear palace be worn by a destitute commoner woman?”
Mei Xiang asked again, “These are women’s shoes, but they’re obviously larger than ordinary women’s shoes. Among the noble ladies in the rear palace, who has the biggest feet?”
The old palace woman was even more shocked. “The Empress! It’s the Empress!”
Kunning Palace.
Empress Ma, wearing casual daily robes and with notably large feet, maintained a stern expression as she lectured the truant student. “Xiao Chun, today isn’t a rest day. You’ve skipped school from the Imperial Academy again?”
The truant student called Xiao Chun sat on an embroidered stool beside Empress Ma, tugging at the Empress’s sleeve. “Yes, I beg Your Majesty to speak with the Imperial Academy’s Chancellor. I don’t want to go to school anymore.”
Empress Ma refused. “Talented scholars from across the realm undergo layers of selection to study at the Imperial Academy. Among the noble families of the court, only the eldest legitimate son inheriting the family business gets one hereditary spot to study at the Imperial Academy. How many people long for this opportunity, yet you don’t know how to treasure it. You skip classes every few days. The Imperial Academy Chancellor has already complained to His Majesty several times.”
Xiao Chun said, “My father fights wars, and I’ll fight wars in the future too. What use is studying those classical texts at the Imperial Academy? Can reciting a chapter of the Analects to enemy troops make them retreat?”
Empress Ma flicked her sleeve. “Don’t argue sophistry here. If you still won’t go, I’ll have the Embroidered Uniform Guard tie you up and deliver you to the Imperial Academy, watching you every step so you can’t skip school anymore.”
Xiao Chun wasn’t ready to give up, once again grasping Empress Ma’s sleeve and acting coquettishly. “Your Majesty, my second younger brother is two years younger than me, but he’s already following father into battle and starting to achieve military merit. Meanwhile, I’m seventeen years old and have accomplished nothing, locked up reading books at the Imperial Academy all day.”
Empress Ma said, “You’re the future heir apparent. You’ll inherit the family title. You’re different from your brothers.”
Xiao Chun said, “I don’t want to be heir apparent. I want to be a great general and protect the Great Ming realm.”
“Nonsense!” Empress Ma firmly tapped his forehead. “The more you study, the more backwards you become.”
Xiao Chun continued pestering. “Exactly! I’ve studied at the Imperial Academy for a year and really am becoming more backwards. Your Majesty should quickly get me out of there! I’m really not cut out for studying.”
Empress Ma instructed the female official beside her, “Summon Mao Qiang to tie up this monkey properly and send him to the Imperial Academy. Have the Chancellor strictly supervise his education.”
Mao Qiang was the Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Hearing this, Xiao Chun took off running. Empress Ma ordered again, “Close the palace gates. Let’s catch a turtle in a jar.”
Xiao Chun ran while shouting, “Your Majesty, you can’t say that! If I’m a turtle, then my father would be a big turtle!”
Xiao Chun was only focused on running forward when he suddenly crashed into someone’s arms. Covering his head and looking up, he said, “Father? You’ve returned from campaign?”
A middle-aged man wearing bright red court robes and a five-beam crown glared fiercely at Xiao Chun. “You scoundrel! Go kneel in the family shrine at home first. After I pay respects to Her Majesty, I’ll return home to settle accounts with you!”
The middle-aged man performed the full kowtow ceremony. “Your humble subject pays respects to Her Majesty the Empress.”
When Empress Ma saw the middle-aged man, her eyes filled with warmth. She quickly rose from her throne and personally helped the man up, seating him beside her on the embroidered stool where Xiao Chun had just sat. “Mu Ying, we finally have you back.”
This person was none other than Marquis Xiping Mu Ying, adopted son of Emperor Hongwu Zhu Yuanzhang, and the most outstanding among his more than twenty adopted sons.
A native of Fengyang, orphaned at age seven when both parents died, Zhu Yuanzhang and his wife adopted him and were very fond of him, especially Empress Ma. Having only given birth to two princesses in her lifetime and no sons, Empress Ma raised Mu Ying as her own son with devoted care.
As an adult, Mu Ying repaid his adoptive parents with brilliant military achievements. The Zhu Yuanzhang couple selected a noble-born wife for their most beloved adopted son: Feng Shi.
Feng Shi was the daughter of founding general Duke Fengguo Yong and the legitimate eldest daughter of the ducal mansion.
Feng Shi gave birth to the legitimate eldest son Mu Chun but died from difficult labor. Mu Ying was constantly away at war and unable to care for his son. Empress Ma pitied Mu Chun and brought him to what was then the Wu King’s palace while still in swaddling clothes, raising him as her own grandson.
Later, Zhu Yuanzhang selected another noble young lady, Geng Shi, as a second wife for the widowed Mu Ying—the legitimate eldest daughter of founding general Marquis Changxing Geng Bingwen.
Marrying two noble ladies in succession showed how extremely favored Mu Ying was.