Hu Shanwei had no idea that she had already become “famous” in the harem in another way.

Imperial Noble Consort Hu’s words were somewhat harsh, but they spoke the truth. Hu Shanwei openly admitted, “Yes, this humble official does not belong to the Six Bureaus and One Department, and is only responsible for managing the Library Pavilion.”

Imperial Noble Consort Hu looked at Hu Shanwei with great interest. “How intriguing. This palace has heard that the Library Pavilion has been quite lively, and I’ve long wanted to come see it. Unfortunately, the days are too hot, and I fear catching heatstroke, so I specifically waited for the cool night to come over. Since you’re in charge of the Library Pavilion, show this palace around and tell me what treasures are in the Library Pavilion.”

The Library Pavilion was built for the imperial family, so Hu Shanwei could not refuse Imperial Noble Consort Hu’s request.

As long as she doesn’t forcibly take away Jiang Quan, that would be fine. Hu Shanwei made a gesture and said, “Your Ladyship Imperial Noble Consort, please come inside.”

The first floor housed the collected works section. Imperial Noble Consort Hu seemed interested in travel accounts and vernacular novels and other popular books. She casually picked up several books and had the accompanying palace maids carry them, saying, “Send these to Yanxi Palace. This palace will read them when I have leisure.”

For every book Imperial Noble Consort Hu selected, Hu Shanwei would note it down with her brush. It wasn’t until the books the palace maids were carrying nearly covered their faces that Imperial Noble Consort Hu stopped, “Enough, take me to the second floor.”

“Your Ladyship, please wait a moment.” Hu Shanwei handed the list of borrowed books to the head eunuch of Yanxi Palace, asking him to sign and seal it.

The head eunuch waved his fly whisk and refused to sign, “It’s just borrowing a few books from you. What doesn’t our Yanxi Palace have? Are you afraid we won’t return borrowed items?”

Hu Shanwei said, “These books don’t belong to this humble official. This humble official is only responsible for safekeeping them for imperial viewing. Every book that goes on the shelves or leaves must be recorded.”

Anyone who could become a head eunuch had long since become cunning as a fox. How could he not see Imperial Noble Consort Hu’s true intentions tonight?

Imperial Noble Consort Hu was becoming increasingly arrogant. She came from noble birth and was carrying the dragon’s heir. Empress Ma dared not suppress her directly, so she used the excuse of having Palace Supervisor Fan compile the deeds and family traditions of Consort Zhao Songxian into a volume to educate the harem consorts, though it was actually targeting Imperial Noble Consort Hu alone.

No matter how favored Imperial Noble Consort Hu was, she was still ultimately a concubine. Empress Ma wielded the righteous banner of promoting virtue and establishing family traditions, leaving no opening for attack. Imperial Noble Consort Hu had no recourse at all.

But while Imperial Noble Consort Hu couldn’t deal with Empress Ma, toying with a powerless eighth-rank female historian who had no protection from high-ranking female officials with the “Shang” prefix was as easy as turning her hand over.

Hu Shanwei held a lowly position, so there was no need for Imperial Noble Consort Hu to personally discipline her—that would dirty her hands. This matter was more suitable for the head eunuch to handle.

Therefore, the head eunuch deliberately refused to sign and mocked Hu Shanwei, “Imperial Noble Consort taking a book still needs to return it? Then in the future, when Her Ladyship picks a flower or fruit in the Imperial Garden, should this servant also sign and seal for that?”

Hu Shanwei said, “The flowers and fruits in the Imperial Garden are managed by the Garden Female Officials of the Palace Bedding Department. This humble official is only responsible for matters concerning the Library Pavilion.”

Head eunuchs of various palaces were all seventh-rank, while Hu Shanwei was an eighth-rank female historian, hence she referred to herself as “this humble official.”

Actually, last year, the head eunuchs were all sixth-rank. After the incident where an old eunuch nearly lost his head for discussing politics in front of Emperor Hongwu, Emperor Hongwu had iron tablets erected on East and West Long Streets stating “Palace servants shall not interfere in political affairs; those who do shall be executed,” and then collectively demoted the eunuchs’ ranks. The highest rank was previously fifth-rank but was reduced to sixth-rank. Those who were originally sixth-rank were demoted to seventh-rank, and so forth.

At the same time, Emperor Hongwu promoted the ranks of female officials. Previously, all “Shang” prefix officials were sixth-rank, but now they were promoted to fifth-rank. So Emperor Hongwu’s changes were undoubtedly using female officials to suppress the increasingly inflated power of the eunuchs.

Though eunuchs and female officials were colleagues serving the court together, they actually had a competitive relationship and sometimes even mutual hostility.

The head eunuch had been demoted for no reason and dared not resent Emperor Hongwu, so he was taking out his anger on Hu Shanwei. Of course, one should pick the soft persimmon to squeeze—it’s comfortable to squeeze and won’t hurt your hand.

You’re the one getting squeezed!

The head eunuch placed his fly whisk at his elbow, his gaze contemptuous. “Oh my, you little eighth-rank female historian dare to talk back? Borrowing books from the Library Pavilion requires this head eunuch to sign? This servant has never heard of such palace regulations.”

“Have you ever heard of it?” The head eunuch asked the onlookers. The ten female officials working on the book compilation didn’t agree with him, but all the people from Yanxi Palace shook their heads, “Never heard of it.”

The head eunuch laughed, “Did you hear that? Everyone has never heard of this rule—take the books away!”

“Wait!” Hu Shanwei blocked the doorway. “The Library Pavilion has just been completed and doesn’t have written regulations yet. But this humble official has already drafted several chapters on Library Pavilion book management, which have been sent to Palace Supervisor Fan of the Palace Supervisory Department and are awaiting Palace Supervisor Fan’s decision.”

“Hahahaha.” The head eunuch laughed as if he’d heard a joke, laughing so hard he bent over, and the Yanxi Palace servants also joined in the mockery.

Imperial Noble Consort Hu didn’t stop them. She sat in her grand chair, fanning herself with her silk fan with great interest, as if watching a good show.

The head eunuch suddenly stopped laughing and asked Hu Shanwei, “How long have you been in the palace?”

Hu Shanwei: “One hundred and seven days.”

“That’s just over three months.” The head eunuch said to Imperial Noble Consort Hu, “Your Ladyship, this servant has been serving since His Majesty’s days at the Prince of Wu’s residence, over thirty years now, and has never dared to establish rules on my own. Now this Historian Hu has been in the palace for only three months and is treating a chicken feather as an imperial decree, making her own rules. This is unprecedented.”

Imperial Noble Consort Hu pointed at Hu Shanwei with her fan, “You’re quite bold, daring to use rules you made yourself to command a seventh-rank head eunuch to obey you.”

The Library Pavilion and Hu Shanwei both belonged to a “no-man’s land,” so they could only govern themselves.

Hu Shanwei said, “Reporting to Your Ladyship Imperial Noble Consort, rules take time to go from unwritten to written. When this humble official took charge of the Library Pavilion, the Palace Supervisory Department had no ready-made rules to give to this humble official. But without rules, there can be no order. This humble official, though lacking in ability, dared to draft regulations, and the Palace Supervisory Department will give a reply soon.”

The head eunuch deliberately found fault, “So Palace Supervisor Fan hasn’t agreed, meaning the regulations have no authority yet.”

Hu Shanwei said, “She hasn’t agreed, but she hasn’t denied them either. Before that, this humble official can only implement the drafted regulations as rules.”

The head eunuch was unconvinced, “This servant only recognizes palace regulations issued by the Palace Supervisory Department. You casually write a few words and expect this servant to listen to you? Ridiculous!”

Hu Shanwei, like a newborn calf unafraid of tigers, pushed back, “Palace Supervisor Fan assigned this humble official to manage the Library Pavilion. Every book and every sheet of paper here is under this humble official’s control. How books come and go is naturally for this humble official to manage.”

Otherwise, what? If books went missing, Palace Supervisor Fan would blame her for poor management and she’d be punished. Hu Shanwei didn’t want to carry a bell at midnight in the deep palace, crying out “All is well under Heaven.”

The head eunuch thought he was dealing with a soft persimmon easy to squeeze, and was determined to trample her thoroughly today. He never expected to grab a little wildcat that would bite back. What was originally just three parts idle anger was now stirred up to seven parts fury by Hu Shanwei’s tough attitude!

The head eunuch waved his fly whisk, “Pull this ignorant person aside and take the books away.”

When Imperial Noble Consort Hu went out for her night excursion, she was accompanied by no fewer than thirty people carrying lanterns, burning incense, holding handkerchiefs, carrying spittoons, fanning, and so on, not to mention the sturdy palace servants carrying her palanquin.

The male servants and palace maids swarmed forward, pulling and tugging at Hu Shanwei. Shanwei resolutely refused to yield, gripping tightly to the bronze door ring of the main gate. The ten female officials on night duty wanted to help, but being refined scholars, they were quickly surrounded by palace maids and pressed into chairs, unable to move.

Seeing the situation escalating, Jiang Quan hurried to persuade Imperial Noble Consort Hu, “Your Ladyship, this humble official will return with you to Yanxi Palace right now to tell you stories. It’s too chaotic here—don’t let it harm the fetal qi.”

Imperial Noble Consort Hu pulled Jiang Quan to sit down, “Why would I want to hear stories when there’s such a good live show to watch? This Hu Shanwei is truly interesting. This palace’s visit tonight is not in vain.”

Hu Shanwei gripped the door ring with both hands, the veins on the backs of her hands bulging. The palace maids forcefully pried open her fingers one by one, and everyone could hear the crackling sounds from her knuckle joints, as if they were breaking.

Jiang Quan really couldn’t sit still anymore and again pleaded with Imperial Noble Consort Hu, whispering, “Your Ladyship, the Library Pavilion is compiling books by imperial decree. If this matter escalates, it won’t look good for the Empress.”

Imperial Noble Consort Hu covered her face with her silk fan and whispered back, “Don’t worry. The Library Pavilion has no written regulations. Taking a few books doesn’t violate palace rules. Why should I endure it when the Empress gives me dirty looks? An Imperial Noble Consort should have the dignity of an Imperial Noble Consort. Otherwise, everyone in this palace will think I’m easy to bully and will deliberately try to push me down.”

Jiang Quan showed a worried expression, “Your Ladyship, you must know when to stop.”

Imperial Noble Consort Hu said, “You’ve been in the palace for over three months now. Haven’t you seen the rules clearly yet? It’s survival of the fittest. If you show even half a point of weakness, someone will definitely find an opportunity to stab you and drag you down. There are over a hundred consorts with and without rank in the Eastern and Western Six Palaces, all wanting me to move aside. To protect myself, I must establish my authority.”

Jiang Quan said, “Your Ladyship has such noble status—why establish authority using a small female official?”

Imperial Noble Consort Hu sneered, “Whoever helps compile that worthless book about Consort Zhao Songxian is helping the Empress slap my face, so naturally I must slap back.”

By this time, Hu Shanwei’s fingers had been forcibly pried open one by one. Like a gecko that had lost its suction, she was physically torn away from the vermillion-lacquered door by a group of people.

During the struggle, Hu Shanwei’s black gauze official hat was pulled off by someone and fell to the ground where it was trampled flat. To facilitate wearing the black gauze hat, her long black hair had been coiled into a topknot and secured with a white jade hairpin. Now, in the pushing and shoving, the jade hairpin fell and her hair came loose.

Once separated from the door, Hu Shanwei immediately crouched down and hugged the threshold, crying out loudly, “If you want to steal books, then step over my corpse! These books were all presented to His Majesty and Her Majesty from various regions! If even one book goes missing, you’ll all lose your heads!”

Hearing these words, everyone dared not drag Hu Shanwei anymore.

The head eunuch sneered, “Stop slandering us! Who’s stealing? We’re just borrowing books for reading. The Library Pavilion can be used by imperial family members. Why can’t Imperial Noble Consort Hu read books?”

Hu Shanwei roared angrily, “Taking without permission is theft! How is this not stealing?”

The head eunuch asked, “This servant came to the Library Pavilion to borrow books and told you countless times. How is that not informing?”

Hu Shanwei replied, “Words alone are no proof—written documentation is needed as evidence. When you receive your monthly salary, do you just take the money and leave? Don’t you also have to sign the accounts to show you received it?”

The head eunuch said sarcastically, “With your eloquence, you shouldn’t have tested into the harem to become a female official. You should go to the court and become a censor, arguing with people every day in court sessions. That would truly utilize your clever talents. Working in the Library Pavilion is a waste of your abilities…”

Hu Shanwei and the head eunuch were locked in battle, engaged in a war of words that gradually reached white-hot intensity. Meanwhile, Imperial Noble Consort Hu, who was watching the show, quietly instructed her confidant, “By now, word should have reached Palace Supervisor Fan. She’ll probably come to check on the Library Pavilion. Find some way to waylay Palace Supervisor Fan on the road and delay her for a while—don’t interfere with this palace’s entertainment.”