Cao Shanggong and Fan Gongzheng were discussing how to reward the female officials who assisted in compiling the book.

Cao Shanggong spoke with a hint of sourness: “You are the chief editor of ‘Records of Virtuous Consorts’ Admonitions of the Zhao and Song Dynasties,’ holding the primary credit. No reward would be excessive for you. Tell me, what do you want?”

The book was completed, the Empress had approved it, this summer’s most arduous task was finished, and they had also recruited talents like Hu Shanwei into their service to work for them. Finally, they could steal half a day of leisure from their busy lives.

Fan Gongzheng felt light and carefree, too lazy to pay attention to Cao Shanggong’s jealousy. She lazily waved her round fan: “I used to love promotions most of all. But now, my position has reached its peak. If I were to advance further…”

Fan Gongzheng pointed her round fan toward Cao Shanggong’s seat: “Would you be willing to move aside a bit?”

Among the female officials in the harem, the Shanggong held the greatest power.

Cao Shanggong’s willow-shaped eyebrows stood on end: “How dare you!”

“Tsk, tsk.” Fan Gongzheng continued waving her round fan: “You still have such a fiery temper. The Palace Administration Bureau is busy year-round, and you as Shanggong don’t even have time to catch your breath. Even if you were willing to give up your position, I wouldn’t want to sit in it.”

Cao Shanggong secretly breathed a sigh of relief, but said: “I’m naturally born to be busy, and I like being busy. Let’s quickly decide on the rewards. I still have a pile of matters to attend to and no time for jokes with you.”

Fan Gongzheng said: “I don’t particularly care. I have everything I need and have become indifferent to such things. The twenty female officials who helped me compile the book should be well rewarded. The heavier the rewards, the more it shows Her Majesty the Empress’s regard for the book compilation. When this book is printed and bestowed upon the harem consorts, imperial relatives, and maternal relatives, only then will they take it seriously and treat this book as important.”

Cao Shanggong lowered her voice: “We’ve been colleagues for many years and know each other well. Don’t play dumb with me. We both know very well why Her Majesty the Empress originally wanted to compile ‘Records of Virtuous Consorts’ Admonitions of the Zhao and Song Dynasties’ – wasn’t it for that person—”

Cao Shanggong pointed remotely toward the Yanxi Palace in the Eastern Six Palaces: “But now Hu Shuren is dead, and the Hu clan has been exterminated to three generations – they’re all gone. Why does Her Majesty the Empress still want to promote this book with such fanfare?”

Cao Shanggong was indeed Empress Ma’s trusted confidant. As soon as the imperial edict to print five hundred copies and reward the book-compiling female officials was issued, Cao Shanggong sensed something was amiss: “The Noble Consort fell overnight, and recently the Eastern and Western Six Palaces have been very peaceful, everyone behaving properly. Who would dare to act presumptuously now?”

Fan Gongzheng also showed a puzzled expression: “I also think something’s not right. I was going to ask you about it. You accompany Her Majesty the Empress all day long. If even you don’t know, how would I? This book was originally aimed only at the harem consorts, but now it has expanded to the entire imperial clan, even the wives of princes have been given copies. Her Majesty the Empress wouldn’t do this without reason – there must be deeper meaning.”

Working in the harem, one had to think three steps ahead for every step taken. Having reached their positions, both fifth-rank female officials had caught wind of changing circumstances.

Since they had spoken openly, there was no need for riddles. Cao Shanggong spoke directly: “Her Majesty the Empress’s style has always been to handle heavy matters with ease, never showing joy or anger on her face – she’s unpredictable. For now, we can only do whatever Her Majesty asks us to do. Even if we don’t achieve great merit, at least we won’t make mistakes.”

Ask few questions, do more work – this was Cao Shanggong’s survival wisdom in the harem.

Fan Gongzheng nodded: “If you guess anything, remember to tell me. If I hear any rumors, I’ll also tell you, so we won’t remain ignorant and accidentally offend someone, dying without even knowing how.”

The two made an agreement, and the topic returned to rewarding the book-compiling female officials. Fan Gongzheng suggested: “For female officials, what better reward is there than promotion? Let each person be promoted one rank.”

Since Empress Ma had instructed them to give generous rewards and not be stingy, Cao Shanggong wouldn’t be petty on the Empress’s behalf: “Promoting each one rank is no problem, but…”

Cao Shanggong pointed to the list of twenty female officials who assisted in book compilation: “Jiang Quan, Chen Er’mei, Shen Qionglian, Li Yuzhen, and Hu Shanwei – these five people have only been in the palace for five months and are already being promoted, from eighth-rank assistant female historians to seventh-rank zhang-titled female officials. I’m afraid this will be hard for others to accept. There has never been such rapid promotion for female officials in the palace. Even someone like Fan Gongzheng, who comes from a distinguished family and is capable and diligent, took a full year to advance from eighth-rank assistant female historian to seventh-rank zhang-titled official.”

Fan Gongzheng was the granddaughter of Fan Peng, one of the four great poets of the Yuan Dynasty – a lady from a prestigious family. Even the proud Cao Shanggong had to acknowledge her with sincere admiration.

“Oh my, it’s rare for Cao Shanggong to praise me once.” Fan Gongzheng covered her face with her round fan, pretending to be shy, then spoke seriously: “Promoting them is Her Majesty the Empress’s grace, showing regard for the book compilation work, making both the harem and maternal relatives take ‘Records of Virtuous Consorts’ Admonitions of the Zhao and Song Dynasties’ seriously, so consorts won’t cause trouble in the harem and maternal relatives will pay attention to maintaining proper family conduct. Whether female officials can earn others’ respect depends on their future work capabilities. The capable will earn their positions, and the incapable will be demoted according to palace regulations. How can we confuse imperial grace with earning respect?”

That made sense. Anyway, the Empress had already generously granted the favor. If they couldn’t maintain their positions afterward, that would be their own problem.

Cao Shanggong nodded: “Fine, I’ll listen to you. Everyone gets promoted one rank.”

Fan Gongzheng took up her brush and circled Hu Shanwei’s name: “She now belongs to my Palace Administration Bureau. Our Palace Administration Bureau is different from the Six Bureaus. The Six Bureaus have five levels: Shang, Si, Dian, Zhang, and Female Historian. The Palace Administration Bureau only has four levels: Gongzheng, Sizheng, Dianzheng, and Female Historian. So if Hu Shanwei is to be promoted, she becomes a seventh-rank Dianzheng.”

“Promoted two ranks?” Cao Shanggong couldn’t believe these words came from the mouth of Fan Gongzheng, who was famous for her strictness. “You’re really fond of joking today.”

“I’m not joking,” Fan Gongzheng said. “Our Palace Administration Bureau holds supervisory duties and doesn’t have the Zhang level. When a Female Historian is promoted, she becomes a seventh-rank Dianzheng. I can’t change the bureau’s rank system just for Hu Shanwei alone and create a Zhangzheng position out of thin air.”

Cao Shanggong firmly opposed: “Hu Shanwei promoted two ranks after only five months in the palace? Fan Gongzheng is being too frivolous!”

Fan Gongzheng also refused to yield: “The Great Ming female official system was jointly established by His Majesty and the Ministry of Rites, promulgated by imperial edict. Neither you nor I, nor even Her Majesty the Empress, can arbitrarily change it. Either Hu Shanwei doesn’t get promoted, or she’s directly promoted to Dianzheng.”

Cao Shanggong slammed the table and stood up: “Then don’t promote Hu Shanwei! Just reward her with wealth!”

Fan Gongzheng smacked her teacup down on the table with a sharp sound, causing tea to splash out: “All twenty book-compiling female officials must be promoted, not one fewer. Missing even one would be unfair.”

Cao Shanggong retorted sharply: “Only Hu Shanwei getting promoted two ranks – that’s what’s unfair!”

Fan Gongzheng asked: “Let me ask you, why does Her Majesty the Empress want to generously reward these twenty female officials?”

Cao Shanggong: “Obviously, because of the book compilation.”

Fan Gongzheng said: “Good, those are your words. For this book compilation, if Hu Shanwei hadn’t single-handedly organized the Bingzi Treasury earlier, categorizing the collection and creating a catalog index, how could we have accomplished everything so efficiently and made such rapid progress? Also, when Hu Shuren repeatedly interfered with the book compilation and brought people from Yanxi Palace to cause trouble, it was Hu Shanwei alone who stepped forward to protect the Treasury. So in terms of contribution to book compilation, among the twenty female officials, Hu Shanwei contributed the most – everyone in the palace knows this. She deserves to be promoted two ranks.”

Cao Shanggong was caught in Fan Gongzheng’s trap and struggled within it: “Being promoted two ranks in four months has never happened in the harem before. We cannot set this precedent.”

Fan Gongzheng said: “Cao Shanggong, last year at thirty-three you were promoted to Shanggong of the Palace Administration Bureau, overseeing the Six Bureaus and assisting the Central Palace – this was also an unprecedented promotion for a female official in the harem. Previous Shangongs were all over forty years old. Do you think your position as Shanggong came through improper means? That you’re unworthy of being Shanggong?”

“You… impertinent! Outrageous!” The more Cao Shanggong struggled, the tighter the trap became. Fan Gongzheng was too cunning!

Fan Gongzheng struck while the iron was hot: “Female officials in the palace are all selected through layers of examinations from within and outside the palace, based on talent, character, and ability. Those who rely on seniority are eliminated. Hu Shanwei excels in character, talent, and ability, and when faced with problems, she never evades, delays, or shifts responsibility. I believe she can handle the position of Dianzheng in our Palace Administration Bureau. If problems arise, I’ll take responsibility! What are you afraid of! I never thought you were such a timid and fearful Cao Shanggong!”

Cao Shanggong thumped her chest: “What am I afraid of? If I were someone who feared trouble, could I have been promoted to Shanggong at thirty-three?”

Fan Gongzheng said: “Since you’re not afraid, then agree!”

Caught up in the moment, Cao Shanggong said: “Fine, I agree! Who’s afraid of whom!”

Fan Gongzheng clapped her hands together: “It’s settled then!”

She’d been tricked. Cao Shanggong gulped down her tea in one go: “I’ll submit the reward roster to Her Majesty the Empress for review. If the Empress approves, this matter is settled. If the Empress disagrees, don’t blame me for going back on my word.”

The two finished their discussion amid arguments and drafted the reward roster to present to Empress Ma for review.

Empress Ma’s gaze lingered for a moment on Hu Shanwei’s name and the position of seventh-rank Dianzheng, but she didn’t even blink: “Proceed with these rewards.”

Since even Empress Ma agreed, Cao Shanggong naturally couldn’t say anything more: “Yes, I’ll see to it immediately.”

Empress Ma added: “Mu Chun is returning today. Have the Imperial Kitchen prepare his favorite dishes.”

Cao Shanggong and others received their orders and departed. When Empress Ma had no pressing matters, she liked to be alone in her study, reading and writing, unlike others in high positions who enjoyed pomp and circumstance, surrounded by crowds of attendants wherever they went.

The room quieted down. Empress Ma spread out a sheet of paper on her desk and picked up her brush to write a few characters, but feeling her mind wasn’t calm, she set down the brush and picked up some half-finished needlework, slowly sewing a military cotton garment, letting her heart settle.

Some things couldn’t be rushed – they had to be done slowly…

As Empress Ma pondered her thoughts, Liu Siyan spoke from outside the door: “Your Majesty, Consort Sun of Yikun Palace is seriously ill. Ru Siyao has written down Consort Sun’s pulse readings and symptoms to send to the Imperial Medical Academy for joint consultation, but the physicians say that Consort Sun’s condition has been fluctuating recently and they need to personally examine her pulse and see her in person to prescribe proper treatment. Ru Siyao requests to move Consort Sun to Qianqing Palace for the physicians to examine her.”

The “Imperial Ancestral Instructions” clearly stated that imperial physicians could not set foot in the harem. In special circumstances, patients needed to be moved to Qianqing Palace, where the Emperor resided, for physician consultations.

But even in such special circumstances, the Empress couldn’t make the decision alone – she needed to request the Emperor’s permission.

As soon as Liu Siyan finished speaking, Empress Ma set down her needlework: “I’ll go inform His Majesty. His Majesty will certainly agree. You all go prepare quickly.”

Today was truly a day of multiple concerns: the troublemaker Mu Chun was returning to the capital, the little princess’s full-moon head-shaving and naming ceremony, Fan Gongzheng and Cao Shanggong’s big argument over rewards, and Consort Sun of the Western Six Palaces’ serious illness…

However, Hu Shanwei was unaware of all this at the moment. She was stunned by the imperial edict promoting her two ranks to seventh-rank Dianzheng, kneeling on the ground in a daze.

Most of the Great Ming court ceremonial protocols involved bow-like salutations, rarely requiring kneeling and kowtowing, except during major festivals when noble ladies entered the palace to pay respects to the Empress – they only needed to perform three bows without kneeling.

Only when receiving imperial edicts, expressing gratitude, or apologizing were such grand kneeling ceremonies required.

“Hu Shanwei?” The Dianyan female official who came to announce the edict called loudly: “Hu Shanwei, why don’t you quickly receive the edict and express your gratitude!”

“Thank you for Her Majesty the Empress’s grace.” Hu Shanwei suddenly snapped awake, kowtowed toward Kunning Palace, raised her hands above her head, and received the Empress’s edict.

A crowd from the Treasury swarmed over, surrounding Hu Shanwei: “Congratulations Dianzheng Hu, felicitations Dianzheng Hu!”

Hu Shanwei held the imperial edict, her mind completely blank at this moment. It wasn’t that simple – being promoted two ranks was too unusual. There must be some formidable challenge waiting for her ahead.