That night’s pleasure trip was like the Buddhist scripture on rice paper—the brush paused halfway through, because Mao Qiang came looking for him, wanting Mu Chun to immediately go find his uncle Feng Cheng.
Military orders were like mountains. Mu Chun set down his half-finished cup of tea and said to Hu Shanwei, “I’ll visit you again tomorrow to help you grind ink and finish copying the other half of the scripture.”
Mu Chun went to find his uncle. Feng Cheng threw the military report straight at his head, “Read it yourself.”
The battle report from the Great Ming southern expedition army—Right General Marquis Xiping Mu Ying had displayed wisdom and divine courage, his prominence already overshadowing Main Commander Marquis Yingchuan Fu Youde and Left General Marquis Yongchang Lan Yu. Of course, there was also his younger brother Mu Sheng, a young hero who already faintly showed the sharp edge his father Mu Ying had possessed in his youth.
Mu Chun had long grown accustomed to his father’s biased heart, “Father and son soldiers on the battlefield—it looks like the southern expedition army will soon return to court in triumph.”
Feng Cheng was frustrated with his lack of progress, “The Emperor is sending me to guard the city in Yunnan, and I want you to come with me. They plant the trees, we pick the fruit. If we guard the city well, we’ll earn merit just the same. Hand over your duties at the Right Imperial Guard and depart with me tomorrow.”
Mu Chun knew his uncle was creating an opportunity for him. Regardless of his uncle’s motives, joining the southern expedition army would be beneficial for Mu Chun’s future.
With time being urgent, Mu Chun had no time to find Hu Shanwei to bid farewell. He wrote a letter asking Captain Shi to deliver it, then gathered his men. His core group consisted of nothing more than former bandits from Strange Stone Ridge, bandits from Zhouzhi County, and second-generation military dandy boys from the Eagle Guard—in short, none of them were particularly respectable people.
However, having gone through the baptism of the fourth northern expedition, some of these men had died in battle, while the remaining portion had truly become real soldiers.
Mu Chun gave them a choice: continue serving as imperial guards in the capital, or follow him on the southern expedition.
Chen Xuan, the former bandit leader from Zhouzhi County, was first to raise his hand, “I’ll go on the southern expedition. My family originally served as Chengdu Guard Commander, frequently dealing with ethnic minorities at the borders. I’m familiar with the local customs there and speak several languages—I can assist you, my lord.”
Chen Xuan was the descendant of a criminal official whose family had been implicated in Hu Weiyong’s rebellion case. Now making a comeback and granted the rank of captain, he was determined to continue advancing and restore the Chen family. As a military man, what could promote him faster than military achievements?
His former subordinates from Eagle Guard also raised their hands: “I’ll go too. I heard the women there are very beautiful and wear skirts with bare legs, no pants. There’s even a place where women are in charge—if they fancy a man, they invite him into their tents for the night to borrow his seed for children. Free food and lodging, then leave the next day without any responsibility.”
Hearing of such good fortune, this stirred everyone to raise their hands, expressing their desire to go along.
Indeed, birds of a feather flock together—when the leadership is crooked, the subordinates follow suit. All those mixing with Mu Chun were hardly respectable people. The southern expedition mobilization meeting quickly went off-topic and achieved complete success amid discussions of the enthusiastic and hospitable Miao women.
This was a meeting of unity, this was a meeting of victory!
The next day, Hu Shanwei went to the study to copy the remaining half of the scripture and found a letter on the desk. From the dog-scratch handwriting on the envelope, she knew it was from Mu Chun.
Little palace maid Haitang said, “Captain Shi delivered this at midnight last night. He said it wasn’t urgent and not to wake Court Lady Hu—she could read it after getting up in the morning.”
Hu Shanwei used a bamboo knife to open the envelope and saw it contained news of Mu Chun’s southern expedition. Looking at the sky, he should have already departed by now. Knowing she least wanted to see off troops due to past matters—hating farewells—Mu Chun had told Captain Shi not to wake her.
Hu Shanwei looked at the spread-out half scripture. Her heart, which had finally calmed down, was in turmoil again. She folded up the rice paper and stored it in a box, thinking she would finish copying the remaining half when Mu Chun returned to grind ink.
It takes a hundred days to heal injured bones and muscles, but Hu Shanwei didn’t rest that long because once spring arrived, the Empress’s Sericulture Ceremony would begin.
The Great Ming court had three major festivals: Winter Solstice, New Year, and Lantern Festival. For the former court these meant grand assemblies and banquets for officials, while for the rear palace they meant grand assemblies and banquets for imperial wives of fourth rank and above to display imperial majesty—no errors could be tolerated. But these three major festivals saw the rear palace as an appendage to the former court. Only the Sericulture Ceremony was a major ritual belonging exclusively to the Empress as mother of the nation.
Moreover, for convenient mulberry picking and silkworm house establishment, the Sericulture Ceremony location wasn’t in the rear palace but in the eastern suburbs outside the palace, which increased the difficulty. Court Ritual Director Cui Shangyi requested permission to leave the palace and found Hu Shanwei at the temporary palace, asking her to help arrange preparations for the eastern suburb sericulture altar. Since Hu Shanwei was outside the palace, she could inspect the sericulture altar situation at any time.
Two years ago at the New Year grand assembly, Hu Shanwei had also been invited by Cui Shangyi to help guide noble wives in audience with Empress Ma. During this, an incident occurred where Marquis Xiping’s wife Geng Shi had insufficient strength and became dizzy. Hu Shanwei arranged things properly and they passed through without incident, earning Cui Shangyi’s appreciation.
Having been “recuperating” at the temporary palace for nearly two months, Hu Shanwei felt bored and wanted to quickly resume her duties. The Sericulture Ceremony was a major matter—if she could do things beautifully and return to the palace, it would bring her honor and earn Empress Ma’s regard.
Hu Shanwei began rubbing her hands eagerly, though she said, “Thank you for Cui Shangyi’s trust. This subordinate has recovered fairly well and is happy to help. However, this subordinate belongs to the Palace Administration Bureau—this matter requires Director Cao’s approval.”
In officialdom, bypassing hierarchy was taboo. Hu Shanwei wasn’t dazzled by this pie falling from heaven—everything still needed to follow proper procedures.
Cui Shangyi smiled, “By rights, I should ask Director Cao’s opinion first, but considering you’re just recovering from serious illness and shouldn’t be overworked, I came to see you first. Now seeing you glowing with health and in good spirits, I’m inviting you to help. When I return to the palace, I’ll definitely ask Director Cao to lend you to us—I won’t put you in a difficult position.”
Hu Shanwei nodded and asked, “How has Her Majesty the Empress been feeling lately?”
Cui Shangyi said, “Winter was indeed quite difficult. However, since spring began and the weather warmed, Her Majesty the Empress has been gradually improving. When the sun is good now, she can even take walks in the imperial garden.”
Hu Shanwei was very pleased to hear this, “That’s truly wonderful.”
Cui Shangyi handled ceremonial matters, was beautiful, had a gentle personality, and spoke well—unlike Director Cao who would constantly display official authority and choke people with her words. Generally, people wouldn’t refuse requests from Cui Shangyi.
Cui Shangyi returned to the palace carrying a thick gift list to see Director Cao.
Director Cao was Empress Ma’s most trusted person and had seen all kinds of good things. She glanced at the gift list and set it aside, “Offering courtesies without reason—speak up, what’s the matter.”
Cui Shangyi wore a smile, “Next month Her Majesty the Empress will conduct the Sericulture Ceremony. The sericulture altar is in the eastern suburbs, making it inconvenient for the rear palace to travel back and forth. However, that location is conveniently close to the temporary palace on Zhong Mountain where Court Lady Hu is recuperating, so I’d like to borrow her services from Director Cao.”
Director Cao pushed the gift list toward Cui Shangyi, “Since you want to use her, why give me gifts? The hard work isn’t mine.”
Cui Shangyi pushed the gift list back, “She’s talent cultivated by Director Cao—this is what the director deserves.”
Now Director Cao didn’t refuse, “If you don’t mind her crudeness, feel free to use her. But I’ll say this upfront—Hu Shanwei is indeed clean and efficient in her work, but she’s also quite good at offending people. Be careful not to bring trouble on yourself.”
How could Hu Shanwei possibly offend people as much as you, Director Cao! Among all the women in this palace, except for the Empress, there’s no one you haven’t squeezed out!
Though Cui Shangyi thought this, she said, “Which capable person doesn’t have some temper? To get things done well, one needs some authority. Besides, we female officials act under orders—as long as we’re in the right, we needn’t fear offending people. When Court Lady Hu works for my Court Ritual Bureau, the Court Ritual Bureau will be her backing and support. She can act with complete freedom.”
Director Cao pretended anger, “Since you’re so fond of Hu Shanwei, when she finishes the Sericulture Ceremony and returns to the palace, just transfer her to the Court Ritual Bureau.”
Cui Shangyi waved her hands repeatedly, “How dare I steal talent cultivated by Director Cao.”
Men plow, women weave—this was the foundation of thousands of years of Central Plains civilization.
Every spring, the Son of Heaven personally plowed the southern suburbs while the Empress personally tended silkworms in the northern suburbs. Emperors and empresses of all dynasties had done this.
Emperor Hongwu would lead civil and military officials, the crown prince and princes to personally go to the fields, holding iron plows to till several rows. Empress Ma would lead imperial princesses and noble wives inside and outside the court to pick mulberry and feed silkworms, demonstrating the imperial family’s emphasis on agriculture and sericulture.
The Great Ming sericulture platform was established in the eastern suburbs—an altar two feet six inches high with steps on all four sides. To the east was a mulberry-picking platform two feet four inches high with mulberry trees planted on both sides.
On the left and right sides of the altar were several side rooms housing ten silkworm women responsible for raising silkworms, along with two female officials from the Palace Handicraft Bureau who took turns coming here to supervise the ten silkworm women.
The Imperial Observatory selected an auspicious day, set for February 18th this year. Yingtian Prefecture selected respected silkworm-raising experts from among the people from the previous year, called “silkworm mothers,” and sent them to reside at the sericulture altar.
The Ministry of Works prepared hooks, baskets, frames, and other silkworm-raising tools to send to the sericulture altar.
Yingtian Prefecture also brought silkworm seeds and hooked baskets into the palace to present to Emperor Hongwu for viewing. After the Emperor nodded approval, these items were carried out through the Western Flower Gate, loaded into colorful sedan chairs. Music from the Imperial Music Bureau accompanied them all the way, like marrying a new bride with instrumental music and singing throughout the journey, attracting many onlookers, and delivered to the silkworm room at the sericulture altar.
This was the educational use of ritual—like the Emperor personally farming, using solemn and elaborate ceremonial feeling to subtly integrate the atmosphere of valuing sericulture into people’s consciousness. After all, clothing and food were the nation’s foundation.
With all preparations complete, the silkworm mother selected by Yingtian Prefecture led ten silkworm women working day and night in the silkworm room, conducting breeding and caring for the emerging silkworm babies.
The procedures weren’t actually complex—much simpler than the rear palace grand assemblies.
The trouble was that every silkworm seed and every basket required cooperation from the Ministry of Works and Yingtian Prefecture. Getting all these things ready also required repeated inspections, because Empress Ma would use these crude farming tools—no mistakes could be made.
Every day Hu Shanwei took a green-curtained sedan chair carried by four female bearers to the sericulture platform to supervise progress. Finding the frames sent by the Ministry of Works insufficiently sturdy, she put on official robes and hat and personally went to the Ministry of Works to exchange them for new ones!
For the first time in history, a female official visited the Ministry of Works—naturally, under protection of the Imperial Guard, walking through the Ministry’s gates.
The Great Ming Ministry of Works was a disaster-prone department. Unlike Minister of War Wu Lin from Huanggang, Hubei—that clever, slippery yet clean-as-water “nine-headed bird” who was a rare minister not purged or demoted by Emperor Hongwu, serving until retirement.
But Minister of Works was a cursed position. Last year, in the 14th year of Hongwu reign, Minister of Works Xue Xiang was beaten to death in court by the Imperial Guard on Emperor Hongwu’s orders for shielding criminal relatives!
The current Minister of Works was named Zhao Jun. Due to his predecessor’s tragic death, Zhao Jun’s legs would inexplicably go weak and his heart would race whenever he saw the Imperial Guard’s flying fish robes and embroidered spring knives.
Zhao Jun invited Hu Shanwei to sit and served tea, “May I ask what brings Court Lady Hu here?”
Hu Shanwei gave Ji Gang a look, “Bring it up.”
Ji Gang carried a frame holding bamboo baskets and swung his long leg in a kick, smashing the wooden frame to pieces on the ground.
Hu Shanwei picked up wooden tenon pieces from the floor. Ancient furniture didn’t use nails but mostly mortise and tenon joint structures, “Minister Zhao, the frame’s mortise and tenon structure isn’t solid. On the day of the Sericulture Ceremony, there will be many noble wives in the silkworm room—accidents could happen if there’s pushing and shoving. Forgive me, but I cannot accept these. Please have Minister Zhao order craftsmen to make new ones for delivery. I will personally inspect them when they arrive.”
The female official was beautiful as a flower, the Imperial Guard fierce as evil spirits. And this female official could actually order the Imperial Guard around completely. His predecessor’s tragic death made Minister Zhao fear the Imperial Guard, so he quickly said, “Remaking them is appropriate—this was negligence by subordinates. Within three days, they will definitely be completed and delivered.”
Hu Shanwei said, “Then I’ll trouble Minister Zhao. Farewell.”
This fox borrowing tiger’s might technique was quite effective. Returning to the temporary palace, Hu Shanwei thanked Ji Gang. Ji Gang was somewhat embarrassed, “I deliberately acted fierce today. Actually, I’m not usually that fierce—in the entire Imperial Guard, I’m the kindest.”
When the Ministry of Works delivered the new frames, Yingtian Prefecture had just selected silkworm mother Wang Shi. Wang Shi was a middle-aged widow, a folk silkworm-raising expert with proper appearance and gentle temperament.
Hu Shanwei set out wine and invited silkworm mother Wang Shi to dine. Wang Shi was neither humble nor arrogant, allowing Haitang to serve her food and pour wine. Hu Shanwei would ask a question, and she would answer one, never shrinking back awkwardly.
“From Jiangxi… followed my husband fleeing from war to Jiangning County in Nanjing. My husband died early, no sons or daughters… vowed not to remarry, making a living raising silkworms. Life is manageable now…”
Yingtian Prefecture selected silkworm mothers based on proximity, choosing from the eight counties under its jurisdiction: Shangyuan, Jiangning, Jurong, Liyang, Lishui, Gaochun, Jiangpu, and Liuhe. Each county recommended one silkworm-raising expert as a candidate, sent to the capital, then the Yingtian Prefecture Magistrate made the final choice, determining one woman as silkworm mother.
Since the silkworm mother played an important role in the Sericulture Ceremony and couldn’t make mistakes, when selecting the silkworm mother, besides silkworm-raising skills, the Yingtian Prefecture Magistrate also considered her appearance, temperament, speech, responses, reaction ability, physical condition, and more. She absolutely couldn’t be timid or lose propriety before Her Majesty the Empress and the noble wives. If the Sericulture Ceremony went wrong, the Prefecture Magistrate would lose his official hat.
Hu Shanwei worked conscientiously—personally inspecting sericulture tools and participants alike. The female officials and palace maids responsible for guiding noble wives were all her own people, known and trusted, experienced—no worry about them. But the silkworm mother came from outside, making Hu Shanwei somewhat uneasy, so she held a banquet for secret observation.
After one banquet, the silkworm mother’s performance was acceptable. It seemed the Prefecture Magistrate had good judgment—this person could handle the situation, and having passed layers of selection and background checks, her origins were clean.
Hu Shanwei felt relieved and began teaching the silkworm mother Sericulture Ceremony etiquette.
“These days you just need to lead the ten silkworm women in breeding and raising silkworms—I’ll handle everything else. On the day of Her Majesty the Empress’s Sericulture Ceremony, you only need to do two things.”
Hu Shanwei led the silkworm mother to the silkworm room, “Her Majesty the Empress will lead the noble wives to pick mulberry leaves on the mulberry-picking platform. Director Song from the Palace Handicraft Bureau will deliver the mulberry leaves from the basket to your hands. You’ll cut the mulberry leaves and distribute them to the Empress and noble wives, who will take them to feed the silkworm babies. After feeding, a female official from the Court Ritual Bureau will lead you outside to perform kowtow ceremony with the noble wives. Your task will then be complete.”
The silkworm woman said, “So my tasks are only two: first, cut mulberry leaves; second, kowtow.”
Indeed a clever person. Hu Shanwei nodded, “Yes. After completing these two tasks, Her Majesty the Empress will hold a banquet on the mulberry-picking platform. Noble wives of second rank and above will sit on the platform, while those of third rank and below, including you, will sit below the mulberry-picking platform for the banquet, drinking and eating. There will be female musicians from the Imperial Music Bureau performing music and dance. After the meal, Her Majesty the Empress will return to the palace, and you’ll perform four-bow ceremony with the noble wives.”
The silkworm woman counted on her fingers, “Cut mulberry leaves, kowtow, sit down to drink, four bows, finished. I’ve remembered it. Thank you for Court Lady Hu’s guidance.”
“Exactly.” Hu Shanwei smiled, “First familiarize yourself with the environment here. Later, palace people will teach you how to kowtow and how to perform four bows.”
After Hu Shanwei left, the silkworm woman picked up a knife for cutting mulberry leaves from the table and suddenly dropped her humble smile, her gaze cold as ice!