Releasing people from the palace was indeed a charitable act, but it typically happened only once every four to five years. They had already done it once in the fourteenth year of Hongwu, and now only two years had passed. Consort Guo Ning’s desire to release people again clearly indicated her intention to remove a group of troublesome thorns from the palace.
At its core, this was a matter of trust. The same operational rules of the Six Bureaus and One Department that had worked under Empress Xiaoci represented delegation of authority—the Six Bureaus and One Department served as her right and left arms, her eyes and ears, completely under her control, giving her comprehensive understanding of the harem.
But from Consort Guo Ning’s perspective, she felt sidelined by the Six Bureaus and One Department, reduced to a puppet manipulated by them. Like a blind and deaf person, she felt isolated and helpless.
To change this situation, Consort Guo Ning thought of replacing personnel—installing a group of female officials she trusted and had won over. However, each position had its occupant. If the old officials didn’t leave, how could the new ones take their places?
Therefore, Consort Guo Ning wanted to use Empress Xiaoci’s first anniversary memorial as an opportunity to release people from the palace, clearing positions to cultivate her own people.
Bad-tempered Director Cao bore the brunt of this. Actually, with Director Cao as the scapegoat taking the lead, Director Fan hiding behind should have felt safe. After all, as colleagues, if Director Cao were truly squeezed out, Director Fan would feel the chill of impending doom herself.
Honestly speaking, aside from having a somewhat bad temper, being rather direct, petty and protective, enjoying confrontation, and having a sharp tongue that showed no mercy, Director Cao had no major flaws.
Director Fan advised Director Cao: “When Noble Consort Li was in power, you never gave her such disrespect. Now that Consort Guo Ning has risen to power, your temper has grown even worse. Just bear with it for now—His Majesty is still young. In two years, he might even marry a young beauty as empress. Then you won’t need to look at Consort Guo Ning’s face anymore.”
At the mention of the deceased Noble Consort Li, Director Cao’s expression grew even more unpleasant. “If someone respects me one foot, I respect them ten feet. Noble Consort Li treated me with courtesy, so I reciprocated with courtesy. We in the Six Bureaus and One Department are female officials, not slaves. Even when Empress Xiaoci was alive, she consulted and discussed matters with us. When did the harem become someone’s autocracy? If all that’s wanted are nodding, yes-saying slaves, what use are the Six Bureaus and One Department? Why do female officials have lifetime appointments? It’s simply a waste of money and grain—like the chancellor system, it should all be abolished.”
Director Fan whispered, “You’re like an old lady hanging herself—seeking a short life. The Six Bureaus and One Department is a system established jointly by His Majesty and the Ministry of Rites. Even an empress couldn’t abolish it at will. You’re speaking words of overreach.”
Director Cao rolled her eyes dramatically. “When the Six Bureaus and One Department become echo-chamber slaves, what’s the difference from being abolished? If His Majesty wanted slaves, he wouldn’t maintain us female officials. She hasn’t even secured the empress position yet, but already wants to establish an autocracy with her white-eyed arrogance. I’m going to cry to Empress Xiaoci!”
Director Fan was stunned by what she heard. Director Cao was incredibly audacious.
Director Cao was true to her word, and no one could stop her. That very day, she processed the procedures to leave the palace through the Bureau of Court Ceremonies and ostentatiously drove to the Xiaoling Mausoleum.
This caused everyone to know that Director Cao and Consort Guo Ning were at odds.
Consort Guo Ning knew Director Cao had a bad temper, but she never expected her to dare slap her face so directly by publicly announcing she was going to the Xiaoling Mausoleum to cry to Empress Xiaoci!
Wasn’t palace intrigue supposed to involve trading barbs, playing games with glances and expressions, competing in secret while maintaining harmonious appearances on the surface? How could Director Cao not even bother with face-saving pretenses?
Consort Guo Ning’s face turned pale with rage. She summoned the good-natured Director Cui of Court Ceremonies. “Entry and exit from the palace requires approval from your Bureau of Court Ceremonies. Can a female official of Director Cao’s rank freely enter and leave the palace just by informing you?”
Director Cui was beautiful, with upturned eyes and mouth corners, naturally wearing a smiling expression. “Director Cao processed the proper procedures through the Bureau of Court Ceremonies. Her purpose, departure time, return time, number of companions, and their names are all recorded.”
The implication was that Director Cao’s palace exit was legal and proper.
Consort Guo Ning asked, “Director Cao holds an important position and knows many palace secrets. If something were to happen to her outside… Previously, didn’t department-level female officials need Empress Xiaoci’s approval to leave the palace?”
Her meaning was clear: Director Cao’s palace exit shouldn’t just require Bureau of Court Ceremonies approval, but also her, Consort Guo Ning’s, consent.
“This…” Director Cui looked troubled. “Empress Xiaoci delegated authority to the Six Bureaus and One Department. Unless there were major matters, she generally didn’t interfere with details.”
Empress Xiaoci dared to delegate authority; Consort Guo Ning didn’t dare.
Consort Guo Ning gripped the armrest of her chair tightly with her right hand and asked again, “Did your Bureau of Court Ceremonies approve even such an outrageous reason from Director Cao?”
The entire palace knew Director Cao had gone to the Xiaoling Mausoleum to cry to Empress Xiaoci.
Director Cui calmly produced the archived records. “Director Cao left the palace because Empress Xiaoci’s first anniversary memorial is approaching. There will be several major ceremonies at the Xiaoling Mausoleum, so as a precaution, she went to inspect for any oversights.”
Consort Guo Ning’s lips tightened. “How is it that this palace heard Director Cao went to cry to Empress Xiaoci?”
Director Cui replied, “Director Cao was personally cultivated and promoted by Empress Xiaoci, becoming palace director at thirty-three. Their relationship was deep. Since Director Cao went to the Xiaoling Mausoleum, naturally she would burn incense at Empress Xiaoci’s memorial tablet and shed some tears.”
Consort Guo Ning was so angry she nearly spat blood. Director Cao was too cunning, cleverly skirting the edge of regulations.
However, having endured to reach this day, Consort Guo Ning possessed considerable composure. She released her tight grip on the chair’s armrest, picked up her teacup for a sip, and asked, “How old is Director Cui this year?”
Consort Guo Ning’s topic change was so sudden that Director Cui was caught off guard. Being beautiful, she usually took great care of her appearance. With her lovely face and graceful figure, her true age was hard to determine. Beautiful women were always sensitive about age—why was Consort Guo Ning asking this?
Director Cui could only answer truthfully: “This humble servant is thirty-nine years old this year.”
Consort Guo Ning nodded. “Oh, one really couldn’t tell you’re nearly forty—at your age, you have sufficient energy and experience. Now is precisely the time to display your talents. Have you ever considered advancing further in your official position?”
Director Cui immediately understood Consort Guo Ning’s meaning. For female officials, reaching department level was typically the ceiling—unless one went to the Palace Management Bureau as palace director, becoming head of all female officials.
Consort Guo Ning wanted to win her over with the position of palace director.
Director Cui said, “When working in the palace, not making mistakes is doing things right. This humble servant only wishes to do her current work well and harbors no inappropriate ambitions.”
But Consort Guo Ning countered, “Director Cao is still one year younger than you, yet she’s been palace director for several years. In what way do your appearance, character, or abilities fall short of hers? Are you willing to always watch Director Cao lord over you, throwing her weight around?”
Director Cui quickly said, “Director Cao is someone who fulfills her duties conscientiously. She’s just somewhat quick-tempered. Please don’t misunderstand, Consort Ning. Your Ladyship, this humble servant has matters to handle. I take my leave.”
Watching Director Cui’s retreating figure, Consort Guo Ning smiled lightly and murmured to herself, “She says no with her mouth, but her heart still wants it. Looking so beautiful, not seeking the emperor’s favor but single-mindedly climbing upward—that’s how she achieved today’s success. A female official who doesn’t want to be palace director isn’t a good female official.”
An elderly palace servant emerged from behind the screen. “Your Ladyship shouldn’t be too hasty. After all, you’ve endured all these years.”
This person was Consort Guo Ning’s chief maid from her maiden days. Due to her meritorious service attending the consort, she was granted her mistress’s surname. Palace people all called her Granny Guo.
Consort Guo Ning’s brows furrowed deeply. “Tan’er is fourteen years old this year. After completing the twenty-seven-month mourning period, he’ll establish his residence outside the palace, marry, start a family, and immediately depart for his fief. Tan’er was enfeoffed as Prince Lu just two months after birth. His fief is in Jinan, Shandong. Jinan is too far from the capital. Feudal princes cannot enter the capital without summons… This palace only has this one son. Now a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity presents itself. This palace must secure his future. If this palace commands the six palaces and becomes empress, he would become a legitimate son.”
One must know that Crown Prince Zhu Biao was also a son of a concubine, only enjoying the advantage of being the eldest. Moreover, the Eastern Palace’s legitimate eldest grandson Zhu Xiongying had died at age eight last year.
The Eastern Palace lacked heirs, the legitimate eldest grandson had died young, the crown prince was physically weak and frequently ill, while the Hongwu Emperor was still young. Consort Guo Ning’s background and children were impeccable. If she became the next empress, then the tenth prince, Prince Lu, might very well ascend to the heir apparent position.
Granny Guo lovingly stroked Consort Guo Ning’s hand. “Your Ladyship’s submission as a concubine was truly grievous. If you had married someone else as a proper wife—”
“A woman follows her father at home. How could I disobey father’s arrangements then?” Consort Guo Ning interrupted her loyal servant. “Father knew His Majesty had many wives and concubines, yet still commanded me to serve His Majesty. My two brothers also served under His Majesty’s command, charging into battle—it was gambling our entire family’s future on His Majesty winning the realm. Father was posthumously enfeoffed as duke, my two brothers proved worthy and were both enfeoffed as marquises. But what about me? They achieved success and fame—why should I remain a concubine? I must use my own methods to reclaim what rightfully belongs to me. Now the obstacles are gone one by one. I’m only one step away from that position. I must secure that position before Tan’er departs for his fief.”
Granny Guo looked at Consort Guo Ning with deep concern. “Your Ladyship has suffered, but to sit in that position ultimately depends on His Majesty’s will. Your Ladyship has immediately fallen out with Director Cao—the Six Bureaus and One Department were ultimately established by His Majesty’s decree.”
Consort Guo Ning laughed coldly. “That rebellious slave bullies her master. If she can cry, so can I. I’m going to His Majesty right now to confess my faults.”
Meanwhile, Director Cao had made a great show of leaving the palace for the Xiaoling Mausoleum. With Empress Xiaoci’s first anniversary memorial approaching, His Majesty, the crown prince, and other imperial family members, along with civil and military officials, would all come to the Xiaoling Mausoleum to pay their respects. Hu Shanwei began preparations, feeding the deer with extra care, ready to be scrutinized from every angle.
Hearing that Director Cao had arrived, Hu Shanwei felt like facing a great enemy. But unexpectedly, after Director Cao burned incense and wept at Empress Xiaoci’s memorial tablet, she actually came personally to the side hall where Hu Shanwei lived.
Hu Shanwei hurriedly said, “Haitang, quickly brew tea—use that package of Biluochun tea Princess Huaiqing sent last time.”
Brewing tea was a pretense; highlighting that she now had Princess Huaiqing as a backer was the real purpose, lest Director Cao mock her again.
Director Cao surveyed the room and Hu Shanwei’s complexion. “It seems you’re doing quite well here—but how is it I heard you were ill and called Imperial Physician Tan to treat you?”
Hu Shanwei replied, “Spring temperatures are changeable. I caught cold but recovered after taking medicine for five days.”
At this moment, Haitang served tea, respectfully saying, “Please enjoy your tea, Director Cao.”
Director Cao took a sip. “Indeed good tea—actually, you don’t need to deliberately invoke Princess Huaiqing’s name to pressure me. I’m not here to cause trouble today. I want to ask you for a favor.”