Chapter 105: The Warmth and Coldness of Human Nature

The “Imperially Compiled Records of Filial Compassion” promulgated by the Hongwu Emperor changed the old rule of “the state has no dual supremacy, the family has no dual authority,” advocating “equal honor for both parents.” The imperial family implemented joint burial of emperor and empress, with the emperor and primary empress sharing the same temple and receiving worship together.

Therefore, with Empress Ma’s death, court ministers wore mourning attire for twenty-seven days before removing it, dressed in plain clothes for a hundred days, officials were prohibited from music and sacrificial ceremonies for a hundred days, and marriages were suspended. The common people observed mourning for a month. The funeral specifications exceeded those of empresses from all previous dynasties.

August.

All civil and military officials in the capital wore plain clothes to court and performed condolence ceremonies.

Military officials fifth rank and above, and wives with imperial honors of civil officials third rank and above wore hemp shirts, hemp skirts, hemp head coverings, and hemp shoes. They were forbidden to use cosmetics or gold and silver jewelry, and proceeded in order to Kunning Palace to pay respects.

The Hongwu Emperor determined Empress Ma’s posthumous title – Filial Compassion (Xiaoci), so Empress Ma would henceforth be called Empress Xiaoci.

The Hongwu Emperor summoned the enfeoffed princes back to the capital to attend Empress Xiaoci’s funeral, even recalling the deposed Prince Qin who was confined to farming in Fengyang countryside.

September.

Empress Xiaoci’s spirit tablet was completed and her coffin was about to be buried. They informed the Ancestral Temple, sacrificed to the Mountain God of Mount Zhong, and prayed for divine protection of the empress’s peaceful rest underground.

With all preparations complete and princes from various regions having rushed to the capital to mourn and attend the funeral, Crown Prince Zhu Biao led the princes and princesses to escort Empress Xiaoci’s coffin into the Xiaoling Mausoleum on Mount Zhong. At the foot of Mount Zhong, the originally clear weather suddenly turned stormy with heavy rain and wind, making the roads difficult to traverse and threatening to delay the auspicious time for interment in the underground palace.

The grieving Hongwu Emperor flew into a rage and was about to execute the Directorate of Astronomy officials who calculated the date. Fortunately, eminent monk Zong Li in the funeral procession had a moment of inspiration and spoke four verses: “Rain falls as Heaven weeps, thunder sounds as Earth mourns. Western Buddha’s children all come to send off Ma Tathagata.”

This meant Empress Xiaoci’s death caused Heaven and Earth to grieve together, moving all Buddhas to come send off the empress.

Hearing this, the Hongwu Emperor spared the unlucky Directorate of Astronomy. At this time, Zong Li led his subordinate eminent monks including Chan Master Dao Yan to chant sutras and pray. Miraculously, after the sutra recitation, the rain stopped and clouds parted, allowing the funeral procession to continue.

The Hongwu Emperor firmly believed this was a divine miracle and looked favorably upon the sutra-chanting monks. In his overwhelming grief, the Hongwu Emperor casually assigned these monks to various princes: “Have these eminent monks follow you back to your fiefs. You must build temples for them and regularly go pray for Empress Xiaoci’s blessings. There must be no mistakes.”

The princes and monks agreed. Chan Master Dao Yan was assigned to the fourth prince, Prince Yan Zhu Di.

By late September, the princes successively returned to their fiefs with the eminent monks the Hongwu Emperor had assigned them, establishing temples to express their grief for Empress Xiaoci.

Because Prince Qin had fainted from crying several times during the funeral, expressing repentance and reform, and because the Great Ming was busy with the southern expedition – with famous generals like Mu Ying all gathered in the Yunnan-Guizhou region leaving defenses empty, and Northern Yuan beginning frequent border incursions again – in view of this, the Hongwu Emperor sent Duke Weiguo Xu Da to guard the northeast borders. He decided to give his son another chance, restoring his princely title and ordering him back to his fief to guard the northwest frontier.

This second piece of news was truly bad news for Hu Shanwei, who was feeding deer in Xiaoling Mausoleum.

Deer were auspicious creatures. The Hongwu Emperor had casually released two thousand of them in Xiaoling Mausoleum at once…

The Hongwu Emperor considered deer auspicious without thinking about how to feed them. The trees, flowers, and grass in the mausoleum area couldn’t possibly sustain two thousand deer. Moreover, it was already past frost descent in October with everything withering – there was even less to eat. The two thousand deer received the same rations as war horses, eating hay, bean cake, and such.

Besides feeding two thousand deer, Hu Shanwei also had to care for the pair of green peacocks tributed by Lady Mingde. Daily busy serving birds and beasts, she had almost no time for grief.

Since Empress Xiaoci’s death on the tenth day of the eighth month, Hu Shanwei had been sent to Xiaoling Mausoleum by Mao Qiang according to Empress Xiaoci’s final words. She had to guard the mausoleum for three years, forbidden to leave the mausoleum grounds even half a step – essentially under house arrest, but also a form of protection. After all, given the Hongwu Emperor’s temperament, anyone daring to cause trouble at the mausoleum was basically seeking death.

Empress Xiaoci had used this decisive method to sever Hu Shanwei’s connection with the court, like when she first entered the palace in the Storage Bureau, almost completely isolated from the world. The Storage Bureau was at least in the palace – Xiaoling Mausoleum was in the suburbs on Mount Zhong. Female officials who had been close to her in the palace could hardly visit here.

The person bringing news of Prince Qin’s restored title was Ma Sanbao, who similarly watched Prince Qin’s every move. Among the boys and girls who had been kidnapped and harmed by Prince Qin’s entourage years ago, only Ma Sanbao remained alive. Princess Qin Lady Wang had taken religious vows and was honored as Pure Immortal Master. The castrated boy Ma Sanbao continued serving Lady Wang in the nunnery, occasionally corresponding with Hu Shanwei.

Three years had passed, and the castrated boy had grown into a youth of insufficient stature. Ma Sanbao angrily threw a bean cake to a sika deer: “Such a beast of a person – shedding a few crocodile tears actually gets another chance! What about those who died tragically? What about Palace Official Liu who had her tongue cut out? Who gives them a chance?”

Hu Shanwei also felt deep powerlessness: “What can I do? I’m also desperate, trapped here for three years. After three years, Prince Qin will probably have become a reformed virtuous prince. That sinister villain will definitely come for revenge against us.”

Ma Sanbao said: “I can’t just sit and wait for death. This time I come not only to tell you about Prince Qin’s news, but also to bid farewell – thanks to Pure Immortal Master’s recommendation, I’ve been studying Buddhism with Chan Master Dao Yan these three years. During Empress Xiaoci’s funeral, Chan Master Dao Yan participated in chanting sutras to stop the wind and rain. His Majesty assigned the master to Prince Yan, having Chan Master Dao Yan establish temples in Yan territory at Beiping to pray for Empress Xiaoci’s blessings. I will accompany Chan Master Dao Yan to Yan territory. Three years from now, when you leave Xiaoling Mausoleum, if Prince Qin gives you trouble, come find me in Yan territory.”

Ma Sanbao had found Prince Yan as a powerful protector.

Hu Shanwei smiled and continued throwing bean cakes to the deer herd: “Thank you for your kindness, but after three years, I should find a way to return to court. There’s something very important that I swear to complete.”

Even on her deathbed, Empress Ma had used her final words to protect her. If she couldn’t avenge Empress Ma and find the real culprit, she would die with eyes unclosed.

Ma Sanbao followed Chan Master Dao Yan and Prince Yan’s party to Yan territory Beiping. Chan Master Dao Yan was quite talented in poetry, writing a poem upon departure titled “Departing Jinling by Official Ship to Beiping on the First Day of the Tenth Month”:

Below Stone City, waters vast and boundless, Alone aboard the official ship to distant lands. Food and lodging, I pity sharing with guards, Robes and bowl, who laughs they mix with military garb? Deep night, many oars’ sounds shake the moon, Cold dawn, lone mast’s shadow carries frost. Having weathered all storms and hardships, Worry-free should be only for serving the feudal king.

Ma Sanbao knew Hu Shanwei was a devoted reader of Chan Master Dao Yan, enjoying collecting his poems and essays, so he copied this poem and sent it to Hu Shanwei who fed deer at Xiaoling Mausoleum.

Hu Shanwei, daily surrounded by “beasts,” was extremely lacking in spiritual nourishment. Receiving Chan Master Dao Yan’s new poem, she treasured it like a precious gem, copying it in her poetry collection and repeatedly reciting and appreciating it.

From the verses, Chan Master Dao Yan seemed to have a good relationship with Prince Yan. Having become Prince Yan’s honored guest, things like “Deep night, many oars’ sounds shake the moon, cold dawn, lone mast’s shadow carries frost” didn’t matter anymore.

Hu Shanwei had enjoyed three years of glory but now faced adversity, confined to Xiaoling Mausoleum, keeping company with birds and beasts in loneliness and solitude. Those who had previously offended her and wanted to step on her and seek revenge were blocked by layers of mausoleum guards – their reach couldn’t extend here.

Empress Xiaoci’s calculations were indeed flawless.

Hu Shanwei fell from sixth-rank female official to mausoleum guardian – essentially a menial laborer. All salary and stipends were cut off, making her days quite impoverished.

True feelings are revealed in times of adversity.

Since Hu Shanwei came to Xiaoling Mausoleum to raise deer, young palace maid Haitang also volunteered to come add lamp oil and clean the subsidiary halls, staying by Hu Shanwei’s side.

Ji Gang often came to the mausoleum to see her and help feed the deer. Mao Qiang occasionally visited too. With the Embroidered Uniform Guard as backing, the mausoleum guards treated Hu Shanwei fairly well, not daring to shortchange her supplies.

In the rear palace, Chen Er’mei frequently had people send her food treats. Palace Supervisor Fan sent word through others telling her to “be patient and don’t act rashly,” to guard Empress Xiaoci’s spirit tablet well, and “after three years she would have her opportunity,” and so forth.

Shen Qionglian sent books, paper, brushes, and other items, saying “books contain the path to success,” urging her not to forget reading during spare time between feeding deer and tending phoenixes. With knowledge, there would come a day for comeback.

Feeding two thousand deer daily was exhausting. At night, Hu Shanwei could fall asleep immediately upon lying down, but seeing the bookshelf packed full of books, she still struggled to get up and read half a book before sleeping.

Noble Consort Chengmu Sun was buried near Xiaoling Mausoleum. Every time Princess Huaiqing came to visit her birth mother, she would also visit Hu Shanwei at Xiaoling Mausoleum, bestowing many gifts. Whether this had anything to do with her former fiancé Wang Ning was unclear, but Princess Huaiqing’s reason was: “My mother consort received a glorious burial thanks to your suggestion of equal honor for both parents, changing the mourning system. I will not treat you poorly.”

Princess Huaiqing was generous and regularly sent food to Xiaoling Mausoleum, greatly improving Hu Shanwei and Haitang’s lives. In winter, they could use the palace’s finest silver frost charcoal, and every meal included a bowl of meat.

Pharmacist Ru still worried about Hu Shanwei’s chilblain-prone hands. Previously in the palace she wasn’t exposed to cold, but now hearing she went out daily to feed deer, exposed to wind and sun, she prepared anti-freezing ointment and had imperial doctors deliver it to Hu Shanwei, telling her to take care of herself.

Applying the ointment, Hu Shanwei used a feather duster to clean dust from Empress Xiaoci’s spirit tablet, seemingly talking to herself: “Your Majesty said I made many enemies in three years and forced me to retreat from the world to avoid trouble. But in these three years I also formed many good relationships. Your Majesty can see from the underworld – though I’ve fallen on hard times now, it hasn’t reached the point where everyone kicks me when I’m down. This shows there are benefits to standing out. I don’t regret my previous desperate efforts. Giving always has returns. If I had achieved nothing, once I left court, who would remember me?”

Feeding deer hadn’t defeated Hu Shanwei’s fighting spirit.

Of course, there were also those who disappointed Hu Shanwei.

Her disciples Huang Weide and Jiang Quan, being older and more experienced, seemed to sense something unusual and were very cautious. They sent nothing and said not a word, as if Hu Shanwei had never appeared in their lives.

Hu Shanwei appeared indifferent on the surface but was quite hurt inside, especially by Huang Weide. She had taught Huang Weide reading and examinations by hand, petitioning Empress Xiaoci to grant her a name, feeling she had fulfilled her teacher’s duty. But when she fell on hard times, Huang Weide acted as if she’d never had this teacher.

There was also the arrogant Palace Supervisor Cao, who had come to Xiaoling Mausoleum with Consort Li during Empress Xiaoci’s hundredth day memorial, publicly mocking Hu Shanwei with an attitude of kicking someone when they’re down.

Hu Shanwei knew Palace Supervisor Cao acted this way because Prince Qin had made a comeback while she had fallen from grace, making revenge for Palace Official Liu mere empty talk. Palace Supervisor Cao was disappointed in Hu Shanwei, and Hu Shanwei knew she had broken her word. No matter how Palace Supervisor Cao mocked and ridiculed her, she endured it without saying a word.

Regarding the southern expedition army, Mu Mansion submitted to the Great Ming. Mu Ying led troops to rescue besieged Kunming city, coordinating inside and outside with brother-in-law Feng Cheng defending the city. The two hundred thousand rebel troops retreated in defeat, Kunming city was saved, and the Yunnan situation was reversed.

At this time, news of Empress Xiaoci’s death reached the Yunnan-Guizhou region. The entire army wore white mourning. Mu Ying and Mu Chun – one in Kunming, one in Guizhou – both wailed, wore coarse hemp mourning clothes, set up altars, and kowtowed toward the capital.

But grief aside, without the Hongwu Emperor’s orders, neither father nor son dared abandon their posts. Enduring sorrow, the southern expedition continued, continuing to suppress rebellions.

Mu Chun, defending Guizhou, learned from Ji Gang that Hu Shanwei had left the palace to guard Xiaoling Mausoleum and frequently wrote her letters. Not mentioning Empress Xiaoci, his language was witty and relaxed. Sometimes he used his appalling drawing skills to depict recent encounters – like leading troops through a swamp, emerging covered with leeches, while a Yi shaman serving as doctor sprayed some medicinal wine on him, forcing the leeches to drill out of his body one by one.

Mu Chun drew a human figure with tadpole-like ink dots covering the entire body, so frightening Hu Shanwei immediately felt unwell and threw the terrifying drawing into the brazier.

Hu Shanwei wrote back, painting a pine and deer picture for Mu Chun. Now keeping company with deer, her deer-painting skills improved daily.

Leaving the palace had its benefits. Once inside palace gates, it’s deep as the sea, making outside communication inconvenient, otherwise there would be suspicion of consorting with enemies. But at Xiaoling Mausoleum, correspondence wasn’t forbidden. Though Hu Shanwei and Mu Chun couldn’t meet, their contact became closer.

Seeing Hu Shanwei’s reply and painting, Mu Chun knew she was fallen but not depressed – this was his Sister Shanwei, shining and burning wherever she was, such a vibrant soul.

With the primary empress’s death, the Great Ming palace was turbulent.

Initially, Consort Li Shu, who assisted in managing the Six Palaces, performed appropriately during Empress Xiaoci’s birthday and funeral, earning the Hongwu Emperor’s appreciation. Additionally, while busy, Consort Li Shu also carefully cared for young princesses. Therefore, a hundred days after Empress Xiaoci’s mourning, the Hongwu Emperor promoted Consort Li Shu to Noble Consort.

Noble Consort Li’s status elevated, making her head of the rear palace. The Six Bureaus and One Office continued assisting Noble Consort Li in managing the rear palace, receiving internal and external noble ladies, and acting as empress.

The Hongwu Emperor was just over fifty, quite young. Court and public speculated Noble Consort Li might become the next empress. Noble Consort Li also had no sons, with even her princesses adopted, but Empress Ma had no legitimate sons, only two princesses. With the crown prince already established, whether the empress bore sons didn’t matter.

Due to Empress Xiaoci’s state mourning, whether Mid-Autumn Festival, Double Ninth Festival, or even major celebrations like winter solstice and Spring Festival were simply observed. The palace was shrouded in white mourning with no celebratory atmosphere.

Sixteenth year of Hongwu, another spring arrived. In March, while Hu Shanwei fed deer, she heard crying and funeral music from outside Xiaoling Mausoleum, from the direction of Noble Consort Chengmu Sun’s tomb.

Just as she wondered about this, Haitang hurriedly ran over, saying: “Noble Consort Li has died. His Majesty granted burial on Mount Zhong, with her tomb beside Noble Consort Chengmu Sun’s mausoleum.”

After less than a year, Noble Consort Li was dead? Empress Xiaoci’s prophecy was too accurate – the rear palace would surely fall into chaos.

Hu Shanwei asked: “With Noble Consort Li dead, who now assists in managing the Six Palaces?”

Haitang said: “Consort Guo Ning.”