Apothecary Ru was twenty-seven years old – in that era, considered an old maid. However, court ladies marrying officials as second wives still held great matrimonial value. With both parents deceased and no family considering her wishes, her clan members all wanted to use her marriage to climb to wealth and status. Matchmakers flocked to her.
Upon hearing this news, Apothecary Ru, who had originally planned to return home first to pay respects at ancestral graves, immediately changed her mind. She would first turn raw rice into cooked rice – marry Tan Fu and become officially recognized partners.
Both the Tan and Ru families were great clans of Jiangnan. Tan Fu was nearly thirty and still a bachelor. His father, a supervising censor, had long been restless, even saying things like “I don’t care if you prefer men – I just want to hold a grandson. Love whoever you want.”
When Tan Fu brought Apothecary Ru back to their Wuxi hometown to discuss marriage, Father Tan was overjoyed, thinking he was dreaming. His daughter-in-law came from a scholarly family, was a sixth-rank female official with lifetime benefits, gentle and virtuous (on the surface), and skilled in medicine. He immediately arranged proper matchmaking procedures and welcomed his daughter-in-law through the door.
Three days after the wedding, Tan Fu used the excuse of accompanying his new bride back to her family for the traditional return visit, but actually went off to travel the world. Father Tan had prepared several cartloads of gifts for his in-laws, hoping to hold a grandson in ten months, not knowing this was like throwing meat buns at dogs – gone never to return.
Apothecary Ru returned to her hometown in fine clothes with her husband, paying respects at her parents’ graves. The Ru clan’s calculations were dashed, yet they had to smile and receive the new son-in-law, since the Tan family was a great Wuxi clan with officials in the family – not to be trifled with.
After fulfilling filial duties at home, Apothecary Ru and Tan Fu began their “husband and wife tasting a hundred herbs” journey. They sailed the Eastern Sea and went to the southwest, where Lady She Xiang warmly received them. They exchanged knowledge with local shamans and healers, obtaining many exotic medicines, testing their properties, and drawing botanical diagrams to help future generations with harvesting.
Because Hu Shanwei had saved Apothecary Ru’s life, the two maintained correspondence. Apothecary Ru wrote about her experiences in letters sent to various postal stations, eventually reaching the palace – nearly one letter per month.
The Tan-Ru couple’s whereabouts were uncertain, never staying long in one place. Travel and collecting medicines cost money, but they supported themselves through Apothecary Ru’s salary and occasional medical fees, achieving self-sufficiency. Taking no money from family meant no family restrictions requiring Apothecary Ru to stay home as a virtuous wife and mother.
Throughout history, women seeking independence and chasing ideals must first achieve economic independence – the ability to earn money.
Hu Shanwei sent Apothecary Ru’s salary to postal stations marked in her letters. Knowing Apothecary Ru’s proud nature, she dared not give extra – only the exact salary amount.
Lovers finally became spouses. Hu Shanwei was very happy for the Tan-Ru couple. Mutual affection plus shared aspirations made them like celestial couples.
What Hu Shanwei couldn’t obtain, others had achieved – both comfort and encouragement. The Tan-Ru couple’s hard-won happiness in both love and career gave Hu Shanwei hope for her future with Mu Chun.
Just like that, over a year passed quickly. After Empress Xiaoci’s twenty-seven month mourning period ended, the palace no longer wore plain clothes, returning to its former colorful splendor.
Once mourning ended, Emperor Hongwu swiftly arranged marriages for his adult sons. After wedding ceremonies, they immediately rolled off to their fiefs. Thus, the average age for Ming princes to assume their fiefs plummeted from twenty to fifteen years old.
First to marry was Prince Lu Zhu Tan, Concubine Guo Ning’s only son. To repay the Guo family’s total loyalty, Emperor Hongwu found Prince Lu a wife of distinguished background – bestowing Duke Xinguo Tang He’s eldest legitimate daughter Lady Tang upon Prince Lu.
Like Duke Weiguo Xu Da, Tang He was also a Fengyang fellow townsman. Tang He had followed Guo Zixing in joining the Red Turban Army and done well, so he wrote to Zhu Yuanzhang, who was still a monk begging for food, saying mixing with Guo Zixing meant full meals, occasionally even meat – promising prospects!
Zhu Yuanzhang thus returned to secular life, seeking out this Fengyang fellow. With his proper appearance and capable handling of affairs, he became a ceremonial guard under Guo Zixing’s command, even marrying Guo Zixing’s adopted daughter Lady Ma. Later Zhu Yuanzhang staged a snake swallowing an elephant, reversing the situation, absorbing Guo’s political legacy, killing his sons, and forcing marriage to his daughter Lady Guo as concubine, becoming a regional overlord.
One could say the Great Ming Empire’s existence resulted from Duke Xinguo Tang He’s single letter.
Even picky Concubine Guo Ning was satisfied with her son’s marriage. Currently, Lady Tang was the most distinguished unmarried woman in the entire capital.
Having gained a noble-born wife and powerful in-law support, Prince Lu wanted more, remaining obsessed with Shen Qionglian: “That night when Xiaoling was burned by Northern Yuan forces, I gave Shen the instructor my blanket and stood guard with sword wearing only thin sleeping clothes. Didn’t that move Instructor Shen at all?”
Without a word, Shen Qionglian returned ten blankets to Prince Lu: “Enough? If not, I’ll give you ten more.”
Prince Lu was heartbroken, collapsing among the ten blankets in despair. When Concubine Guo Ning learned of this, fearing Prince Lu would ruin this good marriage, she severely scolded her son not to damage her path to empress status. After her future empress investiture, she would find ways for Shen Qionglian to marry him as secondary consort.
Prince Lu understood the gravity and obediently married Lady Tang.
After the wedding, Emperor Hongwu immediately decreed Prince Lu should assume his fief in Yanzhou, Shandong.
Concubine Guo Ning was stunned, running to Emperor Hongwu wanting to keep her son a few more years – she wasn’t empress yet!
Hu Shanwei firmly held back the foolish Concubine Guo Ning: “Your Majesty, the imperial edict has been issued. What grounds do you have for asking the emperor to rescind his command?”
Concubine Guo Ning wept: “Yanzhou is so far away! Feudal princes cannot enter the capital without summons and must stay in their fiefs. Won’t this separate us mother and son in life? He’s still just a child! At his fief, he’ll be the leader – who can control him? Away from this palace’s strict discipline, what if his old habit of taking elixirs returns? I heard those things are addictive.”
Concubine Guo Ning’s worries weren’t unreasonable – Prince Lu wasn’t a person with self-control.
Hu Shanwei thought it over and said: “Your Majesty now has only one way to delay Prince Lu’s departure for his fief. Besides this, no matter how you beg the emperor, it will be useless.”
Concubine Guo Ning grasped Hu Shanwei’s hands like a drowning person grabbing a lifeline: “What method? This palace will do everything in its power.”
Hu Shanwei said: “Your Majesty should voluntarily resign from managing the rear palace.”
Concubine Guo Ning fell silent, still gripping Hu Shanwei’s hands, her eyes conflicted.
Hu Shanwei sighed: “With the emperor’s temperament, is he a husband who would be moved by Your Majesty’s tears? Is he a father who would change the fief system due to worries about Prince Lu’s old habits? If Your Majesty abandons rear palace power, turning deaf ears to outside affairs and focusing only on waiting for grandchildren in Zhongcui Palace, perhaps the emperor might keep Prince Lu two more years due to the Guo family’s decades of loyalty.”
“Your Majesty controls rear palace power, the Guo family controls imperial guards, Prince Lu delays assuming his fief – in such suspicious circumstances, what will the emperor think? Moreover, Prince Lu’s father-in-law Duke Xinguo Tang He commands the Great Ming navy responsible for coastal defense. With such powerful external relative forces, if Your Majesty doesn’t let go, the emperor won’t feel at ease.”
Prince Lu’s situation: his mother managed the rear palace, his uncle was imperial guard commander-in-chief, his father-in-law was navy commander-in-chief. With Emperor Hongwu’s suspicious nature, could he tolerate Prince Lu continuing to stay in the capital?
Having worked at court for six years, Hu Shanwei had always been at the center of palace storm whirlpools. Thanks to Empress Xiaoci’s guidance and her personal experience summarizing court struggles, she generally understood Emperor Hongwu’s mind, seeing through things clearly, thus able to point out Emperor Hongwu’s concerns precisely.
Everyone – civil and military officials, his original wife, concubines, princes and princesses – were all chess pieces on Emperor Hongwu’s board. Emperor Hongwu was a skilled chess player, using people as pieces, advancing or sacrificing them. For the greater good, he wouldn’t be soft-hearted about “sacrificing” pieces.
Regarding Emperor Hongwu, one couldn’t gauge his thoughts and behavior as husband or father – he was first an emperor, maintaining rule, ensuring power remained in his hands with no one able to challenge him, not even his sons.
Hu Shanwei’s wake-up call stunned Concubine Guo Ning.
Concubine Guo Ning stood frozen, thinking for a long time, ultimately letting go – neither begging Emperor Hongwu nor volunteering to abandon rear palace power.
Watching Concubine Guo Ning’s dejected expression, Hu Shanwei couldn’t help sighing:
This woman, given as a gift by her own father and personally delivered to Emperor Hongwu’s bed, had spent her first half-life serving father, brothers, the Guo family, and her son, suppressing herself and accepting concubine status. For her second half-life, Concubine Guo Ning wanted to live for herself – she desperately wanted legitimization, wanted to become the new mistress of Kunning Palace, to become empress mother.
These past two years, Concubine Guo Ning had treated Hu Shanwei as honored guest. Though their relationship was mutually beneficial, spending time together created some affection. At least Concubine Guo Ning could accept advice, not someone who became insufferably arrogant upon gaining power.
Hu Shanwei helped Concubine Guo Ning sit down, advising: “Your Majesty, is the empress position so easy to occupy? During Empress Xiaoci’s reign, she suppressed her maternal Ma family completely – the Ma family didn’t even have an earl. Their only outstanding nephew Ma Ye also capsized in the gutter, calculated to death. At the time, Empress Xiaoci even requested the emperor grant her an imperial sword – if Ma Ye disobeyed, she would execute him on the spot. What kind of determination was that? Your maternal family has two marquis brothers holding real power. If Prince Lu doesn’t assume his fief, do you think that’s appropriate?”
“Empress Xiaoci, Empress Xiaoci – you always talk about how good she was. Must everything she did be right?” Concubine Guo Ning grew impatient, her temperament flaring like a student who barely passed exams living next to the perpetual straight-A “other family’s child.”
She didn’t want to accept it but had to. Every mention of “other family’s child” made her agitated – she didn’t want to hear it.
After two years together, Hu Shanwei could grasp Concubine Guo Ning’s “vital spot” – becoming empress.
Hu Shanwei advised: “If Your Majesty wants to be empress, you must maintain consistent positions and interests with the emperor. Don’t consider yourself the Guo family’s daughter or Prince Lu’s mother. If Guo family and Prince Lu interests conflict with the emperor’s, Your Majesty must unhesitatingly side with the emperor, suppressing the Guo family and Prince Lu.”
Concubine Guo Ning was straightforward, so Hu Shanwei spoke directly – otherwise, with roundabout language and Concubine Guo Ning’s intelligence, she wouldn’t understand.
Concubine Guo Ning began arguing: “Without the Guo family and Prince Lu, what difference is there between this palace and those baseless concubines? Like Concubine Guo Hui – her father was Guo Zixing, whom the emperor back then… ahem. The Guo family’s power completely merged into the Zhu Ming dynasty. Concubine Guo Hui bore five children for the emperor, truly dedicating her all to the emperor. According to your reasoning, maintaining consistent interests with the emperor, she should be empress. But Concubine Guo Hui in the palace is like air without presence – after all these years, her rank hasn’t improved at all.”
Oh my, Concubine Guo Ning had progressed these past two years, even knowing how to argue with evidence. Hu Shanwei felt gratified, like watching a pig she’d raised finally learn to root for cabbage.
Hu Shanwei said: “Your Majesty is absolutely right. Originally Concubine Guo Hui had everything ready, but who told her brother Guo Tianshu to rebel, insisting on raising troops to reclaim Guo family inheritance? The emperor killed the rebellious Guo Tianshu – once blood feud was involved, empress investiture became problematic. Concubine Guo Hui was dragged down by family and lost empress qualification. So Your Majesty is destined to be successor empress – treasure this opportunity, protect the emperor’s interests. Husband and wife as one, passing test after test, the emperor will recognize Your Majesty’s worth and invest you as empress. Prince Lu’s fief assumption is one test – Your Majesty must hold firm!”
From another angle – if you were emperor, you’d also choose a woman who put your interests above her family’s and son’s interests as empress.
Concubine Guo Ning finally understood, not obstructing Prince Lu’s fief assumption, even bestowing many books for him to cultivate himself at his fief as a good Ming prince benefiting his region.
Additionally, Concubine Guo Ning summoned daughter-in-law Lady Tang to the palace, bestowing the “Zhao Song Virtuous Consorts’ Disciplinary Records” compiled by Empress Xiaoci’s order upon Princess Lu.
Concubine Guo Ning instructed her daughter-in-law: “Empress Xiaoci was a model of virtuous consorts. When this book was compiled, this palace stood listening respectfully in Kunning Palace for three days, benefiting greatly. In your future life with Prince Lu, when confused or uncertain, take out this book for careful contemplation – it will teach you how to be a good wife and good princess.”
Actually, standing respectfully for three days had left Concubine Guo Ning’s legs numb, and she’d complained afterward, thinking Empress Xiaoci was deliberately showing off.
Position determines perspective. Now that Concubine Guo Ning had become rear palace mistress, she discovered this book’s true value, wishing palace people would study it again.
Lady Tang received the “Zhao Song Virtuous Consorts’ Disciplinary Records” like receiving a sacred object, respectfully carrying it back to Prince Lu’s mansion.
Seeing this book she’d personally had engraved and printed in Hangzhou, Hu Shanwei felt emotions. Having been a female official for only six years felt like a lifetime – the worlds before and after age twenty were completely different.
Hu Shanwei deliberately had this matter spread throughout the rear palace, naturally reaching Emperor Hongwu’s ears. Emperor Hongwu was very satisfied with Concubine Guo Ning, especially Empress Xiaoci’s “Zhao Song Virtuous Consorts’ Disciplinary Records,” which triggered his melancholy longing for his deceased wife, feeling Concubine Guo Ning had finally awakened to understand Empress Xiaoci’s spirit.
That night, Emperor Hongwu stayed at Zhongcui Palace. Outside Zhongcui Palace, “guard bedroom” ceremonial equipment was arranged – two old trees blooming with unique scenery.
Prince Lu obediently followed the edict, taking his newlywed wife to assume his fief in Yanzhou, Shandong.
Yanzhou was a good place – prosperous region, inland location, relatively safe. Unlike Prince Yan’s, Prince Qin’s, and Prince Jin’s mansions located in border defense fortress cities, he didn’t need to worry about fighting to protect national territory – being a peaceful prince with lifelong wealth and honor.
Emperor Hongwu knew Prince Lu’s capabilities, arranging everything clearly. The royal family all said Prince Lu was blessed.
After Prince Lu assumed his fief, Emperor Hongwu immediately invested Concubine Guo Ning as Noble Consort.
Only one step from empress position! Receiving the promotion edict, Noble Consort Guo immediately felt refreshed, instantly casting aside her melancholy over her son’s distant fief assumption, tightly grasping Hu Shanwei’s hands: “You were right again – just following Empress Xiaoci’s path forward, the empress position will be this palace’s.”