After Prince Lu assumed his fief in Yanzhou, he gradually grew unsatisfied with daily poetry composition and literary exchanges with scholars and poets. With the emperor far away, he again wanted to emulate Wei-Jin era bohemians in taking elixirs to stimulate inspiration. Princess Lu Lady Tang used the “Zhao Song Virtuous Consorts’ Disciplinary Records” bestowed by her mother-in-law to restrain her husband.
With his wife’s strict supervision preventing him from obtaining pills from outside, the troublesome Prince Lu simply got several cauldrons and began learning alchemy from scratch in his study’s basement – self-producing, self-selling, self-consuming, self-entertaining. But that’s a story for later.
Besides Prince Lu’s marriage and fief assumption, other imperial children of similar age also married – the palace had continuous celebrations.
Previously when Noble Consort Chengmu Lady Sun died, according to Emperor Hongwu’s “Filial Piety Records,” children needed one year of mourning for a stepmother, during which they couldn’t discuss marriage.
Just as mourning ended, Empress Xiaoci died, requiring children to observe twenty-seven months of full mourning for their legitimate mother…
The palace had successive funerals, delaying the children’s marriages. If another concubine died, new filial regulations would delay things another year.
Rules you set must be followed through with tears.
Emperor Hongwu was also a father. Like all fathers worldwide, he couldn’t tolerate children reaching marriageable age without wedding. So immediately after mourning ended, Emperor Hongwu rapidly arranged matches:
Tenth Prince Lu married Duke Xinguo Tang He’s eldest legitimate daughter Lady Tang as Princess Lu, assuming his fief in Yanzhou, Shandong.
Eleventh Prince Shu Zhu Chun married Marquis Yongchang Lan Yu’s eldest legitimate daughter Lady Lan as Princess Shu, assuming his fief in Chengdu, Sichuan.
Seventh Princess Daming married Front Army Governor’s Office Commander Li Jian. Li Jian’s selection as seventh son-in-law was mainly because his father Li Ying died fighting in Yunnan during the Great Ming’s southern campaigns two years prior – Emperor Hongwu was consoling a martyr’s orphan.
Eighth Princess Fuqing, Empress Xiaoci’s biological daughter, married Zhang Long’s son Zhang Lin. Zhang Long was Marquis Fengxiang.
Ninth Princess Shouchun married Duke Yingguo Fu Youde’s eldest legitimate son Fu Zhong. Fu Youde was the southern campaign’s grand marshal with accumulated merits. Moreover, Fu Youde’s youngest fourth son Fu Tianxi died in the southern campaigns with no remains found – white-haired sending off black-haired. To console the old general, Emperor Hongwu bestowed his most beloved Princess Shouchun upon the Fu family.
Overall, this imperial “group wedding” was basically connected to the Great Ming’s southern campaigns. Court and public began realizing Emperor Hongwu’s emphasis on southwestern territories matched his fierce defense of northern borders.
In the Great Ming’s southwest, as Lady She Xiang and Lady Mingde led their people in cutting through mountains to build roads, the gradually opening Longchang Nine Post Stations began attracting clever Great Ming merchants to Yunnan-Guizhou for business, discovering this was practically a gold-mining land.
How good was business? One jin of salt could exchange for two horses.
Fortune made!
To encourage their people to leave the mountains, Lady She Xiang and Lady Mingde simply sent their sons to the capital for education as examples. Emperor Hongwu received these descendants of two heroic women, arranging them to study at the Imperial Academy.
What the superior loves, subordinates will follow. With Emperor Hongwu’s obvious political inclinations, officials gradually became willing to serve there as administrators, seeking achievements for promotion. Common people also became willing to seek wealth there. The Yunnan-Guizhou region, closed for a thousand years, began exchanging and integrating with Central Plains civilization.
Just as outsiders rolled up their sleeves planning to leverage Emperor Hongwu’s southwestern revitalization policies for political achievements or money, the rear palace, having experienced court upheavals and bloody storms, also showed signs of recovery and revitalization.
Newly promoted Noble Consort Guo launched an offensive for empress position. To demonstrate her abilities, she handled these five major marriages with special dedication. As they say, copying texts a hundred times reveals their meaning – though Noble Consort Guo was mediocre by nature, through struggling step by step, her loyalty and diligence gradually changed Emperor Hongwu’s and the rear palace’s evaluation of her.
The complex weddings for two princes and three princesses proceeded successively. This year the palace had continuous celebrations – busy but not chaotic, sweeping away previous sad and tense atmospheres. Finally no need to live in daily fear of losing heads. Though busy this year, palace people’s moods gradually improved, willing to show smiling faces.
People ultimately must look forward. No matter how much bloodshed and towering waves occurred before, when great waves recede, even the noisiest beaches return to level ground, occasionally leaving empty shells and conchs telling past stories.
After five consecutive celebrations, palace atmosphere gradually harmonized, no longer the previous scene of universal fear.
With improved moods, previously annoying people and matters gradually became agreeable.
Even Court Lady Cao, who previously most looked down on Concubine Guo Ning, quietly told Hu Shanwei: “Since Noble Consort Guo was invested as noble consort, she seems increasingly comfortable. Previously she always wanted to show off before us, ostentatiously displaying her rear palace authority. Now as noble consort, her speech and actions are actually more polite. When I go to Zhongcui Palace for business, she even grants me a seat and tea.”
Hu Shanwei smiled: “Noble Consort Guo is actually very simple – her thoughts are almost written on her face. This personality has its advantages. She has no malicious intentions and won’t fight just to fight, won’t deliberately step on former opponents Noble Consort Li and Concubine Guo Hui, showing off before them. She just wants respect and attention. Sometimes when she throws small tantrums, coaxing her works. Nobody’s perfect.”
Court Lady Cao said: “People respect me one foot, I respect them ten feet. Since so, I’ll give Noble Consort Guo a great gift.”
Court Lady Cao memorialized Emperor Hongwu, saying Kunning Palace had been empty nearly four years. Though the Palace Administration Bureau regularly sent people for cleaning, many places needed repairs, refilling, painting, and lacquering. Additionally, since the imperial palace was built on filled Yanque Lake, parts of Kunning Palace now showed subsidence. Should Kunning Palace undergo major renovation?
This was actually subtle probing. No matter how high Noble Consort Guo’s rank, she remained a concubine. No matter how magnificent Zhongcui Palace, it was just one of the Eastern and Western Six Palaces. Only empresses qualified to live in Kunning Palace on the imperial palace’s central axis.
Major Kunning Palace renovation meant preparing for the new mistress to move in.
Seeing Court Lady Cao’s memorial, Emperor Hongwu specially walked through Kunning Palace. Since Empress Xiaoci’s death, he’d never set foot there again.
Houses are strange things – once uninhabited, they lose vitality. Even with regular cleaning, they show signs of decay.
Emperor Hongwu spent an afternoon in a daze at Kunning Palace. Emerging, he told the waiting Court Lady Cao: “Approved.”
To prevent disturbing palace dignitaries, Kunning Palace was temporarily cordoned off with a special craftsmen’s passage built. Inside rang with clanging and banging as high scaffolding rose – visible even from outside the palace.
At Zhongcui Palace.
When Hu Shanwei told Noble Consort Guo about Kunning Palace renovation, she couldn’t believe good fortune came so quickly. She specially went outside Kunning Palace, straining to hear the internal commotion, watching gradually rising scaffolding, rubbing her eyes: “Is this palace dreaming?”
“No.” Hu Shanwei pinched Noble Consort Guo’s arm flesh: “Does it hurt?”
“Yes.” Noble Consort Guo said: “Now even pain feels like good fortune.”
Considering face, Noble Consort Guo couldn’t show joy outside. Returning to the palace, she was ecstatic: “This palace will be empress!”
She was excited beyond control, running east and west in the sleeping hall, unable to stop for a moment: “This palace will finally achieve her wish!”
The more Noble Consort Guo thought, the more excited she became, even losing a phoenix slipper without noticing. Hu Shanwei picked up the shoe, laughing and crying: “Your Majesty, quickly put on the shoe – the floor is cold.”
Who knew extreme joy breeds sorrow – Noble Consort Guo suddenly clenched her jaw and collapsed. Hu Shanwei quickly went to massage her chest and pinch her philtrum, ordering palace people to fetch a female physician.
When the female physician arrived, Noble Consort Guo had been pinched awake by Hu Shanwei, her philtrum bearing a red mark. Remembering her earlier unseemly behavior, Noble Consort Guo felt embarrassed: “Nothing wrong – this palace just accidentally fell.”
Certainly couldn’t tell others Noble Consort Guo had gone mad with joy. Hu Shanwei said: “Since the physician came, let her examine Your Majesty.”
After taking the pulse, the female physician said: “Your Majesty seems to have heart disease. For specifics, we need Imperial Medical Academy physicians for joint consultation.”
“Heart disease?” Noble Consort Guo didn’t believe it: “This palace’s health has always been excellent – barely coughing once yearly. This past year, encountering joyous events has brightened spirits. This palace was never melancholy or resentful – how could I have heart disease?”
Since Apothecary Ru left, palace female physicians lacked her backbone. Previously no patients dared contradict Apothecary Ru face-to-face.
The female physician said: “From Your Majesty’s pulse, this appears so. Heart disease is illness – often unrelated to mood. Previously not apparent, now as Your Majesty ages plus busy palace duties and continuous labor, it easily manifests.”
Noble Consort Guo had indeed been extremely busy this year, rushing about. Plus sudden great joy, she fainted briefly from happiness.
Hu Shanwei said: “If so, please Your Majesty move to Qianqing Palace for physician consultation.”
“This palace won’t go – this palace has no serious problem. Don’t spread nonsense about this palace’s collapse.” Noble Consort Guo displayed rear palace mistress authority: “Just have Apothecary Liu prescribe medicine according to symptoms. This palace trusts Apothecary Liu’s medical skills – no need for grand physician summons.”
Since ancient times, royalty were the biggest medical troublemakers. Common medical troublemakers demanded money; royal troublemakers demanded lives!
Emperor Hongwu was worst – when Empress Xiaoci lived, to protect imperial physicians and female physicians, she simply refused medical examination when ill.
Apothecary Liu immediately felt great pressure. She desperately wanted Noble Consort Guo to seek physician consultation to reduce her pressure, but Noble Consort Guo had some medical phobia. She had to comply:
“This servant will immediately prescribe medicine for Your Majesty. However, after one dose, this servant must return for follow-up examination. If all is well, that’s best. If still unwell, Your Majesty must go to Qianqing Palace for joint physician consultation. During medication, Your Majesty should avoid labor and extreme emotions, maintaining peaceful mood.”
Noble Consort Guo naturally didn’t want to die: “Acceptable.” After a pause: “This palace will certainly be fine.”
Apothecary Liu went to write pulse records and prescribe medicine. As Hu Shanwei was about to speak persuasively, Noble Consort Guo covered her mouth: “This palace knows what you want to say – this palace understands the reasoning. But now the emperor cannot know of this palace’s illness. How can a weak, sickly woman manage rear palace authority? The rear palace cannot be without a mistress one day. Once the emperor takes away authority and gives it to other concubines, how can this palace become empress? Kunning Palace is already being renovated!”
This was Hu Shanwei’s first time seeing panic and pleading in Noble Consort Guo’s eyes. This woman’s struggles were too difficult – finally making it to the top…
Hu Shanwei’s heart softened: “This time this servant won’t reveal anything, but Your Majesty must follow Apothecary Liu’s instructions – take medicine properly, care for your health. If follow-up examination remains poor, you must go to Qianqing Palace for physician consultation.”
Noble Consort Guo nodded frantically: “A promise.”
To recover quickly, Noble Consort Guo immediately lay down for rest, delegating all palace duties to Hu Shanwei and the Six Bureaus and One Department, becoming hands-off manager. Just as Hu Shanwei spun like a top with busyness, Apothecary Ru’s letter arrived.
Reading Apothecary Ru’s letters had become one of Hu Shanwei’s great palace pleasures. She eagerly cut it open with a bamboo knife. Seeing the opening, she nearly screamed with joy – Apothecary Ru was pregnant! Currently the couple was in Kaifeng, Henan as honored guests of Prince Zhou’s mansion.
Apothecary Ru wrote that being older and having traveled extensively, her pregnancy was somewhat difficult, requiring a place to peacefully nurture the pregnancy. Fifth Prince Zhou Zhu Su loved medicine, having long heard of the Tan-Ru couple’s fame traveling worldwide tasting herbs, greatly admiring them. He thus invited the couple to Prince Zhou’s mansion to compile medical texts with medical enthusiasts.
The Zhu family men each had characteristics: Crown Prince Zhu Biao was full of righteousness and morality, a saintly good person; Prince Qin Zhu was brutal, a sadistic demon; Prince Yan Zhu Di was henpecked – since Princess Yan loved opera, he supported many playwrights to write scripts for the princess; Prince Zhou Zhu Su was incompetent at civil, military, and political affairs, only loving medicine and studying medicinal materials; Prince Lu Zhu Tan liked emulating Wei-Jin elegance, taking drugs and writing poetry.
Among them, Prince Zhou Zhu Su and Fourth Prince Yan Zhu Di were biological brothers, born to Korean concubine Lady Shuo. Due to her early death, Prince Yan moved to Eastern Fifth Residence while young Prince Zhou was raised by Noble Consort Chengmu Lady Sun.
Later when Lady Sun died childless, having only borne Princess Huaiqing and Princess Lin’an, Emperor Hongwu promulgated “Filial Piety Records,” changing national mourning system. Princes first observed mourning for stepmothers. Due to Lady Sun’s nurturing grace to Prince Zhou, Emperor Hongwu commanded him to observe twenty-seven months full mourning for Lady Sun.
Thus Prince Zhou Zhu Su, Princess Huaiqing, and Princess Lin’an had relatively close relationships.
Both biological brothers Prince Zhou and Prince Yan liked writing and printing books.
Far in Beiping, Prince Yan’s mansion kept many famous playwrights because Princess Yan Lady Xu loved various dramas, including Yang Jingxian who wrote “Journey to the West.” Prince Yan’s mansion printed many play scripts widely circulated among people.
In Kaifeng, Prince Zhou widely recruited renowned medical experts nationwide, collected medicinal materials, and compiled medical texts, authoring “Remaining Records of Life Preservation” in two volumes, benefiting common people.
Apothecary Ru was an older expecting mother. Going to Prince Zhou’s mansion to compile medical texts offered the Tan-Ru couple professional matching, generous treatment – an ideal place balancing home child-rearing, academic focus, family and career.
If they were ordinary physicians, fine. But both Apothecary Ru and Physician Tan knew shocking court secrets. Hu Shanwei couldn’t help worrying. With keen political sense, she immediately replied to Apothecary Ru, telling the couple to focus solely on compiling medical texts, turning deaf ears to external affairs, especially avoiding discussing state and political matters.
After Palace Bureau of Ceremony review, the letter was transmitted by the Ministry of Communication to Prince Zhou’s mansion in Kaifeng, Henan. Apothecary Ru opened it and replied with three words: “Understood.”
After replying to Apothecary Ru, Hu Shanwei left the palace for Xiaoling to offer incense to Empress Xiaoci, praying the empress would bless Noble Consort Guo’s quick recovery and smooth empress investiture from the underworld – otherwise with the palace without mistress, someone would inevitably cause trouble, resulting in more bloody deaths.
Mu Chun waited there.
As a hostage, Mu Chun had obediently served with imperial guards these years, never tactlessly requesting external combat assignments. Seeing his obedience and remembering Empress Xiaoci’s fondness for him, the emperor assigned him to supervise Xiaoling reconstruction.
Xiaoling became Hu Shanwei and Mu Chun’s most frequent meeting place, with deer herds and peacocks around. Though not spouses, they were better than spouses.
Hu Shanwei offered three incense sticks to Empress Xiaoci, made wishes, and walked in the forest with Mu Chun. Seeing his apparent unhappiness, she asked: “What happened? You look gloomy.”
Mu Chun said worriedly: “The emperor emphasizes the southwest – two princesses and one prince’s marriages were all arranged with southern campaign meritorious military families. Yunnan is gradually stabilizing with many appointed officials and merchants going there. This means my father will probably end his Yunnan garrison duty and return to the capital.”
After several comfortable years, without Mu Chun mentioning it, Hu Shanwei nearly forgot he had a father. The “affection” between Mu Ying and Mu Chun father and son was basically maintained through beatings and scoldings – fine not meeting, but explosive when meeting.
Hu Shanwei couldn’t help comforting him. Just as they talked, Colonel Shi rode over: “Master Mu! Marquis Xiping has returned to the capital! The emperor is hosting a banquet, summoning Master Mu back to the palace for father-son reunion!”
Hearing this, Mu Chun felt thunderstruck, immediately slapping himself: “People just can’t be mentioned – why can’t I control this mouth?”