Emperor Hongwu went to Xiaoling Mausoleum and only returned the next day. When he came back, he was in low spirits. The three new favorites went to curry favor with him, but Emperor Hongwu merely bestowed jewelry on them like coaxing children and sent them away. For several consecutive days, he slept alone without summoning anyone to attend his bed.
Only then did Hu Shanwei feel relieved – it seemed the old demon had finally settled down for the sake of his deceased wife.
For the re-selection interview, Consort Cui, who held authority over the Six Palaces, sat in the main seat. The consorts who held primary positions in the Eastern and Western Six Palaces all had voting rights and sat clustered around Consort Cui on both sides.
Actually, the Crown Princess from the Eastern Palace should also have been invited to serve as a significant judge for the selected maidens’ elimination interviews, but unfortunately, she had forfeited her voting rights through her own actions and was still “recuperating” in the Eastern Palace.
The 180 selected maidens were divided into groups of ten. First, they paid respects and greeted Consort Cui and the other ladies, then introduced themselves one by one. Consort Cui and the other consorts would ask questions of selected maidens who interested them, or present objects or scenes requiring responses in poetry, prose, calligraphy, or painting to test their impromptu adaptability.
When it was snake-killing maiden Zhang Xiuchun’s turn, Consort Cui casually bestowed a peony from a vase upon her, asking her to compose impromptu poetry or verse using this flower as the theme. Zhang Xiuchun, coming from humble origins and feeling she had little hope, had fought her way up by eliminating countless excellent women, growing braver with each battle. She was thus completely at ease and, hearing this, pointed to the bamboo branches in the vase and laughed:
“Consort Cui, this common girl is truly mediocre in poetry and verse. I fear anything I write would offend your ladyships’ ears. Instead of composing about peonies, how about I use bamboo leaves as an instrument to play a folk tune?”
Consort Cui found this interesting and agreed.
Zhang Xiuchun picked a bamboo leaf and immediately tore it when she put it to her lips.
Everyone laughed. Zhang Xiuchun didn’t panic and picked another leaf. She wiped the rouge from her lips with a handkerchief dampened with water. This time she succeeded – the tiny bamboo leaf, blown by her, bloomed like clusters of flowers, peonies welcoming spring.
Consort Cui was very satisfied and beckoned to her, “Come here.”
Consort Cui personally placed a large red peony flower in Zhang Xiuchun’s hair knot. Zhang Xiuchun had bold features with clear, broad eyes and a full forehead. Though from a small household, she now, through youthful fearlessness, forcefully suppressed the peony’s noble vulgarity.
Seeing Consort Cui’s satisfied expression, Hu Shanwei knew this Zhang Xiuchun was definitely staying.
When it came to this selection’s most noble-born candidate, second Miss Guo, the consorts saw her graceful approach and noticed her outline resembled the former mistress of the rear palace – Consort Duanjing. They immediately felt emotional and reminisced about Consort Guo’s virtues during her lifetime. No one made things difficult for her, and none dared to ask questions.
Actually, thanks to the benefits from her aunt Consort Duanjing, none of the seated consorts would be so tactless as to eliminate her – even if she were to be eliminated, it would only be in the final round when Emperor Hongwu personally reviewed and struck her name from the list.
Therefore, second Miss Guo’s interview was merely going through the motions, and even Consort Cui dared not slight her.
But with no one asking questions, the scene became somewhat awkward.
Seeing the impending awkward silence, Hu Shanwei asked, “You’re skilled in painting. Looking at this Miss Zhang, do you think her appearance is worthy of being painted?”
Second Miss Guo studied Zhang Xiuchun with the peony flower in her hair and praised, “Miss Zhang has the beauty of a nation.”
Hu Shanwei said, “In that case, paint Miss Zhang – how about creating a painting of a beauty with flowers in her hair?”
“Yes, Manager Hu.” Second Miss Guo went to the painting desk nearby and began painting with flowing brushstrokes.
Paintings couldn’t be completed immediately, so Hu Shanwei ordered the next ten selected maidens to continue their interviews.
After about five groups, second Miss Guo’s painting of a beauty with flowers was completed. All the consorts praised it highly, and the atmosphere became lively again.
When it was Miss Ma’s turn, the same-clan member of Empress Xiaoci, Consort Cui asked her to compose poetry on the theme of praising spring. Miss Ma filled in a tune to “Shortened Magnolia Flower · Praising Spring”:
“Liu Lang has grown old. Yet peach blossoms still smile as before. Willows droop by the pond. Wind blows, turning into the Buddha hall.
When the song ends, people scatter. Like tears on the Xunyang River. Ten thousand li of eastern wind. Watching mountains and rivers in the setting sun’s red glow.”
Miss Ma showed considerable talent and also advanced to the final re-selection.
However, even if Miss Ma had performed poorly, due to Emperor Hongwu’s favor, Hu Shanwei would have kept her name. But looking at the content of Miss Ma’s “Shortened Magnolia Flower,” Hu Shanwei found it somewhat melancholy and had a bad premonition. Yet thinking again, Miss Ma was still young and hadn’t witnessed true despair. It was normal for youth to feign sorrow for new poetry – a common habit.
On the contrary, someone like Hu Shanwei, who had experienced vicissitudes and seen through life’s essence yet still loved life and wanted to embrace happiness, preferred lighthearted and auspicious things at her age.
This interview eliminated half, leaving only ninety people. Actually, those eliminated were also excellent girls – they had no problems themselves, just lacked the ladies’ favor.
So when the ninety eliminated girls were taken from the palace by their parents, immediately wealthy official families in the capital sent matchmakers to propose marriages. Even Princess Huaiqing took a liking to a minor official’s daughter for her eldest son Wang Zhenliang.
As the first princess to actively marry into the commoner class, Princess Huaiqing’s action greatly pleased the emperor. Emperor Hongwu highly praised his daughter, specially enfeoffing his grandson Wang Zhenliang as General Zhenguo, opening the inner treasury to prepare dowry for his future grandson’s bride, and generously bestowing imperial estate farmland.
Princess Huaiqing abandoned the convention of marrying into wealthy families. Capital followers carefully observed and imitated. Emperor Hongwu waved his hand generously, bestowing dowries of varying values and encouraging wealthy families to marry daughters from small households.
Thus, except for a few who were determined to take their daughters back home for marriage, most eliminated selected maidens found matches in the capital, becoming noble ladies. Due to their shared training experience in Chuxiu Palace, they became close friends, maintaining contact in the capital without loneliness – but that’s a story for later.
In the final round, twenty-seven were selected from ninety maidens – essentially three choose one – personally selected by Emperor Hongwu as grandsons’ wives.
Hu Shanwei handed stacks of thick selected maiden records to Emperor Hongwu, documenting the maidens’ various performances from preliminary selection to now, female officials’ evaluations, personality traits, and more – filling three full boxes.
Emperor Hongwu waved his hand dismissively, “Put them aside. I’ll look when I have time. I still need to review memorials.”
Hu Shanwei said, “Your Majesty, nine principal consorts and eighteen side consorts concern the Great Ming’s national fortune for the next century. They must be carefully selected.”
Hearing this, Emperor Hongwu sighed, “Fine, bring them over.”
Emperor Hongwu looked through them one by one, first setting aside Miss Ma’s record, instructing Mao Qiang, “Have Shanxi agents thoroughly investigate the Ma family – relatives, grudges, criminal activities, petty thievery, and such from five generations should all be reported.”
Hearing this, Hu Shanwei thought: If the Ma family’s background is clean and honestly reliable, this Miss Ma is definitely bound for the Crown Prince’s palace – just uncertain whether as principal consort or side consort.
Emperor Hongwu read quickly, rapidly flipping through pages. When he reached second Miss Guo’s record, he paused. He had personally and secretly ordered the execution of second Miss Guo’s aunt, almost making Consort Guo the empress.
Thinking of Consort Duanjing naturally reminded him of his beloved tenth son Prince Lu. Emperor Hongwu closed his eyes, his eyelids trembling. After a while, he opened them and sighed:
“The Guo family, as before, habitually offers their daughters to the imperial clan to show loyalty. I, Prince Jing (Princess Jing is Miss Guo’s elder sister), and now imperial grandsons – truly three generations of the Zhu family have Guo family women. The Guo family shows complete loyalty. I cannot ignore this. Second Miss Guo must be kept.”
Hu Shanwei sighed for the Guo family women. The Guo family had tasted the sweetness of offering beauties – whenever the imperial family needed women, the Guo family would push their daughters forward. As for the daughters’ own thoughts, whether they wanted to marry into the imperial family, that wasn’t important at all.
Consort Duanjing was like this – her life’s greatest wish was not to be a concubine but to be a legitimate wife with dignity, for which she made every effort… but ultimately abandoned it to avenge her son.
Thinking of Consort Duanjing made Hu Shanwei feel heartbroken. Were the things these most excellent girls of the Great Ming strived for truly what they themselves wanted?
Not really. Probably except for second Miss Guo, most didn’t actually know what marrying into the imperial family meant. Wealth and risk existed like twin brothers – sometimes when imperial power crushed down, no matter how capable or excellent they were, they could hardly escape disaster.
Most were just seeking opportunities for their families, for their parents and brothers to have a chance where one person’s success lifts the whole family…
Emperor Hongwu finished reading all selected maiden records in one go, having a general idea. The next day’s final selection round had every two girls as a group meeting Emperor Hongwu, who made immediate decisions. Those eliminated received gold, silver, and silk, escorted from the palace by female officials to their parents.
Those remaining were immediately bestowed complete sets of gold jewelry inlaid with precious stones, returned to Chuxiu Palace to await imperial edicts.
Previously, Chuxiu Palace with five people per room was overcrowded – you could hear neighbors talking in their sleep. Now with only twenty-seven selected maidens remaining, it immediately seemed empty and desolate.
Hu Shanwei re-copied the list of twenty-seven names, submitting it to Emperor Hongwu to personally decide their allocation among his grandsons. Hu Shanwei couldn’t make such decisions – nor did she want to. The responsibility was truly too heavy for a mere Palace Manager to bear.
Emperor Hongwu didn’t make things difficult for her, saying, “Invite Consort Cui here. I’ll discuss with her.”
In terms of trust, Hu Shanwei still couldn’t compare to Consort Cui, who had served Emperor Hongwu loyally since his days as Prince of Wu.
Hu Shanwei was delighted to be freed from responsibility and hurried to Yanxi Palace to invite Consort Cui.
Having done all this, Hu Shanwei felt completely relaxed and went to stroll in the Imperial Garden, “coincidentally” encountering Crown Prince Zhu Yunwen.
Being young, he still had expectations for love and marriage. Hu Shanwei knew what the Crown Prince wanted to say and smiled, “Your Highness need not be anxious. There should be results before sunset – His Majesty is eager to hold great-grandsons.”
The Crown Prince’s cheeks reddened slightly, “I’m not, I’m not anxious, I don’t know what Manager Hu is talking about.”
Hu Shanwei said, “In that case, this official takes her leave.”
“Manager Hu, please wait.” The Crown Prince caught up, “That… that person… is she as I told Manager Hu before?”
Hu Shanwei recited: “‘Liu Lang has grown old. Yet peach blossoms still smile as before. Willows droop by the pond. Wind blows, turning into the Buddha hall. When the song ends, people scatter. Like tears on the Xunyang River. Ten thousand li of eastern wind. Watching mountains and rivers in the setting sun’s red glow.’ This is that person’s impromptu tune to ‘Shortened Magnolia Flower.’ Does Your Highness like it?”
The Crown Prince praised highly, his excitement evident, saying, “Excellent verse, and improvised too! She must be a girl with delicate inner feelings and talent. I trust Manager Hu’s judgment.”
Hu Shanwei said, “Since she’s a good girl, treat her well in the future. Don’t fail her arduous journey to the capital for selection, passing five trials and slaying six generals to reach Your Highness. This must be fate cultivated over several lifetimes.”
Hu Shanwei had a good impression of Miss Ma – for no other reason than that day when Miss Ma was fishing at the water pavilion, she directly intimidated the aged but still lustful Emperor Hongwu, invisibly protecting other selected maidens from being snatched by that troublesome old demon.
If Emperor Hongwu was determined to take someone away, Hu Shanwei couldn’t stop him.
The Crown Prince agreed, “Naturally so. She and I are one body as husband and wife – sharing honor and disgrace, prosperity and loss. Being good to her means being good to myself. Manager Hu, rest assured, I will definitely treat her well. I swear, if I violate this oath, I’m willing to surrender mountains and rivers—”
Hu Shanwei quickly interrupted the Crown Prince’s poison oath: “Your Highness, please don’t continue. This official believes Your Highness.”
Anyway, once the marriage edict is issued, I’ll be leaving the palace. How you live afterward, I won’t know.
The Crown Prince returned to the Chancellery, unable to focus on the mountain of pending official business. Being naturally intelligent, he firmly remembered the “Shortened Magnolia Flower” that Hu Shanwei had recited once.
The Crown Prince wrote this tune on paper and attempted to compose his own “Shortened Magnolia Flower,” but no matter how he filled it in, he wasn’t satisfied, feeling it fell far short. Crumpled paper balls piled up like a small mountain in the wastebasket…
The next day, the marriage edict was issued.
Miss Ma became Crown Prince Consort, with Miss Zhao and Miss Wang as side consorts.
Snake-killing maiden Zhang Xiuchun was enfeoffed as Prince Yan’s heir consort, while second Miss Guo was enfeoffed as Prince Yan’s heir’s side consort.
Regarding the Crown Prince Consort position, Hu Shanwei felt there was no suspense. But with second Miss Guo’s illustrious background only earning her the position of Prince Yan’s heir’s side consort, not just Hu Shanwei but almost everyone was surprised.
However, as successive edicts were issued, not only was Prince Yan’s heir consort from an obscure low-ranking minor military officer family, but all other heir consorts were similarly positioned, while side consorts actually had higher birth status than principal consorts.
Now both commoners and officials understood what “a gentleman’s word is his bond” meant – it turned out Emperor Hongwu’s declaration to “marry among the people, select from the fields” wasn’t just for show, creating a people-friendly facade to improve his brutal reputation after the Lan Yu case.
When Emperor Hongwu said he would select commoner Crown Prince Consorts and heir consorts, he meant it seriously.
Once the edicts were issued, those noble families who had sent daughters for selection were dumbfounded, almost forgetting to kowtow in gratitude, especially the Guo family. A distinguished family with two marquisates, ancestors posthumously enfeoffed as dukes, producing prince consorts and princesses – they had thought if not Crown Prince Consort, they could at least secure a princely heir consort position, but it turned out to be just a side consort?
If not for the gleaming golden edict, the Guo family would have felt like they were all having a collective nightmare.
However, with edicts already issued, there was absolutely no reason to resist imperial commands. They sent servants to inquire and learned that the other seven heir consorts were also from humble families. Their hearts’ imbalance lessened somewhat, and they forced themselves to prepare for the wedding.
The day the edicts were issued was when Hu Shanwei requested resignation.
In Qianqing Palace, Hu Shanwei asked the old emperor to honor his promise: “Your Majesty, the imperial selection has been completed successfully. This official has done her utmost to select qualified commoner Crown Prince Consorts and heir consorts for the imperial grandsons. Now that their weddings approach, it’s time for this official to retire after achieving success.”
With nine imperial grandsons getting married, even Emperor Hongwu’s aged face showed some joy. “Are you so eager to leave? Won’t you stay for a celebratory drink?”
Learning from past examples that delays bring complications, Hu Shanwei wouldn’t dare delay: “This official appreciates the imperial grandsons’ celebratory wine in spirit. I have already personally blessed all imperial grandsons with a hundred years of harmonious marriage and to live well with their wives, showing filial piety to Your Majesty.”
The more anxious Hu Shanwei became, the more Emperor Hongwu unhurriedly reminisced and chatted with her: “I once heard Empress Xiaoci say that on your first day entering the palace, you walked in barefoot because your socks were worn through. It was Mu Chun who requested a pair of shoes from Empress Xiaoci to give you?”
Recalling the past, tears welled up in her eyes. Hu Shanwei struggled to control her tears from falling: “Yes, Your Majesty. Mu Chun gave this official a pair of shoes, preventing great embarrassment on my first day in the palace.”
Emperor Hongwu pointed at Hu Shanwei’s feet: “Are those the same sheepskin boots?”
Hu Shanwei nodded: “Yes. This official has carefully preserved and maintained them, only wearing them once a year during New Year’s, not daring to wear them hard for fear of damaging them. Today, leaving the palace court, I wore these shoes walking in and will wear these same shoes walking out of the palace.”
Emperor Hongwu sighed: “It seems your mind is made up. However, resigning from office to leave the palace and go to Yunnan to find Mu Chun – you haven’t seen each other for over three years, only maintaining contact through letters. Many things can happen in three years. What if Mu Chun couldn’t endure the loneliness and has another woman? Won’t you regret it?”
Hu Shanwei held back her tears, her gaze determined: “This official has no regrets about entering the palace as a female official, no regrets about resigning today, no regrets about loving Mu Chun for thirteen years, no regrets about wanting to spend my remaining life with him, and will have no regrets even if he changes his heart in the future. I’ll simply arrange a divorce and be done with it, without entanglement. This official is thirty-five years old. I can independently choose my own path and confidently bear all possible consequences.”
“Very good. Empress Xiaoci didn’t misjudge you two – both are people of firm resolve.” Emperor Hongwu clapped his hands and said to someone behind the screen, “Come out.”
Mu Chun was so excited he couldn’t even walk in curves, directly walking straight and pushing over the screen, running wildly toward Hu Shanwei.