Noble Consort Duanjing Lady Guo of the Hongwu reign—the most distinguished consort by birth, mother of the poison master Prince Lu Huang Zhu Tan, great-aunt of Guo Liangdi who held status nearly equal to the Crown Princess in the current Eastern Palace, the woman who once visited Hu Shanwei’s humble abode three times to recruit this tomb guardian to the rear palace for a comeback career as military strategist, thus growing from bronze to king level. Just as she was about to be elevated to Empress, she poisoned Crown Prince Yiwen Zhu Biao to avenge her poison-crafting son, only to be secretly executed by Emperor Gaozhu with a cup of poisoned wine. Her titles were as lengthy as Dragon Mother Daenerys’s—this Noble Consort Duanjing Lady Guo became the benchmark Hu Shanwei set up for Consort Zhang.

Hu Shanwei and Noble Consort Duanjing Lady Guo had been both teacher and friend. Lady Guo wasn’t smart enough, beautiful enough, young enough, or hardworking enough—her emotional and intellectual quotients were both mediocre. But during the years Lady Guo managed the rear palace after Empress Xiaoci’s death, she won the respect of Emperor Gaozhu, imperial family members, rear palace consorts, and palace servants—which was quite remarkable.

Hu Shanwei sent “Noble Consort Duanjing’s Daily Records” to Consort Zhang, first highlighting key points: “Consort need only follow the pattern and achieve half of what Noble Consort Duanjing did.”

The daily records were running accounts, similar to later pastoral novels, recording what Noble Consort Duanjing did during her lifetime, what she said, how she responded to situations, how she rewarded and punished, even detailed records of her meals, lodging, and garden strolls.

Each record was brief, like tweets limited to 140 characters, recorded by Court Bureau of Rites female record-keepers leading their subordinate female scholars, updating Noble Consort Duanjing’s daily status—just without accompanying photos and beauty selfies.

Consort Zhang was a descendant of “friendly nation” surrendered ministers. In the chaotic late Northern Yuan rear palace, the basic palace struggle mode was a favored empress or consort plus a powerful eunuch working together to deceive and confuse the ruler, controlling court power with one hand while selling offices, and strictly controlling rear palace family planning with the other—forced abortions, murdering imperial heirs, causing infertility. Both hands had to be firm in this challenging hard mode.

Typical representatives were Northern Yuan’s tribute girl from Goryeo, Empress Qi, and the Goryeo eunuch Park Bulhwa.

Consort Zhang’s father Zhang Yu had been Director of the Northern Yuan Privy Council (CIA Director), so through daily exposure, Consort Zhang’s impression of the rear palace was roughly this. Therefore, when she took charge of rear palace authority, she unconsciously wanted to grip power tightly, monopolize authority, distrust the six bureaus and one department, and naturally hostile and wary of Korean (formerly Goryeo) women.

Coincidentally, to consolidate power, Northern Yuan’s last Empress Qi later chose a Crown Princess for her son from her homeland—also a Goryeo person surnamed Quan.

By coincidence, the face of the current Yongle rear palace Korean girl group, Noble Consort Quan, also bore this surname. Therefore, Consort Zhang deeply feared Noble Consort Quan.

This “Noble Consort Duanjing’s Daily Records” was a complete set of “Five Years of College Entrance Exams, Three Years of Practice Tests,” “Huanggang Problem Bank,” “After-Class Practice Sessions,” and “Self-Cultivation of Consorts.”

After studying intensively for a month, Consort Zhang began questioning life:

I must be opening this wrong?

This must be fake daily records of a noble consort?

Why is what’s written completely different from what I heard?

Noble Consort Duanjing’s methods were completely opposite to Northern Yuan consorts.

Competing for favor? Nonexistent—Noble Consort Duanjing often played matchmaker, recommending new beauties to Emperor Gaozhu.

Causing infertility? Nonexistent—if Emperor Gaozhu didn’t visit the rear palace for a month, Noble Consort Duanjing was more anxious than anyone. She would summon rear palace consorts for meetings, deeply discussing “What I need to do to help the imperial family flourish,” conducting criticism and self-criticism, calling on all rear palace sisters to roll up sleeves and work hard, striving to sleep with the emperor next month and contribute to imperial family prosperity.

Family planning and forced abortions? Nonexistent—Noble Consort Duanjing’s motto was “the more the better,” encouraging open reproduction. If any consort became pregnant, Noble Consort Duanjing was happier than Emperor Gaozhu himself, as if she were the unborn child’s real father.

Our goal: No miscarriages! Strictly implement pregnancy protection for safe delivery, with both mother and child safe.

Wielding power and controlling the court? Nonexistent—Noble Consort Duanjing treated power like a flood or wild beast. Though her two elder brothers were both marquises and the Guo family had numerous descendants, Noble Consort Duanjing’s restraint of her maternal family was extremely strict. She never sought offices for family members and distributed Empress Xiaoci’s “Records of Virtuous Song Dynasty Consorts’ Admonitions” to Guo family women, requiring them to study hard and improve daily, using this as a model for self-cultivation and child discipline.

In the Northern Yuan court, acting this way would have resulted in being devoured without even bones remaining.

But Hu Shanwei wanted her to use Noble Consort Duanjing as a mirror to correct herself, adjust strategy, and position herself properly.

Fundamentally, the Ming and Northern Yuan courts played by different rules.

Consort Zhang read “Noble Consort Duanjing’s Daily Records” again and finally achieved enlightenment.

After this epiphany, Consort Zhang began her own performance.

First, she treated Rouyi Hall, where Empress Ren Xiao’s coffin rested, as sacred ground. Every day, she personally inspected Rouyi Hall without fail, rain or shine.

No speck of dust could remain on the shrine. Offered fruits must be fresh. Flowers and potted plants in Rouyi Hall were changed seasonally—not just endless chrysanthemums, but arranged as if Empress Ren Xiao were still alive. Fruits and pastries were those she loved in life.

Second, Emperor Yongle would mourn his wife for one year, during which he wouldn’t visit consorts. Consort Zhang couldn’t force women on Emperor Yongle or tactlessly expand the rear palace consort numbers by recommending newcomers.

But this didn’t stump Consort Zhang. She was a clever woman. When “Noble Consort Duanjing’s Daily Records” provided no ready-made solutions to copy, she used her intelligence. As the saying goes, “Create conditions if none exist.” Taking advantage of Empress Ren Xiao’s national mourning, when the entire rear palace—except cats and dogs—must practice celibacy, after daily inspections of the coffin in Rouyi Hall, Consort Zhang led rear palace consorts in studying Empress Ren Xiao’s “Inner Training” and “Books Encouraging Virtue.”

Study requirements included memorizing and transcribing entire texts.

The learning effect was remarkable. Everyone had a copy of Empress Ren Xiao’s quotations, memorizing them fluently. No matter how well Noble Consort Quan played flute, reciting one of Empress Ren Xiao’s quotes gained more favor from big boss Emperor Yongle. The rear palace atmosphere immediately harmonized.

Consort Zhang most hated Noble Consort Quan’s flute playing. They had no deep hatred—it was like sweet tofu pudding party members being unable to accept salty tofu pudding.

Consort Zhang’s progress was rapid. Hu Shanwei visibly watched her evolve from only managing multiple-choice questions to actively participating in quick-answer sessions.

With Consort Zhang’s improvement, Hu Shanwei was the biggest beneficiary. Only when Consort Zhang could establish herself, control the rear palace, avoid causing trouble, and not reject the six bureaus and one department would the rear palace remain stable, with everyone living routinely.

Otherwise, if Consort Zhang and the six bureaus and one department were at odds, constantly arguing and causing chaos, the rear palace would be unstable, people’s hearts would scatter, teams would be hard to lead, and Hu Shanwei as Palace Lady would become an emergency firefighter, extinguishing blazes everywhere with no peace. Everyone’s lives would be difficult.

Such situations would also reflect her dereliction of duty as Palace Lady.

As Palace Lady, she naturally had the duty to guide the empress. Without an empress, she must guide the consort temporarily managing the rear palace. Hu Shanwei, including the six bureaus and one department, were all assistants to Consort Zhang in governing the rear palace, not obstacles.

This was the experience Consort Zhang summarized from “Noble Consort Duanjing’s Daily Records.” She discovered that behind every major action by Noble Consort Duanjing was Hu Shanwei’s shadow. Noble Consort Duanjing obeyed Hu Shanwei’s words completely—even when her own son Prince Lu Huang privately collected “marketplace popular novels,” it was Hu Shanwei who exposed this, advising Noble Consort Duanjing to strictly discipline Prince Lu Huang.

Consort Zhang held the daily records like a martial arts novel protagonist who fell off a cliff and obtained the secret manual “Nine Yin True Classic,” like a cultivation novel character who swallowed an immortal pill and instantly advanced from qi cultivation to foundation building, like a romance novel heroine who spilled the domineering CEO’s thermos and successfully caught his attention.

Consort Zhang’s bad luck was ending—she began taking the first step toward a successful life.

Besides Consort Zhang, another person whose life was changed through learning was her dowry maid Miss Tu Ya. Girls with strong determination rarely have bad luck.

Tu Ya studied almost to the point of hanging her head from a beam and stabbing her thigh with an awl. Finally, at year-end palace female scholar selection exams, she stood out and passed, becoming a female scholar and entering the six bureaus and one department. Eventually, Hu Shanwei assigned her to the Palace Justice Department, specifically managing rear palace discipline and supervision.

Hu Shanwei had started in the Palace Justice Department—this was a department with real power where achievements were easily made.

Tu Ya hadn’t expected Hu Shanwei to be so magnanimous, and sheepishly went to express thanks. Hu Shanwei said: “The Palace Justice Department requires fairness and fearlessness of offending others—your personality fits perfectly.”

People with connections aren’t all burdens. Placed in suitable positions, they can also shine and contribute.

Having reached Hu Shanwei’s position, she no longer needed to handle everything personally. Reasonable personnel arrangements were more important than doing things herself. Using people correctly meant getting things right. Tu Ya’s martial arts skills, sharp tongue, fiery personality, and strong backing made her perfect for intimidating the rear palace in the Palace Justice Department.

Similarly, accepting Consort Zhang’s confidants into the six bureaus and one department as female officials was also “interest binding,” facilitating the six bureaus and one department’s work. Everyone benefits when everyone’s good.

Fifth Year of Yongle

After Empress Ren Xiao’s death, Eunuch Sanbao soon sailed west, and Emperor Yongle had just seen off the Ming Dynasty’s massive fleet when good news came from the Inner Cabinet: the second revision of “Yongle Encyclopedia” was complete.

“Yongle Encyclopedia” was called the Ming Dynasty’s encyclopedia, encompassing everything. When Emperor Yongle wanted to understand something, he could look it up by entries. Initially assigned to Inner Cabinet secretariat member Xie Jin and others, the first draft was submitted in the second year of Yongle. Emperor Yongle was dissatisfied, complaining it contained only Confucian doctrine—too limited. He wanted Confucianism, Buddhism, Taoism, and even all schools of thought, including agricultural texts.

“Yongle Encyclopedia” Editor-in-Chief Xie Jin was troubled. The revision team members were all scholars selected from Hanlin Academy, properly educated through imperial examinations. Even those responsible for copying were at least xiucai level—all products of orthodox Confucian education. How could they achieve Emperor Yongle’s required “encompassing everything”?

While struggling with this, Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince Yao Guangxiao stepped forward, saying he would join.

Yao Guangxiao was the first hero of the Jingnan Campaign, formerly Chan Master Dao Yan. After successful rebellion, Emperor Yongle ordered him to return to lay life, resuming his secular surname “Yao” and bestowing the name “Guangxiao.” He was enfeoffed as Counselor, Grand Tutor of the Crown Prince, and granted mansions, slaves, and beautiful women.

Yao Guangxiao refused to return to lay life, still living in temples. He wore official robes during court attendance but returned to worn black monk robes after court. Others called him the “Black-Robed Prime Minister.”

Unable to change this, Emperor Yongle let him be. Since this half-monk, half-secular status wasn’t ideal, he assigned Chan Master Dao Yan to book revision work, eliminating daily court attendance.

Chan Master Dao Yan was versed in Confucianism, Buddhism, and Taoism. Assisting Editor-in-Chief Xie Jin in book revision, they completed it three years later.

Emperor Yongle was very satisfied with the second revision of “Yongle Encyclopedia,” praising Xie Jin: “The world cannot go one day without me; I cannot go one day without Xie Jin.”

He also praised Chan Master Dao Yan: “Grand Tutor Yao is highly talented. Now that the imperial eldest grandson will formally begin studies this year, I entrust him to the Grand Tutor.”

Chan Master Dao Yan refused to return to lay life, but Emperor Yongle persistently called him Grand Tutor Yao.

Having just finished book revision, Chan Master Dao Yan went to help Emperor Yongle raise his grandson, taking charge of Zhu Zhanji’s education.

Xie Jin received rewards and was overjoyed, his steps somewhat floating. Suddenly someone behind him said: “Congratulations, Grand Secretary Xie. ‘Yongle Encyclopedia’ is magnificently complete—one room can’t contain it all. His Majesty consults these books daily and can’t go a day without them. Grand Secretary Xie will surely be remembered through the ages.”

Turning around, Xie Jin saw Jinyiwei Commander Ji Gang.

Ji Gang smiled while speaking flatteringly. Xie Jin thought: Hmph, sycophant! But said aloud: “Commander Ji flatters me. I merely fulfilled my duties. The Inner Cabinet has many matters—I must take my leave.”

Ji Gang watched Xie Jin until his figure disappeared, eyes still smiling. Only after leaving office that evening and returning home did he open his secret chamber, where Mao Qiang’s portrait and shrine sat on the altar table.

Ji Gang offered incense to Mao Qiang and opened a nearly worn-out roster from the altar table, filled with densely written names. Most were crossed out in red ink, including Prince Consort Hu Guan—bloody red marks, all the crossed-out names were dead.

Except for Xie Jin.

Xie Jin, from Jiangxi, a teenage prodigy. In the twentieth year of Hongwu, he was first place in Jiangxi provincial examinations (jieyuan). In the twenty-first year of Hongwu, he placed tenth in the second rank of metropolitan examinations (jinshi) and was selected as Hanlin Academy scholar.

In the twenty-ninth year of Hongwu, Emperor Gaozhu used Jinyiwei to kill almost all aristocratic families in the capital, carefully selecting only five families for the imperial grandson to create a five-ring formation around the heir apparent, preventing future situations of young rulers with overbearing ministers.

The Jinyiwei Commander then was Mao Qiang. When birds are exhausted, good bows are stored; when cunning rabbits die, hunting dogs are cooked. Having done all the dirty work, Jinyiwei needed to be sacrificed to appease public anger. So Emperor Gaozhu secretly instructed Prince Consort Hu Guan to first impeach Mao Qiang, claiming he fabricated charges and wrongly accused virtuous ministers—his crimes reached heaven.

After Hu Guan fired the first shot impeaching Mao Qiang, court ministers flooded in with memorials attacking him, including Xie Jin.

Jinyiwei was disbanded, Mao Qiang was arrested and imprisoned, then executed by slow slicing. Ji Gang was secretly transported and hidden in Yunnan by Mao Qiang and Mu Chun.

Ji Gang swore to avenge Mao Qiang. Sadly throwing himself into Prince Yan Zhu Di’s service, he reorganized Jinyiwei for intelligence and subversion work, earning Prince Yan’s appreciation and trust. After ascending the throne, Jinyiwei was immediately restored with Ji Gang as Commander.

Ji Gang achieved his goal, using regime change to settle personal grudges. His blacklist turned red extensively—even high-ranking powerful figures like Duke Cao Li Jinglong and Prince Consort Hu Guan were killed through his schemes, all dying horribly.

Ji Gang swore to eliminate every straw that crushed Mao Qiang, every snowflake.

But the list contained too many names—there were always a few people he couldn’t find opportunities to kill. Xie Jin was one of them.

After Emperor Yongle’s ascension, he established an Inner Cabinet secretariat in the palace’s Wenyuan Pavilion to help manage state affairs. Through talent, Xie Jin became the secretariat’s chief confidential secretary, successfully becoming Emperor Yongle’s trusted aide. Even major undertakings like revising “Yongle Encyclopedia” had Xie Jin as Editor-in-Chief, with even Chan Master Dao Yan ranking second.

Now with “Yongle Encyclopedia” magnificently complete, Xie Jin’s position would only grow higher, his power rising accordingly.

How to make Xie Jin fall from favor, then kill him? Ji Gang fell into deep thought.