The Crown Prince had won lying down again.

This was almost everyone’s view of the Crown Prince. He had done nothing – he didn’t mobilize the scholars from the Eastern Palace Left and Right Bureaus to memorialize in his defense, he didn’t even write a single memorial in his own defense, yet Emperor Yongle was determined to protect him.

He was fat, lame, and had difficulty walking, damaging the image of the great Ming Celestial Empire. The court was almost unanimously calling for deposing the Crown Prince, but Emperor Yongle insisted he was a good Crown Prince. What could others do?

The Zhu family’s affairs were naturally decided by the emperor himself.

For this, the emperor even punished his two beloved daughters, making them copy “Inner Training” in Rouyi Palace. Whose face was greater than the princesses’?

Thus, the grand movement to depose the Crown Prince was like a ball – Emperor Yongle stuck it with a needle, and it deflated, leaving only a flabby skin.

Princess Yongping and Princess Ancheng were copying books until their hands were nearly broken, with scrolls piled high on their desks.

Currently in the imperial family, Princess Yong’an was the eldest, Emperor Yongle and Empress Ren Xiao’s first child, and the earliest to marry. Her prince consort was Marquis Guangping Yuan Rong. Fortunately, she was born early and married from Prince Yan’s mansion, avoiding being held hostage in the capital. So among Emperor Yongle’s first five children, only Princess Yong’an had always stayed by their side, receiving parental care. She had always remained neutral in the rivalry between her two brothers, neither favoring one nor the other.

But the second daughter Princess Yongping and third daughter Princess Ancheng were different. These two princesses had been held hostage in the capital along with the Crown Prince and Prince Han.

The two young girls were at a rebellious age. Elder brother Zhu Gaochi always lectured his two sisters to be virtuous and patient. Second brother Zhu Gaoxu would never refuse any request from his two sisters, secretly taking them out to play and bringing them things. When they were wronged, it was also second brother who stood up for them.

Elder brother would plead for second brother and handle crisis management every time, then return to scold them for being thoughtless and bringing trouble to Prince Yan’s mansion.

Princess Yongping and Princess Ancheng naturally became closer to second brother Zhu Gaoxu, feeling that elder brother was too cowardly and weak, only caring for himself and not daring to stand up for them.

Later, Princess Yongping was granted marriage to Li Rang by Emperor Gaozhu. The couple returned to Beiping together. When the Jingnan Campaign began, Emperor Jianwen wanted Li Rang’s father to persuade surrender. Li Rang refused, and the angry Emperor Jianwen exterminated the entire Li family.

Grief-stricken soldiers must win. Li Rang swore to avenge his family and went south with Prince Han Zhu Gaoxu in the Jingnan Campaign, forming deep battle friendships. Combined with Princess Yongping’s admiration for second brother, this couple became die-hard fans of Prince Han Zhu Gaoxu, following him to the end.

Princess Ancheng was the same. In the first year of Yongle, she was granted marriage to Song Hu, heir of Marquis Xining. Song Hu came from a military family – his ancestors were also from Fengyang, and the family had guarded the northwest for generations, truly a family of loyal martyrs. Prince Han Zhu Gaoxu had extremely high prestige in the military. Song Hu and the militarily capable Prince Han shared mutual admiration, while feeling nothing for the Crown Prince dwelling in the deep palace.

This couple thus also became a great support for Prince Han. With just one look from Prince Han, they would charge into battle for him. Copying books was even more trivial.

After copying ten volumes of “Inner Training,” both princesses’ hearts still belonged to Prince Han.

Concubine Zhang Shu came under orders to collect their homework. As a stepmother, she was in her twenties, even younger than these two princesses. However, Concubine Zhang Shu came from a military family with a curvy figure and long legs, and her bearing wasn’t diminished by the princesses.

No one would like their father’s concubine, especially when their mother’s coffin was still in the neighboring hall.

Princess Ancheng said: “Concubine Zhang Shu, the books are finished. We take our leave.”

“The two princesses must be tired. Please have some tea first and eat some snacks.” Concubine Zhang Shu raised her hand to stop the princesses and sat down to check the princesses’ homework on the spot.

Checking homework was the most relationship-damaging thing – without homework, there was maternal kindness and filial piety; with homework, chaos ensued. Moreover, this wasn’t even their birth mother, but their stepmother.

Fortunately, Concubine Zhang Shu came from a distinguished family with her brother Duke Yingguo backing her. If it were Consort Quan Xian, these two princesses would probably have stormed off with disdainful faces.

Princess Yongping and Princess Ancheng sat down. Concubine Zhang Shu flipped through the books one by one. She had long memorized Empress Ren Xiao’s “Inner Training” by heart and didn’t need a template for comparison – all concubines in the harem were required to recite and write the full text from memory, which she personally spot-checked.

With confidence in her knowledge, Concubine Zhang Shu read quickly. She soon finished the twenty volumes of “Inner Training,” picked out four of them, and circled errors with a vermillion brush – one for Princess Yongping, three for Princess Ancheng, saying:

“His Majesty said the princesses’ copying of ‘Inner Training’ cannot have a single error, otherwise the entire book must be recopied. Please continue, both princesses.”

Princess Ancheng immediately objected: “Concubine Zhang Shu isn’t using a chicken feather as an arrow of command, is she? Father wouldn’t torment us like this.”

Concubine Zhang Shu had been trained by palace intrigue materials like “Lady Duanjing’s Daily Records” – the equivalent of advanced mathematics problems in the palace struggle data field. She had her own methods for dealing with disobedient princesses, maintaining her smile and saying calmly: “This palace doesn’t dare falsely transmit imperial edicts. If the two princesses are tired, rest a while before copying.”

Princess Yongping was slightly older and not as impulsive as Princess Ancheng. She looked at the sky outside: “It’s getting late, and the palace will be locked. We’ll come back tomorrow to copy.”

“Prepare the lamps.” Concubine Zhang Shu was prepared. A group of palace servants brought in bright horn lanterns to light up as soon as the sky darkened, ensuring it would be as bright as day.

Concubine Zhang Shu said: “This palace will accompany the princesses to copy books tonight. Also, this palace has already instructed Superintendent Hu to clean up the palace where Princess Ancheng used to live. After the two princesses finish copying, you can rest in the palace tonight and return to your princess mansions tomorrow when the palace gates open.”

With Lady Duanjing’s standard demonstration, Concubine Zhang Shu learned how to be a good stepmother – that meant meticulous care, no anger, no tantrums, considering all possible situations comprehensively and preparing countermeasures in advance.

Because birth mothers could be negligent and emotional – after all, with their own children, blood relations were the lubricant, and ultimately forgiveness would be chosen.

But stepmothers couldn’t – if a birth mother scored sixty points, she was a qualified mother, but stepmothers needed ninety points to pass – the same standard as subject one of the driving test.

Concubine Zhang Shu treated the two princesses according to subject one standards while also checking homework – it was quite difficult for this twenty-year-old concubine.

Princess Ancheng was indignant: Beside my mother’s coffin, could I still be controlled by a concubine?

Princess Ancheng said: “I will copy the remaining three books, but since Concubine Zhang Shu has prepared my palace, elder sister and I will go rest first and come back tomorrow to copy.”

She resolutely refused to stay up doing homework.

“This…” Concubine Zhang Shu was in great difficulty. She hadn’t anticipated this situation. Although Emperor Yongle hadn’t explicitly said the two princesses couldn’t sleep until they finished copying, the fact that the emperor was unhappy about the princesses’ memorial saying “let the Crown Prince rest” was true.

Nominally copying books, but actually punishment. If they could eat and sleep comfortably like a one-day palace tour, what kind of punishment was that?

In the end, it would still be her dereliction of duty as stepmother for inadequate supervision.

But if she forcibly prevented them, with Empress Ren Xiao’s coffin right beside them, if the two princesses ran to cry to their mother, Concubine Zhang Shu’s power over the harem would be in jeopardy.

Concubine Zhang Shu was caught in a dilemma.

Without proper status, words carried no weight. Princess Ancheng didn’t take Concubine Zhang Shu seriously. During that Mid-Autumn Festival family banquet, Concubine Zhang Shu prepared different dishes for everyone to appear virtuous, greatly troubling the Imperial Kitchen Bureau and forcing them to use their best skills. Actually, they all saw through it but no one pointed it out.

A stepmother, yet holding power over the harem. Doing well was expected – no need to expose the performance. Doing poorly…

Princess Ancheng took Princess Yongping’s hand to leave. Concubine Zhang Shu didn’t know whether to stop them or not. Just as things were getting awkward, footsteps came from outside – the voice arrived before the person appeared.

“Princess Yongping, Princess Ancheng, this humble minister brings dinner under orders from the Crown Princess.”

It was Hu Shanwei, followed by a line of palace servants carrying food boxes, efficiently setting up a vegetarian table.

The Crown Princess was the elder sister-in-law, an elder, and also a superior. Since the Crown Princess had Superintendent Hu bring dinner to Rouyi Palace, there was no reason to leave.

This was both care and a warning.

Now that father emperor favored Crown Prince elder brother and could even tolerate the flaw of lame legs, elder brother’s Crown Prince position was as stable as Mount Tai. There was no point in continued resistance.

The two princesses had to turn back and eat dinner.

Concubine Zhang Shu had the servants attend well to them and went outside with Hu Shanwei: “Superintendent Hu truly resolved this palace’s urgent crisis – what perfect timing. The Crown Princess anticipated the two princesses would be troublesome and sent dinner.”

Speaking of shame, Concubine Zhang Shu’s brother Duke Yingguo had also memorialized to depose the Crown Prince, yet the Crown Princess didn’t hold past grievances and helped Concubine Zhang Shu.

Hu Shanwei understood Concubine Zhang Shu’s thoughts and explained: “The harem must not interfere in politics. Outside affairs have nothing to do with the harem. Concubine Shu need only fulfill her own duties. The Crown Princess is the same. She is the elder sister-in-law. When two younger sisters-in-law return to their maiden home, at this time, besides His Majesty, only the Eastern Palace elder brother and sister-in-law can control the princesses – they have both status and seniority to suppress them.”

“Just now I went to the Eastern Palace and told the Crown Princess about the two princesses copying books, including how Concubine Shu prepared for the princesses to stay in the palace overnight. The Crown Princess is a smart person and immediately sent dinner to coordinate with Concubine Shu.”

Hu Shanwei was a superintendent of three reigns and had seen too much power struggle and open and covert fighting.

The Eastern Palace and Concubine Zhang Shu had a cold relationship – just superficial courtesy. Moreover, Concubine Zhang Shu’s maiden family, Duke Yingguo’s mansion, belonged to Prince Han’s side. It was perfectly normal for the Eastern Palace and Concubine Zhang Shu not to be close.

But interest relationships weren’t fixed – everything was constantly changing. Sometimes they were opponents, sometimes teammates.

Like now, the Eastern Palace was very willing to help Concubine Zhang Shu check the two princesses’ homework, to teach them a lesson so they wouldn’t join the clamor to depose the Crown Prince.

With just a subtle hint from Hu Shanwei, the Crown Princess understood and coordinated with Concubine Zhang Shu.

Regardless of the future, at this moment everyone’s interests aligned. There are no eternal opponents, only eternal interests.

Hu Shanwei was the superintendent – assisting Concubine Zhang Shu in managing the harem was her duty. When Concubine Zhang Shu was defied by the two princesses, she also lost face.

Similarly, for Concubine Zhang Shu to establish authority, the Six Bureaus and One Department needed power.

As for who was the big boss, the Six Bureaus and One Department had no choice. Whoever the emperor wanted to coordinate the six palaces, they had to accept reality. Moreover, currently in the harem, Concubine Zhang Shu was most suitable.

Who else would Hu Shanwei help if not Concubine Zhang Shu? She had no choice but to call for reinforcements from the Eastern Palace.

Concubine Zhang Shu was smart and, after thinking it through, understood Hu Shanwei’s meaning.

Concubine Zhang Shu sighed: “This palace remembers the Eastern Palace’s favor. But this palace, as a married daughter, has no power to interfere with Duke Yingguo’s mansion’s position.”

Meaning: I accept the Eastern Palace’s goodwill but can’t immediately return the favor – not because I don’t want to, but because I can’t.

Duke Yingguo Zhang Fu had also formed revolutionary friendship with Prince Han during the Jingnan Campaign – comradeship from fighting together. How could he change positions because of his sister?

The concubine is still young after all. Hu Shanwei smiled: “Your ladyship is His Majesty’s concubine and the Eastern Palace’s stepmother. His Majesty is the sovereign, and the Eastern Palace is also sovereign. So when your ladyship’s maiden family’s position conflicts with the Eastern Palace, this isn’t a bad thing for your ladyship.”

After hearing this, Concubine Zhang Shu’s eyes immediately brightened. Why was the Eastern Palace still stable as Mount Tai after the Crown Prince’s lame leg? Facing Prince Han’s aggressive offensive, why could the Crown Prince win lying down?

Because the Crown Prince was weak – though sovereign, he could only exist by depending on the emperor, this monarch.

Without the emperor’s support, the Crown Prince’s position couldn’t stand at all.

Duke Yingguo’s mansion being friendly with Prince Han and cold toward the Crown Prince was exactly right. If elder brother Duke Yingguo supported the Crown Prince, Emperor Yongle would never have elevated Concubine Zhang Shu to coordinate the six palaces!

Having figured everything out, Concubine Zhang Shu was secretly alarmed: How many years must one stay in the palace to see imperial psychology so clearly like Superintendent Hu?

Hu Shanwei thought: When one day your opponent is the emperor, when you don’t need to look up to the imperial throne, when you must kill this emperor to get revenge, then you’ll understand that emperors are just like that. Rulers are all cut from the same mold, with their own set of logic.

Of course, this great secret hidden in her heart couldn’t be spoken even to Mu Chun. Hu Shanwei would take this secret to her coffin.

After Hu Shanwei’s hints, Concubine Zhang Shu understood what she should do: occasional help and coordination from the Eastern Palace didn’t require reciprocation or closeness with the Eastern Palace. She should continue maintaining distant politeness – everyone happy.

The two princesses ate the dinner bestowed by their elder sister-in-law and continued their homework. Concubine Zhang Shu, to fulfill her stepmother duties, also lit lamps in the room to copy scriptures, accompanying the two princesses with their homework, praying for Empress Ren Xiao lying in the coffin next door.

From ancient times to now, parents supervising children’s homework has never been easy. Concubine Zhang Shu was just accompanying them in copying – in later generations, many parents got heart disease and strokes from anger.

Princess Yongping only had one book to recopy. She finished first. After Concubine Zhang Shu’s inspection, she said: “Princess may go rest.”

Princess Yongping and Princess Ancheng had been hostages together in the capital for ten years, sharing weal and woe with a close relationship: “No need, I’ll stay here to accompany my sister.”

Princess Ancheng had to recopy three books. When she was copying the last one, it was nearly the third watch. Chen Er’mei from the Imperial Kitchen personally brought late-night snacks: “His Majesty heard the two princesses are still copying books in Rouyi Palace and ordered this humble minister to bring late-night snacks.”

Emperor Yongle, like the two previous emperors, worked until nearly the third watch every night. He still worried about his two troublesome daughters – punishment was punishment, but when it was time to pamper, he would pamper.

Princess Ancheng still harbored some resentment toward her father: “Leave it there. I’ll eat after finishing copying, lest I soil the paper and have to recopy again.”

Princess Yongping also said: “Eating alone isn’t sweet. Let’s have late-night snacks together after second sister finishes copying.”

“Yes.” Chen Er’mei had people take the two princesses’ late-night snacks to the outer room to keep warm over hot water. Another servant came forward with food boxes and set them on Concubine Zhang Shu’s table – just a bowl of mustard green wontons.

So simple that both princesses suspected Concubine Zhang Shu was putting on a show, deliberately playing pitiful.

Chen Er’mei said: “Concubine Shu, His Majesty specially ordered this humble minister to bring this when he was having his late-night snack. He said your ladyship has always loved this flavor but worried about gaining weight, never dared eat late-night snacks. Tonight your ladyship supervised the two princesses copying books, staying up late with them – it’s too hard. He specially ordered this humble minister to bring this to urge you to eat.”

This sudden favor left Concubine Zhang Shu somewhat at a loss. She had finally done right – all thanks to “Lady Duanjing’s Daily Records” and Hu Shanwei’s help.

This bowl of mustard green wontons symbolized that Concubine Zhang Shu had reached the passing line for subject one – ninety points.