Concubine Zhang Shu ate that bowl of mustard green wontons as an exception, and like taking an immortal pill, she immediately became invigorated, looking like she could tutor homework for another five hundred years.

Seeing their father emperor backing Concubine Zhang Shu, the two princesses truly felt uncomfortable but had no heart to contend with the concubine further. They finished copying and went to bed.

Concubine Zhang Shu worked until midnight. Before sleeping, she asked the Imperial Kitchen what breakfast was prepared for the two princesses the next morning, also instructing the kitchen to deliver it a bit later, estimating the two princesses would sleep in tomorrow, and food kept warm over water too long would taste bad – fulfilling her stepmother responsibilities.

The clamor to depose the Crown Prince disappeared with the fireworks during New Year, and the Great Ming welcomed a new year.

The sixth year of Yongle, New Year’s Day.

A’Lei received many palace rewards and followed her sister into the palace to express gratitude on New Year’s Day. Concubine Zhang Shu bestowed gold and silver cakes as New Year money. A’Lei had frequently entered the palace this half year and was no longer impressed, but Concubine Zhang Shu’s straightforward temperament suited her taste – the older and younger could talk together.

However, during New Year, the hostess was busiest. Today the married princesses would return to the palace for family banquets and reunions. Both Concubine Zhang Shu and Hu Shanwei had to preside, so A’Lei, being perceptive, said she would go to the Imperial Garden to view snow and admire plum blossoms, then return home with her sister after the family banquet ended at noon.

A’Lei had no interest in elegant plum blossoms – she preferred the three acres of chrysanthemums outside their old home, blooming boisterously in great patches, full of vitality.

In Yunnan, she rarely saw snow. After coming to the capital, whenever it snowed heavily, she couldn’t sit still at home and had to go out to play in the snow.

Arriving at the garden, A’Lei had no mind for flower viewing. She had palace maids and junior fire servants bring shovels and other tools, saying she wanted to build a big snow rabbit.

A’Lei took off her gray squirrel fur cloak, dressed lightly for action, rubbed her hands together, wielded the shovel, and scooped up the first shovelful of snow.

The junior fire servants watched with alarm and wanted to help, but A’Lei stopped them: “I’ll do it myself. You help find some coal balls and carrots – I want to decorate the snow rabbit.”

While A’Lei worked hard building her snow rabbit, on another side of the Imperial Garden, a group of people were admiring plum blossoms.

It was Crown Princess Zhang Shi and her family members. Today being New Year’s Day, Zhang Shi’s special status meant she couldn’t visit her parents like other married women – instead, her family came to the palace to see her.

Zhang Shi’s family was Earl Pengcheng’s mansion, formerly an ordinary military household family from the commoner class.

Earl Pengcheng Zhang Qi was severely injured during the Beiping defense battle in the Jingnan Campaign, then continued fighting while ill. His condition never healed, and he died in the first year of Yongle. Emperor Yongle specially granted the Zhang family the Earl Pengcheng title.

When Zhang Qi died, Zhang Shi’s mother was enfeoffed as Earl Pengcheng’s Grand Madam, Zhang Shi’s brother Zhang Xu officially inherited the family title, becoming the second-generation Earl Pengcheng, holding the position of Left Chief Military Commissioner in the Central Capital Military Commission, with his wife enfeoffed as Earl Pengcheng’s Madam.

Additionally, Zhang Shi had a younger brother Zhang Sheng, who served as a Chiliarch in the Imperial Guards.

The Zhang brothers of Earl Pengcheng’s mansion were still young. During the Jingnan Campaign, they mainly protected and defended Beiping, so their achievements were modest, with little prestige in the military – their only father Zhang Qi who could convince with valor was dead. Therefore, Jingnan generals with outstanding military achievements like Duke Yingguo looked down on the Zhang family, feeling they obtained positions and titles through nepotism and connections.

Crown Princess Zhang Shi repeatedly instructed her family to keep a low profile in conduct and actions, not seeking merit but avoiding faults, never fighting for power and influence.

The Zhang brothers had no foundation in the military – the Crown Princess was their greatest backer. The family’s title and wealth all arose because of the Crown Princess, so they all listened to the Crown Princess’s words, keeping so low-profile they barely seemed like imperial relatives.

The Crown Prince received his two brothers-in-law in the front court, while the Crown Princess accompanied her mother Earl Pengcheng’s Grand Madam, sister-in-law Earl Pengcheng’s Madam, and younger brother’s wife in the garden admiring plum blossoms.

Earl Pengcheng’s Grand Madam said: “…When the weather warms and the ground thaws, we can start building the garden for the Crown Princess’s future visits home. Then during holidays and festivals, the Crown Princess can return to her maiden home to visit. If construction goes quickly, it might be ready by this year’s Mid-Autumn Festival.”

The Crown Princess asked: “Since building a garden for home visits, have all the neighbors affected by demolition been properly compensated with silver and well-settled?”

Earl Pengcheng’s Grand Madam quickly said: “Taking that land required moving twenty-seven households. Each family was paid twenty percent above market price, with all house and land deeds properly processed through Yingtian Prefecture and witnessed by neighbors. Crown Princess, rest assured – even if anyone wants to deliberately cause trouble, they can’t make waves. It all comes down to reason.”

The Crown Princess’s eyes held both longing excitement and worry. She sighed: “You’re working hard and spending effort to build a garden for home visits, wanting to welcome me home once. I haven’t returned home since the selection began – it’s been fourteen years. Though mother can often enter the palace to see me, it’s ultimately different from me returning to my maiden home.”

“But mother should understand the Eastern Palace’s situation – truly swaying in wind and rain. I worry someone will use the family building a home-visit garden as pretext to cause trouble for Earl Pengcheng’s mansion without reason.”

With a golden phoenix flying from the family, the mother gaining honor through her daughter, Earl Pengcheng’s Grand Madam wanted to worship her daughter. She quickly comforted: “Crown Princess needn’t worry about the Zhang family anymore. Your two brothers are cautious and careful people who have never caused trouble. I’ve seen the home-visit garden Duke Yingguo’s mansion built for Concubine Zhang Shu – it’s more than three times larger than our Zhang family’s. By rank, the Crown Princess is higher than Concubine Zhang Shu. If our family’s garden is criticized, then Duke Yingguo’s mansion’s garden has even bigger problems.”

The Crown Princess shook her head: “Concubine Zhang Shu’s family is a duchy. Those court officials who were former Yuan Dynasty surrendered ministers are all friendly with Duke Yingguo’s mansion. Their family is powerful with many supporters. We’re just an earldom from a small place like Yongcheng, standing alone in court. Though both Zhang families are imperial relatives, the reality is different. One must have self-awareness – don’t compare with Duke Yingguo’s mansion.”

Earl Pengcheng’s Grand Madam said: “Understood. I’ll tell your two brothers to build the garden as simply as possible, not using precious flowers, trees, or rocks – no great expense.”

The Crown Princess nodded: “When the garden blueprints are ready, send them to the Eastern Palace for me to see if there’s anything inappropriate or presumptuous.”

Earl Pengcheng’s Grand Madam agreed to everything. There was no choice – the Eastern Palace always appeared to sway in wind and rain, so the Crown Princess’s family had to live cautiously in the capital full of powerful families.

Passing a snow-covered artificial mountain, Earl Pengcheng’s Grand Madam suddenly remembered something: “Knowing our family is building a home-visit villa, Madam Xu from Marquis Wuding Guo’s family sent someone with several excellent Taihu rocks for making artificial mountains in the garden.”

Madam Xu was Eastern Palace Consort Guo’s mother.

Marquis Wuding Guo Ying’s first wife Ma Shi had no children. His nine daughters and twelve sons were all born to different concubines. The eldest, Marquis Wuding heir Guo Zhen, married Emperor Gaozhu’s Princess Yongjia. The second son Guo Ming was born to concubine Yan Shi and married Madam Xu Shi.

This Xu Shi’s father was the cousin of Zhongshan King Xu Da, so Xu Shi and Empress Ren Xiao were cousins.

Therefore, according to this family relationship, Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi and Consort Guo were proper cousins. So Consort Guo’s status in the Eastern Palace was similar to a co-wife, highly respected.

Marquis Wuding Guo Ying, heir Guo Zhen, and Consort Guo’s father Guo Ming all died successively during the four-year Jingnan Campaign (everyone should remember that none of the first ten prince consorts of the Hongwu reign survived). The main branch’s Princess Yongjia and the second branch’s Madam Xu both became widows.

Princess Yongjia bore a son, Guo Zhen. Besides bearing eldest daughter Consort Guo, Madam Xu also had a son, Guo Xuan.

With the marquis and heir both dead and no legitimate heir, the Guo family’s numerous descendants began competing and fighting over the title.

Currently the top contenders were the main branch’s Guo Zhen and second branch’s Guo Xuan, both young men.

Of course, these two young men had no power or influence. The fight for Marquis Wuding’s title was actually a duel between two widows – Princess Yongjia and Madam Xu.

Princess Yongjia was Emperor Yongle’s sister, and Guo Zhen was Emperor Yongle’s nephew.

Madam Xu could be considered Emperor Yongle’s sister-in-law. Crown Prince and others had to address Madam Xu as “aunt.” Duke Weiguo’s mansion and Duke Dingguo Xu family could also be considered Madam Xu’s backing.

There was also Eastern Palace Consort Guo’s influence – the possibility of her brother Guo Xuan inheriting the title was also great.

Both palms and backs of hands are flesh – who should receive Marquis Wuding’s title? Emperor Yongle had decision-making difficulties. However, Emperor Yongle was skilled at extraordinary maneuvers. Since choosing either would disappoint the other side – he simply didn’t choose.

Emperor Yongle used the excuse that the Guo family grandsons were still young with undetermined temperaments to temporarily shelve the title.

Marquis Wuding remained undecided, with everything depending on respective performance and the emperor’s will.

With their daughter married into the Eastern Palace, the Eastern Palace was Madam Xu and Guo Xuan’s backing. Learning that Crown Princess’s family Earl Pengcheng’s mansion was building a home-visit villa, Madam Xu immediately sent someone with finest Taihu rocks. Powerful families had deep foundations – these were long-collected items, fine pieces money couldn’t buy on the market.

Madam Xu was paving the way for son Guo Xuan – even if Emperor Yongle kept dangling the title before the Guo family descendants, or simply gave the title to Princess Yongjia’s son Guo Zhen, the second branch wasn’t hopeless. As long as the Eastern Palace successfully ascended the throne in the future, daughter Consort Guo would rise with the tide, and Guo Xuan would still have opportunities to inherit the title.

The Crown Princess naturally understood Madam Xu’s intentions. With the Eastern Palace currently weak, Madam Xu’s background and the Guo family’s influence couldn’t be underestimated.

When the Crown Prince had difficulty walking and the movement to depose him arose, neither Madam Xu’s backing of Duke Weiguo’s and Duke Chengguo’s mansions, nor the Guo family, followed the trend to memorialize deposing the Crown Prince.

When the Eastern Palace almost faced enemies on all sides, neither the Xu family nor Guo family struck while they were down. This was the power of nepotistic relationships – often underestimated but always effective at crucial moments.

With Madam Xu sending Taihu rocks for garden construction as a goodwill gesture, the Crown Princess naturally had to respond: “After the imperial mourning period, Consort Guo’s brother Guo Xuan will marry. When the time comes, have mother double the gift list and send it to the Guo family.”

Madam Xu was a formidable person – widowed at thirty, relying on one son and one daughter, she fought Princess Yongjia of noble birth to a draw in the title struggle. Not easy.

Earl Pengcheng’s Grand Madam said: “Understood. Crown Princess, rest assured – our Zhang family has always been friendly with Madam Xu.”

Other families had wives and concubines competing jealously – either the east wind prevailing over the west wind or vice versa. Only the Eastern Palace had a unique landscape – Crown Princess and Consort Guo were like sisters, mutually respectful, both serving as Penguin Crown Prince’s crutches, supporting the precarious Eastern Palace.

Ultimately, external pressure made everyone huddle together for warmth, bound by interests, all in the same boat.

The Crown Princess discussed serious matters with Earl Pengcheng’s Grand Madam. Everyone perceptively maintained distance. Only after mother and daughter finished discussing business did they have the mood for flower viewing, with Earl Pengcheng’s Madam and younger brother’s wife and other female relatives following.

Among them, a girl around ten came to support Earl Pengcheng’s Grand Madam. This girl hadn’t fully matured but already showed stunning beauty in her features. Even the Crown Princess, accustomed to beauties in the harem, couldn’t help looking several times.

Earl Pengcheng’s Grand Madam had the young girl come bow. The young girl curtsied: “Commoner Sun Liuyi greets the Crown Princess.”

Earl Pengcheng’s Grand Madam smiled: “Does the Crown Princess find her somewhat familiar? This is a fine daughter from our hometown Yongcheng County. Her father is a county clerk in Yongcheng County, and her mother Liu Shi was the Crown Princess’s childhood friend. During the selection, she happened to be ill and missed it – otherwise, with her talent and beauty, she would likely have been selected for the palace.”

The ancient civil service system was divided into officials and clerks. Officials were national civil servants supported by state finances, with the lowest being ninth-rank county magistrates. Clerks belonged to local civil service systems, supported by local finances – comparable to today’s public institution positions.

Sun Liuyi’s father was Yongcheng County’s chief clerk managing taxes – essentially Yongcheng County’s tax bureau director.

In the first year of Yongle, when Earl Pengcheng Zhang Qi died, following the tradition of fallen leaves returning to roots, the Zhang family returned to their hometown Yongcheng County to bury Zhang Qi and observe three years of mourning.

During this period, Earl Pengcheng’s Grand Madam socialized with hometown old friends. Sun Liuyi was beautiful, gentle, virtuous, and talented, very outstanding, thus gaining Earl Pengcheng’s Grand Madam’s favor.

Because Emperor Gaozhu established the policy of “marrying commoners, selecting talent from the people,” future imperial daughters-in-law and concubines would come from common people, rarely marrying nobles and high officials anymore.

A remote place like Yongcheng County producing the golden phoenix Crown Princess, with the Zhang family soaring to great heights, had become Yongcheng County’s legend.

The Sun family, blessed with a fairy-like daughter, also wanted to emulate the Crown Princess by having their daughter take the selection path. They immediately hit it off with Earl Pengcheng’s Grand Madam. When Earl Pengcheng’s mansion’s three-year mourning period ended and they were returning to the capital, they sent daughter Sun Liuyi to Earl Pengcheng’s mansion. If the court held selections in the future, they would send Sun Liuyi as a selected woman to seek advancement.

The Crown Princess had a sudden realization: “So this is Sister Liu’s daughter. But the student surpasses the teacher – when Sun Liuyi grows up, she’ll surely have nation-toppling beauty.”

Earl Pengcheng’s Grand Madam doted on Sun Liuyi: “Not just looks – her character and talent are excellent. Having her company daily keeps me from boredom. Liuyi, compose a poem using the garden’s plum blossoms as your theme for the Crown Princess to hear.”

From ancient times to now, no one could escape performing for adults on the spot.

With mother so enthusiastically recommending Sun Liuyi, the Crown Princess felt somewhat inappropriate. She was indeed the Crown Princess, but in this harem, there were few matters she could decide.

Future selections were even less something a Crown Princess dared interfere with – the final list would be decided by Concubine Zhang Shu or His Majesty.

Still, this was her birth mother, and Sun Liuyi was the daughter of a hometown friend. The Crown Princess had to give face, so she gently declined:

“During this great New Year celebration, let’s not test the children. Even the imperial grandsons’ lessons have stopped – classes resume after the fifteenth day of the first month. Since Miss Sun is entering the palace for the first time, let her tour properly.”

After speaking, a trusted palace servant went to Sun Liuyi: “Miss Sun, please come this way.”

Palace people were all shrewd – the servant knew the Crown Princess wanted to avoid suspicion, so they led Sun Liuyi away.

“Yes.” Sun Liuyi obediently bowed and went to another part of the garden, letting the Crown Princess speak privately with her family.

Sun Liuyi followed the palace servant eastward, passing through a white plum grove where a group of young palace maids were laughing and taking turns throwing a door bolt, each trying their hardest to throw it skyward.

Sun Liuyi found this strange. The palace servant smiled and explained: “This is a palace custom called ‘Throwing a Thousand Gold.’ On New Year’s Day, we throw door bolts skyward – the higher thrown, the higher the official position achieved in the future.”

Sun Liuyi was still a child after all – curiosity overcame reserve as she asked: “Does it really work?”

The palace servant laughed: “It’s quite effective – otherwise how would this custom continue? Palace Superintendent Hu took the female official examination to enter the palace. On her first New Year’s Day in the palace throwing a thousand gold, she threw the door bolt onto the rooftop, even breaking glazed tiles above. An Imperial Guard had to climb up to retrieve the door bolt.”

“Later, Superintendent Hu served as superintendent for three successive reigns, commanding the harem. The Imperial Guard soldier who climbed the roof to retrieve the door bolt became the current Imperial Guard Commander Ji Gang. Both achieved great official success – tell me, isn’t that effective?”