Hearing Noble Consort Zhang’s words, her infatuation had turned into resentment. If this continued, the consequences would be unimaginable.
She needed strong medicine, or Noble Consort Zhang would follow in the footsteps of Noble Consort Guo Duanjing.
Hu Shanwei said, “Your Ladyship entered Prince Yan’s mansion after the mourning period ended for Loyal and Martial King (Zhang Yu was posthumously honored as king) who died in battle saving His Majesty. Your Ladyship had the choice then to marry other ministers as their principal wife, but Your Ladyship admired His Majesty as a true hero. No other man in the world caught Your Ladyship’s eye. Heroes match beauties – Your Ladyship only sought to stay by His Majesty’s side, to be His Majesty’s woman. His Majesty, to comfort the descendants of loyal ministers, took Your Ladyship as side consort. From then on, Your Ladyship’s brother Duke Yingguo earned His Majesty’s deep trust, achieved countless merits, and became commander of the southern campaign at a young age.”
“Your Ladyship, from beginning to end, His Majesty never promised you anything. What His Majesty gives Your Ladyship now is dignity and harem authority – this too is a form of trust. Your Ladyship, if time could go back twelve years, had Your Ladyship ever imagined possessing everything you have now? Your Ladyship’s original desire was simply to be His Majesty’s woman, nothing more.”
These words left Noble Consort Zhang speechless.
Yes, her desires back then were simple – stay by the emperor’s side, let the Zhang family gain favor, let her brother have opportunities to distinguish himself, fight on battlefields, and avenge their father who died in war.
Now all her desires had been fulfilled, so why did her heart ache so much? Why was she so unwilling? So indignant?
Seeing Noble Consort Zhang had listened, Hu Shanwei continued: “Everyone in life pursues, struggles with, and compromises with their desires. Poor families who can’t fill their bellies just want three meals a day. Well-off families think how wonderful it would be to have meat with every meal. Wealthy families wonder when their menfolk might pass imperial examinations – becoming a scholar would let them avoid kneeling before officials and live with dignity. Scholars want to become elevated scholars, and with that qualification enter officialdom. Elevated scholars want to advance further – rather than become minor officials, they go to the capital for examinations. Only by passing the highest level can they become high officials.”
“But once they become high officials, do people stop there satisfied, with no other pursuits or desires? The ministers of the Six Departments, or nobles with distinguished titles like Your Ladyship’s brother Duke Yingguo – whose family lives easily? Whose family has no worries? Whose family has no greater desires?”
Hu Shanwei pointed toward Qianqing Palace. “Even becoming emperor – would the fires of desire in one’s heart cease, content with the status quo? No, quite the opposite. The higher people climb, the more intensely desire burns, even burning away reason. If one indulges desire without restraint, one quickly slides toward irredeemable ruin. When that day comes, Your Ladyship will regret it too late.”
Having Gansu, one covets Shu – human nature.
Hu Shanwei said, “Your Ladyship has forgotten your original intention in entering the palace. Noble Consort is vice-empress – had Your Ladyship ever imagined such a position back then? What Your Ladyship now possesses is what countless harem women yearn for but cannot obtain, and what Your Ladyship dared not imagine then.”
The logic was sound, but Noble Consort Zhang still couldn’t accept it. “I… my current position wasn’t gained by lying idle. I’ve always worked hard, never disappointing His Majesty’s trust. I sought Hu Shanggong’s guidance, I’ve read the ‘Daily Records of Noble Consort Duanjing’ countless times, practically memorizing it. Why did Noble Consort Duanjing have a son and nearly become empress, while I get nothing?”
Hu Shanwei was immediately speechless: the death of the poisonous corpse Prince Lu Huang, Crown Prince Yiwen’s death, and Noble Consort Guo Duanjing’s death were state secrets she couldn’t tell anyone – even Mu Chun didn’t know!
Such deadly secrets had been buried underground forever with Emperor Gaozhu’s death.
My dear Noble Consort!
Precisely because Noble Consort Guo Duanjing had a son, precisely because she was about to be made empress, her son would become Ming’s only legitimate prince. An innocent man suffers for possessing a jade – so the “four-nothing” young man Prince Lu Huang (no heart, no conscience, no ambition, no talent) attracted Crown Prince Yiwen’s suspicion and hatred. Yiwen “added ingredients” to his pills, causing Prince Lu Huang to be poisoned, first blinding him, then suffering in agony all night, preferring death to life before finally dying!
Noble Consort Duanjing had only one son her whole life. A white-haired person sending off a black-haired one, she gave up the easily obtainable empress position to die together with Crown Prince Yiwen. How tragic and desperate that ending was!
And Crown Prince Yiwen, originally secure in his heir position, always maintaining an image of virtue and goodness, lost everything with one wrong step, reaping what he sowed. Noble Consort Duanjing’s revenge blinded both his eyes, and he too suffered in agony all night before dying.
Hu Shanwei couldn’t tell Noble Consort Zhang the truth about Noble Consort Duanjing’s death, only giving veiled warnings: “Your Ladyship, if Your Ladyship had a son, with mother’s status rising through her child, Your Ladyship’s noble birth, youth, and the Zhang family’s great influence – even without Your Ladyship speaking, court officials would petition His Majesty to make Your Ladyship the new empress.”
Noble Consort Zhang’s eyes suddenly lit up, then she shook her head repeatedly, murmuring, “No, I only want a child. Whether prince or princess, I would be satisfied. I wouldn’t presume to covet the empress position.”
Hu Shanwei countered, “Future matters change too much. Will it not happen just because Your Ladyship says it won’t? Your Ladyship’s original heart only wanted to accompany His Majesty, to become the woman of Ming’s most excellent man. Your Ladyship fulfilled this wish, but were you satisfied? No – after new wishes were fulfilled, greater desires arose.”
“Your Ladyship now wants a child, or to become empress – either would suffice. But having a child, who wouldn’t want their child to be legitimate? Having become empress, would one definitely abandon thoughts of bearing children?”
“If Your Ladyship became the new empress, Your Ladyship’s son would be a legitimate prince. With temptation constantly before your eyes, even if Your Ladyship didn’t touch it, what about Your Ladyship’s son? How do we know he wouldn’t develop ambitions growing up? Fine, even if Your Ladyship, your son, and even the Zhang family had no interest in the throne, what about the Zhang family’s relatives, friends, and comrades-in-arms? The throne’s allure is great, and the allure of dragon-following merit is equally great.”
“By then, so many people’s desires would be beyond Your Ladyship’s control.”
Now it was Noble Consort Zhang’s turn to be speechless.
Hu Shanwei struck continuously, hoping to awaken Noble Consort Zhang. “What I just described only considers possibilities on Your Ladyship’s side. I haven’t even analyzed how the Eastern Palace and Crown Grandson’s Palace attitudes toward Your Ladyship would change if you had children or became the new empress.”
“Your Ladyship, don’t think the palace’s temporary stability these years is normal. If you think that, you’re gravely mistaken. The harem has always been a place of hidden dangers. When people die, it’s in batches, many dying silently. What Your Ladyship has read in historical records and various daily notes is just an insignificant portion.”
“Your Ladyship, cherish what’s before you. Trust this servant – your current state is the best situation. One step forward is an abyss, and then even this servant would be powerless.”
“All the above are this servant’s heartfelt words. Please think thrice, Your Ladyship.”
Hu Shanwei bowed and withdrew. This was the limit of what she could do. If Noble Consort Zhang remained obstinate, she…
Thinking of the possible bloodshed and chaos, Hu Shanwei shuddered: If the worst happens, I’ll quit early – this simply isn’t work for humans.
Noble Consort Zhang didn’t sleep all night and fell ill the next day. The female physician diagnosed that the Noble Consort had been overworked for days, overthinking, damaging her spirit and requiring good rest.
Hearing the Noble Consort was ill, Emperor Yongle specially came to Yanxi Palace to visit Lady Zhang.
Noble Consort Zhang was a general’s daughter, always healthy. Her sudden illness worried Emperor Yongle somewhat.
Noble Consort Zhang had given up on Emperor Yongle last night, but today seeing him set aside piles of state affairs to visit her immediately after court upon hearing of her illness, her heart’s fire immediately reignited from ashes: this man still cared for her!
My years of dedication weren’t wasted.
With Emperor Yongle’s arrival, Noble Consort Zhang felt her illness immediately improve by half. She struggled to rise and bow.
Hu Shanwei: Emperor Yongle is such a pig teammate!
“Noble Consort need not bow.” Emperor Yongle helped her lie back down.
Feeling the emperor’s rough, warm large hand covering her wrist, Noble Consort Zhang was both moved and wronged. With a wail, she threw herself into Emperor Yongle’s arms crying.
Emperor Yongle gently stroked her back. “What’s wrong with Noble Consort?”
Noble Consort Zhang stretched out both arms, tightly embracing Emperor Yongle’s waist. “Your consort isn’t ill. Your consort is perfectly healthy. Even in my maiden days, I admired Your Majesty. I can do anything for Your Majesty, I…”
Noble Consort Zhang steeled her heart and unfastened Emperor Yongle’s belt. “I want to bear Your Majesty a child. I dream of bearing a child with Your Majesty’s bloodline.”
Hearing this, Emperor Yongle’s waist stiffened.
Having already pierced through that layer of pretense, Noble Consort Zhang gritted her teeth, loosened and pulled her garments, exposing her flawless upper body like a warm, full piece of sweet white porcelain.
She was twenty-eight years old, a fully ripened honey peach that would overflow with sweet juice at a gentle bite, possessing this age’s unique charm.
Noble Consort Zhang didn’t believe that even like this, Emperor Yongle wouldn’t be moved.
After all these years, even a stone heart could be warmed. He still cared for her – otherwise he couldn’t have come to Yanxi Palace immediately upon hearing she was ill.
Emperor Yongle didn’t flee. He stared at her fixedly without blinking, then… he lifted the cotton quilt on the bed and wrapped her up. “Winter has arrived. Noble Consort, be careful not to catch cold.”
After speaking, Emperor Yongle stood up from the bed. Noble Consort Zhang, quiet as a virgin, quick as a rabbit, lunged forward and grabbed Emperor Yongle’s large hand, placing it on her peak.
Noble Consort Zhang’s voice trembled violently. “For the sake of years of affection, Your Majesty, give your consort a child.”
Emperor Yongle forcefully withdrew his hand. Noble Consort Zhang’s strength was weak after all, no match for Emperor Yongle.
Emperor Yongle turned to leave. Noble Consort Zhang threw on clothes and rose from bed, too rushed to put on shoes and socks. Barefoot, she ran like wind to the doorway, stretching out both hands to block his path, her eyes red, appearing mad. “If Your Majesty won’t give your consort a child, then give your consort an explanation – I want to become the new empress!”
A child or empress – you must give me one.
Emperor Yongle was stunned. All along, he hadn’t noticed the feelings of the many harem consorts. Noble Consort Zhang had grown and matured these years, but her desires had also grown. Even the Noble Consort position couldn’t satisfy her.
Noble Consort Zhang was after all a legitimate daughter of a famous family. Her father Loyal and Martial King Zhang Yu had charged into enemy ranks to save Emperor Yongle’s life, suffering numerous wounds and dying from blood loss. Her brother Duke Yingguo Zhang Fu was the most outstanding general among Ming’s young generation.
Emperor Yongle decided to give Lady Zhang another chance. “Noble Consort, though vice-empress, has harem authority no different from an empress.”
Looking at Emperor Yongle’s heartlessness toward her, Noble Consort Zhang said, “Noble Consort, if she cannot become the new empress, is merely a high-ranking housekeeper despite controlling harem authority. What use is high status for a housekeeper? In the end, she remains a servant, not the master.”
Emperor Yongle was a generation’s supreme ruler. He was accustomed to controlling everything and wouldn’t change his decisions for Noble Consort Zhang. “Noble Consort is gravely ill. From today, rest well in Yanxi Palace without stepping outside. Harem affairs will temporarily be managed by Consort Quan – don’t trouble Noble Consort with concerns.”
The implication was confining Noble Consort Zhang to Yanxi Palace and stripping away her harem authority.
Hearing this, Noble Consort Zhang immediately transformed into a stone statue, motionless.
Emperor Yongle walked around this beautiful statue and passed by. Brushing past her, Emperor Yongle said, “Noble Consort, take good care of your ‘health.’ When you recover, you may come out.”
Emperor Yongle left. Hearing the emperor’s footsteps disappear outside the door, Noble Consort Zhang was exhausted in body and spirit, fainting to the ground.
When Noble Consort Zhang awoke, she was greeted by Consort Quan’s snow-white flawless face. “Noble Consort has awakened? The medicine is perfectly brewed and just delivered.”
Consort Quan lifted the medicine cup, attentively testing the temperature with her wrist. “Neither cold nor hot – ready to drink.”