Speaking of Mu Ying leading the Eastern Route Army back victorious, the northeastern territories of the Ming Dynasty temporarily gained peace. Emperor Hongwu immediately issued an edict ordering the fourth prince, Prince Yan Zhu Di, to go north to Beiping to establish his fiefdom and guard the northeastern borders of the Ming Dynasty.
After some preparation, Prince Yan’s family set out north in September. Princess Consort Yan, Xu Shi, was Duke Weiguo’s legitimate eldest daughter. Now that Marquis Xiping’s mansion and Duke Weiguo’s mansion had become in-laws, when Prince Yan’s family left the capital, Mu Chun, as a representative of Marquis Xiping’s mansion, had to complete family diplomatic duties by going to Peach Leaf Ferry to see Prince Yan off.
Brother-in-law Xu Zengshou wept profusely, causing brother-in-law Mu Chun to secretly roll his eyes. Mu Chun was a stranger to any of his siblings—he had no emotional connection with them. He found it hard to understand why Princess Consort Yan frequently used a whip to discipline Xu Zengshou and nearly chopped off his fingers, yet Xu Zengshou was still reluctant to part from his elder sister.
If it were me, with no one to control me from now on, I would have joyfully gone to burn incense in gratitude.
Later, Xu Zengshou simply jumped onto the boat, saying that since he was already there, he might as well escort them part of the way.
Emperor Hongwu ordered Ji Gang to lead two thousand Imperial Guards to escort Prince Yan’s household to his fiefdom.
Hu Shanwei also came, bearing gifts bestowed by Empress Ma. The send-off ceremony was quite lively, with all imperial clan relatives attending except Princess Huaiqing, who couldn’t travel due to her pregnancy. When Prince Consort Wang Ning arrived at the scene, Mu Chun quietly said to Hu Shanwei: “Let’s return to the palace.”
Hu Shanwei returned to the palace to report back. She briefly described the grand send-off ceremony for Prince Yan’s household. Empress Ma was reading a book and, upon hearing that Princess Huaiqing hadn’t attended, ordered Court Secretary Ru to visit the princess’s mansion to check on her.
Empress Ma put down her book and asked Hu Shanwei: “I need to find a reliable foster mother for the little princess. In your opinion, who among the Eastern and Western Six Palaces would be most suitable?”
Here it comes. Hu Shanwei took out a small booklet: “This is the list of those who have sent gifts to me these past days, along with their presents. There are many concubines in the palace, and I don’t know who would be suitable to choose. However, my list can tell Your Majesty who not to choose.”
“Let me see it.” Empress Ma smiled lightly and flipped through the booklet. “Each one of them was quite generous. Usually they complain behind closed doors about weaving being too tiring, and during the Northern Expedition they complained about sewing military uniforms and shoes until the third watch when lights were extinguished. Little do they know that common women all work until the third watch before resting. They only suffered hardship for a while, while common women suffer hardship their entire lives. After the Northern Expedition’s victory, the emperor and I generously rewarded the Eastern and Western Six Palaces, yet they still think it’s not enough and always want to stir up trouble. Seeing Noble Consort Sun gravely ill and the little princess without care, they’re all scheming in various ways.”
Empress Ma’s eyes showed fatigue as she flipped through the register: “It’s only been one year of peace—is it already coming to an end?”
Hu Shanwei dared not respond. As a minister, silence was golden—one more word meant one more chance of losing her head. She didn’t want such chances.
After Noble Consort Sun fell gravely ill, Empress Ma felt lonely and insisted she speak, asking: “What do you think?”
Hu Shanwei had no choice but to answer: “When morning roosters first crow and evening crows compete in noise, who doesn’t go into the red dust’s tumult? If none of the Eastern and Western Six Palaces competed or fought, that would be truly strange. It’s just that even thieves have principles—competition and fighting should have bottom lines. If someone is short-sighted with dirty methods, such a person is unsuitable for raising the little princess.”
“Mountains stretch far, waters stretch far, fame and fortune all lie on Chang’an Road,” Empress Ma continued the latter half, sighing: “You’re right. This imperial palace is Chang’an Road—it’s precisely the place for pursuing fame and profit. Who can remain content?”
She asked again: “You accepted their things but won’t do their bidding. Aren’t you afraid of offending them?”
“The six bureaus and one department exist to assist the empress in managing rear palace affairs and have nothing to do with the concubines,” Hu Shanwei said. “Moreover, those who send me gifts and those who mock me behind my back, saying I’m shallow-minded and dare accept any gift, are almost the same group of people.”
This was what Fan Gongzheng had secretly told her. Her former superior was quite concerned about her future.
Without saying a single disparaging word, Hu Shanwei had lodged a complaint before Empress Ma.
Empress Ma liked using young people and even heavily promoted people like Superintendent Cao, who had poor reputations in the palace, precisely because young people still had sharp edges and spoke directly. She didn’t need to waste energy guessing what her subordinates were thinking, and they could smoothly accomplish tasks and directly give her results.
It was like in temples—the kind-faced Bodhisattva sits in the center, flanked by fierce-looking guardian deities. If everyone played the Bodhisattva, the drama couldn’t be performed.
Finding a reliable foster mother for the little princess was urgent. Hu Shanwei had used the process of elimination while conveniently helping Empress Ma gauge the rear palace’s undercurrents. This list included low-ranking talented ladies and beauties, as well as consorts holding main palace positions.
Empress Ma’s gaze stopped on the name of a consort of considerable rank, murmuring: “Even she can’t sit still. It seems she’s waiting for Noble Consort Sun to vacate her position…”
After a long while, Empress Ma closed the register: “Summon Noble Consort Li.”
Noble Consort Li’s father, Li Jie, had once been the commanding officer of the Guangwu Guard, one of the Imperial Guards, and died in the second Northern Expedition. Because her father died so tragically, Emperor Hongwu deeply lamented and treated his daughter generously. Thus, although Li Shi had no sons or daughters, she was granted the consort title before reaching twenty—she was the youngest among all the consorts.
Noble Consort Li had a tranquil nature—at least for now—never competing for favor. Her name naturally wasn’t on Hu Shanwei’s list either. Emperor Hongwu had a good impression of her, so Empress Ma planned to give her a helping hand and cultivate her well. Perhaps she could become another “Noble Consort Sun” in the future.
Among all the concubines in the palace who had borne sons, Empress Ma dared not heavily promote a single one, because having sons made their hearts grow bigger. After all, the crown prince was also a son born to a concubine…
A pie falling from heaven hit Noble Consort Li on the head, stunning her. She was overwhelmed with favor and fear: “Your Majesty, I’m terrified. I’ve never raised children and don’t know how to care for the little princess. I’m afraid I cannot bear this responsibility.”
Noble Consort Li had no great ambitions. Most of the rear palace lived comfortably and peacefully, and living like this until death wasn’t bad either. She occasionally did needlework, and when His Majesty mentioned textiles, she would go weave cloth. When the empress mentioned supporting the army, she would make military uniforms. She had memorized the “Record of Virtuous Consorts’ Admonitions from the Song Dynasty” perfectly.
She didn’t compete for favor or try to charm the emperor, because her appearance was ordinary, and her talents in music, chess, calligraphy, painting, singing, dancing, and playing the pipa were also ordinary—she couldn’t compete with the various beauties in the rear palace anyway.
She also didn’t go before the empress to pledge loyalty—how could anyone be more loyal than Noble Consort Sun?
When faced with difficulties, Noble Consort Li’s first thought was always how to give up, and she approached this big pie of the little princess the same way.
Sigh, why were obedient people always hard to use, while useful people were never obedient?
Empress Ma felt somewhat frustrated, like iron that wouldn’t become steel: “If you don’t know, you can learn. No one is born knowing how to be a mother. Among all the consort positions in the rear palace, only you have no children, so you can devote all your energy to raising the little princess. Moreover, the little princess is already over a year old—easier to care for than before. If you raise her, His Majesty will be concerned and will frequently visit your palace to see her… You understand what I mean, don’t you?”
Compared to those ambitious concubines, choosing the lesser of two evils, Empress Ma still hoped Noble Consort Li could rise to the occasion.
If she still didn’t understand, she would truly be foolish. Wasn’t Noble Consort Li’s newborn little prince obtained exactly this way?
Noble Consort Li’s cheeks flushed red: “Yes, this younger sister will do her utmost.”
Noble Consort Li carried the little princess back to Yonghe Palace. Located in the Eastern Six Palaces, separated by two high walls and one street from the six bureaus and one department, it was very convenient for Jiang Quan to visit the little princess.
The little princess unexpectedly “landing” in Yonghe Palace caused a sensation in the palace. Hu Shanwei had Haitang quietly return all the received gifts to their original owners.
Superintendent Cao lectured Hu Shanwei: “By accepting things and then returning them without doing anything, you’ve offended all these people.”
Hu Shanwei was unconcerned: “If you’re going to do things, don’t be afraid of offending people—Superintendent Cao, haven’t you offended fewer people? You’re still a superintendent all the same.”
Superintendent Cao choked, with an expression that seemed to smile but didn’t smile, seemed angry but wasn’t angry: “Now your wings have grown hard—you dare talk back to me.”
Hu Shanwei shook her head: “Not at all. I’m learning how to work from Superintendent Cao.”
Superintendent Cao raised her eyebrows: “Are you complimenting me?”
Hu Shanwei: “Just stating facts.”
“Don’t think that saying a few nice words will make me softhearted,” Superintendent Cao patted her shoulder. “I won’t forget your promise.”
In the northern part of Nanjing, at Yingling Workshop on Chengxian Street, stood the Hu Family Bookshop.
In the accounting room, Hu Rong opened a cabinet and took out a locked small box from inside.
Opening the box revealed a stack of family letters—all letters that Hu Shanwei had people deliver on holidays, her mother’s birthday and death anniversary, and Hu Rong’s birthday.
Hu Rong opened the most recent letter from the Double Ninth Festival on September 9th: “All is well, don’t worry. Father, take care of your health. Your daughter, Shanwei.”
This letter’s content was identical to the Mid-Autumn Festival letter from August 15th—as neat as an official document, carrying an air of routine duty. Hu Rong sighed and took out each letter to read several times over.
Lost in thought, suddenly there was commotion outside. Hu Rong quickly put the family letters back in the box, locked it securely layer by layer, then ran outside to see what was happening.
People from the Northern District Military Commissioner’s office were posting notices on the street, shouting: “Take down all red lanterns from the corridors! Tea houses are forbidden to perform opera! No string or wind instruments allowed! Civilian marriages are prohibited for half a month!”
Hu Rong squeezed into the crowd to read the notice with paste still wet—it turned out that Noble Consort Sun in the palace had passed away.
Ever since the little princess was transferred to Noble Consort Li’s care, the six bureaus and one department knew Noble Consort Sun’s time was limited. Superintendent Cao had long ordered each bureau to prepare funeral items in advance, so when Noble Consort Sun passed away, except for the emperor and empress’s bedchambers, all other palaces were draped in plain white.
Originally, a noble consort’s funeral had established protocols—just follow the rules. However, Emperor Hongwu not only flew into a rage at court but also wielded a stick to beat Crown Prince Zhu Biao.
Why?
According to the mourning system at that time, when a concubine died, all princes should observe “si ma” mourning to show grief.
The mourning system had five grades, from heavy to light: “zhan cui,” “qi cui,” “da gong,” “xiao gong,” and “si ma.” Si ma was the lightest, wearing fine linen clothing, observed for only three months before mourning clothes could be removed.
However, this system was only implemented among the “scholar” class and below. In proper official families, there was no such mourning system: “If it’s a concubine, then no mourning.” Whether concubines had children or not, their children need not observe mourning for concubines.
The imperial family was the greatest household in the Ming Dynasty, so naturally princes and princesses need not observe mourning for Noble Consort Sun.
Noble Consort Sun was different from concubines who had died before—both the emperor and empress had deep feelings for her. Now that Noble Consort Sun’s funeral was so desolate, not to mention the grief-stricken Empress Ma, even Emperor Hongwu felt it was inadequate.
Especially seeing Princess Huaiqing weeping before the coffin with her slightly protruding belly, Emperor Hongwu felt the funeral was too simple and damaged the imperial family’s dignity.
Funeral rites were major ceremonies of great importance—even the emperor couldn’t easily change them.
So Emperor Hongwu ordered Minister of Rites Niu Liang to gather Confucian officials for a meeting to discuss how to make Noble Consort Sun’s funeral more grand.
Ritual officials most feared this kind of temporary system change. Better to have one less matter than one more. The Ministry of Rites went through the motions of discussion, concluding with “no mourning for concubines.”
After Emperor Hongwu read their thousand-word document that said nothing new, he flew into a rage, cursing Ministry of Rites officials as a bunch of useless “pedantic vulgar scholars” who were fossilized, only knowing how to “approve the ancient and disapprove the present” without flexibility:
“Mourning systems exist to help people express grief. If they’re not humane, they should be changed! You always use Han and Tang taboos about discussing funerals as reasons to maintain the status quo. But don’t forget—ritual and music systems come from the Son of Heaven. It’s the Son of Heaven who establishes systems. If millennia-old systems are unreasonable and ignore human relationships, they must be changed! Otherwise, if everything just copies old systems, what use do I have for the Ministry of Rites!”
After scolding Ministry of Rites officials, Emperor Hongwu ordered Crown Prince Zhu Biao to preside over Noble Consort Sun’s funeral.
The crown prince refused: “Father Emperor, there’s no mourning for concubines. Your son cannot preside over the funeral.”
The emperor and empress had deep feelings for Noble Consort Sun, but the crown prince didn’t. Moreover, the crown prince didn’t even know who his birth mother was—how could he possibly hold funeral rites for an unrelated concubine?
Emperor Hongwu wielded his staff to beat the crown prince: “You unfilial son! Do you listen to the Ministry of Rites or to me?”
The crown prince refused unto death: “Father Emperor, mourning systems are fundamental state rituals and cannot be arbitrarily changed.”
Seeing the crown prince being beaten, Ministry of Rites officials quickly stepped back: “Your Majesty, Prince Consort Li and Prince Consort Wang could preside over the funeral—absolutely not the crown prince!”
Li Qi and Wang Ning were Noble Consort Sun’s sons-in-law—this was the Ministry of Rites’ greatest possible concession.
“Bullshit!” In his fury, Emperor Hongwu swore: “None of you are allowed to leave until you discuss a result that satisfies me!”
Having said this, Emperor Hongwu locked up the crown prince together with the Ministry of Rites officials, not even allowing food or water to be sent.
The crown prince and Ministry of Rites were stubborn—they went a day and night without food or water but wouldn’t yield.
The situation reached an impasse. No one’s persuasion worked, and finally Empress Ma had to come forward to persuade Emperor Hongwu. As the nation’s mother, she couldn’t watch the crown prince starve to death.
Empress Ma wept day and night, her body growing thin. Hu Shanwei supported her from the side.
As soon as Emperor Hongwu saw Empress Ma, he knew her purpose: “Zi Tong, don’t try to persuade me. I am the Son of Heaven—can’t I even arrange a decent funeral for Noble Consort Sun? Zi Tong looks quite haggard. Return to the palace quickly to rest.”
Before Empress Ma could speak, she was rebuffed, feeling somewhat embarrassed. Hu Shanwei quickly helped Empress Ma sit down: “Your Majesty, please sit for a moment. I’ll go prepare a medicinal pill.”
A medicinal pill? Empress Ma didn’t understand. Hu Shanwei winked: “Court Secretary Ru said Your Majesty must take ginseng nourishing pills on time to take care of your health.”
Empress Ma was extremely clever and immediately understood Hu Shanwei’s meaning—she was actually finding an excuse for her to stay here and look for opportunities to offer advice.
Indeed, Emperor Hongwu was very concerned about Empress Ma and said to Hu Shanwei: “Why aren’t you going quickly?”
Hu Shanwei slowly dissolved nourishing pills in hot water outside, giving Empress Ma time.
But the scolding inside grew louder and louder: “…Don’t mention the crown prince to me! All these years he’s been surrounded by a bunch of scholars, becoming more and more pedantic and incompetent! As heir apparent, he should have opinions about everything! Scholars are ministers, tools for governing the country. He’s good—treating his ministers’ words as imperial edicts! Led around by the nose by a bunch of scholars, opening his mouth about sages, closing it about ‘since ancient times,’ reciting a bunch of filial systems—where are his own opinions? A twenty-six-year-old man who can’t think independently—I’ll depose him!”
Hu Shanwei was shocked.
Inside, Empress Ma said: “Your Majesty, absolutely not! The crown prince is the foundation of the state. If the foundation shakes, the world will be in chaos. If the crown prince has done wrong, he can still be educated. Your Majesty can personally guide him, letting the crown prince be less interfered with by those pedantic people. Please give the crown prince one chance.”
“Zi Tong kneels to plead for him, but he doesn’t think about how to solve problems or how to comfort me and the empress in our grief—he just knows how to go on hunger strike with that group! What use do I have for such an incompetent crown prince!” Emperor Hongwu was furious and threw a teacup.
With a crash, porcelain shards flew out. Empress Ma happened to be kneeling on the ground, and her cheek was cut by a fragment, causing her to cry out in alarm.
Hearing Empress Ma’s pained cry, Hu Shanwei quickly put down the medicine cup and ran in to check the situation. Emperor Hongwu was already helping Empress Ma up: “Zi Tong! Are you alright?”
Hu Shanwei saw a trace of blood on Empress Ma’s pale cheek. Emperor Hongwu didn’t want anyone to see that he had accidentally injured Empress Ma. Embarrassed and angry, he glared furiously: “Someone come! Gouge out her eyes! Expel her from the palace!”
A crowd swarmed forward to drag Hu Shanwei away. Empress Ma was about to speak in her defense when she heard Hu Shanwei’s laughter, thinking: Has she gone mad with fear?
Hu Shanwei laughed heartily: “Your Majesty, noble as the Son of Heaven, yet you cannot see through the real problem with the filial system. Today’s embarrassing funeral for the noble consort is merely superficial—the root problem is not ‘no mourning for concubines.'”
Hearing she would suffer the punishment of having her eyes gouged out, Hu Shanwei’s heart went completely cold. Since she would die either way, she decided to gamble. Emperor Hongwu was angry with the crown prince because the crown prince hadn’t found a solution and was doing futile things like going on hunger strike with a group of people.
But she had a way to solve this problem. It was somewhat difficult, but it might also save her life.