While the new female officials were intensively studying palace regulations at the Palace Administration, during breaks, female officials with “Shang” titles from the Six Bureaus would occasionally come to observe the newcomers’ qualifications, preparing to select their own people for the future.
With explanations from her disciple Mei Xiang, Hu Shanwei gradually came to understand the authority and operational rules of the Six Bureaus and One Department of the harem:
The Six Bureaus and One Department of the harem. The Palace Administration was the disciplinary supervision organization, responsible for rewards and punishments of palace personnel. When newcomers entered the palace—whether female officials or palace maids—they were all taught palace regulations by the Palace Administration and could only take up their duties after passing assessments.
The six bureaus were: the Bureau of Palace Administration, which led the central palace and assisted the Empress in managing all affairs of the harem, large and small.
The Bureau of Palace Administration was the most important, most powerful, busiest bureau among the six, closest to His Majesty and Her Majesty. It controlled all the keys of the harem, personnel rosters, salary distribution, and audited the account books of the other five bureaus.
The Bureau of Palace Administration held the lifeline of the harem. Its highest female official was called “Palace Supervisor.” If placed in the modern era five hundred years later, the Bureau of Palace Administration would be a combination of human resources, administration, and finance departments.
Therefore, the Bureau of Palace Administration preferred to select female officials with steady temperaments, strict logic, meticulous attention to detail, methodical approaches, and especially those skilled in arithmetic for positions in the Bureau of Palace Administration.
The Bureau of Court Ceremonies controlled all ceremonial music and daily life in the harem, including classical texts and documents, court music, ceremonial guidance, organizing banquets, and festival ceremonies.
The highest female official of the Bureau of Court Ceremonies was called “Court Supervisor,” preferring to select female officials proficient in ancient and modern ceremonies, musical theory, good at communication and coordination, eloquent, and quick-thinking.
The highest female official of the Bureau of Imperial Wardrobe was called “Wardrobe Supervisor,” managing court clothing, jewelry, ceremonial objects, and most importantly, the imperial seals of His Majesty and Her Majesty. They also preferred to select careful and cautious female officials who understood clothing and ceremonial etiquette.
The highest female official of the Bureau of Imperial Kitchen was called “Kitchen Supervisor,” managing food, brewing, medicines, and firewood and charcoal. The palace was especially particular about what people consumed, so female officials who understood basic pharmacology and culinary arts were preferred.
The highest female official of the Bureau of Imperial Bedchamber was called “Bedchamber Supervisor,” managing sleeping curtains, travel carriages, ceremonial canopies, fruits and flowers in the harem gardens, and lighting and candles.
Finally, there was the Bureau of Imperial Works—pronounced the same as the core Bureau of Palace Administration, but this “gong” referred to needlework, managing palace attire, making clothes, and purchasing gold, jade, and precious stone jewelry. The Bureau of Imperial Works preferred female officials with artistic skills, aesthetic sense, and proficiency in needlework. Its highest female official was called “Works Supervisor.”
These six major female officials with “Shang” titles were all fifth-rank, with clearly defined responsibilities, jointly maintaining the normal operation of the vast Great Ming court, and all subject to supervision by the Palace Administration.
Of course, the most popular was definitely the Bureau of Palace Administration, the head of the six bureaus, with the greatest power, most likely to receive attention from His Majesty and Her Majesty, and fastest promotion opportunities.
Therefore, most new female officials wanted to enter the Bureau of Palace Administration. Whenever Palace Supervisor Wang from the Bureau of Palace Administration came to the Palace Administration, the new female officials would answer questions more loudly, citing extensively to demonstrate their learning.
Hu Shanwei wanted to enter the Bureau of Imperial Wardrobe. For her, being a female official in any of the six bureaus would be an honor, and she could do her best at whatever job she was assigned. But what she most wanted to see was the heart of the Great Ming Empire—what the state seals looked like. If she were fortunate enough to touch them, that would be even better.
The Seal Keeper female official under the Bureau of Imperial Wardrobe managed the state seals.
Moreover, what excited Hu Shanwei was that Wardrobe Supervisor Wang from the Bureau of Imperial Wardrobe had actually spoken with her individually!
Supervisor Wang was a widow, a woman of about forty, gentle and amiable. She chatted with Hu Shanwei about her family matters—how old her parents were, where her ancestral home was, what her family did for a living, and so forth. Hu Shanwei suppressed her excitement and answered each question.
Supervisor Wang nodded slowly, seeming quite satisfied with Hu Shanwei, when suddenly she changed the subject: “What kind of person is your stepmother?”
This was a very tricky question. According to human ethics and propriety, as children, one absolutely could not speak ill of one’s parents, and a stepmother was also a mother.
But if she went against her conscience and said her stepmother was wonderful, that would be a lie, and Director Fan had emphasized that in the Palace Administration, the first rule was not to lie.
What to do? Speaking was wrong, not speaking was also wrong.
Hu Shanwei pondered for a moment and said: “My humble stepmother Chen Shi is a good daughter in her maternal family, filial to her parents. At home, she serves my father’s meals and daily needs attentively. Among neighbors, relationships are harmonious—everyone calls her a virtuous woman. Even street beggars who come to our door never leave empty-handed. Sometimes it’s leftover food from home, sometimes a handful of rice, or old clothes and shoes. Every month, she also donates one or two taels of silver as incense money to temples.”
“She treats everyone well—except me.”
Supervisor Wang glanced at the chilblains still visible on Hu Shanwei’s little finger. This girl’s reaction was good—calm and composed, explaining the actual situation without violating propriety. She was promising material.
Supervisor Wang asked again: “You’ve been in the palace for nearly half a month—do you miss home?”
Another life-or-death question!
Say yes, and why did you enter the palace?
Say no, and you’re a cold-hearted person who doesn’t remember parental nurturing kindness. Who would dare use an unfilial person?
Hu Shanwei considered carefully and said: “This humble servant receives the sovereign’s salary and serves the sovereign loyally. When I entered the palace, all the silver I was given was left at home for household expenses. By serving in the palace, His Majesty has exempted my family from taxes and corvée labor. My family has no worries about food and clothing—I have fulfilled my filial duty.”
Loyalty, filial piety, chastity, righteousness—loyalty comes first.
Supervisor Wang looked deeply at Hu Shanwei and left the Palace Administration.
In terms of appearance, she wasn’t the most outstanding. In terms of conversation, she wasn’t the most elegant. In terms of talent, her examination scores ranked thirty-seventh, which was the lowest tier, far from being remarkably gifted.
Why would Mu Chun request a pair of shoes from Her Majesty the Empress to give to her?
The Bureau of Imperial Wardrobe managed clothing and jewelry, including shoes. Even the destination of one of Empress Ma’s handkerchiefs was recorded in the Bureau of Imperial Wardrobe—whether damaged and discarded or bestowed upon someone, and to whom it was given, all clearly recorded in the account books.
Supervisor Wang went to Kunning Palace to report, telling Empress Ma about Hu Shanwei’s responses: “…Based on this humble servant’s judgment, Mu Chun’s gift of shoes was not from romantic admiration or budding affection. He simply felt pity seeing Secretary Hu being humiliated and pressured by her stepmother.”
Empress Ma nodded: “Mu Chun is still very childish and probably doesn’t have thoughts in that direction. I was overthinking.”
She added: “It’s rare that she can respond so fluently just after entering the palace. This girl is quite good.”
Supervisor Wang smiled: “She’s proficient in the Rites of Zhou, and her discussion of the Five Classics earned top marks. Both the Bureau of Palace Administration and Bureau of Court Ceremonies have their eyes on her. I also want to recruit her to the Bureau of Imperial Wardrobe—we’ll see if I can outcompete them after the palace regulations examination in five days.”
Hu Shanwei had no idea she was already talent being fought over by three bureaus, still anxiously wondering whether her answers had satisfied Supervisor Wang of the Bureau of Imperial Wardrobe.
She walked distractedly along West Long Street, silently reciting palace regulations. When Jinyiwei approached, she stepped aside to make way, but inadvertently noticed that one of the Jinyiwei wearing flying fish robes and carrying an embroidered spring knife was actually Student Bai who had given her shoes!
She called out to Mu Chun: “You… you’re an Imperial Academy student—how did you become Jinyiwei?”
Mu Chun stopped and turned around, scratching his head and thinking for a long time before asking: “Who are you?”
Previously, Hu Shanwei had worn simple hairpins and cloth clothes, her thoughts troubled, barely getting three meals, lacking sleep, doing various rough work, inevitably hunched and stooped with a pitiful, small-household air.
Now, after ten days of fine clothes and food, not lifting a finger for manual work, with female doctors from the Medicine Department treating her chilblains, and court etiquette requiring female officials to apply light makeup to maintain dignity and display imperial prestige, the current Hu Shanwei wore light powder and makeup, adorned with gold, silver, and jeweled palace-style ornaments. She had transformed completely—no wonder Mu Chun didn’t recognize her.
Hu Shanwei said: “I’m the one from Hu Family Bookshop’s library who chased you with a mop. Ten days ago, you gave me a pair of boots. I’ve cleaned the boots and stored them in a cabinet, thinking I’d return them to you if I had the chance.”
“Ohhhhh!” Mu Chun was extremely surprised, hooting like a silly goose: “It’s actually you!”
Mu Chun circled Hu Shanwei three times with an amazed expression: “Oh my, clothes make the person—who would have thought you’d transform into a beautiful lady!”
Hu Shanwei felt offended and somewhat angry, her face cooling: “Please wait a moment—I’ll return your shoes.”
Mu Chun waved his hand: “Things bestowed by Her Majesty the Empress—how could they be returned?”
Hu Shanwei was thunderstruck, instantly losing consciousness. After a long while, she asked: “Why did the Empress bestow shoes upon me?”
Mu Chun said matter-of-factly: “I requested them from the Empress for you. I’m a grown man—I couldn’t very well give you my own shoes to wear, could I? That would be improper.”
Hu Shanwei slowly regained her senses: “Who are you?”
“I’m called Mu Chun.” Mu Chun looked at the pocket watch at his waist: “It’s almost time for shift change—I’m leaving. We’ll chat more next time.”
With that, Mu Chun ran frantically toward Longguang Gate.
Past Longguang Gate was Qianqing Palace.
Mu Chun—Hu Shanwei remembered this name, thinking that when Mei Xiang came to study that evening, she would have to ask who Mu Chun was and why he could reach so high despite his young age.
Mei Xiang was practically an encyclopedia of the Great Ming imperial palace. She said: “Mu Chun is the legitimate eldest son of Marquis Xiping…”
In a few words, Mei Xiang recounted the romantic entanglements of Mu Ying marrying Feng Shi and then Geng Shi: “…And so, while Mu Chun was still in swaddling clothes, he was taken by Her Majesty the Empress to what was then the Prince Wu’s mansion residence. Later, when the Great Ming was founded, Mu Chun was raised in Kunning Palace, only leaving the palace to return to the Marquis Xiping’s mansion at age seven.”
Mei Xiang said rather proudly: “When I was a servant at Prince Wu’s mansion, I even washed Mu Chun’s diapers.”
Hu Shanwei recalled Mu Chun’s words reproaching her for being weak, pitying her misfortune, and being frustrated by her lack of resistance. Despite this, he had helped her twice—once paying three taels for a meal, once giving shoes.
It turned out he helped her out of sympathy. Having lost his mother at a young age and seeing her abused by her stepmother, he felt kinship in misfortune and repeatedly offered aid.
Meanwhile, Mu Chun hurriedly ran to Longguang Gate for shift change. Jinyiwei Commander Mao Qiang was waiting at the gate: “You’re late.”
Mu Chun looked at his pocket watch: “Only thirty seconds late.”
Mao Qiang was strictly impartial: “Go receive ten lashes.”
Mu Chun sidled up to curry favor: “Commander Mao, please be flexible. If my father learns I received lashes in my first month of duty, he’ll lose face and beat me to death.”
Mao Qiang said: “In that case—make it twenty lashes.”
“You—” Mu Chun was helpless and had to go receive punishment.
Mao Qiang told his subordinate: “Tell them to be gentle—if they injure him, Her Majesty the Empress will be heartbroken.”
The subordinate laughed: “Everyone understands—he’s Mu Chun. Who would dare really beat him?”
Mao Qiang asked: “I vaguely saw Mu Chun talking with a palace person on the roadside. Go investigate who that person was.”
The subordinate left to carry out orders and returned after a while to report: “A newly arrived female official named Hu Shanwei. I heard Her Majesty the Empress bestowed a pair of shoes on her, which Mu Chun requested.”
“Hu Shanwei?” Mao Qiang pondered for a moment: “This name sounds very familiar—I seem to have heard it somewhere…”
Suddenly, a figure appeared in his mind. Mao Qiang slapped the embroidered spring knife at his waist: “So it’s her! How did she enter the palace?”
Mao Qiang asked: “Which department of the Six Bureaus is she serving in?”
The subordinate said: “Newly examined and admitted—still studying palace regulations at the Palace Administration.”
Mao Qiang said: “Find a way to eliminate her—she cannot enter the palace as a female official.”
The subordinate was puzzled: “Why?”
Mao Qiang’s gaze turned cold as he stared fixedly at his subordinate, his authority self-evident.
The subordinate hurriedly said: “Yes, this subordinate will handle it immediately!”