Releasing people out of the palace is a good thing, but it is usually done every four or five years. They were released once in the 14th year of Hongwu. Now, only two years have passed, and Concubine Guo Ning wants to release people again. It is obvious that she wants to expel a group of difficult-to-discipline troublemakers from the palace.
In fact, it is a question of trust. The same operating rules of the six bureaus and one department were placed on Empress Xiaoci, which meant that power was delegated. The six bureaus and one department were her right-hand man, eyes and ears, and they were able to control her freely and knew everything about the harem.
But in the eyes of Concubine Guo Ning, she was sidelined by the Six Bureaus and One Department and became a puppet controlled by the Six Bureaus and One Department. Like a blind and deaf person, she felt lonely and helpless.
In order to change this situation, Concubine Guo Ning thought of replacing people with a group of female officials whom she trusted and had won over. However, there was only one position for each person, and if the old female officials did not leave, how could the new ones take over
Therefore, Concubine Guo Ning wanted to take advantage of the anniversary of Empress Xiaoci's death to release people from the palace, free up space, and cultivate her own people.
The bad-tempered Shang Gong Cao was the first to be hit. In fact, with Shang Gong Cao standing out, Fan Gongzheng should have felt safe hiding behind. After all, they were colleagues. If Shang Gong Cao was really squeezed out, Fan Gongzheng would feel like he would suffer the consequences.
Honestly speaking, apart from having a bad temper, being straightforward, being narrow-minded and protective of others, liking to argue with people, and having a sharp tongue, Cao Shang Gong doesn't have any major shortcomings.
Fan Gongzheng advised Cao Shanggong: "When Concubine Li was in power, you didn't embarrass others like this. Now that Concubine Guo Ning is in power, your temper is getting worse. You should be patient for a while - the emperor is still young, and it is possible that he will marry a young wife as his empress in two years. Then he won't have to look at Concubine Guo Ning's face."
When mentioning the sudden death of Concubine Li, Cao Shanggong's face became worse and worse. "If someone respects me one foot, I will respect them ten feet. Concubine Li treated me with courtesy, and I returned her courtesy. We are female officials in the six bureaus and one department, not slaves. Even when Empress Xiaoci was alive, she had discussions with us. When did the harem become a one-man show? Since we only need slaves to say yes, what's the point of having six bureaus and one department? Why are female officials treated as lifelong? It's a waste of money and food, just like the prime minister system, we might as well abolish it all."
Fan Gongzheng whispered, "You are really an old lady who hanged herself - she thinks her life is too short. The six bureaus and one department are a system jointly promulgated by the emperor and the Ministry of Rites. Even the queen cannot abolish them at will. You just keep saying things that are presumptuous."
Cao Shang Gong rolled her eyes. "When the six bureaus and one department become slaves, what's the difference between that and being abolished? If the emperor wanted slaves, he wouldn't have kept us female officials. He hasn't even earned the position of empress, but he wants to have the final say. I'm going to cry for Empress Xiaoci!"
Fan Gongzheng was stunned as he listened. Cao Shang Gong was simply too bold.
Cao Shang Gong kept her word and no one could stop her. She went through the procedures of leaving the palace at the Shangyi Bureau that day and drove to the Xiaoling Mausoleum in a ostentatious manner.
Now everyone knew that there was a conflict between Concubine Cao and Concubine Guo Ning.
Concubine Guo Ning knew that Concubine Cao had a bad temper, but she never expected that she would dare to slap her in the face and announce that she would go to the Xiaoling Mausoleum to cry for Empress Xiaoci!
Isn't palace fighting just about you stabbing me and I slamming you, having a few eye-catching lawsuits, competing secretly, and everyone is still harmonious on the surface, and the world is peaceful? Why did Cao Shanggong disdain to do it
Concubine Guo Ning's face turned pale with anger. She called the good-tempered Cui Shangyi and said, "Everyone who enters or leaves the palace must obtain permission from your Shangyi Bureau. How can a female official of Cao Shanggong's rank enter or leave the palace freely just by saying hello to you?"
Cui Shangyi is beautiful, with upturned eyes and mouth corners, and a natural smile. "Cao Shanggong went through the procedures at the Shangyi Bureau. What she did, when she left, when she returned, how many people she was with, and their names were all recorded."
The implication is that it was reasonable and legal for Lady Cao to leave the palace.
Concubine Guo Ning asked: "Shang Gong Cao is of noble status and knows many palace secrets. If she goes out and something goes wrong... In the past, female officials of the Shang generation did not need Empress Xiaoci's approval to leave the palace?"
What this means is that if Lady Cao wants to leave the palace, not only does the Shangyi Bureau need to approve it, but she also needs to seek the opinion of Concubine Guo Ning.
"This..." Cui Shangyi looked embarrassed, "Empress Xiaoci delegated power to six bureaus and one department. Unless there is a major matter, she generally does not ask about the details."
Empress Xiaoci dared to give up power, but Concubine Guo Ning did not.
Concubine Guo Ning held the handle of the chair tightly with her right hand and asked again, "Did your Shangyi Bureau approve the extraordinary reason given by Concubine Cao?"
The entire palace knew that Concubine Cao had gone to the Xiaoling Mausoleum to mourn for Empress Xiaoci.
Cui Shangyi took out the file without any hurry and said, "Cao Shanggong left the palace because the anniversary of Empress Xiaoci's death is approaching. There are several big ceremonies at Xiaoling Mausoleum. Just in case, let's go to Xiaoling Mausoleum first to see if there is anything missing."
Concubine Guo Ning's lips tightened. "Why did I hear that Concubine Cao was crying for Empress Xiaoci?"
Cui Shangyi said: "Mrs. Cao was cultivated and promoted by Empress Xiaoci. She became a Shanggong at the age of 33. The two had a deep relationship. Since Mrs. Cao went to Xiaoling Mausoleum, of course she had to burn incense and cry at the tablet of Empress Xiaoci."
Concubine Guo Ning was so angry that she almost vomited blood. Concubine Cao was too cunning and was sneaking around the edge of the rules.
However, Concubine Guo Ning had managed to survive until today, so she was quite shrewd. She loosened her grip on the armrest of the table and chair, took a sip from the teacup, and asked, "How young is Cui Shangyi this year?"
Concubine Guo Ning changed the topic too quickly, and Cui Shangyi was caught off guard. She was beautiful and usually took care of her appearance. She had a pretty face and a slim figure, and her real age could not be told. Even beautiful women were reluctant to mention their age, so why did Concubine Guo Ning ask this
Cui Shangyi could only answer truthfully: "I am thirty-nine years old this year."
Concubine Guo Ning nodded and said, "Oh, you really can't tell that you are about to turn 40. At your age, you have enough energy and experience. Now is the time to make great achievements. Have you ever thought about further advancement in your official career?"
Cui Shangyi immediately understood what Concubine Guo Ning meant. The career of a female official would end if she reached the Shang generation - unless she joined the Shanggong Bureau and became a Shanggong, the head of the female officials.
Concubine Guo Ning wanted to win her over by offering her the position of Shang Gong.
Cui Shangyi said: "When doing things in the palace, if you don't make mistakes, you are doing it right. I just want to do the things at hand well, and I don't have any unreasonable expectations."
Concubine Guo Ning said, "Mrs. Cao is only one year younger than you, but she has been a Mistress for several years. How are you inferior to her in appearance, character, and ability? Are you willing to watch Mistress Cao always suppress you and bully you?"
Cui Shangyi said hurriedly, "Mrs. Cao is a dedicated person. She just has a short temper. Please don't misunderstand, Concubine Ning. Your Majesty, I have something else to take care of. Bye."
Concubine Guo Ning looked at Cui Shangyi's back, smiled softly, and said to herself: "You say no, but you still want it in your heart. You are so beautiful, but you don't ask for the king's favor, but you are determined to climb up, that's why you are what you are today. If you don't want to be a court lady, you are not a good court lady."
An old palace servant came out from behind the screen and said, "Your Majesty, please don't rush. After all, you have endured it for so many years."
This person was the head maid in Concubine Guo Ning's boudoir. Because of her hard work and great contributions in serving Concubine Ning, she was given her master's surname, and everyone in the palace called her Madam Guo.
Concubine Guo Ning frowned, "Tan'er is fourteen years old this year. After the twenty-seven-month mourning period, he will go outside the palace to get married, start a family, and immediately go to his fiefdom. Tan'er was named Prince of Lu two months after he was born. His fiefdom is in Jinan, Shandong. Jinan is too far from the capital, and princes are not allowed to enter the capital without being summoned... This palace has only this one son. Now a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity is in front of me. This palace wants to find a future for him. If I lead the six palaces and become the queen, he will be the legitimate son."
It should be noted that the Crown Prince Zhu Biao was also a concubine's son, but he had the advantage of being the eldest. In addition, the eldest grandson of the East Palace, Zhu Xiongying, died at the age of eight last year.
The Eastern Palace had few offspring, the eldest grandson died young, the crown prince was weak and sick from time to time, and Emperor Hongwu was still very young. Concubine Guo Ning's background and offspring were impeccable. If she became the empress, then the tenth prince, Prince Lu, would have a good chance of becoming the crown prince.
Madam Guo caressed Concubine Guo Ning's hand lovingly, "Your Highness, you were wronged to be a concubine back then. If you had married someone else and become their legal wife—"
"A woman should obey her father at home. How dare I disobey father's arrangement?" Concubine Guo Ning interrupted the loyal servant. "Father knew that the emperor had many wives and concubines, but he still ordered me to serve the emperor. My two brothers also served under the emperor, fighting in the front line, betting on the future of the whole family and that the emperor would win the world. Father was posthumously awarded the title of Duke, and my two brothers also worked hard and were awarded the title of Marquis, but what about me? They are successful and famous, why should I still be a concubine? I must use my own means to take back what belongs to me. Now all the stumbling blocks are gone, and I am only one step away from that position. I must secure that position before Tan'er becomes a vassal."
Madam Guo looked at Concubine Guo Ning with worry, "Your Majesty is wronged, but whether Your Majesty can sit in that position ultimately depends on the Emperor's will. Your Majesty had a falling out with Concubine Cao right from the start - the six bureaus and one department were established by order of the Emperor after all."
Concubine Guo Ning sneered, "When a wicked slave bullies her master, she will cry. I will cry too. I will go to the emperor and apologize for my crime now."
It is said that Palace Lady Cao left the palace with great fanfare and went to the Xiaoling Mausoleum. The anniversary of Empress Xiaoci's death was approaching, and the emperor, the crown prince and other royal family members, civil and military officials would all come to the Xiaoling Mausoleum to pay their respects. Hu Shanwei began to make preparations, feeding the deer with extra care, and being prepared to be picked on.
When Hu Shanwei heard that Cao Shanggong had arrived, he felt as if he was facing a great enemy. But unexpectedly, Cao Shanggong burned incense at the shrine of Empress Xiaoci, cried for a while, and then came to the side hall where she lived in person.
Hu Shanwei hurriedly said, "Haitang, make some tea quickly—use the packet of Biluochun that Princess Huaiqing gave me last time."
Making tea was just a pretext to point out that she really had Princess Huaiqing as her backer, so as to prevent Concubine Cao from ridiculing her again.
Lady Cao looked around the room and Hu Shanwei's complexion. "It seems like you're doing well here. How come you were sick and asked Doctor Tan to see you?"
Hu Shanwei said: "The temperature changes a lot in spring. I caught a cold and it was cured after taking medicine for five days."
At this time, Haitang served tea and said respectfully, "Enjoy your meal, Lady Cao."
Concubine Cao took a sip and said, "It's really good tea. Actually, you don't have to bring up Princess Huaiqing's name to pressure me. I'm not here to pick a fight today. I want to ask you for a favor."
The author has something to say: I ate at two restaurants again today. Well, all the relatives will come to my house for dinner tomorrow... Should I hide the box of cherries at home? Hahahahaha
Send 100 red envelopes. It's boring during the Chinese New Year. I'm very happy to read everyone's comments.