Ru Siyao was 27 years old, which was considered an old maid in that era, but it was also a great marriage value for a court lady to marry an official as a second wife. Ru Siyao's parents had both passed away, and no one in the clan considered her wishes. They all wanted to use her marriage to climb the rich and powerful, and matchmakers flocked to her.
When Ru Siyao heard the news, she had originally planned to return to her hometown to pay respects to her ancestors, but she immediately changed her mind and decided to make the matter a done deal. She married Tan Fu and became an officially recognized couple.
Both the Tan and Ru families are prominent families in the south of the Yangtze River. Tan Fu is almost thirty and still single. Tan's father, who is the Censor-in-Chief, has long been unable to sit still and even said something like "It doesn't matter if you are a homosexual. I just want to have a grandson. You can love whoever you want."
As a result, Tan Fu brought Ru Siyao back to his hometown in Wuxi to discuss marriage. Tan's father was overjoyed and thought he was dreaming. His daughter-in-law came from a scholarly family, was a sixth-rank female official, had lifelong benefits, was gentle and virtuous (on the surface), and was proficient in medicine. He immediately arranged for three matchmakers and six engagements to marry his daughter-in-law.
Three days after the wedding, Tan Fu used the excuse of taking Ru Siyao to visit his bride's hometown, but in fact he went to travel around the world. Tan's father prepared several carts of gifts to bring to his in-laws, looking forward to holding a grandson in ten months, but he didn't know that it was like throwing meat buns at a dog, and there was no return.
Ru Siyao brought her husband back to her hometown in fine clothes to pay homage to her parents' grave. The Ru family's wish was shattered, and they had to put on a smile to welcome the new son-in-law, because the Tan family was a big family in Wuxi and their family members were officials and were not easy to mess with.
After returning to their hometown to fulfill their filial duty, Ru Siyao and Tan Fu began their journey of "tasting hundreds of herbs as a couple". They sailed on the East China Sea and also went to the southwest. Madam She Xiang received them warmly. They exchanged what they had with the witch doctor in the village and obtained many new and exotic herbs. They tested their medicinal properties and drew maps to facilitate future generations to pick them.
Because Hu Shanwei saved Ru Siyao's life, the two kept in touch. Ru Siyao wrote down her experiences in letters and sent them to various post stations, which were then passed on to the palace, almost one letter per month.
Tan Ru and his wife's whereabouts were uncertain, and they didn't stay in one place for long. However, traveling and collecting medicinal materials cost money, so they were self-sufficient relying on Ru Siyao's salary and the occasional income from their medical practice. Without taking a penny from the family, they would not be restricted by the family, and Ru Siyao would stay at home as a good wife and mother.
Throughout the ages, if women want to be independent and pursue their ideals, they must first be financially independent - that is, be able to make money.
Hu Shanwei sent Ru Siyao's salary to the post station marked on the letter. She knew Ru Siyao's noble character, so she didn't dare to give more, and gave him whatever salary he had.
Lovers finally get married. Hu Shanwei was very happy for Tan Ru and her husband. They loved each other and shared the same ideals. They were simply a perfect couple.
What Hu Shanwei couldn't get was achieved by someone else, which was a comfort and also an encouragement. The Tan Ru couple had a long and hard life, and they were able to achieve success in both love and career, which made Hu Shanwei feel that there was hope for her and Mu Chun's future.
Just over a year passed in a hurry, and the 27-month mourning period for Empress Xiaoci was over. Except for mourning clothes, people in the palace no longer wore plain clothes, and returned to the previous colorful and colorful days.
As soon as the mourning period was over, Emperor Hongwu quickly arranged marriages for his adult sons, and they immediately went to their fiefdoms after the weddings. As a result, the average age of Ming princes who went to fiefdom dropped from 20 to 15.
The first person to get married was Zhu Tan, the Prince of Lu, the only son of Consort Guo Ning. In order to repay the loyalty of the Guo family, Emperor Hongwu found a princess with a distinguished family background for the Prince of Lu - Tang, the eldest daughter of Tang He, the Duke of Xin, was given to the Prince of Lu in marriage.
Like Xu Da, Duke of Wei, Tang He was also from Fengyang. Tang He followed Guo Zixing to join the Red Turban Army and did well, so he wrote to Zhu Yuanzhang, who was still a monk at the time, saying that he could have enough food and occasionally meat with Guo Zixing, and that he had a bright future!
Zhu Yuanzhang then returned to secular life and went to seek refuge with this fellow villager from Fengyang. Because of his good looks and ability to handle affairs, he became a ceremonial guard under Guo Zixing's account and married Guo Zixing's adopted daughter Ma. Later, Zhu Yuanzhang reversed the situation by swallowing up Guo Zixing's political legacy, killing his son, and forcing him to marry his daughter Guo as a concubine, becoming the overlord of the area.
It can be said that the existence of the Ming Empire was due to a letter from Duke Xin Tang He.
Even the picky Concubine Guo Ning was very satisfied with her son's marriage. At present, the most prominent unmarried woman in the capital was Tang.
With a wife of noble birth and the support of his powerful father-in-law, the King of Lu wanted more and was still obsessed with Shen Qionglian. He said, "On the night when the Xiaoling Mausoleum was burned down by the Northern Yuan Dynasty, I covered Shen Qionglian with my quilt and stood guard in my thin nightgown with a sword. Didn't that impress Shen Qionglian?"
Without saying anything, Shen Qionglian returned ten quilts to Prince Lu, "Is that enough? If not, I'll give you ten more."
Prince Lu was heartbroken and collapsed on his bed, worrying about his health. Concubine Guo Ning found out about it. She was afraid that Prince Lu would ruin this good marriage, so she severely reprimanded her son, telling him not to ruin her path to becoming queen. She said that when she became queen in the future, she would find a way to make Shen Qionglian marry him as a concubine.
King Lu knew how powerful she was, so he obediently married Tang.
After the wedding, Emperor Hongwu immediately issued an edict that Prince Lu be enfeoffed in Yanzhou, Shandong.
Concubine Guo Ning was dumbfounded and ran to Emperor Hongwu, wanting to keep her son for a few more years - she hadn't been crowned empress yet!
Hu Shanwei held on to the foolish Concubine Guo Ning tightly and said, "Your Majesty, the imperial decree has been issued. What reason do you have to ask the emperor to take back his order?"
Concubine Guo Ning cried, "Yanzhou is so far away. The prince cannot come to the capital without a summons. He must stay in the vassal state. Doesn't that mean we are separated from each other? He is still a child. Once he arrives in the vassal state, he will be alone. Who can control him? If he leaves my strict control, what if his old problem of taking elixirs comes back? I heard that it is addictive."
Concubine Guo Ning's worries are not unreasonable, as Prince Lu is not a man with self-control.
Hu Shanwei thought for a moment and said, "Your Majesty, there is only one way to delay the time for Prince Lu to be enfeoffed. Apart from this, no matter how much you beg the Emperor, it will be useless."
Concubine Guo Ning grabbed Hu Shanwei's hand as if she had found a life-saving straw: "What method? I will do my best to do it."
Hu Shanwei said: "Your Highness, please resign and take over the power of the harem."
Concubine Guo Ning didn't say anything, but she held Hu Shanwei's hand tightly, with a troubled look in her eyes.
Hu Shanwei sighed: "Given the emperor's character, how could he be a husband who would be moved by the queen's tears? How could he be a father who would change the feudal system because he was worried that Prince Lu would relapse? If the queen gave up the power of the harem, turned a deaf ear to the outside world, and waited for her grandson in Zhongcui Palace, perhaps the emperor would keep Prince Lu for two more years because of the loyalty of the Guo family for decades."
"Your Highness is in charge of the harem, the Guo family is in charge of the imperial guards, and the Prince of Lu has been reluctant to go to his fiefdom. What will the Emperor think? Moreover, the Prince of Lu's father-in-law, Duke Xin Tang He, is in charge of the Ming navy and is responsible for coastal defense. The power of the foreign relatives is strong. If Your Highness does not let go, the Emperor will be worried."
The Prince of Lu's mother was in charge of the harem, his uncle was the commander-in-chief of the imperial guards, and his father-in-law was the commander-in-chief of the navy. Given the suspicious character of Emperor Hongwu, could he tolerate the Prince of Lu to continue staying in the capital
Having served in the palace for six years, Hu Shanwei has always been at the center of the vortex of palace turmoil. Thanks to the guidance of Empress Xiaoci and her personal experience in court struggles, she has a general understanding of Emperor Hongwu's mind and can see through it, so she can point out Emperor Hongwu's concerns incisively.
Everyone, including civil and military ministers, wives, concubines, princes and princesses, are chess pieces on the Hongwu Emperor's chessboard. Hongwu Emperor is a skilled chess player. He uses people as chess pieces and will attack or let go. For the sake of the overall situation, he will not show mercy to the chess pieces that should be "sacrificed".
As for Emperor Hongwu, his thoughts and actions cannot be judged from the perspective of a husband or a father. He was first and foremost an emperor who had to maintain his rule and ensure that he had power in his hands and that no one, not even his son, could challenge him.
Hu Shanwei hit Concubine Guo Ning on the head with a stick, which made her stunned.
Concubine Guo Ning froze on the spot, thought for a long time, and finally let go. She did not beg Emperor Hongwu, nor did she voluntarily give up the power in the harem.
Hu Shanwei looked at Concubine Guo Ning's dejected look and couldn't help but sigh:
This woman, who was given to Emperor Hongwu's bed as a gift by her own father, Concubine Guo Ning, spent the first half of her life for her father, brother, the Guo family, and her son. She suppressed her grievances and became a concubine. In the second half of her life, Concubine Guo Ning wanted to live for herself. She wanted to be the legitimate wife so much. She wanted to become the new owner of Kunning Palace and the mother of the country.
In the past two years, Concubine Guo Ning treated Hu Shanwei as a guest of honor. Although they were in a relationship of mutual benefit, they still had some feelings for each other after spending so much time together. At least Concubine Guo Ning could listen to advice and was not the kind of person who would become arrogant once she gained power.
Hu Shanwei helped Concubine Guo Ning sit down and advised, "Your Majesty, is it so easy to be the queen? During the reign of Empress Xiaoci, she suppressed the Ma family of your natal family. The Ma family did not even have an earl. The only outstanding nephew Ma Ye also capsized in the ditch and was plotted to death. At that time, Empress Xiaoci asked the emperor to grant him the imperial sword. If Ma Ye did not obey, he would be beheaded on the spot. What a courage. Your natal family has two marquis brothers who hold real power. Do you think it is appropriate for the Prince of Lu not to go to the vassal state?"
"Empress Xiaoci, Empress Xiaoci, you always say how good she is. Does that mean everything she does is right?" Concubine Guo Ning became impatient and her left-wing tendencies began to rise again, like a student who just barely passed the exams and whose neighbor happened to be the "other people's child" who always got first place in the exams.
She didn't want to accept it, but she had to. Every time she heard about "other people's children", she became angry and didn't want to listen.
After two years of getting along, Hu Shanwei was able to grasp Concubine Guo Ning's weak spot, which was becoming the queen.
Hu Shanwei advised: "If you want to be the queen, you must be consistent with the emperor's position and interests. Don't think of yourself as the daughter of the Guo family and the mother of Prince Lu. If the interests of the Guo family and Prince Lu conflict with the emperor, you must stand on the side of the emperor without hesitation and suppress the Guo family and Prince Lu."
Concubine Guo Ning was a straightforward person, so Hu Shanwei just spoke directly to her. Otherwise, if he spoke in a roundabout way, Concubine Guo Ning would not understand with her low IQ.
Concubine Guo Ning started to argue, saying, "Without the Guo family and Prince Lu, what's the difference between me and those concubines without any foundation? Just like Concubine Guo Hui, her father is Guo Zixing, and the emperor back then... ahem, the Guo family's power was all integrated into the Ming Dynasty. Concubine Guo Hui gave birth to five children for the emperor, and she really gave her all to the emperor. According to what you said, she should be the queen, keeping in line with the emperor's interests, but Concubine Guo Hui has no sense of existence in the palace, and her position has not even been promoted for so many years."
Oh, Concubine Guo Ning has made progress in the past two years. She can now argue and refute based on reason. Hu Shanwei is very pleased. He feels like the pig he raised at home can finally eat cabbage.
Hu Shanwei said, "Your Highness is right. Originally, Concubine Guo Hui had everything ready, but who asked Concubine Guo Hui's brother Guo Tianxu to be dissatisfied and to raise an army to take back the Guo family's inheritance? The emperor killed the traitor Guo Tianxu. Once the blood feud is involved, the matter of conferring the title of empress will be difficult to handle. Concubine Guo Hui was dragged down by her family and lost the qualification to be conferred the title of empress. Therefore, Your Highness is destined to be the successor to the empress. You must cherish the opportunity and protect the interests of the emperor. The husband and wife are one. After passing many tests, the emperor will know your merits and confer you the title of empress. Prince Lu's enfeoffment is a test, Your Highness must hold on."
From another perspective, if you were an emperor, you would also choose a woman who puts her own interests above the interests of her family and son as your queen.
Concubine Guo Ning finally thought it through and did not stop Prince Lu from going to his fiefdom. She also gave him many books and asked him to cultivate himself after going to his fiefdom and become a good prince of the Ming Dynasty who benefits the people.
In addition to this, Concubine Guo Ning also summoned her daughter-in-law Tang into the palace and gave the "Instructions/Admonitions for Virtuous Concubines of the Zhao and Song Dynasties" compiled by Empress Xiaoci to the Princess of Lu.
Concubine Guo Ning told her daughter-in-law, "Empress Xiaoci is a model of a virtuous concubine. When this book was compiled, I stood in Kunning Palace and listened to it for three days. I benefited a lot. In the future, when you live with Prince Lu, if you are confused, take out this book and read it carefully. It will teach you how to be a good wife and a good concubine."
In fact, Concubine Guo Ning stood and listened for three days until her legs became numb. She complained after she returned, thinking that Empress Xiaoci was deliberately showing off her power.
The butt determines the head. Now that Concubine Guo Ning has become the master of the harem, she has discovered the true beauty of this book and she wishes everyone in the harem could learn it again.
Tang respectfully brought the book "Instructions/Admonitions of Virtuous Concubines of Zhao and Song" back to the Prince of Lu's Palace as if she was summoning a god.
When Hu Shanwei saw this book, which she had personally printed by woodblock printing in Hangzhou, she felt deeply moved. She had only been a female official for six years, but it seemed like a lifetime ago. The life before and after the age of 20 were completely two different worlds.
Hu Shanwei ordered people to spread this matter throughout the harem, and of course it also reached the ears of Emperor Hongwu. Emperor Hongwu was very satisfied with Concubine Guo Ning, especially Empress Xiaoci's "Instructions/Admonitions for Virtuous Concubines of the Zhao and Song Dynasties", which aroused his melancholy for his deceased wife. He felt that Concubine Guo Ning had finally come to her senses and understood the spirit of Empress Xiaoci.
That night, Emperor Hongwu stayed in Zhongcui Palace. Outside the palace, the ceremonial guard of "Weimen's Bed" was set up, and two old trees were in bloom, creating a unique scene.
Prince Lu obediently followed the order and took his newlywed wife to Yanzhou, Shandong to establish his fiefdom.
Yanzhou is a good place. It is rich and located inland, which is relatively safe. It does not have to worry about fighting wars to protect the country like the Prince of Yan's Palace, the Prince of Qin's Palace, and the Prince of Jin's Palace, which are located in frontier fortresses. You can be a peaceful prince and live a rich and prosperous life.
Emperor Hongwu knew the capabilities of Prince Lu and made clear arrangements for him. The royal family all said that Prince Lu was a blessed man.
After Prince Lu was enfeoffed, Emperor Hongwu immediately appointed Concubine Guo Ning as a noble concubine.
Only one step away from the position of empress! After receiving the imperial decree of promotion, Concubine Guo suddenly felt refreshed. She immediately put aside the disappointment of her son going to Yanzhou to be a vassal, and tightly grasped Hu Shanwei's hand, "You are right again. As long as we follow the path of Empress Xiaoci, the position of empress will be mine."
The author has something to say: Concubine Guo: Five years of college entrance examination and three years of simulation - from a poor student to a top student, what did I go through.
Send 100 red envelopes tonight, have a nice weekend everyone~
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№4 Netizen: Shorter name Comment: "Hu Shanwei" Score: 2 Published time: 2019-02-22 21:31:31 Reviewed chapter: 123
The King of Comedy