Concubine Zhang made an exception and ate this bowl of mustard wontons. She felt like she had taken an elixir and immediately became full of energy, as if she could still tutor students’ homework for another 500 years.
The two princesses felt very upset when they saw that their father was supporting Concubine Zhang. They didn't want to fight with Concubine Zhang anymore, so they just copied the books, took a shower and went to bed.
Concubine Zhang was busy until midnight. Before going to bed, she asked the food bureau what breakfast they had prepared for the two princesses the next morning. She also asked the kitchen to deliver the food a little later, as the two princesses estimated that they would get up late the next day and the food would not taste good if it was kept warm in water for too long. She fulfilled her responsibilities as a stepmother.
The uproar over the deposed crown prince disappeared along with the fireworks during the New Year, and the Ming Dynasty welcomed the new year.
The sixth year of Yongle, New Year's Day.
Arei received many rewards from the palace. On the first day of the Lunar New Year, he followed his sister into the palace to express his gratitude. Concubine Zhang gave him gold and silver dumplings as New Year's money. Arei had frequently entered the palace in the past six months, and it was no longer a novelty for him. However, Concubine Zhang's straightforward temper was very much to his liking, and the two of them, both big and small, could talk to each other.
However, the hostess is the busiest during the New Year. The princesses who are getting married today have to return to the palace to attend the family banquet and family reunion. Concubine Zhang Shufei and Hu Shanwei have to be in charge. Arei has a good eye and says to go to the Imperial Garden to watch the snow and plum blossoms, and wait until the family banquet is over at noon before going home with his sister.
Arei was not interested in the elegant plum blossoms. She liked the three acres of chrysanthemums in front of her former home, which were blooming in large pieces and full of vitality.
It was rare to see snow in Yunnan. After coming to Beijing, whenever it snowed heavily, she couldn't sit still at home and had to go out to play in the snow.
When they arrived at the garden, Arei had no intention of admiring the flowers. He asked the palace maids and firemen to bring shovels and other things, saying that he wanted to make a big snow bunny.
Are took off his sable skin coat, dressed lightly, rubbed his hands, took the shovel and shoveled the first shovel of snow.
The little firemen were frightened and wanted to go up to help, but A Lei stopped them, "I'll do it myself. You guys help me find some coal balls and carrots. I want to dress up the snow rabbit."
Are was busy making snow rabbits. On the other side of the imperial garden, a group of people were admiring the plum blossoms.
It was Crown Princess Zhang of the Eastern Palace and her family. Today was the first day of the Lunar New Year. Due to Zhang's special status, she could not go back to her parents' home like other married women did, and her family would not come to the palace to see her.
Zhang's maiden family was the Pengcheng Earl's Mansion, which used to be an ordinary military family and belonged to the civilian class.
Zhang Qi, the Earl of Pengcheng, was seriously injured in the defense of Peking during the Jingnan Campaign. He then went into battle while ill and could not be cured for a long time. He died of illness in the first year of the Yongle reign. Emperor Yongle specially granted the Zhang family the title of Earl of Pengcheng.
After Zhang Qi's death, Zhang's mother was conferred the title of Lady Tai of the Earl of Pengcheng. Zhang's brother Zhang Xuguan inherited the family title and became the second Earl of Pengcheng. He served as the Left Governor of the Zhongdu Military Governor's Office, and his sister-in-law was conferred the title of Lady of the Earl of Pengcheng.
In addition, Zhang also had a younger brother, Zhang Sheng, who served as a captain in the imperial guards.
The Zhang brothers of the Pengcheng Marquis's Mansion were still young, and during the Jingnan Campaign, they were mainly responsible for protecting Beiping and guarding the city, so their achievements were mediocre and they did not have much prestige in the army. Their father Zhang Qi, the only one who conquered people in battle, had already died. Therefore, the Jingnan generals with outstanding military achievements like the Duke of Ying looked down on the Zhang family, thinking that they obtained official positions and titles by relying on in-laws and nepotism.
Crown Princess Zhang repeatedly reminded her family to be low-key in life and work, not to seek merit but to avoid mistakes, and never to fight for power.
The Zhang brothers had no foundation in the army, and the Crown Princess was their biggest backer. The family's title and wealth were all due to the Crown Princess, so they all listened to her and were so low-key that they didn't seem like in-laws at all.
The Crown Prince was greeting his two brothers-in-law in the front court, while the Crown Princess was in the harem accompanying her mother, Lady Dowager Pengcheng, her sister-in-law, Lady Pengcheng, and her brother's wife to appreciate the plum blossoms in the garden.
Mrs. Pengchengbo said, "... When the weather warms up and the ice thaws, we can start repairing the garden to prepare for the Crown Princess's visit to her parents' home in the future. During the holidays, the Crown Princess can go back to her parents' home to visit. If we repair it quickly, we can probably catch up with the Mid-Autumn Festival this year."
The Crown Princess asked, "Since you are repairing the garden for your visit, have the neighbors next door, whose houses were demolished, received compensation and settled down properly?"
Mrs. Pengchengbo said hurriedly, "Twenty-seven families moved out of the enclosed land, and each family paid silver at a price 20% higher than the market price. The property deeds and land deeds are all in Yingtian Prefecture, and there are also neighbors to testify. Don't worry, Crown Princess, even if the other party wants to deliberately throw dirty water and make trouble, they will not be able to make any progress. After all, they can't escape the word of reason."
The Crown Princess' eyes showed excitement and worry. She sighed, "You took great pains to build a garden for me to visit you, and you wanted to take me back to my parents' home. I haven't been home since the selection. It's been fourteen years. Although my mother can come to the palace to see me often, it's not the same as me going back to my parents' home."
"But mother should understand the situation of the Eastern Palace. It is really unstable. I am worried that someone will use the matter of building a garden for the imperial visit to cause trouble for the Pengcheng Marquis's Mansion out of nothing."
A golden phoenix flew out of the family, and the mother was honored by her daughter. The wife of Pengcheng Bo wanted to worship her daughter and comforted her, "Crown Princess, don't worry about the Zhang family. Your two brothers are cautious and careful, and have never caused any trouble. I have seen the garden built by the Duke of Yingguo for Concubine Zhang Shu, which is more than three times larger than the Zhang family's. In terms of rank, the Crown Princess is higher than Concubine Zhang Shu. If our garden is criticized, then the Duke of Yingguo's garden is even more problematic."
The Crown Princess shook her head and said, "The maiden family of Concubine Zhang Shu is a duke. The surrendered ministers of the Northern Yuan Dynasty in the court are all on good terms with the Duke of Ying. Their family is powerful and can command the support of hundreds. We are an earl, coming from a small place like Yongcheng, and we are all alone in the court. Although both Zhang families are foreign relatives, they are actually different. It is important to know yourself and not to compare yourself with the Duke of Ying."
Mrs. Pengchengbo said, "I understand. I will tell your two brothers to keep the garden as simple as possible and not to use precious flowers, trees, rocks, or anything else. Don't go to great lengths."
The Crown Princess nodded and said, "When the garden's blueprint is finished, send it to the East Palace for me to see if there is anything inappropriate."
Mrs. Pengchengbo agreed to all of them. There was no other way. The Eastern Palace was always in a state of turmoil. The Crown Princess's family had to live in fear in the capital city where there were many wealthy families.
Passing by a snow-covered rockery, Mrs. Pengchengbo suddenly remembered something and said, "Knowing that our family is going to build a villa for visiting relatives, Mrs. Xu from the Guo family of Wudinghou sent someone to deliver several excellent Taihu stones to be used as a rockery in the garden."
Madam Xu is the mother of Guo Liangdi of the Eastern Palace.
Wuding Hou Guo Ying's original wife, Ma, was childless. His nine daughters and twelve sons were all born to different concubines. Among them, the eldest son, Wuding Hou's son Guo Zhen, married Emperor Gaozu's Princess Yongjia. The second son, Guo Ming, was born to concubine Yan and married Lady Xu.
This Xu's father was the cousin of King Xu Da of Zhongshan, so Xu and Empress Renxiao were cousins.
Therefore, according to this relationship, Crown Prince Zhu Gaochi and Guo Liangdi were legitimate cousins. Therefore, Guo Liangdi's status in the East Palace was similar to that of a co-wife and she was highly respected.
Marquis Wuding Guo Ying, Crown Prince Guo Zhen and Guo Liangdi's father Guo Ming all died one after another during the four-year Jingnan Campaign (you should all remember that none of the first ten princes-in-law of the Hongwu Dynasty survived), and Princess Yongjia of the eldest house and Madam Xu of the second house both became widows.
Princess Yongjia gave birth to a son, Guo Zhen. In addition to her eldest daughter, Guo Liangdi, Madam Xu also gave birth to a son, Guo Xuan.
The Marquis and the Crown Prince were both dead, and there was no legitimate son. The numerous descendants of the Guo family began to compete and fight for the title.
The two young men with the highest popularity at the moment are Guo Zhen from the eldest branch and Guo Xuan from the second branch.
Of course, the two young men had no power or influence, and the dispute over the title of Marquis Wuding was actually a showdown between the two widows, Princess Yongjia and Madam Xu.
Princess Yongjia was the sister of Emperor Yongle, and Guo Zhen was the nephew of Emperor Yongle.
Madam Xu was considered the sister-in-law of Emperor Yongle. The Crown Prince of the Eastern Palace and others would call Madam Xu aunt when they saw her. The Xu family of the Duke of Wei's Mansion and the Duke of Ding's Mansion were also considered Madam Xu's backers.
There is also the face of Donggong Guo Liangdi, so there is a great possibility that his younger brother Guo Xuan will inherit the title.
The palm and the back of the hand are both flesh and blood. Who should be given the title of Marquis of Wuding? Emperor Yongle had difficulty making a choice. However, Emperor Yongle was a man who was good at making tricks. Since no matter who he chose, the other party would be disappointed - he simply didn't choose.
Emperor Yongle temporarily shelved the titles on the grounds that the Guo family's grandchildren were still young and their personalities had not yet been determined.
The fate of Marquis Wu Ding remained undecided, and everything depended on their performance and the emperor's intentions.
Her daughter married into the Eastern Palace, which was the support of Madam Xu and Guo Xuan. Upon learning that the Crown Princess's family, the Duke of Pengcheng's Mansion, was going to build a villa for her to visit her parents, Madam Xu immediately sent someone to deliver the finest Taihu stones. The wealthy family had a deep financial foundation, and these were things they had collected long ago, and they were exquisite items that could not be bought on the market even with money.
Madam Xu was paving the way for her son Guo Xuan - even if Emperor Yongle continued to use the title to hang on to the descendants of the Guo family, or simply gave the title to Princess Yongjia's son Guo Zhen, the second house was not without hope. As long as the East Palace successfully ascended the throne in the future and his daughter Guo Liangdi rose to prominence, Guo Xuan would still have the opportunity to inherit the title.
The Crown Princess certainly understood Madam Xu's thoughts. Now that the Eastern Palace was weak, Madam Xu's background and the power of the Guo family should not be underestimated.
The crown prince was unable to walk, and when the controversy over his dethronement arose, the Duke of Wei's Mansion and the Duke of Cheng's Mansion, which were behind Madam Xu, and the Guo family did not follow suit and write a letter to dethrone the crown prince.
When the Eastern Palace was almost surrounded by enemies, neither the Xu family nor the Guo family took advantage of the situation. This is the power of nepotism, which is often underestimated but always plays a role at critical moments.
Madam Xu sent Taihu stones for garden construction as a gesture of goodwill, so the Crown Princess of course had to express her feelings, "After the national mourning period is over, Guo Liangdi's brother Guo Xuan will get married. When the time comes, mother will double the gift list and send it to the Guo family."
Madam Xu was a powerful figure. She was widowed at the age of 30, and relying on her one son and one daughter, she managed to fight the noble Princess Yongjia to a draw in the battle for the title. It was not easy.
Mrs. Pengchengbo said, "I understand. Don't worry, Crown Princess. Our Zhang family and Madam Xu have always been on good terms."
Other families' wives and concubines are jealous of each other, either the east wind prevails over the west wind, or the west wind prevails over the east wind. Only the East Palace has a good view. The Crown Princess and Guo Liangdi are like sisters and respect each other. They are the crutches of the Penguin Crown Prince, supporting the precarious East Palace.
After all, it is the external pressure that makes everyone stick together for warmth, with their interests bound together and all in the same boat.
The Crown Princess and the Lady Dowager of the Marquis of Pengcheng were discussing serious matters, and everyone kept their distance with glances. Only after the mother and daughter had finished their business did they begin to enjoy the flowers. The Lady Dowager of Pengcheng, his brother's wife, and other female relatives who followed behind them caught up.
Among them was a girl in her early teens who came over to support the wife of Pengcheng Earl. This girl had not grown up yet, but there was already a look of surprise between her eyebrows and eyes. Even the Crown Princess, who was used to seeing beauties in the harem, couldn't help but take a few more glances.
Mrs. Pengcheng asked the young girl to go over and pay her respects. The young girl bowed and said, "I am Sun Liuyi, a commoner. I am honored to meet the Crown Princess."
Mrs. Pengchengbo smiled and said, "Does she look familiar to you, Crown Princess? This is a good girl from our hometown, Yongcheng County. Her father is a chief clerk in Yongcheng County, and her mother, Liu, was a childhood friend of the Crown Princess. She was ill during the selection of concubines, so she didn't make it. Otherwise, with her talent and beauty, she would have most likely been selected into the palace."
The ancient civil service system was divided into officials and clerks. Officials were state civil servants, supported by the state finances, and the lowest rank was a ninth-rank county magistrate. Clerks belonged to the local civil service system and were supported by the local finances themselves - this can also be understood as the current career system.
Sun Liuyi's father was the chief clerk of Yongcheng County, in charge of taxation, and was the director of the Yongcheng County Taxation Bureau.
In the first year of Yongle, Zhang Qi, the Earl of Pengcheng, died. The Zhang family returned to their hometown, Yongcheng County, to bury Zhang Qi and mourned for him for three years.
During this period, Mrs. Pengcheng was in contact with old friends from her hometown. Sun Liuyi was beautiful, gentle, virtuous, talented, and outstanding, so she won the favor of Mrs. Pengcheng.
Since Emperor Gaozu formulated the policy of "marrying from the fields and selecting from the common people", the royal daughters-in-law, including concubines, came from the common people and rarely married with nobles and high-ranking officials.
The Crown Princess, a golden phoenix, flew out of a remote little place like Yongcheng County, and the Zhang family also soared to the sky, becoming a legend in Yongcheng County.
The Sun family had a daughter who looked like a fairy, and they also wanted to follow the example of the Crown Princess and let their daughter go through the selection process. They immediately hit it off with the wife of Pengcheng Bo. When the three-year mourning period at Pengcheng Bo's mansion was over and they were about to return to the capital, they sent their daughter Sun Liuyi to Pengcheng Bo's mansion to wait for the imperial court to select a concubine in the future.
Xiu, he sent Sun Liuyi to be a concubine to fight for a bright future.
The Crown Princess suddenly realized, "So she is Sister Liu's daughter. However, she is even better than her father. When Sun Liuyi grows up, she will definitely be a stunning beauty that will overwhelm the whole country."
Mrs. Pengchengbo couldn't let go of Sun Liuyi. "She is not only good-looking, but also has a good personality and talent. I don't feel bored when she is with me every day. Liuyi, write a poem for the Crown Princess on the theme of plum blossoms in the garden."
From ancient times to the present, people have been unable to escape the scene of performing for adults on the spot.
The Crown Princess felt that it was a bit inappropriate for me to recommend Sun Liuyi so enthusiastically. It was true that she was the Crown Princess, but in this harem, there were not many things she could decide.
In the future, no Crown Princess would dare to interfere in the selection of concubines. The final list would be decided by Concubine Zhang or the Emperor.
After all, she was her own mother, and Sun Liuyi was the daughter of a close friend from her hometown. The Crown Princess had to give her face, so she politely refused:
"During the New Year, there will be no need to test the children. Even the imperial grandchildren will stop their studies. They will resume after the fifteenth day of the first lunar month. This is Miss Sun's first visit to the palace, so let her have a good stroll."
After that, a trusted palace maid went to invite Sun Liuyi, "Miss Sun, please come this way."
Everyone in the palace had become cunning. They knew that the Crown Princess wanted to avoid suspicion, so they sent Sun Liuyi away.
"Yes." Sun Liuyi bowed obediently and went to the other side of the garden, leaving the Crown Princess to talk privately with her family.
Sun Liuyi followed the palace maids to the east, passing by a white plum forest. A group of little palace maids were laughing and taking turns throwing a door bolt, each of them putting all their strength into throwing the door bolt into the sky.
Sun Liuyi found it strange, and the palace servant smiled and explained: "This is a unique custom in the palace, called falling a thousand gold. On the first day of the New Year, throw the door bolt to the sky. The higher you throw it, the higher your official position will be in the future."
Sun Liuyi was still a child after all. Her curiosity overcame her reserve and she asked again, "Does it really work?"
The palace maid laughed and said, "It's quite effective. Otherwise, how could this custom be passed down? When the palace's Shang Gong, Hu, was a female official who was tested to enter the palace, she spent her first New Year's Day in the palace and lost a lot of money. She threw the door bolt onto the roof and broke the glazed tiles above. It was a Jinyiwei who climbed up to the roof to retrieve the door bolt."
"Later, Concubine Hu was the Concubine for three consecutive dynasties, commanding the harem; the Jinyiwei soldier who climbed onto the roof to pick up the bolt has become the current Jinyiwei commander Ji Gang. Both of them have had successful careers. Do you think it's true?"
The author has something to say: I remember that when Ji Gang was trying to repair the roof, with his limited IQ, he was unable to restore the tiles and they fell off the roof and landed on Shanwei's bed.
Ji Gang was a naive and innocent vase boy back then. I miss him so much. Now he has become a sinister person. I really don’t want him to grow up.
Thank you to the little angels who cast their votes for me or irrigated me with nutrient solution~
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Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!