In order to tidy up the East and West Building No. 5 so that people can move in immediately, it requires the cooperation of six bureaus and one department, and even the twenty-four prisons outside have to get involved. After all, it has been vacant for nearly twenty years, and even the best house needs a good rest.
The courtyard, which was usually so quiet that it seemed almost haunted, suddenly became lively. The places where the paint had peeled off had to be refilled, all the window papers had to be peeled off and repasted, and new beaded curtains, table covers, chair covers and other items in the house had to be hung.
For fire prevention purposes, no trees are planted in the East and West Five Institutes. Instead, flowers, bonsai and other items are placed throughout the year according to the change of seasons.
In addition, a large Western grandfather clock, which is an important decoration and timekeeping tool in the house, must be ensured to be present in every courtyard, without favoritism.
After the yards were tidied up, Hu Shanwei took the list and went to each yard for "inspection" and found that there were five yards without large clocks.
"What happened? How could such a big item be missed?" Hu Shanwei asked.
Cao Siyan looked embarrassed and said, "Most of the existing grandfather clocks in the palace were bought by eunuch Zheng He when he sailed to the West. There are more than a hundred of them. Originally, there were enough clocks in the inner treasury, but last month, the Crown Prince's Palace asked for seven grandfather clocks from the inner treasury. In addition, several of them were damaged, so there are not enough to expand the five east and west buildings. We are still short of five clocks. We have already found a Western missionary who knows about clocks to repair them urgently, but we are not sure when they can be repaired."
Zheng He's voyages to the West, in addition to political reasons, were also a large-scale overseas trade of barter. He took away silk, porcelain and other items, and brought back clocks, spices, and various uncut gems, which were packed in baskets like grain and piled up into small mountains in the inner treasury. Today, the raw materials for gems used in the palace's internal manufacturing bureau almost all come from the eunuch Zheng He's large ocean ships.
The Crown Prince is the heir to the throne, and there is absolutely no reason for the Crown Prince to ask for things that the palace wants.
Besides, Hu Shanwei knew where the seven clocks that the Crown Prince wanted were - in his own home. A Lei had dismantled them all and placed them all over the room. He was tinkering with something all day and night, forgetting to eat. A Lei once said that they were sent by Brother Xiaoji.
Hu Shanwei said, "Those Western missionaries only know how to drag their feet. They want the emperor to agree to their missionary work in the capital. It would be more practical to wait for Zheng He, the eunuch, to bring back new clocks from his voyage to the West instead of waiting for them to repair them. Those who need to buy for the palace can go to the foreign goods shops outside and buy something suitable for the palace. It doesn't matter if it's a little small, just add a tall and gorgeous wooden base."
Hu Shanwei watched Are "dissecting" the clock. No matter what it looks like, the things inside are the same. It is made up of thousands of axles and gears of various sizes that are interconnected and fit together. The appearance is different, but the soul is the same.
Cao Shang Gong agreed.
Hu Shanwei was about to go down to inspect another courtyard when a palace servant came running over, panting and saying, "The Crown Princess... has started."
Crown Princess Zhang was about to give birth. Although she had given birth to three sons and was very familiar with the process, everyone was still not willing to relax. Hu Shanwei said, "Inform all the kitchens in the palace immediately. No killing or slaughtering is allowed. Only vegetarian food can be sent to the Crown Prince, and no animal oil is allowed in snacks."
Hu Shanwei temporarily put down the things at hand and rushed to the East Palace. The gate of the East Palace was wide open, and bows and arrows and other auspicious objects symbolizing the birth of a child were hung at the door to welcome the arrival of the newborn. The prince also rushed back from the Zhanshi Mansion, with anxiety and joy coexisting on his fat face. He had nine sons, which made up a string of Calabash Brothers Plus. It was not too many, and more sons meant more blessings. Half of his position in the East Palace was secured by his sons.
As the concubine mother and the head of the harem, Concubine Zhang came over immediately to take charge when she heard the news.
Guo Liangdi also came, holding in her arms the ninth child Zhu Zhanqi, who had just turned 100 years old, and holding in her hands the eighth child Zhu Zhanqi, who was just learning to walk.
The prince is simply a shared seeding machine and a human sperm bank for the Crown Princess and Guo Liangdi. When the Crown Princess runs out of sperm, she gives it to Guo Liangdi. As soon as Guo Liangdi gets pregnant, she pushes the prince into the Crown Princess' arms. Their bellies swell up alternately, as if you've just given birth and I'm the one taking the stage.
Concubine Zhang wanted to be a mother desperately. Seeing Guo Liangdi hugging and holding her child, she was very envious. Her maternal love overflowed. She picked up a piece of tiger eye nest candy and teased Zhu Zhankai, who was staggering like a drunk, "Kai'er, come here."
When Zhu Zhankai saw the candy, his eyes lit up. He pushed away the support of his wet nurse and insisted on walking by himself. In order to keep his balance, he walked with a figure-eight step, twisting his steps like a penguin, white and plump, very much like the lame prince.
Concubine Zhang's heart melted. She held Zhu Zhanjie and made him sit on her lap, feeding him slowly.
The prince picked up a gold-lined and enamel-painted birthday god rattle and shook it. Zhu Zhanyi, the ninth child in Guo Liangdi's arms, turned his head and looked over when he heard the sound: Very good, pighead, you have successfully caught my attention.
The prince continued to shake the rattle, "Looking for a girl! Do you want this?"
The Eastern Palace had nine sons but no daughters. The Crown Princess particularly wanted a daughter for her fourth child. If people in the folks wanted a son, they would name their daughter Zhaodi.
Guo Liangdi thought about what the Crown Princess thought about and worried about what the Crown Princess worried about, so she gave the second son Zhu Zhanyi a nickname, "Zhaomei".
Zhaomei only wanted the golden-painted birthday rattle, not the strange pig-head hug. She threw herself into her mother's arms, pointing her fist at the prince, "Aiyaah!"
Guo Liangdi took the rattle and said, "Look for a sister, look for a sister. If you can really find a sister, you can get ten rattles for her."
The prince laughed and said, "If I really can get a little princess, even a hundred will do."
After hearing this, Guo Liang Di glared at the prince and said, "I want a little cotton-padded jacket, too."
The prince suddenly remembered that Guo Liangdi had given birth to Zhaomei four months ago and could get pregnant again. This sentence was a naked hint and he suddenly felt his legs go weak.
After hearing this, Concubine Zhang, who was feeding Zhu Zhankai tiger eye nest candy, felt even more sad. She held the little person in her lap and greedily smelled the milky fragrance on his body. The smell of new life was so wonderful, why couldn't she get it
Everyone's attention was on the unborn baby, but Hu Shanwei noticed the loneliness in Concubine Zhang's eyes. Something was wrong with Concubine Zhang recently. She used to be very energetic and would ask about everything clearly, have a clear idea in her mind, and strive for perfection.
However, ever since the renovation of the East and West Fifth Institutes began, Concubine Zhang became lazy. She didn't even go to check it out in person after the renovation was completed and she left everything to Hu Shanwei.
Concubine Zhang is worried.
Seeing the loving and lonely look in Concubine Zhang's eyes as she hugged Zhu Zhankai tightly, Hu Shanwei immediately understood why Concubine Zhang was acting abnormally.
Concubine Zhang wanted a child.
However, Emperor Yongle had already revealed his trump card before Hu Shanwei entered the palace to serve as a palace lady again: move the capital and not appoint a successor.
So Concubine Zhang has always been Concubine Zhang. She reached the end of her life at a young age.
Hu Shanwei didn't know at the time that Emperor Yongle not only would not take a queen, he even didn't want any offspring born to other women.
Initially, when Queen Inhyo was making arrangements for her funeral and taking inventory of the concubines in the harem, she had clearly stated that the women sent by the Korean, Jurchen, and Mongolian tribes would not be able to get pregnant.
Emperor Yongle's accession to the throne was not glorious, and he wanted to maintain the purity of the Ming royal bloodline—even though his biological mother, Consort Shuo, was actually a tribute girl from Korea, and he had half vassal blood.
But the more this happens, the more you care about your bloodline.
Otherwise, Emperor Yongle would not have tampered with history, writing that his biological mother was his stepmother, Empress Xiaoci Ma, and erasing the record of his biological mother, Consort Shuo, from history books. He even moved the tablet and even the coffin enshrined in the side hall of the Xiaoling Mausoleum to the Da Baoen Temple and hid them secretly.
At that time, Hu Shanwei only knew that the most favored Concubine Quan would not get pregnant, and playing the flute was just playing the flute, he could not do anything else.
Now Hu Shanwei understood that even Concubine Zhang was the same.
She can't be a queen, nor a mother.
Hu Shanwei looked at the lonely Concubine Zhang, and in a trance, his former bosses flashed before his eyes.
Empress Xiaoci, Concubine Guo, Empress Xiaoma, and Empress Renxiao.
Finally, it stopped at the shadow of Concubine Guo.
Concubine Zhang and Concubine Guo are somewhat similar. Both come from prominent families, both have a good brother, both were sent to the palace by their families to show their loyalty, and both are proud.
The difference is that Concubine Guo has a son, but Concubine Zhang does not.
Concubine Guo did not love the emperor, but only loved her son and the position of queen. In order to avenge her son, she gave up the position of queen that was within her grasp.
From beginning to end, Concubine Guo was not doing this for the emperor.
But Concubine Zhang loves the emperor.
Hu Shanwei was an experienced lover and had seen too many palace love stories. Concubine Zhang's love for Emperor Yongle was not just love between a man and a woman, but was mixed with complex emotions, like a fuel that made the love burn even more fiercely. There was the beauty's infatuation with the hero, and the worship of absolute power in the world of fame and fortune.
And power is the best aphrodisiac and filter.
A man with excellent looks and figure, especially good at fighting, deeply in love with his wife, and the most powerful man in the Ming Dynasty, all these factors combined are fatal to a girl from an aristocratic family like Concubine Zhang.
But love is out of place in the palace, and the result is often tragedy.
Hu Shanwei looked at the stubborn Concubine Zhang and couldn't help showing pity. He had to find a way to persuade Concubine Zhang. In the harem, falling in love with the emperor was a dead end.
As they were thinking about it, the cry of a newborn baby came through the doors and windows and the courtyard, and everyone stood up at the same time.
The prince was very excited to be a father for the tenth time. Regardless of his lame leg and sick foot, he quickly asked two strong eunuchs to help him out.
Guo Liangdi was even more excited than the prince. "Listen to this loud cry, it must be a healthy baby!"
Immediately, a palace maid came over and reported happily: "It's a little princess! Congratulations, His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. Now the East Palace finally has a son and a daughter!"
The prince was so happy that he danced with joy, "Quick! Help me get on the sedan chair! I'm going to tell my father the good news. Congratulations, my father finally has a granddaughter."
Guo Liang Di held Xiao Jiu'er in her arms and said with a smile: "Zhao Mei, Zhao Mei, you have done a great deed. Wait for His Highness to give you a hundred rattles."
The East Palace was in high spirits. Concubine Zhang had a smile on her face but a chill in her heart. The excitement was theirs and had nothing to do with me.
When Emperor Yongle heard the good news of the birth of his granddaughter, he was overjoyed. He ordered rewards to the entire harem, opened the inner treasury, took out his private money, and gave double salary to everyone that month, as well as silks and other items. It was even more grand than the birth of the emperor's grandson.
On the day the little princess was born, Concubine Zhang was so busy that she did not return to the palace to rest until the second watch. Cao Siyan came to report that Concubine Hu wanted to see her.
Concubine Zhang was very puzzled, "Why didn't Concubine Hu go home today?"
Cao Siyan said, "The emperor said he would reward the entire harem. There are thousands of people in the harem, and several of the warehouses have been emptied. We are too busy to handle it all at once, so Concubine Hu will stay in the palace tonight."
Concubine Zhang thought that maybe there was some problem with the reward, so she summoned Hu Shanggong to talk.
Hu Shanwei was a person who would never put off until tomorrow what she had to do today. She couldn't let Concubine Zhang go on like this. She was very worried that Concubine Zhang would follow Concubine Guo's path in the future.
The death penalty for Concubine Guo was the pain of her life. She could not help recalling and imagining that if she had said and done something differently at the beginning, Concubine Guo would probably not have risked her life to save another.
Like Concubine Guo, Concubine Zhang has some shortcomings, but her character and abilities are rare and precious in the harem. If you could lend a hand to her when she is on the brink of the abyss, you should try your best even if it is risky, so as not to leave any regrets.
The position of imperial concubine in the early Ming Dynasty was like the Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher in "Harry Potter". It was a cursed position. All those who held this position would either die early or die suddenly.
Concubine Sun died early and did not have the blessing to enjoy a happy life; Concubine Li was poisoned by Concubine Da Ding and rotted to death; Concubine Guo was sentenced to death by Emperor Hongwu.
It depends on whether Concubine Zhang can break the vicious circle of "the concubine must die".
Hu Shan came in and gave Concubine Zhang a look. Knowing that she had something private to say, she dismissed everyone. The two of them had been working together for more than five years and had a tacit understanding.
Hu Shanwei got straight to the point and asked, "Has your Majesty been feeling depressed lately because of your childlessness?"
Concubine Zhang was stunned. She was a proud person and refused to admit it. "I am still young, and I will have a child sooner or later."
Hu Shanwei said: "Your Majesty can't have a child just because she wants one. The key is... whether the Emperor wants one or not."
Concubine Zhang was struck by what she was thinking. She felt as if she were standing naked in front of Hu Shanwei. She was immediately filled with shame and anger, and shouted angrily: "How dare you! How dare you presume to guess the emperor's intentions and insult me!"
Hu Shanwei said, "Your Majesty, it is your blessing to have no children. You have been a concubine for three years, why can't you see through it? From the time when the emperor was the Prince of Yan to the Emperor, no other woman except Empress Renxiao has ever given birth to a child for the emperor. If the emperor wants, the East and West Five Residences will not be arranged for the concubines of Korea to live in. The emperor cannot give you what you want."
Concubine Zhang refused to accept the reality and cried, "I don't believe it! In the past, the coffin of Empress Renxiao was in Rouyi Palace, and the emperor was obsessed with the empress. Now Empress Renxiao has been buried in Tianshou Mountain. No matter how thick a book is, if you turn the pages one by one, there will be a time when it is finished."
"I don't dream of becoming the empress and being compared with Empress Renxiao. Besides, the Crown Prince has nine grandchildren, and even the Crown Prince has been appointed. You should be relieved about me now... Why can't I have a child? I can't be the empress, and I can't be a mother. Then who am I working hard for in this palace?"
The author has something to say: Have you all finished your exams
Well, ahem, it's Zhou's turn to ask a question. The first person to answer correctly will receive a 100-point bonus.
In this chapter, the golden-ink pastel-painted birthday rattle that the penguin prince used to tease Zhao Mei came from a passage in a famous novel:
"After a while, the nurse carried Guan Ge out to the corner gate, and Dai'an took him up there. When Xue, the internal minister, saw him, he just cheered: "What a good boy!" and asked: "Where is the servant?" In a moment, two servants in blue clothes took out two boxes of gifts from golden square boxes: a piece of red official satin, four gold-plated silver coins with the words "Fu Shou Kang Ning", a drum with a gold-lined pastel painting of the God of Longevity, and two ounces of silver. He said: "It's nothing for a poor internal minister, these small gifts are for the boy to amuse himself."
Excuse me, who is the author of this novel? Thank you to the little angels who voted for me or irrigated nutrient solution~
Thanks to the little angel who cast [mine]: 35946202 1;
Thanks to the little angel who irrigated [nutrient solution]:
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Thank you very much for your support, I will continue to work hard!