"My Beloved Teacher's Wife (Walking with Love)" - Chapter 83: The Three Palaces and Six Courtyards

Returning from the morning court, Ling Feng found the entire palace in a state of chaos. Dozens of enormous cranes were feeding on fish in the pond in the back garden, occasionally flapping their wings and splashing countless crystal-clear water droplets. The palace maids and eunuchs had never seen such divine birds before, and they were all stunned, staring blankly, speechless for a long time.
What left the thousands of eunuchs and palace maids even more bewildered than the arrival of the cranes in the Forbidden City was the sudden, almost airdrop of three to four hundred beautiful women, each more stunning than the last. Even more perplexing was that these women's arrival was all granted special permission by the Empress Dowager and the Emperor, and many were of the rank of Imperial Concubine. According to the Empress Dowager, these were concubines she had brought to the Emperor during her western journey.
Who were these people? From Mount Hua to the Shangri-La Palace, there were fifty beautiful wives in total: Master's wife Bai Junyi, Martial Uncle Ning Wushuang, Emei Sect Leader Yun Qing, Nangong Family's eldest daughter-in-law Xu Yanjun, second daughter-in-law Qin Shufen, and third daughter-in-law He Bixiu; Nangong Family's daughters-in-law Xu Zishan and Song Yuzhi; and the five fairies of the Five Immortals Sect: Ji Ruolan, Bai Lu, Shen Yijun, Du Zhilan, and He Yuemei. The most famous courtesan in the world, Ji Ruoyan; Shen Yujun, wife of the Murong family; Liu Shiyun, wife of the Ximen family; the daughters of the four great families, Ximen Tingting, Murong Qingqing, Gongsun Yuzhen, and the Nangong sisters, Nangong Yun and Nangong Qing; Tang Sisi, daughter of the Tang family; Shen Yanbing, stepmother of Ling Feng; Yin Bixia, wife of the Demonic Cult; Lan Fenghuang, daughter of the Holy Maiden of the Demonic Cult; Luo Yuqing, wife of Liu Yidao; Xu Fengfeng, daughter of the Tianshan Sect leader; Qingling, the nine-tailed fox; Zhu Xiuqi, daughter of Taihu Lake; the three jade maidens of the Huashan Sect, Qin Wanfeng, Lu Feier, and Xie Linlan; Shangguan Yiyi, daughter of the Taishan Sect leader; Princess Zhaoyang; Jiang Yafeng; Ji Shaofen (wife of Plum Blossom Manor) and Liang Xiaoyu (daughter-in-law of Plum Blossom Manor); He Jingwen (wife of the Diancang Sect leader), He Jingfei, and He Yujie; Tang Yuwei, jade maiden of the Emei Sect, and Senior Sister Miaoqing; Shen Xiaoqing, jade maiden of the Tianshan Sect; and Jingyu Fairy of the Jade Moon Sect, the most beautiful woman in the world! Huashan Sect's New Jade Maiden: Cheng Xiaoye. One of the Four Phoenixes of Emei: Miaozhen. One of the Four Phoenixes of Emei: Miaoshan. Holy Maidens of the Demonic Sect: Yu Linglong, Jiang Yafeng.
In addition, there were thirty-five concubines and over three hundred maids (mostly former female disciples of the Five Immortals Sect, newly recruited female disciples of the Huashan Sect, holy female disciples of the Demonic Sect, and female disciples of the Emei Sect, etc.). It turned out that after receiving Ling Feng's letter, the wives learned that he aspired to become emperor, so they moved their palaces directly from Shangri-La and Huashan to the Forbidden City. As the saying goes, true seclusion lies in the city; living in seclusion in the Forbidden City is no less desirable than living in the Shangri-La palace. After completing the Empress Dowager's task of contacting troops from various regions to support the emperor, the wives arrived at the Forbidden City last night to report for duty.
Faced with such a large influx of beauties into the palace, the management of the entire harem was temporarily thrown into chaos. Fortunately, the Empress Dowager personally stepped in to take charge and quickly arranged everyone's positions and residences.
According to the inner court system established by Emperor Taizu of Ming, the management of the harem was divided into six bureaus and twenty-four departments: the Bureau of Palace Attendants, the Bureau of Ceremonies, the Bureau of Clothing, the Bureau of Food, the Bureau of Bedchamber, and the Bureau of Works. There was also the position of Palace Attendant. The Bureau of Palace Attendants oversaw four departments: Records, Speeches, Registers, and Palace Gates. The Bureau of Ceremonies oversaw four departments: Registers, Music, Guests, Praises, and Imperial Historian. The Bureau of Clothing oversaw four departments: Seals, Clothing, Ornaments, and Weapons. The Bureau of Food oversaw four departments: Food, Medicine, Brewing, and Pastries. The Bureau of Bedchamber oversaw four departments: Furnishings, Carriages, Gardens, and Lamps. The Bureau of Works oversaw four departments: Clothing, Treasures, Colors, and Accounting.
The six bureaus and twenty-four departments were basically in charge of all matters within the palace, including personnel, finance, etiquette, security, and the daily lives of the emperor, empress, concubines, and consorts.
Therefore, based on the above-mentioned inner court positions, the Empress Dowager arranged official positions for Ling Feng's wives.
Bai Junyi leads the Shanggong Bureau, and under her command are Xu Yanjun, Qin Shufen, He Bixiu, Xu Zishan, Song Yuzhi, Liu Shiyun, Jiang Yafeng, He Jingwen, He Jingfei, He Yujie, and others.
Shen Yanbing heads the Imperial Food Bureau, whose four subordinate departments include Yin Bixia, Shangguan Yiyi, Luo Yuqing, Xu Fengfeng, Qingling, Zhu Xiuqi, Lu Feier, Xie Linlan, Ziling, Bailing, Xiangling, Xueqi, Suqi, Lingrui, Qin Su, and Suting.
Ximen Tingting leads the Imperial Household Department, which includes Nangong Yun, Nangong Qing, Murong Qingqing, Gongsun Yuzhen, Tang Sisi, Tang Yuwei, Lu Feier, Xie Linlan, and others.
Master Yunqing is in charge of the Bureau of Ceremonial Affairs, and her subordinates include Shen Yujun, Tang Yuwei, Miaoqing, Miaozhen, Miaoshan, Ji Shaofen, Liang Xiaoyu, Xu Fengfeng, and other women.
Yu Linglong leads the Shanggong Bureau, and her subordinates include Qingling, Ji Ruolan, Bailu, Shen Yijun, Du Zhilan, He Yuemei, Suhua, Xiuzhu, Xiuyu, Sufen, Zifeng, Xiuhuan, Xiuqiong, Danfeng, and other women.
Ning Wushuang leads the Shangfu Bureau, which includes Fairy Jingyu, Qin Wanfeng, Ji Ruoyan, Shen Xiaoqing, Cheng Xiaoye, and others.
To be more specific, Bai Junyi was in charge of personnel matters, such as the selection of palace maids, the education of princes and princesses, and the recording of events within the palace. Shen Yanbing was in charge of meals; besides the three meals a day in the palace, she also managed the finances of the harem and the Imperial Medical Bureau, which was mainly managed by Shangguan Yiyi. Ximen Tingting was responsible for the emperor's sleeping quarters within the palace. Abbess Yunqing managed etiquette training and education within the palace, while Yu Linglong led the female disciples of the Five Immortals Sect and the Demonic Sect to be responsible for palace security, directly replacing the imperial guards in the harem. Ning Wushuang was in charge of clothing procurement and design.
As a result, all the original eunuchs in the inner palace were dismissed and removed from the palace, while the original palace maids were reassigned.
In addition, the Ming Dynasty also established a hierarchy for the imperial concubines, and the Empress Dowager also assigned titles to the women based on this.
Among them, the highest rank is Empress, one person, Li Xiangxue.
First Rank: Two Imperial Noble Consorts, Bai Junyi and Shen Yanbing.
The four imperial concubines were of the first rank: Jingyu, Yulinglong, Abbess Yunqing, and Ning Wushuang.
First-rank concubines: eight imperial concubines, namely Qin Wanfeng, Ximen Tingting, Ji Ruolan, Xu Yanjun, Qin Shufen, Yin Bixia, Lan Fenghuang, and Shangguan Yiyi.
Second Rank: Consorts, sixteen in total: He Bixiu, Ji Ruoyan, Shen Yujun, Murong Qingqing, Gongsun Yuzhen, Nangong Yun, Nangong Qing, Tang Sisi, Luo Yuqing, Xie Linlan, Princess Zhaoyang, Tang Yuwei, Liu Shiyun, Lu Feier, Consort Shu (Ning Shuzhen), Consort Chun (Tang Yuchun). Second Rank (Cuo): Noble Consorts, thirty-two in total: Shen Xiaoqing, Miao Qing, Xu Zishan, Song Yuzhi, Bai Lu, Shen Yijun, Du Zhilan, He Yuemei, Xu Fengfeng, Qing Ling, Zhu Xiuqi, Jiang Yafeng, Ji Shaofen, Liang Xiaoyu, He Jingwen, He Jingfei, He Yujie, Cheng Xiaoye, Miao Zhen, Miao Shan…
The remaining women were ranked according to their official positions and titles, from Consort (Second Rank, Junior Rank) to Zhaoyi (Third Rank, Junior Rank), Xiuyi (Third Rank, Junior Rank), Chongyi (Third Rank, Junior Rank), Shuyi (Fourth Rank, Junior Rank), Guiyi (Fourth Rank, Junior Rank), Yueyi (Fourth Rank, Junior Rank), Wanyi (Fifth Rank, Junior Rank), Deyi (Fiveth Rank, Junior Rank), Liyi (Fifth Rank, Junior Rank), Guiji (Sixth Rank, Junior Rank), Ji (Sixth Rank, Junior Rank), Ronghua (Seventh Rank, Junior Rank), Jieyu (Seventh Rank, Junior Rank), Guiren (Seventh Rank, Junior Rank), Changzai (Seventh Rank, Junior Rank), Meiren (Eighth Rank, Junior Rank), Shuren (Eighth Rank, Junior Rank), Xiaoyi (Eighth Rank, Junior Rank), Chenghui (Ninth Rank, Junior Rank), Baolin (Ninth Rank, Junior Rank), Cainu (Ninth Rank, Junior Rank), Xuanshi (Tenth Rank, Junior Rank), Daying (Tenth Rank, Junior Rank), Xiunu (Tenth Rank, Junior Rank).
With these ten levels, the three thousand palace maids in the harem were all settled in their respective positions, and everything was well-organized.
Ling Feng later learned that even the Empress Dowager, Imperial Concubines, and princesses were strictly ranked. Due to the large-scale relocation of personnel and the surge in the number of concubines, the original three thousand palace maids were starting to become insufficient. Therefore, the Empress Dowager issued an edict to select young women from across the country to enter the palace. All women aged thirteen to eighteen who were of marriageable age had to be registered and selected. Those who met the requirements were sent to the capital for unified screening by the Shanggong Bureau.
Ling Feng objected, saying, "Mother, if we select concubines to enter the palace in this way, it will inevitably cause panic and unease among families across the country. I have just ascended the throne, and if such a large-scale selection of concubines is carried out, the people will think that I am a lustful and foolish ruler."
Empress Dowager Zhou said, "My son, how could you have such thoughts? Being selected to serve the Emperor in the palace is an honor for ordinary people..."
Ling Feng shook his head and said, "Mother, you didn't come from a commoner family, so you wouldn't understand the reasons behind this. For an ordinary family, this is worse than selling their daughter."
Empress Dowager Zhou said, "In that case, my son, what plan do you have to select beautiful women for the palace without causing trouble for the people of the world?"
Ling Feng said, "It's based on the principle of voluntariness."
"voluntary!"
Empress Dowager Zhou was taken aback and asked, "How can there be a voluntary law?"
Ling Feng said, "Your Majesty, you can issue an imperial edict to announce to the world that a special examination for talented women will be held. Any unmarried woman under the age of twenty can register to participate. Five thousand talented women will be selected from across the country to take the exam in the capital. The top three hundred will directly enter the imperial harem for the exam. These three hundred will become female Jinshi (successful candidates in the highest imperial examinations). The top-ranking female Zhuangyuan will be directly selected as a Guifei (Imperial Consort), the top ten will become Feizi (Imperial Concubines), the fifty will become Pin (Imperial Concubines), and the rest will at least become Guiji (Imperial Concubines) of the sixth rank."
"My son!"
Empress Dowager Zhou said, "Since ancient times, it has been said that a woman's virtue lies in her lack of talent. Now you want to hold a special examination for talented women. This... isn't this contrary to ancestral teachings?"
Ling Feng said, "I believe that the preliminary examination should use Nüshu (women's script), the Biographies of Virtuous Women, and the Rules for Female Disciples as the assessment criteria. The second examination could add the Four Books, and the palace examination could add the Five Classics. The concubines I want are meant to accompany me in reading memorials and copying records; how can they be illiterate? Ancestral precepts are not something we are born with. I think we can revise them to encourage women throughout the land to read more. Don't you, Mother Empress and Empress, read books?"
Empress Dowager Zhou nodded and said, "Of course I hope that all women in the world can be educated, but the system that has been established since ancient times is not something that I alone can change..."
Ling Feng smiled and said, "Now is the best opportunity. I support you, Mother, in conducting the Imperial Examination for Talented Women. As long as Your Majesty issues the decree, the people of the world will be grateful. At that time, Your Majesty will be the greatest Empress Dowager of our Great Ming Dynasty."
Empress Dowager Zhou said, "Very well, let's do as His Majesty wishes. Your Majesty, there is one more matter. Empress Dowager Liang of the Eastern Palace is the mother of the former Crown Prince, and Imperial Concubine Xiangxuan is the mother of the current Third and Fourth Princes. They are both mothers of the rebels. How should we deal with them?"
Ling Feng asked, "What does Mother Empress think should be done?"
Empress Dowager Zhou said, "Empress Dowager Liang has realized her mistake and assisted Consort Huizhen in exposing Consort Xuanxuan's crimes. Therefore, she can be treated leniently and her past transgressions will not be pursued. However, Consort Xuanxuan colluded with her son to attempt to usurp the throne. At the very least, she should be banished to the Cold Palace!"
Ling Feng didn't hesitate and said, "Let's do as Mother wishes. By the way, Mother, I'm going to see all the ladies. Would you like to come along?"
Empress Dowager Zhou said coquettishly, "I'm exhausted from working all night, and you've arranged so many things this morning. I'm tired, Your Majesty, you can go by yourself."
"Then Mother, please take good care of yourself. Your son will come to visit you again."
Ling Feng smiled slightly and deliberately spoke the words "greeting" loudly.
Empress Dowager Zhou naturally understood what she meant, and her face flushed red.
Ling Feng was immediately captivated by her beauty, so he kissed Empress Dowager Zhou and then turned and left.

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"My Beloved Teacher's Wife (Walking with Love)" - Chapter 83: The Three Palaces and Six Courtyards

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