Video Editor

Inside Kunning Palace, a gentle breeze at the end of summer caressed the white gauze curtains, bringing a touch of coolness.

Zhao Ling'er leaned against the window, gently stroking her slightly protruding belly, her brows furrowed with a mixture of joy and worry.

The imperial physician advised her to rest quietly for several months, which meant that she would be unable to serve the emperor for a long time.

Considering that Su Ning is in her prime, yet has few offspring since ascending the throne, with only this one unborn child in her womb, this is not a long-term solution for either the country or the family.

That afternoon, Su Ning came to visit after finishing his official duties. Seeing Zhao Ling'er about to get up to greet him, he hurriedly stepped forward to help her up.

"Your Majesty, please sit down. Your health is of utmost importance now, so these formalities are unnecessary."

Zhao Ling'er insisted on performing the ceremony, and with the help of a palace maid, she solemnly bowed: "Your Majesty, I have something I have been thinking about for a long time, and I must tell you."

Seeing her solemn expression, Su Ning said gently, "What is it that makes you so serious? You are pregnant now, and you should prioritize your health in everything you do."

Zhao Ling'er raised her eyes, her gaze full of earnestness: "It is precisely because I am pregnant and unable to serve Your Majesty that I feel an even greater responsibility. Your Majesty has been on the throne for nearly a year, yet there are few concubines in the palace and few offspring. For the sake of the Ming Dynasty and the imperial bloodline, I humbly request Your Majesty to issue an edict to select concubines to enrich the harem."

Upon hearing this, Su Ning frowned slightly and grasped her hand: "I have you and my son, that's enough. Why do I need to select other concubines?"

"Your Majesty's kindness is deeply appreciated." Zhao Ling'er gently squeezed his hand back, her tone gentle yet firm. "However, the continuation of the royal family is crucial to the foundation of the nation. In the early years of the dynasty, all the previous emperors recruited virtuous and talented women. Emperor Taizu established the system of selecting women from good families to enter the palace. Now we should follow the ancestral system to ensure the continuation of the royal lineage."

Seeing that Su Ning's expression softened, she continued, "Not to mention that Empress Xiaoci Gao assisted Emperor Taizu in stabilizing the six palaces, even as Empress, I have a responsibility to share Your Majesty's burdens. If Your Majesty's offspring are few because of me, wouldn't I become a sinner of the Ming Dynasty?"

Su Ning gazed into his wife's sincere eyes, knowing that every word she said made sense. After a long silence, he said, "I understand your intentions. However, the selection of officials is a waste of resources and manpower, and I really don't want you to worry about it."

“Your Majesty, rest assured,” Zhao Ling’er immediately replied, “This imperial concubine selection will be conducted entirely in accordance with the old system from the Hongwu era. I have already discussed the relevant procedures with the Ministry of Rites, and we will certainly keep it simple and avoid any extravagance. Moreover…”

She smiled slightly, her eyes sparkling with shrewdness: "If we select some well-educated and sensible younger sisters to enter the palace, they can keep me company in the future. Wouldn't that be a good thing?"

Su Ning was amused by her words and finally nodded: "Since the Empress is so understanding, then so be it. But there is one condition—all the selected ladies must be inspected by you first. If you find them unsuitable, I will never marry them."

“Your Majesty…” Zhao Ling’er’s eyes welled up with tears, knowing that this was Su Ning’s thoughtfulness towards her.

……

Three days later, the morning court session was held at Fengtian Hall.

Minister of Rites Chen Di stepped forward and reported: "Your Majesty, I have been ordered to prepare for the selection of imperial concubines. In accordance with the old system of the Hongwu Emperor, female officials, headed by eunuchs, will be dispatched to various regions to select girls from respectable families aged thirteen to sixteen. Their families must be of good character, with no criminal record within five generations, and they must be dignified in appearance and virtuous in conduct."

Su Ning sat upright on the dragon throne and said in a deep voice, "Granted. Order the Directorate of Palace Attendants and the Ministry of Rites to handle this matter jointly. Remember: First, strictly prohibit disturbing the people and forbidding any means of extortion; second, select virtuous and capable individuals, not those based on appearance; third,"

He emphasized that "new political schools already exist in places like Jiangnan and western Zhejiang, and those selected should have some literacy skills."

This special decree made many ministers nod in approval.

It seems His Majesty truly values ​​the new policies, even selecting educated and sensible women for the imperial concubine selection.

……

One month later, the nationwide selection process proceeded smoothly under a strict system:

In the first round of preliminary selection, local governments posted notices, and eligible girls, accompanied by their parents, went to designated locations to register.

Local officials conducted an initial screening, eliminating those who clearly did not meet the requirements.

In the second round of selection, those who passed the initial selection were carefully examined by female officials sent by the palace: measuring their hands and feet, observing their physique, and listening to their speech. Anyone with body odor, a stutter, or uncouth behavior was eliminated.

In the third round of German inspections, the remaining women were placed in a special location where senior female officials observed their words, actions, and needlework to assess their character and temperament.

In the fourth round of final selection, after several rounds of screening, only fifty women were ultimately sent to Nanjing.

They temporarily resided in a specially prepared palace garden, where they learned court etiquette.

……

Despite being pregnant, Empress Zhao Ling'er still kept a close eye on the progress of the imperial concubine selection.

On this day, she specially summoned the female official of the Directorate of Ceremonial Affairs who was in charge of the imperial concubine selection:

"Remember His Majesty's decree: select virtuous and capable individuals. Pay special attention to those who are knowledgeable about the new policies. Those who only know how to apply makeup should not be given priority."

The lady-in-waiting respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, rest assured, among the selected ladies-in-waiting this time, there are indeed several from scholarly families who have attended modern schools. One of them, a woman from Jiangnan, is said to have considerable insight into physics and arithmetic."

Zhao Ling'er nodded in satisfaction, and then specifically instructed: "Tell the Shanggong Bureau to treat these girls with courtesy. They are all daughters of good families, so don't mistreat them. If any of them are particularly outstanding, give them more opportunities to showcase their talents before the Emperor."

"Your Majesty is virtuous, this servant will remember it."

……

The final selection took place in the Imperial Garden.

It's a beautiful autumn day, with clear skies and crisp air, and the chrysanthemums are in full bloom.

Su Ning personally conducted the interview, accompanied by Zhao Ling'er.

He paid special attention to the young ladies who had some knowledge of modern learning, asking them about their insights on the study of things and arithmetic.

A young woman from Jiangnan calmly replied: "I have read 'Elementary Principles of Investigating Things' in school and know that everything has its own principle. If one can understand the principle, one can make good use of it. For example, the chrysanthemums in this garden, if one knows their habits, can cultivate new varieties and let beauty benefit more people."

Upon hearing this, Su Ning nodded and whispered to Zhao Ling'er, "This woman is quite insightful; she's not the kind of person who only knows about romance and poetry."

Zhao Ling'er smiled and nodded, then asked the woman in detail, "If you enter the palace and cannot see your family every day, will you miss them?"

The woman respectfully replied, "Your Majesty, I know that now that I have entered the palace, I must prioritize His Majesty and Your Majesty. It would be my honor to serve before the Emperor, and I would not dare to complain."

After several rounds of questioning and answering, eight women were finally selected to enter the palace.

Suning issued a special decree: "All those who fail to be selected will be rewarded with twenty taels of silver and allowed to return home to marry as they see fit. They shall not be made difficult or delayed."

The unsuccessful candidates were moved to tears and kowtowed to express their gratitude to the emperor.

That evening, Su Ning held Zhao Ling'er's hand as they strolled through the courtyard of Kunning Palace.

The autumn moon shines brightly, casting its gentle light across the ground.

"It's kind of the Empress to go to such lengths." Su Ning gently stroked Zhao Ling'er's cheek. "The young ladies chosen today are indeed all well-educated and sensible. I promise you, no matter what happens in the harem, you will always be my Empress, and the child in your womb will be my eldest son."

Zhao Ling'er nestled in her husband's arms, a relieved smile on her face: "With Your Majesty's words, I am at ease. I only hope that these younger sisters will serve Your Majesty well after entering the palace and produce offspring for the royal family."

She knew that she had fulfilled her responsibilities to the Ming Dynasty and the imperial bloodline.

Looking at his wife's serene profile, Su Ning's resolve to build a powerful dynasty grew stronger, for all those he loved.

The moonlight, like water, flowed quietly over the two embracing figures, as if casting a gentle halo over their deep palace love.

……

In the autumn of the first year of the Tiangong era, the Forbidden City in Nanjing was enveloped in the fragrance of golden osmanthus blossoms.

Inside the Wenyuan Pavilion, seven huanghuali wood armchairs were quietly placed in the hall, becoming the most coveted symbol of power in the Ming Dynasty this autumn.

Although the emperor issued an imperial edict stating that the Grand Secretaries of the Inner Cabinet were only of the fifth rank, their authority to "participate in state affairs and draft memorials" made it clear to all discerning people that these seven people would become the core of the imperial power.

Undercurrents were swirling throughout the government and the public.

Night, a side hall of the Wenhua Hall.

The flickering candlelight illuminated the faces of the three high-ranking officials, each with a distinct expression.

Minister of Personnel Zhang Dan gently stroked a celadon teacup, the delicate fragrance of Biluochun tea filling the room.

He said in a deep voice, “Your Majesty established the cabinet with the intention of separating powers and checking each other. These seven seats need to be filled by experienced and prudent people in order to stabilize the court. In my opinion, we should select ministers who are senior and familiar with government affairs.”

Vice Minister of War Tie Xuan snorted coldly and slammed his teacup down on the table: "Minister Zhang is mistaken! The remnants of the Northern Yuan are still lurking on the border. If the cabinet has no one knowledgeable in military affairs, won't matters of state become mere empty talk? If the border is lost, who will bear the responsibility?"

"Your Excellencies, please calm down." Minister of Rites Chen Di quickly smoothed things over, pressing his hands down slightly. "His Majesty is determined to reform, and the selection of cabinet members will likely depend on their attitude towards the new policies. They must be both steady and knowledgeable about current affairs; this is the key to selecting the right people."

Just then, they heard light footsteps outside the door, and the three of them immediately fell silent.

Tie Xuan coughed lightly, then raised his voice: "This year's autumn grain harvest in Henan Province is half a month ahead of previous years, which is good news."

Zhang Dan understood and replied, "Indeed, smooth water transport is a blessing for the nation." After the footsteps faded away, the three exchanged a meaningful glance, but no one spoke again.

As night deepened and the dew grew heavy, Qi Tai's residence came into view.

The residence of Qi Tai, the former Minister of War, is unusually lively tonight.

Although his stance during the Jingnan Campaign was delicate, his extensive experience and connections with the Huai-Xi nobles made him a strong contender for the cabinet.

The study was brightly lit by candlelight.

An official from Zhejiang lowered his voice: "Lord Qi, I have already contacted the thirteen censors, and they will jointly submit a memorial tomorrow recommending you for a position in the cabinet. You have been in the Ministry of War for many years and are familiar with military affairs, which is exactly the kind of talent the cabinet urgently needs."

Another man dressed as a military officer interjected, "In the fourth year of the Jingnan Rebellion, Lord Qi's skillful command within the Ministry of War was evident to all. However..."

He hesitated, carefully choosing his words, "His Majesty seems to favor younger officials, those who are enthusiastic about the new policies."

Qi Tai stroked his long, gray beard, a shadow passing over his eyes.

He knew that his biggest obstacle was his past close relationship with the Prince of Yan.

"I appreciate your kind intentions, everyone." After a long silence, Qi Tai slowly spoke, "Whether or not I enter the cabinet is entirely up to His Majesty's discretion. I only wish to be loyal to the court and dare not have any improper thoughts."

Even so, after the guests took their leave, Qi Tai sat alone in his study until dawn.

Outside the window, a waning moon hangs on the branch, cold and desolate.

Early morning, Fang Xiaoru's study.

Hanlin scholar Fang Xiaoru is instructing several young students.

As a renowned Confucian scholar of his time, his students and friends were scattered throughout the court and the country. At this moment, the study was filled with the fragrance of books, but it could not conceal a hint of tension.

"Teacher," a disciple asked respectfully, "I've heard that His Majesty wishes to summon you to the cabinet. May I ask why?"

Fang Xiaoru waved his hand to interrupt, his expression calm: "The position of cabinet member should be selected based on talent and virtue. You must all remember that the way of being an official lies in manifesting virtue, being close to the people, and striving for the highest good. If one only seeks to scheme and plot, one will lose one's true nature."

All the disciples responded in unison.

However, when the eunuch delivered the emperor's secret edict inquiring about his opinions on revising the "Great Ming Code," Fang Xiaoru dismissed everyone and carefully wrote down a three-thousand-word response.

He knew that the emperor was testing his political views.

"The essence of the law lies in the balance between leniency and severity." He wrote with great speed, each word carefully considered.

At noon, the Censorate was on duty.

Jing Qing, the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate, was discussing matters with several trusted censors.

Sunlight streamed through the window lattice, illuminating the dust particles floating in the air.

"Lord Jing," a young censor said excitedly, "the Censorate must secure at least one of the seven seats in the Grand Secretariat! Otherwise, who will supervise these cabinet ministers in the future?"

Jing Qing pondered for a moment, then lightly tapped the table with his fingertips: "The power of supervision is inherently about checks and balances. If the Censorate were to enter the cabinet, wouldn't it be both a player and a referee? This contradicts the original intention of the system's design."

“But Your Honor,” another censor interjected, “if the cabinet is entirely controlled by civil officials, the military officers will surely be dissatisfied. It would be better to recommend Lord Jing to join the cabinet, so that he can mediate in his capacity as a member of the Censorate. In this way, the system will be complete, and he can also participate in important state affairs.”

Jing Qing's eyes flickered, clearly showing some interest.

He gazed at the majestic palace walls outside the window, and after a long while said, "This matter still needs to be considered carefully."

Evening, the Five Military Commander's Office.

A group of military generals, led by Marquis Guo Ying of Wuding, were drinking and discussing matters.

The hall was brightly lit with candles, and the air was thick with the aroma of alcohol, creating a particularly lively atmosphere.

"Damn it!" A burly deputy governor slammed his fist on the table, making his wine cups clink. "If the cabinet is filled by those scholars, will we military officers have any say in the future? Military expenses, provisions, border defense—we know all of these things better than anyone else."

Guo Ying slowly sipped his wine, a glint of shrewdness hidden in the wrinkles around his eyes: "What's the rush? When His Majesty established the cabinet, he specifically mentioned participating in state affairs. Isn't military affairs also state affairs?"

“But Lord Marquis,” another general frowned, “the civil officials will definitely recommend Tie Xuan, the Vice Minister of War, for the cabinet. Although he is from the Ministry of War, he is ultimately a civil official! How could he truly understand the difficulties of us military officers?”

Guo Ying sneered and put down his wine cup: "Therefore, we must recommend true military generals for the cabinet. I have already contacted more than twenty generals, and we will submit a joint memorial tomorrow. This cabinet must have our people!"

"My Lord is wise."

……

Fengtian Hall, court meeting.

The court assembly that day was unusually tense.

When the emperor inquired about the cabinet members, various factions stepped forward.

"Your Majesty," Zhang Dan, Minister of Personnel, stepped forward first, his voice steady, "the Grand Secretariat is a crucial position, and the selection of experienced, prudent, and knowledgeable ministers is essential. I recommend Fang Xiaoru and Chen Di."

"I have an objection!" Tie Xuan, the Vice Minister of War, immediately interrupted, his voice booming, "How can the Cabinet, which participates in matters of state and military affairs, be ignorant of military matters? I recommend Marquis Guo Ying of Wuding."

"Your Majesty!" Jing Qing from the Censorate stepped forward immediately, "The Grand Secretariat wields great power and needs to be supervised by honest and upright ministers. I believe..."

The court was immediately abuzz with discussion, with various factions arguing back and forth.

Civil officials and military generals, veteran ministers and newly rich, each acted independently and refused to yield to one another.

Suddenly, a clear voice rang out:

"My lords," the young Hanlin Academy scholar, Jie Jin, stepped forward and bowed, "His Majesty established the Grand Secretariat to gather wisdom from all quarters. If everyone insists on their own opinion, wouldn't that go against His Majesty's will?"

All eyes were on this young man, who was known for his talent and learning.

Xie Jin remained calm and continued, "In my opinion, the selection of cabinet members should be based on their talent and virtue, and should not be bound by the distinction between civil and military officials or between the old and the new. They should be knowledgeable in both political and military affairs; they should be mature and prudent, yet also ambitious and enterprising. Only in this way can they truly assist Your Majesty in governing the country."

His words were reasonable and persuasive, and the court immediately fell silent.

Qianqing Palace, late at night.

As Su Ning listened to Ma He's report on the situation in the capital, a faint, cold smile appeared on his lips.

“Your Majesty,” Ma He said softly, his voice exceptionally clear in the quiet hall, “these past few days, the homes of all the officials have been filled with guests! The day before yesterday, Qi Tai’s residence hosted a banquet for thirteen imperial censors, and yesterday the Marquis of Wuding’s residence gathered more than twenty generals. Even Scholar Fang’s residence is frequently visited by his students and old friends.”

“Let them fight,” Su Ning said, toying with a mutton-fat jade seal, his gaze deep. “I just want to see how many factions there are in the Ming Dynasty’s court.”

"What about the cabinet members?" Mahe asked tentatively.

"I already have a plan in mind." Su Ning unfolded a list with ink still wet on it. "Fang Xiaoru is highly respected and can reassure the scholars of the land; Tie Xuan is proficient in military affairs and can balance the civil and military affairs; Xie Jin is quick-witted and can implement new policies."

He paused, then added another name to the list: "As for Qi Tai, letting him join the cabinet will be a good way to appease those former officials of the previous dynasty."

Ma He suddenly realized and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty is wise! This arrangement takes into account all forces, maintaining a balance while ensuring the implementation of the new policy."

“Remember,” Su Ning said, his gaze sharp as he looked out into the deep night, “the art of rulership lies in checks and balances. These seven individuals must be able to cooperate with each other while also restraining one another. Only in this way can I rest easy.”

Several days later, the imperial edict was issued.

When the seven-member cabinet list was announced, it caused a stir in both the government and the public:
Fang Xiaoru, Tie Xuan, Xie Jin, Chen Di, Jing Qing, Qi Tai, Zhang Dan.

This carefully arranged list not only took into account the interests of all parties but also ensured the emperor's control over the new policies.

A delicate balance was achieved among these seven individuals, encompassing civil and military officials, veteran ministers and rising stars, and conservatives and reformers.

The seven chairs in the Wenyuan Pavilion will henceforth bear the future of the Ming Dynasty, and also herald a new stage in the Tiangong New Policy.

Inside the Qianqing Palace, Su Ning had already begun planning the next phase of reforms.

On the desk lay a memorial outlining tax system reform.

He knew that the cabinet struggle was just the beginning, and the real storm was yet to come.

...(End of chapter)