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Translation: marchmallow
The news of Consort Li’s pregnancy evoked a storm in the palace.
However, no one dared to say anything about this joyous event.
The days still progressed without cessation. No one knew whether or not anything was happening in secret, but the palace was still as harmonious and happy as before, still a conglomeration of splendid and beautiful things, just like every year in the past.
During the Winter Solstice, it was customary to worship the heavens.1 This time, no crown prince was established, so that position was vacant during the worship. In the court hall, the old cabinet ministers were clamoring unremittingly about the matter of the crown prince. The Jianping Emperor had smashed a few teacups after having been provoked into rage a few times. This reached the ministers’ ears to a certain degree, warning them that he had no intention to settle the matter as of the moment.
Since then, Feng Sheng had a better understanding as to why the Jianping Emperor had such hesitation deposing the Crown Prince. With a crown prince around, the Jianping Emperor would be saved the trouble. Facing such bedlam in court day by day, anyone would feel vexed, let alone the emperor. However, if the crown prince was too powerful, it would only elicit the emperor’s wariness, such that they would be doomed to be in an eternally unresolved strife.
Day after day, the weather grew colder. The coldness of the capital was different from that of Jiangnan. Fortunately, there was an underground heating system2 in the prince manor, so Feng Sheng also didn’t feel very chilly.
Since her imprisonment in the Court of Judicial Review, she had grown more and more sensitive to the cold. She cooped up in her room every day and, apart from visiting Consort Li in the palace, she didn’t take a single step outside if the need didn’t arise. Later on, Feng Sheng realized that she was gaining weight. It was naturally because Feng Sheng had nothing to do. In her leisure time, she would always grab some paper to write and draw on. Prince Wei didn’t pay much attention to it at first, but he later discovered what she was doing.
“Do you really want to open an academy?”
At present, Feng Sheng had been nurtured until she developed a rosy complexion despite her pale pallor. In the past, she was more pallid than pale, and her lips weren’t as florid. During their trip, they had traveled with a cook, and even until now, she was being nursed back to health with medicinal cuisine every single day. She was now still pale, yet she was also ruddy, and her whole person was a lot healthier than when she had just gotten married.
She was dressed in a lotus-colored narrow sleeve jacket. The sleeves were like so to make it more convenient for writing. The clothes were well-fitting, cinching her small waist, and her chest was much rounder than before. Warmth from the underground heating system permeated the room, and the carpet was emanating heat. She only wore a pair of thin-soled embordered shoes, and around her waist was a lotus-blue pleated skirt.
Probably feeling that she had grown more and more lazy, she was writing standing up, as if conscious of correcting herself. Prince Wei strode in from outside, pretended as though he was fixated on her writing, and stared at her for quite a while. Unfortunately, the other was slow in her reaction, perhaps because she had something on her mind, paying no heed to where Prince Wei was looking, until she broke the silence.
“I recall that you have an estate on the outskirts of the city. It’s empty and collecting dust, so why not use it for something?”
“What do you want to do with it?”
Prince Wei walked past her and sat on a chair behind the writing desk. Feng Sheng was originally standing in front of the writing desk. When he sat there, she arched her back to him, which ultimately appeared somewhat indecent, so she shifted to the side. Before the person could move away, Prince Wei stretched out his hand to pull her over, and she fell sitting unsteadily onto his lap.
“What are you doing? I still haven’t finished writing.” After struggling to no avail, Feng Sheng could only mouth a protest.
“You write, I’ll take a look.” Prince Wei replied with a deadpan expression.
In fact, Prince Wei’s countenance had always been quite austere. It was more proper to say that it was out of indifference and self-restraint, which had nothing to do with his appearance, but for the most part stemmed from the temperament that arose from years of cultivation through studying Buddhism and meditation. This visage of his always fooled people into believing he was decent, but in reality, Feng Sheng had fallen into this pit several times without her noticing.
She clutched the weasel fur calligraphy brush especially for writing small characters, but the content of her writing was not for anyone to see. She casually brandished the brush despite the incorrect posture rendered from her current sitting position. Nonetheless, that didn’t impact her brush strokes. She didn’t want to show that she was affected, so she attempted her best to distract herself and focused on other matters.
“In addition to history, philosophy and literature, as well as the Four Books and Five Classics, I think we should add current affairs as a subject in the academy. Don’t you think that a large part of why a private advisor’s line of work has become so popular is because many people only read the sage’s books and forget the current affairs?” Feng Sheng reasoned. This was what she had pondered as early as when she was just planning to open an academy.
“Persevering ten years in studies in spite of hardships does not guarantee the certainty of passing the imperial examinations. Without scholarly honors,3 there is no other way to become an official, and even if one understands the current affairs, it is of little use.” What Prince Wei remarked was pragmatic and realistic, and was furthermore in line with the norm at the current time. The road to achieving scholarly honors was not easy. Those who could forge through were either heaven’s favored sons, or those who spent majority of their time expending painstaking efforts to obtain it.
“Then, if the imperial court were to reconsider focusing only on eight-part essays and include current affairs in the regular path, won’t it be somewhat beneficial? Officials will eventually stop spouting out empty words and will instead do something practical for the common people.”4
Prince Wei muttered to himself for a moment and said, “That’s also a possibility.”
“Everything stems from tiny fragments of ideas. These tiny ideas only need to be perfected little by little. As long as the intent exists, it may not be impossible to succeed in the future.”
“That’s a seldom heard sentiment.”
“My father had taught me this. Perhaps it has something to do with a private advisor’s profession. Most officials hailing from the imperial examination system attach greater importance to the eight-part essay because the imperial court chooses officials based on those essays. But frankly speaking, it’s us, private advisors, who assist those ‘Masters’ ignorant of the current affairs to maintain operations in the yamen, yet it’s those ‘Masters’ who get promoted and gain wealth. What the Master can’t do, the advisor can. What the Master won’t do, the advisor will. Therefore, as it’s said, there is no government without an aide; no yamen without Shao.”5
After a pause, she added, “Say, if the Master, apart from collecting silver, assuming great airs, and holding prostitutes, relies on the advisor to make decisions about everything, is the Master still the master, or is the advisor the master?”
The words sounded a bit gauche, but Prince Wei’s sword-like brows furrowed upon hearing it, and the slender fingers that had been mindlessly stroking the hem of Feng Sheng’s jacket stopped moving.
“That time, I was able to arrest those corrupt officials in Liang Huai at lightning speed not only because I had the account books in my hands, but also because I had several hidden helpers.”
Just like what she had done with He Lun back then.6
Relying on those people in Shaoxing’s group of advisors was Feng Sheng’s key in vanquishing the enemy. She neither showed the mountain nor revealed the water and merely demanded a very brief note about the ‘Master’’s weak points and soft spots, as well as other related matters. It was just that, many people’s sights were too high, and most of them were furtively observing the Master, absolutely never expecting that, if they truly tried to comprehend the ‘Master’ or even the yamen, behind the scenes still lurked an advisor.
Feng Sheng had never mentioned these to anyone. These matters, to say they were small, they were indeed small; to say they were big, they were also quite significant. Some in Shaoxing still counted on eating this bowl of rice, smashing everyone else’s rice bowls.7 After this, it was best for one not to mingle with anyone at all. Furthermore, these days, Feng Sheng could perceive Prince Wei’s apprehension.
Although he never said so, every day, he would accompany herself to play Go, read books, and enjoy flowers, acting like some recluse with no fixed abode. Once in while, he would meditate in the quiet room. However, every time he shut himself in the quiet room to sit in meditation, Prince Wei couldn’t suppress the apprehension in his heart. This was why he sought external interference by squandering his time with her.
“All soldiers and horses under the heavens are His Majesty’s, but the commanders and generals are the ones managing them. Do you think these soldiers and horses are His Majesty’s or those commanders and generals’?”
This time, Prince Wei didn’t speak, but there was a strange light twinkling in his eyes as he gazed at Feng Sheng.
Feng Sheng was also eyeing him intently, but her words didn’t cease. “These soldiers can be said to belong to His Majesty, but they can also be said to belong those commanders and generals. They’re the ones executing what His Majesty wants to do, and the people below take orders from them. Likewise, below the commanding generals are the deputy commanders and commanders of similar aptitude. There are also brigade commanders, assistant regional commanders, battalion commanders, and company commanders, so who do you think the military power really belongs to?”
Continuing to divide according to Feng Sheng’s logic, the real military power belonged to those soldiers, because they alone were the core and key in carrying out orders. Feng Sheng employed two uncommon examples plainly to impart to Prince Wei that those in a high position could only discern from high places, scarcely realizing that those at the bottom were the most pivotal.
Princes would join court to undertake their duties. They would say that it was to divide among them the tribulations of the imperial court and to work out solutions, but in fact, that was merely a befitting excuse to associate with courtiers. These princes would utilize various influences to woo and buy or even unite those who could be useful to them. Furthermore, they would order others to closely watch the courtiers. Such practice also made one think differently about it.
As for Prince Wei’s power, Feng Sheng knew only a few things about it at present. It was as elusive and as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns. She could only propose suggestions through divergent thinking rather than telling him what to do.
“Many of your ideas coincide with mine.”
That was also why Prince Wei had gone so far as to support Gou Qing, a seventh-rank inspector. However, based on Feng Sheng’s reasoning, Prince Wei hadn’t been able to perceive everything too incisively, probably because he was situated at a high place. Those such as him were used to wooing and bribing the ‘head’ at the top, but forgot about those at the bottom.
Feng Sheng stirred open a whole whirlpool and pulled the Crown Prince off his horse with the power of a single person. She borrowed the humble and unremarkable profession of a private advisor, which was truly beyond Prince Wei’s expectations, providing him a lot of inspiration.
“Thus, I think it’s a good idea to open an academy. Consider it as taking an alternative route. It would also be better if we could teach students on the basis of their ability. For instance, water circuit officials naturally need to understand water conservancy. There’s no point appointing someone who only knows literary jargon and behaves like a fool. Not only water conservancy works, but also legal and fiscal matters, salt affairs, and other such things all the more so. I only fear that this matter won’t be easy to achieve, but we can slowly draw out a plan. Right now, many of my current thoughts are very fragmented and lack an overall summary. In addition, I want to add a women’s schoolroom in the academy, which can be regarded as finding something for myself to do.”
“Women?”
Feng Sheng nodded her head. It was a thought that had sprung up when she had caught sight Man’er blushing and bowing her head behind Fan Jin Chuan at the Daming Temple.
Regardless of everything, she commiserated with Man’er. Such an intelligent woman was neglected by her husband due to her origin, outlook, erudition and so on. People like Fan Jin Chuan paid little regard to appearance, but more so to spiritual resonance, and all this was obviously something that even the illiterate Man’er was incapable of offering.
However, if she could study and learn to read, understand outside affairs, and fathom how high and big the world was, what would it be like?
At that moment, she was shaken by her own thoughts.
She was very excited. In fact, this endeavor was a kind of desperate necessity, because she knew very well that from the moment she married Prince Wei, she was destined to succumb to the rear court. She refused to submit to this kind of life, so this was a compromise she had found for herself.
“How do you feel about this?”
Prince Wei stretched out his hand to caress her brows. Every time Feng Sheng wanted to do something, her pupils would shimmer.
There were stars concealed in there, and he couldn’t bear to refuse.
“I feel that it will be quite difficult, but it would be a waste for you to bury your capabilities.”
He leaned forward and kissed her. Prince Wei didn’t have any good motives from the beginning, but Feng Sheng had diverted his attention. At this time, he had conjured a lot of ideas because of Feng Sheng’s extremely riveting assertions, and coupled with Feng Sheng’s posture, he couldn’t help but feel a little excited.
“What are you doing?”
Feng Sheng felt that something was awry and tried to get up, but she was pressed against his lap.
“Don’t move.”
In the end, she didn’t move. He moved instead.
*
The following days, the two were very preoccupied with the prospect of opening an academy.
Upon opening their eyes first thing in the morning, they would chat. Before sleeping, they would discuss. Occasionally during meals, while eating, they would suddenly think of something and exchange a few remarks. These days, the two were very stimulated. For the most part, they had the same goal. Feng Sheng always had a brush and ink at hand, ready at any moment to note any ideas that came to mind.
This had something to do with her usual habits, similar to what she had done while conversing with Prince Wei that day, except that he had shifted the subject after that. A private advisor was in the gray area. Although he could assist the master, he still wasn’t an official, and because of the complexity of the word official, he had too many things to comprehend, to deliberate over, and to make allowances for.
For example, in public affairs, he must understand official records and documents, criminal law, fiscal matters, and grain tax. In private affairs, he must know how to help the master manage various places, so as to assist the master in getting promoted and gaining wealth. Even when encountering the dark side of officialdom, he had to know how to mastermind a scheme and even harm and cheat others.
With so many trifling and inconsequential affairs, there was no way to cram it all in his mind, so Fang Yan had a habit of writing down any thoughts or things he wanted to do.
He had influenced Feng Sheng into developing such a habit.
The benefit of doing so was monumental. When she needed to straighten out her thoughts, looking at the things she had jotted down would open up her mind even more.
Later on, Feng Sheng compiled her sorted notes and showed them to Prince Wei. The two of them suddenly realized that bringing their ambition to fruition was simply not something that could be accomplished overnight, and that this would span several years, even decades.
It was difficult, but at the moment, Prince Wei was idle at home, so he regarded it as a way to find something to do for himself. After all, since they wanted a large enough academy, they couldn’t fulfill everything overnight.
Prince Wei ordered the reconstruction of his estate in the outskirts of the capital. He and Feng Sheng had completed the design plans together. This wasn’t a matter that could be completed in a month or two alone, so they bided their time taking everything into consideration.
Prince Zhao had a newborn son, and the Wei Prince Manor received an invitation to celebrate the occasion.
Despite living in the seclusion of their own home, they couldn’t be absent from such an event. They were nominally known as brothers from the same family, so other princes would definitely be there that day.
Since Feng Sheng married Prince Wei, this was her first time going out as a guest.
At the Zhao Prince Manor, Prince Wei and Feng Sheng were separated, one in the front courtyard and the other in the rear courtyard.
Princess Consort Zhao was a very cordial and well-rounded person. By and large, Prince Wei and Prince Zhao had no conflicts, so she treated Feng Sheng quite cautiously. It was also known that this was her first time coming to such an occasion, and when she arrived at the place and met with a group of sisters-in-law,8 she personally came forward and helped introduce them.
Although Feng Sheng was young, because of Prince Wei’s high seniority, she had no choice but to be addressed as elder sister-in-law9 by Princess Consort Zhao and several other princess consorts of lower seniority than her. She didn’t have much experience dealing with married women, so after sitting down, she just drank tea with a smile and listened to the other princess consorts chatting.
The one with the least seniority and the youngest among them was Princess Consort Liang.
Prince Liang ranked ninth. Not long after the grand wedding of the newly titled prince, Princess Consort Liang joined the household ahead of Feng Sheng. The two were nearly in the same situation, and they sat together as they listened to the incessant chatter of the other side, occasionally glancing at each other while drinking tea. Between them was a tacit understanding others couldn’t comprehend.
“Third sister-in-law is so aloof. During the last occasion at the Qin Prince Manor, we had all been anticipating to meet this third sister-in-law of ours, but we didn’t expect third sister-in-law to actually not show up.”
The one who spoke was Princess Consort An, a beauty with an oval face and almond eyes. Feng Sheng had been listening more and talking less since she arrived at this hall, but from the moment she laid her eyes on this Princess Consort An, Feng Sheng sensed that the other was somewhat hostile towards her. She not at all expected the other to incite disharmony between her and Princess Consort Qin.
Upon listening to this instigation, everyone else was rendered mute, their beautiful eyes sizing up Princess Consort Qin and Feng Sheng back and forth.
“Sister, don’t blame me. His Highness and I weren’t in the capital at that time. When I found out, I had my servants prepare a present to send to the manor. Next time, I will definitely be there.”
Feng Sheng’s words were directly addressed to Princess Consort Qin. Princess Consort Qin was naturally not a fool. She would not fall for this ruse of sowing discord between the two families with just a single sentence, but how to speak so as not to offend either Princess Consort An or Princess Consort Wei was what she had to consider at the moment.
“There’s naturally nothing to blame you for. Which family doesn’t have their own affairs to attend to? Third brother actually has good taste, accompanying third sister in Jiangnan to go sightseeing. This little sister is truly envious. Seventh sister-in-law, you also shouldn’t be too envious. One of these days, talk to seventh brother about it. Since seventh brother cares about you, he naturally won’t refuse you. Don’t be so sour towards third sister-in-law.” Princess Consort Qin’s tone was both charming and courteous. This was originally an awkward spectacle, yet she actually turned it around.
Princess Consort Zhao was the host today. She didn’t desire for any trouble or for the atmosphere to be too stiff, so she naturally wanted to lend a hand and speak up. After chats and banters, the matter was concluded.
However, Feng Sheng was curious as to why Princess Consort An was so hostile to herself.
After a while, when several people ventured to the garden to enjoy the plum blossoms, someone finally gave the answer.
Feng Sheng ambled behind them, and Princess Consort Zhao purposely lagged behind to wait for her.
“Third sister-in-law mustn’t take offense. Seventh sister-in-law is of such nature, but she doesn’t have ill intent. Upon seeing you, to her it was an occurrence of ‘seeing an object and missing its owner’. Although this phrase is too inappropriate, I won’t hide things from third sister-in-law. The first Princess Consort Wei was a daughter of the Qiao family, and Princess Consort An is also surnamed Qiao. Does third sister-in-law understand?”
She understood. This Princess Consort An wasn’t hostile to her in particular, but to whoever became Princess Consort Wei.
After Princess Consort Zhao informed her of this, she smiled and hastened her pace to stride ahead. Feng Sheng shook her head a bit helplessly and laughed, thinking to herself that the matter was actually like this.
With such a distraction, others were already far ahead, leaving her with only a view of their backs. Feng Sheng extremely feared the cold. Against a world of ice and snow, in this garden abounding with red plums, right this moment, she had no desire to advance to where they were.
“Princess Consort?”
Feng Sheng smiled at Zhi Qiu and tightened her clasp at the handwarmer in her hand, saying, “Let’s go.”
After turning at a certain corner, she found someone sauntering slowly ahead. This person was enrobed in a red-orange mink fur cloak with sewed flower branch patterns. It was Princess Consort Qin.
Seeming to hear footsteps behind her, she paused with her maid and cast a smile at Feng Sheng.
“Third sister-in-law.”
“Sixth sister-in-law.”
The two started journeying together, with two maids accompanying each of them.
“Third sister-in-law, please don’t take offense at what happened just now. Seventh sister-in-law’s mouth just doesn’t have a filter. However, in the end, I’m not too close to her and can’t say much. I’m afraid of offending anyone,” Princess Consort Qin laughed, but the laughter in her tone clearly inferred something, others just couldn’t put a finger on what it was. “However, she also doesn’t consider how she became Princess Consort An. The Qiao family isn’t an extremely influential and high-ranking family, but how were they able to produce two first-rank princess consorts?”
She smiled, patted Feng Sheng’s hand, and bid the servant girl beside her, “I want to have a good look at that red plum. Go over and take a look. Have someone snap off a branch and bring it back later. Just think of it as an auspicious little present to fourth sister-in-law.”
With that, she briskly departed with her maid.
Feng Sheng was unperturbed. On the contrary, these series of actions baffled Zhi Qiu. After holding back for a while, she spewed a question, “Princess Consort, what do they want to do?”
What else could it be? It was to spur conflict between her and Princess Consort An.
“Go. We should also take a look at the red plums. Snap off a branch to bring back later. Just think of it as an auspicious little present to fourth sister-in-law,” Feng Sheng said with a smile.
Seeing that the Princess Consort was unaffected, Zhi Qiu was at ease. The two left this fork in the road, and before they could go too far, a maid came rushing their way.
“The First Princess Consort is here. Our Princess Consort has invited Princess Consort Wei to come over.”
The First Princess Consort? As in the Crown Princess?!
Translator’s Note:
So many princess consorts! I’m gonna list them down according to seniority so as not to confuse you.
- First/Eldest – Former Crown Princess
- Second – Princess Consort Wu
- Third – Princess Consort Wei (Feng Sheng)
- Fourth – Princess Consort Zhao
- Sixth – Princess Consort Qin
- Seventh – Princess Consort An (from the Qiao family)
- Ninth – Princess Consort Liang
Photo references: cloak with flower branch patterns, and an imperial concubine holding a hand warmer
1 Just like in Chapter 31, the emperor and the crown prince worshiped on the Circular Mound Altar together.
2 地龙: It literally says ‘earth dragon’, but it’s a system of central heating in a building that produces and circulates hot air from an underground furnace outside the building, and may also warm the walls with a series of pipes through which the hot air passes. Different from a kang bed-stove but functions the same way. It’s very similar to the hypocaust in ancient Rome.
3 This has been mentioned several times before, but putting it back here in case you forget. The scholarly honor is the title/merit one attains after passing the imperial examination.
4 The eight-legged essay was mentioned in Chapter 42. It was a style of essay in imperial examinations during the Ming and Qing dynasties in China. As mentioned in Chapter 34, the regular path of officialdom is through the imperial examinations. The imperial examinations focus mostly on Confucian thought and knowledge of the Four Books and Five Classics, in relation to government ideals. What Feng Sheng wants to include is perhaps something outside of that bubble, more socio-political awareness rather than focusing on theory. FJC is a perfect example as to why.
5 This is mentioned in Chapter 18, “An old proverb once claimed that there was ‘no yamen without an advisor’, but it gradually evolved into ‘no yamen without Shao.’” Where Shao is referring to Shaoxing, a place teeming with talented aides, which was why Zong Yue went there in the first arc of the story.
6 In Chapter 59, Feng Sheng asked Advisor Ma, who was also an advisor from Shaoxing, to convince He Lun not to stir trouble.
7 饭碗: rice bowl; fig. livelihood; job; way of making a living. People in Shaoxing smashed everyone else’s rice bowls (everyone, as in advisors from different provinces), because of the inherent notion, as quoted from Chapter 18, “Shaoxing was a place of private advisors, and nine out of ten aides in the country were from Shaoxing.”
8 The term here is 妯娌 (zhóu lǐ), literally ‘wives of brothers’. I simplified it to sisters-in-law.
9 嫂嫂 (sǎo sao): older brother’s wife; sister-in-law, since a younger brother’s wife is addressed as 弟妹 (dìmèi). I translated them all as sister-in-law to simplify.