The Third Part: The Palace of Demons Chapter 4: An Unholy Love Affair

  Zhu Qizhen's biography

  Zhu Qizhen's Last Wish

  After going through countless sword lights and struggles for power, Zhu Qizhen finally welcomed a peaceful and stable life. In this quietness, he walked towards the end of his own life.

  In the eighth year of Tianshun (1464), Zhu Qizhen was thirty-eight years old, which is not considered a big age, but at this time, Zhu Qizhen had already suffered from serious illness and was on his last breath. The beacon fires of the vast desert and the struggles in the palace had exhausted all his energy. Now he could only quietly wait for the arrival of death.

  This emperor's life was not glorious, he trusted treacherous people, lost battles, was a prisoner of war, was imprisoned, and killed loyal ministers. To say that he is a good emperor, even ghosts wouldn't believe it.

  But he is a good man.

  He almost trusted everyone around him, from Wang Zhen to Xu Youzhen, Shi Heng and Li Xian. No matter whether these people were loyal or treacherous, no matter what the environment was like, he could get along with them and treat them kindly, calm and composed. The Mongolian soldiers who robbed him, the guards, Bayan Temur, Ruan Lang, all eventually became his friends.

  But it turns out that good people can't make good emperors.

  In this year's first month, Zhu Qizhen summoned his son, Zhu Jianshen, who had also experienced many hardships, to his sickbed and handed over the heavy responsibilities of the empire to him.

  Then the emperor, who was about to leave the world, thought for a long time and told Zhu Jianshen his last wish. It was this wish that added the most brilliant color to his life.

  "Since the time of Emperor Wu, whenever an emperor passed away, many palace maids would be buried with him. I couldn't bear to do such a thing, and after my death, don't bury anyone with me. Remember this, from now on, there mustn't be any more such incidents!"

  "I will definitely do so."

  Zhu Jianwen knelt in front of the bed and solemnly made his promise.

  Starting from Zhu Yuanzhang, the Ming dynasty emperors had a cruel rule that whenever an emperor died, people would be buried with him in the palace. This was true for Zhu Di and Zhu Gaochi, not to mention Zhu Zhanji and Zhu Qizhen who were known for their kindness and benevolence. However, this inhumane system was finally abolished by this infamous emperor, which is quite ironic.

  Zhu Yuanzhang unified the world, established an empire, and left a name in history; Zhu Di swept away the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty, galloped across the vast desert, and his reputation has been preserved to this day. They are all legendary figures that we talk about with relish today. Their achievements will be forever remembered by people.

  But behind their great achievements, there are countless white bones on the battlefield, widows and orphans wailing at home, and unknown crying in the deep palace. One emperor's success is not just a million withered bones!

  Zhu Qizhen ultimately did what his predecessors had not done, which was not accidental. He didn't have the fame of his predecessors, nor their great achievements, but Zhu Qizhen had a capacity that his predecessors lacked (or were unwilling to possess) - understanding other people's suffering.

  Since ancient times, emperors have rarely understood the living environment of those so-called common people. As long as they do not rise up in rebellion, other problems seem to be negligible, let alone things like joys and sorrows, or the waxing and waning of fortunes.

  But Zhu Qizhen did, at least in the abolition of burial, he understood the suffering of those innocent people in the harem. Eight years ago, he changed from an emperor who was making arbitrary decisions to a captive, and then became a prisoner, from relying on others for food and clothing to struggling to survive, this painful experience made him deeply understand the sadness of being in a difficult situation and relying on others for survival, and also knew how difficult it is for the weak to survive.

  So in the final moment of his life, he decided to defy tradition and go save those innocent people.

  It should be acknowledged that this is a brave and great deed.

  In this world, no one has the right to arbitrarily take away another person's life and dignity.

  Although he had done many foolish and wrong things throughout his life, in my opinion, he was more like a "human being" than those great and powerful emperors.

  We can evaluate Zhu Qizhen's life with one sentence:

  He is a good man, but not a good emperor.

  In the first month of 1464, Ming Yingzong Zhu Qizhen ended his legendary life at the age of 38. The Crown Prince Zhu Jianshen succeeded him, and a dynasty that made people cry and laugh began.

  Ming Xianzong Zhu Jianshen

  There was once a friend who asked me to help him solve a difficult problem: he and his girlfriend had a good relationship, but because his girlfriend was two years older than him, his family opposed it, and he couldn't make up his mind, so he wanted to ask for my opinion.

  I thought for a moment and told him a story, the story of Zhu Zhen.

  Tragic Childhood

  Generally speaking, the childhood of an emperor may not be happy, but it will not be miserable either. The emperors of the Ming Dynasty were no exception, except for the first founder, Comrade Zhu Di.

  But Mr. Zhu's childhood can be described with this word, objectively speaking, this brother has indeed suffered a lot and eaten enough bitterness, although he finally succeeded in inheriting the throne and becoming emperor, but if you have studied his development history, I believe you will also say sincerely:

  Brother, you're really having a tough time!

  In the twelfth year of the Zhengtong era (1447), Zhu Jianshen was born, he was the future heir to the throne. In today's words, he was born with a golden key in his mouth, but no one would have thought that just two years later, his life tragedy would begin.

  In the 14th year of Zhengtong (1449), his father Zhu Qizhen led troops on an expedition, but ended up being a "meat dumpling hitting a dog" - gone and never returned. At the most critical moment in the Ming Dynasty, Zhu Jianshen was suddenly recommended by someone and pushed out, and before he had even grown all his teeth, he was gloriously appointed as the Crown Prince at the age of two.

  At the age of two, Zhu Jianshen naturally did not know that he was made crown prince at this time due to extremely complex political background.

  At that time, Zhu Qizhen was defeated and captured, and Zhu Qiyu was about to take his brother's place. The old and cunning Empress Dowager Sun had long expected that this younger brother would not give up easily, so in order to prevent the throne from falling into his hands, she hastily established Zhu Jianshen as the Crown Prince, and used this as a condition for supporting Zhu Qiyu's ascension to the throne.

  Although Empress Dowager Wang successfully established Zhu Jianshen as the crown prince, she knew that in the depths of the palace, people's hearts were treacherous and unpredictable. She couldn't guarantee when Zhu Qizhen would suddenly come up with a plan to eliminate him completely. Moreover, she herself couldn't be by her precious grandson's side at all times. To ensure his safety, she made a decision: to send one of her trusted attendants to protect Zhu Jianshen.

  She would never have dreamed that this unintentional decision changed Zhu Jianshen's life.

  She sent a trusted palace maid with the surname Wan, who from then on took meticulous care of the young Zhu Jianshen.

  That year, she was nineteen years old, and he was two years old.

  It turned out that Empress Sun's political sense was very accurate. After Zhu Qizhen sat firmly on the throne, he had no intention of returning it at all. Not only did he pursue re-election himself, but he also wanted his son to be re-elected. So in 1452, the third year of the Jingtai era, he bribed the ministers and abolished Zhu Jianshen's position as crown prince, replacing him with his own son Zhu Jianji as crown prince. Although Empress Sun was extremely dissatisfied with this change, she could do nothing about it.

  These politicians are fighting for their own interests, but no one realizes that their actions have already opened the curtain on a tragedy.

  At this time, the five-year-old Zhu Jianshen naturally did not know about the affairs of adults. He spent his days wandering in the palace, and because he was in a precarious position and his status was unstable, everyone thought that being deposed was only a matter of time, so few people were willing to approach this so-called crown prince, treating him with great indifference.

  From the age of two, loneliness and desolation had been haunting this child, for him, childhood was a dull color. And in this dull life, the only one who could bring him comfort was that Wan auntie.

  No matter how cold the people around him were, no matter how much they rejected him and refused to play with him, this Wan GuGu always accompanied him, comforted him, took care of his life. Although his mother, Empress Zhou, often came to visit him, but in the palace there were eyes and ears of Zhu Qizhen everywhere, so as not to cause trouble, she always came and went hastily. In his young heart, this person who stayed by his side day and night was the one he could rely on.

  Thus, Zhu Jianshen and his Wan Gu lived a quiet and peaceful life together, but one day this life was disrupted. A group of people suddenly burst into Zhu Jianshen's palace, saying to him in an overbearing manner: "You can no longer use the title of Crown Prince; from now on, your title is King Yi."

  Then these people told him that the King of Yi was not entitled to continue living here, you must roll out of the palace immediately, because your cousin Zhu Jianji will soon move in and become the new master here, the new crown prince.

  Next to be dealt with is the issue of layoffs and dispersal of eunuchs and palace maids around the former crown prince, now King Yi. From a utilitarian perspective, a deposed crown prince is not as useful as a discarded tire. This is because a discarded tire can still be recycled, whereas according to historical experience, a deposed crown prince will often be abandoned forever, permanently scrapped.

  People have long known this truth, so the scene that often appears at such moments is trees falling and monkeys scattering, people around them hastily packing their bags and leaving Zhu Jianshen to seek a brighter future.

  Facing this sudden change, the palace maid with the surname Wan behaved differently from others. She didn't speak, but silently watched those who were leaving and quietly prepared Zhu Jianshen's luggage for his departure from the palace.

  At the age of five, Zhu Jian Shen was not clear about what had happened. He only knew that he would be moving out soon and those familiar faces would also leave him. In his mind, there were no answers, only doubts and worries.

  "Are you leaving too?"

  "I won't leave you, I'll always be by your side."

  She finally did it with this sentence.

  In the third year of the Jing Tai era, Zhu Jianshen was deposed as the King of Yi and moved out of the palace.

  That year, she was twenty-two years old, and he was five years old.

  Zhu Zhanji's life as the Prince of Yu began, and in fact, this was the darkest period of his life. Although his father had returned from Mongolia with great honor, he was immediately given the heavy responsibility of being a prisoner, locked up in the Southern Palace to work hard. Due to the busy affairs, he could not meet with Zhu Zhanji, and since he had moved out of the palace, his mother, Empress Dowager Zhou, also could not come out of the palace to see him. Moreover, Zhu Qizhen's men were all around him, constantly monitoring his actions, and if they caught any handle, who knows, he might be demoted from being a deposed crown prince to an early deceased deposed crown prince.

  At the age of five, Zhu Jianping had no parental care and pampering, no teacher's patient guidance, living in an uncertain place, with a life where he didn't know what would happen tomorrow. He could be taken out and beheaded at any time, or suddenly poisoned after a meal and die of illness. For him, every day was potentially the end of his life, every day was a painful struggle, and this kind of life lasted for five whole years.

  In this desperate environment, she was the only one who stayed by his side, taking care of him and comforting him. No matter what difficulties they encountered, she never wavered.

  To Zhu Jianshen, this person has become his mother, his friend, his reliance, and an inseparable part of him. In those dark days, this person supported him and went through the most difficult moments with him.

  Five years later (1457), Zhu Jianshen's father regained the throne, and his hard days finally came to an end. The wheel of fortune turned again, and he moved back into the palace, restoring his status as crown prince. Naturally, she remained by his side.

  That year, she was twenty-seven years old, and he was ten years old.

  During his days as the Eastern Palace Crown Prince, Zhu Zhanji gradually developed subtle feelings for this woman who was seventeen years his senior. It is believed that during this period of time, their relationship underwent a special change.

  His father Zhu Qizhen and mother Empress Zhou noticed this, but instead of stopping him, they selected three women as candidates for the position of empress, waiting for him to choose one after he ascended the throne. They believed that the palace maid surnamed Wan would never become empress, and once Zhu Jianshen grew up and understood things, he would naturally leave her.

  In 1464, Zhu Qizhen died of illness and Zhu Jianshen succeeded him. From then on, Wan Guifei officially became the emperor's concubine.

  That year, she was thirty-five years old, and he was eighteen years old.

  What about the queen!

  Although the court politics of the Ming Dynasty were very complicated, with princes and nobles, civil and military officials, all playing their parts, rolling up their sleeves and vying with each other, it was a delightful struggle. However, in my opinion, when it comes to the level of struggle, the beauties in the harem were also of a high order, with a glance, a smile, a movement of the hand or foot, enough to kill people, and can be said to be on par with men.

  As for this question, our beloved Comrade Fa Mulan had taught us a long time ago:

  Who says women are inferior to men!

  The Crown Prince Zhu Zhen became the Emperor, and Wan Palace Woman also became Empress Wan. It can be said that her merits were complete. At this time, Empress Wan had gone through many storms and was approaching middle age, but what surprised everyone was that this woman actually received most of the favors from Emperor Zhu Zhen, which many people could not understand.

  And this situation is not just a matter of understanding for the young women in the harem, they are very angry and unwilling to accept: why should such a woman get exclusive favor?

  Among those discontented women, the highest rank was held by Queen Wu.

  As for Miss Wu, she has a big background and connections. At the time of the empress selection, the judge (Zhu Qi Zhen) initially chose another Miss Wang, but Miss Wu relied on her official family background and extensive social connections to secretly influence the judge and push Miss Wang out, ultimately becoming the empress herself.

  To know that the queen's candidate was personally determined by Zhu Qizhen, what kind of magical power did this Miss Wu have to change Zhu Qizhen's decision?

  This is because she knows a very formidable person - Niu Yu.

  There is no need to introduce this person too much, just two points are enough: First, he was a trusted eunuch of Zhu Qizhen; Second, before Zhu Qizhen's death, he summoned two people, one was Zhu Jianshen, and the other was him.

  With such care, Miss Wu will naturally become the queen, and there is no need to make any hidden rules.

  With such a background and network, the young and beautiful Miss Wu naturally didn't take 35-year-old Wan Auntie seriously. She absolutely couldn't bear being cold-shouldered by Zhu Jiande, so she thought of a way to deal with Wan Auntie.

  Unfortunately, it turned out that this was not a good method.

  Perhaps she was too young after all, Miss Wu didn't consider the consequences at all and actually found Old Lady Wan, pulled her back and gave her a good scolding.

  This method can be described in four words: simple and brutal. Of course, she has a theoretical basis for this beating, after all, she is the queen, so she beautifies it as rectifying the palace discipline. This beating almost cost Concubine Wan her life, but also helped many concubines in the palace to breathe a sigh of relief. At this time, Wu was majestic and powerful, with a strong momentum.

  It is said that the strongest wind is a 12-level storm, and Miss Wu's actions can be described as a storm, but in fact, the strongest wind in history is not a storm, but a pillow wind.

  Wan Fei was beaten and went back to report to Zhu Zhen, in this struggle, Wu Huang Hou relied on her family background and identity, while Wan Fei relied on her imperial favor, so what was the result?

  Nature is the winner of Wan Fei (or it's up to the emperor)

  Zhu Zhen heard that Wan Fei was beaten and became very angry, so he immediately took action.

  He stripped Wu Zetian of her empress title, just a month after she was made empress. Moreover, Wu Zetian's father was removed from his position and exiled to the army, while Niu Yu, an old friend of the Wu family, was also implicated and demoted to be a farmer at Maoling, growing vegetables.

  What's even more unbelievable is that Sun Bao, who had stood out and quelled the rebellion, was also dismissed from his post. The reason was allegedly because he was said to have a familial relationship with Niu Yu.

  The queen was deposed after only one month, which is unprecedented. This matter involved so many unrelated people and had a terrible impact. Cabinet members Li Xian and Peng Shi remonstrated with Zhu Zhanji, hoping that the emperor would reconsider and withdraw his decree.

  Zhu Jian Shen just smiled and didn't answer or explain, he continued to dote on Wan Fei as usual.

  One year later (Chenghua 2, 1466), Consort Wan welcomed a turning point in her life. In the first month of this year, she gave birth to a son for Zhu Jianshen. Upon hearing the news, Zhu Jianshen was overjoyed and immediately promoted her to Imperial Noble Consort. He also went to the ancestral temple to offer sacrifices to heaven and express gratitude to his ancestors for their blessings.

  As expected, Princess Wan's son would inevitably become the future heir to the empire, but unfortunately, this scene never materialized.

  In the second year, this prince fell ill and died young, and that year Empress Wan was already thirty-eight years old, she could hardly bear children again.

  This incident severely struck Zhu Jianshen, but it did not affect his fondness for Wan Guifei. At this time, Zhu Jianshen was only 21 years old and was in the prime of his youth, yet he went against the norm and stayed by the side of this older woman day and night, as if he would never tire of her.

  Zhu Zhen didn't rush, but the ministers below were anxious. Peng Shi, a member of the Grand Council, was in charge of women's work and saw Zhu Zhen's favoritism towards Empress Wan, who had clearly passed childbearing age. Worried that the emperor would have no heir, he exerted the spirit of the bureaucratic group taking responsibility for everything under heaven, whether big or small, and submitted a very special memorial to the emperor.

  This memorial can be considered a strange document, and I won't write out its specific contents, but roughly it says:

  Your Majesty, your harem has many concubines, but until now there is no son. I think this should be due to Your Majesty's excessive favoritism towards a certain person. Therefore, I hope that Your Majesty can distribute the favor to other concubines, which is a major national event.

  It's really unexpected, this Mr. Peng Shi actually interfered with the emperor's private life, openly submitting a memorial to advise the emperor to often find other wives to bond emotionally (classical Chinese "rain and dew equally moisten"), generally speaking, any ordinary emperor would have jumped up and scolded upon seeing such a document: "I sleep with my wife, what business is it of yours?"

  But Mr. Zhu Jian's reaction was even more unexpected, he wasn't angry at all, and only said lightly:

  "This is my personal matter, let me handle it myself."

  Then he still owes me.

  The ministers were puzzled to the extreme, they couldn't understand why the emperor could ignore so many young and beautiful women and dote on this one woman alone, when the Empress's appearance was not outstanding and her age was already advanced.

  Zhu Zhen understood the doubts of his ministers, but he didn't want to explain anything because he knew that these people would not understand.

  In those lonely and helpless years, she was the only one who stayed by my side, accompanying me through countless storms, always consistent, never leaving or abandoning.

  Yes, you will never understand.

  In this world, loving someone doesn't need a reason, it never has.

  Unexpected Harvest

  To Zhu Jianshen, Wan Guifei was his wife, the kindest and most trustworthy person in this world, but unfortunately he didn't know that this Wan Guifei had another hidden face.

  It is worth noting that although Zhu Zhanji was a very devoted person, he was after all the emperor and would not possibly only dote on Empress Wan alone. He also often sought out other consorts or palace maids in the harem. Empress Wan never opposed this, and it seemed like both parties were at peace with each other. However, Zhu Zhanji seemed to have always overlooked an important question: why was it that after so long, he still had no children?

  Zhu Jian Shen never expected that the reason for this situation was that all the concubines and palace maids who were pregnant with his children had been forced to have abortions! And the one who did this despicable thing was none other than the Wan Guifei, who had received boundless favor and love.

  But no one had ever told Zhu Jianshen these things before, and the reason was simple: they didn't dare.

  If things go on like this, maybe the next emperor Zhu Youjian will have to find another place to reincarnate. But just at this time, Empress Wan's real enemy appeared, and it was this person who completely broke Empress Wan's plan.

  It's ironic that Empress Wan's opponent wasn't chosen, but was fought out.

  In the early years of Chenghua (1465), Guangxi, Dafeng Gorge.

  The Governor of the Imperial Censorate, Han Yongzheng, stood at the entrance of the valley, looking up at the precipice above. He had led his troops thousands of miles to quell the rebellion of the local officials in Guangdong and Guangxi, but found that the terrain was treacherous and the direction was difficult to discern. His years of military experience told him that this was the best place for an ambush.

  Just as he was worried about not finding a safe way to get out of the mountain, his subordinates excitedly reported to him that they had found more than a dozen local Confucian scholars and village heads in front, who were familiar with the nearby terrain and willing to guide the army.

  Han Yong said: Take me to see.

  He walked slowly to the front of those local people, and did not come forward to shake hands with them enthusiastically, thanking them for their contributions to the motherland, but unexpectedly burst out laughing:

  "You think you can assassinate with just a few people? Take them all away!"

  The Confucian scholars were shocked and lost their color, but the people around them were all bewildered. The soldiers immediately came forward to search them, and indeed found assassination tools on their bodies.

  His subordinates were amazed: How did you know these people are sent by the rebels?

  Han Yong smiled and said, "Don't you understand? This place is a desolate wilderness, the road is difficult to travel, who would come here for fun? Moreover, there are rebels nearby, how could there be Confucian scholars wandering around? If not spies or assassins, then who?"

  This matter was transmitted to the rebel army, and the uncultured local officials were extremely surprised, thinking that Han Yong had special functions, and they were shocked as if he were a god. The morale of the soldiers suffered a severe blow. Not long after, Han Yong divided his troops into five routes to attack the rebel camp in Da Teng Gorge, and the rebels could not withstand a single blow, and were completely annihilated.

  Victorious and triumphant, Han Yong stood atop the mountain, gazing down at the giant wisteria vine in the valley below. The so-called Great Wisteria Gorge was named after this very vine, which had long been revered by local officials as a sacred object, worthy of worship and veneration.

  Han Yong smiled and asked the captured Tartar officer: "What is this stick used for?"

  The local official was very dissatisfied with his joking attitude, and replied seriously: "This vine spans the mountain cliff, invisible during the day, and only appears at night. It is a heavenly gift of this land."

  Han Yong's face flashed a sly smile as he said to the soldier beside him, "Bring me an axe!"

  Before the local officials could react, Han Yong suddenly raised his great axe and chopped at the rattan with all his might. The divine object was thus severed in two by a single blow, rendering it useless.

  The local officials suddenly exploded, each staring blankly and in a panic at Han Yong, while Han Yong just smiled lightly:

  "Don't be agitated, it's nothing if we cut it off, just change the name and that's it. I've made up my mind, from now on this place will be called Duan Teng Gorge."

  This is the famous Chenghua Guangdong Rebellion and the Battle of Duanjiagou in Ming Dynasty history. This can be considered a big deal, but compared to the subsequent events triggered by this incident, it can only be regarded as a small trick seeing a big trick.

  It's hard to believe that such a thrilling drama was triggered by such a small thing.

  After pacifying the rebellion, Han Yong was preparing to return to the capital when one of his subordinates asked him something:

  "We have captured many local villagers, how should we deal with them?"

  Han Yong replied casually:

  "This is easy, just let the local officials release him back to his hometown and strictly control him."

  As he said this, he suddenly remembered something and added a sentence:

  "Go and pick some young ones, both males and females, I want to take them back to Beijing."

  It's necessary to explain that Han Yong's actions were also an old habit. In the Ming dynasty, whenever there was a battle on the border and prisoners of war were captured, some men and women would be selected and sent to the capital city, where they would be taken into the palace or the prince's mansion for various purposes.

  Generally speaking, females would be arranged to become palace maids, while males were more miserable, their new occupations were relatively uniform - eunuchs. The great Comrade Zheng He entered the palace in this way.

  Han Yong could not have imagined that his actions would bring far-reaching consequences to the Ming Empire, leading to two drastically different outcomes - eight years of turmoil and eighteen years of peace and prosperity.

  Among those who entered the palace at that time, there was a man named Wang Zhi and a woman surnamed Ji, whose given name is unknown.

  The man hasn't appeared yet, let him wait for a while, and that girl with the surname Ji will become the most formidable enemy of the glorious Empress Wan.

  The Most Powerful Weapon

  Miss Wu's downfall made everyone aware of a common sense: this unassuming middle-aged woman with the surname Wan was the emperor's most trusted person, and if you offended her, there would be no way out but death.

  The Wang lady who replaced the queen was also terrified, often visiting and asking after her well-being, fearing that this unassuming empress would suddenly take action and deal with her at any moment, which would be disastrous. This is not surprising, as Empress Wu had beauty, power, and prestige, and came on strong, while Consort Wan ended her reign as queen with just a small report, killing her without warning, truly ruthless.

  At this time, Empress Wan had already become the real ruler of the harem, ordering people around and scolding them left and right. Whenever any concubine or palace maid became pregnant, she would immediately send someone to force her to have an abortion. How domineering! She herself couldn't give birth, so she wouldn't let others give birth either. It's truly a case of "cutting off descendants and uniting the rivers and lakes".

  At this time, Ji Xiuling from Guangxi entered the palace. At that time, she was away from home, alone and timidly gazing at the unfamiliar surroundings. No one would have thought (including herself) that soon after, this shy and timid girl would shake the seemingly unshakeable power and status of Empress Wan.

  Ji was assigned to the palace as a ordinary palace maid, but unexpectedly, this palace maid gained the affection of almost everyone in the palace soon after entering. People quickly discovered that she was an easy person to get along with. She was originally the daughter of a Guangxi local official, raised in luxury and able to read and write, yet never complained about being reduced from a noble's daughter to a palace maid. Even when others bullied her or gave her many dirty and tiring tasks, she didn't mind, silently completing them alone.

  Although she has no power, no background, and even no more than ordinary looks, she has the most powerful weapon a woman can have - kindness.

  She wholeheartedly treats everyone, never calculating anything, and single-mindedly completes the work assigned to her. Due to her outstanding performance, her superiors gave her an important position - warehouse manager.

  Generally speaking, being a warehouse manager is not considered a decent job, but Ji Gongzhu's work as a warehouse manager was quite impressive. This was because the warehouse she managed was special - it was a treasury.

  What's more important is that the treasury she managed was not a national treasury, but an inner treasury. It's necessary to explain this: the national treasury stored the country's money and was managed by the Ministry of Revenue, while the so-called inner treasury stored the emperor's private funds, which he personally controlled and didn't need to hand over to his wives in the harem (it wasn't easy). This also laid the groundwork for everything that happened later.

  In 1469, a year of Chenghua, Ji Gongzhu was carefully checking the warehouse as usual when someone walked in.

  This gentleman is Comrade Zhu Jianshen, I don't know if he has nothing to do and wants to go to his own treasury to count money for fun, so he went all the way into the warehouse and met Warehouse Manager Ji.

  This was their first encounter with each other.

  Zhu Jian Shen initially didn't pay much attention to the little girl in charge of the warehouse, his concern was only with the money inside. After inspecting all around, he began to ask about the income and expenses of the warehouse.

  But as he asked more questions, Zhu Xian suddenly discovered something very interesting.

  In the harem, there were many women, and many people could hardly see the emperor for several years, so every time they really met, it was often "excited heart, trembling hands, unable to say a word". Zhu Zhen had already seen this scene many times, but this time, the usual scenario did not occur.

  The little girl in front of her was very special, although it was the first meeting, she answered fluently, and her expression was natural, neither arrogant nor humble. Her answers were clear and logical, well-organized, and not nervous at all, as if she didn't realize that the person in front of her was the object of competition among many concubines, the emperor who ruled the world.

  The infighting and backstabbing in the harem seemed to have nothing to do with her. After answering Zhu Zhen's question, she stepped back and stood quietly aside, not saying a word more than necessary, nor asking an extra question. In her eyes, managing the warehouse was her only job. She didn't want to gain anything, nor did she want to fight for anything.

  Not self-approving, hence meritorious; not self-praising, hence successful; not self-exalting, hence enduring. For only by not contending, none in the world can contend with him!

  Tao Te Ching

  Zhu Jian Sheng was deeply moved, this little girl who watched the warehouse did not have a pretentious and artificial demeanor, nor did she have a thoughtful and cautious probe, her body only had a plain and friendly harmony like clear wind and flowing water, but this was enough.

  He took a liking to this little girl, of course, since he was the emperor, naturally without going through the complex process of deepening understanding, mutual greetings, and meeting both parents, directly "bestowed his favor" on her.

  After that, things turned out to be unexpectedly dull. The warehouse manager, Ji, did not rise to prominence as described in many harem stories. This is not surprising, because with her personality, she would not take the initiative to ask Zhu Zhen for anything.

  After that, she continued to manage her warehouse as usual and never mentioned this matter to anyone. To her, it seemed like the incident had never happened at all.

  But heaven has given her an extraordinary fate, and soon after, she found herself pregnant.

  According to common sense, in ancient times, if a woman became pregnant with the emperor's child, it was a big deal. The local government would go to the woman's home and beat drums, set off firecrackers, and discuss future cooperation matters. The parents at home would burn incense to their ancestors with tears of joy, while those geomancers would also run to the ancestral tomb of this family to conduct theoretical research. In short, two words - glorious.

  At that time, however, Ji's environment should be described with two other words - dangerous.

  Because the harem was under the jurisdiction of Empress Wan at that time, and the sound that Empress Wan could not tolerate the most was the crying of babies. To her, this was no different from the tolling of funeral bells. For her position, she had to eliminate all new lives that might pose a threat to her - including those about to be born.

  Out of maternal instinct, Ji wanted to keep her unborn child, so she concealed it in many ways. Unfortunately, however, the pregnancy was eventually discovered by Empress Wan, who decided to send one of her trusted palace maids to take care of the matter - aborting the unborn child.

  The person who took away her child is coming, but Ji Gongzhu has no countermeasure. She is in the harem, with nowhere to escape and no place to appeal. She is very clear that many concubines' children were handled like this before, and what can she do as a small warehouse manager?

  There is no road in heaven and no gate on earth.

  The trusted lady-in-waiting of Empress Wan finally arrived, she walked into Ji's humble abode, expressionless as she gazed at her bulging belly and panicked eyes, without saying a word, turned around and left.

  Then she returned to Empress Wan's palace and replied:

  "She is ill but not pregnant."

  "Are you sure?"

  "I'm sure."

  I couldn't find the name of this palace maid in historical records, which isn't surprising, because to later historians she was just an insignificant minor figure. However, in my opinion, in the annals of kings and nobles, she too has a title of her own - a person with a conscience.

  The Empress Wan was deceived, and the child in Ji's belly was finally saved. The harem returned to its usual tranquility, but beneath this calm surface, things had only just begun.

  Chenghua 6th year (1470), July, Ji Mao.

  With a loud cry, Ji Gu Niang finally gave birth to a boy after a painful labor. Like all mothers, she gazed lovingly at her child, this newly born life, and held him tightly in her arms. She had lost her parents, lost her brothers and sisters; even if they hadn't died in the war, they were destined never to meet again.

  Now she finally has the only relative in this world - her son.

  This is a moment of happiness, her lonely life finally has a place to settle down and has hope.

  But her happiness did not last long, for this cry also startled another person in the harem, a woman full of loss and hatred.

  She eventually found out about the child's birth, and a flame of jealousy burned in her heart. Why did she have a child while I didn't?! I am the ruler of the harem, the emperor's most favored woman, no one can take all this away from me!

  She gave the order:

  "Drown that child!"

  The person who received the order was named Zhang Min. He was just an ordinary eunuch, but he hoped that everyone would remember this name.

  He was ordered to come to Ji's residence, pushed open the door and saw Ji and her child who was breastfeeding.

  This time, Ji didn't panic anymore, after going through so much wind and rain, she was very clear about what was going to happen next.

  She said calmly:

  "Just do what you're supposed to do."

  Zhang Min stood at the door, quietly watching the mother and son, not moving for a long time. He then walked in and carefully took the child from Ji's hands.

  "The child is not safe here, let me take care of him, you can come back and see him after a while."

  He didn't look at Ji's astonished expression again, and walked out with the child in his arms.

  Zhang Min took the child away, found an empty room in the palace, and settled the child. He also discussed with other eunuchs in the palace, squeezed out some money from their meager income, bought milk cakes wrapped in honey to feed this child who had no milk to drink. When no one noticed, Ji Niang would often come to visit her child.

  From then on, this child became the greatest pleasure in the dull lives of the palace maids and eunuchs. They all loved this child, for a very simple reason: as ordinary members of this cold and cruel palace, they would never be able to have children of their own.

  But as the child grew day by day, Zhang Min and others gradually discovered a new problem: they couldn't afford to raise this child.

  Zhang Min was an ordinary eunuch, not a member of the Imperial Guard, and his colleagues and those informed palace maids were just the lowest level in this magnificent harem, with no extra income, except for their own expenses, they could hardly save any money each month. Although this child did not need to attend kindergarten, nor pay tuition fees, nor attend various tutoring classes, even so, they still could not afford to raise him.

  As for this problem, Ji Niang also had no more means, she was just a small warehouse manager and had no extra income to raise her own children.

  Everyone can't afford it, should they give it away to Wan Guifei? Just as they were at a loss for what to do, another person spoke up.

  "Then let me take care of it."

  The one who said this was none other than the former Empress Wu.

  Although she was the former empress, after all, a dead camel is bigger than a horse, Miss Wu's family has money and power, raising a child is naturally not a problem, of course, her motivation is estimated to be not so simple, overthrowing Wan Ayi is still her ultimate goal, in any case, this child can survive.

  For the next five years, Ji's child lived in the palace, although he couldn't go out to play, but under the care of his mother, Wu Ayi, Zhang Shu and countless unnamed eunuchs and palace maids, he grew up happily - at least happier than his father.

  Days went by day after day, children grew up day after day, and these people living at the bottom of the harem did not realize that they had created a miracle.

  From the sixth year of Chenghua to the eleventh year (1475), for a full five years, in the tightly closed imperial harem, there was an additional child. This point, almost all eunuchs, palace maids, and concubines knew, but they all kept silent without exception, guarding this secret.

  Only one person did not know - Consort Wan.

  This is not a story, but a true historical fact that occurred in the imperial harem famous for its infighting and backstabbing. Here, people abandoned their personal desires and plots, kept this secret, and proved the power of kindness.

  After reading history for many years, the only discovery is: For thousands of years, we seem to be repeating the same game - the game of power and interest, every day is an endless struggle for power, intrigue, and it's exhausting. But this thing seems to be an exception, it really moved me.

  Our ancient country has a long history that seems endless, but I have always maintained my passion for these old papers.

  Because I always believe that behind those words filled with bloodshed, slaughter, rise and fall of empires, and mutual deception, the brilliance and greatness of human nature will forever exist.

  The Final Decision

  The child who grew up eating at a hundred homes was living happily in the palace, with his mother's company and so many uncles and aunts doting on him. Every day of his life was happy, but Ji Nu understood that such days would not last long. She and her child would eventually have to face the final verdict of fate.

  The day has finally arrived.

  Chenghua 11th year, May, Ding Mao.

  Zhu Zhen sat in front of the mirror, an eunuch standing behind him combing his hair. He gazed at his haggard face in the mirror and let out a deep sigh. Although he was not yet thirty years old, he had already begun to show signs of premature aging. This was not what worried him most, however.

  "I don't have a son yet!"

  When Zhu Zhen was troubled by his own infertility problem, the person standing behind him was also thinking about his choice in pain - to say or not to say?

  The eunuch combing her hair was Zhang Min.

  Five years ago, that summer, he was ordered to get rid of a child. Facing the lonely mother and son, he eventually disobeyed the ruthless order and chose his own conscience. In the past five years, he lived with this child day and night, watching him grow up every day, spending many happy days together. But he knew very well that this matter would have an end. This child must obtain recognition from his father in order to survive and become the heir of the empire.

  The time has come.

  But he also knew that he was just an ordinary eunuch, with no power or influence. If he spoke the truth, he would certainly die under the power of Empress Wan.

  The day when the truth is revealed will be the time of death's arrival.

  This was the most painful moment in Zhang Min's life, and for this child to live on, he had to give up his own life.

  There is no other choice besides this one.

  For a lifetime of humility and lowliness, with a humble position, and always wearing a flattering smile, Zhang Min finally made the last choice of his life - a great choice.

  "Your Majesty, you already have a son."

  Farewell

  Zhu Jian Shen turned his head back in surprise and seriously sized up the eunuch who was combing his hair for the first time.

  "What did you just say?"

  "Your Majesty, you already have a son."

  Zhu Jian Shen stared motionlessly at Zhang Min who was kneeling on the ground, and after confirming that he wasn't mentally deranged, he asked with half-doubt:

  "Where?"

  But this time, Zhang Min did not immediately answer his question, but chose silence.

  Zhu Jian's suspicious heart suddenly arose, and he sternly asked:

  "Why don't you answer?!"

  Zhang Min, who had been kneeling on the ground for half his life, looked up at Zhu Jianshen with a fearless gaze and proposed a condition:

  "I know I will surely die for speaking out this matter, but as long as Your Majesty can take charge of the prince's affairs, I will have no regrets even in death."

  It's okay like this, I believe I made the right decision.

  Zhu Jian Shen was stunned by this little figure in front of him. He knew that someone who dared to say such a thing would not be lying.

  "I promise you, tell me where it is."

  Then he learned that he had a son who was already over five years old and was playing in the Anle Hall of the harem.

  At this time, Zhu Zhen didn't care about anything else. He rushed to the rear palace with joy and immediately sent someone to Anle Hall to pick up his son - the future heir to the throne of the Great Ming Dynasty.

  At this time, the harem was in a state of chaos. Everyone had already learned that the emperor had sent someone to pick up the child, and the eunuchs and palace maids were all very happy. The imperial consorts also came one after another to Ji's residence to congratulate her.

  This is also a very natural thing, since ancient times the mother has been honored with her son, Ji Niang preserved the child and will soon become Ji Guifei or even Ji Huanghou, and may even replace Wan Guifei as the ruler of the harem.

  Ji's daughter smiled and saw off the people who came to congratulate her. Then she closed the door, bidding a final farewell to her son.

  She bid farewell to her loved ones in the war, was captured and entered the palace, continuing her life in loneliness until the appearance of this child. After six years of hardship and nine deaths, she and her child finally made it through to this day.

  But at this moment, Ji Gu Niang did not have the slightest joy, because she was very clear that although the throne was beckoning to her son, death was getting closer and closer to herself.

  Empress Wan would not hesitate to kill anyone who opposed her, and in this imperial palace, no one could guarantee her safety, even as the mother of the crown prince. The child's father, the weak-minded Zhu Jianshen, was also powerless to stop her.

  She looked at her child, the only relative she had in the world, and for the last time dressed him with her own hands, and for the last time held him tightly in her arms, weeping as she bade him farewell:

  "Child, after you leave, I won't be able to live much longer either. When you get there, if you see a man wearing yellow clothes with a beard, that's your father. From now on, be extremely careful, Mother can no longer accompany you."

  The young prince did not know what had happened, why the people around him were acting so strangely today, and why his mother was crying out in pain. He only knew that he was about to leave here and go somewhere else, to find a man with a beard.

  Leaving behind his crying mother, the child left his home for the first time five years after he was born, leaving his mother and getting into a small sedan chair that came to greet him, embarking on an unknown journey.

  He soon arrived at his destination on this trip, where his father was waiting for him.

  Because he had been kept in seclusion, this imperial son was almost six years old and still hadn't had his hair cut, with it hanging down to the ground. He stumbled along like this towards the person wearing yellow clothes who sat on a chair staring at him.

  Zhu Jian Shen looked at the child walking towards him, his excited emotions could no longer be restrained. He immediately went forward to meet him, hugged the child and placed him on his knees, carefully examining him.

  Soon he burst into tears and hugged the child tightly while shouting loudly:

  "This is my son! This is my son! He looks just like me!"

  No paternity test, no identification, no evidence, this is my son, without a doubt.

  He took the child back to his own palace and informed Empress Dowager Zhou and all the officials that he had a son.

  Everyone cheered and celebrated, Empress Dowager Zhou was even more excited than usual, hugging her hard-won grandson tightly and refusing to let go. Everyone was rejoicing that the Great Ming Empire had an heir, except for one person.

  The woman in the harem had become so enraged that she was almost out of her mind. The person sent to abort her was evasive, the one sent to kill her was secretive, and everyone knew about the child's existence but not a single person told her.

  "You've all deceived me!"

  A desire for revenge was swelling violently in her heart.

  Make that child and her mother disappear, let everything go back to the starting point. Dare to deceive me, not a single one can be spared!

  The child who had been hiding in the palace for many years could finally live a life of dignity, he had his own bedroom, his own palace maids and eunuchs, his own subordinates, and also had his own name - Zhu Youjian.

  Ji Gu Niang also became Ji Fei, formally becoming the legitimate wife of Zhu Jianshen. This little girl from Guangxi seemed to have welcomed a turning point in her life. But in fact, she proved to be very accurate in judging her own fate.

  Ji Concubine died in her palace residence a month after Zhu Youtang entered the palace (June, 11th year of Chenghua), cause of death unknown.

  Regarding the manner of her death, there was no final conclusion. Some said she was forced to take her own life, while others claimed that she died suddenly from a severe illness. However, the cause of her death seemed to have sparked little debate, and surprisingly, later historians who were particularly keen on digging up people's secrets showed little interest in this matter.

  Because everyone knows the killer's name and motive for the crime.

  This little girl from Guangxi ended her life like this, and until now, we still don't know her name, her family members, or even her exact age. Because she was not good at talking, after entering the palace, most of the time, she just quietly did her own work, accepting tasks assigned to her by others, never mentioning her hometown and relatives.

  Twelve years later, her son, Zhu Youxiao, who had become the emperor, sent countless people to ask about his mother's family and relatives. Officials at all levels in Guangxi spontaneously mobilized, from the governor to the county magistrate, even including the generals under Han Yong who had gone on an expedition to Guangxi that year, all of whom took off their shirts and became household registration investigators. They dug three feet underground, spent nearly ten years, turned the whole of Guangxi upside down, causing unrest everywhere, but in the end only found a few swindlers trying to make a fortune by taking advantage of the situation.

  Under helplessness, Zhu Youxiao had no choice but to set up a temple locally and grant a title to commemorate his great mother with sorrow.

  In history, she was just a fleeting moment, a woman whose name was not even left behind.

  But I still remember her name - a mother who tried her best to protect her child, a kind woman.

  Upon hearing the news of Ji Fei's death, eunuch Zhang Min let out a bitter smile and sighed:

  "This day was bound to come sooner or later."

  A few days later, he swallowed gold in the harem and died.

  When one has to walk towards death, suicide represents dignity and resistance.

  On the day that Zhu Xian gave birth, Zhang Min made a promise to heaven, trading his own life for the child's survival. Heaven was fair on this matter, fulfilling its duty by giving the child a happy life and exercising its right by sending Zhang Min on an irreversible journey.

  I looked up the historical records and found that, in terms of his career, this eunuch named Zhang Min was really quite unsuccessful. From start to finish, he was just a door monitor, a position now also known as "door guard" or "gatekeeper".

  It was this ordinary eunuch who guarded the gate, yet he did something that countless famous ministers and officials may not have been able to do. In the face of death threats, he chose his conscience.

  To abandon life and adhere to one's principles is what we call giving one's life for righteousness.

  Zhang Min is a person who would sacrifice his life for righteousness.

  Survivor

  Ji Fei and Zhang Min both died, within a short month, Zhu Youxian lost the two people closest to him. At this time, he still didn't understand what sorrow was, only occasionally wondering why his mother never came to see him again.

  At the same time, the shadow of death was also quietly shrouding this child. For Wan Guifei, the queen, this child was an extremely dangerous figure who would take away Zhu Jianshen's favor. Thus, another murder plot was about to be implemented.

  Some people may wonder how such evil acts can occur without anyone intervening.

  It's worth noting that although Wan Ayi is old, she isn't a fool. She has her reasons for daring to get rid of everyone she dislikes in such an unscrupulous manner.

  She watched Zhu Zhan grow up, and was very familiar with this emperor. If she had to summarize Zhu Zhan's personality in two words, it would be "weak-willed". To be fair, Zhu Zhan was not stupid, nor did he have a low IQ; he was just an average child. However, the shadows of his childhood made his personality extremely weak, and he had a strong Oedipus complex (this issue can be referred to Mr. Freud's theory 400 years later), which made him extremely dependent on Empress Wan.

  What's there to be afraid of with such a guy?

  Just as Zhu Yuqian was about to die young, another woman stepped forward and saved everything. Although Wan Guifei dominated the harem, this woman was someone she couldn't afford to provoke no matter what.

  This is Empress Dowager Zhou, the mother of Zhu Jianshen. According to her generation, Wan Guifei should also call her "mother". As for this Empress Dowager Zhou, she has seen a lot in her life. In those years, during the Tumu Crisis and the Jingting Golden Sword case, with swords and shadows coming and going, Empress Dowager Zhou endured it all. The little scene that Wan Guifei is making now can only be considered as a gentle breeze and light rain.

  "Hand over the child to me, and see who dares to touch a hair on his head!"

  At the order of Zhu Yuqian, he moved into Empress Dowager's Ren Shou Palace, and this time Wan Guifei was completely out of play.

  But history tells us that class enemies will not give up easily, and soon after, Zhu Yuqiu received an enthusiastic invitation from Wan Guifei, hoping that the Crown Prince (who had already been established) would condescend to visit.

  Zhu Youxian didn't think much of it and loosened his belt, preparing to set off. At this time, Empress Dowager Zhou stood up and solemnly told him:

  "Go there and don't eat anything! Remember!"

  "If I must eat it?"

  "Let's just say you're full!"

  Upon arrival, Wan Guifei indeed brought out many delicious dishes and smiled at Zhu Yuqian:

  "Have some."

  Zhu Yuqiu swallowed his saliva and gave a perfunctory answer:

  "I'm full."

  It should have ended there, but Zhu Yuqiu, little friend, things are hard to predict.

  "Then let's have some soup."

  I'm done! I've never taught this sentence before!

  He lowered his head and began to think of the standard answer, while Wan Guifei on the side was still urging him non-stop. This child's heart is really straightforward, he held back for half a day until his face turned red, and finally blurted out a shocking sentence:

  "I'm afraid it's poisonous!"

  The Empress Wan was stunned, staring at Zhu Yuqian's innocent face, and almost fainted on the spot:

  You're too straightforward, aren't you?

  The conspiracy has turned into a open plot, and now it's completely over. Whether there is poison in the soup or not doesn't matter anymore. The prince glanced at him and then left.

  The last words of Wan Guifei before she fainted:

  "This little brat dares to behave like this now, in the future he'll be finished by me!"

  After that, Wan Guifei was like a defeated rooster, completely losing her former prestige and no longer daring to abort other people's children. Meanwhile, Zhu Jianshen took advantage of the favorable situation and became even more vigorous, giving birth to his fourth son (the first two had died young, and Zhu Yousong was the third). Later, he gave birth to over a dozen more sons in succession, completely washing away his reputation for infertility. But he could never have imagined that, apart from the crown prince, that fourth-born imperial son would eventually become emperor after experiencing countless tribulations.

  These things will have to wait until forty or fifty years later. Let's arrange for the various gentlemen of the Chenghua era to appear first, they can't wait any longer.