Grand Princess

Biodata

Background

In her youth, the Grand Princess rode amid warfare. She was widowed young and raised her only son, who later died on the battlefield. Her daughter-in-law died after him, leaving Xu Weibei in her care. Although she feared for her grandson’s safety, she eventually sent him to the Northwest and entrusted him to others 31.

The Grand Princess opposed her son’s marriage to a princess of the Southern Border, having wanted him to marry a distinguished young woman from the capital. According to Physician Bian, she later drugged her son and arranged for him to sleep with her maid. The resulting breach remained unresolved when he died in the Northwest, and his grieving wife came to hate the Grand Princess 332 336.

The Grand Princess and her husband had private ties with Chief Grand Secretary Gu Yuanshi. According to Gu Anqi, Gu Yuanshi had helped them, and the Grand Princess later asked the emperor to grant Xu Weibei’s marriage to Gu Wanning, hoping that Gu Yuanshi would protect Xu Weibei if he ever faced trouble. She kept that purpose from Xu Weibei because his pride would make it harder for him to accept 31. During the dispute over the divorce, she also revealed that she valued the match because Gu Yuanshi possessed the Death-Exemption Gold Plaque 169.

Personality

The Grand Princess is warm and approachable toward Gu Wanning, but firm when challenged. She feigns illness to influence Xu Weibei and uses her authority to impose rules on his household 3 5 6.

Her kindness can also serve a calculated purpose. She took Wen Huaying into her service knowing her troubled past, then sent her to Xu Weibei’s household to report back and encourage harmony between the couple 17.

Domineering and protective of Xu Weibei, she interferes in his relationships in the name of securing his future. She places particular importance on the Xu bloodline and can act ruthlessly to protect what she sees as the family’s interests 57 127 145. Her interference eventually makes Gu Wanning unwilling to submit to her authority as an elder 289 302.

Relationships

• Xu Weibei — Her only legitimate grandson and the Marquis of Yingchuan. She raised him after his parents’ deaths and seeks to secure his future, though he resents her interference in his marriage 1 3 31. Their disagreements grow more severe as he defends Gu Wanning and insists that his grandmother leave their relationship alone 127 207.
• Gu Wanning — Her former granddaughter-in-law. The Grand Princess initially publicly supports her and urges Xu Weibei to treat her well, while hoping the marriage will secure Gu Yuanshi’s help for her grandson 3 7 31. After the divorce, she confronts Gu Wanning and opposes her reconciliation with Xu Weibei. Gu Wanning later accepts gifts for their child but refuses to see the Grand Princess 205 289 364.
• Wen Huaying — Xu Weibei’s Third Concubine and a physician who previously served the Grand Princess. Huaying’s grandfather once saved the princess, who later took Huaying in and bestowed her on Xu Weibei 2 17.
• Gu Yuanshi — Gu Wanning’s father and the chief grand secretary. His family maintained private ties with the Grand Princess and her husband; she arranged the marriage partly to secure his protection for Xu Weibei 31 169.
• Gu Wanqing — Gu Wanning’s elder sister and the Prince of Qin’s wife. The Grand Princess welcomes her warmly at the flower-viewing banquet 46.
• Prince of Qin — Her grandnephew 46.
• Southern Border Princess — Her daughter-in-law and Xu Weibei’s mother. The Grand Princess disliked her and interfered in her marriage, causing a lasting rupture between her and the old Marquis 332 336.
• Xu Zi — Her great-granddaughter and the eldest legitimate daughter of Gu Wanning and Xu Weibei. The Grand Princess sends gifts for the baby, and Gu Wanning permits Xu Weibei to bring the child to see her 364.
• Xie Yun — A young woman whom the Grand Princess favors as a prospective wife for Xu Weibei after his divorce. She brings Xie Yun to Princess Qingyi’s residence and openly promotes the match 203 205.

Story Role

Protecting the marriage

After Xu Weibei returns, the Grand Princess summons him with Gu Wanning. He brings Third Concubine instead and declares that he dislikes his wife. The princess feigns a heart attack, then privately asks Third Concubine about the couple’s quarrel 3 4.

She visits the Marquis’s Residence to support Gu Wanning and sets rules intended to secure a legitimate heir. She orders the four concubines to take contraceptive soup until Gu Wanning bears the first legitimate son, sends Gu Wanning tonics, and tells her to arrange Xu Weibei’s visits to the concubines’ courtyards 5 6 7.

When Xu Weibei beats Gu Wanning’s brother Gu Anqi, the Grand Princess has him beaten under family punishment and orders him to apologize. She then insists that he and Gu Wanning consummate their marriage; both resist, but Xu Weibei agrees after she threatens to die 20 21.

Flower-viewing banquet

The Grand Princess invites Gu Wanning to a banquet at the Princess’s Residence and sends her more tonics. She seats Gu Wanning beside her, praises her publicly, and is pleased to see her getting along with the four concubines 44 46 47.

During the gathering, the Grand Princess argues with Xu Weibei after he refuses her instruction to deal with someone at the Thirteen Wards. She tells Third Concubine not to disclose the matter to Gu Wanning, but Huaying says that Gu Wanning already knows 49.

Disputes over Xu Weibei’s household

The Grand Princess confronts Xu Weibei over the girl he has secretly raised and Linglong’s pregnancy. Knowing that the children belong to Xue Shiyi, she warns that protecting Xue Fengxian’s bloodline could endanger him. She permits him to bring the girl into the residence if Gu Wanning agrees, but forbids him from bringing Linglong in before her child is born and warns him not to confuse the Xu bloodline 57.

Later, believing that Xu Weibei and Gu Wanning have fallen out over his mistress and child, she tells him that they cannot enter the Marquis’s Residence without Gu Wanning’s consent 70.

The Grand Princess also attempts to prevent Linglong from bearing what she believes would be Xu Weibei’s eldest son. Xu Weibei tells Gu Wanning that his grandmother instructed the midwife to kill the baby if it was a boy but spare it if it was a girl. Linglong gives birth to a daughter 145.

Rumors and divorce

The Grand Princess has people spread a rumor that Gu Wanning was abducted, damaging her reputation for chastity. Xu Weibei confronts her, asks her to stop interfering in his marriage, and kneels on broken porcelain during their argument. Although she is alarmed by his injured knees, she is pleased to realize that he has developed feelings for Gu Wanning. Xu Weibei tells Gu Wanning that his grandmother ordered the rumors and promises to quell them 126 127 128.

As Gu Wanning’s divorce approaches, the Grand Princess prepares to petition the emperor to reverse the decision. Xu Weibei tells her that he planned the divorce and warns her not to provoke a complete break with the Gu family 168 169.

Conflict after the divorce

The Grand Princess summons Xu Weibei and proposes arranging another marriage for him, but he refuses. She also warns that Linglong may cause trouble if she enters his household 196.

At Princess Qingyi’s residence, the Grand Princess brings Xie Yun and presents her as a prospective wife for Xu Weibei. A confrontation with Gu Wanning follows, during which she throws a teacup at her; Princess Qingyi shields Gu Wanning and is splashed with hot tea. Gu Anwei defends his sister and challenges the Grand Princess to take their dispute before the emperor. Xu Weibei takes his grandmother away and tells her that he wants no one but Gu Wanning 203 204 205 207.

The Grand Princess later stops Gu Wanning in public and demands that she answer rumors about Xu Weibei’s impotence. Gu Wanning defends his manhood and military record, taking blame for the divorce to protect him. When Xu Weibei publicly contradicts her defense, the Grand Princess faints 268 269.

In another public confrontation, the Grand Princess insults Gu Wanning and her family while seeking to discourage a reconciliation. Gu Wanning nearly swears never to marry into the Xu family, but Gu Anqi and the others stop her 288 289. She later tells Xu Weibei that she will neither marry him nor return to the Marquis’s Residence, explaining that she cannot be expected to defer to his grandmother. Xu Weibei promises to deal with the Grand Princess, though both Gu Wanning and Third Concubine consider her a continuing obstacle 302 306.

Xu Zi’s birth

During Gu Wanning’s pregnancy, the Grand Princess sends gifts for the baby. Gu Wanning accepts them but refuses to meet her, while allowing Xu Weibei to bring their child to see her great-grandmother. The Grand Princess is initially unhappy with the arrangement, but tacitly accepts it after Xu Weibei reveals that he knows about her interference in his parents’ marriage. Gu Wanning gives birth to their daughter, Xu Zi, and the Grand Princess does not ask to see the newborn 364.