The Ming Dynasty's Imperial In-Laws Had It Rough

Consort Ning was from Hangzhou and had no background worth mentioning.

In fact, it was not just Consort Ning. Consort Xian and Empress Ma also came from obscure families, neither wealthy nor powerful.

This had to do with Zhu Yuanzhang's suppression of imperial in-laws.

Looking closely at the Ming Dynasty's two hundred-odd years, there had been plenty of imperial in-laws, but very few had managed to interfere in government. Compared with such heavyweights as Huo Guang and Wang Mang of the Han Dynasty, Yang Jian of Northern Zhou, and the Wu Clan of the Tang Dynasty, the entire Ming Dynasty had produced no one who could measure up.

Although Zhu Yuanzhang had little formal education, he was an excellent self-taught learner and knew a great deal of history. Well aware that imperial in-laws were a chronic affliction of dynasties, he had laid down a rule early on:

Consorts entering the imperial harem were to be chosen primarily from respectable commoner families.

Of course, Zhu Biao and the various regional princes were exceptions. After all, in the early days of a dynasty, people's loyalties had to be won, and marriage could bind relatives even closer. If anyone later wanted to stir up trouble, they could go home and leaf through their family genealogy-oh dear, the flood had washed into the Dragon King's own temple! They were all family...

Most imperial in-laws of the Ming Dynasty were small-time good-for-nothings who did little beyond eating, drinking, amusing themselves, playing with cats, and teasing dogs, willingly sinking into degeneracy. There were very few truly wicked villains among them who could influence government affairs. If someone opened a museum devoted to imperial in-laws, those of the Ming Dynasty would probably feel terribly aggrieved: they would not even qualify to step into its halls...

Zhu Yunwen thoroughly approved of Zhu Yuanzhang's approach. Imperial in-laws ought to stay outside and get on with building walls. Showing their faces and raising a clamor every day for no reason was simply asking for a beating.

Before he reached Zhongcui Palace, where Consort Ning lived, a maid from Cining Palace came to summon Zhu Yunwen.

This was not an invitation he could refuse. The resident of Cining Palace was Empress Dowager Lü:

His own mother.

Empress Dowager Lü was a Buddhist, her face serene and peaceful. Seeing Zhu Yunwen about to bow, she rose to stop him. "Dispense with these empty formalities. You've only just recovered. There's no need to rush into state affairs; you should nurse yourself back to health first. Remember, your father neglected his health and caught a chill..."

Seeing Empress Dowager Lü grow sorrowful, Zhu Yunwen consoled her. "Mother, aren't I perfectly well? Don't worry. But you mustn't dwell too deeply on your grief. Oh, I know of an eminent monk in Beiping. Shall I summon him to the Capital another day to discuss Buddhist teachings with you?"

Only then did Empress Dowager Lü's sorrow turn to joy. She nodded repeatedly. "Good. I gladly accept this gesture of filial devotion."

Zhu Yunwen smiled.

Since the empress dowager enjoys Buddhist teachings, I'll bring that man to the Capital. Uncle, Prince of Yan, without him, how much trouble could you possibly stir up, even if you tried...?

Beside Desheng Gate stood the Laundry Bureau.

The palace maid Luo Yan'er leaned wearily against a pillar, gazed up at the night sky, and sighed. Her stomach began rumbling noisily.

It was already so late, yet they still were not allowed to eat. She had heard that the supervising female official had been summoned into the palace. Who knew whether there had been a problem with the clothes they had washed last time, or whether the palace had bestowed some reward?

Either way, it had nothing to do with her.

A lowly palace maid could only live a lowly life.

Luo Yan'er thought of her father, executed after being implicated in the Blue Jade Case, and her mother, who had killed herself because she could no longer bear the pain. Her once-warm home had shattered in an instant.

Her second uncle had sold her into the palace. Unfortunately, she had no money to grease any palms and had offended a supervising eunuch. In the end, she had been assigned to the Laundry Bureau, living a life worse than death, all for a full meal.

That was all.

But now even her meals failed to arrive on time.

Gurgle.

Her uncooperative stomach rumbled again. Footsteps sounded in the distance, and Qiao Hui approached. Looking around, she took a steamed cornmeal bun from her sleeve and pressed it into Luo Yan'er's hand. "The supervisor's gone into the palace, and the main kitchen hasn't fired up its stoves. I'm afraid we'll go hungry tonight. Here, Sister, have something to tide you over."

Luo Yan'er took it and gave Qiao Hui a grateful look. "Without you, little sister, I doubt I'd survive this year."

"Don't say that, Sister. The new emperor has ascended the throne. Sooner or later, he'll bestow some favor."

Qiao Hui was full of hope.

"Favor?"

Luo Yan'er's smile was bitter. When would imperial favor ever reach the Laundry Bureau, where neither sun nor sky could be seen?

Just as Luo Yan'er was losing all hope for the future.

Zhu Yunwen was walking beside the lake with his empress, discussing what had just happened.

Ma Enhui asked, "Your Majesty, why did you suddenly decide to make such a gesture to win their hearts?"

Zhu Yunwen looked at his reflection in the lake. He could hardly say it was because he had failed to treat eunuchs as human beings, only for Zhu Di to buy them off and turn them into his own men.

"Only by bestowing kindness widely can one become a benevolent ruler, wouldn't you say?"

Zhu Yunwen spoke calmly.

Ma Enhui nodded emphatically and agreed. "Your Majesty will surely become an enlightened sovereign remembered for all ages."

Zhu Yunwen waved a hand. "Let's leave all that talk of enlightened sovereigns aside for now. I simply feel that, having come here, I would be letting my own ambitions down if I failed to accomplish anything."

"Having come here?"

Ma Enhui looked at Zhu Yunwen in puzzlement.

Zhu Yunwen offered no explanation. Reaching out to take Ma Enhui's hand, he said, "I'll leave the inner palace to you, my empress. From today onward, I must devote myself to managing the court."

Ma Enhui flushed slightly. Zhu Yunwen had actually taken her hand in front of so many palace maids and eunuchs.

"Please rest assured, Your Majesty."

The fifteenth day of the sixth month, in the thirty-first year of Hongwu.

Reform of the Great Ming's court had yet to begin, but reform of the imperial harem quietly got underway.

Ma Enhui gathered the female officials of the harem and announced a new set of regulations for the inner palace. She made arrangements for everything from meals to daily schedules, and innovatively introduced a system of days off.

Palace maids and eunuchs had no holidays. They were condemned to toil every day, through all four seasons. Ma Enhui announced that they could take two days off each month to restore their bodies and minds.

To ensure the new harem regulations could be implemented smoothly, Ma Enhui ordered that no inner-palace official deliberately place obstacles in the way of palace maids and eunuchs taking their days off.

The new harem regulations sent the long-stifled palace into jubilation. Every maid and eunuch rushed to spread the news. Some even gathered outside Chang'an Palace of their own accord, kneeling and weeping as they cried out their thanks.

The new harem regulations might have seemed a minor matter. But they were anything but!

They revealed the reigning emperor's attitude toward them. They meant that, for this particular group, the "miserable lives" of the Hongwu years were finally over, and a new era had dawned!

And so, throughout the palace, clever and dull alike kowtowed to the emperor. Some older eunuchs and palace maids even admonished their godsons and goddaughters, "Remember what your old forebear tells you! You must serve this emperor of ours well!"

For a time, the names "sage emperor" and "sage empress" spread throughout the harem.

Their hearts submitted willingly.

Shuangxi stood at the entrance to Chang'an Palace, his eyes moist as he watched the maids and eunuchs outside remain on their knees. When they saw Zhu Yunwen and Ma Enhui emerge, they shouted, "Heavenly grace from His Majesty! Heavenly grace from Her Highness!"

Their heartfelt gratitude rolled out like thunder.

Looking at the crowd still kneeling before him, Zhu Yunwen put on a stern face and shouted, "If anyone grows lazy or fails in their duties, I will be angry! Go back to your work, all of you. Don't linger here."

The crowd bowed again in gratitude for imperial grace, and only then dispersed under the guidance of the other eunuchs.

"What are you crying for?"

Seeing Shuangxi choking back sobs, Zhu Yunwen could not help asking.

Shuangxi hastily replied, "Your Majesty, I'm moved. Now I feel there's something to look forward to in life."

Zhu Yunwen burst out laughing. "You should say you're finally living like a human being."

Shuangxi nodded through his sobs.