After his family fell into decline, Wang Daxia truly understood what it meant to spend money like a landslide and save it like pulling silk thread.
He had saved for two months, only for it all to vanish on a password-protected box for a marriage certificate, leaving his pockets as empty as they were two months prior.
Wang Daxia did a quick calculation: if he excluded the dowry his mother had left him, Wei Caiwei’s monthly income actually surpassed what he earned as an Embroidered Uniform Guard.
Moreover, physicians only grew more profitable with time. In three years, he feared he might end up relying on Wei Caiwei’s earnings.
Suddenly gripped by a sense of crisis, Wang Daxia resolved to seize every opportunity to claim reimbursements from Lu Ying—just like the White Lotus Sect pilfered firearms from Wang Gong Factory, bit by bit, like ants moving house. By padding his expenses a little each time, the accumulated sum over a month became substantial.
For instance, this time, he included expenses for boating with Wei Caiwei in Baoding Prefecture and dining on vegetarian fare at Daci Pavilion in his travel reimbursement claims.
Lu Ying, having grown up in wealth, had little concept of money and was completely unaware that Wang Daxia’s reimbursement claims were inflated. She approved them without hesitation, though she did find it odd: "How is it that your reimbursement requests outnumber everyone else’s combined?"
Lu Ying naturally had a stern expression that intimidated her subordinates. Many hesitated to even speak up in front of her, often paying minor expenses out of their own pockets rather than troubling Commander Lu to sign off. Only someone as bold and thick-skinned as Wang Daxia would dare to claim everything.
In any case, Wang Daxia would never dip into his own funds for official duties. Even if it were a rock, he’d find a way to squeeze some oil from it to fill his own purse.
Without a hint of shame or guilt, Wang Daxia declared, "The capable bear more responsibilities. Thanks to your trust, Commander Lu, I’ve been tasked with everything from dismantling White Lotus Sect lairs to buying wine and stationery to bid farewell to Master Yu. Since I handle more tasks, my reimbursements naturally exceed others’."
Lu Ying glanced at the receipt. "This wine cost one tael of silver?"
Wang Daxia replied, "For Master Yu’s farewell, only the finest Nu’er Hong would do."
Lu Ying found this reasonable and swiftly signed her name.
Wang Daxia tucked the receipt away, thinking, One tael of silver secured.
Wang Daxia was unlike Yu Dayou. Yu Dayou cared deeply for the nation and its people, indifferent to his own honor or disgrace. Though the state had treated him unjustly, nearly executing him despite his merits, and though it had wronged him countless times, he remained as devoted to it as to his first love.
Wang Daxia, on the other hand, prioritized his own well-being first. His heart had room for only one person: Wei Caiwei.
Meanwhile, in Machang Hutong, there was another person whose heart held space for just one individual.
This was Li Jiubao, the belle of Machang Hutong.
Upon hearing news of the Imperial Concubine Selection, Li Wei—who was busy repairing Lu Bing’s family tomb and Sacrificial House at Sanlitun outside Chaoyang Gate—panicked. Though he was an illiterate tile maker, he knew well the tragic fate of Yang Jinying and a dozen other palace maids during the Renyin Palace Coup. Given the old emperor’s age, it was unlikely he would favor any selected beauties or ennoble them as imperial consorts. Yet serving as a palace maid carried the risk of being abused or killed by the old emperor, who was known to grow deranged from consuming elixirs.
In a rush, Li Wei took leave and returned to Machang Hutong. He presented a braised pig’s face to a matchmaker, urging her to quickly find a good family for Li Jiubao to marry into, so she could avoid the selection.
Li Jiubao was exceptionally beautiful. Despite having a wastrel gambler like Li Wei for a father, once the matchmaker spread the word, several well-off families expressed interest.Li Wei had only this one daughter, so he naturally had to be cautious. He secretly investigated the backgrounds of these potential sons-in-law and selected two promising ones to discuss with Li Jiubao. "...One is the eldest son of a braised meat shop owner on West Drum Tower Street—the famous one known for its soy-braised pig face. They aren’t originally from the capital but moved here from Tianjin. Still, their business is thriving, earning hundreds of taels of silver annually from selling braised meats."
"If you marry him, you’ll be the eldest daughter-in-law. You can eat as much soy-braised pig face as you want, and eventually, you’ll inherit the family business. The eldest son isn’t tall, slightly plump, with a fortunate appearance. He doesn’t work the counter but manages the shop’s accounts, his abacus clicking away—clearly, he knows how to manage a household."
"The other is a wealthy landowner I met while working in Sanlitun. He comes from a family of scholars and farmers, but he’s somewhat older. His previous wife passed away, and he wants to remarry a stunning beauty. During the Dragon Boat Festival this year, when you brought us zongzi and rice wine in Sanlitun, he saw you and has remembered you ever since. He’s asked me about you several times. I initially refused because of his age, but upon reflection, he’s a scholar. If you marry him, you’ll be a scholar’s wife. If you bear a son and he studies hard, he might even earn you a title through the imperial examinations someday."
Given Li Jiubao’s background and family circumstances, these two candidates were considered the cream of the crop.
Li Wei said, "Whichever you choose, tell me quickly so I can give a definite reply. We can complete the betrothal rituals within this month."
Li Jiubao replied indifferently, "One is fat, the other is old. How am I to choose? Father, you decide. One has money, the other has land and status. A woman follows her husband, be he a chicken or a dog—it seems either could provide a decent life."
After a moment’s thought, Li Wei said, "Then let’s choose the eldest son from the braised meat shop. He’s closer to home, so we can look out for each other. Sanlitun is too far away, and in those deep courtyards and grand houses, if you were ever wronged, your elder brother and I might never know."
Li Jiubao adopted a resigned demeanor. "As Father wishes."
Li Wei breathed a sigh of relief. Li Jiubao had once threatened suicide to marry the "rootless" Chen Jingji and live as a widow. He had been forced to agree, but fortunately, Chen Jingji had wisely given up Li Jiubao and entered the palace to become a eunuch.
Li Jiubao’s heart had turned to ashes, and she never mentioned Chen Jingji again. It seemed the matter was finally behind them. Once she married and had children, she would likely forget Chen Jingji’s very name.
Li Wei stood up. "I’ll go reply to the matchmaker now."
"Eat first," Li Jiubao said. "I’ve stewed a chicken, waiting for you to come home for dinner."
Li Jiubao had prepared a pot of chicken stew with mushrooms, using the Tieling Xiangyashan Hazel Mushrooms given to her by Wei Caiwei. The aroma was delightful, and Li Wei ate with gusto. Li Jiubao bought him a bottle of fine Huadiao wine.
After one sip, Li Wei felt the alcohol rush to his head. "This wine must be expensive."
Li Jiubao refilled his cup. "It’s rare for you to come home, Father. You deserve something good."
Unlike the rice wine Li Jiubao brewed herself, Huadiao was strong. After half a bottle, Li Wei was swaying unsteadily.
"Good wine deserves good food. Once opened, this wine won’t keep well. We might as well finish the bottle," Li Jiubao urged, continuing to pour. Li Wei, always fond of drinking, soon became thoroughly drunk."Father is drunk and needs to take a nap. We'll go see the matchmaker after he sobers up." Li Jiubao helped Li Wei to the bedroom, removed his shoes, and asked, "Father, where is our Household Certificate hidden?"
Li Wei, thoroughly intoxicated and off his guard, mumbled, "It's in the secret compartment beneath your mother's spirit tablet."
No wonder I could never find it!
Li Jiubao waited until Li Wei began snoring before closing the door. She lit three incense sticks before her deceased mother's spirit tablet. "Mother, your daughter is unfilial, but I truly cannot obey Father's wishes to marry. I will never marry in this lifetime, nor do I aspire to bear children. I only wish to be closer—ever closer—to that person."
After paying respects, Li Jiubao opened the secret compartment in the spirit tablet's base and retrieved the Household Certificate. She wrote a brief letter to her father—Li Jiubao's literacy came from lessons with their neighbor Chen Jingji—placing it on the dressing table along with her years of saved silver and several pieces of jewelry passed down from her late mother.
Taking only a change of clothes and shoes in a simple bundle, Li Jiubao carried the Household Certificate to the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen to register for the Imperial Concubine Selection.
While other girls arrived in family carriages or hired carts, tearfully bidding farewell as if facing eternal separation, Li Jiubao alone had walked from Machang Hutong in Wanping County to the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen in Daxing County, a fine sweat glistening on her forehead and nose tip.
She presented the Household Certificate to the registrar compiling the roster. Prospective candidates had to come from respectable families; without a Household Certificate or unclear origins, one was ineligible.
The registrar examined the certificate, which stated:
"Household of Li Wei. Resident of Machang Hutong, Wanping County, Shuntian Prefecture. Registered in the third year of Yongle. Artisan status. This household records three members.
Male members two: Adult males two: Self, aged thirty-eight. Son Li Dalang, aged eighteen.
Female member one: Daughter Li Jiubao, aged fourteen.
Property: Three tiled rooms.
This certificate issued to Li Wei for retention, hereby approved."
The registrar glanced behind her. "Where is your family? The certificate clearly states you have a father and elder brother."
Li Jiubao replied, "My brother is working in Sanlitun and cannot get away. Father meant to accompany me but has fallen ill, so I came alone."
The Li family's artisan status and modest means made Li Jiubao's plain wooden hairpin and cotton dress unsurprising, as was her inability to afford carriage transport.
The registrar recorded the certificate details and handed her a number plate. "Proceed inside."
Li Jiubao bowed with the plate and entered the county office gates.
By the time Li Jiubao passed two preliminary selection rounds and underwent virginity verification, dusk had fallen. Meanwhile, Li Wei awoke from his drunken stupor to find his daughter gone, replaced by piled silver, jewelry, and a letter on the dressing table.
Illiterate, Li Wei begged a neighbor to read it. The neighbor said, "Your daughter has gone for the Imperial Concubine Selection."
Li Wei rushed home in panic, opened his late wife's spirit tablet, and found it empty—the Household Certificate taken by his daughter.
He sprinted to the Shuntian Prefecture Yamen, clamoring to retrieve his daughter. "...My daughter is already betrothed to the eldest son of the braised meat shop on Gulou West Diagonal Street. We were only awaiting formal rites. Marriage matters require parental consent and matchmaker arrangements—she doesn't understand this."
Li Jiubao had dazzled during the day's selections. The Shuntian Prefecture Yamen was counting on several local beauties being chosen to fulfill quotas for higher authorities. Even if betrothal gifts had been formally exchanged, unless the marriage had been consummated, it held no weight.Commander Wu at the door advised, "How dare a braised meat vendor compete with the Emperor for a woman? You’re risking your life! Your daughter’s beauty has been noted by our Prefect, who holds high hopes for her. He even spent his own money to buy her new clothes and jewelry, and has arranged for her to be properly groomed—she’s bound to be selected. I urge you not to make a scene; go home and await the good news."
Prefect Wang Niqiu had recently been overwhelmed by the Imperial Concubine Selection. Most families were unwilling to participate, and those who volunteered often sent plain-looking girls he couldn’t even approve of, let alone the Emperor and princes who were accustomed to beauties. So when the lovely Li Jiubao "walked right into the trap," he personally verified she was a true treasure!
He ordered her to be well cared for, and when Li Wei came to demand his daughter back, Wang Niqiu of course refused to relent.
Li Wei, a mere artisan, had no recourse but to accept his fate and returned home dejected.
Li Jiubao passed each round smoothly and was sent to the Palace of Gathered Elegance in the Forbidden City to await selection. The candidates from various regions around the capital were reassigned and paired in rooms. Upon entering her room, Li Jiubao saw a round-faced, round-eyed candidate sitting cross-legged on the kang by the window, noisily cracking melon seeds and sipping brown sugar water. The girl immediately acted familiar, handing half the seeds to Li Jiubao. "Here, have some with me."
Author’s Note: The Great Ming’s Imperial Harem Creation Camp 101 has officially begun—let’s see which young lady will debut in the center position!
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