Lu Bing's body was delivered to the Lu residence before dawn.
Lu Ying had previously sent word home. The mistress of the household, Li Yiren, had stayed awake all night anxiously awaiting the return of her husband and daughter, only to receive the devastating news of her husband's sudden death.
Though Li Yiren was a concubine, she served as the managing lady of the house. After a brief moment of shock, she suppressed her grief and immediately began arranging the funeral. Her husband was only fifty-one years old and had shown no prior symptoms, leaving Li Yiren completely unprepared. Servants had to knock on shop doors in the middle of the night to purchase ritual paper ingots, candles, white drapery, and even mourning attire had to be hastily made. Despite Li Yiren's usual competence in household management, the situation overwhelmed her.
Fortunately, their three married daughters were all noblewomen from powerful families with substantial resources. When the news reached their maternal home in the dead of night, the households of the eldest daughter's in-laws (the Duke of Chengguo's residence), the second daughter's in-laws (Senior Grand Secretary Xu Jie's Xu residence), and the third daughter's in-laws (Chief Grand Secretary Yan Song's Yan residence) were all roused from sleep. They promptly sent over their stock of funeral supplies to help the Lu family through this urgent crisis.
Particularly notable was the reaction of in-law Yan Shifan, who had been sleeping soundly with his newly-acquired concubine. Upon hearing the news, he rolled out of bed like a ball, exclaiming, "Donghu! Donghu! You kept this completely secret! Even I was fooled by you!"
Yan Shifan changed into mourning attire and rushed to the Lu residence while the capital was still under curfew. Lu Bing's three other in-laws arrived successively:
Grand Secretary Xu Jie, Duke of Chengguo Zhu Xizhong, and Minister of Personnel Wu Peng, who had recently arranged a marriage alliance with the Lu family.
None of the four in-laws were prepared for the sudden news of Lu Bing's fatal stroke recurrence. They studied each other's expressions, trying to determine whether the others had also just learned of it.
Their exchanged glances confirmed that everyone had been equally unaware.
Though the Yan and Xu families were political rivals, they were both connected to Lu Bing through marriage. Setting aside their political differences, they joined forces to organize Lu Bing's funeral properly—Lu Bing's eldest son Lu Yi was only fourteen, having just been betrothed to Wu Peng's daughter, and was still too young and inexperienced to shoulder household responsibilities.
Yan Shifan, typically known as a tightfisted miser, proved unexpectedly generous this time. He brought along his family's landscape gardeners and immediately helped the Lu family set up mourning tents, hanging rows of white lanterns that illuminated the area as bright as daylight.
Xu Jie, possessing the most elegant writing style and having been the third-ranked candidate in the Jiajing era imperial examinations, voluntarily took on the task of composing the epitaph for his in-law. Given Xu Jie's literary talent and political status, an epitaph written by him would be priceless.
As Minister of Personnel, Wu Peng held what was considered the foremost official position, overseeing the appointment, transfer, and evaluation of all civil officials. Since Lu Bing's eldest son Lu Yi was his future son-in-law, he personally guided the young man in receiving and seeing off condolence visitors.
Duke of Chengguo Zhu Xizhong represented Beijing's established nobility, his ancestors having been meritorious officials during the Jingnan Campaign. An accomplished military commander himself, he controlled the Firearm Battalion, commanded the Thirteen Barracks and Five Military Garrisons, and held half of the capital's defense forces. He took charge of receiving condolences from capital aristocrats and military officials.
Each of Lu Bing's in-laws stood at the pinnacle of their respective circles.
Thus, with the substantial assistance of these four in-laws, the unprepared Lu residence had everything properly arranged by the time Lu Bing's body arrived home—maintaining solemnity without disorder.
At the call of "Begin mourning," the wailing from the Lu residence nearly tore through the snow-filled sky.The Jiajing Emperor bid his milk brother a final farewell, too grief-stricken to sleep. He ordered court painters to bring forth Lu Bing's portraits, hanging one full-length equestrian image and one half-length portrait on the wall as he wept silently. Then he personally took up the brush to draft an edict posthumously granting Lu Bing the title of Count Zhongcheng (Loyalty), bestowing upon him the posthumous name "Wu Hui" (Martial Benevolence) in recognition of how he "repelled invasions and served diligently without selfishness." Sixteen sacrificial altars were granted—a number reserved for dukes and marquises—exceeding the honors due to a posthumously enfeoffed count (Note 1).
Fifty shi of fasting grains and hemp cloth were bestowed, with the Ministry of Works commanded to construct Lu Bing's coffin and tomb. During his lifetime, Lu Bing had already become the first Ming official to hold all six senior and junior preceptor and guardian titles (Grand Preceptor, Grand Guardian, Grand Mentor, Junior Preceptor, Junior Guardian, Junior Mentor). In death, he received these mourning honors.
Still feeling this insufficient, the Jiajing Emperor appointed Lu Bing's eldest son Lu Yi as Assistant Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, ensuring the son would inherit his father's legacy.
Huang Jin tremulously interjected, "Your Majesty, with Count Zhongcheng's sudden passing, the urgent matter is that the Embroidered Uniform Guard now lacks a leader. Lu Yi is only fourteen, lacking experience. As the mourning heir, he must observe the three-year filial mourning period. He is far from ready to command troops."
The Jiajing Emperor sighed, "What a pity Lu Ying wasn't born a boy."
Who could replace his milk brother? It must be someone who would assist the Lu family while selflessly mentoring Lu Yi. After contemplation, the emperor wrote down a name.
Zhu Xixiao.
Zhu Xixiao was the younger brother of Duke Chengguo Zhu Xizhong, who was among Lu Bing's in-laws—the duke's eldest son and heir had married Lu Bing's eldest daughter.
As scions of an established noble family, both brothers were capable military officers. Given their competence, status, and close ties to Lu Bing, Zhu Xixiao was the most suitable successor for the position of Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander.
Thus, the edict posthumously enfeoffing Lu Bing as Count Zhongcheng and the appointment of Zhu Xixiao as Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander were issued almost simultaneously from the Western Garden.
After completing the edicts, the emperor wept again before Lu Bing's portrait, refusing food and drink until he grew haggard. Left with no choice, Huang Jin summoned the favored consort Consort Shang to persuade him to eat.
Shang Qinglan proved resourceful. Knowing the emperor's distress, she appeared in plain attire without makeup, avoiding direct pleas to eat. Instead, she engaged the aging emperor in reminiscing about Lu Bing.
"Count Zhongcheng was Your Majesty's childhood playmate. What games did you enjoy together?"
Eager to confide in someone, the emperor saw the young Shang Qinglan and recalled his youthful days with Lu Bing—their childhood in Anlu, Hubei...
When Huang Jin returned, the emperor had ceased weeping. Both he and Consort Shang had removed their shoes and outer robes, wearing only tunics and trousers while standing on one leg like golden cocks. Each held their other ankle, hopping about and trying to topple the other by knocking against bent knees.
This was a common wrestling game called "dueling stilts" played by neighborhood boys, where the first to fall or lower their raised left foot lost.
Though a woman, Shang Qinglan proved skilled at "dueling stilts," nimbly hopping to evade the emperor's attacks before leaping behind to strike.
Nearing fifty and weakened by fasting, the emperor lacked stability. When Shang Qinglan charged, he quickly released his ankle to plant his left foot firmly, narrowly avoiding a fall."I won!" Shang Qinglan's face glistened with sweat. "A bet is a bet, the loser must accept punishment."
The Jiajing Emperor panted, "What punishment?"
Shang Qinglan said, "Let the punishment be Your Majesty eating a full bowl of rice, not a single grain left behind."
And truly, the Jiajing Emperor went to the table and ate!
Huang Jin, watching from the side, thought: The Dark Spectre was a fake monster created by Lan Daohang. Consort Shang is the real fox spirit!
Thus, under the healing influence of his youthful, invincibly charming and artless favored consort Shang Qinglan, the Jiajing Emperor gradually accepted a life without his milk brother. He still pursued immortality and spiritual cultivation, but he no longer consumed elixirs, nor did he exclusively favor any particular Taoist priest.
Outside the palace, upon learning that Zhu Xixiao—younger brother of Lu Bing's in-law Zhu Xizhong—had become the new Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander, Wang Daxia immediately told Wei Caiwei, "...Now we don't have to worry about someone taking Lu Ying's position. The Emperor chose Zhu Xixiao as the new commander not just for his capabilities, but surely hoping he would take good care of the Lu family."
Wei Caiwei, being reborn, naturally knew who the next commander would be. However, "...The Emperor appointed Lu Ying's younger brother Lu Yi as Embroidered Uniform Guard Assistant Commander, one rank higher than Lu Ying. This likely means the Emperor hopes Lu Yi will eventually inherit his father's position. Moreover, the imperial edict specifically instructs Zhu Xixiao to mentor and support Lu Yi, not Lu Ying. We still cannot let our guard down."
Wang Daxia remained more optimistic, "Lu Ying is a woman, and publicly still known as Loyalty Earl's illegitimate son. So the Emperor couldn't explicitly state it in the edict, but Zhu Xixiao must know—how could he not understand how he got this position? How would he dare offend Lu Ying?"
"You don't understand," Wei Caiwei said. "Society's expectations for men and women are different. Being good to a man means paving his way, helping him rise high, promoting his official career and wealth. That's why the Emperor would name the new commander Zhu Xixiao in the edict to properly mentor Lu Yi. But for women? Society thinks being good to a woman has nothing to do with her own career advancement, but rather marrying her to a man who can achieve success and wealth."
Wei Caiwei moved a pot of narcissus flowers closer to the brazier to help them bloom sooner. "Society views women as vines, as dodder plants, who must cling to tall trees to reach the clouds, rather than being able to stand independently like men. Those self-righteous men believe Lu Ying would be happier marrying a good man and finding so-called good settlement than achieving merit and building a career herself. So, whether Zhu Xixiao becoming commander is beneficial or harmful to Lu Ying remains unknown."
"What I worry about is that they might self-righteously claim 'it's for your own good' and persuade her to abandon her prospects, return to family life, and after completing the three-year mourning period, find her a suitable man to marry with a lavish dowry."
"'It's all for your own good'—hah, how many actions that destroy girls' futures are committed in that name?Searching his heart, Wang Daxia admitted that if half a year ago, before he had met Wei Caiwei and come to understand Lu Ying's decisive, efficient character and her compassion for subordinates, he too would have been like those around him, believing that "women without talent are virtuous," that reading books and practicing martial arts were useless, and that quickly finding a good husband to serve as a lifelong home was the best outcome.Now, Wang Daxia had quietly changed his views on women. Crossing his arms, he declared, "I don't care about anyone else. I only listen to Lu Ying. Unless she returns to the Imperial Guard Office, no one can touch her position. Until then, we'll follow her orders."
Seeing Wang Daxia's determination, Wei Caiwei felt a stir of emotion. "I hope you and Lu Ying can mutually fulfill each other's expectations."
After fifteen days of vigil, Lu Bing was buried in the family cemetery he had chosen at Sanlitun outside Chaoyang Gate, where he would rest eternally. Henceforth, the gentle breeze and bright moon would keep him company.
This was the very dowry land of Wang Daxia's deceased mother, where Li Jiubao's father and brothers had participated in building the Sacrificial House and ancestral hall. In the unseen workings of fate, all things were connected.
Once the funeral concluded, the New Year arrived. Due to Lu Bing's death, the celebrations were subdued, devoid of any joyous atmosphere. Even outsiders like Wei Caiwei lacked the heart to celebrate, merely pasting window decorations and couplets, and setting off a string of firecrackers on New Year's Eve and the morning of the first day.
The New Year period officially ended after the Lantern Festival on the fifteenth day of the first month.
On the sixteenth day, all major government offices in the capital unsealed their official seals and resumed duties.
Before dawn, Lu Ying rose early, bound her chest, washed up, styled her hair like a man's, donned plain mourning clothes, and left her chamber carrying her Embroidered Spring Blade.
"Stop right there," her mother, Li Yiren, called out to her. "Your father is gone. How can a young woman like you continue working in the Embroidered Uniform Guard? Even your younger brother must study and practice martial arts at Sanlitun, observing three years of mourning to express his grief. You haven't even completed the heavy mourning period, yet you're going out to show yourself in public?"
Lu Ying replied, "Will my enemies refrain from stirring up trouble just because I'm in mourning? The White Lotus Sect has new movements. I must go out and do my duty."
Author's Note: The "Defense Battle" article's September ※Lucky Draw Event※ has begun! We're selecting 1,000 readers with a subscription rate above 90% to randomly share 50,000 Jinjiang Coins!!! The draw will be held on the 18th.
Note 1: From Xu Jie's "Collected Works of the Shijing Hall · Epitaph for the Late Grand Guardian, Junior Tutor, Left Chief of the Rear Military Governor's Office, Manager of the Embroidered Uniform Guard, Bestowed the Loyalty Earl, Posthumously Honored as Martial and Beneficent, Eastern Lake Lord Lu": "...Thereupon, the Emperor decreed: 'Lu Bing was a loyal minister to the state. He is posthumously granted the title of Loyalty Earl, with the posthumous name Martial and Beneficent. He is to be honored with sixteen sacrificial altars, fifty shi of fasting grains and hemp cloth. The Ministry of Works is to prepare the coffin and construct the tomb. The Ministry of War is to grant his son Lu Yi the hereditary position of Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander and Assistant Commissioner.' Later, considering Lu Yi's youth, the Emperor ordered the Guard Manager, Commander Zhu Xixiao, to oversee his care and manage the family affairs."
This means the Jiajing Emperor entrusted the orphaned Lu Yi to the Embroidered Uniform Guard Commander Zhu Xixiao.
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