The Story of Ming Lan

Many years later, when Minglan recalled those days, her memories remained somewhat hazy.

It was the fifth day after the Third Prince had adopted an heir. Rulan had newly acquired a pot of Yunyang bamboo, lush and verdant, and had invited Molan and Minglan to admire it. Molan, unwilling to listen to Rulan's boasting, sarcastically teased about the He family matters.

"Old Madam He and our Old Madam have been friends for many years. It's rare for them to send an invitation, but since my elder sisters-in-law and sisters cannot attend, naturally only Old Madam and I will go." Minglan's reply was impeccably discreet.

Rulan cunningly covered her mouth to suppress a giggle, deliberately drawing out her words: "Ohhhh... Fourth Sister couldn't go at that time."

Molan shot her a furious glare, her eyes burning with resentment.

According to Old Madam's intentions, after both families had met and were satisfied with the young pair, the matter was mostly settled. However, since Minglan's two elder sisters had not yet been betrothed, it would be inappropriate for her to be engaged first. Such arrangements might invite unpleasant gossip and damage a young lady's reputation. Thus, only Sheng Hong and Madam Wang were informed, while everyone else was kept in the dark.

Sheng Hong dutifully investigated the He family's background and, after careful consideration, nodded repeatedly: "Though their family is somewhat modest, they are quite prosperous. The young man is sensible and capable. With Old Madam's guidance, Minglan is truly fortunate."

Madam Wang pursed her lips and remarked: "That boy's father died early, his grandfather retired long ago, and he only has an uncle serving as a Tongzhi elsewhere. But he's suitable enough for Ming Yatou."

In truth, she was somewhat envious. Though He Hongwen appeared average in qualifications, his attributes were well-balanced: substantial wealth and family assets, official connections, and essentially no parents-in-law to serve. Upon marriage, she would immediately manage her own household. While seemingly unremarkable, it was quite practical.

Madam Wang didn't realize that in Minglan's world, such a match would be called an "economically suitable man"—highly sought after. After this discussion, Sheng Hong left for the Ministry of Works, while Changbai had already departed earlier for the Hanlin Academy.

The day was exceptionally gloomy. From early morning, the sky was gray and sunless, remaining overcast through noon. Though it was already early winter, an autumn heatwave returned with vengeance, steaming people until they were damp with sweat and struggling to breathe.

Shortly after 3 p.m., evening drums unexpectedly sounded throughout the city. The heavy, rhythmic pounding made hearts sink. Immediately, the entire city was placed under strict curfew. Every household barred its doors, not a single pedestrian remained on the streets, and soldiers patrolled everywhere, stabbing any suspicious person on sight. Within hours, numerous innocent lives were lost on the roads.

Wealthy families sealed their gates. By evening, when neither Sheng Hong nor Changbai had returned home, Madam Wang panicked. Hai Shi remained relatively calm, though she stared blankly while supporting her pregnant belly. The entire household lived in terror for three consecutive days as both father and son remained missing—neither sight nor trace of them. All the women gathered in the Longevity and Peace Hall, unaware of what was happening. Old Madam, her face stern, scolded them for their panic while secretly sending servants to gather information.

However, the outside situation grew even stricter. Even ordinary vegetable vendors and firewood carriers were forbidden passage. Those who argued too much were beheaded in the streets. No information could be obtained, except that the Imperial Guards had taken control of the capital, with some reinforcements drawn from the Five City Military Command. Old Madam secretly sent someone to inquire with Kang Yun'er, only to learn that Changwu hadn't returned home for several days either. Yun'er steadfastly refused to seek refuge with her natal family, remaining in her own home weeping day and night.The women sat together, at a loss and terrified. In the quiet room, only Mulan's soft sobs could be heard. Rulan lay nestled in Madam Wang's embrace, while Hai Shi stared blankly into space. Changfeng paced anxiously by the door, and Changdong, wide-eyed, clung tightly to Minglan's sleeve, not daring to speak. Minglan felt a chill seep from her bones, shivering despite the sweltering heat.

For the first time, she realized the importance of her father and brothers to the family. What if Sheng Hong or Changbai died? Minglan dared not imagine it.

Sheng Hong might not have been the best son or husband, but he was a competent father. Whenever he had free time, he never failed to check his children's studies, guide his sons in their exams, and teach his daughters propriety and understanding—never resorting to mere scolding. For his children's futures, he carefully sought out suitable matches and inquired about renowned tutors. Even for Changdong, Sheng Hong had pulled strings to secure a place in a prestigious academy in the capital.

Minglan couldn't hold back her tears. She didn't want to lose this father.

On the fourth day, there was still no sign of their return. Rumors suggested that the Third Prince had plotted a rebellion, failed, and been ordered to die. Now, the Fourth Prince was carrying out the emperor's decree to round up the conspirators. Several lecturers from the Third Prince's residence had already been executed, along with eight officials from the Zhan Shi Fu, starting from the deputy supervisor. Grand Academician Shen Zhen of the Wenhua Hall, Second Grand Secretary Yu Yan of the Grand Secretariat, and the Minister of Personnel had all been condemned as conspirators and ordered to die by white silk. Many other implicated officials had been taken to the imperial prison, their fates unknown.

This news was like adding frost to snow, plunging the entire capital into a state of panic. The women of the Sheng household were even more alarmed.

"What is the imperial prison?" Rulan asked fearfully. "Has Father and Big Brother been taken there?"

Mulan wept bitterly. "It's a prison under the emperor's direct decree. They say those who enter either die or are stripped of a layer of skin! Could it be... Father and Brother..." Minglan, her face cold, shouted sharply, "Fourth Sister, don't speak nonsense! Father and Brother are cautious and never form cliques. They have no dealings with the Third Prince's residence. How could they be implicated?"

"That's not necessarily true!" Consort Lin, who had been standing at the back, couldn't resist interjecting. "Madam often interacts with Princess Pingning, and that princess is the in-law of the Sixth Prince. The Sixth Prince and the Third Prince are tied together..."

"Silence!" Before Consort Lin could finish, Old Madam suddenly erupted in anger, hurling a bowl of scalding tea to the ground. Hot water splashed everywhere as Old Madam stood straight and tall before everyone. Minglan had never seen her look so formidable.

"Nothing is clear yet! No more discouraging words! Anyone who dares say another word will be slapped immediately!" Old Madam swept a fierce gaze over the room. Madam Wang wept softly, while Consort Lin bowed her head in silence.

Old Madam's expression was resolute as she declared, "The families of military generals carry on with their lives when their fathers and brothers go to war. Must you be so spineless?" The women's sobs subsided slightly. Old Madam stated firmly, "Life and death are fated, wealth is ordained by heaven. The Sheng family is blessed by our ancestors and protected by the gods. They will return safely!"

Perhaps it was Old Madam's stern command or the overwhelming tension, but everyone gradually calmed down. Madam Wang wiped away her tears and resumed managing the household affairs, scolding the panicked servants with a sharp eye and securing the gates.That night, unknown troops infiltrated the capital under cover of darkness, engaging in fierce street battles with the city guards. Fortunately, the Sheng residence was not located in the prime district. They only knew that around the imperial palace and princely mansions, battle cries shook the heavens, flames lit up the sky, and blood flooded the streets, with many commoners perishing under chaotic blades.

The womenfolk could only huddle at home, living in constant fear. After a day and two nights of such fighting, on the morning of the sixth day, the battle cries abruptly ceased. A light rain began to fall, finally dispelling the oppressive heat of the past few days. A cool breeze drifted into the rooms, allowing everyone to release their pent-up anxiety. Then, amidst the drizzling rain, Sheng Hong and Changbai finally returned home.

Both father and son were in wretched states—one with a heavily bearded face and sunken eyes, as if he'd spent a golden week in a detention center; the other with hollowed cheeks and pale lips, resembling someone who had binge-watched horror films for a week straight.

Madam Wang approached them laughing and crying simultaneously. Consort Lin also tried to throw herself forward but was deftly blocked by Liu Kun's wife. Hai Shi disregarded propriety, clutching Changbai's sleeve stubbornly. The three Lan sisters wept joyfully while tugging at their father's sleeves. Amid the chaotic cross-talk where no one could understand anyone else, it was Old Madam who finally restored order by instructing the two men to go clean up first.

Having narrowly escaped death, they felt like they had been reborn in another lifetime. After washing up, Sheng Hong couldn't hold back his tears while kneeling before Old Madam. Changbai gently comforted the weeping Madam Wang and Hai Shi. It took quite some time before everyone calmed down. Old Madam dismissed all the maids and servants, then asked Sheng Hong and his son to explain the whole story.

Six days earlier, the old emperor had followed his usual routine of claiming illness and skipping court, having various ministry heads submit memorials to the Grand Secretariat instead. Everything had seemed normal until sudden turbulence erupted. First, the Imperial Guard Commander Xu Xin was ambushed and killed outside Xihua Gate. Then Deputy Commander Rong Xian took control of the capital guards and declared martial law in the imperial city, with the Fourth Prince entering the palace by decree to protect the emperor.

The moment Sheng Hong heard this news, he knew the Fourth Prince had launched a military coup.

Deputy Commander Wu Yong of the Five-City Battalions placed Commander Dou under house arrest at m.hetushu.com, then led troops to seize control of critical departments including the Grand Secretariat, Six Ministries, and the Censorate, detaining all officials present. Subsequently, the Imperial Guard surrounded both the imperial palace and Third Prince's residence. Armed with a forged decree, the Fourth Prince forced the Third Prince to drink poisoned wine, then marched troops to intimidate the emperor, pressuring him to name himself crown prince.

Minglan felt a chill—this was practically a reenactment of the Xuanwu Gate Incident!

However, the Fourth Prince was no Li Shimin, and the old emperor was no Li Yuan. The emperor had actually prepared countermeasures, though Sheng Hong and his son didn't know the specifics. They only knew that several days later, the Three Great Barracks stationed in the capital suburbs counterattacked. Several other deputy commanders of the Five-City Battalions managed to escape, rescued Commander Dou, then seized the opportunity to kill Wu Yong and regain control of the guard units. Working with outside forces, they let the Three Great Barracks enter the city to jointly assault the imperial palace.

The situation immediately reversed. When the two factions met in close combat, the Fourth Prince was defeated and captured. His remaining conspirators and accomplices were either killed, captured, or fled. Thus ended the seven-day 'Shenchen Rebellion.'

Sheng Hong couldn't help sighing: "Fortunately, our Minister was sharp enough to notice something wrong and quickly led us into the Ministry of Works' secret chamber. We had stored food and water there, so we managed to hide for several days without casualties. But our colleagues from other ministries... some upright and unyielding ones were killed by the rebel soldiers during detention, and who knows how many more perished in last night's chaotic fighting."Changbai, who had remained silent all along, suddenly spoke: "The Chief Grand Secretary fled, the Assistant Grand Secretary was killed, and then those treacherous villains forced Grand Secretary Tang to draft the imperial decree. The Grand Secretary refused, openly denouncing them as traitorous ministers before dashing his head against the golden steps and dying. His blood splattered all over us. Then they forced Vice Grand Secretary Lin, who refused to comply and met death with a smile. Next was Reader-in-waiting Kong, who spat in the rebels' faces before stretching his neck for the execution." As he spoke, Changbai's eyes reddened. Hai Shi stood silently nearby wiping tears - those officials had been her grandfather's disciples and had always shown great care for Changbai.

"...If Lord Dou had arrived half a day later, it would have been my turn as a mere seventh-rank junior compiler." Changbai smiled bitterly, his face pale. "At that time, your grandson had already written his final letter and hidden it in his sleeve."

Though knowing her son was safe, Madam Wang still turned ghastly pale, clutching desperately at Changbai's sleeve. Changfeng nearby looked grim, his lips moving slightly as if imagining how he would have handled the situation, before finally lowering his head. Consort Lin sitting further back had a flickering gaze that seemed somewhat unwilling.

The room fell into prolonged silence where even droplets could be heard. Sheng Hong sighed again: "How could it come to this among imperial flesh and blood!"

No one answered. After a long while, Changbai composed himself and said quietly: "If only His Majesty had established the crown prince earlier."

The root of everything lay in the long vacancy of the heir position. The old emperor's hesitation had led to prolonged confrontation between the two princes, each gathering substantial forces. Civil officials attacked each other, military officers formed factions, until both sides reached an irreconcilable deadlock. The moment the old emperor agreed to let the Third Prince adopt an heir, the fuse was lit.

Even if the Fourth Prince had been willing to relent by then, those around him would never have retreated for the sake of their own futures and prospects.

"Fortunately, both Son-in-law Yuan and Wu Ge'er are safe. Our family can count ourselves blessed by our ancestors!" The Old Madam heaved a long sigh.

Yuanwenshao, being a trusted follower of Old Dou from the west, had been placed under house arrest with him, rescued together, and then joined the counterattack on the imperial city. His merits and demerits likely balanced out, leaving him probably unscathed. Changwu's Zhongwei Guard had been fraudulently transferred away from the capital early on, so he avoided the conflict and even earned some minor merits during the counterattack, likely earning him a promotion.

The brutal fighting and court upheavals, with so many heads falling and families destroyed, left everyone exhausted - both speaker and listeners. The Old Madam dismissed everyone to rest. They filed out in order: Sheng Hong first, needing to return to his study to draft two memorials; Changfeng and Changdong following; then the young ladies.

When it was finally Changbai's turn to leave, he stood up, hesitated for a moment, then turned back to address the Old Madam and Madam Wang beside her: "There's one more matter... The Sixth Royal Concubine and County Princess Jiacheng have passed away."

By then the three Lan sisters had already stepped outside, but in the deep silence of night, they all heard this. Exchanging glances, they stopped in their tracks and quietly gathered by the doorway to listen.

Inside, the Old Madam and Hai Shi both started in surprise. Madam Wang quickly asked: "How did they die?"Changbai's tone was strained: "The Marquis of Fuchang colluded with the Fourth Prince, and Consort Rong acted as an inside agent. Before launching their attack, they summoned the female relatives of some noble families into the palace as hostages. After the coup, Rong Xian stormed the palace and publicly took away the Sixth Royal Concubine and County Princess Jiacheng. It wasn't until Commander Dou broke in yesterday that the bodies of the Sixth Royal Concubine and her daughter were discovered in a palace chamber. They were..."

Changbai paused, seemingly struggling for words, but considering how many soldiers had witnessed the bodies and that the matter could no longer be kept secret, he stated briefly: "They were violated to death."

The air seemed to freeze instantly. A sudden chill struck the girls' hearts. Rulan and Molan turned deathly pale, covering their mouths in disbelief. Though Minglan couldn't see the scene inside the room, she imagined everyone must be terrified.

After a moment, Old Madam's dry voice was heard: "Could it be... this is about the Rong family girl?"

"Exactly," Changbai said softly. "That Rong Xian kept shouting about avenging his sister. Months ago, they discovered that the gang who kidnapped Miss Rong were actually guards and servants of the Sixth Royal Concubine in disguise. They originally just wanted to ruin Miss Rong's reputation and drive her out of the capital. But something went wrong during the process. Who would have thought the County Princess, despite her youth, could be so vicious? And Miss Rong had such a fierce temperament, so..." Though Changbai was vague, his listeners understood perfectly.

"They could have appealed to the Emperor!" Madam Wang's urgent voice interjected.

"Even if they had appealed, what could have been done?" Changbai replied calmly.

—Indeed, what could have been done? Would the old emperor have executed his own daughter-in-law or granddaughter to avenge Rong Feiyan? Consort Rong had no sons, and while the old emperor still lived, the Sixth Prince's household dared to act so arrogantly. If the old emperor were to die, the Rong family would become meat on the chopping block. It was better to side with the Fourth Prince in his predicament, killing two birds with one stone. And Rong Feiyan's death became the seed of hatred.

No one in the room spoke. Minglan, holding each of her sisters by the hand, quietly turned and walked away. Halfway, Molan covered her mouth and began to sob softly. After all, these were girls they had shared tea and conversation with—two vibrant young lives, so full of brightness mere months ago, now both dead tragically.

Rulan couldn't help but whisper through tears, "Is this matter over now?"

Minglan thought to herself: I'm afraid not. There will still be a reckoning, plus a new crown prince.

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[Author's Note]

The Yongzheng Emperor's national treasury cannot be compared with the Ming emperors' private funds.

Generally speaking, the Ming dynasty was actually wealthier than the Qing dynasty. When Chongzhen tried to raise military funds by demanding contributions from powerful nobles and wealthy families, those households cried poverty and stubbornly refused to contribute. Later, when Li Zicheng captured the capital, he found the national treasury empty but the imperial family's private coffers quite full (the Zhu family kept clear accounts separating public and private funds).

Subsequently, Li Zicheng's subordinates, such as Niu Jinxing and Liu Zongmin, seeing a wealthy capital city, didn't focus on consolidating power or resisting the Manchus, but instead busied themselves seizing money and women, extorting and robbing wealthy households. When Li Zicheng was defeated at Shanhaiguan, he indeed took away incalculable amounts of gold, silver, and treasures. The treasure in Jin Yong's "Flying Fox of Snowy Mountain" has a theoretical basis.

Hehe～ Well, back to our story.Fundamentally speaking, the Ming and Qing dynasties were distinct entities—different political systems, different institutions, and divergent ruling mentalities created societies that appeared superficially similar yet were fundamentally transformed from the imperial court down to rural villages.

For detailed academic analysis, readers may consult Baidu, where rigorous discussions abound. Here, I shall modestly highlight several conspicuous differences, acknowledging potential omissions and welcoming discourse without undue scrutiny.

Let us examine the hierarchy from top to bottom.

First, the Qing rulers were ethnic minorities (stated without prejudice). Throughout its 268-year reign, the Manchu aristocracy maintained vigilant suppression against Han resistance. Prince Dorgon enforced the "Queue Order" under penalty of death. While Emperor Shunzhi was preoccupied with romantic pursuits, regent Oboi vigorously implemented the "Land Enclosure" and "Fugitive Slave" edicts—systematically exploiting Han populations through spiritual subjugation and physical oppression to eradicate resistance.

(Concealing escaped slaves constituted a grave offense. Devious Manchu masters would deliberately order slaves to flee, who would then seek refuge at affluent Han households by feigning distress. Upon offering humanitarian aid, these households would be raided by Manchu soldiers accusing them of harboring fugitives—resulting in property confiscation and enslavement of the entire family. This reprehensible practice is historically documented.)

By the early Kangxi era, ethnic tensions escalated as rebel forces proliferated across the hinterlands, compounded by the Three Feudatories' rebellion. Upon assuming power, Kangxi pioneered the "Manchu-Han Unity" policy to mitigate conflicts. His personal reverence for Han culture—evidenced through scholarly engagement with Confucianism and Sinology—softened opposition from Han literati, ultimately consolidating political legitimacy for suppressing the feudatories.

However, this "unity" remained severely constrained. Within the Six Ministries, Manchu officials invariably outranked Han counterparts—a Han minister must bow to his Manchu equal. Intermarriage maintained stark hierarchies, where Han women occupied inferior statuses. Only Han individuals incorporated into the Eight Banners or those of bondservant origin attained limited social standing.

Consequently, regardless of emperors' competence (as noted by Professor Yuan), Qing governance prioritized regime stability over national prosperity, implementing "weakened populace" policies that sustained mere subsistence-level existence.

Militarily:

While the Ming Dynasty's Divine Machine Battalion had elevated firearm technology to global prominence, the Qing deliberately regressed—banning civilian firearm ownership and excluding modern arms from military deployment. Firearms posed existential threats to nomadic cavalry and required less training than traditional archery, leading to tragedies like Sengge Rinchen's Mongol horsemen charging against Western artillery.

Administratively:Whether you were a top-ranked imperial scholar or not, unless directly favored by the emperor (such as the families of Zhang Tingyu, Liu Yong, Tian Wenjing, and Chen Tingjing), you had to attach yourself to a Manchu noble. The struggle for the throne among the nine princes was so fierce precisely because each prince had countless civil officials and regional supporters behind them, making it extremely difficult for Emperor Yongzheng to purge them later (it is said the Cao family met their demise this way).

Lu Xun once remarked: It was an era where even becoming a slave was an unattainable aspiration.

The root of this phenomenon lies in the lingering legacy of the Qing Dynasty. During that time, if you were a "slave," you were considered part of the emperor's inner circle. If not, you could only refer to yourself as a "subject," creating an even greater distance from the emperor than a slave.

Culturally:

Some Qing dynasty enthusiasts have researched and found that the Ming dynasty also had literary inquisition—yes, that's true. However, its scale and frequency were negligible compared to the Qing dynasty's literary persecutions. While literary inquisition existed in every dynasty, it was most prevalent during the Qing era. Records show that in the case of Zhuang Tinglong's History of Ming alone, "no fewer than a thousand people were executed."From Kangxi to Qianlong's reigns, there were over ten major literary inquisitions, and the death toll is staggering."

Executions often extended to entire clans, making it the most brutal and blood-soaked period in history.

When the Yongle Emperor compiled the Yongle Encyclopedia, he inclusively gathered texts from all schools of thought and genres, regardless of their complexity, without imposing subjective judgments. In contrast, when Qianlong commissioned the Complete Library of the Four Treasuries, he arbitrarily edited texts according to his own preferences and labeled all books outside this collection as "fit for destruction."

It's utterly infuriating!

Teacher Yuan once said in class: "The Qing emperors were each more brilliant than the last, while the Ming emperors were each more incompetent than the last."

I'm tempted to agree but fear backlash. Yet, why did the Ming dynasty (1368–1644, longer if including the Southern Ming), ruled by "incompetent" emperors, last almost as long as the Qing dynasty (1644–1911, during whose final decades foreign powers came knocking)?

Many might consider these views too subjective, but one can refer to Matteo Ricci's records. He arrived during the Wanli era, already a declining phase of the Ming, just forty years before Li Zicheng captured Beijing. Yet, Ricci's accounts describe the vibrant lives of commoners, the prosperity of cities like Hangzhou, Yangzhou, and the capital, and—beyond material wealth—the people's healthy, normal mental state, free from morbidity or servility.

Now compare this to Lord Macartney's observations during Qianlong's reign. He bluntly predicted: "The Empire of China is an old, crazy, first-rate man-of-war, which a fortunate succession of able and vigilant officers has contrived to keep afloat for these hundred and fifty years past... But whenever an insufficient man happens to have the command on deck, adieu to the discipline and safety of the ship."

Draw your own conclusions from the contrast.

Though the Ming dynasty is further from us in time, nearly all its literature has survived—works like Water Margin, Romance of the Three Kingdoms, Journey to the West, The Plum in the Golden Vase, and Stories Old and New. The Qing dynasty, being closer to us, left Dream of the Red Chamber tragically incomplete, though Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio remains intact.

This is because the Ming saw the rise of an urban class with disposable income and leisure to buy novels for entertainment, supported by a widespread publishing industry. Under the Qing's oppressive literary inquisition, even the wealthy dared not keep random books, lest they be implicated (possessing banned texts was a crime, and owners might not even know a book was forbidden, as victims often died over minor wording). It wasn't until the late Qing, when Manchu control weakened, that works like The Travels of Lao Can and The Scholars emerged.

(Writing fiction was a high-risk profession in the Qing—I'd never dare write light novels there, and you shouldn't read them either, lest you end up in a dark prison.)

Finally, if official historical records are accurate, the Ming dynasty was likely wealthier than the Qing, thanks to its developed maritime trade and handicrafts.

(End of volume.)