Daming: Brother, there is no future for monks, let's rebel

When Gu Qingping leaned over, the jade bamboo pendant in her sleeve hit the brick floor, making a clear sound. Zhu Biao reached out to help her and touched the cold jade mandarin duck pendant on her wrist. The patterns on the two jade pendants were intertwined, like the combination of yin and yang.

"I am Gu Qingping, paying my respects to His Highness." As she introduced herself according to the etiquette, she heard Zhu Han chuckle from above the steps: "Biao'er, your Crown Princess is very polite."

After the ceremony, Zhu Biao took her to the main hall of the East Palace. Seventy-two glazed palace lanterns illuminated the hall as bright as day. On the table was a wedding wine cup in a bamboo-shaped cup inlaid with gold and silver.

"I specially ordered someone to make this wedding wine with bamboo fragrance." Zhu Biao poured the wine, revealing the green jade bamboo pendant from his sleeve, "Qingping, do you know the other meaning of bamboo?"

Gu Qingping looked at the shadows of bamboo swaying in the wine, and suddenly remembered what her father said last night: "The daughter of the Gu family should be like bamboo, willing to break but not bend." She raised her head and drank the wine in the cup. When the spicy taste entered her throat, she heard Zhu Biao laughing softly: "Although the bamboo is hollow, it can contain the world."

Suddenly, there were the sounds of footsteps outside the window, followed by Zhu Han's deep voice: "Biao'er, it's time to go to the Fengxian Temple to pay respects."

Gu Qingping watched the corner of the prince's black python-patterned robe disappear outside the palace, and suddenly caught a glimpse of the pot of asparagus fern on the desk. The morning light shone through the carved window lattice, casting tiny golden spots on the bamboo leaves, just like the stars in the East Palace that night.

"Please have a look, Princess." The head female official Meng Shanggong approached with a gilded gift plate in her hand. "This is the bamboo-patterned jade hairpin that Your Highness made last night. He said it would match your jade pendant."

When Gu Qingping took the jade hairpin, her fingertips touched the word "biao" engraved on the end of the hairpin, and the handwriting was as vigorous as a knife. Meng Shanggong lowered her voice and said, "His Highness also ordered that if you are in danger in the palace, you can take this hairpin to the Prince Jing's mansion for help."

At dusk, Zhu Biao returned from Fengxian Hall. The corners of his black robe were stained with incense ash, and the cinnabar mole between his eyebrows glowed softly under the candlelight. Gu Qingping was standing in the courtyard, holding the bamboo-patterned jade hairpin he had made himself.

"Qingping." Zhu Biao stretched out his hand to hold her shoulders, but stopped, "Are you... used to it?"

Gu Qingping inserted the jade hairpin into her hair, the jade reflecting the candlelight: "Your Highness, this deep palace is like a sea of ​​bamboos, Qingping is willing to be the tallest bamboo." She suddenly stood on tiptoe and kissed the corner of the prince's lips, "Your Highness, are you willing to be the east wind?"

Zhu Biao looked at the flickering candlelight in her eyes, and suddenly remembered Zhu Han's words during the day: "When the east wind comes, why worry about the bamboo not reaching the sky?" He stretched out his hand to hold her waist, the jade pendant in his palm as warm as before: "My east wind will help the clear water lily soar to the sky."

That night, the East Palace was brightly lit with candles. Gu Qingping leaned in Zhu Biao's arms, listening to him talk about the war in the northern battlefield. Outside the window, bamboo shadows danced, and the moonlight reflected the newly sprouted buds of asparagus fern on the window screen, like wet ink.

"Qingping, do you know what is the most precious thing about bamboo?" Zhu Biao stroked the green jade hairpin on her temples with his fingertips.

"It's the festival." Gu Qingping held his wrist, "Your Highness, Qingping's festival is here."

Suddenly, a clapper sounded in the distance. It was already three o'clock in the morning. Zhu Biao looked at his sleeping bride in his arms and suddenly remembered the note Zhu Han had slipped to him during the day. There was a lot of ink on it: "Bamboo has seven virtues, and Qing Ping has six of them. The last virtue requires you two to practice together."

When the morning light came to the East Palace again, Gu Qingping was dressing in front of the bronze mirror. She looked at the gorgeous dress of the Crown Princess in the mirror and suddenly found that the asparagus fern on the desk had sprouted new buds.

Meng Shang Gong came in holding the gift list: "His Highness has ordered that we go to Kunning Palace to pay homage today."

When Gu Qingping stood up, the jade bamboo pendant in her sleeve and the jade mandarin duck pendant on her waist collided, making a clear sound. She suddenly remembered Zhu Biao's words last night: "In this deep palace, you and I need to stand side by side like bamboo."

The morning light shone through the carved windows of Kunning Palace, casting tiny gold spots on the golden brick floor. Gu Qingping followed Zhu Biao, holding the jade ruyi given by Empress Ma in her hand. The warm touch reminded her of the warmth of the prince's touch on her temples last night.

"I, your humble servant Gu, pay my respects to Her Majesty the Empress." After she performed the six bows, three kneels and three kowtows, she heard the gentle voice of Empress Ma from above her head: "Stand up and take a seat."

When Gu Qingping stood up, she caught a glimpse of the pot of green-calyx plum blossoms placed under Empress Ma's seat. The branches were dotted with white stamens, which looked like the stars in the East Palace last night.

The Empress Mama was known for her virtue, but the sharpness that occasionally flashed in her eyes reminded her of the autumn wind in the northern frontier.

"I heard that the Crown Princess is good at sewing?" Empress Ma suddenly spoke up, and the maid came forward with an embroidery frame. "This is my unfinished painting of hundreds of children and grandchildren. Would the Crown Princess be willing to give me some advice?"

Gu Qingping took the embroidery frame and stroked the delicate Suzhou embroidery stitches with her fingertips. She remembered her mother Tang's advice when she taught her embroidery: "The stitches should be dense and the mind should be correct." She picked up the silver needle and added two stitches to the peony's core, hiding the stitches without leaving any trace.

"Your Majesty's embroidery has reached perfection, and I am just adding icing on the cake."

When she returned the embroidery frame, Empress Ma suddenly grabbed her wrist and said, "What a great 'icing on the cake'. Crown Princess, you know that what the deep palace lacks most is someone who can add icing on the cake."

When Gu Qingping looked up, she met the scrutinizing gaze of Empress Ma. This woman who had fought with Emperor Taizu on the battlefield had both majesty and kindness in her eyes, which reminded her of the pot of asparagus fern in the East Palace - seemingly weak, but actually tough.

"I am stupid, please teach me, Your Majesty." When she lowered her head, the green jade bamboo pendant in her sleeve hit the jade bracelet on Empress Ma's wrist, making a clear sound.

When Empress Ma let go, she suddenly smiled and said, "The prince made the right choice by choosing you." She ordered the palace maid to bring a gilded box, "This is the mutton-fat jade bracelet that Taizu gave me when I entered the palace. I will give it to you today."

When Gu Qingping took the jade bracelet, she heard Zhu Biao laughing softly beside her: "Your son thanks your mother for the reward." She looked up and saw the prince looking at her, with the cinnabar mole between his eyebrows glowing softly in the morning light.

After the audience ceremony, Zhu Biao took her to the Fengtian Palace. Gu Qingping looked at the corner of the prince's black python-patterned robe and suddenly remembered what he said last night: "In this deep palace, you and I need to stand side by side like bamboo."

"Your Highness, I have a humble request." She said softly.

"Oh?" Zhu Biao turned to look at her, "Tell me about it."

"I want to move the bamboo in the East Palace to Kunning Palace." She held the jade bamboo pendant in her sleeve tightly. "With the protection of Empress Ma, the bamboo will surely grow better."

Zhu Biao suddenly stopped when he heard this. He looked at the determination in her eyes and remembered what Zhu Han had said: "The Crown Princess must have the wisdom to check and balance the harem." He reached out and stroked her hair: "Okay, I will ask someone to move it over later."

Inside the Fengtian Hall, civil and military officials had been waiting for a long time. Zhu Yuanzhang sat on the dragon throne, his eyes sweeping across the people below the steps.

When Zhu Biao and Gu Qingping were paying their respects, they suddenly heard Zhu Di's sarcastic voice: "I heard that the Crown Princess was born into a merchant family in Yangzhou. With this status... I'm afraid she is not worthy of the East Palace, right?"

As soon as these words came out, the whole hall fell silent. Gu Qingping felt Zhu Biao tighten his grip on her hand. She looked up and saw the prince's jaw tightened, obviously trying to suppress his anger.

"Fourth brother, what you said is wrong." Zhu Biao was about to speak, but he saw Zhu Han step out from the military officers. "Although the Gu family is not a noble family, Gu Weijun was once the governor of Yangzhou, and he is honest and loves the people. The Crown Princess is both talented and virtuous, so how can she not be worthy of the Crown Prince?"

Zhu Di sneered: "Uncle, you don't know, this merchant's daughter..."

"Enough!" Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly slammed the table, and the gold lacquer on the dragon throne fell off. "The selection of the prince's concubine was approved by me personally. Zhu Di, if you have any objections to my decision, you might as well speak up!"

Zhu Di's forehead was covered with sweat, and he knelt hurriedly: "I dare not."

Zhu Yuanzhang turned his gaze to Gu Qingping: "Crown Princess, do you know the responsibilities of the Eastern Palace?" Gu Qingping met the emperor's scrutinizing gaze and remembered the prince's words last night: "In this deep palace, you and I need to stand shoulder to shoulder like bamboo." She leaned forward and saluted: "I, your daughter-in-law, should abide by the rules of being a woman, assist Your Highness, and live up to the emperor's grace."

"Okay." Zhu Yuanzhang nodded, "Give me a banquet."

After the banquet, Zhu Biao took Gu Qingping back to the East Palace. The corners of his black robe were stained with ambergris from Fengtian Hall, and the cinnabar mole between his eyebrows glowed dark red in the twilight.

"Qingping, I'm sorry for putting you through this today." He held her wrist tightly, "Zhu Di..."

"Your Highness, don't worry." Gu Qingping handed him the jade bamboo pendant from her sleeve, "With the Emperor's uncle and Your Highness here, Qingping has nothing to fear."

Zhu Biao looked at the tangled bamboo patterns on the jade pendant and suddenly remembered what Zhu Han had said during the day: "Bamboo has seven virtues, and Qingping has six of them. The last virtue requires you two to practice together." He stretched out his hand and put his arm around her waist: "My east wind will help Qingping soar to the sky."

As the night deepened, hurried footsteps were heard from the East Palace. Xu Huizu rushed into the palace holding a secret report: "Your Highness, urgent news from Yandi!"

Zhu Biao took the secret report, and the candlelight reflected the ink on the paper: "The Prince of Yan secretly mobilized the border troops, and there seemed to be some unusual movements." When he looked up, he saw Gu Qingping frowning at him, and suddenly remembered what Zhu Han said: "Since the east wind has come, why worry that the bamboo will not turn green?"

"Qingping, are you afraid?" he suddenly asked.

Gu Qingping shook her head and stroked the newly sprouted buds of the asparagus fern on the desk with her fingertips: "Bamboo is not afraid of wind and snow, so why should people be afraid of hardships?"

Three days later, in Fengtian Palace, Zhu Yuanzhang listened to Zhu Biao's report on the unusual situation in Yandi and suddenly turned his eyes to Gu Qingping: "What do you think, Crown Princess?"

The civil and military officials in the hall were all shocked, but Gu Qingping stepped out calmly and said, "Your Majesty, I think we should use bamboo as a metaphor.

"She pointed to the pot of asparagus fern on the desk and said, "Bamboo has seven virtues: integrity, hard work, indifference, simplicity, humility, excellence, and sociability. If Your Majesty treats the King of Yan with the virtues of bamboo, why worry about unrest on the border?"

Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly laughed when he heard this: "What a good metaphor for bamboo's virtue! It is my fortune that the prince has such a virtuous wife." He turned to Zhu Biao and said, "Biao'er, do you know what is the most valuable thing about bamboo?"

Zhu Biao looked at the flickering candlelight in Gu Qingping's eyes and suddenly remembered what she said last night: "It's the festival."

"Father, the most precious thing about bamboo is its integrity." He bowed and said, "Your Majesty, I and the Crown Princess will be as loyal as bamboo."

When the morning light first shone through the window of the East Palace, Gu Qingping was already standing in front of the desk in her usual dress as the Crown Princess. In her hand was the memorial annotated by Zhu Biao last night, with a frown on her brow.

The newly sprouted buds of the asparagus fern on the desk trembled in the morning breeze, and dewdrops condensed on the tips of the leaves, as if they were the lingering tears of her last night.

"Your Highness, regarding the allocation of grain and fodder in Yan..." When she looked up, she saw Zhu Biao coming in wearing a black robe with python pattern. The jade pendant on his waist struck against the green jade bamboo pendant in her sleeve, making a clear sound.

"I have ordered the Ministry of Revenue to urgently transfer the funds." Zhu Biao took the memorial, the scent of ink from last night still lingering on his fingertips. "Qingping, what you said last night, 'the bamboo joints are hollow but can hold', really gave me some inspiration."

Gu Qingping looked at the cinnabar mole between his eyebrows and thought of herself in Fengtian Hall three days ago. That day, she used the bamboo virtue to describe politics, which not only resolved Zhu Di's attack, but also made Zhu Yuanzhang very happy.

"Your Highness, the concubines in the harem..." She hesitated to speak.

Zhu Biao raised his eyebrows: "But is someone giving you trouble?"

Gu Qingping shook her head: "They are just curious about my background." She remembered the ridicule of the virtuous concubine yesterday: "A merchant's daughter is qualified to assist in the management of the East Palace?" She just smiled faintly at the time: "Although bamboo grows from the grass, it can become a forest."

"Well done." Zhu Biao stroked her hair. "In this deep palace, showing off one's talents is the worst. You are using the bamboo virtue to influence others, which is exactly the right way."

During lunch, a quarrel was heard from the side hall of the East Palace. Gu Qingping rushed over upon hearing the news and saw several concubines arguing over the bamboo fungus soup sent from the kitchen.

"This bamboo fungus must be old. The Crown Princess is skimping on the expenses!" Lipin smashed the soup bowl, and the porcelain pieces splashed on Gu Qingping's skirt.

Gu Qingping leaned over to pick up the porcelain shard, and her fingertips stroked the sharp edge: "Lipin, do you know that bamboo fungus needs three years of wind and frost to become precious?" She placed the porcelain shard on the desk, "This deep palace is just like bamboo fungus. We need to be honed by years before we can become useful."

The whole palace was silent. The concubines looked at her calm demeanor and suddenly remembered her response in Fengtian Palace three days ago. This Crown Princess looked weak, but in fact she was as tough as bamboo.

"I am disrespectful." Gu Qingping turned and saluted Zhu Biao, "Please punish me, Your Highness."

Zhu Biao looked at the porcelain scratches on her skirt and suddenly remembered what Zhu Han had said: "The Crown Princess must have a broad mind." He waved his hand and said: "My East Palace cannot tolerate such discord. Concubine Li will be confined for three months to serve as a warning to others."

As dusk fell, Gu Qingping was pruning asparagus fern in the yard. She looked at the newly sprouted buds and suddenly heard Zhu Han's low laugh behind her: "The Crown Princess has good tricks."

She turned around and saluted: "Uncle, you are too kind."

Zhu Han stroked the dew on the bamboo leaves and said, "Qingping, you know that the most valuable thing about bamboo is not the joints, but..." He suddenly reached out and broke off a bamboo branch, revealing the hollow cross-section, "This hollow can contain the heaven and earth, and can also produce wind and thunder."

Gu Qingping looked at the bamboo stick in his hand and suddenly understood Zhu Han's deep meaning. This uncle seemed indifferent, but in fact he was as transparent as bamboo.

Three days later, in Fengtian Hall, Zhu Di used the tribute issue to raise questions about the crown prince's ability to handle border affairs.

"Your Majesty, the Wala delegation is about to arrive, but the prince is wasting his energy on trivial matters in the East Palace, which is not proper." Zhu Di bowed, but his eyes shot towards Gu Qingping.

Gu Qingping met his gaze and suddenly remembered Zhu Han's words: "Bamboo is born with wind and thunder, and needs to take advantage of the momentum." She stepped out slowly: "Your Highness Prince Yan is wrong. There is no trivial matter in the Eastern Palace, not to mention..." She deliberately paused, waiting for everyone's attention to focus, "It takes three years for a bamboo to grow into a section. Your Highness handles the affairs of the Eastern Palace, just like the growth of bamboo sections, which requires accumulation over time."

Zhu Di sneered: "The Crown Princess has a sharp tongue."

Gu Qingping smiled slightly: "I am just using bamboo as an analogy. Your Majesty, bamboo has seven virtues. If Your Highness cultivates himself with the virtues of bamboo, why worry about unrest in the borders?"

Zhu Yuanzhang nodded: "What the Crown Princess said is very true. Biao'er, do you know the way to cultivate oneself with the bamboo virtue?"

The dragon-shaped copper furnace in the Fengtian Hall was emitting smoke. Zhu Yuanzhang tapped on the memorials with his fingertips and wrote his comments in red. His eyes swept over the kneeling Wala envoys on the steps. (End of this chapter)