The Ming Dynasty: My sister, Empress Ma

It was the tenth day after the Mid-Autumn Festival in the fourth year of the Hongwu reign.

The osmanthus flowers in the palace were in full bloom, and when the wind blew, their sweet fragrance spread from the inner court all the way to the outer court.

The bronze bells on the eaves of the Wenhua Hall rang twice.

Hu Weiyong walked up to the steps, straightened his official robes outside the palace gate, brushed a golden osmanthus blossom off his sleeve, and then slowly stepped inside.

Today he was dressed in the everyday clothes of a civil official, a scarlet silk robe, a silver belt around his waist, and a turban with upturned corners.

Since being promoted from Vice Chancellor to Left Vice Chancellor of the Secretariat last year, his position in the Secretariat is now second only to the Chancellor.

Managing general affairs and approving provincial matters is a truly important position.

However, Hu Weiyong was not satisfied with this.

At this moment, Zhu Yuanzhang was standing in front of his desk looking at a map, while the eunuch standing beside him held a teacup, not daring to make a sound.

Hearing footsteps, Zhu Yuanzhang didn't look up, but only gestured with his chin toward a stool opposite him.

Hu Weiyong understood, bowed, and sat down.

"Is His Majesty still looking at the map of the Jianghuai region?"

Hu Weiyong's gaze swept over the silk map spread out on the table, which was densely marked with mountains, rivers and cities, and circled several places with a vermilion brush.

"Have you seen the folded paper offerings about this year's autumn harvest in Huaixi?"

Zhu Yuanzhang straightened up, his thumb resting on his belt, his voice heavy.

"In the Fengyang, Shouzhou, and Yingshang areas, the autumn harvest is more than 30% less than in previous years. I asked the Ministry of Revenue to investigate, and they said it was due to both floods and droughts; I asked the Ministry of Works to investigate, and they said it was because the canals were in disrepair. What does your Secretariat have to say?"

Hu Weiyong already had a prepared response in mind, and upon hearing this, he didn't rush to speak, but pondered for a moment.

"Your Majesty, the first thing I did after assuming the post of Left Chancellor was to review the autumn grain accounts of the three prefectures and eleven counties in Huaixi. The reality is more complicated than what was written in the memorial."

"How complicated is it?" Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes sharpened.

"Floods and droughts are real, but not the entire region is suffering. Fengyang Prefecture suffered the most severe losses, followed by Shouzhou, while Yingshang actually had a decent harvest."

Hu Weiyong spoke slowly and clearly.

"The problem is that the relief grain allocations to the three regions are uniformly distributed, with Fengyang receiving more and Yingshang receiving less, yet Yingshang's deficit is no smaller than Fengyang's. I am worried that local officials are manipulating the system."

Zhu Yuanzhang didn't speak. He sat down again, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and gestured for him to continue.

Hu Weiyong then took out a folded leaflet from his sleeve and presented it with both hands.

"I have already had people check the fields, rainfall, waterways, and granaries in the three regions and compiled this list."

"Your Majesty, please look. The granary in Shouzhou has 50,000 shi of grain on its books, but when I sent men to inspect it secretly, the grain stacks were neatly piled up, but nearly 30% of them were..."

At this point, Hu Weiyong paused for a moment.

"What is it?"

Hu Weiyong stood up and bowed, saying, "It's a new mound."

Zhu Yuanzhang slammed his hand on the table.

"You bastard!"

The eunuchs standing in the hall trembled with fright.

Zhu Yuanzhang's face darkened, and the knuckles of his fingers gripping the teacup turned white.

"Stuffing mud mounds into disaster relief granaries—after I've killed so many corrupt officials, who would dare do that?"

Hu Weiyong lowered his eyes and didn't reply. He knew that he didn't need to speak at this moment.

"You are the Left Chancellor, you are responsible for investigating this matter."

"Start from Shouzhou, investigate wherever you can, and deal with it accordingly. If there is solid evidence, there's no need to report to me; just arrest the person first."

"I obey your decree."

He did not sit down immediately, but remained bowed, seemingly waiting for Zhu Yuanzhang's next words.

Sure enough, Zhu Yuanzhang added another sentence.

"If the Ministry of Revenue gets in your way, just come and tell me."

"Yes."

Hu Weiyong then sat down again.

The hall was quiet for a moment, then the autumn wind blew in through the cracks in the window, making the map on the imperial desk rustle.

Just a moment later.

Hu Weiyong added,

"Your Majesty, I have a private matter to discuss, but I am unsure whether it is appropriate to bring it up."

"Oh?"

Zhu Yuanzhang raised an eyebrow, leaned back in his chair, and tapped his fingers twice on the armrest.

"Go ahead and say it, I'm listening."

Hu Weiyong bowed slightly.

"I have an elder brother who died in the chaos of war at an early age, leaving behind only one daughter, who was raised in my household from a young age."

"I have treated her as my own daughter and have raised her to this day; she is now sixteen."

"This child is quite presentable, and he is literate, skilled in needlework, and capable in other areas as well."

"My wife often says that it would be a real waste for this child to marry just anyone outside."

Zhu Yuanzhang's expression suddenly changed; he had lost count of how many this had happened.

From high-ranking officials like Wang Guangyang to lowly fifth-rank officials, anyone who has the opportunity to meet him will now try to recommend themselves.

Hu Weiyong didn't look at Old Zhu's expression, and continued speaking with his head down.

"Your Majesty, I dare to ask for a better marriage, so that I may fulfill my duty as your uncle."

After he finished speaking, the hall was quiet for a moment.

Zhu Yuanzhang took a deep breath.

"I haven't even met your niece yet, and you're already praising her to the skies. Well-educated, polite, skilled in needlework—you, as her uncle, seem to know all about these things?"

Hu Weiyong, without changing his expression, replied with a smile.

"Your Majesty is joking. My wife has been in charge of my niece's daily life and upbringing. I only know the general idea from what I've seen and heard."

"To be honest, my wife adores this girl and is eagerly hoping to find her a good marriage."

Zhu Yuanzhang gave a soft hum, whether it was a laugh or something else was unclear, picked up his teacup and took a sip of water.

"You're really thinking ahead for your niece."

Hu Weiyong lowered his head humbly: "My niece lost her father at a young age, so as her uncle, I have to worry about her a lot."

The hall fell silent for a moment.

Zhu Yuanzhang put down his teacup, his tone becoming indifferent, revealing neither closeness nor distance.

"Fine, since you've already brought it up, I won't let you speak for nothing."

"The Mid-Autumn Festival is over, and the palace ceremonies have ended, so things are peaceful now. Have your wife bring her to the palace so the Empress can take a look at her first. If the Empress approves, then it's fine."

Hu Weiyong immediately stood up, knelt down, and kowtowed, saying, "Your Majesty, I thank you for your grace."

"Get up." Zhu Yuanzhang waved his hand, his tone as casual as if he were dismissing a junior.

"Don't thank me yet. The Empress won't approve. Your kneeling today would be a futile act."

Hu Weiyong stood up, his face still bearing that respectful and proper smile, and replied, "Your subject dares not."

But it felt like a stone had been lifted from my heart.

In his view, this matter seemed to have come about naturally.

He sat with him for a while longer and made a few casual remarks.

After discussing the follow-up plans for the Huaihe River grain case and the recent personnel arrangements of the Central Secretariat, he rose to take his leave.

Zhu Yuanzhang grunted in agreement and looked down at the map again.

Hu Weiyong took two steps back, turned around and left the Wenhua Hall.

Hu Weiyong walked along the corridor at a leisurely pace, his steps steady, his robe hem perfectly still. He nodded to the few eunuchs he encountered along the way, his smile warm and without a trace of guile.

Once outside the imperial city gates, their own carriage quickly arrived.

The old servant accompanying him lifted the sedan curtain, and he bent down to get in. The moment the curtain fell, all the expressions on his face seemed to have been scraped away with a knife, leaving no trace.

The sedan chair was lifted up, creaked, and began to walk into the city.