Heartbroken by the death of her fiancé and driven to desperation by her stepmother’s ab*se and her father’s insistence on remarriage, Hu Shanwei stole her family’s household registration certificate and applied to become a court lady in the Great Ming Imperial Court.
Once inside the palace, Hu Shanwei found herself embroiled in a series of political intrigues and palace power struggles. Through her courage and intelligence, she distinguished herself and rose through the ranks to become the highest-ranking female official in the Great Ming Court: Hu Shang-gong of the Shang-gong Bureau.
The Great Ming Dynasty witnessed the reigns of five emperors—Hongwu, Jianwen, Yongle, Hongxi, and Xuande—each succession battle more treacherous than the last. Amidst the palace intrigues and court conflicts, Hu Shanwei met Mu Chun, a nobleman from a distinguished aristocratic family. Their mutual understanding blossomed into love, and they became each other’s unwavering support in the perilous imperial court and political arena.
This novel, grounded in authentic historical figures and events, unfolds a breathtaking panorama of five dynastic eras in the Great Ming Dynasty. Meticulously researched and rich in vivid detail, it chronicles Hu Shanwei’s remarkable journey from a humble court lady to a powerful official, offering an inspiring tale of an ordinary woman’s awakening and her relentless pursuit of career and ideals.
Name: Hu Shanwei
Occupation: Court Lady of the Great Ming Imperial Court, female civil servant
Work Experience: From the founding Hongwu Emperor to the Xuande Emperor, Hu Shanwei served five generations of rulers in the Great Ming Imperial Palace. She held the position of Fifth-Rank Palace Attendant in the Shanggong Bureau and reigned as the undefeated champion of palace intrigue for five consecutive terms.
Work Ethic: “If you stir up palace intrigue, I’ll take you down. If you vie for the position of heir apparent, I’ll thwart you. My mission is to maintain harmony and order within the Great Ming Imperial Palace, and I won’t tolerate any troublemaking.”
Advice to Women of the Imperial Harem: “Stay away from the emperor’s bed to stay safe.”
Catchphrase: “This job is inhuman! I’m quitting after this term.” Yet, she ended up serving five consecutive terms.
Hobbies: Eating, sleeping, and flirting with Xiao Chun. Who is Xiao Chun? Shhh, it’s a state secret.
This story is also known as: The Five-Time Palace Intrigue Champion’s Step-by-Step Guide to Conquering the Great Ming Imperial Palace, Tales of the Great Ming Imperial Palace, My Two or Three Things with Chun Chun, A Woman’s Dangerous Relationship with Five Generations of Emperors and Empresses, The Great Ming Female Civil Servant’s Exam Preparation Guide: From Novice to Expert, and more.
(Credit : Tang Zi Xi Translations)
Name: Hu Shan Wei
Occupation: Female court official of the Ming Dynasty, female national civil servant
Work experience: From the founding emperor Hongwu to the emperor Xuande, for five generations of emperors succeeding one after another in the Ming Palace, she remained a the fifth-rank lady-in-waiting of the Bureau of Female Officers, and has won the first place at palace examinations for five consecutive times.
Working principles: I will fight whoever wants to fight in the palace with me, I will handle whoever vies for the throne, and establish a Ming Palace that is harmonious and in order. I will not allow any trouble.
A warning to the women in the harem: Don’t sleep with the emperor if you want to be safe.
Catchphrase: This job is not for human beings. Once my term is over I won’t go on. However, she did it for five consecutive terms.
Hobbies: Flirting with Xiao Chun while eating and sleeping. Who is Xiao Chun? Shh, state secret !
(Translated by Vico SDL)
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