Chapter Fourteen: The First New Year

In the morning, Madam Ke served him a bowl of longevity noodles—one long noodle in the bowl, with egg and vegetable juice mixed in, and the broth was a chicken stock simmered all night, its flavor exquisite. Zhu Xiaoqi ate until sweat nearly broke out on his forehead. Madam Ke kept urging him to eat more slowly, but the smile on her face betrayed her pride and satisfaction. The little prince never enjoyed his meals from the imperial kitchen this much.

When Zhu Xiaoqi set down his chopsticks, she hurriedly took the hot towel from the tray held by a palace maid and carefully wiped his face. “After eating longevity noodles, a hundred years is but a small span. Our young master will live long and be blessed with countless descendants!” Zhu Xiaoqi smiled. “I’ll borrow your good wishes, wet nurse. Your longevity noodles are simply delicious!” Madam Ke’s eyes crinkled with laughter. “Every birthday, I’ll make you longevity noodles. Even when you turn one hundred, I’ll still make them for you.”

After breakfast, he decided to take a walk to help digest. Li Jinzhong arrived with a letter. It was from Xu Guangqi, regarding the matter Zhu Xiaoqi had asked about last time—there was finally some progress. Xu had first consulted his missionary friend in Beijing, but the friend was unsure, so he wrote to Macao to inquire further. As it happened, more than twenty missionaries from Europe had arrived in Macao that June; among them, two were skilled in crafting telescopes, and two were experts in artillery metallurgy. No clockmaker had been found yet, but one could likely be requested from the West. As for the coin-minting machine, someone knew of its existence but lacked the plans to build one. Nevertheless, they promised to write back to Europe for the blueprints and skilled craftsmen, to bring them on their next journey to Ming China.

This birthday present, though not as precious to him as the embroidered pouch or longevity noodles, was perfectly timed for Zhu Xiaoqi’s ambition to change the world. He was deeply grateful to Xu Guangqi. He knew Xu Guangqi urgently needed firearms for training troops. Although the Armory possessed a great many matchlocks and even flintlocks, there was no way for him to give any to Xu. Tinkering with weapons within the Armory might be dismissed as a child’s amusement, but to actually take weapons out and bestow them upon another would be a grave matter—one that would draw questions from the Emperor, the Crown Prince, and all the high ministers: “What are your intentions?” So he could only apologize to Xu Guangqi in his heart. Truthfully, he doubted whether Xu, as a scholar, could truly train an elite force; in his view, Xu Guangqi was perhaps too focused on weaponry alone. And with the current level of technology, firearms did not have an overwhelming advantage over cold steel.

The first day of the first month of the forty-eighth year of Wanli dawned clear and bright.

It was Zhu Xiaoqi’s first New Year in this world. The New Year in the Ming palace was a lively affair. Since the Kitchen God was honored on the twenty-fourth day of the twelfth lunar month, everyone donned festive embroidered robes and dragon-patterned coats. Each palace steamed exquisite pastries, and meats were pre-cooked to allow the coming days to be spent solely in feasting and merrymaking. The previous night, people paid each other New Year’s calls—a custom known as “bidding farewell to the old year.” Peachwood charms and charcoal effigies of generals were hung by the doors, and door gods pasted up, while images of deities and exorcists were suspended within the rooms. Beds were adorned with gold and silver treasures and foreign prayer wheels, sesame stalks were placed against the pillars, and cypress branches burned in the courtyard for a ritual called “welcoming the year.”

Everyone wore headpieces crafted from jet-black paper, painted in vivid hues and shaped like moths, or adorned with grasshoppers and butterflies to suit the festive mood. Some wore tiny gourds, no larger than peas. Ti Ti wore a butterfly-shaped ornament and forced Zhu Youjian to wear one that resembled a caterpillar, teasing him endlessly. Zhu Youjian could only smile helplessly and leave it on.

At the fifth watch, Zhu Xiaoqi and Zhu Youjian lit incense and set off paper firecrackers, while Ti Ti peeked out from behind the door. After the fireworks, Zhu Xiaoqi tossed the door bolt onto the courtyard ground three times—a ritual called “casting golden fortune.” They all drank peppered cypress wine, which was slightly bitter and spicy, its auspicious meaning more important than its taste. Then, together, they ate dumplings—what are now known as jiaozi. While making them, Madam Ke secretly wrapped three with silver coins inside; whoever ate these would enjoy good luck all year. She discreetly told Zhu Xiaoqi how to recognize the lucky dumplings, so when the time came, he made sure to give them to Zhu Youjian, Ti Ti, and Madam Ke. Madam Ke dared not give hers to Zhu Xiaoqi outright, yet worried he might miss out on good fortune. Just then, Ti Ti bit into a silver-filled dumpling and shouted with glee, showing off to Zhu Youjian—who also happened to get one. After finishing, Zhu Xiaoqi found he had not received a lucky dumpling. Ti Ti wanted to give her silver coin to her elder brother, but Zhu Xiaoqi said, “With both my younger siblings blessed, how could I not be?” At that moment, Madam Ke discovered her own silver-filled dumpling, and Zhu Xiaoqi declared, “Nanny, this year you’ll be lucky too and rise to high office!” Madam Ke smiled at his nonsense, but in her heart was still uneasy; had she known, she’d have handled the dumplings herself.

After the dumplings, they exchanged New Year’s greetings again—this time called “welcoming the new year.” When Zhu Youjian and Ti Ti offered their wishes for a lucky and auspicious year, Zhu Xiaoqi took out two red envelopes and handed them to his younger siblings. The envelopes, sewn from red cloth, each contained a silver coin—the same kind placed in the dumplings, specially minted for the royal family. Ti Ti was thrilled; Zhu Youjian accepted his calmly and thanked his elder brother. Normally, New Year’s money was threaded on red strings, and given by elders to the young; it was rare for an older brother so close in age to give such gifts, so he wrapped them differently in red cloth. He also handed a red envelope to Madam Ke, saying, “With this, you’ll live a long life.” She accepted with a smile.

Then the three siblings went to wish their father and mother a happy New Year. Their father rewarded them each with a string of five silver coins, and Lady Li gave the same. Afterwards, their father led them to the Emperor and Empress to offer New Year’s greetings. Their imperial grandfather bestowed a string of silver coins upon each and sent them on to the Empress.

The Empress’s health had long been frail. She had borne only one princess, but was always exceedingly kind to the Crown Prince Zhu Changluo; it was thanks in large part to her that he had secured his position. Thus, the children were warmly received. The Empress gifted each a string of silver coins—sixteen for Zhu Xiaoqi, ten each for Zhu Youjian and Zhu Huiti, one for every year of their age. Palace maids brought out an array of pastries, making Ti Ti’s eyes shine. The Empress told them to eat at their leisure while she spoke with Zhu Changluo aside.

After a while, the Empress summoned Zhu Xiaoqi. The Emperor was seeking a tutor for him, and the Empress asked Zhu Changluo if he had any preferences. Zhu Changluo replied indifferently that he would abide by the Emperor’s wishes. Therefore, the Empress asked Zhu Xiaoqi what sort of teacher he would like. Normally, such a matter would not be left to the child, but the Empress doted on her eldest grandson and wanted to hear his thoughts before making a request to the Emperor. Zhu Xiaoqi saw this as an opportunity; since Xu Guangqi was struggling with military training, he said, “I have heard that the Vice Minister of the Secretariat once served as a Hanlin academician—he must be learned indeed.” The Empress looked to Zhu Changluo, who replied, “Xu Guangqi, Vice Minister and Censor of Henan, is currently drilling troops in Tongzhou.” The Empress nodded in understanding.