Beneath the jar hall was a circular hot spring pool. At Mu Chun’s height, the water just reached his navel, while for Wang Ning it came up to his waist. The pool water affected both men’s speed and performance, reducing the killing power of their punches and kicks by half. They occasionally fell to the pool bottom, grappling and choking on mouthfuls of bathwater.
The hot spring alternately splashed and gurgled. Being circular, from a distance it looked like a boiling hotpot with marbled beef slices and mutton rolls swirling inside, floating and sinking as they tangled together.
The two fought evenly matched. Between the violent exercise, mutual pummeling, and the hot water, both men’s entire bodies turned red, like perfectly cooked beef and mutton rolls – initially red and white marbled, but turning completely red when fully cooked.
Regardless, this was a truly satisfying fight. For once, Mu Chun refrained from using his usual dirty tactics like “monkey steals peach” and fought Wang Ning fairly.
Both were utterly exhausted, chests heaving violently. Having just grappled underwater while holding their breath, nearly suffocating and drowning in the hot spring, they finally released each other and occupied opposite sides of the “hotpot,” watching for another opportunity to strike.
Wang Ning gasped, “I won’t fight you anymore.”
Mu Chun braced his hands on the “pot’s edge” to barely maintain his footing in the water. “You’re admitting defeat.”
Wang Ning said, “I’m not admitting defeat. I just think that compared to both of us pathetically dying in a hot spring pool, I’d rather see us both die on a battlefield.”
So close! So close to drowning in a pool that countless men had bathed in!
Actually, Mu Chun was also somewhat shaken: If I died in the hot spring pool, how heartbroken Sister Shanwei would be.
Though Mu Chun thought this inwardly, he said aloud, “No way! Today I must vent this anger for Sister Shanwei!”
Knowing Wang Ning didn’t want to continue fighting, Mu Chun took advantage verbally. Some people appear fierce and imposing but can barely stand steady.
Wang Ning wiped the water droplets from his face with one hand. After the exhilarating fight, he was completely sober and asked, “Did Shanwei send you here?”
Mu Chun said, “Of course!”
Of course not! Mu Chun omitted the last two words, feeling he wasn’t really lying.
Wang Ning climbed out of the pool, casually picked up a white cloth to wrap around his waist, and said, “You’re lying. Shanwei wouldn’t do such a thing. Since she calls me Lord Wang, it shows she’s already let go.”
Mu Chun exclaimed, “Don’t be so self-righteous! She hates you, despises you. If she could leave the palace, she’d probably personally chop off your head, you heartbreaker.”
Having seen through Mu Chun’s lie, Wang Ning said without looking back, “Then let her come and chop me down. I absolutely won’t fight back.”
Mu Chun also wrapped himself in cloth and chased after him. “Sister Shanwei’s devoted heart was all wasted on a dog like you. How will you repay her?”
Wang Ning said, “After I bury my mother, I’ll go to the frontier and never see her again in this lifetime. By guarding the frontier, I’m also protecting her safety.”
Mu Chun was delighted to hear this – the farther this man went, the better. Out of sight, out of mind. But he said, “Hmph, at least you know your place.”
As they reached the changing room and put on their clothes, Wang Ning suddenly asked, “You keep calling her Sister Shanwei. Are you sworn siblings? Is she your sworn sister?”
Mu Chun was putting on his pants when he heard this. His left leg slipped, going into the wrong hole, and both legs ended up in the same pant leg.
“Nonsense! We’re not sworn siblings!” Mu Chun wanted to beat him again.
Wang Ning asked, “If that’s the case, why do you call her sister? And why do you care so much about her affairs? What is she to you?”
Three rapid-fire questions, pressing aggressively.
Mu Chun put his pants on properly, then unhurriedly took out his personally-carried fan. Removing the fan case, he smugly opened the gold-threaded fan, displaying Hu Shanwei’s inscription:
“See this? ‘July 20th, Drinking with Jingchun at a Hangzhou Wine House, Eating Crab and Drinking Chrysanthemum Wine.’ ‘The gutless gentleman should be most charming, wearing armor and wielding weapons like a jade flute. Eight thousand li of frontier campaigns, removing armor to visit chrysanthemums after battle.’ This is a poem Sister Shanwei gave me – has she ever written poetry for you before? No, right? We’re kindred spirits, hearts in perfect harmony – not some vulgar relationship like sworn siblings.”
Seeing the fan, Wang Ning felt his eyes burn. She wrote poetry for him. She never wrote poetry for me.
Wang Ning felt sour inside but said, “Kindred spirits? Does Shanwei know your true nature? Do you dare act so pure and harmless in front of her? Would you dare sing those lewd songs in her presence? Or speak that crude soldier talk to her?”
Wang Ning struck right at Mu Chun’s weak point.
In the Northern Expedition Army, Mu Chun was a notorious wastrel, rogue, and troublemaker. His trusted subordinates Shi Qianhu and Chen Xuan were both former bandits, and among this group of thieves and scoundrels, he fit in like a fish in water – more bandit-like than actual bandits.
Then there were those second-generation military and third-generation official dandies from the former Yingyang Guard who frequented pleasure quarters. None of them could match him in crude talk.
On the journey back to the capital, Wang Ning had listened to Mu Chun singing every day, never repeating a song – he was practically a walking “Complete Collection of Wu Region Lewd Songs.”
I don’t dare!
Mu Chun was immediately speechless.
Wang Ning appreciated his embarrassment and let out a light laugh. “Shanwei is a woman and a court female official – reputation is crucial to her. Someone like you, polluted by the great cesspit of corruption, had better stay far away from her. She’s kind-hearted, and having lost her mother young, she naturally sympathizes with those who’ve had similar experiences. Her giving you poetry and treating you well is like taking in an injured small animal. Don’t get any inappropriate ideas about her.”
Wang Ning stepped closer. “If she knew that the small animal she took in out of sympathy was actually a lustful hungry wolf, would she still consider you a kindred spirit?”
Mu Chun spat, “I’m different from others. Wine and meat pass through my intestines, but Buddha remains in my heart. I have many masks and wear the appropriate one for each situation. You underestimate Sister Shanwei too much. She’s seen me in my wild and dissolute moments, yet she chose to trust and forgive me.”
“I sing lewd songs, speak crude words, and act wantonly with many unseemly gestures, but I’m a good man – Sister Shanwei knows this.”
Actually, it wasn’t that simple. When Sister Shanwei saw me thrusting my hips on the Yingyang Guard arena stage, she was angry and ignored me for a long time…
Omitting the complicated process, the result was as he stated – not really lying.
Wang Ning naturally didn’t believe it. Shanwei clearly preferred men who were emotionally restrained, proper in conduct, and gentlemanly!
Having regained some ground, Mu Chun said smugly, “Besides, she’s not some sheltered little white rabbit. The clean version of ‘Journey to the West’ performed in the palace was personally edited by her. You’ve been away from her for so long – she’s no longer the Hu Shanwei who only knew how to hide under your protection.”
Wang Ning certainly knew how crude “Journey to the West” could be. That gentle, shy woman who was too bashful to speak of love, who despite having thousands of words when moved, would only gaze at him adoringly and sweetly call “Ning-lang” – that Hu Shanwei had been reborn through fire.
Wang Ning felt another pang in his heart and said, “Remember what you said today – just kindred spirits and good friends. If you develop any improper thoughts toward her, even if I’m guarding the frontier thousands of li away, I’ll return to take your worthless life.”
Mu Chun thought: Actually, you could take my worthless life right now…
The next day, Wang Ning hired a feng shui master and chose an auspicious day to relocate the grave. Meanwhile, the Hongwu Emperor approved the memorial to posthumously honor Wang Ning’s mother as the Grand Lady of Earl Yongchun, ordering the Ministry of Rites to handle the arrangements. The Ministry sent both the investiture document and the complete set of ceremonial robes including the phoenix crown and ceremonial dress to the Earl Yongchun mansion.
In the posthumous honor edict, the Hongwu Emperor not only elevated Lady Wang but also granted burial at Zhongshan, setting aside a prime feng shui location for Wang Ning.
The imperial mausoleum that the Hongwu Emperor and Empress Ma were constructing was also at Zhongshan. Being granted burial there was an enormous honor, representing the emperor’s vast grace.
Wang Ning received the edict and entered the palace to express gratitude.
Wang Ning was handsome. Even when infiltrating Northern Yuan, the devastating “straight-across bangs” hairstyle couldn’t hide his distinguished bearing. Back in Da Ming, he arranged the bangs into a topknot and wore a black hair net, making him even more refined.
At the merit-rewarding banquet, wearing bright red court robes and a seven-beam sable cicada crown, Wang Ning was absolutely “stunning.”
The Hongwu Emperor was deeply impressed and quite satisfied with him. But for some unknown reason, while even Mu Chun was given an assignment commanding the Imperial Guards’ Right Yulin Guard, Wang Ning was only granted the title of Second-Class Earl Yongchun with no assignment – currently idle at home, focused on his mother’s funeral arrangements.
Today, when Wang Ning entered the palace to express gratitude, the Hongwu Emperor didn’t dismiss him after the kowtow. Instead, he granted him a seat, ordered palace servants to bring tea, and chatted with Wang Ning.
Besides discussing his observations while serving as a spy in Northern Yuan’s Privy Council, they talked about his family background, asked which campaigns his father had participated in, and where he had ultimately sacrificed his life.
Wang Ning answered everything calmly and steadily.
They talked for a full half-hour before Wang Ning left the palace.
Once Wang Ning departed, the Hongwu Emperor said to someone behind the screen, “What does my beloved consort think of this young man?”
It was actually Noble Consort Sun from Changchun Palace!
Noble Consort Sun smiled, “His appearance is quite good – not inferior to Mu Chun at all. His manner of speaking is very proper, he’s not timid, and has an elegant bearing. His birth is somewhat humble, but he’s a capable person. Weighing both factors, he’s quite a good candidate. Among the potential prince consorts, he stands out.”
Noble Consort Sun had given birth to two princesses. The younger, Princess Huaiqing, had reached marriageable age, and both the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Clan Court were selecting a consort for the princess.
Noble Consort Sun’s elder daughter, Princess Lin’an, was the Hongwu Emperor’s eldest daughter and most beloved princess. Her consort was Li Qi, eldest son of the former Da Ming chancellor and Duke of Korea Li Shanzhang. Li Qi was both a prince consort and would inherit his family’s ducal title.
When Noble Consort Sun said Wang Ning’s birth was “somewhat humble,” she was speaking against her true feelings – it wasn’t just somewhat humble but drastically so!
Honestly speaking, both princesses were treasures in Noble Consort Sun’s palm. She didn’t want the two consorts’ backgrounds to differ too greatly, shortchanging her younger daughter. Noble Consort Sun felt that even the devil incarnate Mu Chun would be more suitable than Wang Ning, since Mu Chun would inherit the Marquis Xiping title.
But since the Hongwu Emperor had Noble Consort Sun observe candidates from behind the screen, this person must possess qualities the emperor valued.
Noble Consort Sun could simultaneously earn recognition from both the Hongwu Emperor and Empress Ma – her scheming was extraordinary. Despite being dissatisfied with Wang Ning, her words still followed the emperor’s inclinations, showing apparent appreciation.
The Hongwu Emperor nodded, “What I value most about Wang Ning is his loyalty. When loyalty and filial piety conflict, he ultimately chose loyalty. Ordinary families would consider him unfilial and unsuitable. But the princess is sovereign and he is subject – for the imperial family, loyal ministers are better than filial sons.”
Noble Consort Sun quickly smiled, “Your Majesty’s wisdom sees clearly. This consort was short-sighted and didn’t think so deeply.”
Noble Consort Sun considered potential consorts from a mother’s perspective, but the Hongwu Emperor’s starting point was always the Zhu Ming dynasty’s imperial foundation.
The Hongwu Emperor said, “The Dragon Boat Festival is coming soon. There are polo and willow-shooting ceremonies during the festival – we’ll use this as an excuse to have potential consorts participate in competitions. The imperial clan, civil and military officials will all attend. You and the Empress can bring Huaiqing to watch and help select a consort for her together.”