The shell of a sixth-rank court secretary position was like a suit of armor, protecting Hu Shanwei. In this era when women had almost only the single value of supporting their husbands and educating children, if she were merely a pure woman with an unhappy family and disappointments in love, Hu Shanwei would undoubtedly be a complete and utter failure.
But with the identity of a sixth-rank court secretary, Hu Shanwei felt that her life still had achievements and hope, and the path ahead was no longer so difficult to walk.
At least this time, facing disaster, she had a shell to protect herself, unlike four years ago when she was like Zhao Wu’niang, “soft and timid, alone by herself,” just like a snail stripped of its shell, trampled by anyone.
What are women made of?
Conventional wisdom believes they are made of flowers, honey, silk, rouge and powder, gossip, love poems, clouds, stoves, oil and salt and sauce and vinegar, market baskets, handbags, needles and thread, swaddling clothes, and lullabies.
But is this really all there is?
Women can also be steel, swords, ink and brush, flames, fists, trophies, scepters, official robes, black gauze caps, scars, mud, and rock.
During the days of preparing Princess Huaiqing’s dowry and sending her off to marriage, Hu Shanwei recognized herself for the first time—what things she was made of, and what she needed to work hard to do in order to integrate those things into herself.
When Hu Shanwei returned to the palace, she divided up Princess Huaiqing’s rewards, having the young palace maid Haitang who served her deliver them separately to Chen Er’mei, Huang Weide, Shen Qionglian and others. She only kept a pair of white jade earrings with jade rabbits pounding medicine for herself, wearing them on her earlobes that very day when she went to Kunning Palace to report back.
Noble Consort Sun had already arrived at Kunning Palace, sitting below Empress Ma’s position, listening to Hu Shanwei describe the situation of the princess and prince consort’s wedding ceremony. “…Everything went very smoothly. The princess rewarded me with many things, and these earrings were among them.”
Empress Ma nodded with satisfaction, saying to Noble Consort Sun: “I’ve met the prince consort. When he wears court dress, he’s simply like a banished immortal. I’m just waiting to hold a grandson as beautiful as jade and snow.”
Honestly speaking, Noble Consort Sun was not satisfied with this marriage arrangement. She always felt that the new prince consort’s background was far inferior to the eldest prince consort’s. However, she had no say in the princess’s marriage matters, so she could only smile along with Empress Ma: “Yes, this younger sister is also waiting to hold a grandson.”
When common women marry, they return to their natal home on the third day. When princesses marry, they return to the palace after ten days. Unlike common couples who return home together, the princess and prince consort acted separately. Princess Huaiqing first wore her complete princess regalia to worship ancestors at the Fengxian Hall, then paid respects to the emperor, empress, and Noble Consort Sun. Prince Consort Wang Ning wore official dress to express gratitude outside the Meridian Gate, then entered the palace to attend the banquet.
When Princess Huaiqing married, Emperor Hongwu personally escorted her to the Eastern Flowery Gate, and Crown Prince Zhu Biao accompanied her to the princess’s mansion—an honor that none of the previous five princesses had received. Therefore, when the princess returned to her natal home, all the imperial clan relatives gathered, making the family banquet quite lively.
Including Wang Ning, there were six prince consorts total. Wang Ning’s appearance and bearing were the most outstanding. The mother-in-law looking at her son-in-law found him more pleasing the more she looked, and seeing her daughter’s flushed cheeks and the joy and coquettish manner almost overflowing from her eyebrows, she knew this newlywed couple was harmonious as qin and se, and her youngest daughter was not dissatisfied despite the prince consort’s background being far inferior to her elder sister the eldest princess’s Prince Consort Li.
As long as her daughter was happy. Noble Consort Sun put aside her petty concerns, and her smile toward Prince Consort Wang became much more sincere.
At the imperial family banquet, the opera troupe on stage was performing Emperor Hongwu’s favorite “Pipa Record.” The five prince consorts surrounded Wang Ning, toasting and drinking together. Princess Huaiqing had changed out of her grand princess regalia into casual home clothes, holding the chubby little princess’s hand and teaching her to walk.
The little princess could already walk, but didn’t dare let go of hands—she insisted on being held before she would walk.
Princess Huaiqing, newly married, was most fond of such beautiful and adorable children. Without realizing it, she imagined the little princess as her own child, kissing her powder-soft face: “Not seeing you for ten days, your steps are steadier than before.”
Noble Consort Sun sighed: “Fortunately I have her at my knee for comfort. You and your elder sister have both married out, and only she can keep me company.”
Princess Huaiqing looked around: “How is it I don’t see Court Secretary Hu? I brought a gift for her this time I returned home. That day at the wedding, Court Secretary Hu worked the hardest—it was quite troublesome for her.”
Noble Consort Sun said: “Today the Duke Weiguo’s mansion and Marquis Xiping’s mansion have arranged an engagement. The Xu and Mu families have formed a marriage alliance. The empress granted gifts, and Court Secretary Hu went out of the palace to deliver the gifts.”
Princess Huaiqing made a sound of understanding, then asked in a low voice: “Mother Consort, there’s something I don’t understand. Wedding ceremonies have always been the business of the Court Bureau of Rites, with female officials from other bureaus only occasionally helping out. Why did Empress Mother insist that Court Secretary Hu be responsible for organizing my wedding?”
Noble Consort Sun glared at her daughter, her expression serious: “How dare you question the empress’s imperial decree? How many times have I taught you? Whatever the emperor and empress say or do, there is always good reason for it. Pondering the emperor and empress’s thoughts means understanding their intentions. As a princess, especially since you’ve moved outside the palace and established your own household, every word and action must be cautious and careful. You—”
Princess Huaiqing pouted: “Alright, alright, I was wrong. After I married, I have to submit a card to the Court Bureau of Rites in advance even to come to the palace to see you—I can’t just come when I want and leave when I want. It’s so hard for me to come back once, so don’t just focus on lecturing me. Let’s have a good mother-daughter chat about intimate matters…”
Today was Princess Huaiqing’s day to return to her natal home, and also the engagement day for the second young master of Duke Weiguo’s mansion, Xu Zengshou, and the eldest young lady of Marquis Xiping’s mansion, Miss Mu.
How was this marriage arranged?
Of course, it was related to Mu Chun again.
When the imperial edict selecting Wang Ning as prince consort was issued, Mu Chun nearly went crazy. Wang Ning becoming a prince consort—wouldn’t that mean he’d frequently appear before Sister Shanwei’s eyes?
How fucking frustrating!
Mu Chun had no idea that he had added a “thick and colorful stroke” to the fact of Wang Ning becoming prince consort, otherwise he really would have gone insane.
Imperial words are like gold and jade—they cannot be changed. Mu Chun hurried to comfort Hu Shanwei. Now that he commanded the Imperial Guard’s Right Guard of the Feathered Forest, his residence was only separated from Hu Shanwei’s by a high wall.
However, this time Hu Shanwei didn’t shed tears all along the way as she had last time. She only smiled, whether in self-comfort or self-mockery:
“It’s nothing. This shows that my eye for men is good—the person I once liked was so excellent that even His Majesty overlooked his humble background and bestowed the princess upon him in marriage.”
Mu Chun felt heartache for her: “In front of me, you don’t need to pretend, to act like you don’t care. If you want to cry, just cry it all out.”
Hu Shanwei put on her black gauze cap and chased Mu Chun away: “I’m following imperial orders to organize the wedding. I have many things to do. Don’t come bother me lately.”
Women can transform grief into tears, or they can transform grief into strength. Hu Shanwei didn’t have so many teardrops to flow from autumn to winter, from winter to summer.
Mu Chun was naturally unwilling to be chased away by Hu Shanwei and wanted to find an opportunity to properly console Sister Shanwei. At this time, urgent military reports arrived: the Northern Expedition’s Eastern Route Army had returned victorious and would reach the capital tomorrow!
His father Mu Ying was coming back.
With Princess Huaiqing’s wedding approaching, this was truly double happiness. Emperor Hongwu was very pleased and, as usual, began the prisoner presentation ceremony and merit-rewarding banquet. Halfway through drinking at the banquet, Commander Mu Ying was summoned to Kunning Palace by Empress Ma.
The father and son Mu Ying and Mu Chun sat beside her, both having achieved great merit. Empress Ma looked left and right, never getting enough of looking at them.
Empress Ma said: “Little Chun performed excellently in this Northern Expedition. Even Duke Weiguo praised him highly. Previously he was mischievous and had no achievements, so it wasn’t appropriate to establish him as heir. Now that he’s matured—boys change greatly at eighteen, and Little Chun is eighteen this year—do you have any plans in mind?”
Again, the matter of establishing the heir.
Mu Chun was indifferent. He had long decided to earn his own future. Whatever persimmon or grape, he didn’t care who got it. The steamed buns he earned with his own hands would taste sweeter than persimmons anyway.
When father and son met, their eyes were particularly red with emotion.
Mu Ying looked at his eldest son’s nonchalant appearance and wanted to slap him. Mu Chun’s reputation for brave fighting in the Northern Route Army was as famous as his reputation as a “walking Wuzhong love song.”
It was said that Mu Chun’s dissolute and shameless behavior made even the top courtesans of the Qinhuai River pale in comparison.
He had completely disgraced the Mu family! And he still had the face to ask Empress Mother to request the title of heir?
This father wanted nothing more than to expel this shameless fellow from the family!
With such inner turmoil, Marquis Xiping Mu Ying still maintained a filial expression on his face: “Your Majesty, they say men should marry and establish careers. Mu Chun hasn’t married and had children yet, so there’s no rush about the investiture. After all, it’s his—in the end it will be his.”
Mu Ying understood strategy well. Last year’s excuse for postponing was “no achievements.” This year Mu Chun had already achieved countless merits, so that excuse wouldn’t work anymore.
But since Empress Ma had brought up this question face-to-face for the second time, even though Mu Ying was reluctant in every way, he had to verbally indicate that the heir position would sooner or later belong to Mu Chun.
Empress Ma’s face still had to be given.
The father and son performed filial piety and paternal kindness quite harmoniously in front of Empress Ma.
When Mu Chun heard Mu Ying using his marriage as a shield, he was alarmed: Marriage, marriage, what damn marriage! I won’t marry anyone. If you want to marry, go find yourself a concubine—don’t drag me into it.
Mu Chun held the wine pot and poured wine for Mu Ying, using drinking to divert the topic from marriage: “Father, you’ve worked hard all the way. Please drink more.”
Mu Ying choked and couldn’t drink it, seriously suspecting the wine was poisoned: “Don’t keep standing and pouring wine for me. You sit down too.”
Mu Chun waved his hands repeatedly: “Father, we father and son have been separated for most of the year. You were with the Eastern Route Army, I was with the Western Route Army. Day after day missing father without seeing father—I was quite melancholy. Now that father and son are finally reunited, I must serve my father well and fulfill my filial duties as a son.”
Empress Ma was delighted to hear this: “Little Chun is remarkable this year—he can even compose poetry! Truly talented in both literature and martial arts!”
Mu Ying felt so disgusted he wanted to vomit. What kind of terrible poetry was this? It was probably copied from some lewd song!
Just you wait—when we get home, I’ll break your dog legs!
The father and son returned home together. As usual, they first selected the most valuable items from the emperor and empress’s rewards to send to the ancestral shrine for the ancestors.
After each lighting a stick of incense, Mu Ying personally closed the door of the ancestral shrine and picked up a whip to beat this unfilial son.
Who knew Mu Chun would sigh: “Father, when you said in front of Empress Mother that you’d arrange a marriage for me—was that serious?”
At eighteen, Mu Ying had married his first wife, Feng Shi, at exactly this age.
When men should marry and women should wed. Mu Ying could repeatedly postpone the matter of his eldest son’s investiture as heir, but if he delayed his eldest son’s marriage without proper reason, that would be difficult to explain.
Mu Ying became alert: “Why are you asking about this? Did your uncle’s family say something to you? Do they want to marry a Feng family daughter into our Mu family! Did you take a fancy to that cousin?”
Mu Ying and his first wife were a mismatched couple, and he had been beaten twice by his brother-in-law Feng Cheng—both times beaten into a pig’s head, causing him to lose face completely.
In recent years, although brother-in-law Feng Cheng had behaved himself, Duke Songguo Feng Sheng always regarded Mu Chun as property of the Feng family, subtly intending to marry his granddaughter to Mu Chun.
If that happened, the title of Marquis Xiping would practically belong to the Feng family.
Mu Ying absolutely would not allow this to happen. He utterly despised the hypocritical Feng family. The title of Marquis Xiping bore the surname Mu, not Feng.
Feng Sheng was very clever about marriage alliances—his eldest daughter had married Chang Sheng, the legitimate eldest son of Prince Kaiping Chang Yuchun, and was the famous wife of Duke Zhengguo. His second daughter had married the fifth prince, Prince Zhou, and was the Princess Consort of Zhou. One was a top-tier noble family in the capital and the crown prince’s in-laws, the other was a Ming dynasty prince.
Mu Chun was so clever that he naturally understood his great-uncle’s thoughts. He also knew that Mu Ying would absolutely not agree to a marriage alliance with the Feng family, so he had always been at ease.
Mu Chun sighed deeply: “It’s not a Feng family cousin. Father, actually, I’ve fallen for a woman. In this life, I’ll marry no one but her.”
As long as it wasn’t a Feng family daughter.
“Why beat around the bush? Speak directly if you have something to say.” Mu Ying had a bad feeling. “Don’t tell me you’ve fallen for some courtesan?”
Mu Chun shook his head: “She has a noble background. Father would be slandering her reputation.”
Mu Ying: “Who?”
Mu Chun: “Princess Huaiqing. Princess Huaiqing and I grew up together in the palace, childhood sweethearts. I don’t know when love began, but it ran deep. I always looked for chances to enter the palace just to see her. When I learned that Princess Huaiqing was selecting a prince consort and Father submitted my name to the Inner Palace, I was very grateful to Father, truly.”
Not at all.
Mu Ying was so angry he was speechless, not knowing what to say for a moment. He wanted to transform into a fire-breathing dragon and burn his son to ashes—Princess Huaiqing had chosen Earl Yongchun Wang Ning as prince consort, and the imperial edict had already been issued. If outsiders heard these words, it would damage the princess’s reputation and be grounds for execution!
Mu Chun continued pretending to be deeply infatuated: “So during the Dragon Boat Festival competitions in polo, willow shooting, and dragon boat racing, I gave my all, wanting to be selected. I performed well in the first two events, but in the last one, I was dragged down by that waste Xu Zengshou. He couldn’t tell left from right and crashed into someone else’s boat, making our boat come in last place.”
Mu Ying was grinding his teeth in hatred: “No wonder the military doctor told me that during the polo match on Dragon Boat Festival, you fouled like a mad dog, attacking friend and foe alike, until you were finally ejected from the field. So you were trying to show off in front of the princess.”
Mu Chun nodded: “Yes, I wanted to let the princess see how brave I was.”
Mu Ying: “Clearly you were full of bad intentions, harming others without benefiting yourself!”
“Bad boys are what girls love.” Mu Chun winked at Mu Ying. “Father should understand this very well.”
Mu Ying couldn’t bear it anymore and lashed out with his whip.
Mu Chun had been prepared and rolled under the altar table, thinking: If you have the ability, use that whip on our ancestors’ memorial tablets!
Let’s see if Heaven doesn’t strike you dead, you unfilial son.
Mu Ying didn’t dare. “Get out here, you bastard! Take a piss and look at yourself—how could a waste like you dare covet Princess Huaiqing? Give up this fantasy before you bring destruction on the entire family!”
Mu Chun huddled under the altar table, bargaining with his father: “Fine, Princess Huaiqing already has someone. No matter how heartbroken I am, it’s useless. If Father wants to arrange an engagement for me, I have only one requirement.”
Mu Ying mocked his son: “Who do you think you are? What right do you have to be picky?”
Mu Chun asked knowingly: “Who am I? Am I not your son? Then who is my father?”
Mu Ying clutched his chest, his heart almost exploding with rage. He had been a hero all his life, a lifelong warrior, and the likelihood of being angered to death by his eldest son seemed higher than dying in battle.
Mu Chun said: “My wife must be of noble birth. Since the princess and I have no fate, I must marry a woman whose status is second only to a princess. Otherwise, I’d rather be a bachelor for life than wrong myself by settling for a woman of ordinary background.”
“Father, if I’m to marry, I can only marry the daughter of the greatest meritorious minister of the Ming Dynasty, Duke Weiguo Xu Da.”
Mu Ying laughed coldly: “Are you stupid? Duke Weiguo Xu Da only has three daughters. The eldest is the Princess Consort of Prince Yan. The second and third daughters have already been betrothed to Prince Dai and Prince An. Do you want to steal someone else’s wife and compete with Ming dynasty princes for wives? If you want to die, die far away—don’t implicate the Mu family.”
Mu Chun said: “I know about the three princess consorts of the Xu family, but this time when I followed Duke Weiguo on the Northern Expedition, Duke Weiguo’s health was very good. Like Lian Po in his old age, he can still… have children. When the Xu family has a new daughter, I’ll marry her.”
Duke Weiguo, you absolutely must have a son!
Mu Ying was furious: “You’re dreaming! Children’s marriages are decided by parental command and matchmaker’s arrangement. Whoever I decide on for you, you’ll marry. Even if I arrange for you to marry a pig, you’ll have to bow to Heaven and Earth with that pig!”
Mu Chun spat: “Except for Duke Weiguo’s daughter, I won’t marry anyone. If you arrange any other marriage for me, I’ll strip naked and go break off the engagement.”
Mu Ying: “You wouldn’t dare!”
“What wouldn’t I dare? I dare right now. Anyway, if I’m disgraced, you’re even more disgraced.” Mu Chun rolled out from under the altar table and began tearing his clothes with his bare hands. With two ripping sounds, he tore his round-collar robe into shreds, exposing his upper body.
It was summer and hot, so clothing was light. Under the round-collar robe was only a pair of single trousers. In front of his father, Mu Chun stripped off both his underwear and trousers together, naked as the day he was born.
Mu Ying had seen his eldest son naked twice. The first time was the day he was born, covered in filth and blood, crying like a small kitten. At that time, he wasn’t yet twenty, and the young father was fearful of new life—could such a small bundle survive and grow up?
Facts proved that the wrinkled little lump not only grew up but could anger him to death. Through shamelessness, through indecency.
Mu Ying’s blood was about to boil with rage: “You’re just trying to scare me.”
“Is that so?” Mu Chun strode with his long legs and jumped out the window.
The servants and attendants outside saw him and all cried out: “Young Master! You can’t! Your clothes…”
Mu Ying ran out, cursing: “I don’t care about you anymore! Be a bachelor for life! Your bastard bloodline shouldn’t continue anyway—better it ends here, so we don’t have generations of rebellious sons polluting the Mu family’s good name!”
Mu Chun broke off a banana leaf and wrapped it around his waist: “Better to lack than to settle for less. Bachelor it is—except for the person I want, I won’t marry anyone.”
Just as father and son were about to argue more, an aide came to report: “Duke Weiguo has arrived.”
Speak of Cao Cao and Cao Cao arrives. Mu Ying suppressed his anger and put on a different face to receive Duke Weiguo Xu Da.
Unexpectedly, Duke Weiguo Xu Da had come to propose a marriage: “My son Xu Zengshou has reached marriageable age. I would like to request Marquis Xiping’s eldest daughter as daughter-in-law. What does Marquis Xiping think?”
Xu Da was an absolutely excellent father. His youngest son Xu Zengshou was incompetent and spoiled, so he needed to find a strong father-in-law who could provide support in the future.
Marquis Xiping Mu Ying was an adoptive son of the emperor and empress, never participating in any court factional struggles, with a transcendent position—he was the most stable and powerful protective umbrella.
So as soon as the imperial edict bestowing marriage between Princess Huaiqing and Earl Yongchun was issued, Xu Zengshou’s “supporting role” mission was complete. When Marquis Xiping Mu Ying returned victorious, Xu Da immediately came to propose marriage.
Mu Ying was certainly willing to form a marriage alliance with the Xu family! Xu Zengshou was useless, but his father was formidable!
Thus, Xu Zengshou and the Mu family’s eldest daughter became engaged, and the two families became in-laws.