The Crown Prince called Mu Chun a clown behind his back. This was because Mu Chun always found ways to make the Hongwu Emperor and Empress Ma happy. When facing the Crown Prince, the Hongwu Emperor always wore a stern expression, wishing he could use sticks and chisels to carve Zhu Biao into the perfect crown prince he desired.
Empress Ma maintained the standard face of a legitimate mother—kind, but not intimate.
But whenever the emperor and empress saw Mu Chun, they truly felt “like a spring breeze,” immediately breaking into smiles. No matter what outrageous or absurd things Mu Chun did, even if he was naughty enough to tear the roof off, the imperial couple would only shake their heads helplessly and laugh—never scolding or beating him.
They only know how to scold and beat me. Sometimes the Crown Prince envied his brothers who had been granted fiefs or lived outside the palace, feeling they had freedom.
He was twenty-six years old now. Except for occasionally moving to their hometown Fengyang to temporarily reside and study by the imperial mausoleum, most of his time was spent studying and learning in the Eastern Palace. The Hongwu Emperor was very strict with him and terrifyingly stubborn, monopolizing power and acting dictatorially, completely deaf to advice.
Conversely, sycophants like Hu Shanwei only knew how to follow His Majesty’s wishes and offer foolish suggestions, yet His Majesty actually listened and turned these flattering words into reality.
Mu Chun was the same, acting like a clown to amuse the imperial couple. Those low and vulgar jokes and actions were simply unwatchable, yet the imperial couple enjoyed them and laughed so happily.
Clearly an outsider, yet the imperial couple treated Mu Chun more affectionately than their own grandsons. The Crown Prince was indignant.
Hu Shanwei naturally understood the Crown Prince’s petty thoughts and began worrying about her own future: “I originally planned to serve in the court for life like Shangong Cao and Gongzheng Fan, but the Crown Prince detests me and calls me a sycophant. It doesn’t matter now since I don’t need to look at his expression, but in the future… I might have to retire from the palace early.”
Mu Chun was secretly delighted—leaving the palace early would be wonderful! So I won’t have to wait a lifetime without opportunity. Outwardly, he said: “New emperor, new ministers—that’s how being an official works. Anyway, female officials have lifelong benefits. Even if you leave the palace in the future, you won’t worry about food.”
The imperial couple treated female officials generously to ensure loyalty. Once selected into the palace, besides exempting their families from taxes and corvée labor, all other salary and benefits were lifelong, eliminating worries about old age care. This made female officials less susceptible to external temptations.
For the first time, Mu Chun felt that having a mediocre and pedantic crown prince wasn’t so bad.
Hu Shanwei nodded, thought for a moment, then asked: “What about you? You’ve been classified as a clown and aren’t favored by the Crown Prince either. Your future prospects are worrying.”
Mu Chun didn’t care. He took out the poetry fan Hu Shanwei had given him and recited: “The heartless young master should be charming, wearing armor and dancing with jade flute. Eight thousand li of frontier battles, seeing cooking fires, removing armor to visit chrysanthemums. This poem says that if I find a wise ruler’s appreciation, I’ll fight battles eight thousand li away. If unsuccessful, I’ll find a quiet place, hang up my armor, and plant a few acres of chrysanthemums.”
Hu Shanwei laughed: “I just wrote that casually back then. But your thinking is good—when poor, perfect yourself; when successful, help the world.”
Mu Chun put away his fan and asked seemingly casually: “When I plant my few acres of chrysanthemums, what do you plan to do?”
Hu Shanwei held her chin thoughtfully: “I’ve never considered this question. If not being a female official, what would be good? However, His Majesty’s health is quite good, so there’s plenty of time to consider this.”
Mu Chun tested the waters: “No rush. When the time comes, you could also visit my chrysanthemum field to ponder this question properly.”
Hu Shanwei only smiled without responding.
The atmosphere became somewhat awkward until Shi Qianhu arrived, saying Marquis Xiping Mu Ying was looking for him. Mu Chun quickly made his excuses and fled.
The Yulin Left Guard was only separated by a high wall. Mu Chun turned out and said: “You really are the worm in my belly—your timing is perfect. But your lie wasn’t realistic enough. How could my father possibly come to see me? You need to improve next time.”
Shi Qianhu replied: “I wasn’t lying. Marquis Xiping really has come.”
Mu Chun’s expression immediately changed from playful to wary: “What’s he here for? A weasel paying New Year’s respects to chickens—definitely up to no good.”
Shi Qianhu thought: Calling himself a chicken… that’s not very appropriate.
Mu Ying was indeed waiting for him. Mu Chun performed a bow: “Father, you’ve come.”
The last time he’d seen his eldest son was when he stripped naked in the ancestral hall to resist marriage, shamelessly claiming to have a crush on Princess Huaiqing. Mu Ying wished he didn’t have this son, yet…
Mu Ying nodded coldly: “Mm. Where were you just now?”
Mu Chun habitually lied: “Visiting Empress Mother—Father, what brings you here?”
Mu Chun’s disdainful and contemptuous tone was as obvious as someone who’d just eaten chive and egg dumplings.
Such arrogance! So Mu Ying sarcastically said: “You haven’t come home for months. Seeing you once is harder than seeing His Majesty. A father has to personally visit his son.”
Mu Chun sat down and replied perfunctorily: “I’ve been busy.”
Mu Ying said: “His Majesty has decreed that I, Marquis Yingchuan Fu Youde, and Marquis Yongchang Lan Yu will lead troops to campaign in Yunnan, crusading against the Northern Yuan Prince Liang to unify the Ming realm.”
The Ming Dynasty had been established for fourteen years, but Yunnan had never truly submitted to Ming rule, still governed by the former dynasty’s Prince Liang Bazala Warmi. This prince neither submitted to Ming nor maintained contact with Northern Yuan, establishing himself as king in Yunnan—practically a state within a state. How could a great ruler like the Hongwu Emperor tolerate this?
After the victorious northern expedition and brief rest, he immediately announced the southern campaign, issuing a proclamation: “…Yunnan has been the southwestern barbarians since ancient times. Since the Han established officials there, it has been subject to China. Now Yuan’s remnant Bazala Warmi relies on dangerous remoteness, being obstinate and resistant to transformation… We send troops to crusade against him.”
This meant that since ancient times, Yunnan had been China’s inherent territory, governed by Chinese officials since the Han Dynasty. Now the former Prince Liang was disobedient, so His Majesty dispatched Marquis Yingchuan Fu Youde as General Zhennan, Marquis Yongchang Lan Yu as Left Vice General, and Marquis Xiping Mu Ying as Right Vice General—three armies would march to beat Prince Liang into submission.
Yunnan’s winters were warm as spring, unlike the northern expedition which required waiting for spring. They could strike whenever they wanted without choosing timing.
Marquis Yingchuan Fu Youde was a founding general, mature and steady—perfect as commander-in-chief.
Marquis Yongchang Lan Yu was a young general, brother-in-law of the late Prince Kaiping Chang Yuchun, commanding the left army with vigor, charging into battle.
Marquis Xiping Mu Ying was a middle-aged general with countless achievements—he was the guarantee of this southern campaign’s victory.
It was truly an iron triangle combination. Not winning would be inexcusable.
Mu Chun cupped his hands: “I wish the three of you a triumphant return.”
Mu Ying couldn’t stand his eldest son’s glib manner and deliberately needled him: “This time I’ll bring your brother Mu Sheng on the southern campaign.”
Mu Chun said cheerfully: “Father and son soldiers—father and second brother will surely accumulate battle achievements and return victorious.”
Mu Chun had given up hope in his father, so he felt no disappointment. His brother Mu Sheng had followed Mu Ying in campaigns north and south since age fourteen, earning considerable merit.
While Mu Chun was still studying at the Imperial Academy at seventeen with no achievements, if he hadn’t persisted and made his name at Jiangxi’s Strange Stone Ridge, then received Duke Weiguo Xu Da’s patronage to participate in the fourth northern expedition and accumulate merit to earn the first-rank Commander position, the world would only know Mu Sheng—who would know of Mu Chun?
Seeing his words had no effect and Mu Chun showed no reaction, Mu Ying said: “Your second brother and I are both going on campaign. Your third and fourth brothers are still young. This way, only you remain as the Mu family’s pillar. Your mother can handle small household matters, but big issues need a man. From today, you must come home regularly and can’t always stay in the barracks.”
Third brother Mu Ang was only three, just learning to feed himself and couldn’t even wipe his own bottom.
Mu Chun directly refused: “Father, I’m very busy. Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety cannot coexist. Please forgive your son’s lack of filial duty.”
What are you busy with? Guarding palace gates counts as busy?
Mu Ying wanted to tear off his eldest son’s foul mouth: “Excuses are useless. You must shoulder the responsibilities of being the Mu family’s eldest son. Right now there’s a major matter requiring your attention.”
Mu Chun stood up to see him out: “Father, it’s dinner time. The food here is ordinary and I can’t entertain properly. Please go home to eat.”
Mu Ying suppressed the urge to slap him: “You must handle this matter whether you want to or not. The hundred-day national mourning has ended. Your eldest sister’s wedding to Xu Zengshou approaches in the twelfth month. Your second brother and I will be campaigning in Yunnan then, unable to attend to household affairs. You must fulfill my duties and send your eldest sister off in marriage.”
Mu Chun said: “I’ll definitely attend the wedding day.” As for other times, I won’t go.
Mu Ying said: “There’s a problem now—your brother-in-law Xu Zengshou isn’t in the capital.”
Pfft! Mu Chun almost burst out laughing: “That kid Xu Zengshou is fleeing marriage? Don’t worry, he’ll definitely return automatically. He’s incompetent in both literature and martial arts, gets cheated buying antiques, has no survival skills whatsoever. Besides being a wastrel, he can’t do anything.”
Look at that—what judgment! This is the fine son-in-law you personally chose for your eldest daughter.
Mu Ying couldn’t hold back anymore and slammed the table: “Whether he’s fleeing marriage or missing, as long as he’s alive, you must bring him back on the wedding day to marry your eldest sister, or the Mu family will become the laughingstock of the entire capital.”
If not for the immediate campaign, Mu Ying wouldn’t lower himself to personally seek help from his eldest son at Yulin Right Guard!
This brat—surely he hasn’t forgotten his surname is Mu!
Mu Ying dumped the problem on his eldest son, then departed with second son Mu Sheng the next day, leaving with a pat on the behind. Mu Chun was forced into service—he couldn’t let his eldest sister be humiliated, so he had to search for the man.
Mu Chun sought out Jinyiwei Commander Mao Qiang for information: “Does Commander Mao know where Xu Zengshou went? I remember the last time I saw him was at the dock seeing off Prince Yan’s family to their fief in Beiping. He went to bid farewell, crying until snot bubbles came out.”
Then he was never seen again.
The Jinyiwei had eyes and ears everywhere—Mu Chun didn’t believe Mao Qiang didn’t know.
Mao Qiang said: “Why should I tell you? When did the Jinyiwei come under Yulin Right Guard’s jurisdiction?”
Mu Chun said: “Based on our old relationship—I once served in the Jinyiwei too. I slept in Commander Mao’s bed, took the blame for Ji Gang, led the Jinyiwei up mountains to suppress bandits. I was born a Jinyiwei member and will die—”
“Enough, enough.” Mao Qiang was disgusted by Mu Chun. “Xu Zengshou isn’t fleeing marriage. He just went to see Prince Yan’s family off.”
Mu Chun didn’t believe it: “It’s been over four months—how could he be seeing them off for so long?”
Mao Qiang asked back: “Is Xu Zengshou an ordinary person?”
No, Xu Zengshou was an even more extreme oddball than Mu Chun. From Nanjing to Beiping, they first traveled by water from Longjiang Station. Xu Zengshou said since he’d come this far, he’d see them to Zhenjiang.
Reaching Zhenjiang, he said since he’d come this far, he’d see them to Hangzhou.
At Hangzhou, he said since he’d come this far anyway, he’d see it through to the end, like escorting Buddha to the west. So he followed Prince Yan’s household switching to land route at Huai’an, traveling all the way to Beiping.
Due to Prince Yan’s large household entourage, the journey took three months to reach Beiping.
This was Xu Zengshou’s first visit to a northern city. He was immediately captivated by this former dynasty’s ancient capital and forgot to return.
As for marriage, Xu Zengshou hadn’t given it any thought—he’d completely forgotten about it.
“That bastard!” Mu Chun slammed the table, his expression identical to his father Mu Ying’s.
Time was urgent—only one month remained until the wedding. That very day, Mu Chun requested leave from the Hongwu Emperor and led trusted followers north to Beiping to retrieve (capture) his brother-in-law Xu Zengshou for the wedding (trial).
Mu Chun traveled day and night northward, finally reuniting with another group at Jining Station.
Sweet rain after long drought, meeting old friends in foreign lands, wedding night in bridal chamber, success in imperial examinations. Reuniting with an old friend at Jining Station, the friend enthusiastically approached to greet him: “Brother-in-law! What a coincidence! You’re here too!”
Mu Chun felt none of the joy of meeting old friends in foreign lands—he immediately began punching and kicking.
The old friend was indeed Xu Zengshou. Though he’d forgotten about marriage, his elder sister Princess Yan hadn’t forgotten. She personally wielded a whip to drive away her brother, having Prince Yan’s people supervise Xu Zengshou’s return home for marriage.
Princess Yan scolded her brother: “You’re incompetent, depending on father in your previous life and father-in-law in your next. Miss such a wonderful father-in-law you couldn’t find with a lantern, and you’ll be crying!”
On the third day of the twelfth month, Second Young Master Xu of Duke Weiguo’s household married the eldest daughter of Marquis Xiping’s household. To cover the black eyes and bruises from brother-in-law Mu Chun’s beating, Xu Zengshou’s face powder was as thick as that day’s heavy snow.
“Second Young Master Xu is truly handsome!” guests praised, complimenting Xu Zengshou’s looks.
Hearing this, Mu Chun nearly vomited his dinner from the previous night.
The Xu-Mu marriage alliance involved descendants of ministers valued by the Hongwu Emperor. The Hongwu Emperor gave great face, exceptionally granting the merit-less Xu Zengshou a nominal Left Commander position—a first-rank official title. Miss Mu gained honor through her husband, also receiving a first-rank noble lady’s seal.
On the wedding day, Hu Shanwei delivered Empress Ma’s congratulatory gifts and drank celebration wine at the Mu household. At the women’s table, Hu Shanwei was surrounded by Mu Chun’s various aunts and relatives—all famous noble ladies or princesses in the capital.
Great aunt: eldest daughter-in-law of Prince Kaiping Chang Yuchun, Duchess Zhengguo Feng Shi.
Second aunt: Princess Zhou, Feng Shi.
Great uncle’s wife: Duchess Yingguo.
Paternal grandmother’s sister: Duchess Songguo.
…
After the Xu family marriage alliance, Mu Chun’s various relatives could be said to span most of the Ming court.
Hu Shanwei held sixth rank but sat among this group of capital’s top noble ladies due to being Empress Ma’s personal female official, rumored originator of the “Filial Piety Record,” the “sycophant” in the Crown Prince’s mouth, and legendary female official who brought down former Noble Consort Hu and Prince Qin.
Her presence here, combined with past “achievements,” made everyone assume she was the imperial couple’s informant. All felt restrained, creating a somber atmosphere at odds with the celebration.
For Mu Chun’s sake, Hu Shanwei broke the awkwardness, raising her wine cup to offer toasts and bless the newlyweds. After three consecutive cups and sitting briefly, she excused herself to return to the palace to report, leaving early.
Standing up, Hu Shanwei felt dizzy, thinking the wine tasted ordinary but had strong aftereffects. She supported herself onto the carriage and quickly fell asleep from the jolting.
She didn’t know this carriage didn’t return to the palace but left the city, disappearing into the heavy snow.
Author’s Note: Earl Yongchun, Mu Chun. Both have “chun” (spring).
So Hu Shanwei is destined to have a second spring in love~