Hu Shanwei speculated about the mastermind’s motives, harboring a thought that could cost her head. She went to secretly investigate the imperial genealogy records. Prince Qi Zhu Bo was born on the twenty-third day of the twelfth month of the twenty-fourth year of Zhizheng.
In the seventh month of the twenty-third year of Zhizheng, Zhu Yuanzhang and Han King Chen Youliang fought a decisive battle at Poyang Lake. Chen Youliang had a hundred giant warships and held the advantage, but he made the same mistake as Cao Cao during the Three Kingdoms period—using iron chains to lock the giant ships together. The vast lake surface resembled land, like aircraft carriers of later generations.
History has an uncanny way of repeating itself. Zhu Yuanzhang used the same method Zhuge Liang employed against Cao Cao during the Three Kingdoms period—fire attack. Light boats loaded with gunpowder and other flammables, taking advantage of changing wind direction, were piloted by suicide squads to attack the massive fleet.
Chen Youliang’s aircraft carriers became flaming ships, burning and drowning masses of people. He was forced to lead his remnant forces to flee to Straw Shoe Mountain, where they encountered Zhu Yuanzhang’s ambush and were trapped.
On the twenty-sixth day of the eighth month, Chen Youliang stubbornly refused to surrender. In a desperate final breakout attempt, he died in battle. According to the historical records Hu Shanwei found, Chen Youliang’s death was particularly brutal: “Pierced through eye and skull to death.”
An arrow shot through his eye, penetrating his entire head, killing him instantly. Such exquisite archery must have been fired by some famous general.
After ransacking the archives, Hu Shanwei finally found in the merit records from that year’s rewards the person who fired that stunning arrow—Marquis Wuding Guo Ying, who was none other than Consort Guo Ning’s second elder brother, currently stationed in Yunnan with Marquis Xiping Mu Ying.
So Consort Guo Ning and Consort Da Ding had a blood feud over the killing of a husband!
This was an unexpected discovery, but Hu Shanwei saw that Chen Youliang’s death date was the twenty-sixth day of the eighth month of the twenty-third year of Zhizheng… while Prince Qi was born in the twelfth month of the twenty-fourth year of Zhizheng.
The timing didn’t match.
Hu Shanwei dejectedly set down Prince Qi’s genealogy record. Still unwilling to give up, having come this far, she continued searching through dusty documents until midnight, unable to return empty-handed.
Hu Shanwei continued reading documents related to Consort Da Ding. When Chen Youliang and his eldest son were shot dead during the breakout, the remnant forces brought his second son Chen Li back to Wuchang, where he succeeded as Han King.
In the second month of the twenty-fourth year of Zhizheng, Zhu Yuanzhang’s forces besieged Wuchang, including the fierce general Chang Yuchun, who habitually threatened to massacre cities if they didn’t surrender.
Zhu Yuanzhang promised not to kill those who surrendered. Han King Chen Li led his civil and military officials to open the gates in surrender. Zhu Yuanzhang kept his promise, sparing the surrendering army and even enfeoffing Chen Li as Marquis Chengen. At the same time, Zhu Yuanzhang took a fancy to Chen Youliang’s concubine in the Han King’s palace—the stunning beauty Lady Da—seizing her for his harem as a consort. On the twenty-third day of the twelfth month that year, during Little New Year, Lady Da gave birth to Prince Qi Zhu Bo.
Chen Youliang had “cultivated deeply” in the Hubei-Jiangxi region for many years and held considerable influence. The people in this area only recognized Chen Li as their master, and since Chen Li had voluntarily surrendered, from scholars to commoners in Wuchang, most were grateful to their former master Chen Li.
Hu Shanwei deeply understood this. Back then, another Wu King Zhang Shicheng refused to surrender, and Suzhou defended for three months before finally being breached by the joint forces of Xu Da and Chang Yuchun.
“When Suzhou fell, Chang Yuchun entered through Qi Gate, massacring almost everyone in his path. Xu Da entered through Chang Gate, killing no one. When they met at Wofo Temple, Xu Da finally warned Chang Yuchun to stop the killing.”
During Chang Yuchun’s massacre of Suzhou, Hu Shanwei was hidden in a book box by her father Hu Rong to escape, then concealed by Chan Master Dao Yan in Wofo Temple to avoid the slaughter. Later, Xu Da arrived and persuaded Chang Yuchun to cease killing.
Hu Shanwei, insignificant as an ant, survived the disaster. This life-saving grace she would never forget—she still felt grateful to Chan Master Dao Yan and Duke Weiguo Xu Da.
Emperor Hongwu deeply feared Marquis Chengen Chen Li, worried that if Chen Li raised his arms and called out, the old Han King forces would follow in rebellion. However, killing him would violate his promise, making future surrenders impossible to believe.
Emperor Hongwu was quite a creative emperor. In the fifth year of Hongwu, Marquis Chengen Chen Li was sent far away to Goryeo…
Hu Shanwei checked Chen Li’s birth date in the records and discovered that while historical accounts always described Chen Li as young and ignorant, constantly offending Emperor Hongwu and thus being sent to Goryeo, the fact was that when Han King Chen Li surrendered by opening the gates in the twenty-fourth year of Zhizheng, he was fourteen years old.
Fourteen years old—the same age as Prince Lu Zhu Tan, who was brazenly pursuing Shen Qionglian. Neither too old nor too young, quite capable of doing many things, including…
If this were the case, then the timing of Prince Qi’s birth would perfectly align with Chen Li’s surrender—they would match exactly.
Hu Shanwei couldn’t help but cover her mouth, overwhelmed by fear. If her suspicions were correct, this conspiracy had been planned for nearly twenty years!
Consort Da Ding’s goal wasn’t the heir designation or empress position—she wanted to overturn everything, to change dynasties!
Hu Shanwei gathered the dusty documents and went to find Mao Qiang.
No one slept tonight.
Due to the overnight investigation of Prince Lu’s pill case, Mao Qiang and others were busy in the interrogation chambers. When Mao Qiang came out to see Hu Shanwei, he reeked of blood and burnt flesh.
“Not sleeping in the middle of the night—what else do you want to do?” Mao Qiang deeply felt Hu Shanwei was a troublemaker. Since she entered the palace, except for the year of peace feeding deer at Xiaoling, there had been constant turmoil, all major storms. An ordinary person would have died a hundred times over, yet she remained lively and active, restored to her position, with Consort Guo Ning practically obeying her every word.
This Prince Lu pill case was also brought up by her.
“I’m certainly not here for a midnight snack.” Hu Shanwei dumped the pile of documents on the desk. To Mao Qiang, this looked like a tangled mess. “What’s the meaning of this?”
Hu Shanwei picked out the main point from the countless threads: “Marquis Chengen Chen Li, the one sent to Goryeo—have you personally seen this man, Commander Mao?”
Chen Li was sent to Goryeo in the fifth year of Hongwu and never returned.
Mao Qiang said: “Of course I’ve seen him. When Chen Li surrendered by opening the gates, I was just a minor guard captain protecting His Majesty closely. Later, when Chen Li was enfeoffed and lived in Nanjing for five years, I also assigned people to secretly monitor him to prevent a resurgence of Han King forces.”
Hu Shanwei asked: “Is Chen Li still alive? Does he have offspring? By age, he should be thirty-four.”
Mao Qiang paused, then said: “Still alive. His Majesty said to let him live, so he must live. His Majesty ordered the Goryeo king to take good care of Chen Li.”
Goryeo was a vassal state of the Ming, ranked equivalent to a commandery prince, though the Ming always treated the Goryeo king with the protocol of a prince to appease this small neighbor.
Having mixed in the Ming palace for five years, Hu Shanwei didn’t believe Mao Qiang’s nonsense. She stared at him steadily: “People can live in many different ways. Commander Mao needn’t hide things from me.”
Mao Qiang spoke frankly: “The Goryeo king gave Chen Li some fields and houses sufficient for basic survival, but no women. He has no wives or concubines—poor men without money have to remain bachelors there.”
How could the Goryeo king dare give him women? If offspring were born, it would offend the suzerain state.
Hu Shanwei asked again: “Does Commander Mao remember Chen Li’s appearance during his youth?”
Mao Qiang thought about it: “After twelve years, I can’t remember clearly. Chen Li was ordinary-looking, I suppose. Why are you asking these things?”
Hu Shanwei pressed further: “Does Commander Mao think Prince Qi Zhu Bo and Chen Li bear any resemblance?”
Mao Qiang froze on the spot, then jumped up from his seat, closing doors and windows while lowering his voice: “How dare you be so bold! Slandering a prince’s bloodline is a crime punishable by execution of nine generations!”
Hu Shanwei pursued relentlessly: “Twelve years have passed, and memory is unreliable, but judging from Commander Mao’s reaction just now, by intuition they should bear some resemblance, shouldn’t they?”
Hu Shanwei spread out the pile of documents on the desk one by one, using red ink to circle key points: Chen Youliang died in battle in the eighth month, shot through the head by Consort Guo Ning’s elder brother Guo Ying; the following second month, Chen Li surrendered by opening the gates; Emperor Hongwu entered the Han King’s palace and took a fancy to Chen Youliang’s beautiful concubine Lady Da. Perhaps amazed by Lady Da’s beauty, or perhaps driven by vengeful compensation psychology, he summoned Lady Da to his bed that very night. Ten months later, on Little New Year’s Eve, Lady Da gave birth to Prince Qi Zhu Bo.
Hu Shanwei said: “Chen Li was fourteen years old then. Commander Mao should still remember the details of Silkworm Mother’s assassination attempt on Empress Xiaoci. The first person to identify the assassin Silkworm Mother as a former maid of the Han King’s consort was Consort Da Ding herself. Commander Mao, we may have all been deceived by Consort Da Ding’s apparent submission and tears.”
“The Silkworm Mother incident may have been Consort Da Ding crying ‘thief’ while being the thief herself. Silkworm Mother was from Jiangxi, as was Imperial Censor Liu Hai who petitioned to posthumously honor Guo Zixing. Cheng Pengju, who set traps for Ma Ye, and Liu Hai were both Jiangxi examination candidates from the same Xinhai year of the third year of Hongwu. But all these clues were obscured by smoke screens from Consort Da Ding’s seemingly fragile performance—identifying Silkworm Mother, requesting Prince Qi’s early enfeoffment—causing us to eliminate the most suspicious person.”
Mao Qiang frowned deeply: “Your reasoning isn’t without merit. I vaguely recall Chen Li and Prince Qi bearing some resemblance. But Consort Da Ding lives deep in the palace, rarely venturing out. How could she manipulate the old Han King forces from behind the scenes, orchestrating step by step?”
“After Consort Da Ding first recognized Silkworm Mother, she also suggested Commander Mao question former Han King palace servants in the imperial court. They confirmed Silkworm Mother’s identity. These people became official slaves after the Han King palace fell and served in the Ming palace, probably recognizing Prince Qi as their young master and Lady Da as their mistress, serving as bridges for communication between Consort Da Ding and the old Han King forces.” Hu Shanwei pointed to Prince Qi’s name:
“Doesn’t Commander Mao find it strange? Other princes average twenty years old when enfeoffed, but Prince Qi was enfeoffed at only seventeen due to the Silkworm Mother assassination incident, at Consort Da Ding’s tearful pleading. I believe besides clearing suspicion, there were two reasons: first, as he aged, Prince Qi increasingly resembled Chen Li, creating danger of discovery in the harem.”
“Second, the palace has many ears and eyes, making it inconvenient to contact outside old forces. But principalities are different—princes wield great power, and with the emperor far away, they can cover the sky with one hand. When Liu Siyan’s group died tragically in Xi’an at Prince Qin’s palace, wasn’t it covered up completely? Once Prince Qi reached his territory, the old Han King forces could safely pledge allegiance.”
As Embroidered Uniform Guard commander, Mao Qiang had witnessed countless tragedies. The terrible fate of Liu Siyan’s group ranked in the top three, unforgettable for life.
Prince Qi’s territory was far away in Qingzhou, Shandong—truly beyond imperial reach. Prince Qi was enfeoffed in the fifteenth year of Hongwu and returned for Empress Ma’s funeral in the sixteenth year of Hongwu. He had cried like a tearful person then, wearing coarse hemp mourning clothes—a sea of white. All the princes looked similar, so no one paid attention to Prince Qi’s appearance.
Concerning imperial bloodline, Mao Qiang had to be cautious. Following his memories, never mind Chen Li—he wasn’t even certain of Prince Qi’s specific appearance.
Mao Qiang said: “Palace servants capable of secretly communicating with Consort Da Ding must be death warriors. Even under severe torture, they probably wouldn’t reveal anything. Consort Da Ding might even turn around and claim the servants confessed under torture. Now the most important things are confirming Prince Qi’s bloodline and infiltrating Prince Qi’s palace to investigate whether he associates with suspicious people. If evidence is conclusive, Consort Da Ding will have no escape.”
Women giving birth could carry for eight, nine, ten, or even eleven months. Prince Qi’s bloodline was questionable.
Hu Shanwei said: “Commander Mao speaks truly. I’m merely a minor female official in the deep palace—I have suspicions but cannot investigate personally. Everything depends on Commander Mao’s efforts.”
But Mao Qiang grasped her wrist: “Concerning the authenticity of imperial bloodline, even I have no authority to independently investigate Prince Qi’s background. This matter requires His Majesty’s order. Come with me to report to His Majesty and bring all these documents.”
In the middle of the night, being awakened would put anyone in a bad mood. Emperor Hongwu sat up abruptly in the dragon bed, thinking it was urgent military affairs: “What is it? Are the Northern Yuan disturbing northwest borders, or has another Yunnan local official rebelled?”
Ming’s borders were never peaceful—if not northern expeditions, then southern campaigns. Emperor Hongwu never let down his guard.
Mao Qiang said: “It concerns Empress Xiaoci’s assassination incident and… Consort Da Ding possibly confusing imperial bloodlines.”
Both matters were enough to immediately awaken Emperor Hongwu.
Qianqing Palace bedchamber.
In the year since Empress Xiaoci’s death, Emperor Hongwu hadn’t emerged from the sorrow of losing his first wife. He hadn’t visited any harem consorts, sleeping alone in Qianqing Palace. The female historian officials who specifically recorded imperial bed affairs had been on paid leave for over a year because there was nothing to record.
Emperor Hongwu got up and saw Hu Shanwei cowering in the corner, immediately showing an “it’s you again” expression.
Hu Shanwei was frightened. After all, telling the emperor he might be wearing a cuckold’s hat and had raised an enemy’s son for nineteen years was difficult to voice. Emperor Hongwu might very well execute Hu Shanwei in rage first.
Emperor Hongwu also knew his problem with violent temper and raised his right hand: “Speak. We pardon you from guilt.”
Hu Shanwei walked from the corner to under the lamp, starting with the Silkworm Mother assassination incident, then bringing out the documents from the archives: “…That’s how it is. This subject finds Consort Da Ding highly suspicious.”
Consort Da Ding wanted to overturn the Ming dynasty. Killing Emperor Hongwu wouldn’t work because there was the Crown Prince and twenty princes—Prince Qi’s turn would never come.
Prince Qi’s only chance for the throne was during political turmoil in the Ming, when Prince Qi could fish in troubled waters.
Starting from the harem, first using Silkworm Mother and Ma Ye to eliminate the capable Empress who could maintain stability; posthumously honoring Guo Zixing to suppress Consort Guo Hui who had borne five children; enticing Prince Lu, Consort Guo Ning’s only son, to consume Five-Stone Powder as chronic poison to revenge Guo Ying who had shot Han King Chen Youliang through the head, while incidentally tripping up Consort Guo Ning for failing to educate her son.
After Consort Da Ding eliminated and suppressed all opponents to control harem power, becoming Noble Consort or successor Empress, she would have opportunities to deal with Crown Prince in the Eastern Palace…
Unexpectedly, Emperor Hongwu was terrifyingly calm this time, letting Hu Shanwei speak without interruption, as if it didn’t concern him.
Emperor Hongwu’s eyes were slightly closed, as if about to fall asleep. Only after Hu Shanwei finished completely did he open his eyes: “Mao Qiang, dispatch Embroidered Uniform Guard agents and artists to Goryeo to secretly paint Chen Li’s face. There may be old Han King people around him—don’t rashly bring him back, as it would alert the enemy. Also, send people to investigate Prince Qi’s background. He’s been enfeoffed for two years—find out his associations, whether he hides private soldiers, maintains death warriors, etc.”
Mao Qiang accepted: “Speed is essential in military affairs. This subject will arrange it overnight.”
As Mao Qiang left, Hu Shanwei quickly tried to follow and escape. Cherish life, stay away from the emperor.
“You stay,” Emperor Hongwu said.
Hu Shanwei stopped, her heart jumping to her throat: “What are Your Majesty’s instructions?”
Emperor Hongwu pointed to the chair beside him: “Sit.”
“Thank Your Majesty for the seat.” Hu Shanwei was panicking inside while maintaining surface composure.
Emperor Hongwu asked: “From the Silkworm Mother incident onward, you’ve harbored suspicions. Even feeding animals at Xiaoling for a year didn’t make you abandon pursuing the truth. Why do this? Empress Xiaoci asked you to let go before her death.”
Hu Shanwei said: “This subject’s motives aren’t as noble as serving country and people. Empress Xiaoci showed me recognition and kindness, carefully promoting and teaching me. Though Empress Xiaoci grew weary of palace struggles and political strife, seeing through fame and profit, choosing peaceful death, this subject cannot do the same. This subject is determined to find the truth and avenge Empress Xiaoci.”
Things like the Ming dynasty’s mountains and rivers were too abstract. The longer one spent in the palace, the more one felt their own insignificance. Precisely because of this, Hu Shanwei treasured what she could do before her—like a chess player competing against a mastermind behind the curtain, analyzing the opponent’s playing patterns and habits, guessing their strategies, seeking flaws.
Without returning to palace service, she would have continued suspecting Consort Guo Ning, circling in a dead end.
Emperor Hongwu didn’t mention Consort Da Ding, still speaking of Empress Xiaoci: “It was We… who harmed Our Empress.”
Emperor Hongwu was full of regret: “When the realm was not yet pacified, We conquered cities and territories, competing with heroes for fourteen years. In the military, We never wrongfully took any woman or girl. Only after conquering Wuchang, in anger at Chen Youliang’s repeated military offenses, did We seize his concubine.”
As a hegemon of Jiangnan, what stunning beauties hadn’t Emperor Hongwu seen? He loved territory far more than beauties.
If Emperor Hongwu hadn’t seized Lady Da out of vengeful psychology, Chen Li’s honey trap would have failed, and none of this would have happened. Without Silkworm Mother’s assassination causing Empress Ma’s heavy blow after recovering from serious illness, without nephew Ma Ye falling for schemes and forcing She Xiang to rebel, causing Empress Ma mental trauma, without the dual physical and mental blows, Empress Xiaoci might still be alive.
Hu Shanwei didn’t know how to respond—agreeing or disagreeing would both be wrong, so she remained silent. Speaking more led to more errors, speaking less to fewer errors, not speaking to no errors.
But Emperor Hongwu wouldn’t let Hu Shanwei be at peace: “Someone, bring Director Hu a midnight snack.”
Was this a last meal for knowing too much? Hu Shanwei was frightened: “This subject… this subject isn’t hungry.”
Emperor Hongwu said: “After you eat your fill, tell Us properly about Empress Xiaoci.”
Hu Shanwei and Emperor Hongwu talked about Empress Xiaoci until dawn.
To stabilize Consort Da Ding and prevent information leaks, the Embroidered Uniform Guard and Palace Justice Department pretended excessive torture had killed the suspects, creating an illusion of dead witnesses, sealing the Five-Stone Powder shops and executing the owners to relax the mastermind’s vigilance.
Thus, the Prince Lu pill case concluded with the explanation that attendants had acted to curry favor.
Over a month later, Mao Qiang presented Emperor Hongwu with comparison portraits of Chen Li and Prince Qi drawn by artists, along with evidence of Prince Qi secretly gathering old Han King ministers and maintaining private soldiers and death warriors.
Prince Qi and Chen Li bore five-tenths resemblance. Combined with other evidence, it was confirmed that after Emperor Hongwu cuckolded Chen Youliang, he had been cuckolded by Chen Li for nineteen years!
Green hats are forever, one crown eternally passed down. Those who cuckold others will be cuckolded in return.
By now it was early winter, with braziers lit in the rooms. Emperor Hongwu threw all the portraits and evidence into the brazier.
“Your Majesty?” Mao Qiang thought Emperor Hongwu had lost his mind in anger.
Emperor Hongwu said: “Convey Our decree: Consort Da Ding is gravely ill, her life hanging by a thread. Summon Prince Qi Zhu Bo to return to the capital to attend his mother’s illness.”
Mao Qiang said: “But Consort Da Ding isn’t sick—she’s perfectly healthy. If palace news and the decree don’t match, Prince Qi will be suspicious. If he becomes desperate and raises troops in rebellion, Shandong will surely fall into chaos.”
Emperor Hongwu said coldly: “If We say she’s ill, she must fall ill; if We say she’s gravely ill, she’ll immediately contract a real, serious illness.”
Mao Qiang immediately understood—Emperor Hongwu would poison Consort Da Ding to make the performance realistic, convincing Prince Qi that his mother consort had fallen seriously ill, luring him to travel the thousand li to visit Consort Da Ding in the palace.
That evening, Emperor Hongwu did something unprecedented—he selected Consort Da Ding’s tablet, summoning her to his bed.
This was the first time Emperor Hongwu had slept with a woman since Empress Xiaoci’s death, shocking the entire harem.
Consort Guo Ning bit her silver teeth in rage: “That vixen!”
How she wished it were herself who had become the first consort to serve the emperor.
At this age and position, whether or not she slept with the emperor no longer mattered, but this time was different—the symbolic significance was too great. Though Consort Guo Ning had no physical desire for Emperor Hongwu, psychologically her vanity was wounded. She desperately wanted to kick aside Consort Da Ding and climb onto Emperor Hongwu’s dragon bed.
Rarely, Hu Shanwei didn’t console Consort Guo Ning. She knew Emperor Hongwu was about to act, thinking silently: Not sleeping with the emperor ensures safety—when will Your Highness Consort Ning understand this truth!