“All of you withdraw. I wish to speak with my empress,” Emperor Hongwu commanded. No one dared disobey.

Hu Shanwei walked out of the underground palace to find it was already daylight outside, with snowflakes drifting down. The battle fires had been extinguished, and they were cleaning up the battlefield. Corpse after corpse was loaded onto carts and hauled away. The Bright Tower was half-burned – too late for emergency repairs, it had become a dangerous structure that needed to be torn down and rebuilt.

The building swayed precariously, ready to collapse at any moment. For safety, tents had been erected on the open ground outside. Hu Shanwei and the others went to the tents to shelter from the wind and snow. Mu Chun, guarding the entrance, ordered soldiers to escort Prince Lu and Shen Qionglian to another tent: “There’s a stove there – it’s warmer.”

Shen Qionglian was ice-smart and didn’t expose anything, walking away. Prince Lu hurriedly followed.

Hu Shanwei had just entered the tent when she immediately froze in place.

No wonder Prince Lu and Shen Qionglian couldn’t be allowed to see this! Prince Qi and Prince Tan each lay on wooden tables, with four physicians surrounding their stiff corpses, repairing the remains. They were fitting grain-sized bone fragments back into their skulls, then covering with scalp and stitching with needle and thread.

All four were imperial physicians led by the white-bearded Chief Judge of the Imperial Medical Academy, including Physician Tan, whom Hu Shanwei knew well.

Mu Chun said, “The emperor issued a gag order – anyone revealing the truth will be executed without mercy. The official story is that Northern Yuan people raided Xiaoling, attempting to destroy our Great Ming’s dragon veins. Prince Qi and Prince Tan died fighting to protect Xiaoling. Concubine Dading lost both sons… overcome with grief, she died that very night. No wonder you were in such a bad mood when you came to Xiaoling, hiding things from me. So it was all because of Concubine Dading’s scheming. Nineteen years – this woman was too formidable. Even Empress Xiaoci fell to her hands.”

Hu Shanwei felt sorrowful, remembering Empress Xiaoci’s deathbed words:

“This palace has no legitimate son. The numerous concubines in the Eastern and Western Six Palaces bear children for the imperial family. Some are pitiable – Concubine Dading, Concubine Guo Hui, both victims of political struggles. This palace can do nothing but try to treat them kindly. This palace is mortal and has emotions… The Six Bureaus and One Department can restrain this palace’s selfish desires, allowing these concubines to receive fair treatment as much as possible…”

“This palace wants neither your gratitude nor your revenge. This palace only wants you to live well…”

However, not all kindness receives good returns. The struggle for power is so cruel and ruthless – husbands and wives, mothers and sons, fathers and sons all send each other to the underworld.

No wonder Empress Xiaoci saw through it all and lost her will to live, welcoming death, not wanting her to seek truth or revenge.

Because revenge is endless – grievance begets grievance. Concubine Dading sought revenge for Prince Han Chen Youliang, harming Empress Xiaoci to death. Hu Shanwei wanted revenge for Empress Xiaoci, exposing the truth. Concubine Dading paid with her own life and those of her two sons for this, while the real enemy, Emperor Hongwu, still lived.

Hu Shanwei didn’t want to face these two cold corpses and walked out of the tent, but the entire Xiaoling was covered with corpses everywhere – nowhere to go.

She had avenged Empress Xiaoci, but felt no satisfaction, none of the sense of achievement and excitement she used to feel after completing various tasks.

Looking at countless corpses, the melancholy overflowing from her brows was like the drifting snow filling the sky – boundless and endless.

At this moment, Hu Shanwei deeply felt Empress Xiaoci’s exhaustion before death. Her heart was so tired. Not from mental and physical busyness, but from having her life force ground up and worn down by one tragic event after another.

She now finally understood why Empress Xiaoci faced death calmly and refused treatment – because her life force was gone. Living reluctantly would be like walking dead. Empress Xiaoci didn’t want to live that way…

Imperial face was more important than truth. The mighty Ming Emperor had worn a green hat for nineteen years, and his own son had betrayed him. Speaking of this would damage imperial dignity and make them a laughingstock. Like this heavy snow, it could only whitewash the peace and cover up scandals.

Mother and two sons went to the underworld together, and Emperor Hongwu still had to give them grand funerals.

Emperor Hongwu locked himself in the underground palace with Empress Xiaoci’s coffin for a full day and night. No one knew what he said to his deceased wife. When he emerged the next morning, he had visibly aged several years with new wrinkles, his temples frost-white. This emperor famous for his abundant energy now showed signs of old age.

“Return to the palace. Hold court,” Emperor Hongwu said.

Xiaoling needed reconstruction, so Hu Shanwei could no longer continue hiding there in peace. With the leak about Concubine Dading’s poisoning, the palace would surely see another wave of bloody purges.

Hu Shanwei’s group followed the imperial carriage back to the palace. Heavy snow fell, covering the bloodstains, while the bitter west wind still carried faint traces of blood.

She remembered Empress Xiaoci’s dying words: “…The rear palace is the Great Ming’s greatest arena of fame and fortune. After this palace’s death, for the empress position, even the crown prince position, the rear palace will become the greatest gladiatorial arena, tearing each other apart… The Great Ming court is about to face its greatest upheaval…”

Hu Shanwei thought: Your Majesty, every word you spoke prophesied the future. Now no new empress has been established, Concubine Guo Ning hasn’t even achieved deputy empress status and cannot suppress the rear palace like you did. When will the fighting end? Prince Qi and Prince Tan even fought at your resting place – isn’t this considered a major upheaval? Haven’t enough people died already?

Can’t everyone stop causing trouble? Once fighting starts, it’s not just about being shattered to pieces oneself – how many innocent people will be dragged to their deaths!

While thinking these thoughts, someone gently tapped the carriage from outside, calling softly, “Court Lady Hu.”

The voice sounded familiar. Hu Shanwei pulled aside the curtain to see Physician Tan, who had been at Xiaoling with the Chief Judge repairing Prince Qi’s skull. He rode on horseback at eye level with Hu Shanwei.

Physician Tan seemed nervous, staring straight ahead as if just passing by. To avoid drawing attention, he said, “Please, Court Lady Hu, lower the curtain to speak.”

Physician Tan was an old friend of Hu Shanwei’s father Hu Rong. The two often went together to the Music Bureau to drink tea and watch performances. When Hu Shanwei fought the assassin Silkworm Mother and was severely wounded, it was Physician Tan and Apothecary Ru who treated her together.

Hu Shanwei lowered the curtain. “What has Physician Tan so panicked?”

Physician Tan looked ahead and said, “Apothecary Ru was taken away by Palace Justice Department people last night. Anyone connected to Concubine Dading’s affairs has been quietly executed. I heard Court Lady Hu is on good terms with Palace Supervisor Fan of the Palace Justice Department. Please, Court Lady Hu, hurry to save Apothecary Ru.”

The news of Apothecary Ru’s arrest instantly pulled Hu Shanwei back to reality from her melancholy over losing Empress Xiaoci.

Hu Shanwei knew why Apothecary Ru was arrested: that day when Concubine Dading was poisoned, Apothecary Ru refused to treat her according to the prescription given by the Embroidered Uniform Guard, insisting the Chief Judge treat her instead.

Mao Qiang had set up a trap, using Concubine Dading’s serious illness as an excuse to summon Prince Qi back to the capital to visit his sick mother, then catch them all in one net.

But somehow the secret of Concubine Dading’s poisoning had leaked out. Both sons, Prince Qi and Prince Tan, knew about it and planned to kidnap Prince Lu for a life-for-life exchange, attacking Xiaoling to seize him.

So the question was: who leaked the secret?

Apothecary Ru, who refused to treat Concubine Dading, was undoubtedly the prime suspect.

Hu Shanwei hurried back to the palace. Too rushed to pay respects to Concubine Guo Ning at Zhongcui Palace, she went to the Palace Justice Department to find Palace Supervisor Fan.

With blood and wind in the palace, the Palace Justice Department was especially busy. Palace Supervisor Fan had barely slept recently, looking haggard despite powder covering it up. After secretly executing quite a few people, her makeup remained exquisite, but her eyes had become sharp and murderous.

Palace Supervisor Fan wasn’t surprised by Hu Shanwei’s visit. She politely invited her to sit, ordered tea, and said, “I know why you’ve come. But you worked at the Palace Justice Department for a year – you should understand the rules here best. In the rear palace, there are no unsolved cases. Human lives are like grass. If we can’t find conclusive evidence of the leak, then the most suspicious person must be thoroughly interrogated. If she survives the torture, she might prove her innocence.”

Hu Shanwei said, “Apothecary Ru has skillful hands and a benevolent heart. A physician’s hands, if subjected to severe torture, will no longer be nimble – she’d be useless. Palace Supervisor Fan knows Apothecary Ru’s aspirations. If she can’t practice medicine to heal and save people or advance in medical arts, what difference is there from killing her? Please give Apothecary Ru a chance to defend herself.”

Hu Shanwei was Concubine Guo Ning’s “strategist” with power to oppose Court Lady Cao, the palace’s premier female official. Palace Supervisor Fan, seeing her hurried appearance, thought she had come to use Concubine Guo Ning’s influence to demand the Palace Justice Department release the prisoner.

Since Hu Shanwei spoke reasonably without throwing her weight around, Palace Supervisor Fan became less formal and more sincere.

Having worked alongside each other in the palace for fourteen years, Palace Supervisor Fan wasn’t without feelings for Apothecary Ru. She said, “From arrest until now, I haven’t ordered torture for Apothecary Ru. But she refuses to accuse others and can’t prove her innocence. What can I do? I’m also helpless.”

“When the emperor wasn’t here, it was manageable. Concubine Guo Ning knows nothing and remains in the dark, not inquiring about this matter, so I could delay until now. But now the emperor has returned. If I don’t use torture or find other suspects, when the emperor demands results, how do I explain?”

Palace Supervisor Fan was smooth in her dealings, playing all sides – an exquisite egoist. She didn’t do evil and was fundamentally kind-hearted, but would never sacrifice her career prospects for others.

This related to Palace Supervisor Fan’s background. Her grandfather Fan Peng was one of the Four Great Yuan Dynasty poets and a clean, upright official of high moral character. He skillfully used poetry to criticize current affairs, offending many people. Though well-regarded, his official career was mediocre.

Growing up hearing about her grandfather’s experiences, Palace Supervisor Fan learned official rules and lessons, later doing the opposite. Her career went smoothly, standing firm through all changes – she was a very practical female official.

When Hu Shanwei first entered the palace as a fearless newcomer, Palace Supervisor Fan deliberately pushed her to the front to shield arrows and wade through various dangers. Fortunately, Hu Shanwei was bold, careful, and lucky, with various noble people helping her. She repeatedly turned danger into opportunity and rose rapidly – otherwise she would have become cannon fodder long ago.

Understanding Palace Supervisor Fan’s nature, Hu Shanwei said, “Such earth-shattering secrets don’t leak out for no reason. Please allow me to take Apothecary Ru from prison so I can question her properly. Regarding Concubine Dading’s poisoning, even Palace Supervisor Fan didn’t know at the time. Only five people knew: me, Mao Qiang, the Chief Judge of the Imperial Medical Academy, Apothecary Ru, and the emperor. On the surface, Apothecary Ru seems most likely to leak the secret, but I believe that with her ten years of palace medical experience, she absolutely couldn’t be the informant because she would gain nothing from it.”

“I also believe in her discretion, but…” Palace Supervisor Fan said, “Unintentional leaks are also serious crimes – she’s not innocent.”

Hu Shanwei said, “What if it’s not? What if it was one of the other four, including myself, who unintentionally leaked it? Please give Apothecary Ru a chance. She’s proud by nature – if you treat her like a criminal during questioning, she’ll resist in her heart. How could she cooperate?”

Palace Supervisor Fan was half-convinced: “Why won’t she cooperate? Isn’t she afraid of death?”

Hu Shanwei remembered that day when Apothecary Ru resolutely refused her request to fake taking Concubine Dading’s pulse and forge a “heart disease” medical record.

Apothecary Ru’s words seemed to echo in her ears: “I am first a physician, then a female official. My whole life I only save people, never harm them. Either don’t let me treat patients, or I’ll give my all to treat them. Even knowing she might die, I won’t abandon any possibility of saving her.”

“…You serve Empress Xiaoci, I serve the medical way. Different paths cannot work together…”

To pursue the medical way, Apothecary Ru had cruelly rejected even Physician Tan’s love. Physician Tan remained devoted, enduring various pressures while staying single. When Apothecary Ru was in trouble, Physician Tan was first to ask Hu Shanwei for help.

Hu Shanwei sighed and said to Palace Supervisor Fan, “For Apothecary Ru, some things are more important than life.”

Palace Supervisor Fan thought it over. Since nothing could be extracted from questioning anyway, and Hu Shanwei was willing to take this hot potato onto herself, she might as well let her take it. She’d have people guard Hu Shanwei’s door – Apothecary Ru couldn’t escape.

When the emperor asked later, she could push responsibility onto Hu Shanwei.

Master blame-shifter Palace Supervisor Fan nodded in agreement.

When Apothecary Ru was brought out from the Palace Justice Department prison, aside from looking haggard, she showed no signs of having been tortured. Palace Supervisor Fan’s words seemed true.

Palace Supervisor Fan made three rules with them: “First, Apothecary Ru may only eat food and drink tea examined by the Palace Justice Department. Second, Apothecary Ru may not step outside Court Lady Hu’s residence. Third, within three days, Court Lady Hu must give me an explanation.”

Both agreed.

Apothecary Ru followed Hu Shanwei back. Before Hu Shanwei could begin questioning, Apothecary Ru said, “The prison was dirty and stinking. I need a bath. Until I’m clean, I don’t want to say anything.”

As a physician, Apothecary Ru had mild cleanliness obsessions. Being confined with cockroaches and bedbugs in the Palace Justice Department prison was already punishment for her.

Hu Shanwei said, “No rush. Take your time bathing. I still need to visit Zhongcui Palace.”

With her leave ended, Hu Shanwei went to pay respects to Concubine Guo Ning. Regarding the Xiaoling incident, both Concubine Guo Ning and Prince Lu, mother and son, had limited intelligence and believed the official story – Northern Yuan people wanted to destroy the Great Ming’s dragon veins; Prince Qi and Prince Tan died protecting the mausoleum; seriously ill Concubine Dading died of excessive grief.

The less they knew, the safer they were. Hu Shanwei envied Concubine Guo Ning – foolish people have foolish luck.

Concubine Guo Ning grasped Hu Shanwei’s hands, grateful to tears: “This palace heard everything from Tan’er. At the critical moment, you gave early warning and had people carry Tan’er into the underground palace to hide, while you ran out to deploy the deer-blade formation against enemies. Thanks to you! Otherwise this palace’s hot-blooded foolish son would have rushed out to fight the Northern Yuan people without knowing his limits.”

So dangerous! Fortunately Hu Shanwei had hidden him, or he would have died at Xiaoling like Prince Qi and Prince Tan!

She only had Prince Lu as her son – he was her lifeline.

Hu Shanwei said, “This servant didn’t expect Prince Lu would go to Xiaoling. Now that it’s over, just properly handle Concubine Dading and the two princes’ funeral arrangements.”

Mentioning Concubine Dading, Concubine Guo Ning shed a few happy tears: “Pity my sister had no fortune – beauty with a thin fate. The first concubine to share the emperor’s bed is gone just like that.”

A few days ago when Concubine Dading was first to sleep with Emperor Hongwu, Concubine Guo Ning had been quite sullen, jealous seas churning. Now Concubine Dading had lost everything overnight. Concubine Guo Ning couldn’t help feeling how lonely invincibility was, how empty invincibility was. She didn’t need to do anything – lying down, she could still win.

It seems my luck is really turning around. Being named Noble Consort or even Empress is just around the corner!