Chapter 155: Wild

What’s the shortest distance between two points?

A straight line.

Mu Chun was like a running farm dog, mouth agape, tail wagging, single-minded, knocking over the screen without even noticing. His speed was so fast that Hu Shanwei saw afterimages.

It was Ji Gang, the guard outside the door, who thought there was an assassin and ran in to protect the emperor, only to see Mu Chun push off the ground for leverage, leap up, and tightly embrace Hu Shanwei, spinning around while panting.

Hu Shanwei’s skirt swirled and danced. In her excitement and joy, her feet in sheepskin boots unconsciously stretched straight with pointed toes.

Their combined ages totaled sixty-seven – already elderly people, yet their love was still at sunrise.

Ji Gang didn’t look at them, but having already come, he had to find something to do to avoid awkwardness, so he went to help up the fallen screen.

Emperor Hongwu gave him a meaningful look: Get out. How can you be so lacking in perception? All these years, only growing older without growing brains.

The brainless, fair-skinned, beautiful, long-legged Beauty Ji withdrew.

Emperor Hongwu watched Mu Chun embrace Hu Shanwei and spin in place without interrupting. He quietly observed this couple’s reunion, remembering Empress Xiaoci’s deathbed instructions:

“…Mu Ying and the Feng family’s marriage was discordant because we arranged it arbitrarily. Mu Chun has never been loved by his father or uncle, though we loved him, it still couldn’t compare to blood relatives. So this child has a somewhat rebellious nature. Now with Mu Chun and Hu Shanwei… please find a way to fulfill their wish, Your Majesty. Consider it compensation for our past mistakes…”

Before dying, Empress Xiaoci refused all treatment to protect the imperial physicians and female doctors. She also urged him to “seek worthy counsel,” be a good emperor, and fulfill this couple’s love… but never asked for anything for herself.

For various considerations, Emperor Hongwu planned to keep his promise. Actually, when Hu Shanwei began the capital re-selection, Emperor Hongwu had secretly ordered Mu Chun to return to the capital. The journey from Yunnan to the capital was long – Mu Chun should arrive just as the imperial selection ended.

When Hu Shanwei requested resignation was precisely when Mu Chun had just reached Qianqing Palace. Emperor Hongwu had him hide behind the screen to give Hu Shanwei one final test.

When Hu Shanwei felt her head spinning dizzy, Mu Chun finally stopped. He held Hu Shanwei’s hand and bowed to Emperor Hongwu, “Thank Your Majesty for fulfilling our wish.”

Having just stopped spinning, Hu Shanwei felt somewhat dizzy and unsteady, leaning into Mu Chun’s arms. Emperor Hongwu, this widower (without a legitimate wife – even with a hundred concubines, still a bachelor), seeing this scene, couldn’t help feeling envious. He said:

“I can fulfill your wish, but there are three conditions. First, your identities are special. If you openly unite as husband and wife, it will inevitably cause countless troubles. So I will write a marriage certificate to witness your union. You are legally secret spouses, but apart from me, no second person can know of your marriage. Can you accept this condition?”

Mu Chun’s mind was still floating above the capital like sleepwalking as he said, “As long as I can marry Sister Shanwei as my wife, I don’t care about having a title. Sister Shanwei is my soulmate – so-called soulmates mean she knows me and I know her. It has nothing to do with others.”

Hu Shanwei said, “Since I’ve decided to leave the palace, I originally planned to put everything down. I’ve long seen through fame and profit. I don’t need to honor my husband’s nobility or receive any noble lady titles. I’ll always be proud of having served as fifth-rank Palace Manager.”

Actually, secret marriage had pros and cons. The downside was they couldn’t openly receive friends’ and relatives’ blessings. The advantage was that as Mu Chun served as Duke Qianguo guarding Yunnan, his wife and children had to remain in the capital – so Hu Shanwei and Mu Chun would continue living apart like the Cowherd and Weaver Girl – at least the Cowherd and Weaver Girl met once a year; they wouldn’t even be as good as that mythical couple.

Being married would be almost the same as not being married, like Mu Sheng’s wife Lady Cheng. After two years of marriage, she was still a virgin with two illegitimate sons under her name. Later, when Mu Sheng returned to the capital once – bringing two sons born to concubines to the capital for proper noble education – he finally consummated the marriage with Lady Cheng. But he came and went hastily. After brief reunion with her husband, Lady Cheng didn’t become pregnant and returned to lonely nights in an empty room.

Moreover, if Hu Shanwei became Duchess Qianguo, she’d have to deal with mother-in-law, sisters-in-law, brothers-in-law, etc. Of course, for Hu Shanwei, handling these people in the capital would be no problem, but the petty squabbles and scheming of large families were beneath her notice. This wasn’t the married life Hu Shanwei and Mu Chun wanted.

Though secret marriage lacked official status, they could be together.

The first condition was fine. Emperor Hongwu began the second: “Second, Hu Shanwei knows too many palace secrets. Any one revealed would cause great upheaval in court. So after leaving the palace, you must retire completely. Without my orders, you’re forbidden from stepping into the capital for life, forbidden from interfering in state affairs. To outsiders, even your father, only say you’re traveling the world. Don’t reveal your whereabouts to prevent those seeking palace secrets from finding you.”

Hu Shanwei said, “Father… no longer asks about my marriage matters. I’ll write letters reporting safety during festivals and holidays as before, giving half my salary annually for father’s retirement.”

Emperor Hongwu nodded and said to Mu Chun, “This final condition is for you. You must transfer your title to Mu Sheng and retreat to the mountains with Hu Shanwei. I can agree, but now isn’t the time to transfer titles. You’ve inherited the title for three years and have excellent reputation among Yunnan people, especially new immigrants. If you suddenly transfer the title, people will inevitably gossip, questioning whether Mu Sheng’s title was stolen from his brother, causing local chieftains to criticize and destabilize Yunnan.”

“So I need you to help Mu Sheng gradually transfer power and build his prestige. When the time is right, you’ll fake your death and escape, passing the title legitimately to Mu Sheng. Power must be unique – only one person can hold authority. Like Hu Shanwei, if you retire, you must retire completely. Otherwise, people’s hearts will be unsettled and your successor will have endless troubles. You and your father Mu Ying worked hard in Yunnan for years to achieve today’s success. You can’t destroy Yunnan’s stability for selfish reasons. Men can’t have only women in their hearts. I’ve taught you since childhood – as a man, you can’t only consider yourself but must care for the world.”

Mu Chun scratched his head in confusion, “Your Majesty, I certainly hope Yunnan remains stable, but when will this power transition end? I can’t be Mu Sheng’s wet nurse forever.”

Emperor Hongwu thought and said, “Yunnan’s power transition must be completed during my lifetime. I want to solve all problems for the Crown Prince before he takes power, letting him ascend the throne easily without worrying about the southwestern border. So I’ll arrange your fake death and power transfer before my time comes. I’m old and won’t live many more years.”

After speaking, Emperor Hongwu handed them a marriage certificate, “I’ve signed and sealed this marriage document. From today, you’re husband and wife. Cherish each other well. When Empress Xiaoci was alive, I always felt there was plenty of time to be together, so I busied myself with state affairs and neglected the Empress. Empress Xiaoci left me at fifty-one – this is my lifelong regret. You two…”

Mentioning Empress Xiaoci, Emperor Hongwu choked up: “You two… don’t be like me, only regretting after loss.”

For a moment, both Hu Shanwei and Mu Chun were moved by Emperor Hongwu. Previously they’d always thought this old man was terribly wicked, but now they found him so pitiable. Sitting on the throne, the tighter he grasped power, the more he lost family affection, gradually expelling emotions from his body, heart hard as iron, seeming to merge with the cold dragon throne.

Regardless, Emperor Hongwu had fulfilled their wish.

Hu Shanwei bowed deeply, “After I leave, Fan Gongzheng can assume the Palace Manager position. Fan Gongzheng has the deepest qualifications, has long decided to serve the palace for life, and is highly respected. Working with Consort Cui, she can definitely stabilize the rear palace.”

Emperor Hongwu said, “Approved.”

Hu Shanwei immediately handed over duties to Fan Gongzheng that day. Fan Gongzheng, well-maintained and still resembling her former appearance, asked, “After only fifteen years, you’re already tired of it?”

Hu Shanwei nodded, “Though only fifteen years, less than half of Fan Gongzheng’s service, I feel like I’ve lived fifteen lifetimes – so many people, so many events, struggle after struggle, purge after purge. You sing and I take the stage. I’m tired. Originally, I wanted to leave when Consort Duanjing died, but I was appointed in crisis and couldn’t escape, delayed until now. With the imperial selection complete, I feel I’ve accomplished something major and can retire successfully. After fifteen years, I want to go out and see the outside world.”

Emperor Hongwu’s three conditions included secret marriage first, so Hu Shanwei couldn’t tell the truth.

Fan Gongzheng disagreed, “Once you go out, you’ll discover the outside world isn’t much different from the rear palace – perhaps even uglier. You’re still young, but at thirty-five outside the palace, you’d be considered an old woman who can only await death. But in the rear palace, you’re in your prime. You want to leave and His Majesty agrees – I have nothing to say. But if you go out, find it nothing special, and want to return, I’ll give you back the position anytime. Like ministers taking leave for mourning who return to office after a few years.”

Hu Shanwei smiled and shook her head, “I want to retire completely like Manager Cao.”

Fan Gongzheng laughed, “She lived most clearly in this palace. With her personality, she wouldn’t suffer outside either. Living like an immortal in Yangzhou, she often writes letters tempting me to leave the palace as her companion. I’ll serve as Palace Manager for a few years first. When the new emperor ascends… new emperor, new ministers. Who serves as Palace Manager will be decided by the new emperor and new empress. Then I won’t cling to the palace annoyingly. We palace veterans will all find Manager Cao, freeload food and drink, play leaf cards when idle, betting who lives longest.”

After completing the handover, Hu Shanwei bowed deeply to Fan Gongzheng, “Thank you for your mentorship, Manager Fan.”

Shen Qionglian, Jiang Quan, Haitang, Huang Weide, and Chen Er’mei hosted a farewell banquet. Only Haitang guessed Hu Shanwei’s happy occasion was approaching, using all her strength to conceal excitement while showing the same regretful expression as others.

Shen Qionglian produced a seal, “This is my personal stamp. With this, use my family’s wealth as you wish. Don’t refuse – outside isn’t like the palace. One coin can stump a hero – money is another form of power. Anyway, I never plan to leave the palace, so money is useless to me. Take it. Like last time, if unused, return it.”

The Shen family was also implicated in the Lan Yu case and should have been executed, but this branch was spared because Shen Qionglian served as a palace female official. If Hu Shanwei needed money, the Shen family would definitely help.

Hu Shanwei thought: I’m forbidden from entering the capital and can never step into the capital again. I’ll have someone return it to you later. Refusing back and forth looked bad, so she accepted it.

Chen Er’mei was quite melancholy, “With even you leaving, I’m beginning to feel somewhat weary and want to return home to accompany my parents. Now that Fan Gongzheng just took over, I can’t leave conveniently. I’ll wait for the dynasty change – when new people enter and old people leave, I’ll take the opportunity to leave the palace and return to my Guangzhou hometown.”

Huang Weide encouraged Hu Shanwei to leave the palace, saying, “At Manager Hu’s age, I was still tending fires in kitchens and stealing light to read books. How could I have imagined today? Life shouldn’t be limited by age. If you want to do something, do it. Since Manager Hu wants to leave the palace and see the outside world, go look well. Someone like Manager Hu can create a brilliant future outside too. Come, I toast Manager Hu.”

Later, Jiang Quan also raised her cup, “Princess Nankang has confirmed Prince Consort Hu Guan. His Majesty and Consort Cui selected me to take charge in the princess’s mansion. Princess Nankang will support my old age. So when Princess Nankang marries will be when I leave the palace. Though just changing workplace, without reason, I can’t casually enter the palace to see everyone. There are no eternal banquets – separation and reunion, gathering and parting need no sadness. Everyone should live in the present, living each day well, not wasting this journey to the world’s most prosperous place.”

Hearing that Princess Nankang had confirmed Hu Guan as prince consort, Hu Shanwei’s political sensitivity from fifteen years as a female official suddenly alerted her. A thought flashed through her mind like lightning in darkness – for an instant illuminating the way ahead, but blinking returned everything to darkness with memories already blurred. Thinking again, she couldn’t remember.

Never mind, Great Ming palace affairs will have nothing to do with me anyway.

Hu Shanwei didn’t think deeply and congratulated Jiang Quan with everyone. Being able to retire in a princess’s mansion was a very good ending.

Everyone drank happily until deep night before dispersing. After seeing off guests, Haitang brought Hu Shanwei sobering soup. Hu Shanwei asked, “I’ve arranged for all your family members to go to Yunnan with new household registrations – no longer official slaves. Your brother is returning to books for imperial examinations. If you want to go to Yunnan for family reunion, I can bring you out of the palace. But once out, you can’t return.”

Haitang only shook her head, “I want to stay in the palace. I’ve registered for the female historian selection examination for palace maids. I want to walk the path Manager Hu walked.”

Everyone has their aspirations. Haitang took Hu Shanwei as her model – her life was just beginning. Hu Shanwei gave her all the books she’d collected over the years in the palace, “Study well. If you don’t understand something, ask Huang Weide. She’s my protégé and will spare no effort teaching you.”

After hastily arranging everything in two days, Hu Shanwei stepped through the setting sun, leaving the palace before the gates closed.

Compared to Manager Cao’s departure when only Hu Shanwei saw her off, Hu Shanwei’s departure was quite grand – female officials from the Six Bureaus and One Department, other palace servants, rear palace consorts led by Consort Cui, and even the Crown Prince came!

Everyone quickly made way for the Crown Prince to walk in front.

When people encounter happy events, their spirits soar. The Crown Prince was about to marry the woman most suited to his heart, and even his features seemed broader. He said, “I will definitely fulfill that promise made in the Imperial Garden, not failing Manager Hu’s wholehearted efforts in selecting consorts for my brothers and me. Manager Hu is still so young. When she’s traveled through countless mountains and rivers, if she wants to return, this rear palace door will always remain open for Manager Hu.”

Hu Shanwei thought: I appreciate your good intentions, but I won’t return. You’d better keep the door closed.

Though thinking this, she said, “I appreciate Your Highness’s kindness. If fate allows, we’ll meet again. Again, I wish Your Highness and the Crown Princess a hundred years of harmonious marriage.”

Wearing the sheepskin boots Mu Chun had given her, Hu Shanwei stepped outside the palace gates, waving goodbye to everyone. The vermillion gates slowly closed. Hu Shanwei continued waving until she heard the gates lock, then stopped waving and turned to leave.

The setting sun’s afterglow stretched her silhouette incredibly long, casting it on the vermillion gates. White snow and willow catkins flew, red rain and cherry blossoms fell. In cuckoo calls, spring returned again. Hu Shanwei had entered the palace as a female official in such spring scenery fifteen years ago. Fifteen years later, she left the palace in the same spring scenery. Fate was like invisible hands drawing an enormous circle, with the final stroke returning to the starting point.

Only last time, Mu Chun had delivered shoes to the rear palace. This time, Mu Chun waited outside the palace disguised as a coachman, inviting his newlywed wife aboard.

Mu Chun drove the carriage to Guanyin Mountain in Jiangning County, north of the city, where the Mu family ancestral graves lay. He moved a chest from the carriage containing newly purchased bright red wedding clothes for bride and groom, “Come, let’s put these on and bow in worship before my parents’ graves. Though it’s a secret marriage, we must have the ceremony.”

Hu Shanwei changed into wedding clothes inside the carriage while Mu Chun anxiously urged from outside, “Hurry up, quickly now. Don’t worry about looking beautiful – you’d look good even disheveled. I’m already dressed and ready. Hurry up – after the ceremony, we’ll be husband and wife. Tonight’s bridal chamber will be on the boat back to Yunnan. I’ve arranged everything these past two days, guaranteed to surprise you…”

Hu Shanwei emerged from the carriage wearing a bright red phoenix wedding dress embroidered with golden thread, seeing that in his eagerness, Mu Chun had even put his groom’s hat on crooked. He’d managed to wear the fine red ceremonial robes with a comical “monkey crowned” effect.

Mu Chun directly lifted the bride from the carriage. Hu Shanwei said, “We can’t spin around again – the phoenix crown will fall off.”

“You who know me best, Sister Shanwei.” Mu Chun grinned sheepishly before finally letting go. Hu Shanwei straightened his hat and smoothed his wrinkled collar. Mu Chun felt her skillful hands passing over him like countless ants crawling – crisp and numb. This thirty-two-year-old virgin couldn’t help his mind wandering, “From now on, Sister Shanwei will help me dress every day.”

Hu Shanwei felt her face and heart heat up, but thinking they were currently before her in-laws’ graves, impropriety wasn’t suitable. She glared at her young husband, signaling him to restrain himself.

Mu Chun was a reckless person, especially on this wedding night – he was ready to be wildly overwhelming. How could he restrain himself? The more Hu Shanwei glared, the more his heart swayed. He grasped his wife’s hand, “I was wrong. From now on, I’ll serve Sister Shanwei in dressing every day.”