When the puzzle pieces in her mind came together, Hu Shanwei was chilled to discover that Emperor Jianwen’s suspicion exceeded that of Empress Dowager Lu, because a tiger without claws is just a cat—Empress Dowager Lu would find it difficult to accomplish the double murder of Court Lady Fan and Palace Administrator Wang in such a short time.
But based on Emperor Jianwen’s current monopoly of imperial power and iron-blooded methods of reducing the feudal lords, in order to eliminate all hidden threats and prevent Court Lady Fan and Palace Administrator Wang from accusing him of defying imperial edicts and shaking his throne, Emperor Jianwen wouldn’t even furrow his brow at killing two female officials.
What made Hu Shanwei even more desperate was that regardless of whether the true culprit was the Empress Dowager or Emperor Jianwen, with her abilities, she could not avenge the tragically deceased Court Lady Fan!
Moreover, she would likely forfeit her own life in the process.
The opponent was too powerful—Hu Shanwei was trapped in a hopeless situation.
This matter was so life-threatening that Hu Shanwei dared not tell Shen Qionglian, Huang Weide, and others about her discoveries to seek assistance, lest she implicate them as well.
People in the palace discovered that ever since Court Lady Hu had accompanied the just-“recovered” Empress Dowager Lu on a stroll around the Imperial Garden, Empress Dowager Lu seemed completely transformed. Not only was she in high spirits, but her personality had also changed—from harsh fault-finding and unreasonable troublemaking to gentle and pleasant, adopting the demeanor of a kind elder.
Not to mention how well she treated Emperor Jianwen and the Crown Prince, even toward Empress Ma, whom she had always looked down upon, Empress Dowager Lu changed her attitude. She told Empress Ma that she need not come to Cining Palace every day to pay respects, to pay more attention to her health, and while she was still young, to bear a few more legitimate sons for His Majesty. She even sent many nourishing medicinal herbs and supplements.
It was as if the previous incident of promoting the only two consorts in the harem to compete for favor had never happened at all.
Empress Dowager Lu even hosted a banquet at Cining Palace, inviting the Emperor and Empress, raising her cup to apologize to her son and daughter-in-law: “In recent days, I don’t know what came over me—I couldn’t control my temper, my body alternated between hot and cold, and my emotions swung between excitement and irritability. The imperial physicians and Supervisor Liu all say that when women reach their forties, their kidney essence becomes depleted, causing unpredictable moods. I’ve been strong-willed my entire life, but I cannot resist the passage of time. During that period, I wronged the Empress and repeatedly quarreled with His Majesty, even going so far as to want to cry at the Fengxian Hall in mourning for Emperor Xiaokang. Looking back now, I’m truly ashamed.”
When Empress Dowager Lu adopted her white lotus demeanor, she was quite persuasive. Her attitude was sincere, appearing genuinely repentant.
Seeing his mother finally come around, Emperor Jianwen was very pleased. At this moment, he finally felt grateful that he had intercepted that pot of poisoned wine in time. After all, his mother had sacrificed much for him—how could their mother-son bond be severed at will? No matter how confused his mother became, she was still his birth mother.
Emperor Jianwen was deeply moved and said, “Mother, don’t blame yourself. No one can withstand age. I was also at fault—I was too busy and didn’t notice the root of mother’s illness. In the future, I will be more attentive and won’t quarrel with mother anymore.”
Empress Ma, being virtuous, quickly defended her husband: “His Majesty handles countless affairs in the court, resting only late at night and rising before dawn for morning court. He sleeps barely two double-hours each day. When the Empress Dowager was unwell, I, as the daughter-in-law, should have noticed first. Alas, I’m ashamed—it was my negligence.”
Empress Dowager Lu affectionately patted Empress Ma’s hand: “Even the most thorough person makes oversights—no one is perfect. Empress, don’t blame yourself anymore. His Majesty is busy, but you’ve never been idle either, whether managing palace affairs, receiving the wives of nobles, or preparing for various royal ceremonies. I shouldn’t have only focused on venting my temper without understanding your difficulties as Empress. My health is fine, and I have plenty of palace servants attending me—no need to trouble the Empress. You should focus on caring for His Majesty and giving me another grandson or granddaughter next year to bring joy to my old age…”
With everything spoken openly, the family enjoyed a harmonious meal together.
After the meal, Empress Dowager Lu said she missed Prince Heng and Prince Xu, her two sons who were Emperor Jianwen’s full brothers from the same mother. Currently, they only maintained separate residences in the capital and hadn’t married yet due to observing mourning for Emperor Gaozhu.
Melted by familial warmth, Emperor Jianwen was in the midst of enthusiastically reducing his imperial uncles. The powerful imperial uncles made him fearful and had to be eliminated, but these two brothers were sensible, obedient, and respectful toward him as their elder brother—they were family, not enemies.
Thus, Emperor Jianwen magnanimously declared, “I’m busy with official duties and, though I wish to be filial, I lack the energy. Since mother is lonely in the palace, I permit them to enter the palace anytime to keep the Empress Dowager company and relieve her boredom. Let these two brothers fulfill filial duties on my behalf.”
The couple rarely left Cining Palace in such good spirits. The young couple affectionately held hands as Empress Ma praised, “Court Lady Hu is truly miraculous. Ever since she returned, the Empress Dowager immediately seemed like a different person.”
Empress Ma considered Hu Shanwei a blessed general—what people in later times would call a koi fish, bringing good fortune when shared.
Happy about his mother’s transformation, Emperor Jianwen said, “The Empress Dowager is getting older and somewhat unpredictable in her moods. Please be more understanding. The Empress Dowager’s life has… really been quite difficult.”
Emperor Jianwen recalled his mother’s good points and was suddenly filled with emotion. Regardless, without his mother, there would be no him today. If given another chance, he would still choose to intercept that pot of poisoned wine… at any cost.
Empress Ma pretended to be annoyed: “The Empress Dowager has it hard, so I have it easy?”
Emperor Jianwen, having finished placating his mother, now placated his wife: “Zi Tong also has it hard.”
Empress Ma smiled charmingly at her husband: “I have it much easier than the Empress Dowager because I have His Majesty as my good husband.”
Such sweet words greatly pleased the dragon’s heart, and the young couple naturally enjoyed various intimacies that night.
Prince Heng and Prince Xu received the imperial edict and came to Cining Palace the next day to pay respects to Empress Dowager Lu. From then on, the two brothers frequently entered the palace, especially Prince Heng, who came almost daily.
Thus, the conflicts between mother and son, and between mother-in-law and daughter-in-law in the rear palace immediately dissipated, becoming a loving family—a model five-star family of the Ming Dynasty.
In this way, the rear palace crossed into September amid an atmosphere of sincerity, kindness, civility, and harmony.
September’s sky was so blue it was melancholy. Empress Dowager Lu was striving for new goals, and judging by Prince Heng’s frequency of palace visits, she had already convinced this second son. Hu Shanwei, meanwhile, found herself in an impossible position, becoming a trapped beast.
In the melancholy sky, flocks of wild geese flew in formation, sometimes forming the character “Mu,” sometimes “Chun,” and occasionally “Lei.” Hu Shanwei was homesick—no matter what she looked at, she could see it in the shape of what her heart desired.
It was again the anniversary of Noble Consort Cheng Mu, née Sun. Princess Huaiqing entered the palace to discuss the memorial ceremony with Empress Ma and exchanged a meaningful glance with Hu Shanwei.
Understanding the signal, Hu Shanwei personally escorted Princess Huaiqing out of the palace. Princess Huaiqing, using her sleeve as cover, secretly slipped her an envelope. In a secluded spot, Hu Shanwei opened it to find a note and a jade narcissus hairpin repaired with gold.
The handwriting was Mu Chun’s. The narcissus hairpin had been broken by Hu Shanwei, secretly collected by Mu Chun, and transformed by craftsmen using gold repairs into a narcissus hairpin.
The hairpin had been Hu Shanwei’s treasured possession, worn almost daily for fifteen years. But after becoming a mother, when A’Lei became fascinated with shiny objects and kept grabbing at her hair ornaments, she worried the sharp hairpin tip might injure her daughter. So she locked the hairpin in her dressing case, usually using hair ribbons or wearing hair nets instead, avoiding all sharp accessories or beads that babies might swallow. Her entire being had become soft and gentle.
Chun Chun had come!
Excitedly, Hu Shanwei opened the note, nearly tearing it in half from excessive force. It contained just one brief sentence: “Meet at Xiaoling.”
Noble Consort Cheng Mu, née Sun, was buried at Xiaoling.
When had Mu Chun connected with Princess Huaiqing? Wouldn’t this expose the secret of his faked death? Also, if he had come to the capital, what about A’Lei?
Both overjoyed and anxious, Hu Shanwei immediately requested leave to visit Xiaoling. With only eight imperial family members in the palace, things were quite leisurely. Empress Ma, thinking she was mourning Empress Xiaoci, agreed and even said, “If Court Lady Hu wishes to visit Xiaoling in the future, just go ahead and inform the Court Bureau of Rites. No need to request permission from me each time—I trust Court Lady Hu.”
At Xiaoling.
Hu Shanwei offered incense to the imperial couple, then went to the cemetery where Noble Consort Cheng Mu, née Sun, was buried. This was now Princess Huaiqing’s domain.
In the autumn woods where the wind was just beginning to stir, a single leaf fell in a zigzag pattern.
Hu Shanwei arrived at the appointed place but didn’t see Mu Chun.
Just as disappointment set in, her skirt moved—a small stone hit her hem and rolled to her shoe.
Looking in the direction from which the stone came, Hu Shanwei saw no one. At their age, still playing such childish games!
Hu Shanwei feigned composure: “If you don’t come out, I’m going back to the palace.” With that, she headed toward the return path.
From the left grove came Mu Chun’s voice: “Come find me!”
Ever since becoming a father, Mu Chun had been vicariously living A’Lei’s childhood as his own, compensating for the regret of having a deceased mother and worthless father. Both physically and mentally, he showed signs of reverse aging, growing younger as he lived.
What was it like to play hide-and-seek with a thirty-five-year-old middle-aged man?
Hu Shanwei sighed. She understood why Mu Chun had become this way and felt heartbroken for him. Well, she had already married him—what could she do? Of course, she would indulge him.
Turning back, Hu Shanwei followed the sound. Hearing movement behind a large tree, she quickly ran over to look—no one there. Just as she wondered what was happening, someone appeared behind her like a ghost in broad daylight, embracing her from behind: “I just used a slingshot to shoot a small stone over there. After playing this game so many times, you still fall for it. Haha.”
Turning to look, Hu Shanwei saw Mu Chun dressed as a tomb guard, wearing a large hat and sporting a beard—quite different from before. But to Hu Shanwei, she would recognize Mu Chun even if he were reduced to ashes.
“Why did you come? Where’s A’Lei? How did you connect with Princess Huaiqing—”
“I missed you,” Mu Chun interrupted her questions, holding her tightly. “A’Lei missed you too…”
It turned out Mu Chun had entrusted their daughter to his father-in-law Hu Rong’s care and rushed to the capital with Ji Gang. Along the way, various secret reports arrived—one feudal prince after another was being reduced or even driven to suicide with their entire families. The situation grew increasingly tense.
Prince Yan’s younger brother and brother-in-law were successively reduced to commoner status. Even Princess Qingyang, who was elderly and of high seniority, couldn’t dissuade Emperor Jianwen and was instead demoted from princess to princess of a commandery. There was no room for retreat or negotiation. Not only Prince Yan, but the entire imperial family knew that war was inevitable, because Prince Yan was definitely not someone who would sit and wait for death.
But Prince Yan still couldn’t act rashly—his four children were all in the capital. Once he raised troops, the four children’s heads wouldn’t be safe.
Therefore, Prince Yan dispatched Ji Gang, who had secretly reorganized the Embroidered Uniform Guard, to establish a united front in the capital, winning over everyone possible, passing intelligence, and finding opportunities for the four children to leave the capital and return to Yan territory.
Princess Huaiqing, exhausted from running around for Prince Zhou’s sake, became Ji Gang’s first target for recruitment. Due to Princess Qingyang’s demotion to princess of a commandery, Princess Huaiqing was greatly disappointed in her nephew Emperor Jianwen. With the sorrow of the rabbit dying and the fox grieving, she was closely connected to Prince Zhou, who had already been demoted to commoner status. Once Emperor Jianwen finished reducing all the imperial uncles and consolidated his position, he would probably move against these aunts next.
Princess Huaiqing had been pampered all her life, cherished by the late emperor, Noble Consort Cheng Mu, Empress Xiaoci, and her consort Wang Ning. She had enjoyed all wealth and honor and was accustomed to pride—how could she endure such a fall? Moreover, she was already a woman with family and had even become a grandmother. How could she bear to watch her descendants become anyone’s prey?
If her nephew wanted to reduce her status, then she’d support her brothers becoming emperor instead. At least her brothers wouldn’t be so foolish as to reduce even innocent princesses!
Thus, Princess Huaiqing became one of the earliest Prince Yan supporters. Transmitting messages while entering the palace couldn’t be easier.
Especially when Princess Huaiqing saw Mu Chun “rise from the dead” and appear with Ji Gang, she became even more determined in her choice. If Prince Yan could even recruit “dead people” to his banner, he had even better prospects against that wet-behind-the-ears nephew Emperor Jianwen.
With Princess Huaiqing’s connections and cover, today’s reunion of husband and wife was possible.
If Emperor Jianwen disowned all his relatives, he couldn’t blame those relatives for throwing themselves into Prince Yan’s embrace. The imperial family’s division and defection was within Hu Shanwei’s expectations, but she hadn’t anticipated Ji Gang would move so quickly.
“…Once Ji Gang gets Prince Yan’s heir and the others back to Yan territory, the imperial family will officially begin fighting for the throne. You must quickly find a way to leave the palace—whether by feigning illness or faking death. Let’s return to Kunming. A’Lei has grown her first tooth. By the time we return, she’ll probably have two teeth.”
Mu Chun wished he could take his wife home right now. He didn’t want to miss his daughter’s growth.
“I also want to return early. I’m close to uncovering the truth about Court Lady Fan’s death.” Hu Shanwei told her husband about her recent discoveries in the palace, especially Empress Dowager Lu’s frightening confession. “She said His Majesty did it and invited me to participate in a palace coup, pushing another son onto the throne. She gets power, I get revenge—each takes what they need.”
Just as Mu Chun was about to respond, Ji Gang, who had been keeping watch from a tree, jumped down with excitement gleaming in his eyes: “What a fine drama—family fighting family. Prince Yan’s path to entering the capital and the Embroidered Uniform Guard’s restoration has shortened by more than half.”
Seeing Ji Gang again after three years felt like a lifetime had passed—Hu Shanwei couldn’t help but be startled. Ji Gang wore the same tomb guard uniform as Mu Chun and had also grown a beard. He still had his past devastatingly handsome appearance, but while Mu Chun remained himself, Ji Gang seemed like two different people.
His eyes had changed.
Previously, Ji Gang’s eyes were clear and transparent, like moonlight streaming through pines or a clear spring flowing over stones. Now they were like an old well in winter—desolately cold with frost.
Seeing his wife staring at Ji Gang in a daze, Mu Chun’s thirty-five years of accumulated jealousy turned his teeth sour as he said to Ji Gang, “However you handle things is none of my business, but don’t drag Shanwei into it.”
Ji Gang dismissed this concern and smiled at Hu Shanwei: “I have informants placed beside Minister Bao. On the surface, the Ministry of Justice has dispatched numerous constables to search for clues along the Yangtze River and at various docks, but Minister Bao hasn’t even glanced at the daily transcripts the constables submit to the Ministry of Justice—he just files them away. Even that bronze lock securing the door hasn’t been taken to locksmiths or lock shops to trace its origin.”
“This perfunctory attitude is worse than how our Embroidered Uniform Guard used to handle cases. Minister Bao is nicknamed Bao Qingtian for his famous fairness and integrity. The Yangtze River shipwreck case killed twelve people, and Court Lady Fan was a fifth-rank female official. For such a major case, why is the upright and strict Minister Bao being so negligent?”
Hearing this, the hair on the back of Hu Shanwei’s neck stood up: “Minister Bao clearly promised me face-to-face that he would investigate thoroughly.”
Ji Gang’s eyes showed a mocking expression: “Who has the ability to influence Minister Bao, this trusted minister left by the late emperor, and make him lie to you? Only His Majesty could do that. Empress Dowager Lu rarely tells the truth. So, if you want to avenge Court Lady Fan, only by toppling the country can you make the murderer pay the price.”