When the Hongwu Emperor wanted to kill someone, no one could stop him.

Take Princess Shu Lan, for example—gentle and virtuous, with a loving marriage to the Shu Prince, raising children together in happiness. Even nitpicking, the Hongwu Emperor couldn’t find a reason to execute such a daughter-in-law.

But Princess Shu Lan couldn’t avoid death because besides being Lan Yu’s daughter, her mother-in-law was Noble Consort Guo Hui in the harem, who could be called a ninja turtle for her endurance. Noble Consort Guo Hui’s father was Guo Zixing, and the Shu Prince received annual imperial orders to worship this maternal grandfather.

So when Princess Shu saw her father’s flayed skin, she understood what the Hongwu Emperor meant. If she didn’t die, the Shu Prince and her son who had been invested as Shu Heir Apparent might very well have their titles stripped or be placed under house arrest. Princess Shu chose to sacrifice herself.

In comparison, Mu Chun’s uncle Feng Cheng was almost a miracle. Though he lost his title and power, his entire family’s lives remained. Compared to his brother Feng Sheng’s entire household registration being wiped out, this was already quite good—without comparison, there’s no happiness.

Feng Cheng never imagined that his family’s lives were saved by his most despised nephew Mu Chun, with whom he had unilaterally declared severance of relations.

When Feng Cheng had taken his nephew Mu Chun to Yunnan to support the southern expedition army and fought alongside his brother-in-law Mu Ying, Mu Ying had “let bygones be bygones” and led troops to break the siege of Kunming, saving his brother-in-law Feng Cheng. Feng Cheng decided never to fight this brother-in-law again and advised his nephew Mu Chun to curry favor with Mu Ying:

“With Empress Xiaoci’s death, you’ve lost a major backer. You’re twenty years old now—no longer young. You should find a match of equal standing to support your future prospects. In this southern expedition, your brother Mu Sheng performed excellently, always following Mu Ying closely. I’ve fought alongside Mu Sheng too. Honestly, there’s good reason Mu Ying favors your brother—he’s an outstanding young general, taciturn, stable in character, without your dandy and cavalier bad habits… You should know your place, understand?”

Every word from his uncle hit Mu Chun’s sore spots like precision strikes, making him want to hit someone. Sometimes relatives could cause more harm than enemies, and in the name of “being good for you.” Mu Chun immediately retorted stubbornly, angering Feng Cheng into shouting:

“I’m kindly reminding you, but you think I’m interfering. Fine! From now on, if I ever meddle in your affairs again, I’ll call you uncle!”

From then on, Feng Cheng ignored Mu Chun, only appearing at Mu Ying’s funeral to politely say “my condolences.”

When Uncle Feng Sheng’s entire family was killed, Feng Cheng thought he was doomed: though he had fought in many campaigns and contributed to the Ming, compared to founding general Feng Sheng, he was far inferior. If even Feng Sheng died, what could he do? He too was in despair.

However, Mu Chun, considering his deceased mother and the curved bow Feng Cheng had given his maternal grandfather Feng Guoyong that marked his transformation from chaos demon king to border-guarding general, petitioned the Hongwu Emperor to spare his uncle’s family.

Moreover, Mu Chun was thorough in his roughness. Knowing the Hongwu Emperor was suspicious and changeable, fearing His Majesty might change his mind and send Jinyiwei to secretly assassinate his uncle’s family while creating the pretense of bandit robbery, he simply sent his trusted Commander Shi to escort them all the way.

During the escort journey, the disheartened Feng Cheng sighed constantly. Upon reaching Yunnan, Mu Chun settled his uncle in Stone City among the new immigrants and created new household registrations for the entire family, changing names and surnames.

Feng Cheng opened the household certificate: “My name is Ma Cheng?”

Mu Chun nodded: “His Majesty secretly pardoned the death sentence. Uncle’s family escaped the calamity of death, but there can be no more Feng family members. From now on, the Feng family’s record in history ends here. The ancestral surname—remove the left radical of two water dots—becomes the Ma surname. The family genealogy must be rewritten from the beginning. Everything related to the Feng surname must be burned so outsiders won’t know uncle’s family’s original identity, preventing anyone from falsely accusing uncle of gathering Feng family old subordinates for rebellion. Former relatives, friends, colleagues, and subordinates should no longer be contacted.”

The Feng family hadn’t died physically, but their political and social status had died. This was the greatest concession the Hongwu Emperor could make—after all, he still needed Mu Chun to secure the Southwest border and couldn’t let him be distracted by his maternal relatives.

Feng Cheng put away the household certificate and led his family in bowing to his nephew: “Thank Duke Qianguo for saving this commoner’s entire family. From now on, this commoner will live anonymously in Yunnan, self-sufficient. To avoid implicating Duke Qianguo, please don’t seek out this commoner’s family in the future. This commoner was originally a farmer’s son from Fengyang. Now, laying down arms to return to farming and escaping the great purge unscathed, this commoner is very satisfied. In the days ahead, may Duke Qianguo take care of himself.”

This uncle-nephew relationship had always been terrible—only slightly better than their father-son relationship. Feng Cheng always took out his frustrations on his brother-in-law Mu Ying. Since Mu Ying couldn’t hit his brother-in-law, he vented all his grievances on Mu Chun. Mu Chun essentially received beatings meant for his uncle Feng Cheng. Bound by filial duty, he couldn’t hit his uncle or his father. When pushed to extremes, even with a knife, he could only cut himself. Therefore, Mu Chun harbored resentment toward his uncle Feng Cheng.

But Feng Cheng could also stand up for Mu Chun at crucial moments in his life, giving him a helping hand. So seeing his uncle’s family fallen so low—not only unable to preserve the title his maternal grandfather Feng Guoyong had earned with his life, but unable to even keep their surname—Mu Chun felt somewhat sympathetic:

“The future is long. There may yet be opportunities to turn things around and restore the Feng family’s honor. Uncle, even with a changed surname, you’re still my uncle. Uncle is getting old—do less farm work and take care of your health. Yunnan is my territory. As long as you don’t leave Yunnan, I can ensure uncle’s family lacks nothing. Moreover, Princess Han in the capital also cares about uncle. The future is long—uncle shouldn’t give up. Live peacefully here in retirement.”

Feng Cheng had a daughter, Lady Feng, who was Mu Chun’s young cousin. Two years ago, in the twenty-fourth year of Hongwu, she had married the Hongwu Emperor’s twenty-third son, Prince Han Zhu Song. Princess Han Lady Feng gave birth to a son ten months later, named Zhu Chong. As the legitimate eldest son, he would inherit Prince Han’s title in the future.

Moreover, since Prince Han’s fiefdom was in Liaodong, where the Ming, Northern Yuan, Jurchen, and even Korea all sought control, with constant warfare, the Ming’s territorial control there was weak. Once Prince Han went to his fief, he might be captured as a hostage by foreign enemies.

The Hongwu Emperor couldn’t send Prince Han’s family to Liaodong—it would be like delivering heads on a platter. So he built a prince’s residence in the capital for Prince Han, thinking to wait until Liaodong was pacified. As a result, Prince Han became the only married prince living in the capital who hadn’t gone to his fief.

Prince Han’s legitimate eldest son Zhu Chong had half Feng family blood. When Zhu Chong grew up to inherit the title, they couldn’t let his maternal family remain under false accusations forever. The Feng family still had hope.

Mu Chun’s words of comfort reassured Feng Cheng somewhat: “Tell Princess Han to take good care of Chong’er. As a woman, she shouldn’t meddle in outside affairs. Having married into the imperial family, she belongs to the Zhu family now. She must never harbor resentment toward His Majesty because of us. She should be a good Zhu family daughter-in-law and serve His Majesty with filial piety. Don’t try to contact us, lest it bring disaster to her and Chong’er.”

Mu Chun nodded: “Cousin knows all this.”

From beginning to end, neither uncle nor nephew mentioned Duke Songguo Feng Sheng. Marriage relationships had given Feng Cheng hope, but the same marriage relationships had pushed Feng Sheng’s family toward certain death.

Feng Sheng had two daughters. His eldest daughter married Duke Zhengguo Chang Mao—eldest son of Chang Yuchun, younger brother of Crown Princess Yiwen, maternal uncle of Imperial Second Grandson Zhu Yunting, and nephew of Duke Liangguo Lan Yu.

His second daughter married Prince Zhou Zhu Su and was Princess Zhou. Prince Zhou devoted himself to medicine without ambition, but his older brother was Prince Yan Zhu Di—the Ming’s most powerful prince, whom the Hongwu Emperor deeply feared. For this reason, he detained all of Prince Yan’s residence including the heir apparent—two sons and two daughters—in the capital.

So whether from reducing princely factional influence, fearing meritorious officials supporting Zhu Yunting for succession, or preventing future threats of merit overshadowing the master, Feng Sheng occupied all angles 360 degrees without any blind spots!

Therefore, Mu Chun could save his uncle Feng Cheng but couldn’t save his great-uncle Feng Sheng, who had been labeled part of the “Lan Yu faction.”

The “Lan Yu case” was a large basket—anything could be thrown into it.

Even the Crown Imperial Grandson’s nominal maternal grandfather’s family—Duke Zhengguo residence Chang family—was destroyed overnight. The Hongwu Emperor set a death trap for Duke Zhengguo Chang Mao:

Chang Mao was accepting the surrender of Northern Yuan general Na Hachu in Liaodong. Na Hachu raised his wine cup and made a toast in Mongolian, calling for everyone to drink together. But Chang Mao’s subordinate translated that Na Hachu wanted to escape. Chang Mao thought Na Hachu was going back on his word and immediately turned hostile, striking at Na Hachu with his sword. The result was that Na Hachu’s just-surrendered army mutinied, and the surrender effort was ruined.

The Hongwu Emperor questioned Chang Mao. Chang Mao claimed it was his subordinate’s translation error, but the subordinate firmly refused to admit it, saying Chang Mao was shifting blame—he had clearly translated “drink together.” The Hongwu Emperor used this to strip Chang Mao of military power and title, executing the entire Chang family. Even Lady Feng, who had just escaped death from her father Feng Sheng’s rebellion case because she was a married daughter, couldn’t escape this time. Married into the Chang family, she was a Chang family woman—when one fell, all fell.

The former greatest noble family of the Ming, the Crown Princess Yiwen’s maternal family, Duke Zhengguo residence thus withered.

Only one Chang family descendant named Chang Jizu mysteriously disappeared when the great mansion was falling, reportedly secretly spirited out of the capital by loyal servants. Even the Jinyiwei couldn’t find this child’s whereabouts.

However, the most cruel fate befell not the Feng family or Chang family, but Duke Yingguo Fu Youde’s Fu family.

This founding hero had commanded the Ming’s southern expedition army, once leading generals Lan Yu and Mu Ying to pacify the Southwest. Even his youngest son Fu Tianxi had died in battle with no remains recovered—white-haired parents sending off black-haired children.

His legitimate eldest son Fu Zhong was also Princess Shouchun’s consort, and his legitimate daughter Lady Fu had married the Jin Prince’s heir apparent as princess consort.

A family full of loyal martyrs with dual marriage connections to the imperial family was also labeled part of the “Lan faction.” The Fu family, including the prince consort, also met complete annihilation.

Only Princess Shouchun’s son Fu Yan survived the great purge—the Hongwu Emperor wouldn’t kill his own grandson. He pardoned Fu Yan and gave him the hereditary title of Jin Wu Wei Commander.

Lan Yu, Feng Sheng, Chang Mao, and Fu Youde were all dukes, each with imperial family connections, having produced crown princesses, prince consorts, and princess consorts. Even they met such tragic ends. The complete uprooting of court and external power structures, along with the other twelve marquises, two earls, and over fifteen thousand civil and military officials, especially military officers, fell like harvested leeks in batches, without mercy.

The Hongwu Emperor was like a chef at a “Death or Not” restaurant specializing in box lunches, mass-producing meals delivered punctually to customers regardless of weather, contracting entire families’ meal plans.

It could be said that since the Ming’s founding, almost all famous veteran generals died in the Lan Yu case. To consolidate Crown Imperial Grandson Zhu Yunwen’s succession, prevent merit from overshadowing the master, and intimidate the princes garrisoning various regions, the Hongwu Emperor steeled his heart to kill countless generals who had followed him through southern and northern campaigns.

Among these, only three veteran generals escaped calamity, all connected to Mu Chun and Hu Shanwei.

The first was the Guo family of Hu Shanwei’s former superior, Noble Consort Duanjing Guo. Eldest brother Guo Xing was fortunate to have died before the Lan Yu case erupted. Second brother Marquis Wuding Guo Ying (the sharpshooter who had shot Han King Chen Youliang through the eye) had his eldest son Guo Zhen as a prince consort and youngest daughter as Princess Ying. By logic, he should have been the first to be purged.

But whether due to trust in the Guo family or guilt over Prince Lu Huang and Noble Consort Duanjing’s deaths, when someone falsely accused Guo Ying of being part of the “Lan Yu faction,” the Hongwu Emperor allowed Guo Ying a fair trial, found him innocent, and spared the Guo family.

The second was also Hu Shanwei’s former superior Noble Consort Duanjing Guo’s… in-law, Prince Lu Huang’s father-in-law, Duke Xinguo Tang He.

Yes, among the Ming’s ten founding heroes, only he remained alive. Sensing the approaching storm before the Lan Yu case erupted, he had resigned from office and returned to the Fengyang countryside for retirement.

But merely resigning and relinquishing military power wasn’t enough. This old fox Tang He, before returning to Fengyang, had distributed his family wealth and dismissed over a hundred concubines! He gave them all sufficient silver, allowing those who wished to remarry to remarry and those who wished to remain single to remain single, freeing all the concubines.

After returning to Fengyang, Tang He immediately became “ill”—reportedly suffering a stroke, unable to speak, with a dazed expression. Initially skeptical, the Hongwu Emperor summoned Tang He, who had to be carried into the palace. No matter what the Hongwu Emperor said, he could only respond with “ah ah” like a mute, and otherwise just kept weeping and kowtowing.

Seeing this famous general “sick” to such a degree that he couldn’t even manage basic bodily functions, much less rebel, the iron-hearted Hongwu Emperor couldn’t help but soften and spared Tang He and his entire family.

While the front court ran with blood and countless families died by the household, the harem remained unmoved as a mountain with hardly a ripple, secured by two iron-fisted figures: Consort Shu Cui and Palace Administrator Hu Shanwei.

Discussing this situation, Shen Qionglian, who managed the Court Rites Bureau, couldn’t help lamenting about Prince Lu Huang: “This useless good person truly had no fortune. Both his uncle’s Guo family and father-in-law’s Tang family escaped the storm unscathed. If Prince Lu Huang hadn’t dabbled in alchemy and cultivation, he might now be the Ming’s most fortunate prince, practically winning while lying down.”

However, Hu Shanwei, who had seen through everything, disagreed: “You’ve confused cause and effect. It’s because Prince Lu Huang killed himself early with alchemy that the Guo and Tang families survived.”

“Otherwise, once Noble Consort Duanjing became empress, Prince Lu Huang would be her only legitimate son. When Crown Prince Yiwen was in his prime, it was still manageable. Now the Crown Imperial Grandson hasn’t even married yet. Facing Prince Lu Huang as his only legitimate imperial uncle, His Majesty wouldn’t kill his own son, but he would uproot the Guo and Tang families, cutting off Prince Lu Huang’s ‘hands and feet’ to eliminate future troubles. The Guo and Tang families should thank Prince Lu Huang for dying early—otherwise, they would be the ones dead.”

Hu Shanwei’s insight hit the nail on the head. Shen Qionglian thought about it and was quite convinced, her eyes revealing world-weary colors: “Sometimes thinking about it, living is quite meaningless. We’ll all die eventually—dying early might be better. Look at the first founding hero Duke Zhongshan Xu Da, who died the same year as Empress Xiaoci. Everyone lamented he died too early, but precisely because he died early, Duke Weiguo residence produced three princess consorts. His eldest daughter is even the consort of Prince Yan, whom His Majesty most fears. Second-generation Duke Weiguo Xu Huizu commands heavy troops, yet the Xu family remains fine without any problems. You can see that with good luck, even death comes at just the right time.”

Shen Qionglian’s perspective was unique and unconventional, but logically sound and tightly reasoned. Hu Shanwei also admired Shen Qionglian. The two complimented each other: “Exactly—living long isn’t as good as dying cleverly.”

The two exchanged bitter smiles. Shen Qionglian said: “Tomorrow I need to request leave to go out of the palace.”

Hu Shanwei looked knowing: “I understand. Go quickly and return quickly. Collect the bodies for the Shen family and hurry back to the palace to avoid criticism.”

This Shen family member was Shen Qionglian’s relative within five degrees of mourning, all descendants of Yuan dynasty’s richest man Shen Wanshan, the wealthiest and most powerful branch among dozens of Shen family offshoots.

In any dynasty, to build a large business, one must find backing in official circles. This branch of the Shen clan had found the most prominent Duke Liangguo Lan Yu—the Shen family had previously hired a jinshi named Wang Xing as family tutor at high salary. Later, Wang Xing became family tutor at Duke Liangguo’s residence, serving as intermediary.

The Shen family had money, the Lan family had power—they hit it off immediately. When Duke Liangguo Lan Yu fell, becoming truly “cold,” all families related to the Lan family were dragged into endless hell. The Shen family, being major merchants, were simply big fat meat. Several other Shen family branches were also implicated. Only Shen Qionglian, because she served as a female official in the harem and was deeply trusted by the Hongwu Emperor and Consort Shu Cui, was exceptionally pardoned and not killed completely.

Shen Qionglian’s palace departure tomorrow was to collect bodies for Shen family members killed in the Lan Yu case. After all, they were relatives within five degrees of mourning—she couldn’t let them end up in mass graves.

Having connections above is better than guarding gold mountains—this has always been the truth throughout history.

The Shen family never imagined that their entire family’s lives were saved by their scholarly daughter. Without consideration for Shen Qionglian’s face, how could the Hongwu Emperor spare a mere merchant family?

Among the three families sparing calamity, the first two were related to Prince Lu Huang, while the last was related to Mu Chun.

Founding general Marquis Changxing Geng Bingwen had a daughter Lady Geng who was Prince Zhaojing Mu Ying’s secondary wife. After Mu Ying’s death, Lady Geng was invested as Grand Dowager of Duke Qianguo, a super-rank noble lady. Mu Chun had to call Geng Bingwen grandfather.

Perhaps considering his deceased adopted son Mu Ying, the Hongwu Emperor not only didn’t touch Geng Bingwen but elevated all three of Geng Bingwen’s sons to high positions.

More importantly, the Hongwu Emperor married Zhu Biao’s eldest daughter Princess Jiangdu—the Crown Imperial Grandson Zhu Yunwen’s elder sister—to Geng Bingwen’s legitimate eldest son Geng Xuan.

Because Geng Xuan married Princess Jiangdu, when noble families in the capital were falling apart, the Geng family stood alone in glory. Having formed marriage ties with Crown Imperial Grandson Zhu Yunwen, they leaped to become the capital’s greatest noble family with unlimited prestige.

In the vast capital’s arena of fame and fortune, when one act ends, another begins.

The Hongwu Emperor killed almost all highly respected veteran generals, leaving only the absolutely loyal Geng Bingwen to serve Crown Imperial Grandson Zhu Yunwen—equivalent to removing all thorns from the scepter to ensure safety during future imperial transitions.

Adding that the Hongwu Emperor detained all princely heir apparents in the capital for study and cultivation (as hostages), this created double insurance ensuring the Crown Imperial Grandson’s smooth succession.

Two and a half years later, in spring of the twenty-eighth year of Hongwu, all who needed killing had been killed. The great purge was ending, the capital regained tranquility, and the bloody smell pervading the air finally dissipated.

Mu Chun’s twenty-seven-month mourning period was nearly over. He would soon remove mourning clothes. Hu Shanwei had also completed her task—cooperating with Consort Shu Cui to maintain harem stability during the great purge.

Having learned from previous experience, Hu Shanwei didn’t dare delay a single day. Judging the time was ripe, she immediately requested resignation from the Hongwu Emperor.

The Hongwu Emperor said: “I keep my imperial word and won’t go back on it. I have one final task for you. After completing it, you may leave the palace.”

Hu Shanwei was overjoyed: “What task?”

The Hongwu Emperor pointed toward the palace’s Da Ben Hall, where princes, imperial grandsons, and many princely heir apparents studied:

“My grandsons have reached marriageable age, especially the Crown Imperial Grandson. I need to select a Crown Imperial Grandson Consort as his virtuous helpmate—preferably someone like Empress Xiaoci who could be mother to the nation in the future. Who in this palace understands Empress Xiaoci better than Palace Administrator Hu? Therefore, I’m entrusting you with the selection process—choose the Crown Imperial Grandson Consort and various princely heir apparent consorts.”

Hu Shanwei thought this wasn’t difficult—just examinations. First screen by appearance and deportment, then hold a major test like the imperial examinations. The highest scorer would be Crown Imperial Grandson Consort, with runners-up distributed among princely heir apparents according to age—absolutely fair and just.

Hu Shanwei said: “Your subject accepts the decree.”

But the Hongwu Emperor waved his hand: “This selection is different from previous ones. Before, imperial marriages only considered family background and birth. Now the rules have changed. I don’t want to select only from noble ministers’ families—”

Hu Shanwei privately grumbled: That’s because you’ve killed almost all the noble ministers! You couldn’t select many even if you wanted to.

The Hongwu Emperor said: “This time, I want to select from among the people, forming marriages with commoners, choosing virtuous women from ordinary families to marry into the imperial family. We’ll select beauties from among the people—as long as they come from good families, they’ll have chances to become heir apparent consorts. It won’t be like before when everyone came from duke and marquis families.”