How did the fugitive Ji Gang end up being “kept as a hidden beauty in a golden house” by Mu Chun, who was a thousand li away?

This truly was like a child without a mother—it’s a long story.

To leave the capital, there were only two routes: waterway and land route. The commander responsible for Nanjing’s water gateway defenses was Chen Xuan—the second-generation official bandit chief that Mu Chun had recruited from Zhouzhi County.

Unlike wild bandits like Commander Shi, Chen Xuan was a comprehensive, multi-skilled bandit who could read and write, understood various southwestern dialects and officialdom rules. Mu Chun had always kept an eye on cultivating him carefully, providing good resources and promotion opportunities, even using his adoptive father Mu Ying’s influence to fight for advancement.

Nine years ago, when Nanjing’s water defense position became vacant, Mu Chun strongly recommended Chen Xuan, saying he was not only skilled in warfare but had also managed various water conservancy projects in Yunnan, building canals and dams. Emperor Hongwu ultimately chose Chen Xuan, entrusting him with the capital’s water defenses.

Chen Xuan reorganized Nanjing’s navy and occasionally led troops to fight pirates along the coast, training through combat with impressive results. Emperor Hongwu was very satisfied with him. With his patron being Duke Qianguo Mu Chun, even during Emperor Hongwu’s several great court purges, no one dared implicate Chen Xuan.

Therefore, after nine years of managing Nanjing’s navy, Chen Xuan had established firm footing with his own trusted subordinates. Though Yunnan was remote and Mu Chun far from the political center, he could understand the capital’s situation thoroughly thanks to Chen Xuan’s waterway and carrier pigeon coded messages.

When Chen Xuan informed Mu Chun that Princess Nankang’s consort Hu Guan had led the impeachment against Mao Qiang, Mu Chun was still in his honeymoon period with his newlywed wife on the waterway, daily wielding a boat pole with great pleasure. Seeing this intelligence, he immediately understood what was happening: Emperor Hongwu, that cunning old man, was truly devious. No wonder he had easily fulfilled their wishes—it was to send Sister Shanwei away and arrange his backup plan.

However, Mu Chun also knew that even if Hu Shanwei had remained in the capital, she couldn’t have changed the predetermined outcome and might have been dragged down as well.

Mu Chun concealed this matter from Hu Shanwei and wrote back to Chen Xuan: Mao Qiang’s death is certain, do everything to protect Ji Gang and send him to Yunnan to avoid the storm.

This wasn’t the first time Mu Chun had extracted people from the capital. Chen Xuan received the reply and was about to find a way to spirit Ji Gang away when Jinyiwei Commander Mao Qiang came calling.

Speak of the devil.

Mao Qiang said, “Lord Chen, no need to play dumb with me. I know about your secret dealings with Mu Chun. The missing grandson of Prince Kaiping Chang Yuchun, Chang Jizu, was secretly spirited away by you two. He’s been wanted for three years without trace—hidden in Yunnan, right?”

Chen Xuan looked terrified on the surface, saying, “Lord Mao, you can eat carelessly but can’t speak carelessly. I’m the grand Ming capital navy commander—how could I possibly have private dealings with a frontier minister?”

All correspondence used code and was burned after reading. Chen Xuan was confident Mao Qiang had no evidence.

Mao Qiang raised his hand with an “I understand” look. “Don’t worry, I haven’t reported any of this to the Emperor. I need to leave that useless subordinate an escape route. Using this secret as a trade, I need you to do me a small favor—get Ji Gang out of the capital, don’t let him die with me.”

With one pot of tea, Mao Qiang knocked out Ji Gang, packed him in a box, had Chen Xuan’s navy carry him onto a supply ship, and express-delivered him to Yunnan for Mu Chun to personally sign for.

Throughout the journey, Ji Gang first cursed violently, punching windows and kicking doors, but it was completely useless. The people outside acted like deaf-mutes, completely ignoring him, delivering three meals daily and emptying his chamber pot morning and evening.

Later, switching from waterway to land route to reach Yunnan, Ji Gang vaguely guessed what was happening and began cursing Mu Chun as worthless.

Delivered to a new immigrant stone city, Mu Chun personally inspected the goods. After confirming eye contact, it was indeed the great beauty Ji. Mu Chun immediately kept the violently furious Ji Gang as his “hidden beauty in a golden house,” waiting for him to vent his grievances.

He was confined for a month like this. The first ten days Ji Gang was still very destructive, dismantling all furniture beyond recognition. Ji Gang was like a human meat grinder, smashing whatever he saw, even attacking himself when going crazy.

The middle ten days he gradually calmed down. The final ten days he simply remained silent as if mute, just eating and lying in bed staring at the ventilation window in the corner.

Mu Chun knew Ji Gang had finally achieved enlightenment. As soon as news of Mao Qiang’s death and the amnesty decree arrived, he released him.

During the month confined in the room, Ji Gang never shaved, and his eyes became weathered. The moment he delivered his harsh words to Mu Chun, he seemed to emerge from a cocoon as a butterfly, the caterpillar reborn through painful isolation.

Mu Chun knew who he planned to join. Currently, the strongest prince was Prince Yan Zhu Di, otherwise Emperor Hongwu wouldn’t have detained two sons and two daughters of Prince Yan in the capital while only detaining the heirs of other princes.

Mu Chun didn’t stop him. Over these years he had deeply cultivated Yunnan, secretly providing protection for various political exiles, also to keep options open and hedge bets for future self-preservation. Regardless of who competed, it would still be someone from the Zhu family as emperor.

Mu Chun threw him a bundle, “Your new household registration, travel passes and border documents. Don’t shave your beard—your face is too attention-grabbing.”

Ji Gang caught the bundle, “I owe you a life. If there’s a chance in future, I’ll repay you.”

Mu Chun felt jealous, saying, “No need. You saved my wife, I saved you—we’re even.”

This was Mu Chun’s main reason for having Chen Xuan preserve Ji Gang’s life. Speaking shamefully, Hu Shanwei served as a female official for fifteen years, with Ji Gang accompanying and protecting her for the longest time.

Companionship is the longest confession of love. Mu Chun, this walking Wu region romantic ballad, understood this well but chose not to voice it. What he owed Ji Gang ultimately needed repayment.

Ji Gang laughed heartily, “You also know about the palace rumors of romance between me and Hu Shanwei? Those are all Crown Princess’s slanderous fabrications behind the scenes. Don’t take them to heart.”

Mu Chun’s heart churned with jealousy, but he spoke nonchalantly, “I wouldn’t think wildly. I trust her.”

As soon as he finished speaking, a voice rang out, “Since you trust me, why hide things from me? If I hadn’t followed you here, I wouldn’t have known you were secretly keeping a hidden beauty in a golden house.”

Hearing this familiar voice, both grown men froze in place, not daring to move.

Mu Chun didn’t dare move because he was in the terminal stage of being henpecked.

Ji Gang didn’t dare move because as a fallen hero, he didn’t want acquaintances to see his wretched state, especially not Hu Shanwei.

Ji Gang simply covered his face with the bundle and, relying on his agile skills and long legs, jumped directly from the second floor and fled.

“Stop!” Hu Shanwei couldn’t be bothered settling accounts with her husband, quickly running downstairs, but where was Ji Gang’s graceful figure?

Hu Shanwei ran to a crossroads filled with pedestrians everywhere, but none were Ji Gang. Great Beauty Ji’s silhouette was distinctive even from behind.

Mu Chun said, “Stop looking for him. He worked in Jinyiwei intelligence and excels at tracking. If he wants to leave, no one can stop him.”

With too many passersby around, Hu Shanwei restrained herself from erupting. The couple went to Ji Gang’s confinement location, where Hu Shanwei finally exploded.

She waved the “Edict Pardoning Lan and Hu Factions” before her husband, very annoyed:

“Such a major incident happened, why didn’t you tell me? You knew on the boat, didn’t you? Otherwise, you’re letting me off—turns out you find me a hindrance, you simply had no time to save Ji Gang. The Emperor killed enough people and wants to wash his feet and go ashore, using Mao Qiang as a foot cloth, discarding him after use, letting enemies tear him to pieces alive! I knew the Emperor wouldn’t easily kick me out with a marriage decree! “

Mu Chun retreated repeatedly like White Snake seeing Monk Fahai’s golden bowl, “I knew early on, but the deed was done. Neither you nor I could change the Emperor’s decision. I could only find ways to rescue Ji Gang. I didn’t tell you because Ji Gang has been too violent these days—not one piece of furniture in the room remains intact, all smashed. Even bowls and plates had to be replaced with bamboo ones. I didn’t dare let you see him.”

“Do you think I’d lose my head and run to the capital seeking death? I know the Emperor’s temperament better than you do. I wouldn’t foolishly clash head-on with him.”

In her anger, Hu Shanwei tore the “Edict Pardoning Lan and Hu Factions” left and right, shredding it into snowflakes and throwing it in the air, “Everyone is his chess piece. He wants life, you live; he wants death, you die; he wants you placed somewhere, you go there. Such a ruler, life after life, never to meet again. I was grateful with tears when leaving the palace that he fulfilled our wishes. Looking back now, all that sincerity was fed to dogs!”

When lips are gone, teeth feel cold; when the rabbit dies, the fox grieves.

Negative emotions like disappointment, anger, loss, and fear filled her mind, completely driving away the joy of newlywed bliss. Marriage wasn’t the end but the beginning. The happiness she wanted still required struggle. The goal hadn’t been achieved; Shanwei still needed to work hard.

Hu Shanwei angrily paced around the room, “Before entering the palace, my examination tested ‘On Maintaining Chastity.’ Shen Qionglian wrote the best essay: ‘How extreme is Qin’s tyranny! Must chastity necessarily be maintained?’ Since the Emperor is so tyrannical and cold-blooded, why should I remain loyal to him?”

Hu Shanwei raged, “Mao Qiang was the Emperor’s adopted son, yet the Emperor sat by watching him suffer slow slicing! Even a cup of poisoned wine for execution would have been quicker and cleaner. Father-in-law is also his adopted son, and you’re one step removed, making the bond even thinner. If the Emperor suspects you in future, the agreed fake death might become real death, then kill me too, creating the illusion of following you in death. I know so many palace secrets—keeping me alive might someday offend his eyes! You hid such important matters from me, leaving me completely unprepared for the future. Should I be slaughtered like Mao Qiang? I’m not one for blind loyalty! Qin’s tyranny—must chastity necessarily be maintained!”

Though Hu Shanwei was a woman, she didn’t take the feudal ethics of ruler-minister and father-son relationships to heart. At twenty, she could resist her stepmother’s abuse and oppose her father’s arranged marriage, using the female official examination as protest against patriarchal authority.

Fifteen years later, her rebellious spirit remained. Getting married didn’t mean taking her husband as heaven and obeying him in everything—patriarchal authority simply didn’t exist. In this feudal era, she was truly “born rebellious,” thus able to break free from the ideological shackles of “loyalty to the ruler” better than Mao Qiang.

Moreover, Shen Qionglian’s shocking line, “Qin’s tyranny—must chastity necessarily be maintained?” quickly helped her find a new direction.

Seeing his wife erupt with flames about to burn toward him, Mu Chun hastily consoled, “The Emperor is too old, the Imperial Grandson too young. Issuing the amnesty through the Imperial Grandson’s hands makes people’s hearts turn toward the Imperial Grandson. But people aren’t emotionless, mindless chess pieces to be manipulated at will. I also think the Emperor went too far—extremes lead to reversal, something will happen sooner or later. I’ve prepared these past years. I wasn’t planning to keep hiding from you—I was looking for the right moment to reveal everything. I didn’t expect you to find the door yourself. Wife, you’re truly amazing. How did you discover Ji Gang’s hiding place?”

“Stop sweet-talking me.” Hu Shanwei glared coldly, asking, “Besides Ji Gang, what else are you hiding from me?”

Seeing things had reached this point with no way to conceal further, Mu Chun could only grab her hand, “I’ll take you to meet someone.”

Mu Chun took her to a quiet tea garden where someone was watering tea plants. Hu Shanwei looked through a monocular telescope from the foot of the mountain and immediately exclaimed in surprise, “Chang Jizu?”

Hu Shanwei never imagined that when Emperor Hongwu exterminated Crown Prince Yiwen’s consort family, the only surviving grandson of the Chang family was hiding with Mu Chun!

“Mm.” Mu Chun nodded, “Chang Jizu isn’t on the amnesty list. When the Imperial Grandson ascends the throne in future, he’ll probably want to kill him even more. No matter who wants to compete with the Imperial Grandson for the throne, Chang Jizu is excellent political capital. Chang Jizu himself wants revenge for his family. Regardless of who rules the realm in future, neither you nor I will be purged by the new ruler.”

Hu Shanwei asked, “Who brought him to Yunnan?”

Mu Chun: “Me, of course.”

Hu Shanwei thrust the telescope into his hands, turned and left, “You’ll sleep on the floor tonight.”

“Don’t! I’ll confess, I’ll confess everything.” Mu Chun shamelessly followed, “It was Chen Xuan. He now controls the Ming navy and manages grain transport—he can spirit people away without anyone knowing.”

Hu Shanwei made an “oh” sound, “I didn’t expect you to engage in keeping hidden beauties in Yunnan, hiding one after another.”

Mu Chun hastily explained, “The only important figures are Chang Jizu and Ji Gang. Chang Jizu can’t compare to you, Ji Gang can’t compare to you. You’re the most precious person I’ve hidden away.”

Hu Shanwei was half-convinced, “Really? Only two?”

Mu Chun chuckled, “There are quite a few others from the capital who fled to Yunnan for refuge. I pretend not to see them. When my subordinates discover fake household registrations, I order them to turn a blind eye and let them pass, even allocating land to them. There’s plenty of land here anyway—let them be self-sufficient. Spare others when possible, leave room for future encounters. If the old Emperor changes his mind in future, we’ll have helpers and escape routes. I’m considering our future too…”

Mu Chun revealed various secrets as if laying bare his heart. Hu Shanwei’s heart finally settled somewhat. It was now dusk as husband and wife returned home together. This was a Kunming residence, unremarkable on the outside but with hidden wonders within—planted with patches of small daisies like oceans. It was early summer, and the white daisies swayed like ocean waves.

“The heartless gentleman should be charming, wearing armor and wielding weapons like jade gate pipes. Eight thousand li of frontier campaigns, seeing cooking fires and removing armor to visit chrysanthemums.”

The poem “July Twentieth, Drinking with Jingchun at Hangzhou Wine Tower, Eating Crabs and Drinking Chrysanthemum Wine” that Hu Shanwei gave Mu Chun fifteen years ago practically prophesied Mu Chun’s life. When building their wedding chamber, Mu Chun specifically planted an acre of chrysanthemums to echo Sister Shanwei’s poem.

Woof woof!

A plain-looking, unremarkable yellow farm dog rushed out from the chrysanthemum bushes, wagging its tail to welcome its master.

Hu Shanwei petted the dog’s head and stuffed a piece of dried meat in its mouth, “You were curious how I found your hidden beauty location? Actually it wasn’t me—it was Da Huang who found it. He has a good nose.”

Mu Chun raised his hand to swear again, “I won’t hide anything from you anymore, truly.”

Hearing this, Hu Shanwei finally let Mu Chun hold her hand as they returned to the house together.

Meow!

A black and white cat dragged a dead mouse before its master to claim credit. Hu Shanwei rewarded it with several small dried fish.

The newlyweds now had a house, land, and both cats and dogs—a complete family.