“Who else could it be?” Mu Chun treaded water, eyes unblinking as he watched the spherical lightning floating in the water. “It must be your father.”

Since becoming a father himself, Mu Chun somewhat understood his father-in-law. Admittedly, father-in-law had been wrong to use indifference toward his second wife to torment Hu Shanwei in hopes of forcing a marriage, but father-in-law had been a very responsible father during Hu Shanwei’s childhood and youth—even better than most fathers in the world.

Especially compared to his own father, father-in-law was practically an angel.

Though living in the same city, for the Hu family’s safety, Hu Shanwei couldn’t conveniently appear to acknowledge family ties. In vast Kunming with its various ethnic settlements, the chances of encountering each other were almost zero. Hu Shanwei had secretly visited her father several times. Hu Rong had maintained good health these past years without showing age, spending days surrounded by books with an otherworldly temperament and elegant bearing. According to Captain Shi’s secret reports, many matchmakers had tried to arrange a second wife for Hu Rong, but he politely declined them all.

Hu Rong’s hobby remained going to teahouses to hear opera. Whenever the southern drama “Pipa Record” was performed, he would definitely attend. With the bookshop managed by his son and daughter-in-law, he became increasingly leisurely.

Watching Mu Chun and A’Lei play in the water, Mu Chun waved toward Hu Shanwei: “You come down and cool off too.”

After thirteen years of love and three years of marriage, Hu Shanwei understood too well what her husband was—once she went down, it wouldn’t just be water play. Ignoring him, she continued reading with lowered head.

This was the latest court bulletin reporting court events: Emperor Taizu’s death, joint burial with Empress Xiaoci at Xiaoling, consort burials, the Crown Prince’s ascension, and starting next year using the Jianwen era name.

Court Lady Cui had been expelled from the palace before Emperor Taizu’s death and received by Court Lady Cao in Yangzhou—this had been secretly reported to Mu Chun by Chen Xuan, giving Hu Shanwei some peace of mind.

Having read this court bulletin repeatedly until it was half-worn, Hu Shanwei still wouldn’t give up searching—she was looking for news of the Crown Prince’s consort “dying of illness.” According to Emperor Taizu’s consistent style, if he wouldn’t spare even one harem consort, he certainly wouldn’t spare the Eastern Palace Crown Prince’s consort.

Hu Shanwei speculated Emperor Hongwu should have executed the Crown Prince’s consort, just like executing Noble Consort Duanjing years ago, then kept the death secret until things settled before reporting sudden death to cover up royal scandal.

But there was nothing. She saw news of the Crown Prince’s consort being made Holy Mother Empress Dowager, then no follow-up. Something seemed wrong somewhere…

While Hu Shanwei was lost in thought, Mu Chun came ashore holding A’Lei. A’Lei had played in the water too long and was now drowsy, reaching out two chubby hands toward her mother, babbling. Mu Chun dried his daughter, dressed her in a little bellyband, and tucked her into Hu Shanwei’s arms: “She’s hungry and tired—give her milk and she’ll sleep.”

With a heavy spherical lightning suddenly in her arms, Hu Shanwei awakened as from a dream, loosening her clothing. A’Lei pounced like a fierce tiger, latching on to suckle.

Mu Chun directed the feeding from the side:

“Raise her head a bit higher, careful she doesn’t choke on milk.”

“Too high—your chest will block her nose.”

Unable to bear the interference, Hu Shanwei said: “Come, come, you feed her.”

Mu Chun lacked this function, so he shut up. A’Lei indeed fell asleep while eating. Mu Chun put her in the wheeled cradle, covered her with mosquito netting, and pushed his daughter home while Hu Shanwei held up a large black cloth umbrella, shading the family of three from sunlight.

Halfway there, Mu Chun whispered something in Hu Shanwei’s ear, got punched several times by his wife, and behaved himself—pushing the cart with one hand and taking the black umbrella from his wife with the other. Along the way, various colored small daisies bloomed beautifully with dragonflies and butterflies dancing among them. Hu Shanwei caught a butterfly and put it in a gauze bag, waiting for her daughter to wake up to show her.

Kunming presented a scene of mountain retreat—picking chrysanthemums by the eastern fence, leisurely seeing southern mountains. In Nanjing’s Fengtian Hall, ministers held a great meeting, arguing with red faces in lively fashion.

Today’s theme remained reducing princely power, except participants in the debate included not just the two appointed ministers Huang Zicheng and Fang Xiaoru, but also the central Six Ministries expressing their opinions. Basically divided into two factions: Huang Zicheng’s starting with Prince Yan, and Fang Xiaoru’s starting with slightly weaker princes like Prince Zhou and Prince Dai.

War Minister Qi Tai and Revenue Vice Minister Guo Ren supported Huang Zicheng’s Prince Yan reduction.

Revenue Vice Minister Zhuo Jing agreed with Fang Xiaoru’s opinion, suggesting Emperor Jianwen first relocate Prince Yan to inland Nanchang, cutting Prince Yan’s military forces and influence cultivated in the north for years—a strategy of removing firewood from under the cauldron.

Zhuo Jing’s suggestion was quite creative, even making longtime advocates of directly reducing Prince Yan like Huang Zicheng waver.

Personnel Vice Minister Gao Wei firmly opposed violent power reduction, believing that princely domains now had strong military forces—once power was reduced, warfare would inevitably arise. Though the court’s military might could handle the princes, civil war consumed national strength, harmful to the country.

Citing the Han Dynasty’s power reduction leading to the Rebellion of the Seven States that nearly became uncontrollable, he supported Han Dynasty Jia Yi’s method of “wanting the realm peaceful and stable, nothing better than establishing many princes but lessening their power.” He suggested issuing “Grace Extension Orders,” enfeoffing all princes’ sons with small territories, sending northern princes’ sons south and southern princes’ sons north.

This was also ruthless, because everyone has private interests. Under previous princely inheritance systems, only heir apparent could inherit principalities while other sons ultimately received money when dividing family property—wealthy for life but nothing more.

With Grace Extension Orders, all sons could have territory. This could internally disintegrate princely forces, causing internal princely struggles. “Then princely power would reduce itself without being reduced.” Once principalities weakened, the center could take them in one stroke, making power reduction much easier.

Emperor Jianwen listened to this one, listened to that one, feeling all made sense… But with countless methods, implementation comes first—policy mistakes mean future tears.

What to do?

Emperor Jianwen weighed pros and cons, feeling Grace Extension Orders were obviously the method causing least casualties, boiling frogs in warm water, internally disintegrating princely forces. But this needed long time to show effect, while now he had just ascended needing to firmly grasp power and establish authority, requiring bold power reduction to show his legitimate status.

Regarding war, Emperor Jianwen didn’t hope for battle but wasn’t afraid of it. The court had a million troops while Prince Yan had at most a hundred thousand supporting him—ten to one odds. Moreover, having smoothly ascended and being viewed as legitimate, occupying moral high ground and winning popular support could be called having favorable timing, geography, and people. Why fear a mere prince?

Moreover, Prince Yan’s four children were still hostages in the capital.

Emperor Jianwen calculated his odds mentally and adopted Fang Xiaoru’s suggestion—first reduce Prince Zhou, Prince Dai and other princes, making an example to warn others, letting Prince Yan retreat knowing difficulty and surrender. If Prince Yan refused and rebelled, that would be treason—whether morally or in public opinion, Prince Yan would be at a disadvantage.

Emperor Jianwen thus made his decision, choosing this method.

Three years later, Emperor Jianwen regretted bitterly—among countless methods, he had chosen the most wrong one, underestimating his opponent. But this was all future talk.

At this moment Emperor Jianwen was ambitious. This was the new ruler’s first governance policy after ascending. Ministers had various thoughts, feeling it improper, repeatedly advising against it. But Emperor Jianwen, seeing how Court Lady Fan immediately switched sides and denied that pot of poisoned wine’s existence when Emperor Taizu’s corpse wasn’t even cold, developed an almost obsessive pursuit of monopolizing power.

He wouldn’t allow anyone to compete with him for imperial power—losing imperial power meant losing everything. He was determined to firmly grasp power. The more ministers advised, the more he felt offended and insisted on implementing his first important policy since ascending.

A series of policies went out for immediate implementation. This let Emperor Jianwen first taste the exhilaration of wielding great power—so this was what ruling the realm felt like: doing as one pleased, omnipotent.

Finishing court business, a great stone fell from his heart. Emperor Jianwen rarely had time to eat dinner with wife and child. The two-year-old Crown Prince still needed a wet nurse for feeding, but Emperor Jianwen personally fed him several bites today. With beloved child and beautiful wife, harmony filled the air. After coaxing his son to sleep at night, Emperor Jianwen took Empress Ma moon-gazing.

Emperor Jianwen was quite spirited, even composing a poem. Empress Ma lacked interest, unusually not responding with verse. Emperor Jianwen asked: “Has the Empress Dowager in Cining Palace made things difficult for you again?”

Empress Ma shook her head: “The Empress Dowager has never made things difficult for me—she just has high expectations, requiring stricter standards than ordinary empresses. As they say, ‘deep love brings harsh criticism.’ What I worry about is Court Lady Fan’s chronic illness. Today she submitted resignation. I personally visited her, and Medicinal Director Liu says she’s aged and weak, plus the Court Lady position requires daily busyness that her body truly can’t handle. Any slight exposure to wind leaves her bedridden. Court Lady Fan has lost much weight, almost too weak to dress properly. I had to agree to let her leave the palace to recover. But once she’s gone, who will take the Court Lady position? I’ve thought it over—there’s one person most suitable, but—”

“But why?” Emperor Jianwen found it strange. “Are there palace ladies who don’t want to be Court Lady? This is a rare opportunity.”

Empress Ma said: “Unfortunately, the person I favor has already left the palace.”

Emperor Jianwen immediately knew whom his wife meant: “Is Zitong speaking of Hu Shanwei, Court Lady Hu?”

“Yes.” Empress Ma nodded. “Court Lady Hu is young—thirty-two when she became Court Lady. Previously she served ten years as Director of Palace Attendants, two years as Palace Correctional. I’ve reviewed Court Lady Hu’s merit records—her first year in the palace, she was responsible for compiling ‘Song Dynasty Virtuous Consorts’ Instructional Records.’ Various subsequent tasks, even going to Guizhou to convey Empress Xiaoci’s oral decree, she never failed her mission. Truly talented. When I first entered the palace participating in selections, it was all Court Lady Hu’s preparation. Sadly this was her last major task before leaving the palace. Three years have passed—Court Lady Hu is only thirty-five, still young and energetic. I want to invite her back to share my burdens.”

Born and raised in the palace, Emperor Jianwen had personally witnessed at age three how Hu Shanwei used a “Carrying Child Picture” to awaken Emperor Hongwu from rage and gently spare his father Crown Prince Zhu Biao. Emperor Jianwen knew Hu Shanwei’s various merits all too well.

When Empress Ma mentioned this, Emperor Jianwen repeatedly praised it as a good idea. Right—looking throughout the palace, only by requesting Hu Shanwei’s return could the Empress Dowager be suppressed. Ordinary ladies couldn’t shoulder this great responsibility.

Emperor Jianwen said: “My marriage to Zitong was also arranged by Court Lady Hu. When she left the palace, she said she wanted to travel and see the world. Three years have passed—she should have traveled through countless mountains and rivers. Zitong, issue an imperial decree inviting her back to continue as Court Lady.”

Empress Ma sighed: “Easier said than done. Court Lady Hu’s whereabouts are uncertain. After leaving the palace, she opened a private account at Shen family banks, having the palace deposit her salary there. She travels everywhere, able to withdraw money wherever there are Shen family banks. I had Court Director Shen get these three years’ records of Court Lady Hu’s money withdrawals from their banks—branches in all directions have been used, most recently in Taiyuan. In this vast sea of people, who knows where Court Lady Hu will appear next.”

To ensure lady officials’ loyalty without considering escape routes, their salaries were lifetime benefits. Empress Ma was truly clever, knowing to track people through finances fastest, but Hu Shanwei was too cunning, sending people nationwide to withdraw money to confuse pursuers while staying in Yunnan herself.

Emperor Jianwen said: “When Court Lady Hu served in the palace, she sent half her salary home annually to honor her father, also sending letters home for festivals. Others may not know her whereabouts, but her father should know.”

Empress Ma shook her head: “We sent people to the Hu family bookshop only to learn it closed two and a half years ago. Both shop and suburban small estate were sold cheaply. Neighbors said Hu Rong missed his hometown and returned to Jining. We’ve already sent people overnight to Jining seeking the Hu Rong family.”

“Two and a half years ago?” Emperor Jianwen murmured: “That was when Mao Qiang was executed by slow slicing and the Embroidered Uniform Guard dissolved. Coincidence or deliberate?”

Precisely because the Embroidered Uniform Guard dissolved, no one was watching the Hu family, allowing Hu Rong’s family to escape.

Emperor Taizu fulfilled his promise to Empress Xiaoci, helping Mu Chun and Hu Shanwei—rarely doing a good deed. To avoid disturbing the couple, this secret was unknown even to Emperor Jianwen, who thought she was traveling the world alone.

Empress Ma pouted coquettishly: “Since becoming emperor, your suspicions grow heavier. Court Lady Hu is just a palace lady who doesn’t participate in politics—what has the former Embroidered Uniform Guard to do with her? Your Majesty, quickly help me think of a solution to find Court Lady Hu soon—I urgently need personnel.”

What his beloved wife requested was also what Emperor Jianwen urgently wanted to resolve. Only Hu Shanwei could suppress his mother. Emperor Jianwen said: “I’ll send more people to Jining for investigation. Zitong needn’t worry. Within a month, we’ll surely invite Court Lady Hu back.”

Five days later, Court Lady Fan left the palace, carried in a carriage because she was too weak to walk.

Half of Court Lady Fan’s illness was mental, since only she knew Emperor Hongwu had issued oral orders to execute Empress Dowager Lu before dying. Now with Empress Dowager Lu living well, Court Lady Fan inevitably worried about Empress Dowager Lu eliminating witnesses and silencing her.

After all, Empress Dowager Lu was ruthlessly black-hearted with prior offenses. Though Emperor Jianwen repeatedly instructed Empress Dowager Lu not to harm Court Lady Fan, Court Lady Fan, having spent half her life in the palace, knew not to place hope in rulers’ mercy—especially someone as maliciously minded as Empress Dowager Lu. Knowing she possessed this shocking secret, Lu would definitely find ways to trip her up and kill her.

Court Lady Fan knew that if Empress Dowager Lu killed her, Emperor Jianwen would at most rage but wouldn’t do anything to Empress Dowager Lu—after all, this was his birth mother. For royal reputation, Emperor Jianwen would even help cover up the scandal of Empress Dowager Lu killing her.

Court Lady Fan had indeed wanted to work and retire in the palace, but retirement and death, though both ending in death, were different matters.

So Court Lady Fan felt crisis everywhere, deliberately catching cold at night. She secretly poured away medicines Director Liu prescribed, had no appetite, deliberately starved herself. In just two months she achieved considerable results—looking in the mirror, she completely resembled a patient with half her body in the coffin.

Using self-destructive methods to escape at her age was very risky, but she couldn’t care about that much—she had to move faster than Empress Dowager Lu. Fortunately, Empress Ma could handle matters, and Empress Dowager Lu’s reach couldn’t extend there yet, temporarily preserving her life.

When Empress Ma condescended to visit her, seeing her emaciated state truly unable to work, she immediately agreed to let her leave the palace to recover.

Court Lady Fan thought: The Ming Dynasty’s second Empress Ma is also a decent person with Empress Xiaoci’s style. Court Lady Hu had good judgment then. If I had properly assisted her in stabilizing the empress position in the palace, that would be an achievement. But I offended Empress Dowager Lu—this person seeks revenge for the smallest slight. I’d better learn from Court Lady Cao and escape quickly.

The carriage left the imperial palace. Court Lady Fan could immediately sit up, drinking a whole crock of clear porridge with just two pieces of fermented tofu—where was that earlier weakened appearance of not taking a drop of rice!

To leave the palace, Court Lady Fan went all out, nearly starving herself to death.

Court Lady Fan boarded a passenger ship bound for Yangzhou—to reunite with Court Lady Cao and Court Lady Cui. They had agreed to retire together and see who lived longest.

To save time, the large ship sailed through the night. At midnight, Court Lady Fan was awakened by noisy sounds—people shouting “The ship is leaking! Quick, get on small boats and run!”

Court Lady Fan hurriedly got up, grabbed her small bundle and ran outside her cabin, but her door wouldn’t open no matter what—her room door had somehow been locked from outside. Passengers outside were busy competing for boats to escape, no one noticing the abnormality of Court Lady Fan’s door. River water gradually flowed through door cracks. Court Lady Fan stopped pounding and calling for help.

In the end, she still couldn’t escape.

Court Lady Fan retreated to her dressing table, changed into palace lady official robes, and began applying makeup. When river water reached her waist, she applied bright red lipstick, finishing her makeup.

Born to a distinguished family, she had always paid attention to appearance her whole life, not wanting to die too miserably.

Court Lady Cao, Court Lady Cui, I’m sorry—I must break our agreement.