Defying imperial edicts would mean execution and would also implicate Supervisor Cao and Supervisor Cui who were present.

“Your subject Hu Shanwei receives the edict. However—” Hu Shanwei held the bright yellow imperial edict, pointing to Supervisor Fan in the ice blocks: “I must bring her to the capital together. A rear palace female official died violently in the Yangtze River just after leaving the palace. I must get to the bottom of this. The authorities must thoroughly investigate this case, find the real culprit, and not let Supervisor Fan die in vain.”

The eunuch delivering the edict had expected this, saying: “Supervisor Fan resigned from office to retire and recuperate, then met with misfortune on the road. Both His Majesty and Her Majesty were greatly shocked and immediately ordered this servant to come to Guazhou. Besides delivering the edict to escort Palace Supervisor Hu back to the palace, we also commanded people from the Ministry of Justice to come supervise this case. The Ministry of Justice people are right behind us and will arrive shortly. Additionally, this servant was ordered to properly bury Supervisor Fan. Moreover, when Her Majesty the Empress learned that Supervisor Cao and Cui were both at Guazhou, she specially bestowed gifts upon these palace veterans.”

Supervisor Cao and Supervisor Cui quickly knelt to receive the rewards.

The imperial couple had arranged everything, even caring for old palace ministers – leaving no detail unattended. Supervisor Cao advised Hu Shanwei: “Imperial commands cannot be violated. You must quickly return to the rear palace and cooperate with the Ministry of Justice to investigate Supervisor Fan’s death. Supervisor Fan spent her entire life in the court with no grudges against outsiders. This calamity must be related to the court. Rest assured, I’ll work with the Ministry of Justice people from outside while you work from within – applying pressure from both ends. I don’t believe we can’t find the real culprit.”

Hu Shanwei naturally knew that without entering the tiger’s den, one couldn’t catch tiger cubs, but she really didn’t want to enter! Once through the palace gates, it was as deep as the sea. She had a family – how could she bear to leave her five-month-old daughter?

But if she hadn’t piled up the silver mountain and made such a great show of salvaging people in the Yangtze River, how could she have quickly attracted skilled swimmers from all over the Ming Dynasty to practically sift through the entire Yangtze? How else could they have found iron-clad evidence of the ship being deliberately holed and the door being locked?

If left alone, Supervisor Fan’s corpse would have turned to bones, forever sealed in that sunken ship…

Now directly defying the edict was impossible. She could only return to the palace first, root out Supervisor Fan’s killer, then find an opportunity to resign and leave.

Hu Shanwei looked at Supervisor Fan buried in ice blocks and said: “I must wait for the Ministry of Justice people to arrive, examine the corpse, investigate the sunken ship on the riverbed, record the evidence of deliberate murder in the case files, and confirm that Supervisor Fan died from homicide before I’ll return to the palace with you.”

The eunuch grew anxious: “But His Majesty and Her Majesty are waiting for Palace Supervisor Hu—”

“I won’t defy the edict,” Hu Shanwei interrupted. “I didn’t come to Guazhou to return to the palace, but because of the news of Supervisor Fan’s death. If her affairs aren’t properly handled, how can I return to the palace with peace of mind?”

Hu Shanwei refused to leave. After about half an hour of standoff, Minister of Justice Bao Zhao arrived at Guazhou travel-worn and dusty. Minister Bao had happened to be young when Great Ancestor Emperor temporarily suspended imperial examinations, so he was selected for the Imperial Academy as a student based on talent. He had previously served as Left Chief Censor of the Censorate, clean as water with iron integrity. Many corrupt officials were impeached and brought down by him. He enjoyed prestige both in officialdom and among the people. Because “Bao” and “Bao” had the same pronunciation, he earned the nickname “Minister Bao,” showing his excellent reputation.

In Hongwu Year 30, Bao Zhao transferred to the Ministry of Justice as Right Vice Minister. In Hongwu Year 31, when Great Ancestor Emperor knew his time was near, he promoted him to Minister of Justice, making him one of the regency ministers for Emperor Jianwen’s reign.

Seeing Minister Bao, everyone felt relieved, believing that with Minister Bao’s reputation and character, he would surely uncover the truth. Minister Bao came with coroners and Ministry of Justice constables. Upon arrival, he immediately examined the corpse, filled out death certificates, and taking advantage of the last light of day, sent strong constables to dive with water ghosts to examine the vertically positioned sunken ship on the riverbed.

The constables surfaced, confirming the water ghosts’ account: “Minister Bao, the hole in the ship’s bottom has clean edges, indeed caused by sharp weapons chopping. Preliminary judgment is premeditated murder.”

Hu Shanwei said: “Minister Bao, there were over fifty people on the ship, yet only Supervisor Fan’s room was locked from outside, showing Supervisor Fan was the killer’s sole target. To destroy evidence, the killer didn’t hesitate to create a river disaster, causing over ten innocent people to die unjustly in the river. This is truly unconscionable and inhumane.”

Bao Zhao had risen from minor censor to Minister of Justice, overseeing the Ming Dynasty’s criminal justice system. His extensive experience allowed him to examine the copper lock still bearing water weed traces and contemplate: “Involving murder, the usual motives are passion, money, or position and power. Supervisor Fan had always been in the court and was advanced in years, so crimes of passion can be ruled out. Such a major case involving over ten lives is probably due to official struggles, motivated by money or power. The killer definitely has a powerful background. However, I guarantee with my lifelong reputation that I will definitely uncover the truth and let the souls in the river rest in peace.”

“Minister Bao” was a famous clean official who even wore dark patches on his official boots. Seeing Bao Zhao swear by his most cherished reputation, Hu Shanwei immediately felt relieved. In the Ming Dynasty, there was no official more reliable than Bao Zhao.

Hu Shanwei bowed deeply to Bao Zhao: “I trust Minister Bao. I hope Minister Bao will quickly uncover the truth and let the departed souls rest in peace.”

After a brief reunion, it was time to part again. Hu Shanwei said to Supervisor Cao and Supervisor Cui: “That silver – besides rewards for the water ghosts and handling Supervisor Fan’s funeral, there’s still a surplus. Leave it for you two seniors’ retirement. Hire more guards and attendants, and engage bodyguards for protection when traveling. Stay safe.”

Supervisor Cao said: “Rest assured as you enter the palace and investigate Supervisor Fan’s case clearly. Leave everything else to us. We have plenty of retirement silver – being too ostentatious would easily attract thieves. We plan to use the remaining silver specifically for charitable works, to salvage and bury unclaimed corpses from the Yangtze River, letting them rest in peace. This will be doing good deeds and accumulating merit for Supervisor Fan, so in her next life she can be reborn into a good family and be a wealthy, leisurely person. Don’t be like this lifetime, working hard like an old ox serving the imperial family loyally, yet ending up like this.”

With the rabbit dead, the fox grieves – all three battle-tested female officials’ eyes grew moist.

The eunuch urged again, so Hu Shanwei bid farewell to Supervisor Cao and Supervisor Cui overnight, taking the “Poetry Collection of Fan Deji” back to the palace.

The return to the capital was still by water route. Due to Supervisor Fan’s death, the journey had imperial guard cavalry along the shores and Nanjing naval warships escorting on the river – protection was tight.

Hu Shanwei boarded the steady-as-dry-land official ship and requested hot water to wash away the corpse odor. She removed her undergarments – her breast bindings were soaked with leaked milk, then dried by body heat, repeatedly. The originally soft fabric had become stiff as if freshly starched.

While bathing, Hu Shanwei drank tea made with roasted malt and hawthorn – this was for stopping milk production. After drinking it, breast milk would gradually decrease and cease.

It was midnight, and her breasts began to swell and harden slightly. A’Lei hadn’t been weaned from night feeding yet – every night at this hour, she would roll half-asleep into her embrace for a “midnight snack.”

Now with A’Lei not beside her, her body would become engorged at this hour. A mother’s body has autonomous consciousness not controlled by the brain. Whenever she saw small babies or heard babies crying, her body would react before her brain, having its own temperament, beginning to produce milk in preparation for nursing.

This reaction was almost indiscriminate – no matter how hard Hu Shanwei tried, she couldn’t control it. She could only rely on folk remedies to suppress her maternal instinctive reactions.

Food items like these couldn’t be brought into the palace, so Hu Shanwei simply threw the remaining hawthorn and roasted malt into the pot to cook together, filtered out the liquid, then took advantage of the dark night to dump the medicinal dregs into the river.

Drinking the milk-stopping tea, Hu Shanwei wrote a letter to Mu Chun. When the official ship docked the next day, Nanjing Naval Commander Chen Xuan personally met her at Longjiang Post Station wharf. Hu Shanwei took the opportunity to secretly give him the letter.

Switching to horse carriage, shops along the route had doors and windows tightly shut, pedestrians had scattered, barriers were set up at alley entrances, and soldiers stood guard every five steps. Today Nanjing was under complete martial law. Hu Shanwei knew this grand display definitely wasn’t for her, a fifth-rank Palace Supervisor – she didn’t have such face.

Hu Shanwei asked her escort Chen Xuan. In front of everyone, Chen Xuan couldn’t express any position and said matter-of-factly: “Prince Runan reported that Prince Zhou and Crown Prince Zhou conspired to rebel together. Duke Cao Li Jinglong went to Kaifeng in Henan to arrest Prince Zhou at the Prince Zhou residence. Today he’s being escorted to the capital’s Imperial Clan Court for trial.”

Crown Prince Zhou Zhu Youdun was already in the capital as a hostage, already imprisoned, so there was no need to go to Kaifeng to arrest him.

Hu Shanwei knew the imperial genealogy inside and out. She could hardly believe it: “Prince Runan is Prince Zhou’s legitimate second son, a full brother to Crown Prince Zhou from the same mother.”

Prince Zhou Zhu Su’s princess consort was Mu Chun’s great-aunt, Feng Shi – formerly daughter of Duke Songguo Feng Sheng. Feng Sheng’s entire family was executed by Great Ancestor Emperor on charges of treason, and the Feng family was exterminated. Mu Chun ultimately only saved his uncle Feng Cheng’s family, taking them to Yunnan where they changed names and disappeared without a trace.

Princess Consort Zhou, Feng Shi, bore Crown Prince Zhu Youdun and Prince Runan Zhu Youxun. Prince Zhou and his wife had a good relationship. When the Feng family was exterminated, Prince Zhou was powerless to help but still fulfilled his duties as father and husband, protecting his wife and children. Feng Shi thus avoided the tragedy of Princess Shu Lan Shi being forced to suicide – Great Ancestor Emperor had ordered Mao Qiang to skin Lan Yu, Lan Shi’s father, and express-deliver the human skin to Shu Prince’s residence in Chengdu, Sichuan.

But unexpectedly, while Princess Consort Zhou Feng Shi escaped death, she would have to witness her second son transform into an ungrateful wretch, slandering his father and elder brother to compete with the crown prince for the princely title.

Therefore, when Duke Cao Li Jinglong came to Prince Zhou’s residence to arrest Prince Zhou, Princess Consort Zhou was grief-stricken, loudly cursing her second son Zhu Youxun for being unfilial, but there was nothing she could do. Her natal family was exterminated, her nephew Duke Qianguo Mu Chun had “died” three years ago – now she truly had no backing whatsoever.

Chen Xuan said: “Yes, Prince Runan chose righteousness over family. When loyalty and filial piety cannot both be preserved, he could only choose loyalty.”

Hu Shanwei didn’t know what to say. Prince Zhou would rebel? The sun would rise in the west first. Other princes aside, Prince Zhou was famously obsessed with medicine. Imperial Physicians Ru and Physician Tan and his wife were both compiling books at Prince Zhou’s residence – could medical books rebel?

His Majesty wanted to strip feudal powers, but why not start with someone else instead of the medicine-obsessed Prince Zhou? Unable to find reasons, he tempted Prince Runan to turn against his own father… Who came up with such a foolish plan? Are they stupid? Creating such a human tragedy with such ugly tactics! This is simply self-deception – even I, a female official, can guess that Prince Runan was instigated to falsely accuse his father. Do they think all subjects and people are fools?

When ministers propose such foolish plans, does the ruler just go along with them?

Prince Zhou’s joke-like rebellion indeed caused a sensation both in court and among the people, with many speaking up for Prince Zhou. Prince Zhou compiled medical books and treated illnesses, saving people, enjoying an excellent reputation among the people. This led to many people along the route petitioning when Duke Cao Li Jinglong escorted Prince Zhou to the capital. In the sweltering summer heat, the pampered Prince Zhou suffered heatstroke in the prison cart. Common people spontaneously raised funds to buy expensive ice blocks and sent them to the prison cart to help Prince Zhou beat the heat.

Precisely because of Prince Zhou’s popularity among the people, Emperor Jianwen worried that Prince Zhou’s entry into the capital would cause public unrest and riots, so he simply ordered citywide martial law, sealing off the route for Prince Zhou’s prison cart and preventing people from approaching Prince Zhou.

Prince Zhou, framed for rebellion by his own son, suffered both physical and mental blows. He knew this calamity came because of his older brother Prince Yan Zhu Di. His Majesty didn’t dare first move against the militarily powerful fourth imperial uncle, so he took action against the powerless fifth imperial uncle, killing the chicken to warn the monkey.

Prince Zhou and Prince Yan had a good brotherly relationship. Throughout the journey, no matter how Li Jinglong tempted him to implicate his older brother Prince Yan, Prince Zhou refused. Look – both being younger brothers, Prince Zhou was truly different from his own son Prince Runan.

Seeing Hu Shanwei’s incredulous expression, Chen Xuan said with double meaning: “The weather is changing. Palace Supervisor Hu must be careful.”

Summer weather was changeable. When Hu Shanwei came ashore it was still blazing sun, but entering the city, black clouds immediately pressed down. Hu Shanwei lowered the carriage curtain, thinking that this farce of Prince Zhou being accused of rebellion by his own son – Emperor Jianwen should know about it… Knowing the cause was unjust yet continuing to make error upon error, clearly his fear of the militarily powerful imperial uncles had exceeded reason and basic human relations. Sigh, three years ago he was clearly still a shy, reserved youth – how did he become like this?

The “weather” truly was changing, and the imperial family’s muddy waters were getting muddier.

Hu Shanwei thought: I’ll root out Supervisor Fan’s killer and immediately leave – I won’t wade into muddy waters.

While contemplating, they’d reached Xi’an Gate. Chen Xuan and others stopped here while imperial guards escorted Hu Shanwei into the imperial palace. After walking several li, they reached West Flower Gate – beyond here was the rear palace.

I, Hu Shanwei, have returned.

Hu Shanwei handed her travel bundle to the eunuchs guarding the gate: “Send this to the Bureau of Court Etiquette to check for any prohibited items, then send it to my room.”

At the entrance, Haitang had been waiting with eager anticipation for a long time. She was now a sixth-rank Female Secretary of the Palace Supervisor Bureau, one of Empress Ma’s trusted confidants.

“Palace Supervisor Hu!” Haitang suppressed her inner excitement, bowed, and said: “Please follow this official to Kunning Palace to see Her Majesty the Empress.”

Hu Shanwei was gratified to see how accomplished Haitang had become.

On the way to Kunning Palace, Hu Shanwei “coincidentally” encountered old friends: Bureau of Court Etiquette Supervisor Shen Qionglian, Bureau of Clothing Keeper Huang Weide, Bureau of Food Supervisor Chen Er’mei. Besides these, there were also some unfamiliar palace staff who came collectively to observe the “legendary” Palace Supervisor Hu.

Because Hu Shanwei had piled up a silver mountain at Guazhou searching for Supervisor Fan’s remains, everyone knew about it. These observing gazes were mostly kind and admiring.

Arriving at Kunning Palace, Haitang led Hu Shanwei to sit in the side hall and served tea: “Palace Supervisor Hu, please wait a moment. Princess Imperial Huaiqing came to the palace early this morning to speak with Her Majesty the Empress and hasn’t left yet.”

With Emperor Jianwen’s ascension, his daughters became princesses, his sisters became princess imperials, and his aunts became princess imperials of higher rank. Princess Huaiqing had risen two generational levels at once.

Hearing that Princess Imperial Huaiqing had come, Hu Shanwei guessed the situation: “The Princess Imperial is here to plead for Prince Zhou, isn’t she?”

Haitang nodded: “Palace Supervisor Hu truly predicts things like a god.”

This was the benefit of fifteen years’ experience in court – Hu Shanwei understood all the various imperial family stories too well: Prince Zhou and Prince Yan’s birth mother Consort Shuo died early. Prince Yan was older and had already moved to live in the five eastern halls of Qianqing Palace, while younger brother Prince Zhou was still small and couldn’t do without his birth mother’s careful care. Great Ancestor Emperor thus entrusted Prince Zhou to Noble Consort Chengmu Sun Shi to raise.

Noble Consort Chengmu only had two daughters and raised Prince Zhou as her own son, so Prince Zhou and Princess Imperial Huaiqing were like biological siblings with very good relations. When Noble Consort Chengmu died with no one to take charge of her funeral, inspired by Hu Shanwei, Great Ancestor Emperor issued the “Record of Filial Piety,” changing mourning customs and ordering Prince Zhou to take charge of Noble Consort Chengmu’s funeral. While other princes only observed one year of mourning for their stepmothers, Prince Zhou properly observed the full three-year period of deepest mourning.

This made Princess Imperial Huaiqing increasingly respect Prince Zhou as her real older brother. Although Prince Zhou later went to Kaifeng for his feudal territory, the siblings maintained correspondence. When Crown Prince Zhou Zhu Youdun was falsely accused of conspiring with his father to rebel and thrown into Imperial Clan Court prison, it was Princess Imperial Huaiqing who daily sent people to deliver food, showing care and concern for this imprisoned nephew.

Today when Prince Zhou was escorted back to the capital by Duke Cao Li Jinglong, Princess Imperial Huaiqing came to Kunning Palace to plead for Prince Zhou.

She came carrying a stack of medical books compiled and edited by Prince Zhou: “…I grew up with Prince Zhou and understand him best. He has no ambitions. Even his horsemanship and archery aren’t as good as mine. Father Emperor once said he was ‘useless in every way.’ Your Majesty the Empress, look at these books – Prince Zhou focuses wholeheartedly on compiling medical texts. How could he have the mind for rebellion? That Prince Runan, this stinking brat, was confused by treacherous people. Don’t believe this yellow-mouthed child’s words.”

Empress Ma sighed: “The rear palace cannot interfere in politics. Whether Prince Runan’s or Prince Zhou’s words are true or false, the Imperial Clan Court will make the decision. How could this be something I can decide?”

Seeing Princess Imperial Huaiqing’s expression darken, Empress Ma added: “However, I can convey these books and the Princess Imperial’s words to His Majesty for his consideration.”

Hearing this, Princess Imperial Huaiqing was quite disappointed, but she also understood that this young Empress Ma was different from her former exceptional stepmother, Empress Ma.

When Empress Xiaoci was alive, she also said the rear palace couldn’t interfere in politics, but every time something happened in the front court, Empress Xiaoci would always go “put out fires,” using various methods to calm the furious Great Ancestor Emperor and make him accept her opinions.

The current Empress Ma had Empress Xiaoci’s style but only remained at the level of kindness. She was a virtuous wife and loving mother, gentle and obedient to her husband Emperor Jianwen, but for a nation’s empress, being merely a virtuous wife and loving mother was far from enough…

She couldn’t just rely on pleading with Empress Ma – she needed to think of other ways to save Prince Zhou. Princess Imperial Huaiqing took her leave, and Empress Ma felt relieved.

As soon as the princess left, Haitang quickly led Hu Shanwei toward the main hall. Princess Imperial Huaiqing had already reached the door but couldn’t give up, looking back and just catching sight of Hu Shanwei’s profile.

Princess Imperial Huaiqing was overjoyed: Palace Supervisor Hu has returned! This person could even persuade the stubborn Great Ancestor Emperor – persuading the young Emperor Jianwen should be no problem!