Having to serve at court, investigate cases, and find ways to petition for Prince Zhou’s life, Hu Shanwei suddenly felt overwhelmed by pressure. She burned Ru Siyao’s letter to prevent complications.
At midnight, she drowsily dreamed of feeding A’Lei. Hu Shanwei was jolted awake by the sharp pain of breast engorgement—both breasts were hard as stones. If the swelling continued, fever would develop and her nipples might even ulcerate. Hu Shanwei got up and applied hot towels to her chest, slowly expressing the milk.
The next morning, when palace maids brought her meal box, Hu Shanwei claimed she had no appetite due to the heat and asked for dried hawthorn slices to be boiled and cooled for drinking. Ostensibly for improving appetite, it was actually to help dry up her milk supply.
She avoided all seafood and other foods that could stimulate milk production, hoping her supply would cease soon.
That day, Hu Shanwei went to Xiaoling Mausoleum. She had barely arrived when Princess Huaiqing followed close behind. The princess was coming to visit her biological father and legitimate mother, but Hu Shanwei clearly understood her true purpose wasn’t the wine, though she was helpless to do anything about it.
Actually, even without Princess Huaiqing speaking up, just based on Ru Siyao’s letter and entrustment, Hu Shanwei would do everything possible to preserve Prince Zhou’s life. It was just that the intricate details weren’t convenient to explain plainly to Princess Huaiqing.
The two women watched deer at Xiaoling Mausoleum. The environment here was tranquil and cool even in summer. After Princess Huaiqing exchanged a few pleasantries with her, she was about to get to the main topic when Hu Shanwei raised her hand and said:
“Your Highness, today’s purpose is the same as yesterday’s visit to Kunning Palace to see Empress Ma, isn’t it? Prince Zhou and Your Highness share deep sibling affection. In the past, Prince Zhou observed three years of mourning for Noble Consort Duanjing with utmost filial piety. Your Highness trying every means to intercede for Prince Zhou—this subject can understand Your Highness’s feelings.”
Hu Shanwei pointed to the tomb guardians’ small huts hidden within Xiaoling Mausoleum. “Years ago, this subject guarded tombs at Xiaoling, spending whole days sweeping and feeding deer. Life was extremely harsh. Thanks to Your Highness’s care, this subject could have adequate food and clothing, with a bowl of meat every day. This subject has always remembered these kindnesses and never forgotten them.”
Princess Huaiqing thought to herself: Actually, it was because Prince Consort Wang Ning had requests back then, but since he had been previously engaged to you, to avoid suspicion in such delicate circumstances, I had to step in to help… I am a princess of the Great Ming—I’m not petty-minded. Sending some food and clothing was nothing. I never expected that small kindness from years ago would receive such gratitude today.
Though thinking this, the princess said aloud: “It was merely a small favor. Because of your previous counsel, Father Emperor’s ‘Record of Filial Piety and Compassion’ changed the national mourning system, allowing my birth mother to receive proper burial and avoid the embarrassment of having no one to oversee her funeral.”
She couldn’t mention it was because of Prince Consort Wang Ning.
Princess Huaiqing was a magnanimous woman. Years ago, when Prince Qin slandered that Hu Shanwei and Prince Consort Wang Ning still harbored feelings and were secretly communicating, thinking a woman’s jealousy would provoke Princess Huaiqing to eliminate Hu Shanwei, Princess Huaiqing not only didn’t fall for it but cooperated with the Embroidered Uniform Guard. Together with Prince Consort Wang Ning, she staged a fake kidnapping of Hu Shanwei, exposing the mastermind Prince Qin.
This time, with Prince Zhou in trouble and Princess Huaiqing seeking help from Hu Shanwei, she didn’t immediately mention her past two acts of kindness to demand gratitude. This magnanimity was truly admirable.
Therefore, Hu Shanwei felt a sense of mutual understanding with Princess Huaiqing. Speaking with intelligent people required no excessive caution. She spoke directly: “Your Highness is righteous and reasonable. This subject won’t beat around the bush with Your Highness. When His Majesty was three years old, this subject entered the palace as a female official—one could say I watched His Majesty grow up. In his youth, His Majesty bore high expectations, surpassing many uncles who were militarily strong and politically experienced, as well as the legitimate heir Zhu Yunting, to be designated Crown Prince. His position as heir was precarious. His Majesty could only rely on Emperor Gaozhu. Through the Lan Yu case, Emperor Gaozhu conducted a great purge of the previous court, leaving only four great families from the once-prosperous noble houses of the capital. Before Emperor Gaozhu’s death, he ordered all palace consorts to be buried with him. Now in this vast palace, including His Majesty, there are only eight royal family members. His Majesty holds imperial power with no one to constrain him—he gained sole authority immediately upon ascending the throne.”
“However, though Emperor Gaozhu arranged everything for His Majesty, he didn’t expect His Majesty to be a novice with no political struggle experience. Most experienced veteran ministers were killed by Emperor Gaozhu; the Empress Dowager is muddled; the Empress comes from humble origins—adequate as a virtuous wife and good mother, but far from being able to provide His Majesty with the guidance and advice former Empress Xiaoci could offer. His Majesty, newly wielding great power, compared to Emperor Gaozhu’s seasoned skills, is like a seven or eight-year-old child wildly swinging an incredibly sharp, peerless sword to guard a storehouse full of coveted treasures.”
“Your Highness, imagine if you were this child guarding treasures—wouldn’t you also swing wildly? Unable to control the measure, without method, at the slightest scent of danger, slashing chaotically, needing to eliminate opponents completely before feeling secure?”
Hu Shanwei’s calm analysis left Princess Huaiqing gradually despairing. “You’re right. His Majesty is like a child using weapons to guard treasures, losing all reason. He actually agreed to use that troublemaker Prince Runan to frame his own father Prince Zhou—truly a foolish move. Actually, His Majesty no longer cares about the process; he only wants results. So Prince Zhou’s death is certain—no one’s persuasion will work. I’m sorry; I shouldn’t have put you in a difficult position.”
“Your Highness, don’t be hasty—it may not come to death.” Hu Shanwei said: “This matter was done by Duke Cao Li Jinglun, and Li Jinglun did indeed find forbidden dragon robes in Prince Zhou’s residence—”
“That was Prince Runan’s frame-up!” Princess Huaiqing couldn’t help defending Prince Zhou.
Hu Shanwei sighed: “Your Highness must never say such things again. Exposing self-deception only embarrasses His Majesty. After this, whatever else Your Highness says, His Majesty won’t listen to a single word. So Your Highness’s direct approach cannot achieve your desired goal—the method must be changed.”
People need face, trees need bark. Even the cunning old fox Emperor Gaozhu had moments of embarrassed rage, let alone the young, thin-skinned Emperor Jianwen.
Princess Huaiqing’s mood now was like willow catkins in the sky, rising and falling. She quickly grasped Hu Shanwei’s hand: “What should Palace Director Hu do? I’ll listen to you!”
Hu Shanwei said: “The state has laws—treason merits execution and implicates nine generations of relatives. But these are all royal family members—can they really kill themselves? Now Prince Zhou must bear the treason charge whether he accepts it or not. Your Highness should persuade Prince Zhou to confess and repent, then convince the entire royal family to plead for Prince Zhou’s life. The official in charge of Prince Zhou’s treason case is Duke Cao Li Jinglun—he’s a pillar general Emperor Gaozhu left for His Majesty, but in terms of seniority, he’s also His Majesty’s cousin and Your Highness’s great-grandson. Your Highness should use seniority to pressure him. As long as Prince Zhou confesses, the goal of stripping titles and reducing fiefs is achieved.”
Princess Huaiqing found this very conflicting: “How could Prince Zhou admit to such baseless charges?”
She felt Prince Zhou was wronged, having no ambitious intentions to rebel, so she collected a pile of medical books Prince Zhou had compiled to plead with Empress Ma at Kunning Palace.
Hu Shanwei said: “If Prince Zhou doesn’t confess, his heir apparent will die alongside his father. If Prince Zhou confesses—no one will really believe Prince Zhou actually did it; everyone will think Prince Zhou was forced, compelled to do so to save his legitimate eldest son’s life. ‘While the green hills remain, there’s no fear of lacking firewood.’ Prince Runan sells out his father and brother for glory—who would respect him, who would believe his lies? They say thirty years east of the river, thirty years west of the river—there will be opportunities to overturn the case later. But if a person dies, there’s nothing left.”
Hu Shanwei’s words enlightened Princess Huaiqing. She realized she had been going in the wrong direction all along—the more she proclaimed Prince Zhou’s innocence, the more embarrassed His Majesty became, and the more dangerous Prince Zhou’s situation.
Recognizing this, Princess Huaiqing found the cruel reality hard to accept: “Everyone says Father Emperor was brutal, but Father Emperor most taboo was fratricide. Even when Prince Qin made repeated errors, Father Emperor always spared his life and gave him chances. Toward us daughters, needless to say—he was only ruthless toward the princes consort. Now with a nephew as emperor, I finally understand that no matter how cold-blooded Father Emperor was, it was still better than seeking survival under a nephew’s rule.”
Princess Huaiqing ranked sixth among the palace princesses. Of the five princesses before her, apart from Second Prince Consort Mei Yin who remained, First Prince Consort Li Qi, Third Prince Consort Niu Cheng, Fourth Prince Consort Ouyang Lun, and Fifth Prince Consort Lu Xian had all been killed by their father-in-law Emperor Gaozhu for various reasons.
In the Hongwu reign, being a prince consort was definitely a high-risk profession.
For most people, Emperor Gaozhu was like a nightmarish existence. But everyone has their own position and attitude. As a princess whose Prince Consort Wang Ning was specially trusted by Emperor Hongwu to handle surrendering Northern Yuan forces, Princess Huaiqing felt Emperor Gaozhu was a good father.
The more Princess Huaiqing thought about it, the angrier she became, and tears fell: “If Father Emperor were still alive, how could Prince Zhou fall to such a state?”
Hu Shanwei sighed inwardly and handed over a handkerchief: “Your Highness must not say such things anymore. If they reach His Majesty’s ears, he will surely be displeased. Without Emperor Gaozhu’s protection, Your Highness must learn to take care of yourself in the future, and Prince Zhou too. Under father’s hand, any willfulness was acceptable, but under nephew’s hand… sigh, be careful. First let Prince Zhou confess. Your Highness mobilize the royal family side, this subject will persuade Empress Ma—with dual approaches, His Majesty surely cannot oppose the entire royal family right after ascending the throne. After all, he is of the grandson generation.”
Princess Huaiqing acted according to plan, leaving Xiaoling Mausoleum and heading directly to the Imperial Clan Court where Prince Zhou and his heir apparent were imprisoned.
Hu Shanwei fed the deer and went to see green peacocks by the pond. Now was mating season for the peacocks—the male peacocks with gorgeous plumage, seemingly carrying their own halos, surrounded the females, spreading their tail feathers in courtship dances, showing their rear ends in ruffian fashion. Their handsome, shameless, and flirtatious appearance was exactly like Mu Chun.
Thinking of her husband, Hu Shanwei thought: Take good care of A’Lei in Yunnan. I have leads here, and once I find the murderer, I’ll come home. If the Emperor and Empress won’t release me, I’ll have Ru Siyao prepare strong medicine and find an excuse to leave the palace due to illness. The royal family is becoming increasingly complicated—the earlier I leave, the better I can extricate myself.
Meanwhile, in Kunming, Mu Chun received a carrier pigeon message from Chen Xuan. Reading the contents, he nearly exploded with rage and almost dropped A’Lei.
This was a letter Hu Shanwei had written to him, detailing the suspicious circumstances of Palace Director Fan’s death and Emperor Jianwen’s edict summoning her to the palace as Palace Director. She told him to remain calm, take good care of A’Lei, and that she would find a way to escape.
“Remain calm, remain calm! My wife is imprisoned in the palace—how can I not be agitated!” Mu Chun grabbed A’Lei’s cloth tiger and pounded it on the table: “No way! I have to get her back.”
Seeing her father beating up the cloth tiger, A’Lei quickly avenged her good friend, using little fists to pummel her father’s chest and biting like a little beast.
Mu Chun, assaulted on the chest by his daughter, grimaced in pain: “Wow, your dad doesn’t have that function. The wet nurse just fed you—are you hungry again?”
Mu Chun’s chest muscles were well-developed, hard as stone. A’Lei, disgusted by the poor texture, released her bite, leaving a small white mark.
Touching the indented white mark, Mu Chun was suddenly overjoyed. He pried open his daughter’s mouth and saw a tiny grain-like sprouting tooth on her previously empty upper gum.
“A’Lei is teething!” Mu Chun immediately turned from anger to joy, holding A’Lei to show off to Captain Shi who had delivered the message: “My A’Lei is no longer toothless!”
Captain Shi, father of eight children, had seen this scene many times and thought: A’Lei isn’t, but you’ve always been shameless.
“Shanwei, come see our daughter—” Mu Chun had gotten too excited and momentarily forgot his wife had already entered the palace to resume her former duties. He rushed into the bedroom and saw her old clothes hanging throughout the wardrobe, suddenly pulled back to harsh reality.
“Ah… ya ya!” A’Lei pointed at one of Hu Shanwei’s moon-white crossed-collar nightgowns. Mu Chun took down the garment, and A’Lei immediately grabbed it and put it in her mouth to chew. Mu Chun buried his face in it and took a deep breath—there was a faint milk fragrance, his wife’s scent.
Longing like a burst dam flooded over Mu Chun.
Mu Chun said: “I’m going to the capital.”
Captain Shi reminded him: “But Madam said you should take good care of Miss and wait for her return.”
Mu Chun said: “When the wife is away, the husband need not obey all her commands.”
Captain Shi said: “Miss is only six months old—inconvenient for long journeys. Moreover, many acquaintances in the capital recognize your face. You’ve been dead three years—if you suddenly come back to life, who knows what chaos will ensue.”
Mu Chun handed A’Lei to Captain Shi: “You already have eight children—what’s one more sheep to the flock?”
Captain Shi kept backing away to the door: “This subordinate dares not—the responsibility is too great. One’s own children can be roughhoused without problem, but Miss’s life is precious—this subordinate dares not raise her.”
Are you kidding! If Mu Chun returns and I’ve made this ball of lightning lose even an ounce, I’ll surely die!
Actually, Mu Chun regretted it the moment he handed her over. Thinking of Captain Shi’s eight monkey-like children, his little A’Lei must not become like a skinny monkey.
Mu Chun withdrew his hands, tightly holding his daughter: “What to do—I’m worried about your mother.”
Just as he finished speaking, a guard reported: “Sir, an old friend requests audience.” He also handed over an ivory token.
Vice Commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard—Ji Gang.
Mu Chun’s expression turned serious as if he’d seen a ghost in broad daylight. Don’t let him in—I’ll go out to meet him.
The two men met at a teahouse. Ji Gang still looked the same—fair-skinned, beautiful, with long legs, dressed as a scholar.
Before Ji Gang could speak, Mu Chun cruelly refused: “You’re here to recruit me for your master Prince Yan, aren’t you? I’ve been dead three years—give up this idea. Also, I don’t care how the Zhu family fights or who becomes emperor, but you cannot cause trouble in Yunnan. This place is very young, just beginning to emerge from ignorance and enter civilization. If you create chaos here, it will regress hundreds of years.”
Ji Gang sneered: “To scheme for Yunnan, wouldn’t it be easier to approach your brother Mu Sheng? You’ve been dead three years—when people leave, their tea grows cold. You’re not very useful. I came this time to ask you: how exactly do you function as a husband? You actually let your wife go to the capital to take risks while you cower at home watching children.”
Mu Chun said: “You also know Shanwei’s temperament—she values loyalty and righteousness most and cannot ignore Palace Director Fan’s situation. Originally it was supposed to be a quick trip, but unexpectedly His Majesty issued an edict requiring her return to the palace.”
Ji Gang said: “You saved my life, so I’ll return your wife to you. These three years, with Prince Yan’s support, I’ve secretly reorganized the disbanded Embroidered Uniform Guards. The capital is full of my informants, including people in the palace. I’ll help you get Shanwei out.”
Hearing Ji Gang call his wife by her given name, Mu Chun was displeased: “I’ll rescue my own wife myself.”
Ji Gang said: “No matter how capable Chen Xuan is, he only guards the capital’s waterway gates—his hands cannot reach into the rear palace. Come with me to the capital, and I guarantee your couple’s reunion.”
Ji Gang had actually reorganized the Embroidered Uniform Guard! Mu Chun understood the Guard’s power too well. These people harbored deep resentment, seeking revenge for Commander Mao Qiang who was cruelly executed by lingchi. Prince Yan’s strength was far more formidable than imagined. It seemed necessary to hedge bets on both sides now.
Mu Chun said: “Wait here for one hour—I’ll be right back.”
Mu Chun ran to bring his father-in-law Hu Rong, who had been listening to opera at the teahouse, to his home. Pointing at A’Lei sleeping soundly on the cool couch while holding Hu Shanwei’s old clothes, he said: “This is your granddaughter. I’m entrusting her to your care. However you raised Hu Shanwei before, raise her the same way.”