Learning that Xu Huizu had been recalled by Emperor Jianwen, Prince Yan’s joy was beyond description. Xu Huizu was his brother-in-law, and for Princess Yan’s sake, Prince Yan really didn’t want to fight his brother-in-law. But if he didn’t fight his brother-in-law, his brother-in-law would kill him. Now it was perfect—Emperor Jianwen had helped solve this dilemma.
Truly Heaven was helping him. The Yan army’s morale soared, and they moved out to cut off the southern army’s supply lines. The southern army was trapped in Lingbi, losing their supplies and deciding to break out of the city relying on their numerical advantage.
Embroidered Uniform Guard spies discovered that the southern army’s breakout signal was three cannon blasts. Prince Yan, old and cunning, ordered that the Yan army’s attack signal would also be three cannon blasts.
The southern army hadn’t yet prepared for the breakout when they suddenly heard three cannon blasts. Thinking it was the breakout signal, they opened the city gates and rushed out, only to encounter the Yan army launching their attack.
Caught completely off guard, the southern army suffered a crushing defeat. Their main force was routed, Ping An and thirty-four other generals were captured, one hundred fifty court ministers were taken alive, over twenty thousand warhorses were seized, and the southern troops who surrendered already exceeded the total number of Yan troops currently deep in the Central Plains…
After the Battle of Lingbi, the southern army’s cause was lost. The Yan army’s offensive was unstoppable—they encountered almost no strong resistance before cities surrendered. The Ming people had grown weary of Emperor Jianwen, this incompetent ruler, silently voting with their hands, wanting only to quickly end this civil war that had lasted over three years.
Better to be a dog in peaceful times than a person in chaotic times. Ordinary people only wanted stable lives. Besides, whoever became emperor would still be from the old Zhu family, so it made no difference.
On the seventh day of the fifth month in the fourth year of Jianwen, the Yan army reached Fengyang, where the old Zhu family’s ancestral graves were located. Prince Yan Zhu Di paid respects at the ancestral mausoleum, repeatedly stating that his expedition south was to respond to Emperor Gaozhu’s “Imperial Mausoleum Ancestral Instructions,” coming to “eliminate treacherous ministers” and “clear the court of evil influences.” Subsequently, he bestowed cattle, sheep, wine, and meat upon the local tomb guardians and elders.
Besides fighting wars, Prince Yan was already accumulating political capital for his future enthronement.
In the capital.
Fengtian Hall, grand court assembly. News of Prince Yan’s visit to the ancestral mausoleum had already reached the capital. Wherever the Yan army went, it was almost “our doors are wide open, welcoming you with open arms”—”We welcome you.”
This situation greatly puzzled Emperor Jianwen: Clearly I reduced the land taxes in Jiangnan, and everyone said it was good. If the northern people had complaints, I could understand, but why do even the Jiangnan people abandon me?
Conversely, when in the north, the southern army could still win some victories. How was it that when they reached Jiangnan, only Xu Huizu alone achieved victory while everyone else was defeated?
When Prince Yan comes, he will definitely restore the ancestral system and reimpose heavy taxes on Jiangnan. Why would the Jiangnan people still open their city gates to welcome Prince Yan?
Emperor Jianwen found he simply couldn’t understand this crazy world. No matter what he did, all the world’s results went completely contrary to his expectations.
Was this world crazy, or was he crazy?
Emperor Jianwen was on the verge of despair and said: “Left Commander Li Shen.”
Finally it had come. Li Shen sighed inwardly and said: “This humble general is here.”
Besides being a second-rank military official of the Ming dynasty, he had another identity—Prince Yan’s in-law. His son Li Rang had married Prince Yan’s second daughter, Princess Pingping. This was a marriage arranged by Emperor Gaozhu. His son and daughter-in-law had originally been in the capital, but when Prince Yan feigned illness, he tricked all four children back to the capital. As the son-in-law, Li Rang also followed his wife to “see his father-in-law off on his final journey.”
As a result, Li Rang was like throwing a meat bun to a dog—gone without return. He was brainwashed by Prince Yan and actually rebelled alongside his father-in-law, repeatedly achieving great merit as one of Prince Yan’s capable generals.
Emperor Jianwen said: “You write a surrender letter to your son Li Rang. If Li Rang brings back Prince Yan’s head, I will pardon his crime of rebellion and not implicate his family.”
Li Shen had no choice but to write a family letter and send it to Li Rang.
Upon receiving the family letter, Li Rang wept tears of blood but refused his father.
Emperor Jianwen flew into a rage, killed Li Shen’s entire family, executed his three generations, killing adult males and exiling or enslaving underage males and women.
With Emperor Jianwen employing such thunderous methods against Prince Yan’s relatives, Princess Huaiqing and Ji Gang hurriedly accelerated their tunnel-digging to rescue Prince Zhou’s family.
Finally, three days after Li Shen’s head fell, the escape tunnel was completed.
Embroidered Uniform Guard secret agents together with Princess Huaiqing’s trusted followers, starting from Noble Consort Chengmu’s tomb, successfully rescued Prince Zhou’s family, collapsed the tunnel, and disappeared into the night…
Emperor Jianwen was awakened from sleep and was shocked to learn that even the sacred grounds of Xiaoling Mausoleum had been breached by Yan bandits, who had rescued his final protective talisman—Prince Zhou’s family. Emperor Jianwen was furious to the point of madness:
“The sacred Xiaoling Mausoleum has become like a vegetable garden—coming and going as they please! How did they know those Yan bandits entered through Noble Consort Chengmu’s mausoleum? It must be Princess Huaiqing’s doing!”
In his rage, Emperor Jianwen casually smashed the teacup brought by a maid to refresh him: “Princess Huaiqing must have long been in league with Yan! She’s been close to Prince Zhou since childhood—Prince Zhou was raised by Noble Consort Duanjing. To rescue Prince Zhou, she actually dug holes and blasted her own mother’s tomb, destroying Xiaoling’s feng shui! Such disloyal and unfilial person—how can I tolerate this treachery? Come! Immediately arrest Princess Huaiqing and imprison her in the Imperial Clan Court!”
The Imperial Guard surrounded Princess Huaiqing’s residence overnight. Initially, the princess stayed behind closed doors, firmly refusing to open them, shouting from behind the gates: “I am Emperor Gaozhu’s daughter! Emperor Jianwen is my nephew. Without evidence or proof, he wants to arrest a dignified Ming princess—where is justice? Now instead of eliminating Yan bandits, family members are killing family members! You’re all so imposing, bullying one woman—what does that amount to? If you have the capability, go fight the Yan bandits!”
Princess Huaiqing cursed furiously. The Imperial Guard dared not forcibly break down the door, fearing they might harm the princess, but imperial commands were like mountains. If they couldn’t capture Princess Huaiqing by dawn, how would they report back?
Just as the standoff continued, the princess’s residence gate opened. A person stepped out amid the morning light, walking slowly and calmly, appearing composed and tranquil as if he had long anticipated this. The sun was rising, and the first rays of morning light shone upon him, as if he wore countless halos above his head.
He was a handsome man who could captivate eyes even without the heavenly glow. While time was a butcher’s knife to some people, to him it was a sculptor’s tool—time had carved his features, giving him far-seeing eyes and an otherworldly temperament.
He was Princess Huaiqing’s consort, Earl Yongchun Wang Ning. Like his noble title, Yongchun—eternal spring, forever young.
Earl Yongchun Wang Ning raised both hands: “It was I who collaborated with Yan and rescued Prince Zhou’s family. It has nothing to do with the princess. Take me away—the princess is innocent.”
Thus, Wang Ning was imprisoned on charges of collaborating with Yan.
After the initial shock, the Ming imperial family came to plead for Wang Ning. Princess Huaiqing removed her hairpins in penance, kneeling in Fengxian Hall with tears streaming down her face, begging Emperor Jianwen to spare her husband Wang Ning’s life.
The summer heat was intense, and Princess Huaiqing fainted from heatstroke. Hu Shanwei ordered palace servants to carry the princess to a side hall, surrounded by ice basins, and had female physicians treat her.
Princess Huaiqing slowly regained consciousness and saw Hu Shanwei by her side. Regardless of her parched throat, she grasped Hu Shanwei’s hand like a lifeline: “Save him, please save him!”
Hu Shanwei looked down at Princess Huaiqing’s hand gripping her arm: “Earl Yongchun voluntarily took the blame for the princess. He…”
Hu Shanwei was filled with mixed emotions, not knowing what to say.
Wang Ning—her first love, her only love from her girlhood, the man she had once entrusted her life to, the man she thought looked best in moon-white robes in all the world—had once abandoned their small family, small love, abandoned her for the northern expedition, feigning death to become a Ming scout, infiltrating the Northern Yuan.
Hu Shanwei’s life, originally envisioned only as a virtuous wife and good mother, had been changed because of this.
And now, this man who had abandoned small family and small love for the greater world was choosing to take the blame for his wife to protect his wife and children.
It turned out that over these years, Wang Ning had deep feelings for Princess Huaiqing—no longer just a consort’s loyalty and respect for a princess, but something transcending ruler and subject. He and the princess had two sons and even grandchildren. In a blink of an eye, he had become a grandfather.
The person she thought would accompany her for life turned out to be only a passerby in her life; the lover who had once sworn eternal devotion was also just a hurried passerby in the other’s life.
In the end, they each had their own places, their feelings going separate ways. He had Huaiqing, she had Mu Chun. He had two sons, she had A’Lei.
Hu Shanwei grasped Princess Huaiqing’s hand, gently prying open her fingers that gripped her arm: “I will do my best to save the consort. The princess must take care of herself and not anger His Majesty again, not letting the consort take the blame for you in vain.”
Princess Huaiqing cried softly: “I was too rash. Originally I was afraid of implicating him, so I did everything secretly without telling him. I thought that with my status as princess, and with no evidence, His Majesty wouldn’t do anything to me. I never expected… never expected His Majesty would become more violent as he reached desperation. He killed Li Shen’s entire family and sent Imperial Guards to surround the princess residence. The consort said His Majesty had gone mad and might kill the princess and exterminate the entire household. If he takes the blame for me, I can escape death, and under my protection as princess, the children and grandchildren can also be preserved. If I died, the whole family would die.”
Wang Ning’s choice was always rational. Emperor Gaozhu had exterminated so many consorts’ and princesses’ natal families, but never harmed Zhu family blood. Whether grandsons or great-grandsons, he still gave them money and titles, raising them well.
If Princess Huaiqing were convicted of collaborating with Yan, ordinary emperors wouldn’t kill their paternal aunt to preserve reputation. But was Emperor Jianwen an ordinary emperor?
No. Emperor Jianwen’s methods had always been cold, juvenile, rash, and ruthless. He might really kill Princess Huaiqing. If he could kill his own paternal aunt, what would uncle-in-law and cousin-nephews matter? Complete extermination.
But Wang Ning taking the blame was different. If the consort collaborated with Yan, kill the consort, but it wouldn’t be appropriate to harm the innocent princess—the imperial family weren’t straw men and wouldn’t allow Emperor Jianwen to act recklessly.
From the current situation, Wang Ning’s position looked very dire.
Emperor Jianwen had just dismissed a group of imperial family members who came to plead and was displeased to see Hu Shanwei arrive. Emperor Gaozhu had long ago told his heir Emperor Jianwen about Hu Shanwei and Wang Ning’s relationship as an important secret, so as soon as Hu Shanwei came, Emperor Jianwen knew who she was here for.
Before Hu Shanwei could speak, Emperor Jianwen used the same speech he had just given the imperial family: “Wang Ning has already confessed. The state has state laws, families have family rules. Whether state law or family rules, Wang Ning deserves death. I will not break state law and family rules for one uncle-in-law.”
Hu Shanwei said: “Your Majesty wrongs this humble servant. This humble servant is not here to plead for Wang Ning. Wang Ning and this humble servant once had a marriage engagement, but after Wang Ning achieved success and fame, he chose to marry a princess, while this humble servant devoted herself to being a female official serving the Ming court. We long ago went our separate ways with no further connection.”
“This humble servant comes today to boldly offer Your Majesty a strategy to ease the Yan army’s offensive. Now that Prince Zhou’s family has been rescued by the consort Wang Ning in collaboration with Yan bandits, this is already accomplished fact that cannot be changed. Even if Your Majesty kills Wang Ning, it’s useless. Better to use Wang Ning as hostage and send Princess Huaiqing to find Prince Yan for negotiations.”
“Since the last negotiations broke down, Prince Yan has consistently refused to negotiate. However, Princess Huaiqing grew up with Prince Yan’s younger brother Prince Zhou, raised together under Noble Consort Duanjing. Prince Yan will definitely give Princess Huaiqing face and temporarily cease fighting for negotiations. Taking advantage of the negotiation period, Sheng Yong’s troops can rush to Jiangnan to intercept the Yan army.”
Hu Shanwei understood rulers—talking feelings and reason with them was less effective than discussing beneficial interests.
She had to make Emperor Jianwen understand that a living Wang Ning was more valuable than a dead Wang Ning for Wang Ning to have hope of survival.
Wang Ning had to stay alive for Princess Huaiqing to willingly represent the Ming in negotiations, asking Prince Yan to cease fighting.
Of course, Hu Shanwei knew Prince Yan wouldn’t stop his offensive, but if Princess Huaiqing went, Wang Ning could live. Suffering some physical pain, losing titles and office, being exiled—for someone like Wang Ning who had fought on battlefields, these were nothing. As long as Prince Yan entered the capital, Wang Ning could immediately recover his title.
Emperor Jianwen listened and remained silent for a long time, finally agreeing to Hu Shanwei’s suggestion. He summoned Princess Huaiqing and asked if she was willing to go to the Yan bandit camp for negotiations.
Princess Huaiqing eagerly agreed repeatedly: “As a Ming princess, I cannot bear to see the Zhu family fighting among themselves. I have long had this intention, but as a woman, it’s inappropriate to speak of politics. Now that Yan bandits approach the capital, I’m willing to try negotiating with fourth brother.”
At this time, Yangzhou had already opened its gates to welcome the Yan army, and even Gaoyou had surrendered!
On the twenty-second day of the fifth month in the fourth year of Jianwen, Emperor Jianwen sent two negotiation envoys—Princess Huaiqing and Princess Qingcheng—to the Yan army camp.
Who knows what went wrong with Emperor Jianwen’s brain—he had demoted Princess Qingyang to Princess Qingcheng and somehow thought this paternal aunt would still stand on his side…
Emperor Jianwen was already half-mad.
Prince Yan warmly welcomed the two sisters, treating them with courtesy. Both sides sat down to negotiate, and if not for Emperor Jianwen’s trusted followers nearby, both sides would have wanted to laugh.
Princess Huaiqing said seriously: “His Majesty says he’s willing to cede territory, using the Yangtze River as boundary—the north to fourth brother, the south to the court. What does fourth brother think?”
Prince Yan Zhu Di also replied seriously: “His Majesty would never propose such a scheme to split the Ming. The realm our father worked so hard to conquer—how could it be divided? This must be the treacherous minister Fang Xiaoru’s idea. This treacherous minister wants to temporarily appease me while waiting for distant reinforcements.”
After several days of talks—all circular discussions with no progress—the princess and princess commandery returned empty-handed.
However, the negotiations indeed bought the court time for counterattack. On the first day of the sixth month, the Yan army was about to cross the Yangtze River from Puzikou, but Sheng Yong’s main force arrived and fought with the Yan army. Just as the Yan army was about to retreat in defeat, Prince Yan’s second son Zhu Gaoxu arrived with reinforcements to rescue his father. The Yan army turned defeat into victory and successfully crossed the Yangtze at Guazhou!
With victory ahead, Prince Yan was overjoyed and said to his second son Zhu Gaoxu: “You must work hard—your elder brother the crown prince’s health is poor and he’s often ill.”
Prince Yan meant that since his elder brother was in poor health, as the younger brother, he should shoulder more responsibility. However, regarding this, Zhu Gaoxu had his own thoughts…
Hearing news of Sheng Yong’s great defeat and the Yan army’s successful crossing of the Yangtze, Emperor Jianwen’s final delaying tactic crumbled. He had thought Huaiqing and Qingcheng could buy time for reinforcements to defeat the Yan army, but the reinforcements had failed.
In desperation, Emperor Jianwen hardened his heart and simply bestowed a pot of poisoned wine to the consort Wang Ning in prison. What I cannot have, none of you should have either.
Just as Princess Huaiqing was preparing to enter the palace to demand Emperor Jianwen honor his promise, she heard the devastating news of her husband’s sudden death in prison.
Meanwhile, Hu Shanwei in the palace heard the news and felt intense pain in her heart. She hadn’t expected she would be so grief-stricken. With nowhere to vent her anger and sorrow, she plunged headfirst into an ice vat filled with floating ice, screaming loudly. People underwater cannot make sounds, and the bone-chilling ice water stimulated her brain as if it would explode.
When Hu Shanwei lifted her head from the ice water, her face was frozen stiff. She murmured: “I will make you pay the price of toppling nations.”