Mu Chun’s footsteps grew fainter until they completely disappeared, leaving only the sound of cicadas outside.

A voice came from inside the book chest: “Little sister, please unlock it and let me out.”

Hu Shanwei opened the chest lock. Xu Zengshou emerged from the chest, sweating profusely from being confined. Spotting the iced mung bean soup in the warehouse, he shamelessly begged, “Little sister, I’m hot and thirsty. Could I borrow a bowl of mung bean soup?”

Hu Shanwei didn’t know who this Xu Zengshou was, but judging from his words and actions, he seemed even more unreliable than the troublemaker Mu Chun.

Chen Er’mei was generous, saying, “Go ahead and drink it.”

Xu Zengshou drank like Wu Song about to fight tigers at Jingyang Ridge, serving himself until the entire pot of mung bean soup was gone, full of heroic spirit.

But when he took out his money pouch wanting to tip something to show his gratitude, he rummaged around for a long time and only found a few copper coins—really nothing presentable.

This was embarrassing.

Hu Shanwei was still thinking about the three princes hiding behind the book pile, who must be nearly suffering from heatstroke by now. She quickly said, “It’s nothing, Master Xu needn’t be polite.”

Xu Zengshou put away his money pouch but said, “How embarrassing.”

Hu Shanwei reminded him, “Master Xu should leave quickly. If Mu Chun can’t find anyone and comes back to look, you won’t be able to get away.”

“You’re right.” Xu Zengshou slapped his sweaty forehead. “Two little sisters, farewell.”

Xu Zengshou came and went like the wind. The three princes emerged from the book pile, sweat soaking the black silk caps on their heads, perspiration seeping through their four-clawed python robes—a sorry sight.

The mung bean soup was gone, but there was still tea. Chen Er’mei poured tea for the princes, somewhat troubled—since only she and Hu Shanwei were here, there were only two teacups.

Two teacups, three princes—how to divide them?

The youngest, Prince An, said, “Give this cup to Fourth Brother. Thirteenth Brother and I can share one cup.”

Chen Er’mei complied. The three princes emptied the teapot. The tallest, Prince Yan, gave Hu Shanwei and Chen Er’mei each a lotus seed-sized Eastern pearl. Eastern pearls were tribute from Goryeo, large pearls emitting a pale yellow glow.

Prince Yan instructed, “Don’t speak of today’s events.”

This was the first time Hu Shanwei and Chen Er’mei had close contact with three noble imperial princes. They dared not even breathe loudly and nodded in agreement.

Hu Shanwei thought that even if they spoke out, no one would believe that dignified princes were forced by an outsider with no official position to hide in a warehouse in their own imperial palace—and three of them at that!

Prince An looked at the sky. “Fourth Brother, it’s getting late. Thirteenth Brother and I will escort you out of the palace.”

According to palace regulations, princes had to move to prince residences outside the palace at fifteen or sixteen and marry their consorts. Prince Dai and Prince An were still young and lived in the palace.

The fourth prince, Prince Yan Zhu Di, left the palace at sixteen, moved to Prince Yan’s residence, and married the legitimate eldest daughter of founding general Duke Weiguo Xu Da. The Princess Yan was only fourteen at the time. Xu Zengshou was Princess Yan’s younger brother—Prince Yan’s legitimate brother-in-law.

Who knew what grudges existed between the brother-in-law and his sister’s husband that Prince Yan would actually hide in a warehouse.

Prince Yan Zhu Di asked Hu Shanwei, “Which direction did Xu Zengshou go just now?”

Hu Shanwei pointed west, “He went west.”

Prince Yan told his two brothers, “We’ll go to Donghua Gate.”

The three princes had just left the warehouse when on West Long Street, Mu Chun intercepted Xu Zengshou. “Xu Erlang, debts must be repaid. You still want to hide?”

Xu Zengshou looked as if he’d seen a ghost in broad daylight. “How did you find me?”

What was going on? That little female official had clearly sent him away!

Unable to expose Hu Shanwei, Mu Chun laughed. “I asked the patrolling Imperial Guards and took a shortcut from the east.”

Xu Zengshou threw his money pouch at him, saying, “No money to give. It wasn’t easy for me to enter the palace with my father this time to borrow money from my brother-in-law and two future brothers-in-law to pay debts, but I got separated halfway and didn’t borrow any money, so I can’t repay you.”

Duke Weiguo Xu Da had three daughters, all princess consorts. The eldest married Prince Yan Zhu Di, while the second and third were betrothed by Emperor Hongwu to the thirteenth prince, Prince Dai Zhu Gui, and the twenty-second prince, Prince An Zhu Ying.

The latter two were still young and hadn’t established their own residences or married yet. But the imperial edict for their engagements had already been issued, so Xu Zengshou could also be called the brother-in-law of three princes.

Xu Zengshou leaned over and whispered, “You’re in the Imperial Guards with many informants. Why don’t you point me in the right direction and tell me where Prince Yan, Prince Dai, and Prince An are? I’ll corner them to borrow money and immediately repay you.”

Mu Chun pushed Xu Zengshou away. “I’m just guarding gates in the palace now. If I offend three princes at once, how can I continue working in the palace? No, no way.”

Seeing no hope of repayment, Xu Zengshou wanted to renege on his debt, saying, “If I hadn’t been drunk and slow to react that day, I might not have lost the gambling money to you.”

Mu Chun took out a paper and waved it. “Lost is lost, signed and sealed as proof.”

Xu Zengshou snatched it and stuffed it in his mouth, actually swallowing it whole!

I have never seen such shamelessness!

How could the heroic Duke Weiguo Xu Da father such a scoundrel?

Mu Chun laughed heartily. “Dealing with a rogue like you, how could I dare bring out the real IOU? What you just swallowed was toilet paper.”

Xu Zengshou clutched his throat and vomited, retching up a mess—wasting the iced mung bean soup he’d just drunk.

After vomiting, Xu Zengshou weakly leaned against the tall wall of West Long Street. “My father has already cut my monthly allowance. One big brother-in-law and two little brothers-in-law—they all avoid me like the plague. I really have no choice. I have various antiques in my study. Go pick a few to offset the debt.”

Xu Zengshou, youngest son of Duke Weiguo Xu Da, had three great hobbies: supporting opera troupes, buying antiques, and gambling—all money-burning interests.

Duke Weiguo Xu Da had issued a death order that no one was allowed to lend money to Xu Zengshou.

Xu Zengshou was a brother-in-law, difficult to offend. But Xu Da was the father-in-law, even more difficult to offend, so Prince Yan, Prince Dai, and Prince An all avoided Xu Zengshou.

Truly, there’s always someone more outrageous than the last. The Great Ming had many eccentrics—if Mu Chun was a troublemaker, Xu Zengshou was the ancestor of spendthrifts!

Mu Chun wouldn’t accept. “You’re famous in the capital’s antique circles as a sucker. Ten out of ten items are fake. I don’t want them.”

Xu Zengshou said angrily, “Nonsense! Clearly, you all lack discernment.”

Mu Chun said, “If you don’t repay the money, I’ll take the IOU to Princess Yan. Brother’s debt, sister’s responsibility—it’s only natural.”

At the mention of Princess Yan’s name, Xu Zengshou’s legs went weak and he slumped against the wall. “No! When my father disciplines me, he still shows mercy. When my big sister beats me, she’s truly ruthless and merciless, beating me to death.”

Princess Yan was a true tigress from a military family, famous for her fiery temper. She was renowned and respected in both her natal family and the imperial family.

Indeed, Princess Yan’s reputation was more effective than Duke Weiguo Xu Da’s. Seeing the time was right, Mu Chun revealed his true purpose. “Actually, there’s a way you don’t have to repay the money, and I’ll tear up the IOU.”

Xu Zengshou grasped at this like a lifeline. “What way?”

Mu Chun said, “Your father is the Grand Marshal of the Second Northern Expedition. Thousands of troops obey his commands. I need you to help find a soldier who participated in the Second Northern Expedition.”

Xu Zengshou beat his chest confidently. “No problem! Who are you looking for? I’ll find him even if I have to dig three feet underground.”

“A dead man.” Mu Chun said, “His name was Wang Ning, formerly a hereditary Company Commander of the Imperial Guards in the capital. He died in battle during the Second Northern Expedition and came back as an urn of ashes. I want to know the process from Wang Ning’s battle to his death—who he contacted and who cremated his body. The more detailed, the better.”

“I give you one month. If you can’t figure it out after a month, I’ll give the IOU to Princess Yan.”

Xu Zengshou hastily agreed. As long as it wasn’t about money, anything was fine.

Mu Chun escorted Xu Zengshou out of the palace, just in time for the palace gates to close. Tonight Mu Chun was on patrol duty. He found a random excuse and went to the library.

The library was brightly lit. The four-story building was particularly striking in the darkness, with ten female officials working through the night.

By the lakeside, Mu Chun explained how he had set a trap to use Xu Zengshou to investigate her dead fiancé. Only then did Hu Shanwei understand the source of the afternoon’s turmoil—Mu Chun hadn’t given up after all.

Hu Shanwei was somewhat worried for Mu Chun. “Today’s afternoon commotion definitely won’t escape Commander Mao’s eyes. What if he targets you?”

Mu Chun laughed. “He guards the Imperial Guards like an iron bucket, preventing me everywhere. I’ve always felt like an outsider and have long wanted to quit. It would be great if he dismissed me. Besides, Xu Zengshou has three princes backing him. When he investigates directly in the military, Mao Qiang won’t dare obstruct him.”

The library’s lights burned until dawn. Twenty female officials worked in day and night shifts, still having time to rest, but Hu Shanwei was responsible for managing the library with no one to replace her. She simply made a bed on the floor and lived there, going to sleep after the third watch almost every night and rising before dawn.

At just twenty, her body could still endure it. Thirty-nine-year-old Jiang Quan couldn’t match these young officials’ stamina. After two consecutive night shifts, her legs felt unsteady, and she nearly fell from the ladder once.

Palace Administrator Fan pressed urgently, and no one dared take leave. When Jiang Quan couldn’t hold on, she splashed ice water on her face to force herself alert.

On the third night, at the second watch, Noble Consort Hu from Yanxi Palace came to the library. All the female officials hurriedly set down their books and went outside to receive her.

This was Hu Shanwei’s first time seeing Noble Consort Hu. She was truly a great beauty—moonlight couldn’t match her fair skin, her graceful figure like a gentle breeze caressing willows. From behind, one couldn’t tell she was six months pregnant.

Noble Consort Hu waved her sleeve. “No need for ceremony.”

After speaking, she walked directly to Jiang Quan. “Female Historian Jiang, come back to Yanxi Palace with this palace.”

Jiang Quan dared not. “Your Highness, Palace Administrator Fan requires this humble subject to compile books at the library.”

Noble Consort Hu grasped Jiang Quan’s hand. “These past two days, without hearing Female Historian Jiang’s stories before bed, this palace cannot sleep well.”

Jiang Quan said, “Seven more days and it will be finished. Then this humble subject will visit Your Highness at Yanxi Palace.”

“Have Palace Administrator Fan find someone to replace you. At your age, still learning from these young girls to stay up all night—Palace Administrator Fan doesn’t feel sorry for you, but this palace does.” Noble Consort Hu pulled Jiang Quan’s hand, forcibly trying to drag her to Yanxi Palace.

Jiang Quan was mindful of Noble Consort Hu’s pregnancy and dared not struggle too hard, but if she really went with Noble Consort Hu and abandoned her duties, Palace Administrator Fan would certainly punish her according to palace regulations!

Seeing Jiang Quan about to be dragged away, Hu Shanwei stepped forward. “Your Highness Noble Consort, this is the library. We subjects are here following Empress Ma’s imperial edict to compile books. Please do not force Female Historian Jiang.”

Noble Consort Hu released Jiang Quan’s hand and walked up to Hu Shanwei. “Who are you? How have I never heard of someone like you in the Six Bureaus and One Department? You dare obstruct this palace.”

Hu Shanwei said, “This humble subject is Hu Shanwei, not from the Six Bureaus and One Department.”

Noble Consort Hu lightly waved her silk fan. “So you’re that Hu Shanwei whom none of the Six Bureaus and One Department wanted.”