When A’Lei was together with Zhu Zhanji, it was like a 180-degree straight engineering girl who couldn’t be any straighter conversing with an old fox politician whose mind had twists and turns of about 36,000 degrees. The two formed separate universes, talking past each other across dimensions.
Though there was only a fist’s distance between them, this single fist separated two different dimensions.
Forget discussing life ideals—even chatting about the most ordinary weather could kill the conversation dead.
Previously, when Zhu Zhanhe was present to crack jokes and liven up the atmosphere, it wasn’t so noticeable. But now that Prince Han’s heir, the Dimensional Barrier Breaker, Marshal Tianpeng Zhu Zhanhe had gone north for the funeral, the abyss-like gulf between the two was starkly exposed.
A’Lei was once again rebuffed by Zhu Zhanji. She had her pride too, you know? Moreover, she had lost her job today and felt uncomfortable, so she distanced herself from this powder keg Zhu Zhanji, saying, “I’m going home. Farewell.”
A’Lei felt that ever since Zhu Zhanji became Crown Prince’s Grandson, he was obviously not as easy to get along with as before. He was now the ruler and she the subject. When he scolded her, she couldn’t retort like she did with Zhu Zhanhe—that would be insulting the sovereign. If they could have back-and-forth arguments, quarrel and then shake hands and make up, they’d still be friends. But now he had this high-and-mighty attitude, and she wasn’t going to fawn over his stinking feet!
Zhu Zhanji was stunned. Despite all his calculations, this was the result—parting on bad terms.
Watching the figure ahead disappear around the corner, Zhu Zhanji was unwilling to accept it. He stamped his foot and gave chase. The Treasure Ship Shipyard was located in the suburbs, covering a vast area in the urban-rural fringe. It was spring, and A’Lei wore glasses. The bouncing of the horse made the cord tied to her ears prone to slipping off, so she rode slowly and steadily. From behind came urgent hoofbeats as Zhu Zhanji spurred his horse to catch up.
A’Lei didn’t want to talk to him. She squeezed the horse’s belly with her legs, urging it to run faster and shake off Zhu Zhanji.
A’Lei’s riding skills were taught by Mu Chun. In an instant, the horse’s hooves flew, and she bent forward on the horse’s back, her body rising and falling with the horse’s rhythm.
Zhu Zhanji’s riding skills… were also taught by Mu Chun. He spurred his horse in relentless pursuit, shouting loudly, “A’Lei, stop!”
Mu Chun: If I’d known this day would come, I wouldn’t have taught the little rooster. Teaching the disciple, exhausting the daughter.
Of course A’Lei wouldn’t stop. Stop for what? To continue listening to the Crown Prince’s Grandson lecture her? He was no longer the Little Rooster Brother of the past.
Hmph, what imperial majesty!
A’Lei spurred her horse to accelerate, reaching eighty li per hour and pulling ahead.
But joy turned to sorrow. The thin cord hanging on her ear slipped off during the violent bouncing, and the tortoiseshell glasses fell from her nose bridge with a crash, smashing on the hard packed earth road.
Hearing the shattering sound, whether tortoiseshell or glass lenses, both were fragile items with no chance of rescue.
A’Lei silently mourned for her glasses in her heart, becoming even more furious as she continued running without looking back.
Zhu Zhanji, pursuing behind, saw the glittering object fall ahead and quickly pulled tight the reins. The fine horse neighed and braked urgently. Fortunately, the iron horseshoe didn’t step on the object.
Zhu Zhanji dismounted. The tortoiseshell glasses were completely shattered.
It would have been better not to chase at all.
Zhu Zhanji was very regretful. Even when the Crown Prince’s lameness had triggered a storm of officials and royalty calling to “depose the Crown Prince,” he hadn’t been this upset. It seemed whatever he did would make things worse.
I didn’t do it on purpose.
Zhu Zhanji mounted his horse to continue the chase, wanting to express his apology, but the wide official road ahead was empty. A’Lei had vanished without a trace, probably having taken a shortcut.
Zhu Zhanji planned to go to the foreign goods shop on the street to buy a pair of glasses to compensate A’Lei. Suddenly, from behind came a horse at amazing speed, overtaking vehicle after vehicle on the official road. The rider had a triangular flag on his back—it was a courier delivering urgent intelligence.
This official express deliveryman was swift as lightning. Seeing this, Zhu Zhanji thought there might be some major incident and quickly spurred his horse back to the palace.
Zhu Zhanji, this political animal, had keen instincts. Jiaozhi, recently incorporated into the Ming territory, was in trouble.
Previously, the king of the former Annan Kingdom had been usurped by Prime Minister Hu Jili, who had exterminated the royal Chen clan. To gain investiture from the suzerain state Ming, he told a massive lie, claiming to be the old king’s nephew. With the Chen royal line extinct, the throne was abdicated to him. The newly enthroned Emperor Yongle believed this and invested Hu Jili as King of Annan.
But a Chen descendant escaped to Ming to file an imperial complaint, exposing Hu Jili’s lies. Emperor Yongle sent Ming officials with the Chen descendant to Annan to reclaim the throne. Hu Jili went back on his word, setting an ambush to eliminate both the Chen descendant and the Ming officials.
Emperor Yongle was furious and thus began his first foreign war since taking the throne. The Annan Campaign lasted over a year and was victorious. Hu Jili was captured, Annan was destroyed, commander Zhang Fu was enfeoffed as Duke of Yingguo, and Annan’s territory reverted to its ancient name Jiaozhi, incorporated into Ming territory.
Over these six years, Ming had dispatched numerous officials to serve locally in Jiaozhi, promoting Chinese language and clothing, establishing county schools, publicizing the imperial examination system, and encouraging local nobility and scholars to take the exams for official positions.
Even Xie Jin, formerly Ming’s top secretary, was serving as an official in Jiaozhi.
However, the good times didn’t last. A man named Chen Jikuo appeared in Jiaozhi, claiming to be a descendant of the Annan Chen royal clan who had luckily escaped the massacre by the traitor Hu Jili. In the name of Chen descendant, Chen Jikuo raised the banner of “Reviving Annan” and rebelled against Ming rule.
Initially, local Ming officials thought he was just an ordinary bandit and didn’t take it seriously. However, Chen Jikuo’s forces grew larger, with Ming officials continually being captured or even killed. Jiaozhi had been unstable since its establishment.
Emperor Yongle, still personally campaigning against the Tatars in the north, was furious, saying, “Jiaozhi has just entered our territory, people’s hearts are not yet settled, and remnants continue to rise. If not promptly eliminated, they may spread uncontrollably.”
He thus appointed Duke Qianguo Mu Sheng, responsible for southwestern border defense, as commander-in-chief, with Minister of War Liu Jun leading troops south to pacify Chen Jikuo’s rebellion in Jiaozhi.
They thought that with Mu Sheng as commander and assisted by the Minister of War, the rebellion would surely be successfully quelled.
But reality delivered a harsh slap. Mu Sheng suffered a major defeat at Jue River and retreated. Minister of War Liu Jun couldn’t retreat in time and was surrounded on all sides, facing desperate straits.
The Minister of War was like a combination of Defense Secretary and Supreme Commander. Liu Jun was a man of backbone—how could he surrender to a mere bandit chief?
So Liu Jun committed suicide for his country.
When Zhu Zhanji spurred his horse back to the palace, he was immediately summoned by Emperor Yongle for a meeting. Only then did he learn of the urgent military situation—Ming’s crushing defeat in Jiaozhi and the Defense Minister’s death in a foreign land.
When the news spread, all court officials were shocked.
The primary person responsible for the Jiaozhi defeat was Duke Qianguo Mu Sheng.
The next day, memorials impeaching Duke Qianguo Mu Sheng flew to Emperor Yongle’s desk like snowflakes, with voices even louder than those calling for deposing the Crown Prince.
The Mu Residence was next door to the Hu mansion. Duke Qianguo’s heir Mu Bin was still young and hadn’t reached adulthood. Duke Qianguo’s Grand Dowager Geng Shi had been secluding herself in the Buddhist hall. The Mu Residence was entirely managed by Duke Qianguo’s wife Cheng Shi.
Now Duke Qianguo Mu Sheng had transformed from southwestern guardian hero to a defeated general reviled by all. Rumors spread that the Mu family would be stripped of titles, their imperial-granted mansion confiscated, and the entire family expelled from the Mu Residence. The Mu family, which had stood firm through three reigns, was in precarious danger.
With storms raging throughout the city, Duke Qianguo’s wife Cheng Shi maintained composure on the surface, telling the entire household not to panic, to stay indoors, and avoid disputes with outsiders. But Cheng Shi was actually quite panicked inside and had to consult with brother-in-law Mu Xin.
Mu Xin was Princess Changning’s consort. Unfortunately, Princess Changning had died of illness several years ago, leaving him a widower with no children. According to protocol, when a princess died, all granted mansions, imperial farms, wealth, and property should be returned to the imperial family. Emperor Yongle favored his son-in-law Mu Xin and didn’t reclaim his daughter’s dowry, so this prince consort still lived comfortably.
Emperor Yongle had Mu Xin go to Mount Wudang to supervise the construction of Taoist temples, worshipping the Mysterious Warrior Emperor, spreading among the people that Emperor Yongle had “followed Heaven’s mandate” and ascended to the throne through “Mysterious Emperor’s protection”—a unity of divine and human to quell popular doubts about his legitimacy.
Ordinary people lacked education and were ignorant. No matter how much you promoted legitimacy, it was like shouting at the deaf—useless effort. Using familiar mythology and religion to repackage Emperor Yongle, creating a “Chosen One” persona, would subtly make the common people accept his rule.
Mu Xin beautifully completed the massive project of Mount Wudang’s temple complex, mobilizing over 300,000 military and civilian craftsmen. Mu Xin was handsome, eloquent, of noble birth, and a prince consort. Under his management, Mount Wudang transformed from a mere scenic area into Ming’s greatest Taoist holy site.
Mu Xin even cleverly had craftsmen sculpt the Mysterious Warrior Emperor’s face in the main hall to somewhat resemble Emperor Yongle’s portrait. This had the same effect as Empress Wu Zetian modeling the Lushena Buddha at Longmen Grottoes after herself, suggesting divine right of kings—it wasn’t that I wanted to usurp the throne, this was all the gods’ will!
The gods: I won’t take the blame for this.
Under powerful imperial authority, even gods became mere decorative wrapping paper.
Due to his merit in supervising Mount Wudang’s construction, Mu Xin increasingly won Emperor Yongle’s appreciation. Now that second brother Mu Sheng had been defeated and faced impeachment by all officials, with rumors throughout the capital that the Mu family would fall, the Mu Residence had no adult males. Second sister-in-law was at her wit’s end, so Mu Xin spurred his horse to the Mu Residence to support the household, lest anyone take advantage and bully a house full of elderly, weak women and children.
On the road, Mu Xin passed a person wearing a conical hat who was also galloping madly.
In the instant their horses crossed, Mu Xin’s peripheral vision caught the lower half of that person’s face, finding it somewhat familiar, as if he’d seen it somewhere before. He couldn’t help turning to look, but the other party seemed to have urgent business and rode off in a cloud of dust.
Mu Xin recalled that person’s profile and couldn’t help spurring his horse to follow. When turning onto a street, that person suddenly pulled the reins and stopped, for ahead came someone wearing a blue round-collar robe, black gauze cap, looking like a young eunuch.
As a core member of the imperial family, Mu Xin recognized this delicate young eunuch as Hu Shanxiang, sister of Palace Supervisor Hu, who had been following Eunuch Zheng He at the Treasure Ship Shipyard these past two years.
Palace Supervisor Hu was a three-dynasty supervisor who had sacrificed marriage for her career—a legendary figure. It was quite normal for her sister to take an unconventional path too.
The person wearing the conical hat spoke briefly with Hu Shanxiang, then Hu Shanxiang turned her horse around and rode alongside that person, disappearing around the street corner.
Who exactly was this person? Hu Shanxiang seemed quite trusting of him…
This person was indeed Mu Chun. Hearing news of the Jiaozhi defeat, he was quite shocked. As the elder brother, he had confidence in Mu Sheng’s abilities. He wasn’t worried about Mu Sheng or the neighboring Mu family, but rather that Yunnan bordered Jiaozhi—when the city gate catches fire, the fish in the moat suffer. With great turmoil in Jiaozhi, it would inevitably affect Yunnan.
Mu Chun had deep feelings for Yunnan and couldn’t sit idly by. He immediately spurred his horse to the palace, volunteering to go to Jiaozhi to quell the rebellion and meet this so-called Annan Chen royal remnant Chen Jikuo.
As everyone knew, Mu Chun was a “dead man,” and the gate guards couldn’t let a dead person enter. His wife Hu Shanwei was still on duty in the palace and not at home to escort him in.
Originally, Mu Chun planned to first go to the Jinyiwei headquarters to find Ji Gang and enter the palace through Ji Gang’s connections. Unexpectedly, halfway he encountered A’Lei returning home. A’Lei, with her status as Palace Supervisor Hu’s sister, could pass through checkpoints on recognition alone.
So Mu Chun brought A’Lei as a human access card toward the imperial palace.
A’Lei used her face to pass through several checkpoints, and Emperor Yongle secretly summoned Mu Chun.
Mu Chun said, “Your subject is not here today to plead for my foolish younger brother Mu Sheng. Now that Ming has been defeated, Minister Liu died for his country, and Jiaozhi is in great turmoil, affecting Yunnan. I beg Your Majesty to give the Mu family a chance to atone through merit. Let your subject return to Yunnan to assist my foolish younger brother Mu Sheng in rallying our forces, pacifying Jiaozhi, and beheading the rebel Chen Jikuo.”