One being the eldest and one the youngest, the number of times Mu Xin and elder brother Mu Chun had met could be counted on ten fingers. Due to their first meeting when Mu Xin sucked on his freshly nose-picking finger like slurping a snail—loud and savory—leaving Mu Chun with a “profound” first impression, this gave Mu Chun psychological trauma regarding his little brother, always feeling his fingers weren’t clean and not wanting him to touch anything.
Children’s hearts are rather sensitive. Feeling that adults didn’t like him, following the childish logic of “if you don’t like me then I don’t like you either, hmph,” Mu Xin also wasn’t close to his elder brother.
Later, Mu Xin was sent to the palace as a study companion, replacing elder brother as the new hostage, while elder brother Mu Chun went to Yunnan for immigration work. The brothers never met again.
However, though Mu Chun went to Yunnan, legends of elder brother the devil-may-care spread throughout the capital—being locked in the ancestral hall to copy family rules, throwing fireworks into chamber pots to explode them, “spreading excrement on walls”; competing in archery with father Mu Ying during grand military reviews and winning through trickery; when serving as Yingyang Guard commander, organizing undocumented group fights among subordinates without scruples, with winners getting promoted. Some even said Mu Chun fought naked on the arena to win.
In short, elder brother was a typical prodigal son who turned over a new leaf—wild and unrestrained in youth, but still able to achieve great things as an adult.
However, young Mu Xin didn’t like elder brother. He felt father had traded his freedom for elder brother, making Mu Xin unable to leave the capital even one step.
When they met again, it was when Mu Chun returned supporting father Mu Ying’s coffin for burial at the ancestral tomb on Guanyin Mountain in Nanjing’s suburbs. Mu Chun conducted three months of mourning at home. At that time there were still two grown brothers Mu Sheng and Mu Ang at home, with Mu Xin following behind brothers Mu Sheng and Mu Ang doing reception and send-off tasks, listening to everything elder brother Mu Chun said.
Looking at the steady elder brother, Mu Xin found it hard to imagine this was the same person as the mischievous child who had “spread excrement on walls” in the ancestral hall years ago.
By then Mu Xin was sensible and no longer resented elder brother for taking away his freedom. The Mu family enjoyed wealth and honor, so they had to pay corresponding prices. Men had to contribute military achievements and shed blood. He heard that to protect elder brother, father Mu Ying’s spinal vertebrae had been blown apart, and there were legitimate mothers and second sisters-in-law left behind to guard empty houses in the Mu residence. Whose life was easy?
Mu Ying ultimately favored his youngest son, arranging Mu Xin as a decorative role who didn’t need to garrison Yunnan like his three brothers. From childhood to adulthood, Mu Xin had never seen blood. He worked hard to be a good ornament, maintaining careful relationships with princes and grandsons while keeping distance. He was the only adult male in the Mu residence, bearing his due responsibilities.
When the Ming Dynasty changed, the Mu residence stood firm—it was luck, but also the result of the Mu family’s efforts.
Later, as the most handsome man in the Mu family, Mu Xin secured the iron rice bowl of prince consort, bringing Princess Changning to pay respects at the Mu family ancestral hall. Next to Mu Chun’s portrait was emptiness—a dignified duke who remained a bachelor his whole life.
During their honeymoon, Princess Changning once asked him why elder brother Mu Chun never married.
Mu Xin told the Mu family rumor: “It’s said elder brother liked a girl when he was young, but for unknown reasons—perhaps the girl died young, or married someone else. Elder brother was headstrong. When he disagreed, father didn’t dare arrange other marriages for him. Elder brother devoted himself entirely to his career in Yunnan, having no heart for marriage. He worked himself to exhaustion and died of illness in his thirties. I heard that before dying, elder brother said that though he left no heirs for the Mu family, he had no regrets in this life—those new immigrants in Yunnan were all his descendants, and he could rest in peace.”
Actually, this was all lies made up by second brother Mu Sheng to cover tracks—forcibly creating a heroic persona for elder brother Mu Chun as a reformed prodigal who was deeply devoted yet defended home and country.
Creating personas feels good for a moment, and continuously feels good—lies repeated a thousand times become truth. Mu Chun’s portrait in the Mu family ancestral hall was a glorious, upright, respected image.
Later, Princess Changning died—noble birth but thin fortune. The princess had a gentle temperament, never putting on princess airs. Their brief marriage was very sweet, making Mu Xin quite sorrowful. He became a widower at a young age with no children, yet had no desire to remarry, willing to guard the princess for life. Anyway, second and third brothers were very fertile—later he could adopt a son to continue the family line.
As a widower, Mu Xin looked again at Mu Chun’s portrait in the ancestral hall. Besides respect, he felt additional kinship and mutual understanding.
Loving only one person for life, wanting to guard only one person for life—besides her, not wanting to settle with any other woman, preferring lifelong solitude. Previously Mu Xin didn’t understand, but now he did.
Thus, Mu Chun’s persona in Mu Xin’s heart became even more perfect.
But today, seeing that middle-aged, paunchy, greasy man with ungroomed beard sitting improperly on the gun carriage—left hand holding a flintlock rifle, right hand clutching duck oil sesame cakes, duck heads, duck feet, duck intestines and other preserved foods, full of worldly atmosphere—the perfect elder brother image in his heart instantly collapsed like a precious vase falling from a display case, shattering into pieces.
Instantly, all of Mu Chun’s glorious, upright, deeply devoted personas in Mu Xin’s heart completely collapsed.
Elder brother wasn’t dead!
What was the relationship between elder brother, Palace Supervisor Hu, and Palace Supervisor Hu’s sister?
The Hu residence was right next to the Mu residence—was this coincidence or intentional?
Mu Xin suddenly recalled the past. When Palace Supervisor Hu first settled in the Hu residence, the Mu household invited Miss Hu to visit, learning that Miss Hu had gone to Hangzhou to watch the tidal bore. At that time, second sister-in-law Duke Qianguo’s wife Cheng Shi wondered—Palace Supervisor Hu was in the palace handling Empress Renxiao’s funeral, so who was taking young Miss Hu out? To prevent accidentally offending Palace Supervisor Hu later, Cheng Shi wrote to ask her husband Mu Sheng in Yunnan. Palace Supervisor Hu had retired to Yunnan for several years—perhaps her husband knew the Hu family’s background.
Then Mu Sheng quickly replied with a letter saying, “Don’t investigate! Don’t investigate! Don’t investigate!”
At that time, Mu Xin and second sister-in-law saw the reply and were so frightened they immediately burned the letter, thinking Palace Supervisor Hu had experienced three dynasties and must have some incredible secret. Second brother’s warning letter was warning the Mu family not to meddle, lest they bring fire upon themselves.
Now it seemed second brother’s brief, emotionally intense reply had deep meaning!
The southern expedition army had departed for Jiaozhi, and the man resembling elder brother had gone far. Beyond Mu Xin’s reach, his mind couldn’t help but start speculating wildly.
Palace Supervisor Hu was a major figure in the rear palace with very tight lips. Mu Xin didn’t dare ask her.
Only Miss Hu before him was innocent and cute—worth a try. Mu Xin decided to start by squeezing the soft persimmon.
At this moment, soft persimmon A’Lei didn’t know she was being followed by her fourth uncle. After seeing off her brother-in-law, she went to a foreign goods shop in the capital to buy tortoiseshell glasses—the pair Hu Shanwei had given her was smashed during the chase with Little Rooster Brother. Fortunately, sister had been busy these days seeing off brother-in-law with all her attention on him, not noticing her glasses were gone. Feeling guilty about breaking sister’s gift, A’Lei went to foreign goods shops to pick a pair similar to the previous ones for a substitute.
But the tortoiseshell-framed glasses Hu Shanwei had given were top quality. A’Lei searched several shops without finding similar quality ones.
Mu Xin secretly followed, understanding what she was looking for. He immediately ran ahead to the next foreign goods shop, first asking the owner to show Western glasses, deliberately dawdling and examining them carefully, waiting for A’Lei.
After a while, A’Lei indeed came, asking the shopkeeper to see glasses. The shopkeeper apologetically said, “There’s a gentleman in front selecting goods.”
Mu Xin pretended to turn around inadvertently, seeing A’Lei and acting very surprised, putting on elder airs. “Oh, this is young Master… Master Hu. You’re also here to buy glasses? At such a young age, your vision is already blurry from reading?”
As Palace Supervisor Hu’s sister, A’Lei could basically recognize all Ming imperial family members. Moreover, Mu Xin was so handsome it was hard to forget that face. A’Lei nodded, saying, “I don’t need them when light is good, but I keep a pair handy for emergencies.”
Mu Xin selected a pair. “This one’s not bad. Try it, young Master Hu.”
A’Lei put it on her nose and immediately took it off. “It’s clear enough, just makes me dizzy wearing it.”
The shopkeeper took the glasses and examined the lens curvature with a magnifying glass. “These lenses are thick, usually for old scholars. Why not try this thinner pair?”
A’Lei tried them on—distance and near vision were moderate, but the tortoiseshell frame was rather crude, not as refined as sister’s gift.
Seeing A’Lei’s disgusted expression, Mu Xin told the shopkeeper, “Regardless of price, just bring out the good ones.”
The shopkeeper said, “Glasses are expensive—this is all our store’s inventory. As long as the lenses fit, we can find a craftsman to cut and polish quality tortoiseshell for the frames, then install the lenses. Ming cannot manufacture Western lenses, but we have plenty of tortoiseshell.”
Hearing this, A’Lei had to settle for second best, paying a deposit and agreeing to pick them up in five days.
Mu Xin rushed to pay, but how could A’Lei dare let a prince consort advance money for her? Moreover, Hu Shanwei had instructed her not to accept inexplicable favors from anyone—personal debts were the hardest to repay.
A’Lei quickly said, “No merit, no reward,” stuffing the silver to the shop owner.
Mu Xin was gracious. When A’Lei refused, he didn’t insist, his eyes turning as he thought of drawing A’Lei into conversation. Just then someone walked into the foreign goods shop, immediately asking the shopkeeper to bring out the store’s Western glasses.
Hearing this familiar voice, Mu Xin was truly flabbergasted—oh, an unexpected bonus. What a coincidence today—why was the Crown Prince’s Grandson also looking for glasses?
The three met, all stunned, the atmosphere somewhat awkward.
The shopkeeper who had just received the deposit was in high spirits, stuffing the silver into his money chest and quickly running out from behind the counter. Reading the situation and seeing the three should know each other, he quickly smiled apologetically: “What a coincidence! This gentleman’s friends just ordered a pair in our shop—clearly customers trust our store. I’ll bring out all our good wares for your selection.”
Zhu Zhanji had also left the palace this time to compensate A’Lei with a pair of glasses. He never expected to find A’Lei shopping with Mu Xin.
Inconvenient for formal ceremony outside, Zhu Zhanji performed junior courtesy to Mu Xin. “Uncle-in-law? What a coincidence.”
Mu Xin had married Princess Changning, who was Zhu Zhanji’s aunt.
Mu Xin went with the flow, laughing, “Good nephew, which glasses do you like? Uncle-in-law will take care of everything. You two are so young—how did you both hurt your eyes? Read fewer books at night in the future.”
Zhu Zhanji had asked for glasses upon entering—words once spoken, water spilled. He casually picked a pair of dark crystal-ground glasses. “My eyes see clearly. These are for blocking glare when observing sun, moon, and stars.”
Mu Xin cheerfully paid the bill and led the two juniors outside. A’Lei held grudges—seeing Zhu Zhanji again, she avoided him like a snake, not looking at him directly, deliberately walking beside Mu Xin as a human shield.
Seeing A’Lei distance herself from him while being intimate with Mu Xin, Zhu Zhanji—in his adolescent phase when any male looked like a rival—noted that Mu Xin was handsome, refined in temperament, and nobly born, reportedly able to match Princess Huaiqing’s former consort Wang Ning.
Importantly, Mu Xin was a widower without a wife.
Even the Crown Princess and Lady Guo sighed privately that Mu Xin was devoted and a good man.
The calculating Zhu Zhanji knew that handsome, tragic men like Mu Xin most easily aroused women’s sympathy, especially naive girls in their first bloom of love.
Zhu Zhanji thought uncle-in-law Mu Xin was shameless—at his age, what was he doing flirting with a young girl?
Zhu Zhanji stopped walking and asked, “Where are uncle-in-law and Miss Hu going?”
Mu Xin wanted to draw A’Lei into conversation, saying, “I’m escorting Miss Hu home. What about you, nephew?”
A’Lei instinctively wanted to refuse, but fearing being left alone to face the powder keg Little Rooster Brother again, she remained silent, tacitly agreeing.
Zhu Zhanji wasn’t a powder keg—he was full of vinegar. He absolutely couldn’t let uncle-in-law and A’Lei be alone together, so he lied: “I’m going to Prince Han’s residence to see some younger cousins.”
Prince Han and Prince Han’s heir had both gone north to attend Empress Renxiao’s funeral. Prince Han’s residence was next to the Hu residence. According to the route, they’d reach the Hu residence first, then Prince Han’s residence. Zhu Zhanji would be a third wheel to the end, escorting them all the way.
Zhu Zhanji and A’Lei walked on either side with Mu Xin between them.
Mu Xin observed expressions and felt the atmosphere between the Crown Prince’s Grandson and A’Lei was strange. His mind immediately became tangled—A’Lei and Palace Supervisor Hu, A’Lei and elder brother Mu Chun dead for thirteen years, now adding A’Lei and the Crown Prince’s Grandson. Truly impossible to cut through, impossible to sort out.
Wait… thirteen years? Hadn’t A’Lei just turned thirteen this spring? The Mu family had even sent gifts.
Could it be… Mu Xin kept using peripheral vision to examine A’Lei’s appearance. Was she elder brother Mu Chun’s daughter? My niece?
Beside him, Zhu Zhanji saw Mu Xin constantly glancing at A’Lei and became quite annoyed, his eyes flashing dangerously while his face remained calm. He asked as if casually, “Uncle-in-law, Aunt Changning’s memorial day approaches. How are preparations at the princess residence?”
Zhu Zhanji deliberately emphasized the words “uncle-in-law” and “aunt.”
How shameless! My aunt’s bones aren’t even cold yet, and uncle-in-law, you’re using your eyes to seduce a girl a generation younger and junior to you. You have no idea that A’Lei is your own niece! Let go of that girl!