When did Hu Shanwei arrive in the capital?

After learning of Emperor Taizong’s death, she and Mu Chun secretly traveled from Kunming to the capital to begin making arrangements. Mu Chun went to establish secret contacts with the young soldiers scattered across various locations, preparing for the future palace coup. The young soldiers possessed combat capabilities and were familiar with court life, absolutely loyal to Zhu Zhanji, and had once been personally trained by Mu Chun – they were truly a fine blade.

As a palace supervisor who had served three dynasties and witnessed countless court intrigues and father-son suspicions, Hu Shanwei understood that once Emperor Hongxi ascended the throne and Zhu Zhanji became crown prince, he would inevitably experience all the tears his father had shed and grievances he had endured over twenty-one years.

A’Lei would also suffer alongside him. After six years, it was time to wake from this dream.

Despite her mental preparation, Emperor Hongxi’s performance still far exceeded Hu Shanwei’s expectations – he had gone completely mad, venting twenty-one years of suppressed anger entirely upon Zhu Zhanji.

Though Hu Shanwei had been away from court for six years, she had overseen the selection and preparation of palace staff for the Beijing Imperial Palace. The current head palace supervisor Huang Weide had once been her student, and with Eunuch Zheng He fallen from favor and sent to guard Nanjing, some eunuchs still listened to Eunuch Zheng He’s words.

Eunuch Zheng He still wanted to sail west once more! Everything was prepared, just waiting for the seasonal winds and ocean currents, but Emperor Hongxi’s thirty-five imperial edicts directly abolished his plans.

Eunuch Zheng He was unwilling to accept this. Fortunately, Crown Prince Zhu Zhanji supported the western voyages, so he still had hope. But he aged day by day – who knew how long he could endure?

Thus, when Eunuch Zheng He left the capital, Hu Shanwei secretly made contact with him. Zheng He’s people in the palace and his influence in the capital were all at Hu Shanwei’s disposal – a true alliance of the strong.

Emperor Hongxi could not turn back. No amount of persuasion or reasoning would work. To resolve the Eastern Palace’s current predicament, there was only one solution: change the emperor.

In this matter, Hu Shanwei was experienced. She had personally ignited the flames that killed Emperor Jianwen and had locked the only escape route. When it came to taking action, Supervisor Hu showed no mercy, waiting for the perfect moment to strike a fatal blow.

In killing emperors, she was a professional.

Violent methods like poisoning, assassination, or arson were impossible because the Eastern Palace would become the primary suspect. Therefore, only relatively gentle and subtle methods could be used. Now that Hu Shanwei was outside the palace, she still manipulated palace affairs with ease through her network of contacts and her ally Eunuch Zheng He.

Following Ru Siyao’s suggestion, Hu Shanwei wrapped Emperor Hongxi’s deadly meal in layers upon layers of sweet coating. For Emperor Hongxi, the path to death was paved with sugar and oil – fragrant and sweet, allowing him to die comfortably and painlessly, without a sound. No one suspected the cause of his death.

The imperial kitchen’s endless stream of new pastries created to please the favored Imperial Noble Consort Guo was all Hu Shanwei’s “handiwork.”

It would be best if someone could take the blame, making the Eastern Palace and the Imperial Kitchen Bureau appear completely innocent.

Imperial Noble Consort Guo was the perfect scapegoat. After all, the food sent to Qianqing Palace was light and met the imperial physicians’ requirements, so the Imperial Kitchen Bureau could avoid punishment. The wine pools, meat forests, and sweets of Changchun Palace were sent to Imperial Noble Consort Guo. As for why Emperor Hongxi ate them all instead, that was unrelated to the Imperial Kitchen Bureau. His legs and mouth belonged to him – if he wanted to frequent Changchun Palace, who could stop him?

Even Empress Zhang couldn’t stop him.

Imperial Noble Consort Guo naturally knew that high sugar and oil were bad for Emperor Hongxi’s health. But as a favored consort, after offering food and charm and receiving benefits she had never dared imagine before – her brother Guo Xuan finally received the title of Marquis Wuding that had been vacant for twenty years, defeating his rival Princess Yongjia, and her son Prince Teng received Emperor Hongxi’s love and cultivation, showing signs of overshadowing the Eastern Palace’s crown prince.

She herself was elevated to Imperial Noble Consort, overshadowing Empress Zhang in prominence.

How were these benefits obtained?

Simply by making Emperor Hongxi happy.

Empress Zhang insisted on principles, leading to her fall from favor, but she still had the title of empress and the crown prince. Emperor Hongxi, wanting to maintain his reputation for benevolence, would not depose his original legitimate wife who had borne him three sons and one daughter.

If Imperial Noble Consort Guo didn’t please Emperor Hongxi and fell from favor, she would have nothing.

After all, Noble Consort Li in the palace had also borne three sons. If Imperial Noble Consort Guo didn’t offer charm and delicacies, could Emperor Hongxi not eat or drink?

There were plenty of consorts willing to offer charm and delicacies to compete for his favor!

Talk of affection – it was all about interests.

Therefore, though Imperial Noble Consort Guo knew that high sugar and oil were damaging Emperor Hongxi’s body, she still couldn’t stop – it was truly like drinking poison to quench thirst.

Imperial Noble Consort Guo’s current goal was to secure her favor, continuously whisper in his ear to distance Emperor Hongxi from the crown prince, then find opportunities to frame the crown prince, depose him, and establish Prince Teng as crown prince – once Prince Teng became crown prince, Emperor Hongxi could die.

Imperial Noble Consort Guo watched Emperor Hongxi indulge himself, eating and drinking freely. Recently, aside from some vision problems requiring reading glasses when studying, he seemed to have no major issues.

On the contrary, since intimate relations were no longer a necessary task for producing sons, the forty-six-year-old Emperor Hongxi began enjoying the pleasure and relaxation brought by desire. Besides favoring Imperial Noble Consort Guo, Emperor Hongxi, who had not been lustful as crown prince, developed an interest in beautiful women. To secure her favor, Imperial Noble Consort Guo found four absolute beauties to keep in Changchun Palace.

When Emperor Hongxi was in the mood, all four beauties would serve together. In such scenes, the “Chang” (long) character could be removed from the front of Imperial Noble Consort Guo’s Changchun Palace name.

Sweetness brings happiness, so despite declining vision, Emperor Hongxi’s spirits grew better and better. He seemed to grow younger with each passing day, giving Imperial Noble Consort Guo the illusion that the strict warnings against high sugar and oil were imperial physicians trying to avoid responsibility by deliberately exaggerating and frightening the emperor. In reality, as long as he didn’t eat sweets every meal, there was no great harm to Emperor Hongxi’s body.

The Zhu family generally had good lifespans – Emperor Gaozhu lived to seventy-one, Emperor Taizong to sixty-four. Emperor Hongxi was only forty-six this year. Even living another ten years would only make him fifty-six, by which time Prince Teng should be crown prince.

Imperial Noble Consort Guo harbored wishful thinking. To curry favor and secure her position, she pressed the Imperial Kitchen Bureau like readers urging authors for updates, demanding they innovate with pastries. She also displayed the authority of an Imperial Noble Consort, insisting the Imperial Kitchen Bureau prioritize special supplies to Changchun Palace, not letting other enchantresses steal them to curry favor.

On this day, Chen Er’mei, the head of the Imperial Kitchen Bureau, came to Changchun Palace carrying a plate of golden-yellow small pastries for Imperial Noble Consort Guo to taste first.

Seeing the pastries’ plain appearance – just like small steamed buns – Imperial Noble Consort Guo frowned. In the palace, even a single raisin would be carved into flower shapes, yet these pastries looked so unappealing she didn’t want to lift a finger.

Imperial Noble Consort Guo furrowed her brow: “The Imperial Kitchen Bureau treats my instructions like wind past the ear.”

Chen Er’mei inwardly despised her but outwardly coaxed earnestly: “How dare the Imperial Kitchen Bureau slight Your Imperial Noble Consort? These pastries are soft as clouds, melting upon entry. They’re too precious – they can’t withstand kneading and shaping by cooks, so they can only be made this way. Don’t let the crude appearance fool you – they’re actually delicious. Your Ladyship will surely love them.”

Everyone knew the final consumer would be Emperor Hongxi, but they dared not say so openly. Chen Er’mei, having served as head of imperial cuisine through three dynasties and being quite knowledgeable about food, knew this stuff was made of oil and sugar. Throw one piece in a teacup and after dissolving, it would float oil as thick as a pot lid! Greasier than lard, yet it didn’t taste greasy when eaten. One piece after another, like cracking sunflower seeds – simply unstoppable.

Before you knew it, you’d consumed half a basin of lard, not even counting the sugar inside.

Supervisor Hu was truly terrifying, devising such methods. This wasn’t pastry – it was clearly a death warrant.

Imperial Noble Consort Guo picked up one piece with a tentative attitude. With slight pressure from her fingers, the small steamed bun-like pastry crumbled – indeed soft as clouds.

Imperial Noble Consort Guo gently picked up a second piece and placed it in her mouth. So soft, yet crispy upon entry. The moment her tongue touched it, it melted immediately, comforting her taste buds like a blanket. Even her breathing became sweet and fragrant, instantly producing heavenly satisfaction.

When blood sugar rises sharply, glucose stimulates the brain to secrete dopamine, producing euphoria like being in love. Sugar is the source of happiness – this is why cola, sprite, and other “otaku happy water” are so popular.

Emperor Hongxi, forced to eat bland food for a long time and controlled for twenty-one years, was like parched earth suddenly receiving sweet rain. He couldn’t control the instinctive craving suppressed for twenty-one years and ate with abandon.

Imperial Noble Consort Guo took out a handkerchief to dab her lips: “Not bad. Send them tonight.”

“Yes, Your Imperial Noble Consort.” Chen Er’mei withdrew.

Like his three predecessors, Emperor Hongxi was diligent, implementing thirty-five governance measures. Besides abolishing various expenditures from Emperor Yongle’s reign, he also reduced heavy taxes in Jiangnan, encouraged agriculture and sericulture, and other policies benefiting the people. He worked tirelessly day and night, reviewing memorials until late before returning to the rear palace.

Today, October fifteenth, he should go to Kunning Palace to see Empress Zhang, but Imperial Noble Consort Guo had already sent someone to invite him. Emperor Hongxi only went to see Empress Zhang briefly, speaking a few bland words.

Empress Zhang said: “Logically, the crown prince going to Fengyang and Nanjing to worship at the imperial tombs is appropriate, but the Eastern Palace has two pregnant women. Why must the crown prince drag his children along to Nanjing? It wouldn’t be too late to go to Nanjing after they give birth.”

Empress Zhang was thinking of the imperial heirs.

Emperor Hongxi said seriously: “The Eastern Palace moving to Nanjing is actually part of the capital relocation plan. This is a matter of state, not ordinary family affairs. The rear palace must not interfere in politics. The empress should reflect on this.”

After speaking, he couldn’t wait to proceed to Changchun Palace.

Empress Zhang watched her husband’s limping figure recede, feeling despair in her heart. To constrain the crown prince, he didn’t even care about imperial heirs – those are your grandsons and granddaughters too!

Empress Zhang’s heart turned completely cold. She summoned Supervisor Huang and said: “Tell Supervisor Hu that I accept her conditions.”

There was no choice. Emperor Hongxi neglected her and even wanted to uproot the Eastern Palace entirely, forcing them to rush to Nanjing in this snowy weather!

The couple had turned against each other. The good sisters who had once followed Empress Renxiao to fight side by side on Beiping’s city walls were now estranged. Imperial Noble Consort Guo and Prince Teng pressed their advantage aggressively.

Imperial Noble Consort Guo launched an offensive against the empress and crown prince positions.

Empress Zhang had debuted as a “snake-fighting girl” – she wouldn’t suffer grievances in vain. When a snake tried to bite her, she would strike without hesitation, just as she had when encountering snakes years ago, decisively grabbing a nearby fire poker to strike the snake’s vital point.

The vital point of imperial power was having the crown prince ascend the throne earlier – which meant Emperor Hongxi should go west sooner.

Facing Hu Shanwei’s olive branch, Empress Zhang had initially hesitated, feeling this move too risky. However, Emperor Hongxi’s cold attitude tonight toward her and the imperial heirs eliminated the last traces of marital affection.

Following Eunuch Zheng He, Empress Zhang joined the “Anti-Hongxi Alliance.” Hu Shanwei had nearly hollowed out the Forbidden City’s foundations.

The Imperial Kitchen Bureau’s new pastries indeed suited Emperor Hongxi’s taste – half the plate vanished instantly. Imperial Noble Consort Guo extended her delicate hand to pour tea for Emperor Hongxi. The tea liquid was actually gray, floating with milk fragrance.

Imperial Noble Consort Guo said: “This is milk tea sent by the Imperial Kitchen Bureau – tea broth mixed with milk and sugar. Drinking it warms the stomach and prevents drowsiness at night.”

To suppress the milk’s taste, milk tea used more tea leaves than clear tea, naturally affecting sleep. However, after Emperor Hongxi finished eating and drinking, the four beauties served together in indescribable activities that aided digestion. Emperor Hongxi reached extreme pleasure and extreme exhaustion – forget drinking milk tea, even chewing raw tea leaves wouldn’t prevent immediate sleep.

While Emperor Hongxi lived in debauchery at Changchun Palace, the Eastern Palace boarded ships for Nanjing amid autumn rain and bleakness.

Emperor Hongxi had arranged for Hu Shanwei and Eunuch Zheng He to renovate the Nanjing Imperial Palace because he was wary of Hu Shanwei, feeling her palace foundations were deep. If she caused trouble secretly, it would be impossible to guard against. Better to assign Hu Shanwei to distant Nanjing, responsible for caring for the Eastern Palace under his spies’ surveillance, then sink into decline together.

To monitor the Eastern Palace and Hu Shanwei, Emperor Hongxi wanted a secret organization superior to the Embroidered Uniform Guard – the Eastern Depot – to follow the Eastern Palace south under the pretense of protection.

To create the illusion of traveling from Yunnan to Nanjing, Hu Shanwei had to leave Beijing and wait at the old Nanjing Imperial Palace for the Eastern Palace’s large family. Mu Chun, who had secretly established covert contacts with twenty-eight thousand young soldiers scattered everywhere, returned to Beijing to coordinate with inside allies like Empress Zhang and monitor Emperor Hongxi.

Everything was ready – they just waited for Emperor Hongxi to embrace death with the help of butter cookies and milk tea.