The prince secretly called Mu Chun a clown because Mu Chun always had a way to make Emperor Hongwu and Empress Ma happy. When facing the prince, Emperor Hongwu always had a stern face and wished he could use sticks and carving knives to carve Zhu Biao into the perfect prince he wanted.
Empress Ma had a typical face of a legitimate mother, kind but not approachable.
But whenever the emperor and empress saw Mu Chun, they would be "as happy as spring breeze" and immediately put on a smile. No matter what outrageous and absurd things Mu Chun did, no matter how naughty he was, the emperor and empress would just smile helplessly and never scold or beat him.
Sometimes the prince envied his brothers who were enfeoffed or lived outside the palace, thinking they were very free.
He is 26 years old this year. Except for sometimes moving to his hometown Fengyang to study in the imperial mausoleum, he spends most of his time studying and learning in the Eastern Palace. Emperor Hongwu treats him very harshly and is terribly stubborn. He monopolizes power and acts arbitrarily, and never listens to advice.
On the contrary, sycophantic ministers like Hu Shanwei only knew how to give bad advice according to the emperor's wishes, and the emperor actually listened to them and turned the sycophantic ministers' flattering words into reality.
Muchun was the same, making the emperor and empress laugh like a clown. Those low-level and vulgar jokes and actions were simply unbearable to watch, but the emperor and empress liked them and laughed so happily.
Although he was clearly an outsider, the emperor and empress treated Mu Chun more affectionately than their own grandson, and the prince was not convinced.
Hu Shanwei certainly understood the prince's little thoughts, and she began to worry about her future. "I originally wanted to serve in the palace for my whole life like Cao Shanggong and Fan Gongzheng, but the prince hates me and calls me a flatterer. It doesn't matter now, I don't have to look at his face, but in the future... I may have to retire early and leave the palace."
Muchun was overjoyed. It was good to leave the palace early! It turned out that I would not wait for a lifetime without a chance. But she said, "A new emperor appoints new ministers. This is how being an official works. Anyway, female officials are treated as lifelong officials. You will not have to worry about having no food to eat when you leave the palace in the future."
The emperor and empress treated the female officials well in order to win their loyalty. Once selected into the palace, in addition to exemption of the family's taxes and corvee labor, all other salaries and benefits were lifelong, so they did not have to worry about retirement issues. In this way, the female officials were not easily tempted by outsiders.
For the first time, Mu Chun felt that it was good for the prince to be a little mediocre and pedantic.
Hu Shanwei nodded, thought for a moment, and asked, "What are you going to do? You have been labeled a clown, and the prince doesn't like you. Your future is bleak."
Mu Chun didn't care. He took out the folding fan with a poem Hu Shanwei gave him and recited: "The heartless young man should be very charming, wearing a helmet and dancing with a spear and playing the Yumen flute. He fought for 8,000 miles in the frontier, and took off his armor to visit the chrysanthemums. It's all written in the poem. If I am appreciated by a wise master, I will fight for 8,000 miles on the battlefield. If I don't succeed, I will find a quiet place, take off my armor and return to the fields to plant a few acres of chrysanthemums."
Hu Shanwei smiled and said, "I just wrote it casually at that time. But your idea is also very good. If you are poor, you should take care of yourself. If you are rich, you should help the world."
Mu Chun put away his fan and pretended to ask casually, "I'm going to plant a few acres of chrysanthemums, what are you going to do with them?"
Hu Shanwei held his chin in his hand and thought, "I have never thought about this question. If I am not a female official, what should I do? However, the emperor is in good health. There is plenty of time to think about this issue."
Mu Chun said tentatively: "Don't worry, you can go to my chrysanthemum field and think about this problem carefully when the time comes."
Hu Shanwei just smiled and didn't say anything.
The atmosphere was awkward for a moment, but luckily the captain came and said that Xiping Hou Mu Ying wanted to see him. Mu Chun hurriedly said goodbye and left.
Yu Lin Zuo Wei was only separated by a high wall, and Mu Chun turned out, "You really are a worm in my stomach. You came at the right time. However, your lie is not true enough. How could my father come to see me? You must improve in the future."
The captain said, "Your Excellency did not lie. The Marquis of Xiping really came."
Mu Chun's expression immediately changed from a playful smile to a vigilant one: "What is he doing here? A weasel wishing a happy new year to a chicken must have bad intentions."
Shi Qianhu: Saying that you are a prostitute... is not a good idea.
Mu Ying was indeed waiting for him. Mu Chun bowed and said, "Dad, you are here."
The last time he saw his eldest son, he was stripping naked in the ancestral hall to protest against the marriage, and shamelessly said that he had a crush on Princess Huaiqing. Mu Ying wished he didn't have this son, but...
Mu Ying bowed coldly, "Well, where did you go just now?"
Muchun lied habitually, "To see the Queen Mother—Dad, what are you doing here?"
Muchun's tone of disdain was as obvious as the dumplings stuffed with leeks and eggs that he had just eaten.
What a big tone! So Mu Ying said sarcastically: "You haven't been home for several months. It's harder to see you than to see the emperor. As a father, I have to come to see my son in person."
Mu Chun sat down and said perfunctorily: "I'm not busy."
Mu Ying said, "The emperor has issued an order, ordering me, Yingchuan Marquis Fu Youde, and Yongchang Marquis Lan Yu to lead the soldiers to Yunnan to attack the Northern Yuan Liang Wang and unify the Ming Dynasty."
The Ming Dynasty had been established for fourteen years, but Yunnan had never truly submitted to the Ming Dynasty. It was still ruled by the Liang King of the previous dynasty, Zhashiwalmi. This Liang King neither submitted to the Ming Dynasty nor severed ties with the Northern Yuan Dynasty. He proclaimed himself king in Yunnan, which was like a country within a country. How could a great ruler like the Hongwu Emperor forgive him
After the victory of the Northern Expedition, after a short rest, he immediately announced the Southern Expedition and issued a manifesto: "... Yunnan has long been the Southwestern Barbarians, and has been subject to China since the Han Dynasty established officials. Now the remnants of the Yuan Dynasty, Bazaci Walmi, are in a remote and dangerous place, and are unruly and stubborn... Send troops to attack them."
What I mean is that Yunnan has been China's inherent territory since ancient times, and officials have been governing this land since the Han Dynasty. Now that the former King Liang is disobedient, I will send Yingchuan Marquis Fu Youde as the General Zhennan, Yongchang Marquis Lan Yu as the Left Deputy General, and Xiping Marquis Mu Ying as the Right Deputy General, and the three armies will go out to beat the King Liang until he surrenders.
Yunnan's winter is as warm as spring, unlike the Northern Expedition, which had to wait until spring to start. You can do it when you want to, without having to pick a time.
Yingchuan Marquis Fu Youde was a founding general, mature and steady, and was just the right person to be the commander-in-chief.
Lan Yu, Marquis of Yongchang, was the brother-in-law of the young general and the late King of Kaiping Chang Yuchun. He was the commander of the left army, full of vigor and brave enough to charge into battle.
Mu Ying, Marquis of Xiping, was a middle-aged general. His various great achievements, needless to say, were the guarantee of victory in this southern expedition.
It's really an iron triangle combination. It's unacceptable not to win.
Mu Chun cupped his hands and said, "I wish you three a triumphant return."
Mu Ying hated his eldest son's glib attitude and deliberately tried to stab him, "I will bring your brother Mu Sheng with me on this southern expedition."
Mu Chun said with a smile: "Father and son are fighting together. Father and second brother will surely win many victories and return victoriously."
Mu Chun had no hope for his father, so he didn't mind being disappointed. His younger brother Mu Sheng followed Mu Ying in battles at the age of fourteen and made many contributions.
Mu Chun was still studying in the Imperial College when he was seventeen years old and had not made any contribution. If he had not given up, he would have become famous in the battle of Guaishiling in Jiangxi, and then been recommended by Xu Da, Duke of Wei, to participate in the Fourth Northern Expedition, accumulated merits, and was awarded the title of first-rank commander. The world only knew Mu Sheng, who would know him, Mu Chun
Seeing that his words had no effect and Mu Chun showed no reaction, Mu Ying said, "Your second brother and I are going to the southern expedition, and your third and fourth brothers are still young. As a result, the Mu family only has you as the pillar. Your mother will take care of the small matters at home, but men are needed for big matters. From today on, you have to go home more often and can't always stay in the barracks."
The third brother, Mu Ang, was only three years old. He had just learned to eat by himself and couldn’t even wipe his butt.
Mu Chun refused bluntly: "Dad, I'm very busy. Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety cannot be achieved at the same time. Please forgive me for being unfilial."
What are you busy with? Guarding the gate of the palace is considered busy
Mu Ying wanted to tear his eldest son's mouth apart. "It's no use shirking your responsibilities as the eldest son of the Mu family. Now there is an important matter that needs your attention."
Mu Chun stood up to see the guest off, "Dad, it's time for dinner. The food here is average, and I'm sorry for not serving you well. Please go back and eat."
Mu Ying resisted the urge to slap him. "You have to do this even if you don't want to. Now that the 100-day national mourning has ended, your elder sister and Xu Zengshou's wedding will be in December. Your second brother and I will be on a campaign in Yunnan at that time and will not be able to take care of family affairs. You have to take my place and see your elder sister off to get married."
Mu Chun said: "I will definitely be there on the wedding day." As for the other times, I won't go.
Mu Ying said, "There is a problem now—your brother-in-law Xu Zengshou is not in the capital."
Pfft! Mu Chun almost burst out laughing: "Xu Zengshou ran away from marriage? Don't worry, he will definitely come back on his own. He is not good at civil or martial arts. He was cheated out of money when buying antiques. He has no ability to survive. Apart from being a playboy, he can't do anything else."
Look, what a look! This is the good son-in-law you personally chose for your eldest daughter.
Mu Ying couldn't bear it any longer and slammed the table and stood up, "No matter if he escaped from the marriage or disappeared, as long as he is alive, you must bring him back on the wedding day and marry your eldest sister, otherwise the Mu family will become the laughing stock of the whole capital."
If it weren't for the immediate southern expedition, Mu Yingcai would not have lowered his head and come to Yulin Youwei in person to ask his eldest son for help!
This brat, could it be that he really forgot that his last name is Mu!
Mu Ying put the blame on his eldest son, and the next day he took his second son Mu Sheng to the battlefield and left. Mu Chun was forced to do something, and she couldn't just watch her elder sister make a fool of herself, so she had to go look for someone.
Mu Chun went to Jinyiwei Commander Mao Xiang to inquire about the news and asked, "Master Mao, do you know where Xu Zengshou has gone? I remember the last time I saw him was at the ferry where the Prince of Yan and his family were sent to Beiping to be enfeoffed. He went to see them off and cried so hard that his nose was full of snot."
Then I never saw him again.
The Jinyiwei have spies all over the world, and Mu Chun doesn't believe that Mao Xiang doesn't know about it.
Mao Xiang said, "Why should I tell you? When did the Jinyi Guard come under the jurisdiction of the Yulin Youwei?"
Mu Chun said, "Just because we have an old relationship - I used to work in Jinyiwei, I slept in Lord Mao's bed, I took the pot for Ji Gang, I led Jinyiwei to the mountains to suppress bandits, I am a member of Jinyiwei in life and in death -"
"Alright, alright." Mao Xiang was disgusted by Mu Chun. "Xu Zengshou didn't run away from the marriage. He just went to see the Prince of Yan and his family off."
Mu Chun didn't believe it, "It's been more than four months. How could it take so long to deliver it?"
Mao Xiang asked in return: "Is Xu Zengshou an ordinary person?"
No, Xu Zengshou is an even more extraordinary person than Muchun. From Nanjing to Beijing, we first take the waterway and depart from Longjiang Post Station. Xu Zengshou said that since we are here, we should send him to Zhenjiang.
When we arrived in Zhenjiang, we said, since we were already here, let's send you to Hangzhou.
So, when he arrived in Hangzhou, he said that since he was already here, he might as well see him off to the end, so he followed the Prince of Yan's Palace and took the land route in Huai'an, all the way to Peking.
Because the team of Prince Yan's Mansion was so large, it took three months to reach Peking.
This was Xu Zengshou's first visit to a northern city. He was immediately attracted by this ancient capital of the former dynasty and did not want to leave.
As for marriage, Xu Zengshou didn't take it seriously at all and had forgotten about it.
"This bastard!" Mu Chun slammed the table and stood up, his expression exactly the same as his father Mu Ying.
Time was urgent, and there was only one month left for the divorce. Mu Chun asked for leave from Emperor Hongwu that day, and took his confidants to Beiping to welcome (capture) her eldest brother-in-law Xu Zengshou back to get married (bring him to justice).
Mu Chun traveled day and night, riding his horse north, and finally met another group of people at Jining Post Station.
When a long drought comes, a good rain comes. When you meet an old friend in a foreign land. When you get your name on the list of successful candidates. When you meet an old friend at Jining Post Station, he comes over to greet you warmly: "Brother-in-law! What a coincidence! You are here too!"
Mu Chun didn't feel the slightest bit of joy at meeting an old friend in a foreign land, he just went up to him and started punching and kicking him.
The old friend was Xu Zengshou. He had forgotten about getting married, but his elder sister, Princess Yan, had not forgotten. She whipped her brother away and asked the people in the Prince Yan's Mansion to supervise Xu Zengshou to go home and get married.
Princess Yan scolded her brother: "You are ignorant and unskilled. You relied on your father in your last life and your father-in-law in your next life. If you miss this good father-in-law who you can't find even with a lantern, you can just wait to cry!"
On the third day of the twelfth lunar month, the second young master of the Xu family of the Duke of Wei married the eldest young lady of the Mu family of the Marquis of Xiping. In order to cover up the dark circles and bruises caused by being beaten by his brother-in-law Mu Chun, Xu Zengshou put on powder on his face that was as thick as the heavy snow that day.
"Second Young Master Xu is such a handsome man!" the guests praised, complimenting Xu Zengshou on his good looks.
After hearing this, Mu Chun almost vomited out his overnight meal.
The marriage between the Xu and Mu families was between the descendants of ministers favored by Emperor Hongwu. Emperor Hongwu was very considerate and made an exception to confer the honorary title of Left Commander-in-Chief, a first-rank official position, on Xu Zengshou, who had made no contributions. Miss Mu, who was a wife of a noble husband, was also conferred the title of a first-rank imperial lady.
On the day of the wedding, Hu Shanwei brought a gift from Empress Ma and drank the wedding wine at the Mu family. At the table with female relatives, Hu Shanwei was surrounded by Mu Chun's aunts and uncles, all of whom were famous ladies or princesses in the capital.
My aunt was Feng, the eldest daughter-in-law of Kaiping King Chang Yuchun and the wife of Duke Zheng.
Second aunt, Princess Feng of Zhou.
Aunt, wife of Duke Ying.
My great-uncle, the wife of the Duke of Song.
…
After marrying into the Xu family, Mu Chun's relatives can be said to be spread across most of the Ming officialdom.
Hu Shanwei was a sixth-rank official, but because she was a personal female official to the Empress, she was rumored to be the initiator of "Records of Filial Piety and Kindness", a sycophant in the eyes of the Crown Prince, and a legendary female official who toppled the former Concubine Hu and the King of Qin. Her seat was installed among this group of top wealthy ladies in the capital.
With her sitting here, and given her past "great achievements", everyone tacitly accepted that she was the eyes and ears of the Emperor and Empress, and they were unable to let go. The atmosphere was a bit depressing, which was inconsistent with the festive mood.
For Mu Chun's sake, Hu Shanwei broke the awkwardness, raised his glass, said a toast, and blessed the newlyweds, three glasses in a row. After sitting for a while, Hu Shanwei left early on the pretext of returning to the palace to report.
When he stood up, Hu Shanwei felt dizzy. He thought that the wine tasted average, but had a strong aftereffect. He propped himself up and got on the carriage. He soon fell asleep during the bumpy ride.
She didn't know that the carriage did not return to the palace, but left the city and disappeared in the heavy snow.
The author has something to say: Yongchunbo and Muchun. Both are spring.
So Hu Shanwei is destined to have a second spring in love~
Send out 100 red envelopes tonight.
Congratulations to reader x for winning a 100-point bonus. This seems to be the second time I have won a prize. Come on, let me share my experience with everyone.
№15 User: x Comment: "Hu Shanwei" Score: 2 Published: 2019-01-11 20:51:20 Reviewed chapter: 81
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