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.”