By the end of April, Yang Lun headed south to Jianghuai to oversee the land survey affairs.

Xu Qi from the Ministry of Works accompanied him, having received imperial orders to inspect the breach in the upper reaches of Yunmeng Lake.

When the imperial decree reached the Ministry of Works, both the Grand Secretariat and the Ministry of Revenue breathed a collective sigh of relief.

The Ministry of Revenue finally distributed last year’s winter allowance and annual salary to the department officials.

Though summer was approaching, the minor officials in the capital who relied on these salaries to make ends meet still gathered eagerly at the Ministry of Revenue’s gates, anxiously awaiting payment.

The area before the ministry gates became as lively as New Year’s celebrations. While waiting, several Supervising Secretaries from the Bureau of Ceremonies with little actual duties gathered to discuss matters.

One, sitting on a bench by the gate and drinking from a tea bowl, remarked: “At the start of the year, they said payments would be delayed until next New Year. How did the funds suddenly become available?”

A official from the Bureau of Works responded: “Last month during the imperial court discussion, Minister Xu of the Works Ministry presented a proposal for repairing the Jing River breach that was one-third less than the previous estimate. This left the Revenue Ministry with surplus funds, leading to today’s payments.”

An elderly senior official added: “This year we’re seeing real silver… far more dignified than previous years’ mixed payments of pepper, salt, and rice.”

The official on the bench set down his tea bowl and sighed, “Indeed. Last year during New Year’s, my sick wife even cut back on medicine, saying she wanted to save money to make a cotton quilt for my mother once we received our back pay. Alas… while my mother made it through winter, my wife passed away at the beginning of the year. Now that I have this money…”

His voice trailed off into silence.

No one present offered words of comfort.

This was, after all, a deep-rooted problem throughout the Great Ming. The heavy taxation and increasingly severe land consolidation were at odds with each other. Without land holdings, even an official of rank who maintained “two sleeves of pure wind” (untainted by corruption) would have family members dying of hunger and cold.

His words, spoken in the gentle breeze of late spring, stripped away the smiles that had only just appeared on people’s faces.

On this day when the Ministry of Revenue distributed salaries, it happened to be Princess Imperial Fuqing’s birthday. The Bell and Drum Department was performing palace opera in the Banana Garden.

Princess Fuqing was Emperor Zhengning’s sister. In the first year, she had been sought in marriage by the Jing Principality and was wed to the Jing Prince’s eldest son. Though the Prince of Jing had returned to his ancestral home to recuperate, the Princess and her consort continued residing in the capital.

The Empress Dowager deeply loved her youngest daughter and personally hosted her birthday celebration in the palace. To please the Empress Dowager, the Emperor brought the Empress and various consorts to watch the opera. Usually, at such times, several prominent eunuchs from the Department of Palace Attendance would serve at their side, but today only Zheng Yuejia attended the imperial presence.

The Emperor watched the opera for a while and, noticing Princess Fuqing’s listless demeanor, casually asked: “What’s wrong, Fuqing?”

Princess Fuqing sat in a daze listening to the opera, not responding.

The Empress Dowager patted the back of her hand. “Fuqing?”

Princess Fuqing finally came to her senses. Seeing both the Emperor and Empress Dowager looking at her, she hurriedly rose and replied: “Fuqing has been discourteous.”

The Emperor waved his hand, “I see you’re distracted. If something’s troubling you, you may speak freely to me.”

“Yes.”

Princess Fuqing straightened up. “In response to Imperial Brother’s question, the Prince is gravely ill in the south, beyond the help of medicine. My consort and I are deeply worried. Just now, hearing the opera’s lyrics reminded me of the Prince, and I became lost in thought. I’ve shown great discourtesy, please forgive me, Imperial Brother…”

The Empress Dowager asked: “Wasn’t there a report at the end of last year saying his condition was improving?”

Upon hearing the Empress Dowager’s words, Princess Fuqing simply steeled herself and knelt before the Emperor.

The Empress Dowager hurriedly called for the opera to stop and leaned forward to ask: “What are you doing? Quickly rise.”

Princess Fuqing bowed low and said: “Mother Empress, your daughter is but a foolish woman, well aware that matters of state policy cannot be carelessly discussed. But the Prince is truly advanced in years and cannot withstand the repeated questioning from land survey officials. My consort worries day and night about this, and Fuqing’s heart aches as well. Please, Mother Empress and Imperial Brother, show mercy.”

The Empress Dowager saw her speaking so sorrowfully, but as this involved major policy from the beginning of the year, she refrained from speaking rashly.

Emperor Zhengning gestured for Zheng Yuejia to help Princess Fuqing up, spoke quietly to Zheng Yuejia for a moment, and then calmly told Princess Fuqing: “I will have the Grand Secretariat investigate and submit a memorial. Today is your birthday, Mother Empress and I are happy, so let’s not speak more of this matter.”

Consort Ning, seated below the Empress, listened to this exchange and gradually grew uneasy.

She made an excuse to leave the Banana Garden and walked toward Chengqian Palace. On the palace path in front of Xian’an Palace, she encountered Yang Wan.

Yang Wan was returning to report to the Department of Imperial Ceremonies. Seeing Consort Ning’s entourage approach, she initially planned to avoid delay and stepped aside with others to bow, but Consort Ning called out: “Wan’er, Sister has something to tell you.”

Yang Wan then stepped forward and said: “The opera at the Banana Garden hasn’t finished yet. Why has Your Highness left?”

Consort Ning gestured for her attendants to step back and said to Yang Wan: “Wan’er, your brother has been in the south for so long, why hasn’t there been any news?”

Hearing this question, Yang Wan recalled her brother’s parting words: “No matter my situation in the south, do not let Consort Ning know.” Seeing Consort Ning’s worried expression, she forced a smile and replied: “No news means all is well. Your Highness need not worry.”

Consort Ning shook her head, “But today I heard Princess Fuqing say the Prince of Jing is gravely ill due to the southern land surveys.”

Yang Wan hesitated to speak.

The Prince of Jing’s title had been bestowed by the late emperor, and his family had deep roots in the south.

The primary purpose of Yang Lun’s land survey policy was to uncover all the hidden fields these aristocratic landowners were concealing from taxation. However, these great families either had royal connections like the Prince of Jing or were backed by high officials in the capital. Yang Lun’s political situation in the south was predictably difficult.

“Perhaps things will improve once Princess Fuqing leaves the palace.”

Yang Wan offered these unconvincing words of comfort, then added: “Your Highness, you absolutely must not mention my brother’s matters to His Majesty.”

“Sister understands.”

Consort Ning clutched her wrist. “But Sister’s heart is unsettled, and I don’t know what to do.”

“Your Highness should do nothing. These days you must take special care of the Prince, and most importantly, have no contact whatsoever with Yanxi Palace.”

“Yanxi Palace?”

“Yes, Yanxi Palace’s influence has grown too strong lately. We should keep our distance.”

Consort Ning nodded: “You needn’t tell me, Sister understands. Oh…”

She realized she had only thought to question Yang Wan, forgetting she was still on duty today. She quickly pressed her forehead, “Have I detained you?”

“Not at all. My duties ended early today, I just need to return to stamp some documents.”

Consort Ning said: “Alright… then Sister won’t delay you. To attend to your duties. Sister will return to Chengqian Palace.”

Yang Wan stepped aside to see her off, only straightening up to continue toward the Department of Imperial Ceremonies after she had turned the corner of Xian’an Palace’s wall.

At this time, only the Reception and Ceremonial female officials and several female attendants were in the Department of Imperial Ceremonies. Neither Senior Official Jiang nor the Registry female official were present.

“Where are Senior Official Jiang and the others?”

The Ceremonial female official looked up and replied: “Registry Official Hu went to check the archives, as for the Senior Official… she should be at the Department of Palace Attendance. We made pickled vegetables today, and whenever we make them, she always personally delivers several jars to the Old Patriarch. The Old Patriarch’s teeth aren’t good and can’t handle much else, but he especially enjoys those. Why don’t you sit and wait a while?”

This wasn’t the first time Yang Wan had heard these female officials’ reverence for He Yixian in their words.

With some free time today, she sat down and commented: “The Senior Official is so good to the Old Patriarch.”

The two female officials exchanged smiles.

“The Old Patriarch’s kindness to all of us is beyond words. When we first entered the palace, we were all like headless flies running around. If not for the Old Patriarch’s grace, who knows how many punishments we would have faced. When the Senior Official first entered the palace, her mother passed away, and her father refused to provide money for the burial. When the Old Patriarch heard about this, he gave ten taels of silver to Hu Xiang and personally helped with the funeral arrangements. That’s when the Senior Official accepted the Old Patriarch as her godfather.”

Yang Wan said: “I never understood before why someone like the Senior Official would show such reverence to the Department of Palace Attendance. Now I know there was such a reason.”

The Ceremonial female official set aside her documents. “We all entered the palace as female officials with our hardships. Compared to us, those palace servants are even more pitiful. Every level of master either beats or scolds them. If not for the Old Patriarch’s protection, both open and subtle, who knows how many would have died miserably.”

She finished speaking and looked toward the Reception female official: “That’s why we were all so surprised when Supervisor Deng was caned at the Department of Palace Attendance. Though the Old Patriarch does punish those beneath him, it’s usually all thunder and no rain, just meant to frighten. To beat someone that severely, this was truly the first time.”

The Reception official continued: “He must have done something to break the rules to receive such punishment. The Old Patriarch treats us like his own children as long as those beneath him don’t break his rules. But if you break his rules, he shows no mercy. Supervisor Deng… was too ambitious. Don’t you agree, how could the position of Eastern Investigation Bureau be something he should occupy?”

Yang Wan listened quietly to their conversation without speaking.

The Ceremonial female official noticed her silent lowered head and felt they had spoken too freely in front of her, so she patted Yang Wan’s shoulder.

“We’re not deliberately saying these things in front of you. We tell you this hoping you can advise Supervisor Deng. When you have protection above, that is your heaven. Why try to lift heaven? When heaven falls and crushes someone, they bring the suffering upon themselves, don’t you agree?”

After hearing this, Yang Wan found it difficult to even nod in pretense.

This was undoubtedly the way of interaction that He Yixian and all the palace servants had developed over long-term compromise. Like a twisted parent-child relationship, using “favors” to force “children” to kneel in submission. But such behavior, in that era’s inner palace, had gained the approval of almost everyone, including Senior Official Jiang. What distressed Yang Wan more was that they viewed Deng Ying as an anomaly, believing his punishment was deserved.

“I think Deng Ying is quite good.”

She couldn’t help but say this.

The Reception female official sighed: “That’s because he’s good to you, that’s why you say this. But Yang Wan, if you truly want to protect him, you shouldn’t say such things. If he truly makes a mistake before His Majesty in the future and the Old Patriarch doesn’t cover for him, he’ll die without a burial place.”

Yang Wan said nothing more.

Actually, from these two female officials’ perspective, their words to Yang Wan were quite sincere. Yang Wan knew deeply that she shouldn’t speak contentiously in this place. But she still refused to bend to curry favor, so she just coughed once, avoided their gaze, and looked up toward the window.

As noon approached, palace servants hurried about their business, like countless ants among the masses of humanity.

She pressed her lips together and sighed, folded her hands on the desk, and bent down to rest.

Over at the Department of Palace Attendance, the hall doors were closed.

When Senior Official Jiang walked to the Mixed Hall Department, she saw someone kneeling outside the main hall of the Department of Palace Attendance.

That person wore the brocade robe of an official from the Eastern Investigation Bureau, back straight and arms hanging down, the sleeves at his knees stirring slightly in the breeze.

Senior Official Jiang passed by him and walked to the main hall entrance. The palace servant at the door hurried forward saying: “Senior Official, you’re here. This servant will go inform the Old Patriarch.”

Senior Official Jiang said: “No need to rush. If the Old Patriarch is in a meeting, I can wait.”

The palace servant bowed and said: “The Old Patriarch knows you’re coming today with pickled vegetables. Others might not be allowed in, but when you come, we must report it. Please wait a moment.”

Senior Official Jiang nodded and asked casually: “What’s wrong with the Supervisor?”

The palace servant glanced behind her, “Oh… how dare this servant speak of it? These are all matters for the Patriarch. You can ask the Old Patriarch when you go in.”

Senior Official Jiang asked no more, taking advantage of the wait to turn and look at Deng Ying.

He had not raised his head at all.

It was just past noon, and many people were coming and going to the Department of Palace Attendance to report matters. When passing by him, some inevitably whispered comments, but he remained silent throughout. Senior Official Jiang glanced toward the palace path where two hundred household officials from the Investigation Bureau stood at a distance, rebuking passing palace servants who gossiped, though their voices too were kept very low.