Inside the household there were manservants to carry things for them, but once outside the gate they had to make their own arrangements.

Zhù Ying’s things were not too heavy and not too light; she could carry them, and if someone gave her a shoulder pole she could have sprinted with them. But it was undignified — if someone noticed, some meddlesome person might file a report, and she would have acquired the very first impeachment memorial of her life. It would be better to find a side street and see if she could hire a cart or a donkey.

Gan Ze’s arrival solved the problem entirely.

She smiled: “Your timing could not be better! Please help me hire a cart.”

While Gan Ze was arranging the cart, the others had already come over to say their farewells. Of the six people, five had manservants; she was alone. The others made no particular mention of it, simply cupping their hands in farewell. With her hands full of things and unable to return the gesture properly, it was fortunate that Gan Ze returned in time and took them from her.

Only then was Zhù Ying able to give a proper farewell to the five. Each of the other five had their own carriages and horses; a cart had been hired for Zhù Ying as well, so at least she had not lost face. The things were loaded onto the cart. Zhù Ying said to Gan Ze: “I’ll head back now — you get back quickly too. Don’t have Lord Zheng unable to find you.”

Gan Ze climbed into the cart and said: “I’ll walk you home. I have a day off today and just came to serve an extra stretch.”

The cart started moving. Zhù Ying said: “It’s a busy festival — you’re not quite on leave and not quite on duty. What’s this about?”

Gan Ze said: “I came to deliver invitations.”

“Oh?”

Gan Ze said: “I am getting married.”

“Congratulations! How is it I hadn’t heard a whisper? Even Lu Er didn’t tell me.”

Gan Ze said: “My father and mother arranged it — I only found out not long ago myself. They were busy making all the preparations and only told me once things were fairly along. The household is considerate enough to let me have a more relaxed few days.”

Zhù Ying held out her hand: “Where is my invitation?”

Gan Ze smiled and fished a red wedding invitation from his breast pocket, handing it to Zhù Ying. Zhù Ying tucked it into her sleeve without looking at it and asked: “Which day is the big day? Where is the banquet?”

“It’s written on there.”

Zhù Ying’s new home was considerably closer to the Zheng household than before; it was only a short while before they arrived. Zhù Ying went to pay the driver; Gan Ze said: “I’ve already paid.”

The three family members were out watching the dragon boat races. Zhù Ying opened the door and invited him inside to sit. Gan Ze carried Zhù Ying’s share of the festival gifts in through the door. The two of them went to Zhù Ying’s room and sat down. Zhù Ying poured a cup of tea from the pot, then casually took the things from his hands and set them on the side table, saying: “Sit. You haven’t told me where the bride is from.”

Gan Ze said: “From around the capital. Normally she would have been quite beyond my reach, but with the rumors of a palace selection for maids going around, her family was in a hurry to marry her off — that’s how I was able to win her hand.”

Zhù Ying understood at once. Gan Ze, a servant of a great house, had managed to marry a woman from an ordinary commoner family outside. She had also heard something of the palace selection rumor, but she had asked Yang Sanlang about it, and Yang Sanlang said it was not true. She had not thought much more about it — she had not expected it to end up facilitating Gan Ze’s marriage.

She said: “As long as the bride is willing, that’s what matters.”

Gan Ze smiled: “She is. I’ve also heard that apparently there really won’t be a palace selection. Her family was anxious, and afraid of the off chance that there would be. Once inside the palace, you might go years without seeing your family — to say nothing of your prospects being uncertain. Though there are some who go in with ambition, anyone who had another option wanted to avoid it.”

Zhù Ying said: “Whatever the case, it’s a happy occasion.”

The matter of the palace selection had nothing whatsoever to do with Zhù Ying — there was not a single person in her household of four who could be connected to it. The neighbors on the street also had no particular connection to it. When people in the neighborhood talked about it, their tone was casual, which showed it was not considered an enviable position. Anyone who did not want to enter the palace and had managed to avoid it — that was quite a good thing.

Gan Ze smiled, hesitated a moment, then said: “Because we’re familiar, I have something to say. Sanlang — listen if you think it makes sense, and treat it as if I said nothing if it doesn’t.”

Zhù Ying poured him more tea: “Say it. Do we still need to beat around the bush?”

Gan Ze said: “About today’s matter… Sanlang, you should still take more notice. I know Sanlang has always had your own judgment, but the times have changed.”

Zhù Ying nodded: “Mm. Today’s guests are all capable people.” She couldn’t speak to the others, but she knew Shao Shuxin’s abilities. Shao Shuxin was steady and practical, tight-lipped; the accounts he kept were not seamless, exactly, but you couldn’t find anything wrong just by looking at them.

Gan Ze said: “Sanlang is an official now, and I am still a servant. I’ve watched over the seventh young master for quite a while — Sanlang, you do need to keep up appearances. For instance, today: having even a single attendant would have been better than having none at all. The household — the Marquis’s household — the Madam is a commandery princess. There are appearances to maintain. No matter how capable you are, fitting in is more convenient than not fitting in. If you have things to do, you need people you can direct and send on errands, don’t you?”

Zhù Ying said: “You know what I’m like — I’ve never bossed anyone around. Bringing someone into the house means they’d be living there. I have to be careful.”

“You do need to guard against petty people — quite a few people get derailed the moment they become even a little successful, when an unreliable servant causes trouble—” Gan Ze finished the last of his tea and said: “I don’t know why I’m going on like this. Anyway — you’re an official now, and you still don’t look down on those of us who knew you when you were lowly. We’re glad of it. But you do need your air of authority — don’t let people look down on you. People respond to confidence. If they see you carry yourself from the start, they’ll respect you; from there everything goes smoothly. If they decide from the start that you’re easy to push around, they’ll keep making trouble. I’m a minor figure myself and I know these minor figures’ hearts — be careful. When you aren’t looking, they’ll cause problems.”

Zhù Ying said: “Thank you for the reminder — I understand. Only, I don’t know the others’ situations today either. I don’t know what sort of arrangements they make. Take that young master Zheng, for instance — he is the Lord’s clan brother. How could I put on a show that outdoes his? Try too hard and I’d look absurd. Better to be natural and comfortable the way I am.”

Gan Ze said: “You don’t need to compare yourself to him. Take the two of them, Lin and Jiang — they’ve only been in the capital a few years; they were poor scholars before, and even now they’re both renting lodgings here on their own, just like you. Wen Yue — we’ve seen him before — he’s actually two years younger than us. His father followed the Marquis on campaign and died away from home. His uncles looked after him, the Marquis cultivated him, and once he grew up he followed the seventh young master; the seventh young master arranged for him to serve in the imperial guards. Though he has a house and land in the capital, his mother is frequently ill, the medical expenses are heavy, and he’s a devoted son — he spends generously on his mother’s care. He keeps his own living quite frugal. As for Master Shao, in his younger years he was full of fire, and unfortunately came to grief — his superior used him to cover a hole, his official post was stripped, and his family’s estate was seized. The seventh young master fished him out, used him for a while, and then arranged for him to enter the Ministry of Finance. He doesn’t have many savings either.

You just need to be more or less on par with them. But an official does need to look like an official — there needs to be a servant and a staff around you, otherwise you can’t get bigger things done. And when you become a more senior official, those of us who can say we knew you will have something to be proud of, and there will be someone to turn to when we need help.”

Zhù Ying had been taking it all in and now had a clearer picture. She laughed: “All right, I’ll listen to you. New bridegroom, your hands and feet must not know where to put themselves right now — go on and deliver the rest of your invitations. On the big day I’ll bring the whole family along to drink at your wedding feast.”

Gan Ze said grandly: “Everyone come! Uncle and Auntie come, Elder Sister comes too!”

Zhù Ying saw him off and paced around her room alone. The question of appearances — that was something she found genuinely difficult. Bringing a stranger into the house: first, they had to be reliable; second, they had to be quick-witted; otherwise, taking them outside and having them be useless in a situation would be a disaster. Too clever would also be a problem — there were certain things about herself that she could not allow anyone to know.

Zhù Ying rubbed her fingers together.

…

Later in the afternoon, those three came home laughing and chatting. Seeing the front door open, Zhang Xiangu knocked and called: “San’er, San’er — are you back?”

Zhù Ying opened the door. Zhang Xiangu said: “You’re back so early? Didn’t you stay with Lord Zheng to watch the dragon boat races?”

Zhù Ying said: “Ah — had dinner and came back. Lord Zheng also gave some things. They’re in my room. It’s already more than enough that he could spare the time — he has to keep his own parents company, doesn’t he?” Not just his parents — probably also uncles and aunts and the like.

Zhang Xiangu had bought a few seasonal novelty items outside and brought those into Zhù Ying’s room as well, to look at what she’d brought back. There were several rolls of fine silk, writing brushes and ink and paper and inkstone, fans, and longevity cords. The fan was a folding waist fan. Zhang Xiangu picked it up and said: “Far more delicate than what you can buy in the market!” Zhù Ying said: “I could make one myself!” Zhang Xiangu chided: “Do you have time for that now? When you have a free moment, shouldn’t you rest?”

Huajie picked up the longevity cord and said: “Better craftsmanship than mine.” Zhang Xiangu said: “What’s gotten into you two? You’re neither of you people who specialize in things like this — why compare yourselves to those who do it for their livelihoods? I think yours is wonderful!”

Huajie smiled at Zhù Ying: “It’s a gift from a superior — better to wear it.” She tied another cord around Zhù Ying’s wrist.

The brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone were of course Zhù Ying’s things. Huajie said: “All fine things! If you’re not using them right away, put them away. Save them for important occasions, or divide some out as gifts — all perfectly good.”

As for the silk rolls, Zhù Ying said: “Mother keep these and have something made for everyone in the house.” Zhù Da felt one and said: “It really is smooth! This is quality.” Zhang Xiangu said: “Now I’ve looked at them all — they are all quality things. It seems a pity to use them ourselves. Better to keep them for giving as gifts; not embarrassing to give.”

Zhù Ying said: “Have them made up. This kind of fabric is genuinely fine, yes, but keep it for two years and the pattern will go out of fashion. Wear it out and people who can afford such fabric will judge you for the outdated pattern. And people who can’t afford it — well, wearing it for their benefit is pointless.”

Zhang Xiangu said: “Fine then, have it made — what a pity.”

There was also some gold and silver, cast into decorative shapes. Zhang Xiangu said: “My, truly, wealthy households are meticulous about everything! That set of things you brought back at New Year’s — I said then, those were quality things! Ah, this is truly…”

Huajie was somewhat puzzled. The Dragon Boat Festival was a festival, but in previous years Zheng Xi had never gone this far. She said: “This is — rather lavish, isn’t it?” Zhù Da said: “San’er is just getting better and better, that’s all.”

Zhù Ying said: “Today I ate and drank in front of Lord Zheng along with several other people — just those few of us. Coming out afterward, everyone else had servants carrying their things. Gan Da saw I was alone and walked me home. He also advised me — it would be better to have a personal attendant.”

All three hesitated. Zhù Da had always felt there should be a servant, but had not dared suggest it for various reasons. Zhang Xiangu felt a servant was unnecessary — whatever small tasks there were in the house, she could manage. Huajie felt that since she was staying in someone else’s home, and there was little enough to do, and Zhù Ying had particular concerns about it — better not to hire one.

Now that Zhù Ying had raised it herself, they set their own preferences aside. Huajie asked: “So we definitely need a servant? Yes — at the very least there should be someone to follow you when you go out; if something comes up at the office, there’s someone to come home and relay the message.”

Zhù Ying said: “Then why not hire one man and one woman? The woman could also help the two of you with household work.”

Zhang Xiangu said: “More eyes in the house — and you want two? How much will that cost? We were just saying the household doesn’t have much money.”

Zhù Ying said: “Even if I wanted to find someone, I still have to find the right person!”

Huajie lowered her head and thought for a moment: “Why not look around gradually? Or someone from a familiar household might have a recommendation. Some people posted away from the capital have various reasons to leave their servants in the capital and want a place for them.”

Zhù Ying said: “Fair enough. There’s no rush just yet — just keep our eyes open. But we probably can’t do without someone indefinitely.”

Zhang Xiangu and the others kept it in mind.

Zhù Ying also said: “Gan Da is getting married — he’s invited all of us. He gave me the invitation himself.” Zhang Xiangu and Zhù Da were delighted: “We absolutely must go and drink at this wedding feast.” Huajie hesitated: “Me, a widow, going…”

Zhù Ying said: “And what of it? Are you not still my elder sister? Come!”

Huajie still hesitated; with Zhang Xiangu and Zhù Da both encouraging her, one more moment of wavering and she agreed: “All right! Then we’d better prepare a gift. Is there anyone among his close acquaintances of similar standing to you that we can use as a reference?” Zhang Xiangu said: “Ask Jin Da then.”

And so the matter was settled.

Zhù Ying looked over a small box of gold and silver ingots, then pinched out two and said: “Drill a hole through these and they can hang as pendants.” Zhang Xiangu said: “Drilling holes in them would be such a pity — and gold-workers steal gold.”

Huajie said: “Make a knotted cord net and mount them inside — I’ll handle it.”

Zhang Xiangu wrapped her arms around the silk rolls and took them to the chest in her own room and locked it away, washing her hands of the elaborate gold and silver items in Zhù Ying’s room. Huajie stayed behind and went over the household accounts with Zhù Ying, because of the plan to hire servants. A man and a woman would do, but it was an ongoing annual expense — for a household of that sort, you also had to provide them several outfits per year, and feed them. And housing: a male servant could sleep in the gatehouse west room where the odds and ends were stored, but that room would first need to be cleared out. A female servant — Huajie planned to share her own room and simply add a bed.

Zhù Ying played with the ingots in her hand. This box she had not given to Zhang Xiangu, and Zhang Xiangu hadn’t asked for it. Zhù Ying said to Huajie: “This counts as being fairly well-off.”

Huajie said: “Giving you money means expecting you to get things done. What you’ve done for him is quite a lot as well — he hasn’t treated you badly. And this time, just what exactly is…” She understood little about officialdom, but she had lived for a while in the Feng household — an official’s family — and had picked up a fair amount by osmosis.

Zhù Ying said: “Getting acquainted — making sure to bow to the right altar. Today there was no Jin Da. As for Lord Zheng’s boat — from now on, I have a seat on it.”

Huajie said: “That’s not a bad thing. No wonder today brought all these gifts and now we need to hire servants.”

Zhù Ying said: “These things alone wouldn’t buy these people’s loyalty — look at me: I’m already a Court Reviewer. Shao Shuxin — two years ago he was just an accountant during the asset seizure; now he’s a Deputy Director. I imagine the others are roughly the same.”

Huajie said thoughtfully: “How much of it is genuine affinity? This much is already good enough. Officialdom is perilous at every step — having someone looking out for you is a very fine thing. You’ll definitely manage.”

Zhù Ying laughed: “I’ll manage whether or not I can afford not to!”

She kept a portion of the ingots and gave the rest to Huajie: “Keep buying land. Whenever something suitable comes up, buy a little in your name and a little in mine.” Several dozen mu of land looked like a good yield on paper, but she collected rent only, and not wanting to starve out the tenants — who had whole families to feed — left her with only a modest take once everything was apportioned. She knew perfectly well that heartless landlords who collected forty to fifty percent of the crop were not even among the worst — those also pressed tenants for domestic labor. But she herself could not quite bring herself to do that.

In the end Huajie had settled on a two-in-ten rent. To keep the family’s current life running, the household depended primarily on Zhù Ying’s salary, plus the occasional festival bonus and the like.

Huajie took the money and said: “All right. Once the wedding feast is done, I’ll get back to looking for land. If there’s a good piece of well-watered ground, shall we look into something like that?”

Zhù Ying said: “Fine.”

…

Servants required careful selection, and none had turned up yet. Buying land was also difficult, and there was nothing ready-made available.

But one thing was ready-made — an official posting.

The next morning, Zhù Ying rose and dressed properly, ate breakfast, tucked the folding waist fan at her side, and went out to report for duty.

At the Court of Judicial Review, colleagues were drifting back from the holiday — some chatting about food and dishes, others about the dragon boat results. Zhù Ying had heard two snippets at home: “One of the ones in red actually fell in the water” and “that last deep dive from the one in yellow was magnificent.” Armed with just those two lines, she kept a conversation going with her colleagues for quite a while.

Midway through the conversation, Yang Sanlang turned up again. Zhù Ying said: “Why do you always come?” Yang Sanlang grinned: “You people always have the most interesting new cases to hear about.” The Left Court Reviewer said: “You’ve got it wrong this time — things have been calm lately.” Yang Sanlang said: “Wasn’t there that whole Zhou You business not long ago?”

Zhù Ying asked: “Did something happen with him again?” Yang Sanlang said: “Well, it’s the festival, isn’t it? He was able to come out and walk around, and wouldn’t you know — he ran right into the heir of the Gaoyang Commandery Prince’s household. That heir is a very precious young man — the sole son of a princely family! This time there’s no one who can protect him. The Commandery Prince beat him home on the spot to hide his shame.”

The Court of Judicial Review was thoroughly gratified!

That day Zheng Xi returned from morning court looking refreshed and in excellent spirits. Just as everyone assumed the day would proceed as usual, Zheng Xi announced several personnel transfers — Zhù Ying was reassigned to serve as a Court of Judicial Review Adjudicator.

The Adjudicator and the Reviewer were of the same grade, but their responsibilities differed. Without the previous case involving treason and retrial, Reviewers mainly worked field assignments — and when there was a difficult case in the Court, they worked it together. The Adjudicator’s work was far more routine: routinely reviewing major cases reported upward from the various prefectures and counties below, and handling some of the Court’s day-to-day administrative affairs.

Zheng Xi simultaneously transferred several other people — some were transferred out of the Court by his notification, some received a minor promotion, and others like Zhù Ying received a lateral transfer.

Zhù Ying could not say whether this transfer was good or bad — she had been quite pleasantly idle as a Reviewer, and had just been planning to read! But one could not argue with a superior, so she simply waited for the official documents from the Ministry of Personnel to finalize the transfer. In the meantime she had first to thank her superior, then to say a few words to her colleagues, and then to begin preparing to take charge of some of the Court’s daily affairs.

She had never managed affairs before!

Zhù Ying went first to see Zheng Xi. Zheng Xi said: “Dare you make a success of it?”

Zhù Ying said: “What’s there to not dare? But — haven’t I been doing well as a Reviewer?”

Zheng Xi said: “You still need to go out on assignment? You’re hardly ignorant of what the outside world is like!” He had arranged it deliberately. Someone of Zhù Ying’s humble origins already knew the ways of the world — what more fieldwork experience did she need? If she stayed as a Reviewer, she would eventually be sent out on assignment again — a waste! The Adjudicator position was ideal: she could still review cases and do real work, and train on some other skills at the same time.

Zhù Ying understood. The days of getting paid to do nothing were over; now she had actual work during the day and books would have to wait until after she was dismissed. She had no complaints and agreed happily: “Fine!”

Zheng Xi said: “Go find the Junior Minister Pei and see how he wants to assign you.”

“Yes.”

Zhù Ying went and chatted with her colleagues, then the Left Reviewer said: “This is effectively a step up.” Zhù Ying said: “Only if I do it well — I’m afraid I’m young and have no experience.” The Left Reviewer said: “What is there to fear? You have us.” Zhù Ying said: “I’ve been told to go find the Junior Minister — see what work he assigns me.”

“Go, then.”

Pei Qing had always had a fairly high opinion of Zhù Ying. Hearing that she had come with Zheng Xi’s instructions, he said: “Aren’t you close with Hu Lian? Have Hu Lian take you under his wing for a few days. You’re an old hand at reviewing — and your casework is excellent! The hard part is the administrative matters. Move over next to him and work formally in the same space. When you’ve got your footing, I’ll assign you tasks.”

“Yes.”

Zhù Ying went to find Hu Lian. Hu Lian laughed: “When you first arrived you were only an Evaluator — and now you can stand on equal footing with me. The younger generation is truly to be feared!”

Zhù Ying quickly said: “You already said ‘younger generation,’ which shows there’s still a before and after. Equal footing is the wrong word. You’ll still need to guide me on the matters here.”

Hu Lian said: “It’s not that difficult, really. Everyone says an Adjudicator manages cases and also oversees some miscellaneous affairs — the affairs of the various prefectures and the like. In practice it’s all scattered little things; you’ll understand once you get your hands into it. It’s nothing else — just familiarity. Think about it: above us Adjudicators there are still the Chief Reviewers! They’re the ones who properly do all of this! And above the Chief Reviewers there are the Junior Ministers and the President. You, from the very start, were working right at Lord Zheng’s side — so many things you were hazy about. You only got clearer afterward. Looking at it now, you’ve never had to learn the hard way!”

Zhù Ying said: “It’s because everyone saw I was young and made allowances — otherwise I’d have had quite a hard time.”

“You’re also easy to like — and you have good luck too,” Hu Lian said.

Then he gave Zhù Ying a thorough briefing: “The Imperial Guards. The Zhou You case — you worked that with the Junior Minister, correct? Formally, a case like that would be judged by the Jingzhao Prefecture and sent over. People like me review it, five people co-reviewing, then report to the Chief Reviewer. If it’s clean, pass it upward. That’s precisely why the Lord assigned the Junior Minister Pei to lead it, because it was the Zhou You case. Understood?”

“Yes. That’s recorded in the regulations.”

“Nonsense! The regulations say one thing — in actual practice, let me tell you, does it actually follow the regulations? In reality — our cases here, whether ordinary review of judicial decisions, or whatever else, cover everything from commoners to the powerful. But look at this jail — aside from those caught up in the treason case, how many commoners are in there? And how many minor officials?”

According to the regulations, for commoners sentenced to exile or death, for officials of the ninth grade or above sentenced to dismissal, demotion, or demotion to commoner status, and for offenders sent by various offices who received sentences of imprisonment or above, the Court of Judicial Review was to conduct a review and could summon the parties for re-examination. In practice, they generally only handled matters involving the fifth rank or above, re-examining them and re-questioning, or personal cases like Su Kuang’s own investigation of the counterfeiting — cases with wide impact that warranted going personally. Everything else was mostly reviewing written files. Otherwise, with all the cases there were in a year, the Court’s small staff would never manage.

That was why, in the Zhou You case, when the Court and the Jingzhao Prefecture went head to head, Pei Qing had cited the fifth rank — because the actual practice of handling these things followed a different set of unwritten rules apart from the official regulations. Some things, if no one told you, remained a blind spot. Without hands-on experience you simply would not know them.

None of this would normally be shared with anyone — it was something you had to discover through observation. That Hu Lian was now spelling it all out for Zhù Ying was something. Zhù Ying said sincerely: “Hu Adjudicator — a good person.”

Hu Lian said: “Rubbish! What’s real is that you need to get your hands into the work quickly! The Court of Judicial Review Adjudicator position is supposed to have six people — it’s chronically understaffed!” He would have liked to “hold all the power,” but above him Zheng Xi was not easy to fool, and below him Pei Qing was watching for results — he had it hard! More importantly, even though Zhù Ying had a bit of a competitive streak, she genuinely did the work and genuinely had the ability. Why make an enemy of her?

He looked at Zhù Ying again and said: “This person has a touch of the uncanny about them. Everyone who works alongside them somehow gets a good turn of luck — like that Wang the Reviewer, luck couldn’t be better! Now you and I are colleagues — maybe I’ll get a promotion too.”

Zhù Ying said: “What are you talking about? Mumbling away like that.”

“Hey — as long as it works! Come on, take over — these are all yours. I’ll tell you whatever comes to mind; you run into anything unclear, you tell me too, and I’ll explain.”

This person had landed on the exact same idea as the Left Reviewer!

Zhù Ying had no choice but to tidy up her desk and take the miscellaneous affairs he pushed over to her and start working through them. What the Court’s clerks had submitted for their expenses, what outgoing correspondence to various offices — truly scattered and truly training. And the most they were responsible for managing was not the officials of lower rank within the Court itself, but the — clerks. The Court had several dozen officials but over two hundred clerks! Not enough during the Gong family treason case asset seizure, and managing them day to day was genuinely enough to give one headaches. One inattentive moment and you’d been duped.

Once they had it all sorted, there was also the question of how to report upward — first to the Chief Reviewers. The Chief Reviewers were properly ranked as Senior Grade Five — not like the rank Reviewer Wang had received before retirement as a mere honorary sinecure. Both Chief Reviewers had come through the jinshi examination; only because the three people above them all had formidable backgrounds did they ordinarily seem almost nonexistent. The Chief Reviewers did not much care for administrative minutiae, so they had high standards for the documents the Adjudicators submitted — they had to be clear and well-organized so a glance sufficed. Better yet to write a summary slip.

Hu Lian said: “You must not underestimate these two Lords — they only have no interest in this side of things. In every other respect they are quite sharp!”

Their daily preference was to sit poring over the law books, looking for weaknesses in the statutes and contemplating how to revise them. Their assigned task from Zheng Xi was, simultaneously, to handle routine inter-office communications and squabbles. Unless the Emperor personally asked Zheng Xi something and he had to answer himself, every back-and-forth and dispute with the other offices was these two gentlemen’s domain. They also drafted the larger official proclamations.

Zhù Ying knew something of this already, having spent time in the Court, but she did not interrupt Hu Lian and simply listened. She thought: somehow I feel these two Lords’ duties should be quite important — but Lord Zheng has effectively taken everything real into his own hands. They’re not doing the actual work. Though perhaps they don’t care about the actual work — they just want to… use this as a stepping stone and get a promotion?

There were also the two Junior Ministers — one of whom was also half-sidelined, the other of whom maintained a policy of mutual non-interference…

All of this she kept locked inside — there was no one it would have been appropriate to say it to.

She was run off her feet, but the Left Reviewer still found time to slip over, pat her on the shoulder, and give her a thumbs-up: “Excellent!”

…——

At home, Huajie and Zhang Xiangu had already prepared the wedding gift for Gan Ze — some cloth and a primary gift of cash. Huajie had bought a roll of sturdy red cord and, back home, retied all the coins in the traditional fashion, making a very large and full-looking bundle.

On the big day, they loaded everything into a cart and the family went together to Gan Ze’s home in the capital to drink at the wedding feast.

Gan Ze had held the actual ceremony of bowing to heaven and earth at the estate in the countryside; returning to the capital, he was hosting friends there. At the feast, Zhù Ying also ran into Jin Liang. Zhang Xiangu and Jin Liang’s wife were chatting together; Zhang Xiangu was just about to bring up the subject of hiring servants, but Huajie stopped her. Huajie said: “Tomorrow we’ll go to Jin Da’s sister-in-law’s house and talk it over properly.”

Zhù Ying and Jin Liang had not seen each other for some time. Zhù Ying said: “How did you get so dark?”

“It’s that damned old Ma’s fault! He’s been drilling us non-stop without a break!”

Zhù Ying said: “You used to speak well of him. If in your heart you truly feel he was a good man, then keep thinking that. And don’t think you have to avoid the subject in front of me either — I was the one who investigated the case.”

Jin Liang sighed: “We believe in your abilities — you even dug out the dead. It’s just that we feel troubled.”

Zhù Ying said: “Things will ease up after a while.”

“I know. Hey — your cup has tea, right? Don’t go clinking wine against my cup!”

Jin Liang checked first and then clinked cups with Zhù Ying. The people nearby who heard this all burst out laughing.

After their cups clinked, Zhù Ying said: “Hey, I don’t see Cavalry Commander Wen here — is he—”

“Ah, have you met A’Yue?”

“Mm.”

“He sent his congratulatory gift; he doesn’t come around much, his family has something going on.”

“His mother’s illness?”

Jin Liang said: “Indeed. He’s a devoted son. He’s tried so many physicians and never managed to cure her. His mother has had it hard too — a widow who raised a son all on her own, kept the house in good order. She says she’s afraid of dragging her son down and two years ago came close to hanging herself. It was found out just in time and she was saved. Her son said he’d die with her, and after that she stopped thinking of dying. These past two years she’s refused to take medicine — says it’s just throwing money away — but she’s still in pain and discomfort. Prays to Buddha every day and it hasn’t helped.”

“What illness is it?”

“I can’t make sense of any of that.”

Zhù Ying asked: “Where does he live?”

“What are you going to do?”

“The Marquis cares about his people — he must live fairly nearby? Hasn’t he found a good physician? Good physicians cost more than just money — you need the right connections to get one to come.”

“Many renowned physicians have been brought in and none has helped — money has been spent, expensive medicines used. One year, someone from the Princess Consort’s side brought an imperial physician to have a look, and then extra gold was given to have him also examine A’Yue’s mother. The pain eased for a time, but he was never able to cure it completely.”

Zhù Ying drew out of him through conversation what she needed — ultimately getting the address.

Over at the other end, Gan Ze came out to toast the guests, and that thread of conversation ended.

By the time they had finished eating, the host family had prepared good portions of wedding cakes and treats for each guest to take away. Zhù Ying arrived home and told Huajie about Wen Yue’s situation, then asked: “Can you treat it?”

Huajie shook her head repeatedly: “I am nowhere near that level. All I can treat are light colds and certain common women’s complaints.”

Zhù Ying said: “Then this — the two of us go take a look in a few days.”

Huajie said: “I am studying medicine. If I hear there’s a patient, of course I want to look. But medicine deals in illness and in human lives — it’s not something to trifle with. There is no right in the world to use people as practice.”

“Then you just go and have a look first — think of it as scouting the path for your teacher. Once you’ve looked, go back and tell your teacher, and if she feels there’s a reasonable chance, we’ll help invite your teacher to go. Let me guess — in all the famous physicians they’ve invited, probably not a single woman physician.”

Zhang Xiangu had an exceptional fondness for devoted sons — especially sons devoted to their mothers. She also urged: “Huajie, isn’t treating women’s illnesses exactly what you are studying medicine for? You’ve already treated all the neighbors nearby — this isn’t any different. Her son isn’t that much more senior an official than our San’er, and his mother looks to me about the same as me. You’ve already looked after me — you might as well go look at her.”

Zhù Ying said: “Don’t worry. I’ll sound out his thoughts first. If he agrees, we go; if he doesn’t want us to, we won’t go and be resented.”

Huajie finally agreed: “Fine.”

The next morning at the palace gates, Zhù Ying met Cavalry Commander Bao and asked him about Wen Yue’s duty rotation — and thus discovered that the imperial guard cavalry commanders also had different responsibilities, just as the Adjudicators did. No wonder she never ran into Wen Yue in the normal course of things!

Pretending to take a walk, she “ran into” Wen Yue and greeted him: “Commander Wen.”

Wen Yue returned the salute: “Minor Official Zhù.”

Zhù Ying sniffed: “The Dragon Boat Festival was well past — are you still carrying a medicine sachet?”

Wen Yue also sniffed: “I’m not carrying one — it must be from home.”

“You have a patient at home? The weather is hot and damp right now — you mustn’t ignore it.”

Wen Yue said: “It is my mother. A longstanding ailment — nothing to do with the season.”

“Haven’t you found a good physician to look at her? You shouldn’t have trouble getting one!”

Wen Yue looked at Zhù Ying’s expression — genuinely concerned and genuinely puzzled. He knew Zhù Ying, and after sharing a table at the feast they had a sense of each other. This young person appeared gentle and harmless; those eyes were clear and warm, and looking into them made you want to open your heart and confide.

For exactly that kind of person, Wen Yue was on his guard! This sort of temperament was not only suited to working the pleasure quarters and getting compliments from courtesans!

But the conversation was about ordinary household matters, and his mother’s illness was absolutely no secret — anyone who paid the slightest attention would already know. He was genuinely worried about his mother and said a little more than he usually would have.

Zhù Ying said: “My elder sister often goes to Compassion Blessings Nunnery, where she has learned a little medicine from the abbess there. Everyone who comes and goes there is a woman, and the abbess has some particular understanding of women’s ailments. Looking, listening, asking, taking the pulse — there are things a woman can say to a woman that she cannot say to a man. At any rate, my mother and my elder sister always have more to say to each other than they can finish. According to what I hear, since being treated, my mother feels better than she did in her younger years.”

Wen Yue could not help being moved!

Zhù Ying, who had the instincts of a spirit-caster in reading people’s hearts, had Wen Yue pegged perfectly. This devoted son — his mother had been ill when he was small but had hidden it and didn’t seek proper care. As the illness worsened, once he grew up he sought only famous, renowned physicians — and those were mostly male physicians. Male physicians treating women’s ailments had an inherent disadvantage; male-female propriety was the first obstacle. Even when they finally did see each other, the patient, out of embarrassment, wouldn’t say everything, and if she did say it, the physician often couldn’t truly understand — there was always that one layer in between.

He thought for a moment and said: “In that case, please do extend the trouble.” He also gave his address and asked Zhù Ying for hers, saying he would send a carriage to collect from Zhù Ying’s home. Zhù Ying gave her address. With Jin Liang’s home at the center, Zhù Ying’s and Wen Yue’s homes happened to sit neatly to the left and right — three wards very close together.

The two agreed on the arrangements. Wen Yue did not harbor very high hopes, but felt that intention and sincerity were met with the same in return. Zhù Ying also did not know for certain that the illness could be treated, but she didn’t mind finding Huajie more places to apply her abilities.

Zhù Ying went home and told Huajie, and Huajie immediately reached for a book: “Then I’d better do some last-minute preparation. Ah — wait, one more thing!”

Zhù Ying said: “What is it?”

Huajie said: “Today — the old Qian family who farms our land came by and said their neighbor, a family, wants to come under your protection. It’s also twenty mu — better land than what we have now.”

“What?”

Huajie, thinking she didn’t understand, explained: “They would treat their fields as if they were yours — the land stays in their hands to farm, and every year they pay you rent. I wanted to hear what you think first. If you agree, I’ll talk to foster-father and foster-mother, and then we go through the transfer of title. After that you just wait to collect rent.”

“But — why?”

Zhù Ying had heard of this kind of arrangement — many people did it — but had never thought much about it. What sort of official was she exactly?

“Our rent is low — and you don’t press them into doing household labor for you. You are an official; your land pays no taxes. They only have to pay the rent they owe you. They say, if you can protect the land, they’d be happy to pay just two-in-ten a year — easy and worry-free. If you can’t protect it, their outcome is the same as before — being squeezed by whoever comes along. At least they can try.”

“In the Jingzhao area, under Lord Wang’s governance — even like this?”

Huajie said: “Have you forgotten? How did our land come to us in the first place? The harvest is just adequate. The irrigation is poor — entirely at the mercy of the weather. Where in this world are there no poor people? Even with a few mu of land in hand, you can’t always keep it. One slip — an unexpected debt, damaging something by accident, or just being falsely accused — and it’s gone. No help for it.”

“National taxes are low.”

Huajie said: “If they had the ability they would hold onto it and not let anyone push them around! But they can’t hold on. And since they can’t, what is there to pay taxes to the state for?! If you can protect someone, then protect them! In those years when we were back home — ah…”

Zhù Ying said: “Fine. Only — the transfer has to be handled cleanly.”

Huajie said: “I’ll take care of it.”

Zhù Ying thought for a moment and said: “This way — I’ll take this new piece of land, and transfer those forty mu over to my father’s and mother’s names.”

Huajie also thought for a moment: “Good.”

The matter was decided. Zhù Ying felt not a trace of guilt toward the court. As for whether she could protect it — she had another idea in mind for that.

…

The next day, Wen Yue sent a carriage to collect Huajie. Zhù Ying was still at the Court of Judicial Review at that hour. Huajie matched names with the person sent, and went to Wen Yue’s home. When Zhù Ying returned, Huajie was already back — her cheeks flushed, carrying a medical text, pacing the room.

Zhù Ying said: “What’s happened to you? Is it very difficult? If it’s difficult, invite the abbess! Don’t let the patient be untreated while the physician goes mad.”

Zhang Xiangu said: “What are you talking about nonsense? I can see perfectly well that Huajie is just fine!”

Huajie’s eyes shone. She came out clutching the book and said: “It can be treated! Difficult, yes — because it has gone on too long — but it’s not untreatable!”

“Oh?”

“Mm. Little Zhù, your guess was right! The problem is that doctor and patient can’t communicate. The male-female propriety issue is an obstacle to begin with. Sometimes, forcing herself to actually face the physician, the patient is too embarrassed to speak fully. Even if she does speak, the physician can’t truly feel what she’s feeling — there’s always that layer. The lady has women’s ailments — I talked with her, and knowing that I am the widowed elder sister of an official, she opened up much more easily. The symptoms I identified all aligned. A condition like this — I’ve seen it before at the nunnery, though that patient was younger and hadn’t had it as long. I want to first write out a prescription and have the abbess look it over before I prescribe anything.”

Zhù Ying said: “You’ll definitely become a renowned physician!”

Huajie kept smiling: “I dare not say that. But if I follow a prescription, at least I won’t fail the patient.”

Zhù Ying clapped: “Excellent!”

Huajie had been assisting at the nunnery for quite a while and had treated some people, but she always harbored a thought: I study medicine to help the poor and suffering — but perhaps it is precisely because the poor cannot afford physicians or medicine that they come to me. My medical skill may not be good. Sometimes perhaps the body simply needed any medicine, and the slightest remedy was enough for it to recover. And with the abbess watching over me, I have not made any serious errors. And there have also been patients who died — always a sign that my skill is insufficient.

Now here was a patient who was not lacking for physicians, and she could still see what was wrong — her spirits were exceptionally good.

The next day, she went first to the nunnery to have the abbess review the prescription, then invited the abbess to come see the patient. The abbess said: “The diagnosis is already very accurate.”

Huajie pleaded again and again, and the abbess was willing to go together. Arriving at Wen Yue’s home, the abbess re-took the pulse and re-asked about the symptoms, then said to Huajie: “This condition — you’ve learned it properly now. Bring the prescription.”

Huajie presented the prescription; the abbess made slight adjustments and told Huajie: “She is older than the previous patient and somewhat more physically depleted, so the proportions must be different here.” She also added a method of food-based supplementation and told Wen Yue’s mother: “Don’t just lie still all the time. Each day take a gentle walk with your hair loose — two quarters of an hour in the morning and two in the evening.”

After only a few days, Wen Yue was waiting for Zhù Ying at the palace gates: “Minor Official Zhù — my mother has already begun to improve. Many, many thanks. We will come to call very soon.”

Zhù Ying said: “It was a matter of fortunate timing. May Honored Mother be well in health.”