No one does not long for Chang’an.
Zhù Ying read Leng Yun’s letter again. Leng Yun’s handwriting was always careless, and the tone of the letter carried a casual offhandedness. She opened the letter chest and took out all the reply letters that Xiao Wu and Cao Chang had brought back from the capital earlier, reading through them once more. Then she put them all away and summoned the courier to ask a few questions.
Leng Yun managed very little at the Court of Judicial Review and had never used official documents to send Zhù Ying letters, so the courier was a servant from his household. Zhù Ying had spent many years at the Court of Judicial Review and dealing with Leng Yun had not been a matter of just one or two days — she was on nodding terms with this courier as well.
Zhù Ying first said to the courier: “Sit down and speak.”
The courier did not dare presume and perched on half a seat.
She asked him directly: “Did the Deputy Chief Justice have any other instructions?”
The courier said: “My master says, please have young Lord Zhù write a reply and let this lowly one carry it back. If it seems inconvenient to write, you may also just send a verbal message with me.”
Zhù Ying said: “Very well. Rest here for two more days, and I will write a letter for you to take back. Please convey my regards to the Deputy Chief Justice and thank him for his concern.”
The courier smiled: “My master says, what sort of relationship does he share with you? We are all on the same side!”
Zhù Ying said: “He always likes to score points with his words. What is new in the capital lately?”
The courier tilted his head and thought a moment. “About the same as usual. My master says nothing will interfere with our affairs. Ah — Lord Zheng the Adviser is having some minor difficulties, which isn’t ideal. But nothing too serious — everyone says Lord Zheng has had things go smoothly his whole life, so a small setback is nothing extraordinary. And being in the Eastern Palace, his future prospects are great.”
Zhù Ying said: “I didn’t ask about that — what fun things are happening?”
The courier said: “Oh! A new singing talent came to the flower district, and there is a new dancer at the imperial music bureau…” He rattled off many amusing tidbits about the capital’s splendour, none of which sounded especially alarming.
But there was one matter that no one had mentioned in their letters — the Emperor had begun constructing mansions for several of his younger princes.
The邸报 had said nothing about this; the courier, on the other hand, spoke of it in full detail: “Three mansions being built all at once. Prince Lu is still living in the palace.”
Zhù Ying said: “His Majesty truly does dote on Prince Lu.”
“Indeed — a father’s heart favors the youngest child.”
The two chatted idly for a long while. Zhù Ying learned from him a great deal of news that no one would put in a letter, then had him taken to dinner. That evening, Zhù Ying spread out a sheet of paper and began composing her reply to Leng Yun.
Her reply was not long. She went straight to the point: I am not coming back.
No one does not long for Chang’an — but those without the means to hold their ground there cannot stay.
The capital is expensive.
The next day, Zhù Ying chatted idly with the courier for another half day and extracted a little more news, such as the fact that Princess Yongping was pregnant — not yet delivered; Zhù Ying thought of Luo Sheng and wondered how that Prince Consort was faring in the capital. She asked casually, and the courier said: “The Prince Consort accompanies the Princess at every turn.”
Zhù Ying nodded, then handed the finished letter to the courier: “Please convey my regards to the Deputy Chief Justice. Everything I have to say is in there. And please pass along one more word to the Deputy Chief Justice: please take the very best care of yourself.”
The courier said: “Our master is the one person who has never once stinted on himself — young Lord Zhù need have no worries on that account.”
Zhù Ying said: “Just be sure to deliver that one line!”
“Yes.”
Zhù Ying made a gesture to Xiao Wu, who stepped forward and handed the courier a brocade pouch containing travel expenses. The courier declined briefly out of form, then accepted and left.
Once the courier had gone, Zhù Ying summoned Qi Tai again. Since coming to Fulu County, Qi Tai had lived very contentedly — Zhù Ying never asked him to write explanatory notes, and as long as his accounts were in order, he needed not concern himself with anything else.
Now that Zhù Ying had summoned him, Qi Tai came over entirely unprepared. Zhù Ying was well aware of Qi Tai’s nature, and when sometimes Qi Tai forgot to bow to her upon arriving she did not think it especially wrong. She used Qi Tai for work, and used him with equanimity.
No matter what kind of person Qi Tai was, Zhù Ying always looked at him with that same mild expression. She said: “Master Qi, there is something I need you to do.”
Qi Tai said: “My lord, just give the order.”
“Go through all the accounts from these past two years once more — particularly those involving Commander Ding.”
“I will go and do so at once.”
“It needs to be fast — ideally within five days, seven days at the outside, and absolutely no more than half a month.”
Qi Tai felt as though he had been struck by lightning: “What?” He had no objection to the audit itself — but setting a deadline? Was this not too harsh?
Zhù Ying said sincerely: “Spring planting is almost upon us again — the borrowing arrangements for draft oxen need to be made, and these things cannot be delayed.”
Qi Tai tried to negotiate more time from Zhù Ying. Zhù Ying said: “Master Qi, go and do the accounts.”
She said it so matter-of-factly that Qi Tai couldn’t figure out how to reason with her, and it wasn’t until he had set up the abacus that he realized the scope of work involved was enormous — finishing it would cost him a full layer of skin. Qi Tai began the work with the expression of a man attending his own funeral, thinking to himself: I just knew there was no such thing as that many good days in a row.
He wore his misery on his face and got to work on the books.
Zhù Ying laughed quietly and called Xiao Wu over: “Come with me to Commander Ding’s.”
Xiao Wu went to find Cao Chang so they could prepare the horses; together they followed Zhù Ying to the Ding residence.
Madam Ding was at home supervising the cleaning and tidying. The main layout was already in place; all that remained was sweeping and scrubbing. She also needed to prepare for guests coming to the housewarming, and Madam Ding was planning out a spare room — guests at a housewarming generally brought gifts, and one needed a room ready to receive them.
Seeing Zhù Ying, Madam Ding was very pleased: “Lord Zhù is here! My husband is not at home — he said there was some business at the camp.” As she said the last words, a thought nagged at her: something wasn’t right. A county magistrate was a great official — that worthless man wasn’t home waiting to receive the county magistrate. Surely he wasn’t keeping another woman behind her back again?
Zhù Ying said: “Then I’ll go to the camp and find him.”
The camp was not far from the county seat — just across a stretch of farmland. The wasteland allotted to the soldiers was nearby as well; because it was uncultivated land, it required frequent plowing and tending, and with spring planting approaching, there was not a soul working in the fields today, which was odd.
Reaching the camp’s gate, Zhù Ying spotted from a distance a thick wooden post with someone hanging from it — hung with real skill. The man’s arms were bound, a rope passed from his back, and he was suspended from the pole; it was not like a gallows designed to kill. The man wore plain grey clothes, with no military number vest or armour; through the grey fabric showed streaks of red.
Blood.
The soldiers on gate duty saw Zhù Ying as though they had seen a savior: “Lord Zhù!” One called inside and someone sprinted off to report to Commander Ding.
Commander Ding came striding out, armour not fully fastened and collar pulled open: “Lord Zhù!” He pointed furiously at the man hanging from the post and said: “That troublemaking wretch — I’ve already dealt with him!” Zhù Ying glanced around and saw every soldier in the vicinity tense and on edge, many looking at her as if wanting to speak yet holding back.
Zhù Ying said: “The south tends to get people heated — you watch yourself, or you’ll end up with sores on your mouth.”
“I’m already being roasted alive — who has time to worry about that?” Commander Ding said. “All because of that wretch’s one mouth! Next thing I know, I’ve got censors questioning me, and in another couple of days I’ll probably hear from the General’s office too!”
He personally showed Zhù Ying into his quarters — considerably better than the convicts’ camp, with thicker walls, warmer in winter and cooler in summer.
Commander Ding apologized to Zhù Ying again and again: “Lord Zhù did not look down on us as rough men, but instead gave us much care and provided funds. Now one of my men has caused this great a disaster — I truly have no face to see you!”
Zhù Ying said: “Spare the pleasantries. Commander, your accounts — are they in order?”
“Well…”
Zhù Ying said: “The man outside made a mistake but not an unforgivable one — don’t let it end in a death.”
Commander Ding said: “I’ll hang him there three days and see if he still shoots his mouth off after that!”
“A man should manage his mouth,” Zhù Ying commented mildly, then added: “The soldiers work hard, tilling poor wasteland besides — they ought to be fed and clothed properly to do their duty, shouldn’t they? This is a righteous matter; whoever asks, that is what I will say. If anyone holds that against me and demands an accounting, I will take responsibility.”
Commander Ding said: “Lord Zhù acts with honor! I will never forget you for this! I am not going to be unreasonable either — if something comes of it, we’ll bear it together.”
Zhù Ying said: “It is not a major matter. Don’t punish yourself unnecessarily first. Tighten the discipline, carry on as usual. I will still issue the second month’s funds.”
Commander Ding nodded again and again. Zhù Ying continued: “Don’t let spring planting slide. Once it does, even with my supplement and the government’s grain rations, you’ll still find yourself short.”
“Quite so, quite so.”
Zhù Ying said: “No matter who comes to ask, our dealings have been above board.”
“Quite so, quite so.”
“You hold firm. What I gave, you accepted — and you didn’t ask for it; it was what you were owed.”
“Right.”
Zhù Ying said: “Let’s go over the documents once more.”
“Right.”
When Zhù Ying had made the supplementary payments to Commander Ding, she had written in the documents that the supplement was on account of the land being wasteland, and it would continue until the wasteland had been brought into cultivation. The justification held up fine. Zhù Ying also confirmed the language of the paperwork at the time, and then had Commander Ding bring the camp accounts so they could be compared. She wasn’t concerned with how Commander Ding spent his own money — she only needed what she had allocated to match the accounts on the county side.
Cross-checking the documents and accounts from both sides took up most of the day. Neither of them had eaten lunch. Commander Ding said: “Stay for a simple meal. The food is plain, but wine and meat we have in plenty!”
Zhù Ying said: “There are still matters to attend to at the county. Oh — the Fengbao garrison mutinied because soldiers were mistreated. How is it with your men here?”
Commander Ding said: “No trouble here — a tough skin needs some toughening before it’ll change!”
He personally walked Zhù Ying to the camp gate. At the gate Zhù Ying paused and added: “Your wife is still thinking of you — once things are settled at the camp, go home. With spring planting coming up, you’ll have to be more attentive. You can’t keep living at home the way you have been.”
“That woman!”
Zhù Ying also pointed at the man hanging from the post: “That’s Hong Wu, isn’t it? It’s not as though it was him who caused the Fengbao men to cause trouble.”
“Don’t worry, I know what I’m doing.”
Zhù Ying said: “Farewell.”
Feeling that her efforts that day should have been sufficient to avoid trouble, Zhù Ying took the road back and stopped by the public land again on the way. Dan Ba and his men were finishing up work and about to head back to the convict camp. Seeing Zhù Ying, Dan Ba hurried forward: “My lord! The wheat is almost ready for harvest! Please don’t plow it under!”
He saw that scattered people nearby had already begun turning the soil. Spring planting had not yet officially begun, but some people would loosen the earth in advance. At this time draft oxen were not yet in high demand; loosening the soil early meant that even if there were no oxen available when it came time to sow, planting would be much easier.
Zhù Ying said: “I never said I was going to plow it under — what are you afraid of? How much wheat do you estimate one mu can yield?”
“This land is good — looking at these ears, this lowly one reckons one and a half shi should be achievable. After husking, if eaten as rough wheat grain it comes to one and a half shi; if the bran is removed and it’s milled into fine flour, you’d get around one shi of fine flour…” Dan Ba said eagerly.
Zhù Ying said: “Excellent. Take good care of it — I’ll reward you.”
“Yes!”
Zhù Ying, having wrapped up the accounts, and now seeing that the winter wheat was nearly ready to harvest, returned to the county seat in a perfectly composed manner and began preparing for spring planting. She intended to follow the same system as the previous year for borrowing draft oxen, but because she had traded with the Asu family and bought back a number of oxen and horses from them, this year the county would no longer need to borrow from the Asu family — instead, the county itself could rent out draft oxen to ordinary farming households.
Zhù Ying was now doing this for the second time and was far more practiced at it. A few days before spring planting she convened the local gentry and raised the question of the draft oxen rental.
Gu Weng and the others had proactively cooperated the previous year, and when it came to collecting the rental fee they had been entirely straightforward — no one had to be sent to the villages to reconcile accounts. The county yamen’s credibility was sound; they all said: “We’ll do as Lord Zhù says.”
Qi Tai spent seven consecutive days reconciling the combined accounts, and had barely drawn a breath when Zhù Ying called for him again. His eyelids drooped even lower than usual. He spoke with even less energy: “I will go and fetch last year’s old chart now.”
He had made a table last year, and this year planned to use it as a template, filling it in the same way as before. Each village and township: how many households, how much to rent and for how long, at what rental rate. And for each gentry family: how many oxen and horses, how many days each was needed.
When both sides were reconciled, there would be no problems at all.
If Zhù Ying dared ask him to do it all from scratch, he would bite the county magistrate!
Looking at his half-dead appearance, Zhù Ying could tell he was genuinely exhausted, and she had no intention of making things harder for him. The previous year’s method having worked proved the template was good; she said: “Fine.”
The gentry members also went home to check their own accounts — some had added oxen and horses, others had died or been slaughtered — and they agreed to come back in three days to report their numbers and coordinate.
The day before the gentry came to the county yamen to coordinate the draft oxen, Gan Ze arrived ahead of them with two companions!
Cao Chang saw his cousin and was both startled and delighted: “How did you get here?”
Gan Ze’s face was grey with dust: “Where is Sanlang?”
“Inside.”
“Quickly!”
Zhù Ying also gave a small start when she heard Gan Ze had arrived, and asked: “Is something wrong? Please show him in.”
She did not receive Gan Ze in the county yamen but had him brought to the back residence — home. Once inside she had Du Dajie prepare food, told Cao Chang to prepare lodgings, and settled Gan Ze and Cao Chang in the same room, while the two companions who had come with Gan Ze — both from the Zheng Marquis household, familiar faces to Zhù Ying — were given Hou Wu’s room to stay in since Hou Wu was not yet back.
Gan Ze went with Zhù Ying into the study first to speak, saying: “Sanlang, I’ll be brief. Hou Wu has arrived in the capital. He has some years on him, and Seventh Young Master says — his bones are still strong but the return journey can be taken at a slower pace; pushing him too hard on the road might do him real harm. So he sent me instead. Seventh Young Master already knows about the Su Kuang matter.”
“What does he say?”
Zheng Xi had only sent Gan Ze with one line: “Since when is Su Kuang one of ours?”
Gan Ze also produced Zheng Xi’s letter. In it Zheng Xi wrote: matters in the capital he could still manage; and even if he couldn’t, Zhù Ying was not to give up halfway — she should carry on properly in Fulu County and not keep worrying about things in the capital. If anything truly came up, he would dispatch someone to notify her. He also touched on the Eastern Palace, saying that Prince Lu had been receiving considerable imperial favour lately, but the Eastern Palace was fine — she should not believe rumors she heard. Three thousand li was a long distance, and by the time any news reached Fulu County it had been thoroughly distorted.
And so on.
At the very end, one line about Su Kuang: he told Zhù Ying to act according to the law.
Zhù Ying thought: Understood. When the time comes to cut him loose, cut him loose.
Zhù Ying asked Gan Ze: “I hear he’s married well?”
Gan Ze curled his lip in contempt: “Bah! An ungrateful, white-eyed wolf! A wastrel!”
Su Kuang had gone to Zheng Xi without any genuine bond between lord and servant — he had done work for Zheng Xi, and Zheng Xi had promoted him. Once Zheng Xi left, Su Kuang had no further backing at the Court of Judicial Review and needed to find another temple to worship at. He was not like the Deputy Director, who had been guided by Zhù Ying to attach himself to Zheng Xi and was content to stay. Su Kuang was young and ambitious; since this person could no longer advance him, he would change his patron.
He had not attached himself to Pei Qing, either. When Pei Qing was acting head of the Court of Judicial Review and let Su Kuang take on some of the Deputy Director’s responsibilities, it was for the sake of public business. For private considerations, Pei Qing preferred Zhù Ying’s classmate Bao over Su Kuang.
Su Kuang had one hand holding a portion of the Court of Judicial Review’s public assets and in his other hand personal ambitions. It was only natural that he would skim from the middle. He first embezzled funds, then used them to court a retired official’s daughter in marriage. Through his wife’s family he also made connections with the powerful eunuch Luo Yuan, causing money to flow out even more rapidly. Income and expenditure fell increasingly out of balance, and he began scheming to lend public money out at usurious interest rates.
Usurious rates had high returns, but also great risk of loss. Pei Qing had been spoiled by Zhù Ying — during Zhù Ying’s time the senior officials of the Court of Judicial Review had never needed to worry about any mundane administrative trouble, so Pei Qing generally never asked about the accounts. Dou Peng, who had no “chief steward” like Zhù Ying when he arrived, audited the books.
Su Kuang could not fill the gap in his accounts and started selling off public assets. Dou Peng was a sharp man; at first he even suspected Pei Qing, and for this reason had gone to pay a visit to Zheng Xi. Then the Court of Judicial Review’s account books were burned by someone. And so came this round of audits.
But now it seemed Dou Peng and Pei Qing had reached some small degree of mutual understanding, even though Su Kuang’s wife’s family also had not abandoned him, and Luo Yuan appeared unwilling to let Su Kuang go just yet either.
Gan Ze said: “Those eunuchs — they care about money even more than other people.”
Zhù Ying also asked about the Deputy Director. Gan Ze said: “He’s got some sense — he had a quiet meeting with Seventh Young Master and is now lying low.”
Zhù Ying chatted with him a while longer, and Du Dajie had the meal ready. Zhù Ying said: “Let’s eat. Take a couple of days’ rest before heading back — can Hou Wu’s body handle that kind of rush, and can yours?”
Gan Ze gave a small smile. “All right.” Besides — he wanted to see what idiotic things his cousin Cao Chang had been getting up to! Damn it all! Not one minute to be left unattended!
Cao Chang still knew nothing. He only knew that spring planting was coming again and Daren would be busy, so he needed to serve her well.
He had prepared two sets of clothes and shoes, and three pairs of leg wrappings. He first saw to Gan Ze’s meal, then had him rest. The two companions who had come with Gan Ze, seeing this guileless boy, both urged Gan Ze: “We still have two days before we leave, and we’re all tired from the road — sleep one night first; this child isn’t going anywhere.”
Cao Chang rubbed his head: “Cousin, sleep in my room — I’ll squeeze in with Xiao Wu tonight.”
“What are you going to his place for?”
“I have to get up in the night — I don’t want to wake you.”
Cao Chang said his piece, grabbed his pillow and quilt, and left. Gan Ze lay down fuming and fell asleep.
The next day when he went to find his cousin, Cao Chang was already at Zhù Ying’s side attending to her — today the draft oxen tally was beginning.
Gan Ze went first to the back residence to see Zhang Xiangu and Zhù Da. The two of them were overjoyed to see him: “Gan Da’lang! How did you come here?!”
Gan Ze said: “I arrived yesterday. It was too late after we finished talking, so I didn’t dare come disturb you.”
“Too polite! Don’t be like that — come, come!” Zhang Xiangu laughed brightly.
Gan Ze saw that her clothes were already of local homespun cloth, and her dress had taken on something of the local tribal style. He thought to himself: Fine people, dragged three thousand li away to suffer hardship. All the fault of that man surnamed Duan!
While he caught up with Zhang Xiangu in the back, and heard news of capital people such as Madam Jin, Zhù Ying was in the front of the yamen finishing the draft oxen tally with the gentry — it was quickly filled in. The gentry members departed with easy minds. At the yamen gate, they encountered a postal relay horse coming in at full gallop!
The gentry muttered to themselves: Now what?
Some who recognized the signs said under their breath: “Looks like it came from the prefectural city.”
Though all traveled the postal relay routes, people from different places still had slight differences in their bearing. Generally speaking, the further one had come, the more dust-covered and purposeful one looked. This one, it seemed, was from the prefectural city.
Among the gentry, old Wang grabbed Tong Bo: “Where is that from?”
Tong Bo’s maternal grandmother’s family was surnamed Wang and was distantly related to old Wang. He said quietly: “Let me go find out.”
He went and came back: “A document from the capital. Don’t ask what it says.”
Fulu County did not often receive visitors from the capital.
In the past, several years or even over a decade might pass without a single one. Official documents did arrive, but mostly forwarded through the prefecture or subprefecture. Ever since Zhù Ying had come, the connection between Fulu County and the capital had become much more frequent. But because the distance was so great, even having one round-trip exchange in a season was considered generous, and when goods were being sent the journey took even longer — all in all, it had happened only a handful of times.
This year, after the New Year: first Xiao Wu and Cao Chang returned from the capital, then censors from the capital arrived to investigate cases, then Zhù Ying dispatched Hou Wu, and now once again a courier had come from the capital. Two batches of capital couriers! No — this was already the third!
People all over the county were puzzled: what is going on?
Those who knew a little more of what was happening inside the county yamen were especially troubled. Senior Clerk Guan and the others, for instance, had helped Kang Hua host Ruan Zhi and Fan Lu. The entire yamen was unsettled, and unease spread into the county town itself; people’s hearts were in turmoil, not knowing what was about to happen.
Experience told them: it was probably not good news.
The gentry members with some connections tried to find out what was going on; the common people had no means of inquiry at all. Somehow, shortly after Kang Hua had stormed off in a huff, word spread: “Lord Zhù has offended his superiors — they’re going to transfer him away!” and “Someone is jealous of our lord!” and “I hear it’s Prefect Lu who has it out for our county magistrate and wants to give him trouble!” and “My third aunt’s second son saw it with his own eyes — an official from the prefectural city was there cursing at our lord!” and “They must be seeing that our county is doing better and want to raise the taxes!” and “Lord Zhù wouldn’t give them extra taxes and so they’re trying to squeeze him out!” and “Those soldiers — took the county’s good money and now they want to harm our lord!”
Two days later, more capital couriers arrived, and the people grew even more frightened. Faced with change, people instinctively leap first to whatever they fear most. What the people of Fulu County feared most right now was Zhù Ying being transferred away. Women spread the rumors especially fast.
In less than three days the rumors had grown so wild that even those gentry families who had originally not quite believed them began to feel uneasy in their hearts.
Could this rumor possibly be true?
The prominent households of Fulu County had been forcibly relocated to the county seat by Zhù Ying — and they had cursed her under their breath at the time — but now found themselves recognizing the convenience of it: it was easy for them to meet and discuss matters.
They gathered again at Gu Weng’s, as before. Even Gu Weng had lost his usual composure — the old man was pacing in circles inside his room, not even leaning on his walking stick. Unusually, he had sent a card to invite even Zhao Su, and even told his grandson Gu Tong to come back from the county school and sit in as well.
When enough people had gathered and they exchanged glances, some like Gu Weng had also lost their composure — though others appeared indifferent.
Gu Weng said: “There have been some rumors in the county lately.”
Old Zhang, a relative of his, took up the thread: “Could the rumors actually be true? Is Lord Zhù truly about to be promoted and transferred away?”
Lei Bao laughed: “What is Gu Weng worked up about? Worried that with the county magistrate gone you’ll no longer be able to call everyone together and hold court like this? Even if he goes, old man, you’re still old man Gu — you’ll still eat and sleep, just without anyone making you file land reports and pay taxes!”
This drew nods from several of the gentry. They too felt Gu Weng was making himself ridiculous — worrying about losing his ability to play shadow puppeteer. They were local gentry: without Zhù Ying, they were still landlords, still collecting rent from tenants, still living in their great houses, no longer obliged to live in the county seat and watch the county magistrate’s face every day. Only Gu Weng — because the county magistrate had relocated all of them to the county seat — had seized the geographical advantage and quietly become something like a spokesman for all the local gentry.
Did they respect him? Some were not entirely willing to. And looking now at Gu Weng, a headless fly in a panic about losing his standing, more than a few could not help a contemptuous feeling.
Gu Weng said: “You don’t understand!”
Several members tried to smooth things over; others scolded Lei Bao: “We’d finally gotten to know this lord and understood his temperament. Whoever comes next — who knows what kind of person they’ll be? If they’re like Magistrate Wang, that’s fine; if they’re some other sort who extorts people every day, what then?” Fulu County was different from other places — it was poor; with the people already reduced to penury, squeezing oil from them took tremendous effort. It was easier to squeeze the small landlords, who were a bit more prosperous.
Others agreed with Lei Bao, saying to Gu Weng: “An elder of your age — don’t work yourself up so. It won’t stop us from eating.”
Widow Chang found this whole pack of old men and young men utterly ridiculous. She raised her voice: “What is all this noise about?! Don’t you all know in your hearts whether Lord Zhù is good or not? Or are you thinking — once he’s gone, you’ll keep all the good things he brought without anyone watching over you?
A three-year-old child who resents being disciplined by its parents thinks: if only mother and father weren’t here, then I could take rice from the pot whenever I want and coins from the jar whenever I want! Not a child with a brain in its head — not stopping to think where the rice came from, or where the coins came from!
Lei Bao — you were just handed your punishment for not behaving, and now you’re nursing a grudge? You’ve also taken your share of the sojourners’ hall’s benefits, haven’t you? You haven’t come out short, so now you want the enemy gone? Dream on! Without Lord Zhù’s documents, let’s see how long you can last in one piece outside this county!”
Being scolded by a woman is something men resist bearing, and Lei Bao had his sore spot hit; he leapt up to retaliate. More gentry members pulled him back. Some who had been sitting casually now sat up straight and spoke earnestly to Lei Bao: “She doesn’t choose her words well, but the reasoning is sound.”
Zhù Ying had been in the area over two years, and everything was just barely getting started — not yet the time for a great harvest. It seemed as though Fulu County had not received very much from her hands. Yet Widow Chang was also right.
Old Zhao said: “With him here, the benefits have not yet all shown themselves; without him, the losses would be many and obvious!”
Zhù Ying cared for the people’s strength — she viewed the gentry and the farming households alike as “common people.” When she demanded the gentry behave and disgorge hidden farmland, she treated them as “common people”; when she looked out for them, she looked out for them as “common people” too.
Gu Weng said: “He never causes unnecessary disruption! He will not sacrifice everyone’s welfare for the sake of his own political merit — he will not use everyone to fill his own holes. Think about it — how many officials can do that? And furthermore — the sojourners’ hall and even the oranges he’s selling himself: these two ventures — without him, all of us are still here, but who among us could take the lead and rally everyone together? Who has the authority and credibility to make everyone trust that he can back us up? Without someone to rally people, we’re just loose sand. No loose sand can ever have the bigger good fortune. Without rules, all we get is internal strife.”
Old Zhao finally thought to look at Zhao Su and ask: “Do you have any news?”
Zhao Su had no news whatsoever. He said: “My adoptive father appears no different from usual.”
Gu Weng said: “Why not go and find out.”
Zhao Su thought: you’re giving me orders? He said: “And then what? Whether my adoptive father stays or goes — can Gu Weng interfere?”
Gu Weng’s face fell into a picture of misery, and everyone had to admit Zhao Su was right. Gu Weng said: “Even so — knowing the situation, one feels more settled. Why not go and ask.”
He pointed at his grandson Gu Tong: “Have him go with you. The two of you are students at the county school!”
Gu Tong had been letting his mind wander.
As the gentry bickered, Gu Tong sat by watching the scene and thinking: Day by day they act as though they command the world and have everything in hand, and yet behind Lord Zhù’s back they have their little grumbles. Now look at them — every single one completely dependent on Lord Zhù. What tiresome people.
Gu Weng called his name twice. Gu Tong pulled his thoughts together and put on a compliant expression: “Grandfather.”
“You go with Cousin Zhao to the yamen! You’re both county school students!”
Gu Tong was extremely reluctant. And Zhao Su was no better a person — Gu Tong was ready to bet that right now Zhao Su was inwardly sneering at every single one of them.
He sighed: “Yes.”
The two of them went to the county yamen. Zhù Ying did not refuse to see them; she had them brought to the administrative office. Gu Tong walked in and saw Zhù Ying sitting at complete ease, looking at a document on her desk. The two bowed in greeting, and Zhù Ying said: “What brings you here?”
Zhao Su said: “The gentry have some concerns.”
“Oh?”
Zhao Su said, without softening it: “There have been many couriers lately, and with the censors investigating cases, the gentry are worried you may be censured and transferred away.”
Zhù Ying said: “This is the first I’m hearing of it.”
Zhao Su fell into honest silence.
Gu Tong said: “My lord, this is not something that common people and students can manage. But everyone in the county is talking about it, and hearts are unsettled. Whether it is true or false, it would be best if you could come forward and reassure people — spring planting is coming.”
Zhù Ying said: “Hmm — it is indeed not something you can manage, but it is also not right not to care. Keeping your heads perpetually buried in books and work isn’t ideal.”
Gu Tong said: “Then—”
Zhù Ying said: “What could happen? I will be going to the capital for a time to resolve some matters — save you all from worrying needlessly.”
Zhao Su’s heart tightened. He asked: “Adoptive father — you will be coming back, won’t you?”
Zhù Ying said: “Of course. I have not yet governed Fulu County well — I will not be leaving.”
She added: “Go back to your studies. Oh — with spring planting coming, you’ll have a holiday anyway. Pack up then and go home to help. Whether I am here or not, your lives must still be lived.”
“Yes.”
The two brought the news out with them, and it set the gentry off on another round of speculation. Their hearts did not fully settle — so it seemed Zhù Ying had indeed run into some trouble? She was saying she was going to the capital to resolve things — but could it be resolved?
Gu Weng made up his mind on the spot: “Let’s all go to the yamen, petition Lord Zhù — whatever can be done to help, we should do it.”
They went to the yamen together. The excuse they had decided on along the way was: spring planting.
When they arrived at the yamen, Zhù Ying was not in the front office — she had gone to look at the wheat field again.
More than a few people knew about planting wheat in the public land; it had been discussed and then dropped. Some had even assumed it was being grown as green manure or animal fodder.
Dan Ba was still strung tight with nerves. Zhù Ying came and asked: “Not ready yet?”
Dan Ba said: “My lord, five more days — just five more days, I promise it will be fine!”
Zhù Ying said: “Good — I’ll give you ten days.”
Dan Ba relaxed: “Then it’s done.”
Zhù Ying rode back to the county yamen and from a distance saw a cluster of servants waiting at the gate.
Zhù Ying returned to the yamen and was escorted all the way inside by the crowd surrounding Gu Weng. As she walked, she asked: “What is this? Afraid I’d run off, so you came to keep watch?”
Gu Weng said: “Not at all — we came to ask about the draft oxen…”
Zhù Ying said: “Perfect — I need to arrange that with you as well.” They had already settled this at the last meeting; bringing up the draft oxen again was stretching it a bit.
Still, Zhù Ying showed them all into the flower hall and said: “Worried I’m leaving?”
Gu Weng and the others all smiled politely. Even Lei Bao did not want her to leave now. She wasn’t the sort to serve as anyone’s puppet, or to use all her effort solely for one family’s benefit. As far back as anyone could remember in the county’s history, no other magistrate had been this capable and this even-handed.
Zhù Ying said: “After spring planting is arranged, I will go to the capital to deal with some matters, so that you won’t be needlessly worrying. I am entrusting my parents to all of you. They are getting on in years — please look after them. My father and mother — just keep an eye out for them.”
Gu Weng and the others were both startled and relieved. All of them said: “We will certainly attend to the two Elders.”
“There is no need to disrupt your farm work. They like to go out from time to time. If you encounter them on the road, just stop and chat for a moment — that is all that’s needed.”
“Yes!”
Zhù Ying also asked whether their lives were difficult at present; all of them said: “As long as you are still here with us!”
Zhù Ying nodded and said: “My term is not yet complete. How could I leave?”
Zhao Su asked: “Adoptive father, when will you set out?”
Zhù Ying added: “Go back and tell them — I will not leave until spring planting is arranged. I want to stay and watch you sow the first seeds.”
The crowd erupted in cheers.
Gu Weng said: “This lowly one takes his leave — I’ll go and arrange things right away! The days are almost right!”
“Safe travels.”
Zhù Ying did not see them to the door. She herself genuinely had something to do — she needed to go to the capital!
The official document brought in by the postal relay courier who had crossed paths with the gentry at the yamen gate was a summons for her to come and give an account of herself. The Censorate had issued the order directly: since the Su Kuang case and the Fengbao case both touched on Zhù Ying, sending letters and memorials back and forth was too cumbersome — she could simply make this trip. She was given a deadline to arrive in the capital and explain in person.
Zhù Ying had no settled feeling about this, because she had already given a full account of both matters!
She consulted Gan Ze, who had not yet departed. Gan Ze also had no idea this had happened; hearing Zhù Ying describe it, he said quietly: “How about this — let’s go to the capital together, or else I’ll go back ahead and explain to Seventh Young Master, so he can be prepared.”
Zhù Ying said: “I cannot leave yet. Spring planting is not yet arranged.”
Gan Ze said urgently: “What time is this for that?!”
Zhù Ying said: “It is time for spring planting. Gan Da, you go first, and convey my regards to Lord Zheng. I have my own preparations.”
Gan Ze stamped his foot in frustration: “Fine!”
After Gan Ze left, Zhù Ying had her parents pack their things.
Zhang Xiangu said: “Why — are you leaving? Now?”
Zhù Ying said: “Court affairs — who can predict them? When they say go, you must go. Hurry and pack.” She then went to find Huajie. Huajie said: “You — what is this?”
Zhù Ying said: “There may be some trouble. Here is what to do: if anything happens to me in the capital, don’t worry about anything else — just take Father and Mother to Su Yuan’s place.”
“What?”
Zhù Ying nodded: “Don’t worry — I can still manage. As long as the two of you are safe, nothing that happens elsewhere frightens me.”
Huajie was worried to death, but still nodded: “All right. When are you leaving?”
“The deadline gives me two months.”
“Three thousand li, sixty days, fifty li a day — and we can’t have bad weather or bad roads causing stops along the way.”
“Fifty days,” Zhù Ying said.
“What?”
“I have to wait for the wheat harvest, and to have it dried and processed. And then we take the wheat with us on the road!”
Huajie asked in surprise: “Why?”
Zhù Ying smiled: “You can’t go to the capital empty-handed.”
Huajie said: “Don’t worry about home — I’ll take good care of Godfather and Godmother while I wait for you to come back. You will come back safely!”
Zhù Ying said: “Of course! I plan to serve another full term here.”
“Oh?”
Zhù Ying said: “Three years is not enough. If I am going to do it, I will do it well — I am not leaving.”
“Yes!”
What Zhù Ying said to Huajie was said with conviction, but there was no shortage of things to actually deal with. During the days of waiting for the harvest, she not only compiled all the evidence related to the two cases, she also wrote up a description of Fulu County’s situation over the past two years — something over thirty thousand characters in all. She then found two very sturdy bags. During the time of waiting, Su Mingluan arrived again in the county seat; the mountain villages had not yet begun spring planting, and this was not her regular time to come down the mountain.
She had come to negotiate purchasing some farm implements.
Zhù Ying also had her write a memorial to the Emperor expressing respectful greetings, without intervening in whatever Su Mingluan chose to say, but promising to convey it on her behalf.
Su Mingluan said in surprise: “Uncle is personally going to the capital?”
Zhù Ying said: “Would you like to come with me?”
Su Mingluan showed some interest, then slowly shook her head: “There is still much to do in the village — I cannot leave just yet. In the future… can I?”
Zhù Ying said: “Of course. Go write the memorial first — I’ll make the arrangements.”
Su Mingluan smiled: “Good.”
She went to the residence to write the memorial, and Zhù Ying continued packing her things. She went personally to the field to oversee Dan Ba and his men as they harvested the wheat. Harvesting took a day and a half, and then the wheat was spread to dry for four days. No one in Fulu County had previously planted wheat in this fashion, and seeing Dan Ba and his men finish the harvest and spread the grain out to dry, the elder farmers who watched were deeply moved. Some had already finished plowing their land, others didn’t yet have oxen; whoever had free time came to watch the wheat being dried.
Some even stealthily reached out and grabbed a handful to take away, and whispered: “Are we planting this too? I wonder where we’d get the seed?”
Some bolder ones petitioned Zhù Ying directly: “My lord, can we grow this too?”
“Another crop of grain in the same year!”
Others asked about the yield.
Zhù Ying said: “Tend properly to spring planting first, and when I return I will make arrangements. Do you trust me?”
The farming people all spoke at once: “We trust you!”
Zhù Ying had the wheat weighed. The yield per mu turned out to be close to Dan Ba’s estimate — though the fertilizer would need to be increased. Once she had this result, she finally felt at ease, and had the wheat packed into two large bags; the rest she had put into the warehouse.
That same day, she set out with the most minimal of luggage — no cart, only horseback — with Cao Chang as her sole companion, galloping toward the capital.
She packed all her memorials and documents and carried them on her person; a separate horse, riderless, carried the two bags of wheat. She and Cao Chang also had additional relay horses, so they could switch mounts without stopping.
On the third day, the two arrived at a post station. Cao Chang went in the door and called for the station master to prepare rooms, saying this was Lord Zhù bound for the capital. The station master had not yet replied when a familiar voice called out: “My lord?!”
Hou Wu!
Zhù Ying said: “Have you rested well?”
Hou Wu said: “My lord! It is fortunate I didn’t miss you! There is something I must report!”
Zhù Ying had the station master prepare the rooms and only then let Hou Wu come to her room to speak.
Hou Wu came in and immediately said: “It is Chancellor Wang who is summoning you to the capital! I — I have failed you!”
“Get up. Tell me slowly.”
“Lord Zheng was considerate — he said I was too tired and dispatched young Master Cao’s cousin to bring his message. This lowly one then thought of strolling around the capital for a while, but as fortune would have it I was spotted on the road by Chancellor Wang. This lowly one had delivered letters to his residence on a previous trip…”
Wang Yunhe had an exceptional memory. It had been from the year before last that Zhù Ying had sent Hou Wu to the capital; Wang Yunhe still remembered him. It likely helped that a man with one eye was quite memorable. Wang Yunhe had someone stop Hou Wu and asked a few quick questions — before Hou Wu had quite understood what was happening, Wang Yunhe had already learned what he needed to know.
With Duan Ying already back in the capital, Wang Yunhe, though reluctant to have Zhù Ying return, felt that with all these official matters swirling around her, it would be better to have her come in person to offer an explanation. Staying permanently away from the capital made many things extremely inconvenient; two years had passed, and it was time to show her face. One appearance now could forestall a great deal of trouble.