With an extra one hundred strings of cash, Zhù Ying was considerably more generous, including even some of the gifts she had meant for others in what she gave to Zheng Xi.

After two years, she was received at the Zheng residence with the same “no need to wait” privilege as before. The household servants who spotted her all smiled and asked, “Sanlang — you’re back?” The warmth in their manner was no different from two years ago.

Zhù Ying smiled and nodded back. “Is Lord Zheng receiving any visitors just now?”

The Zheng family’s head steward said, “Now that you’re here, what does it matter if there are visitors?”

Zhù Ying said, “Hearing you say that makes me a little nervous.” How many people of rank were there in the capital?

The steward took her gift list, had someone collect the actual gifts from Cao Chang’s hands, and then respectfully escorted Zhù Ying through to Zheng Xi’s study.

Nothing in the Zheng residence had changed much. Households of this kind would replace cracked tiles and paving stones every so often, repaint the doors and windows, and when certain styles came into fashion, update a section of the courtyard in the latest manner during the course of these repairs. In places, the signs of patching and mending were visible. The trees and flowers were all trimmed with care, the ground free of weeds.

Seeing this with her own eyes put Zhù Ying’s mind at ease. If the Zheng family had run into trouble, she would inevitably have found herself distracted.

A young servant lifted the bamboo curtain for her. Lu Chao gave her a wink to signal that Zheng Xi was in a reasonable mood.

Zheng Xi studied Zhù Ying, and after she had made her salute and he had told her to sit, he said, “Why was Jin Liang told to hold you back?”

Zheng Xi said, “You had an ongoing official matter to deal with — what would it look like if you were wandering all over the place?”

“But it wasn’t my case to begin with — what on earth came over Su Kuang? I hope it hasn’t brought trouble to you.”

“What trouble could it bring me?” He was genuinely irritated now — he muttered a quiet curse. “That fool — short-sighted, but with all the boldness in the world! He throws his lot in with palace eunuchs and then expects me to cover for him?”

Zhù Ying asked, “The Vice Director won’t have trouble, will he? And what about Deputy Chief Pei?”

Zheng Xi said, “Was that not the expected outcome? However carefully things are arranged, my being there or not being at the Court of Judicial Review ultimately makes a difference. If they were half as capable as you, perhaps things would hold together a while longer. Otherwise, the moment a shrewd chief comes along, they cannot last. The Vice Director is the clever type — he knows to keep still and do nothing.”

“Wings folded, biding the time,” Zhù Ying said.

“Exactly —” Zheng Xi drew out the syllable with feeling.

Zhù Ying said, “Please don’t do that, it’s a bit alarming. You don’t seem like yourself.”

Zheng Xi gave her a sideways look, then waved a hand. “You haven’t changed.”

Zhù Ying said, “I think I’m doing well as I am. I have no plans to change.”

Zheng Xi finally smiled. “Only you would say that. Tell me — what have you been up to? I’ve vaguely heard that you grew wheat?”

Zhù Ying said, “You must have heard more than vaguely if you’ve heard at all. I ran a trial last year — everything else had its problems, either the timing conflicted or the climate was wrong. Only the winter wheat I planted last autumn came to harvest just before spring plowing this year. There was no time to thresh before the official summons came for me to return and explain the case, but since the dates were close, I waited a few extra days until it was harvested and dried, then brought it along on the road — thinking that if anyone was genuinely going to make trouble for me, this might serve as a kind of protection.”

Zheng Xi said, “Only you would have that kind of presence of mind. And you were right — it will serve as protection. But remember one thing: protection has its limits. Even if they take you down and punish you, couldn’t someone else then go ahead and plant wheat without needing to wait for you? Its value as protection has a ceiling — you must be careful.”

He poured the cold water over her, but Zhù Ying showed no sign of deflation. She said, quietly as before, “Yes.”

Zheng Xi said, “Don’t take this lightly! Throughout history, how many renowned ministers and wise statesmen have had accomplishments greater than yours? And how many of them came to ruin at the height of their careers — their names forgotten for a lifetime, only to be raised centuries later to be enshrined in a hall of worthies? A great deal of good that does. Was Shang Yang less capable than you? Was Wu Qi less capable than you? I say again: you must be careful.”

Zhù Ying said, “Yes.”

“And even with the Council of State — don’t lay everything bare before them. Their primary allegiance is not to any single person but to the dynasty, to the two palaces, to ritual and order.

A few years ago they sent a whole cohort of young officials out to regional postings — it was really just casting a wide net. After an early period of testing in the field, those who have been tempered will have something to offer in the years ahead. As for which of them will rise, the Council is not particularly invested in any one person — there is always attrition; stockpiling talent for the state works the same way. Whoever manages to distinguish themselves, they’ll give a hand up — it’s not as though anyone was pre-selected for a smooth ride.

You’re capable and willing to do the work, so your head has risen above the others, and they can see you. If you had been useless, you would simply have sunk into obscurity.

But if you commit some breach of the law, or become entangled in a case — don’t expect them to do everything in their power to defend you. Don’t entertain any such pleasant fantasy. You must be careful in your own conduct.”

“Yes.” Zhù Ying inwardly flinched. It was rare to see Zheng Xi so agitated, launching into such an extended lecture — within a short span he had said three words of caution.

After the long speech, he too seemed to realize he had been excessive, and sat back in his chair with a self-deprecating laugh. “I say all this to you — and I can’t even be sure I manage it myself.”

Zhù Ying asked, “Has something happened?”

“Nothing.” Zheng Xi said. Having vented his pent-up feelings at some length, his tone returned to its usual calm and steadiness. He asked Zhù Ying about what she had done in Fulu County, what difficulties she had encountered and the like.

Zhù Ying said, “Things have been just barely manageable. Just don’t keep dragging me back to explain myself — each round trip eats up nearly half a year, and it’s really such a waste.”

Zheng Xi said, “Coming back once is a good thing. The further you are from the Son of Heaven, the easier it is for others to take advantage. Ah — even when one is close at hand, what good does it do? If the heart has drifted far, then it is just as far regardless of proximity.”

Zhù Ying said, “If you can’t say it, don’t.”

“Bah!” Zheng Xi laughed and cursed at once. “What can’t be said? I’d estimate you’ll hear the gist of it after a couple of rounds through the capital anyway. His Majesty is fond of the Lu Prince — the Eastern Palace will inevitably face some difficulties. Wings folded, biding the time.”

Zhù Ying asked no further, and said nothing more about the Emperor’s relations with his sons. She had not been close to that world, and was not currently in proximity to it — her information was incomplete, and speaking rashly would only lead to errors nine times out of ten. She said, “Then let us fold our wings and bide our time.”

Zheng Xi nodded, and then turned to criticizing her: “You’re not one to hoard, so why send all those things at New Year? Do your work well, do your job well — that is enough. Like growing wheat — just do that.”

Zhù Ying said, “It won’t interfere with the main work. If I truly had anything wrong with me, the Lu Prefect would be the first to refuse to let it go.”

“What’s he like?”

“He seems like he’s trying to put people in their place.”

“Tch —” Zheng Xi’s tone was contemptuous. “Don’t worry about him — it’s been a few years since he’s been in that position. He’ll be reassigned soon.”

Zhù Ying took the opportunity to say, “I submitted a formal petition requesting to serve an additional term. It’s already been approved.”

Zheng Xi raised an eyebrow at her. Zhù Ying said, “You wouldn’t let me come to see you first, but you had Jin Liang’s wife tell me that Duan Ying has come back. So I had to improvise. He can come back if he likes — I’m not coming back.”

Zheng Xi could not hold back a laugh. “You really are that family’s nemesis.”

When the laughter subsided, Zheng Xi said, “Good. Pay your calls, be open and aboveboard about them. You’re an official of the court — you have your own social world, and there’s no need to shy away from it. Trying to conceal things only makes them look worse.”

“Yes.”

Zhù Ying brought up wanting to thank the Marquis for the ceremonial sword, and asked about what she should keep in mind when calling on Yue Huan to pay her thanks. She stopped short of mentioning wanting to thank Zheng Xi’s wife — “requesting an audience with Madam” would not have quite the right tone.

Zheng Xi said, “Go about it as you would naturally.”

Zhù Ying, seeing that he had calmed down, felt a wave of relief inside. The capital is truly a place of churning tides right now, she thought. I should go — and quickly.

The two of them chatted a little more, and Zhù Ying rose to take her leave. “I don’t want to be caught by the curfew, and I need to give more accounts tomorrow.”

Zheng Xi asked, “What accounts?”

Zhù Ying said, “I need to wrangle some wheat seed to take back and plant. What I had before was all sourced on my own — not very much. Now I want to extend the cultivation, and the court can’t expect me to provide my own seed money.”

Zheng Xi let out a laugh. “Go — do well.”

Zhù Ying left the Zheng residence with a kind of quiet feeling. She thought of her first encounter with Zheng Xi — how brilliantly youthful he had been, and how composed. How settled and unshakeable.

Ordinary people toil from before dawn to after dark for every coin they can scrape together. Minor officials scramble through every intrique for a single rank of promotion. Princes and high ministers are drawn into the struggles of the imperial house and are equally unable to sleep soundly. Before the great waves of fortune, princes and ministers are not so very different from anyone else. There was truly no reason to be dazzled by the “noble dignity” of such people — those who can remain steady do so only because they can afford to lose. When the stakes become too great and they can no longer afford to lose, they are just as unable to contain themselves as anyone else.

Yet this mood had no one to be spoken to right now.

Suddenly she missed Huajie terribly — and her parents.

Cao Chang had been waiting at the gate and quickly brought the horse over. “My Lord.”

Zhù Ying said, “Let’s go. Home.”

Back home, she ran through everything once more in her mind. Su Kuang was completely finished, and she needn’t bother any further with the Vice Director. She just needed to take care of herself.

And so she opened a fresh sheaf of blank paper and began writing slowly.

She still went to bed at her usual hour, and still rose the next day on her usual schedule. That day she would need to go back to the imperial city — but no one needed to escort her anymore. The two parts of the case that touched on her had been resolved, and she had been given a temporary gate registry. She just needed to gauge the time and report to Wang Yunhe at the Council of State.

Wang Yunhe had morning court to attend, so she calculated accordingly before heading for the imperial city. At the gate she ran into Captain Li on duty again, and arranged with him to have a casual meal together in a few days.

She sorted her calls for this homecoming into categories: those requiring a personal visit, those where she could send a servant with a card and a gift, and those where a group meal would suffice. Captain Li fell into the “old acquaintances — shared meal” category.

Captain Li agreed readily.

She walked into the imperial city on her own, made her way to the Council of State, and found by appearances that Wang Yunhe and Shi Kun had not yet returned. She looked up at the sky and judged the time should be about right. Lan Liangzhi went by carrying a stack of memorials and said, “Lord Zhù? Why are you standing here? Come along — I’ll take you somewhere convenient.”

He led Zhù Ying to the clerks’ duty room and left the door open: “There — as soon as the Chief Ministers come back, we’ll see them from here. Sit down and make yourself comfortable.”

Zhù Ying said, “Thank you.”

Lan Liangzhi went off to deliver the memorials. Zhù Ying came out of the duty room and stood beneath the eave. She had not waited long when someone came running to say, “The Chief Ministers are back!”

Zhù Ying moved to one side and waited.

Wang Yunhe and Shi Kun, as they passed her, said, “You’re here. Come in.”

Both men gave her an extra look, noting she still wore the blue-green of the sixth rank, and gave a quiet nod.

Inside the Council of State, turning right, there were several writing desks. Wang Yunhe and Shi Kun pointed to a geographic map and asked Zhù Ying a few more questions — acreage of fields, the ratio of seed to yield per mu — and Wang Yunhe also sought her opinion: “Hot regions are also unsuitable for winter wheat?”

Zhù Ying said, “Yes. It depends on the variety. Some summer wheat will grow there, but that overlaps in timing with the rice. I have tried, and thought it through — the rice-and-wheat two-harvest system is still more reliable.”

Wang Yunhe said, “Summon Xian Jing.”

Xian Jing was Wang Yunhe’s student. He had been among those sent out to regional postings, back when Wang Yunhe was Prefect of the capital. Some years had passed, and Wang Yunhe had risen to Chief Minister. Xian Jing was now serving as Vice Minister of Finance.

Wang Yunhe pointed to Zhù Ying and told Xian Jing, “He’s your responsibility now.” Then he told Zhù Ying that the specifics of Fulu County’s wheat cultivation would need to be worked out with Xian Jing, who would put together a proposal for the Council of State to review, and once the Council approved it, it would go to the Emperor for authorization. Once the Emperor approved and issued the decree, it would go through the standard channels — and then Zhù Ying could collect the wheat seed and go home.

Neither Zhù Ying nor Xian Jing had any objection. Xian Jing said, “If the two Chief Ministers have no further instructions, I’ll take him to the Ministry of Finance to work out the details.”

Wang Yunhe said, “Go.”

Zhù Ying followed Xian Jing out of the Council of State. Once outside, Xian Jing relaxed a little and smiled. “To think that when last we met, my young friend, I didn’t expect to find you a pillar of the court.”

Zhù Ying said quickly, “I dare not — I still have far to go. Seeing the worthy, I aspire to match them.”

Xian Jing said, “Why so modest? There are far too many who rely on cleverness without settling down to serious work — none of them are truly clever people.”

Zhù Ying said, “I chose my own path.”

“That you did.”

They reached the Ministry of Finance shortly. The Ministry currently had no Minister, only a Vice Minister in charge. The other Vice Minister held a nominal post — and Zhù Ying had met him before. He was the son of Prince Gaoyang and Zheng Xi’s first cousin. Somehow this young man’s face had not collapsed with age and still wore a “beautiful as a woman” look; his health had not deteriorated into the barrel-chested type either. The prince’s title would be downgraded by one rank when it passed to him, so he could no longer be called a prince — giving him a concurrent official posting was at least reasonable. Since all the real work of the Ministry of Finance fell to Xian Jing, and Xian Jing’s seniority was not sufficient to actually be called Finance Minister, he carried the Vice Minister’s title while effectively doing the Minister’s job — which was convenient enough. The Ministry of Finance managed money, grain, and population — getting wheat seed from Xian Jing meant going through him, and the taxes eventually paid would flow into his hands as well.

The Prince’s son noticed Zhù Ying but did not immediately recall who she was. Once Xian Jing had explained, he remembered. “Oh — it’s you.”

Xian Jing said, “Yes, him.”

The Prince’s son said, “You all get on with it.” And that was that.

Xian Jing reassigned various tasks among the ministry staff, pointed to a department head and a section chief, and said, “Once you’ve finished the business you’re currently handling, come see me.” Then at last he led Zhù Ying into his own office for a discussion of the wheat cultivation.

Entering the room, Xian Jing first invited Zhù Ying to sit down and said a few polite things about the hardship she had endured, and praised Zhù Ying’s capabilities: “If every county magistrate in the world were like you, doubling yields, what would I have left to worry about?”

Zhù Ying said, “If you’re truly in a hurry, just approve my wheat seed allocation quickly.”

Xian Jing smiled pleasantly. “How much do you need?”

“At least a thousand shi — not a shi less,” Zhù Ying said, and again produced the sheaf of papers she had written the night before. “Please have a look, sir — Fulu County’s fields of such and such acreage, with so much of high quality, so much of middling quality, so much of poor quality. To avoid waste, we start with the high-quality fields…”

Xian Jing flipped through the pages and asked, “What about the poor-quality fields?”

“The high-quality fields produce more grain — in the first two years I need to save some of what comes in as seed stock. How about you give me another two thousand shi instead?”

Xian Jing’s expression transformed in an instant. “You want seed grain, and then you won’t pay taxes on it — that doesn’t add up, does it?”

Zhù Ying said, “You have to feed the hen before you can get eggs.”

The two of them began bargaining — and in the process, all resemblance to the composed, refined manner they had shown in Wang Yunhe’s study disappeared. Both turned sharp-tongued and tight-fisted.

Zhù Ying said, “You can demand it of me, but I have nothing to give you. Even if you put it on the books as a debt, Fulu County had outstanding tax arrears for twenty years before I arrived — what are you going to do about it? Report me upward? Go ahead.”

Xian Jing said, “Falling into arrears is still an offense! Report you? Of course — if things don’t go well, you’ll be called back. Then see if anyone else can make them pay.”

Zhù Ying said, “If I’m recalled, there’ll be even less chance of any payment.”

By the time the department head and the section chief arrived at the door, Xian Jing and Zhù Ying were both on their feet, voices raised.

Xian Jing noticed them and coughed once. “You’re here? Wait a moment.”

He said to Zhù Ying, “Then you have to give me something in return.”

Zhù Ying spread her hands. “I have nothing.”

“Hmph!”

Another round of arguing. Xian Jing muttered, “Fine, fine — just a thousand shi. But you can’t take ten years to pay the tax. Five years! No — three! In three years the tax will need to go up…”

“Five years — not a year less!” Zhù Ying cut in. She ran the calculations: five years was feasible; ten years was more than the court’s patience could bear — if after ten years there was nothing to show, what would be the point?

She added, “Five years — and I’ll add two additional tenths of grain tax. Not a tenth more. You want to trade a thousand shi of wheat for an annual surplus of two extra tenths of grain thereafter — even loan sharks aren’t this vicious.”

The two of them haggled back and forth, and finally each gave a little ground. Xian Jing would give Zhù Ying two thousand shi of wheat, and after five years Zhù Ying would owe him three additional tenths of grain tax.

Following this, the two of them scrapped again over which year “five years” was to be counted from. Zhù Ying insisted, “This is winter wheat — planted this year, the harvest is next year. It has to start from the following year.” She wrested another year’s grace from him.

The department head and section chief watched with eyes gone wide. They were accustomed to county officials who came to plead poverty — but a county magistrate who could argue with Vice Minister Xian to this degree was rare. Both thought: young as he is, he doesn’t flinch. A promising sort.

And on reflection — it was Zhù Ying they were dealing with. Of course the courage was expected.

Xian Jing finished the argument, turned his head, and nearly startled the two of them out of their skins. “I’m putting the two of you in charge of this matter.”

The department head thought: you’ve already settled the terms with him yourself — what scope is left for us to work with?

As though Xian Jing knew what he was thinking, he said, “Draft a plan for the wider rollout.”

So the task went from Wang Yunhe to Xian Jing, from Xian Jing to the department head — and finally the work was in the hands of people who would actually execute it. The department head said, “Yes.”

He brought Zhù Ying to his own office, invited her to sit, had the section chief take notes, and began working out each clause with Zhù Ying.

The department head’s surname was Zhang, and he was in his fifties. A department head in the Ministry of Finance held the junior fifth rank, and Zhù Ying did not dare be cavalier with him. The way she had argued with Xian Jing was possible because she had a prior acquaintance with Xian Jing, and Wang Yunhe stood behind everything she was trying to do — so she could afford to argue. Department Head Zhang was someone she did not know, and outranked her — open disrespect to his face would not do.

Department Head Zhang understood the situation as well: Zhù Ying had been going in and out of the Council of State these past few days, had had an audience with the Emperor, and reportedly had been given a red ceremonial robe as a gift — he was not going to put on excessive airs. The two of them were polite and consultative with each other.

Their discussion went into considerably more detail than Zhù Ying’s answers to Wang Yunhe. How many mu of land, how it could be farmed, how much the yield increase would be. The task Xian Jing had assigned went beyond Fulu County alone — it included a plan for wider rollout. This part left Department Head Zhang at a loss, and he had to ask Zhù Ying for guidance.

Zhù Ying picked up a brush and drew on paper for him, explaining in detail the impact of season and climate, making clear that not all regions were suitable for this method of cultivation, and so forth.

When lunchtime came, Zhù Ying was kept to eat at the Ministry of Finance along with the others. After lunch she was not permitted to leave — she stayed in the Ministry and continued explaining and consulting with Department Head Zhang.

That afternoon Department Head Zhang asked, “How exactly does the land reclamation and extension work?”

Zhù Ying said, “To speak of land reclamation, one must also speak of abandoned farmland. In remote areas, once trouble strikes, people abandon the land and flee. When the next county magistrate arrives and finds the books listing this much land but all of it lying fallow — how can taxes be collected? Force the collection, and the remaining people will flee as well. A vicious cycle.”

Xian Jing suddenly poked his head in. “So you’re that ‘next county magistrate,’ aren’t you?”

Zhù Ying said, “Are you coming in to listen, sir?”

Xian Jing waved a hand. “I still have business.”

The afternoon wore on. By the end of office hours, their paper contained only some scattered notes.

Department Head Zhang and Zhù Ying arranged to continue meeting the following day.

That evening Zhù Ying intended to visit Chen Kuan’s residence rather than Wang Yunhe’s.

Chen Kuan was still living in the capital, which surprised Zhù Ying somewhat. Having already requested retirement, and having spoken of returning to his hometown — he should not still have been here.

With the unexpected gift of a hundred strings of cash, Zhù Ying had prepared a more generous set of gifts for Chen Kuan.

Chen Kuan’s residence was as clean and well-kept as the Zheng family’s, but the crowd of visitors who had once lined up at the door had almost entirely vanished. Zhù Ying sent in a calling card and was received immediately.

Chen Kuan’s beard had gone even whiter.

Seeing Zhù Ying, Chen Kuan was both pleased and moved. “You haven’t forgotten me after all!”

Zhù Ying said, “There’s something a little off in the flavor of those words, sir.”

“I am no longer Chief Minister.”

Zhù Ying said, “That doesn’t change anything.”

“Hmm ~ do change how you address me, all the same.”

Zhù Ying said, “Chief Minister — shall we not spend our time on this particular matter? How are you keeping, Chief Minister?”

“Well, well! And you? I’ve heard there’s some small bit of legal trouble?”

Zhù Ying then summarized Su Kuang’s case and the Feng Fort case, and described how the Council of State had summoned her back to explain, how she had gone to the Court of Judicial Review and the Censorate, had the accounts copied, and so on.

Chen Kuan nodded. “Wang Yunhe and Shi Kun still nurture the next generation. What are your plans?”

Zhù Ying said, “I was posted two years ago, and this is now my third year. I feel that many things are still unfinished, so I submitted a formal petition requesting to continue for another term as County Magistrate of Fulu County. The Emperor has already approved it.”

Chen Kuan slapped his knee. “That’s exactly right — one must do solid work. Alas — you, a young person, already knows to keep distance, yet I, on the other hand…”

“Chief Minister?”

As she sat before him, Chen Kuan turned to his household and announced, “Starting tomorrow — pack up. It’s time we went home.”

Zhù Ying said, “What do you mean by that?”

Chen Kuan said, “Does this capital strike you as a place fit for long residence?”

“Well…” Zhù Ying knew he had misread the situation. “I am here because I have specific business.”

Chen Kuan shook his head. “Look — a great lump of pure gold in a brazier of burning coals, the fire never going out. Reach in, or don’t reach in?”

Zhù Ying thought for a moment. “It depends on whether I want it.”

Chen Kuan said, “And if you want it?”

“I’ll find a pair of fire tongs.”

Chen Kuan laughed until the whole room shook. “Exactly! Exactly! Whether to reach in or not, and how to reach in — it all depends on what you want, and whether you have the means to take it. Without the means, or without seeing clearly — a careless reach into that fire means scorched flesh down to the bone. You must keep this in mind — twenty years from now, thirty years from now, fifty years from now — keep remembering what you feel in your heart at this moment.”

“Yes.”

“Alas — I want to reach in, and I want my eldest son to reach in, but neither of us has a pair of tongs right now.” Chen Kuan said. “Then what are we waiting for?”

He looked at Zhù Ying again and said, “I knew from the first moment I saw you that you would amount to something — and you have always done well. Many people, when they’ve come from poverty and have been looked down on when young, once they gain power become narrow-minded from insecurity and prone to suspicion. Fortunately, you are not that kind of person. Zhù Ying — you have accomplishments now, but where are your lieutenants? You need capable people of your own. A lone figure accomplishes nothing — you cannot live by others thinking well of you. There is enough time now that you have your extended term — you can plan with care.”

Zhù Ying said, “I understand. One must have the capacity to attract good people first. A hen house cannot raise a phoenix, and even if it could, the phoenix would fly to a parasol tree. Fortunately, I now have time to plan carefully.”

Chen Kuan stroked his beard and smiled. “You have a mind of your own — very good! In future, if anything comes up, do write to me as well — I’m old now, and I find I want someone to talk to.”

“Yes. Only I’m not sure where I should send letters to. I am pressing the Ministry of Finance to issue the wheat seed — I need to personally oversee the selection of good grain before taking it back.”

Chen Kuan said, “To my home, of course.”

He glanced around his study with a self-deprecating smile. “I couldn’t bring myself to leave. I requested retirement, had people go back to put the house in order, and then kept putting off the departure until I was on the verge of succumbing to temptation and settling in again. If you hadn’t come, I might very well have decided to stay on. When are you leaving? I’ll travel with you for a stretch, keep each other company on the road so neither of us is lonely.”

“Very well.”

Zhù Ying left the Chen residence thinking about how she and Chen Kuan had come to know each other, and found the whole history rather amusing. Who could have imagined that the person who would accompany him on his final departure from the capital would be her?

She smiled, composed some calling cards, and told Cao Chang, “Tomorrow you don’t need to accompany me. Go to deliver these cards and take some gifts.” She assigned him the households of Tian Pei and others, then asked Cao Chang to send a card to the retired old Wang as well, inviting him and former colleagues from the Court of Judicial Review to a meal.

The following day she went back to haggle again with the Ministry of Finance.

A first draft was quickly produced — covering not only Fulu County but also plans for later rollout to a prefecture, a region, and eventually several regions.

Department Head Zhang asked Zhù Ying to look it over. Zhù Ying said, “This is the sir’s affair — how could I presume to meddle?”

“Just take a look — the sooner everything is settled, the easier it is for both of us.”

Zhù Ying took it and read through. The section chief who had drafted it was clearly an old hand — the writing was extraordinarily smooth. She checked only the key numbers, made sure the critical phrasing had no ambiguity, and in particular confirmed that the grain seed amount and the tax exemption period were both correct. She said, “Everyone here is eminently reliable.”

Department Head Zhang said, “It is Little Zhù who has the reputation for reliability!”

A round of mutual compliments, and then Department Head Zhang asked, “Shall I submit it as is?”

“Please, I’ll leave it in your hands.”

It was not yet the end of office hours. Zhù Ying went in person to the Court of Judicial Review to deliver invitations to her colleagues there. At the Court of Judicial Review, she was surrounded at once, and saw the Vice Director again after a long absence.

She said, “Old Vice Director — I wrote to you and you never wrote back! And now I have to come and invite you in person! I’ve reserved a table — shall we go together?”

The Vice Director had been caught up in Su Kuang’s case and had some of his authority reduced. He smiled a little stiffly. “Yes.”

Zhù Ying distributed invitations around, and seeing that both Wu Xiang and Cui Jiacheng were absent, she asked, “Where are Wu Xiang and Cui Jiacheng? Still at the women’s prison? Who’ll come with me?”

The Vice Director said, “I will.”

The two of them walked toward the women’s prison. The Vice Director said, “Little Zhù — I feel I have let you down. All those things left in my care, and I couldn’t protect them.”

Zhù Ying said, “That’s not how you should talk. It sounds like you’re saying this to Lord Dou or Lord Zheng. Is the Court of Judicial Review yours? Is it mine? No matter how capable you are, if the chief official is not you, you can’t do the impossible, can you? How much do you still have in your hands? Let’s find a time to go around together — all those people I still remember, I’ll help sort things out for them. Vice Director — you in the Court of Judicial Review is itself worth something.”

The Vice Director smiled. “When you speak, my mood always improves.”

Zhù Ying said, “That’s right.”

Before long they reached the women’s prison, and even the guards of the men’s prison came with their keys to pay their respects. Men and women alike — some wept, some knelt. “Little Lord Zhù!”

Zhù Ying distributed a couple of invitations and said to the various guards, “There’s something for you all as well — I’ve arranged it.” It was genuinely impossible to write individual invitations for the hundreds of clerks and guards of the Court of Judicial Review. Everyone said, “Good!”

Zhù Ying had it all figured out: Department Head Zhang would submit the draft, Xian Jing would review it and likely add his own observations before passing it up to the Council of State. The two Chief Ministers would probably revise it further, then send it to the Emperor. The Emperor would approve and pass it back down through the Council of State and the standard offices for implementation. Zhù Ying would then go to collect the wheat seed — which she intended to personally sort through for quality — and since this had now gone through official channels, the court would assign carters, horses, transport wagons, and an escorting official — a process of seven to ten days would be very normal and not at all slow.

She could leave in half a month, and that would be considered efficient.

In the meantime, she could use these days to call on all her old acquaintances in the capital.

She chatted a while longer with the old colleagues at the Court of Judicial Review, and arranged with the Vice Director to meet on a rest day so she could introduce him to some of her own contacts.

She left before closing time and went home, packed up a bundle of gifts, and had Cao Chang carry it. Master and servant set off to call on Liu Songnian.

Liu Songnian was the foremost literary scholar of the realm. Though he had recently been recalled to official duties, his workload was light — he kept his hours. At the door, a cluster of brilliant young talents was waiting. Among them, one figure lounging against a pillar stood out with particular conspicuousness.

Liu Songnian dismounted and strode up to the pillar for a closer look. “Hmm! You’re not wearing the red robe, you’re just being a pillar — aren’t you foolish?”

Zhù Ying said lazily, “Red on top of green would be too showy. This way, at least I catch your eye.”

Liu Songnian laughed and cursed. “Nonsense! Glib! Why are you lounging against my wall? Come in.”

Zhù Ying popped inside after him promptly.

Liu Songnian was perpetually in a state of irritation, but seeing Zhù Ying actually put him in a better mood. He said, “Why aren’t you wearing it?”

Zhù Ying said, “The capital is full of people in red and purple — one less makes no difference. It’s only a ‘loan’ — it’s not as though I’ve genuinely earned the rank. What would be the point of showing off?”

Liu Songnian said, “That mouth of yours is insufferable too — why does Old Wang never scold you?”

Zhù Ying said, “I don’t know.”

Liu Songnian rolled his eyes. The two of them went into the reception hall and sat down. Liu Songnian said, “What have you brought this time?” He fully expected to find a rubbing of some stone inscription again, or failing that, even a wooden board with some words scratched on it. He grabbed the gift list and immediately felt a surge of disappointment. “What is all this? What is all this? Vulgar things! Vulgar!”

Nothing but the usual — bolts of cloth and silk, some brushes, ink, and paper.

Zhù Ying said, “If you don’t want them, give them back. I’ve barely enough money as it is. I sent it all here, and now I’ve nothing left to send elsewhere. Without these common gifts clearing the way, the other things can’t get through either.”

Liu Songnian suddenly stopped complaining. “Fair enough. But — those of your pearls were remarkable! One piece was worth over a hundred strings!”

“What pearls?” Zhù Ying asked. When had she had anything worth that much?

Liu Songnian raised his face to look at the ceiling, saying nothing. Zhù Ying said, “Tell me quickly — I’m nearly destitute.”

Liu Songnian made an indeterminate sound and produced something from his sleeve — the faintest glow of a gem. “Here!”

Zhù Ying said carefully, “You… carry it around with you?”

“Mm.” Liu Songnian gave a vague answer.

His servant laughed. “Princess An’de exchanged a hairpin worth a hundred strings with Consort Wang for one of them. His Majesty heard of it and had artisans examine the piece to try to reproduce it — but they’ve never quite managed to.”

Zhù Ying’s cheek twitched. Those pearls — she had bought them by weight, several jin of them, as raw material for grinding into powder. She needed to go back and buy a few more jin immediately.

Liu Songnian asked, with studied casualness, “So, come to do what exactly?”

Zhù Ying said, “Come to see you. Do you eat tangerines? Once the ones I’m growing are ripe, I’ll send you some — would you like that?”

“Stop talking — if you’re sending them, bring them over. What use is an empty promise?”

Zhù Ying said, “Once they’re good I’ll send some. And oh — what exactly did you mean, in that last letter, about the school for tributary peoples?”

“What did I mean? I meant it was lacking — falling short.”

“That person — could he get into the Imperial Academy?”

“If he wants to aim for the lowest standing, he can come.”

Zhù Ying said, “That’s all I need to know.”

Zhao Su — that was settled. She would give him a ladder up, and the rest was his to climb.

She had no poetry or classical texts to discuss with Liu Songnian, but Liu Songnian was curious about the local poetry and music, and asked about local customs and scenery. They chatted about this for a while. Zhù Ying spoke of the Asu clan’s affairs and mentioned the conflict with the Liji tribe.

Liu Songnian said, “In ancient times, human sacrifice was common as well — the more noble the victim, the better. Even among these so-called barbarians — something of the ancient ways remains.”

Anyone who didn’t know him might have thought he was sneering again.

Zhù Ying said, “What you mean is — they’re still children in a way we’ve already grown past, isn’t that it?”

“Hmph!”

Zhù Ying said, “Let me ask a favor.”

Liu Songnian asked with interest, “What favor?”

“Well — if there are any difficult texts you need written in future, could I perhaps ask you to ghostwrite them…”

“Bah!” Liu Songnian said. “Have you no one else to ask?”

“With you available, why would I ask anyone else? I’m not foolish!”

Liu Songnian said, half-reluctantly, “Fine then.” He waited for Zhù Ying to give him a topic. Zhù Ying hesitated, and then actually gave him one — compose farming songs.

Every region had folk proverbs and rhymes about planting seasons and such, but in Zhù Ying’s experience, these were not universally applicable. North and south differed greatly. Fulu County had not previously grown wheat, and had no rhymes about wheat cultivation. Zhù Ying said, “I’ve had a successful trial harvest — all the dates are written down. Please take a look! And do it quickly — I only have a few more days before I need to go back. The rice still needs harvesting too.”

She produced the trial cultivation records, marked which details absolutely had to be included, and which were optional if Liu Songnian could find a way to work them in.

Liu Songnian stared. “You’re really going to put me to work?”

Zhù Ying said, “How about this — once I harvest the wheat next year, I’ll send you one shi as payment for the writing?”

“Hmph!”

“You can bargain if you think that’s too little — just write it in a good clear hand, please. Otherwise it’ll be difficult to carve.”

“Out, out!” Liu Songnian waved her away like a fly with one hand, and snatched the trial cultivation records with the other.

Zhù Ying stayed no longer. She rose and gave a full, formal bow. “I entrust this to you.”

Liu Songnian also dropped his playful expression and said sincerely, “Come before you leave. Bah! When did you and I get so familiar?” He paused. “Go then.”

After that, Zhù Ying spent the remaining days waiting for the approval while continuing to call on old acquaintances.

Wang Yunhe came after Liu Songnian. When they met, he offered words of encouragement. Zhù Ying said nothing against the Lu Prefect to him. Wang Yunhe did not give her much time, but told her, “His Majesty has approved the petition. They are selecting grain and making preparations — you’ll be notified when it’s ready.”

Zhù Ying thanked him. Without Wang Yunhe’s attention, the matter would not have moved this smoothly — and the summons to the capital in the first place had itself done her a great favor.

Wang Yunhe said, “Young people must press forward with all their effort.”

“Yes.”

Zhù Ying genuinely needed no one to watch over her affairs. Wang Yunhe said, “Now that you’ve petitioned to continue your term, do the work well. Heaven does not fail those who give their whole heart.”

“Yes.”

Beyond Wang Yunhe, she made a round of further calls on various officials. She then gathered with Wen Yue, Zheng Yi, and others for a meal, then called on Jin Liang’s wife, Wen Yue’s mother, and others to pass on greetings from Zhang Xiangu and Huajie. She also hosted a dinner for old colleagues from the same intake year, the Imperial Guards she knew well, and did not forget to sit for a while at Old Ma’s tea stall.

Before leaving, she brought a basket of copper coins to the Cihui Temple. First she gave the nun twenty strings: “A’Jie used to come here often to donate medicines — she still thinks of you.”

The nun chanted a Buddhist verse and entrusted Zhù Ying with medicines to take back to Huajie and Zhang Xiangu: “These medicinal herbs are not easy to find in good quality in the south.”

Zhù Ying accepted them.

She also gave Fu, the young woman lodging at the temple, two strings of cash to supplement her income. Fu’s child was still sickly — able to walk and speak and move, but lacking in the liveliness one would expect at that age. The Court of Judicial Review’s supplement had been reduced recently, so Zhù Ying quietly added two strings.

Fu initially thought to decline, but worry for her child was greater than pride, and she took the money with a shy expression. After accepting it, she could not hold back a matter she had been meaning to raise: “Xiao Zhou seems to have run into trouble.”

Zhù Ying said, “I was just about to ask — at the dinner the other day, her color wasn’t right. I thought perhaps she had quarreled with someone.”

“By now everyone knows her temperament — she’s not bad at heart, just sharp in manner, and she means no harm by it. As for quarrels — it would have to be with her own family. Lord, just think of her age. She’s good-looking, can read and do accounts, and has a steady stipend — there’s no shortage of people asking after her. And her parents being what they are… I’m afraid…”

Zhù Ying said, “I understand.”

“Lord — I don’t say this because I love to gossip. For a young woman to be ruined on this matter means the rest of her life is destroyed. People like us can only support ourselves because of the Lord’s generosity. If anything else goes wrong, there’s truly no recourse. So when someone sees and cannot pretend not to — we have to ask for help from whoever has a kind heart. She’s proud, and won’t say it herself. We can see what’s happening, and can’t pretend to be blind.”

Zhù Ying nodded, added a bit more to the temple’s incense fund, and ambled home with Cao Chang leading the horse behind her.

At the entrance to her alley, she saw Cao’s mother standing at the side gate, peering out. When she spotted them approaching, she came to meet them and said quietly, “My Lord — there’s a young woman inside the house. She said she was from the Court of Judicial Review, surnamed Zhou.”

Zhù Ying said, “I know.”

She entered through the main gate as usual. Cao’s father opened the front gate to receive her. Zhou Wa was sitting on a long bench in the gateroom, waiting for her return.

Zhù Ying said, “Not on duty today? Come inside.” She led her to the study.

Once inside the study, Zhou Wa saw that there was no one else present, and immediately knelt. “My Lord — the Zhi family wants to dig for information about what’s in the prison! This time they mean it.”