It was no small matter for the magistrates of the frontier pacification counties to come down from the mountains. Word had spread to observers all along the way, and the prefectural office had already received word by the time the magistrates rendezvoused outside the city.

Zhù Ying sent someone to notify Su Feihu and Lin Miao. Su Feihu was in the foreign academy that day with his son, studying language and script. He was no longer young and had little foundation to build on, so his learning was slow. By now his spoken language had improved somewhat, but his writing was still quite deficient, and he was still grinding away at a basic literacy primer. When Zhù Ying had gone north, his studies had grown lax and he played truant with some regularity — Chou Wen could do nothing to manage him. Now that Zhù Ying had returned, he dutifully went back to class.

The moment he heard his younger sister had arrived, he flung down his brush. “Then I’m off!”

Chou Wen said helplessly, “Please put away your paper and brushes.”

Su Feihu waved him off. “I won’t take them home. Leave them — we’ll deal with it later.” With that, he furrowed his brow and walked away without looking back.

A younger sister was a very welcome thing at a moment like this!

Su Feihu sprinted all the way to the prefectural office. Outside the gates he ran into Su Mingluan and the others. Su Mingluan jumped down from her horse and ran over, and the siblings embraced.

“Elder Brother!”

“Little Sister!”

The two looked each other over. Su Mingluan pointed at Su Feihu’s cheek and laughed. Su Feihu had no idea why, so Su Mingluan produced a small bronze mirror and held it up for him. Su Feihu said, “I knew it — these things are always out to get me.” He raised his hand to wipe at his face. Su Mingluan took out her handkerchief and wiped his face for him. “There we go.” When she was done, she blew gently on the spot she had rubbed red.

Finished.

Inside the gates, Vice Prefect Zhang had also come out with Zhù Ying. Vice Prefect Zhang leaned close to Zhù Ying’s ear and murmured, “Congratulations.”

Zhù Ying said, “You flatter me. It isn’t entirely good news, either.”

“I can see the timing is right,” Vice Prefect Zhang said. “The moment you returned, they were all able to gather — that is trust.” The “hostage sons” were nothing special; among the five counties, apart from Su Mingluan, who didn’t have a son or two? As for Su Mingluan herself, she had only one daughter but any number of nephews.

For the principals themselves to come in person — that was a different matter entirely.

The two exchanged a few words, and by then things outside had settled. Lin Miao had arrived as well. His spoken official language was stronger than Su Feihu’s, and he occasionally handled some official business relating to the mountains, though not a great deal.

A crowd gathered at the gate to exchange greetings — some calling out “Adoptive Father,” others saying “We’ve finally waited long enough for you, Your Excellency,” all of it mingled in four different languages. Su Mingluan even took a moment to greet Vice Prefect Zhang in official language, saying she was grateful he had looked after her elder brother and that her brother had come home speaking highly of him.

Vice Prefect Zhang thought to himself: I didn’t really look after him at all.

Su Zhe, Lang Rui, and the others were brought out from the rear compound. Lin Feng, Jin Yu, and the others came hurrying over from the foreign academy shortly afterward. Those calling out “Papa” and those calling out “Mama” each grabbed hold of someone and looked them up and down. Su Zhe stood back-to-back with her mother to compare heights. “Mama! I’m almost as tall as you!”

Su Mingluan looked at her daughter bouncing on her tiptoes as if about to leap, and curled her lip. “You’ve got a bit more growing to do!”

The two of them got everyone started, and soon the whole crowd was in the courtyard checking whether the children had grown.

Vice Prefect Zhang folded his arms and tried to step aside. Zhù Ying caught his sleeve and wouldn’t let him leave. “What are you hiding for?”

Vice Prefect Zhang shook his head and smiled. “You talk with them — I’ll just watch.”

Zhù Ying said, “You are the Vice Prefect.”

Vice Prefect Zhang smiled and murmured, “Frontier pacification — even a bridle has a tight end and a loose end. You’re the expert; you can hold them. I am somewhat lacking, so as long as I don’t let the horse bolt I’ll have done my job. I can’t even understand what they’re saying.”

“Then learn. They’re learning official language too.”

“Spare me.”

Vice Prefect Zhang knew full well that as the Vice Prefect of Wuzhou he ought to learn a few of the mountain languages. Zhù Ying had asked him before whether he wished to, since the foreign academy had phonetic teaching materials. When Vice Prefect Zhang learned there were three different languages right there in front of him, he had nearly gone dark before his eyes.

Zhù Ying said, “If you never start, you’ll never learn.”

“The inner three counties already keep me busy enough! For the outer five counties, if I can manage a few words of greeting, understand their general situation, know the magistrates by name, and tell the clans apart, that’s sufficient.”

Within the prefectural office, the counties of Fulu, Sicheng, and Nanping were referred to as the “inner three counties,” and those under the outer administration were the “outer five counties.”

He hadn’t studied the languages much, but he had come to know firsthand just how difficult the mountain people could be. He didn’t aspire to be like Zhù Ying, winning people’s loyalty as an adoptive father — he would be content if he could just keep up appearances. There was no helping it; he hadn’t put in that depth of effort. And the court didn’t push the territory through for him — so what authority did he have to command these people?

While Zhù Ying exchanged a few words with Vice Prefect Zhang, those on the other side had said about what they needed to say. Seeing that he and Vice Prefect Zhang had been standing for quite some time, they felt a little sheepish.

Zhù Ying showed not a trace of impatience and smiled. “Well, how is everyone? I hope we haven’t let any of you grow thin? Come, let’s go inside and talk.”

Vice Prefect Zhang walked along and said, “When you all went north, I worried too — the children are still young.”

Lang Kunwu looked at his son, who was perfectly fine, and chose to make a magnanimous show. “A man should go out and see the world! Young eagles never fear flying.”

After the pleasantries, Vice Prefect Zhang did not withdraw — he still sat in on the full gathering. Even a loose bridle still needed to be held together. Four languages flew across from the other side. Zhù Ying attended to Vice Prefect Zhang as well, translating a few phrases for him. Su Mingluan and Lang Kunwu occasionally addressed him in official language as well. The mountain sparrow’s father-in-law sometimes also ventured a few words of imperfect official language. Vice Prefect Zhang held it all together.

When they talked about heading back into the mountains next month, and mentioned something about “the cave chieftain Yi Gan,” Vice Prefect Zhang simply offered one remark: “That he has moved away from the border out of awe — that ought not to be a bad thing.”

One of the pieces of news from the mountains that Su Mingluan and the others brought back was that the cave chieftain Yi Gan had moved his main stronghold deeper into the mountains. He had now put more distance between himself and where the market was located. Vice Prefect Zhang judged that the cave chieftain Yi Gan had been “overawed.” By common sense, this amounted to a form of yielding — knowing one cannot win, and retreating.

Zhù Ying said, “I never intended to drive him away. He has never done anything against us. Now that he’s gone and left that side empty, I actually feel a little unsettled.”

Lu Guo said, “Don’t waste your concern on him — he’s gone to find his in-laws among the Xika people!”

Su Mingluan said, “He has his Xika in-laws, and we have the finest people in the world.”

Lu Guo and Xi Jin both looked rather glum. The flattest stretch of the cave chieftain Yi Gan’s territory lay adjacent to the “villa.” That area was relatively well suited for both cultivation and grazing — the “developed land” of the mountains, so to speak. The Yi Gan family had been working it for many years: part of the cleared land was planted with millet, another part was used to raise cattle and sheep, and they also grew some hemp for weaving.

Now that a large swath of it had been vacated, it was not easy for others to take hold of — and it was closer to the “villa.” This was yet another consequence of eliminating the Suoning family. Even without the Suoning family, the cave chieftain Yi Gan had not given his daughter to either of their two families. He had packed up his entire household and fled.

When they had sent people to make contact, there had been no small amount of using one’s position to press down on others. But the other party simply refused to engage.

Zhù Ying said, “Each person has their own luck.”

She spoke casually of everyday matters, then said there were gifts for each of the young ones, and the five youngsters each described what they had received. Among them, the sword that Su Zhe had received was different from what the others had gotten. Lang Rui was an honest child; he told Lang Kunwu, “The Emperor gave Eldest Sister silks and satins, but Eldest Sister’s sword was given by Grandfather.”

Zhù Ying said, “I’ll give you silks and satins too.”

“Oh?”

Zhù Ying tapped the tip of his nose. “What she has that you don’t, I’ll give you. What you have that she doesn’t — of course I’ll give her that too.” The few boys had quite big hearts; none of them had even brought it up.

The mountain sparrow’s father-in-law said, “Your Excellency has always been fair — we all know that. A little more of this thing or a little less of that, having something or going without — it doesn’t matter in the small run.”

Zhù Ying said, “Once doesn’t matter. Twice doesn’t matter. But over time it does matter. Good and bad, fair and biased — they are all built up one act at a time. Whenever I see it, I’ll make it right. And if I ever miss something, remind me. Getting along with people is like tending crops: tend a field for one season and you eat for one season; if you want to eat next season, you still have to go back to the fields.”

The mountain sparrow’s father-in-law said, “Your Excellency speaks wise words!”

Since the topic of children had come up, Zhù Ying said that Su Zhe and Lang Rui were still young — this time they could follow their parents home first, and when she went into the mountains next month she would bring them back again. The three older ones needn’t go home; they should return to the foreign academy and continue their classes. After being away for several months, catching up on their studies came first. She also said she had prepared gifts for each family’s womenfolk, and asked everyone to take them along.

All five agreed.

Shortly thereafter the banquet was laid out, and another feast was hosted at the prefectural office, with Vice Prefect Zhang and the other prefectural officials all present to keep the guests company.

During the feast, with complex conversation out of reach, the calls to drink were something Vice Prefect Zhang heard with perfect clarity — Zhù Ying didn’t drink, so the headmen poured into him instead. Su Mingluan struck up a drinking song; she led, then Lang Kunwu picked it up, then the mountain sparrow’s father-in-law, Lu Guo, Xi Jin…

When Su Feihu rose to sing his turn, Vice Prefect Zhang became alarmed. “Don’t you dare sing a single note!”

Su Feihu and Lin Miao had been rather idle in Wuzhou City. In their idleness they had taken to drinking with Vice Prefect Zhang. The rule with the songs was: if you don’t drink after someone sings for you, you’re looking down on them. Vice Prefect Zhang had been caught out several times. Su Feihu could sleep it off the next day, but Vice Prefect Zhang had to stand in for Zhù Ying on duty — he’d spend the morning with a splitting headache and still had to show up to work.

The whole company burst out laughing.

Su Feihu said, “Fine, I won’t sing!” He turned away from Vice Prefect Zhang and went off to drink with Secretary Wang instead.

Only then did Vice Prefect Zhang relax — but then once the adults were done singing, the younger ones started up at him, round after round with no end in sight.

Vice Prefect Zhang simply threw caution to the wind and said to Zhù Ying, “Your Excellency, I’m putting in for leave tomorrow.”

Zhù Ying laughed. “Granted.”

Vice Prefect Zhang thought to himself: Why don’t they sing at you?

Zhù Ying thought to herself: Tomorrow is actually a rest day anyway.

After the host and guests had thoroughly enjoyed themselves, the five magistrates did not stay in the rear compound. Su Mingluan and her daughter went to her brother’s residence; the mountain sparrow’s father-in-law went to his younger brother’s home; and the other three went to the post station. Each had things to ask their children in private, and they also wanted to learn in detail what had happened during the journey to the capital.

Zhù Ying did not press any of them to stay. She only said, “Take care on the road.”

After seeing them all out of the prefectural office, she dispatched people to escort Vice Prefect Zhang and the others who had drunk too much. She herself took on the duty of standing watch for that evening.

Her home was within the prefectural compound, which made it convenient to handle matters when they arose. That night she did not return to her bedchamber; instead she slept in the study, which put her closer to the front offices as well.

Hua Jie, with Du Dajie’s help, brought in the bedding and got everything arranged. When they were done, she still did not leave. Zhù Ying said to Hua Jie, “I didn’t drink tonight. I could have managed all this myself.”

Hua Jie said, “There’s something I want to talk to you about — the matter with the foreign academy.”

“Oh? Go ahead.”

Hua Jie said, “That child Lingdang — do you think well of her?”

Du Dajie was also watching Zhù Ying with keen interest. She didn’t speak; she was quietly calculating in her mind whether she might find an opportunity to slip in a word or two of her own.

Zhù Ying said, “She’s very good.”

“In that case… could she also study the other courses at the foreign academy?”

Zhù Ying asked, “Why do you ask?”

“She wants to learn.”

Zhù Ying’s interest grew a little. “Would the schedule work out?”

Hua Jie said, “It should be all right. I had Wuren look at the schedule and go over the subjects with Lingdang. I just need to adjust things on my end slightly. Wuren has already adjusted the medical section’s schedule — if you agree, it can be arranged.”

Zhù Ying smiled. “You’re getting Wuren to do things for you again.”

Hua Jie said, “She’s willing.”

“Oh?”

Hua Jie said, “Wuren is busy, isn’t she? Lingdang noticed that Wuren is both studying medicine and handling duties at the same time, so she started helping Wuren organize notes for both Madam Wang and Madam Meng…”

Wu Ren had never been busier than she was now. Wang Fuqu still hadn’t returned, so Wu Ren was studying on her own while also copying out a separate set of notes for her mother, and for Madam Meng — who, though she had gradually handed the household over to her son and daughter-in-law, still had to go back to help during spring planting and autumn harvest — that made two sets of notes. Lingdang noticed all of this and took on one person’s share for Wu Ren.

From the start of spring planting until now, she had been copying for about half a month. Wu Ren also knew Lingdang was an orphan, and in return had been looking after her a little here and there. In recent days, Wu Ren had officially taken over many of the medical section’s affairs, but she never stepped forward herself — she would get everything ready and hand it to Hua Jie to announce.

Lingdang had asked Hua Jie if it might be possible for her to study a little more. She didn’t need an additional teacher; she had already looked into it — the foreign academy’s curriculum was divided into several subjects, and as long as the subjects she chose on each schedule were compatible, she could manage the course load perfectly well.

Wu Ren didn’t mind rearranging the schedule as a small favor, and had even prepared a reason for Lingdang: some issues had come to light during the teaching process since the foreign academy opened, and the new arrangement for the medical section suited it better.

Zhù Ying said, “Du Dajie, bring her to me.”

Du Dajie said, “Right away — I’ll bring that child in this moment. She really is a good child.”

Zhù Ying couldn’t help but laugh. “Do I look like a villain who bullies young girls?”

Du Dajie laughed as well. “I’ll go now.”

Hu Shijie also said a word: “Lingdang really is good.”

It was not long before Lingdang came in with Du Dajie. She was a little nervous; Du Dajie had told her on the way not to be afraid, but she was still young and had her worries. She knew Your Excellency was a good person — that much she understood — but this request mattered very much to her, and the more something mattered to her, the more she couldn’t help but feel anxious about it.

Upon entering the study, Lingdang came to stand before the desk and curtsied first.

Zhù Ying asked, “You want to study some other things?”

“Yes.”

Zhù Ying asked, “How are you getting on with your current coursework?”

Hua Jie said, “Apart from Wu Ren, she’s at the top.” Wu Ren had no difficulty whatsoever with language and characters, and her understanding was also stronger given her slightly older age. To rank just below Wu Ren was quite impressive.

Zhù Ying asked, “How far have you come in the medical section’s coursework?”

Hua Jie said, “She’s nearly memorized the human body, and has learned to identify fifty-three varieties of medicinal herbs…”

Zhù Ying said, “What is the nature of licorice root?”

Lingdang paused for just a moment, then thought and said, “Licorice root is not well suited to grow in this area’s conditions…”

Zhù Ying then asked what should be done if a person were bitten by a snake. Lingdang said, “First determine whether it is venomous or not…”

She was tested on a few more things, and then Zhù Ying smiled. “That’ll do. Since you have the capacity for more and you’ve both been able to arrange the schedule, it’s settled.”

Hua Jie said, “In that case, you need to put in a word for this child with Academician Chou. Most of the other students at the foreign academy have some background behind them — suddenly adding her will need some explanation.” Otherwise, since Wu Ren had already adjusted the schedule and Hua Jie could announce changes to the medical section on her own authority, that part was within her power. What was not within her power was the part of the curriculum managed by Chou Wen. Who were those students? Lingdang had formerly been a slave of the Suoning family. To declare someone “no longer a slave” was like freeing a servant — in name they became a commoner, but in practice it took several more generations before people forgot.

Lingdang also looked at Zhù Ying with anxiety in her eyes. “Your Excellency, I can study well. Once I have studied well, I will do whatever you ask of me.”

Zhù Ying reached into the drawer and produced a small notebook. “If you are to attend school properly, everyone needs to take a formal name — may I give you one as well? Your little name can still be Lingdang.”

Hua Jie smiled. “That would be wonderful.”

Lingdang also said happily, “Yes! You have already given me a family name — please give me a given name too.” Before this she had only known that belonging to a certain family was a kind of belonging — “I am of the Zhù household” had meant she had come under Zhù Ying’s protection. In the months since coming down from the mountains, she had gradually come to understand that it was a little different from what she had imagined. To have a name given was to be brought a little closer.

She was glad of it, in her heart.

Zhù Ying lifted her brush and wrote three characters in the notebook. She blew gently on the ink, then handed it to Lingdang and said, “You have new coursework now — and you need a new notebook to go with it. Once your schedule has been adjusted, take this and go find Chou Wen for class. Can you read these characters?”

“Yes.” Lingdang took the notebook and read out the characters one by one: “Zhù Qingjun.”

Hua Jie, Du Dajie, and Hu Shijie were all happy for Lingdang. Hua Jie said, “Now I can sleep easy.”

Zhù Ying said, “Everyone go and get a good night’s rest. Now that Lingdang has more courses to study, make sure she’s stocked with extra writing supplies from now on.”

Lingdang held the notebook to her chest and bowed three respectful bows to Zhù Ying.

Zhù Ying said, “Off you all go.”

Hua Jie had added one more student to the foreign academy. On another front, Su Mingluan was having a long talk with her daughter.

Su Mingluan first asked carefully about everything that had happened during the journey to the capital. When she heard that her daughter had asked for a sword herself and that Zhù Ying had not been displeased, she said, “We were right about your grandfather. Your grandfather is your grandfather; the Emperor is the Emperor; and the other people at court are the other people at court. Don’t let your grandfather’s goodness lead you to trust everyone else in the lowlands!”

Su Zhe wrinkled her nose. “Mama, I know. Those people — hmph!”

Su Mingluan smiled, then asked about the Western Tribes. Su Zhe showed her the silver cup she had received in trade. “I think I heard about the Western Tribes when I was little — they’re in the north, very far from us.”

Su Mingluan said, “That’s right, but that doesn’t mean you hear nothing of them. Between us and them, and between us and the capital, I’m not even sure which is closer — though the road is harder, all mountains. They wanted tea?”

“Yes, but they lost interest afterward — they said it was too far away.”

Su Mingluan sighed, then looked at the silver cup again and said, “Indeed. If they were a bit closer, our tea could buy us much more.”

“Since they’re so far away, do we stop trading with the lowlanders?”

Su Mingluan smiled a little. “You’ve forgotten what I told you again? Your grandfather is your grandfather; other people are other people. What if one day your grandfather is no longer the official down in the lowlands, and someone worse replaces him — what do we do then? Let them have us by the throat? We need a backup.”

“Grandfather not being here…”

Su Mingluan said, “Officials in the lowlands are subject to reassignment — it’s not like us. Weren’t you paying any attention in class?”

Su Zhe’s face went slightly blank. “But Grandfather is… different, isn’t he?”

Su Mingluan patted Su Zhe’s head. “We can’t rely on your grandfather alone. What if something happened to him? You wouldn’t just be unable to help him — you’d be adding to his troubles.”

“That can’t happen!”

Su Mingluan said, “Which is why you need to learn as many skills as you can right now. Do you want to attend the foreign academy?”

Su Zhe had her own reservations. “Mama, if I go to the foreign academy, I’ll spend more time with Grandfather but learn fewer things from home. But if I don’t go, I won’t be close to my classmates, and in the future I’ll find it hard to have people to rely on. Not having someone to back me up isn’t necessarily scary — what’s scary is everyone else banding together.”

Su Mingluan looked at her daughter. Su Zhe was twelve now, already taking on the shape of a young woman. Her daughter hadn’t grown foolish — that was a deep comfort.

She said, “Then go to the foreign academy!”

What Su Zhe had thought of, she herself had foreseen years ago — she had even discussed it with Zhù Ying. After much consideration, she had made this decision: her family’s connection with Zhù Ying was close, so anything she didn’t understand could be asked about directly. The people at the foreign academy, however, were people one couldn’t afford not to get to know.

“Since you’re going to school, you should go properly — I want you to board!” Su Mingluan said. “I’ve already asked around. The girls stay with the medical section; that’s where your aunt is in charge.”

“Aunt doesn’t live there.”

“It’s close enough. It’s not like being away from home.”

“All right.”

The next day, Su Mingluan brought her daughter to Zhù Ying and made it explicit that she was sending her daughter to the foreign academy — and that she wanted her to board.

Zhù Ying said, “No servants allowed at the foreign academy.”

Su Mingluan said, “Of course — she goes alone, no servants. She’s old enough. I’ll keep two attendants at the residence, and that should be fine.” She was taking back the older serving women, but the younger ones she was leaving at the Zhù household. Because the foreign academy had one rest day in ten, she hoped Su Zhe could still stay over on that day. During the longer holidays, she would go back up the mountain.

Zhù Ying said, “That’s fine.”

Zhù Ying found herself thinking of Lingdang again. Lingdang was a year or two younger than Su Zhe — better to let Lingdang stay for another year, and discuss boarding next year.

Lang Kunwu and the others hadn’t yet heard about any of this. He questioned his son and his son’s attendants and learned that the journey to the capital had gone well, with Zhù Ying taking care of everything along the way. He also heard that within the court, they had not received the most attention — several other foreign peoples had been placed ahead of them — and felt somewhat deflated.

He thought to himself: In the future, unless our Adoptive Father accompanies us, we won’t go up to the capital again! We’ve seen what there is to see. No need to go back and suffer.

The gifts from the rear compound had already been sorted and packed. Zhù Ying distributed them one by one. Those who had not come, such as the Elderly Lady Su and the Elderly Lady Lang, also had gifts. Su Mingluan then had her older serving women pack up the luggage, and asked Hua Jie to help check what kind of things Su Zhe would need to bring when she boarded at the foreign academy.

Hua Jie passed this task to Wu Ren and Lingdang. These two were students themselves and understood the boarding situation better than she did — even if they themselves did not board.

Su Mingluan and Lang Kunwu both returned home with their children in tow, agreeing to meet again at the villa in the fourth month.

The day after they left Wuzhou and headed back into the mountains was the day Lingdang began attending the foreign academy.

That morning, Zhù Ying finished the morning meeting and kept Chou Wen back for a word: “Education recognizes no distinctions. I am entrusting Qingjun to you as well — treat her the same as the other students. She’s just starting out, and her coursework may lag a little at first. Keep an eye on how she’s getting along.”

Chou Wen had no particular feelings one way or the other about girls attending school. There were already several female students at the foreign academy; one more from the Prefect was no concern. Zhù Ying personally teaching Su Zhe was something he could understand the significance of.

But Zhù… Qingjun?

The one brought down from the mountains, formerly of the Suoning household? Was there deeper meaning to it? There probably was. Your Excellency always had good reasons for what she did.

Chou Wen accepted the arrangement.

Having settled the matter of Zhù Qingjun, she tended to a few official duties, then went to the back of the compound to check on Zhù Lian’s schoolwork.

Zhù Lian first handed in the previous day’s work, then knelt down.

Zhù Ying asked, “What is it?”

Zhù Lian said, “Teacher, please arrange some duties for me as well.”

“What brings this up all of a sudden?”

Zhù Lian said, “Everyone has something to do. I can do things too. It won’t interfere with my reading. Every day it’s just reading, then eating, playing, and sleeping — that’s all comfort and ease. No one else lives like that. Before, I could say it was because I was too young. But now I’m not that young anymore. I can do things.”