The imperial audience did not last long. Before very much time had passed, Zhù Ying withdrew from the hall. As she came out, she had gained the title of Junior Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial — but she could not go to the Court of State Ceremonial just yet, for she had not yet received her official letter of appointment.

Zhù Ying therefore went nowhere at all first, and returned directly home.

It was not a rest day, and the important people she knew all had their own duties to attend to and were not at home. Zhù Ying was in no hurry to socialize. She took Zhù Lian and the others with her to go and inspect the new mansion.

The mansion was well situated, being somewhat closer to the Imperial City. Among the notable neighbors in the same ward was Xian Jing.

The mansion Xiang Da’lang had acquired for Zhù Ying was built to the standards befitting a fourth-rank official. It could not compare to the grand estates that occupied a dozen or more acres where one might even go boating on private ponds, but it was considerably larger than the house Zhù Ying had built for herself.

A three-courtyard compound. The front residence and rear garden, servants’ quarters, stables, storerooms, a treasury, kitchens, and the like were all neatly laid out, with pavilions, terraces, and towers all present. There were already two horses in the stables, looking rather fine. The storerooms held grain and flour, and the treasury was stocked with silks, copper coins, and seasonal decorative pieces not currently in use.

Perhaps having observed that Zhù Ying’s own home was a multi-story building, Xiang Da’lang had specifically chosen a rear courtyard with a tower structure. The interior furnishings had also been fully arranged, modeled after the style of Zhù Ying’s original home, with an appropriately “antique and unadorned” character. He had also specially prepared a spacious study for Zhù Ying, complete with a broad front courtyard suitable for martial practice.

Xiang Da’lang had not anticipated that Zhang Xiangu, Zhù Da, and Huajie would not be returning to the capital this time, so he had furnished rooms for all three of them as well. And because the Zhù family’s original home had a swing frame, he had erected one in the new mansion’s garden.

The garden in the new mansion was not located behind the house but on the western side of the estate. There was only a small pond, but a charming little waterside pavilion had been carefully constructed beside it.

The servants’ quarters were built to one side and were not intermingled with the main house, avoiding confusion between master and servant.

For a mansion of this size, servants were indispensable.

After inspecting the residence, Xiang Da’lang led Zhù Ying to the main hall to be seated. Below, the servants gathered — men in one group, women in another — all coming to pay their respects with a bow. Xiang Da’lang presented the household register to Zhù Ying: “There are seventeen people, men and women together, all present here. Whoever you find suitable, you may keep.” Among these servants there were already heads, but Xiang Da’lang made no mention of the positions he had previously assigned them. He did, however, point to one man among them, noting that he was literate and could handle accounts.

Zhù Ying looked in that direction. The man’s surname was Zhao, given name Ji, around forty years of age, his dress clean and presentable, his eyes fixed on Zhù Ying with an eager gleam. His wife was the head of the female servants, with a basic command of reading and writing as well.

They also had a son and a daughter, the whole family residing in the mansion. Besides these four, there were two cook-women, each with two kitchen girls to assist with fire-tending. The cook-women had also been left behind by a retired capital official. Two gardeners — a master and apprentice — the elder around fifty and the younger just fifteen. The mansion’s garden was not large, and the two managed it well enough. Since the purchase of the mansion, the pair had been tending to the plants and trees throughout.

Beyond these, there were two gatekeepers. The remaining five — three men and two women — were the general cleaners and laborers for the various quarters.

Xiang Da’lang knew that the Zhù household already had its own trusted servants, and had no wish to create friction with Hou Wu or Du Dajie.

Zhù Ying said: “They all appear to be capable people, but I do not need this many.”

She had brought twenty people from the estate — ten men and ten women — all bearing the Zhù surname, and within her own mansion these people naturally took precedence. The people Xiang Da’lang had found all appeared acceptable, but taken together, in a single mansion with one mistress and one student Zhù Lian, plus Qi Tai lodging in her home and a “house guest” in the form of Hu Shijie — that was at most four or five residents between them — and yet they would have thirty-seven servants?

Qi Tai also had a personal attendant boy he had brought back from Wuzhou — that made thirty-eight.

Far too extravagant.

The servants standing below felt their hearts tighten with anxiety. As a servant, naturally one hoped for a master of greater standing. Beyond that, one hoped for a master who was kind, with a simple household. Here, a “newly distinguished” mansion, with only four or five people in the household — it could not have been a more desirable situation. The eyes looking up at Zhù Ying were filled with pleading.

Xiang Da’lang stepped forward and asked Zhù Ying: “What are your instructions?”

Zhù Ying said: “Let the cook-women prepare a meal first. I have looked over the garden, so the gardeners may stay as well.” Of the seventeen, she kept only six workers. For the gatekeepers, she also did not intend to use outsiders, designating two of the men among her personal attendants to fill the role temporarily.

Xiang Da’lang assented, and Xiang An sorted out the ownership documents for the others. Zhù Ying said: “The remaining people — please make suitable arrangements for them.”

Xiang Da’lang said: “Yes!” He waved a hand at the others, and though longing still lingered in the eyes of Zhao Ji and the rest, they reluctantly withdrew to their rooms to pack their belongings.

Zhù Ying turned to Xiang Da’lang and said: “You have worked hard these past days. Going forward, I will be quite occupied. Er’lang and Third Sister, I need you to stay and help.”

All three siblings quickly said: “Whatever you command.”

Zhù Ying said: “Someone must be left to look after the old residence and handle the news of the move. The new mansion also needs to be put in order — I need you to help with preparations, as I must host banquets in these coming days. I must entertain old colleagues and acquaintances. They will also be sending gifts. The invitation cards — Er’lang and A’Lian will copy them out. The accounts of gifts coming and going — Third Sister will take charge first.”

“Yes.”

Zhù Ying then turned to Xiang Da’lang: “The Guild Hall — you must also make proper arrangements. That matter, I will not inquire into in detail.”

Xiang Da’lang hastily agreed. Once the kitchen had prepared several tables of food, Zhù Ying tasted each dish in turn and said: “These will do well enough. No need for such extravagance at everyday meals.”

Seeing that she was reasonably satisfied, Xiang Da’lang finally left behind the keys and the like, and departed with the servants Zhù Ying had not retained.

The moment he was gone, Zhù Ying issued several orders: “Close the gates!”

Then she roughly organized the remaining staff. The ten male and ten female personal guards already had their own chiefs from their time in Wuzhou. Among the women, it was Zhù Yin — a capable woman who had previously accompanied Zhù Ying to the capital. Among the men, it was one called Zhù Wen, so named because he had learned to read comparatively quickly.

After that, she personally searched the entire mansion, checking for any vulnerabilities. She then arranged shifts for the guards and servants, organizing day and night watch duties and other security matters. She restated the household rules and regulations. Everyone was assigned to their respective duties; the inner and outer quarters were kept separate, and no outsiders were to be brought into the mansion.

New locks were also purchased. Only her quarters and Zhù Lian’s quarters in the rear courtyard were currently occupied — the many rooms were not needed, so the furnishings in the rooms Xiang Da’lang had prepared for Zhù Da and the others were put in storage, and the windows and doors locked shut.

Qi Tai and Hu Shijie resided in the front guest rooms. Xiang An and Xiang Le also had their own lodgings in the guest courtyard. Xiang An had brought with her the girl A’Jin whom she was very fond of, and Xiang Le had his own personal attendant boy. The remaining surplus rooms were also locked up.

Taking this opportunity, all the old locks were replaced with new ones, rendering the keys Xiang Da’lang had handed over useless.

The last task was to have the portion of the luggage remaining in the old residence transported to the new mansion. She assigned Ding Gui and three others to take turns guarding the old residence in two shifts, and to inform any visitors of the new mansion’s location.

Finally, she fetched a basket from the old residence, lined it with a floral cloth, placed the tabby cat inside, and carried it to her bedroom.

——

Zhù Ying managed everything herself, with clear and methodical organization. The household affairs were not overly complex. After several trips back and forth throughout the day, by the time evening fell, she was already in the new mansion, eating the dinner prepared by the cook-woman Li Daniang and her daughter.

Li Daniang had originally been a cook-woman for a family of officials and nobility. Her skills, though they could not compare to the Zheng family’s kitchen, were a great many levels above what Du Dajie was capable of. Her one fault was that she was somewhat lavish with ingredients. Whenever she cooked, she demanded the finest materials — rice had to be from the newest harvest of the year, meat had to be freshly slaughtered that day, and vegetables had to have been beautiful-looking even when first purchased.

The mother and daughter were primarily responsible for the meals of Zhù Ying and Zhù Lian, and also prepared food for Qi Tai and Hu Shijie. The guards had a separate large kitchen, where they took turns cooking on a rotating schedule.

After dinner, Zhù Ying did not rest. She sat with Zhù Lian and Xiang Le, continuing to write invitation cards. Some cards required her own personal hand. Qi Tai, having nothing better to do, helped Xiang An take inventory of Zhù Ying’s household possessions.

Beyond what had been brought from Wuzhou, there was also a considerable amount that Xiang Da’lang had placed in the mansion. The two began drawing up accounts.

Qi Tai had no anxiety about his own future. When Zhù Ying told him to return to the capital with her, he had packed his bags and followed without even asking what he would be doing in the capital. Even now he showed no sign of alarm — as long as he could see Zhù Ying sitting at the head of the table, he felt no inclination to worry about anything.

He said to Xiang An with a faintly regretful air: “If that girl from the Wu family were here, we would all have so much less to worry about.”

Zhù Ying replied: “She needs to stay and assist Elder Sister. Do not set your eyes on her.”

The whole household was busy at this, when a pounding came at the front gate — Ding Gui had arrived.

Ding Gui had barely entered the new mansion when he thought: Now this is what a proper official’s home ought to look like! The old place was far too small!

Zhù Wen brought him to Zhù Ying’s study. Ding Gui stepped forward and gave a quick bow, then rattled off briskly: “Your Honor, there are replies from Zheng Hou’s household, Chancellor Wang’s household, Chancellor Shi’s household, Prince Guanning’s household, Princess Yongping’s household…”

He rattled off a great many names in a single breath, until he had grown rather numb from announcing them.

Zhù Ying said: “Did you inform them that I have moved?”

“All visitors were told.”

Zhù Ying calmly said: “Bring the cards for me to look at.”

She had not sent an invitation card to Princess Yongping’s household — this princess had rather well-informed sources. She went through the cards in order. Reading Princess Yongping’s card, she saw that Luo Sheng’s name was also written on it. The princess and her husband had formally invited Zhù Ying to a dinner banquet at the princess’s residence the following evening.

Zhù Ying finished reading all the cards and said to Ding Gui: “Tomorrow, make a trip to the Princess’s residence.” A reply card had to be sent informing the princess she would attend.

Ding Gui agreed, and seemed to want to say something, but held back. Zhù Ying asked: “Is there something else?”

Ding Gui asked in a low voice: “Your Honor, will Niu Jin, myself, and the other three… will we just be guarding the old residence? When will we come to serve at the new mansion?”

Zhù Ying laughed: “Trying to pry something out of me?”

Ding Gui hastily said: “Whatever small skill I have amounts to nothing in your eyes. You have always planned everything more thoroughly than we can.”

Zhù Ying said: “Good. Now go and carry out your duties well, and be courteous when you deliver the card tomorrow.”

“Yes, yes.”

Zhù Ying wrote two cards on the spot — one she gave to Ding Gui, to be delivered to the Princess’s residence the next day. The other she gave to Zhù Wen, to be sent to Xian Jing’s residence when he saw Ding Gui out the door. The Xian residence was now in the same ward as hers, and warranted an extra invitation card as a gesture of goodwill.

——

The next day, the great bell of the capital rang out and Zhù Ying snapped her eyes open — that sound was indeed familiar.

When she rose to dress, a maidservant named Zhù Hong carried in water. Zhù Ying said: “Set it there. I can manage myself.”

Her whole household was accustomed to doing things for themselves, so Zhù Hong found nothing unusual in this. She set down the basin and said: “Where would you like to have breakfast, Your Honor?”

Zhù Ying said: “Bring it here.”

“Yes.”

In the midst of this exchange, Zhù Lian also rose and came to wish her teacher good morning. Zhù Ying said: “Eat early as well. We have more to keep us busy shortly.”

“Yes!”

Zhù Ying had several things arranged for the day: first, to await the formal appointment document from the court; second, to continue her inspection of the new mansion; and finally, to prepare gifts. In the evening, she would need to go to the Princess’s residence.

If her estimation was correct, this morning, everyone in the Imperial City would already know she was to be Junior Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial.

Since she needed to await word from the court, she could not wander about freely. After breakfast, she first paid a visit to the Xian Jing residence to introduce herself as a new neighbor. Xian Jing had gone to morning court, but his wife was at home. Zhù Ying asked to call upon the lady of the house as well — she merely needed to show her face at the Xian residence. She returned to continue setting her mansion in order, checking each lock again one by one, then drew herself up and leaped to the rooftop to survey the surrounding terrain from above.

Before midday, a messenger duly arrived from the Imperial City with her formal appointment.

Junior Minister was of the upper fourth rank. Her current official attire needed little modification — with only slight adjustments she was ready to go to the Imperial City. Zhù Ying first gave the messenger a red envelope. The man was an official from the Central Secretariat; in such circumstances he accepted it without ceremony.

Upon arriving at the Imperial City, she re-registered her entry pass, then went first to see the emperor.

The emperor did not find her visit a bother. He gave her a thorough look and offered her a seat. Then, smiling, he said toward the back of a decorative screen: “Look — she is here. You may now set your mind at ease.”

Zhù Ying followed the emperor’s gaze. Behind a cloud-mica decorative screen, faint shadowy figures were just barely visible. From the lower edge of the screen, it appeared to be several women.

The screen was tapped twice from behind. No voice came from behind it. The emperor smiled again and said to Zhù Ying: “You must serve the Prince Consort diligently at the Court of State Ceremonial!”

Zhù Ying said: “Would I dare be negligent?”

The emperor was in rather good spirits and bestowed upon Zhù Ying several bolts of silk and some writing implements before dismissing her.

Zhù Ying surmised that the person behind the screen was most likely Princess Yongping. She did not make it apparent, and turned next to the Political Affairs Council to receive instructions from Wang Yunhe and Shi Kun.

There were many in the Political Affairs Council who recognized her, and upon seeing her called out: “Congratulations.”

Zhù Ying also smiled and said: “Congratulations to you all as well.”

In the Political Affairs Council, both Wang Yunhe and Shi Kun had received Zhù Ying’s visiting cards two days prior. By the time the cards arrived it was already late in the day, and both men’s schedules were full. Thinking that Zhù Ying had no pressing matters requiring urgent attention, neither had summoned her for an urgent late-night briefing.

Unexpectedly, the following day the emperor had suddenly summoned Zhù Ying to the palace. The Chief Ministers had not been aware of the audience at the time. By the time they learned of it, the emperor had already sent a written note informing them that he had decided to appoint Zhù Ying as Junior Minister of the Court of State Ceremonial, urging them to issue the documentation promptly.

Both Chief Ministers were somewhat displeased. Zhù Ying had been placed in local office by them, and had served with distinction. Looking at Zhù Ying, they could not help but feel the warmth of seeing their own handiwork — like craftsmen inspecting a masterwork. With such feeling came a reluctance to see the “work” suffer any unintended damage before its completion. Moving her to a larger prefecture — that had been the tacitly understood intention of both men.

Both were seasoned veterans in the art of politics. With Zheng Xi having taken the post of Capital Prefect, Zhù Ying’s position — even without returning to the capital — was already one where she could advance or retreat as she pleased. This was precisely the moment: with the north in such a sorry state, sending her there, giving her a large upper-ranked prefecture, to straighten things out properly.

How fitting!

But the emperor had recalled her. When the Chief Ministers asked, the emperor said: “She has been there long enough. It is time for her to come back.”

They put forward suggestions for Zhù Ying’s new post. The emperor said: “I have my own arrangements.”

What arrangements?

The emperor said nothing further. Until he sent them that note.

With a single note from the emperor, the Chief Ministers had to clean up after him. Zhù Ying had long since negotiated her terms with the Political Affairs Council — she could not be transferred as a bare commander without a single assistant. If they wanted to transfer her, she would bring Qi Tai and the others with her. The Political Affairs Council had not only had to manage Zhù Ying’s appointment — it had now also had to squeeze Qi Tai into a position in the Court of State Ceremonial! This transfer had created quite a stir.

And today, Zhù Ying had appeared before them, new and proper in her official attire.

After the formalities of greeting were exchanged, Wang Yunhe had Zhù Ying sit down and asked: “Was the journey comfortable?”

Zhù Ying replied: “Quite comfortable. I took the land route and stopped on the way to visit my hometown and pay respects at the ancestral graves.”

The matter of the imperial audience could not be asked about too directly, so Shi Kun said: “You were personally summoned back by His Majesty — do not fail to live up to his imperial grace.”

Zhù Ying promptly answered: “Yes.”

Wang Yunhe had intended to offer words of guidance, but then thought over everything Zhù Ying had accomplished these past years and swallowed back all his advice, offering only a few conventional words.

Zhù Ying complied with all of them. Seeing that the Chief Ministers had not raised any specific matters, Zhù Ying brought up the subject of Qi Tai: “You cannot send me to the Court of State Ceremonial alone, can you, Chancellor?”

Wang Yunhe said with some irritation: “As if I would forget! Is it not that Qi Tai?!”

Having received this reproach, Zhù Ying’s smile did not waver: “He is lodging in my home. If I see no official letter of appointment for him, I will have to go and ask the Ministry of Personnel about it?”

“Go on, go on, then.”

——

Zhù Ying had never met Yao Chen before. Yao Chen looked somewhat younger than his actual age but had a prominent belly and kept a fine beard, very much matching the imagined appearance of a senior court official.

Zhù Ying bowed in greeting. Yao Chen smiled pleasantly: “Junior Minister, newly appointed — congratulations!”

“You are too kind, Minister.”

“Please sit.”

Zhù Ying thanked him for the seat. Tea was brought, and the two exchanged pleasantries. Yao Chen smiled and asked: “Newly appointed as Junior Minister, why have you not gone to the Court of State Ceremonial to familiarize yourself with affairs, and come instead to my Ministry of Personnel?”

Zhù Ying smiled: “Whatever the matter, it is always about people. And wherever matters of people are concerned, they all fall within your jurisdiction, Minister. This is precisely why I have come to you.”

“What is it that requires the word ‘come to’?”

“Unfamiliar with my colleagues.” Zhù Ying explained — she wished to borrow from the Ministry of Personnel the personnel dossiers of the Court of State Ceremonial’s staff.

Yao Chen said: “Ah, that is easily arranged.”

Zhù Ying hastily thanked him, and also raised the matter of Qi Tai.

Yao Chen raised an eyebrow: “If the Junior Minister holds this person in such regard, he must be a man of considerable ability?”

Zhù Ying smiled: “Whether or not he is capable is a matter of perspective. I find him easy to work with and that makes him a good man to have — as the fish knows whether the water is warm or cold, so do I.”

Yao Chen said: “That is indeed the way of it.” He also said that the Political Affairs Council had already submitted the paperwork, and the Ministry of Personnel had completed the formalities for Qi Tai. However, Qi Tai could not be located just then, but since Zhù Ying had appeared, the matter could be settled today.

He then had someone bring out the dossiers of the Court of State Ceremonial’s staff for Zhù Ying to review.

After reading through the dossiers and thanking Yao Chen, Zhù Ying left the Imperial City and went directly to the office of the Capital Prefect — court had not yet adjourned, and she needed to see Zheng Xi before going to the Princess’s residence.

Zheng Xi asked with surprise: “Zhù Ying? Why has she come here?”

Lu Chao laughed: “Perhaps she could not wait to pay her respects at your residence?” Even as he said it, he thought it rather unlikely.

Zheng Xi said: “Invite her in.”

The layout of the Capital Prefect’s office had not changed greatly. Zheng Xi’s family did not reside here; the rear quarters served only as a place to rest. Lu Chao accompanied Zhù Ying inside, offering congratulations along the way. Zhù Ying replied: “Congratulations to you as well.”

Zheng Xi received Zhù Ying in the rear quarters. This meeting was different from their previous hurried encounters. Now that Zhù Ying had an official post in the Court of State Ceremonial and would be staying in the capital long-term, Zheng Xi looked her over from head to toe with great care and said with feeling: “You are finally back.”

Zhù Ying replied: “The way you say that, it sounds as though I have come through a thousand trials and tribulations.”

Zheng Xi laughed: “You are always like this. No matter how difficult the task, it is all like a breeze passing by your ear, utterly untroubling.”

“Troubling over it would do no good, and only put me in a foul mood. Deal with what needs dealing with; sleep when there is nothing to deal with. How great an affair can it be?”

Zheng Xi said: “Only those capable of real achievement have the confidence to say such things. No wonder Princess Anjin made a special trip to the old lady at home, asking me to remind you to assist Prince Consort Luo well.”

Zhù Ying said with surprise: “Princess Anjin? Not Princess Yongping?”

Zheng Xi said: “So she too has gotten involved!”

Zhù Ying said: “Of the others I am not aware, but yesterday I actually received a card from Princess Yongping, inviting me to a banquet at her residence this evening.”

Zheng Xi said seriously: “His Majesty dotes greatly on this daughter. Many people are eager to cultivate a relationship with her. You need to think carefully.”

“The Princess is my superior’s wife.”

Zheng Xi laughed: “You clever little fox! That is exactly the right way to think about it. Even though His Majesty dotes on this daughter, matters of state affairs may not necessarily be swayed by a single word from her. What ultimately matters is whether His Majesty considers it feasible. Do not lose your sense of priority — do not fix your eyes on a woman’s coattails.”

“That I cannot do — fixing one’s eyes on a woman’s coattails would make one a scoundrel.”

Zheng Xi felt that Zhù Ying’s return had put him in a markedly better mood. He made a feigned gesture at her several times, then lowered his hand and asked: “They came back and said you have moved. How is the household? Are you managing?”

“Just myself — everything is already moved.”

“Oh?”

“My father suffered an old injury in his youth, and with advancing age his ailments have worsened. He has come to place great faith in spiritual cultivation and finds the mountains of Wuzhou peaceful and serene, insisting on retreating there for meditation. My mother had no choice but to stay behind to look after him. At present it is only me.”

Hearing anything about Zhù Da gave Zheng Xi a headache. That wretched spirit-medium, truly unaltered at heart — after ruining his son’s marriage he still wanted to pursue immortality? He almost wanted to ask Zhù Da how he had raised such a fine son for twenty years on a comfortable life yet could not keep himself in good health — then suddenly remembered: ah, right, Zhù Da had been convicted of a crime. He had been subjected to punishment.

For a moment Zheng Xi found himself at a loss for words.

Outside, the curfew drum began to sound. Zheng Xi said: “Are you not going to Princess Yongping’s? You should be on your way.”

Zhù Ying held out her palm: “Your Honor, a pass, if you please.”