Lin Feng and Xiang Le were old acquaintances. At the sight of each other, both broke into smiles: “Second Brother Xiang!”
Xiang Le said: “I finally caught you — come, quickly!”
Lin Feng’s attire had already drawn quite a few stares. Xiang Le hurriedly pulled him to one side and asked in a low voice: “And the others?”
“Haven’t they arrived yet?”
Xiang Le said: “Wuxing has already arrived. The other three have not yet come. Do you not know when they will arrive either?”
Lin Feng shook his head. Xiang Le said to the Capital Governor’s constables: “Thank you for your trouble, everyone. The attire of the other few is similar to what he is wearing. I need to send him to the residence first.”
The constables all laughed and said: “Second Young Master, go right ahead — we know what to look for.” They also cast a somewhat curious look at Lin Feng. Lin Feng’s youth combined with his clothing gave him, in their eyes, a sort of guileless, slightly bumpkin-ish quality. He was different from Wuxing — he had also brought a servant along. The two of them, master and attendant, looked a bit like the carefree, slightly dim-witted young son of a rural minor landowner, trailing along with a not-particularly-bright and rather hapless little manservant.
Xiang Le dragged Lin Feng back to the Zhù residence. It was Lin Feng’s first visit. He looked around in all directions and said: “This place is larger than that residence, but somehow not as comfortable to look at. That one had more towers.”
Xiang Le said: “Big has its merits, small has its merits — this is where we live now.”
He led Lin Feng to a guest room and said: “The honored official has been busy every single day recently. She has been waiting for you and told me to bring you back here once you arrived. Now you should settle in first. There are also some things she needs to ask you.”
“What things?”
Xiang Le said: “Wuxing brought the letters and they have all arrived — the full story is known. But the honored official says: the commotion you all made was enormous — five routes of messengers to the capital, and in the end every single one of you arrived safely without meeting any danger at all. It does not look right. It is as though everyone had been holding their breath for something exciting to happen, and then all that came of it was a great cannon blast — a bang, and then nothing. Since you are the one who will be staying, the other three routes should stay hidden, as though they never made it to the capital. Wuxing has already gone out to find people. Think carefully — is there anything else they might say or do that could give things away?”
Lin Feng shook his head: “No. Are you saying we did not play our parts convincingly enough?”
“With the honored official here, don’t worry. Get some rest first.”
“All right.” Lin Feng agreed.
Xiang Le asked: “The memorial and letters?”
Lin Feng patted his chest: “I need to deliver them to Adoptive Father myself.”
Xiang Le’s expression did not change: “Very well. I will go tell the kitchen to prepare food for you.”
Lin Feng settled in at the Zhù residence, everything in its proper place, and ate until he was comfortably full, then fell immediately asleep. When the sky was almost dark, Zhù Ying returned home. One of the residence’s guards came to wake him; he jolted awake, momentarily disoriented: “Where is this — oh! Adoptive Father!”
He shuffled out in his shoes. Once he cleared the courtyard, the cold air hit him, and his servant came running behind, carrying a cloak to drape over his shoulders. The two of them were heading toward the study when Xiang Le intercepted them: “Little Young Master Lin — in that outfit…”
Lin Feng immediately said: “I — I will go change right now!”
Xiang Le said: “No need to rush. Just make sure you put on the right clothes — I will come with you.” He followed him back to his room and took a winter outfit from one of the cabinets: “This is newly made.” With the new year approaching, the household had been making winter garments anyway, and knowing he was coming, they had appropriated a set from Zhù Lian’s wardrobe in advance.
Lin Feng fumbled with the clothes a little awkwardly. Xiang Le said: “Truly, there is no rush — the honored official also needs time to go back and change first.”
Zhù Ying had already returned to her room, changed her clothes, and called for Zhù Qingjun: “Change your clothes — your teachers will be coming shortly.”
Zhù Qingjun quickly asked: “What teachers? And what clothes should I change into?”
“A cloak is fine; just change what is underneath into what Jiaming brought for you yesterday. Once you are dressed, come to the front. As for the teachers — I have arranged for them to teach you about the law. What else you can learn from them is up to your own abilities.”
Zhù Qingjun was very happy. When she had come, Huajie had urged her to study earnestly under Zhù Ying’s guidance. She also knew how incredibly busy Zhù Ying was, and that learning by shadowing her as one would in a border studies school was nearly impossible. That Zhù Ying had specifically arranged teachers for her moved her deeply, and she gave a solemn nod: “Yes. I will study hard.”
Su Jiaming’s shop carried Ying tribal clothing; Zhù Ying had Su Jiaming bring over two sets. Zhù Qingjun did not understand why, but obediently went to change.
Changed and dressed, she went to the front hall, only to find two women seated there in green-toned official-adjacent garments. The sight stirred a faint warmth of familiarity in Zhù Qingjun’s heart — she recognized this kind of clothing. Back in Wuzhou, Huajie and Xiao Jiang wore such garments regularly: not exactly official uniforms, but carrying a slight official air. And there was something about the bearing of these women that felt a little bit similar as well.
She stepped forward: “Honored official.”
Zhù Ying said to Wu Xiang and Cui Jiacheng: “She is here. This is her.”
Wu Xiang and Cui Jiacheng could be said to owe their current positions entirely to Zhù Ying’s hand. Over a decade had passed, and neither had forgotten her — she was never left out of any gathering. Neither had risen in official rank, but their day-to-day lives were considerably better than they would have been confined to the inner household. For Cui Jiacheng, she had children, sons and daughters both, and through Zhù Ying’s help — being included in gatherings with various officials — her children had gained a measure of social connections. Wu Xiang needed no further mention — a widow raising a child alone, she had managed to hold things together precisely because of this.
So when Zhù Ying sent a name card, both had come without hesitation. They also apologized: “Yesterday I did not receive the card until after the curfew had already begun, and this morning I had to appear for duty — forgive us for arriving late.”
Zhù Ying said: “No rush at all. I have a matter to entrust to you.”
Neither woman asked what the matter was before saying: “Please give your instructions, honored official.”
Zhù Ying said to them: “I have a female student here, and I would like to ask you both to teach her.”
Hearing these words, Wu Xiang was fine; but Cui Jiacheng felt a small pang of unease in her heart. A female student, to be taught by them — that would mean… law? Was she perhaps being arranged into the Court of Judicial Review? That would create a conflict with Cui Jiacheng’s own plans. Her daughter was not young anymore, and the official posts available to women were only so many. Cui Jiacheng’s hope was that her own daughter — or granddaughter — would eventually take over her own position.
Having attained office herself, she understood the advantages better than most. Official positions did not pass by heredity now, but with the benefit of “family learning,” her own family held an edge over “outsiders.” If Zhù Ying was placing someone, she would certainly win out over any competition. Cui Jiacheng worried a little for her own descendants.
The thought flashed past — and then she felt the back of her neck grow hot. How could I have harbored such small-minded thoughts?
When Zhù Qingjun arrived, and Cui Jiacheng saw the girl’s attire clearly, her cheeks grew warm as well. Zhù Qingjun’s clothing was plainly that of a tribal person from somewhere in the south. Thinking of Zhù Ying’s past record, one could place that as Wuzhou’s “tribal people.” This person, in all likelihood eight or nine chances out of ten, would be returning to the south — no conflict with her own people at all.
What a small and petty heart she had had.
Zhù Ying said: “This is Qingjun. Qingjun — these two are the teachers I have arranged for you.”
Zhù Qingjun stepped forward and made a bow. Her manners looked quite presentable.
Zhù Ying said: “She came on her mother’s instructions to pay a visit to me, and fell ill the very day she arrived, making it unwise for her to travel again. This child has time on her hands, and it would be a waste not to use it well. As she is a young woman, I thought of the two of you. First, let her learn something while her body recovers. I ask you both to be her teachers and instruct her in the law and in the methods the Court of Judicial Review uses to examine cases.”
Cui Jiacheng broke from her usual reserve and spoke first: “At one glance, this young lady has the appearance of great intelligence. With the honored official as a shining example before us, we would not dare claim to teach — but to walk through the statutes and discuss them should be manageable.”
Wu Xiang glanced at her; Cui Jiacheng did not notice. Wu Xiang also said: “It is always a good thing for a young lady to learn more. We only fear that our modest abilities would be a case of displaying an axe before the master craftsman.”
Zhù Ying said: “Having never set it down is already better than most. In the past I used to personally handle investigations and adjudicate cases. Later on, the cases that came to my hands became fewer.”
After she became governor, more of her energy had to be devoted to civil administration, and entering the mountains became more frequent. Now, posted at the Court of Dependencies, the matters she dealt with had almost no connection to investigating and adjudicating cases.
The group shared a moment of mutual feeling. Zhù Ying said: “If you agree, shall we settle the matter now?”
Both agreed immediately. Although what they would be doing was the work of a prison official, neither had abandoned their study of the legal statutes. Each had her own areas of expertise, and since they took turns on night-duty rotations — each completing a round of night watch before being granted an extra rest day — Zhù Qingjun was to visit them on alternating three-day intervals at their respective homes, and the rest of the time she would complete at the Zhù residence whatever coursework her teachers assigned.
Once the arrangement was settled, Zhù Ying also brought out prepared money and silk as tuition payment for the two of them. They moved to decline; Zhù Ying said: “This cannot be refused.”
Wu Xiang was more gracious than Cui Jiacheng: “In that case, I accept — though with some embarrassment.”
Cui Jiacheng also quietly accepted. Since there was no conflict, she resolved to teach well.
After Wu and Cui departed, Zhù Ying said to Zhù Qingjun: “When you encounter coursework you don’t understand, come to me. I will also arrange another teacher for you.”
Zhù Qingjun said: “You have already spent so much on me.”
Zhù Ying said: “It is still within what I can afford.”
“I will study hard. What else will I be learning?”
“Both of them have official duties — wouldn’t that leave you with too much idle time? You have met the Buddhist nun already. I will also find you a coroner.” Old Yang the coroner was gone, but his son and disciples were all still around.
Zhù Qingjun’s eyes lit up: “I want to learn!”
“Good. First get these matters sorted out, then go get a few books from Lian to read.”
“Yes.”
Shortly afterward Zhù Lian also returned. Zhù Ying said: “Lin Feng has arrived. Your school should be going on holiday soon — spend this new year keeping each other company.”
Zhù Lian smiled: “That sounds wonderful! I never quite fit in with the people at the school.”
Zhù Ying smiled.
Lin Feng had finished changing, and Xiang Le brought him over. He came in with a bow: “Adoptive Father!”
Zhù Ying said: “Rise — let me have a look.”
He had grown taller again. Among southern people he would be considered tall, but in the north he drew no particular attention. Zhù Ying, among women, was on the taller side, and he now stood about on a level with her.
Zhù Ying said: “From now on, all of you will be living here together. Get along well — you may argue, you may squabble, but settle it on the spot and carry no grudges overnight. Do not bring household matters outside.”
All three stood attentively and gave their assent.
A little later, Wuxing returned as well.
Zhù Ying said: “Set out dinner.”
……
Following Lin Feng’s return, Zhù Ying continued directing the Capital Governor’s constables to search through the capital on one hand, while quietly dispatching people with fresh clothing to intercept the other three routes in secret on the other. Once a person was intercepted, an outer robe was exchanged, a cloak and hat put on, and the person bundled into a carriage — who would know where they had come from? People in changed clothing, brought quietly into the residence, were indistinguishable to outsiders from servants who had long been part of the Zhù household. After the new year they would set out south again, leaving no trace whatsoever. Zhù Ying retrieved all three of those memorial copies, examined them for any unusual content, and finding none, fed all three into the brazier. The copy Lin Feng carried, she took to Wang Yunhe to close the matter.
Wang Yunhe had already called Zhang Yun over for a careful and thorough questioning. What he learned matched his earlier conjecture fairly closely. The Wuzhou provincial governor was no man of violence or greed — but he was thoroughly “unsuitable.”
Wang Yunhe did not let Zhang Yun off lightly either, rebuking him squarely: “You are the Deputy Administrator. When you saw the governor doing things that were ill-judged, why did you not stop him?”
Zhang Yun answered miserably: “This official is dull-witted. I have a mouth but could not out-argue him — everything he said was backed by classical quotation.”
“What is the purpose of classical texts? If classical texts cannot translate into genuine care for the people, they are nothing but a string of obscure, incomprehensible broken characters! If you love the classics so much, why take office? Go open a private school and fool simpletons!”
Zhang Yun was dressed down so thoroughly he dared not make a sound, and simply stood there and took it.
Wang Yunhe then asked in careful detail about the state of Wuzhou’s treasury — whether it held more or less than when Zhù Ying had left, and so on. The questions had Zhang Yun breaking into a cold sweat: “That… there is somewhat less.”
“And taxes? Has the collection gone up or down?”
“That is… it has gone up a little.”
Wang Yunhe gave a cold laugh.
Zhang Yun’s inner garments were soaked through with sweat by the time he was allowed to leave the Council of State, his legs so unsteady he nearly crawled his way out.
Shi Kun strolled over and said to Wang Yunhe: “Chief Minister Wang — it is not good to use Zhù Zichang as your measuring rod. If every official combined excellence in governance with skill in education and civilization, would that not make a great universal harmony? The world is not quite there yet.”
Wang Yunhe said: “I was not comparing anyone to him.”
Shi Kun did not continue on the subject of local governance, but suddenly sighed: “Your eye has always been sharp — you recognized his worth early and gave him your own writings to read. And he did not let you down; even the people from the deep mountains of Wuzhou can recite the main points of your essays.”
Wang Yunhe looked up in surprise: “Is that so?”
“Why would he not? He is always so conscientious in everything he does.”
“Wasn’t that from Old Liu’s literacy songs?”
Shi Kun felt a tiny, faint twinge of envy. He had certainly read Wang Yunhe’s essays himself, and found much in them to agree with — but for Wuxing to be able to articulate the central arguments with some grasp of their substance, that was… a bit much, was it not? A few mildly sour words spoken, the sourness released into the air, his heart became a little more comfortable: “What I mean to say is — this kind of situation cannot be allowed to deteriorate. Just yesterday you spoke of splitting Wuzhou: the tributary counties will remain Wuzhou, and the three counties of Fulu, Sicheng, and Nanping will be made into a new prefecture — that means official appointments will need to be reshuffled. There is much to be done.”
Wang Yunhe said: “There is still time. Send the Censor out; the round trip will take several more months. Whatever the outcome, the reshuffle is inevitable!”
Shi Kun said: “The tributary county leaders have pushed their grievance all the way to this point — this governor has at minimum failed in his handling of the tributary territories, so Wuzhou must be split. Wuzhou is too far away; the Censor will be lucky to return by early summer next year. What might happen in the span of half a year? We cannot wait until then to figure out our approach — the tone needs to be set now.”
“It is fortunate that the Chief Administrator and Military Supervisor appointments have already been issued — that should reassure them for the moment,” Wang Yunhe said.
Shi Kun said: “Right now the tributary counties are short by one prefecture’s worth of officials, and most of those will still be drawn from the clan headmen — that part is manageable. Setting up the new prefecture is the harder problem.”
Wuzhou had always been graded half a level below other prefectures. Now, reclassified as a purely tributary prefecture, it would actually fit its ranking rather well. But the officials who had previously served in the old Wuzhou prefecture were graded higher than a standard prefecture, and they could not all simply be slotted into the new tributary Wuzhou. Left in the newly established prefecture, their grades would not match the positions.
Wang Yunhe said: “Since they are all already trained, let Zhang Yun serve as Prefect; reassign the others northward to strengthen northern staffing. Then appoint new officials to go south and fill the new positions.”
Shi Kun said: “Good. Then let us dispatch the Censor.”
At this moment, even the Censor did not yet know that whatever the outcome of his inspection, the ending had already been written for him.
The two men also chose not to inform the Emperor in advance. When the Censor returned, they would hand the Emperor a ready plan — that would be more efficient. As for His Majesty — if they could avoid disturbing him, it was better not to. He was busy receiving the submission of the four directions, busy receiving auspicious omens, and busy fretting over the marriage arrangements for his grandson and granddaughter.
——…——
Every day Zhù Ying had to report for duty at the Court of Dependencies, and only during that time could she see Luo Sheng once a day.
Luo Sheng was very busy — all for the sake of his daughter’s wedding. Two princesses’ residences, beyond the dowry preparations, were consumed with worry over the child’s future life. It was not enough simply to have the match arranged — only when the wedding ceremony was held and the title of Qiyang Princess Consort was properly secured would anyone feel at ease. But if the ceremony was held, and the new year passed and the girl was still only ten years old, consummating the marriage was entirely out of the question, and a ten-year-old child could not manage the running of a household. After a wedding, one could hardly have the ceremony conclude and then simply bring the girl back home to be raised while the groom lived away elsewhere, could one?
Among common households, there was a practice — not quite taking in a son-in-law to live in the wife’s home, but one in which a daughter and son-in-law would live with the wife’s parents for several years until children had been born and raised, before the couple considered moving out.
But for a household such as theirs, this arrangement seemed somewhat unsuitable.
Princess Anren and Princess Yongping thus had to concern themselves with the Qiyang Prince’s residence, hoping it could be built close to their own homes so they could conveniently look after the young couple.
When Princess Anren’s residence had been built, it had already occupied a large tract of land, and when the Emperor built Princess Yongping’s residence it was set right alongside Princess Anren’s, requiring many households to be displaced. Building yet another residence in the same area would mean relocating even more people — and with the new year upon them, whether one was speaking of relocation or construction, the difficulty was doubled. Luo Sheng and his father were being hounded by the two princesses to the point that they were nearly driven to thoughts of hanging themselves. Because the wedding was to be grand, building the residence would require a great deal of money, a portion of which necessarily had to come from the imperial household and the Ministry of Finance — the imperial household was easy enough to talk to, but the Ministry of Finance had clamped its jaw shut and refused to sanction excessive expenditure — they had just been through a disaster.
Luo Sheng’s current state was one of pure and unrelenting worry.
Zhù Ying watched as he grew thinner and thinner in the depths of winter, and asked him about it. Luo Sheng then caught himself: “These past days I have been entirely occupied by affairs at home — I have truly put too much burden on Zichang and Guanghua.”
Shen Ying hurriedly said: “The Chamberlain has such a happy occasion at hand — all of us at the Court of Dependencies share in the honor. We subordinates have been managing.”
Zhù Ying said: “Only the routine, rule-by-the-book matters remain.”
Luo Sheng said: “Good, good — if there is anything you need me to do, just say the word.”
Who, at such a time, would want to add to his burden?
Everyone said there was nothing.
Zhù Ying had her own matters to attend to. The moment she learned that a Censor would be dispatched south, she swiftly sent people south with word, instructing her own people to prepare properly for the Censor’s inquiry.
As the new year drew near, Zhù Ying attended one more court assembly. After this assembly, the next would be the New Year’s Day gathering. At the assembly, Minister Dou had not yet spoken when the Emperor questioned him about the residence matter — Minister Dou continued to deflect, leaving both parties in a state of mutual displeasure. Because of this, after the assembly adjourned, Minister Dou saw Zhù Ying and was not entirely pleased.
Zhù Ying had come to find Minister Dou specifically because she wanted from the Ministry of Finance the population, land, and treasury figures for certain regions she cared about. Unfortunately, she encountered him fresh from receiving a reprimand from the Emperor.
There was an unspoken understanding on the official path: if you had just been scolded, even if I was standing right there beside you, and now we need to discuss something, I will pretend I wasn’t there just now. I did not know you were scolded. Even if your superior’s handprint is still visible on your face, I will act as if I hadn’t seen it. Why? I just had a moment of inattention.
But Minister Dou simply was displeased. Zhù Ying could only say: “It is only a matter of relocation and construction of a residence. If you drag this out, and His Majesty gets flustered and acts in frustration, the losses elsewhere will be even greater.”
Minister Dou said coldly: “That does not mean I must simply yield in pliable submission.”
Zhù Ying said: “Well then… you help me with what I need, and I will help you with this matter?” The Ministry of Finance’s data was not something one could simply hand over to anyone; this was an exchange conducted off the record.
Minister Dou raised an eyebrow. Zhù Ying said: “No money involved.”
Minister Dou looked her up and down for a moment. “Fine.”
……
Zhù Ying first returned to the Court of Dependencies and wrote an official document about the former Zhao Prince’s residence. The Zhao Prince had now become the Crown Prince and would one day become the Emperor. A residence he had once occupied would thereafter generally be converted into a “palace” or a temple or Buddhist monastery — at any rate, it could not be put to any other use. Making a request to designate a small portion of it as a venue for negotiations with foreign nations was not asking for too much.
This matter would inevitably require the Crown Prince’s opinion, and yet it did not carry the risk of “currying favor with the Crown Prince prematurely,” nor would the Emperor suspect “you are already looking for your next patron before I am even dead.” Nor did it risk being given a sideways look by the newly assembled Household Administration office.
How much to designate, under whose jurisdiction to place it, and how to manage it ordinarily — all of these still had to be worked out.
Zhù Ying thus made her way to the Eastern Palace quite smoothly.
The Eastern Palace had just been freshly refurbished. The air was thick with the smell of new wood and fresh lacquer, mixed with the fragrance of burning aromatic herbs — still tolerable.
The Crown Prince received her in the new hall. Entering the hall, Zhù Ying noticed that Lan De was not inside. Apart from Du Shi’en, there was a young man. Going by his dress, then his age, and most importantly his face — Zhù Ying had seen that face before. After giving her bow to the Crown Prince, she also bowed to the young man: “Your Highness.”
Prince Qiyang was a young man of reasonably fine looks. People commonly assumed that children of imperial and noble blood were all beautiful, but that was wrong — among them, handsome and plain ones each made up about half, and there were some who were entirely unremarkable in appearance and relied solely on fine dressing. Prince Qiyang was one of those with a naturally good foundation.
Also young — he had not yet run to fat, his figure was good, and he stood half a head taller than Zhù Ying.
Prince Qiyang did not remain seated to receive the bow; he returned half of it.
The Crown Prince had a good impression of Zhù Ying. Her request to borrow the old residence did not displease him at all. He had a private thought: last time — had Zhù Ying been giving me a hint?
After he had proactively requested people from the Emperor, the Emperor had openly scolded him, but in fact had relaxed considerably — giving him a proper Household Administration office, letting him attend court. His son’s marriage was arranged, his nephew’s situation handled. His relationship with Zheng Xi was good, and from this he had drawn many further inferences.
In truth, Zhù Ying was entirely unaware of any arrangement between the Crown Prince and Zheng Xi. Her purpose in coming today was not purely for Minister Dou’s sake — it was more for her own. And since she did not know of the matter between Zheng Xi and the Crown Prince, she needed to leave herself a way out.
And so — she had come.
The two first exchanged courtesies and spoke of official matters. Zhù Ying said: “The Crown Prince shows such concern — the northern relief effort spent a great deal, and we should not spend lavishly on foreign nations while tightening the belts of our own people. We could push back against the Ministry of Finance, and Minister Dou is not an unreasonable man — but if he were to readily agree, people watching from the outside would be the first to say that the Court of Dependencies is in the wrong. Your Highness’s action both shows care for the people and spares this official from receiving criticism.”
The Crown Prince also nodded in agreement, and added: “The north has suffered disaster — extravagance would not be fitting. Even the wedding expenses for my son are troubling my conscience. And then there will be another ceremony for Prince Chengyi’s household — both will require funds…”
The residence dispute between Minister Dou and the Emperor was a matter involving the Luo household and the Eastern Palace; a court minister saying directly to the Crown Prince “you spend too much money” was uncomfortable to hear, and the Crown Prince knew it reflected poorly on his own reputation. And Prince Lu was still watching from the side — that one had never been a decent person, even back in the days of targeting the late Crown Prince.
The Crown Prince could not help wanting to express himself before another high official.
Zhù Ying said: “Your Highness is being overly cautious. The Eastern Palace has just been refurbished — once the bride is welcomed into the palace, all follows established precedent. Where is the excessive expense?”
The Crown Prince did not quite follow at first. Prince Qiyang asked first: “Is the Lesser Chamberlain suggesting…?”
Zhù Ying smiled mildly: “I suggested nothing at all.”
Prince Qiyang lowered his head slightly, then rose and gave Zhù Ying a full bow: “I ask the Lesser Chamberlain to instruct me.”
The Crown Prince looked at his son, then at Zhù Ying, and caught the implication. He said graciously: “He is still a child — don’t let the fact that he is nearly taking a bride fool you; he still needs people to guide him.”
Zhù Ying immediately rose from her seat: “I would not dare.”
She pretended not to understand what the Crown Prince had said, and instead addressed Prince Qiyang: “This official was muddle-headed — I confused myself. Ordinary commoner households do not divide the family property. Multiple generations live together under one roof; even when a great-grandson takes a wife, the couple still lives with the elders, bringing joy to the household, without separating out to live elsewhere. For a moment I got confused, forgetting that Your Highness is not like Prince Chengyi, who was raised within the palace from a young age. Knowing that the Princess Consort is still young, I assumed His Majesty would wish to personally raise her. Your Highness and she are husband and wife — I mistakenly assumed His Majesty intended to keep this fine couple by his side to personally guide them in the ways of governance. A great foolishness on my part. I was very wrong.”
Prince Qiyang gave a deep bow: “My thanks.”
Zhù Ying hurried to help him up: “Not at all.”
But the Crown Prince then asked a question: “The princesses may not think of it this way. Are you here on behalf of the Seventh Prince, or on behalf of the Chamberlain?”
Zhù Ying said sincerely: “I am here on behalf of Your Highness. And on behalf of all under heaven. And also on behalf of myself. Since it is on behalf of all under heaven, those two gentlemen are naturally included — but today’s dispute at court will not greatly affect either of them. However, if court is marked by squabbling arguments each time, this official and the rest will be at a loss. All conscientious officials in the realm are displeased to see further unrest. Both Chief Ministers of the Council of State worry about this deeply. Today, Minister Dou as well acts out of utter sincerity. None of them are targeting His Majesty, and still less are they targeting Your Highness.”
Father and son exchanged a glance, and it was Prince Qiyang who spoke again: “Should the princesses have objections, what is to be done?”
Zhù Ying asked: “And would His Majesty agree?”
The Crown Prince said: “Still, this needs to be explained properly — Zichang, with the Chamberlain both in the Court of Dependencies, could you ease my worry?”
Zhù Ying gave a deep bow.