The Court of Reception was accustomed to seeing the powerful pass away. Qiao San’s anxiety did not stem from the death of an old prince consort. Let a prince consort die — life went on as it always had. But Zhao Su had specifically sent him to find Zhù Ying, and Qiao San couldn’t help overthinking. The expression of worry worked its way onto his face. If Luo Sheng had to observe mourning, wouldn’t the Court of Reception now be under Shen Ying’s thumb? How was one supposed to live like that?

Qiao San’s agitation showed on his face.

“Is that so,” Zhù Ying said.

Qiao San heard her voice and perked up immediately. “Yes — word just came through. Director Luo has already wept once. Deputy Director Zhao said he reminded him to observe the formalities and submit the memorial requesting mourning leave. He’s probably already gone home by now.”

Zhù Ying said, “Then the Court of Reception will be very busy. Tell Zhao Su — the old Prince Consort was the Crown Prince’s consort’s grandfather, so this must not be handled carelessly. He’s a young new arrival, so he mustn’t fumble this. The Protocol Office Director is an expert in funeral rites — this matter should be referred to the Protocol Office Director. Don’t go trying to steal the Protocol Office Director’s duties. While the Protocol Office Director is occupied with the funeral, Zhao Su should mind the Court of Reception’s day-to-day affairs. A bit more labor is just a bit more labor — he’s young, this is the time to put in the work.”

Qiao San bowed. “Understood.”

Zhù Ying said, “Go back quickly.”

“Understood.”

Qiao San ran all the way back to the Court of Reception. He relayed everything in full. Zhao Su said, “I understand.”

Just a short while ago, Luo Sheng had left in a flood of tears and sniffles, but not before thinking to say, “My heart is in complete disorder right now, Guanghua — I’m counting on you. Zhao Su, you must do your best to assist Deputy Director Shen.”

Shen Ying and Zhao Su, along with Yang Deputy Director and the others, had seen Luo Sheng to the door. Shen Ying then said, “What’s done is done. We cannot be lax. Everyone return to your posts, gather whatever official documents are at hand, and bring them to me.”

Zhao Su retreated to his own room, took several deep breaths, and sent Qiao San to find Zhù Ying. Having received his answer, Zhao Su’s anger dissipated. He gathered all his documents into stacks and had two clerks carry them over to Shen Ying.

You like managing things? Then you manage!

Zhao Su decided to work disengagedly — whatever documents came in, he would pass them directly to Shen Ying in their original state.

Shen Ying looked at the pile on his desk and was startled. “This many? I’ve never seen this before.”

Before Zhù Ying had arrived at the Court of Reception, with Luo Sheng as the superior, Shen Ying had also shared some of the day-to-day affairs — doing it well or poorly was another matter, but he had to do it. There had never been this volume back then.

Zhao Su said earnestly, “This subordinate has checked the old records. The Court of Reception never used to have this many ventures, nor did everyone receive this much in provisions and rations, nor had they secured such a significant voice in court affairs. What is gained must also be borne.”

Shen Ying asked, “Did you hand things over to Director Luo the same way?”

Zhao Su grew even more earnest: “Director Luo didn’t look into these matters.”

Shen Ying’s tone grew somewhat dissatisfied. “And you handed things over to Zhù the Grand Lord the same way?”

Zhao Su added profuse sentiment to his earnestness: “Zhù the Grand Lord handled all of these things herself.”

Shen Ying pursed his lips. “What do you have on your schedule today?”

Zhao Su said, “The rains are gradually picking up. This subordinate will go to the foreign guest quarters and similar buildings to inspect the roof condition.”

“Then go — what are you waiting for?”

Zhao Su bowed respectfully and withdrew from Shen Ying’s room with composure, leaving Shen Ying to stare at a pile of documents and seethe.

After a moment, he let out a long sigh, picked up the top document, and began reading.

If work had to be done, then do it! With Luo Sheng taking mourning leave, Shen Ying would be the Court of Reception’s representative at tomorrow’s morning court session. An excellent opportunity — he had to make the most of it. Rising directly from deputy to head — that might be a stretch, but it wasn’t completely out of the question. Even if that couldn’t happen, making his mark before a new superior arrived would still be capital for advancement.

Shen Ying rolled up his sleeves.

——

The Emperor had no capacity to concern himself with any of that. He had his own many worries and was with the Empress at Zhaoyang Palace.

Unlike some imperial sons who had lived to forty and lost two wives along the way, the current Empress had been his wife since they were young — they were roughly the same age, and a few silver threads had already appeared at the Empress’s temples. She had a full, pleasant face with features that wore well — nothing breathtaking, but one look at that face and the word “Empress” would never seem out of place.

The Empress may not have fully understood “being Emperor,” but she knew her husband’s history and was familiar with his habits. When the Emperor came to speak with her, something was certainly troubling him.

The Empress asked, “Did something irritate you at court again today?”

The Emperor felt slightly aggrieved. “Why do I feel like being Emperor is less free than being a prince?”

That’s because when you were a prince, everything that was inconvenient was handled by us! the Empress thought to herself.

The Emperor was not a bad man — he and she treated each other with mutual respect. The first years of their marriage had even carried some genuine tenderness between them. But even as a prince, life had to be lived. The prince’s household was composed of countless daily matters. The Prince of Zhao had many staff members, yet they could not replace the mistress of a household. Everything from household management to social obligations to the estate’s income and expenditure — all of it had been handled by the princess consort.

This had fostered the Prince of Zhao’s habit of going to the princess consort for advice when something came up.

Seeing that the Empress had not immediately spoken, the Emperor continued on his own: “You also find it troublesome, don’t you?”

Not at all, I think things are going rather well right now! the Empress thought — my son’s East Palace now has people to support it.

She also felt some gratitude toward her husband. This was a man who had a fondness for refinement and had loved a few beauties in his day, but had always maintained her dignity as the princess consort.

The Empress said softly, “Go slowly — unhurried rivers run long.”

Her husband had never before experienced “starting from scratch” — she had. She had once been a “new bride.” Walking into an unfamiliar prince’s household where everything had been set up for her — as a stranger stepping into a ready-made house to immediately take charge, she had gone through her share of trials. Sometimes the “difficulties” had been right there in plain sight and her husband still hadn’t noticed she was being left to flounder. Never mind — no point bringing it up now.

The Emperor said, “Everyone keeps saying that! Yet how am I supposed to feel like an emperor? They never stop confusing me! How did they change all of a sudden?” He voiced his confusion: when establishing the Crown Prince, every minister and every senior noble had been on his side — so how was it that the moment he actually became Emperor, those same people were once again making things difficult for him?

The Empress said, “It seems the ministers still know something of what’s right and wrong. Your naturally modest and accommodating temperament is actually your strength — patient and steady flows the stream.”

The Emperor said, “I never knew being Emperor could be this difficult.”

The Empress said, “You’ve gotten thinner.”

The Emperor touched his own face. “Is that so? It must be from anger.”

The Empress was about to respond when she saw her son arrive. “The boy is here now. You two can discuss things father and son — I know nothing about any of it. Don’t let anyone say I’m meddling in politics — my brother isn’t doing well, and that is deeply embarrassing to me.”

The Emperor said, “Don’t take that to heart. I’ll take care of it.”

The Crown Prince came in and paid his respects to his parents. The Empress beckoned to him. “Come here.”

The Crown Prince did not move to his mother’s side but first exchanged greetings and showed concern for his parents’ wellbeing, before saying, “Father, Mother — there’s something I would like to ask your permission about.”

The Emperor asked, “What is it?”

“The Prince Consort has passed away, and I want to take Ah Yi back to pay respects. She is so young, and I truly can’t bear to leave her alone.” The Crown Prince said.

The Emperor said, “Go then.”

The Empress said, “Go have a look and come back — go early and return early. She’s young — don’t let her linger in a place like that. She goes there and can’t help anyway — light some incense and offer consolation to the departed, and that will be enough. If you two stay too long, you’ll be adding to people’s burdens instead. With all the comings and goings, it’s also not safe for you.”

The Empress went on at some length and then had one of her own palace ladies fetch condolence gifts to bestow on Princess Anren.

The Crown Prince promised to each point, and seeing his parents had no further instructions, thanked them and returned to make preparations at the East Palace, while simultaneously notifying Princess Anren’s residence that the Crown Prince and his consort would come to pay their respects the next day, at a specified time, so the residence could prepare accordingly.

The news of the Crown Prince couple’s imminent arrival spread to Princess Anren’s residence, throwing the household into another flurry of activity. The Crown Prince couple’s visit required a place for them to rest, and all the attendants accompanying them also needed to be accommodated. The princess’s household was practiced at receiving guests, but with a funeral underway on top of it, the extra layer created a frantic scramble.

The two princess residences were joined together, which gave ample space. It was decided that after the Crown Prince couple paid their respects at the bier, they would withdraw to Yongping Princess’s residence to rest — both because it was quieter, and because Luo Yi would have a chance to speak with her parents. Yongping Princess’s residence was thrown into even greater activity. The princess’s household was managing everything, as Luo Sheng had to stay next door — as a son in mourning, he had to be at the bier to receive condolence callers.

Zhù Ying didn’t wait for the end of the working day — she sent Niu Jin ahead to pass word at home to have her condolence gifts prepared. She also took care of Qi Tai’s share. She made a particular point of specifying: “Tell Qingjun and Third Lady — make it a full layer thicker than the standard. Remember — this is for Director Luo, not for the princess.”

Luo Sheng was her and Qi Tai’s former superior, so the condolence gift naturally needed to be more generous than the standard. And she had to make it clear — this was a gesture of respect for Luo Sheng, unrelated to any princess.

Qi Tai said sheepishly, “My lord has been burdened with my affairs again.”

“If you’re truly embarrassed, teach Qingjun and the others well — how is it they still can’t learn?”

Qi Tai’s face crumpled. “I always thought accounting couldn’t be that hard — but seeing them made me realize: this actually requires talent!”

Qi Tai was getting older by the year. Xiang Le and Xiang An were from the Xiang family with their own ventures. In recent years Zhù Ying had also put effort and money into training her own household accountants, but the results had been poor.

One Witch Yi — that was a stroke of sheer luck, and the woman was currently helping at the other estate, unavailable to be transferred over.

One A’Jin had a good head for business, but she had been raised by Xiang An.

Beyond them there was Zhù Qingjun — the child Zhù Ying liked most among her favorites was both Su Zhe and Zhù Qingjun. Su Zhe, in the beginning, had been someone she had a kind of obligatory affection for; the real warmth had grown with time. Zhù Qingjun was someone she had liked on first sight. So Zhù Ying hoped she could learn as much as possible — yet with so many subjects to study, her energy was limited, and she was still young. Like Su Zhe, she could only count as half an accountant.

The rest: Zhù Lian was passable, Lin Feng was barely adequate.

Zhù Ying had set her sights on the twenty household attendants — ten men and ten women. After all the teaching, only two and a half of them had learned adequately. One man, one and a half women — “one and a half” because the individual in question was excellent at arithmetic, but her interests lay in land surveying, calculations, calendar computation, and so on — not in bookkeeping.

Qi Tai was not a teacher capable of making miracles. Those with talent, he could teach well. For those of middling ability, under Zhù Ying’s rules, they could manage — barely. Those with less aptitude were simply beyond saving. For a teacher, watching the students was more embarrassing than for anyone else.

Every time Zhù Ying made the whole household “hand in their assignments,” the first one who wanted to bolt was Qi Tai. The students were too shameful — embarrassing.

Qi Tai was thoroughly baffled. “My lord, other households raise their children without being this attentive. You provide food, clothing, and schooling. Why not just pick the ones who can learn and teach them?”

Zhù Ying said, “Are they really that bad? When I picked them to bring up to the capital, I didn’t take any slow-witted ones.” At the time she had anticipated that the difficulties ahead would be many — dullness could cost lives.

“Well then… they’ll do.”

Zhù Ying said, “All right — arrange for them to learn other things. I see that most of them can still be put to use.”

“Yes! Just don’t make me teach them anymore.”

Zhù Ying laughed and said, “We’ll go together in a while.”

“Wonderful!” Having Qi Tai go alone to pay a condolence call was asking the impossible — he would dither and delay and might end up not going at all. Going together was perfect.

After the working day ended, the two made a brief change of clothes and went to Yongping Princess’s residence to present the condolence gifts.

Shi Yin received them, and said quietly, “The Court of Judicial Review, please forgive us — tomorrow the East Palace couple will be visiting. The household is a bit hectic, and if anything is lacking in our reception, please bear with us. Our Lord Prince is next door.”

Zhù Ying said, “Amid such grief, and the household is already perfectly in order. Has the memorial been submitted? Has anyone from the Court of Reception come?”

Shi Yin said, “The Prince Consort’s memorial has already been submitted.”

Zhù Ying nodded. “I’ll go next door.”

Shi Yin sent someone to escort Zhù Ying to the neighboring residence, then turned back to attend to other distinguished guests.

Zhù Ying took in the bustle of both residences, also noticing a number of officials arriving to pay their respects. With people coming and going, the old Prince Consort’s death was actually quite revealing. Shen Ying and Zhao Su and the others from the Court of Reception had all come. Zhù Ying exchanged a few words with old acquaintances from the court, then went to the bier to light incense.

Princess Anren was not in the front area. Luo Sheng was there with his younger brother and sons, receiving condolence callers. His hair was disheveled, his eyes ringed in red — a figure of rather poignant vulnerability.

Zhù Ying said, “Please accept my condolences.”

Luo Sheng said, “I don’t know what to do right now.”

“You know what to do — you just need to take it slowly and think it through.”

After those two short exchanges, Zhù Ying stepped aside and yielded Luo Sheng to the other callers. She watched as Shen Ying also briefly said a few words to Luo Sheng, and the Protocol Office Director came running over to whisper to Shen Ying.

The Protocol Office Director was in a terrible state — his hat was askew, and he looked like his head was about to emit steam. Zhù Ying stepped further to the side and began talking with Chen Meng, who had also come to pay respects. Chen Meng said, “No need to look — he’s gotten the priorities all backwards again.”

“What?”

Chen Meng said, “He must have been thinking about the Court of Reception and forgotten who the old Prince Consort was! Is this not Princess Anren’s household? He should have come to manage things personally! And what kind of person is Princess Anren? When things go her way she’s already domineering enough, and she doesn’t like to consider others’ feelings. Now she’s lost her husband — and the Court of Reception sends a mere Protocol Office Director to deal with her? That’s being dismissed!”

Zhù Ying said, “You’re a little late saying this now — you should have told him earlier.”

Chen Meng said, “He’d have to actually listen. He has one thing in his mind — elevating his family’s standing. I’m really afraid he’s going to take leave of his senses.”

“Shh—”

Someone walked past them. Both fell silent.

The young Chen Meng had always been more perceptive about inner-court schemes than most women, and this time he had been proven right again. The Protocol Office Director had been chewed out by Princess Anren and come running over.

The princess’s residence had its own staff of attendants — they could organize a funeral perfectly well themselves. Princess Anren had just lost her husband, and had been dazed at first. Then her son returned home and told her about the mourning leave, and not long after came the news that the Crown Prince wanted to bring Luo Yi to pay their respects. By the time she had processed all of that, she spotted the Protocol Office Director — a man she didn’t recognize. The Protocol Office Director held a relatively low position within the Court of Reception, and without anyone to introduce him, he would never have made it before Princess Anren. Shen Ying had dispatched him to assist with the funeral rites, and he had arrived and been coordinating with the estate’s household manager. He’d been at it for half a day and thought he’d done well, until Princess Anren came across him — just when he was planning to show off his work.

Princess Anren’s fury ignited. “Is the Court of Reception trying to revolt?! They send a Protocol Office Director to dismiss me? My son is still Head of the Court of Reception! Where is the Deputy Director?! Where is he?! Is this how they dare to look down on me already?!”

She grabbed the fly whisk from the Taoist priest’s hands and flung it at the Protocol Office Director. The Taoist priest had been in the middle of chanting sutras and performing rites when his hands were suddenly empty — he couldn’t even continue the chant. The Protocol Office Director saw the situation was bad — he had no desire to take the blame for Shen Ying — turned on his heel and ran: “This subordinate will go find Deputy Director Shen right now! He should be arriving any moment!”

Shen Ying, hearing this, knew it had gone badly!

He turned to find Luo Sheng, managed to get out one sentence — “The Prince Consort, please forgive me—” — before Princess Anren sent someone to summon him for a reckoning. Chen Meng, seeing the situation, could only also go over and ask what had happened.

Princess Anren’s household manager was not a timid person and said, “Our Lord Prince Consort — the Court of Reception should not have sent just a Protocol Office Director to deal with this.”

Luo Sheng said, “It’s already done — don’t make more of a scene now. All these people are watching! Tomorrow the Crown Prince is coming — what will it look like if there’s an uproar? Guanghua — please go back.”

Shen Ying’s expression had also turned dark. Chen Meng pulled him away. Once outside the gate, Chen Meng said, “How did you end up offending her?”

Shen Ying was also aggrieved. He said, “The Protocol Office Director hasn’t done her wrong! Yes, this matter regarding the old Prince Consort is mine to handle — but the fine details of managing a funeral are the Protocol Office’s job! At this moment the Court of Reception has only me — if I come over here, who minds the Court of Reception? And what if the Emperor summons someone? What am I to do?”

Chen Meng said, “Write a document and have the Protocol Office Director bring it over, telling the princess you’re dealing with her son’s mess. Whatever she wants for the funeral — the level of ceremony, what she needs from the Court of Reception — just put in a request! Whatever the Court of Reception can handle, it will all be handled. Whatever it can’t, the Court of Reception will petition the Emperor on her behalf.” How can you be this helpless?

Needless to say, this uncle of mine is doubtless thinking that now that the primary wife is gone, he’s running the show himself — forgetting that there are still two layers of mother-in-law above him.

Chen Meng said, “Tomorrow — make sure you handle this funeral first. Have everything prepared, and present it before Princess Anren. Then explain to her that you’ve already been working on it.”

Shen Ying said helplessly, “I understand. I’m also a court official of some standing, and here I am being summoned about and berated by a princess. It really is disagreeable.”

“Don’t speak of this now. She is the late emperor’s sibling — she outranks you. For the next few days, focus on nothing else and deal with her. She — is not easy to handle.”

Chen Meng rolled his eyes skyward. His uncle was not entirely wrong, but imperial family members didn’t reason with people! Princess Anren, as long as she didn’t commit treason, could ride roughshod over most officials for life. The whole court had few people she dared not provoke.

Shen Ying said, “I understand.”

——

The next day, Shen Ying went to court first thing in the morning. All his plans for a prominent appearance had been forgotten — he was only thinking about how to manage the Anren residence that day. The Crown Prince was coming to pay his respects, and for that alone — regardless of Anren — the matter needed to be properly handled.

Fortunately this was his area of expertise, and once his plans were mentally rehearsed, he was only waiting for the Crown Prince to raise questions.

What he hadn’t accounted for was this: the old Prince Consort had died, and the Emperor had canceled morning court. Today, there was no regular session. The Emperor had only summoned the chancellors, the Six Ministries, and the Nine Courts — about ten people in total — for a small meeting.

Shen Ying had risen early for nothing. With no court session, he threw himself into the Court of Reception, went back to his room, and saw the pile of accumulated documents. He called Zhao Su over. “The old Prince Consort has died, and I should personally go and see to things — I can’t let people say the man is gone and the tea is already cold, that because the son is on mourning leave we’re washing our hands of the father’s death. These documents — you handle them.”

Zhao Su showed no reaction. “Understood.”

Shen Ying set about examining the Prince Consort’s funeral arrangements, and as he was preparing, the Emperor sent Du Shi’en with a message: “The Prince Consort has passed away, and this deeply grieves Our heart. Why have you been so negligent and remiss?”

Shen Ying was even more aggrieved. “This subordinate would not dare.”

Du Shi’en said, “His Majesty says: Shen Ying, put your mind toward what needs to be done. How can a minister be so careless?”

Shen Ying stood and received this as well, thinking to himself: what has happened now?

Du Shi’en walked away without expression. Shen Ying was distressed almost to the point of writing a verse to lament his lot.

Du Shi’en returned to report.

The Emperor nodded. “Understood.”

With that, he tossed the memorial in his hand onto the imperial desk and asked, “Has the Crown Prince already set out?”

“Yes — the East Palace reported a moment ago that they have departed.”

The Emperor said, “Go to Anren’s residence again. Draw from the Inner Treasury — give her whatever she wants.”

Du Shi’en glanced at the seal on the memorial and said, “Understood.”

Today’s memorials included one from Princess Anren — written by someone in her household but with every word in Princess Anren’s own voice. Princess Anren opened by weeping, saying she was “a widow with no one to rely on” and that anyone could bully her now — she was utterly wretched. Her husband had barely died, and the Court of Reception was already tormenting her. This is how they should treat her? A mere Protocol Office Director to fob her off? Everyone says when the person is gone the affections turn cold — truly the world is cold and indifferent!

She called out Shen Ying’s entire family by name, declaring that a man of criminal origin truly understood nothing of proper conduct! He didn’t deserve to be a minister! Luo Sheng was still his superior! If he was so audacious and erratic, did he think he’d already gotten the Court of Reception in his grip? Was he dreaming?

Finally she got to the point — begging the Emperor to uphold justice for her, to make the funeral ceremony for her husband grander and “posthumously honored,” and to give a larger funeral budget. The Crown Prince’s consort’s maternal family shouldn’t put on a shabby show. Also — as a widow alone in the world, shouldn’t her elder brother give her more money for her old age? She asked for more money and land.

When the Emperor read this memorial, his expression had darkened on the spot. He had sent Du Shi’en to rebuke Shen Ying, and then granted everything Anren had asked for.

Du Shi’en made this additional trip, giving Princess Anren full face. With her satisfaction thus restored, she quieted down. Princess Anren submitted a memorial of thanks for the Emperor’s attentiveness to an “old widow like herself” — but that came later.

Before the Princess Anren residence’s funeral was even finished, the Emperor restored the regular court sessions.

With several days of accumulated affairs, this court session had somewhat more business than usual. The Emperor had started to feel a bit drowsy, and everything presented seemed to have some connection to those dry “practical summaries” that had been submitted — yet upon closer examination, the pieces didn’t quite fit.

Just when the yawning impulse struck, Shen Ying stepped out to petition the Emperor, proposing: “Now that the East Palace is established, Your Majesty’s second son has grown. We request that he be given a title and his own household.”

The Emperor’s drowsiness vanished — he found Shen Ying had his merits after all.

He smiled and asked, “What do the assembled ministers think?”

They thought nothing of it!

The Grand Secretariat was unenthusiastic about this matter, and the censorate had other objections.

Yu Qingtuan stepped forward. “Your Majesty — has the East Palace ever been fully established? Rushing it this way looks like we’re throwing something together carelessly just to give a prince his household. The East Palace — the nation’s heir — cannot be treated so perfunctorily.” A complete setup for the Crown Prince would take half a year — Yu Qingtuan felt this haste was highly improper.

He and Xian Jing were both from Wang Yunhe’s circle. Yu Qingtuan was a generation younger than Xian Jing. His own teacher had died the year before, and on his deathbed had entrusted him to Wang Yunhe and Xian Jing. Wang Yunhe was frantically busy, but Xian Jing spared time to look after him. Thus Yu Qingtuan knew that the Chamberlain’s Office had only just gotten a skeleton structure and hadn’t found its footing yet — and the personnel within the East Palace were still unsorted and hadn’t been properly organized!

At this juncture, give a prince his own household? No! At the very minimum, wait until next year. The imperial second son would still only be fifteen — what was the rush?

The Emperor frowned. The Empress’s brother, the brother of the Crown Prince consort, Mu Chengzhou was delighted — he nudged the person beside him, and that person stepped out as well, saying, “This subject believes the censor has a point!”

Shen Ying felt awkward. The Li Attendant of the Secretariat said, “What foolishness from the censor! Is there something lacking in the Three Tutors and Three Junior Tutors? Is the Chamberlain unfit for his position?”

This side condemned Shen Ying as “sycophantic,” while the other side condemned Yu Qingtuan and company as “ranting nonsense.” The Grand Secretariat and the Six Ministries and Nine Courts stayed out of it, while a whole group of officials below erupted in heated argument.

From words it escalated to flailing arms for dramatic effect. One of the directors forgot he was still holding his tablet in his hand as he swung his arm, and clipped the person across from him with it.

That was as good as a declaration of war!

Less than a year later, a brawl broke out in the court hall again.

Zhù Ying touched the tablet pouch at her waist — she didn’t move. General Ruan, experienced from last time, memorialized: “Your Majesty, please summon the Imperial Guards to restore order.”

“Approved!” The Emperor said, face pale with anger.