A maidservant called out timidly, “M— Madam?”
Duan Shi came back to herself and said quietly, “Back to the estate.”
The maidservant lifted a corner of the curtain and told the coachman, “Back to the estate.” The coachman snapped his whip, wheeled the horse around, and drove toward the Bian family estate in the capital. The carriage swayed gently. The maidservant watched Duan Shi’s expression, and seemed to say in consolation, “Once we’re back home and discuss things properly with the Old Madam and the others, there’s sure to be a way.”
Duan Shi shook her head. The maidservant dared say no more. Duan Shi closed her eyes. Return home? The Old Madam and the others? What good would that do? She would be grateful if they didn’t blame her to begin with.
The carriage stopped in front of the estate gate. The coachman said, “We’ve arrived.” He fetched a stepping-stool and placed it before the carriage. The maidservant descended first and reached up to help Duan Shi down.
Duan Shi raised her eyes to look at this somewhat desolate estate. Her heart sank even further. In the oppressive damp heat, tufts of grass had sprouted from the eaves and the cracks between tiles — and no one had bothered to pull them out. When the Bian family was at the height of its power, they would never have allowed such a thing to happen.
The maidservant stepped forward and knocked on the door. A voice inside called out warily, “Who is it?”
“The First Young Madam has returned — hurry and open the door!”
The door was pulled open a crack. The person inside looked the maidservant up and down, then said in surprise, “You’ve come back?”
“Open the door — you’d have the First Young Madam wait outside?”
The maidservant got the door open and helped Duan Shi to the entrance, then instructed, “Unload the luggage to the main branch’s rooms.”
A servant inside acknowledged her. Duan Shi then asked, “Where is the Old Madam?”
“In the main hall — it’s the festival.”
A flicker of irritation rose in Duan Shi’s chest. She had traveled all this way in wretched condition, and the household still had the heart to celebrate a festival? She said, “I’ll go pay my respects to the Old Madam.”
The Bian family’s Dragon Boat Festival was not a lively one — but it was still a festival, and they had gathered together to eat a few dumplings and hope for good fortune. The meal had barely been set out when word came that Duan Shi had returned.
A moment of silence fell over the table. The wife of Bian family’s youngest son then said, “Since Elder Sister-in-law has returned, Grandfather and Elder Brother-in-law should be here too, no?”
Her husband shot her a sideways look. “What rubbish! What kind of household has no sense of hierarchy — the ones who should come first, and here you bring up her out of nowhere?”
The Old Madam said listlessly, “What’s all the fuss? Let her come.”
Duan Shi came in, dusty and travel-worn, and prostrated herself at the Old Madam’s feet. The Old Madam, seeing no sign of her husband or son, felt both disappointment and dread, and asked, “Where are they?”
Duan Shi looked at the household, all decked out in bright finery from top to bottom, and felt even more wretched. Grievance overwhelmed her, and she wept, “They’ve been escorted to the Censorate’s prison.”
The Old Madam had still clung to a sliver of hope. Hearing this, she was so struck that she fell back against the bed and could not speak for a long while. “Old Madam!” some called. “Mother!” others called out. Everyone was in an uproar. The Old Madam caught her breath and said, “You — you go back to your room and sort yourself out. We’ll talk more in a little while.”
“Yes,” Duan Shi said softly and left.
Once she was gone, the youngest son’s wife whispered to her husband, “How is Elder Sister-in-law so subdued all of a sudden?”
Her husband gave her a withering look. “What did you expect her to be like?”
“No more eating!” said the Old Madam.
Everyone dispersed.
The Old Madam said to a maidservant, “Come — let’s go look in on the First Young Madam.”
Duan Shi’s room was still there, but long uninhabited; it was being swept out. When the Old Madam arrived, Duan Shi had not yet had a chance to change her clothes. Hearing someone approach, she looked out and saw the Old Madam — she hurried to receive her: “Only one room has been cleared so far — come sit here.”
The Old Madam looked her daughter-in-law over. Her jewelry had diminished considerably; the fabric of her clothes seemed decent enough, but heavily creased — evidence of a hard journey. And the trunks and bags were pitifully few.
The Old Madam stepped inside. Mother-in-law and daughter-in-law sat facing each other. The Old Madam went straight to the point: “I did not summon them here — you must tell me the truth. What is really behind your father’s treason? What is being concealed?”
Duan Shi swallowed her resentment and said, “What is there to conceal? I myself knew nothing of it!”
“If there was nothing, how did it come to implicate us? Your husband is sitting in prison right now!”
“They said someone had reported my father-in-law for corruption and misconduct.”
No sooner had she said a word than the Old Madam spat at her, “Nonsense! What kind of charge is that? Who doesn’t do those things? The whole capital’s worth of officials — how many don’t accept gifts? Don’t handle petitions? Is there a shortage of people reported? How many of them were shackled and brought to the capital to sit in a dungeon? Have you no conscience, trying to trick an old woman like me with talk like that?”
The Old Madam had much to resent. This daughter-in-law had been sought out and asked into their family. Given the standing of Duan Lin, this mother-in-law had been very indulgent toward her daughter-in-law. Now that the Duan family had fallen, was this daughter-in-law still going to carry on in the manner of her former self toward her mother-in-law? Truly, no upbringing to speak of!
The more the Old Madam thought about it, the angrier she became. “Whatever you know, speak up now! Stop thinking about that natal family of yours! They’re all dead — how can they recover? If you know something, make a formal disclosure at once, and get those two menfolk back home — that’s the right thing to do! If our family falls, what good will it do you?”
Her husband had said the same thing to her once, down in the south. Hearing it a second time, Duan Shi still found it piercing.
What the Old Madam said was true, too — she had no natal family left. Truly none. Her father and brothers were dead; her mother and the others had been exiled. There were Duan clansmen of the same surname, but at a time like this, they were all fending for themselves, scattered to who knew where.
And yet — given how her husband’s family was treating her — was this husband’s family a place she could call her own?
The child cried out again. Duan Shi swallowed her humiliation and said, “I’ve traveled three thousand li from the capital — what would I know? Don’t be anxious. I have a paternal aunt who married into the Guan family. Today is a festival — I’ll send someone to pay her respects. Tomorrow I’ll go see her and try to find out if there’s anyone who can intercede on our behalf.”
The Old Madam eased a little and asked, “Is that Dàláng?”
“Yes.” Duan Shi had the child brought in. He was only two years old — the Bian family’s eldest legitimate grandson, dearly loved by Bian Xing. Fed on the richest produce of an entire prefecture, he had been raised plump and fair. These past few months had been hard on him; he was easily frightened.
The Old Madam played with him for a while until the crying subsided, then said, “All right — you two rest. Think carefully about your son. If this family fares badly, he’ll have no future either.”
Duan Shi saw the Old Madam to the door and came back to hold her son, rocking him gently. The maidservants moved quietly about, sweeping the room and laying out bedding. Outside, two maidservants from the Old Madam came carrying a food box: “The Old Madam has sent us with dumplings for the First Young Madam.”
Duan Shi thanked them and had her own maidservant take the food box. She also asked the two maidservants about conditions in the household. They said, “When the Duan family’s side fell into trouble, the Old Madam was terrified. We couldn’t find out any news, and then some time later word came that they had been given death — gifts to their own hand. The funeral rites could not be properly held; they were buried outside the city walls. We don’t even know exactly where the family was buried. After the New Year, word came that our household’s master had been reported, and the Old Madam spent quite a lot of money trying to learn news. Things here are not what they used to be.”
The Duan estate had been ransacked — nothing was left. The distant Duan clansmen still existed, but none of them were in the capital. Duan Ying’s wife’s family had also been implicated in the treason; no one had protected his wife, and they had all been exiled together.
Duan Shi asked around and learned that the aunt who had married into the Guan family was still there. The Guan family had not been touched in this upheaval and remained exactly as before — no promotion, no demotion. They had only benefited from the one-rank elevation given to everyone upon the new Emperor’s accession.
Duan Shi then asked who carried weight at court now. The maidservant said, “That’s beyond this servant’s knowledge. First Young Madam, do eat first.” She set down the food box and left.
The dumplings were still a little warm. Duan Shi ate one and felt only a heavy, suffocating weight inside her. The room was cleaned and the maidservants helped her bathe and change; after a fresh, clean wash, her thoughts returned to her. For now, the best course was to keep a low profile — make no rash moves, and seek intercession if possible. If that was not possible, she would simply have to endure. Given the connection to treason, intercession would not be easy. If the menfolk did not return, she had a son to depend on — she could make do.
Duan Shi opened a small chest. Inside were some land deeds and property deeds — these were her dowry. Bian Xing’s assets in the prefect’s yamen had been sealed off; she had no hope of recovering those. She had heard that the Bian family’s capital assets had also been spent down considerably — there would be lean days ahead. But she was not afraid: she still had her dowry fields and trousseau. As for the in-laws bearing her a grudge, she would simply have to manage it as best she could. Endure until her son grew up, until those old affairs faded away, and until her son could hold official office — then she would have come through it.
When she was done thinking, she went that evening to accompany the Old Madam for dinner.
The Old Madam said, “When you were a new bride here, I didn’t require you to attend me at meals. Now that you even have a child, why leave him unattended and come to me? Once those two menfolk come back, what will we tell them if we haven’t taken proper care of the child?”
The youngest son’s wife heard this and stifled a laugh. In this household, Elder Sister-in-law had once been like a phoenix. The younger members’ courtesies toward her had been only surface-deep; while others stood through the household rituals, she could sit and chat companionably with the in-laws.
How very interesting indeed.
Duan Shi was swaying on her feet but still said, “The child just fell asleep and has his nurse — as a daughter-in-law, it’s right for me to attend to you.”
She stood through half the meal before being allowed to return to her own room. Back in the room, the child was awake and playing with the nurse. A maidservant brought food. Duan Shi shook her head. “No. Not hungry.”
She lay down early but could not sleep. She rose at first light the next morning to pay her respects to her mother-in-law.
The Old Madam said, “Spare me these empty formalities — we never stood on ceremony like this before. Weren’t you going to the Guan family?”
“Yes.”
She had intended to send a calling card first, but now she had no choice but to go in person. Her aunt’s circumstances should be better than her own — her cousins had all grown up, and the eldest had even entered the civil service.
At the Guan estate, Duan Shi’s aunt heard she had come and rushed to receive her.
Aunt and niece met and wept in each other’s arms. Duan Shi asked her aunt for news. The aunt ground her teeth and said, “Our family’s luck just fell short by that little bit — that one little bit!”
Then she slowly described what she knew — the official public account was much the same as what Duan Shi had heard. The aunt said, “It could only be a hasty burial. At least a whole body was preserved. We couldn’t bring the coffins back to the ancestral home, and no temple would keep the tablets of a traitor’s family, so we found a spot outside the city walls for now. One day we’ll have them moved.”
“I want to go and pay my respects,” said Duan Shi.
“Of course. We’ll choose a day and go together.”
Duan Shi then asked her aunt about her father-in-law and husband, asking whether she knew what the outcome might be for men brought before the Censorate like this. The aunt was astonished. “What? They too have been —”
Duan Shi nodded tearfully. “Aunt?”
The aunt was lost in thought. “Oh — oh! I don’t know either. Wait until your uncle and cousin are back, and I’ll ask them.” She then said, “You have a husband’s family now — go back quickly, don’t let your mother-in-law find fault with you. Alas — once the natal family is fallen, even a servant’s eyes in the husband’s home will change when they look at you. Go.”
Duan Shi bid farewell to her aunt and returned to the estate, going first to the main room to report to her mother-in-law. From far off she heard a young child’s voice — and the more she listened, the more familiar it sounded. She entered the room to find her son being held by his nurse, entertaining the Old Madam.
Duan Shi said, “I saw my aunt. My uncle and cousin had not yet returned. My aunt says she’ll ask them once they’re back and send word. I imagine it will be at the earliest the day after tomorrow before there’s any reply.”
The Old Madam said anxiously, “That slow?”
“The Censorate’s business is not easy to inquire about.” Then she smiled at her son and moved to take him back to her room, saying it was time for his milk.
“You’ve worked hard these past two years too,” the Old Madam said. “There’s still much for you to attend to in these coming days. Leave the child here — I’ll look after him for you.”
Duan Shi choked.
“What’s the matter? Don’t trust me? His wet nurse and nanny can stay too — I won’t change the staff. We need to get his grandfather and father rescued as soon as we can — that’s what matters.”
Duan Shi could not win the argument and had no choice but to return to her room, where she cried herself out, and could only pray that her aunt’s household would bring news soon.
…
Her uncle held a modest rank of the fifth grade; her cousin was even lower, at the seventh. When they came home after offices let out and the wife described the situation, Guan Zongming said, “The Court of Judicial Review’s prison — not just anyone can poke their head into that.”
“Isn’t it the Censorate handling the case?”
“Yes, but the people are being held at the Court of Judicial Review’s prison. Have you lost your mind?”
Guan Niangzi’s face went ashen. “So it really is… truly…”
“What relationship does the Guan family have with the Bian family?” Guan Zongming said. “Don’t get any more involved with them! They brought it on themselves!”
“We are also kin by marriage.”
“If we weren’t kin by marriage, I wouldn’t be dragged in at all! Treason — what gall! I didn’t know beforehand, and now I’m facing cold shoulders because of it. Wife, your sons and grandsons are all surnamed Guan!”
Guan Niangzi felt as though her heart were being seared in oil and said, “I — I understand.” She could not even say “a bond between two families.”
Fortunately her son had grown up. She quietly called her son Guan Qing over and asked him to look into the case the next day.
Guan Qing was a dutiful son and agreed readily: “Mother, don’t be angry with Father — he’s also doing this for the family’s sake. With a household of dozens, he has to be careful.”
“Understood,” said Guan Niangzi.
Guan Qing went early the next morning to his office. He was a registrar under the Court of Imperial Entertainments, and had little dealings with the Censorate. Today he had no choice but to steel himself and ask around: “Has the senior official not come down from the morning court yet?” He was planning to wait until today’s court session ended, for the various offices to relay the news downward, then look at the official gazette, and then see if he could find out anything at the Censorate.
But the morning court session simply would not end.
At court that day, several official appointments were made in addition to other matters.
The Court of State Ceremonial gained Leng Yun as its new President. Leng Yun was satisfied with the Court of State Ceremonial — his satisfaction stopped at the Vice President. From Zhao Su downward, Zhù Ying had trained everyone smoothly, and Leng Yun’s days were comfortable. The one exception was the Vice President, who should have been sharing the burden — and this left Leng Yun deeply dissatisfied.
He had not been long in the post before he went home and complained to Hou Leng: “The court should have given me two Vice Presidents, but I’ve only got not even half of one working for me!”
Hou Leng said, “What nonsense are you on about? Don’t you have one? The other one was promoted! Stop treating Zhù Zǐzhāng as a county magistrate of Fu Lu! A blade that finds its way out of a bag — trying to stuff it back in will only cut your hand! You drew blood yourself — you can’t make it look inconspicuous now. Ask the Emperor for what you need.”
“I know.”
“Keep talking and I’ll beat you!” Hou Leng began rolling up his sleeve. Leng Yun leaped up and ran off.
Then he submitted a memorial requesting that another Vice President be added to the Court of State Ceremonial. One principal and one deputy — between them, most work could get done without needing a full complement. Never mind the crowds lining up outside to fill vacancies; the various offices were perennially understaffed, and those vacant positions were not meant for people who couldn’t even get in the queue.
The current Court of State Ceremonial was different. Its one principal and one deputy were not enough. Leng Yun found Shen Ying unsatisfactory — couldn’t carry a full person’s workload; and Shen Ying in turn found this superior far too demanding and troublesome, always coming up with things to make his life difficult, and far inferior to Luo Sheng. The two had not only failed to cooperate, but actively got on each other’s nerves.
Emboldened by his grievance, Leng Yun requested an additional officer who was “plain and capable,” who could “face difficulty without flinching,” who “eschewed empty forms,” who could “shoulder the ruler’s burdens,” a “young and reliable person.”
The Grand Council said that some of the individuals the Emperor had nominated would do better to serve as deputies first — but the Emperor was unwilling to send his own son-in-law off to be a mere Vice President. So the Emperor asked, “Who among the ministers do you consider fit for the role?”
Someone recommended Li Yanqing.
Chen Meng looked over. He understood at once — this gentleman was his “family elder,” fifteen years younger than his father Chen Feng, but both with ties to Li Yanqing’s grandfather.
Chen Meng raised no objection. Wang Yunhe and Shi Kun both thought highly of Li Yanqing and spoke in his favor.
Li Yanqing was thus appointed Vice President of the Court of State Ceremonial.
Leng Yun found the name familiar, and his first reaction was not distaste — which he took to mean the appointment should be acceptable, so he did not leap up to object.
Then came discussions of several prefects and prefectural governors from the provinces. Wang Yunhe stepped forward and told the Emperor, “We should select capable and diligent men, who can investigate and correct local harmful customs, and survey the land.”
On that one statement alone, fierce arguments erupted at court. No one said such a thing was wrong to do, but many raised the issue of “difficulty in implementation.” Surveying the land required manpower — but how could one ensure those people had no private interests? Bringing officials from elsewhere wouldn’t work either — they would be unfamiliar with local conditions.
Better to first select officials and post them there, and let it proceed gradually. Or let the local “populace” report their own landholdings themselves — if the people dared report it, the court would dare accept it.
The arguments were a tremendous muddle. But the Emperor was inclined to support Wang Yunhe, because the land uncovered through the survey would pay taxes into the court, and the Ministry of Finance would still set aside a share for the Emperor’s own expenses.
The morning court session thus ran rather late.
After the session, Wang Yunhe was retained by the Emperor to speak privately. The others gradually dispersed.
…
Guan Qing waited anxiously for the court to end. He heard no discussion of Bian Xing and his son’s case today, but he knew that recently various prefects and prefectural governors had been dismissed from time to time, replaced by others. He made his way carefully toward the Censorate, pretending to chat casually and bringing up the subject of so many prefects having been changed lately — wondering if the ones in prison now would ever come out. Wondering how the Censorate handled its cases anyway.
Since today’s latter half of the arguments had also been sparked by new appointments, the person he was talking to did not think anything of it and chatted with him for a while, saying, “The Court of Judicial Review has had everything prepared perfectly — the case has been a pleasure to handle.”
Guan Qing waited until he was home to relay the matter to his mother.
Guan Niangzi turned pale with shock. “So there really is something involving the Zheng family in all this!”
“Mother, you’re imagining things again,” said Guan Qing. “Our family has nothing to do with them. Even if something happened to Uncle’s family, you are a married-out daughter — and you and Cousin are perfectly fine.”
“No, no, no! This Zhù Ying — she’s Zheng Xi’s person! And now she controls the Court of Judicial Review! That place is where people get pulled into cases. She’s handled the Lu Prince’s treason case with her own hands! Tiger has no intent to harm man — yet man is often harmed by tiger! Among Zheng’s dogs, this one is the most vicious! Under her watch, the Lu Prince’s family is gone, my natal family is gone, Uncle suffered and is gone too, and now the Bian family and my niece’s husband have been imprisoned… I’ll be next.”
Guan Niangzi fretted through half the night without sleeping, and first thing the next morning, she sent someone to the Bian family to fetch her niece and discuss how to proceed.