Liu Songnian was sullen and disinclined to engage with anyone. When Xian Jing came to offer wine, he drank a cup, and then there was nothing more to be said. Seeing the state of things, Xian Jing had no choice but to excuse himself with resignation. When Liu Songnian had no wish to engage with people, sitting by his side at a meal required considerable courage.
Liu Songnian went on drinking, and Zhù Ying went on eating. Weddings and funerals alike were good occasions for social dealings, and many people had come today. Yet Liu Songnian’s side of the room was tranquil, and Zhù Ying was happy for the quiet.
Having eaten to about seven-tenths full, the newlyweds’ room erupted in merriment. Zhù Ying, now something of a “senior official,” looked toward that direction along with Liu Songnian, watching the young people laugh and make merry. A faint smile rested on both their faces — they were participating in the festivities in their own way.
Zhù Ying asked Liu Songnian: “Are you not going back to the Shi household?”
Liu Songnian said: “I already went. That place — too much trouble.”
He was the matchmaker for the bride’s family and had gone to the Shi household first. Among the Shi family’s guests, there was no one to his liking. When Chen Fang came to escort the new bride, he spotted Zhù Ying had also come along as the groom’s matchmaker, and so he followed the wedding procession to the Chen household. Chen Meng, delighted to receive this luminary of the literary world, asked Zhù Ying to serve as his host and companion.
Since he had already been asked, Liu Songnian made a token gesture and asked once more: “So — those people over there, are you not going to go and mingle a bit?”
Zhù Ying glanced in that direction and said: “In a moment. Let me eat a little more. The Chen family has no shortage of people to attend to things.”
Over on that side, Shen Ying’s face was flushed a warm pink as he held forth at length with a group of guests. He was not much older than Chen Meng, and carried himself with a dignified bearing. Many people were now reminded — ah, was he not actually Chen Meng the capital prefect’s maternal uncle?
And so yet another old story was brought to light.
Shen Ying was in good spirits. In these years of attending chiefly to funerals and memorial rites, he had come to know quite a few people and felt no shyness in conversation. For an occasion like today, Chen Meng had also arranged for a portion of the guests to be seated in his company, and his self-esteem was well satisfied.
On the other side, Leng Yun and Zheng Xi had also finished talking. Leng Yun had never anticipated that Zheng Xi could be so magnanimous, and found himself feeling vaguely displeased. Zheng Xi only smiled. There were many things he could not tell Leng Yun — for instance, Zhù Ying’s origins. It was Zheng Xi himself who had arranged her household registration, which was why he had more peace of mind than anyone else.
Zheng Xi said: “Someone else’s happy occasion — and there you are with that dissatisfied face. What does that look like? Sanlang has done nothing improper. I am still at home — would you have him lead people in open brawls at court?”
Leng Yun thought it over and said: “That would actually be quite satisfying. Let His Majesty see what chaos breaks loose without you.”
Zheng Xi said: “It would not come to that. It has not reached that point.”
The guests were paying their respects in turn to the host’s family, seeking out acquaintances to chat with, or seizing the opportunity to request introductions — the hall was alive with festivity.
The arrival of the Crown Prince and his consort brought the occasion to a high point.
The Crown Prince was a person who made outings from the palace with some regularity, and a considerable portion of those outings included his young wife — this time was no exception.
He had first gone to the Shi household, where Luo Sheng and his wife, who had come to drink at the Shi family’s wedding banquet, happened to encounter his consort. The Crown Prince left his consort there to visit with her family, and came alone to the Chen household.
After a round of greetings, the Crown Prince wore a face full of smiles: “Congratulations, congratulations.”
Chen Meng’s face also broke into a broad smile, and he said happily: “Your Highness graces us with your presence — what glory it brings to this humble household.”
Liu Songnian and Zheng Xi both came forward to pay their respects. The Crown Prince first inquired after Liu Songnian’s health, then said he was looking forward to Zheng Xi’s return. Xian Jing hastened to his side. The Crown Prince said: “I am here as a guest, and you are here as a guest. Today you are not the East Palace Advisor — you are only a guest of the capital prefect’s family.”
He was gracious and warm.
Xian Jing still did not move away. The Crown Prince exchanged a few words with the assembled company, then said of Zhù Ying: “I expected you would certainly be here.”
He spoke briefly with each of the many officials in attendance in turn. Leng Yun listened as he spoke with them all, and noticed that he spoke particularly at length with Shen Ying — only two or three sentences with others before moving on, but with Shen Ying he said quite a good deal. Beyond the customary pleasantries, he also asked whether Shen Ying’s wife had come.
Shen Ying said: “My wife is in the inner hall drinking with the mistress of the Chen household.”
The Crown Prince then asked: “With this cold weather — is the Madam’s rheumatism any better?”
Shen Ying said: “These past few days it has eased a little, and she was finally able to venture out.”
The Crown Prince said in passing: “She must rest well.”
“Yes.”
Chen Fang hurried out from the back to pay his respects. The Crown Prince was particularly warm with him, taking his hand and saying: “You have finally started a family!”
An involuntary grin spread across Chen Fang’s face, and the Crown Prince shook his head at the sight of it. The Crown Prince also presented him with a pair of fish pendants, wishing him a hundred years of happiness and sons to come soon.
Chen Fang chuckled sheepishly — usually quite quick-witted, he now appeared rather simple and honest.
The Crown Prince did not linger long at the Chen household. He sat for a while and then departed, leaving the stage to the host’s family.
Leng Yun’s curiosity was piqued. Unable to contain himself, and heedless of Liu Songnian’s presence, he rushed to Zhù Ying’s side the moment the Crown Prince left — enduring Liu Songnian’s sideways glance — and asked Zhù Ying: “Hey — why did the Crown Prince ask about Shen Ying’s wife? I have never heard anything about this before. Do you know what is going on?”
Zhù Ying said: “I do not pry into his family’s affairs.”
Leng Yun muttered: “It is far too strange.”
Liu Songnian gave a cough. Leng Yun startled and made himself scarce.
……
Shen Ying, having been honored by the Crown Prince’s extended attention, remained in high spirits throughout. When evening came and the banquet dispersed, he and his wife returned home. It was not convenient to speak on the road, so it was only after they arrived home that he asked his wife: “Why did the Crown Prince ask about you?”
His wife, Lady Shen, was quite taken aback, and then startled with delight: “Could it be A’Gui?”
“What? What has happened with A’Gui? What?!” Shen Ying also recalled it now, and asked: “Has she truly entered the Eastern Palace?”
Some time ago, Lady Shen seemed to have mentioned helping a niece from her birth family enter the palace. That was during the time the Empress was selecting consorts for Prince Qi, when a few attendants had been added to the Eastern Palace at the same time in passing.
Lady Shen’s birth family, the Yan family, had originally been the household of a government official, not particularly distinguished or influential, but comfortably well-off. However, by the time of Lady Shen’s father’s generation, he was found guilty of a crime and was sentenced to exile of two thousand li, banished to the same place as the Shen family, who had also received a sentence of exile at that time.
Later the Shen family returned first, and Lady Shen made a daily nuisance of herself with Shen Ying, demanding he find a way to bring her family back too, but Shen Ying always refused. Fortunately a general amnesty came, but the family’s assets were by then gone, and they had no choice but to come to the capital to seek Lady Shen’s support.
The Yan family daughter was known by the childhood name A’Gui, a clever young woman. She had grasped an opportunity to help her aunt, and Lady Shen had used money to bribe a eunuch and had her inserted into the roster. Her grandfather and great-grandfather had both been officials, and while her father was not, that was no major blemish — her record looked unproblematic on paper. She counted as the daughter of an official family by any reckoning.
The only misfortune was that once one entered the palace gates, one was as lost as if cast into the deep sea, and from then on there was no further word. Palace matters were genuinely difficult to investigate. Everyone wanted to know what was happening within the palace, and the palace absolutely did not wish for anyone to peer inside — precautions were strict. Although Shen Ying spent every day within the imperial city, as an outer official, asking about palace ladies was something he neither would nor could do.
Without A’Gui, the Yan family lost one of their most capable people. Everything was more disagreeable than before, and Lady Shen’s elder brother and sister-in-law inevitably imposed more upon their younger sister. Lady Shen had received no small number of reprimands from Shen Ying over this, and in these days past she herself had been filled with remorse.
Especially since the Crown Prince’s second son had now been born — the Crown Prince had another son, a matter of no small significance, though not as momentous as the birth of the eldest, and kept no particular secret. Word had drifted out that the child’s mother was reportedly a young woman of good family, apparently of the Zhao surname. Yet according to Lady Shen’s conversations with the wives of high officials, this Zhao Niangzi, though she had given birth to a son, remained like the palace ladies who had previously borne children — none of them had yet been granted an official rank and title.
Even those who had borne sons were in such a state — and her own niece…
Lady Shen was truly filled with regret. A’Gui was clever and considerate, skilled at conversation and willing to work hard. Had she remained outside, Lady Shen herself would have been spared a great deal of worry.
Whenever Lady Shen burned incense, after praying for her own family’s prosperity, she would add a prayer for her niece’s safety as well. Because it had been through her own hand that A’Gui was sent into the palace, A’Gui had become a weight on her conscience.
The moment she heard anything connected to the Eastern Palace, she would involuntarily think of A’Gui — so much so that her husband and son both said: “You are possessed. The Crown Prince has so many matters to attend to, and the Eastern Palace so many people — how could every thing you hear be connected to A’Gui?”
Yet today, thinking over and over the connection between her own household and the Eastern Palace, the only thread she could trace was A’Gui.
Even Shen Ying himself felt uneasy as he turned it over in his mind — and indeed, he could think of no other point of connection between himself and the Eastern Palace.
Could it truly be?
Lady Shen dared not ask her husband again. Steeling her resolve, she would spend more money and quietly look into her niece’s whereabouts. She only regretted that it was the time approaching the new year, when gifts were being sent in every direction, and she had to assemble yet another generous gift to inquire of the eunuch she had bribed before.
This time Shen Ying knew about it, and raised no objection.
Three days passed, and then word came from the eunuch: “Speaking of Palace Lady Yan — yes, there is indeed such a person in the palace. However, palace rules are strict, and I would not dare speak carelessly.”
Lady Shen added another gift, and the eunuch then let slip one more sentence: “She is currently resting to protect a pregnancy.”
Lady Shen was overjoyed, and laughed: “She has finally come out ahead! Eldest son, quickly! Go and tell your uncle!”
Shen Ying allowed himself a brief smile, then set his face back into its sober expression: “Do not lose your composure! How do any of you know anything of palace matters? If others pay no notice, it may pass without incident, but if anyone takes it seriously — inquiring into the palace’s internal affairs is a grave offense.”
Lady Shen’s elation was only slightly dampened: “But… how can there be such joyful news and not tell her parents?”
Shen Ying said: “It is not too late to inform them after she has given birth.”
Lady Shen said: “Yes, yes — she is a sensible girl. Once she gives birth to a son, she will certainly find ways to send word outside. Since the Crown Prince himself asked after me, it must mean she has spoken of me to the Crown Prince. And if she can speak to the Crown Prince, clearly she is not faring badly… oh dear, quickly — prepare some firewood, rice, and fine silks, and send them over. The family of the imperial grandchild’s maternal side — how can they appear too shabby?”
Shen Ying did not stop her. Lady Shen then cautiously said: “Should we not… help them obtain some light post? It would look better that way.”
Shen Ying said: “What need for you to arrange that? If the Crown Prince takes it to heart, his arrangements will be far more effective than your scheming.”
Lady Shen laughed: “Quite right, quite right! A’Gui’s belly absolutely must be a good one and bring forth a son! Oh, and you too — our own children still have nothing settled yet…” As she spoke, her laughter faded.
Shen Ying’s feelings, however, were somewhat complicated. It was nothing beyond the fact that he had several sons of his own, and could not arrange a good position for every one of them. When Lady Shen mentioned securing a post, he felt a pang of guilt, and his thoughts turned to his own sons.
Shen Ying hesitated at length, and finally decided he would swallow his pride and, when drinking wine with Chen Meng at the new year, mention the matter of finding his son a position — otherwise, his youngest might not even be able to marry well.
……——
Chen Meng sneezed three times in a row.
Zhù Ying said: “Have you caught a chill from all that happiness?”
It was a rest day, and the Chen family had come to pay a visit to Zhù Ying — ostensibly to thank the matchmaker, but in reality to let the eldest daughter-in-law pay her respects to her “uncle.”
The young Shi family daughter was fair-skinned and delicately pretty, a thoroughly typical picture of a well-bred young lady from a good household. She had the look of someone who did not compete or contend for anything.
She looked on this “uncle” with curiosity. Chen Fang had told her that the two families were old family friends, yet the Zhù household was a peculiar “family” in itself — there was an elder in Wuzhou, but no lady of the house, and certainly no young sons or daughters.
Upon arriving, she had almost taken Su Zhe for a younger sister, and only after an explanation understood her to be something like a “niece.”
Beyond her, there was also someone called “Zhù Lian,” and hearing the character “Zhù” she had assumed he must be some sort of clansman — Zhù Ying had neither wife nor children, that much she knew.
Chen Fang made introductions and she learned he was Zhù Ying’s student. Lin Feng addressed her as “adoptive father.” Xiang Yu addressed her as “the official.”
And then the banquet began, and things became truly remarkable.
This household had genuinely not kept a single female musician or entertainer — no singing or dancing girls, and no women were invited to sit at the table alongside the men. Cleaner than even the Chen household. No wonder the two families were so congenial.
Having married into the Chen household, Shi Ping had since learned that the legendary Chen family’s “upright and proper way of life” was genuine. The Chen family’s rules were quite strict — the young men of the family almost never visited the pleasure quarters, and there were no household entertainers, though a few musicians had been kept on. Chen Meng led by example, with one wife and one concubine. The concubine had been engaged by Chen Madam herself two years ago during an out-of-province posting, when she felt her energy was not what it once was. She served primarily to attend to daily needs.
Shi Ping was very satisfied with such a household.
Chen Meng laughed: “Indeed — came down with a chill from being happy!”
The gathering was filled with conversation, laughing, arrow-throwing games, and merriment.
Chen Meng glanced over at Zhù Lian and asked Zhù Ying: “Is Zhù Lian back in the capital now? Will you place him in the Ministry of Finance?”
Zhù Ying said: “He is going to the northern territories. While he is young, let him gain some real-world experience.”
“You had already sent him out and now you will not bring him back?”
Zhù Ying shook her head: “Not yet. There is still more to be done.”
The post she had arranged for Zhù Lian was county magistrate in the northern territories. He had previously served as deputy county magistrate, and now serving as magistrate was already a rapid advancement. It was convenient too, as he would be working under Zheng Chuan, and accumulating merits while under the same banner would be easier.
After a few more years, he could be transferred from the northern territories to other regions.
Chen Meng glanced at Chen Fang, whose rank relative to his age was already quite high. He also wanted to arrange an out-of-province posting for his son — any longer without one and he would end up like Zheng Xi. But his son had just recently married…
Zhù Ying smiled: “What is the matter? Has your heart moved?”
Chen Meng said: “If we do not arrange it soon, it will be too late.”
Zhù Ying said: “I think you need not be in such a rush. Let the young couple settle down and live peacefully for a few days. When spring comes and the flowers bloom, there might be a place for him.”
Chen Meng asked: “Where?”
“Yanzhou,” Zhù Ying said.
Chen Fang’s work was something Zhù Ying was familiar with — quite thorough. Earl Chen had instilled many principles in him, and Zhù Ying herself had taken him along to the northern territories for two years of practical experience. The Emperor harbored intense resentment over the Yanzhou matter, and sending someone else might mean no leniency would be shown. Yet for the situation in Yanzhou, a combined approach of authority and benevolence was essential.
Chen Fang was quite suitable.
Chen Fang’s current rank meant that going out he could start as a prefect, or serve as Yanzhou’s deputy governor — there was great potential for achievement.
Chen Meng said: “Is it safe?”
Zhù Ying said: “A place with everything still to be rebuilt is the easiest kind to work in. My students — I have sent them all to the northern territories. It is hard and exhausting, but as long as they are willing to work, the results are visible.”
Chen Fang was eager and enthusiastic.
Chen Meng said: “Good — we shall wait for the great victory at Yanzhou.”
……
As the two of them spoke, neither expected any major incident to occur at Yanzhou.
As it happened, none did. Before the various government offices sealed their documents for the new year, a report of victory arrived — the young General Leng had pacified the Yanzhou uprising. The ringleaders had been captured, over a hundred heads taken, more than two hundred taken prisoner, and several hundred more had surrendered.
The Emperor was greatly pleased. He ordered that those who had performed meritoriously be rewarded, and reprimanded the Yanzhou governor harshly. Then came the settling of accounts.
The Emperor’s intent was that the rebel soldiers were to be beheaded, the ringleaders’ families exterminated to three generations, and all others enslaved.
Dou Peng heard the tone of things and knew something was off. He hastened to say: “It is inauspicious to kill those who have surrendered!”
The Emperor said: “And those who did not surrender?”
Dou Peng said: “Each to be judged according to their crime.”
“This is not some ordinary criminal case!”
Shi Jixing broke into a headache the moment he heard the word “case.” The Wang Family case was something he had thoroughly “investigated” — the reality was even more revolting than what Jiang Zheng had reported, and it was absolutely impossible to suppress. After reporting it “as it was,” there was no way around it — a couple of them would have to be executed, and penalties handed down.
Once the verdict was rendered, Wang Daifu had not yet suffered any real consequence, when Yu Qingtuan and others had already praised Shi Jixing, calling him someone who “does not fear the powerful.”
As if he needed their praise!
Shi Jixing hunched his head down and absolutely refused to get involved in the matter.
The Prime Minister and the Emperor fell into a dispute. Dou Peng insisted that so many people could not be executed, and proposed that — with the exception of the ringleaders and a few others — the rest be exiled to fortify the frontier, bringing their families along to farm in the northern territories.
The Emperor demanded that an example be made to deter others.
Dou Peng said with firm conviction: “To make an example, you do not need to kill this many people. Your subject once served in local government and knows how difficult governance is. At a time like this, when the imperial army has prevailed, the priority in the region should be pacification. Let us seek harmony.”
The assembled ministers all held reservations about mass killings. Li the Palace Attendant also said: “Heaven prizes the preservation of life. Killing and slaughter on too great a scale runs counter to the harmony of Heaven, and calamities may follow. With the harvests already poor of late, I beg Your Majesty to reconsider carefully.”
Grand Academician Lu said: “Even as punishment, there ought to be distinctions made.”
Mu Chengzhou had been about to echo the Emperor’s position, but the Crown Prince shook his head at him, and he pulled back.
Zhù Ying stepped out from the ranks and said: “With such a swift suppression of the uprising, Prince Qi can return to court early as well.”
The Emperor, unable to hold out against them, said vexedly: “Let us only hope they will appreciate your tender mercies!”
All the assembled ministers then presented the Emperor with a shared flattery: “His Majesty is benevolent and virtuous.”
The Emperor declared the court session dismissed with a rather unhappy air.
The Yanzhou governor was demoted, and a new governor was needed. Xian Jing had kept a watchful eye for the opportunity and suggested to the Crown Prince that Jiang Zheng be appointed Yanzhou Governor. His thinking was that if Jiang Zheng returned to serve as deputy governor, he would inevitably be constrained by the governor above him and would be unable to accomplish much. So he secured the governorship for Jiang Zheng.
The Crown Prince was of the same mind.
When Chen Meng saw that Jiang Zheng had been made Yanzhou Governor, he took advantage of the new year calls to pay a visit to Yao Zhen’s household, and secured his son the post of Yanzhou Deputy Governor. Yao Zhen could not understand why, having only recently returned from the northern territories and settled into an important and prestigious position, Chen Fang was being sent out again so soon. Chen Meng explained: “While he is young, and while I am still around, going out to gain experience is no bad thing.” Yao Zhen explained that this was not a desirable posting, but Chen Meng remained insistent. Seeing this, Yao Zhen stopped trying to persuade him and agreed to propose to the Emperor that Chen Fang be sent out again.
As for Zhao Su, he finally made his way back to the capital in the first lunar month. Chen Meng conveniently arranged for his son to meet with Zhao Su and ask him about the situation in Yanzhou. Jiang Zheng had the same idea — he sent a calling card to Zhao Su’s residence, but the doorman told him that Zhao Su had gone to Zhù Ying’s household. He waited at the gate.
Even though the household was Zhù Ying’s, Zhao Su’s wife, Lady Qi, dared not leave Jiang Zheng waiting at the gatehouse. She invited him into the reception hall and sent someone to Zhù Ying’s household to find out when Zhao Su would be returning.
Zhao Su was presently speaking with Zhù Ying: “Yanzhou produces salt, and the salt-workers are the most miserable — which is also why the fighting was so fierce. My godfather mentioned before that the Wuzhou people should be able to get salt to eat, and my younger sister said Wuzhou’s salt production was not refined. Yanzhou uses salt pools — the method ought to be roughly similar.
Among the bandits there were salt-workers as well, and there are salt-workers in Yanzhou who wish to leave. As for how to relocate them to Wuzhou, I respectfully ask for my godfather’s guidance.”
Those registered as good commoners had household registrations, even artisans were recorded on the registers, and ordinary people were not generally permitted to relocate freely. What to do with the bandits was something the court was watching closely.
Zhao Su could not manage it on his own, but Zhù Ying was different — household registers across the entire nation were under her administration. It just so happened that Chen Fang was going to Yanzhou as well.
“I will make the arrangements,” Zhù Ying said.