Chen Meng was not opposed to abolishing the official courtesan system. Zhù Ying could see that — he was simply still hesitant about whether to implement it immediately. The court had enough troubles at the moment, the greatest of which was the Emperor himself, and it was perfectly natural for a newly appointed Chancellor like Chen Meng to be cautious.
Zhù Ying added another piece of fuel to the fire: “Is this really such an important matter?”
Chen Meng said, “Not at all! I would think that aside from you, no one else would bring this up at a time like this.”
Zhù Ying smiled. “Isn’t that precisely the point? A matter that isn’t particularly important, yet will ripple out to every corner of the realm — use it as a test.”
Chen Meng asked, “A test of what?”
“A test to see who objects to something of minor significance, and how they object. A test to see whether local officials will actually carry it out, and how they carry it out. Surely you wouldn’t want to use ‘immediately prohibiting the buying and selling of farmland’ as a test? Or perhaps you’d like to overhaul the military system to try things out?” Zhù Ying gave a light laugh.
Chen Meng’s expression grew serious.
A wise man newly in office does not start fires — he probes and tests. As a new Chancellor, Chen Meng certainly needed to gauge the waters. These days Chen Meng still had to play the role of a new bride, though inwardly he had already been scheming — he just hadn’t yet settled on what to use as a test. His original plan had been to use the Ministry of Personnel as his instrument, cleaning up the disorder left behind by his predecessor there. But the degree of that was not easy to calibrate.
Zhù Ying said, “In recent times the court has been in terrible disarray — this faction, that faction. On the surface it looked like disputes over major policy, but in reality it was each household fighting over their own interests. Who belongs to whom, who leans toward whom — you’ve spent three years quietly watching from home; you must have worked it all out by now. That is the way of the world. But being a Chancellor is more than just that — surely you want to leave something behind in the history books? To accomplish great things, you must first put the court in order, top to bottom. Is that not so?”
She dangled before him an irresistible lure — the chance to make his mark.
Being a Chancellor comes down to two things: one is coordinating the interests of all parties, managing relationships, and maintaining a balance; the other is accomplishing something so significant it will be recorded in the history books and earn one the title of “virtuous Chancellor” — broadly speaking, that is ambition in action.
The first, Chen Meng had in his family heritage. But to accomplish the second, he needed to be able to command those above and below him.
Chen Meng rubbed his hands together and said in a low voice, “I do have some ideas, but I fear ending up like Chief Minister Wang. His intentions were good — yet look at how things turned out in practice. One also needs an enlightened ruler to provide backing.”
“Even setting aside great deeds, can one accomplish even small matters without the cooperation of officials at every level?”
Chen Meng thought seriously for a moment and said, “Very well! It’s decided!”
The two quickly settled on the steps: Zhù Ying would raise the matter first, to probe the reactions from above and below — there was bound to be opposition at this stage. At that point, Chen Meng would step forward and observe the responses.
The following day, Zhù Ying submitted a memorial requesting the abolition of the official courtesan system.
When Chen Meng read the memorial, he strongly suspected Zhù Ying had been preparing for this matter for a long time. The plan in the memorial was extremely well-developed — the position firm, with abolition a certainty, yet the specific steps were thoroughly practical, to be carried out gradually and in phases.
The Emperor at present had no interest in courtesans or anything of the sort. Dou Peng raised the question of tax revenue, while Chief Minister Li felt that discussing this matter openly at court would be unseemly and wanted no part of it.
There was opposition as well, of course — first on the matter of taxes, second on grounds of “proper distinctions of rank and status,” and then there were questions of “resettlement” and other such concerns.
The Emperor found it all tiresome and simply said, “Deliberate among yourselves.” Then he turned once more to inquire about the progress of the new army Wen Yue was training.
Wen Yue stepped forward and said, “Drills continue day and night; I dare not slacken.”
Only then did the Emperor’s expression ease somewhat.
Besides this memorial, Zhù Ying also needed to report that the goods prepared for establishing the households of the Princess and the Prince of Yong were now in place. A trace of a smile appeared on the Emperor’s face: “Very good.”
In his heart, he was calculating that he would finish both matters before the end of winter this year. Conveniently, the regional governors would be arriving in the capital, and they would bring generous gifts for his children as well. This way, the shortfall from the Ministry of Revenue and the inner treasury could also be made up.
The Emperor was calculating merrily away, and the court ministers were in reasonably good spirits as well. Since Chen Meng had been appointed Chancellor, order had gradually been restored throughout the court. Chen Meng himself might not have been the most capable, but with Mu Chengzhou gone, the Ministry of Personnel immediately felt cleaner. Once the Ministry of Personnel was in order, officials had a reliable sense of what to expect, and their work followed proper procedure.
At this time, Zheng Xi had not yet returned, and Xian Jing still kept watch at the Eastern Palace. Chen Meng was a man undaunted by either side, and together with Dou Peng, he had somehow managed to stabilize the situation.
Even so, the discussion of Zhù Ying’s memorial dragged on for several days, because what was being tested was not merely attitudes but also “capability.” Chen Meng did not wait for the large influx of regional governors to arrive and join the debate — too many mouths would be too chaotic — and instead made his position known relatively early.
When he openly supported Zhù Ying at court, the tide of the discussion began to shift.
The matter also involved the Ministry of Rites, the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and related offices. Chief Sacrificer Lu had some passing knowledge of how Zhù Ying had conducted affairs in Fulu County. Knowing this had always been her way of doing things, he only cared that the ritual music and performances required by his office would be unaffected, and he offered no open opposition. Seeing this, the Ministry of Rites also pinched their noses and agreed.
Zhù Ying and Chen Meng, moving ahead of the regional governors’ arrival in the capital, prevailed upon the Emperor to issue the imperial edict.
The specific implementation followed Zhù Ying’s own proposals to the letter. The regional governors had barely arrived in the capital when some of them slipped off to the pleasure quarter and discovered that the world had changed — two of the most celebrated figures, renowned for both beauty and artistry, had already vanished.
Zhù Ying, dressed in a plain blue robe and carrying a long sword, walked slowly along the riverbank. She had not been to this place in many years. Xiao Jiang’s “Taoist nunnery” was still here, though it had since changed hands. The people of the pleasure quarter turned over rapidly, as they always did. The old faces from twenty years ago had nearly all disappeared — some had withered away before they grew old, some had fled to distant lands, and precious few had managed to make their escape.
The “nunnery” was now home to several “Taoist nuns” who had no ordination certificates and dressed as Taoists in ordinary times.
The gate of the nunnery stood open, and the sound of delicate music drifted out.
As Zhù Ying passed by, a young boy standing at the gate called out in a clear, crisp voice, “Honored guest, would you like to come in for some tea?”
Zhù Ying glanced at him. He arranged a smile, and she turned her head away. The boy deflated slightly and muttered something under his breath. Zhù Ying paid no mind to the child and walked on, passing a well — its stone platform looked even older than before, and no one had bothered to replace it with a new one.
Some of the old courtyards had grown even more decrepit, though two had been freshly renovated. Crossing a bridge, she found the apothecary shop still there.
Zhù Ying let out a quiet sigh. She had taken only a few more steps when Hu Shijie came jogging up, panting: “My Lord! So you were here — we’ve been searching everywhere for you.”
Zhù Ying asked, “What is it?”
“A visitor has come to the residence. You gave instructions that if an important guest arrived, someone should come and find you.”
A rough-looking woman passed by, carrying a bamboo basket. She walked past the two of them and muttered, “Another Lord! The pleasure quarter never runs short of gentlemen and lords.” Then she glanced again at the two of them and suddenly grew uncertain. She peered at Zhù Ying’s face, studying her once, then again. Zhù Ying returned her look. The woman lowered her head in thought, then suddenly quickened her pace, dashing a few steps to grab a familiar acquaintance by the arm: “Hey, look! That one with the female attendants and the sword — isn’t that Lord Zhù they’ve been talking about?”
In the capital, Zhù Ying herself was not especially conspicuous, but her female attendants had a reputation larger than her own, and this had become one of her distinguishing marks.
Traveling with female attendants was not unheard of, but in wealthy households, female attendants dressed in men’s clothing almost always accompanied the lady of the house. Those accompanying a male head of household were nearly unheard of — and when they did exist, they were always dressed in fine, attractive clothing. Zhù Ying’s female attendants were entirely different. She gave them good treatment — fine clothing, fine accessories.
But her female attendants were not known for their beauty. They were sharp and capable, mostly quiet and reserved. They did not pick quarrels at the slightest provocation, but when something actually happened, their blades cleared their sheaths three points faster than any man’s.
Such a group was difficult not to find remarkable, and they had become a singular splash of color in the capital’s scenery.
When Zhù Ying herself appeared in the pleasure quarter, most people would not recognize her. But when Hu Shijie came with others to find her, the woman grew suspicious.
Zhù Ying’s ears twitched. She quickened her pace; Hu Shijie hurried after her.
Rounding a bend, they entered another world entirely.
——
When Zhù Ying returned to the residence, the visiting regional governor had already left his name card and gifts, and made an appointment to call again the following evening.
Zhao Su, Zhao Zhen, Su Zhe, Lin Feng, and the others were all in the residence. Hearing that Zhù Ying had returned, they all came out together to meet her, and seeing her dressed as she was, they all gave a start: “You…”
Given Zhù Ying’s current position, it was now nearly impossible for her to dress down and wander the streets as she had before. The sight of her like this made everyone assume she had come up with some new scheme.
Zhù Ying said, “Why are you all here?” Lin Feng and Su Zhe’s matters had been delayed by the reshuffling of court personnel, so it made sense for them to be at the residence. But Zhao Su and Zhao Zhen — it was a rest day, true, but surely they had their own affairs to attend to.
Zhao Su said, “In recent days, more people from the homeland have arrived.”
“Where is Zhuo Jue?” Zhù Ying asked.
Zhao Zhen said, “His uncle also arrived, and he’s at the guesthouse keeping him company. We came over to ask for your guidance on what to do next.”
Zhù Ying raised an eyebrow: “Come inside and speak.”
The group went to the hall and sat down. Zhao Su spoke first: “Adoptive Father, the court has only just settled down, but Counsellor Zheng is about to return, and His Majesty is often unwell. This stability is surely only temporary — before long, there will certainly be upheaval. Should we not take advantage of the period while Counsellor Chen manages the Ministry of Personnel to make more preparations?”
Zhù Ying asked, “What preparations do you think we should make?”
In Zhù Ying’s presence, these people all spoke directly. Zhao Su said, “Of course, we should recommend more worthy talents. Otherwise, when Zheng and Xian begin to contend, it will descend into brawling once more — once the factional strife starts up, there won’t be a soul left who can speak plain sense.”
Zhao Zhen said, “But the people from the homeland we know — those with any real ability have already been placed, as best as could be managed. What’s left are some who aren’t up to much…” His entire face scrunched up.
Su Zhe thought for a moment and said softly, “As long as they’re not too incompetent, perhaps…”
Lin Feng said, “Isn’t that just filling positions with whoever’s available? How would that do? People who serve Adoptive Father must have some ability, even if they’re southerners — at the very least, they should be able to ‘get things done,’ shouldn’t they?”
Su Zhe pursed her lips. “Your standards are really high, Uncle.”
Lin Feng regarded her with suspicion. “The tone of that remark didn’t sound right!”
Zhao Su sighed. “Younger Sister’s thinking is not wrong, but unfortunately the Ministry of Personnel is not in Adoptive Father’s hands.”
Zhao Zhen said, “How is it not wrong?”
Zhù Ying broke into a slightly enigmatic smile. “Loyalty.”
Men of ability who share one’s convictions are vanishingly rare — to find even a few true kindred spirits in a lifetime is already great fortune.
Beyond that, if one wished to hold a position in court contention, one had to settle for second best: people who would gather around oneself.
How to choose? They should not be too capable, yet not too useless either. “Just right” — able to handle certain things, but not capable enough to stand independently of one’s power and prestige, or to be attractive enough to others. Their interests might not necessarily align with one’s own, but without one’s patronage they would certainly be done for. Only by relying on oneself, by clustering together with others like themselves, could they live well.
Such people would fight tooth and nail to protect you.
Look — scheming for power, building personal factions, it was really quite simple.
When that day came, and if she were brought down, these southern faction members — half-risen, halfway through their ascent — would, at the critical juncture, have every chance of rallying to protect her. It had nothing to do with conscience; it had everything to do with their titles and salaries, their estates, their wives’ honors and their children’s futures, and not being implicated and driven out.
She had, in the end, reached this point herself.
Zhù Ying said, “Those who are useless cannot be included. At the very minimum, they must have a clear head. Getting someone like Mu Chengzhou would be something even His Majesty and Her Majesty the Empress could not protect.”
Su Zhe generously said, “I was thinking about it the wrong way.”
Zhù Ying shook her head. “It wasn’t entirely wrong either — there is indeed some selection involved. The bar is not high, but it is not nonexistent. They need not be especially clever, but they must understand: they must be able to listen and comprehend, and be able to carry out instructions.”
Zhao Su said, “People like that do exist. But then there will inevitably come a day when they clash with the Chancellors!”
Zhù Ying said, “When that day comes, we’ll deal with it then. If they can clash, it means there is something worth clashing over. If they can hold their own and aren’t simply crushed at a wave of someone’s hand, what is there to fear?”
The furrowed brows of those present gradually relaxed. Su Zhe smiled and said, “I have never been afraid. Since following Grandfather, I haven’t come out the worse in anything.”
Zhù Ying said, “Well, if that’s the case, I certainly can’t let you come out the worse now. You two — wait for word from me.”
——
Yao Zhen had not left his home since then, yet he had carved a deep mark in the Emperor’s heart.
The Emperor was relatively “attentive” to the Eastern Palace, and the Crown Prince felt a small measure of unease as well.
Zhù Ying seized the moment and, adjusting her plans, shifted from working through Yao Zhen to working through Chen Meng, and arranged for the two of them to be posted to the Eastern Palace. The Crown Prince had known Su Zhe from years past and was by now accustomed to her. For Zhù Ying to place her “children and grandchildren” in the Eastern Palace at this moment was not without its significance as a gesture of allegiance.
The Crown Prince received them with pleasure.
Chen Meng, however, had some misgivings about a young woman like Su Zhe being placed in the Eastern Palace as an official: “I only fear it will give rise to gossip, and that won’t be good for her.”
Zhù Ying said, “Just think about where she comes from — there’s no need to make a fuss about it.”
Chen Meng hesitated and then said, “Even if she eventually inherits the family headship — wait, she’s not young anymore. If she were to find a husband in the capital…”
“Stop right there! If she settles down and bears children for some family here, how is she to go back and inherit the family headship? Bring a live-in husband back with her? I have raised her all these years, not to be a wife for some ingrate. If that were the purpose, why would I have put so much effort into her? If she establishes a family here, will her own clan still recognize her? Don’t go recommending any more ungrateful candidates. The northern nomads have temporarily quieted down, but the western barbarians are still stirring, and there is unrest in various places. At a time like this, the south cannot be thrown into chaos — and my work cannot be for nothing.”
Chen Meng said, “Of course, peace across the realm is the more important thing. But the girl is at the flower of her youth — it seems hard on her. I would hate for her to miss out on things.”
“She won’t miss out. The customs of her clan are different from those of the central lands.”
Chen Meng said, “All right, then.”
“Su Zhe is an official.”
“Of course.”
Neither of their ranks had crossed the threshold of the fifth grade, and the Ministry of Personnel simply issued a document to install them both in the Eastern Palace administration.
The two of them both held positions in the Crown Prince’s Household Administration. Xian Jing raised no objection to Su Zhe — she was an “indigenous woman” who would eventually return to inherit her family headship; the Eastern Palace was especially lenient with her. Su Zhe was not only able to move about in the outer sections; sometimes she could even go to the inner quarters to call on the Crown Prince’s wives and concubines.
It was she who, not long afterward, brought Zhù Ying a piece of news: “The Prince of Yong’s household was established, and the Eastern Palace family went to attend the banquet, bringing the eldest son along. Somehow he caught a chill — the eldest son fell gravely ill, and imperial physicians went in turns to the Eastern Palace.”
The Emperor’s two children had each established their own households. The Prince of Yong’s consort was to be Mu Chengzhou’s daughter, while the husband selected for Princess Gong’an was Zheng Xi’s second son — the bridegroom was two years older than the bride. Since Zheng Xi was still in mourning, the date for the Princess’s wedding was set for the following year.
Zhù Ying attended the banquet at the Prince of Yong’s household only because it was required of her. After that, what went on in the Eastern Palace was no longer within her knowledge.
But it did not sound like good news.