Zhù Ying’s gaze did not linger on her mother. One deep look was enough; her eyes swept out across all the people assembled there.

Chieftains, gentry, and common folk were packed together in a dense crowd. Ordinary people’s clothes were always duller than those of the “noble” — even in red or green, theirs could not match the brilliance of the same colors on others. Against that expanse of muted tones, two small clusters of brightness drew the eye. Su Mingluan and the other chieftains had all come, standing with Zhang Xiangu, and at a slight distance from them stood several people who looked like officials.

Su Zhe was at Zhù Ying’s side. She spotted her mother and called out joyfully, “Mama!” waving at Su Mingluan with a face full of smiles.

Zhù Ying said, “Stay alert.”

Her eyes were sharp — she could see that around both Su Mingluan and the local prefect, there were a number of powerfully-built individuals with watchful expressions.

This was consistent with her expectations. To enter Wuzhou one had to pass through Jiyuan Prefecture, and Jiyuan Prefecture was under the court’s authority.

Hu Shijie’s hand moved to the pouch at her waist.

On the other side, the officials of Jiyuan Prefecture were themselves in a state of intense anxiety. Ten years had passed; the prefecture’s officials were an entirely new cohort. The newly arrived prefect and his deputy and others were silently cursing their luck.

The prefect asked his deputy, “That person — where are they? Which one is she?”

The deputy smiled ruefully. “Your Excellency forgets — I have never seen that person myself either.” He called over one of the bailiffs: “You are a veteran of the prefecture. Look — which of them is the… official we are expecting.”

The bailiff looked distinctly reluctant, but said, “It’s the one in the center.”

“Ah?” The prefect was startled. “I was told she is a woman. Why is she still wearing men’s clothing?”

Women wearing men’s clothing was common enough everywhere, and in other places a girl might receive some criticism for it, but in Wuzhou, people couldn’t even be bothered to comment. But Zhù Ying — she had publicly declared her own identity. You’ve already announced it yourself, and you’re still dressed the same way? Wasn’t this just making unnecessary trouble for everyone?

While they were muttering among themselves, Lin Feng’s loud voice boomed out: “What are you all whispering about over there? Do you need any help?”

The prefect said quickly, “I was asking because I have not had the honor of meeting the distinguished person face to face before.”

Lin Feng said breezily, “My adoptive parent is obviously the one right in the middle!” Then he fixed the prefect with a not-so-benign stare.

The prefect said, “My thanks for the information.” He feigned composure and turned to look at Zhù Ying.

Her Daoist robes had been put away. What she wore was a set pulled from her traveling clothes — a pale blue outer robe, a narrow ring belt hung with small accessories, a blade at her side, and her hair held up by a small gold crown. Her bearing was no different from any previous time. The Zheng household’s boxes had contained several full sets of women’s dress, accessories included, all fittingly assembled — and Qi Niangzi had even wanted to make her some light everyday clothes during the journey — but Zhù Ying had declined all of it.

There was an advantage to being dressed this way: the moment she appeared, the crowd opposite broke into cheers. One strong voice called out, “Official Zhù!”

Seeing this, Zhù Ying remained inwardly cautious, keeping one eye on the official soldiers, before she raised her hand to acknowledge the crowd.

Hu Shijie said, “Just walk forward, Official. I’ll follow.”

Zhù Ying gave her a smile, dismounted, and strode quickly toward Zhang Xiangu.

“Mother,” she said.

Zhang Xiangu sniffled. “Here — yes!”

The two of them stood facing each other, smiling. Huajie said, “You’re back — that’s what matters. Everything at home is well. Don’t worry.” She loosened her grip, and Zhù Ying naturally stepped forward and took hold of Zhang Xiangu’s arm.

Zhang Xiangu said, “Come. Let’s go home.”

“All right.”

While agreeing, she did not rush to leave but, looking past Zhang Xiangu, gave a nod to Su Mingluan. Su Mingluan had already weathered one round of shock and come to terms with the fact that her “adoptive father” was a woman and was returning — but now that the actual living person was standing before her, she faced an entirely new wave of it. Lu Danqing had come back first and found her immediately; Su Mingluan had also been among the first to decide to support Zhù Ying’s bid to become Governor of Wuzhou, and had worked hard to persuade the others.

Now the living person was right in front of her, and Su Mingluan found she still had so much she wanted to ask, so much she wanted to say. Until Su Zhe called out loudly, “Mama!”

Huajie said, “These troops are the soldiers Qingjun brought out. She’s waiting on the road ahead. Godfather’s legs are aching; he’s resting at home. Xiao Jiang and Hou Wu are at home with him.”

Su Mingluan immediately added, “All of us came out to welcome you home.”

Zhao Su, Jin Yu, and the others were also reuniting with their kin. Zhao Su lifted his son for his parents to see: “This is him.”

Zhù Ying exchanged nods of greeting with the chieftains one by one. Their eyes held a faint bewilderment, yet none of them raised questions to her face; all wore expressions of welcome. Though those smiles carried ten more years of weathering in them now, and were perhaps slightly less sharp than they had been.

From within the crowd, a sharp childish voice piped up: “Let me see! Let me see! I’ve never seen her before!” Then there came an “Ow!” — evidently it had been too noisy and earned a slap. The voice turned tearful: “I’ve only ever seen her at the temple…”

Zhù Ying’s expression remained pleasantly composed. She then watched as the prefect and his party pushed through the crowd toward her, and the crowd grew somewhat quieter, leaving only the occasional voice of a small child who didn’t know what was happening.

The prefect bowed low to the ground. “I have long heard of your great deeds and always hoped to seek your guidance in person, but never had the opportunity. You have traveled a long way by boat and carriage; please rest at the prefectural office.”

Zhù Ying returned his bow. “Prefect Xu.”

“That is I.” At this moment, Prefect Xu could not maintain an air of authority and kept his bearing respectful and correct.

Zhù Ying said, “I am grateful for your kind intention. However, I have been away from home for ten years, and I ought to first go home and pay my respects to my father.”

“Ah…”

Zhù Ying smiled pleasantly and waited. Prefect Xu felt immense pressure — not coming from Zhù Ying herself, who was entirely amiable, but from the surroundings: countless pairs of eyes fixed upon him.

Prefect Xu said, “In that case, I will wait at the prefectural office for the honor of your visit. Whenever you are free, please do come and see these people of the region.”

“Of course,” Zhù Ying said.

Prefect Xu said, “After you.”

Zhù Ying did not then “proceed” anywhere. She turned to the gentry and merchants and gave them a collective bow. “I am back. Ten years since we last met — I have been remiss in many ways. Much has happened; allow me to first go home and pay my respects to my father, and then I shall speak with everyone at length.”

The feelings of the gentry and merchants were also rather complicated. Both Wuzhou and Jiyuan Prefecture had always thought more highly of women than most places, but seeing Zhù Ying become a woman was still something they found extraordinary. Fortunately, news had leaked from the prefectural office a full month prior, and they had all had time to absorb their shock; they could now maintain a semblance of calm.

Though they lacked the warmth of the common folk, they also all wished to observe and wait. After all, Zhù Ying had always been someone with her own ideas.

Most of the senior patrons of Jiyuan Prefecture had come. Their honorary status could in some sense be said to have been granted by Zhù Ying herself, and they bowed and greeted her one by one with cupped hands. One of them, unable to hold back, asked with a note of worry: “Official, you’re back — what about my boy? Don’t let him cause any more trouble for you out there.”

Zhù Ying said with a smile, “What trouble could there be? All of us being here — that is the very foundation of their courage out in the world.”

These words could not be called a sweeping guarantee, but they were enough to reassure the gentry for the time being. They finally allowed themselves to welcome Zhù Ying openly: “We have all been waiting for you.”

Zhù Ying said, “I have missed this place as well.”

After a few more words of small talk, Zhù Ying raised her hand to the crowd, and to the common folk watching her she called out, “I’ll come back to see everyone soon!”

Her tone was easy and familiar, as though she had never left at all. The common people cared only about their food and clothing; they did not concern themselves with “official careers.” They only knew from experience that when Zhù Ying appeared, things generally got a bit better — and that was enough. The old wiped their eyes; the young smiled; the children were curious. All gathered and followed, watching as Zhù Ying and her party passed through Jiyuan Prefecture and headed toward the mountains.

Prefect Xu did not leave either, accompanying them along the way.

Zhù Ying asked with a smile, “Is there nothing to be done at the prefecture?”

Prefect Xu looked thoroughly put-upon. “How could you tease me like this, Official? I must escort you safely into the mountains.”

Zhù Ying said, “Then come along. I’ll host you in return. Deputy Pang?”

Deputy Pang pointed at his own nose. “You know of me too?”

Zhù Ying could not help but laugh. “Yes. The two of you — it would be better to leave one behind to mind the shop. Failing to keep watch over me will earn a reprimand, but neglecting official duties won’t?”

“Yes, yes.” They agreed immediately and quickly divided the task: Prefect Xu went along, and Deputy Pang went home.

Zhù Ying’s party continued on at last.

Since Prefect Xu was still accompanying them, Zhù Ying said no more of a private nature, only to the sparrow chieftain-father-in-law and the others: “Come to my place. I’ll host you — there is good wine. We also need to have a proper talk with everyone.”

The sparrow chieftain-father-in-law waved a magnanimous hand: “Then I won’t stand on ceremony!” Zhù Ying being a woman, and having concealed it from them all — that wasn’t very honest of her. But as long as she and the court were not on the same side, he would lend his support.

Deputy Pang took the opportunity to pull Prefect Xu aside. “Are you really going into the mountains?”

“I’ll see them to the boundary of the prefecture,” Prefect Xu said. “I’m not going in. A local official cannot leave his post at will!”

Deputy Pang said, “Shrewd!”

A month before, they had received an urgent dispatch by fast courier — keep a covert watch on Wuzhou, and in particular investigate Zhù Ying’s whereabouts. If the parents of Zhù Ying could be “invited” down from the mountain to be “looked after,” that would be ideal.

This directive was barely short of openly declaring it was aimed at Zhù Ying.

The local officials, upon receiving this news, had been thoroughly baffled. Zhù Ying was doing perfectly well — she had been the pillar of support for so many of them in the capital. What was the meaning of this?

Reading it very carefully, and reading between the lines, they managed to extract a faint piece of intelligence — wait. She is a woman?! And she vanished inexplicably from the court prison?!

The officials were seized with dread. They wanted to comply with the directive but also didn’t quite dare. The court and Zhù Ying were both powers they could not afford to offend. When it came down to it, Wuzhou was closer and the danger was more immediate. The two of them had sent a messenger to the country estate with an invitation — asking Zhù Ying’s father and Zhang Xiangu to come down the mountain and attend a banquet, citing some rare delicacies they had obtained.

As expected, the invitation was politely declined from the mountain: the elderly were not in the best of health and were not fit for travel.

This refusal delighted Prefect Xu enormously. He dashed off an official document to submit to the court — the two elders were ill and recuperating in the mountains, unfit for travel, and could not be brought down. As for the mountain itself — there had been no news related to Zhù Ying.

They then waited with some unease for the next directive.

Before a new order from the court arrived, Prefect Xu received a piece of news that made him want to weep — the official gazette announced that the court had appointed Zhù Ying as county magistrate of “Zhù County.” Zhù County was under Wuzhou — and Zhù Ying had become his neighbor. Prefect Xu sent a messenger to invite Zhù Ying for a meeting, but the estate replied that she had only just returned from a long journey and needed rest; she would see him when she was rested.

Prefect Xu did not dare press the matter. Zhù Ying’s prestige in the entire region of greater Wuzhou was unmatched by anyone — she was almost a legend. Prefect Xu was reluctant to admit it, but he could not deny that some of her reputation had been enhanced by his own contribution — when you cannot match your predecessor, your predecessor’s name only shines brighter by comparison.

Prefect Xu and Deputy Pang had long since discussed it: toward Zhù Ying, they would “hold her in reverence while keeping a respectful distance.” They were not entirely comfortable with certain local customs, but they had also discovered that the local people were not easy to provoke, and so both sides maintained a cordial distance. Jiyuan Prefecture was not a poor place; the perquisites were adequate. Keeping their lives and accumulating a modest fortune — was that not a fine thing?

Who would have thought that two days before, the chieftains from the mountains had all come down together! Each one bringing dozens or hundreds of local soldiers, giving Prefect Xu the fright of his life. He hurriedly had the prefecture’s bailiffs and constables put themselves on alert as well, and cursed the court under his breath — why hadn’t they dispatched some troops to help?

He went himself to find the local garrison commander, but the commander flatly refused: “I have received no military orders!”

Prefect Xu had spent that entire day in a state of gnawing apprehension, until Zhù Ying benevolently agreed to let him tag along all the way to the provincial boundary — which was where he would be able to make a clean report to his superiors.

Prefect Xu had hoped to blink and find Zhù Ying already over the provincial boundary, giving him a clean excuse to turn back. Instead, the entire prefecture knew that Zhù Ying had returned, and there was no longer anyone asking whether she was male or female — whatever she was, the person looked like the same person they knew, and that was enough! Many people wept as they walked alongside her toward the mountains, making it impossible to move quickly.

And this was with Zhù Ying making a deliberate effort to hasten the pace.

On this journey, Zhù Ying was passing through Asu County, having heard that Su Mingluan’s mother was gravely ill and wishing to look in on her along the way. This also meant passing through Fulu County.

By nightfall of that day, Zhù Ying had arrived in Fulu County. Qingfeng Tower had been prepared; local wine and food were laid out; the rooms had been tidied and set in order; and the hosts pressed her warmly to stay the night.

Zhù Ying agreed.

Prefect Xu also stayed, occupying the county office; the county magistrate had no choice but to retreat to his study. The unfortunate county magistrate had only been newly posted there for a couple of years and kept a very low profile.

At Qingfeng Tower, the gentry and elder residents spoke with Zhù Ying, catching up on the years between. Zhù Ying remembered every single one of the county’s gentry families, even pointing to Elder Zhang and saying, “Your son is still well in the capital — I saw him before I left.”

Once the conversation was opened, the gentry found their tongues. The first to speak was Gu Tong’s father, Gu Weng — elderly and frail, also unfit for travel, and so he had come as representative. A father pining for his son, and being in Fulu County where he was closer to Zhù Ying than others, he ventured to ask a question: “You… what made you decide to come back this way? We had no eyes to see before — we never recognized your true self.”

Zhù Ying replied casually, “My two older brothers both died young. When I was born, they feared I couldn’t be raised, and so they disguised me as a boy.”

Gu Tong’s father felt that something about this sounded strange — then suddenly he understood. Was this not just the mirror image of “I was born a son, but they feared I couldn’t survive, so they disguised me as a girl”?

But — where does one hear of a girl being disguised as a boy in this way? And furthermore, if her brothers had already died, why would she still need to be disguised as a boy?

Others nearby had also caught the meaning of her words, and the looks they gave her gained a tinge of sympathy. That topic was quietly let go.

Zhù Ying said to the gentry, “From now on, we will have the opportunity to be in each other’s company for a long time. The road ahead is still long. Your sons’ futures in officialdom are also still long — just watch and see. What I have said will come true.”

Her long-standing reputation made their doubts dissolve. They did not know what method she would use, but surely she would find a way.

Some of them looked her up and down, could not detect even a trace of coy feminine airs, and half suspected she was still joking.

But whatever the case.

When Zhù Ying finished eating and showed no inclination to keep them there, they took the hint and left with tact.

Only then did Zhù Ying say to Su Mingluan and the chieftains, “Let us have a talk.”

Lin Feng said, “We explained everything clearly already, didn’t we?”

He asked Lu Danqing.

Lu Danqing said, “Our adoptive parent has her own reasoning. We just listen.”

She also wanted to follow Su Zhe’s lead and call Zhù Ying “Grandmother,” yet by habit kept slipping back to “adoptive parent.”

The leftover dishes were cleared away and replaced with fresh tea to clear the palate. The sparrow chieftain-father-in-law asked with an easygoing grin, “So — what shall we call you from now on, Official?”

Zhù Ying said, “The court has appointed me as county magistrate of Zhù County.”

Su Zhe glanced at Lin Feng. Lin Feng grew anxious and said, “Father, we already agreed — we would all jointly petition for our adoptive parent to be appointed as Governor of Wuzhou! You all said yes! Didn’t you say yourself that Yigan’s people keep causing trouble, and it’s been a constant headache to fight them off, and that if our adoptive parent led everyone it would be much better?”

Lang Rui went over and shoved this troublesome uncle aside. “Uncle, let the elders speak.”

Lang Kunwu said, “Adoptive par — ah…”

“Speak.”

“I trust our adoptive parent completely. All these years, even from afar, our adoptive parent has been protecting us.”

Lu Guo said, “You’re all so long-winded! Official — this pair of youngsters came and told us everything, but hearing it from them wasn’t enough. We need to hear it from you directly.” Lu Danqing was his daughter; he was entitled to put on a slight air of authority. And he found the sparrow chieftain’s son dull-witted, and wanted to hear things clearly.

Zhù Ying said, “Very well. I’ll say it plainly. I have read the messages from home. I said from the beginning: we do not provoke trouble, but we do not fear it either. I have never wanted to see everyone fighting and bleeding. But if others provoke us, if they harm our people, if a grudge is formed and the other party refuses to change — then we have no choice but to act.

I entered the mountains by passing through his territory, and so I owe him that courtesy. So — I will give the Yigan family one more chance. If he agrees, he too becomes one of our people of Wuzhou. If he refuses, we strike — but not before.”

The sparrow chieftain-father-in-law asked, “And how will you deal with the court?”

Zhù Ying smiled. “I am now a chieftain as well.”

The sparrow chieftain-father-in-law said, “Good! The land we take in battle — what happens to it?”

Zhù Ying said, “Same as was done with the Suoning family.”

Xi Jin said urgently, “The Asu family already received Suoning’s territory! This time it’s our turn, isn’t it?”

Zhù Ying said, “Everyone will have a share. Some will receive official posts; some will receive land; some will receive opportunity; some will receive goods and gold. If the Yigan family agrees to live peacefully alongside us, they lose their land, but I will have other arrangements for them. I only owe the Yigan family one debt of courtesy — no one else.”

Su Mingluan was the first to declare her position: “Please accept our petition to serve as Governor of Wuzhou! Who agrees, who objects — speak now! I have the petition ready — those who agree, come press your handprints!”

Lu Guo said, “I agree!”

The sparrow chieftain-father-in-law said, “Count me in!”

Lang Kunwu and Xi Jin, the uncle and nephew pair, expressed their agreement at the same time.

Su Mingluan produced the prepared petition. “Come!”

Once everyone had pressed their handprints and seals, Su Mingluan said, “I hear the court’s envoy is nearly here. The moment he arrives, this petition goes up to the capital!”

Everyone agreed.

Su Mingluan paused, then asked with genuine earnestness, “Before, we called you adoptive parent. Now — will you still accept me?”

Zhù Ying nodded. “Of course. I was hard to raise when I was small, and so my mother raised me as a boy. Whatever kind of person I am, in all my dealings with everyone here, I have always done my best to fulfill the promises I made. I promised your father I would look after you. I will never go back on that — not ever.”

Su Mingluan put the petition away and knelt in a full, formal bow before Zhù Ying, calling out, “Grandmother.”

The sparrow chieftain-father-in-law and the other elder chieftains, their hair now white, called out, “Little Sister.”

Lang Kunwu, following Su Mingluan’s example, summoned Lang Rui over as well: “You come and bow properly too — we are all family now!”

After the round of formal acknowledgments, it was deep in the night. Zhù Ying said, “Who is on watch tonight?” She assigned the guard rotations, and then finally said: “We still have to travel tomorrow. Everyone, go and rest. The details will be discussed once we reach my home. I will make proper arrangements for everyone, one by one.”

At last, Zhù Ying could sleep.

She stepped into her bedchamber and found two people rising from beside the bed!

“Mother — A’Jie?”

Zhang Xiangu and Huajie rubbed their eyes. Zhang Xiangu said, “Goodness, you must be exhausted! Come, sleep first. Everyone is back now — no need to rush and talk. Some water…”

Huajie walked over and tested it, then said, “Still warm. Wash your face first; I’ll fetch hot water.”

Zhù Ying washed her face quickly. Zhang Xiangu led her to the bed and sat her down, then bent to pull off her boots. Zhù Ying twitched her feet and with two quick shoves sent both boots flying off, then bent down and with two quick yanks pulled her socks off too, then looked up at Zhang Xiangu with a grin.

Zhang Xiangu said in mock exasperation, “There you go, making mischief again!”

The hot water arrived quickly. Zhù Ying soaked her feet, making no move to usher the two of them off to bed, and glancing behind her at the bed, said, “There’s room for all three of us.”

Zhang Xiangu leaned against her daughter’s shoulder and said, “Coming back is what matters. I can finally be at ease.”

Zhù Ying said, “I can finally be at ease too.”

They had countless things to say to each other, yet in the end said very little of it, simply washing up in quiet. When they were done, Zhù Ying pushed the two of them toward the inner side of the bed and settled herself on the outside. Huajie wanted to lie on the outside and let Zhù Ying sleep in the middle, but Zhù Ying said, “I’m used to sleeping on the outside.”

Huajie had no cause to doubt it. She sat on the bed and watched to see how the two of them would arrange themselves.

Zhang Xiangu said, “You go to the innermost side.”

Huajie thought to herself: mother and daughter have not seen each other for ten years. They want to be close.

She quietly lay down at the very inside, and when she looked at Zhang Xiangu, she saw what she expected — Zhang Xiangu was holding Zhù Ying in her arms. Huajie smiled. She closed her eyes, and settled peacefully to sleep.

Zhù Ying pressed her face against Zhang Xiangu’s arm. Zhang Xiangu felt a sharp pang rise in her throat, and hurriedly closed her eyes too, afraid of crying out: a mother’s daughter grows up and keeps her distance. It had been thirty years since she had been able to sleep in the same bed as her own daughter.