Half a day off — Liu Kun was quite pleased about that. Since coming to Zhù Ying’s side, one easily developed a sense of guilt, because Zhù Ying herself almost never rested. Even when she had handed many of the affairs in the Southern Region over to younger people, she had not been idling away fishing and drinking tea. She read, practiced martial arts, and made plans of all kinds. When time permitted, she went out into the streets and sorted out whatever problems she encountered.

She was always working, which meant anyone at rest tended to feel vaguely unsettled.

This half-day off was different, though. This was a visit to Yue Miaojun, and a chance to tell her about the affairs of various aunts and younger sisters back in the Southern Region — her own family, back home, tended not to be very interested in hearing her talk about such things.

When Zhù Ying returned this time, she had also done for the descendants of Liu Songnian the same as for the Shi and Wang families — elevating a few of them — but compared to Shi Junya and Wang Yunzhi, Liu Kun’s cousins were always subdued. Set them to tasks and they would do them without disgracing themselves, yet they showed no particular initiative. When they passed each other, they exchanged nods and brief pleasantries; if they tried to lecture Liu Kun on what was proper, she did not listen; and when they asked twice about Liu Kun’s affairs, they found it tiresome. The family still wanted her to come home and live out a normal woman’s life. But when Liu Kun and Liu Yan thought of Twelfth Young Mistress, they felt deep revulsion toward the word “normal.”

In the end, both sides understood that the other was a kind of stranger, and so simply treated each other as such. Liu Kun quickly recovered her spirit. With the entire court full of officials playing dead, a few more from her own family hardly made a difference.

Yue Miaojun was different from all of them. She got on well with both Zhù Ying and Liu Kun, and enjoyed conversations with them. Zhù Ying was too busy with too many things; by comparison, Liu Kun had become the one who saw Yue Miaojun more often.

What Liu Kun was more concerned about now was whether Yue Miaojun was actually at home. With the Grand Empress Dowager’s death, the internal and external titled ladies all had obligations to attend to. Yue Miaojun’s status was not low; it was hard to say whether she might be in the palace with the Princess Imperial and the others.

As she left the Zhù residence, Liu Kun suddenly relaxed: if the Chancellor sent me, then she must certainly be there.

Yue Miaojun had only just returned from the palace. She had just submitted a great piece of work — the Grand Empress Dowager’s final decree. Her mood had not yet fully settled. Hearing that Liu Kun had come to call, she said, “Please show her in.”

Liu Kun came forward with a slight smile, led by a maidservant directly to Yue Miaojun’s side. After her husband’s death, Yue Miaojun had moved her quarters, and now occupied the place where her mother-in-law the Commandery Princess had lived out her old age. The place had been renovated somewhat of late; Yue Miaojun had expanded the study and was now inside it, leafing through books on ceremonial protocol.

Hearing footsteps, Yue Miaojun looked up and took in Liu Kun’s appearance. “That look suits you.”

Liu Kun said, “There’s no shortage of people saying it’s outrageous fashion. Let them!”

Her style of dress had changed without her quite noticing since she joined the staff. The change had crept in gradually — Zhù Ying had never asked them to alter their clothes, but the attire of the Southern Region had absorbed some local influences, and Zhù Ying herself was accustomed to lighter and more practical garments. All three of them, aunt and nieces, had unconsciously taken on Zhù Ying’s influence. By the time Liu Kun returned to the capital, she had settled into wearing men’s clothing as her main attire.

Yue Miaojun said, “Indeed, pay them no mind. It is hardly some outlandish foreign costume. Why should it be acceptable for others to wear it and not for you?” As for herself, even in her youth she had worn the robes of a Confucian scholar, and now in old age, rather…

Yue Miaojun said, “You are a rare guest. What brings you free time today?”

Liu Kun said, “I hear you just wrote a piece of fine writing — my congratulations.”

Yue Miaojun gave her a reproving look. “Being mischievous again. Isn’t the Chancellor’s office keeping you busy enough? You could have sent me a note for this alone and I would have been just as pleased. Being in the Chancellor’s household is no easy thing — do not let yourself neglect what matters.”

“The Chancellor is in good spirits today and gave me an afternoon off — there is news from the Southern Region.”

“Oh? What good news?”

Liu Kun then told her of Liu Ao’s preparations for the Southern Region civil examinations, and added, “When it comes to the written portions of the staff selection process, she is the one who oversees them.”

Yue Miaojun said, “That is truly good news! What a pity it cannot be done so freely here at court!”

Liu Kun said, “There is always hope.”

Yue Miaojun made a slight turn in the conversation and asked, “How is the Chancellor keeping? With Minister Chen on mourning leave, she is now also concurrently managing the Ministry of Revenue — she will certainly have her hands full. She is not young anymore; however hardy she may be, she needs to take care of herself. You young people, look after her well. I have some things for you to take back to her on your way.”

“Oh, we have our own supplies at the residence.”

Yue Miaojun said, “She is someone who manages her household well, yet she never keeps much for herself — she disperses it all. What I have in my storerooms is far more complete than what she keeps. And these days, she is the important one. All these things sitting here in storage will only rot.”

“Ah… then I am going to be scolded when I get back.”

“I am the one giving them. If she says anything, let her.”

Liu Kun could only agree. She then inquired of Yue Miaojun, “With the Grand Empress Dowager’s state affairs — now that you are no longer in the palace, will things be all right?”

Yue Miaojun said, “You are still young after all. These ceremonial matters, though they follow established precedents, do differ each time…”

Liu Kun had been hoping to ask for instruction on this, for since the Grand Empress Dowager’s funeral had been simplified, she imagined the ceremonial details would necessarily differ, and she wanted to be briefed so she could relay it to Zhù Ying and spare the Zhù household from any misstep. One spoke, the other listened; Yue Miaojun pulled out books and showed Liu Kun the relevant precedents and their sources.

Time passed swiftly. The sky began to darken, and maidservants came in and out lighting the lamps.

Liu Kun said, “I should be going.”

Yue Miaojun said, “Have a little something to eat first — this afternoon has been quite taxing on the mind. I will have you sent back before curfew.”

The two of them drank tea and ate pastries while exchanging a bit of palace gossip. “First thing tomorrow morning I must go back into the palace. There is this great affair these next few days, and you on the outside must also be careful. I have already heard that the Mu family has some complaints, and the Empress Dowager has been saying the funeral is too simple.”

Liu Kun nodded and made a mental note.

Yue Miaojun’s parting question was: “You are at the Chancellor’s residence — have you ever heard the Chancellor mention this: the Crown Prince has been established, and the Chancellor has returned in triumph. The Empress — does she still remember that matter?”

Liu Kun said, “Things were so busy before — once the Crown Prince was established and the Emperor showed no sign, the matter was set aside for the time being. Are you saying…?”

Yue Miaojun said, “I am saying nothing at all — but when I was in the palace, I encountered Consort Yang, and she had a probing manner about her. Please pass a message to the Chancellor for me: on this particular matter, I would like to speak with her directly. Whether it comes to something or not, yes or no, I need to have something to say back to the Consort.”

Consort Yang was the Crown Prince’s birth mother, who had served the Qin Prince since before his elevation. When the Qin Prince ascended the throne, she had been given the rank of Talented One; when her son became Crown Prince, she had risen to Consort. She was of fairly unremarkable origin — the daughter of an ordinary minor official, no great clan or distinguished family to her name.

Liu Kun said, “Of course. With the Grand Empress Dowager being the Princess Imperial’s mother, and the funeral rites conducted so simply — might she have any grievances toward you?”

The Princess Imperial was Yue Miaojun’s own daughter-in-law. Yue Miaojun now lived together with her late husband’s son from his first wife, Zheng Chuan, and his wife. If she were not on good terms with either of them, Liu Kun worried about how her later years would go.

Yue Miaojun said, “It is fine. I know what to say.”

Liu Kun set her mind at ease and gave herself over to enjoying the pastries. The Zheng household’s pastries were far better than those at the Zhù household.

After finishing, Liu Kun went back to the residence, conveyed the message, and Zhù Ying said, “I understand. After the Grand Empress Dowager’s funeral, I will go and pay Madam Yue a visit.” The Grand Empress Dowager’s funeral had been made economical in another way as well — having her buried alongside her husband, who had died many years earlier, with no new imperial mausoleum to be built. The stated reason was her longing for her husband.

This would reduce the scale of the construction considerably. The Director of Imperial Mausoleums was not appointed from among the Chancellors but was instead Pei Qing’s grandson and Pei Tan’s son, Pei Ming, who was now around fifty years of age — experienced and still in his prime.

The Ministry of Rites and others submitted proposals for the Grand Empress Dowager’s posthumous title and other such matters, which need not be detailed here.

To return to our thread: after Liu Kun conveyed the message, she was still wondering what Zhù Ying had meant by “busy” when Zhù Ying summoned her further: “You and Zhù Tong go to the Ministry of War and pull the records. Retrieve the archives on civilian unrest and military deployments from the past twenty-odd years, obtain the survey maps, and mark every single incident on them.”

“Yes.”

Then Zhù Ying called in Lin Feng: “These next few days, go and see Yao Jingxia and the others. Ask whether they are willing to head north.”

Lin Feng said, “Is there even a need to ask? They will certainly agree.”

“Ask anyway.”

“Yes,” Lin Feng said, “and what about the other Imperial Guards? Some of them are quite envious of those who went west with you. They say that when you returned, you thought of old comrades — that is well and good, but their own fathers and elder brothers are also on familiar terms with you. The west had no role for them; as for the opportunity in the north… what is your view?”

He had indeed maintained a good many connections in the capital and had not disappointed Zhù Ying’s expectations of him, gathering quite a bit of intelligence.

Zhù Ying said, “The Imperial Guards exist to protect the Emperor. If they leave, who will guard him? Tell them this plainly, and bring back whatever they have to say.”

“Yes.”

Zhù Ying then set Jiang Zhen, Zhao Ji, and the others to work as well: “The books in the capital, the court’s archives and survey maps — keep your eyes out and gather all you can.” Then she sent Zhao Ji to call on two people — Hao Dafang and Lan De. Hao Dafang had been the late Emperor’s most trusted eunuch; after the late Emperor’s death, he had faded from the palace scene. Though he still held some money, he was considered a man without influence. Lan De had been the chief steward before Empress Dowager Luo Yi, having lost influence even earlier.

Both could be counted as “old acquaintances,” and now that her hands were free, reaching out to them was a kind of gesture.

Next she told Zhù Qingxue to maintain her connections with the guild halls and other such gathering places and gather intelligence at all times.

Once these arrangements were made, Zhù Ying went into the palace to attend the Grand Empress Dowager’s funeral. She had no particular feelings for the Grand Empress Dowager herself and merely observed how the funeral was conducted. The Mu family had their complaints, but at the moment their courage was also running a little thin; Empress Dowager Mu confined her objections to criticizing this and scolding that within the rear palace. The Emperor, meanwhile, looked as though he might collapse at any moment, and the officials all urged him to “care for his health” and not allow “grief to cause him to neglect propriety.”

When the time came for the funeral procession, Empress Dowager Mu was about to make a scene — but the Emperor simply went limp and leaned on the eunuchs attending him, plunging the officials into a flurry of activity. Zhù Ying said to Empress Dowager Mu, “The Grand Empress Dowager’s compassion embraced all under heaven. Now at her funeral, however grieved you may be, I ask that you take her as your model.”

Empress Dowager Mu was left speechless. Seeing the Emperor’s condition, she did not dare to cause any further disturbance and continued through the remainder of the proceedings in sullen silence.

Once the mourning rites were over, the Chancellors simply summoned the imperial physicians and inquired about the Emperor’s health. This would once have been inappropriate — now it was fitting enough. The imperial physician was also straightforward: he said that when the Qi Prince had struck, he had used no restraint, and the Emperor had suffered internal injuries. Given his youth, he had survived where an older man might not have lasted through it. That he was now weak and frail was entirely normal.

The Chancellors fell into worry again. Now that the state had finally begun to recover, the Emperor absolutely could not die now! And besides, the Crown Prince was still too young; the Qi Prince was still alive. At minimum, they needed to wait until the Qi Prince was brought to justice.

Zhù Ying said to the imperial physician, “This matter must be kept secret. No matter who asks, nothing is to be said — especially not to anyone in the palace.”

The imperial physician was already thoroughly miserable. There was no one in the palace who outranked him!

Shi Jixing had also thought of this and said, “From now on, you attend only to the Emperor’s illness and no one else’s. Not even the Empress Dowager!”

Only then did the imperial physician feel somewhat reassured. The next moment he thought again of the Emperor’s condition, and had no idea himself how many days he had left. His face puckered once more, and he retreated with a bow.

Wang Shuliang watched his retreating figure and suddenly said, “The Eastern Palace… the Crown Prince is six years old. It is time he began studying in earnest!”

Shi Jixing said, “Agreed. But who?”

The three of them who had known Liu Songnian fell silent. To say nothing of Liu Songnian himself — even he had not been particularly skilled at teaching students. Then there was Chen Feng, but the whole lot of the present generation could not match that man in scholarship. The Yue family: Yue Huan was gone, and his son’s reputation could not match that of his father and grandfather. Then there was Yang Jing — who had wasted decades and was now bedridden with illness by the time he was needed.

Both civil and military tutors would be required, would they not? As for military men — there was a generational gap.

The Chancellors had no choice but to undertake it themselves. Wang Shuliang and Shi Kun brought some family learning with them; they were also unwilling to entrust the Crown Prince to anyone else. The imperial family had already seen three generations of mediocre rulers. If the Crown Prince turned out the same way, the Chancellors would not even have the chance to weep.

Wang Shuliang said, “Zi Zhang, you must be counted among them.”

Zhù Ying said, “I think it would be best to first have a word with Yao Chen Ying.”

“That is reasonable.”

Zhù Ying then said, “There are a few more matters I would like to discuss with the two of you. First, reducing palace expenditure; second, suppressing land mergers; third, relief forces for the north.”

Wang Shuliang brightened, then looked anxious again. “The first two are both difficult to manage. The tricky part is finding a pretext. The third is your area of expertise — we would not presume to interfere much. If only the Grand Empress Dowager’s final decree had included a line on that…”

Shi Jixing said, “Suppressing land mergers does not require a pretext — the question is how to do it, and that must be approached with caution. If it is bungled in our hands yet again, the subject will be a laughingstock forever after every time it is raised.”

Zhù Ying said, “As long as you both agree, I will personally go and persuade the Emperor about reducing palace expenditure. As for suppressing land mergers — I wonder, why must we issue a single decree and move on all fronts at once? We try it one region at a time. I am in the process of selecting locations — for instance, places where civilian unrest has recently been put down, or where it is currently being put down. With a great army already on the ground, it can simply be handled in the wake of the operation.”

“The choice of regions must be made carefully,” Wang Shuliang said.

“Good — the two of you go back and look as well, and think on which regions would be most suitable.”

As for the matter of troop adjustments in the north, the other two said that as long as Zhù Ying could persuade the Emperor, they would leave that matter entirely to her.

The three reached their conclusions and dispersed. Zhù Ying had not yet raised the subject of the civil examinations with Wang Shuliang, who let out a quiet breath of relief. The matter of selecting women as officials was something his heart still found rather difficult to accept.

——

Zhù Ying did not go to see the Emperor immediately. Instead she had another meeting with Yue Miaojun.

Yue Miaojun was still in mourning attire, and together they stood by a pond watching the fish.

Zhù Ying said, “Twenty-Third Young Mistress has already told me.”

Yue Miaojun said, “I have no wish to be anyone’s advocate. Though the Consort is someone I hold in esteem, matters of state naturally involve other considerations. There is one thing, however: if there is no Empress and the Emperor should fall ill, the Empress Dowager will have room to stir up trouble again.”

In Zhù Ying’s presence she spoke more plainly: “As things stand, the Empress Dowager holds the most legitimate position. Everyone has reservations about the Qi Prince’s affair — the Chancellors cannot be blamed for their earlier indecision. It is true that dissolute young men and foolish princes could commit any manner of crime against human feeling, but the Qi Prince’s affair was nonetheless rather strange.”

“I know,” Zhù Ying said. “When the late Emperor passed, the eunuchs and palace staff who sought to curry favor with the Qi Prince — would some of them not have insinuated themselves near him? Certainly they would. But for it to have escalated to such a degree, someone was fanning the flames.”

Hao Dafang was after all the late Emperor’s most trusted eunuch.

Yue Miaojun nodded. “Exactly. The strife between the Qin Prince and the Qi Prince had some peculiarity at its origins as well. The bones of the imperial family — let us not speak of that — but allowing the Empress Dowager’s private ambitions to harm the foundations of the state and bring suffering to the people: that is unacceptable.”

Zhù Ying said, “I will go and see the Emperor now.” Although she was a woman and did not need to observe the usual avoidance rules regarding the rear palace, she was still a Chancellor at the front of the court. There was no need to avoid the suspicion of impropriety between men and women, but one did need to avoid the suspicion of connivance between inner and outer courts. She could not let things appear too obvious in front of the Emperor.

“She has a good head on her shoulders,” Yue Miaojun said, “but if she spends all her days confined to the rear palace, no matter how keen her mind, it will come to nothing — and with time, even that mind will grow dull. Were she Empress, she would at least have some knowledge of state affairs and her horizons would not be so narrow.”

Zhù Ying said, “I understand.”

“Would you like to meet her?”

Zhù Ying said, “Not yet — let me see the Emperor first, and then we will see.”

“Very well. By the way, Yao Chen Ying is waiting for reinforcements over there.”

“I will make the necessary arrangements.”

“The ice has been frozen for three feet — it did not form in a single day. And spring does not come overnight either. Take care of yourself. Eat well. Sleep well.”

“I will.”

Yue Miaojun exchanged a few more words with Liu Kun before she and Zhù Ying parted ways.

Zhù Ying went to see the Emperor the following day.

The Emperor had half-genuinely, half-theatrically collapsed during the funeral and had rested for two days in earnest. Some color had returned to his face today.

Seeing Zhù Ying, he smiled and said, “The Chancellor has come? I have this year’s new tribute tea.”

Zhù Ying thanked him for the tea and asked how he was faring. The Emperor coughed twice. “When I was small, the Grand Empress Dowager was always a gentle and patient person. My elder brother was quiet and reserved, yet she would wait with infinite patience — waiting half the day just to hear him say one word. As for me… I…”

The Emperor broke into a loud cough, eyes reddening. The palace maids and eunuchs busied themselves patting his back and bringing him water.

“Your Majesty must get well quickly. When I was very young, I came to the capital and have served under four emperors, and seen many Chancellors — and eventually entered the Council of State myself. Among all those Chancellors, Old Chancellor Wang commanded the greatest admiration from the world; Master Liu was the most interesting; but only Old Chancellor Chen was a man of true wonder. Old Chancellor Chen withdrew gracefully at the right moment, and his death was mourned with genuine grief. He is the model for our generation. I myself am now the age he was then. If Your Majesty is well, I may yet find peace in living out my days as a recluse.”

“With things in disarray both within and without, and the crisis not yet resolved — how could you speak of abandoning me?” The Emperor said, and pushed aside those supporting him, taking Zhù Ying’s hands in his own. “There is not a single matter that gives me peace — the affairs of the state and of my own household weigh upon me!”

Zhù Ying was moved as well, and let out a sigh. “You are right — there is hardship both within and without. Yet Your Majesty need not worry too much. Dealt with one matter at a time, everything can be resolved.”

“What is to be done?”

Zhù Ying said, “Inner matters first, outer matters second. Only when all is calm and comfortable at Your Majesty’s side will you have the energy to manage the great affairs of the state.”

The Emperor nodded.

“The Grand Empress Dowager’s great affair has been a burden on everyone in the palace. I have been watching with a cold eye, and in the rear palace there is not a single person with the standing to manage things — it has had to fall to the Empress Dowager. The Empress Dowager is an elder; how could it be proper for Your Majesty to let an elder continue to be put to such trouble? You… is there anyone in this palace with the right name and standing to share this burden?”

The Emperor first nodded, then shook his head: “She really is… unsuitable, unsuitable.” He seemed to want to say more but stopped short.

Zhù Ying leaned close to his ear and said, “Or shall we leave it all in the Empress Dowager’s hands?”

The Emperor startled and drew back. “That would be even worse!”

Zhù Ying said, “What exactly is Your Majesty’s difficulty? Would it be convenient to let me help you find a solution?”

The Emperor frowned and said, “My mother’s position is paramount. When my mother takes charge of things, there are troubles. I do not wish my son to suffer as I have. You do not know — in the affair of the Qi Prince, there was something peculiar: when I tried to stop him, the strongest eunuchs in the palace already had their staffs raised and ready…” This was also why, if the elite Imperial Guards were not nearby, he could not be at ease.

Zhù Ying considered for a moment and said, “Then I understand.”

“What is the solution?”

Zhù Ying said, “There is a way. Release the palace attendants — dismiss all those who served the Grand Empress Dowager, give them money, and send them home to their native places to accumulate merit for the Grand Empress Dowager in the afterlife. While we are at it, some of the Empress Dowager’s trusted attendants can be replaced as well. Select young and capable individuals to enter the palace for service, replacing her people.”

The Emperor said, “Excellent! It must be done without leaving any future trouble.”

“Those who do not comply may be dealt with according to law.”

Zhù Ying took this opportunity to carry out a thorough rotation of palace maids and eunuchs — fewer came in than went out, and another large sum of expenditure was cut.

This expenditure, however, could not simply be slashed without consequences. Every item had people who benefited from it — the food and clothing of palace maids and eunuchs, for instance, passed through many hands, each of whom could skim from it. The same went for palace procurement. Moving against them invited the risk of retaliation.

Zhù Ying was perfectly clear on this — she had once been someone who sent money to those very people.

Now that she had found the Emperor’s weak spot, she needed only to operate under the name of purging the Mu clan’s influence, having those who occupied positions of power while embezzling killed or exiled, and the money was cleanly saved. She did not use anyone else but ordered Zhù Tong to lead the women soldiers to make the arrests — it sounded gentle, yet their hands showed no mercy.

Once the people were dead, what mischief could they cause? Investigating corruption among palace eunuchs was pure revenue. And there was no need to worry about the influence of their relatives by marriage. With the Emperor’s approval, she could clear out the rats’ nests.

She had also learned that the Emperor was unwilling to establish an Empress, and passed this information on to Yue Miaojun. The Emperor, seeing the palace gradually brought into order, elevated Consort Yang to Noble Consort and had her oversee the six palaces with full authority, requesting that Empress Dowager Mu enjoy a peaceful retirement.

——

The purging of the rear palace was accomplished swiftly and cleanly. By early summer, the rewards for the soldiers of the western campaign had not yet been fully settled, but the inner palace had already been swept clean and renewed.

On this day, Zhù Ying brought the last batch of rewards before the Emperor for his approval. The Emperor was in excellent spirits and approved them with barely a glance.

Zhù Ying took the opportunity to say, “Now that they have received their rewards, they should likewise continue to exert themselves for Your Majesty.”

The Emperor said, “You mean to have them head north? Yao Chen Ying has also been urging me — but would that not exhaust them? Sending a weary army on a distant campaign seems, perhaps, inadvisable.”

“Not them — I propose using Yao Jingxia.”

“But…”

Zhù Ying held up the documents in her hand. “These men have just received Your Majesty’s grace and are filled with the desire to repay it. Setting them to guard Your Majesty, there could not be a more fitting position. These men also need to see Your Majesty day and night to strengthen their devotion. While they are still basking in the reward you have just given them, it is the right moment to keep them close and spend more time with them — only in this way can the bond between ruler and subject be free of distance.

As for Yao Jingxia and his people, they are from the north and long for their homeland. Releasing them to return there serves both family and country, and they will fight to the death out of that devotion. Keeping them forcibly in the capital, they will pine for their families and grow slack — which is actually not beneficial for the protection of the palace.”

The Emperor’s eyes lit up. He let something slip before he could stop himself: “Who said that the Chancellor always keeps things hidden and refuses to advise the throne? You have just laid it all out most clearly!”

Oh, so your father said that about me, did he? He probably meant that I harbor hidden schemes.

Zhù Ying chose to address only the second half: “I merely say what comes to mind. Well, then — shall I begin the transfer of troops?”

“Draw up the edict.”

Zhù Ying carried out the rotation of the Imperial Guards, personally escorting Yao Jingxia and his people northward. The Imperial Guards on watch — were once again in her hands.

When this whole sequence was done, the autumn harvest had not yet begun. Liu Kun and Zhù Tong delivered the results of their assigned tasks; only then did Zhù Ying invite Wang Shuliang and Shi Jixing to her residence for a discussion.

——

Wang Shuliang and Shi Jixing had both been extremely busy lately. The court’s six ministries and nine offices were managed by just the three of them, each overseeing his own area of responsibility. Zhù Ying had to coordinate military forces while also managing finances, and spent every day looking at the Ministry of Revenue’s accounts in fury. Wang Shuliang spent every day gnashing his teeth at the dire shortage of talent, issuing strict orders to the Metropolitan Prefect Jiang Zheng to firmly manage the capital’s idle, dissolute young men — the very sight of them was infuriating. At the same time, he had to keep an eye on whether any region was on the verge of another outbreak of civil unrest. Shi Jixing had started from the old files of the Court of Judicial Review: in addition to the Xian party, he had also begun dealing with various other officials he found objectionable.

Some of these had genuinely formidable connections, or were old associates of the Shi family itself; Shi Jixing could only call them in one by one for a conversation. Nothing official was said — they were asked to retire gracefully or resign, or to accept a transfer to a sinecure where they would hold no real power, their reputations preserved.

When the three gathered, Shi Jixing’s temper was particularly sharp. He said, breathing hard, “This should be good news, I hope?”

Zhù Ying smiled and said, “Honored colleagues, please follow me.”

She led them to a large map covered in marked circles.

Wang Shuliang said, “These are all locations that have had civil unrest… Has something happened again?!” He barely stopped himself from crying out.

Zhù Ying pressed both palms downward in a calming gesture. “Nothing, nothing — rest assured, it is safe. These are places where civil unrest has already occurred. Why not begin our reforms there? Suppress land mergers, re-register hidden population, punish derelict officials, strike down local strongmen. The ‘bandits’ have already combed through these areas once — when the land has been plowed over, one plants crops in it, not waits for the weeds to grow back.”

Shi Jixing said, “Pacification must remain the primary approach.”

“Correct. And how do we pacify the people? In the past, the court has been weak and has had to rely on local gentry. But thinking it over carefully — even in places as remote as the sky was from the emperor, when I first arrived in Fulu County, I was never afraid of the local landowners. Those who needed a beating got beaten; those who needed arresting got arrested. Even a Black Twelfth’s sort was executed just the same. A great army has just swept through. The court should not be so timid and fearful.”

“Of course not,” Wang Shuliang sighed. “It is not the court that is timid — it is the local officials, too cautious to dare to act decisively…”

As long as the decision was made, it could be done — but doing it had its difficulties. It was far easier to compromise with local great families, so that what was reported to the court looked orderly and stable. See, things are peaceful here. To do otherwise meant matching wits and nerves against the local gentry, which was genuinely troublesome. Anyone not possessed of an ardent devotion to the greater good would tend to choose the former path.

Shi Jixing said, “Zi Zhang, your thinking is sound, yet you must also acknowledge that in some places, it was precisely the local gentry who assisted in suppressing the unrest.”

“I understand — which is why there are so many candidate locations. We go one by one, step by step. If we do not act, it will only grow harder. Yao Chen Ying is at a critical juncture — we cannot cut off his provisions. When it is over, the rewards for the meritorious soldiers will be another sum. To pacify the northern people, the reduction and exemption of taxes and grain will be yet another sum. The western frontier has already had its taxes remitted this year and reduced for next year — another sum. If we cannot increase the amount of taxable land and population, we will have no choice but to raise taxes, which will push more people into rebellion.”

Shi Jixing said, “Then let us consider together which places to start.”

Wang Shuliang added, “And who would be best suited.”

“It will soon be autumn, and the prefects and governors will be arriving for their audiences. I also think we could issue an order requiring county magistrates from across the realm to take turns coming to the capital for examination. Among them there may well be capable individuals — these are the officials who are closest to the common people.”

Wang Shuliang said, “A good idea.”

The three deliberated and settled on another matter. Zhù Ying invited them to stay for dinner; Wang Shuliang said, “I am keeping vigil at the palace tonight.”

Shi Jixing said, “I still have something unfinished at home.” He had a cousin of his currently confined to his house and being given a severe lecture, pending reassignment to a sinecure.

Zhù Ying did not press them and walked them to the gate. “Since they won’t eat, let’s eat ourselves.”

——

Zhù Ying’s Chancellor’s residence, like it had always been, fed people. But Liu Kun’s cousins felt uncomfortable eating at the same table as the female officials, and all found excuses — they had to go home to be filial to their parents, they would not be staying for dinner. Wang Yunzhi and Shi Junya had indeed stayed on; Wang Yunzhi’s reason for staying was purely that his own mother had sent a cook to the Chancellor’s residence.

Among the residence’s officials, the female officials were not numerous, but those Zhù Ying had brought with her were not few, and she had arranged other posts for all of them. Zhù Tong, for instance, held a concurrent position. There was also Xiao Fu — a granddaughter of the former female clerks from the Court of Judicial Review, raised at the Ci’hui Convent, with some medical skill, who had also been drafted into service.

At first everyone was somewhat reserved; gradually they relaxed.

Wang and Shi’s two young men were sharing their visions for the future: “When the world is finally at peace, I must travel everywhere under heaven!”

Wang Yunzhi said this to Liu Kun. He was one generation senior to her, and the Liu and Wang families had long been close; he spoke as man among men with men, and as a woman among women with women. Since Liu Kun also managed the correspondence and had a fine way with writing, they found common ground in conversation. He said this because Liu Songnian had in his time traveled the realm and written many celebrated pieces.

Wang Yunzhi, having glimpsed some signs of good governance, had begun to dream.

Liu Kun said, “I fear you would not make it thirty li before the unfamiliar food drove you back. Study travel is very hard — sometimes you have to catch your own fish and roast it over a fire.”

“Was Master Liu’s roasted fish good?” Zhù Ying asked. Back when she used to freeload meals at the Liu residence, she had never gotten a taste of that particular dish. A grievous regret!

Liu Kun said, “It was… passable…”

The atmosphere was light and easy, as though great governance lay just around the corner, rather than Yao Chen Ying fighting a decisive battle with the Qi Prince far away in the north.

After dinner, Wang Yunzhi and the others went home. Zhù Ying conferred again with Liu Kun, Zhù Tong, Lin Feng and the others. Lin Feng needed to escort provisions north; Zhù Tong was to keep watch over the palace. Zhù Ying said to Liu Kun, “Twelfth Young Mistress’ collection of writings — how far along are you?”

“Ah? Oh — about half done.”

“Finish it. Have it printed. I will pay.”

“What?”

Zhù Ying said, “Hurry it along. By the way, has there been any news from the south?”

The examination results had come out, but by now the Southern Region also did not simply hand a post to every literate person who showed up — candidates had to be tried and trained first. Calculated from when the results had come out, two or three months had already passed; she wondered how things were going.

Jiang Zhen came in from outside. “My lord, there is a letter — quite a lot of news.”

Liu Kun said, startled, “Quite a lot of news? Has something happened?”

Zhao Ji appeared from behind. “Oh my, now I understand why my father used to look down on those people — letters, visiting cards, all from people with official posts in the regions.”

The southern scholars had begun sending messages to the capital and stirring themselves into action, hoping to come to the capital in autumn to have an audience with Zhù Ying.

Zhù Ying was pleased: “What perfect timing! I had only just been telling Wang and Shi that there was no one suitable.”

You want to put your talents to use, do you? Fine — time to get to work!

Before, when Zhù Ying had been placing the southern scholars into positions, she had no way of choosing the assignments; she simply had no idea what situations might arise. Now the Council of State had fixed locations designated for you! She had even prepared a briefing to bring you up to speed on the background!

Not bad at all, Zhù Ying thought. By the end of this year or the beginning of next, Yao Chen Ying would likely be returning — everything was trending in the right direction. As long as the situation stabilized, the next matter could be attended to. She needed to move quickly.