The situation was pressing!

Zhù Ying said, “Wait a moment. I need to change clothes. Twenty-Third Young Lady — summon A’Tong, and have her come with me. Zhao Ji, watch the household. If anything changes, go at once to notify the Capital Prefecture and have them seal off the city. If something happens to me, you are all to go to the Chen household and have Chen Fang set things in motion.”

Zhù Tong was quickly ready as well, and led a contingent of people to follow.

Zhù Ying said, “Go through the East Gate — the guards there are our people.”

Once the arrangements were made, Zhù Ying also boarded Yue Miaojun’s carriage. Yue Miaojun said apologetically, “I am sorry to trouble you — riding in my carriage together like this — I truly cannot ride a horse.”

Zhù Ying said, “Who is this?” She looked toward a small eunuch inside the carriage.

The small eunuch’s face flushed scarlet with panic: “Servant… servant…”

Yue Miaojun said, “He was sent by the Noble Consort to find me. You know — ever since His Majesty sustained his injury, he has never fully recovered. Last year he again wore himself out with great effort, personally evaluating county magistrates from all regions, falling ill from accumulated exhaustion. After spring began, he suffered another episode of phlegm illness…”

Zhù Ying was indeed already aware of these things — she had long been preparing for the possibility that the Emperor might not live much longer. After Yue Miaojun finished speaking, Zhù Ying fixed her eyes on the small eunuch and said, “Yesterday he was still all right. This is rather sudden.”

Yue Miaojun said, “Since early this morning His Majesty has been unwell. You tell her!”

The small eunuch said, “Before daylight today His Majesty was already not doing well. The Noble Consort is very anxious. She requests that you enter the palace to confer.”

“What else has the Noble Consort arranged?”

“Admission is… permitted, departure is not. Food is… still being brought in as usual. Medicine is… still being prepared according to yesterday’s prescription and brought in. She has summoned the Crown Prince as well, gathering the family together.”

Zhù Ying asked, “Have the others been notified?”

“No — not even the Empress Dowager has been told. Please hurry — if she finds out, things will become very difficult.”

Zhù Ying showed not the slightest agitation: “What is the rush? The Noble Consort has arranged things very well, has she not?”

The eunuch took a deep breath: “Yes.”

Somewhat interestingly, the man had been in frantic distress a moment ago, his voice pinched with anxiety. But at these words from Zhù Ying, he strangely recovered his composure and said quietly: “The troublesome one is still the Empress Dowager — she is a senior in years.”

“You are also aware that she is a senior,” Zhù Ying said.

The party entered the palace and proceeded directly to the Noble Consort’s quarters. The Noble Consort was turning her prayer beads so quickly they seemed to spin. The palace had indeed undergone a thorough purge, but to say everything within it answered to her — that she did not believe. She was afraid of a leak. When the time came, she was only the Noble Consort, while Empress Dowager Mu was the Empress Dowager! That wretched thing called status — it truly had its uses!

The eunuch guarding the door announced: “They have come.”

The Noble Consort whipped around: “Who has come?”

“It is… it is Jia Shun’er, escorting Chief Minister Zhù and Madam Zheng.”

The Noble Consort let out a breath of relief, clutched her prayer beads, and walked forward. Standing just inside the doorway, she waited for Zhù Ying to enter: “Chief Minister Zhù — can I trust you?”

“Whether or not Your Highness trusts me, I am already here.”

The Noble Consort did not move from her position: “What I am doing today is entrusting my life and my child’s life to you! Please swear an oath to me, that you will never betray me! I am willing to govern the court together with you.”

At a moment like this, she is still saying such things? Even if I swear — would she dare believe it?

Zhù Ying said, “I am always loyal to His Majesty.”

“You…”

“Do you intend to block my way now? A little late for that.”

Yue Miaojun quickly stepped in to smooth things over: “You two, do not stand here rigidly like this. Perhaps everyone should speak frankly. Your Highness — the Chief Minister entered the palace without imperial summons, taking on enormous risk already. She is disposed toward you. If you do not explain matters clearly, what can follow from this?”

The Noble Consort said softly, “His Majesty… has passed.”

Yue Miaojun drew in a soft breath. Zhù Ying said, “Whether His Majesty lives or has died cannot be decided merely by your word alone. I need to see His Majesty.”

The Noble Consort would not yield a single step: “Will you protect me?”

Zhù Ying moved aside the people in her path. The palace maids and eunuchs made a show of stepping forward to block her — but of course they could not.

She walked directly to the bedside. The figure on the bed lay without any movement. She reached out and felt at the Emperor’s neck — he had gone completely cold. Zhù Ying turned her head and asked: “Were there any last words?”

The Noble Consort and Yue Miaojun came forward, supporting each other. The Noble Consort gripped her prayer beads tightly and said, “He did not think he would die — how would he have put his affairs in order?”

Zhù Ying said, “Then the Empress Dowager and the Prime Ministers should be summoned to take charge of the situation.”

Yue Miaojun said, “Your Highness came to you precisely because she trusts you! We have no one else to rely upon — please do not make sport of a vulnerable woman.”

The Noble Consort said, “Whatever you say should be done, I will do. I only ask that you not disappoint my trust!”

Zhù Ying withdrew her hand and looked at the Noble Consort with calm composure: “If you do not fail me, I will not fail you.”

The Noble Consort was reassured, and let out a long breath: “The Empress Dowager must hate me to death!”

“Her? She has not appeared here until now — she has already lost her leverage. For the moment we must not announce the passing. The palace gates are currently being managed by my people. It will not do for His Majesty to have left no final instructions — an imperial edict of succession must be recorded.”

The Noble Consort said, “With no last words, how can it be written?”

Zhù Ying smiled: “What do you want?”

The Noble Consort naturally wanted a formal status — but after considering for a moment, she said: “The Crown Prince is still young. Please think of him.”

Zhù Ying said, “I understand.”

Zhù Ying immediately began making arrangements. She first issued orders to Lin Feng and others — the palace guards were to seal the palace gates; the rear palace was to be “guarded” by Zhù Tong and her contingent, with special attention paid to protecting the Crown Prince. At the same time, the Prime Ministers were all summoned. Further orders were issued to the Capital Prefecture to control the city. She then instructed Yue Miaojun and the small eunuch: “Your visit to my household was incidental — you had come to me on a personal matter, to request a government position for the Noble Consort’s family nephew. While you were there, you encountered a palace messenger arriving to summon me, and so you accompanied me here.”

The Noble Consort said, “There was no such palace messenger.”

“The palace gate registry — I will see to that.”

“Good!” The Noble Consort agreed without hesitation.

When the palace messengers were dispatched in all directions, Zhù Ying also “recorded” the imperial edict of succession — commanding the Crown Prince to ascend the throne, then elevating the Crown Prince’s birth mother to proper status so that she might raise the new emperor and assist in governing while listening to reports, and then appointing the four Prime Ministers as regent ministers. The edict also instructed the new emperor to be filial to his mother, and to take good care of Empress Dowager Mu, providing for her in her old age so that she might live out her remaining years in comfort.

Finally it stated that when he had ascended the throne there had been a time of crisis; years of consecutive warfare had only now allowed the nation to begin reviving. Therefore the funeral rites should be simplified throughout, with all matters placing the people’s welfare as paramount.

The imperial edict needed a seal. Zhù Ying casually commandeered the jade imperial seals as well. The eight imperial seals each had their own designated use — without a seal, edicts issued could legitimately be rejected.

Once it was written, the Noble Consort read it and found it satisfactory. Though Zhù Ying’s manner toward her had not been particularly respectful, her execution of matters was truly beyond reproach. She asked: “Why four Prime Ministers? Would it not be splendid if it were just you and I?”

Zhù Ying said, “Having a proper order of precedence is sufficient.”

The Noble Consort asked, “What about the Empress Dowager? I am afraid if she makes a scene it will not look well.”

“No need to concern yourself with her for now. Once the main affairs are settled, whatever fuss she makes will accomplish nothing. Take this.” Zhù Ying placed one jade seal in the Noble Consort’s hands.

“This is…?”

Zhù Ying smiled slightly: “A means of mutual restraint. You need something in your hands — without it, the Grand Council will not defer to you. You hold one; the rest go to the Grand Council.”

The Noble Consort had always considered herself a clever and thorough person. She could not say she had accounted for every contingency, but she did consider herself a woman of considerable shrewdness. Yet the moment Zhù Ying acted, she felt the gulf between them. She quickly extended both hands to receive the jade seal and bent her knees: “Many thanks for the Chief Minister’s guidance. I will rely on your instruction going forward.”

Zhù Ying and Yue Miaojun helped her to her feet. Zhù Ying said, “Prepare yourself — the real business begins now.”

The Crown Prince was right next door. He was quickly brought over by his nursemaid. Seeing his father lying completely still, he seemed both overwhelmed with shock and strangely not shocked at all, and asked, “Auntie — what is wrong with Father?”

The Noble Consort broke into tears: “Your Majesty! Your Majesty — look at our child! Open your eyes!” She also shook the child, urging him to cry quickly.

The little Crown Prince frowned, wriggled free, and looked toward Zhù Ying: “Chief Minister Zhù — what has happened?”

The rims of Zhù Ying’s eyes reddened, and she said, her voice catching, “His Majesty has gone to meet the Late Emperor.”

It was Yue Miaojun who slowly explained things to the little Crown Prince. His face crumpled, and with a “Wah!” he burst into tears.

The people in the hall began to soothe the child. When Wang Shuliang and the others rushed in, the palace had already begun removing its festive decorations. They came rushing inside and knelt on the floor together: “Your Majesty!”

Zhù Ying walked out to them and crouched down before them: “His Majesty has passed.”

Wang Shuliang raised his head, his eyes sharp as nails, fixed on Zhù Ying’s face: “What exactly happened?”

Zhù Ying was unmoved: “Come this way and I will explain.” She led the other three into the hall.

The four gathered together. Shi Jixing asked, “Why is the Empress Dowager not here?”

Yao Chenying, noticing Yue Miaojun holding the little Crown Prince, felt a knot loosen in his chest, and also asked: “Did His Majesty leave an imperial edict?”

“I recorded one,” Zhù Ying said, “but… you should read it first.”

The three read it and could find no major fault with it. Wang Shuliang said, “This — the Empress Dowager…”

Shi Jixing asked: “Did His Majesty summon only Zichang to record the edict?”

Zhù Ying said with a rueful smile, “The summons was real. It was about the matter of the Empress Dowager. His Majesty did not think he would die at this very moment. With Prince Qi eliminated, only the Empress Dowager remained. When the Late Emperor before him passed — I mean the previous one — old Shi, you were the one who examined Prince Qi. There were suspicious circumstances around that matter. His Majesty also suspected the Empress Dowager, and I made inquiries within the palace. There was indeed fawning over Prince Qi, but the moral transgression that was rumored was false. Hao Dafang — you all know him, he and I are well acquainted — he told me that while he was in the palace, he had never heard the sordid rumors about Prince Qi. So even His Majesty’s injury was likely a scheme of the Empress Dowager.

Now, the external threat has also been pacified, Prince Qi is dead, and His Majesty had begun to be on guard against the Empress Dowager. With filial piety paramount, he could not act too overtly. To speak plainly — he had even asked me how to guard against her. He was probably satisfied because I had previously driven the Empress Dowager’s close associates out of the palace to his liking. In the course of the conversation about other things, he suddenly could no longer hold on, and I could only record, in rough form, what he had last said. Whether it qualifies as an imperial edict — that is for you all to decide.”

She had concocted a half-true, half-fabricated account, and her listeners all believed it. They, too, had always found the events of that year strange — but it was a fait accompli, and not easy to investigate further. A young son, a wife and ministers held in mutual check — it was a perfectly natural arrangement. And Zhù Ying’s method of dealing with people was indeed a proven skill. Summoning her to deal with the Empress Dowager — the justification was more than sufficient.

The three of them even harbored, deep in their hearts, a small grievance with Zhù Ying: Why did you go and put everything in writing? Can you not see that an empress dowager and her ministers in opposition is a form of mutual restraint? A woman from the deep inner quarters meddling in governance — it makes one’s scalp crawl! If you had simply omitted her from it entirely, what harm would that have done? Several dozen years of experience, and yet Zhù Ying turned out to be scrupulously honest!

Zhù Ying was a straightforward person!! The three of them could not very well air their own private thoughts to the open sky for inspection.

Yao Chenying said, “The Empress Dowager listening in on governance?”

Zhù Ying said, “Our current emperor, as weak as he appeared, was not muddled within. He left behind a means of mutual restraint. Of the eight imperial seals, he retained one — it is now in the hands of the Noble Consort — or rather, she is now the Empress, I suppose.”

Yao Chenying held his tongue for a long while before finally saying, “Without an imperial edict, it would not look right, after all.”

Shi Jixing and Wang Shuliang both said, “True.” Though Zhù Ying’s prose style, it had to be said, had not advanced a great deal over the decades — it was a little dry and unornamented.

Zhù Ying said, “Then… shall we have the Grand Empress Dowager come?”

“Summon her.”

Zhù Ying said, “Still, have someone keep watch over her to prevent disorder. If things truly come to that, just say she is overcome with grief and needs to rest and recuperate. There is nothing about her in the edict to begin with.”

“Agreed.”

So someone was sent to inform Empress Dowager Mu and invite her to come over. When the Empress Dowager arrived, the Prime Ministers announced the imperial edict. The Noble Consort — who was now the Empress — fainted from weeping. Empress Dowager Mu said in disbelief, “His Majesty just… departed like this? And he left things to you people?!”

Zhù Ying said, “Grand Empress Dowager, His Majesty’s nation — if not to his wife and children and his most trusted ministers, to whom would he entrust it?”

The two Empress Dowagers in mutual opposition were also not a bad arrangement, but given the still-unresolved suspicions about the Prince Qi affair, the Prime Ministers had resolved not to let this person have a hand in anything. They collectively edged out the Grand Empress Dowager. Things moved both inside and outside: within, the newly elevated Empress Dowager; without, the Prime Ministers assembled the hundred officials. Zhù Ying took the Crown Prince from Yue Miaojun’s arms and led him to the main throne, helping him to stand in place. She then stepped back and led the assembled ministers in resounding cries of “Long live the Emperor!” — without even giving the child the chance for the customary three refusals before acceptance.

The Crown Prince ascended the throne before the funeral bier. Empress Dowager Mu was swiftly elevated to the lofty position of Grand Empress Dowager and given the status of a venerable elder of the highest generation to be maintained in comfortable retirement.

This was to prevent her from using the title of “Empress Dowager” to interfere with the Emperor’s “imperial edict.”

As Zhù Ying had said — three thousand armored soldiers, forty thousand palace guards. Empress Dowager Mu had no means to resist. Yao Chenying, who also commanded substantial military forces, quickly aligned himself with the same position.

The Emperor’s funeral proceeded in due order. Yang Empress Dowager fainted and revived again, then flung herself before the Prime Ministers. The men evaded. Zhù Ying was seized by her: “Boo hoo hoo… we are just a mother and orphan child…”

Zhù Ying had no choice but to comfort her: “Please, Your Highness — take good care of the Emperor.”

But the Emperor is already dead! Yang Empress Dowager was bewildered for a moment — then remembered that the Emperor now was her own son. She laughed and cried at the same time. Wang Shuliang said, “We ministers will go make the necessary preparations. Zichang — you, today, just take the duty watch tonight.”

A woman comforting a woman — far more appropriate. They were not up to having a young Empress Dowager fling herself at them. And they were not very skilled at consoling a widow, in any case.

Zhù Ying was in no hurry to go out with them and make arrangements. The most important matters she had already arranged. She patiently kept the Empress Dowager company.

Yang Empress Dowager had no sense of security at all. In the blink of an eye, an enormous nation had nominally fallen into the hands of herself and her young son. Whether it could transition from nominal to actual — that she was far from certain of, though she desperately wanted it to.

Of the four Prime Ministers, she knew Zhù Ying best, and Zhù Ying was the most tolerant of her. A Prime Minister who could have female officials was certainly more likely than the others to accept an Empress Dowager who wished to hold power. It was Zhù Ying who had established her status, and Zhù Ying who had given her the jade seal. Zhù Ying was the sort of person who conducted fair dealings.

Yang Empress Dowager clung to Zhù Ying until it was time to sleep, and even then refused to let go: “My heart is so unsettled. Chief Minister — stay and sleep beside me.”

“The Emperor has just lost his father — he needs his mother’s companionship.”

Yang Empress Dowager said, “The Madam is with him.”

Her son had Yue Miaojun accompanying him, which she was quite at ease about. Not spending a moment or two with him was fine — what mattered was securing a firm grip on the court’s ministers, for only then would the mother and son have something to depend on. Being a widow with an orphan child — the fear of being rendered powerless by ministers was too acute.

Zhù Ying did not really mind sleeping beside a young woman — but this was the Empress Dowager, so she still declined somewhat. Was this not simply a matter of having things to say? They could sit together and talk just as well, without the necessity of sharing a bed.

She said, “I am on the duty watch tonight and will not leave at daybreak either. Your Highness may say whatever she wishes at any time.”

Yang Empress Dowager said, “My heart is so restless right now that I fear I will lose my temper and snap at someone — it is better not to see him. I have things weighing on my mind, and I want to lie down while I talk. With no one to keep me company in conversation, I will not be able to sleep.”

Fine — they would sleep.

The two of them lay side by side. Yang Empress Dowager turned over, facing Zhù Ying, and hugged her arm: “I still cannot feel at ease.”

Zhù Ying turned her head and looked at her. Yang Empress Dowager said, “The Emperor is still too young. As for court affairs — though I am a woman of the inner palace, I do know something of them. I have heard that things were very good in the past, but these last twenty or thirty years have been a chaotic mess. How am I to handle political affairs in a way that preserves this nation?”

Zhù Ying said, “You are not yet capable of that.”

Yang Empress Dowager pressed further: “Not yet capable now? Am I to wait until my son has grown to adulthood before I am capable?” That would be absurd — by then it would be time for her son to be in charge.

“You have never governed before,” Zhù Ying said. “You must learn. Otherwise it will be your own undoing. Throughout the ages, every Empress Dowager who managed to govern well began by being willing to learn in humility, immersing herself gradually in affairs. No one mounts a wild horse the very first time they ride. If at the outset you make a serious blunder, people will lose faith in you, and from then on, whatever you wish to do, no one will listen. The only people you will be able to attract will be rascals and incompetents.”

“Then how should I learn? More reading?” Now that is a stretch!

“I will teach you.”

Yang Empress Dowager ventured tentatively: “And in the meantime? The other three Chief Ministers will surely say something about women from the inner quarters interfering in governance.”

“As for them — I have my own ways to persuade them.”

“If only everyone in the world were like you.”

“Do not think of immediately replacing the Grand Council,” Zhù Ying said. “They are capable of getting things done. Replace them with another batch, and that batch will not match them.”

“Then what should I learn? I have already read the histories and classics — and I have read the essays you gave me. As for doing things? One cannot always just be reading books.”

Zhù Ying said, “Proceeding from shallow to deep — start first with this funeral. You must first do small things well, letting the realm see that you are organized and methodical, before people will believe you can handle larger things, and before they will discuss governance with you. In truth, we could hand you the reins of authority right now and let you make decisions — but if you lack experience, any ordinary person could deceive you.

Even within the palace, with so few people, things are already so complicated. The entire realm, with its hundreds of millions of subjects, is only more complex in its human dimensions. Many principles that work within the palace do not hold outside it. You must first test the waters, grow accustomed to them, and only then go deeper.”

Yang Empress Dowager listened in fascination, urging her to say more.

Zhù Ying said, “From now on I will do my utmost to teach you. When we are in conference, I will lay out the reasoning clearly. Come autumn, there will be another batch of county magistrates coming to the capital for evaluation — I will teach you how to distinguish among them. The year after that, the same thing will happen again, and by then you may try handling it yourself. You are safe. In a few years, I will hand the palace guards over to you.

With the ability to handle political affairs, and with the palace guards in hand, your life ahead will be assured.

A woman who holds power will attract censure from all quarters. You need a group of people who appear in unbroken succession and will voluntarily defend your reputation even after you are dead. The examination system — I have already opened the door to it. From here, it is up to you how you use it.

Now sleep.”

Yang Empress Dowager could not sleep!

Zhù Ying slept with perfect ease. Yang Empress Dowager was full of envy.

The next morning, Zhù Ying rose. Yang Empress Dowager had gone without sleep through the night, yet remained sharp and full of energy. Arriving before the funeral bier, she was once again a grieving widow.

The Late Emperor’s funeral proceeded reasonably smoothly — there was no prince who had fled to a foreign land, and no crowd of ministers bickering over ritual details. The ceremony had been simplified and expedited, and was over before anyone had the chance to quarrel.

Just as it was with the Zhù Prime Minister’s residence — before Wang Shuliang and the others had a chance to react, she had already gathered everyone into the fold.

Without an adult emperor, the ministers actually found it easier to conduct their affairs. Following the originally planned agenda, local officials proceeded to suppress land annexation. Beyond that, the focus was on allowing the people to recover and restore their livelihoods. Matters also gradually became fewer. Each time Zhù Ying was in conference, she explained things to Yang Empress Dowager in careful detail.

And so it continued for several days. On this particular morning, before the early court had even begun, Wang Shuliang wished to discuss the matter of the Empress Dowager with Zhù Ying.

Wang Shuliang was in favor of speaking plainly with the Empress Dowager — but he felt it was sufficient to tell her what to do correctly. There was no need to explain everything from the very beginning, or to teach her so thoroughly, as if instructing a child. Even when the Late Emperor was alive, personally instructing the Crown Prince himself, it might not have been with such dedication.

Zhù Ying said, “If you do not teach her, who should she listen to? Her relatives? Or the eunuchs? Fill her ears to the full, and she will not lend them to the crow’s cawing. Even in matters of respecting senior relatives, if she understands reason, she will not listen to her family’s self-interested lobbying. She must be able to tell right from wrong herself — not merely be told, ‘this you cannot do, that you also cannot do, you can only listen to me, and everything I say is correct,’ and expected to comply. That approach will only make her loathe you and your reasoning all the more, and draw her closer to those who make her feel comfortable. When ministers constrain her, she will have no choice but to rely on her own family.

Women and eunuchs meddling in governance corrupt the court — but this has nothing to do with ‘women and eunuchs.’ It has to do with ‘foolish women and eunuchs.’ And put another way — where is there no place for fools? If the Empress Dowager is a little wiser, perhaps the number of fools in the court will also be a little fewer — is that not so?”

“This…” Wang Shuliang was at a loss for words.

“Unsatisfactory things fill eight or nine parts out of ten in this world — where is there any arrangement where one gets to keep every advantage? We cannot hold everything in our own hands at once. The question is whether to let the Empress Dowager have some latitude, or to let her relatives and the eunuchs have it. The Emperor is still young — some compromise must be made,” Zhù Ying said.

Wang Shuliang let out a sigh: “I can only hope the Emperor will grow to be wise and astute and take the reins of court as early as possible.”

How amusing. One had to grow to adulthood and sit the examinations before becoming an official, yet an emperor had far greater power than any official and was not required to take examinations at all. Zhù Ying gave an inward roll of her eyes.

Yang Empress Dowager continued to enjoy this service of detailed explanations, and occasionally was also able to voice some observations of her own.

Come autumn, another rotation of county magistrates arrived. Yang Empress Dowager was now able to sit in the upper seat with composure, watching as county magistrates entered the palace to pay their respects, and she presided over a written examination. She questioned them on local customs and the state of governance in their regions, presenting a reasonably convincing show.

“When I was at my parents’ home, it was not as though I never received outside guests. I have tasted the bitterness and hardship of the world — of course I know what they are concealing,” Yang Empress Dowager said with a small air of satisfaction.

Among the four Prime Ministers, only Zhù Ying moved through the rear palace as easily as a fish in water, and her words consistently found acceptance in both the Empress Dowager’s quarters. Zhù Ying’s continued effort to promote female magistrates also gained the Empress Dowager’s support. Before the first anniversary of the Late Emperor’s passing had even arrived, the second round of the Law Examination’s female section had begun. The Empress Dowager attended to observe with considerable interest.

There was some talk of this in the court as well, but unfortunately — since Zhù Ying was a woman — no one could affix the label of Lu Buwei to her. By extension, the Empress Dowager’s reputation remained unblemished. Zhù Ying simply gave a plain-spoken statement: “The people — I have them in hand. Whoever takes issue with me being close to the Empress Dowager is welcome to come and take my place. See whether the Empress Dowager stays quiet, and see whether her family’s influence and the eunuchs’ power will inflate.”

Very well. If this Empress Dowager had even half of Zhù Ying’s ability — no, no, if she had even a third of her discernment — that would be more than enough!

A son learning to write, a mother learning to govern — it was, strangely enough… harmonious.

Another year passed. Chen Fang emerged from his mourning period, and Zhù Ying had him transferred back to the Ministry of Finance. Also that autumn, the nationwide rotation of county magistrates was completed, and a number of those found unqualified were dismissed. Zhù Ying continued to administer the Law Examination.

The literate women of the capital region and its surroundings — even those who had only started studying after the very first examination — had by now, if bright enough, managed to learn enough to produce a few qualified candidates.

The Empress Dowager was quite satisfied with this state of affairs. Her one lingering regret was the palace guards — when would they be given to her? Zhù Ying was trustworthy enough, but since a promise had been made, until the palace guards answered to herself, the Empress Dowager would remain unsettled in her heart. The other half of the palace guards were still under Yao Chenying’s command, and not a single soldier of the palace guards answered to the Empress Dowager.

What the Empress Dowager did not know was that that day was fast approaching.

On this particular day, Zhù Ying returned from the palace to her residence and received a letter from Annan — Zhù Qingjun had given birth to a daughter and was asking her to choose a name.

Zhù Ying was delighted. She picked up her brush and wrote two characters: Zhù Rong.

Then she said, “By my reckoning, tomorrow the child will be a full month old — let us hold a full-moon celebration for her.”

A full-moon celebration, with neither the mother nor the infant present — Zhù Ying held it anyway. Yue Miaojun also joined in the merriment, and prepared gifts for both mother and child — several large carriage-loads were dispatched to Annan.

The next morning, after the early court session, Yang Empress Dowager also sent down bolts of brocade and other presents.

In the days that followed, the Zhù residence received a continuous stream of gifts from all directions. When the Prime Minister’s household holds a full-moon celebration — just send a gift, and that is that.

When the gifts had been received in full, another letter arrived from Annan. Zhù Ying laughed: “Can there really be more good news this time? Whose happy occasion is it? Hong Feng’s? Whose?”

She opened the letter — and realized she had laughed too soon. Liu Ao had been assassinated.