Zhù Ying’s time in the mountains was limited. Securing a “warehouse” plot in advance had been a pleasant surprise. According to her original plan, she would have needed to conduct several rounds of trading over several months before gradually raising the point that the space wasn’t adequate and that a convenient spot for trading was needed. Now that the goal had been reached ahead of schedule, Zhù Ying knew when to stop pressing her advantage, and headed back to the Southern Prefecture with the merchants.

The merchants, apart from the goods they had traded at the Yigan family’s home, had some who had their hearts set on the copper from Xi Jin’s family or the mountain goods from Talang County. They had also exchanged for some gold and silver and wanted to do more trading when they passed through those territories on the return journey.

Su Mingluan didn’t contest the construction of the warehouse; as long as the location didn’t belong to anyone else, she was satisfied. If it couldn’t be built on her land, she hoped the place would belong to no one, supervised directly by Zhù Ying. With Zhù Ying’s hand in charge, being completely fair and impartial, there would still be a slight lean in Su Mingluan’s favour.

She and Zhù Ying parted at a fork in the road. Zhù Ying said, “Wait — I have one more thing to say to you.”

Su Mingluan glanced at Lang Kunwu. Even though the Su family and the Talang family had stopped capturing each other for sacrifices, they weren’t on good enough terms to readily go to each other’s territories. Zhù Ying said, “Lend me Su Deng. I have a use for him.”

Su Mingluan said, “Him?”

Zhù Ying said, “The mountain school needs teachers, doesn’t it? First they must learn to speak and write, and after that arithmetic and other subjects.”

Su Mingluan agreed immediately: “Fine.”

The two women exchanged a few more words and settled the matter. Zhù Ying led her people from Talang County back toward the Southern Prefecture.

The journey home went very smoothly. The return trip also picked up a great many goods. Goods bought in Talang County were also more convenient to transport. When the merchants entered the Southern Prefecture, some sold their goods there, while others went on to more distant places to sell at even higher margins.

While the merchants traded, Zhù Ying sat with Lang Kunwu and discussed the construction plan for the “warehouse.” She took this matter very seriously, personally drafting the blueprint and standards for inspection: the precise length, width, layout, wall height and thickness, and the materials to be used — all fixed by her. She left behind some craftsmen; Lang Kunwu only needed to build to specification.

Zhù Ying said, “I’ll come next month. Each item verified, each item settled.”

Her reputation for reliability was impeccable. Lang Kunwu said, “Done!”

With the arrangements complete, Zhù Ying returned to the Southern Prefecture. By the calendar, it was already winter. The Southern Prefecture’s winter was not terribly cold, and most of the winter wheat had been sown — the fields were alive with activity, a sight that made the heart feel at ease. The merchants gradually peeled off from the group after entering the Southern Prefecture’s territory; Zhù Ying did not stop them.

She levied no tax on the trade of merchants going into the mountains. Only after they entered the Southern Prefecture and passed through checkpoints — or conducted further trade there — did the prescribed commercial tax apply under the court’s regulations. She herself had also bought and sold some goods, all handled through Xiang Le and others; on the surface, she had no involvement in any commerce.

The group grew smaller and smaller. Zhù Ying had Xiang Le escort the goods into the city first, then issued a written note to Commandant Mei’s personal guard: “Give this to the Commandant.” It was a payment voucher for services rendered. Commandant Mei could use the voucher to draw money and provisions from Little Wu. She also arranged the settlement for her own yamen runners on their return to the yamen.

She did not enter the city right away. Instead, she went and walked through the official public farmland outside the city one more time — the sugarcane and winter wheat had all been planted.

Only then did she head back into the city. By the time she was at the prefecture gate, her entourage had shrunk to only the yamen’s own people. Since merchants had already entered the city, the yamen was aware she had returned. The guards at the gate did their best to stand up straight. Zhù Ying dismounted in front of the yamen. As was her custom on returning, she first reviewed the yamen’s affairs.

Zhang Jiong and the others came to meet her, and they exchanged words of having worked hard. Zhang Jiong said, “My lord, the seasons are changing — it would be best to rest more in the yamen for a while.”

Zhù Ying looked at him, then nodded. “All right.”

The group entered the executive office. Zhang Jiong again reported on various affairs as he had the previous time, and Zhù Ying again reassured everyone. Officials like Wang Sigong were also perceptive; they all said, “My lord, you’ve had a hard journey — the key matters have all been reported; the minor affairs are in the case files.” Then they took their leave.

Only Zhang Jiong lingered briefly and said, “My lord, please look at the official gazette.”

While Zhù Ying was in the mountains, the communications hadn’t been very reliable — some official documents and official gazettes had not reached her promptly. She had left Niu Jin and several others at the yamen; all documents and gazettes had been carefully sorted and kept by them, arranged in chronological order.

She flipped through several issues. The first had nothing unusual. The second recorded — the Capital Magistrate Wuchanged his designation. Looking further ahead, so far there was no news of a new Capital Magistrate being appointed; did that mean young Pei Qing was managing things alone as the sole deputy magistrate? Flipping further, she found no news of Pei Qing being transferred. It seemed he truly was serving in an acting capacity.

As the year drew to a close, some officials’ reviews had begun. Among the capital officials being transferred, she also saw some familiar names. Among the regional officials, there was also a familiar face — Chen Meng.

Chen Meng had been serving in the north, not far from the capital. When Zhù Ying was a county magistrate, he had been a Prefect. This year he had finally become an Administrator, no longer a subordinate of Administrator Lu but transferred to a state closer to his home. Zhù Ying calculated his age, then calculated Chen Feng’s age, and guessed this was the court extending a favour — allowing him to be “closer to home” to care for his father.

In the home state’s administrator’s office, some officials had also shifted slightly. A few more of the people from Administrator Lu’s days had left; a few new ones had been assigned. Several top officials in the imperial city had also changed: Duan Lin had been transferred to the Imperial Stud, Xian Jing was transferred to the Court of Imperial Sacrifices, and the Ministry of Revenue finally had a Minister — former Chief Justice Dou Peng had been promoted and was now Minister Dou. He had risen even faster than Duan Lin. Zhù Ying suspected Zheng Xi had been working behind the scenes against Duan Lin.

This string of movements — no wonder Zhang Jiong had urged her to stay in the yamen more recently.

Zhù Ying thought: the warehouse and related matters have all been settled. I also have no need to spend half of every month in the mountains as I have these past two months. Regularly living in the mountains would invite criticism. From now on, I’ll go into the mountains once a month for a few days and come back.

She said, “I understand. We’ll carry on as usual. The people and matters in the Administrator’s office — observe and see.”

Zhang Jiong said, “Good. My lord, you’ve had a hard journey. I won’t trouble you further.” And he took his leave.

Zhù Ying also gave her retinue leave, tucked the bundle of case files and official gazettes under her arm, and was heading back to the rear quarters to look over them carefully when Little Wu suddenly poked his head in from outside the door: “My lord!”

Zhù Ying asked, “Why are you skulking about? Did the journey go smoothly?”

Little Wu had come to meet her together with his colleagues just now, but when he saw Zhang Jiong had something to say he stepped back out — and didn’t go far. He had been watching for Zhang Jiong to leave, and now pounced back inside.

He slipped back into the executive office, glanced around to make sure it was all familiar faces, and then said, “Something big has happened!”

Ding Gui spoke on Zhù Ying’s behalf: “Brother, what is it? All in a panic like that.”

“Out with you!” Little Wu scolded him, then whispered to Zhù Ying: “My lord, Administrator Leng is leaving! Not just escorting the grain to the capital — he won’t be coming back after! Take a look at the official gazettes that haven’t had time to be delivered yet! Oh my, a lot of people have been moved around! The new Administrator — who knows what kind of person he’ll be — what about us?”

Zhù Ying let out a short laugh: “There’s nothing we can do.”

Were there any years without official transfers? Excluding the Fulu County magistrate who had died on the road, in just the years Zhù Ying had been in this state — not counting transfers, but actual losses: officials who died en route or within a few months of arriving — there had been nine. Among them, three county magistrates and one executive official. Of the three county magistrates, one had died of illness, one had drowned crossing a river, and the third had simply never shown up at all.

Not to speak of the distant past — Administrator Leng himself had fallen gravely ill once on the road on his way here. In slightly worse conditions, his grave would already have had trees bearing fruit by now.

Little Wu said, “But it’s precisely because Administrator Leng is leaving that a new person is coming, and no one knows what temper they’ll have. You may not fear them, but a person who wants to make trouble can be quite a nuisance. Better to prepare early, no?”

Zhù Ying asked, “Who told you that Administrator Leng was leaving and never coming back?”

Little Wu said, “Everyone’s saying so. He’s already shipped a great many things to the capital, and his concubines have packed their bags too — everyone and everything taken away! If he planned to come back, he couldn’t leave behind not a single teacher. As for a proper handover — he never handed over to Administrator Lu properly either. By my reckoning, he won’t wait for the new person to arrive.”

Zhù Ying’s face felt genuinely worried. “So what’s to be done? All the days of ease in the Southern Prefecture weren’t easy to come by! And Leng’s been well-trained already — a new one would need to be wooed from scratch, starting with gifts from the beginning.”

Little Wu’s head felt fit to burst.

Zhù Ying turned the stack of official gazettes over to Gu Tong: “And what do you think?”

Gu Tong said seriously, “Little Wu-ge has a point.”

Zhù Ying let out a short laugh. “Have you seen his memorial submitted? Have you seen the secretariat stamp it? Have you seen the Emperor affix his seal to the decree? Have you seen an official gazette stating that he is no longer the Administrator of this state?”

The two had felt their reasoning was sound; now both were uncertain again. Gu Tong asked, “Is it… is it really impossible for him to leave?”

“Even if he’s truly leaving, it won’t be now,” Zhù Ying sighed. “The winter wheat isn’t all harvested yet. Never mind the double-crop rice — he might abandon that. But think about when winter wheat is harvested — next spring! If I were him, even if I didn’t care about double-crop rice, even if I truly wanted to leave, by the time I reached the capital New Year would already be over. Wait a little longer — let spring come and the harvest with it. Administrators and Deputy Administrators take turns going to the capital, all perfectly in keeping with court procedure. By the time the news spreads, he’ll already be in the capital — in a perfect position to claim the credit for the harvest and arrange his next posting.”

Little Wu prided himself on his family’s tradition of reading people — he had seen through many officials’ hearts. Only Zhù Ying he couldn’t read; as for Leng Yun, he had always looked down on him slightly. A pampered second-generation noble — not vicious, just too easy and careless, fortunate in his birth. Yet here was this man, after Zhù Ying explained things, apparently still capable of this much calculation! The thinking of the privileged truly was different from ordinary people’s.

Gu Tong still bravely expressed his doubt: “Does Administrator Leng really have that much forethought?”

“Even if he doesn’t, Count Leng will. Don’t panic over nothing. He’s still our direct superior for the time being.”

Gu Tong and Little Wu both thought: And what about afterwards? If you have a plan, please arrange things quickly!

Little Wu was even tempted to volunteer to carry a letter to the capital for Zhù Ying! These days of ease in the Southern Prefecture hadn’t come easily.

Zhù Ying took the case files, saying, “All right. Everyone rest. Oh — Niu Jin, go and ask Chou Wen to come to the study and wait for me.”

……——

Zhù Ying carried the case files to the rear quarters, handed them to Ding Gui to bring to the study, and went to freshen up and bathe first.

The moment she entered the rear courtyard, she heard Jiang Widow say, “You’re back!”

Then Hua Jie came running out: “She’s here!”

Zhù Ying said, “I wasn’t late this time — I came back on time.”

Jiang Widow smiled. “That’s not what I meant — there’s good news. My lord, guess who’s come?”

Zhù Ying said, “What good news?”

Hua Jie said, “Blessed Sister’s family came to bring…”

Before she could finish, Zhang Xiangu appeared from inside with a small group of familiar-looking people. Beside Zhang Xiangu, supporting her arm, was a young woman — it was Li Fujie, who had once filed a suit against Huang Shier-lang! Li Fujie was dressed in bright, fresh-coloured new clothes, with a large red silk flower in her hair. Her older brother and her parents were also there, their clothes washed clean and bright, wearing expressions of slightly stiff joy. They bowed slightly, bodies angled forward.

Zhù Ying said, “Come in and sit down.” She didn’t change clothes first but went to Zhang Xiangu’s room. When the host and guests had settled, the Li family explained their purpose.

Li Fujie had returned to her maiden home. This year she was getting married. Mindful of the great debt of gratitude to Zhù Ying from that year — truly a debt of life itself — they absolutely had to bring some wedding wine and wedding cakes and such, as was fitting. Even if the yamen had no shortage of such things, it was still their goodwill. They had come once already; halfway there, they heard Zhù Ying had gone into the mountains and turned back. This was their second visit — they had finally managed to deliver the wedding wine and cakes they had prepared, and felt a weight had been lifted.

Zhù Ying smiled. “That’s wonderful! I have a gift for you too.”

Zhang Xiangu said, “We already thought of that!” The gift-giving custom in the countryside — a little money, a little rice. The Prefect’s gift was a bit more generous; Zhang Xiangu said they had also added two catties of sugar.

Li’s elderly parents were completely sincere and kept saying, “This is… this is far too generous.”

“A young couple — sweet and happy together,” Zhang Xiangu said. She preferred the company of these sorts of people far more than the flattery of the gentry ladies.

The old couple still hesitated to accept. Hua Jie and the others all said, “Take it.” Zhang Xiangu added, “Right — you gave me your wedding wine and wedding cakes. Don’t I have to send you some wedding sweets in return?”

Zhù Ying smiled. “Accept them.”

Only then did they accept. Zhù Ying then asked about the groom — learning he was a young man from the same village. She asked further about their livelihood, the harvest, how the officials and workers had been treating them, and what the road had been like on the way here, and so on. After chatting for a good while and asking everything worth asking, she invited them to stay for dinner, then finally went back to her room to freshen up — she still had one more person to see.

……

Chou Wen had already been sitting bolt upright in the study for a long while.

He had followed along on this trip into the mountains, felt his tasks had been carried out admirably, and had the sense that he was drawing closer and closer to “being civilised.” Now he was wondering what new task was being assigned to him.

He had drunk one bowl of tea, and then Ding Gui said, “My lord has some matters; please wait a little.” He poured him a refill.

Chou Wen, hearing this, declined the second bowl, worried that drinking too much water would cause an inconvenient interruption to affairs.

That concern proved well-founded — he waited well over an hour before Zhù Ying came to the study. The first words she said were: “You’ve waited long.”

Chou Wen quickly said, “Not at all — I haven’t waited very long.”

“Sit.”

Host and guest settled, and Chou Wen also refrained from drinking the freshly poured hot tea, simply waiting for Zhù Ying’s instructions. Another trade mission, perhaps? Or…

Zhù Ying said, “You weren’t a merchant by background in the stockade?” She had made inquiries. Chou Wen’s family had a distant kinship connection with Lang Kunwu’s, and had a small measure of standing. Hunting, running errands the chief assigned — he could turn his hand to most things. He was a “person who managed people.”

“Please don’t bring up those years, my lord.”

“You speak five languages?”

“Yes.”

Zhù Ying said, “You have a good head for commerce. Do you want to keep doing it?”

Chou Wen said, “Just to make a living.”

“Mm. The memorials you wrote for White Face and Mountain Sparrow also came out rather well.”

“My lord flatters me.”

“Do you still want to keep writing memorials?”

Chou Wen’s lips pressed into a thin line.

Zhù Ying smiled. “Five languages, and the ability to write memorials — it would be rather a waste to be just a merchant.”

Chou Wen’s eyes glimmered slightly. Zhù Ying knew she had said the right thing, and asked him, “Would you be willing to be a teacher?”

Chou Wen said, “I myself still want to be a student. What is my lord’s meaning?” He glanced around — he had attended a session or two of lessons in this very study, though it had been alongside several squabbling, shrieking little children.

Zhù Ying said, “There are now more tributary counties. The memorials can’t always have you writing them as proxy. I’m planning to set up a mountain school. The first requirement is to find teachers who are fluent in languages — to teach the various tribes to speak and write.”

Chou Wen quickly said, “I’m willing.”

Zhù Ying said, “No more making a living? Court officials are not permitted to engage in trade.”

Chou Wen took a moment, then said, “My — my lord’s meaning is —?” A wild, disbelieving joy swept through him entirely!

Zhù Ying said, “I haven’t submitted the request to the court for approval yet. I’m gathering people first. Are you willing to do it?”

Chou Wen quickly said, “Willing! Oh!” He hastily left his seat and made a formal bow of obeisance.

Zhù Ying said, “Stand up and talk. There are matters to discuss.”

“Yes.”

Chou Wen had been working hard all along to wash away the “mountain folk” quality about him. A mountain school teacher, though dealing with the various tribes, was entrusted with teaching writing — at a stretch he could consider himself “one of the civilised.” He was very willing.

Zhù Ying said, “Do you know how to teach? Go back and think about it — this is foundational education. Come up with a method. There’s no official post for you right now, but I won’t have you working without pay — your compensation will come from the yamen first. Once the mountain school is established and the position is approved by the court, you’ll draw your court salary.”

Chou Wen bowed again.

Zhù Ying said, “If you’re going to kneel again we won’t be able to talk properly. Come over here.”

Chou Wen stood up and walked to Zhù Ying’s desk. Zhù Ying pulled out a small notebook. “This is a draft of the character-learning song. Teaching students — start with this. Common knowledge is all in here too. On this last trading run, that Western Card girl who bought needles could afford to pay in gold dust, but her arithmetic was terrible. Wealthy people are like this — think of how much worse it is for the poor. Teach them.”

She knew Chou Wen already knew the character-learning song, but still gave him the “textbook” and asked him to prepare lesson plans and translations: “I’m too busy right now — I’m leaving this in your hands. You and Su Deng will handle this together; he should arrive in a day or two. The two of you can discuss how to draft a curriculum. Right now there are children from several tribes who need to study.”

“Yes!”

“First make sure you and Su Deng have no unresolved grudges between you?”

Chou Wen quickly said, “None.”

The next day, Su Deng also arrived. Zhù Ying called the two of them together. They had worked together before drafting memorials and hadn’t come to any quarrel; though not warm toward each other, they exchanged nods. Chou Wen knew why Su Deng had come; Su Deng had already been informed by Su Mingluan and knew his purpose as well. He thought to himself: is that man… here to build the mountain school? Chou Wen in Su Deng’s mental image of “building the mountain school” was someone managing logistics — running the various trading errands, as Chou Wen had done quite a few of.

Zhù Ying spoke and Su Deng shot Chou Wen a sharp look. Zhù Ying said, “You’ll both be teachers from now on. Work together and divide up the labour.”

Su Deng’s expression pleased Chou Wen greatly. He didn’t take it out on Su Deng; instead he replied, “Please, my lord, give the orders.”

Su Deng quickly said, “Please give the order, Teacher.”

Zhù Ying said verbally that she was busy, yet still gave guidance on key points: “The mountain peoples have no written language, so they can’t review lessons at home on their own. Teach phonetic notation first! Have the students memorise the phonetic notation thoroughly. Use the notation to mark down the languages of the various tribes for cross-reference — you write out the Ying tribe’s notation, you write out the Meng tribe’s, the Hua Pa tribe’s the two of you discuss. For pronunciation in official speech, ask Gu Tong. You can also consult the two Jiang misses, or the Granary Official, the Revenue Official — they all have solid official speech.”

Su Deng said, “In our stockade… county, quite a few people already know how to speak official speech.”

Zhù Ying said, “You call that official speech?”

Su Deng pulled his neck in.

Zhù Ying said, “Go.”

Su Deng said, “When do we open classes?”

“Get the foundation textbook done for me first! What are you planning to teach if there’s no book? Everything else I’ll handle.”

“Yes.”

……——

Zhù Ying had been very busy since her return, and right at this juncture there were still people coming to add to the chaos.

She had barely finished arranging the preparations for the mountain school when a fast courier message arrived from the post inn — Administrator Leng was at the inn and asked for Zhù Ying to come and see him.

Zhù Ying went to the rear quarters and said to Zhang Xiangu and Zhù Da, “Change your clothes. We’re going to see Administrator Leng.”

Zhù Da said, “We’re heading to the prefectural city again? You just came back from there — why are you taking us with you now?”

Zhù Ying said, “He’s going to the capital — he’s passing through here and wants to see me. Sister — also have them pack up all the gifts we’ve already prepared and bring them along. Let Xiao Liu and Niu Jin accompany us this time.” Zheng Xi had written a letter saying she needn’t send gifts; Zhù Ying had prepared them in the same amounts as previous years anyway.

Half a day later, they arrived at the post inn. Leng Yun had been lounging around until he started dozing.

Advisor Dong came forward first to receive Zhù Ying. Seeing the people behind her, he gave a salute with folded hands: “I did not know the Old Man and the Lady had also come — forgive my tardiness.” He also greeted Hua Jie and the others.

Zhù Ying asked, “And my lord?”

Leng Yun came out yawning. “Your nerve has grown — you’ve made me wait half the day.”

Zhang Xiangu and Zhù Da were instantly tense. Zhù Ying could see that Leng Yun was in high spirits and said, “Not only do you have to wait, my lord — I also have an errand to ask of you.”

“Oh?” Leng Yun was no longer sleepy.

Zhù Ying said, “You’re going to the capital — take two passengers for us. Xiao Liu, Niu Jin.”

The two stepped forward and bowed. Leng Yun looked them over and said, “As long as it’s not someone from your Old Count’s family.”

Everyone laughed.

Leng Yun also asked whether there were gifts for him. Zhù Ying said, “Nothing for you. But I found some wolf pelts for the Count’s household.” There were many wolves in the mountains; she had traded for quite a few on her mountain trips and packed a box full to distribute among the various households in the capital.

“You heartless creature! I even saved things for you!” Leng Yun pretended to quarrel with her. By the time it was nearly dark, he kept them for dinner.

They all spent that night at the post inn.

……

The next day, Zhù Ying saw Leng Yun off at the post inn. Leng Yun took the water route to the capital this time.

Leng Yun had gone back without consulting his family — his two-and-more years, nearly three, as Administrator had fattened his nerve as well. His sons were already grown. Was he incapable of making his own decisions?

Leng Yun was in excellent spirits. Advisor Dong also made no effort to persuade him to stay in the prefectural city. Advisor Dong was nearing seventy; he was an official himself and had no desire to bury his old bones in this miasma-ridden land. Host and advisor shared the same mind, and they set off joyfully for the capital.

On the third day travelling from land to water, both men fell ill. Leng Yun had come south by land and had been deathly ill on that journey. He had since made several round trips and had not fallen ill again, so he assumed he was made of iron. Heading home in fine spirits — even less reason to fall ill.

Fall ill he did, nonetheless.

Advisor Dong fell ill a little later but more severely. One propped up the other; they moved on through the eleventh month. The further north they went, the colder it became. Advisor Dong became completely bedridden and, just like that, departed this world. Leng Yun was stranded halfway, but his illness gradually lightened. He endured the journey and arrived in the capital at the end of the twelfth month.

A great surprise for Count Leng!

That day, Count Leng returned home to find the household in chaos and asked, “What’s going on?” The household smiled and said Leng Yun was back. The Count was first startled: “What is he doing here? Isn’t this year supposed to be the turn of his Executive Officer to come to the capital?”

The personal attendant stepped forward: “My lord is escorting the grain…”

“Nonsense! His grain doesn’t go to the capital!”

Because of the distance, most of the grain from Leng Yun’s jurisdiction was transported to another large granary for storage. For the administrator’s office officials “escorting grain to the capital,” this generally meant one of two things: first, escorting grain to a halfway-point granary; second, actually going to the capital. The second half of the journey, being free of cargo, went faster.

Count Leng calculated the dates and found they didn’t quite add up, and strode quickly inside. When he saw his son, he had another fright: “What happened to you?”

Leng Yun said grievously, “Father, I almost never got to see you again!”

The Count’s Lady was beside him wiping her eyes. “You never said going south would be so hard!”

Leng Yun had returned looking yellow-skinned and hollow-eyed, not needing to invent any excuses. His family took one look at his condition and would have to think twice about sending him back. Leng Yun had not wanted to fall ill, but since he had, he would make good use of it. He said to Count Leng, “Father, Advisor Dong has gone.”

“Gone where? Whose advisor has he become?”

“Dead,” Leng Yun said.

Count Leng also drew a sharp breath and said, “Rest and recover first.”

The Count’s Lady said, “You still want him to go back? How dare you!”

Leng Yun said, “Mother, don’t be anxious — my term isn’t done yet…”

“You want to throw your life away?!”

“Mother, hear me out — I’m in the capital now, aren’t I? In a few more days I’ll have served my full three years. I’ll stay in the capital until the term is up, then seek another posting. No one can say anything against that.”

Count Leng said, “Mm. You went out and gained some experience — there’s been a degree of improvement.”

The family finished discussing matters and settled down to wait for next year when the term would expire. Count Leng thought things through more carefully than his son, asked a few questions about conditions in the south, and then asked, “Did you arrange things properly before you left?”

“Arrange what? I couldn’t tell them I wasn’t coming back.”

Count Leng asked, “Did you fake your illness on purpose on the road?”

“Advisor Dong died — illness comes randomly. Father, I’m not faking.”

“Very well. When the Emperor summons you and the secretariat asks questions, remember to speak properly.”

“Father, don’t worry. I’ll give good answers.”

Count Leng had gifts prepared and, once Leng Yun’s condition improved, went with him to call on the house of Marquis Zheng. Leng Yun saw that a great many gifts had been brought and asked, “Father, what is all this for?”

“Zheng Holim is engaged. Come with me to offer congratulations.”

“That little girl… oh, she’s not so little anymore. Who is the groom?”

“Prince of Guangning.”

Leng Yun thought for a moment: “He’s an honest enough young man. Just too dull — too soft, no ambition.”

Count Leng said, “Don’t say such things in front of him. This marriage was arranged by the Emperor.”

“Oh. When is the wedding?”

“Next autumn.”

At the Zheng household, both father and son kept tight-lipped, saying only that Leng Yun missed home and had come back for a visit on a passing opportunity.

Leng Yun said, “Good timing — I’ll be able to attend the wedding banquet!”

Zheng Xi thought to himself: the banquet isn’t until next autumn; you simply don’t want to go back, do you? What he said was still very considerate: “You’ve grown thin. You should have come home to recuperate properly. Last time I saw you, you weren’t looking this haggard. Did something happen?”

Zhù Ying’s people had followed Leng Yun back to the capital; Zheng Xi had long known that Leng Yun had no intention of returning.

Leng Yun said, “It’s just the climate not suiting me. These past few years I’ve watched several county magistrates die — even now, two posts are still vacant!”

Zheng Xi said, “Among them, only Zi Zhang can endure it. Has he been giving you any trouble?”

“If he’s trouble, what are the others? He’s the only reliable one — all the rest are thorns in my side!”

Zheng Xi said, “He’s actually run into some trouble himself.”

“Oh? I haven’t heard anything.”

Zheng Xi said, “Over the matter of the mountain people.”

“Hasn’t that been going well?”

Zheng Xi could tell from this that Leng Yun had not taken much part in the mountain people matters. Count Leng had also sensed it and asked, “What kind of matter? I hadn’t heard of anything before.”

“He submitted another memorial — requesting two more counties.”

“That’s a good thing,” Count Leng said with a smile. He glanced at Leng Yun.

“He’s met someone who likes to make trouble,” Zheng Xi said.

Zhù Ying had submitted a request for imperial patents for White Face, Long Hair, and Mountain Sparrow’s three families, explaining that these three territories were less developed and more remote than Asu County and Talang County, so the rank requested was not the sixth rank but the seventh, with correspondingly less tribute.

Count Leng said, “That argument sounds reasonable.” He patted Leng Yun, signalling him not to just sit there blankly, and asked what the actual situation was like. Leng Yun had only met Su Mingluan; he knew nothing of the rest, listening blankly as if hearing thunder underwater.

Zheng Xi said, “So a censor is questioning whether he’s faking things. Twenty million troops and expenses by the hundred million couldn’t manage what he’s managed — how could a single young man do it without any major military action? One or two could be called a lucky surprise; more than that becomes suspicious.”

Leng Yun cursed, “What blind fool is talking nonsense? Are the court’s tax receipts fake?”

“The tributary counties’ submissions — perhaps the Southern Prefecture covered the cost from its own funds as well. If taxes on ordinary people were squeezed harder to increase revenues, then colluding with the mountain people to fabricate results in exchange for a promotion — it would still be profitable. One needs to account for everything.”

Count Leng said, “If I recall correctly, didn’t Wei Bọnzhong go to the Southern Prefecture? He even went into the mountains?”

“To set up a fake stockade for a bit of red-and-purple robes — it’s entirely possible, given everyone knows Zi Zhang is bold enough. After all, the man does have an extraordinarily big nerve.”

Leng Yun took a deep breath: “I’ll go speak to the Emperor.”

Zheng Xi asked, “Have you been into the mountains?”

“Ah… no…”

Zheng Xi said, “When the Emperor asks, tell the truth. His affairs are still subject to a drawn-out debate. The secretariat also dislikes people who bring extra complications; I doubt the Emperor will be pleased either.”

“Who is it, anyway?”

“An idiot.”

Count Leng confirmed with Zheng Xi, “Is there truly no need to — “

Zheng Xi shook his head: “If there were anything inconsistent in the statements, leaving a handle for attack would be bad for everyone.”

Leng Yun said, “Then send an envoy to go look!”

Zheng Xi said coldly, “A visit to confer imperial patents would be fine; to investigate, however—” That would be to suspect Zhù Ying — treating it as an inspection. Without piercing that window paper, sending someone to look could be taken as if everyone was pretending not to know. Once the paper was pierced, there would have to be a debate, everything spelled out clearly.

Now the censor said: “If there’s nothing wrong, why are you unwilling to allow an investigation? Is it a guilty conscience?” Zheng Xi would turn it around: the tributary arrangement was already difficult enough; now if you stir things up and ruin it, causing disillusionment, can you take responsibility for that? The other side would reply: serving the court, how could one begrudge a little hardship? Zheng Xi would say: then why don’t you suffer some hardship yourself?

In short — a standstill.

This had all just happened, and had not yet reached Count Leng’s ears.

Count Leng said, “The court has no business letting them cause trouble!” He then asked where Marquis Zheng was, and was told the Marquis had gone to accompany the Lady back to the Prince’s residence to see Prince Gaoyang. Count Leng and his son did not wait for the Marquis, and left after a short while.

Leng Yun had one more thing on his mind in the capital. Before long, he was summoned to give an account of his service, and was then detained by the secretariat.

Wang Yunhe had a slight worry. Liu Songnian had cursed Wei Bọnzhong up one side and down the other, saying his brain wasn’t working well enough — from start to finish he had been led around by the nose by Zhù Ying — then cursed Zhù Ying for being too clever for her own good, making it so that many details Wei Bọnzhong couldn’t now answer for. Wang Yunhe had no choice but to ask Leng Yun.

Leng Yun was also fairly unclear.

Wang Yunhe was inclined to believe Zhù Ying. The annual grain and tax submissions were not fabricated; the Zhao Su Zhù Ying had sent to the capital was not a fabrication; the mountain folk children she had brought to the capital last time were also not fabrications. He and Liu Songnian were both sharp-eyed people — given the will, they could have had Zhù Lian or Zhao Su’s entire lineage eight generations back laid out for them.

Not fabricated.

Unable to get anything useful from Leng Yun, Wang Yunhe could only let him go. Shi Kun had watched the whole process from the side and said, “When it comes to doing the work, one and all have gone into hiding! When it comes to doubting and questioning, everyone rushes to the front!”

Beside him, Zhong Yi spoke at a measured pace: “This memorial is genuinely surprising…”

“He’s been in that place for eight full years as of this year,” Shi Kun said. “It’s time for him to reap his harvest.”

Even he wanted to see what the harvest would look like.

Wang Yunhe said, “Set it aside for now; discuss it again after the new year.”

As New Year drew near, this matter was temporarily shelved. Continue arguing, and the Emperor would become displeased — then things would truly be troublesome. Zheng Xi was busy with his own affairs. Zhù Ying had stored quite a few things in the capital; Zhao Su, hearing of a happy occasion in the Zheng family, sent gifts in Zhù Ying’s name. Zheng Xi happened to keep him back and asked about conditions in the mountains.

Zhao Su said, “This student knows only the Asu family better than others. Everything else I know I’ve already told my lord. But my Godfather never does things insubstantially — if he says there is something, there is.”

Zheng Xi frowned.

In the end, it was Wang Yunhe who knew the Emperor best. After New Year, the Emperor could not wait any longer. What the Emperor wanted was a world that had submitted from all four directions, with all foreign peoples offering homage.

He ordered Zhù Ying’s past memorials brought out and compared them against the current submission. Finding the content increasingly detailed, he concluded it must be genuine. The Emperor gave his decision and approved the memorial.

With the memorial approved, the corresponding official robes, official seals, and other items needed to be prepared. Names also needed to be assigned to the three counties. Derived from phonetic transcriptions, Lu Guo’s Long Hair family had a slight advantage — because the pronunciation resembled something with the character for “kindness” in it, the Emperor named it Tian’en County. Xi Jin’s White Face family became Yongzhi County, and the Mountain Sparrow father-in-law’s family was named Dun County based on its pronunciation. The Hua Pa tribe’s official name was set as the “Jin” tribe.

The Emperor, being a man who had been deceived by his officials for more than thirty years, had acquired something of a knack for it. He also dispatched a team of envoys to go and confer the patents. He said officially that this was to show the importance he placed on the matter — but in reality it combined a mission of inspection.

The envoys were slow on the road. Before they had even reached the Southern Prefecture, Zhù Ying already knew everything about the situation in the capital — there were quite a few people who had sent urgent messages racing ahead to report to her.

She prepared with composure, then took the envoys into the mountains for a tour. After exhausting both the principal and assistant envoys with illness, she sent them on their way back. This time the envoys fared even worse than Wei Bọnzhong. Going into the mountains, they were also caught in heavy rain; a horse’s hooves slipped and the envoy nearly tumbled down a cliff.

……

While the envoys were still on their way back, Leng Yun’s term was up. Without hesitation, he submitted a memorial requesting sick leave for recuperation. From that point on he remained in the capital, enjoying himself to the fullest.

On one particular day, he was at home watching cockfighting when Zheng Yi burst in: “Quick! Something’s happened!”

The two roosters were covered and taken away in their cage. Leng Yun said, “Thirteen-Lang? What brings you here?”

Zheng Yi said, “If the Emperor summons you, make sure you speak properly.”

“What’s going on?”

Zheng Yi held himself back from cursing Leng Yun and said patiently, “You came back — who’s left to be the Administrator?”

“Right — who?”

“Duan Lin… “

“Him?!”

“He’s recommended Bian Xing.”

“Who’s that?”

“Duan Lin’s son-in-law!”

Leng Yun leapt to his feet: “He must be dreaming! That good place of mine — they’d hand it to those people? I farmed that land for three years!”

Zheng Yi ground his teeth. What do you mean “your good place”? San-Lang’s years of work there, and the newly tributary lands…

Leng Yun also ground his teeth, deeply resenting Duan Lin for stirring up trouble for him. He asked, “Doesn’t Seven-Lang have someone in mind?”

“He says it’s still acceptable.”

“This is acceptable?!”

“Better than transferring Zhù Ying back now and sending some unknown person to take over the Southern Prefecture and pick the fruit.”

—