Zheng Xi was in fine spirits.

Zhù Ying had been right — because of Sheng Ying’s unexpected intrusion, his plans had been disrupted, and Zhù Ying’s own life had entered uncertain territory. Sheng Ying’s acknowledgment of Zhù Ying’s status made Zhù Ying something of a discarded rib from Zheng Xi’s perspective. When he relinquished her, though somewhat regretful, it was nothing he could not let go of. What he felt more was dissatisfaction at Sheng Ying’s maneuvering before him.

But when Zhù Ying had handled her affairs with Sheng Ying and come back to say the word “discarded rib,” Zheng Xi felt an unexpected delight.

He prided himself on reading people well — and Zhù Ying had given him a pleasant surprise. This child was even better than he had taken her for!

Some words, said by a mediocre person, deserve a scolding. Said by a genius, they become plans and ambitions.

Zhù Ying was worth a further quiet word with Sheng Ying.

Zheng Xi clasped his hands behind his back and strolled to Sheng Ying’s quarters, the two being housed very close together — it took no time at all.

Sheng Ying had just finished making new arrangements. He had sent Wu An to escort Huajie back to the capital and told her, “Sanlang has other matters to attend to — you go on ahead and see your mother.”

Huajie was worried about Zhù Ying. “Is something the matter with her?”

Sheng Ying said, “She wants to get herself settled in the capital first before seeing you.”

A faint sense of loss settled in Huajie’s heart, yet she dared not press further and decided she should first see her mother. She gave a gentle, obedient nod. Sheng Ying felt a little of the weight lift from his chest. Chen Meng thought to himself: little sister is so much easier.

Huajie had only just left when Zheng Xi arrived. Sheng Ying hurried out to receive him.

Zheng Xi shook his head and sighed. “Don’t trouble yourself — you clearly have things on your mind.”

Sheng Ying said, “I am mortified.”

Zheng Xi said, “Things didn’t go smoothly?”

“Mortified.”

Zheng Xi said, “And don’t keep saying ‘mortified’ — you’re like a man who has not ridden for a long time and has just climbed back into the saddle. Naturally you feel rusty at first, and the more urgency you add, the more out of rhythm it goes. Fifth Young Master — be slower, be steadier.”

Sheng Ying was both mortified and moved. “Seventh Young Master, I was careless in my handling of this, and yet instead of being angry, you offer me this guidance. I feel all the more ashamed of myself.”

Zheng Xi said, “What do you mean? We are old friends. I am a few years younger than all of you. When you were a group of friends playing together, I used to think — when will I be old enough to play with them? Then I grew up, and had to wait over a decade before I could see you again.”

Sheng Ying was moved by a wave of sentiment.

Zheng Xi said, “That child Sanlang has some spirit in her. When she first came to my notice, she was running around asking after her father’s case and stumbled into my hands. I found her clean and quick — I asked if she wanted to come along with me, and she said she wouldn’t be a servant. I said, then don’t be a servant — come as a subordinate. And she agreed. Fifth Young Master, when given time, the matter rights itself. Why not give her a way to step down gracefully?”

“Ah… I fear only that it will disappoint my sister.”

Zheng Xi said, “Let me keep this child with me for now and arrange for her to study a little, to smooth out her temperament. What do you think?”

Sheng Ying hesitated. “Seventh Young Master means…?”

“It would be a pity if she did not study — and perhaps as she studies, she will come to understand the way of things?”

Sheng Ying had already been inclined to let Zhù Ying cool her heels for a while. He said, “Of course that is fine. Though I wonder whether she will have the patience to endure it.”

Zheng Xi said with unconcern, “Isn’t that exactly the point — to sand down that temperament?”

Sheng Ying laughed. “Quite right.”

Zheng Xi said, “Since we are in agreement, I will take my leave. Tomorrow we enter the city and there is the imperial audience to attend — you should rest early.”

Sheng Ying saw Zheng Xi to the door, and to his surprise found Zhù Ying coming toward them again. Both of them felt a flash of surprise within: what was she here for?

Chen Meng had already spoken up, “What are you here for?”

Zhù Ying said, “The marriage still stands — is that right?”

“Are you going to go back on it?”

“If it stands, I would like to come and say farewell to Elder Sister. If it does not…”

Zheng Xi said quietly, “Fifth Young Master.”

Sheng Ying said, “Let her go.” Only then did Chen Meng stand aside.

Zhù Ying gave a deep bow, and went to find Huajie.

…

Zhù Ying had first dealt with her own parents before coming to look for Huajie.

Sheng Ying’s quick reversal was impossible to hide even from those two. After a round of pressing questions from the couple that were met with “everything is fine,” they launched into a torrent of words.

Away from Sheng Ying, Zhù Da felt quite free to mock him. “What kind of people treat their son-in-law this way? A son-in-law is a guest — he ought to have the seat of honor at any dinner. All this way, stuck at the back, and Chen Young Master poking at him from time to time — that is no way to treat a son-in-law. Do they do things differently in the capital?”

Zhang Xiangu also felt Sheng Ying was not a good man. “They just planted Huajie there and did nothing. That uncle and nephew — they never beat her or shouted at her, but their hearts are cold! They didn’t treat us as relatives at all. Huajie is their relative, and even she was kept cooped up. This whole way they treated us like servants — what kind of attitude is that toward a son-in-law and in-laws?”

Zhù Ying told them that Zheng Xi had agreed to keep her on. The couple were very pleased, but then fretted about the marriage that apparently could not be dissolved right away. They spoke of Huajie again, and sighed. Zhù Ying said, “After today’s commotion, I actually find myself not wanting to break things off so quickly.”

Zhang Xiangu said, “What sort of nonsense is that?”

Zhù Ying said, “It is not nonsense. Just now, in front of them — why didn’t you come out and say firmly that the marriage was null and void? Weren’t you also afraid? When you have no footing of your own and no one behind you, loudly declaring you won’t honor a commitment is just inviting trouble from powerful people. At the time, it was an agreement made between us and Godmother and Huajie. Now Godmother is gone, but Huajie remains. She needs to know too.”

Yu Miaomiao was dead. Huajie had almost no familiar people left in this world, and there was no reason for her to return to Zhu Family Village either. If her birth family treated her poorly, Huajie would have no road forward at all. For now the Sheng and Feng families did not appear to be particularly bad people — but they were not particularly good ones either. Keeping the identity of “husband” intact provided better protection for Huajie.

If today’s business had never happened, she would not have worried about Huajie at all — a welcoming birth family could make Huajie’s life comfortable. But Sheng Ying’s conduct had not been clean, and Zhù Ying found herself doubting his character.

You forbid the divorce — then Huajie is still mine to protect.

Zhang Xiangu also had an attachment to old ties. She thought it over and said, “Well then — you need to be clear about something. This marriage can’t drag on too long either. She is a woman — she still needs to settle properly and have a child for her life to be good. Don’t hold her back.”

“I know — hold steady for now, and once both sides are settled, I’ll look for an opportunity to call off the engagement.” Zhù Ying went then to see Huajie.

Huajie had already changed into a fresh set of clothes. Though they were plain and simple, she looked all the brighter for it. Seeing Zhù Ying come in, she smiled happily. “Sanlang?!”

Zhù Ying said, “Elder Sister, I have something to tell you. Would the other sisters-in-law please give us a little space?”

The maidservants laughed and filed out. Only Nanny Li refused to leave, insisting it was not proper for them to be alone. Huajie looked uncomfortable, and Zhù Ying said, “It’s nothing — just a few words.”

Huajie had been perfectly at ease herself, but with Nanny Li standing there like a sentinel, it felt rather as though the two of them were doing something furtive. Huajie’s voice came out a little awkward: “Sanlang — what is it?”

Zhù Ying said, “I will not be entering the capital with you. You go ahead and see your mother first. I will get my parents settled and then come to you.”

Huajie was startled and sprang to her feet. “Has something happened? How can…”

Zhù Ying said, “Nothing unexpected has happened. Sit down — let’s talk properly.”

Though Huajie felt urgent inside, she remained composed on the outside. “Speak — I am listening.”

Zhù Ying said, “I do not know what Deputy Inspector Sheng is thinking, nor what that Madam is thinking — but the fact that he was cold before and has now changed his mind is real. I have little experience of these things, and the way they have behaved leaves me with no certainty. It is not a matter of Imperial Censor Zheng being head and Deputy Inspector Sheng being deputy — I made a commitment to Imperial Censor Zheng first, and I must honor that. If Deputy Inspector Sheng prefers a petty person who breaks his word, I have nothing to say.”

Huajie nodded. “I understand.”

Zhù Ying also said, “If I go with you now to that household, it would be the same as being a live-in son-in-law even if it is not called that by name. I am not afraid of being a live-in son-in-law — I have done it before, as you know. I also know that it is partly because of you and Deputy Inspector Sheng that Imperial Censor Zheng values me a little more now.”

Huajie said, “You were always worth it.”

Zhù Ying said, “There are plenty of people worth something. There are more than a few who want to kneel before a god and find no god to kneel before. My luck has been quite good — I have met two gods.”

“Oh, you…”

Zhù Ying smiled. “I am trying to please both sides and will likely end up pleasing neither. I will take the original path I set out on. How it unfolds from here, we’ll see as we go. These things are not entirely mine to decide anyway.”

Huajie smiled. “That is fine. A man should stand upright and firm under the sky — only more hardship awaits you.”

Zhù Ying said, “I worry what people might say about you. I am not going with you, and yet I am leaving my wife at her mother’s house to be fed. And I see you have no one to stand up for you — everyone comes to manage and bully you…”

Nanny Li, catching the edge of that last line, gave an uncomfortable cough.

Huajie burst into laughter. “What nonsense! I’d roll up my things and come looking for you! It’s not as though I’ve never lived in poverty. I lived in a single rented room in the prefectural city too, remember.”

Nanny Li had been standing with downcast eyes listening all the while. When Huajie said this, she gave two more quiet coughs.

Zhù Ying rose, pulled the door open, pushed Nanny Li outside, and closed the door with the latch — all in one smooth, uninterrupted motion. Nanny Li was left outside before she had even registered what happened.

Huajie cried, “Sanlang!”

Zhù Ying leaned close to her ear. Huajie felt a warmth against her ear, and her heart quickened by one beat. She heard Zhù Ying say, “You are going to see your family — see them, and if you can get along, get along. If you cannot, I will always be somewhere outside. This is not because of any written contract between our mothers. Elder Sister — you looked after me from the time I was small. I remember all of it.”

Huajie found herself touching her ear unconsciously and said softly, “Go on without worry. I can manage with Uncle. When Mother passed away, and then you being seldom near, I felt for a moment that Uncle and Cousin were someone to depend on, and I also wanted to see my birth mother — that is how it happened. In my heart I know — though they are flesh and blood, twenty years have passed without meeting. This new home of mine — I never intended to plunge into it and never come out. But with Mother gone, I had nowhere else to go. Knowing you are there gives me a sense of grounding.

Go on. Do not push yourself too hard. You always keep everything in mind, always carry it all, and never say a word. People watch you doing everything with such ease, but what in this world is truly easy? It only looks effortless to an observer.

Also — Uncle and Cousin have often mentioned you: how clever you are, how capable. There is no such thing as someone born knowing how to manage affairs. Don’t take it as something to resent — do your work well alongside Imperial Censor Zheng. But try not to be too abrupt with others. Once in the capital, look around first and see who is easy to get along with.”

“Yes.”

Zhù Ying straightened up and said, “Then I will be going. Once I am settled, I will come find you. You…”

“I am not in a rush — and you should not be either. All these years have I not managed well enough on my own? I am quite a few years older than you, you know.”

“Yes. Then I’m going.”

Zhù Ying turned back for one more look at Huajie and said, “Then — see you in the capital?”

Huajie smiled. “See you in the capital.”

Outside, Nanny Li had finally collected herself and began knocking on the door. “Young Mistress, please do not joke — open the door for this old servant!” She even kept her voice down, not daring to mention Zhù Ying by name.

Zhù Ying laughed and pulled the door open. “Good day, Nanny.”

Nanny Li was so indignant her nostrils flared. Zhù Ying said with composure, “Elder Sister is now in your care. Please look after her well.”

Thus the matter of the mother-in-law receiving her son-in-law drew to a close. Huajie was received by Wu An and Nanny Li and taken away. The Zhù family of three remained at the very tail end of Zheng Xi’s procession.

…

The following day, the imperial envoys entered the city.

The two imperial censors had not departed the capital at the same time but were returning to it together. Their procession was long and impressive. Though the sky above was heavy with dark clouds and the weather had grown cold, people still came out to watch. None of this scene was visible to Zhù Ying — she had to endure the cold outside the city walls a little longer.

Zhù Ying’s cart, along with the carts carrying the goods from outside that Zheng Xi, Sheng Ying and the others had brought back, as well as the traveling merchants and their goods, did not enter the city together with the envoys’ formal procession. Some went in a little ahead of the censors, some came later. Zhù Ying’s group entered after the censors had gone in.

Zhang Xiangu said to Zhù Ying, “Come inside and get out of the wind. The wind here in the capital is like a knife — it cuts your nose and ears right off!” As she said so, she sneezed.

Zhù Ying said, “You sit back inside. I am wearing a fur robe — not cold. I need to watch the animals so they don’t go wandering.”

“Auntie, it’s all right — I’m here with him freezing outside!” Gan Ze’s cheerful voice came over.

Zhang Xiangu said, “Oh, is that Gan Dalang?”

Gan Ze jumped up onto the cart shaft and sat there. “It is! Elder Brother Jin sent me over to help. And why didn’t you just go stay at his place? That courtyard of his was newly built just two years ago — two entrances! A two-entrance courtyard in the capital is no small thing! He said himself there are plenty of rooms and not a corner to spare for you — his place has maids and young servants too, and the kitchen always has hot food, so you wouldn’t have to arrange anything yourselves and you’d save some money. No need to stand on ceremony.”

Zhù Ying said, “The lawsuit isn’t finished yet, and a family of three can’t all go and eat at his place for nothing indefinitely. We’ll need our own place eventually. With the cart and the mule and all, it’d also be inconvenient to go there and trouble him. Gan Elder Brother — what would you suggest for where we stay first?”

Gan Ze said, “Elder Brother Jin said I should go with you to find an inn for a few days while we look at houses and then move in once we’ve found a suitable one. I figure that for just a few days, an inn really is more convenient — the inn will have feed for the animals, and a courtyard. Your mule and cart will have inn staff to look after them, so you won’t have to trouble yourself. It will cost a bit more, but it’s worth it for the comfort.”

Zhang Xiangu was still fretting over money. Zhù Ying had already said, “Fine. We’ll follow your advice.”

Gan Ze personally took the reins and snapped them smartly. “Giddup!”

The tip of Zhù Ying’s nose felt a chill. She pressed a fingertip to it. “Is that snow?”

Gan Ze guided the mule cart slowly toward the city gate and looked up at the sky. “I’d say this weather is about right for snow. The capital generally starts snowing around this time. Do you get much snow in your part of the country?”

Zhang Xiangu drew in a cold breath. “We do get snow where we come from — just not this early, and not this thick.” She worried about her daughter again, afraid Zhù Ying would catch cold. Back when they had no money, they had had to endure cold winters no matter how bitter. Now that they had a little money, of course one knew how to be more comfortable.

She was already turning things over in her mind: once they were settled, she must get Old Third a proper cloak. A big red one, just like the one that wealthy family’s wife in the county town had worn — not the gray, plain-colored one like the kind Yu Miaomiao had worn.

Zhù Ying sat on the cart as Gan Ze drove it into the city. The city wall was extremely thick — far thicker than the prefectural city’s — and the gate passage was quite dark. Only when they cleared it did the light return a little. The area near the city gate was not yet the most bustling part, but there were peddler stalls clustering here. Some people had propped up oilcloth awnings or laid out oilcloth, and still hunched over with sleeves pulled around their arms, grimly squeezing what business they could. Others had already started packing up. The goods on their stalls were partly the same as those in the prefectural city and county town, and partly different — including some of the same kinds of things but in patterns she had never seen.

Gan Ze noticed Zhù Ying’s eyes moving nonstop toward both sides of the street, and gave the reins another snap. “You’re nowhere near the good part yet. Once you’re settled, when the weather clears up, I’ll take you for a proper look around the city. Bring good things back for Auntie. Come to that, you’ll need to look at houses anyway — you’ll have plenty of time to wander.”

Zhang Xiangu poked her head out again. “Oh, you just came back with Imperial Censor Zheng from your assignment — wouldn’t you need to go home and check on things? Don’t just keep hanging about with us — you really are too good to us.”

Gan Ze laughed. “Not at all, not at all. You don’t know — my parents are both on the estate and not in the city. If I go back to the residence, I’d just be there by myself chatting with whoever I know. My things are all with Lu Er; I’ll find a free moment to go pick them up, and when my father comes to the residence, I can have them sent back. I have all the time in the world — why else would Elder Brother Jin specifically ask me to come?”

Zhang Xiangu said, “Then you have had plenty of hardship too. Once we’ve rented a place, come and sit with us often.”

Gan Ze said, “That would be wonderful.”

Zhù Ying’s ears were taking in the conversations around her while her eyes never stopped scanning the streets on both sides. She could see that the further they went, the more bustling the streets became, and the shop signs and banners grew more numerous. The clothing worn by the people here had certain differences from the prefectural city.

She breathed out a sigh and thought to herself: even if I had come here to do fortune-telling, I would still need to squat on the street for ten days or half a month first, watching the local people closely before I could make a reasonable guess about anyone.

Gan Ze saw her two eyes in a state of constant restlessness and felt, with rare sentimentality: she is after all just a child.

This child had been clever and sensible throughout the journey, had managed to come through all kinds of situations in a reasonably satisfying manner, and yet was still, ultimately, a child.

Gan Ze patted Zhù Ying on the head. “Don’t be in such a rush to look at all that! First thing tomorrow morning I’ll come find you and we’ll go out and have a look around — I’ll take you. And look for a house at the same time. Tell Uncle and Auntie to stay and rest at the inn. Uncle — for now, don’t go out. Today Seventh Young Master is having his imperial audience. After the audience, if the case goes smoothly, it still takes a few more days to finalize the verdict — don’t say anything about any lawsuit business. Just say you’ve come to the capital to make a living. The capital has many people, and many idlers too. Don’t let them say you were pulled out of custody by a personal connection — they might haul you right back in!”

Zhù Da had been feeling rather shut-in in the cart. Hearing this, he quickly said, “I’ll stay in the room — I won’t go out!”

Gan Ze said, “It probably won’t take long. It touches on Senior Official Chen’s family affairs, and he likely won’t want family scandals aired publicly — so it’ll be handled quickly. By past practice, Seventh Young Master will have a few days off, and then there’ll be a new posting announced — and from that point it’ll be all right!”

The Zhù family of three all felt a weight lift from their hearts.

After a short while, Gan Ze pulled the cart up in front of an inn. He jumped down first. “This is the place. It’s not the finest, but the location is good.”

This was the second time they had stayed at a somewhat decent inn. Zhang Xiangu no longer felt intimidated and asked, “What about the cart?”

She was anxious as she asked, for the cart still held their belongings — the bulk of which was the unspent money Zheng Xi had given them before. Zhang Xiangu had never possessed this much wealth and was worried about how to keep watch over it.

Gan Ze said, “In a moment, have the boy bring it around to the back courtyard — unharness the mule too. Move the things into the room. Let’s go inside.”

He was on familiar terms with the innkeeper here. The innkeeper had a sharp eye and immediately recognized all three members of the Zhù family as out-of-towners. Gan Ze punched him in the arm. “What are you staring at? This is a Young Master Zhù who hasn’t found a house yet and will be here for a couple of days — he’s settling in the capital. Quick, get things arranged.”

The innkeeper said, “Just the three of them?”

Gan Ze said, “Right. For anything you need, talk to this young brother here.”

Zhù Ying gave the innkeeper a slight bow and greeted him in an imitation of the local style she had just observed on the road.

The innkeeper considered for a moment and said, “Would you like two rooms, three rooms, or would you prefer a private courtyard? There are two courtyards available just now — very quiet. For single rooms, there are those too, with clean bedding…”

Zhù Ying hesitated slightly and said, “A courtyard, then.”

Zhang Xiangu heard this and said, “No! What will that cost?”

Zhù Ying’s reasoning was that even though this was only temporary, it would be several days of waiting for the lawsuit while there was also a cart to deal with, plus a large amount of luggage — having their own courtyard would be more practical. The family would inevitably need to talk things over, and Zhang Xiangu and Zhù Da were not quiet people. And they had secrets to keep. Having their own separate courtyard was better all around.

Zhù Ying said, “We’ve already spent two or three rooms’ worth of money — might as well spend a little more and book a courtyard. Since we’re here, we might as well be comfortable.”

Zhù Da also thought having a courtyard would be better, and Gan Ze agreed. “Exactly — more space, more convenient.” Zhang Xiangu had to reluctantly agree.

The innkeeper smiled. “Very good! Madam, rest assured — it will be a clean and comfortable courtyard, fresh bedding and all! The brazier is in good working order! Boy, bring hot water and soup — unharness the animal and get it fed, bring the luggage into the room…”

Zhù Ying quietly surveyed the inn. It was not very large, and not very busy. Clean enough. She asked, “Do you provide meals?”

The innkeeper smiled. “Of course — Young Master, have a look at the board.” Zhù Ying looked and saw the board was divided into two sections: one listed the inn’s own kitchen fare, the other listed items that could be purchased from outside or ordered from street vendors who came by. Both types could be arranged.

Zhù Ying said, “Good.”

Zhang Xiangu could not read well, so she asked Zhù Ying to read the items to her. Hearing the prices, she found them alarming. Zhù Ying said, “It’s the capital — naturally things cost more. Let’s get settled first, then order when the time comes.”

The innkeeper smiled. “Absolutely!” He thought to himself: young people are so much easier to deal with. Middle-aged women like this one are the most difficult customers in the world — getting money out of them requires the skills of a monk, a Daoist priest, or a charlatan…

…

In the eyes of Zhang Xiangu, the inn’s private courtyard was rather disappointing — for the money it cost roughly the same as a similarly sized courtyard in the prefectural city, yet was neither as spacious nor as nice. With the mule unharnessed and the cart placed in the courtyard, it suddenly felt much smaller. One courtyard, three rooms at the main face, a small side room at the side.

The central room was a reception area. The east room had a large bed with bedding provided. The west room had a writing desk, a bookshelf — empty — and a small couch without any bedding. The small side room had a place to sleep as well, with a common sleeping platform and its own bedding.

All the furniture was worn but not decrepit. The window lattices fit snugly. The innkeeper also mentioned that any charcoal and firewood needed would be charged extra.

In front of Gan Ze, Zhang Xiangu held her tongue, but she also invited Gan Ze to have a meal with them. Gan Ze said, “I can’t — I need to go make my report.”

Zhù Ying said, “Mother, you and Father first bring things inside. I’ll say a word to Elder Brother Gan.”

Zhang Xiangu hesitated. Zhù Da wanted to stay and keep company with Gan Ze, but Zhang Xiangu hauled him away. “Don’t put on airs! What has gotten into you!”

Zhù Ying kept Gan Ze back and asked, “You sure you won’t eat together?” Gan Ze said, “You don’t drink! There’s no fun eating with you. You’re just a child — the capital will drain money fast enough. And if you’re going to rent a house without your mother-in-law’s family turning their noses up, you can’t rent somewhere too shabby. When you’ve moved in properly, we’ll come celebrate the housewarming!”

Zhù Ying said, “Then let me ask you a few things.”

“Ask away.”

Zhù Ying asked about the locations of several places — Zheng Xi’s, Jin Liang’s, Gan Ze’s residences, then Sheng Ying’s, Chen Meng’s, and Huajie’s.

Gan Ze smiled. “Asking about those? Seventh Young Master lives at the residence, Jin Liang has his own house outside, and I live at the residence too. Your wife will surely be with her mother — the old Feng family estate was confiscated and given to someone else when they fell. A new place was bestowed on them when they came back, and that Madam has no other children — she adopted a member of the clan. But she often stays at her mother’s family home, which is at Deputy Inspector Sheng’s place. Chen Young Master will probably return to the Prime Minister’s estate. As for why I chose this inn — it’s close to Elder Brother Jin’s house. Three streets over and turn left and it’s the first gate. Our own residence is five large streets away from here…”

He went through it all. Zhù Ying thanked him, and the two agreed that Gan Ze would come find her tomorrow morning. Gan Ze looked at the light and said, “About this time tomorrow — I’ll come then.”

Zhù Ying said, “Then I won’t keep you any longer.”

Gan Ze said, “You sound like an old man! How old are you anyway? Go on then! The snow is picking up — don’t see me out, go back inside.”

Zhù Ying insisted on seeing him to the door before going back. Once inside, she found Zhang Xiangu already tidying up. Zhù Da was bringing things into the room — then that was the end of his participation. Zhang Xiangu kept up a commentary while making the bed: “Wouldn’t two rooms have been better? This courtyard we’re paying for — how are we to sleep in it? That side room’s common platform over there just sits empty! And on top of that, they’re calling it ‘including meals’ — can’t we just get things ourselves, or go buy food on the street? It would be cheaper.”

She kept on with many more such remarks about managing the household.

Zhù Ying said, “It’s still better than having them make it for us, Mother. You just be at ease for these few days. Once we’ve rented a proper house, there will be plenty for you to keep busy with!”

“I know we’re renting a house — and you’re throwing money around like this! We haven’t got any new income coming in!” Zhang Xiangu went right back to fretting. “I just asked one of the lads who helped with the cart — he says in winter here you really need a brazier. That means buying charcoal, which isn’t cheap. And there’s bedding — better if the three of us share one room, then we only need to heat one brazier…”

When they had been staying at post stations and it cost nothing, Zhang Xiangu had been wonderfully free with things. Now that she had to spend from her own pocket, she wanted to split every copper in two.

Zhù Ying listened to her without any sign of impatience and said, “Let me go see what’s on the menu — what would you like? It’s our first night in the capital — let’s spend a little.”

Zhang Xiangu stopped, sat down on the edge of the bed, and sighed. “You’re right — it has not been easy.”

Zhù Ying said, “We’ll move the couch from the west room into the east room later — just heat that one room’s brazier.”

Zhù Da said, “You go order the food — I’ll handle the moving. Bring me some wine.”

Zhù Ying went to the front hall. The innkeeper came up to meet her and asked, “Young Master, how are you finding it? Is everything to your satisfaction?”

Zhù Ying said, “You have been very kind. Let me look at the menu.” She first put several strings of coins on the counter, then made an arrangement with the innkeeper: from now on, all three of them would eat at the inn, and she paid one month’s rent in advance.

She calculated: even if she found a new place quickly, the rented rooms would all be like the kind Xu Jia had once occupied — even if clean, they would have few furnishings, and some might need repairs to doors and windows or roof. Buying furniture and checking the structure would take some time. If they had no money they would have to make do, but now that she had some funds, it was better to stay at the inn for this period.

The innkeeper smiled. “A decisive young master!”

Zhù Ying said, “Then you had better be decisive in return! I’m staying here for a month — shouldn’t the meals be included in the room price?”

“This is a small operation…”

“Either include the meals at a discount, or don’t charge me for the mule’s feed.”

The innkeeper found it very amusing to be bargained with by a half-grown child and smiled. “Fine — I’ll knock a bit off for you.”

The total savings were not enormous — barely less than one string of coins for the whole month. Zhù Ying did not push it further, because she had not yet gotten a feel for the cost of living in the capital. Haggling was just a natural reflex.

This inn was, in Zhang Xiangu’s eyes, an extravagant expense, but hot water was available at any time, and that was something. Zhang Xiangu asked the innkeeper for a large wooden tub and had Zhù Ying wash up with hot water. If the winter had not been the season when bathing could easily lead to chills, she would have wanted to bathe every single day — otherwise, wasn’t the money wasted?

…

That evening, Zhù Ying moved the couch into the main room and placed it at the foot of their bed, with the brazier between them. The door was shut tight. Zhang Xiangu, worrying she would be cold, spread an extra layer of inn bedding underneath her and then draped another inn quilt on top of her own.

She blew out the lamp. Zhù Ying closed her eyes and let out a long slow breath. Another day gone.

On the bed across from her, the two of them could not sleep.

Zhang Xiangu said with feeling, “Am I really going to the capital in my lifetime? And living somewhere this comfortable? And going to settle down in the capital from now on? You know, when we were in the old house back home, the roof used to leak, and at night you could hear wolves howling, and now…”

Zhù Da said, “Talk less, will you? You’re noisier than a fly buzzing.”

Zhang Xiangu fumed. “Hmph! Old wretch! Starting to look down on me now?”

The two of them bickered for a bit. Zhù Da asked Zhù Ying, “Have you asked Imperial Censor Zheng when he wants you to start working?”

Zhù Ying said, “He still has proper matters to attend to. Your case.”

Zhù Da was both worried and not worried. “Didn’t he let me out? It’s all fine… right? And there’s still Xu…”

Zhù Ying said, “Before the case is formally concluded, let’s all be quiet about it and keep a low profile. For the next few days, stop going to see Daoist Xu.”

Zhù Da said, “He’s so pitiable…”

Zhang Xiangu said coldly, “Your wife and child nearly got dragged into prison on your account, climbing heaven and digging into earth to pull you out — of course they’re not as pitiable as an old Daoist priest.” She rolled over to put her back to Zhù Da.

Zhù Da muttered something inaudibly under his breath and stopped mentioning Daoist Xu.

The next morning, Zhù Ying rose early. Outside the window, there was a brightness — snow had accumulated considerably. The inn’s staff had just gotten up a little while ago, but hot water was already ready, and the morning porridge was bubbling away. The morning meal was simple, but Zhù Ying ate it with great relish. After eating, she waited for Gan Ze in the front hall.

It was snowing outside. Zhù Da and Zhang Xiangu were both in the room arguing by the fire, not coming out.

The innkeeper, seeing few guests about, invited Zhù Ying to sit and warm herself by the fire with him. He, too, was bored. An old man and a young person chatted together. The innkeeper wanted to hear curious tales from other places; Zhù Ying wanted to ask about life in the capital. She could hold her own in conversation, starting from the names of dishes written on the board overhead, leading the innkeeper from southern and northern cuisines to the different ways of preparing the same ingredients, and from there to customs and habits.

The innkeeper had received travelers and merchants from all over and could tell Zhù Ying about the peculiar customs of various places.

They talked for a good while. The innkeeper brought tea and a few small snacks like fried beans for Zhù Ying, until Gan Ze arrived. He came with an umbrella, wearing a changed outfit. “Have you been waiting long? Are you afraid of snowy weather and the cold?”

Zhù Ying said, “I’ve never seen snow this thick before — it’s a good chance to see something new. Provided you don’t mind going out in weather this cold.”

Gan Ze was also young and laughed. “Snowy days have their own fun! Let’s go!”

Zhù Ying borrowed an umbrella from the innkeeper and went out with Gan Ze. Gan Ze said, “Let’s first find a broker — brokers know the most. We’ll leave instructions with them and have them pass the word when something suitable comes up. After that, I’ll take you to Elder Brother Jin’s house so you know where it is. Then we’ll wander around the capital — there are actually some lovely sights in the snow. Once the snow stops, it’s a whole different look.”

Zhù Ying said, “Let me ask the price first. A house I can’t afford is just something to envy from a distance.”

Gan Ze also knew Zhù Ying’s situation — a family of three fortune-tellers, everything depending on the sum Zheng Xi had given earlier. It was not a small sum — a hundred strings of coins — but between equipping themselves and paying for lodging, with no other income, she would need to wait until she had a proper appointment and a salary. And even then, a minor official earning a bare wage, with a family to feed, and parents getting on in years with medicine costs to consider — she needed to be careful.

Gan Ze said, “Your situation means you need at least two rooms — a small courtyard ideally. Look and see — a more out-of-the-way location will be cheaper. You’re young; you won’t mind having to walk a bit more.”

Before long, Gan Ze said, “Here we are.”

Zhù Ying said, “You know your way around well.”

Gan Ze laughed. “I’m the person who runs errands for Seventh Young Master — what wouldn’t I know a little about? Can I be like those servants of young masters who know nothing, whose masters know nothing either, so they go out together and get cheated? Seventh Young Master — what kind of person is he? If I didn’t know my way around, I’d have been unfit to be at his side long ago. Don’t be misled by Elder Brother Jin accompanying Seventh Young Master this trip — he’s actually an official in his own right, not normally by Seventh Young Master’s side. For this outing, he came along because Seventh Young Master was going far from home and he was worried — and the old Marquis also felt someone should be there to guard him, so he was asked to come.”

The broker greeted Gan Ze warmly. “Gan Young Master, you’re here!”

“What Young Master? This is Young Master Zhù who wants to rent a house — help him sort something out.”

Zhù Ying asked the price first. The prices were not just higher than the prefectural city — they were nearly double! But thinking of her own situation, Zhù Ying still decided: “I want a private courtyard!” Something roughly like this inn’s private courtyard would do.

The broker brought out several options. None were cheap. Gan Ze looked them over and said, “These would eat more than half a minor official’s salary, and you still have to live on top of that.”

The broker still had his customer-facing smile in place. Zhù Ying asked sincerely, “Do you have any haunted houses? Houses with strange occurrences, where people have died — as long as the roof is still there and the doors and windows haven’t rotted, I’ll take it.”

The broker’s smile froze.

Gan Ze quickly said, “She’s joking — just find something similar! A bit out of the way is fine, as long as the path to the door is decent! Even far from the center is all right! Just make sure there’s a well!”

The broker rubbed his face. “Understood, Gan Young Master — just wait and see.” He and Gan Ze pulled Zhù Ying out of there. Gan Ze said, “You really are something… never mind. Let’s go to Elder Brother Jin’s place — he’ll have a day off, and he’s certainly home by now. He’ll be so happy to see you! His cook makes excellent braised pork trotters — tender and chewy at the same time.”

The two set off under their umbrellas toward Jin Liang’s house. Turning two corners, Zhù Ying heard horses behind them. She pulled Gan Ze closer to the edge of the street. They pressed against the wall of a shop and looked out into the street — a group of riders galloped past through the snow.

The person at the front looked very familiar. It was Chen Meng.

He was wrapped in a fine fur coat, on a fine horse, surrounded by attendants — the picture of power and ease. His eyes did not even glance to either side.

The horses moved fast, lifting spiraling swirls of snowflakes in the air. Their hooves rang out crisp and clear against the street surface.

Zhù Ying stood holding her umbrella, watching his figure disappear in the distance, and said to Gan Ze, “Let’s go.”