Zhou Wa’s former master was someone Zhù Ying had an impression of — capable of using a packet of salt as a poison test on freed servants to see whether they were still “loyal and obedient” was itself rather a talent.
Zhù Ying said, “What do they want to do?”
Zhou Wa drew a deep breath, looking somewhat dazed. Zhù Ying said, “Start from the beginning.”
Zhou Wa thought for a moment, lifted her face, and said, “The Zhi family had not questioned me for a very long time. Then, not long after Lord Dou arrived at the Court of Judicial Review, one day my father came home.”
She said “my father” quickly and tensely, as though reluctant to mention him. Zhou Wa’s father, as Zhù Ying recalled, had never once brought his daughter any good news. Zhù Ying waited patiently for Zhou Wa to continue.
Zhou Wa said in a low voice, “The Zhi family’s son-in-law has committed a crime and fallen into Lord Dou’s hands. That man is now imprisoned in the Court of Judicial Review’s prison.”
Zhù Ying nodded. Dou Peng, newly arrived, needed to assert control both within and without. Within, that meant consolidating authority; without, that meant adjudicating cases. The two reinforced each other. Within, Su Kuang was his pest. Without, whoever was unlucky enough to come before him at this moment bore the brunt. It was also true that someone had tried to use Su Kuang’s case to stir up larger trouble — which was what had caused the wider reverberations. As for this Zhi family son-in-law, who knew what he had gotten himself into.
Zhù Ying asked, “What crime did he commit?”
Zhou Wa had prepared well, and recounted the story clearly enough: “It started as a case of seizing farmland. Who could have known it would involve a life — the family whose land was taken had someone die because of it, and they brought the suit. The local government tried to keep it small, fining the family and sentencing one of their household servants to transportation.
The case came to the Court of Judicial Review, where Lord Dou noticed something wrong and had the parties brought in for closer examination. They panicked — tried to work their connections, but couldn’t — this was right when Lord Dou was investigating Su Kuang’s case, and no one at the Court of Judicial Review dared take on any business that might expose them.
So they had my father find me. At first it was just to get word of the case, so they could answer any questions. I said the Court’s rules don’t allow female guards to move about freely — female guards stay in the women’s section, and going out requires two people at minimum. Then they told me — they told me to —”
Zhou Wa said through gritted teeth, “They told me to dig for information from the men’s section! And to help them tamper with testimony!”
The Zhi family’s son-in-law had run from one bad luck to another — the injured party refused a private settlement, the local government hadn’t fully buried it but hadn’t pursued it hard either, and they settled for transporting one household servant. The transported prisoner had to pass through the Court of Judicial Review, where he ran into Dou Peng, who was out to make his mark and was not willing to let a household servant stand in for the real culprit.
The Zhi family no longer had much real influence. In their old servant’s eyes, the Zhi family was still a great mountain — but in reality, they had little standing to intercede before Dou Peng. So Zhou Wa, their freed former servant who had started a new life, was the one who suffered.
Zhù Ying asked, “What kind of tampering?”
“They didn’t say the details — they just told me — told me —”
Zhou Wa truly could not bring herself to say what her parents had instructed her to do. They had said: “Talk sweetly to the people there, ask them to pass a word along, and if they won’t listen, say there’ll be ten strings of cash in it, and bat your eyes at them. This matter must be accomplished. The young master has already promised — if you manage it, he’ll give you a better dowry. And if you could go so far as to marry some clever man in the Court of Judicial Review — the family would give you even more in the way of a dowry. And your brother could study alongside the young master…”
Zhù Ying could already guess from Zhou Wa’s expression. She did not press her to say what her parents had said — she only asked, “Tamper with what?”
Zhù Ying’s not asking made Zhou Wa feel worse inside, not better. She could not help wondering whether the Lord had already guessed — and this thought made her feel all the more embarrassed and uneasy.
She said in a slightly dazed tone, “Some evidence — push all of it onto the servants, make the son-in-law maintain he knew nothing about any of it.”
Zhù Ying glanced up to see Cao’s mother walking uneasily toward the study, carrying a tray. There was no reason to have Zhou Wa rise. Cao’s mother came in. Zhù Ying saw two cups of tea on the tray. Cao’s mother placed one before Zhù Ying, then glanced uncertainly from Zhù Ying to the remaining cup. “My Lord — this one…”
Zhù Ying gave a small wave of her hand. Cao’s mother involuntarily broke into a relieved smile.
When she had left, Zhù Ying told Zhou Wa to rise and pushed the second cup of tea toward her. “Have some tea. Take your time.”
Zhou Wa took the cup but did not drink. She said, “If only everyone were like the Lord. I knew perfectly well — even one’s own birth parents don’t give their daughter their whole heart. They want to scoop out my heart and liver! First they want me to ingratiate myself with men in the prison to get information, and now they want to find some useful clever man in the Court of Judicial Review to marry me off to — they just want to use my body to open a path for themselves. They have no capability of their own, but they’re a hundred times more resourceful when it comes to underhanded methods. If I do this one thing, one mistake leads to the next, and I’ll never have a chance to pull myself free and live as a decent person. For the rest of my life I’d be their ox and their horse.”
As she spoke, tears fell.
She said quietly, “But what happens to me now?”
Zhù Ying said, “Don’t shed tears for useless people.”
Zhou Wa said, “My Lord — I know. They are the most useless and worthless people. People with real ability wouldn’t need me — the local government wouldn’t dare interfere if they had real ability, and they’d be able to go to Lord Dou and speak with him directly. It’s precisely because they’re useless, and still want to scheme… but they are my… former master…”
At that word she ground her teeth in fury — like a parasite clinging to bone, impossible to peel free. She resented her parents more than anything. Why would one’s own birth parents treat their daughter this way?
Zhù Ying said, “Think about what would happen to you if this came to light.”
Zhou Wa said, “No need to guess — being taken back as a slave of the Zhi household would count as a fortunate outcome. My Lord — I…”
She felt a twinge of shame. She knew she was not the most reliable or compliant of subordinates.
“I am not willing to accept this,” she said.
“Who would be willing, if given a chance to live openly and with dignity?” Zhù Ying said. “I’m taking on your matter. But first you need to tell me — what exactly is strange about these two families? Any old cases. Any unlawful business.”
She already had a plan in mind.
The grudges and grievances between people were very difficult to sort out cleanly. Every station in life had its good people, and its bad. Zhou Wa had been unlucky, running into former masters like the Zhi family — people so accustomed to using others that even after granting someone their freedom, they still felt they had the right to ruin that person’s life whenever convenient.
Zhù Ying had no particular grievance against the Zhi family. But Zhou Wa was a guard of the women’s prison — and touching the women’s prison was something Zhù Ying could not tolerate.
Zhou Wa thought for a moment, then said in a low voice, “I was still young when I left that household, so I only heard things in passing — I have no proof. There is only one matter I know for certain: the household’s primary wife once accepted payments to help smooth over cases, and someone was driven to their death by it.”
“Whether or not there is proof — tell me all of it.”
“Yes.”
Zhou Wa said quietly all that she knew of the Zhi household’s affairs — the ordinary misdeeds of an ordinary wealthy family. Things like seizing farmland, purchasing enslaved people of uncertain background from traffickers, buying and selling verdicts, and the like. When she had finished, Zhù Ying said, “I understand. You go back home for now.”
“I see.”
Zhù Ying said, “All right — go on.”
“Yes.” Zhou Wa put down the tea and slowly backed out. When she reached the doorway, she suddenly asked, “My Lord — when will you come back?”
Zhù Ying said, “That’s not up to me. Rest easy — this matter will be resolved for you.”
After Zhou Wa left, it was time for the midday meal. After lunch, Zhù Ying had Cao Chang deliver a calling card to Dou Peng’s residence.
She herself also went out — first to see old Wang, chatting with him for a while, then to the Vice Director’s home, sending the Vice Director’s own household ahead to summon him back. The Vice Director had recovered considerably in spirit over the past few days, and when he returned home and saw Zhù Ying, he said, “A rare visitor — is there something you need?”
Zhù Ying said, “Apart from those properties, how many other matters are still in your hands?”
The Vice Director said, “Not too many. Hu Cheng and I divide things between us, with the addition of young Bao now.”
Zhù Ying said, “Things have been unsettled lately. You need to watch the Court of Judicial Review carefully — don’t let people exploit it to leak information about cases, and absolutely don’t let prisoners communicate with the outside.”
“Has something happened? Have you heard something?”
Zhù Ying said, “Keep a close watch. Don’t let the Court of Judicial Review’s cases be leaked, and don’t let those inside and outside collude. The reason we have our current position at the Court of Judicial Review goes back more than ten years to that incident of selling and releasing prisoners — someone else’s exposure created space for us.”
The Vice Director said seriously, “That’s exactly right.”
“If this comes up, I won’t raise it with Lord Dou myself — can you raise it?”
“Gladly!”
After leaving the Vice Director’s, Dou Peng had already confirmed the appointment for the following day.
That evening, Zhù Ying went to find her fellow examination candidate Bao Tongnian.
Bao Tongnian had been having a modest run of good luck lately. Su Kuang’s fall had opened an opportunity for him, and Dou Peng was more willing to cultivate him — Bao had also signaled his loyalty to Dou Peng, and so a fine chapter had begun.
When Zhù Ying arrived at his door, he greeted her with a smile. “My humble home is cramped — nothing like your place.”
“What do you mean? Yours is in a good location and convenient. In another couple of years you’ll be able to find a bigger place. I’ve heard all is going very well for you of late.”
“Not at all, not at all!” Bao Tongnian was very modest.
The two of them sat down and caught up on gossip. Of their examination cohort, only Bao Tongnian was still in the Court of Judicial Review — the others had scattered to counties and prefectures everywhere. Bao Tongnian said, “None of them have it as well as you — already the chief official of a whole county, and with a red robe, five rank in reach. Not like us, wasting our years, still spinning around in assistant positions.”
Zhù Ying said, “You want to be posted outside?”
“Not qualified! Without being chief official, there’s no point in doing anything. Not like you — in the capital you managed to acquire a house through your own efforts. If I were to accumulate property like yours, I’d have to break the law!”
“So what’s your strategy? Just keep doing solid work for Lord Dou.”
“I’m afraid administration isn’t quite my strength.”
“Getting into fights with your own people at the Court of Judicial Review earns resentment and makes people trip you up. Better to go out and find a case externally — pick one that’s not too big but not too small either, something tricky enough but not so tricky as to bring trouble on yourself. Best of all, something involving someone with a minor rank who has broken the law, something others haven’t been able to crack but you figure out and solve…”
“Easier said than done — where do you find something like that?”
Zhù Ying said, “Look around — there’s always something. There are people in this vicinity with some standing who’ve committed offenses and tend to get others to take the fall… wait — do you have a case like that on your hands right now?”
Bao Tongnian leaned forward. “There actually is one!” He described the Zhi family son-in-law’s case.
Zhù Ying said, “That sounds familiar. Let me think… Oh!”
“What is it?”
“This man himself isn’t much, but his wife’s family is named Zhi.”
“What of it?”
“The Zhi family has something a little odd about them — there were some old cases, if you dig a little, you might find something useful. Lord Dou is looking rather bad over the Su Kuang business — if the case is cracked, you get recognition, and he’d be relieved as well.”
“Excellent!”
The two former examination candidates chatted away for a while. Before Zhù Ying said farewell, she added, “In future, if there are cases from my county going through for review — you’ll give them your full attention, won’t you?”
“Absolutely! Any that pass through my hands — I’ll make sure they’re resolved without a day’s delay!”
The next day, Zhù Ying timed her arrival at Dou Peng’s home carefully. She brought a set of gifts for the call. The visit had already been in her plans — but because of Zhou Wa, she had moved it forward by a few days.
Dou Peng had not yet acquired his own residence in the capital and was staying at the home of a fellow native of his hometown. The fellow townsman’s rank was lower than his, and the house was not large, nor particularly well-situated. Dou Peng’s household staff was nonetheless considerable — at his rank, the court provided staff, mostly drafted from people serving their corvée labor obligation. Officials of similar rank generally had some assigned servants as well. Zhù Ying technically had this too, but given her unusual circumstances, she didn’t keep any of them at home.
A few people still came seeking audience with Dou Peng, but he saw Zhù Ying first.
Zhù Ying was shown to the reception room, where host and guest exchanged courtesies and sat. Dou Peng said, “I have long wished to have a proper conversation with Zi Zhang, but never had the opportunity.”
Zhù Ying said, “I’ll be heading south again in a few days, so I came specifically to pay my respects. First, to receive any guidance. Second, to report whether there is anything further in the case you wish to ask — while I’m still here, I’ll answer everything honestly.”
“What can I offer you by way of guidance? I’ve merely eaten more years of salt than you — your abilities far exceed this old man’s. If anything, I’m the one who would ask for your advice.”
“I wouldn’t dare.”
Dou Peng said, “The case — bah, there was never anything to it! This Su Kuang —”
“The moment someone goes outside the Court of Judicial Review to make noise about it, they’re the ones trying to stir up trouble,” Zhù Ying said without hesitation.
Dou Peng nodded but did not tell Zhù Ying what he intended to do. Instead he spoke of the women’s section, saying, “It was thanks to your foresight that we avoided something difficult back then.”
Zhù Ying said, “I acted rashly.”
“No — it was well conceived. I sense you must have further thoughts — feel free to share them, and let us discuss.”
Zhù Ying said, “I’ve been so busy there hasn’t been much room for thinking. But I have begun using female coroners in Fulu County.”
“Oh?”
Zhù Ying said, “Find a woman who can read, and examining female corpses becomes much more straightforward. Midwives and the like don’t necessarily know how to read, let alone understand how to examine a body — different trades are separated by walls, and the difficulties in description are inevitable.”
Dou Peng said, “There is merit in that. And using it in combination with literacy —” He praised Zhù Ying’s literacy stele and then the two of them moved into discussing the subject. Zhù Ying said, “I had no other options — a person who can’t even count can’t be told to dig a certain number of holes and be trusted to get it right. For a coroner, where life and death are involved, carelessness is even less permissible. It would be wonderful if female coroners could become standard practice.”
Dou Peng said, “Indeed! Hearing you speak of it, I myself am thinking of bringing in one or two female coroners to the Court of Judicial Review. Hmm — that could actually work. If you don’t mind, shall we submit the proposal jointly?”
Zhù Ying spread her hands. “I’ve already started doing it — as long as no one investigates me for it, that’s fine. I’m about to go back to farming now — this kind of institutional matter, sir, you take the lead. Last time with the women’s section, I wore out a lot of shoe leather arguing — I have no desire to go through that again.”
Dou Peng laughed loudly.
The two of them got along rather well in conversation. Dou Peng spoke of a time when he was a local official and a case involved a female corpse — because an injury on the body in a particular place went undetected during examination, someone was wrongly accused. The suspect’s mother came before him crying injustice, and only after he personally supervised a re-examination was the true culprit caught.
Zhù Ying said, “That’s exactly like an old case of the Zhi family.” She casually related the information Zhou Wa had provided. Dou Peng was quite interested. “Was that so? How was it adjudicated?”
Zhù Ying said quietly, “It wasn’t adjudicated — I heard of it secondhand, and the case never came to the Court of Judicial Review. It would be such a pity not to be able to fully investigate!”
Dou Peng said thoughtfully, “That is rather interesting.”
Zhù Ying said, “Don’t you already have enough cases on your hands?”
Dou Peng smiled. “Never mind — it’ll be resolved soon.”
He then asked Zhù Ying several questions about the Court of Judicial Review — focusing particularly on: “What was the situation before you took over?”
Zhù Ying said, “Also organized by rank. After I took over, I did add to it — each person also received a bit more supplementary income by rank.” She reported a figure, then said there were also various small expenses that added up: daily meals at the Court of Judicial Review, daily paper and brushes, summer ice, winter coal, and so forth — individually unremarkable, but accumulating over time into a sum.
Dou Peng thought: this person does real work. My own people cannot match her effectiveness. Perhaps I can use Su Kuang’s case as a pretext — say that Su Kuang squandered considerable public resources in ways that cannot be recovered, and therefore certain supplementary payments must be reduced. If anyone wants to complain, let them blame Su Kuang. As for the level — he calculated mentally, thinking to reduce the payments to a point where people found it slightly uncomfortable but not enough to cause a real uproar. That way any ordinary chief official coming in after him would still be able to run things.
Having served as a prefectural governor himself and done a passable job, he worked the numbers: he planned to reduce the supplements to a level where the situation was slightly uncomfortable without tipping into rebellion. This way someone else could reasonably take over in the future.
The two of them talked at length. Zhù Ying used the curfew as her excuse to take leave.
By this point, Zhù Ying had paid visits to everyone she particularly needed to call on in the capital.
The plan for extending wheat cultivation had also been approved. Department Head Zhang had written it up, and Zhù Ying had been given a place to sign her name as well. The plan called for starting in Fulu County, running a trial of two to three years, and if the results were good, extending to the Southern Prefecture. This time two thousand shi of wheat seed had been allocated to Zhù Ying — and of course she had also promised Xian Jing an additional three tenths of grain tax after five years. The two thousand shi would be treated by the court as a free grant to Zhù Ying.
For subsequent regional rollouts, the first batch of seed stock would likewise be issued by the court. The court’s plan was that for the south, some of the seed allocations would not be drawn from the court’s own reserves, but instead sourced from places like Fulu County that had planted first, then transported to wherever it was needed nearby.
This method of allocation, Zhù Ying guessed, had been proposed by Xian Jing and approved by Wang Yunhe.
For now, though, all she needed to do was take this batch of wheat seed south — and hitch a ride with Chen Kuan for part of the journey.
She first ran over to the Chen residence to tell Chen Kuan the date of her departure, then went to take delivery of the wheat seed.
This batch of two thousand shi had been carefully selected, and was carefully packed as well. Since summer had arrived by now, there would inevitably be rain on the road, and care had to be taken to prevent moisture. If any of it grew moldy or began to sprout before it was planted, that would be a disaster. Zhù Ying also met with the escorting official to work out the details for the journey — mainly the questions of food and lodging.
News had also come: the Censorate had ruled in Su Kuang’s case — all assets to be recovered, his official rank stripped, he was to be reduced to commoner status and banished two thousand li. This put him even closer to the capital than Fulu County. Luo Yuan was a palace eunuch — the Censorate could do nothing to him without the Emperor’s word. Only the recovery of assets was pursued against Su Kuang’s household directly. The Censorate then reported to the Emperor separately about Luo Yuan’s involvement, leaving it to the Emperor to decide.
The message that came back from the inner palace was that Luo Yuan had been reprimanded for taking bribes, his position in the inner court had been demoted, and his post given to a foster son of Lan Xing. How Luo Yuan would navigate his situation thereafter was no longer Zhù Ying’s concern. The case was resolved — both she and the Vice Director had extricated themselves from it — and that was an acceptable outcome.
The day before departure, Zhù Ying went first to the Zheng residence to say her goodbyes. As warm and welcoming as ever, the household put together a chest full of things for her. Zheng Xi was not home at the time, but the Marquis and the Commandery Princess summoned her for a conversation. Yue Miaojun had specifically prepared a selection of medicinal herbs for her, along with gifts for both Zhang Xiangu and Zhù Ying’s parents.
It was only at this moment that Zhù Ying noticed that Yue Miaojun’s belly had visibly swelled.
That’s going to require another gift, she thought.
Then she went to Liu Songnian’s home to collect the farming songs he had composed. Liu Songnian handed over the finished draft and said, “The payment you promised — don’t forget.”
Zhù Ying said, “I won’t.”
She only visited these two households — she did not make farewell calls on anyone else, just sent Cao Chang around with cards and brief messages.
Jin Liang and the others all came to her home first to help her pack her luggage. Zheng Yi was worried her cart wasn’t enough, so he dispatched the same large wagons that had seen her off before. Wen Yue was worried she didn’t have enough travel money and sent more. Zhù Ying said, “Even my field rent doesn’t add up to this much.”
Wen Yue said, “Consider it an advance — will that do?”
Zhù Ying felt around on her person and produced a small box. “Take this as collateral — give it to your mother to play with.”
Wen Yue opened it and found a pearl in an unusual shape, set into a vase form as a ring. He said, “This is worth quite a bit!”
Former colleagues and subordinates from the Court of Judicial Review also came — they had both the bond of shared years and, comparing past to present, an even greater nostalgia for what had been. Among the men stood out the women of the women’s prison — they always moved together, bowing in unison, a sight that drew admiring comments from everyone. Zhou Wa harbored a particularly hidden delight — the Zhi household had been raided. Yesterday, the Court of Judicial Review had opened old files and begun making arrests.
Now that was cutting off trouble at the root.
She intended to “avoid the appearance of conflict” starting tomorrow — she would go to the Cihui Temple and stay there until the case was concluded.
Zhù Ying gave no outward sign of her awareness, said her farewells to everyone, and told Cao Chang, “No need to wait on me — go have a proper talk with your parents. We leave tomorrow.”
The old couple was again in a flurry — Cao’s mother had been sewing nights on end, making a new set of clothes for her son, along with new shoes she had made before. She also packed bedding for both master and servant, saying, “It’s always cleaner and more comfortable to use your own bedding.” She was busy until midnight, when all three of them finally went to sleep. By then Zhù Ying had long since blown out the light and fallen asleep.
The next morning, Zhù Ying got up, took Cao Chang, and went first to Chen Kuan’s residence, where outside in the street she found long lines of carts already arranged. Chen Kuan’s household had left some old servants and some furnishings behind to watch the house — even so, the vehicles accompanying them were considerable in number.
Just the vehicles for the principals numbered three; add those for servants and luggage, and even traveling simply it came to more than twenty. People in the capital saw this and said, “Old Chief Minister Chen is not a greedy man.”
Chen Kuan stood leaning on his staff before the gate. Seeing Zhù Ying, he asked, “Where is your grain cart?”
Zhù Ying said, “They’ve gone ahead and are waiting for us outside the city.”
“And your own luggage?”
“Just two carts — waiting at the city gate with us. And two sets of bedding, a wash kit that Cao’s mother packed, a few changes of clothes. That’s about all.” On the return trip she was carrying the bedding and a few things people had given her, along with some medicine from the temple. The weather was too warm for most gifts to travel well. Former colleagues had also pooled together a bit of travel money for her. That was the extent of it.
Chen Kuan shook his head. “Not even a person to attend to your daily needs.”
Zhù Ying said, “There’s Cao Chang.”
Chen Kuan shook his head again, then looked once more at the gate of the residence where he had lived for so many years. He said, “Let us go.”
Cao Chang’s parents had meant to see them off. They were clinging to the back of Zhù Ying’s luggage cart and, as soon as the city was out of sight, both flinched and hid behind the cart in alarm — so many important officials!
Zhù Ying had no such grand send-off. The crowd had come for Chen Kuan.
Knowing her place, Zhù Ying slipped to one side and made small talk with the escorting official. The escorting official said, “This journey is sure to go smoothly for Lord Zhù.” Zhù Ying said, “I’ll take your good words.” The escorting official said, “It’s not good words — it’s a certainty. With Old Chief Minister Chen here to anchor the journey, everything will go smoothly.”
The two of them were still chatting when the Chen household’s chief steward came running over. “Lord Zhù — the Chief Ministers over there are asking for you.”
On the other side, the farewells had wound up, and Chen Kuan had mentioned in passing that she was there — and Wang Yunhe had offhandedly said, “You two are heading in the same direction. Where is she?”
So Zhù Ying was fetched over.
Those seeing Chen Kuan off included not only the Chief Ministers but also the Crown Prince and some of the imperial princes. Though Chen Kuan did not carry the title of Grand Tutor or Grand Preceptor, he had been among those who had taught them — and when a teacher takes his departure, the Emperor sent his sons to see him off. The Crown Prince had been specifically summoned; the other princes had come on their own initiative. Zheng Xi had come along as well — he occasionally counted Chen Kuan as one of his teachers, and he chose to make a full performance of it this time.
Zhù Ying came forward and paid her respects to each in turn. Wang Yunhe and Shi Kun said, with an air of easy casualness, things like “do take good care of the people.” The Crown Prince said to Zheng Xi, “Not having seen him in a few years — he’s shaped up.” Zheng Xi maintained his composed bearing and nodded at Zhù Ying. “One hundred li is only halfway when ninety li have been walked. Keep pressing forward.”
“Yes.”
The Lu Prince suddenly bounded over. “You’re all being too serious! Father himself said this is someone worthy of praise — what more is there to find fault with?”
Zhù Ying had only caught a passing glimpse of the Lu Prince before. Looking carefully now, she found herself wondering whether the Emperor’s eyesight might be faulty.
He was not ugly — but not at all beautiful either. Even leaving aside comparison with the exquisitely handsome Prince Gaoyang’s son, the Crown Prince himself was a man of regular and somewhat refined features.
The Lu Prince — strip off the fine clothing and toss him into the street, and he would vanish without a trace into the ordinary crowd. And his mind gave no obvious impression of being sharper than average.
What exactly had the Emperor seen in him?
Zhù Ying was still respectful: “I am unworthy of His Majesty’s praise.”
The Lu Prince said, clucking his tongue, “Being too modest isn’t good!”
Zhù Ying said, “I wouldn’t dare presume. The work is not yet finished — once it is accomplished, it will not be too late to accept the praise.”
The Lu Prince said, “Oh? So you’re not being modest — you’re actually rather proud.”
Zhù Ying smiled. “Yes.”
Chen Kuan coughed once. “Gentlemen — please return. Zi Zhang — time for us to head home as well.”
“Yes.” Zhù Ying quickly made her bow to the Lu Prince and the rest, then darted back to stand beside Chen Kuan.
Chen Kuan exchanged courtesies with the Crown Prince — the outcome as expected, with the Crown Prince insisting on seeing him off. Zhù Ying helped Chen Kuan into his carriage, then went back to collect her own horse, intending to keep her distance from his carriage and not block the students’ view as they watched him go.
Chen Kuan called out, “You — stop. Come up and sit.”
“Pardon?”
“Come up.”
Zhù Ying thought for a moment and got in. She asked, “Sir — is there something?”
“What was your impression of the Lu Prince?”
“Hard to tell at this point — he hasn’t done anything of significance. But to have earned the Emperor’s favor, he must have his exceptional qualities somewhere.”
“What exceptional qualities?” Chen Kuan made a scoffing sound. “Simply keeping the crown prince behaving himself. The Emperor is getting older.”
Ah — a check. Keep the older son from becoming unruly.
Chen Kuan said, “You came to the capital alongside Zheng Xi, and you’re entangled with him in ways that can’t simply be cut loose. But you’re traveling with me now, and people will see you as somewhat less closely tied to him. He understands — a force too large draws unwanted attention, and you needn’t worry he’ll grow suspicious of you.”
Zhù Ying said, “When I was a child I thought I was very clever — how was it that so many apparently foolish people all managed to live so much better than me? Later I watched a few scions of privilege, and… well. And then in the Prefectural Administrator’s study in the capital, I met Lord Wang and Lord Xian. I thought reciting from memory was one of my strengths — and you know what I found? Three people in one room, and both of them could memorize faster than I could, and had started their schooling earlier than I had. From that moment on, I became humble.”
Chen Kuan slapped his knee and burst out laughing. “Ha ha ha ha! You had a moment of becoming humble?”
“I have always been quite humble.”
The two of them traveled along together, talking as they went. Chen Kuan occasionally called his two grandsons up into the carriage, inviting them to play alongside Zhù Ying. A retired Chief Minister’s carriage was of the finest standard — spacious, with wheels wrapped in rush grass, smooth and gentle. The four of them played together quite happily. Zhù Ying, who had rarely had time to play as a child, and the two young boys who were usually absorbed in their lessons, paired with one old man who still had a childlike spirit — the road passed lightly.
Chen Kuan, having served as Chief Minister for years, attracted local officials to pay their respects wherever they passed. Chen Kuan always brought Zhù Ying along and introduced her to each visitor, then commented on them after they had left. Zhù Ying stored everything in memory. When they passed through the hometown of someone they both knew, Chen Kuan would arrange a small gathering so they could eat together, talk over local affairs, and share some familiarity of home.
Zhù Ying felt she had made a great gain from this entire stretch of road.
After a while they reached Chen Meng’s territory.
Chen Meng came far out to meet his father, and was also delighted to see Zhù Ying: “Sanlang is here too!” He also said congratulations to Zhù Ying on receiving the imperial red robe, saying that “now we’re alike.”
Zhù Ying said, “Not at all the same — yours is real. Mine is only ‘on loan.'”
Chen Meng said, “His Majesty was willing to give it to you — that means he intends for it to be made real. Just do the work well.”
Chen Kuan first scolded his son: “You serve as a local official in this region — how can you abandon your duties to come this far to receive your own father?”
Zhù Ying said, “You are a former Chief Minister returning home — he is expressing the court’s respect for the aged and the worthy.”
Chen Kuan said, “There you go, speaking up for him.”
Chen Meng smiled. Chen Meng’s wife, accompanied by the two young sons, urged the boys forward to greet their father. The older one remembered him well; the younger felt he was not a stranger. The two sons quickly clustered around their father.
Chen Kuan coughed once. Chen Meng quickly put down the boys and invited his father and Zhù Ying to come rest in his residence and share a meal.
Zhù Ying said, “Your family is reuniting — husband and wife, father and sons must have private words. I won’t intrude. I still have the grain convoy to look after — I shouldn’t leave it unattended.”
They, as a family, could first spend some time together. Zhù Ying was willing to wait here a few more days for Chen Kuan before they resumed traveling together — the old gentleman’s offhand observations were enough for her to turn over in her mind for a long time. Chen Kuan, with origins that were not particularly distinguished, had climbed to stand among the most prominent names in the capital almost entirely through his own efforts — there was much worth learning from him.
Chen Meng did not press her further. His family retired to the official residence, but he dispatched people to the courier station to bring Zhù Ying a great quantity of food and supplies, and also sent staff to inquire about the condition of the grain convoy, taking care of every detail.
Zhù Ying settled into the courier station. That evening, a calling card was sent in requesting an audience. When Zhù Ying had passed through this region years ago, she had handled two cases — one was the case of Tian Pei, the other an abduction case. The merchant whose child had gone missing at that time heard that she was passing through again, and brought his wife and children to pay their respects, with substantial gifts. He had the child specifically bow his head to the ground in thanks for saving his life.
So when the Chen family was sharing the warmth of reunion, Zhù Ying’s own lodgings were equally lively.
Zhù Ying looked at the child, who had grown somewhat since then. She smiled. “His face has filled out — he looks quite different from back then.” She took some writing brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone from her luggage to give as a return gift. She had bought a great quantity of these things in the capital, intending to bring them back to Fulu County for her own use and to give as gifts.
After the Chen family had spent two days together, Chen Meng formally sent a card inviting Zhù Ying to dinner at his official residence.
When Zhù Ying arrived, Chen Kuan sat in the place of highest honor. Places were set on his left and right for Chen Meng and Zhù Ying. Chen Meng’s wife and sons sat to one side.
Guests and hosts exchanged greetings and sat. Chen Kuan said, “I’ve kept you waiting those two days, Sanlang.”
Zhù Ying said, “You’ve been traveling so long — I also needed time to rest and recover. I am grateful to your family for the opportunity.”
“Why this formality — ‘Chief Minister’ and ‘younger generation’? Why not just call me Uncle?”
Zhù Ying was a little surprised. Chen Meng slapped the table. “Exactly! Sanlang!”
Zhù Ying did not hesitate. She rose and made a proper bow to Chen Kuan. “Uncle — I hope you are well.”
Chen Meng was the most pleased of all, and told his sons to address her as “Uncle” as well. Zhù Ying greeted Chen Meng’s wife as “Sister-in-law.”
It was a formal acknowledgment of the relationship. Chen Kuan said happily, “I am old now, and many in the capital are old. From here on, it is the world of the young. You must support each other.”
“Yes.”
At this dinner, there was no talk of the court and its currents — only talk of home. The prefectural seat, the local food, the songs of their homeland.
That evening, though Zhù Ying did not drink, Chen Kuan was in high spirits and drank a good deal. He personally walked Zhù Ying to the door, saying, “Tomorrow we continue our journey.”
Zhù Ying smiled. “I’ll come to see you off tomorrow, Uncle.”
Chen Kuan waved his hand at her in farewell, still smiling, and was helped inside by Chen Meng. Settling onto a couch, he let out a long breath. “In the past I gave too little guidance — and so you wandered through years of difficulty.”
Chen Meng said, “Father — that was the way things were at the time.”
Chen Kuan waved a hand. “You — you have cleverness, but not quite enough. You know this, don’t you?”
Chen Meng’s face flushed. “Yes.”
“But if you advance step by step, steadily, you could reach the Nine Ministers.”
Chen Meng felt a lift of quiet joy in his heart.
Chen Kuan said, “At the rank of the Nine Ministers — positions of power and authority — if your cleverness falls a little short, you’re still prone to making mistakes. You need reliable friends. Zhù Ying — I’ve watched this person for several years. Clever enough, and with sufficient determination. Rare that a person’s hands aren’t stained and their heart remains broad and generous. Fortunately your heart is also decent, and you didn’t treat them with contempt when they were starting from nothing — you must maintain that relationship well.”
“Father.” Chen Meng’s voice broke.
Chen Kuan waved his hand. “The muddy waters of the capital are not something you can wade through. The Council of State wanted to call you back — I blocked it. Stay in the regions a few more years, be a good prefect, work your way up to a Regional Governor once you’ve done well, and when you’ve truly grasped all the nuances of human relations, return to the capital then. By that time, if I am no longer here, consult more with Zhù Ying. Zheng Xi brought them to the capital and hardly spent much effort on them at all — yet what they have returned in kind has been considerable. This is a person who knows how to repay debts of gratitude and has the means to repay them. I myself have offered some mentorship these recent years — when you face difficulties, they will help you more than your everyday circle of friends, but you must never harbor the thought of leveraging that debt. Do you understand?”
Chen Meng said, “I never expected anything from them in return. Father — don’t say such things. You will live a long and healthy life.”
Chen Kuan stroked his son’s head, and Chen Meng wept openly.