The sun had already begun its westward descent. Zhù Ying narrowed her eyes and swept her gaze across the capital, then urged her horse forward along the familiar roads at an unhurried pace. Xiang Le followed behind for a stretch, craning his neck to take in the sights of the capital’s streets, and in one breath followed her all the way to the Zhù family’s residence in the capital.

The Zhù residence was bustling at that moment. The main gate stood half-open, with people moving in and out. Neighbors from the surrounding streets, seeing visitors arrive, came over to exchange pleasantries. Most of them knew that a rather capable young official lived there, though for the past few years only an elderly couple had been keeping watch over the place. Now that the owner had returned, the neighbors inevitably wanted to learn what they could.

Those who recognized Zhang Xiangu and Zhù’s father were startled at the sight of them: “They’ve put on weight.” In their hearts, though, they thought: they’ve also aged a little, and their clothing is no longer in style.

Zhang Xiangu, however, was in fine spirits because her daughter had been promoted, and she smiled as she told everyone: “Once we’ve gotten settled, we’ll have a proper chat with all of you.”

After that came the business of reorganizing the rooms, stowing the luggage, buying vegetables, and preparing meals. When Zhù Ying returned, they still had not finished.

Hou Wu poked his head out from the gatehouse: “The master is back! Xiao Cao!”

Cao Chang ran out and led the horses around to the side courtyard, whose hitching stalls were finally well-filled — four horses, two donkeys, and three carts all packed in tightly together.

Zhù Ying dismounted. Zhang Xiangu came out wiping her hands and asked: “Is everything taken care of?”

“I’ve seen Minister Wang. The other matters will have to wait a while longer — which is just as well. We can stay in the capital for a few more days. Have the sleeping arrangements been sorted out?”

Zhang Xiangu said: “More or less.”

The men would stay in the front rooms, the women in the back. Zhang Xiangu put Shitou and Chuizi in her own and Zhù’s father’s bedroom — after all, they were just two small children, and dragging a bed down from upstairs and setting it in place would do fine. Having them with her was far better than putting them in Zhù Ying’s room.

Zhù Ying told Xiang Le to go and put his things away as well. Xiang An, wearing an apron, lifted a corner of it to wipe her hands and said: “I’ve already put everything in order! Second Brother, you and Gu Tong are sharing a room. I’m with the mistress and Jiang Niangzi.”

Xiang Le said: “Fine.”

Gu Tong had also brought a manservant, who helped Xiang Le with his luggage. The guest rooms were two-storeyed; Gu Tong and his manservant took the lower floor, and Xiang An volunteered to take the upper floor — the view was better, and she felt it was easier to keep watch from a height. Then something struck her as not quite right, and the realization suddenly dawned on her: she hadn’t noticed it back at the yamen, but now that she was in the capital, it was plain to see — the master really did have far too few servants!

Zhù Ying said: “Once everyone is settled, no need to go on rushing about. Order a banquet table — let’s all have a proper meal. Old Hou, go to the inn and book a couple of tables for them as well.”

Hou Wu agreed: “Right away.”

Xiang An gave her brother a meaningful look, and Xiang Le moved to go with Hou Wu to pay. Hou Wu said: “You don’t know your way around, and you don’t know which places here are good — I’ll handle it.” Huajie settled the money with him, Hou Wu tucked it away and set off, returning shortly with a waiter from a restaurant who brought the banquet dishes along with him.

Zhang Xiangu said: “The water is already heated — go and change your clothes before you come to eat.”

Zhù Ying returned to the rear bedroom and found that it had already been swept and tidied. After washing and bathing, she changed into plain homespun and came out to find the banquet already laid out in the front hall. She smiled and said: “Everyone has worked hard.”

Gu Tong said: “We’ve been traveling alongside our teacher — we haven’t suffered at all.” Everyone laughed at that.

Zhù Ying said: “I’m going out for a moment.” Zhang Xiangu asked: “Where are you off to now?” Zhù Ying replied: “To the inn, to check on them.”

Hou Wu hurried to lead the way. Gu Tong and Xiang Le both wanted to follow, and Cao Chang moved to fetch a horse. Zhù Ying said: “What do I need so many people for?” She took only Xiang Le and Gu Tong.

The inn was nearby. The yamen runners were already drinking. Xiang Le knocked, and a voice inside called: “Who is it?”

Xiang Le said: “It’s me. The master is here.”

The door was hurriedly opened. Zhù Ying said: “Has everyone eaten? I’ve put ten strings of cash on the counter — don’t worry about lodging costs. There’s no rush to go sightseeing in the capital yet; wait for me to make arrangements for you.”

The runners quickly said: “Master, rest assured — we all know our manners. Under the Son of Heaven’s very gaze…”

“Phooey!” Hou Wu said. “Do you know why? It’s to keep you from being lured away and sold off.”

Zhù Ying said: “Don’t frighten them. All right — enjoy your meal. And don’t go wandering about after the curfew drum sounds. This is not a county town.”

The runners obediently agreed.

Only then did Zhù Ying turn back home, where everyone was waiting for her to open the feast.

Zhù Ying first thanked the Cao couple, who had looked after the residence very well during her absence. The two of them were so flustered they didn’t know what to do with their hands, and kept saying: “It was only right, it was only right.” After half a cup of wine their faces went red, and they cast about for something to say, mentioning “the young gentleman who used to live here.” Zhù Ying asked: “Where did he move to?”

Old Cao said: “Just a short distance down the street near the Directorate of Education — though he still comes by often to check on us.”

Gu Tong quickly said: “Tomorrow the teacher has things to attend to. I’ll go find him first.”

Zhù Ying said: “What’s the rush? Think about the calendar — the Directorate of Education keeps a stricter schedule than a county school. Count the days: if it hasn’t been ten days, he’s certainly shut away inside studying. I have my own arrangements for tomorrow; you needn’t worry. Tonight, just drink.”

Old Cao and his wife sat below Zhù’s father and Zhang Xiangu. The two pairs of elderly spouses were of similar age and felt a little more at ease with each other. Gu Tong, Xiang Le, and the others were all entering the capital for the first time and wanted to look around everywhere. Gu Tong, emboldened by the wine, asked: “Teacher, tomorrow may we follow you when you go out? Where will you be going?”

Zhù Ying said: “There are plenty of worthwhile places. You—”

The outer gate was pounded loudly: “Master! Master! It’s me, Xiao Wu! Oh? Old Cao, Mistress Cao — open up!”

Xiao Wu had arrived!

Cao Chang hurried to open the gate. Pulling it open, he saw that Xiao Wu had brought his parents and his elder sister and brother-in-law. The whole family filed into the hall and dropped to their knees before Zhù Ying. Old Wu was even more agitated than Xiao Wu: “Master! Thank you, master! It’s only because of you that this little wretch has managed to make something of himself!” Behind him, his son-in-law Xiao Tao was driving the cart, unloading gifts.

Zhù Ying said: “What is all this? Come, sit down and eat.” She always ordered more than enough at banquets, and extra places were added. She seated the Wu family, and with Old Wu, Xiao Wu, and Xiao Tao there, the table grew instantly lively. This whole family had a gift for conversation. Xiao Wu was up and about pouring wine, introducing his father to his colleagues, and so on.

Huajie and Xiao Jiang had been sitting together without talking much, but with Wu Shi there, the women’s side of the table grew lively too. Wu Shi said: “Lady Cui and Lady Wu haven’t heard you’re back yet — tomorrow I’ll let them know, and they’ll certainly be delighted.” Zhù Ying asked after them, while Huajie also asked whether the little Fu girl was doing well and so on.

Wu Shi lowered her voice: “Her son — in the end, he didn’t make it.” Huajie said: “After all those years of raising him, how did it…” Wu Shi said: “An old injury that never fully healed. Afterward, she went to the foundling home and adopted a little girl — the child looks well. We kept advising her to adopt a son instead, but who would send a perfectly good boy to a place like that? Still, the girl is very healthy, not a sick day in her life. The little one has good fortune.”

Across the table, Old Wu was giving Zhù Ying an account of the current state of affairs at the Court of Judicial Review. Of the people Zheng Xi and the others had cultivated in their day, most of those ranked sixth grade and below were still in place, but the two junior court presidents above had been replaced. The chief court official was now Dou the Court President’s man, and two of the court vice-presidents had apparently gone over to Dou’s side as well. The left vice-president was still there but no longer as before, having to report many matters upward to the chief official now. The living standards of the court’s staff had deteriorated somewhat compared to before. The foundation Zhù Ying had laid was solid, so the court was still slightly better off than other offices, but whenever Old Wu looked at Zhù Ying he thought of the good old days and wept openly: “Those were the days, master!”

Zhù Ying said: “They’re all fine, all fine. They’re just inexperienced — once their hands are practiced, everything will be fine. How is your household?”

Old Wu said: “I’ve moved up a generation in seniority.” Zhù’s father and Zhang Xiangu were extremely envious: “Oh my, that’s wonderful!” They told Huajie to remember to prepare some cloth for a child’s garments.

Zhù Ying chatted with them about affairs in the capital and asked after old acquaintances — learning that Old Wang had passed away, while everything else was more or less unchanged. She noticed that from start to finish Old Wu never once brought up Zheng Xi, and thought: how strange.

After the banquet ended and the restaurant’s staff had collected their things and left, Zhù Ying had Xiao Wu come to the study for a private word. Xiao Wu, too, made no mention of Zheng Xi, only saying: “Lord Leng is still at the residence, with no sign of planning to leave.”

Zhù Ying said: “It took him a great deal of effort to get back here — of course he’d want to stay a few more days. How are things in the capital?”

“In this official’s humble opinion, it’s not as good as when Lord Wang was the capital prefect. And for cordiality, it doesn’t compare to our own county either. By the way — that Duan Ying! He’s been making quite a name for himself in the capital lately. Everyone says he’s headed for a brilliant future.”

Xiao Wu grumbled on, saying plenty of unpleasant things about Duan Ying — that he thought himself above everyone else, that he didn’t look like a decent person.

Zhù Ying listened quietly to all of it, then asked: “Did you go to the Zheng Marquis’s residence?”

“Yes, this official went. I presented your card and letter, delivered the gift list. The residence staff were just as courteous as before. But one hears that Lord Zheng is not as prominent as he once was. Duan the Grand Master of Ceremonies even impeached him, and His Majesty censured him over it. Like father, like son — Duan the Grand Master is no good man either.”

Zhù Ying said: “The Duan family has always been bold.”

Xiao Wu curled his lip: “Bold? They wear the look of dogs, all they know is licking the soles of His Majesty’s boots.”

Zhù Ying shook her head with a smile and asked: “After all this time in the capital, do you not want to be placed in an official post?” Xiao Wu was aghast: “Master, please don’t drive me away!” Zhù Ying said: “Understood.”

The sound of the night watch drums drifted in from outside. Zhù Ying said: “It’s getting late — go and rest.”

Xiao Wu said: “This official won’t leave tonight! Now that you’re back, where else would I be if not here serving you? Look — Lord Gu and young Xiang don’t know their way around the capital, can’t find a single street. If you need to send cards or invite people somewhere, they won’t know where to begin. You still need me!” He eagerly sent his family home and fetched a bundle from the cart, moving himself into the Zhù residence for the night.

Gu Tong said: “Come share the guest rooms with us — there are several empty chambers.”

Xiao Wu settled into a guest room at the Zhù residence.

The next morning, Xiang Le rose early. He had already had his eye on the wooden post-stumps in the front courtyard and that practice ground, and wanted to ask permission to use them for training. As he was carrying his basin to fetch water for washing, he spotted someone already standing steadily atop one of the posts. Hou Wu was used to such sights, but Xiang Le had never seen anything like it, and gave a start: “Who’s that? Hm?”

Zhù Ying stepped lightly down from the post: “You’re up? Quite early.”

“Yes. The capital’s bells never stop.”

Zhù Ying said: “Indeed — it’s hard to sleep even when you want to.”

The others in the courtyard stirred and rose one by one. Du Dajie was already tending the stove, and hearing movement she ran out: “Master, I’m here now — no more eating out, please.”

Zhù Ying said: “You’re going to have plenty to keep you busy over the next few days — what’s the point of spending your energy on this?” She had already calculated that everyone in the household would have their own rounds of socializing to attend to. One Du Dajie could not possibly manage. They would just keep ordering meals for now — at most they’d boil their own water and cook porridge; everything else could be left to outside vendors.

Everyone ate together in the front hall. When Zhù Ying was at home with the doors closed, she never made a fuss about men and women dining separately; they all ate together. That day she assigned Xiao Wu, Hou Wu, and Cao Chang — the three who knew the city — to each take a few yamen runners and call on their respective acquaintances to deliver invitations, fix appointment times, and arrange meals. She gave each of the three a stack of calling cards, each with a slip of paper on top listing that person’s specific tasks.

Everyone had something to do.

Xiao Wu said: “Master, if you’re going to get around the capital, just bringing Lord Gu and young Xiang won’t be enough. The three of us each take two people to deliver cards — you need at least four!”

“I don’t need numbers to give me courage.”

“But you still need people to run errands, don’t you?”

Zhù Ying nodded: “That’s true.”

After breakfast, she changed into a silk robe, buckled on two short daggers, and mounted her horse. She brought Gu Tong, Xiang Le, Chuizi, and Shitou, designated four yamen runners, hired several large carts, and had things loaded from the house — then went straight to the Zheng Marquis’s residence.

Zheng Xi had no court duties that day. His entire household, senior and junior alike, dared not be lax, having risen early and not daring to make a sound while they swept and prepared. By the time Zhù Ying arrived, the street in front of the residence had already been swept clean, and the servants had returned inside to rest and eat their morning meal.

Zhù Ying dismounted at the gate. Xiang Le led the horse to the hitching post at the side and tied it up; Gu Tong darted ahead to knock on the gate.

A voice came from within: “Who is it?”

Zhù Ying said: “It’s me.”

“Who might you be? Wait — !” The gate swung open and the steward stared in astonishment: “It really is Sanlang! Why has Sanlang come back without a word of warning?”

“Didn’t Xiao Wu deliver a card? The little wretch slacked off — I’ll settle accounts with him when I get back.”

“He came, he came! What a sharp one that fellow is. Ahem — now that he holds an official position, I suppose we can’t joke with him like that anymore. Sanlang, please come in quickly. And these people are—?”

Zhù Ying said: “They came up to the capital with me.”

The steward looked the group over and chuckled: “So Sanlang has finally agreed to bring along a few attendants.” He had taken Chuizi for a sharp-looking lad, and Shitou wasn’t much older — so he assumed these two were Zhù Ying’s personal servants.

Zhù Ying said: “What are you talking about? I think these two children are very fine.”

The steward said: “If Sanlang says they’re fine, they must be excellent. Please come in, Sanlang. And these other guests — may I attend to them?”

Zhù Ying asked: “Is Lord Zheng free at the moment?”

“Ah… well…”

“Please go and announce me.”

The steward hunched his shoulders and sent a servant boy, who flew away inside. He settled Zhù Ying in the gatehouse and murmured: “It’s not that I want to make trouble for Sanlang — but the Seventh Lord has run into some difficulty, and I dare not let you in so casually.”

The servant boy came flying back: “The Seventh Lord is asking Sanlang to come through.”

Zhù Ying left Gu Tong and the others behind and followed the servant into the inner quarters. Zheng Xi was not in his study but received her in his private chambers. A few delicacies were laid on his table; Yue Miaojun sat across from him, with several attendant maids behind the pair of them. Seeing her enter, Zheng Xi pointed to a seat at the table and said: “Here already? Sit.”

Zhù Ying made a bow and sat at the table with husband and wife perfectly naturally. Maids brought her tea and refreshments. Zheng Xi said: “You’ve come at an inconvenient time — breakfast has been cleared, and there’s only this.”

“I ate before coming.”

Yue Miaojun glanced at her husband with a trace of worry. Zheng Xi said: “Why are you looking at me? He’s sharper than a monkey — the moment he saw I was staying home, he had already guessed.”

“I heard it from Old Zuo yesterday,” Zhù Ying said.

“His information is remarkably quick. The Court of Judicial Review—”

“Is still the same Court of Judicial Review. The moment you go back, it’ll look exactly as it did before. Lord Dou is no fool — how could he not allow people at least some room to accomplish things?”

Zheng Xi said: “Did I say anything? And you launch into all this. Tsk!”

“Your Lordship looks well — unruffled by favor or disgrace. Your cultivation of composure has reached full maturity.”

“Full maturity? I’ve merely gone with the flow. But you — you actually dared come here!”

“What is there to dare or not dare about?” Zhù Ying said, producing the gift list and handing it over. “My gifts are on the modest side, but I trust they won’t get me thrown out.”

Zheng Xi took it with his own hands, glanced it over, and laughed: “And you call this modest? I wonder how your courage has grown so much.” He passed the list to Yue Miaojun, who opened it and read. She saw a long column of items: oranges, assorted dried fruits, mountain goods, and beyond those, pearls, precious stones, hawksbill tortoiseshell, giant clam, southern goods, silks, and two baskets of tea cakes.

Yue Miaojun smiled: “Sanlang has brought all of this — what will you keep for yourself?”

Zhù Ying said: “My household is small.”

Zheng Xi said: “Even so, you must take care. Look at what he’s wearing — it’s out of fashion. See to it for him, won’t you?”

Yue Miaojun said: “Of course.” She rose and went to arrange clothing for Zhù Ying, and thinking of Zhù Ying’s parents and elder sister at home, she arranged fashionable items for them as well. Because the Two Palaces had passed away and the Emperor seemed to take this very much to heart, the people of the capital had begun devoting their energy to slightly more subdued colors, entirely different from the fashions of the past two years.

Yue Miaojun departed with her maids, leaving only Zhù Ying before Zheng Xi.

Zheng Xi asked: “Have you heard it all?”

“I’ve heard some — I don’t know if what I’ve heard is complete. I also ran into two groups of people at the postal station bringing auspicious omens to present to the court.”

Zheng Xi slowly held up an open palm: “That makes five groups this year.”

“Ah.”

Zheng Xi said: “The Crown Prince observed mourning improperly, with feasting and entertainment.”

“It doesn’t seem like something he would do.”

“Indeed — it was a few scholars whom the Crown Princess introduced. A group of them had a meal together.”

Zhù Ying heard this and couldn’t help laughing: “Scholars? What could scholars accomplish? It’s not as though they’re the imperial guards.”

Zheng Xi gave her a look. Zhù Ying said: “The imperial guards as well?”

“His Majesty has reshuffled the imperial guards. As for your lot — don’t go letting your minds run wild.”

“Understood!”

Zheng Xi was suddenly curious: “Why aren’t you anxious? No speculation at all? How can you sit there so calmly?”

“I’ve known since I was small that anxiety is useless. Better to maintain one’s composure and not let the beasts have the satisfaction of laughing at you.” Zhù Ying spoke honestly.

Zheng Xi laughed: “Your poverty and hardship in youth did temper your character. I never suffered like that growing up, and now I’m getting my belated lesson. But it’s nothing. My association with the Crown Prince was too conspicuous — it’s better for me to withdraw from the scene now. It’s good for both me and the Crown Prince.”

Zhù Ying nodded. This she had guessed already. The Emperor doted on his son and kept heaping the finest things upon him — until, heaping and heaping, he noticed the son’s power had grown rather large, and began to feel uneasy. The best course of action was to appropriately weaken the Crown Prince without going too far, to a degree that would put the Emperor at ease while still making him feel a twinge of compassion. At this moment, Zheng Xi distancing himself from the Crown Prince was good for both of them.

The situation at the time must have been rather precarious. Someone had to absorb the blame — either Zheng Xi, the Crown Princess, or the Crown Prince himself. If the Crown Princess were implicated, the Crown Prince’s position would become even more dangerous than simply replacing an advisor. One could only hope the Crown Princess would exercise more caution in future. Still, now that Zheng Xi and the Crown Prince had openly parted ways, whatever became of the Eastern Palace would not greatly affect Zheng Xi. Yet she was puzzled as to why the Crown Prince had been willing to follow the Crown Princess’s arrangements in the first place.

Zheng Xi spread both hands: “There was no music playing. They happened to cross paths at a temple and dined on a vegetarian meal together — the lute was played by a monk. It was the mourning period for the Two Palaces, and His Majesty simply wished to make an example. That is all.”

“I see.”

Zheng Xi had been relaxed, but suddenly turned serious again and asked: “Have you had an audience with His Majesty yet?”

“Not yet my turn. Yesterday I registered at the palace gates and saw Minister Wang, who asked about Fulu County.”

Zheng Xi said: “Outrageous! His Majesty is furious with the Eastern Palace — and with me! Be careful he doesn’t take it out on you. When the Son of Heaven grows wrathful, the outcome is uncertain. And even if he later feels regret, you will have already been wronged — punished and all. I know what kind of person you are. Why stand on these courtesies with me? You could have avoided me for a time — couldn’t you have at least managed that much? Did we not have that understanding?”

Zhù Ying remained calm and said: “I know. He can be angry as he likes; I’ll do what I need to do.”

Zheng Xi sighed and said: “Come with me.”

Zhù Ying followed him into the inner room, where Zheng Xi pulled open a drawer and took out an ivory tablet: “Take it.”

“What?”

Zheng Xi looked her over and said: “You’ve grown up — you’re fifth rank now. Aren’t you entitled to one of these?”

Zhù Ying received it with both hands: “I hadn’t thought of it.” The hand tablet was something she almost never used. For one thing, her memory was excellent; for another, she rarely had occasion to appear at court. Back at the Court of Judicial Review, she had essentially been there to fill a quota — on ordinary days she never stood before the Emperor. At grand assemblies where everyone attended, she stood at the back and never got to speak. A bamboo one had done well enough to make do.

Zhù Ying tucked the tablet under her sash and said: “I’ll put it away safely when I get home. What do you intend to do next, Your Lordship? I haven’t had my audience yet — I’ll be staying in the capital for a few more days.”

“Go and tend to your proper business first! Don’t go stirring up trouble at a time like this!”

“Understood. Then I’ll go call on Lord Leng next.”

“Leng Yun’s luck has always been remarkable,” Zheng Xi said with a sigh. “Go on.”

“Yes.”

Zhù Ying, the ivory tablet at her waist, was escorted by Zheng Xi to the gate. He asked: “Where are her attendants?”

The steward came trotting out: “The lady of the house has had the young gentlemen entertained with tea over in that wing — someone has been sent to fetch them.” The yamen runners also came hurrying out of the gatehouse, with Chuizi and Shitou trailing behind.

A faint smile appeared on Zheng Xi’s face: “Then don’t rush them.”

Barely had he said that before Zheng Chuan came out escorting Gu Tong and the others from inside — Gu Tong and Xiang An’s eyes still carried the stunned wonder of first beholding the splendor of a marquis’s residence! They had mastered their expressions, and with Zheng Chuan they came to the gate. Zheng Xi looked the pair of them over, then swept a glance across the yamen runners and the two children, thinking to himself: not everyone is a Zhù Sanlang.

Still, seeing that Gu Tong and Xiang An had not behaved improperly, he thought that for people coming out of miasma-ridden territory, this was not bad at all. Zheng Chuan greeted his father first, then made a bow to Zhù Ying: “Sanlang.”

Zhù Ying returned the bow. Zheng Xi said: “That was the courtesy he owed — returning it with a full bow is too much.”

Zhù Ying said: “It’s different.”

Zheng Xi shook his head and added: “If you’re going to the Leng family’s, go quickly — any later and he’ll have gone out drinking and amusing himself with someone.”

“Yes.”

Leaving the marquis’s residence, the runners noticed that the horses and carts had been seen to immaculately, and inwardly thought: worthy of being a marquis’s staff — how attentive their hospitality! Compared to them, we are far too rough in our work!

Calling on the Leng Marquis’s residence proved considerably lighter business. No one in the Leng family had been stripped of their post, and Leng Yun had come back. Were it not for the passing of the Two Palaces, his household would have been hosting banquets and entertainments every day.

Zhù Ying sent a gift on arrival, managing to intercept Leng Yun just as he was on his way out.

Leng Yun had returned to the capital without suffering in the least, and after two months had grown plump and fair again. When Zhù Ying handed him the gift list, he said: “Take it back, take it back. When I was in the capital before, you’d bring me some southern goods and that was enough — do I lack for these things now? Sort yourself out first! You’re fifth rank now — you can’t go on looking so shabby. Where are your manservants? Where’s your household staff? Everyone says you care for your family, but there’s no lady’s maid for your mother and sister at home, just one Du Dajie! You—”

Zhù Ying said: “I’ve taken on additional people.”

Leng Yun, his playboy ways reasserting themselves now that he was back in the capital, pointed at Zhù Ying: “Get yourself properly set up — don’t make me have to send people to you.”

“Please don’t. Every household has its own habits — I’ll find my own.”

Leng Yun said: “Look at you. Come — sit.” He sent his manservant out to pass word that the earlier appointment for a meal would be pushed back a while.

Zhù Ying said: “If you have things to attend to, please go ahead. I just wanted to come and see you. What couldn’t I say to you in ten thousand words? No need to rush.”

Leng Yun said: “Fine. Just one thing. Do you know about Zheng the Seventh’s situation?”

“I heard about it from Old Zuo yesterday, and I came straight from Lord Zheng’s residence here.”

Leng Yun’s jaw dropped: “You actually dared!”

Zhù Ying said: “What do you mean?”

Leng Yun lowered his voice: “You should know about him being stripped of his post? This is no small matter. His Majesty seems to have developed some rift with the Eastern Palace. In times like these, one ought to keep one’s distance. He was formerly an advisor to the Crown Prince — dismissed from the post, and yet his gate still sees a stream of carriages and horses. Wouldn’t that only invite more trouble for him?”

“When I went there this morning it was actually quite quiet — very few visitors. Not even the ladies of noble families were calling.”

Leng Yun said: “Will you please use your head a little! The two of you — it would be best if you each stay well and keep apart!”

Zhù Ying thought to herself: this doesn’t sound like something Leng Yun would normally say.

She had guessed correctly — this was what the Leng Marquis had told his son, grabbing him by the ear the previous evening. So today Leng Yun had decided to go out and feast with his companions.

Before Leng Yun, Zhù Ying put on the appearance of someone receiving instruction. Leng Yun was also eager to go out; Zhù Ying took her leave from the Leng family. From there she went to Old Wang’s house. Old Wang had already passed away, but the family was still there; his sons were all in mourning. Zhù Ying left some gifts. The remaining acquaintances had not yet left their offices, so she strolled along the streets, pointing out various landmarks in the capital to Gu Tong and Xiang Le, and keeping an eye on Chuizi and Shitou to make sure they didn’t get lost.

When they reached Old Ma’s teahouse, she found Old Ma sunning himself. Zhù Ying stepped in front of him, blocking the sun. Old Ma squinted: “Don’t block… Oh! Lord Zhù!!!”

Zhù Ying smiled: “Business is looking good.”

Old Ma said: “You’ve come back?”

“Yes, for an audience with His Majesty — I’ll be returning after a while.”

“Nowhere compares to the capital. Come back for good soon…” Old Ma stopped himself. He asked very alertly: “Are you here to arrest me? I haven’t broken any laws lately!”

The four yamen runners glared at him ferociously, thinking to themselves: you can tell at a glance this is a seasoned scoundrel — and he dares to urge the master to move back to the capital! If he were in our county right now, I’d have him thrown in jail!

Zhù Ying said: “Arrest you for what? You haven’t broken any law under my jurisdiction, so I have no power to arrest you. Bring us some tea.” She ordered tea for the group, then asked Chuizi: “How does it taste?”

Chuizi drank it and said: “Not as good as the tea from the mountains at home — and it’s aged tea.”

Old Ma found their conversation very strange: “Southern speech truly is hard to follow. Only you, master, could actually pick it up.”

Zhù Ying smiled: “You hear enough of it and you understand — it’s not difficult.” They sat for a little while, but Zhù Ying could see Old Ma was on edge, clearly unsettled by the runners. She left the price of the tea and headed back with her group.

Back home, she changed into another outfit. Checking the sky, she brought her group over to Liu Songnian’s residence — by now Liu Songnian should have returned home.

At Liu Songnian’s, she left the runners to drink tea in the gatehouse and brought everyone else inside.

Liu Songnian had come home and was painting in the style of the celebrated worthies of a past era, wearing a loose and flowing robe. Seeing Zhù Ying lead in a collection of people of varying heights and peculiar shapes, his head nearly tilted from the annoyance: “What are you doing?”

Zhù Ying said: “Coming to thank you! And I’ve brought the oranges I promised!”

Liu Songnian looked at her suspiciously. Zhù Ying straightforwardly handed him the gift list. Liu Songnian said: “That’s more like it!”

Zhù Ying said: “Even if it were considerably less, this is all I have. I’m poor.”

“Bah—” Liu Songnian pointed to the seat across from him. “Sit. As if I need to invite you.”

Zhù Ying sat without ceremony. When Liu Songnian had slouched into a comfortable position, she turned to Gu Tong: “You see? This is the Literary Patriarch of the Empire.”

Liu Songnian grew alert and narrowed his eyes: “What do you mean? Who is this?”

“A student of mine — the Clearer-Law examination. He was originally studying the classical texts, then switched to clearer law. His family didn’t agree, so he climbed over the wall and ran to me. How about it? Was it the right move? The Literary Patriarch of the Empire — and he’s like this.”

Liu Songnian flung himself back with great force: “Humph! A true man of distinction is naturally at ease — what would you know about it! And furthermore — reading the Six Classics is Wang Yunhe’s domain! Take him to see Wang Yunhe’s stiff propriety!”

Gu Tong’s legs went weak: “Liu — Liu — Liu…”

“Tsk, a stutterer too.” Liu Songnian looked utterly contemptuous, not even sparing a glance. “And these?” He looked at the others. “You must have some scheme in mind.”

Zhù Ying said to Chuizi: “Do you still remember the character-learning chant?”

“I remember — I’ve memorized all of it.”

Liu Songnian sat up: “The language you’re speaking doesn’t sound like a regional dialect.”

“Indeed.”

“A tribal tongue?”

“Indeed.”

“A tribal people?”

“The Liji clan.”

“Not the Qixia? You’ve done well!” Liu Songnian brightened and called Chuizi over for a conversation. He asked what the child’s name was, how old, what the family did — all without caring whether the child could follow him.

Fortunately Chuizi did understand, and said: “I have seen the peach blossoms bloom five times. They sold us down the mountain as slaves. The master rescued me.”

Zhù Ying said: “Recite it for him — write it for him to see.”

Liu Songnian watched as Chuizi copied out several passages from the character-learning stele inscriptions and gave a sigh: “Heaven’s gifts show no favoritism toward birth.” He took the child’s writing in hand and, rather than mocking the poor penmanship, found himself more and more pleased, and spent time pointing out to Chuizi how to improve the structure of several characters.

Satisfied, he found Gu Tong more agreeable as well, and said: “This one was held back by a remote and poor location — now that you’re in the capital, don’t go wandering aimlessly. Learn the best things here.”

“He is already a ninth-rank official. He can follow me and do real work. Book learning may have come late; but it is never too late to learn how to conduct oneself and handle affairs.”

Liu Songnian nodded: “Not bad. Haven’t you had your audience with His Majesty yet?”

“Still waiting.”

“What are you waiting for? Tomorrow, stay home and wait for word.”

“Please don’t — I can wait on my own. You’ve already shown your face enough on my behalf…”

“Bah! I want to watch His Majesty put you through your paces! His Majesty grows ever more sagacious — how many great ministers have stood before him drenched in sweat and streaming tears. Ha.”

Zhù Ying smiled: “Would you like me to perform a weeping scene for you now?”

Liu Songnian rolled up the paper Chuizi had written on and raised it threateningly: “Get out.”

Zhù Ying laughed and got out.

Outside Liu Songnian’s gate, Gu Tong’s expression had still not recovered. He stuttered: “Te — te — teacher, Liu — Liu—”

“That’s him.”

Gu Tong suffered a tremendous shock that lasted until the next day without letting up.

The next day, Gu Tong got out of bed and was still in a daze. There was an enormous difference between knowing Zhù Ying could acquire Wang Yunhe’s essays and the Directorate of Education’s textbooks from the capital, and actually meeting Liu Songnian face to face.

Zhù Ying paid him no mind and concentrated on waiting for word from Liu Songnian. Since Liu Songnian had said something, it meant an audience with His Majesty now carried no danger. Liu Songnian might appear wild and unconventional, but he was in fact a man of extremely careful calculation. The very fact that he had always been able to act so freely before the Emperor was remarkable in itself — if the Emperor had not been charmed by him, then he had calibrated his boundaries with extraordinary precision.

Liu Songnian entered the palace. When the morning court session was over, he peeled an orange and ate it in front of the Emperor. The Emperor asked: “What are you doing?”

“This official is a little thirsty.”

“There is tea.”

“I’ve gotten used to the sweetness of these oranges. Heh.”

The Emperor grew curious and asked where the oranges came from. Liu Songnian mentioned Zhù Ying. The Emperor recalled Wang Yunhe and asked: “You said yesterday that Zhù Ying had arrived in the capital?”

“Yes.” Yesterday Wang Yunhe had already informed the Emperor, but the Emperor had been occupied with discussing the arrangements for the imperial guards and had put the matter off. Now that Liu Songnian brought it up again, he thought of it once more. Wang Yunhe, seizing the opportunity, told the story of Su Mingluan again, and mentioned in passing that the winter wheat had grown quite well and appeared to be ready for wider promotion. Liu Songnian grudgingly gave a sound: “A sturdy timber, one might say — calling her a pillar of the realm would be premature; let her grow a little longer and we’ll see.”

Hearing even Liu Songnian offer a few words of praise, the Emperor said: “So you’re praising her, are you? Not bad! Ah, I seem to recall — there were two with ‘ying’ in their names?” The Emperor suddenly remembered this — Liu Songnian, with his reckless tongue, had once mocked someone else.

Liu Songnian curled his lip: “You mean Duan Ying. He came back early — been lurking around the palace precinct.”

Wang Yunhe said: “The two have different strengths. Zhù Ying is practical — capable of encouraging agriculture, pacifying distant peoples, promoting education, transforming local customs, keeping the borders stable, and keeping the people at peace. Duan Ying inclines toward letters — his literary work is among the finest of this generation, his reputation has spread far and wide, and even distant peoples have been moved by it.”

Liu Songnian made a disdainful noise.

The Emperor smiled: “You are the Literary Patriarch of the Empire — there is no need to quarrel with a young person. Minister Wang, you seem more impressed by Zhù Ying. Duan Ying may be no worse. Come to think of it, I haven’t seen Duan Ying in some time. Go and summon him.”

Duan Ying received the summons without knowing what it was about. He slipped a red packet to a small eunuch and learned a rough idea from him. He showed nothing on his face, but inwardly he was furious.

Before the Emperor he feigned ignorance and performed his prostrations as usual. The Emperor had summoned him on a whim; once he saw him, he asked a few questions about what he had been doing lately, listened to some of his new writing, and found it excellent. Then, out of mischief, he did not ask Liu Songnian but instead asked Duan Ying: “You and Zhù Ying are both young people — what is your assessment of her?”

Not much of one! He had not taken her seriously before, yet she had gradually become a rival he needed to surpass. The step from full sixth rank to junior fifth rank was a very difficult one. Duan Ying was confident he could clear it before the age of forty — he had family background, learning, reputation, and the advantage of being stationed in the capital with ample opportunities. But he was not about to let Zhù Ying get ahead of him!

Duan Ying said: “She is a person of genuine sincerity — something this official cannot match.”

“Oh?”

“Word has it that yesterday Zhù the County Magistrate called on the Zheng Marquis’s residence, conducting herself exactly as she always has.”

Wang Yunhe’s face darkened.

The Emperor said softly: “Ah.” He glanced at Wang Yunhe, considered for a moment, then commanded that Zhù Ying be brought to court — immediately!

Liu Songnian suddenly asked: “If you were Zhù Ying, what would you have done?”

Duan Ying froze. The Emperor also looked over. Duan Ying had no choice but to answer: “I would have advised Lord Zheng to hold firm in his integrity and not take a wrong step.”

The Emperor nodded.

Over at the other side, Zhù Ying changed into proper attire and brought Xiang Le to the palace precinct. Leaving Xiang Le outside, she went in alone to see the Emperor. From the outer palace precincts to the inner palace to the great hall was a distance that would leave anyone with a weaker constitution weak-kneed by the time they arrived.

She came before the Emperor and bowed, then waited for a long time without anyone above speaking. Zhù Ying was unhurried — the moment she entered the hall she had spotted that both Wang Yunhe and Liu Songnian were present, along with someone who appeared to be Duan Ying, though that was of no consequence. Lan Xing had been watching Zhù Ying from the moment she walked in, and seeing that she was in the prime of youth, with a fair face and no beard, he found her inexplicably pleasing for some reason. He gently reminded the Emperor: “Your Majesty, Zhù Ying has arrived.”

Only then did the Emperor tell Zhù Ying to rise, and asked: “When did you arrive in the capital?”

“Two days ago.”

“What have you been doing?”

Zhù Ying said: “I first reported at the palace gates, met with Minister Wang, and gave a preliminary account of affairs in Fulu County and the Ying clan, so as to be ready for Your Majesty’s questions. After returning home, I called on some old acquaintances.”

“You saw Zheng Xi?”

“Yes.”

“Humph!” The Emperor said: “Great nerve, visiting an official who has been penalized!”

“Yes.”

The Emperor grew angrier: “You know you were wrong?”

“Yes. He made a mistake in his conduct of affairs and was stripped of his post.”

The Emperor grew even more furious: “What if one day he commits a serious crime — what then?”

Zhù Ying raised her head and said earnestly to the Emperor: “I would personally re-investigate.”

The Emperor had not expected this answer. He turned it over in his mind for a moment and suddenly his anger dissolved. “You,” he said, “a few years away and you still have the same character, the same nerve — you truly know how to vex people. Speak then — the Ying clan, you said?”

“Yes. A branch of the Ying clan — the Asu family.” Zhù Ying immediately pressed on.

The Emperor asked Wang Yunhe: “The memorial has been submitted?”

Wang Yunhe replied: “Yes, submitted yesterday — I wrote the summary.”

“Mm — let me read it over. You may all withdraw.”

The group withdrew. Wang Yunhe said: “Still went running around recklessly.”

Zhù Ying smiled.

Liu Songnian turned and rolled his eyes at Duan Ying’s retreating back, then said to Zhù Ying: “If you have a sharp mind, don’t use it exclusively for official business. Tsk!”

He had barely said two sentences when the Emperor summoned Zhù Ying back inside — he had pulled out the memorial, but some details were hazy in his memory, and rather than rack his brain he had simply called her back.

Zhù Ying entered once more and gave a concise account of the situation. The Ying clan’s affairs were relatively simple, as she had sent multiple memorials on the subject previously. She then spoke about Fulu County’s current state in somewhat more detail, and briefly shared the reflections she had offered to Wang Yunhe.

“When Lord Chen gave me guidance back then, he said: if a road were easy to walk, someone would have walked it already.”

“Lord Chen?”

“Chen Meng. The son of the former Grand Counselor Chen — he is from the same home region as I am. Seeing that I was young and posted far away, he gave me a word of advice. Thanks to his generosity in sharing what he knew, I was saved considerable effort.”

The Emperor thought for a moment and said: “He too is a capable man — his father was even more so.”

“Yes. Your Majesty — my request, then?”

The Emperor smiled: “Granted. Let the Council of State deliberate.” He had intended to grant it all along — it was a pity that the young woman of the Ying clan had not come to the capital this time. Had she come, it would have been even better.

The Emperor issued his instruction, giving a broad outline: her rank would be set at full sixth grade; the nominal title and grade of the honorary appointment would follow the court’s existing system, and the specific official title would be decided by the Council of State in consultation with the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Personnel, and other relevant offices. The distinction between male and female could be dispensed with — after all, this was a matter concerning a subordinate people from beyond the borders, and as long as they could be loosely administered that would suffice. The Emperor wanted stability for now. He was no fool — to insist they mirror the court in every respect would only push them toward rebellion. This much he saw with perfect clarity.

Since Zhù Ying had initiated this matter, she would need to be present when it was deliberated. From now on, she would have to attend morning court with the rest and then proceed to argue it out in the Council of State. The ivory tablet Zheng Xi had given her would very soon prove its use.