Xiao Wu slouched home with his tail between his legs. Old Wu was sitting under the eaves playing with their aged cat — the cat was very old by now and utterly disinclined to move. Xiao Wu sidled up and crouched beside Old Wu: “This cat is too old — let’s get another one.”
Old Wu glanced at him: “Are you going to take it with you when you go?”
“Heh — Dad…”
Old Wu snorted. This son of his had gotten an official rank and come home with a glow on the whole family, and lately had begun to show a little too much spirit — raising his voice at everyone, responding to any comment with a question, and hardly willing to listen to his own father anymore. Now that hangdog look — he’d definitely gone out, had his nose rubbed in the dirt, and needed his father again.
Xiao Wu said: “Dad, there’s this matter — about my cousin’s posting. I was thinking to recommend him to follow the master, and there’s Niu Jin next door too, both decent people. That — when I was talking to them, I may have said things rather, uh, nicely. And so at the master’s end…”
Old Wu snorted again: “Did you talk yourself up? Telling people how grand things were?”
“Nothing gets past you.”
“Don’t act as middleman, don’t stand as guarantor, don’t play matchmaker — those three will keep your family well for three generations.” Old Wu said unhurriedly. “Being able to put in a word looks like something — true enough. But did you thump your chest and promise them that by coming to the master’s side they’d have nothing but advantages — and that they could do it officially, parading around with authority like you?”
“Heh heh.”
“And the master called you out on it?”
Xiao Wu pulled a long face: “Dad — how do I get out of this one?”
“How do you get out of it? You don’t owe them anything! Your face may be gone — but it wasn’t worth much in the first place.” Old Wu said breezily.
Xiao Wu shrank his neck. Old Wu said: “Did you take money from them?”
Xiao Wu was even more reluctant to speak. Old Wu raised a palm. Xiao Wu hugged his head and crouched even lower. Old Wu said: “Did the master strike you blind to the kind of woman she is — to go using her name to con people for petty gain? You’ve got some nerve! If you do something wrong, don’t think I’ll claim to know you.”
Xiao Wu plopped down on his knees: “Dad — you’re my own father!”
Old Wu let him kneel there for a long time before slowly straightening up. The old cat fell to the ground, curled up against the base of the wall, glanced at the father and son with disinterest, and closed its eyes.
Old Wu said: “Get up. How much did you take from them? Spit it out honestly! You’ve got the nerve to make money off the master’s name!”
“I was just doing what a middleman does — you always get a cut.”
“Hmm, low enough. All this time following the master and you’re still thinking about this kind of small change! At least pick someone easy to fool if you must pull tricks!”
“I know.”
Old Wu said: “For example — your mother’s family sends you cakes and wine and a set of clothes, asks you to put in a word — you accept, that’s a favor. If you’d taken money, that would be different. The master sees right through all of it.”
“Yes, yes. So what now?”
Old Wu looked at his son. Xiao Wu retrieved his patience and crouched there listening properly. Old Wu said: “You know nothing. Go — set up a proper meal. Say it’s my invitation.”
It was already late that evening. The next day, Xiao Wu put together a banquet and invited those from whom he had received good things over to the house for dinner that evening. He waited for Old Wu to come home from the Court of Judicial Review, and they ate together.
Old Wu first gave his son a beating in front of the guests, then told them: “This little wretch has gotten a bit of influence and started putting on airs — and he dares pull a stunt like this. He’s a complete fool!” He returned the money, and then, in the face of his younger brother-in-law’s and old colleague’s disappointed expressions, said slowly: “You too — Old Niu, is it that you don’t know the master, or that you can’t find a way to reach her yourself? Why use this little wretch’s worthless mouth to talk things up? The father presenting the son directly — isn’t that more fitting than going through this rascal?”
One word opened their eyes. Old Niu said: “Lord Zhù is such an elevated figure now — we really didn’t dare presume to approach her directly…”
Old Wu said: “You really don’t understand, do you?”
He set up the right approach, and the families went home separately to think things over. Xiao Wu was left at home and got another earful from Old Wu: “How have I taught you all these years? You can’t even read a superior anymore? Go on making moves like this and even with an official rank you’ll eventually stumble and have your robes stripped off!”
Xiao Wu received his lesson obediently: “Yes, yes.”
“Now get back to the master’s place. And remember: when you do things, you have to read people! The master has just been promoted, and I’ve been watching coldly — she still has the same handful of people around her, which means she values every single one of them. All these few people on her bald head, and you still want to play games? Why did the master not just give you twenty strokes of the board?”
“Yes, yes.”
Old Wu said: “Forget it. I’ll sacrifice this old face and take you back myself tomorrow. This face of mine doesn’t have many uses left — spending them all on you, how will your nephews and nieces ever manage!”
Xiao Wu didn’t dare breathe, and listened quietly.
Old Wu said: “Let’s hope the master hasn’t filled all her household positions in these past two days.”
There was still a gap in Zhù Ying’s household staff.
The day after Xiao Wu went home — which was a court day, and also the day Zhao Su returned to school.
After the household rose, Zhù Ying said to Zhao Su: “Study hard while you’re there. When the next break comes we’ll talk again — and by then, the notes should be reviewed.”
Zhao Su said: “Yes.”
Zhù Ying looked at his clothing, thought for a moment, and took a bolt of fabric from among the things Yue Miaojun had given, handing it to him to take back and have a new outfit made. She then had Cao Chang see him back to the school. She herself brought Xiang Le and Gu Tong to attend court.
At the palace precinct gate, Leng Yun ran right into her. He was yawning with tears streaming from the corners of his eyes, and he had been specifically waiting there to intercept Zhù Ying: “What’s going on? Why does Vice-Minister Xian want me to come to the Ministry of Revenue to deliberate again?”
Zhù Ying said: “My lord, times have changed. Southern Prefecture is now in my hands. I’ve assessed the situation — the wheat in Southern Prefecture should already be ready. Without waiting for the whole prefecture to finish planting, we can start promoting to other areas. Wouldn’t you like your own prefecture to be ahead?”
Leng Yun yawned again: “You handle it, you handle it — wasn’t that the agreement? You and your people handle it. If there’s anything that needs coordinating, just say the word and I’ll take care of it. Ow! Who — Dad…”
The Leng Marquis coldly withdrew the hand tablet he had swung. He gave Zhù Ying a friendly nod, then kicked his son. He glanced at the colleagues around who appeared to be watching, and felt deeply ashamed of his son’s ineptitude. What offerings of incense would it take to be granted a devoted and capable subordinate like this one?
Tsk!
Zhù Ying said: “It’s fine — if I get sleepy later I’ll sneak back for a nap.”
The Leng Marquis smiled.
Leng Yun was now fully awake. He stood off to the side and said: “All right — I mean it, I’m taking overall charge. You just go ahead and do what you need to do.”
Zhù Ying looked around and said: “Let’s discuss it in detail in a moment — for now, if anyone at court asks, you just say you know about this matter. We’ll go over the full plan afterward. Don’t say you have nothing to do with it.”
The Leng Marquis said: “Exactly.”
The Zheng Marquis ambled over: “Busy?” The three of them made their greetings. The Zheng Marquis said to Zhù Ying: “Well done — now the title and position are fitting for the attire!” The four stood together, and then Xian Jing also arrived, greeted them briefly, and said to Leng Yun: “We’ll go over the details at the Ministry of Revenue later.” Leng Yun, seeing Xian Jing, immediately transformed into something resembling a proper governor, and agreed.
At court, the Emperor said nothing about this particular matter. After various reports — including that King Wei’s residence was nearly completed — the session ended. Zhù Ying and Leng Yun went to the Ministry of Revenue. Xian Jing had been with the Ministry for some years now and didn’t know how much longer he would be there; he too wanted things to move faster. He cornered Leng Yun into a seat and had Zhù Ying lay out the plan.
Zhù Ying said: “Southern Prefecture should be fine barring any surprises. Yiyang Prefecture can begin now.”
Leng Yun said: “Can you spare the manpower?”
Zhù Ying said: “Don’t worry — good people. With you stationed at the prefectural capital, things should go smoothly.” Their prefecture had three subordinate prefectures and thirteen counties, the prefectural capital being one, and then Southern Prefecture and Yiyang Prefecture — which meant all three prefectures were now rolling out planting. The pace was not slow. The concern was that while the prefecture looked large in area, it also had many mountain ranges and not a huge amount of arable land. Total output was not especially abundant.
Xian Jing said: “Still not bad. Once you’ve shown results here, others will see and start on their own — the court won’t even have to push hard.”
They then calculated the amount of wheat seed needed. Leng Yun listened to the rough figures for his own prefecture and then began struggling to keep track when the other prefectures’ figures came up. He wanted to retain them but kept losing them as new ones came in. He quickly took out his hand tablet and jotted down a few numbers on it.
He only needed to come out ahead on this; since Zhù Ying hadn’t cut him out of it, that was enough for him. By the time midday came, Leng Yun said: “That about covers it, doesn’t it?” Xian Jing invited them to eat in the Ministry of Revenue — the food there was good. After eating, Leng Yun, seeing there was nothing more for him to do, refused to bother with the other prefectures any further.
He said: “Then I’m going. Ah — this is my person. Don’t go ordering him about too much when you don’t need to — even capable people can’t be worked to death. And for the wheat seed — take two thousand piculs from him. Even a loan shark doesn’t charge like this. For the other prefectures you work something out yourself! And me — you still need to give me some too.”
Xian Jing had been rather annoyed by this playboy, but now with Leng Yun speaking to him so bluntly he found himself having a slight change of heart. He said: “Fine. When you leave, two thousand piculs for you as well. Any more and you won’t have the experienced hands to plant them.”
Leng Yun said: “Done. Sanlang — don’t keep sitting here. Haven’t you got your own things to attend to?”
“Yes.”
Leng Yun clasped his hands behind his back and walked out of the Ministry of Revenue.
Xian Jing said: “He may be a playboy — but on the big things he doesn’t muddle things up too badly. Run into one who muddles things and insists on being in control — this whole business would fall apart.”
Zhù Ying said: “Lord Leng has the heart of an innocent.”
Xian Jing laughed and shook his head: “The heart of an innocent — what heart of an innocent — he’s never known hardship. Come, let’s continue.”
The two of them talked for half the day. Just before close of office, Xian Jing handed Zhù Ying a note: “This is Southern Prefecture’s historical records at the Ministry of Revenue — come tomorrow with this voucher and you can look through them freely.”
“Many thanks.”
Xian Jing patted Zhù Ying on the shoulder.
Zhù Ying returned home from the Ministry of Revenue to find that Gan Ze had also been summoned.
Gan Ze was sitting in his aunt’s room, chatting with them. Zhù Ying came home and first settled the horse in the stable. Cao Chang opened the side courtyard gate to take the horse. Gan Ze came out: “Sanlang, congratulations!”
Zhù Ying said: “The same to you.”
Zhù’s father came over too: “The Marquis’s household heard you’d been promoted and sent Gan the Elder to bring quite a few things.”
Zhù Ying said: “You already gave a round before.”
“That was different — this is from the Marquis. It’s given to you, so take it.” Gan Ze said.
The two went to the main hall. Gan Ze first offered congratulations on behalf of the residence, and so on.
Then they spoke of their private business. Zhù Ying said: “What are your plans, Cao Chang? Asking him directly gets nothing — the whole family just clings to their free person status and won’t let go. Before, when I tried to put in a word of commendation for him, he didn’t let me. He’s had his share of merit and effort over the years, but nothing got approved. What comes next is uncertain. Becoming an official is no longer possible. But if he’s willing to be a clerk, I can give him a position — and with merit he can be promoted later; without merit, at least he’ll have a posting. The whole family is too honest — without some backing they won’t get far.”
Gan Ze said: “I just said this same thing. He just won’t. Say it again, and you’re crossing a line. Sanlang — just leave it. Live one day at a time. No one can live another person’s life for them. His aunt just said — they’re thinking of finding him a wife, and the money you’ve given him over the years is enough for that. Marriage means setting down roots.”
Zhù Ying saw he wasn’t speaking out of emotion: “Marriage — so the intention is to settle in one place and stop moving around?”
Gan Ze’s face showed a trace of awkwardness: “That’s right.” He had just had a minor disagreement with his aunt before this. His aunt’s view was that Cao Chang was old enough to marry and have children — one must have an heir. And with Cao Chang grown up, if he got involved with someone in the south, that wouldn’t do — a proper family couldn’t afford that kind of shame. Better to find a match in the home city of the capital, and then once there were children his wife and children could live with his parents, while Cao Chang continued following Zhù Ying to earn money for the family. But at least he needed time off to get married. Gan Ze felt the timing was off — you were following your employer, who was heading south and needed people right now, and you say you’re not going: I’ll come back after I’ve had some leisure. Moving back into someone else’s home while they’re gone. Gan Ze felt this wasn’t quite right.
“Coming with me for these years has actually delayed Cao Chang from starting a family. That does weigh on me.”
“Honestly! Sanlang doesn’t even mind, but he’s the one who’s impatient! Tsk! Well… he’s had enough to go home and renovate his house, marry a wife, and live properly. It’s been so many years — he really should go back.”
Zhù Ying said: “Is this your view, or theirs?”
Gan Ze said: “Let’s just leave it at that.”
“Xiang An — please go and ask Old Cao to come.”
Xiang An brought the Cao family of three. Gan Ze turned his face aside. Zhù Ying asked their opinions very politely. Cao Chang as usual said little, and Old Cao said: “Master, he’s grown up.”
Gan Ze said: “He’s grown up, and yet he can’t make a reliable decision?”
Zhù Ying stopped him and said: “But I have a fixed date to go to my posting and he can’t leave right away, so we need to settle things. “
Old Cao thought it over: the money Cao Chang had earned these years was not inconsiderable — enough for a good wife. Marriage meant going home — he couldn’t do it at the Zhù household.
Gan Ze said: “Then let’s do this: first come to my house — my parents are there, and we’ll get him properly sorted out so people can start looking for a wife for him. Sanlang, give up the keys. There are people in the house now; they can find someone else to look after it.”
The Cao family of three, being people without strong opinions, had come when brought and would go when told. Now that they had their own lives to live, they tacitly agreed.
Zhù Ying said without enthusiasm: “That’s all there is to it.”
Gan Ze said: “Sanlang, I…”
Zhù Ying waved a hand. The Cao family said awkwardly: “Master.”
Zhù Ying said: “I have kept Xiao Cao occupied these past years — that is something I feel bad about too. I’m afraid I’ll be gone before your wedding — but I’m still here for the next few days, so take your time getting your things together. Xiang An, let our elder sister know — have a gift prepared.” She also asked if the Cao family would face any difficulties settling back in their home village.
Gan Ze said: “I’ll handle it.”
The Cao family were all good people, but they had their own lives to live.
Zhù Ying said: “Don’t say another word against them.”
Gan Ze said: “If my boy were a bit older I’d want to send him to work for you.”
“Don’t say things you don’t mean.”
The Cao family, being entirely down-to-earth people, were invited to take along all the clothing and effects that had been bought for them over the years, along with the new bedding, and even the donkey that had served as a draught animal — Zhù Ying had it sent with them. There wasn’t much to hand over — everything in the Zhù residence was in plain sight.
When Cao’s aunt placed the keys in Huajie’s hand, her eyes grew moist: “Master — we’re too ashamed to face you.”
Huajie said: “What kind of talk is that? It’s not as if you were sold to us.”
She, too, gave the Cao family a portion of gift money. Zhang Xiangu and Zhù’s father also made gifts, and Hou Wu, Xiao Wu, Gu Tong, and others all gave Cao Chang a share, saying they were sorry to miss the wedding wine.
Marriage and continuing the family line was a great matter. Gu Tong only now fully understood: Cao Chang was not his teacher’s bound servant but a hired man. He looked at Du Dajie, thinking: if she too is hired help, doesn’t my teacher have no one to look after her daily needs? He resolved that once they were back in Southern Prefecture, he would go home and strong-arm a few household servants to send over.
That evening the Cao family of three still spent the night at the Zhù residence, all three feeling complicated emotions inside. Zhù Ying, as usual, slept soundly. The others all felt a pang of impending departure. Cao Chang was quiet and unspeaking; he never stirred up trouble or argued — and never complained about the work. Even Hou Wu could only say of him: “You could not get one fart out of him with three strokes of a board.” Beyond that, not a bad word could be said.
The next morning, as usual, they all ate together, and outside food was also bought for the three Cao’s. As Zhù Ying was leaving for court, Cao’s aunt brought her son to say farewell and had him bow before Zhù Ying.
Zhù Ying said: “The days really have passed quickly. I overlooked the fact that you hadn’t yet started a family — fortunately I haven’t delayed you too terribly long. Rise — be careful on the road. I won’t see you off.”
Cao Chang wanted to go to the stable to ready the horse. Hou Wu had already done it for him. He stood awkwardly to the side and watched Zhù Ying ride off with Xiang Le.
With Cao Chang gone, Zhù Ying had even fewer people around her. Old Wu sent Xiao Wu back; Zhù Ying simply smiled and said: “He just hasn’t seen enough of the world yet — he’ll get better.”
Xiao Wu no longer dared put on airs in front of his father. Standing obediently behind Old Wu, he noticed that his father’s speech to Zhù Ying was a little uncertain too. He thought: you’re not much better yourself…
Old Wu’s face still carried its weight. Xiao Wu was allowed to stay on. This time he behaved properly. Xiao Wu’s cousin Ding Gui and Old Niu’s son Niu Jin were both young and strong, with a good bearing and tidy looks; both could read, and Niu Jin had learned a great deal from his father and had a rough grasp of the law. The other new addition, Xiao Liu, knew how to tend horses.
Beyond those three, Old Huang brought his own grandson. Old Huang was getting on in years; the one he brought was not a son but a grandson. The boy was fifteen — if he stayed in the capital with no decent livelihood he would end up loitering on the streets. Old Huang had had no such intention originally, but after Xiao Wu’s running around, Old Huang heard about it and swallowed his pride to bring the grandson forward.
Zhù Ying said: “That year when we were all on duty together at the New Year — you were the one who taught me so many things.”
Old Huang quickly said: “I wouldn’t dare — the master is so sharp, even without anyone speaking up, you would have seen through it yourself.” He pushed Xiao Huang forward to bow.
Zhù Ying said: “Heading south is not easy work. There may be illness on the road, or other mishaps; and after arriving there will also be dangers. You have truly thought it through?”
Old Huang said: “I have! Life and death and illness — all are heaven’s will. It’s not as though the master would deliberately harm him. Everyone at the Court of Judicial Review knows what kind of person the master is.”
Xiao Huang had apparently grown up listening to stories about Zhù Ying. He didn’t hesitate, knelt before her, and Zhù Ying said: “All right.”
And so: with Cao Chang gone, Zhù Ying gained Ding Gui, Niu Jin, Xiao Liu, and Xiao Huang — four of them. Appearing in public like that looked quite fitting. The four of them thought nothing of being household servants or clerical staff — Niu Jin and Xiao Huang, if they could get clerical positions, were actually pleased. All four were of similar age; Zhù Ying handed them over to Hou Wu’s care.
Hou Wu was instantly elevated to head of the male servants, and laughed: “Who would have thought, in the master’s household, I’ve become a squad leader.”
“Then teach them well.”
“Yes.”
Zhù Ying having assembled her household staff, she went to discuss matters with her parents.
Zhang Xiangu and Zhù’s father were with Huajie in the west building, gathered around a table going over accounts. These days people kept coming with gifts to celebrate the promotion. They had set aside the household items; the question of what to do with the money remained unsettled. Huajie looked at the money and didn’t want to bring it all south — she suggested, since they were all still in the capital, buying a little more land here. If Zhù Ying ever left official life, there would be property to come back to. Zhang Xiangu and Zhù’s father were both willing. Huajie also explained: now that Zhù Ying was fifth rank, a greater amount of land could be held tax-exempt. Zhang Xiangu said: “Buy as much as we can.” Zhù’s father said: “Make sure it’s good land!”
Zhù Ying leaned in the doorframe, watching them talk enthusiastically. Huajie noticed her and said: “Why don’t you come in?”
Zhù Ying said: “Watching you all talk so happily about land — well, maybe you should all stay in the capital and deal with it leisurely? I’ll go back on my own first?”
Zhang Xiangu jumped up, knocking the chair behind her over: “What? You want to go alone? Has something happened?”
Zhù Ying said: “Quick — it’s more convenient. The Cao family has left, and if the house here sits empty it’ll fall into disrepair. We’ve been away for years — the farmland has been managed by Wen the Elder’s family all this time — what a debt of gratitude that is.”
Zhang Xiangu said: “We don’t know how to manage any of that.”
Zhù’s father was somewhat tempted, but still asked: “What will you be doing on your own?”
“Working — same as before. Once I’ve found a better place, I’ll bring you there. Shall we?” The south was genuinely damp; with years having passed, her parents were older now, and to make them run three thousand li again — Zhù Ying hadn’t the heart.
Zhang Xiangu and Zhù’s father both shook their heads: “No. Without us looking after you, how would you manage? Isn’t that right, Huajie?”
Huajie also hesitated. The way things stood, either Zhù Ying’s parents went along, or Huajie went with her, and if Huajie went, there would be no one to look after the elderly couple in the capital.
Zhang Xiangu was not going to leave her daughter no matter what. She said to Zhù’s father: “If you want to stay, you stay — I’m following Old Third.”
Zhù’s father said: “Then I’ll go too. This house? Sigh — there’ll never be anyone as good as the old Cao family to look after it.”
Zhang Xiangu glared at Zhù Ying: “We’ve agreed — we must go with you! What have I gotten out of my life? It all came down to you. If you’re not in front of my eyes, I might as well be dead.” Ten years of being honored as a matriarch had made her too self-conscious to sit on the ground and clap her palms, but her meaning was abundantly clear.
Huajie said: “I can practice medicine anywhere. But I think in Southern Prefecture, doctors are even rarer, and I want to take on a few apprentices. You already have Gu Tong and Zhao Su — and Xiao Jiang has Cuixiang. If I work alone, how many patients can I see? But the house really is a problem.”
Zhù Ying said: “No Zhang the Butcher, and you still have to eat a pig with all its hair on? No need to entrust it to anyone — just tell Zhao Su to look in regularly.”
Zhang Xiangu said: “Doesn’t he have a place near the Directorate of Education?”
“He’s renting!” Zhù Ying said simply. “He still comes here to read — even the dog doesn’t bark at him anymore. He must come by often. And he’s sharp. It’ll be fine. We’ll come back and change the locks, and I’ll ask someone to patrol the neighborhood from time to time.”
Zhang Xiangu steadied the chair and sat back down: “Fine — but you cannot go off on your own.”
Zhù Ying said: “I won’t.”
The question of female servants still had no answer. Even female servants in the capital did not want to travel three thousand li away — unless one bought bonded maids. For the moment, there was no easy solution.
Zhang Xiangu said: “With Du Dajie helping, what more could we need? Once we get to Southern Prefecture, just hire a girl to wash and keep the stoves going — she’ll be cheaper than in the capital.”
Even as a local official, Zhù Ying’s income had grown somewhat, but sending gifts to the capital was also a significant expense, and savings were always meager. Zhang Xiangu and Huajie continued to run the household with the same thrift as before.
Zhù Ying said: “Fine — then let’s get going sooner.”
She had said she wanted to go sooner, and so the remaining work was pressed along. She treated the Ministry of Personnel acquaintances to several more meals, lobbied Wang Yunhe from above and worked connections at the Ministry of Personnel from below, and procured both the commissions for the Yiyang Prefect and the Sicheng County Magistrate. The Ministry of Personnel agreed to delay the formal dispatch of those commissions a little, and send someone along with her to make the announcements south. She also, in her new capacity as Prefect of Southern Prefecture, wrote an official document on the spot, stamped it with the prefectural seal, and handed it in person to the Ministry of Personnel. Fulu County still had no suitable candidate for county magistrate; for now, she promoted Registrar Mo to the position of County Registrar.
She went to the Ministry of Revenue to borrow the household and land registers and maps.
Then she dragged Leng Yun back to the Court of Judicial Review to borrow regional case archives. Leng Yun sat to the side drinking tea and chatting with Lord Dou the Court President, while Zhù Ying went through the files. Lord Dou simultaneously envied Leng Yun and found his playboy ways incorrigible.
Over the following days, Zhù Ying dragged Leng Yun everywhere — to the Ministry of War to review the passes, checkpoints, garrisons, troop numbers, origins, and rosters of officers for the whole prefecture. Unlike before when she had first arrived in Fulu County and hadn’t paid close enough attention to these matters, she now made sure to note everything down.
At the Ministry of War, seeing her only make a general survey and not request figures on weapons and armor, and noting that she was Prefect of Southern Prefecture and had Leng Yun in tow, they allowed her to see some of the figures.
Leng Yun had to rise early every day and was thoroughly miserable. He finally held out until the rest day, then buried himself in his beloved concubine’s arms and said: “My life is so hard!”
On the rest day, Zhù Ying brought Zhao Su back to Yue Huan’s residence to collect the reviewed notes. She first had Zhao Su read through them himself, then put the notes away carefully and handed the household keys over to him.
Zhao Su said: “When I’m at school I have only a few servants — I’m afraid I can’t look after the place properly.”
Zhù Ying said: “What is there to look after properly or not? Read the books here as you like. Now make a list — I’m still in the capital for a few more days. If there’s anything missing, I’ll go and find it.”
Zhao Su was overjoyed: “There are indeed a few things!” Some books, even without being rare editions, had been printed in small numbers and could only be borrowed and copied out. As an out-of-town student who got ten days of school and only one day of rest, he had no way to obtain them.
Right then he pulled a sheet of paper from his sleeve: “These things. I couldn’t buy them and didn’t manage to borrow them to copy.”
Zhù Ying said: “I know where to find them.”
She brought Zhao Su to Liu Songnian’s home and had him copy books there. Liu Songnian was very annoyed, pushed Zhao Su over to Yue Huan: “Your student — you manage him!”
Zhù Ying was still busy. The farmland at home she still left in Wen Yue’s care — the income from that small plot of capital land was no longer much, relative to what she needed now. The new land had also not been purchased in the end, and she didn’t mind. Once all the preparations for heading south were complete, she went to find Leng Yun and proposed they travel south together. The Leng Marquis was desperate for his son to leave as soon as possible and readily agreed: “The third of the month would be excellent! The sooner the better!”
Zhù Ying said: “In that case, this official will go and prepare.”
She still needed to say goodbye to her friends. The runners brought from Fulu County had been in the capital too long, which wasn’t ideal for them. To give them something to do, she had deployed them on numerous tasks — led by Xiao Wu or Hou Wu, they had delivered calling cards and gifts everywhere, even sending gift boxes to the jailers, bailiffs, and coroners of the capital prefecture.
If they stayed any longer, these vigorous young men with nowhere to put their energy and not much money in hand might end up fighting with people on the streets.
Before the departure, Zhù Ying went to the Zheng Marquis’s residence to say farewell. The Zheng residence was quiet. Zheng Xi again received her in the same place as before, and handed her a fan case: “Get rid of that worn-out fan of yours.”
Zhù Ying opened it to find a waist fan. She said: “The old one of mine was quite good too — I’ll just replace the frame.”
As she said it, she took both fans.
Zheng Xi said: “No shame at all — what a sight.”
Zhù Ying ignored him and said to Yue Miaojun: “When I go back this time, if the household needs to order southern goods, don’t go to the wrong place.”
Yue Miaojun smiled: “Of course.”
The residence also prepared various useful items for Zhù Ying to take to Southern Prefecture. The Zheng Marquis also gave her a sword, saying that a great official should carry a sword.
Wang Yunhe and Liu Songnian offered no further instructions. Only Shi Kun warned her again and again: “You are absolutely forbidden from starting a military conflict on your own authority! If you provoke border trouble, I will personally petition for your execution!”
Zhù Ying said: “My lord, when have I ever been the one to start trouble? It’s always others who provoke me and I have no choice but to act.”
Shi Kun was even more worried: “Then you had better not go at all.”
“I have shed blood in the palace itself — have you forgotten?”
Shi Kun found her enormously vexing and told her to leave quickly.
Zhù Ying scavenged several large trunks of books from Yue Huan’s place before she was satisfied. At Yue Huan’s she also had one more request: could she arrange for Zhao Su to come and see her? She was leaving, and Zhao Su would still be in school at the time — at least they should meet once before she went.
Yue Huan smiled: “What is difficult about that?”
Zhao Su moved his luggage back out of the rented room and into the guest quarters of the Zhù residence, bringing his household servants. The dog circled his feet wagging its tail several times. Zhao Su patted the dog’s head and stood to greet Zhù Ying: “Adoptive Father, some things I would ask you to take back — please use them as an offering at my uncle’s grave.”
Zhù Ying said: “You are thoughtful.”
“When I was small, uncle was kinder to me than my own mother.” Zhao Su said. The things he entrusted were some toys from the capital and some exotic novelties from distant lands that couldn’t be found in the south. These things should properly have been placed as burial goods, but he had not been there at the time, and it would not be right to open the tomb now. So he asked Zhù Ying to burn them at the graveside.
Zhù Ying had Xiang An receive them with due gravity, and handed over the household keys.
One trip to the capital had finally come to its end. The result had exceeded expectations, and Zhù Ying was in excellent spirits. When they set out from the capital, many people came to see them off. Zheng Xi, who had not come to see them last time, came this time. The Leng Marquis came to see his son off, Xian Jing came to see Zhù Ying off, and so on. Those sending off the party and those being sent off caught sight of one another, and none found it surprising — all exchanged a knowing smile.
The return journey was like the outward one. Both Zhù Ying and Leng Yun had brought a great many things south. The wheat seed Leng Yun had obtained from Xian Jing was also loaded onto the boats. Once again they started at the docks, transferred to boats, traveled south by canal, and when they drew near Southern Prefecture switched from the water relay stations to the land relay stations. The official sent to announce the appointments traveled with them — and as it happened, he was the same young man who had come to Fulu County to summon her to the capital before.
Merchants once again requested to travel with them — no need to dwell on that.
Leng Yun and Zhù Ying were on different boats, but whenever the boats stopped he always liked to gather with her group. He had never spent so much time in the company of Zhang Xiangu and Zhù’s father, and never tired of hearing the old couple’s tales of country life — he frequently pressed them with questions about whether fox spirits were real.
Adviser Xue traveled with him; for most of the journey he discussed prefectural affairs with Zhù Ying. Adviser Xue set great store by the promotion of winter wheat planting, and seeing that Director Dong now had an official posting, Adviser Xue could not help but feel envious. He only regretted that he could not glue Leng Yun to Zhù Ying’s side — one moment’s inattention and a merit would fly away. Seeing that the matter of the tribal peoples was beyond him to share in, and knowing that Leng Yun could not endure life in remote mountain areas, the promotion of winter wheat became Adviser Xue’s greatest concern — surpassing even the criminal cases in which he was generally more skilled.
The boats reached the docks; then it was carriages and horses. Zhù Ying needed to go to Southern Prefecture; Leng Yun, encumbered with many things, went directly back to the prefectural capital. Transferring from boat to land, Leng Yun’s legs gave a slight wobble as he stepped ashore; Zhù Ying reached out and steadied him. Leng Yun got his footing and said: “I’m fine.”
Zhù Ying watched as he transitioned from playboy to governor, all in the span of one long exhaled breath and the righting of his head.
Zhù Ying said: “I wonder how long it will take the lord to get settled after returning?”
Leng Yun said: “Say what you mean.”
“Once the lord is settled, this official can go to the governor’s office to report to you.”
Leng Yun thought for a moment, glanced back at the wheat seed, and felt his head ache. “No rush,” he said. “Deal with your own prefectural affairs first. The handover must be properly managed too.”
“Yes.”
Zhù Ying watched him depart. Adviser Xue, before leaving, specifically came over to bid Zhù Ying farewell: “When the master needs anything, just send word.”
Zhù Ying said: “Thank you, Adviser. Please take care of yourself.”
She turned to the young official who had traveled with them: “I must trouble you again. Please.”
The two of them arrived together at Southern Prefecture. The officials of Southern Prefecture, led by the “Acting Prefect Qiu,” were waiting to greet them at the relay station.
The news of Zhù Ying’s elevation to prefect had come as a surprise to her — she herself had not known in advance and had had no way to influence it. Once the appointment was issued in the capital, the official gazette went out, and everyone who read it knew at once.
Whether officials or clerks, all eyes were darting about. Who Zhù Ying was — they all knew. One trip to the capital, and the county magistrate had come back a prefect. “Acting Prefect Qiu” had formerly been serving as deputy standing in for the position, and now the real appointee had come — the subordinate had become the superior!
“Acting Prefect Qiu” had had a thoroughly miserable time of it lately. His subordinates had gradually become unmanageable. He could not make any overt moves — this new “superior” of his was extraordinarily sharp-minded and ruthless.
Seeing Zhù Ying ride up on horseback, “Acting Prefect Qiu” was the first to step forward with a bow: “Southern Prefecture’s officials welcome the prefect.”
Zhù Ying dismounted: “Why does Lord Qiu feel the need to do this?”
“Acting Prefect Qiu” felt deeply awkward inside: “This official is here to receive the master — it is only right.”
Zhù Ying smiled: “What ‘this official’?” She turned to the young official: “Please.”
The young official cleared his throat, produced the document of “Acting Prefect Qiu’s” appointment, stepped forward, and read aloud the appointment of “Acting Prefect Qiu” as Prefect of Yiyang Prefecture, before the assembled officials and clerks.
Prefect Qiu was struck senseless by this news. He had been stranded in this remote place for nearly nine years! From Governor Lu to Governor Leng, promotion had always seemed a distant dream — and then suddenly, out of nowhere, it came. He was elevated from acting to actual — not yet recovered from the shock when he was already surrounded by a crowd offering congratulations.
Zhù Ying said: “Yiyang Prefecture already has a prefect — to transfer him and the chain of people involved caused some delay. Please pardon the wait, Brother Qiu.”
Prefect Qiu at that moment had no heart to take issue with anything; a smile appeared involuntarily: “Pardon, pardon — goodness, not at all.”
“Then — shall we carry out the handover? So Brother Qiu can get to Yiyang Prefecture quickly for his own handover.” Zhù Ying walked alongside him talking. “His Majesty and the Council of State wish to promote the planting of winter wheat — I imagine Brother Qiu has experience. Please take this seriously and don’t let down the court.”
Prefect Qiu’s heart gave a start: “I will absolutely not fail the imperial grace.” He then ventured: “Was it you who recommended me, younger brother?”
Zhù Ying said: “If you make any missteps, I’ll also be implicated — please take pity on me.”
Prefect Qiu said: “Not at all — my great thanks.” He also felt, on reflection, that there was nothing to complain about: from malingering just to avoid going somewhere else, to now feeling a surge of vigor and wanting to seize this chance — and the promotion had come before he even had to seize anything. Anger? There was nothing to be angry about. As for happiness — he wasn’t quite sure what to be happy about.
All manner of feelings dissolved into an emptiness. He made a gesture: “Please.”
It is common for incoming officials to inherit the outgoing official’s accumulated problems. To prevent this, Zhù Ying had used her connections to delay publication of Prefect Qiu’s appointment. Arriving at Southern Prefecture, she had Xiang An and Xiang Le start auditing the accounts while simultaneously sending someone to summon Qi Tai from Fulu County. Prefect Qiu’s accounts were somewhat better than Fulu County’s had been — of course there were still some irregularities. Zhù Ying did not mind filling small holes left by her predecessor, but the predecessor had to know what shoddy things he had done. Until the handover was completed properly, Prefect Qiu could not leave. The entire Southern Prefecture was on tenterhooks, and it took the better part of half a month of hard work to fully audit the accounts. Given the irregularities found during the process, Prefect Qiu handed over this year’s income from the official public fields as compensation. Zhù Ying moved directly to take control of the granary and revenue offices, and had thirteen clerks shackled and removed. Southern Prefecture’s government offices were emptied by nearly half.
At that point the appointments of Qi Tai and Xiao Wu were announced: Qi Tai as Revenue Clerk, Xiao Wu as Granary Clerk. Gu Tong was different from them — still holding only a nominal rank, but as Zhù Ying’s student he wasn’t concerned about not yet having a substantive post.
Once the handover was finally completed and Zhù Ying had signed off, Prefect Qiu was at last able to vacate the prefectural offices, and Zhù Ying’s family could finally move out of the relay station and into the offices.
At this point, all the staff of the prefectural office were on edge, afraid she would descend on them as she had on Sicheng County.
Those with a quick eye, seeing that the young official who had been announcing all the appointments still had not left, couldn’t help wondering: who else is in for good fortune?
After Zhù Ying moved into the prefectural offices, she summoned County Registrar Guan and Registrar Mo, both of whom already knew about her promotion and were inwardly anxious, not knowing who the new superior of Fulu County would be. Registrar Guan’s heart held a small hope — he had been in Fulu County for many years and knew the terrain intimately; if only he could…
Arriving at Southern Prefecture and entering the prefectural offices, they did not have to wait long. Before the hall, the two bowed to the head official. Zhù Ying said: “Listen first.”
The young official, after all these days, had deeply admired Zhù Ying’s technique of first suppressing and then surprising with a blow to the head. He made a mental note of the sequence, then stepped forward and read aloud the appointments of the two men. He produced Registrar Mo’s appointment first, and having read it saw the other man break into a cold sweat. He paused, then announced Registrar Guan’s appointment.
Registrar Guan had expected Fulu County magistrate; hearing “Sicheng County Magistrate,” he was first overjoyed, and then thought: Fulu County’s affairs are all in order — Sicheng County is only just beginning!
He began to envy the lucky soul, whoever it was, who would be inheriting Fulu County.