“The guards on duty these next two days — bear with a little hardship and keep a close watch on the gates. Once the duty roster is properly drawn up, there will be time for rotation and rest. That’s all — everyone else disperse and return to your own posts, await orders, and do not wander about.”

With that single order, the officials and clerks of the prefecture yamen straightened up and responded in unison, every one of them pulled taut.

After Zhù Ying dismissed them and turned back toward the signing chamber, the people who were her trusted companions filed in behind her. Wang the Registrar of Merit and Registrar Li exchanged a glance, and in each other’s eyes saw the same downcast look. They drifted slowly back to their own duty rooms. Within the prefecture yamen, both had previously been figures of some standing — Wang the Registrar of Merit especially, always surrounded by a cluster of attendants. Now even his Registrar of Merit assistant had been taken down, and the people around him kept their distance. The area around him was exceptionally quiet and lonely.

Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers looked at Peng the Registrar of Works. Peng the Registrar of Works, as if reading his thoughts, looked back.

Both gave an almost imperceptible nod, making sure the other had seen.

Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers edged two steps toward Peng the Registrar of Works; Peng the Registrar of Works sidled a little toward Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers. The two finally made contact: he also wants to talk to me.

Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers gave a look; Peng the Registrar of Works understood — let us go to Zhang’s quarters to talk.

Acting as if they had no understanding between them at all, yet moving ever closer together, they eventually entered Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers’ duty room in tandem. A white-clad attendant brought tea. Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers said, “The case is finally settled, the criminal caught — now we can finally sleep properly. Hey, Brother Peng, shall we play a game of weiqi?”

Peng the Registrar of Works said, “Certainly.”

Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers had the attendant dig out a dusty weiqi set, wipe it clean, and the two sat down to place stones. Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers said to the attendant, “Don’t stand around in here getting in the way. Wait outside and come tell me when the duty roster is posted.”

“Yes.”

Peng the Registrar of Works, seeing that Zhang had sent the man away, set a line of stones in a straight row while he asked, “Old Zhang — you have something on your mind.”

Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers also laid out stones, arranging them into a vertical line. Neither man was particularly cultivated — it was hard to say when either of them had learned this game, and their skill was thoroughly poor on both sides. If they needed to talk, they also couldn’t really play and talk at the same time, so they just moved stones at random to keep up appearances.

Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers said, “How many years have you been here?”

“Seven or eight, roughly — I’ve lost track. In a place like this, transfers are also difficult. Small officials like us tend to have shorter terms than the principal officials.”

“Same for me — all together I’ve served under three prefects and one acting-marshal. Not once has it been like it is under this one.”

“What do you mean?” Peng the Registrar of Works tested him.

“From now on, this prefecture is a changed place!”

“Hmm?” Peng the Registrar of Works was very surprised.

Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers asked, “You don’t have any thoughts about this?”

Peng the Registrar of Works wasn’t sure what he meant, and turned it back around: “What are your thoughts?”

Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers swept all the stones on the board to one side, clearing a space. He picked up two black stones: “Six registrars in this prefecture. The Registrar of Households and the Registrar of Granaries were replaced the moment she arrived! I didn’t understand it at first — but today, watching the Registrar of Merit and the Registrar of Justice, it suddenly came to me: the two of them, Wu the Registrar of Granaries and Qi the Registrar of Households, had their official appointments ready the moment they arrived. This prefect of ours planned things out well in advance!”

Peng the Registrar of Works nodded. “That is true. Now it is the Registrar of Merit and the Registrar of Justice — even if they haven’t been dismissed and replaced yet, after the female prison warden case, those two have something that can be used against them. They can never hold their heads up again. That Gu Tong — he can fill at least one role. I don’t know where the other will come from. Good grief, it is only the two of us left! What are we to do?”

He picked up two black stones and set them below the first pair.

Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers picked up two white stones: “It is only us two left — we cannot just sit here waiting to be picked off!”

Peng the Registrar of Works was horrified. “What are you thinking of doing? I have no ability for that.”

Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers gave him an unamused look. “There is no one in this yamen with that ability! Wang the Registrar of Merit thought that because he held the brush and had a hand in managing everyone above and below him — ha! Even back when former Marshal Qiu — well, now he is a prefect — was here, Wang the Registrar of Merit could not do as he liked. Now he wants to turn everything upside down?”

“What exactly are you saying?”

Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers said, “I am fifty-five years old. I have seen quite a bit. In the past I’ve also seen a number of capable colleagues — in the end, without exception, they all moved up and on. As long as you do not obstruct their work, they will not bother to spend time and effort tangling with the likes of us.”

“Four people have already gone! If you say she had it all planned before she arrived, surely she won’t let us off?”

Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers said, “So what can you do?”

“You called me here!” Peng the Registrar of Works was genuinely frightened.

Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers said slowly, “Don’t panic. All I manage is a few door keys and locks; even military selection and supply matters, I barely have a hand in. I know you have some construction work and the like in hand — and I know there are some inflated accounts. Looking at what happened to the Registrar of Households and the Registrar of Granaries, your conscience isn’t entirely clear, now is it?”

“Don’t you talk nonsense!”

“Old Peng, you’re always like this — you’d scare yourself to death before anyone else laid a finger on you. There is no point in being afraid; it will not help. For you and me right now, the only option is to go all in…”

“If you want to die go do it yourself — I am going to last as long as I can.”

Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers said, “Rather than that — why not pledge our loyalty outright?”

“What?”

“The two of us go this very moment to pledge our loyalty to the Prefect. What do you think? Our affairs are not that serious — at least I don’t have too many inflated accounts. Well, all right, there are some. I will admit to everything and beg her to be lenient. If she is willing to overlook it, I will follow her wholeheartedly. Look at her — twenty-some years old, wearing the crimson robe, and that Xiao Wu: a minor yamen runner in a county yamen, now standing on equal footing with the rest of us. Transferring from clerk to official, then one more promotion — how many years did that take altogether? And how many years did it take you to transfer from clerk to official?”

Peng the Registrar of Works frowned deeply. It was true that the things in his hands were somewhat worse than Zhang’s, but what Zhang was saying also seemed to have some logic to it. He said, “I am afraid she has already made up her mind to kick me out.”

Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers said, “Then what of it? I will confess everything; if she cannot tolerate me, I will ask her, given that I am not putting up a fight and am saving her the trouble of doing it herself, to at least point me toward somewhere I can go. Find me a posting somewhere else with a less strict superior, and I can at least live out my days more comfortably. If she can keep us, we will take orders and work hard. For one thing, she just gave us all a raise, so following her is not a bad deal. Extending the head gets you one cut; pulling in the head gets you one cut. Old Peng — what do you say?”

Peng the Registrar of Works was still hesitating. Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers said, “A person this young — surely she won’t wait too long for us!”

Peng the Registrar of Works asked, “You are certain?”

“The bit of wrongdoing you have — if you wait for her to find it herself and act on it, it will be too late. What do you say?”

Peng the Registrar of Works was very tempted! Suddenly he looked at Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers with suspicion. “Your wrongdoing is not that serious — why come to me?” Their relationship had never been particularly close before.

“Of the six registrars, now only the two of us are in the same situation. What do you say? Go together? If she moves against me, you can put in a word for me; if she moves against you, I’ll say something for you as well. We won’t cause the Prefect any trouble, and we ask the Prefect to give us a way out.”

Peng the Registrar of Works said, “Alright!”

The two of them talked through the details carefully. If Zhù Ying chose not to pursue the matter, how they would show their gratitude. If Zhù Ying insisted on an investigation, how they would put their case. They rehearsed each step, each word: go in, first express remorse, then make a self-examination of their own offenses, then declare their loyalty — saying that as long as the Prefect permitted them to redeem themselves through service, they would follow her lead in all things without reservation. And if the Prefect found them too dim-witted, also please be merciful and give them a way out — when they left, they would hand over everything they had in their possession intact and would not dare leave the Prefect to clean up after them.

By the time they had talked until nightfall, Peng the Registrar of Works said, “We should bring some gifts if we are to call on someone.”

“What will you bring?”

“What about you?”

The two walked out at the end of the day; Peng the Registrar of Works invited Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers to his home, and they talked over the gifts some more. They agreed to spend the next morning organizing their own files; at noon, when Zhù Ying was going to the back quarters for lunch, they would make their move and go request an audience to confess.

Peng the Registrar of Works still had doubts: “Will the Prefect let us off?”

Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers said, “Pledging loyalty now is the best possible moment! If only we had gone the moment she arrived — that would have been ideal. It’s a pity I hadn’t made contact with her when she was still in Fulu County. Truth be told, our Prefect is the most thorough about everything — even someone like me, the Registrar of Soldiers, with barely any dealings with her, still got the same gifts as everyone else when she arrived. She is not an unreasonable person.”

“Yes, yes! Let’s hope, let’s hope! Let’s go first thing tomorrow morning! What if by now she has finished taking down the Registrar of Merit and the Registrar of Justice, and is at this very moment plotting how to take me out?”

“Teacher — I’m here!” Gu Tong slid from left to right, picking up documents and passing them to Zhù Ying.

“Prefect — I’m here!” Xiao Wu slid from right to left, picking up the ink stick to grind ink.

Gu Tong glanced at Xiao Wu, and smiled silently: hehe.

Xiao Wu glanced at Gu Tong, and cracked a grin back: heh heh!

They were pumped.

Really.

Since arriving at the prefecture yamen — and especially since Xiao Wu’s official appointment — that early flush of “one person ascends, I rise with them” had not lasted long. The atmosphere in the prefecture yamen was completely different from the Fulu County yamen that Zhù Ying had already overhauled — here it was sticky and slippery, not openly hostile, but everything you tried to do would stall and drag. Everyone was listless.

Xiao Wu had a little experience with this. Back in Fulu County, Zhù Ying’s struggle against the local gentry had also taken several back-and-forth passes before things got done — at the start she had even laid low for several months. But that was all a long time ago.

Gu Tong had heard Zhù Ying say that a new official’s first year was one of getting nothing done, but he still harbored a kind of expectation. Yet these officials and clerks — first they cooked the accounts, then they carelessly released prisoners — always treading just barely on the line where you wanted to act but felt you would be making a mountain out of a molehill if you did. More infuriating than anything else.

And this was unfamiliar territory; Gu Tong had felt some frustration. He believed those who followed the teacher probably all had similar feelings. Except for the new batch of youngsters, who were still too green to have tasted it yet. Understandably — they had no experience. Gu Tong had even been drafting a plan to call Xiao Liu and the others together for a talk to wake them up.

Now it felt good! So satisfying!

“Teacher is extraordinary!” Gu Tong did not feel he was flattering anyone at all — this was pure, heartfelt admiration.

Zhù Ying was writing official correspondence. The case details were being transferred to the Court of Judicial Review; since the case was not yet fully closed, the crimes of these two individuals could be added to the file at any time. Beyond that, she also had two more memorials to draft: one to memorialize against Jing Gang, and one to propose a discussion about adding clauses to the current statutes.

Jing Gang had to be memorialized against — she had said it, so she would do it. One memorial, a bit of paper and ink, the effect should be considerable.

The main matter in the memorial was about the legal provisions — prompted by the Jiao Jiao case. Because previously there had been no female officials, the female clerks in yamen prisons were also of a concurrent nature, and the corresponding legal provisions were nonexistent. Now with the Jiao Jiao case as an example, she had first established a precedent herself by her ruling, and then submitted it upward, hoping to have a provision added to the current statutes to cover cases similar to this one as a defined rule.

Namely: when a male superior, exploiting his official position, engages in misconduct with a female subordinate — what should the penalty be?

Her position was that because of the inherent hierarchy, the superior occupied the dominant position by virtue of the court-bestowed difference in rank, while the female subordinate was not like a lower official’s wife or daughter — she directly faced the superior’s authority and was subject to his command and control. Authority used from above to oppress below, therefore, could not be considered “consensual adultery” — it was only “seduction,” “coercion,” or even outright “assault.” Therefore the female subordinate was to be held blameless, and the male superior’s offense was to be increased by one degree. In the Jiao Jiao case, that is precisely how she had ruled regarding Jiao Jiao’s relationship with the two assistants.

There was also a perfectly upright and legitimate rationale behind this: the conduct of the scholar-official class. The principle that one does not adjust one’s shoe in a melon field, nor straighten one’s hat under a plum tree. Scholar-officials were naturally expected to maintain a standard of moral conduct — the court’s officials and clerks were supposed to serve as models of proper behavior for the common people. One did not ask for lofty virtue or pristine integrity — but at least one should not engage in “beastly conduct”?

As for other matters — such as bribery in securing positions: statutes for this had long been in place. Just follow those. The person who paid, Jing the Fifth, had already been punished. Jiao Jiao, who had no money involved, had entered her post without a formal examination, and so was dismissed.

When she had finished writing, she blew on the pages and said to Gu Tong, “What was that you said just now?”

Gu Tong smiled. “Teacher, of the six registrars, two are now in hand. The Registrar of Merit and the Registrar of Justice seem likely to be next — only the Registrar of Soldiers and the Registrar of Works remain. How do we take those back? Teacher, just give the word and we will handle it well!”

Zhù Ying flicked his forehead with her finger. “What is this big temper of yours? The six registrars are offices established by the court and all fall under my authority. What is there to ‘take back’?”

Gu Tong quickly took out his brush to take notes. Xiao Wu imitated him and also started to take notes.

Zhù Ying said, “Don’t put it down on paper. Some things the court might take issue with — keep those in your head.”

Both men quickly put their writing implements away and pricked up their ears.

Zhù Ying said, “If I replace all six registrars, all of the subordinate officials personally designated by me? The court would reprimand me first. That is the circuit level — the number of officials is even greater. How could the principal official choose and dismiss all of them on his own? You must learn to work with people who are not so flexible — if you can manage even so, that is the true test of whether you have been genuinely forged. Besides, the Southern Prefecture’s officials are not so terrible — if they were, this place would have fallen apart long ago. It would never have held on.”

Gu Tong murmured, “The Huang the Twelfth case was no small matter either.”

“Which is why Magistrate Qiu of that county came to grief.” Zhù Ying said. “As for the Registrar of Merit and the Registrar of Justice — the small irregularities I anticipated ahead of time. A truly capable person, unless they have offended some powerful figure at court, would not stay in a place like this.”

Xiao Wu nodded. Gu Tong was startled. “Why?”

Zhù Ying said, “In your heart, your hometown is always the best place, isn’t it?”

Gu Tong understood, and felt even sadder.

A place like the Southern Prefecture — isolated in this malarial, miasmic region — even the connection between the people and the court was one of imperfect mutual intelligibility in language, let alone the impossibility of the roads. One step away from slipping beyond civilization’s reach. It was simply not a place that officials wanted to come to.

Those with ambitions, even those who wanted to come, had to actually survive the journey to arrive. And so the lower-level subordinate officials who did end up here were, generally speaking, either demoted officials who had committed some great error, or those who had risen from clerks, or those from the local area without strong connections and with limited ability — people like Registrar Guan or Mo the Chief Clerk. For those slightly higher up or holding principal posts, someone like Xiao Liu’s type had the background and was an official from the start. Such people were either like Leng Yun — arriving at the highest level from the beginning — or like Zhù Ying herself — arriving with the intention of doing something, yet still having to have the means and the luck to survive and manage a great deal of work. Or else they were people like Magistrate Wang, content to muddle along — like former Magistrate Wang, who though technically alive had hidden himself away in a kind of official oblivion.

Of course, officials with ambition, the right conduct, and real ability were not absent — the problem was that when such a person appeared, those above would quickly take notice and transfer them elsewhere to use them in more important capacities. So those who stood out and were conspicuous were plucked away, unable to remain long. The conditions of the place meant that very few capable new people were willing to come and replenish the ranks; local talents, by regulation, had to serve away from their home regions. This meant no large influx of excellent new people to supplement and raise the overall quality of officialdom. Wang Yunhe might appreciate Zhù Ying’s earlier arguments, but he still had to prioritize the “heartland.”

Under these conditions, there was rather a sense of “a skilled woman cannot cook without rice.” They simply had to make do with the people at hand.

Zhù Ying said, “Do you understand?”

Gu Tong nodded seriously. “Teacher, the Southern Prefecture will definitely improve. Fulu County will keep getting better. Teacher, whatever you need — just tell me!”

Zhù Ying said, “Of course. I won’t forget you.”

Xiao Wu quickly said, “And me! And me! Oh — and there is also Academician Qi! And Xiang Le and the others too! And Ding Gui too!”

Zhù Ying said, “I have it in mind. Let us just stay steady and take it one step at a time.”

Gu Tong was reassured. “Teacher says ‘one step at a time,’ but every step is faster and steadier than anyone else’s. So what is the next step?”

Zhù Ying said, “First, go over the prefecture yamen’s guard rota and the city guard duties one more time. I gave orders hastily in the middle of things — to run smoothly for the long term, the order of operations needs to be properly established. Keep an eye on the Registrar of Merit’s work — even if the registrar post itself can’t be filled right away, practice acquiring those skills. You will need them later.”

“Yes! Teacher, I thought you would have me listen for any grievance cases.”

“That can come gradually. It is good to have a specialty, but you cannot be completely ignorant of everything else.”

“Yes. Actually, I’m also not that eager to fill such a vacancy right now — if I filled it I’d end up just like Xiao Wu.”

“What is that supposed to mean?” Xiao Wu said.

Gu Tong said, “I’m adding two more problems to your homework tonight.”

Xiao Wu’s face crumpled.

Zhù Ying nodded. “Alright. Once the duty roster is arranged, Ah-Tong, you, Hou Wu, Xiang Le, and Xiang An take turns watching the situation for a few days. If there are any gaps in the coverage, let us patch them up quickly before the trip to the circuit city. You can begin working on the old files of the Registrar of Merit and the wrongful cases of the Registrar of Justice. Help me with that.”

“Yes.” Gu Tong said.

“Xiao Wu — settle down and learn something. That way you will be able to go far later.”

“Yes!” Xiao Wu said at once, and also brought Zhù Ying tea and water.

Zhù Ying said, “Very well — send these two out first thing tomorrow morning to the capital.”

“Yes.”

Gu Tong asked one more time: “Teacher, there is one more thing I don’t understand.”

“What is it?”

“Teacher is going to memorialize against Jing Gang — but the Jing family has already been punished. Jing Gang is only a from-sixth-rank official, and if you memorialize against him, is it…”

Zhù Ying said, “Let me test you again. You have read about the past practice of principal officials personally selecting their own subordinates?”

“Yes.”

“Why does that no longer exist? Who oversees that now?”

Gu Tong was beginning to understand, though not entirely. Zhù Ying smiled slightly. “In former times, local officials selecting their own subordinates meant local strongmen. The court spent how much effort contending with local strongmen for this one right of disposal? Even as standards slip over time and capable people are scarce in certain places, there are regions where even the market supervisor of a county cannot be from that same county. This is adjusted by the Registrar of Merit at the circuit and prefecture levels. One Jiao Jiao — not a big matter, but a reminder to tighten things up.”

Gu Tong suddenly understood. Both he and Xiao Wu thought of what Zhù Ying had done on first arriving in Fulu County — clearing out a batch of clerks and yamen runners who were too closely connected to powerful local households.

Now Xiao Wu, Qi Tai, and the others held their official posts on Zhù Ying’s recommendation — this was also a form of “personally selecting subordinates.” But they were not local people, which was why the court could agree to it. The court was also willing to extend this small convenience to officials posted to difficult, remote regions. Locally sourced clerks in such places were practically unavoidable; allowing local strongmen to insert their own people freely at will — what would remain of the court’s authority? Or the official’s authority?

“Human connections are unavoidable, and clan ties in local areas cannot entirely be stamped out. Openly buying and selling official positions — exposed for all to see, and not punished? Would the court be considered dead? Would the officials be considered nonexistent?”

This was a warning shot. Zhù Ying had simply chosen the loudest drum to beat.

Zhù Ying said, “Very well. Go.”

She still had many more things to see through one by one. After the two of them left, she added a few more notes to her mental plan.

Gu Tong came back almost immediately: “Teacher, Registrar Li is requesting an audience!”

The sky was already dark. Registrar Li arrived with a hurried step. He was very courteous to Gu Tong as well: “Young Master Gu, is the Prefect free?”

Gu Tong, with his new sense of confidence, no longer needed to put on the airs of youth with Registrar Li; he said politely, “Registrar Li, whatever brings you must be important. I will go and announce you.”

Zhù Ying said, “Show him in.”

Gu Tong led Registrar Li inside. Registrar Li also did not stand on ceremony — he entered the study, turned into the eastern chamber, and seeing Zhù Ying seated behind the writing table, he walked up to the desk and fell with a thud to his knees. “Prefect!”

Zhù Ying set down the dossier in her hand. “What is this about, Registrar Li? Ah-Tong.”

Gu Tong lurched forward to help Registrar Li up — and as he took hold of him gave a great start: Registrar Li was crying!

Tears and mucus streaming together, faster and more dramatically than when Gu Tong’s own mother cried before picking a fight with his father! Gu Tong’s hand trembled; Registrar Li’s body leaned toward him, and Gu Tong quickly braced him back up. “Prefect — Registrar Li, what has happened?”

Registrar Li was in his forties. Tears and mucus had soaked into his beard. He wept as he spoke: “Prefect, this subordinate has committed offenses! I beg the Prefect to give me the heaviest punishment!”

Zhù Ying said, “What has come over you? Sit down, speak calmly. You are an official of this prefecture — if there is something troubling you, naturally I won’t stand by doing nothing. We will work it out together. What is the matter?”

Registrar Li said, “Prefect, anyone who takes over a predecessor’s affairs will have a great many things to rectify. This subordinate dare not place all blame on predecessors, nor claim the problems were entirely inherited. Yet that is what was taken over. The Southern Prefecture is a remote place, learning and teaching are not flourishing here; unlawful conduct is frequent. Living among the Lao peoples, certain practices have taken root that might seem acceptable locally. When this subordinate took over, a single wrong step led to each subsequent wrong step.”

Gu Tong handed him his own handkerchief. Registrar Li wiped his face, and his voice became clearer: “This subordinate is slow-witted — supporting things here and shoring them up there, always struggling. The Prefect comes from the Court of Judicial Review by way of condescension to this place — a thousand times more intelligent than this subordinate. I beg the Prefect not to disdain this subordinate’s stupidity and to offer some guidance, so that this lowly official may serve by the Prefect’s side henceforth and learn a little.”

Gu Tong, using the excuse of fetching tea, opened his mouth wide — he had seen a fair amount of the world, yet he had never seen a prefecture-level Registrar of Justice, such a “high official,” so utterly without regard for appearances, so willing to abase himself and beg forgiveness like this!

He glanced at Zhù Ying — she showed not the slightest trace of surprise in her expression, yet her movements conveyed a certain astonishment. She quickly rose and said, “What do you mean, Registrar Li? I came from Fulu County to the Southern Prefecture — this is already my second time inheriting what a predecessor left behind. Everything you said, I understand fully. Sealing the files and reviewing the cases is not aimed at you. I have always gone after the matter, not the person. Registrar Li, without your contributions there would only be your hardships, and if there were no hardships there were still your toils. Just put your heart into your work.”

Gu Tong thought: Another one won over.

But Registrar Li became even more agitated-looking and knelt again: “Prefect, this subordinate has committed offenses. In the past, I was indeed negligent and dilatory in managing affairs, allowing those below me to make serious mistakes. I beg the Prefect to forgive me.”

Zhù Ying said, “What forgiveness is there to speak of? Registrar Li — please set past wrongs in order and get the records straight. Whatever misjudgments may exist in past cases — you surely have a sense of that yourself. As for the mistakes of the past, do not repeat them — that is all that is needed.”

“Yes — yes.” Registrar Li still did not rise. He continued to make confession, saying his own abilities were limited and so forth, that there had indeed been instances of misjudgment in cases in the past, that the records had all been compiled and he begged the Prefect’s guidance on how best to handle the sentencing. He was willing to become Zhù Ying’s student and place himself under her guidance.

Gu Tong gripped his mouth shut with great effort to contain the sound of scorn.

Zhù Ying said, “Guidance is not the word — you and I are mutual consultants, that is all. Registrar Li — please rise. We are colleagues in the same court; mutual support is proper. Such formality I truly cannot accept. Registrar Li must take care of your health — the prefecture’s arrest and crime-breaking, judicial decisions, and public order — all of these will need you. You see, all I have here is one Ah-Tong. Expecting him alone to help me review old cases — won’t that take until the monkey grows horns? I will need your assistance.” She also invited him to come the following day to help review the old cases together — any questions could be “asked” of her at any time. Together they would go back through the old cases and clean up the long-unresolved ones as well, so as to have a clear picture. When those above came to investigate later, she could also speak on his behalf.

At this, Registrar Li finally stopped crying. He climbed to his feet and bowed deeply again: “This subordinate dare not give less than everything he has!”

Zhù Ying called for water to be brought, had Gu Tong bring the basin to the door for Registrar Li to wash his face, also offered him tea, and then walked him to the door.

Registrar Li said, “Prefect, please stay.”

“A couple of steps won’t tire me out.”

She walked Registrar Li from the back quarters all the way to the yamen entrance. Registrar Li’s servants held his horse. He did not dare mount in front of Zhù Ying, and so bowed to her and turned away, walking first a few steps on foot. Then he turned around — and saw someone approaching from far off on a tall horse.

Wang the Registrar of Merit spotted Registrar Li from a distance and was genuinely astonished. It was already past curfew — while in a small town like this no one would dare arrest them for breaking curfew, still — this man was supposed to have left with him; they had even walked out together! How had he come back?

Wang the Registrar of Merit urged his horse forward, and by the light of the yamen’s lanterns he could see that Registrar Li’s eyes were red, even the tip of his nose red from weeping. He silently cursed: what a sly old fox — refined himself into a spirit — came here to confess and pledge loyalty! Vile!

Wang the Registrar of Merit’s face was set, and he greeted Registrar Li with a nod and a word, then jumped down from his horse and bowed to Zhù Ying: “Prefect.”

Zhù Ying gestured to dismiss Registrar Li, who bowed to her, then walked off at an unhurried pace.

Wang the Registrar of Merit had been beaten to it by Registrar Li — he too had wanted to come first and make his submission. But people who oversaw examinations, like the Ministry of Personnel, always had a certain self-regard, and were not quite willing to simply do as Zhù Ying said without something in return. Yet with a handle for leverage being held over him, he had no choice but to bow his head. He had dithered and delayed, mentally cursed the Registrar of Merit assistant’s entire lineage, then found a way to push certain serious items onto that assistant, keeping a little for himself to confess. And while one part of him kept remembering that “the master who controls the pen controls people’s careers,” he told himself he was only a Registrar of Merit — just of the eighth rank from the top. With something like this hanging over his head, he still needed to soften his stance. After going back and forth, working out every detail, Wang the Registrar of Merit had finally made his move.

His only regret was that by now the files were sealed and the prefecture gates closely guarded — he had no opportunity to slip in and burn a few old records.

Once every consideration was clear — even how far he was willing to follow Zhù Ying’s lead, and at what point, if pushed too far, he would make a show of resistance — Wang the Registrar of Merit had come running.

He watched Registrar Li walk off into the distance, then said: “Prefect, this subordinate has something to report to you.”

“Oh? It must be something urgent indeed for you to come at this hour. Come — let us talk inside.” Zhù Ying also asked whether he had eaten, and had food arranged for Wang the Registrar of Merit. The Zhù family’s cook was notoriously poor, as was common knowledge — sometimes even Academician Qi’s daughter had to help out.

By any measure of taste, Wang the Registrar of Merit had no desire to eat this meal. But Wang the Registrar of Merit said, “The Prefect honors me with food — dare I refuse?”

Zhù Ying brought him to the back quarters; Registrar Li’s tea had already been taken away.

Zhù Ying called for tea. Wang the Registrar of Merit waited until the tea was served and Ding Gui had withdrawn, then dropped to his knees!

Gu Tong rolled his eyes, watching Wang the Registrar of Merit and Zhù Ying perform another round of the same play. Wang the Registrar of Merit was more skilled than Registrar Li — he shifted more of the burden onto the Registrar of Merit assistant, and acknowledged a little for himself. He also managed to say that some of it had been “carrying out the wishes of a superior official” — since he was, after all, only a Registrar of Merit assistant at the eighth rank. Such matters, though his responsibility to oversee, also required looking to the superior’s intentions. Wang the Registrar of Merit wept bitterly recalling his “impossible position.”

Zhù Ying was no easy mark either, and jokingly said, “Very well, then. From now on, when the Registrar of Merit tells others about things that went wrong, just say it was also the intention of this superior official here, and that things went astray. Shall I carry that burden?”

Wang the Registrar of Merit was flattened by that one line back down to his knees, saying of course it was all his own fault.

The two went back and forth with sharp words for a while before reaching a resolution. Zhù Ying even spoke earnestly to Wang the Registrar of Merit: “Registrar Li, do your work earnestly and there will be a response.” Wang the Registrar of Merit, nearing forty years old, was temporarily brought to heel by her. In the end he too washed his face, and sat at the front to share a meal with Zhù Ying.

The meal had been prepared by Huajie. Wang the Registrar of Merit thought: the food is actually not bad — have they taken on a new cook?

He had one-upped Registrar Li by getting a free meal; feeling fairly stable, he also walked a few steps before mounting his horse. Thinking to himself: He will still use my handle against me, I suppose — and Old Li is probably no better off. Still, at least there will be no further pursuit of the matter. When this term ends and he leaves, we need not attend to him any further — or perhaps I can also get transferred out then. Someone else to serve, someone less strict, life could be more comfortable. For now, just scrape through this somehow. He does not have enough of his own people — he will still need to use me. Ah — his trusted people are all getting promoted! I wonder if I too can…

After the others had all gone, Gu Tong could no longer keep his face blank: “Teacher! How could they be like this?”

Zhù Ying said, “What do you mean, ‘like this’? One nose, two eyes — people are people, this is just how they are.”

“How can they have so little backbone?! They are court officials! Court officials!”

“What — you would prefer they keep making things difficult for me?” Zhù Ying said. “Read a few more of the poems lamenting lost love. See who wrote them, and who they were written for. So touching and plaintive — compared to that, the women I have seen who liked to complain could only manage ‘may you die a thousand deaths.’ Men who write those kinds of poems truly had it down.”

Gu Tong had naturally read some of those poems, and was utterly lightning-struck. He floated home to sleep. Xiao Wu brought a set of problems to show him; Gu Tong nearly got one wrong, and in the end said, “Look at those tomorrow.”

The next day, Gu Tong dragged himself up with dark circles under his eyes and accompanied Zhù Ying to the front yamen to arrange the day’s tasks. Zhù Ying had already personally gone over the prefecture yamen and city guard arrangements once again.

Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers took the opportunity to say, “This subordinate is fairly familiar with the city defenses and gate locks. I am willing to act as the Prefect’s guide — this subordinate will go fetch the map.”

Peng the Registrar of Works also said, “This subordinate is also familiar with the buildings and bridges. I am willing to describe them for the Prefect — this subordinate will go fetch the records.”

Both men went into the signing chamber; finding only Gu Tong present with Ding Gui and the others standing guard at the door, they exchanged a glance. Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers went in first, cradling his organized materials, and without kneeling, made a deep bow all the way to the ground, then straightforwardly made his submission.

Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers’ responsibilities were lighter, and so the things he could get wrong were fewer — his confession was quickly finished, and he came out. He patted his chest and promised Zhù Ying, “All matters of the Registrar of Soldiers — the Prefect is welcome to investigate. Any errors, this subordinate will correct them.”

He came out properly; Peng the Registrar of Works went in. He also did not kneel — but he wept so hard he nearly collapsed to the floor. Gu Tong mechanically helped him up.

After the two left, Zhù Ying said, “Get ready and we will go take a look at this Southern Prefecture city. What is the matter with you? Tired? Maybe I should give you three days off like Xiang Le?”

Xiang Le and Xiang An, having gone with her on the excursion to Hedong, and then on the grueling undercover tour, had been given days off by Zhù Ying. Xiang Le had quietly gone on his own to keep watch near the Registrar of Justice assistant’s home, and had actually made a contribution. Zhù Ying credited him with a meritorious act and gave him two extra days.

Gu Tong said, “I will follow the teacher! Following you always means seeing extraordinary things.”

Zhù Ying smiled slightly. Bringing Gu Tong, Xiao Huang, and the others, she went with Zhang the Registrar of Soldiers and Peng the Registrar of Works up to the city watchtowers, inspected the maps, examined the city’s actual layout, and established new regulations. She also issued the order: strictly enforce the night curfew.

Xiao Huang and the others were greatly excited — they were not much older than Xiao Liu, and like him had only heard about Zhù Ying through “stories.” Now that they were seeing her directly, each and every one of them was just as thrilled as Gu Tong. Whatever Zhù Ying said, they listened to. Zhù Ying said, “Each of you has your own responsibilities — attend to them well. Look at Wu the Registrar of Granaries. When he was previously a yamen runner, he could keep the whole yamen in his head.”

Only then did she return to the yamen and continue reviewing old files. The records of the four registrars — actually far simpler than the money and grain files of the Registrar of Households and the Registrar of Granaries! The Registrar of Works’ records were somewhat more complex, but still nothing like those two.

Though they had pledged their loyalty, Zhù Ying still needed to take stock of the situations in all four registrars’ offices.

After several days of file review, with no major news in the court bulletins, Zhù Ying returned to the back quarters for the evening meal.

After dinner, Xiao Jiang said, “Prefect — I want to move out.”