The three members of the Grand Council gathered to review Zhù Ying’s memorial, along with the accompanying memorials submitted alongside it.

Zhong Yi found Shi Kun’s reasoning sound. The details in these memorials rang true. Though Zhong Yi had spent very little time in local posts and had never traveled to the south, he still possessed basic common sense — and details were the hardest things to fabricate. Zhong Yi knew the Emperor had previously retrieved Zhù Ying’s old memorials; he had also pulled the old memorials from Nanfu for his own review, and found that the writing in the memorials submitted by the subordinate tribal prefects had an unmistakably “barbarian” tone to them.

Shi Kun said: “Before we present this to His Majesty, we need a plan. These are two separate matters. The first — the tribal audience — must be settled quickly and can be deliberated openly with regard to protocol. The second — the establishment of the subordinate prefecture — while it cannot be delayed, also cannot be rushed. It likewise requires a plan, and must be kept confidential externally. Zhù Ying is there on the ground and knows the full picture, but we cannot simply give her everything she asks for. Where would the dignity of the court stand?”

Zhong Yi said: “Naturally.”

The two matters were different in nature. The first was a matter of surface and appearance; the second was the substance beneath — and the more important something was, the less it could be made public. Better to let matters settle before presenting the outcome directly. Of course, the second matter still needed to be reported to the Emperor at the earliest opportunity, and they would need to bring a preliminary proposal when they met with him.

Wang Yunhe said: “The ranking of the tribes.” The Heavenly Court had many tributaries and vassal states, and whenever foreign tributaries came to pay homage, there was always a prescribed order. The Liao peoples of the south were not a powerful force, so their ranking would fall rather far back. The standard for their lodgings would be somewhat lower, and the dishes at the banquet would differ slightly as well.

Shi Kun said: “Then there is protocol — once they arrive in the capital, they must first rehearse the rites.”

They conferred quietly among themselves, working out the details of gifts and other arrangements, and jotted their conclusions on a slip of paper tucked inside the memorial. That matter was considered settled. They would present it to the Emperor shortly. Their recommendation was to have Zhù Ying bring these people to the capital for an imperial audience. The Emperor was likely to agree — he had, in fact, mentioned it briefly the previous year. At the time, no one had paid it much attention, their minds all occupied with the winter wheat, and Zhù Ying herself had not responded to the Emperor’s hints.

Now, the time had come.

Then there was the matter of the subordinate prefecture.

Shi Kun said: “This prefect — it would simply be her, correct? Does either of you have an objection?”

Wang Yunhe said: “She has credibility there. Better to use someone familiar than to send a stranger. Dispatching an outsider to establish a new prefecture would almost certainly go wrong.”

The court had no standing whatsoever among the various tribes. Nanfu itself had originated from “Nanping County” — and where had the other three counties come from? The Liao people were the ones who had been wronged. That was the old account. The more recent account was that every family had blood debts. Without someone they knew and trusted, dealings would be impossible.

Zhong Yi smiled: “Zhù Ying is hardly a mild-tempered person. After a year of hard work clearing the fields, if you leave her out when it’s time to eat, she will certainly make a scene.”

Wang Yunhe said: “‘The gift has been lost. From this day forward, the people of Lu will no longer ransom their countrymen. Taking the gold brings no harm to one’s conduct; refusing to take it means no one will ransom captives again.’ Even if she does make a scene, it reflects no discredit upon her.”

Shi Kun said: “She brings her own food and wine to the table — the host naturally cannot let her go hungry. She is far better than those opportunists who hide when the work needs doing, then rush to the head of the table and start ordering dishes the moment the meal begins.”

Zhong Yi said: “Then it is settled — it shall be her. But she has asked for Nanfu, which would put her in a different category from the subordinate prefects. Within a single prefecture, two different systems in operation — that would be difficult to manage. Either everything is subordinate, governed fully under subordinate rules, or everything is enrolled in the official registers.”

Wang Yunhe said: “Instructor Wei Bozhong went into the mountains himself and saw firsthand — the tribes have no written script, their people are scattered, living dispersed across the land. How could they be registered? Their customs are fierce and untamed, yet they cannot simply be left unchecked.”

Shi Kun said: “But if we govern by subordinate rules, this prefect would have no seat of administration.” As he said this, he laughed to himself. Zhù Ying’s memorial had laid out the entire situation — her request for Nanfu was precisely for the purpose of establishing a subordinate prefecture.

Zhong Yi said: “Even so, we cannot simply give her everything she asks for.”

Wang Yunhe said: “Lord Zhong makes a fair point — which is precisely why we must work out a plan first. My thought is this: first, the prefect-rank of a subordinate prefecture cannot be too high. How would it be to classify it as a lower-tier prefecture?”

A lower-tier prefecture’s prefect held the rank of Senior Fourth Grade, Lower Class — which meant that once it was settled, Zhù Ying would be promoted again. Zhong Yi said: “Agreed.”

Next came the question of structure. This subordinate prefecture was not entirely orthodox in its subordinate arrangement — it would be divided into two parts: one consisting of the subordinate tribal counties, and the other being Nanfu itself. The Grand Council did not want to follow Zhù Ying’s proposal in full. Wang Yunhe intended to divide the four counties of Nanfu, granting Zhù Ying two — Nanping and Fulu — which would be a fair enough deal for her.

They would then draw one county from the neighboring Yiyang Prefecture and combine it with Sicheng and Hedong to form a new prefecture, keeping the original state’s three-prefecture structure intact and requiring no major reshuffling of officials.

There remained one question: what to do with the existing officials in Nanfu? Transfer them out?

Zhong Yi said: “Simply distribute them to fill posts elsewhere!”

Then there were the officials for the subordinate prefecture’s governing seat. In a subordinate arrangement, the court did not appoint officials — local indigenous leaders held hereditary rule. The implication of Zhù Ying’s memorial was that she could serve as this prefect. This would set a precedent, opening the door for the court to appoint prefects going forward. That was precisely why the three men were willing to discuss Zhù Ying’s proposal at all.

The question of the prefect’s subordinate officials was yet another matter — and again, it came down to trust. Zhù Ying’s proposal was to staff the office locally, filling most positions with local personnel and leaving a small portion to be determined by circumstance.

The three reached their conclusions and carried the memorial to see the Emperor.

They first mentioned Zhù Ying’s request to come to the capital. The Emperor showed keen interest and smiled: “Among the younger officials, she stands out as the most capable. Granted. What — is there more?”

Shi Kun presented Zhù Ying’s memorial and said: “Yes. This matter also concerns her, Your Majesty. Please read.”

The Emperor first read the summary they had written, then sat up straight immediately: “Excellent!” Then, as the thought occurred to him: “Does this mean the matter of the subordinate tribal counties in Nanfu is confirmed as fact?”

Wang Yunhe said: “Since she will be bringing the various tribal leaders to the capital for an audience, Your Majesty may assess them in person.”

His Majesty nodded, then turned to read the memorial carefully. He said: “She also wants Nanfu? Hmm — two counties. Bring me the map.”

Zhong Yi said: “Your servant has already brought the local maps.”

The Emperor studied the map. Between Nanping and Fulu lay Sicheng County — if Sicheng were not included in the new prefecture, the new prefecture’s shape would look as if a piece had been bitten out of the side. The Emperor nodded: “This can be accommodated.”

Shi Kun said: “The detailed plan is still only a draft. We shall wait for her arrival in the capital before having her elaborate further to settle the particulars.” Given the inconvenience of travel and communication, many things had to be decided in a single meeting — otherwise, coordinating back and forth could go on for generations without resolution.

The Emperor said: “Very well.”

An imperial edict was immediately issued, commanding Zhù Ying to bring “the tribal leaders to an imperial audience” without delay. The Ministry of Rites and the Court of State Ceremonial were simultaneously summoned to deliberate the relevant protocol. As for the establishment of the new prefecture, the Emperor and his ministers, by tacit understanding, did not raise the matter at once — each privately calculating in his own mind.

……——

While the imperial envoy dispatched from the capital was galloping along the road, Zhù Ying had already received Gan Ze.

Gan Ze arrived empty-handed, and Zhù Ying received him in her study. The moment they met, she asked: “Did something happen in the capital?”

Gan Ze nodded: “Yes.”

“Written or verbal?”

Gan Ze said: “The letter is here. Sanlang, read it first.”

Zhù Ying took it, skimmed it quickly, then read it carefully from beginning to end. She thought to herself: What a remarkable coincidence.

She had not forgotten Duan Lin — the man who could devise such a devious scheme was quite talented in his own right. The name Bian Xing also rang a distant bell. After years in the Court of Judicial Review, she had read the records of every official who had served in local posts and presided over major cases — she at least knew the names. Her impression was that this particular man had nothing remarkable about him.

Zhù Ying said: “Making you run like this all the time is too hard on you. Go and rest properly.”

“I won’t just yet. If you have a reply for me, Sanlang, I should hurry back. Ah — this isn’t really my place to say, but Sanlang, you are so far from the capital. If anything comes up, it’s nearly impossible to communicate in time. You’ve been here many years. Is there any chance of going back?”

Zhù Ying said: “We’ll see what the court arranges.”

Gan Ze saw she would not take the bait and said no more. He went to the guest room to rest, intending to press Zhù Ying for a reply the following day so he could bring it back and report.

Zhù Ying had her own thoughts on the matter. Her memorial had already been submitted — she was simply waiting for the court’s response. If the court agreed, all would be well for everyone. If they wanted to negotiate and reduce the terms slightly, that was also acceptable. If they agreed to establish the prefecture but wanted to reassign her — leaving this prefecture with no further connection to her — she would have to put her contingency plan into motion.

Her plan was not something she could share with anyone. So no matter how earnestly Zheng Xi had written his letter, she could only reply with: “Understood.”

Better to keep Gan Ze here a few more days, then. She had sent her memorial by express courier; calculating the days, it would have reached the capital by now. If the court took it seriously — and they should — and summoned her to the capital, the reply ought already to be on its way. Zheng Xi would certainly learn that she was coming to the capital, so Gan Ze would not need to race back and could return at a leisurely pace.

So long as they permitted her to go to the capital, she had a nine-in-ten chance of bringing this matter to fruition.

In the unlikely event that the court did not agree, she would have Gan Ze carry word back to the capital and ask Zheng Xi to help think of something.

In any case, Gan Ze had to stay until the court’s reply arrived.

Zhù Ying delegated the task of keeping Gan Ze occupied to Xiao Wu, who accepted the assignment with wholehearted dedication. He organized a gathering, with everyone who had come south with Zhù Ying taking turns hosting Gan Ze for drinks. They were numerous enough that they kept Gan Ze entertained for three full days running. Gan Ze was already growing suspicious, and Xiao Wu proposed to take him browsing the markets.

Gan Ze said: “Stop trying to distract me. Has something happened in Nanfu?”

Xiao Wu said: “Nothing at all! My lord has simply ordered me to take you around to see the sights — look, isn’t Nanfu better and better with each passing day compared to your last visit? Our markets have some curious goods you won’t find elsewhere — why not pick up a few things to bring back as gifts?”

Gan Ze said: “I don’t have time for idle diversions.”

Xiao Wu said: “Then is there something urgent?”

Gan Ze said: “Don’t ask questions.”

“So there IS something important. What matter is so important it can’t be told to our lord? Even if I’m no use, our lord certainly has a way.”

Gan Ze said: “I can’t reason with you.”

“Could it be something to do with Zheng Marquis’s household?” Xiao Wu performed his shock.

But Gan Ze kept his lips sealed tight, not letting Xiao Wu trick a single word out of him. He kept pressing: “What in the world is Sanlang up to?”

Sanlang was busy hunting for glossy ganoderma!

This was her first audience with the Emperor — surely she needed to bring gifts? Local products from the mountains were expected, if only as a symbolic gesture. Zhù Ying selected narrow-loom woven cloth from the backstrap looms, locally grown rice, pressed tea cakes, cinnabar, and distinctive silver ornaments — all items that were readily available in good quantities.

Beyond these, she needed two exceptional items to lead the presentation.

Her last gift to the Emperor had been a pair of white pheasants, and that was several years ago now — she planned to send him another pair. Beyond that, the mountains were rich in mushrooms — she would gather some of those as well!

Truly, she could not fathom what was so wonderful about the things.

Ganoderma was a medicinal ingredient that Chowen knew well. The high mountains of Talang County regularly yielded ganoderma, though the specimens were often not of the finest quality. Tribal leaders typically kept stores of the more prized local medicinal herbs at home; Lang Kunwu contributed a stalk of purple ganoderma, and Xijin had red ganoderma, both fine specimens with rich, saturated color and impressive size. Su Mingluan also caught two more pheasants. Everything was ready.

Zhù Ying began packing her luggage. She had gifts and other items of her own to prepare, and planned to travel to the capital by boat as before — so long as they let her go to the capital!

This time, she had not originally intended to bring Zhang Xiangu and Zhù Shenhan. The journey was long, and besides, they already had a villa in the mountains where they could go to escape the summer heat. But Zhang Xiangu was still uneasy about leaving her daughter; she always worried that if she were far away and something happened to her daughter, there would be no one to help cover it up.

And she had her own reasoning: “We have all sorts of belongings back in the capital house that I want to bring here.”

She had come to think of the mountain villa as her real home now, and the place in the capital that had once delighted her so much had faded in her heart. Afraid that Zhù Ying might refuse, she added: “Jin eldest sister-in-law and the others — I haven’t seen them in so long. At my age, each meeting could be the last. If we move up to the mountain someday, I may never see them again.”

Zhù Ying thought that this trip to the capital held no particular danger, and she could not bear to let her mother carry regrets. So she agreed.

The household set about packing their luggage.

Zhù Shenhan had nothing useful to do, so Zhù Ying said to him: “Father, help me keep Gan elder brother here a few days. When I say it’s time to go, that’s when you let him leave. Don’t tell him it’s on my orders.”

Zhù Shenhan was rarely given a task by his daughter and agreed with great enthusiasm: “Leave it to me!”

After Gan Ze had broken past Xiao Wu, he encountered Zhù Shenhan. One had to be polite to Zhù Shenhan, so Gan Ze found himself dragged along by the older man to drink, have tea, and watch performances…

Until the capital’s express reply arrived: report to the capital immediately!

Zhù Ying was overjoyed: “Now it’s confirmed! Gan elder brother! Good news!”

Gan Ze was in the middle of being dragged by Zhù Shenhan to listen to his stories. Zhù Shenhan was holding forth at great length: “Quick as a flash, I leaped forward and planted my peachwood sword just so! Hey — you’ll never guess what happened! A paper figure fluttered to the ground. There was no beauty at all — it was sorcery! But I broke it! Do you know who I am?!”

Gan Ze had been rolling his eyes continuously. In the span of a few days, Zhù Shenhan had already exorcised ghosts, driven away demons, subdued monsters, and extended someone’s lifespan — and now he had caused a paper-made decoy beauty who had been bewitching a wealthy young man to reveal her true form.

Zhù Ying walked over with a smile. Gan Ze was rather ill-humored and said: “Have you come to catch ghosts too?”

Zhù Ying said: “I’m not done managing my own affairs of going to the capital — what time do I have for ghosts?”

“You’re going to the capital?!” Gan Ze asked in astonishment.

Zhù Ying said: “Yes. You’ve been stuck here going mad these past few days, haven’t you? I didn’t dare tell you before when nothing was settled. Now the imperial decree has arrived — I can say it. I’m setting out immediately, traveling by water. I should arrive in the capital in about two months — right at the end of the seventh month. If you don’t mind the company, shall we travel together?”

Gan Ze said: “Sanlang is the same as always — never speaks a word until something is certain. By this reckoning, Sanlang must have a plan, and I needn’t fret. I should hurry back to report to the Seventh Young Master. By the time you arrive in the capital, Sanlang, you’ll still make it in time for the wedding banquet at our household.”

“Oh? How so?”

Gan Ze said: “The Seventh Young Master said not to disturb you since you were busy. Our household’s eldest young miss is to be wed to Guangning Commandery Prince as his consort — the wedding is set for the beginning of the eighth month.”

Zhù Ying said: “You didn’t say anything sooner! I haven’t prepared a single thing!”

Gan Ze said: “That young lord of yours already sent the gifts on your behalf — how can you say you haven’t prepared? Very well, since you have no urgent matters, I’ll be on my way.”

Zhù Ying said: “Wait! I have a letter here — please take it to Lord Zheng.”

Everything had indeed already been prepared. Gan Ze accepted it with admiring resignation. Zhù Ying also packed various small gifts for him to take for his personal use. There was no need to entrust him with the main gifts — since Zhù Ying would be going to the capital herself.

The moment she saw Gan Ze off, she immediately summoned Xiang An and Xiang Le: “You two — tally up the sugar you have on hand. I want to bring some to the capital!”

……——

Zhù Ying had begun preparing for the journey to the capital well in advance. The moment the decree arrived, she sent word into the mountains — in five days, they could set out. The decree directed every relay station along the route to receive her party with hospitality, so Zhù Ying needed to speak no additional words on the matter.

She also sent for Xiao Jiang and Jiang Zhou and asked if they wished to go to the capital with her. Xiao Jiang said: “I won’t be going back. There’s no point.” Her house had been sold — where would she stay? She could stay at Zhù’s residence, of course, and would have been willing — but Zhù Ying clearly had important affairs in hand, and there were several people in the capital who knew Xiao Jiang. It was better not to go back and cause Zhù Ying trouble.

Zhù Ying said: “Teach Xiao Jiang — that is, Jiang Zhou — some more of her lessons. She’ll need them when we return.”

Xiao Jiang gave Zhù Ying a hesitant glance and asked: “Does my lord have some arrangement in mind?”

Zhù Ying said: “Wait until I come back and you’ll know.”

“All right.”

Zhù Ying also divided up the affairs of the prefectural office and the villa. She put Xiang An in charge of the villa and left Zhang Jiong to serve as acting head of the prefectural office. Then she set off for the capital with the whole household!

For this journey, she brought Zhù Lian and Zhù Shi, but sent Su Zhe back home to Asu County. This arrangement left Su Zhe displeased, but Su Mingluan felt privately grateful — the consideration had been thorough. If Su Mingluan met with any misfortune, at least her daughter would be safe.

Zhù Ying set out with Su Mingluan, Chowen, Shanque, as well as Luoguo and Xijin’s son and others.

Zhang Xiangu considered herself a seasoned traveler by now and entertained Su Mingluan with accounts of the sights along the way, telling her how many more li before they would reach the water relay station, how long the water leg would take before they transferred to the land route, and then how many more days from there to the capital.

For Su Mingluan and the others, this was the largest vessel they had ever seen in their lives!

At Zhù Ying’s rank, the ship she was entitled to board was no small one, and with the imperial decree additionally ordering the proper escort of Su Mingluan and the others to the capital in comfort, the ships were exceptionally large and numerous. Zhù Ying also made the most of this “official errand” — she brought along a number of merchants from Nanfu and the various tribes, and the party made its grand way toward the capital in an imposing procession.

Meanwhile, in the capital, the scene was altogether different!

Word of Zhù Ying’s arrival had been sent out openly, and anyone who cared to pay attention knew she was coming back. Different people received the news in different ways. The Grand Council, knowing the full picture, ordered the relevant records on the Liao tribes pulled out for review. When they were retrieved, however, it became apparent that the bulk of the detailed and seemingly reliable material had, in fact, been compiled by Zhù Ying herself. There were also occasional references scattered in memorials by various officials, but these were sparse. The more numerous entries came from a different category altogether: military dispatches. Several decades ago there had been a military campaign, and the battle reports contained brief mentions.

But that was quite long ago now; the tribal leaders of that era were almost certainly dead. The intelligence about the various tribes in those records had little remaining practical value.

Zhong Yi was the most senior member of the Grand Council by age. He suddenly said: “I just remembered — some of the soldiers who went on that campaign may still be living!”

Decades had passed in the telling, but in truth the generation that had included the Asu cave lord’s elders had witnessed the end of that campaign as children. Among the court’s military officers, those who had served as young men on the campaign and had not died too young should still be alive today.

The matter of establishing the prefecture could not be approached carelessly. They reached back several decades and indeed found a handful of men who had served as minor officers in the army at the time and had since risen to the rank of “general.” The court did not practice mandatory retirement — officials only applied for retirement at seventy, and most simply worked until they died.

Shi Kun said: “I often see General Sun at court. Could he be one of the men from that campaign?”

Zhong Yi said: “He is.”

They summoned General Sun and questioned him.

Many years had passed, and General Sun’s hair and beard had gone entirely white, yet he still said: “Those people are stubborn, foolish, violent, and fierce! They don’t speak in human tongues! Some would hack off the heads of their elders, some would slash the blood of strong young men — all calling it a sacrifice to heaven! Or worshipping their gods!”

He went on at great length about how brutal and unreasonable the Liao people were. He also spoke of how the Liao inhabited deep mountain fastnesses, where the terrain was wretched — even worse than miasma-ridden lowlands.

Wang Yunhe asked if he remembered which tribe practiced these things. General Sun said: “Their names are difficult to recall.”

Zhong Yi recited several tribal names and asked if any of them matched. General Sun said: “Some of them sound right. The ones in blue liked to shed blood; the ones in black liked to hack off the heads of old men.”

The garments matched. But those customs…

The three men showed nothing on their faces. They dismissed General Sun and Wang Yunhe immediately had Zhao Su brought to his own residence for a pointed interrogation.

Zhao Su was yanked from the Imperial Academy to the Chancellor’s residence and was wondering the whole way there whether something had happened to his adoptive father. Only upon arriving did he learn it concerned his maternal relatives’ old accounts. He hurried to explain: “My adoptive father has already reached an agreement with all the households — no more human sacrifices! They all swore oaths. They absolutely will not do it again! Your student knows this! Not only my mother’s people — the other households are bound by the same pledge. Whatever the other households may do separately, that cannot be laid at my adoptive father’s door.”

Wang Yunhe was inwardly reassured, though his expression remained stern. He questioned Zhao Su repeatedly to confirm, then said: “He is coming soon. In autumn you will see him.”

Zhao Su was overjoyed.

……——

Zhù Ying did indeed arrive in the capital at the end of the seventh month. She did not enter the city immediately but, following orders, waited at an inn outside the capital. The Ministry of Rites and the Court of State Ceremonial then sent representatives to make arrangements — the Court of State Ceremonial sent a Dian Ke Cheng, and the Ministry of Rites sent a Master of Guest Reception from the Bureau of Guest Affairs. Seeing that the Ministry of Rites had sent one of its own people was reassuring.

The Dian Ke Cheng wore green robes; the Master of Guest Reception wore crimson. Both had full beards. When they turned to face Zhù Ying descending the steps toward them, she still appeared pale-faced and clean-shaven as always.

The Master of Guest Reception said: “The prefect has had a tiring journey.”

Zhù Ying said: “Serving to relieve His Majesty of burdens is one’s duty.”

The formal pleasantries concluded, expressions of sympathy for the hardships of the journey followed. These two men were accustomed to receiving delegations from all manner of foreign lands and tributaries. Even upon seeing Su Mingluan and the others — some in official robes, others dressed in their tribal garments — they showed no surprise.

The Dian Ke Cheng said: “Lodgings at the Hall of the Four Tributaries have been prepared. The prefect arrives at an opportune moment — several of the guest quarters there have just been renovated.”

The Master of Guest Reception also said: “Protocol has been deliberated and settled at court. The rites must now be rehearsed. It is the Ministry Secretariat’s — Lord Zheng’s — wish that they first be delivered to the Hall of the Four Tributaries, after which instructors will be dispatched to teach them.”

Zhù Ying said: “Very well.”

She asked her parents to take the family belongings back to their residence first while Xiang Le attended to the merchants who had traveled with them. She herself accompanied Su Mingluan and the others to the Hall of the Four Tributaries — a place she knew only by location and had never entered. She needed to take a look. She would then bring the tributary gifts to the imperial palace to be presented first to the Emperor. Everything else could wait, but the white pheasants were living creatures, and they had made it all the way to the capital — what if they died in the next day or two?

The Dian Ke Cheng and the Master of Guest Reception were also unsurprised by the white pheasants Zhù Ying had brought — the capital received such things regularly.

Zhù Ying said: “Then let us set out.”

Zhù Ying and Su Mingluan and the others all traveled on horseback. After half a day’s ride, they arrived at the city gates. Zhù Ying ordered the attendants and clerks to raise the official procession banners; Su Mingluan and the others’ escorts also fell into formation and followed behind. Each of them had between twenty and thirty personal guards in attendance, amounting to over a hundred people in all.

The attendants were all dressed in distinctive garments, and such a procession moving through the streets of the capital drew considerable onlookers — not because of their strangeness, but because of their sheer number.

Su Mingluan and Shanque had gone pale. Luoguo and the others stared in open astonishment. Chowen’s face was flushed. Su Mingluan thought to herself: So this is the capital. Such magnificence — no wonder, no wonder. In her heart, toward the people who lived in this city, toward the master of this city, she felt a rising reverence.

Shanque thought to himself: They are this powerful. No wonder we were unable to defeat them.

The Hall of the Four Tributaries was also in the northern part of the imperial city. Along the way, Zhù Ying said to the Master of Guest Reception: “May I trouble you to report on our behalf that the various tribes have auspicious gifts to present?”

The Master of Guest Reception said: “Of course — your servant had also intended to submit such a report.”

With friends at court, everything goes more smoothly — the Ministry of Rites was under Zheng Xi, and the current head of the Court of State Ceremonial was no enemy either. The head of the Court of State Ceremonial was named Luo Sheng, a man of genuinely pleasant temperament. So when Zhù Ying announced, “I will stay here with them until they have mastered the rites and had their imperial audience,” Luo Sheng did not turn her away.

Zhù Ying lodged at the Hall of the Four Tributaries for one night. Early the next morning, Zheng Xi arrived at the Hall of the Four Tributaries at the head of his people.

Zheng Xi had returned from court and only upon reaching the Ministry of Rites did he hear what Zhù Ying had done this time. He made straight for the Hall of the Four Tributaries and found Zhù Ying scattering a handful of millet to feed the white-plumed pheasants. As she fed them, she was saying: “There there, eat up. Whatever you do, don’t die before the imperial audience. Hmph, and why won’t they arrange our audience sooner?”

Zheng Xi said with a stern expression: “So you do know you’re here for an imperial audience!”

Zhù Ying scattered the last of the millet, brushed off her hands, and stood up: “Oh my! My lord!”

Zheng Xi pointed at her from a distance: “Done another good deed?”

Zhù Ying said: “But of course — when have I ever done a bad one? My lord, please, let us speak inside.”

Zheng Xi swept a glance over the people Zhù Ying had brought. To his eye they were all strange and outlandish-looking. The best of them was Su Mingluan — her official robes were properly worn and her bearing was composed — but she was a woman. The others were men, but oddly dressed, and their appearance was not that of people from the central plains. Ah, and there was one man dressed and looking perfectly normal — except that his expression was all wrong.

The quarters the Hall had arranged for them were quite pleasant, newly built, with crimson pillars that caught the eye.

Zheng Xi showed nothing on his face. He watched as Zhù Ying sat across from him while these supposedly fierce and untamed tribal people were remarkably well-behaved in her presence. He counted again — of the six, three addressed her as “adoptive father.”

Zheng Xi said: “Very good. His Majesty has also been thinking of all of you. You are now officials of the court; you must observe proper etiquette when meeting His Majesty. You shall have your imperial audience once the rites are learned.”

He spoke slowly and enunciated clearly. Zhù Ying said: “Chowen, translate for them.”

Chowen haltingly rendered Zheng Xi’s words to Shanque and the others. Su Mingluan understood for herself, so Chowen did not need to translate into the Qixia language for her.

Zheng Xi then asked: “Is this your interpreter?”

Zhù Ying said: “No — he is the foreign studies academician I’ve prepared.”

“Foreign studies?”

Zhù Ying said: “Of course — what would we do without a common language? It has to be taught.”

Zheng Xi could see Zhù Ying was in her usual lively and active form. He said: “I will report to His Majesty. I’ve brought the people here; you see to it that they learn the protocol.” He turned to the Ministry of Rites personnel to express his thanks and gave a few additional instructions. Once the arrangements were made and Su Mingluan and the others had gone off with the Ministry of Rites people, Zheng Xi finally said: “Same as always — always have to manage everything yourself. Don’t you trust my people to handle things?”

Zhù Ying laughed: “Force of habit. My lord, you’re really quite inconsiderate — there’s a happy occasion at home and you won’t even mention it to me. I only got word when Gan Ze let it slip! I haven’t had any time to prepare.”

“I’ve said it several times — it all goes in one ear and out the other. You just focus on taking care of yourself. As long as you’re well, I’m happier than anything.”

Zhù Ying said: “I have the beginning of a plan already, but it’s not firm enough yet, so I didn’t dare say anything prematurely.”

“Oh? You intend to handle Duan Lin and Bian Xing yourself?”

Zhù Ying cried in mock alarm: “Are you going to stand on the sidelines and watch?”

Zheng Xi said: “Stop putting on that strange performance. Speak properly.”

Zhù Ying said: “My lord, please arrange our imperial audience soon. My matters can only be properly presented face to face with His Majesty. Besides — if it drags on, those white-plumed pheasants of mine are going to die. People get ill from the change in climate and water; so do chickens.”

Zheng Xi looked half-exasperated, half-amused: “If the rites aren’t learned, how can there be an imperial audience?”

Zhù Ying said: “You saw those people, didn’t you? Su Mingluan — she learns the fastest. As long as she learns it, that’s sufficient. The others won’t master the official speech fully anyway — have them perform the rites of their own respective tribes first. That’s precisely what makes them new adherents to the court. Please arrange our imperial audience sooner, my lord!”

Zheng Xi, pressed by her, asked: “What are you planning now?”

Zhù Ying said: “Strike first, get the petition in early.”

Zheng Xi heaved a sigh: “Very well.”

Luo Sheng was something of a cousin-in-law and cousin to Zheng Xi, and Zheng Xi had always been strong-willed. The Grand Council had issued an order that the rites be mastered before the imperial audience, but Zheng Xi simply reported directly to the Emperor: the audience could proceed.

……

How those proper ministers hated this sort of imperial relative!

No matter what carefully laid arrangements you had in place, a single word from above could overturn all of it.

The Emperor paid no heed to the Grand Council’s arrangements. Zheng Xi had reported that the party had arrived, and the Emperor wanted to see for himself what these “Liao people” actually looked like. The envoys sent to proclaim the edict had also returned with word that the place was truly a miasma-ridden wasteland, full of short people who spoke nothing like human speech.

The Emperor’s curiosity roused, he ordered Zhù Ying to bring Su Mingluan and the others directly into the palace.

Zhù Ying led the way; Su Mingluan and the others followed. Each brought one attendant — some carried cages with pheasants, some cradled lacquered boxes of ganoderma, some bore trays of silver ornaments — the whole procession made a dazzling display.

They entered through the imperial city gate, and Su Mingluan and the others received another profound shock. The Emperor’s residence was larger than an entire fortified village! No wonder adoptive father’s “villa” had been built the way it was! Their eyes did not know where to rest. Beneath their feet were gray-white stone slabs, and under the bright sun they gleamed and flashed, momentarily dazzling.

The young palace attendant serving as guide snapped: “Don’t look about!” Weren’t they supposed to have already learned the rites? Why are they still behaving like this?

He spoke in the official tongue — only Su Mingluan and Chowen could understand him, and Chowen was a half-beat behind. Shanque’s father-in-law heard him speak and looked over, asking Chowen: “What did he say?”

Shanque’s father-in-law was no longer young, and his hearing was not as sharp as a younger man’s; he spoke at somewhat above normal volume. What he said was in an “exotic” language, drawing sidelong glances from many passersby.

Zhù Ying turned around and said slowly: “Follow me. Take your time. Don’t panic — once you’ve seen it enough, you’ll get used to it.”

The palace attendant thought to himself: He speaks the barbarian tongue too? He said to Zhù Ying: “Prefect Zhù, this is the palace complex. You know the rules — please keep your people in line.”

Zhù Ying said: “But they are court officials…”

Before she had finished speaking, Shanque’s father-in-law suddenly cried out: “Hey! That man!”

The palace attendant said, helplessly stopping in his tracks: “Now what?” He could not understand Shanque’s father-in-law’s words and only knew this barbarian was giving him trouble.

Following the direction of Shanque’s father-in-law’s pointing finger, Zhù Ying spotted an old man some twenty paces away. Tall and powerfully built, wearing light armor, with a large dark birthmark on his cheek.

Zhù Ying asked Shanque’s father-in-law: “What’s wrong?”

“Him! He killed a great many of our people!”

General Sun had already strode over from the other side: “Who are you people?!”

He drew closer, and Shanque’s father-in-law said: “It really is him!”

“Liao people!” General Sun could not quite make out what Shanque’s father-in-law was saying, but he could tell from the speech that these were Liao people.

The two of them each talked past the other, growing more and more agitated, and nearly came to blows. The commotion drew onlookers, and someone went to report it. Zhù Ying listened attentively to both sides, and found the world utterly extraordinary. The two had indeed crossed paths before — but while Shanque’s father-in-law remembered General Sun, General Sun no longer remembered what a particular Liao child had looked like all those years ago.

General Sun’s distinctive features had made him memorable. He was said to have led charges against the “Liao people.” Shanque’s father-in-law had been young at the time; General Sun had no way of knowing that such a person still existed in the world.

After several angry exchanges, both parties were brought to the Grand Council chambers.

Wang Yunhe said: “Send for the Ministry Secretariat — Lord Zheng — and Luo of the Court of State Ceremonial, at once!” What on earth was going on?

Wang Yunhe was angry; whether they were the commandery prince’s son or the princess’s son, they all came obediently to receive their scolding. Zheng Xi glared at Zhù Ying; Zhù Ying looked utterly innocent.

After considerable translation back and forth, the whole sequence of events was finally sorted out. General Sun had not achieved a complete victory in the campaign of years past and had come home feeling humiliated. He now insisted loudly on the Liao people’s savagery. Shanque’s father-in-law, enraged, called up the old debt and pointed at Su Mingluan: “The blood-letting was done by her family! We only took heads!”

He also accused General Sun of wrongdoing, saying the imperial troops had also killed women and children.

Chowen had completely lost the thread of events by this point. Zhù Ying very faithfully translated Shanque’s father-in-law’s words. The faces of Shi Kun and the others turned rather green.

Su Mingluan then addressed General Sun directly: “We stopped doing the blood-letting long ago! And you? We trusted our adoptive father’s word and came here — and you would still harm us?!” Her official speech was fluent, and her voice echoed through the room.

Zheng Xi’s lips curved upward in a slight smile. General Sun had really been quite helpful — this commotion had confirmed beyond any doubt that these were genuine Liao people, and whatever rumors that Zhù Ying might have fabricated the whole thing were now thoroughly disproved. That she had managed to bring these people here was no small achievement.

He cleared his throat: “Zhù Ying! Are you not going to intervene? None of us speak the tribal tongues!”

Zhù Ying said: “If they were willing to come, they won’t come to blows.” That said, she still went to soothe both Su Mingluan and Shanque’s father-in-law. She said to Shanque’s father-in-law: “I do not ask you to forget the past. Think of the present — we came here to conduct business. And look around you: of all the people here, only that one is someone you recognize. All the others have no wish to harm you.”

Shanque’s father-in-law looked at Wang Yunhe and the others, then at Zheng Xi and Luo Sheng. Their bearing was proper; none of them looked harsh or threatening. He thought of what he and Zhù Ying had discussed before coming, and his expression softened: “Because of what you said, I believe.”

Zhù Ying nodded. Shanque’s father-in-law stopped looking at General Sun. On the other side, General Sun was persuaded away as well.

Wang Yunhe said: “Ah — warfare is a dreadful thing.”

Zheng Xi had watched enough of the show. He then said: “Chancellor, allow me to accompany them for their imperial audience.”

Wang Yunhe said: “Very well.”

……——

At last, the party arrived before the great hall. They were announced; the summons came from within.

Zhù Ying stepped into the great hall and saw at the door a familiar face — Lan De. She gave him a nod; Lan De smiled back, an exceptionally courteous smile.

Zhù Ying performed her formal obeisance. Behind her, Chowen was about to kneel as well, but Su Mingluan’s quick hand hauled him back up.

After Zhù Ying completed her obeisance, the Emperor asked: “Are those behind you the tribal leaders?”

Zhù Ying said: “They are also Your Majesty’s county magistrates.”

The Emperor nodded, making a show of never having doubted the truth of the subordinate counties, and offered lavish words of admiration. Zheng Xi said: “They were eager to see Your Majesty — they couldn’t wait to finish learning the rites.”

The Emperor said: “Such endearing sincerity — quite rare. Let A’Sheng look after them well. Zhù Ying, do not impose too many restrictions on them. For your affairs, speak to the Grand Council and bring forth a plan.”

Zhù Ying said: “Yes. They admire Your Majesty and have brought gifts to present.”

The Emperor commanded them to be presented. Leading with auspicious offerings was very much to the Emperor’s liking. When he then saw the narrow-loom cloth, rice, and other local products, he said: “They don’t live on raw flesh and blood, then! The stories were quite exaggerated. Very good. You shall continue civilizing and educating them.”

Zhù Ying said: “Yes — and I wished to request Your Majesty’s permission to establish a state school in Nanfu.”

The Emperor pointed toward Zheng Xi: “Discuss that with him. Or go find Yue Huan.”

“Yes.”

The Emperor then asked about each person in turn — their names, their tribes, and so on. Zhù Ying made the introductions one by one. Su Mingluan spoke the official tongue herself, and Zhù Ying gave her a look; she then stated her name and background on her own.

The Emperor asked: “You can speak?”

Su Mingluan said: “Yes — my adoptive father taught me.”

“Adoptive father?”

Zhù Ying pointed at her own nose. The Emperor nodded to indicate he understood — it was the official making them her adopted children, not her adopting a foreign people. It was quite different.

Chowen’s official speech came out halting and broken, and the Emperor showed a trace of impatience, though not displeasure. The others did not speak the official tongue at all, and the Emperor waited while Zhù Ying translated for each of them, asking every person the same questions. At last he asked Zhù Ying: “Why were the words you translated for them all different?”

Zhù Ying said: “They are from three tribes and five households — each speaks differently.”

“Ah! I see. You speak all of them?”

“I can manage a bit of each.”

The Emperor then ordered gifts distributed. The gifts for Shanque’s father-in-law were especially generous — in addition to the silk and coin that everyone received, he was given an additional pair of golden cups. Su Mingluan received an extra set of the four treasures of the study.

Lan Xing, seeing the Emperor stifle a yawn, quickly gave the signal: time to conclude.

Su Mingluan and the others emerged from the great hall feeling slightly dazed. The earlier excitement had fully dissipated, replaced by a peculiar sense of suppressed heaviness. Shanque’s father-in-law had also recovered his composure; he asked Zhù Ying softly: “Little sibling — will there be any trouble?”

Zhù Ying shook her head: “It is settled now. Let me see you back to the Hall of the Four Tributaries. Rest first. Little sister, I’ve left Xiao Liu there — if anything comes up, have him find me.”

“Yes.”

Zhù Ying escorted them back to the Hall of the Four Tributaries, then turned and was immediately summoned to the Grand Council.

There was no longer any need to prove the reality of the subordinate counties; what remained was negotiation.

Zhong Yi said: “Since it is subordinate, Nanfu cannot be given to you — otherwise what kind of subordinate arrangement is it?!”

Zhù Ying said: “So the establishment of the new subordinate prefecture is to be placed under this official’s management?”

Shi Kun said: “First explain the situation clearly. If you can’t explain it clearly, do you expect to be made prefect?”

Zhù Ying said: “A subordinate arrangement requires that I hold a bridle and a set of reins in my hand. If I have neither, what do I use to control the horse? Give me an official investiture, then demand tax collection.” She spread both hands wide — who would serve you for nothing?

Wang Yunhe said: “Even so, you cannot take the whole of Nanfu. If you take Nanfu, what becomes of the rest?”

“Nanfu was already the poorest place. Fulu, in turn, is the poorest part of Nanfu. When Senior Prefect Lu was in office, we held two meetings a year, and I always sat in the very last seat. What I am asking for is not fertile land,” Zhù Ying said. “Look at the map. Here — this is the new prefecture. To the west and north of the new prefecture lies another vast expanse of mountains, with many more tribes still to be found there — an area that may amount to another one or two prefectures. Beyond that stretch lies the Western Territories. These two new prefectures would serve as a frontier bulwark.”

“Frontier bulwark!”

Wang Yunhe said: “You have genuinely applied yourself to Nanfu — while not fertile land, it has been growing richer day by day.”

Zhù Ying said: “Plant the wutong tree, and the phoenix will come. If I don’t even have a branch to offer, who will come? You see — I also plan to build roads into the mountains. Once the road is built, a foot can be planted inside. Without that branch, what will the road be built with? Even the cleverest woman cannot cook without rice. And the various tribes are suspicious by nature — they cannot simply be commanded.”

Zhù Ying spent the days going to the Grand Council to negotiate, and her nights at the Hall of the Four Tributaries. She ground away for close to half a month. In the end, she managed to secure three counties — she even pried away Sicheng.

Both parties had their positions. With the broad consensus that Zhù Ying could serve as prefect of the new prefecture, the secret negotiations moved swiftly. Zhù Ying made the same pledge as before: no unrest within her jurisdiction, no shortfall in tax revenues. The Grand Council named the new prefecture Wuzhou. Zhù Ying’s rank changed to Senior Fourth Grade, Lower Class. The prefectural office of Nanfu would become the prefect’s residence of Wuzhou.

Since it was a subordinate prefecture, her rank was not high. But within Wuzhou’s territory, her authority was extensive. The three counties of Sicheng, Fulu, and Nanping would still have their officials appointed and removed by the court, observing standard regulations. The remaining subordinate tribal counties and the prefect’s office would be arranged by her as she saw fit, with candidates proposed in a memorial for imperial investiture — following the rules for subordinate-governed territory, as the court customarily did not manage personnel in such areas.

As for the Grand Council’s rearrangement of the jurisdictions of other areas — that was none of her concern!

Once the plan was settled, the Grand Council reported it to the Emperor, and the Emperor called her in to question her once more. Zhù Ying noticed the Emperor stifle three yawns and thought to herself: He is growing old.

Old as he was, the Emperor could still dish out something unpleasant. On the same day, he issued two edicts in succession. The first established Wuzhou, appointing Zhù Ying as its prefect, with the three former counties of Nanfu incorporated into Wuzhou. The second approved Duan Lin’s recommendation, appointing Bian Xing as prefect — as Zhù Ying’s new neighbor.

He had managed to needle both Duan Lin and Zhù Ying in one stroke.