Zhù Ying left the great hall without a backward glance, walking and thinking as she went, turning today’s events over in her mind with care.

More than half the day had already passed. She calculated what time she had left and decisively set everything else aside, planning to stop by the Court of Dependencies on the way and then head home to prepare before making for the Zheng Marquis’s estate.

At the Court of Dependencies, those who had been brawling had already been separated, and the young ones were all adjusting reasonably well. When they saw Zhù Ying, everyone was delighted, crowding around her and calling out to her in a mix of voices. Zhù Ying asked, “The fight over there is done? You didn’t get involved, did you?”

Everyone shook their heads together. Zhù Ying said with satisfaction, “Good. We take care of our own affairs first. Once that’s done, I’ll take you all out to have fun. New Year is almost here — it’ll be lively.”

The young ones let out a cheer. Lang Rui asked, “Won’t A’Weng be staying with us tonight?”

Zhù Ying patted his head. “That’s right. I’ll come back in a few days.”

The young ones grew even happier. Jin Yu asked when they would be able to go out and play, saying that when his older brother came he had visited so many places. Zhù Ying said, “What he saw was nothing — there’s much better yet. Finish what’s in front of you first, then we’ll go.”

Having satisfied the young ones, she deliberately went and asked the girls how they were feeling. She herself had always lived rather roughly, and she had actually picked up a woman’s everyday knowledge only after Su Zhe came to stay at the household and she heard it from Zhang Xiangu and Huajie. Su Zhe had brought her own maidservant, and Su Qingtian had come along as well; both said, “Very well.”

Zhù Ying said, “If anything is lacking, just come and find me. I’ll be back again tomorrow.” Among the attendants these few had brought, there were people who had accompanied them on the previous trip; the elders of each household had made quite thoughtful arrangements. Zhù Ying then invited a familiar acquaintance from the Ministry of Rites to leave the Court of Dependencies together.

Out of the Court of Dependencies, Zhù Ying wasted no time heading home. When she arrived, Xiao Wu had already brought Ding Gui running over to attend on her. Xiao Wu was an old hand who knew perfectly well that after returning to the capital it was far more worthwhile to serve Zhù Ying and run her errands than to go home to sleep and eat.

“What kind of households does the official associate with? Shall we just spin in circles at our own place? As for seeing relatives — when can’t you see them? A few days’ delay won’t cost anyone a piece of flesh,” Xiao Wu said.

The two cousins arrived at the Zhù household and sat in the gatehouse warming themselves by the fire and chatting. Before long Zhù Ying came back from outside. Hu Shijie knocked on the door, and Xiao Wu opened it. Hu Shijie glanced at him in surprise. Xiao Wu said, “I’m never at ease at home — it’s much more comfortable coming back here.”

The attendants led the horses away. Zhù Ying walked inward while asking, “Where are they?”

Zhù Lian came out of the study room, gave a full bow, and then said, “The guild hall sent a guide over. Zhao Sanlang and the others have gone out to stroll the streets and haven’t come back yet. This is my second time in the capital now, so I didn’t feel like going out again. As for the others —”

Before he finished, the attendants who had been on standby also came running out from their room. Zhù Yin, with an apron tied around him, was rolling down his sleeves as he said, “The kitchen is cooking dinner —”

Zhù Ying said, “All right. We’ll eat a bit quickly, leave some for Zhao Zhen and the others, and then you’ll take shifts — let those who were on duty during the day rest, stay home and wait for them, and after dinner the few of you will come out with me.”

“Yes.”

Since Xiao Wu had practically delivered himself to her doorstep, Zhù Ying simply continued to make use of him and Ding Gui. These two knew the way — she sent Xiao Wu along with two attendants to quickly deliver another gift of thanks to today’s acquaintances. Ding Gui she told to wait and go out with her shortly.

Her room already had a charcoal brazier burning. She changed into casual clothes and came out; dinner was also ready. After eating, she told Zhù Lian to review his studies as well: “In a couple of days I’m going to invite two students from the Imperial Academy to dinner. You’ll come along — don’t disgrace yourself.”

Taking advantage of the time before curfew, she brought people along toward the Zheng estate. At the ward gate she ran into Zhao Zhen and the others just coming back, carrying large and small bags of things and chatting and laughing among themselves. The moment they saw her, their smiles vanished. They hurried forward to greet her, nervously offering a self-critique: “My lord, we came back late.”

Zhù Ying also turned to ask the unfamiliar face among them, “Did Director Xiang send you?”

“Yes.”

Zhù Ying said, “Have you eaten?”

“Not yet — not yet.”

“Go on back together and eat. Come back once you’ve finished.”

The man quickly said, “I dare not — I’m afraid that if I go back too late the curfew will have set in. Vice Magistrate Pei’s enforcement of regulations is strict as well.”

“Go on.”

“Yes.”

Zhù Ying waved Zhao Zhen and the others off, and the four of them rushed back to the Zhù household. Jing Sheng immediately asked who else was at home. When the kitchen maid who brought the food said Zhù Lian was still there, he asked her, “It’s late — where has the official gone? Will she make it back before curfew?”

The kitchen maid said, “I don’t know.”

Jing Sheng then asked Hu Shijie, who said, “The official didn’t tell me.”

The four of them grew slightly uneasy, putting their heads together: “We mustn’t go out this late again tomorrow — the official came back and we weren’t even home.”

Zhao Zhen said, “Exactly. The official brought us up to the capital — it can’t be just so we could stroll the streets for fun, can it?”

Wang Sheng said, “Of course not!”

Zhao Zhen had come to Zhù Ying’s side with the intention of actually doing something. The others, too, had their own small ambitions: this was an opportunity — how had they let the splendor of the capital make them forget it? The capital’s splendor truly dazzled the eyes. They hoped the official would not think poorly of them for today’s negligence.

……

What Zhù Ying was thinking about right now was the Emperor.

She needed to see Zheng Xi as soon as possible.

The Zheng Marquis’s household still recognized her; it was the same “new steward” as the previous year, smiling warmly, “Sanlang is here!”

“Indeed — arrived a bit late.”

Zhù Ying looked out the gate. This was the season when officials from every prefecture entered the capital and went scrambling to make connections everywhere. The entire capital was full of people rushing about. When she was still at the Court of Review, every year was like this. This year she counted herself among them as well.

Even at the Zheng estate, officials at the Prefect rank were still treated with courtesy and would not be kept waiting long. Most often, if the host did not see someone on the day their card was received, they would ask the person to return. Once the household had confirmed the time to meet, they would send a card back, and the two parties would meet at the agreed time.

Those who could keep a Prefect waiting were very few — for instance, the Chancellor’s estate.

“These days even princes and princesses seldom make one wait outside the gate,” Zheng Xi said.

Zhù Ying had been shown directly to his study. The two sat, and Lu Chao was still by his side attending on him — from his attire, Lu Chao now looked like a small steward. Tea was served and water brought by two young lads in their early twenties. When Gan Ze had come to the Zhù household yesterday, he too had been well dressed; those two brothers had firmly made their way up at the Zheng estate.

Zhù Ying said, “Cherishing and esteeming worthy men.”

Zheng Xi smiled. “He’s only just come from the south and isn’t accustomed to the cold. Move the brazier closer to him.”

The young lad brought tea and nudged the charcoal brazier a little closer toward Zhù Ying. Zheng Xi said to her, “I was thinking that, at the very earliest, you’d need a couple more days before you’d have your imperial audience. I was going to have you come by first so I could give you a word of advice — who’d have thought you’d already been summoned today. Was there a particular reason?”

Zhù Ying nodded. “There was. Today was the first time I’ve ever answered His Majesty’s questions in this way, and I’m not sure whether I put it well. His Majesty asked me about some of the things I’ve been doing in Wuzhou, saying that I was encouraging merchants and thereby violating the established customs and teachings of propriety. I replied that it was adapting to local conditions — that the livelihood of the people left me no choice. I don’t know who had such an itchy mouth.”

Though it was ill-advised to reveal matters from within the forbidden quarters, she truly had little experience in dealing with the Emperor this way, and since Zheng Xi was asking, she mentioned it briefly.

“Connected to the guild hall? Sugar prices in the capital have gone up — Lan Xing went and raised the issue with Da Lang. And what’s the matter with Shang Peiji? You couldn’t handle one novice?” Zheng Xi said.

“He really didn’t treat me as an outsider — he wrote me a letter, and as it happened, what the letter said was exactly about these matters.”

Zheng Xi shook his head. “Not necessarily him. There are very few people who could carry words to His Majesty’s ears. You should thank him for not openly filing a memorial against you — had he truly done so, it would have been more difficult for you to defend yourself.”

“Whether it was him or not, it’s the same principle — meet the soldiers with soldiers, meet the water with earth. I’m just puzzled: by rights, none of this is a very large matter. Revenue and population figures speak for themselves, so it doesn’t seem worth His Majesty specifically questioning me over this.”

Zheng Xi said, “The imperial will is difficult to fathom. Since you’ve already gotten through it, don’t make rash moves for now, and don’t go poking around everywhere. Probing into matters around His Majesty is more dangerous now than it used to be. First handle what you’re supposed to handle — do what needs to be done at the Ministry of Personnel and all the proper places. As for those children, I’ll remind His Majesty.”

Zhù Ying smiled. “That would truly be wonderful.”

Zheng Xi continued, “You’ve been in the south far too long. Ten years — your parents can no longer make such journeys easily. Everyone else fears being away from His Majesty too long and too far, yet you show no urgency! It really is time to arrange for you to come back. The moment you return, there will be countless matters waiting for you. What is your own thinking?”

Zheng Chuan had already passed on a hint the day before; now that Zheng Xi was asking directly, both of them understood without a word. Zhù Ying said, “I’ll finish out this term as Prefect of Wuzhou first. Wuzhou was newly established, and there are still matters unfinished. I planted that tree — I need to be the one to harvest the first crop of fruit. Wuzhou is a little remote, and traveling back and forth to the capital really is inconvenient.”

Seeing that she had a clear idea and that her plan was not unreasonable, Zheng Xi said, “You’ve had enough experience out in the field. The sooner you come back to the capital, the sooner I can put my mind at ease, and things in the capital will be smoother too.”

Zhù Ying said, “If I’m honest — after so many years in the south, I find myself reluctant to leave. I’m still the Prefect of Wuzhou, and the moment I look away from Fulu County, someone like Shang Peiji turns up. If only there were a suitable person to take over.”

Zheng Xi frowned. “That’s not easy to arrange.”

Zhù Ying said, “I still have two years — I can wait. Someone in the mold of Minister Leng would do. Someone like Minister Dou, though also a headache, would still be acceptable — just not the likes of Bian or Shang.”

“What did Bian Xing do?”

Zhù Ying said, “He did some very common things. In any case, quite a few people fled from the Xin Nan Prefecture area to Wuzhou to make a living.”

Zheng Xi nodded. “I’ll think it over. In the end it still has to go through the Grand Secretariat before being reported to His Majesty.”

“Start making preparations. If there’s a suitable person, anything can be worked out. If there isn’t one, we’ll be at a complete loss when the time comes.”

“Understood.”

The two of them then relaxed into easier conversation. Zheng Xi said with amusement, “So attached to that place? Is it really that good?”

“First posting.”

“Wasn’t your first posting the Court of Review?”

“That was yours — you carried it for nine years, and no one could take it away.”

Zheng Xi burst out laughing!

The two chatted a while longer. Zheng Xi said, “The capital is cold — don’t catch a chill. Bring it.”

A young lad brought over a large bundle. Lu Chao received it, and Zheng Xi took it back and spread it open — it was another new cloak. Zheng Xi said, “The style of your clothes has gone out of fashion. You can’t be watched for a moment or you fall behind — you’re careful about everything except yourself. This is from the Madam — she had it prepared for you. Lu Chao will see you home shortly, and there’s more besides. When moving about the capital, you can’t fall short of appearances.”

Zhù Ying thanked him immediately and made no attempt to refuse. Her account with the Zheng family was long past settling — from the time she had been at the Court of Review up to now, she had no idea how much she had given the Zheng estate in respect. And the Zheng estate had been generous to her in return, never letting her worry over matters like these.

Lu Chao saw her out, two large chests of new clothing following behind. Lu Chao said, “The Seventh Master and the Madam treat Sanlang exactly like family.”

Zhù Ying said, “They are too good to me. I don’t know how to repay them.”

Lu Chao smiled. “Sanlang is also wholehearted toward the household. Everyone says Sanlang is a person who shows true feeling.”

“It’s just how people get along. If I had never met Master Zheng, I don’t know where I’d be now.”

“But Sanlang would have to be clever and hardworking for that to matter.”

The two of them talked all the way back. Lu Chao saw her to the Zhù household and was about to turn back when Zhù Ying invited him to sit for a bit; he said, “I dare not — curfew is coming, and I still have to report back.”

Xiao Wu had quick legs and had already returned from the acquaintance at the Ministry of Rites. Hearing the voice, he recognized it as Lu Chao’s and ran out to greet him. Lu Chao said, “Oh! Xiao Wu official is here too?”

“Just call me Xiao Wu, please.”

Lu Chao said, “That won’t do — you hold an official post now. Following Sanlang, you have a bright future ahead.” He smiled cheerfully and left.

Xiao Wu quickly had people carry the clothing chests into the gatehouse and asked Zhù Ying what was to be done with them. Zhù Ying said, “Put them in my room. Everyone rest — there are things to do tomorrow.”

“Yes.”

……

Zhù Ying still rose early the next day. From that day forward, she had to attend court sessions first and then tend to her other affairs. The Prefects had not all arrived yet; there were both familiar faces and many strangers, some with whom friendships might be struck up, others with whom grudges might be formed.

This time Zhù Ying was not standing at the tail end of the line — low as her rank still was, she was still a Prefect, and some Deputy Prefects and the like ended up behind her.

Once the session ended, everyone scattered on their various errands, flying off in all directions like sparrows hunting for food.

At the Ministry of Personnel, there was a queue; it was not yet her turn. She left the Imperial City first and headed to the Wuzhou guild hall.

The Wuzhou guild hall was busy. Since Zhao Su wanted to deal with Shang Peiji, Director Xiang Da needed to make a proper showing of it. Ever since the campaign against Shang Peiji had begun, he had cut back on the outgoing shipments of sugar and similar goods, so the sugar price in the capital had naturally begun to rise. Merchants who came to him for goods waited constantly at the guild hall, ready to scramble the moment any inventory appeared.

It was year’s end, when people were happiest to spend money; whoever got the goods in hand stood to profit.

Xiang Yu said, “Father, back home I trailed after Auntie to learn the sugar works — here in the capital I’m still trailing after you to watch you do business —”

Xiang Da glared at him. “What do you know? Watch and learn —”

He was still putting on airs when he looked up and saw Zhù Ying. He instantly shifted from civilian to supplicant and stepped forward to receive her. “My lord —”

Zhù Ying said, “You carry on. I’ll go in and have a look around, and we can talk once you’re done.”

Where would Xiang Da dare to make her wait? He personally invited her into the main hall to sit, then busied himself with hospitality. Knowing that Zhù Ying was a native of the capital, he did not bring out any Wuzhou specialties, and quietly told someone to bring capital-style tea and refreshments. The level of refinement was something even Zhù Ying could not find at home.

Zhù Ying glanced at Xiang Yu and said, “Settling in all right?”

“Yes! Snow!”

“What?”

Xiang Yu stared wide-eyed. “So this is what snow looks like!”

The poor child had seen snow for the first time in his life. When they had arrived in the capital, it had already snowed twice, and remnant snow still lay piled in the shaded corners along the base of walls. Zhù Ying said, “Snow doesn’t look like this when it’s freshly fallen. If we stay a few more days, you might even catch snow falling.”

Some of the guild hall’s people had met her before, like Xiang Da; others had not, and they craned their necks and crowded off to one side to steal glances at her, their work suffering as a result.

Zhù Ying also asked Xiang Da, “Yesterday — the person who was sent to guide Zhao Zhen and the others — did those expenses come out of your account?”

“A small gesture of good faith. We’re all fellow townspeople.”

Zhù Ying was about to say something when a commotion broke out outside. Several people who looked like servants walked over. “Da Lang, the Madam is calling for you. Oh? Is there goods in now? About what I mentioned to you last time —”

Xiang Da said to Zhù Ying, “It’s the County Magistrate’s Madam who has sent people. Because I am from Fulu, whenever their household needs something they will also —” He cleared his throat.

The lead figure, a middle-aged man with the bearing of a steward, saw that Xiang Da was only speaking to Zhù Ying and paid no attention to himself — like someone filing a complaint, he frowned and said, “Da Lang!”

Zhù Ying asked, “What is the matter?”

The middle-aged man looked her over: a brand-new fur robe, a quality style — and turned slightly more courteous, cupping his hands. “This gentleman — my master has an urgent matter for this Xiang Da Lang.”

Zhù Ying asked, “What matter?”

The middle-aged man said, “It is a private matter of our household.”

“And what private matter would that be?”

“Gentleman — is it proper to pry into other people’s business?”

Xiao Wu jumped forward. “What sort of person are you? We were right in the middle of talking, and you suddenly barge in and call someone away, yet when asked what the matter is you say nothing. What do you mean by this?”

The middle-aged man’s face darkened too. “I am not explaining myself to anyone else — I am only speaking to Xiang Da. Xiang Da.”

Xiao Wu blocked Xiang Da. “And who might you be?”

“I have my reasons for calling him. Since we evidently cannot get Xiang Da official to come, I will go report back to the Madam right now.”

Xiao Wu deliberately said, “Xiang Da has a family of his own! What sort of improper Madam comes calling on him? Xiang Da, this just won’t do.”

The middle-aged man flew into a rage. “Utter rubbish! You can’t get an ivory tusk from a dog’s mouth! What are you, exactly?! Xiang Da!”

Xiao Wu was also furious. “What sort of pig or dog are you, daring to curse at me?!”

The two of them fell into a quarrel and were about to come to blows. Around Zhù Ying, Xiao Wu was obedient and shrewd — since Zhù Ying disliked luxury, he dressed plainly. The middle-aged man, looking at him, took him for some kind of steward, and thus did not fear him. He stepped forward intending to seize and strike Xiao Wu. Xiao Wu had a little lackey of his own — Ding Gui — who immediately stepped up to fight on his cousin’s behalf. The two young men the middle-aged man had brought also came forward to fight, and the scene became utterly chaotic.

Zhù Ying said, “Da Lang, tell him what Xiao Wu is.”

Xiang Da bent forward, “The person seated at the head is Lord Zhù, Prefect of Wuzhou. The one beside him is Lord Wu, Commissioner of Granaries for Wuzhou.”

The middle-aged man released the handful of Ding Gui’s topknot he had been clutching, sucked in a cold breath, and hurried forward to pay his respects. “I had no eyes to see with.”

Zhù Ying asked Xiang Da, “The goods he mentioned — what’s that about?”

The middle-aged man hastily said, “It’s to help him —”

Xiao Wu snapped, “Silence! Who gave you the right to speak here?”

Xiang Da said, “The County Magistrate’s Madam, out of consideration for me, often sends people to take goods to sell.”

“Evidence?” Zhù Ying asked quite naturally.

Xiang Da produced a sheaf of papers: some were gift registers of items they had presented to Madam Cai; others were documents related to merchants brought in by this middle-aged man. A single trade — two sets of documents: one was the contract for the sale, the other recorded the intermediary’s cut.

Zhù Ying said, “Tie them up.”

Her attendants surged forward and bound the people Madam Cai had sent, all of them together. Zhù Ying pointed at the trees in the courtyard; the attendants dragged the men over and tied them to the trees.

Zhù Ying said, “All right — you go about your business. I still have things to do.”

Xiang Da respectfully saw her out the door, then turned to the assembled merchants: “The goods for today are sold out.”

One regular customer said, “Then this person —”

Zhù Ying spread both hands and smiled. “I didn’t come with goods either.”

In the crowd, someone muttered quietly, “It seems Madam Cai’s connections might be an easier route after all.”

Zhù Ying showed no reaction, and led Xiao Wu and the others off to check on Su Zhe and the others.

……——

She had not had a moment’s rest this entire day — after seeing Su Zhe, she went on to look up various acquaintances.

Wang Yunhe and the others were busy with matters in the Imperial City, so she went to visit people outside. At many households in the capital, she had already sent gifts ahead, so when she arrived in person, the household received her warmly. At the Leng Marquis’s estate, Leng Yun was not in — he had been reassigned to a nearby prefecture as Prefect and had not come to the capital this year.

Zhù Ying left her greetings and went on to the Metropolitan Prefecture. Others might not be at their offices, but Pei Qing would have to be there.

Pei Qing was delighted to see Zhù Ying. “I knew you’d come!”

The two clasped hands and chatted warmly. Pei Qing squeezed out time for reminiscing with Zhù Ying, even though there was no official business between them. Pei Qing asked about conditions in the provinces: “I’ve even thought about requesting an external posting.”

“You’re doing perfectly well as Metropolitan Prefecture.”

“Acting — acting. I’m the Vice Magistrate.”

Zhù Ying laughed. “You’re hoping to get formally appointed?”

“What Vice Magistrate just walks straight into the Metropolitan Magistrate position? Most likely I’d still have to move on. Better to move sooner than later!”

“There’s no Magistrate right now anyway, and everyone can see how you’re doing. It’s not wasted effort. People on the streets say things have improved a great deal these past two years — there’s a hint of the old days when Minister Wang was in charge.”

“And when did you learn to flatter people? Don’t pick up bad habits!”

“You’ve done all this work yourself — do you really not know in your own heart how worthwhile it is? Do you need me to flatter you?”

Pei Qing said, “And you don’t need to flatter anyone else either — you’ve done very well yourself!”

Zhù Ying said, “No one is a sage or a worthy — there are bound to be gaps in my work too. I still need to ask for your guidance.”

The two of them were deep in pleasant conversation when a matter arose that compelled Pei Qing to step out. Pei Qing smiled ruefully. “The capital —”

Zhù Ying understood immediately. They were all people of influence, and some matters the staff below could not resolve; Pei Qing had to handle them personally. She took her leave.

Leaving the Metropolitan Prefecture, she made a small detour to visit the widow of old Wang, and then went to pay a call at Cihui Convent, donating some rice and medicine. The nun there was delighted to see her. “Madam Fu is not on duty today! She’ll be so happy to know you’ve come.”

Shortly after, Madam Fu came over leading a small girl. The girl had seen Zhù Ying on her previous visit the year before and still remembered her, calling out, “My lord.”

Zhù Ying smiled. “You’ve grown.”

She gave the girl a red packet. Madam Fu smiled and thanked her, and as she rose from her bow she unconsciously glanced behind Zhù Ying. Zhù Ying said, “A’Jie didn’t come — she’s in the south keeping Father and Mother company.”

Madam Fu quickly concealed her disappointment and asked after Zhù Da and Zhang Xiangu’s health. Zhù Ying said, “Both are well.” She could see that Madam Fu was getting along well enough — not wealthy, but her clothing was neat and clean. Zhù Ying asked, “You’re still lodging here?”

Madam Fu said, “Yes. The abbess has been extremely kind to us.” Her old home was impossible to return to, and housing in the capital was expensive too. She had originally expected to save a bit more money, but who would have thought that after Zhù Ying left, the allowances at the Court of Review would visibly decline. Then with that wretch Su Kuang on top of it all, no one’s purse was as full as expected. Madam Fu had a little money in hand now, but not enough to buy a small courtyard in a slightly remote area within ten years as she had planned — the way things looked now, it would take fifteen? So she continued to lodge here.

These things she did not want to say to Zhù Ying — it would sound like she was crying poverty and begging for money.

Zhù Ying asked, “What about the others?”

Madam Fu said, “All still here.”

Zhù Ying said, “That’s very good! And has she learned to read?”

Madam Fu the younger said, “I teach her a little, and the abbess teaches her a little too. Once she’s a bit older, I’ll find a way to send her to a proper school.”

Zhù Ying produced a small book. “Then let this be for her.”

The younger Madam Fu received it and saw that it was titled “Song for Learning Characters.” She flipped to a page and saw it was written by Liu Songnian, and then saw Zhù Ying’s name — she quickly said, “Many thanks, my lord!” This was a fine thing. She had been mildly worried — the abbess was good, but whoever one learns from, one tends to take on their manner; a small girl learning characters from sutras would, in the end, not be ideal.

Zhù Ying also left a portion of money for the little girl: “For her to buy paper and brushes.”

Wandering along, she came out of Cihui Convent and went to check on old Ma’s tea stall — only to find that the person tending the stall had changed. But it was someone she recognized. Zhù Ying said, “It’s you?”

The moment the man saw her, he knelt. “Benefactor.”

Zhù Ying said, “Get up.”

Ding Gui quickly stepped forward to help him to his feet.

This person was the thief whose sister Zhù Ying had secured a release for through someone’s intercession back in the day. Zhù Ying did not stand on ceremony about the setting — she brought people into the tea stall, sat down, and then pulled out a handful of coins. “Put it on the tab. Bring tea, and let’s talk slowly.”

The proprietor served tea himself, arranging things while saying, “Old Ma passed away, and I was the one who saw him off. He left the stall to me. I had nowhere to go anyway, so I stayed on here. Never expected my benefactor to come by.”

Zhù Ying said, “Business still good?”

“It is. Since Vice Magistrate Pei took charge, things have improved greatly.”

While Zhù Ying was chatting idly in the tea stall, Zheng Xi was at that moment speaking with Lan Xing in a side hall within the palace.

Zheng Xi asked directly, “Who spoke to His Majesty about Wuzhou?”

Lan Xing answered just as succinctly: “Duan Lin. Saying that Zhù Ying has been operating there for ten years, and that if her conduct were to deviate in any way, with three feet of ice not forming in a single day, it would be difficult to contain if it grew into a great disaster.”

Zheng Xi gave a cold laugh.

Lan Xing appeared not to notice. “That young Lord Zhù gave quite a good answer too. She has risen so fast, and yet she still knows that the poor have a hard life. She passed.”

Zheng Xi cupped his hands. Lan Xing bowed slightly. The two parted ways.