Coming out of the Chen household, Zhù Ying swung up into the saddle.
Chen Meng had seen the guests to the gate and reminded everyone: “You have all been drinking — don’t gallop your horses.”
Zhù Ying heard this and gave a quiet smile. Not drinking wine could sometimes cause a small inconvenience — in a warm, slightly hazy state, it was easy to draw people closer. By the end of the meal, the others had grown more open and familiar with one another, while she had only gotten a general acquaintance with everyone’s faces. The books, however, had all been promised away.
Back home, she had people collect the books right away that same night, parceled them out one share at a time, and had them delivered first thing the next morning.
Then there was seeing Pei Qing and others, and hosting a dinner. Not all of the “Six Companions of the Dragon Boat Festival” from those years were in the capital this year. Wen Yue and Zheng Yi were both still around; Jiang Zhi could not come back this year; Lin Zhen had also been posted elsewhere; Shao Shu had only just this year been sent to an outer prefecture as a Deputy Prefect. Zhù Ying invited Wen Yue and Zheng Yi to dinner at her own home, and both accepted immediately.
Zheng Yi brought a jug of wine; Wen Yue walked in and said right away, “I can’t drink today either.”
Zheng Yi said, “What? You can’t drink either? Did I bring wine just to drink it alone?”
Both had developed a slight thickening around the middle, and had taken on something of the look of men who were fathers themselves. Each had children of various ages by now, wearing the somewhat beleaguered expression of subordinates frequently handed impossible problems by superiors.
Wen Yue said, “You know me — if someone happens to call for me while I’m drunk, there will be trouble.”
Zheng Yi muttered and poured his own drink. After a while he complained that there was no one to sing or dance either.
Zhù Ying asked, “What’s gotten into you?”
Wen Yue said, “In the days before and after the New Year — are there not plenty of those sorts of things? Isn’t it nicer to eat a quiet meal together, just friends talking?”
Zheng Yi said to Zhù Ying, “Don’t take it personally, Sanlang — I’m just in a foul mood.” He then downed another cup.
Zhù Ying did not press for the reason first, and instead invited him to try some of the Wuzhou specialty dishes on the table. The spread blended capital fare with Wuzhou flavors; the accompanying drinks were plentiful.
Wen Yue said with a smile, “It’s him, see — he’s gotten himself riled up. Seventh Master used to have the position of Senior Tutor of the Crown Prince, as you know?”
Zhù Ying nodded.
Zheng Yi said, “He’s been stuck to because of that, and he doesn’t know how to shake them off! Hasn’t he been badly burned enough?”
Zhù Ying said, “Was it a former colleague, or —”
Wen Yue said coolly, “The late Crown Prince has a surviving child. Some people can’t sit still.”
Zhù Ying made a gesture of caution: “These words are not to be spoken carelessly.”
Zheng Yi said, “You’ve been back all these days — are you still pretending not to know?”
Zhù Ying asked, “On top of the various princes, there is now another?”
Wen Yue sighed. “After the late Crown Prince passed away, His Majesty was actually quite attentive to the surviving child. Some of the late Crown Prince’s former people then began to — alas —”
“This is no small matter. Let us speak of it more clearly.”
Zheng Yi gave a cold laugh. “It is just a gang of fools dreaming away! And then there is the Crown Princess — the last time Seventh Master took the blame and punishment for her, she is a woman of shallow understanding yet insists on wielding power and influence, and she even dragged others down with her. She has started again now! Who is going to listen to her or stand with her? The inner circle of the Eastern Palace was full of people with lofty opinions but no ability — opinionated, unmanageable, they made constant trouble for Seventh Master during his time as Senior Tutor. When the Crown Prince died, they turned overnight and became ‘loyal ministers’ all of a sudden, demanding that Seventh Master yet again exert himself to support the surviving child. They dare speak of ‘loyalty’? Shameless! They even invoked righteousness and duty as leverage, presuming to issue orders. So they had the nerve to take that tone with him?”
Wen Yue said quietly to Zhù Ying, “Several of these people have gathered around Seventh Master — Seventh Master cannot simply sever all connection with the late Crown Prince’s surviving child overnight, either. This is… troublesome.”
Zhù Ying said, “What exactly is the ‘issuing orders’ business about? Who has been issuing orders?”
“Two separate factions.” Wen Yue said.
Zheng Yi poured himself another cup: “What a headache! With the Emperor not yet naming a new Crown Prince, each and every one of them is already convinced the realm will one day belong to the ‘Imperial Grandson.’ From where did this ‘Imperial Grandson’ appear? No princedom has even been enfeoffed yet! The first faction is the Crown Princess — she’s putting on her old air of household mistress, having her brothers send word out: she’s a widow left alone with a fatherless child, she asks that in memory of the late Crown Prince’s sake, people go and speak on her behalf, and that whoever does so will never be forgotten. The second faction is a former Senior Companion of the late Eastern Palace and a current tutor, both of whom want to establish the late Crown Prince’s line as heir. Whenever the chance arises, they ‘remind’ Seventh Master not to ‘forget where he came from.’ Did Seventh Master obtain his position because of the Eastern Palace? Who was actually helping whom? Have they any sense of it in their hearts?”
Zhù Ying’s brow creased slightly. “I’ve never heard the Lord Zheng mention this.”
Wen Yue said, “You are three thousand li away — knowing about it would only make you fret for nothing. This matter — fretting doesn’t help; no one can see clearly what His Majesty intends. Among ourselves we say: a nation needs a mature ruler. Yet the most senior after the late Crown Prince is Prince Zhao — he is… a little — not quite the type.”
The Crown Prince was dead. By now the Emperor’s surviving sons numbered seven, all born of concubines. The eldest was Prince Zhao. This person — Zhù Ying knew him — whether he himself wished it or not, his birth order was conspicuous enough to attract attention. While the Crown Prince was still alive, Prince Zhao had clearly mastered the art of survival: appearing entirely indifferent to worldly affairs, cultivating a love of literature. But he lacked any real gift for it, and spent his days in his own contented amusement; he had never been seen cultivating connections with officials.
“If it is not him, there will likely be complications.” Zhù Ying said.
Zheng Yi did not follow that thread, but instead said, “I don’t know what Seventh Master is thinking — and there are those few people clustering around him — he goes and groups up with those dregs! He doesn’t even consult us!”
Wen Yue said, “What kind of tone is that! Seventh Master must have a plan; it’s not as though he is deliberately leaving us out.”
Zheng Yi said, “Those petty schemers! Sanlang probably doesn’t know, right? While you were away — and Shao Shuxin, Jiang Zhi, Lin Zhen — Seventh Master has picked up new people around him in these past two years! A cluster of petty schemers huddled together — truly infuriating!”
The reason he was in a poor mood today had been found: and it was not entirely about the succession.
Wen Yue said, “Give me one cup.” Zheng Yi poured him one. Wen Yue drank it all at once and said slowly to Zhù Ying how this aggravation had come about. After Zheng Xi’s fall and recovery, he had been quiet for a while; over the past two years, three new people had appeared around him. These three were fellow townsmen. The first to come along was a local official from outside the capital who had come to the city seeking a post: a man named Shu Yan. He had had a run of bad luck with mourning periods — first his father died and he observed the three-year mourning period; then his grandfather died, and he had to continue. One period stretched into another for several years. By the time he came to his senses, it was too late.
No one knows how it happened, but somehow he latched onto Zheng Xi, and through Zheng Xi he introduced two of his fellow townsmen.
Wen Yue said, “He does have some ability. Shu Yan served as County Magistrate of Xinfeng County. We privately asked Gan Da, whose maternal family is from Xinfeng County, and he said this county magistrate had done a decent job there. His two fellow townsmen, Bai Qingzhi and Liu Chang, were originally minor officials in one of the ministries — well, they’re also… all right, I suppose.”
Zhù Ying said, “Lord Zheng’s eye for people has always been reliable.”
Zheng Yi said, “Those two? Donkeys fighting over the same manger!”
Zhù Ying said, “One manger was never meant to hold two donkeys — put too many in and they fight over the feed.”
Zheng Yi glared at her. “What do you mean? Something doesn’t feel right about that — who are you calling a donkey?”
Zhù Ying gave a slight smile. She had a rough sense of the picture now. If Shu Yan had pushed Zheng Yi to the point of calling people donkeys as a comparison, he must have had some real competence. She said, “What have they done?”
Wen Yue coughed twice. “You’ll see when you meet them.”
Zhù Ying said, “What a mess. Trouble hasn’t died down outside, and now things are stirring at home too.”
Wen Yue set down his wine and picked up tea instead, and then continued to give Zhù Ying the story of their grievance. After Zheng Xi’s ups and downs, these three had gathered near him. Such things happened, and Zheng Yi also did not need to compete with “outsiders” for Zheng Xi’s attention — he considered himself on par with Zheng Xi, like brothers. And yet the feel of it was just wrong.
Zheng Yi said, “Sanlang — we’re all old acquaintances. Now that you’re back, you must help us advise Seventh Master to be on guard against flattering petty schemers.”
Zhù Ying said, “All right.”
Zheng Yi said, “Now we’re talking!”
He then turned the conversation back again to the princes: “Everyone is coiling up, ready to strike. I heard that just a few days ago, when His Majesty spoke with the elders, a senior member of the imperial clan brought up the matter of establishing an Empress. His Majesty gave no clear response. The guesses that it’s to establish an Imperial Grandson grew more numerous. The Crown Princess and the Senior Companion and the others have become even more brazen. I’m both afraid it won’t be the Imperial Grandson, and more afraid that it will.”
Zhù Ying said, “That is not something we can worry about — the matters of the inner palace are entirely opaque. Would Lord Zheng not see more clearly than us?”
Zheng Yi pointed at Wen Yue. “Do you know why he is here?”
“The Forbidden Guard, ah — in that case, just staying in the palace is already winning half the battle. Old Wen should not make rash moves.”
Wen Yue said, “I have not dared even to drink wine.”
The three of them silently agreed to close that topic. Wen Yue asked after Zhang Xiangu and Huajie; Zheng Yi also brought up Jin Biao, since Jin Biao, through a series of maneuverings, had also landed in the Forbidden Guards. He was not guarding the palace gates; Zhù Ying had not seen him in the palace.
They talked more about various acquaintances and happenings in the capital. Zhù Ying matched everything they said against what she had observed in these past few days, and could not help thinking: people truly are not all alike.
Xiang Da could not be called “a man of low station” — he was quite smart, too. But what he knew, and what Wen Yue and Zheng Yi were able to supply in the way of intelligence, was on a completely different level. Wen Yue was usually closemouthed, never speaking of matters inside the palace. But even he could not help letting slip a few words about how, since the passing of General Ye, the Emperor had rotated the Forbidden Guard commanders.
Zhù Ying said, “I see Li校尉 Commandant Li still at the gate.”
Wen Yue said, “The rotation hasn’t reached him yet.”
Zheng Yi said, “If only we knew what His Majesty was thinking — it has been several years since the late Crown Prince passed away. Without establishing a successor, people’s hearts are growing restless.”
Zhù Ying asked, “Do you have your own thoughts on it?”
Zheng Yi asked back, “On a matter this weighty — who dares say they have no stake in the outcome?”
Zhù Ying gave a quiet smile. She truly did not care very much who became Emperor — it was not something she could influence anyway! But evidently others did not think this way. Everyone was salivating at the prospect of “the merit of supporting a new ruler.” She said, “If only Shao, Jiang, and the others were here too — then we could actually put our heads together. I am three thousand li from the capital. Let me just muddle through this term first.”
The other two both sighed. Zheng Yi said, “You need to come back sooner — don’t drag it out any longer.”
Zhù Ying gave a nod.
……
The day after dining with Zheng Yi and Wen Yue, Zhù Ying went to Prefect Lu’s private residence to pay a call. For ordinary acquaintances, exchanging a calling card and seeing each other briefly during the New Year was enough. Prefect Lu had been her superior once — having run into him, it was best to visit his residence as quickly as possible.
The gift had already been sent; surely she would not be turned away at the door.
She was not influenced by Zheng Yi and the others’ mood. When she arrived at the gate of Prefect Lu’s residence, her expression was composed and even — only to find outside the gate that there was already a guest inside: the hitching posts already had reins tied to them. Zhù Ying indicated toward the posts on the other side; Xiao Liu understood and tied the horses at those instead, not crowding in with the others.
Zhù Ying looked at the servants by the other horses — several of them, some watching the horses, some minding the carriage, all neatly dressed and with a noticeably alert, even slightly tense and excited, air about them.
Zhù Ying signaled Ding Gui to step forward and present her calling card. The Lu household gateman looked at the card and came out to receive her: “Ah, it is Lord Zhù — please come in, my lord. I will go in right now to report.”
Zhù Ying said, “Will I be interrupting the Prefect’s reception of a guest?”
The gateman said, “Where would my lord get that idea? Before and after the New Year — isn’t it always this lively?” He pulled along a companion and sent him inside to announce the visit.
Zhù Ying waited in the gatehouse for a moment.
Prefect Lu’s private residence had some years to it; looking at it, it did not appear to have been newly purchased. Zhù Ying examined the flowering plants in the courtyard and said, “I have never seen flowering branches so thick and sturdy — they must have been growing here for many years.”
The gateman smiled. “They have — these flowers were here since the great-grandfather’s time. He planted them himself. In a blink, fifty years have passed.”
Zhù Ying said, “You are not yet thirty years old — how would you know what happened fifty years ago?”
The gateman said, “My grandfather told me.”
Zhù Ying had previously known only that Prefect Lu’s father and grandfather had both held respectable official positions; today she learned for the first time that the family’s rise had come much earlier than those two generations. The gateman was young and somewhat prone to boasting about his master’s glory: “Going back to the previous dynasty —”
One could not believe anyone who traced their ancestry back two thousand years to a descendant of the Yellow Emperor; but the reliable recorded history of the Lu family’s official service could be traced back five generations, all the way to the previous dynasty. After the change of dynasties, the Lu family was unaffected and continued in official service. By Prefect Lu’s generation, they had risen to the point of wearing purple robes.
A steward came out from inside, and the gateman immediately fell silent. Zhù Ying recognized this steward — he was the one she had to deal with when she sent gifts to the Prefect’s office.
The moment the steward saw Zhù Ying, he bowed and offered his greetings. Zhù Ying said pleasantly, “Why, it is an old acquaintance — you are still hale and hearty.”
The steward bowed and walked alongside her, smiling. “The Lord heard it was you and specifically asked that you be shown to the small flower room to take tea first, and he will come momentarily.”
“Who is the guest?”
“A son of one of the Lord’s old acquaintances.”
“Oh.”
The two walked slowly. Zhù Ying no longer found it surprising that Prefect Lu’s private residence was so large. They arrived at the small flower room, where servants of the Lu household brought tea and refreshments, the steward personally arranging them and setting them out, then stood to one side. Zhù Ying asked a few things about Prefect Lu’s health, and similar harmless topics.
The steward gradually relaxed and gave a brief account of the Prefect Lu’s sons and grandchildren. This information required no concealment; he spoke of it easily. Prefect Lu’s sons already had three who had taken up official posts; the grandchildren were still studying at the Imperial Academy. They were not here today because the sons were not posted in the capital, while the grandson was accompanying Prefect Lu in meeting the current guest.
While they were still speaking, the grandson arrived — the grandfather and his guest were also talking as they came.
Zhù Ying heard Prefect Lu’s voice and stood up.
Prefect Lu was not in a cheerful mood. Zhù Ying coming to call on him put him in a somewhat better state — his evaluation of her, if anything, rose another notch. What displeased him was this guest; the moment the gate had announced another visitor arriving, this guest had interjected that he would like to meet the newcomer.
Prefect Lu had no choice but to bring him along.
Zhù Ying paid her respects to Prefect Lu first; Prefect Lu returned the courtesy, then had his grandson come and pay respects to Zhù Ying. Finally he made the introduction: “This is the Literary Companion of the Tang Wang household — Dai Ying. And this is Prefect Zhù of Wuzhou.”
Of the Emperor’s seven surviving sons, the Tang Prince ranked after the Zhao Prince. Dai Ying appeared to be about thirty years old, with a scholarly bearing.
Dai Ying gave Zhù Ying a deep bow first: “Greetings, Prefect.”
Zhù Ying quickly returned the courtesy, then looked to Prefect Lu. Prefect Lu said, “I am an old acquaintance of his father’s. He heard about you and insisted on coming to meet you.”
Zhù Ying laughed. “One nose, two eyes — not much to see.”
Dai Ying said, “It is not appearance that brought me here — it is the person I came to see.”
“There is nothing particularly remarkable about me.” Zhù Ying still said, and found the remark rather puzzling.
Dai Ying would not let the conversation end, steering it toward the literacy primer. He said, “I heard from His Highness that His Majesty showed considerable appreciation for Lord Zhù, and that His Majesty had the primer stored away carefully. His Highness is most curious and has been unable to obtain a copy. Please do not take offense, my lord — since this humble official happened to encounter you, how could I not make so bold as to ask of you?”
“Oh dear — I don’t happen to have one on me.”
Dai Ying said, “Properly speaking, this humble official should call upon you, my lord. If you would permit, this official will come to your residence tomorrow — would that suit?”
Zhù Ying said, “What is there to deliberate over?”
Dai Ying was very pleased, then said to Prefect Lu, “The illustrious sir is truly a remarkable figure of his time. Those with whom he associates are likewise men of talent.”
Prefect Lu said, “Praising him is correct — he is indeed a man of talent. But praising me is going too far.”
“You are most worthy of it.”
“You are a busy person — I won’t detain you further.”
“Then I will take my leave.”
Prefect Lu told his grandson, “See the guest out for me.” He himself made a gesture to Zhù Ying: “Come inside.”
Host and guest sat down. Zhù Ying behaved as though nothing had happened, and first inquired after Prefect Lu, and then made some pleasantries, adding: “I did not know you were here — I came too late. My apologies.”
Prefect Lu said, “I also did not mention it. The person just now — don’t let it occupy your thoughts.”
“Hmm?”
Prefect Lu gave Zhù Ying a meaningful look. Zhù Ying said, “I understand.”
Prefect Lu gave a sigh. “You have always had your own judgment — follow your own judgment. I have no particular feeling toward him one way or another. He is not someone I recommended to you; nor am I blocking your meeting him.”
Zhù Ying said, “Understood.”
Prefect Lu said one more sentence: “Young people — either do not act at all, or once you have seen clearly, go forward with no regrets.”
“Yes.”
Prefect Lu also mentioned the literacy primer and asked, “Is it still the original thousand-character draft?”
“It is. Did the Elder Lord know about it beforehand?”
Prefect Lu said, “You are a person who puts in the true work.”
“You flatter me.”
They exchanged a few more pleasantries. Zhù Ying then asked when Prefect Lu was leaving the capital, and whether he would be at home over the New Year and such. Prefect Lu said, “Since there is an external posting, one should not overstay — before the second month I will set out. And you?”
“The same. The road is long; I worry about being too late for spring planting.”
Prefect Lu also asked, “What exactly happened with Bian Xing? I look at that man — he is not one who can get things done well. The common people — are they all right?”
Zhù Ying said, “The Elder Lord’s eyes see clearly.”
Prefect Lu closed his eyes briefly. “The River East County was hit hardest?”
“Things had improved before I arrived; there had been a steady flow of people crossing over to make a living in Wuzhou before then.”
“Tsk, tsk! You have done very well — so young and spirited, and yet not impulsive. Very few people at your age can hold themselves back. Without tasting a little hardship, they don’t know where the line is drawn. But the overly composed can tend toward staleness — all lifeless inertia.”
Zhù Ying listened quietly as Prefect Lu spoke. When Prefect Lu came back to himself and said, “I have grown old — always rambling,” Zhù Ying said, “The more rambling the better, as far as I’m concerned — I love to listen. Father cannot teach me these things; I can only pick up bits and pieces from here and there by listening to others.”
Prefect Lu’s tone grew ever more gentle. “You are clever; you could figure out most of it yourself — only a little later than hearing it directly from someone. Being an official — some say you need a patron, some say you need family pedigree, others say you need to be skilled at flattery, still others say you need marriage connections, and yet others say you need to read books. Round and round it goes; each argument seems to have merit, and indeed there are people who have risen to prominence through each of those paths. In fact, all of them are mistaken. At the root of it — you need to have solid, genuine ability; only then do any of the other considerations enter the picture. With real ability, whatever approach you take will work.”
“Yes.”
Zhù Ying genuinely and honestly received a full lesson from Prefect Lu. Before taking her leave, she produced a copy of the literacy primer and presented it to Prefect Lu, saying, “I also know — everyone asking me for this book is not really interested in the book itself; they’re interested in His Majesty.”
Prefect Lu said, “Impudent. Even so — within ten years, Wuzhou’s literary culture must be on the rise. Even in the capital, literate commoners do not make up half the population.”
“It’s just one booklet, and without teachers, self-study is an agonizingly slow process. Most of those who learn from it will still end up being the children of the gentry. If an ordinary person can learn a few characters and memorize a few phrases, their thinking will not be too dull. Making a living will be a little easier as well.”
Prefect Lu paused, then said, “You truly do care for the common people from the heart. You do not ‘shepherd’ the people — you —”
“Wherever I go, I treat the people there as my own family.”
Prefect Lu said, “You have produced results. When you say it, people can believe a little of it.”
Zhù Ying laughed. “Yes — one must still have the real ability.”
The two of them shared a laugh, and Zhù Ying took her leave of Prefect Lu.
……
Dai Ying said he would come to call the next day; Zhù Ying made no particular preparations. Coming out of Prefect Lu’s home, she still carried out her planned activities and invited the familiar faces from the Court of Review to dinner.
This time it was not at her own home — the Zhù household was currently full of people, and hosting too many guests there was not ideal. Zhù Ying had booked a garden venue outside and set the banquet there. The food and wine were generous, and she also sent each person off with a package.
Old Wu was no longer at the Court of Review, but he still came in person, and said to her face, “I’m not here for your things or money. I just — when I think about the days when you were still at the Court of Review with us —”
At that, the entire gathering grew sentimental.
Zhù Ying said, “Things will improve.”
Old Wu shook his head, thinking to himself: The new person who’s come in — not only is he nothing compared to you, he doesn’t even hold a candle to Minister Dou!
His son still had to make a living at the Court of Review; these words he did not say aloud.
Zhù Ying said, “The Wuzhou guild hall is right there. If anything comes up and you need to find me, send word through them.”
Everyone sighed and lamented.
Zhù Ying ate dinner with them, then arranged for hired carriages and made sure that those without their own carriage and horse were safely seen home. She herself left last, returning home with full clarity of mind.
Outside the gate, she saw a few unfamiliar people, with horses and a carriage.
The gate was open. The moment Zhù Ying appeared, Zhao Zhen, who had been waiting, came up to meet her: “My lord — there is a guest.” He handed Zhù Ying a calling card as he spoke.
Zhù Ying held it up to the light of the lantern and opened it. On it was written — a eunuch from the Wei Wang household…?