After leaving the Capital Prefect’s office, Zhù Ying made herself presentable and headed with her attendants to Princess Yongping’s residence.

Princess Yongping’s residence occupied a considerable expanse of land. The emperor had spared no effort for his daughter’s sake, having dozens of households relocated beyond the designated boundaries in order to construct this sprawling mansion for the princess. This had led many to speculate that had it not been for the fact that Princess Anjin’s residence was not far away, the emperor would have demolished even more to make room.

Not only was the estate vast, but its interior was also fitted out with extreme luxury.

When Zhù Ying had come previously, she had not been able to enter the main hall and had seen little of the greater grandeur. This occasion was different — she had been formally invited in the names of both the Princess and Prince Consort. Though it was evening, the lights burned brilliantly all the way from the front gates inward, and the full splendor of the princess’s residence presented itself to the eye. The cost of the illumination for that single evening alone was beyond the means of any ordinary person to sustain.

Certainly beyond Zhù Ying’s means. She had locked many of the courtyards in the new mansion precisely to save on maintenance costs. Behind her, Xiang An, Xiang Le, Zhù Lian, and Hu Shijie all stared wide-eyed! Though they had seen the towering grandeur of the Imperial City, they knew nothing of the inner life within its walls.

At one sight of the princess’s residence, they were struck with awe.

First came two columns of neatly attired household servants bearing lanterns to receive them. Proceeding further inside, a man with the bearing of a head steward came forward to inquire about the identities of the four attendants and direct them to their respective places at the banquet. After that, a middle-aged woman dressed in gold and jewels — with a kindly countenance and four young women behind her whose adornments, any single piece of which Xiang Da’lang would have specially sought out to bring home as a gift for his mother, wife, or sister — came to greet them. These were still merely household servants, fitting at most the role of ordinary stewards.

The four attendants were all feeling somewhat overwhelmed.

Zhù Lian had experienced more grand occasions than the others, yet even he now collected himself and held his breath — the princess’s household truly surpassed even that of the Chief Ministers! Even the old lady at home, in her finest dress, was not as dazzling as these servants.

Zhù Ying alone kept Zhù Lian beside her; even Hu Shijie was given over to the care of the princess’s staff.

As teacher and student proceeded further inside, a man of official bearing approached — somewhere in his thirties or forties, appearing rather young in the lamplight, and a fine-looking man as well, with a pale complexion, a long beard, a tall and slender frame, and unhurried steps. He stepped forward and gave a bow first: “Would you be Junior Minister Zhù? I am Shi Yin, the Princess’s household steward.”

Zhù Ying returned the bow: “Ah, so this is Scholar Chengwen.”

Shi Yin’s heart gave a brief start of surprise before he recovered his composure: “Indeed it is I. I serve as a companion guest today. The Princess and Prince Consort have been awaiting the Junior Minister for some time. Please—”

Arriving before the main hall, several personal attendants came forward — these were the palace eunuchs Princess Yongping had brought with her from the palace. Their chief was of middle age, beardless, recognizable at a glance by his appearance. Zhù Ying also addressed him: “Chief Steward Wang.”

This eunuch showed no particular surprise and said with a genial smile: “I could not dare to accept that title — you flatter this old servant. Please.”

Only then, upon entering further, did they reach the main hall.

Princess Yongping was seated above, with Luo Sheng sitting beside her. The interior was lit by countless candles and lamps as bright as broad daylight. Zhù Ying stepped over the threshold and with a single sweeping glance took in that she was the only guest that evening.

She first stepped forward to pay her respects to the Princess. The Princess ranked above her — it mattered not that Zhù Ying currently wore a red official’s robe; when protocol required a bow, a bow was required. Princess Yongping was a great beauty, and time had been particularly gentle with her. Counting by years she was actually a few years older than Zhù Ying, yet she appeared as though she had not yet reached thirty. Her large eyes were very gentle, and her entire bearing was one of ease and composure — yet she did not slump indolently in her seat.

Princess Yongping was also studying Zhù Ying. She had heard Zhù Ying’s name many times and had felt no particular curiosity about her — until Zhù Ying had become more closely connected with Luo Sheng.

Zhù Ying ought to have been in her thirties by now, yet she had not grown a beard, with a fair, clean complexion. She was not especially tall, but her figure was slender and well-proportioned, her features gentle, and her expression mild and candid. At a first glance she might pass for a young official in his early twenties just entering service; at a closer look, there was something that seemed not quite so simple about her. Zhù Ying’s gaze, at first sight, appeared perfectly calm and clear. Looking more closely, Princess Yongping had a vague sense of familiarity.

The Princess ordinarily stayed out of politics, yet as a princess she had always been in the company of the most refined persons, affairs, and objects of this empire, and she had the faint feeling that Zhù Ying’s manner was reminiscent of someone she had once met. For the moment, however, she could not recall who.

Princess Yongping smiled. Her voice was unhurried but each word distinctly articulated: “The journey has been hard on the Junior Minister. Both I and the Prince Consort have been waiting for you to return.”

Zhù Ying repeatedly said she did not deserve such words, then exchanged greetings with Luo Sheng. Luo Sheng was quite pleased to see Zhù Ying, and invited her to take her seat, asking: “And this must be Zi Zhang’s student?”

Zhù Lian bowed rather stiffly. Princess Yongping’s curiosity was also piqued: “And this young man — from which family?”

Zhù Ying smiled: “A student I took on while in Wuzhou. His surname is also Zhù.”

“What a coincidence.” The Princess said, and also invited Zhù Lian to be seated.

After teacher and student had taken their seats, those above did not touch on any official matters. The music and dance began, and attendants and eunuchs filed in one after another bearing all manner of delicacies.

Shi Yin took the lead and raised his cup to warm the atmosphere between the host and guest.

Princess Yongping smiled and asked: “The teacher does not drink wine — and the student?”

Zhù Ying replied: “I invariably cause trouble when I drink, so I dare not. He is growing up — a few cups would do him no harm.”

The Princess did not press Zhù Ying to drink, and had tea brought for her instead. The atmosphere between host and guest was quite pleasant. Shi Yin, serving as a companion guest, was also at ease — Zhù Ying not only knew who he was but also brought up an essay he had written years ago during their conversation.

Princess Yongping also asked about the case involving Tian Pi from years back. The matter had been over for more than a decade, yet Zhù Ying recounted it again, taking the opportunity to praise Luo Sheng’s handling of the affair as “steady and reliable.”

Luo Sheng said: “You flatter me, Zi Zhang. I merely watched while you handled the case.”

Zhù Ying said earnestly: “Without you, the case would not have proceeded so smoothly.”

Shi Yin also stepped in to mediate: “The Prince Consort has always been dependable, and the Junior Minister is a talent of the age. With these two in the Court of State Ceremonial, all matters of protocol will surely run smoothly.”

Princess Yongping added: “Going forward, with the Prince Consort at the Court of State Ceremonial, the Junior Minister must make every effort.”

Zhù Ying said: “I dare not fail in this.”

The Princess appeared pleased. The food and wine were changed for another round. At Zhù Lian’s table, six dishes had been served, of each of which he had barely managed two bites. He considered himself to have eaten well enough traveling with his teacher, but of these six dishes he could only identify chicken, fish, and pork — the rest he had no name for, knowing only that they were exquisite and he wanted more. The dishes were cleared and replaced with an entirely new set!

A whole roasted lamb was brought out. A chef sliced the meat, divided a portion to each table, and the guests ate it themselves with small carving knives.

Again barely a few bites, and it was cleared away again.

The wine, however, remained continuously replenished. Zhù Lian drank a cup on behalf of Zhù Ying to accompany the Princess and Prince Consort. The moment the wine touched his lips, his eyes went wide. The Zhù household had only Zhù Da drinking daily; the rest of them drank only at festivals, shutting themselves in and sharing two small cups, and only the finest wine at that. As far as he could recall, he had tasted wine of this quality only twice before.

A princess’s household was truly something remarkable…

After three rounds of wine, a person wearing a veiled hat came forward and said: “Your Highness, the Western Residence has heard that Your Highness is entertaining the Junior Minister at a banquet, and has sent food over.”

It was Princess Anjin who, having heard that her daughter-in-law was hosting a guest, sent over a large dish — a whole braised calf.

After that came various sweet dishes, and as early summer was now setting in, there were also chilled desserts and fresh fruits.

Zhù Lian was biting into a cherry when he heard Luo Sheng asking Zhù Ying: “When will Zi Zhang come to report to the Court of State Ceremonial?”

Zhù Ying replied: “I have just returned to the capital and have just moved house. Once things are in order these next few days I will come. I look forward to your guidance going forward, My Lord.”

Luo Sheng said: “You will be fine — how could I possibly teach you anything?”

Zhù Ying said sincerely: “This junior official knows only the Office for Reception Affairs of the entire Court of State Ceremonial. I will certainly need your direction. Today is already rather late — before I report to the Court, I would like to come and seek your advice once more. Would you be available in the coming days, My Lord?”

Luo Sheng said: “Any day would do!”

Zhù Ying said: “But you have official duties as well, My Lord.”

Princess Yongping considered for a moment and said: “Once the Junior Minister has the household settled, it would be fine for the Prince Consort to pay a visit to the Junior Minister’s home. Junior Minister, shall we help?”

Zhù Ying replied: “Many thanks, Your Highness. This junior official will have the household properly arranged as soon as possible and then invite His Lordship for a visit.”

Both the Princess and Luo Sheng smiled and nodded.

The gathering ended with host and guest all content.

Luo Sheng wished to personally see Zhù Ying out of the residence. Shi Yin asked Princess Yongping for instructions: “Your Highness, curfew has begun. Shall we use the residence’s carriage to send the Junior Minister home?”

This question was not without reason. An ordinary person who violated the night curfew would, at minimum, be taken into custody for a day or two to clear their head. Officials could obtain a pass and travel at night after curfew. But there was also a class of person for whom galloping about at any hour caused no difficulty whatsoever — either hanging a token plaque from the carriage clearly identifying their identity from a distance, or carrying one on their person to be verified immediately upon encountering a patrol.

The number of such people was exceedingly small, and among them was Princess Yongping.

The Princess seemed to pause briefly, then said: “That is fine.”

Zhù Ying did not mention that she herself had a pass, and gracefully accepted the offer of the carriage. On the other side, Xiang Le and the others had also finished their meal, and came running over to take their places behind Zhù Ying.

The whole party returned to the new mansion. Zhù Ying gave red envelopes to the staff who had accompanied her home, then retired for the night.

——

The next day, Zhù Ying did not go to the Court of State Ceremonial to report in. After receiving an appointment, officials were generally allowed a certain period of preparation time, the length of which varied according to the post.

Zhù Ying’s mansion was already in basic order. She was taking a few extra days to identify any oversights while she was still at leisure and address them immediately. Beyond that, she also needed to attend to social obligations — today she absolutely had to visit both the Capital Prefect’s office and Zheng Hou’s residence!

Zhù Ying calculated the timing precisely, positioning herself in the street to intercept Zheng Xi the moment he came out of the Imperial City!

Zheng Xi rode out on horseback from the Imperial City, and partway down the road he reined in his horse to stare at Zhù Ying standing at the roadside. This shameless person, in a plain blue robe, beardless and fair-complexioned, standing there putting on airs as a young scholar! Zheng Xi’s attendants all recognized her and stepped aside with smiles, making room. Zheng Xi threw her a glance and said: “Do you have nothing proper to occupy yourself with? Your new post is a sticky one, and you still have the mood for this?”

Zhù Ying said sincerely: “Is that not why I have come to seek your guidance?”

“I have never held a post in the Court of State Ceremonial.”

Zhù Ying said: “But you know how things work! My immediate superior is someone I am not well acquainted with — you must help me.”

Zhù Ying’s disadvantage lay in her very humble origins. The inner workings of the high and powerful households of the capital were not something one could fully understand simply by spending twenty years in officialdom. Even within the Imperial City’s Six Ministries and Nine Courts, she would not dare claim to see through everything. What she knew well were those of scarlet rank and below. Those who wore purple — she could no longer claim to know them all, let alone the tangled roots and interwoven branches among the capital’s nobility.

Some things — she might know, for instance, that Princess Yongping was Princess Anjin’s daughter-in-law. But some background details about Shi Yin, for example, had only been told to her by Zheng Xi the day before. These things were part of daily life for people like Zheng Xi, but Zhù Ying had had little contact with such circles.

Zhù Ying said to Zheng Xi: “Finish the Capital Prefect’s affairs first — give me half an hour today. I am completely at sea here.”

Zheng Xi said: “You are latching onto me?”

Zhù Ying smiled: “Princess Anjin even entrusted her son to the old lady at your home — do you not need to help the old lady repay that kindness? If I am ignorant of proper conduct and cannot handle things well, how will you explain yourself to the old lady?”

Zheng Xi made a motion as if to strike her. Zhù Ying was not the least bit afraid and even rolled her eyes at him. Zheng Xi scolded: “You little fox!”

Zhù Ying was perfectly untroubled, and rode at an unhurried pace alongside him. Zheng Xi asked a few questions about Zhù Ying’s new home and such matters, and then the Capital Prefect’s office came into sight. Zheng Xi still had his habit of holding a morning meeting each day to lay out the day’s affairs.

Zhù Ying sensibly stepped aside to wait. Yet the Capital Prefect’s office still had people who knew her — some gave small, discreet bows, others nodded in greeting, making quiet small gestures of acknowledgment. She returned their smiles with small nods of her own and stepped back a bit further.

When Zheng Xi had finished his arrangements, Zhù Ying followed him into the rear quarters. His family did not reside there, yet the space had been furnished as a resting area. The two sat down in the small garden, facing a pool of jade-green lotus leaves, while Gan Ze personally came to serve tea. Zheng Xi glanced at Zhù Lian and said: “You were about his age when you first came to the capital.”

Zhù Ying said: “Without realizing it, all these years have passed. Being suddenly posted to the Court of State Ceremonial makes me feel as though I have made no progress at all — everything is as unfamiliar as it was back then. Back then I needed only to oversee the one small patch of the Court of Judicial Review, doing well as a junior evaluator — it was all very straightforward. Now, looking out at the full picture, it is rather daunting.”

Zheng Xi said: “That is not what you said yesterday.”

Zhù Ying said: “Must you hold that against me…”

Zheng Xi shook his head with amused exasperation: “What else do you want to know?”

Zhù Ying said candidly: “I will not go to the Court of State Ceremonial just yet — I want to feel out the ground first. My relationship with Luo, the Court Minister, is not what it is with you, nor quite the same as with Leng Yun. In a few days I want to see him again and ask somewhat more about the situation. However, how to actually do the work — that I will likely have to figure out on my own. From what I can gather, the Court of State Ceremonial is complicated — as you described it, sticky going. It is unlike the Court of Judicial Review back then, where the whole organization had been swept clean and was rebuilt from scratch. It is also not like Fuluo County, where I had full authority, could grab a minor clerk by the collar and give them a sound thrashing, then start fresh with new recruits.”

“Right now I cannot replace everyone wholesale, nor can I come in projecting authority from the outset — above me there is Luo, who is neither like you nor like Leng Yun, and beside me there is Shen Ying, who has not advanced so much as an inch in twenty years. Heaven knows what sort of temper he is in by now.”

“Below those two are two major responsibilities — the Office of Guest Reception and the Office of Ceremonial. Both have surely long since staked out their own spheres of influence.”

So she only probed Zheng Xi: “Could you tell me how things are currently being managed at the Court of State Ceremonial?”

Luo Sheng replied: “Everything follows the established precedents.”

Zhù Ying fell silent. This one was truly in the style of “non-interference governance.”

Zhù Ying continued: “I have a few people I work well with.”

This Luo Sheng understood very well, and said: “Bring them along.”

Zhù Ying also asked about Shen Ying. Luo Sheng had no idea whatsoever of the history between Zhù Ying and Shen Ying, and said: “He is an upright and decorous man.”

In Luo Sheng’s eyes, the entire Court of State Ceremonial had not a single bad person. The occasional minor slackness was simply human nature. Looking at this fortunate soul, Zhù Ying thought: Never mind then.

She said to Luo Sheng: “This junior official will report in tomorrow. There is also a Qi Tai — I will bring him along, to help me.”

“That is fine.”

“Starting tomorrow, I will first go through the Court’s old archives, and once they are in order, begin actual work. Tomorrow I will prepare a plan for you, and I ask that you review and approve it, My Lord.”

“Excellent!”

Zhù Ying took her polite leave from Princess Yongping’s residence. The night had fully settled in.