Wang Yunhe, as Chancellor, had affairs pressing in on him from all sides and could not spare much time at the Four Barbarians’ Lodge. When Luo Sheng heard Wang Yunhe say with his own mouth that he was leaving, his heart felt a little hollow. He was like a poor student who was particularly fond of his teacher — neither wanting to part from the teacher nor wanting the teacher to check his homework.

Luo Sheng admired Wang Yunhe, even though this Chancellor had once made things awkward for Princess Anren. In his years running the Court of Dependencies, Luo Sheng had followed the prescribed forms and assumed he could carry on at a comfortable pace; at court deliberations he had managed to maintain his composure. Of late, work had somehow begun to pile up, and it had even drawn Wang Yunhe to involve himself personally. He felt a slight pang of alarm.

Lei Li A Tu could not understand Luo Sheng’s emotions. With an expression of some reluctance, he rose to see Wang Yunhe to the door. Wang Yunhe said, “I nearly forgot — might the honored envoy grace me with a piece of his calligraphy?”

These words were exceedingly courteous; Lei Li A Tu put on an appearance of being deeply honored and went to fetch it himself, presenting it with both hands to Wang Yunhe: “To receive the Chancellor’s guidance is precisely what I have been hoping for.”

Wang Yunhe accepted the scroll and said, “Please, stay here.” His gaze swept across Luo Sheng and Zhù Ying — one tall, one short; one guileless, one sharp — and Zhù Ying gave Luo Sheng a nudge. She cupped her hands toward Lei Li A Tu: “National Chancellor, please stay.” She then dragged Luo Sheng with her to escort Wang Yunhe.

Wang Yunhe held the scroll without hurrying off and took a slightly roundabout path through the Four Barbarians’ Lodge. As was to be expected, he caught sight of a number of other envoys along the way. By now, over a dozen envoys had taken up lodging in the Four Barbarians’ Lodge.

Zhù Ying introduced each of them to Wang Yunhe in turn. When it came to small nations, Wang Yunhe simply said a few warm, reassuring words. For larger powers such as the western frontier peoples, he also went to sit with them for a time. The moment Kun Da Chi laid eyes on Wang Yunhe, his gaze went straight to the scroll in his hand. Zhù Ying said, “Chancellor, allow me to carry that for you — I’ll have it sent back to you shortly. I will not damage the National Chancellor Lei Li A Tu’s calligraphy.”

The interpreter translated in a low voice. Kun Da Chi was by now somewhat acquainted with Zhù Ying and asked, “Does the Chancellor enjoy calligraphy and paintings?”

Zhù Ying said, “Do not read too much into it — the Chancellor is known for his integrity. This was written and painted by Lei Li A Tu himself as a request for the Chancellor’s comments. The Chancellor has always had a fondness for those who are eager to learn.”

Kun Da Chi, though he harbored a slight, almost superstitious unease toward Zhù Ying, had seen Zhù Ying bring Wang Yunhe to call on Lei Li A Tu — and he was furious about it! He had seen Wang Yunhe in court and could recognize him. He himself, a prince, had come in person to the Four Barbarians’ Lodge — had any high court official come to call on him these past days? Not one.

Yes, a Deputy Chief was no small official, but a Chancellor was a vastly different matter.

And yet the Chancellor had gone to see Lei Li A Tu? He was a prince — his rank was no lower than a national chancellor.

This matter absolutely required a contest.

Wang Yunhe, wreathed in smiles, said, “That is not to say I dislike other people — if there is someone with a sincere desire to learn, I cannot turn a blind eye to that. How has the Prince found his accommodations? Are they to his liking?”

Kun Da Chi’s mouth twitched. He barely managed to suppress his ire and said, “Well, I am lodged here in any case. The state letter has already been submitted — what is next? What is to be done about our trading post?”

Wang Yunhe said, “These are matters of detail. Does the Prince wish to negotiate in person, or does he have a capable minister to do so on his behalf?”

As a general rule, the officials handling the specifics of bilateral affairs were to be of equivalent rank.

Kun Da Chi was not himself particularly versed in such things; he pointed to an elderly man at his side and said, “This is my teacher — also a minister of our country. He says I am to watch over things.”

Wang Yunhe adopted the same manner toward Kun Da Chi as he had toward Lei Li A Tu, saying he would go back and dispatch appropriate people to engage with the western frontier delegation.

Kun Da Chi said, “Then please be quick about it — your New Year is almost upon you.”

Wang Yunhe said, “Of course.”

Luo Sheng was mildly displeased with Kun Da Chi’s manner and felt he was simply not in the same league as Lei Li A Tu.

Wang Yunhe could no longer delay his departure. Luo Sheng and Zhù Ying escorted him back to the Imperial City, after which the two of them returned to the Court of Dependencies.

……——

At this point, Zhù Ying going back to the Four Barbarians’ Lodge would accomplish nothing. She was responsible for overseeing the reception arrangements and some intelligence gathering — the actual bargaining with the various nations was not within her authority. But she still wanted to attend the negotiations and gather some information for herself; she had no wish to be merely a relay messenger.

The two returned to the Court of Dependencies, and Shen Ying was again absent. Luo Sheng asked Aide Ruan, “Surely another family has not sent news of a funeral?”

Aide Ruan choked for a moment before managing, “The master is joking — if the Court of Dependencies had a matter of that kind, how could I not have reported it to you? The Deputy Chief found it dull and stepped out for a walk.”

“Ah.” Luo Sheng was the kind of superior who spared his subordinates from worry; he acknowledged this with a single sound and said nothing more, then beckoned to Zhù Ying to speak with him in his own office.

The two sat down, and Luo Sheng said, “I could never have imagined that Chancellor Wang would go to the Four Barbarians’ Lodge in person. Should he wish to go again, Zizhang, you know the Four Barbarians’ Lodge best — I will leave that to you!”

Zhù Ying listened attentively to his arrangements and accepted them solemnly, then asked, “And yourself?”

Luo Sheng, in a rather self-aware fashion, asked, “Oh? Is there something you need me to do?” He was more preoccupied with his father-in-law’s household just then, but that was not something he could easily tell Zhù Ying.

Zhù Ying said, “Apart from the envoys who have already arrived, word has come that seventeen more delegations are also on the road and are expected to arrive before the end of the twelfth month. In addition, two further delegations will not arrive until early next year. While these may appear numerous and scattered, none of them are major matters — we can handle them all by following existing precedents.”

“Are there things that do not follow existing precedents?”

“The trading post. There are always some foreign nations that raise the trading post, but this year both the western frontier peoples and the foreign peoples to the north have raised it, and the envoys who have come carry greater weight — this is not a small matter. Even if it is the Ministry of Revenue, the Court of the Imperial Stud, and similar agencies that negotiate with them, the Court of Dependencies cannot stand by with hands in its sleeves and simply act as cooks and servants for everyone else.”

Luo Sheng hesitated a little. “This has never been done before — there is no precedent, and I fear it would not be entirely convenient.”

Zhù Ying said, “If we start doing it now, we will have a precedent for the future.”

Luo Sheng was still wavering, so Zhù Ying added a push: “This is somewhat a private inclination on my part — I cannot eat Princess Yongping’s food without contributing something.”

Luo Sheng said, “She is not that sort of person. My wife and I regard Zizhang as a worthy friend precisely because of that — not because of anything else…”

Zhù Ying shook her head. “I do not mean Princess Yongping — I mean Princess Anren. The Princess Imperial has never been one to be outdone. She showed favor to a mere Deputy Chief like me — could it truly be on my account alone?”

Luo Sheng, with sudden gravity, said, “Has she come to you directly? You need not concern yourself with this matter — I will speak to her! I told her long ago that you understand the Court of Dependencies’ affairs better than I do, and she need not press.”

“That is not… “

After a bit of back and forth, Zhù Ying understood that Luo Sheng had been shielding her from certain matters, and Luo Sheng understood that Zhù Ying was trying to win him some real benefit. Luo Sheng lacked for nothing in money; Zhù Ying accordingly wanted to win him some authority instead — at this moment of the newly installed Crown Prince, to have his voice carry a little more weight. Luo Sheng rubbed his face and asked, “Can this really work? I fear the others will not be willing.”

Participating in the negotiations meant sharing in the power.

Zhù Ying said, “I do not care whether they are willing or not. Tonight we go to Chancellor Wang’s residence — he owes us an explanation this time. How is it that, with the northern regions so unsettled, the Court of Dependencies knew nothing before receiving the envoys? Even if we are only to handle reception matters, we ought to have been given a basic briefing. Otherwise, while fighting is raging and blood is being shed at the front, we are expected to receive people with smiling faces — isn’t that absurd? We can then use the argument that ‘since we had never heard of Lei Li A Tu before, the Court of Dependencies should be entitled to know some intelligence on the foreign peoples’ to request participation. Gathering intelligence on the four frontier peoples — is that not within the Court of Dependencies’ proper purview?”

Luo Sheng said, “Even if we join the proceedings, what could we actually do there?”

Zhù Ying said, “For now — nothing at all. We simply stand there, watching and listening. Once we have a clear picture, the bargaining can be left to them — we are not competing for that achievement. As long as we catch one or two gaps that need filling, the Court of Dependencies will not be seen as having gone merely to stir up trouble.”

Over his years at the Court of Dependencies, Luo Sheng’s formidable skill at “governing through non-action” had rendered a great many of the office’s functions optional. Zhù Ying had no choice but to rope in more responsibilities for them.

Luo Sheng said, “Agreed.”

The two waited until the close of the working day, then once again went together to call on Wang Yunhe in the evening.

Wang Yunhe had already guessed that morning that Zhù Ying would not let this rest; seeing her drag Luo Sheng over again, he laughed: “You truly are someone who cannot sit still.”

Zhù Ying said, with a faint edge of reproach: “I understand very well that great matters of state and military affairs cannot be broadcast to everyone. But if the Court of Dependencies is to receive the envoys, the least we deserve is an honest account. While fighting is raging and blood is being shed at the front, we are expected to receive people with smiling faces — isn’t that absurd?”

“Are you not already aware that there are small groups of raiders along the border?”

Zhù Ying said, “Chancellor, please do not test me. Looking at the situation now — even if the groups are small, they surely are not as few as the rumors suggest. Lei Li A Tu’s accomplishments could not have been achieved overnight, yet no one could tell us anything about his background beforehand. Whatever you know, please stop teasing us with it and just tell us. It is all for the court and for the common people.”

Luo Sheng hastened to add: “Indeed, for the court and for the people.”

Wang Yunhe said, “Have you not already guessed? The Secretariat has been suppressing a number of military dispatches.”

“How many?” Zhù Ying asked earnestly. As far as the relationship between the foreign peoples and the court was concerned, Lei Li A Tu’s account was not entirely pretextual. They genuinely could not exercise control over every person in every tribe; border tribes occasionally raided — that was a fact. The border would report it, the court would receive the report, and an imperial edict would reprimand the Khan. The Khan’s side would then send an explanation. This was nothing unusual. A foreign envoy arriving in the capital would also be received “according to precedent,” and there would sometimes be direct questioning from the court, and sometimes mutual arguments. What Zhù Ying wanted to know was the “trend” — if such incidents had grown more frequent and larger in scale, the corresponding strategy would need to change.

Wang Yunhe picked up a piece of paper and showed it to them: “One look only.”

Zhù Ying swept her gaze across it and saw that it matched her guesses well enough — border incursions and raids had increased. But the writing on the paper was rather vague. The northern regions were not as distant as Wuzhou — Wuzhou was over two thousand li away, while the north was only some thousand-odd li. Intelligence from over a thousand li away, involving the foreign peoples whose numbers could not be accurately tallied at all, tended to be imprecise.

Luo Sheng also took a glance and understood only that things had “increased.”

Zhù Ying pressed forward and used the pretext of “intelligence gathering” to apply for the Court of Dependencies to join the negotiations: “Originally, meetings with foreign envoys always had the Court of Dependencies present — we are simply returning to how things used to be.”

Wang Yunhe looked at Zhù Ying and said nothing; Luo Sheng’s forehead began to perspire slightly.

“In truth, it is also because of Lei Li A Tu — I keep feeling his visit is not as straightforward as it appears, and I want to see what he is like when he is conducting actual business, to see whether he has any other purposes.” Zhù Ying added.

Luo Sheng said, “With the conditions he has already raised, would there really be some even larger matter?”

Zhù Ying said, “Hard to say. The worst case is that he has ambitions to mount a large-scale invasion. But what if that is not it?”

Wang Yunhe raised an eyebrow. Zhù Ying said, “If I were him, I would come here to see for myself what this court is made of. Consider: a Khan who cannot control his own subordinates — can he even be called a true sovereign? If the court is too occupied to free up its hands, then this would be the perfect opportunity to rein in those unruly tribes himself and become a national chancellor who truly commands authority.”

Wang Yunhe’s eyes showed a flash of appreciation. This was a thought he had not considered himself. He said, “Your time at the Court of Dependencies has not been wasted after all.”

Luo Sheng’s back stiffened.

Wang Yunhe said, “Very well — you are to participate as well.”

Luo Sheng promptly said, “Yes.”

Zhù Ying had already prepared all her reasons and justifications, and Wang Yunhe had not objected; Luo Sheng felt confident that he could stand his ground at tomorrow morning’s court session!

Wang Yunhe gave no further instructions — he trusted that Zhù Ying could handle matters well, and seeing that Luo Sheng was not the sort to get in the way, he told them to wait one day before proceeding, to first consult with the relevant offices, and then to negotiate collectively with Lei Li A Tu, Kun Da Chi, and the others.

The two received their orders and took their leave from the Chancellor’s residence. The winter night wind struck their faces, yet Luo Sheng felt no cold — his heart, instead, had kindled a kind of warmth. He did not invite Zhù Ying back to his house to continue discussing matters; instead he said, “Tomorrow, don’t rush to the Four Barbarians’ Lodge — we will meet first, have a word with the Ministry of Revenue and the others, and then we can decide.”

Zhù Ying said, “Understood.”

They parted ways. Luo Sheng rode home and first went to see his mother. He explained the situation to Princess Anren and then said: “Zizhang is a person of sincere intent. In all my dealings with him, I have never come out the worse for it. Even if Your Ladyship were not to press him, he would never let matters slide. If you press him, it only makes us look petty — as if we gave him a little benefit and expect him to accomplish a great deal in return. It makes the friendship look rather unpleasant.”

He was not a brave man in his mother’s presence, and what he said tonight had taken some courage to say. But he had no choice — after the matter of the Eastern Palace, he knew that continuing to drift along was not advisable. Yet asking him to go out and actively seek things to do was beyond him; he could not see work when it was in front of him. Since Zhù Ying was capable, then it made sense to let her lead, did it not?

And so he had the confidence to say this to his mother.

Princess Anren cared only that her son be conspicuous; she brushed the matter aside and said, “Yes, yes, I know — no wonder even the Zheng Family speaks well of him.” But she said nothing about ceasing to manage her son.

In Princess Anren’s eyes, her son was simply rather slow-witted and too honest — she could not help but keep an eye on him. Once her son had left, she thought for a moment, then dispatched someone to send Zhù Ying some decorative objects, with the message: “A housewarming gift.”

Zhù Ying had been living in her new home long enough that the door hinges needed re-oiling — only now had Princess Anren thought to give a housewarming gift.

……

In the days that followed, everything proceeded smoothly enough. Minister of Revenue Dou Peng was an old acquaintance of Zhù Ying’s; in one glance he could see she was planning to do something that would stand out. Bearing in mind that she had always been reliable and her word was good, he did not actually oppose the idea.

Minister Dou’s abacus was working at full speed: this matter still had to be led by his own ministry — no matter what, the Court of Dependencies could not get ahead of the Ministry of Revenue. On the other hand, this was actually an opportunity to put Zhù Ying to work for him. Why not?

Let the foreign envoy have a taste of the bitterness of haggling with this troublesome woman!

Minister Dou’s plan was a good one, and Luo Sheng was quite grateful for his generosity, speaking words of praise to him. But Zhù Ying said, “I am afraid I will be somewhat delayed tomorrow morning.”

Minister Dou said, “There is still something else? You are the one who lobbied for this — how can you think of stepping back from it now?”

Zhù Ying said, “This is also related to the foreign envoys — the ceremonial protocol for paying respects to the Crown Prince after the New Year’s Day court audience. I arranged several days ago with the Ministry of Rites to go to the Eastern Palace and inspect the venue. I will be back as soon as I have finished.”

Minister Dou let out a sigh: “Youth is to be feared!”

Luo Sheng, a few years older than Zhù Ying, also put on an air of feeling deeply impressed: “I could not match this.”

Dou Peng could only manage a wry, half-laughing expression: You and he simply cannot be compared! And he and you simply cannot be compared either.

Zhù Ying said to Luo Sheng, “We should also bring Official Wang and Official Ruan — they are veteran staff, and the upcoming personnel arrangements will need them to manage the coordination.”

Luo Sheng said, “Fine — you arrange it.”

Zhù Ying accordingly returned to the Court of Dependencies and summoned those two men, along with the Chief Liaison Officer: “Come with me to the Ministry of Rites — they will also be sending a few people, and we will all go to the Eastern Palace together to inspect the ceremonial arrangements. You are all veteran staff; if you notice anything amiss, you must speak up early and not let things go wrong at the last moment and let down His Majesty and His Highness.”

All three smiled and said, “Yes!”

This assignment was not easy — the Emperor appeared to be in a prickly mood, though no one knew exactly what he was being prickly about. On the other hand, looking at it from another angle: this was also doing work for the Crown Prince, and when the Crown Prince was pleased, in the future…

All three automatically fell into step behind Zhù Ying. The four of them first went to the Ministry of Rites, where they assembled with Minister Zhong’s people and proceeded together to the Eastern Palace. From the Court of Dependencies came Zhù Ying as Deputy Chief; from the Ministry of Rites came a Vice Minister with a few officials — among them Bai Zhiqing, whom Zhù Ying had previously met. Since returning from Wuzhou, Zhù Ying had run into Bai Zhiqing a few more times at the Zheng Family’s residence and elsewhere; he was still a Bureau Director at the Ministry of Rites.

The party arrived at the Eastern Palace to find it bustling with work. The Eastern Palace had gone unoccupied for several years, and the renovation work was rather extensive. The weeds that had grown across the rooftops and along the walls had already been cleared, and the cracked and damaged sections were being patched — they had not yet reached the stage of re-plastering and applying fresh lacquer. Since the appointment had been made well in advance, the Crown Prince had also sent someone to attend.

The first familiar face Zhù Ying spotted was Lan De.

Lan De stood at the foot of the Eastern Palace steps, and a eunuch from the Crown Prince’s household stood half a pace behind him — Zhù Ying recalled having seen him at her last meeting with the Crown Prince, though she did not know his name.

When Lan De saw them approaching, he hurried forward and performed a bow: “The various officials have gone to much trouble — much trouble indeed.”

The Vice Minister said, “We have come to inspect the places where the ceremonies will take place.”

Lan De said, “The Ministry of Rites came several days ago to look over the arrangements for the assembled ministers; the Deputy Chief has come along today as well — is this to inspect the positioning for the foreign envoys?”

Zhù Ying thought to herself: he has grown more capable.

The Vice Minister said, “It is.”

Zhù Ying then asked Lan De, “And who is this?”

Lan De made the introduction: “His Highness the Crown Prince petitioned His Majesty, explaining that after residing outside the palace for so long, moving in so suddenly would inevitably make things feel unfamiliar, and requested His Majesty’s guidance on daily matters. His Majesty accordingly sent me to attend His Highness, with this gentleman as my partner — Du Shi’en. He was previously sent from the palace to serve His Highness and has now returned. “

Du Shi’en appeared to be in his mid-thirties, fair-skinned with a clean complexion, and tall in stature. Zhù Ying gave him a nod in greeting.

Du Shi’en was exceedingly courteous to Zhù Ying; when speaking with her, his back bent of its own accord: “This servant will take the officials to see the layout.”

He led the party, steering clear of the various scaffolding, materials, and workmen along the way, and proceeded toward the rear.

The Eastern Palace also had a main ceremonial hall; ceremonies and formal occasions were held in the front sections. The rear, where the female members of the household resided, was also being renovated, but Zhù Ying and the others, to avoid impropriety, did not enter those quarters.

The Eastern Palace was a small court unto itself, with its own ceremonial front and inner residential rear, along with offices such as the Bureau of the Heir Apparent at the front. The Vice Minister looked over those offices, then sighed: “This area has also been empty for a long while.”

Zhù Ying said, “Are you thinking of the past?” This man had previously been assigned to the Eastern Palace by the Emperor; when the Crown Prince died, he had actually been promoted.

The Vice Minister said, “Indeed…”

Lan De had not been paying close attention to this Vice Minister’s history, and rather than making introductions, he instead offered a piece of new information: “People will be coming before long!”

Zhù Ying said, “Keep your voice down.”

Lan De smiled: “There is no harm speaking of it here among ourselves just now. It was only a little while ago that His Majesty said this himself. The Bureau of the Heir Apparent is to begin being staffed, and along with that, the Prince’s enfeoffment title and his marriage are both to be arranged. His Majesty sent this servant along to look into both of these matters as well. By now, this information is probably spreading on the outside.”

The Vice Minister, with concern, asked, “Which Prince?”

He was thinking of the late Crown Prince’s son, who had just been enfeoffed as the Prince of Chengyi. That boy was already ten years old; giving him a betrothal and a residence would be better than leaving his status unresolved and awkward.

But Lan De said, “The Crown Prince’s eldest son, of course.”

The Vice Minister looked a little deflated: “Oh, I see — him. He is not young anymore. I mean to say, the Ministry of Rites…”

Lan De smiled: “The official is a true pillar of the state — never forgetting official duties wherever he goes.”

Zhù Ying asked, “Was this not announced at court?” The Vice Minister seemed as though he had not heard.

The Vice Minister said, “Which young lady of good family, might one ask?”

Lan De smiled amiably and said, “Making a closer connection within the family — it is the cherished daughter of Princess Yongping.”

“Ha?” Zhù Ying emitted a single syllable. The match looked fine in every respect — except that the groom was sixteen and the bride nine. Other than that, there was nothing to fault.