Zheng Lin kept twisting her handkerchief — she nearly wrung it to pieces. Prince Guangning, seeing her sitting bolt upright, asked quietly, “What has gotten into you? You are the one who asked to see Zhù Zizhang, yet you yourself are now the nervous one.”

Zheng Lin managed a forced smile: “It is nothing, really — I simply do not know whether we can get the answer we are looking for.”

Prince Guangning said, “Indeed.”

That was not the only thing weighing on Zheng Lin’s mind. She glanced at her husband. Zhù Ying had no wife; her household had not even a female member in charge of domestic affairs. It would not be appropriate for Zheng Lin to visit Zhù Ying’s residence herself — even though everyone in the world knew that Zhù Ying and the Zheng Family were close, that still wouldn’t do. If her husband could take things in hand, it would be better for him to deal with Zhù Ying directly.

But then — if her husband managed everything, what place would there be for her?

One cannot have both the fish and the bear paws.

Zheng Lin set down the handkerchief. She said to the wet nurse at the side, “Bring him over so I can have a look.” The wet nurse was holding her eldest son in her arms; the little one was a little over a year old. He had played too wildly in the morning and was now dozing in the wet nurse’s arms.

Zheng Lin stroked the fine, soft down of hair on her son’s forehead. Prince Guangning also leaned in close. The child smacked his lips twice — quite adorable — which made the young parents both laugh.

Zhù Ying arrived earlier than the young couple had expected. Entering the room, she saw the two of them playing with the child. Standing to one side was a young woman, with a proper, upright face and eyes that never left the child — the wet nurse, no doubt. When it was announced that Zhù Ying had arrived, Zheng Lin spoke first: “Third Brother.”

The child in her arms struggled a little. Zheng Lin said in mock reproach, “Why will you not be still? Do you want to see Uncle too? Come on then — call out to Uncle…”

The child was at just the age when he was beginning to talk — not particularly bright, not particularly slow, and by ordinary reckoning would know to call out for parents and close family. He had several maternal uncles; the one before him now was different from every other “uncle” he had known, and the child was confused. Being coaxed a few times in his mother’s arms, he let out a few garbled sounds, somewhere between a word and not — like a student who runs into an unexpected pop quiz. Whether or not what the child said was actually “Uncle,” his mother accepted it on his behalf.

Zhù Ying thought to herself: trouble. She was not very keen on accepting this title. Untangling such a designation with a not-yet-two-year-old nursing infant was also quite difficult; she could only put on the expression of someone startled by a small child and afraid to touch it. Prince Guangning, seeing her expression, found it warmly familiar: “I also did not quite dare to hold him at first.”

The child grew sleepy again in the encircle of his parents’ attention; Zheng Lin handed the child to the wet nurse to take behind the curtain to sleep. Her gaze followed the child’s retreating figure until it disappeared behind the curtain; only then did she turn her face back and call out once more: “Third Brother.”

Zhù Ying and the two of them exchanged greetings. Zheng Lin moved to offer Zhù Ying a seat; Zhù Ying quickly said, “That would not be proper.” She found a chair near the main seats and sat down.

Prince Guangning said, “We have put you to trouble coming all this way, Third Brother — it should have been us calling at your residence.”

Zhù Ying inclined slightly: “Your Highness speaks too kindly.”

Prince Guangning glanced at his wife. Zheng Lin, seeing that her husband was unable to manage Zhù Ying on his own, took over the conversation: “We truly have a difficult matter we cannot help but ask for guidance on.”

Zhù Ying indicated with her eyes for her to continue. Zheng Lin took a deep breath: “Now that the Eastern Palace has its master, I wonder… what are the plans at home?”

“Oh?” Zhù Ying blinked.

Zheng Lin said, “When I returned to my parents’ home, though everyone was relieved that the realm has an heir, there seemed to be something lacking in that happiness. I asked the family, but no one told me. And hateful A’Chuan — even he said he did not know.”

Zhù Ying said, “What touches on the Eastern Palace — even you must not speculate carelessly, and you certainly must not speak of the family this way. If word gets out it would be bad for everyone. As for A’Chuan — he likely genuinely does not know. The Capital Prefect’s lips are sealed more tightly when matters are truly important; he will not speak casually. You are father and daughter — do not let suspicion creep in between you easily. He does not tell me things either, and I do not go trying to guess at what he is thinking.”

Zheng Lin quickly said, “I am not suspecting anyone — I am simply worried. Looking at the current situation, nothing can be made out. My husband and I — we are fine; however one lives is a lifetime. But now that we have a child, one cannot help thinking more, wanting everything made clear. They do not tell me, and I do not resent it — ‘the ruler who is not discreet loses his ministers, the minister who is not discreet loses his life,’ I understand these principles. But what are we to do?”

She gestured between herself and Prince Guangning. Zhù Ying nodded.

Zheng Lin continued, “We are both young, and this household was only established a few years ago. We do not know much about court matters; once A’Pa stops telling me things, I genuinely do not know who can be trusted to consult. Third Brother’s household has no female member at home, and it would not be appropriate for us both to come and call on you directly — out of no other recourse we have asked Third Brother to come here instead. Please instruct us.”

As she spoke, she rose and gave a full bow.

Zhù Ying quickly helped her up and asked, “Do you know what a wandering fortune-teller is?”

“A — yes.”

Zhù Ying released her hands, turned her wrist, and guided Zheng Lin back to her seat: “Anyone who offers you a formula that cures all ailments is definitely a swindler — there is no other explanation. If I am not to deceive you, then I can only treat the specific ailment for the specific condition.”

Zheng Lin nodded attentively: “I trust Third Brother.”

Zhù Ying settled back into her chair and said, “I will not speculate about your father’s thoughts — I will only speak of the kind of person he is. The late Crown Prince held legitimacy by birth, and the current Crown Prince holds it by seniority — both are in accordance with propriety and clear at a glance. He would not fail to see this. You may rest easy — he will certainly not come to serious harm. People in this world are consumed with striving and scheming, and they often overlook the plainest principles that sit right there on the surface, imagining that by branching off to the side they can flower uniquely. But what does that amount to? They are still just a side branch — not the main trunk.”

Prince Guangning suddenly asked, “What if someone wanted to… be the main trunk?”

Zhù Ying raised an eyebrow. Zheng Lin said, “The consort of the late Crown Prince came to see me two days ago. She said the Prince of Chengyi is growing bigger every day and she wants to ask His Majesty to arrange a betrothal for him as soon as possible.”

“The Dowager Consort of the Chengyi household? Wants to arrange for your younger sister?” Zhù Ying laughed. “What was she doing all this time?”

Prince Guangning asked in surprise, “You knew?”

“I guessed,” said Zhù Ying. “Your Highness spoke of the main trunk? Who is the main trunk? His Majesty! As long as he is here, everyone else is a side branch. His Majesty has made his intentions clear — Chengyi would long since have had a match arranged if the Emperor had been so inclined. Look at how things have been arranged for Qiyang. Can A’Lin control decisions for her own parents’ household? They all say inner household affairs are women’s business, but without a man’s agreement, could such a significant betrothal ever come about? Why did they not go directly to your father? Has the Dowager Consort no father or brothers of her own? Has Chengyi’s maternal uncle lost his tongue? The men lack the backbone to step forward, and yet the Dowager Consort would push you into the trap? This matter — you cannot agree to it. And once it gets out, it will damage your standing in your own parents’ household.”

Zheng Lin’s expression grew grave; she nodded slowly: “Perhaps she was frightened. After the late Crown Prince passed, I heard that she… was overjoyed.”

Zhù Ying said, “She is not stupid — just not clever enough. She cannot play this hand. Where did she get that information? Did she plant spies in someone else’s household? Or did she bribe someone else’s servants? Are you not afraid of her having a spy right in your own home? Or perhaps she heard something by chance and believed it just like that? Without even pausing to think it through? Who said this? Who was the witness? What is the evidence? For something so morally extraordinary — someone passes it along without any evidence and dares to speak openly about it, and the person being spoken about still has a way to live? The person being accused, to defend themselves, must first repeat the slander before they can vindicate themselves; if they don’t defend themselves, they are taken to have admitted it. Whoever laid this trap is how vicious! Even if she brought the matter directly to the face of the person in question, that would still be better than making accusations like this.”

Prince Guangning looked about with some anxiety, as though genuinely afraid his own residence harbored spies for someone else.

Zhù Ying said, “One may say she loves her son deeply, but this way of handling things cannot be relied upon. If she were Chengyi’s advisor, who upon seeing it would not flee in the middle of the night without even taking their bedding? And if she is doing all this deliberately to elicit sympathy, that is even worse.”

Zheng Lin took a deep breath: “I understand now. This is bad — she implied to A’Pa that he was willing to help, not just to me but to a number of people…”

Zhù Ying said, “If you are still worried, you might as well go and have a proper talk with your father directly. Not in the capacity of a daughter — go as though you were two unrelated acquaintances meeting for a chat.”

Zheng Lin said, “Good!”

Outside, the drum marking the curfew began to sound. Zhù Ying rose: “I must go.”

The Prince Guangning couple both rose to see her off. Zhù Ying said, “Please stay.”

She left the residence and mounted her horse, making it back home before the last drumbeat of the curfew. Zheng Lin and Prince Guangning exchanged a few more words; Prince Guangning said, “So in the end, we still have to go to the family to speak about this?” Zheng Lin had already made up her mind: “There are always things that need to be said — before, I simply did not know how to say them. Now I do.”

Their household had no fear of violating the curfew — the Capital Prefect’s office would never arrest Zheng Xi’s daughter. The young couple made their way promptly to the Zheng Family residence. Zheng Xi knew very well that his son-in-law had little initiative of his own, and so when speaking with his son-in-law he would not exclude his daughter either. The exchange between father and daughter need not be recounted in full detail.

Zheng Xi was not angry in the least; instead he smiled and said, “Your father once served as Bureau Head of the Heir Apparent’s household — at a time like this, you expect me to be jubilant? That would be inappropriate. Do not listen to foolish people’s words. Do not end up like her — unable to raise a child properly. My grandchild — you are to bring him up well for me. Chengyi has his own royal residence and tutors, and is surrounded by maternal kin and relatives on his mother’s side — we need not concern ourselves with him.”

The young couple of Prince Guangning’s household were even more convinced by Zheng Xi after this conversation, and their resolve was all the more firm. Zheng Lin, hearing the words “surrounded by maternal kin and relatives on his mother’s side,” suddenly had a thought: Chengyi was ringed about by maternal relatives — what share in things would anyone outside that circle have? Even if he were to succeed, what would it have to do with others?

The two parted ways with easy minds and went home. The elder Madam of the Yue household came at the sound of footsteps: “The night is so late — why not just stay here and go back in the morning?”

Zheng Lin said, “The child is still at home — I cannot feel at ease without going back.”

Only then did the elder Madam let it rest.

Husband and wife stood watching as their daughter and son-in-law departed, then slowly made their way back to their rooms. The elder Madam asked, “This late, and they came and went so suddenly — was there something the matter?”

Zheng Xi said, “The Dowager Consort of Chengyi’s household wants to arrange for the Prince to marry our second daughter.”

“What?” The elder Madam let out a sound of disbelief from the very top of her nose.

Zheng Xi said, “A’Lin came to give us a warning. We must find a way to cut off this source of trouble.”

“Second daughter…” The elder Madam sighed softly, as if filled with unspoken regret.

“With a match arranged by His Majesty himself, in their eyes we are simply no match for Princess Yongping.”

The elder Madam said quietly, “Second daughter is still young — finding her a well-matched young man later on would also be perfectly fine.”

Zheng Xi patted the elder Madam’s hand and said nothing more.

……

Zheng Lin had not mentioned Zhù Ying at her parents’ house, and Zhù Ying went home without so much as a sneeze. Scholar Zhang and Scholar Fan had been waiting so long they had made two frantic dashes to the outhouse.

The two of them heard voices outside saying “My Lord has returned,” and scrambled to their feet — nearly forgetting Xiang Le and Zhù Lian, who had been sitting with them — and bolted out toward the hall, only to remember just as they crossed the threshold to step aside. All four came out together.

Zhù Ying walked and asked at the same time, “Was there anything at home today? Did Jiaming come by?”

Zhù Yin said, “She came and chatted with Qingjun for a while. When it was time for her to leave, Qingjun came down with a fever — so she stayed to look after her.” Su Jiaming had attended the foreign-peoples’ school and knew a little medicine; staying to help was fitting enough.

“Did she prescribe anything?”

“Jiaming did not prescribe on her own — she just applied a standard formula. She said if things hadn’t improved by tomorrow, it would be best to call in a proper physician with real skill.”

Huajie had only been teaching her students a few years; knowing a few standard formulas was already good going. In Wuzhou, and especially up in the mountains, where medical care was scarce and a healer of any kind was considered lucky, that was the level of practice expected. Su Jiaming was about that level — anything more would have been asking too much. Most of the wandering physicians scattered through the countryside were no better than her, at any rate.

Zhù Ying continued walking inside; seeing Scholar Fan and the others come out to meet her, she said, “You two — go wait for me in the study.”

All four did not dare delay; they went promptly to the study. Zhù Ying herself did not go directly to the study but first went to check on Zhù Qingjun. Huajie had entrusted the girl to her care, and Zhù Ying had already planned to have Zhù Qingjun stay in the household; but because of the convention of keeping men and women apart, the room that had been pre-assigned to Huajie could not be given to Zhù Qingjun. Zhù Qingjun had been arranged to share a room with Hu Shijie.

Zhù Qingjun was staying in the three rooms of the east wing; as Zhù Ying approached she caught the smell of medicine. She walked in. Su Jiaming stood up quickly. A figure stirred in the bedding — as though Zhù Qingjun were about to rise — but Zhù Ying said, “Stay still.” She walked over and drew back the bed curtain to see Zhù Qingjun’s cheeks flushed a deep red from fever.

Su Jiaming said, “This cannot go on.”

Zhù Ying said, “Then we call a physician.”

Su Jiaming reached over and replaced the damp cloth on Zhù Qingjun’s forehead: “The curfew is in effect.”

Zhù Ying said, “So what of that?”

She had curfew passes in abundance. She picked up one that Zheng Xi had written some time ago, altered the date, and sent Xiang An out with some people: “Take my card — go to the Ci’hui Convent and ask the Buddhist nun to come over.”

“Yes.”

“Whatever medicines are needed — just take them from the house.” Given her connection to Huajie, Zhù Ying had always kept an eye out for accumulating medicinal materials; the household stock should be more than sufficient to treat a fever or a bout of wind-cold.

Xiang An left in haste. Zhù Ying said to Su Jiaming, “The night is cold and late — you stay at the house tonight as well. Hu Niangzi, please arrange a room for her.”

Having said this, she quickly changed her clothes again and walked toward the study.

In the study, Scholar Fan and Scholar Zhang sat on uncertain ground. Zhù Lian said, “The Teacher has you waiting in the study — that means you are not being treated as strangers. Do not be anxious.”

Scholar Fan and Scholar Zhang forced a smile; their hearts were still churning.

After Zhù Ying came in, the two leapt to their feet and announced loudly, “Greetings, my Lord!” — barely managing not to let the words “Prefect” or “Governor” slip out.

Zhù Ying said, “Sit. Have you eaten dinner?”

Xiang Le said, “They arrived this afternoon and had some snacks.”

“Ah — then let’s eat together shortly.”

The two were about to express thanks again. Zhù Ying said, “Sit properly and talk — you are not people who lose their composure easily. Why this started-at-every-sound state? What has given you such a fright?”

The two launched into another round of declarations, deeply moved beyond measure: “All that this junior has come to today is entirely owing to your Lordship’s guidance and recommendation. With this junior’s capabilities, even gaining entry to the National Academy was difficult; and now to have been given the appointment of Liaison Officer — our entire future is your Lordship’s gift.”

Zhù Ying said, “Yes — bringing you to the National Academy was not something I could then simply ignore. Let me say the unpleasant things first: when those before you were given recommendations, they had already done a great deal of work in front of me — and only when they seemed all right did I put forward their names. Under the current circumstances, you cannot first enter the Court of Dependencies and try things out without a title. So I have given you official rank first. You must do your work well — whichever one of you fails to measure up, I will not let it pass.”

The two stood at attention in unison, launching into more declarations: “We will certainly not fail your Lordship’s expectations — we would sooner grind our brains to paste and scatter our bones to dust than fail to repay this great kindness.”

Zhù Ying said, “I do not listen to fine words — I will judge by what you do. Tonight, stay here. Tomorrow morning, settle your affairs at the National Academy. Er Lang — have new clothes made for them. As for you two — before the official uniforms are ready, you are not to go out and release the hawk too freely. Stay home and commit these two documents to memory.”

She reached to the bookcase and drew out two bound volumes: “You may only read them here at home — you may not take them out!”

One was an overview of the western frontier peoples; the other, of the northern foreign peoples.

“Yes.”

“Do you have lodgings arranged?”

Both men quickly said they did not. In his day, Zhao Su had tried to rent a room outside and eventually found it was better to live in the dormitory, staying at the old residence during holidays. With the trail he had blazed, Scholar Zhang and Scholar Fan had not spent much effort before deciding against renting outside. Now Zhù Ying also arranged: “You two can go live there as well. Keep the property in good order — you are allowed to be there but not to damage it.”

Housing in the capital was prohibitively expensive, and students from distant regions found it difficult to live well on a small official’s income. Wuzhou was considerably richer than before, but it still could not stretch to comfortable lodgings for junior officials. Zhù Ying’s old residence was just about right. She would not collect rent from them — she only asked them to keep an eye on the property.

More effusive thanks from the two.

Zhù Ying said, “All right — let’s eat.”

After dinner, the two scholars took their volumes back to their room to study by lamplight. Only then did the Buddhist nun arrive from the Ci’hui Convent. Zhù Ying stood outside waiting for her. The nun, upon seeing Zhù Ying, clasped her hands in a bow. Zhù Ying said, “Tonight’s matter still falls to the Reverend Nun. This child is the disciple of A’Jie — she is studying medicine.”

The nun felt an immediate warmth and affinity, and also praised Huajie: “The elder Madam’s medical skill has grown greatly — the medical texts your Lordship gifted her, she has copied and compiled more thoroughly than what I myself have studied.”

Zhù Ying said, “You are too kind. The child is this way — please, after you.”

She conducted herself with every courtesy, waiting as the nun took the pulse and examined the patient. Su Jiaming was keenly curious; after the nun had finished checking the pulse, she reached over and felt the pulse herself. Xiang An explained on behalf of the room, “She is also the elder Madam’s disciple.”

The nun smiled gently and asked, “What did you feel?”

Su Jiaming was not timid; she said, “The pulse is floating and taut.” The nun said, “You have caught something — there is more to it than that.”

Zhù Ying said, “Write out the prescription first.”

The nun wrote the prescription, then explained briefly to Zhù Ying that Zhù Qingjun also had the accumulated fatigue of travel and other underlying deficiencies; she looked well ordinarily, but she genuinely needed to rest and gradually build up her strength. Su Jiaming volunteered to go and decoct the medicine. Zhù Ying also had someone see the nun home: “If there is no improvement in two or three days, please come again.”

“Certainly.”

Only when Zhù Qingjun had taken her medicine and settled into sleep did Zhù Ying return to her room to rest.

……——

The following morning, everything proceeded according to the previously laid plans — no unexpected hitches arose.

On this day there was again no morning court audience. Zhù Ying instructed Xiang Le to first send a gift to Princess Yongping’s residence on her behalf, as congratulations on the happy news of her daughter’s betrothal. Zhù Ying was fairly convinced the Emperor would, in as short a time as possible, finalize every aspect of this betrothal and give that little girl a firm “title.” Judging from the family tradition of fortune-telling and the ways of those who knew what signs to read, the Auspicious Astronomy Bureau at their end would be selecting an auspicious date — working through all Six Rites would take until next year at the earliest. She would need to set aside money in advance for the official wedding gift.

Within the Imperial City, nothing of note transpired. Ever since the Crown Prince’s installation, certain former turbulences seemed to have vanished all at once. Only those who were in the water knew how the undercurrents still swirled beneath the surface — Zhù Ying noticed Prince Lu charging through the palace grounds in his usual swaggering manner.

Prince Lu had been indulged and pampered by the Emperor for far too long; Zhù Ying did not believe he would simply accept the situation.

She stood at the top of the high steps and watched as someone stopped Prince Lu in his path. Prince Lu showed no anger, made no move to strike the person — the two of them exchanged a few words and then walked off together in the same direction. It seemed Prince Lu did have some connections of his own.

Since she had time to spare, she made a round to the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Personnel, and briefly mentioned Zhang Yun’s matter at each. She made no request for “special consideration” — only asked them to move his place in the queue forward a little. This was part of the ordinary running credit she maintained with these offices from day-to-day dealings, a small favor that needed no special face to call in.

Minister Dou was relying on her to get things done and gave her face; he cleared Zhang Yun’s matter quickly. Minister of Personnel Yao also thought rather well of her. She did not lobby for any special treatment in the performance review — she only explained in detail how the system of rotating Chief Clerks and Administrative Supervisors worked, then urged the Ministry to issue the formal notice as soon as possible. She had already smoothly taken receipt of Scholar Zhang and Scholar Fan’s appointments herself; the Wuzhou matter needed the Ministry of Personnel to send word by post relay. The Ministry did not dispatch such notices at any time — without someone to press them, they would follow the usual practice of accumulating a batch before sending them out together.

Minister Yao said, “One prefecture with eight counties, all in different circumstances — it is not a long-term solution, in the end.”

Zhù Ying said, “At the time it was also only an expedient arrangement. The outer five counties had not originally been part of the prefecture.”

Minister Yao said, “That was your achievement.”

Zhù Ying quickly offered several modest words and said, “Without the three inner counties, I would have had no foundation from which to win over the outer five. Once there were three counties, the approach became a different matter altogether. Managing two different kinds of officials and two different systems of taxation from within a single governor’s office — that too is difficult.”

Minister Yao quipped, “Handling both well could be considered practice for entering the Secretariat.”

Zhù Ying said, “I will speak of that again after I manage to live another thirty years. Today I only ask you to send this out — I also consider it a matter of honoring an old connection.”

Minister Yao laughed.

The distinction between a tributary state and a purely “foreign” state was a subtle but real one. Foreign states — though they might also request to receive imperial recognition — did not really care whether they received it or not; a telling example was that the western frontier peoples and the northern foreign peoples did not pay taxes to the court on a regular schedule, offering only “tribute” through envoys at most. Tributary regions had a closer relationship, though they had not yet reached the stage of being registered as full subjects under centralized governance. Thus, purely foreign states were primarily the Court of Dependencies’ business to handle; unless trading posts were involved, the Ministry of Revenue had no connection to them whatsoever. Even the granting of titles and nominal official ranks — sending someone out to confer them — was not the Ministry of Personnel’s core duty.

Tributary regions, however, did have some overlap with these two ministries. When a hereditary county official came to the capital, the Court of Dependencies handled the reception; their succession was also reviewed by the Court of Dependencies to verify legitimate versus illegitimate birth and determine the proper heir. But since there was the official title of “County Magistrate” involved, the Ministry of Personnel also participated in the paperwork. Tax revenue was also collected annually by the Ministry of Revenue.

Now that Zhù Ying was at the Court of Dependencies and had gone personally to the Ministry of Personnel to handle this matter, everything was taken care of — she bypassed Zhang Yun entirely, and the Ministry of Personnel sent the formal dispatch directly to Wuzhou.

A few days later, the former Prince Zhao’s old residence was also ready. The Crown Prince sent over some of the former eunuchs there to serve as guides.

Zhù Ying and Minister Dou, a Vice Minister from the Ministry of Revenue, and a Recording Official dispatched by the Secretariat took their places across from Lei Li A Tu. Both sides brought along various attendants and aides. On Zhù Ying’s side there were Scholar Zhang, Scholar Fan, and Ke; she kept Xiang Le as well, plus several scribes to keep records. The Ministry of Revenue’s contingent consisted mainly of a Department Head, accompanied by a few clerks.

Zhù Ying and Lei Li A Tu were better acquainted with each other; she made the introductions for both sides. The moment Minister Dou set eyes on Lei Li A Tu, his gaze shone with admiration, and he said something almost identical to Wang Yunhe: “I feel quite outshone.” The Recording Official had never seen Lei Li A Tu before; upon first sight, he also showed an expression of intense admiration.

Lei Li A Tu was modest and gracious, his eyes at the appropriate moment betraying a hint of puzzlement: “I know the Ministry of Revenue; I also know the Court of Dependencies. I did not know the Secretariat was also involved in this matter. I understand that the Secretariat oversees all governance — does it not? Which of these offices, then, can truly make decisions here?”

The Recording Official had no choice but to explain the structure of the various court offices in some detail. Though one could not explicitly state the role as “foreign-affairs oversight,” Lei Li A Tu clearly understood. But then he had a new question: “What does the Imperial Censor do, in that case? I have heard they can block matters.”

Zhù Ying and Minister Dou exchanged a glance. Minister Dou said, “The matters we discuss today have no bearing on them whatsoever.” He then made clear that going forward, a Vice Minister and a Department Head would handle the specifics — primarily the Department Head; if the Department Head could not decide, the matter would go up to the Vice Minister.

Finally, he looked forcefully at Zhù Ying once more: “And there is also Deputy Chief Zhù.”

Zhù Ying thought to herself: you are quite the cunning one.