A trace of the pleasant flush of an elderly lady who had drunk a cup of wine lingered on Princess Anren’s face, and she looked entirely like an elder delighted to play matchmaker for a younger generation. At these words, no one found anything surprising.
Zhù Ying was past thirty, after all. What man of that age had still not taken a wife? Even a scholar who waited to marry a lady of a noble house in order to elevate his family’s standing would, by this age, surely have earned enough distinction to seek such a match. Zhù Ying might have come from humble origins, but he was now a Deputy Director. Every condition for taking a wife had already been met. Except for a princess, any family’s daughter he sought to betroth — no one could call it overreaching.
Princess Anren considered her suggestion enormously thoughtful, and believed that with herself as matchmaker, no match could be considered a loss of face.
Zhù Ying said, “Your Highness’s concern is deeply felt, and I am moved to the core. However…”
“Hmm?” Princess Anren stopped smiling.
Zhù Ying said, “My father cast a divination on my behalf. Fate has decreed that I will have no wife.”
Princess Anren opened her mouth, feeling quite displeased inwardly, though she managed not to say anything unpleasant aloud — that much she had the dignity to restrain.
Princess Yongping asked, “I believe I heard a few idle remarks about this two years ago. Is it actually true?”
Zhù Ying bowed slightly. “It is. My father sets great store by such things, and the family dare not take the risk. Therefore, I can only receive Your Highness’s kind intention in my heart.”
Princess Anren asked, “What sort of divination was it?”
Neither of them had been present at the time, and in those days Zhù Ying had not been important enough to draw their particular attention. Princess Yongping had only caught a few scattered details; Princess Anren had not thought twice about it.
“To take a wife would be to die.” Zhù Ying sighed, a faint helpless smile on her face.
Princess Anren was slightly startled. “That sort of saying exists…? Oh, couldn’t it be a matter of incompatible fates? Find someone whose destiny is a good match, and wouldn’t that dissolve it?”
She had already settled on a candidate in her mind. She had resolved to help the Eastern Palace — to help her granddaughter-in-law’s family. In the past she had never had any say in weighty affairs of court, though she could do things like intercede for someone or seek a post for them, she had no “faction” of her own. If she wanted to assemble one now, she couldn’t find anyone truly useful on short notice. She had heard her son speak of Zhù Ying’s many qualities, and over more than a year of watching Zhù Ying handle affairs, she had found her indeed reliable, and so the idea had taken hold.
Zhù Ying had been brought up entirely by Zheng Xi — that much Princess Anren knew. The old woman thus had a very direct thought: she is Seventh Brother’s person; she is close to Seventh Brother and therefore does not do as much for us. In that case, make her one of our own!
Marriage has always been the business of joining two families together. Besides the two parties in the marriage itself, the matchmaker is also extremely important. Ordinarily, whoever proposes the match has at least a good relationship with one side. To forge a marriage alliance was to forge a pact, and the witness to it could not be an outsider. The other party in the match, of course, was also someone close to her — not someone chosen at random.
Princess Anren put forward her sincerity and was not willing to give up so easily.
Zhù Ying said, “If there were a way to dissolve it, I would have done so long ago.”
With that said, the warm-hearted old woman vanished, leaving only a princess who was inwardly displeased.
Princess Anren said no more. Princess Yongping sighed. “Then there is nothing to be done.”
Zhù Ying also sighed alongside her. “I have failed to live up to Your Highness’s great kindness — I am truly ashamed.”
The two Prince Consorts then set about smoothing things over. Luo Sheng said, “My mother had a bit of wine today and was in high spirits — she acted on a passing impulse. Who would have expected… please, Zizhang, don’t take it to heart.”
“Not at all. Today is Her Highness’s day of celebration — I won’t spoil the mood by lingering. I shall take my leave.”
Luo Sheng walked her partway out and again offered a brief explanation of Princess Anren’s behavior: “The old lady is just warm-hearted by nature and loves playing matchmaker.”
Zhù Ying said, “Indeed. I’ve encountered quite a few such well-meaning elders over the years — and each time have had to disappoint them. I really do feel bad about it.”
“Oh…”
Zhù Ying smiled. “Today is the Princess’s birthday — go and keep your mother company, sir. I know the way.”
Luo Sheng sighed once more and returned to his mother’s side. Because Princess Yongping was present, Princess Anren did not make an open scene. Princess Yongping said, “A person’s fate is a strange thing. Heaven gave him this but not that.”
Princess Anren said, “Could it be that he said all that deliberately to put me off?”
Luo Sheng walked back in. “Mother, why did you go and act on your own again? He’s this old and still not married — there must be a reason. I’ve never heard of any talk of him arranging a match. It’s probably true.”
Princess Anren said, “If it weren’t for those useless wretches offering such irritating suggestions, why would I have singled him out? This young fellow is far too arrogant — just turned me down like that!”
The old Prince Consort, watching this family of four — three of whom were talking nonsense — said one thing: “If he wanted to marry, wouldn’t Seventh Zheng act as his matchmaker?”
Princess Anren raised her chin. “When you put it that way, that does make some sense. It occurs to me — he cannot take a wife, but can he not take a concubine? At the fourth rank, how many concubines is he permitted?”
Luo Sheng said, “This… isn’t quite right, is it?”
Princess Anren said, “What’s not right about it? It’s a fine arrangement. Let me think some more — a concubine… that changes the nature of things. A noble maiden of a great family — who would become his concubine? Don’t look at me like that. One glance at him and you can tell he’s a belly full of clever schemes, sealed tight — he treats the Zheng family entirely differently from us. Affinity and distance, naturally. We need to think of a way. Oh — tomorrow, send him some money and gifts.”
Princess Anren was animated and enthusiastic, the more she thought about it the better her own idea seemed. “What do you all think?”
The old Prince Consort said, “A beauty and gold — and then there’s always career advancement. We might as well be frank with him: he devises plans for us, and we speak in his favor before His Majesty and get him promoted?”
Princess Anren pointed at Luo Sheng. “Then what about the Court of Foreign Affairs? Shen Ying is useless! All these years and he hasn’t accomplished anything worth praising! And he never secures any authority or credit for my son! If Zhù Ying leaves, where will we find another suitable person for the Court of Foreign Affairs?”
Luo Sheng said, “When you put it that way, it sounds like a transaction. Let me talk to her and see what her ambitions are — sincerity for sincerity is the better way.”
Princess Anren curled her lip. “You do your thing, and I’ll do mine. Never mind sincerity — money and gifts are how you express it. Tell her outright: help us now, and we won’t forget her when the time comes — when Prince Qiyang becomes Crown Prince, promotion and noble titles are no problem at all!”
As for sending gifts, Luo Sheng had no objection, and Princess Yongping gave a slow nod.
——
Zhù Ying was silent all the way home. Su Zhe and the others had already eaten dinner by the time she arrived.
Su Jia Ming had also come, and she and Su Zhe and the others were studying a map of the capital. Zhù Lian pointed to a spot and said, “Houses are too expensive there.”
Zhù Qingtian said, “Expensive is one thing, but the owner there won’t sell…”
When Zhù Ying returned, the conversation stopped and everyone rose to greet her. Seeing how many people had gathered, Zhù Ying asked, “What’s the occasion today? How did everyone end up here?”
Su Jia Ming said, “We’re looking into the matter of the provincial hostel.”
Zhù Lian said, “Teacher, I’d like to ask for a few days off from the academy to go look for a location with them.”
Zhù Ying said, “Fine.”
Zhù Lian hadn’t expected it to go through so easily and was pleasantly surprised. Zhù Qingjun spoke up as well: “Then — may I also take leave? Is that all right?”
“Fine. Both of you take my calling card to give to your teachers.”
“Yes, sir.”
Zhù Ying said, “Look at several locations, compare them, then decide. I’m leaving this to all of you.”
Everyone was quite pleased. Zhù Qingtian said, “Once the location is settled, I’ll head south and bring the good news home.”
Zhù Ying said, “Good. Xiang An should be arriving soon — there will certainly be a letter from her, and I may have a reply letter for you to carry back.”
“Yes, sir.”
Zhù Ying looked around at the room. The events of today were not something she could discuss with any of them. She waved a hand. “All of you go about your business.”
She herself strolled into the study. She did not light any lamp, and sat at the writing desk, drawing a length of black silk over her eyes. Zhù Wen followed her in and lit the lamp, then stood to one side with hands at his sides.
The sound of footsteps came from outside. Zhù Wen glanced out, then stepped softly forward and said, “Qingjun is here.”
“Let her in.”
Zhù Qingjun stepped lightly up to the writing desk and clasped her hands in salute. “Magistrate, do you have any preferences for the new provincial hostel?”
Zhù Ying gave a soft laugh. “This is something I’ve left to all of you to discuss — why are you asking me again?”
Zhù Qingjun said matter-of-factly, “Our estate is also within the new Wuzhou territory. We’ll certainly need to use the hostel going forward — how could we not ask your opinion? Even if nominally we’re not the same county, the outer five counties have no jurisdiction over us. If you’re willing, I think setting up our estate as a county wouldn’t be wrong at all! Our estate is stronger than their stockades! And we have no small number of people. When you speak of the five counties, the affairs of Wuzhou absolutely cannot exclude our estate.”
Zhù Ying said, “Is that so?”
“Yes!” Zhù Qingjun nodded vigorously. Seeing that Zhù Ying had still not removed the black silk from her eyes, she made her point again in words: “The native chieftaincy counties like to make their own decisions — and our estate is not under the five counties’ jurisdiction either! Our household decides for itself! We don’t need the court sending some foolish official to meddle — not a single court official can do things better than we can! Everything is better with us: the crops are well grown, the crafts are good, the school is good — those other counties have no school like ours! And our soldiers are good too!”
“Our soldiers are good?”
Zhù Qingjun said, “Yes! It’s as I reported to you before — Uncle Hou drills them regularly. They’re much stronger than the garrison soldiers in the stockade settlements. I’ve seen the stockade troops.”
Zhù Ying smiled gently. “What sort of location do you think would be good for the hostel?”
“We are ‘Lao people,'” Zhù Qingjun said. “If the court could truly treat everyone equally, Wuzhou would never have noticed how precious you are. The higher and more refined the circles, the more this is true. I’d actually prefer to be somewhere closer to the foreign merchants. That’s just a little thought of mine. If you think it makes sense, when we discuss the location tomorrow, I’ll advocate for this.”
Zhù Ying nodded.
Zhù Qingjun was a little pleased. “Then tomorrow I’ll put it forward!”
“Good. Off you go.”
“Yes!”
Zhù Qingjun gave one more bow and went back to her room in high spirits.
She had barely gone before Zhù Lian arrived. Zhù Ying stretched out her hand and pushed the calling card across the desk to him. “Take this — give it to your school tomorrow. The other one, pass it along to Qingjun.”
Zhù Lian took the cards and said, “Teacher, there’s something else.”
“What is it?”
Zhù Lian said, “About the hostel location — do you have any instructions, Teacher?”
“Hmm? Didn’t I leave that to all of you?”
Zhù Lian said, “What I mean is — our estate. Our estate is also within the new Wuzhou territory. How can the affairs of the new Wuzhou be decided only by the five counties? The Old Master and Old Mistress are still there — and though they don’t manage much, there’s also Auntie. The estate’s output cannot be overlooked. Moreover… I’ve been at the academy for a while now, and I’ve come to understand there is such a thing as noble rank. You have devoted yourself entirely to the court these many years, and the students at the academy all admire how capable you are, how quickly you’ve risen — and yet… you hold no noble rank, no granted household. The estate is different. It lies within a native chieftaincy territory — if made a county, it becomes a native chieftaincy county, and can be passed down through generations! Households with property have their good-for-nothing descendants who can squander it and hand the estate over to someone else — but once it’s a county, once it has native chieftaincy status, it’s different — no one can take it away!”
He gathered his courage and said, “In that case, in that case…”
Zhù Ying asked, “In that case, how would I explain myself to the court?”
Zhù Lian was struck speechless.
Zhù Ying smiled. “What you’ve thought of — do you think I haven’t thought of it? First, let’s talk about the hostel location. What are your ideas?”
Zhù Lian said haltingly, “Well, I’d like to choose somewhere a little closer to the original Wuzhou hostel — so the two can look out for each other.”
Zhù Ying nodded.
Zhù Lian said, “Then tomorrow I’ll do my best to discuss this with the others.”
He took the cards and made another bow, then hurried out.
Zhù Wen had listened to everything from start to finish, and inwardly agreed strongly with both of them on the matter of the estate. When Zhù Ying rose and paced about, preparing to go back and rest, he said one thing: “Magistrate, I think what A’Lian and Qingjun said is right. Our estate is yours by right — it’s only better than the other counties, not worse.”
Zhù Ying nodded. “Keep it in your heart.”
“Yes, sir.”
Zhù Ying returned to her room, turned and closed the door, removed the black silk, and sat before the dressing table looking at herself in the mirror. She reached up and felt her chin — no beard. She felt her throat — no Adam’s apple. It was indeed a problem.
She looked at the woman in the mirror for a long while, then rose, washed up, and went to sleep.
Su Zhe and the others argued back and forth, and in the end chose a location leaning more toward what Zhù Qingjun had proposed. Zhù Qingjun’s “Lao people” theory won Zhù Lian over in the end. When they reported the conclusion to Zhù Ying, they presented it this way: the location was convenient for trading with foreign merchants, because the outer five counties’ goods were quite different from those of Jiyuan Prefecture — especially tea.
Zhù Ying smiled. “Once it’s settled, report it to the new Regional Inspector.”
Su Zhe said, “We can’t enter the palace — we have no way to see the new Regional Inspector.”
Zhù Ying said, “I’ll take you.”
“Yes, sir!”
The young ones wanted to run off and make their trades, but Zhù Ying said, “We’ll put up the money — the rent won’t go to the Regional Inspector’s office.”
Su Zhe said, “There isn’t even a Regional Inspector’s office yet, after all. If you ask me, the estate should be the Regional Inspector’s office — A’Weng should be there to oversee things. What a pity…” What a pity about this wretched court — it really was quite large. A’Weng was always saying to keep one’s eyes on all under heaven. Compared to all under heaven, Wuzhou really was quite small…
Zhù Ying said, “Don’t let that leave your lips.”
“Yes, sir.”
“But honestly, there really is no Regional Inspector’s office. Ah — we’ll talk about that later.” The court currently had no means of going into the mountains to stake out and build a Regional Inspector’s office either, and since Prince Qiyang wasn’t going there in person, they had simply issued formal appointments to the various officials, each bearing a title while the five counties carried on as before. Quite a shame.
The young ones accordingly ran off to conduct their negotiations. Zhù Ying sent Xiang Le along to oversee things, but did not go herself. Once the negotiations concluded, the property was purchased. Xiang An also returned — she had not caused any delay for Zhù Qingtian’s journey home.
Xiang An was a little darker and thinner, but in fine spirits. She brought back a thick packet of letters for Zhù Ying. Xiang An was one of the closer, more trusted intimates, and the letter Huajie had written for Zhù Ying was especially long — and the contents considerably more private.
In the letter, Huajie told Zhù Ying that her previous letter had been received. Following Zhù Ying’s arrangements, Hou Wu had selected people and was steadily pushing south to explore, and had indeed reached the sea — there was indeed a sea. But no one in the estate knew how to boil salt, and Huajie was making efforts to find such a person. Salt workers were mostly in service to the state, and boiling salt required iron pots and other equipment besides — Huajie didn’t quite understand all of it, and was working to learn. Fortunately, Xiao Jiang was there now to help her think things through.
Zhù Ying accordingly took up her brush and wrote letters: one to Huajie, and separately to Zhao Su and Gu Tong, asking them to look into methods of salt production. These two were both officials of the court; given Zhù Ying’s connections at court, their evaluations were both in the upper-middle range, and they were steadily accumulating seniority waiting for promotion — officials in the bureaucracy had convenient means of handling such matters.
She also wrote a long letter to Su Mingluan, which she entrusted to Zhù Qingtian. For the remaining letters, she sent Zhù Wen with two others to travel south together with Zhù Qingtian. Zhù Wen was not only to deliver letters — he was also to go to the new Wuzhou on Zhù Ying’s behalf and take a look around.
She herself then filed another request to the palace: the people of Wuzhou wished to establish a new provincial hostel, and this matter needed to be reported to Prince Qiyang. She was requesting permission to bring Su Zhe and Lin Feng to see Prince Qiyang again.
The approval had not yet come back down when Liu Songnian first sent someone with a calling card for Zhù Ying — come over, let’s have a talk.