His own son was safe, and the Crown Prince was safe. Zheng Xi was reassured. He straightened his robes and stepped forward to pay his respects to the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince sat in his carriage and poked his face out from behind the curtain. His complexion was ashen. Wang Yunhe, Shi Kun, and others stood beside the carriage, and further out was a ring of guards with tense expressions. The hundred officials and the Eastern Palace retinue also crowded around him. His voice was somewhat strained as he said to Zheng Xi: “Rise, please. You — you, how did you come here?”

Zheng Xi said: “By imperial command, to receive Your Highness back to the palace.”

The Crown Prince let out a long breath. “Oh — oh, very good.”

Zheng Xi then asked how the Crown Prince was feeling. Zheng Chuan answered for him, saying he had suffered a great fright, and that it was thanks to the bodyguards and the eunuch Du Shien’s desperate defense that he was unharmed. Zheng Xi also expressed concerned inquiry about the injured, saying they must be brought back to the capital and properly treated.

The Crown Prince said: “They are all right. I had them go to the back to rest.”

Zheng Xi then asked the Crown Prince to sit comfortably and set out on the way back. He himself first entered the Crown Prince’s carriage and said in a single sentence: “The Prince of Lu has committed treason. He has already been taken in custody. All is peaceful.”

The Crown Prince sat bolt upright: “What has he done now? And my father — what of the Eastern Palace? My son — how is my son?”

“They are all naturally safe in the palace. With Prime Minister Liu Songnian and General Ruan in the palace, all is well inside.”

The Crown Prince was relieved. Zheng Xi said: “Allow me to inform Minister Wang and Minister Shi so they may be prepared.”

“Oh, yes — yes, please do!”

Zheng Xi gathered with Wang Yunhe and Shi Kun, borrowed a carriage, and the three of them climbed inside. Wang Yunhe opened immediately with: “What is the situation in the palace?”

Before Zheng Xi had come out to meet them, the palace had already dispatched Imperial Guards to escort them back — and calculating the timing, the palace could not possibly have known about the assassination attempt against the Crown Prince at that point. Either someone had already denounced the attack, or something had also happened in the palace, which then prompted the palace to think about protecting the Crown Prince. Wang Yunhe had asked the Imperial Guards a couple of questions and guessed that something had indeed happened in the palace.

Zheng Xi said: “Everything is under control. The Prince of Lu has been taken in. Prime Minister Liu Songnian is in the imperial presence. But what happened on Your Highness’s end?”

Shi Kun replied with a question of his own: “So the Prince of Lu could not restrain himself after all? He can’t have managed it on his own — does he have followers?”

Zheng Xi gave a brief account: “The Prince of Lu bribed Zhou You. All manner of precautions had been taken, and yet no one had anticipated that someone would stir up trouble inside the imperial city. Zhù Ying escorted the Prince of Qiyang to the imperial presence, while Duan Ying found General Ruan and denounced the Prince of Lu’s treason.”

Wang Yunhe repeated the words “denounce” with a look of disgust.

Shi Kun asked: “And His Majesty?”

Zheng Xi, his expression unchanged, said: “Resting peacefully in bed.”

Shi Kun and Wang Yunhe were slightly reassured, and asked further about how matters stood and the specific details. Zheng Xi said: “I was only outside the palace taking the Prince of Lu into custody and delivering him to the palace — I don’t know the details clearly. I only know that all the princes and princesses are being summoned into the palace.”

Wang Yunhe said: “Very well. It’s also good to have them all gathered where we can see them, to prevent any further incidents. Has the Prince of Lu’s mansion been surrounded?”

“The Capital Prefecture and the Imperial Guard have already surrounded the Prince of Lu’s mansion. The various other princes’ and princesses’ residences also have Imperial Guards watching over them. And what of things on the Crown Prince’s end?”

Wang Yunhe said with a grim expression: “The security looked tight enough, but who could have known it would turn out to be useless.” This too had been beyond his prediction.

For the Crown Prince and the hundred officials traveling together, the escort had been enormous; no one had imagined anything would go wrong. Whenever an Emperor, Empress, Crown Prince, prince, high official, or noble traveled, there were always many citizens of the city and rural folk come to watch — it was generally not something one tried to prohibit. The entire point of all that ceremonial pomp was to display imperial virtue and majesty: not only were spectators allowed, the imperial family sometimes had official court painters record such scenes for posterity.

Beyond the spectators, some officials would have servants following along. Princes, for instance, could not travel alone, and many of the senior officials were elderly men who needed people to attend them.

No matter what was being worshipped, there was never any shortage of “miscellaneous hangers-on.”

In the vast majority of cases, the only concern was that no one come too close and jostle those in the procession.

That was the convention.

And it was the convention that had created the opening. It being winter, men and women old and young were relatively at leisure, so when some able-bodied men stood among the crowd to watch, it aroused no alertness from the guards. When the crowd pressed and jostled forward, they were only met with normal cries of “Fall back!”

And some officials’ attendants clustered off to one side nearby — that was entirely natural.

When the sacrifice began and the ceremonial music and drums struck up, everyone’s attention was fixed on the Crown Prince, on the ritual. The hundred officials had to follow the Crown Prince’s lead in performing the rites. And that was when the assassins struck.

The assassins came in two groups. The first sprang out from among the watching crowd, drawing the bulk of everyone’s attention. The second worked their way through the cluster of officials’ attendants into a position near the Crown Prince before launching their attack.

It happened so suddenly — the first group created enormous chaos, and the second group killed their way in very close, wounding several people and bowling over three white-bearded old officials. In the end it was Du Shien who threw himself in front of the Crown Prince and took several blows. The assassins were then subdued.

Zheng Xi asked: “Have they been interrogated?”

Wang Yunhe said: “The situation was urgent — there hasn’t been time yet.”

Zheng Xi nodded, looked to left and right, then leaned in with the two white-haired heads in the carriage and said quietly: “His Majesty has passed away.”

Inside the carriage fell a silence. The sound of creaking wheels, the clip of hooves on the main avenue, the snort of a horse, the occasional cough of a person — all came through clearly.

Shi Kun said: “Resting peacefully…”

When a person died, they were naturally more peaceful than they had ever been.

Both Prime Ministers’ faces went very grim. Zheng Xi said: “I urge you to proceed quickly.”

Wang Yunhe asked: “Did this happen before the Prince of Lu’s move, or after?”

“I genuinely don’t know — I truly don’t. Perhaps Prime Minister Liu Songnian knows?” Zheng Xi spread his hands.

The two Prime Ministers stared hard at him. Zheng Xi’s conscience was clear at this moment; his gaze was entirely serene. Wang Yunhe suddenly raised his voice and said: “Tell them to walk faster!”

Shi Kun said: “We must reassure the people.”

Wang Yunhe said: “Only say the disturbance has been suppressed. All preparations must be complete before announcing it to the world.” It was obvious this meant “keeping the death secret” — they could easily delay one more day. Wang Yunhe also issued a covert order: all officials connected to the Prince of Lu, Zhou You, and Duan Ying who were in the procession should be quietly detained upon entering the capital.

As the carriage procession silently accelerated on its way, the palace too lay in complete silence. Everyone knew something had happened in the palace. The Crown Prince committing treason? It had never sounded very plausible. After a round of killing, all the palace gates had been closed. The officials and functionaries left on duty couldn’t even go home; some had curled up by the kitchen stove to warm themselves by the fire; others were quietly circulating to gather information — yet none dared move openly.

Zhù Ying broke off a piece of cake — the palace food was truly delicious! She offered half to the Prince of Qiyang. The Prince of Qiyang, face rigid, shook his head.

Zhù Ying said: “If your meal is untouched, people outside will grow suspicious. The princes and princesses are in that hall over there now; everything must be handled carefully.” The princes who had traveled with the Crown Prince were away; those remaining in the capital were several elder-generation princes who had genuinely been too physically unwell to attend. If they noticed something, the trouble they’d cause would be worse than that of a younger prince.

The Prince of Qiyang said: “I understand. I simply can’t eat. You have a bit more.” He glanced once more at the Emperor in the bed — grief and longing were there, but more than anything, there was anxiety. He had no idea how his own father was faring.

Liu Songnian suddenly said: “In service of a royal father’s remains.”

The Prince of Qiyang managed to squeeze out a thin smile and, as if swallowing poison, choked down half a piece. Zhù Ying poured him a cup of tea and passed it over; the Prince of Qiyang accepted it and sipped slowly.

Liu Songnian said to Zhù Ying: “You can actually eat.”

Zhù Ying said: “The time when I should have been worried has already passed. Now that you are all here to worry, I can’t think of anything left to concern me — not only can I eat, I can sleep too.” Saying this, she rose and walked toward the folding screen to one side.

Beside the screen stood a small eunuch, accompanied by several palace maids holding basins.

Zhù Ying told them: “I don’t need you.”

Having been stuck here for half a day — and having had a full meal on top of it — nature was calling. The Emperor’s privy was a temporary arrangement, screened off by folding panels. A very handsome chamber pot sat inside, fitted with a chair on top so one could sit. Beside it was a stand holding pre-cut squares of plain fine cloth.

Zhù Ying dealt with the matter swiftly. The palace maid brought a basin for her to wash her hands; the eunuch came to burn incense. As she dried her hands, Zhù Ying said: “The pot should be emptied when it needs to be.”

Liu Songnian backed away several steps and said: “Just so.”

The Prince of Qiyang, seeing these two showing no panic whatsoever, couldn’t help feeling a twinge of envy. But Liu Songnian said: “Your Highness, things are about to get busy.”

The Prince of Qiyang quickly stepped forward to receive his instructions. Liu Songnian invited him to sit, and spoke to him: “The Crown Prince will return with the hundred officials. Once he returns, the death still cannot be announced — you must accompany the Crown Prince in reassuring the princes. When all preparations are in order, we may then proclaim it to the world.”

“What do you need me to do?”

“Keep the priorities clear in your mind. Take it layer by layer — first establish the proper title and name; then stabilize the court; settle the people’s hearts; use rewards and punishments together…”

The two of them murmured on together. Lan Xing was wracked with inner turmoil. He glanced at Zhù Ying — this creature had actually sat down to one side and was meditating with her eyes closed. Lan Xing quietly edged closer to her. He had just raised his foot to nudge her when Zhù Ying’s eyes suddenly opened and she turned her head to look at him, giving Lan Xing quite a start.

Zhù Ying nodded to him. Lan Xing let out a quiet sigh: “This palace…”

Zhù Ying said: “Just prepare yourself.”

Lan Xing glanced at the Prince of Qiyang. Zhù Ying shook her head.

General Ruan, having patrolled the entire palace, returned and reported: “All is in order! I’ve told them all to stay in their quarters and not stir — anyone who moves will be counted as a fellow conspirator with the Prince of Lu! The Imperial Guards on duty today will continue their shift; they’ll be rotated out once the situation is stable.”

The sun began to slant toward the west. Candles were brought in basket after basket; the eunuchs began lighting the lamps.

When all the lamps were lit, the Crown Prince returned!

Liu Songnian stood up. Zhù Ying reopened her eyes. Liu Songnian said: “Your Highness, please go with the General to bring the Crown Prince, the Prime Ministers, and the others here. Tonight none of us will be sleeping — we must draft a plan of action so that we can proceed tomorrow and the day after.”

Zhù Ying stood up: “Then I’ll go back to the Court of State Ceremonial to sleep.”

The Prince of Qiyang wanted to ask her to stay. Liu Songnian spoke first: “Don’t even dream of it! If I’m staying up all night, you’re staying up too!”

Zhù Ying said: “But I’m not really needed…” Once the Crown Prince returned, what they would be discussing was the transfer of power — the purges, the division of spoils. She had of course sought out the Prince of Qiyang to earn herself a share of merit, but that share was not enough to entitle her to a seat at this grand feast.

Liu Songnian ignored her, so she had no choice but to find a pillar to lean against.

The Prince of Qiyang and General Ruan went out to receive the Crown Prince. From a distance, they saw a great crowd following behind him.

Just as the Prince of Qiyang felt a flicker of gladness, he realized he could not make out most of the faces in the dimness — they were a mass of dark shadows. A sudden qualm struck his heart: of all these hundred officials, how many of them truly obeyed his and his father’s commands? And among those who did, how many were capable of bearing real responsibility?

The Prince of Qiyang’s gladness died. He found himself not even needing to feign sorrow — his mouth pulled downward on its own, and an expression of deep worry crossed his face.

The Crown Prince had not yet emerged from the aftermath of the assassination attempt. Seeing his son unharmed, he felt some relief, and asked: “And your grandfather?”

The Prince of Qiyang said: “He is waiting for you in the sleeping quarters. The two Prime Ministers, please. Prefect Zheng, please.”

He drew these men away separately, which set the hundred officials behind them to speculating. Wang Yunhe, lifting his foot to follow, first gave an order: “The officials are to remain where they are for now.”

In the bitter cold, one couldn’t leave the officials standing outside to freeze, so they were let into their respective yamen. Some visiting prefects who happened to be in the capital for the Winter Solstice were also arranged into their respective duty quarters, with the strict instruction reiterated that no one was to move about or make contact.

Then the small group entered the sleeping quarters.

Zhù Ying’s presence inside the sleeping quarters was very incongruous. She did her best to make herself into a wooden post. But Wang Yunhe singled her out: “How did you come to be here?”

The Prince of Qiyang said: “When the Prince of Lu staged his coup, she was the one who discovered Zhou You leading troops in violation of prohibition, and came to the Eastern Palace to inform me.”

Liu Songnian said: “Never mind all that — Your Highness, His Majesty has passed away.”

The Crown Prince was in the middle of bowing toward the bed in greeting when this struck him like a kick in the back — he lurched forward, staggered two steps, swayed his arms to right himself, and cried out: “Father?!”

“Silence!” Liu Songnian said.

The Crown Prince obediently clapped his hand over his mouth and tears streamed down his face. Everyone wept with him in silence for a while. After some time, Wang Yunhe said: “Your Highness, His Majesty departed in haste. You must shoulder the whole of the realm, so as not to fail His Majesty. Please for now restrain your grief and put the affairs of the court in order, so that we may properly announce the mourning.”

The Crown Prince gritted his teeth: “The Prince of Lu! Did he drive my father to death? I will never rest under the same sky as him!”

Liu Songnian said: “There are many things to attend to. He is only one matter — and not the most important one.”

The Crown Prince asked with reddened eyes: “What is the most important?”

“Ascending the throne.” Liu Songnian said bluntly.

The Crown Prince stepped back and performed a deep bow: “I have lost my head. I beg my teacher to guide me.”

Liu Songnian invited the Crown Prince to take the seat at the head, with places arranged for each person. Zhù Ying steeled herself and was pushed by Lan Xing to sit below Zheng Xi.

The meeting began.

The three Prime Ministers all had their thoughts ready, and spoke one after another. Liu Songnian said: “For now the priority is stability. Whatever needs doing can be handled after Your Highness ascends before the mourning hall. As for matters of government, I am not expert — I speak only to the Prince of Lu: such cases should be resolved swiftly rather than dragged out. Leaving it unresolved too long will unsettle people’s hearts. By the time you proclaim a new era name and issue a general amnesty, my promise to the late Emperor will be fulfilled.”

Having said this, he glanced at the Emperor on the bed and closed his eyes to rest, taking no further part.

The Crown Prince asked: “Then the Prince of Lu — who will handle him?”

Shi Kun said: “That comes later. First things first. Your Highness is ascending the throne, so of course the proper titles must first be established. Investing the Empress and the Crown Prince; posthumously honoring the maternal family. Meritorious subjects must be rewarded; criminal traitors must be punished. Furthermore, the realm must be proclaimed throughout the land and the common people reassured. The capital must not be allowed to fall into disorder.” There was nothing particularly novel in any of this — it was the standard procedure for a new monarch ascending the throne. The substance lay in the specifics of rewards and punishments.

The Crown Prince said: “For affairs in the capital, the Prefect is to spare no effort — and you will be remembered after the fact.”

Zheng Xi said: “Yes.”

When the Prince of Qiyang heard the words “Crown Prince,” his heart leapt again, and for a moment he could not speak.

Wang Yunhe said: “The remaining matters are the two affairs of court and inner palace. For the inner palace, please let all arrangements continue as before for now. Apart from moving the imperial residence and settling the late Emperor’s consorts and arranging the Eastern Palace’s departure — that can be arranged at leisure after the major funeral rites. As for the inner palace,” he arranged for both Lan Xing and the Crown Prince’s own eunuchs to handle it between them.

Lan Xing acknowledged this as well. The Crown Prince said: “If Du Shien’s wounds are not serious, have him come to arrange the moving of the palace.”

Lan Xing said: “This servant will find him tomorrow to complete the handover.”

Then came court affairs. Wang Yunhe and Shi Kun proposed that the Prince of Qiyang, being both the legitimate heir and the eldest son, should be the new Crown Prince. The Crown Prince said: “That goes without saying.”

The Prince of Qiyang quickly rose and knelt: “Your son is young and ignorant, unworthy of such a great burden.”

The Crown Prince said: “Rise, my son — if you are unworthy, who is?”

The Prince of Qiyang rose and returned to his seat, feeling a new wave of gratitude toward the Prime Ministers.

Wang Yunhe said: “The case of the Prince of Lu’s treason will be the first major trial of your reign, watched by court and public alike. As Songnian has said, it should be swift, not drawn out. Punish the ringleaders severely; deal leniently with those who followed; let the Prince of Lu be isolated without support, and resolve the matter quickly to prevent social unrest. The Prince of Lu’s status is special — I would request that one member of the imperial clan and one capable official co-manage this case. Those are the punishments. There must also be rewards — all those who participated in suppressing the rebellion should receive promotions and honors.”

If this were Zhao Wang speaking, he would have wanted some other brother to preside; but now he was no longer Zhao Wang — he hesitated, thinking through reliable members of the imperial clan and capable officials, and found himself in the same bind as his son.

He had never been raised as the Crown Prince. How could he have had the time to cultivate trusted officials and advisors? Even his Eastern Palace retinue were not especially close to him. He was far more at ease with the old retainers from the former Zhao Wang mansion, and he would have liked to assign them to handle this — but those men, like him, had never prepared to govern the realm, and lacked the necessary abilities.

He said: “Let my son take the lead, with one capable person selected to assist. What do you all think?”

Everyone looked together at Zhù Ying. Zhù Ying was startled: “I belong to the Court of State Ceremonial.”

Wang Yunhe said to the Crown Prince: “Zhù Ying has merit in suppressing the Prince of Lu’s rebellion. The position of Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review is still vacant — I would request that she serve in an acting capacity.” Zheng Xi also said: “I concur. She served ten years in the Court of Judicial Review and has always been reliable.”

Shi Kun said: “I concur.”

The Prince of Qiyang said: “I too concur.”

The Crown Prince’s impression of Zhù Ying was a favorable one. If he could not use those close to him from his old household, then Zhù Ying was an acceptable choice. He nodded: “Agreed.”

Liu Songnian said: “Once the main decisions are made, we will draft the edicts all at once.”

The matter turning to rewards, the other meritorious subjects were also discussed in passing. General Ruan spoke for the Imperial Guard; Liu Songnian glanced once at Zhù Ying; Zheng Xi mentioned Wen Yue, Jin Liang, and others. Both Wang Yunhe and Shi Kun, being right there before the Crown Prince, also named several individuals who had performed notably well. All of these proposals were approved.

Then came the reassurance of the princes and princesses: each prince was to receive five hundred additional households in their fiefdom; each princess was to be elevated in rank, each receiving an additional three hundred households. Even if they felt no gratitude, any prince who caused trouble now would only make themselves look at fault. The Crown Prince had also not forgotten his father-in-law and dear brother-in-law — Luo Sheng was to be given the title of Grand Master of Splendid Happiness and granted his own establishment.

The Prince of Qiyang said: “Because of the Prince of Lu’s treason, there may well be disloyal officials remaining at court. They should be dismissed together, and loyal and steadfast men selected in their place.” For example, the Prince of Lu’s father-in-law’s family — if only the Prince of Lu had committed treason, the father-in-law’s family would not be greatly affected. But since the Prince of Lu’s wife’s elder brother had participated, that meant three whole clans would suffer the consequences — whether they’d lose their lives was uncertain, but their offices were certainly gone. A perfect opportunity to install one’s own people!

Father and son were of one mind: the Crown Prince immediately said: “The former tutor of the Zhao Wang mansion is excellent.”

The two of them first mentioned the retainers of the former Zhao Wang mansion, placing them into reasonably prestigious positions, and only then turned to the Eastern Palace’s own staff.

Wang Yunhe reminded them: “There aren’t that many vacancies.”

The Crown Prince pointed at his son and then at Zhù Ying: “You two — settle the Prince of Lu’s case quickly. As for prefects in various localities — some are also his adherents. Those in the capital, arrest several first.”

Zhù Ying had no choice but to stand and listen. This whole night she had truly not been able to sleep — she had spent it listening to these people divide the spoils. She said not a single word. As for being assigned to handle things, she needed to accumulate people of her own — she could wrangle that out of the Council of State and the Ministry of Personnel.

They deliberated through the night. Zhù Ying took notes through the night. Prime Ministers’ descendants all received honors — Wang Yunhe’s son was transferred into the Ministry of Rites as a Vice Minister. This was precisely the time when ritual and ceremonial expertise were needed, so the post of Vice Minister of Rites was a comfortable position.

With Zhou You and his like from the Imperial Guard taken down, his direct superior also received punishment. The Crown Prince transferred his own wife’s elder brother into command of the Imperial Guard, and also granted honors to the Crown Princess’s family — his soon-to-be father-in-law’s household. Zheng Xi’s family similarly received rewards, and he also spoke in favor of people like Marquis Leng — Leng Yun was finally permitted to return to the capital. Zheng Chuan, being an Eastern Palace retinue official, was transferred from Eastern Palace service into the Censorate.

By the time pale light began to show through the windows, the group had finished their deliberations. Each and every one had stayed up through the night, eyes rimmed with darkness — they really did look a bit like mourners.

“Then so be it,” the Crown Prince said.

Liu Songnian said: “Weep!”

“What?”

Liu Songnian said to the Crown Prince: “His Majesty has gone to heaven! Cry — quickly!”

The Prince of Qiyang wailed first: “Grandfather!!!”

And then everyone began crying together. The eunuchs wept most bitterly of all. With an emperor dead, the fate of those who had attended him — whether they would live or die — was uncertain; they were genuinely heartbroken.

The crying roused those within and without, and the news that the Emperor had died was at last allowed to spread.

When full daylight came, the whole capital had become a sea of weeping.

Officials, princes, and princesses had none of them been able to go home; they were already present and began their mourning rites then and there. Weeping, they thought about what was to come — having no idea that through the night, someone had already arranged everything that would follow. For them to think about it now was already too late.

The Prime Ministers had been prepared well in advance. They summoned the principal officials — the Six Ministers and others — and following the proper ceremonial rites, began preparing for the funeral.

Among the weeping princes and princesses mourning before the bier, Princess Yongping wept herself into a faint. Attendants moved her aside to rest. Among the princes, one could be heard weeping: “Father — you were perfectly well, why did you leave us so suddenly?!”

Lan Xing stepped forward, weeping as he comforted: “It was being angered to death by the Prince of Lu’s treason.”

The Prince of Qiyang and the Crown Prince both looked at him, and each felt he was a decent person.

Then Shi Kun stepped forward to preside: “The realm cannot go a single day without a sovereign! Your servants request that the Crown Prince ascend to the throne as Emperor.”

The Crown Prince declined three times; the ministers, led by the Prime Ministers, urged three times; the princes seconded in ragged fashion, and the Crown Prince then ascended the throne before the mourning hall. Shi Kun was designated as the Director of the Imperial Mausoleum to oversee the funeral. Then the Crown Princess was formally invested as Empress; the Prince of Qiyang was named Crown Prince; and the late Emperor’s birth mother was posthumously honored as the late Emperor’s Empress.

Following this, meritorious subjects who had “participated in suppressing the rebellion” were rewarded: General Ruan was elevated to General Who Supports the State, with an additional grandson admitted to official service. The three Prime Ministers were all granted the privilege of establishing their own offices. Zheng Xi’s family title was also given five hundred additional households; Zheng Xi’s wife was honored as a Commandery Lady; Zhù Ying rather prominently became Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review. Wen Yue and Jin Liang were both promoted to the sixth rank. All other participants were likewise rewarded in proportion.

Then came the princes and princesses; Luo Sheng and the Empress’s maternal family were also rewarded; the Empress’s father was given the title of Founding Duke and her mother made a State Lady.

And because a new sovereign had ascended, all officials received an elevation in rank of one degree.

Finally came the full mourning rites — and at once the hall filled with weeping. Amid the cries, everyone quite naturally changed how they addressed the new ruler, offering the ceremonial acclaim of ten thousand years, recognizing the new sovereign and thanking him.

Zhù Ying received her share of mourning garments, added her voice to the mourning for a few moments, and was then hauled off to the imperial presence.

The new Emperor had Liu Songnian and others at his side. Liu Songnian was still writing edicts — the division of spoils agreed upon the night before still had to be issued one by one. Zhù Ying was in no rush; she had her own people to arrange for. She couldn’t seize the first wave, but the Prince of Lu’s case was in her hands, and how many gaps she could scrape open to fill with her own people — that depended entirely on her own ability. Scrape open enough suitable vacancies, and it was a matter of stuffing the right people in.

Liu Songnian said: “If you handle this case well, that is your true loyalty to the late Emperor — no need to squeeze out a few extra tears over here!”

“Now?”

The new Crown Prince said: “Yes, now! The Prince of Lu is being held in a side hall. The longer this drags on, the more trouble it causes.”

Zhù Ying, seeing no way to speak with the Council of State alone, could only say: “The Court of Judicial Review is not missing just a Chief Justice — it is missing other people too, and we must get personnel in place first. The Court also has regular cases to handle, and those cannot be neglected. Now we have this additional major case on top of that — if the staff isn’t brought up to strength, we can’t work fast. And moreover, this matter will require coordination with the Imperial Guard — I need them to assist.”

The new Emperor said: “How many people do you need?”

Zhù Ying said: “I need people who can each carry their own weight — this is real work to be done now. Whether it is auditing accounts or conducting investigations, it takes people who know what they’re doing.”

The new Emperor genuinely had no idea about these things, and quite naturally said: “Go find Minister Yao and General Ruan.”

Zhù Ying said: “You want me to go coordinate? I’m afraid that without something official, they won’t acknowledge me.”

The new Emperor called out: “Prime Minister Liu.”

Liu Songnian drafted an edict, the new Emperor signed his name, and a eunuch handed it to Zhù Ying.

Zhù Ying said: “Then I will call upon the people I find useful to work with?”

The new Emperor said: “Go.”

Zhù Ying tucked the edict away and walked a few steps before stopping. She turned to Chen Fang: “Your father is outside. I’m going to look in on him. Is there anything you’d like me to pass on?”

Liu Songnian asked impatiently: “What are you doing?”

Zhù Ying said: “I’m going.”

The moment she left, the new Crown Prince asked: “Who was that just now?”

Chen Fang stepped forward and introduced himself — he was the grandson of Chen Feng and the son of Chen Meng. The new Emperor knew Chen Feng, and repeated Chen Meng’s name to himself, then nodded. “A young one, to have kept vigil through these two days — must be exhausted.”

Chen Fang said: “When one eats the sovereign’s grain, what hardship is worth speaking of?”

The new Emperor nodded. Chen Fang strode back to his former place and stood with his hand on his sword.

Going first to stand among those in mourning, Zhù Ying found herself immediately surrounded by officials from the Court of Judicial Review. Under any other circumstances, everyone would have been smiling in congratulation — but now no one dared smile. Old acquaintances’ eyes lit up with undisguised excitement: “My lord! You’ve come back at last!”

The Court of Judicial Review at present had only one Associate Justice in charge. The Associate Justice was also of “good family background” — his name was Lin Zan, in his forties, about ten years older than Zhù Ying.

His superior had just been arrested; he had felt as if he had a thundercloud hanging over his head, not knowing when it would strike. Now at last — a superior had arrived, and the Associate Justice felt he had escaped with his life. This was a superior who could actually carry the load!

Lin Zan and Zhù Ying exchanged pleasantries, and Zhù Ying said to him: “You’ve had it hard.”

To the Left Aide she said: “Old Left — I’m back.”

And to everyone else she said: “Now come back to the Court with me. Time to get to work!”

Zhù Ying did not immediately start gathering people. She first brought everyone back to the Court of Judicial Review, not rushing immediately into the case. First she went to the main hall of the Court, then looked once more at the office where she would be working. The Left Aide quickly said: “I’ll have people tidy it up right away — it’ll be quick.”

Zhù Ying said: “No rush. Just clear out a workable space for now. First, the matter at hand.”

She assembled everyone. Among the officials, half were old colleagues, and she addressed each by name. The other half were newcomers; she knew their backgrounds generally but still made thorough inquiry. Among the clerical staff, most had been trained under her hand; the replacements were few, and she got to know them all over again.

Then she said: “You all know what has happened, so I won’t waste words. In the past, when I arrived at a new post, I always first made sure everyone was provided for. For now I’ll have to put that aside — cases first. The Prince of Lu’s treason — a major case! The last time this Court handled something this large was the Gong Jie case, twenty years ago. What came of that, everyone knows — those who don’t, ask around.”

A few smiles surfaced below.

Zhù Ying said: “Before we begin the case, a few things. First: the Prince of Lu has been operating for many years. Within the Court of Judicial Review, has anyone been on good terms with him or his followers? If so, step forward now — I will handle it personally. Hide it from me and let me find out myself — the Prince of Lu won’t die, but you will! I’ll count to three: one, two, three!”

Then she called each person by name and had them answer “yes” or “no” — whether they had had any dealings with the Prince of Lu. Each swore up and down that they had been utterly loyal to His Majesty and had no dealings with the Prince of Lu whatsoever.

Zhù Ying said: “Good. Second: the cells must be cleaned out!” The custodian of male prisoners, Custodian Wu Xiang, Senior Custodian Cui Jiacheng, and the male prison warden all stepped forward to confirm.

“Third: I know that previously there was a missing Chief Justice and an Associate Justice, and some things couldn’t be handled smoothly. Now that we’re going to work on a case, whatever is lacking must be made up before things can be done properly, yes? Associate Justice Lin, please make a list of what is needed, and let me know if anything is missing. Bring it to me shortly.”

Lin Zan said: “Yes.”

Zhù Ying then named several people, including Xiao Tao and the eldest son of Old Wu: “Zhou You and Duan Ying and the others are still being held in the inner palace. Come with me to take custody of them.” She smiled: “Right then — everyone start working!”

The crowd replied in unison, and scattered in all directions.

Xiao Tao and Da Wu were both excited. Zhù Ying asked: “Is Old Wu well?”

Both said: “Perfectly well — he sent a letter saying he misses my lord’s kindness every day.”

Zhù Ying said: “He’s had it hard too. I still have the handover at the Court of State Ceremonial to finish; come with me to do that first, then we’ll move everything over. After that, we go to the Ministry of Personnel, then to the inner palace to collect the prisoners.”

“Yes.”

Zhù Ying brought the two of them to the Court of State Ceremonial. The morning mourning rites had just finished, and officials were returning to their posts. The lower-ranking ones — too junior to be required at daily mourning — were tidying up, preparing to return home in rotation.

Seeing Zhù Ying, some offered congratulations; others showed reluctance to see her go. Luo Sheng was absent. Shen Ying watched Zhù Ying with a somewhat complex expression: “The young are formidable — a boundless future before you.”

Zhù Ying said: “Just a momentary stroke of luck. I’m here to complete the handover.” She produced the edict: “By imperial command to handle the case, I am authorized to requisition people. First I’d like to take Qi Tai with me — he’ll be useful.”

Shen Ying said: “That is entirely up to you.”

Zhù Ying told Qi Tai to pack his things and come to the Court of Judicial Review. Qi Tai didn’t ask what he was wanted for — he just turned around and called: “Niu Jin.”

Niu Jin looked at Zhù Ying with hopeful eyes. Zhù Ying said: “You come too.”

Zhù Ying then told Zhao Su: “The Court of State Ceremonial still needs someone here. You stay.”

Zhao Su said: “Yes.”

She didn’t take the others — she had left Xiao Liu, Ding Gui, and Xiao Huang all for Zhao Su. Zhù Ying then asked Zhao Su: “Yesterday at the ceremony, did you do anything?”

Zhao Su said: “I only wounded one of the attackers.”

“Good. I know now. I’ll go collect prisoners shortly — come with me and make an identification.” Zhù Ying said. The grand discussions had all been about major affairs; if Zhao Su had merit, she needed to fight for him. Even without an official appointment, there should at least be a record. And if not a position, then money.

The big banquet at the imperial table was beyond her reach — but these small side dishes were still accessible.

Da Wu stayed behind to help Niu Xiao Liu, Qiao San, and others pack up Zhù Ying’s belongings and move them to the Court of Judicial Review.

Zhù Ying dashed to the Ministry of Personnel and demanded that Qi Tai and the others be officially transferred to the Court of Judicial Review. Minister Yao Qing agreed without a second word; while his staff processed the paperwork, he lowered his voice to ask: “Should this case be handled severely?”

Zhù Ying said: “It should be handled quickly. Severity or leniency depends on the Emperor.”

The paperwork was completed. Zhù Ying then went to coordinate with General Ruan about the Imperial Guard. General Ruan said: “Would two hundred be enough?”

“Lend me twenty for now — I need to go collect people from inside. Take your time selecting two hundred reliable ones; I’ll come pick them up shortly.”

General Ruan said: “Very good.” He asked the same question as Minister Yao, but more specifically: “Some senior officials — those whom the late Emperor tacitly permitted to associate with the Prince of Lu, such as his former teacher — how should they be handled?”

Zhù Ying said quietly: “I only handle the investigation. How the judgment falls, that is for the Emperor to decide.”

General Ruan asked: “Can any leniency be extended?”

“The words spoken by the Prime Ministers in the imperial presence — you heard them as well. If you want to plead for someone, simply don’t make a fault sound like a merit or a contribution.”

General Ruan nodded: “Zizhi, please take care of this.”

“Of course.”

From General Ruan she received twenty soldiers in two squads, and asked the name of each. With those twenty men, Zhù Ying went inside to collect the prisoners. Duan Ying had thought that at the very least he was neither meritorious nor at fault — only to find himself first placed under house arrest and then taken away by Zhù Ying.

Things being rushed, Zhù Ying was still wearing a bright red underlayer beneath her mourning garments. Duan Ying said: “I have the merit of having denounced.”

Zhù Ying said: “Ah — I have been commanded to investigate the case.”

In addition to Duan Ying, there was also Zhou You, who had been cursing continuously — but fell silent when he saw Zhù Ying, only glaring at her with hatred. From Wang Yunhe, Zhù Ying also took custody of Duan Lin. Duan Lin had been swept up in the affair through his connection to his son, and at the sight of Zhù Ying, his expression was none too pleasant: “What crime have I committed?”

“This is an investigation, not yet a verdict. You still have a chance.”

Duan Lin said: “Can a junior official of the Court of State Ceremonial now interrogate me?”

Xiao Tao beside her was delighted: “It would please you to know, my lord, that our master is now Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review — your matter is precisely hers to handle.”

The Prince of Lu was held in separate confinement. His condition was more disheveled — he stared at Zhù Ying with ferocity. Zhù Ying said to the Imperial Guards outside the hall: “Please take the trouble of going outside to find the Chief Eunuch Lan and ask him to send a small palanquin over — a palace carriage would do as well. After all, he is the late Emperor’s son — it’s not fitting to let people gawk at him. Two would be better — Senior Minister Duan is a great official of the state.”

Duan Lin, face dark, said: “A petty person triumphing.”

Xiao Tao and the others took offense, but before they could speak, Zhù Ying stepped forward, looked him carefully up and down, then suddenly reached out and grabbed his collar, yanking it sharply to left and right!

Duan Lin was about to burst into curses. Zhù Ying said: “Your soft armor is excellent — my eye hasn’t declined.” She had noticed something slightly different about his appearance just now compared to usual.

“Hoh!” One of the Imperial Guard soldiers couldn’t hold back a gasp of astonishment.

Zhù Ying said: “Let’s go.”