The small carriages carried the Prince of Lu and the others all the way back to the Court of Judicial Review and went straight for the prison. The wardens had already supervised the jail guards in cleaning the cells. The several less important prisoners already held there had been moved to different cells, making way for an entire wing to receive the suspects in the Prince of Lu’s treason case.

Both the male and female wardens stood waiting at the entrance. Zhù Ying looked over this familiar place — more than a decade since she had last been here; it had taken on an even deeper air of age and time.

Zhù Ying said: “We have only male prisoners for now. Come — all these people are to be held in separate cells. From this moment on, not a single stranger is to be allowed in! Besides those handling the case, your own people are not to enter either.”

The warden said: “Yes.”

The room had already been prepared. The Prince of Lu’s single cell was the largest — the very one where Gong Jie had lived in his time. Then came Duan Lin, Zhou You, and Duan Ying; all of Zhou You’s subordinate guard officers were shut together into one cell; the soldiers who had participated in the rebellion had, after some fighting, suffered some casualties, and the remainder — including the wounded — were temporarily confined in a military compound under the Imperial Guard’s watch, under dedicated supervision.

Zhù Ying said: “Prepare hot water and have them bathed and given fresh clothes. The prison of the Court of Judicial Review is a place of reason — those who deserve bathing, get bathing. You all know the rules? Their removed clothing is to be sorted and preserved by category — it is all physical evidence; not one needle, not one grain of sand is to be overlooked. You are not to speak with them, nor are they to speak to each other, and certainly no strangers are to enter.” She pointed Da Wu specifically toward watching over the Prince of Lu.

The warden bowed: “Yes.” And one by one the prisoners were escorted to their cells.

Zhù Ying went back outside and went to receive the next batch of prisoners — the assassins who had targeted the Crown Prince. Many in this group had been killed on the spot; the remaining dozen or so survivors were all wounded. Among them was the Prince of Lu’s wife’s elder brother — this person absolutely had to be brought over. Two carriages were not enough; she had several more prepared and transported them back to the prison as well.

Returning, she asked: “Are they washed yet?”

The warden said: “Almost.”

Being winter, hot water was hard to come by; bathing also required guarding against the prisoners catching cold or freezing sick or dying, and charcoal braziers had to be lit for warmth, so it was more trouble than usual. Zhù Ying said: “This batch must be cleaned up the same way — and also have their wounds properly re-dressed. We need them alive.”

“Yes.”

Zhù Ying then went to the women’s section. The women wardens were all very pleased; they had passed more than a decade of quiet days, and had finally waited for Zhù Ying’s return. Several of them had hair now streaked white, with waists beginning to curve slightly forward. Most of them had their hair in the pinned-up style of married women; only Zhou Wei had hers in a Daoist-style bun. Zhou Wei lowered her head slightly: “I never married. Supporting myself is quite good.”

Zhù Ying surveyed the implements and utensils — all clean and well tended. But many things were very old; the quilts were heavily patched, clearly some from before she had left. The cells’ furnishings were also not in great shape. She asked: “Has the Court of Judicial Review been very poor lately?”

Cui Jiacheng said: “Who could compare with the days when my lord was here!”

Once the topic was opened it could not be shut. “At the time it was so ordinary one didn’t think about it” — those words were terrifying. From the moment they had entered the Court, Zhù Ying had been the one managing everything; they knew it was “good,” but not specifically how it was good. Not until later, when each year was worse than the last, did they understand — and by then there was nothing they could do. They could only manage their own days as best they could.

From Magistrate Su’s time onward — things had improved briefly during Custodian Dou’s tenure, then deteriorated again after Dou left. There was no harsh criticism of the Left Aide, but no particular praise either: the Left Aide also pocketed small amounts, better than Magistrate Su. Then came another one, who promised to be worse even than the Left Aide.

Wu Xiang said: “The Left Aide treated the Court as his own territory. Replace him with someone who only sees this as a stepping stone, and it will be worse. He did what he could — but who could compare to my lord?”

The women voiced their regrets in unison. Zhù Ying said: “Now that I’ve come back, things will improve. You sort and tidy the case files of the current female prisoners and note down anything you hear them say. Also clear out the space — in a treason case like this one, there may well be female prisoners too.”

“Yes.”

“All items for use by female prisoners: replace them entirely with new ones. They must be brand new, not requested from their families — to prevent smuggled-in items!”

“Yes.”

The male section called through the bars: “Almost finished washing.”

Zhù Ying came out and said: “Understood. Go get the Associate Justice; bring the Left Aide as well.”

While waiting for them, Zhù Ying told the male section the same: “All items for use: replace entirely with new. Brand new, not from their families — to prevent smuggled-in items! Whatever needs to be procured, you write the document, I’ll authorize the funds.”

Shortly, Lin Zan and the Left Aide were brought over, both somewhat excited and somewhat nervous. They bowed: “My lord, how shall we proceed with the interrogation?” The Left Aide also asked: “Just the Court of Judicial Review? Without the Censorate or the Ministry of Justice?”

Zhù Ying said: “We go through it ourselves first — only then will we know whether there are things that can or cannot be made public in a full three-court review, correct?”

Neither dared ask further.

Zhù Ying saw this matter clearly: she had drawn a line around herself — she was here to “investigate the case,” not to “adjudicate it,” still less to “render a verdict.” The “interrogation” she was conducting now was merely one means toward “establishing the truth.”

She first asked the warden: “Have their personal garments been removed?”

The warden said: “Yes.”

Zhù Ying said to Lin Zan and the Left Aide: “Shall we have a look?”

The two went to examine the personal effects. The prison had prepared several bamboo baskets, each with labels attached. One read “Prince of Lu,” others read “Duan” — and to distinguish the Duan father and son, one read “Senior Duan” and the other “Junior Duan,” as if someone were labeling ingredients for a stew.

The Prince of Lu’s things held nothing special. His horse had been confiscated by Zheng Xi; all that remained were his personal effects — armor, clothing, ornaments, and a sword.

Duan Lin’s conspicuous item was the soft armor. Duan Ying’s person had also yielded a brocade pouch, inside which was fragrant incense.

Zhù Ying lifted the soft armor and said: “This one needs to be well documented.” The Left Aide said: “Don’t worry, it will be kept perfectly safe.”

As they looked and talked, Zhù Ying said to the Left Aide: “Handling a case costs money — all these carriages, all these people — it all comes to money. First draft a document for me, and once I and the Associate Justice have signed it, tomorrow morning I’ll go to the Ministry of Finance to request funding. List the items in detail — oil and candles, charcoal, midnight snacks — all of it must be there. Have Qi Tai reconcile the accounts so the other side can find nothing to quibble with. Get the money distributed to everyone first — then people will be willing to work.” This funding was specifically for the case; it would certainly be approved.

The Left Aide smiled: “Yes!” Everyone nearby who heard this was also heartened.

Zhù Ying added: “Don’t celebrate yet — this case means no one gets a rest, and there will be plenty of all-nighters ahead!”

One of the prison guards who could contain himself no longer blurted out: “We all follow my lord’s orders!” This was a superior who actually provided for everyone — real gold and silver!

The crowd’s spirits rose in a surge.

Zhù Ying said: “Settle down.”

Silence fell at once. Lin Zan thought to himself: Won over this quickly? Then, reflecting more carefully, he realized that a superior willing to “win people over” to this extent — with real money on the line — was actually quite rare. Most people simply didn’t operate this way.

Zhù Ying said to Lin Zan: “We’re all going to have to work hard from now on.”

Lin Zan snapped back to attention: “Oh — yes, as you say.”

Zhù Ying did not conduct a preliminary hearing in the main prison hall, but instead asked Xiao Tao: “Has Duan Ying’s clothing been brought?”

“Yes.”

“Come. You two — don’t enter; just observe from outside.” She pointed to a clerk and had him prepare to take notes.

Lin Zan and the Left Aide quietly fell back behind her. Lin Zan was very curious to see how she would operate. In the time since she had gone to collect the prisoners, he had already heard a great many legendary stories about her. Some were fantastically implausible; he very much wanted to watch carefully.

The Left Aide already knew Zhù Ying; whatever she said, he did.

The jail guard opened the door to Duan Ying’s cell. Duan Ying stood in the middle of the room, wearing a plain white undergarment. The light in the cell was not very good; an oil lamp had been lit, and in its glow Duan Ying appeared even more handsome than usual. Many men past thirty looked different from their younger selves — most becoming less attractive — but Duan Ying had not. He was tall and slender; now in his forties, his figure remained undistorted, his face unchanged — fair-complexioned with a neat beard, his gaze full and limpid. Hardly surprising that he had once been a candidate for the position of Prince Consort.

Duan Ying looked coldly at Zhù Ying and repeated the same words as before: “I have the merit of having denounced.”

Zhù Ying said: “General Ruan has already told me.” She extended one finger and made a slight beckoning motion in the air. Xiao Tao carefully carried fresh clothing over.

Duan Ying spread his arms. Zhù Ying made a slight gesture to Xiao Tao; Xiao Tao put the clothing down on the table to one side. Several prison guards came out carrying the used bathing tub. Lin Zan, watching Duan Ying’s posture, understood immediately that he expected someone to help him dress. Zhù Ying appeared not to notice. Xiao Tao noticed; he glanced at Zhù Ying.

Zhù Ying looked at Duan Ying, then at Xiao Tao, and gave a slight nod.

Xiao Tao gathered up the garments and helped Duan Ying dress one piece at a time. Zhù Ying said slowly: “You are a gifted man of your generation, an official of more than a decade’s standing, well versed in the laws and regulations of the court. A child is dead and you think you’ve been nursed back to health — that is not how it works.”

Duan Ying said: “I submitted a memorial. I sent it to the Council of State long ago.”

“When?”

“Yesterday afternoon.”

“Specifically when in the afternoon?”

“Later in the day.”

Zhù Ying calculated: the day before yesterday was the day before the Winter Solstice; everyone had been preparing for the sacrifice. Sending it there in the afternoon — it was unlikely to be read that same day. Yesterday the Prime Ministers had been occupied with events, even less likely to read it; the hundred officials had all gone out with the Crown Prince to make the acquaintance of assassins. Yesterday, Zhou You had been conducting his killing spree inside the imperial city; by today, what use would it be even to read it? He had submitted it — and yet not fully submitted it. He had denounced — and yet not fully denounced.

The way he straddled that fence — he didn’t even fear falling off and being killed by the drop.

Zhù Ying said: “Good. I take note of it, and will go to the Council of State to find this memorial. If there is anything else you know, you may as well say it all.”

Duan Ying shook his head.

Zhù Ying said: “Then let me give you a hint. From this room, turn left — third door — inside is a person: the leader of those who attempted to assassinate His Majesty. I feel I recognize him slightly.”

Duan Ying pushed Xiao Tao aside and closed his collar himself, then sat down in the chair. Xiao Tao bent down to hand him his socks.

Duan Ying said quietly: “That is the one.”

Zhù Ying watched him finish putting on his shoes and socks, then said: “He didn’t die. Let’s go look — so that in the future, when you see your wife, you’ll have something to comfort her with.”

The moment Zhù Ying finished speaking, Xiao Tao — who had been respectfully helping dress the prisoner — immediately straightened up and took a stance to escort Duan Ying. Duan Ying shook his arm: “I can walk myself.”

Zhù Ying turned and led the way out. Duan Ying smoothed his collar and followed.

At the cell door, the warden opened it. The Prince of Lu’s wife’s elder brother was also Duan Ying’s wife’s elder brother. He had just been cleaned up. Having attempted to assassinate the Crown Prince, after he was taken down he had received quite a physical beating — the terrified Imperial Guards and bodyguards had laid into him thoroughly. If the Crown Prince had suffered harm, the guards themselves would not have survived.

His face had several lacerations, his mouth was bruised purple, one eye was swollen shut, and he lay sprawled on the bed. Zhù Ying and Duan Ying approached the bed. Zhù Ying asked: “Is this the one?”

Duan Ying lowered his eyes: “Yes.”

“He should not be in the capital.”

“He was exiled three thousand li. He didn’t go — he slipped back and concealed himself here. To assassinate the Emperor.” Duan Ying said.

The man in the bed, seeing Duan Ying, had a flicker of hope in his eye — but hearing what Duan Ying said, after a moment’s thought, he seemed to understand something. His one open eye widened as far as it could go: “You! Traitor!” He had begun speaking before Zhù Ying realized — he was speaking with a gap in his mouth; some teeth had apparently been knocked out.

Zhù Ying said: “Hold him down. He is not to be disrespectful to Duan the Academician. Keep a close watch.”

She then invited Duan Ying to leave the cell, and gestured for the door to be locked behind them. Once out, Duan Ying said: “What else do you want to ask?”

Zhù Ying said: “Come with me.”

This time she brought Duan Ying to the Prince of Lu’s cell. The Prince of Lu was at his ease, sitting back and letting someone help him on with his boots, kicking the prison guard twice for moving too slowly. Zhù Ying noticed the guard’s sleeve rolled up to his elbow; the warden quietly explained: “He said our people’s hands were dirty and demanded they wash before waiting on him.”

The door opened. The Prince of Lu lifted his chin and looked with contempt toward the entrance, staring at Zhù Ying in provocation: “An office obtained because of me — and you need to have the life to hold it!”

Zhù Ying walked calmly two steps inside. Behind her, Duan Ying entered.

The Prince of Lu lowered his feet. His gaze shifted from contempt to something dark and heavy. He stared fixedly at Duan Ying. Zhù Ying said: “I’m not very familiar with the Prince of Lu myself. Academician Duan — have a look, is this the man himself?”

Duan Ying clenched his teeth, bitterly resenting Zhù Ying’s cunning: “Yes.”

“Was he the one who arranged for Zhou You to commit treason?”

“Yes.”

“Very good. Much obliged.” Zhù Ying’s tone remained measured and courteous. Nothing in her manner suggested to the Prince of Lu that she was the lead investigator — or that Duan Ying was also her prisoner. Duan Ying, for his part, was dressed in trim, fresh-fitted clothing without a single disheveled thing about him.

Zhù Ying sat down across from the Prince of Lu, then indicated a seat beside her. She gestured to Duan Ying with a “please” motion, and Duan Ying had no choice but to sit. She made a hand gesture to the warden; the warden brought over writing instruments, and Zhù Ying tapped the surface of the table in front of Duan Ying; the warden placed the writing instruments before Duan Ying.

Zhù Ying said to the Prince of Lu: “You have not yet been convicted, and I am not interrogating you. I am consulting you. Whatever you wish to say, please feel free to say it — may I?”

The Prince of Lu stared at Duan Ying. Zhù Ying raised a palm and held it poised above the writing instruments, then said to Duan Ying: “Academician Duan — take notes.”

Duan Ying drew a deep breath, opened the ink-stone cover, and took up the brush.

The Prince of Lu flew into a rage, hammering the chair arms and cursing: “Duan Ying! You are no better than a dog! Pig and dog alike! “

Zhù Ying said: “Shall I bring in someone else to take notes?”

The Prince of Lu ground his teeth and gave a cold snort: “No need! What do you want to talk about? Talk about how he drank blood wine with me and signed his name on the oath scroll — or about how he sold out his master to seek glory? Duan Ying, why have you stopped writing? Write!”

He had ignored Zhù Ying entirely and was directing his fire at Duan Ying. Duan Ying’s hand trembled slightly; the Prince of Lu let out another burst of cold laughter.

Duan Ying held up his brush, speaking to the Prince of Lu — and to himself: “I have the merit of having denounced.”

The Prince of Lu raged: “Shameless! Do you believe the words of a man like this?”

He turned his head to look at Zhù Ying instead, but saw her face full of disappointment. The Prince of Lu said: “What is that expression of yours?”

“He is a court official. Who is his ‘master’? You? Surely not.” Zhù Ying said unhurriedly.

The Prince of Lu grew more enraged and hurled curses at Zhù Ying as well: “Idiot!”

Seeing that the interrogation was getting nowhere, Zhù Ying said: “The winter weather is dry — you may be suffering from excess heat. We’ll talk again later. In a while I’ll have them bring you some tea to cool the fire.”

She rose first; the warden collected the paper and brush. Zhù Ying picked up the notes and glanced at them, then made a “please” gesture toward Duan Ying and left the Prince of Lu’s cell together with him, “escorting” him back to his own cell. Before closing the door, Zhù Ying said: “Academician Duan — if you think of anything later, you may call for someone. I’ll have them write it all down.”

Duan Ying asked: “Are you going to use this case to settle a personal score?”

“Oh? I harbor no personal grievance — would you like to remind me of what it is?”

Duan Ying choked.

Zhù Ying stepped back from the cell door. The lock clicked shut.

Lin Zan and the Left Aide scrambled out. The Left Aide praised: “Brilliant!”

Zhù Ying shook her head: “This is only the beginning. Don’t question Duan Lin just yet — leave him for a while. That will do for today.”

They made one more circuit of the prison, and the three of them returned to the main court building.

By now everyone above and below had heard that Zhù Ying was about to request funds from the Ministry of Finance, and each and every one was full of spirit. The main hall had been rearranged. Even in her office and in the room where she slept on night duty, the brazier beside the tabby cat’s bed was hooded with a warming cage, and the cat was lying sprawled on top of it, bending the bamboo strips into an arc under its weight.

Zhù Ying looked at it for a moment and said: “Good. It’s late now — leave more people on night duty today. No one is permitted to have any private, unauthorized contact with the suspects.” She also ordered all the case files for other cases pending review that year to be sorted through — that work could not be neglected either.

“Yes!”

The Left Aide and Qi Tai quickly tallied the figures. Zhù Ying glanced at it, had Lin Zan look as well; Lin Zan said: “Very good.”

Zhù Ying took up her brush and listed several additional items, including medical expenses and the cost of replacing various items in the cells, then finally signed her name: “We act as circumstances allow tomorrow. Dismissed. Associate Justice, Left Aide — you two stay.”

The two remained. Zhù Ying brought them first to the Council of State and asked for the memorial Duan Ying had mentioned.

Sure enough, the Prime Ministers had not yet seen the memorial. The Council of State had been frantic these past two days — handling the Emperor’s funeral, issuing new edicts — there had truly been a two-day backlog of memorials.

Fortunately for Zhù Ying, all three Prime Ministers were still in the Council of State. They were discussing the posthumous title and temple name for the late Emperor, as well as questions about building a new ancestral temple. The Son of Heaven’s ancestral temple held only seven tablets, but when the dynasty was founded, the ancestral line had been traced back seven generations — which meant that from that point on, every time an Emperor died, a rearrangement was required, moving one tablet out to make room for the new one.

The dynasty had not yet reached seven Emperors, but the issue arose all the same, as per ritual law.

Beyond that were the adjustments — the ongoing aftermath of the division of spoils. Dividing spoils was a continuing process, like dropping a stone into a lake and watching the ripples spread until they covered the whole surface.

Hearing that Zhù Ying had come, Wang Yunhe said: “Let her in quickly — she must have something.”

Zhù Ying entered and did not stand on ceremony: “Prime Ministers — the investigation has reached something that implicates the Council of State.”

All three were startled; a flash of sharpness crossed their eyes; they looked at each other. Liu Songnian said: “Speak plainly.”

“Duan Ying says he submitted a memorial of denunciation the day before yesterday.”

“The day before yesterday?” Liu Songnian was almost amused now. “Find it!”

Zhù Ying, Lin Zan, and the Left Aide waited a short while, and incredibly, the Council of State found it. The three Prime Ministers read it through, and Zhù Ying said: “May I take it?”

The small officials of the Council of State were so frightened their legs went weak — they desperately wished they could throw this object into the charcoal brazier and burn it to ash! They hurried to say: “This was deliberate! He didn’t want us to read it!”

Wang Yunhe said gravely: “By rights, you should have read it! This is also our responsibility.” Correct — had they been more diligent, regardless of whether it was Winter Solstice preparations or whether the Emperor had died, had they read all the memorials through, they should have known earlier.

But still —

Lin Zan murmured: “This is an unreasonable demand.”

Wang Yunhe gave him a sharp look. Lin Zan’s upper and lower teeth knocked together, and his neck immediately shortened by an inch.

Liu Songnian said with a cold laugh: “If the Council of State had never discovered this memorial and the Prince of Lu had succeeded, would he have stepped forward to acknowledge this memorial? Who are you looking at? Zhù Ying — go ask him!”

Zhù Ying said: “There’s no need to ask that — may I take the memorial? I’ll write a receipt right now.”

She collected this “piece of evidence” from the Council of State and had someone at the Court take it and store it safely. By now it was already dark; the kitchen had finished dinner, but Zhù Ying did not stay to eat. Together with Qi Tai and the others, she headed home first.

That day and night at the Zhù household had also been harrowing. To begin with, Zhù Ying had not come home for an entire night. The people who had accompanied her to report for duty and were waiting outside the imperial city had nearly been arrested as conspirators. Fortunately, Zheng Xi’s men came to arrest the Prince of Lu and someone recognized Zhù Wen, saying: “Go home — something has happened in the palace.”

They returned to the residence, and the whole household — large ghosts and small ghosts alike — had never experienced anything like this and couldn’t think what to do. Xiang Le went to Zhao Su’s home to inquire and found that Zhao Su also had not returned. He then went to find Zhang and Fan — the two had also not returned to the Court of State Ceremonial’s dormitory. Zhù Lian went to Xian Jing’s residence to inquire and found that Xian Jing also had not returned.

The group put their heads together and actually felt somewhat reassured: it seemed this was not just their household alone.

After a night without sleep, they got up to find that the Emperor had died. No one had been through this before, and they scrambled to find white cloth and the like. Sister Hu, uneasy, went with Xiang Le to the imperial city gate — only to find it heavily guarded and impossible to approach. They had no choice but to turn back.

Tense and worried through a day and a night, finally — Zhù Ying came home.

Zhù Wen nearly wept for joy: “My lord, you have finally come back!”

Zhù Ying said: “What sort of face is that? Come, let’s go inside.”

The whole household surrounded her and ushered her to the main hall; the kitchen rushed to prepare dinner. Su Zhe asked: “A’Weng, the Emperor has died — there won’t be trouble, will there?”

Zhù Ying said: “There is a bit. Xiang An — find a tailor.”

“Does the whole family change into mourning clothes?”

Zhù Ying said: “What are you thinking? We only need to follow what the edict says. When a new era is proclaimed and amnesty is granted, life goes on as it always has. For the death of the Son of Heaven, the period is counted in days equivalent to months: the new sovereign mourns for thirty-six days and then removes his mourning garments — let alone us ordinary people.”

“Then the tailor—”

Zhù Ying said: “Oh — today’s edict named me as Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review.”

The household broke into exclamations. Zhù Ying said: “Don’t celebrate yet — we are in national mourning.”

The whole house was filled with joy. Zhù Qingjun said: “If the family back home knew, they’d be so happy.”

Zhù Ying smiled. Soon enough she would have to write a memorial to her parents requesting honors for them. There were other matters as well. They talked while eating, and Zhù Ying said: “I’m going to be very busy for a while. If anyone comes calling, take their card and send them away, saying I don’t know when I’ll be back. When I do return, I’ll certainly send word.”

Xiang Le quickly agreed.

Zhù Ying also said: “During these days, everyone is to be careful in speech and conduct, and is not to accept so much as a thread from outside.”

Everyone agreed again.

Zhù Ying was a little apprehensive. She now had some modest capital in hand; the Court of Judicial Review was a good post right now, with vacancies — she could start trading favors. But with whom? Su Zhe, Zhù Qingjun, and even Xiang An were all quite capable, but there was nowhere to place them. Zhù Lian was also reliable; Xiang Le had followed her for many years; and then there was Lin Feng, who had come a great distance — the young man was quite dependable too.

She let out a quiet sigh and said to Su Zhe and Lin Feng: “Word needs to be sent home — they’ll need to write congratulatory memorials to the new sovereign.”

The court would certainly notify Wuzhou, but the phrasing of such a congratulatory memorial had its nuances. A new emperor brought new priorities, and each one had different preferences — a slight adjustment was needed. Zhù Ying also needed to tell them to catch two more white-plumed pheasants and send them over.

An auspicious omen, after all!

Once everything was in order, there was another caller at the gate — it was a messenger from the Zheng household, bringing Zhù Ying a set of court dress in purple.

It was Gan Ze who came; his eyes visibly filled with admiration: “Elder Brother Jin and Young Master Wen have also received red attire — very impressive, both of them. But none of them compare to my lord.”

Zhù Ying said: “What ‘lord’? That’s an insult.”

Gan Ze laughed and corrected himself: “Sanlang.”

“Here!”

Zhù Ying had been awake for two days and a night and looked somewhat different from usual. Gan Ze said: “You’ve worked hard.”

Zhù Ying said: “The hard days are still ahead — I’ve got a case in hand. Just wait — if I can get a full night’s sleep, I’ll be doing well.”

Gan Ze said: “Then I won’t disturb you further.”

“Any word from the Capital Prefect?”

Gan Ze said: “The Seventh Young Master says — now that Sanlang wears purple, you are a great official of the state, no longer a child. Whatever happens, you know what to do.”

Zhù Ying said: “What ‘great official’? There’s still so much to learn. Pass word back — I have a case in hand right now, and many eyes watching, so I don’t dare act rashly. But if the Capital Prefect has any arrangements, please do speak to me directly. As always.”

“Very well.” Gan Ze smiled and took his leave.

Zhù Ying also arranged for the household to send congratulatory gifts to people like Wen Yue and Jin Liang. There was also Shao Shuxin — who had returned to the capital but had the bad luck to arrive in the middle of all this, so it would be a while before a proper welcome could be offered; a few gifts were also sent his way.

The next morning, Zhù Ying entered the palace early. The new Emperor was in good health, but there were still no morning audiences — during the days of the funeral rites, court sessions were suspended.

When everyone had assembled, there was a round of mourning rites.

Then Zhù Ying was pulled aside for a small meeting and reported the previous day’s progress. When the Emperor saw “soft armor” listed among Duan Lin’s personal effects, he was so furious his eyes nearly popped out: “He had soft armor!”

The Emperor had been badly frightened. He had woken in the middle of the night from a nightmare, terrified that someone would come to cut his throat. He asked Zhù Ying: “What about Duan Lin’s deposition?”

Zhù Ying said: “He is further down in the order.”

The Emperor said: “Question him!”

“Yes.”

In addition to this, the Emperor also pressed: “What about this oath scroll? Why hasn’t it been found?”

Zhù Ying said: “It is probably in the Prince of Lu’s mansion.”

“Didn’t you get Imperial Guards? What are you keeping them for — decoration? Search the Prince of Lu’s mansion! How can you drag your feet like this?”

The Prime Ministers could not find a way to explain that a case like this, if handled thoroughly, would take months. But since the Prime Ministers themselves had called for speed, they pushed Zhù Ying as well. Wang Yunhe said: “Anything you need — just report it!”

Zhù Ying said: “There is one thing.”

“Speak!” the Emperor said.

“If necessary, may I search certain locations? Some evidence will require seizure, and some criminals will need to be apprehended.”

The Emperor said: “You may! Anywhere! Show no consideration for anyone! If anyone in the palace has colluded with the traitors, you may search there too after reporting. Be quick!”

“Yes. Your servant will see to it immediately.”

She did not go to find the Imperial Guard first — instead she ran to the Ministry of Finance to request funds.

The Minister of Finance, Custodian Dou, knew she was in a hurry and did not dare hold up this matter. The Prince of Lu’s case was not like the Gong Jie case; back then, they had kept their regular rest days throughout. The Prince of Lu’s case had to be fast. Say you’re still working but that so-and-so is making things difficult for you, and that so-and-so’s career was over. Say you need a day off, and your own career would be permanently over.

The funds were approved. Minister Dou also asked: “How is the case progressing?”

“Racing for dear life.”

Minister Dou said circumspectly: “This is not the moment for an overly harsh handling.”

“Understood.”

Zhù Ying hurried away from the Ministry of Finance, returned to the Court of Judicial Review, and slapped the Ministry of Finance’s authorization letter against Qi Tai’s chest: “Go collect the funds!”

The entire Court was delighted. Lin Zan said: “Wait — my lord, please take your seat first.”

“?”

Lin Zan had seen Zhù Ying’s purple robe and said: “We haven’t properly offered our congratulations yet.” His words prompted all the officials and staff to line up and offer their congratulations in order.

Zhù Ying thanked them and said: “I’ll speak no empty words. From now on, let us all work well together. And now — let’s get to work.”

“Yes!”

Zhù Ying said: “Associate Justice and Old Left — the Emperor has urged us again. We need to go back over there and keep questioning.”

The three of them first went to see the Prince of Lu’s wife’s elder brother. Without Zhù Ying even having to speak, the Left Aide said: “First come, first served. Duan Ying has already spoken up. You saw his situation yourself. What about you? Before you speak, think clearly — stubbornly holding out only brings more physical suffering. I’m not even going to question Zhou You — his charge of leading troops in violation of prohibition is already established. I wonder if, just before he dies, he won’t try to implicate a few more people? You guess — will he?”

The man turned his face to the wall and refused to acknowledge the Left Aide. He had not yet decided whether to confess. His body and face were still in pain; he didn’t want to be beaten again. But just giving up like this felt wrong too.

Zhù Ying said: “You drank the blood wine. How did it taste? You signed and sealed yourself over to the Prince of Lu — which hand did you use? The Court of Judicial Review is a place of evidence and reason. You have submitted countless memorials and signed countless official documents in your years of service. As long as the handwriting matches, the case is closed. Tell me — what were you thinking? Not participating: your sister divorces him, and your family has nothing to do with any of this. Participating: with your relationship to the Prince of Lu being this close, if I didn’t classify you as a ringleader, I’d be underestimating you.”

“I wasn’t a ringleader.”

“Then who was?”

Silence. Zhù Ying smiled. “Record that last sentence. Good, let’s go.”

“Wang Fu.”

Zhù Ying looked at the man with a benign expression: “Get him some water — help him sit up — let him speak slowly. Can you write? Give him a brush — let him write it himself.”

When the writing was complete and handed over, Zhù Ying found that the man had written that the mastermind behind the Prince of Lu was his own tutor! The Prince of Lu’s tutor was named Wen Yi — an old minister of the late Emperor’s court, from an illustrious lineage, a man of letters, and someone who had been, in Zhù Ying’s life, an entirely separate world from her own — though they were technically colleagues at court.

Zhù Ying said: “Note it down, have him seal it. Let’s go.”

The three of them went again to the Prince of Lu’s cell. The door opened to reveal the Prince of Lu, who had been pacing restlessly, in the manner of a caged beast. He looked up with impatience: “You people again?”

He picked up the tin kettle from the table, ready to deliver it together with its hot tea as an enthusiastic greeting to Duan Ying.

Three people entered. The Prince of Lu came face to face with Lin Zan: “You too? And where is Duan Ying?”

Zhù Ying was faster — she raised the paper in her hand for the Prince of Lu to see: “Do you recognize this handwriting?”

His wife’s elder brother’s hand — of course he recognized it.

The Prince of Lu gritted his teeth: “He too has betrayed his master?” Then he stopped himself, and said quietly: “Tutor Wen was the one who taught me.”

Having said this, he suddenly seemed to grow lighter and more at ease. He said again: “It was he who taught me.”

Zhù Ying glanced at the clerk; the clerk hastened to record it. When done, Zhù Ying said to the Prince of Lu: “Right now I am only having a conversation with you. You see — the Court of Judicial Review is a place of evidence and reason. Either I nail it down with evidence and pin you to it, or you speak for yourself. I won’t press you — I’ll find it on my own. With respect, the people you’ve been using — not one of them is particularly reliable. The next time I walk in here, I can’t say what news I’ll be bringing.” She shook the paper bearing Wen Yi’s name slightly as she spoke.

The Prince of Lu lowered his head and thought, then asked: “Will I end up like Prince An in his day?”

Zhù Ying said: “That depends on whether you go on resisting like Prince An from this point on. Every additional moment of delay makes it worse by one degree.”

Zhao Wang — this man was not a cruel person. The Prince of Lu said: “Very well. What do you want me to say?”

“Where is the oath scroll? Don’t misunderstand — I’m not bluffing. If I have to, I’ll search inch by inch and it will turn up eventually. It’s just that doing it that way would inevitably disturb the household, which seems improper.”

The Prince of Lu said: “In my bedchamber, in a box on the dressing table, locked.”

“Good. Did you eat well last night? I only just got back to the Court of Judicial Review, and I don’t know what the cook’s skill is like these days — if anything was lacking, please forgive us. While you are here, the first concern is your safety. Whatever comes in from outside — I don’t dare give it to you.”

The Prince of Lu said: “Bring me wine.”

“Very well.”

Walking out of the Prince of Lu’s cell, Lin Zan said: “Extraordinary! Why did he surrender so quickly? And how could Wen the Tutor have…”

Zhù Ying said: “There’s no time — we have to move fast. Associate Justice, go and bring in Tutor Wen. I’ll go to the Prince of Lu’s household and retrieve the scroll. Left Aide — get ready. Once we have the scroll, arrest everyone on it!”

“Yes!”

Zhù Ying had worked alongside the Imperial Guard many times before. Very quickly, two captains led their men forward, barely containing their eagerness, and saluted her with their fists cupped: “We are in full armor and cannot give a full salute — forgive us.”

Zhù Ying said: “Standard procedure. Let’s go!”

Standard procedure meant: there was a supplement for working with her. And because this was a house search, there was also additional income beyond the standard.

This time Zhù Ying led the party in person. The Court of Judicial Review assembled its people; together with the Imperial Guard, they marched to the Prince of Lu’s mansion. First the gates were sealed, then the accounts were sealed; the Prince of Lu’s patents of nobility and seal were collected; a courtyard of the mansion was cleared out and the Princess Consort and others were invited inside to be seated. The Princess Consort was then asked to produce her own dowry inventory so that her personal property could be identified and separated. The Prince of Lu’s staff officials were all detained.

Zhù Ying went to the study herself and secured the oath scroll the Prince of Lu had described. Then the “cleaning” of the Prince of Lu’s mansion began. Property on the official inventory belonging to the Prince of Lu was not to be touched; the people she had brought were not to conceal anything privately. The Prince of Lu’s household was more complicated than that of an ordinary official precisely because he was an imperial prince — one never knew which of his possessions was forbidden for common use. Pocket something, and have a connoisseur look at it — and it bore an imperial mark. Done for.

Zhù Ying’s eye for valuable objects had been trained through one confiscation after another. Half a day and the Prince of Lu’s mansion was still not finished. Zhù Ying was in no hurry. Work slowly.

She specifically directed that all land deeds and the like be brought to her. “Occupied wasteland” — she wanted to go through every one!

She also directed that the slave and servant register be brought to her; she intended to screen through and release all those who could be released.

By dark, they had barely made it through one pass of the mansion. Zhù Ying said: “Good — that’s enough for now. Come back tomorrow. Oh — leave a small side entrance open: if the people inside need food or drink, it can be brought in through there. No one inside is to come out.”

At dusk she returned to the Court of Judicial Review.

Lin Zan said: “My lord was gone quite a while.”

Zhù Ying said: “Has Tutor Wen been brought in?”

“He has.”

Zhù Ying said: “Good — noted.”

“Ah…”

“Eat first — we’re staying up tonight.”

Dinner was eaten first. Then the three of them went to Zhou You’s cell. Zhou You had been going to pieces — all this day and night had been wretched. First he knocked over his basin in a rage; then found his face and head uncomfortable and couldn’t help but ask for water to wash. Once bathed, he started bellowing: “Let me out!”

When the cell door opened and Zhù Ying’s figure appeared, Zhou You couldn’t help but give a shudder. Seeing that he had washed himself clean, Zhù Ying said: “Zhou You — let’s skip the preliminaries. I’ll ask; you answer.”

Zhou You was full of fury but didn’t dare express it, and looked toward Lin Zan with a pitiful gaze, hoping Lin Zan would help him. Lin Zan turned his head away. The two knew each other; Lin Zan had once had some sympathy for Zhou You over the loss of his father — but that sympathy had grown thinner and thinner as the years passed, until now he had absolutely no desire to get himself implicated on Zhou You’s account.

Zhù Ying asked, and Zhou You answered. Zhou You had already been questioned once before. This time Zhù Ying asked the question she wanted to ask: “Both the late Emperor and His Majesty treated your family with great generosity. Why did you join a conspiracy against the throne?”

Zhou You’s lips trembled slightly: “I am forty! I cannot have achieved nothing!”

“Ah,” said Zhù Ying.

She collected his deposition, had Zhou You seal it, and left.

Lin Zan let out a sigh: “Understandable in a way — with such a heroic father, he…”

Zhù Ying did not take up this thread. She went quietly to see Wen Yi.

Wen Yi was a refined and dignified old man of scholarly bearing. Seeing Zhù Ying, he greeted her with a polite bow. Zhù Ying returned the bow. He seemed entirely composed.

Zhù Ying invited him to sit. One across from three, they faced each other. Zhù Ying said: “I beg your pardon.”

Wen Yi only smiled.

Zhù Ying said: “Your name does not appear on that scroll. You were brought here because someone named you as the mastermind.”

Wen Yi said: “That scroll — is it in your hands?”

Zhù Ying nodded: “It is. But may I ask — why did you? Whatever you say, I will report it faithfully. Of course, if you prefer not to speak, the Court of Judicial Review deals in evidence. I don’t enjoy using punishment either; the evidence in my hand is sufficient. You will continue to eat well and live comfortably here, until… You are a capable man. A capable minister under a mediocre ruler — that is the saddest thing of all.”

Wen Yi still said nothing.

Zhù Ying said: “Neither the Empress Dowager nor the Emperor had any opportunity — they could not both be in the same place. Only when they were separated was it possible to act. Two fronts, the auspicious hour as the signal — to spare the trouble of coordinating two distant operations. One front controls the palace interior; one front seizes the heir. The palace side would not be an assault from outside in, but an explosion from within. This is the work of a skilled hand. Of the materials used — which one looks capable of devising such a plan? Only the oath scroll and its signing look like something the Prince of Lu would do.”

Lin Zan drew in a sharp breath.

Wen Yi let out a sigh: “I was assigned to the Prince of Lu by the late Emperor — I could not leave. You are Zheng Xi’s person; Zheng Xi was once in the Eastern Palace. Was he not in the same position as I?”

“I am nobody’s person — I am a court official.”

“Very well, a court official. And was I not also? But who could ever separate me from the Prince of Lu? Since we could not be separated, I had no choice but to do my best to push him forward.”

Zhù Ying said: “Please elaborate.”

Wen Yi said: “You already know, don’t you? The two fronts…” and he recounted the plan.

At the end, Zhù Ying asked: “I have a clear picture of Duan Ying — he and the Prince of Lu were kin by marriage. But why Duan Lin? A household like his, with enough family members, could place people on both sides and hedge their bets.”

Wen Yi said: “He was promised the post of Prime Minister and the destruction of the Zheng family.”

Zhù Ying nodded. When he had sealed the document, she quietly went to see Duan Lin.

She had absolutely no desire to question Duan Lin. This man was a waste of her time. But since the Emperor had demanded it, she went through the motions and asked one question.

Over these two days, no one had paid any attention to Duan Lin, but Duan Lin had felt deeply uneasy within. He was in the Court of Judicial Review, in the hands of his enemy Zhù Ying — could anything good come of that?

But Zhù Ying, coming in, asked only a single question: “Why do you have soft armor?”

Duan Lin said: “I did not know in advance that someone would attempt to assassinate the Crown Prince. I wear it in the capital because I have personal enemies who might attempt to assassinate me.”

Zhù Ying said: “Good. I will report this.” And then she left.

Duan Lin stared in stunned disbelief: She’s just going to leave? Not going to keep questioning?