The northern barbarians could not be ignored. Wang Yunhe and Zheng Xi each set about making their preparations separately.

Zheng Xi also invited General Leng to his home.

“In your assessment—is this incursion real or a feint?”

General Leng said with an air of arrogance, “Whether real or feint, they still did not gain any advantage, did they? The northern barbarians have never been well-behaved—fighting them is the thing to do. When their chief came as an envoy last time, we should have had him seized then and there! That would have spared us all this present trouble.”

Zheng Xi said, “When two nations are at war, there are still proprieties to observe.”

General Leng let out a quiet snort.

Zheng Xi asked, “Win or lose?”

“We will certainly defeat the enemy!”

General Leng’s reply was decisive and unequivocal. Zheng Xi’s brow relaxed slightly. He asked again, “You can be certain of this? Since you were permitted to rectify things yourselves, only a few months have passed—is it truly ready?”

General Leng said, “It was they who started this business on a pretext! The soldiers were never in as bad a state as they made out!”

Zheng Xi was inclined to believe him to a degree. By his own reckoning, what Wang Yunhe had described must indeed exist—and perhaps was serious in certain places—but it was probably not as dire as Wang’s associates had presented it. Since the rectification had begun, things should still be manageable. These matters had not been of particular concern to Zheng Xi before; recently, however, he had specifically sought out Duke Zheng for guidance.

Zheng Xi advised, “Still, caution is needed. You cannot afford a mistake right now! Do not let the Loyal and Martial Army outshine you.”

General Leng gave a contemptuous laugh. “The Loyal and Martial Army? How much better could they possibly be? They have only been drilling for a few days! Men who have not seen blood are not yet soldiers—you cannot train that out of them in drills.”

Zheng Xi said seriously, “Even so, give it your full effort.”

General Leng adjusted his attitude and said, “Yes. Then as for provisions and supplies—they cannot withhold our share again.”

Zheng Xi said, “That is precisely what I wanted to discuss. Show some restraint; Minister Dou Peng is not easy to deal with.”

General Leng grumbled a bit under his breath, and though reluctant, agreed. His status allowed him to gain fame and fortune only during wartime; in ordinary times, military men did not fare as well as civil officials, and now that a battle was at hand, being told he could not profit freely from it—he was naturally displeased in his heart.

General Leng said with fierce determination, “This time I will make them see what a crack force of fine soldiers looks like! Enough of all these useless things!”

Zheng Xi said, “Naturally.”

General Leng received his assurances, left in a good mood, and took his leave, satisfied. Zheng Xi lowered his eyes and turned all the considerations over in his mind, then verified what General Leng had said against everything Duke Zheng had taught him about these matters. General Leng had concealed some things, but they were all minor details—the kinds of thoughts any commander would predictably harbor. They were tolerable.

The northern border was General Leng’s area of expertise. He immediately set out to return to the front to deal with the barbarian forces. This time his departure was relatively rushed; the military situation was urgent, and cavalry moved swiftly as the wind. By the time the battle report reached the capital, the fighting over there had probably already concluded a round. If the barbarians were not merely probing but had opened full hostilities, holding the line without General Leng’s presence would not be possible.

General Leng submitted his memorial the following day and received his reply the very same day. The Ministry of Revenue suppressed its frustration and disbursed all the provisions and supplies he had requested.

General Leng too understood the great importance of this mission. He said only a couple of sour words and then left without looking back.

Calculating the travel time, while General Leng was still on the road, another piece of news arrived from the border—a report of victory. The barbarian forces had been repelled. The entire court erupted in joy. Even so, General Leng pressed on and arrived at the border with his troops.

The report of merit reached the court. Those like Zhù Ying who knew little of military matters could not quite read it accurately. But Duke Zheng and Marquis Leng—two men who had long ceased to speak up openly at court—both felt something was off. Before anyone else could speak, Duke Zheng went to the Chancellery to find his son.

Zheng Xi was still in high spirits. Duke Zheng asked, “With a victory, can there still be trouble?”

Duke Zheng said, “The barbarians retreated too cleanly! I do not know just how sharp and capable the barbarian chieftain and their chancellor truly are—but from the time of the barbarian chancellor’s embassy to now, three years have passed. In their reckoning, the timing should be about right!”

The barbarian chieftain was already a paramount leader with genuine power. And with a capable chief grounded in real strength, backed by a resolute ruler and an able chancellor—three years should not have produced two consecutive defeats. Otherwise, the northern barbarians would not deserve to be called a border “threat.”

Zheng Xi said, “I understand. Have them rest and consolidate in place—no withdrawal yet?”

Duke Zheng said, “Exactly.”

On another front, Marquis Leng also sent word to General Leng urging him not to grow arrogant or careless.

At the next morning court, the Emperor wore a slight smile as he discussed the matter with his ministers. Zhù Ying had little familiarity with northern military affairs, so she kept silent. Duke Zheng and the others each offered their views—they all agreed that General Leng should not yet return to the capital. Zheng Xi kept watch on Wang Yunhe with one eye; Wang Yunhe, true to form, expressed his agreement.

But Dou Peng stepped forward: “If it is to be handled this way, what of the grain and provisions? This is clearly a ruse by the barbarians—to pin down the army and drain the state’s treasury for nothing. With heavy forces stationed at the border, how can there be peace? Please, a decisive strategy must be set soon, and a counterattrike launched, so that the barbarians dare not ride south again.”

Marquis Leng said, “This still requires careful deliberation; we must watch the front lines. For now, only one battle has been won. If the army advances deep into enemy territory, we must be prepared. All supplies and provisions must come by transport—can the Minister guarantee continuous supply?”

Dou Peng fell silent.

The Emperor said, “Then let them hold their position at the border for now.”

At this, every single minister bowed in assent.

As the fifth month arrived and another Dragon Boat Festival came around, the Zhù household this year wrapped many rice dumplings. Su Zhe pinned Zhù Ying’s hand down to tie the five-colored thread on her wrist. As she retrieved her hand, the five-colored thread on Su Zhe’s own wrist caught on the ring Zhù Ying wore, and as she worked at untangling it, she said, “Why did you dig this ring out again?”

On Zhù Ying’s hand was a large silver ring—one she had bought at a market in the mountains of Wuzhou. She had bought a whole box of silver ornaments at the time and had casually kept a few for herself; this ring was one of them. The craftsmanship was rough, the design somewhat exaggerated.

Zhù Ying said, “I spotted it—kept it close at hand. I think it looks rather good.”

Her hands were somewhat longer than the average woman’s, which made the ring appear even more ancient and substantial. Su Zhe looked at it and said, “I find myself a bit homesick.”

Zhù Ying smiled. “Do you want to go back?”

Su Zhe shook her head. “I want to stay and watch this court a little longer—they are finally starting to show their true colors.”

Zhù Ying asked with interest, “What do you mean?”

Su Zhe said, “Before, some things were less apparent. Now it seems like no one is pretending anymore.”

Zhù Ying smiled. “That is good too—watch a while longer. But if they start hitting each other too hard, let us keep our distance—we should not let the blood splash on us.”

Beside them, Lin Feng asked with concern, “Will it not hurt you?”

He and Su Zhe had been visiting Liu Songnian’s residence frequently, receiving the occasional scolding and enduring Liu Songnian’s pointed remarks. Liu Songnian also shared a few words about the situation with them—just fragments—but Lin Feng had absorbed some of it. Zhù Ying’s position here was not easy.

Lin Feng sighed. “Godfather is a bit like Minister Liu in some ways—both in a difficult spot!”

Zhù Ying said, “Is that so?”

Lin Feng said, “Yes. The other day, Chancellor Zheng’s residence sent gifts to Minister Liu’s household, and I happened to pass by—Minister Liu turned around and scolded me.”

Su Zhe and Zhù Qingjun burst out laughing together. Lin Feng said, “What is funny? He was just scolding whoever happened to be nearby!”

Su Zhe said, “How did I not know about this?”

Lin Feng said, “It was the day you went to the guild hall—the time when Kunlei Atu sent someone over with the new tea shipment.”

“Oh, right.”

Zhù Ying asked, “Has the household still not found a proper route to connect directly with the western borderlands?”

Su Zhe shook her head. “The Xika and Jima clans are reluctant to lend their routes. They want salt, they want rice, they want a great many things. And the Yigan clan is fiercely protective of their territory!”

Lin Feng said quietly, “The Flower Turban people really are…”

Zhù Ying said, “Never mind them for now—let us first observe the festival.”

The youngsters cheered up again. On this Dragon Boat Festival, Zhao Su came by again with his wife and child. The child had long since passed the stage of sleeping all day and had started to cry properly. In addition, some southern officials who were currently in the capital all came to eat at the Zhù household. Zhù Ying also sent Xiang An to both guild halls with money and grain, entertaining the southern scholars currently in the capital at the guild halls—gifting them rice dumplings and five-colored thread, and so on.

The Zhù household had never had music and dancing troupes, and the southern scholars had long grown accustomed to it. Everyone gathered for games together—no one had to get drunk, no one had to seize a moment to jostle for a position while pretending to offer a toast—and it was all rather easy and pleasant.

Zhao Zhen said, “The court is in such chaos—with a great enemy at our doorstep, surely they will not keep at it?”

Zhao Su said, “Several of our fellow students are serving as officials up north. Let us hope they come to no harm.”

That one sentence left everyone a little worried. Zhù Ying said, “Anyone who ventures out into the world will encounter both good things and bad. They are all practical, capable people—they will not face any greater danger than the soldiers at the front. It is only a pity that encountering natural disasters is also a kind of trial! But for those who can endure it, there will surely be a return.”

Everyone’s spirits lifted. This group of people had been personally cultivated by Zhù Ying, and they inevitably carried something of her spirit—when faced with trouble, they might worry, but they rarely shrank back.

Only Zhao Zhen said, “One can only hope those divine beings will settle down, so we can get on with actually doing our work.” When they had entered office, Zhù Ying had been watching over them. No one had told them that these divine beings’ quarrels could escalate to this degree! They had imagined divine beings fighting meant exchanging a few insults from a distance—not hurling magic weapons directly at each other!

They were also worried for Zhù Ying. In ordinary times, everyone praised everyone else, but now Zhù Ying’s own reputation had become ambiguous. Some at court said she was “flattering and fawning upon” Zheng Xi; others said she “cowered before” Wang Yunhe. This stood in sharp contrast to the chorus of praise for her being “capable” that had come before.

Zhao Zhen and the others had already engaged in many arguments with others outside, but in Zhù Ying’s presence they said nothing so as not to spoil the mood.

Zhù Ying said, “I know all about what is being said out there. Do your own work—I know my own limits.”

Everyone cheered up, and a pitch-pot game was set out. Lin Feng happily sang a mountain folk song, and Zhao Su, drawn in by it, sang one too.

Zhao Zhen said, “You can actually sing?”

Su Zhe pressed her lips together to suppress her laughter. They said this uncle was capable of both singing and dancing—in the mountains as a child he would sometimes sing and dance along with the others. But back in the plains, anyone who singled him out and asked him to perform a Liao people’s song and dance would find him reaching for his knife—and he had indeed drawn it before, and the family had paid a considerable amount in compensation.

Zhao Su noticed her, ran over, and ruffled her hair. Su Zhe erupted in fury and leapt up to hit her uncle. Zhao Su said, “Oh no—nephew is going to strike uncle.” He jumped up onto a set of plum-blossom stepping stones, bouncing here and there. Zhù Qingjun called for Su Zhe to come down and have her hair fixed.

Qi Tai’s daughter-in-law cursed, “Have you lost your mind? She is already a grown young woman—why must you leave her hair in this state?” Her own child began to cry along with the commotion. Zhao Su patted his nose, took the baby, and coaxed him into smiling.

When the merriment was spent and the banquet ended, guests departed one by one. Zhao Su stayed until the very last, saying to Su Zhe, “Your uncle will make it up to you—all right?”

Qi Tai’s daughter-in-law, holding the baby, said, “Even if you are an elder, if you have done something wrong, you must acknowledge it.”

Seeing the whole family like this, others all made their exit first. Zhuo Jue invited everyone to the guild hall—he was hosting, another meal in the evening; the younger crowd gladly went along. They reserved a small courtyard, and Zhuo Jue filled everyone’s cups.

Zhao Zhen said, “Do not get drunk—getting drunk and making a fool of yourself is not seemly. So many people are speaking ill of our superior right now; associated with her as we are, others already look at us a little sideways.”

Zhuo Jue said, “That is exactly what I am talking about! Is it not simply about those two Chancellors? Chancellor Wang has Chancellor Wang’s reputation, Chancellor Zheng has Chancellor Zheng’s merits. The more capable our superior is, the better it goes for us—if she becomes someone else’s vanguard, then what does that make us? In the past, even when we southerners entered official life and formed some connections, we were no more than this—”

He pointed at a border of pickled radish strips around a cold dish: “Just decoration! Swept aside whenever the mood strikes them, tossed under the table to feed the dogs when that is what they want! We must pull together as one and support our superior! When she prospers, we prosper too!”

Everyone felt this was exactly right. Zhao Zhen said, “Where is Old Zhao? This cannot be done without him!”

Before the sentence was finished, Zhao Su’s voice rang out: “Who is calling for me?”

He pushed open the door and walked in. Zhao Zhen said, “What took you so long? What did you do with your hands? Young Xiao Su is already a grown young woman…”

Zhao Su just smiled. He had lingered deliberately—and he could not help giving his niece a little tease. Leng Yun had asked him yesterday.

Because the Directorate of Foreign Affairs had many arrangements for the Dragon Boat Festival, Zhao Su had been busy until rather late. After work he had also made a trip to the Leng residence—both to report and to deliver a gift.

Leng Yun kept him to talk, asking, “How is your godparent doing these days?”

Zhao Su knew what he was asking, so he began by saying Zhù Ying had been “misunderstood” and had no one to confide in, that “she has always handled the hardest things herself without complaining to anyone,” and that she still hoped “everyone would be well,” and so on.

Leng Yun said, “Naive! I only fear she cannot hold it all together.”

“Godfather has never let a friend down.”

“What if one friend and another friend are at odds? Which one does she honor?”

Zhao Su said, “I never worry that Godfather will turn against me and help others—that alone is enough. A person who would readily abandon others will readily abandon me as well. I will fight my own battles. I believe that if I were to fall on hard times, Godfather would come to my rescue.”

This was not a matter he could discuss openly; he had deliberately lingered to stay behind.

When he arrived at the guild hall and joined them, he heard Zhuo Jue holding forth. Zhao Su’s corner of his mouth curved upward. “You all have too loud a voice. Secret plotting—aloud?”

Zhuo Jue said, “This is the Wuzhou Guild Hall.”

Zhao Su took the cup he passed over and drained it in one swallow. The group put their heads together and all agreed that Zhuo Jue had spoken well. They then collectively designated Zhao Su to communicate this intention plainly and unambiguously to Zhù Ying. Whatever happened to others, they were willing to go on following Zhù Ying.

Zhao Su said to Zhuo Jue, “Why would I want to steal your credit? Tomorrow after work I will accompany you to pay respects to Godfather and add a few words of support from the side.”

Zhuo Jue was delighted. “Many thanks.”

“I can hardly be called ‘Sir’ by you—you are half a student of Gu Tong’s, and if I put on airs in front of you, he will scold me for it.”

Zhuo Jue smiled. “You are also half my teacher.”

Zhao Zhen squeezed in: “What about me? What about me?”

Zhuo Jue turned his head away in pained resignation.

……———

Zhao Su and Zhuo Jue had arranged to go find Zhù Ying, but as it happened, the very next day something else happened at court.

With a victorious report from the front, however many times Marquis Leng and Duke Zheng cautioned otherwise, the tension that had gripped everything began to relax. The court broke out into fighting again.

Zhù Ying had not imagined that she herself could be openly challenged to her face.

By this time, the Vice Censor-in-Chief Wang had become very difficult to keep all of his censors under control. Even the censors had split into factions—Yu Quan was Wang Yunhe’s academic great-nephew, Zheng Chuan was Zheng Xi’s own son. These two alone were a headache enough, and the others too had various agendas. From time immemorial, court battles had never lacked the censor’s part, for reasons both public and private.

So when Vice Censor-in-Chief Wang heard someone step out of the ranks to impeach someone, his back stiffened and he slowly turned to look down the ranks.

One look, and he relaxed. The one stepping out to file an impeachment was not a censor! Vice Censor-in-Chief Wang broke into an eased smile.

It was the Left Senior Adviser of the Good Counsel—an Eastern Palace official. At this, it was the Crown Prince’s turn to be tense. He had not known in advance that this would happen. He looked toward Xian Jing, but saw Xian Jing give a slight shake of his head—Xian Jing had not known either.

The Left Senior Adviser was impeaching Zhù Ying. He said that she had shielded a previous corrupt official who happened to be an “old subordinate” of the Zheng family. He enumerated eight major crimes against this official—whose guilt, he said, was plain as day—only to let him off with removal from office. It was clear she had acted out of favoritism: they both traced back to the Zheng faction and were covering for each other. And now there was evidence—Zhù Ying had previously arrested two other officials and had dealt with them far more harshly.

Those two officials he mentioned had both claimed to be suppressing land consolidation while in practice enriching themselves from it. By comparison, they were not significantly worse than the Zheng family’s former subordinate.

Xian Jing inwardly cursed this man for being an utter pig: this impeachment would not stick against Zhù Ying; and even if it did bring her down, whoever came in as the next Chief Justice of the Court of Judicial Review would probably be more troublesome!

The Emperor asked Zhù Ying, “Do you know of this matter?”

“Your servant does not know.”

The Left Senior Adviser sneered. “Zhù Ying is said to see everything with the keenest of eyes—how could he not know?”

Zhù Ying said to the Emperor, “If, as this person claims, the guilt was plain as day, then all the court should have known! If the whole court knew for so many years and said nothing, then the entire court are thieves against Your Majesty! And this is the one great loyal minister! If guilt was plain as day—who knew? Those who knew—why did they not speak? Come then: all the ministers are here. Would you like me to ask them from front to back, or from back to front?”

Prince Wei gave a quiet cough and said, “Chief Justice, please temper your anger—speak only to the matter at hand.”

“Then I will speak of evidence alone! Everything I investigated, I judged in accordance with the law. Absolutely no contravention of it. If there is other evidence, let His Majesty order me to investigate—I will investigate, and I will absolutely not implicate the innocent or construct false charges. Against anyone.”

“If there is real evidence…”

Zhù Ying said, “The Court of Judicial Review will review the case! To right wrongs—that is precisely the Court’s responsibility. Has the court sunk to such a state? At court, when hearing a case, do they not know that the Court of Judicial Review and the Ministry of Justice exist, and still less that there is a law of ‘counter-punishment’ for false accusation? Tsk!”

The Left Senior Adviser said, “Do you know there is still justice in this world?”

Zheng Yi said, “You have the nerve to talk about justice? It was because they were treated too leniently that we are here! If we had applied your logic—these two you just named, who abused the common people, oppressed scholars and gentry, and shook people’s faith—they should have been executed, and rightly so! How do they have the face to still be alive in this world?!”

The Crown Prince stepped in and called out, “Arguing and quarreling in open court—what decorum is this! Never mind the realm’s great affairs—just dredging up trivial old scores. Court ministers should know what is important and what is secondary!”

The Emperor had the Censorate jointly with the Court of Judicial Review re-examine the matter. Vice Censor-in-Chief Wang, who had been watching the others’ performance with amusement the entire time, found the whole affair dumped on his head in the end! He had no choice but to step forward and respond. Zhù Ying said, “The case files are all at the Court of Judicial Review. I will bring them to you later.”

Vice Censor-in-Chief Wang nodded with a pained expression.

The Emperor cleared his throat and asked, “On the subject of state affairs—what of dispatching the Loyal and Martial Army to the border?”

Wang Yunhe said, “The Loyal and Martial Army has only just completed its training—it may not yet be fit for battle.”

The Emperor replied, “If they never see battle, they will always be a new army.”

The Crown Prince and Prince Wei both expressed agreement, and the Emperor decreed that the Loyal and Martial Army was also to be sent to the front.

……

After dismissing court, Zhù Ying carried the case records and went straight to the Censorate.

Vice Censor-in-Chief Wang came out personally to receive her, saying, “You came yourself? It is all that kind of situation—perfectly obvious to everyone! Ah, we are all stuck over a fire being roasted! Neither side wants to give offense, and it turns out neither side is pleased—who knows what day we will be exiled for not being partisan enough.”

Zhù Ying said, “Never mind! I only act according to my own conscience. How long can you keep up this business of taking no side?”

Vice Censor-in-Chief Wang gave a rueful smile. “If only Chancellor Wang could pull back in time.”

“Are you not stopping him?”

“He has good intentions—and it is something that should have been managed. It is just…”

Zhù Ying understood. Vice Censor-in-Chief Wang was also of the “suppress land consolidation—but do not touch mine” camp. As long as Wang Yunhe did not go too far, he was willing to absorb a little loss. But only so much.

Vice Censor-in-Chief Wang said, “Let us just talk about our matter.”

Zhù Ying said, “What would I need to change? The judgments I rendered are already the clearest they could be.”

Vice Censor-in-Chief Wang said, “I naturally believe you—however…”

Zhù Ying said, “However, reviewing the facts is not the hard part; the hard part is rendering judgment. And rendering judgment is not just about looking at the case—is that not so? But look at the present situation: where there is one, there will be two; I absolutely will not admit to any wrongdoing! I will not swallow this injustice! Besides, if I change the ruling, the other party will be dissatisfied and cause more commotion—the more it is dragged out, the bigger it gets, with no end in sight!”

Vice Censor-in-Chief Wang said, “Indeed! Let us not add fuel to the fire.”

The two of them reached a consensus: the case had been decided without fault, and there was no trace of having privately let someone off the hook. Zhù Ying said, “You submit the memorial; I will co-sign it.”

Vice Censor-in-Chief Wang said, “Good.”

Zhù Ying returned to the Court of Judicial Review, surrounded by her officials headed by Shi Jixing and escorted to her seat in the main hall. Shi Jixing said, “We reviewed the case files of the time—there was no partiality in the decision.” There may have been a slight leaning toward the Zheng family’s old subordinate, but the evidence had been thoroughly examined. There was no case of suppressing certain incriminating evidence. If there had been favoritism, it lay in telling him he could “redeem himself” through payment—and the Court of Judicial Review had not subjected him to any rough treatment either.

At that time, when the atmosphere at court was not yet so tense, Zhù Ying had dealt with one of Zheng Xi’s close associates—she had held firm, and Zheng Xi had merely smiled. Had it happened now, it probably would not have passed so easily.

Lin Zan said, “When will days like this ever end? What is Chancellor Wang thinking?”

Zhù Ying waved her hand and said, “If I could guess that, I would go be Chancellor myself.”

Lin Zan was speechless.

Zhù Ying said, “The Court of Judicial Review—as usual.”

“Yes.”

……——

After work, Zhao Su brought Zhuo Jue with him, and the two went together to the Zhù residence. Having heard about what had happened at court that day, both were a little indignant. Was this forcing people to choose sides?

Zhuo Jue said, “The situation is increasingly difficult. Even if both Chancellors could tolerate our superior remaining above the fray, the people under them would not allow her to stand aside with folded arms. You are either an ally or an enemy!”

Zhao Su said, “I am afraid both Chancellors themselves might also…”

When they were nearly at the Zhù residence, they saw a group of people already at the gate. The Zhù household’s main gate had been opened, and Zhù Ying had come out personally to receive them. Zhao Su pulled Zhuo Jue back, and the two of them did not step forward rashly—they slipped into the porter’s lodge to wait.

Xian Jing and Hao Dafang, a eunuch attendant of the Crown Prince, had come together, bringing a cartload of goods on behalf of the Crown Prince to console Zhù Ying.

Hao Dafang said, “His Highness says that today’s matter was not His Highness’s intention—Your Honor has had a fright.”

Xian Jing also said it was the Left Senior Adviser acting on his own initiative.

Zhù Ying smiled. “Standing in the court, who does not get impeached now and then? Even the two Chancellors have been impeached. Surely I cannot avoid my turn? How could it be proper for His Highness to be concerned on my behalf just because I was impeached?”

The words were beautifully said. She also gave Hao Dafang a red envelope; Hao Dafang accepted it.

After seeing Hao Dafang off, Xian Jing said to Zhù Ying, “You are deeply entrenched in the Zheng faction—to stand aside is to be a traitor. Your days will be very difficult. But the realm and the common people still carry their weight; if you have a conscience, you will feel the pain of it. Why put yourself through this? Just stop tormenting yourself.”

Zhù Ying said, “Is this only the beginning? As long as I remain loyal to the Son of Heaven, I will always have a path to walk. Would you not say so?”

Xian Jing said, “A single pillar cannot hold up a building. Take care of yourself.”

Zhù Ying smiled. “Understood.”

Xian Jing had no idea what she had understood. Zhù Ying was destined to be unable to stay above the fray—was she not? He had always believed her to be a clever person. But with her background where it was, she could either betray completely or commit herself wholeheartedly. With that established, they would at least know how to respond. If Zhù Ying refused to take a position, then when it came to life and death, they would simply have to treat her as an adversary. Surely Zhù Ying understood this?

Xian Jing furrowed his brow as he made his way home.

Zhao Su and Zhuo Jue slipped out of the porter’s lodge and requested to see Zhù Ying.

Zhù Ying received them in the study, her expression as composed as ever. Zhao Su said first, “It seems His Highness still holds you in regard.”

Zhù Ying shook her head. “Wait and see. Neither of you need worry—I know my own limits. When the time is right, you will understand.”

What she had in mind was to leave the capital and its central power structure. This wretched place—she could get a seat at the table now, but she could not actually pick up any food from the dishes! And there were people who wanted her to pour the wine for everyone else; refuse and they would tell her to get off the table. She needed to go somewhere farther away and set up her own table.

The north would be a good place. She always had a feeling that the situation there would change—but precisely how it would change, she could not say. Her instincts had always been right, but military and state matters could not be determined by instinct alone. Reasoning it out from general principles: when the court was divided against itself, stability in the north would be harder to maintain. And instability meant the need to pacify things—she felt she could go out and lie low for a while.

Zhuo Jue said, “Whenever the time comes, we are willing to heed your command!”

Zhù Ying raised an eyebrow. Zhao Su interjected, “This represents some of our thoughts.” He gave Zhuo Jue a look.

Zhuo Jue spoke of the difficulties southerners faced in advancing through officialdom, and went on to say that ever since Zhù Ying had appeared, the road for southern scholars had been much wider—thank you for not discriminating against southern people, and now there was a great deal of goodwill behind her. He further asked Zhù Ying not to abandon the southern people—they would also spread word of her reputation among the southern scholars.

Then Zhuo Jue spoke of Zhù Ying’s position: “Why must you rely on Wang or Zheng? It is only because your strength does not yet match theirs! But if you had the southern scholars behind you, that would no longer be a problem.”

Zhù Ying nodded. When she opened her mouth, however, she said, “Do not speak wild words—do the actual work.”

Both were encouraged, and answered with enthusiasm.

Zhù Ying said again, “And do not go broadcasting this everywhere. South or north—as long as they are good people, I am willing not to see them buried in obscurity. But those without integrity, who are not fit to be human beings at all—they need not speak of any future.”

Zhuo Jue smiled. “In the south there are many sea pearls—a true pearl you cannot use up all your life. Why would one allow glass beads to be mixed in among them?”

……

Within a few days, Vice Censor-in-Chief Wang’s report of review arrived at the Emperor’s desk.

The Emperor had no desire at this juncture to have one side decisively defeat the other. There was still a war to be fought ahead, and he also hoped for Wang Yunhe to help him tidy up the court’s internal affairs.

Best to keep it ambiguous, and keep both sides in balance.

That Left Senior Adviser received only a verbal reprimand and was made to apologize to Zhù Ying—no additional punishment was handed down.

The Left Senior Adviser was brought to the Court of Judicial Review by Xian Jing. The Court’s officials all looked sideways at this man, which so mortified the grown man that his face turned as red as his robes.

Zhù Ying and Xian Jing sat across from each other; the Left Senior Adviser stood below them. Xian Jing first pleaded some indulgence on his behalf, then said, “You were rash—will you not come forward and explain yourself?”

The man grudgingly offered a perfunctory bow.

Zhù Ying smiled, her voice quiet: “I only serve the Son of Heaven. Telling me whom else to serve—you are not qualified for that. Get out.”

The man was so enraged that his eyes rolled back in his head and he looked on the verge of fainting. Zhù Ying said to Xian Jing, “The Instructor’s Office being full of people like this is no good for the Crown Prince.”

Xian Jing’s expression darkened.

Zhù Ying said with a smile close to his ear, “With a temper like this—how does one manage the affairs of court?”

When Xian Jing turned to look at her, her face had once again gone perfectly calm. “I have a feeling that big things will happen up north before long. I know nothing of military affairs, but my instincts do not steer me wrong. Tell the Crown Prince—prepare well.”

Xian Jing said, “It has been a string of victories.”

“Too smooth—something is wrong. If there were no problems, why would General Leng have gone to rectify things himself? Since there were problems—and yet winning this easily… call me cowardly if you like, but caution is always preferable.”

Xian Jing said, “All right. I will pass the message.”

He turned straight around and passed the same words along to Wang Yunhe as well.

And yet what they received was a third victory report at the end of the sixth month! This time not only did General Leng report victory, the Loyal and Martial Army also reported “pursuing the enemy for one hundred and fifty li, taking two hundred and forty heads, and capturing a number of cattle and horses.” The northern barbarians had scattered and fled once more!

The Emperor was overjoyed and issued rewards. What made the Emperor even happier was that a palace woman had given birth to the Crown Prince’s eldest son! The Emperor held a banquet in the Eastern Palace to celebrate on behalf of the Crown Prince and his consort.

When the banquet was over, the ministers laughed and chatted—then went home and resumed their long-distance quarreling.

The victory report meant they had fought yet again—the northern barbarians had invaded again at the border. Again and again without end—it was truly exasperating! Marquis Leng and Duke Zheng submitted a joint memorial arguing that the enemy showed signs of practicing their forces, and requesting that measures be taken well in advance.

When a neighboring country’s ruler and ministers are working diligently to strengthen it, who is most alarmed? Not their own people—but you. The imperial court had the strength to look on calmly while ordinary peripheral territories strengthened themselves—that was largely a disadvantage for those territories, since no one wanted disorder all around them. It was reassuring to have one strong power keeping things in order, preventing the people from becoming bandits, which benefited the border regions too. But if it were a great border power strengthening itself—the situation was not nearly so comfortable.

They had to prepare ahead of time; best to nip it in the bud!

Zheng Yi and others said in private that when Kunlei Atu had come on his embassy, Wang Yunhe had treated him with great ceremony—there was a suspicion of having privately let him go free.

Xian Jing and others countered that the reason the barbarians dared to do this now was that they had “implemented new policies” and carried out reforms of their own.

One Kunlei Atu—both sides could construct interpretations favorable to themselves.

The court continued its quarreling, and while General Leng was out fighting, he did not forget to file complaints about the north’s local situation—reports of unlawful conduct. The northern officials also filed complaints against General Leng for letting his troops run amok and for lax military discipline. Gentry households then filed complaints against the officials for greed and brutality. Such was the chaos—tangled and confused, difficult to sort out all at once.

Zhù Ying received a number of letters. When the north had been in turmoil years ago and positions had opened up, she had placed certain people in those posts. These people now wrote to her—the situation in the north was not good. The military discipline of the official army was not the strictest—that was the lesser matter; after all, it was still the official army, and had not yet turned fully to banditry. But the provisioning situation was truly a headache!

A portion came from what the court allocated; another portion still had to be supplied locally. The north had suffered disasters and hardships for the past several years and was stretched very thin.

Zhù Ying took the letters to Zheng Xi to read. “These people probably would not falsify reports. The figures here are specific and detailed—fabricated numbers generally do not come out like that. Whatever the real situation with General Leng—I do not understand military affairs, but if what the letters say is true, General Leng may not be able to fight this battle well. And this battle must not be lost!”

Zheng Xi smiled. “Three consecutive victories—how could there be any sign of defeat? Have them hold on a little longer. The court is about to launch a counterattack; once the battle is won, everything will be fine.”

Zhù Ying said, “A counterattack? That is yet another enormous expenditure of grain and supplies! And it will need elite troops. Does General Leng have the confidence?”

Zheng Xi, seeing that she was still thinking of General Leng’s welfare, softened his tone a little. “After one great battle, there will be years, perhaps decades, of recuperation. It is worth it.”

“One can only hope so,” Zhù Ying said. Great battles of this scale were not like the small skirmishes she had gotten into in the southern mountains with a few hundred men—a few months of drilling and you had an army? She was not optimistic. But given the present situation, whatever she might say would only be armchair strategy.

Carrying her anxieties with her, she left Zheng Xi’s residence, only hoping that General Leng’s real abilities on the ground were truly as sound as claimed.

To her surprise, when the capital was happily preparing for the Mid-Autumn Festival in the eighth month, the battle report arrived—a catastrophic rout!

Even with the repeated warnings from Marquis Leng and Duke Zheng, three consecutive victories had still lulled the border generals into complacency—not to mention the Loyal and Martial Army. Kunlei Atu pushed two hundred li deep into the territory, sacked four cities, and then withdrew, satisfied.

At that moment, the court was in the middle of furious battle.