Something similar to the tension in the Northern Territories was that the nerves of many people in the capital were also drawn very taut.
After returning to the Zhù household, Zhao Su picked up the child who came running toward him and gave it a perfunctory two swings: “Go keep your grandfather company.”
The child insisted on the father. Zhao Su said: “Grandfather is tired — how about you help your mother and father look after him?”
The child pouted and wriggled free, then turned and ran off. On two short legs still not quite steady, it promptly tripped — left foot caught right foot — and went sprawling face-first on the ground in a full prostration.
Burst into loud wailing.
Qi Xiao Niangzi had witnessed the whole sequence, and stepped forward to pick up the child. Comforting the little one, she asked Zhao Su: “What’s happened?”
“Marquis Zheng has passed.”
Qi Xiao Niangzi’s hands sank slightly — she nearly dropped the child onto the floor. The child felt all the more aggrieved and cried even more loudly. Zhao Su said: “You soothe him. I need to make some preparations.”
Condolence gifts had to be sent, the funeral visit had to be paid. Zhao Su was not of a high enough standing to be listed by name, but he would need to make the trip to the Zheng household in Zhù Ying’s name.
Beyond that, there was one more great matter: now that Marquis Zheng was dead, would Zheng Xi, as his son, be required to observe the full mourning period?
A minister’s mourning period started at three years. Zhao Su also harbored another concern: Marquis Zheng was not young, and Marquis Zheng’s wife — that Lady Princess — was also no longer young! Someone of the same generation as the Lady Princess was the late Emperor; since it was the late Emperor, that much was self-evident.
The world knew that Zhù Ying had a good relationship with the Zheng household. If Zheng Xi were to go into mourning, and Zhù Ying was still up in the Northern Territories, then there would be one fewer person in the capital to keep petty troublemakers from targeting Zhù Ying — and the most important one at that.
Chief Minister Wang was a fine man, but he was not like Zheng Xi, who could bend the rules to shield those under his protection.
Zheng Xi, of course, would not sit and wait for fate to decide. Mourning could also be suspended through an imperial order removing the minister from mourning for the sake of state necessity. But at this particular juncture, no one could guarantee that suspension would definitely be granted. In the Eastern Palace there was Xian Jing — who could say how the Crown Prince might feel about it? Even His Majesty might not necessarily keep Zheng Xi on.
And just when Zhù Ying was not in the capital, and Zhao Su’s own weight was insufficient to exert any real influence.
Zhao Su steadied himself and began to prepare the condolence offerings. Then he went to the Marquis Leng household.
Zhao Su was now under Leng Yun’s authority, and ordinarily handled a great deal of affairs for him. Li Yanqing was also a steady and hardworking man, though he was overly rigid and upright, and certain things could not be entrusted to him. Leng Yun had thus grown closer and closer to Zhao Su.
When Zhao Su arrived at the Marquis Leng household, Leng Yun had already been informed of the death notice and had just changed into plain mourning clothes, waiting while a steward prepared condolence offerings. Hearing that Zhao Su had come, Leng Yun slapped his forehead: “Oh my, I nearly forgot — of course he’d be coming. Show him in.”
Zhao Su entered the reception hall to find Leng Yun already dressed in plain mourning white. Seeing Zhao Su also in mourning white, both men nodded at each other.
Zhao Su said: “Is the Commissioner about to go to the Marquis Zheng household?”
Leng Yun pointed at himself, then at Zhao Su: “What do you think?”
Zhao Su managed a faint smile and said quietly: “This official is of low standing and little influence — I beg you to take me with you.”
Leng Yun said: “Bring your adoptive father’s calling card and the Zheng family will treat you as an honored guest.”
Zhao Su said: “The door may be open to me, but I doubt I could get a word in.”
“Oh?”
Zhao Su said: “At present, your father and my adoptive father are both in the Northern Territories. They are able to concentrate on governing the north and defending against the northern barbarians because affairs in the capital give them peace of mind. Marquis Zheng has passed suddenly, and if Chief Minister Zheng goes into mourning, your father and my adoptive father will likely face a great deal of censure from within the court.”
Leng Yun jumped to his feet: “How would they dare?!”
Zhao Su said: “How would they not dare? There is no need to commit outright treason or betrayal of the realm — they need only keep finding fault, day after day: today alleging poor military discipline, tomorrow pointing to corruption and dereliction of duty, or perhaps claiming some subordinate has broken the law. Send a censor to supervise the army, with a finger in every matter. Even if the battle is won, it would be enough to shorten a man’s life through sheer frustration. And so — Chief Minister Zheng must not go into mourning!”
Leng Yun said: “Not going into mourning is even more troublesome! Those people will never let Seventh Young Master have his way! And they’ll say all manner of unpleasant things.”
Zhao Su said: “It would not be fitting for Chief Minister Zheng to raise the matter himself — he can only request mourning leave. He is a Chief Minister, and must set an example for all under heaven. But you hold one of the Nine Ministries, and you must also consider the welfare of the state! At present the affairs of the court are complex and demanding — it cannot be without Chief Minister Zheng. And, word has it, Chief Minister Wang has only just recovered from a serious illness, has he not?”
Leng Yun said: “Chief Minister Dou is still a newcomer! Very well! Let’s go — we’ll see Seventh Young Master!”
The two of them went together to the Zheng household, which was already in the process of being rearranged. Colored decorations were being taken down wherever possible; wherever they could not be, they were draped in white cloth. The household staff, both upper and lower, were changing into mourning clothes while simultaneously organizing the funeral arrangements — setting up a spirit hall, erecting tents for receiving guests, assigning tasks to the male and female servants.
The Office of Foreign Reception did have responsibilities related to overseeing funerals, but that work fell under Shen Ying’s jurisdiction. Leng Yun and Zhao Su had not come for that.
After Leng Yun caught sight of the Office of Foreign Reception’s officials, he asked: “Where is Shen Ying?”
The answer came: “He has gone to consult with Chief Minister Liu about the sacrificial text.”
Leng Yun said to Zhao Su: “Come — let’s find Seventh Young Master.”
Zheng Xi was in the main hall, surrounded by a crowd of people. Zheng Chuan said: “The memorial has already been submitted to the palace.”
Zheng Yi said: “What is to be done? Seventh Young Master, are you going to observe mourning?”
Shao Shuxin glanced at him. Zheng Yi took no notice at all, so Shao Shuxin had no choice but to say: “The Chief Minister is a Chief Minister — how could he…”
“There is still the option of having mourning suspended!” Leng Yun strode in with large steps.
This was something the Zheng family members could not say themselves — it had to come from an outsider. Leng Yun first said to Zheng Xi: “My condolences.”
The two men exchanged formal courtesies. Zhao Su followed behind and offered his own bow. Leng Yun said: “Shen Ying is practiced in these matters — don’t worry about that. Let’s talk about you, right now.”
Zheng Xi said: “The memorial requesting mourning has already been submitted.”
Leng Yun said: “I’ll go into the palace at once and counsel His Majesty! The way things stand in the Council of State right now, you cannot be spared!”
Zheng Xi said: “With Chief Ministers Wang and Dou, how could I possibly be indispensable?”
Leng Yun said: “Is this really the time for polite talk like this?!”
Zheng Xi could not be seen to “agree after one persuasion” — he continued to insist on properly observing the funeral rites and mourning in a hut beside the grave. The two sides argued back and forth while the onlookers chafed and dared not speak. Zheng Chuan could only say: “I — I will observe the mourning.”
Zheng Xi said: “And do you think otherwise?”
Leng Yun was exasperated to the point of rolling his eyes repeatedly, and turned to Zhao Su: “You — come explain it to him!”
Zhao Su silently cursed Leng Yun as a miserable wretch of a superior, a foolish holder of one of the Nine Ministries, for pushing a subordinate forward as a shield at a moment like this. Leng Yun could hardly say to Zheng Xi “my father is still at the front lines, so you can’t leave just because your father has died.” Could he, Zhao Su, say that?
Everyone here recognized Zhao Su, and they all looked at him.
Zhao Su said: “Chief Minister, did the Marquis wish of his own accord to return to the capital while the Northern Territories were yet to be pacified? It was not his will — heaven allowed him no more time. But had there been even the slightest chance, the late Marquis would surely have wanted to personally pacify the Northern Territories himself. As his son, you of all people must understand your father’s heart best. Now that the Marquis’s wish remains unfulfilled, for you to confine yourself to the petty observances of common mortals, to adopt the posture of a weeping child, is what is called ‘foolish filial piety.’
In this moment, you should continue to contribute to the cause of the Northern Territories campaign, so that good news may come swiftly and offer comfort to the Marquis’s spirit above. What is true righteousness? What is true filial piety? Both reside within this great matter!”
Leng Yun chimed in: “Exactly so! Were the late Marquis to know, from the world beyond, he too would wish to see you press forward.”
This line of reasoning was something Zheng Chuan might well have thought of himself, but it was not fitting for him to say it. Now that Zhao Su had put it into words, Zheng Chuan, Zheng Yi, and the others began to add their voices in support.
Zheng Yi said: “Seventh Young Master, do we not know your character? This is simply a case of being compelled by the greater righteousness!”
Zheng Chuan said: “I am willing to observe the full three years of mourning!”
Zheng Yi said: “Yes, exactly — he is the eldest legitimate grandson; let it fall to him.”
Leng Yun quickly drove the point home: “That settles it! I’ll go and submit a memorial urging this. If you still feel dissatisfied, once the Northern Territories achieve a great victory and everything is settled, you can choose an appropriate time to go into mourning then!”
Zheng Xi still said: “This isn’t right. It isn’t right.”
In the midst of the argument, the wife’s family also sent someone to offer condolences. Though Yue Huan himself had not arrived, he had sent his son first. The child came to see his uncle-by-marriage, and said to Zheng Xi: “My father is at Venerable Liu’s home, helping to write the memorial tribute.”
Leng Yun said: “Good — I need to go back and change my clothes before entering the palace.”
Zheng Xi said: “You really are a…!”
While they were speaking, Zheng family members and in-laws continued to arrive in succession. The Marquis Zheng household was not very large, but the Zheng clan was extensive and had many connections by marriage. Before long, Zheng Lin arrived with her children, followed by the Gaoyang Prince’s household, and then many others too numerous to record individually.
Zhao Su had intended to stay at the Zheng household and observe how things developed, but Leng Yun grabbed him and hauled him away: “You come with me!”
The two came out of the Zheng household. Zhao Su said: “You’re going to counsel His Majesty. I…”
“Come and help me think this through a little more,” — Leng Yun had grasped the general outline, but still needed to work out how exactly to put things before the Emperor — “What if someone says I’m only doing this for the sake of my own father? What do I say?”
“Private interest and public good are both served! And furthermore, Chief Minister Zheng is not refusing to go into mourning at all. The ancients said, when recommending people for positions, do not avoid recommending one’s own kin, and when opposing people, do not avoid opposing those you are close to — this means maintaining integrity in one’s conduct. Would we now, for the sake of a petty grumbler’s idle gossip, bind our own hands and let others dictate to us? Those who accomplish great things do not get bogged down in minor details — and all the more so when the matter concerns the nation!” said Zhao Su.
He also felt there was no need to stake everything on Zheng Xi. Marquis Zheng could die — could Zheng Xi not die as well? He had watched the contest between the Zheng and Wang factions for long enough that it had come to seem quite ordinary to him.
Really rather tedious.
All that mattered was keeping Zheng Xi holding the line, holding it until the adoptive father’s triumphant return to the capital. Once the adoptive father was back in the capital, who would there be to fear?
Leng Yun said: “You’re right! Don’t go anywhere — wait for me.”
Zhao Su said: “Commissioner, you’re thinking about this the wrong way. This matter cannot come from you alone.”
“Oh?”
Zhao Su said: “There is, after all, the matter of ‘filial piety’ to contend with. If you argue the case alone, however reasoned your arguments, you won’t be able to prevail, and you’ll also be denounced from all sides. Submit your memorial first, then gather several other people and have them also speak on Chief Minister Zheng’s behalf.”
Leng Yun said: “Brilliant!”
They then went their separate ways to act.
With Marquis Zheng’s funeral in progress, Leng Yun first went to the Emperor and recommended suspending the mourning period.
Zhao Su, meanwhile, went to the Chen household, where he laid out the full stakes of the situation for Chen Meng with great earnestness. Chen Meng had sent his own son to serve under Zhù Ying — precisely to accumulate some experience and credentials. At such a young age, to participate in a conflict of this scale would be of great benefit to Chen Fang.
Chen Meng’s difficulty was this: he himself had observed his own father’s mourning period faithfully to the very end, and now he was preventing another man from observing his. That was somewhat inconsistent.
Chen Meng offered Zhao Su a stratagem: “Don’t target the Crown Prince — that would catch His Majesty’s eye the wrong way. Everything else I’ll figure out.”
His method was to have people spread word that someone intended to investigate unlawful land seizures. The mere mention of curbing land seizures was enough to make many think of Wang Yunhe, driving a great number of officials to align themselves against Xian Jing and his allies, and insist on retaining Zheng Xi in the Council of State. Many spoke on Zheng Xi’s behalf at court.
For every person who wished for Zheng Xi’s mourning to be suspended, there was someone who wished him gone. The scholarly community expressed tremendous indignation at the prospect of a Chief Minister not observing mourning — so much so that some public criticism began to emerge outside the court as well.
“If the northern campaign drags on for three or five years, is he just to keep sitting as Chief Minister? And if he himself dies in three or five years? Is he to go into mourning in the underworld?”
Zheng Xi had by now reached an age where dying would not be considered entirely unexpected; the people who said such things were truly sharp-tongued indeed.
After a great deal of wrangling, the Crown Prince played deaf and mute. When pressed by the Emperor, he only said: “To observe mourning is to be a filial son. To have mourning suspended is to serve the ruler.”
Once the Crown Prince had spoken, Mu Chengzhou said: “The late Marquis Zheng was a loyal minister — if he were allowed to choose one option for his son, which would he choose?”
What nonsense was this? The Crown Prince coughed forcefully and shot his maternal uncle a glare.
Li Yanqing, watching from the sidelines with growing impatience, stepped out of ranks and memorialized: “Why not grant him a period of leave to manage the funeral, and have him return to duty once the rites are complete? Then, after the Northern Territories achieve a great victory, there will still be time for mourning.”
At that, an old official immediately declared him “still wet behind the ears” — though heaven only knew that Li Yanqing’s own son was already in his teens. Where was the “wet behind the ears”?
The Emperor, however, had taken Li Yanqing’s words to heart, and said: “Ambition is not measured by age — he speaks with reason.”
Only with that was the matter settled.
……
Zheng Xi received the news at home and submitted another memorial requesting permission to observe mourning. The Emperor refused again; Zheng Xi wept and insisted a second time. Then a third.
After this was done three times over in proper ritual form, Zheng Xi accepted the imperial edict. To “compensate the filial son,” the Emperor made an additional gift of gold and silk for the funeral expenses, and granted Marquis Zheng an interment alongside the late Emperor.
Leng Yun, hearing the news, breathed a sigh of relief and said to Zhao Su: “Now things are settled! We can all put our minds at rest. Both at ease and without further worry.”
Zhao Su promptly produced an official document: “Another matter to put your mind to has arrived.”
Leng Yun, as always, had everything filtered and sorted by his subordinates before it reached him for review. This time was no different. Even as he took it, he asked: “What matter?”
Zhao Su said: “Royal Consort Luo is managing affairs with the northern barbarians from his post in the Northern Territories and requires the Office of Foreign Reception’s cooperation. He has submitted a request to transfer this official there for a time.”
“Wait — what?!”
Zhao Su patiently said: “While the Marquis was still alive, there was already the intention to cultivate the Xida tribe. Now that the Marquis has passed, this matter cannot simply be set aside — if it is, the soldiers at the front will have to shed more blood.”
Leng Yun said: “I can see this is simply that Luo fellow being incompetent and wanting to show off — it must be him!”
“What does any of this have to do with the Royal Consort?”
Leng Yun said: “You wouldn’t understand. Fine, if you’re going, bring a letter to my family from me.”
“Yes.”
Zhao Su also took leave of his fellow southerners. Before setting out, Zhù Ying had entrusted him with certain affairs in the capital, and he now had to hand these over and entrust them to Zhao Zhen and the others.
Then he went to the Marquis Zheng household to take his leave, to see if Zheng Xi had anything to say.
Zheng Xi also produced a letter: “I had not expected to be writing Sanlang yet another letter. Take this with you and tell him: the capital has me.”
“Yes.”
Zhao Su settled affairs in the capital, collected his official documents, brought along several lower officials, and rode hard all the way to the command yamen.
……——
Zhao Su endured no small amount of hardship on the road. His travel had taken place during the hottest stretch of the year, and by the time he reached the command yamen he had been tanned a full shade darker.
At the gate of the command yamen, the guards on duty were retainers who had come to Zhù Ying’s service more recently and did not recognize him. After receiving his calling card, they politely said: “Please wait, Commissioner.”
Zhao Su waited patiently, until Su Zhe came running out with her skirts lifted: “Uncle!”
The guard started in surprise. Zhao Su smiled at him, and Su Zhe said: “Uncle, don’t tease him — they’re newcomers, they don’t know you.”
She pulled Zhao Su along to go find Zhù Ying.
All along the way, Zhuo Que and other familiar faces kept calling out greetings to him, and the smile on Zhao Su’s face grew more and more evident.
Only when he caught sight of Jin Liang did Zhao Su let his smile fade. Jin Liang followed his gaze and looked down at the white cloth at his own waist, his eyes reddening as well: “Sanlang is waiting for you.”
Zhao Su saw that the two soldiers on either side of Jin Liang also had white cloth tied at their sleeves, while others they had passed on the way in were not so adorned — and he understood the distinctions in each person’s relationship to the deceased.
Su Zhe said quietly: “When the death notice arrived, grandfather had already held a memorial rite — nothing was out of propriety. This is Jin General’s private grief.”
Zhao Su said: “I understand.”
When he reached Zhù Ying’s presence, Zhao Su’s smile returned. He bowed low where he stood: “Your son pays respects to his adoptive father!”
Zhù Ying said: “Get up quickly — I have matters waiting for you!”
Zhao Su sat down where she indicated. Su Zhe sat down beside him with a face full of eager anticipation.
Zhao Su leaned slightly away from her and asked Zhù Ying: “Is this girl plotting something?”
The whole room laughed.
Zhù Ying said: “What plots would she have? She’s doing very well.”
As Zhao Su had only just arrived, after the pleasantries the others all tactfully withdrew, leaving Zhao Su to give Zhù Ying a full account of recent affairs in the capital — how things had played out after Marquis Zheng’s death, Wang Yunhe falling gravely ill and only just recovering, the Eastern Palace welcoming another son, and so forth.
Zhù Ying listened to each item and then said: “Understood. Let us concentrate on our own affairs. The opportunity here is rare — don’t let your attention wander. Get settled in first, and I’ll speak with you in more detail.”
Zhao Su said: “Yes.”
He had also brought along letters and items — some he had prepared, others entrusted to him by different people. He left Zhù Ying’s things with her and went out to distribute the rest to their recipients.
Once everything was distributed, Zhao Su pointed to a chest and said to Su Zhe: “There — odds and ends that young ladies can make use of. Take them and share them out among your girl companions.”
Su Zhe said: “What’s in there? Nothing cumbersome like hairpins and such — we’re busy, we dress practically.”
Zhao Su made a clicking sound with his tongue, looking her over: “I bring you things and you start making demands? Fine, don’t take them then.”
“I’ll take them!” Su Zhe said quickly.
Zhao Su looked at her sideways: “Something’s off with you. Since when are you this sweet and agreeable? You must want something.”
“Heh heh.”
Zhao Su said: “Come with me. You’ve grown up — don’t make me drag you by the ear.”
The uncle and niece stepped into a small sitting room to talk. Without waiting for Zhao Su to ask, Su Zhe spoke first: “So, Uncle, the matter grandfather wants you to handle — you already know what it is, right?”
“Yes — I’ll be paying a call on the Royal Consort shortly. But is there something more to this?”
“No, no — it’s just a task to be done. The thing is, can you take me along? I’m not allowed to go into battle, and handling local governance — why would that be any less suited to a woman? The greatest opportunity I have, coming all the way to the Northern Territories, is to learn something new. I want to come along.” Su Zhe’s voice took on a faint pleading note. “I won’t go anywhere too dangerous, or do anything that’s too risky.”
“Fine,” said Zhao Su.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“And what about with grandfather?”
“I’ll speak to him.”
“Wonderful!”
The two of them looked toward the direction of Zhù Ying’s study.
Zhù Ying was inside, opening a letter. Zheng Xi’s letter described the affair of the suspended mourning period, then urged her: the Northern Territories must remain stable — under her name, there must absolutely be no defeats! Once there was victory to announce, she should return promptly to keep an eye on the court in Zheng Xi’s stead — that way, Zheng Xi could also go into mourning with peace of mind.
Observing mourning was something that could not be avoided — sooner was better than later, lest the whole world denounce him for it.
Zhù Ying put the letter away and said to Zhù Yin: “Write a card for the Royal Consort — I’m hosting a dinner tonight. Bring Little Sister, Qingjun, and Third Lady as well.”
Zhù Yin said: “Third Lady has an injury — shall she come too?”
Zhù Ying said: “Of course. There is something that concerns them.”
Zhù Yin accepted the order and left.