Chen Meng was at home preparing offerings for the memorial rites.

Chen Luan’s burial rites required that, now the mourning period had ended, a visit to the tomb for worship was necessary. This was not a matter to be taken lightly, and Chen Meng took charge personally, going over the worship procedures and checking off the required items.

Chen Furen stood helplessly to one side, watching — there was hardly any room for her to get involved. Yet she was happy all the same. Once the ancestral rites were done, her husband would be out of mourning. The eldest son’s marriage, and the other sons’ entries into official service, could then be arranged one by one. Once all the sons had taken wives and she had grandchildren in her arms, there would be nothing left in this life to worry about.

As they looked forward to the future, the couple were both in fine spirits, and even when a servant woman below them made a mistake in gathering items, they did not scold her. Chen Furen simply said, “Pay more attention,” and let it pass.

Throughout the Chen household, there was a mood of harmonious joy.

Chen Fang added to the delight with a surprise: “Father, Mother — good news!”

Chen Fang had been born into exceptional standing and had enjoyed a smooth path through life. He had returned to take up a post in the Secretariat, where information flowed freely and he was always among the first to hear things.

Chen Meng said, “Steady yourself!”

Chen Fang reined in his smile, opened his mouth to speak — then burst out laughing again. “Congratulations, Father!”

Chen Furen said, “Stop keeping us in suspense — out with it!”

Chen Fang said, “Oh, right! Just now, Uncle Zhù submitted a memorial saying Father’s mourning period has ended and that he ought to be reinstated. His Majesty then said that the position of Jingzhao Prefect has been vacant for quite a long time…”

“Oh my!” Chen Furen cried out in surprise.

Chen Fang smiled. “Indeed! Congratulations, Father — you are the Jingzhao Prefect.”

Chen Meng rubbed his hands together and said, “I went to see Sanlang a few days ago, and the matter I raised was about your marriage — how did he end up thinking of reinstating me? If he had not said anything, the Ministry of Personnel would have made the recommendation to His Majesty on its own. Now that he has spoken up, let’s hope the Ministry of Personnel doesn’t resent him for overstepping. That would be most unfortunate.”

Chen Fang said, “Uncle always thinks everything through carefully. He has very likely already spoken with Minister Yao. Besides, we and Uncle are from the same hometown — Minister Yao must certainly be aware of that connection.”

Chen Meng put on a stern face and said, “Until the imperial decree arrives, no one is to get carried away. Even after the decree comes down, everyone must remain cautious. The capital is full of noble and powerful families — it will not be easy to govern. There is time enough to celebrate once the edict is issued.”

The household all laughed and agreed.

The offerings were prepared, and they had not yet set out for the tomb visit when the imperial decree arrived. Chen Meng received it solemnly — it was indeed an appointment as Jingzhao Prefect. The entire household rejoiced.

The Chen family sent the imperial envoy on his way, and Chen Meng proceeded to submit a memorial of gratitude. He did not plan to take up his post immediately; he had a little time to prepare.

On the first day, Chen Meng led the whole family on a hurried ride to sweep Chen Luan’s tomb. Father and son both poured libations on the ground and offered up prayers to Chen Luan, informing him of Chen Meng’s reinstatement and leaving the rest of the road ahead to fate.

Chen Meng’s feelings toward his father were deeply complicated, yet in the end, what he felt most was admiration. He could not but acknowledge that his current smooth path had all been laid out by his father.

After the tomb rites were finished, father and son rode side by side, and Chen Meng said, “When I am gone someday, you must keep on good terms with your Uncle Zhù. He was the one your grandfather saw promise in!”

Chen Fang said, “Father has only just been reinstated — why are you saying such melancholy things?”

Chen Meng said, “I say what comes to mind. Young as you are, why so many superstitions? Once we return home, go pay calls first on Uncle Zhù’s household and your father-in-law’s household.”

“Yes. Should we not send visiting cards ahead of time? Both families are busy right now. Father-in-law’s household has his former students and subordinates to attend to. Uncle’s household — now that Prime Minister Zheng has retired, the demands on him surely won’t be few either. Father has been appointed Jingzhao Prefect, so both households will be glad to receive you, but for a first visit, it is still better to be proper about it.”

Chen Meng said, “Then arrange the visits at staggered times.”

…——

Chen Fang had guessed rather well.

While father and son were at the tomb, Uncle Zhù was in court arguing with people.

Zhù Ying had returned from the northern territories some time ago, and the rewards and commendations for Zhù Qingjun and the others had still not come through. After Wang Yunhe’s posthumous title was settled and Wang Shuliang had escorted the coffin home, the court finally calmed down and had the mental space to attend to everyday affairs.

The emissaries from the Eastern Hu and the Western Hu had arrived. Luo Sheng and Leng Yun led as the senior figures, while Zhao Su handled the practical arrangements. The court was in an uproar of heated debate, and Zhao Su buried himself in the work. When there was commotion at home, the affairs of foreign peoples were not treated as a great matter. Zhao Su persuaded Luo Sheng and Leng Yun to stall for time first, and once things quieted down, Zhao Su seized the right moment to urge these two men to formally report on the negotiations with the Hu peoples — that way, the matter would attract more favorable attention.

Both Hu peoples were willing to accept enfeoffment from the court, which gave the Emperor a sense of gratified pride — the feeling that “all foreign peoples have submitted and pay tribute.” He was very pleased and praised those involved for their competence.

Since the peace negotiations with the Hu peoples had produced results, it would no longer be appropriate to delay rewarding the meritorious officers of the prior campaign. Zhù Ying therefore seized the opportunity to raise the matter of rewarding achievements.

The Emperor, in a mood of high spirits, asked urgently, “There are still meritorious officers who have not been rewarded?”

Before the Ministry of War could speak, the Secretariat spoke first: “There are discrepancies — the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Personnel have not yet sorted them out.”

The Emperor asked, “What discrepancies? And they still haven’t been sorted out after all this time?”

Civil officials were the province of the Ministry of Personnel; military officers that of the Ministry of War. Wasn’t it straightforward?

A secretary stepped forward and said, “A document was being prepared for issue, but then it was suddenly discovered that among those cited, there is a woman. We do not know what Minister Zhù intends by this.”

In the merit documents Zhù Ying had submitted, gender was not written. The Ministry of War looked them over: enemy heads taken — this many, formations broken, cities captured, and so on — all right, this amounts to a such-and-such rank of officer. The documents were nearly finalized, but then that Lang Zhong Ruan who was familiar with Zhù Ying happened to notice: “Wait — I seem to remember Zhù Qingjun is a girl?”

This was that Lang Zhong Ruan who had previously served in the Court of Diplomatic Reception — he had been a subordinate of Zhù Ying’s. A subordinate naturally pays closer attention to his superior. Zhù Qingjun was a member of the Zhù household, and not a major-domo kept out of sight inside the residence, either — she was someone who frequently went out on official business. When Lang Zhong Ruan saw the surname “Zhù,” he wondered whether Zhù Ying had made an error with the name.

The Ministry of War privately asked Zhù Ying whether a mistake had been made. At the time, when commanders brought their household retainers into battle, a servant who distinguished himself — provided his master had influence — could potentially shed his servile status from that point on and become a military officer. Jin Liang had obtained his status precisely that way.

Lang Zhong Ruan assumed that Zhù Ying had simply made an error in the reporting — mistakenly written a male servant’s name as a female servant’s. They all took the master’s surname, and when names were given, they tended to follow a pattern; an error in brushwork was possible.

But Zhù Ying told him there was no mistake. Lang Zhong Ruan then steeled himself and sent the documents through — only to have the Chancellery recognize the issue. The Chancellery’s awareness of the matter was purely coincidental: this particular secretary was someone who frequented Xian Jing’s home. Xian Jing’s family and Zhù Ying’s family had previously been neighbors, and on the surface, they maintained an amicable face. Zhù Ying also had a particular partiality for Zhù Qingjun — she was often brought along when Zhù Ying went out and often dispatched on tasks.

The Secretariat sent the documents back with no small amount of bluntness.

At that point, Lang Zhong Ruan would no longer bear this matter on Zhù Ying’s behalf — he simply said that he had approved the merit citation based on what Zhù Ying had reported, and found nothing wrong with it.

Whatever the issue was, Zhù Ying would have to argue it out with others.

Zhù Ying did not put Lang Zhong Ruan in a difficult position either. Her reasoning was simply: “She killed enemies in battle and earned merit.”

The secretary said, “Even if she has merit, that is no grounds to give her a military rank! And it is not the Ministry of War’s place to determine this. When a woman has virtue and merit, there are the titles of a noble lady’s rank for that. How can you conflate the two?”

Zhù Ying said, “How is this conflating anything? She didn’t accomplish what she did under a noble lady’s title — she did it in the work of the outer court. Naturally, the official rank of the outer court is what applies.”

With that, not only the secretary but others as well felt this reasoning was wrong. Xian Jing said, “Men and women are different — how can they be treated identically? It’s not as though her merit would go unrewarded. Based on her accomplishments, she might be made a Ruren or a Township Lady — the court does reward meritorious subjects!”

People like Zheng Yi felt that Zhù Ying’s proposal was somewhat incomprehensible — even if one wanted to promote one’s own people, was there any need to have Zhù Qingjun, a girl, hold an office that only men could hold?

Leng Yun even suspected that Zhù Ying had simply grown accustomed to appointing female officials in Asu County and had not yet adjusted back. But they hated Xian Jing even more, so they all held their tongues for the moment.

Zhù Ying asked, “Then if there are military matters in the future — not to speak of far off — just speaking of the western frontier, should there be trouble, will you use her or not?”

Xian Jing said, “Conscripting women is an expedient measure! It cannot be made permanent!”

This view received unanimous agreement. What proper court would put women at the front?

Zhù Ying said, “Very well — leave the future aside. What about the present?”

At this point, a Lang Zhong from the Ministry of Rites also jumped forward and said, “Naturally she should be rewarded according to the rank of a noble lady! Minister Zhù, why must you insist on having a woman serve as an official?” His tone held no mockery — only genuine bewilderment.

Zhù Ying said with full seriousness, “Because the number of enemies she has killed is more than you have ever even seen. I don’t care about her origins — only whether she can get things done.”

The Lang Zhong said, “That was an exceptional measure! The fighting has now ceased! In times of peace, virtue and conduct hold sway; in times of crisis, merit in service is rewarded. Cao Cao’s saying has its point. But now — it is no longer needed! The court is not being miserly or ungracious. I cannot understand why you insist on placing her in a position that does not suit her. What would the people across the realm say?”

The Lang Zhong’s heart was full of confusion. If Zhù Ying were advocating for a male servant, he could understand — that would simply be cultivating private power. But a woman — what was the point of that?

Zhù Ying, facing this righteously indignant man, said slowly, “Are you perhaps mistaken about something? She is from Wuzhou.”

The Lang Zhong was about to say “So what if she’s from Wuzhou” when Lang Zhong Ruan recalled something and offered a remark: “Wuzhou! That’s a territory under indirect rule — its customs are vastly different from the central plains.”

But there were still those who objected, arguing that even so — Su Mingluan, for example, held office under the indirect rule arrangement, which the court simply did not interfere with — but to serve as an official at court, one still had to follow the court’s rules. Su Zhe’s official position was a special case because her family had a county to inherit. Zhù Qingjun did not have a county to inherit in her family; the court still could not have a female official of that sort.

Zhù Ying immediately said, “The court does not dispatch troops to Wuzhou. She is a military officer being prepared for Wuzhou. No one is asking you to allocate a great number of troops for her to command.”

This proposal was only barely approved. However, the court would not assign any troops to Zhù Qingjun — she held only an empty title, along with a few dozen female soldiers from the estate. With Zhù Qingjun at the head, Xiang An and the others were all placed under the heading of “indirect rule” — the court would not interfere, and at the same time would not permit them to have any say in central affairs.

The court officials assumed Zhù Ying was simply devoted to Wuzhou — after all, it was the place of “the achievements of her youth,” and most “former superiors” would have a similar sentimental attachment.

…

After the court session ended, Zhù Ying worked through another full day at the Ministry of Revenue. When the day was done, she went again to Zheng Xi’s home. Had Chen Fang gone to the Zhù residence at that time, he would certainly not have found her.

Zheng Xi was at home studying a book of chess problems, a chess board laid out before him. He had long been informed that Zhù Ying was coming, yet he sat without moving. When he saw Zhù Ying approach, he smiled and said, “Zizhang — come, have a look at this game of mine.”

It was as if he were not in a deep, gated mansion at all, but sitting outside a thatch-roofed cottage, playing a game of chess under a pine tree, calling out to a passing old friend.

Zhù Ying too sat down very naturally across from him. “I don’t know much about this game, as you well know. Anything that requires time and concentrated effort — I was never born lucky enough for it.”

Zheng Xi tossed the chess manual onto the board and asked, “Wang Shuliang has gone back?”

“Yes, he left the day before yesterday.”

“So you can rest easy now?”

Zhù Ying smiled slightly. “I was never alarmed to begin with — so how can I now be at ease? I just couldn’t stand the look of those so-called ‘gentlemen.’ The man is already dead, and still they want to wring oil from the very bones. Reading books — it makes some people grow a conscience, and others only grow a brain.”

Zheng Xi said, “Sharp words.”

Zhù Ying corrected him, “Profound words.”

Zheng Xi laughed. “I really do want to see you and Liu-shushu have a proper quarrel.”

Zhù Ying waved her hand. “Best not — in his presence, all I can do is receive his admonishments.”

Zheng Xi said, “If you went to see him now, he certainly wouldn’t have the heart to scold you. How is the Ministry of Revenue?”

“Just so-so. I first submitted a memorial to reduce taxes for the northern territories. Now that I’m in charge of the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry’s condition is not what it was before. People always think they have wisdom in their grasp and plan for every contingency — they expect no surprises. But in reality, they can’t even predict what will happen three months from now. All you can do is take it one step at a time. Sometimes, the very thing you once swore never to do — when it appears right before your eyes, you find yourself going ahead and doing it anyway.”

Zheng Xi laughed heartily. “So you’ve had a taste of that too!”

Zhù Ying said, “I’ve come today about another matter.”

“Oh?”

Zhù Ying said, “Da Lang — do you have any other arrangements for him?”

Zheng Xi asked, “What are you thinking?” Zhù Ying had always been a person of measure and judgment, not one to meddle in the Zheng family’s affairs. Now that she had raised it, there must be a reason.

Zhù Ying said, “The Ministry of Revenue is still short a Lang Zhong.”

“You’ve finished arranging things for Chen Meng, and now you’ve come to arrange things for him?” Zheng Xi laughed. “The people you arrange for always have good intentions behind it.”

Zhù Ying said earnestly, “It’s not that I want to make arrangements — it’s that I’ve been moved by recent events and offer this as a suggestion. Da Lang is at the age where, if he doesn’t take on a few more of these small matters now, he won’t have the opportunity later. He is your son — at his age, you were already wearing purple robes of high rank. He is somewhat behind where you were, but he can’t be too far behind. If he doesn’t gain experience while he’s young, he’ll trip over himself more easily later.”

Zheng Xi’s expression became serious. “How so?”

Zhù Ying said, “Why was Xiao He considered to have earned first merit? When they entered the Guanzhong pass, what did he take? If Da Lang wants to govern in the future, he needs to understand where money, grain, and people come from. It takes at least fifteen to sixteen years before a generation of capable people can be raised up. Grain — miss a single season and you miss a year; to accumulate five years of stored grain takes more than five years. All of this requires sustained effort. It seems he hasn’t had the chance to truly understand these things since entering official service.

Real ability is trained through precisely these kinds of affairs. In the past, I never said any of this to you because I hadn’t fully worked it out myself. But now I find I cannot keep silent. Only by understanding practical matters can one handle other things with ease and grace, lifting heavy burdens as if they were light.

As for conducting himself in office, maneuvering among all parties — he has absorbed that by example from childhood; he doesn’t need deliberate study or practice. What he lacks is precisely the most foundational and minute things.

As for Chen Meng — that is also the legacy left by Prime Minister Chen, and also because he would not be the sort to listen to Xian Jing and those people. As for our current Your Majesty —”

Zhù Ying reached that point in her words and stopped, leaving the meaning to hang with significance in the air.

Zheng Xi said, “You have always been thorough and careful, steady and measured.”

Zhù Ying said, “Sometimes I feel like being impulsive too. Today I really wanted to smash Xian Jing’s dog’s head in.”

Zheng Xi smiled. “He resembles Wang Prime Minister in some respects — could you bring yourself to strike him?”

Zhù Ying said, “I can distinguish between the person I genuinely respect and a pale imitation. I feel no need to spare pity on counterfeits. They’ve been meddling far too much! Military affairs in the army — since when is it their place to have a say?”

The maidservants set out tea and food, and Zheng Xi invited Zhù Ying to eat. Zhù Ying accepted without ceremony, and the two sat across from each other eating.

Zheng Xi said, “You need not offer Xian Jing any false courtesy, but you must also take the Eastern Palace’s feelings into consideration.”

“Mm,” Zhù Ying scooped up a mouthful of rice, “I understand. But they want to use the Emperor to command the nobility — they’re not quite up to that yet.”

“Oh?”

“They don’t look like people who can actually get things done. Let us be the ones to do them.”

“You wouldn’t be thinking of taking Wang Yunhe’s posthumous memorial and following it as a blueprint, would you?”

Zhù Ying shook her head. “No. That requires a Wang Yunhe leading a thousand other Wang Yunhes to make it work. Otherwise, it’s just someone surnamed Zhang replacing someone surnamed Li — why bother? I’m not so idle that I’d do all that work for someone else’s benefit.”

“Then what do you want to do?”

Zhù Ying said, “No emperor dislikes wielding sole authority. It’s not that His Majesty is especially sharp — anyone who sat in that position would be the same way. Wang Prime Minister was just one man, and a gentleman of that character at that — and still, His Majesty was wary of him. Among all these court officials, with so many people, there will always be some who can read his mind, who want to be his claws and teeth, who help His Majesty consolidate power.

In the past, it was Wang Prime Minister who held many petty schemers in check, preventing them from worming their way in. Now, the state of this realm depends on you.”

“Preposterous!”

Zhù Ying said, “Mu Chengzhou, Shi Xi, Li Shizhong — what capable people are any of them? His Majesty elevates them unreservedly — to what end? Oh, and then there are the old retainers from the Zhao Princely Residence and the old attendants of the Eastern Palace. Wang Prime Minister has been buried. Who will be next?

Do you still want to be reinstated? Chen Meng — I recommended him, but if His Majesty had not been willing, he would not be the Jingzhao Prefect. And as for you? Prime Minister — only His Majesty can appoint one. You might as well give Da Lang to me, and let us continue to pave his road together. I see a difficult path ahead for you.”

Zheng Xi picked up a chopstick pinch of bamboo shoots cut into fine strips, chewed them slowly and swallowed, then said, “This is not the kind of thing a minister ought to say.”

Zhù Ying smiled and said, “A worthy minister is still a minister. A fawning minister is also a minister. The moment I walk out that door, I will not acknowledge anything just said. If you agree, we go ahead. If you don’t, then we follow along with His Majesty. It makes no difference to me — I was born a petty person. As a fawning minister, I’d be even more at ease. Don’t you agree?”

Zheng Xi said, “Ridiculous! I brought you to the capital for this?”

Zhù Ying quickly admitted her error: “I was wrong. The sage kings of antiquity all governed by non-action, by letting things run their course. You are meant to be a worthy minister — so let us ask His Majesty to be a sage king. It is a minister’s duty to relieve the Son of Heaven of burdens.”

Zheng Xi turned his eyes on her with an expression of exasperation and pointed his chopsticks at her. “You, you!”

Zhù Ying said, “With Wang Prime Minister gone, I feel a weight lift from my head. Give me a definite answer — will you? I’m only thinking of my own interests, of living more comfortably.”

Zheng Xi looked straight at her. Zhù Ying’s gaze did not waver. Zheng Xi said, “This is a weighty matter — I must think it over more carefully.”

Zhù Ying rose and gave him a deep bow.

“Sit back down and eat,” Zheng Xi said.