Zhù Ying took a clean cloth from the table, wiped her hands, picked up her chopsticks, and continued eating.

Xian Jing paused. Suddenly he was aware of a slight tickle at the tip of his nose — he had been a little agitated just now, and a thin thread of clear liquid had seeped out. He quickly took a cloth and wiped his nose. Watching Zhù Ying eat in a manner perfectly smooth and natural, he suddenly found himself unable to swallow. Xian Jing poured himself drink after drink to cover his feelings, and before long was slightly tipsy.

Zhù Ying did not drink wine, but her appetite was always substantial. Xian Jing’s spread was far more refined than the everyday food at her own home. Since it was there, it would be a waste not to eat.

When she was about seventy percent full, Zhù Ying said, “You should not only drink wine. Drinking on an empty stomach harms the body.”

Xian Jing managed a smile. “Just this once.”

Zhù Ying said, “You’ve let troubles get to you? Just brooding will do no good. There is work to be done. Talent worthy of cultivation, send them out to see the world. Without having served in a local post, one is ultimately lacking. Let them go out, let them suffer a little, encounter difficulties — then when you reason with them, it will be easier.”

Xian Jing said, “My thinking exactly.”

“Is that right?”

The two exchanged a few words about official appointments. Zhù Ying only touched on it briefly, giving Xian Jing no specific ideas — both of their moods had settled.

Wine drunk and dinner eaten, Zhù Ying rose to take her leave. “I came with a matter to ask of you and then managed to eat another free meal on top of it.”

Xian Jing said, “Whenever you like, feel free to come.”

“Well, you’ve said it, and I’ll hold you to it.”

“Good.”

Xian Jing saw Zhù Ying to the door. Zhù Ying said, “Go back — the wind is strong out here.”

Xian Jing watched her retreating figure for a long time before turning and going back inside. “Close the gates!”

…——

Zhù Ying made her way home at a leisurely pace. She saw that the residence had more lights burning than usual, and on a passing question learned that Su Zhe had returned.

Zhù Ying made a small detour toward the courtyard where Su Zhe was staying. The courtyard gate stood ajar; she did not go in. There was a voice calling from inside, and out came a maidservant. Seeing Zhù Ying, she quickly said, “You’re here!”

From inside, a voice called out, “Who’s outside?”

The maidservant called back in, “It’s the Elder!”

Su Zhe lifted her skirts and came over. Zhù Ying, by the light of the lantern, looked her up and down. Su Zhe stood with easy confidence and showed herself off — she had changed into new clothes on returning and, by the look of it, had also bathed. She came forward and took Zhù Ying’s arm, walking together with her inside. “Things got rather out of hand at the Qi family. My skirt was soiled. Aunt was quite embarrassed and kept apologizing. I told her it was nothing — I’d just come home and change.”

Zhù Ying asked, “Zhao Su didn’t manage to handle it?”

Su Zhe said, “It wasn’t his fault — it was the other side. First one family wanted to arrange an adoption, then a group of clan elders came bringing contract documents for who knows what. Two of the families started fighting each other. Uncle got angry and separated them.”

Zhù Ying said, “Tomorrow I’ll have a word with the Jingzhao Prefectural Office. You’ve had enough of an exhausting time these past days — rest early.”

“What about you?” Su Zhe asked.

Zhù Ying said, “Me? I can still manage.”

Something in Su Zhe’s gaze showed a flicker of worry. “About… Wang Prime Minister passing — for him, it wasn’t the worst of things. Don’t grieve too much.”

Zhù Ying pressed her down into a chair. “Do I even need to be told that? What you need to do now is help your uncle sort out affairs, and prepare for the family coming from home. If you can help me with a little, I’ll be a little less taxed.”

“All right!”

The next morning, Zhù Ying left for court earlier than Su Zhe. When she came time to wait for the session to begin, she happened upon Chen Meng.

Chen Meng said, “You don’t have anything planned for the rest day, do you? Keep it free — let’s gather together. Old Wu and the others are back.” The “Old Wu” he mentioned was their fellow-townsperson, Governor Wu. But Zhù Ying suddenly found herself thinking of another “Old Wu” entirely.

Zhù Ying nodded. “All right.” She then mentioned Zhao Su’s situation in passing.

Chen Meng said, “Why didn’t you say so sooner? Something like this is straightforward. You should have told me earlier and I’d have sorted it out already. There’s no need now for any tests or considerations of closeness — just look for one where both parents are dead and the brothers are at odds. Find someone like that, and I guarantee they won’t want to go back to their birth family.”

Zhù Ying said, “I only mentioned it just now, and you’re already taking it to heart.”

Chen Meng said, “How could I not? There’s something else I need to ask of you!”

“What is it?”

Chen Meng smiled slyly. “That happy occasion in my household.”

“Fine. You set a good date — I’ll go to the Shi family residence.”

Seeing Chen Meng’s manner, the Zheng Yan case seemed to be making progress. She inquired about it in passing. Chen Meng said, “Even if it’s all true, there is nothing to be done with him.”

No one had died. Have the girl returned, then pay reparations — and return every stitch of the girl’s clothing, jewelry, and bedding along with her. Zheng Xi had personally brought people to the Jingzhao Prefectural Office to acknowledge the matter. The Zheng household were a noble family with titles, and Zheng Yan himself still held official rank, and the family had money. Whether through monetary redemption or offset against some official category, Chen Meng found no grounds on which to actually do anything to Zheng Yan.

Zhù Ying and Chen Meng looked at each other, both feeling vaguely disgusted.

Zhù Ying said, “Prime Minister Zheng has been quite busy.”

Chen Meng said with a slight sneer, “Not as busy as Grand Censor Wang.”

Zhù Ying said, “That’s a bit of an exaggeration.”

They exchanged a few more words, then the two separated to take their places in line.

That day, after the session, the Emperor primarily received the local officials who had come up to the capital. They had already dealt with the Ministry of Revenue and the Ministry of Personnel and were merely going through the formality of an audience with the Emperor. As the session dispersed, Dou Peng did not move from his spot, and Zhù Ying slowed her pace.

The Emperor noticed Dou Peng and asked, “Does the Prime Minister have something further?”

Zhù Ying glanced back, saw the Emperor already on his feet, and said to Dou Peng, “If it’s urgent, say it now. If not, I’ll go and receive them.”

Dou Peng, his tone somewhat strained, said, “It wasn’t suitable to raise just now… Yanzhou… bandits… robbery…”

The Emperor said, “What?”

Zhù Ying quickened her pace and left.

Inside the hall, Dou Peng quietly reported an unpleasant matter: just recently, in Yanzhou, desperate famine refugees had banded together as outlaws. A group of “several hundred people” had fled into the forests and hills of the surrounding area. With winter arriving and no food, and it being precisely the season for the autumn harvest and collection of rents and taxes, why not simply take what they needed? This group were even “righteous bandits” of a kind — they did not rob ordinary people. They turned around and seized the autumn tax revenue that had just been collected.

The Emperor was furious. “How could such a thing happen? Send someone to suppress them at once!”

Dou Peng said, “Yes. Shall I go and make the arrangements?”

The Emperor’s face darkened. “It must be swift!”

“Yes.”

Dou Peng returned to the Council of State and summoned the relevant personnel from the Ministry of War and the Ministry of Revenue. Troops would need to be dispatched, and grain and supplies transported. And of course, how to suppress them and who to send — a plan was needed.

Since the reported number was only a few hundred, there was no need to dispatch a large army. Dou Peng deliberated with the Ministry of War and the others, settling on sending the young General Leng — who had recently distinguished himself in battle — with two thousand men. Against these outlaws, two thousand was not too few, and with the local garrison forces added in, they could put together three or four thousand without difficulty. With proper command, they could satisfy the Emperor’s requirement for “swiftness.”

Zhù Ying said, “The autumn tax revenues from around Yanzhou are already in transit — if they were not, using them on the spot and recording it in the accounts would save the cost of transporting them all this way. The Ministry of Revenue only needs to send one person to supervise the disbursement.”

Dou Peng said, “As for transporting grain and supplies, you see to the arrangements. Write up a plan.” He had complete confidence in Zhù Ying for this kind of work.

Zhù Ying had no choice but to agree. “Very well. But since there are refugees, there must be something happening in Yanzhou. And it may not be limited to Yanzhou. Sending soldiers to suppress them treats the symptoms; settling the people properly is the cure. Otherwise the cycle keeps repeating and one is forever scrambling.”

Dou Peng said, “Refugees…”

Both of them found this a headache. The existence of refugees necessarily meant people’s lives had become unsustainable. To truly stamp out such situations at the root would require addressing the underlying conditions in the locality — for example, investigating whether the local officials were exploiting the people, or whether land encroachment there was especially severe.

Zhù Ying said, “The Yanzhou Regional Governor has not yet arrived in the capital.”

Dou Peng said with some heat, “He will have to give a full account this year!”

Zhù Ying said, “Then how should we settle the locals? The court’s levies there were not heavy, and no major disaster has been reported.”

Dou Peng said, “Have the Censorate dispatch people to investigate. You go now and work out the grain and supply allocations.”

“Yes.” Zhù Ying returned to the Ministry of Revenue, first reviewing the general situation in Yanzhou and its surroundings and making a rough estimate, then considering the question of allocation. She planned to use this as an occasion to send someone there to take a look at the conditions firsthand.

Dou Peng, meanwhile, specifically called in Young General Leng and gave him careful instructions: “You must protect Prince Qi at all costs!”

Young General Leng’s eyelids began to twitch. “Isn’t he going to the western frontier?”

“His Majesty’s wishes. Follow them.”

Young General Leng said, “Yes.”

…——

This extra matter falling out of nowhere made Zhù Ying all the busier. On that same day, the kinsman of Yao Zhen that had been mentioned earlier also came again, and Zhù Ying had to see him as well.

That evening, returning home, there was again a crowd of people at the gate waiting to see her.

Zhù Ying was unhurried. She first called Lin Feng over: “Go to the Zheng residence and tell Prime Minister Zheng that there have been developments in Yanzhou.”

Only then did she start looking through the calling cards. Among this stack, she came across two familiar names — He Jing and Zhang Jiong.

Zhang Jiong was now a Prefectural Administrator. He had not come to the capital himself; his calling card had been sent to the capital in the care of someone accompanying He Jing. He Jing had drifted from place to place and now served as Zhang Jiong’s superior. Zhang Jiong had not only sent a calling card but also generous gifts, and included a long letter. The letter had no air of seeking help or pulling strings — it simply described how he had spent these past few years doing his work.

Zhù Ying invited He Jing into the small reception room to sit. The two spoke of their shared time in the past — it all seemed like another life.

He Jing said, “To think of those days when Wang Prime Minister was still here, and Magistrate Fan was still here too. Once posted away from the capital, those without the rank of Regional Governor find it hard to meet. Now both of them are gone, separated from us by the world of the living and the dead. I’ve been thinking of going, once I’ve finished with the ministry offices, to pay respects at Wang Prime Minister’s tomb. Do you happen to know where he is buried? Could you send someone to show me the way?”

“Certainly.”

They spoke at length about old times. He Jing said, “Back then, all one had to do was handle cases. But nowadays these troublesome matters…”

Zhù Ying, thinking of the Yanzhou situation, cautioned him: “Don’t resent the trouble. A little trouble now is far better than having it reach His Majesty’s attention.”

The local officials responsible for Yanzhou were in for a difficult time. The dynasty still had backbone — it had not yet reached the point of treating refugees roaming in the hills as “commonplace” and declining to censure local officials.

He Jing agreed, and the two exchanged a few more reflections on the past before He Jing finally took his leave.

The next day, after morning court, He Jing followed Zhù Ying to the Ministry of Revenue.

Zhù Ying said, “You really are not willing to let up for a single moment.”

He Jing said, “Better to finish the official business early so I can go out of the city.”

The two arrived at the Ministry of Revenue. Zhù Ying opened the morning briefing. He Jing stood to one side and watched. When the briefing ended, He Jing moved first to go over the tax levies and budget figures with Zhù Ying.

The two had an easy understanding: He Jing’s tax payments were full, and he did not bargain with Zhù Ying over next year’s budget allocations. Zhù Ying asked, “You’re managing all right?”

He Jing said, “They weep and wail to the heavens about hardship — but it’s not because the court is asking too much of them. I carry out land surveys every year without disrupting agricultural seasons or construction works. Of course I manage. It’s just…” He sighed. “…merely following Wang Prime Minister’s lead imperfectly, glimpsing only scattered pieces of it while in his company.”

Zhù Ying pushed the document toward him. “Sign and seal.”

He Jing raised his brush to write his name. He had barely drawn the second stroke of the character for “Jing” when a voice came from outside: “His Royal Highness the Crown Prince has arrived!” He Jing’s hand jerked, and on the paper he drew something resembling a pumpkin seed.

Zhù Ying said, “We’ll make out a fresh copy in a moment.”

The two rose to receive the Crown Prince.

The Crown Prince, seeing He Jing’s face was unfamiliar, asked, “And this is?”

He Jing quickly introduced himself. The Crown Prince said, “A fine governor of a great district.”

He Jing promptly offered several humble words.

The Crown Prince then asked Zhù Ying, “I have just come from His Majesty’s presence. I heard that Yanzhou has had trouble and Prince Qi is to go there — will the provisions be adequate?”

“Five hundred additional soldiers have been assigned. Grain, supplies, clothing, and armor are all being arranged.”

“Ah, it is only that I resent not being able to relieve my father’s burdens myself, while my younger brother, still so young, must toil on his behalf. In this cold of winter, his hardships will be great — please ensure he is well provisioned, with nothing lacking.”

Zhù Ying said, “The Eastern Palace has the Eastern Palace’s responsibilities; a prince has a prince’s duties. I will also fulfill my own duty.”

“You have always been a source of reassurance. But he is my brother, and I cannot help but feel concern. When the Ministry of Revenue dispatches its representative to Yanzhou, please let me know — I have something prepared for him.”

“His Highness’s care for Prince Qi is something Prince Qi will surely feel.”

Since He Jing was present, the Crown Prince said only a few words before departing. A scribe recopied the document for He Jing, who signed and sealed it afresh, and then he and Zhù Ying arranged that once he finished with the Ministry of Personnel, she would send a guide with him so he could go out of the city to pay respects at Wang Yunhe’s tomb.

After He Jing came a number of other Regional Governors, some as straightforward as He Jing, some who complained endlessly yet in the end paid every coin they owed, and some who absolutely insisted on having next year’s quota reduced. Each one individually was easy to manage — but coming one after another like this consistently gave Zhù Ying the strange impression that “these people were about to revolt.”

Zhao Su also quickly finished the affairs around Qi Tai’s passing, and that same evening brought his wife and child to the Zhù residence to pay their respects.

Xiao Qi Niangzi was dressed in mourning white. Her complexion, worn down to a pale and wan state, nonetheless conveyed a relaxed ease. Su Zhe had already returned home and changed her clothes; she sat to one side keeping her company.

Zhù Ying listened to Xiao Qi Niangzi’s thanks, and said, “We are all family here — what need is there for formality? I won’t stand on ceremony with you, so please don’t stand on ceremony with me.”

Zhao Su answered readily, “Yes.”

Zhù Ying said, “Report to the Ministry of Revenue tomorrow. Xiang Le, I’ve placed in the granary department. You — start in the revenue planning department. There’s also the situation in Yanzhou — you’ll take charge of that. You’ll need to travel. Before you set out, get the household in order.” She also said to Xiao Qi Niangzi that she would have to continue working hard.

Xiao Qi Niangzi felt something between laughing and crying. She thought: you aren’t standing on ceremony at all. She said, “Your arrangement is certainly the best. Wherever you send him, he goes.”

Zhù Ying said, “He won’t be sent to any disadvantage — only to receive some hard work. Xiao Mei, keep your aunt company. Da Lang, come with me.”

Zhù Ying brought Zhao Su to the study for a private briefing, setting out the instructions in full: under the name of overseeing the grain transport, go and take a look at the conditions in Yanzhou.

Zhao Su asked in surprise, “Prince Qi? What is His Majesty thinking? The brothers of the imperial family — won’t they be at each other’s throats again? Yet another competition?”

“What else? Should he raise sons who are good for nothing? He fought tooth and nail with his own brothers, yet fully expects his sons to be devoted to each other.”

Zhao Su said, “But surely he wouldn’t give a prince control over military power!”

“One’s own family is both more dangerous and more trustworthy than ministers.”

“Since when has his scheming become so sharp?” Zhao Su muttered. “Things won’t be peaceful much longer. You need to prepare early too — and it’s not just the Eastern Palace and Prince Qi. Wang Prime Minister is gone, but Counselor Xian is still in full vigor. And then there is Prime Minister Zheng. Things are still relatively civil right now, but when the time comes for the mask to drop, both sides likely won’t be able to tolerate you staying neutral. Sooner or later you’ll have to declare where you stand.”

“Declare what? Lean on whom and trust whom? They are not mighty trees, and we are not clinging vines. We can have a bit more backbone than that.” Zhù Ying said.

Zhao Su’s eyes lit up. “Yes!”

“Get yourself ready. Before you set out, the Eastern Palace will have someone contact you.”

“Yes.”

Zhù Ying said, “Go on.”

After Zhao Su left, Zhù Ying sat quietly for a while. She thought through what was to come, read a few pages of the book, then went to rest.

The next day, after morning court, she did not hurry back to the Ministry of Revenue to attend to official matters. Instead, she lingered to the very end and requested an audience with the Emperor.