Yang Jing appeared to be around thirty years of age, and even his beard was neat and fine-featured.

Quite striking in appearance.

In inviting Zhù Ying, Yue Huan had found this sort of companion guest — which showed a degree of consideration for Zhù Ying. The only difficulty was that Zhù Ying had grown up full of wits and schemes, and the moment she laid eyes on these two she sensed they had something in mind.

For the time being, she gave no indication of this and exchanged courtesies with Yang Jing with her customary politeness, addressing him as “Rector.” What position the Rector held she understood well enough, but what kind of person Yang Jing actually was, she genuinely did not know. So she maintained her consistent courtesy.

Yue Huan had not anticipated that Zhù Ying would not know Yang Jing, and spoke of him warmly: “I ought to have introduced you to each other sooner, but the holiday was simply too short! Waiting until today — it feels rather abrupt.”

Zhù Ying smiled: “That phrasing lacks a certain elegance.”

Yue Huan said: “Elegance is for the gods and immortals. Sanlang, just don’t take offense — please, come in.”

Yue Huan’s banquet had been prepared with care — no wine was served to Zhù Ying, a detail that made Yang Jing glance at her with mild curiosity.

Yue Huan was positively cheerful, and gave the two a more thorough introduction to each other. The two compared ages and Zhù Ying discovered that Yang Jing was actually two years older than herself. She addressed him frankly: “Elder Brother Yang.”

Yue Huan, who was a year or two older than Yang Jing, leaned slightly into the role of elder, and said to Yang Jing: “You have spent all your time prior to this writing books and giving lectures, and are not very familiar with the capital. Now that you are here, the first person you should get to know is Sanlang!”

Zhù Ying demurred modestly, while also getting a clearer picture of Yang Jing’s background. No wonder she had not known of him before — the two of them simply had no overlap in their worlds. She moved in official circles; he cultivated learning. The scholars Zhù Ying knew could be counted on the fingers of one hand — Wang Yunhe on one side, and an old scholar at the village school in the Zhù family’s village on the other.

And then there was nothing more.

Even with Liu Songnian, she had never explored any “scholarship” or “poetry.”

Yue Huan then said to Zhù Ying: “The Rector also concurrently lectures at the Eastern Palace. As for the Eastern Palace at the moment — tch — no more of that, let us drink.”

Zhù Ying turned this flavor over in her mind, making a mental note to ask Yue Huan more privately when the opportunity arose. For now she went along with the pleasantries. Yue Huan was a senior figure at the Directorate of Education, and having such familiarity with Yang Jing, he would of course be the one to offer guidance on substantive matters. Zhù Ying simply took an interest in whether Yang Jing’s lodgings were conveniently situated, and put in a good word on behalf of the Wuzhou students: “It is Wuzhou’s foundation that is poor, not the aptitude of its students.”

Yang Jing smiled and said: “In my time at the academy, I heard of the Honorable Zhù Ying’s memorial proposing regional quotas for student enrollment, and I was greatly impressed. Even remote places should receive the benefits of civilization and education — various historical causes have prevented students from the frontier from receiving schooling, and that is wrong.”

Zhù Ying said: “That was a long time ago. Recently I have not done much — there are many things I have not had time to attend to.”

Yang Jing nonetheless spoke with appreciation for Zhù Ying’s accomplishments: “You have made a mark wherever you have been — it commands admiration.”

Zhù Ying raised her sleeve to shield her face: “You praise me too extravagantly.”

Yang Jing, with no particularly exaggerated expression of his own, said in a perfectly normal tone: “It is all true.”

Yue Huan said: “You two, stop being so courteous to each other here — come.” He gestured for them to start eating.

Zhù Ying’s mind turned over eight hundred possibilities, and she found herself genuinely at a loss for a topic in common with Yang Jing. She had no choice but to gesture toward the direction of Liu Songnian’s residence and give Yue Huan a meaningful look.

Yue Huan said: “He arrived yesterday and paid his respects to his uncle yesterday evening.”

“Then… did you also go? Did you see the state of the household?”

Yue Huan nodded, and his smile faded. He said quietly: “If his temper is impatient, he may leave as early as tomorrow — he would not wait even two or three days extra. I invited you here partly to discuss this very matter. Is there truly no persuading him?”

Zhù Ying said: “The world of power and reputation was his cage. With his closest friend gone, why would he linger here?”

Yue Huan heaved a sigh.

Zhù Ying said: “I asked him when he intended to set out, but he would not say. If you receive any word, do let me know. I would like to come and see him off once more.”

“Once he has submitted his memorial, you will certainly be informed — there will still be time to come and bid him farewell.”

A person who had served as Prime Minister would generally inform the Emperor and the court before leaving the capital.

With Liu Songnian as a topic, the conversation opened up somewhat. Zhù Ying worked hard to listen as Yue Huan and Yang Jing reminisced about the past. It turned out Yang Jing was the student of one of Liu Songnian’s other fellow students, and had married his teacher’s daughter. His wife was excellent in every respect, except that she did not adapt well to other places — lively and vigorous in her hometown, she would fall ill the moment she left. So Yang Jing had simply opened a school at home, accompanying his wife through more than twenty years.

Zhù Ying asked: “And how is the Madam now?”

Yang Jing said: “The children have grown and can attend to their mother. The realm is in disarray, and those of us of the scholarly world ought to work toward clarifying order under heaven — we can no longer remain in self-imposed retreat.”

Yue Huan said: “Look at you — what can the Directorate of Education clarify? Put your heart into teaching your students, and let your students go out to clarify things.”

This was his own experience — raise the students well, and the students of the Directorate went on to become officials at an extremely high rate. From there they would branch out and spread.

Yang Jing did not argue back, leaving Yue Huan a scrap of dignity.

Zhù Ying had an instinctive sense that Yang Jing was a reliable person, but what exactly he was like would depend on seeing what he actually did. Take Xian Jing, for instance — his record from earlier years was not bad either, yet now he was mired knee-deep in the mud.

She raised her cup toward Yang Jing.

It appeared to Zhù Ying that today Yue Huan had simply arranged for the two of them to make each other’s acquaintance, and she could not tell whether he had also entrusted this young colleague of his to Zheng Xi — yet from appearances he had not, because Yue Huan had not mentioned his brother-in-law at all.

At the close of the visit, Zhù Ying asked Yang Jing for copies of his collected writings and manuscripts. Yang Jing was forthcoming: “I did not bring them with me today, but I will have someone send them to your household tomorrow. Please offer your corrections.”

“I have not read much — I just enjoy reading. Do not take offense.”

Yang Jing said: “Someone who has the will to study — how could they be unwelcome? It is people who refuse to learn, who think that once they have become officials they can rest comfortably and stop studying — those people are disagreeable.”

Zhù Ying said: “Then I shall be waiting.”

“Very well,” Yang Jing said.

……——

Zhù Ying had no idea whatsoever who Yang Jing was. Coming out of Yue Huan’s household, she was tempted to go to Liu Songnian’s residence and ask — she stood for a moment in the narrow lane between the two households, but then turned her head and went straight home. Once home, she made no arrangements to look into Yang Jing either. The people in her household were simply not connected to Yang Jing’s world.

After returning home, she went to inspect the storeroom. The residence was one newly granted by the Emperor, and the storeroom was accordingly larger than the previous one, with more inside it and items of greater value. Zhù Ying carefully made her selection. Besides medicinal herbs and fabrics, she also sorted out some writing implements she had kept in particular reserve.

Liu Songnian’s writing implements were of course already of the finest quality — the Emperor had something of an aesthetic refinement about him, and had given Liu Songnian a great many fine things over the years. But Zhù Ying’s collection also contained a few pieces of merit. The Emperor’s gifts tended toward preciousness and extravagance, while what Zhù Ying had on hand leaned toward the practical and convenient.

Liu Songnian was about to set out, and perhaps still harbored a desire to travel and roam. What a journey required was not grandeur but portability.

What Zhù Ying selected was accordingly of that nature — all writing implements slightly more slender and delicate than those used at a spacious desk, easy to pack and store.

Everything was bundled up, waiting only for Liu Songnian’s departure.

The next morning at court, the decree came down as expected, appointing Yang Jing as Rector. This day he did not go to the Directorate of Education first — he went to give a lecture to the Crown Prince. The Crown Prince was still young and needed to attend lessons.

At court, there was no word about Liu Songnian. Zhù Ying strolled back to the Ministry of Finance.

For today’s morning meeting, the Ministry of Finance staff had turned out in full. Zhù Ying looked around — every one of them was in fine spirits, having passed the new year holiday well. Ye Deng and Li Yuan had visibly filled out, both grinning broadly.

Zhù Ying said: “From today onwards, as long as nothing of great import is happening, let us take things easy for a while.”

“Oh?” Ye Deng emitted a sound of puzzled surprise.

Zhù Ying smiled: “Have you not had enough to keep you busy? When it is time to rest, we rest properly. Now is not the busiest period — even if there are things to attend to, we rotate through them in turns.”

Those below all laughed and said how fine that was.

This was what it meant to have an understanding superior — when there was work to be done, it was arranged properly and the pay was given. When there was no official business, people were let alone rather than being tormented just to demonstrate authority.

Zhù Ying had gained some understanding of the Ministry of Finance staff over these months. Some could not help but shrink back the moment she spoke to them — such as Department Head Zhao — so when there was work to be done, it was better not to assign it to him. Others were burning with the desire to prove themselves — such as Vice Department Head Guo Zhensheng — and when there was work, those were the ones to put forward. If they did well, add more responsibilities, and when the chance for promotion came, give them a push.

And those who did no work but caused trouble… well, there were none of those left. Zhù Ying had already kicked them out.

Her relationship with Yao Zhen grew closer and closer — they helped each other with small matters, no need to send formal cards, a few words sufficed. She never forgot Yao Zhen’s requests, and Yao Zhen attended to her affairs conscientiously.

Once everything was arranged, Zhù Ying called Zhao Su and Xiang Le over to speak privately. The rest of the staff laughed good-naturedly among themselves, their envy somewhat lightened.

When they stood before Zhù Ying, Xiang Le was slightly constrained, and Zhù Ying said: “Speak freely.” Whether or not Xiang Le had something on his mind — he had been by her side for so many years, and she could still read him.

Xiang Le gathered his courage and said quietly: “The official — there is a problem with the granary.”

“Oh?”

Xiang Le said: “As I received the grain submitted from various regions on one hand, I also checked the old grain from previous years. I found it quite short.”

Zhao Su said: “I recall that several years ago, because of the matter in the northern territories, there was a thorough audit. After that, was it not replenished? And with the recent campaign in the northern territories, it should have been a good opportunity to balance the books — did they not do so?”

Xiang Le laughed: “Eldest Brother is truly someone who focuses on getting real things done — but as for the books versus what is actually in the granary, there are always holes opening up, never holes slowly mending themselves while left alone. I am a different sort — my family always put great weight on taking stock of inventory.”

Having laughed, he said to Zhù Ying: “New tricks appear every year. Today you eat, and tomorrow you cannot go without eating. Assign someone to watch over the granary, and you have assigned someone to watch over the rice jar. The great officials are busy with ten thousand affairs and cannot personally inspect every granary — what they can get away with is limitless.”

“Look into it quietly,” Zhù Ying said. She did not become angry — this sort of thing was very common. Even when she had conducted estate confiscations in the past, things had been pilfered from under her nose.

Xiang Le said: “Yes.”

Zhao Su asked: “Then… the investigation of the actual situation in each region — do we still go ahead with that?”

Zhù Ying nodded: “Of course it goes ahead — but do not alert too many people. Look into one region at a time, and make no move yet. First send people to the western frontier and the areas around Yanzhou, saying that as a precaution against unforeseen circumstances, we want to be prepared — so that we can arrange transport and allocation in good time. You are the one to select the people — those willing to go down to the ground and capable of conscientious work. If there are not enough staff in the Ministry, pull from people whose character we know well. “

“Yes,” Zhao Su said. “If there are not enough educated men from the south, may we use people like Zhù Wen from your household? They are more capable than some of the young clerks here. Their hearts are also good — not so slippery. It would be a pity not to give them a little advancement.”

“That is fine,” Zhù Ying said.

Zhao Su smiled: “I understand — I will go and make the arrangements.”

This matter could not be rushed. Zhù Ying settled herself patiently and sat reading — and then Zheng Yi arrived.

……——

After arriving at the Ministry of Finance, he was courteous enough in his manners, first giving Zhù Ying a cupped-hands salute. Zhù Ying returned it promptly and invited him to sit: “A rare visitor.”

“Rare enough!” Zheng Yi said without ceremony. “Over the new year I did not want to spoil the mood so I said nothing, but now that the holiday is over — ought we not show them what we are made of?”

“Oh?”

Zheng Yi reminded her: “Those on that side! We cannot let them run amok just because the Seventh Brother is resting — by the time he gets back, they will have already stormed the gates.”

“What have they done?”

Zheng Yi said: “Wang Daifu cannot keep his face intact.”

“The Dali Court did not truly pursue it against him, and Jiang Zheng was not targeting him.”

Zheng Yi said: “Whether or not you can see through people’s intentions, I cannot say for myself — but the facts are in plain sight. A genuine, real loss of face.”

“What do you want to do? Yanzhou has only just been pacified — it is waiting for someone to go and settle things. If it is not properly managed, how are this year’s tax revenues to be handled? Jiang Zheng is not someone you can move.”

“I did not say him — replace someone else. You worked in the northern territories before, and in the Dali Court — you dealt with a few hypocrites there too, didn’t you? Suppress land consolidation, yet carry it out themselves — those cases you handled were enormously satisfying. You should have seen the looks on their faces then!”

Zhù Ying asked: “Be quiet for a few days. The Wang Family case was only just decided not long ago. You turn around and slap them again from the other direction — would you not fear everyone could see it plain as day?”

“One way or another — that Yu Qingtuan…”

Zhù Ying said: “Yu Qingtuan is the son-in-law of the Zhong family.”

“They have already brought it right to our door — I do not care whose son-in-law he is!”

Zhù Ying, however, had no desire for this. She despised hypocrites herself, but: “Zheng Xi is at home — we only need to wait quietly for his return. Besides, His Majesty and the Eastern Palace — can you not see through them? Move too aggressively and they will grow weary of it.”

That would mean she was capable beyond measure, would it not? With Zheng Xi in mourning and in her care alone, she would lead this ragtag band sweeping all before them, is that it? Zheng Xi would be back next year! Was she supposed to seize this opportunity to usurp Zheng Xi’s authority, and then play nursemaid to these pampered wastrels?

She would rather not bother!

Zheng Yi went on muttering: “If you give an inch, they take a mile.”

Zhù Ying said: “That is not something that can be allowed.”

“Truly?”

“When have I ever yielded?”

Zheng Yi tried to argue back, and then suddenly realized that Zhù Ying had indeed never retreated from anything. Her usual manner toward her own people was too polite — standing in front of her, it was very easy to forget what her temperament was actually like.

He rose to his feet, patted himself on the backside: “Fine — I believe you! I am going then.”

“Go well.”

Zhù Ying suddenly felt that for Zheng Xi to carry this crowd of people must not be entirely simple either. Yet the thing Zheng Yi had raised was not something she intended to do. As a Minister of Finance — what could she do? Moreover, given the temperaments of people like Zheng Yi, they certainly would not be able to hold back for too long. The fact that they came to say something to her at all showed that they had some regard for her — but when they wanted to make a move, they would not actually listen to her counsel.

……

Zhù Ying had guessed correctly.

The next day, Liu Songnian submitted his memorial to leave the capital. The Emperor tried repeatedly to retain him; Liu Songnian was absolutely determined to go. The Emperor gave gifts beyond counting and went in person to Liu Songnian’s household. After Liu Songnian departed, the Emperor even skipped a meal.

Liu Songnian was truly a person who had grown on his heart — brilliant in literary talent, loyal and reliable, courageous in taking responsibility, and most important of all: knowing when to withdraw from the current while it ran swiftly.

With Liu Songnian gone, the Emperor fell into melancholy.

It was fortunate that there was a Yang Jing to fill the void. Yang Jing’s bearing was graceful, and his learning solid. Beyond scholarship, he was also skilled in the composition of literary works. Yang Jing’s appointment as Rector had in fact been recommended by Liu Songnian at the time he met the Emperor over the new year.

Liu Songnian rarely recommended people — in fact, he almost never did. The Emperor took it quite seriously.

Yang Jing gave the impression of a gentle warmth, and the Emperor was deeply satisfied. When Yang Jing requested to bring order to the Directorate of Education, the Emperor said without hesitation: “Excellent! Those young fellows have been getting worse and worse — idle and undisciplined — it is high time they were brought to order!”

Yang Jing, hearing him say this, understood the Emperor had not listened to everything he said, and added: “Your subject’s intention is also to clarify the standards for evaluation and rewards and penalties. There are also the dormitories that need renovating. Rewards also require funds — the Ministry of Finance will need to authorize the disbursement.”

“That is only right!”

On the strength of that one sentence from the Emperor, Yang Jing personally brought his proposal to Zhù Ying’s door to request the funds.

Zhù Ying suspected that Yang Jing’s willingness to meet a person like her — someone who had never studied — at Yue Huan’s household had been for the sake of this money all along.

Yang Jing sat with proper upright dignity in the main hall of the Ministry of Finance, and, smiling, passed to Zhù Ying a document requesting authorization of specific amounts. Zhù Ying looked down at the figures on it — well, these were actually quite reasonable?

Whenever someone came to request funds, the ask was always inflated. Yet Yang Jing’s line items were clearly laid out. How much to repair the buildings, how much for the rewards, how much to restore the library collection…

Yang Jing was also requesting approval for several additional clerks, and their salaries naturally had to be counted in as well.

Everything was in perfect order.

Not that there had been no order before — Yue Huan had also maintained proper standards in his time. But Yang Jing seemed to be doing it in earnest. He had already taken stock of the student body, and had done the same with the faculty. He started by evaluating the teachers — those who were unqualified were dismissed, and others of sufficient qualification sought in their place.

Wherever you are, you do whatever is needed there. Only those incapable of doing meaningful work claim that some tasks are unimportant.

Yang Jing said: “If we can press down and hold back factional strife from wrecking the court and harming the nation, that alone would be a great virtue.”

Zhù Ying said: “I fear it cannot be held back.”

Yang Jing said: “Even so, one must do one’s utmost.”

Zhù Ying laughed a little.

Before long, the prophecy came true.

……

It began with Zhù Ying pouring her whole heart into the Ministry of Finance — and someone else finding it impossible to sit still.

The first to make a move was not Zheng Yi, but the grandson of the late great general Ruan — Ruan Xiu.

Ruan Xiu was something of a wastrel. Thanks to the great General Ruan’s having stood on the Emperor’s side during the palace coup, a hereditary official position had been passed down — but not a high one. Because ahead of him were his father, his uncles, and his elder brothers, by the time it came to him there was only an eighth-rank post left.

An eighth rank did not stop him from causing trouble wherever he went. The custom of the time favored families living together in one compound, and his household had not yet divided, so he still lived in the family estate. Coming and going, he was still one of the young masters of a great house, his arrogance always on full display.

In competing for the purchase of a maidservant, he found himself at odds with Yu Qingtuan. His family’s influence was substantial, but he was only eighth rank, not the eldest son of the main branch — his word did not carry weight. Yu Qingtuan was the son-in-law of the Zhong family and had people behind him. Yu Qingtuan was also more presentable in appearance than he was, and from the maidservant’s expression, she was not very taken with Ruan Xiu — her eyes kept turning toward Yu Qingtuan.

This was simply intolerable.

Yu Qingtuan also practiced land consolidation, also accepted bribes. Ruan Xiu sent his household men to find the victims, gave them some money, and instructed them to go to the capital prefecture and lodge a complaint accusing Yu Qingtuan of seizing farmland by force.

The complaint was placed on Chen Meng’s desk.