Shao Jun had worked hard on the road, and for some reason when he reached the guest house he found he could not sleep. He did not feel particularly anxious, yet he tossed and turned until well past midnight before finally sinking into deep sleep.
At daybreak, when the roosters crowed, Chen Fang, who had slept well through the night, got up and finished washing. He was about to look for Shao Jun but found no sign of him; he asked a servant, who replied, “Young Master Shao has not yet risen.”
“Oh dear — this really won’t do,” Chen Fang muttered. They had come on official business; yesterday’s arrival had been at an inconvenient hour, and the official matter had not been transacted. They would need to go to the Zhù household early today and see to the proper business first.
He walked with a light step to below Shao Jun’s window and said in a deliberately easy tone, “Young Master Shao — are you still deep in slumber? Does life in the mountains bring such peace that it lulls one into a stupor?”
Poor Shao Jun, who had slept barely two hours before being shaken awake by a servant, gave a low snarl and was about to snap. The servant was in a cold sweat: “Young Master! Lord Chen is waiting outside!”
Shao Jun glared at the window and muttered vaguely, “What is it?”
“It’s light now, sir. Time to go on official business.”
Shao Jun looked toward the window — it was indeed quite bright out. He rubbed his face vigorously and called out to the window with an air of false vitality: “Just coming!”
Cold water washed his face and cleared his head somewhat. Shao Jun braced himself and went to meet Chen Fang. Chen Fang saw through it without saying anything, and simply said, “We’ll go to the prefecture first and get the official matter dealt with. I want to take a stroll through the city afterwards — what about you?”
Shao Jun said, “The official matter comes first, of course. After all the traveling, we need to rest up properly before the journey back — I’m going to the guest house today to settle in. Tomorrow I’ll go for a look around.”
“Very well.”
Chen Fang was inwardly pleased: no need to think of excuses to avoid Shao Jun now. Today Shao Jun would return to the guest house, and he could see Zhù Ying at his leisure.
When the two of them arrived at the Zhù household, Zhù Ying had just finished her morning meeting. As prefect in name, in reality the decrees of the prefecture could only be reliably enforced in Zhù County and Gan County. The remaining five counties required separate planning for anything that needed to be arranged there. So her daily directives covered only two counties, and they were typically dealt with quickly.
The prefect’s and county officials were all chatting in the hall, waiting for Chen Fang and Shao Jun to arrive.
When the two arrived, they first greeted Zhù Ying, and though they bore the title of imperial envoys, they did not presume to sit in the seat of honor, taking instead the two newly placed chairs below Zhù Ying. Chen Fang first stated their purpose. Zhù Ying said, “One moment. Green Leaf — go and invite the Old Madam to come as well. Tell her it’s time to receive the imperial edict.”
Green Leaf had also been given the Zhù surname and had grown up at the country estate. Zhù Ying’s old attendants had been drawn away in part, and she had been brought in afterward to fill the gap. Upon receiving the instruction, she trotted off quickly to invite Zhang Xiangu. Those in the hall slowly stood, straightened their clothing, and prepared the incense table.
Widow Jiang and Big Sister Du supported Zhang Xiangu out. Chen Fang and Shao Jun first greeted her, and then read out the imperial edict — conferring posthumous honors on a former charlatan.
What Chen Fang and Shao Jun needed to do was all a matter of official formalities, and it was soon concluded. The morning was still young and it was not yet lunchtime. Zhang Xiangu said, “You two have official business — I won’t add to the fuss. Will you come back for the midday meal?”
Shao Jun looked as though he were about to yawn. Chen Fang smiled and said, “Grandmother, none of us are strangers here. You’ve been through a formal ceremony this morning — that must have been tiring for you too. Let me not leave just yet: why don’t you go and rest first, and tomorrow we can share a meal in peace and comfort?”
Zhang Xiangu took another look at Shao Jun and thought: the two of you have come such a long way — you must be tired as well. She agreed readily: “Very well. I have some free-range hens here, raised on insects up in the mountains — the meat is fragrant and flavorful.”
“Then I’ll eat extra helpings tomorrow. For today, I’ll take my leave.”
Chen Fang said they were leaving, and they genuinely did take leave of Shao Jun and departed. Back at the guest house, Shao Jun could no longer hold up — he removed his outer robe and lay down to sleep and make up for lost rest. Chen Fang had slept well the night before; he changed into casual clothes and headed directly back to the prefecture.
——
Zhù Ying had few pressing official matters, but there was one great matter she needed to think about: the children were all grown up now. What should their lives going forward look like?
Lately she had been pondering two questions: first, how to manage Wuzhou well and expand this foundation; second, what would become of this foundation in the future, and who would inherit it.
She was suddenly feeling a deep sympathy for the two preceding emperors. She stood and unfolded a black cloth, slowly folding it and binding it over her eyes, then stood in the center of the room in silence. It had been a long time since she had done this; when she stepped forward, the first step was just a little unsteady.
Honored Elder Sister Hu stretched out both hands and hovered them around her protectively without touching. Zhù Ying steadied herself, then from memory walked slowly toward the table. Along the way she accidentally kicked the threshold.
After sitting down, she fell silent. Honored Elder Sister Hu was also silent. It all seemed vaguely familiar.
She had barely sat down when Chen Fang arrived. Zhù Ying let out a small sigh, reached up, and pulled the black cloth from her eyes: “Show him in.”
Chen Fang came in quickly, not forgetting to give a bow first, and then said, “Esteemed Uncle — my father asked me to bring a letter. And there are some things he wants me to say in person.”
Zhù Ying nodded: “Sit.”
Chen Fang looked at Zhù Ying and saw that she still appeared as serene and unruffled as ever. He admired her inwardly: now that is a Chancellor’s bearing. Very much like Grandfather’s — my own father still falls short.
Thinking of his own unfortunate father, Chen Fang felt a pang of sympathy. He did not sit first; instead he said, “Esteemed Uncle, the court is rather unsettled.”
He laid a letter beside Zhù Ying’s hand as he spoke: “My father is offended by people every day. And — the Emperor’s temper has grown worse.”
Zhù Ying asked, “Is there anything he wanted to say?”
Chen Fang said, “There are some things written in the letter too. Please read it first.”
Zhù Ying opened the letter and read. Chen Meng had written about conditions in the capital, about the more capable southern scholars and subordinates Zhù Ying had left behind — he had arranged for them and asked her not to worry too much. He also wrote about the situations of various acquaintances, such as Wang Shuliang, who had gradually become close friends with Yue Huan, though together neither could rein in Xian Jing, nor move Zheng Xi.
Zhù Ying thought of the letter Wang Shuliang had sent her and felt a tinge of wistful emotion. Wang Shuliang had indeed criticized her for disrupting the court’s arrangements, yet had also acknowledged that a place like Wuzhou suited her rather well, that she could live freely in Wuzhou, and that Wuzhou would develop better under her governance. He had reminded her not to forget her roots — to treat the people well and not become a border threat.
Now it appeared: she was indeed at ease in Wuzhou, while Wang Shuliang in the capital was no longer at ease himself.
Chen Meng had devoted two full pages to the Emperor. The Emperor was not to be called stupid — he was simply an ordinary young man with a small measure of cleverness. He had inherited a realm that was in no condition to be called sound, and his ability was unequal to the task of “restoring the dynasty to glory.” Yet he harbored grand ambitions. Chen Meng could not help criticizing Zhù Ying: she had allowed the Emperor to catch a glimpse of hope, and then left. If he had never seen the light of dawn, it would have been one thing; but having seen it and then been shut back into a dark room — the Emperor was thoroughly irritable as a result.
At the close, Chen Meng wrote: The Emperor is already like this — please stop making waves. We have been doing our best to shield him from news about Wuzhou. Stop reminding him that you still exist. If the reminders mount up, he really may do something to make your life unpleasant, and the Grand Council cannot always stop him. Chen Meng and Zheng Xi could still work together, but they were powerless against the likes of Xian Jing and his faction, who very well might comply with the Emperor’s wishes in order to undercut Zheng Xi and curry imperial favor.
Take the salt matter, for example. You are capable — manage Wuzhou well first. Don’t openly sell at low prices that undercut everyone around you. As for ordinary people trading private salt, so be it. But you must not openly sell at ruinously low prices.
Zhù Ying read the letter and asked Chen Fang, “What did your father say in person?”
Chen Fang said, “My father said — you have only just returned to Wuzhou, please on no account stir things up. The Xian-Zheng factional struggle has left Xian at a disadvantage in terms of actual power, but their hand with words and the written word is stronger. You are the person Zheng Xi brought into the court, and to slander Zheng Xi they must first mention you. Wuzhou is after all impoverished and remote — if Ji’yuan Prefecture were made the front line, with no engagement in actual combat, only encirclement, you might also find yourself…”
Chen Fang slowly enumerated: “Wuzhou has grain, has salt, has soldiers, has goods — but not overmuch; self-sufficiency is just barely achievable, nothing beyond that. Otherwise it would not be called a barbarous, miasmic land, and even you cannot bear indefinite attrition. Your area also lacks iron, lacks money, cultural education is only just beginning.
My father says: only because the two prefectures and one district neighboring Wuzhou are under no unified command can no single one of them box you in. But truly pressed into a corner, if those two prefectures and one district joined forces to encircle you, you would be in trouble too.”
Zhù Ying gave a slight nod: “Oh, so the court is still so morally deficient as all that. It seems I don’t need to worry about the northern nomads and the western tribes.”
Chen Fang said with a pained smile, “Please don’t joke about this. My father says: you are cleverer than the Grand Council. The Grand Council can encircle you, and you will certainly find a way to break free. Only, he fears the means of breaking free will not be too gentle, and then both sides will be damaged. He asks that you be magnanimous. Better for everyone to coexist harmoniously and in peace.”
Zhù Ying asked, “So ordinary people just deserve to eat their food without salt?”
Chen Fang said, “The salt administration — the Grand Council will look into it. Shao Jun’s father is being considered to take charge and coordinate things…”
Zhù Ying said, “He alone will not be enough. He is Zheng Xi’s old subordinate — there are too many personal loyalties for him to navigate. And besides: who doesn’t know what the solution is? The real challenge is executing it without compromise. There needs to be an iron-faced arbiter to hold things in place. Such a person is hard to choose. Xian Jing will want to get his hands in too. His pack of wild boars — tsk!”
Chen Fang humbly sought guidance: “So what, in Esteemed Uncle’s opinion…”
“My method, even if I told him, he couldn’t apply it.”
“Do say it first!”
Zhù Ying said, “Kill.”
Chen Fang choked: “Kill… but…”
Zhù Ying said, “I told you — he can’t apply it.”
Chen Fang gave a pained smile: “Let alone this one matter. The Minister of Revenue, Minister Yao, also said — the method for checking land annexation, he can’t apply that either. Kill one and replace with another, it’s just the same wine in a new jar. What’s more, doing so would inevitably offend countless people. Those in history who did things this way in the end were all brought out to pacify public outrage…”
Zhù Ying spread her hands: “You know everything and yet do nothing. How am I any cleverer than the Grand Council? It’s simply that I am actually willing to act.
Go back and tell your father: it is impossible to accomplish things without offending anyone. The Wuzhou salt works are small and production is naturally low — it is barely enough for our own needs, and not much flows outward. He need not worry too much about it. He has served as a prefect himself — does he not know these nobles’ tricks? One needle prick and they wail as if an arm has been cut off.
Tell him to rest easy: I am still in mourning. I will not provoke the Emperor or the court in the near future.”
This was the very phrase Chen Fang had come for. At the time, Chen Meng had told him: “Go beg this ancestral grandmother not to cause any more trouble!”
The ancestral grandmother had now spoken. Chen Fang thanked her with delight, and then offered one piece of intelligence: “Shao Jun appears to be acting on Zheng Xi’s orders — he has been very thorough on this journey.”
Zhù Ying said, “Is that so? That is rather interesting.”
——
The “interesting” Shao Jun slept through half the day, missed lunch, and woke in the afternoon to find Chen Fang absent from the guest house. A servant said he had gone to browse the market. Shao Jun thus did not eat, did not go to the market, dressed himself up, and went to the Zhù household to present his calling card and request an audience with Zhù Ying.
He too came with a task in hand.
In the small drawing room, Zhù Ying invited him to sit, waiting for this young man to speak first.
Shao Jun addressed her as “Prefect” and stated his purpose: “On orders from Chancellor Zheng, I have a letter. Please read it at your convenience.”
Zhù Ying received it and asked, “How is Chancellor Zheng?”
“Except for Chancellor Xian — all is well.”
Zhù Ying smiled faintly and asked about others in the Zheng household: “Is the Madam well?”
“She is, and is currently busy arranging Second Young Lady’s marriage.”
“Oh? Which fine young man?”
“A son of the Ruan family.” Having answered, Shao Jun’s eyes drifted toward the letter.
Zhù Ying raised an eyebrow. Shao Jun grew a little tense and said, “Chancellor Zheng says, please read the letter and then write a reply.”
Zhù Ying said, “Something to discuss?”
Shao Jun lowered his voice: “It concerns the salt matter…”
Zhù Ying slowly broke the seal. Zheng Xi had written about largely the same matter as Chen Meng, even in nearly the same order; only the wording differed somewhat. Zheng Xi had not written much about conditions in the capital, only that Zhù Ying’s students were all well. Then he also used the salt prices as a pretext, asking her not to make any more waves.
She was making him absorb endless scolding on her behalf! With her being so far away she would never know, but — because of her time at the Court of Judicial Review, she had already started being called a “harsh and cruel official.”
Zhù Ying twisted her mouth, amused: “There’s even that interpretation?”
Shao Jun said, “Being called a harsh and cruel official is no good reputation.”
Zhù Ying shook her head: “You don’t understand. Let them scold. I’ll have a reply ready for you in two days.”
“Yes.”
Shao Jun had no idea what she was planning. Further questions brought no answers from Zhù Ying. She had always been patient and eager to teach those close to her, but for a message-carrier like Shao Jun she showed no such indulgence. She gave him no explanation, and let him leave in a fog.
Shao Jun was determined to see every corner of this mountain city before leaving, so he could report back with something to say. He hastily excused himself and said he wanted to buy some local souvenirs to bring home for his mother and younger sisters.
Zhù Ying said, “You’ll have to pay for them.”
Shao Jun had not expected that remark and could only reflexively reply, “Of course.”
Then he walked out, bewildered, thinking: What did that mean?
——
Shao Jun could not make heads or tails of Zhù Ying. However, at that moment in the capital, a man was in the midst of recounting his observations.
Leng Yun and Li Yanqing had returned to the capital. They had learned of Zhù Da’s death while on the road, but turning back to pay their condolences was out of the question; the two had no choice but to continue with their original plan and return to the capital first.
No one expected Leng Yun to accomplish anything great. He only needed to catch up with Zhù Ying and muddle through things, so that Li Yanqing could observe carefully.
Li Yanqing did not disappoint. At the Grand Council, he reported all he had seen and heard, concluding with: “She is more at ease among the ‘tribal peoples.’ In the small mountain city, many languages fly about at once, and among the servants at the guest house there were people from three different ethnic groups.”
Xian Jing asked, “What else does she have in mind? Could she possibly…”
Li Yanqing understood what Xian Jing meant and shook his head: “My view is that, at present, Zhù Zichang herself does not yet have ‘the written language and axle-gauge unified throughout the realm.’ She should exercise considerable restraint. Gan County lies to the west — I expect she will push deeper into the mountains rather than out of them. Chancellor Xian, she is universally acknowledged at court and in the realm as a capable and virtuous official. She has the judgment not to be foolish enough to provoke the court.”
Zheng Xi also asked about the salt administration. Li Yanqing replied, “She genuinely cares about the people’s welfare — she is not unworthy of having served as Chancellor. Everything I saw along the way, in all the prefectures and counties, fell short of hers. Chancellor, please have compassion for the common people!”