“I knew it! I knew it! She simply refuses to behave herself!” Xian Jing said furiously.

The officials of the Grand Council, upon receiving the memorandum from Ji’yuan Prefecture, had not dared to delay—they delivered it to the Prime Ministers with all speed. At that time, the three men had just come down from court, and a young official in a green robe came to meet them with the memorandum and the neatly folded notice in hand, informing them that a submission had arrived from Ji’yuan Prefecture.

Ji’yuan Prefecture, being close to Wuzhou, was always on the Grand Council’s mind. They had already instructed Prefect Xu and the others to pass on any new information from Wuzhou as soon as it arrived, and had also instructed the staff below to deliver any memoranda from Ji’yuan immediately. Each of the three Prime Ministers had left instructions to be notified. Properly speaking, whichever of their people received it first would be the first to know—but today’s official, as luck would have it, was newly arrived by hereditary appointment, and also happened to be named Dou. He had no desire to endure the temper of any of these three men.

So he reported it openly in front of all three. The three Prime Ministers had no choice but to read it together.

Before they opened it, Chen Meng said, “Wait.” He took a deep breath.

Xian Jing couldn’t stand the sight of this. He reached out: “Wait for what? Read it!”

When they read it, Xian Jing’s fury blazed. He was the one who could least abide this kind of thing. Chen Meng and Zheng Xi leaned over to read as well; when they had finished, Chen Meng murmured, “It does sound like something she would do. But—didn’t she promise not to stir up trouble again?…”

Xian Jing said heatedly, “Is her word worth anything? This—this is simply… preposterous! She cannot be allowed to continue unchecked. What do you say?”

He said “you,” but his eyes were fixed on Zheng Xi.

What is there to say? Running into her is punishment for all my sins in a past life! Zheng Xi thought bitterly inside. On the surface, he remained entirely composed: “Say what? You want to send troops? On what grounds? Because a loosely governed territory is seeking worthy talent? The officials there were never court-appointed to begin with. Female officials in Wuzhou have long been a known fact—the court itself has been aware of it. By what definition does this count as ‘stirring up trouble again’?”

Xian Jing was stopped in his tracks.

Chen Meng thought it over, and a sense of calm gradually returned. The logic seemed to be what Zheng Xi had said. “Then… we just leave her to it?”

Xian Jing said, “How can we simply leave it? This—letting women sit examinations is utterly contrary to propriety and decorum!”

“It’s not as though you’re ordering it proclaimed throughout the realm,” Chen Meng said. “She’s a woman herself—having some women by her side is actually more in keeping with propriety. If she were commandeering eunuchs, that would be a violation of protocol.”

Seeing that the other two were in agreement, Xian Jing stopped arguing and said, “Even if you insist on your reasoning, this cannot be concealed from His Majesty. I intend to report it to His Majesty.”

I knew it. Having more than one Prime Minister in the Grand Council leads to exactly this kind of complication! Zheng Xi thought. With more than one Prime Minister, the Emperor’s channels of information become that much clearer.

But there was nothing to be done. He could only watch helplessly as Xian Jing went off to find the Emperor. Zheng Xi and Chen Meng exchanged a glance—both deflating a little. It seemed they truly must owe Zhù Ying a debt from a past life; here they were going before the Emperor to intercede for her again.

Zheng Xi said, “Don’t rush off yet—bring a map. Hasn’t she got that strategy of encircling the western tribes?”

“A map that size—are you out of your mind?”

“Tell them to bring a smaller one.”

The two of them hurried over as well. They found the Emperor wearing a stern expression. Xian Jing had clearly already finished his complaint, and Hao Dafang cast Chen Meng a significant glance—the message: be careful.

Chen Meng and Zheng Xi were both wretchedly unfortunate—entangled with Zhù Ying, they could not cut the cord without real courage, and were thus compelled to say some good words on her behalf. Hao Dafang himself, having heard what Xian Jing said, was clicking his tongue in astonishment, finding the whole business rather unimaginable. There were female officials in the palace, and occasionally accomplished women were selected from across the realm to fill those positions. Those of exceptional talent and those favored by the Emperor and Empress might even have some influence in matters of governance.

But taking women and putting them into the outer court’s official posts just like men—that really was… wait! There was precedent, but those were trifling positions guarding prison doors—never seen in public. Nothing this brazen had ever been done!

It was just wrong!

And yet—one wondered if the two Prime Ministers had any way to turn this around.

Zheng Xi and Chen Meng evidently did. The Emperor asked one question: “You came quickly. It’s for Zhù Ying, isn’t it?”

Chen Meng said, “The memorandum from Ji’yuan Prefecture was read by all three of us together. Grand Councillor Xian’s legs were faster and he got here first.”

The Emperor kept his stern expression. “What do you say?”

Zheng Xi said, “Your Majesty, please look.”

Hao Dafang gestured; two small eunuchs unfolded the map and held it before the Emperor. Zheng Xi stepped forward and pointed to a section toward the bottom of the map. “Your Majesty—this is Wuzhou.”

The Emperor gave him a cool sideways glance. Zheng Xi moved his finger along the map and traced an arc. “And here is the newly established Gan County—further expansion of territory under Your Majesty’s glorious reign.”

“Ha,” the Emperor made a derisive sound. “Isn’t that Zhù Ying’s achievement? Expanding territory, expanding territory—how many years have they been talking about it? Every time she causes trouble, they bring this out to stop the mouths of the court and the realm!”

Chen Meng said, “But she has not broken her word, has she?”

Zheng Xi said, “Your Majesty—Gan County lies to the west, not the east. She is indeed carrying out the strategy as planned.”

Xian Jing said, “What we’re discussing now is not this strategy. A single merit cannot erase a hundred faults.”

“Isn’t it just about using female officials?” Zheng Xi said.

Xian Jing said, “She’s in a barbarous corner of Wuzhou—the court doesn’t interfere with her conduct there. But she should not be stirring up trouble beyond Wuzhou’s borders and leading the innocent astray! Your Majesty—people fleeing into the deep mountains has always been a sensitive matter.”

Zheng Xi said quietly, “Those who can be led astray are already restless; gathering restless people in one place does no harm. If it were somewhere else, you’d still worry she might cause trouble there—but once they’ve all gone to Wuzhou’s mountains, let her bedevil the barbarians, and after that, let her bedevil the western tribes. That actually saves everyone trouble.”

“She is gnawing away at morality and the rule of propriety and law!” Xian Jing said. “Even for examinations, candidates should be tested on the classical texts and legal codes. Otherwise, what transformation of customs is there?”

Chen Meng said, “The court has no shortage of those who were examined on the classics and legal codes—how much of expanding territory and benefiting the realm and the people have they actually accomplished?”

Zheng Xi said to the Emperor, “Your Majesty, Wuzhou is no cause for alarm at this time. Your Majesty could send troops if desired—it’s not that the battle could not be won, but the south would be thrown into turmoil, and recovery would be difficult for some time, leaving us unable to respond to other matters.

“The only person in all of Wuzhou worth being wary of is her alone. The rest may have their specialized abilities, but none can govern an entire prefecture. And the various counties in Wuzhou are loosely governed territory.

“She is already forty-three—forty-four, forty-four. How many more years can she hold on? Gnawing at propriety and law? How much can she accomplish? When she falls, with no one to lead the rest, it will be difficult for them to make any great waves. Even if the court does not bring them into the regular administrative structure, they’re unlikely to be able to turn the situation over—no blood spilled, and a region of peace is gained. Why would that not be welcome? As for suffering an occasional irritation—it’s nothing that truly harms the court.”

Xian Jing said, “And what of the present? Do not tolerate even small evils!”

Chen Meng said, “Under the present circumstances, the best course is to send her an official communication urging her to focus her attention westward.”

This time, they didn’t even want to send an envoy—an envoy would not be able to move her anyway, and it would be pointless. They would send a perfunctory official letter telling her to behave—though she probably wouldn’t listen to that either. But the Grand Council was in this state: any Prime Minister with even a trace of public conscience would not lightly want to send troops against Wuzhou. The anger was real. The reason remained.

After returning to his residence, Zheng Xi remained in a bad mood and summoned Wen Yue, Yao Chenying, and others to his manor to discuss the matter. Wen Yue was taken aback. “What are you thinking of doing to her? Don’t make any rash moves!”

Zheng Xi said with irritation, “Do I look like that sort of reckless person?”

Yao Chenying let slip a quiet remark: “Fortunate that she is no reckless person either.”

Zheng Xi looked at his cousin. His cousin was not afraid of him, and said in an unhurried tone, “Still willing to help the court encircle the western tribes, rather than allying with the barbarian tribes in the northwest…”

“Enough!” Zheng Xi’s back broke into a cold sweat. He knew what Yao Chenying had said was not impossible. In that moment, he found himself once again wondering whether his own tolerance was a mistake—whether he ought to act before she had fully gathered strength…

Wen Yue said, “Fortunately, fortunately. In the army there are many who were once under her command. If it truly came to that… even if she escaped alone to the western tribes, she would be a lasting threat.”

Zheng Xi said through gritted teeth, “She had better keep going west—and never look back!”

———

Zhù Ying was heading south.

To begin with, once Lin Feng arrived, Su Sheng, Jin Yu, and Lu Danqing also came in succession. Only Su Zhe and Lang Rui, who had ancestral lands to inherit, stayed on—Zhù Ying also hoped they would first familiarize themselves with their home clan stockades. The four—Lin, Su, Jin, and Lu—had each been assigned to lead a unit of a hundred soldiers for trial training, and Zhù Ying personally invited Hou Wu out of retirement to assist from the side. If they did well, the next batch would rotate through the same training—so that the able-bodied men could receive training during the agricultural off-season. With three years of this, there would be a sufficiently large garrison force to deploy.

With military affairs arranged, she turned to working out the detailed regulations for the civil examinations.

The plan was set: examinations every three years, with a tiered selection process. Select at the county level, then sit the examinations at the prefecture level. After the examination, candidates would learn and serve in practice positions; those who passed through would receive full official appointment.

Three years was exactly the timeline in her plans for taking Xika. Once that territory was gained, this first cohort—trained for three years—could be deployed there. That would create vacancies, which the next round of examinations would fill with new talent, who would continue to be taught and trained. The following round of westward expansion would be roughly another three years as well. Round after round, the rhythm would stay in step. After three or four cycles, she estimated she would be adjacent to the western tribes’ borders, with roughly ten years having passed. Then consolidation—establishing the military governorship, sorting out the official structure, calling for the next round of examination candidates. Expansion created the need for more positions.

People said seventy was a rare old age; in truth, most people never reached it. Those who died in their fifties were not counted as dying young. And there would be vacancies again.

The rules governing the examination hall and the scoring of papers—these were things she had long since done to a practiced art, and she set them down effortlessly.

When she finished, she found herself quite satisfied; Zhao Su and the others found nothing to fault in the draft, had no suggestions worth offering, and tacitly accepted the whole strategy. Only Zhao Su’s point—”The school’s curriculum is still too elementary; difficulty must be increased in stages”—received Zhù Ying’s approval.

Everything was progressing smoothly when a death notice arrived from Asu County—in fact two: one for Zhù Ying, one for Su Sheng. Both spoke of the same event: Su Mingluan’s mother, Su Sheng’s grandmother, had passed away.

Lu Danqing said at once, “I must also go and pay my respects!”

She was the daughter of Luguo; Luguo was Su Mingluan’s maternal uncle, which made the deceased Lu Danqing’s aunt by marriage.

Zhù Ying entrusted the mountain city to Zhao Su and set off with Su Sheng and Lu Danqing for Asu County to attend the funeral. Zhang Xiangu also wanted to go; Huajie was not comfortable with that and accompanied Zhang Xiangu together. Zhù Ying thought for a moment and said, “Then let Wu Ren come along with me as well. Xiang An—you stay and look after things here.”

“Hm?” Wu Ren had no idea why. “I—I’m not family.”

“Come with me.” Zhù Ying said. It was a good opportunity to check on the salt field as well.

Wu Ren had no idea what was happening, but did as she was told and followed along. The road from the mountain city to the Asu clan’s home was well-built—narrower than the post roads below the mountains but equally flat and solid, the surface laid thick and firm. Every thirty li there was a small waystation yard. The party traveled a stretch, rested a stretch, and arrived at Asu Settlement on the second day.

The settlement was already filled with weeping. Everyone was mourning the old lady, and the children and grandchildren were crying with particular anguish.

The daughter was capable; she had managed everything splendidly, and the old lady, though she felt tender concern for her son, had truly never had to worry about much. Later, when the eldest son also had his own settlement, there was even less to trouble her. More recently, some of the other sons had also been given settlements. Though there were still descendants who had not yet attained such a large family estate, seeing that her daughter never failed to look after her brothers, the old lady had finally set her mind at ease.

With nothing to worry over, she had grown kinder and more gentle, often helping the poorer families in the settlement, and her reputation had become even finer.

From the moment Zhù Ying entered the settlement gates, she heard weeping, and people came to her lamenting the loss of a kind and gentle old woman.

Su Sheng broke into open, unrestrained sobs. Zhù Ying and the others could only offer comfort. Before they had gone very far, Su Zhe came out to meet them, her own eyes red-rimmed: “Grandma!” She rushed into Zhù Ying’s arms.

Zhù Ying stiffened for just a moment, then didn’t dodge—she raised her hand, drew Su Zhe in, and gently patted her back. “Take me to see her.”

The woman had already died—there was nothing to see, really, and she had left no last words for Zhù Ying. Zhù Ying came for two reasons: to attend the funeral rites and send off this older sister-in-law of sorts, and to strengthen ties with the Asu family. She also placed several gleaming gold-set jeweled ornaments in the coffin.

Zhang Xiangu was more distressed than she was, tears falling continuously. “Such a fine person—and just like that, she’s gone.”

Zhù Ying consoled her: “She went in her sleep. No suffering.”

Zhang Xiangu suddenly said with a sorrow that came from somewhere deep: “She’s only a few years older than I am—my days must also be drawing short.”

Zhù Ying and Huajie were startled. Both said, “You’re overcome with grief! Don’t say such things in front of the coffin!”

Because of this remark, Zhù Ying wouldn’t even let Huajie continue south with them—she had Huajie stay with Zhang Xiangu in the settlement instead, while she herself accompanied Su Mingluan and the others to escort the coffin into the mountain.

Only when they returned from the mountain did Zhang Xiangu rest for half a day; her spirits recovered somewhat, and she felt a little ashamed of herself. Zhù Ying simply acted as though she had not heard anything, drew Zhang Xiangu to sit beside her, and everyone gathered around the central hearth—drinking, eating, talking.

Su Zhe came quietly over and lay against Zhù Ying’s other side, asking in a low voice, “Grandma—the civil examinations are going to open, is that right?”

“Yes.”

“Girls can also be among those who pass.”

“Yes.”

“And here with you, the same as men who become officials—if you perform well, you can advance the same way.”

“Yes.”

“All the way up?”

“Yes.”

“All people—treated the same?”

“Yes.”

Su Zhe slid away from Zhù Ying’s shoulder and sat to the side, looking down at the flames dancing in the central hearth. Zhù Ying turned her head slightly and looked at this girl who had carried worries in her heart since she was small.

Because of a funeral, Zhù Ying remained in Asu County for several days. And so the express dispatch sent by the court reached her there in Asu County.

Zhù Ying opened it and scanned it, then said with a smile, “So—the court has accepted it.” Being scolded was being scolded; it didn’t cost her a piece of flesh.

Su Mingluan said, “What I fear is that someone in the court won’t let it rest and will try something underhanded.”

Zhù Ying said, “And what of it? The examinations are set for next spring, and harvest hasn’t started yet. Since I’m already out here, I’ll go and check on the salt field. Would you like to come?”

Su Mingluan still had matters from the funeral rites to see to. Su Zhe immediately volunteered to go along, and the party gained Su Zhe and her attendants. Since Su Zhe had returned home, the things she had for a journey out again were not simple. Another day was spent getting everything ready; finally she came running to find Zhù Ying: “Grandma! We can set off now!”

“Good,” Zhù Ying said.

Given the heat, Zhang Xiangu was not allowed to continue south. Su Mingluan sent people to escort her home. Su Zhe also clung to Zhang Xiangu’s arm and wheedled, “Grandma, don’t worry—I’ll definitely take good care of you, Grandma!” This addressed to Zhù Ying.

Zhang Xiangu laughed and patted her arm in return.

Just as they were enjoying this warm moment, Su Mingluan came walking over with someone, looking quite serious. Zhù Ying asked, “What is it?” She glanced at the person behind Su Mingluan—a young man she didn’t quite recognize. Su Mingluan looked at Zhang Xiangu. Zhang Xiangu said, “You have official business? Then I’ll go pack my things.” She walked out slowly.

Su Mingluan said somewhat apologetically, “It’s a small piece of trouble, but it’s something you should know.”

Zhang Xiangu said with a smile, “I understand.” She left at a slow, easy pace.

Only then did Su Mingluan speak: “He sells tea on the outside, and has just returned. He heard some unpleasant words being said, and I thought you should be aware.”

The young tea seller was a little timid. “Grandma! The scholars and bookmen outside are abusing you! Saying you’ve turned the natural order upside down…” Then he went on to list various epithets being circulated—things like “bewitching seductress” and “demon spirit.” Something about her being some peculiar, inverted star descended from the heavens, sent specifically to throw women into disorder, and so on. Accusations that she was acting outrageously and had the absurd notion of letting women serve as officials. That those who did such things would receive divine retribution in the afterlife. Perhaps she was the warden of a prison in the underworld and the prison cell was empty, luring women into committing sins so they could die and go to hell, that sort of thing.

“Just this? Is there anything fiercer?” Zhù Ying asked.

“That’s all I heard.”

“Let them curse.”

Su Zhe was so furious her hair was practically standing on end. She burst out, “Besides nitpicking at the fact that you’re a woman—do they have any other argument? And you’re still smiling?!”

Her shout startled Lu Danqing, who had been coming to find Zhù Ying and knocked her knee on the threshold. Lu Danqing said with irritation, through the pain, “What are you yelling about?”

Su Zhe, sensing she had been too agitated, said somewhat sheepishly, “How can they just be allowed to curse like that?!”

Zhù Ying said, “If they don’t curse hard enough and don’t spread it far enough, how would anyone in distant places ever hear of me? Before, when Wuzhou’s affairs weren’t properly in hand, I couldn’t let things run too loose. But now with the purple-robed rank given, the time for making my name known has come. Without making my name known, how would the fine young women I need ever come and find me? Let them yell—if they yell ten thousand lines, at least one will carry some truth. Let them shout themselves hoarse—they’re saving us the trouble of spending our own breath. Get everything ready and rest well. Tomorrow we rise early and get on the road.”