Su Zhe knew the mountain city like the back of her hand. She also knew that at a time like this, Zhù Ying would most likely be in the residence, so she went directly to request an audience. The governor’s residence still had a room kept for her use, and the people at the gate greeted her warmly: “Little Sister, why have you come so suddenly?”

Su Zhe returned the greeting with a nod and said, “I missed her. Is she in the residence?”

“She is. I’ll go and announce you.”

Su Zhe stepped forward, then pulled her foot back. “All right.”

Several more people came in from outside heading toward the residence. Su Zhe turned to look, and her eyes met those of a young woman among them, who let out a small burst of delighted surprise: “Little Sister!”

This young woman’s name was Su Lan, one of those who had come from Asu County to sit for the examination and had passed. She was currently helping Jiang Zhou with his work. The mountain city maintained good order, so she had relatively little to do; when Zhù Ying needed people to help with copying documents, Jiang Zhou had sent her along. Su Zhe had a great many things she wanted to ask her, but the moment she met Su Lan’s curious eyes, she swallowed every word she had been holding.

Su Lan said to her companions: “You all go in first — I’ll be right there.”

Su Zhe thought she was going to offer some private word of advice, and was already leaning in to lower her voice, when she heard Su Lan ask instead: “Why did you suddenly come? You didn’t say anything beforehand — has something happened at home?”

Su Zhe asked, “I’ve been feeling unsettled, so I wanted to come and see her. Has anything happened at the residence?”

“Nothing in particular.”

“I saw a lot of people rushing about on the road.”

“It’s spring planting season. I was transferred here to help with exactly that.”

“Isn’t there a war?”

“There is a battle, yes, but… it should be manageable.” Su Lan said. “It’s not a big deal.”

“Where’s Danqing?”

“She went on the campaign.”

Su Zhe was at a loss for words. On the campaign? What had been Lu Danqing’s assignment before — was that not clear enough? Lu Danqing was in charge of drilling troops, and now even the drill master had taken soldiers and marched out, and this still wasn’t a big deal?

Just then, the person who had gone to announce her came back: “My lord invites you to the study.”

Su Lan said, “You have business — go quickly. I need to go back to my post. I’ll find you tonight to catch up.”

Su Zhe had no choice but to go see Zhù Ying. The closer she got to the study, the slower her steps became. By the time she reached the door, her feet had come to a natural stop. Zhù Qingye noticed her and said, “Little Sister has come.”

Zhù Ying set down her brush and beckoned to Su Zhe: “Come.”

Su Zhe gathered her skirts and walked over, stopping in front of the writing desk. Zhù Ying said, “Something on your mind?”

Su Zhe took a deep breath. “Yes.”

“Sit down and tell me slowly.”

Su Zhe didn’t move. Zhù Ying sat there as she always had — composed, tolerant, as if nothing you could say or do could provoke the slightest irrational reaction from her. In the past, being near someone like this had felt supremely safe and reassuring.

Now, however, a sense of helplessness welled up in Su Zhe’s heart, spreading rapidly through her whole body. She opened her mouth, then felt as if anything she said would already have been anticipated. Even her anger would only be met with continued tolerant composure, accepting her bad temper until she exhausted herself into quiet.

Like throwing punches at empty air.

Hollow and tasteless.

Su Zhe thought: when she was in the capital, did the people who stood across from Zhù Ying feel this same thing? No matter how many schemes you had, the person facing you was steady as a mountain, knowing everything, capable of meeting and deflecting any move without striking back — because she simply didn’t bother counting that against you. She didn’t say, and you would never know what she was thinking or planning inside. Yet sometimes she would have a lively back-and-forth with certain others, bantering and laughing, suddenly vivid and alive.

Su Zhe said nothing. Zhù Ying didn’t press her, waiting for Su Zhe’s breathing to slow.

Su Zhe didn’t know how much time passed — it felt both very long and very short. Zhù Qingye, watching, had grown a little worried: Su Zhe’s body swayed very slightly back and forth, and Zhù Qingye knew this was the inevitable response of a person who had been standing for a long time.

But then Su Zhe came to a realization: I don’t need to be standing across from her! Why am I just standing here? What did I come for? What is it I actually want?

Without waiting for Zhù Ying to ask again, she spoke: “I suddenly missed you.”

Zhù Ying smiled slightly: “It has been a while. It’s busy all around with the spring planting — how is the family doing?”

“Also busy, but not as many matters as you have here. Nearly done, actually.” Su Zhe regained her composure. “She… I saw people rushing back and forth on the road. Is there… a battle?”

“The border has never been truly peaceful. There’s never been long-lasting peace in these mountains either — just back and forth, that’s all.”

Su Zhe had made up her mind, and with that her words came more freely. She said directly: “I think this time is different from before.”

Zhù Ying smiled: “Indeed. Being harassed year after year, unable to live a proper life — it’s aggravating. Take this chance to drive them far off, and we can finally get down to living in earnest.”

Su Zhe said seriously: “That will require a great many troops and supplies. The Yigan clan and my maternal great-uncle’s people are both Flower Banner — Flower Banner tribes have always been weak. But they have marriage alliances with certain clans, and Xika — especially Jima — has large strongholds. I’m afraid this won’t go as smoothly as previous campaigns.”

Zhù Ying nodded: “I am prepared for that.”

Su Zhe made up her mind and said: “She… I came and don’t see Danqing — she’s also gone on the campaign, hasn’t she? I want to go as well. Before, in the north, on the western frontier, I always resented having no chance. Since coming back, the only battle was the one against the Yigan clan, and that wasn’t satisfying either. I’m going to be a clan chief in the future — I can’t shy away from difficulty. I am willing to bring the soldiers from my family and fight alongside you against the enemy.”

But Zhù Ying refused her: “For now, it’s still manageable. The timing isn’t right — every family is in the middle of the spring planting; don’t let it be disrupted.”

Su Zhe understood even more clearly: Zhù Ying did not want to share out further gains. Su Zhe understood the current state of affairs in Wuzhou well enough. Zhù Ying, as governor, did not hold much in her hands — her decrees could not reach and bind all the counties. Under those circumstances, any matter Zhù Ying could handle herself and absorb alone, she would not call on all the counties to join in and then have to further bolster their strength.

Besides, at the very least, Lu Guo and Xijin’s people genuinely could not fight. When hunting, nobody wants to bring along a clumsy companion who can’t aim straight, frightens away the game, and then still expects a share of the meat.

The sense of discomfort she had felt earlier — it seemed it wasn’t only a matter of her own position. Zhù Ying had also grown somewhat distant from the five counties.

A sadness stirred in Su Zhe’s heart, along with a faint impulse to reproach her. Feelings of grievance rose up, and she wanted to say something, but couldn’t arrange the right words. In terms of obligation and gratitude, Zhù Ying had genuinely never treated them poorly. But they had cooperated so well together, and then suddenly she wasn’t playing with them anymore — that still stung.

Yet Su Zhe was not one to retreat at the first obstacle. Even if no one else could come along, she herself couldn’t be left behind, could she? And she hadn’t seen Lin Feng in the residence anywhere either, nor along the way — on what grounds was he allowed to follow along?

Su Zhe persisted: “She… I am willing to contribute. A’Ma and I also need one or two more strongholds to settle our uncles. I am willing to earn this share through my own effort.”

“Your A’Ma is still worried about your uncles?”

“Your city is newly built — built from flat ground, laid out as you wished. A’Ma and I took over an old house, and renovating it without damaging the old beams and pillars brings endless complications. The uncles have long tenure, and the older brothers aren’t very capable — A’Ma has quite the headache.” The “older brothers” Su Zhe mentioned were all maternal cousins, sons of her uncles.

Zhù Ying said: “If they were wise and capable, your A’Ma would have an even bigger headache.”

Su Zhe acknowledged it: “Among our blood relatives, A’Ma and I can only trust ourselves — and at most, the children I bear someday.”

“There’s only so much land to go around. You want some, he wants some — children beget children, grandchildren beget grandchildren. Your uncles’ grandchildren number close to a hundred if not more. All need to be provided for? And what is the result of that kind of accumulation?”

This question was one Zhù Ying had once discussed with Wang Yunhe and others when she was dealing with matters of trade in Fulu County and Wuzhou, twenty years ago. The reason she had given then was not a deflection but a genuinely considered conclusion: there had to be a path forward for ordinary people who had lost their land, otherwise they would eventually upturn the whole table.

By now, she had developed a further thought: going forward, she no longer intended to merely “enfeoff” land to a select few. For these people, she could offer money or grain — those were peripheral things. Land and people were the foundation, the things that generated wealth — and those were not for giving away.

Su Zhe said: “We’ve also thought about it. Since you’ve opened the examination system and let them stand for office, only a handful actually manage to pass.”

Zhù Ying said: “You don’t have the heart for it?”

Su Zhe opened her mouth. It wasn’t that she lacked heart, but rather: “My eldest uncle also has a stronghold, and he says he can’t just leave them with nothing — he wants to share the burden with A’Ma. A’Gong and A’Pó have already passed away. A’Ma says she has so few truly close kin left…”

Zhù Ying said: “You can’t wait until things are beyond salvaging before thinking about changing course. Since you’ve come, stay and rest for a few days first. As for your A’Ma — I’ll write to her.”

“Yes.” Su Zhe took her leave carefully.

Going out, she ran right into Zhao Su carrying a stack of documents. Su Zhe quickly called out, “Uncle.”

Zhao Su said: “Sharp little one, you caught wind again?”

Su Zhe smiled bitterly: “The more I smell, the hungrier I get.”

Zhao Su said: “Why can’t you figure this out? Fish and bear’s paw — when have you ever been able to have both at the same time? If you want everything, can you hold it all? Either take the old road and don’t covet anything else. With indirect control, you each govern yourselves — unless it’s a matter of life and death, whatever she does next doesn’t require dragging along a few old patriarchs.

Or take the new road, gain more opportunities — but of course you must also give up some of what you previously held for certain. There’s always a price to pay.”

That price was having to answer to the governor’s residence, and possibly having to hand over the governance of Asu County. Given Zhù Ying’s approach, she would probably not take Asu County back directly but would rather appoint Su Zhe’s mother and daughter to continue as county administrators — in other words, using personnel appointments as leverage. What would follow was inevitably a gradual reclaiming of power, which might come quickly or slowly.

There was also one great worry: the question of Zhù Ying’s successor. Zhù Ying could be impartial and fair. Would the next person be the same? What if they came in eager for quick achievement and immediately tried to claw back all authority? That would leave her mother and daughter with nothing.

But right now, this was not hers to decide.

Su Zhe said: “I understand.”

Zhao Su, knowing her difficulties, said one sentence: “Think it over carefully.” Then he turned and went into the study.

——

Zhù Ying had already heard them murmuring at the door. She couldn’t make out the words, but she could guess a fair amount.

She said: “Help me arrange a meeting with Little Sister. There are some things I need to talk over with her as well.”

“Of course,” Zhao Su said, “and as for the craftsman who makes coin molds — a good one has been found.”

“How so?”

“He was helping to cast counterfeit currency, was caught, and since he wasn’t the mastermind, was only sentenced to exile of three thousand li — sent to Fulu County.”

Understood. Back when she was in Fulu County, she had often found talent among the exiled.

Zhù Ying said: “Keep him comfortable. Don’t do anything for now — wait until the copper mine is in hand, then we’ll discuss it.”

Zhao Su said: “Yes. She… Little Sister has always been clever — meeting her is a good thing, and better than having her share her speculations with the other families. Those families, though some are foolish, do genuinely have influence. My personal wish is that Little Sister and our side stay on the same path. If that proves impossible, I ask you to protect her. She’s always known which way the wind blows. As long as we win the first battle and can set up two new counties, our strength will just about balance against the other counties. At that point, riding on a great victory — greater numbers, more territory — any little schemes they might harbor will naturally die out on their own.”

Zhù Ying thought the same. Expanding her power quietly was not simply about surviving under the imperial court’s pressure — even if the court paid no attention, for the sake of her own security she needed her strength to match what a “governor” should command.

“Arrange the meeting.”

Zhao Su hadn’t yet replied when Xiang Yu came rushing in, clutching a letter personally: “She! Something has happened!”

Zhao Su said: “What’s this manner? Running around in a panic!” It wouldn’t be a battle report — that didn’t go through Xiang Yu’s hands. As long as it wasn’t bad news from the front, Zhao Su didn’t think it warranted this much alarm.

Xiang Yu took a deep breath, then said to Zhù Ying: “They — in the capital — they’ve made trouble!”

That could genuinely be a serious matter. Zhao Su said: “Who are ‘they’? What trouble?”

Xiang Yu set the letter down on Zhù Ying’s desk, then lifted a sleeve to wipe sweat while he explained: “They tried to coerce the Vice Minister of Personnel…”

Last year, when Wuzhou sent tribute to the capital, Zhù Ying had taken the opportunity to pass along some evidence of powerful officials’ wrongdoings to the southern scholars — for their own protection. These were things that if left unused for a few years or decades would lose value once the people involved died. Zhù Ying had given them away without much reluctance.

The recipients were at once grateful and felt they couldn’t keep burdening Zhù Ying forever — she was three thousand li away, and calling on her was too troublesome. Better to make good use of these materials themselves; ideally, use them to secure a promotion. If they rose in rank, wouldn’t that mean they could stop relying on her so much?

What they hadn’t anticipated was that the current Vice Minister of Personnel was made of stern stuff — he flipped the table entirely. First he went to Chen Meng and had a good cry with him, then threw himself into the prison of the Court of Judicial Review. Once the matter blew up, it couldn’t be contained. The Council of State moved swiftly: they demoted the Vice Minister of Personnel and sent him out of the capital as a governor, then stripped Gu Tong and the others of their positions as well.

Now before Zhù Ying was a letter full of desperate wailing and pleading for help.

Zhao Su swore: “Useless!”

Zhù Ying said: “There’s going to be fallout from this — where is the messenger?”

Xiang Yu said: “Crying outside the residence right now.”

“Send the letter back exactly as it is. Ignore them from here on!”

“Yes.” Xiang Yu took the letter back and ran off.

Zhao Su said: “And of all times for this to happen! How do you intend to handle them?”

Zhù Ying said: “Leave them for now. Watch the official gazettes and see what comes next. Three thousand li away, everything is two months behind — rather than getting anxious over them, better to handle what’s in front of us properly. Arrange the meeting with Little Sister.”

“Yes.”