Her own junior sixth rank was still only a whisper on the grapevine, while Zhou You’s Senior Fifth Grade had already marched openly into the palace!
Zhù Ying, who had never been the sort to swallow resentment and accept fate since childhood, worked herself into a good strong temper. But the two beside her were nothing like her.
Senior Assessor Zuo had a look of half-envy and half-disdain, with some indeterminate quality mixed in, and said: “Well, that general must have accumulated great virtue in his past life, I suppose.”
Zhù Ying thought: then he’ll suffer greatly in the next one.
Yang the Sixth clicked his tongue: “Then I suppose we lot didn’t build up enough luck in past lives.”
Senior Assessor Zuo said: “Speak for yourselves — I was the most lacking in virtue in my past life. You’re a bit better off than me. And among the three of us, Little Zhù accumulated the most merit.”
Yang the Sixth said with a grin: “Little Zhù will have a good next life too — word has it — “
He had heard too about Zhù Ying releasing people during the confiscations. Zhù Ying said: “How do you have so much news? Palace gossip I can understand, and what goes on inside the offices — but how do you even know what happens outside?”
Yang the Sixth grinned: “It’s what I enjoy!”
These three junior officials — two of them reportedly about to be promoted, and yet even after the promotions, they’d still be far below Zhou You. Yang the Sixth and Senior Assessor Zuo felt envy and resentment, but had never activated the emotion of “hatred.” The gap was too great — too far even for hatred to reach.
Zhù Ying was different. She thought: this worthless scoundrel is going to be overseeing the Imperial Guards? What if he happens to be on duty, and I run into him — that’ll be yet another legal headache. What terrible luck!
She began to take precautions.
Senior Assessor Zuo also asked Yang the Sixth: “Are there others besides them?”
Zhù Ying pricked up her ears to listen too. Yang the Sixth said: “Word has it there’s to be another addition to the Chief Ministers.”
Senior Assessor Zuo asked: “Could it be Metropolitan Prefect Wang?”
“Him? How long has he been serving as Prefect? He’s going to enter the Grand Secretariat? He still has a long wait ahead.”
“Then who?”
Yang the Sixth said: “Lord Zhong has taken charge of the Ministry of Rites. Where do you suppose the previous Minister of Rites ended up, then?”
“Shi……”
“There you go.”
The previous Minister of Rites was named Shi Kun. He and the Court of Judicial Review had no particular connection, and Zhù Ying had only ever heard the name and seen him from a distance. But reportedly, this man was exceedingly skilled at managing affairs without really doing anything — someone who kept every party content. Some called him a Bodhisattva; others called him a wooden frame.
Senior Assessor Zuo said: “Well, that’s not so bad. This one doesn’t like to stir up trouble.”
They exchanged a few more murmured remarks, and Senior Assessor Zuo first verbally invited everyone for New Year drinks, to which Yang the Sixth said with a grin: “Your Court of Judicial Review made a fortune this year — I won’t be shy then.” He also invited Senior Assessor Zuo and Zhù Ying for drinks, and Zhù Ying accepted. She also needed to host her colleagues herself, including Yang the Sixth. Yang the Sixth accepted without hesitation.
Once their idle talk was done, the year’s end break was not far off. Everyone had grown restless, all longing to go home sooner. Yet Zheng Xi seized on the last days before the holiday to deliver the best news of all to everyone — promotions.
Zheng Xi announced this good news, then added: “Considering the hardship of the work, the Grand Secretariat, in its regard for the people below, has approved the documents before the holiday! After the New Year……”
Everyone said: “We will certainly serve the lord faithfully!”
Money and rank — where else could you find such a good superior? Everyone was delighted.
Zheng Xi began to distribute the appointment documents.
Zhù Ying had been promoted directly to Judicial Inspector — a rise of eight full grades. A stroke of fortune that extraordinary was bound to provoke envy. Yet whatever resentment her colleagues might privately have nursed was largely diluted by a certain gleeful satisfaction — Su Kuang had been promoted to Registrar, seventh grade, which was lower than Zhù Ying, this latecomer. And Senior Assessor Zuo had also been promoted to Registrar — while the previous Registrar had also been promoted, and Senior Assessor Wang, together with Zhù Ying, had been made Judicial Inspectors.
Senior Assessor Wang was less of an object of envy, since he was already quite old — his grandchildren were about the same age as Zhù Ying — and he had been stuck at the junior eighth grade all this time, which was simply pitiable. If seniority were a piece of good meat, his had been charred all the way to ash.
Others had also had their ceremonial ranks raised, and some had their substantive posts raised too. The three senior members of the Court of Judicial Review could not be promoted any further within the court, making it look as if they had come away with nothing. This was also because the higher one went, the slower things moved. Zheng Xi, not yet thirty, — what higher rank could there be for him to rise to? Quick at the start — now was the time to slow down and “simmer.”
Zheng Xi finished distributing the documents and went off to talk with Pei Qing and Leng Yun — a very perceptive superior. The junior officials each found their friends, congratulating each other and arranging New Year drinks and the like. Su Kuang, though seething inside, could not very well make a scene on an occasion like this. He kept his grinning face on and had a few words with everyone. Everyone was in good spirits and went through the motions with him. The scene was one of complete harmony.
Zhù Ying talked with Senior Assessors Wang and Zuo. She didn’t use their official titles, the same as before: “Old Zuo, it’s a shame.”
Registrar Zuo took it in stride: “What is there to be sorry about? We always knew you were the one. You don’t need to feel awkward.” Senior Assessor Wang also said: “He’s telling the truth this time.” They chatted for a while longer, and then it was time to head home. On the way out, Zhù Ying noticed that Senior Assessor Zuo didn’t actually look the way someone who had been passed up by a younger colleague ought to look — which puzzled her. Senior Assessor Zuo was a seasoned official and no paragon of virtue — when an official failed to advance as well as someone else, there was bound to be some displeasure.
Zhù Ying said: “Let me find us a carriage. It’s snowing, and Old Wang can barely walk steadily anymore.”
Senior Assessor Zuo said: “Get one for him — I’ll walk.”
Zhù Ying went and found two carriages, negotiated the price, and paid in advance. When she came back, Senior Assessor Zuo was still keeping Senior Assessor Wang company. Senior Assessor Zuo said: “Little Zhù…… Judicial Inspector…… is really too modest.”
Zhù Ying said: “Little Zhù is just Little Zhù — otherwise Old Zuo doesn’t have a match, and it sounds oddly awkward.”
Senior Assessor Zuo laughed: “Old Zuo it is — stop letting me off easy, it’s more comfortable when you don’t.”
The two of them together saw Senior Assessor Wang to his carriage. Senior Assessor Wang said: “Aiya, no need, no need.” He ended up stepping in with a hand from each of them. Zhù Ying then saw Senior Assessor Zuo off, and Senior Assessor Zuo said: “I wouldn’t presume.” He gave a token steadying gesture, put his foot on the step, and boarded. At this moment, Senior Assessor Wang lifted the carriage curtain and asked: “Little Zhù — and you?”
Zhù Ying said: “I’ll walk. I won’t mind if I slip and fall.”
Senior Assessor Zuo tried again to give up his carriage, but Zhù Ying said to the coachman: “Go now, don’t let him get out! The fare has been paid — take him safely to his door.”
The coachman cracked the whip, and Senior Assessor Zuo rolled away, his voice carrying a bemused note: “This Little Zhù!”
Senior Assessor Wang from the other side said: “Get in here too — you already hired it, just pay the coachman a bit more.” The coachman also wanted the business and said: “My cart is extremely smooth and steady, and I know every street in the capital.” He had pulled the step down and placed it on the ground, his look very eager.
Zhù Ying jumped in, settling into the carriage with Senior Assessor Wang. The coachman cracked his whip with pleasure: “Hold on, sirs!”
Senior Assessor Wang was flush-cheeked and smiling, and said with a playful curse: “Not one of them asks where the other person is going first!”
Zhù Ying said: “I’ll send you first, then come back and tell him the destination.”
Senior Assessor Wang said: “Fair enough. How about it — all that resentment from being tormented by Centipede Su — has it cleared?”
Zhù Ying smiled: “When I was growing up, my days weren’t easy. I’ve seen plenty of people like him — they don’t bother me much.”
Senior Assessor Wang said: “A young person with that attitude — that’s what a real future looks like! Not like me — I’m old!”
“How could that be? Who knows what tomorrow holds? And you’ve been promoted, haven’t you?”
Senior Assessor Wang shook his head, a touch wistful: “Do you know why I was included in this promotion to Judicial Inspector? The truth is, Su Kuang, that dreadful creature, isn’t entirely without merit — making him a Judicial Inspector wouldn’t be pushing things too far.”
“He’s a person with some ability who also applies himself.”
Senior Assessor Wang said: “A few days earlier, Lord Zheng summoned me.”
“Oh?”
Senior Assessor Wang smiled: “This lord of ours — don’t be fooled by his youth. He really knows how to handle people. You’re younger still, but you’ve worked less deftly than he has. He regards you highly, so you must stay close to him and learn from him. Don’t only know how to put your head down and plough away — also look up and take in what the landscape around you looks like.”
“Why are you bringing this up now?”
Senior Assessor Wang said: “Lord Zheng said that originally I was supposed to be promoted to Registrar. However, he wanted to promote me to Judicial Inspector.”
“That’s a good thing.”
“There’s even better. When the Gong case is fully concluded in spring and promotions come around again, my ceremonial rank will also be raised — a solid Senior Sixth Grade. If things go as expected, Senior Fifth Grade may be possible too.”
“Better still.”
Senior Assessor Wang said: “See — you’re young after all. Learn something — once the case is concluded and the promotions are done, I’ll be retiring. Freeing up a spot. Do you see why Old Zuo hasn’t been showing displeasure? When I’m gone, this Judicial Inspector vacancy is certain to go to him. Speaking of seniority, he’s got far more than Su Kuang. Speaking of ability, even if he and Su Kuang each have their strengths, he isn’t too far behind. And his connections are better than Su Kuang’s. Su Kuang also can’t very well air his grievances at Lord Zheng. Only — you’ll need to watch out for that centipede of yours.”
Zhù Ying understood: Senior Assessor Wang had a wish — to hold a higher rank, so that after retirement his pension would be higher. An official’s pension after retirement was generally lower than while in post. Zheng Xi doing it this way was genuinely considerate of and kind to a subordinate. This way, Senior Assessor Wang could leave cleanly, without any temptation to leave traps behind, and whoever took over would find the handover easy.
Zhù Ying estimated that Senior Assessor Zuo either had guessed this on his own, or Zheng Xi had also summoned him for a talk.
Senior Assessor Wang had a bellyful of things he wanted to say, and he arranged several more times for Zhù Ying to come for New Year drinks, and also said: “My children and grandchildren are not much different from me — just getting by, nothing special. No need to make any particular effort to cultivate them in the future. If you happen to cross paths with them, just give them a small lift.”
Zhù Ying said: “What kind of talk is that? I’ve met them all, and they’re perfectly fine people.”
Senior Assessor Wang said: “None of your empty words.”
Zhù Ying said: “All right.”
Senior Assessor Wang was pleased: “Little Zhù — boundless future ahead. Remember this: the first thing is your own ability, and the second is having a solid backing. Both are indispensable. And if you don’t know what kind of wife to marry, ask Lord Zheng to act as matchmaker.”
A few more jokes, and his house was reached. He said: “I won’t keep you — go home quickly and tell your family the good news.”
……
Zhù Ying arrived home. The coachman was also given the fare for the second leg of the trip, said a few words of New Year’s good wishes, collected his step, and drove off.
Zhang Xiangu came back in a bit of a rush and asked: “Well? Has leave started?”
“How did Mother know?”
Zhang Xiangu said: “I heard it from your Elder Sister-in-law Jin.”
Zhù Ying said: “Leave has started, but Lord Zheng has arranged for me to take one day’s duty.”
“That’s fine too!” Zhang Xiangu was quite reasonable about it. “Which day? I’ll pack you good food.”
Zhù Ying said: “New Year’s Eve.”
“What?” Zhang Xiangu and Zhù Da were both taken aback. “We’re not celebrating the New Year?”
Zhù Ying said: “It’s not as if we ever had a particularly good New Year in the past anyway.”
Zhù Da said: “What’s Lord Zheng thinking? He’s always treated you well — have you offended him recently?”
Zhù Ying said: “Not at all — he’s promoted me.”
Zhang Xiangu clapped rhythmically: “Oh my, oh my — my child’s been promoted! And so quickly! How long has it been?! Ha ha ha ha! I’m going out tomorrow to buy two more catties of meat!”
Zhù Da said: “Buy a whole leg of lamb and a lamb’s head — let’s cook them ourselves! Lamb soup in winter is fragrant!”
Zhù Ying said: “I’ll do the cooking!” She had no particular fuss about food, but Zhang Xiangu could only cook passably, and Zhù Ying had once genuinely applied herself in studying with a cook for a while.
Zhang Xiangu and Zhù Da both refused to let her touch anything. Zhang Xiangu said: “No need, no need. You’ve already booked the restaurant banquet, haven’t you? There’ll be more than enough good things to eat! The lamb has a strong smell — it’ll make the whole pot smell. Tomorrow I’ll go buy a big pot just for the lamb soup — anyone who wants a bowl just comes and ladles one. Oh — come on, let’s eat dinner!”
Zhù Ying went back to her room and changed out of her official robes, wrapped herself in a small padded jacket, put the new appointment document in a box and locked it in the wardrobe, then came out to eat.
Zhang Xiangu smiled and laughed with every few bites; Zhù Da also smiled to himself, and then started criticising Zhang Xiangu: “Look how happy that makes you!”
Zhang Xiangu said: “Of course I’m happy — I just am! I was just thinking, we’re a bit better off this year, but the house I’ve had my eye on is still a bit beyond us. Elder Sister-in-law Jin offered to lend me some, but I felt too embarrassed to accept. I’ve been wondering how to save the money. And now San’er has been promoted — the salary should be a bit more, right?”
Zhù Ying said: “No need to borrow from her. I’ll find a way. Salary — go and collect it yourself in spring and you’ll find out. It’s about the same as Elder Brother Jin’s for now. But he has a military post — his ceremonial rank is a bit higher than the substantive post, so he takes in more than me. Hmm — we should arrange New Year drinks. We need to go and visit their house too.”
Zhang Xiangu said: “Hm! The court really does know how to get a deal — they go and promote you now, but the New Year’s annual bonus had already been paid at the old eighth-grade rate! If they’d promoted you earlier, we could have collected a bit more!”
Zhù Da said: “That’s enough out of you!”
Zhang Xiangu said: “I’m talking about making a living here!”
The two bickered again, until the meal was finished. Then Zhang Xiangu merrily said to Zhù Da: “Old man, you go wash the bowls — I have things to say to San’er.”
Zhù Da was furious: “You want to fly to heaven! What wife ever bosses her husband around washing bowls? That would be unheard of!”
Zhù Ying said: “I’ll do it!”
Zhang Xiangu said: “Let him! Women’s private talk! What do you want to get involved in?”
Zhù Da washed the dishes, muttering and cursing throughout. There was a clattering and clinking, and he chipped the rims off several bowls. Zhang Xiangu discovered it the next day when serving food and let him have it yet again — but that was a story for later.
At this moment, Zhang Xiangu was hugging a treasured box as she came into Zhù Ying’s room.
Zhù Ying said: “Mother — what’s that for? Don’t tell me you’re planning to pawn it for the house money.”
Zhang Xiangu sat down on Zhù Ying’s bed and opened the box with a clatter. Inside was a flat case, and several assorted small boxes. The flat case held the complete set of jewellery the Princess Imperial had bestowed, and Zhang Xiangu took each piece out carefully, rubbing the ruby on a ring and unable to let it go: “Goodness, what a generous family!”
She also opened the small boxes — one held gold pieces Zhù Ying had given her, another silver pieces, another held paper chits and tallies from accounts with the rice shop and others, and yet another held some ordinary ornaments.
She laid them all out for Zhù Ying to see and said: “We have to buy a house! No matter what, we have to have a home of our own to live in comfortably! I’m thinking — pawn all of this, dead pawn gets you more money!”
Zhù Ying had received not a few bestowals from the Prince’s household and the Marquis’s residence, and they all shared one characteristic: valuable, yet impossible to convert to cash! Bolts of silk were genuinely fine, but they were so fine that Zhang Xiangu didn’t dare actually wear them. She’d packed them into a large wooden chest in her own room, saying: “I’ve kept two bolts for the bottom of the chest — to be used for important occasions. Everything else — pawn it all!”
She could barely read or write — only a few rickety, incomplete characters, and then lines to count after them. Fortunately the household was small, and it all fit on one sheet of paper.
“You have work outside, you have to look presentable — your things don’t get touched. Pawn all of these. Then come spring we collect some salary, and that’ll probably be enough for a small courtyard. A bit smaller than this, but really in a good location. So you can get to the palace — I don’t want you running there every day on your own two legs! Especially in winter, in those inconvenient days. That simply won’t do! I was also thinking of buying a bigger one that could keep a horse so you could ride to your duties.”
Zhù Ying’s income might look like a fortune to an ordinary household, but to actually acquire the right sort of house in the capital, she still came up short.
Zhù Ying said: “Hold onto it for now. A year’s rent has already been paid here — no rush.”
Zhang Xiangu shook her head decisively: “No, that won’t do! Your Elder Sister-in-law Jin even advised me a few days back to buy a bondservant, and also said you needed a personal attendant. With our household as it is — how could we have outsiders here? Not right, not right. I said — buy a house first, then think about the rest.”
Zhù Ying said: “Even setting money aside, we’re not quite there yet. I still have some personal savings but they’re all earmarked. Mother’s jewellery can’t be pawned, and neither can the silk.”
“I don’t need such fine things.”
Zhù Ying said: “Those were all gifted from above. Pawning them doesn’t look right.”
“They were given to us outright.”
Zhù Ying said: “You can spend money given by the Emperor. Items he bestows are another matter — some people keep them on display as offerings. Listen to me.”
Zhang Xiangu was greatly disappointed: “And here I thought we could scrape together a home for ourselves.”
Zhù Ying said: “We’ve already paid the rent here, so there’s no rush. I’ve been thinking — keeping the rental here in the capital, and finding some cheaper place to stay outside the city — the price would be much less. Then maybe buy two mu of land. Even if something went wrong and I couldn’t hold this post anymore and needed to run, at least I’d have somewhere to go, right? I can’t very well go back to the old home and go head-to-head with the Zhū family again.”
Zhang Xiangu was startled: “That’s right, that’s right! You’ve thought it through! Your father and I have had our heads turned lately — a few good days and we forgot all about that! Yes, yes, yes!”
Zhù Ying smiled: “See?”
“Yes, yes.”
“And if we could find Huajie too — oh, that would be even better.”
“The only one missing is your foster-mother…… going back to the old home is out of the question anyway, but it’s fine here! Oh, Huajie has had such a hard life — that birth mother of hers, so cruel! Now that you’ve been promoted, if you get the chance and can ask around, just keep looking for her.”
“All right. So we just rent?”
“That works!”
Zhù Ying had had this plan in mind for some time, and seeing Zhou You had only strengthened her resolve. Having an extra way out was never a bad thing. She also still needed to prepare an additional household registration document somewhere — that would be a bit complicated, especially since the area around the capital was under Wang Yunhe’s governance and it wouldn’t be easy to arrange anything unofficial there. But at the moment she had no means to make arrangements anywhere else. She could only start by digging a bolt-hole somewhere within the capital region. It was difficult, but she had to do it. She was an official now, and she had some money — she couldn’t be more helpless than when she had been a fortune-teller.
Zhang Xiangu was already running her own calculations: right, right — must get a place outside, best if they owned it themselves. That way when she was carrying a child and about to give birth, she’d have somewhere to go and hide! She could recover from childbirth there and then come back with the baby in her arms! She said: “Tomorrow I’ll go and ask around about what that kind of house or field would cost. Land is good! Land is good! Wretched woman, how could I have forgotten to buy land?!”
Zhù Ying said: “Because I wasn’t earning enough, and the rent already cost us plenty.”
“Nonsense! We’ll have plenty of money later.”
“Right, once we have more money, save it all up,” Zhù Ying had persuaded her mother. She went on: “If you’re itching to do something, you can go into the city and keep an eye out for houses — just look, don’t buy. We’ve already rented for another year, so there’s no rush. What about renting a slightly nicer place in the meantime? This one is a bit far from the office. Field prices — don’t ask around yourself. If someone ambitious hears about it, it’ll cause more trouble. I’ll ask around about that.”
Zhang Xiangu said: “Fine. Oh — would someone try to make things difficult for you? Why would buying a field……”
“If anything were to come up, all it takes is one enquiry and you’d be exposed. So many people’s private assets have been uncovered that way.”
“Oh, right, I see! Got it!”
The daughter’s gender was like a tightly fitted cap sitting on Zhang Xiangu’s head. She agreed quickly.
Zhù Ying said: “I also have some personal savings I haven’t mentioned — I should tell Mother. Elder Sister-in-law Jin can’t only be thanked with a bit of food and provisions — they don’t need that sort of thing.”
Zhang Xiangu said: “True! People are made of shared years and shared coin spent together.”
Zhù Ying said: “She’s been very good to us.”
“Of course she has!”
“And some of my colleagues have been promoted too — things are a bit different from how they were. We’ll need to manage social obligations going forward, and that includes you and Father. Since we’re not urgently buying a house in the city, we have a bit more room in the budget. You and Father should both get some new, fine clothes and good-looking things to wear.”
Zhang Xiangu looked at her daughter in her plain padded jacket: “We have them! We save them for going out — no need to wear them at home.”
Mother and daughter talked for a while, and then it was mostly Zhù Ying laying out her plans while Zhang Xiangu listened. At last, Zhù Ying said: “I’ll be off for a few days too while I’m free. Once the New Year has passed, we’ll go out together for the social calls.”
Zhang Xiangu had taken it all in and said: “All right — let’s do it as you say!”
Zhù Ying helped her put everything away, carried it back to her room, locked it in her wardrobe. Zhang Xiangu slept very soundly that night.
……
The next day, Zhù Ying got up a touch late. No one made breakfast at home — Zhang Xiangu got up early to boil water and sent Zhù Da out to buy a basket of breakfast foods. Zhù Da had been in a huff with his wife the night before, but Zhang Xiangu, unable to keep anything inside, had told him Zhù Ying’s plans. Zhù Da was also pleased in his heart and went out in the morning in fine spirits, spending his own pocket money on a variety of treats.
After breakfast, Zhù Ying went out to hire a carriage. The whole family went to Jin Liang’s house.
The two families had always visited frequently. Zhù Ying had timed it so that Jin Liang was also back on New Year leave that day — catching them all at home.
Everyone in the Jin household recognized them and greeted them with smiling faces. Zhang Xiangu was the same as always — she brought some street-bought pastries and the like. The Jin household was used to it.
Host and guests settled in. Jin Liang said: “Congratulations.”
Zhù Ying said: “How did you already know?”
Jin Liang grinned: “I got back last night — do you think I know or not?”
This loyal Zheng household retainer had certainly gone to pay his respects at Lord Zheng’s residence, and would naturally have heard. Zhù Ying said: “This New Year’s drinks — reserve one session for me to host.”
Jin Liang said: “Naturally! I won’t hold back this time.”
Jin Liang’s wife was also delighted for Zhù Ying, and said to Zhang Xiangu: “Sister Zhù — the blessings that await you are still great!” Zhang Xiangu returned the pleasantries in kind. Jin Liang and his wife also shouted at their son Jin Biao: “See that? Learn something from your Elder Brother Zhù San! You’d better amount to something!” Jin Biao suffered another round of scolding and puckered his lips sulkily.
Zhù Ying took out two one-liang silver ingots and gave them to Jin Biao: “Here — take this and buy something. Eat or play, whatever you like.”
Zhang Xiangu said: “You silly thing — who gives a New Year’s gift this early?”
Zhù Ying said: “New Year’s money is separate — this is extra money I’m giving A’Biao. If we wait until New Year, there’ll be nothing good left to buy or eat to look forward to. We have to get a head start on making people envious, let them be admiring.”
Jin Biao stretched out his hand, looked at Jin Liang, who gave a nod, and he took it gleefully and ran off to play.
Jin Liang’s wife laughed: “Look at how you’ve spoilt him! How many years older than him are you, really? He’s just a silly child.”
Zhù Ying stood up. Jin Liang and Jin Liang’s wife instinctively stood up too, and Zhang Xiangu tugged at Zhù Da and the two of them also stood. Nobody knew what Zhù Ying was about to do.
Zhù Ying gave Jin Liang and his wife a bow, and said: “Word has it I’m doing well, because I have Lord Zheng’s support — that’s true. But I also remember the days when I was lodging at your house. You didn’t find me a bad-luck curse who brought trouble and disaster to your family. When I was in prison, Elder Sister-in-law still looked after Father and Mother. Afterward, when our room was burnt down, you didn’t drive us away and still took us in. Lord Zheng is the reason we came to know each other; the bond between us is something we’ve built ourselves.”
Jin Liang’s wife’s eyes grew moist: “What are you going on about this for now?”
Zhù Ying said: “We are outsiders who came to the capital knowing nothing and not knowing how things worked. Plenty of people laughed at us to our faces and behind our backs for being country bumpkins. Elder Sister-in-law has been attentive and taught us many things along the way — that has truly been a great deal of effort.”
“What does that count as? We were just kindred spirits from the start.”
Zhù Ying said: “I truly want to have a long and lasting friendship with Elder Brother and Elder Sister-in-law.”
Jin Liang said in his gruff voice: “What — do you think we’re going to dissolve the partnership?! Without you even saying it, we’ll always be close! No need for you to say it!”
Jin Liang’s wife said: “Everyone talks about what a capable, loyal person you are. What ‘country bumpkin’ or ‘not’? Could you find anyone more to your liking in all of the capital?”
Zhù Ying gave a small smile, pulled out a small box, and presented it to Jin Liang’s wife: “Then Elder Sister-in-law, please accept this. If you don’t, it means the thing I chose isn’t to your liking.”
Jin Liang’s wife was caught off guard, then laughed and accepted it. Jin Liang laughed and scolded: “You little rascal — all that talk, and this is where you were headed! If someone said you were a loyal sort, you’d say ‘if you don’t accept, then you’re not loyal’?”
Jin Liang’s wife accepted the box without opening it and called Zhù Ying: “Come, have dinner here at Elder Sister-in-law’s place! We have excellent trotters!”
“Oh, wonderful — please give me a lot. I’m on duty for New Year’s Eve, so I’ll need to bring some along.”
Jin Liang’s wife said: “How can — “
Zhang Xiangu said: “Very good! Having New Year at the palace — we could never have even dreamed of such a thing two years ago! She’ll be home on the first day of the New Year!”
Jin Liang genuinely liked this “simple, loyal” sort in Zhù Ying, and said: “As much as you want! I’ll have your Elder Sister-in-law prepare a huge pot of it. The twenty-eighth, I’ll have it sent to you.” Jin Liang’s wife was already thinking that besides the trotters she should also add a whole chicken and some other dishes. Being on duty meant no drinking, but the food ought to be good and plentiful.
Both families ate dinner together. Zhù Da and Jin Liang drank wine. Jin Liang drank too much and gripped Zhù Da’s hand, saying: “Elder Brother — this son of yours is first-rate!”
Jin Liang’s wife chose not to ask her husband to drink less at a time like this. On the way out she packed the trotters into a large clay pot, covered it, put it in the carriage, and smiled as she sent them off. Then she went back inside to have a look at what Zhù Ying had sent her.
The small box was fastened shut, with a strip of red paper pasted over the seam. Jin Liang scolded: “So meticulous as always!”
Jin Liang’s wife opened it as she said: “San’lang is just careful. Hiss — ” Her hand gave a small tremor, and she quickly drew the box to herself. She set it down carefully on the table and opened it again.
Jin Liang said: “What is it? Have you never seen anything fine before? Damn!”
It was a box of pearls. The box was no bigger than the palm of one’s hand, yet what was inside was quite dazzling — the finest quality South Sea pearls.
Whether a pearl was good or not, whether it was precious or not, came down to a few things: were they large, were they round, was the lustre good, were they all the same size. This small box held several dozen, all South Sea pearls. Round, with excellent surface quality, all matching in size, the full box glowing with a luminous sheen.
Jin Liang’s wife chewed her finger and said: “These are not cheap — they count as proper large pearls already. You see what he……”
Jin Liang nodded: “Hmm. I know where these came from.”
“You mean from a confis……”
Jin Liang said: “Just accept them and say no more. He’s a person who keeps proper measure — he always handles things in ways that don’t need worrying over. Since he dared give them, you can receive them without worry.”
Jin Liang’s wife smiled: “Fine. I’ll have two of them set in earrings and they’ll be quite wearable!”
She also counted them — a full forty — and measured them. The diameter wasn’t quite five fen, but it was four fen. Five fen and above were large pearls; at four fen they still looked very fine. She calculated — use two to set in earrings, string the rest into a necklace, mount a couple on hairpins, set one in a ring, and she could put together a complete set of jewellery.
She said: “Oh my — what open-handed generosity! I’ll prepare him some really good things to eat!” And she called someone to go out and buy groceries immediately.
Jin Liang laughed and scolded: “The cheeky young rascal.” He turned to go and lecture his son — only to find that Jin Biao, having received pocket money, had long since vanished, leaving Jin Liang genuinely furious: “If it weren’t New Year, I’d give him a thorough beating! Blast it! How did I end up with a son like that instead of one like him?!”
……
“That son of theirs” and his parents had already returned home. Zhang Xiangu didn’t ask what Zhù Ying had sent — since it was from Zhù Ying’s own private savings, there was certainly a reason for it.
Zhù Ying, of course, had her plans. During the confiscations, she too had to “blend in with the crowd.” And her approach was one the others were not in a position to use. Five fen and above were the large pearls — she knew this — so five fen and above, she either put into the official accounts or into the side account for Zheng Xi. The ones she herself kept were below five fen, which were still not small, and weren’t quite so conspicuous. Among the great households, items like these were beyond counting.
Not only had she sent some to Jin Liang’s wife, Zhù Ying had also kept a portion for herself, to give as gifts or keep for personal use — either way they’d come in handy. The hairpins bestowed by the Princess Imperial were all very nice, but Zhang Xiangu absolutely refused to put them on, insisting that “the one with the official post” had to use them to maintain appearances. Zhù Da was itching to try, and was also held in check by Zhang Xiangu.
Zhù Ying had arranged to have a few hairpins mounted for her parents to wear.
She had other private savings too, all earmarked for various purposes — but she wasn’t going to take them all out at once to sell or pawn. For one thing, she had no shop she trusted. For another, it would be a bit conspicuous and likely to attract unwanted attention.
Zhang Xiangu didn’t know her plans and only said: “Let’s buy two more legs of lamb! New Year’s Eve — eating only what other people gave you, how does that look? Buy two, cook one for soup at home, and make one very tender and take it with you.” She pulled Zhù Da along to go buy New Year provisions. Zhù Ying went out to pick up her commissioned hairpins.
The shop had been recommended by Gan Ze. Two were made in gold, with a slightly more slender shaft. Several more were gold-covered silver, a bit thicker. All were gleaming and golden, in this winter’s fashionable capital style. She also collected a few gold and silver rings, all of which she brought back to give to Zhang Xiangu for everyday wear.
The next day, Zhù Ying took a coin purse and went to find Old Ma.
Old Ma saw her and smiled: “On leave?”
Zhù Ying tossed the coin purse to him: “Yes.”
“Aiya — I wouldn’t dare!”
“Put it against my account. Next time I won’t have to pay on credit.”
“Everyone else runs a tab and settles at year’s end. You alone pay in advance.”
Zhù Ying said: “Because right now I have a bit more room in the budget.”
“What — have you not been doing well?”
Zhù Ying said: “For other people, it takes generations of accumulated wealth just to get a foothold in the capital. I have only myself, and I still need to keep a family. What kind of fortune am I supposed to be making? And I can’t go making a desperate grab for everything when the opportunity arises — all those people who throw themselves into plundering the moment they get a taste of power never last long.”
Old Ma raised a thumb: “A clear-headed person. Everyone says you have a good heart.”
Zhù Ying rolled her eyes. Old Ma stopped smiling, leaned slightly forward: “Truly — someone made a request, asking you to show some mercy.”
“I didn’t do anything to anyone, did I?”
Old Ma sighed, and said: “There’s a young man — grew up poor, and he was unfortunate enough to end up on our path, and his whole family — parents and brothers — have cut him off. He has a younger sister who doesn’t look down on him, but what good does that do? She’s poor too! The girl was sold into a household to serve. At least she has food and warm clothes there. But the family had the misfortune to get caught up in the confiscation.”
Zhù Ying said: “That’s not right. I released everyone I could release.”
Old Ma said: “I didn’t explain it well — the confiscation hasn’t happened formally yet. It’s not far off though. She’s locked inside the household with the owners for now. Whether they get confiscated now or in spring, the ones in there will be sold off. Treason — confiscation is actually the light punishment.”
“Speak plainly.”
“Truly! I’m not hiding anything else from you. Of all the officials in the world, there are only two I fear: one is Lord Wang, and the other is you. Lord Wang is upright. You……”
“Oh?”
“Well! You’re fierce! Eyes like a hawk.”
“And my hands are ruthless too. So long as she can hold out until the judgment comes down, I’ll find a way to take over the case from that family. Once a case is in my hands, I’ll release everyone in her situation. Right now, though, it’s not very convenient.”
Old Ma said: “Is there any way to get some food sent in for her?”
Zhù Ying said: “Which family, the name, what she looks like — tell me everything.”
Old Ma hurriedly called over a young man. This person looked completely ordinary in every feature, and his clothes were equally ordinary — the perfect look of someone suited to being a pickpocket. He saw Zhù Ying and immediately dropped to his knees, weeping, and crawled forward trying to grab her leg. Zhù Ying stepped aside, avoiding him: “You’re older than me — I won’t accept your kow-tow. Just give me the details.”
The young man said: “Her home name is San Niu. She comes up to my shoulder in height. There’s a small scar at the corner of her eye. She’s sixteen this year. She was sold to serve as a kitchen girl at the household of Senior Counsellor Yan.”
Zhù Ying heard the information and recognized it: “Wait here.”
Old Ma hurriedly returned the coin purse to her, saying: “I cannot accept this — whenever you come by my place, I have only hospitality to offer.”
Zhù Ying said: “Consider it what I’m buying from you. Prepare some dry provisions, whatever preserved vegetables and salted tubers you have, and also pack in some things for the girl — don’t make them too fine, things that are too good get stolen. Then prepare a chicken and a leg of lamb and have it sent over as well.” Old Ma still wouldn’t take the money. Zhù Ying said: “Then put it on my account.” She reclaimed the coin purse and went to the Yan residence.
The Yan residence had not yet been formally sentenced, and the entire household was in a wretched chill, locked behind sealed gates. The bondservants were the worst off — short on food and skimpy on clothing. Zhù Ying first paid no attention to who was being held there, only went to make friendly overtures to the guards. She was from the Court of Judicial Review, and the guards were reasonably respectful toward her, though they had some misgivings about someone on leave showing up just to look at them during their shift. Zhù Ying chatted with them: “I’m on duty for New Year’s Eve too.”
The guards couldn’t help feeling a certain comradeship with her, and they chatted for a while about the misfortune of being on duty over the New Year. Zhù Ying also said: “Why are there crying sounds coming from inside?”
A guard laughed: “Word has it Little Lord Zhù has a soft heart, and there are those who cry, yes. But who isn’t crying? Endure it. When they were living it up in there, it’s not as if they could hear the crying outside the walls.”
Zhù Ying shook her head: “The servants inside are still pitiful.”
After some more friendly back-and-forth, Zhù Ying said she’d like to send some food in for the servants. The guards didn’t object. Zhù Ying had the cooked chicken and lamb leg sent to the guards, and asked them to pass the food inside. Having done this, she didn’t return to the tea shop — she waved to Old Ma from a distance and left.
Old Ma and the ordinary-looking young man tried to follow her to give their thanks, but where could they find a trace of her?
Old Ma said: “Ah, now that’s a large debt of gratitude. Be careful — one day I might have to give my life to repay him.”
“That would be no bad thing. He’s better than most officials.”
Old Ma laughed and cursed: “What a gutless thing to say! Is your life really worth that little?”
“It was never worth much to begin with.”
Old Ma gave a quiet sigh: “That’s true. We’re all selling ourselves cheap. At least with him, we go a bit less cheaply.”
Zhù Ying had done a good deed and was in fine spirits, strolling this way and that, appearing aimless, following a meandering path all the way to the Gold Snail Temple.