Zhù Ying sat meditating at Hu Lian’s side for quite some time and no one came to assign her any work.

Colleagues first discussed Zheng Xi and Chancellor Chen’s visit to the Court of Judicial Review prison for a while. Once Chancellor Chen departed, Zheng Xi returned with every appearance of ease, making it clear the situation was not dire. Some surmised that Chancellor Chen’s visit may have been connected to Gong Jie’s treason case — nothing of great significance — and did not connect it to Counselor Wang’s affair.

Only Counselor Wang and a few others suspected it was related to Madam Guan. Counselor Wang then worried: given how relaxed Zheng Xi seemed, could he have been sold out? This thought he could hardly share with anyone and could only nurse in private anxiety.

Everyone else was quite at ease. The most pressing case in the Court of Judicial Review had been assigned to Pei Qing; the Gong Jie treason case was winding down; the review work was nearly done; since the latter half of last year, life at the Court of Judicial Review had been getting visibly better day by day. Last year everyone had received good benefits, and this year everyone had some capacity to spare. After a brief exchange, the group of minor officials arrived at a consensus: times were good right now. Even if their superiors worried about whose household the Crown Princess title would fall to, it had nothing to do with them — they were simply bystanders enjoying the show.

A little talk about what benefit the Crown Prince’s marriage might bring to everyone generally, and then they moved on to discussing what interesting things there were to look forward to in late spring and early summer. Their spirits lifted as they talked, and seeing Zhù Ying in her meditation pose, some of them also made friendly jokes: “Little Zhù, when did you start being naughty too?”

Hu Lian countered: “Since when did she need to start? She’s been this way all along!”

The minor official jumped clear: “Little Zhù isn’t naughty at all — you must have been teasing her again.”

Hu Lian feigned a blow, and the minor officials scattered with a laugh, each going back to their case work.

Hu Lian also said to Zhù Ying: “Won’t you get up? Zheng Xi is back! There’s a limit to how much you can get away with — get up, quickly.”

Zhù Ying hopped to her feet and shook out her legs: “What do you mean ‘get away with’? Are monks and Daoists doing nothing but ‘getting away with things’ in their morning and evening devotions?”

“I’m not going to argue with you — hurry up. Your abacus work — start clicking away, so it looks like we’re all busy here.”

Zhù Ying said, “All right.”

Having sat in meditation for a while, her mind was settled; she returned to the account book. She was now practicing general calculations: the account book was one that the accountants had already worked through, and she was redoing the calculations to see if her numbers matched theirs. If they didn’t match, she would determine where her own error lay.

Among her peers, only Counselor Wang had something weighing on him.

The Left Registrar noticed Counselor Wang’s distracted manner, pulled him by the sleeve, and the two went to one side. They were not close friends — they had known each other only about half a year longer than Zhù Ying. But both were minor officials navigating court life, who had come into advancement through the same stroke of fortunate circumstance; the Left Registrar and Counselor Wang felt a degree of shared sympathy.

The Left Registrar said, “Old Wang, I see you’re less and less like yourself lately.”

Counselor Wang gave a wry smile. “You noticed too? I feel the same. Once a person has something to hope for, they begin to fear losing it.”

The Left Registrar understood his concern, and said quietly, “Why not let Little Zhù ask on your behalf? I see that Zheng Xi treats her differently from the others — she’s genuinely trusted.”

Counselor Wang said, “Trusted — short of that, but she’s certainly one of the Court’s most capable hands.”

“Old Wang, isn’t that perceptive of you? So why can’t you work it out for yourself? Look — what do you think of my suggestion? I think Little Zhù is a decent person; even if she can’t arrange it, she wouldn’t go spreading your business around or quietly using it against you. Don’t you agree?”

Counselor Wang nodded. “That works.”

The two of them therefore went looking for Zhù Ying. When they heard the abacus clicking they hesitated slightly; but Hu Lian over there said, “Would the two of you please take this disruptive spirit away?” So the Left Registrar and Counselor Wang pulled Zhù Ying aside, and the Left Registrar explained the matter on Counselor Wang’s behalf.

Zhù Ying said, “As long as you don’t mind that I’m young and inexperienced.”

The Left Registrar said, “That’s not the point at all — it has nothing to do with age and everything to do with the person. For instance, if I sent someone else on this errand of delicate inquiry, it would be throwing them into a pit. You’re different; you go in and come back out. Just as with Zheng Xi — if he told anyone else to stop work and study arithmetic, that person would be put on ice; when he does it with you, it’s nurturing you. The same action, and it’s cultivation.”

Zhù Ying said, “Old Left, you’re getting better and better at flattery. That’s quite smooth.”

The Left Registrar said seriously, “Do you still need people to flatter you?”

Zhù Ying said to Counselor Wang, “Old Wang, don’t be anxious. From what I’ve seen, whatever Zheng Xi promises he very rarely goes back on. I can ask for you. Or — don’t ask for now; just wait steadily. When you’re at work, leave just a little undone — neither failing nor excelling keeps you in the clear. When the time comes, if Zheng Xi has forgotten, we can find a way to remind him. His word is still good.”

The Left Registrar nodded repeatedly: “I think exactly the same, but for Old Wang, this is a lifetime’s matter…”

Zhù Ying said, “Then I’ll go and ask.”

Counselor Wang said, “I’m in your debt.”

Zhù Ying said, “You needn’t wait for me today either. After I come out from Zheng Xi, don’t come looking for my answer right away. Whether it goes well or not, I’ll seek you out and let you know.”

Counselor Wang said, “Good.”

Zhù Ying didn’t go to Zheng Xi that day. She left the palace and, instead of going straight home, took a detour to the herb shop near where Huajie was staying. She watched from outside for a while; Huajie was inside sorting medicinal herbs, wearing a plain monk’s cap, looking just like an apprentice. She waited until Huajie left, and the shop was beginning to close up for the evening, then she walked in and asked about “incense formulations that could repel mosquitoes and insects when burned.”

The talkative apprentice started to say something, but the shopkeeper stopped him. The shopkeeper said, “A great many people want this sort of thing right now, and our shop has no stock on hand. If the young official would like some, come back tomorrow to pick it up — we guarantee good quality.”

Zhù Ying nodded. “That’ll do then. Say — why do you have a monk here? Surely you’re not conspiring to burn incense ash and peddle it as medicine?”

Remarkably rude! The shopkeeper inwardly cursed, but remained courteous: “How could that be? This is a small honest shop. That’s a monk from Jinsuo Temple, here to study some medical theory.”

Zhù Ying said, “Fine, I’ll come for it tomorrow.”

Once she left, the talkative apprentice asked, “Shopkeeper — can’t you just hang up some mugwort for mosquitoes?”

The shopkeeper scolded: “Idiot! Didn’t you see? That type — plenty of money, mouthy, and always complaining. That’s exactly the type you charge extra! Go get some mugwort and twist it together. We’ll sell it to them at a premium tomorrow!”

Zhù Ying left the herb shop and went to coroner Yang’s place, staying until almost curfew before hurrying home. At home, Zhang Xiangu was twisting mugwort and braiding it together, simultaneously scolding Zhù Da: “Your hands moved fast enough.”

Zhù Da said, “It’s not the season yet — another half month and the mugwort will be at its tallest. You’re out there cutting it already!”

This was their old habit: gathering their own mugwort for use; Zhù Ying said, “If there isn’t enough, I’ll buy some tomorrow.”

Zhang Xiangu said, “We’re already planning to rent a better house and buy land — money must be saved carefully! If we can do it ourselves, why buy?!”

Zhù Da said, “Sanlang will get medicinal herbs distributed at the Dragon Boat Festival from the office — she’s sixth rank now, so she’ll get even more than last year. All your work is pointless.”

They bickered again; Zhù Ying said, “If you have free time, go look at more houses in the city — that’s the important matter! Find a suitable house, knock a hundred coins off the price, and that covers a whole summer’s worth of mugwort.”

Zhang Xiangu said, “Then let me finish what I have in hand and go look at more houses. The ones I’ve found so far — the sellers want us to wait until next year, and naturally the sellers can’t agree to that! Talk to them, see if we can vacate the current rental early and get the remaining rent refunded — could we manage?”

Zhù Ying said, “Mother, find the right house first; then we’ll discuss.”

“Fair enough.”

That evening, Zhù Ying sat with Zhang Xiangu and Zhù Da to work through the details: if no contiguous farmland was available outside the capital, buying two separate parcels was perfectly acceptable. Zhang Xiangu said, “That way we could buy more.” Seeing how animated both of them were, Zhù Ying couldn’t help but smile. At least they had something to keep them occupied.

That night the Zhù household was considerably more peaceful.

The next day, Zhù Ying timed it so that Zheng Xi would have returned from morning court and finished the first round of his affairs, then went to find him with an account book in hand. Zheng Xi saw her coming and smiled. “You’re up to something again. Put that miserable account book down — it looks like a shield.”

Seeing his manner, Zhù Ying knew the Chancellor’s matter hadn’t amounted to much. She also said, “It’s a legitimate matter.”

“Oh?”

Zhù Ying said, “The official document I requested yesterday — it’s already been sent out. Best case it’ll take a month for news. Before any news comes — you won’t be in a hurry to close the case, will you? By my calculation, there should normally be close to two more months before closure.”

She had sent the document under the pretense of investigating the treason case. If the treason case closed before news came back, what would there be left to investigate?

“Only you would dare speak to a superior this way! You ask for something, get it, and then come to hurry me along — even a beloved son would get beaten for this.”

Zhù Ying said, “Seeing as you still haven’t beaten me even now — that means you’ll tell me.”

Zheng Xi said with amusement, “If your intention were impossible, I would not have stamped your foolish idea.”

Zhù Ying said happily, “Thank you, sir — this matter is settled.”

Zheng Xi said, “Wait before celebrating. Whether it actually comes to fruition depends on the person’s fate. If something has happened to her, don’t reproach yourself too severely.”

Zhù Ying said in genuine surprise, “Reproach myself for what? It wasn’t I who harmed her — I don’t even know her. If it works, good; if not, it doesn’t. I made the effort — no regrets. Do you see every matter you attend to through to success? Surely not. Surely not.”

Zheng Xi laughed and scolded: “No ambition!”

Zhù Ying said blithely, “Well, I’ve taken note of that — every matter you set out to accomplish, you make sure succeeds. Heh heh!”

“Hmm? Keeping score to take amusement at my expense later?”

“Not necessarily!”

Zheng Xi said, “Aren’t you going back to your reading?”

She disappeared. Zheng Xi called after her: “Come back! If Chen Meng asks you, what will you say?”

Zhù Ying turned around. “Do you want him to know? Then I’ll tell him truthfully. I hadn’t planned to tell him.”

Zheng Xi said, “If their own family knows, it won’t cause any harm. Go.”

She left and also remembered this was the day she was to pick up the mosquito repellent. She arrived to find it was indeed mugwort — twisted together. The shopkeeper said, “Our finest mosquito repellent.” The craftsmanship was better than Zhang Xiangu’s, but it certainly wasn’t worth a guan!

Zhù Ying said, “Someone told me it was just mugwort, and very cheap. Just give me the mugwort.”

Nearby, Huajie suppressed her laughter and said, “Master, I’m heading back.”

Zhù Ying went back and forth with the shopkeeper, and in the end still paid two hundred coins for the mugwort — only to get home and hear Zhang Xiangu say, “You paid too much!”

Two days later, before she could even go looking for Counselor Wang, she saw Counselor Wang and the Left Registrar intercept her. Zhù Ying said, “You two — what is it?”

The Left Registrar said, “Something has happened.”

“Old Wang?”

Counselor Wang said, “Not me. Do you remember the person who filed the denunciation? Dead!”

“Oh!” said Zhù Ying. “That’s a bit of a complication — how to report this to the superiors?”

The Left Registrar said, “You didn’t know?”

“Hmm?”

Counselor Wang said, “Sentenced to exile; thirty li outside the capital, he accidentally fell into a river and drowned. The messenger is right over there!”

Zhù Ying said, “Well, that works out neatly. Chancellor Chen is relieved; Zheng Xi is relieved. A pity for the escort guards — they’ll have to answer for this.”

Counselor Wang said, “Not necessarily a hardship — perhaps even a reward. On a long escort journey like that, a prisoner dying in transit is hardly unheard of. This was a silencing. I wonder whether I…”

Only then did Zhù Ying address Counselor Wang directly: “I didn’t ask directly, but Zheng Xi said that whatever he decides to do, he will see it done. Put your mind at ease and steady yourself — just make sure not to make any mistakes in your work going forward. I’d imagine Old Wang’s situation is in a completely different category from the convicted official’s. That matter — the priority was to suppress it; harming you would suppress it, or make it bigger?”

Counselor Wang said, “Good, good.”

The Left Registrar said, “My goodness — Old Wang has been unruffled all his life; it’s rare to see him so beside himself. But now he’s back to himself. The gods have returned to their places.”

Counselor Wang laughed and scolded: “You pair of mischief-makers! Little Zhù’s young age is one thing, but you, Old Left…”

“At least I’m not as old as you!”

The three bantered for a while, then each went back to their own work. That day, Zhù Ying did not do abacus practice — she went back out with a team to conduct confiscations.

After the Dragon Boat Festival, the Court of Judicial Review received official correspondence — the person Zhù Ying had been seeking was found, and she was right here in the capital.

Zhù Ying went through the reply document page by page. Two pages in total, recording the brief history of a young woman’s twenty-odd years of life. She had not traced Feng’s wife’s movements, but from the girl’s records, she could piece together something of them.

The girl named Chanchan had initially not been in the capital. First, she had been sent along with Feng’s wife to a post along a major thoroughfare some six or seven hundred li from the capital. Five years later, Chanchan had not perished; she and Feng’s wife were transferred to another location, three or four hundred li further west. Another five years passed; Feng’s wife was transferred again, but Chanchan fell ill. Because people feared she might die on the road, she was left behind, and from that point separated from Feng’s wife.

After that, Chanchan was first taken in by a “mother” — an old entertainer whose surname she adopted, and renamed herself Qiao Guixiang. Five years after that, her adoptive mother died, and she moved again, reverting to her original name Chanchan. From there she drifted through several more places, until two years ago — not long before Zhù Ying and the others arrived in the capital — she had returned to the capital and changed her name again: Zhenzhu.

Zhù Ying read those two pages three times, very carefully.

The person now calling herself Zhenzhu — her current “auntie” was none other than Jiu Niang!

“How can the coincidence be this great?!”

Zhù Ying let out a breath, then read through it carefully one more time. Beside her, Counselor Wang was astonished: “Little Zhù — a difficulty?”

By Counselor Wang’s understanding of Zhù Ying, this young person had an exceptional memory; for anything not overly complex, a single glance would commit it to memory. Reading something multiple times over was extraordinary. It wasn’t one of the complicated accounts in the ledgers, was it? That shouldn’t have been the case — it was the official correspondence.

Zhù Ying said, “Old Wang, let me ask you something.”

“Go ahead.”

“A person who keeps changing their name — what are the reasons?”

Counselor Wang thought a moment and said, “Either a fugitive or a swindler. Or… hmm, a slave, perhaps? The master changes the name.”

Zhù Ying asked again, “Then… one more question.”

“What’s come over you today?”

“Does a person at the age of ten already have memories?”

“Isn’t that obvious? A child of ten without memories — that’s a simpleton. What’s actually happening?”

Trouble. That’s trouble, Zhù Ying thought. But to Counselor Wang she answered, “What if someone had a high fever at age ten afterward which made them unable to remember, and then changed their name?”

“There are cases of that, though not many. Too much of a coincidence — not dead, not mentally damaged.”

Zhù Ying said, “Then the fever must have made her forget.” She casually tossed the document aside, stretched, and asked, “The Gong Jie case is nearly finished — what are you planning to do?”

Counselor Wang was no longer curious about Zhù Ying’s case. He said, “I plan to wait for the Gong Jie case to close and see how the merits are assessed. Then I’ll prepare a generous gift for the Zheng Marquis’s household, and after that write up a petition for retirement.” This kind of petition usually didn’t reach the Emperor; most would be processed at the Chancellery or the Ministry of Personnel.

Zhù Ying said, “If you can rise to fifth rank, you’ll be eligible for half-pension on retirement. But one generous gift later, and your savings are mostly gone. Wouldn’t you want to buy some farmland or property?”

Counselor Wang said, “Around the capital — how much land is there for someone like us to acquire?”

“No good land, but there’s modest land!” said Zhù Ying. “It still produces something, and nobody covets it.”

Counselor Wang said, “Brilliant! Why didn’t I think of that? Always thinking about good farmland, wanting to spare my descendants hunger and cold — yet only managing to buy a tiny bit.”

Zhù Ying said, “Then start looking now — and if you need help, say a word.” Her voice at the end carried a tone of genuine sadness.

Counselor Wang also sighed with feeling: “Thank heaven we ended up at the Court of Judicial Review and met you all!”

Zhù Ying had steered Counselor Wang toward thinking about buying property, and she herself picked up the document and went to find Zheng Xi to report: “Sir, that person — has been found.”

Zheng Xi was indifferent, saying, “Good — then no one can say I’m in a hurry to close the case.”

Zhù Ying said with a helpless smile: “Clearly the Yuan case still isn’t closed — why does it come back to me again?”

Zheng Xi said, “The Yuan case — what of it? With the Crown Princess title gone, the case is already half resolved.”

Zhù Ying thought: that young lady has had rather a bad time of it. But she said nothing, and instead shook the document: “So I can go ahead and handle this matter?”

Zheng Xi said, “Go. Settle it quickly — there’s enough real work piling up. Since you’ve preserved their dignity, you should now let go of it. Dignity is something people have to earn for themselves, and from what you’re telling me, that lady hasn’t much dignity worth speaking of.”

Zhù Ying said, “Dignity does need to be earned personally — that lady, I’d say, has none.”

“Hmm! Three days — deal with this matter, then come back and study seriously! Otherwise, there’ll be no good opportunity for you.”

Zhù Ying asked, “What good opportunity? Give me a hint!”

“Getting more and more presumptuous.”

Zhù Ying stood properly with hands at her sides and said, “This subordinate is overawed.”

Zheng Xi examined her from left to right and said, “Still looks wrong no matter how I look at you! You’d better go back to being presumptuous.”

Zhù Ying dropped the act and tilted her head. “Well, you did say so yourself.”

“Go attend to your business.”

“So I’m heading out now — these two days count as case business.”

“Out.”

As Zhù Ying walked out the palace gate, the palace guards on duty asked with concern: “Little Magistrate Zhù, you look unwell — are you ill? Shall we arrange transport?”

Zhù Ying said, “I shouldn’t have eaten so many dumplings — I need to get home quickly.”

The guards shook their heads with smiles: “Go carefully.”

Leaving the palace, she did not go straight home. Still in her official robes, she went first to call on Wang Yunhe at the Capital Prefecture.

Wang Yunhe heard that she had come, raised his head to gauge the sun outside, and said, “Her? Show her in.” He stood to straighten his robes and asked, “Is it official business?”

This time of day, this person, with the Court of Judicial Review still wrapping up some cases — it should be official business.

The officer said, “She didn’t say — only that she had an official matter to discuss.”

Wang Yunhe was now even more certain of his surmise and said, “Please come in.”

Zhù Ying was escorted to Wang Yunhe’s presence, greeted him with proper etiquette, and Wang Yunhe said, “Be seated.”

Zhù Ying thanked him and sat; an officer served tea. After one sip, Zhù Ying clasped her hands and said, “Lord Prefect, the Court of Judicial Review has been handling the Gong Jie treason case, and there is one small matter that requires your assistance.”

Wang Yunhe asked gravely, “What matter is this?”

Zhù Ying rose and offered both the official document and the two-page reply. “Please read, Lord Prefect.”

Wang Yunhe read both items. His brow furrowed deeply. “What is the Court of Judicial Review’s intention?”

Zhù Ying said with full righteousness: “Naturally, to follow the law.” Then she added in a slightly more humble tone, “That is… Zheng Xi assigned this matter to me. I thought — since it has already been established that the original conviction was a wrongful case and the verdict has been overturned, everyone should be restored to their proper place. This person should be allowed to return to her family and see her parents. But she is now under your jurisdiction, Lord Prefect…”

For Zhenzhu to be removed from the register, she needed Wang Yunhe’s authorization. Even with official correspondence from the Court of Judicial Review, he still needed to be informed. Wang Yunhe said, “Very well.” He paused, then pointed to several passages: “Take note of these.”

Zhù Ying said with a wry smile, “I did take note — which is why I didn’t summon her directly, but came to you first. Whatever this person’s own wishes may be, she has endured a crooked and difficult life. I would like, if possible, to first have you issue her a release, then quietly locate her and settle her somewhere — so that she may live the rest of her life with less harassment and in greater peace. Could you… sign the paperwork first? And we don’t speak of it outside? These two pages of paper — we pretend we never saw what’s on them?”

Wang Yunhe looked at her and suddenly spoke with great surprise: “How is it that the Court of Judicial Review is this free? That would be a waste of the Capital Prefecture’s time — we have no interest in being idle!”

Normally a release required a self-petition from the individual. Wang Yunhe said, “Let’s waive that too — releasing one person needn’t involve so many formalities.”

Zhù Ying said, “She… has a lame foot.”

Wang Yunhe sighed softly, picked up his brush, and wrote a justification: “disabled.” On grounds of disability, releasing an official entertainer for a legitimate civilian life was perfectly lawful — and it could best avoid any reference to “virtuous servant,” sparing the girl from having to endure people forever saying she had “entered degraded registration in place of her mistress’s daughter.” She could live with her record clean.

Zhù Ying held Wang Yunhe’s sealed document, and said, “Lord Prefect…”

Wang Yunhe waved a hand. “Go attend to your duties, Vice Chancellor. Vice Chancellor must not forget today’s state of mind.”

“That is, I would like to borrow a few of your people, and use of a location.”

“Hmm?”

Zhù Ying moistened her lips: “That is… I won’t even use personnel from the Court of Judicial Review. Matters within the Capital Prefecture’s jurisdiction are more conveniently handled by your people, are they not?”

Hearing her tone turn slippery, Wang Yunhe also relaxed somewhat. “If you want me to extend a courtesy, what do you have to offer?”

Zhù Ying’s eyes went wide: “You’re not serious?”

Wang Yunhe went to the bookcase and pulled out a book, turned to a page: “Recite two pages for me to hear, and I’ll give it to you.”

Zhù Ying recited two pages of the book before extracting from Wang Yunhe a few men to borrow; among the Capital Prefecture’s constable chiefs, she knew several by now, and this time it happened to be a familiar face — Constable Chief Zhang.

Zhù Ying was perfectly direct with Constable Chief Zhang: “Shall we go?”

Constable Chief Zhang smiled. “After you.”

Out of Wang Yunhe’s presence, Constable Chief Zhang asked Zhù Ying, “What would you like us to do?”

Zhù Ying thought for a moment and said, “Go and bring Jiu Niang to me first.”