Jiu Niang rose neither early nor late, and her “daughters” were not permitted to sleep in either. Aside from the overnight guests who lodged at their establishment, most clients came in the evening and had to rise in the morning to leave for their “proper business,” and the girls had to see them out.

After getting up, everyone attended to their duties. Servant women and maids were sweeping and cleaning, while Jiu Niang had to arrange all the household affairs, plan for business, calculate how much money had been earned and how to earn a little more. Except that this particular profession was somewhat unusual, Jiu Niang as the “head of the household” was scarcely any different from a shop manager outside.

After washing and grooming herself, she first took stock of the wine, food, and vegetables in the house and arranged for purchases. Since the Dragon Boat Festival was approaching, she also needed to buy things appropriate for the occasion. The five girls had to be dressed up nicely, good five-colored cords had to be prepared, along with some to present to favored clients. There were also rice dumplings to prepare, as well as some to send to close acquaintances, to show that their admirers had not been forgotten.

She also needed to arrange new clothes for the most popular of her daughters. Fashionable styles had changed again — this year’s skirt colors were the same as last year’s, but the cut had become fashionable in a fuller, more voluminous shape; new ones would have to be tailored. The girls’ clothes from last year, now worn out, could be passed down to the maids.

Furthermore, she had fewer girls on hand, and there was also the one who called her Auntie, Pearl, who had a slight disability, though her skills were quite good and she too needed to be dressed up properly…

Jiu Niang clicked her abacus beads and calculated each item one by one. She took the key from her waist, unlocked her own chest, and retrieved money for purchases — some things could be put on account, deferred for settlement over a month or half a year, while others required cash on hand.

She was nearly done counting the money when the constables from the Capital Prefecture arrived!

The entire household was frightened! Jiu Niang quickly grabbed an extra handful of coins to smooth things over before locking the chest again.

Jiu Niang said, “Why would they come here? Could it be they’re here to arrest someone who got into trouble?”

Her eldest daughter standing nearby said, “Surely not? Among the regulars who come to our establishment, which one of them looks bold enough for that? The capital has been much more peaceful these days!”

The youngest daughter said, “Could they be here to extract a bribe?”

Jiu Niang said, “Nonsense! With Lord Wang here, who would dare carry on the way they did in the past? Let me go and have a look. If something seems wrong, just go straight to the Capital Prefecture and cry your grievances!”

They were not particularly afraid of these people. Whatever else one might say about the capital, it certainly had the highest concentration of officials in all under heaven. Among those who came to drink at their establishment, not only were there sons of chancellors, but people from all Six Ministries as well. Sometimes they were even summoned to the great mansions to perform and enliven the festivities. A mere constable was easy enough to manage.

But ever since Wang Yunhe arrived, even the lives of women in this profession had improved somewhat. Extortionist thugs and rogues had been severely punished, and the constables had all become more law-abiding. The only inconvenience was that it was no longer easy to keep too many enforcers on hand — if something happened and they were taken away by the Capital Prefecture, they’d get half-beaten to death and exiled to serve as soldiers. As a result, the constables had also become harder to sweet-talk.

Jiu Niang kept a faint smile on her face and walked unhurriedly forward to address the constables: “If I may ask —”

“Are you Ji Jiu Niang?”

“That is this humble woman.”

“Come along! You’re needed at the Capital Prefecture!”

The smile on Ji Jiu Niang’s face froze. “Have you perhaps come to the wrong person? What case could I possibly have with the Capital Prefecture?”

“Stop your blathering!” The constables’ attitudes, though they had mostly stopped extorting people, had not improved one bit. They seized Ji Jiu Niang and marched off, leaving her daughters to grow increasingly anxious: “Mother, what on earth have you done? Did you not pay the man whose maid you bought the other day?”

Ji Jiu Niang turned around and cursed at them furiously: “Nonsense! If I hadn’t paid, would her father have let her go?”

The youngest daughter, being the most sheltered, began to cry. Ji Jiu Niang said, “Don’t wipe your face on the sleeve of your new dress! New clothes lose their luster the moment they’re washed!”

Seeing this, a constable scolded, “Are you quite done? Someone at the office wants to ask you a few questions — it’s not like they’re going to kill you! If you’d committed a crime, would we be treating you this politely?”

Only then did the entire Ji household settle down. They watched as the constables led Jiu Niang away. The eldest daughter of the Ji household said, “What are we to do? Pearl, you’re acquainted with more officials than any of us — please go and appeal to them for help.”

Pearl thought for a moment and said, “Sister, it might be better to first send a young errand-boy to wait outside the Capital Prefecture and listen for what this is about, so we know who to appeal to.”

“Why must you be so unhelpful?” the eldest Ji daughter complained, though she sent a young errand-boy all the same. “Wait quietly outside the office and listen. Don’t attract attention.” Then she shot Pearl a sideways glare.

Pearl let out a soft sigh. With nothing to occupy their minds, no one felt like eating, and they all sat in the front hall waiting for news.

……

Ji Jiu Niang tried to extract information along the way, slipping another sum of money to the constables. The constables pocketed the money but did nothing in return, saying impatiently: “You’ll know when you get there! What’s with all this blabbering? Has your household’s old patron not been talked to death by you yet?”

Ji Jiu Niang was not a woman who feared showing her face in public, but walking into a government office still made her uneasy. As they drew near, her legs would not move, and she ended up being dragged inside by two constables on either side.

Ji Jiu Niang stumbled into the Capital Prefecture, still reassuring herself inwardly: It’s all right, Lord Wang would never drag an innocent person into a lawsuit! If I see His Lordship, I must absolutely state my grievances!

To her surprise, the constables did not bring her to see Wang Yunhe, nor did they lead her to the main hall at all — and so she refused to go any further: “Hey, what are you doing? Help! Lord Wang! Someone is trying to harm a person inside your own office!” All the composed elegance she showed when greeting clients had completely vanished.

The constables were at once frustrated and amused. One of them gave her a slap on the back of the head: “What are you screaming for? Has it taken this long to harm you?”

Ji Jiu Niang had let out only that one cry. The moment the constable finished speaking, she immediately became a refined, composed woman again. The constable thought to himself: this woman who sells herself is far too good at putting on a performance — just like an actress. Truly not to be trusted. I wonder what the young Lord Zhù wants to question her about; let’s hope she doesn’t trick him.

Zhù Ying had been waiting for some time. When Ji Jiu Niang was brought in, Zhù Ying showed not the slightest unusual reaction.

Upon arriving, Ji Jiu Niang noticed this was a small side hall and thought: This isn’t the main hall either! What kind of hearing is being held here? Am I here as a witness?

She glanced upward and saw a young man in green official robes seated above — which made the whole thing even stranger. She wanted to take a second look, but Chief Constable Zhang barked: “What are you staring at, you woman?!”

Ji Jiu Niang quickly lowered her eyes and said, “This person has behaved improperly. I was seized and brought here without cause and know nothing of the circumstances, hence my agitation.”

Zhù Ying said, “Jiu Niang?”

Ji Jiu Niang saw Zhù Ying just as she had the previous year, but so much time had passed that she could not place the face for a moment and answered, “That is I.”

Then Zhù Ying asked, “The young women in your household — where are they all from?”

Jiu Niang quickly replied, “In response to the official’s question, my daughters are all from clear and accounted-for origins. They are all registered. There is no unlawful concealment of persons!”

Zhù Ying said, “Your daughters are clear and accounted for. What about your niece?”

“You’re asking about Pearl? She arrived from elsewhere a couple of years ago and is also registered. Why? Has she committed some offense? Though she has a clever mind, she’s certainly not the sort to become a criminal.”

As she spoke, Ji Jiu Niang’s memory gradually returned. She gathered her courage and shot another glance at Zhù Ying: “Hmm? Aren’t you —”

Zhù Ying calmly encouraged her: “Go on.”

“Uh…” Ji Jiu Niang faltered.

Zhù Ying then asked about Pearl’s origins. Ji Jiu Niang was puzzled, but still answered: “There was a sister of mine surnamed Qiao from when I was young. We went our separate ways afterward — I ended up in the capital while she stayed in her hometown. Later, she took in a foster daughter named Gui Xiang. A few years back, my sister died, and Gui Xiang, left destitute and alone, said she had gone through some hardships and came to seek me out. I saw that she played the pipa rather well and could make a living in the capital, so I let her stay. Since ‘Gui Xiang’ didn’t sound very elegant, I changed it to Pearl.”

Zhù Ying said, “And?”

“There’s nothing… nothing more…”

“Official entertainers don’t transfer so easily, do they?”

Jiu Niang said, “If one is determined, there are always ways. Some petition their superiors, others follow their superior to a new posting. Besides, as long as one is registered and hasn’t run away, changing one’s location isn’t breaking the law.”

Zhù Ying said, “How old is Pearl? When is her birthday?”

Jiu Niang said, “Goodness, how would I remember that? She must be in her twenties by now.”

Chief Constable Zhang said, “In your trade, everyone is sixteen every year. You can celebrate twelve birthdays in a single year, one for each month, with patrons giving birthday gifts.”

Jiu Niang pursed her lips: “Official, she told me she was twenty. I said twenty is too old — she couldn’t pass for thirteen or fourteen — so I told her to say sixteen or seventeen. What’s happened to her? Or has… some family come looking for her? She wasn’t registered here with me either — she was already on the register when I took over!”

Zhù Ying said, “What happened to her foot?”

“Oh, that. Not long after she arrived, she fell half-asleep in her room and forgot she wasn’t in her old place, so she accidentally stepped into the lit charcoal brazier used for heating. What a pity — a perfectly good person, and now she walks with a limp!”

Zhù Ying said, “Do you remember whether there was any mark on the injured foot?”

Jiu Niang said, “Where would I remember something like that?”

Zhù Ying exhaled and said, “What was the date? I need to know the exact day.”

“The twenty-third day of the twelfth month! Right before the Festival of the Stove God!”

Zhù Ying did not let her go home yet but instead had the constables fetch Pearl, and also had someone invite two matrons from the Capital Prefecture to come over. Before long the two matrons arrived first, and Pearl came shortly after.

Pearl still looked petite and delicate. Passing herself off as sixteen or seventeen was a stretch, but she had a particular melancholy air about her that discouraged anyone from pressing the matter too hard. Pearl greeted them first, then looked toward Jiu Niang. Jiu Niang said, “Answer whatever you’re asked.”

Zhù Ying questioned her about where she was from, whether she had any family, and how she came to think of going to the capital. Pearl shook her head for all of it, saying she could not remember: “I wanted to see the capital’s prosperity, so I came.”

Zhù Ying then asked her name. Pearl said, “For people like us, names — changed or unchanged — amount to the same thing.”

“How did you come to change your name to Chan Juan?”

Pearl paused, then said softly, “When I was young and foolish, I thought it sounded pretty.”

Zhù Ying said, “Jiu Niang, if you have something to say, say it.”

Jiu Niang said, “How is it I never knew you had gone by Chan Juan?”

Pearl said, “It makes no difference.”

“It’s better than Pearl,” Jiu Niang murmured to herself.

Zhù Ying then asked about Pearl’s foot. Pearl said, “I fell asleep and forgot — the charcoal brazier in my old room wasn’t placed there.”

A suspicion stirred in Jiu Niang’s heart. She stopped looking at Zhù Ying, for there was nothing to read on that face. She turned her sharp gaze to Pearl instead. But Pearl kept her head bowed, and the expression on her face was hidden from view.

Zhù Ying said, “Have it examined.”

Pearl was a little self-conscious but still sat down compliantly on a chair, removed her shoes and stockings, and revealed a lame foot. One side of the foot had been scalded and deformed. Never mind any incense scar or tooth marks — even its original shape was gone. It looked as though someone had pasted a patch of uneven, pinkish soft rubber onto a fair and tender foot. But Zhù Ying knew that if one were to press it, this “pinkish soft rubber” would feel rigid, without the elasticity of normal skin.

Every trace was gone.

One of the matrons drew a sharp breath and gave Pearl a sympathetic glance. Pearl’s foot rested calmly in place, though on closer inspection it trembled slightly. Zhù Ying said, “You already know, don’t you?”

Pearl said nothing and looked perfectly innocent. Zhù Ying placed in front of her a release-from-registration document that Wang Yunhe had already signed. Pearl’s expression changed at once — she looked up at Zhù Ying in shock. She had recognized Zhù Ying; she simply had not expected Zhù Ying to summon her here for this purpose. Zhù Ying then showed the document to Jiu Niang and said, “Since you acknowledge her as a niece, the two of you should part on good terms. Say nothing, ask nothing. Go and pack her belongings for her.”

Jiu Niang said, “Yes.”

But Pearl suddenly said, “I won’t go!”

Zhù Ying said, “You still need to see your birth mother.”

Pearl looked at Zhù Ying and said, “My birth mother died long ago. My lord, do not listen to other people’s nonsense and waste your goodwill!”

Zhù Ying said, “So you do know.”

Pearl denied it desperately. Even Chief Constable Zhang began to wonder whether a mistake had been made, and called out softly, “Young Lord Zhù.”

Zhù Ying said, “I have arrangements in place. I’m not sending you back — you aren’t anyone’s bond-servant either. After you see your birth mother, the two of you can work out for yourselves how to proceed.” She ordered the constables to summon the Wang Matron once more.

When Pearl heard “Nanny Wang of the Feng Household,” she panicked and said, “Young Lord Zhù, you — just go find your wife yourself, what do you want with me? I’m not Pearl, and I’m not Chan Juan either! Stop sending for people!”

Zhù Ying tucked the release-from-registration document into her sleeve: “Oh?”

Pearl said, “I am Qiao Lian Xiang.”

Chief Constable Zhang scratched his head: “What on earth is going on?!” He quickly moved to restore order. “You, young woman — put your shoes and stockings back on and answer properly. What sort of behavior is this?!”

Pearl hurriedly put her shoes and stockings back on and said, “It’s the truth! Gui Xiang’s mother died, and so my mother raised her. I was called Lian Xiang and she was Gui Xiang — that’s how the names came about. Later my mother died, and Gui Xiang fell gravely ill and was near death. I said to her, ‘If you die, I’ll be alone and won’t know where I’ll end up.’ Before she died, she told me: ‘If you have nowhere to go, seek out my mother. I vaguely remember that my birth mother’s family name is Shen, and she was a lady of the Feng household in the capital — she was confiscated as punishment for a crime committed by her family. If you don’t find anyone along the way, or if it ever comes to pass that there’s been a reversal of the verdict and exoneration, go to the capital. Bury me and tell them you are me — attend on my mother in my place. Just be aware that Mother has a difficult temper; she is prone to anger because her appearance was ruined, and she has very exacting standards. Endure it — it can’t be worse than being in the registers of official entertainment. At least it’s a place to belong.’ Later I heard that a Feng family had been exonerated, though I didn’t know if it was the same one she spoke of. Having something to hope for is better than nothing, so I came. I intended only to look from a distance and see whether it was Gui Xiang’s home. I’d barely arrived when I heard that the Lady… “

Pearl drew a rough breath. “That Lady — her appearance was ruined — she had chosen to honor her chastity — before I could even step forward to present myself, I heard about something else… a faithful servant… an ‘义仆,’ ‘loyal retainer’… What would be the point of still going forward then? What would be the point at all?!”

As she was speaking, Nanny Wang arrived. Nanny Wang came without knowing what the matter was, and was full of anxiety — at one moment she thought perhaps the young miss had been found, then reconsidered, since that should have meant word being sent to the household rather than a summons to herself. She did not know what business could require her presence here.

Then she saw Zhù Ying, and hope ignited in her heart again: “Son-in-law? Has the young miss been found?” Her eyes swept around — aside from the constables, three older matrons, and one young woman, there was no one here who looked like a young miss from the Feng household!

Pearl spun around sharply to look at her, took one step forward, then retreated, composing herself once more. Zhù Ying said, “Your daughter has been found.”

Nanny Wang was startled with joy for a moment, then looked around again. Zhù Ying counted silently to ten. Only then did Nanny Wang turn her eyes toward Pearl — seemingly at a loss, a little apprehensive. Pearl said, “My lord, as I have said, I am Lian Xiang, not Gui Xiang, and certainly not Chan Juan. I currently go by Pearl.”

Zhù Ying said, “Say it to her yourself.”

Pearl took one step forward; Nanny Wang stepped back, turning her head away, and said, “Son-in-law, I am afraid you have made a mistake. Blood recognizes blood — this is not my daughter.”

Zhù Ying said, “Jiu Niang!”

Jiu Niang had turned over a thousand thoughts in her mind. When she heard her name called, she gave a start: “Yes!” A cold sweat broke out on her back. She sneaked a glance at Zhù Ying, then quickly looked away again, cursing inwardly: I knew it — young Lord Chen and that person surnamed Feng were fools! This one right here is a ruthless character, and they thought her “simple.” They were actually trying to manipulate her!

Zhù Ying spoke again: “Jiu Niang.”

Jiu Niang turned to Pearl and said, “My good child — call me Auntie for a moment and listen to one word of advice from me. Which household girl doesn’t wish to leave this life behind? You have this chance now. Even if it’s living on in Gui Xiang’s place — won’t that do? Even being someone’s bond-servant is better than being an official entertainer!”

Pearl also shrank back a step. Zhù Ying gave the release-from-registration document to Pearl and said, “In any case, the document has already been obtained, and there is no reason to take it back. You may think it over at your leisure. Nanny Wang — I have arranged her release from the registers. I handle cases; this was incidental. I am not a servant of your Feng household and have no obligation to report to the Feng household. Whether your establishment or your husband come to know of this is no concern of mine.”

Chief Constable Zhang looked at her and said, “Young Lord Zhù.”

Zhù Ying said, “What? Am I still expected to grovel before a Feng household? Their affairs are none of my business whatsoever! The Court of Judicial Review has an endless backlog of cases! The Capital Prefecture has endless duties! The Gong case happened to come up — it was simply a matter of setting things right.”

Chief Constable Zhang looked at Pearl, then at Nanny Wang, then at Jiu Niang, and said, “Well, yes — she can go wherever she likes. It’s not as though she’s obligated to go on serving as someone’s bond-servant.”

Nanny Wang gave Zhù Ying a curtsy and said, “Son-in-law, you have been so very kind, freeing this young woman from the registers. Wherever she chooses to go, it’s no longer this old woman’s concern.”

Zhù Ying said, “Very well — work out your own affairs among yourselves. Jiu Niang — I won’t interfere with anyone else, but Pearl has already been released from the registers. If she wishes to leave, you are not permitted to stop her. Return her belongings to her. You may all go now. Do you know what to say when you return?”

Jiu Niang swallowed and said, “You may rest assured.”

“Good — everyone disperse. As for anything else, none of you need concern yourselves with it!”

With that, she drove all three women out and went herself to take her leave of Wang Yunhe.

……

Wang Yunhe had not supervised how she handled the case, and simply asked, “Done?”

Zhù Ying said, “More or less.”

“Oh?”

Zhù Ying recounted what had just happened. Wang Yunhe’s brow furrowed deeply: “Strange! Why did you stop pursuing it?!”

Zhù Ying said, “What result would pursuing it yield? Surely you wouldn’t begrudge a single release-from-registration document and a lame entertainer?”

Wang Yunhe said sternly, “That’s not right!”

Zhù Ying said, “You have always told me to read books. Let me test you in return — ‘The seven orifices were made, and Hundun died.’ What does it mean?” She laid heavy emphasis on the word “died.” [Note 1]

Wang Yunhe fell silent, then said, “A human life is above all things.”

Zhù Ying said, “This subordinate takes her leave. I’ll go write up the case closure now.”

Wang Yunhe smiled in spite of himself, as if searching for something to say: “You know how to write official documents now?”

Zhù Ying said, “Every official document under heaven has a template to follow. They are all the accumulated wisdom of those who came before — I wouldn’t dare think myself superior to my predecessors.”

Wang Yunhe’s mood finally lightened a fraction, and a slightly brighter smile touched his face: “Nonsense.”

Zhù Ying took her leave and departed the Capital Prefecture. Her mood was neither good nor bad. She returned to the Court of Judicial Review to write up the case closure. The Court of Judicial Review also had people who went out on official duties, and her comings and goings had not aroused any suspicion. She finished writing the closure report and took it to Zheng Xi. Zheng Xi asked, “Done?”

Zhù Ying said, “Everyone has their own fate. From what I can see, that young woman is not without a mind of her own. Whatever comes of her life afterward is none of my concern.”

Zheng Xi said, “That is exactly the right attitude. Now go back and read your books.”

Zhù Ying remained at the Court of Judicial Review until the end of the working day, planning to stop by the herbal medicine shop for another leisurely visit. She had barely stepped out of the palace gate when she saw Chief Constable Zhang himself waiting outside, saying, “Trouble!”

Zhù Ying said, “What kind of trouble?”

Chief Constable Zhang said, “I said from the start that something wasn’t right! Just now, that Nanny Wang turned herself in at the Capital Prefecture! Right at the office gate, causing quite a commotion among all who were there! She says that back then, she did not exchange her daughter for the young miss of the Feng family! The person who went into exile with Lady Feng was the Lady’s own flesh and blood all along! The one found back at first — the one who later died — was never a young miss of the Feng family at all. The so-called ‘loyal retainer’ was all a fabrication!”

Zhù Ying said, “What?! She said that?! What does she think she’s doing?!”

Chief Constable Zhang said, “Exactly! And when you think about it, that makes sense — even being a maidservant in a wealthy household is better than being an official entertainer. And being from a loyal retainer’s household, having suffered on behalf of the master’s family — how could they not expect to be welcomed back and properly compensated? Yet she refused to reclaim the girl! What kind of birth mother behaves like that?”

“Has she lost her mind?”

Chief Constable Zhang said, “Her own daughter died and she had nothing left to hope for? Is she taking out her resentment on the master’s family? Making up stories? You clearly gave her a daughter — could it be she despises Pearl’s background?”

Neither of those was actually the reason. Nanny Wang had returned home and gotten into another quarrel with her husband. He had initially blamed her for not keeping a proper watch over the young miss, but after the Feng household held the funeral, her husband fell in line with the household’s view — no point stirring up further trouble; they might as well treat the girl as dead. Nanny Wang refused to be reconciled to this and kept on searching. Her husband could not reason with her, so he resorted to the universal method employed by husbands throughout the land — he beat her.

Even that failed to make Nanny Wang change her mind. She kept searching like a madwoman. Today, seeing Zhù Ying had stirred her longing all over again. During the quarrel with her husband, she brought up Zhù Ying’s name. Her husband said, “Their family hates Lady Feng for beating her parents — they would never help again! The girl is dead, and that’s that! Besides, even if she’s alive, what good would it do? What mother-in-law and father-in-law could accept a daughter-in-law who is the enemy’s daughter? It’s hopeless! His parents would certainly forbid it if they knew. And the young miss running away on her own — that’s unfilial too! Her own mother has already given her up for dead. What business is it of yours, you old woman?”

Nanny Wang was out of options. Zhù Ying was her last lifeline. There was no one else who would help her, so she ran to the gate of the Capital Prefecture and turned herself in, drawing a great crowd of onlookers.

Wang Yunhe never expected this woman to be capable of such extreme behavior. He hastily ordered Nanny Wang to be brought inside, and also sent word to the Feng household. Chief Constable Zhang’s shift was up and after the end of the working day it was no longer his duty, but seeing what had happened he came to inform Zhù Ying, and asked, “So what do we do about what we arranged this afternoon?”

Zhù Ying said, “What has gotten into this woman?! What else did she say?”

“I don’t know. I only heard what she said at the office gate before I came here. The presiding official has had her detained, and that’s beyond what I can inquire into. I’m saying — could this implicate us in what happened today?”

Zhù Ying said, “It won’t fall on you or me…” She murmured to herself, “Young Lord Chen is going to lose his mind.”

It was just the end of the working day, and officials were leaving the imperial city to go home. Chen Meng was also leaving the imperial city as he finished work, and he even greeted Zhù Ying when he noticed her. He had been set straight by Madam Guan and then lectured by his father, and seemed to have made some improvement. Zhù Ying said, “Young Lord Chen, what has happened at your aunt’s household?”

Chen Meng did not yet know: “What?”

Zhù Ying said, “One piece of good news.”

“?”

“While handling the Gong case, I found the daughter of that loyal retainer. She says she is not who everyone thought, that the real person has already died, and that she was using the deceased’s identity. She goes by Pearl.”

Chen Meng choked, coughed for a moment, and said, “That… may work. We will provide a dowry and arrange a proper match for her. Let her pay filial respect to the other family in that person’s name.”

“There is also one piece of bad news.”

“Hmm?”

“Just now, Nanny Wang turned herself in at the Capital Prefecture, saying she is not a loyal retainer, that back then she did not exchange her daughter for your cousin. Which means that Hua Jie is not Guan Qun. This Nanny Wang is now my mother-in-law. Or rather — my former mother-in-law. You owe me an explanation.”

Chen Meng processed this for a moment. His expression cycled through a number of hues, then he said rapidly, “Do not panic yet. I’ll go and find my father! Uncle! Ah! That damned woman!”

Zhù Ying said to Chief Constable Zhang, “Uncle, shall we go to the Capital Prefecture?”

Chief Constable Zhang’s legs went weak: “Young Lord Zhù, please don’t joke like that. Let us…”

The two made their way to the Capital Prefecture, where they found that a great many ordinary citizens had not yet dispersed and were all talking about what had just happened. Chief Constable Zhang asked around and reported: “A message has already been sent to the Feng household, but no one from there has arrived yet.”

Zhù Ying said, “What a scandal!” She steeled herself inwardly: no matter what this wretched woman set off next, she was washing her hands of it!

And yet she still had to put on an expression of indignation and go in to see Wang Yunhe.

……

Wang Yunhe stood with his hands clasped behind his back. Nanny Wang knelt in the hall below, and aside from the constables, no one else was present to observe. Hearing that Zhù Ying had arrived, he said with a stern face, “What is she coming here for?”

A constable came out to receive Zhù Ying: “Young Lord Zhù, please return. Our lord presides over cases and has never accepted personal appeals.”

Zhù Ying said, “I am a wronged party.”

Wang Yunhe had no choice but to let her in, and asked, “What wronged party are you?”

Zhù Ying said, “I am ashamed to say, two years ago this subordinate served briefly as a live-in son-in-law. Later, my wife’s maternal uncle came seeking us and said that my late wife should have borne the Feng surname — that she was the niece of a family named Shen…”

Wang Yunhe made a sound of recognition.

Zhù Ying said with a wry smile, “Later, as Your Lordship knows, this subordinate was imprisoned. My father and mother went to petition the Feng household and were beaten as impostors. This marriage, whether we wished to dissolve it or not, was dissolved.”

Wang Yunhe looked at her with some sympathy, then looked at Nanny Wang. Nanny Wang said, “Son-in-law, you may rest assured. Once everyone is gathered, I will give a full account of everything.”

Wang Yunhe said furiously, “Is there yet more hidden?!”

Nanny Wang bowed her head and said nothing. Wang Yunhe was so angry he wanted to have her given twenty strokes of the paddle at once, but one look at her frail, bony frame and he feared she might not survive the beating. He had no choice but to exercise patience and wait as the Feng household sent a steward along with Nanny Wang’s husband, the Shen household sent a steward as well, and Chen Meng came personally.

Nanny Wang’s husband immediately moved to grab and strike his wife, but Wang Yunhe cut him off with a sharp command!

Wang Yunhe ordered Nanny Wang: “Tell the truth, all of it!”

Nanny Wang said, “If the Lady is not present, I will say nothing. No one will learn where the true young miss went!”

Wang Yunhe said, “What? You said —”

Nanny Wang raised her face, her eyes blazing in a frightening way. Wang Yunhe sent someone to summon Lady Feng. Lady Feng still refused to come; Feng Dalang came to represent his mother instead. Nanny Wang refused to speak all the same: “If the Lady does not come, no one will find out what really happened. Even if I die, do not blame me for whatever comes to light afterward!”

Chen Meng said furiously, “I’ll go and fetch her!”

By the time the evening curfew sounded, he had “fetched” a Lady Feng who was being dragged along in stumbling disarray.

Lady Feng took one look at Nanny Wang and said coldly, “You ungrateful wretch! The Feng family raised you for nothing!”

Nanny Wang replied, “Oh, my fine Lady, my exalted benefactress, my great compassionate soul — you never sowed a single grain of rice nor wove a single inch of cloth. The grain you ate was grown by my brothers, the clothes you wore were embroidered by me. And now it is you who raised me? Was it the coin earned by selling one’s own body that kept me fed?!”

Lady Feng spat up a mouthful of blood.

Nanny Wang’s husband lunged forward and struck her across the face. Blood poured from Nanny Wang’s nose and mouth. Watching as her husband was dragged away, she said, “You worthless thing — apart from beating your wife and trading away your own flesh and blood for scraps your master didn’t even want to chew, do you have any other talent? All of your master’s misfortunes today were brought about by you — by you! What loyalty have you ever shown? What dog have you ever been? Even a dog knows human affection — you know nothing of it!”

She then turned to Wang Yunhe and said, “Now that the Lady is here, I will speak. That vile creature could trade away her own flesh and blood for the sake of her reputation. I am not a vile creature. Even animals know how to protect their young. The Lady is a mother; I too am a mother. Is it not ten months of carrying a child for every woman who gives birth? Is she the only one who suffered? She did not even love her child as much as I loved mine. After I gave birth and was barely out of confinement, I went to serve as wet nurse to the young miss. Does it not strike anyone as strange? There had been a swap — how did the Lady fail to recognize her own child? From the time she bore the child, she claimed the baby was delicate and could not bear noise. The child was raised entirely by me. They told me to bring my own birth child to exchange for the young miss. I refused. I said: I also want to leave a mark on my own child. So I bit a tooth mark into the scar they had burned onto my child, then took my own child back in my arms and burned a scar onto her as well. They received my child in exchange.”

She turned toward Zhù Ying and said, “Old woman that I am, and base though I may be — do not take offense, my lord. I am not the young miss’s birth mother either. They sought a wet nurse and feared the young lady would not get enough to eat, so they forbade me from nursing my own child. That infant was barely a month old and had no one to care for her. She fell ill and died. That vile creature was constantly running at her master’s heels and knew nothing of her own household affairs. So I went to the foundling home and chose a child from there. I told him this was his daughter — a newborn looks a little different each day, and he suspected nothing. You may continue searching for the young miss, my lord.”

Zhù Ying stood utterly transfixed, genuinely shocked by another person for the first time.

Lady Feng had already fainted. Feng Dalang did not know what to do. Only Chen Meng remained something like composed. He said, “Lord Wang, this matter —”

Wang Yunhe said, “I shall adjudicate impartially.”

Nanny Wang’s husband was red-eyed with rage: “I’ll kill you, you wretched woman!”

Nanny Wang let out a burst of wild, skyward laughter: “You had better slit your own throat! Your master’s ruin today — it was you, all of you! What loyalty did you ever show? What kind of dog were you?! Even a dog shows human feeling — you showed none! None at all!”

As everyone turned to look at her, they saw a pair of scissors plunged into her chest. Blood seeped from her clothes and spread outward.