Chapter 60: Compassion

Zhang Xian Gu's purse jingled as she counted out exactly twenty coins, showing a level of frugality not typical of an official's mother, but rather like a common woman haggling in the market.

The overseer was amused, but Zhu Ying was composed, taking the twenty coins and handing them over, "For a cup of tea after tomorrow's fatigue. Please, take care of it."

The overseer respected her unembarrassed demeanor, thinking she surely had a promising future, as the jailer had rightly said. Such people should not be offended.

Accepting the money, he told Zhang Xian Gu, "Madam, please be discreet. If this gets out, our arrangement would fall through."

Zhang Xian Gu reassured him, "Dear brother, don't worry! I know many secrets and have never spilled them."

The overseer was momentarily taken aback.

Zhang Xian Gu, still fixated on the idea that "the dead girl of the Cao family appeared in a dream to my youngest," didn't wait for a response, reverting back to the subject of the Cao girl, "Poor thing, died too soon. Brother, please have mercy for the sake of the deceased."

Zhu Ying earnestly said to the overseer, "Please, it's almost curfew, we'll take our leave now. It's just unfortunate for the girl; she was only a day away from enjoying the dumplings made by her own mother."

Hearing this, the overseer felt a pang of sympathy.

Zhang Xian Gu added, "Such a tragic death must carry heavy resentment. Dear brother, with your kind heart, you must help her find peace!"

Zhu Ying suggested, "Let's go now; the overseer surely understands."

Seeing Zhang Xian Gu's concern and Zhu Da's silence, the overseer felt it inappropriate to keep the family any longer, unsure of how to conclude their visit. He thus saw them out, saying, "Take care," as he ushered them outside.

Zhang Xian Gu seemed inclined to linger for more conversation, but a look from Zhu Ying made her hold her tongue, relieving the overseer who then respectfully nodded to Zhu Ying.

Zhu Ying nodded slightly and walked home with her parents.

Once out of the overseer's alley, Zhang Xian Gu questioned, "What happened? Did I say something wrong earlier?"

Zhu Da grumbled, "Twenty coins, that was all you could bring yourself to give."

Zhang Xian Gu retorted, "What? Didn’t the youngest also give a package of silver? How is my contribution suddenly shameful? You know nothing. It was just a little extra..."

Zhu Ying interjected, "This isn't something to discuss outdoors. If people find out and it gets investigated, it could be seen as corruption, causing trouble. I brought you along not to keep secrets from you, but if you spread this around, I won't share anything with you in the future."

Quickly, Zhang Xian Gu assured, "I'm your mother, not a three-year-old. Can't I tell right from wrong? Tomorrow, I'll also go watch that scoundrel get his punishment! I’ll only tell Gan Da to cheer him up."

Zhu Ying questioned, "Why involve Gan Da? It's me who wants that man to pay, not him."

"Ah? After all the effort and money you've spent, how could you…?"

Zhu Ying asked, "Mother, do you feel vindicated?"

"Indeed, I do!"

"That settles it then. Telling Gan Da to keep it a secret, who then tells his parents to do the same, might as well shout it from the city gates. I wanted that beast dead, and now I’ll wait for the capital's authorities to come for me."

Seeing her daughter's unusual determination, Zhang Xian Gu wisely dropped the argument, acting as if nothing had happened, and suggested, "It's almost curfew, let's head home for dinner. Oh, we must hurry to buy some paper money and incense!"

Zhu Ying ignored her, merely asking if she had enough money. Zhang Xian Gu assured, "Plenty, I've got it all planned, even for that twenty coins."

Glancing at Zhu Da, she noticed he paid her no mind and silently continued home.

Once home, the family dined, and Zhang Xian Gu busied herself with offerings for Cao Shi, lighting incense and murmuring prayers, while Zhu Ying returned to her room to study and practice calligraphy.

Zhu Da remained silent until bedtime, when Zhang Xian Gu nudged him, asking, "What's with you today? Gone mute?"

Zhu Da retorted, "I’m not you, wasting efforts on nothing."

"How is sending Cao Shi off not proper? Tell me, what is then?"

Slowly, Zhu Da mused, "About this case..."

"Since when do you understand legal cases?"

"Stop interrupting! Will you listen to me or not?"

"Fine, speak!"

Zhu Da shared his thoughts slowly: "Given how Zhu Ying is now, she shouldn't marry. Finding a husband is out of the question... A fine officer she is, we can't just throw that away! Where would we find a son-in-law who matches her current status?"

"You old fool! Are you even her father? We'll be gone someday, leaving her all alone in this world!" Zhang Xian Gu, infuriated, sat up ready to argue, "She's risking her life being an official, providing for us luxuriously. If you were decent, you'd think about her future. How can she manage without a family?"

The couple argued again.

After a while, Zhu Da also sat up decisively: "No use talking to you! I'll discuss it with Zhu Ying myself." He got out of bed, put on his shoes, and went straight to Zhu Ying's room.

They found Zhu Ying with her lamp still on, putting down her book to ask, "What's the matter?"

Zhang Xian Gu rushed to speak, "Nothing, ignore this old fool; he's drunk and muddled!"

Zhu Da retorted, "Shut up! Zhu Ying, let's figure this out."

"Mom, don't worry. Dad, go ahead."

Rubbing his hands nervously, Zhu Da resolved, "You're not to marry! Choose a fine young man, a handsome one, and have a child yourself. Claim it's from an affair with a woman outside, who has passed away."

Zhang Xian Gu and Zhu Ying both widened their eyes at him. Zhu Da said, "What are you looking at me for? This is the best solution! The child Zhu Ying bears will carry our surname and be of our Zhu lineage. Should our family's bloodline be passed down in someone else's family?"

He had thought about this for a long time. Initially, while in the prefectural city, considering Zhu Ying's capabilities, he thought of taking in a son-in-law. Once Zhu Ying became an official, he started pondering over "continuing the Zhu family legacy." With his limited but diverse life experiences, he wondered how Zhu Ying could leave a descendant.

The case of the Cao family girl overturned his original thoughts. The Cao girl, compared to Zhu Ying, seemed more worthy of marriage, being both capable and compliant, more "womanly." Now, why should a wife be beaten to death for merely talking back? That's unacceptable! My daughter is doing fine as an official! Why should she?

He decided against it.

However, the Zhu family still needed a descendant to continue the lineage. Considering his and Zhang Xian Gu's age, having another child seemed improbable, leading him to this alternative.

Borrowing a seed. That's not illegal, right? Even if it is, it's fine as long as you don't know about it! As for how to hide the pregnancy from others, Zhu Da wasn't very knowledgeable about female physiology. He only "knew" when his wife was pregnant, hence believed it wouldn't be difficult to deceive others.

He knew about the confinement period for women, which he reckoned was just a month. At most, including the later stages of pregnancy, three months, tops. Either by taking leave or some other means, it seemed easy to hide. Once the child is born, even if there's no "wife," it's a common excuse that a man fathered a child with another woman.

"Let your mother take care of you. You continue being an official," Zhu Da felt more convinced about the feasibility, "Nowadays, it's much better than when you were raised. There's plenty to eat and drink, and the living conditions are better. In a few years, once you're more established and have more disposable income, hiring a maid wouldn't be an issue, right?"

A smile slowly bloomed on Zhang Xian Gu's face: "Old man, you've finally come up with a sensible idea in your life!" The more she thought about it, the more ingenious she found the plan. Having witnessed Cao Shi's tragic fate, she worried for her daughter. Now, this seemed like a perfect solution!

Though Zhu Da wasn't aware of the complications of pregnancy and childbirth, Zhang Xian Gu was. The aspects Zhu Da hadn't considered were precisely where she, as the biological mother, could plan for her daughter. Excellent, excellent!

Zhu Ying said, "Oh."

Zhang Xian Gu urged, "Say something, will you?"

Zhu Ying said, "I'll think about it more."

Zhang Xian Gu wanted to urge her, but Zhu Da stopped her, "Take your time to think. We don't need to rush this; first, figure out the person."

Zhu Ying replied, "Oh."

Although the couple wasn't fully satisfied, a weight was lifted off their hearts, and they went back to their room contentedly. Unable to sleep, they chattered away into the night, pushing all other concerns aside.

Zhu Ying blew out the candle and fell asleep instantly, without a moment's hesitation. Men? Children? What are those? Zhu Ying hadn't even considered these; she had officials to become, money to earn, and people to deal with.

…………——

The next day, Zhang Xian Gu overslept a bit and almost forgot she wanted to watch Chen's younger son get punished. She hurried over and saw Gan Ze, restraining herself from mentioning the previous day's discussion.

Gan Ze's gaze was fixed on the younger Chen being beaten and then shackled, escorted out of the city by guards, with his parents weeping as they followed. Only then did he look away and noticed Zhang Xian Gu, who restrained herself again, saying, "You're busy, we just came to watch."

It seemed the Gan family had discussed it beforehand. They thanked Zhang Xian Gu, and after she and Zhu Da went home, the Gans visited, bringing gifts and an invitation for a thank-you meal on a day off, asking Zhu Ying and her family not to decline, mentioning Jin, Lu, and other acquaintances would join.

Zhu Da accepted the invitation on Zhu Ying's behalf, while Zhang Xian Gu remarked, "She can't drink."

Gan Ze assured, "Aunt, don't worry, I'm aware."

That evening, when Zhu Ying arrived home, Zhang Xian Gu showed her the gifts and the invitation. The gifts included silk, lamb, fruit wine, a pouch of silver, and ink supplies—very practical, unlike the superficial gifts in the capital that are passed around unopened.

Zhang Xian Gu said, "I said we shouldn't accept it, but he insisted you would understand."

Zhu Ying said, "I wasn't aware of his intentions. But since he's offered, let's accept it. It wouldn't set his mind at ease if we didn't. We can return the silver when we attend the banquet."

Zhang Xian Gu hesitantly said, "Return the silver? But we've spent quite a bit too."

Zhu Ying replied, "It's not appropriate to keep the silver. It wasn't a favor he asked for."

Zhang Xian Gu pondered the matter of having a child, thinking, for a child, one must have their own home, right? The Zhu family currently rents, which isn't stable! To buy a house requires money! Where does that money come from? Even a modest home in the capital is beyond the means of a minor official in one or two years. Even this current residence, if it were haunted, would take years of saving.

Being an official brings in a decent income, but expenses are even greater. To maintain the dignity of an official, everything must be of better quality than before, naturally leading to higher expenses. Zhang Xian Gu calculated last night; everything costs money. If Zhu Ying were to have a child, it would need to be raised well, incurring further expenses on clothing, education, and more.

Zhang Xian Gu sighed, "I was being narrow-minded, only thinking about saving money for ourselves. I'm not greedy, it's just that everything in the capital costs money, and without any savings, we have to be frugal. He's an acquaintance who has helped us; it wouldn't feel right to take advantage of him."

On the day of the banquet, Gan Ze and his family arranged several tables of fine dishes from a city restaurant, inviting Jin Liang and his wife, Lu Chao, and several prominent servants from the Hou Mansion, all considered "insiders." People from the mansion, aware of the troubles in Gan Ze's relative's family, sympathized with him and despised the younger Chen. Jin Liang and others remarked, "Zhu Ying is a reliable person."

Now, they began to regard Zhu Ying as one of their own, and the previous distance on the journey to the capital seemed to disappear.

Jin Liang greeted Zhu Ying with a punch on the shoulder, "Good buddy! True friend!"

Zhu Ying smiled, pulled Gan Ze aside, returned the silver to him, explaining, "I appreciate your sentiment, but my family is indeed incurring expenses upon arriving in the capital. However, this matter was my own doing, not something you requested of me. Accepting your food and drink is a matter of friendship, but accepting money would make it too formal, and that would end the friendship."

Gan Ze reluctantly accepted the silver back, saying, "Zhu Ying, I won't say more. If you ever need anything, just let me know. Please!"

Meanwhile, Zhang Xian Gu and Zhu Da were given places of honor. Zhang Xian Gu, accompanied by Jin Da Nainai, Gan Ze's mother, and others, felt proud sitting so high for the first time. She looked around, sighing, "None of these young men are worthy of my Zhu Ying."

Zhu Da also enjoyed himself, drinking with Gan's father and saying, "When you're out and about, it's all about loyalty, right?"

On the other side, Zhang Xian Gu inquired if the deceased girl from the Cao family had been properly buried: "Was the child sent off properly? Were the sutras chanted? Burn plenty of paper money and offerings; she shouldn't be shortchanged in the afterlife."

Gan Ze's mother sighed, "How could we let her suffer any longer? Thanks to Zhu Ying, the child has now been returned to her family. Her parents, concerned about her being alone as a wandering spirit, arranged a posthumous marriage for her. The groom's family is known to Jin Da Nainai..."

Jin Da Nainai said, "I helped arrange it. It was my neighbor's son from my maternal home who died young. His parents, worried he'd be uneasy in the afterlife, wanted to arrange a ghost marriage for him too. The same dowry procedures were followed, and their graves were combined so the child would have company below."

Zhang Xian Gu asked, "What was the temperament of the Li family's child like? Make sure to craft sturdy servant-like paper effigies, so even if the young couple quarrels, she won't be at a disadvantage."

Jin Da Nainai couldn't help but laugh, "Rest assured, everything has been properly arranged."

The meal was thoroughly enjoyed, and Jin Liang promised Zhu Ying, "When have I ever gone back on my word? My family has some armaments, bows, arrows, and blades you're interested in practicing with. Come by my place to pick them up. When I return, I'll teach you as well."

Zhu Ying responded, "I'll remember that."

"Of course, you will," Jin Liang retorted, slightly annoyed, "You're still holding onto something said on the road to use against me now, aren't you?"

The table erupted in laughter. As everyone drank and encouraged each other, no one urged Zhu Ying to drink. Gan's father, unaware of the situation, deemed it impolite and stood up to offer Zhu Ying a drink, alarming everyone at the table, "Absolutely not! He can't drink! It could be lethal!"

After some explanation, Gan's father also laughed, "Zhu Ying is so perceptive, truly a great material for an official!" He then drank his own wine and proudly showed the empty cup, adding that Zhu Ying's descendants would also be blessed.

The conversation shifted to official matters and Wang Yunhe's admirable clarity and fairness, noting how it inadvertently favored the younger Chen. Lu Chao whispered, "Where is he going? We could gather some people to intercept him on the road..."

Jin Liang scolded, "You've had too much to drink and are talking nonsense! Can you even say such a thing out loud?!"

Gan Ze added, "I dare not, I dare not. Being around Zhu Ying feels like I've heard the Emperor himself is quite annoyed with some of the recent goings-on below, intending to rectify the atmosphere."

Jin Liang expressed concern for Zhu Ying, "You learn fast but mustn't pick up any crooked ideas from Lu Chao."

Zhu Ying simply said, "Alright."

Still uneasy, Jin Liang pressed, "You've heard what Lu Chao said; you need to clarify to me that you won't consider any dishonest schemes."

Zhu Ying waved her hand dismissively, "What grand plans could I have? I'm dead tired from reviewing old cases every day. Everyone will get their due."

Gan Ze was immediately reassured. He had great faith in Zhu Ying's abilities and took her words as an indication of her careful consideration.

Jin Liang thought to himself: I'll keep an eye on what happens to that Chen fellow. If necessary, I must inform Zhu Ying.

…………——

After the feast at Zhu Ying's, Zhang Xian Gu was joyful, not just because of the good meal but because her daughter had gained some recognition in a small circle within the capital.

The Gan family hired a carriage to take Zhu Ying's family home. Upon arrival, Zhu Ying fumbled for the keys to open the door, while Zhang Xian Gu rubbed her belly, exclaiming, "Oh my, I ate too much! Hey, why do my clothes feel so tight? Have I gained weight?!"

It wasn't just weight gain! Clothes are made with a bit of extra room, but Zhang Xian Gu, accustomed to frugality, hadn't made them too loose. This slight allowance was now filled after months of good food and rest. She noticed her husband had also gained weight, while her daughter hadn't, but she had grown taller!

It was time for the family to make new clothes.

Calculating their savings, Zhang Xian Gu worried after locking the door: What to do? She and her husband could wear cotton, but Zhu Ying needed silk garments. Gan Da Lang's gift of silk and some official fabrics could be used, but her sewing skills might not suffice for presentable clothes, requiring a tailor and thus more expenses.

Zhu Ying's court boots needed replacing, along with headscarves and hats, especially with new styles in the capital. Being an official, Zhu Ying couldn't be looked down upon and needed at least two or three respectable outfits. She also had to prepare for the future child...

Entering the house, she offhandedly remarked, "If only we could do like the Cao family, burning paper would be cheaper."

Zhu Ying asked, "What happened with the Cao family?"

Zhang Xian Gu explained about the ghost marriage, saying, "A parent's love is the same everywhere; no one wants their daughter to be lonely."

Zhu Ying simply responded, "Oh."

For her, the matter of the Cao family was in the past. She continued her routine of studying and practicing calligraphy, returning to the Dali Temple for work. The atmosphere there had tightened a bit due to recent scrutiny, with many privately complaining about the meddling imperial censors. The left censor remarked, "That's their job, to scrutinize our work while we do ours."

Wang Ping Shi lamented the situation, "It's not just that. One might excuse a past oversight, but now, during a review, any discrepancies could lead to questioning the reviewer's role. It's even worse if others discover mistakes. We need to be even more cautious these days."

The discussion tightened everyone's nerves, and they quickly turned their attention back to other tasks.

Zhu Ying became even more meticulous in reviewing documents and took the opportunity to learn from Yang Wu Zuo and Zhang Ban Tou, applying their advice more diligently when reviewing cases.

As the weather grew hotter towards the end of June, Zhu Ying took a stroll in the corridor after lunch to digest her meal. From a distance, she saw a familiar figure approaching – it was Chen Meng.

It had been a while since Zhu Ying and Chen Meng had seen each other. Despite both being in the capital, their statuses were quite different, and they were each busy with their own affairs. However, Zhu Ying felt that Chen Meng had come specifically to see her, as he was heading straight towards her.

Zhu Ying quickly stepped forward, and Chen Meng hastened his pace, saying, "I've got something to tell you."

"What is it?"

Chen Meng led Zhu Ying to a secluded spot and revealed, "You're getting promoted."

Zhu Ying laughed in disbelief, "Me? How could that be? Don't joke with me. I've hardly been in these official robes long enough to need a new set. How could it be my turn?"

Chen Meng retorted, "Wishful thinking, huh?"

Zhu Ying only understood after Chen Meng explained that the Dali Temple had reported a proposal to promote her scattered official rank to a seventh-grade Xuan Yi Lang, while her actual position remained as a reviewer in the Dali Temple. Chen Meng knew this because his father was Chancellor Chen. The chancellor usually didn't concern himself with the promotion of such minor officials, but this year the emperor had taken a keen interest, prompting the chancellor to pay closer attention. Chen Meng came to know through this heightened scrutiny by his father.

While it's customary to report the higher official titles first, Chen Meng still advised, "Since you're new to the office, it's better to be cautious."

Zhu Ying sincerely thanked him, sensing from Chen Meng's expression that his visit wasn't solely to convey good news.

She asked, "Does the eldest son have any further advice for me?"

With a sigh, Chen Meng inquired, "What are your true intentions? Have you really disregarded Guan Qun?"

Zhu Ying questioned, "What happened? Something's wrong with my sister? That can't be right; she's still in mourning."

Chen Meng explained, "Indeed, you're sharp. My aunt mentioned she's not getting any younger. Although she intends to observe mourning, she shouldn't live in too much solitude. They've started discreet inquiries, planning to arrange a marriage as soon as the mourning period ends. My uncle and grandmother agree; they believe she deserves a good husband. But, what constitutes a 'good' husband varies from person to person."

A concern flashed through Zhu Ying's mind, "Is there a problem with the man?"

"You two are truly stubborn," Chen Meng remarked. "I see she cares for you, and you're concerned about her. Since we're acquaintances, I dare say things that would otherwise attract censure from the censors. The disputes between your families aren't irreconcilable. History is full of families who fought yet arranged marriages for the next generation. Take, for instance, Marquis Wu Lie and General He, who became in-laws despite past conflicts.

If you're genuinely interested, I'd be willing to mediate for you. But before you rush into anything, consider the kind of 'gentleman' my aunt admires, someone of good character. Likely someone just like her!"

Zhu Ying clenched her fists, urging, "Explain further."

Chen Meng glanced at her expression and said, "The heartache of parents worldwide, they all think they're doing what's best for their children. Yet, the road to hell is often paved with good intentions. Imagine my aunt as a man; marrying Guan Qun to someone with a 'masculine' demeanor like hers, wouldn't that be a pity?"