Chapter 133: Female Official Zhu, Zhu Qingyun…

Chapter 133: Official Zhu Qingyun...

The banquet was a lukewarm success at best.

In the following days, Qiu Hongzhen, who had just checked in at the Ministry of Works, received yet another banquet invitation.

Too polite to refuse and unwilling to offend Huo Shiming, plus needing to reconnect with colleagues after his long absence from the capital, Qiu Hongzhen accepted again without hesitation.

Upon arrival, he noticed something different.

Ding Jinghuan, who'd shown up last time, was a no-show this time.

But his absence didn't put a dent in the party vibe. Clearly, attendance had swelled since the last banquet.

Several faces in the crowd, if Qiu Hongzhen remembered right, used to belong to Wen Shengan's faction.

...Were they scrambling to suck up to the Duke of Chengen now that Wen Shengan had fallen?

After three straight banquets, Qiu Hongzhen caught Ding Jinghuan off guard before morning court, pulling him aside to demand why he'd been skipping gatherings.

"Capital Prefecture's buried in paperwork," Ding Jinghuan said. "No time to spare."

Qiu Hongzhen only half-bought this. "Don't leave me hanging like this, Lord Ding. We're both Her Majesty's people."

Ding Jinghuan played dumb. "What's the problem? The Duke's just helping you schmooze with colleagues. How's that bad?"

Qiu Hongzhen wasn't the sharpest knife in the drawer, but his political instincts had served him well.

Maybe because he'd missed seeing the Duke rally officials against Wen Shengan, he had this nagging sense something was off about the Duke's methods.

All flash, no subtlety.

Call it working the room if you're being nice.

Call it building a power bloc if you're not.

Qiu Hongzhen glanced around before whispering, "Does Her Majesty know?"

Ding Jinghuan gave a noncommittal chuckle.

Qiu Hongzhen kept pressing until—tch—Ding Jinghuan caved as court time approached: "If even you notice the Duke's showboating, you think Her Majesty missed it?"

Qiu Hongzhen got goosebumps.

Without knowing Her Majesty's stance but seeing Ding Jinghuan's avoidance, he decided to start bowing out of future invites.

When Huo Shiming's next invitation came, Qiu Hongzhen pleaded sick.

The butler reported this to Huo Shiming, who just shrugged it off.

No big loss.

A line of officials was now forming to kiss up at his banquets. One less Qiu Hongzhen? Who'd notice?

Ding Jinghuan wasn't just blowing smoke about being busy.

***

At the imperial court assembly, the Ministry of Justice, the Censorate, the Court of Judicial Review, and the Capital Prefecture jointly presented a memorial announcing the completion of the revised *New Penal Code*.

This legal code, officially titled *The Celestial Reign’s Detailed Penal Code* and commonly referred to as the *New Penal Code*, was finalized in the eleventh month of the eighth year of the Celestial Reign. It was issued across the empire by the joint decree of the Empress Dowager and the Emperor.

All officials involved in the revision of the penal code were granted promotions as rewards.

Ding Jinghuan, who had served three consecutive terms as Capital Prefect, was appointed as the Left Vice Minister of Justice.

Song Xu, who had held the position of Director of the Ministry of Rites for six years, was transferred to the Ministry of Personnel to take up the post of Right Vice Minister of Personnel.

In the same month, Zhu Wan traveled from Cangzhou City to the capital and beat the petition drum outside the Capital Prefecture, once again accusing her biological father, Zou Tianyi, the shopkeeper of a Jinzhou merchant house.

This long-delayed lawsuit of a daughter suing her father, set aside for two years, regained public attention with the promulgation of the *New Penal Code*.

Ding Jinghuan, still serving, personally accepted Zhu Wan’s petition.

He even made a special trip to the palace, asking Huo Ling to grant him some additional time to wrap up the trial before reporting to the Ministry of Justice.

Huo Ling readily approved and inquired about the case.

Ji Xianshan happened to be in the Palace of Eternal Tranquility at the time. He thought highly of Zhu Wan and specifically instructed, “Miss Zhu can finally find closure. Teacher Ding, you must hold a fair trial.”

Ding Jinghuan agreed with a smile and added, “When Miss Zhu met me, she also asked if she might have the honor to pay her respects to Your Majesty and His Majesty in the palace.”

Huo Ling replied, “She has run the Charitable Children Bureau in Cangzhou City well, and I have yet to reward her. Once this case concludes, bring her to the palace.”

***

With the Empress Dowager and the Emperor taking an interest, the case became even more significant.

Ding Jinghuan had long prepared his approach to the trial but held off on proceedings to build anticipation.

Only when the case became the talk of the town from the court to the common folk did he calmly commence the trial.

Though Zou Tianyi was a Zhu family son-in-law, he had managed the Jin Feng Merchant House for over a decade. Moreover, the Zhu family’s assets had undergone significant changes since the death of Zhu Wan’s mother.

Ding Jinghuan did not blindly favor Zhu Wan but ruled fairly.

Within three days, the protracted case was finally settled.

Though Zhu Wan did not recover all the property left by her mother, the ancestral home and the merchant house were awarded to her.

Holding the newly inked verdict, Zhu Wan broke down in tears.

She could finally bring peace to the spirits of her grandfather and mother.

…

Ding Jinghuan gave Zhu Wan a night to compose herself.

The next morning, he escorted her into the palace.

Zhu Wan, nervous, felt an indescribable tension when brought before Huo Ling.

She dared not raise her eyes to meet Huo Ling’s gaze, her sight fixed on the trailing black hem of the robe, mesmerized by its intricate and lavish embroidery.

A light laugh echoed from above, the voice as familiar as she remembered, resonating through the hall.

“You were quite bold back in Cangzhou City. Rise and speak.”

Zhu Wan stood respectfully. “Ignorance made me fearless then. I must have amused Your Majesty.”

Huo Ling said, "Alright, sit down. We're all friends here, no need to stand on ceremony."

Zhu Wan took a seat beside Ding Jinghuan.

Wu Mo personally brought a plate of fruit to Zhu Wan, smiling and greeting her when Zhu Wan looked up.

Zhu Wan beamed with genuine delight: "Sister Wu Mo, long time no see."

Huo Ling peeled herself some fruit, in no hurry to get down to business, and instead asked Zhu Wan if she had visited any places since arriving in the capital.

Zhu Wan smiled sheepishly: "I went to the Great Xiangguo Temple, Fan Tower, and also visited the Charitable Children Bureau."

The Great Xiangguo Temple and Fan Tower were among the must-see spots in the capital. Almost every outsider who came to the capital would visit these two places first.

In contrast, Zhu Wan's choice to visit the Charitable Children Bureau came as a bit of a surprise.

Huo Ling let her surprise show: "What made you think of visiting the capital's Charitable Children Bureau?"

Zhu Wan replied, "The capital's Charitable Children Bureau is managed far better than the one in Cangzhou. Though I no longer manage it, I still wanted to see it. If there's anything worth learning, I could write home about it."

Huo Ling gave a slight nod.

There was no need to inquire further about the situation of the Cangzhou Charitable Children Bureau.

With Zhu Wan's proactive mindset, the Cangzhou Charitable Children Bureau couldn't be in bad shape.

Huo Ling changed tack and smoothly asked about Zhu Wan's future plans.

Zhu Wan had reclaimed her ancestral home and shops from her biological father—what did she intend to do with them next?

The ancestral home was simple enough; she just needed to have a new sign made, changing "Zou Residence" back to "Zhu Residence."

But the shops required careful management.

Zhu Wan had already given this serious thought, so when Huo Ling asked, she wasn't flustered.

Had she not met Huo Ling, Zhu Wan would have undoubtedly chosen to stay in Cangzhou, running the shops alone, striving to restore them to their former glory from her grandfather's time.

But their encounter two years ago had completely altered Zhu Wan's fate.

Her two years at the Cangzhou Charitable Children Bureau had also honed and tempered her further.

To her, the shops were more of a memento—

A memento from her family.

If she had no better options or greater aspirations, she would have simply stayed in Cangzhou, looking after this legacy.

But now, she had a better choice and a higher calling.

So Zhu Wan intended to leave the ancestral home and shops to trusted stewards, while she herself—

"My Lady," Zhu Wan knelt and bowed, "I wonder if someone as lowly as myself has the honor to serve by Your Ladyship's side."

Huo Ling smiled faintly and glanced at Wu Mo.

Wu Mo moved quickly forward, helped Zhu Wan up, and produced from her sleeve a pre-prepared fourth-rank Female Official token.

"Female Official Zhu, this is your token. Take good care of it."

Here is the edited translation incorporating the expert suggestions:

Zhu Wan's nose stung with emotion as she lowered her head, but her hands moved without hesitation, instantly seizing the token.

Feeling the intricate patterns of the token in her palm, Zhu Wan felt her heart swell, overflowing with an ineffable blend of bittersweetness and joy.

Ding Jinghuan also rose with cupped hands, congratulating Zhu Wan on having her wish fulfilled.

Zhu Wan returned the gesture, sincerely thanking Ding Jinghuan. He had gone to great lengths in handling her case.

Once Zhu Wan had composed her turbulent emotions, she spoke again: "Your Majesty, I wish to boldly request one more favor of you."

Huo Ling, in good humor, replied, "You may speak plainly."

Zhu Wan said, "I would like Your Majesty to grant me a new name. This name was given to me by Zou Tianyi. Now that I am beginning a new chapter in my life, I wish to change it as well."

In the year she was born, Zou Tianyi's true nature had not yet been revealed, and he appeared deeply devoted to her mother.

Since she took her mother's surname, the honor of naming her, at Zou Tianyi's insistence, was left to him.

The name "Wan" was not ill-chosen in itself, but paired with the surname "Zhu"...

From the moment she conceived the idea of a child accusing her father, she was destined never to be the picture of gentleness and grace.

She needed no one to wish her demure elegance.

Huo Ling pondered for a moment before suddenly thinking of a name that harmonized beautifully with "Zhu": "What do you think of the name 'Qingyun'?"

Qingyun...

Zhu Qingyun?

Zhu Wan stood transfixed, mind reeling, until Wu Mo quickly interjected, "Female Official Zhu, why are you standing there dumbstruck? Hurry and express your gratitude!"

When the Empress Dowager herself, by imperial decree, bestowed the name Zhu Qingyun upon someone, that person was certain to rise swiftly and prosper.

With such a heaven-sent opportunity before her, the wisest course was to accept it without delay.

Prompted by Wu Mo, Zhu Wan finally snapped back to reality: "Thank you, Your Majesty. I love this name—so very much."

Whether it was the name's inherent meaning or the hopes it carried,

Zhu Qingyun cherished it immeasurably.

Huo Ling gave Zhu Qingyun some time to conclude her familial matters before entering the palace to assume her duties.

Meanwhile, in the bitter cold of winter, amid swirling snow and wind, several galloping horses streaked like lightning bolts into the capital, heading straight for the palace.

Wu Feng, who had been away from the capital for nearly half a year, had finally returned from Xingtang Pass.