Interrogation and arrest are currently not her concern. When Commander Nan Yushu took a few thousand households to visit the six ministries, the entire large office was left to Su Xinghe to oversee alone.
The Ministry of Military Control has been established for seventy or eighty years, with an intense foundation and tens of thousands of soldiers. As for the thousand-household, there are more than twenty. Besides the few that Commander Nan Yushu usually uses extensively, the remaining eight are mobilized unless necessary. In other words, those eight thousand household officials serve as mere gatekeepers or are called upon when a particular residence needs guarding or a prisoner from Zhaoyu needs to be brought for trial. They are reluctantly remembered on such occasions. Usually, these people are like the signs used to clear the way for important officials, purely for show.
A grown man finding his heroic skills useless is truly an embarrassing matter. Su Xinghe has been in the Ministry of Military Control for five years and knows a bit about the reasons behind it. A new emperor brings new officials, and this age-old principle applies, not only to the court but, also to small places like government offices. The Commanders of the Ministry of Military Control are frequently replaced, and each has their confidants. Moreover, the relationship between the current and former commanders is inherently delicate. It is only natural for the current one to neglect or sideline the former’s subordinates.
In the hall, the person in the Qilin robe, hands behind their back, leisurely walked on the blue brick floor. The sunlight streaming in from outside became her stage. She stepped back and forth in that light with great interest, her unhurried pace creating a sense of excruciating torment akin to being cut by a dull knife.
The eight thousand households stood solemnly with their swords sheathed, tall and straight figures much larger than hers. Yet, such is the way of the world; higher-ranked officials always suppress those below. Subordinates never have the right to speak freely of their superiors, especially when they are merely nominal officials drawing salaries without real responsibilities.
The eight exchanged hesitant glances, but only one dared to speak until their superior did. Though the attire of a Jinyi and a commander is the same, there is a gender difference; the Jinyi robe is additionally adorned with a palace bell on the luan belt, producing a clear and elegant ringing with each step. However, the sound of the bell now seemed ominous, like a harbinger of doom. A thousand households hardly dared to breathe. After what felt like an eternity, they finally heard her cough. It was as if their blood started flowing again, and their almost collapsing faces regained some composure. The youngest thousand households, Jinyi, braced himself and spoke. “Winter is approaching, my lord. Please take care of your health. The office is from the Eastern Palace, and wouldn’t be good to catch a cold on the way.”
As a result, when their superior turned to look at him, Jinyi, accustomed to flattery, found that such word of praise made no impression on her at all.
Jinyi grimaced, thinking he had made a misstep. The others openly showed their disdain for him. No one else wanted to break the awkward silence, quietly clenching their frozen fingers—it was truly too cold.
The hall was as cold as water, standing still almost made one shiver. After a long wait, she finally began speaking. She said, “During Lan Chu’s time, all of you thousand households, were excellent at your tasks. Now that the Ministry of Military Control has changed leadership, despite your willingness to serve the court, opportunities to demonstrate your abilities. A good blade, left unused for too long, will become dull. I have observed your situation with a cold eye for five years and deeply sympathize with your plight.”
A thousand households looked up in surprise; her words indicated a change. The newly appointed deputy commander, who currently had no soldiers at her disposal would ultimately have to continue handling trivial matters. For these officials, however, her words rang true. If they were merely aimless soldiers, it wouldn’t matter. But they had once followed Lan Chu, achieving great merits for the court. After Lan Chu was dismissed, they remained in the Ministry of Military Control, but their circumstances drastically changed. The downfall of heroes is the most frustrating thing in the world.
A strong hope rose within them. Recruitment is common in officialdom. If she needed people, they were willing, as long as they were given a chance to use their stiff limbs again.
“My lord…” The leader of the Su family army looked at her, swallowing nervously. “A good blade dulled can be re-sharpened, its edge no less sharp than before. But now everyone has their guards, and we, having lost our backing, are like unwanted, neglected beings. To be honest it makes us feel very frustrated.”
Su Xinghe smiled slightly. “If it is as Thousand Households Madam Xue says, and you still have the heart to serve, no one should underestimate you. I have just taken office. Although I have attended court before, it was mostly to review documents. Now, with the court appointing me as deputy commander, to speak frankly, many may not take me seriously because I am a woman. I have no one to use, and I don’t want to trouble the Crown Prince. The dozens of thousand households in the office, most of whom had their duties. After careful consideration, I found only eight available. If you don’t mind, we can work together to achieve something great.”
The sharpness that had been worn away over the past seven or eight years had long since turned into a mess and fallen into obscurity. Now, with someone willing to reinstate them, who cared whether the person was male or female or about such distinctions?
Su Xinghe leaped three feet high. “With just a word from you, we will follow your orders to the letter, ready to ride horses and shoot eagles on your command.”
Su Xinghe forced a smile. As expected, these unschooled rough men spoke bluntly, but their loyalty was genuine.
“Is this the consensus?” She examined each of the thousand households with her eyes, seeing in them an unwavering resolve. She breathed a quiet sigh of relief and nodded. “Since that’s the case, I’ll go to the commander Nan Yushu, and request personnel. The case at the princess’s residence is full of doubts, and I need to re-investigate. Lan Chu’s thousand households are all busy with the embezzlement case, and I don’t want to trouble them mid-way. I’ll rely on you all for the time being. I believe Lan Chu won’t refuse.”
This office operated like an apprenticeship in the marketplace, with the latter deferring to the former. For instance, when it came to using tools for learning a craft, one had to wait their turn to choose. Once, others had taken their pick the remaining tools could be used without any complaints. Each trade had its own rules.
Both sides found peace; those people got their personnel, and those with a purpose reclaimed their roles. Later, when she returned to the women’s quarters, Lan Chu remarked, “It’s like you’re picking up scraps.” In response, Su Xinghe gave her a sharp tap on the head.
“What do you know? The Su family’s army once had a formidable reputation. If Lan Chu hadn’t fallen from power, any of these men could have been appointed to a position in the Five Commanders, aiming to build his power base and fearing might not be loyal to him, deliberately sidelined them. In my years at the Ministry of Military Control, I’ve never seen them assigned a single task or properly handled a case. These capable men, spending their days idly at the office, mingling with minor officials, watching the gates, and polishing weapons—imagine how they must feel? I’m rescuing them from a pit of despair. The gratitude for being recognized is different from monetary assistance; it ensures their loyalty. The more grateful they are, the more loyal they’ll be. I need such people.”
She spoke confidently, her heart set on her plans. Recently promoted, her face was full of spirited grandeur.
Lan Chu rested her chin on her hand, watching for a while before laughing. “You’ve become a Jinyi; your vision is different from ours. My lord look at your demeanor and listen to what you’re saying. It all sounds so legitimate! From now on, you’re the second-in-command of the Ministry of Military Control. You can decide who lives and dies. Let’s see who in the palace dares to challenge you!”
She didn’t argue but thought that being the second-in-command still fell short of wielding such power. Once she replaced Commander Nan Yushu, that might change.
Lan Chu was simply happy for her, continuously saying, “That’s wonderful,” while helping her change out of her official robe and hanging the clothes on a rack as tall as a person.
A pastel hat bucket, specifically for storing official hats. The Ministry of Military Control’s, hats are different from those of other offices; they were pointed, brimmed hats with black velvet trim. Seeing such hats on the street, pedestrians would avoid them to prevent offense or bad luck. The palace’s Bureau of Workmanship was truly a marvelous office. a description, they could produce a finished product within half an hour. Female officials of the Yinfu Dynasty typically served in the inner court, rarely in the outer court, and even less so in positions of rank. There were no ready-made official uniforms for them. Following the Crown Prince’s orders, Dequan went to the Bureau of Workmanship, requiring the hats to be “valiant yet graceful, majestic yet charming.” The head of the bureau wrote those words on the wall, pondering them for the duration of an incense stick, and finally changed the black velvet trim to red with golden swastikas all over and added a pair of peacock feathers to the back of the hat, replacing the obsidian top with a ruby.
Lan Chu gently stroked the ruby top. “Oh my, the Crown Prince is truly considerate, even caring about what hat you wear… Look, your Qilin robe is different from others with added sleeve and knee decorations. At first glance, it looks like the clothing of an empress.” She spoke with an air of obviousness, tucking her sleeves and tilting her head, murmuring to herself, “That’s how it is, where one lacks, another compensates. Today, I heard Chang He gossiping, saying the Emperor wants to appoint a Crown Princess, suggesting, ‘If the female official by your side is not suitable, making her a Noble Lady would also be fine,’ but, the Crown Prince didn’t agree…”
Su Xinghe’s face showed some displeasure. “Chang He must be tired of living and eager to be reborn.”
Lan Chu quickly waved her hand. “He only heard it from someone in Lisheng Palace.”
Hearing this made Su Xinghe even angrier. “Who dares to spread words spoken in front of the Emperor? Does the Crown Prince know about this?”
Seeing that Su Xinghe was serious about getting to the bottom of this, Lan Chu hurried to dissuade her. “My lord, it’s just something to hear and let go of. Are you going to bring this up with the Crown Prince? You know the Crown Prince’s intentions well enough. He handles things decisively you should have a clear understanding of his mind.”
Su Xinghe sat there, her expression indifferent. She didn’t have the energy to speculate about the Crown Prince’s attitude towards finding a wife. Her mind was entirely occupied with the Ministry of Military Control, thinking about how to remove Commander Nan Yushu from his position as commander without causing significant damage. As for being the Crown Princess or a Noble Lady, no matter how high the rank, it was still an internal court position. In terms of real power and freedom, it was far less appealing than her current role.
Lan Chu continued to chatter, “Tomorrow you have a family visit, remember? The Crown Prince has granted special permission for your mother to come to the Xichi Court for a banquet. You should dress up beautifully to reassure her that you’re doing well in the palace. You’ve worked hard over the years and become a high-ranking official. What other young lady has achieved so much? You alone have brought glory to your family.”
Though often careless, had been serving by her side for over ten years. Even raising cats and dogs would foster feelings Su Xinghe, despite her cold temperament, could only tolerate her constant buzzing around her ears. was known for being decisive, and there were rumors among the palace staff that she was even more formidable than the Crown Prince. But Lan Chu didn’t argue. Whenever she heard such talk, she would rush to argue. “Our lord is the best in the world.” Though she couldn’t pinpoint what made her Lord great, she was ready to defend her fiercely against criticism.
Su Xinghe didn’t care how others slandered her, as long as they were obedient. Who could control others’ thoughts? Even a saint couldn’t win universal respect. A female courtier who entered the Eastern Palace at the same time as Xinghe, a gentle and kind official’s daughter, tolerated many minor transgressions from the palace staff. She got implicated in a scandal, and not one of those she had helped spoke up for her. Her years of hard work were destroyed, and overwhelmed with shame, she threw herself into a well. Did death solve everything? Not really. It left behind trouble, with her family pleading and bribing people to testify that she had accidentally fallen while drawing water, as taking one’s own life while serving in the palace would implicate one’s family.
Human nature can be truly vile at times. Having witnessed so much intrigue and power struggles in the palace, she had to become a strong person She liked walking down a path where everyone bowed to her. She didn’t care if they cursed her behind her back as long as those words didn’t reach her ears.
Lan Chu continued to chatter. There were only the two of them in the Mistress’s residence, and without her lively presence, it felt empty and almost like a widow’s house. Su Xinghe frowned, wearing a look of resignation, as she watched Lan Chu take out the dressing box from the mother-of-pearl cabinet and place it on the bronze mirror of the dressing table. The box had been unused for a long time. Since taking on the task of reviewing documents at the Yamen and frequently going in and out, applying powder and rouge, it increasingly reminded others that she was a young woman, which she disliked.
“Tomorrow I’ll come to dress your hair and apply your makeup,” Lan Chu smiled back, “I’ll style your hair in a cloud bun and then you can wear that set of emerald headpieces. You haven’t had a proper dressing up in a long time. You’re still so young, Madam, we wouldn’t want Madam to feel distressed.”
Su Xinghe replied softly, checked the hourglass, and said it was late, so Lan Chu should go rest. Finally sending her away, Su Xinghe stayed up to read documents from the Yamen until the fourth watch, before blowing out the candle and settling into bed.
The next day dawn gloomy, with rain starting at the hour of the Rabbit. The winter rain was chilling, with fine hail mixed in, tapping lightly on the eaves and the bricks, making a soft rustling sound.
Inside the room, the charcoal basin was glowing warmly. When Lan Chu came in at the hour of the Tiger to add charcoal, the fire was so strong that she didn’t feel the cold.
She stepped off the heated bed, and yesterday’s prepared cold water. She washed her face without mixing hot water, even in the freezing weather of the third lunar month.
After brushing her teeth and washing her face, she felt dizzy from sleeping late last night. Fortunately, there was no morning court session today, so she didn’t need to attend to the Crown Prince. She slept unusually well this morning a rare treat.
She pressed the ice-cold towel against her face and took a deep breath, and the chill shot straight to her forehead, bringing tears to her eyes. Standing in front of the mirror, she stared at her frozen face, pale with a hint of red, but this redness felt stiff, like the makeup on a stage actress. She wiped her face with her hand, then sat down on the velvet stool, opening the mahogany and copper-inlaid dressing box neatly arranged with combs, bamboo picks, and brushes. She stared at it for a long while; this box had been assigned to her by the Imperial Household Bureau after she entered the Eastern Palace twelve years ago. Many of its contents’ purposes remained unclear even after all these years.
Reaching inside, she pulled out a brush intricately painted with mountain and water landscapes in gold and colors. Taking out a coarse-toothed comb, she began to comb through her hair. Her hair was incredibly long, almost reaching down to the seat of the stool. She had entered the palace at twelve and had never cut her hair since, and over the years it had grown longer and longer, making it quite difficult to style into a proper hair bun.
Bringing it forward, she lifted it high to comb the ends, and when Lan Chu entered, she could only smile. Hanging the copper pendant above the charcoal basin, she poured a cup of milk for her to hold, then took the comb and began to brush her hair. Finally, with hairpins and hairpieces adorned, her thick hair piled up in layers, unlike others who might need to use hairpieces, she had no such need.
As she adorned herself with jewelry and makeup, it felt like a poor child had been invited to a wealthy relative’s home for an extravagant meal. She remembered when she had received a pair of new earrings as a child, shaking them on her ears to ensure everyone noticed, and Lan Chu was likely thinking similarly now.
When Lan Chu suggested one thing, she insisted on another, leaving only a tassel and two hairpins with pearls and jade, and Lan Chu could only give in. Then, applying makeup, she dabbed a powder puff and lightly applied it to her flawless, smooth skin, without even a single mole. After surveying left and right, it seemed she had too much powder, like plaster on a glass window, losing her natural complexion.
Lan Chu shook her head constantly and used a handkerchief to remove the excess powder. After struggling, feeling somewhat discouraged, she dipped a lip rouge stick and lightly dabbed a round dot on her lips. It was a perfect touch, exuding a playful and cute charm. Lan Chu clapped her and laughed, “I’ve never seen Madam dressed up like this before. You look wonderful.”
Star River leaned over to look into the copper mirror, about to wipe her face, but Lan Chu stopped her. “Outside, the girls are still using graphite to draw their eyebrows, making them look like brooms. This is the fashionable makeup style, Madam will surely like it.”
She hesitated., sighed, and agreed, “Alright then.” Glancing at the time, it was time to go. Leaving the Mistress’s Residence, she crossed the Lisheng Palace gate to reach the West Lake Pavilion. This courtyard was used for summer retreats, featuring an artificially excavated lake, rockeries, stone pavilions, and floating duckweeds, all beautifully crafted and elegant.
The Crown Prince to prevent her from taking leave, specially lent her this courtyard for the marriage meeting. While she expressed gratitude outwardly, she did not feel comfortable inside. Originally, a court lady who had been in the palace for ten years could request leave to return home. A marriage meeting naturally involved more than just meeting her mother; she wanted to see her family and friends, her former residence, and the servants she used to command. But this desire was not allowed by that master. Under the guise of avoiding the trouble of going home and saving effort, it was merely to keep her occupied and prevent her from having free time.
Gritting her teeth, she had to endure it. Somehow, her attempts to negotiate and maneuver around him were completely ineffective. It was like Sun Wukong having the ability to traverse the heavens but still unable to escape the palm of the Buddha. Facing him always brought a sense of constraint, not just being controlled by someone, but also feeling powerless with no way out, a despair that couldn’t be expressed clearly.
She changed into oil boots, with a young eunuch holding an umbrella for her, slowly, making her way towards the West Pond Court. Today, she wore casual clothes—a lilac-colored brocade jacket embroidered with various patterns. Perhaps because everyone was used to seeing her in official attire, even the guards at the gates gave her a second glance.
Arriving at the palace for the marriage meeting required an early arrival. Her mother received the news at the mansion, and for several days she had been preparing. At dawn, she watched as the morning light brightened the window edges, then, got up to dress and prepare herself. She brought some snacks she had made herself and waited across the river from the palace gates before they opened.
Usually, the edict to enter the palace would come through the Anli Gate, but this time the Crown Prince had decreed that Madame Su could enter directly through the Xuande Gate due to her distinguished service. The distance between the Xuande Gate and the West Pond Court wasn’t far; they would pass the Pavilion Courtyard diagonally. Her daughter had entered the palace at the age of twelve and was first summoned by the late Empress, who could still see her from afar. After the Empress passed away, there were no more grand ceremonies like this in the palace, and it became difficult to enter again.
Seeing her child grow so tall, with traces of her childhood still visible on her face yet somewhat unfamiliar, Madame Su’s emotions surged, and she couldn’t help but cry. What should she say? Mother and daughter looked at each other in silence. After a while, they entered a side room where they embraced, asking each other if they were well.
“I was told you were coming back, and everything at home was prepared, but then the decree came summoning you to the palace for the marriage meeting, and it threw me into a panic,” Madame Su straightened her clothes, seeming worried about her manners in front of her daughter after such a long separation, her face showing a shy smile.
Su Xinghe felt a bit sad. Ten years of separation had made them somewhat awkward with each other.
Outside, eunuchs and palace maids lined up, carrying food boxes. There were strict rules for the early morning meal during the marriage meeting—several main dishes and side dishes, whether eaten or not had to be arranged in order. She stood up and personally uncovered the dishes to serve her mother sugar-cooked lotus seeds. Alongside the braised meat, smoked chicken, tripe, and various pickled vegetables were neatly laid out. She smiled warmly and affectionately called out, “Mother, please eat. Let me serve you.”
Madame Su looked into her daughter’s eyes, tears hidden within, fearful of others observing. She turned her head quickly, words half-formed, afraid of sparking gossip. With a sigh, she forced herself to speak.
During the marriage meeting, they couldn’t speak privately, so conversations were constrained. Su Xinghe told her mother, “The master values me highly. Yesterday, he bestowed me a title, and now I serve as the Commander in the Ministry of Military Control.”
The Ministry of Military Control was a well-known institution in the capital city. When Su Xinghe entered the palace, she was secretly arranged by the Left Consort Zhao, and now reaching this position, Madame Su was somewhat prepared. However, the Bureau’s reputation wasn’t favorable, and any mother wouldn’t want their daughter involved with criminal punishment. With a belly full of words to caution her, Madame Su glanced at the palace attendants standing inside and outside, but the words circled on her tongue and she swallowed them back.
Lowering her head, blinking with bitterness, Madame Su said, “I’m not worried about you in the palace. You’re doing well in your duties, favored by the master. How many young girls can hold office from the inner to outer court? Even if weeds grow on our family’s ancestral grave, you must cherish your blessings, serve the court well, and obey the master’s commands…”
These were formalities spoken not just for her daughter’s benefit but also for the ears of others. Su Xinghe responded politely, about to inquire after family members when she noticed someone standing at the courtyard’s end. Perhaps due to the inclement weather canceling the morning horseback training after early lessons, the Crown Prince had wandered throughout the palace and inadvertently arrived at the West Pond Court.
Madame Su, anxious and hesitant, asked Su Xinghe, “Is that… Your Highness?”
Su Xinghe turned her head to look. The Crown Prince’s face held a fleeting smile, obscured by the mist and rain, an indescribable and unpredictable expression.
