act15side

Lord Zuo.

Uncle Taihe.

What happened?

I met the offender.

But if we truly take him at his word, then the three face their own self-shackles at this moment.

You have misgivings.

I just don't understand why the Grand Tutor would trust that offender.

If they fail, we'll be confronting their reflection here in Shangshu. Even if... it's only a small fraction.

The Sui Regulator was planning to pressure Tianshi Bai into action with this.

...Yes.

That's what my father hopes.

The sky!

The shadows are taking form... Is this... Sui's reflection?

The Ministry of Rites has Bluethunder Count Bai Dingshan in Shangshu overseeing a team. This is only the Sui-Xiang shadow. It won't make waves.

What is it... looking at?

Zuo Le suddenly senses that Sui-Xiang is examining this land closely.

Now longing, now grieving, now merciful.

And once a breeze blows past, the massive shadow, in the blink of an eye, vanishes like smoke.

What! It disappeared?

From a farcical dream, it awoke, and so disappeared.

How did you...

Ling.

Hm?

You could do things... like this, all along?

We were there thinking of every way we could possibly save our own existential skins, and you could've just clapped your hands and broken that illusion up?

Our lives are but a fantasy, like a dewdrop or lightning, leaving not a trace in the end.

Scarcely known was it if you, I, or It, like the shadow's shadow and its shade, seem to be yet turn out not.

So, may the one who comes to nothing and is shattered not be It?

You say that real lightly.

It is but a lightest thing.

And that is why I am your big sister, after all.

The Sui Regulator demands Nian and Dusk give an explanation.

Additionally, the three of you cannot act in concert. You must leave Shangshu under the Sui Regulator's supervision.

What? Can't we just have a family reunion at Rhodes Island instead?

I still wanted to pull a couple more in.

(Wait... are you serious?)

If Rhodes Island intends to attract even more scrutiny...

If you believe what I say, then maybe you ought to come see for yourself.

*cough* *cough*—

That's, uh... Well, considering this whole...

I will provide assurance.

Lin Qingyan.

Leizi!

Long haven't we met, Kroos.

Is that a new operator by your side?

I-I am the humble Nothing. Well met, Miss Leizi.

Right.

I thought the Central Judicial Office was unwilling to interfere in the Sui Regulator's affairs.

As a disciple of the Tianshi Bureaus, I simply exhorted my Master's good friend Master Taihe to allow all some leeway on this matter.

No wonder Miss Ning always held her fire... You persuaded Tianshi Bai beforehand.

But at what moment can the Tianshis take charge of this matter?

Naturally, they can't.

But at this juncture, the Sui Regulator may not be allowed to throw down decisions either.

What?

The Grand Tutor has arrived in Shangshu.

Sui Regulator Candleholder Zuo Le, Assistant Minister of Rites Ning Ciqiu, Department of Discipline and Supervision Deputy Monitir Censor Taihe, Shangshu Magistrate Liang Xun, and I myself, must all return to the Liang estate before the Hour of Tzu.

We will await the Grand Tutor's orders.

As you command.

Nian, Dusk, Ling.

The three of you to the Liang estate too, please. The Grand Tutor wants to see you for himself.

Quite good.

Some thirty years and more passed since last I met him. How much he could have changed from then to now.

Alright, here we go again...

Tch.

Hmm.

You are awake.

A daydream.

You and I know well this was their strategy.

That game of weiqi...

All in all, it was by a fluke we didn't lose.

It was but the combined power of all present, facing a lone person over a game of weiqi. No great brilliance to it in the end.

Brilliance...

Doing battle with him, what do brilliance and disgrace matter?

—Ye, my girl!

...*cough*... You're still fighting in this sorry state?!

Ye! You're hurt worse than we are! Don't be brave!

Zheng Qingyue!

Why did you... stow your blade at the last moment? If you didn't, would a hurt little girl be able to hold you back?

I...

You want to run? I humiliate you and you have your peace of mind, is that it?!

What about you?

I'm the same.

Ye, you've grown up.

You've grown up...

The zither ceases.

Ling's figure scatters into the air, like music about the beams. This is no beautiful dream. 'A small present,' he called it.

Now she has a question; a question she wants an answer to.