act40side

Let someone better take over? Haha, if Father heard that, I'm sure he'd be chewing your head off.

Don't joke with me, Brother. Of all us siblings, who could compare to you in either knowledge or strength?

Once you ascend the throne and move into the Forbidden City, I can leave for the Sky Mirror Pavilion with peace of mind. I'll set up shop as a scribe and look after all Yan's ancient records. In a way, I'll also take some weight off your shoulders.

Brother, no more hesitating! At this point, only you can... convince Father.

The Grand Preceptor... no, all three Grand Ministers support this move! Even in the face of the officers, of Yan's citizens, public opinion will still bear out.

Brother, this is the right thing to do! You can't pull out now!

...I'll stand with you.

Why me? Why did it have to be me?!

Our youngest brother died because of you! They all died because of you!

You shove it all on me, make me take the blame alone, deal with the whole warring mess alone, and you just leave like nothing happened?!

Yan Wu, never return again.

Look how idle you are. All the Mid-Autumn festivities of Lungmen, and you don't plan to attend a single one?

Should I? Who wants to see my wrinkly mug on their TV, anyway?

The Schwires' girl is a planner. She'll handle it. She can make anything lively.

I've watched you grow lazier day after day since we came back from Yumen. You just coop up in your study at home eating snacks. If you don't go out for a walk any time soon, you might just start putting on a beer belly.

Hah hah... I haven't seen Lin Kojui get out much since spring. I can't even find a partner for morning jogs now.

Ah... he's old, I'm old, the young ones know how to do it all. If I keep sticking my head in, they won't think I'm cool.

So <i>now</i> you understand, huh? If you'd realized any sooner, would little Ch'en have ever left?

How long ago was it?

Sorry, what?

Little Ch'en. How long has it been since she left?

Five years.

It's been five years.

We don't even know what she's going through out there, or how her disease is.

I know she was at Yumen, when I was there.

She's doing fine. Her swordsmanship's progressed... so she's fine, I suppose.

So you just watched her leave again?

She doesn't want to see me, and she doesn't want to come back. I can't force her.

Don't worry. Her path's longer than ours.

Lord Wei, a letter to you.

...That they made you deliver personally...

It's from the capital.

The sender...?

His Majesty's Imperial Guard.

Did he have any message aside from the letter?

The True Lung invites Lord Wei to the capital for the Feast of a Hundred Delicacies, and for a moon-viewing together.

Leave the letter on my desk. You're dismissed for now.

If we may ask what Lord Wei intends.

I have my own plans. None of you need to worry.

Lord Wei, we volunteer to escort you to the capital!

...I said you're dismissed!

Why don't we open up your invitation and see what they wrote exactly?

No need. Just leave it there.

This day was meant to come. I even thought it'd come a little sooner.

...How many years has it been?

Forty... it's been forty whole years since I left Baizao.

Yumen should've reached the capital by now. I suppose my brother's settling all his old debts in one clean go.

A clean slate in time for autumn... A fine autumn at that.

You can choose not to go.

It's been forty years already, what's he going to do? Send another unit of Imperial Guards, a whole army—

...Enough nonsense!

At this point, that's not what he intends...

Then <i>what</i> does he intend?

You know, I've never really brought up those days with him before...

Enough. I don't want to hear it.

Fumizuki, I've let down a lot of people throughout my life...

Edward, my sister, my teacher...

And I have to admit that my brother's turned out to be one more on the pile.

You can also say that it was the position that killed so many people.

...And who had a choice?

Then it wasn't your fault.

Even if you'd stayed, would things have turned out better? Would there be no blood?

Nobody would have remembered a minister pleading the commoners' case. They would only remember a regicidal, fratricidal prince!

If you have questions, ask. I'm in a hurry.

Mind your attitude. You're also a theoretical suspect in our crime scene. But seeing as you're a coworker, I'll spare you the interrogation room.

I told you! I saw the culprit on the scene, I just miscalculated and failed to arrest him—

Calm down. Are you going to physically vent on me just because you didn't catch the one who did it?

...I'd have to match your strength first.

Good. You're still somewhat sober.

In light of the years we've spent together in the Judicial, then, can you tell me—

This afternoon, why were you at Ding Feng Lou, at the scene of the crime?

...An investigation.

In the runup to the Feast of a Hundred Delicacies, we've had the scrollery be burned, then two fires at Ding Feng Lou. Don't you think this string of cases could be connected somehow?

So you're saying you knew beforehand that someone would set fire to Ding Feng Lou today, and thus you were lying in wait for them?

I was just there following up a lead...

'Just' there following up a lead... Do you need me to list off every action you've taken the last few days?

You've been tailing me?

I don't have that sort of free time... but I have ways of knowing these things, naturally.

Let me ask once more. Who were you meeting at Ding Feng Lou today?

...I fear I'm not the only one working on the sly.

Explain?

For your information, you never told me the Ministry of Rites' files on Gu Quan were forged, and that he was sent to death row before leaving Baizao... As a minister, <i>you must have known these things.</i>

These are all clearly key points of evidence. Why were they nowhere to be found in the Judicial Review Office archives? And why would you cover up—

So this is the lead on the scrollery fire that you've been toiling over for the last few days...? How did you find any of this out?

It's none of your concern how I found out...

There is a piece of advice I gave to Yu Cheng in the past, and I will give it to you now.

Some past affairs are learned of. Some are not learned of. In both cases, there are reasons why.

Some things are best left forgotten by all.

I never imagined I'd hear those words come from a minister.

You may consider me a schemer all you like, a minister merely booted over from the Ministry of Justice.

But I know exactly what I'm saying.

And I know that regardless of the thousands of reasons you might have, the truth is still and merely the truth, not anyone's tool to broaden the divide.

There will always be someone who remembers the truth, and the meaning behind it.

For example, that girl shut in the next room—whom you took every pain to secretly bring back to Baizao all the way from Victoria?

Yes... I did uncover that Gu Quan had a daughter in Victoria. She too can provide vital testimony in the Gu Quan case—

Lin Qingyan, when will you stop playing dumb?

You've already found out that the Gu Quan files are fake. You know Yu Cheng is on the trail of that very case...

So I'm guessing you've also found out about the child who the Imperial Guard brought back forty years ago, who they recorded in the files as deceased... You have your suspicions as to the truth of this case, correct?

Was that girl you brought back here born in Victoria, or born in Baizao?

You know full well.