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What?!

Wait! You mean my dad? Why'd my dad get the death penalty?

Blaze!

You mean Gu Quan? He was your father?

Yeah...

So you remember him...

I do... all too well.

I spent so many years in there making last meals. I met countless horrific scoundrels, endless connivers. As each one of them ate before they left, the look in their eyes, it was always more or less the same.

But I'd never seen someone whose eyes were so clear, so clean, so free of anything.

He wasn't like the other convicts. In his time, he never wept, never howled, and never screamed injustice, not even on the day he was imprisoned.

Even I found it strange how a man like him could end up on death row.

Why would... my dad...

Then do you know, at the time, what charges Gu Quan was sentenced to death on?

Not at the time...

Not at the time?

But one year later, when I joined Ding Feng Lou and began taking part in the Feast of a Hundred Delicacies, I came across a menu for a Feast from a few years before—

That was when I learned that at that Feast, Gu Quan served a dish to the True Lung. It just so happens, that was the same dish this girl pulled down earlier. 'Medley of Whites'.

But next to that dish, he placed a steamed flour bun, and in it... was a filling of red pickled tofu.

So... what does it mean? Why would he get locked up just for serving that?

Lin Qingyan, aren't you gonna say anything?

Your relative told you the story of the Grand Preceptor, but never told you her eventual fate?

Her... fate?

Forty years ago, the Grand Preceptor plotted to assassinate the True Lung. She committed suicide after it failed. Every single one of her underlings was arrested and trialed, and their numbers were over a thousand...

When Gu Quan served that dish at the Feast, it signified redressing her for her treason. It made the True Lung furious.

No way... my dad told me so many times, the Grand Preceptor was loyal to the country, the people, the whole realm! How the hell could she be a traitor?!

The history books have it that way, yes.

And they're right?!

Lin Qingyan, if everything written in them is true, what the hell are you investigating?!

And... and besides, my dad didn't actually get killed, right? Doesn't that prove, like, at least <i>some</i> people from the court believed the Grand Preceptor and my dad were both innocent?!

That's a sticking point, yes. If Gu Quan was imprisoned as part of the Grand Preceptor case, why would they free him afterwards?

It stuck with me too... You see, after entering prison, Gu Quan had two visitors, and both were people I happened to know...

One was the person delivering his meal. Yu Cheng, deputy minister of the Office at the time.

And the other was the one who brought him out... former Minister of Rites, Ning Shu.

What...?!

Quick! This way! Surround the place immediately!

Dammit... why now...?!

What a coincidence. One step ahead of me, Deputy Minister Lin.

I'd just arrived. A coincidence, indeed.

The Judicial Review Office is investigating the Ding Feng Lou fire. I ask all of you to be cooperative.

Lin Qingyan, and the girl next to you, come with me.

You came.

Of course I did. That's what you do when the Nings invite you.

...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to hide anything from you. I just... don't really think it's something I should bring up for no reason...

Nothing to apologize for. You've got your troubles. I'm not the kind to give you the stink eye just for being blue-blooded.

Sooo, what do I call you, lady of House Ning?

My name is... Ning Yin.

I'm... not actually part of House Ning. I was adopted by Grandfather as a child.

He always introduced me as a distant relative of the Nings, but I've never met any 'relative' who actually shares blood with me.

Do you remember what I told you before?

Look, I'm pretty bad at comforting people...

No, it's okay. Grandfather's very nice to me, and my background has never caused me any trouble at all... everyone treats me very well.

Your grandpa would be... Ning Shu? Ex-Minister of Rites?

Yes...

Perfect, I—

I know... I know.

It's getting chilly. Don't just stand out there, let's go inside and talk. Okay?

Sure, I guess.

The corridor meanders on, through a rock garden and a bamboo thicket, then between the two halves of a lotus pond.

A cool breeze brushes through; the autumn waters softly ripple, and in them Blaze's reflection follows behind Ning Yin's as they pace across the bridge. The two pass through a deserted room, packed-up belongings and dead leaves strewn everywhere.

The courtyard is messy, I know. Not presentable to guests, at the very least. I apologize.

The whole family's moving out of here soon. Grandfather can't take Baizao's dry climate in his old age. We're planning to move back to the old place in Jiangnan.

Though Ning Yin's pace is glacial, she can only hurry up once she notices her friend in no mood to appreciate the scenery.

Up ahead. We're almost there.

Take a seat. I'll fetch some tea and refreshments from the kitchen. Our house cooks are all on leave, so I can't serve you much more than some cold sides—

No need to bother. I can't stick around long.

...Are things that urgent?

Well, alright...

Ning softly closes the door. The chirps of fowl outside fade. The room grows heavier with silence.

Alright. Tell me why you invited me here.

I'm sorry... I was going to look for you yesterday, actually, after the fire at Ding Feng Lou.

But I overheard your conversation with the Deputy Minister of Judicial Review Office and Chef Mo...

And?

Blaze, I... might have met your father before.

When I was fifteen years old, I remember we had a visitor.

Grandfather was always busy with work. His apprentices and coworkers were coming and going in the estate. None of my business, by and large.

But slowly, I realized an extra person had moved in, wearing blue low-ranking mandarin's robes. Every time I saw him, he was alone, as if other people just weren't his concern.

At first, I didn't really pay attention. It was later that year, on my birthday, when...

Like every other year, Grandfather would hold this great big birthday dinner for me.

With lights and banners strung up everywhere, and friends and family all around... not that I knew more than a handful of them.

They were chatting the day away, and about what, I had no clue. So eventually I sneaked out of the dinner, and nobody noticed when I did.

I wandered around the courtyard for ages, bored out of my mind, then scampered into Grandfather's study on a whim.

It was in there where I saw the man again.

I remember I saw him stuffing his pocket with letter papers and brushes. When he noticed me, his face was stretched with nervousness, and he pulled the brush and paper back out again in a rush.

Are you...

It's not what it looks like!

I... needed to finish copying some letters, so I was going to take them home. The High Minister is sending these to very important mandarins, so I was just worried if the paper wasn't good enough...

I just...

It's okay, it's just brushes and paper. You're welcome to make use of it, Sir.

Thank you, little lady.

Um, what's your name...?

My name is... Gu Quan. I'm a transcriber for your estate. I copy and file the estate correspondence.

I'm Ning Yin...

Miss Ning... Of course, I know you.

Then now we know each other.

Sir, I want to read in here for a bit. I won't interrupt you while you work. Is that okay?

O—Of course...! Feel free, Miss Ning.

Mm-hm.

Miss Ning... are you into these history books?

Mm-hm. Grandfather always says one should view history as a mirror. We must use it to study our ancestors' wisdom and character, and learn from their teachings.

But I think reading's just fun. It's like all these amazing people recorded in the texts are coming to life before me, and they're all my friends.