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I think someday, it might be nice to join the Imperial Historical Cabinet as a historian myself.

You've got quite a unique outlook, Miss Ning...

If you're interested in following in the High Minister's family footsteps, I'm sure you'd do well.

You think Grandfather's really cool too, then?

...Of course. Minister Ning's been helming the Ministry of Rites for decades. He has plenty of deeds to his name. He's the mandarin everyone loves.

Mm-hm... everyone in this family is so cool.

My uncle and aunt are always away from Baizao, traveling all over the country. I hear Yan couldn't have set up the meteorological and earthquake systems it has today without them.

And Ciqiu, my little sister, she's even cooler.

She's two years younger than me, but at the last Baizao Academy study camp, all the professors from the college of foreign affairs were praising her! Everyone was teasing her by calling her 'Little Miss Minister'!

All the people in my family are going to leave their names in the history books.

I love them and respect them a lot. I want to record who they are, and everything they do... but I could never <i>become</i> like them.

Compared to them, I'm just... normal.

You know, that reminds me of something my master once said to me.

'As history has ebbed and flowed, the floods and tides are recorded, yet most are streams that simply trickle on by... But without the babbling brook, how would the waves arise?'

The waves and brooks don't care about who's greater, or who's plainer...

Indeed, the vast majority will never get to leave their names in the history annals, but they're not the empty space between the lines. They're the pages themselves.

...Oh.

I'm sorry, I talked your ear off there...

Sir, your handwriting is really beautiful.

Oh, well, this... it's my only skill, really. I can still remember when the High Minister gave me this transcriber job.

I can never write my name properly. Grandfather's gotten on my case about it more times than I can remember.

Handwriting is a long road. Just keep at it, and you'll see change eventually.

Maybe you could be my calligraphy teacher, then?

I would never pose as your teacher with my modest brushwork, Miss. But...

Right... I have two copybooks here. I copy from them all the time myself. The forms are very regular—it's perfect for beginners.

If you don't mind, Miss Ning, you can... you can have these as your birthday present.

How did you know my birthday's today?

I...

Well, they decorate the estate so brightly this time every year, you see. I've spent long enough here that I've heard.

Miss Ning... Happy birthday.

Th—Thank you.

That conversation always stayed with me. I liked how he talked, and how he saw things.

And I don't know why—I can't really say—but he felt so close to me, in a way.

But after that, I saw him much less around the estate. The next time I got to talk to him, it was years and years later.

Grandfather's cold has lasted for a month by now, and it's still not getting any better. Now it's almost winter—it might only get worse at this rate. We'll be counting on you for the next while, doctor.

The High Minister's malady is mostly from overwork. You could remind him to rest more often, my lady...

Mm-hm, I will—

Ah.

Sorry! I'm sorry...

I apologize for running into you, Miss.

*cough* *cough*... *cough* *hack*—Very... very sorry...

It's—it's alright! Sir... are <i>you</i> okay?

Why don't you sit down and rest for a while? You really look... quite ill.

I'm fine... I'm fine.

Sir, you dropped your—sir?

Are these... painkillers?

*hiss*... <i>Strong</i> painkillers at that... Whoever that was, he must be quite badly ill.

Doctor, if you're free, could I ask you to attend to that man too? You can bill his medical expenses to me.

I was worried about Grandfather's condition at the time, and didn't pay that encounter much mind—I was just planning to pay him a visit later at some point, when I had the time.

But after that winter, I never saw him again.

Doctor, thank you so much for all your work. Grandfather's back in perfect health now.

Right. And about the man I asked you to attend to...

Oh, you mean that Gu Quan man.

He died.

Was it his illness...?

No... I hear some kind of accident took him while he was on his way to Victoria.

But given his health, I can't imagine he'd have lived much longer even then...

Truth is, last I met him, his malady had taken root in his vitals—I could hear it in his breathing. I can't imagine how much he was suffering in life...

And it's a mystery to me why he'd decide to travel so far while that sick...

This... very room. It was the study Sir Gu Quan was using.

It's been ten years since he passed away. The place has gone through some changes in that time.

But...

This...

I couldn't tell you why... but I kept hold of this medicine bottle ever since.

Blaze... I really am so sorry...

N... No...

He was—my dad was nothing like that...

I don't think he was ever that fighting fit, but he was never <i>weak.</i> Whenever I was with him, he always had this light in his eyes—

How could...

Even now, I'm not sure I understand Sir Gu Quan... but I know he was a warm, gentle person. I could tell.

I blamed myself over and over, for not being able to do anything more for him...

Why are you bothering to... tell me all this...?

I know you suspect that my grandfather was somehow behind your father's passing. At the point, I can only tell you what I know, but—

You told me all of this just to try and convince me Ning Shu is INNOCENT?!

N—No.

I just wanted to implore you... please, find out the truth.

Whether for Sir Gu Quan's sake... or for the sake of the truth itself.

Whatever that truth—even is...

Are you...

You don't have to tell me twice... I <i>am</i> gonna get to the bottom of this.

What first struck Lin Qingyan about the Judicial Review Office was the solemn hush.

The first time she ever set foot through this courtroom's door, all noise promptly vanished behind her. She remembers Yu Cheng telling her why it was designed so.

Silence begets peace, peace begets thought, thought begets results.

Shouldn't the Judicial Review Office be drowning in work top to bottom? And yet you've got the office all to yourself, Deputy Minister Lin?

Jie Zhen...? What are you here for?

Censorate routine investigation. There are some issues we'd like to consult you on regarding the Yu Cheng case.

Consultation or investigation, which is it?

Deputy Minister Lin, after working together for years, I implicitly trust you on a personal level.

But the Department of Discipline and Supervision has a lot riding on this case. We have to go through the motions, Lin, if you'll pardon me.

Just... ask what you need to.

Name.

Lin Qingyan.

Gender.

...Female.

Um... let's skip the basic info for now. For the next few questions, you don't need to elaborate on your answers, just respond 'yes' or 'no'.

Are you grilling me?

Everything you say from hereon will be recorded. I'm worried what you say could fly against you.

If you have no further questions, let's begin.

Deputy Minister Lin, you passed Tianshi Bureau assessments in childhood and were exceptionally admitted per your outstanding grades, and followed the esteemed Cyanstorm Count in learning your Lei Fa.

After graduating from the Tianshi Bureaus, you chose to join the Judicial Review Office, and soon accompanied then-Deputy Minister Yu Cheng in investigations all across the realm.