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However, things are different now. We are operating from a place of strength. We can and must avoid war at all costs. We cannot allow our soldiers and civilians to suffer any further.

Hahaha. Very well said, young man! You are far more skilled than I ever was, that's for sure.

Goodness no! Forgive me for being so bold, your magisterial greatness.

You say war should be avoided, and I agree. Well then, surely you have an alternate strategy, right? A way to get the situation under control?

I—

Mr. Ning, another visitor has arrived.

What's this now?

She says she is a deputy minister from the Judicial Review Office with urgent business to discuss with you. She insists on coming in.

The Judicial Review Office?

I suppose I will have to let her in.

My sincerest apologies, but I must excuse myself for a moment.

Ciqiu, please continue chatting with our guest here.

A deputy minister? You don't think it's... Lin Qingyan, do you?

You know her too?

Anyone who deals with the Tianshi Bureaus has at least heard of her.

I've heard Bai Dingshan, the Bluethunder Count, is senior to her Shifu. She's skilled in Lei Fa and solves cases as quick as lightning.

But I am not sure why she has come to see my grandfather...

You waited until I was asleep and then locked me in this room! Why?!

I'm not a three-year-old, you know!

Let me out of here!

Dammit! I'm supposed to meet that lady now. I didn't even get her contact, so I can't call her. What am I gonna do?

No. I can't break the door down. They might kick me out of here, and then I'd have no place to stay.

But this window...

I'm on the eighteenth floor, huh? That's not THAT high. Alright. I'll jump!

Miss, you've been standing here for ages. Are you going to make a purchase, or not?

Sir, let me ask you again—this painting here, 'Springtime in the Garden', is it truly an original work by Shujiang?

Miss, you can ask anyone around here. They all know my shop only sells authentic goods. I certainly know how to spot a fake painting.

Look at the technique, the essence of the painting. Who else but Shujiang could have done that?

I'm no art expert, but I see a serious anachronism in this painting.

These grapes on the table here, this particular variety of grapes was not introduced from Gaul into Yan until the year 628. However, this painting is from the year 580. How do you explain that?

Oh come on. That's quite a nit to pick, isn't it? You're just trying to bargain down the price, aren't you?

I've seen your type so many times before. I'm warning you. You won't like me when I'm angry.

Good sir, I never intended to buy your painting in the first place. Why would I be trying to bargain with you?

Besides, what I said about the grapes is true. Don't take my word for it. Look it up, if you don't believe me.

If you think I'm wrong, then prove it. Get as angry as you want; it won't turn your fake painting into a real one.

If you don't want to buy it, then why are you standing here?!

I swear to you, if I'm selling any fakes in this shop, may Heaven strike me down where I stand!

Why is there a canopy above the upper floor?

Blaze? How did you—

Ha... haha... I...

I'm not late, am I?

Sorry for making you wait. I've had so many guests visiting lately. Apologies.

You are...?

My name is Lin Qingyan. I am a deputy minister with the Judicial Review Office. I came here to ask you a few questions, Mr. Ning.

The Judicial Review Office, you say? I haven't talked to anyone there in many, many years. I'm not even sure who's in charge there anymore. Is it Yu Cheng?

Yu Cheng...? No. I'm afraid you're mistaken. Deputy Minister Yu is no longer working with us.

Ah, that's right. Now I remember. One of the Bluethunder Count's Lei Fa students transferred from the Tianshi Bureaus to the Judicial Review Office. Well, that must be you, yes?

I heard that Tianshi Bai was transferred back to Baizao a while ago, yet he still hasn't come to see me, not even for some tea or a bite to eat. I guess he doesn't have time for this old retiree.

These are extraordinary times we are living in. The Tianshi Bureaus must be extremely busy. I'll mention it the Count the next time I see him.

Haha. Sorry for going off on a tangent there. Please, sit down and have some tea.

They sit down in an elegant room that's tastefully decorated and furnished. There seems to be an empty space on the wall where a painting should be hanging.

The part of the wall that had once been covered by the painting is a slightly different color, which makes it stick out even more.

Mr. Ning, the tea is elegant, and so are you. Everything in this room is excellent, but something's missing... a painting, perhaps?

Yes. The missing painting is, in fact, a 'longevity painting' that someone gave me many years ago.

It's supposed to help you live longer. But as the saying goes, the older you grow, the heavier birthdays feel. I believe it's served its purpose.

I would not have expected you to be superstitious, Mr. Ning.

Growing old has left me at fate's mercy, hardly free to act as I wish. It must make you laugh, yes?

But I heard that a thief tampered with one of your paintings recently.

They 'sealed the lips' of the painting with honey. It's an old folk custom to celebrate the New Year. They do this in hopes that the Stove God 'will only say good things and not bad things'. Whoever the thief was, they had some other motive in mind besides theft.

Why did you not report this vandalism?

If I never reported it, then how do you know about it?

One of my colleagues is handling this case. I saw the case file. But the one who first reported it... I don't believe was anyone from your estate...

Well, I'm glad there's at least someone out there who cares about an old man like me.

I would not have expected you to believe in those folk tales, Deputy Minister Lin.

Haha. I am a mere citizen. You, on the other hand, are a mandarin, and your time is valuable. You came here today to ask me something. Just go ahead and ask me directly, please.

I came here to ask you about someone, not something.

Do you remember an individual named Gu Quan?

Grkh...

Ten years ago, Gu Quan accompanied some Yanese dignitaries on an official visit to Victoria. They encountered a Catastrophe, a blizzard, along the way, and poor Gu drowned in a river.

Have you any memory of that, Mr. Ning?

Yes. How could I forget?

I believe it was December. It definitely happened in the winter. By the time the news reached Baizao, it was almost the new year.

I remember the Messenger told us that, after the storm came in, the envoys got trapped on the mountain. Gu Quan stayed at the back of the line, helping shepherd everyone else across the river. In the end, he's the one who ended up falling in.

Sigh. The river must have been freezing cold!

It looks like that incident made quite an impact on you.

Gu Quan was a very good worker. He served the Ministry very well. He was very well-read and had excellent calligraphy.

It's a pity he had no family. The only remnant of him is a cenotaph in Cemetery of the Virtuous. Every year, the Ministry of Rites sends someone to tend it and pay their respects...

No family?

Look at me, blathering on again. Well, anyway, why do you mention Gu Quan?

A Yanese diplomat dying in a foreign country... that is a major international incident. According to the Laws of Yan, both Yan and the other country must send experts to conduct a joint investigation and compile a final report.

However, after Gu Quan's death, the Ministry of Rites did no such thing. Even more startling is that the Judicial Review Office's records of the case are remarkably sparse.

I'm confused. This is clearly a question for the Judicial Review Office. Why are you asking me? I was in the Ministry of Rites.

Well then, let me remind you.

Two months before the team left on their mission, Gu Quan was just an ordinary ninth-rank mandarin. How did he suddenly get promoted to envoy, much less be sent on a mission to Victoria?

Well, you are the one who signed Gu Quan's transfer order. At the time, you were the Minister of Rites.

Hahaha. Now I understand.

You're saying that I deliberately arranged for Gu Quan to go on a diplomatic mission to Victoria, and then 'disposed' of him.

No. That's not what I'm saying.

There is something strange going on here. I intend to solve these cases one-by-one, and I humbly ask for your guidance, Mr. Ning.

Since you're so curious about all this, why not ask me a few more pointed questions?

Do you think it's odd that I, as a former Minister of Rites, would trouble myself over a mere ninth-rank ceremonial officer? Are you implying, perhaps, that he discovered some unspeakable secret about me?

So you're just here to ask me about a ten year old case?

Hahaha... no matter, no matter. Ask whatever you wish.

Just remember, if you keep asking the same questions, you will keep getting the same answers.

What kind of answers do you want?

Truthful ones.

Hahaha. I already have one foot in the grave. What reason do I have to deceive you?

Then again, if you suspect me of committing so many crimes, then you surely don't view my testimony as credible...

I just want you to tell me why Gu Quan was suddenly transferred. Once you tell me that, we'll be able to figure out the rest of it.

Okay, okay. You came all this way to see me, so I think I should tell you what you want to know.