act40side

In just a year, from Registrar, you rose several ranks to become the youngest Deputy Minister in the history of Yan.

Is this background, as stated, true?

Yes.

In your third month with the Judicial Review Office, as Registrar, you handed in a whistleblower report to Discipline and Supervision. It accused the Right Assistant Revenue Minister of embezzlement and extortion, and you recovered ten million in stolen assets.

In your fifth month, in Changji, you essentially singlehandedly shone light on the local academy's examination fraud. Over a hundred mandarins were implicated in this, the highest of which was second-rank, all were eventually rounded up.

Upon becoming Deputy Minister, you handled the case of former Judicial Review Office Deputy Minister Yu Cheng forging evidence, causing him to be expelled from the Office's Haoran Pavilion, with all status stripped from him thereafter...

Are these case histories, as stated, true?

...Yes.

With an academic background like this, surely everyone lauds you as a young up-and-comer blessed to the gills with talent.

And yet people can't help but wonder—what gives such a greenhand mandarin the courage, the capacity to handle these cases?

Can you get to the point?

If I'm remembering right, your good mother and father were Tianshis at the Chamber of Heaven's Designs, spending years building much in the north, even being vested personally by the True Lung.

The Lin family's a well-bred one, many Tianshi giants in its line. And on top of that, rumor has it they're quite closely-knit with the Lord Exorcist's household.

As for Cyanstorm Count... I think even the rank fails to sufficiently capture your shifu's importance to Great Yan.

...Are these relationships, as stated, true?

Jie Zhen, what are you doing?

You need only answer 'yes' or 'no', Deputy Minister Lin.

Don't think I'm deaf to your connotations... You're trying to say, it was only by leaning on my background that I could take on Judicial cases all these years?!

...I certainly didn't say that at any point.

Having known each other for years, I would never doubt your integrity. The Lin Qingyan in my mind's eye has always been a pursuer of justice.

But why, Lin, do you not pursue now?

Jie Zhen... Just why did you come to see me today?

How much do you really know about the Yu Cheng affair?

As I just said, I'm here to see you today on routine business.

As for the Yu Cheng case, what I heard in the courtroom that day is all I know.

What makes you so dead-set on the case, Censor Jie Zhen?

Before you decided you'd investigate it, I remember we actually had an argument.

I'm going to speak out of line here... the whole stripping of his rank aside, I really do respect people like Yu Cheng.

Now of all times, you're going to defend him again?

If a law enforcer does not themselves abide by the law, that's abuse of power. That goes for every last member of the Three Organs of Justice—what kind of double-standard could you possibly be applying here?

No, no... The Judicial Review Office's verdict is settled on Yu Cheng's mistake. I've little more to say there.

I'm just very curious... <i>What kind of truth</i> could have pushed him to such means to find it?

You must be more familiar with Yu Cheng than me.

In your opinion, was he a smart man?

Naturally. When it comes to sniffing out lies or chasing down leads, I'm no match for him.

Then did you ever wonder if, supposing Yu Cheng truly intended to cover up his own forgery, you should have been able to make such short work of the case?

You're telling me he let me find him out on purpose? What for?

That, I don't know. But he put you in charge of the scrollery fire case... To an outsider, I don't think I can say that Yu Cheng had no faith in you.

You've been all over Baizao the past few days investigating that case, I know that. I've heard as much.

And yet since yesterday, you've been loitering in the Judicial Review Office, acting like you've been grounded.

I can't help being curious—what made you go and give up on pursuing this case?

Are you afraid of offending the high and mighty? No, that's not like the Lin Qingyan I know...

Did someone lofty crack down on you? Can't be, I think. You're sitting here in the office, after all, not in a Judicial prison cell.

If not that, then all my pondering can only produce one answer...

You're scared that if you continue, you'll implicate someone you know.

Seems I guessed right.

In the thick of things, your concern clouds your judgment. It's like you've forgotten the simplest of truths.

Don't miss the forest for the trees.

If you can't hide it, you may as well tip it out. Show it some sunlight.

Mr. Censor, you've really served up a lesson for me today.

Not at all. I think the hush of this office must've helped you figure out plenty by yourself.

I know what I must do.

Madam, I went to ask Deputy Minister Lin if she wanted anything to eat, since I saw she hadn't left the office all day, but—but she...

When did she go missing?

I—I don't know, nobody's seen her at all...

A biting chill gusts through, the stiff breeze curling papers and sending them dancing madly through the air.

A wide-open window clatters against its wall. On the table beneath it, a ceremonial gown lies neatly folded and topped with a document, pressed down in place by an ink stone.

It is Lin Qingyan's written resignation.

Watching as Blaze vanishes far into the distance, Ning Shu clutches the door knocker.

The vague dark point vanishes over the crest of the path, but her stare remains fixed there, lingering for the longest time.

What are you spacing out at the door for?

Grandfather...

Your friend left so soon? She won't even stay for dinner?

Mm... she had urgent business. She couldn't stay.

Even as a child, you never brought friends over. Here I thought I could drop in to see what she's like.

I don't know if we even—count as friends, really...

Seeing the dejected Ning Yin, the old man tries to think of something to say, but can't. He simply reaches over and brushes a leaf off her shoulder.

Almost time to move. Plenty of things still on your plate, eh?

What about you, Grandfather?

Heheh, for days I was all raring to go home. Now that we're about to, I look around at our little garden and I think 'oh, if only I could stay'.

Do you remember? It was here in this pavilion we laid out some sand, and grabbed a stick, and I taught you how to write one stroke at a time.

You said by next year, you'd be writing all the estate couplets for us. Then you spent two months with me learning, and after that you had to give up.

But by next year, you really did write me a couplet.

'Bountiful blooms and a full moon; may joy last forever.'

I'm surprised you still remember, Grandfather.

How could I forget... Ah, another year, another Mid-Autumn. How quickly the days pass.

The two of us haven't chewed the fat like this in the longest, have we? Grandfather to granddaughter.

Mm. I've been out constantly, and you're always occupied with guests. We hardly have the chance to meet.

The whole family's leaving the capital, after all. Quite the headache.

But things will settle down once we're back in Langyi, and we'll have plenty of time to chat along the way.

Are you almost done writing that book of yours?

Grandfather, I don't... think I can go back to Langyi with you.

When did you make up your mind?

Ning Yin shakes her head softly. She falls a few steps back.

You're returning home, Grandfather, like a leaf returns to its root. It's human nature, the whole family sympathizes. But the journey is meandering enough to make us worried.

The Nings are bursting with talent. Everyone's work forms a cornerstone of Yan. Compared to them, I really am the lone choice to accompany you back.

But frankly, I was always a distant orphan from Langyi anyway. It was because you took such pity on me that I could spend these decades at the Ning manor.

If I go now to Langyi, I go back to where my long-gone parents once lived.

That was your thinking... when you asked to accompany me home?

Grandfather... that <i>was</i> my thinking.

It all seemed to fall into place. I almost managed to convince myself.

But I've spent the last few days on a farewell tour of sorts around Baizao's streets, so I can finish up the Baizao Cuisine & Food Culture somehow.

And I realized, all my memories are of this city.

I can clearly recall what year we planted that persimmon tree in the courtyard, and when its fruits make for the best wine.

And every restaurant of every road and alley, and what their chefs are like, and how many different ways you can cook each dish.

All of a sudden, it hit me that... this very city, moreso than the Ning manor, feels like my home.

*sigh*...

...That's on me. That's on me for not asking you how you feel. I've been nothing but me this whole time.

Grandfather, you're my one and only family. You've always been since I was little.

I really did want to go back home with you at first, but the reason I'm set on staying in Baizao now... is you as well, Grandfather.