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Mr. Liang...?

Do you not recognize me?

Miss Ning! It's been a while...

I heard you just returned to Baizao. I wanted to see you.

Liang Xun's eyes shift from Miss Ning to the figure standing behind her, the kindly old man.

Don't just stand there, Ciqiu. Invite your friend in for a bit.

Well...

What's the matter? Why isn't anyone eating?

Haha. I feel like the third wheel here, and an old one at that. Maybe I'll just step away for a moment, and the two of you can enjoy your meal?

No, no. You've got it all wrong. It's us young kids who are intruding on your magisterial greatness.

Grandfather, don't scare him like that.

Hahaha. I'm only kidding, Liang Xun, I assure you.

When Ciqiu was still in Shangshu, she used to write me letters, talking about a magistrate there who was both supremely talented and dedicated to his people. Today, I finally got to meet him.

When did I—

Hahaha. It's my birthday in three days. I wasn't planning to go through the trouble of organizing a grand party or anything.

So today, eating dinner and chatting with you two youths is how I will celebrate my birthday.

Let us wish many more years of health and life to your greatness.

Hear hear, Grandfather. Many happy returns.

Alright, alright. Enough of that. Let's eat.

Liang Xun, I thought you were a magistrate from Shangshu. Why have I now heard you are the Advisor of Yumen?

And why have you traveled from Yumen all the way to Baizao?

Yumen's journey was a long one, and the people once living in Yumen have been resettled in batches in different nomadic cities along the route as planned. The last group settled down in Baizao a few days ago.

Wasn't Yumen patrolling the northwestern corridor? How did you end up all the way over here in Baizao?

Dear Grandfather, have you forgotten? Yumen changed its route at the beginning of this year. The new route it was traveling on took it right to Baizao.

As for why Yumen traveled to Baizao, surely you remember that?

Ah... yes... because of that same old problem again.

All those years of fighting, and still no resolution. It's been so long since I retired, and sometimes I still hear those voices in my nightmares. It gives me a headache.

It's a problem that's existed for several millennia now.

Sometimes, issues resolve with the passage of time. Other times, they get worse.

Now I think we need to find a way to solve it. Grandfather, do you have any ideas?

Me? Of course not. If I were to try and intervene, people would accuse me of being a dictator.

Not necessarily. The Minister has been coming to see you ever few days or so. He never mentioned this to you?

Miss Ning, there are some things which your grandfather must keep private, you know.

Hahahaha. My granddaughter sure is direct. That's for sure.

No matter. I am an ordinary citizen now. I am free to speak as I please without fear of divulging secrets, because I do not know any secrets. As for this matter, however, I must defer to the advice of the young.

Well, Liang Xun, what's your solution?

I dare not propose any grand solution. However, there is one thing I do know.

The best strategy is to disrupt your enemy's strategy.

From the court's perspective, war has no upsides, only downsides. From the peoples' perspective, war means death and destruction.

'The best strategy is to disrupt your enemy's strategy.' That makes sense.

But if we always followed this reasoning, the True Lung would not have started 'The Great Hunt' one thousand years ago, and Yan would never have experienced a millennium of prosperity.

Times change, and circumstances change. It's hard to compare things across different historical eras.

That war a thousand years ago was called 'The Great Hunt', but it wasn't really a hunt. It was the Yanese people wresting their future from the hands of the 'gods'. Retreating, even just a little bit, would have resulted in their extinction.

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?