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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.

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.