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I can't lend you the writing knife, nor can I allow you to use it to alter history.

I understand. I shouldn't have—

But if we can find proof that the Elves were in fact not disloyal, I will do all that I can to help you correct the erroneous records, in the proper manner.

Huh?

Things haven't been too busy lately. We could visit the area where you used to live. What do you think?

I... I've only just come. Besides, the things I said aren't necessarily true. I—

I can tell that your passion for words and history is genuine. Besides... who will believe you, if the historian does not?

Yes... yes!

This is the key to my office. You're my Candleholder now. Take good care of it.

How do you get in, if you give me the key?

Why should the master of the house need a key?

<p=1>Year 965</>

The court building has only just been completed! Why...?

Don't worry, it will not be torn down. Our Tumu Tianshis will transplant the Judicial Review Office to the nomadic plate, undamaged.

But wouldn't it have been so much cheaper to build it directly on the nomadic plate?

I hear the imperial court is putting everything behind this 'nomadic city'. I'm sure our cooperation will be very important.

Get to the point. What do you want?

My rosewood chair, ebony table, Kou-wu plates and Danyan lamps... none of them were inexpensive.

Here are the receipts from when I ordered my things. If there is any damage...

Fine, fine. You'll be reimbursed accordingly.

Yes, the prisoners have been transferred.

The previous instructions were from the Judicial Review Office, while the new ones are from the Ministry of Justice?

I understand, but am I supposed to conjure the prisoners out of thin air?

You don't care? The burdenbeast carriages are arriving in minutes?

Minister. Please excuse the poor hospitality. I did not know you were visiting.

I have never seen you in the Sky Mirror Pavilion. I take it you have important business?

There isn't much time, Miss Jie. I'll get straight to the point... there is an error in this year's archives that I would like to ask you to correct.

A mistake in the documents that I audited? Pray tell.

The documents submitted by the Ministry of Works state there were around a hundred deaths associated with the Chidao project at Danyan this year. Why did the number become three thousand?

The figure of three thousand deaths was not cited from a single document, but calculated based on documents from the Ministry of Works, the Ministry of Revenue, and local government departments.

The records are carefully sourced. I have kept a copy, should you wish to review them.

While it is not my place to question the work of the Ministry of Works, I have no idea why the three thousand deaths in Danyan's local records became just a hundred when it reached Baizao.

You must submit sufficient evidence, however, should you wish to question the documents audited by the Sky Mirror Pavilion.

Ahem... well, Danyan is not so well-staffed as Baizao, and there are only limited resources available for record-keeping.

Besides, the cold climate there causes disease and frostbite in winter. Perhaps not all of the three thousand died in the course of constructing the Chidao...

I see. You wish for me to alter the documents to make the Ministry of Works look better before the cabinet.

This is not about the cabinet. This is about Yan.

You know about all the projects being carried out across Yan. They push the nation's resources to the limit, but there is no doubt that these projects will benefit the nation and its people.

I'm not the only one who feels that such... depressing figures will weaken the people's morale.

I don't deny the benefits of these measures. Precisely because of that, the three thousand people who died to build the Chidao gave their lives for their country. It would be an insult to their memory to reduce it to a hundred.

Unless you can prove that there has been an error, any text that I have reviewed must not be altered. Anyone else who has a complaint can bring it to me directly.

The nation must be united in the monumental task of building the nomadic city. Everyone at the court is doing their best, and each faces their own challenges...

Yet the writings of the Imperial Historical Cabinet and the Sky Mirror Pavilion have been most... aggressive and deprecating. It is as though you wish for work on the nomadic city to stop immediately!

Is it the writer who has something to hide, or the reader?

How dare you...!

The imperial court has compensated the next of kin in full! Not a single coin has been withheld!

I have noted this in the documents that I approved. The care that the imperial court has shown towards those injured and killed, as well as their families, illustrates Yan's love towards its people.

Then why do you cling to a single number like this?!

I understand your concern for Yan, minister. But I worry that people will only see the glory of the accomplishments, and not the people whose sacrifices made it possible.

All I can do is to ensure that the history I see is recorded exactly as it is.

And you think you alone can decide the history of Yan?

History has never been decided by one person. It is the combined soundless voices of millions.

You are a learned man in a position to improve the lives of thousands upon thousands, minister. I simply leave behind some words for the people whose voices will never be heard.

Now, ask your conscience, and answer again for those people...

How many died building Danyan's Chidao this year? Was it a hundred... or three thousand?

(Mutters irritably)

The Minister of Works just stormed off in a huff... is it because of Danyan?

Is this why you have come, sister?

I can't imagine how they managed to convince you to lobby on their behalf... am I actually dreaming, while the one in the Tomb of Sui has awakened?

Are you so sarcastic to everyone these days?

I came to tell you that the Sui Regulator and the Ministry of Justice have approved your request to clear the Yaan Elves' name.

I...

I'm sorry. I was in a bad mood.

Apologies accepted.

That's the first good news I've heard in days. It will make Chun less gloomy, I hope.

It's not good to be fighting with the Sui Regulator, but I doubt they would be happy to see you get too friendly with your Candleholder.

I understand. But she's really taken to her work, helping me compile the histories... she clearly likes it.

I have a feeling... she didn't become a Candleholder because she wanted to, but because she was alone and didn't have a choice but to take the hand that was offered.

Well, a wrong has been righted. That's always a good thing.

Of course, I think part of their intention is to get you to compromise on changing the documents.

I simply came to discuss matters, because this matter has gotten to the three Grand Ministers and the True Lung. I'm not lobbying on anybody's behalf.

Just treat it as the guy in the Tomb of Sui throwing a tantrum.

You're the only one in the family who jokes about this.

Ling has honeyed words, and you speak with heaven's authority. I'll settle for the frivolous tongue, then.

It's true that the officials of the court are facing a dilemma in this matter.

The figure of three thousand will cast a shadow upon the nomadic city project, and the implications it may have for Yan are unknown.

Did you tolerate the falsification of records while you were still administering justice?

Falsifying records is a crime, of course. However, if the perpetrator did not do it out of selfish interest, I will consider extenuating circumstances when determining the punishment.

I'm surprised to hear that.

We each have our own specializations. I don't work in history, and you don't work in law.

Perhaps that is how matters of law work... but not in history.

I wanted to study history and language because I wanted to learn what the human mind is truly like.

The answer to my questions may lie in the intention behind words, and the truth behind history...

Not for Yan, nor for the land, not even for our family... only for my own questions—

Jie! Jie!

Chun? What are you doing here? I wasn't ready to tell you—

Tell me what?

Never mind... what's the hurry?

I went to the study to get the drafts as you asked, but I discovered signs of an intrusion!

The writing knife on the desk is gone!

<p=1>Year 965</>

...I see.

Do not tell anyone else. Be extremely careful.

I need you to do something for me.

The Judicial Review Office has begun to investigate everyone who was near the Sky Mirror Pavilion around the time that the writing knife was stolen.

Outside of our siblings, you could count the number of people who know about the existence of the knife with one hand.

Yes, it's just as I feared.

I won't stand aside and do nothing if someone tries to harm you, Jie.

I doubt someone trying to harm me would use such means.

It feels more like a warning.