act49side

That is kind of strange to hear from a close blood relative of that emperor.

'When the city of Baizao was completed, the emperor ordered the tomes of all the archives to be gathered in a single place.'

'The scholars worked by candlelight, collecting fragments and tales, validating the facts and compiling them, so that the scattered records are whole again.'

That's strange. The Imperial Historical Cabinet's efforts to collect the scattered histories happened after the death of the proxy, more than a decade before Baizao was built.

But the ambiguous way that it's written... the older generations were always stringent about scholarship. Why would they make such a mistake?

Could it be that... even what little they left behind was altered and rewritten?

Ch'en Hui-chieh is not listening to her companion's muttering. She is on guard for any unusual movement around them.

She wanted to tell Ch'en Chao-ch'ien to get moving, but she had a hard time saying it, seeing the sad look on Ch'en Chao-ch'ien's face.

I never asked you... what happened to your family? The ones who were in Baizao?

The Ch'ens were a family of historians. They were well-regarded but not illustrious. They generally stayed out of conflict and politics, other than the occasional offense they inevitably caused in the course of their work as historians.

All I remember is that my father said it was as though the sky had fallen when the family learned about the marriage arrangement with the princess.

That cousin was the only unmarried man in the family. He, and everyone else, knew how dangerous it was, but they were in no position to refuse...

The rest was history. Princess Yanjing died in Lungmen, and my cousin passed away soon after.

His Imperial Majesty did not punish our family, but rumors of strife took on a life of their own. You can imagine what happened to us when everyone decided our house had mistreated the princess.

That's not what Mother wanted...

...I doubt it was Wei Yenwu's intention either.

I was very young then. All I saw was...

The elders were always sighing when they came back from the morning assembly. Many fell ill out of sheer worry. Brothers and sisters stopped communicating with one another...

Everything was shrouded in gloom, but I didn't know why.

Father moved from place to place, selling off the family's belongings, until we finally left Baizao altogether, yet he never once told me the reason.

As for what happened after... you know, there was a time, after becoming Magistrate of Water here in the Sky Mirror Pavilion, when I thought I couldn't let the family tradition of history die with me.

I didn't complain about the job. Most of the position's responsibilities had been replaced by machines anyway; my colleagues, while not the friendliest lot, had little interest in political backstabbing.

I had time on my hands, so I thought I would start with my family's history.

Was it because the Magistrate of Water's rank was too low? I felt like I had stumbled into a thick fog, getting more lost with every step I took.

I knew my family didn't do anything wrong, but all the records I could find denounced us for our arrogance, our abuses.

I tracked down the ones who were still alive, tried to ask them what they knew. But they couldn't get away fast enough when they learned I'm of the Ch'en family, and the 'Chao' generation.

The few who were willing to see me said a bunch of apologetic words in officialese, but refused to tell me anything about the truth of what happened...

I spent ten years on this until I even started to believe it myself, that the House of Ch'en deserved what it got for mistreating the princess!

But I know... I know it wasn't true!

What am I? What is the House of Ch'en? What were your dead parents?

What is history?

All I know is that history should be a record of the truth. That's what justice means to me.

<i>Duoxie.</i>

As for the family history you wanted to know...

To tell the truth... my parents died when I was very young. I don't remember much about them.

And Wei Yenwu was... Wei Yenwu. It's hard for me to explain to people who my parents were. Sometimes I pass off the image of Wei Yenwu as my father's, just to make things simple.

I don't ever remember my mother smiling. And I don't remember many positive things about my father.

I just can't imagine how it feels... to have your life determined entirely by other people, by those baseless things like responsibility and honor.

It's not fair to you... and it's not fair to them.

Is life fair and just to anyone?

Someone once said to me that the justice we seek is not in the past... but that doesn't mean we should forget about it.

<p=2>One day before the day of the full moon, Hour of Ssu</>

The aging general stands silently in the tent, like a brick on an ancient wall.

Behind him is the military map that he has drawn a thousand times in his mind. Before him is the faint silhouette of Baizao.

The rain of the heartlands is unfamiliar to one used to the sands of the frontier. The clouds hang low, suffocatingly so.

The general's thoughts drift away.

You are the new commander of Yumen, I take it.

You can call me Shuo. My responsibility is to assist you in military matters, as well as kung fu instruction for the soldiers.

I can take you around the base, if you'd like.

You don't remember me?

I saw your name in the imperial court's announcement... what do you mean by 'remember'?

Never mind.

I don't need a guide. I've served in Yumen before.

I see. Forgive my impudence.

It seems we are old comrades.

The memories tend to fade after all these years on the border. Forgive me, if I've caused any offense.

Memories faded, I see... interesting.

Get yourself warmed up. I want to spar.

You've had a long journey. You should rest; I would be happy to spar with you another day.

I don't need to rest.

I want to get some exercise before dinner.

We should go no further, General.

The supply lines and the troops' morale have been stretched to the limit.

We cannot afford to be reckless when fighting demons. To push forward would be very risky.

We're so close...!

It's already a remarkable victory, General.

The demons of the north feed on the fear in men's hearts... this is the first time I've seen a general press on without fear, even with the entire army's fate upon your shoulders.

There is nothing to fear!

These things have harmed our people, ruined cities and farms... I only wish we could have wiped them out in this battle!

Give me twenty years, I swear, I will see all the demons wiped out!

I have no doubt you will, sir.

I doubt anything under heaven could daunt you.

What about you?

You seem indomitable, invincible...

Have you ever been afraid?

Transfer?

My appointment to Yumen was for a hundred years. It's time to leave.

And the Sui Regulator didn't tell me anything about the personnel change? They are getting more and more out of line.

But why are you leaving now? Trouble is stirring in the northwest. We need you more than ever.

Perhaps our time together has made you forget...

I've never held any official position in Yumen.

Where are you going? Danyan? Michu?

I think I will be stepping away, fully, from my responsibilities.

Why?

Communications from the Candleholders watching the Tomb of Sui have become increasingly frequent. Its awakening approaches.

It would not be appropriate for me to shoulder important responsibilities at this time.

But Yumen is strong and well-equipped. It will perform its duty well, whether protecting Great Yan's northwestern border, or any other purpose.

Where are you going, after you leave?

The jianghu world is big. There are plenty of places to go.

...Report.

Have the scouts returned?

Not yet, sir.

And we have received no instructions from Baizao in the past three days.

The Sui Regulator should be communicating with Yumen, regardless of what is happening in the Tomb of Sui...

Send out messengers—

Sir! They're forcing their way in!

What is the meaning of this?

General Zuo.

It is most irregular to invade my tent like this, even for the military supervisory censor.

On whose orders are you operating?